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Citrus Alert!
Chapter 24
Renovations
Early Summer - 1935
Edward
I wanted to be the one to go with Bella into town, rather than Seth. I know Seth will take care of her, but that is my job. I want to protect her and always be there to help with any of the Plantation's needs. Maybe I'm selfish to want to do all things with her and for her, but this kind of selfishness, I will never change.
After they leave, I check on the workers and all is fine. There's not a lot for me to do right before lunch, so I head back into the house, meeting Jasper, my father, Detective Uley and Officer Call in the office. Jasper removed the window to create a door, and they're in the process of removing the file cabinets and desk. Jasper has various tools slipped between his belt and jeans and is hard at work.
I chuckle at him and he looks up. "What, haven't you ever seen a construction worker before?" He grins at me.
"In all honesty, no, I never have. I'm laughing because once again you amaze me with your knowledge of so many different things," I laugh at him. "You're a regular Jack of all trades."
With a gleam in his eyes, he replies, "Do not compare me to The Bard of Avon—William Shakespeare, I am not."
I look at him confused. "What does The Bard have to do with Jack of all Trades?"
"The phrase was first used to describe him. It was written by a playwright and critic, a man named Robert Greene in 1592 in a booklet entitled, Greene's Groats-Worth of Wit. He dismissively refers to William Shakespeare with the term and it was the first published mention of him." Jasper once again pulls out little bits of trivia to astound me.
"You see, right there is what I'm talking about! You have knowledge of history, quotes, construction, buying and selling artifacts and art, and so much more. You are a regular Jack of all Trades," I list his qualifications, while laughing.
"But, I am a master of none," he returns and winks at me.
Everyone is snickering, until Detective Uley gets us back on track by pulling out the drawers of the desk and passing them out to Officer Call. As he pulls out the final drawer, he mutters to himself, "It's too bad we can't figure out a way to use this room, sort of the scene of the crime, to trap Jacob Black into confessing."
Officer Call encourages him to continue. "How do mean? What would you do?"
"I don't know, somehow we get him in here and we'd be close by, outside the window, wherever, then once he's talked, we arrest him," Detective Uley verbally works through his thoughts.
The room is quiet as we all look around the room and the door/window area.
"The window wouldn't be wise. If he were to look out, you'd be spotted instantly. It would have to be behind a wall or door," I muse.
"Or a false wall," Jasper adds to the idea.
We all turn as one to look at him. Jasper is staring at the wall opposite the door. The back side of the wall is off the side of the back porch on the western exposure of the house. The window faces the southern side.
"How would you do it?" questions my dad.
"Well, we'd need to be able to have part of the wall movable. Maybe the paneling can be on swivels. Each panel piece is four feet wide. This wall is 20' in length. The side two panels would have to be stationary for strength, and maybe the center one, as well. We could be on the other side listening, and when the time is right, push open the moveable two panels and be instantly in the room. If I were Jacob and concerned about being in the room, I would look to the window and the door. I would never think about the wall," Jasper finishes the notion.
Heads are nodding and you can see the wheels turning in everyone's mind. It might just work. Paneling wasn't on our list. My dad and I were installing wainscoting, but we could easily change it.
"Do you think it would work?" It sounds like a perfect solution to me.
Jasper walks over to the wall and uses the claw of the hammer to pull away the paneling to view what's behind it. We remove the whole burnt sheet and see the studs and the back wall. Everyone starts pulling the rest of the paneling from the wall.
After the paneling is fully removed, we all stand back and contemplate the idea.
"If we take off the wood siding on the back of the house, cut the frame up here and down here," Jasper points to the ceiling and then the floor frame boards, "to allow the movement, then add in a bar from top to bottom, for the cut out frame to turn on, then we re-panel the inside here…" he doesn't finish the thought.
We can all see it would work. It's genius! Suddenly the room is vibrating with excitement.
"Bella and Seth have already left. They'll need to go back since no one in this room can be seen in town." I'm frustrated again.
So engrossed in our conversation and Jasper's plan, we don't hear Alice come in. She is beside Jasper with her arms around his waist and a smile on her features. "You're a genius." It's as if she read my mind.
Jasper beams with pride and we all smile. No one here is going to argue.
"Emmett's already on his way in from the fields. I asked Rosalie to fetch him," she smiles at us.
Detective Uley and Officer Call raise their brows and Carlisle shakes his head, in essence saying "Don't ask."
