Page 65 of Revenge

He drew back, eyes shining with remorse, and pressed his lips against mine in the softest and most bitter-sweet of kisses. Over the past weeks, I’d connected with Edward more deeply than I had with any other boy. He had opened his heart to me, laid himself bare, and I had used it to manipulate evidence against him that could result in a sentence for money laundering.

I moved my lips against his, luxuriating in our connection. The layers of resentment I’d used to wrap my heart unwound, leaving one that ached with the need to confess. I’d seen the broken soul behind his cruel majesty, and it was beautiful. His kiss filled my empty, treacherous heart, making my head spin. I couldn’t tell him the truth. I couldn’t cause him further pain, and I couldn’t subject myself to another gauntlet.

“I love you,” he murmured into the kiss.

My heart stilled. “What?”

“I’m sorry for ever doubting you.”

“I…”

He placed a finger on my lips. “You don’t have to speak. Just let me make it up to you.”

This time, when we kissed, he gave me no assurances that he would be a gentleman, and I didn’t ask for any. It was hot. Demanding. Arms of steel held me in place, and his tongue devoured my mouth as if committing me to memory. I threw my head back and surrendered. This would be our last kiss, and I would treasure it for an eternity.

I had defeated him. Defeated the entire triumvirate and exposed their weaknesses to the country. No longer was I that betrayed and beaten girl who had to be dragged to the headmaster’s office, humiliated and disheveled. I would leave Mercia Academy triumphant. But first, I would leave Edward with something that proved the extent of my true affection.

“Sofa,” I gasped out between kisses.

He lowered me onto the leather Chesterfield and sat at my side. I placed both hands on his shoulders and pushed him onto his back. Edward’s brows quirked up. “Taking charge?”

“Taking what I need.” I straddled his hips, smoothing my hands over the planes and contours of his clothed torso.

Edward growled and pulled me down toward him, resuming our kiss. With hands so eager that they shook, I slipped off his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and marveled at the tight muscles of his chest and abs. His nipples were pale and pink and puckered. I pinched one between my thumb and forefinger. His eyes rolled back, and the erection beneath me twitched. Heat flooded my core, accompanied by an aching, throbbing wetness.

A smile danced over my lips. Edward was so pliant, so responsive. I leaned forward and flicked my tongue over a nipple, enjoying his bucking and hisses. Then I reached for his belt.

“Emilia.” The words came out like a gasp, and his hand encircled my wrists. “Are you sure—”

“I’ve wanted you for ages. Let me do this.”

Excitement flared in his blue eyes like lightning reflecting over an ocean. He released my wrists and placed his hands on my hips. “As you wish.”

Keeping my gaze locked on his, I scooted down off his hips, unbuckled his belt, unzipped his slacks, and pulled down the waistband of his underpants. The tip of his penis popped out, making my mouth water. I wrapped my fingers around his shaft. The skin was as smooth as gossamer, but veins pulsed beneath the warm, thickening flesh. Edward hissed through his teeth.

Triumph flared across my chest at having made Edward Mercia hiss. I pumped up and down, watching his expression for more changes. Puffs of air escaped his lips, and tiny beads of sweat gathered on his hairline.

“Emilia,” he rasped.

Before he could complete his sentence, I lowered my lips to his pink, bulbous tip and darted out my tongue to taste him.

With a low moan, Edward’s hips arched off the sofa.

I held him down. “Stay still, or I’ll stop.”

“Y-yes.”

I ran my tongue up his shaft, enjoying the way Edward shook and twitched at my command. This was the guy with the regal grace and the commanding voice, lying beneath me, shivering under my touch. Seeing him so undone sent tingles up and down my core. I sucked the entire head into my mouth and made him whimper.

My other hand wrapped around his base, and I pumped up and down while savoring his reddened flesh.

“E-Emilia,” he gasped out. “I won’t last much longer if you continue to do this.”

“Do you have a condom?” I asked.

Heat flared in his eyes. “There’re in the inside pocket of my blazer.”

“Get it, then.” I rose onto my knees