A/N. OMG, guys, thank you so much for all your feedback! Special thanks to De BadBad Wolf and Alexandra the Dreamer for the most amazing reviews; you girls warm my heart!)) And of course, a huge thank you to ALL the other reviewers-you're really making my days with your kindness. And hereby, I present to you my favorite chapter so far. Can't wait to hear from you after you read this) Enjoy!

Special A/N. Now I would like you all to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my pal here-BeiiTaToKiiTa! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARLIN'! *sings the song* Hope this chapter +virtual candy floss+ numerous hugs from me is a suitable gift! Love you, Bea*)

Chapter 6.

Edelle was walking to her cabin. Even though her thoughts were a bit cloudy, she still heard the back of her mind shouting"Snap out of it! He is not an option! Nobody's an option to you! You are betrothed…" but she didn't want to listen. She was so deep in her thoughts she wasn't even aware of her surroundings. She couldn't hear or see anything that was going on around her. She was just…walking. Her cabin was sure a long way. Everything was so quiet, almost too quiet. Edelle stopped for a moment and insecurely looked around, for an unknown reason she suddenly felt her fingers turn cold. Something just didn't feel right.

"Oh, stop it, you little wimp!- she mentally scolded herself- You're just contradicting yourself!" What was she thinking? Of course it was quiet, everyone was probably asleep! Nothing odd or creepy about that! She slightly nodded at the thought and proceeded walking. Even though she continued to tell herself she was being ridiculous and there was absolutely nothing to be scared of, Edelle instinctly sped up her pace. Damnit, why was her cabin such a long way?

She was about forty meters from it, when suddenly she felt someone's cold palm on her face silencing her as she was roughly grabbed from behind. Her arms were instantly blocked from doing anything and then she felt her breath hitch and cold sweat begin to form on her forehead. Edelle felt sharp metal on her neck and heard someone's dangerously low and hissing whisper in her ear

"If you try to scream, I'll slit your damn throat. Got it?"

She was so terrified, she could barely move. Yet, she managed several shaking nods.

"Good. –someone hissed in her ear again.- Now you be a nice girl, and I will spare you."

By now, tears of terror were freely running down her cheeks. It probably was some sailor, who apparently wasn't sober-she felt a strong smell of alcohol, coming from him. It got even worse when she felt a rough hand squeeze her thigh and then run up to her waist. She let out a small squeal into the palm when it almost reached her breast and then…the hand was gone, gone as suddenly as it appeared. Both the hands were gone! She was free from the grasp and then she heard something hit the wall. She turned around and let out a surprised gasp as she saw Edmund fiercely clutching the collar of the drunken sailor's shirt with one hand and hitting him hard in the face with the other. The man fell on the floor, clutching his broken nose and brow, as Edmund made him get up again and punched him even harder in the gut. Edmund's eyes burned with such fury it almost scared even her. He hit him one last time and then grabbed the man by the back of his neck and hissed

"If I ever again see you within spitting distance to her, I'll be the last person you see before it's over. Cause' I swear, I'll rip you apart with my bare hands!" with that he threw him away and the man stumbled on his feet and ran away as fast as his damaged body would allow him.

Once he was out of sight, Edmund rushed to Edelle and embraced her tightly as she sobbed into his chest. "It's alright. I'm here, I'm with you. You're safe." He continued whispering words of comfort, while soothingly running his fingers through her hair. They stayed like that for a few minutes before her sobs became quieter and when he kissed her head, they almost stopped completely. He pulled back a bit to look at her, the pain of seeing her in tears clearly reflected on his face.

"Come on, let's get you to your cabin."

She nodded and he securely held her around her waist as they finally made it to her room. He sat her on her bed and sat next to her. A few tears were still trickling from her eyes and she leaned her head on Edmund's shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her. He swore, that son of a bitch would pay for that. At that moment he hated himself for letting her go alone. He should have escorted her! He looked down and felt a small bit better to see that she wasn't crying anymore, just silently clutching to him.

Edelle was going through so much right now. The feeling of almost being raped mixed with the feeling that Edmund saved her from it. Right now, she realized that nothing mattered anymore, the fact that she was betrothed to another, that both her and Eustace's parents were going to hate her guts, that she was probably going to be banished from her so-called family…none of that mattered. Edmund was all she wanted, all she needed. He was courageous, strong, and righteous, and now he had saved her from rape. Her heart belonged to him. Completely and unconditionally. She looked up and caught his gentle, but concerned gaze.

