10
That Sunday Edward asked me to attend brunch with his family. I was a bit nervous since Emmett and I would be in the same room, but we had to get over the awkwardness sooner or later. I agreed and when Edward informed me he would be coming to get me on his motorcycle I made sure to have on jeans and my hair in a ponytail.
We were the last to arrive and when we entered the house Edward walked straight to the sitting room. Emmett and Rose were on one sofa and Jasper and Alice were on the other. Edward sat in a chair and when I sat on the arm he pulled me onto his lap with my feet dangling over the side.
He held my chin with his fingers and studied my face as if looking for something. He spoke softly as if we were the only two people in the room. "You look really pretty," he said.
"Thank you," I replied, although I was very underdressed compared to the other two women.
He reached out with his finger and touched my eyelashes. I moved away and said, "What are you doing?"
"Do you have on that stuff that makes your lashes black?" he asked, and he tried to look closer.
"No, my lashes are naturally dark, I don't wear mascara," I told him.
He glanced at Rose who had on a lot of makeup and I worried about what he would blurt out. He looked back at me and then said, "Sometimes it hard for me to see what is genuine, but you're real and I like it."
I smiled at his attempt to explain what he was feeling so I repeated, "Thank you."
Alice and Rose finally began to talk and the room commenced with conversation as Edward and I remained in our own little bubble. He kept touching my lips and my eyes and running his finger down my nose. It was intimate without being sexual. I felt like he had taken a huge step forward.
When Esme called everyone to the sunroom we all stood. Rose had on a shirt that dipped down to reveal her very impressive cleavage. Emmett made sure to look before holding out his hand for hers. Edward laughed and said, "Man, her tits are huge."
Emmett spun around, ready to take on his brother when I put my hand up and said, "He not being disrespectful, he is just making an observation."
Rosalie pretended to act offended but I noticed she thrust her chest out just a hint more as Emmett put his arm around her. I kept Edward in the room after the others left and said, "Okay listen, don't comment on Rosalie at all, or Alice for that matter."
He nodded in agreement and I turned to walk away but spun back around and added, "Or me."
"You have perfect tits," he said with a chuckle and I shook my head in defeat.
When we came to the table I noticed how hopeful Carlisle and Esme look at the two of us. I doubt they ever thought Edward would have someone with him for family brunch. They asked Rosalie a few questions to make her feel welcome and then Esme brought out the food. Edward picked up a piece of cantaloupe and brought it up to my mouth. I took it and smiled at him.
The entire table was silent and staring at us. I let my head drop with embarrassment and Edward stabbed some eggs with a fork and held it out for me. He was totally oblivious to the others at the table. I wished I was able to tune them out as well as Edward, but I shook my head at his offering and picked up my own fork.
"Are you all ready for finals?" Carlisle asked, and we all groaned.
Edward slumped down in his chair and said, "Not me, I'm too stupid for college."
My head instantly turned to look at him and I said, "You're not stupid, Edward. God, you have more talent than anyone I know."
"Yeah, we all know what his talent is," Emmett said, and him and Alice laughed.
I glared at Emmett and said, "You don't have a clue."
"Then why don't you enlighten us?" he challenged me.
I had to admit Edward's family didn't seem to know he was an artist. I wasn't sure if it was something I should talk about or if it would anger him. I finally settled with, "Just because he doesn't like a sport doesn't mean he isn't talented in other areas."
"You're right," Emmett said and raised his glass to me. "Nobody gets their ass kicked as well as Edward."
Carlisle cleared his throat and gave Emmett and warning glare. Edward looked almost amused at the exchange and I wondered why he never jumped into the conversation. I protectively placed my foot between his and he put his hand on my thigh.
We were all right in the middle of eating when Edward jumped up and grabbed my arm. "Come on," he said, "I want to show you something."
I looked around the table at the anxious faces and could tell they would be more relaxed if Edward left the room. I put my napkin on my plate and followed him down the hallway. He went into the music room and sat at the piano.
"Are you going to play me a song?" I asked.
"I don't know how to really play," he admitted. "I just mess around."
"Have you ever taken lessons?" I pressed, thinking it would be a great outlet for him.
"No, but you know how you can look at something and you can feel it, like a nude body makes you feel a certain way?"
I chuckled and then said, "I guess."
