A/N: Thank you to LZTZ and TrixieTraci for betaing as always. ChiTwiGAl, Mana_liz,and Luluvee for prereading. Your advice means a lot to me. Thank you for your honesty.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Infernoward.
Bpov
"You do realize we are doing this completely backwards, right?" I laugh, settling back onto the couch beside Edward.
We finished off the fruit and cheese and a bottle of wine. Now, Edward has decided it is time for a round of "let's get to know each other after we mauled each other in the hallway."
"Hey, I can't help it. You were too tempting and I couldn't help myself." He shrugs, giving me a boyish grin.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya," I giggle as my blush lights up my face. "Just ask your first question."
Edward became acquainted with my age, favorite color, dream car, and my mother's name. As Edward familiarized himself with me, I became familiar with his playful side, enduring his teasing, especially when he learned the fact that my favorite entrée was the mushroom ravioli from a restaurant near my mother's house. His face scrunched up in mocking distaste as he pointed out that I loved to eat fungus and pasta.
I learned that Edward liked to touch me while we talk and he learned that I loved that about him. When our words slowed down, our touches turned to caressing, and our embraces became needy grips.
"My mom, Renee, and step-dad Phil live in… umm, Florida." I hum as Edward slips the pony tail holder from my hair. His long fingers brush through my curls, tugging at the ends gently. Damn, who knew a simple act could feel so good. For every question we have asked each other, Edward's hands have found a new place to caress. He started with my fingertips, then my hands, and eventually moved up my arm to my neck.
"Really? My parents have a house in Florida," he informs me as he scoots closer to me on the couch. I'm all but straddling his lap now.
"Edward," I groan and lean into his hand, "I thought we were playing twenty questions."
"Damn, your hair is so fucking soft," he says as he runs his hands through my hair again, tightening his grip on it. He moves forward and buries his nose in my hair right beside my ear. I automatically shift so that my legs are draped over his thighs. A shiver runs through me as he inhales deeply.
"Fuck, Bella, you make me crazy," he growls and his hands move from my hair, down my back, to my hips. "Distract me, please, because there is no way in hell I'm going to be able to pull myself away from you."
As his hands eagerly massage my hips, I can sense from his grip loosening and tightening on me that he is resisting the urge to pull me fully on top of him.
"My favorite color is green," I breathe as I try to figure out exactly how to distract him when I'm not really sure I want him to be.
He grunts as I trail my nails lightly up his forearms to his biceps.
"Seriously, that is counterproductive, beautiful," he chuckles darkly in my ear.
"Um, sorry." I giggle and I lean back to look at him, slightly digging my nails into his shoulders.
My giggle dies instantly. Damn, meeting his eyes is a bad idea in such a good way. The lust and desire in them is unmistakable. It's taking all I have not to mount him. My breathing hitches as he pulls me forward till I am straddling him. Holy hell, he is hard asa rock and pressing right into my sweet spot. I am so going to hell for prodding the devil but right now I need the inferno.
"Yeah, you're about as sorry as I am for doing this." He smirks then tangles his hands in my hair, pulling my face to his as he captures my lips. Sucking my bottom lip between his teeth, I can't stop the moan that escapes against his mouth. My hips act on their own accord as they rock against him. He pushes up to meet my movements and releases my lip from his slowly, then glides his tongue over it. I take advantage and pull it into my mouth roughly, sucking and nipping.
"Oh… Fuck," he moans. Dear God, that sound is sexy as hell.
Our tongues dance as our hands grip and pull at each other's bodies, needing to be closer but not seeming to get there. This man makes my body want and feel things I didn't even know was possible. I've never just wanted to outright fuck before but right now all I can think about is him being inside me. Oh hell, this is not good. I mean it is, but it's not. How in the world did we go from twenty questions to grinding and tongue fucking on the couch? I don't want to stop but if we don't we're both going to end up naked.
"Edward, I seriously need some water all of a sudden. You've got to be thirsty too, I'll grab you one as well." I squirm out of his arms and scurry over to the refrigerator.
I turn up and drink half the bottle of water. Damn, I have got to compose myself. I have to find the strength to keep my ass from going back over to that couch and having mad, hot "I just met you and I already love you" sex with Inferno.
"Actually, don't worry about me. I've got to run down to the lobby for a sec. I sort of locked myself out of my room." He laughs lightly as he joins me the kitchen.
I look at him, trying not to laugh as I realize why he was standing in the hall and cursing at the ceiling not too long ago. "I've got a surprise for you." He leans down and places a kiss on my forehead. "So stay right here I'll be back in a few minutes." I catch the playful smirk on his face as he turns and heads out of my suite, pulling the door closed behind him.
