Chapter 298: Crimson Almond Eyes
Her legs turned weak against his onslaught as he kissed her.....hard, wild, and all-consuming. It was a staggering contrast to his gentle personality; Cece had never expected him to possess such a primitive, unbridled fire.
Soon, the two lost themselves in each other’s embrace, kissing with a desperate, frantic intensity. Neither wanted to stop; their hands refused to stay still as they roamed over one another, tracing every curve and line as if memorizing the other’s form. They completely forgot their original objective, no longer caring if their ruse was working.
But to the oblivious pair, it worked perfectly. The guards and maids who caught sight of the movement beneath the dark canopy of the tree saw only a pair of lovers passionately locked together. Blushing crimson, they hurried away as if they had glimpsed something sacred and forbidden, leaving Edward and Cece to carry on undisturbed.
Seconds stretched into minutes, yet they remained anchored to one another, unable to bear the thought of letting go. It was as if a dam had finally broken, releasing all the pent-up emotions they had suppressed for as long as they could remember.
They only parted when they were both completely breathless. Panting heavily, they stared into each other’s eyes, dazed and reeling, until the gears of reality began to turn once more. Their heavy-lidded gazes widened as the weight of what they had just done finally crashed down upon them.
They both opened their mouths to speak, but for a long moment, no words came.
Still clinging to one another as if they were glued together, Cece tried again to find her voice. But just as she did, Edward’s pale blue eyes drifted back to her delectable lips. He dove in once more, claiming her in another all-consuming kiss. He dominated the exchange completely, his intensity coaxing a low, involuntary moan from her throat.
He eventually pulled back when the need for air became too much to ignore. This time, he remained close, cupping her face in his large, warm palms. A smile of sheer disbelief played on his lips. "Finally," he whispered, his thumb tracing the curve of her plump, swollen lips.
"Finally, I get to hear your inner voice, Cece."
Cece turned a shade of red that rivaled a tomato, but Edward pressed on. "Tell me that what I heard.....and what I felt through your lips.....wasn’t just a figment of my imagination. Was it, Cece?"
Cece was completely flustered. Her heart drummed against her ribs, and a fierce heat burned within her as she stared up at him with her wide, crimson almond eyes. Her lips parted, trembling, but the words refused to form. It was as if she couldn’t quite register the weight of what Edward was asking.
"Tell me, Cece..." he urged her again, his voice dropping to a soft, pleading rasp.
"I....you....you aren’t mad at me?" she asked, her voice trembling as if the possibility of his anger truly terrified her.
Edward was taken aback. "M-mad at you? Why would I be-"
"B-because I did something I am not sure I was supposed to do....so....I..." The words tumbled out of her mouth in a frantic rush, but Edward finally understood the source of her fear.
His eyes softened to an incredible degree. He couldn’t help but smile as he lovingly caressed her cheeks. "No, Cece....I’m not mad. How could I be mad at something that made me feel like I was floating on air?"
He leaned in closer, his gaze steady and sincere. "I like you, Cece....so very, very much."
The confession left her speechless once again. "You... you do?" she muttered, her eyes wide with shock.
"Yes, of course I do," Edward replied softly. "I just wasn’t sure how you would take it."
"I wasn’t sure either... rather... I was scared," Cece finally admitted, the confession leaving her breathless.
"Let me hear you, Cece..." Edward murmured. He rubbed her lower lip with his thumb, his intense gaze locked onto hers. "Say it."
As if hypnotized by him and his searing touch, her eyes softened. "I like you, Edward," she whispered. Her grip tightened on his jacket as she leaned into his space.
A breathtaking smile broke across his face before he tightened his hold on her waist. He dipped his head to rest his forehead against hers, closing his eyes as if savoring the feeling of finally having her in his arms.
Though she was still flustered, Cece felt something finally settle within her. Her chest felt light; the heavy burden she had carried for so long finally lifted. She had planned on letting him know how she felt eventually, but the right opportunity had always eluded her. She was overwhelmed with relief to finally have the truth out in the open.
They remained like that, their hearts giddy yet at peace, until a faint whisper drifted from a distance. "Come on! Hurry up so no one sees us!"
The sound jolted Cece and Edward out of their moment. Their eyes snapped toward two silhouettes hurrying away in the darkness. Narrowing their gazes, they silently tracked the shadows until the figures disappeared into a far corridor attached to the courtyard.
Turning to each other, they exchanged a knowing look.....the mission had resumed. Without a word, they slipped into the shadows to follow.
...
On the opposite side of the estate from Cece and Edward, Ivan and Eve moved with purpose. Ivan followed the faint trail of voices he had heard earlier, his grasp firm on Evelyn’s hand as they navigated the deeper sections of the manor. Here, the layout changed; long, quiet corridors were lined with rows of rooms spaced at wide intervals.
Eve asked no questions, trusting his lead implicitly. Her gown rustled softly against the thick carpeted floor as the lights dimmed with every step they took, the atmosphere growing heavy and secretive.
Ivan paused abruptly in front of a specific door. Without hesitation, he swept her inside a seemingly random room and closed the door behind them, plunging them into the shadows just as footsteps echoed nearby.
