Disclaimer: Stephenie owns it all, I just have fun with it.
A/N: Some people think this will become a love triangle between B, E and Tanya but I promise you, it won't. Whatever Emmett mentioned about Tanya and Edward is history, something that happened in the past. You'll see why I added it eventually as the plot progresses.
Chapter 7 - Cold Hard Truth
BPOV
His hands were creeping up my back bringing my shirt along with them. I wiggled to bring the shirt back down but Edward's hands were pretty persistent.
"Edward?" I said still planting kisses on his neck.
"Hmmmm?" Edward murmured doing the same to the spot where my shoulder met my throat. The feeling was incredible but if I didn't stop now Charlie would send a search party out looking for me.
Time spent with Edward was getting increasingly later and later and Charlie wasn't too pleased to have his obedient daughter now slacking on her curfew. I cringed at the thought of Charlie's reaction if he knew why I turned up late some nights. Whatever he'd do, I knew Edward would be the one to suffer more physically because of it.
"I should get going before Charlie aims his gun in your direction." I teased but tried to sound serious at the same time.
The kissing stopped and he looked at me with lust lingering in his eyes.
Edward had been really respectful of my limits where sex were concerned. He never pushed for anything I wasn't comfortable doing and I was glad to have found the one boy in Forks who wasn't all about sex.
Although, there was a slightly embarassing incident when Edward got a little too excited while making out but I found it didn't bother me that he was getting turned on by what we were doing. In fact, it made me feel a little shy that I didn't know how to go about helping him or letting him know I felt the same. The whole thing turned me on too but I blushed at the idea of ever approaching him about others ways for us to deal with it. Plus. I had no idea what I would be comfortable doing.
"I guess you're right. You should head inside then." his voice was a little sad but Edward knew I was right.
I leaned over the middle console in the car, kissed his cheek and then his lips. Edward closed his eyes and smiled while I grabbed my stuff and exited his car. When I looked back Edward rested his head against the headrest watching me walk into my house. He turned the car on when I got my keys out to unlock the front door. The car pulled away and I smiled alone on the porch before making my way inside.
Being with Edward was the best feeling in the world. There weren't really words to articulate what I felt but I didn't have to do so. Feeling it was enough.
"Glad to see you turned up before curfew." Charlie spoke from the middle of the staircase. I could tell Charlie had been waiting for me to walk through the doors because the words sounded a little breathless from running up the stairs to look innocent.
I hoped he couldn't see what was going on in the car.
But then I remembered it was dark out and it was probably impossible to get a good view.
He descended the stairs and I blushed because Charlie seemed to be pretty down to earth about the whole having a boyfriend thing. As long as I still followed his rules, Charlie didn't mind me being in a relationship. In fact, I guessed Charlie was probably just as happy about me finding someone as Alice couldn't help but express. My other siblings were coupled up so long before now while I went on in life solo surrounded by couples and love. I thought it might be some running joke about when I actually would find someone and doing so would make my family more complete. This is should have been a happy time but it was so bittersweet not having Emmett be happy for me.
I didn't know what his deal was but Emmett's reaction to my relationship obliderated the one I constructed in my head. I imagined Emmett making sly jokes about my non-existent sex life and poking fun at my naivete just like always. And when his joking got to be too much I would have Edward to defend my honour and then we'd all laugh together because whether or not I was having sex it wouldn't bother me anymore to start feeling what everyone else was living.
I locked the door behind me and answered, "Of course."
"There's leftovers in the fridge if you want to heat them up," Charlie said before turning to walk up the steps again, "I'm going to bed."
"Night Dad." I called, "Love you."
"Love you too sweetheart." I heard him say a little mumbled, "You better hit the sack soon too, we've got to be up early in the morning if we don't want to be late to meet the Denali's. They missed you at the dinner last week."
Crap.
Being with Edward took up a lot of time over the past little while. I knew the Denali's returned recently from a long visit to Chicago and I was absent from their welcome back dinner so there was no getting out of this visit.