Okay, I have a few minutes to regroup while Edward is away. Thank goodness for small favors. My mind replays our conversation as I decide to run to my room and freshen up once again.
Hmmm, Edward said he has a surprise for me. I can't even imagine what it is, but I can imagine losing, or should I say, finding myself in this guy that I barely know.
So, in order not to get in over my head, I have to remember he is just a guy. He is an extremely alluring, sex on a stick guy who makes my heart pound and my mind race. Besides the sex appeal, there is just something about Edward himself.
Damn, this is not going to be easy!
I knew there was a connection between us, but I had no idea exactly how strong it was. The moment on the couch, when he placed my hand over his heart, the force of our connection became clear. The sincerity in his voice, when he spoke, was unmistakable. This man may very well be the death of me.
Even though it would be so damn easy, I know I can't get attached to him. I have to remember we only have Atlantis and that's it. We will enjoy our time here together for as long as we have and then I will return home, confused as hell, and deal with the repercussions, aka Jacob. If everything continues to go the way it's going, I may just find myself quicker than I realize.
Out of nowhere, my skin heats ups and tingles surge across my exposed skin as I slip into fresh panties. The thought of Edward's hands and mouth assaulting me in such a coveted manner replays over and over as if it were happening all over again. Damn! I have never been kissed or held with such desire in my life. His touch held a dominance that I have never experienced. I'm surprised, considering the control issues I have been dealing with, that I didn't mind the dominance. To be honest, it actually had the opposite effect. I guess it explains the crazy hormones I was having back home. My body wanted something more but I simply didn't realize what it was until now. This also explains the condition of the panties I just discarded. This new discovery, my desire for dominance, only reinforces my own need to stay under control. I must keep myself reined in because there is no way I can sleep with Edward. I withheld my "V card" from Jacob for almost a year after we started dating and I had known him most of my life…so yeah, giving myself so freely is not something I do. While I'm positive that sex with Edward would be earth shattering to the point of no return, I just can't do that to Jacob.
EPOV
We are lying on the couch in Bella's suite. She has been very quiet for the past hour or so, the rise and fall of her chest matches mine- slow and even. Her chest is pressed to mine, her legs are straddling my hips, her face is buried in the crook of my neck, and her arms are tucked under my back as her hands curve up and around, gripping my shoulder blades. My arms are wrapped around her with my hands resting on my favorite spot…Bella's heaven sent ass. If anyone were to walk in right now there is no doubt they would think we were fucking around. Thing is, there is nothing sexual going on; no kissing or grinding. Believe it or not, my dick is actually behaving itself. Shocker, huh? Yeah, I know it's hard to believe I can actually have a girl lying with her body snuggling to mine without my dick inside her.
At this moment, it's hard to comprehend that Bella has not always been a part of my life. I want her in my life and I don't want to let her go. Her being here, in my arms, seems like something we have done a thousand times. We just fit. Being around her this afternoon and this evening has been effortless; I find myself extremely comfortable with her. Edward Cullen finding comfort in a woman is not something that happens- ever. Let me rephrase that slightly: she has a way of making my cock insanely hard like no other and that shit is not easy, nor is it comfortable.
Example being when I came back to her suite and she didn't realize I was here. Fuck, I swear to you the girl almost gave me a fucking coronary.
I open the door to Bella's suite and walk in, expecting her to be in the living room: she isn't.
"Bella," I call out softly, not wanting to scare her since its obvious she has no clue I'm back. I sit my guitar case down beside the couch and go out to the balcony to see if she is there. As I open the French doors I hear music coming from one of the bedrooms down the hallway. Bella must be in her room. Everything inside me tells me to wait for her in the living room but of course I don't listen, so I quietly shut the doors and take off towards the music. As I approach the half open door, I recognize the song playing, 'Gravity'. I'm not a John Mayer fan but damn, I can be.
Holy Mother of FUCK!
Bella is by the dresser sliding on a pair of red lace cheekies. Her bare hips sway slightly as her edible toes point downward to slide each of her long, smooth legs through the small holes in those sinful panties. God, I want to go up behind her and caress that perfectly round ass. And I'm positive I'm going to have to get a much closer view of those toes. Damn, this is such invasion of her privacy. I need to back away slowly but the way those damn panties are shimmying up her legs only draws me closer to the door.
So much for going without a fucking hard-on for thirty minutes.
I adjust myself carefully as I watch the forbidden show. The red lace hugs her ass and hips so perfectly, it's as if it were made for her body and her body alone. Fuck I've got to go back into the living room before Bella turns around because I'm sure she will beat my ass if she sees me standing here. With one last peek, I take my cock of fucking steel and stalker ass back into the living room and flop down on to the couch.
