For the third time in two days Rhett found himself being drawn to Scarlett's house. He told himself he would only ride his horse down Peachtree Street, but he knew he was lying to himself. He would go to the door as he always did. He had only helped her sneak back into her house a few hours ago. He still couldn't believe that she had come to him in the middle of the night. He had always been drawn to Scarlett; he came to Atlanta far more often than was necessary he could just never make himself forget her. But now that they have made love the pull was even greater, he felt like he couldn't stay away from her for more than a few hours at a time. He had to get a grip before he blurted out his true feelings for her and she used the words against him.
As Rhett was riding down the street he noticed that Scarlett was out in the yard with Wade. He tied his horse to a hitching post and walked back to where Scarlett and her son were playing. He could tell that Scarlett was unaware of his presence so he stood back and observed her. He had never seen her look so soft and beautiful before. She was trying to play patty cake with Wade, but her young son was busy pulling the pins out of her hair making her quite disheveled. Rhett waited for her to get angry and scold her son. But she just laughed and tickled her son. Rhett had never seen Scarlett act motherly before. She had always treated her son like an unwanted burden and it touched something deep in Rhett to see her behaving this way. A silly fantasy was taking shape in his mind that this was his family and he was coming home to them and he could join in their silliness. He shook his head that would never happen for them.
Scarlett sat out in her yard and played with Wade. She knew she wasn't the best mother she was always one to shove the responsibility of caring for him onto someone else. But this morning she woke up in a great mood, so she decided to shower her young son with affection and attention. She was supposed to be nursing at the hospital but she made excuses that she needed to tend to Melanie, she was too happy to waste the day at the hospital. Wade started playing with her hair so she tickled him to distract him, Wade squealed with delight. She pulled her son into a hug and peppered his face with kisses. Suddenly, a silly thought came to her head, she wanted to have Rhett's baby. She didn't know where the thought came from she wasn't fond of children at all. Besides, it wasn't likely that Rhett would marry her anyway just because of a baby. She would be forced to move away and live in disgrace. She tried to get the thought out of her head but she just couldn't shake it. As if her thoughts brought him to her, Rhett stepped into yard.
"Hello, Wade. Scarlett."
"Hello, Rhett." Scarlett's hands immediately went to her hair trying to smooth it down. Wade held out his hands for Rhett and he automatically bent down to pick him up. Seeing Rhett was too much for Scarlett, he was so good with her son she was overwhelmed with the desire to see him with his own child. Knowing that the thought was irrational, she grabbed Wade out of Rhett's arms.
"Wade needs his nap. Go have a seat on the porch I'll be back out in a minute." Scarlett ran inside put her son down for his nap and tried to tidy her hair. She needed to get babies off of her mind, Rhett always seemed able to read her inner most thoughts and she didn't want him reading this one.
As she made her way back out to the porch, she took the seat next to Rhett.
Rhett could see that Scarlett was blushing bright red and fidgeting in her chair. He could tell that her mind was preoccupied but he didn't know by what. He wondered if she was embarrassed about having come to see him in the middle of the night. Then he realized that she probably wanted to ask for the money from last night but couldn't figure a polite way to ask him.
"What's on your mind, Scarlett?"
"Babies," she replied without thinking. She immediately turned even redder. The one thought she wanted to keep to herself and she blurted it out without much prompting from Rhett. She tried to think of a fast lie to cover her mistake.
"I'm worried about Melanie and her baby." She couldn't bring herself to look at Rhett to see if he bought it or not. She hoped that he thought that her blushes were because she was discussing such a delicate subject with a man.
Rhett studied Scarlett hard, he didn't believe that she was telling the truth but he didn't know why he felt that way.
"Oh, I'm sure there's not much to worry about. Dr. Meade will be here to take care of her when the time comes. Are you more worried that a baby will come between you and your precious Ashley?"
Scarlett had barely even given Ashley a single thought since she had become Rhett's mistress. She didn't want to admit this to Rhett, she felt like she would be revealing too much if she did. She didn't know what she would be revealing because she desired Rhett but she wasn't in love with him. Or at least she didn't think she was.
"Um, no Rhett that's not it." Rhett wasn't buying it. He started to get angry, just once he wanted to be the one on her mind. He didn't want her thinking about how she would never be with Ashley, because honor would always tie him to Melanie and their child.
"So, what is it then?" Scarlett recognized the cold tone that Rhett used whenever they talked about Ashley. By trying to avoid the real topic she had somehow landed on one that was even worse. She desperately tried to think of an answer and for a way to change the subject.
