A/N: Thank you all for the support in this story. There have been a lot of new story update alerts and favorites and I really appreciate that folks are wanting to read more. Extra hugs for the reviewers.
Annanabanana, you da best beta, eva.
Please see the end note before you blast me too much.
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Cliff's notes: Bella just celebrated her 18th birthday. She and Edward jumped into their birthday suits and celebrated in true teenagers in love style. Yum.
Emmett was not too pleased by their physical relationship. Jacob appeared at the party but left rather early.
Disclaimer: SM owns everything Twilight.
Chapter 4 – Better than Christmas
I now had personal, first-hand knowledge of the wonder that was morning wood. That shit was awesome. Edward wasted no time. He rolled over on top of me and secured his lips firmly to my neck. He sucked with wild abandon. I was sure it would leave a mark. His stiff erection pressed between my thighs; his hips drew slow circles, as he moved himself around me, side to side, forwards and back. I was hot and horny within minutes of waking up.
My fingers wound into the hair at his temples and my thumbs slowly massaged his scalp. After a few moments, my hips mimicked his hips as they sought to gain maximum friction. We were still naked from the night before, and the heat from our proximate groins was intense. Every time he rubbed directly against me, I hoped, in vain, that he'd just dive in.
He looked into my eyes, his need for me obvious. I blinked once and licked my lips; my head rose off of the pillow to kiss him. As our tongues mingled for the first time that day, I thought to myself that this was how I wanted to start every day of the rest of my life. Here, in my Edward's arms.
He moved to kneel between my legs. I folded my knees into myself, wrapped my legs around him, ankles locked on his back. I held him as my willing hostage.
He lined us up with one hand, pushed one finger inside of me and groaned. He bent down to take a nipple into his mouth, removed his finger and thrust himself inside of me. His eyes clenched shut, and his tongue pushed my nipple out of his mouth. He turned his head to the side, eyes still slammed shut.
He pushed himself into me a bit more and paused again. He circled his hips again and then retreated down the path he'd just forged. He was going so slowly. Too slowly.
I was so much more aware of everything than I had the night before. I studied the thick crease on his forehead, the line a result of his deep concentration. I watched as the cords in his neck strained; his biceps contracted, his chest heaved. He barely moved, and yet it looked like his body was working so hard.
I moved a hand from his hair and trailed it down his cheek and neck to his chest, and then further, down to his belly. I found the soft hair low on his abdomen and fingered it gently. His eyes shot open, riveted to my hand. He groaned.
He then picked up the pace. With every stroke, his lips found some part of my body; my lips, my neck, the crevice between my breasts. He now moved in and out of me quickly, biting his lower lip. I could tell that he was trying not to cum too fast.
I lifted a hand to his chin and guided his lips to mine. When he broke the kiss he grunted loudly, panting. He shook and then his body went rigid, his eyes glued shut. He was so beautiful in this moment.
I smiled like the giddy school girl I was and held my arms out, welcoming him.
We lay there and kissed and caressed each other for a bit before there was a knock on the door, and the sweet voice of my best friend called out to us, "Bella, it's 10:30, Charlie will be expecting you guys home soon. Mom's making breakfast downstairs. Oh, and Emmett's waking up."
"Thanks, Al," I rasped out, "We'll be down in a few minutes."
I heard her footsteps pad away and smiled at my lover. "Good morning," I said as I kissed his forehead.
"Baby, this has been not just a good morning. It was most certainly the best morning of my entire life," he smiled at me widely.
"Better than Christmas morning?" I asked as I stretched my arms over my head.
"Better than any Christmas morning in the entire fucking history of Christmas mornings." He said as his fingernails lightly scratched down my outstretched arms.
"That feels nice," I said, eyes closed.
His lips started to trail his fingers.
"Edward. We have to get downstairs, so you need to quit it." I said it half-heartedly, at best. As much as my mind wanted to chastise him, my body wanted to possess him. Repeatedly.
"Ugg, you're right, I know you're right, but I don't want you to be right. I want to spend all day in bed with you." His hands dropped to cup my face and he kissed me sweetly on the mouth. "I love you so much, Bella."
"I love you too, Edward. It won't be too long before we can have leisurely naked days in bed, but, if we ever want those days to get here, we need to get up." I rolled out from under him and scooted away off the bed.