"Right, the picnic, I'll be there." I forced a smile.
The plans slipped my mind. I forgot about the picnic my dad organized with the Denali's the next morning to welcome them home. Charlie also invited Edward.
"Edward still coming?" Charlie paused and turned his head to meet my gaze at the bottom of the stairs.
No case of cold feet could get out of Charlie's invitation to bring Edward along either.
"Yes Dad, he's still coming." I would have to call Edward and make sure he didn't forget like I had.
I heard Charlie murmur before he disappeared up the stairs. As soon as he was out of sight I shuffled to the kitchen and grabbed the phone dialing Edward's cellphone.
This picnic would be the first time Edward would be sitting down as my boyfriend in a formal setting. Edward met Charlie the night of our second date when he came to my house to pick me up. Ever since we'd escaped any parental interogation thus far choosing to dine out instead of eating in and picking times when no parents were home. Even with Edward's parents, I only met them briefly when I was over to work on a biology assignment and both were home early.
Tomorrow would be a different story of course. Edward would be spending a lot of time making small talk with my father and getting the third degree. No matter how much my dad approved of me being in a relationship, he would still need to be sure Edward proved good enough the be that guy. That thought didn't bother me as much as it should because I believed Edward fit the position really well. There were no doubts about that.
And not only would it be a formal meeting with Charlie but Edward would also meet the second closest family I had - The Denali's. I spent many nights at their house when Charlie went on overnight work trips and deemed my siblings and I too young to stay home alone. We'd known the family our entire lives and besides Rosalie and Jasper, the Denali kids were the only ones Alice, Emmett and I ever really spent time with growing up.
And this made tomorrow seem more ominous. The picnic and the formal introduction wasn't the only thing starting to make me uneasy.
I became suddenly aware Tanya would be there and it made me less excited about the possibilities. Tanya was so beautiful and so experienced it made Emmett's dirty jokes and sex talk seem tame in comparison when it came to making me feel left out. If being a virigin ever affected my self-confidence then it definitely did being around Tanya. The girl oozed sex appeal. Not even Rosalie could stand Tanya batting her eyes at Emmett and Rose and Em were as solid as could be. Even Alice, I noticed, seemed more attached at the hip with Jasper when we'd be with the Denali's.
I became suddenly more weary of bringing Edward around. I trusted Edward whole heartedly but thinking about Tanya oozing her sex appeal all over him caused my stomach to lurch painfully. Girls like Tanya landed guys like Edward, not plain, ordinary girls like me.
Maybe I could catch a stomach virus and barf all day to get out of going.
I considered it for a second but shook it off knowing it would be impossible. Instead I listened to the ringing of the phone hearing Edward's angelic voice answer,
"Hello?"
"Edward, hey, it's Bella." I said biting my lip anxiously hoping maybe he forgot about tomorrow.
"Hey, I'm glad you called. I meant to ask you this when I dropped you off but we, uh, got a little distracted." There was a smile in his voice and I started panicking, "What time should I be at your house tomorrow?"
I choked before whispering, disappointed he remembered, "Tomorrow.."
"I am still invited to the picnic right?" Edward wondered while I stood silent wrapping the phone cord around my index finger.
"Of course." I gave in not bothering to make him forget. I could handle this. "That's actually why I called, "Be here around ten?"
"Sounds great. I'm really looking forward to it." he sounded hopefull.
I tried not sounding defeated but spoke anyways, "Me too. See you tomorrow Edward."
"Same. Good night Bella."
"Mmmhmm."
I replaced the phone on it's holder and cowered to my bedroom.
After tonight I needed a shower turning the water to cold and letting the freezing water tense my body. It wasn't that I was horny from my latest makeout session with Edward but the ache of the cold water made me long for the expierence that made me feel so left out and naive. I didn't want to feel the pressure to be sexually active but I was constantly being bombarded with reasons other people were. Could masturbation be enough to tide me over? I mean, how would I know I was ready anyways?
The question lingered for awhile until I realized the many other things besides sex I'd yet to experience.