It's several minutes later when Bella appears beside the couch. Half of my brain is stuck on what's under those yoga pants and the other half marvels at how breathtakingly beautiful she is. Damn, I feel like an ass for my peep show.
"Hey, I didn't hear you come in." She smiles down at me.
"Umm, yeah, I, umm, let myself in a few minutes ago," I stammer. "I hope that was ok." I squirm like the one kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Well, in this case, I was all up in Bella's cookies.
"Of course its okay, you did say you were coming back," Bella says as she comes around and settle beside me on the couch. I glance down at her bare feet as she pulls her knees to her chest. I can't help but lick my lips. Fuck, I hope I get to pleasure all ten of them sooner rather than later.
"Yes I did," I laugh and I give her a wink.
So before I left, Bella and I spent the majority of the evening talking, eating, and laughing. I honestly haven't laughed so hard in a long time. She tells the most ridiculous jokes that I couldn't help but laugh. Bella is witty, smart, and extremely intelligent. She is 22, her favorite color is green, she wants a Mercedes so bad she can't stand it, and ice cream makes her sick. That right there is a travesty because my mom can make some kick ass homemade Rocky Road.
What I found most intriguing, though, was that she graduated from the University of Phoenix with a degree in Artistic Design. She told me about a job she has a bid for; she was so damn cute talking about it. I wanted to tell her she could work for me in Chicago, considering my family owns one of the largest exterior and Interior design companies in the United States; we even have a headquarters in Italy where my mom's brother is CEO. I chose not to though. I figured she might think it was overboard, being that we just met, or she would think I was crazy. But that's just one more thing about her that fits.
I feel like I should know everything about her, when in reality, even after our round of 20 questions, we've barely touched the surface of each other's lives and that shit sucks hard. As much as I would love to stay tangled up with, in, and on her, because God knows our bodies seem to think is an excellent idea, I actually want to spend time with her. I want to engrave every part of her into to me. I want her to get to know my family and I want her to get to know the man she has made me want to be. Fuck, talk about knowing each other's lives… if she finds out about my fuckery back home…damn, who am I kidding, if I plan to have a future with her then she will have to know. This is not something I can keep a secret, but for now, I resolve to keep it to myself. I'll tell her when I feel the time is right. It's not as if I'm in a relationship or anything. I was perfectly content with the fucked up, shady things I've done, until I met her. She makes me want to be better. I've just done some fucked up, shady things and, up until I met her, I was perfectly content with them.
We have so little time here at Atlantis together, why screw with my chances with her before we even get started?
What am I thinking? I can't expect her to just drop everything to be with me, that's insane. She probably has a family back home that she loves dearly and would never leave. That leads me to next my thought.
Why is a woman as beautiful as Bella here at Atlantis by herself?
I'll have to find out the answer to that along with why the hell she walked away from me at the club last night. I never got around to asking earlier but that shit is eating me alive.
I am so damn relaxed I think I could fall asleep. Bella, on the other hand, is already sound asleep.
I feel her shift against me and I grit my teeth because the friction she is giving is not what my over eager cock needs right now. I glance down at her as I still her hips with my hands.
Damn she is beautiful.
Bella's long lashes are caressing her cheeks gently as she dreams. A girlish smile brightens her face as she begins to mumble something about nuns, infernos, and green hazes. Okay, I have no clue what any of that means, but whatever, it obviously makes her very happy. Bella giggles in her sleep and readjusts herself on my lap once again. Damn, she has to stop this moving shit or she is going to wake up to a rather large surprise.
I distract myself with the hilarious rambles of Bella for a good ten minutes. Girl has a vivid imagination.
Out of nowhere, her smile fades and her entire body tenses up.
"Jacob," she says.
Excuse me!
"Jacob please," she whispers.
My entire body is rigid. Bella's hold on me tightens as my hands fall from her body. I can feel my happy peaceful feelings starting to fade quickly.
"Jacob, so sorry," she trails off softly.
Who the fuck is Jacob?
I stare down at the beautiful girl in my arms.
Fuck! I've got to get a hold of myself. This whole thing, all these feelings and emotions with Bella
are all so new to me. I swear it has me spinning out of control. I need to get up off this couch, away from the way her warm body feels against mine, so I can think clearly and calm the fuck down. If she were to wake up right now, I am in no way, shape or form, going to be able to talk to her rationally. What I feel with Bella is so much more than what I felt for Victoria when I was younger. My walls are torn down with Bella and the thought of being fucked over again is not something I can fucking deal with.
I need a very strong drink!