"I'm counting the days." He called after me as I retrieved my overnight bag and headed into his bathroom. After I brushed my teeth and completed my morning ablutions, I put my hair into a low ponytail and walked back into his room.
He was already dressed and had gathered up our discarded clothes. "God, Bella. The last eighteen hours were so amazing." He chuckled, "I'm so glad Renee dragged you to the gyno last month," he said as he shoved my clothes back into my bag.
"I know, right. The cramps really did hurt though. You know how many days of school I missed. The whole not-getting-pregnant thing is a pretty awesome side effect of easier periods."
"Hell fucking yes it is."
I giggled and took his hand as we walked out of his room and downstairs to breakfast.
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After a lovely breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs and fresh juice, Emmett and I headed home. He'd barely spoken to me all morning. I didn't know if it was a hangover or if he was pissed at me. Maybe it was both, but I needed to find out.
"So, did you have a good time last night?" I asked, punching him lightly in the arm.
"Sure, it was fun. I kicked a few punk asses in pool and some Wii. Had a few beers, groped a boob or two. It was cool." He still wasn't smiling.
"That's great Em,." I said, a little cautiously.
"Couldn't find you or Edward after a little while. That, uh, hmm. Well that, shall we say, was not as much fun. Just tell me he was good to you. Wait, no, don't tell me anything. I don't care if he was fucking perfect, Fuck!" He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, punctuating the last word. "I really want to kick his pasty ass. Ohhh, I need think I'm gonna be sick."
At least now I knew the source of this morning's mood. "Aww, Em. You don't need to be all silly and overprotective. It's cute and I love you for it, but you don't need to worry. I'm great. Okay?"
"Whatever. I don't fucking want to talk about it. Ever. If I see as much as one coy look or a singular indication that you're even thinking about sex, and I'm telling dad whatever the fuck it takes to get you grounded until graduation. Got it?"
"Ugg, fine. Yes, I got it. Not that it's fair. I never ratted on you or threatened you when you whored yourself out, but whatever, if you like being a hypocrite..." He irritated the shit outta me sometimes, but I still loved him. I guessed it would suck for him, imagining me that way. Being that I am his baby sister after all.
When we got home, Em and I went to our respective bedrooms. Mom came up and knocked on my door. I opened it for her and gave her a tight hug.
"How was the party?"
"It was awesome, mom. Alice is an amazing party planner and the best friend I could ever want. Everyone had a good time. Even Emmett, I think."
"We didn't know he was going to be staying over too. Guess it worked out okay though."
I snorted. "Neither did I, but ya, I guess it did."
She laughed at me, "Daddy and I have a few gifts for you downstairs that we didn't get to give you yesterday. I'm making your favorite dinner for lunch, so Emmett can have some before he and Jasper go back."
"Sounds great, mom. I'll be down in a few." I smiled at her broadly; she was an awesome mom. Interested, but she didn't pry.
I unpacked my overnight bag and noticed the small pill compact on my desk. I'd forgotten it. It was only a few hours past my normal time, so I wasn't worried. I swallowed it down and kept on going.
I flipped my laptop open and checked my email. There were a few from friends and one from Edward. That was quick.
From: Cullen, Edward
To:Swan, Isabella
Re:ILY
B,
You've just left here, and I feel so alone already. I can smell you everywhere, on my pillows and on my clothes. Jesus fuck, you are everywhere, and I love it. I don't think I'm going to leave this bed all damn day. Unless you want to do something, and then I'll be there in a heartbeat.
Last night and this morning were the most amazing moments of my life. I can't do it justice, it's just, ugh, I don't know how to put it. I felt so close to you, connected, like I knew what you wanted, and you knew what I wanted. I felt like you could see into my soul.. I hope you know how much I love you.
And, fuck, but Bella, your body is amazing. I thought I knew what to expect. Lord knows, I'd spent enough time thinking about it, but baby, it was so much better than my wildest fantasy.
Your tits are spectacular, and they fit in my mouth and in my hands perfectly, like they were made for me. And the feel of your naked skin, touching my naked skin. Fuck. Just fuck. So amazing.
