Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, nor do I make money off writing about them. If I owned them, the books and movies would not be appropriate for people under 18, just like this story - consider yourself warned. This plot, however, is mine – no fiddling with it without my express permission.
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Saturday afternoon proved to be busy, with constant crowds of patrons despite the oppressive heat. As the day went on and the humidity increased, Edward grew more sullen, his mood as overcast as the sky above us. When the line of people waiting to try their hand at the Water Race dwindled, offering us our first break of the day, I walked over to where he sat on a stool.
Even without saying a word, I knew pain had to be the cause of his brooding. His face was paler than usual, his hairline damp from perspiration. The muscles in his jaw clenched and unclenched to some rhythm only he understood, and his eyes appeared dull and lifeless. His shoulder curled inward slightly, and he rested his weight on his left hip, his right foot braced on the bottom rung.
"Hey," I said as I reached out to touch his shoulder. He flinched, obviously having been lost in his own thoughts, before looking up at me.
"Sorry." He brought his hand up to grab my fingers, squeezing them carefully.
"Don't apologize. I didn't mean to startle you." He slowly pulled me into his side, leaning his head against my chest. I ran my hand through his hair as I worried. I had no experience with chronic pain issues, and I wasn't sure what the best course of action would be to make him more comfortable. "Are you okay? You don't look so good right now."
He sighed loudly. "This humidity is killing me. I'm sorry; I really should be more helpful." He tried to stand up, wincing as soon as he placed weight on his right leg. I pushed him back down on the stool carefully, not wanting to cause him any more pain.
"Don't get up," I said, thinking quickly through my options. The camp was too far away to walk, but I also wasn't sure how close I could bring my truck to the booth if I decided to drive him home. Plus, I would have to find someone to operate the booth, which would be hard to do considering Renee wasn't working today. In a moment of brilliance, I figured out the perfect solution. "I'll call Emmett. He can drive one of the golf carts over to take you back to camp."
He was shaking his head before I even finished my sentence. "No. I'm staying here with you. I don't want you walking back to camp alone." I scowled at him even though he couldn't see me with his face buried between my breasts.
"Edwar-"
"No," he interrupted. His voice was stern, and I stopped talking immediately at the shock of it. He shifted his thigh, pulling me between his legs and wrapping his arms around my hips. "I want to be here... with you. I want to help you run this game and see you smile whenever a kid wins a prize. I want to take you home at the end of the night and know you're out of harm's way because you're with me. I haven't," he paused, gazing up at me with those big, green eyes, "I haven't had much opportunity in my life to be a gentlemen to the woman I care about." He ran a fingertip along the side of my face, smiling softly. "Please let me. I know you're strong and independent, and I respect that. But let me do something to take care of you, even if it's just staying nearby so I know you're safe."
His words thrilled and saddened me at the same time, and I felt the telltale burn of fresh tears behind my eyes. I nodded silently, unable to think of a response that would compare to such sweetness. I dragged my hand through his hair to massage his scalp as he nuzzled my neck.
"Did you at least take your pain pill?" I asked after a few quiet moments. He nodded, kissing my shoulder on his final pass. "What else can we do? Is there something that would help with the pain?"
He shook his head against me, resting his forehead on my collarbone. "Whenever the pain got this bad at home, I'd spend an evening in the pool. The weightlessness from being in the water helped take the strain off the joint." He took a deep breath, the warm air of his exhale tickling my throat. "Maybe I'll try a hot shower when we get back to camp; that might help."
I glanced out at the midway, my eyes traveling up to the dark clouds hovering over the grounds. I remembered looking at the map of this town before making the drive down and realized I might have a better option than a shower. If I could just find a little time away from the booth, I might be able to talk a patron into helping me out.
"Pray for rain," I said, smiling. I could smell the storm around us - the aroma of ozone, mud and rain had been dancing on the breeze most of the day. So far, the rain had held off, but by the look of the dark sky, it was only a matter of time before the drops began to fall. With only two hours until closing, a good rain would shut the carnival down and then, perhaps, I could take advantage of the geography of the area to make Edward feel better.
"Rain?" he asked, looking up at me as I nodded.
