SM OWNS ALL. I JUST OWN THIS PLOT
AN; Okay, so the last chapter was a little quiet on the review front. I know, I know, it's only been up since early Sunday morning and you people have real lives, but you have spoilt me with your continued support I've got a bit needy lol! I also hope that adding lemons hasn't spoilt the story for you, especially since it's been a long time since I've written any. This chapter does have LEMONS, but if you find them boring unsexy or laughably badly written please just scroll past them but PLEASE keep reading as I think there are a few good bits in here. End of needy rant.
CPOV
"I blame your Esme for this." Charlie Swan grumbled holding up his swollen cut thumb.
My Esme…My Esme. God I loved the sound of that. And I really do think Charlie is right. Despite our stupid teenage lack of communication, we had finally talked properly last night and early this morning. We had moved onto the next, exciting, nerve wracking stage of our relationship. She had become my Esme, letting me care for her mind, body and soul. But it was the body part that I couldn't seem to drag myself away from this morning. She had wanted to love me like a woman. And although we hadn't actually made love, the way she had bared herself to me, trusted me and looked so damn beautiful laying beneath me, calling my name, wrapping those damn sexy legs around me, had been an act almost as intimate and rewarding. However, when the time was finally right, I was planning on doing whatever it took to make her feel just how much I loved her. Because it was true, a fact, I am in love with Esme.
"Uh doc, hate to rush you, but I do have somewhere I need to be…and I'm certain you do…" Charlie chuckled pulling me from my thoughts.
"Oh yes, right…sorry Charlie. How is you taking the nail of your thumb Esme's fault again?" I queried as I set about dressing the wound. It was my Saturday morning emergency clinic. Esme, Rose, Alice and Bella were at home sorting out the final details for Esme's move today and the party tonight. Edward and Jasper were there to "make themselves useful". And in Edward's case, make sure that Bella did not try to overuse her broken wrist.
"Well, since she's been at the cottage painting and whatever, Sue and the other girls on the reservation have been over there "getting ideas". I mean, we only decorated five years ago." Charlie huffed. I chuckled.
"So, shall I tell Esme that you might not be able to make the party tonight?"
"Are you crazy? If I do that, it will be me looking for a place to live after a messy and I'm sure very painful divorce…not Esme." Charlie huffed. I felt my heart clench painfully at the mention of Esme's "divorce" and that evil bastard Charles. I swear the contents of Esme's medical file would be seared on my brain forever fuelling the almost homicidal hatred I felt for that bastard. We had used the story of Esme being Rose's aunt going through a messy divorce when she had first arrived. But as people had gotten to know and as in Sue Swan's case, love Esme for the wonderful person she was, it had been put to the back of their minds. Which was where if both Esme and I were honest, we both wanted it. We had to face Charles, deal with things so we could move on. But not yet.
"You know Charlie another pretty common ground for divorce is when partner has a problem with gambling." I intoned gravely.
The place that Charlie was so anxious to get to was the Sheriff's office, where he, Mark, who had become sheriff when Charlie retired and Garrett the Deputy would play cards.
"I don't have a problem…taking their money…" Charlie grinned.
The party was small, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, especially Esme. She had this natural way with people, drawing them towards her, making them feel at home and that they were the most important person in the room. Including unfortunately, Billy Black. I like Billy, we've had our differences in the past, mainly when it comes to the children, but I do or rather did class him as a good friend. To Esme, he was just being his usual, friendly charming self, but I could see what he was doing. Laughing a little too loudly, standing a little too close, ingratiating himself into our conversations, offering to "help" with any little jobs that needed doing, reassuring Esme that he was "only a phone call away". But it was when we cleared a space in the lounge for a dance floor, that he pushed his luck too far. We were dancing to music from the radio, that seemed to be having an 80's revival night. I had had two dances with Esme, before excusing myself to use the bathroom and get a drink. When I returned, it was to see Billy asking Esme to dance to Duran Duran's song "Crazy like the Wolf." One line of that song kept repeating in my head "I'm on the hunt, I'm after you."
"Easy Dad." Edward said quietly as he firmly gripped my arm. I hadn't even realized that I was moving to cross the floor.
"I'm just…"
"Jealous as hell. It's written all over your face."
Shit, was it that obvious. After everything we had been through, the last thing Esme needed was for me to start going all caveman.
"I was just going to ask Esme if she would like to dance." I huffed.
"Uh huh." Edward sniggered.
"What's so funny?" I demanded.
"Oh nothing, nothing. I'm just remembering what someone told me, when another member of the Black family was sniffing around Bella. Now what was it? Oh yeah, there's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition." Edward chuckled darkly.
I snorted. Thankfully, the song came to an end and a flushed but happy Esme came over to me, wrapping an arm round my waist and dragging me off to get a drink for herself and find somewhere in the overcrowded little house to sit down. That was easy enough, wherever we sat, she would be sitting on my lap. The cottage had a large lounge on the ground floor, which Esme had made seem more warm and inviting by her choice of furniture and the deep terracotta colour she had used as an accent colour on the big main wall opposite the large window. The small kitchen towards the back of the cottage had been painted a warm honey yellow colour. The bedroom and bathroom which were up on a mezzanine level over looking the lounge were still to be decorated. It was a nice place and she had done wonders with it, but part of me still hoped that it wouldn't be too long before she was back home with me.
As the party began to wind up, I could see Esme becoming more nervous about spending her first night here alone. I knew all I could do was hold her, reassure her and tell her again how proud I was of her and how proud she should be of herself. As I thought he might be Billy Black was the last to leave. The sound of Edward and the rest of the children's, who had obviously been filled in about my "jealousy" sniggers of laughter were still ringing in my ears. I was filling a trash bag with rubbish rather more violently than necessary when Esme finally returned from seeing Billy out.
