SM owns all things Twilight
Meatloaf owns Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Nine Inch Nails owns Closer
This chapter is full of fun, fluff, love and lemons. Also a glimpse of girls night fun that we haven't seen before now.
Thank you to all of those who have invested their time and interest in this story.
I feel nothing but love!
Chapter Twenty-Five
Things slowly but surely went back to normal, well as normal as could be expected. The first week after the shooting was the worst. Edward and I stayed at the house the whole time. There was press everywhere around school, speculation about what really happened going in every direction possible. I avoided all sources of media as best I could. I didn't even look at the paper; of course it wasn't like I really read it before hand. I always figured any news I needed I could get from the same source on the Internet, which I also avoided. I didn't watch the news either. I knew avoiding these things would not make it all go away, but I wasn't ready to deal with it yet, wasn't ready to read or hear about rumor and speculation.
Mom, Dad, Carlisleand Esme all stayed that week withus and it was good to have them there. They along withEdward all hovered around me a little more than I would normally like, but I never said anything because I knew they were just worried about me. Kate came over to the house everyday that week to talk withme and withEdward too. She insisted he talk with her because he was so much a part of all of this. I know he only did it for me but I was glad that he did because he had carried too much of this on his shoulders.
The school seemed to go out of its way that first week to make sure Edward and I had everything that we needed as far as classes and really anything else that we might need. We both knew it had to do with their fear of bad press or of our parents trying to sue them. I'm sure some of our professors weren't happy about our special treatment but they really had no choice in the matter. Of course we both made sure we kept up with our work so that when we went back, any animosity that might exist could be squelched quickly.
That first week I spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Cooking and or baking had always been such a stress reliever for me and this was like having my own personal spa. I learned quickly how to maneuver with my cast and found that a Zip-Locbag does a great job of protecting a cast from many things. Edward and I began cooking our way through the bookI had gotten him for Christmas. There were difficulties at first, seeing as how being in the kitchen withhim was such a turn on and our parents were always in the other room. We both had to learn a great deal of self control.
When Jared's father came to claim his body and take him back to Portland, he asked Sam to ask me if I would be willing to meet with him. He felt the need to apologize to me face to face for his son's actions. I thought a great deal about it, but in the end I knew I just couldn't do it, not now and maybe never. Instead I asked Sam to pass along a note from me. It was short and simple. I told him how sorry I was for his lose and that he was in my prayers. It was a small gesture I knew but I hoped it would be enough to help him ease any guilt that he may carry so he could properly grieve the loss of his son.
Internal Affairs investigated the shooting and determined that Officer Arohad been following protocol with regards to shooting Jared. I could tell from the lookon his face that day it was not something he wanted to do, but he knew he had a job to do even if that meant taking another person's life. I was glad that he was able to go back to work and would be forever grateful to both him and Officer Caiusfor rushing to protect Edward and me the way they both did.
Dad, Mom and Carlisleall went back home after that first week. Esme stayed for a few days beyond them but only to settle things withthe house they had rented and then she was gone too. Before she left she made me promise I would come spend some of the week of Spring Break with her and Carlisle in Chicago and I was all too happy to agree. I was going to miss her and Carlisleterribly; they had both become such a huge part of my life over the past few months. I would miss mom and dad too, but they were much closer and could be seen in just a matter of a few hours.
The second week after the shooting rolled into the third week after the shooting and then into the normalcy of life. Edward and I were able to go back to being college kids. We went to class, studied together, went out on dates and made love like horny jack rabbit, college kids did. I even went on the pill, because that's what liberated college women did right?
I went back to sleeping in my own bed in my own dorm room with only the occasional nightmare during the week and staying with Edward during the weekend.
Alice went back to her mega watt personality which I had forgotten how much I loved. Jasper's face was a little more ruggedly handsome than before and made him look all the more like a cowboy which Alice found she greatly loved. Emmett went back to his playful, jovial self who now took to telling both Edward and I he loved us. And Rose was more beautiful than ever with the look of worry replaced with a look of love for all of us that she never would have allowed herself to show before.
Sam or Jake checked in on us once a week just to make sure we were ok. I knew even though it would be as more of an extended arm, they both were a part of our family now.
And Edward, well Edward became more and more beautiful every day and every day I fell more and more in love with him. Because every day when I looked into his eyes, I was reminded of how very very lucky I was to have this wonderful, soulful, beautiful man love me.