"If it rains hard enough, Jack'll shut down the midway early." I didn't tell him the rest of my plan, figuring it would only get his hopes up. I would hate for the weather to hold and not be able to follow through with what I wanted to do, especially if it was something he could benefit from. I didn't want to see him disappointed.
"Okay, we'll pray for rain," he said, as two patrons walked up to the booth.
Twenty minutes later, Mother Nature answered our prayers. The sky opened up, and fat droplets quickly drenched the grounds, patrons scattering to the safety of their vehicles. Within minutes, the word spread that we were closing up shop for the night, and I rushed through the process of securing the booth so we could leave.
"We're going to be soaked!" Edward yelled over the roar of the rain against the roof. I nodded, locking the final prize cage and wrapping the cash in a plastic bag. I tucked the bag into the back of my shorts and moved to stand beside him, watching other carnies run through the water.
"I can't run, Bella," he said, looking at me nervously. "Why don't you go ahead? I'll meet you at the trailer."
"No," I replied firmly. "You stayed with me when you were in pain; I'll stay with you on the wet walk home." He was shaking his head, but I wasn't about to be deterred. I moved to face him, stopping less than an inch away from touching him. "Besides, don't you want to see the show?" He looked confused, so I stepped back and moved my hand in a circle in front of my t-shirt.
My white t-shirt.
"Victoria's going to be telling all my secrets as soon as I walk out in this monsoon." Edward stared at my chest, seemingly dumbfounded for a moment, before throwing his head back and laughing.
"Jesus, Bella," he said, still laughing. "I never know what you're going to come up with next." I smiled at him, glad to see him in a better mood. Reaching out my hand, I grasped his and pulled him to me.
"You know what this means, don't you?" I asked, licking my bottom lip. His laughter faded as he stared at my mouth.
"I'll never be bored?" he questioned with a smile.
I cocked my head to the right a bit. "Well, yes. But that's not all." I curled two fingers into the waistband of his jeans, tugging roughly. "If you get to know my secrets, I should be allowed to learn yours." I trailed my fingers down along his skin, first under rough denim, then beneath elastic and a softer cotton. "It's only fair, after all."
His breath caught and his pupils dilated as he held my gaze. I felt the coarse hair below his navel against the backs of my fingers, and I stopped my descent, choosing to caress side to side instead. He leaned down, kissing me roughly, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth. I grunted softly, my hand curling into a fist around the fabric of his pants.
"C'mon," he said quickly when he released me. He ran his fingers from my hand, still gripping his waistband, up to my elbow, pulling lightly. "Let's go home." I pouted as I released his jeans and moved my hand back to my side. He stepped out into the rain, his hair darkening from the downpour, his t-shirt instantly clinging to his shoulders.
Good lord, he's sexy when he's wet.
He turned back to face me, a devilish smirk on his face. "Are you coming? Or are we going to share these secrets with each other in the back of the booth?"
I grinned at him and walked out into the rain.
xXxXx
The walk back to camp was slow, but we continued bantering back and forth – teasing and laughing all the way. I caught Edward's eyes staring at my chest on more than one occasion, and I smiled when I did. Luckily, the bra I'd chosen to wear this morning was lightly lined; otherwise, Edward would be enjoying a much more interesting view.
When we reached the trailer, I stopped him by pulling on the hand that had held mine the entire way home. "Not inside, let's get in the truck."
He looked confused, so I smiled brightly at him and opened the driver's door. "C'mon, a stór. I promise not to bite too hard."
He laughed and limped his way around the front, taking his time climbing inside.
"Where're we going?" he asked when I started the engine. I pulled out into the aisle and turned toward the nearest exit.
"It's a surprise. Just sit back and relax - we'll be there soon." I turned on the heat, directing the air through the floor vents. The day was still hot and the rain was warm, but sitting around in wet clothes would quickly become chilly.
Ten minutes later, I pulled off the side of the road and parked by a small path through the woods. If not for the help of a local patron I chatted with while waiting to use the restroom, I would have never known about this place.
The rain had eased up considerably, and I was hoping the trail wasn't too muddy. The last thing we needed was for Edward to hurt himself worse on the way to our destination.
