Author's note: A huge thanks to gotellalice for recommending this story on her own Dark Moon.
You would not believe how hard Bella fought me on this; I pretty much had to threaten her with giving Edward to someone else, and even then, she was a stubborn bitch.
If you've looked at my profile, you know I wrote a trilogy for the Southern Vampire Mysteries and that I am devoted to TrueBlood; since the soundtrack of Nathan Barr's gorgeous music for the show came out, I have been listening to it non-stop. It is my music recommendation for this chapter, especially Lisbeth Scott's piano interpretation Love Theme. If you review, Edward will play it for you with his shirt off.
Chapter 12
Jasper and Alice were having dinner with Emmett and Rose; Emmett was doing the caveman barbeque thing, probably grilling a whole pig or something. I made the excuse of getting schoolwork done, but really, I wanted to wait for Bella. I hoped when she got back to town she'd call, and maybe we could meet up for dinner or a walk. Maybe she'd come over and I could play "Waiting" for her. Maybe I could touch her and kiss her again.
I had closed the top on the piano, and my music theory work was spread over it. I walked around the piano, checking my notation. I had Jazz's laptop for the evening, so I could check out ideas on how acoustics affect the perception of music. It was pretty cool stuff, but I couldn't concentrate. My bare feet were cold on the wood floor, but it helped keep me focused.
After my run, I had showered and pulled on jeans and a white button-down oxford left hanging open, not bothering to get fully dressed so I could change quickly if Bella called. I was thinking how I'd yet to see her in a dress, and I imagined how beautiful her long legs would be, having seen the sweep of her calves and the muscles of her thighs in those sinful running leggings she'd worn. What would she think if I asked her to wear a skirt for me?
I picked up my notation, trying to pull my mind back from the picture of her standing between my knees, while I ran my hands up under her skirt and along her thighs. The papers felt rough on my fingers compared to what they wanted to be feeling.
A knock at the door and I jumped, the papers fluttering to the floor. What the hell? I thought as I moved into the hallway. This wouldn't be the first time Alice had sent pizza so I wouldn't forget to eat.
I opened the door to tell the kid I needed to grab my wallet, and there she was.
Luminous in the spill of light from the hall, her eyes dark and sparkling, her full lips curved in a gentle smile, and she was wearing… a skirt.
"Bella!" I sputtered. "Come in, please. Gosh, I…" I bumbled with my shirttails, and stepped aside for her.
"Have I interrupted your meal?" she said, brushing past me, her faint flower scent following her. I used the opportunity of her back being turned to adjust my cock, which was filling up my jeans at the sight of my fantasy made real.
"Oh no, no," I hastily fastened two buttons to hold my shirt together, and motioned her down the hall. "Jasper and my sister went to my brother's house for dinner, and I stayed behind to work on some…" I trailed off as I took in her endless legs, smooth and bare. Her skirt stopped just above her knees. She had on scarred leather lace-up wingtips with a moderate heel—like a girl version of a man's business shoes—and tiny white ankle socks. Her hair was twisted up in a messy bun, and her sweater was slate blue, tight, with a mouth-wateringly low v-neck. Add glasses and she'd be my librarian wet-dream.
She stopped in the open French doors that led into my room, and scowled adorably, furrowing her angelic eyebrows. "You have eaten?"
"No." God, she was so. Damn. Hot. I swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "I'm not hungry. I don't get hungry when I'm working." I motioned to the room.
Bella turned then, and I suddenly saw my room through her eyes; I hope she didn't think I was some sort of hobo.
In the center of the large space, gleaming on the hardwood floor, stood my baby grand. It was covered in books and papers, and the staffs I had dropped were spread around its legs. Guarding the window bay was my hulking couch, also littered with papers. The fireplace mantle held matchbox cars, Barbie heads, a sock monkey, a box of band-aids, photos, a mug, a bowl, pencils, half-spent candles, a ball cap, and holy hell! one of my running shoes.
