11/28/2011
^EPOV^
"Breakfast?" I ask hopefully, when she opens the door. I realize she's on a food plan and I'm unaware of her normal breakfast choices, but I figure a yogurt, granola and berry parfait must have something to offer.
"Thanks. That was sweet. Let me just grab my stuff."
"So what do you eat for breakfast?"
"Normally, about one-third of this," she says, holding up the cup. "But today, I really need to get back on track."
"Me, too," I grin around my spoon. "Last weekend was an eating orgy. I feel totally disgusting."
"So, are we going to go see Riley together tonight? I still have my 4:00 slot."
"Yeah, we should give it a try."
We toss our remainders in the trash barrel just outside Williams Hall, and I grab her hand. She smiles and we push through the doors together, holding hands, for the first time. Professor Banner lifts his head when he sees us and he smiles in greeting, not at all surprised that we're locked together. "Good weekend, you two?"
"Yes. You?" I ask.
"The usual. Too much turkey. The Cowboys lost. Aunt Ida got drunk and fell off her chair at the dinner table. All kinds of excitement."
"Wish I could've been a fly on the wall!" Bella teases.
O)(O
"So who was thankful there was no writing assignment last week?" Every hand in the room goes up, along with light laughter. "Well, we're back on track now, no fooling around this week."
The usual moans and groans. "Actually, we are going to fool around a little. This week's assignment is to choose the first line from any nursery rhyme and make it into a story. 900-1000 words please. This is a fiction assignment. Tell me the back story. If you want to go a little fantasy or sci-fi, that's okay, too, but I want to see a good story. All right, you're outta here!"
"There goes all my free time this week," I moan in Bella's vicinity.
"Hey, it won't be bad. We can work on it together, somewhere fun. I guess the driving range is no longer an option."
"Nope, closed for the season," I lament.
"Well, what's your off-season happy place?"
"I don't have an off-season. I'm from California, remember?"
"Welcome to New England," she offers. "Hmmm, we could go to the Loud Room-"
"Like a library would be my happy place? Get real, girlfriend!"
She chuckles. "What about taking the bus into Stockton, getting away from campus for a night, finding a romantic restaurant…"
"And talking about schoolwork? What a great way to ruin a date." I am pouty and unpleasant and I hate myself right now, but I can't seem to quite snap out of it.
"Why don't you think of it not as a bad date, but as a really fun way to do your homework?"
"Are you using psychology on me, Bella?"
"Maybe…"
"It's working. How about tomorrow, after your last class? We can catch the 3:15 shuttle."
~BPOV~
"Okay, you two, I'm willing to go along with this, under a couple of conditions," Riley says. "First of all, if I feel like you're not concentrating or being careful, we're done. No tight tank shirts or up-your-crack shorts. And that applies to you, too, Bella." Riley smiles at his own little joke. "And no PDA. Deal?"
"Deal," we say at once, then bust up with laughter.
Riley rolls his eyes and says, "Up on your balls, guys."
We hop on obligingly, determined to give this a fair try. Neither of us wants to backslide in the progress we've made with our bodies this fall.
"Okay, you can stretch each other's abs, just line up the balls and take turns leaning back. That's it, Bella, squeeze here," he says, indicating my obliques in his usual manner, with his palm on the side of my stomach.
Edward immediately lets out a low growl.
Riley holds his hands up and says, "If I can't check her muscles, the deal is off. Non-negotiable. Edward, you know it's not sexual."
I watch my possessive boyfriend ponder the situation for a few seconds before giving in. "Fine, Rile, but don't enjoy it."
Riley rolls his eyes in exasperation and says, "I'll do my best."
"That goes for you too, Bella," Edward says with an air of threat in his voice.
"Hey, you don't see me getting all jealous when he touches you, Edward," I argue.
"Oh, you didn't tell her about us?" Riley pouts.
"Maybe this was the worst idea I've ever had," Edward says.
"No, sweetie, that would be when you decided I was repelled by your touch."
Riley's eyebrows pop up under his hairline.
"Hey, do you mind keeping our dirty laundry inside the basket?" Edward chides.
"Oh. My. God," Riley injects. "Maybe I should just rent you two the space for an hour. Oh, no, ick, forget I mentioned that.
The three of us dissolve into helpless laughter.
"Can we get to work now, Eight pack?"
"Sure," Edward answers, with a sexy wink my direction.
As Riley works Edward's abs, and I help a little bit (but mostly just ogle), I marvel again at my amazingly good fortune that this sexy creature would be interested in the likes of me.
Soon it's my turn again. "Come on, Bella, let's show Edward your chin-ups."
Edward stands in front of me, arms crossed over his chest, happy smile on his face. "Was that plural, B?"
"Yessss," I hiss, pulling myself up for the first, rising to the challenge in his eyes. I'm up again in record time, and Riley counts it off behind me. I manage two more, and I've reached my previous record. My arms feel like mush.
Edward teases, "Is that all you got, Swan?" and he steps closer to me. I can see from this close that his eyes have gone from friendly and challenging to dead sexy. I practically brush my legs up his torso as I pull myself up to the bar once again. Riley starts clapping behind me.
"Well, well, well. Looks like you just needed the right kind of motivation."
Indeed.
^EPOV^
"Damn that was sexy, Bella."
