Ten
The next morning when Bella woke up, she heard mayhem in the kitchen. She tidied the room and ran upstairs to find Edward digging in the cabinets and pulling cookware out of the shelves. "What are you doing?"
"I can't find the BBQ grill that I have. I've looked everywhere." He mumbled as he slammed a cabinet door and turned.
Bella sat on a stool and reached for a nectarine, biting into the juicy fruit. She chewed and suggested, "Why don't you borrow from a neighbor?
"Because they'll probably be using theirs today." He snapped at her, as he opened another cabinet.
"Maybe not, you won't know until you ask." he didn't answer. "Those things are awfully big, don't you think you would have stored it somewhere other than the kitchen?"
"I didn't put it away. I have a cleaning lady, Ginny, who comes once a week, usually on Fridays. She put it away, after the last time I used it. I haven't asked her where because I haven't needed it since last year." He ran his hand through his hair.
"Do you have any other storage here on the boat?" Bella asked him.
"The four closets downstairs and the storage closet and the storage bench on the deck." he answered.
"She probably put it in the storage bench on the deck, have you checked there, yet?"
She followed outside and sure enough, it was in its box in the bench, under some extra seat cushions. He assembled it on the deck and filled it with charcoal. He would fire it up in the afternoon. Edward strung up some colorful lights and brought out the heating lamps. "It'll get cold this evening," he explained. They assembled the chairs in assorted groupings and tossed on the colorful cushions.
They returned to the kitchen and Bella offered to make assorted sandwiches, potato salad and dessert. Edward stood by and watched while she worked. "So, Edward, you only have potato salad and meat for your guests?"
"I have soft drinks, beer and wine too. The guests are bringing side dishes and desserts."
"Are any of them bringing men?" she asked worriedly. Bella really was dreading a cat fight. She envisioned a very tense few hours with Edward surrounded by women who would all be vying for his attention.
"I have no idea. I told all of them that they could bring a guest."
"Didn't you invite any men, at all?"
"Sure, some guys from here in the marina, and a couple guys from my Tae Kwon Do center."
"You take Tae Kwon Do?" Bella was learning an awful lot about him.
"Yes, from the time I was nine. I don't know any kid in Hawaii who doesn't practice martial arts and surf and or hula."
"Did you take hula classes?" she giggled.
"I sure did. One day I'll dance for you." He pulled her into his arms and leaned her up against the refrigerator. He kissed the side of her neck and informed her, "I'm a very sexy hula dancer, you know."
"Ooh, I can't wait." She could just imagine him, clad in a short sarong and dancing with flaming torches behind him.
He licked and bit her earlobe and started feeling her up, pushing his hands under the extra large t-shirt and reaching for her pantiless bottom. "How about a little love dance, right now?" he asked her huskily and then he tumbled her right there on the kitchen floor. The varnished wood was cool against her back and Edward was hot on top of her. He seemed unusually fascinated with her breasts and nipples, spending a lot of time sucking and nipping them. I'm gonna wind up with a whopper of a hickey on that side of my breast, she thought to herself. He slipped further down, first nipping at the skin of her inner thighs, then he paying due attention to her aching nub.
When he moved up and over her she was achy, tight, and very wet. He held her feet and kissed the instep, making her smile, before he placed them on his chest. "Ready, baby?" he asked, when she nodded he pushed in quick and hard up to the hilt, and she groaned with pleasure. Bracing her feet on his chest gave her leverage to lift her bottom higher and feel more of him. The angle made hitting her spot that much easier and she started to come immediately. He touched her clit and she felt her heart stutter and then trip over into delightful waves of feeling. Her tired legs fell to the side and he moved to lay on her fully, holding her head in the frame of his arms. "Wrap your arms and legs around me," he said just before bending his head to thrust his tongue into her mouth. She raised her hips and Edward rode her with a ferocity that left them both shaking.