When the cold water got to be too cold I turned the tap off and got out. I put on my pyjama's and went to bed dreaming about Edward.
***
When the morning came, the sun exploded into my bedroom radiating heat. I opened my eyes to see Alice standing over me wearing a huge smile that matched the sunlight.
"Come on Bella, get up." She sang, "You have got to get ready." Her smile seemed to add more sunlight to the room and I cringed away hiding my face under a pillow.
Alice peeled the pillow from out of my hands and I groaned at the interuption.
"Fine. I'll be down in a little bit" and I flopped onto my stomach, "Tell Charlie not to leave without me." I told her hoping she'd leave.
"Don't forget you and Edward are riding with Jasper and I today. Edward will be here soon." Alice replied still smiling widely and I wondered if her face ever hurt from smiling too much.
Alice looked forward to today more than anyone because the three of us were bringing our significant others to the picnic. We all finally had someone to call our own and I guessed Alice was happy not to see me alone anymore. Now she didn't have to feel so bad while her and Emmett sucked face with their other halves.
She pulled the covers from over my body and skipped out of my bedroom to give me privacy to get ready.
A few moments later I made my entrance and sat at the dining room table where the others were already eating their breakfast. I settled for a bowl of cereal and took a seat beside Alice and across from Emmett.
Charlie and Alice tried inconspicuously to leave the kitchen so Emmett and I could be alone. It was their way of telling us to make up already and get back to normal. The effort of leaving was harder on Alice who wanted to stay and hear us make up. Emmett didn't look up from his breakfast to notice the two of us were finally alone. I mulled over what to say before settling with the most simple yet most meaningful phrase for this situation.
"I'm sorry," we said in unison then burst into laughter at the coincidence.
"Can I go first?" Emmet said which surprised me so I nodded and let him continue.
EmPOV
Today's picnic would bring Tanya and Edward together if Edward turned out to be the right Edward Tanya mentioned. The fact I even made the connection surprised even me and when I confided it to Rosalie she felt I was only doing what I thought best to protect Bella's feelings. I did not want to be the one to tell Bella but it would be worse for her to hear it come from Tanya who would recall the meeting in painstaking detail and crush Bella and ruin the happiness she found with Edward.
No, if anyone was going to say anything to Bella it would have to be Edward and if seeing Tanya today stirred anything in him I hoped it would be enough to come clean and he honest about his past.
What I observed of Bella and Edward since they got together showed me he was a respectful kind of guy. Even with raging hormones which I knew came with being a teenager, Edward didn't seem to be pressing Bella for anything more than what she was comfortable with- whatever that was. Bella never seemed as happy as she did being with Edward and I was thankful for him coming into her life.
All this led to this moment when I would suck up my pride and apologize.
"I'm sorry. I was a pretty huge dick to you and you didn't deserve that." I saw Bella smile a bit at my language and my apology began to feel more comfortable.
"You deserve better than that from me Bells, and I fucked up..." I said trying not to spill the beans about what I knew. "Forgive me?"
Her eyes became devious but I knew she was considering my peace offering.
"Do you promise to give Edward a chance?" She said point blank and the stipulation complicated my apology.
"Only if you promise to accept the fact there are things you don't know about Edward." My response wasn't what she was expecting and I saw the flicker of surprise in her eyebrows.
Bella didn't answer immediately. She waited a moment mulling it over as if not wanting to accept my truth. If she did, I was hopefull Bella and I could start talking again and be normal.
"I accept." she said finally.
"Then I accept." I smiled happy at the resolution of our conflict.
There would be no way of helping her when the truth came out if she was mad at me as well.
We both finished breakfast and tossed the dishes into the sink, the cue for Alice to skip back into the kitchen to see Bella and I smiling and talking again. Charlie gaves us his own paternal smile, relieved to have his family whole again and not at each other's throat. That sort of behaviour was nothing like us. There was always a deep respect with everyone.
On our way out to the cars Bella shuffled to my side and nudged her elbow into me whispering, "And if we're being honest, Em, I kind of missed your witty sexual banter. It always made me feel better about keeping my vagina in my pants."
