A/N I don't own the characters, just this story.

(lemon alert for this chapter)

Chapter 25 - Tupelo Honey (Van Morrison)

July passed in a mega blur of media reports, doctor visits for Charlie, Seth's T-ball games, baking with Emily, helping Esme and Edward decorate his new home (he decided moving could wait while he had renovations done to the house) as well as Rose and Emmett as they merged their homes into their adorable new house. T

he main office remodel was completed, which meant more decorating, and more rearranging as we made the other office ready for Alice and a workroom for our seamstresses, as well as setting up work spaces for the other new hires. It was a tight fit but we made it work. I was grateful to not have to expand the office (yet) or extend it into my house.

Alice and Jasper still hadn't found a house, which meant she was going crazy with the commute. It got so insane I'd even offered temporary use of my house, though I was glad they refused as I was spending the occasional night there again with Charlie's medications having kicked in, meaning he was nearly back to his old self, just a bit more forgetful, though there were still occasional nighttime hallucinations. It was truly great to sleep in my own bed and soak in my luxurious bathtub, and it was especially decadent to sit in my favorite chair and read with the lake as my backdrop - not that I had a lot of time for reading.

Mostly July was super busy with work. Not only was the investigation heating up, the fall lines were finalized and began production at our new plants around the world. The extended hours along with all the other activities life tossed my way were taking a toll on me, the most obvious being my waistline!

I hadn't been to the gym once in over three weeks and that would have to stop. I decided to start borrowing Bono to take an early-morning run to get my jeans to zip a bit easier. In my defense, it wasn't too bad but I didn't want to continue the trend and with all the stress, I really needed to run. I hadn't heard from Renee in all that time either, which was kind of a relief and yet kind of painful, but I was too busy to dwell upon it.

Another side effect was the limited time I spent alone with Edward. I mean we were together a lot, but it was for work at Eclectic or work on his home, or we were surrounded by his family or our friends and coworkers.

I felt a little like a junkie in desperate need of a sure we saw each other every day, and our chemistry still sizzled, but from afar. There had been no more accidental sleepovers, smoldering sailing trips or even the occasional motorcycle ride.

My life's pace had me feeling like a kid who had her favorite toy taken away or was grounded during summer break and it needed to end!

So after the regular business meeting was complete I dismissed everyone but the 'gang' to discuss another idea.

"Am I the only one who wonders where July went?" I asked.

A chorus of groans went around the room.

"I was wondering, would you guys want to take a week off to go camping?" Everyone started speaking at once. "Wait! I mean, sure the case is still being investigated and Edward is still working on our regular legal stuff, but the rest of the work is pretty much on track without all of us hovering about. I mean isn't that why we hired extra people? Plus it's not like we'd go super far or out of communication range. What'cha think?"

Edward smirked and spoke first, "What'd you have in mind?"

"Door County."

"Oh! I haven't been there in ages," he replied, lighting up.

"I just think we've all been so under so much pressurize; it'd be great to just slow down a bit and blow off some steam." He nodded. "I used to go to this campground up there when I was a kid, Charlie would trailer his boat and fish every morning then take me water-skiing every afternoon. His buddy Byron would bring his wife and kids, and a bunch of other firemen would come and go with their families. It was one big party for two weeks every August."

"Sounds like fun!" Emmett said. Alice looked skeptical.

"Alice, it isn't roughing-it type of camping. I mean I have an air mattress and there's a bathroom with electricity nearby so you can shower and do your hair, heck by now they've probably got wi-fi! There's a beach, nice biking paths, a harbor and all kinds of cool stuff to take in."

She still didn't look convinced but Rose looked really excited, "I got all that camping gear, I can't wait to finally use it! I'm in."

"When were you thinking we'd go?" Emmett asked.

