The Heir and the Spare (30 page)

“Deal with things as they present themselves. Sounds like a good plan.” Preston smiled and patted my hand.

“Where's Edmund?” Suzy asked Preston as she looked around.

“Um, he sort of had plans.” He shifted uncomfortably.

“God, Preston, you suck at trying to hide things.” Caroline rolled her eyes. “Spill it.”

Preston sighed and looked at us. “Jax is in town and they're getting lunch together. Please, don't shoot the messenger. I'm no happier about it than you guys. Besides, I don't think he intended for me to find out. I ran into them on my way here.”

“Jax is here? Why?” I asked.

“I haven't the foggiest, but Edmund looked pissed. He wasn't pleased to be with her, if that's any consolation.”

It wasn't. Why couldn't she just disappear? “Whatever.” I shook my head and smiled, hoping my disappointment wasn't obvious. “What's everyone's summer plans?”

As they talked I only partially listened.
Just friends were they? I don't have to worry . . . right. Why the hell isn't Edmund telling her to buzz off?

“What about you, Evie?” Preston pulled me back into the conversation.

Summer.
“Um, I'm bound for Seattle.”

“Wouldn't it be easier to stay here over the summer?” Caroline asked.

Not if I'm not coming back.
“Probably, but I need to be home.”

“At least you'll be back in the fall. Hey, us girls should get a flat together; that'd be fun.” Suzy bounced happily in her seat.

Only if I'm here.

I walked into my last class and looked for Edmund, curious how his lunch with Jax went. He sat in his usual seat, but he wasn't alone.

You've got to be kidding me.

Jax sat next to him, in my chair, clinging to his arm. I stared at the backs of their heads, anger spreading from the pit of my stomach.

I ducked back in the foyer, trying to decide what I should do.

Do I sit next to him anyway? Pick a new seat? Skip class altogether?

As much as I wanted to call it a day and go back to the dorms, I couldn't. Finals were coming and I needed the lecture material.

Plus, why should I let her win? She may be trying to push me out, but I certainly didn't have to let her. I flipped around and marched back into the auditorium.

“We missed you at lunch.” I slid in front of Jax and went to sit on the other side of Edmund.

He opened his mouth to answer, but Jax was quicker. “I couldn't resist coming and kidnapping him for lunch. You know, just friendly like.” She smiled, her gaze icy, and did an awkward shoulder shimmy.

Edmund turned to gauge my reaction. His brows furrowed and his lips frowned. “She surprised me this afternoon.”

“What else brings you to Oxford, Jax, aside from kidnapping Edmund?” I smiled sweetly and flipped my desk top down with a bang.

“Well, the old gang of ours is up here this weekend for a party. Oh, those were the days weren't they, Eddie?”

Eddie? Blech.
My upper lip curled at the endearment.

She rested her hand on his bicep possessively. I wanted to smack her like a bug and squish her to a skid mark.

“We used to get into such trouble with them. Do you remember the time Mimi got so plastered she could barely walk?” Her head tilted back as she cackled. “We had to carry her out of the nightclub and Tyler just tossed her into a cab and sent her on her way. So hilarious. I don't remember where she said she woke up.”

Edmund shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“Oh, and what about that time on bonfire night? I think we had a little too much fun, didn't we? Well, the nude photos suggest we did.” She snorted a giggle and leaned over to nudge his shoulder. “If I remember right, your parents were livid and had quite the struggle to keep that one under wraps.”

Edmund wasn't smiling, reliving the good ol' days with her. His mouth was set in a grim line. He looked pissed. “It was also when I stopped hanging out with them.”

“You should come out with us this weekend, for old time's sake. That is, if you're finally done slumming it.” She pointedly looked at me.

“What did you just say?” Irritation laced his voice.

Feigning innocence, she opened her eyes wide. “What do you mean?”

“You know what? Enough. I've tried to make it clear and tried to be nice, but I can't take it anymore.” Angling himself toward her he said, “I don't want to do this with you. I never have. You and I both know we're not really friends and we never will be. I'm done being nice solely for our parents. And I don't care how awkward things are when we're around each other. Don't call, don't text, and
definitely
don't just show up.”

