But then I remember just how young and naïve Cassandra is. Like a beautiful bird that’s spent its entire life in a gilded cage, she has no experience with men. Least of all an unrefined man like me.
“You’re not just gonna quit on me, are you?” she asks.
“I…wouldn’t put it like that,” I admit. “But yes.”
“Why?”
My heart thuds heavy in my chest. “I have to.”
I move to step past her, but she slides in front of me, eyes down on the ground, holding herself like a timid dove. “No.” Her voice is firmer now. “You can’t go.”
“Cassandra–”
“You’re the only man who has ever…touched me like you did. And now you’re leaving me to think about it for the rest of my life? Will you not let me get to the end of our romance story? Like the ones from my books?”
Christ, she’s so goddamn innocent. She has
