A/N: Where do I even begin? First off, I'm sorry for this being so late. March and April have not been kind months personally. Three of my best friends are dealing with traumatic issues I would never wish on anyone, so I've been spending a lot of time with them. Secondly, one of my best friends lost her husband this month and also was one of my favorite musicians. So that was a double hurt for me.

Because of his death, I came very close to pulling this story as it hit too close to home. I will not go into details. This story now takes on a more personal level for me.

Another favorite musician of mine died on April 14. RIP Peter Steele 1962-2010.

Hugs to adt216

Chapter 13

"I love the way you stand in my way

You won't move 'til you get a kiss

And how you tell me that my name

Tastes so sweet on your lips

I love the way you hold me with your eyes

Hold me so tight that I can't move

It's like everything I've ever known is a lie

And you're the simple truth

Is it a dream or is it real

All I know is you make me feel so

Beautiful"- 'Beautiful', Faith Hill

Bella

Cullen lay next to me sleeping calmly. After we…had sex, he rolled me over onto my side and spooned as close to me as he could. I tried to fall back asleep but my mind wandered restlessly. His confessions scuttled through my mind, like a hermit crab seeking shelter.

His past…dark, sin filled past drenched every part of him. I knew there were many other memories he had. I hoped in time he would tell more. They marred his mind. Darker, more abysmal memories remained hidden, ones that he's chosen to block out; yet they branched out into his subconscious festering like an infected wound. Something told me they existed, because why would anyone who wasn't in pain want to ravage his body in the way he does.

Red splatters, golden, amber fluid, and emerald spheres danced around in my mind's eye. My eyelids clamped together, trying to make the images go away, but that only caused them to become sharper. Shrill screams swelled like ocean waves in my ears at the recollection of the noise rapidly escaping my throat while Alice's cold hands tried calming me. Cullen's body had sagged in relief and nothingness claimed his eyes.

Carlisle's words of Persian heroin slammed against the walls of my brain like playing racquetball in an enclosed room, except I couldn't see the two opposing players. Ignorance, anger, and stupidity battled through me, swirling in an angry storm with everything else inside me. Suddenly, anger for Charlie flooded me. I blamed him for my lack of knowledge, blamed him for keeping me sheltered, blamed him for making me feel like a lamb being taken to the slaughter.

He never told me why we never talked about Renee, my mother. I never understood why I held no memories of her. No pictures existed, either in his house or in my possessions. It was as if she never lived. Another issue he kept sheltered from me.

Cullen's breathing accelerated and his arms tightened around me as he mumbled unintelligible words. He had buried his fingers underneath me, into my side. His fingertip melded into my soft flesh with each clutching, holding my lungs prisoner. Just as suddenly as it came on, the dream left with the same swiftness.

He relaxed his arms around me and my lungs blew out a breath. The arm of mine that wasn't pinned under his, brushed along the hairs of his forearm, watching them bristle from the contact. His parting words before blacking out remained at the forefront of my brain.

He liked me. And it was more than just friends. Neither he nor I could define what we actually felt. Was there an actual need for it at this point in time? I didn't see one.

Jealousy ran through each of us at both the sight and idea of someone else touching the other. He saw red at the thought of Mike, and I became infuriated at the sight of girls hanging on him. A sigh strained through my clenched teeth. Jealousy, promises to try to be faithful, and if it happened, he was to let me know and not flaunt it. The more I thought about our situation, the more I did not know what to think of it.

I could easily drive myself crazy with over thinking, which would lead me to being irritable and not enjoying whatever this was. Still, the issue that dug itself under my skin was the drug use.

I had no idea what degree his drug use was-moderate or severe. Either circumstance could have led to his withdrawal and his desperate need for the chemical. There were so many questions I didn't know the answers to, but I knew for myself that I would never touch heroin.

The little bit of cocaine I had done now made me leery. It had made me feel good, very hyperactive, and happy, but I have never been one for being hooked on anything. Sure, I liked certain things that I used often, but never to the point where I was maniacal. The scent of vanilla greatly pleased me. A glass of a good red wine was a great pleasure, and of course, I loved chocolate. However, I never needed them.