I hopped out of the truck and hurried around to the passenger side. Edward stepped out, closing his door with a thud. He looked wary, but I smiled at him and linked my fingers with his.
"Come. It'll be worth it," I said, leading him down the path. The trees above protected us from the drizzling rain, and the path was relatively dry. We walked in silence for a few minutes before stepping out from beneath the canopy onto the grassy shore of a small river.
"Wanna go for a dip?" I asked, backing toward the river, still holding his hand between us. He looked surprised, his eyes darting from the water to me and back again.
"How did you know about this place?"
I shrugged. "I asked around. One of the patrons mentioned this was a great spot to go swimming because the river widens just downstream – it keeps the current from being too strong."
He pulled my hand, pressing me against his chest and kissing me forcefully. "Thank you." His voice was deep, and his eyes flashed darkly when they met mine.
"You're welcome," I whispered. "Now how about we take a little swim? The water should be pretty warm."
Suddenly he looked a little uncomfortable, his eyes moving to the ground. "I, uh, don't have a suit with me."
I giggled and reached down to grab the hem of my t-shirt. "Neither do I."
I tugged it over my head and tossed the shirt to the side. Edward's eyes went wide, his mouth slightly open as he watched me. I giggled again and moved my hands to my waistband, popping open the button.
"Are you coming?" I asked, pulling my shorts down with my thumbs and kicking them by my discarded shirt. "Or am I swimming by myself?" I turned and walked to the river. I silently thanked the clothing fairies for my current attire. My new bra and panty set stood out against the background of deep green trees, white with black lace trim and tiny, pink bows along the edges. The bottoms fit me well, a simple bikini cut, and the way the lace dipped in the back accentuated the swell of my ass.
I had a feeling Edward would approve.
The water lapped warm against my calves as I stepped in, and I moved cautiously away from the shore. I had expected the bottom to be mucky or covered in slippery moss, but it was hard – almost like packed dirt. Small ridges made from years of flowing water and debris cascading downstream pressed against my feet.
I walked further out, the water quickly rising to waist-level. It swirled warm around me, even at the bottom, and I hoped this would be enough to make Edward more comfortable. I moved my foot to take another step, but when I tried to place it on the bottom, there was nothing to support me. I flailed and fell forward with a yelp. My head ducked underwater for less than a second when I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist and pull me back out.
"Watch that first step - it's a doozy," I sputtered, coughing out the water I swallowed. Edward chuckled behind me, holding me against his chest.
"I'll protect you from the evil drop-off, chéadsearc. Just hold onto me." I turned in his embrace so I could face him. His hair fell forward to cover his forehead, still soaking wet. Water dripped down his face and neck, running off the saturated strands on his head. He smiled at me, the pale light that peeked through the clouds bouncing off the water and reflecting on his face, accenting his spider web scars.
I raised my hand, tracing the lines delicately, my other one moving to rest on his bare shoulder, barely peeking above the waterline. "You're so beautiful," I whispered, unable to contain the emotions he brought out of me. Our eyes locked, his gaze intense.
"You're the one that's beautiful, my Bella." My eyes closed for a second before his lips brushed over mine, lightly, softly. His arms tightened around my waist, lifting me from my feet as he stepped forward into the deeper water. I pulled my legs up, wrapping them around his waist and crossing my ankles against his back.
The warmth of his skin surprised me, and I realized this was the first time we had been this close to each other without layers of fabric between us. I moved my hands down over the muscles of his chest as we kissed, tongues and lips coming together over and over again.
This wasn't hot and needful like our time on my deck in Tennessee or even this morning in bed; this was slow, comforting. This time wasn't about clinging, gripping and writhing. This time was about sensual brushes of skin against skin, long, languid kisses and the simple pleasure that came from taking care of each other.
I moved my lips to his chin, running my tongue down over his neck to his shoulder. He squeezed me tighter, moaning when I trailed my teeth against his collarbone. I opened my eyes and jerked back, startled by the dark splotches along his chest.
"What…" I asked, my finger moving to trace the intricate design of black knotwork tattooed on his skin. "What is this?" My voice was quiet, awed.