I sit up slowly and try rolling Bella off of me. The fact that she is so much smaller than I am should make this easy, but Mighty Mouse here has one hell of a grip on my shoulders. If this were any other time, this grip would be ideal.
"Damn it, Bella," I groan quietly.
I pry her fingers from around my shoulders and softly roll her back onto the couch. She curls into the fetal position and continues to sleep. I head straight for the bar just outside the kitchen. Pouring myself a glass of scotch, I take a long swig as I look back into the living room. I know I shouldn't be getting so damn wound up over her saying a guy's name. I have gotten way ahead of myself, Bella is not mine. I have absolutely no right to act like this, but Bella brought these kinds of emotions out in me from the first moment I laid eyes on her. I want her and I can't seem to help myself. Shit, I even wanted to do bodily harm to Emmett just for touching her on the dance floor and he is my own brother, who is, not to mention, in a very committed relationship.
There is no question: Bella has me completely wacked the fuck out.
I head back into the living room and I flop myself down in the overstuffed chair, which is just across from Bella, who is still sound asleep. Leaning back, I kick my feet up onto the ottoman and pull an Al Bundy. With one hand holding my scotch, the other rests just inside my CK boxer briefs and my thumb is hooked around the waistband of my shorts. No wonder Al sat like this all the time. This shit is comfortable. Too bad, however, it does nothing for my fucking mood.
Bella continues to mumble back and forth for a good fifteen minutes between infernos and Jacob.
What the fuck does inferno have to do with anything?
I close my eyes and I take a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm myself down.
"Edward," Bella calls out softly. I open my eyes to see her staring at me.
"What are you doing over there in the chair?" she smiles sweetly. "Oh, God, please tell me I wasn't snoring." She blushes hard as she covers her face with her hands.
If I weren't such an asshole who was fucking pissed right now, I would laugh at her sweetness.
"No, Bella, snoring wasn't the problem," I snap harshly.
Suddenly Bella sits up on the couch. She is fully awake now. Her brown eyes widen as she takes in the expression on my face and the tone of my voice.
"Oh damn," she stammers.
Yeah, oh damn is right. I inhale and exhale. Every bit of motherfucker I have in me is right at the surface.
All the color drains from Bella's beautiful face and she looks likes she is going to fucking puke. As angry as I am, I still don't like seeing her upset. Bella's hands nervously fidget in her lap so I sit up and reach for her but she pulls away from me.
Okay I should have expected that. Now I know without a doubt whatever she has to say is not going to be good.
Fuck my life.
She brings her knees to her chest and hugs herself tightly as she bites down on her bottom lip. She shifts her eyes away from me. I swear, Bella looks like she has run over someone's damn dog, not once but several times.
Call it male instinct or just Alice's voodoo shit rubbing off on me but, the more I think about it, something tells me this Jacob fucker and her running off have something to do with each other. I really should just walk out the door and not look back. Better yet, maybe I should have just taken her to a dark corner in the club last night, fucked her, and ended this shit before it even got started. Then I could have been the one to walk away, not her.
Right, as if you would be able to walk away after being buried inside her. You think you have it bad now. Just wait. If she gives you the pleasure of fully devouring her luscious body, you, my friend, won't be just pussy whipped you will be the king of it.
"What did I say?" she asks while still avoiding my eyes.
"I'm pretty sure you already know, so why don't you just tell me who the hell Jacob is, Bella."
Please just answer the question. I'm ready to just deal with this shit.
Bella sucks in a hard, quick breath as she focuses her eyes back on me.
"Edward, I swear I was going to tell you. Everything happened so fast I didn't get a chance to."
"Damn it, Bella!" I hiss.
Her entire demeanor changes in an instant as she stands from the couch.
"Edward," she sneers. Her voice is cold and as harsh as the look in her eyes.
She turns and heads for the balcony doors without looking back.
"Oh no, you're not walking off this time. Answer my question, Bella." A growl erupts from inside me as shoot up off the chair. I hear my empty glass hit the floor with a thud.
She whips around and heads back towards me with a pissed off, but very determined, look now on her face.
"Jacob is my…."
"Bella, I swear to fuck if you say …" I interrupt her without even meaning to because my brain will not shut up. And now I can't even get the last word out. I take a deep breath trying to calm down. The only reason I will walk out her door is if she says she is married. That is a no-go for me.
Please don't say you're married. Please!
Abruptly, I stop my advance a foot from her and for a very good reason. Oh hell, the look on Bella's face is one I know all too well. An Alice/Rosalie look that says if I want to keep my balls intact, I had better stay an arm's length away.
