Fates Tied (12 page)

“I know what you mean,” Suzanne said quietly, “I’ve felt something similar in the past, with Mark at the beginning, but it was nothing like this.”

“It was like I just wanted more,” Edward said, “I just wanted to be as close to you as I could get and nothing seemed to be close enough.”

Suzanne smiled at him and leaned forward to kiss him.

“Me either,” she said quietly. “It was incredible and I can’t help but wonder whether we’ll ever be able to top it.”

“It’ll be fun to try though right?” Edward said. He wasn’t able to hide the hopefulness in his voice.

“Yes,” she said firmly, “I think it will definitely be fun to try. And being a couple will give us plenty of opportunities to give it a go.”

As soon as Edward realised what Suzanne was saying a huge grin spread across his face and for a moment he looked years younger. Then he reached out, passion filling his eyes as he cupped Suzanne’s face in his hands and kissed her hard. He pushed her back onto the mattress, following her and they descended into another spell of passionate lovemaking.

CHAPTER 10

For the last few months life had been amazing. Suzanne didn’t think she had been this happy since long before she and her husband had separated. She and Edward had been spending time together, more and more since their amazing evening at the hotel spa. But things had felt quite a bit difference since then. They spent time like a normal couple, going on dates around other people rather than just spending time alone in bed together. They even went to the cinema once or twice, each taking the time out of their schedules to ensure that they spent time together doing things out in the open. The relationship between Edward and Suzanne went from strength to strength and Suzanne began to finally believe that Edward really had changed and was trying to make their relationship one of equals and not just time spent in bed.

“Oh my god, he is lovely!” Tiffany hissed to Suzanne one evening.

Suzanne, Edward, Tiffany and Dale were on a double date. It had in fact been Edward that suggested the double date and Suzanne had been completely amazed at his forwardness. She hadn’t wasted any time and when she asked Tiffany the younger woman had immediately agreed and gotten very excited. Edward and Dale had gone to get the women more drinks before the two couples went their separate ways for the evening.

“I know!” Suzanne said back quickly, “This was even his idea!”

“I told you,” Tiffany said wisely which was a strange look for her, “I knew that he was a prince in shining armour. He’s perfect for you. I mean, he’s gorgeous and he listens to you and he’s actually interested in what I have to say! That’s like loads better than your ex-husband used to do,”

“What are you talking about?” Suzanne said, “Joseph wasn’t that bad.”

“Oh he was,” Tiffany said firmly. “He used to just sit there on his phone whenever you left the room and if I tried to talk to him he was insanely rude to me.”

“You never told me any of this,” Suzanne said sadly and quietly. “You should have said something.”

“It wasn’t my place,” Tiffany said with a shrug. “Besides we didn’t really know each other and I know I’m not that likeable of a person sometimes so I thought that maybe it was just me that he was acting like that to. Then I spoke to Claire on one of our girly evenings and it turns out he was almost as rude to her.”

“Oh…” Suzanne said.

She was still silent and staring at the table when Edward and Dale came back, arms laden with drinks. Edward looked at her and frowned, sitting beside her and wrapping an arm around her.

“What’s wrong?” He asked with concern, “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Suzanne said with a weak smile, looking up at Edward and cupping his face in her hand. “You’ve done nothing wrong. I just finally realised how much of a dipshit my ex-husband was at last.”

“Well put him out of your mind,” Edward said firmly, taking her hand in his. “Tonight is about friendship and being with the people that you care about. We have drinks, we’ve had a great meal and we’re spending time with two very awesome people.”

“Oh he’s a keeper alright,” Tiffany said with a giggle. “You have to promise me that you’ll never get rid of him, ever!”

Suzanne smiled and even gave a small laugh but she couldn’t help but notice the lustful glance that Tiffany was giving Edward.

Her eyes were spanning up and down his body. It wasn’t the first time Suzanne had noticed another woman looking at Edward like that.

Even now several women were checking him out, scattered throughout the bar and Suzanne realised that a lot of the women who were doing so were also glaring at her as though asking why she dare keep such a fine specimen of a man all to herself. A cold knot of jealousy settled in Suzanne’s stomach and she wiggled closer to Edward, wrapping herself against his side. Edward didn’t seem to notice the looks though, simply smiling down at her and holding her tightly.

