A/N I still don't own anything that is trademarked or patented. But I like making up stories and hope you'll enjoy reading this.
Please drop me a line and let me know how I'm doing. I love the feedback.
Apparently I also like writing lemons as there's another in this chapter. It would seem Bella got a taste of Edward and is getting a bit bolder. tee he.
Chapter 26 - The Wild Colonial Boy (Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem)
Work filled the rest of the week ... and by Friday I was already suffering Edward withdrawals. How could I not be hooked on Edward and our *cough* play time? I'd have to be gay or dead, that's how. I'm neither and therefore, even though only two days had passed, I was both looking very forward to and dreading our departure in the morning.
There was no small part of me that wanted to, pardon the pun, just say "fuck it" and have my wicked way with him. But honestly what is right is seldom easy and frankly I know I'm made of tougher stuff. But oh the temptation that is Edward - from his intense eyes and scrumptiously-strong body and the way he touches and kisses me, the man is a walking temptation to me. But it helps that he respects my decision helps me with my own self-control, a whole lot.
We wrapped up the work week quite nicely. We decided to have a Friday meeting this week since we won't be here Monday and everyone reported about their progress and those who would be working next week shared concerns about what they'd be working at during the week. It took for-freaking-ever! But it was all important.
In truth, since I'd moved headquarters to Lake in the Hills, I had forgotten how nice it was to have Alice be nearby for running things. Oh sure we Skyped during them, but her energy didn't translate well through the medium. But Alice, in person, radiates energy and enthusiasm, and that is contagious to everyone in the room. I hadn't realized how much I missed her presence.
I also hadn't realized until the day I'd learned about Charlie's condition just how burned out I was, how isolated and hyper-focused I had gotten. I had no life beyond Eclectic and despite that huge effort my company grew somewhat stagnant. I had plans and hopes but I worked myself into the ground so much that I had failed to notice how far gone my own father had been to Alzheimer's Disease. I also wasn't spending enough time with friends.
Now, swamped with brilliantly-creative minds and capable associates, my friends, Eclectic was not only surviving it was thriving, and that translates nicely into my own life, in that I finally got one. I still put in long hours, only these days I got to design and oversee the fun parts of my business. I also finally got a life outside Eclectic. And the business was thriving, not suffering for it, despite the dismal economic environment.
In the new conference room in our remodeled head office I looked around the table at my crew and I felt a sense of security wash over me. I was responsible for their livelihoods, just as I was for my craftsmen and women, but together we would not only get past the Volturi mess, but we'd fight and win.
Rose brought up my ideas about using our own brand of runway models and Alice cringed. Alice wanted easy elegance and had pushed for us to leave the whole charity element out of it and use professionals, particularly since it would be our first fashion show. But Rose latched onto my idea for using military women to model. In the end Alice caved, liking the notoriety we'd gain if we surprised the fashion world. Rose has connections, great ones through her time and reputation in Air Force Public Affairs. One of her former minions is now at the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs office here in Chicago, and she just happened to have had lunch with her yesterday. And she just happened to have sworn her to secrecy while getting her on our side in recruiting military babes for our cause.
Rose also had the brilliant idea that we might, instead donate the amount we'd have paid them to their branch's charity. I remember how helpful Air Force Aid Society was for some of the airmen I knew who had families. I remember one guy's son had horrible teeth and they wracked up quite a bill that they couldn't pay, even after insurance paid its portion - Air Force Aid wrote a check and saved the day. They also made it so another crew member was able to get home for his mother's funeral when he had no money for travel. Each branch has one of these kinds of organizations, even the Coast Guard. I loved the idea of these ladies raising funds directly for their own branch a whole lot more than giving to the American Red Cross or some other mega agency.
What really got Alice to cave was the mental image of each woman wearing her own combat boots for the show. It would be certainly garner a lot of attention. And it would be fun! Siobhan loved the idea from the word go. Military women already know how to stand up straight and walk with a certain confidence, we would just need to find the right ones.
