Sun rays pierced the window and made their way up the bed to Elizabeth. The light pricked at her eye lids like tiny needles trying to get through. She endeavored to get away from the morning torture, but was unable to move thanks to the heavy arm trapping her in place. Suddenly wide awake, the warm body behind her evoked memories of last night. Her lids opened as if they were a bucket on a catapult no longer being held down by the restraining rope.
The revived wounds from last night's confession were oozing with blood. After Edward walked away without a word, at first she felt betrayed and angry. He just gave up...no counterarguments...no fight....nothing. And the look of indifference written in his expression made her want puke or hit him with a club. Renewed feelings of mistrust encompassed her.
She didn't know what she expected from him. After all she just told him that he was the sole reason that her life was screwed up.
After the anger subsided, it was replaced with guilt and despair. She began to wonder if telling him was the right thing to do. Maybe she should have kept the past where it belongs. Would she ever be able to look at him and not exhume feelings of pain from past Edward's betrayal?
Rebecca and Bridget guardedly made their way to the fire in nothing but their under clothes.
"Want to talk about it little sister?" Rebecca asked as she pulled up a log beside her. She put an arm around Elizabeth's shoulders like she had done a thousand times before. And like in the past it made her feel better.
Bridget spread a blanket out and steered it to the ground next to them. Sand flew in the air like a tribal smoke signal. Finally settled, she turned her shy smile on Elizabeth as if to say "Okay, you may begin now."
A ratty small dog joined the gathering. It waddled out of the brush and settled in Bridget's lap as if that was where it belonged. The smell of wet dog was pungent and had Elizabeth wrinkling her nose.
"Where did this little guy come from?" Her sister was always known for bringing home strays, so this wasn't as big of a surprise as she was making it out to be.
The little dog stood as if to greet her. It looked to be a combination of a Terrier and a Chihuahua and trembled on his stick like legs as if he contained more energy than his small body could hold. He barked her way.
"He likes you sister. He can feel your sorrow. He said he would like to cheer you up and would like to share his bone with you."
The little dog took off and vanished under the cabin only to return with a small round bone in his mouth. He laid it at Elizabeth's feet and backed away. He stood waiting for her to accept his gift.
"Please tell my new friend that I am truly thankful for his kindness, but that I cannot take such a valuable gift. It would make me very happy if he would enjoy the bone in my place."
Elizabeth smiled at the dog and petted him behind the ear. Her sister spoke to the dog in a way only she could. The dog yapped again then laid down in the sand and began annihilating the bone.
The girls all laughed and watched the dog play. This feeling of unity she shared with her sisters was a bond that could never be broken. Not even after so many years.
"Sisters, we never spoke of Edward's betrayal. I need you to know that I didn't conspire with him against you. I told him our secrets in confidence and only because I thought he loved me and would keep the information private as his sister Mary had always done for years." She added, "I was young and stupid. Please forgive me."
Her sisters' smiles drained from their faces and was replaced with a gaping mouth and widening of their eyes.
"Elizabeth, there is nothing to forgive; how could you think we would believe that you were ever unfaithful to us. We saw how that boy treated you. And yes, we had our suspicions of his motives at first, but that young man did care for you. Sometimes ambition gets in the way of love, but that does not mean the love was never there or fictitious." Rebecca explained.
"Is this why you have been resistant and are inhibited when it comes to our Edward?" Bridget asked and she couldn't hide the sorrow in her voice. Elizabeth could not speak for the clog in her throat. Moister was burning her eyes and she had to blink the tears away.
"Our cousin is a compassionate and generous person with many scars of his own. He has battled with the pain left by his father for many years. Please do not write him off so easily. I think together you could heal each other's wounds." Rebecca advised.
Elizabeth wondered what scars Edward could be hauling around and who could have caused them.
As if reading her mind, "His story is not ours to tell, but you should encourage him to divulge it to you." Rebecca urged. "It will be the beginning of the healing process for you both. You must be open with him and willing to share your feelings as well. Secrets lead to mistrust and doubt. Talk to him sister. Just talk to him."
"I am tired and have sand in places I do not want to talk about, so I am going to locate a shower and hit the hay." Bridget got up from the blanket and shock off the sand. "Let's go dog." The dog abandoned the bone and followed her sister into the cabin. A light came on inside and they could see the figure of their sister going about her nightly chores.
"Rebecca, have you thought about what it would be like to be in love and be with a man?" Her sister looked uncomfortable with the question.
"This is one of those times I wish Mom and Dad were alive." Rebecca joked but then sobered. "To be honest with you sister, I have no clue. I have been so busy with taking care of you guys and working with the ailing, there just wasn't time for a man, but one day I hope to find a man that will treat me not as his support person but as his equal. But unfortunately, I don't think that man exists."
"Bridget should be out of the shower now. I think I'll take my turn and wash away the day. Good night sister."
