Twenty-Two Days

by EdwardDazzlesMe

Edward's chest wasn't cold in the sunlight. I watched his sparkling bare torso rise and fall with each breath he took, tracing the outline of each distinct abdomen muscle. My fingers barely brushed his skin as they moved from one to the other, outlining all six before moving upward, nearly to his neck. I ran them down his upper body, and lightly circled his navel. It was odd to think that even Edward had been attached to his mother in her womb from there before his life on earth began.

I hadn't been paying attention to what my fingers were doing as I pondered this. I heard Edward's sharp intake of breath and looked to his face forthwith to see what could've startled him. He was looking at me with a strained expression as he spoke tensely.

"Bella, you can't imagine how low my self-control becomes when you do things like that."

Confused, I saw him glance down. My eyes moved to where his had taken a fleeting look. I saw, to my embarrassment, that my slim fingers had traveled from their position near his navel to the edge of his pants. They had slipped beneath the band and were running along the length of his dark jeans, from his hip bones at the sides and meeting in the middle where his pants were fastened. Back and forth, they moved on their own accord.

I removed them hastily as soon as I realized I'd been fingering the band of his underwear, also.

Blushing, I replied, "Oh, Edward, I'm sorry. My hands have had a mind of their own lately, haven't they?"

He took both my hands in his and grinned. He'd begun to pull me down to him as he spoke.

"Oh, I don't mind at all. I'm not complaining. I was just under the impression that you wanted to wait until our wedding night to… participate in… those certain activities." He grinned. "When you do things like that, I have no control over my actions."

I rolled my eyes. "You know very well that I want to wait, Edward Cullen. Don't think I'm not counting the days until we can both give in."

"Twenty-two,"

It took me a moment to understand what he meant. He saw my look of confusion and explained.

"There are twenty-two days left before we will be married. We'll officially be Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. I can't wait until I can truly call you mine."

"Edward, you know I've always been yours."

He chuckled. "Yes, but you've never been my wife."

Surprisingly, the word didn't make me cringe. I didn't shudder, and it didn't scare me.

"Yes, Edward. In twenty-two days, I'll be your wife."

And I knew I was prepared. I was ready to become his wife. I wanted this. I wanted Edward to be my husband.

For eternity.