Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: It's been a busy couple of weeks. This being so, I don't have a teaser for you. In the way of good news though, I finished Sovereign Fate last week, so now I'm only working on this and my original story, The Children of Creation. I plan to give this story SF's old regular posting slot until it is completed, so unless something unforeseen arises, I hope to be able to give you chapter 13 next Monday.
Also, I'd love it if you'd go check out my original story, stewed up in my own noggin. It's exclusively available on the TWCSlibrary (www .twcslibrary. com/viewstory. php?sid=2334)
Interruptus
Bella giggled as Edward nuzzled her neck in the bunk of her RV, his hand drifting under the soft cotton of her t-shirt to tease her breasts lightly. Nothing more had really happened with them during the cross country trip from North Carolina to Phoenix. Bella was the furthest thing from an exhibitionist you could get, and she just couldn't relax enough to enjoy much more than kissing and some light fondling. She was more than grateful for Edward's gentlemanly tendencies, as he did not push, but did ask to sleep in the bed at the back of the RV with her for the night. She had blushed slightly before agreeing, curling up with a sigh as they finally had room to stretch out and yet still chose to spoon together in the middle of the bed, Edward's arm draped heavily across her waist, his hand holding hers above her heart.
The forty hour trip with stops to eat and fuel up went surprisingly quickly for the young couple as they indulged in two nights on the bed, spending the daylight hours in between talking and making sure more surprises like Tanya didn't catch them off guard again. Not all of the conversations were easy, but they both knew they needed to come clean, because with the added threat of media coverage, even the smallest bit of their past could bite them in the ass down the road if they weren't prepared.
Bella's list of things to confide was embarrassingly short, as the wildest thing she could admit to was having sex on an abandoned portion of a beach with Jacob in the wee hours of the morning. They had walked the beach twice to make absolutely sure that they were alone before Bella even began to agree to it. Beyond that, they had car sex a couple of times, but more often than not, they just stayed at Jacob's place on the same land that Billy owned.
Edward's history was quite a bit more exotic as he had quite a few more people on his list of former lovers that Bella's single entry. In his high school years, he took advantage of his looks and popularity, having enjoyed the company of three different girls from his class, only one of which he was really deeply involved with. Jane and Charlotte were loose girls that he unfortunately flittered away his first experiences on, both simply fun casual encounters that he felt ashamed to have to admit to his Bella. Lauren was the third girl he was involved with, finally getting into what was considered a serious steady relationship. She was a sweet girl, and Edward had cared about her, but he couldn't in all honesty say that he loved her. He was her first and it was nice, but in the end, she deserved more than what he had to offer, so when the call of the races came, he left her behind in the capable and caring hands of his best friend Tyler, who later married Lauren and had a beautiful family together.
After he got involved with the racing world, he made the mistake of getting involved with the daughter of the first owner he ever raced for in the amateur races. Kate had been beautiful and smart, but she was also more than a little bit clingy and eventually turned quasi stalkerish. When Edward ended things with her, he suddenly found himself without a job.
He got lucky after that, ending up landing a spot with a Busch Series team, which eventually led to his job with Volturi and his move to Concord. It was then that he met the sweet, innocent, blushing college student Tanya. They dated for about six months before things got serious and Edward had asked her to move in with him. Once she was in his house though, she started changing. More abrasive parts of her personality began to come forth in their every day interactions, but Edward loved her already and just dealt with them, even though it turned out the shy, quiet, innocent girl turned out to have quite a snarky mouth and a penchant for wild sex.
The language he could look past and the sex made him extremely happy. They had been very adventurous, sneaking off to public restrooms, Edward taking her from behind against the mechanic's trailer after he got knocked out a race before the media paid him any attention, and so on. The list was quite extensive, making an already ill at ease Bella feel extremely inferior and incapable of being able to fulfill Edward's needs. Edward tried to convince her that it wasn't a problem and that he really wasn't that into dangerous, exhibitionist sex, but Bella's fears were not assuaged in the least as she saw the whimsical glint in his eye. She couldn't help but worry that when the time came, they would not be sexually compatible.
