"I will far rather see the race of man extinct than that we should become less than beasts by making the noblest of God's creation, woman, the object of our lust."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Chapter 13:
Underdog
-Bella POV-
Don't jump him.
Don't jump him.
Do not jump Edward, Bella.
That is my mantra right now. God, he looks so delish, and the grunting thing he was just doing about killed me. His eyes glazed over, and he was breathing heavily, and yeah. Edward Cullen is sexy when he's turned on. That's what I assume is going on—either that, or he's uber pissed at Emmett for breaking the media center and is trying to control his menacing rage, but somehow I don't think that's the reason.
"I-you…we…" he stutters. For being so hot, he can be really stupid sometimes.
"What?" I ask, totally fucking confused.
"I zoned out," he replied, averting his gaze from mine.
Totally fucking turned on.
"Yeah?" I ask, waiting for him to elaborate.
"Yeah." He doesn't go any further, so I pry a little.
"Penny for your thoughts?" I smile at him.
"Definitely not," his face blushes and he scoots away from me a little.
"How come?" I emphasize "come" a little and scoot closer to him. I'm dying laughing inside, because I can tell how uncomfortable he is.
"Uh, I. What?" he squeaks.
"What are you thinking about, Edward?" I ask as I lean into his side a little, invading his personal space.
"You," he responds immediately.
His confidence takes me by surprise, and when our eyes lock, I notice how intensely he's looking at me. If it were anyone else, I'd be uncomfortable, but I'm sure I'm looking at him the same way.
"What about me?" I blurt, not really paying attention to the shit spewing from my lips.
"About-" His reply is cut off by Emmett's loud and vulgar voice. We suddenly notice he's standing right in front of us, and he doesn't look very happy.
"Why don't you two just fuck already? Then when you're finished, maybe you could help clean up this mess before Mom and Dad get back and strangle us?" Emmett asks curtly.
Emmett's words are the cold bucket of water I desperately need to splash me back into reality. Edward Cullen is a dangerous and toxic drug, one I do not need to get addicted to. Because like everything else that is bad for you, he'll leave you wanting more, craving him, only to move on to the next best thing.
I don't want to get my heart broken.
I jump off the sofa and offer to help. Alice hands me the cord on the Shop-Vac, and I go plug it in and grab some paper bags to throw the large pieces of glass into.
After the mess is cleaned up, we girls go up to Alice's room, and the boys go off and do whatever they like to do. We all decide that we need to get cleaned up, so I grab my things and head off to the guest room to shower.
While standing under the deliciously scalding spray, my mind drifts to different scenarios of Edward and me together.
Him having to bend way over to kiss me…holding my hand in the hallways at school while people like Lauren and Jessica stare and ridicule him.
Or worst of all, Edward taking what he wants from me, and realizing that it wasn't worth it, and leaving me.
I scrub my body with vigor as all of those scenarios—and many more—filter through my brain, until I hear a knock on the door and Rose asking if I'm alright.
"Yeah, sorry. I'll be out in a minute," I call back to her and quickly rinse and shut the shower off. I quickly wrap the towel around me and step up onto the stepstool in front of the sink to brush my teeth and hair.
I throw on a pair of panties, a strapless bra—which Alice made me bring, a t-shirt, and a black pair of cutoff yoga pants. All of my comfy clothes are cutoffs because everything is too long on me.
I leave my hair down and pile my clothes up on my bag as I put it in the corner of the bedroom. Figuring I'll probably be sleeping up here later, it should be okay if I leave my clothes.
I walk down a few stairs to the second floor back into Alice's room. I find the girls waiting for me, lounging around the room.
"Was it easy enough to find the guest room?" Alice asks as I walk into the room.
"Yeah, it was pretty easy to find. Are both of the rooms up there empty?"
"No, one is Edward's room. He prefers to be away from everyone else so he can play his music and stuff."
Oh…Suddenly the bedroom upstairs doesn't seem as cozy as it did a few minutes ago.
How is that going to work? Being on the third floor, secluded with Edward, away from everyone else.
My face flushes as the thought, no one can hear you scream, filters through my stupid, perverted mind. I know instantly by the suggestive smirks on Alice and Rosalie's faces that I'm busted.
