The Last One – Chapter Eleven
Bella adjusted her bra strap, looking at herself in the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She leaned closer, unsure about the color of her lipstick. "How do you do this every day? I hate makeup."
"Says the woman who owns eighteen eye shadow palettes." Alice exited Bella's small walk-in closet, carrying the kitten heels she gave her last month.
"That's because I don't know what I'm doing." Bella shook her head, shaking out her hair. "Thanks for coming over this morning."
"No problem. Besides, I could never miss a Skype session with Jared on Christmas morning."
Bella hugged her friend from behind, kissing her cheek. "You knew I'd need some support and comfort afterward, so appreciate it. What time are you heading to Jasper's?" She stepped into the heels, making sure they were the right fit for the dress. They weren't, and she grabbed a new pair of boots instead.
"In another hour; I'm sort of nervous." Alice looked away, adjusting a couple of frames on the wall. "I met almost everyone, except the person who raised him. What if his grandmother hates me?"
"Name one person who hates you." Bella pulled out a sexy red, swing coat to top off the look. Edward wouldn't know what hit him. She blew herself a kiss in the mirror, another vote of confidence.
"Becky Winston from high school."
"Well, she should hate you. You ran over her cat the first time you drove your new car."
Alice stuck out her tongue. "Puff lived, thank you very much."
Bella turned to her friend, placing her hands on Alice's arm in an attempt to keep her from fidgeting. "You are a strong, confident woman. Jasper's grandmother will see that. Plus, you're a sweetheart. Also, don't lie and try to say you made the cookies I'm sending with you. She'll know you're lying."
Alice groaned. "That was my plan. I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"You're right, I don't. Now, if you would please turn around?" Alice asked Bella, who complied with a flare to her spin. "Put on the onyx earrings I got you two years ago; they'll work with the outfit."
Bella walked over to her bureau, searching the contents of the small jewelry box on top. "Are you sure the dress is okay? It's not too trashy."
"It's fine. You're a knockout. Are you sure, they're all dressing up? From the way you explained things, they sound like casual people."
"Esme said it was semi-formal." Bella shrugged. "I figured this would work, right?"
"It does. Now remind me why you left last night."
Bella had hoped Alice would forget all about that, but of course, she was a nosy thing. "Jared called."
"But you said it was very spotty, and it only last a few minutes."
"Yes, it did."
"But you left right after you had the fake argument to teach Mama Cullen a lesson."
Bella wouldn't meet Alice's gaze, choosing instead to check that she had the gifts for Edward's family marked correctly. "Well, not immediately after the fight."
Alice was tapping her foot, standing with her arms crossed over her chest. She wanted answers. "What happened between the fight and the call that made you leave?"
"The hottest fucking kiss of my life." She tugged on her lip, showing the tiny nick near the corner. "It was so hard, I tasted blood. Sexiest thing, there were hands, tongue, nips, licks. Fuck, Alice. Then Jared called, and I left."
"Again, why did you leave right after the call? Sounds like you could've just picked up right where you left off."
"I was overwhelmed!"
Alice snorted, then laughed her ass off. "Oh please, that is the biggest load of shit I've ever heard. You do not get overwhelmed; you face things head on, always had, always will. So what is the real reason you left?"
Bella hung her head, whispering the truth, but not loud enough.
"I can't hear you! Tell me why? Is Aunt Flo visiting?"
"I hadn't shaved from my knees up in months, okay! Are you happy? I had a fucking forest between my legs. I was ready to strip him out of his clothes and mine, then Jared called, and I remembered. I thought 'oh fuck, I'll scare him away with my 70s bush.'"
At this point, Alice was crying, laughing, and pointing at Bella's nether region. "I can't breathe."
"I'm so glad I amuse you." Bella grabbed her things and coat, turning off her bedroom light and leaving Alice in the dark.
"I'm assuming you took care of it." Alice helped Bella into her coat, and vice versa.
"Yes, I had to call in a huge favor. I owe my wax girls like a billion cupcakes." Bella groaned, thinking of all the baking she'd have to do for the two parties Leah planned for her daughters. "But I'm trimmed and smooth."
"In other words, you're ready for another chance and your boss's dick."
"I'm not sleeping with him while his family is in the house. I'm horny, not disrespectful."
Alice cocked an eyebrow, preventing Bella from escaping the Spanish Inquisition. "But you wouldn't be opposed to letting him get some citrus, right?"
"Citrus? Are you reading fanfiction again?"
"I know for a fact you added two new favorites in your list of favorites last week. X-Files fandom; don't get me started on your obsession with Captain Swan's ship."
"It's just I rarely see that term used nowadays." Bella held open the door for Alice, locking up behind her. "What are you reading now?"
