Nine months had passed. Only two more months until my birthday and until Derek's deadline. But I was doubting. I hadn't seen Derek all that time and I had spent it with Edward. Even if I hadn't admitted it to him, he knew he was winning me over. But I was not going to let him hear it from me. I just had to hold on for a while longer until Derek came back and I was sure that seeing him would bring back my feelings for him and make me forget about Edward. You may wonder what happened between Edward and me that made it hard to resist. Let's go back to the day I had to say goodbye to Derek and went back on the ship with Edward.

I kept quiet most of the time until we went back home. I only spoke when he asked me to. It had been a month since my birthday by the time we went back. I locked myself in my room for several days. I only let the maid in for food and drink. Edward came every day to say good morning and good night. I heard his voice through the door, but I never opened. Until one day when he knocked and asked me to come out. He reminded me the deal we had of getting to know each other for one year. If I wasn't going to respect it then we would get married in two weeks. I said nothing. I didn't believe he could do it.

- You have until tomorrow. I'll wait for you in the garden tonight. Then you can answer.

That night I looked at the window to see if he was outside. Indeed he was. I wrote my answer on a piece of paper and made a plane with it. Then I threw it towards him. He took it and read it. A few minutes later, he slid a letter that smelled like his perfume and I held it close to my nose before opening it. It smelled so good...

"Dear Jasy,

Let's have it your way. But remember you said one week. If you don't come out, the wedding plan goes on and you will have one week left.

Yours truly,

Edward."

That was an interesting letter. Not really formal, but straight to the point. I smiled. I wanted to see what he was capable of. The game had started and he had accepted to play along. At least I was going to have a bit of fun before the second year was over. Edward wasn't easy to trick, which made it the more interesting. During that week, we communicated with letters slid under the door. Once I noticed he hadn't replied for a while, so I opened the door and saw that the letter was still there. I went to his room to deliver it, but in that moment the door opened and he came out. I got scared, since he wasn't supposed to see me yet. I tried to run away, but he pulled me inside his room and closed the door.

- Do you know what day is it today?- he asked.

- Not really...

- Two weeks have passed and you did't keep your word. Today you become my wife.

He took me to his bed and stood on top of me. I wasn't nearly prepared for that, my heart was beating very fast. I tried to get away, but he held my hands against the mattress.

- Wait, you didn't warn me one week has passed on purpose so that you could have me? That's not fair!

- It's your deal, your job to know how much time has passed.

- Please, I won't do it again, I will keep my word, I will get to know you, I promise. I'm not ready...

- It would be a lot easier for me to take you now. Why should I make the effort of giving you another year?

- Why do you care? You don't love me. The more time spent appart the better.

- I don't need to love you to make you mine. I just have to get used to the idea that you are my future wife and my body responds to that. I can have you, so I will. Nothing's stopping me. Why wait?

- But I...

- You are not answering me. Why should I do you any favours? Just give me a reason.

Then I understood. He wasn't threattening me, he was expecting me to compromise. Making me see I wasn't giving him any reason to do things my way. But how could I find a reason? The truth was I wanted to wait for Derek. Finally I gave up. I had nothing. No ideas. I couldn't concentrate while seeing his eyes so close to mine, gazing into mine and feeling his body on top of me.

- Please be gentle- I asked, closing my eyes.

- That's it? You're giving up so soon? Is that the Jasy I know?

- I just don't know what to offer you...

- I do.

- So ask, I will do anything.

Edward let me go and sat on the edge of the bed. I sat near him and looked at him. He took a glance at me and drew a smirk on his lips. I was not going to like it, but it was surely better than rushing the marriage.

- You will give me a mimimum of one kiss per day as long as I am here. If I go somewhere, I release you from the deal until I come back. If you miss one single day, you know what will happen- he held my chin and I swallowed.

- Kiss? Where...?

Of course the question was unnecessary and I knew it for sure when he reached my lips with his thumb, still holding my chin. By the third time he carressed my lips I was feeling hot and weak, as if I couldn't resist anything he would do. It was like being under a spell. Even if I liked Derek and not him, I certainly liked that feeling and I thought to myself he was my fioncé after all, so why not enjoy it? I could hide under the excuse of it being my duty as his fioncé. Derek had no right to tell me otherwise if he found out. It was his fault for leaving. Why was I making up excuses to accept his deal? After all, I was avoiding a wedding before time. It was a good reason. Yeah. No one needed to know how I felt doing it. I promised myself I would never tell anyone the truth. Not to Edward, not to Derek. I just did what needed to be done and enjoying the process, why not. I wanted to slap myself for being so easy to please.

