Chapter 2 #3
Every word that he spoke was the truth. And while he saw much in the way of future problems when dealing with Miss Celestine, what he could say without fear of being proven wrong was that when their month came to an end, she would have no desire to remain by his side.
Just as he knew there was no chance that she would ever fall in love with him. Or him with her…
“You’re lying.” The shock left her, and it was replaced by defiant anger that he felt burning from her like a hearth in winter.
“I am not.”
“Why would I ever believe you?” she snarled. “After everything I have heard of you, this…” She bared her teeth. “This is a trick. You mean to use me somehow.”
“I told you already how I mean to use you.”
“And I should just believe you.” She laughed mockingly. “You are a rake and a scoundrel. Your reputation is worth less than the mud on your boots. I will not be trapped by you.”
Edward liked to think of himself as a patient man but there was only so much that he could take. And the way she spat her defiance, how darn brave she was… it irked him more than he liked.
“Careful now. I have been nothing but polite –”
“Polite!” she laughed. “You barge into my home and make demands as if I should be so grateful. That is not polite. It is… it is dishonest and cowardly and –”
“Enough,” he growled before he could stop himself.
Her eyes widened and then she smirked. “See! You are exactly as I thought. A wolf in sheep clothing. Nothing more.”
“A wolf, you say…”
Edward sensed that she was purposefully trying to upset him. And while he knew that he ought to control himself, he also realized that Miss Celestine was not the type to be convinced through sheer pleading and kind words spoken.
She was stubborn. She was arrogant. And women like that responded to one thing only…
“If I am a wolf than you are a sheep, and if that is the case…” He flashed his eyes, he let her see them roam her body, and then he pounced.
She gasped and stepped back but the door blocked her way.
He was on her, his body pressed against her soft curves so that he felt her trembling. One hand went to her waist, and he took a little too much pleasure in feeling her softness beneath her gown. The other went to her throat… then to her chin, which he forced to look up as he towered over her.
“The problem with you, Miss Celestine, is that you have lived a life without consequence. No doubt there are many who you can speak to like that in your world. But this is my world, and I will not be spoken down to.” He forced her to look into his eyes, and he made sure that she saw the fire burning behind them.
“I… I…”
“What?” he growled as he leaned into her, pressing his body so that he felt her tremble. “Are you trying to apologize?”
“No.” She flashed her eyes at him. “Never.”
He chuckled, just as he felt that fire in him burn so hot that he could hardly control himself. He could smell her. He could feel her. And his eyes flicked to her soft lips… her pink skin… and oh, how he wanted to put her in her place.
“My words are real,” he growled to her, making sure to hold her against the door.
“My offer is real. One month is all that I require of you. No more, no less. I will not beg. I will not plead. But I will be expecting an answer…” Shaking, unable to help himself, he leaned in.
She turned her head away, exposing the side of her face, and his lips when to her ear.
They found her earlobe, they wrapped it, sucked and nibbled, and he heard her moan.
“Think on what I have said,” he breathed into her ear.
“And the next time I see you, I will expect an answer.”
“You have my answer,” she said, her voice cracking.
“No,” he chuckled darkly. “Not the answer I want.”
He held her to the door for a moment longer. He kept one hand under her chin, but with her face turned away. He felt her tremble. He felt her breathing erupt. Just as he felt his own self-control slowly fading to a point where he had to stop, lest he lose himself entirely.
“Next time.” He released her and stepped back. “Think of my offer. Think of what it will give you. And most of all, think of what it will do for your sisters.” He took another step back and straightened. “You might hate me, but you love them, and that is why I know you will say yes.”
“I… I…” She forced herself to look at him, but the fire in her eyes was gone. She looked confused and unsure like she never had before.
“Not now,” he said. “Later.” He stepped toward her, she flinched, and he reached around to pop the door open. “It was good speaking to you, Miss Celestine. Always a pleasure.” With that, he walked through the doors and left Miss Celestine trembling behind him.
It was only once he was back on his horse that Edward reckoned with what had just happened.
Had he not chosen Miss Celestine precisely because she was the one person who would be able to refuse him, as he would be able to refuse her?
But what just happened… maybe this isn’t nearly as good of an idea as I thought.