Bella stood in front of my wall of motivation: images torn from various sources and push-pinned up for inspiration. Big sky clouds. The Rockies. Dripping icicles. Rain on leaves. Michelangelo's Captives. City skylines. Crying babies. War. The aftermath of Katrina. Favorite musicians playing. The moon. And yes, even a few beautiful girls. Bella touched a fingertip to each one, smiling as she did.
She spoke to the pictures, "This is where you live?"
"Well. Yes. Technically I stay at my dad's house, but I don't go there much." I couldn't take my eyes off her. My fingers itched to take down her hair. And her panties. I added lamely, "My piano's here."
"So I see," Bella's low voice was amused.
"Would you like a beer? Or I could make coffee?" I wanted to be hospitable. I wanted an excuse to go to the kitchen for matches to light candles and banish the damnable overhead light. "Or," I hesitated to even suggest it, "I could take you out…"
"No," Bella said quietly. She was… watching my piano. It pretty much was her competition, but I didn't want her to feel that way.
"Please have a seat," I motioned toward the couch. To my surprise—and I should be getting used to her surprises by now—she sat on the piano bench. She touched a key and a high note pierced the room.
I let the note fade before asking, hoping, "Do you play?"
She looked up at me through her impossibly long lashes and slowly shook her head, her eyes never leaving mine. As I looked at her, I felt like I was falling into her gaze, into a pool of warm chocolate sauce which I wanted her to lick off me when she said softly in her cello voice, "But you do," and the sound went straight to my cock and I came back to myself with a start and said, "Here," which made no sense as I darted into the kitchen, returning with matches and a chair, which I placed next to the bench. I patted the seat for her to move over and turned to light the candles.
I dimmed the ceiling fixture and when I turned back to the piano, I froze. Bella had removed her shoes and socks—she was so quiet—and her toes were perched on a chair rung, lifting her smooth knees up for my inspection. My hands were drawn to the silky perfection of her skin and she was completely still as I cupped her knees in my palms.
"You're cold," I said, my eyes looking at my hands holding her knees.
"Always," she said, and I looked in her eyes at the feeling that she wanted me to understand something, some tone in her voice. Her eyes were dark and dazzling. Again I felt pulled into them, like I could dive through them and be inside her, wearing her like a coat. My cock drooled a little.
I knelt in front of her, still warming her knees with my hands, and leaned in. She didn't lean forward, but she didn't lean away either. I ran my nose alongside hers, drawing in her delicate smell. Her lips parted, fanning my face with her candied breath. I touched my lips to hers and held them there.
Bella's hands slid inside the open collar of my shirt, grasping either side of my neck and puling me to her. I gasped at the chill of her hands, but her mouth felt warm and she was responsive under my lips, parting her own. I groaned, pressing in deeper. Seeking entry with my own tongue. She pulled back.
"I'm sorry," I muttered, moving to stand, but she stilled me with a look.
"No. I like it. It's just…" her eyes darted away and back, "I bit my tongue earlier. It's still sore." She looked embarrassed. I stroked a finger down her cheek to reassure her.
"Let me play for you." I moved to the bench and sat.
I could feel her eyes on me as I composed myself. Look all you want. Want what you see. I put my fingers to the keys.
I played, just a few hesitant notes repeating. I was aware of Bella next to me, but I wanted her to feel the music, feel how it had taken me when I thought she was gone.
To the liquid repeating notes, I added the high sharp she had just played, ending each run on that rising note, increasing the pull, pulling the tension, until it released in a torrent of sounds falling like water, an excess of notes tumbling over each other in their haste to form a cohesive whole. I risked a look at Bella; her eyes were huge in her pale face and she was staring at my hands, her lips parted. Without thinking, I repeated the entire sequence, and as my fingers dropped over the keys, Bella moved her hands to float over mine, not quite touching.
From that feathered contact, a broken melody evolved, then faltered, strengthened, then broke apart like an unfulfilled pledge. Bella's hands slowly hovered up my arms, skimming the fabric of my shirt until she turned slightly to place her palms on the skin of my chest. My fingers wavered at her touch and I'm sure she heard my gasp. Bella held her hands still on my skin and I picked up the thread of the music again.
