‘You know, you’re so sexy when you get like this.’
‘Like what?’
‘Inspired. Passionate.’
I grin. ‘I’ll remind you of that on the day.’
‘What day?’
‘The day of the ball...’ I wrap my arms around his neck, look up at him, my grin turning impish. ‘When you see your costume.’
‘My what?’
‘Did you think Prince Charming was just a name I’d plucked out of thin air?’
‘Summer...’ He draws out my name, his brows reaching inside his beanie, and I nip my lip again, bite back a giggle.
‘It is a fairy tale ball, Edward. Costumes are compulsory—especially for you and me as the hosts.’
He frowns. ‘Right...silly me.’ And then his eyes spark. ‘Hang on—if I’m Prince Charming, what does that make you?’
‘Cinderella, of course. Quite fitting, don’t you think?’
His smile is slow and sultry as he wraps his arms around me, holds me closer. ‘Are you saying you’re a poor mistreated maiden in need of rescuing?’
‘Hardly!’ I choke on a laugh. ‘I’ve never needed a man to rescue me. However...’ I flirt with the hair at the nape of his neck ‘...I will play the role on the day, if you promise to play yours?’
‘Clever, Summer, very clever.’
‘Persuasive, I think you mean.’
‘Clever, persuasive, cunning...’ he drags his mouth over mine ‘...and very...’ he nips my bottom lip with his teeth ‘...sexy.’
Edward
We race to the bedroom faster than is deemed normal for fully grown adults who should be able to resist long enough to pass the household staff without arousing suspicion, but it’s like we’re possessed. The frenzied heat coursing through our veins pushing out all sane thought.
Important things are checked off en route, though.
Rufus is walked, fed and watered, left asleep before the fire in my study.
James is instructed to inform Marie that dinner needs to be delayed by an hour. If he thinks the request strange, or our haphazard state of dress, with beanies, scarves and coats askew, he doesn’t even cock a brow.
And, unless the house is on fire, no one is to disturb us.
The second I have her across the threshold I kick the door closed and press her up against it. I can’t get enough. Of her kisses, her moans, her body—just her, all her. Two weeks of denying myself this has tipped me into insanity, I swear.
‘Is it locked?’ She hurries out the words against my lips, her fingers tugging at my clothing.
‘You think anyone is going to interrupt us after we specifically told them not to?’
She giggles, and the sound is like heaven in my already elated state. ‘Good point.’
I thrust my coat to the floor, kick off my boots, all the while walking her backwards to the bed as she does the same. Hats, scarves, tops, trousers, socks, pants, bras—okay, just one bra!—are thrown aside, and then her burning skin is against mine.
‘You feel so good...’ I groan.
‘So do you...’ She leaps up, wraps her legs around my waist. ‘Please tell me you have condoms now?’