I've been writing this for a very long time, and I admit it's not my best chapter. But I promise to make up for it with the next one, which will have a few pleasant or not-so-pleasant surprises waiting for us. To be honest, I doubted for a long time whether it was worth inserting a bed scene into the second part of the chapter. Some people don't like how openly Scarlett behaves with Rhett, but one of my critics, polinka22malinka, convinced me that I should do this and thank her for that. So the second part of the M-rated chapter, don't read it, if you don't like it.
They returned to Atlanta on a hot summer day. It seemed that the temperature there was even higher than in New Orleans. When they stepped onto the platform, they certainly attracted the attention of others.
There probably wasn't a single resident of this city who didn't know Rhett Butler. And they all knew that he had recently married, so their couple attracted special attention.
They checked into the same National Hotel. Instead of a honeymoon suite, they picked a spacious two-room suite. Rhett didn't want to stay at Aunt Pitty's house, and that worked out well for both of them.
Scarlett couldn't wait to get back to her business. I had to visit both the store and the mills to check all the documents and sort out financial issues. They also had to start building a house. But for this, it was necessary to find an architect first of all.
As Scarlett found out, Rhett owned a huge plot of land on Peach Street, which made their task easier.
But no matter how eager Scarlett was to plunge into work as soon as possible, certain rules had to be followed. By tradition, it was customary to visit the newlyweds after their honeymoon. And it was impossible to refuse.
"And do you think any of them will come at all?" Scarlett asked, sorting through an unknown number of bags with things.
"Of course they'll come, darling. I think they can't wait to see if you're disappointed in me or not. Remember how they tried to talk you out of it? And if that's the case, they'll need to see it firsthand. So, they will come."
And Rhett was right. The Old Guard flocked to visit them.
Every morning, they received several guests in the living room of their hotel. She wanted to laugh at the expressions on the faces of the old pows who were making small talk with Rhett. Mrs. Meade was examining the two of them so intently that it seemed her eyes would pop out.
Today, they were expecting another visit; this time, Melanie and Ashley were supposed to be the guests. On the eve of this meeting, Scarlett finally thought about the events that had happened earlier. Their last conversation with Ashley before leaving for New Orleans popped up in her head in great detail. He was trying to talk her out of marrying Rhett. Usually calm and silent, Ashley allowed to talk to her about such a delicate topic.
Rhett mentioned that Ashley had his motive for doing this, but Scarlett couldn't believe it. Perhaps she attached too little importance to the relationship between these two men. It seemed that Rhett hated Ashley, and although he never said anything bad about Butler, he did not have much sympathy for him. Scarlett always felt like she was missing something important, something that was lying in front of her nose, but she couldn't see it. She didn't dare to ask Rhett. She feared he would laugh at her. He'd probably say she was too ignorant to get it. Asking Ashley was an even worse idea, he would get embarrassed and turn the conversation to another topic.
In such a situation, Scarlett felt helpless. She wanted to avoid this meeting with Ashley in front of outsiders. And if Melanie doesn't notice her agitation and puts it down to returning to Atlanta, then Rhett won't be fooled that easily. He'll be watching her like a hawk and won't miss an opportunity to mention her condition later.
She sighed and dropped the comb on the table.
"Are you worried, dear?" Scarlett jerked when she heard Rhett's voice behind her.
He was sitting in the armchair, concentrating on reading a newspaper without even looking up from it.
"What nonsense, why would I worry? She snorted. "It's just the Wilkes."
"It's been so long since you've seen each other, I think you'll have something to discuss... with Mr. Wilkes," Rhett said calmly.
"Are you starting again?" she screamed, jumping to her feet.
They hadn't talked about Ashley since that night in New Orleans, and they seemed to have tacitly agreed not to bring it up. All the time they've been staying at this hotel, they've been able to honor this deal up to this point.
"I was just sharing my observations, Scarlett," he replied, focusing back on the newspaper.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, not knowing what to say, and returned to the table to continue brushing her hair.
There was no way she was going to tell Rhett about her excitement before the meeting. He had already made fun of her, so there was no need to give him any more reasons.
The Wilkes arrived at noon, when the hotel staff set a small table in the living room, full of snacks and small sandwiches for tea. Melanie entered the room as soon as the doors opened. She was beaming, looking from Rhett to her. After only a few seconds of hesitation, she threw herself into Scarlett's arms.
