The Games We Play
I was trying, hopelessly, to play video games with Emmett and Jasper. We were playing some racing game that they swore required less skill than most of their other games. I was having a hard time imagining a game that required more skill. I had just finished losing, badly, for the tenth time when Edward came bounding through the door. He was obviously feeling better.
He jumped over the back of the couch, knocking Emmett and Jasper to the floor, wrapping his arms around me to save me from the same fate. "Miss me?" he grinned and I laughed.
"Of course," I admitted, "Enjoy your run, did you?"
"Immensely, thank you," he said. He leaned forward to kiss me, but before he reached my lips, Emmett and Jasper jumped back onto the couch, landing on Edward.
Alice was suddenly taking me from Edward's arms and fleeing with me across the room. "Safety zone," she informed me, tracing a line in front of us with the toe of her shoe.
I looked back to the couch and sure enough it was suddenly a tangle of arms and legs as the three vampire boys wrestled with each other. I laughed, glad to see Edward so relaxed and having fun.
"Boys!" Esme was at the entrance of the room. The three of them froze in place, which caused giggles from the girls watching. They each had a leg or an arm of another brother and Edward had Emmett in a headlock as well. "You know that if you want to rough house, you take it outside. That couch is brand new!" She chastised, but I could see the smile she was trying to hide.
"Yes, Mother," they answered in unison. I started laughing in earnest. Esme left shaking her head.
"Think that's funny do you?" Edward's voice sounded in my ear, making me jump.
"Yes!" I gasped through my tears. I was afraid he was planning something to retaliate, but he just put his arms around me and watched me laugh until I could pull myself together.
"I love the sound of your laugh," he said softly. He wiped the last of my tears away and I beamed at him. He leaned down to kiss me. I was expecting a sweet kiss, since our family was watching.
It started out as one, but his hand began to play idly in my hair. My heart began to beat faster. He responded by pulling my face even closer to his and tracing my lips with his tongue. His cool fingers found the bare skin at the base of my back. My hands slid up his chest and into his hair, tangling in his soft locks. I leaned as close to him as possible. I felt my feet leave the ground and he pulled me tight.
Then Rosalie let out a whistle and Emmett boomed, "Sheesh! Get a room would you?" I immediately blushed and pulled away. Edward grinned at me, seemingly not embarrassed at all.
He turned to them, "Considering the home movies the two of you have been playing in my head for decades, I don't see where you have room to talk."
Rose scowled at him, but Emmett laughed, "Well look at Mr. Feisty!"
Edward put me down and whispered in my ear, "Please don't move." Then he was flying at Emmett, who he caught completely by surprise. In seconds, the earlier brawl was back on. Seconds later, Esme was back in the room.
"That's it!" she shouted, causing me to cringe. "Sorry, Bella dear," she apologized. She turned back on the boys and with slightly less volume continued, "OUT! This minute! All of you, and don't come back in until you've worked this out of your systems!" She took a step forward and to my surprise the boys actually jumped up and ran out of the house. It made me wonder if Esme had physically thrown them out before.
To my relief, when Esme turned around I saw that she was smiling, "Bella, I don't know what you did, but keep it up." She gently put a hand on my shoulder, "I haven't seen Edward so playful in a very long time."
"What makes you think it was me?" I asked.
Esme, Rose, and Alice all joined in laughing at me. I blushed and realized it probably was something to do with Edward and I being so happy together. Esme went back to her study and Rose followed the boys outside, mentioning something about hopes of Emmett wrestling with his shirt off. Alice took a step to follow, then turned back to me. Apparently she had seen the question I had for her.
"No, he hasn't changed his mind," she said, "But that run helped him remember everything he loves about this life. Now that he has you too, he's complete." She smiled and put a hand to my face.
"But he's still reluctant to change me?" I asked confused.
"Only until you can convince him you're ready," she answered, taking my hand and leading me toward the door, "Then he will be too."
We went outside and had a grand time watching the boys smack each other around. As wives we dutifully called encouragement to our men and taunted our brothers. I laughed as Rose started to fan herself when Emmett's shirt did come off, followed closely by his brothers'. The sun peaked in and out from behind the clouds dancing on their skin. Finally Rose and Alice had enough and jumped into the fray as well. I sat and watched, laughing until my sides hurt and counting the hours until I too could join in.
Edward noticed me watching and came to sit by me. "Enjoying the show?" he asked, his countenance glowing.
"For now," I replied. "Don't stop on my account, go have fun."
"Who says I can't have just as much fun with you?" he asked grinning wickedly at me. Suddenly I was over his shoulder and we were running through the house to our room. Our door slammed behind us and Edward set me down on my feet.
"I'm not sure I entirely approve of that look in you eye, Mr. Cullen," I teased, backing slowly away from him.
"What look?" he asked innocently as he slightly bent his knees.
"There one where I look like a piece of meat at dinner time," I chastised, backing away a little faster.
"Bella, Bella, Bella," he said softly, going into a full crouch. "You know when you run, it only makes me chase you."
I turned to indeed run, but only made it half a step before his arms were around me and we were crashing onto the bed. I heard the sound of two more doors slamming and more crashing.
"The furniture!" Esme cried.
"Sorry!" came from the vampires in the house. I somehow got the impression they weren't very sincere.
"At least you won't have to push the couch in front of the door this time," I giggled as Edward kissed my neck.
Edward looked down at me, "Do you know how much I love you?" he asked.
I thought of a few remarks I could make, but settled on being sappy, "Enough for forever." I decided he needed as much reassurance as possible before our chat later.
Apparently he approved of my answer because his lips were again pressed against mine, hungry and eager.