Thoughts drifted around like little snow flurries floating in through the air. There were too many to single out. Everything was too raw, too new. In time, I would concentrate on one thought at time. My stomach started growling, and voices from the lounge were stating the same thing. We were all hungry. I recovered my clothing and redressed.

I carefully climbed over Cullen, parted the curtain, and slid out of his bunk. Alice stood in the doorway to the lounge in a black shirt and a black thong. She never cared that others looked her. Her little butt cheeks looked like snowballs as she was as pale as I was. She heard me land on the floor of the hallway and turned her head, looking to see who it was.

"Hey, B, how's he doing this morning?" she asked, her voice still gravelly from sleep.

"He's better, been dry heaving, but those calmed down." I looked past her, focusing on nothing in particular. "He confessed some of his past deeds to me," I hoarsely whispered.

Alice's eyes widened at the admission and quietly spoke, "Oh."

I didn't have time to ask about her reaction because Jasper gathered Alice to his chest.

"We're almost in Dallas, but we all need breakfast since there's no food on the bus. We're stopping at a McDonald's, so you might want to wake Cullen up, but he might not be hungry," Jasper said nonchalantly.

I turned towards Cullen, who was facing the wall, snoring lightly. Jasper and Alice left me with him. Jasper made comments that we all needed more clothing on. Standing on my tiptoes, I reached up and lightly shook Cullen. He made several groans before turning over to face me. I gave him a lazy smile, and he returned mine with a sleepy smirk while rubbing his eyes.

"Jasper told me they are about to stop at a McDonald's for food since there's none on the bus. I thought I would wake you up and ask if you want any."

He shook his head, scrunched up his face, and threw his arm over his eyes.

"Food is the last thing I want. In fact, I have no appetite. Sorry, pretty girl."

I told him it wasn't a problem and he rolled back over to sleep. I knew my backpack was still up front and held my khaki shorts, socks, and tennis shoes. They were better than standing around in nothing but my boy shorts and tank top.

The bus pulled into the parking lot of the McDonald's and parked in the farthest corner it could. All of us but Cullen walked into the fast food restaurant, most feeling a bit hung-over. It was past ten-thirty, so they no longer served breakfast. I looked over the lunch menu. When it came time for me to order, I told the teenage girl I wanted a Big Mac meal with a vanilla milkshake.

I felt several pairs of eyes glued towards my direction. Emmett walked over to me, nudged me with his elbow, and laughed.

"Bellsie seems to have an appetite that rivals mine. I didn't think you'd go for something that big."

I couldn't help but smirk and roll my eyes as I waited for my food. Emmett's order came before mine and could have fed a small tribe. Only he could eat a large Big Mac meal and five apple pies.

Lunch passed uneventfully with talk of tonight's show and that Embry would be waiting for Emmett and Jasper at the club. I mentioned Cullen and I were getting a hotel room so we could take a shower. Everyone liked the idea and said they would go with us.

When I walked back onto the bus, Cullen was sitting on the couch next to my laptop with an unopened bottle of water, his eyes peering through fallen strands of copper. I walked over, pushed my laptop to the side, and sat beside him. He leaned over, hands still in between his legs, and puckered his lips for a kiss. The gesture was normal, as if last night never happened, until I looked at the bandage on his arm.

I didn't want him to notice my uncertainty, so I smiled and leaned over to meet his lips. What I thought would be a chaste kiss quickly turned into tongues sliding against one another and hands gripping and raking through each other's hair. We continued our passionate kissing until we heard several throats clear. I broke away, flushing, and turned to meet everyone staring at us.

"Sorry. We weren't expecting to find you two on the verge of getting naked," Emmett mocked.

Cullen snorted, causing everyone to laugh.

"Big brother, it's good to see you smile. How are you feeling today?" Emmett asked.

"I'm all right, feeling a bit nauseous. Do we have any joints rolled up?" Cullen inquired.

