Chapter 6, Let's Get Lifted
from Edward
"How old is Charlotte? Great Danes only live like ten years."
"I'm not sure, actually. You should ask. You should ask Mak…"
"The tallest they get is like forty inches. I think that's over three feet. Is she really tall like that?"
"Yes. Very. And she thinks she's a puppy because Bella spoils her rotten. Did you google Great Danes?"
"Dad and I did. He wants to get a dog." Henry kicked a pile of maple leaves with a rubber rain boot. "He said maybe someday. Do you think Bella will dress her up for Halloween?" I chuckled, pinching the point high on his red hood.
"That wouldn't surprise me… at all. We never had one either. Grandma was afraid of dogs."
"Mom thinks they're dirty." Small shoulders shrugged as we passed pumpkin lined walkways.
"Here, we promised to call…" I dialed my sister, handed him the phone. Breathing in the late autumn day, I braced for the bittersweet.
"Hi, Mom. You sound funny… No, I practiced already. We're walking to Bella's. Yep. Uncle Edward got squash at the store… She said you're supposed to take a drink." I gestured to the brown sack, nodding. "Okay… I will. But I'm not eating the squash thing he's making. Gross. She wants to know if you're making the broth or is it from a can?" I pointed to myself, smirking, playfully rolling my eyes. "He's making it. But I'm not eating it. Mak won't eat it either… 'Cause I know… Okay… Love you, too."
The recent passage of time left my sister weaker but wiser in reality and transition. A mindful plan for Henry and his days meant some time away, perspective. I spied Bella and Mak waiting to welcome. I watched them laugh, tripping through hopscotch once before telling Henry. He held the edge of my jacket slowing slightly when he realized. A timid introduction between the kids, a warm, giddy hello from Bella, always. "Mmmm… I like those kisses… More, please." Soft and easy, oblivious, we started where we'd left just a few hours before. I gripped my Columbia U. sweatshirt that she wore, crushing market bags between. Layers, waves whipped in the chilled breeze, framing her natural blush and freckles. We glanced towards our small audience as our mouths parted for more. Angling, winking she reached for Henry's hand. "Come on you… We have scary surprises, and a fire bowl, and marshmallows. And people and dogs who want to love on your cute face…"
oOo*OB*oOo
"Seduction by spice... I got your game, lover boy." Mary nudged, swaying to an imaginary beat, sipping bourbon. "Sage... garlic... " I winked, smirking and knocking the spoon over the pan edge. "Look at those babies over there... Henry fits right in, I think we might keep him." We took in the festive nonsense, Bella at the center. Masks and ghoulish wares littered the silk rug around them. She modeled each and every with complete and full animation. The sudden vibration of the door bell startled all but me. I'd been watching the time close, anxious and knowing. Bella pushed a beastly mask up through her hair, reached and opened. The kids peeked from behind. A moment, then another... just as I'd hoped, Mak's hands flew to stifle her sweet squeals when she realized. "What in the heaven and goddamn, glorious stars have you done now… you crazy, perfect man…Did you buy that sweet girl a piano?" Mary pinched my chin, hurried towards the door, massaging her brow, cursing in shock.
Bella looked over her shoulder with wide, wild eyes. Mak leaped, marched, danced towards me. Short arms tight around my waist as three men in blue uniforms handed Mary a clipboard. Ordinary chaos present, the dog barked, Tyler squeezed by and through with long stalks of red and yellow flowers. "Well this is alright, now…Damn that's fine…" He shouted, chuckling and nuzzling Mary while she directed, questioned the men, their abilities.
"Thank you, thank you…Thank you, Edward." I lowered, smiling, equally excited.
"Promise you'll practice every day after school?" She nodded, blue eyes damp.
"It's really mine?"
"It's really yours." Bella cradled Mak's face, standing behind, she craned to see. "Can we call my mom and tell her?"
"Tomorrow…" Mak turned, rushing a step and two then spun back for one more hug. "What are you doing? You're just too much…Buying girl's expensive gifts is dangerous business, you know..." Tossing the mask off completely, I held her face, thumbs stroking under her jaw. She fisted my black shirt along the sides to balance.
"Did you see her face? I remember my first..." Lips lingered, she sighed sweet against mine. "Besides that keyboard from your attic is just not… okay."
"Snob."
I scoffed, pulled tight. Breathing her in, peppered kisses fell down behind her ear. She shivered, I throbbed. "Edward… my man…" Tyler interrupted shaking hands smooth and firm. A friendly kiss on Bella's cheek was greeting and thanks as she offered an amber glass. Unwinding a dark cashmere scarf, he buried his tweed page boy under his arm and shoved the spoon around the saute. "How's your sister?"
