by L. Nicole
“No. There was no reason to. His allies had been set with his first marriage. He has women of course…”
Now, it’s her voice that sounds bitter.
“You don’t sound as if you approve,” I murmur, studying her.
“If he cared about a woman in his life, perhaps. Instead, he seems perfectly content with having a harem of women and alternating which one scratches his itch,” she mumbles.
Definitely bitter.
“If they’re happy, should it matter?”
“Spoken like a man. Although, I suppose my husband-to-be will have other women too. My father always did when my mother was alive.”
I frown, because clearly the way we grew up is completely different. Suddenly, I can see why Margarita is dreading her marriage so much. I can see why she harbors disbelief about love and relationships in general. Why am I starting to feel like the deck is stacked against me?
“You would be okay with that?” I ask and suddenly I’m pissed off. Her father is an idiot, if he raised his daughter to believe any of this bullshit is okay.
“I guess. I mean it’s not like I’m in love with him or anything,” she mumbles.
I reach down and take off her sunglasses. I want to see her face. Those big, beautiful, chocolate drop eyes look at me and the sadness in them tugs at something deep inside of me. Something that I’m not sure worked before I finally got a taste of Margarita.
“If he even looks at another woman while you’re in his bed, Ree. Then, he is a stupid fool.”
“Eddie.”
“I can tell you right now, Ree, that while you’re in my bed, I will never even look at another woman.”
“You’re just saying that because it’s part of our bargain,” she replies, discounting my words.
“Bullshit. You’re everything a man could want, Ree. What you’re talking about might be acceptable in some cultures, but it’s not something that should ever happen in a marriage. Hell, in exclusive relationships in general.”
Her hand reaches up, the pads of her fingers brushing against my cheek, and she studies my face.
“I wish…”
“What do you wish, Princess?”
“That I was free…”
The urge to lay my cards on the table is so strong that it nearly suffocates me. I force it down. Now, is not the time. I need to tie her to me; I need to gain her heart…her love. Maybe I’m fooling myself, but I feel like it’s right there for me to grab and I don’t want to accept less. I want everything Margarita has to offer.
“You look pretty free to me, Ree—like a goddess, a siren of the sea, calling to her man and bewitching him.”
“I must not be, because I’m still a virgin,” she murmurs, her eyes heating to a deeper color, full of desire.
“Then, perhaps it’s time I take care of that issue.”
“Here?” she asks, looking around
“Right here and right now, Ree,” I respond, assertively.
“Anyone could see…”
“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll be on top. I’ll shield you from any prying eyes,” I promise her, with a smile. Then, I take her mouth kissing her with all of the desire she makes me feel.
It’s time to make Ree mine.
Completely…
11
Margarita
I can see the heat in Eddie’s eyes, I know the wait is finally over. After all of this time of dreaming about Eddie Andrews, it is finally becoming a reality. I push away all thoughts of how short our time will be together. All I want to do is concentrate on Eddie, on this moment, and enjoy it.
I have to make enough memories to last a lifetime.
I watch as he comes closer to kiss me. Eddie’s lips find mine. He seems to savor me, taking slow sips, allowing me to taste the bourbon on his lips from the drink he’s had. I don’t think I could ever get tired of his taste and again that thought enters my head that our time is limited. I ignore it. I can only think of here and now. Right now, Eddie and I are together, and that’s all that matters.
Eddie moves me so I’m lying on the cushion and then his body lies over me, caging me in. He feels like heaven against me. The heavy weight of him is more powerful than any drug. I can feel his hard cock pressing between my legs, and I squirm against it, wanting more. Eddie is being soft and gentle with me, but I need more.
“Eddie, please,” I whimper, my body desperate for him already.
“Is this what you want, Ree,” he growls, holding my hips and helping me to grind against his hard length.
“Yes,” I moan. My back bows, as I glide my hands over Eddie’s chest. The slight chest hair he has teases my palms, as shivers run up my spine.
