Synopsis: A chance meeting leads to one night together... almost. Unable to forget, will they find one another again? ExB. CP. Rated M for lemons.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: This is the first FF I ever really started developing, and because of time constraints it has taken me about a year to complete. (This is why, as I stated in my profile, I won't post a story until it's complete since there is no way I can give timely updates. Plus I have to edit and proof read my shit a million fucking times before I'm satisfied! Ha!)
This story is full of allusions to the original Twilight and has the usual FF cliches. I'm hoping, as I write more, to break away from this type of story and write more original, OOC stories. But remember, this was my first. I was playing it fairly safe.
In any case, this originally began as a quick one-shot. But the ending I had planned for originally just didn't seem to work, and the story kept going. My original goal was 6k words, but I surpassed that two times over!
I've been almost finished with this story for so long now that I am super excited to be finally posting it for you all to read! Please let me know what you think. I love getting reviews!
There will be 4 chapters, all from BPOV.
CHAPTER ONE
I was so glad to get out of that stuffy room. Stuffy because of the people. The room was actually quite beautiful, like the rest of the Fairmont Olympic. But after yesterday, the Terrace Piano Bar had quickly become my favorite place in the hotel. It really was a great place to unwind, especially with their specialty drinks. And with the required business-casual attire, I was appropriately dressed in my deep blue silk blouse, black pencil skirt, and navy satin pumps.
I made eye contact with the bartender and he came right over. "What can I get for you, Miss?"
"Just a dry soda please, lavender." I would have rather had one of their martinis, but I was only on a break so I settled for one of their specialty sodas. I don't condone drinking on the job even if it is only a boring conference. The bartender set my drink down in front of me with a nod and a smile. "Thank you," I replied.
After I had settled into my seat at the bar, I noticed the music that was filling the room. Beautiful music coming from the grand piano. Which was odd, I thought, as weekday afternoons was not usually when the bar featured live music. I turned to my left to find the source, and I was immediately taken aback by what I saw.
The man playing was so very handsome. His hair was wild... strange, a gorgeous auburn color and kind of all over the place as if he'd been running his hands through it all day. He had a beautiful face. His eyes were closed, but I could see that he had long eye lashes. His skin looked so smooth, except where his 5 o'clock shadow had grown over his strong and masculine jaw. And his lips, parted ever so slightly, they were perfect too; full, but not too much. I didn't see a flaw on the man.
He appeared to be putting so much of himself into this music that I was finding it difficult not to watch. He was playing in a hotel bar, but he made it look so personal, almost intimate. It made me wonder what it would be like to be intimate with him, and then my mind began to wander. I thought about what it would be like to trace kisses along his jaw, how his scruff would feel against my lips... and other parts of my body.
He must have felt the weight of my stare because he opened his eyes and found mine after quickly sweeping the room. I subtly took in a sharp breath. The intensity of his gaze almost knocked me off the bar stool, but I couldn't look away. His eyes were a deep hunter green. I'd never before seen eyes so vivid.
The tune coming from the piano changed, becoming lighter. A slight smile formed on his lips. He looked even more handsome, if that was possible. I ripped my gaze away because I could feel a blush creep to my face and spread through my cheeks. I tried to hide behind my hair, moving all the soft curls to my left shoulder. I grabbed my cold drink, put the straw to my lips, and took a gulp in a vain attempt to cool my face. The last thing I wanted was to make a fool of myself in front of this gorgeous man.
But I couldn't help it. I stole another glance at him. His eyes were closed again, and for some reason I wished I could see his hands. I predicted that they would look sexy as hell playing that piano. His brow slightly furrowed, mouth slightly open... I thought that it almost looked like...
I rolled my eyes at myself, but settled them back on the man at the piano. I knew my imagination was running wild. But even still... He was making that inanimate object sing under his touch. What a lucky piano, I thought. I wondered; what else could he make sing...?
I shook my head and tried to clear my perverse thoughts. I finished off my drink still watching him, and tried to get my hormones in check.
I don't know how long I stared, but as the last note rung through the air he opened his eyes again. They opened to meet mine as if he had never let his eyes drift the entire time they were closed. I felt my heart pick up it's pace as his eyes bored into mine. I couldn't make myself look away, so instead I offered a shy smile. He gave a crooked grin in return and it was sexy as all hell. I instantly felt a dampness between my legs. I couldn't believe the reaction I was having to a stranger... from just a smile! I turned the other way when my cheeks reddened again - giving away everything, I was sure.
The music had stopped so I assumed he had finished for the evening. I forced myself not to look for him. I was sure he had better things to do than spend his break being bothered by an obviously sex-crazed woman. I figured he had probably already left, and I felt pathetic moping over his absence. It wasbeautiful music, regardless. Very relaxing and just what I had needed. And at least I had had some eye candy before having to go back to the conference, albeit briefly.
"Hello."
I was broken out of my reverie by a voice that oozed sex appeal. I had a strong suspicion to whom that voice belonged. I turned, and even though I was expecting it, I was sill stunned. He smiled that crooked smile and I felt dazzled as I got lost in his deep green eyes.
"Hi," I answered somewhat breathlessly, and much to my embarrassment.
"This is going to sound ridiculously trite, but I couldn't help but notice you from across the room." He smiled at his own statement.
I didn't know what to make of what he just said. I thought perhaps he was going to tell me to go take a cold shower and quit staring at him. "You play beautifully," I all but blurted out in response. It was all I could think to say. He probably thought me crazy, but I could at least complement his talent.
"Thanks," he chuckled. It was sexy chuckle. I could only imagine that everything he did was some how sexy. "I'm Edward by the way," he said as he held out his hand to me.
