The moon shone through the window and onto the bed and in the pale light she reminded him of a delicate porcelain doll. She was perfect. And yet she tried to hide herself, pulling her arms up to cover her breasts and looking away from him bashfully. Edward moved her hands away from her body, clutching her fingers in his. He kissed her knuckles reassuringly, then lay her hands to her sides.
He placed his hands on her hips, and when he looked to her face again, he changed his mind. She didn’t look like a porcelain doll. When he saw her now, with her hair splayed against the pillows, she looked more like those goddesses sculpted in white marble—so elegant and transcendent. The only difference was that instead of cold stone, Alina was real. She was soft and warm and alive and right here in his bed. Befitting of the goddess she was, Edward was going to worship her.
“You are so beautiful. My Persephone,” he whispered again, realizing how perfectly it described her. She gazed up at him as pink flushed her cheeks. She wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him toward her, capturing his lips in another passionate kiss.
He let his lips slide down her jaw and neck, drinking in the scent of her skin. Moving lower he explored her form, mapping each curve and dip with his lips, charting her body and remembering which areas caused her breath to quicken. Looking up to meet her eyes, he let her know with a glance that he would stop if she wanted. But she didn’t. She only seemed curious about what he would do next.
He slid his hands up her sides, following the curves of her hips, her waist, her ribcage, and finally her breasts, lifting them in his hands, feeling their softness and enticing Alina to moan gently. Her reaction earned a reaction of its own, stimulating the erection that strained against his trousers.
He needed her.
Lowering his lips to her breast, he took her in his mouth, teasing his tongue around the tip and making her moans intensify and rise a pitch. The peaks of her breasts hardened with her arousal, a shiver of pleasure moving through her body as she lay beneath him.
“Edward…” she said, her voice a breathless sigh, but whatever else she had wanted to say became lost in the sensations.
Removing his hand from her chest, he let it slide down her stomach, stopping where her legs parted. He moved sideways, caressing the inside of her thigh, making Alina shudder with anticipation. He teased her body for several minutes before finally giving her what she craved.
When his fingers slid between her legs, she let out a whimper louder than any of her moans. Edward smiled. He liked watching her come undone at the touch of his hands. She parted her legs for him, asking for more. He let his fingers explore her folds, finding her most sensitive spot and causing Alina to gasp.
He was certain that this was something completely new to her and he felt honored to be the first man to pleasure her like this. He rubbed her slowly and watched as she grasped the pillows behind her head, biting her lip to quiet her moans. Following the cues from her reactions, Edward repositioned his fingers and moved them a little faster. When he paused to slip two fingers inside her, Alina nearly cried out, stifling her voice with the back of her hand. When he returned to his rhythmic motions, he could see her body reacting. She gripped the pillow tightly and flexed her legs, pointing her toes. He moved his fingers faster and faster as her whimpers became more frequent, letting the pleasure build in her until she looked as though she might melt away. In one final movement to push her over the edge, Edward took her breast in his mouth once again, stroking the tip with his tongue. At this last touch, Alina fell apart. Her hips bucked, and she arched her back, trying to both escape his touch and reach more of him at the same time. She gasped in one final expression of pleasure before reaching out to stay Edward’s hand. He smiled, satisfied with how eagerly she responded to his touch.
She lay on her back and breathed heavily, her legs still trembling. Edward could see that she hadn’t been expecting any of that. He placed his hand on her waist, stroking her hip with his thumb.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“What was that?” she said, through her breaths, her legs still shaking.
“This is supposed to be pleasurable for both the man and the woman.”
“What about you?” she asked.
“I wanted to make sure you found your pleasure first. But we can continue if you want.”
“Please,” she said. “I want to make you feel that way too. Will you show me how?”
With a quick peck to her lips, he stood from the bed to remove his trousers, tossing them to the floor at the foot of the bed.
Once he had undressed, he returned to her to see that her eyes were wide and her body tense. She had seemed so confident a moment ago, but when she saw his naked form and thought about what he was about to do—when she saw what he was going to put inside her—she was beginning to have second thoughts. Edward noticed the change.
“We don’t have to,” he assured. “I want you to want it for yourself, not because you want to please me. We should go forward only if you want to and it’s alright if you don’t.”
“I desperately want to,” she said. “I’m just a little scared.”
“I’m sorry you have learned to be afraid of something that should be wonderful. Why don’t I go slow and you can stop me whenever you want to. I’ll not harm you Alina. Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she said.
He knelt on the bed and she placed a hand on his thigh, feeling his taut muscles as he knelt over her. She curved her hand around his leg and tugged, encouraging him to come to her. Edward did, positioning himself so that he was kneeling between her legs. He pressed the tip of his erection against her wet slit, causing Alina to tremble. She gripped his arms on either side of her on the mattress, her hands shaking noticeably. Edward paused.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked. “We don’t have to do this.”
Alina swallowed hard, still quivering. “Just look into my eyes and don’t let go of me.”