I remembered Edward telling me he had five tattoos, all connected, but I never expected something like this. In the middle of his chest was a beautifully-detailed Ulbster shield knot in black and gray ink. It was rather large, at least eight inches in diameter. One outside loop from each side was broken, running into a ribbon of knotwork instead of coming together to complete the shield. The woven bands of dark ink rose in mirrored arches up and across, joining in smaller Ulbster shield knots on the swell of each shoulder.
My fingers continued to trace the design, twisting and weaving over his skin.
"It continues all the way around," he whispered. I squeezed my thighs against his hips and shifted my weight forward to peek over his shoulder. The knotted bands ran across his back, leading to another shield in between his shoulder blades.
"Ulbster shields," I murmured, sitting back and laying my hand across the Celtic symbol on his breastbone. "Protection and inner strength." I looked into his eyes as I revealed the last meaning behind the knot. "A symbol of magical powers."
He nodded, his face serious. "Legend has it the Ulbster shield knot would distract an enemy long enough so the owner would win any battle."
"Why are they all connected?" I asked, running my fingers along the knotwork leading to his shoulders.
"So I can be protected from all sides." I continued eyeing the classic symbol, my eyes taking in every detail, every line of shading along the curves and dips. It really was a beautiful work of art.
"How long have you had it?"
"Ten years." My eyes darted to his in shock, my brain immediately doing the math. "My dad had the exact same tattoo. He made me get it when I was fourteen, saying it was my 'coming of age' present. Masen males aren't officially considered 'men' until they wear this."
"It's… stunning," I said, still surprised by the artwork decorating his body.
"No, you're stunning." His hand gripped the back of my neck as his lips captured mine forcefully. I clenched my legs around him, pulling his hips flush against my most delicate flesh. His other hand trailed over my hip and around to my ass, squeezing roughly and making my body jerk against his.
His resulting grin broke our kiss. "Sensitive?" he asked, laughing.
"No, just not used to someone grabbing my ass as much as you do," I replied sarcastically.
"Really?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "So you're used to people grabbing your ass occasionally?"
"Well, it is kind of a nice ass," I replied with a shrug.
He laughed loudly, throwing his head back. "It's not 'kind of' a nice ass." He leaned forward and kissed me quickly. "It's a great ass."
I smiled against his mouth. "You do seem to like it."
We continued swimming for over an hour, laughing and teasing all the time. I would pull away from his hold occasionally, but we would always come back together, wrapping ourselves around each other - kissing, stroking, caressing.
At one point, we were kissing desperately in the deep water, our bodies responding to each other's nearness. I moved against him, feeling him hard and wanting between my legs. Thoughts of us together like this, naked, filled my head, and I ground against him, circling my hips wantonly. His lips moved to my cheek, my jaw, my neck, and I moaned loudly.
"Mmm, Edward," I breathed, opening my eyes to see the dark sky above us. "I want-"
I dropped my head to reclaim his lips, but something on the opposite bank caught my attention. My body froze, but my heart raced as what appeared to be the shadow of a person moved along the tree line. I shifted away from him, dropping my legs from his waist.
"What's wrong?" he asked, reaching for me. I pushed his hands away and began paddling toward the shore where our clothes lay in the grass.
"I think I saw someone over there," I said, nodding my head toward the other shore. He turned and moved his head from side to side, scanning the bank.
"I don't see anyone." He faced me again, looking confused. At that moment, the sky lit up with a flash of lightning, and the rain began to fall again.
"Shit! C'mon, we need to get out." I lengthened my stroke, moving easily through the water. "Plus, I don't want to end up as the nightly entertainment for some fan of Deliverance." I swam easily past the drop off point, bringing my feet to the bottom and walking the rest of the way. Edward followed right behind me, his body shielding mine from any probing eyes on the opposite shore.
"Grab your clothes - I'll keep watch," he said. I hurried to where my shirt and shorts lay, pulling my shirt over my head and sliding my shorts up my legs. The cold clamminess of the still-drenched fabric sticking to my skin made me shiver, but it was better than standing around in my lacy lingerie.
"Here," I said, tossing Edward his pants when I was finished. He faced me, struggling with his wet jeans. I really took a good look at him - pale, beautiful, wearing only black boxer briefs, the gray waistband sitting just above his hipbones. I wanted to run my hands over his skin, strip those briefs from his hips and thoroughly investigate every last inch of him.
