‘Come upstairs.’
‘We’ll have to be quiet. Isaac...’
‘That’s okay. We won’t disturb him.’ He kissed her again, his lips so soft on hers. So demanding. ‘I’ll stop if you get too fortissimo.’
‘Funny man. What happens if you get too loud?’
‘You’ll just have to crack me over the head with a table lamp. Or suffocate me with a pillow. Plenty of options...’
A whole world of options, if those still waters ran as deep as she thought they might. More options than Charlotte really know how to deal with right now. But even that couldn’t stop her.
‘I’ll bear it in mind.’
He smiled, that quiet half-smile which seemed touched with every possibility that she could think of, along with a few that she didn’t know how to imagine. Then he gathered her close in his arms, lifting her effortlessly and making for the stairs.
Even though she’d been living here for two weeks now, Charlotte had never been inside his bedroom. She’d glimpsed pale, creamy walls bathed in sunlight when she passed by in the mornings, but had never dared to even put her head around the door. The first
thing she noticed when he flipped on the lights was that, unlike pretty much every other room in the house, there were no books. Built-in wardrobes ran the full length of one wall, and a wide bed stood opposite the window, ready to catch the morning sun. It was like a soothing blank canvas for the rich pattern of Edward’s thoughts.
He set her down onto her feet and closed the door quietly. Then he kissed her, backing her slowly towards the bed. ‘Do you have...?’
‘Yes.’ He moved away for a moment, flipping open a drawer and taking out a box of condoms, putting it onto the small table by the bed.
‘Thank you.’ He made everything easy. Thought of the things she needed as well as the ones she wanted.
He reached around her, undoing the buttons which ran down the back of her dress. He slipped it from her shoulders, kissing each inch of flesh as he uncovered it. The fabric fell to her feet and she stepped out of it, kicking her sandals off.
‘Say something, Edward.’ She suddenly felt small and fearful in the shadow of his bulk.
‘What can I say? You’re beautiful beyond words.’ He ran his fingertips down her arms. ‘I want you more than I know how to express.’
‘That’s...’ she gulped ‘...that’s just fine.’
‘Good.’ His fingers again, tender on the side of her face. ‘Because you put me at a loss, Charlotte.’
‘That’s just where we’re supposed to be. If we weren’t, then we wouldn’t need each other to find the way.’ She reached up to unbutton his shirt, pulling it open and off his shoulders.
She guessed she had his swimming to thank for the hard, muscular physique that was so good to look at, so warm and enticing when she ran her fingers across his chest. Each time he kissed her it was hotter. Deeper. Each time he laid his hand on her it was a little more demanding.
Before they even got to the bed they were both naked, trembling. He sat down on it, pulling her down onto his lap, astride him.
‘Here.’ He reached for the condoms, handing her one.
Slowly she rolled it down, loving the way that he gasped when her fingers touched him. Loving the warm feel of his skin when he pulled her close, lifting her. And then it went past loving, or adoring, or any of the other words that had seemed like something to aim for. Pure feeling washed over her when he lowered her slowly down, sliding inside her as he did so.
‘Edward...’ His name was the only thing on her mind.
‘Charlotte...’ He choked her name out, his hands twisting her hips so that they both gasped.
His hands, his mouth, caressed her. It was beyond bearing. Her body knew what to do, but he was holding her firmly in his lap, not letting her move the way she wanted to.
‘Edward...please.’
One hand slipped between her legs and she almost cried out. He was intent on wringing every drop of pleasure from each moment, and the only doubt in Charlotte’s mind was whether she was going to be able to bear it.
‘I...can’t...take much more of this.’
‘Really?’ His hand moved to her breast.