“Look at you,” he groans. “Fuck, Princess, you’re so damn beautiful. It makes me ache.”
“I ache too,” I admit softly, my words somewhere between a whimper and a moan. I turn my head to give him better access to my neck as he nibbles along the muscle there, sending waves of pleasure through me and they all seem to center between my legs. I can’t remember ever feeling like this. It’s almost as if the taste he gave me yesterday has just primed my body for more.
More pleasure, more orgasms…more him.
I instinctively know that no one but Eddie will ever be able to make me feel like this. There’s a reason that I’ve been so drawn to him this past year, a reason that I craved to have him in my life.
“Christ you’re on fire, Ree,” he mumbles against my ear, biting down on the lobe, before sucking it into his mouth. His hand flattens against my waist, his heated touch just another element to the inferno that he’s quickly building inside of me. “I bet you’re soaked right now, aren’t you, Ree?” He rocks his body against me, letting me feel his hard shaft press against my center. He’s right. I am wet, the insides of my thighs are coated. Wet, slick, evidence of how aroused he has me.
Eddie’s hands find the tie to my bikini at the nape of my neck. He pulls it, roughly grabbing the bikini top and tearing it from my body. He leans down to kiss my nipples. They’re so tender, hardened with excitement, and the heat of the fading sun stimulates them even more. Eddie’s tongue darts out, tasting my nipples, one at a time. My nails bite into his sides, scoring his skin, as I tremble with need.
When he takes my nipple into his mouth, my eyes close. I swear, I think I come right there. The pleasure is that intense. My body trembles, wetness floods between my legs and I cry out, my hips thrusting up, trying to find Eddie. I need him so much that I’m near mindless.
“Eddie,” I protest, the sound little more than a whine, when he pulls back to look down at me.
He’s between my spread legs, his chest moving with his ragged breathing. His dark eyes are so intense, that I bite my lip in reaction. He wants me as much as I want him. I can read it on his face. That knowledge gives me a power I’ve never felt before, a freedom that emboldens me.
I keep my gaze locked with his, reaching down to untie the little loops on my hips so that the bottom of my bikini is undone.
“I need you, Eddie,” I admit, quietly, as I pull the fabric away from my body.
“Christ, what you do to me, Ree,” he rumbles.
Eddie stares down at my bare body, his muscles tight, his movements rushed, as he moves away just enough to free himself of his swim trunks. With anyone else, I’d feel awkward, embarrassed and maybe hide my eyes. This isn’t anyone else, though. This is, Eddie.
My Eddie.
I realize that’s how I think of him. That’s how I’ve always thought of him and probably always will. Tears threaten to sting my eyes as I think of the unfairness of it all. I don’t want to give him up. I’m not sure I can.
I push those thoughts away, and instead take in his body. My gaze drops down to his cock, hard and erect, the mushroom head, dark, ruddy, powerful and slick with his pre-cum.
I shyly reach down and I try to wrap my hand around his shaft. He’s so wide, that it’s not easy. I don’t know what I expected, but at twenty-four, I’ve never
touched a man’s penis before. I expected it to be hard and rigid and while it is hard, there’s also a softness to it. It’s hot and warms my palm in ways that make my clit throb even more. Eddie hisses, taking in a breath as I try to stroke him. I stop mid-stroke, looking up at him to see if I’ve done something wrong.
“It feels good, Ree, but if you do that too much, this will be over way too soon. I need you, Princess.”
“I need you too,” I admit, feeling too hungry for him to be shy.
He likes my admission. I can tell by the way his eyes deepen in color and emotion. He moves so that he can look down at me, and his gaze feels like an extra touch, the heated glance intense. His hands glide up my legs, as if he is memorizing every inch of me.
“You belong to me, Ree. You always have. I’ve known it from the first moment I laid eyes on you and so have you, Princess.”
I should deny him. I should remind him that what we are is just temporary. I should remind us both. The thing is, I know he’s right. I am his, I’ve been his from the moment I saw him. It wasn’t that I kept my virginity for marriage. I just never truly had interest in a man like that… until Eddie. So, I don’t correct him. I can’t.