Enter Rose's friend and her connections to the Joint Chiefs of Staff's PA and well, we're on the fast-track for getting approval to look for our girls. I asked Rose and Siobhan to cover that, we'd all be part of whittling the final selections these two would make. And no one here would never, ever doubt Rosalie Hale's ability to be my secret weapon - from public relations guru to valiant defender against my raging mothers and back to PA diva with the best connections again, she's my own personal Patriot Missile!
By close of business Friday everyone seemed to either have things in hand or marching orders on how to handle things. I was officially off duty for a whole 10 days!
Edward and I hurried off to gather our gear then spent a couple hours loading things into my truck! We ran to the local lumber yard to load up some firewood - the little packages campgrounds sell are usually flimsy and burn too quickly, not to mention they're a rip off. After that we stopped by my house to pick up my tents and camping gear, mountain bike, water skis, my two-man inner tube (deflated) ski vests and other accoutrement for the boat we rented. Back at Charlie's we added more camping gear, fishing tackle and before we knew it my truck was starting to look like the Clampett's truck! I was so grateful when Emmett drove up with his jeep and offered room on his bike rack for our mountain bikes. That helped a whole lot. He also grabbed Seth's bike and we tossed the bike trailer Edward used for Emily into the truck bed (it folds down, thank goodness). He also offered to bring the extra coolers and my camp stove as well as cooking equipment and boxes of dry foods. It takes a whole lot of food and gear to feed a whole group of people, and while I knew there would be grocery stores up there, I can't help my nature. I'm a planner and I planned our meals and shopped where I could stock up and feel confident we would have all we needed. Plus one of those people is Emmett and the man EATS. 'Nuff said.
Emily and Seth were very excited to see their gear added to ours. Edward had gotten them a two-man tent so they could camp on their own (right next to our tent, naturally), and they both loved picking out their own sleeping bags. They also had foam mattresses instead of air mattresses because it would be insanity to give two wild young things air mattresses and not expect them to pop.
They were also thrilled because they'd begged and pleaded with Emmett that Bono could sleep in their tent and he agreed so both Edward and Emily were thrilled, not that Emmett would say no, he just wanted to negotiate his terms. By the end he'd roped the kids into being his slaves for a day, that would be fun to watch.
We packed Charlie's "chow hall" tent - a large screened tent, and three other tents one for Esme and Carlisle's tent, as well as one each for Charlie and Sue (they'd have to bring their own sleeping bags and pillows!), and a lot of other stuff that made me question my sanity. Seriously, aside from moving I doubt my truck had ever been so full! But we figured we could set up camp for everyone so if they rolled in late, they could just dump their gear and chill out.
When everything was tarped and strapped down we gave a quick high five and went our separate ways for the evening. Edward's kids needed time with just their daddy before he left them for he next few days. And I felt like playing a game of rummy with my own daddy.
Sue was out so Charlie and I opted to order pizza. We got our favorite from Dominick's Pizzeria. We also broke out the paisano wine, an old tradition of ours. This particular wine truly isn't great, it's a cheap red table wine that is an engraved invitation to a hangover unless you cut it with water. Then it's, well it's still not great. but you don't get the hangover. It was our own little tradition though and that made me love it. We played many a game of Rummy over a glass or ten of this stuff over the years. There were lots of laughs and even some tears and God only knows how many more rounds we'll get together so I cherished each moment, and dare I say, even every sip.
"Hey! Grabby Britches, stop picking up the pile all the time, you got my cards ... AGAIN!" Charlie starts name calling when we play. His cheeks were getting red, a sure sign the wine was kicking in. I'd seen him with his whole head bright red more than a few times, he's a fun drunk so I never minded.
"Tough, Old Man! You snooze, you loose!" I said as I sorted the enormous stack of cards I'd just collected. We get rude when we play but it's our own silly way of teasing each other.
We had Irish tunes playing, naturally, and we laughed together and sang along. His memory is still crap but he's easier to manage since his medicine started working. One thing I noticed is he tends to blend the stories he has always told me together so they're all one convoluted tale. Fortunately they still make sense. I'm glad I always listened because I will miss hearing his stories when his mind is completely gone. Since it's late, yeah late is after 7 for him these days, and he's drinking, it's a bit more pronounced tonight.