I don't care that we're sweaty, and I hope she doesn't care that I smell fairly awful. I am revved up from our joint workout, and I want my gym girl. Like now.
She giggles as I move up her body, greedily touching and teasing whatever looks good to me. And it all looks good. "So, Edward, is this how you always feel after your workout?"
"No, Bella. This is how I always feel after watching you work out."
"How about taking off your shirt so I can check out your new growth."
"You sure you want to subject yourself to that?" I laugh warily, sure she'll cringe when she takes a good whiff.
"Yeah, pretty sure."
"Damn, Swan, you are one kinky girl."
"It's all your fault," she answers. "You're turning me into a slut."
I laugh at the idea of Bella Swan, the slut. I am so happy to take things slowly with Bella, and the truth is, I'm appreciating everything so much more this way, one step at a time. I'd never admit it to another guy, least of all, Jasper, but I'm not feeling the least bit deprived.
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," I challenge, sitting up with my knees on either side of her legs and pulling off my stinky t-shirt. She wriggles out of her sports bra against the bed, and her tits pop out of their lycra prison, leaving only her tight little spandex shorts. She's now the closest to naked I've ever had her. There's a fine layer of sheen that is going to feel fantastic when I rub my own chest along hers. This is gonna be sweaty and dirty and probably too quick.
"God, Bella," I moan weakly, fully understanding that I'm powerless in the presence of her mostly bare body. Crashing down on her indelicately, I crush our bodies together, and we slide and rub while I kiss the fuck out of her.
Her nails scratch across my sweaty back, and I know she's marking my warm skin with deep stripes but I could not care less. Her hips press up against mine. Seems Bella the slut is taking charge now. Her moans are drowning out mine, and I'm not worried about freaking her out this time, so I just let myself go, and the friction of my body against hers feels so fucking incredible, even through our layers of performance gear. Our tongues are catching on to the rhythm of our lower halves, and suddenly, every bodily function is attuned to the motion and the inexorable journey of our corresponding parts.
Bella breaks off my kiss and pants uncontrollably, clutching my shoulders and mashing her pelvis against mine. Not that I'm putting up any kind of fight. I push back with the frenzied beat of a runaway train picking up speed and power. My abandoned lips find her neck, and I lick along her sweaty skin, tasting the flavor of her workout and her arousal.
"OH GOD! OH GOD! OH GOD! OH GOD!" she chants, her voice lifting higher and higher until it's nothing more than an airy squeak. She pulls me against her tighter than I thought possible, and though I can't exactly feel the spasm of her body through her lycra, the rest of her puddles into a quivering mess of rippling pleasure underneath me. It's all too much for my horny collegiate half-naked body, and I'm right behind her with my own orgasm, my hand seeking out a breast at the last second before detonation.
I play mindlessly with her nipple as I come down from my head rush. I don't feel like I'll ever be able to move again. Suddenly, the bed begins shaking, as does the nipple between my fingers, and I realize Bella is laughing her ass off. My ego kicks in and I push myself up to evaluate the situation.
"What's that for?" I ask curiously.
"Wow," she answers, as if that says it all.
"Oh. Okay," I respond, settling once again on her chest. A small, enormously satisfied smile snakes across my face.
~BPOV~
"You're recording our date?"
"Not exactly. Don't be so nervous, Nixon."
"Very funny, Bella. What if I say something really stupid? It'll be recorded for all posterity."
I chuckle but I'm not backing down. Good story ideas will be shared, and I don't want anything getting lost in the shuffle. "Trust me, this is better than having to bring notebooks and pens."
He rolls his eyes, then pulls me in for a kiss. "Record that," he challenges.
"Come on, Edward. Have you even thought about which nursery rhyme you want to write?"
"I like Jack Sprat."
This suggestion bothers me. "It doesn't really paint the wife in a very nice light, does it?"
"I guess not," he shrugs. "How about Jack and Jill went up the hill?"
"And…?"
"Well, what did they need with the water anyways? And why did they both have to do it? Maybe they're conjoined twins."
"That's biologically impossible, Edward."
"Then, maybe they're brother and sister, then, and they were fighting, so their Mom sent them up the hill to get water as a punishment."
"What if they're friends? Or what if they've always been friends, but as they're drawing the pail of water from the well, Jill starts to trip and Jack catches her and they fall madly in love?"
"Oh my God. You are such a romantic," he teases.
"Fine. Let her fall in and break her neck. See if I care," I say petulantly.
He tips my chin around and gives me a kiss as we bounce along in our seat on the bus. "Come on, Sweetheart, I'm only teasing you because you are so damn cute."
"Don't try to make nice, Edward. You write your story, and I'll write mine."
"Oh yeah? What are you writing about?"
"I am thinking about 'Little Bo Peep."
"Where are you going with that?"
"I was thinking maybe the reason she couldn't find her sheep was that a certain vampire was picking them off, one at a time."
"Okay. So what happens when she figures this out?" he prods.
"He's only doing it to lure the virginal Bo Peep away from her father."
"Wait, am I the vampire in this story?" he asks with horror.
"Do you want to be?"
He considers his answer carefully. "I guess that would depend…"
"On?"
"Well, first of all, what was he doing with all those sheep? Because I am really not into bestiality."
"Ew and good to know. What else?"
