Stephenie Meyer, the usual. Me, the rest.
If you've never worked with a truly awesome beta, you don't know what you're missing. I'm lucky enough to have two - Sarahsumbrella and silentnc. Thank you, Sarasu. I'll not soon forget Pantyward...
Lemon in this chappie..actually, the chappie *is* a lemon. If it's not your thing, you can read the first and last couple of paragraphs and still get the idea.
CHAPTER 28: Goal
I stared at him as we sat on the blanket, perplexed at the words and the intensity in his voice. "I know you love me, Edward, I really do. You don't need to prove it." I wondered what I'd done to make him doubt how I felt about him. I thought back over my reaction about Dartmouth…and marriage. "I'm sorry. You just took me by surprise, that's all. I -"
He put his fingertips on my mouth, halting my words, locking his ardent green eyes on mine. "Shh. I know you, mia Bella. I know I've completely freaked you out, and you're going to go home later and obsess and worry and tear yourself up over everything I've said. I'm pretty sure you'll come to see my point, eventually, but I'm going to save you some steps. I'm going to make love to you, give you something to think about and remember when you're not with me. I want to take away as much of that worry as I can, so when you're home beating yourself up and fretting your way through this, you won't have to question or have any concerns about how I feel. You'll remember this, here, right now, and you'll know how much I love you."
His hand moved slowly down my chin to my neck and traced lightly over my collarbone, his eyes still locked on mine. I couldn't have looked away for the world. His eyes betrayed the depth of his emotion, and if I'd ever doubted anything, it wasn't Edward Cullen at this moment. He leaned forward, not breaking the connection of our gaze until his face was so close to mine my eyes crossed. I jumped slightly as I felt his mouth on my neck rather than where I expected it on my lips. His breath was warm as it flowed across my skin.
"Ti amo, mia dolce Bella," he murmured. I moaned as he opened his damp mouth on my throat and pressed his teeth deliberately into my flesh, taking a hard, sucking bite.
Goosebumps shivered across my skin from the sensation. My head fell back as he ran his open, wet mouth down my throat and along my collarbone, following the path his fingers had taken, teeth nipping and tongue lapping in their wake. His hands stroked my shoulders over my T-shirt, slipping down to trace the full outer curves of my breasts. My hands went instinctively to the hem of my shirt to yank it off, but his moved swiftly to manacle my wrists.
"No." His tongue swirled in the small hollow at the base of my throat. "Don't move." He placed my hands on my knees, pressing firmly to let me know to keep them there. "Stay still, do you understand?" His mouth moved down my chest, following the bare skin the wide neck of my shirt exposed. "Bella?"
He wanted me to speak? My mouth opened but no sound emerged. His head stilled, lifting slightly away from between my breasts, waiting. Oh, God.
"Y-y-yes," I stammered.
"Good," he said in approval, lifting his hands from my wrists.
He ran his palms up my thighs to my hips, pausing briefly before moving up either side of my waist, still over my shirt. He cupped the full weight of my breasts in his palms, lifting and pressing them together. Placing his lips on the cleavage he created, he ran his tongue along the dark crease. I lifted my head to look at the back of his tousled bronze hair bent over me, the breath shuddering out of my lungs as his mouth came so close to where I needed it so badly. His chin dragged the material of my shirt down to expose the lacey top of my bra covering my right breast and I felt the soft press of his lips there. I held my breath, on the knife edge of anticipation as the tip of his tongue licked just under the edge. I wanted – I needed – his hot mouth on my sensitive nipples. I strained toward him, arching my back, twisting slightly and stretching, trying to force my breast into his mouth.
"Be still," his velvet voice admonished, and I groaned. His hands covered my breast, his palms pressing firmly, warmly against my nipples. It was a small relief, but nowhere near what I craved.
I dug my fingers into my knees to stop myself from knocking him on his back and attacking him. I took a deep breath to steady myself, leaning slowly into his hands that were still warm on my breasts. I froze, waiting for a rebuke that did not come. He didn't move, and I opened my eyes to see him looking at me with a strange, tender expression. He lifted one hand to curve around my neck, cupping the back of my head and exerting slight pressure to bring my face to his. His hand fisted my hair at the nape of my neck at the same time he crushed his mouth to mine. I couldn't help it. I whimpered. I loved it when he did that.