As for me, I thanked God every morning I woke up, for my life. Literally for my life as it could have easily been taken away from me on more than one occasion and in so many different ways. But also for the family that I was now so blessed to have, a family that each member of it had in one way or another done something or sacrificed something to keep me safe because they loved me.
They say that which does not kill you makes you stronger and they were right. Each of us in our own way was now stronger than we had been before all of this happened. Hell we were practically boulders now. But not only were we stronger, our bonds were stronger. We were our own type of family and I knew that we always would be.
And so life went on. January became February and Valentine's Day quickly approached. I never really put a lot of thought into the day before this year. Alice and I always did cutesy things for each other and of course my parents always gave me a little something, but romantically the day never held any interest for me, because frankly no guy had ever held that interest for me. This year though I was actually excited for the day.
Edward and I had cooked our way through his present and I had gotten him several more cookbooks for us to use. More than once we had to repeat a recipe because the first attempt ended up in the trashcan when extra circular activities ruined the meal. There was just something about being in the kitchen with Edward that made my body tingle. I found cooking with him to be very intimate, not just physically but also mentally. It was something that we shared with each other. We worked together, we talked to each other, we laughed, we listened to music and we danced together. The kitchen became our own oasis.
In the end, food nourished not only our bodies but our hearts, our minds and our souls.
A few days before Valentine's Day, I was in Edward's room working on a project for radio production when Rose's voice coming from the doorway broke my concentration.
"Hey Bella."
"Hey Rose, what's up?"
"Emmett's in Jasper's room giving him and Alice a hard time so I thought I would come and see what you two were up to. Where's Edward?"
"He had to go deal with a problem between a RA and another kid up on the 15th floor."
"Ah the joys of a head RA." She said with a smirk as she rolled her eyes. "Would it bother you if I came in for a minute?"
"Not at all my dear. Come on in and have a seat." I responded as I patted the spot on the couch next to me inviting her into the room.
A lovely smile graced her face and she came and sat down beside me. I watched her as she walked over to the spot on the couch and couldn't get over how beautiful she really was. Emmett was a very lucky guy and I'm sure he knew it. Of course I couldn't help but think she was very lucky to have Emmett as well. He was my big brother after all!
"What are you working on?"
"It's a sound poem for radio production. A girl in my class named Tiffany and I are taking the poem Kidnappedby Shel Silverstein and adding sound and music to it."
I heard Rose gasp when I told her the title of the poem and she looked at me with shock on her face.
"Bella are you sure about that?" She asked me quietly.
"That was the same look I got from Tiffany when I suggested it and you can only imagine the look I got from Edward. It's kind of a funny little poem, especially to be a kid's poem. It's all serious and ominous and then when it ends it's just a kid's excuse for being late to school."
"Doesn't it bother you though? I mean given the subject matter even if it is just a kid's fantasy?"
"Not really. I think I'm having too much fun with it to let it bother me. We recorded it earlier and I have been working on the edit. Here listen to it and tell me what you think."
I brought the clip up and Rose listened intently. I could tell she was trying not to giggle by the end of the poem.
"Who did the kid's voice in the beginning, he sounded like Mickey Mouse." She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her now.
"I know right. That's Daryl, Tiffany's boyfriend and we both gave him a hard time about it. He was trying to sound like a kid, but instead sounded like Mickey himself. He threatened to go on strike which of course made us laugh even more. I had to edit out a good ten minutes of our laughter." I said joining her in amusement.
"The music that you use in the back ground, that's from Donnie Darko isn't it?" Rose asked. I was the one looking up at her now with shock. Donnie Darko was one of my favorite movies but also one that most people didn't get and wouldn't really know the music from unless they were a fan.
"It is, you a fan of Donnie Darko?"
"It's one of my favorites." She answered.
"Mine too. I can't believe you like that movie. Most people I know don't care for it."
"Emmett hates it." She said with a devious grin on her face.
"I know, he kept yelling 'It's a friggin bunny. Who the hell is afraid of a friggin bunny?' at the TV the first time I made him watch it with me. Neither he nor Alice will watch it with me now."