"I thought he'd never leave." Esme sighed.
My heart leapt.
"It was a great party and he seemed rather taken with the beautiful and charming hostess." I said quietly. Esme snorted with laughter, before looking me full in the face. She placed one hand on her hip, tilted her head and observed me through narrowed eyes.
"I do believe you may be a little jealous Doctor Cullen." She said. I watched her face closely, a million different emotions seemed to flicker across it at once, but the one it settled on was not as I feared annoyance. She looked pleased, she was blushing, but she looked pleased.
"Maybe." I huffed.
She chuckled softly as she walked towards me, pulling the trash bag from my hand and pressing me back against the back of the sofa. She slipped her arms round my waist, before looking up into my face. I used both hands to tuck her hair behind her ears, before cupping her cheeks.
"If and it is a BIG if, Billy Black has any feelings like that for me. He can look and flirt as much as he likes, but it won't get him anywhere." She said, her voice low but firm.
"No." I rasped.
"No." she clarified. I felt her nudge my left knee aside, so that she could stand between my legs. Once there was room, she took a step forward and bought her body flush with mine. We both moaned softly at the contact. Seeing her in a skirt, last night and my stupid hormones were suddenly making the front of my jeans very tight. And judging by the slight widening and darkening of Esme's eyes, she too was feeling more than a little aroused. I had to swallow another moan as I remembered how tight, how warm and how wet she had been, not to mention her glorious taste.
"You see, I already have a man friend that I'm crazy about. He's a doctor…" she purred. Esme was purring.
"Really." I ground out.
"Uh huh. Very smart, great body…" she rocked against me slightly, sending a crackle of pleasure shooting from my stomach all round my body. "Really nice little ass…" she continued, her hands slipping from my waist and gripping the top of my ass. "But best of all…he can…do…" she was licking and kissing the side of my neck as she spoke "the…most…amazing…things…with his…tounge."
Our lips had crashed together passionately then, with me showing Esme what I could do with my tounge, what she made me want to do with my tounge, my mouth. But I had, despite the almost painful insistence coming from my pants, left shortly afterwards.
I hadn't slept well that night worrying about Esme being alone, added to that a cold shower had done little to ease my "problem". I had sat up for hours trying to lose myself in the most boring medical journal I could find. And judging by the dark smudges and her overbright demeanour when I picked her up for work the next day, Esme hadn't slept that well either. But it was something she had to do and she stuck it out for ten days, before inviting me to stay the night. I was so proud and best of all, I could see the pride she had in herself.
Our lives carried on and we were growing together as a couple which included a few little spats about work things or her attempt to improve my diet. Esme was also becoming an even more important part of the children's lives. She had helped Edward and Bella find a new contractor for the building work on their house. She at their insistence had also met with the architect and discussed a few things. I came to the cottage several times to find her bent over a sketch pad or pouring over architecture journals. I had suggested that maybe she might like to take a few refresher classes at USW. She had informed me she would think about it. But Charles and his long shadow could still reach out and shake us when we least expected it.
Esme was over at my place one weekend, enduring a wedding planning meeting with Alice and Rose. I had had to laugh when I heard Bella grumble that Esme was almost as bad as Alice for details and Alice answer brightly that it must be "genetic." That of course had again started the row over how Esme being Rose's aunt and therefore technically related to Emmett, could be related to Alice as well. Edward Jasper and I, being the cowards that we were, decided to head out to Port Angeles for a game of pool. We had just opened the front door to leave when we came face to face with a nervous looking Charlie Swan. He assured us and an anxious Bella who had come flying out of the kitchen when she heard her father's voice, that nobody was ill or hurt, but he did have news.
We sat in the lounge, with me instinctively cuddling Esme to my side. Charlie ummed and ahhed for a few minutes, before he pulled a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket.
"Noooo." Esme groaned as she saw what it was. It was a missing person's report with her face on it. I held Esme who was now shaking violently tighter, kissing her hair and trying to reassure her that everything was going to be alright. In a move that would cause me to shed a few tears of pride when I had time to think about it later, all the children moved round the love seat where we were sitting placing themselves around Esme as if they were protecting her from Charlie and the danger he had brought into the room.
Charlie looked a little shocked for a moment, but then held up his hand in defense.
"Now, I don't know why Esme has been reported as missing…" he began.
"She was running for her life from a violent control freak…" Rose burst out from her position on the floor infront of Esme. I hadn't realized that Edward had left the room, until he returned with Esme's medical records. He looked at Esme, who nodded and then buried her head in my shoulder. I held her and rubbed her arm in what I hoped was a comforting way. Charlie flicked through the file, his breath catching as he saw and read certain things. Finally, he closed the file and looked at us over the top of his glasses.
"Well, seeing that makes me feel a little bit better about what I did."he said. We must have all looked confused.
"Mark and Garrett were out when I called and that girl on the desk was too busy filing her nails to pay much attention to me. I was going back to use the rest room when I saw Esme's name on file sticking out of Mark's in tray. I looked and this is what I saw. It was wrong, I've broken god knows how many laws, but well…" he stammered, running his hand through his hair and looking awkward "Esme's become a very good friend to my Sue, to me…too lots of Folks in town and I wanted to see what the situation was about before letting the law take over." He said. I think it was the most I had heard Charlie say all at once since Edward and Bella's wedding. Esme sobbed a little harder at Charlie's words.
"Now, this is the only copy I could find and from what I could see, Mark hadn't even seen it yet, so you should be okay for now. That doesn't mean that someone won't check up, even on a little force like ours. But I think that I've bought you some more time. You have to file a restraining order, do something legal…"
"We know Charlie and we are so grateful for what you've done. Esme has been through a lot and she's seeing a doctor to help her find the strength to face her…her past…she's just not ready yet." I said, praying he'd understand. Charlie took a minute to think and then looked at us.
