Chapter Four- In The Parking Lot
That first day with Bella on the beach had been the best day I could ever remember having. She made it so. I couldn't believe how incredibly funny she was… and that mouth! Ben had her all wrong; the girl was a smartass, not a bitch. But I guess any girl's inner bitch might rage if she found a peeping prick in her locker. The guy was lucky to get off with as little physical damage as he did. Especially considering the number of ragey, naked females in that locker room at the time. He could have been sent home in pieces for his mother to identify.
No, Bella wasn't a bitch. In fact, she was pretty laid back and, for a girl, she was easy to spend time with. When she drew a line in the sand and suggested that we volley a ball back and forth, I forgot about my deeply ingrained caveman instinct to impress this chick I liked, and I just enjoyed being with her. I learned that day why everyone thought Bella was a big deal; she kicked my ass in volleyball from one end of that beach to the other. I spent more time face down in the sand than I did upright, and It took me the next three days to get sand out of places one should never have sand. I've never enjoyed having my ass handed to me on a platter before, but she managed to have me begging for more. Not literally, mind you; that would have just been weird. But when our afternoon together came to an end- as I walked her back to school with the sun setting in front of us- I found myself bummed that we would be going our separate ways. The only thing that pried me away from her was the realization that I really needed a shower to rinse off the sand that was causing extreme chaffing in the aforementioned unmentionable places.
We reached the school and our cars way too soon, and as I stood there next to her tiny car, I battled with myself over whether or not to kiss her like I'd been dying to all day. She made the decision for me when she reached up on her toes, kissing me on the cheek.
"Thanks for a great afternoon, Edward. I had fun."
"Well, that was the plan, and you might not know this yet, but I am kinda known for my fun skills."
"Oh, really? I'd heard it was your over-inflated ego you were known for," she teased.
"Keep it up, Swan, and I'll show you something else I'm well known for."
Bella's eyes went wide and she took a step back from me. "Now, Edward! I am not that kind of girl! I hardly know you well enough for that kind of show and tell."
My dick perked up at the mention of "showing"; it was a very inconvenient time to make his presence known, to say the least. There's nothing nice about a sandy woody, just saying.
I moved closer to her, filling the void between us and placed my hands on her hips. I could feel the strings of her purple bikini through the thin cotton of her shorts. A very potent visual of Bella jumping to spike the ball over our makeshift "net" earlier came to mind. The triangle was officially my favorite geometric shape. I glanced down at the swell of her breasts that peeped out at me from the low neck of her yellow top and grinned at the girl in my arms.
"I was referring to something else entirely, but that could be arranged as well."
Her breathing sped up. She was clearly as affected by our nearness as I was.
"Wha... what arrangement... I mean what did you think I thought you meant... uh, what did you mean?" The girl was adorable when she was flustered.
"What do you think I meant?" I shouldn't have teased her, but she made it kind of irresistible.
"I, uh... um... well, sh- shells? Your shell collection, maybe?"
"No, Bella, I don't even own a shell collection," I informed her. Her dark brown eyes were dilated and the size of saucers. My thumbs rubbed the cotton of her shorts. I couldn't help noting how the swell of her hips felt even better than they looked. "Try again."
"I don't know, Edward," she huffed in defeat. "Just tell me what you meant."
"I'd rather show you."
"Uh, okayyyy..." She looked around at the nearly empty parking lot before returning her gaze to my own and locked it there.
"You sure? 'Cause if you're not ready for this then-"
"Shut it, Cullen. I can handle anything you have to show me. Just do it already." And in an instant, gone was the shy Bella and strong, confident Bella had returned.
I pulled away from her just enough to get my hands between us and mentally prepared for what I was about to do. If she wanted it I was more than willing to give it to her.
"Alright then... what I'm really known for is my spectacular... tickle skills!" I dug my fingers into her sides, assaulting her relentlessly. Bella squealed and slapped at me, begging me to stop. I stopped only after I was certain she knew who she was up against. We slumped against her car, panting. She faced me with her hands on her hips and laughed as she chastised me.
"That was cruel, Edward Cullen! What would your mother say if she knew you were manhandling girls?"
"She'd send me to bed without dessert," I admitted. "But my dad would probably give me a high five." She gasped at my blatant lie. Honestly, my dad would have kicked my sandy ass if he thought I was mistreating a woman. Now Emmett, he would have most definitely high-fived me.
"I don't believe that for a second, Cullen. Now, apologize for molesting me or..."
"Or what, Swan? Come on, tell me what you're gonna do about it," I taunted. I was really hoping she'd try to tickle me in retaliation. Not that I was ticklish or anything; I just wanted to feel her hands on me.
"Or I won't go with you to wherever it was you were planning on taking me tomorrow."
I felt a little panicked at her words; my already frantic heart sped up.
"Ah, Bella, I'm sorry! I was just goofing off! I promise to not tickle you anymore." My voice had a pathetic, needy whine that I could have sworn came from the little girl a few yards away.
She grinned. "That's more like it." Her hands went to my bare chest, and her touch burned against my sun-warmed skin. They slid up around the back of my neck and I stepped closer to her so she didn't have to reach so far. I loved the feel of her touch. It felt natural to wrap my arms around her slender waist.
"For a second there I was worried I wasn't going to get to spend the afternoon with you." Her voice was soft, breathy. I felt it deep in my belly, and my body responded to the radiating warmth in typical teenage form.
We stood there for a few minutes, lost in each other's touch. All too soon she announced that she needed to get home and start on her homework. Reluctantly I let her loose and handed over her bag.
"Thanks again, Edward. I had a great afternoon. Text me later, okay."
"Of course. Anytime, Bella. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, tomorrow..."
I stood there and watched as she pulled out of the parking lot content with the promise of being with her the next day. And that was enough, for the moment.
A/N: Awww! Aren't they cute?
Thanks to GG, for the tidy up and to BellaFlan for informing me that I am annoying and loveable, both in the same sentence. The two of you are teaching me so much. You are so very loved and appreciated! XOXOXO
To my GDoc fairy and beloved friend, Barburella: thanks for sprinkling your awesomeness all over my words. **Smooches**
Thank you for reading and leaving me little nuggets of goodness in your comments! I love hearing what you're thinking as you read. Until next week…