"More energy for sure this week. Nothing like the suffering hell from last week." I massaged Bella's neck, shoulders as she melted. "We're hoping with Henry here, she can rest, have time with my brother in law…"
"Yeah, absolutely… well I'm praying for that peace, man. I hate this pain you guys have right now…"
"It's been a long fucking road." Bella turned in my arms, gentle hands feathered over my chest.
oOo*OB*oOo
"Henry this is Tyler Crowley. Remember we listened to some of his jazz and trumpet last weekend…" Tyler reactively kicked and crouched lower.
"I hear you're quite the piano man…" He stared, seemingly star struck. "You wanna mess a bit on the new one with me?"
"Really?"
"Betcha could teach me a thing or three…" Tyler winked, meeting Henry knuckle for knuckle. Mary forced Tyler up and away.
"First we eat…"
The fire bowl on the patio roared gold, bright. Faint light strings of plastic pumpkins lined the stained oak fence around the courtyard. Tales and teases filled the cool dark air, Bella curled in my lap, bowl of risotto in hand. "There's hope for that one. Look how well he takes instructions from a girl." I smirked at the rim of my wine glass, tightening my palm around her thigh. She scraped and tasted. "I cannot handle with the deliciousity of this… maybe I should marry you." Mumbling, lost on the hot tease that she was... Offering the last bite, her fingertips grazed the corner of my mouth, then to her own, licking and sucking. Even in tending, she was unintentionally sensual. Fuck, this woman will be the certain death of me. "I mean look at their adorableness... He's so happy. Like squinty eye, candy hearts happy. Would it be selfish to fly him over once a month?"
"Come here," I whispered, using her low ponytail to playfully pull flush against. My parted mouth warmed her temple as we watched Mak and Henry twist roasting sticks over the flames. Henry undoubtedly in awe of the abundance of content... His mind and soul full of the best and the worst.
"Costumes… Who's ready for costumes…" Mary sang, quickly popping her hands in some inner epiphany.
"Oh, jesus. These poor children. Brace yourself, baby," Bella whispered, gripping my knee.
"We need more Halloween… We're trying to celebrate here with one box of pathetic, old masks, my storeroom is full of fun and fright. What's your poison sweet boy?" Henry stared horrified my direction. "I've got two options for you, precious one… God this is exciting. I've been toying with William and Kate… or Elvis and Priscilla. Wait here! Come on Edward…" She gestured wild, blowing kisses towards Tyler. He caught and returned dramatically as she disappeared through the swinging gate.
Her voice, ease and cheer faded the moment she rounded the store room corner. The festive anticipation of our hunt and task evaporated in one uncomfortable moment. "Oh, okay… well… yes, that's what it looks like." She shuffled closer. I staggered back, visually tracing the letters of her name and date of her event. Scribbled on an informal rectangular tag, jute tangled with strings looped through the zipper. "You wanna see it…"
"No… no that's okay." I waved, motioning, chuckling to breathe.
"No… yeah I suppose you don't… you wouldn't… Okay, sit, sit." Urging, gesturing towards a tall, blue canvas director's chair behind me. She shook back her hair, pushing her speckled, stripped glasses through. "We're going to do this." I focused over her shoulder at memories that belonged to someone else.
"She was just so goddamn eager to please Emily by marrying her friend… And so desperate to redeem her corrupt youth in her parent's eyes. My brother is a pious asshole, by the way. He's been so… unnecessarily hard on her. But she… she wanted to shine in front of them, in front of God, in their church with this pure, cute Catholic doctor do good…"
"Liam…"
"Liam." Mary settled on the floor weilding a pair of zebra print scissors. He's a real sweetheart. Don't get me wrong. And for the love of god did he cry, which was very awkward, because… well you can imagine. I mean I love a man who shows emotion… but I didn't have time for it… to console him…red faced, heaving you know? Christ. I had Isabella running through the streets of Chicago like an goddamn zoo escapee.
"She actually ran out of the church?" The scene in my mind was rich and overtly dramatic. I ran a rough hand through my hair, pitying the poor guy. Mary crossed her legs, leaned against a tall, whitewashed wardrobe behind.
"Of course, my brother stormed after her… He was raging obscenities and threats. Antagonizing son of a bitch. Anyway… I came screaming bloody murder worried through the house. I beat my brother here, I ran down Fifth and he's so stupid and stubborn he took the alley and Ninth. But when I found her… she was on her knees praying. Begging… I hadn't seen that beautiful girl pray since she was eight years old. That kind of guilt… it ruins. It can destroy your life worrying how you've broken someone's heart," she trailed, seemingly lost in possibly her own secrets, mindlessly trimming white wool pile carpet with the scissors.