Emmett walks in right then. "So I hear there's a change of plan. What do I need to pick up?" Acting like it's a done deal and I guess it is.
Jasper writes down what he wants and my dad gives Emmett money to cover the cost. The rest of us finish moving out the desk and the paneling.
Just as he's ready to leave, Alice stops him. "Oh, and Emmett, meet up the Bella and Seth at the Feed Store."
Emmett stares at her for a moment, nods and heads out.
I quirk my brow at her and she smiles back. "It's fine, really Edward, I'm just covering all the bases."
Somehow, I know it has to do with Bella and she's keeping her safe. Once again I'm irritated. I can't wait until I can be there for her. With that thought in mind, I leave the office with Jasper and my dad. We walk through the house and out the back door to the outside wall of the office.
It takes time to remove the siding off the frame of the house without damaging it. Why damage it and have the additional cost? The business man in me comes through, and Bella would be horrified by any additional expenses. We store the siding in the Carriage House, not wanting the ongoing construction to be immediately evident to anyone due to lumber stacked by the house.
Alice calls everyone in for lunch and, as we're washing up, I hear the rumblings of trucks coming from the front. I move to the side of the house as Emmett's and the plantation truck pull up next to me. Relief washes through me knowing Bella is safe and sound. I didn't realize how tense I had become after Alice had asked Emmett to find them. Seeing her now, as she hops out of the truck with a smile on her face, brings a sweet joy to my heart.
I walk over to her and pull her warm little body to me. Her hands wrap around my neck, bringing my head down to hers. I kiss her soft, inviting lips. After a brief moment of heaven, I smile at her. "I missed you."
"I wasn't gone very long, but I missed you, too," she sighs, smiling.
"The point is, you were gone. I didn't like it," I admit.
"Well then, maybe I should make it up to you. We never really celebrated your birthday. How about we take a walk to one of the springs for a little picnic? Just you and me," she suggests with a wicked grin.
"Really? You can take some time away? There's so much to do. But, I would really like some alone time with you. I always want time alone with you," I answer honestly. I can never get enough time with her.
"Yeah, let's get the trucks unloaded and then run away for a bit," she winks mischievously.
"Done!" I agree with a big grin.
She laughs as she pulls away from me. We head over to the trucks and I start helping with the unloading of the lumber, stacking it behind the house. No reason to bring it through the house since we've already created a door in the window and soon, through the wall.
It's still surprises me to see Tanya unloading heavy sacks of feed and carrying them over to the barn with Seth following along, two sacks carried on his broad shoulders. Never in my lifetime did I ever expect to witness the Tanya I knew then and the one who is here now. Not that it would have changed my feelings for her. I never had real affection for her, but I'm actually starting to like this new person she has become. I can only hope she remains, because I genuinely like Seth and I think he deserves the best. I honestly think they would do well together.
With everyone helping, including the investigators, the unloading only takes about ten minutes. Like the well-oiled machine the people of this family are, no one got in anyone's way and everything's deposited where it needs to be. I watch Bella retrieve a sack from inside the cab of the truck and, as she shuts the door, she tilts her head towards the west, reaching out her hand to me. Grinning widely, I don't need a second invitation as I walk to her, taking her hand in one of mine and relieving her of the sack with the other.
It's a beautiful day, warm with a gentle breeze caressing us as Bella and I walk through the rows of first leaf cotton. We don't feel the need to talk on our walk; we just enjoy the peace and quiet—and the view. It feels as if you can see for miles, row upon row of new growth, and I can't help but feel proud I've contributed to the growing of this crop.
After walking for twenty minutes or so, Bella guides us through a small grove of ancient oak trees with Spanish moss hanging from their limbs like large curtains surrounding the trees. We stop walking, and I can see hidden behind the curtains, with the sun shining brightly above, a small meadow filled with colorful wild flowers, a natural hot spring misting to the side, with a few large flat rocks staggered around it. Oak trees stand guard all around, creating a private haven that is both primal and enchanting.
Bella looks up at me with a soft smile on her face as I take in the sight around me. "You like?"
I look into her beautiful, mesmerizing eyes and speak softly, not wanting to disturb the quiet tranquility of our surroundings. "I like, very much. But I love you more." I drop the sack and pull her into my arms to kiss her with my complete devotion. Her warm, soft, delicious mouth entices me to slide my tongue over her bottom lip and then bite down lightly, while she favors my top lip with the same. Her hands move up my arms and her fingers weave into my hair, twisting it, and then moving to massage my neck. It feels so good, sending waves of delight up and down my body.