I forced my mind to focus. I wanted Bella to know this music was for her. But this was the part I hadn't developed—the entire center of the piece was vague in my mind and on the keys. I couldn't unlock the tune. My heart was thundered inside my ribs like it was struggling to get out; as if to help it escape, Bella's fingertips ghosted over the two buttons holding my shirt together and undid them. Notes scattered over a sweet melody line filled with yearning and the promise of something complete. Her cool hand slipped inside my shirt, brushing down my ribs and along the waist of my jeans. The melody lost its confidence, stumbled, and trailed off to an uncertain end. I looked at Bella's hand, graceful, tentative, poised over my obvious erection.
My eyes rose to hers and before they could even focus, she brought her hands up to my face and removed my glasses. It was more erotic than if she'd undressed me; I felt completely stripped.
Her eyes sought mine, her pupils dilating, darkening like a cat before it springs. She crashed into my arms, her own sliding up my back. Her lips took mine like she was going to bite into me, and I pulled her onto my lap. I sank my fingers deep into the heavy softness of her hair, setting it loose, holding her head and guiding it so I could nibble and suck on her succulent lips. Moaning, we broke apart. We were both panting and I moved in to nip her jaw. She dodged and took my mouth again, hard and hungry. Our hands grappled on each other like we were climbing toward a high peak. I heaved us up to our feet, the piano bench scraping across the floor. We were locked in a waltz of lust dance with me baby and one of her legs circled up to hook her foot behind my thigh, my hands jerking her hips to mine as I bent my knees to friction myself on her stomach. She wriggled a hand between us, gripping my cock through my jeans fuck Bella you're killing me and I sang my arousal into her mouth.
Bella pushed back, her eyes wild, her chest rising and falling fast and my eyes swept over her high round breasts her hard nipples just her, her, her and she slipped her sweater up and off in one smooth move. She reached back and unclasped her blue lace bra before I could stop her I wanted to do that and the slopes of her breasts in the candlelight were lustrous satin with dark pink tips like berries like rose petals like cherry gumdrops sugary sweet. I could just make out the unusual scar on her neck.
I sank to my knees before her and she stepped to me unasked let me worship you with my tongue and my breath and my lips and fisted her hands in my hair. I placed soft murmuring kisses over her breasts, her collarbone, her ribs, running my hands up and down her legs, hearing her breathing catch and sharpen when I licked her nipples. I tried to take in as much of her breast as I could and sucked hard, leaning back and pulling she's so soft and taut and delicious like peaches and she cried out tearing at my hair I could eat you with a spoon and I scraped my teeth over her breast as I released her, letting her flesh pop wet and glistening from my mouth.
I could feel her eyes on me and I looked up, instantly trapped in those volcanic black honey depths. I was pulled to my feet by that look and she almost put me back on my knees when she gave me my smile. I walked her backwards past the couch, unfastening her skirt and letting it slide to her feet. She stepped out and over it, and when her ankles hit the mattress, I stopped us and took her hands, lowering her to the sheets.
I shrugged off my shirt, and unzipped my jeans, and she watched me like I was food and she was starving. She licked her lips, and I shoved down my jeans and underwear in one motion and kicked them away. Bella's eyes grew enormous as she took me in, but I couldn't help the way I was made—I tried to reassure her with the slowness of my movements that I would be careful, that I wouldn't hurt her, that I could delay my own needs as long as it took for her get used to me— when she derailed my thoughts right off a cliff by grasping my cock in her cool hands tight and certain and fucking hell I'm gonna explode on her breasts if she doesn't hold still and I managed to gasp out as much, which made her look both embarrassed and pleased all at once.
I knelt next to her, hooking my fingers in the top of her panties, asking her permission with my eyes. She gave it by lifting her hips and I swept them off and dropped them and how did this gorgeous woman come to be naked in my room she is so beautiful just stunning just starlight and I climbed gently onto the mattress with her, my heart thumping as she lay back, her eyes holding mine and her smile still there, a little bit anxious a whole lot needy don't worry baby I can take care of you and I couldn't quite believe it was me she was needing, but I planned on offering her whatever she would take. Any and all of me, as much or as little, for as long as it took oh my god I hope it takes a long time I want her so bad so much so right now.