Another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, thunder roaring shortly after it, reminding me of what needed to happen first.
"Hurry," I said, moving toward the path back to the truck. He fastened his jeans and threw his shirt over his shoulder, reaching out to grab my hand. I noticed he was barely limping, making me smile.
"Not to sound like a jerk," he said as we walked quickly through the dark woods, "but I thought you could smell storms coming." The further into the trees we moved, the more I felt the chill of being watched, the weight of unknown eyes making my stomach twist and my breath race.
"Usually," I replied, trying to see through the trees and brush. "Being in the water dulls my senses, makes me less likely to notice things like that." My heart calmed, and I sighed in relief when we broke through the tree line along the highway. I looked up and down the road as we hurried to the truck, but it appeared just as deserted as when we arrived.
It was just your imagination playing tricks on you.
"Kind of like having a cold?" Edward asked as we both jumped up into the cab. I turned the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life.
"What?" I didn't know what a cold had to do with smelling thunder, but I was definitely interested in figuring out why Edward saw a connection there.
"You know, when you have a cold and you get all stuffed up. You end up not being able to smell anything." I stared at him, mouth agape, before bursting into laughter.
"I've never had anyone use that analogy before, but yeah, I guess it's similar to having a cold." He smiled at me from the passenger seat, threading his fingers with mine on the console between us.
I put the truck into gear and turned around on the highway, heading back in the direction of camp. After a few minutes of silence, Edward turned in his seat to face me.
"Thank you for bringing me here," he said. I grinned, thrilled my little plan had turned out so well - even if I did feel a little creeped out about the possibility of some stranger coming upon us.
"I'm glad you liked it."
"Loved." I flashed my eyes to his, surprised by his word. "I didn't just like it - I loved it."
The rain, our damp clothes, the storm raging outside, the possible stranger in the woods – all the parts of this evening that should have ruined our time together fell away, leaving me blanketed in a warm feeling of contentment.
"Me too, a stór. Me too."
That night, after we each took a hot shower and dressed in our pajamas, we sat in my twin captain's chairs, discussing the next day.
"What time do we have to be at the booth?" Edward asked, looking tired but happy.
"Definitely by eleven thirty. The gates open at noon, and we close at seven, so it's a short day." I leaned my head back against the chair, closing my eyes. The evening air wafted through the open windows, warm and soft, and the chair was surprisingly comfortable.
"Why don't you go on to bed?" he asked abruptly, and I realized I had dozed off. "I can set up the sofa bed."
I opened my eyes and looked him over. He had donned a pair of black basketball shorts again, this time with a gray t-shirt with the outline of a goat head across his chest. His hair curled wildly on his head, sticking up in every direction. His eyelids appeared heavy, and he looked tired.
I kept my eyes on his as I stood and held out my hand. He glanced at it before returning his gaze to mine, questioning. After a moment, realization flashed across his features, and he smiled softly. He placed his hand in mine and followed as I led him back to my bedroom.
There was no nervousness in the air as we crawled across my bed and under my quilt, no hesitation. Nothing had ever felt as right as being in Edward's arms, and I wasn't going to pretend I didn't want him here with me.
When we both stilled, tangled up limbs and cotton coverings, I placed a single kiss to the center of his chest. The beat of his heart soothed me, and it matched the pace of mine perfectly.
"Mo chuisle," I whispered against the fabric.
"Yes, all yours."
xXxXx
Sensual. Tantalizing. Tempting. The energy of the day flitted against my skin - dancing, whispering, caressing. It swelled and receded, pulsed and throbbed - around me, through me, inside of me. As sleep released me from its hold, I inhaled deeply, almost groaning at the bouquet greeting me. Soft sweetness - a mix of caramel and clouds, vanilla and cashmere - surrounded my body, touch and smell and taste all wrapped up together in a single breath.
The moment was pure, unadulterated sex.
I snuggled deeper into Edward's chest, smiling as I savored the feel of him against me, his unique aroma, his delightful taste. My hands moved of their own volition under his shirt and along the muscular planes of his back. His skin felt warm and smooth against my fingers, and I took my time exploring every dip and swell as his breath washed over me.
