DESIDERATA
A/N: YES, Bella and Edward do the deed in this chapter. It's the one you've been waiting for.
Things I own: Soon, I will own a brand new Cullen Crest key ring to replace my broken Twilight key ring, once it arrives in the mail. Yes, I am a dork to be excited by this. You've read 23 chapters of my ramblings so far, you should know this by now. Just saying.
Things I don't own: Anything Twilight, it all belongs to Ms. Meyer.
Special thanks to my bb NaughtySparkle. She has earned dibs on Smirkypeen.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: OPENING NIGHT
"The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely, aware." – Henry Miller
BPOV
Once we are dry, I make my way to the guest room in order to get dressed. Edward follows me.
"Um, I thought we were getting dressed and not thinking about sex for a while, Edward."
"We are. But I thought I could watch you get dressed. I don't really want to leave you."
His earnestness makes me smile. He is positively irresistible. "I can assure you, there is absolutely nothing exciting about my getting dressed. I'm not even going to wear anything remotely enticing."
"Let me point something out to you, Ms. Swan. Men are visual creatures. The mere act of seeing you naked, then putting on your bra and panties, then covering those up with whatever else you happen to put on, is very enticing. The entire time you are putting things on, my mind will envision how you look taking them off. No matter what, we can always envision nudity. Just knowing what the panties you are wearing underneath your clothes will keep me hard all day."
"But I thought the point was not to think about sex today."
"It is not humanly possible for me not to think about sex whenever you are in my presence, so I'm not even going to try. However, I do have a few business-related items to attend to. Once those tasks have been accomplished, I'm going to sex you up so hard, we'll end up in the Guinness Book of World Records."
I stand there, dumbstruck, staring at Edward. I notice my breath hitch as I breathe in audibly. "You can't just say things like that to me and expect me to carry on as if nothing has happened! Don't you understand that everything you say, every way you look at me, is just another aspect of foreplay? I won't make it through the next hour at the rate you're going."
As I stand there, exasperated, covered in nothing but my towel, I see the smirk come out. He fucking smirks at me!
"Guilty as charged, but feeling no remorse whatsoever," he laughs.
"You know, two can play this game. I can make your life very difficult if I want to."
The smirk is instantly gone. The intense/focus thing with his eyes returns. "Why don't you get dressed, Bella?"
"Oh, I'll get dressed, all right," I say with smugness.
I drop my towel to the floor, standing naked in front of Edward. Knowing how much it makes him horned out to see me from behind, I bend over to grab my backpack. I'm not certain, but I believe I hear a combined growl/moan/groan noise come from Edward's mouth. I smile to myself with satisfaction.
I dig through my backpack to pull out some clothes. Had I known I would be conducting a virginal seduction scene, I would have come prepared. However, a seduction had been the furthest thing from my mind when I packed my things, so I end up pulling out some jeans and a t-shirt. Still, I plan to make Edward suffer all day; it's now part of the plan.
I walk over to the bed, where Edward is sitting, clad only with a towel around his waist. Seeing his naked chest is very distracting; I stop what I'm doing to drink him in. It is only when I hear his chuckle that I pop back into the moment, slightly embarrassed for being caught. Suddenly, I get inspired.
I'm going to do a striptease in reverse!
I grab the panties, which are nothing fancy, but that is irrelevant. In my hands, on my body, they are sexy to Edward—and that is relevant. I twirl them around on my finger for added effect, then start to put them on. I point my toe, carefully stepping through the leg opening. I repeat the process with my other foot. Bent over, I hook my thumbs around the sides of my underwear and very, very slowly slide them up my legs. As they move past my knees, I start to shimmy my hips in an effort to help get them on. Of course, this action is completely unnecessary, but it serves to drive Edward to distraction, making it completely necessary in my book. As I reach my hips with the top of the elastic, I bend my legs, followed by a thrust of my hips, as I finish sliding them on. I glance at Edward, who appears to be drooling, and his eyes are glazed over.
Step number one in Seduction of Edward process: Check!
I grab my bra, sliding my arms into the straps with exaggeration. I place my breasts in the cups, and turn around so that my back is facing Edward. I wiggle my shoulders and my hips as I fasten the bra, as though the movements make it possible for me to get it fastened. Again, completely unnecessary movements, but they certainly add to the effect on Edward. Perfect.
Step number two in Seduction of Edward process: Check!
I turn around to face him again, this time adjusting my breasts in the cups, so they are properly situated within the bra. I reach my arms over my head to stretch, as though I've just awoken from a nap. I peek over at Edward, and the glazed eyes haven't left. The jeans are next. I slide my legs into them, one at a time, again shimmying my hips to get them all the way on. I jut out my hips as I fasten the zipper very slowly, then move for the button.
Step number three in Seduction of Edward process: Check!
The t-shirt is the last item of clothing to put on. It is difficult to make slipping on a t-shirt sexy, but I do my best, putting it on one sleeve at a time. When I slide it over my head, I make a big commotion of getting my hair freed, bending my head down and flinging my hair over my head. I fluff it up with my hands, swinging it from side to side to release its fragrance. I notice Edward adjusting himself through his towel and know that my routine is working.
Final step in Seduction of Edward process: Check!
"What is on your shirt today?"
"This? Oh, it's the chemical formula for caffeine. I wear this shirt to work all the time. Alice bought it for me."
"That's very clever. I have to admit, however, I'm a bit confused over how to approach you today."
"I don't understand."
"Remember when I told you, back in Forks, that I figured out how to approach you every day by reading your t-shirts?"