"Oh dear, you look so beautiful. We missed you so much," Melanie chirped, looking her up and down. "This dress suits you so well..."
Scarlett hugged her, surprised by Melanie's outpouring of affection.
"Thank you, Mellie." Scarlett smiled, shifting her gaze to Ashley, who was standing a little apart.
He looked slightly embarrassed. His gaze swept across the room, not lingering on anything for a long time, until it settled on Scarlett. It seemed to her that they remembered their last conversation at the same time. Ashley tried to smile at her, but it was too forced.
"Good afternoon, Scarlett," he said dryly, casting a quick glance in the direction of Rhett, who was deep in conversation with Melanie.
"Good afternoon, Ashley..."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Wilkes," she heard a voice say from her left.
Ashley flinched a little at that moment but looked at Rhett and nodded.
"Good afternoon, Captain Butler. We're glad you're back. Atlanta has missed you."
Scarlett heard Rhett's loud laugh and saw him smile.
"Yes, I'm sure this town will have something to talk about now that Scarlett and I are here."
"Shall we have some tea?" Scarlett looked at each of them in turn, trying to defuse the situation and avoid awkwardness.
"That's a great idea, Scarlett," Melanie said. "You need to tell me everything about New Orleans."
They sat down on the sofas opposite each other. The whole conversation was between Scarlett and Melanie. Rhett occasionally interjected comments, and Ashley was so silent that it was obvious to everyone in the room.
"Ashley, you probably can't wait to tell Scarlett how things are at the mill," Melanie interjected, handing him a cup of tea.
"Hmm... yes. But I was hoping to see her there so we could check the books and all the documents," he replied, shifting his gaze to Scarlett.
She wanted to go to the mill to see how much Ashley had harmed her business. But she also didn't want to be alone with him due to the awkwardness.
"Maybe I should go there tomorrow afternoon," Scarlett was asking rather than stating, looking at Ashley.
"That's a great idea," he replied, smiling slightly.
"Weren't you planning to stop by for a construction meeting tomorrow, Scarlett?" she heard Rhett's voice.
She turned to look at him, but as always, she saw nothing but emptiness on his face.
"Oh yeah, I completely forgot. But I don't think anything will happen if I arrive there earlier or later that day," she shrugged, frowning.
Scalette wanted to say something else, but Melanie interrupted her.
"Are you building something, Captain Butler?" she asked.
"Yes, Miss Melanie. The house, for Scarlett and me, on Pearl Street," he replied politely, smiling.
Scarlett once again felt that Rhett was much more courteous to Melanie than he was to her at times.
"Oh, how wonderful that is." Melanie's face lit up with a bright smile. "I'm sure the house will be beautiful..."
They had a small talk for a while longer, after which, to Scarlett's relief, the Wilkes finally left, and she was able to exhale with relief. She's still going to the mill tomorrow to resolve all business issues, and she doesn't care what Ashley says. Although he looked a little sullen today and didn't talk much, although this often happened to him. At some point, Scarlett began to worry about how bad everything was with her mill. Ashley saw himself as a man of honor. If it were up to him, he would let her employees do nothing. They would earn double the salary she had set for herself. Maybe tomorrow, she'll realize she's broke.
She didn't notice how monotonously she tapped her fork on her plate, lost in her thoughts.
"Honey, if that's how you're trying to attract the waiter's attention, then you've done it. And I want to note not only him," Rhett's voice broke through her thoughts.
Scarlett shook her head, coming back to reality. They were sitting in a restaurant, and several people at nearby tables turned to them, unhappy that she was making a lot of extraneous noise. Scarlett looked embarrassed and put her fork down on her plate.
"You don't seem to have heard what I've been saying for the last five minutes," Rhett remarked, finishing his glass of whiskey.
"Yes, I'm sorry. What did you say?" she asked absently.
"I was saying that you already have a lot to do and that maybe you should postpone your visit to the mill tomorrow," he repeated patiently.
"Oh no, Rhett, that's out of the question. We've been here for a few weeks now, and I've never been there yet. I'm definitely going there tomorrow," she replied.
"I'll be in town tomorrow on business. If you want, I can take you there and then pick you up," he said casually, beckoning the waiter.
It was the last thing Scarlett needed at that moment. For Rhett to be hanging around the mills. After the Wilkes' morning visit, she decided to ask Ashley about the conversation that had taken place at the wedding and Rhett's presence would definitely ruin everything.