He tasted fresh and sweet from the fruit. His tongue plunged, rubbing mine and slicking across the roof of my mouth. I was immersed in the flavor that was all Edward – tangy, warm, wet, and male. My hands moved unconsciously from my knees to fist in his shirt as I brought myself closer. One of his arms slid around my waist to press me to him, the other tightened in my hair as he tilted his head to take me even deeper. My hands slid up to his neck, and when he didn't protest I slid them into his wild locks to grab two big handfuls. I rose up on my knees to push harder against him, and he leaned back slightly before gentling his ravenous mouth to quick flicks and easy glides.
"Edward," I whimpered as I felt him pulling away again, trying to keep his mouth on mine by holding on to his head.
He reached one hand back to loosen my grip on his hair, and the other stayed around my waist. When my hands released their grasp at his urging, he brought his other arm around me to join the first, rising up on his own knees to loom over my body. He leaned forward, pushing me back, supporting me with his arms until I was lying on the blanket. He straightened on his knees between mine, tall and wild-haired as he stared down at me. I stretched languidly, looking into his eyes as I raised my arms over my head teasingly. He smiled, wicked and knowing, shrugging out of his button-down shirt. It left him in a snug grey jersey knit T-shirt and jeans, looking long, lean, and wide-shouldered. He reached down to adjust himself, and a burst of wet exploded between my legs.
He smiled – how did he know? – bending slightly to take the bottom edge of my T-shirt in his hands. I stretched again as he lifted and tugged it from underneath me, trying to surreptitiously rub against him as he pulled it over my head and off my arms. He was braced on one hand over me as he tossed it aside, pressing his other gently against my wrists where they were lifted above my head.
"Stay. Just like that," he commanded and leaned back on his heels, his eyes taking in my half-exposed form. The pale skin of my upper body was broken only by the dark blue lace of my bra, my breasts slightly stretched and full from the position of my arms over my head. I saw heat flare in those beautiful green eyes, and I shifted slightly from side to side, both to tease and because I simply couldn't hold still. I was burning, flames licking at my body as his eyes roved over me.
"So beautiful," he whispered, reaching out to touch my stomach. My muscles trembled and tightened in response, my hips lifting involuntarily. I moaned deep in my throat. "Bella. So beautiful."
He leaned forward again, bringing his knee firmly against the juncture of my thighs. I pressed myself against him with a glad cry, twisting and rubbing on his leg. His hand went to the front clasp of my bra and spread it open – finally! I closed my eyes and arched up toward him, fisting my hands in an effort not to grab and clutch him to me. His fingertips were as light and fluttering as butterfly wings as they traced down the center of my chest, up and down, around and around the soft skin of my aching breasts. The tension inside me built and grew and expanded. I squeezed my eyes shut, tossing my head at the exquisite, painful, frustrating sensation. I bit my lip, my body trembling, my arms going numb over my head as I lifted my chest toward him again, seeking and begging in my actions.
The scorching heat of his mouth on my left nipple was sudden, shocking, and lit me up like the Fourth of July. He sucked my breast into the heat of his mouth, pulling hard and rubbing his rough, soft tongue firmly around the nipple. His teeth scraped and bit down, and I cried out in delight at the sharp, exquisite sensation. He moved his mouth to my other breast, and I saw him smiling in satisfaction as I opened my eyes. I gasped and panted, arching my upper body toward him so that I stared unseeingly at the canopy of leaves over us as he continued to nip and suck and tongue my breast.
He sat back up despite my wordless protest, pulling the shirt over his head. I stared, my eyes greedily absorbing the perfection of his bare chest. I took in the prominent, hard pectorals, the dark bronze hair spreading across them, the amazing eight pack and ridge of muscle arrowing down from his hipbones to disappear into the low-riding waist of his jeans. My breath hitched as his hands undid the silver buckle of the belt slung on his hips. He pulled it open and left it dangling in the belt loops, unfastening the top two buttons of his jeans before leaning back over me. He placed his hands on the ground on either side of my head, bracing his weight on his arms and slowly lowering his body over mine. His chest brushed the tips of my breasts and he paused, moving slightly to rub the rough hair over my very sensitive nipples. I made a noise in the back of my throat and pushed up to increase the friction. I could hear his breathing accelerate as he continued to lower himself until his hips were seated between my thighs and our bare stomachs rubbed against each other. I threw my head back and then tossed it from side to side, overwhelmed and completely enthralled by the feel of that luscious body on mine.
"Yessss," I hissed, gripping his concrete shoulders, digging my fingers into the hard flesh. I ran them down to caress his biceps as they flexed with his weight, cupping the hard bulges in my palm and reveling in the way they slid and bunched under his skin. I lifted up, pressing my mouth to the side of his neck, licking and biting my way across the swell of his deltoid to the firm curve of his shoulder. He turned his head and met my mouth, our tongues tangling and wild before he slid down, trailing his soft lips and the tip of his tongue across my skin.
