Esme watched as the curtain of leaves shifted to permit four fully-cloaked shapes entrance to the room. Her attention was so captured by the monk-like figures that the little twinge of something unusual that she caught was filed away in the back of her mind for later perusal. Beside her she could feel the anticipation radiating from Bella, Alice, and Rose as they leaned forward as eagerly as she did. Moving smoothly, almost seeming to glide, the men walked forward one by one until all four were standing directly in front of the stage. Their heads remained down, the cloaks closed as they began to shift back and forth with the rhythm, their sinuous movements somehow both subdued and flamboyant. First it was just their hips swaying in time with the beat, but soon they added arm motions, raising first left, then right until glove-clad hands met above their heads. At that point, the one furthest left stepped forward, dropping to his knees and crawling forward until he was within a few paces of the couch that held the enthralled foursome. As he gracefully slid to his feet again, hips twitching easily to the catchy music, the next one in line copied his movements, and so on until all four were in a loose half-circle in front of the women. It was then that Esme realized what was odd.
"I can't smell their blood!" she gasped. She couldn't help staring at the four figures in front of her even though she heard the giggles from either side of her. As the song fed from Paparazzi to one she would later learn to be Thousand Foot Krutch's Phenomenon, all four figures tore their cloaks away, letting them flutter to the ground to reveal the last thing she would have ever expected to see. She didn't even hear herself squeal like a little girl with a new toy.
Jasper leaned over first, whispering a fervent 'happy birthday' and kissing her before stepping back, never breaking contact with the beat of the song as he shifted himself backwards. Emmett came next, his birthday wish louder, his kiss oddly softer before backing up to join Jasper. Edward leaned down but when she tilted her face up to him he surprised everyone by bypassing her lips and nipping gently on her neck instead. And then she was left staring into her husband's playful gaze.
"I can't believe you guys would do this!"
"For you, love. Happy birthday." He kissed her thoroughly, pulling her onto her feet and flush with his body before releasing her back to the couch's embrace. "Now, just sit back and enjoy," he winked at the group on the couch as he made his way back to the others. Their synchronized movements captured the attention of their already eager audience and Esme couldn't decide who to focus on, settling instead for taking in the quartet as a whole. Their dance moves weren't blatantly sexy, they didn't scream 'fuck me' - they were just...she couldn't think of a word that came close to describing how beautiful it was to watch them. She felt herself nodding in time with the music as it switched again, fading easily into a song she'd been hearing a lot on the radio lately - Boom Boom Pow, or some similar name. Not that the name was important at the moment, because as the bass kicked in Emmett vaulted onto the stage with ease.
Every inch of his body was on display, from his shirtless, ripped chest to his muscular legs more highlighted than covered by the thin, tight leather pants. The best part, in her opinion, was the spiked collar that circled his neck, giving the impression of a dangerous animal that was simply awaiting the command to run free. The glow in his eyes just added to the effect as he reached backwards over his head and grabbed the pole with both huge hands. In a motion she would never be able to describe, or forget, he clutched the metal bar and swung himself up until his ankles locked around the pole about ten feet above the ground, leaving him hanging upside-down, stomach pressed to the pole and head tilted so he could stare at her with the unbreakable focus of a striking snake. He easily slid down the pole until his hands were flush with the floor, the mirrored base giving the entire performance a surreal quality as it looked like he was crawling towards himself. On all fours on the stage, he moved to the edge and vaulted into a somersault, coming to his feet mere inches from his bewitched audience with his hands at his sides. He reached down, resting his fingertips on his thighs before slowly sliding them up, up, the whisper of skin against leather tickling Esme's senses, her eyes fixated as he ran his hands over his flawless chest, tipping his head down and dropping to his knees in a gesture so submissive it should have been at odds with the vicious beast appearance. Instead, all it did was enhance the image of danger. His hands resting over his chest, he lifted his head to stare directly at Esme, growling audibly at her before rising to his feet so smoothly it seemed almost as though he had never been on his knees at all. He took the last few steps toward her, pressing her back into the couch cushions with just a glance as he loomed over her.
"Like what you see?" his voice rumbled.
"Absolutely," she replied with no hesitation. "Though I think you're wearing too many clothes." To either side of her, the girls were cracking up, enjoying her reactions almost as much as the show itself.
