A/N: Thank you to purplec305 for pre-reading and Midnight Cougar for beta-ing. xx

Disclaimer: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the author. No copyright infringement is intended.

-OTG-

(EPOV)

December 30th

"Hey, sleepyhead." Bella grins then runs a hand over my arm.

I clear my throat still heavy with sleep. "Hey, how long have you been up?"

"Long enough to fix breakfast."

"What time is it?" I lean up and look around the room, but fail to find a clock.

"Almost one o'clock in the afternoon."

I fall back onto the bed. "And you're making breakfast?"

"Edward, I can eat breakfast food anytime of the day. It's my favorite meal."

"It smells like bacon." I pucker my lips. "Kiss me."

She gives me an all-too-quick peck. "You're right. I made French toast with sausage links and bacon."

Bella stands and I notice she's wearing a T-shirt without a bra, a pair of shorts that barely contain her ass cheeks, and a pair of long, cozy socks that go to her knees.

My eyes linger on her chest, but don't miss her great ass as she turns heading back to the kitchen. "Sounds good. I'll go to the bathroom, then I'll be ready to eat."

There's a knock on Bella's door, which causes Blue to let out a bark.

She pauses. "I'll go get that."

"Were you expecting anybody?" I wonder.

"No, but maybe it's Dad or Gran."

I use the restroom then head to the kitchen, but overhear Bella talking with whoever is at the front door. I notice her arms crossed over her chest as she refuses to invite them inside.

"I told you. I'm not interested. You should leave."

A man's voice responds. "You used to be interested or are you seeing someone new? A Sugar Daddy? I know that money came from somewhere, but I won't hold it against you. You probably heard about Vic and me. I won't tell if you won't."

I've heard enough, and wearing only a pair of sleep pants, make my half-naked presence known. "Bella, who's at the door?"

She opens it a little wider. "This is James."

I can't contain my grin at this fortunate opportunity. "Just the man I want to thank."

"Who are you?" he asks, puffing out his chest while trying to match my height and failing.

I extend my hand and position myself in front of Bella. "I'm Edward Cullen. Bella's Sugar Daddy."

Bella gasps at revealing my identity to James, but at this point, I don't care. He needs to know whom he's dealing with for insulting Bella, and I will not put up with his attitude any longer.

He shakes my hand squeezing harder than necessary, but I don't miss the opportunity to crush his right back.

"James Hunter. President of Hunter Valley Bank."

"Not true," Bella corrects from behind me.

His eyes move to her over my shoulder and he comes clean. "Okay Vice-President, but I'm running everything now. So, it's only a matter of time."

"Well, I've got bad news for you, James. Bella will no longer need you or your bank."

He glances back at her. "Bella—"

"Look, James, I hate to cut this little meet and greet short, but we've got to get back to hibernating. Bottom line: you fucked up and Bella is moving on without you. But don't worry; I'll make sure you get an invitation to the wedding, as a personal thank you from me." I smile then slam the door shut in his face, locking it before he can say another word.

When I turn around, Bella is standing close to me with her hand over her mouth in shock.

Her mouth moves a few times until it manages a single word. "Wedding?"

"Was that too much?" I look out the side window watching James get back in his car then pull away.

"Uh—" Bella looks around with no clue how to answer.

"Look, Bella, I don't have a ring yet, but I'll get down on one knee right now and ask you if that's what you want."

She lets out a gasp. "Holy shit."

It's a case of too much, too soon, so I need to let her off the hook and get back to our easy day together. "Maybe another time then?"

"I was just hoping to start my day with some food," she mumbles. Huffing, she turns toward the kitchen, then turns back to point at the closed door. "Then James—"

"Then let's do that. I'm hungry and can't wait to try your French toast." I guide her back to the kitchen where she snaps into action, pulling two warm plates filled with food from the oven, and setting them on the table.

She offers me a small amber-filled jar. "Um, this is the maple syrup we make here on the farm."

I take my seat and grab a fork, giving her the green light. "Pour away. I can't wait to try it."

"It's thinner than most store bought syrups," she explains.

I observe her as she douses both of our plates with much more syrup than necessary.