"Well in that case, I might just have to pay Mark another visit and maybe add…" he looked at us questioningly.
"Charles." I said quietly. He winced and seemed to look embarrassed by his own name.
"Charles' name and description to a watch list we have of people that are wanted on warrants and such."
We spent the next hour thanking Charlie profusely and helping a still traumatized Esme give a description. When it was time for him to leave, Charlie turned and looked at Esme, who was still clinging to me.
"We're not all bad you know." He said softly.
"I'm finding that out." Esme said stepping forward and kissing his cheek. Charlie blushed and hurried off down the drive.
"I should have known that it would be too good to be true that he'd never find me." Esme sighed from the couch.
"Even if he does come looking. I told you before, he'll never get close enough to hurt you." Edward said squeezing her shoulder. I looked up and smiled my thanks. Esme squeezed his hand.
"I don't like putting you all through even more worry."
"Hush now. Rose and I as Emmett's family representatives in such matters, feel that we can safely assume, that Emmett's main concern would be for us to keep his favourite aunty safe. Isn't that right Rose?" Alice said.
"Hell Yeah!" Rose said in a pretty accurate impression of Emmett, that set us all laughing.
I wanted Esme to move back into my place for awhile, but she insisted that she didn't want to give Charles the satisfaction of forcing her out of the cottage after she had made such a great start. So we came to a compromise, she had another session a week with Carmen and let me move into the cottage for awhile. She was a little reluctant at first, but by Sunday night, we were curled up in bed in the cottage. And I was never more glad that I was there, than when her nightmares started again. It broke my heart to see her so frightened, so fragile. I did everything I could to distract her. We did become physical, but didn't go the whole way, we didn't want our first time together to be as a reaction to Charles.
I was only staying a fortnight, but we quickly fell into a domestic routine that we both enjoyed and took comfort from. And on the nights that Esme wasn't out with her friends at book group, I think a lot more drinking than discussing was done at this, or I wasn't working, we went out as a couple. We went back to Marco's we went to Seattle to shop and look at the museums, we went to a fair in Port Angeles where I bribed the attendant on the Ferris Wheel to stop it for a few minutes at the top and came home proud of myself for winning Esme a teddy bear. We also went rowing. Charlie knew the lakes and water ways round these parts like the back of his hand and he happened to mention a small Island he knew of. After finding about Esme's past, he had become protective of her in a fatherly way and I think he had told me this information on purpose when he came in to have the dressing on his thumb changed.
Esme and I had taken a picnic out the little Island that stood in the middle of a large lake, surrounded on all sides by lush forest. Esme had teased me about my rowing ability, but we had had a lovely day. I had just been able to hold her reassure her that she was safe with me. I was sitting with my back pressed against the large tree that sat in the centre of the island, reading. Esme was laying with her head on my lap doing the same. It was a comfortable silence, but I just couldn't fight the need to break it. Actually say the one thing that I had been desperate to say for so long and even more so since the ugly spectre of Charles had risen again. I had sighed deeply, putting my book aside. Esme had looked up.
"Why so serious?" she asked lightly, reaching up to stroke my face. I had smiled and caught her hand, kissing her fingers.
"Just thinking."
"About anything in particular?"
I nodded. She raised an eyebrow questioningly, smiling slightly.
"You…and how much I love you." I said, my words coming out in a bit of a rush. There I had said it. Esme didn't respond. She didn't move from my lap. She sighed and closed her eyes. I could almost see her heart pounding in her chest, her breathing became slightly shallow, before she opened her eyes and sat up slightly. She cupped my cheek in her hand.
"Oh Carlisle." She had breathed, her thumb grazing my lip.
"You don't have to say anything. I just want you to know, to understand why I might get a little crazy…I love you Esme, I love you and I want to look after you. She smiled softly before capturing my mouth with her soft lips and kissing me sweetly, tenderly and with love. Her arm wrapped around my neck and I wrapped my arm round her neck and back to hold her too me. Finally we pulled away little to breathe, but didn't break lip contact totally.
"I would like to say something." She said.
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
"I love you too…" she said smiling against my lips.
My heart was pounding in my chest and I swear I could feel tears coursing down my cheeks, but I didn't give a damn. She loved me. My Esme loved me.
"I think I have done since that first baseball game, when you cheated and showed off so much, you hurt yourself." She chuckled. I laughed and began to tickle her. She squeaked begging me to stop. I did, once I pulled her up and moved her so she was sitting astride my thighs. I bent my knees up behind me. It was an intimate position but it felt so right. My hands were running through her hair. She looked so beautiful, her hair ruffled, her sweater slipping off one shoulder, her beautiful soft lips red and slightly swollen.
"I knew you were the woman for me that first morning, when you defended my bacon cooking skills." I laughed. She laughed long and loud throwing her head back. I couldn't help myself, at the sight of her long beautiful neck, I leant forward and began to lay hot open mouthed kisses along it.
"Carlisle…lets go home." She said finally.
And that's when the trouble started. The weather was starting to change, so it took us a little longer to get back. And then when we had pulled up to the bank, I had started showing off again, stood up at the same time she had and as we had made a grab for each other we had tipped the small rowing boat over, landing us both in the water.
Neither of us spoke on the drive back to the cottage, until we were outside. Then we had caught each other's eye and just started laughing. We were cold, wet and more than a little muddy, but were laughing like children and it felt great.
The shower at the cottage was too small for us to share, so I had insisted that Esme go first. She did and then set about getting our clothes washed. She came back into the bathroom with a clean towel for me, just as I was getting out…naked. I felt myself blush as I saw her eyes greedily take in my body. I think I even sucked my stomach in, but the only thing I saw in her eyes was desire and love.
"Enjoying the view?" I whispered, wanting to ease my nerves a little.