"Thank you, but you can go about your business. I haven't decided yet what time I'm going or when I'll be back. I don't want you to get attached to my plans," she replied evasively.
Rhett was silent for a while and then answered.
"Okay, whatever you say. I hope you have a great time at your mills," he replied.
Scarlett could feel the tension between them. This feeling hadn't left her since they returned to Atlanta, and now it was getting stronger. It wasn't particularly obvious, it seemed to her that Rhett was behaving strangely. She tried not to think too much about it and focused on what she needed to do.
The next day, she arrived at the mill around three o'clock. Scarlett had to change her schedule and spend the first half of the day at the building, overseeing the work. The workers moved fast, but they needed constant supervision. If they weren't watched, they would stop working right away. But Scarlett was not satisfied with this, she hoped that in a month or so she would finally be able to move into her own house.
So, exhausted by the hot sun and swearing at the contractors, she made it to the mill. When she entered the office, she felt even more heat, and a wave of hot air hit her. Ashley was sitting at the table and lazily fanning himself with some papers, and when he saw her on the threshold, he got up to greet her.
"Scarlett, you've arrived after all. I didn't expect to see you here today in this weather," he replied, walking up to her.
"I promised you yesterday that I would come. You know, Ashley, no amount of weather is going to keep me from my business," Scarlett laughed.
It was the first time he had smiled since they had met for tea yesterday. Ashley examined her carefully from head to toe.
"You look great, Scarlett. This dress suits you very well," he remarked.
Scarlett raised her eyebrows questioningly. A compliment from Ashley was something new, he usually avoided such topics ever since that situation in Tara's garden.
"Hmm... Thank you. It's hard to look presentable in this heat," she replied.
Scarlett could feel her petticoats soaked with sweat. She tried to fan herself, but that didn't help much, either.
"Can I ask you for some water, Ashley?"
"Of course, Scarlett, sit down. I'll get a glass, and we can look through the documents."
Scarlett sat down in a chair opposite Ashley's place and looked around. Since she was gone, Ashley had made a reshuffling in the office. She didn't like it much. She almost told him, but then she remembered it was his office. If he found it convenient to arrange the furniture that way, then why not?
"Here's your water, Scarlett," he put a glass in front of her and sat down across from her, taking out the accounting books.
For the next forty minutes or so, there was silence in the office as Scarlett carefully counted all the numbers written in the books. Her mood was getting darker by the minute, and she would prefer to do it in a more comfortable environment now. For some reason, her thoughts kept drifting away from the stuffy mill to her and Rhett's hotel room, where she could take a cool bath. Also, what she saw made her almost furious.
"A hundred dollars? Ashley? How could you lose a hundred dollars?" Scarlett was indignant.
"I'm sorry, Scarlett, you know how incompetent I am at this," he said, frustrated. "I told you a long time ago that I should leave here..."
Scarlett felt annoyed and sighed. What did she expect? Ashley made mistakes in her presence, and this time, she was gone for a few weeks. She understood that he was not suitable for this job. Scarlett wasn't sure what kind of job he was good for. But she couldn't leave Melanie and Beau without a livelihood.
"It's okay, Ashley, we'll figure something out..." she replied.
"I'm sorry to upset you, Scarlett...I think it would be right if you deduct this from my salary..."
"I'll see what I can do about it..." she replied.
Although she didn't want to deal with it right now.
"I would like to note that you look happy after returning..."
"Ahem... thanks, Ashley. I had a great time in New Orleans. I've never been there before. It's a beautiful city. You and Melanie should definitely visit it..."
She suddenly stopped talking, not knowing how to continue the conversation.
"Ashley, I'd like to talk to you about what happened at the wedding..." she began and saw how he suddenly turned white.
"Scarlett, I had no right to tell you anything. It was tactless of me. If my late father had ever found out about how I behaved, he would have branded me a disgrace. I care about you, Scarlett, and I want you to be happy. And I never imagined that you would marry someone like Captain Butler. He used you to get into the Old Guard circle. No one will accept him without you. And now they have to put up with him because he's your husband," he said guiltily.
Scarlett bristled at him. No matter how she felt about Rhett, and no matter what happened between them, no one—not even Ashley—should have said that about him.
"Ashley. I don't like it..." she protested. "I don't understand why Rhett would do that, and I don't think he pursued similar goals when he married me."
