Disclaimer: I own nothing in regard to GWTW

Author's Notes: Thank you for all the reviews and feedback.

Chapter Ten

As the ladies were going back to Melly's home, Scarlett said, "Can Beau spend the night next Friday night?"

"Of course."

"Delightful. All the children love it when he comes to visit. He is such a wonderful child. You are doing a good job raising him."

"Thank you."

Melly thought about Scarlett's statement. Scarlett giving Melly credit for something was unusual, but it did make Melly feel good. Melly wondered if Scarlett was finally growing up. Melly also wondered if as a result of Scarlett growing up, she was realizing that she really didn't love Ashley? Melly also wondered how that would affect Ashley and Scarlett's relationship. Melly finally decided she would just have to wait and see.

The next Thursday when Stuart arrived at the Wilkes to escort India to a soiree, Ashley tried to give Stuart his resume. Stuart looked at him with a sad look and said, "What am I going to do with that all evening? Mail it to my office. Come Miss Wilkes or we will be late."

Stuart was glad Rhett had stopped by and told him that he was alright with Stuart forming a relationship with Miss Wilkes. He was finding Miss Wilkes a delightful person to be around. She was so well read. She was interested in everything he was interested in. He was so tired of empty-headed belles. He had always been partial to blondes.

He would not mind slapping that Wilkes down. He reminded him of all those boys at school who had always acted so superior to him. All those boys that his mother was always pointing out and saying, "Why can't you be more of a gentleman like…."

The next morning, Ashley was in a foul mood. He was still embarrassed at having offered his resume to Mr. Townsend like an overeager child. He had known not to hand it personally to Mr. Townsend. He had known to prepare a cover letter and mail it to Mr. Townsend. He was working on that cover letter right then. He usually could write a letter without any problems but for this letter all his sentences seemed wooden and clumsy. As he was sitting there Scarlett breezed in with a smile on her face. She had not been out all week, but he had been alright with that. He had not wanted to listen to her tsk tsk over the books or her give him that pitiful look. Although he was sure she was still in love with him for she was always giving him adoring looks.

As he looked at her, he noticed three things: A cookie tin, an adoring look and another love bite. Ashley thought, 'Does the man have no control?'

Scarlett said, "Good Morning, Ashley," She started to take off her shawl and she said to herself, "No, I can't do that." Scarlett had positioned the shawl where Ashley could see the love bite even while she had it on. When she woke up and found the mark Scarlett knew today was the day, she was going to make the salt cookies. Yes, Scarlett had made the cookies with the cook's help. She had also used salt instead of sugar. Careen had actually made that mistake while making a cake once. Scarlett had decided the effect would be the same in cookies.

"Hello, Scarlett."

"What's the matter? Why so grumpy? The colder weather is here."

"I'm not having a good day."

"I'll say. There is absolutely no production."

"The ledger is over there. It is dreadful as usual."

"You really are in a foul mood. Never mind about the ledger. I wanted to do something sweet for you because of the way I feel about you. So, I made you cookies."

"You made me cookies." That made Ashley happy. It had been a long time since anyone had done such a simple gesture just to make him happy.

"Yes, sugar cookies. I really did make them myself."

"I am so touched. Thank you."

"I had to tell Rhett I was making them for him. He had laughed and in that nasty way he has he said, "You know what I want you to do to me if you want to make me happy," She blushed and continued, "But enough about Rhett. I don't want to think about him and spoil our time together. Go ahead. Try one. Tell me what you think."

Rhett had told her about oral sex and how every man wanted a woman to do that to him. Rhett had laughed and said, "Even me but I won't force you." He had told her exactly what to say. She had written it down because she wanted to be sure and say it right. When Ashley looked angry for a second, she knew that Rhett's missive had hit home.

Rhett for his part was loving torturing Wilkes with thoughts of what he was doing with his wife especially considering Wilkes had managed to come between him and his wife in that way. Rhett was also enjoying being able to introduce these topics without Scarlett realizing she was being educated in the ways of love at the same time.

Ashley wondered if Captain Butler had convinced Scarlett to perform oral sex on him. The injustices of life. Melly could do that. She couldn't get pregnant from that. When he had suggested it, she had looked at him like he was something she wanted to clean off her shoe.

Ashley opened the cookie tin and there were a dozen cookie sitting in the tin. The cookies looked really good. He took one out and took a big bite. If Scarlett hadn't been sitting there staring at him with that worshipping look on her face, Ashley would have spat the cookie out. He managed to keep a neutral expression on his face he thought. He managed to chew up that bite. He managed to swallow that bite. All while Scarlett was staring at him the entire time.

Ashley said, "That is the best cookie I have ever eaten." Ashley watched Scarlett preen.

She smiled. She said, "Thank you, my sweet Ashley." While never taking her eyes off of him.

They sat there. Ashley wondering how he would get out of eating the rest of the cookie. Scarlett trying to remember everything so she could tell Rhett later. When time dragged on, and Scarlett didn't look away. Ashley fumbled the cookie and it fell to the floor and was covered in dirt.

Ashley said, "How clumsy I am. I can't eat the cookie now."

Scarlett had smiled and picked up the cookie tin. She said, "It is a good thing I made you a dozen," She extended the tin to him. She said, "Rhett wouldn't even try one. He had looked at them like they were something disgusting. I'm so glad you like them. I'm going to sit right here until I see you eat another cookie. A cookie is just what you need to chase your bad day away."

Ashley took another cookie and under Scarlett's watchful eye Ashley ate the entire cookie. When he finished, he said, "You are right that cookie made me feel better. Now let me try to get some work done. That will make us both happy."