Now that we've been together, I don't know how I'll be able to control myself around you. If I had my way you would always be naked. Well, maybe not always, I do have a few fantasies involving certain elements of clothing…like that skirt. And those boots.
I hope you had a happy birthday, baby. You were supposed to be the one receiving gifts, but you gave me the greatest gift ever. You.
Love,
E
I smiled and almost shut down the computer, dumfounded, but I couldn't leave him hanging like that.
From:Swan, Isabella
To:Cullen, Edward
Re:ILY, too
E,
Tons of cheesy lines are running through my- head, 'You complete me', 'But soft! What light through yonder window breaks' and all that, but somehow they all make sense now. Is that weird? I guess what I'm trying to say is - I love you too, and I am so happy we finally took that step. I feel whole now, and I didn't even know what I was missing before.
And last night (& this morning, too) was so amazing. I can't believe it was so good and that I get to feel that way again, all the time. Forever, until we're too old and grey to, well, you know.
I miss you already. I want to see you tonight. I hate being apart.
My parents are having a birthday lunch/goodbye-to-Emmett lunch, so I should be able to head out after that. Wanna see a movie or something? Maybe go for a walk?
Text or em me.
I'll love you forever,
B.
I shut down my computer for real this time and headed downstairs, a huge grin on my face. Unfortunately I bumped into Emmett first, and he squinted his eyes at me and scowled. My grin disappeared immediately. Buzzkill.
Mom was chattering to dad about something, sounded like Thanksgiving plans, when I entered the kitchen.
"There's the birthday girl!" Dad said, pulling me into a hug.
"Hi dad, my birthday was yesterday though."
"I know that, Bells, but I hardly saw ya yesterday, and this is your birthday dinner, err, lunch, so happy birthday, sweetie." His smile lit up the room. He was so cute when he was happy.
"So what're we having?" I asked, as I craned my neck to see what they had cooking in there.
"Grilled salmon, roasted vegetables & goat cheese couscous, green beans with toasted almonds and a salad."
Salmon was not my favorite, but that was okay. That couscous dish was good, especially with the creamy goat cheese. I doubted Em would be impressed though.
"Ugh! Fish! We're having fish? Can you just throw a burger on for me?" Emmett whined, looking in the fridge, rummaging for alternatives.
"Emmett Dale Swan! Grow up! You can be such an overgrown baby sometimes!" Mom screeched. I couldn't help but poke my tongue out at him.
He didn't appreciate that and shot me the bird when nobody was watching. It just made me laugh harder at him. He really could be a big baby.
We ate linner, as dad called it, quite peacefully. Emmett filled us in on his course load for the semester. He was majoring in business with a minor in computer something or other. He enjoyed living in the dorms.
"Have you seen Rosalie much?" Mom asked.
Jasper's sister could be a touchy subject with Emmett. She was tall and gorgeous; sophisticated, witty and smart. He'd had a crush on her since the Hales had moved to Forks years ago. Jasper was his best friend, but despite Emmett's wishes things had never really gone anywhere with Rosalie. She'd been dating this guy, Royce, for awhile. I didn't know what she saw in him, but she seemed happy enough.
"Um, some I guess. Not a lot. She's living with Royce in an apartment near campus. Jazz and I meet them out sometimes." Emmett said, pushing his food around his plate.
"I see," Mom said. I think she'd secretly hoped that Rosalie would dump Royce and give Emmett a shot. We all did, really.
"How're the Huskies doing this year?" Dad asked.
Emmett looked relieved at the change of topic. "The scouting report looks good. It's too early in the year to say, of course, but the hype is really positive."
"Excellent! Bells and I are planning a few road trips to some games this year, aren't we Bells?" Dad asked me, gesturing with his fork.
"Yup," I said, "I figure it'd be a good time to scout out the campus too, in case that's where Edward and I end up going." I said while stuffing a bite of the cheesy goodness into my mouth.
We finished eating, and Emmett and I started to clean up.
"So you guys are really that serious, huh?" Emmett asked me out of the blue.
I looked at him incredulously. "Of course. I love him Em." Was actually asking me this? What the hell else did he think was going to happen? That we'd just be over in a few months? That this was some short term thing going on? That it was only physical? My eyes welled up. I'm not sure if it was from anger or sadness. Maybe it was both.
