Kiss Me Now, Kiss Me Never
Chapter Twenty-Four – Meet the Parent
Bella
"Baby," Edward said behind me, distracting me as usual. "You're going to send yourself in a tailspin. Let me help." I bumped my ass against his hip, making him laugh. I waved a spoon at him and growled.
"Don't start with me," I said with a huff. I was nervous. I had every right to be. Soon, we'd having dinner with not only Carlisle, but Edward's mother, whom I hadn't met yet.
From what Edward had said before about Esme, she was very protective of her son. Considering everything that I'd put him through, there was a chance she'd want to hang me, no matter what he thought.
He leaned against the counter, watching me as I stirred some sauce. "You look so fucking good in the kitchen," he murmured, wiggling his eyebrows. "Had no idea I had a Susie Homemaker fantasy until today." I rolled my eyes at that, but secretly loved it. He'd been so open lately, talking about everything.
Not to mention, a fucking pest. Between him, Dad and Jacob, I was constantly on guard. They had even attempted to hire a bodyguard, until the asshole tried to make a pass at me. That taught them there was no one they could trust.
I didn't mind the protection per se, just the feeling of someone hovering over my shoulder, watching my every move. It was driving me insane. However, I kept my mouth shut since Damon, the victim recently released from prison, was starting to scare me again.
The problem that arose was that I couldn't do anything secretive, besides the constant watchful eyes. I wanted to plan a weekend away for Edward and me, but I hadn't be able to get any alone time. Our trip required shopping, and I wasn't about to go do that with Jacob tailing my ass.
Between the frustration from not finding the bowl, the hours spent deciphering the rest of the spell, the nightmares, Damon, and, at the moment, meeting Edward's mother, we needed some alone time.
At least the spell had been completely deciphered, not that it mattered. Until we had the bowl, we couldn't attempt that third kiss.
Measuring love and testing ill
False love swallow a bitter pill
One kiss upon my lips of rose
Love will blossom up from thy toes
Three kisses upon thy mouth
Will turn affection north to south
Hate will reign supreme
Only true love shall redeem
A ray of light
Shall shine through the pain
Of love lost or love gained
Halves of a whole and thy will see
Nary amount of kisses will matter to thee
It confirmed the thoughts we had after the last dream Edward had of Anthony's death. As long as my love was true, the third kiss would break the curse. The problem was, it would only break our curse and the victims we affected.
According to another witch, Angela was right. We'd need the bowl, with same ingredients used in the spell, including hair or blood samples from each of us, if we wanted to break the spell for everyone affected. Despite what the witch had told us, Edward wasn't willing to risk that third kiss without the bowl, blood and dagger.
He wanted to be extra cautious since too much was at stake, according to him. He was right.
"Hey," his voice intruded on my thoughts. "Where did you go?"
I gave him a small, coy smile. "Where else?"
He grinned and sighed, nodding. "It's good to know that your mind is perpetually in the gutter in my presence." Lifting his shirt slightly, he rubbed his stomach. "It's the abs, right?"
"Oh God," I said in an overdone moan, in his ear. "I want you right now, take me!"
He hissed and adjusted himself, shaking his head in mock disgust. "My parents will be here soon, you can't say something like that."
My eyes snapped to the microwave, cursing the time. I tossed the salad once more, quickly removed the black apron I was wearing, and ran to the bedroom to finish getting ready. All the while, Edward laughed his ass off.
I rushed toward my closet, where I had my dress. After slipping it on, I brushed over it, making sure it fit properly. I fell to my knees in search for the heels that Edward made me wear the night before. I heard him hum behind me, likely admiring the view. I had a great ass, who was I to argue.
"Where did my red shoes go?" I asked from practically under the bed.
It took several seconds for him to respond and when he did, he was literally on my ass. The man was insatiable. I bumped him, eliciting a sweet hiss and laughter.
"I'm trying to help you look," he said, his hands on my hips. Sure he was helping; all his touch was doing was reminding me of the night before.
Fuck! I remembered. I scrambled out from under the bed and scanned the room, finding one heel hanging from the top of the armoire and the other beneath a settee near my vanity. "Found them," I squealed as Edward flipped me onto my back suddenly.
Grinding his hips against mine deliciously, he murmured, "Dad called, they're going to be a little late."
I cocked an eyebrow since his intentions were clear in his half-lidded eyes. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I nipped at his chin playfully, earning a growl.
"I smelled like sex the last time we had dinner with your dad," I said, gasping when his hand curled around my breast.
"Which probably explains why he insisted on having dinner outside," he teased, kissing down my neck. A flush crept along my neck and face, which only made Edward groan. He loved when my skin was tinged pink.
"Asshole," I hissed and then moaned as he wrapped his lips around an exposed nipple. When had my dress come undone? I didn't manage to protest since all thoughts of anything besides his touch left my mind.
~oOo~
"Relax," Edward said for the tenth time since his parents drove up. What they were doing driving around together, I had no clue. From what Edward told me, they couldn't be in the same room together without arguing.
For some reason, they'd been in the car for a few minutes, seemingly talking. It didn't look like they were at each other's throats. Carlisle had made it quite obvious that he still loved Edward's mother, but with the curse between them, she tended to bring out the worst in him.
And that said a lot, considering that Carlisle was one of the sweetest, most compassionate people I'd ever met.
Edward nuzzled my neck, clutching me to his side, his hand rubbing soothing circles along my torso. He was very good at distracting me. "Mmm, you smell good," he teased, nipping on my shoulder. I really should have known better than to wear anything that exposed too much of my neck and shoulders. He had the habit of driving me insane, since he couldn't stop touching me there.
I heard a car door slam and my knees started to shake. Shortly after the first, I heard the other close. I held my breath for several moments and only remembered to breathe when Edward bit me gently. I exhaled harshly and straightened my back, tilting my chin up.
I can do this.
It was officially the first time I had one those "Meet the Parents" dinners. Having met Carlisle the year before made things simpler, but I was going to meet Edward's mother at any moment. Gah! I was overreacting.
She was just like any other woman I'd met. No, not really. I sighed deeply, steeled myself to get through the night without incident.
Edward wrapped his arms around me completely and whispered in my ear, "I love you, and that will be enough for Mom to love you, too." I sighed and nodded, feeling a little better.
The door opened, which was usually how Carlisle entered the house. He practically had free rein since Edward's departure. Instead, it was Esme that walked through first, carrying a small brown paper bag.
Carlisle walked in right on her heels and shook his head. "Now, Esme. We need to handle this delicately."
She sent him a glare over her shoulder before she returned her attention to Edward and me. She was beautiful in the old Hollywood glam style, big soft looking curls in the same auburn color of her son's, red painted lips and smoky pale green eyes.
Stepping forward, she handed me the bag and cocked any eyebrow. "Nice to meet you, Isabella. Carlisle and Edward have told me a lot about you."
"Good things, I hope," I said easily. Confused, I tried to open the bag, but she placed a delicate hand on mine to stop me.
"Why don't you and Edward take that to the bedroom and find out if you've made me a grandmother?"
Carlisle slapped his forehead, Edward gasped as Esme beamed with a mega-watt smile. I mentally envisioned a calendar and counted the days. Fuck.
AN: Betaed by kyla713. Thanks again to quietruby for your help with the spell. In Carlisle's chapter, I hinted at this. Now, is she or isn't she?