He…worshipped me with his hands and his mouth. He loved my breasts, my stomach, my arms and hands and fingers. Nothing escaped his slow, thorough, focused attention. I was a quivering mess as he bit down on the bottom of my ribcage. I shuddered and tightened my stomach in a vain attempt to ease the tension in my body. I let out a cry as his teeth firmly pressed into my lowest rib, feeling the glory of his smile against my skin. His hands slid down to the top of my jeans, my hips undulating beneath his sure touch as he undid the button and zipper. He leaned to one side and then the other as he slid them down, hands lingering to trail along the firm muscles of my legs. I kicked them and my shoes off with frantic haste. I wrapped my feet around his jean-covered calves in desperation, tilting my pelvis so that I had better contact. The metal of his dangling belt buckle dug into my bare stomach as I pushed up into him. I could feel his erection as he thrust it against me, and it felt marvelous.
"Yes, Edward, please," I breathed, my hands scrabbling across his shoulders. I was blind with lust. I could smell him, feel him, taste his lingering flavor on my tongue. I was steeped in him. I wanted him inside me, now. I felt thick, slick, and desperate between my legs. I thrust my hips up blindly, searching for him.
He inched lower, so that my thighs cradled his torso between them. He bit one hip bone and then the other, dragging his teeth across the prominent ridge. I moaned as I felt him slide down a little further, his chin trailing across my stomach, pausing to dip his tongue into my bellybutton and glide it down to the top of my panties. I held my breath in an agony of anticipation and waited. And waited. Finally his teeth nipped sharply at my most sensitive flesh, through lace and cotton. My hips jerked, bumping hard into his chin, but I barely felt it. He sat back up on his knees, and my eyes flew to his as I whimpered in protest. He gave me a lopsided smile, rubbing his jaw.
"Your fault," I said, completely unapologetic and still squirming. "Edward, please!"
He pulled my panties off and held them in his fist. The green of his eyes deepened as he stared at them. He slowly lifted his head to meet my gaze, and I sucked in a harsh breath in anticipation at the look of determination and desire on his face. He finally set the scrap of silk and lace aside, down by my feet, and ran his hands back up my legs. The slightly rough tips of his fingers caressed the tops of my feet, traced around my ankles, cupped the curve of my calf, tickled the backs of my knees. He gripped them suddenly, pushing insistently until I was spread wide before him. I could feel his nose trailing up the soft flesh of my inner thigh before he stopped, inhaling deeply as he approached my sex. I pounded my fists on the ground in desperation. He bit gently. I twitched and gasped – he was lethal with those teeth. One finger touched my slick outer lips, circling and spreading the heavy wetness he had caused. I could feel his warm breath and the cool air touching me intimately, tightening my skin, making my nerves jump and leap. His fingers circled and stroked, closer and closer, before finally pushing in, spreading and easing deep. I moaned, my hands fisting in the blanket, and then the singeing blaze of his mouth covered me. I shrieked.
"Shh," he soothed, pulling back slightly and blowing on me.
"Yesyesyes," I chanted, my hands going between my legs to yank on his hair. My head tossed frantically head back and forth. "Come back! More, again, please!"
His tongue lapped, sliding from where his fingers penetrated me up to where I ached and throbbed, twirling, pressing, flicking. He closed his lips and sucked gently. I cried out, arching up, digging my fingers into his scalp. His fingers pulled out with a soft, wet sound and he curved them over the flesh of my ass, holding me in place with an unyielding grip. The wet tips brushed along the crease before pressing in and running firmly from the base of my spine, tickling across sensitive, secret tissue to where I was wet and desperate for him. His fingers circled and dipped, and he plunged his tongue into me. I bucked against his hands, but he was without mercy. His mouth, tongue, lips and teeth drove me up, and up, and up some more. I was wild as he ate at me, lapped at me, loved me. I sobbed and arched and pushed against him, my body sweating and straining against his avid mouth. I could feel the tension coiling tighter, locking my muscles, and my breath hitched in, and in, and in again as I grabbed frantically for the elusive sensation. My vision went black behind my eyelids, a small pinprick of light glimmering in the middle of the endless dark field. Everything faded. There was only the relentless, soft stroke of his mouth and that spinning pulse of light. The breath froze in my chest as my entire being focused on that luminous point. I could feel my lungs trying to pull in air to no avail as the light behind my eyelids grew.
