Treachery: Day 15

Word Total: 90,003

Year to Date: 870,113

Summary of Events:

Edward got up early and got ready to go, but had to wake Adeline up so they could get on their way. Adeline fretted about being found out by Edward as they travelled and ended up sighting Dallas — which only fed the fire of fear. Arriving in Dallas, Edward offered to take her to the doctor's house, but when she refused, confronted her for lying to him. Adeline was taken by Edward to a back alley where he demanded answers from her before knocking on a door and — with much struggling and fighting — handing her over to a madam he knew. Once Adeline was safely away Edward talked with the madam, who desperately wanted him to stay the night . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

""I've got to go," Edward replied, against his inner urgings.

"Can I do nothing to make you stay?" Rosalie asked, looking as if tears were going to overwhelm her.

"No," Edward replied, even though, really, she could just get him through the door and up the stairs into her room and he'd probably stay quite easily.

Rosalie dropped her hands away from his chest and looked away, looking more disappointed than Edward had ever seen her. The temptation to stay surged anew in him. He had to comfort her. But he had to get on toward Lubbock.

Stepping forward, Edward grabbed her head in a firm, but gentle hold and pressed his lips passionately against hers. After a moment of surprise, she returned the kiss with equal passion, pressing her hands against his chest, then sliding them up over his shoulders and digging her fingers in.

He could feel the hunger in her grip, he could taste it in her kiss, and he hoped that she could tell he was returning it. He was just as hungry as she was, but he couldn't stay, he had to get on to Lubbock.

They stayed in the passionate hold for a long time, but finally Edward loosened his hold on her face and started to pull away, yet she clutched at him ever more desperately, even catching his lips again after he'd pulled them away, several times.

Finally, though, Edward got his head out of her reach and resisted the urge to lower it again. He then gently pried her hands from his shoulders and held them gently, stroking his thumbs over the backs of them.

"I'll come back as soon as I can," he said quietly. "But I can't stay now."

Rosalie nodded. "I'll be waiting for you."

Releasing her hands, Edward turned toward his mare and swung up into the saddle, taking hold of the reins. His mare backed up two steps on cue and he went to turn her, but Rosalie hurried over.

She held up an effeminate handkerchief. Somewhat reluctantly, Edward took it in his hand.

"So you don't forget," she whispered.

Edward nodded, pocketing the kerchief so it was well out of sight. She stepped back and he turned his mare southward until the nearest westward street. Pausing at the turn, he returned her wave before continuing on.

As much as he longed for her, he couldn't stay, not with having left behind whom he had. Edward shook his head at the thought of her, so innocent and naïve on the outside, but inside a cunning, calculating liar.

Anew, rage flowed through him and he started his mare trotting to get away faster. It infuriated him to think he'd had the wool pulled over his eyes — or that he'd let that carry him all the way to Dallas.

That she would do such a thing, such terrible treachery; it infuriated him, and he was glad to forever leave her behind."

Next post on October 1.