Welcome back!
Thank Yous to rmhaleff & VanPireNZ for the FBG donation, and to vampireisthenewblack for all the betaing, PDFing (heh. I said effing), and dirty talking. Yeah, baby!
Please see A/N at the bottom. Hearts to all, and happy reading :)
~8~
"Where are we going?" I asked Alice, not entirely sure I really wanted to know.
"To The Bookie. Edward just got out of class and wanted us to meet him there to grab a cup of coffee."
A cup of coffee. That sounded simple, innocent, harmless—but knowing these two, 'innocent and harmless' was just a cover for something more devious.
We walked through the doors of the coffee shop, the familiar smells of fresh ground beans and warm blueberry muffins filled my senses. Edward didn't work there anymore, having decided to focus a little more of his time on his schoolwork, but over the last year, The Bookie had become something of a sanctuary for the two of us.
We met there as often as possible during the day between classes. Sometimes to just say hi or trade books, sometimes to steal a kiss before we parted ways for another four hours. We'd spent so much time there over the months, getting to know each other, talking about the past and the future, sharing secrets and working out differences.
From the moment I realized that Edward was what my life was missing, I think I knew I loved him. My life had changed so much in ten months, but none of it felt out of place or forced like it had before. Everything was so much easier with him.
I had taken Edward home with me over Spring Break to meet my mother. Even that was easier. I had been utterly shocked with how accepting she was of the entire situation. Edward certainly had a way of dazzling people, so I'd watched him work his magic on Mom, and within three days, I swore she was more attached to him than she was to me.
Her acceptance was like a gift to me, lifting a weight I hadn't even realized I'd been carrying. I had thought that moving away from home and becoming my own person, finding myself, would be enough, but knowing that my mother loved me unconditionally no matter who I chose to be with, was like the final piece of the puzzle fitting right into place.
She still hadn't allowed us to share a room, which was fine with me. The idea of messing around at my mom's house had made my stomach turn anyway. I had shown him my room though. He'd wanted to see the walls that I had painted and repainted countless times over the years.
The images had all been desolate desert plains, dry and lifeless. Lonely, just like I had been while living there all those years.
Edward had wondered why I would have surrounded myself with such things even though it clearly hadn't made me happy. I'd explained to him that even though I didn't like it, it had all been part of who I was. It may have been in the past, but the past was what helped me to become the person I wanted to be.
He'd laughed, and in the typical Edward fashion, called "bullshit." He'd told me my past will always be part of who I am, but it didn't define me.
We had stayed up all that night repainting those walls together with colors and life, maple trees and red leaves, green plants and coffee, freedom.
A cupcake appeared before me and I felt Edwards arm snake around my waist pulling me against his body.
"Happy Birthday," he whispered into my ear before planting a kiss on my neck and moving away.
Alice was standing in front of me with a giant grin on her face as she practically vibrated with excitement. "I wasn't allowed to throw a party," she said, her smile faltering only a little. "But Edward's got something great planned and Mike and I will be tagging along for a bit."
"Hope you don't mind," Mike said, coming up beside me and handing me a cup of coffee. "Happy Birthday, man."
"Thanks Mike. It's just what I've always wanted," I joked as I took the warm cup from his hands.
Edward cleared his throat exaggeratedly as he continued to hold the cupcake up in front of my face.
"And, of course, this." I took the cupcake from Edward, bringing it to my lips and licking some of the icing from the side.
Edward made a noise that immediately made me want to toss the cupcake down and drag him home.
"How about we just skip the other stuff and go home," he said, his thoughts obviously mirroring my own. He took the cupcake from me and set it down on the table. I noticed a little smudge of light blue frosting on the side of his finger and wanted nothing more than to lick it off, but I knew that wasn't a good idea. Edward and I never hid the fact that we were a couple, but we were generally pretty respectful of others, keeping the PDAs to a minimum. Sure, we would sneak a kiss here an there, or hold hands as we walked across campus, but there was an invisible line drawn at finger sucking in the coffee shop, so I resisted the urge.
"Don't even think about it," Alice said, grabbing mine and Edward's hand and dragging us out the door.
We separated from our friends in the parking lot as we made our way to Edward's car. Mike had bought a truck recently, and there was no longer any need for us all to cram into the Volvo every time we wanted to go somewhere together. I liked it better that way. Turned out I was pretty touchy-feely when it came to Edward, and it was best to not have any back seat passengers.
As soon as the doors were shut, I pulled Edward to me, stealing a kiss. I'd had a class early that morning, so the two of us hadn't seen each other at all that day aside from a quick kiss goodbye as I rushed to get out of the apartment at six AM.