"He's moved to calling it a fucking bunny and I make him watch it withme at least once a month." She winked at me. We both erupted into laughter at the thought of Emmett cussing at a TV screen and Rose making him watch it against his will. We sat there for a few minutes laughing, just enjoying a little happiness at our big bear's expense when Rose pulled her laughter in and looked at me. I could tell she wanted to say something but was trying to figure out how to word it.
"Bella, I think it's great that you have the courage to do something like this. I know you said it is just a silly kid's poem, but it's still a touchy subject for someone who has gone through what you have. I know you have always had this quiet strength about you, but I have really seen it flourish these past few months. I doubt I would have the strength to do it. You are one of the strongest people I have ever met in my life." She said with so much pride and love on her face.
I felt like crying. To hear Rose say that to me was incredible. This beautiful woman was paying me a compliment and I could tell that it was heartfelt.
"Yeah well I love how childlike and imaginative the poem is, which of course meant there were tones of things we could do with it, like you heard. It really was a blast to work on and I think in a way it was kind of like therapy. Kind of a way to hold my head up high and say 'Fuck it', life goes on and I will not let this bring me down." I said kind of indignantly, not towards Rose but really towards Jared and the situation as a whole.
"You go girl!" Rose said as she held up her hand to high five me.
I groaned as I slapped hands with her. "Oh Rose please tell me you didn't just say that."
"Damn straight little one!" She said giving me a wink at using one of Emmett's nicknames for me and sounding a great deal like him. I couldn't help but laugh with her and once again we both sat there almost in tears.
"Bella can I ask a favor of you?" Rose asked, pulling in her laughter again.
"Sure darling you name it."
"I know you and Edward have been cooking together and it seems like something that you both enjoy."
"Greatly!" I said giving her a sly wink.
"Ew gross, inappropriate sexual images of Em's little sister burning in my eyes right now, must gouge them out to make it go away!" She mocked as she shielded her eyes.
"Why Rose, a true smart ass after my own heart!" I answered her with a slight tap on her leg.
She crinkled her nose up at me and went back to her favor. "Anyway, I was wondering if maybe you could give me some lessons?"
"Lessons?" I looked at her questionably.
"I mean I know how to cook and I'm pretty good at a few things, but I don't have the passion for it like you do. I have seen the way you are in the kitchen with Edward, you teach him, guide him really and it's like watching a partnership or better yet a dance. I thought maybe you could help me learn how to do that, and maybe some of your talent in the kitchen would rub off on me. I think it could be good for Emmett and me to give it a try." She said with a wink that copied mine from earlier.
"Ew gross, inappropriate sexual images of my big brother burning my eyes right now." I mockingly copied her back.
"Spoken like a true smart ass!" She said back to me in a very Southern accent! I couldn't help but laugh at the Steel Magnolias reference there.
"Donnie Darko and Steel Magnolias? What a wide range of movies there Miss Hale. We may be cinematic soul mates. Next you'll be telling me you love The Fountain."
"Holy shit with a passion. That movie makes me cry every time and it is just so amazingly beautiful! I haven't met anyone else who even likes that movie let alone loves it." She beamed at me with the biggest smile on her face.
"Well that seals it. We must dump Edward and Emmett straight away and run off together."
"Why are you dumping Edward and Emmett and running off together?" Alice asked from the doorway. Rose and I were so involved in our cinema snob vest that neither of us saw her there.
"Love of movies." I answered her.
"Oh God, not Donnie Darko again? Rose I forgot Emmett said you loved that movie." Alice said as she rolled her eyes at the two of us as she came and sat down on the coffee table in front of us. Alice and I agreed on many things but movies were not always one of them.
"Got tired of Em picking on you?" Rose asked with a hint of laughter still in her voice.
"I swear Rose; you must be a saint to put up with his crap."Alice huffed.
"Yeah well love makes you do crazy things sometimes." She answered Alice while patting her on the knee.
"So you really want to learn to cook with him, are you sure about that?" I asked Rose jokingly.
"Hell yeah!" She enthusiastically answered me back.
"Now what are you two talking about?" Alice asked us.
"I asked little one here to teach me how to cook the way she and Edward cook together so I can do the same with Emmett."
"Oh yeah, Bella has told me how sexy she thinks it is and that sometimes it leads to…wait…wait. So not the thought I want of you and Emmett!" Alice said holding her hands up as if to block away the mental image.