"Oh my God, yes, I totally forgot about that!!" I laugh. "Hmm, I guess the caffeine molecule just means you need to work hard on keeping me awake today. Do you think you can do that?"
"I'm very confident you won't be getting any sleep today. Or tonight. So prepare yourself."
I swallow hard. Just hearing Edward's liquid sex voice spill out the words confident, no sleep, and prepare yourself leave my girlie bits as slippery as a wet eel.
I'm so not going to make it through this day.
Edward stands up from the bed and his towel falls to the floor. Not being able to stop myself, my eyes go right for the package. Hard or soft, it is a treasure to behold. So beautiful and perfect. He bends over to grab our towels and chuckles at me.
I'm so busted!
"Oh come on, you can't expect me to avert my gaze when you put your naked body on display! That would just be cruel!"
"I just had to get you back for what was the most erotic method of getting dressed I've ever witnessed."
I go for complete innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I was simply putting on my clothes, Edward. I can't help it if your pervtastic mind goes to naughty places."
"Riiiiight. Dry that one out, you can fertilize the lawn, Ferris."
"Whatever." He smirks at me and takes my hand, leading me out of the guest room, and into his own room.
I stand in the doorway, taking in the room. His bedroom is quintessential Edward. Masculine, with clean lines, dark colors, and classy furnishings. The floor is dark cherry. He has floor to ceiling bookshelves that are filled with books and artwork. In between the bookshelves is a gas fireplace with a black leather recliner off to the side.
He has a king size bed that looks über comfortable. It is a sleigh style, in a lighter cherry finish that complements the flooring. The sheeting, which appears to be Egyptian cotton, is navy blue with a white trim border and some type of crest embroidered in the middle of the duvet cover, the pillows, and the shams.
He has a flat screen TV that is housed on an artist's easel, complete with a small ledge for the remote controls and a bottom shelf for the DVD player and Tivo. It is on wheels, so he can relocate it between the bed and the recliner. There is a wooden valet stand near his closet door, where a suit is hanging. It occurs to me that I've never seen him dressed in a suit, but I know he would be positively irresistible in one. I make myself a promise to see him dressed in one, even though the very sight of him dressed like that will make me want him to be undressed, STAT. One can hardly blame me—the only thing more beautiful than Edward in clothes, any clothes, is Edward without clothes. It's just a simple law of nature.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I make a mad dash for his bed, and fling myself onto it. I come down with a thud!
What the fuck?
"I see you discovered my Tempur-Pedic mattress!" He says, laughing at me.
"What in God's name is a Tempur-Pedic mattress? And why would you sleep on something so hard?"
"It is a memory foam mattress. As you lie on it, your body heat softens the mattress, and it conforms to your shape. They developed it for the astronauts to use in space. It's incredibly comfortable, but not for jumping on."
As I lie back, I see at once what he means. The bed starts to absorb me, in a most freaky-cool way. It is incredibly comfortable. So much so, I don't ever want to get up. I roll over onto my stomach, lifting my upper body onto my elbows. I grab one of his pillows, which are made of the same foam as the bed. It is then that I notice the crest on his pillows is the Cullen family crest, custom embroidered onto the sheets and pillows. How cool is that?
Edward walks into his closet to pull out some clothes. He comes out fully dressed.
"Well, that's not fair."
"What?"
"You got to watch me get dressed, but all I got to see was your closet door!"
"How about I make it up to you later and let you get me undressed, instead?"
I act as though I'm calculating complex equations. "Hmm. That's really a tough one, but I guess I'll agree to the conditions."
"That's perfect. And in the meantime, let's get you off of my bed."
"Nope, I decided I'm going to stay on this bed permanently. It is too comfortable for me to leave it."
"Bella, I need you off that bed," he says darkly.
I sit up, alarmed by his tone. "Why? What did I do?"
He pinches the bridge of his nose. "It isn't a matter of something you have done. It is a matter of me, seeing you on my bed, and imagining all the sordid things I want to do to you in that bed. And believe me, I can assure you that once I get you in there, I'll make certain you never want to leave it."
The lust lacing his proclamation is evident, and goes straight to my girlie bits. As much as I want to stay, I heed his warning and scoot myself off with a big sigh. He walks over and wraps his arms around me.
"I promise I'll make it worth your while later, Bella."
I take a deep breath in, my face buried in his chest, surrounded by the incredible smell of Edward. I'm convinced that I could live the rest of my life within the confines of Edward's bedroom. He has books, a comfortable reading chair, plenty of space, and the most comfortable bed in the world. And best of all? It's Edward's room, so he'll be there with me.
"Let's head to my office. I have something in there I want to show you."
"Lead the way, tour guide."
We walk down the hallway, and into a huge suite. His office is exactly as I imagined it would be. It is covered with floor to ceiling bookshelves, which are buried in more books, media, and artwork. His desk is an architect's drafting desk, and he has this futuristic looking, webbed office chair. He has a series of inboxes, all wooden, on the sides of the drafting table. While the office looks well used, it is completely neat and orderly. I can easily imagine him sitting at the desk, running his hands through his hair while he concentrates. There is a computer workstation behind the drafting table, so all he needs to do is swivel his chair to work there. It is a huge iMac, of course, and puts my little Macbook to shame. The screen is nearly as large as some TVs I've seen.
There is a reading corner in his office, too, just like in his bedroom. A huge, comfortable leather chair sits there, with a coffee table and side table. A pedestal lamp hangs over the wooden chair. There is a huge carpet runner that travels the length of his office, which is a series of old French print advertising, like Taittanger champagne and Orangina. It is an amazing workspace.