"Lucifer." Alice sighed. "Hottest devil in the Los Angeles area."
They talked on the way down to the parking garage, then hugged one last time, heading in different directions. Bella waved as Alice zipped by in her Prius, then she popped open the trunk of her Volvo and dropped the bag of gifts and the personalized cookies she made for dessert.
And then, the universe decided her car wouldn't start. From what she could tell, and the clicking sound it made, the battery was likely drained or needed replacing. Garrett was out of town, and the only friend in the area was on the way to meet her boyfriend's grandmother for the first time.
She called Edward.
"Hello, Isabella."
"I have a problem," she said by way of greeting.
Edward Cullen stood up immediately from one of the couches in his living room. "What's wrong?" He walked briskly toward the door, waving off his mother's inquiring gaze from the kitchen. With some patience, he listened as Bella explained her situation, automatically reaching for his keys and wallet. "I can pick you up, if you'd like."
"Are you sure it's not a problem?"
"I'm sure, I want you here." And not all alone. Simply the idea of the thought made Edward frown in sympathy. Isabella Swan did not deserve to spend her holidays alone. "May I please come pick you up?"
"Yes, please."
.
.
.
Edward's mouth dropped open at the first glance of her, under the eve of her apartment building. She was something to behold. Dressed in a red coat that reached her knees, no hosiery, and a pair of sexy, black leather ankle boots, she appeared to belong in one of those awful Hallmark Christmas movies his mother and Rosalie subjected the family to every year.
He wasn't sure how to feel about her role as a romantic lead. It was what he wanted, but was it wise with someone so young? She was eight years younger than him. With someone who worked for him? And wasn't it moving rather quickly?
Questions and doubts surfaced; no wonder she felt overwhelmed.
He pulled up to the curb, exiting his car and joining her. "How long have you been waiting outside?" Unsure if she'd welcome his touch after her abrupt parting the previous day, he didn't try.
She smiled at him warmly, her cheeks flushed with color. "Only two minutes. I really like your car."
"Considering the state of your supposedly reliable Volvo, I don't find that hard to believe."
"It's the battery." She shrugged, stepping closer to him. Her eyes were as warm as her smile. "Since it's Christmas, I figured I'd wait to replace it until Monday."
"I suppose this means you'll be late for work in the morning."
"I'm afraid so." Closer still, she placed her gloved hands on his chest. "Whatever will you do without your cup of coffee?"
His eyes narrowed. "Are you laughing at me, Miss Swan?"
"No." Her grin matched the Cheshire Cat's in Alice in Wonderland.
Taking a chance, his hand brushed down her arm, Edward leaned down to place a soft kiss on her lips. She accepted him, her hands on his chest sliding down to grasp either side of his waist. It was far gentler than their first kiss, but much warmer than their last.
"I'm saving up for a fancy new car, so can I drive?"
She befuddled his mind thoroughly, and soon he found himself in the passenger seat of his SUV for the first time since he bought it in June. Her coat now laid in the backseat, along with a bag of small, wrapped gifts, and a container full of treats for his family. Her dress, a matching red to her coat, left his mouth watering, desperate for another taste of her skin. The cut of the dress presented the top curves of her breasts, but only just. It felt more like a tease of what lay beneath. It flowed from her waist, the skirt dancing as she moved to slip behind the wheel.
"You have me thinking like a caveman," he muttered, looking away before he did something stupid. Like touch her. He was still unsure about sharing her with his family, especially when everything was changing.
He hated change. Usually.
"Is my dress too much?"
"Honesty, right?" He looked back at her, watching her nod. "It's perfect, and you look beautiful. It's just that it's taking quite a bit of control not to slide my hand down your thigh."
Her quick gasp turned to a moan. "You mean this thigh?" She pulled her dress several inches up her legs when they reached a red light.
He couldn't help staring as he tried to control his breathing.
"Did I happen to mention that you look entirely too hot for our own good, Mr. Cullen?"
"For my own good? I don't understand." Amused and aroused, he skimmed the tip of his finger along her soft, warm thigh.
"It's taking quite a bit of control..." She sounded as aroused as he likely had when he had said the same words. "...to not turn this car around and ask if you wanted to join me in my apartment for a cup of coffee."
Edward groaned, stifling the urge to shift on the seat. It would tell her exactly what her confession did to him. He would never be able to look at a cup of coffee the same way.
"What do you think about that?"
Needing a change of topic, he chose something safer. "How is Jared? You left rather suddenly last night after his call. I was worried something was wrong all night."
"I'm sorry; that wasn't my intention. The call was rather short, since the signal at the ranch was as bad as James predicted. They wanted to just check in and suggest a Skype call in the morning. James and Jared drove into town this morning to call me."