"What?" I squeak.
"Nothing," they chirp in unison.
Assholes.
"Whatever," I dismiss the conversation. "What are we doing now?" I ask, wondering exactly they have in mind for the rest of our evening.
"Well, we were thinking about throwing back a few cocktails and trying on clothes," Rose responds.
"Say what?" I ask, still not liking the sound of dressing up, but knowing I'll definitely need a few cocktails before we start our trampy makeover.
Alice speaks slowly, enunciating every syllable like I'm an invalid. "Geh-ting dr-un-k and loo-king hot."
Snarky bitch, isn't she.
"I caught that, dipshit. What I wanted to know is…why the fuck are we dressing up to stay in?" My eyebrows knit together as I glance back and forth between Alice and Rose.
"Who needs a reason to dress up?" Alice shrugs and Rose nods.
"Uh…I do, actually. I only dress up for funerals, weddings, the first day of school, and picture day—because I'll never hear the end of it from Renee if I look like a scrub in them." My ramble ends with them smirking at me, and me huffing and puffing about dressing up.
"Fine. I'm only relenting because you two are some sadistic bitches, and I know I'll never hear the end of it. But I do have a few conditions." I use my stern voice and fix them both with a serious stare.
"One: I get final say over any and all clothing, makeup, and hair suggestions. Understood?" I glance back and forth between the two slut-cakes.
They both hesitate but concede with a solemn nod.
"Good, glad you're so agreeable. Two: Do not let me make a fool out of myself if I get a little tipsy."
They agree with a case of the giggles.
"And lastly—now, just because this is last doesn't mean it's not important, because it's the most important of them all—" I pause for dramatic effect, making sure I have their full attention.
"Do not let me do anything with Edward."
Alice immediately shakes her head at me, ready to protest when Rose cuts in, "We won't let you do anything you don't want to do with Edward."
"Why does that not comfort me?" I ask them both skeptically.
"Because whether you want to admit it or not, you and Edward have some serious chemistry. The sexual tension is a fifty on a scale of one to ten. Seriously," Rose mutters.
Alice just nods and keeps her mouth shut.
"What would it take to get you two to make sure I don't sleep with Edward tonight?" I ask almost desperately.
I've never really consumed large quantities of alcohol before. Sure, I used to sneak some of Charlie's Vitamin R every once in a while; and Renee would let me drink a glass of wine or three at dinner. But I've never drunk in a social setting with peers and shit. I'm slightly afraid of what could happen if I was drunk around someone I was attracted to.
"Anything short of you being a virgin would probably not be a good enough reason," Alice says thoughtfully. Rose agrees.
Now, normally shit like this would be my business, and only my business. But…I'm a little desperate here. So I cling to that reason and fucking run with it. I out myself faster than…well…I can't come up with anything right now, but it is fast.
"I am!" I blurt.
"You are what?" Rose asks, not following along.
Ditz.
"A virgin," I respond, my face aflame.
"Fuck off," Rose retorts in disbelief.
"Yeah right." Alice snubs the idea, like it's totally impossible.
"Dude, pretty sure I mentioned that before." I try convincing.
"Uh, pretty sure you didn't," Alice responds.
"Well I am. Want me to prove it?" I give them a challenging glare.
"How?" Rose asks skeptically, but looks like she's about to burst out laughing.
"I dunno, maybe if I get drunk enough someone can give me an exam. Go cherry checking," I mumble darkly.
"Wait, you're not fucking with us?" Rose asks incredulously.
"No, I'm not," I affirm.
"Your v-card is safe with me," Alice responds dutifully.
"Me too," Rose vows. "But…that doesn't mean you can't do other stuff with him…right?" Rose asks hopefully.
"I fucking hope I don't." I sigh.
Maybe the alcohol thing isn't such a great idea…
. . . . . . .
Getting smashed was the best idea. Remind me to grope whoever decided it was a good idea to drink tonight.
It's official. I'm drunk. I'm not using that term loosely either. No, this isn't just a little buzz. I'm plowed.
The good Doctor and Esme apparently decided it was a good idea to meet up with a few friends in Sequim and leave their children and their friends—home alone for the duration of the evening until sometime tomorrow afternoon.
Fantastic!