Jasper exhaled an elongated sigh, brushed his left hand through his blond mop, and looked at his cousin.

"Let's just take it easy today. We all partied hard last night. Alice was going to find a grocery store once we get to Dallas. She can pick up some Sprite and ginger ale," he calmly answered.

Cullen nodded in agreement. Carlisle moved past the group, patted his son on the head, and walked back towards the lounge. Alice plopped down on the other couch, tucking her feet under her ass. I knew she wanted something.

"Alice, is there something you want?"

"Oh, it's nothing big. I just wanted to ask if you would go with me to the grocery store."

Cullen laughed before he said, "Ali, I think I'll come along with you girls. Your last shopping outing got out of hand."

I agreed, moved to the other side of the couch, and opened up my laptop.

Charlie had sent two emails asking how I was doing and hoping I was staying out of trouble. Jessica sent me one email showing me new pictures of her son, and Mike sent me an email. I knew he tried calling yesterday, and now there was an email dated from yesterday as well.

I opened the message and saw that he only wanted to know how I was fairing and hoped I was doing well. He didn't have to send an email since he had sent a text to my phone, except his text had said he missed me. Cullen noticed my irritation and cocked a questioning brow.

"Mike sent me an email after he called. He only wanted to know how I'm doing and hoped I'm doing well. All of which could have been left in the text message. I thought it was something important," I said, sounding piqued.

He shrugged and said, "Maybe he thought you were on the computer and then realized you weren't, so he texted."

I grimaced and sent Mike an email back letting him know everything was fine.

Cullen got up and motioned back to the lounge, letting me where he would be. I nodded and went back to replying to emails. Charlie was easy. I told him bits about the two cities we had been to so far and that I was having a great time. Jessica's little boy had grown so much in the short time I had been gone. I missed little Caleb.

By the time I had finished replying to emails and checking my Facebook, we were at the club, The Prophet Bar, sitting in the back parking lot. Carlisle, Jasper, Jake, and Emmett bounded up front and out the door where Jasper and Emmett man-hugged Embry. I hadn't seen him in forever. A minute or so after the others had gone out, John ran out the front too, joining in on the man-hugging. I didn't know John knew Embry that well. I knew he worked with the band sometimes, but still. I shrugged it off and went about my business of gathering my belongings into my backpack.

Alice and Cullen walked down the hallway play fighting and throwing derogatory comments back and forth. When they came into the front, she pulled my arm with a huge smile plastered on her face. He had pulled a white wife beater on.

"What Alice?" I asked worriedly.

"Let's get one of your new outfits out."

"That's what I was going to do."

"Hey, what are you two girls huddling about?" Cullen asked.

Rolling my eyes, I told him nothing that was important.

"So, Bella, Carlisle got us rooms for the night at a Sheraton a few streets over. We can easily stay the night since Houston is only four hours away. Isn't this exciting? We get a decent shower and a bed. Cullen, I love your father," Alice gushed.

I turned to Cullen and instantly my knees went weak. His lips were parted, wet from his tongue, and his eyes were lust filled. He had plans for tonight. A single shiver ran down my spine.

Alice watched the exchange, cleared her throat, breaking me of my staring. I turned back towards my friend, swallowing back air nervously. She looked up at me and smirked. I felt my ears and face flare with heat.

When the three of us exited the bus, John and Embry were already unloading the gear and had pulled up the underside of the bus where our bags were stored. Carlisle had started lining up bags so I walked over to mine, bent down to pull up the handle, and gasped in shock. Plastic shopping bags filled the storage area to the brim. The sight of the retail monstrosity made me feel like shit.

With my head hanging down, I walked over to my bags, picking up one of the Charlotte Russe bags. I rummaged through the Victoria Secret's bag and picked out a shell pink bra and a black bra with their matching panties. I threw my intimates in the Charlotte Russe bag and scampered back to my suitcase. Cullen stood next to mine with his beside him with his arms crossing his chest, smirking.

"What?" I whispered embarrassingly.

