A/N: This chapter was edited 12/27/09 by Me!
Please let me know if I made any other errors. As much as I try to be superwoman it's way harder than it looks ; ]
The Song is Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. Listen and love, my dear readers. Listen and love.
Disclaimer: The characters, places, and people mentioned in the following chapter and all subsequent chapters simply to not belong to me.
Chapter 8: Iris
EPOV
Bambi is an ass.
I was so close, we were so close. I can't believe the bad luck I have.
But I had bigger problems now. The stars that had once been visible and lighting our way were being covered by heavy black thunder clouds rolling in rapidly with the wind. It was beginning to get cold and I could vaguely hear Bella's teeth chattering.
I began to rub my hands up and down her bare arms hoping that maybe some friction would warm her up. She smiled up at me a silently thank you, even if my efforts weren't really helping.
The rain was the last thing she needed. With her already chilly temperature, the emotional stress from the night, and her bodies stress from the accident being drenched with rain would certainly do little for her health.
I shrugged out of my jacket and put it around her shoulders. She looked at what I put on her before the protest began. She took it off and tried to hand it back.
"I-I can't take your j-jacket Edward. I-It's cold y-you'll freeze." She told me teeth chattering. "I'm r-really n-not that c-cold anyway."
"Bella, you are shivering. As a doctor I believe it is in your best interest to wear my jacket."
She gave me a withering look before putting her arms through the jacket and rubbing her now clothed arms together. "You had to pull the doctor card didn't you?"
"Well you would not listen to concerned, caring, friend Edward, but I figured you would listen to Doctor Edward," I reasoned.
"Seriously, who refers to themselves in the third person?" she asked raising her eyebrows in a way that questioned my sanity.
"Edward does," I chuckled.
"Well Bella thinks Edward is a loser," she said making the "L" sign with her index finger and thumb and placing it on her forehead.
"Edward thinks Bella is a Meany," I stuck my tongue out at her before pouting.
"Bella thinks it's adorable when Edward pouts," she admitted.
"Really?" I asked in a teasing tone finally breaking our third person conversation.
She nodded in conformation as her cheeks turned completely crimson.
"Edward thinks Bella is just adorable in general," I teased.
"Oh thanks, I'm glad you think I'm adorable!" She exclaimed in a sarcastic tone.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Puppies and fat children are adorable," she told me like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So…" I led.
"So, Bella doesn't want to be looped in with puppies and children in Edward's mind," she whispered looking away in embarrassment.
"Then where does Bella want to be in Edward's mind?" I asked confused.
"Not there," she replied non-committedly.
I grabbed her hand and spun her to face me, once again feeling a thrill at such simple contact with her.
"Bella, in Edward's mind, his thoughts of you are no where near the adorable innocent section."
She blushed thoroughly at that before I decided to go for it.
"Bella?" I asked hesitantly
"Yes?" she asked biting her lip and inadvertently distracting me completely.
I managed to tear my gaze away into her deep chocolate brown eyes that were swimming with insecurities. Silly Bella. Doesn't she know she's beautiful?
"Edward would like to know if it would be okay with Bella for him to kiss her."
She looked taken aback before a breath taking shy smile graced her face causing a matching grin to overtake mine, "Bella would like that very much."
Before another word could be uttered my lips claimed hers. My body seemed to disconnect from my brain because of a sensory overload. Kissing Bella made me want her even more.
All I could think about was Bella. She consumed my being. Everything was Bella. There was no forest, no abandoned road, no broken down cars, and no impending storm. The only thing was the heaven-like feeling of her soft full lips moving in sync with mine, and her taste barely out of reach. That would not do.
I needed more. I craved her taste on my tongue even if fleeting in a hurried moment of swept up emotions. I felt my tongue run over her bottom lip getting a diluted taste of her hot breath in my lungs. Luckily there was no acidic taste from her unfortunate running and then upchucking accident. I was surprised (and elated) when she quickly granted my request and allowed me to explore and fully taste her on my tongue.
I moved my hands to her chin in an effort to keep her there. I could feel with amazing clarity the feeling of her hands as they entwined themselves in the hair at the nape of my neck. She used her hands to pull me down to her level, making us as close as possible. I moved one hand from her chin and gripped her hair desperate to hold onto her as long as possible.