She bit her lip, trying not to blurt out too much. Ashley didn't need to know the terms of the marriage.
"Whatever it is, Scarlett. Be careful. I don't want them to stop accepting you in their homes, either. I don't even want to imagine that you can spend time visiting these Northerners with whom Captain Butler communicates..." he seemed to forget himself, delivering his fiery speech. "I'm sorry, Scarlett. I've said too much..."
He looked at her guiltily again, and Scarlett began to get annoyed. She already wanted to yell at him, saying that he needed to keep an eye on his work, not hers. But she restrained herself. Whatever had happened between them in the past, she didn't want to spoil the relationship with him.
"Okay, Ashley. I think it's time for me to leave. I still have things to do in the city. I'll come back next week."
She got up and headed for the door.
"Of course, Scarlett. I'm sorry for everything again," he replied, escorting her to the door.
Scarlett didn't know if the heat was affecting her or if it was something else, but Ashley was too annoying today.
After leaving the office, she steered her buggy into the city. At first, she wanted to go straight to the hotel, but then she decided to stop by Mr. Madison's building and arrange for the sale of her timber. She needed to somehow patch up the budget hole that had appeared there because of Ashley.
After sitting in the store until almost six in the evening, Scarlett, hungry and tired, decided to return to the hotel. When she entered the room, she did not find Rhett there and decided to take a cool bath. While staying in expensive hotels, she discovered what a new bathtub was. She also learned it was linked to something called a sewage system. There weren't even chamber pots here, they used toilets. It was something so new and amazing to her, but so pleasant and comfortable that she wanted to do the same thing in her new home.
She entered the bathroom and turned on the faucet. Cool water flowed in, so she didn't need to wait for it to heat up or ask the maid for pitchers. Scarlett undressed on her own, dropping her clothes on the floor and plunging into the cool water.
She didn't keep track of the time and didn't know how long she had been in the bathroom when she heard a noise in the living room.
"Scarlett?" Rhett's voice was heard.
"In the bathroom," she shouted without opening her eyes.
Footsteps were heard, and Rhett entered the room. His vest was unbuttoned, and his tie was missing altogether. He looked as tired from the heat as she was.
"Will you let me join you, darling?" he asked, smiling cheekily and studying her from his seat.
Scarlett noticed he could see her bare breasts, even from the door. So, she quickly covered herself with her hands and rushed deeper into the bathroom.
"Don't even think about it. There's no space for two people. You'd better give me a towel," she replied.
The last thing she wanted was for Rhett to see her naked in the middle of the day. And even though this had happened before, it was in slightly different circumstances, and they weren't having small talk.
Rhett obediently walked across the room and unfolded a large towel in front of her, waiting for her to get up.
"Oh no, Rhett, I'll do it myself..." Scarlett protested, trying to grab the towel from his hands, still sitting in the bathroom, but of course, he wouldn't let her do it.
"You'll get this wet, Scarlett. Get up, and I'll wrap a towel around you," he said, still smiling at her discomfort.
She sighed and quickly stood up, allowing him to wrap the towel around her body. Scarlett was about to get out of the bathroom, but Rhett picked her up in his arms and put her in the middle of the room.
"I can help you with that, honey, if you want," he offered, pointing to the towel.
"No..." she screamed, which caused Rhett to burst out laughing. "You'd better go and order dinner. I haven't eaten all day," she replied stubbornly.
The last thing she needed was Rhett trying to towel her off. After sending him into the living room, she changed into a bathrobe and came out in time for dinner to be on the table.
"Where have you been all day?" Scarlett asked, finishing her salad.
"At the bank, now I have my desk there where I do my business," Rhett replied.
Scarlett almost choked on his answer, and then she laughed out loud in disbelief.
"What? Since when did you become a good gentleman, Rhett?"
"You may be surprised, my dear, but for some time now, I have had a clear desire to do this," he laughed. "And it hurts me that my own wife doesn't believe in me."
Suddenly, Ashley's words came to her mind. He was saying that Rhett wanted to join the Old Guard with her help.
"Scarlett, what's wrong?" Rhett distracted her from her thoughts.
"Nothing, Rhett... it's nothing." She tried to evade the question.
"How was your day at the mill?" he suddenly asked, as if reading her mind.
"It was fine." Scarlett shifted in her chair, which Rhett noticed.
