22. Lili #2
“I’m here,”I echoed, my heart swelling with emotion. I’d spent so long running from the past, from the pain, from him. But now, standing in my room, with Edward looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t known in years.
He pulled me into his arms, and I went willingly, wrapping my arms around his waist. His embrace was strong, protective, and I felt safe in a way I hadn’t in a long time.
We stood like that for what felt like an eternity, just holding each other, the silence between us filled with unspoken words and unspoken promises.
Finally, he pulled back, his hands resting on my hips as he looked down at me.“I’ve missed you,”he said, his voice rough with emotion.
“I’ve missed you too,”I admitted, my throat tight.“More than I can say.”
His thumb brushed my jawline, his touch gentle but firm.“Why did you leave, Lili? Why didn’t you let me explain?”
I sighed, my gaze dropping to the floor.“Because I was scared. Scared of what I felt
I looked up at him, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Edward. I was stupid and scared, and I let my fear ruin everything.”
He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had started to fall.“You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
I nodded, my breath hitching as I tried to hold back the emotions threatening to overwhelm me.“I’m here. And I’m not leaving again.”
His lips curved into a small, tender smile, and then he was kissing me, his mouth soft and insistent against mine.
I melted into him, my hands tangling in his hair as I kissed him back with all the passion and longing I’d held onto for so long. It was like coming home, like finding a piece of myself I’d thought was lost forever.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless, our hearts pounding in sync.
Edward rested his forehead against mine, his hands still cradling my face.“I love you, Lili,”he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.“I’ve always loved you.”
“I love you too,”I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
I teased, reaching out to run my fingers over the hard planes of his chest.
He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm before trailing his lips up my arm, his touch sending sparks of pleasure dancing across my skin.
I shivered, my body aching for him, and he seemed to sense it, his movements becoming more urgent as he kissed his way down my body.
When his lips finally found the sensitive peak of my breast, I gasped, my head falling back against the pillow as pleasure surged through me.
He teased me with his tongue, his hands roaming over my body, and I felt myself spiraling out of control, my senses overwhelmed by the intensity of his touch.
“Edward,”I moaned, my hands tangling in his hair as I pulled him closer.“Please.”
He smiled, a triumphant glint in his eyes, and then he was moving lower, his lips trailing kisses down my stomach, his hands sliding beneath the waistband of my shorts.
I lifted my hips, allowing him to pull them off, and then I was lying before him, completely bare, my body on full display.
His gaze was intense, his desire for me palpable as he looked at me.“You’re perfect,”he murmured, his voice hoarse.“Absolutely perfect.”
I smiled, my cheeks flushing with pleasure at his words.“Come here,”I whispered, reaching out to pull him back up to me.
He obliged, his body pressing against mine as he kissed me deeply, his hands roaming over my body with a hunger that matched my own. I felt his hardness against me, and I moaned into his mouth, my hands moving to the waistband of his pants.
“Slow down,”he whispered, his voice thick with desire.“Let me take my time with you.”
I nodded, my breath coming in short gasps as I allowed him to take control. He kissed his way down my body, his lips and tongue leaving a trail of fire in their wake, and I felt myself teetering on the edge, my body aching for release.
When his mouth finally found the core of my pleasure, I cried out, my hands tangling in his hair as I arched into him.
He teased me with his tongue, his fingers joining in the dance, and I felt myself spiraling out of control, my senses overwhelmed by the intensity of his touch.
“Edward,”I gasped, my voice desperate.“I’m close.”
He looked up at me, his eyes dark with desire.“Come for me, Lili,”he whispered, his voice hoarse.“Let me feel you fall apart.”
And then, I was falling, my body shaking as pleasure washed over me in waves. I cried out his name, my hands clutching at the sheets as I rode out the storm, and he held me there, his mouth and fingers never faltering, until I was boneless and breathless beneath him.
When I finally came back down to earth, he was smiling, a look of satisfaction in his eyes as he kissed his way back up my body.“You’re incredible,”he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
I smiled, my heart swelling with love for him.“Your turn,”I whispered, reaching out to run my fingers over the hard planes of his chest.
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through me, and then he was rolling onto his back, pulling me on top of him. I straddled his hips, my hands resting on his chest as I looked down at him, my heart pounding with anticipation.
