Disclaimer: Everything related to the Twilight saga is the property of Stephanie Meyer. Summit Entertainment owns all the rights to the Twi saga films. I only own writing this story, plot lines and all. No copyright infringement intended.
A/N: Look here, I've got Chapter 3 all ready also! Chapter 4 will be on the way soon, too! And, I'm hard at work on getting updates ready for my other fic as well.
As usual, much love and thanks to my most wonderful beta, Cheermom!
ENJOY THE NEXT CHAPTERS!
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Chapter 3
~Bella~
The silence continued to stretch awkwardly between us, as we both continued to stare at one another, and he was getting more and more drenched, not to mention my car, since the raindrops were entering through the slight crack of the window. I needed to really find my voice, the poor guy was going to catch pneumonia at this rate. I opened my mouth to speak and was thankful that coherent words did come forth.
"It looks like you need some help," I stated matter-of-factly.
"Uh...uh...good evening, Ma'am. I could really use a ride if you wouldn't mind," he spoke, allowing me to hear his silken voice for the first time, while raking a hand through his slick hair, and a look of pleading in his eyes.
My mind, once again, went into overdrive with fantasies. I swear I started feeling an unsettling desire for this stranger and wetness started to pool between my legs. I really didn't know what the hell was wrong with me. No man had ever affected me in such a way, not even Jacob.
Well he's got good manners. That was a good sign.
I manage to shake myself out of my lust-induced stupor once more and conveyed my willingness to help him, "Well, it's your lucky night cause I'm going to help you out. I don't normally do this sort of thing, but I feel sorry for you and I need to do my good deed for the day. C'mon in out of the rain." With that I unlocked the doors, feeling both anxious and excited that he was now going to be in very close proximity.
Before entering, he tried his best to shake off the excess water from his rain-soaked self, not that it did much good. It didn't matter to me that he was going to get my car all wet. The passenger side was already somewhat damp. He gracefully slid himself into the seat, and I envied him making such a small task look so elegant.
Ahh, I wish I could ever be 1/10th that graceful. I wasn't really known for my gracefulness.
He placed his backpack at his feet, unzipped his leather jacket, and he settled in, trying to make his tall frame feel more comfortable in the cramped space. As he adjusted the seat and settled himself in, I reached towards the back seat where I had kept the bags of my purchases from the gas station, and grabbed the hand towel I had fortunately bought.
"I'm sorry that I have to get your nice car all wet, ma'am, but I really do appreciate that you changed your mind about giving me a ride. I promise you won't be sorry. I'll repay your kindness somehow."
"Oh, don't worry about it," tossing the little towel onto his lap. "Here. It isn't much, I know, but it might help you a little. No need to repay me in any way. Like I said, my good deed for the day. To be honest, I couldn't just let you continue walking in the rain. I didn't think you'd find another car out here, and one that would even give you a ride, not for a while at least. I didn't want to inadvertently be the cause of any harm coming to you, like you catching pneumonia for example. It would've plagued my subconscious wondering. So here we are."
He cracked a beaming smile and said, "Well, ma'am, thank you very much once again. I am forever in your debt. I dreaded the prospect of being left out there and had the same worries for myself as you did. I totally understand your reluctance to pick me up, and I'm going to assure you now that you have nothing to worry about with me. You will be perfectly safe. I am harmless. I'm just a guy that got down on his luck, in desperate need of a ride, and I'm really appreciative of your kindness and your trust in me. If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know. I won't hesitate to return the favor."
As he toweled off as best as he could, I noticed him shiver from the cold, which prompted me to turn on the heater. Once again his smile beamed and a simple thanks came from his lips.
I don't know why exactly, but I didn't pull back onto the road right away. My urgency to get to my hotel was no longer there. He didn't say anything about getting going, so I just waited and watched him. Maybe I just wanted a little more time to stare at his beauty. This man was more beautiful than I could've ever imagined any man could be. Never in my life had I met someone of his caliber of beauty. He was almost god-like in his attractiveness.