But who cares? I'm sitting at the trestle table my dad made with his own two hands and drinking in his company.
"When I was a little boy I used to climb into the coal piles on the next block. Your Grandma, she'd never, ever admit this, but one day I lost my shoe. We were really poor, super poor, and I lost my shoe in the coal! She beat me with a strap. But if she ever heard me tell you this she'd deny it, said she never, ever hit me, but hell if I was my dad I'd a hit me too. Did I ever tell you about how my dad was such a drunk he actually fell down the stairs and didn't even spill a drop of his bucket of beer? We were so poor, we had to trace our foot with cardboard and put it inside our shoes for a liner because the bottoms were worn out..."
On and on he went, damn I wanted to record it, I should have but I didn't have anything handy, and if I'd gotten up he'd have stopped talking.
After several hands of Rummy, including a few he won fair and square, I'd never ever belittle him enough to throw a game, Sue returned and somehow the spell broke. He yawned and decided to head up to bed. I cleaned up and just as I was pondering heading to bed a tap at the door scared the daylights out of me.
It was Edward. Cue dreamy sigh.
"Hey Baby."
"Hi" was my genius response.
He pulled me into his arms, "What'd you do tonight? Is that your Irish tunes I hear?"
"Yeah, Charlie and I played cards for a bit, but he turned into a pumpkin. What time is it anyway?" I asked.
"It's 8:30" he said and I laughed.
"The poor old guy just doesn't have it in him to stay up any more," I said. "What time did you want to take off tomorrow?"
"I figure I should say goodbye to the kids, but they're up early so, how about after breakfast?"
"Sure, and what brings you here this fine evening?" I asked, peeking up from under my lashes. I swear the man is gorgeous from any angle or view!
He leaned down and kissed me, running his hands down my sides to cup my rear then lifted me up so my legs wrapped around his waist. "Mmmm wine and garlic, yummy" he said against my lips.
"Well hello there!" I said with a chuckle as he nibbled my neck and carried me to the kitchen counter.
"Is it wrong that I literally can't stay away from you? I swear woman I'm addicted to you," He said as he nibbled on my ear and neck while grinding against me - gah there goes my brain function ... and I think my panties spontaneously combusted.
"How could this be wrong? C'mere" I said and pulled his face to mine and attacked his mouth with mine. His hands dragged up underneath my shirt and discovered my beautiful platinum satin and lace bra.
"What's this? A new treat?" he lifted up my shirt to peek, his new other favorite pastime is to see whatever under armor I've worn that day. What he didn't count on was me having showered after our work loading the gear so this was a different set from what he'd unearthed this morning in my office. The rascal corners me every morning to see what goodies I've got under my clothes. "Dear lord, you've topped yourself again, I didn't think that was possible."
He'd loved my teal silk demi cup and thong set earlier, but this one is simple but sexy in that it's soft and very feminine with a touch of lace the same platinum color as the satin. The bottoms are a very demure bikini cut, no thong or cheekies tonight. What he doesn't know is whenever I buy a bra, I pick out two pairs of undies to match it so I can have options.
He reached his hands down and put then inside my pants, again cupping my ass so he could check out my panties like he was reading Braille...such a guy! "Oh these really are sexy! Wait a minute, are they...? OH I do like these!" He pulled the waistband down a bit in front to take a peek. The panties were solid satin in the back and all lace in the front.
Before we could do much more, I heard footsteps on the stairs!
"Crap, someone's coming." I whispered.
"And dammit it isn't you," Edward said with a chuckle. I smacked his arm and quickly straightened my clothing.
"It really does feel like I'm in high school sneaking around," I said and he laughed.
"Soon, soon I'll be in my house and you can tip toe over there to fool around," he said, teasing me.
"Sure then your kids can bust us" I said still laughing.
Sue walked in then and her eyes got huge as she took in our disheveled appearances. "Sorry guys, I'll be quick." She squeaked then grabbed Charlie's medicines and a bottle of water and quickly got out. We couldn't help but laugh.
Bus-ted.