"Join the club!" Rose and I said at the same time. We looked at each other and busted out laughing again. Alice joined in and the three of us sat there and laughed for a good fifteen minutes.
"Seriously Bella, would you be willing to teach me?" Rose asked after our laughter faded away.
"Me too?" Alice asked almost bouncing off the table.
"I would love too!" I answered them both.
"Great! The guys have a meeting at the Sig Ep house tomorrow. Why don't the two of you come over to my place after class? We can go to the store and then have it!"
"Sounds like a plan!" Alice almost squealed. Rose and I held our hands over our ears and looked at each other with a knowing grin!
The next day Edward, Jasper, Alice and I rode over to Rose's apartment. Emmett was already there and the guys were going to ride together to the Sig Ep house for their meeting.
I asked the girls to think about things that they could fix that the guys would like and that would take some work, meaning cutting up of ingredients, prepping items to be cooked and the longer the cook time the better just in case. The more they could do together as a couple the better the experience would be for them. In the end Rose decided on Pot Roast and Alice decided on Chicken Marsalis. We found recipes online, made out our supply list and headed to the store.
I never thought grocery shopping could be so much fun. Rose flirted with the butcher to get him to give us the freshest cuts of meat. Alice damn near knocked over a display of canned cream corn when she twirled around one of the isles and I, not paying attention to where I was walking ran smack into a stock boy trying to arrange a palate of eggs. Luckily he was able to steady himself before any eggs were sacrificed for my lack of coordination due to tears in my eyes from laughter. We paid for our items and got the heck out of the store before they threw us out and banned us for life. We laughed the whole ride home.
I had gotten my cast off a few days before and I was looking forward to not only being able to use both hands again, but I also really liked the idea of being able to cook with Rose and Alice as well. I liked the idea of teaching them things, of helping them find the joy Edward and I had found with each other in the kitchen.
"Ok ladies, first things first. You must have music when you are in the kitchen." I said as we began to unpack our goods. I went to my bag and grabbed my iPod as well as a speaker to attach it to so it could be heard throughout the kitchen. "Now depending on the mood you are in, you can pick a specific artist or playlist, but I find shuffle works best. You never know what you will get and you don't have to stop to change lists." I put my iPod on shuffle and hit play. The first song up was Meatloaf's Paradise by the Dashboard Light.
"Ah this one is perfect, a great song to get you in the mood to dance and sing while you cook." I said with a big smile on my face.
"You sing and dance while you cook?" Rose asked me surprised.
"Absolutely. I mean of course I'm careful not to dance around with knifes or hot pans, but if you can't have fun when you're cooking what is the point. The joy you feel when you sing to your food flows into the food and can be felt when the final product is eaten."
"Bella honey did I just hear you say you sing to your food?" Alice asked with the same look on her face as Rose had a moment ago.
"Well yeah, I mean I sing to the music while it is playing, I'm usually hands deep in some kind of food so I guess you could say I am singing to the food. People talk to their plants so why should we not sing to our food?" I responded. Alice and Rose just shook their heads and looked at me like I was crazy.
"Next step is to get all of your items together and prepped." We began to check our recipes and worked on getting the items together that we needed. I noticed Alice and Rose both began to bop their heads to the music and when Paradise reached its climax so to speak all three of us were signing to each other.
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!
So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do
Praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you!
"Man I love that song." Rose said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. We were once again laughing until we cried by the time we had finished singing the song at the top of our lungs. We half expected the neighbors to come and yell at us to shut up.
"Yeah who knew teenage lust could lead to a life wishing for death." Alice said as she calmed herself down.
The next song that came on was slower and helped us to gain our focus and we got started on our task. As we began prepping the items to be cooked, I explained to the girls that the name of the game was team work when it came to couples cooking. Both of them should have individual tasks and that each of them should use as many of their senses as possible. By that I meant each one of them should use their hands, their eyes, their noses and their sense of taste when they were prepping. They should also talk while they were working. Silence was not an option; otherwise they might as well be alone. Cooking together would give them a chance to really be together. They could talk about anything or they could sing together just so long as they were together.
As we worked together to prepare the two meals we carried on casual conversations about our relationships, about school, about music, about everything really. It felt good to include Rose in Alice and I's bond and I could quickly see her always being a part of that now.