I took in every inch of him, committing every beautiful feature to memory. Even sheath in jeans, I could tell that he had runner's legs, just the right amount of muscle tone and definition to them. He had a trim waist and I thought about wanting to wrap my own set of legs around it. Being pretty drenched already, his shirts clung tightly to his body. I could see he had some muscle definition on his torso and pecs, and I momentarily imagined what it would be like to run my hands up and down that chest of his. I worked my way up from his broad shoulders, to a delectable looking neck, to his lips which looked ever so kissable. I wondered if he would taste just as good as I'd figured he'd be. I also wondered if his kissing skills were up to par.
What was I thinking? I'd only ever kissed Jacob, so how would I even know.
Jacob, I suppose, was all right in that department. My eyes drew up on the features of his face then I had to sigh to myself once I reached his long, full eyelashes that framed those dreamy eyes. I thought inwardly that I may never meet such a fine specimen of a man again. This guy couldn't have been born...no...he had to be created from art. Sure, Jacob was handsome, but nothing compared to this stranger. He had to be the pinnacle of male attractiveness, at least he was in my book.
Admittedly, I was openly eye-fucking him, as he continued to towel off, and warm himself with the car heater. He either didn't notice or didn't seem to mind. I suppose, being as handsome as he was, he was used to the attention. I'm sure he got plenty of attention from women.
I turned up the heat in the car even more, even though my body was already heated just by his mere presence, wanting to make sure that he was as comfortable as he could be. It garnered another smile from him, and I inwardly high-fived myself for thinking of it.
I took in a deep breath and realized his scent had engulfed the car. It was rain, mixed with cologne, mixed with an essence entirely his own...and it was intoxicating. I was totally enraptured.
What's more, this beautiful stranger who needed me...sure it was only to give him a ride...but he was going to rely on me. It made me feel so warm inside.
He looked over to me and spoke again, "I think I did the best I could with this," and he gently handed back the towel, which I just tossed onto the back seat. "Thank you for that, ma'am. That was very considerate of you. I really didn't want to be dripping wet in your car. I think between that and the heater, I've somewhat dried off. I'm ready to go if you are. Shall we get moving?" He sounded genuinely appreciative as he flashed his megawatt smile and turned his deep gaze onto me.
Oh, there was that gaze again. I discreetly had to rub my legs together, needing to create some friction. I felt a blush come on my cheeks. Gosh, this beautiful stranger was affecting me in the most perplexing ways.
He did not just say "dripping wet" in that smooth voice of his.
It took me a quick second to recover and find my voice again to speak coherently, "It's no problem. Again, happy to have helped. Fortunately, I had actually bought one earlier today. Too bad it wasn't bigger."
"It did just fine. Thank you for thinking of it. At least, I'll be good until I can find a place to change out of my wet clothes."
"Speaking of which, so, stranger, where are you headed? Where is it that I can take you?"
My thoughts were racing back to my fantasies, however. I couldn't help but think that I'd really like to take him to my hotel room. He definitely could change out of his wet clothes there, maybe even take a hot shower first. Oh, what would it be like to see this god naked?
Geez, my mind was totally in the gutter! What has come over me? What the hell kind of voodoo did this man have to just affect me so completely that I'm not myself?
"Uh, its Edward, by the way," he stated. "You won't have to keep calling me stranger."
Hmm...Edward, what a name...sounds so typical of a romantic hero. If that was even his real name.
Since my mind was already in the gutter, my thoughts began to race to what it would be like moaning his name out during the throes of passion. Gosh, I was so far gone.
He politely offered his hand up and it took me a minute to register in my head and understand his gesture, before I took his proffered hand for a shake. I swear that the minute my hand made contact with his, I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body making my unbidden desire for this man ebb even more. I couldn't help but blush again, so I looked away. He still held my hand in his, but as my face continued to turn crimson, he smirked and let go. I took that as my cue to put the car in gear and back out on the road.
I wasn't in control of myself, and if I didn't refocus on driving, I may have just jumped poor Edward then and there. I couldn't be held liable for my actions.
