Disclaimer: We don't own Twilight, or much else for that matter.
For Ran with an F
*~* GrInD *~*
ChApTeR Twenty~oNe
BPOV
My heart flutters in my chest, and the wind whips through my hair. The loose strands slap my face, leaving a sting in their wake. I curse below my breath, feeling ridiculous for driving with the top dropped back.
My hair's gonna look a hot mess.
My stomach's already knotted in nerves. The fact that my hair probably looks like a rat's nest makes me even more queasy. This is no impromptu date I'm heading to. It's no last minute 'let's go to the pier' kind of thing. No, Bean invited me to dinner - at his home. I'd be alone with him in his home, and after that ... who knows? Maybe he's planning on taking me somewhere fancy, somewhere nice.
Not that he needs to.
I feel silly in the tight, navy, wrap dress I'm wearing. It's nothing special, but it's the nicest thing I own, which is kind of sad. The heels on my feet are scuffed on the bottom and sides. They are also a little too big, considering I borrowed them from my sister, Esme, who was way too excited about my date, considering her own history with skater boys. I feel like a kid playing dress-up, or maybe I'm too dressed up. Bean hadn't specified where our date would take place. He'd simply shot me an address and told me to meet him there.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised when I arrive at the address Bean gave me. The house is massive in size, beautiful, elegant, and as intimidating at the date I'm about to go on. It's also situated on the sugary beach where I first met Bean. Not only is it the same beach, it's the same house.
It takes three tries before my trembling finger properly hits the doorbell, not that it matters. Bean opens the door just as my finger touches the button, almost as though he were waiting for me, watching for me.
The smile on his face is as bright as the smoldering sun melting into the ocean. My eyes scan his clothes, and my chests tightens. He looks good in a pair of dark-wash, low-slung jeans, socked feet, and the white, v-neck shirt, but what appeals to me the most is the apron tied neatly around his waist. The top part of the apron hangs down, as he's forgone cinching it around his neck. The smell of simmering tomatoes gusts through the door ... simmering tomatoes and something else …
"Is something burning?" I ask, glancing around him.
Bean's eyes widen and he takes off running, cursing lowly under his breath. I stand awkwardly outside, then take one timid step over the threshold. Pulling the door behind me, I take a quick look around.
I find Bean in the kitchen, his face crestfallen, and a pile of burnt garlic bread piled on a plate near the stove. He takes a pot of pasta and dumps it in a colander in the sink. The pasta falls out in one, big glob, and I have to cover my mouth to suppress the giggle that's threatening to spill out.
"Want me to turn off the stove?" I offer, eyeballing the bubbling tomato sauce nearby.
Bean's eyes widen again.
"Shit!" he hisses, whipping around to fumble with the dials. The tomato sauce bubbles and pops, splattering all over Bean's crisp, white shirt. He grabs the pot from the eye, all the burners now a glowing red, and tosses the smoking pan in the sink alongside the pasta. After a dejected sigh, he glances down at his shirt
"You find the place okay?" he asks, peeling the sauce-covered material from his body. My impending giggles wander away, swallowed down as I stare slack-jawed at the half-naked man standing in front of me. His skin looks darker in the dimmed light, soft over hardened hills of well-worked muscle. I find it hard to believe that this man has ever resembled a beanpole.
Meeting my wandering eyes, the irritation on his face fades away. He shoots me a cocky, teasing grin, stretching a bit to show off what I've been missing. I shake off my Bean-induced stupor and manage to shoot him a faux frown, as he reaches for the phone.
"How do you feel about delivery?"
gRiNd
The sun's long dipped into the sea, leaving us with only the glow of tiki torches and the uneaten crusts of our pan pizza. I'm full of garlic bread. High on wine and the wealth of personal information Bean's bestowed upon me.
He's twenty-nine, the only son of the two most loving, supportive parents in the world, owns his own company, and is sorry that he hadn't been sticking up for Alice earlier that day.
In his defense, he had gone to bat for the two love birds plenty of times before. And seeing as he's the reason that Stretch is allowing them to see each other now, I guess I can find it in my guarded heart to forgive him. It's impossible not to, watching the shadows dance across his face, drawing my attention. He's staring at me, at the corner of my mouth to be more accurate.
"You have something right ... there." Bean's thumb brushes across my bottom lip. The heat rises to my cheeks, causing his eyes to soften. I wait on him to kiss me, but he doesn't. He just waits, and watches, licking his thumb clean.
"Too bad there's no water in the pool," I say, desperate to break the intimate silence while our feet touch and tease.
"I get more use out of it this way," Bean informs, his mind obviously not on the same dirty track as mine.
"Then maybe you're using it wrong."
Brows raised, he looks surprised, dropping his gaze, as he shyly smiles.
"Maybe," he chuckles. "Why? What did you have in mind?"
What do I have in mind?
I glance down at the empty pool where our feet dangle, threaded together. I imagine the pool full of water, the surface glittering beneath a luminous, white moon. I imagine the ripples of starlit water wavering around us. We're weightless and suspended, wrapped around each other beneath a blanket of stars.
I have Bean's body, wet and slippery in mind.
"Skinny dipping," I inadvertently blurt, slapping my hand over my mouth before the words are fully out.
Bean's shy smile widens on his face, replaced with a satisfied grin.
"Alright then, just let me whip out my hose."
Jonesn here posting for Hood and I can't stop laughing. Whip out my hose.. *snort*
Reviews make Bean whip it, whip it good.
Did you hear about the bad boys contest Hoodie's hosting? Oh, yea. It's gonna be guuuuud. Search bad boys of twilight to follow. There's a blog link for info. Submissions start February 1st and I can't wait!
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