By the time they reached Phoenix, both felt that they had covered the history stuff enough to last a lifetime and hoped they would never have to do that ever again. As they stepped out of the RV at the track in Phoenix the day before practices and qualifiers began, Bella and Edward both gasped at the intense heat all around them. Within moments, they felt like they had left the comforts of home to be slowly baked to perfection in the Arizona sun. Both knew without any question that they were in for a miserable week trapped in already hot firesuits, then lashed into the seat of metal boxes that loved to soak up the heat, and then settled nicely in the kiln that the natives called home.
Any minute not dedicated to the track was spent in hiding in the cool air conditioning of the RV, and Bella and Edward were not the only ones with the idea as both RV's had a steady stream of crew in and out to escape the brutal sun, leaving them no alone time whatsoever. Even at night, they found that they always had guests sleeping in the fold out bunks located in the living area. Looking ahead, they knew that the soonest they might end up with a night to themselves anywhere wouldn't be for another two weeks when they would finally reach Richmond Virginia. Edward wanted so badly to push for more, but he didn't want to make his Bella uncomfortable, so he suffered his case of obsidian balls…since he had passed blue balls over a week ago…in silence, while plotting for the possibility of a night away for the two of them in the near future.
As race day approached, Edward was pleased with how well Bella was handling the stress of her first post accident race. He kept a watchful eye on her, looking for any sign that she needed comfort, and preparing himself to step in at a moment's notice. She handled qualifiers fine, but during the first practice she participated in, he could hear the quiver of fear in her voice. He talked to her from his place with the spotters, since they had not been chosen to practice together. Thankfully, he seemed to be able to keep her calm enough to stay in the game…his only worry was if his presence on the field and what attention he could provide while trying to race himself would be enough.
Race day came, and Edward found himself uptight and worried. Bella had done fairly well in qualifiers, but was starting a few cars back in the pack from the beginning. He did his best to keep her calm, all the while hoping she would be able to work her way up to him fast. The race began with a roar of the engines and the smell of hot rubber.
Neither Bella nor Edward did their best, Bella driving far too cautious to make any real progress up the pack, while Edward, not being able to be any further away from her than he had to be, stayed back, not attempting to move up the pack either, but rather maintain his standing as best as possible. Both completed the race in the fifteen to twentieth position, scoring points to go toward their overall score that would allow them to move on to the final races that led to the champion of the Series being named and winning the Sprint Cup. They both had wins under their belt, and while the more wins were better, getting the most points possible was important as well.
The caravan packed up quickly after the autographs and interviews were completed, and the group began making their way to Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. This would be a slightly shorter drive, but would still not give Edward and Bella the privacy that they needed to explore any more of the boundaries in their relationship that both were desperate to discover. Instead, they tried to remain content with sumptuous kisses and caressing hands…but neither of their patience was faring well.
At an extended stop in the outskirts of Memphis, everyone got out to stretch their legs. It had been after much begging that Alice and Rose convinced everyone to stop at a mall, insisting that they needed to get some shopping done. What they needed to shop more for was anybody's business, but Edward was appreciative of the chance to spend some time with his girl and get an idea of the things she liked. He knew she had a birthday in September he wanted to be prepared for, not to mention Christmas.
They wandered around the mall, Edward quickly getting discouraged as Bella seemed to not really want much of anything. He loved that she was a low maintenance girl, but he needed to have something to go on! They were wandering through the lower level when Bella's eyes locked on a Hot Topic store. Edward smirked as he began to finally see his goldmine. Bella loved her shirts with the snarky little sayings, wearing them around his house…well now it would be her house when they returned…in nothing but those shirts paired with shorts, sweats, or jeans.
They wandered into the store, Edward taking a mental note of the things that caught her eye when a call came to Bella's cell. The second Bella answered he could hear the high pitched squealing of Alice from the earpiece, which Bella held at arm's length away from her ear for the safety of her hearing. When the screeching finally stopped, Bella carefully brought it back to her ear, asking Alice to repeat it again in a decibel lower than that which would break glass. Edward couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head at himself at his own obliviousness before their venture into the store.