"Honestly, Rhett it's not about him." An uneasy silence descended on the porch. Rhett was seething with anger and Scarlett was miserable that Rhett thought that Ashley was occupying her thoughts when nothing could be further from the truth. After several tense moments, Scarlett blurted out a question without giving it much thought; she just wanted to break the tension between them.
"Don't you ever want to have children, Rhett?" Scarlett wanted to curse herself. That was not the change of subject that she was looking for.
Rhett was surprised by her question. Of all the things he thought she would change the subject to, he never thought it would be this.
"Well, I'm not ever going to be married, so I guess children are not in my future."
"Wade is so fond of you and you are great with him. Seems a shame for you not to have a child. It might be fun watching you spoil and fawn over a baby." Scarlett didn't know why she couldn't keep her mouth shut. She should run inside and lock the door behind her before she gave herself away even more.
Rhett threw his head back and laughed.
"Yes, you are right I would probably make quite the spectacle of myself if I was a father. How about you, Scarlett? More children in your future?"
"Well, I suppose when I get married again someday it won't be my choice. I doubt anyone I marry would have the things that you have to prevent pregnancy. A real gentleman wouldn't have such things."
Rhett didn't know why it hurt when she insinuated that he was not a gentleman. He had said it about himself numerous times. Scarlett told him just about every time they saw each other that she didn't think that he were a gentleman. Maybe it was because it was a comparison to some future fictional husband that wasn't him; he didn't know it just hurt a little.
"Yes, Scarlett, you're right a real gentleman wouldn't have those things. I better go. Goodbye."
He walked away without waiting for her to tell him goodbye. She had managed to make him mad again, but she couldn't figure out why. He made no secret that he wasn't a gentleman. She shook her head, she didn't know if she would ever be able to figure him out.
That night Rhett tossed and turned in his bed. He wanted to pretend like he didn't know what was bothering him, but he was kidding himself. He had so many thoughts and emotions swirling in his mind he didn't know which thought was troubling him the most. He couldn't get the image of Scarlett looking so soft and beautiful out of his mind. Visions of her with her hair down and playing with her son kept popping up. He was sure that Ashley and his soon to be child was on her mind as well. Rhett knew it was wrong and he hated himself for it, but deep in his soul he hoped that Wilkes would never return from the war. He was genuinely fond of Melanie, but nothing short of death would remove Ashley from Scarlett's mind. Rhett also wondered what prompted her to ask him about children. He couldn't for the life of him figured why she cared one way or the other. She obviously had no thoughts of marrying him because her next husband would be a gentleman and she made it clear that he wasn't one.
Rhett groaned in frustration. He longed to go to Belle's for a drink and maybe a card game. He hesitated in going because he didn't want it getting back to Scarlett that he had been there. He figured that Scarlett was like most woman and didn't realize that a man go somewhere like Belle's for other reasons than bedding a whore. Rhett couldn't believe who he had become. Never before in his life had he let someone else's opinion change what he wanted to do. He wondered if Scarlett had the least clue just how much she had him wrapped around her finger. He doubted it; she never understood anything that wasn't carefully laid out for her.
Rhett got out of bed and got dressed. He was Rhett Butler, damn it. It was fine time he started acting like it too. He wasn't going to let one woman's opinion stop him from going where he wanted to go. If she didn't like it, there were plenty of other women in the world he could give his attention to. He decided to walk to Belle's instead of taking his horse. He hoped the walk would help him clear his mind.
Rhett wasn't too surprised when he found himself walking down Peachtree Street instead of the part of town that Belle's was in. Now, he realized why he hadn't wanted to take his horse, he didn't want to leave it out in front of Scarlett's house all night. He went around to the back door; he hadn't picked a lock since he was a young kid living in Charleston. He slipped into the house and was cast into complete darkness. He had been in the house several times, but only the parlor and dining room. He started to curse himself as he bumbled around the downstairs of the house. He figured he was probably creating a racket, and was scaring everyone in the house.
When Rhett finally made it to the stairs, he realized he had made another mistake. He had no idea which bedroom belonged to Scarlett. He wasn't sure what to do with himself now that he was in the house. He heard a shuffling noise above him and when he looked up a barrel of a pistol was in his face.
"Scarlett, it's me," he whispered.
"Rhett?!" it came out louder than she had meant it to, but he had scared her half to death. She thought that someone had broken into the house.
"Scarlett! Scarlett!" Melanie screamed from her room.