She was still so afraid. Edward wondered if he should stop anyway. From her experience, intimacy must have been a thing to be scared of—an act where she was left vulnerable and unable to protect herself. He wondered what was going through her mind. Did she think he might get so carried away with his own passion that he would hurt her or disrespect her?
More than anything he wanted to help rid her of her fear and show her that there was another way. That making love could be painless and enjoyable and never one-sided. He would help her forget everything that happened before. Tonight, he wanted to give her that gift.
He slipped his hands beneath her back, pulling her up into a sitting position. She moved so she was straddling his thighs, a leg on either side of him. Her hair fell over her shoulders and Edward brushed it back before looking at her face and kissing her again. He pulled her closer, closing the space between them. He loved the feel of her soft breasts pressed against his chest and could tell she did too as she pressed her body to his, trying to make as much skin contact as possible. He would hold her until she stopped trembling.
Letting his fingers slide down her back, he paused on the small of her waist. The curves of her figure were the perfect shape to accommodate his hands. He didn’t stop there, letting his hands slide lower to cup her bottom, lifting her upward in the process. With his strong arms he repositioned her, then broke the kiss to concentrate on his next move. He positioned himself beneath her then waited. When she was ready, Alina would take the next step. She was in control.
Edward pressed his forehead to hers and looked into her eyes, reassuring her with a glance. After a while, Alina's hands stopped shaking and as the fear left her, the passion returned. She kept her eyes on his as she slowly lowered herself onto him, taking shallow breaths and preparing herself for a pain that never came.
It took all of Edward’s restraint to stop himself from bucking and taking her all at once. He needed her so badly, but he forced himself to be patient, shutting his eyes to the sensation of her body closing around his.
She gasped quietly as he filled her. When she was ready, he coaxed her to begin thrusting her hips, using his strong arms to help her move. Edward thought the friction between them might drive him mad, causing him to breathe heavily as she moved.
After a moment, he could sense that her legs weren’t used to this kind of movement and they began to fatigue. He placed one hand on the small of her back and lowered her backwards onto the bed, her head landing on the pillows. She didn’t seem scared anymore. The only emotion in her eyes was desire.
He repositioned himself, then entered her again, watching to make sure that he wasn’t hurting her. When he only saw pleasure on her face, he began to thrust faster and deeper. He lowered his face to her neck, breathing in the scent of her as he moved, sucking softly on her skin. She moaned and lifted her hips, making it easier for him to slip in and out of her body. Edward was overwhelmed with the sensations as the heat of her body urged him closer and closer to climax. He marveled at her beauty as she lay there beneath him, her breasts bouncing with each thrust.
Her hands moved up his arms, finding his shoulders, and grasped them. His hips were moving quickly now, and his need for her grew with every thrust. He could tell she felt it too and lifted her legs to wrap them around his waist. He lowered his hand to tease her sensitive area once more, matching his finger strokes with his thrusts until she couldn’t keep it inside any longer.
“Faster, Edward. Please, I beg you.”
Edward obeyed, pulling one of her legs higher with one arm to give himself easier access. Alina pointed her toes as her body began to respond. She gripped his arms tightly and began to rock her hips to match his thrusts, creating more sensual friction between them. His movements were a frenzy now, his erection demanding the wet heat of her folds. His fingers continued to rub her center and he could tell it was bringing her to the tipping point. Her legs began to shake, her muscles spasming as she achieved her second climax of the night. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and she held her breath as she rode it, throwing back her head and arching her back at the sensations.
Edward wasn’t far behind her, his hips bucking faster than ever, panting heavily and driving himself deeper and deeper into her body. He needed her more than air, more than water, more than life itself. Finally he pushed hard into her and shut his eyes in surrender, crying out as he climaxed, the waves of pleasure washing over him like an incoming tide.
He slumped forward exhausted. In her exhilaration, Alina laughed as he collapsed on top of her. She seemed euphoric and Edward knew exactly how she felt. He smiled and wrapped his arms beneath her, cradling her small form as he lay there panting. His head was pressed against her chest and he could hear how quickly her heart was beating.
Edward lifted his head and kissed her, before rolling over to slump onto the bed beside her. He took a moment to catch his breath, then stood from the mattress and walked to the water basin to retrieve a clean towel. He cleaned himself up, then brought a fresh towel back to the bed for Alina, dabbing away at the mess he had made.
Their clothes lay discarded at the foot of the mattress and neither of them had any intention of putting them back on tonight.
“Was there any pain?” Edward asked.
“Not at all,” Alina said. She rolled over to face him and he propped himself up on one elbow. He held her cheek in his palm and kissed her forehead, then let his hand slide down her back and come to a stop on the small of her waist. Alina nuzzled her head into his neck in a state of bliss.
“I didn’t even know that was possible,” she whispered.
“I didn’t either,” Edward replied. “At least not like that.”
He gathered her to him and pulled the blankets up over their shoulders, wondering what miracle had brought her into his arms.
Chapter Twelve
“Why should we help you?”
The question came from the back of the crowd which filled the square. Most of the villagers were there to trade and purchase goods, but many had stopped to listen to what Rodderick had to say.