"Actually I was thinking this weekend, we could wrap up our pressing business and leave marching orders by this Friday and take off Saturday or Sunday morning. I trust Leia to handle things while we're gone. She's a sharp cookie. I wish we could go for two weeks, but I think that's pushing it with Fashion Week looming. It would've been great to sail up there." I suddenly felt wistful, it would really be something to sail up there. On our trip to Milwaukee we'd met a couple of teachers who spent their summer break sailing around the lake with their two kids. That sounded like an insanely-cool way to spend the summer and I hadn't set foot on The Rover in three weeks! So not only was I having Edward withdrawals, I was bored with all work and zero play.

Edward quietly groaned at the mention of sailing up there, I guess he missed sailing too. The smoldering look he gave me let me know I wasn't alone in missing our time together.

Everyone started talking at once again, discussing what would have to be done before they could leave.

It turned out Alice had a meeting Monday so she and Jasper would head up Tuesday morning. Emmett had something he couldn't switch that was the following Friday so he and Rose would go up this weekend but return early.

Most of what Edward was doing could wait. The feds were still building up their case against the Volturi Family, that's what I called it in my mind, like they thought they were mafia or something with their crime ring. Who knows, maybe they are, but they're still building a case, which means we have to wait to build ours, a guilty verdict will make it easier to build a civil case on behalf of our workers. At any rate, with my design work done and Emmett and Leia carrying my business portions of the job, I was free for a while, I thought maybe he and I could extend our trip... probably not, but I mentioned the possibility to Emmett and he thought it'd be fine if we changed our plans.

We all agreed to invite Leia to come up for either weekend, and extended invites to Edward's parents as well as Charlie and Sue. I doubted Charlie would want to miss out on fishing but it was hard on him to break his schedule.

In the end, Edward's parents decided they'd love to join us but not until Wednesday. They also offered, with Esme winking at me, to hang onto the kids until they came up, to allow us time to set up camp. Have I mentioned how much I love Esme and Carlisle? The kids weren't happy until Esme mentioned that she had planned to take them to the County Fair this weekend, and that soothed them more than a little. I told Emily to eat a funnel cake for me. She giggled at that.

Charlie and Sue opted to follow Esme and Carlisle up, which suited me just fine. Depending upon how Charlie fared, Sue planned to stay through the weekend. If he didn't do so well, we'd send him back with Emmett and Rose. His meds worked well enough that I knew he'd be okay on his own for a night or two, though he'd be on strict orders to stay away from the stove. The medicine really helped a lot, which in turn helped me a whole lot, as did Sue.

I was glad Leia and Jake decided to join us. It'd be great for Sue to to have her there with her, but honestly they're two cool chicks and I looked forward to spending time with them away from every-day responsibilities. I told Sue to extend the invite to Paul and his girlfriend, if he had one. Sue winced, apparently she's not fond of his taste in women but she said she'd pass along our invitation.

Edward and I got away for a bit Wednesday night, for a much-needed date and that's when I learned I'd missed his birthday!

"Wait! WHAT? How did I miss your birthday, we're together almost every day? When was it?" I demanded.

"It's June 20," he said with a shrug.

"But we were together the day before fishing on Father's Day! Why didn't you tell me?" I was getting pissed.

"I hate birthdays, my family knows not to make a big deal about it."

"I get that, but I would have liked to acknowledge it!" I said in a huff. He had the nerve to smirk at me, which made me even more annoyed with him. "It didn't have to be a huge deal, but I would've liked to be included." I said feeling more than a little hurt and annoyed as I stared at the table trying to push back traitor tears. I didn't know why this was such a big deal but it was.

"Hey," he said as he pushed my chin up. "Look at me, please?"

I raised my eyes to him. "I'm sorry, Baby." He gave me a crooked grin. "I didn't know it would upset you, I'm really sorry."

I huffed, "I don't even know why it bugs me so much, I guess I'm just frustrated with how the last month has been."

"Believe me, Sweetie, I know! It's been very frustrating, but things are settling down a bit now. We've all been working so hard, I'm glad you came up with the camping trip for a break. And I'm really happy we'll have time together, away from the kids." I smiled at that.

"You're still not off the hook for your birthday screw-up, you know. I want to give you a gift."