As I'm absorbing the room and its contents, Edward is rifling around in one of the inboxes. He grabs something that is bound with a simple pale blue cover.
"Aha! Found it."
"Found what?"
"The first draft of my next movie."
"Oh my God, seriously? Can I ask you what it will be?"
"We're doing a remake of Jane Austen's Persuasion."
My mouth falls open. "You've got to be shitting me."
"Absolutely not. You know Masen specializes in period pieces, and we've been meaning to do an Austen for some time now. It seems like whenever we get a good idea, someone ends up remaking the movie before we do. I happen to really love this book, because it is so clear that Anne and Captain Wentworth are destined for one another, but they both have to work so hard to persuade the other one to fall in love with them again. It is very subtle and nuanced."
"I absolutely love the book. It's always been one of my secret favorites."
"Why secret?"
"Well, because it isn't nearly as popular as Pride and Prejduice or Sense and Sensibility. Perhaps because it is so understated, it gets overlooked. If ever I were to be reincarnated as a Jane Austen novel, I would be Persuasion. Most definitely."
"Well, I've never heard of a case of a human reincarnated as an inanimate object, so I'll take your word for it. At any rate, I'm not at all happy with this draft, and I was wondering if you would mind taking a look at it for me. I sense that you will be able to craft it into something I can really use. That's always been a struggle for me, finding someone who can give me a script that meets my needs as a director."
"Seriously? You trust me with reworking your script? I mean, Edward, that is just…huge. I don't have any writing qualifications. I've never been to college."
"Bella, you have more sense in five brain cells than many people have in their entire heads. Of course I trust you with it! I'm not the kind of person who says or does things without thinking them through beforehand. You should know me well enough by now to know that my trust is hard to win; I'm not prone to flattery."
"True, very true. I guess I'm still a little shocked that I was able to win your trust at all. That does mean a lot to me. I'm honored that you feel I'm worthy of your trust. Especially after everything we've been through with Renee." The word Renee hangs heavily from my tongue. It's just like swallowing a bitter pill.
"I t is so clear that that woman has had no influence over your life. You are very much your father's daughter, and I have seen you are a person with complete moral integrity."
"I would be honored to read through the script, Edward," I say, quietly.
"I have to do some other Masen-related work. Do you mind sitting in here to work with me?"
"I've been eyeing that leather chair every since I walked into your office. It just screams out 'come read on me!'"
"Well then, you'd better satisfy its whims, right?"
"I will need a pencil and a red pen, please."
He leans over his desk and grabs the pen and pencil.
"Here you are, my lady," he replies, giving me a mock bow.
I curtsy back to him, giggling. "Thank you, kind sir. I am most appreciative."
I pull out my iPod and pop in my ear buds. I can't work without music. Since I'm going to be reading, however, I have to select an instrumental piece. Lyrics interfere too much when I'm concentrating on words. I choose Bach's Goldberg Variations by Glenn Gould. Gould is almost mathematical in his precision, and it is excellent music to think by.
I sit down in the chair, tucking my feet underneath me. I have a habit of clicking my pen absentmindedly while I read; I used to get yelled at by the Forks librarian all the time for being too loud. Of course, with the music on, I cannot hear anything else. I shift my position frequently to get comfortable. It's almost as if I a have a series of positions, like in yoga: Feet underneath me, to the right; feet underneath me, to the left; cross-legged; one foot underneath me, with the other one bent up at the knee; my back leaning against one arm with my legs dangling over the other arm.
Edward is correct; this script isn't very well done. They have failed to capture the magical essence between Anne and Captain Wentworth. I find myself absorbed in the world of Anne Elliot, making mad scribbles and edits all over the document. I'm so engrossed with the reading and the music, I fail to take notice of anything else. I keep going until I need a bathroom break. Actually, I keep going longer than that, because I find it extremely annoying to have to stop what I'm doing just to trod over to the bathroom. I keep reading, as the pain in my bladder keeps building. Finally, I can't hold it any longer, so I pop out one of my ear buds. I look up at Edward, and find his eyes locked with mine. He is leaning back in his chair, legs propped up on his desk, hands in praying position underneath his chin, with his eyes straight on me. Despite the immediate need to pee my face off, his gaze zaps me like a bolt of lightening. It is absolutely that intense and smoldering. I catch my breath.
"Uh, I really need to pee—where is the nearest bathroom?"
"I believe you may recall a shower you once took at my house, Ms. Swan? Those are the nearest facilities."
I feel my face flush with the memory of what occurred in that very same bathroom.
"Okay, then, I'll be right back."
I walk down the hallway, my heart pounding.
Fuck, I cannot do this for another minute. I cannot wait. How can I possibly wait with those eyes looking at me like that?
I get to my business, trying to control my breathing in the interim.
You've waited 21 years to lose your virginity, Bella Swan. You can wait a few more hours. Even if Edward Cullen is looking at you like you are a tasty dinner.
I make my way back to the office. Edward is talking on his phone, so I try to be very quiet. His back is away from the doorway, and he is working on his Mac while talking on the phone. One thing I've noticed about Edward that I absolutely love is that he never uses those stupid Bluetooth devices for his phone. I got so sick of those in the café, because you would think someone was talking to you, or placing an order, when they were really just talking into their headset. It was so annoying. Plus, like I want to hear their phone conversation? I just assumed since he is a big Hollywood director, he would like on one of those stupid things, but thank God he doesn't.