Jax looked up at Edmund her eyes squinting. “But—”

“No, Jax, no buts. I'm so bloody done with you. I know you tipped the press off about Evie's grandmother. I'm not stupid.”

My mouth involuntarily popped open.

He knew?

“You take pleasure from hurting the people I care about most. That's not okay. You aren't anyone I want to be friends with. And it's well past time you left.” Edmund turned in his seat and gave a nod to his security team. They came down the aisle and escorted a shocked Jax away from Edmund.

“Don't touch me!” She slapped at their hands. “My parents will be very disappointed, Edmund!” Jax hollered, her voice echoing in the auditorium.

“I don't give a monkey's arse what your parents think. They can bugger off with you for all I care.” Edmund turned and noticed our professor standing, waiting at the front. “My apologies, Professor.”

Reaching over, Edmund grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.

Okay, that was hot.

Only a day and a half left in England. The sunset hit my window, casting shadows on my walls. I sat on my bed studying for my only remaining final. It was a miracle I'd ever managed to catch up with all my coursework. Edmund was due any minute so we could quiz each other. These would be my last moments with him.

Possibly forever.

Since my brilliant let's just be friends plan, he hadn't tried to kiss me. Not even once.

It royally sucked.

I missed him.

So, my plan for my last hours at Oxford was to cram every last minute as full of him as I could. Preferably, kissing would be involved. I just hadn't figured out how to achieve that goal.

“You ready to study?” Edmund's head popped in my open doorway.

Smiling, I scooted closer to the wall. “Yup, come on in.”

He shut the door, then came over and sat beside me on the bed. Pressed against each other, I shivered at the warmth from his body.
Goodness, I want him to kiss me.

“I can't believe the year is over or that you're heading home tomorrow.” He was so close I could smell his minty breath.

I sighed and shook my head. “It's all been a bit of a blur.”

He angled his body toward me; his steady eyes met mine. “I feel like I've wasted a lot of time.”

My eyebrows scrunched together as I turned toward him. “How so?”

Edmund tossed his notebook and text next to mine on the bed.

“It's just that I . . . I didn't do this right.” The look on my face must have prompted him to continue. “Us. I feel like I made a right cock up of it.”

I looked at my lap, not sure how to reply. “Are we in that bad of a spot?”

“Evie, friends isn't enough.” He tilted my face up and whispered, “I want you. All of you. I always have.”

He cupped my face, running a thumb softly over my bottom lip. My pulse quickened as he hovered momentarily before slowly coming down to kiss me.

When his lips met mine, fireworks shot off inside me, and a breathy moan left my lips.

How I missed this.

It may have started soft and sweet, but quickly morphed into the whole world seeming to dissolve around us. A rumbly sound in the back of his throat sent a tingle, like a shockwave, down my body.

Edmund trailed soft kisses down my neck onto my collarbone, his hands slid under my shirt, caressing the bare skin of my back. My breath caught and I closed my eyes, savoring his touch, memorizing it.

I twined my fingers through his hair. His lips returned to mine. I shivered as he lifted my top little by little. Where our skin touched, flames ignited. His lips left mine only long enough for him to slip my shirt over my head. Where it ended up I had no clue, nor did I care.

I was completely lost in him, his touch, how he tasted of spearmint and smelled like summer sunshine. He felt warm and wonderful under my hands. I couldn't focus on anything except how close he was to me, and how I wanted him closer still.

Holy shit, is this really happening?

Tugging at his shirt, I lifted it over his chest, craving his skin on mine. Once it was off, I tossed it across the room. Edmund resumed kissing me, his fingers running along my spine. I startled when his fingers stopped at my bra strap.

Noticing my surprise, Edmund pulled back; breathing heavily, he met my gaze. “Is this okay? We can stop if you want.”

Stopping wasn't an option. I wanted all of him.