"That can be changed," he murmured. "But not yet." And just like that he turned and walked away, matching his steps to the beat and giving them all a view of his wonderful ass in the tight leather. Rose let out a wolf whistle.
"That's my man!" she said happily.
"And that's mine," whispered Alice throatily as Jasper took the stage. His blonde hair seemed more tousled than usual, his smile cockier. He stepped across the mirrored surface like he was born to the stage, grasping the pole with one hand and letting his movements pull him in a slow circle around it. His dark brown jeans rode low on his hips, clinging slightly to his legs before disappearing into the tops of his calf-high boots. His cream-colored vest was snug around the toned planes of his chest, the buttons glinting in the muted light. Esme watched, almost hypnotized by his dancer's grace, something she'd never really noticed before. He grabbed the pole with both hands and in a simple movement jumped up, bracing the soles of his boots directly against the pole and pushing off. Twisting in midair like a cat, he landed solidly and soundlessly in front of the group on the couch. Alice applauded wildly, while Bella all but drooled. Beside her, Esme had heard Rosalie's approving chuckle, but then her attention was claimed entirely by Jasper as he took her hand in his own.
"The guys and I have practiced hard for this," he whispered. "And we hope you will enjoy yourself entirely." Like the gentleman he was, he bowed low over her hand before brushing a kiss against her knuckles. "Happy birthday, darlin'," he said softly before turning to the rest of them. Another flash of what Esme would now always think of as his 'stripper grin' and he was headed back to stand beside Emmett. The two of them stood off to the side, clearing the way for the next attraction. Esme's nonexistent breath caught in her throat.
She'd always appreciated Carlisle as he moved, whether it was something as simple as turning the page of a book, or as involved as building a new addition to the house. Everything he did was poetry in her eyes. But nothing could have ever prepared her for the sight of her husband, knee-weakening smile in place, crossing sexily across the reflective surface of the stage. She'd grown so used to seeing him in either his work attire or his usual day-to-day clothing that the sight of him in a sleeveless grey button-up and a pair of sinfully tight Wrangler jeans threw her mind for a loop.
"Holy shit...good job, girl!" whispered Rose to Alice, who just smiled in smug satisfaction. "We should send him to work like that sometime."
"And have him attacked by hordes of eager, drooling nurses - and other doctors?" quipped Bella softly. "Amusing, but I don't think he'd go for it." About that time Esme lost track of the conversation around her. His eyes had captured her, as they always did, and she found herself speechless as she watched him move. Unlike the others, he almost completely ignored the pole in the center of the stage, stepping around it without ever touching it. Shifting his weight to one leg, he twitched his hips in time with the beat in a motion that should have looked extremely effeminate...but somehow didn't. Esme knew she'd never be able to describe it, and she didn't care in the least. After a few moments he leapt to the ground lightly, stalking toward her with a predatory look in his eyes. Stopping whenever his legs were scant inches from hers, he bent at the waist and dug his fingers into her hair. The kiss he gave her left her spinning, completely weightless, her arms wrapping around his neck as she held onto him and her sanity with the same trembling grasp. He finally broke away, trailing kisses down along her neck before standing up once more. She could still feel the tingling of her skin wherever he'd touched her.
"I love you so much," he said quietly, his eyes echoing his words. She tried to find voice for a proper response.
"I love you, too," she managed. His smile was all she would ever need, and she watched him step away, thanking every god she'd ever heard of for bringing the magnificent man into her life. And then the music began to shift once more, the tone a bit darker, the beat a bit more insistent. Beside her she heard Bella's intake of breath.
"Alice...you can shop for him any time you want," she whispered. And Esme, seeing the vision that was Edward step onto the stage, could only agree. From head to toe he was dressed in black, a color that wasn't overly unusual for him. What was strange - and unbelievably hot - was the style of clothing. The thick-soled boots he had on clung to his legs like they'd been custom-fit, the silver buckles along the length shining as he moved. From the tops of the boots to his waist, soft black pants molded to every inch, highlighting the strength in his legs, the sleekness of his body. His shirt was also black, flowing and loose and open to show the broad expanse of his chest from neck to waist while still showing off the panther-like lines of his torso. What was completely unexpected was the red satin ribbon that circled his throat. A similar band went around his waist, and a single strip of it joined the two together against his pale skin. Where the center strip met the bottom belt, there was a red bow. It wasn't fancy or feminine, simply there, and he wore it with a casual disdain that made him look even more darkly gorgeous. She'd made a very slow perusal of his attire from boots to shirt and back again, but she finally broke away from his beautiful body, the expression on his face made her stare.