Unfortunately my annoying human need to breath caught up to me and the hunger for oxygen overcame my need for her taste, but just barely. I pulled back leaving one hand in her hair and moving the other to her side holding her close. I rested my forehead on hers and left my eyes closed simply reveling in my post-kiss high.
"Wow," she whispered causing my eyes to open to the sound of her voice. Her eyes were still closed and there was a euphoric grin across her face.
"Ditto," I whispered with what was sure to be a matching grin.
We were so screwed.
BPOV
Holy mother of all that is good that kiss was….oh god…indescribable. There simply aren't words.
When I heard his sweet voice respond in an equal tone of amazement my eyes involuntarily snapped open to be met with those gorgeous green ones and my favorite crooked grin except this time it had a goofy almost teenage youthful gleam to it.
We stared into each others eyes, foreheads resting on each other's, and breaths mixing with the others as we each tried to process our thoughts. At the moment mine were completely indecipherable. They ranged from kiss him again you idiot to what the hell were you thinking. But even the 'what-the-hell –were-you-thinking' train of thought didn't argue that that was the hottest kiss I had ever had.
I felt like a teenager again after her first kiss. I had to admit I had never kissed anyone besides he-who-shall-not-be-named and to find out that maybe he wasn't as good of a kisser as I had assumed was comforting to my ego at the present time. Either that or Edward was simply a pro. I wonder what else he could do well with those lips.
"What are you thinking about?" He asked his forehead still pressed intimately against mine, our breaths mingling as we attempted to regain some form of coherency.
"You," I told him honestly.
"What about me?" He questioned delighting me with the adorable confusion that adorned his face.
"Just that you are a pretty amazing kisser," I admitted surely blushing like crazy.
"I could say the exact same about you," he told me.
"Maybe we should double check. You know, just to be sure," I suggested.
"What a wonderful idea," his words were cut short as his lips met mine once again for another heated kiss.
Before it could progress any further we were interrupted by a loud crash as the sky opened up on us and showered us in moisture.
"Shit!" he yelled pulling me closer to the trees and running.
"Aren't you supposed to stay away from trees in thunderstorms?" I yelled as the next crash and lightening bolt seemed to sound and flash simultaneously.
"Do you have a better plan?" he asked as he continued to pull me against the rain and wind.
Our sight, which was poor before, was even worse as the rain pelted our bodies and the wind seemed to cause it to go almost completely horizontal. We were getting drenched and it didn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that with the cool temperatures and the pounding rain if we stayed in this much longer it would be bad for both of us.
In the latest flash of lightening a saw a possible beacon of hope: a sign.
I sprinted ahead of Edward and began to pull him to the left side of the road towards where I thought I saw it. I could feel his confusion, but was too involved in my hunt to include him in my discovery. There was no time for discussion. With the time distance from lightening to thunder being less than a second in most cases I knew that the lightening was close and with my bad luck, we would probable get stricken down.
In the next flash I got confirmation of my hunch and Edward got clued in. We were saved.
It was a for sale reality sign.
We both ran at the same rushed rate onto the dirt driveway that was being washed out with rainwater. Just as I was beginning to give up hope at finding a house in the middle of this nightmare it appeared: a log cabin.
There were no lights on and no cars in sight. But the fact that it was probably close to four in the morning might have something to do with that.
We ran up the steps cursing that there was no hangover to keep us dry.
"IS ANYONE HOME?! WE NEED HELP!" he yelled while simultaneously knocking as hard as he could on the door.
After about two minutes of solid knocking I was beginning to give up hope. I stopped pounding and put my hands over Edward's that were still furiously beating, trying to attract the notice of the nonexistent tenants.
He stopped and turned to face me when he felt my hand. Even with the rain pounding in our faces and the wind assaulting us on all sides Edward still looked like a Greek god. I on the other hand probably looked like a wet cat, with puffy eyes.
I couldn't believe that this was reality. What had I done in life for God to hate me this much? I get cheated on, I crash the car, and I get saved by a God who I manage to fall for, but he is so out of my league that I stand no chance at all of ever being with him. And the fact that I want to be with him, with anyone after having been so shaken in my trust of people is more confusing then everything else put together.
Oh and to add to that list I am now so close to being safe and dry that it isn't even funny. The only thing stopping me is the damn locked door. Wait. Hold the phone.
