Happy New Year! Thank you all so much for reading and following along with this Edward and Bella. And for giving me such thoughtful and lovely reviews... I'll never be able to say thank you enough.

Endless thanks to Sulliedsoles, Twilly, Sophiacorgi, and BlueIsSoul for being wonderful. And to lellabeth just for being her.

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Chapter 14 - Birthday Sex

I was right about one thing… Okay, two things.

One, Edward and I are avid dry-humpers. Once the kissing starts, it doesn't take long until we're rubbing up against each other like, well… like the horny teenagers we are. That poor boy has jizzed in his pants more times than I can count, and I sincerely hope he does his own laundry.

The second, and I guess more important thing, is that my parents love Edward. Love. Him.

The first time I got him to come to my house for dinner, he barely got any words out. But since then, he's been able to relax more when he's over. He's still rather shy around Mom and Dad, but he's unfailingly polite, even if a little awkward at times. Comes with the territory, and they accept his idiosyncrasies with patience, making me proud to be their daughter.

At my gentle urging, Edward's even offered to help Mom cook a few times. And since neither Emmett nor I have ever shown any interest in cooking, she fawns all over him. It's actually embarrassing, but whatever. They both seem to enjoy it. They mostly work in silence but sometimes have quiet conversations while I sit at the kitchen table and do homework.

Dad and Edward have almost nothing in common. Dad's not a gamer and doesn't have a fucking clue what geocaching is (much to Edward's dismay). Edward doesn't know much about fishing, although his dad took him and Jasper a few times when they were kids.

Dad's decided that when baseball season starts, that's when they'll have something to bond over. When Edward was talking about his brother one night at dinner, he told us Jasper played in high school and now plays for UDub. Edward enjoys the statistical aspect of the game the most, and Charlie can respect that.

Just the fact that Dad wants to bond with Edward makes me incredibly happy.

It's the beginning of November, and Emmett's and my eighteenth birthday party is this weekend. I was hoping for low-key, but of-fucking-course, my asshat brother had to go and invite the entire school. He says it'll be fine. No one's going to mess with Edward if he's around. Plus, he's been helping Edward with some weight-lifting and kickboxing whenever I go hang out with Angela or go help at the boat shop. He says Edward is getting stronger and more importantly, more confident in his ability to take care of himself… and me.

Edward said he wants to be able to protect me so Emmett doesn't have to anymore.

Of course I awwwww'd over that but told him it wasn't necessary. I still encouraged it in the end, though, because if Edward has any more trouble with bullies, I'd want him to have the option of defending himself. His parents were a little wary at first, but they decided he should do what makes him feel comfortable. Besides, he's eighteen and doesn't really need their permission, but he respects their opinion and definitely takes it into account most of the time.

He hasn't really built up any extra muscle, but he's definitely getting more solid. And the sweaters… Oh, dear God, the sweaters.

Today, it's a navy blue v-neck ribbed number, and Lord, help me.

"Edward, you're seriously killing me with these sweaters." We're sitting on his bed, and my hands roam up his chest.

He glances down. "I can stop wearing them if you'd prefer."

"No!" He jumps at my outburst. "I mean, God. No. Please. They're just so sexy on you. It's all I can do not to jump you every morning when you pick me up for school with your damp hair and your dark jeans and…" I'm pretty sure my eyes glaze over and a little drool escapes as I trail off.

"Bella?" He waves his hand in front of my face.

"Huh? Oh! Sorry. Okay, so, the G-spot. Right." I've been putting this conversation off for like, ever, because it's hard enough to explain to anyone, really. But to be explaining it to the guy you want to eventually find it is, well… That's a whole other level of strange. "You swear you never googled it?"

"No. You asked me not to, so I didn't. I just don't understand how Mike wouldn't be able to find it with a map and a GPS. Is he really that incompetent?"

"Well… Okay. It's not an actual place that can be found that way. I was making a crude joke at Mike's expense to embarrass Jessica."

"Because Jessica's a cunt," he says with a nod.

My smile is proud. "Right. So, it is a place I'll want you to find someday, but not until we're… intimate." I level wide eyes at him, hoping he'll piece things together. Watching his eyebrows furrow and his head shake leads me to believe that was wishful thinking.