His eyes were closed, his head tipped slightly back as he moved. It was obvious that he was a bit nervous, but after a few seconds of listening to the music, she could see him let go and simply follow the rhythm. Almost in a trance he danced, swaying slowly at first, then a bit faster. His feet moved in time, hips shifting seemingly of their own accord. Esme was enthralled. Where Emmett was animal desire leashed, where Jasper promised the delights of a considerate lover, where Carlisle embodied everything she would ever need or want in an eternal mate...Edward was sensuality incarnate. Every move, every sound, portrayed the intensity of earthly pleasures transcending the physical. She'd never seen anything like him, and she knew she never would. The snickering and talking from the girls had ceased, all of them fixated on the black-clad vision that was slowly wrapping himself around the pole. With both hands on the smooth metal, he swung himself around the pole effortlessly, spinning faster and faster until he was almost a blur even to her eyes. Suddenly he let go, dropping to the ground in front of her, landing on one knee. His head down and palm outstretched, a pose of humility as old as knighthood, he looked at her with luminous eyes.
"M'lady," he said, no traces of humor in his manner though it twinkled brightly in his eyes, "for your birthday I would be honored if you would accept my humble self as a gift."
"I...what?" She didn't think she'd heard him properly. He stood, oh-so-slowly, until he was at his full height, and guided her hands to the red bow at his waist.
"I'm your birthday present, Esme," he chuckled.
"I...you...but, all of you..." Alice let out a peal of laughter.
"Oh, Esme - the guys were for all of our enjoyment. But for your birthday, Bella thought to present you with one Edward, specially gift-wrapped, for your own delight and entertainment." She turned and stared at Alice, then Bella. Switching her gaze to Rosalie, she then glanced up at the three men standing to the side of the stage. Seeing grins on every face, she started laughing.
"Well," she chuckled. "I have to admit, this is the most...unorthodox present I've ever been given." Edward looked down at her, a wicked gleam to his gaze.
"Well, if it's not to your liking, I'm sure Bella wouldn't mind taking it back..." He didn't even have the sentence finished before Esme had jumped to her feet and pulled the bow open.
"Oh, no, no, not at all. In fact, I have to say that I believe this is the perfect gift." Esme was enjoying herself totally now. "Of course, I'm going to have to try it on for size, make sure it fits and doesn't poke or scratch in any uncomfortable places..." Alice was hysterical on her end of the couch, and Esme heard Emmett's rolling laughter. After a moment, Edward pushed her back down to her seat, smiling at her as the other three men joined him.
"Seeing as how it's not time to open presents yet, however, we thought you girls might be able to do with a bit more show." The sounds of appreciation were all the payment the Cullen men needed. Grinning at one another, they headed back to the stage. Emmett grabbed the stereo remote on the way, causing Bella and Rosalie to look at each other in confusion.
"Emmett? What are you doing?" came Rose's curious voice.
"Come on, babe. You didn't really think we were going to stop with just that little bit of music, did you?" He winked at them and hit a button. "We've got some plans of our own."
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Author's note: This was so much fun to write! I couldn't help it...their style is a little Cirque du Soliel, a little Canadian Thunder. (side note: purr...mmmm...Bobby Ryan....) Erm...yeah. Sorry. Distracted by hot little stripper boy. Anyway...what was I saying? Oh, yeah. This was a blast to write! Absolutely a trip. I wish I were a more talented writer so I could more accurately describe what was going on on the theater screen in my head. But I think I did a halfways decent job of it anyway. :-D
Dear Santa...I've been a good girl this year. Odd for me, I know, but in light of that fact, I've decided I don't want a pony for Christmas. I can think of better things to ride. Like a Cullen. Can I have one? Please, Santa? *puppy dog eyes*
