Chapter 40
E dward wanted to savour her. For the first time since their night in Edinburgh together, they weren’t hiding from anyone and were in no rush to be anywhere.
His hands slid over the silk dress covering her body. Taking his time, he gathered the material and slowly pulled it over her head.
He was on his knees, towering above her, not taking his eyes from the sight of her semi-naked body as he moved on to drag her knickers down over her hips and legs, and with a slight tilt at the corner of his mouth, he carelessly threw them across the room.
The curves and softness of her made him ache everywhere, and not just in his cock, which, to be fair, was straining and at this point begging to be inside her.
Lowering himself, he kissed her again, to which she responded, as she always did, everything about her so warm, open, and vulnerable.
She’s so insanely fucking hot.
“I really need to be inside you,” he said, his voice low and ragged. He needed her permission, despite the knowledge he already had it, but yet… he still needed and wanted her to give it.
She smiled and reached down, slowly guiding him towards her wet entrance, using her free hand to pull his hips closer to her, until the anticipation was too much, and he pushed deep inside her, making them both cry out with relief.
Edward was pretty certain that the world could have ended and he wouldn’t have noticed.
*
As they lay with their limbs tangled and breathing uneven, Edward pulled her close to him.
“That was epically good,” he whispered into her hair, kissing her head.
Scarlett nodded, still unable to speak, and he could feel her heart pounding against his ribcage. He released her for a moment to pull up the duvet gathered at the bottom of the bed and looked down at her. Her wild hair splayed out behind her, her eye makeup smudged, and her mouth slightly parted.
She was watching him, and at that moment he’d never found anyone as sexy in his entire life. Edward didn’t want to ruin the moment, but he needed to know. He had to know what had happened.
“What did he do, Scarlett?”
Her gentle eyes darkened, replaced by pain, and he instantly regretted his question, somehow managing to control the anger still festering inside him towards his brother.
If Leonard knew what was good for him, he would leave first thing in the morning and never darken his door again, because Edward wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep control of his temper if he was to see him again and couldn’t imagine that ever changing or simmering down, not even in time.
“You don’t need to tell me, but I would like to know.” He stroked her cheek, which was reddening and becoming hot.
Scarlett looked away, but he gently turned her face back to his. “I’m not mad at you. I know this wasn’t anything you did, but I need to know what he did. Please?” he asked her, his voice as soft as he could manage.
She sighed and swallowed. “I feel foolish… and angry. I knew what he could be like, but I never expected him to– I was so hurt and upset, I didn’t pay any attention when he led me into the room and locked the door behind us.
Hadn’t even noticed he had.” She swallowed again.
“He was just so detached, and I don’t think it was even about me.
It was more about him and you, and everything you had and he didn’t.
Then he kissed me and tried to… For a moment I didn’t think he’d stop, and I asked him to, but then…
but he did stop, and I told him he was out of order. He apologised and then let me leave.”
A violent storm brewed in his chest, so he took a careful moment to calm himself before responding. “What do you mean he let you? Was he stopping you from leaving? Did he hurt you?” Edward’s rage was eating him up inside, to the point he wanted to roar and unleash hell on his brother.
But he couldn’t. He could see Scarlett was finding this difficult to talk about, so pulling it together and gathering all his efforts, he swallowed it down, keeping his breathing and temper under control. “Scarlett, did he force himself on you?”
Tears filled her eyes, but she shook her head. “Only for a moment. I got out of his grip and got away before he could… Like I said, he then apologised, and I left.”
He looked at her for a long moment and then kissed her. He felt tears pricking at his own eyes. “I’m so sorry. You did not deserve that. Any of it.”
As if sensing his pain, she took hold of his face and kissed him back.
Barely removing her lips from his, she told him, “I took care of myself, okay, I’m not some damsel in distress. There was a moment I felt trapped and vulnerable, but your sad little brother wasn’t winning whatever sick game he was playing. I made sure of that.”
Edward was choking on his own emotions, but nodded, determined not to cry, or at least let her see. Instead, he rested his head on her chest whilst she stroked his hair until he pulled himself together.
“I might just stay here until they leave, or I might get done for murder.”
Scarlett laughed.
“I’m serious!” He was.
“I’m aware– that was a nervous laugh!” Scarlett pulled him closer to her.
Edward kissed her before moving onto his side, positioning his arm under his head and stroking the skin between her breasts, watching them rise with her now steady breaths.
“He will never get another opportunity to get anywhere near you,” he told her, in almost a whisper.
“I know,” she said.
He released a sigh. “I promise.”
“I know,” she said again.
After a long pause, he cleared his throat with dramatic effect. “So, what happens now?” he asked, looking across at Scarlett, who barked a laugh in response.
“What?” He shrugged in feigned innocence.
She smiled in response. “Dunno, really. I should probably clear up the mess on my floor and put my stuff back in my drawers.”
“And then?”
“Sleep.”
“And then?”
Scarlett laughed. “And then we can maybe go on a date, like normal people.”
He smiled at the dig. “ Normal people, huh?”
She nodded. “You know, I’ll get dressed up. You’ll pick me up, looking all hot and dapper, and we’ll go somewhere nice. We’ll eat and talk about normal stuff. Like favourite cereal habits. Music. Holidays. You know, like normal people.”
Edward leaned over and kissed her again. “You realise there’s absolutely nothing normal about you?”
Scarlett smiled.
He continued, “But okay, we will date . Like normal people.”
“I think that would be a good start. I’d like that.” Her contented smile made his heart crack open.
“Then I will make it so.” He pulled her on top of him, her eyes widening as she felt his hardness press against her. “In the meantime, though, before you come up with any crazy rules about first dates…”
But she was already ahead of him, taking hold of his cock and lowering herself onto him, moaning softly as she did so. “Zero crazy rules.”
“I find these terms acceptable,” he said, his breath ragged, pushing deeper inside her.