Sadly, I don't even mean that sarcastically right now. I think it's a fucking great idea! You know what else is a great idea? Seagram's 7 Dark Honey whiskey. Yup, I've had a couple shots of it so far, not to mention the fruity mixed concoctions I sipped off of that Alice and Rose mixed up while we "played" dress up. Now, I'm ready to rock.
"I'm not shitting you…" I slur as Alice and Rose listen on with rapt attention.
"She literally signed us up for Zumba and pole dancing classes," I finish.
"Let me get this straight," Alice hiccups. "Your mom signed you two up for erotic dancing lessons? As a mother-daughter bonding activity?"
"Yeah. She goes through these phases where she just has to try the latest and greatest trend out there. Apparently, those were really big last year." I shrug as I sip from my Sex on the Beach.
Tasty.
"That is just…fucking awesome," Rose says.
Alice is nodding furtively, probably trying to figure out how she can get Esme to do something like that.
"Not really…we lived in a highly populated area. A lot of weirdoes showed up to those classes." I shiver as I remember some of the nut-jobs I've encountered due to Renee's short-lived hobbies.
"Can you show us a move?" Alice smiles mischievously.
"Uh…maybe later." Still not quite that drunk.
"All in good time, my pretty, all in good time," Rose cackles.
. . . . . . .
Roughly an hour later.
I stumble against Alice's closet door, and my foot slips out of the too-large high heel she's forced me into.
"Told ya, the shoes are a bust. Your feet are too big!" I shout at Alice, even though she's only two feet away from me.
"Oh boy." She sighs and kicks the heels out of my way, probably so I don't trip over them.
"Let's go dance!" I bellow.
"You wanna dance in that dress?" Rose asks me as she chuckles.
"Fuck yes, I do. It took you guys forever to pick it out; I'm not changing now. Why, isn't it perrty?" I say, my voice somewhere between a drawl and a slur as I twirl ungracefully.
"Beautiful," Alice responds as she opens her door and waits for us to exit. On the way out, I catch my reflection in her mirror and wink at myself. Why? I have no idea, but I do.
My dress is black and strapless; the material hugs my chest but flares out underneath it, flowing in layers down to just below my knees. On Alice or Rose it'd be quite a bit shorter, but, well, I'm short, so it's not.
Rose curled my hair while Alice did my makeup. She gave me a smoky eye look and added some eyeliner and lip gloss. After that, we had a slightly heated argument about shoes, but as I just explained, they had to relent to me being barefoot for the evening.
Just then, an idea struck me. "Hey Alice, I'll be right down. You two go ahead. I gotta pee."
"Are you sure?" Rose asks hesitantly.
"Yeah," I wiggle around imitating a "pee-pee dance."
"Okay, see you down there." They both leave the room, and I can hear them knocking on Emmett's door, checking on the boys.
When I know I'm alone, I rush back over to Alice's closet and snag her fuzzy pink bunny slippers. I know she'll freak out about my fashion faux pas, and I can't pass up the opportunity to rile her up.
I slip my feet into them and quickly make my way downstairs to the media room.
I hear the stereo playing "Bottoms Up" by Trey Songz when I reach the bottom, and I chuckle as I see Emmett dancing, tipping his beer bottle back each time "bottoms up" is said.
The song finishes up before anyone notices I'm downstairs, and when I hear "Get on the Floor" by Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull playing, I can't help but sway a little with the beat.
Emmett is still the only one dancing, and for some reason, I feel bad for him. So I sashay up by him and start dancing too, fuzzy slippers and all. As Pitbull raps, I put my hands in front of myself and jerk them back and forth fast.
You know what I'm talking about, where you bend your arms in front of you and jerk them really quickly back and forth. Yeah, I don't know why I picked this for an epic, "rap dance move", but for the night it is.
Then when it slows down I sway slowly and let my head fall back, totally moving with the flow of the music. Emmett is absolutely thrilled that someone is dancing with him, and we both just dance around like goons for the rest of the song. He shows me some of his moves, and I show him some of mine.
The others are eating it up, catcalling and hooting and hollering, but I pay them no mind. The only thing I can focus on is the beat causing my body to move, the alcohol running through my veins, and the invincible feeling it brings along with it.