"Say what, Edward?" She steps closer to me. We are so close I can feel the heat, along with anger, rolling off her. Her brown eyes are on fire. "That I have a boyfriend of fucking five years that I have known since I was a little girl. A boyfriend who has been there for me when no one else was, a boyfriend who loves me and begged me not to come down here because he would have to relinquish all his control over me!"
A boyfriend of five years still is not what I want to hear, but definitely better than a husband.
"Bella…"
"Save it, okay, Edward? Fuck this controlling and demanding bullshit. I came down here so I could figure out my life, not to complicate it even more. I never came here with the intention of cheating on Jacob, but when I met your beautiful cocky ass…" She pauses as she rakes her hands over her face then buries them in her hair.
"Damn it," she hisses in frustration. "You made me feel more in the first 10 minutes of meeting you, than I have ever felt. You brought forward a part of me that has been locked away. Yeah, I know I should have told you about Jacob before, but it just didn't work out that way, so I'm sorry."
Bella's hands fall from her hair and her eyes narrow in on me. "But I'll be damned if I'm going to stand here and take your demanding, belligerent, bullshit. If I wanted that I could have stayed at home. So I guess the best thing you can do is get the fuck out of my suite and try not to let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." Bella storms pass me and heads towards the hallway to her room.
You know the term "deer caught in the head lights"…. Yeah, that would be me at the moment, Bella has rendered me speechless.
Seriously, all I can do is stare at her as she descends down the hallway away from me.
Damn, could Bella possibly be anymore perfect for me? There is no doubt this girl can hold her own. Most women I have encountered would never stand up to me like she did and they sure as hell wouldn't kick me out of their room. This crazy, hot headed, beautiful woman is no doubt my other half. Problem is, though she may be my other half, she just said her other half was established five years ago and his name is Jacob. Fuck him for finding her first and fuck him for existing. And for the record, I don't know the prick but I can already tell I don't like him.
Bella made herself clear that she never intended on coming down here to fuck around on her boyfriend, she came down here to figure some shit out. And the last thing she needs is someone else making demands of her.
Well I guess she figured out that I could give her sweet little mouth a proper tongue fucking.
Damn, Cullen! Fucking Focus!
I could kick my own ass for letting my temper get the best of me and assuming the worst. I'm pretty sure I just pushed Bella to her breaking point. Alice is never going to let me live this down. But, on the upside, even in her fury, Bella acknowledged the palpable connection that she and I have. A connection that is strong enough to make her act on it. That has to mean something so now I'm left with two decisions. Do I try to make amends and pursue her further even though she has a serious boyfriend, or should I just let her go? Hell, considering she just asked me to leave, she clearly made my decision for me, but for the life of me I can't bring myself to walk out that door. Fuck, I really don't know what to do or how to fix this, but right now I know I am not willing to lose Bella because I jumped the gun and acted like an asshole.
Bella is over half way down the hallway and heading straight for one of the bedrooms. I start to go after her but as I do pain shoots through my crotch causing me to curse loudly. This has been a common occurrence since I met her, and once again my cock is hard as a motherfucker. Erection number 325. Damn, feisty Bella is such a turn on, she makes me insane. I just want to do ungodly things to her until her body can't take anymore. I want to devour every inch of her.
"Bella, please wait, I call out to her as I try to regain some composure.
By the grace of God, she stops in front of a bedroom door because I sure as hell can't chase her down the hallway with my cock in the condition it's in.
"What? You aren't gone yet?" she snarks without looking back at me.
"No, and I'm not leaving until we talk," I tell her as I quickly make my way to her.
Sweaty jock straps, old naked women doing jumping jacks, the guy from Jackass eating cow shit, drunk Emmett and Jasper playing naked Twister.
Oh yeah, erection is officially deflated now.
"What more is there to say, Edward?" She whips around to face me. "I think we both know that this-" she waves her hand back and forth between us, "can't and won't go anywhere except in the direction of a disaster." And with that Bella turns and walks into the bedroom, effectively slamming the door in my face.
You know, I have never had a woman shut me out of her bedroom. Usually they are dragging me in with them, then slamming the door. I have to say, this is a very fucking humbling experience.
"Bella, please open the door," I plead when I realize she has locked the damn thing.
She doesn't respond nor does she attempt to unlock the door. Great, this is just fucking great.
Several minutes go by and still nothing.
BPOV
Ugh... Men! I'm seriously beginning to believe they are all just alike, even the gorgeous man standing on the other side of my bedroom door at this very moment. Who does he think he is, talking to me like that? What, are they all born with the demanding asshole gene?