We continue teasing each other until we both need to breathe. Leaning my forehead to hers, I Inhale deeply, breathing in the sweet fragrance of flowers, the musky aroma of soil and earthy smell of the trees. Combined, they are the sweet scent of my Bella.
When I open up my eyes, they are greeted by the sight of soft hooded ones, gazing up at me with a lazy smile on her lips. She looks so sensual right now and knowing I made her look that way is very pleasing.
"You want to swim?" she asks in a husky voice.
I chuckle, because it was a question I was not expecting. "We don't have swimsuits," I remind her.
"We're alone, surrounded by trees for cover, and the water is very warm. I've never been skinny dipping before, but I think I'd like to, with you." She has a wicked glint in her eyes.
I've never been swimming in the nude, let alone bathed with a woman, but suddenly this is an experience I need to explore. "Really? In broad daylight? Swimming in the nude, you and me, alone…" I ramble on, lost in a long ago little fantasy I had with a faceless girl. Only now, she's Bella.
She slowly lowers her hands down my shoulders, down my arms to my hands, squeezing them briefly. Then she moves them to the lowest button of her blouse and starts unbuttoning it, moving up to the next and so on until there's only one left. The breeze is fluttering her blouse, teasing me with glimpses of skin hiding underneath. Her hooded eyes, rimmed by thick dark lashes, gaze up at me as she releases the final button revealing the white bra covering her full breasts and the soft, creamy skin of her waistline. Shrugging her shoulders free of the blouse, it drifts down her arms and onto the soft ground. Her hands then travel to the buttons on her jeans.
She pauses for a moment, and I look up into her eyes as she challenges, "Are you in or are you out?"
I don't know if she meant it to be, but the question is laced with innuendo in my mind. I most definitely plan to be in.
I sit down on the ground and start pulling off my boots and socks. When I'm done, using my index finger, I beckon Bella closer. She moves in front of me and I grab one of her legs, pulling her boot off as she balances herself with her hands on my shoulders. I pull off her sock and move to the other leg, repeating the same maneuver. With her still standing between my legs, I reach up to the buttons of her jeans and quickly undo them, sliding them down her toned legs and she steps out them, left only in her underclothes.
Taking the hand she offers, I stand and immediately pull off my t-shirt. Her hands are busy undoing my jeans and lowering them down along with my boxer trunks over my ass. Then my cock is free, standing at attention, as she kneels down to help me step out of them. I watch her, as she watches her hands slowly moving up my calves and over my thighs until she reaches my cock. I was anticipating making love to Bella, but what she's doing right now is so fantastic, my mind has had a sudden change of direction.
She looks up at me and our eyes lock. While one warm hand encompasses my cock, she slowly starts moving it back and forth, causing me to thrust into it. It feels so good—the warmth, the friction and the blood pulsing, rushing with the tightening in my cock. With our eyes still on one another, she moves her mouth right where I want it to be, flicks her tongue on the tip and then kisses it. I close my eyes, groaning loudly, replaying the little scene in my mind a few times before I feel her wet, hot mouth surround me, her tongue caressing the sensitive underside of my cock. I try hard not to thrust into her.
I force my eyes open so I can watch her and her mouth on me, outdoors, in the warm daylight, my beautiful woman performing fellatio. It's been a long running fantasy, but I never imagined it would come true. I don't know when my hands found their way into to her silky hair, but they're there controlling her head. I relax my grip, not wanting to be an animal, but she undoes me. I now know I can lose all control with her. She surprises me again by putting one of her hands on mine and applying pressure. She wants this! God, she's an angel or a devil. I don't know which and I don't care.
My fingers run through her hair and then tighten around her head, along with the tightening of my balls. She moves a hand to my ass cheek as her mouth pulls me in further. Her tongue dances around my cock as she pulls back. Watching her, she pushes me to her in her own rhythm, then her other hand is on my other ass cheek. I groan long and loud. It feels so good, my cock surrounded by her sweet, warm mouth, the pressure of her hands, and then she moans around me, sending vibrations up my cock and through my body as she takes me in again, deeper. I'm lost. I lose all control. Hands gripping her head, I start thrusting wildly into her mouth.
"So good Bella, oh that's so good."
The vision of her on her knees, the throbbing of my cock, her vibrating moans, her mouth, her creative tongue and then her teeth graze me, all combine to push me over the edge.
