Edward suddenly sat down next to me, his long arm reaching out to pull me onto his lap. He was still damp from the shower, and when my fingers brushed against his skin, it sent a little jolt through me.
Edward reached up and pulled the elastic band out of my hair, letting my thick, waist-length locks fall loose behind me. He ran his fingers through it, his voice low and husky. “Did you miss me?”
The vibe was already so intense—saying I didn’t miss him would’ve killed the moment. I just nodded, a little shy. “Yeah, I missed you.”
“How much did you miss me?” Edward asked, his eyes blazing with heat, looking at me like he couldn’t get enough.
“So much I can’t even describe it,” I teased, grinning up at him.
Edward slid his big hand behind my head and gently pulled me down for a kiss. The sudden touch sent a jolt through my whole body, and before I knew it, my arms had wrapped themselves around his neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.
Edward was especially passionate tonight—things heated up fast, and we didn’t even make it off the couch. He always took charge in moments like this, seriously skilled, and he knew exactly how to make me lose myself.
Night fell, and the air was thick with longing.
When I woke up the next morning, Edward was already up. I quickly got out of bed, freshened up, and headed downstairs.
The maid greeted me with a smile. “Edward got up around five for a meeting. He’s in the study, but it’s a pretty important one—no one’s allowed to disturb him.”
I nodded. With his business all over the world, early morning video calls were just normal for him.
“Ms. Murphy, breakfast is ready. Please, come and have some,” she said.
“Thank you,” I replied politely.
As I ate, I could feel all six maids and the butler checking me out when they thought I wasn’t looking. I got this sudden rush of anxiety, like they were just itching to give Edward’s mom a full report on exactly what kind of person I was. Seriously, it was suffocating.
At around eight, Edward came downstairs, looking sharp in a suit. When he saw me, he smiled and said, “Let me grab some breakfast, and then I’ll drive you to school.”
“That’s alright, you can just have a driver take me,” I replied, knowing how busy he was. I didn’t want to bother him.
“I want to take you myself,” Edward insisted.
After breakfast, he drove me to school and made plans to pick me up for dinner later that night. I agreed, thinking it would just be a casual dinner, and then we’d have some time alone afterward. But when he picked me up at six, he brought me a gorgeous evening dress.
“It’s a friend’s birthday,” Edward explained softly. “I want you to come with me.”
I froze for a second. Was he really taking me to meet his friends? Was this his way of letting everyone know about us?
“Edward, we’ve been seeing each other for a while now. Does Ryan know about us yet?” I asked, a little worried. Honestly, if Ryan knew and didn’t object, I could finally feel at ease about us.
“I don’t know,” Edward replied, shaking his head. “He hasn’t called me. Has he reached out to you?”
I shook my head. “No, but I hope he knows and is fine with it.”
Edward reached out and gently ran his fingers through my hair. “No, trust me, with Ryan—even if he doesn’t blow up, he’s definitely going to make a fuss. You’re the first person he’s ever fallen for.”
My heart skipped a beat when he said that.
‘The first one?’ I wondered, a little stunned.
They always say your first love is the one you never get over, and I couldn’t help but worry about how Ryan might freak out when he found out. But no matter how he reacts, the fact is—he’s already married.
Edward gave my arm a reassuring pat. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
“Can you tell me how you’re going to deal with it?” I asked.
Edward lowered his gaze, thinking it through. “I might have to let go of some money, maybe even give up a bit of my family’s power.”