'Well we're not in Kansas anymore,' Jasper remarked wryly as we exited the plane after our eleven hour flight.
'It's a wonder we even got here with all the fannying about you were doing before we left.'
'Hey! I have to triple check things it's just my way.' I shook my head in bemusement as we carried on through customs. Jasper seemed like the most laid back person on the planet but in reality he had some serious ocd tendencies.
My eyes scanned everywhere as we slowly made our way towards the baggage claim area for any sign of Bella. I was jolted from my search when I heard Jasper practically shout 'Pleasure,' in answer to the immigration official's question. Several people snickered, myself included, the guy was absolutely besotted.
It had been only nineteen days since we last saw Bella and Alice and it had been torture to say the least. Jasper could regularly be found glued to his computer screen chatting to Alice instead of marking papers. Shit, who was I kidding I was as bad, I even slept with Bella's hat on my pillow.
I thought back to how I first met my Bella, the ghost walk tour guide gig was Jasper's idea, we weren't much for the whole clubbing scene and I guess we both found it kind of intriguing. We met interesting people from all over the world and it was fun for the most part.
I had just finished with my group and was making my way to The Fleece to meet Jasper for a pint when I had heard running footsteps. Out of the foggy night had stepped the most glorious creature, pale skin, dark hair and those wide brown eyes a man could get lost in – then she fainted.
For me it was love at sight, for Bella.. Well she was probably just hoping I wasn't going to chop her up I guess.
Somehow I had managed to catch her mid faint and half carried, half dragged her into the pub which was luckily just around the corner. Lord knows what anyone would have thought if they'd seen us – me dressed as a creepy Victorian surgeon with a passed out woman in my arms.
Possibly the strangest start to a relationship ever but I wouldn't have it any other way.
At twenty seven I'd only really had one serious relationship that lasted a few years when I was at university. I had thought I was in love with Kate but it had fizzled out and ended amicably, it certainly had never prepared me for Bella. Everything about her blew my mind; she was funny, smart, and beautiful. I was a goner from the moment we met and the week that followed just confirmed what I already knew – she was the one.
But like everything in my life – it wasn't going to be easy. For a start Bella was a Yank and her life was more than four thousand miles away, not for one second was I deterred though, my father always said once I set my heart on something there was no swaying me. Of course he had been talking about the Millennium Falcon I had begged for night and day when I was about eight.
Suddenly a loud whistle blasted the air as we waited for our luggage, looking up shocked I saw Alice stood on some chairs grinning and waving like a lunatic. Bella was stood below her on the ground shaking her head and trying to distance herself from her crazy friend.
Jasper waved back and said 'get my bag man I'm off to see my woman.' Fucking great so I was his skivvy now. I spied our cases and lugged them off just as felt a hand on the back of my neck. From the warmth and the way my whole body came to life I knew it was Bella.
'Hey,' she whispered in my ear and I swear I practically trembled.
Turning around I dropped the bags and gathered her up in my arms, swinging her round as she threw her head back and laughed.
'Hey,' I returned as I placed her on the ground, grinning so hard I must have looked half mad.
'Jesus Ed do you have to make an exhibition of yourself,' Jasper mocked as he and Alice came towards us.
'Might I remind you I'm not the one who shouted 'pleasure,' at that poor customs officer a few minutes ago?' Alice and Bella burst out laughing while Jas just shrugged his shoulders.
We followed them out to a rusty red truck that looked like something you might see on Happy Days.
'This is yours?' I asked Bella and she nodded happily.
'Old red and I have been together a long time now; he's never let me down.'
'Ignore Ed, he drives a Volvo, the granddad mobile as I like to call it, but this is way cooler.'
Bella laughed and grabbed my hand, Alice and Jasper climbed in the back while I sat next to Bella in the front.
'So what's this Thanksgiving all about?' Jas asked as we set off.
'I thought you were supposed to be a history professor?' Alice giggled.
'I am but my area of expertise is the Russian Revolution, you know manly history unlike the faggy stuff Ed teaches.' I chucked an empty coke can I found on the dashboard at Jasper, grinning when it hit him square in the face.
Bella looked at me from the corner of her eye and said 'Faggy stuff?' with a raised eyebrow.
'I teach history of art, which Jas here likes to mock.'
Bella leaned slightly closer, her eyes still firmly on the road. 'I think it's sexy,' she whispered.