"That must've been nice, to see and talk to your son Christmas morning."
"It was wonderful. Now, why the abrupt change in topic, Mr. Cullen? I rather liked the other one."
"Because I want to take you up on your offer, that's why. Though, you still haven't answered my question. If everything was all right with your son, what made you leave? I understand being overwhelmed, but there was something else. I saw it in your eyes."
She groaned, shaking her head. "It's embarrassing."
"I believe being embarrassed would never stop you from speaking up."
"It does when it comes to my um…grooming habits."
Edward tried in vain not to do or say anything that might antagonize her. A chuckle erupted, and there was no stopping his laughter.
"That's the same reaction Alice gave me." She pouted, but then she gave him a heated look and sexy smile. "Anyway, I was afraid my condition would've sent you running for the hills. So I took care of the problem shortly after our texts last night." She batted her lashes playfully, her smile widening as his answering groan. "I'm all nice and smooth now."
Edward's hands tightened on his thighs, fighting the urge to touch her once again. "No shame."
"Only a little," she said, shrugging when he looked at her in confusion. "I kissed you after saying it would take much longer than two days for me to even say yes to a date after the spawn comment." Her brow furrowed, concentrating on the road. "And now I'm wondering if you even want to go out on a date."
His hand settled on her hand grasping the gearshift, keeping his gaze on her. "I'm not interested in just a few sweaty hours between the sheets."
She recognized her own words, glancing at him.
"Hopefully, my family will give us some privacy so we can talk, but no running this time. If you're overwhelmed, I will give you your space, but please, talk to me."
Her breath caught; her mouth parting under his gaze. "How can you talk when your hand is sliding up my thigh?"
He snapped his hand back, apologizing. How had he not realized what he was doing? He was attuned to her, wanting her in every way.
"Thank you, now if you want, you can put your hand back." She licked her lips, shivering as she drove into the underground parking garage in his building. They each waved to the security guard, neither talking until she parked. "Did you know our kiss last night left a mark?"
He rubbed at the slight sting in his mouth. "You marked me, as well."
She stared at his fingers tracing his bottom lip.
"Tell me what you want, Isabella."
"For you to kiss me," she gasped, unbuckling her seatbelt, but kept her hands on the steering wheel. "For you to touch me."
"My pleasure." He grabbed her face with both hands, wondering again how he had waited so long for this, for her. "I aim to please."
Her answering smile was mischievous, yet sultry. Their lips met, her mouth opening under his, her scent surrounding him. One of her hands wandered up his right arm then slid around his wrist.
She pulled away to kiss the inside of it where his tattoo was, admiring it for a moment. "I see, so you do have a heart."
How did she know? he wondered. He had the tattoo since college, an equation equivalent of a heart curve. No one had figured it out other than fellow math geeks.
"And my heart, it's about to beat out my chest," he declared, kissing her again.
"Do you want to touch me?"
"Fuck yes."
Her fingers tightened around his wrist, moving his hand down to her thigh. She slid it higher, stopping a mere inch from her warmth.
"Isabella."
"More, just a little more, before we get cock-blocked again." She giggled at his chuckle, her laughter a sound so carefree and sweet that he couldn't help but kiss her once more. She moaned as his thumb slid under the edge of her underwear. "Just a touch; a tease to hold us over until we get some time alone. Please, Edward."
"I'm tempted to kick them all out right about now." He cursed when he felt her under his fingers; she was slick and warm, so tempting. His lips brushed along her jaw, her neck, and shoulder, loving the feel of her so soft against his skin. "I want to taste…" He nipped at a few freckles along her collarbone, soothing the sting with his tongue. "...every inch of you."
"I so want to let you." Her hands tugged on his hair, pulling his mouth to hers. She stopped his hand on hers, her eyes closing. "As much as I want to continue this, your family will know, and it's none of their business." Her mouth dropped open as his finger rubbed in just the right spot between her thighs. "Oh fuck, do that again, please."
Edward did, but he gentled his strokes, until his fingers simply stilled between her thighs.
She peppered his jawline with soft brushes of her lips, whispering something he couldn't quite catch. "We're going to burn the place down when we're alone."
Edward slipped his hand free, brushing the tips of his fingers along his lips.
Her eyes widened, her thighs rubbing together.
"Isabella, we're going to break the fucking furniture."
AN: I apologize for being a day late, had a horrible migraine. Thanks to Midnight Cougar for your help with the chapter. Also thank you to everyone rec'ing this fic on Facebook, Twitter and a few blog sites. It's been a lot of fun to write. Now, let's see what are the Cullen Family traditions in the next chapter.