After a few moments of Bella asking what Alice wanted her to see and finally relenting and agreeing to meet them in another part of the mall, she closed her phone and led Edward toward the area where the Pixie and the Supermodel Greasemonkey were waiting with bright smiles. Alice was bouncing on the balls of her feet and clapping, her smile so wide it hurt just to see it.
"Izzy! Izzy! You have to come see this! Come here!"
She took Bella's hand and led her to the little girl's section, waving her hands at a four prong rack covered in pink and black Izzy Swan merchandise. There were t-shirts and hats, purses and shorts, and even little necklaces with a picture of her and her number on it. Bella blinked in surprise as Alice hopped around her like a monkey on espresso.
"Don't you see, Izzy? You're a role model for little girls now! Little girls want to be you! Their parents want them to grow up and do things girls don't usually do! Isn't it amazing?"
Bella lifted a hand to wipe at a stray tear as she reached up to pick a tiny shirt off the rack that looked like a tiny toddler would be able to wear it. She was still blinking in awe when a little girl with long straight brown hair and sky blue eyes walked up to where they were standing and gasped.
She stared with wide eyes as she opened her mouth and yelled for her Mommy. The girl's mother appeared instantly looking worried and then looked up to gasp as well. She was already wearing an Izzy Swan shirt, and gaped in shock at the sight before her. After an awkward moment, she began to sputter before finally introducing herself and her daughter and asking for an autograph.
Bella flushed deeply as she waited for the woman to shuffle through her purse and find a pen and paper. Once she did, she handed it to Bella who carefully signed a personal note of thanks for the support. When she was done, the little girl quickly grabbed her size from the rack and held it out to Bella, asking for her signature on the shirt herself. Bella looked to her friends for guidance, not sure if she should deface property that had not been purchased yet, but when Edward shrugged figuring that if they didn't buy it then the store would make a bundle off the publicity, she went ahead and did her best to sign the shirt with the same pen.
After a few more awkward goodbyes, Bella and Edward walked away, Bella still feeling flustered while Edward smiled brightly with pride. He did, however, think it was a good idea to vacate the mall before word spread and they ran the risk of getting mobbed, quickly leading Bella out to the caravan, pleased to find it abandoned for once.
They climbed into the RV, Edward quickly pulling Bella into his lap as he sat in the living area on the narrow loveseat. Bella shifted slightly to straddle him, curling up to his chest and burying her face in his neck as Edward chuckled lightly.
"You're an all age's female idol now, Bella, and I'm so proud of you."
Bella blushed with a sigh, burying her face deeper into the crook of Edward's neck. Edward chuckled running his hands up and down her spine. Soon Bella's sighs of embarrassment turned into light kisses along the column of Edward's neck as his hands slid under the thin cotton of her shirt and skimmed along either side of the ridge of her spine. Within a few minutes, Edward's hands made their way to cup Bella's breasts under her shirt, pushing the cups of her bra aside to reveal the soft tenderness of her flesh to his hands. Bella moaned, moving her lips to his as they kissed deeply, Edward's hands massaging tenderly.
The curtain between the driver's area and the back had been pulled, the shades were all drawn, and the doors were locked, in that brief moment, Bella felt reasonably safe. She broke the kiss to look Edward in the eyes before slowly lifting her shirt to reveal her pump breasts, pushed by the supports of the bra to bulge over the repositioned cups. Her rosy nipples called to Edward who moaned as he watched his hands continue their work, more turned on than ever by the sight of what he had been doing.
He looked to her eyes for permission, seeing it in the determination of her gaze. Edward smirked a second before leaning in to gently kiss Bella's right nipple, drawing the already taught peak between his lips lovingly. Bella gasped, arching her back and grinding her hips against his, enjoying the feel of his obvious arousal against the seam of her jeans. She had felt it before as they curled together on the couch and in the RV bed, but this was the first time that she knew beyond all doubt that this was due entirely to their interactions and not the basic biology of male morning wood.
