Once Upon A [Hidden] Time - [Stolen] Series IV

CHAPTER 16

MYRA
18 JUNE 1415

I snuggled close to Edward, laying my head on his chest. Now I realised how exhausted I was.

"You must rest," he asserted.

"Hmm," I answered, inhaling his scent. "I am resting."

He chuckled. "As much as I want to hold you like this, you will hurt your back by sitting on these damn stones."

"I still like it here." I looked up at the sky. "It's so serene."

He followed my gaze. "I always wondered why you are in such awe with the night sky."

"Because," I sighed. "I don't get to see it every day, Edward."

He craned his neck to meet my gaze. "But now you do."

"For how long?"

He pondered my question. "Till death do us part." My back stiffened at his words. Was he exchanging a secret vow with me?

I knew he loved me, and I loved him back, but technically, it was his job to propose to me. Should I take a bold step and ask for his hand? Would it sound too desperate?

Before I could ask, he pulled me closer and planted his lips on mine. I didn't feel cold anymore, as the heat radiating from his body was enough to create a warm haven. Slowly, we were pushed down by our melting passion as Edward gently laid my head on the step, using his arm as a pillow. His other hand tenderly grazed my arm, my neck, my shoulder, and then my breast.

I sucked in a breath, my body turning into lava as he wove threads of passion around my most tender spot. He could easily figure out what my body desired, since it was screaming silently to make love. I didn't care if he undressed me in the open sky, right here, right now. But since he was the Prince Arse of Stubbornness, he would resist the damn temptation and consider it a sin before taking vows. I sometimes hated that he was such a faithful, old-fashioned Christian.

"Tell me something!" he asked, parting his mouth from mine.

"Hmm?" My eyes were closed, still riveted by his warmth. When he didn't say anything, I opened my eyes to meet his intense gaze. "Yes?"

"I had seen many women when my father..." He cleared his throat. "When he used to summon them for his needs." Even in the dark, I could see he was blushing. "Some would comply, while others resisted, but..." He laced his fingers with mine. "But comparing all those women with you, they were dirty."

"That's not a nice thing to say, Edward."

"That is not what I meant." He bit his lip. "What I want to say...umm...their bodies were dirty."

"They didn't bathe?"

"No, not that." He rolled his eyes. "They had hair everywhere like men, whereas you..."

I laughed at his comment. "Oh, Edward!" I raked my fingers through his hair. "You're too cute!"

He gave a sour expression. "You did not get what I said."

"I do get it, Your Royal Highness," I chuckled. "The women must have hair on their arms, their underarms, and their legs and lower region...that's what you're saying, right?"

"Perhaps," he mumbled.

"And you wonder why I don't have hair on my arms, and underarms, and legs, and—"

"Indeed!" Did he wonder if I had my bikini area waxed? Oh, dear Prince Arse of Stubbornness, if you had made love to me, you would have known that I had a complete spa treatment of waxing, scrubbing, and polishing before stepping into your time. And before my goddamn hair grows back, let's get laid, you idiot!

"That's because I had a laser treatment on my arms, underarms, and legs, and for my private area, I got it waxed before my engagement ceremony." I always had more hair than most in school, so I was willing to go through multiple treatment sessions to remove it all. Now that there are no razors here, I am glad I did it!

"Wax? As in the wax we use to seal letters?"

"Waxing is an old technique of removing hair, which is common in the Arab world, and even the French use it now. You apply it like a hot paste on your skin." I rubbed my hand gently on his arm. "You cover it with a cloth, and pull it in an instant."

Edward cringed at my gesture. "Does it not hurt?"

"Oh yes, but it leaves your skin hairless and soft like a baby's bottom." I shrugged. "But it isn't popular in England yet. It will take some centuries for them to adopt the practice." I chuckled again. "As for laser, it's a permanent hair removal solution, which is pretty new in my era."

"Permanent?" His eyes grew wide. "You mean..." He grazed my arm. "You will never have hair again?"

"Yes, where I got the treatment."

His gaze raked over my body, as if looking at me with a fresh set of eyes, landing back on my face. His hand gripped my calf, slowly moving my dress up. I had no choice but to bend my knee as his hand caressed my calf. Since I changed before coming down, and it was just the dinner I had to attend, I did not bother wearing any stockings and chose to wear the drawers only. "Soft as velvet, smooth as silk." He kissed my lips, which were already swollen from the last kiss. "And as sweet as honey," he whispered, his voice dropping some decibels. "You are indeed an enchantress from Heaven."

Though it sounded cheesy to me, I still clawed at him, pulling him towards me for a kiss, dimly hearing the sounds we both were making as we clashed in a desperate, furious rhythm. Our kiss prolonged for endless beats, hands touching everywhere we could deem fit, glorious sensations sending both of us to untold heights. It must stop if he didn't intend to go further.

I pulled away, catching my breath. The way he looked at me for a second...I thought he'd give in and forget his curse—that he'd take the risk of claiming me altogether. We both held on to our stares, fighting the battles within our bodies and hearts.

"There is a war waging inside me," he grumbled. Mine too, you idiot! "I want to make you mine, but I cannot lose you, Bellissima." He caressed my cheeks ever so softly. "Your presence gives me peace. Like I am on the shore of the calmest sea in the world." His fingers drew silhouettes, making my heart rate jitter. "And yet, whatever fire burns in me, this calmness soothes my festered wounds." His fingers gently moved down towards my neck. "You are not only a healer for Emma, but for me, too."

I did feel like slapping him across his face to bring him into senses and shout, Damn you, Prince Arse of Stubbornness, stop hitting me with your poetic words and do something practical. Do something to tell me how much you burn. But I kept my mouth shut. As much as I wanted him to make love to me, somewhere deep in my heart, I was also scared. What if this time, the curse did work on me? What if I died with his curse?

Closing my eyes, I decided to shut up and lay my head on his chest. It was the most comforting place in the world. We stayed there for a few more minutes, his hand gently caressing my back. I thought I could fall asleep at any moment, but his next question woke me up.

"How do you know the Medici?"

What?