Her brow cringes as she stares at our breakfast then continues. "It doesn't have all the chemicals and stuff."

When the jar is empty, she catches my eye and abruptly changes the direction of the conversation.

"I can't believe you wedding-bombed me."

"Well, the cat's out of the bag. I hope this means you will warm up to the idea." I moan at my first bite. "This is delicious."

Bella nods and cuts her food into small squares, but never taking a bite. "Really? A wedding?"

I'm surprised she hasn't seen this one coming. "Marrying you? Why is this so hard for you to believe?"

"It shouldn't be, but I wasn't expecting these words so soon."

"We have all the time in the world, but why wait? I want you to know my intentions. What we're doing here?"

I point between the two of us as she nods. "I don't take this lightly, but Bella, everything about us is right. I love you, and you probably love me." I shrug, going back to my breakfast.

"Edward." She gasps, her eyes becoming glassy. Then she stands, pushing her chair away from the table, and disappears into her bedroom. When she returns, she sets a small jewelry box wrapped with a ribbon on the table.

"What's this?"

"I was going to wait until tomorrow night, but now is the right time."

"Right time for what?"

"Open it."

I pull on the ribbon, removing it from the box, then open the hinged lid. My heart beats faster when I see what's inside.

"It's a key." She pauses, letting everything sink in for a moment. "To the cottage. Your home."

The end of the key is a colorful house with the word "Home" at the top, and it's attached to a keychain shaped like the state of Michigan with a little heart cut from near the middle of the Mitten. "Oh, Bella."

She waits until our eyes meet, and I can see the truth and sincerity radiating from them. "I love you, Edward. Never doubt it, not even for a second."

My heart feels as though it may burst with happiness. "I can't remember the last time I had a keychain or a real key. Not a hotel key. It isn't the same."

"Well, I've got another one for you with about twenty keys to everything else around here: the barns, the trucks, the four-wheeler, the tractor, the lawnmower, the main house, and my Jeep. Hopefully, you'll have no trouble figuring out which ones to use where." She lowers her voice. "But I thought this one was the most important."

"It is. I love you, Bella. Thank you."

"I figured once you have a Michigan driver's license, then we could shop for a new vehicle for you. Maybe a truck or—"

I stop her because I know what I would love to drive permanently. "I like your Jeep. It goes everywhere in all weather. And it's fun."

"Are you sure? Something large like a Suburban that would help with hauling people or things, like Gran's bakery orders."

"We can buy another vehicle. Whatever you want."

"Then here." She grabs another large key chain from the kitchen cabinet, removing one key. "Add this one to your home key. It's the Jeep. It's yours. We'll add your name to the title and we will own it together."

"Bella." I stand from my seat then smash my lips with hers, holding her head in place as I kiss the ever-loving fuck out of her. "You have no idea what this means."

"You wanted to mix and mingle our things. I'm all-in too." Bella smiles brightly.

"Really?"

"Really. I love you."

"I love you too."

After another kiss, we return to our places at the table.

"Now, what else did you want to do today?" she asks, digging into her breakfast.

"I thought maybe the two of us could try out my new ice fishing pole. Gran said you like to fish too."

"I do. Do you know how to ice skate?"

"No. I've never tried."

"We have plenty of extra skates at Gran's. I'm certain we can find a pair in your size. If you're going to be a Michigander, you need to learn how to skate."

"Let's hope I don't end up in the emergency room."

"Not a chance with me as your teacher."

"You know how to skate?"

Bella smirks. "Edward, I was born with skates on my feet. It's probably why my mom is so bitchy."

I bark out a laugh at the thought. "Were you a figure skater?"

"No. Hockey."

"Girls play hockey?"

"Oh, Edward. I can't believe you said that. I played on a co-ed travel team until high school, then for an all-girls team during high school."

"Did you play in college?"

"No I hung up my skates after I graduated from high school and focused on my college classes. Now, I'm on an all-women's house team that plays on Sunday mornings."

"Am I going to get to see you play?" The thought of watching Bella on the ice brings a smile to my face.

"We're off for the holidays, but I have to ask, are you ready for that? Leaving the farm?"