His finger grazes against the wet lips of my pussy, and I watch him gather the moisture there on his finger.
“Eddie,” I plead, although at this point, I’m not sure what I’m begging for. I only know that Eddie is the only one who can give it to me. The muscles of my pussy clench as his teasing only feeds the fire inside of me.
“No matter what I do, Ree…” he murmurs, his eyes never lifting from between my legs. He’s staring at me so intently that I squirm, spreading my legs even more, opening myself wide to him, wanting him to see what he does to me.
“I need you, Eddie,” I beg.
“No matter what I do,” he murmurs again, taking a breath. “This will hurt, Princess, and God help me, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I want this, Eddie. I want you,” I gasp, trying to reassure him as two of his fingers delve inside of me. He begins to move his fingers in and out of me. Soon, my hips are moving to a rhythm he’s setting. He’s watching his fingers thrust in and out of me, as if it has him hypnotized. My eyes flutter closed as I feel my orgasm beginning to grow. After a bit, his fingers leave me and I let out a mewing sound, not wanting him to stop—it feels too good.
I open my eyes to watch him bring his wet fingers to my breasts, painting them with my juices.
“Eddie,” I breathe, not sure what I want to say. Then, it’s too late for words and all I can do is moan, as he sucks the wet nipples into his mouth, one at a time.
I can feel his cock brush against me and my hips rock toward him, as he bites down on my nipple.
I cry out and Eddie pulls back, his hand wrapping around his cock. I watch as he strokes himself and I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life.
“I could watch you do that all day,” I respond, blurting it out without thought.
“I’ll let you watch me some other time, Princess. Right now, I need inside of you,” he says, giving himself one more stroke. Then, he slowly pushes his head inside of me. He painstakingly pushes inside, stopping when I cry out, because it’s starting to feel painful. He looks at me. “Ree…”
“I…” I gasp, before trying again. “I feel so full,” I moan, afraid to move.”
“I’m not past your barrier yet, Princess. It’s going to hurt, but I’ll go slow and I’ll make you feel good before we’re done,” he vows.
“It’s okay, Eddie. I want this. I want you,” I respond, our gazes locked.
“I’ll make this good for you, Ree,” he reaffirms. Then, he looks down at where we’re connected, my gaze follows, wanting to watch as we become one.
“Ohh,” I breathe, as he slides in further, and then before I can say anything else, he thrusts deep inside of me. I cry out, unable to stop myself. Eddie is so big, wide, that it does hurt, probably more than I was expecting. Once he’s buried to the hilt, he pauses, not moving.
“Look at me, Ree. Look at me,” he orders, his voice raspy and full of need. I force myself to look at him, not wanting him to read the pain on my face “Breathe, Princess,” he orders. “Let your body relax, trust me. I have you,” he croons. I stare at the sincerity in his face, and the tenderness in his voice calms me as if nothing else could.
“I’m okay,” I assure him. He must have seen the truth in my face, because he slowly begins moving his hips. He has a hand on my hip, and he uses that to teach me the rhythm he wants.
“Wow,” I gasp, unable to say anything else.
“It’s good isn’t it, Princess? “We’re made to be with one another.”
“Mmm…” All I can do is moan my agreement, because he’s picked up speed and we seem to move together in a perfectly choreographed dance. I thought I wouldn’t know what to do, but with Eddie, it just feels natural.
Eddie kisses, me, taking my mouth passionately and I take his kiss, giving him everything I’m feeling without words. I can feel it building in me, huge, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I breathe, shuddering as the orgasm begins, dragging in the ocean air, the smell of sex and most of all the masculine scent of Eddie, into my lungs. Eddie is riding my body now, hard and fast, plunging in and out of me. I try to tighten up on his cock, desperate for the pleasure only he can give me. I feel his fingers sliding against my clit, as he continues to fuck me. That’s all it takes. I cry out his name as I shatter. I feel like I’m flying up to the sun, as a few seconds later I feel Eddie come deep inside of me. We didn’t use protection and maybe that should bother me, but it doesn’t. I don’t care.