"Very much." She purred before turning and leaving the room. I felt my blush deepen, but also my cock begin to twitch beneath my towel. When I came back into the bedroom, she was laying on her side of the bed, rubbing some sort of lotion on her arms. She turned and blushed slightly. She had these vixen moments, but she was just as uncertain as I was. I could feel her gaze rather than see it, as I rummaged through the drawer she had cleared for my things whilst I was staying.
"You are shameless woman." I teased.
"Yup." She said popping the p. "But it is only fair, you have seen me naked a lot more than I have you." She said.
"True." I replied with a smirk. I was now standing on my side of the bed. Suddenly Esme was up on her knees and crawling across the bed towards me. She stopped in front of me, sitting back on her heels. She moistened her lips with her tounge, causing the tent in my towel to become a little larger. She was blushing, but her eyes were shining as she gently began to drag her nails down my chest across my stomach to the top of my towel.
"You've also done other things that I haven't."
"Esme." I growled, my voice thick with desire, but also warning. It was taking all I had not to throw her back on the bed and ravage her. Her hand began to play with the towel, I caught her wrist. The thought of her mouth on me, especially right at this moment was heaven.
"You don't have to." I said.
"But I would like to Carlisle…would you like me too…honestly no guilt, no shame." She said warningly.
"God Yes." I hissed. She blushed a little deeper but smiled. Her mouth took the place of her hand as she kissed her way down my stomach to the top of my towel, before pulling back to loosen it and let it drop. I felt aroused but slightly vulnerable as she sat back on her heels and looked at me.
"Beautiful…" she sighed, before leaning forward again, she left one hand on my hip as her mouth and tounge kissed and licked from one hip bone to the other. She kept one hand on my hip to balance whilst the other snaked up the inside of my thigh before gently cupping and squeezing my balls.
"Oh Esme…"I groaned, my head falling back. I had to grab the post of the headboard to steady already shaking legs. I hissed at the feel of her small soft hand on my now painfully hard shaft. She ran her hand along it experimentally, squeezing slightly.
"Harder…please…" I ground out. She increased the strength of her grip for her next two passes, before bending her head and repeating the motion, but this time with her tounge. I moaned at the feel of her tounge dragging along my length before reaching the tip, which she paid special attention too, licking away the small amount of fluid already there. She moaned against me, the vibrations of which sent intense crackles of pleasure shooting all over my body. But that was nothing compared to the feel of the heat and wetness as she lowered her mouth taking me in a little at a time, before swallowing roughly, causing her throat muscles to work my painfully sensitive head. Oh God this was heaven, but please don't let me embarrass myself I thought as I twisted my hand in her hair to hold her too me.
"Yes baby…just like…THAT!" I moaned as she hollowed her cheeks and began to add a little more pressure as she moved up and down my length.
"Es..me…oh…god…feel…so…gooood…"
I hadn't embarrassed myself, but I knew I was on the edge. And it seemed so did Esme, as she looked up at me and began using her fist alongside her mouth. That did it, I crashed over the edge roaring her name. I didn't even have time to give her the chance to move away. But she took what I spilled into her and cleaned me up before sitting back. I could taste myself on her lips as I kissed her, but I didn't care.
"That was…oh…no…words…and he was a liar…you are amazing at it…" I said. The insecure look on her face could have only been put there by one person. And if it took the rest of my life, I was going to get rid of it once and for all.
I moved out after my allotted fortnight on "bodyguard duty", reluctantly. But we both knew this was one fear that Esme did have to try and conquer herself, but that didn't mean that I couldn't be there to hold her hand, to love her.
Life settled into normalcy until the arrival one morning of two expensive cream envelopes in the mail, followed ten minutes later by a phone call from a very excited Alice. Edward had to hold the phone away from his ear, her excited shriek was so shrill. He was still moaning about being deaf that afternoon as he joined Esme and I in my office for lunch.
"Don't tell me, Alice's wedding invitations arrived."Esme said after Edward had simply said Alice when she had questioned what was wrong.
"I wish, that I could handle. The invites to the Hospital's charity ball came through this morning." Edward groused. I hadn't had chance to tell Esme as I had had a few early appointments and she had had to stay and wait for a repair man to look at the fridge Emmett and Rose had bought her.
"That sounds like fun." Esme said warily.
"It's a long, boring night with a rubber chicken dinner, a lousy band and…a theme…"he shuddered.
"And what's the theme this year?"
"The Golden Age of Musicals 1950-1969."
"That's not too bad, gives you plenty of choice."
"Esme you have met Alice right. She's the short little pixie with expensive tastes and control issues."
Esme and I both chuckled.
"What's she thinking son?"Carlisle asked his tone sympathetic but sarcastic.
"Bella and I are going as the two tramps from Easter Parade. But it means I'll have to "persuade" Bella that she really does want to go to Paris and Milan fashion week. But I don't know why you're looking so smug." He said suddenly, an evil grin on his face. I suddenly felt worried.
"She may let you go wear your gray suit and call yourself Gene Kelly again, but she's signed us both up for the charity skills auction. I'm giving a piano lesson and you are doing a show dance."
"That little…what do you think it will take to persuade Jasper to cut up her credit cards for me." I ground out
"Hang on a minute if you hate it so much, why do you buy the tickets? They can't be cheap. Why don't you just send the check? I know it goes against the spirit of things…" Esme began.
"We can't. Aro gifted the hospital a wing in the Cullen name and Edward and I are technically on the board…so we have to go." I sighed.
I swear I heard her mutter something about "if that's all you have to worry about." I forget sometimes what it must seem like to people, when Edward and I are so flippant about the considerable wealth we were lucky enough to have.
"But I guess you won't find it so hard this year dad…with Esme by your side."
Thank you my son.
