Page 50 of Bed of Thorns

Only I prayed we wouldn’t be moths driven too close to the flames, passion becoming our death march. He exuded warmth, as though his skin was exploding from a fire that had been kept alive for years. I sensed his needs increasing yet he was taking his time, rolling the rough pads of his fingers up and down aimlessly. Then he intertwined our fingers together, taking a deep breath. When he finally released it, I closed my eyes as the delicate waft tickled my senses.

“What do you wish for?” he asked so quietly I had to think about what he was saying.

“Happiness.”

“What do you feel right now?”

Nervousness. Worry. Anxiety. Passion. Love.“Everything. What do you wish for?”

He chuckled against my ear, keeping his hold as he aimlessly rubbed me. “Just a chance at that happiness you mentioned.”

His words were haunting, but entirely different than before. He was resigned to accepting life the way it was. In truth, that created a sense of relief.

The moment of silence between us wasn’t awkward, just peaceful, his breathing no longer ragged. The feel of having his arms around me was the best moment of the day, although visions of the morning’s passion continued to play out in my mind. I could spend every night like this.

“I have a surprise inside, well, a few of them actually,” He nipped my earlobe, pulling me as tightly against his chest as possible.

“Uh-oh. What did you do?”

“You’ll see.”

I punched him with my elbow playfully, leaning forward so I could tip my head over my shoulder. “You’re full of surprises.”

“Well…” He shifted away by several inches, gently pressing his palm against the side of my face. “I accepted a job position today.”

“What?” Where had this come from?

“Adam’s friend is indeed a well-known financial advisor. While he provided the seed money my cellmate had promised, he suggested something different.”

“O-kay.” As he told me about the offer, he became more animated. And even in the slender light of the moon as it continued to rise from the ocean waters, I could see excitement in his eyes.

“Of course, I have to pass several tests, which means I’ll be spending a significant amount of time studying, I think the compromise is more in line with what you’d like to see me do.”

I twisted my body around, taking his hands into mine. “Edmond. You can’t live your life the way you think I want you to. That’s not healthy for either one of us. You do what you want. You have dreams and aspirations. I never want to hear you say you hate your life or that I kept you from achieving your goals.”

His grip on my hands tightened. “You don’t understand, Mercedes. I will do everything in my power to make you happy. You’re the only thing in this life that matters to me. You’re the stars in the sky, the bright sun on a spring morning. You’re the reason flowers bloom and birds sing. You were my life savior, allowing me to keep a piece of my heart and soul. I don’t care what I need; my life is nothing without you. You can never leave me. Never. If you do, I’ll wither away, returning to the angry man who is capable of violence, horrible deeds. I love you and always will.” As he leaned closer, I gathered a hint of bourbon and mint. While the combination was delicious, it was also dangerous.

When he pressed his lips against mine, a shiver tore through me, my mind reeling from what he’d said. I hated the feeling of fear creeping over me, pulling me into the shadowed abyss I prayed would go away.

A question played out in my mind, one so haunting and damaging that I suddenly couldn’t breathe.

When did love become an obsession?

He kissed me gently at first, sweeping his tongue back and forth, taking his time to dart licks across my lips. Then he gathered me into his arms, the moment of passion becoming more fervent. He thrust his tongue inside, wrapping his arm tightly around my waist and pulling me partially onto my knees. The taste of him added to the excitement that was already building, creating another firestorm.

I couldn’t seem to get enough of him, the longing replacing the concern from seconds earlier. Yet somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I couldn’t allow myself to continue spiraling out of control. One day the deep connection shared by our sexual needs would no longer be enough.

Then what would we have?

He was almost brutal in his actions, dominating my tongue, drinking from my essence as if requiring replenishment for his own. The past and future slipped away, the only thing mattering this moment. This exciting ravenous moment.

When he pulled me down onto the sand, forcing me to straddle him, I shoved the sketches aside, catching a glimpse of the last one I’d drawn. Him. His face. His smile. The fevered need in his eyes. What I realized was that I hadn’t captured the rendering of just a man.

In the picture, he’d become like a god.

The way he brushed his hand up and down my back continued to ignite the fire. I was hot and wet all over, the hunger just as unbridled as it had been that morning. With every touch, the feel of his cock pressing against me, I was becoming more unhinged, tossing away all my worries. He rolled me over, pressing the full weight of his heated body against mine, finally breaking the kiss. As he dragged his lips across to my ear then down my neck, I closed my eyes.

“Come into the water with me,” he whispered.

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