One of Edward's hands slid quickly to Bella's hip, encouraging her movements against him as the other teased the nipple that was not enjoying the attentions of his lips. Worried that others might hear, Bella tried hard to smother her moans and whimpers, but it was difficult when everything felt so very good. With clothes between them and only his mouth on her breasts, Edward was already drawing more sensations from Bella than she ever felt before.
Bella was just beginning to get brave enough to try to up the ante a little when a loud knock at the door sent her jumping up from Edward's lap and running to the bathroom to straighten her bra and clothes. A bewildered and horny as hell Edward sighed, trying his best to hide his rather large problem in his pants before unlocking the door to allow the driver back into the RV.
Dave, their driver for the rest of the trip, smiled knowingly with a nod before climbing into the driver's seat and adjusting it to suit his needs. While he was busy doing that, Edward made his way to the back of the RV to check on Bella. He knocked on the door twice before she answered, her face glowing hot from her mortification.
"Do you think he knew what we were doing?"
Edward paused, trying to decide what to do. It would make her feel much better to lie to her and say he didn't suspect a thing, but then he didn't want to lie to her about anything. Their relationship was going to be difficult enough, he was certain honesty was the best policy.
He sighed, tugging at his hair as he took Bella's hand, leading her to sit with him on the bed, closing the door to provide them a modicum of privacy. "I won't lie to you, sweetheart. He pretty much figured it out."
Bella covered her face with her hands, groaning loudly as Edward wrapped his arm around her shoulder and tugged her to his side.
"It wasn't that bad, Bella. It's fine. Honestly, we will have to get used to stuff like this in some ways, because with our jobs, the press will always be watching. We'll never get any further in our relationship if we get too worried about it. You don't see Alice or Rose getting all self-conscious about the things we hear them doing with their husbands."
Bella rolled her eyes with a sigh. Not a single road team member had been saved the great joy of hearing one or the other of those couples enjoying a little private time between races. Matter of fact, it had become a running joke within the group. Bella didn't want that though. She couldn't stand the idea that their closeness could end up the punch line of some joke the staff shared behind their backs.
With a sigh, she rested her head against Edward's shoulder and looked up with puppy dog eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm just such a private person. I don't want my love life to be a joke. I want it to be something special between me and the man I love, not public knowledge with the people I see all day every day."
Edward smiled down at her, kissing her temple as he wrapped her tightly into his side. "I know, love. I feel the same way…but at the same time, it's so hard to keep my hands to myself. I want to experience more with you so fucking much it makes my whole body ache. You have no idea how utterly appealing you are. I dream day and night of exploring your beautiful body. I can't wait, my beautiful Bella."
Bella sighed, closing her eyes and wishing she could be someone else…someone with more beauty and fewer insecurities. She wished that for just one day she could be more like Rose and Alice and let go of her fears and just indulge in all of Edward's fantasies. She wanted to be wild with him and free and just FEEL for once in her life, but the person she was deep down inside would never allow it.
Bella pushed away a frustrated tear as she curled herself over Edward's lap and rested her head over his heart…his steady, dependable, loving heart. She prayed with all of her might that when the time came that she could be the woman he needed her to be, because she could no longer picture continuing her life without him. It had only been a few short months, but in that time Edward Cullen had already become her life.
Edward shifted them up the bed, resting them on the pillows as he encouraged Bella to curl around him, her legs tangling with his, her head resting on his chest, her arms curled around his torso. He closed his eyes and prayed that he would be worthy of such a wonderful, sweet, amazing person such as Bella, and when the time came, he could show her exactly how amazing physical love could be when it was done right with someone who you loved more than your own life. Maybe once she saw how beautiful real love can be, she would no longer be so fearful of expressing it near others. In the meantime, he hoped that his plans for some alone time in Talladega might give them the freedom to explore the things that Dave's knock interrupted earlier that evening.