#
Lying on his chest a few minutes later Bella's thoughts drifted lazily as she rubbed circles on his shoulder. She thought about Edward and Kate and the afternoon ahead, she thought about tonight after they leave and she thought about what she would wear. She wrinkled her brow when she realized that she had absolutely nothing to wear. Her tie-dyed shirt was dirty, so was her underwear, and her denim skirt had no buttons thanks to Mr Cullen. He probably didn't even have a sewing kit and she probably wouldn't be able to find the buttons anyway. The marina was blocked off so she couldn't drive her car to go home and get a change of clothes. The only thing she had was a t-shirt of Edward's, which just wouldn't do.
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
"I have absolutely nothing to wear. I think I may have to attend your BBQ in the nude or in one of your t-shirts."
"Why don't you call your sister, maybe she can bring some clothes to you." He suggested as he sprawled naked next to her.
She chewed her lip. "I don't think she's at home. I vaguely remember Alice saying that she was going out with Dave."
"You won't know until you ask." He smirked. "Invite them over, your sister and Dave may put you more at ease."
Bella called and naturally Alice did not answer her cell. Then she left an urgent text. The only choice Bella had was to wear her red string bikini. She always kept her beach bag in the trunk of her car with a towel and her bikini in it, and she hoped that there might even be a crocheted cover up in the bag, if she was lucky.
She asked Edward to run to her car to get it and he did. While he was gone she took a quick shower and combed out her tangled mess of a hair. All that lying on her back had given her a rat's nest of tangles. She donned the red bikini, and the lacy white cover up. Her blue Birkenstocks made the outfit almost patriotic. She put on red lipstick, eyeliner and her hoop earrings, she was prepared for battle.
When Edward saw her come out on deck, he dropped everything and grabbed her, "I have fond memories of that teeny weeny bikini." he said huskily.
He grabbed her chin and tried to kiss her, but she turned her head and he kissed her cheek instead. "Don't kiss me, you'll smudge my lipstick." she said.
"But aren't you wearing the lipstick to entice me into kissing you?"
She patted him on the cheek, "Silly, silly man. This isn't for you, this armor is for the women you invited, to keep them at bay."
He grabbed her and kissed her and smudged her lipstick anyway.
#
As the time neared, Bella was getting more nervous, she was not looking forward to the afternoon. Edward was dressed in white shorts that hugged his body, and a Hawaiian shirt with shapely Hawaiian maidens dancing the hula all over it. It was almost one o'clock and he was about to put the steaks on the grill when the doorbell rang. Bella was putting cups, plates and napkins on the table they had set up near the grill. The drinks were in a trough of ice. Assorted sandwiches were on the island in the kitchen, as was the potato salad and the blueberry pie she had made.
"Bella, can you get the door?" She didn't budge, she continued to set the table with utensils. "Please?"
"It's your party, you get it, I'll watch the steaks." There was no way she was going to play hostess.
Edward put the platter of steaks down, grabbed her by the hand and pulled her with him to the door. He held her hand tightly in his, as he opened the door. Three women looked from Edward to Bella and back to Edward. "Sonia, Lexa and Becca, this is my girlfriend, Bella. Bella these are three of my friends. Come on in, ladies."
They walked into the kitchen and the women followed. Edward said, "Ladies, you can put the food on the island counter. Desserts go next to Bella's delicious pie, sides go next to the salad. Hot dogs and hamburgers are out on the deck. Beverages are out there too. Make yourselves at home." And then the doorbell rang again.
Edward led her to the door and repeated the process. "Please come in and make yourselves at home. Molly, Didi, Anya and Gretchen this is my girlfriend, Bella. Bella these are four friends of mine. " The four women came in and stared at Bella, they gave her the once over. She saw one of them, she didn't know if it was Didi or Anya, sneer at her outfit.
"Edward I didn't know that we were going swimming?" she said pointedly.
Edward laughed and slid his arms around Bella's waist. "I asked Bella to wear this outfit for me, I don't need to explain why, do I?" The woman flushed and walked out onto the deck.
"Okay, that was minor, not too bad. I can deal with that." she whispered to Edward. "I don't think that you should introduce me as your girlfriend to Kate. That would be mean."
"I already told her about you." He informed Bella.
"What? When?" Bella was shocked and curious. Why would he even tell the other woman anything about her?
"I talked about you when I showed up slightly drunk at her house the other night." Edward was blunt.