"It's cute watching you hide your bra and panties. Don't worry, no one will see them but me, and then they won't be on you too long," he softly spoke before lowering his mouth to mine, nipping at my bottom lip. "Come on, let's get in the taxi."

I looked around his shoulder and found two taxis, one for Cullen and me while the other was for Jasper, Alice, Emmett, and Carlisle. Jake said he was going to hang out with John and Embry. They would be over to the hotel once they were done unloading.

Once everyone got in their taxis, both cars turned left on Elm Street, drove three streets up until we turned right onto North Pearl Street, and quickly turning left on Live Oak Street where we made a final right turn on North Olive Street. The Sheraton towered above us, its red letters a beacon.

The taxis parked underneath the awning at the entrance. I unbuckled my seatbelt, realizing Cullen and I had been quiet on the quick ride over. He got out before I did, raced around the back of the car, and opened up my door. I sat with the buckle in midair, shocked with my mouth gaping open. His gesture was not something I'd ever expect, but I closed my mouth and took his offered hand.

He brought the back of my hand to his lips, grazed them across like feathers, and dipped the tip of his tongue between creases of my closed fingers, flicking it rapidly as if it was a prelude to later activities. Cullen discreetly and quickly displayed his naughty polite gesture before any of the others could notice, but I had watched every millisecond of it and could still feel the heat of his tongue on my fingers.

The sum gleamed off the roof of a car, blinding me as I got out from the taxi, hitching my backpack on my shoulder. I held my cupped hand over my eyes and turned to face Cullen who was paying the cab driver. Carlisle hovered between us with cash in his left hand. He shook his head when his son turned around.

"What, Dad?"

"I was going to pay for the taxis. You didn't need to do that," Carlisle firmly answered.

"Well, you paid for the hotel. The least I could do is pay for my own taxi."

Carlisle smiled and walked back to the other taxi. After his father walked off, Cullen held out his hand, waiting for me. I closed the car door, walked a few steps, and joined my hand with his. The cab driver had gotten out and retrieved our bags from the trunk, while father and son quickly chatted.

We walked together to get our bags from the curb. I pulled away to lean down to pick up the Charlotte Russe bag and to grab the handle to my luggage. He just had to extend the handle on his luggage and he was done. I felt fingers grasping onto the strap of my backpack. I shrugged it off and felt the weight fall from my body. Cullen placed it around his shoulder, leaving me with the plastic shopping bag and my luggage handle. Once we had the luggage secured, we clasped hands again, walking hand in hand into the hotel.

Cool air rushed to my face as we stepped inside. It was a nice welcome from the Dallas heat and blazing sun. Sweat had started seeping from my pores around my hairline; I felt a drop roll down my cheek onto my neck. Cullen walked us over to the counter to check us in as I looked over the lobby. Shades of green, brown, and orange dominated.

The sitting area had a three-seated bark colored sofa against the back wall and two bark colored loveseats on the end with oblong orange and white patterned pillows adorned each seating. Three dark wood tables with rounded tops with three rounded segments for the pedestals, the wider segment on the bottom, sat in front of each seating. Above the loveseat to the left, three lights hung down from the wood support with a mirror behind them.

Behind the sofa was a three sectional wall partition. In the middle, hung a rectangular abstract painting and vases with plants sat on the two ends. Across from the painting was a three-piece ottoman sectional in a dark tan color that was in between two dark wood end tables. Underneath the furnishing was a rug with huge overlapping circles of leaf green with an orange design in them.

I felt welcomed and at home instantly. That was what the hotel wanted. I hadn't noticed our hands weren't connected anymore until he entwined our fingers again, pulling me towards the elevators. As we walked, I tore my eyes away from the scenery and met his eyes. A playful smirk danced upon his lips.

While we walked down a corridor to the elevators, colors of brown and orange ran along the walls and flooring. Huge square placements, surrounded with wood, on the ceiling held the lighting. The walls were a dark chocolate brown with large, rectangular partitions spaced out. In between each partition was a wood bench with lamps on either side.