Shit – insta erection.
'As far I know you eat turkey, so it's like Christmas but a month early right?' I rolled my eyes at Jasper and his stupid comments.
'Thanksgiving is a time when the Pilgrims came to America and celebrated by having a feast with some Native Americans in the area that helped them get food. It's basically a time for family to get together I guess,' Alice informed him.
'So a bit like a harvest festival? My mum used to always give me a can of baked beans when it was harvest festival time at school.' Sometimes I wondered about Jasper, maybe he was dropped on his head as a baby.
'I bet you were a super cute kid,' I heard Alice say and laughed loudly.
'He was the dorkiest motherfucker you could ever meet, thick glasses, braces and built like a twig.'
'Fuck you Ed, like you can talk.' Jasper turned and I cringed at what was going to come out of his mouth, I hated the fact we had known each other so long and he knew all my deep, dark secrets.
'Ed here was the prettiest darn thing you ever saw as a kid, so pretty people called him Edwina, plus everyone believed him gay till he was like nineteen. Hey remember that time your mum said it was okay to bring a man home and not to be worried about coming out of the closet.'
'Laugh it up Jas; she thought you were my 'special friend.' I air quoted the words and everyone cracked up.
'So will your family be here for thanksgiving?' I asked Bella as we pulled up in front of a smart block of flats.
'No I told my dad I would see him at Christmas and my mom is away in holiday with her new toy boy.' She smiled wryly; from the little she had revealed in the short time we had known each other I knew she had a somewhat strained relationship with her mother. I got the impression that her mother was erratic, leaving Bella with her father when she decided family life just wasn't for her.
Alice had no family, Jasper had told me she was brought up by her grandmother and that she died a couple of years ago.
Bella had a small flat on the second floor; it was pretty uncluttered although she did have a massive book collection that filled shelves along the wall. Alice lived on the same floor and as much as I liked her I couldn't wait to be alone with Bella, so it was a relief when we went our separate ways when the lift stopped, agreeing to meet for dinner at six.
I dumped my bags on the floor and turned to see Bella watching me, her eyes were dark, hooded, almost scorching me with their heat.
'I have missed you so much,' her voice was low and husky; damn this woman had me wrapped completely round her finger.
'I've missed you too.' We were making our way towards each other and when we stood toe to toe there was a moment of delicious anticipation before I picked her up in my arms and carried her through to what luckily turned out to be the bedroom.
We were naked within seconds, moans filling the air, hands touching and teasing everywhere.
'Missed your lips so much,' Bella mumbled as her teeth nibbled on my lower lip before our mouths connected fully, out tongues tangling fiercely.
My hands found her delectable breasts; I pinched her nipples between my thumb and forefinger, gently rolling the bud until she groaned my name. Many a night I had dreamed of touching her hot, velvety skin and to have in her my arms once more... well it was taking all my self control not to plunge into her.
Bella pushed me onto the bed and straddled my lap; she had an almost wild look on her face.
'Edward I can't wait,' Bella begged. She grabbed my cock and brought it to her entrance. 'Need you now.'
Jesus Christ, thank you lord.
Feeling her heat engulf me was like heaven on earth, my fists clenched together as I willed myself not to shoot my load straight away. But god she felt good.
Bella braced her hands on my chest, pushing her breasts together; she looked so sexy that I had to close my eyes for a second to gain some semblance of control.
Bella rode me in fast, smooth strokes, there was no way I was going to last long so I reached down and ran my thumb over her clit, listening to her breathing hitch and pick up.
'Please come for me Bella.' I could see her face scrunch up and then she moaned long and loud.
'God Edward, yes.' Her walls began to contract around me and I grasped her hips thrusting up into her hard as I came forcefully.
Flopping back with Bella laid across my chest I tried to get control of my breathing. Her arms wrapped around me and she nuzzled into my chest with a contented sigh.
Nothing had ever felt as good as been with Bella; she was everything I could ever want.
The next day found Alice and Bella busy in the kitchen while Jas and I sat watching the football game on telly.
'Dude I totally don't understand this, why the hell do they keep starting and stopping?'
'Beats me I thought American football was like rugby but with a lot of padding.' We watched in bemusement for a while but neither of us had a clue what was going on.
'You look happy,' a sly smirk crossed Jas's face as he gave me a sidelong look.