"Well, what happens when he finally gets Bel- I mean, Bo? Are we talking about taking a sip or two, or is he going to drain the life out of her?"
"I was kind of thinking he might offer her eternal life."
"Hunh," he says noncommittally.
"What?" I push.
"Well, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I think that story line has kind of been done to death."
"What if she said 'no' to him? Would that be original?"
"So, she lets him drink from her, but just enough to exist? And he accepts her decision?"
"Yes. Of course, they fall madly in love."
He nods. "Of course. And they watch over her flock together while she grows old and grey?"
"Sure. Who better to watch over innocent sheep than a blood-thirsty vampire?"
"He wouldn't be blood thirsty if Bo was satisfying all his needs." He waggles his eyebrows.
"Are we talking about Bill and Hillary again?"
"Ugh. Let's not."
"Right. So do you think my vampire would go for that? I mean, what sexy young 25-year-old vampire wants to be stuck with an aging 48-year-old woman?"
He smiles rather devilishly and answers, "I've heard that women are just reaching their sexual stride in their late forties. I think the arrangement could have some merit."
"Really, now?" I press, intrigued at this concept. "And what about when she's in her late 70's?"
"I would think that by that time, they've really gotten to know everything there is to know about each other, and they can almost communicate without words. That feels comforting to me."
"So you don't think he'd miss the crazy sex?"
"Well, his body may stay 25 forever, but I would think his mind would be in a much different place."
I turn in my seat to face him full on, intrigued by this little glimpse into the psyche of Edward Cullen, a boy who never fails to surprise me in all the best ways. "So, Edward, are you really and honestly saying that you could envision a time in your own life when you would be completely happy to be with a lady in her late 70's?"
"Of course, I can, Bella. It's called getting old and grey together. The twilight years. I'm not saying I wish to be there tomorrow, but when I do, I'd like to know that there's a girl next to me who's in the same place. And if by some miracle, some younger 50-year-old gal tried to tempt me away from my sweetheart, I wouldn't give her a second look."
"That sounds like a lovely fairy tale," I sigh. My life experiences have not afforded me the same positive outlook on love.
"That sounds like my parents' marriage, Bella. And it happens all the time."
Be still my warmed heart. "Come on, Edward. We're in Stockton."
O)(O
There is literally one traffic light in the center of town, and that's it. Quaint shops and little restaurants line the streets for three blocks in both directions. "I'm not hungry yet," he says. "Wanna poke around a bit?"
"Sure," I answer, so incredibly content just to hold his hand and walk along the streets.
"Still recording, Bella?"
"Yeah."
"Well, then, for the record, I'm really happy right now."
"Me, too, Edward."
^EPOV^
Three antique shops and two rare bookstores later, we settle on The Atlantic Grill for dinner. It wasn't a tough choice; it was that or Dunkin Donuts.
"Want to talk more about your story?" she asks, holding up the recorder.
"Not now. We can always do it on the way back, if we get bored of kissing."
"As if," she says, then looks embarrassed. "Oops, did I just say that out loud?"
I chuckle along with her. "This was a really great idea, Bella. You really took the sting out of the assignment."
"And we get to have rainbow trout and bok choy."
"I can never get enough bok choy," I comment sarcastically.
"I didn't even know what bok choy was three months ago. It's amazing how my life has changed since I got to school."
"I know, Bella. Can you even remember back before you turned into a slut?"
"Shhhhhhh! Hey!" She reaches over and whacks my upper arm. Our drama is interrupted by the food delivery. Bella gives me a significant warning glare to hold my tongue in front of our waiter.
"So, have you and Rose talked at all about rooming together next year?"
"Yes, we definitely plan to do that. Especially with Emmett graduating and moving on. It's going to be really hard for her."
"Something tells me Em's gonna be fairly close. And since he's looking at medical schools, there's no better place than the East Coast."
"Right, but it still won't be the same as spending every hour of every day together. What about you and Jasper?"
"I think I can put up with his sorry ass another year."
"And how does he feel about playing second fiddle?"
"I have a feeling he'll come roaring back next fall and give me a run for my money at the number one slot." I smile, picturing Jasper working his long game over the summer to try and dethrone me.
"What do you think Alice is going to do?"
"I don't know. She and Bree don't really seem to hang out much any more."
She snorts. "Yeah, once Bree realized she couldn't have you, she ditched Alice for the next available guy getter."
"Guy getter?"
"Y'know, wing woman? Bait? Man magnet?"
"Ohhhhh. You mean friend," I nod in understanding. "So are you thinking maybe you and Rose would ask Alice if she wanted to live with you?"
"I think that's a great idea. Alice is great."
"Yeah, and she's perfect for Jasper."
"Mmmm," Bella agrees, a faraway look in her eyes.
~BPOV~
"Okay, how about this? We work until we get to New Brunswick, and then we kiss the rest of the way?"
"Deal."
By the time we roll back onto campus, both of our papers are largely written and we've grossed out everybody on the bus.
O)(O
"Thanks for typing up my draft," Edward says on the way to class.
"It's no problem, Edward. I just pulled together all the different bits and reorganized them. It's not done, but you've got a great start here."
We push through the doorway and take our usual spots. Peer review Wednesday. My favorite Comp Sem class.