When our jam ends, we decide to turn the music down so we can all do something as a group, since the others are such big pussies that they refuse to get up and dance with us. Alice side-eyes the pink fuzzies on my feet, and I just wink and lick my lips seductively at her, causing her to giggle-snort while shaking her head at me.
"You know you like it, baby," I purr seductively at her as I lean over Edward and touch Alice's knee softly.
When her face flushes and Edward shifts uncomfortably beneath me, I sit back up and laugh loudly. I'm not talking about a chuckle here; I'm talking about the all out ugly laugh, snorting, cackling, etcetera. It's pretty bad.
We try to play a game of Scratch, some weird card game Jasper is trying to teach us, but we girls are way too drunk to even concentrate on the rules. We call the card-playing quits, and Rose gets a wicked gleam in her eyes as she whistles to get all of our attention.
"I know what we should play," she says.
"I am not playing Spin the Bottle! I'm just sayin' if I have to kiss my brothers, my Honey Whiskey is gonna come back up, and it won't be pretty!" Alice shouts and giggle-snorts.
Where the hell did we put that whiskey, anyway? I'm getting kinda thirsty.
"You kind of sounded like Bella there, Ali. I think she's been rubbing off on you," Jasper drawls to her.
I do not talk like that…do I? Eh, whatevs.
"Nah, Spin the Bottle's for grade school. What'dya think about Truth or Dare?" Rose asks challengingly.
"Okay," I agree without argument. I'm hoping we get dared to drink a lot, 'cause I don't want my buzz to fade out.
"Really?" Alice and Rose ask at the same time.
"Uh, yeah, why not?" I don't really understand why they thought I wouldn't agree.
I look around for the bottle with the big 7 on it.
Ole Honey, where out thou?
"I'm thirsty," I say out of the middle of nowhere.
"What do you want to drink?" Edward asks politely.
"Honey," is my immediate response.
"Huh?" He's confused.
"Whiskey, duh," I respond like it's the most obvious thing.
"Bella, I think you should take it easy. I'll mix you a Bacardi Limôn and Diet Coke, 'kay?" Rose asks.
"Is it good?" I ask.
"Yeah," the rest of the room agrees.
"Okay," I agree.
Thirty minutes later, after everyone has gone to the bathroom and figured out their drink and snack situations, we find ourselves just starting a heated game of Truth or Dare. We decide to let the boys go first, they get go first.
"Bella," Emmett starts with a wicked grin.
"Truth," I answer before he can continue.
"Excellent." He drums his fingers together like a super villain.
"Is it true that you think Edward is hot?" he asks.
I refuse to let him rile me. I don't know if it's the alcohol or if I'm just getting used to Emmett's shenanigans, but I've prepared myself for this.
"Doesn't everyone?" I reply cryptically.
"That isn't an answer," Emmett warns.
"Yes. Edward is definitely a pretty boy." I wink at Edward and take a sip out of my drink, wishing I would've sat someplace else. It's kind of awkward sitting right next to the person they're asking if I'm attracted to.
We continue on like this for quite a while, guys and girls having a go at each other. Somewhere along the line, however, we switch things up and some of the girls are daring and asking the other girls questions.
"So, Bella," Alice starts.
"Uh huh?" I ask, then I take a drink and find nothing but ice in my glass.
Shit, I've had a lot to drink tonight.
Knowing what she's about to ask me I say, "Dare."
She smiles wickedly. "How about you show us how those dance classes paid off, and give Edward a lap dance?"
Without missing a beat I say, "It wasn't Stripper 101, Alice, and you don't have a pole."
"No, but Eddie does," Emmett quips.
"Not big enough," I retort.
"Hey!" Edward shouts.
"I'm just sayin'," I defend and pat his arm gently. He gives me the side-eye and I snicker at him.
Bonehead.
Rose and Jasper chuckle at us.
"Alright, you meddling little Pixie, I'll do it if you rub your face all over Emmett's ass, right after he farts," I slur.
"I didn't pick dare," Alice says.
"Ugh, whatever, pussy." I grab onto the back of the couch and make a move to stand up.
"We're gonna need better music than this girly bullshit you like to play, Alice," I say condescendingly.
"Rude!" she yells.