Edward's green eyes finally meet mine. "Intimate?"

Nodding, I reply, "More intimate than we are now. My G-spot is…" Releasing a heavy breath, I motion toward my crotch. "...inside me."

His eyes dip down my body, and the curiosity that burns in them makes me squirm as heat flashes through me. "Inside you?" he whispers almost reverently.

"Yes," I whisper back, clenching in the very place at which he's staring.

"How will it feel when I find it inside you?"

Oh, God. "Um… it'll feel insanely good. For me. And depending on what we're doing, it'll feel very good for you too."

His eyes come back up and burn into mine as he asks, "Will you help me find it?"

Dead. I'm dead. "God, yes," I groan, crashing my lips into his. He leans forward until I'm suddenly under him on the bed, and he grinds his hard-on against me. Pulling back from his lips, I run my fingers through his hair as his eyes question me. "Not yet, though."

"Why not?" His hips circle against me, and I bite back a moan.

"Because your parents will be home any minute, for one thing, and we do not want them to find me in here naked."

"Naked…" He ruts against me and brings his lips back to mine, and my whorish legs wrap around his waist.

"Shit. Edward, stop for a second." Pushing him gently, I rise up on my elbows as he moves back. "I just don't want to rush anything. We don't have to have sex for you to find it, but I want us both to be comfortable and ready for more."

He leans forward again, his hands landing on the bed so our torsos touch, and God, he smells good. "I'm ready. Show me."

Edward is an eager learner, to say the least. He's learned some of the things I like best and repeats them often. Kissing me deep and slow. Squeezing my breasts. Sucking on my nipples. Most especially kissing and nipping at the spot right behind my ear. Shivers rush over my entire body when he does that.

We're quite productive at "studying".

"I will." My hand slides up his chest and around his neck. "I'll show you. Soon. Just not today."

"Okay." Leaning forward, Edward kisses me sweetly. "Soon."

The furthest we've gone in getting naked is getting our shirts and my bra off. He was ecstatic to get unhindered access to the boobs, let me tell you. But that's it so far.

I waited a long time to have sex with my ex, Brady, but I was also a virgin then. Now that I know what it's like, I can't wait to feel that with Edward. And somehow knowing it will be even better has me aching for him. Things could definitely escalate when he spends the night this weekend.

Mom and Dad are letting Emmett and I have the party at our lake house. Unsupervised.

They can be really cool when they want to be, and we are eighteen, after all. They know we'll be drinking, but as long as no one drives, they're fine with it.

I just have to hope no one acts like an asshole and ruins our night.

"'Sup, Ed?" Emmett asks as we walk into the house the day of the party. He's loading the fridge with beer and mixers.

"Hi, Emmett." He gives my brother a brief but warm smile. I love that they get along so well, despite the fact that they're so completely different. Emmett can be a cocky ass, but he's a big ol' sweet teddy bear underneath.

"Who bought all this, Em?" I ask, walking up with Edward to lean on the bar and eyeing the spread of liquor bottles on the counter.

My brother blushes. Actually fucking blushes. I never thought I'd see the day.

"Rose."

My eyes widen, and I smirk. "Oh, reeeeally, now. Making some progress there, are we?"

He shrugs, staring at the beer cans he's transferring from their case. "Maybe."

"So… what? She was just waiting until you turned eighteen?"

I catch a huge smile before he buries his face back in the fridge. "Maybe."

"Oh, shit. Really? I was totally joking." Chuckling, I glance up at Edward, who's wearing a confused look. "Rose works at our dad's boat shop. She's 21. Emmett's been flirting with her for as long as she's worked there, but she always acted like he annoyed the shit out of her." I shrug. "I guess it was just that. An act."

"Is she his girlfriend now?" Edward asks, looking at Emmett.

"My guess would be yes, but looks like Em doesn't want to divulge that information."

"I can hear you guys, y'know. I'm right here."

"We know," Edward and I say in unison, turning to each other and laughing.

"Did you invite her tonight?" I ask.

"Yeah, but I don't know if a high school party is really her scene. She said she'd think about it."

"Aww, no birthday sex for you? Sad." I mock-pout at him, and he laughs.

"Who says I didn't already have birthday sex?"