"I think you know Jack and Jill better than I do at this point. You better give me a chance to read my own story first."
I watch his eyes move laboriously across the page. If I didn't know he'd struggled earlier in life, I probably wouldn't detect it now. Having traveled full circle with him from idea to plot development to composition, however, I can see that the written word is really his only stumbling block. Edward's story is excellent, and as he reads for himself, I know he can see it as well. As he finishes, a smile lights his face.
"You know it's good, don't you?" I encourage him.
"It's pretty good."
"Well, what do you think could be improved?"
"Hey, no fair, I'm not supposed to critique myself!"
I chuckle at his petulance. "You should at least make some notes for yourself while it's still fresh in your mind. Go ahead, I'll wait."
Edward thinks and writes, thinks and writes more. Finally, he looks up. "Okay, your turn."
I reel off my few comments and his smile widens.
"What?" I ask.
He turns his paper around so I can see he's written the exact comments I just mentioned. Almost word for word.
"Creepy," I say.
"I know," he answers. But our matching grins speak louder than our words. We're on the same page.
O)(O
"Are you still seeing Emily on Thursdays?"
"Not every Thursday, but we have a big test Monday, so I am going to see her tomorrow."
"I've got Connor at 3 as well. Want to meet up after and walk back?"
"Sure, maybe we can put the final touches on our stories tomorrow and then go to the caf together."
"Sounds like a rip-roaring night!" he teases.
"Well, what can I say, Edward? I'm just a super exciting girl."
"Hmmm, somebody agrees," he says, his eyes dipping along the mattress to where said excited body part is making itself known behind faded denim.
^EPOV^
"Thank him for the compliment," she ventures.
Thank him yourself, I don't say. Though the idea of Bella having a little more direct contact with my lower half has started to insinuate itself into my consciousness more and more frequently. I try hard not to, but I cannot help but set out an imaginary timetable. There is a somewhat natural progression to this, and though I've never experienced a relationship quite this same way, I'd imagine I could pretty well predict what that might look like. Seeing. Touching. Jerking. And dare I imagine…sucking and fu-. Ughhh, STOP!
And I feel no less guilty when my thoughts automatically reroute themselves to Bella's body. In much the same order. Soon, my cock is positively banging against my zipper and I'm going to have to do something about it.
I try drawing her attention downward to test the waters. "He says, 'You're welcome.'"
Her eyes flick down, as I suspected they might, and her smile gets just a smidgen darker.
"You know, it's not really fair," I tell her.
"What isn't'?"
"That you can see exactly what you do to me, and you're all hidden away."
Even though the room is mostly dark, I see the blush color her face. "A girl's gotta be entitled to her secrets."
I reach out two fingers and tuck away the few strands of hair blocking my view of her hot cheeks. "You sure you don't want to tell me your secrets, Bella?"
She nods her head gently and whispers, "Not yet."
I immediately bring my lips to hers and kiss her with all I've got. Anchoring my nose right up against hers, I tell her, "That's fine, Sweetheart. I am happy to wait."
She whispers again, closing her eyes with relief, "Thank you, Edward."
I pull her into a tight hug and give her one final peck on the lips as I push off her bed. "I'll see you outside the Library tomorrow. I've got to go do some work. G'night."
O)(O
I read the first paragraph on page 386 for a fourth time before admitting nothing is sinking in. "Fuuuuck," I say in utter defeat. Jerking off in a double is not a safe bet, especially since Jasper and Alice have an unpredictable migration pattern. I strip down quickly and wrap my towel around my waist, batting down my boner to the best of my ability. No need for shampoo tonight, but I grab my Dial shower gel. Luckily, I'm alone in the bathroom, and I hastily adjust the knobs getting the water to at least a passable temperature before hopping in the shower. I've lost nothing of my motivation through five pages of psychology and three sets of math problems. I close my eyes and give myself a few quick strokes.
If you're gonna do it in the dorm shower, you have to be quick and quiet. Because some guys think nothing of ripping back the curtain for fun, and that is just not pleasant.
I think back to Bella's face, just moments before I left her on the bed. That look she got in her eyes as they dipped down to ponder the mystery of the bulge in my jeans. I imagine myself unzipping, letting her have her first "look" through my boxers, then sliding those down, ever so slowly so as not to scare her away with the Beast. Yeah, I'm a cocky fucker in my fantasies. I remember that blush of hers, and now it's tenfold. She reaches out one finger and gives me an experimental caress. Her eyes pop out as she feels the silky smooth skin along the top and the change in texture at the base.
I brace myself against the wall as I run my wet hand up and down my shaft, faster and faster, picturing Bella's hands tentatively wrapping around me for the first time. And that's all she wrote. I muffle the telltale sounds as best as I can under the running water as I add my own spray into the mix.
Coming down from my quick spike, I experience a pang of conscience at turning Bella into my dirty masturbation fantasy. That's a new one, I reflect back.
~BPOV~
I'm bouncing back and forth from my left to my right side, trying to stay warm while I wait for Connor to show up. I spy his trademark stocking hat with the bright stripes approaching up the walk. He is with a girl I don't know, and as they get closer, I can see that they're holding hands, well gloves. He pulls up in front of the library and they turn toward each other. Connor tips her scarf down, revealing her mouth for one second before covering it with his own.