Esme choked on a mouthful of her salad. Esme was worried about meeting my friends and colleagues from the hospital and she was also worried in case someone could recognize her. But Edward and I and later Bella convinced her that the chances of that happening would be slim and I spent the rest of the night, repeating just how proud I would be to have her on my arm. And admitted in the darkness how nervous I was, of large public gatherings.
Alice and Rose arrived home two weeks later. Alice summoned us all to the dining table with a bark of "family meeting." Esme didn't move for a moment, I had to pull her up out of her chair.
"That means you." I whispered into her ear. The look of joy on her face made my heart stutter in my chest. Alice stood at the head of the table, a binder in front of her, glasses slipping down her nose, her tone no nonsense and business like.
"Daddy, you will be Gene Kelly. Edward and Bells, you will be the…tramps." Alice's nose wrinkled as she said the words. Bella was scowling and muttering.
"What was that Bella?" Alice asked sweetly.
"Just practicing my French…" Bella replied snarkily.
"Bon. Now Rose has decided on Sugar Kane from Some Like It Hot."
Eyebrows rose as Some Like it Hot wasn't strictly classed as a musical.
"It's my firms party, I can wear what I want to." Rose trilled.
"What about Jasper?" Esme asked.
"He's heading back to Texas that weekend…" Alice huffed. Things were not brilliant between Alice and Jasper's family.
"That leaves you Esme…"
Japer,Edward and I were dismissed, leaving the girls in the dining room and for the next hour all we could hear was frantic whispering and giggles that had me intriegued.
Despite my best efforts of coaxing Esme or bribing Alice, they would not give me any details. All I got instead, were sly smiles and giggles. Even Bella would look at me strangely before muttering something about "watching the quiet ones".
But these pleasant concerns were overshadowed for awhile by an awkward and embarrassing blast from my past. Since Esme and I had become a proper couple, Carmen had begun to feel that she could not in all good conscience continue treating Esme without developing a "conflict of interest." And although Esme was a little sad about losing the bond of trust and understanding she had developed with Carmen, she took comfort from the fact that she could redevelop those bonds but this time as Carmen's friend and not her patient. And judging by the way she was welcomed when we arrived at Carmen and Eleazar's for dinner, Carmen was as excited as Esme to begin their friendship. But she did not abandon Esme professionally, until she had set her up with Dr Gerandy.
Carmen was a wonderful Spanish cook and I had shamefully over indulged myself, ignoring both Carmen and Esme's playful warnings about how it would cause me to suffer later.
"So my friend, Gene Kelly this year. I suppose it's an appropriate choice considering that the skill you shall be auctioning is your dancing." Eleazar chuckled as I scowled.
"I am convinced Carlisle must have a little Spanish in him somewhere. He has a real passion when he dances." Carmen mused.
Esme and I blushed slightly. We had danced together a couple of times now, mostly in private due to the passionate way it usually ended up.
We chatted companionably for another little while, unable not to laugh as we thought about how Edward was going to keep his side of the deal he made with Alice to not be forced into tight embarrassing costumes. Esme got a good laugh as we explained the near riot that was caused by Edward dressed like Elvis from his 1968 comeback special in black leather.
I couldn't help but notice Eleazar begin to shift uncomfortably in his seat beneath death stares from Carmen. Finally after another swig of wine and a noisy exhale he turned to face me.
"There is a chance…that Siobhan could be there." He said quietly.
"She's back." I hissed.
"The last three months, her marriage…well…he got wise."
The silence was deafening until Carmen began to admonish him in rapid Spanish.
"Carmen PLEASE…" Esme said finally. "Carlisle was alone along time after Elizabeth died. I don't expect him to have lived like a monk. He has told me about his other relationships." She said genuinely. I reached across the table and took her hand kissing it gently before I began to speak again.
"Thank you sweetheart, but I was with Siobhan for a bit longer than the other women I told you about." I felt Esme's hand stiffen in mine, but her face remained neutral. "It was four months and I didn't feel anything for her that I felt for you. If I'm honest, it was a physical relationship…on my part at least…I made it clear." Could I have sounded more cold ,heartless and sleazy.
"Carlisle is telling the truth Esme…" Eleazar said quietly. Esme was still sitting too still. "He made it clear or at least tried to on several occasions in front of witnesses that he did not want a serious relationship. But Siobhan would not believe it, she kept trying to change his mind…causing scenes, emotional blackmail. Finally, she met someone else, another Doctor, Demitri Volterra, she left the hospital and they got married. But she's back temporarily at least. Carmen and I thought you should know incase…she starts something."
"Oh, she may start it but I'll finish it." Esme said tightly. And as worried as I was about Siobhan, I couldn't help but feel proud and a little turned on by Esme's reaction
ES POV
"ESME…!" Alice squealed.
"I'm sorry to interrupt I know this is girls night…"
"Al…stop feeling up the pizza guy, or at least wait until Jasper's gone." Rose laughed. Before I realized, I was being dragged into Alice and Jasper's designer but surprisingly comfortable lounge where Bella and Rose were sprawled in their pyjama's.
"What's wrong?" Rose asked, diving for her bag and her cell phone.
"No, nothing…nothing like that…but I do need some help." I admitted. In seconds I was on the sofa a glass of wine in my hand, Alice cuddling me on one side, Bella the other whilst Rose was sat infront of me, her arm round my knees.
"Do you know a woman named Siobhan?" The sudden hisses and mutters of psycho bitch answered my question. Even Jasper came to stand in the doorway. They gave me a little more history on Carlisle's relationship with her and reassured me continuously that I had nothing to worry about.
"I know that. I'm nervous enough about meeting Carlisle's friends, but I want to make sure that this woman knows once and for all that Carlisle is very taken."