Yesyesyes, pleasepleaseplease, I begged in the depths of my mind. Please don't stop. Please don't stop. My lungs ached with the need to take in air, but every molecule in my body concentrated on bringing release closer. I wouldn't give up until I had it…coming, it was coming, coming closer…The light expanded and rushed toward me, screaming, covering me, burying me in the shock of color and radiance. I sucked in a huge gulp of air – oh, God, finally…The release and relief was so intense I could only moan, over and over, my body shaking and shuddering and blowing apart.
I was dimly aware of one last sucking kiss and lap of his tongue as he pulled away. I concentrated on the exquisite pleasure of clean, fresh air heaving in and out of my lungs and the convulsive aftershocks of that cataclysmic orgasm. I only barely perceived the metallic clink of his belt and the rustle of his jeans as he rid himself of them. I moaned in delight as he lowered his big body over mine, sticking our skin together and rubbing all over me.
"Bella," he murmured, stoking the damp, sweaty hair off my forehead. He placed a soft kiss to the exposed skin. "Bella, look at me."
A smile wavered across my lips as my eyelids fluttered. I took a couple more deep breaths, reveling in the ability and the lack of exquisite, tortuous tension in my body.
"Uh," I managed.
"Bella," he whispered. His lips were strangely urgent against mine. I was absolutely limp and rubbery with pleasure and satisfaction; my mind couldn't comprehend his intensity. He ran his fingers along my damp cheekbone, and the trembling in his fingertips brought my eyes open with a snap.
He was looking down at me tenderly, but tension hardened his handsome features. I became aware of him, hot and hard and bare against the sensitive flesh between my legs. I moaned, and he shuddered, closing his eyes and rocking against me. I was utterly shocked to feel an electric tingle of awareness rip through my senses. I thought I would be incapable of that for at least the next hundred years or so.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, staring down into my eyes. "I can't…are you ready, baby? I won't…" he shut his eyes and gritted his teeth, but held himself slightly away. "I won't, unless you're ready."
"Yes." I lifted my hips, feeling him between my legs. How in the world could I want him again, so soon after that devastating orgasm?
He pressed forward, watching my face the entire time. I knew he wanted to go slow, but I was so wet and slick he slipped right in, his full length sliding into me with no effort on his part. He threw his head back, hovering over my chest and sucking in a breath sharply between his teeth. It felt marvelous, his weight crushing me and the thick, hot fullness of him spreading my sensitive flesh.
"Oh, God," he moaned, dropping his head, his hair flopping down to tickle the skin of my chest. He flexed forward, and I ran my hand down the long, shuddering line of his naked back. "You feel so good inside after you come," he breathed. "Soft." He thrust gently, his eyes opening and staring dreamily into mine. "Wet. So warm. So right."
His hips moved languidly for a while, his hands curling under and over my shoulders to pull me gently into his thrusts. The rub and drag of him inside me was exquisite. It caused a rebuilding of tension I never thought I'd be willing to welcome so soon, but I embraced it with open, eager arms. I dug my nails into his sides as his strokes picked up in tempo and force, my soft inner flesh clinging to him in an amazing sensation, more intense than I ever remembered. I was sure my earlier, mind-shattering orgasm had something to do with the increased awareness and sensitivity. I moaned, arching yet again against him, the naked skin of his chest sliding along mine…Oh!
My eyes flew open, and I stared up into his green eyes, finding them focused on my face. "You didn't…you don't…ungh!" I grunted as he thrust particularly hard.
He kissed me, his mouth soft and thorough against mine. "I know."
"But -" I protested. "Condom. You didn't…"
"I know," he repeated, and kissed me again. He moaned as his hips began to move more forcefully. "Is that okay?"
"Oh, God," I whimpered. The intense feeling suddenly had greater significance. Thank God I'd kept up with my birth control shots."Holy hell, you feel amazing."
"Bella," he whispered, licking the rim of my ear, driving into me now. "Say it. Come on, baby, say it."
"What?" I asked. My head spun with devastating sensation and confusion as another orgasm hovered.
"Bella…" He bit down on my shoulder.
"Edward," I breathed, tightening my inner muscles around him.
"Yes," he hissed. "Again. Say it again."
"Edward!" My nails raked the smooth skin of his back, and he bucked into me. I arched helplessly against him as I came, and came, and came again.
