Episode # 12:- “More Than Just Guests”

"What was that?" Cassian asked with a death glare.

"My tongue slipped," Caleb replied with a sheepish grin. "But hey, it's not like you both will not be having any babies, in the future," he tried to defend himself.

"We're not getting married today or tomorrow, so hold your horses," Cassian exclaimed through gritted teeth.

"Okay, fine, but jokes apart, I'm happy for you," Caleb said, patting Cassian's shoulder.

Cassian looked at him with a raised eyebrow and then, with an air of attitude, replied, "I know, tell me something new."

"I'm not that happy," Caleb shot back instantly.

"Liar," Cass retorted.

"As if you're not?" Caleb quipped.

"No," Cassian insisted.

"You are so full of yourself," Caleb replied, narrowing his eyes.

"As if you're not?" Cassian countered.

"Not more than you," Caleb fired back.

"Not less than me either," Cassian shot back with a smirk.

"Admit it, you're just jealous because my jokes are better," Caleb teased.

"Jealous? Of what? Your terrible sense of humor?" Cassian laughed sarcastically.

"Hey, my humor is top-notch. You're just too grumpy to appreciate it," Caleb grinned.

"I'm not grumpy. I'm just selectively amused," Cassian replied with a mock-serious face.

"Selective, huh? More like eternally unimpressed," Caleb quipped.

Cassian shook his head. "Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day it'll be true."

"Boss, we've arrived," Lucas, who was sitting in the front seat, interrupted their banter. He was used to hearing their back-and-forth.

It was around 11 p.m. when they returned. They entered the house using the separate key Hailey had given them. The key Caleb used yesterday was one he had taken from her bag.

"She's a workaholic like you," Caleb commented when they found her in the hall, engrossed in office work.

"You are saying as if you're not, a workaholic like me," Cassian replied, and before they could start bickering again, Hailey interrupted.

"You both came back. Hurry up, freshen up, I'm hungry," she said, heading towards the kitchen before they could respond. They changed and joined her in the kitchen.

"Is she planning to make us elephants?" Caleb whispered to Cassian, whose thoughts mirrored his own. Hailey had made an even larger dinner than lunch.

"Rose, why so many dishes?" Cassian asked.

"Don't you like it?" Hailey's face fell visibly.

"No, not like that, Angry-bird. It's just that you made a lot for lunch too," Caleb quickly said, with Cassian nodding in agreement.

"It's been years since I've cooked for anyone. So, when you both came, I couldn't stop myself," she replied sheepishly, scratching her neck. Cassian chuckled and pulled her into a side embrace.

"No worries. We can do one thing. We'll pack the food for Lucas and the other guards too," Cassian suggested.

Hailey started looking around, hesitant. "What happened?" Caleb asked, with Cassian giving her a questioning look as well.

Hailey said nothing and pointed to the counter. They followed her finger and saw a few boxes already packed there. A smile appeared on their lips, realizing she had thought of everyone.

"Okay, no worries. We'll see later. I'll call Lucas to come and get the food," Caleb said and called Lucas.

"Wait," Hailey said as Lucas picked up the boxes. She went to the kitchen cabinet, took out a few more boxes, and filled them. The trio of men watched her silently. Once she was sure there was enough food on the table for the three of them, she stopped and packed the boxes in a bag.

"Lucas, if you don't mind, can you give these boxes to the homeless people in the alley just behind this building? There are many homeless people there," Hailey said.

"Sure, ma'am," Lucas replied with a smile, taking the bag.

Hailey turned to face Caleb and Cassian, who were smiling at her. "What?" she asked, her expression puzzled. They laughed at her bewilderment.

"Nothing, come sit," Cassian said, guiding her to a chair. Before she could sit, he kissed her temple firmly. She smiled and asked them to start eating.

After finishing their dinner, Hailey went to her bedroom while Cassian and Caleb continued discussing work-related matters. Later, Caleb also retired to his room, and Cassian went to find Hailey. He entered her room and found her trying to re-bandage her temple.

"What happened?" Cassian asked, coming closer.

"Nothing, I took a shower, so it's all wet," Hailey replied. Her hair was still damp, and her bandage had gotten soaked. Cassian gently took the cotton from her hand and carefully applied a fresh bandage to her temple.

He looked at her lips, which were healing well, and her cheek, which still bore a bluish mark from the recent incident. He knew it would take time for the bruise to fully disappear.

After finishing the bandage, he went to change. When he returned, Hailey was drying her hair. He came up behind her, and when she set the dryer down, he encircled her waist with his arms and rested his chin on her shoulder.

He turned his face and gave a tight kiss on her neck. "Why do you always kiss me there?" Hailey asked, curious because he always did that.

"Do you want me to kiss you somewhere else?" he teased, meeting her gaze in the mirror. Hailey elbowed him gently and turned around in his embrace.

"Can't you give a straight answer?" Hailey asked, exasperated. Cassian chuckled.

"Nothing, I just like it when I kiss you on your neck," he said softly, pecking her nose.

Hailey sighed, but before she could say anything, Cassian's hands slid up her back, pulling her closer. He leaned in and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply. His breath on her skin sent shivers down her spine.

"I can feel your heartbeat," he murmured against her skin, his voice low and husky. Hailey's hands instinctively found their way to his shoulders, gripping him for support as his kisses trailed from her neck to her collarbone, each one more lingering and intimate than the last.

Cassian's hands moved to her waist, his thumbs brushing her sides in gentle, circular motions. Hailey's breath hitched as he pulled her even closer, their bodies pressed together. He kissed the sensitive spot just below her ear, making her gasp softly.

"Cassian..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his dark with desire.

He composed himself and kissed her forehead, then her nose, and finally placed a soft, lingering kiss on her cheek, just beside the bluish mark, and held her close to him. Hailey closed her eyes, resting her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat strong and steady. In that moment, wrapped in his embrace, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't known in a long time.

To be continued...