We were so close, wrapped around each other in an embrace of comfort, of calm - just a few thin layers of fabric between my overheated skin and his. I cursed our clothes in my mind, as they were the only things keeping me from what I craved, what I desired.
Full contact.
Heart pounding inside my chest, I wiggled closer, running my nose along his neck and under his chin. His scent was deeper there - warmer, richer. The want to be near him, to become almost a part of him, surged within me, and I found myself clutching at him, my fingertips digging into the flesh along his shoulder blades.
I moaned softly as I touched my tongue to his skin, shivering as his flavor dominated my senses. He groaned and tightened his hold on me, wrapping his arms around my waist to rest his hands on the back of my hips.
My hands on him, his hands on me - pulling, squeezing, grasping. It wasn't enough. I needed more, needed to be closer. I shifted my face, feeling the roughness of his scruff burning the sensitive skin of my cheek. My body shuddered against his at the hint of pain, vibrating from head to toe. He held me tighter, sliding his hands to grip my ass and pull my hips into his. I opened my mouth against his jaw, biting and licking the sharp angle, drawing the skin between my lips as I reached his chin.
"Ungh," he groaned huskily before he whispered, "Bella." The sound of his own need - the deep, rich timbre of his voice - sent a flash of arousal through my body. I moaned in response, feeling the resonance as if it were physical, textural.
Suddenly, he lowered his head, his cheek sliding along my face, his lips colliding with mine. I gasped at the force. This was no gentle kiss - this was a violent convergence of tongues and breath, teeth and grunts.
He slowly rolled me underneath him as we continued kissing. His weight on me - his body resting atop mine - only increased my desire for his touch, for more. I wrapped one leg around his hip, desperately needing to find what I knew would be rigid, fierce… hard.
His hips ground into mine forcefully, and I whimpered when I finally felt him – hot, unyielding - moving against a spot that made stars explode along my skin. This closeness, this lack of space between us, was what I yearned for, what I had to have.
I wanted him. Wanted him to take me, to ravage me. Wanted him to explore every curve of my flesh, as I did the same to him. Wanted him to feel me, taste me, devour me.
I just fucking wanted him.
"Oh, Edward." I bit down on his bottom lip before sucking it into my mouth. "Now." His hips jerked at my breathy moan, and more stars burst, their sparks and ash tickling me. I planted one foot on the mattress and pressed down, the action forcing my hips to thrust forward - pushing, grinding, rolling against his length.
"Fuck," he whispered as soon as I released his lip. I took his word literally, hoping and praying he wanted this as much as I did. I slid my hands down to the edge of his t-shirt and pulled it up and over his head. He released me just long enough to comply, then brought his hands back to my body.
"Want," he murmured against my lips, the rough skin of his palms sneaking underneath my tank top, pulling the fabric up as they moved. There were no more words, no real need to speak; our bodies could hold this conversation alone. I raised my hands over my head and allowed him to remove the flimsy piece of fabric. He tossed it carelessly and then returned his eyes to my body. Leaning over me, he brought his lips to a spot directly between my breasts, kissing softly, lapping at the skin.
"So beautiful."
His mumbled words as he moved his head to the side, bringing his lips and teeth and tongue to the swell of my breast. I arched into him when the rough hair along his chin brushed against my nipple, and I groaned with pleasure when the soothing moisture of his tongue followed.
My hands moved along his back as he teased and tormented, winding the coil of energy within me tighter and tighter. Still needing to be closer, still wanting to feel more, I hooked my thumbs in the waistband of his shorts and pushed down as far as my hands could reach. Edward stopped his assault on my breasts as I pulled both my legs up. Eyes locked, small smile in place, I slid my feet down along the outside of his thighs, pushing the fabric to his knees. I watched and waited, unable to go any further without his help, without his agreement. He leaned down, his lips brushing delicately against the corner of my mouth.
"Are you sure?" It was a whisper, barely more than a breath, but in that moment - with the knowledge of what we were about to do, how this act of love would complete the bond between us, making it stronger, deeper - it was earth-shatteringly loud. I nodded slowly, still smiling, as we prepared to take the final leap into what we were destined for.