I get back in my chair, pop in the ear buds, and settle down to work. I'm making tons of edits, trying to get this thing whipped into shape. After shifting through all my Bella-Swan-chair-yoga positions, I move to the floor in front of the chair. I lay down on my back, in front of the chair, and set my legs on the seat.
The first thing I notice is that my ear hurts. WTF? Oh dear Lord, I fell asleep. I turned over on my side, which is why my ear hurts—the ear bud isn't a comfortable pillow. I'm lying on my hands, and I've drooled all over myself. I also rolled over on top of the script.
I wonder why Edward didn't wake me up…
I sit up quickly, wiping the drool off with my hand. I look around, and Edward is nowhere to be seen. I pull out my ear buds and stand up. I hear the piano off in the distance; Edward must be practicing. In my bare feet, I walk quietly over to his piano studio, just off of the living room. The piano is positioned so that Edward's back is towards the doorway, so he can't see my approach. He's playing Bach. From memory. There is no sheet music at all on his piano. I watch him playing, discovering another side of him. His hands move so smoothly over the keys, quick yet precise. The muscles of his forearms contract and expand with the movement of his fingers, and it is a portrait in elegance. Those impossibly long fingers kill me. I'm instantly jealous of the keyboard. I so want that to be me. I need that to be me.
I want to be played by Edward Cullen.
I must have made some kind of noise, because Edward stops playing and quickly turns to face me.
"You startled me—I'm not used to having anyone else in the house."
"I'm sorry I interrupted you. I heard the piano and wanted to hear it up close."
"Well, you fell asleep in the office, and I didn't want to disturb you, so I thought I would come practice. It's a good tension reliever for me."
"Oh? You're tense? What's the matter?"
"You know very well that I'm tense…I couldn't concentrate for one minute with you in my office! Every time you shifted your body, I was reminded of your presence. It was agonizing, because all I wanted to do was come attack you, right there on the chair."
"You know I wouldn't have complained."
"That's not the point. We should both be able to work in each other's presence, you know? But I swear, even the smell of you is a distraction."
"I smell? Why didn't you say something?"
"I mean, your scent. Its aroma is intoxicating. And then you keep shifting positions in that chair, and all I could think of was being underneath you, doing all kinds of nasty things to you. It made me incredibly tense."
"Edward, why are you fighting this so hard? Let's give in to all this lust bubbling just underneath the surface. We're adults, we're attracted to each other; why hold back?"
"Because, like I said earlier, I have plans for you."
"Well, speed those plans up a bit."
Edward checks his watch, then smiles. "It just so happens that the plans are set to start any minute. Come with me."
He grabs my hand, and we walk towards the kitchen. My stomach growls loudly.
"I thought you might be getting hungry. We're waiting for dinner to arrive."
He opens the refrigerator and removes a bottle of champagne. He places it, and two champagne flutes, in front of me. I watch as he removes the foil wrapper and unscrews the metal clasp that secures the cork to the bottle. Wrapping a towel over the top of the bottle, he works the cork out and I hear the telltale pop! of a champagne bottle being opened. He pours it into the two flutes and hands one to me. He lifts his to make a toast.
"To the most important task of deflowering Bella Swan."
I giggle at that. "That has to be the strangest champagne toast ever," I respond, clinking my glass to his.
As I sip the champagne, I taste the dry, smooth bubbles, letting it coat my mouth. I've only had champagne a few times in my life, but never any that tastes this good. I close my eyes to savor it on my tongue. I pass the glass in front of my nose, taking in its luxurious scent.
"This is incredible. I've never tasted anything this good before."
"In my line of work, one drinks a lot of champagne. While most industry types drink Moët et Chandon, or Cristal, I prefer Veuve Clicquot. I always have a bottle chilling, because you never know when you might need it."
I hear the doorbell chime, and Edward excuses himself for a minute. He returns with a picnic basket.
"What is that for?"
"Really, Bella, I hardly think this needs an introduction—it is a picnic basket."
"I know what it is, I just don't know why it is."
"I'm treating you to a picnic dinner. Indoors. Since we are trapped here indefinitely."
"I've never been on a picnic before, inside or out. This is going to be fun!"
"Why don't you grab the champagne, and follow me."
We make our way back to Edward's room. There is a huge blanket and large pillows spread out on the floor near the fireplace. He gestures for me to sit, so I grab one of the pillows and make myself comfortable.
Edward sets down the basket, then plops himself on top of a pillow across from me. He opens the basket and starts unloading its contents. The very first thing he removes is a small grill-type appliance. I have no idea what it could be used for. Edward gets an extension cord and plugs the grill into it. He makes sure it is resting on the floor, not the blanket. He sets out plates and utensils, then pulls out wrapped plates filled with ham, sliced cheese, grapes, sliced apples, boiled new potatoes, and slices of hearty French bread.
"Edward, what kind of picnic is this? I've never seen something like that grill thing before."
"It's called raclette. It originates from the French Alps, where it is eaten by the French and the Swiss. It's similar to fondue, which the French and Swiss have fought over for centuries. Both claim it originated in their country. Raclette suffers from the same dispute. Basically, you place the meat or vegetable on top of the grill, then put some sliced cheese in the little tray underneath. You melt the cheese until it is bubbly, grill the meat or vegetable until it is warm, then pour the melted cheese on top. It goes beautifully with the champagne, and it is a very hands-on meal that we can cook together. I thought it would be fun."
"It's incredible! I can't believe how creative and romantic this all is! No one has ever treated me so well. This is perfect, Edward, just perfect." I lean over and give him a kiss.