He pulled out the cheese by saying, "But you're the only gift I need." I rolled my eyes. "Too much?" he asked and I laughed.

"I know you're from Wisconsin, but that's still beyond cheesy," I said and we both laughed.

"I feel like we've hardly had any time together and haven't played since Milwaukee." I said with a pout and he nodded. Geez what was with me, I was acting about as mature as Emily. "I want us to do something fun together to celebrate your birthday."

"Sounds good, what'd you have in mind?" He asked.

"I don't know, is there something you'd like to do?"

"I dunno, can I get back to you on that?" I nodded yes and smiled at him.

"I know it's weird, we're together all the time, but I've missed you." I said.

"I feel the same way, we're together all the time, but it's like we're always busy with something else," he replied.

I nodded. "That's part of why I wanted us to go camping. There won't be as many distractions."

He held up his pint glass and said a toast, "Here's to fewer distractions!"

"Cheers!" I added, savoring my pint of Harp.

"Don't you mean Slainte!" he said with a chuckle, which made me laugh, too. I loved that Charlie had named his boat after an Irish toast. It seemed so appropriate.

"You're right, Slainte!" I said raising my glass again.

"Speaking of cheers and good things ..." he said, pausing to make sure he had my attention. "...It's official, my anulment went through! I'm no longer married in the eyes of the Church!"

I swear if I smiled any wider my face might split! I jumped up from my chair and flung myself at him hugging and kissing him. "That's wonderful!" I was making a scene but I didn't care! I knew they'd come through with it. Clearly the Sacrament didn't stick if she could walk out on all three of them.

"I knew I wanted this, and even though it has been two years since the divorce finalized, and I didn't think I could be more separated from her, somehow this does feel different ... like even more free of her, if that was possible."

"I totally get it. I knew a couple who were married 15 years, both were divorced previously, and after all that time they finally sought and received annulments so they could marry in the Church. Both said not only did they feel a weight lift about the cause of their failed marriages but also receiving the Sacrament in re-marrying each other inside the Church really made a difference in the state of their marriage. Nothing else had changed and yet it was completely different; better."

"Huh, I hadn't thought about that. It does feel like a weight lifted, like I knew it wasn't really my fault but I always felt like a failure for having the marriage fall apart so easily. But now I know it wasn't right from the beginning. I mean I still own my own failures, but I guess I know now I was fighting a losing battle all along."

I hugged him again. "That's really great news, I'm so happy for you. What did your folks say?"

"You mean besides 'Thank God?'" We both laughed at that. "My dad said he's glad it's in the past and my mom said she's just glad she signed away her custodial rights."

"Wow, she's so much nicer than me. Even though I know it's all done I still want to kick her ass." I said and he laughed.

"Down girl, violence isn't necessary, she's gone," he was still laughing at me. I don't know if I was just exhausted or hormonal but I really felt so much emotion right then.

"Don't laugh at me, I really can't stand her for hurting you and those kids the way she did. She better pray she never runs into me in a dark alley!" I shook my fists. He laughed again.

"Shh, Baby, she doesn't deserve another thought, and especially from you. Don't let her poison you. If she hadn't left I wouldn't be here now, with you, and I happen to think that's where I belong."

Huh. That blew the fire right out of my anger. "Well I happen to agree, but I still don't like her," I said like a petulant child. He laughed again.

"Fair enough."

We finished our drinks and headed out. We decided to walk along the river for a bit before heading back.

We walked hand-in-hand past the marina.

"So I was thinking about what kind of boat we should rent in Door County," I said. "Any preference?"

"I honestly have no idea, whatever you think will be great. I defer to your superior knowledge."

"Wow, um okay. I think something fast but big enough for a crowd. I want to pull a 2-man tube or skis, but I'm sure the guys will want to go fishing in the early mornings." He nodded as I chattered about what we could do up there. Part of me really wanted to ride up, but my bikes are not comfortable for long rides. And then we'd be far apart. I really wanted to be close and have time to just chill together.