"Girl's gotta point, Al," Rose agrees with me.
"How about 'Fuck Me Like You Hate Me,' by Seether?" Emmett asks.
"Uh…" I start to say, not really comfortable with that particular song.
I do not want to fuck Edward tonight…right?
"No, too cliché." Alice saves me.
"Rock or R&B, Bella?" Jasper asks.
"Whatever." I shrug.
"How about some Rihanna? Or is that too girly for you?" Alice asks like a total crank.
"That's fine, Miss Poop-in-the-Pants," I say cheekily.
"Edward, my man, see that footstool over there?" I ask him, referring to the short footstool sitting against the wall by the media center.
"Yeah?" he asks hesitantly.
"Put it in the middle of the floor and sit down on it. Meet ya there in ten seconds," I say.
I chuckle and kick off my pink fuzzies.
I can't very well give him a lap dance on this lumpy couch. I'd end up tripping and maiming one of us. The footstool is the perfect height for me to be able to swing around him and do my business.
"It's kinda weird that you guys want to watch me give Edward a lap dance," I say.
"It's not like we're gonna watch you two have sex, it's just a lap dance, people watch people get them all the time," Emmett states confidently.
"You really need to stop watching Show Girls my friend," I retort.
"Dude! He watches porn all of the time! He totally fucked up my laptop!" Alice shrieks.
"There is one condition to this dare, Bella?" Alice grins wickedly.
"What's that?" I ask, half listening to her and half not.
"Don't hold back," she replies daringly.
"Go big or go home, right?" I snicker.
I walk up behind Edward as Emmett starts the music. "Rude Boy" blares through the now turned-up stereo, and everyone settles in to watch the magic happen.
I put my hands on Edward's shoulders as I stand behind him and let my body rub against his back.
He's gonna regret wearing sweatpants when I'm done with him.
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Can you get it up
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Is you big enough
Take it, take it
Baby, baby
Take it, take it
Love me, love me
I wink at Rose when she hollers at me to "take it off", and I move in front of Edward to focus solely on giving him the lap dance of the century.
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Can you get it up
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Is you big enough
Take it, take it
Baby, baby
Take it, take it
Love me, love me
Without looking him in the eye, I put my hands on his shoulder and nudge his legs straight out in front of him, so I don't end up riding his knees during the entire dance. We're in an awkward position, but I'm too stubborn to stop now. I start swaying my hips and rubbing my upper body against his chest seductively, slightly regretting doing this in a strapless dress.
Tonight
I'm a let you be the captain
Tonight
I'm a let you do your thing, yeah
Tonight
I'm a let you be a rider
Giddy up, giddy up
Giddy up, babe
He groans softly as I straddle his left leg. I drop down low and slide up slowly, trailing my hands up and down his body.
"Bella," he grunts when our cheeks press together. I softly bite his earlobe before I stand up straight and let my chest rub against his chin softly, still swaying my hips to the beat.
Tonight
I'm a let it be fire
Tonight
I'm a let you take me higher
Tonight
Baby we can get it on
Yeah we can get it on
Yeah
Reluctantly, I turn around and face the others as I bend my knees and rub my ass up and down Edward's crotch and lower abdomen. I'm seriously getting into it, and I'm not even the slightest bit concerned about being in a dress anymore. I feel Edward's erection underneath me, and it only spurs me on more. I throw my head back, resting it against his shoulder as I slide down as far as I can and back up the length of his body. Suddenly, he grips my hips tightly, and I have to pry myself from his grip, shaking a finger at him.
Do you like it boy?
I wa-wa-want
What you wa-wa-want
Give it to me baby
Like boom, boom, boom
What I wa-wa-want
Is what you wa-wa-want
Na, na
Ah, ah
I turn to face him and give him a sexy smirk as I slowly sit down on his lap, wrapping both legs around him. I bring my face up to his so our noses touch, and I whisper to him, "Hold my legs, 'kay?"
He grunts and nods at me, placing his hands firmly on my upper thighs, holding me in place. I let go of his shoulders and move my upper body to the beat, my entire torso rolling with the beat of the music, like an exotic belly dancer. As my torso moves, so do my hips, and I end up grinding against Edward as I slowly lay back, letting my lower body seductively glide toward the floor.