"Well, I wanted to show you what I feel when I'm with you," he said, and turned to the keys.
I wasn't sure what I was expecting, maybe a pop song or a one handed rendition of a silly tune, but when he began to play my mouth literally fell open. It was purposeful and he played with so much emotion it overwhelmed me. He was right, I could feel the song.
People didn't possess the type of talent Edward had and be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Something didn't fit and I was determined to find out what it was. I waited for him to finish before I wiped the tears from my face. I was speechless and couldn't find the words to say what I wanted, so I simply walked over and kissed him.
"Edward, you have to do something with your talents. You're amazing and they shouldn't remain uncovered," I begged him.
He looked at me as if I had just given him the weather and said, "Can we have sex on the piano?"
"Here," I gasped, "Now?"
He nodded and scooted the bench out so I quickly moved away from him. "Edward, this is your parents' home and your family is here."
He didn't even bother looking at the open door and said, "They never come to find me. It is better when I'm out of the room."
My heart broke for him. They couldn't understand him so it was easier to pretend he didn't exist. I never wanted him to feel I would be happier without him so I walked over and stood in front of him. He began to remove my jeans but left my shirt intact. He opened his pants and then lay back on the bench to put on the condom. I reached out and took it from him.
I stood straddled over him and when I got the condom in place and let my hands hold onto the bench at the side of his head. I didn't have to bend my knees, just widen my stance to accommodate him. He scooted down until his head hung over the seat and moaned loudly. I closed my eyes and replayed the beautiful tune in my head as we made Sunday brunch absolutely perfect.
Edward was right, nobody came to look for us and we spent the entire afternoon alone in the music room. When we finally decided to leave we said a quick goodbye and got onto his bike. I decided to invite myself over to his place, since he never invited me.
"Can we go to your house?" I asked.
He put on his helmet without commenting and then started the bike. I held onto him tightly and closed my eyes as the wind rushed around me. I lost track of the stops and turns we took but the trip seemed to be taking a long time. He finally pulled into a driveway and turned off the bike.
I looked up to see a gorgeous log cabin in front of me. "Where are we?" I asked.
"You wanted to come to my house," he said in confusion.
"I thought you lived underground?" I asked, completely misunderstanding what was going on.
"No, I paint there, I live here," he said and pushed me so I would get off the bike.
I followed him up the steps to a large wrap around porch and looked out at the forest. I couldn't see another house anywhere. I wondered if Edward purposefully chose to live so far from other people because he knew they wouldn't understand him.
He unlocked the door and I followed him into a state of the art, expensive home. I gasped and waited for him to turn and look at me. He didn't have a job and he didn't get help from his parents, so something nefarious was going on. I waved my arm around the room and said, "Edward, how to you afford a home like this?"
"I manage," he said with a shrug.
I watched him carefully and asked, "What are you, a drug dealer?"
He wiggled his eyebrows at me and then changed the subject. I knew we were not at the point yet I could demand he change whatever it was he was doing. I needed to let him know he could trust me and I wouldn't give up on him first.
I walked around the place to get a better view. It was a single level with vaulted ceilings. I saw two bedrooms but I didn't open any doors on the other side of the living room. "Do you have roommates?" I asked him.
"No, just me," he said, and I nodded as I remained standing.
I looked around from where I stood and then asked, "Why don't you participate in family birthdays?"
"They're stupid," he said and walked over to fall onto the couch.
"They're supposed to be stupid. Did you ever have a birthday party as a child?"
He laughed and said, "No, I didn't have friends. I was pretty much kicked out of every school I attended."
I walked over and sat on the edge of his sofa and said, "I'm sorry; it must have been very difficult for you."
He picked up my hand and placed one of my fingers in his mouth as he said, "I didn't care."
I watched him suck lightly on my finger and then I decided to ask some very personal questions about his past sexual history. "How many girlfriends have you had?"
"None," he said quickly.
"Well, at least one," I corrected him, "Me."
He pulled my finger away from his mouth, which alone should say something, and said, "You're my girlfriend?"
I suddenly felt very stupid and knew my face was turning red. I had assumed we were in a relationship and had been acting like it for days now. I tried to back pedal and began to stammer. He adjusted himself on the couch and then said, "So we're not just screwing around?"