We reached the elevator; I pushed the up button and waited for lift to descend. Cullen told me our room was two floors above everyone else's rooms, putting us on the eighth floor overlooking downtown Dallas. The ding of the elevator's arrival jolted me, as the corridor was quiet and had no other traffic but us. Cullen chortled as he motioned for me to go ahead of him. He pushed the number eight button on the panel, leaned against the wood handrail, and pulled me into his side to give me a chaste kiss on my nose and then my lips.

He started to pull back up, but my arms flew to wrap around his neck, seizing him against the front of me. His hands roamed down to my ass where his fingers dug into the meat of the cheeks, pressing me harder against him. If we were any closer, our bodies would be one. I stood on my tiptoes, placing featherlike kisses up the left side of his neck, and then dragging my teeth across his earlobe.

A low growl emanated from his throat, making his fingers dig further into my ass cheeks. My mouth traced back down his neck when I felt Cullen lift me up from under my ass, keeping me pressed tight against him. He held me without straining, giving me a better advantage.

My new height had us nose to nose, mouth to mouth. We stared into each other's eyes and then attacked each other's mouths. He turned us around, planting me against the elevator wall. His body held me in place so my legs hung limply down his side. His hips were tightly flushed against my groin, which provided sweet friction.

I wiggled my hips, trying to get as much friction as I could from the front of my khaki shorts. His hands groped my tits, his fingers pinched my nipples, and his mouth left mine to lower to my breasts, giving wet, open-mouthed kisses on the soft flesh. Arching my neck back, my chest shoved further into his face. Loud moans filled the elevator, the thrill of being caught prickled along my skin, causing wetness to pool in my boy shorts.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. We didn't stop grinding, groping, and kissing, and we gave a hallway full of people a show before one of them cleared their throats. When Cullen pulled away slightly, I dropped back to the floor, moved around him, and gathered up my bags that I had dropped onto the floor of the elevator. I pushed past him and the crowd of people and walked hurriedly down the hallway. Footsteps that sounded like running thundered behind me before catching up to my quick stride.

"Are you okay, pretty girl?" he asked me breathily.

I rolled my eyes up at him and shook my head.

"I'm mortified. We were all but fucking," I muttered.

He laughed, stopped in the hallway, leaving me walking past him. I stopped and turned around, fuming.

"Babe, our room is in the other direction. The room number is eight thirty-two. We're in the teens."

Immaturely, I stomped my right foot and huffed. Quickly I gathered my bearings. I walked over to him, took his left hand in my right, and tugged him in the correct direction of our room. He complied and took the lead in finding our room.

Our room was at the end of the hallway- the last room- so we only shared one wall. After we got the green light on the door, we walked in, and the first thing I noticed was the huge king sized bed set against the wall that didn't have a neighbor. Cullen must have noticed that same thing because his eyes were heavy lidded and he turned towards me with his lips parted and one eyebrow raised. Would we ever get out to join Alice for the grocery shopping?

The bed's headboard was wide with two shades of brown- milk and dark chocolate- with rounded corners. Its sheets were snow white and crisp. The carpet was brown with a tan flowered pattern running over it. Each side had nightstands with lamps on them that had a body that looked like a giant glass leaf and the base was metal with white lampshades. There were four lamps altogether. One was on the long desk at the end where a red chair sat tucked underneath the desk; the big wide screened television was at the other end. The other lamp was a floor lamp and it sat next to a red armchair with its ottoman that had a little table to its right.

The opposing wall from the bed was painted a cream color to go along with the color scheme. White thin curtains hung from the curtain rod with cream-colored drapes opened to the side. I rolled my suitcase to the end of the bed and placed my backpack and plastic shopping bag in the red armchair. Cullen sat his luggage on top the suitcase rack that he had opened.

Looking at the expensive furnishing and decorations made me start to feel dirtier than I already felt, a shower was necessary immediately. Cullen unzipped his suitcase and pulled out his toiletries, placing them on the bathroom counter and in the shower. I walked over to mine, opened it, and gathered up my toiletries and the Charlotte Russe bag.