I laughed hysterically because I knew how my jokes affected my sister. Most often she scoured and walked away but lately she had been adding to the humor telling her own versions.
The idea of Bella having finally taken her very own cold shower wasn't the reason I believed she didn't scour when I bugged her. Bella was an innocent girl with just as much hormones as the next girl, but unlike Rosalie, it didn't seep through her clothes and onto every male in sight. Most of my teasing sprang from a brotherly instinct to make sure Bella took the sex thing seriously. No one wanted their sister to be experimenting with different guys. I wanted to make her aware of all the temptations but show her how much more special and important it becomes when you're with someone you love. I felt it with Rosalie and Alice, I assumed with certainty, felt it with Jasper.
Maybe Bella could find it with Edward, but I hoped they would wait.
Bella reached for her jacket just as the doorbell rang. Rosalie arrived during my makeup with Bella so I immediately went to her side and wrapped her in my arms touching her lips with mine.
"Hi." I heard Edward's voice from the foyer.
This would be interesting.
EPOV
Standing in Bella's foyer with the entire Swan clan and company staring at you made me feel a little nervous about today.
Bella mentioned the picnic a few days ago to which Charlie formally invited me. I accepted the offer to be polite but spending the whole day with your girlfriend's father in the middle of some meadow was a daunting prospect. The entire day would be dedicated to proving to Charlie, and basically her entire family, that I was a good guy for Bella. Despite Bella's reassurances that everyone would love me I felt my stomach do a little flip thinking about it.
I was doing this for Bella. This was my chance to show everyone how much I cared for her and I wouldn't fail.
"Hey Edward." the little pixie voice greeted me.
"Morning Alice." I returned the greeting and smile she sent me.
Jasper wasn't far behind giving me a nod so I nodded back and turned my head to meet Bella's stare beside me.
"Shall we go then?" It was Charlie now, coming from the kitchen," Nice to see you Edward."
"Same, Chief Swan." I replied, hanging on tightly to Bella's hand.
"Call me Charlie." he told me and I nodded to show I understood.
"Alright then, Emmett, Rosalie you'll be riding with me in Bella's truck." Charlie told everyone and I caught the groan from Emmett who obviously hoped to take his own truck or beast, whichever term you liked for it because his truck was intimidating. "Bella, Edward, you'll be riding with Alice and Jasper."
Alice nearly jumped up and down while we all made our way to our assigned vehicles.
"Remember Jasper we're going to the meadow just off the highway, follow me though, and we'll park where the path begins. When we do we'll all grab something and hike down to the opening." Charlie's ordered soliticted a unamious understanding and maybe a few groans at the word hike.
The prospect of hiking made me cringe thinking about all the branches, twigs and other obstacles just waiting for me to make a complete fool out of myself in front of Bella's entire family. I cursed my clumsiness repeatedly under my breath and focused.
In my reverie I felt Bella's warm hand squeeze mine and I turned my head to her squeezing back. I knew it was her way of encouraging me, to let me know it would all be okay and I so badly wanted to kiss her then. However, PDA in a crowded car really wasn't our thing. Her eyes told me the same story and it made me want to kiss her even more. I settled on tangling my hands with hers and caressing my thumb where it met her hand.
Not too long after we reached the opening where the path began and parked. Charlie assigned us each something to carry and I followed behind Bella to where they were holding the picnic.
For the most part the path was clear of tiny obstacles and the blankets I was carrying made it easier to keep an eye out. As soon as we neared the opening, voices followed us to the path indicating the Denali's were already there setting up.
I dropped the blankets and Bella's hand was in mine right after. I let her hand go to wrap my arms around her waist, which she accepted with a big grin, because it exceeded our hand holding only policy for PDA in front of family. It seemed to be okay by everyone else who looked at us with childish glee.
It must make everyone happy to see Bella with someone and not alone, especially since her siblings had been together with their significant others so much longer.
