Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Loudward
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Prompt: Furrier
Dialogue Flex: "Let me hold that," he begged.

We left the beach as the moon was setting over the ocean and the fire was nothing but embers. Edward took my hand as he walked me to my side of the car, as if he was going to open the door for me. Instead he held me in his arms, for once reading my mood as I had already drifted to thoughts of seeing my father in the morning.

"He's fine," he whispered in my ear, comforting me.

"What if he's not?" I asked, silent tears threatening again despite Edward's many attempts to distract me.

Lifting my chin he looked me in the eyes; his were full of compassion. "Bella, go to the logical end of that question, what if he's not. Then what?"

I wasn't in the mood for logic. The whole day had been horrific for me and I really didn't want to face that question. Seeing the shock in my eyes, he rolled his. Taking my shoulders in his hands he gave me a gentle shake, "Bella, I didn't mean that you should be prepared for that, just that I really think you should think this through. What would you do if you lost your dad? Who will you turn to? I'm asking so if the worst happens I can help you reach that person."

"Oh," I whispered, finally understanding him. It was obvious we would need communication help if anything ever came of this. "Um, my mom, Renee, her number is in my phone."

We drove home in silence after that, his hand across the console holding mine, only letting go to get out of the car when we arrived at my dad's place. "Do you want to shower?" he asked as he followed me up the stairs to my room, and I nodded emphatically. As much as I loved the ocean and the salt spray, sleeping with salt encrusted hair and skin wasn't pleasant. "Okay, you go first, and I'll take one when you're done."

The fresh water was warm and soothing on my skin, but I still hurried through as I could feel my exhaustion from the stress of the day bleed out all the adrenaline that had kept me going. When I emerged from the bathroom, my hair in a towel and wearing my ratty, comfy pajamas it was to find him leaning against the wall, just his shorts on. For a moment I was stunned by his beauty. He wasn't ripped in the normal, body-builder way, but rather had gentle definitions of his muscles as they rippled like gently undulating waves down his abdomen. His arms had the same toned definition, making it obvious he spent time at the gym but didn't live there.

His soft chuckle brought me out of my stupor and his face was level with my eyes when I looked up. "I think you're rather nice to look at as well," he laughed quietly, "especially when you share what you're thinking."

Reaching up my hand I ran it over his day's growth of beard. "I like you hirsute," I whispered, then blushed when I realized what my sleep-deprived brain had said. "Um, I mean, furrier, like this, with a slight beard. Um, I'm going to bed now." I made my escape to the sound of his laughter before he closed the door behind him and fell asleep to the sound of the water running in the shower.

I woke to him on his back and me snuggled into his shoulder, his hand holding mine on his chest. For just a moment it was nice to lie there, feeling his other arm around my shoulders, holding me close, my palm open on his still bare chest with his fingers wrapped around mine. His breathing was slow and steady and it seemed like he was still soundly asleep. I, on the other hand, needed to get to the bathroom. Now.

Raising my body up I attempted to pull my fingers from his, only to have him tighten his grasp on them and reach up to pull my head back down onto his shoulder. "Let me hold that," he begged, squeezing my fingers again.

"The problem is that I don't think I can hold it any longer," I whispered, trying once again to extract myself from his grasp, taking advantage of him laughing. "I'll be back in a moment." Making a beeline for the bathroom, trying very hard to keep hold of my bladder I chanced a look at the clock before shutting the door. It was ten in the morning, no wonder my bladder was complaining so vociferously.

My stomach was also beginning to express its displeasure over being ignored, but that could be due to the fact that I could already smell something coming up from the kitchen. I quickly washed my hands and ran down the stairs to find the microwave rotating, warming our leftovers from yesterday's dinner. "I could make breakfast, but thought you'd rather get to your father this morning," he said with a smile, still wearing just a pair of shorts, almost enough to distract me from the food.

"No, this is good," I told him, surprised when he reached over and took my hand again.

"I told you I wanted to hold this," he said, squeezing my fingers and leaning close enough to kiss me but not quite making the connection. Instead he just held his head there, smiling at me, not moving, even when the microwave dinged.

My breathing picked up as he held there, smiling, My eyes traveled back and forth between his eyes and his lips and it was easy to tell he was waiting for me to make the decision. When I thought about it, I realized that he had always kissed me. I had yet to kiss him. With a smirk I lifted my body up just slightly, bringing my lips within centimeters of his, but also lifting my body off my chair. "Edward," I whispered.

"Hmm?" he asked, his breathing now getting faster.

"I'm hungry," I responded as I slipped out from under him, pulled my hand from his and opened the microwave.

Grabbing me around my waist he pulled me back to him, once again taking hold of my hand. "You are a cruel woman," he hissed into my neck, "and I told you I want to hold this."

Pulling back I used my free hand to lift his chin up from my neck. "Edward," I whispered again, drawing his gaze up to me. "I'm hungry." With that I captured his lips with my own.

I found some time last night! Hooray! Oh, that Loudward, he's such a tease.