"I have an idea!" I yelled over the latest crash of thunder.
I grabbed the mini pocket knife that I had in my shoe and watched as Edward's eyes widened in horror. What did he think I was going to do with it? Cut him? That's a funny thought I'd probably miss and stab myself.
I had finally found a reason to be thankful for Jacob. After we had a series of mugging in the area he had insisted that I get some for of protection. He suggested a taser, but I knew that would end poorly for me. So we went with a mini-knife. It had its own cover so it wouldn't stab me and for that I was grateful. He also taught me how to pick the lock in the apartment and the car saving me a lot of trouble when I frequently ended up locking myself out.
I skillfully navigated it into the hole used for the keys and after a few seconds of moving it around it clicked unlocked and I turned the knob opening the door for Edward. He grabbed me in a big hug and kissed my cheek before pulling me into the house and closing the door behind us muffling the continued crash of the thunder outside.
He spun me around twice before setting my down on my own to feet and kissing me fully and quickly on the lips.
"Where-How-You are amazing you know that right?" he fumbled.
"I know what can I say, I'm just that cool." I shrugged like it was no big deal.
"Basically."
"So what do we do now?" I asked finally taking the time to look around the house.
It was completely dark, but when the lightening flashed I discovered it was devoid of any furniture. The owners must have gotten a new place and were still trying to sell.
"Well first we should find the lights." He suggested.
"Good plan." I concurred.
We both took different ends of the hallway and waited for the next flash to look for the light switch. When it did flash I found it on my side of the hall. I ran over to it and flicked it on excitedly.
Nothing.
"DAMNIT!" I yelled frustrated as I stomped my foot in aggravation and desperately switched the light switch up and down. Still no luck.
"The storm must have knocked out the power."
"Well it could be worse I suppose, we could still be out in the storm," I pointed out.
"True," he confirmed. "Aw my little optimist is back," he teased pulling me into a quick hug, but releasing me all too soon.
I was dripping water all over the floor and was ready to get out of these damn wet and bloody clothes.
So that's what I did.
I took off his jacket first and walked into the kitchen searching for some place where I could place it to dry. I found a breakfast island and draped it over one of the chairs. I heard Edwards' squeaky foot steps behind me as I began to remove my soaking wet shirt being extra careful around my stitches.
"What are you doing?" he demanded nervously from the corner of the room somewhere.
"I'm tired of being in these soaking wet clothes. Plus we are probably ruining the hardwood floors."
"Oh" He said simply as the lighting flashed to reveal a very flustered looking Edward.
"Does my being half-naked bother you? (A/N: Sorry Stephenie Meyer, I couldn't resist)" I asked him confused as to his current state.
I was surprised that I wasn't more flustered simply undressing in front of this guy that I had just met, but I just felt comfortable in front of Edward, and for someone who refused to have sex with the lights on, on a regular basis, I was shocked at this realization.
"I'm a doctor Bella; I see plenty of half-naked women," He scoffed at me, the little break in his voice at the end totally ruining his attempt at being suave.
God he's adorable….In an I want to jump you way, of course.
I considered a "That's what she said" but settled for cocking my head to the side, waiting for the implication in his words to set in. It was absolutely adorable (again) in the moment that the light bulb went on because his entire expression immediately shifted.
"No, not like that Bella, you know what I meant," he said once again on the defensive.
"Really, do I now?" I said deciding to tease him thoroughly.
"Of course, I'm not like that. I thought I already made that clear," he explained, hurt crossing his face because he thought I still was assuming he was a man-whore.
"Your words not mine," I told him as I continued to get undressed, unbuttoning my soaked jeans leaving me in my bra and matching boy shorts. Thank goodness both of them were fairly dry, and not granny panties. I would die or suffer in my cold wet clothes before subjecting him to my comfort underwear. Definitely not a turn on.
It was unfortunately still very cold in the house and due to my recent strip I was now shivering again.
When the next lightening bolt lit up the room I knew Edward saw.
"Bella, are you shivering again?" he asked his voice full of concern as he crossed the kitchen to come right in front of me.
"N-no." I responded. Damn shivering, why must you ail me so?
"You are a terrible liar," he chuckled at my failed attempt.
