Page 5

“I can’t show you.” The four most difficult words to ever leave Edward’s mouth were strained.

She didn’t know what she was asking for.

Mostly because she didn’t understand the depths of his feelings.

How if he started to kiss her he would be the one unable to stop.

But not unable to stop in this moment, he wouldn’t be able to stop as in for all future references.

As in, having kissed her once, he knew he would want to kiss her forever.

She couldn’t possibly know that, never mind feel the same way.

“Yes, you can. I’m asking you to.” Her voice was a breath on his jaw.

So innocent. So naive.

Needing distance, he started to push himself away from the door. “I can’t.”

But her hands were too quick, and both of them fisted around his lapels. “Edward, there’s no one I trust more than you. I want you to show me the different kinds of kisses. What if I do find myself in a situation where I’m unprepared.”

She had a point. He didn’t want her to find herself unprepared. Then again, he also didn’t want her to find herself prepared. Especially if it was for another man.

“Please,” she spoke on tiptoes, trying to meet his gaze.

“Fine. I’ll show you one.”

“Five,” she bartered back.

“Two.”

“Four.”

“Three.” Three? What was he thinking? He couldn’t kiss her three times and not walk away unscathed. But the hope in her eyes…he always couldn’t walk away from them. “That’s my final offer.”

“I’ll take it.”

Damn it. He was really going to kiss her. His stomach folded itself in half while his throat clenched around a giant lump.

What was the minimum he could offer her while keeping his sanity? He took a deep inhalation and braced his hands against the door again. It would be for the protection of his heart that he not touch her.

“One,” he leaned in and pressed a soft, slow kiss to her cheek. He could feel the gentle puff of air release from her lips, and it tickled its way across his jaw.

Damn. He was in trouble. He needed to stick to his plan. He dipped his head and brushed his nose against hers as he ducked to the other side. Heart hammering.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

“Two.” His lips found her other cheek and lingered. Infinitesimally longer than the previous kiss. Or so he thought. He couldn’t be sure. Time was a meaningless concept.

“Edward,” Lenora’s hoarse whisper was almost his undoing. He needed to stick to the plan. If ever there was a moment he needed to just stick to the damn plan, this was it.

“Three.” He lifted his chin and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. There. He had done his duty.

“Edward,” Lenora pleaded. Her voice was gravelly. “That was not three different kisses.”

“Yes, they were. One on the cheek—”

“Edward.” Her voice was more demanding. “That was just three kisses on three different places. You must show me more than just how my grandmother might kiss me.”

“Trust me. Those were not kisses from your grandmother.”

“Then show me—”

He couldn’t stop himself if King George himself had sauntered into the room. His lips swept across hers. Lightning shot through him, and one of his hands gripped around her neck. When she gasped, he crashed his mouth against hers.

Her hand was already in his hair. Gripping. Tugging. Pulling him closer. He dragged his tongue along the seam of her lips. She opened.

The most intoxicating taste of whiskey was on her tongue. Their tongues whirled around each other, dancing.

Her moans clutched at his heart.

When he pulled back to kiss down the column of her neck, she mumbled, “Oh my God, Edward.” And then she arched her back into him.

She was so willing. So ready. So responsive.

Damn it. He tore his lips from her body. To look her in the eye meant that he would probably see shock and horror. He averted his gaze for a second before he found the courage to confront her.

Her eyes were dark. But not in anger like he might expect.

Damn. Was that arousal he saw? Desire? He had never questioned his interpretation of her emotions before, but this was surreal.

“Edward,” his name was a plea dripping off of her lips. “I never knew.”

“Knew what?” He asked though he could predict what she was going to say. His passion was obvious for her, so here he stood. Heart on a platter. Served up to her. Completely at her mercy.

“I never knew I could feel this way about you.”

The words slammed into him. His shoulders curled inward at the impact. And her hands were fastening behind his neck. What was she saying?

“You were always my best friend. But this—” she blew out a breath “—is more than friendship. My body wants you.” She pulled him close, pressing her body against his.

“I’ve never ached like this before. Like only you can fix it.

Edward…” she moaned, lifting a leg up his thigh. “Please, Edward. I need you.”

Damn him to hell.

There was no willpower left.

“If I give you any more, Lenora, you’re mine.”

“I think I always have been.”

Hungrily he kissed her. Deeply. Ravenous. Even hearing her commit to him, he couldn’t believe he’d have more of her in the future. It was like he needed to taste all of her now, even though that was an impossibility.

“Edward, I want you…More…Inside.”

“I’ll be careful. But I’m not opposed to giving you a baby.”

Her moan was so loud he reached up to cover her mouth. When she stopped, he lifted his fingers.

Eyes flaring with hope, he witnessed her surrender. “Only from you, Edward.” Her words were a prayer. A benediction. A promise. Everything he had ever dreamed of. “For now, don’t be gentle.” Her eyes were fire and they lit up his being.

Hefting her skirts up around her waist, he dropped his falls and lifted her to straddle his waist. Then he used the door as leverage to keep her up.

Slowly he placed himself at her entrance while her head hung heavily against the door. He pressed into her with just his tip, and he felt every last shudder of her body as he eased himself in.

One of her hands fisted his hair while the other dug its nails into his neck.

“Edward,” she panted, “you feel so good.”

“You’re perfect, Lenora. Just wrap yourself around my cock and squeeze—damn it, you feel good.”

The mantra of his name filled his ears as he thrust into her.

“Don’t be gentle with me, Edward.”

“I won’t be gentle, but you have to be quiet, my love.”

“I can’t,” she whimpered.

“Yes, you can,” he grunted out on another thrust. “Bite down on my neck,” he instructed, tugging down on his collar.

Once her teeth were locked on him, there was no stopping the momentum from building. He thrust into her until she squeezed him dry.

Best damn night of his entire life.

But it wasn’t over.