Not trusting myself to speak, at least not coherently, I leaned into him and kissed him, my tongue swirling with his. A tremble coursed through him. His hands snapped my bra open, then went up to tangle in my hair, holding my mouth against his. His kisses became feverish and desperate.

Closer. I had to get closer.

Leaning me back on the bed, his body covered mine. The feel of him was intoxicating. Pressing himself up, he smiled cheekily at me. I raised my hands and pressed them against his smooth chest, running them down his torso, exploring his body. He closed his eyes and took a shaky breath.

I loved that my touch elicited such a reaction. It was a power I didn't realize I had until now.

Opening his eyes, he reciprocated the exploration, his fingers leaving a trail of goose bumps. “You're so beautiful.”

With the palm of his hand, he followed the swell of my hips through my jeans and over my tummy. Bending over, he kissed the sensitive skin just below my belly button.

I couldn't breathe. I was dizzy with wanting him. My heart thundered in my chest. It felt on the verge of exploding.

God, I hope I'm doing this right.

Edmund pushed himself back up, inhaled deeply, and slowly blew the breath out. I leaned up on my elbow and, with one finger in his waistband, pulled him back down to me.

“Evie.” His voiced sounded hoarse. He trembled as his body came back into full contact with mine.

He whispered my name as he slowly placed kisses down my body, places no one had seen until now. His fingers reached the button on my jeans and he flicked it open.

This was uncharted territory for me.
What is he expecting? Should I tell him?
I worried I wouldn't know what to do, that my inexperience would be painfully obvious.

“Wait." I stopped him.

He lifted his head and looked at me closely, breathing heavily. “Are you sure you're okay with this? You look nervous.”

I laughed softly. “I'm very okay with this, but I-I just, I thought I should warn you.”

“Warn me? About what?” His brows lowered in concern. I would have laughed if I wasn't feeling so embarrassed.

I looked everywhere but his eyes. “It's just that, I may not be very good at this.”

“You're bloody marvelous so far; why on earth would you think that?” His face was close, and he sounded surprised.

I hesitated. “Because I've never done this before.” I scrunched my eyes shut.

Edmund was silent a short moment. “Evie, that's nothing to be embarrassed about. Look at me, please.”

When I opened my eyes, he held my face in his hands.

His voice raspy, he whispered, “I'm honored to be your first.”

My last exam now over, I was catching a red eye late tonight. The walls of my room were bare as Suzy and Caroline helped me finish packing.

My brain kept skipping back to last night and to Edmund.
This morning I awoke to an empty bed, no clue where he'd gone.
God, what was I thinking?
Does he regret it?

I saw him at our final, but we were forced to sit every other seat, so we didn't get a chance to speak. When he finished first, he left. I hadn't seen him since.

“I wish you'd stay the summer,” Suzy said, latching the front of my trunk.

“A part of me wants to. But I need to go home, see my dad and Abby.”
Plus, I'm not sure I can see Edmund again. Not after we . . .
“September isn't far and I'll probably be back next year.”

“What do you mean by
probably
?” Caroline stopped mid-motion and turned to watch me. “You're coming back, right? You transferred here; you have to.”

My shoulders shrugged. “I might transfer back to Seattle Pacific.”

“I didn't realize you were even considering it.” Suzy sat on my bed, a picture frame clutched in her hands.

“Does Edmund know?” Caroline scooted to the edge of the couch.

“No, I haven't said anything.”

“I don't understand what there is to decide? Edmund's here and you're a duchess now; you
have
to come back.” Suzy's eyes were wide.

“My life was so uncomplicated and drama-free in Seattle. I miss that.”
And I just went and made things exponentially more complicated with Edmund.

“Fine, forget Prince Charming, forget your title, come back for your friends.” Caroline lobbed an angry ball of my clothes into my suitcase. “Complications are what keeps life exciting.”

“Yeah? Well, I'm about to OD on excitement, if that's the case. Besides, right now, a break might be the best thing for Edmund and me.”

“How so?” Suzy asked.