"Meet you back here in an hour," I hear him say. She nods and moves along her way. Connor turns to me, bright smile still plastered across his face.
"Hello," I greet.
"Oh hey, Bella. Am I late?" No, he's never been late.
"No. Not at all. So…" Come on, Connor. Give. I gesture toward the departing girl with my eyes.
"Diana Conlon."
"And?"
"We met at a party Friday night. And we've been apart for about five minutes since then, outside of classes, of course."
"Well, I'm certainly glad to hear you're not skipping classes!"
"You're jealous?" he asks with a twinkle in his eye.
"Of course I'm jealous. Nobody likes to be easily replaced."
He chuckles and pushes me inside. "Who said it was easy?"
O)(O
Diana is waiting faithfully at the appointed time and place, and I give Connor a little elbow bump as he heads her way. "I'm happy for you, Connor."
"Thanks, Bella. Besides, you've already got everything you need."
He's seen Edward spilling out with Emily. I nod to Connor, confirming his hypothesis, and he walks off happily into the arms of Scarf Girl. Edward catches their reunion as well.
"Ah, young love."
"I know. Aren't they cute?'
"Darling. So…do we need a Froth attack to get this done, or should we just head straight back?"
"I'm good. How about you?" I ask him.
"I think I've got enough in the tank. Let's go."
O)(O
"I've already got both of our papers up on my laptop, so we should just go to my room."
"Fine by me. That just means you've got to type both of our edits."
I roll my eyes, as if there were another logical solution. What takes me ten minutes to type amounts to half an hour or more for Edward. It's not a good use of his time, and I'd rather have him free to entertain me. It's a win-win situation.
I hop on the bed and prop myself up with my 'boyfriend' pillow. Hmm, I ponder, wouldn't it be fun if the real boyfriend were back there holding me up. Another time. I pull Edward's paper up first and he hands me his notebook.
"I really like what you did here, by the way. That little save by Jack where Jill slips at the well and twists her ankle? Then Jack has to carry her piggy back down the hill? Nice touch."
"I couldn't figure out how I was going to get her to see him in a new light. They'd been friends forever. Something had to happen."
"Then all of a sudden, she's riding on his back, and that switch just goes off."
"It's her blue sweater moment," he says.
"What's that?"
"Oh. That night you wore your blue sweater, when we doubled with Emmett and Rose? That was it for me. The switch went on."
"You're such a dork sometimes, Edward."
"Oh yeah? When did you know? About me?"
"What do you mean? I'm still waiting for the switch to come on," I tease, concentrating again on my keyboard and tapping out his edits.
"Hunh."
My eyes slip over to his, and he's cooking something up.
"So," he says, scooting closer, "it would have no effect on you if I did this?" He runs his hand up my leg to my knee and gives me a squeeze.
"Nope." I ignore him best I can and continue typing.
"What about this?" His hand journeys higher, reaching my inner thigh. I can feel the heat as it nears the combat zone. And it's not just the exhaust from my laptop raising the temperature.
"No, sorry." Tap, tap, tap.
"Darn. I really thought I could make you feel something. Not even this?" He plants the heel of his hand right at the bottom of my zipper and grinds it around just enough to really leave me hot and bothered. My eyes flutter closed and an embarrassing noise leaves my lips.
"Still nothing?"
"Okay, fine, Edward. You had me the first time you took me putting."
A grin starts out on his face and spreads until he's all teeth. He leans back on his elbows and says, "You don't have any idea how happy that makes me, Bella."
"Why, Edward? You've had girls hanging on you your whole life."
"Because of the way I look. That's not even something I had anything to do with."
"Really? You were born with those abs and that…"
He chuckles at my almost admission of more of his physical charms. "Okay, fine, I worked a bit on my body. But you were attracted to something else. Something you saw inside of me. Maybe patience? Determination? I don't want to put words in your mouth or anything."
"No, those words are just fine. That's exactly what it was that first drew me in."
"And you were looking at my ass. A lot."
"Yes, Edward. It's a very fine ass." I roll my eyes. "Is it okay if I start typing again?"
"Sure, Bella. Knock yourself out." He folds his hands behind his head and relaxes back against the bed, wide grin adorning his face.
O)(O
"You have two minutes to sit next to anyone other than your writing partner and colorize this essay. Go, people! Vacation was last weekend."
Edward gives me a boo-boo face and a kiss before abandoning me. I grab Angela quickly, and Edward gets nabbed by Jessica. If not for the fact that he looks pained the entire hour, I'd worry. Even from behind him, I can see the telltale signs that he's not enjoying himself one bit. Hair pulling, rocking, distance between them. No, I'm not worried.
Time is finally up and we reunite gratefully. "Blah. What torture."
"You're just spoiled, Edward."
"No shit. Not only do I have the hottest writing partner in the class, I also have the best writer."
"Oh." Wow, a little bit.
^EPOV^
"Stay close to me, Bella. Emmett's parties can get pretty sick."
"So I've heard from Rose."
"Yeah, once football season is over, these guys really turn into animals."
I try to prepare her, but we get to his house after the party's already in full swing. As an off campus residence house with all 21-year-olds, the university doesn't try to monitor their alcohol consumption. Every horizontal surface is covered with bottles, cans and cups. I take a deep breath and grab Bella's hand.