Although I knew how much Carlisle loved me, it was something I needed to do for myself and Carlisle. He had been beating himself up over his and Siobhan's time together and how he treated her.
"So Jazz…can you come up with plan to take this bitch out once and for all, that doesn't involve Rose and I getting arrested for kicking her ass?" Alice asked matter of factly.
It took an hour and another bottle of wine, a glass for me, but we came up with a plan.
"So, Esme hits her with the element of surprise, then Alice, Rose and Bella close in and…"
"Take her out." Alice chuckled evily.
"ESME…you can't stay in there forever."Alice huffed.
"I can try." I whined. The "battle plan" we had come up with at Alice's had seemed perfect at the time, probably thanks to the wine I had drunk. Jasper had had to run me home in the end. But now I was here, about to meet Carlisle's friends and possibly his emotionally fragile ex, whilst half naked, I was panicking. Alice's mutters about "taking doors off hinges and manicures" were drowned out by loud voices coming through the anti chamber of the luxurious ladies room of the Seattle Four Seasons Hotel.
"But Carlisle is here with his daughter in laws aunt."
"Well they do say charity begins at home…" a shrill voice with an Irish accent drawled…"ALICE, ROSE…how are you?"
"Siobhan…"
You could have drowned in the insincerity dripping from their mouths.
"So, I've just seen Edward and Bella…so cute…but no sign of your father…"
"Oh, he's around."
"I'm sure I'll hunt him down, I'd like to catch up a little before we dance together. Did your aunt…Esme is it, decide not to come in the end…probably for the best…she'd probably find it…"
"Fascinating and of course, I'm all for doing my bit for charity." I said striding out of the cubicle. I washed my hands, smiling tightly in the mirror at Siobhan, who I think was dressed as Cyd Charisse from the Broadway Melody section of Singing in the Rain. She had a short black wig on a halter necked leotard and high heels. I felt like a bitchy teenager, but I couldn't help but feel that I had the better legs.
"Esme Hollister…"I said holding out my hand. She shook it limply, scowling slightly.
"Siobhan, we need to get in there, we want to be in place for when the auction starts. You don't want to miss Carlisle."
The charity skill lots were being auctioned off between courses.
"Oh, so you're bidding for a dance with Carlisle so am I." I said sweetly.
"Well may the best woman win." Siobhan almost snarled.
"Oh, she will." I said quietly, but loud enough for her to hear.
Alice and Rose exploded with laughter before Alice meowed and clawed the air.
"C'mon, you need to go get your man." Rose said taking my arm.
Carlisle hadn't seen me yet. We had arrived at the hotel a little late and Carlisle as one of the "lots" had to take his place on the top table. I wound my way through the tables just about resisting the urge to pull my jacket down. The idea of dressing as Judy Garland, who had created that iconic image of her wearing just a tux jacket, fedora hat, fishnet stockings and deathtrap heels, had come about after witnessing Carlisle's love for my legs and wanting to put Siobhan in her place.
Carlisle and Edward were up at the top table chatting to each other, when Edward who had one eye on our table and Bella noticed me. His face seemed to freeze for a moment, catching Carlisle's attention. He looked up. All he could see as I stood behind the table was the fedora on the side of my head and the top of his tux jacket which I had borrowed from his closet yesterday, but it was enough for his eyes to widen and then darken. Please, please let it be out of lust and not embarrassment.
I chatted and laughed with the girls and also a few of Carlisle's friends that were on our table. The piano lesson with Edward came between the starter and main course and raised $10,000. Carlisle's dance came between the main course and dessert. Siobhan was sitting four tables away to my left, but I could still feel her hostile gaze burning into me. And I wasn't sure, but I could have sworn, that the lighting around her table had suddenly become darker than it had been before. I turned to look at Rose who smiled innocently back at me, but the smile did not quite reach her eyes. And where was Alice? We had discussed many things during our council of war, but what I had dismissed as the wine talking, Alice was taking seriously. Oh hell!
Money was still a bone of contention between Carlisle and I. It was true that I know had more money than I had ever had, but I still had to rely on Carlisle's money for some things. There was no way that I could afford to join the bidding that was despite the financial climate getting into triple figures. But Alice, Rose and Bella could afford it as they had told me and their joint fortieth birthday present to me…god as if I didn't have enough on my mind, I had to torture myself with the thought that I would be forty in less than a month, was to give me $10,000.
"Now ladies…we are all aware due to past years display's that Carlisle is quite the dancer…I suppose he has to find something to do hiding away in the sticks…"
There was drunken laughter.
"Who'll start me at $1000…?"
Part of our strategy for "operation Carlisle" was not to try and take Siobhan out too early. I was trying not to look, but I couldn't help the odd glance across as Siobhan's table, she looked away quickly. I think I was getting to her. There was a part of me that was a little jealous of just how many women were bidding for Carlisle, but that was soon silenced by the louder part of me that was screaming LOOK AS MUCH AS YOU WANT LADIES, BUT THAT'S MY MAN WHO'S COMING HOME TO MY BED! And that was something else that was causing the butterflies in my stomach to become violent. Tonight was the night. We had been building up to it for what felt like forever, had come close at least twice. We were away from any interruptions, having booked a suite in the hotel, relaxed, ready and both dressed to impress…each other. No other man would have the power to make me come out dressed in just a jacket and heels. I was wearing satin shorts under the jacket, but they might as well as been underwear for the amount of me they actually covered. I was just grateful that Carlisle was so tall and that his jacket fell almost past my knees.
"$5000…5500…6000"
Siobhan and I were now eyeballing each other.
"You ready?" Bella whispered. I nodded and took a deep breath. I looked up at the top table, I could see Carlisle was smiling, but the tension in his neck and the way his hand kept running through his hair told me how anxious he was. His eyes widened as he saw me raise my paddle.