He went to wrap his arms around me and I quickly ducked out of his reach.
"What was that for?" he asked in a hurt voice.
"Y-your s-s-soaking wet," I informed him. I was already freezing, the last thing I needed was to be drenched again.
"Oh well you do have a point there," he confessed reaching for the hem of his undershirt, pulling it over his head. His real shirt had been sacrificed at the accident to mop up my bloody mess. Yum.
"W-what d-d-do you t-think you're d-doing?" I asked as my shivers seemed to be increase to convulsions.
"You need heat," he said like it was the most apparent thing in the world.
"O-obviously and…" I led trying to minimize my talking as I almost bit my tongue off every time I tried to form a word.
"Here I am," he indicating by pointing at himself.
"W-what?"
"You need heat Bella, and the only heat available right now is body heat. That's where I come in. Weren't you ever a girl scout or something?"
"N-no."
"Well that is one of the first things you learn in case you ever get stranded in the winter or in the cold. Body heat is the best way to keep warm when no other option is available, but if you have a better plan I'm all ears," he said as the lightening once again illuminated the room revealing an extremely tempting half-naked man dressed in only boxers that fit loosely around his hips.
"N-n-no," I stuttered out more from being flustered at his ripped appearance than the chilly temps. And he said his brother was ripped like Jesus. Holy Hell talk about some good genetics or a serious work out routine.
"Good now I bet the stairs are carpeted, that will probably be warmer than these hardwood floors plus it will be further away from the windows," he pointed out guiding me blindly along.
We walked in what seemed to be a circle, all the while he led and pulled me along while I caught glimpses of things here and there in the random flashes. Finally he stopped and felt out ward with his hands patting something before apparently finding success.
"Good, just as I thought," he commented before sitting down and pulling me down with him.
The carpet was much more comfortable then the hardwood floors would have been and I curled up on my side on the bottom landing sighing in content as a felt Edward's body wrap around mine from behind. He draped his arm around my waist and pulled me tighter into his warm chest.
"So what's the plan now?" I asked after several minutes of warming up. Thank goodness the shivers had gone away.
"Now, we wait. Unless you want to travel in the rain again…"
"Nope I'm good here," I sighed. Actually I was much more than good I was in heaven.
I could feel his muscular abs and chest pressing closely into my back. If only I could turn around and run my hands over them, feeling his sure to be impressive stature under my fingertips, memorizing his body like a blind person reading brail. Except instead of lame bumps on a paper it was Edward's hot six pack abs. Damn.
I had already decided that I was pretty much gone over Edward. I was past the point of no return. But how could I know what he felt. If a kiss was any indication then hell I could bet he more than liked me. But was that enough to go on?
I'm beginning to sound like such a middle school student. Maybe I should pass him a note asking him to check yes or no. Shit, no paper, oh well.
But I needed to know. I wanted him to want me. I more or less needed him to need me.
I sighed again as I began to run through everything that had happened so far in this short period of time. I skipped over the Jacob drama though because that was over.
And that's when it came to me.
I jumped into a sitting position stirring Edward from his thoughts, "Bella, what's wrong?" he asked extremely concerned.
As I channeled through my thoughts they freely drifted to our first kiss. But looking back on it, it was more than just a kiss. It was more like a complete expression of every single emotion we had felt in the past couple of hours all pent up and thrown in together. There was anger, passion, adoration, and dare I say love? No, not that. That's not possible.
But what was Edward trying to say when he told me I would miss what was right in front of me. Was he telling me it was him?
"Bella?!" He whispered again sounding more anxious than before.
"You meant you," I gasped out with conviction as another bolt flashed an allowed me to see clearly into his shinning emerald eyes.
He looked exceedingly confused and nodded urging me to continue.
"When you spoke of not missing something good in front of me, you meant you," I spoke up with conviction, proud of my delayed realization.
"Of course," he replied simply before crashing his lips back into mine parting them on contact.
Okay so I thought that was cute, but hey that's just me. And I kind of left you all with a cliffhanger. Sorry. But there is a reason!
I am seriously considering doing a lemon from there, but I want to know what YOU think. Review me a Yes or a No.
AND! Next chapter is back to Jacob. Who's pumped?
Now Review pretty please with Edward on top and let me know what you want =]
Xoxo- Sendmeonmyway: ]