"I missed you," he said, pressing his lips to mine again.
"It's only been six hours," I responded, fisting my hand into his shirt to pull him closer. His hand was on the back of my neck, the other on my forearm as I leaned onto the console.
"We need to stop," he breathed. "Or I'll end up skipping what I had planned and take you home instead."
"I'm okay with that," I replied.
Edward smiled against my lips. "That's because you don't know where we're going." He kissed me once more, chastely this time, before pulling away and starting the car. "You'll love it, I promise."
I groaned in frustration, my erection straining against my pants from the moment our lips touched.
"Well, is it a surprise, or are you going to tell me?" I asked as I adjusted myself.
Edward passed me a brochure as we made our way down the street.
"What's this?"
"Open it," he said. "It's an exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum."
I opened the pamphlet, excitement of a completely different kind washing over me. I'd lived in Settle for over a year and never found the time to go to a single gallery or museum.
The Seattle Art Museum is excited to present a landmark exhibition of the work of Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), arguably the most radical and influential artist of the 20th century. The exhibition will present iconic works from virtually every phase of Picasso's legendary career, documenting the full range of his unceasing inventiveness and prodigious creative process.
Drawn from the collection of the Musée National Picasso in Paris—the largest and most important repository of the artist's work in the world—the exhibition will feature more than 150 extraordinary paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographs. This unprecedented opportunity is possible at this time because the Musée Picasso has recently closed for renovations, allowing a global tour of this full-scale survey to travel for the first and, very likely, the only time.
The pamphlet went on to describe Picasso's lengthy career and several examples of the art that would be on display.
I was shocked. I'd expected Alice and Edward to drag me out to a few clubs and maybe dinner where Alice would sing obnoxiously to me—or worse—have the waiters at the restaurant do it. This, however, was completely unexpected.
"How did I not know about this?" I looked at Edward in disbelief wondering how he managed to keep it a secret. I rarely ever watched the news, so I wasn't surprised that I hadn't heard about it on TV, but being an art student, it seemed like an event significant enough for one of my professors to have mentioned at least.
"I guess you've just been lost in your own little world lately." He smiled at me before returning his attention to the road.
I had never really been particularly fond of Picasso's forced-puzzle-piece style, where everything was disproportionate and somewhat abstract, but the emotions invoked from his paintings were truly incredible. I had always felt I could relate to his work, even if I didn't love all of it. Particularly his Blue Period, having been brought on by the realities of human depression and the suicide of a close friend, I'd always felt a certain closeness to those pieces. He had poured so much heart and soul into everything he created, so much of himself that it was almost as if he was standing right there before us.
As we rounded the corner of the main exhibit room, my eyes fell on an incredible sight; the one painting that I had always loved. The painting that I had admired as far back as I could remember. My breath caught in my throat as emotions threatened to overwhelm me. I glanced over at Edward who was equally as mesmerized as I was. He reached over and took my hand without shifting his gaze from the painting.
"It's incredible, isn't it?" Alice's voice came from beside me, but my eyes were fixed on Edward. He was the only thing in the world more incredible than the painting before us.
"What's this one called?" Mike asked in a hushed whisper.
Edward responded in a matching tone. "The Old Guitarist," he stated simply, and I watched his eyes sparkle with life as they danced across the canvas.
He squeezed my hand, breaking my concentration so that I could focus back on the painting.
It truly was a beautiful sight, and though I knew its permanent residence was only a couple thousand miles away in Chicago, I was extremely grateful for the chance to see it here in Seattle with the people I loved.
We left the museum at close to five in the afternoon and headed to The Purple Café for dinner. I made Alice promise not to cause a scene by letting anyone know it was my birthday and to my surprise, she agreed.
We were all practically giddy after leaving the museum. It was certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity to see such a display of history's finest art and I was so grateful to Edward for knowing me so well and making this day perfect. As an aspiring artist, nothing could have been a more fitting gift.
I knew one thing that would round the day off nicely; all I had to do was get through the evening with our friends before I had Edward all to myself.
Throughout dinner, the four of us talked and joked as we always did. Edward kept shooting suggestive glances my way, and even when he wasn't, I couldn't stop staring at him. He really was beautiful, if you can actually use that word for a man. His hair was a little shorter now than when we met. He got it trimmed regularly, but not so short that I couldn't run my fingers through it. His skin was pale and smooth, aside from the stubble along his jaw, and I wanted nothing more than to drag my tongue up the column of his throat.
He had his hand on my knee under the table, slowly inching his way up as the evening progressed. By the time we paid the check and said our goodbyes to Alice and Mike, I could hardly keep my hands off of him.
