Forbidden Essence

Forbidden Essence : Out in the Open

Forbidden Essence 

Chapter 25 : Out in the Open 

The sunlight peeking through the think curtains gave a warm orange glow behind my eye lids. I felt a smile tugging on my lips and felt oddly satisfied and happy, something I have not felt in a while. I yawned, stretching my arms only for them to colide against a grumbling figure. 

I froze in horror. Some one is in my bed! "Oh, the beauty has finally awakened." Edmund grumbled, and my eyes snapped open at the sound of his voice. Memories came flooding in with a such a vivid vigor that I was blushing to my roots. I bit my lip and fisted my hands from covering my face in shyness and embarassment. 

I slowly retrieved my arms and placed them by my side as my gaze hesitantly turned to Edmund's. He looked absolutely tired, but his golden eyes could be seen as he opened them slightly, watching me with a satisfied smile on his face. 

I expected the morning to be a whirlwind. Edmund taking a hold on me with a 'come hither' look while saying in his deep baritone voice, 'I love you' and I would melt into his arms while saying, 'Oh Edmund, I love you too!'

Or something along the lines of such delicate dialogue.

But nothing of the sort happened, the man went right back to sleep. I suppose I should have been annoyed, but since I had not let him rest all night, I guess he deserved to sleep. After all, I am immensely satisfied, and I was happy to simply listen to his heart beat and feel his skin against mine. I was not dreaming, and although it took me a while to finally adjust to it, it at last hit me exactly what had occurred.

The reminiscence was enough to make me cry. I slowly rolled away from Edmund to not wake him and quickly wiped my tears, my heart bursting with happiness. He was finally mine, in every way. This infuriating, brutish man was mine, and he had finally accepted me. I recalled his whispered endearments and blushed in absolute giddiness. King Reddings was right, even though he was an ass; I made Edmund care for me. Now, I only had Anne's words to heed. I must make him respect me, perhaps that is how his love will grow. Although a part of me wanted to believe that last night was acted upon love, I could not imagine and believe things that were probably not there. I knew I had acted upon love. It seemed like a dream, I could not believe that he lay with me, his body heat radiating to warm my back. His nearness made my stomach flutter alive with butterflies, and I grew nervous that I lay without an inch of clothing in broad day light. Yet, Edmund had shown me a type of love that I thought I would never have known, I was overwhelmed with my emotions for him - the fierce protectiveness that seemed to suddenly encase my heart for him. I did love and need him, probably more than it was healthy for me. Despite my endearing emotions, there was an anger deep inside me at myself - how could I succumb to him so easily? Although it was quite unlike me, I couldn't help but be happy with how it all turned out.

There was a lightness, however, a lightness that I had not noticed till Edmund had brought me into his room yesterday - and I realized it was peace. Instead of admitting the realization with a smile, a huge sob racketed my body, to my horror. I slapped a hand on my mouth and quickly reached to wipe my tears off, but a rough and large comforting hand slowly removed my hands. Edmund's thumb caught the fat tear that rolled down my cheek, and he turned me onto my back. I feared to look up at him, to see his reaction at my tears. I wanted to hide under the bed in embarassment, not once had I cried in absolute vulnerablity in front of him and I had not planned to change that. Edmund lifted my chin with his finger, his golden eyes searched my face, a startled look on his face,

"Why do you cry, wife?" his voice grumbled, sending sparks through me. I nearly sighed, but shook my head, laughing lightly, trying to hide my reddened face.