Edward makes the kiss deeper, and I moan into his mouth. That causes him to pull back. "I want to finish eating before we get to all that, otherwise we'll never eat."
"True. It is far too easy to get sidetracked with you!"
"Come on, the grill is ready. Load up your tray and get grilling."
As the food cooks, it smells incredible. Edward is positively thrilled that I'm so excited about the picnic. It's fun to see him acting like an adolescent on his first date.
I pour the melted cheese over my food, and use a fondue fork to bring it to my mouth. The cheese is stringy, so when I bite into it, the cheese keeps stretching. Edward's is doing the same thing. The sight of the string of cheese on the side of his mouth does me in. Apparently, the same goes for him, because he has that gaga intense/focus look on his face.
"This meal is dangerously erotic, you know…" I start.
He doesn't answer; he licks the cheese off of me with his wicked good tongue. His unexpected movement makes me gasp. He pulls back with a smirk.
"You planned this, didn't you? You knew how dangerous this meal was going to be! You conniving perv!" I tell him, giggling uncontrollably.
"Of course I did, Bella. You should know by now that everything I do is planned and orchestrated. The raclette is merely a pawn in my seduction."
The way the word seduction rolls off of his tongue goes straight south to my nether regions.
If just his words make me wet, I'm in deep trouble tonight. Bring it on, Cullen, bring it on!
"So what do you have in there for dessert? Or do I even want to know?"
"Chocolate fondue," he says, with practiced ease.
My mind instantly goes to very bad, naughty places with the images of chocolate-covered Edward.
"Oh," I say, trying to mimic the same sense of ease while blazing like a bonfire on the inside. Edward merely smiles, seeing right through me.
We finish eating our raclette, talking about movies, working at Masen, our childhoods. I continue to be amazed that we can talk about absolutely nothing and still be engrossed in each other. I guess that's what makes people soul mates. They just belong together, and everything they do is natural and unforced. I marvel at how comfortable I am, sequestered with Edward in his house. It's like I've always been here, and I can envision myself here forever. I know that we've barely started dating, we haven't even had sex yet, but I recognize, deep within my soul, that this is no simple dalliance. Edward and I are connected on a level that most people never approach. It's like our souls recognized each other, and we were destined to meet at the Wonderland Café. Smirky and Snarky are merely the masks we used to hide from the public and, initially, each other. Once the masks came off, and we could see into the depths of each other, we knew. This love is one for the record books. I completely understand Romeo and Juliet now. I know why Darcy and Elizabeth had to fall in love. Once you see it from their perspectives, it all makes sense.
I clean up our dishes while Edward gets the fondue ready. It is on a small platter, surrounded by bananas, apples, grapes, pound cake, angel food cake, and homemade marshmallows. While we're waiting for it to heat up, Edward pours the last of the champagne into the flutes. Suffice it to say, the champagne has gone straight to my head.
I get on all fours and lean over Edward. I whisper in his ear, "I feel the need to tell you that I'm more than a little buzzed."
He turns his head slightly so that he can whisper back, "That was the plan all along."
I pull away from him so I can see his face.
Yep. The smirk. I should have known.
"So, your plan is to get me drunk, seduce me, then take advantage of me?" I ask, in mock outrage.
"Pretty much. And the plan appears to be working just fine so far."
"Can I warn you now that my filter is totally malfunctioning at the moment? I'm kind of feeling like saying anything that pops into my head. That's probably not such a good idea."
"I think I'd be very interested to hear what you have to tell me."
"I have an idea!!"
"Yes?"
"We're going to play strip fondue!"
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"I just made it up—strip fondue. Every time a piece of fondue falls anywhere outside your mouth, an item of clothing must be removed."
"Okay, I like the sound of that."
"You first."
Edward skewers a banana with his fondue fork and dips it in the chocolate. He brings it carefully to his lips, sticks out his oh-so-talented tongue, and closes his lips around the fork. He licks off the excess chocolate from his lips, as I watch with envy.
I wish I could be the one licking those lips.
"Edward 1, Bella 0. Your turn."
"Are you trying to psych me out? Because you should know up front, I have skillz."
"I'm sure you do. Go on."
I stab my fork into an unsuspecting piece of pound cake. I carefully dip it in the chocolate, and pull it up to my lips. I pop it into my mouth, quickly. Except that there is nothing on the end of my fork. Alarmed, I glance around to find my pound cake sitting in the chocolate.
Oh, shit. My bad.
"Hmm, it appears that you have lost your first piece of fondue. Strip, baby."
"Shoot, I'm not wearing any socks. Why didn't I wear socks today?"
Edward gives me his intense, hungry look. "I would have told you that socks don't count, anyhow."
I peel off my shirt. No need to show off my girlie bits yet.
"Your turn Mr. Smirky."
Edward laughs and goes for the angel food cake.
"Hey, that's off limits to you!"
"Why?"
"Because you are so far from being an angel it isn't funny! You are an evil tempter!"
He quickly dunks the cake and pulls it into his mouth. "Score, Edward 2, Bella 0."
"Wrong-o, Mary Lou! Look at the blanket!" I say, pointing at the chocolate.
"What? That's just a drop of chocolate! That doesn't count!"
"Hey, you dropped it, you need to take responsibility for it!"
"Bella, you are so bending the rules here—it the dunked item that counts, not the sauce!"
"Oh, quit your whining, little girl. Shirt off, please!"
"No way. I have on socks."
"Oh come on! You were just telling me that socks don't count."