He agreed about the bikes. Plus if it rained or if we wanted to take the kids anywhere we'd be stuck. I was a little bummed and wished we could haul them up but that'd be stupid too. I suppose if we really got the urge there's bound to be a Harley dealership where we could rent a couple bikes for a day or two, but I doubted we'd end up doing that.

When we got closer to Charlie's, Edward surprised me by pulling into his driveway. The house really looked great. He'd replaced the roof, siding and windows, added a big party deck out back including a massive hot tub, and refinished the driveway. It was like a new house, inside and out.

Inside, the floor plan was always excellent so all his changes there were cosmetic. With Esme's and my guidance he opted for a beautiful medium-finish hardwood flooring all through the house. The main rooms were painted in a delicious honey-golden color that was warm and inviting. His furniture was very practical in that leather cleans up beautifully, and it's extremely comfortable, and hardwoods are rugged.

We walked through and he offered me a drink. I hadn't been in here lately as the work still wasn't complete. They hadn't officially taken up residence yet so we were all alone. He showed me all the changes and we ended up in his room.

Edward's room was nothing short of an oasis. He chose a beautiful deep Amber color for the walls and his bed was a mahogany-colored leather-upholstered sleigh bed with amber, copper and slate blue-colored textiles, all of it was luxurious to the touch and truly beautiful despite the masculinity of the room. I was very proud of this room as I'd helped him pick out the furnishings from our warehouse.

Edward sat on the bed and watched me as I took in the room. "I like having you in here with me," he said with a devastatingly seductive smile.

"Said the spider to the fly," I said with a chuckle.

He smiled bigger, "Is it wrong to want you? To want you here with me? To want to share my home and life with you?" I shook my head no and smiled at him.

"Absolutely not, it sounds perfect to me," I said as he pulled me to his lap and kissed me passionately. The combination of a full belly, a couple drinks, a walk along the river, finally being alone with him and the intensity of the conversation seemed to catch up with me then. I melted into him. His strong arms around me made me feel safe and treasured. I felt like I could cry again and I had no idea why. I think all my emotions were just bubbling up and overwhelming me.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying, Baby?" He asked me.

"I honestly don't know." I said as I started bawling a bit more.

He rocked me as he held me tightly as I sat in his lap crying. "Shh, it's okay."

"I know. I just..." I gulped. "I just ... I love you so much, Edward. Sometimes everything is so overwhelming. I mean, I've been by myself for so long, I started to give up on finding anyone. And now I'm here with you and you're just so ... so... you're everything I've wanted, like God checked off your traits from my mental list ... well except how anal you are about your car" we both laughed at that. "or how cranky you get in the morning" we laughed again. "But I mean you and your kids, you're so wonderful. And your parents, I love them, too. And Charlie's medicine is working so he's doing so much better, and the business is going crazy well and ..." I hiccuped. "I just I'm so happy and relieved, I guess it just overwhelmed me. Sorry."

"Shh, I told you it's fine. I love you too, Bella. I am so glad I found you. I feel the same way, like you were made for me, too. Even when you get all weepy," he said and we laughed at the weepy part. He handed me a tissue from his bedside table.

And then he kissed me. And oh boy what a kiss. It started out gently and well I think I might have attacked him...yep, definitely. The poor man, though he didn't seem to mind. I straddled his lap and kissed him back fervently.

His hands slipped from my hip up my back, under my shirt and my skin felt like it was on fire. Something in me snapped. I leaned back and pulled my top off. Finally, I was showing off my pretty lingerie! That thought, along with the way Edward's eyes bulged at seeing my breast clad in only my plum-lace demi-cup bra made me feel brave and sexy.

I knew I was playing with fire but at that point I really didn't care. I quickly stood and removed my pants as well. Hell if I was going to show him my bra I wanted him to get the full effect. Once I removed my jeans I stood up and walked back toward him, he stopped me at arm's length, his eyes fully taking me in.

The cheeky panties matched the bra and were among my favorite in my "under armor" collection. Under his smoldering stare I felt sexy and powerful and beautiful and loved.