As soon as we were in the car, I pulled him to me for a kiss.
"Thank you so much for that," I told him. "It was perfect."
"I'm glad you liked it."
I continued to kiss his neck as my hand caressed his thigh. Edward chuckled, putting the car into drive and pulling away from the curb.
He turned to kiss me at a stop light. My hands were under his shirt and I felt his muscles tense as my fingers traveled back down across his stomach. I reached the button of his pants and began fumbling to undo it with one hand. A car horn honked behind us and Edward laughed as he grabbed my hand to stop me.
"It isn't even that dark out yet. You can't do that in the car," he said.
Never one to follow directions, I slowly lowered his zipper, watching his face for signs of actual protest. I knew he had been as turned on as me throughout dinner at the restaurant. I watched desire replace the laughter in his eyes as he turned to look at me.
"Edward," I whispered as I leaned closer. "I love you." It wasn't something we said twenty times a day to one another, but we both felt it on a level that we were sure no one else in the world was capable of.
"And I love you," he replied. "But I still think we should wait 'til we get home."
I shook my head as I stared at his lips. Waiting until we got home would be a good idea, because then I'd be able to kiss him freely without having to worry about him taking his eyes off the road, but I decided I couldn't wait any longer.
I rubbed his cock through the thin cotton of his boxer-briefs as he made small noises of pleasure despite his protest to wait until we got back to the apartment.
Glancing around to see that there were no cars close by, I ducked my head down into his lap. I wasted no time pulling his cock out and running my tongue up the side of his thick shaft. His skin tasted salty-sweet and I moaned as I took him into my mouth.
Edward's hand found purchase in my hair as I made slow circles with my tongue around his tip. Slowly, he started to shift his hips up as my mouth slid down his length. I wasn't able to take him in completely in this position, which was probably for the best as I had been known to gag a time or two. He was never forceful or rough with me, his hand on the back of my head more for comfort than guidance.
His fingers grazed the back of my neck and I increased my pace. I wanted to get him off before we got home so that I could slip my aching dick into him as soon as we got there. I sucked his head, running my tongue along the slit before plunging my mouth back down onto him.
"Fuck," he hissed, and I knew he was close already. I removed his cock from my mouth, smiling before dragging my tongue up the vein on the underside. He groaned loudly as I grazed the sensitive head of his cock with my teeth before taking him back in again. A few more strokes were all it took before he was letting go. Shifting his hips upward, I swallowed around his pulsing dick as he came.
We couldn't have gotten to the apartment fast enough after that. I kissed him urgently as we stumbled down the hall to the bedroom, tugging at each other's clothing as we moved. Shirts and pants and shoes were removed and we tumbled onto the bed together in a tangle of limbs.
Pressing my parted lips to his shoulder, I breathed in his scent. I ran my hand up Edward's bare chest to his throat, gently dragging the tips of my fingers up to the stubble on his jaw. He moaned a little and I could feel his pulse quicken under my fingertips as they slid back down his neck.
Edward rolled away from me, reaching for the drawer in the nightstand. He pulled out the things we needed, turning back to me and wrapping his free arm around my neck to pull me down to him. My mouth found his quickly, sucking his bottom lip between my own. He always tasted so good to me and I knew it had to do with the love we felt for one another. He was my perfect match in every way.
I shifted my hips into him. His cock was stiff again, and it slid against mine smoothly creating the most delicious friction. I bit his lip playfully as he tore open the condom wrapper and pushed me away from him. His warm hand was on my cock, stroking as he licked my neck.
He rolled the condom down over my dick before digging his fingers into my hips and pulling me against him again. Our needful movements slowed as his hands made their way back up my body. His fingers caressed my neck before moving around to my jaw. The tip of his finger rubbed along my bottom lip and I took it into my mouth, sucking gently as his piercing green eyes locked on mine.
Edward pulled his finger away from me and replaced it with his tongue as he kissed me deeply and his fingers tangled into my hair, every movement fueled by need and desire.
He pushed me back as he sat up, turning away from me and onto his knees. I was only mildly disappointed for a split second. I wanted to be able to kiss his beautiful lips and taste his sweet tongue as I made love to him, but when Edward was on his knees before me, I knew that meant he wanted me to fuck him harder and deeper than I'd be able to in the other position, and for that, I could not complain.
I leaned down and bit his ass playfully before moving into position behind him. Grabbing the lube from beside us on the bed, I spread a generous amount onto my cock, stroking a few times before circling Edward's entrance with my slick fingers. He pushed back as I teased him a bit before pressing my fingers into him. We both moaned at the sensation. I slid my fingers in and out a few times, making sure he was ready for me. Edward groaned at the loss when I pulled out of him, but I quickly moved the head of my cock to his entrance.