Without any hesitation, my answer is easy. "Yes. There's no doubt in my mind I want to figure out how to move freely in this community without causing a stir everywhere I go."

"Good. Maybe Rosalie will have ideas on where we go from here, but I have a few too. I think we should wait and talk with her tomorrow."

"Emmett said he would bring plans for security too."

"Then it sounds like it's time for some fun. Are you ready for your first ice skating lesson then a little fishing?"

"Absolutely."

We clean up our dishes then bundle up and head to the main house. We stop in to say a quick "hello" to Gran, dropping off Blue, then gather up all of our needed equipment from the garage. Bella finds skates for me, as promised, but hands me a cheap, white plastic armchair.

"Trust me."

"Okay, but I can carry more than this."

She grabs a few more items. "Here take the bucket of pucks and two sticks then. I'll bring the goal."

I'm skeptical. "I'll be ready to play hockey after one lesson?"

"You don't believe I'm that good?" Her eyes are full of mirth and challenge.

We walk out toward the lake, and I clarify, "I don't doubt you. I doubt me."

Bella hauls the goal to the edge of the lake then goes back for the ice-fishing sled Charlie previously used.

When she returns, my lesson begins.

"Step one: sit in the chair on the ice," Bella instructs.

I move out onto the lake, not as hesitant as when I was here last time. "Okay."

"Step two: take off your boots and put on your skates."

Bella sits on a nearby bench and does the same, much more quickly than me.

When I'm finally finished lacing the skates tightly, I ask, "What's next?"

"Step three: stand up."

Bella has a snow shovel, and she pushes snow away from the surface on skates while I contemplate her direction.

I catch my balance twice before I'm upright. "Check. Now what?"

"Step four: turn around and face your chair."

Turning around is difficult, but I take tiny steps and eventually make the complete turn. "Tah-dah."

"Fantastic. Now, hold on to the arms of the chair and move your feet. Rather than stepping, it's more of a slide and glide. Use the chair to help keep your balance, and if you feel you're going to fall, set it down and get your feet back underneath you."

Bella continues clearing off a spot on the lake while I get the hang of skating.

"I think I'm doing it!" I shout, but nearly wipeout when she looks over to check my progress. "Ignore that last bobble."

"Keep going," she encourages. "I'll have this rink cleared off in no time. The surface of the lake is very uneven, unlike groomed ice in a rink. So, it's challenging in a different way with the many grooves and bumps in the surface."

Despite what she says, Bella has no difficulty gliding across the ice. I skate toward her hoping for a break and a chance to sit in the chair I've been using to help keep my balance.

"You're doing great. It takes time, but you're getting it." She skates backward as I get closer. "Do you want to hold my hands instead?"

"Sure." So much for sitting and taking a break with Bella on my lap.

She pulls me around her newly made rink, making two laps before she returns me to my chair. "Great job, Edward. How about you try shooting a few pucks?"

"Okay."

Bella skates out the goal then goes back for our sticks and the bucket of pucks. "Here." She scatters pucks across the surface. "Stand in place and try to hit the puck into the goal. It won't easily glide across the surface. So, really let it have it when you make contact."

My first shot doesn't make it, but at least I don't fall down with the movement. I keep trying by using a little more force each time. Sometimes, I miss the puck completely, but others go the distance, yet are just outside of the goal.

"This is harder than it looks."

Bella grins and offers another challenge. "Can you imagine having a fight about now? As if you aren't concentrating on keeping your balance and shooting the puck in the goal, all of a sudden, someone plows into you ready for a fight because you've been talking smack since the puck dropped."

"Have you been in a fight?" I bet she can hold her own.

"A few. Tempers flare, and sometimes, it's the only way another team can take you out. They lack the talent, but it's part of the game. So, everyone learns to fight on the ice."

"Shit. No, I can't imagine doing that."

Bella slings a puck at the goal and it goes into the back of the net without question.

I marvel at how effortlessly she shoots the puck. "How do you get the puck off the surface like you just did?"

"You have to learn to elevate the puck or lift it off the surface. It takes practice, but it's something you can learn off skates too."