"If this is bad, we'll just go, okay?"
"Sure."
"Bella! Little Cullen!" Rose yells out from the dance floor, waving wildly. She seems to be dancing solo, and I'm not sure she knows it.
"Where's my brother?" I shout into her ear, so I can be heard above the pounding beat.
"Kitchen."
"Bella, dance with me!" Rose grabs Bella's other hand and starts twirling her around. I give Bella a questioning look and she seems content to stay with Rose, so I let go. I gesture toward the kitchen and she nods, then turns back to Rose and humors her. This is going to require some alcohol.
Emmett's in the kitchen with several of his teammates, sitting around the table playing some drinking game with part of a deck of cards. "Eddie!" he shouts out, ten decibels louder than normal, and waves me over.
"Glad to shee you bro!" he slurs. "Listen, I am hammered, but I jushh lost this hand. Do me a solid and take my shot for me?"
I lean over, grab his shot, and suck it down quickly.
"Thanksh, man."
"No problem, Em. Did you ever consider that maybe it's time to quit?"
"No way, Eddie. Cullens. Don't. Quit."
I clap him on the back. "Okay, Em. You take it easy, okay?"
"Sure Eddie. Oh, fuck. I jushh lost again. Mind?" He holds the shot glass out to me once more, and I oblige, shaking my head at his nonsense. Emmett's a big guy and he usually has no problem holding his weight in alcohol, but not after five months of sober training. He is going to have one rough night ahead, and if I don't get out of this room quickly, I'll be right behind him on the floor.
I fill two cups with vodka and tonic and make my way back out to Bella. She's right where I left her, but Rose has wrapped herself around Bella as if she'd melt to the floor without her. She rolls her eyes when she sees me and reaches her hand out for the drink.
"You okay?" I mouth.
She nods back. I shake my head and chuckle at Emmett's other half. Bella takes a few sips of her drink and the music changes to something she apparently likes. She and Rosalie become more animated. They're dancing and moving together now, as opposed to Bella just keeping Rosalie upright. I'm starting to enjoy watching them, and I'm not the only one. A small crowd begins to gather, and soon there's cheering and whistling. Bella keeps sipping her drink, and soon she hands me her empty cup to refill. I trade her mine, which is still mostly full and head back to the kitchen for more.
"Em, you might want to check out what's happening out there," I tell him.
"Why? What ish it?"
"Our girls are dancing."
"With each other?"
"Yeah. It's actually pretty hot."
"Guys, I gotta shee this. Cullminator out." Apparently, the quitting code can be suspended for hot girl-on-girl dancing.
He stumbles to his feet and wobbles into the next room with me. Bella looks decidedly more trashed than when I left her. She's whipping her hair around and gyrating her hips. Rose is behind her, dancing with her hands on Bella's hips, grinding her front into Bella's ass and loving every minute of it. Bella raises her arms above her head and lets loose a whoop.
Emmett is beyond controlling himself, and he slides in behind Rose on the makeshift dance floor, pulling her ass against his fly and pulling her hips toward his obscenely. I'm embarrassed to say I'm incredibly turned on by this scene, which is even more disturbing now that Emmett's entered the picture. I'm watching his hands like a hawk, making sure they don't cross past Rose and accidentally touch Bella. One false move and my brother is toast. I don't care if he's got fifty pounds on me.
I tip back my drink and slide the remainder of its contents down before tossing the cup aside. Bella smiles and gestures me out to meet her, and I willingly oblige. I step out in front of her and peel her away from Rosalie. My brain is transmitting one simple message. Mine. Mine. Mine. She wraps her arms around my neck and wriggles her hips against my front. Between the pounding music and the alcohol and the dancing girls, I am rock hard against her. I push one leg forward between Bella's and she practically climbs aboard, pulling her thigh against me. I wrap an arm behind her and pull her waist to me, creating a rough friction.
Bella's face looks wild and uninhibited. I crash my lips against hers and she moans loudly and finds my tongue. She sucks all the oxygen out of me, and I have to back off just to breathe. My lips find her ear and I rumble in a low voice, "God Bella. You are so fucking hot like this!"
She tucks her face into my neck and sucks my skin between her teeth. I can hear her moaning as she grinds on my leg. Suddenly, I put two and two together and realize that my girl is about to explode right here in front of all these drunk people. And I don't think she's going to be real proud of herself tomorrow if that happens.
I waltz her away from Rose and Emmett, away from the dance floor, and out of everyone's line of vision. She's breathless as I'm leading her, her eyes flicking open and closed, confused and dizzy.
"Come on, Baby, we're getting out of here," I tell her, pulling our coats off the pile in the corner of the floor.
"Wait, Edward, what are you-?"
Opening the door, I deposit both of us into the wintery night, immediately injecting a sobering blast of cold air and damping down our out of control desire.
"I didn't even say goodbye," she protests.
"We'll send 'em a text in the morning. If they even remember we were here."
I pull an arm tightly around her waist, half leading, half carrying her back to her room. No way is Rosalie making it back there tonight.
~BPOV~
"I got it, I got it," I say, batting Edward's hand away from the knob. "I'm not trashed, y'know."
"Okay, Bella," he chuckles from behind.
"Seriously, if you stop pressing me against the door, I can do this!"