"You're so beautiful, Bella." I blushed - dammit! "Oh, that blush! Do you know what it does to me? It's so sexy, you're bold and shy at the same time. I love it. And I love you," he said tenderly pulling me into his embrace. I crawled back onto his lap, straddling his legs.

His hands moved down my sides and rested upon my backside and he actually gasped as he felt the line of my cheekies. "Be-laaaa! Are you trying to kill me here?" I giggled at the expression on his face.

"I'm sorry," I said moving like I was going to get up, "I should probably put my clothes back on."

He grabbed my hips and held me firmly to him, "Don't you dare! I think I would cry if you covered back up. There should be laws against you covering this beautiful body." He dragged his hands back up my body, taking in every curve. He reached my breasts and I felt like he couldn't get close enough to them. I arched my back into his touch and he groaned. All thoughts of smart-ass responses died right then and there.

He pulled the bra cups down under my breasts and took one nipple into his mouth. It was so intense and amazing. I swore I might spontaneously explode right there. His hand was working at the other breast, caressing and tweaking my nipple, and generally driving me insane. His other hand, however, snaked its way back down and around to my lace-clad ass, pushing it lower and guiding me against his denim-clad erection. I moaned wantonly and rubbed myself against him.

"These jeans can't be comfortable in the state you're in," I said reaching for his belt but he stilled my hands.

"Baby, what are you doing?"

"I'm taking off your pants," I said to him with a smirk.

"You don't need to do that, Bella. It's probably not a good idea for me to undress, I only have so much self control."

I felt a little dumb for having not thought about that. Here was a man who clearly has needs, and was probably used to getting some on occasion, being forced into celibacy by his virgin girlfriend. How long could I expect him to wait?

"Hey." He held my chin and pulled it up to look me in the eye, "Whatever you're thinking? Stop it. I don't like to see that expression on your face. You went from goddess of my dreams to shrinking violet and I never want to see that again. What are you thinking?"

"I'd rather not say, it was stupid."

"No, not stupid, what is it?" He asked.

Well crap now I really feel dumb trying to get out of voicing my insecurities. "It's really stupid, but I was thinking how I have overlooked your needs; I've not been meeting them ... that you're used to more and ..." I gulped and he made a hand gesture like "go on" "... and I wondered how soon you'd get sick of waiting around for your virgin girlfriend." I finished in a rush.

He wrapped his arms around me. "Bella stop, please. I'd wait forever. You don't get it, you're all I want! As far as I'm concerned you won't be my virgin girlfriend forever. Soon, I hope, you'll be my virgin fiance, then my blushing bride, then the mother of my children, and not just Seth and Emily. I want everything with you, Baby. And I was worried that if we were both fully undressed I might undermine our future because you've waited this long, I don't mind waiting longer to have you according to your terms. I respect that too much to undermine it."

Wow. Here's this gorgeous, sexy, brilliant man, and he's telling me he's all mine. And he's telling me he agrees with my decision to wait for marriage. I think my jaw is permanently unhinged from it dropping in shock. He smirked at my expression.

"You're so worth the wait," he said as his eyes dragged down my body again. I realized then that he was fully dressed under me.

"Well then, how about we agree to keep our underwear on, because it seems you have a rather, a-hem, sizable problem here," I cupped his hard-on and he moaned. "I'd like to lend you a hand with your troubles." I said with my own smirk.

He backpedaled. "Far be it from me to decline help from a beautiful woman."

I stripped him down. I swear my hands could not move fast enough. The man's body is beyond amazing and I needed to see, touch and taste every inch of him.

After I pulled his jeans off I started to crawl back onto him, but he surprised me. In a flash he grabbed me about the waist and tossed me to the middle of the bed, laying across it. "Not so fast, Miss Swan!" He said as his hands slowly slid up my legs and his nose nuzzled my calf and ever. so. slowly. eased up my inner thigh. "You" kiss "look" kiss "good enough" kiss "to" kiss, bite, lick, he moved the center of my panties aside, and OH! MY! He looked me right in the eye and said the last word, "eat." Then, with his eyes still holding mine he placed my left leg over his shoulder and started licking, sucking, biting and otherwise rocking my world.