"Show me."

"So, demanding." She grins. "First, start with the blade or curved part of your stick cupping the puck. Then, you roll your wrists to open the blade, which will allow you to lift the puck off the surface. You push down with your top hand then up with your bottom hand to add power."

Bella shows the technique a few more times, then I try it with little success.

"I give up." I'm exasperated at not getting something so simple.

"Do you want to keep skating or are you ready to fish?"

I toss my stick to the side and grab my chair. "I think I'll keep skating a little more."

"Okay, I'll hit the rest of these in, then clean up."

It's a beautiful, clear, sunny afternoon without a cloud in the spectacular, blue sky, but the coldness is penetrating my gloves, and my fingers feel numb.

"Does your dad know how to skate?" I wonder as I pass her by.

"Yes, he taught me."

"He played hockey?"

"Yes, for years. I think he was disappointed when I didn't turn out to be a boy. But when I picked up skating so quickly, we found I was stronger, quicker, and better than most of the boys my age. I spent hours out here on the ice every afternoon after school playing hockey until it was time for my lessons every evening."

I decide to sit in my chair and watch her shoot the rest of the pucks. "How old were you when you joined a team?"

"I was five when I joined my first mini-mite team."

"Mini-mite?"

"That's what they call the youngest ones. Then, as you age, you move up the ranks."

The ping of Bella hitting a puck off one of the red bars of the goal echoes, and I wonder, "How cold do you think it is out here?"

"Uh, it's in the teens. Are you cold or sweating?"

"Maybe a little of both. My fingers are getting numb."

"Then let's stop for the day and set up the ice tent."

We return to the lake edge and switch from our ice skates back to our boots.

She points toward the sled. "Did Dad let you run the auger?"

"No, he did it."

"Then it's your turn today."

Bella talks me through making two holes, then helps by chiseling away the ice of one hole just as Charlie did. I slide the tent in place and set the stools and heater inside.

"You did a great job skating," Bella praises. "No one would know it was your first time."

"You're biased and easily swayed by my manly charms."

A blush settles over her features. "Maybe I am. I don't know many women who wouldn't be swayed by your good looks."

"Thank goodness for you I'm the total package." I wink.

Bella lets out a snort. "Yes, thank goodness."

We settle on the stools, and Bella cranks up the heater. "We should be warm in no time."

"Great. It feels colder today." I rub my hands together.

Bella opens a box, then attaches items to the ends of our poles. "The weather forecasters are calling for wind chills to fall below zero tonight."

"Sounds cold." I notice she's doing things different from how Charlie set up our poles. "We aren't using live bait like I did with Charlie?"

"No. I'm a lure fan. I like this floating minnow best. I have it in several colors, and it's the best lure I have. Most successful too. The live silverback minnows that Dad uses are easy, but you have to keep them alive with a special cooler or you won't have any luck. They are more of a hassle. Do you know how to work the camera?"

"I think so." I feed the camera down into the hole, then turn on the monitor, which picks up Bella's lures sitting near the bottom of the lake.

When Bella seems pleased with what she sees on the camera, she sheds her coat, and I do the same.

I look around our small confines without much wiggle room and wonder how we can pass the time. "Now what?"

"Now we wait."

We sit in comfortable silence for a while as the tent warms quickly from the heater, leaving me thirsty.

"Your dad brought beer last time," I share, thinking one would be good about now.

Bella rolls her eyes. "We just had breakfast."

"In the afternoon."

She looks toward the tent opening. "I can run inside and see if Gran has anything in her refrigerator."

"Nah." I have another idea—a naughtier one. "How much weight do you think one of these little stools can hold?"

She grins. "You want to test it out?"

"Yes." I adjust my stool, making room for the two of us on this side of the tent.

Bella straddles my lap, lowering herself until her weight is on top of me. The three-legged stool creaks slightly.

"I think we're good." I press my lips against hers. My hands move under her T-shirt, seeking contact with her silky soft skin.

"Mmmm, Edward." Bella groans when I push her shirt higher until my lips come in contact with her chest.