He pulls away and lifts his hands in surrender. Miraculously, the key slips into the lock and the knob turns in my hand. I flick on the light switch, immediately realize that's a huge mistake, and shut it off again.
"You're a pretty good dancer, Edward," I say, taking his hand and pulling him toward me.
"Oh yeah? You and Rose were doing a pretty sexy little grind out there. Care to tell me where you learned that?"
Oh. He wants to know where I got my slut moves. "I was just letting Rose lead."
"Hmm," he says, "so if I lead you'll follow?"
"Probably." Sounds reasonable.
"Well, c'mere then," he coaxes, turning my back to his front and drawing me against him.
"You're too tall for me," I complain.
He bends his knees and says, "How 'bout now?"
Edward's hands pull me up against his zipper and I feel the familiar hard line in his pants. Giggling, I answer, "Rose didn't have one of those."
"Well, I'm sure Emmett is pleased as punch about that."
He's grinding behind me and holding me firmly against him, and his hands move up under my shirt. My arms feel like dead weights until I remember that Rose pulled my hands up and around her neck, so I try that now.
Edward hums with approval behind me and traces his fingers down my arms, tickling me and causing me to buckle with giggles.
"Ah, somebody's ticklish. I'm gonna have to remember that."
Edward starts fiddling with my buttons and I'm boarding the express train back to Slutsville. He unbuckles my bra and tucks his hands under the cups, and he's squeezing and pinching and touching. I feel so hot everywhere, I have to get my shirt off now or I'll burst into flames. I release Edward and shimmy out of my shirt and bra, tossing them onto the floor. Edward takes his shirt off as well, and when I back into him again, it's skin to skin, my new favorite thing in the world.
"Mmmm," I hum contentedly.
His lips are right at the entrance to my ear and I can feel his hot breath pick up in pace. I turn my head sideways so I can reach his lips with mine. "What kind of kiss was that, Edward?"
"That was a…" he stops midsentence and reaches for the button on my jeans. "…Can-I-please? kiss"
His hand and the kissing stop, and for a second, so does our breathing. I nod my head yes, and he kisses me again. His fingers undo the button and start the zipper down ever so slowly. If he's waiting for me to stop him, it's so not gonna happen. Edward's about to see my red and white striped cotton boy shorts for the very first time, and I step away from him so I can see his reaction. I take over sliding my jeans down and seconds later, I'm stepping out of the legs one at a time.
The lighting is dim but he can see me. And I can see him right back. He's standing across from me, his bare chest heaving, and his mouth is just a little bit open as he takes in my almost naked body.
"Bella," he whispers. Then, "Wow."
I'm not really used to this body yet myself, but I'm feeling confident and proud. And slutty.
I point to his pants, and he knows what I want. My heart is pounding. I know there's another layer in there, but this will put us dangerously close.
Edward wastes no time at all undoing his button and zipper. His eyes locked on mine, he slides his jeans down his legs and steps out. He stands up again proudly in a pair of black boxers that cling to him in ways that don't seem legal. We're not wearing much less than we were after our workout, but this is underwear, not workout shorts. People don't go out in public in this stuff. Well, unless they're shooting an underwear ad.
My eyes drop down to his waistband and I can't see nearly as well as I'd like. I cross back in front of him and very lightly touch his front with mine. Satiny skin meeting firm muscles, toes overlapping, cotton brushing cotton. Swoon.
Edward's arms close around my waist and draw me tighter. His hand drifts down over my panties and he squeezes my ass cheek. The other hand decides that was a fine idea and joins the first. I realize that he's not the only one who can enjoy this pleasure, and I grab two handfuls of Edward for myself.
Edward's response is a surprised grunt that is so sexy I answer with a groan of my own. Soon, he's walking me backwards toward the bed and lifts me up by my ass cheeks once we've arrived. He tosses me like a sack of potatoes, and I bounce and giggle. He's on top of me seconds later, and my hands cannot get enough of everything they're touching. His back, his hair, his ass, his abs, his face.
Yes, I know, with all those choices, I pick the face? It's just that after he kisses me so roughly at first, he pulls back and just looks at me. I've never been seen before the way Edward sees me.
It's like we're in a movie and the frame is frozen in this moment. The only movement is my finger brushing lightly over his cheek. His eyelids close reverently, and I brush across them gently with the pad of my thumb. His nose drops to mine, and he takes another kiss before pushing off me and to the side.
He brings his hand to my face and mimics my motions.
"Edward, is something wrong?"
"I don't ever want to do anything to hurt you, Bella."
He's so serious. "Sounds like a plan," I say, hoping to lighten the moment.
^EPOV^
She doesn't get it. I don't want to be Bobby Buzzkill, but I don't want Bella to do something in a drunken haze that she either won't remember or will wish she didn't.
I'm overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility for her well-being. To use her metaphor about my experience, I feel like I've already arrived, and I have to make sure her own passage is safe. I make a very mature decision- if I do say so myself- that bottoms will be staying on tonight.
But that doesn't mean there won't be touching.
I draw one finger tantalizingly down from her chin, through the nipply hills, over the navel, and right down the middle of her boy shorts. Bella squirms delightfully, and I repeat the routine several times. Finally, she loses patience and growls, "Touch me, Edward! For God's sakes, touch me!"
