Modern Day

"You look amazing," Edmond whispered, his lips brushing my ear.

I lifted my champagne glass and took a small sip of blood, trying to keep from smiling.

Jason and Gideon's wedding ceremony was over, and now the guests were all gathered in the dining hall, the humans eating canapés, and the vampires drinking blood, while the ballroom was transformed from wedding venue to reception space.

"You're looking especially gorgeous yourself," I said.

In a tailored suit of charcoal grey, his raven's-wing hair tied back for once rather than spilling around his shoulders, Edmond was more beautiful than anyone had a right to be.

I'd always been happy with the way I looked, but Edmond was so ridiculously hot that I'd once worried that he was out of my league.

I didn't worry about that anymore.

The emerald engagement ring on my finger was a testament to the fact that Edmond only had eyes for me, and besides, I was feeling particularly good in this dress.

The green silk – same colour as my ring – clung to my curves and the front was cut low, showing off a decent amount of cleavage. With my hair curled and pinned up, studded with tiny flowers, and my makeup fresh and understated, thanks to Roux, I felt sexy and confident, and more than good enough for anyone.

Edmond's hand rested on my hip, squeezing slightly. "There's something I need to talk to you about," he whispered.

I looked up at him; his face was serious.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Not here. Come with me."

My heart was in my throat as Edmond led me away from the dining hall and through Belle Morte's hallways until we reached the library. What was so important that it couldn't wait until after Jason's wedding?

Edmond ushered me into the library and closed the door behind us.

"What's wr –"

Edmond's mouth came down on mine, hard and eager enough that it would have stolen my breath if I still had any.

He propelled me backwards, across the floor and over to the bookshelves, by one of the sofas.

"I'm sorry, mon ange, but I've been fighting not to ravish you since I first saw you in this dress," Edmond said.

"Wait, so nothing's wrong? You were just trying to get me away from the dining hall?" I said.

Edmond tried to look repentant, but his eyes sparkled wickedly. "Guilty as charged," he admitted.

I slapped his chest. "I was really worried!"

"I'm sorry," Edmond said, catching my hand and kissing it.

"You don't look sorry."

The sparkle in his eyes grew hotter, like a stoked fire. "Perhaps I should make it up to you."

He dropped fluidly to his knees, graceful as a cat, and ran his hands up my legs, pushing my dress up at the same time.

"Your skin is so soft," he whispered, his fingertips trailing over my inner thighs, so close to where I wanted him to be.

"Edmond –"

He grabbed my leg and lifted it, draping it over his shoulder, bringing me close to him in the most intimate way, and then with his other hand he tore my underwear away.

"Hey, I liked those," I cried, half-laughing.

"I'll buy you new ones. As many pairs as you like," Edmond said, his eyes starting to spark red.

"So you can destroy those too?"

He smiled, showing a hint of fang. "If you want me to."

I didn't get a chance to say anything else – the next second his mouth was on me, and it felt so good that all I could do was groan.

Edmond knew exactly how to press my buttons, and he did so with his tongue and his fingers, until I was arching against the bookshelves, one hand gripping a wooden edge, the other clinging to the back of Edmond's head.

There was no lock on the library door, and on some level I was aware that anyone could walk in at any time, but it was hard to care – hard to even think – when Edmond Dantès had his mouth on me like this.

"Oh my god," I whimpered, as his tongue hit the sweet spot, over and over again, and Edmond covered my mouth with one hand, laughing under his breath.

"Keep your voice down," he said.

I can't, I thought, because I couldn't say it.

I tightened my grip on the back of his head, and Edmond's eyes met mine, shining so red they were like melted rubies. I didn't need a mirror to know my eyes were the same colour. He grinned up at me, his fangs gleaming white, and then his grip on my mouth tightened as he lowered his head again.

Under the relentless, delicious friction of his mouth, my skin felt like it was catching fire. I was shaking and shuddering, and if Edmond's hand hadn't been over my mouth, I would've been screaming. I was so close to tipping over that edge, Edmond pushing me closer and closer, until I finally fell, plunging into raw sensation.

But Edmond didn't stop, and before I knew it, he was pushing me back to that edge again, my thighs shaking, almost too weak to hold me up. Desperate noises were muffled by his hand, and then I was falling again. This time my legs buckled, and Edmond guided me to the floor as I rode the waves of pure pleasure.

Then he finally took his hand away from my mouth.

"I love you," I said, my throat slightly hoarse.

"I know." Edmond sounded as smug as he looked.

"That was amazing. Seriously amazing."

"I'm glad to hear it, but that was only the rehearsal. You'll get the main performance tonight, after the wedding."

I propped myself on my elbows so I could look at him, sprawled between my legs.

"You're going to kill me with orgasms, aren't you?" I said.

He gave a fanged smile. "Later. For now, we'd better get back to the reception."

He pulled my dress down, smoothing the silk, and then helped me to my feet. My torn underwear lay on the floor a foot or so away.

"I'm not spending the rest of the day commando," I said.

Edmond smiled, his eyes heating again.

"Seriously, I'm not." I picked up my underwear, but with no pockets to put them in, I had to crumple them in my hand. "I need to get some new ones."

"I'll come with you," Edmond said.

I put a hand on his chest. "I don't think so. We both go to our bedroom and we won't be coming out for a while, will we?"

Another wicked smile. "I already told you, the main performance will be later. I'm very capable of restraining myself until then."

"I'm not entirely sure I believe you."

Edmond's voice dropped to a velvet purr. "Waiting will only make it sweeter."

Okay, that I could believe.

Edmond put his hand over his heart. "I solemnly swear that I will not give you another orgasm until the reception finishes."

"Okay."

"And when it does finish," Edmond continued, his French lilt rubbing over me like a caress, "I'm going to make you come so hard you forget your name."

Suddenly my mouth was dry as sandpaper. "Okay," I croaked again, unable to think of anything more eloquent.

Edmond patted my butt. "Now come on, mon ange. Let's get you some new underwear."

We hadn't been that long, but when we returned to the dining hall, Jason gave me a huge grin and a wink, and I remembered what he'd said this morning – that Edmond would come in his pants the moment he saw me in this dress. He hadn't been entirely wrong.

I smiled innocently back. If he asked, I'd deny everything – at least for today.

Today was his day – his and Gideon's.

Edmond handed me a champagne glass of blood. "Je t'aime, et je vais vous aimer eternellement," he murmured.

"Je t'aime, avec chaque soufflé dans mons corps," I replied.

Edmond raised a dark eyebrow. "You don't have breath," he pointed out.

"Don't ruin my romantic declaration with facts."

"My apologies."

Eventually, we started to filter back into the ballroom, where the chairs that had been arranged for the ceremony itself had been cleared away, and the live band had set up in the corner. The lights were dimmed, giving the room a lovely, twilight glow.

I held out my hand to Edmond. "Are you ready to get your feet trampled on?"

"With you, mon ange, I'm ready for anything."

Translations:

Je t'aime, et je vais vous aimer eternellement - I love you, and I will love you forever

Je t'aime, avec chaque soufflé dans mons corps - I love you, with every breath in my body

See you all next week, when we're delving back into Edmond's history :)