My goodness, I really didn't know why my body was reacting so strongly to him. I had seen and met attractive men before, but none ever affected me to the point where I would be cursing at my overacting libido. Maybe it was just the after effect of the fight with Jake that was making me react this way to this beautiful stranger, Edward, or the fact that I had done without it for a long time now and had been taking care of myself, since my relationship with Jake went south.
I could only hope that my obvious lusting after him wasn't openly visible to him. I had blushed plenty already, and I hoped he hadn't really noticed or was unaware enough to discern why.
"You asked where I needed to go, and however far you're willing to take me would suffice. I don't want to be any more trouble for you than I already have been. I don't know where you're headed, or why you're traveling so late, but I certainly don't want to inconvenience any of your plans. I've really bothered you enough already."
"Oh, believe me, Edward, you're not inconveniencing me in any way and you've been no trouble at all thus far. Are you sure you're not headed to some place in particular? I'm willing to take you. I can't imagine just dumping you somewhere and leaving you to hitchhike all over again. It's really not a safe way to get around. I'd be so riddled with guilt if I heard later that something happened to you, knowing that I could've done more to prevent it. So, really, Edward, tell me where you need to go. I don't know how familiar you are with the Seattle area, but I must tell you that there really is nothing around here except a small hotel and a highway junction. I might need to turn around and take you back to Seattle's city limits."
"To be perfectly honest, I don't exactly know where I am. I've just been...wandering. I guess that's the right word. Technically, when I began this impromptu road trip, I was going to let the open road take me where it may, but my bike broke down, and I had to ditch it, then found myself lost. I've really got no particular place to go, so I really don't need you to go out of your way for me. Was that were you were headed? To the hotel, I mean? Or were you planning on driving on, ma'am? It looks to me like you are on a road trip of your own. Leaving me at that hotel would be just fine. Hopefully, they may even have a room available for me, and I'll have a nice place to lay down for the night, which is better than my earlier prospects of bunking down by the side of the road."
I took in all his words, grateful that he was comfortable enough to open up a little to me. At least, my question about what he was doing hitchhiking at this time of night, and of all places here, was answered.
Hmmm...even more curious? He was fleeing, too? I wonder where it was he came from. And he was only carrying a backpack? Well, I was no better. I only had my purse and the stuff I had bought at the gas station. We had something in common, going on an impromptu road trip.
I smiled at the thought that it would be no inconvenience on my part to take him to hotel, only a couple more blocks away, as I was already headed in that exact direction. I became vaguely aware that Edward, had he kept walking, would've eventually made his way over there. Remarkably, I took pride that I had stumbled upon him first.
"Actually, Edward, your luck might just be turning around. I actually happen to be heading to that same hotel," saying that word and thinking about my fantasies of this stranger made me blush again. "I've booked myself a room there for the night, um, before I decide my final destination. You're right about me also taking a road trip. Actually, I call it a mini-vacation. It's been a long time coming. It occurs to me that if you had just kept going, you would've made it there eventually, anyways, so you're not as lost as you thought."
His eyes widened in excitement at my words, and he smiled widely, impossibly looking even more beautiful. His smile really lit up his features. I couldn't help but blush once more, considering his smile was directed right at me. How was I even forming words with this man? I felt my brain was mush. I would think his gaze alone would've turned me into more of a bumbling idiot. I'm sure by now he's surely noticed that I've done nothing but eye-fuck him, even while driving along. Well he didn't seem uncomfortable under my scrutiny.
"Wow! How extremely lucky am I? The night hasn't really turned out according to plan, but things are definitely looking up. I'm quite relieved, y'know, that you won't be going so much out of your way now just to help me. I guess you're right and I may have made my way there eventually, but at least this way I'll be dry, get there much faster, and on top of that I have the pleasure of your company. It's always nice for a man to have the company of a lovely lady."