Once we had the Pot Roast and the Chicken Marsalis in the oven we began to tidy up the kitchen. We were dancing around to the music as we cleaned and by the time Nine Inch Nails' Closer came on we had abandoned the mess and were dancing and singing closely with each other.
We had gotten so lost in the music we didn't hear the guys come back in, we didn't notice the three of them standing in the doorway watching the three of us dancing with each other, didn't see the look of desire on their faces until Emmett grabbed our attention.
"Fuck me!" He said.
EPOV
The meeting had been long and drawn out and all the three of us really wanted to do was get back to our ladies. We knew they were going to be cooking together and each of us was looking forward to whatever great meal was waiting for us back at Rose's place.
As we approached the apartment door we could hear music and the muffled sounds of them singing. Emmett opened the door with his key and called Rose's name as he went in but she didn't answer. We figured maybe they couldn't hear us over the music.
The apartment smelled amazing although it was hard to figure out exactly what they had cooked because it smelled like so many different things. We all headed to the kitchen and all three of us stopped dead in our tracks as we took in the sight in front of us.
Bella, Rose and Alice were dancing with each other. Very close to each other, practically on top of each other, hell they were grinding each other and holy shit they were singing Closer.
I watched Bella dance in the middle of Alice and Rose. The way she swayed to the music in between them, it was the most erotic thing I had ever seen, that was until I heard the words of the song coming out of her mouth.
(Help me)
Tear down my reason
(Help me)
It's your sex I can smell
(Help me)
You make me perfect
Help me become somebody else
I wanna fuck you like an animal
I wanna feel you from the inside
I wanna fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to God
Her eyes were closed as she was singing and the look on her face was carnal. I could only hope and pray that it was my face that she was seeing in those beautiful brown pools of desire.
The three of us stood there frozen, the good lord only knowing what was going through our minds when Emmett broke the silence with two little words that said oh so much.
"Fuck me!" He said while trying to catch his breath.
The girls froze at the sound of his voice and all three of them looked at us, than at each other and collapsed into a pile on the floor laughing. The sight of them sprawled out on the floor, all on top of each other, their bodies vibrating with laughter was not helping the uh situation at all! I loved Bella with all of my heart and would never ever think about being with anyone other than her even if she was there, but damn I am a man and the vision before me was just well Georgia Asphalt! The longer the three of us stood there dazed the harder the three of them laughed.
The timer going off on the stove finally broke the laughter. The girls got up off the floor and pulled a dish out of the oven while checking on another one in there.
"Perfect timing boys." Bella said her voice raspy from laughter. "The Pot Roast still has a bit longer but the Chicken Marsalisis ready." She came over and gently closed my mouth withher hand before kissing me lightly on the lips. I hadn't realized my mouth was opened.
"Hungry?" She whispered in my ear and I knew she didn't just mean the Marsalis. She walked back into the kitchen and helped the other two get plates and glasses together to serve dinner.
I couldn't move other than a slight nod yes of my head that came too late for her to see. All of my blood had rushed south and rendered me useless. I was trying to draw it back up but was finding the task to be very hard. No pun intended!
As my brain began to function again I could see Jasper and Emmett bothin the same state as me. Alice walked in front of the three of us with the dish of Marsalisand waved it under our noses before walking past us to the dining room table. As my mouth began to water I could feel my other senses kicking back in and I turned to follow Alice. The other two followed suit shortly after me.
The girls talked and laughed as we ate. Jasper, Emmett and I just sat there like dumb struck morons, which of course would bring new fits of laughter to the girl's when they tried to engage us in conversation. I didn't know about the other two, but my mind was racing all over the place.
After dinner, we told the girls we would clean up the kitchen, after all it was the least we could do. I think that was the fastest a kitchen has ever been cleaned and it was spotless. Jasper and I wanted to get out of there and Emmett wanted us out.
As we said our goodbyes, Alice and Bella hugged Rose and Emmett goodbye.
"Let the roast sit for an hour before you wrap it up to put away. Hope you two enjoy it tomorrow night." Bella said before she leaned into her hug with Rose.
"Thank you Bella for everything." Rose said. "I love you sweetie!" I could see Bella's eyes mist up at Rose's words as one of her radiant smiles graced her lips.
"See you all tomorrow." Emmett said as he quickly closed the door. I silently cursed him for getting to the place I wanted to be long before I could.