“Many of you know my wife,” he said. “I would think that were our positions reversed, I’d do the same for you.”
Still, many in the crowd were unconvinced and some began to shuffle away.
“This man is a violent vagrant,” he said, and the words caught some of the crowd’s attention again. “Our good friend Sykes was attacked by him.”
Sykes stood among the villagers and, at his name, many people turned to him as if asking him to confirm Rodderick’s words. He just nodded.
“He’s staying in the abandoned manor house on the mountain, no more than an hours ride in good weather. If we do not take action, he will think that he can take what he likes? What if your daughters were next?”
A woman in the front row pulled her child a little closer to her.
“This sounds more like a lovers quarrel,” the baker said, annoyed that the crowds were congregating around his stall. “If your wife has left you for another man, why should we bother ourselves with it?”
Rodderick clenched his teeth and was about to spew a retort when a third voice spoke, pushing through the crowd.
“Whether she has been captured by a dangerous man or has chosen to go with him willingly, both deserve our action.”
It was the priest who spoke and Rodderick hated that the people were more willing to listen to him.
“If the first,” he continued, “we need to protect our wives and our children from a similar fate. If the second, we must eradicate such sin from our midst. We cannot call ourselves Christians and let such things go unpunished.”
The priest stepped to Rodderick’s side and put a hand on his shoulder, still addressing the crowd.
“I propose we go to the old manor and bring this man back to the village. He is living in the house of our departed duke. That alone should bring into question what kind of a man he is. But, let us not make any final judgement until we see the man. If Mr. Dameron’s wife can be brought back to him safely, all the better.”
“I will be leaving for the mountain as soon as I can saddle my horse,” Rodderick said. “Who will join me?”
Seeing the priest’s support of Rodderick’s decision, several men stepped forward from the crowd.
❄ ❄ ❄
“What if this doesn’t work?” Alina asked, sprinkling the canister of salt that she had found in the kitchens into the large clawfoot tub in Edward’s chambers. The scarves drifted beside her, filling the basin with steaming hot water.
“Then we try something else,” he said. “You keep translating the rest of the book and we find another way.”
He stood by the bed and was removing his jacket and shirt, no doubt wondering why he had even put them on in the first place.
When the canister was empty and the water neared the brim, Alina put her hand in the bath, dissolving the salt and making sure it was a comfortable temperature.
“I think you should immerse yourself completely, just in case,” she said, and he nodded in agreement.
“Why don’t you leave me to it and go enjoy some breakfast,” he said. “I asked my mother to make you something special this morning. I’ll join you as soon as I’m finished.”
Alina nodded and left him to bathe, hearing the water slosh in the tub as she closed the door. The fabrics drifted alongside her as she made her way to the kitchens. When she reached the little table that she had eaten at her first morning, she found a tray of pomegranates and a little glass bowl filled with seeds that had already been separated for her.
Alina almost laughed at the gesture but then was struck by the tenderness of it. He had called her his Persephone and now he offered her pomegranates. But in the story, hadn’t eating the fruit kept the goddess in the underworld? Was this Edward’s way of asking her to stay?
She was reading too much into things. Shaking her head a little, she sat at the table and began to eat the fruit, thanking the fabrics for them. A napkin fluttered from the cupboards and landed o
n an empty plate as if asking if she wanted anything else.
“I’m fine. Thank you,” she said.
There was silence. Alina had a question she wanted to ask, tasting the words before letting them pass her lips.
“Do you like being here?” she asked the fabrics. “Do you want to move on and find peace?”
The napkin floated over to the shelves and rummaged there before returning with a small portion of flour and tossing it onto the table. An edge of the fabric fluttered over the wood and wrote a few words in the white powder.
I only want Edward to be happy.
“And what if the curse can’t be broken? Do you think he could ever be happy then?”
The possibility was a real one. Neither of them knew the first thing about sorcery or dark magic. All they had to go on was a few scrawled notes in an old journal.
The napkin brushed the flour into a small pile and scooped it up before tossing it into a fresh spot on the smooth wood. The cloth hung over the table, as if contemplating exactly what to say.
He is happy with you.
Alina felt a tinge of guilt in her heart. She knew it was true. She was happy with him too, but if Rodderick came—if she had to leave this place—what would happen to Edward? Would he recede back into the lonely, angry beast he had once been?
It suddenly seemed more important than ever that they break the curse. His happiness should not depend on whether or not she could be here. He needed to get his life back, to have purpose, and be able to leave the grounds. Only then could he be fulfilled. And as for herself, she was a married woman. Though she wished to never leave this mountain again, it wasn’t realistic to imagine that Rodderick would ever let her be.
Realization overcame Alina as she sat there with her fruit. She loved Edward. To the extent that she wanted him to be happy, even if it wasn’t with her. But the only way that could happen is if the curse was gone.
“I think I’ll go check on him,” she said, wiping her hands on a cloth and standing from the table. But as she turned for the door, Edward opened it and entered the kitchens.
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