Together.
He sat back, pushing his shorts the rest of the way off his legs and kicking them to the side. Our gaze never wavered, the depth of adoration in our eyes keeping us tied together. This wasn't just physical; this wasn't lust winning out. This was emotional; it was our hearts joining more so than our bodies – this was love.
I pushed up on my elbows, wanting to see him as he rested on his knees between my legs. The pale expanse of his chest, decorated with the shield and knotwork around the top, the ripples and curves of the muscles leading my eyes lower. The pale, pink scar running from just below his navel almost to the crease of his thigh. The dark, curly hair trailing down, widening at the base of his cock, accentuating the darker flesh - long, thick, hard… perfect.
My eyes moved back up his body, finding him staring at me heatedly. "Hi," I whispered. He smiled, bringing his fingers to trace delicately along the flesh of my stomach.
"Hi." His thumbs moved slowly, carefully, under the waistband of my shorts, moving back and forth under the elastic. He kept his eyes on mine, watching me, waiting for me. I pushed up with my legs, my hips rising off the bed, knowing and wanting what was about to happen. He pulled my shorts and panties off together, removing the final barrier between us, his eyes following the fabric as he dragged it from my legs.
I waited patiently for his eyes return to my hips, knowing exactly what he would find. They slid along the curves of my legs, unhurried. He leaned forward when he reached my hips, curling his body to place a tender kiss against the purple ink barely an inch above and to the left of my bare slit.
"Ulbster shield knot," he murmured. The words slid hot and damp against my skin, making me tremble with want. He placed his hands flat along the side of my thighs, the rough skin of his palms offering a thrilling contrast to the softness of his touch. I moaned my approval as he moved up my body, kissing, touching and licking his way from my hips to my chin.
Wrapping my arms and legs around him, I pulled him to me, wanting to feel his heat and weight against my body. He nibbled along my jaw, groaning softly, as I rubbed and pulled, squeezed and slid.
"Please," I whispered when his lips finally met mine again. He breathed in my word, shifting his body to the side, pulling me with him.
"Bella, it's," he said, panting, resting his forehead against my temple. His hand moved down my body slowly, making my muscles quiver in anticipation. "It's been so long… I don't… I… let me do this… first… just let me."
I silenced him with my lips, my tongue gliding along his as his fingers finally reached the heat between my legs.
Carefully, sensually, he trailed one finger along my slit, from top to bottom and back, running up one side of my entrance and down the other. I thrust against his hand, wanting more. He pushed his finger deeper on his next pass upward, barely entering me, and I gasped. He moaned against my mouth, swirling his finger around before dragging it up to my clit.
My body jerked, and I threw my head back as he circled, pressing and squeezing gently every few passes. I was so wound up, so close to release already, I knew it wouldn't take much to make me shatter. I gripped his shoulders with my arm, keeping his warm skin against mine, needing his nearness as he brought me higher and higher.
Faster than I could process what was happening, he slid his finger down and plunged it inside me, the heel of his hand now grinding against my clit. I cried out, thrusting against his hand as he added a second finger. Grunts and cries, tugs and tickles, sweat and honey and sparks of color overtook me. I was all sensation, nothing but simple need as I shamelessly worked myself against his touch. His fingers pushed harder, sunk deeper, until there was suddenly a stillness. For a brief moment, perhaps less than a second, all was silent and dark as my body hovered on the brink of something spectacular. With one last rotation of his palm, the night exploded around me, forcing every one of my senses into overdrive.
Honey, caramel and cashmere caressed me, purple and pink sparks sounded behind my eyes, and the moans from my mouth as I came undone scraped along my tongue. There was fire and light, ice and darkness as the swirling within me pulsated from the tips of my toes to the ends of my hair. The feeling of giving in, giving myself over to the pleasure, seemed endless as I writhed underneath Edward's hand. Slowly, subtly, the world came back into focus, the dark of night, the heavy breaths and the warmth of his touch returning from the edges of my consciousness.