The numbers were getting bigger and more over the top as more and more was drunk. But it didn't matter I was out. She was going to win. Alice's plan to knock into Siobhan's chair, page her or in the worst case scenario rip her arms off, had been childish and over the top, but there was a part of me that wished they had worked. Suddenly, a black haired bullet whizzed past me muttering before landing with a noisy thud in the chair next to me.
"What happened?" Bella demanded.
"Irina! Bitch! She must have joined Siobhan's bitter shrew club since Laurent dumped her. Esme I'm sorry, but I couldn't get close enough and Irina was on my ass every time I tried to use the phone."
"It doesn't matter." I said, smiling weekly. Carlisle loved me. Carlisle was proud to be here with me. Carlisle loved me. Carlisle loved me. I could smile politely whilst that delusional bitch draped herself all over Carlisle. I could do it, but not without another drink. I looked up at the top table and mouthed a sorry to Carlisle. He smiled weakly. I vaguely heard the auctioneer say something about $12,500 dollars and a joke about Edward and Carlisle. Looking for the waiter, I happened to see Siobhan scowling as she stumped out of the room. She hadn't won. She wasn't going to be touching him, making me force him into a shower before he came anywhere near me. As much as I was jealous of whoever had won, I could cope with it better. The girls were squealing with delight. Suddenly a waiter appeared at my elbow, a note on a silver salver. I thanked him. The girls surrounded me. I opened the note. My name was on the winning bid slip and there was a note folded inside.
Seeing you two dance, will do more for Siobhan than five years on a therapist's couch. It's cheaper too!
Carmen/Eleazar.
"Don't! Don't you dare cry…"Alice said sniffling.
"Come on you've got a dance to prepare for…" Bella said pulling me up.
I crossed the room towards the stage, giving Carlisle his first real look at my costume and my legs. His eyes never left me and his gaze was scorching.
"Esme Hollister?" A fussy little man in a badly fitting tux with a clipboard asked. I nodded. Carlisle was coming down the steps of the stage, moving with the grace of a big cat stalking his prey.
"Ah good, Dr Cullen…Miss Hollister…we'll be ready for you in about five minutes once we get the band and the dance floor sorted." The little man said hurrying off.
"How?" he whispered
"Carmen." I replied. The intensity of his gaze was making me nervous. His eyes would sweep my body before returning to my face. I stepped toward him.
"Carlisle please, say something…is my outfit too much, I'm sorry if it's…"
He reached out a hand putting a finger too my lips.
"You're outfit…stunning…you are…stunning…" he growled. He pulled me towards him so fast that I almost lost my balance. His lips were by my ear.
"But I don't plan on you wearing it for much longer…"
The tone of his voice, the feel of his body, his scent, I moaned softly.
The dance floor was cleared and after a bit of a long winded introduction Carlisle and I took to the floor. I was shaking and not just from nerves. It was a pretty decent big band with Buble wannabe singer.
"If you want a lover…I'll do anything you ask me too…" the singer began as Carlisle pulled me as tightly as he could in public toward him. I could feel his arousal brush my thigh. But it was the bone meltingly intense look in his eye that held me transfixed.
And if you wanna partner take my hand.
And if you wanna strike me down in anger, here I stand
Cause, I'm your man.
The music was slow, sultry, the words were voicing everything I could see in Carlisle eyes, we wanted, needed to be closer. We moved across the floor together well, with Carlisle twirling me out now and then, but mostly keeping me close. I wasn't a bad dancer, but I had on the quiet over the last fortnight taken a few refresher lessons with Jasper, who was the nearest to Carlisle in height and a very patient teacher.
And if you wanna doctor, I'll examine…every inch of you…" There were cheers at this part but I wasn't sure if that was because of the words, the fact that Carlisle had dipped me or that his hand was on my thigh. Whatever the reason, I didn't care especially as Carlisle crooned the next words of the song to me. His eyes locked with mine. They were dark and hooded with lust, but I could also see love there.
"And if you wanna father for your child, or only wanna walk with me a while, across the sand…I'm your man."
The song came to an end and we both gave a shy little bow, before hurrying off to our table to say goodbye. We needed to be alone. All of the children looked a little stunned and as we left, I swore I heard Alice plead
"Please tell me, that I'm not the only one who needs to book an appointment with Carmen for finding that as hot as hell."
"Nope, it's definitely going to be a family booking." Edward grumbled.
We managed to control ourselves until we got to our room, but the moment the door was closed, Carlisle had me pressed against it. His mouth claimed mine hungrily, roughly and when his tounge begged for entrance to my mouth, I gave it with a moan. As our tounges dueled, our hands were clumsily pulling at clothing, both of us desperate to be closer.
"Esme…I need…I want you…so badly…please?" he breathed into my neck which he was covering with hot, open mouthed kisses.
"Don't beg baby…you know I'm yours…" I said, my hands running through his hair, scratching his neck and down his back. We both moaned as Carlisle lifted me, bringing my aching, wet core and his prominent arousal into contact. I wrapped my legs around him, digging in slightly with one of my heels. His moan became deeper. As he carried us through to the bedroom, I rocked against him, desperate for the relief and spasms of pleasure caused by the friction.
Carlisle lay me down in the centre of the bed. Before he joined me, he loosened his belt and kicked off his shoes and socks. His dress shirt was open. He crawled up my body, moving my knees aside so that he could fit between my legs. As his mouth found the soft skin of the swell of my breast's I was pulling his shirt down his arms, only to be stopped at the wrists.
"Cufflinks." He growled, almost ripping the sleeves from his shirt. He threw it behind him. I sat up and let him pull my shirt off and remove my bra. As his mouth found my already pebbled nipple, grazing it slightly with his teeth, I arched towards him with an almost wanton moan, hitching my leg round his hip and giving another little squeeze, letting my heel graze his ass and upper thigh.