"And what did the noble Mr. Wilkes do this time?" He chuckled.
"Nothing special, except that I managed to lose a hundred dollars while I was out of town," she sighed.
"Why am I not surprised?" Rhett lit a cigar and leaned back in his chair. "I've already offered to sell the mills, Scarlett. We don't need the money. And Mr. Wilkes will continue to do this..."
"And I've already told you that I don't want to do this..." she flared up but stopped in time and continued more calmly. "You know that I like doing this, and I'm grateful that you let me keep them." She smiled at him, trying to smooth over the moment.
And she was really grateful. Another man in his place would have banned his wife from doing business, but not Rhett. He was always proud to tell his friends what she was doing, and it didn't seem like she cared at all that some people had a negative view of what she was doing.
"Well, if you like trying to get Mr. Wilkes out of difficult life situations every time, who am I to forbid you from doing that?" he smiled, but something in his face worried her. It wasn't a joke, more like sarcasm.
Scarlett hated it. when he was doing this to her. He always emerged victorious in such verbal exchanges. which made her mad. And trying to wipe that cheeky smile off his face, she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.
"Ashley said that you married me so that you could be accepted in the houses of the Old Guard..." She quickly regretted her actions. Rhett's loud laughter echoed in the living room.
"Really? Does Mr. Wilkes think so? What an interesting observation. Well, in that case, he's just as much of an idiot as they all are if he thinks so..." he said calmly.
"He's not an idiot..." she intervened, and immediately regretted it because Rhett glared at her. "He said he was worried about me because I married you..."
"Oh, of course he's worried, but I'm afraid, dear, it's about something else entirely," Rhett replied.
"You're talking in riddles again..." screamed Scarlett.
"I think it's pretty obvious, but maybe not for you..." laughed Rhett. "What a naive girl you are..."
"Well, explain it," she replied stubbornly.
"I'm sorry, dear, I'm not in the mood to do this today," he waved her away, finishing his cigar.
"So he was right after all. But you know, it's not going to help you anyway.… Because you can hardly clean up after what you did during the blockade and from your trips to this..."
Scarlett didn't have time to finish because Rhett jumped up, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" she screamed.
"I'm sorry, Scarlett, I'm tired of listening to this nonsense. If you prefer to believe Mr. Wilkes, so be it. And I got things to do, with that... what do you call her there..."
Scarlett opened her mouth in shock, but she didn't even have time to say anything because he walked away. He walked away and left her alone.
Tonight, Rhett suggested dinner at the hotel restaurant, which Scarlett was very happy about. They usually had dinner in their room. Sometimes, the Wilkes or other Atlanta residents invited them to dinner. After returning from New Orleans, she and Rhett no longer spent time with his so-called friends. Rhett made it clear that he was determined to appear a respectable Southerner in the eyes of the Old Guard.
So, dinner at the restaurant was a pleasant variety. Scarlett loved the ornate furnishings, crystal chandeliers, and expensive tableware. She liked to wear beautiful, expensive clothes and jewelry, which she could not afford at a dinner with the same Mrs. Meade or Mrs. Elsing.
Scarlett is even allowed to drink a little more champagne than decency allows, and her slight intoxication amuses Rhett.
"Careful, darling. Otherwise, I'll have to carry you to our room in my arms."
Scarlett was annoyed, but it made Rhett laugh even more. She was pleased to see Rhett in a good mood. Lately, he seemed increasingly sullen. He'd been gentle and attentive on their honeymoon, but now, here in Atlanta, he seemed politely distant. Scarlett was upset by this, she missed the Rhett she could recognize, but she did not dare to ask about his behavior, fearing his ridicule.
They came back to the room late. Rhett helped her undress. Even though it was late, she didn't want to sleep. She changed into a nightgown and fell onto the sofa. Rhett handed her another glass of champagne, and she accepted it. She sighed contentedly as she sipped the cool liquid.
Rhett settled into the armchair next to her, pouring a glass of whisky.
"Isn't there too much champagne, dear?" he asked kindly.
"Oh, Rhett, come on, don't be so boring. I forgot the last time I drank champagne."
She heard him laugh.
"Okay, Scarlett."
There was silence between them for a while. Scarlett finished her champagne and put the glass on the table next to the sofa. Rhett offered her another one, but she declined. She noticed how he was watching her intently with a thoughtful expression on his face. After a while, she got tired of it and asked irritably:
"What happened? You're looking at me too intently."