After her sister left, the night sounds went with her. In the silence Elizabeth was left with her thoughts. Images from the past on replay in her mind. Edwards face both past and present flashed in and out of her thoughts. She felt a deep sorrow and regret down to her marrow. She grieved for the love she lost and reevaluated the reasons why she had built a wall around her heart in the first place. The same wall that now was showing fractures and missing bricks.
After a while she began to wonder why Edward hadn't returned. She began to worry about his safety and decided to wait for him in his cabin. The planks creaked as she made her way into the cabin and it reminded her of earlier when they met the voodoo witch. It seemed like days had passed since they arrived.
She went and stood by the window telling herself that she was not watching for Edward. Deep in thought, she didn't notice the tears as they began to run like a river down her face. Outside blue lightning flashed across the sky and clouds moved in. Instantly, rain began to fall and the weather outside was a match to the mood inside of her.
The more she cried the more the rain came down. She wasn't sure how long she stood there when the front door opened and Edward's substantial body filed into the room.
She watched in silence as he placed his jacket over the chair, and when his shirt came off revealing the most mouthwatering abs and chest, drool escaped and dripped down from her mouth. Her tongue pulsed and craved to slide down his well-tanned chest. She desired to run her fingers through his soft brown hair and make her way down his strong shoulders. She was imagining licking his happy trail when Edward undid the button on his pants. It was like he was striping for her. Her breathing increased with anticipation.
All of a sudden, Edward froze, and her mind shouted no over and over. He spoke but she couldn't hear what he asked through the pounding in her head.
She moved closer and rubbed the tears from her face. She didn't want him to know that she had been crying so she hung her head from his view.
By the time she had an opportunity to clear her face, he was raising her head to meet his eyes. What she saw in them surprised and amazed her. Adoration caressed her skin as he ran his thumb over the few tears still sneaking out and rolling down her face.
Before she could regain her senses, she was being escorted toward the bedroom. As bad as her body wanted him, she was still not sure she was ready for the tornado that would be Edward. But she needed not to worry because he was a gentleman. She could feel it in his touch how much it pained him to be a nobleman, but a nobleman he was. She was just as much disappointed as she was relieved.
Funny how she always assumed sharing a bed with someone would be awkward, but her evaluation of her night's sleep resulted in the best sleep of her life. And given how long she was known to nap, that was saying something. Edward felt like home and safety. She could stay here in his arms all day.
She backed herself in closer enjoying his warmth, but went tight when she felt his hard staff hit her backside.
"Do that again and you may not like the results." Edward moaned from a half asleep state.
"Sorry! I was just getting cozy." She said shyly and turned to face him. She kissed each of his eye lids tenderly and he groaned. "That is not helping."
He ran his hands under her shirt up to the spot just above her undergarments and below her bra. His hands were so big that they nearly wrapped around her ribs. Her back arched of its own free will. Her body tingled all over and the spot between her legs ached for a need she didn't understand.
"Elizabeth I want to taste you. I want you to detonate on my finger. Explode with pleasure for me." His lips kissed the side of her neck and worked their way over her exposed shoulder. His hand pushed aside the bra strap and his touch to her breast shot pleasure through her stomach and between her legs. She grew wet and the ach swelled. She wanted to beg him to make it better, but she didn't know what to ask from him.
"Please Edward I need you...."
"I have you my little witch. Open your legs for me." Gingerly her leg separated and his hand relocated to the vicinity of the throbbing. He pushed her legs farther apart and ran his hands up the inside of her leg. When he reached the folds he pulled back her panties. His thumb played and rubbed her clit until she was dripping and her body bowed toward his hand begging for release. He used a finger to enter where no one hand had entered before. She screamed his name and raised off the bed. With his other hand he placed it over her flat stomach and push her into the invasion. She felt so tight around him and the area pulsed and sucked at his finger.
"Let go little witch. I have you." Outside of the cabin despite the sunny day thunder ripped from the sky literally shaking the building. The room went dark as her body spasmed and a vigorous sensation riddled her body. Then she was like a leaf floating from the trees and gliding in the wind never to land.
When she came back to reality, Edward had his arms around her and was planting light feather kiss behind her ears and down her neck. "Thank you." Her mind had shut down and that was the only phrase she could grab onto from the clouds in her head.
"My pleasure. Trust me. How about breakfast for my little witch?"
Elizabeth could see how sex could be addicting. She wanted to stay in bed and do it over and over again. But really they hadn't had sex. He had selflessly sacrificed his needs for hers. Her stomach flipped, and guilt overtook her.
"What about your needs?" She could see his erection pushing hard against his pants and her mouth went dry. "No baby, you are not ready to go there yet, but when we do I promise to be gentle and make sure you forget that any other man exists or in your case existed."
He smiled and withdrew from the bed. He placed a kiss to her forehead and she pulled his head to her lips for a deeper kiss. He growled and stopped the kiss. She looked up at him confused and a little hurt.
"You are killing me here." Putting space between them, he backed away from the bed. She watched as he made his way to the bathroom. He looking just as good coming as he did going. Elizabeth wondered if actual sex with him would be better. For once she couldn't wait to find out.