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Can you get it up
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Is you big enough
Take it, take it
Baby, baby
Take it, take it
Love me
Love me
Once my hair is fanned out across the floor, I bring myself back up to face Edward. I make sure to keep my lady bits in a PG-13 rated zone. I don't want to make this situation anymore uncomfortable than it probably already is for Edward.
Tonight
I'm a give it to you harder
Tonight
I'm a turn your body out
Relax
Let me do it how I wanna
If you got it
I need it
And I'm a put it down
When I've raised back up so we're face level, he moves his hands to my hips and jerks me against him forcefully. My breath stutters and I give him a devious look as I once again extract myself from his grasp.
Buckle up
I'm a give it to you stronger
Hands up
We can go a little longer
Tonight
I'm a get a little crazy
Get a little crazy
Baby
I sashay six or so feet away from him and drop down to my knees as I fling my hair around by doing a sexy version of a head bang. When I throw my head back and my hair flies behind me, I crook a finger at Edward, telling him to come hither.
Do you like it boy?
I wa-wa-want
What you wa-wa-want
Give it to me baby
Like boom, boom, boom
What I wa-wa-want
Is what you wa-wa-want
Na, na
Ah, ah
He slowly slips off the footstool and crawls over to me.
Good boy.
He sits on his knees in front of me and I dance around him, making sure I don't touch him. I run my hands up and down my torso, teasing him and loving the fuck out of it. He growls and lets loose a low curse, which only serves to excite me more.
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Can you get it up
Come here
Rude boy, boy
Is you big enough
Take it, take it
Baby, baby
Take it, take it
Love me
Love me
The chorus plays twice as I continue to sway and toss my hair around beside, in front of, and behind him. Finally, I grip onto his shoulders again, and I push him back so his knees slide out from under him. He's still sitting; he's just in a lower position, so I can stand with him closer to my chest-abdomen area.
I like the way
You touch me there
I like the way
You pull my hair
Baby, if I don't feel it
I ain't faking
No, no
I like
When you tell me
Kiss it there
I like
When you tell me
Move it there
I decide to put Edward out of his misery, knowing that I've teased him far too much already, and I place a soft kiss on his cheek before I pull away. We lock eyes, and his are fierce and full of desire. I bite my lip as I walk back over to my spot on the couch, finished with the dance.
I like, when you tell me
Kiss it there
I like, when you tell me
Move it there
So get it up
Time to get it up
You say you're a rude boy
Show me what you got
Now
Come here right now
Take it, take it
Baby, baby
Take it, take it
Love me, love me
I'll never be able to listen to this song the same way again.
Everyone is kind of stunned. They stare at me until the song ends. Thankfully, the switch in songs snaps everyone out of it, and Alice turns the music down with the stereo remote. Edward stands and quickly makes his way upstairs. The others busy themselves by moving around, looking for snacks, and using the restroom.
I'm surprised they want to continue playing, but I really shouldn't be. Emmett and Rose are horn-balls; they're probably just getting warmed up. I gulp at the thought and drink the fresh drink Rose has made me.
Alice throws my hair up in a messy bun, and then Edward finally makes his way back down to us, changed in a fresh pair of clothes and raring to go. He sits down on the other side of Jasper, directly across from me, and I sigh in relief. I'd much rather sit across from him than next to him. I feel like I can actually breathe, but I avoid eye contact for a while. I'm not sure what I'll find if I look.
Katy Perry's "E.T." starts to play quietly as we get settled in to continue our game.
"Edward, Truth or Dare?" Emmett asks.
I finally chance a look up at him, wondering what he'll decide.
"Dare," Edward replies, looking back at Emmett.
"I dare you to French kiss Bella," Emmett says without missing a beat.
Somehow, I knew he was going to dare him to do that. It still doesn't stop me from rolling my eyes at Emmett.
"Really? Haven't we subjected Edward to enough of me tonight?" I ask dismissively.
"I'll do it," Edward answers.
"What?" I ask, slightly panicked. Not in a bad way. Just in an, oh my God, I'm gonna shit my pants because a really hot guy is about to kiss me and I've had way too much to drink, sort of way.
"If it's okay with you, Bella, I'd like to accept the dare." His crooked grin is back, and it makes me glare at him.