He shook his head. Which made her even angrier.
"Stop doing that. Just ask what you want, Rhett." She stared at him with a frown. But he continued to remain silent, and Scarlett decided to go to bed, but Rhett grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap, burying his face in her hair.
"Scarlett, do you like being my wife?" he asked, looking into her eyes carefully.
Scarlett frowned; she didn't understand why he was asking this question. But it made her think. They hadn't been married that long, but she was definitely enjoying it. She was pleased to be called Mrs. Butler, and they had a great time together. Rhett showered her with gifts and let her buy whatever she wanted. And he took care of her and comforted her when she had nightmares.
She answered without hesitation.
"Of course, Rhett."
"Because I'm letting you mindlessly waste my millions?"
"Rhett..." she was indignant, but then she saw that he wasn't angry, but rather was making fun of her.
Scarlett felt his fingers gently stroking the skin above her breasts, which was visible in the neckline of her robe.
"What about our lovemaking? Do you like it?"
Scarlett instantly blushed as soon as she understood the meaning of his words. She tried to get up, but Rhett held her firmly in his lap.
"Rhett, why such indecent questions?" she could still feel her cheeks burning.
As always, he was completely unperturbed, as if they were discussing the weather.
"I don't see anything indecent in this. It's only natural that I want to know if my wife is satisfied." Even though he looked calm, Scarlett could feel the tension in his body.
He was always like this, and Scarlett found it annoying.
"It's always about control..." she shook her head. He raised his eyebrows questioningly. "You and your desire to control everything."
"So I'm in control of everything?" He laughed softly, but the tension didn't go away.
"Not only that. It's also about your control. You always keep your feelings and emotions under control, never allow yourself to relax..." She looked him straight in the eye, and the champagne she drank gave her confidence. "Even in our bed..."
She felt his hands tighten on her body, and the corner of his mouth twitched for a moment.
"You seem to be more observant than I thought, Mrs. Butler." He seemed very interested in this conversation.
"Yes, Rhett, I may be very far from your powers of observation, but I'm certainly not blind.… You're always focused, nothing but a few sighs or moans..."
Yes, they hadn't been married that long, but that was enough time for Scarlett to explore him in bed, at least for as long as Rhett allowed her to do so. He was a gentle but passionate lover, and he always made sure that she got pleasure first before he allowed himself to get his own. But even at such moments, he didn't seem to let himself relax.
"Sometimes it seems to me…" she wanted to share her worries with him, but then changed her mind. Rhett probably didn't think it was important, and they probably would have made fun of her. But he seemed interested.
"It seems what? Darling, share it with me," he said softly.
"It seems that you don't care if I'm under you or someone else." She lowered her eyes, not wanting to meet his gaze. She expected ridicule, but it didn't come. He lifted her face, forcing her to look at him.
"That's not true, Scarlett," he said confidently.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe, but that's what it looks like. And sometimes I wonder what it would be like if you lost control…" She saw his eyes flash, burning her.
Scarlett felt his hand slide under her chemise, rising to her hip, caressing her skin, making her sigh and close her eyes.
"May I assume that's what you were hoping for?"
"Oh, Rhett, don't be so conceited. I was considering the possibility."
Rhett kissed her gently. He teased her, not letting her deepen the kiss. Then, he moved to her neck. He caressed her pulse line and nibbled her skin, making Scarlett moan softly.
"And how would you like it to be, honey?" He exhaled into her ear, sending shivers through her body.
"It's exciting..." she whispered.
She didn't want to admit her fantasies to Rhett. It wasn't that she thought about it all the time. But sometimes, when she was alone with her thoughts, she imagined them in bed and not in bed, all the things Rhett had already done to her or could do.
Scarlett reached out and ran her fingers through her soft hair, massaging his scalp, which made him almost rumble with pleasure.
Rhett pulled away from her neck and looked at her with predatory eyes.
"Honey, tell me what you liked the most..." Scarlett stared at him blankly, and Rhett continued. "Maybe you would like to repeat something..."
And then she realized that he was talking about their lovemaking, he wanted to know what she thought about it. She blushed to the roots of her hair again, she wanted to run away and hide under the covers.
"Please, Scarlett... it's important to me." He gently stroked her cheek, smiling softly.