Part of me believes that Edward has every right to be upset with me about Jacob. Or does he? I mean damn, we did JUST meet. Who the hell gets that bent out of shape in the time that we've had? I certainly wasn't going to stop him from frisking me in the hallway to issue a "stay back, I've got a boyfriend" warning. I do understand the way he found out was less than desirable, but damn! Did he really have to be such a dick about it? A simple, "Who is Jacob?" would have sufficed. But no, instead he acts as if I have committed some felony against him and the world is ending because of it. I swear, men are so irrational sometimes.
If I keep pacing back and forth like this I'm going to wear a hole in the floor. Hold up, why in the hell did I lock myself in my room and leave him out there in my suite?
I still can't believe I said Jacob's name out loud while I was sleeping. Of all the times for me to talk in my sleep, it just had to be while I was in Edward's arms.
So yeah, he has a right to be angry. Hell, I'm displeased with myself for not telling him before. But to be completely honest, God this is terrible, from the moment I saw Edward in the hallway, up until a few minutes ago, Jacob never crossed my mind, not even once. The draw that Edward and I have to each other is overshadowing everything. It is as if things just fell into place with him and then nothing else mattered. Well, that was of course until he went batshit on me. Oh, the nerve of him. When his tone and words registered in my head, he really hit a nerve with me and I just came unglued and my filter vanished. I get enough of that attitude from Jacob; I seriously don't need it from anyone one else. I meant every single word I said to Edward.
So you really want him to leave?
If he is going to be a jerk then yes.
I hear the door knob jiggle as Edward's gentle plea filters through my ears. "Bella, please open the door."
Like that's going to happen right now. I know if I let him in, even as upset as I am, I won't be able to resist him and right now I need to stand my ground. Plus, I really have nothing nice to say to him at this point in time. Besides, I've always been a fan of the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." I don't think some people got that memo.
"Bella, open the door," he pleads again. If I didn't know better, I would say he was clenching his teeth.
Jeez he doesn't give up does he?
The man is persistent, I'll give him that.
I'll also give him…my foot up his ass.
I see he definitely brings out the fire in you.
Unfortunately, yes, in more ways than one.
"Edward, you don't listen very well do you?" I quip.
"No, not usually. Following directions really isn't my thing," he replies.
Of course not! Why would he? He is probably used to getting everything he wants and then some.
"You're an arrogant dickhead, you know that?" I make sure to lace every word with bitch.
"Yeah so I've been told," he says casually.
Oh, he makes me want to rip his tongue out and feed it to him.
"You are infuriating!" I roar as kick the hell out of the door.
He has sex appeal that should be bottled and sold as Viagra, charm that should not be legal, and the looks and arrogance of a God to top it off. This man is a weapon of mass destruction to the female gender and probably even the male. So, knowing this, why in the world do I still want to throw him down and kiss him unmercifully? He, honest to God, makes my head spin.
"As much as I love the sound of the venom in your sweet voice, I would really love to see your adorable face while you ream me out. Which, may I add, I deserve one hundred percent," Mr. Charming states.
Oh, he wants adorable? I'll give him adorable?
I yank the door open, ready to bring his ego down a few notches, until I land on my ass on the floor with Edward hovering over me. Okay, this is not what I had in mind. His face and lips being mere inches from mine is not affecting the reaming process. Get a grip Bella; don't let him slide for being a douche bag.
"Is this close enough for you? Can you see my adorable face now?" I huff for the simple fact I am breathless. But he doesn't know that because I apply the sarcasm right on top as I glare up into his soft green eyes.
"Yes, my lovely lady, and may I add you're absolutely breathtaking even when you look like you want to hang me by my balls." He smiles playfully.
It's all I can do not to laugh and pull his moist lips to mine. But the fact that his peen is obscenely close to my knee, I think I should mess with him instead.
"Don't give me that smile and don't give me any ideas you don't want me to act on. So if I were you, I'd move considering the fact that your jewels and my knee are within the same vicinity." I grin wickedly as I shift my knee against his most prized possessions.
"Easy now." He gulps as he stands quickly to get away from my jewel smasher.
"Scared of me, are you?" I can't help but tease.
"Slightly," he half laughs.
"You're, KINDA charming, you know that?" I tell him as he extends his hand to help me to my feet. Pleasurable heat shoots up my arm as our hands join. Damn him for making me feel like this.
"Charming sometimes, I guess, but with you I just want to be myself, no fronts, just me." The depth of the sincerity in his voice takes me by surprise.
Even though I'm upset with him at the moment, I find myself believing the genuineness of his words. I probably shouldn't, but I do.
"Are you ok? I tried not to land on you." He squeezes my hands ever so softly as his thumbs caress the backs of my hands. It would be a simple gesture coming from anyone else, but from Edward it makes my heart race.
