This Time
Rated: PG-13
"Say, yes," Rhett commanded again in an alluring voice beforehis mouth descended upon hers. Somehow her arms wound around his neck and she was clutching him as if he were the most stable thing in this world. Finally, he pulled away; his face was still poised above hers,
his dark eyes intently searching her face.
The moment his silky lips stopped brushing against hers,
Scarlett's mind unclouded with the dizzy affect of his kisses and the alcohol. Roughly she wrenched herself out of his arms.
"You get out of here, you fitly rotten bas…"
"Now, don't be calling names, Mrs. Kennedy. Let's let
bugles sing truce, shall we?" Confidently he sauntered off and sat down on the settee, pulling out a long cigar from his coat pocket. He struck a match with steady fingers and lit the cigar, taking a long puff from it.
Scarlett glared at him before sauntering over towards him, her hands placed on her swaying hips. Roughly pulling the cigar out of his hand, she stubbed it out until smoke gathered around the room, causing her to gag. She set the burnt out stub on a small table and turned towards him with a glare.
"You can't smoke here! Haven't you any morals? Aunt Pitty
would have a heart attack." With definite moves she went to the settee a few feet across from him and gracefully sat perched on the edge. "Why are you here, Rhett?" She asked again, turning accusing green eyes to him. He leaned back, undaunted by her anger and crossed his long legs carelessly in front of him.
"I told you, I came here to retrieve my bride."
"I told you, I wouldn't ever marry a cad like you!" She replied through clenched teeth.
He clasped his hand dramatically to his chest. "You wound me, my pet."
"I am not your pet!"
"You will be." His confident voice riled her and she clenched her fists so tightly, her knuckles turned white with strain and her wedding ring dug into her finger.
"No, I'll never be any man's pet, Rhett Butler, and you
best be remembering that." Her eyes flamed with anger. "Besides," she added mockingly, "I thought you weren't a marrying man.`Marriage didn't hold any charm for you,' you said." Her eyes challenginglymet his.
"No marriage has ever held any charm for me or ever will, but,alas, my mother wants to see me happily married before I get too old. I can't blame her really. I am getting a bit over my years…"
He didn't look a day older than thirty but Scarlett would never tell him that. Her chin tilted proudly. "I'm sure Belle Watling would be more than happy to be your wife, Rhett." She wasn't able to keep the jealousy out of her voice, and as Rhett's eyes glittered in triumphant, she berated herself for falling into his trap.
"You're jealous."
"I am not!" She cried, her eyes belied that fact and she went for a different approach. "I just don't… see how you can everget an respectable wife if you are consorting with people like… like that Belle!"
"Jealousy doesn't become you, my dear," he taunted herand she was all the more riled. She wanted to stomp her foot on the ground but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her make a fool of herself.
"Why would you want to marry me, when you could have a…"
"I want you." He spoke so convincingly and savagely that
Scarlett had to catch her breath before she spoke again.
"I don't see how that has to do with anything. You've
never wanted me before except to be your mistress. I'll never marry you! You're heartless and don't have the heart to love another person but yourself."
She saw him flinch briefly at her accusation and she wished she hadn't have said that but it was too late now, and she wasn'tgoing to take it back. He rose and sauntered over to her sitting form. His towering height intimidated her and despite her pride, she cowered back, until her back came in contact with the back of the settee.
"You'll marry me, Scarlett. You won't pine away the restof your life for a man that doesn't love you. And when I have you, I'll never let you go. I'll control your mind, body and soul,and ultimatelyyour heart until Ashley Wilkes only becomes a faded memory in your deceitful mind."
"Rhett!"
"Shut up!" He ordered roughly, before pulling her off of the settee into his arms. His lips conquered hers easily, his hands roaming over her back and then finally coming in contact with her clad taffeta breasts. His hands moved so his mouth could firmly take over and Scarlett felt her knees quaver as she felt his warm breath seep through her dress. His fingers took over and one by one each button came undone. Her shoulders were visible now and his lips took over, kissing her neck and shoulders with fervor.
A knock sounded at the closed parlor door, shattering the intimate moment. Scarlett forcefully pushed Rhett away, clutching the front of her open dress to shield herself from his roaming eyes.
"Miss Scarlett, Miss Melly is here to see ya," came Mammy's booming voice, causing Scarlett's cheeks to flood with more heat.
"Tell her I'll be right there, Mammy," came her breathless reply.
Mammy's only reply was a mutter, her heavy footsteps sounding her departure down the hall. Hurriedly, Scarlett started to button the undone buttons with shaky fingers, avoiding Rhett's piercing gaze.
"Leave," she ordered him in a shaky voice. How could she have acted so disgraceful? Tears streamed down her pale cheeks and she turned her face away from Rhett's worried gaze.
"Scarlett…"
"Leave right now!"
"No. It would be so much easier if you would only say yes. But mark my words my dear, you'll marry me and I'll own you
completely."
"You'll never own me, Rhett," she replied warily. Patting her unruly black hair she started off towards the door. Turning to him one last time she said: "I believe you can show your self out."
He chuckled, walking towards her in long easy strides. Lightly he pinned her shoulders against the doorframe. "You're so naïve, my pet, I always get what I want and I'll have you in everyway." His lips descended upon hers again, almost as if sealing the promise he had made. Futilely, she turned her head away but his hands cupped her head, drawing her closer and closer, until her mind dizzily spun. Minutes passed before he pulled away, his hands caressing her face.
"Yes, Scarlett, I'll own you. You are mine and no one else's, not even the honorable Ashley Wilkes. I'll get you any way I can,even if it means I must pursue you in front of all the old cats in Atlanta, I will."
He opened the parlor door, closing it quietly behind him. His confident footsteps sounded down the hall until they grew faint and the front door clicked shut. Tiredly, Scarlett's back restedagainst the shut parlor door, her body still shook with the affect of Rhett's kisses. She squared her shoulders and walked over to the small basin, which was next to Rhett's stubbed out cigar. Angrily she picked the cigar up, throwing it out of the slightly open window.
Splashing cold water on her flushed face she grabbed a small washcloth, patting off the remaining droplets of water and started off towards the door. She vowed she wouldn't give into Rhett, no matter how tempting his kisses were.
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