"Of course you would. I hope you brought a change of pants," I taunt.
"Feisty. I like it." Emmett snickers.
"Something tells me I won't be the one who will need to change this time," Edward retorts cockily.
I don't doubt that one bit, Pretty Boy. Not one bit.
"Let's see what you've got, Cullen," is my response.
He stands up and struts over to me; then he kneels down, so he's sitting on the floor in front of me.
"Scoot up here and spread your legs," he orders me.
"Yes sir!" I mock salute him as I scoot forward so I'm on the edge of the couch. He's leaning against me, between my legs, and our torsos are pressed slightly against one another.
"Pucker up, Swan." Edward smiles and moves in slowly. I chuckle softly and watch him as he moves in closer.
As our lips are about to touch, I move back a little and press my hand against his shoulder.
"Could somebody please play something other than this shitty shit?" I beg.
"I'll do it," Jasper says as he gets up and puts in his The Lost Trailers CD.
Their song "Underdog" starts to play, and I smile at the lyrics.
They said you ain't got a prayer, a chance in you know where.
But I just didn't care, when I looked in your eyes.
You were a long shot from the start, an easy way to break my heart.
But as perfect as you are, you've gotta risk it all sometimes.
"Ready?" Edward asks as he moves closer to me, cradling my face gently in his hands.
"Yeah," I whisper softly, and my eyes flutter closed as his breath fans across my face.
I believe in the Underdog, who chases dreams and breaks down walls.
The shy kid who gets the prom queen, who's never been the star of anything.
Two lovers hitched at city hall, they've got each other so they've got it all.
Call me a dreamer—say I'm a little naïve, oh, but I believe—in the Underdog.
As soon as our lips touch, my entire being breaks out in an inferno. The fire tingles through my body, and I jump slightly at the sensation.
We break apart for a second and look at each other. Matching expressions of bemusement are on our faces. Just as Emmett starts to protest about our short kiss, Edward and I latch onto one another again.
This time, there is nothing chaste about our kiss. My hands grip his shoulders tightly, and I hold him to me with my thighs against his sides. His hands move from my face to my hips as he pulls me tighter against him and swipes his tongue across my lips.
I moan softly and open my mouth a little for him. As soon as his tongue enters my mouth, I'm a goner. My hands fly up into the hair above his ears, and I pull him closer to me.
Our tongues continue to slide against each other as we remain in our heated embrace, completely forgetting about our surroundings. All I can focus on is how Edward makes me feel. Having his hands and mouth on me has got to be the best sensation I've ever felt in my entire life, and I never want it to stop.
When we're both breathing raggedly from the lack of oxygen, Edward moves his lips to my neck and trails heated kisses from below my ear down to the top of my chest. That's when someone decides to remind us where we are by clearing their throat…rather loudly.
"Fuck," Edward curses as he pulls back a little and looks at me. I'm fisting the material of his t-shirt, not willing to let go of him yet. It's like a switch has been flipped. Before I couldn't get far enough away from Edward. Now I want to crawl inside of him, and I still don't think it would be close enough.
"Game's over," Edward announces and prepares to snatch me up off the couch.
Rosalie has other plans, and she tells him that she needs to speak with him for a moment. Not thinking much of it, I sit back on the couch and relax.
Alice sits down beside me as Emmett and Jasper start picking up our cans, cups, and bottles we've accumulated since being down here.
Alice smiles smugly. "So, how was it?"
"What? Me practically dry humping your brother on a dare, or him orally molesting me on his?" I ask sarcastically.
"Both," she says.
I sigh and decide to be honest. "Fucking hot!"
She chuckles at that. "You're still drunk, aren't you?"
"Nah, just really relaxed," I mumble and shut my eyes.
"No painting the roses red tonight, Bella," Alice warns.
"I know, I know," I mumble as I stretch out against the back of the couch.
Somehow, I decided that "painting the roses red" would be code for "losing my virginity." Earlier I kept singing, No painting the roses red, no painting the roses red, like I was in some damn Alice in the Wonderland movie.
Luckily, Rose and Alice knew it was just my buzz starting, and it wasn't necessary to lock me up in a padded room.