I could've melted at his words. He just complimented me. I could've outwardly screamed like a fangirl. He stated that he liked my company and that I was lovely, and he said it with so much sincerity. I really couldn't think of anything good to respond to it afterwards. I was never really good at taking compliments. So, I responded the only way my body ever knew how, which was to blush. Edward, for having known me in such a short time, probably had seen me blush more times tonight than Jacob ever did during our entire relationship. It was a bit embarrassing.
My inner thoughts were interrupted by his silky voice, "You know, part of what makes you so lovely is that blush of yours."
Shit! Is he reading my mind?
He chuckled to himself before responding,"Um, no, I don't think mind-readers actually exist. I just seem to be good at reading certain people, and you're fairly easy to ascertain."
Fuck I had said that out loud!
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, well, from the look of things you must not be able to take a compliment very well. You just looked as though you couldn't believe what I had said about you. I assure you that I may be a lot of things, but a liar I am not. I could never deliver false sincerity. Besides, I've been burned by lying too many times to ever do so myself, even if it's a harmless one. I wouldn't say anything if I didn't mean it. You're very beautiful, even more so by your kind heart. Not very many people would've cared so much about little old me by the side of the road or about my well-being, let alone give me their towel to dry off, and even be considerate enough to offer to drive me to anywhere I needed to go despite any trouble to themselves. You've really gone above and beyond being a good Samaritan."
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat at his words, again not able to take the wealth of compliments well. He must have been really, really grateful, or he just sees things in a much different light than I do. I didn't think I was doing anything particularly extraordinary.
He must've noticed my discomfort because he then said, "Um, excuse me, though, if you felt that I was crossing the line. I didn't want to cause you any discomfort. I'll try to watch what I say from now on."
I didn't know how exactly to respond, so I just gave a sheepish, "Don't worry about it. I'm fine. And thanks." I trained my eyes on the road and decided to change the subject.
"Forgive me for prying, but don't you have a cell phone? I thought everyone had one these days. I think you might have gotten help much sooner if you'd just made a call. Maybe you didn't know who to call? It's just...I don't want to flatter myself by thinking that you were just out there waiting around for one such as myself to rescue you."
"Actually, Fate has looked very kindly on me tonight by having you be the one driving by and rescuing me. I couldn't ask for a better way for things to turn out." I looked incredulously at him.
Was he actually flirting with me? I have to be imagining things. There was no way such a handsome man would be interested in someone like me.
He just smirked, then continued, "If you must know, my cell phone battery died; otherwise, I probably wouldn't have been out there in the first place. It was just another one in a series of bad luck I encountered. But, now since I've met you through those unfortunate series of events, I honestly can't say that I minded it all happening. I've never been more grateful to have encountered someone such as you." Again, his words made my cheeks flame. "So...anyways, lovely lady, with the beautiful blush, unless you'd like me to keep calling you ma'am, would it be possible to know your name at least? After all, you already know mine."
I stuttered through my response, still finding his words of compliment quite unbelievable, "Uh...uh...I don't know, Edward. I kind of like being called ma'am. It certainly is better than miss, which is what I get more often from strangers. I...I don't know if I should tell you my name. I still hardly know you. My father always taught me to be wary of strangers, even though you seem polite and nice enough. Although, it's very kind of you to be so forthcoming with yours."
"Oh, alright." His face fell at my words, which made me feel really bad. I didn't want to see this man frown, I wanted his beaming smile again, especially if it was directed at me. I guess there would be no harm in giving him my name.
"Oh, what the heck? It's Bella, okay, so you can stop calling me ma'am now and stop pouting."
His wonderful smile once again graced his lips, and I couldn't help but feel it was worth it to reveal my name. At least, we were on first name basis now. It would certainly make conversing less awkward.
"Bella," he began.
Oh the way my name slid off his tongue.
"It's very nice to have made your acquaintance this evening. Hmmm...Bella. How very apt?"
"Pardon?"
"Oh, just that Bella means beautiful in Italian. It's very apt that someone as beautiful as you would have a beautiful name too," he clarified.
My cheeks, once again, turned the familiar shade of crimson, something he should've gotten real familiar with by now. Geez, how many times did that make it now? Would I ever stop blushing for this handsome stranger?