"I'm fine, Edward." I sigh as I watch him work circles on the back of my hands.
"Bella, listen. I'm sorry I was an asshole. I had no right. You don't deserve to be treated like that by me or anyone else. Trust me when I say I was raised way better than that. My mom would have my ass if she knew." He pauses and takes a deep breath as he curls his finger under my chin, lifting it so that my eyes are locked on his. "It's just I'm not used to dealing with emotions like the ones that are burning through me, not that this is any excuse for my behavior."
From the earnest look in his eyes and the anxiety in his voice, Edward meant every word.
Great, now what the hell am I supposed to say now? I can't even be angry with him after such a sincere and incredibly sweet apology. Plus the fact he just opened himself up to me and I understand the emotions that he is talking about…well, at least on some level.
You know, Jacob says he is sorry most of the time when he is being a butthead, but it never has felt as true as Edward's apology just did! Damn, all of this is overwhelming. I have to be honest with Edward about Jacob. Even though Jacob is an ass, I still care for him and I don't want to leave that unsaid.
"Edward, things with Jacob are complicated and I meant what I said to you earlier. For me to stand here and say I don't love him…well I would be lying. We've been together a long time. The thing is, though…" I lean back against the wall and Edward steps towards me, keeping us close.
"God, this is selfish on so many levels, but despite everything, I don't want to miss a second with you. So if all we can have is a friendship then I would rather have that than nothing," I whisper, closing my eyes.
Edward's finger lingers on my chin a moment longer then trails down my neck to my collarbone. The feel of his fingertips sliding on my neck sends chills down my spine. His touch and my body's reaction to it is a far cry from friendship.
"Bella, I'm not going to push you for anything," he says quietly.
I open my eyes to look up at him as my body reacts to his words and his touch.
"I honestly don't know where to go with us," I admit. Because God knows I want more than a friend out of Edward.
"How about we go out to the balcony so I can give you your surprise. I mean, that is, if you still want it." He grins and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. "I promise I will keep my hands and other parts of my body to myself."
I roll my eyes at him and giggle. "Yeah, right, since you're doing such good job of that right now."
"Despite your very tempting lips and tight little ass…" He presses his body to mine, pinning me to the wall. I feel his warm breath pass over face. "I can behave myself," he smirks as drops his hands away from me and steps back.
Damn! Damn! Damn!
I try to hide the fact that I'm breathless and my heart is racing but the look on his face tells me he knows exactly what he does to me. And by the way he is adjusting himself right now, I know I have the same effect on him.
"Okay 'Mr. I'll Be On My Best Behavior,' lead the way to the balcony." I narrow my eyes playfully and motion him out the door.
"Oh, no, ladies first," he smiles and steps aside so I can pass.
"Why, thank you." I step by him and head down the hall swaying my hips side to side. I'm being bad and I know it but damn it, I can't resist. I snicker to myself as Edward groans.
"Something wrong, Edward?" I ask as we enter the living room.
"Nope, I'm fucking great!" he chuckles and he opens the set French doors for me.
I step out onto the balcony and look out at the clear night sky. It is absolutely gorgeous out here, the stars are shining out across the ocean and the waves are crashing on shore with a hypnotic rhythm.
"So where is my…" I turn around and realize Edward is not behind me. Then I see him stand slowly from the couch with his guitar in his hands.
Oh. My God. He is going to play for me. That is my surprise and I can't be more thrilled. I jump up and down then scamper over to the hammock so I don't spoil the surprise.
As I'm lying in there, I try to decipher what I want and need to do at this point with Edward. If I hang around him after tonight, which, God knows I want to, then I don't know how long this friends or "let's behave" thing will last. It's going to take every bit of willpower I have. For Jacob's sake, let's hope my willpower lasts another twelve days.
Several minutes have gone by when I hear the French doors open and shut. Edward doesn't say a word as he slides a chair out from the table and sits down a few feet from where I'm at on the hammock. Glancing at him, I notice the solemn look on his chiseled face as he looks out in the direction of the ocean and then down at his guitar.
"Any requests?" he asks.
Edward hooks the toe of his shoe to the underside of the hammock, pulling it toward him, then releases it, making us swing smoothly as he begins to strum the guitar. I can't help but smile at his flirty yet amiable action.
"I love all genres of music, so play something random, whatever pops into your head," I tell him.
As soon as he starts to play I recognize the song, 'Kryptonite' by 3 Doors Down. Yeah, he pulled this one out of his ass considering it's ten years old. I was only twelve when it came out but I love it. As I start singing he looks up at me.
"You know this?" he smiles in approval.
I nod and continue singing.