"On women, socks don't count. On men, they do."
I start cracking up, because he is trying to look so innocent, and I'm not buying it in the least. I start to chant and clap at the same time, "OFF! OFF! OFF! OFF!"
Edward sighs and takes off his shirt.
"Wait, wait, you might as well take off the socks, too, since they don't count. If I have to be barefoot, so do you."
He shakes his head as he removes the socks. I hop to my feet and start doing a little victory dance, albeit it a tad prematurely.
"Bella, you need to sit down if we're going to finish the game. Your girls are bouncing all around, minimally clad, and I cannot be held responsible if I suddenly attack you. It's your fault for flaunting them for all to see."
I giggle at his words. "Flaunting for all to see? Is there someone else here I don't know about, Edward?"
He grabs my hands and pulls me back down to the blanket. I feel his lips on mine, and they practically scorch me. He pulls away abruptly.
"It's your turn, Ms Swan."
"You know, I've always been very partial to bananas," I recite, as I poke my fork into a chunk of banana. "I especially like the long, thick ones best. When they are just past green, so they're still really nice and firm. I love to sink my teeth into them. Mmmm, just the thought of a nice, firm banana in my mouth is so delicious." I pop the banana into my mouth without incident.
Edward's face is laden with lust. He's practically drooling. Truth be told, that's what I intended.
"Your turn, Edward," I say cheerily.
"You're playing with fire, you know," he growls. Then, his face lightens a bit. "How about we add a new level to the game?"
I eye him suspiciously. "Like what?"
"How about we feed it to each other?"
"Ooh, that sounds kind of fun! So, you feed me first?"
"Precisely," he says in a low voice. Suddenly, I realize I've walked straight into Edward's trap.
"Okay, I'm ready," I say, holding my mouth open.
I watch as Edward twirls the cake in the chocolate, and brings it slowly up to my waiting mouth. It happens to fall in my lap.
"Oh, isn't that a shame?" he smirks. "Now you'll have to take off your pants. I'm so sorry, Bella." He says, disingenuously.
I stand up, intending to pay him back for his cheating antics. I unbutton the button as slowly as possibly, following with the slowest unzipping of a fly ever. I turn around, sticking my butt out a bit, and wiggle my hips as I slink out of my jeans. S-L-O-W-L-Y.
I can hear him making little frustrated mutterings in the background, and periodically groaning.
Things like…goddamnedcocktease…hotassinmyface…SweetJesusthosepanties…I step carefully out of my jeans and toss them aside.
Edward's gaze is stuck on my crotch as I sit down. I snap my fingers in front of his face.
"Hey! Edward! I'm up here!" I giggle.
"Holy fuck, Bella Swan, I need you. Screw the game."
"Umm, no, Edward, I'm going to screw you. After we're done with the game."
Another groan.
"Uh-huh, no complaining. You modified the rules, after all. Now, I need to see if this still tastes all right before I give some to you."
I swirl my finger in the fondue and lick it seductively off of my finger.
Another groan.
"You're trying to kill me, aren't you? You know, we'll never get to the main event if I die first."
"You're pathetic! In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, 'You aren't dying, you just can't think of anything better to do.'"
"Oh, believe me, I can think of something better to do. It involves my cock buried deep in your pussy, repeatedly, until you scream out my name when you cum."
Another groan. This one comes from me.
"Would it offend you if I told you that you just made me gush? Jesus, I want you so bad."
"Then you better get on with this game, girlio."
I go straight for the cake, because it is the most likely thing to fall off the fork. In fact, I don't even aim for Edward's mouth, I flick it off the fork, and it lands precariously on top of his junk.
Bullseye!
He reaches down to grab it, but I catch his wrists first. "No, let me."
I lean over his crotch, and lick the cake off. As I'm there, I notice that his cock closely resembles carved marble in more ways than one. It is certainly just as hard and solid as carved marble. I murmur mmmm as my tongue runs over his jeans.
"Since I'm already down here, I might as well give you a hand taking off your pants," I say as seductively as I can, unzipping his fly. He lifts his hips for me so I can slide them off.
"Edward, I think I just found something else I want to dip in chocolate fondue."
"Fuck, Bella!"
"Not quite yet…"
"I think I need to take off your bra, so we're even. Not having bras puts men at a distinct disadvantage in strip anything."
By now, I'm so soaking wet and aching for Edward, I'm ready to go to town. I turn around, so he can more easily unhook my bra, and pull my hair over one shoulder. I feel his hands on my skin, and he skims around to the front of my, taking both my breasts in his hands. I feel his breath on my other shoulder, followed by his lips. I reach over and scoop up some chocolate on my finger. I turn towards him, and coat my nipples with it. His mouth is on my breast instantaneously; he is literally consuming me. I'm moaning loudly.
In my buzzed state, all my sensations are jumbled together. I'm flying, so happy, so warm, breathing quickly. I feel mouth and lips and tongue and fingers everywhere. I'm wet, so wet, so horny, so needy, so empty without him inside me. He lies me down on the blanket, practically ripping off my underwear. I hear him mumble something about gorgeous pussy, sopping wet pussy, mine, need to taste, so fucking good. His graceful finger enters me at the same moment his teeth nibble at my clit, and I scream. His mouth is so talented, I can't differentiate between lips, tongue, or fingers. For the first time in my life, I let go and simply feel the sensation of pleasure that Edward brings to me. He gives me this gift, willingly, and I accept. I open my eyes, so I can see him anchored to my cunt, and the sight does me in. He is wearing a mask of ecstasy, adoration, and lust. The look is all it takes—I cum hard, with his mouth on me.