"Okay, okay, don't need to get all girly about it. I didn't know how serious you are." He answered sheepishly.
"I know, I'm sorry, Em. It's just, he means so much to me. I can't imagine what it would be like without him." I took a deep, cleansing breath and continued, "Besides, his sister throws kick ass parties." I winked at him and popped him with the wet dishtowel.
He danced out of the way and tossed the soapy sponge at me. "Truce!" He smiled big and held his hands up. "I don't want to drive home wet, and Jasper will be here in a few minutes. I'd better go make sure I'm ready to go."
"Gimme a hug bye, ya big lug." I said, walking over to him, arms open. We shared a nice, long hug. He kissed the top of my head before disappearing to his room to collect his things.
He left with Jasper a few minutes later, and I headed back upstairs.
I checked my phone and had a text from Edward:
J left here few mins ago. Pick u up in 30?
I opened my door and shouted down the stairs, "Mom, I'm going out with Edward for a bit, okay?" I didn't wait for a response before replying back:
Can't wait to see you. Drive safe.
I took a quick look in the mirror and decided I could use some sprucing up. I toed off my shoes and stripped off my jeans. I put on fresh, lacy, undies, hot pink leggings and a dark denim mini skirt. I took off my tee shirt and replaced it with a cashmere sweater I'd received for Christmas. I brushed my hair, put my shoes back on and headed downstairs.
"Where are you two headed?" Dad asked, being all parental.
"Um, I'm not sure, really. Maybe to a movie." I answered honestly.
"Well you do have school tomorrow, so be home by eleven." Dad replied, already turning back towards whatever he was watching on TV.
"Sure thing dad." I grabbed a light jacket and headed outside to begin my Volvo watching vigil.
It wasn't long before I saw the shiny silver car pull into the driveway. I ran over, I didn't want to wait for him to come out to get me.
"In a hurry, love?" He asked as he leaned in for a kiss.
"To see you? Always." I whispered against his lips.
He pulled back away from me, motioning towards my house. "Where to?"
"Well, it's a nice day out and still light for a few more hours, so how about something outside?" I said as I peered out of the window.
"Okay, I know a place." He reversed out of the driveway pulled onto the road. We held hands as he told me about the rest of his day. He occasionally kissed my knuckles, and constantly rubbed circles with his thumb on the back of my hand.
After about fifteen minutes, he stopped the car and pulled off into a small clearing. "There's a little patch of land a bit up that trail where we used to play catch."
He came around and opened my door for me. "I see you changed clothes. You looked nice before although I am digging the skirt." He winked at me and pulled me to the path.
We walked hand in hand for about twenty minutes before Edward stopped walking, indicating that we'd arrived. We were in a peaceful and sunny clearing. The grass was green and the puffy clouds were an angelic white.
Edward spread himself out on the lush grass, and pulled me down on top of him. I spread my palm out over his stomach and put my ear over his chest, listening to his heart.
"It's you, you know." He looked down at me lovingly. "You are my heart."
My head rested on his chest. I smiled up at him before I rose up and brought my face up to his. "Oh, Edward," I said as I changed my position so I could kiss him. Our kiss was slow and gentle, not like the heated kisses of that morning. These kisses were full of enduring passion, respect and love. Soon it transformed into more and we made love in the soft grass, the silence of the place broken only by our sounds.
We lay there afterwards, basking, my head on his chest again.
"Emmett seemed surprised to hear that we'd planned to go to the same school next year."
"Hmm… Well, I guess it 's not too often that people our age are this serious about their relationships."
"I guess," I hedged, not quite satisfied. "I suppose I thought that everybody could see how strong out commitment was. I guess not."
"Who gives a fuck what people think they see? We know what's real." He stared down into my eyes, the enormity of his words projected in his gaze.
"I know, I was just sorta startled to realize it wasn't obvious to him. I thought he was the one person, apart from Alice, maybe, would just know that." I placed a kiss on his neck and ran my hand over his stomach.
"So where do you want to go next year?" He asked me. We'd already sent in a ton of applications last year, and were waiting out the fruits of our labor.
"I'd love to go to New York, but I'm not sure because it's so far away from home. Maybe U Wash, like Emmett and Jasper and Rose, but they don't have a swimming team. Or maybe Wash U, since they do, or Gonzaga, I hear they have some good sports teams, although I'm really not sure which ones..." I rambled on, playing with a blade of grass.