"Bella." I answered giving him my hand. I'm not sure I could say any more than that. I was too shocked that he didn't tell me to go take a hike!
He took my hand, not to give it a normal hand shake, though. He took my hand in introduction, his thumb graze my knuckles and his beautifully long fingers caressed my palm. For a moment I thought he was going to kiss my hand, but he didn't, releasing it instead.
"Bella" he repeated. "Beautiful..." he mused quietly, almost as if to himself. I don't know if he was referring to the meaning of the name Bella, or to me. I was hoping it was the latter. "Can I buy you a drink?" he asked lifting his eyebrows with the rising inflection of his question.
"Sure. But just a soda, thanks," I answered.
He motioned for the bar tender and ordered my drink. I used that moment to give him a good appreciative look-over. He was leaning into the bar on his left elbow, so that he was inclined towards me. He was tall and slender, but still muscular. I could tell even through his fine gray suit. The skinny black tie that adorned his neck only accented the garment and played up his slim frame. He really knew how to wear a suit. It was a clear cut case of a man making the suit.
He ordered a scotch for himself, and had the order charged to his room.
"Are you staying here at the hotel?" He looked to me. I was glad that I'd finished checking him out or he would have been witness to the deepest blush of my life.
"Umm..." I stuttered, "No. No, I'm attending a conference. A, uhm, Seattle publishers conference. Just a two day thing. Thursday and Friday, today. Nothing very exciting I'm afraid." He just smiled at me in answer. I wasn't sure what else to say. I couldn't ask the same question in return. I already knew the answer, of course. His crooked smile seemed to make my thought process slow dramatically. I could barely remember how to have a normal conversation. "Um... I know that you are staying at the hotel," referring to his charging the drinks to his room, "So, where are you from?"
The bartender set our drinks down in front of us. "Chicago. I'm here on business. My sister and I own some boutiques in the area." He took a sip of his scotch, his eyes never leaving mine.
I couldn't help the smile that played upon my lips as he revealed this information. "You don't strike me as the boutique type," I stated mater-of-factly before sipping my soda.
"I'm not really," he answered offhandedly. "Alice, my sister, handles the majority of it all. I just take care of the behind the scenes stuff. She's more interested in clothes. I'm more interested in business."
"Well, that's nice," I thought out loud. The only family I really had was my father, and we were close in our own way but not like other families. "What boutique, if you don't mind my asking? Perhaps I'm a customer of yours?" I inquired with what I hoped was a flirtatious smile.
A devilish grin crossed his face and I saw a glint in his eyes. He leaned closer to me and answered in a low voice, "Allie Cat's".
I choked on the sip of soda I was taking, coughing a little. "Oh," I croaked out as I felt a huge blush sweep my entire face thinking about the undergarments I put on that morning which I had purchased just weeks earlier from Allie Cat's, Seattle's premier lingerie boutique. He looked at me with concern but I waved my hand, trying to convey to him that I was fine, as if I choked on drinks all the time and this was nothing new. Not so far fetched really.
After I regained control of my breathing, he surprised me further by asking, "So, are you a customer?" He took another sip of his scotch, looking away in indifference. I was grateful that I hadn't decided to take another drink or I was certain I would have been sputtering again.
"Uh, I... Uhm..." I faltered trying to think how I should answer that question. "I've been to the store a time or two." I decided to answer with ambiguous honesty. I told myself that he probably just wanted to get a feel for his clientele base. I certainly wouldn't have minded getting a feel of him.
He once again had to break me from my untoward thoughts. "So what are your plans for the rest of the evening?"
"Well... Actually I have to get back to the conference." I checked my watch."We've just been on a break," I said somewhat absentmindedly.
"Oh. Well. I should let you go then," he said rather flatly, straightening his posture from the relaxed one he had been wearing throughout our conversation. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Bella," he said sounding somewhat disappointed.
"Likewise, Edward." I offered a polite nod.
"Maybe I'll see you before you leave?" He flashed that smile.
I tried not to get my hopes up. I figured he was just being nice. It wasn't really his fault that he was so charming. Maybe he couldn't have helped it."Perhaps." I smiled back. If he really did want to see me, I certainly didn't want to change his mind by seeming overly eager. That would surely have only scared him off. "Thank you again for the drink," I said.
"Thank you for the company," he replied.
We entered into another staring match. But it wasn't competitive, at least on my end. I didn't want either one of us to win because that would have brought it to an I had to go. I broke eye contact taking another quick glance at my watch.
The doors to the conference room would be closing soon, and I didn't want to have to walk in late and have everyone stare at me. I probably would have tripped and ended up on my knees. And that was not the way I wanted to "sell myself" to the big bosses of publishing.
"Well. Good evening then," he said in a low and seductive voice as he leaned toward me.
He took my hand again, the same way as before. Only this time he did place a chaste kiss on my knuckles.
"I ... uhm," I cleared my throat hoping it would also clear the lusty fog clouding my brain. "Good evening."
I moved to stand from the bar stool. He was still holding my hand, but now in assistance - for which I was thankful because I was sure I would have toppled and fallen right on my ass. I wondered, if he could make my knees weak from just a peck on the hand, what else could he be capable of?
He let me go and I made my way out of the bar and to the hallway that lead to the conference room. I resisted the urge to look back. I would have been disappointed if he wasn't watching, but nervous if he had been. A lose-lose situation for me. Damn conference.
A/N: I hope you've found the beginning of this story interesting enough to continue! I am on FF to improve my skills, so if you have constructive criticisms, please share. If you've found any small grammatical errors that I've missed, I ask that you message me instead of using the review area should other readers turn to the reviews for, well, reviews. Thank you for reading!