The bathroom light was on when I walked in. Cullen stood shirtless in front of the sink, shaving his face. He turned his head when he noticed my reflection in the mirror and smiled. I returned one back, finding it impossible not to with his face half way covered in white shaving cream. There was a metal caddie bolted into the wall next to the long, black rimmed mirror. I hung the Charlotte Russe bag on the lone bar and placed my toiletries next to his.

Underneath the sink counter, neatly folded and stacked, were big, fluffy white towels and wash cloths. Cullen placed his razor on the edge of the sink, bent down to grab two of the towels, and turned back around to offer them to me. I took them, holding them against my chest, and walked behind him. As I walked by him, he moved a fraction, his bare back grazing my right arm.

I placed the towels on the rack that was next to the shower and reached over to turn the water on for my shower. Strong, damp hands encircled my waist, pulling me swiftly back into the front of his body and his large bulge. Air rushed out of my lungs, startling me at the unexpected movement.

My arms instinctively went around his neck, making me tilt my head to the side, giving him access to my neck. Warm, soft lips glided up the length of the exposed skin, lightly pecking at random intervals. His hot breath brushed against my ear, moving down my neck. My eyes remained closed, enjoying the light, erotic teasing his lips were doing. One hand kept me in place while the other traveled up my stomach, grazed the apex of my ribcage, and then grouped both of my tits together. He tried to pinch both nipples at once, and at first, it was a little complicated, but with the right maneuvering, he managed to pinch both.

Cullen ground his hard dick into my ass while pinching and groping my tits and kissing and breathing down my neck. I was on the verge of coming when I got a whiff of sour body odor. The movement of our bodies was heating them up and moving caused the stench from my armpit to waft up in my face. That stopped everything. I knew if my armpits smelled that bad, then other places possibly smelled worse.

"Cullen, we have to stop. I stink and I can't fuck if I can smell myself," I breathily pleaded.

He turned me around and I saw once again that he was smirking.

"Bella, right this moment, I don't care if you do stink. I'm sure I smell like rotten ass also. I just want to fuck you."

"I can't. Not until I'm clean and have shaved legs and armpits."

I had noticed little prickly hairs when I looked at them before pulling away from him.

He blew out an aggravated sigh, ran his hand through his messy hair, and said okay. I kissed him on the shoulder and told him I would be out shortly before he walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Steam billowed out from behind the shower curtain, signaling the water was excessively hot. I reached behind the curtain to adjust the temperature while making sure I didn't scald myself. After I found the right temperature, I discarded my clothing, wrinkling my nose when the stench rose up to my nose.

Before I got into the shower, I grabbed my razor, shave gel, shampoo and conditioner, and body wash; I hugged them close to my body. The water stung a bit upon my entrance, making me wince while I arranged my items. After arranging the items, I leaned back into the spray, wetting my hair. I moaned at the warm water soaking my scalp, giving it a mini massage. The oil in my hair felt thicker after being wet.

I reached for the shampoo, Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath and Body Works. The smell for sure would drive Cullen crazy. Alice had introduced me to the store and the scent. It was love at first sniff. I wound up buying the shampoo and conditioner, lotion, and perfume. I would be a walking sea of vanilla and sugar.

After washing my hair, I drenched the ends of my hair with the conditioner. While I let that soak in, I washed and shaved. It was disgusting how gross I had gotten. I quickly washed out the conditioner and turned off the water. I knew Cullen wanted a shower also.

I wrapped one of the towels around my head and dried off with the other, wrapping it around my body once I was done. Steam had built up in the bathroom, so I opened the door, and watched as it billowed out into the room. I had forgotten my lotion and antiperspirant in my suitcase, so I gathered up the plastic shopping bag and walked out into the room.

Cullen was sitting up against the headboard with pillows behind him, supporting his back. He was watching some action movie. I threw the bag on the bed and the towel onto the floor, causing him to tear his eyes from the movie and to my tits and naked body.