He shouted, his entire body jerking in time with his release, his head buried against my shoulder. My orgasm intensified as I felt the hot pulse of his semen inside me for the first time ever. He collapsed his entire weight on top of me, shuddering and breathing heavily, his breath hot and rapid on my neck. I stroked him as my own breathing and heart rate slowed to normal, the pads of my fingers tracing the raised lines on his back from my nails. He exhaled heavily, sliding off to one side to pull me against his chest. I lay quietly, my eyes on his face, memorizing each dear line and feature. His brilliant green eyes flickered open to meet my gaze, and I smiled, tracing one of his heavy eyebrows.
"I love you, Edward Cullen," I said softly, seriously, and that sweet smile spread across his face, lighting him up.
"Thank you," he said simply, hugging me to him, and he was perfect.
We lay quietly together, listening to the gentle breeze whisper through the grass and trees, the birds chirping. The soft sigh of our breaths mingled with the other sounds, and I could not remember ever being so happy. I was warm where our bodies touched, but was rapidly cooling where I was exposed to the air. His fingers stroked my skin as they always did after we made love, as if he couldn't bear to not touch me. After a while he stirred, rubbing his large palms along my chilly flesh.
"You're getting cold," he murmured, sitting up.
"I don't want to move," I protested, but gave a little shiver as his warmth left me.
He pulled me up into a sitting position. I jumped a little as an unfamiliar rush of wetness trickled weirdly down my thighs.
"Oh…ugh." I clenched my legs together and tried to hide my startled reaction. How embarrassing.
"What?" he asked, reaching for our jeans and fumbling around for our underwear.
"Nothing." My face flamed as I shook my head, my hair falling down around my heated face.
"Bella, what?" He turned to face me, brushing my hair back over my shoulder.
I didn't say anything, and he frowned slightly, running his gaze over my body. He paused at my clenching thighs, and suddenly his face cleared in understanding. Jesus, how did he do that? I swear, sometimes I thought he could read my mind. He touched my cheek and got to his knees to rummage in the backpack for a small cloth. He wet it with one of the bottles of water and turned back to me.
I held out my hand, my face still red, but he moved it out of my reach. I frowned at him in confusion as he placed his hand on my shoulder, gently pushing me down to the blanket. I struggled against him as I realized his intention, but he just arched a brow and pressed more insistently.
"Edward," I protested, leaning back on my elbows, my legs stretched out in front of me. "Don't. I can -"
"Shush," he admonished, moving my right knee aside and placing the cool, wet cloth between my legs. "Let me take care of you. Hush, Bella."
He wiped me thoroughly, rubbing the rough cloth gently over my tender flesh. I sighed in resignation and, I had to admit, pleasure. He removed the cloth and bent to place a soft, reverent kiss to my now clean skin.
"Thank you," I said shyly. He grinned lopsidedly at me, bending again to place a kiss, on my mouth this time.
He re-wet the cloth from the bottle, wrung it out over the grass, and quickly wiped himself. I fought my way up to my knees but he was finished and putting it in a plastic bag before I could say anything.
"Stand up," he said softly, holding my blue panties in his hand.
I braced myself on his strong, wide shoulders and stood wobbling over him. He lifted one foot and then the other, slipping the lacey material up the length of my legs and over my hips before tugging it into place. He did the same with my jeans, wrapping his arms around my waist when he was done buttoning and zipping, pressing his face into my stomach. I looked down, cradling his head tenderly in my arms and rocked gently. We stayed like that for a few seconds, comfortable, happy, and content.
After a while he sighed, tilting his head to smile up at me before he rose gracefully to his feet. He dressed quickly, handing me my bra and helping me back into my T-shirt, putting his hands under my hair and pulling it out from under the neckline. I knelt and began repacking the food, nesting containers and tucking it all neatly into place. He folded the blanket, stuffing it into the backpack now that there was enough room for it to fit. We took one last look at the bright spring colors of the meadow, slightly shadowed as the sun headed for the horizon.
He shouldered the pack, his arms sliding around me and bringing me back against his chest for one last embrace. I placed my hands over his at my waist and shut my eyes in bliss.
"I'll say yes, you know," I murmured, and he startled slightly in surprise. We were so in tune that I knew he realized what I was talking about. "Eventually. But I'll say no until you ask me exactly right."
"Then I'll have to be sure to get it right the first time," he said into my ear. His voice was deep, smooth velvet. "Eventually, that is."
I turned my head to smile at him. He took my hand, tugging me forward, and we headed to the trail leading back to the Volvo. I took one last look over my shoulder at the golden light filling our meadow before squeezing his hand and walking alongside the man I loved.
And...next chappie:
Dudley Do-Right to the rescue again.