The ride home was slow and painful and once we got to the dorm, I practically picked Bella up and carried her into the building. We said our goodnights to Alice and Jasper and headed back to my room. As I closed and locked the door, Bella put her bag down on the table. When she turned around she had the sexiest grin on her face I had ever seen. I made a quick mental note to myself to add Closerto my Bella playlist. It was the last non passionate thought I had before I went over to her and let my desire for her overtake both of us.
The next day was Valentine's Day and I had a romantic dinner for us at IlTerrazzo Carmine planned. It was the restaurant we went to on our first date and I knew it would mean as much to Bella as it did to me. I never thought I would be one of those guys who got all mushy over Valentine's Day, but I couldn't help myself. I had roses sent to her room, gave her a little box of candy hearts on our walk to class and had a heart shaped box of chocolates to give her along with my other gifts at dinner.
I tried my damnedest to find a card that said exactly what I was feeling, but they either seemed too generic, too sticky sweet with false sentiment or too wordless to express how I felt. In the end I made my own card. I drew a picture of a pair of hands carrying a heart. A heart that had the words Bella written on it. On the inside of the card I handwrote the e. e. cummings poem I had learned and recited to Bella numerous times. Those few lines said more about the way I felt for her, than any card Hallmark or any other greeting card company could ever think of.
I arrived at her dorm room door promptly at 6:30 pm. The radiant vision that greeted me at the door left me breathless. Bella was wearing a dress that just flowed on her. The dress had straps that were jeweled and graced her collarbone as they moved down the front in a horse shoe shaped U. The fabric gathered almost in a bunch around her breasts and tiny waist but then widen and hung loosely yet gracefully down her body. And the dress was ivory. Images of Bella in an ivory wedding dress on our wedding day invaded my mind and damn near brought tears to my eyes. If I would have had a ring I would have dropped down on one knee and asked her to marry me right then and there.
She wore her hair down and it flowed over her shoulders in similar fashion to the way the dress flowed down her body. She wore the bracelet I had gotten her for Christmas and no other jewelry. Her eyes were dark and very smoky looking and made the color of them almost scream out at you for attention. Other than her amazing eyes and a slight pink blush to her lips she wore little else as makeup.
"Bella…you…look…" Words failed me. Not word came to my head that could properly convey what I thought of her beauty at the moment.
"Thank you." She said as she walked up to me and gently kissed my cheek. "You look very beautiful tonight yourself Edward." She smiled as she pulled away and went to grab her jacket and small purse from her bed.
She handed me her jacket to help her put it on which I regretted instantly having to do. It was very cold outside and she would need the jacket to keep her warm, but it saddened me to have to hide this magnificent piece of art until we were at the restaurant.
Our ride to the restaurant was quiet but in a comfortable way. I was actually glad because it allowed the vision of Bella in a wedding dress on our wedding day to overtake my mind. I could see us there standing in front of the minister, could see our first kiss as man and wife, could see our first dance to At Last, could see us shoving cake into each other's faces and could see all of the love in the world in her eyes as she looked up at me as we said our final goodbyes to our families. The vision of her in that dress, of the love that I knew I would feel for her at that moment and that she would feel for me overwhelmed me and I didn't realize I had tears rolling down my face until I felt Bella's hand on my cheek.
"Edward love, what's wrong." She was looking at me with so much concern on her face.
"Absolutely nothing my grace, I was just thinking about you on our wedding day."
"Edward." Her voice cracked as she said my name. I took the hand she held to my cheek and brought it to my lips, kissing it gently. She looked away for a moment and I could see her wiping her own face with her other hand.
Once inside the restaurant, I helped Bella out of her jacket and I heard the Maître D's breath catch as he took her jacket from me and the vision of her captured him. "Wow." He quietly said to himself, but loud enough for us to hear.
"Thank you." Bella answered him with a blush on her face that I thought was going to bring him to his knees.
He stood there for a moment gathering himself and then he looked up at me.
"I'm very sorry sir. I shouldn't have." He said.
"No problem, happens to me all the time." I said while giving him a wink.
As we made our way to the table, I could see heads all over the restaurant turn to look at Bella. I held my head up high with great pride knowing this beautiful creature was mine.