“Oh my god you’re so cute!” Tiffany said happily, clapping her hands together. “Dale, aren’t they so cute together?”

“Yes dear,” Dale said with a roll of his eyes. He continued to just sip his lager without making any further comments.

“So Tiffany likes me,” Edward said as he and Suzanne strolled along the canal hand in hand. “That’s a good sign right?”

“Tiffany’s liked you since day one,” Suzanne said with a laugh. “Now I think she’s practically in love with you.”

“Well what’s not to love?” Edward said, grinning. “But it’s a good sign right? I mean, she and Claire never really liked Joseph and that ended so if they like me it might mean we’re in it for the long run.”

“I don’t carry out my relationships by my friends agreeing that they like my date or not you know,” Suzanne said dryly. “Even if they hated you I’d still date you. Probably.”

“I know, I know,” Edward said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “But I’m glad that they like me. It means it’s a little easier for you, not having to deal with their criticism and if they’re happy that means you’re happier.

Besides, I like them both too and it would really SUCK if they didn’t like me back.”

“Ever the people pleaser,” Suzanne said, resting her head on his shoulder. “And Claire likes you but is still a little wary.”

“Well after Joseph was such a wankbag I can understand why,” Edward said. “Just give her time. She’s looking out for you and I understand that. As long as she gives me a chance that’s all I ask for.”

Suzanne wasn’t lying when she told Edward that Claire wasn’t sure about him. The two women had had several long chats since Edward had proven himself to be interested in more than just sex. Claire had been constantly reminding Suzanne that the pair hadn’t exactly gotten off to the best start and while supporting the fact that Edward truly seemed to be trying to change to make Suzanne happy she was still wary of how easily he could simply change back.

“All I’m saying is that it may not be that simple,” Claire had said one evening. “He’s making all this effort to make you happy right now but what about when he decides that he’s bored of you? What then?”

“Who says he’s going to get bored of me?” Suzanne asked, annoyance in her voice, “You’re acting like it’s definitely going to happen but there are no signs that it will.”

“That’s what you thought about Joseph,” Claire pointed out. “And then he ended up just sleeping around with other people behind your back. I’m not trying to say it will happen but you need to be ready in case it does. It’s so soon after your divorce and you’re in a vulnerable place. I’m worried that Edward’s taking advantage of that and you’re just going to end up getting really hurt, even more so than with Joseph because Ed’s your first guy in so many years. If he gets bored he might not chuck you right away like a normal, decent human being. He might just go back to being that emotionally closed off wreck that had you in pieces for so many months.”

“He’s changed,” Suzanne insisted, “I know you think he’s just doing this to keep me in his bed but I swear, we went on three dates last week and only kissed. Heck, we spent two hours just making out on the sofa.”

“Wait, this sofa?” Claire asked, pointing down at the sofa the two women were sitting on, “You made out on this sofa?”

“And maybe… had sex?” Suzanne said.

“Maybe?!” Claire cried, “What do you mean maybe?! Either you did or you didn’t”

“We had sex,” Suzanne said with a roll of her eyes. “The kissing was great and everything but I just got really horny from it and pretty much jumped him. He tried to take it to the bedroom but I didn’t really give him a chance to argue.”

“Oh my god,” Claire said, wiggling with a faint hint of disgust. “Please tell me you at least did it at your end.”

“Well…” Suzanne said.

Claire’s eyes widened in horror.

“We started out this end but we just sort of moved all over.”

Claire jumped up from the sofa, squealing in disgust and wiping at her clothes.

“I sit there!” She cried, “I nap there and I eat snacks there! What is wrong with you two?”

Suzanne didn’t reply, she was too busy throwing her head back and laughing away as her friend danced around, trying to get the invisible sex germs off her clothing.

It had been three months since Suzanne and Edward had reunited and finally stepped out as a proper couple. They had decided to go to London for a show in the West End and that proved to be the beginning of the end for them.