"OH BELLA!" I shout as the explosion erupts through me.
When Bella pulls her mouth away, I literally collapse to my knees and wrap my arms around her, leaning on her for support, while I try to get my breathing and body under control.
A few minutes pass with Bella gently rubbing my back with one hand and massaging my neck and scalp with the other. "Are you alright?" she whispers softly with concern.
"I'm more then alright. That was one of the most incredible orgasms I've ever felt," I breathe out honestly. Then I remember my wild abandonment and I pull back so I can look her in the eyes. "Bella, are you alright, did I hurt you?" I demand softly, searching them out.
Her eyes become brighter and she blushes a pretty pink. "No, I'm fine. I was just worried, since I don't have that much experience, I may have done something you didn't like. I wanted you to guide me," she blushes more, "so I know next time what you like," shrugging her shoulders.
I smile at my beautiful girl. "Bella, what you did, here in the great outdoors, has been a fantasy of mine since I first felt the throbbing in my cock. You made the reality better than I ever imagined. Don't ever be worried about your inexperience. The things you do to me, for me..., the way you make me feel, nothing in my past compares. I regret I even have a past, but I can't change it," I sigh and look down between us.
Why did I say that? I just changed a moment of pure bliss, to one of melancholy. Why did I have to bring the past into this, and with Tanya here, of all people? Why am I a total imbecile?
She puts her hands on my face and raises it so she can look into my eyes, breaking into my thoughts. "As long as I'm your last, let the past go." She's serious. Her eyes tell me she speaks the truth.
"Oh Bella, you are my first, my present, my future and last love. The only woman I have ever wanted or needed to call my own. Only you, Bella, only you," I declare with conviction.
"You are the only one for me too, Edward, never doubt it. I've never had a crush on any of the boys I grew up with around here. But the moment my eyes met yours…, that was the moment I knew what love could feel like. I'm glad I didn't meet you when we were supposed to. I fear you would have thought me a silly little girl with a juvenile crush," she laughs lightly at herself.
I chuckle with her, glad she's restored me to a good mood. "Bella, you were the reason I wanted to come here in the first place—remember? I would never have been seen you as a 'silly little girl.' I would have been thrilled if you had a crush on me. But, you're right about our delayed meeting. This way we skipped crushes and went straight into love."
I kiss her then, showing her just how much I love her. I've never kissed a woman after fellatio. But this is Bella, and this is me, and together with the taste of me in her mouth, this is us.
When we break apart, I remember that I am sitting with my naked ass on the ground and start laughing. "Let's go for a swim."
Bella rises, quickly removes her bra and shimmies out of her underwear, running and then jumping into the spring before I can get a good look at her body. I follow quickly behind, joining her in the very warm water.
I'm surprised at how clean and clear it is. The water is almost to my chest, so it's close to five feet deep; oval shaped, about thirteen feet at its widest point, with a gravel bottom and a few outcroppings of stone to sit on.
Bella is sitting on one of the outcropping, leaning against the spring wall. The water is reflecting the sun's rays, creating a misty aureole of sparkles around Bella's wet face, hair and shoulders with her breasts peaking above the surface. She is as ethereal as a mythological water nymph—my own personal goddess.
I wade towards her. "You are so beautiful. You enchant me." When I reach her, I put my hands on the bank on each side of her head. I need to kiss her again, so I do. Her wet arms wrap around my shoulders pulling me closer and the feel of her wet, warm skin on mine is a new delicious sensation.
H~~H
Bella
It's so relaxing lying here nude next to Edward, holding hands on the flat stones by the spring, the warm sun drying our bodies. Edward made passionate love to me with his hands, mouth, and body, and I'm fully sated. I'm surprised I don't feel shy or embarrassed, considering my naked state in the light of day, without the cloak of darkness to hide my body. It feels natural, freeing and so right with Edward.
Releasing my hand, he turns onto his side, props his head on one hand, and runs his free hand over my body from breasts to belly. "You haven't had your woman's monthly flow since I've been here, have you?"
His question catches me off guard, and then I think back to the last time it occurred. I remember it was before I made my last trip to the pawn shop. I put my hand on my belly, wondering if it's possible that a life could be growing there.
We haven't taken any precautions to prevent the possibility of pregnancy, and we have made love every night, and most mornings, since that first night. Could it be true? The thought of a beautiful little one who would look like Edward makes my heart beat faster in pure delight. I smile, as I feel Edwards hand covering mine. I open my eyes to see him looking at me with love and hope in his eyes.