Edward continues to play for the next forty-five minutes or so. He plays several things I know, from 'Smile' by Uncle Kracker to 'She Hates Me' by Puddle of Mudd. At this point I am up dancing and singing like a loon around the balcony. He is laughing his ass off at my crazy antics. I'm sure the resort is loving my version of karaoke, but I can't find it in myself to care. I'm having way too much fun. As I belt out the last, "She fucking hates me," my voice is hoarse and my throat fells like sand paper.
"I'm going to grab a bottle of water. I'll be right back," I say as I'm heading for the door.
I snag two bottles out of the stocked fridge and head back outside.
"Here you go. I figure you are thirsty." I hand him a bottle.
"Thanks." He grins as he opens and turns up the water.
"You're welcome." I smile back and walk over to the railing.
Tonight has had its ups and downs but even so, it has been an amazing and very memorable night. I'm creating a file to store away any and all Edward memories. In the end that's all I will have.
Very softly from behind me I hear Edward start to play again, but this time he is the one who is singing. My heart leaps up of my chest when 'Everything' by Lifehouse falls from his lips. Waves of images flash through my mind of the night at The Dragon with Edward. The way he looked the first time I laid my eyes on him, the way our bodies moved together…oh God.
I stand there motionless while I listen to Edward's velvety voice full of emotion pour out each word.
This time I can't stop the tears from coming. How can everything with Edward feel so right? Why couldn't this be a different time in our lives?
I'm so caught up in my thoughts I don't realize he has stopped playing and is now standing right behind me with his hands on the rail on each side of mine.
"I didn't mean to make you cry," he whispers.
"It's okay. I really love that song," I say, brushing away the tears on my cheeks.
"Yeah," he sighs.
This shit feels completely hopeless. We stand here looking out over the water, our bodies close enough to feel the warmth coming off each other. I know I shouldn't but I can't stop myself, so I allow my body to lean back into his chest. Both our hands remain on the rail as a comfort that can only be described as Edward washes over me.
"Thank you. I can't think of a better way to spend the night." I tilt my head so that I can look up at him. "You have a beautiful voice." His green eyes are not arrogant or cocky, they are just peaceful.
His tongue glides between his lips as his eyes dart from my mouth to my eyes. Edward's hands move from the rail to my hips, which sends a fire storm through my body. Damn! It will be so easy to turn, bring his lips to mine and sedate the storm.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I was nervous as fuck that you would get bored or some shit." He rakes a hand through his hair.
"Not a chance," I reply as I turn to face him.
Simply beautiful.
His desire-filled eyes burn into mine. I rest my forehead against his chest as he brings his hands to rest on my shoulders and his chin on the top of my head.
"Bella, it's really late. I should be going so you can get in the bed." His aversion to doing this is clear in each word. "Because, honestly, if I stay here much longer I can promise I'm going to become overly friendly." His voice is deep and clear on the situation.
I'm not ready for him to leave but I know it's for the best. Even if I wasn't dealing with all this stuff with Jacob and was single, I wouldn't let Edward stay over with me tonight. Okay, that's a lie and I know it; I would relish in his over-friendliness.
He drops his hands from my shoulders as I glance up at him and step back.
"Alright. I, umm, guess I will see you later?" I bite down on my bottom lip.
"Fuck yes, I was hoping we could go down to the beach or to the pool tomorrow," He states.
"That sounds perfect. I guess I will see you by the pool around lunch." I smile and step to the side to make sure I don't reach out and grab his shirt as he leaves to make him stay.
"Lunch. That works, it will give me a few hours of sleep." He smirks. Giving me a quick once over, he mumbles "fuck," then walks over to get his guitar off the table.
As I walk behind him on the way to the door to leave, I can't help but watch the way his taut back and shoulder muscles move when he walks. Not to mention the way his shorts hang on his hips but fit his butt perfectly. I am going to have to take a cold shower or break out some self loving once his is gone.
He stops in front of me to open the suite door, but of course, because my attention is diverted elsewhere, I don't realize he has stopped until I slam into his back.
"Sorry." I blush hard.
"Enjoying the view, were you?" he smirks.
"Uh…" I stammer as I blush harder.
Grinning at me, he leans forward and places a kiss on my forehead. "Good night, Bella. Sleep well."
Before I can gather myself together enough to say good night, he is gone. I hear the click of my suite door as it shuts.
"Good night, my Inferno," I mumble softly with a smile.
Thank you for reading. I would love to hear you thought and comments. Please Review!
I want to thank tg10781 for rec'ing Beautiful Inferno in her story An Angel Closes Her Eyes.
Also to everyone who kept me going over the past month with your endless love and encouragement. You know who you are!