She lay on the white sheets, ivory on snow, with her hair spreading like silken roots. I sat back on my heels next to her. I wanted to take in her beauty, to memorize every inch of her, so that I could always carry her inside me. She was holding very still, watching me look at her. And I did.
Her eyes in the half-light were dark pools of fear and arousal. I wanted to dive into their depths and drown there. Her delicate nostrils were flared with excitement and anticipation. Her lips were parted, swollen from the intensity of our kisses. I wanted to stick some part of me between those lips, any part, every part. I gripped my knees to still any motion I might make; so far she was trusting me and I would not violate that trust, no matter how much I wanted to grab her and rub myself all over her.
The flickering candles turned her skin translucent. Her chin was tilted up a bit, with her neck arched; the odd crescent scar almost seemed dimensional in the low light. As my eyes took in her full breasts with their darkening tips, and the flat sweep of her belly, and the boyish curve of her hips, and the small fluff of softness between her legs, I was surprised to see the same scar repeated on the inside of her firm thigh. My eyes flicked over her, and her own grew anxious, watching me. Does she think I find them ugly? Nothing about you could ever be ugly…
On the inside of her wrist, I found another. Then, too, on the opposite wrist. And one on each ankle, just above the rounded bone. These were doubled crescents, one inside the other. My eyes sought hers, and I whispered, "Oh Bella. Your accident?"
She swallowed hard, then nodded.
"It must have been horrible."
She shrugged the teensiest bit, and whispered back, "I healed."
Rather than refresh her pain from her past by seeking further reminders, I gently lifted one wrist to my lips. I moved my mouth on her skin, over the scar. She was so soft, I could almost not feel her at all. She was cool. She was smooth. And she was making small noises in her throat that shot straight through my already aching cock.
Slowly, tenderly, I lowered her arm. Slowly and tenderly, I leaned down and across her and placed soft, insistent kisses over the scar inside her thigh. She was so cool and creamy that I thought of soft-served ice cream from my childhood. How great it felt to press my tongue down into that rich chill. I shivered at the memory combined with the vision in front of me. I was so ready to lick her.
I pointed my tongue, tracing the scar from end to end and back. She whimpered and her lovely thighs fell apart. Between her legs, her folds were dusky and swollen. I kissed my way to them, pausing to snuffle my nose in her baby-animal curls. She smelled like the ground right before rain, musky, fresh, and all girl.
I flattened my tongue and lapped her from bottom to top, and she gasped and bucked up, bumping my nose with her pelvic bone hard enough to make my eyes sting. You brain, she's probably never done this before! I pressed my palm against her taut abdomen to reassure her and hold her steady. Then I licked her again, deeper, opening her folds for me. She was wet and tasted sweet and salty and nutty and fucking delicious. She was cool, even here at her center, and I wondered if I should pull up the covers, but she wiggled under my hand and made an impatient noise.
Keeping my movements steady and unhurried, I slowly pushed her legs apart, and slowly moved between them, and slowly lowered my face down to suck and pull with my lips, the tip of my nose rubbing against her clit, exhilarated to feel it swell. Bella ground herself into my face and I pushed back, so happy to be there I wanted to just crawl inside. I worked my fingers under her gorgeous round ass and used my thumbs to hold her open for me so I could swirl my tongue up, down, and in. I was rewarded with the husky sing-songing of my name, over and over, finding a rhythm I was all too delighted to follow.
She was gasping for me, it all blending into one elongated thrill of climbing desire and my brain was burning with the sounds. My cock had leaked on the sheets and I was digging my hips down for friction. I wanted to wait, to stroke her and kiss her and make her feel adored, to let her know how much her being here with me meant to me, and I didn't want to blow all over the bed from those ball-tugging noises she was making, but as I started to back away, she grabbed my hair in both her hands—hard—and growled, "Don't. You. Dare. Stop. Now."