"Bella, where do you want to go, not where you think I would like to go? Sports are just games. You are real. You are what matters. What would make you happiest?" He asked sincerely, stroking my hair.
"Maybe Northwestern. Or UCLA, or Cornell, or Dartmouth or NYU. I don't know Edward. Anywhere I've ever heard of, if you'll be there with me is the perfect school. Even a place I've never heard of, with you by my side, will be amazing." From where I was laying right now, school seemed unimportant, and far off. "Let's just see what our options are, and then we can decide together."
"Maybe take a few road trips to check them out," He cocked an eyebrow up and winked, pushing me off of him and rolling me onto my side.
He lunged at my neck with amazing vehemence as his hand bolted down my side and snaked up under my skirt that had remained on, cupping my butt.
We kissed and groped and rolled and played until the sun started to set. We watched it melt into the horizon, wrapped up in each others' arms, and then assembled ourselves and headed back to his car.
We stopped for a bite to eat at the diner and then went back to his house. It was still early, only eight o'clock, and I hadn't seen Alice since breakfast. She'd texted me like a dozen times and was excited to see us walk in the door.
Her blue eyes were blotchy and swollen, her hair was a mess and she wasn't wearing shoes. She looked like she'd been crying for hours. I dropped Edward's hand and ran to hold my best friend. I felt so selfish that I'd been so wrapped up in myself, I'd forgotten that she'd had to say goodbye to Jasper today. I could only imagine how bad that had to hurt, even if she would see him again in a few weeks, if not sooner.
"Oh, honey, c'mere." I walked to her and pulled her into me.
"I miss him so much already…" She cried into my shoulder. "It's so hard every time he leaves. I try to hold a stiff upper lip and make it seem like I'm okay, but I'm not okay. It hurts, goddamn it! Why couldn't he have just waited for me? It would've only been one year…" She sobbed outright now, gasping for breaths and holding tightly onto me. Edward had disappeared.
"Alice, you know that he loves you and wants to be with you. I'm sure you could call him, and he'd run back to you, right this fucking second." I cooed to her while I stroked her soft hair.
"I know, but it just hurts so much." She said, a little quieter this time.
"Shh, sweetie, I know. It'll be okay. You know it'll be okay. You'll be together again soon. You can even call him now if you want," I offered.
"No, he's driving. I want him to be safe." She sniffled.
"I know you do. What time will they get there?" I asked, knowing she'd have their trip clocked.
She looked at her watch. "Well if they only stop once, and if they eat on the road, they should be there in a half hour."
"Then it seems we have thirty minutes to clean out your snot locker and get some sugar into you."
She grabbed a tissue, and I grabbed a carton of mint chocolate chip ice cream with two spoons, and sat down at the kitchen table.
"Thanks, Bell," she said, taking a spoon from me and lifting the lid off.
We ate in silence for a few minutes before Carlisle stuck his head in. "Everything going alright in here?" He looked over Alice, concerned.
"It is now, dad," Alice said, her mouth full of minty-sweet goodness.
I smiled and saluted with my spoon. He winked at me and walked away.
"I'm so glad I have you." Alice said, leaning over for a hug.
"Me too, Als, me too."
Half an hour later, the ice cream tub was empty, and Alice headed upstairs, phone in hand.
********************************************
I felt strange as I got ready for school on Monday. I think I even looked different – more confident maybe, I'm not sure what it was, but I was definitely happier than I'd ever been.
Edward picked me up, as usual, Alice with him. We drove to school and talked about nothing in particular, just enjoying the good company.
Classes sucked, mostly because they prohibited me from doing what I wanted to do the most – make out with Edward in secluded spots where we could grind up against each other.
He teased me in biology, our only mutual class. He palmed my leg and talked just a little too softly, too close to my ear so that his breath sent shivers down my spine. In the lunch line, he held me against him, my back to his front and kissed my neck indecently.
I was way worked up by the end of the day. Alice saw it all over my face when we got to gym. "Wow, Bella. You've got it bad. You're thinking about fucking my brother, aren't you?" She said as she changed into her gym clothes.