"And she still was going to sleep with you?" Bella was astonished. She got the feeling that Kate was no ordinary woman.
"She was willing." He shrugged.
Another group arrived and Edward introduced Bella again. The last person to arrive was Kate. Edward introduced them and Bella shook Kate's hand and smiled. She didn't want to hold the fact that she and Edward had slept together against the woman. Kate had no such compunction. The smile she gave Bella was a cold twist of the lips. Then she turned to Edward and kissed him on the cheek. "Hey, Edward." Then she sauntered into the kitchen to put down her dish. Bella could see that Kate knew the layout of the Sophia. She'd probably spent more than a few nights here herself. Edward led Bella back out onto the deck and started grilling the steaks.
Soon the little party was in full swing. Edward's neighbors from the marina were two middle -aged men and Mary, an older single woman in her fifties. The men were both retired police officers and Bella could see that there was a shared bond between the two men and Edward, that 'cop bond' that people talk about. Two of Edward's Tae Kwon Do buddies came, unfortunately they brought their girlfriends along, so there was a paucity of single, available men; twenty women and five men, none of whom were available. This was a recipe for disaster.
Bella got nasty glances from at least six of Edward's female 'friends', they obviously had been hoping to make a play for Edward. Molly, a very pretty woman in her early thirties with an athletic body and a short brown bob approached her. At least Bella thought it was Molly she wasn't absolutely sure. She sat next to her and quizzed her about Edward.
"Where did you guys meet?" Molly asked.
Bella decided to keep it simple. "Oh we met at a party at a mutual friend's house."
"How long ago was that?" she asked.
"About a month ago."
"Just a month! And he's already introducing you as his girlfriend! Good for you! Lots of women have been trying for years. I guess they don't have what you have. Beauty, body and extreme youth. If you don't mind me asking how old are you? Are you even eighteen yet? You barely look legal."
Ouch. Bella's head reeled. This woman packed a punch into every word. She smiled in return, "As a matter of fact I'm twenty, do you mind me asking you how old you are?" Silence. "And just for the record, I think Edward does prefer them young." Bella got up and walked over to Edward.
"Everything going okay?"
"Nope. You really know how to surround yourself with bitches, you know that?"
"Has it been that bad?"
"Yeah."
"Don't worry I'll take care of it." Edward put the last of the steaks on a clean platter and handed it to her. "Can you take this into the kitchen for me? Please."
When Bella returned, Edward was sitting on one of the Adirondack chairs. He was talking to one of the ex-cops and others were listening to their exciting tales of crimes they had solved. All the other seats were taken, so Bella perched on the arm of his chair. Edward pulled her to sit on his lap and he ran one hand up and down her thigh. Bella felt fifteen pairs of female eyes digging into her. Is this how he was going to handle it? It didn't strike Bella as though he were taking care of anything. She felt that he was probably adding fuel to the angry bitch fire.
Molly piped up again. "Edward I hear that you and Bella only met a month ago. New relationships are so exciting aren't they?"
"Yes, very exciting, but I first met Bella almost three years ago. I've been smitten ever since I saw her …."
Bella reached up quickly and covered his mouth with her hand, she couldn't believe that he would tell these horrible women something so personal. "Edward, stop."
He pulled her hand from his mouth. "Don't be so shy, sweetie."
"So Bella was seventeen when you first met? Ooh, do tell us more." Kate cooed. Like a snake, she was lying in wait for some dirty morsel of gossip. Something she could embarrass Bella with.
"Bella doesn't want me to, but suffice it to say that I waited a long time." Edward kissed the hand he was holding. "In Hawaiian pidgin,', "She da my ono ono ipo."
"What does that mean?" Bella asked.
He whispered in her ear, "It means that you are my sweet, delicious lover." Her heart pounded.
After that Bella paid no attention to the women, they could go jump in the bay as far as she was concerned. It was almost five o'clock when the doorbell rang and Edward got up to go get it, "Bella, look who's here." Bella turned around and saw her sister. And surprise, surprise, she was not with Dave. She was with Jasper, her boss, who had just gotten engaged.