The dinner menu for that night was a five course tasting of foods that were red in some way. We would start withthe tomato basil soup. Next we would have roasted red peppers stuffed with pancetta, orzo and fontinacheese. Our third course was going to be a tomato mozzarella salad with basil and extra virgin olive oil. Our fourthand main course would be Lobster Ravioli withtomato sauce and our fifth and final course would be raspberry panna cotta.
I couldn't help but marvel at Bella with each soft moan that escaped her lips as she tasted the different courses. Her eyes closed and she hummed in contentment as she finished each bite. It was so sexy.
As we waited for our final course I pulled her gifts out of my inside jacket pocket and slide the box of chocolates, two small jewelry boxes and my card over to her. She opened the car first and she held her breath making that noise I love so much when she saw the front of the card.
"Edward did you do this?" She asked looking up at me. I could see her eyes misting up.
"Yes."
"I didn't know you could draw like this."
"On occasion." I smiled back at her.
She opened the card and when she saw it was the poem, the tears in her eyes fell down her face.
"Thank God for waterproof eyeliner." She chuckled as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Her eyes glowed as she opened the box with tear drop sapphire earrings and then misted up again when she opened the box that held another charm for her bracelet. It was a small heart with my name on it.
"I'm giving my heart to you Bella. I think you always knew you had it, but I wanted to make sure. You will always have my heart my love." I held my hand out for her wrist and I took her bracelet off, adding the charm to it and then placing it back on her wrist with a kiss.
I could tell she was trying to hold back both tears and giggles as she looked up at me. I couldn't figure out what would cause her to laugh let alone try to hold it back.
"What is it my love?" I asked her.
She withdrew her hand from mine and reached for her bag, pulling out a small wrapped box and handing it to me.
"Bella you already gave me a gift." I began to protest. Earlier in the day she had given a box of heart shaped sugar cookies that she had made and three new cookbooks for us to cook our way through. The cookies melted in my mouth they were so good and I couldn't control the grin that took over my face at the knowledge of more lessons in the kitchen with Bella.
"Just open it silly." She said
I opened the box to find a gold keychain inside. The keychain was heart shaped and Bella's name was written on it.
"I'm giving my heart to you Edward." She said and could no longer hold back her giggles.
I couldn't help my own chuckle as I leaned into her and kissed her lips.
"Great minds think alike." I said.
"Loving minds think alike." She corrected me as she returned my kiss.
After our final course and more glorious sounds coming from Bella as she tasted the panna cotta I asked her what she wanted to do next.
"Go home." She said her voice low and as smoky as her eyes.
I nodded my head yes and silently thanked the universe for her desire.
Bella had brought a few items of clothes down to my room so we didn't have to stop by her room before going to mine.
Once we were back in the room and our jackets were properly hung up I pulled her into me and kissed her, soft at first but then she opened her mouth and began to tease my tongue with her own. I softly traced my fingers down her back until I found the zipper for her dress.
"As much as I hate to take this dress off you my love, it is just too perfect to ruin in anyway." I said as I lowered the zipper. I stepped back from her and watched as she lowered the straps of the dress and slowly let it fall off her body. I held my breath when I saw the corset and lace panties she was wearing under the dress.
"Alice?" I asked as I took her dress and hung it up for her. I definitely planned on her wearing that again and did not want to see it messed up in any way.
"Rose actually." She answered.
"Be sure to thank her for me." I said as I took her earlobe into my mouth. I picked Bella up and lowered her down on the bed as I slipped out of my clothes. I couldn't take my eyes off of my beauty in white, laying there on my bed, the moonlight trickling in from the window and illuminating her even more than she already was.
I joined her on the bed and as I lowered my head into her neck and began to kiss her soft skin. I repeated the word beautiful over and over again between each kiss.
My fingers began to explore her graceful body as I kissed her neck and ear. As beautiful as she looked in the corset and panties, I wanted to feel her skin. I pulled back for a moment to remove the offending garments from her body stopping to drink in the beauty of her naked body swimming in the moonlight.
Everywhere that my fingers explored, I followed shortly thereafter with kisses. I allowed myself to linger on her perfect breast, suckling each one, loving the way she arched her back up driving her further into my mouth. I pulled back and let me tongue tease her nipple, that being the only contact I allowed my mouth to have with each one. As I increased the rate at which I teased her, she moaned and I could feel her body start to quiver under me. I knew it wouldn't be long before she came and I wanted her to so very badly.