The show had been amazing and Suzanne had loved every minute of it. Edward had in fact surprised her with the tickets, turning up at her office to spirit her away. It turned out he’d been listening to her random comments, even the one about the show that she’d love to see soon and had gone so far as to conspire with her boss to ensure she could leave the office at lunchtime and skip a couple of days of work. Suzanne realised that it wasn’t just Tiffany that was vulnerable to his charms but Catherine was too. Suzanne had always thought her lesbian boss, devoted to her wife, would never be swayed over by a man’s wiles and yet Edward was so charming that she had agreed to do his bidding.

Despite the great time they had watching the show, and Suzanne had enjoyed watching Edward laugh and cheer as much as she had, she couldn’t help but notice the way that the other women were looking at Edward and the jealous glares they were sending back at Suzanne, especially when Edward would hold her or touch her in any way. All the jealousy was almost overwhelming and as the show went on Suzanne found herself getting more and more annoyed and upset by the glares that she was getting.

She tried to ignore it, she truly did but the more she focused on Edward and the show, or at least tried to, the more that she found herself feeling eyes on her, each stare coming from a jealous woman. She didn’t like the feeling, the sensation of hate that was being poured over her. It made her skin itch and she felt dirty and unwanted. The anger and jealousy was so strong that she could almost taste it, see it on the air. The last few minutes of the show and their way out were some of the most uncomfortable of her life and once they stepped outside and mingled with the crowd she felt a sense of relief wash over her.

That relief didn’t last long though. They went for a meal at a two Michelin star restaurant, Edward having managed to wangle a table because of a favour he had done for the owner. Even there, in the moderately private dining room women still stared at Edward, even the waitresses and several women sneered at Suzanne as though wondering what Edward was doing with a woman like her. She couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable and as the meal went on she found herself growing more and more upset.

“What’s wrong?” Edward asked, concerned. “Is everything ok?”

“You haven’t noticed.” Suzanne stated.

“Noticed what?” Edward asked, confused. He took Suzanne’s hand in his, “All I’ve noticed this evening is how beautiful you look.”

“The women, everywhere,” Suzanne said insistently, “they’re all staring at you. And glaring at me.”

“Why would they be staring at me?” Edward asked.

“Because you’re gorgeous,” Suzanne said, unable to believe that he hadn’t noticed it. “You’re gorgeous and they want you. And when they realise that you’re with me they glare at me like I’m something that they stood on.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Edward cried out. He held his arms out, “Look around, there’s no one staring at us.”

But he was wrong. Even as he said it there were at least three women staring at Edward and another six glaring at Suzanne. Several had even gone so far as to ignore their dates in favour of watching the couple.

“Edward,” Suzanne said, “I don’t know if I can take much more of this. It feels like they hate me.”

“They’re just jealous,” Edward said. “They can see that I treat you like a princess and they wished someone would treat them like one too.”

“That’s not it at all,” Suzanne said with a shake of her head. “They’re jealous of me because I’m with you. They want you and they can’t have you.”

Edward just laughed at her, shaking his head and going back to his meal. Suzanne sighed and picked at her salad. He wasn’t taking her seriously, he’d barely even listened to what she said. It was like before. When she suggested that they take a walk together along the river Edward just leered at her and insisted that they go back to their hotel room. Suzanne wondered whether he had really changed, if he was simply going along with what she wanted for as long as he could keep her in his bed.

“It’s not that I just want sex,” Edward said as they walked to the tube station. “It’s just that you look so lovely tonight I want to make love to you.”

“That’s the same thing,” Suzanne said, stopping in place. “Edward, I’m really not in the mood.

Ever since we got to London I’ve been glared at like I’m trash. I’m sure that waitress dropped the wine on me on purpose. I just want to shower and go to bed.”

“Well why don’t we shower together,” Edward said, taking her in his arms and pressing gentle kisses to her neck. “Remember the hotel? When I got you back at last? We could do that all over again.”

Suzanne let herself sink into his kisses for a moment before his words sunk in to her mind.

“Edward,” she said quietly, pushing him away. “Why did you want me back?”