Bella hugged Alice. "You've got some explaining to do." she whispered in her sister's ear before she turned to give Jasper a hug. "What's up stranger?"
"It's been a long time, Bella. My, my you've grown up." Jasper gave her a peck on the cheek.
After he let her go, his arm immediately snaked back around Alice's waist. Bella looked around and realized the harpies were now focused on Alice and Jasper. Jasper was tall, slim, blond and extremely good looking, he'd always reminded Bella of Jude Law. But Jasper had eyes only for Alice. They dated briefly three years ago, and Alice broke up with Jasper and then married Mike. Bella had a feeling that he had never gotten over her.
Alice looked gorgeous in tight yellow low riding Capri pants and a crocheted white vest, which barely covered her luscious breasts. Bella had never seen her sister so voluptuous, nor so radiant before. The cropped vest exposed her flat midriff all the way down to her hip bones. She had on strappy white high heeled sandals. Everyone, men and women, young and old, stared at Alice; she always had the power to draw attention even in a crowd. Her body screamed 'sex', and her face was riveting. Edward introduced the newcomers to the group and Bella overheard two of the women whispering about the 'sisters' and laughing. For the hundredth time Bella prayed for the evening to end.
Alice gave Bella a bag and Bella ran to the bedroom to change. The bag that Alice brought contained two sheer silk baby dolls. They had spaghetti straps and barely reached the top of her thigh. "Oh, for Pete's sake!" Bella ran back upstairs. "Alice can I see you for a minute?" She took Alice into the living room. "Alice, why on earth would you bring this for me to wear? I need day clothes not lingerie."
Alice snatched the bag. "Oops! Those are mine. Sorry, I must have left your bag in the car."
"You're going to have to give me one of those." Bella reached for the bag and Alice held it behind her back.
"Are you crazy? They're brand new. I just bought them for my night with Jasper….they're almost indecent. You can't wear these as day clothes."
Bella opened her beach cover up and showed Alice her red string bikini. "Look at what I'm wearing! This is all I've got. I can wear the nightie under this cover up and it'll be better than the bikini."
"Oh, all right! Which one should I keep, the black or the red? Black or red?" Finally, she shoved the red one at Bella. Bella decided that she would change later, once the sun went down, that way it may seem that she had on a dress rather than an indecent nightie. She went back downstairs and put the nightie in the top drawer in the bedroom. Edward had followed her. Bella showed him the nightie and explained the problem.
"No one but me cares what you're wearing. And I think you look perfectly sexy in that red bikini, I've had a hard time keeping my hands off you. Do you want one of my dress shirts?" Bella shook her head glumly. Edward hugged her. "Bella I want to make a date with you."
"When?"
"Tonight. When the first fireworks start, I want you to meet me down here, in this bedroom. I want to make love with you while the fireworks are going off."
#
The evening dragged on. Alice and Jasper took some of the focus away from Edward and Bella. A few of the women tried to capture Jasper's attention, but they didn't get anywhere. The two couples sat in the living room on the sectional and talked. There were plenty of places to sit yet Alice perched on Jasper's lap and he rested his head against her breasts. Bella stared at Alice. What on earth was she up to? Just yesterday morning she was raving about sex with Dave. Poor Dave. Poor Jasper.
Bella was on Edward's lap too. Not by her choice, but by Edward's. Every time she slid off his lap and moved to sit next to him, he hauled her back up onto his lap. Edward's Tae Kwon Do buddies also drifted into the living room with their girlfriends.
The party was divided. Couples gathered in the living room and the single women stayed out on the deck. There was soft Brazilian jazz playing and Bella was listening and softly humming. Edward stroked her hair and she lay her head on his shoulder.
Everyone had eaten and some people were having coffee and dessert, others were drinking beer and wine. Most of the food was gone. Surprisingly there were very little leftovers. Bella and Edward had already tidied the kitchen, and she couldn't wait for the evening to be over.
Night came and the fireworks began. Everyone drifted to the deck except for Bella and Edward. They snuck unnoticed down to the bedroom and Edward locked the door behind them. The flash of the fireworks illuminated the two lovers.