Right now, in this moment, it feels nothing but completely perfect.
12
Eddie
“Ree! Where are you?” I call, as I walk through the front door. I went for a morning run and I didn’t finish my entire route. I was in too big of a hurry to get back to Ree. It’s been three days since I took her virginity and in that time, I’ve only become more certain that Ree and I are meant to be together. I just need to get her to admit it. I need her to pick me, plain old Eddie Andrews, over her family or her future duties. Maybe that’s being selfish, but I can’t help it. To me, I wouldn’t care about Ree’s family or what she did in life. I would always choose her. I don’t feel asking the same from her is unfair. Hell, it would probably be simpler if she wasn’t a Princess, but I’m not sure she would believe that. So much of who she is, her identity is wrapped up in being Princess of Macrai, that she doesn’t allow herself to be Margarita.
Except when she’s with me.
“Out here,” she calls and just hearing her voice eases something inside of me. I’m so far gone for this girl that I know there’s no crawling out of it. I’m not even sorry. I wouldn’t change anything. Having her in my life is all that matters.
When I make it outside, I smile. Margarita is lying on a lounger, looking out over the ocean. She’s wearing a soft pink sundress, her hair down and her full lips are smiling up at me.
“There’s my woman,” I murmur, bending down to kiss her. I meant for it be just a brief peck, but just a small taste of Margarita’s lips is never enough. The kiss deepens and she hums into my mouth as our tongues tease one another. When we break apart, we stay close for a minute and I just stare at her.
“You’re such a caveman, Eddie. I don’t think anyone uses the term my woman anymore. It actually might have been forbidden when women began having careers, not babies.”
“Can’t they have both?” I ask her, noting the sadness back in her face.
“In a perfect world,” she says the furrowed lines in her forehead deepening as her despair comes more to the surface. I don’t want that. So, I switch gears.
“If it makes you feel better, I give you permission to call me your man too, Ree.”
Slowly she smiles, her eyes lighting, the sadness banished—at least for a moment.
“That’s awfully nice of you,” she laughs.
“I thought so. Just remember, the next time we’re out, and some man tries to hit on you, just tell them you have a man.”
“You’re crazy,” she admonishes, quietly.
“Over you, definitely,” I reply, kissing her again before moving away.
“Come back here and love on me,” she whines.
“I need a shower, Princess. Running is hard work,” I joke.
“I like you all sweaty and smelly,” she pouts.
“That’s because you’re usually the one to get me that way.” I feel this satisfaction as I sit on the lounger beside her. This is exactly what I’ve wanted for the last year, only it’s better than I imagined.
“Semantics,” she dismisses. “So, tell me, my man, what’s on the agenda for today?”
“Anything my woman desires. You name it, Ree, and we will do it.”
“Will you kill me if I said I’d like to go sightseeing?” she questions. She tentative in her request, almost shy.
“Of course not, why would you think that? I think that sounds like a great idea. We could drive up the coast and to Seven-mile and snorkel? Or would you rather go to the Turtle Centre and see the displays? We could even go to the Crystal Caves. You tell me, Princess.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asks, studying me.
“Of course not. I get to spend the day with you, Ree. Do you have any idea how much pleasure that brings me?”
She’s silent, staring at me and I wish I knew what she was thinking.
“I thought maybe, you’d prefer keeping what we’re doing private,” she says uncomfortably.
“What we’re doing?” I ask, not because I don’t know what she’s insinuating, but more because I want to understand where her head is at.
“I mean, if all the girls on the island think you’re in a relationship, it might make it hard to go back to your usual life when this is over,” she says, avoiding looking in my eyes.
I bite down on the bitterness inside of me. I hate that she is still talking about what we’ve found ending. It’s early days. I need to remember that. Margarita is going to require patience. It has never been my strongest quality, but for her, it’s more than worth it.