"Maybe you want some water or something? Just say the word, I'll get it."

She smiled warmly and raised her head from his shoulder, so that their faces were mere inches away from each other.

"Can I ask you for something?" she whispered.

"Of course, anything." he breathed, his heart pounding at such closeness with her.

"Kiss me, Edmund."

He felt his mouth go dry and his breath halt in his throat. Of course, he had thought of kissing her several times before, but he never dreamed that she would ever ask him for it. And after what had just happened less than twenty minutes ago, he knew he had to distract her from the thoughts of it. He had to help her, if not forget, than at least get over it more. He looked straight in her eyes and reached one hand behind her neck and slowly pulled her face past those several inches and gently, but tightly pressed his lips to hers.

Edelle had never felt something so electrifying as Edmund's lips on hers. Her breath was coming out in rapid pants and her heart was racing faster than she thought possible. She couldn't believe something so forbidden...tasted so heavenly. Besides the electrical jolts passing through all her body, she felt an unfamiliar pressure and warmth in her lower abdomen. She felt a sudden urge to express all the passion she had for him in that one kiss.

Edmund was loving this as much as she did. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pressing her body fully to his. She gasped as she felt Edmund lick her bottom lip and by doing so, she gave him perfect access. She surprised even herself as she moaned into the kiss and wrapped her arms eagerly around his neck. Edmund's tongue came into her welcoming mouth and explored it as she tried her best to follow his lead. Edelle was a bit taken aback, but certainly not disappointed by this incredibly passionate and possessive side of Edmund.

Things were getting more and more heated as Edmund's hands were now roaming over Edelle's body and her's were sneaking up his chest and then the collar of his shirt. Edmund breathed in deeply as he felt her fingers undo the first two buttons on it and wanted nothing more than to do the same with her zipper at the back of her red dress. But even through his passion-hazed mind, he knew they couldn't. Not now, at least. Not when she was so vulnerable. It took all he had to reach up to her wrist and stop what it was doing. He parted from her lips and looked at her.

They were still close enough to feel each-other's breath on their faces and they looked each other in the eyes, still burning with desire. Their lips were a bit swollen and slightly opened. Edelle looked puzzled at his hand that has stopped her's and then at him. He got her silent question and breathed tenderly, but firmly

"Edelle…no. Not now, it's all too soon-you're not ready."

She sighed, but had to admit he was right. It wasn't the right time. Yet. Then a thought came to her mind.
"Edmund, I…I need to tell you something. It doesn't matter anymore, but I feel like you have to know. You see, me and Eustace…I mean, our parents…"

"I know." he cut her off with his totally unexpected answer.

She stared at him, wide eyed. "You do?"

"Yeah. Aunt Alberta told me everything a couple of weeks after we met. She sort of cornered me and told that she doesn't quite like the way we spend so much time together and that I better not do anything to get in the way."

He was silent for a moment, and then spoke again

"But I just can't help it. I can't keep myself away from you. Not anymore."

Edelle could hardly believe what he had just said. She stared at him, full of emotion and breathing hard.

"I… I feel the same way. I can't be without you. I tried to force myself to stay away from you, but I can't. I, I love you, Edmund and I need to be with you. Only you."

He gazed at her in wonder and suddenly grabbed her face and kissed her full and hard on the lips.

"I love you too, Edelle. More than you could know. I want to be with you always."

She smiled widely, and felt a single tear of happiness trickle down her cheek as she clung to him as tightly as she could and he eagerly returned her embrace.

"Edmund, I don't think I can sleep alone tonight, can you…stay with me?"

He smiled lovingly "Of course, whatever you wish."

They both sighed happily as he laid them both down on her bed and wrapped his arms securely around her. She laid her head on his chest and a few moments later fell asleep to the warmth of his body and the lullaby of his beating heart.

Wow…I've done it. My most important chapter so far. I hope you loved it as much as I did! I don't need to ask you to review- you, guys, are terrific at that even without my desperate pleads.) Can't wait to hear from you! *loves*