"Huh, what? I mean, how did you know?" Not that I was really surprised that she knew what I was thinking.
"It's written all over your face. Your cheeks are pink, you have this weird vacant stare going on, and you keep licking your lips for Christ sake! I'm surprised you've managed to keep your hands off your tits." She giggled at me as she walked out of the locker room.
I chanced a look in the mirror. Shit. She was right. I was pink all over and my lips were kinda swollen. It reminded me of what I looked like after making out with Edward. Mmmmm. That thought wasn't going to help me appear any less preoccupied.
Luckily, Coach had plenty of plans to keep us busy. Basketball. Ugh. Alice and I gathered around a hoop with Angela and a few others, making ambivalent attempts.
"So…." Alice started, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
"So what, Al.? I'm not dumb, I know what you want to know. Sorta. I just don't know how much you want to know, or how much I'm willing to share, for that matter." I dribbled the ball three times and launched it up toward the backboard. It bounced away, and I went to chase it. The ball had rolled all the fucking way across the gym, over to the guys' side. There weren't any anti-socialization rules or anything, the girls and guys just tended to separate during this kind of shit. I bent over to pick up the ball, mumbling profanities to myself.
"Hi Bella, I had a great time at the party this weekend." A familiar male voice said. I looked up to find a tall blonde guy, James, standing there, looking me over.
"Oh, hi. I'm glad you had a good time. Alice rocks." I fiddled with the ball and wondered how long I had to continue this inane conversation.
"I wish I'd been able to dance with the birthday girl, though. I brought you a present and everything." He was serious. I think.
"Wow. You didn't need to do that. I really wasn't expecting presents, I mean, aside from Edward and my folks, I really didn't think anybody would get me anything. But, um, thanks." I felt kinda bad now. He was trying to be sweet.
"It's no big deal. It was just an iTunes gift card. Maybe I'll bring it by your house for you. I didn't want to just leave it there without giving it to you, since I didn't bring a card." He looked hopeful.
"I don't want you to go out of your way. It was the thought that counted." I hardly knew this guy after all.
"No, really Bella, I want you to have it." He said, a little too firmly.
Just then Alice trotted up. "I wondered what was taking you so damn long," said my savior. "Bella, I see you found your ball. Oh, and hello there James, are you a terrible shot too?" I rolled my eyes at her jab and waived bye to him and went back with Alice.
"What was that all about?" She asked.
"Oh, he was saying he had a good time at the party, and that he'd brought me a present, an iTunes card, but didn't leave it there and wanted to bring it by."
"Uh, huh. He was checking you out was what that was. I doubt he ever had the card. He's just looking for an excuse."
"An excuse for what?"
"Duh, Bella. You're hot. He's got a penis. He was looking for an excuse to get your attention, to spend time with you. That's all it takes. No matter though, it's not as if my brother would let that dick anywhere near you. Geez, Bella, sometimes you worry me." She took a shot, nothing but net.
We walked out to the car together after gym. Edward was waiting just as I knew he would be. I walked up to him, grabbed a fistful of his shirt and kissed him hard on the mouth.
"I'm happy to see you too." He said with a twinkle in his eye. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me again, softer than the one I'd initiated.
The rest of the week went by quickly. Edward and I found every excuse to be alone together. We'd drop Alice off at home and then head to my house. My parents both worked and didn't get home until at least six most days.
Invariably, we'd start the afternoon off innocently enough. We'd work on homework or watch TV. Then we'd progress to teasing, verbal at first, moving to physical. We'd end up in my bed, panting and pants-less. Sometimes we had sex, sometimes we just got each other off with our hands, our mouths, or both. Once or twice we did all three.
I could not believe how lucky my life was.
At night I dreamed of Edward; of what our life would be like in just a few months when we moved to wherever to go to college.
When my phone rang Saturday morning, the dream was over.
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E/N: I would say that I'm sorry for the cliffhanger, but I'm not. I do promise to try to get the next chapter out ASAP though.
As you've undoubtedly noticed, this is Bella's story. We will, however, hear directly from Edward from time to time, but it will only be through his writings.
I respond to all reviews, feel free to ask questions, hazard theories, leave me love, yell at me for the cliffie, whatever you like, just hit that review button and leave something!!