No my angel, never my angel. I will never, ever stop licking and sucking and fucking loving your delicious pussy and she was mewing like a kitten who'd lost her way and I'm right here angel and her hips were rocking and her knees came up to press her heels into the mattress and her keening vibrated down through her onto my tongue and come for me Bella my Bella and her muscles grabbed at my tongue like she was trying to pull me inside and I wanted to go there so bad I could cry and her strong thighs grabbed my head in giddy traction oh god I'm losing it and she was writhing and my scalp was screaming as she yanked and her smell went all mushroomy and tangy yes baby girl and I nipped her clit and her pulses and cries and wet and sliding and oh my god Bella fuck yes fuck as she came hard against my mouth.
I licked broad and slow and slower, bringing her back to me. Her gasping quieted, her fingers relaxed in my hair—thank you and don't go—and her knees fell open, releasing me from my fabulous prison. As soon as I lifted my head, I could feel my soaked face splitting with an ear-to-ear grin. I took in my handiwork—Bella's hair billowed in a tousled cloud around her face, her eyes closed, her breath easing, her spine relaxing, her fingers tracing lazy circles on the sheets next to her hips—almost busting with pride. I did that! Me! I wanted to perform a victory dance around the room.
As I looked at the perfect angel crashed on my bed, her eyes opened. I watched their focus return before they sought mine. I had never before seen that look on anyone's face, ever. She nailed me with her eyes, deep, contented, tender, potent, and still very, very aroused, and I was completely undone. My cock, almost forgotten in my delirious internal gloating, started a series of push ups under me that were only going to be stopped one way.
I wanted to bury myself in her with a need so sharp I was dizzy. I breathed in her musk to ground me. I began climbing up her body, planting urgent, sucking kisses across her hipbone, her stomach, her ribs. I stopped for long minutes to apologize to the lushness of her breasts, their crinkled pointed peaks—I didn't mean to neglect you, my pretty twins—causing Bella to get simultaneously incoherent and bossy with me, as she garbled moans and growls and grabbed my shoulders, pulling me up. I hovered over her, holding my weight on my arms and knees, still smiling.
"Edward." She captured me neatly with that one word. I raised an eyebrow in question. "It's time," she said, setting me free. My hips dropped, lining the head of my cock up with her entrance, and we both inhaled as I pressed in. I watched her face, and as she snagged her lip in her teeth, I stilled. Her eyes widened and she nodded, one sharp jerk of the head. I pushed in more. She was tight but slippery. I pushed in more, and she squinted just a bit, before her chin lifted in the singularly Bella gesture of defiance, rebellion. She dared me with her eyes, and I dropped my hips completely, sinking in her up to our bones. She inhaled sharply, so to distract her, I took her mouth in mine, nibbling and sucking her lips until she gave me her sweet tongue, flicking it along my teeth.
My entire body was shrieking with the need to move, to plunge, but I held still, letting her get used to me. I kept kissing her, letting her set an insistent pace with our lips until yes! there! her hips starting rocking a bit and I moved my lips along her jaw to the silkiness under her ear where I gently sucked and jesus fuck her hips pulled back into the mattress then forward and up, sliding along me and I'm gonna fucking spill right now and her legs wrapped my hips like I was a great big present give me that gift of yours baby and she was twisting her hips up and down circling them along my length and even though she was weirdly cold she was wickedly hot and I couldn't hold back, I was thrusting and she was rising up to meet me and I took her mouth again, groaning into her and hearing her echo it back into me and my head flew back as my hips slammed down and my very soul blew through me and flooded her with spine bending release.
As I rode out the fading pulses, Bella pulled me down hard on top of her. I marveled at how cool and dry her skin was while I was slick and drippy. I slithered against her, making her squirm and hum. Her heart wasn't even pounding like mine was. I was such a lump. A happy lump.
I sighed and looked in her eyes and there, spreading slowly and stealthily across her fabulous face: my smile—for me—but now it was colored by something new. Satisfaction? Confidence? Contentment?
Was this… how could this be mine?
"Bella," I marveled at the wonder in my voice. "What you've given me… I'm so honored and so…" but she pressed a finger across my lips to hush me, and shaking her head, pulled me back down to lie in her arms. I buried my face in the shiny brown nest of her hair, and happy there, I slept.