I felt my pride swell knowing I was the one that made Bella part of a whole. The swell made my arm hug tighter around her waist needing her closer.
And that's when I saw her.
This time my arm squeezed tighter around Bella's waist but not with pride, with desperation. My eyes locked with the green stare across the meadow attached to the strawberry blonde locks I knew so well.
What. The Fuck.
It seriously could not be Tanya. I met her last year before I moved to Forks. What in the world was she doing here now?
And I felt stupid because of course she was a Denali, the rest of her family were scattered and coupled up leaving only a middle aged woman and Tanya the only ones unnattached.
You've got to be fucking kidding me.
I cursed repeatedly under my breath.
Bella looked at me quizzically noting the distress in my eyes which I quickly hid flashing her a big smile and turning her away from Tanya.
When I looked back I saw the surprise in Tanya's eyes as they looked from my face to my arm around Bella and back. I prayed this was evidence enough to not say anything.
My past was one thing I had yet to reveal to Bella. We never talked about sex so I never felt it right to tell her I wasn't a virgin. I wanted to tell her when she asked so that my declaring the fact wouldn't have her thinking because I've had sex that it was what I wanted from her. It was far from the truth. I wanted Bella, whether it came with sex or not.
Hopefully I could sneak Tanya aside and ask her politely not to say anything until I could. And I knew I should and I knew it would hurt but I also knew Tanya and I needed Bella to find out from me and me alone.
Emmett was staring at me and then at Tanya trying to disect our silent interaction. I tried to look reassuring to Emmett, to show him I wasn't interested and he seemed to believe me but I guessed it was because I now looked determined.
Bella would know everything, I would get it off my chest and deal with the consquences. This sounded better than having Tanya describe, in much detail, my physical anatomy to my girlfriend who I barely got to second base with.
I braved all the introductions meeting Sasha Denali, her son Vasilii, her daughter Irina and her partner Laurent. Sasha mentioned her other daughter Kate who was off studying abroad and couldn't make it. That left only Tanya to which to be formally introduced and I silently hoped Bella would forget about it and we could sit down and just talk.
"Tanya! Over here!" Sasha called to Tanya who's head shot back in our direction.
Tanya paused for a moment and I realized why she didn't immediately come in our direction when we arrived. A port-a-potty was set up a little further behind where she stood. At her mother's invitation to come on over Tanya stood waiting for a tall figure to get out of the portable washroom. The guy swung his muscular around her shoulders and Tanya looked at me again this time the desperation seeped in her eyes as she looked from her boyfriend back to me.
So she wouldn't say anything to Bella because her boyfriend was there.
This glimmer of hope released a relived sigh from my lungs and Bella looked at me again quizzically and I reassured her by looking straight into her eyes letting my topaz glare simmer a little into her heart.
I would still tell her everything. I owed it to her.
Tanya and her mystery man walked up to where Bella and I were standing and her mother quickly introduced us,
"Honey, have you met Bella's boyfriend yet?" she asked, and I watched Bella blush at all the attention our relationship received.
Tanya shifted a little uncomfortably but not enough for anyone to notice anything wrong. Her shift put Emmett straight in my field of vision and he was staring, watching us. I wondered what Emmett's problem was but I wasn't about to approach him about it now.
"Umm, Hi Edward." And I knew not saying yes or no meant she didn't want to lie, "Hey Bella, we missed you at the welcome back dinner last week."
Welcome back dinner?
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. But I'm here today and I'm looking forward to it." Bella answered kindly but a little hesitant. Bella tugged at her outfit at my side and smoothed her hair of which wasn't normal Bella behaviour.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Bella questioned looking at the mystery man at Tanya's side.
"Jacob this is Bella. Bella this is my boyfriend Jacob."
Jacob extended his hand in Bella's direction and she reached to meet his. I stifled a laugh at how ridiculously small her hand looked in comparison to Jacob's massive one.
"Nice to meet you" the two exchanged and then it was my turn to enter the introductions.
Once we were all introduced and obviously a little uncomfortable we sat down to eat in friendly converstation, me making small talk with my girlfriend's father.