"So…damn sexy…" he growled.
"Yes you are…" I replied, grazing the spot where his neck met his shoulder with my teeth, before sucking gently. His hands had reached the small satin shorts I was wearing, he looked up at me.
"Pleease…" I breathed as his tounge danced across the skin of my lower stomach. He began to drag them down my legs, I lifted up to help him. I was wearing tights under the shorts, so as he pulled the shorts, he took the tights down with them.
"Esme." He growled as he saw that I wasn't wearing any underwear beneath.
"Wait…" I murmured. He had got things down as far as they would go over my heels, which I insisted had been a pair with an elastic strap.
"Next time, they stay on…"Carlisle said roughly. I kicked the shoes off and my shorts and tights followed them to the floor. Carlisle took my left leg in one hand and began to kiss his way along it, gently squeezing my calf and thigh. I couldn't hear what he was saying as I was squirming, gripping the sheets as the intense coil of pleasure low in my stomach began to tighten painfully.
"Carlisle please…please…touch me…kiss me…" I whimpered.
"I am touching you my love…I am kissing you…" he rasped, now taking my left leg in his hand and taking the same torturous route he had taken with my left. But this time as he reached my centre, he didn't stop. His tounge began to tease my bundle of nerves, causing my hips to buck from the bed. My body was on fire with need. I twisted my fingers in his hair, tugging maybe a little harder than I meant to. Carlisle pulled away from me, causing me to whimper at the loss of contact. He crawled up my body, resting his weight on the one hand by my head. He kissed me again.
"Esme, you're so wet…" he moaned into my neck.
"You, you do that too me…when you touch me…" I was arching myself towards his free hand which was still resting on my inner thigh.
"When I touch you like this?" his low was rough, but with an edge of velvet. His finger stroked between my folds, before pushing slowly inside me.
"YESSS.!" I almost screamed, arching again. He slowly began to pump his finger in and out. I met his rhythm after a moment, grinding down against his hand. I could feel the warmth begin to surge through my muscles as I neared the edge, but Carlisle then added a second finger.
"OH!" I moaned. He held still for a moment as I got used to the full feeling. I rolled my hips and he began to move his fingers slowly in and out. I could feel my walls begin to clamp down against his fingers, but I wasn't sure if that was due to what he was doing, or what I was feeling at the thought of having Carlisle inside me moving like that. I arched and took Carlisle's mouth in a kiss as I crashed over the edge, my moan exploding in his mouth. He pulled his fingers out of me slowly, murmuring how beautiful I was and how much he loved me.
"Carlisle…I want you…I want you now…" I was almost begging. My hands were shaking as I pushed his trousers and boxers down his legs. I got them so far, before he kicked them off with his feet. Crawling back up my body, he kissed and licked his way up my stomach across my chest, up my neck, before resting most of his weight on his arms that were either side of my head. I could feel the tip of his erection pressing against my entrance.
"My beautiful Esme…I've wanted to love you for so long…to be inside you…" he breathed as he slowly, pushed into me. I moaned, lifting my hips. I needed more, I needed him closer, I wrapped my leg around his hip. He hissed as I forced him deeper. He held still again as I got used to feeling him inside me. I had never felt so full. I rolled my hips. He pulled almost all the way out before thrusting into me a little harder.
"So…wet…so…tight…"I could see the tension in his face as he tried to keep to a slow steady rhythm.
"Faster Carlisle…move a little faster." I groaned as I gripped his shoulders. It took a minute or two, but Carlisle was soon thrusting into me a little faster and harder. I was soon able to meet his thrusts, on one thrust, he was halfway out of me, when I tensed my muscles holding him in place. His head fell back and he growled, a long sustained sound that caused me to moan in response.
"Do that again." He almost begged.
I did a couple of times, loving the response it got. I was always worried about how I always seemed to get the most pleasure when we were together.
"I'm close Esme…come with me baby…" Carlisle moaned increasing the speed and strength of his thrusts once more. He was now holding my hips. I had one hand gripping his shoulder and the other gripping the sheets as I felt my walls begin to clamp down around him with such intensity that it almost took my breath away.
"CAR…LISLE…never knew…" I moaned. I felt him swell inside me, before he came, calling my name in an almost reverential tone. He collapsed down against me. The feel of his weight covering me was wonderful, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders to hold him to me.
"Esme…I'm too heavy…" he breathed into my neck.
"Another minute…please…" my voice was weak and I could feel tears streaming down my face. Carlisle gave me my minute whispering how much he loved me, how good I had made him feel. Finally, he pulled away from and out of me. I whimpered at the lack of contact. Ever the gentleman, he removed the top cover, before settling us beneath the other covers. We were laying face to face, foreheads touching.
"Esme, did I hurt you?" he asked panicked, his thumb brushing away my tears.
"No…I feel wonderful…" my hands reached out to stroke his face.
"I just never knew…I never knew it could be like that…that I could feel so good…so safe…so loved…" my fingers were tracing his lips, he kissed them and took my hand, placing it over his heart.
"I feel exactly the same…Esme, making love to you…I can't explain how it makes me feel."
"You could always try to show me…" I chuckled softly.
"Oh don't worry my wicked woman, I fully intend to…"he growled.
And he did, twice.
AN: So there's quite a bit in there. As always I hope you find something to like lemony or otherwise. I know Charlie overstepped things a little, but what he does comes back in a few chapters time. I don't own the song I'M YOUR MAN. It's just in my opinion a sexy song, especially when a certain Mr Buble sings it! The bids at the auction, a bit OTT I agree, but come on you'd pay that and more if you had it for a piano lesson with Edward or a dance with Carlisle lolx Please push the little green button. If you do, I might just bring Emmett back. Don't know about you, but I've missed the big old teddy bear.