“What do you want, Lili?”he asked, his voice dark with desire.“What do you need from me?”
I smiled, my lips curving into a wicked grin.“I want you inside me,”I whispered, my voice husky.“Now.”
His eyes flared with desire, my breath catching in my throat as he reached up, his hands resting on my hips as he guided me down onto him.
I gasped as he filled me, his hardness stretching me in the most delicious way, and he groaned, his head falling back against the pillow as he thrust up into me.
“Ride me,”he whispered, his voice hoarse.“Show me what you’ve got.”
I obliged, my hips moving in a slow, sensual rhythm as I rode him, my hands braced on his chest for leverage. He watched me, his eyes dark with desire, his hands roaming over my body as I moved on top of him.
“Faster,”he urged, his voice thick with need.“Harder.”
I complied, my movements becoming more urgent as I increased the pace, my body slamming down onto his with each thrust.
He met me stroke for stroke, his hands gripping my hips as he helped me move, and I felt myself spiraling out of control, my senses overwhelmed by the intensity of our connection.
Three days later, we were finally ready to head back to London.
Three days of showing Edward around my hometown, of long talks on the porch with Mama, of lazy mornings in bed where we didn't have to worry about who might see us or what secrets we were keeping.
Three days of remembering what it felt like to just be us, without all the complications and expectations weighing us down.
Now we were standing in the driveway, suitcases loaded into the rental car that would take us to the airport, and I was fighting back tears I hadn't expected.
"You sure about this, baby girl?" Mama asked, pulling me into one of her trademark hugs that made everything feel fixable.
"I'm sure," I said, though my voice came out a little wobbly. "London's home now too. And Edward's there, and the job, and... well, it's where we're building our life together."
"Just remember," she said, pulling back to look me in the eye, "home is where your people are. And you've got people here who love you, no matter how far away you go."
"I know, Mama. I love you too."
She turned to Edward, who was standing nearby looking like he wasn't quite sure if he should intrude on our goodbye.
"And you," she said, pointing a finger at him that made him straighten up like a soldier.
"You take care of my girl, you hear me? She's got a big heart and she gives it freely, but that doesn't mean it can't break. "
"Yes, ma'am," he said solemnly. "I understand completely."
"Good." Her stern expression melted into a warm smile. "Now come here and give me a hug. You're family now, whether you like it or not."
The look of surprised pleasure on Edward's face as Mama wrapped him in one of her fierce hugs was something I'd treasure forever. He wasn't used to that kind of unconditional acceptance, that simple warmth that didn't come with conditions or expectations.
"Call me when you land," Mama said as we finally got into the car. "And I want pictures of that fancy house of yours. Proper pictures, not just the ones Daphne sends that are all blurry because she's moving around too much."
"I heard that!" Daphne called from the passenger seat.
"You were meant to!" Mama called back, then blew us all kisses as we pulled out of the driveway.
The flight to London was supposed to be smooth sailing. First-class seats that Edward had insisted on, champagne that I was actually allowed to drink without worrying about paparazzi photos, and hours of uninterrupted time to talk about our plans for the future.
Instead, I spent the first hour of the flight trying not to throw up.
"Darling, are you alright?" Edward asked, his hand cool against my forehead as I leaned back in my seat with my eyes closed. "You've gone quite pale."
"Just feeling a little peaked," I mumbled, though "a little peaked" was putting it mildly. My stomach felt like it was doing barrel rolls, and the thought of the airplane food they'd served was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat.
"Perhaps some ginger ale?" Daphne suggested from across the aisle. "That always helps with motion sickness."
"Maybe," I said, though something told me this wasn't motion sickness. I'd flown plenty of times before without feeling like I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
Edward flagged down the flight attendant and got me some ginger ale and crackers, then spent the next twenty minutes rubbing my back while I tried to convince myself that this was just stress, just the overwhelming nature of everything that had happened in the past few days.
Something nagged at the back of my mind—a feeling I couldn't quite grasp.
But Edward's gentle touch was already soothing the worst of it, and I let myself sink into the comfort of his presence.
I closed my eyes and let Edward's gentle touch soothe me, pushing those thoughts away for now.
We'd figure it out when we got home. We'd figure everything out, one step at a time, just like we'd promised each other.
Together.