Gasping, I narrow my eyes at him like I'll be able to tell just by looking. Not that I want to look. Ew. "You did not."

Emmett shrugs his giant shoulders, smirking and still not looking at us.

"Jesus, Emmett. Dad's going to kill you if you run her off. She's the best mechanic they've ever had."

"Who says I'm gonna run her off?"

"Well, your love 'em and leave 'em reputation is not exactly a secret, big brother."

He sighs. "She's… different, okay? You know I've liked her forever, and now that she's giving me the time of day, I have no plans to screw it up."

Impressed eyebrows climb my forehead. "Wow. Alrighty then. Good for you, dude. I hope it works out."

Finally, he looks at me, offering an almost-shy smile. "Thanks, sis."

Leading Edward down the hall to the bedroom we'll be in tonight, I can't stop smiling. I'm happy for Em. And for Rose. She's pretty kick-ass, and I actually think they'll be great together. Hopefully Mom and Dad will see it that way too.

Edward drops our bags and sits on the bed, looking lost in thought.

Sitting next to him, I take his hand. "What's on your mind?"

"Birthday sex," he blurts out.

A guffaw escapes me before I can contain it. "Wh— what?"

"It's your birthday too."

I squeeze his hand. "Well, yes, but I have no expectations, Edward. And to be perfectly honest, I don't want our first time to happen because you feel obligated to give me birthday sex. I shouldn't have brought that up with Emmett. It's just kind of been this running joke the past couple years. He lost his virginity on our fifteenth birthday and like, prides himself on having birthday sex every year. It's stupid, really."

Edward watches my hand stroke his forearm for a moment. "Have you had birthday sex before?"

Oh, no.

My hand stills, and I stare at it too. "Yes."

Edward glances at me shyly. "With Brady?"

Wincing, I sigh because I really don't want to talk about Brady, and I especially don't want to talk about sex with Brady. And I especially, especially don't want to talk to Edward about sex with Brady.

Edward shifts impatiently on the bed, so I figure I have to bite the bullet.

"Yes, with Brady. We were together for a long time." I start stroking his forearm again, probably to comfort both of us. "I gave my virginity to him because I thought I loved him, but it's definitely something I regret in a lot of ways."

"Have you had sex with anyone else?"

I squeeze my eyes shut and scrunch my nose up. I hate talking about this.

"Yes." Heaving a deep sigh, I turn toward Edward and wait for him to bring his eyes to mine, if even for just a moment. "You have to understand that I was always the good girl. I thought I did everything right. I dated the star quarterback. I gave him everything, and he just stomped all over it." Tears gather in my eyes. "I just wasn't the same person after all of that. I felt discarded and numb... betrayed and lost, and I didn't handle things well. I started partying kind of hard, and as a 'fuck you' to him, I slept with a couple of his friends." Tears fall because I'm not proud of myself. At all. "It was incredibly stupid and reckless of me. Emmett almost got into fist-fights with a bunch of his football buddies because they were talking about how slutty I was and how they wanted a 'piece'." Sniffling, I cover my face with both hands. "It was awful. I was awful. I wanted to hurt Brady the way he'd hurt me, but in the process, I only ended up hurting myself and the people who care about me." I shake my head at myself, at the horrible decisions I made back then. "I didn't want to tell you, but we swore we'd always be honest with each other. If you don't want to be with me anymore, I understand."

I keep my hands over my face, waiting for Edward to high-tail it away from me. I wouldn't blame him.

Warm hands wrap around my wrists and pry my hands away. Even warmer green eyes blink at me from the most handsome face I've ever seen in real life. "I still want to be with you, Bella."

My body sags in intense relief, and more tears fall.

"Don't cry." His thumbs wipe my tears away. "People handle things that happen to them in different ways." My eyes must question him because he looks off to the side and shrugs. "That's what my therapist said when I stopped talking after the incident with Chelsea."

"You're amazing, you know that?" Offering him a watery smile, I lay my palm on his cheek, my heart fluttering just like his eyelashes as they rest on his cheekbones.

"I think you're pretty amazing too, Bella."

I press closer to him, and he rests his forehead against mine. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to fall in love with you, Edward."

Our lips inch closer together, our hands finding each other's and grasping tight. "You are?"

"Yes."

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