"I better take off anyway, it's getting late..."
"Yeah, a whopping 9 p.m." I said with a laugh. "Uh, on second thought, don't go anywhere yet" and with that I yanked him back to me and wrapped my legs around his waist again.
He laughed but complied. "What? You think you can get me all worked up and just leave me?" I said.
"You think I'm unaffected?" Edward asked as he rubbed his very affected groin against my center.
"Oh!"
"Yeah, oh!" He said laughing. Then all laughing ceased when he kissed me hard and once again slipped my top up over my breasts, only this time he pulled my breasts out of the bra cups and started working his magic laving my breasts. Oh! He delighted in teasing one then the other. Meanwhile one hand reached down into the front of my pants and inside my panties, stroking my moist flesh beneath the lace. I sat there writhing as I held his face to my breast, my back arched and my breath labored. He kept me going like that, working me up then said, "Fuck it!" under his breath.
He leaned me back and pulled my pants down, and right there in the middle of my father's kitchen, he put my feet over his shoulders and he licked and sucked and nibbled at my clit while his fingers teased my entrance. It was so dirty and yet so. damned. perfect! I came so hard I really did see stars. He kept up his actions as I rode out my orgasm then, he swept his tongue all through my cleft as he licked me clean.
"Better?" He asked, with that smirk planted on his face.
"You know it!" I said returning his smirk as best I could given my bones had melted. I sat up and reached for him, sliding off the counter. "Now it's MY turn," I said and dropped to my knees.
I pulled his pants and underwear down to his knees and his cock stood out proudly, hell I think it even winked at me. How is it possible that even his equipment is beautiful? I don't know, but I also don't care because just the site of it makes me salivate.
I kissed him hello and gave him a flirty lick that made Edward moan. "Shhh!" I said chuckling.
"Sorry," he whispered. Seriously this is so high school, well for most people, I was too busy to fool around like this plus the guys were gross. I always preferred men over boys.
I licked him from base to tip and swirled my tongue a bit around the head then took him in my mouth. He gave a low growl and put his hands in my hair and gently guided me but I had other plans.
I worked with my hands pumping him and started licking his balls, a trick Alice had drunkenly suggested, much to my mortification. But after hearing him moan again as he pumped into my hand, I was thinking I'd need to send her flowers. Soon I had him writhing so I took him back into my mouth and reached around and put my hands on his ass, pulling him toward my mouth as I watched his face. Wow Edward is one sexy man! His green eyes watched me, filled with lust under heavy lids, his bottom lip caught in his teeth to keep himself from calling out, and his strong hands caressing my head. He soon went over the edge, releasing down my throat. I kept going until his orgasm finished then gave his glorious cock another kiss and tucked it back into his pants before standing up.
He immediately grabbed me into a bone-crunching hug. "Wow, Bella, that was truly fantastic," he said then kissed me deeply. He pulled away then chuckled. "I swear I didn't come over here just for that." I laughed too. "Not that I'd ever complain, mind you." He added. Smart ass!
"Nice. I'm your booty call now, I see how it is."
He smacked my bottom and said, "I actually came over to kiss you goodnight, Smart ass" he smirked. "And to tell you how very much I love you." And then he gave me a sweet kiss.
He pulled away and had an odd expression on his face. "Um, Baby? If we're like that in a house with your dad & Sue here, you realize we're in for trouble camping in Door County." As he said this he cupped my ass again and kissed my neck, thus frying my brains again.
I backed away. "I think as long as we keep the underwear rule in effect we should be okay. But I could bring hedge clippers if that would make you feel more secure." I said teasing.
He cringed, "Nope, no, I don't think that'll be necessary."
"Oh, you poor thing, you know I wouldn't hurt you." I kissed his cheek and he smiled.
"I think it'll help that there will be people nearby and with walls only as thick as vinyl I think we'll be okay." I added and he nodded.
"Well goodnight, my love. Parting is such sweet sorrow." He said then kissed my nose.
"Sweet dreams," I said as I closed the door behind him. I both loved and hated watching him go.
If my dreams were half as nice as this evening had been, they truly would be sweet.