The rest of the day was spent playing touch football to which I was thankful Bella didn't want to join. It left her and I to talk amoungst each other alone and I decided now was the time to take Bella aside and tell her everything.
Tanya sent a cautious look in my direction as I led Bella along another path to a smaller meadow, this one with a small stream running through it.
BPOV
It was tradition to play touch football when we had these picnics but I came to the conclusion that not making an ass out of myself in front of Edward was worth breaking tradition. Plus, no one seemed to mind as they were busy relishing in my newfound companionship.
The time they spent playing left Edward and I alone to talk. I explained to him the reasoning behind the picnic and the whole welcome back concept of which he seemed very intrigued to know. While I talked I couldn't help but catch his brief glimpses at Tanya but I expected as much.
No one just looked once at Tanya, she was a second glance type of girl.
I tugged at my clothing self-consciously and whenever I did Edward would reach for my hand and place a kiss on my knuckle as though he were reading my mind.
After some time he asked if I wanted to take a walk and I agreed, appreciative of the distance between my boyfriend's eyes and Tanya.
We stopped when we found a smaller meadow and I walked immediately to the little stream running through it swirling my fingers in the cold water.
When I turned to see Edward, he was rubbing on hand up and down his arm as if finding the words for some discussion he'd been planning. A nervous dread spread over me and my smile drooped as I stood to face him more solidly.
"Edward? Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice a little shaky.
"We need to talk." Edward said.
This is never a good sign.
I instinctively wrapped my arms around my abdomen and waited for him to go on.
"There's something I need to tell you. Something you need to hear from me before you hear it from someone else."
His voice seemed just as full of the nerves my body began to feel.
Not being able to stand suspense I took a seat on the nearest boulder and went on waiting. Edward paced around a few times and I began feeling more uneasy and pessmistic.
"So.. this isn't my first time meeting Tanya." he spoke looking at me assessing my reaction.
My eyes grew wide with shock but I said nothing before he went on.
"It was before my family even considered moving to Forks and we didn't exactly exchange details when we met, so it's a huge coincidence to be at a picnic here right now where she is."
I looked to the ground trying to make sense of what he was telling me but I couldn't.
"What exactly did you exchange then?" I said a little sharply.
Any sense of self-confidence I lost being around Tanya took a huge blow learning he'd already fallen prey to her. I couldn't blame him, if I were a guy with a penis I'd probably put it in her too.
"My virginity?" his voice replied bluntly but it sounded more like a question as if trying to be honest but not wanting to cross any boundaries where this situation was concerned. He was testing my sense of humor as if it would get him off the hook.
Real funny Edward. You're basically telling me if we ever have sex I'd be compared to Tanya by default.
Great.
Just great.
My self-confidence just kept going lower and lower.
"Me not being a virgin isn't going to change anything between us. At least I don't want it too and I mean it hasn't yet." At his answer I shot him a look that I hoped relayed the message 'That's because I didn't know', so he kept talking trying to make things better.
"I want you Bella. Only you. I don't care if we never have sex, because I want you, only you and if sex isn't what you want then I don't need it. All I need is you. With me. That's all."
He talked in circles for awhile going on about how I was enough for him and that he wanted what I wanted. I suddenly felt guilty that he would give up sex if I wasn't ready. Given the circumstances it was the sweetest things anyone could ever say.
I didn't speak right away. I ran over what he was telling me in my head wondering if I was an idiot for accepting what seemed to be a confession and apology combined.
Edward could have Tanya if he wanted it but he didn't. He didn't even have to tell me all this but he did. He said all the right things, with a straight face and hope in his eyes. I buried my head in my hands feeling a little inferior now knowing my boyfriend had more experience than I did. It did make sense though, and a thought entered my brain before I could realize it.
"Son of a bitch!" I shouted before I thought about it.
Edward looked away ashamed and I wanted to laugh but not at him.
"Not you, Edward. Emmett."
The mood in the meadow shifted and now Edward was the one left speechless.