It was the first time she heard the word "please" from Rhett. She didn't understand why he needed it, it was too obscene, even though he was like that. A lecherous boor who liked to bring up such topics. And although she was very uncomfortable, she decided to try to answer.
Champagne was flowing through her veins, her pulse was pounding in her temples. She saw him looking at her, his face was no longer impassive, it reflected impatience and expectation. She closed her eyes, trying to escape his gaze, and images filled her head.
"Scarlett, open your eyes..." he took her chin in his hand.
She looked at him again, blushing even more, if that was even possible.
"That night in New Orleans... when you…" Every word was given to her with great difficulty. "When you were in the back... it felt different..."
He moved and started kissing her neck again, leaving a wet trail of his tongue here and there, which made her moan once more.
"More pleasant than ever?" He brushed his lips over her collarbone.
"Yes"
"How?"
"Deeper..."
Scarlett closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sensations that his lips brought. She felt him unfasten the first hook of the robe on her chest, and then the next one, and so on until the last one, until it slid down her shoulders.
"What else?" His voice was quite impatient, although his movements were completely under control. His mouth moved to her breast, forcing her to arch up to meet him, caressing her nipple through the fabric of her nightgown.
"Rhett, please..." but he wasn't going to stop." I liked it when you bit me, it was exciting and what you did with your tongue.…I was thinking about how it would feel if you could..." and then she froze.
To her horror, Scarlett realized that she had said too much. She opened her eyes and saw Rhett lift his face and fix his burning gaze on her, a smug smile spreading across his face. She was about to get up from his lap, but Rhett was faster and wrapped both arms around her, preventing her from doing so.
"What would you like me to do, dear?" His voice was soft as velvet, and he seductively stretched out the last word, trying to persuade her to continue.
"Nothing... I just misspoke, Rhett."
Scarlett couldn't let him know what she was thinking. Since that night, certain fantasies had been spinning in her head, obscene, indecent fantasies about her gorgeous husband who could do this to her. She would never have thought that she could want something like that. She closed her eyes and saw him, completely naked, kneeling in front of her and lowering his head between her legs. No, he would never know about it! Never!
"Share it with me, darling..." She didn't see the mockery or amusement on his face, it was boundless tenderness. "Do you even understand how I feel knowing that my wife has fantasies about me?"
She shook her head, trying hard to avoid this conversation.
"I don't want to offend or shame you. I want to know how to bring it to life. Would you like me to do what you were thinking about ?"
"Yes," she almost whispered. "But Rhett, I can't..."
Rhett pulled her in for a kiss, gently coaxing her with his lips to surrender to him.
"You can, you're so brave… Tell me."
She closed her eyes and exhaled. There was nowhere to run, she just had to say it, and then he would probably leave her alone. Scarlett looked at him again and felt his tension.
"I was thinking about how it would feel if you bit me right between my thighs and..."
She stopped when she saw how his face had changed. It displayed pure, undisguised lust.
Rhett rose with her from the chair and set her on her feet, capturing her in a passionate kiss. He kissed her while pushing her to move until her feet rested on the bed. There was no tenderness in his movements, his hands fell on her buttocks, pulling her to him, and she felt his arousal, which rested on her stomach.
Scarlett moaned, putting her hands on the lapels of his jacket and pulling it off his shoulders. Rhett stopped her from undressing him completely, lifted her chemise, and pulled it over her head, leaving her naked. He pulled away from her lips and pushed her, urging her to lie across the bed. He managed to take off his vest, throwing it on the floor, and bent over her, kissing her again.
A storm of emotions swept over her, excitement rippling through her body. She fiercely responded to his kisses and, at one point, bit his lower lip, making him moan. Rhett pulled away from her lips, moving down to her neck, licking and leaving a red bite mark, making her moan.
Scarlett didn't understand much about what was happening, she could only feel his hands and lips sliding over her body. He licked, bit, and sucked, leaving marks on her pale skin. Both of his hands cupped her breasts and brought them together so that he took both of her nipples in his mouth, making her curve.
"Rhett..." was all she could say, his every move reverberating in her lower abdomen, making her feel a throb.
Rhett sank lower and lower, leaving a bite on her thigh. She felt him kneel down and pull her to the edge of the bed, spreading her legs apart. She felt his kisses again, starting from her knees and moving higher until he bit the skin on the inside of her thigh. He moved closer and closer to her center, making her tremble.