"Mary…"
"No," she snapped. "You listen to me." She pointed, protective, defensive. "I love her first. Don't you ever forget that. But you've come in here…" She stood, moving within a measure. "Edward, you've come into our lives… with this gentle way… this purpose and all this handsome shit about you…And what… two months in and she's awake, she's beating and blissed. Forgiving her self a little more every moment she's near you. Like she gets it. She finally understands she doesn't have to live for Emily. For my brother. Even for Mak. That she deserves all this… passion and goodness you come toting…" We breathed, sharing a light cathartic laugh. "And you know it too. I can tell by the way you stare when she smiles." She reached, gently cupping my cheek. A rush of my mother's touch, memory startled, I desperately channeled, absorbing. "Darling, sweet man… You were just waiting to be found…"
oOo*OB*oOo
The kitchen lights dimmed as the last of closing tasks wrapped. Farewells, late night plans hushed through an empty Breeze. I lined dark bottles carefully inside the box. "This shit's going back to the vendor. I'm fucking sick…"
"Yo boss, your bride has arrived." Ben shouted, tossing a tangle of keys over the bar. I pocketed, warming as Bella stalked towards the bar.
"Look at you…"
"You like?" She spun, curtsying in a tattered Victorian styled wedding dress. We leaned across the lacquered dark wood, teasing lips, nibbling, giggling. "Do I taste like hairspray and weirdness or what?" I pulled back to take in the massive hive of curls, white stripes painted up either side.
"You didn't want to change?"
"I was sorta in a hurry…" She taunted, tongue sweeping.
"Yeah?" I breathed.
"Mmmm…"
Ben settled on his elbow near, smiling in awe and mad respect of her ways. "I'm Frankenstein's bitch tonight, my friend." She winked as he kissed her hand.
"It's fucking perfect," he gushed.
"Well thank you." She sarcastically smoothed up the frightening hair do. "Mary's shop is pretty much costumes-r-us. 'Course this one was her actual wedding dress."
"Seriously? When did this happen?"
"In '66... Oh yes, yes… to Uncle Waylon. You don't want to go there with her though…" Brows arched, nose wrinkled, she shook. "The story, the telling… requires mucho alcohol. Trust me."
Ben zipped his jacket, kissed Bella's hand again. "Alright, crazy kids… Jess and I have a Halloween party to partake in. You're off to New York tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Flying Henry home. You're set for open?"
"No problem." He saluted, heading though the front door, killing the last of the main restaurant lights.
"Okay, come, come you have to see the pictures of the pint sized proper Will and Kate…" The glow from her phone barely lit the darkened bar area and space.
"Are they passed out now?" I wondered, moving to stand between her legs, taking the phone.
"Yep. Exhausted, with the best type of belly aches." She cringed. "I was kind of a sucker with the candy intake. Please don't be pissed." I smirked, flipping through the photos of tricks and treats. "You know how hard it is for me to say… no…" Her hands carassed, gripped my ass.
"What in the hell… Is Mary supposed to be…"
"Andy Warhol. She was totally offended that the kids didn't know who the hell that was… Giving Henry grief about what he was learning in his arts school. Poor little guy." We laughed, she stood, pulling me closer. "Hey… you know what you need here in your fine establishment, Mr. Cullen?"
"What's that?" My tongue wet a trail down her neck as we held.
"A dance floor."
"You wanna dance? I like this mood you're in…" My thumb stroked a suggestive pattern in her palm, eyes locked. "We can dance…" I tucked her tight, humming the last song played. Her fingers drifted a slow trail up my arm, tracing muscles over my white dress shirt, wrapping around the heavy metal of my watch. She angled, resting her head against my chest.
"Don't eat my fancy hair." More laughs, easy and perfect shook as we swayed. I reveled, treasuring the feel of just holding her crazy, unique and alive self. I whispered things that mattered and naughty things I needed… mingling truth with the tune and beat I worked. Life unfolded, moments rapid and unsure, mine… Rose's. But in the swift, hateful current of sickness and all else… There was Bella, us...
oOo*OB*oOo
After the click and turn of the loft lock behind me, I noted the faint sound of the shower running. I toed my leather boots off and near the door, tossed my black jacket over the couch. Licking lips, my fingers worked quickly over my buttons. Quietly edging open the bathroom door, I visually traced her silhouette behind the rippled glass. Her neck, the graceful arch tipping back under the heat and spray… Her back, the gentle curve and dip… she peeked over her shoulder, silently acknowledging, fingertips pressing… Dark denim, boxers piled over my shirt as she opened the door. I stepped behind, pressing and melting, my erection heavy between us. "Need help washing all that shit from you hair?" I smiled over, tasting creamy, slick skin over her shoulder, palms sweeping down her arms.