I squeeze her breasts then lower each cup of her bra until her chest is exposed, my mouth seeking her nipples.

Her hands move from my shoulders to my hair, tugging and pulling in response, as she arches backward while pushing her chest forward.

My mouth moves from one to the other, licking and sucking on her chest. "God, Bella. I love your tits. I wish I could fuck them."

"Maybe later. We need lube." She lets out a moan and tilts her hips with mine as the stool lets out another creak. "Your mouth feels so good."

My hand moves between her legs, rubbing back and forth over the denim fabric.

"I can't believe we're dry humping in the ice tent. I've never done this with anyone." She giggles, then pushes against my hand when the stool finally gives way, causing us to drop with a thud about two feet to the surface of the lake.

We both pause, but I'm the first to laugh. "Holy shit. We broke the stool."

Bella chuckles, then tilts her hips again against my hand. "We'll buy Dad another one."

"Can you roll on your side?"

The entire tent shakes as we change positions and my hand pops the button on her jeans, lowering the zipper then wiggling inside until my hand is back between her legs.

"There's nothing dry about this." I grin and push my hand farther between her legs until two fingers slide inside her opening. "Come on, baby. Keep going."

I wish my cock were buried inside her, but since that's not possible with our clothing and limited space in the tent, I'm left with fucking her with my fingers.

"Edward." She moans and pushes her hips against my hand.

"That's it. Ride my fingers." I suck on the delicate skin of her neck, leaving a mark, then watch as her chest heaves with her every breath.

Bella is glorious as she continues fucking my fingers, chasing her release, while pushing herself to the brink of orgasm until she finally falls over the edge into waves and waves of bliss. "Oh my God."

Her movements slow as she comes down, panting for breath.

"You're so sexy when you come, Bella. You make me feel like the luckiest man on earth," I whisper, leaning up to kiss her neck then chin.

"Oh, Edward." She pants and chuckles. "I can't believe we did that."

"Ice fishing will never be the same for me." I carefully pull my hand from between her legs. "So, it was good for you?"

"As if you need to ask. It was great."

"Bella?" I hear Charlie's voice call out for her as we freeze in place then scramble to right her clothing.

She pulls up the cups of her bra and shoves down her T-shirt, then pokes her head outside of the tent, leaving her curvy ass in my face. "Yeah, Dad?"

"Just checking. Any luck?"

I reach around to the front of her pants, tugging up the zipper and refastening the button, then rub her between her legs over her jeans.

Her legs pinch together, trapping my hand between them, halting my movements. "They don't seem to be taking my lures today."

I pinch her ass, making her squirm, which frees my hand. I move to her abandoned stool and look over at the one we crippled, wondering if there's any hope of fixing it.

Charlie asks, "Mom wants to know if you're staying for dinner?"

"Hang on." Bella twists back around inside the tent. "How about dinner with Dad and Gran, you naughty boy?"

I shrug. "I can eat."

She nods then sticks her head back outside. "Sure. We'll clean up everything and be in for dinner."

Charlie doesn't verbally respond, but Bella moves back inside.

"That was close."

"You think he heard us?" I wonder.

"I have no idea. I was a little distracted."

"A little?"

"Okay, a lot."

"That's more like it." I smile proudly.

"What's our story on the chair?"

"It broke?" I try to keep it to the bare minimum.

"Remember, he's a cop."

"In that case, we were dry humping while I was sucking his daughter's tits, and the stool couldn't hold our combined weight with the rocking movements of her hips grinding against my hand."

"Edward! You can't say that."

I laugh. "Should I include the part where it went from dry humping to wet finger fucking?"

"No!"

"Then let's hope he won't ask, as he has a way of getting the truth out of me."

"Maybe we can fix it before he notices. I can store it at my place and we can figure it out later. I'm fairly handy."

"Me too. And you like it." I grin smugly at her satisfied smile.

She laughs and shoves me playfully as we pack up our fishing gear and load the sled.

A/N: This was a huge chapter full of keys, I love yous, winter fun, and a bit of naughtiness. Oh, and Edward dropped the W-word after the infamous James finally made an appearance. How do you think Edward handled that situation? Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading. xx