Rhett paused for a moment... and then she felt him between her thighs. His tongue danced up and down her bundle of nerves, making her moan and arch. Her hand slid down and stopped in his hair, squeezing it and encouraging him not to stop.
Scarlett shuddered with every movement he made. She felt his finger penetrate her, and then a second and a third, stretching her, bringing her to bliss. She felt like she was teetering on the edge, her hips feverishly rising above the bed in time with the movements of his tongue and fingers. And then suddenly his fingers were gone, and she felt lost, but then Rhett opened her folds and his teeth closed on her bundle of nerves. At that moment, her whole body began to shake, reaching a climax, and she screamed, surrendering to the moment, feeling his tongue still sliding over her.
His mouth left her, and he pulled away. She heard him take off his clothes, but she couldn't move, the only thing she did was bring her legs together. In her head, she imagined that it might be pleasant, but she didn't expect it to be so great. And Rhett did it for her because she wanted it.
She looked up and saw him taking off the last part of his clothes. She looked him up and down. God! He looked amazing, toned and muscular, his broad chest heaving with heavy breathing. He looked at her as if he was going to eat her. She looked down at his arousal, he was already hard and ready.
Scarlett just spread her legs, silently inviting him to finally be inside her. He took a step forward, nudging her slightly so that she pushed back on the bed and settled between her exposed thighs. Scarlett pulled him in for another kiss, and he entered her in one quick thrust, making them both moan.
And then, he began to move in a steady, fast rhythm. Scarlett pulled both her legs up on his hips, lifting her own to meet him. Suddenly, Rhett pulled away and turned her onto her stomach, pulling her up so that she was on her knees.
"Lean on your elbows and spread your legs..." and it wasn't a request; he was ordering her.
Scarlett should have been outraged and stopped all this, but all she did was slide her elbows onto the bed, lowering her head into her hands.
She felt him run both hands over her buttocks and squeeze it and then fill her up again. He was so deep, long, and thick, and he felt perfect inside her. As the tempo increased, she could hear the sounds Rhett was making. She had never heard anything like this from him before. Even at the moment of his highest passion, he allowed himself a small moan or murmured her name. But now it was moaning mixed with growls, and it was driving her crazy.
Scarlett reached for his hand, which was resting on her hip, intertwined their fingers, and pulled him slightly forward, placing his hand in her hair. She didn't have to ask, he understood her without words. Rhett grabbed her hair and pulled on her, making her writhe and moan loudly. But it wasn't enough, she wanted more.
"Rhett, please..."
"Tell me what you want, honey..."
"Harder... please, harder."
And she felt him pull her hair harder, and then he slapped her, and it pushed her over the edge.
"Rhett..."
She felt herself shrink around him, and her whole body shuddered with waves of pleasure until, after a few seconds, he pushed hard into her and froze, filling her.
"Scarlett..." it was almost an animal moan.
She collapsed onto the bed, still lying face down when he pulled away. She almost jumped on the bed when he fell next to her. All she could hear was the sound of their ragged breathing. And Scarlett was finally able to lift her head and look at him.
He was lying on his back and staring at the ceiling, his hair was disheveled, and a satisfied smile was playing on his face. Noticing that she was looking at him, Rhett turned to her. Scarlett thought that he would hide all his emotions from her again, as he always did, but this time, it didn't happen. He was still smiling at her, and she could see the admiration in his eyes.
"Have I lost control enough, Mrs. Butler?" he laughed.
She laughed back and couldn't help but smile.
"It wasn't bad. Next time, we'll perfect it."
He burst out laughing.
"Next time? Whatever you say, dear."
He shifted, placing a kiss on her shoulder blade, and then got off the bed. Scarlett rolled over onto her side, completely unconcerned that she was naked.
"Where are you going?"
"Just for cigars, honey." She heard his voice behind her and then saw him pull back the covers and slide into bed. "Will you join me, or will you lie here like Danae?"
She could see his gaze moving over her body, but no matter how flattered she was, she was too exhausted. So she climbed over the blanket and snuggled up to him, laying her head on his chest. She could smell the smoke as Rhett lit a cigar next to her, placing his other hand on her hip.
"Do you see, dear, how useful it is sometimes to tell your husband about your fantasies?"
"Yes, you're definitely right..." she closed her eyes and felt his kiss in her hair. He whispered something to her, but sleep was taking her into his arms too quickly for her to hear exactly what it was.