His eyes narrowed, his lips parted, and his tongue quickly wetted his bottom lip. He sucked in his cheek, making a suction sound, and then releasing it. While I had been in the shower, he had stripped off his clothing, leaving him naked. Therefore, at the sight of me nude, he gifted me with the hardening of his massive cock. I knew what he wanted.

"Cullen, we're not having sex until you've had a shower, too."

His predatory glare concentrated on me as he slid off the bed, making his way to where I stood by my suitcase in the red armchair. He was in front of me before I had a chance to move, standing in my way and towering over me.

My fingers rested on the top of the case, helping me balance myself. I could smell his musky scent, his manly smell, wafting off him. Most would be turned off by the heady smell, but it spurred on my excitement for him. I watched as the green in his eyes burned brighter as he leaned closer into me.

"Bella, I'm not going to move until I get a kiss," he breathed into my ear huskily. One hand had made its way to my left tit, and now his fingers rolled and pinched the nipple. I lowered my face and turned towards his mouth. His hot breath fumed against the skin on my cheek. Then suddenly, his mouth ravaged mine. I quickly reciprocated, our tongues making love fervently.

Loud pants of breath from our noses blew across our lips and cheeks. His hand and fingers massaged, rolled, and pinched. His other hand palmed my ass cheek and pulled my naked body against his. I writhed on his hard cock, making him groan. He pulled his hand from my ass to my knee, hitching my leg to his pelvic bone. The movement made his cock lower to my pussy where the length parted my lips and rubbed against my clit.

I shuddered at the feeling, moaning into his moan, which elicited a growl from deep in his throat. He rocked his slowly hips back and forth, making the friction on my clit not be enough, and for me to feel as if I was about to explode out of my skin. The slow rocking and rubbing continued as our mouths hungrily kissed. When I came close to an orgasm, he pulled away, just enough to pull his dick away from me. His forehead still rested against mine, as his nose touched the tip of mine, and his lips hovered above my mouth.

"Bella," he breathily said, "your name sounds so sweet on my lips."

He murmured my name repeatedly as he let my leg down and moved that hand to my lower back, bracing me so I couldn't move. His hand that had been on my breast had moved to the towel on my head, releasing its hold on my hair. Wet strands swept across my shoulders and back but quickly picked up as his hand moved to underneath the mass of hair, pulling it up.

A firm grip tugged on my hair, drawing my head back so my face looked up into his eyes. They held me in place, the intensity in them telling me emotions that I knew he wanted to verbalize. In that moment, it felt as if my whole life had been a lie constructed by my father because of who he thought I should be. In the eyes of the man before me, I saw who I could be. Everything in our relationship has been complicated from the start, but in reality, the truth was simple. He was just a man, and I was just a woman. He made me feel beautiful when no one in my life ever had.

"Cullen, in your arms and in your gaze, I feel like I could fly across the clear, blue Dallas sky. You make me feel…so beautiful with the longing stares you give me, the tender touch of your hand, and the searing kisses of your lips," I whispered.

A tiny smile parted his lips. He placed a single kiss on the tip of my nose before moving to the side of my face, nestling in my hair.

"You smell even more exquisite than you already did. The cake frosting smell is intensified with a hint of an actual cake smell. I could eat you alive."

I felt his warm breath sweep down my neck, ending on my back. His hand on my lower back loosened as his fingers lightly danced on my skin as if he was touching the wings of a butterfly.

"Bella, I'm going to get a shower like you want, but when I come out, I want you on the bed, awaiting my return, with your legs spread out before me."

He abruptly moved away, causing me to exhale a breath I didn't know I had been holding. The air felt cold in his absence. I watched him walk across the room, in awe of his beautiful, pale form. When the door closed behind him, I rapidly found my lotion and antiperspirant. I slathered my skin with the Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion and swiped my underarms with the Vanilla Chai deodorant. He would be drowning in the decadent aroma.

I climbed onto the bed, moved to the center, and laid down on my back. I swept my hair out over my shoulders, moving my hands down to my nipples to roll them between my fingers as I spread my legs out hips width apart. As I heard the shower water run down his body and the shower walls, I awaited his return, open and wet.