Alice and I make our way to the kitchen for a couple of glasses of water before we make our way up to the guestroom. She helps me get ready for bed, making sure I don't fall and smack my head on anything along the way. She chuckles and gives me the side eye when she notices that I've slipped into her pink fuzzy slippers again.
"What? They're comfy!" I defend.
"Yeah, yeah." Cue the eye roll.
"Do you think you'll remember any of this tomorrow?" Alice's mood is suddenly somber.
"Yeah." I look into her eyes, wanting her to know and believe that I'm fairly sober now. "I'm only buzzing. I feel really calm."
"Good. Do you think you'll regret kissing Edward?" she asks hesitantly.
"Alice," I sigh. "It isn't about regretting anything. It's about protecting myself. Your brother is a player, a fact that he makes known…frequently. While my body might be screaming at me to jump him, my self-preservation is screaming at me to run away as fast I can. Does that make sense?" My voice is soft; I'm telling her the truth.
"It makes perfect sense, Bella. And while Edward may be a player—okay, yeah he's definitely a player—he's also my brother, and I know him better than anyone else. He wouldn't hurt you. I mean it when I say that this is different for him. I've never seen him try so hard before or even care for that matter. He does care for you, Bella. I just wish you'd give this a chance…whatever it is…between you two. I think you guys could be really great together. There's nothing I'd like to see more than for the both of you to be happy. And if that means you're happy together, well then I'd be…happier than a shopaholic on Rodeo Drive."
Cue my eye roll.
"You lost me at shopaholic," I tease. Her eyes narrow and I know she's getting ready to chew my ass.
"I'm kidding, Ali. I know, and part of me wants to agree with you, but the other part of me is scared of the backlash. I've already dealt with so much as far as people at school go. I really don't want Edward to become a social pariah because he'd be with me. I just…I also don't want to be a secret, and I don't think he'd be comfortable being seen with me in public. People will talk, stare, and say things…" I shake my head and swallow against the lump in my throat.
"I can't do that to him, Ali." My voice is defeated. I stare at the floor and bite my lip.
"Why don't you let him decide, Bella? Be fair to him and give him a choice in this," she pleads.
"Maybe you're right," I say, unsure if I believe it or not.
"Sleep on it, babe." Alice kisses my forehead and heads toward the door.
She waits until I'm tucked under the heavy royal blue duvet before she flicks the light switch off and closes the door on her way out. I roll onto my left side so I can stare out the floor-to-ceiling-window at the vastly spreading forest. The sky is uncharacteristically clear tonight, so the moon is shining down on the backyard and trees. The way it bounces off the light dusting of snow we have so far makes it look like everything is covered in crystals and diamonds.
I smile to myself at what Edward would look like covered in it. Probably like some unearthly, beautiful, mythical creature.
I startle out of my thoughts and sit up in bed when I hear a soft knock on the door, and then it opens a crack.
"Bella?" a voice whispers.
"Yeah?" I reply.
"Can I come in?" the voice asks.
I look down at myself, noting that I'm only wearing a baggy t-shirt and panties. Alice and I decided that comfort should overrule style this evening, just in case I had a hangover in the morning.
I pull the comforter up above my chest and let out the breath I didn't realize I've been holding.
"Sure. Come on in, Edward."
Lord, give me strength.
Mini Disclaimer: I still own nothing pertaining to Twilight, and I don't own any of these lyrics, either. Poor me.
Authors Note:
Sorry about all of the lyrics, I intentionally left them out of the beginning because I added a lot in the actual chapter.
Sorry about the delay, real life has been hellish, to say the least. And I've been spreading myself pretty thin between four different writing projects, including this. I know, excuses are like assholes, everybody has one, and they all stink.
No story recs this time, just a rec for the Valentine's Day Countdown, which I am participating in. Check it out! Don't forget to read, review, and put it on story alert. :) There's gonna be some hot and steamy O/S's coming outta that one! lol
http:/www . fanfiction . net/s/7728398/1/Countdown_to_Valentines_Day_2012_Risque_VDay
Thank you to my two betas, whom I've lovingly been referring to as the Tiffanys. :) Thank you girls, you rock my socks.
Thank you, readers! I fluffy heart you, long time. Happy Valentine's Day!
xxoo,
Missy