Edward's long fingers wrapped around the iron bar of the headboard as he pushed back. He was impatient, and usually that was my favorite time to tease him, but my dick was painfully hard and I knew I couldn't stand to wait any longer.
I pushed into him slowly, enjoying the sensation of his body gripping my cock. His tight heat surrounded me and I groaned as I leaned forward wrapping my arm around his waist and dropping kisses across his shoulders. My hand wrapped around his on the headboard as I moved in and out of him gently.
Fuck, he felt amazing. It didn't matter how many times we made love, I never felt like I could get enough of him. His body, his smell, the touch of his hands, the taste of his mouth, I always wanted more. Every kiss and caress an unspoken promise of forever. After nearly a year together, I still couldn't describe even to myself the way Edward felt—so perfect and right, he made me whole in ways that I never thought anyone could.
I sat up to get a better look at him. Sliding my hand down the smooth skin of his back, I paused at his hips, gripping with both my hands as I slammed into him harder than I had been.
The sounds he made went straight through our bodies and caused my balls to tighten. I thrust into him over and over as I slid my hand around to his cock and began to stroke him in time with my own movements. He groaned and pushed back into me, his hand still firmly gripping the headboard for support as his other dug into the sheet.
Sweat dripped from my forehead onto his lower back as I leaned over him, my movements almost frantic as I drove us both closer to the edge.
"You feel so fucking good," he said through clenched teeth, and I almost lost it right then.
My free hand gripped his hair, tugging gently but firmly as I tilted his head to the side. I continued to stroke his cock as I thrust into him, all the while watching the pulse in his neck just below his ear. Aside from his mouth, that was my favorite spot to kiss him and when I finally felt his cock pulsing in my hand as he came for the second time that night, I leaned over him, fitting my chest to his back as I pressed my lips to his throat.
With all the strength and will I could muster, I pulled out of Edward. He cast a confused glance at me over his shoulder.
"Turn around," I said almost breathlessly.
He complied, lying on his back with his knees bent. I grabbed the lube and squirted a small amount on my dick again before pushing back into him. I liked it this way, with Edward on his back so that I could see his face while I fucked him.
My hair fell forward brushing his eyelids as I leaned down to kiss him. Lacing my fingers together with his, I pressed his hands down into the pillows above his head as our bodies continued to move together, every stroke bringing me closer to ecstasy.
Edward lifted his head off the pillow and I felt his tongue trace along my bottom lip. I moaned, taking it into my mouth as I thrust once more. My cock pulsed within him as I came, biting his lip and groaning with the pleasure of my orgasm.
I collapsed onto the bed beside Edward, pulling him against my chest as we both fought for breath. My heart thundered against his back and I wrapped my arms around him more tightly. We stayed like that for a while, until I felt his breathing even out and knew he had probably dozed off. I woke him with a kiss to the back of his neck and whispered words of affection in his ear.
We were barely able to move as we ambled out of the bed and went into the bathroom to clean ourselves up. After changing the sheets, we got back into bed and wrapped around one another just like we did almost every night. Tomorrow was Saturday, and I was very much looking forward to spending the entire weekend in bed with Edward. In fact, if I had any say, this was right where we would spend the better part of our lives; holding each other, surrounded by love and desire, never separating.
Edward had always been what my life was missing, and now that we found each other, nothing would ever keep us apart.
A/N
And that, my friends, is the last chapter of this story...
I wanted to get this posted before October for a few reasons. It's going to be a busy month for me with birthdays and B coming to visit and strippers in Vegas, plus getting ready for nano, but also, it was important to me to get this out to you before the SAM actually does have all of Picasso's work on display for a short time.
The section of this chapter where Jasper is reading the brochure from the art museum is actually an excerpt from their website. (You'd think I'd feel guilty about that, but people use song lyrics in fic all the time, so why shouldn't I use that?). If any of you are in the Seattle area this month, I encourage you to check that out. Even if you aren't necessarily an art lover, this is a once in a life time opportunity to see his work with your very own eyes. I'm unbelievably disappointed that I can't go.
I was looking for a great way for Jasper to spend his birthday that didn't involve Alice throwing some extravagant party, so OCD actually suggested I have them go to an art gallery. When I started researching that and discovered that the SAM was hosting this Picasso exhibit right around my Jasper's birthday, I could have cried. I was so excited.
Thank you all so much for reading, and again, thank you to rmhaleff and VanPireNZ for allowing me to share it with you.
I'm considering doing an outtake of this, but I'm not sure what yet. Let me know if you have any suggestions