I give her some crazy attention, still on top of the panties, poking in around the sides and top just for fun. Three fingers, a palm, the heel of my hand, a knuckle or two. Her eyes roll back in her head, and she rocks and rolls, desperately trying to increase the pressure against my hand. I give her just what she needs and she floats over the moon for me.
I roll on top to give her a kiss, and she wraps her arms around my upper back and holds on tight while she comes down again. Her thigh presses rhythmically against my boxers, and I realize she's returning the favor. I've done more dry humping in the last week with Bella than I have since ninth grade, but it's all good. I answer her leg with a push back and a nipple grab, which I find adds immensely to the experience.
I'm nearing my own completion, when suddenly Bella rolls us over and now she's on top. My little horn dog is going cowboy on me! But no, she's got something else in mind. She pins down my hips with her knees and ignores my upward bumps. Vixen has me trapped in a prison of my own making. What is she up to? She places her palm on my stomach, stilling me.
I lock eyes with her, and she scoots her body down so that she's basically sitting on my thighs. She slides that hand from my stomach to my waistband and stops.
Very quietly, she says, "Is it okay if I…?" and then she chickens out.
I cross my arms behind my head and settle in. "You can do anything you want, Sweetheart." I smile broadly, because I cannot ever remember being happier than I am right in this moment.
Bella's eyes snap back to the covered part of my body. She drags one finger experimentally down my very hard length, then draws it back quickly.
"'S'okay. I promise he doesn't bite."
I try to wait patiently for her to stroke me again. It's the longest two and a half seconds of my life. This time, she uses her entire palm, getting a feel for where things begin and end. Her expression is totally adorable; her mouth opens in surprise, her eyes widen with hunger for more. I'm guessing she looks a lot like me right now.
"What do I do now?" she asks.
"You're doing just fine," I coax.
She giggles and plays some more. When she adds the second hand, I fail to stay still. I struggle to keep my hands where they are. I know it's important to let her do this at her own pace, but it's maddening. She has absolutely no idea what she's doing to me.
She's getting bolder with her strokes, coming at me from both sides, harder, faster, until, "Oooomph!"
"Ohmygod, I'm so SORRY!"
My hand moves reflexively to the sac she's just crushed with the butt of her hand. "I'm okay," I choke out, though in truth, I'm not positive I am.
She moves off me quickly and rolls to her side next to me. I consider asking her to kiss it and make it better, but I'm pretty sure that'll set us back a good week or so!
"Give me your hand, Bella."
She places her hand trustingly in mine. I give her a little tour of the area, pointing out the more important attractions- tip, shaft, and –ahem- balls. "Now this is where you need to tread very carefully," I say, making sure she feels the part I'm referring to.
"Sorry," she says again. "Do you have an instruction manual I could study or something?"
"No, Bella, but I can give you some really good On-the-Job Training!" I say enthusiastically.
"Please do. I want to make you feel the way you just made me feel," she says somewhat shyly.
"All right. Here," I say, running her hand along my length again and again. After a while, it's like riding a bicycle, and I let go, replacing my hands behind my head. Bella's driving the bike, and I feel her settle into a nice rhythm. I'm already so close, our little class in The Care and Keeping of The Penis propelling me near the edge.
My moans do a great job letting her know what I especially like, though truthfully, every single thing she does feels amazing. And the fact that she's doing it so enthusiastically. And almost naked. Bella alternates between watching my dick and watching my face. It's hard to keep my eyes focused on her, but there's something really intimate about this moment that I don't want to miss.
She's discovered that I'm ready for faster and harder, and she's working both hands over me now in an alternating, predictable pattern that is making me nuts. I wish I could reach her breasts but she's sitting just above my knees. I'm completely at her mercy, and it's a wonderful place to be.
~BPOV~
My earlier nervousness at touching this mysterious body part has dissipated. I feel an enormous sense of power over Edward as he completely gives himself over to me. He's left me entirely in charge of his pleasure, and I want so badly to please him. His green eyes have closed almost to slits with the intensity of his lust. His chest heaves and his hips push off the bed into my hands with every stroke I take. And the sexy noises coming out of his mouth…my poor, poor panties!
The faster I rub, the louder and squirmier he gets. Stroke, stroke, stroke...am I doing this right? Brush, brush, brush…oh, he seemed to like that! Then that low keening noise that starts to build, and I recognize that he's almost, almost, almost...
Everything tightens and stops for half a second, then he completely lets go. His eyes roll up to the ceiling and he pants and moans and explodes under my hands. I practically relive my own orgasm watching his excitement. He reaches for me, and I fold myself across his body, loving the way his rocky chest feels against mine.
"God, Bella, that was fantastic! You sure you've never done that before?" he chuckles.
"Very funny."
He's stroking up and down my back with one hand and running through my hair with the other. I notice a little wetness on his stomach.
"Oh," I say brilliantly.
"What?"
"It's a little sticky."
He chuckles under me and his whole body shakes. "Yeah, that happens."
"Isn't it kind of uncomfortable?"
"Just until I clean up. No big deal."
"Edward?"
"Mmmm?"
"Was I really good?"
"Fuck yeah. Guys can't really fake it, so…"
"That was really fun."
He pulls my head toward his and kisses me sweetly. "You're an awesome girlfriend, Bella."