"No, I haven't. The last time was before my trip to Charleston. So, it's possible we may have a little one soon," I answer softly.
A wonderful smile spreads across his features, igniting my own, as he looks from my eyes to my belly, squeezing my hand lightly.
"Well then, we'll have to move up our timetable on a wedding day, won't we?" He returns his eyes to mine. "I love you Bella, so much, with all my heart and soul," he kisses me gently, "and if we have created a new life, I promise you, I will be the best father ever," he adds as he leans over and kisses my belly. My eyes mist with happy tears, feeling his warm lips gently caress the skin, hiding what could be a new life.
His eyes, too, are misty with emotion. "I don't have a ring with me, but I have one. It has been in my family for generations and I will put it on your finger, if you'll accept it. Will you accept it, Bella? Will you let me love you every minute, of every day, of every year, for always? Will you marry me, Bella?" His voice is gentle, yet strong with conviction.
"Edward, I will marry you with or without a ring. I just want and need you, only you. I love you. Yes, I'll marry you," I whisper quietly, my throat almost denying my words sound, so choked up with feelings from the elation he gives me.
He lowers his head, his lips a hair's width away from mine. "Thank you," he whispers, and kisses me with reverence, which I return tenfold.
H~~H
After a celebratory picnic lunch, for his birthday and our engagement, we worship each other one last time in our own little bower of bliss.
The noise level increases with every step we take, walking hand in hand, as we return home. Field workers are busy trenching, weeding and fertilizing the rows of cotton. A few even stop Edward with questions, and his answers are correct. I admire how he is taking charge and learning the skills necessary to run the Plantation. It's obvious he loves it here, and my heart flutters in pure joy. We can hear the voices of Esme, Rosalie, Alice and Mrs. Cope talking and laughing in the kitchen as we pass by. We want to look at the construction work going on in the office. When we arrive, I'm surprised I can see into the office through a large section of missing wall.
Jasper notices my confused look. "I take it you and Edward must have been too busy for him to explain to you what our plan is." He smiles knowingly with a wicked grin.
I blush slightly, but then raise my brows. "There are times, when some things take priority over others. Alice explained this to me, when I tried to open the library door, and found it locked the other day."
Edward wraps his arms around me from behind, snickering into my hair, while Jasper's cheeks gain a reddish hue.
"Touché! Remind me to never get into a debate with you," he laughs.
Looking again into the office, I can see all the old burned paneling has been removed from all the walls and two walls have new sheets of plywood hung. Carlisle and Detective Uley are painting over the plywood, while Officer Call is hanging plywood on the wall with the window.
"You want me to show you what we're doing and why?" Jasper has been following my eyes.
I nod, and Jasper launches into the mechanics of the revolving doors and shows me, with the finished panel, how it works. It's fascinating how easily the panel moves and how well they have matched up the seams so you can't see any light between them.
I understand the design and how it can be useful, but not the reason why. "So, what's the reason for creating this wall?"
"Well…," Jasper starts, but is interrupted.
"Bella, we need to set a trap for Jacob Black. I think if we can get him here, to the scene of the crime, if you will, then maybe a confession can be drawn out of him. We can be stationed right behind this wall, out of sight, and when the time is right, arrest him. You'd be safe at all times," Detective Uley states decisively.
"What? Wait a minute, we never discussed Bella being in the room," Edward responds anxiously, holding me tighter.
"Edward, from everything I've learned, who else do you think Jacob would come to visit?" Detective Uley sighs, foreseeing an argument.
"I don't know. I never thought very far into the plan. How about me or my dad? Maybe he'd be interested in meeting the Cullens? We're the ones he tried so hard to keep from the Swans. We've come to visit and Carlisle might want to talk to him about buying his tobacco again. Make it about business," he reasons. To me, that makes more sense than Jacob coming to see me, since I've rejected all his attentions.
Detective Uley considers Edward's words. "We need to finish this room, and then figure out how we can get him to confess during a business meeting," Detective Uley reluctantly agrees, acknowledging Edward's objections to my involvement.
Relief washes through Edward and me, as we both relax. He hugs me one more time, kisses my head and whispers in my ear, "Got to get back to work. I'll see you at supper, soon to be Mrs. Cullen."
I turn my head to look at him with a huge smile on my face. He grins back, "You like?"
"I like very much. In fact, I love it very much."