"I think it's clean now…" She reached, grasping the back of my neck, tugging the hair at my nape, pulling and wanting. "Edward…" She purred.
"What is it, baby… tell me what you need…" Fingers slid, caressing her breasts, nipples. She moaned, rotating her ass against my cock. Smoothing down over her stomach and lower, I urged her legs wider. Stroking slow through her wet pussy, panting loud, pace fast.
"You... I need you…" She begged and bent, as I laced our fingers, turning her into the cool glass.
oOo*OB*oOo
"I see you drinking a beer…" I joked, shifting to watch as she rolled the edge of the dark bottle. Offering a sip, she crawled up my low platform bed, stretching bare, sated. Dark lashes rested, I leaned to kiss swollen lips, sucking her top between mine. Savoring the tease as I connected droplets down measures of damp flesh, nestling deeper into the pillows. "Baby…"
"Yeah?" I drank, easing back, an arm behind my head.
"Who's stuff was that in the bathroom closet… you never told me." She stared up, chin over folded hands, curious, but serene. I pushed soaked, tangled hair off her forehead, grinning.
"Does it matter?"
"Sure. I want to know about all your lovers… Tell me names, dates…" We mirrored smirks, narrowed eyes. "Then tell me how much more beautiful I am and how much better I suck your…" I hushed, a rough thumb against her sassy mouth, laughing.
"The first time I saw your naked ass, I forgot everything… all of them… Just like that." I snapped, pinching her nose.
"Bullshit."
"Well, what about you? Mary and I had quite the conversation in her shop the other night." Bella quickly righted, climbing to straddle. Forcing my stare, hands strong, she scraped nails over stubble.
"I'm sorry…"
"Stop it. You've done nothing wrong…" I kissed soft to reassure. "I do feel sorry for him, though. That's my worst nightmare…"
"What is?"
"You running out on our wedding," I sipped slow to punctuate and test. She grinded sweet, taunting heat against my cock, arched brow, biting her lip.
"You gotta ask me first…" I reactively tossed hard, burying her beneath.
"You…" I spanked and squeezed playfully under the duvet. "Tell me who you've loved…"
"What? Why?"
"'Cause I want to know…" We calmed, I settled between her legs.
"I loved my first… how's that?"
"Yeah? Tell me more…"
"Isaac Walsh. Oh god." She palmed her forehead, giggling. "He was a college senior… sort of mentored our church youth group."
"That sounds scandalous. How old were you?"
"To young to realize it was scandalous… We had a lot of sex… I was just… yeah, not good…" She traced lips, down my nose. "How about yours?"
"Beth Crowley." I kissed fingertips, nibbling to her knuckles. My erection hard along the inside, top of her thigh. "Do not ever say her name around Rose."
"Ohhhh really… why? Scandalous?"
"A little. She was older too… Taught me a lot…" Straightening my arms, I held over, we stared knowing, reacting as my hips pressed, cock slid.
"Did you get hurt?"
"No." I lowered, her soft curves cradled. My mouth pressed tender, deepening. Tongues gentle, exploring, she rotated for friction at the middle. I pulled back slightly, taking in her naturally blushed cheeks, heaving chest. Wet lips dragged along her jaw, to her ear, sucking and kissing. She watched, breathing quick as I dusted across her collarbone, over her breasts, around her nipples. Licking and swirling around each, I tugged gently with my teeth, her lashes fluttered, moans increased.
"God you feel good…" Her gaze burned again as I tasted lower, nipping along her hip, she reactively arched, as I neared her center. Our eyes met as my tongue slid from bottom to top. Her foot dug into my shoulder, opening herself further. She twisted the cream pillowcase as I sucked and swirled and back again, owning every cry, every sensitive inch. "Oh fuck…" Her taste and moan made my cock throb harder, I pressed lower, deeper, two fingers pumping, my tongue stroking with every pass. Her thighs quivered and locked, fingers tugging through my hair as she arched and fell. "God… yes…"
I glided back up her trembling body, roughly cupping her breasts, running the curve of her neck, controlling to soothe the high. Mouth parted, gasping as I pressed my cock heavy and strong at her heat. I laced our fingers tight while I filled and stretched. A steady pace, deep and more as her leg tightened around my waist. Her hips met mine with every thrust, I captured her mouth, breath blending. Slowing barely as the warmth spread, we stared. I moved gently over and back, lips brushing, emotion raw, hightened and absolute. Desperate to hold steady, I surrendered, vulnerable, honest. "I love you…"
a/n
Thank you for reading, rec'ing and tweeting about these two. We are so grateful. xo
Thank you obsmama and FFpassion for being patient and perfect, love you. xx
Chapter title owned by John Legend.
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