All night, with each blissful noise that escaped her mouth as she ate this need to feel her body quiver around me slowly build and began to consume me. I wanted her release more than I wanted my own.
As I continued to tease her nipples, I slide my fingers down her center and began to strummer her lightly as if she were the stings of a guitar. The instant I touched her she bucked her hips into my palm and she said my name.
I could feel her getting closer to the edge and I slide my fingers further down until the tip of my finger was inside of her. I moved it slowly in and out of her, not allowing it to delve to deeply in at first. I heard her whimper as she lifted her hips up higher trying to drive my finger into her deeper.
"Edward." She begged. I loved the sound of my name coming from her when she was like this.
"Say my name again love." I said as I pulled out of her completely.
"Edward." She begged.
I let my fingers linger just outside of her entrance, teasing her.
"Say my name love." I said to her again.
"Edward. Edward please." She whimpered.
I slowly dipped one than another finger inside of her and began to work them in and out of her.
"Is that what you want my love?"
"Edward, yes Edward please."
I could feel her body began to quiver and I knew she was close to hitting the edge and falling over. I pulled my fingers almost out of her completely and then quickly plunged them back into her, going deeper inside then I had allowed them before now.
"Edward, oh God yes Edward." She moaned. I could feel her getting closer, feel the muscles of her body tightening around my fingers. I curled them into her, taking my thumb and strumming her as my tongue resumed teasing her nipples. I knew the combination of the three would be all she needed to fall over and sure enough within seconds of my triple delight she was panting, her body stiffened and I could feel her release in every ounce of me.
"Edward, Edward, Edward." She repeated my name over and over again. Screaming my name at first but then slowly fading it into a whisper as she slowly came down from her ecstasy.
"Edward teasing my like that was not a very nice thing to do." She said as she opened her eyes and looked at me for the first time since I began to explore her body.
"Didn't you enjoy it my love?" I asked with a sly grin on my face.
"I image you could feel how much I enjoyed it." She answered me.
"So do you not want me to do it again?" I asked her as I began to softly kiss her lips.
"No…um…maybe…I…mean…yes." She said as she kissed me back.
I moved my body so I was lying on top of her now, nestling myself in between her thighs. She opened her legs up to me, opening herself up to me.
I slowly pushed into her, finding a gentle rhythm as I stared into her eyes. I was in no rush. I wanted to linger inside her warmth for as long as I possibly could.
"Thank you Bella." I said, never losing contact with her eyes as I moved slowly back and forth inside of her.
"For what my sweet Edward." She asked her eyes intently joined with mine.
"For wearing that dress tonight, for giving me a glimpse into our wedding day. For loving me so much that I know I will see our wedding day. Because more than anything in this world I want you to know that one day I will ask for your hand in marriage."
I stopped my slow rhythm to pull back slightly from her, placing my hand on her stomach. "That one day I will reveal in the feeling of our babies moving inside of you. That I will cry as I watch them coming into this world. That I will thank God everyday for you and that I will grow old with you and that you will always, always be the most beautiful person in the world to me."
I could feel her tears falling into my hands as I moved them closer to her.
"Edward, I want all of those things with you. Want to squeal like Alice when you ask me to marry you and tell you yes, yes, yes over and over again. I want to see the smile on your face when I tell you that we are pregnant, see the love in your eyes when you hold them for the first time. I want to remember all of the wonderful little things about you that make me love you more than life itself. And I do Edward, I love you with all that I am and all that I ever will be, I'm forever yours.
"I love you too Bella. Forever and ever, my heart is yours." I whispered to her as I kissed the tears from her eyes.
I slowly returned to my rhythm inside of her, moving back and forth with her as she moved forward and back with me. Each movement was a dance between our bodies. Each movement bringing me deeper into her body and deeper into her heart. Each movement only increasing in speed as we both grew closer to and then finally reaching release.
We made love like that for hours, slowly and sweetly. Words of love intertwined with movements of love. We stayed like that until our bodies had nothing physical left to give. Afterwards I snuggled her into me, as I whispered our poem into her ear and thanking her over and over again for drawing me into her and never ever letting me go.
A/N: So there you have it. Please let me know what you think. There will be an Epilogue soon that will give us a glimpse into our love birds futures.
Thank you for allowing me to indulge in my love for cooking, film and writing. Hope you all enjoyed it and look forward to more stories to come.
With much love!