Fuck! Edward! Oh my God, yes! Yes!
He moves his tongue over my sensitive slit, cleaning up after the flood. I have my fingers woven into his beautiful hair, just watching his beautiful face.
When he is finished, he moves up to kiss me. I can taste myself on his lips, and it is such an intimate moment to have our mouths joined, tasting our love for each other.
"Bella, if you're ready, now would be a good time for us to try. You're wet, and excited, and it will make things less painful for you."
"Edward, I thought you'd never ask. Of course I'm ready. Take me, please. I need to feel you inside me. I'm aching for it. I want your gorgeous cock. Please."
He slips off his boxer briefs, then places a floor pillow under my ass.
"This position will make it less painful for you, I think. I'll do whatever I can not to hurt you, but you need to tell me when to stop if it gets to be too much."
"Of course, Edward. I need to do this. Every woman goes through it. It isn't a big deal. Really, just take me. Please."
He gives me another deep kiss and situates himself between my legs. I can feel his hard cock against my thigh, and it causes me to groan. He pulls my knees up towards my shoulders and rubs his cock through my wetness.
"Here goes, baby. Hang on tight, it's gonna be a bumpy ride…"
I feel the head of his penis enter my pussy, causing me to gasp.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Just give me a minute."
I allow myself to adjust to the burning sensation between my legs. After a few seconds, the burn starts to decrease, and I give Edward the go-ahead. He starts inching into me, slowly, so carefully, trying to minimize my pain. He is so sweet and gentle with me, and it makes me feel so grateful to have such a wonderful lover be my first. He is so considerate, focusing completely on my feelings and sensations, never once focusing on his own needs.
I look at him in the eye. "Is this okay for you, Edward? Am I making you go too slowly? I want you to be surrounded by this pleasure, too."
"Oh Bella, you have no idea how fucking incredible your pussy is. I want to be buried in you forever. So tight. So wet. Like you were made to fit my cock. Fucking perfect. Are you okay if I start to speed up?"
"Fuck yes! Please, I'm ready."
He plunges deep within me, until the base of his cock is flush with my entrance.
"I'm all the way in, Bella."
"I know, I can feel you. I want more."
He slowly pulls out from me, but I need him back. I look down and see his cock inside of me, and it is the most erotic, striking thing I've ever seen in my life.
"Oh my God, that is the most incredible sight in the world—your cock moving in and out of me. It's beautiful, Edward."
"It's amazing, isn't it? Your pussy just takes me in, wraps me in its walls, begs me to stay forever. Jesus, Bella, you feel so right. It's never been this good for me. I don't know how much longer I can hang on, you're too good."
I reach down to my clit, because I want us to get off together. This is my first time, it is such a magical moment, and I want to be there with him. The minute my finger touches my clit, it magnifies the intensity of Edward's cock within me. It is a feeling that is all together different from just clitoral stimulation alone. There is the build up I'm used to, but something extra on top of that sensation. It's almost like I'm stimulating two clits at once; the external one that I'm working on, and an internal one that Edward's cock keeps nudging.
In the back of my mind, I hear Edward chanting to me:
fuckinghotpussy…needtocumwithyou…sotightsowet…wantotbehereforever…jesusfuckingchristI'mgonnacumsohard…
His words push me over the cliff. I'm freefalling, suspended in air, with Edward thrusting into me as hard as he can again and again. For a split second, I don't breathe. Time stands still. There is nothing but Edward inside of me, and me covering Edward. We're a fucking circle, eternally joined, yin and yang, me and him, together. And, just as suddenly, the spark releases. My breathing picks up, I scream Edward name, I paw at his ass, pushing him as deep as I can. Our orgasms pulse together, and we come down together, with him still inside me. Although there is still a burning sensation, the ecstasy of the moment makes me forget my own name. Who cares about a slight burn when Edward Cullen's disco stick is inside of me?
As we catch our breath, Edward plants kisses all along my face, my lips, whispers beautiful things in my ears. The moment is perfect.
"Edward?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"I should be thanking you, Bella. That was the most intense sexual experience I've ever had. Everything else pales in comparison."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
I smile to myself. "How soon until we can try again?"
"Are you sure you feel up to it? Most women need to take a breather after losing their virginity."
"Since when have I ever been a normal woman, Edward Cullen?"
"It would disappoint me greatly if you were."
"Okay, then, I want you to take me from behind, with me on top, with me pinned against the wall, in the shower…"
Edward's hearty laughter interrupts my monologue. "Good God, I've created a monster!"
This time, I give him a smirk. "You have no idea what you have unleashed, you beautiful, perfect man!"
"Then it is time for me to get that hot little ass of yours into my bed, so we can get going on the next round."
He stands up, grabbing my hands. Once I am upright, he tosses me over his shoulder and walks towards the bed.
He lays me down gently on the bed, then goes back to gather the pillows from the floor. He stacks them on the bed next to me. I see exactly where he's going with this; he has mentioned taking me from behind so many times, that has to be what he craves next. I don't even wait for direction; I situate myself over the pillows with my ass up in the air.
"That's so perfect, you know just what I need, baby. You really are custom made for me, aren't you?"
"No, we were custom made for each other. This position isn't your fantasy alone, Edward. I want it, too."
"Fuuuck! You're just impossibly good."
His hands are rubbing my ass, appreciating its round curves, when all of a sudden he surprises me with a little spank! I gasp in reaction.