As I lay their writhing and drowning in passion, he slipped one hand up to caress my breast while he used the other to slowly play with my center. He eased one finger inside me and we both moaned. He watched my face but I had a hard time keeping my eyes open to maintain eye contact. With his hand on my breast and the other teasing my entrance with a single finger, then two and his mouth bringing such exquisite pleasure I came undone. He continued his movements allowing me to ride out my orgasm then, licked me clean, put my panties back in place and placed a kiss over my lace-clad center and grinned up at me as I lay there feeling completely boneless and spent.

"For the record, I really like these," he said slipping his hand under the elastic at the waist of my panties.

"I'm so glad," I said, and I meant it. I wear them for me, but I also want to be attractive for him, too.

He climbed my body and kissed me. I never gave much thought to kissing after oral sex, but it seems like it would be gross. Somehow, tasting myself on him was ... well it was really hot. I luxuriated in his kiss a moment then pushed his shoulders so he would lay back.

I straddled his legs and dragged my hands down his beautiful torso. It is so sculpted and beautiful with his strong yet lanky muscles, I couldn't help but take my time feeling every inch of him. I have no idea how I got so lucky, how this man could be mine, but I wasn't about to second-guess my good fortune. He was so sexy laying there under me wearing only his black boxer briefs, with both of his hands firmly planted on my ass.

I pulled his underwear lower to release his erection and I swear I started salivating. I licked my palm and started stroking his cock. Edward's eyes rolled into his head and he groaned while bucking upward. The angle was awkward so I moved so I was laying on my side next to Edward. I kept stroking but in this position my face was irresistibly close to his crotch and I couldn't resist leaning over and taking him into my mouth. I stroked the base while I sucked and licked and nibbled at him. I had only done this once before, but Edward seemed very pleased based upon the sounds he was making.

I peeked over at him and was surprised to see how keenly he was watching me; not just what I was doing but my body, too. I stopped a second and kissed the tip of his erection. He gasped and his gaze somehow got more erotic and mischievous as I brought his hand up, again, to my center, pushing the lace aside once again. I continued to lick and suck at him as he played with me and soon we were both worked up to a fevered pitch. I had another explosive orgasm and then he came, deep inside my mouth letting out an animalistic growl. It was fucking HOT!

When we finished he pulled me up to snuggle into him planting kisses all over my face. It was really sweet. We lay there together for a moment before he spoke.

"Thank you," he said then kissed my temple.

I leaned up onto my elbow to look at him, "For what?"

"Hang on I'll get my list," he answered with a smirk.

"Smart ass."

"I'll give you smart ass," and the cheeky brat slapped my ass then grabbed it. OH! That was hot! "Damn I wanted to do that the first time I felt those panties." He added, his voice low and dangerously sexy.

"You, sir, are dangerous to my virtue," I said mustering as much propriety as I possibly could, trying to sound pompous for a laugh.

It worked. His chuckle was dark and made me shiver. What was this power he held over my body? It is devastatingly delicious.

He ran his finger under the bottom edge of the lace, teasing my backside a bit, "Is this the kind of thing you've always got under your clothes or was this special for our date?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I said like the smart-ass I am.

He gave me another smack, damn that went right through me, and at this point this pair of knickers was probably ruined, he had me so worked up.

I smirked at him but he saw the lust in my eyes. I knew I was on thin ice so I quickly spoke, "I will say this, you are the first man to ever see me in just my lingerie. As to your question, you'll just have to wait and see." He groaned, I smiled.

It took every ounce of my self control but managed to I kiss his lips and very quickly extricate myself from his grip so I could go clean myself up and get dressed again. He begrudgingly got up and did the same, but he looked longingly at his bed as we walked from the room.

At this rate I'd need a chastity belt for our camping trip!