My brow creased as I held her gaze. “And now you want to die?” It made me angry. My words were harsh, but I just didn’t get it.
“That’s complicated too.” She tried to pull away from me, but I held on.
Our naked bodies pressed together, I wanted to remind her of what we experienced lastnight, when I felt I could stay in that moment forever with her and still never get enough. Words failed me. I didn’t know how to explain it to her. For once since I’ve met her, what I was feeling wasn’t complicated at all. My arm under her knees, I picked her up again and headed to the shower that was still running, running out of hot water in the back of my mind. Still grieving, Emery didn’t want to be kissed, so I lathered her up and got us both clean doing my best on her long hair. Then when I’d finished, silently, I dried us both. I rubbed my stubble in the mirror, thinking I needed to shave.
“Leave it,” Emery approved of my scruff. She wrapped herself in a towel, and I swept her off her feet again and carried her to the bedroom. “Not in here,” she pleaded, and I realized she didn’t want to be where her husband and his mistress had been. After laying her on the soft carpet in front of the fireplace, I got us a blanket and some pillows from the couch. Throwing Johnny’s old clothes on the fire, I stoked it until it roared. Losing my towel, I lied on my side, propped on my elbow, staring down at her. I slowly opened her towel, unwrapping her gently, trying to contain my eagerness but it was like Christmas and she was what I’d been wanting all year long.
Emery sniffled, she wasn’t crying anymore but it’d been a bad spell. “I’m sorry, Scar, I’m not feeling very good. Goodness, it feels silly calling you that.”
I quit tearing the paper. “If I tell you my real name, will you feel better?”
She rolled her eyes and smiled a little. “Maybe.”
Her tiny smile lit a spark in me. I wanted her for more than just easing my throbbing cock. “Well, there’s no maybe, it’s yes or no little lady. I tell you my real name, you laugh and give in and I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll never be sad again. Hell, you won’t even remember your own name. Or, you say no, and I’ll remind you of our deal and fuck you senseless anyway.”
Emery chuckled, “Well, sounds like an offer I can’t refuse but, first, what’s your real name?”
“Edmond.”
She sucked in a breath as she tried not to laugh, I could tell. “Really?”
“You can laugh, it’s funny, I know. So, call me Scar, okay?”
This time she wouldn’t deny me. I’d been good in the shower, ignoring my hard on as I soaped all the mud off her gorgeous body. I ran my thumb over her bottom lip, parting them before I leaned down.
She stopped me. “Why?
“Why, what?”
“There’s always a reason. Why were you named Edmond?”
Reluctantly, I propped myself back up to answer her. I didn’t want to talk about it. “My dad was some scientist, so he named me after some scientist. Why are you named Emery?”
“My mom was a Deadhead, you know the song, a friend of the devil. Well it say’s sweet Anne Marie, but she thought it said sweet Emery.”
I laughed, I knew the song. My cheeks burned with a smile as I realized she was already feeling better. She was all mine for the rest of the night, there was no need to rush. Descending to her sweet lips, I kissed her slow, savoring it.
She wrapped her arms around my neck giving in for a moment, letting my tongue hit hers. Pulling her head away she laughed, “So did they call you Ed?”
“That’s it, no more talking.” This time I kissed her, taking her breath away. After all, I’d promised to make her forget. Enjoying the softness of her skin against mine, I was slow, slowly touching her everywhere. Slow to leave her mouth and taste other parts of her, down her neck, her chest. Slow to find her sensitive parts but quick to enjoy her jump when I bit her nipple and squirm when my breath finally hit her clit. My tongue massaged her sorrow away, I hoped, as I kissed her in the most intimate way. When I finally entered her, I stared at her face, watching the fire dance in her chestnut eyes, wishing she’d never been hurt but knowing the pain she felt too well. Emery’s eyes were still swollen and red but shined with desire, a longing for me. I devoured her lips as I thrust into her. Maybe it was the fire light or the thunder that crashed, but I kissed her with the passion of a man in love, making love to her, something I didn’t trust but felt anyhow. Before I knew it, she’d rolled on top, and I guided her hips as I bathed in her beauty, the blaze illuminating her curves. The orgasm we shared hit me like a kick in the ribs. I didn’t need another and I was too overwhelmed for a cigarette. She lied on top of me, out of breath. Sated sexually but wanting more of her, I cocooned her in my arms and the blanket, her head on my pounding heart until morning.