"Is that okay? I just couldn't resist."
"I just didn't expect it, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good." I wave my ass at him, taunting him to do it again. Smack!
I groan and feel his hand wrapping around my hair. He pulls my head back far enough so he can whisper in my ear.
"Are you ready to be mounted?"
"Fuck yes!"
Once again, he is so gentle when he first enters me, knowing my delicate skin is still sore. Fortunately for me, copious amounts of wetness and Edward go hand in hand, so I'm more than ready for him. He slides into me effortlessly, and I feel the unique satisfaction in being filled by his glorious cock. This time, however, is better than the first. Feeling his body envelope mine from behind is a genuine thrill. As he glides back and forth, in and out, his body connecting with mine momentarily before separating again, he achieves a greater depth than from our earlier position. How could sex possibly feel better than it did the first time? I have no answers for that, I just accept that it is. In the end, who cares? What matters is the pleasure we are able to bring one another.
Edward's hands rest on my hips, using them to add to leverage to his thrusts, thus heightening the experience for both of us. Our mutual grunts signal our complete satisfaction. Every time his thighs meet my ass with a slap!, I picture what his cock must look like entering me effortlessly. He starts talking to me again, so I know he must be close. I reach down to my clit so that we can cum together.
Goddamnhotlittleass….sofuckingtight…jesustouchyourselfgonnamakemecum…
Justwantofuckyouforever…
"I'm so close Bella, cum with me baby."
His words are all it takes to push me over the edge. I clench around him, and he is lost. The feeling of having on orgasm while he's inside me is so much more intense than clitoral stimulation alone. It makes me wonder, briefly, how I ever lasted all those years being satisfied with my own hand alone.
Edward collapses on top of me, wrapping his arms underneath mine and pulls himself in close to me. He is panting in my ear, and it is music to me. I'm completely unprepared for what comes next.
"I love you, Bella Swan. I think I always have, from the moment I first saw you."
"I love you too, Edward. Thank you for making me so happy. So blissfully, perfectly happy."
As his penis slips out from me, I feel its loss at once. I turn around, shove the pillows aside, and bury myself in his chest. He closes his arms around me, and I feel so secure and loved. I've never been more certain that I belonged somewhere than I do when I'm surrounded by Edward.
He turns to give me a sweet, prolonged kiss, and I drink in the taste of him. Our legs wrap around each other in an attempt to get as close to one another as is humanly possible. Edward pulls the covers over us and we doze off.
I awaken later, during the night, and feel Edward's erection jutting into my back. He embraces me tightly, cupping my breast, then pinching my nipple. His kisses tickle my neck, and I involuntarily arch my back into him. He lifts my leg slightly and slides into me again, filling my emptiness. We move together slowly, deliberately, unhurried in our climb towards release. He whispers in my ear as he moves in me.
"Bella, I will never tire of being in you, of taking you, of making you mine every time. I love what your body does to my cock, closing around me like a sleeve. You feel so good, baby. Jesus, I just can't get enough of you."
My body explodes around him, and he thrusts into me to find his own release. We stay in our spoon, and drift off to sleep again.
The next time I awaken, I feel Edward's hands all over my body, stroking me into awareness. Just gentle caresses all over, as if he is trying to memorize every curve of my figure. I sigh happily and turn to face him, opening my eyes to see his beautiful face staring at mine.
"I need to tell you something, Bella, and it's very important. I know how hot and bothered it makes you to hear a good quote, so I'm borrowing a line from another famous Edward with whom you are probably acquainted, Mr. Ferrars of Sense and Sensibility, 'My heart is, and always shall be, yours.'"
His words are so sweet and sincere, I cannot keep from breaking down, just as Elinor Dashwood did when Edward Ferrars said those words to her. The tears stream from my eyes, and before I know it, I'm actually sobbing. The kind of crying where it's hard to breathe, you're crying so hard. His hands instantly go to my face, cupping it gently. He waits patiently for the tears to resolve, then delivers the most luscious kiss, intended to wipe all the tears away. It works. I instantly feel calmer.
"When I first told you I wanted you, I didn't say it correctly, Bella," he explains.
I interrupt, "Oh, God, Edward, please don't remind me of all the horrible things I said to you that day. I don't think I will ever forgive myself for being such a shrew!"
"You didn't tell me one thing that was untrue. I deserved to be chastised in such a way. Please, let's both remember what was said on that day forever, because it was our gross misunderstandings that brought us together in the end. I can never be upset or disappointed in anything that led me to you. However, I did mean what I said about coming back to LA with me; now that you're here, in my home, infusing my entire life with a happiness I never thought to achieve, I cannot imagine your ever leaving again. Will you please consider staying here, with me? Could you ever do that?"
The tears start to flow anew. "I never thought I would hear you say that again. Of course I will stay! I couldn't possibly force myself apart from you again. I have no idea how to break the news to my dad, or Alice, but I won't be going back to Forks."
The sounds of Jefferson Airplanes' Go Ask Alice interrupt us. My ringtone for Alice, of course. My hands are shaking so much from emotion that I can barely open my phone.
"Oh, Alice, I have so much to tell you! You're never going to believe what happened…"
"Bella, I need to stop you right there, because you have to know what's going on. I'm closing the Wonderland Café, and I'm moving to LA to live with Jasper."
END NOTE: Quote from Sense and Sensibility inspired by ManiacalMuse. A special thank you to kellyjaxn for Bella's t-shirt idea.
There is one more chapter left, and then the epilogue. James and Renee must face the consequences for their 15 minutes of fame.