Scarlett giggled and said, "Rhett says that all the time also," Scarlett waited for her meaning to sink in. When she saw a flash of anger pass over Ashley's face, she continued. "Yes, you making money would make me happy. I'm so glad I thought about bringing you cookies today. The day you needed cheering up. Goodbye my love."

As soon as Ashley was sure Scarlett had left, he took his bucket to the well and filled it up with water. He felt like he had drunk the whole bucket before he got the taste of salt out of his mouth.

Scarlett laughed all the way home.

Rhett and Scarlett did not stop laughing that night after supper. As Rhett had Scarlett recount the story over and over again. Rhett was definitely enjoying torturing Mr. Wilkes but he was even more enjoying watching Scarlett enjoy torturing Mr. Wilkes. Rhett knew there was more to Scarlett's sudden hatred toward Mr. Wilkes than just finding out that Mr. Wilkes was using whores. He was going to let Scarlett keep that secret. All he cared about was the results. The result that she absolutely despised Mr. Wilkes.

Tuesday morning Scarlett went out to Ashley's mill and looked at the ledger. It was pitiful. There was no production. They were covering expenses, so all was well. This mill was no longer a source of revenue but a source of great amusement. She tsked tsked every now and then. She said, "Ashley what do you do with your time all day?"

"What do you mean? I am running the sawmill."

"Right now. You aren't running anything because everyone is just sitting around doing nothing."

"I go on sales calls, and I try to sell lumber. There just isn't anybody buying."

"Are you calling on Yankees?"

"Yes. I'm calling on everyone I can think of."

"Really, Ashley?"

"Yes, really." He shouted.

"Please don't raise your voice to me. I won't tolerate being disrespected in that manner. When I told Rhett, you had been noticeably short tempered lately, Rhett explained to me that you are probably just feeling frustrated with your lack of performance," She giggled. Ashley knew what kind of performance Captain Butler had implied to Scarlett, if not out and out stated it.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I just had an unhappy conversation with India this morning. She wanted some money to buy a new dress. It seems Mr. Townsend is quite taken with her if you can believe it."

"That is amazing. Why would anyone be interested in India? It's not like she is attractive. Or has a great personality. In fact, I think I probably did Stuart a favor by stealing his affections away from India."

Scarlett watched Ashley. She watched him not even give a token protest to what Scarlett was saying about his own sister. That made her mad at him. She didn't even see any shame pass over his face when she had said the part about stealing Stuart's affections away from India. That made her mad at him too.

"I know. She actually expected me to spend my hard-earned money on a new dress for her."

"Imagine her wanting a new dress to look pretty for her suitor."

"I know. As if a new dress would make her look pretty."

"Ashley, Rhett has decided that we are going to learn a foreign language. Which ones do you know? Then you could help me."

Ashley stared at Scarlett. It took him a minute for his mind to catch-up with the change of subjects. He said, "The only foreign language I know is French. I used it on my Grand Tour, and I will probably never use it again now that I am stuck in the South."

"Oh, Rhett said something about us learning Spanish."

"I could probably help you because both French and Spanish are romance languages."

"Oh," She looked at her watch and jumped up and said, "I've lost track of the time. That always happens when I am with you. Rhett told me to be home by eleven. He wants to talk to me in his office. He has to go to the bank after dinner, so he probably wants….." She smiled and said, "Never mind what he wants. But I must run. He definitely doesn't like to be kept waiting when he wants… Bye"

Scarlett darted out of the mill office. As she was driving home, she decided that sounded like a good idea to join Rhett in his office before dinner. She made her horse go faster.

Ashley was so frustrated. His hand was no longer enough. He wanted Scarlett so badly. The thought that she was Rhett Butler's sexual plaything was too much to be borne. Why had he not married her when he had the chance? Why had he not realized that Melanie was weak and sickly? Why had he thrown his life away by marrying Melly? The last several times he had been with a whore he had imagined it was Scarlett, yet it wasn't enough. It wasn't Scarlett and it never would be.

Scarlett did join Rhett in his office. She felt so wickedly nasty. She moved Rhett away from his desk and hopped up on it. He gave her a questioning look. She spread her legs. It aroused Rhett so much that he was rock hard in an instant. When he started kissing her, she laid down on the desk and said, "Now."

Rhett pushed her skirt up with one hand and unbuttoned his fly with the other one. Within seconds they were joined. He touched her bud with his thumb and that was all it took. Unfortunately, that was all it took for him also. The need to release had not come onto him so suddenly and so strongly in a very, very long time. As they laid there catching their breaths, Rhett said, "I… I…"

"I know. It is alright. That was too wonderful for regrets."

Rhett leaned his weight on his elbows and said, "For me also."

"Don't talk. You will make me laugh and then you will fall out. I want us to stay joined for a few more minutes. I like being joined with you."

"Alright. I like being right where I am at."

That made her giggle, and he did indeed fall out. He said, "I promise to put it back in as soon as I can."

That made her really laugh. She said, "Promise?"

"Yes ma'am."

They laid there uncomfortably for a few more minutes. Neither person wanted to move and break the intimate moment but both people were getting more uncomfortable by the minute. Finally, Rhett stood up and got his handkerchief and cleaned them up.

Scarlett giggled and said, "That tickles. Rhett, I never knew this could be so much fun and so enjoyable."

"Thank you for letting me take you there."

She sat up and smiled. She said, "Thank you for forgiving me."

Rhett smiled at her and kissed her. They kissed for a few more minutes. They weren't passionate kisses. They were sweet, almost innocent kisses. They far too soon had to go into the dining room for dinner.