Scarlett grabbed Rhett's hand and pushed him into her room. She handed him the pistol and went to Melanie's room.
"Oh, Scarlett, what was that noise? Is someone in the house?" Melanie asked visibly frightened.
"Sorry I scared you Melly. I wanted a drink of water; I thought I could find my way in the darkness. I just bumped into some furniture." She was grateful that Melanie never questioned the things that Scarlett did.
"Darling, you aren't injured are you?"
"Probably just a small bruise. Nothing to kick up a fuss about. Now, go back to sleep, you need plenty of rest." She gave Melanie a small pat on the hand and went back to her room.
Scarlett was surprised that Rhett was here. Not only because it was shocking that a man would come to her house at night, but because of the way their afternoon had gone. She figured she wouldn't see him again until their appointment on Tuesday. Even then she wasn't sure he wanted to see her anymore, he seemed so put off today. A sad thought entered Scarlett's mind, maybe he came tonight to break things off between them. He knew she couldn't cause a scene because they had to be quiet or Melanie would know he was in the house.
Scarlett opened her bedroom door and was happy to see that Rhett had taken off his clothes. He was lounging on her bed like it was the most natural thing in the world. She could tell that she was blushing as she boldly looked at his body. Slowly, she removed her own nightgown. He beckoned her over to the bed. She got on top of Rhett's body. She leaned forward to kiss him. He tangled his hands into her hair. Scarlett broke the kiss, so she could kiss her way down Rhett's body. She placed small kisses on his chest and stomach. When she got to his manhood, she briefly placed one kiss there; she wasn't bold enough to do more than that. She could hear Rhett trying to stifle a moan. She made her way back up to Rhett's lips, when he suddenly rolled them over. It was his turn to worship her body.
Scarlett tried biting her lips to keep herself quiet, as he slowly tortured her by licking and sucking on her nipples. But the torture got worse when he made his way down between her thighs. Biting her lips wasn't working. Whatever Rhett was doing to her with his mouth was making her body go insane and she could hear her moans getting louder and louder. Scarlett took her pillow and put it over her face, hoping to muffle the sounds she was making.
After Rhett gave Scarlett her first climax of the night he inched his way back up her body. When he saw the pillow on her face he tried to suppress his laughter. He pulled the pillow away.
"What are you doing?" He whispered in her ear.
"I'm trying to be quiet," she said as she poked him in the chest.
"You are quite the little screamer." He chuckled in her ear.
Just as Rhett got ready to enter Scarlett a realization overcame him and he groaned.
"What?" she questioned.
"I didn't bring it with me," he said in frustration.
"It's just once, Rhett. And you could always…"
"Always what, my pet?" She could tell that he was teasing her. He loved it when made her say things that made her uncomfortable.
"Pull it out." She wished the pillow was over her face again.
"That doesn't always work, Scarlett."
"Just do it," she groaned in frustration, she needed to feel him.
Rhett didn't need more encouragement than that. He entered her and went still for several minutes. He let himself enjoy the feeling of being inside her with no barriers between them. He could tell by the look on her face that she was enjoying the sensation as well. They found their rhythm and brought each other closer to release.
Scarlett could tell that they were both close to the edge. She knew it was stupid, but she wrapped her legs tight around Rhett so that he couldn't go anywhere. This might be her only chance and she was going to take it. She knew that from now on Rhett would always have his little device around to keep them safe. She closed her eyes hoping that Rhett couldn't read her expression.
Rhett loved the feeling of her bringing him closer to her with her legs. He got lost in the sensations and spilled his seed inside of her.
"Shit." Rhett didn't know how he managed to whisper when he wanted to scream. "Scarlett, I'm sorry, I got, um lost in the moment."
She kissed his cheek. "It's going to be fine, Rhett."
They lay in bed holding each other, neither one saying much. They were both lost in thought over the same subject, a baby. Scarlett was thrilled at the prospect of having made a baby. She wasn't thinking about the reality of what having a baby out of wedlock would mean to her life. Rhett was terrified. He was going to have to marry her now in case there was any consequence from his stupidity. He wanted her to marry him because she wanted to, not because of something like this. He knew that eventually Scarlett would resent him for having to marry him because of a baby.
Rhett started to get out of bed. She grabbed his arm.
"Not yet, Rhett. Stay for a while."
They made love again. Scarlett wondered if she could get away with the same trick again. She decided not to try, she didn't want him getting suspicious. Rhett left a short while later. It was getting harder and harder for them to let each other go.