Edward unbuttoned his shirt as Bella discarded her white wrap. He walked over to Bella and pushed her up against the wall by the door.
"I remember this bikini. It got me into a lot of trouble." Edward said huskily. "Do you know how unbelievably sexy and beautiful you are?" He bent his head and kissed her mouth. His tongue slid over hers and they both moaned. Edward's hands reached under her bikini top and his thumbs stroked her nipples. He undid the bows and threw it on the floor. He leaned further down and sucked her nipples as his hands slid around her back and down into her bikini bottom to pull her into his hips.
He undid the strings that held the bottom together and threw it aside too. "You're so easy to unwrap, I've been wanting to do that all day." he whispered against her ear. Bella was busy unzipping Edward's shorts and pushing it and his underwear lower and lower, his cock pointing straight at her. He stepped out of his clothes. One of Edward's hands slid between her thighs and pinched her flesh tightly and rubbed, one finger moved inside and stroked her nub and then slipped deliciously into her wet. Bella was moving her hips back and forth, gasping and urging Edward to go faster. He removed his hand and hoisted her up and her legs locked around his hips, her back leaning on the wall. He pushed his hard cock into her soft open flesh and thrust in and out at a feverish pace.
Bella wrapped her arms around Edward's neck and held on tightly as he powered them to orgasm. The room was lit with the flash of fireworks and Bella saw fireworks in her brain as their bodies jerked helplessly and they spun over the edge into fulfillment. Edward carried her to the bed and they toppled on to it. Bella felt boneless. Edward stroked her belly and said, "That was what I really wanted to do that day by the river. I wanted you like that, fucking clinging to me and mindless with passion." Bella moaned and pulled his head down to kiss his lips. "Oh good God." she groaned as he rubbed his hand over her breast, her body pulsed and trembled all over again. He pulled her into the circle of his arms, holding her back to his front and they watched the play of fireworks through the porthole. He rubbed his hand over her abdomen and kissed her shoulders. "Ono ono ipo", he whispered.
As the fireworks show came to a close Edward put his clothes back on and went up to say goodbye to his guests. Bella took a long, hot shower and put on the silk nightie, and went upstairs. Almost everyone was gone. Alice was still sitting in Jasper's lap on the couch, caressing his cheek and kissing him, both oblivious to anything but each other. Kate was standing by the front door next to Edward. Bella walked up and stood next to Edward and said "goodnight" to her. She didn't respond. She gave Bella a quick up and down look and Bella knew she was taking note of the silk nightie. She gave Edward a quick kiss on the cheek and left. Edward closed the door behind her. "I told Alice that she and Jasper are welcome to sleep in the guest bedroom downstairs."
"Goodnight guys." Bella called to them.
"Goodnight." Jasper replied. Alice lifted her hand and waved.
Edward told them, "The bedroom is the door across from the stairs. Clean towels and linen are in the closet in the bedroom and there are extra toothbrushes in the cabinet above the shower."
Bella was glad Edward had given them the bedroom furthest from theirs and that they wouldn't be sharing a common wall with Alice and Jasper. She didn't want to hear any moans and groans and she certainly didn't want them to hear hers.
Edward took a shower and joined her in the bed. "Thanks for everything Bella. I know you put up with a lot of nonsense today."
"What's up with Kate? What was she saying to you by the door?"
"She told me that if it doesn't work out between you and me, she'll be waiting."
"Wow!" Bella took a few seconds to digest that bit of news. "I think she's in love with you, Edward, desperately in love. That's the only way I would offer myself to be someone's fallback." She thought back on Kate's coldness and realized it had hid a great deal of hurt. "I feel sorry for her." Bella caught herself. Who am I kidding? Maybe in a few weeks I'll be in Kate's position, offering myself even when he no longer wants me and has moved on to someone else.
"That won't happen." Edward said as he pulled her under him and started kissing her.
Bella blinked and suddenly realized that she had spoken aloud. "What won't happen?"
"I won't grow tired of you. Not in a few weeks or even a few years. You're in my blood, like a poison. A sweet poison." Edward bent his head and kissed her between her breasts and they started a long night of loving.