'Yep.' I crossed my arms with a self satisfied smile.
'Me too.' We both laughed and took a swig of our beers.
'I've got a surprise for you.'
'For the thousandth time Jasper I do not want to see your penis,' I yelled earning me a punch to the ribs.
'What the hell is going on in there,' Alice came through into the living room, Bella appearing at her shoulder.
'Just kidding around,' I said, still chuckling at my own joke.
'Actually Alice I was just going to share our news with Edward.' Alice clapped her hands and leaped in Jasper's lap. Bella came and sat beside me while we waited for them to continue.
'We are getting married.' Jasper looked at us as Alice hugged him tightly; both had dopey grins on their faces.
'Wow, erm congratulations,' I offered. 'Not to put a downer on things though but what about your job, our house?'
'Ed I've put in for a transfer to the University of Washington and you can afford the house on your own, although I kind of thought you might be moving with me.'
My eyes met Bella's; she looked a little shocked to say the least. I tried to read her expression, to see how she was taking all this but she just hugged Alice and then Jasper before going back into the kitchen to check on dinner.
Our thanksgiving meal was delicious, turns out sweet potato is not something to be feared and tasted really nice. Alice and Jasper chatted excited throughout the meal, Bella occasionally joined in with the odd comment but she seemed a little preoccupied.
After Alice and Jasper returned to their place I went into the kitchen to find Bella putting everything in the dishwasher. I started to help her when a muffled sob caught my attention. Her hair hung round her face and I hadn't noticed her tears till now, grabbing her shoulders I spun her to face me.
'Bella what's wrong?' She kept her face still slightly averted from me, a little hiccup leaving her throat.
'Nothing, I'm being silly.'
'Come on Bella; please tell me what's wrong.'
'It's just seeing Jasper and Alice; they are so sure of everything, I guess I'm a little jealous.' She shook her head and gave me a little smile. 'I'm sorry, ignore me.'
'Bella I'll admit I'm not the smartest guy in the world when it comes to knowing what to say and stuff but I'm just going get this out there – I'm pretty certain I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know it's ridiculously soon and we don't know a lot about each other but I can't imagine meeting anyone more perfect than you.'
'Really?' She peeked up at me shyly and I nodded.
'I feel the same,' she sighed. 'Don't get me wrong I don't want to get married right this minute but it's nice to know that I'm not on my own in feeling like this.' I hugged her to my chest tightly, loving the way her body moulded completely to mine.
'Definitely not one sided,' I assured her.
Turns out I can say the right thing sometimes.
Our two week holiday seemed to fly by, we visited the Space Needle, a few museums but the majority of our time was spent getting to know every little thing about each other. Bella seemed fascinated by my parents, Carlisle and Esme. I thought it best to warn her how much they loved to embarrass me, they were ex hippies and thought me too uptight – I can't tell you how many times I had walked in on them getting busy growing up. It really is a wonder I'm not more screwed up.
Have to admit I was not looking forward to meeting Bella's father over the Christmas period, the man was a police chief and I felt like he would take one look at me and know about the dope I used to smoke in college, and the time I shoplifted a bottle of vodka on a dare.
'Another month apart huh?' Bella and I were laid in bed after some seriously hot sexy time. I turned to look into her beautiful, dark eyes.
'I don't know how I'm going to survive,' I admitted.
'Me either.' I could see the tears gathering in her eyes and rubbed my thumb under one to catch the escaping moisture.
'Hey don't cry I'll be harassing you with calls, emails, and cam chat. I swear you're going to get sick of me.' She smiled half-heartedly.
'We both know that's not true.'
'We can do this; it's going to be like hell but soon I'll be here full time.'
'Edward I can't ask you to move here.'
'Bella I'm going to be where you are – get used to it.' She began peppering my face with soft kisses, relaxing against my body with a hum of pleasure.
Our flight home was gut wrenchingly awful, and Jasper said he was sick of looking at my miserable face.
After a particularly tearful conversation with Bella a week later the next morning I had mind up my mind.
'Jasper,' I yelled.
'What?' He opened the door to his room looking tired and dishevelled.
'Get dressed, we are going ring shopping.'
A/N a little extension dedicated to Chilly Howdy, the most awesome reader ever.
Okay I think that's it now, although I am easily persuaded so who knows.