"That was…" Edward murmured, his voice thick and heavy like leather against my skin. I didn't let him finish, needing his mouth back on mine more than I needed his words. I pulled on his shoulder, rolling him on top of me and spreading my legs for him to rest between. I could feel him, every inch of his desire squeezed against me, and I pushed my hips up against it. The resulting moan was loud, primal, though whether it was from his mouth or mine I couldn't have said. We were locked together, flesh on flesh and breath on breath, nothing holding us back from what we both desperately craved.
I twisted my hips, freeing him from between us. He rolled his body against mine, realigning. We groaned loudly when the tip of him slid against my entrance - hot, ready.
"Do we…" he said, his teeth chattering as he squeezed my lip between them.
"No," I replied, understanding his thought without needing to hear his words.
"Sure?"
I barely nodded, my tongue too busy moving with his to care about mere words any longer. With gentle pressure and a tiny sting of adjustment, he pushed forward. I rolled my hips as he countered my movements, sliding inside me slowly, carefully.
We breathed in unison, gasping with each push, panting as he pulled out. His hands were under me, wrapped under my arms so he could grip my shoulders from behind, pulling me against him forcefully. My own hands traveled continuously, rolling over his shoulders, tickling along his spine, grasping his ass. I couldn't get enough of him, couldn't feel enough of him. The longer we moved together, the harder he thrust, the more desperate I felt, frantic, needing him so much my chest ached with the weight of it.
There were words and groans, grunts and the noise of skin slapping together, but it didn't matter. The sounds around us were indistinct, hidden behind the edges of our desire. Even the smells around us – the honey, the heat, the smell of sex and lust – barely registered with me. This wasn't about seeing or hearing of smelling. This was about feeling – skin on skin, hard and hot inside soft and slick - brushing, plunging stroking.
Our movements sped together, never losing the rhythm as we each climbed higher, working together to reach our individual ends. He released one shoulder, dragging his hand along my side to my thigh. His long fingers wrapped around the soft flesh at the base of my ass before pulling, bending my leg so it rested in the crook of his elbow. The position adjusted the angle of my hips, and he slid deeper on his next thrust.
"Fuck," I groaned, tingles shooting through my belly as he hit a spot inside me that made me see stars. I pulled my leg higher, moving my knee so it rested beside his shoulder. He grunted when I pulled my opposite leg up and around his waist, my foot resting along his ass as he flexed and released.
"Jesus, Bella… I'm… I'm gonna…" He didn't need to finish the sentence. His thrusts came harder, his hips slamming against mine with enough force to move me up along the bed. I could feel my walls tightening, the tingling in my gut growing and sizzling as I climbed toward another release. "Almost… need… le do… thoil."
His plea sent me soaring along a wave of ecstasy I had never experienced before. Every nerve fired, every muscle clenched as I cried out, the pleasure engulfing me. Edward followed me, cursing and calling my name as he stiffened above me, his head thrown back.
And in that moment, as he came inside me, I felt a shift in the world around me. My heart was no longer my own; it joined with his, twisting and tangling together like the knotwork adorning each of our bodies. I had felt it before when we first met and again in Tennessee, the joining of our souls as our bond pulled us together. But this was different, more powerful and yet indescribably fragile. We were one now, a unit, and if one of us broke, it would destroy the other.
Our joined hearts were a gift and a liability, a strength and a weakness. I wrapped my arms and legs around him again and clutched at him, thrilled and terrified and full of blissful peace all at once. It was overwhelming, it was completely unique to us, and it was a feeling I had been chasing since the moment I recognized the gravity between us.
He must have been feeling the same way because he laid his body on mine, covering me, wrapping his trembling arms around my back. There were no words spoken between us; there were none needed. There was nothing that could speak of the emotions of the moment better than the simple warmth of his naked flesh against mine.
Our breathing eventually slowed, our hearts thumping together. The darkness and the silence added to the intimacy of the moment as we clung to each other, our bodies sated. He rolled just enough to pull the bulk of his weight from me, still holding me against him.
And when the tendrils of sleep began tickling along the edges of my consciousness, luring me into the oblivion only they could provide, we whispered together. Hearts and mind and body and soul, tied together in a moment of purest love.
"Tá mo chroí istigh ionat."
.
.
.
Tá mo chroí istigh ionat translates to "My heart is within you"
Mo chuisle translates to "My pulse"