- I accept the deal.

- You must know that this is about you kissing me. I didn't say I was not going to do that or more any time I want. And I only set a minimum, not a maximum. After all, I don't intend for things to stay the same between you and me. I want us to get closer.

- I... I... I...

Of course there was a catch. The deal didn't mean he wouldn't do anything and only let me kiss him. But that's what I liked about him. I was going to lose if he played, but it was so fun to play I didn't mind losing.

- What is it?- he asked, seeing I was nervous and stopped carressing my lips just to get closer to me-. Is there a problem?

- Well... I... no...

I made no sense. How could I? The nervousness was killing me. He was too close.

- Why not start now on our deal?

- Now?

- Now.

He kept staring at me and it made me blush. I looked at his lips and felt very unconfortable because he was looking at me, enjoying the scene.

- Could you... close your eyes?

- Why, too embarrassed?- he smiled.

- Please...

- Alright, but you have five seconds.

He closed his eyes and started counting. That made me even more nervous.

- 3... 2...

- Wait, wait!

I forgot about the embarrassment and hurried to kiss him before the time was over. But he moved his head to the side and I missed.

- That's not fair!- I couldn't believe it. He was more playful than I thought.

- Who said I would make it easy for you?- he chuckled.

- You just want to make me feel embarrassed- I crossed my arms.

- But it's easy, look.

He leaned towards me and kissed me. That was the first time we kissed. I would lie if I said I didn't like it. I spent the whole evening thinking about it and even when I was trying to sleep. It was a good thing I didn't. I realised the day was almost over and I didn't kiss him. He kissed me, so it didn't count. I went to his room and knocked. He told me to come it and I did. He was already in bed. Lights on, reading a book. He looked at the clock.

- Too bad, in a few minutes I was going to get you.

- I almost forgot, but I am here. Let me kiss you, don't play any tricks on me.

- Let you kiss me? I never thought I would hear those words from you. Since you surprised me, I will let you. Come.

I went and leaned over him. Then I closed my eyes and gave him a quick and short kiss. I wanted to leave as fast as I could, but he held my face in his hands.

- You are blushing...

- Good night, I must go to sleep. Please let me.

He took his hands away and smiled.

- Good night, my dear Miss.

I went back to my room and stayed awake looking at the ceilling for a long time. I went to the balcony and stared at the sea. The moon and the stars were bright and reflecting on the water. Eleven more months... There was no way I could resist. I felt the need for male attention and Edward was there giving it to me. Every day for two months I had kissed him before sunset. He let me do it most of the time, but some days he did it too. We did many things together, like horse riding, strolls in the city, walks on the beach, shop for clothes and several parties. Soon autumn came and rain was visiting us every other week. One evening I was playing cards with Edward when I heard a thunder. Not only did I hate storms, but they also brought back memories from the time I almost drowned when I fell from the pirate ship two years ago. Edward saw I was pale and left the cards on the table while he came to embrace me.

- It's alright, I'm here.

I stood up and hugged him as well. It didn't stop. It was time to go to bed but I wasn't even sleepy. Edward took me to my room and waited until I was in bed. He wished me good night and said to go to him if I needed anything. I smiled, but as soon as he left my room, I started feeling scared. I managed to sleep, but I had a nightmare about being hit by lightning while struggling not to drown in the sea. I woke up crying and ran to Edward's room. I did't even knock. I opened the door and walked to his bed. The wind opened the window and made the door close suddenly. Edward woke up from the noise and saw me standing next to his bed, getting wet from the rain that came through the window. He got up and closed it. Then he dried me up with a towel.

- You are shivering... Are you cold or afraid?

- I... had a nightmare... Lightning... Drowning...

- You can sleep with me tonight.

I got in bed with him and started to warm up and calm down. It didn't take long before I fell asleep in his arms. The storm lasted two more days, so I stood by his side day and night until it was over. Still half a year left and it was getting harder and harder to keep my feelings safe from him. Our kisses started getting longer. Sometimes he would kiss me and if he saw I did't pull away he would continue for longer. I started losing count of the time they lasted and the times it happened. I was even starting to lose count of the months that passed. Until one day in the middle of the winter. He had to go. Seven months had passed. I was not prepared to be without him for a month after all that time spent together.