"Emmett must have known something. I wasn't at the dinner they had, Tanya must have mentioned something and Emmett must have made the connection..." I felt like I was putting together a weird jigsaw puzzle but everything started to make sense; why Emmett was so standoffish about Edward, why he warned me there might be stuff I didn't know about him etc.
My brother was looking out for me and I smiled at the gesture.
Confusion now coloured Edward's face and I made my way over to stand directly in front of him. This didn't mean I wasn't at all upset about him and Tanya but Edward basically professed his feelings for me so I was overwhelmed with the emotion.
I brought my hand to cup his cheek and looked directly into his topaz eyes.
"Thank-you." I said and stood on tiptoe to place my lips on his.
"So, you're not breaking up with me?" he asked, still so close to my face.
This time I had to laugh.
"No, but I'm not happy. I mean look at her." And I turned my head in the direction where everyone was but without seeing them.
His arms embraced my waist and he pulled me nearer kissing me softly but full of passion.
"She's nothing compared to you Bella."
I couldn't help but let out a short laugh again at the predicament but my self-confidence did a giant leap because Edward's worth were full of honesty.
I reached my lips to meet his fiercely and it only grew with passion. Edward's hands moved up the back of my shirt and this time I didn't wiggle from out of his grip. Instead, I let his hands roam free feeling his cold flesh on bare skin and shivered. My hands did some roaming of their own climbing up inside his shirt and feeling his skin all muscle and flesh under my fingers. With the passion I dug my nails harder into his sides solicitating a groan which sent a breathless moan from my throat into his ear. I could feel his hands roam higher and his thumbs cascade over my nipples through the thin sheer of my bra. It felt so good, much better than when I did it that's for sure.
All the touching felt so natural. To have Edward's hands where they were and where mine were exploring felt like it was supposed to. There was no scary naive approach just pure unadultered lust we changed into something more. I wasn't sure it was love just yet but it was more than what I felt at the beginning.
We lay down on the soft ground still exploring this time one of his hands reaching lower and in between my thighs. The slimy stuff I knew came with being turned on was probably soaking my panties right now but I didn't care. I left one hand to roam his chest while the other played around with his belt before feeling hardness through his jeans.
Edward sat us up then and pulled my shirt upward exposing my stomach and using his arms to prop me up so his face could plant kisses on my stomach. The feeling tickled and I giggled as he did so.
It could have gone on forever but a distant voice was calling for us and we immediately pulled apart.
Edward was still hard and noticable as well. If he followed another path he could reach the port-a-potty without being seen. We split up then with a quick peck.
I made my way alone back to the group citing Edward's trip to the washroom to explain his absence. Alice sent me a smirk while Jasper smiled with silent laughter. Everyone stared and I rearranged my hair to smooth out any indication of being ruffled. Rosalie was focused on reapplying her lip gloss after the game of touch football when I took a seat beside Emmett. I could tell he was suppressing a joke so I stomped on his foot before he could say anything.
Emmett evaluated my face for any distress or any other negative emotion but I reassured him things were fine. When no one was looking a mouthed a thank you for looking out for me and he sighed at my response, probably thankful I didn't rip him a new one for being a jackass and lying.
The picnic ended not too long after. We said our goodbyes and I tried my best to be polite to Tanya despite her taking my boyfriend's virginity. I figured she didn't relay the details to me because her boyfriend, who was intimidatingly tall and muscular, probably would have done something stupid. I thanked the big guy in my head for being an obstacle and for keeping Tanya's sex appeal between the two of them.
Edward and I were headed in a new direction. I can't say I wasn't a little hesitant. This whole thing was still new too me but I was certain I wanted to explore it with Edward.
EPOV
Bella took the news surprisingly well. I felt bad for making her think less about herself but in comparsion Tanya really had nothing on Bella. Sure, Tanya wasn't bad to look at, I could give her that, but there wasn't much else.
Bella and I were headed in a new direction and wherever that was headed I could be certain I wanted to explore it with Bella.
