Sweet Temptations

by LillianBroderick

Successful in business, Edward keeps his personal relationships shallow. Then he meets sweet young Isabella who seems too good to be true. Strong, kind, determined and fiercely independent, will she let Edward help her to achieve more than just having the best croissant recipe in town? Jaded and suspicious, will he let Bella show him love can be sweet? EPOV; HEA; AH

34. Chapter 34 definitely time for a beer

A/N: Thanks SM for Twilight. Thanks to y'all for reading and supporting my story. Thanks to gooseonline for advice, pre-reading and generally being a pretty awesome buddy. Thanks Nelson Mandela for being an amazing human who inspired us with his forgiveness and vision. This chapter is long, sorry, so maybe grab a cup of tea, coffee, wine or whatever. I hope you like it.

chapter 34 - definitely time for a beer

Bella got home from New York very late on Thursday night. I needed to stay home with the sleeping Lil Bit so I arranged for Tyler to pick Bella up and I arranged another car to take Vicky home. It was well past midnight when she arrived home exhausted from her six hour flight after a busy day of pitching her business idea in multiple meetings. Things had apparently gone very well for Boardroom Bella. But now my little baby momma was tired and in need of some tender loving care.

I had a lovely, hot, Jasmine scented bath ready for her and we chatted quietly about trivial things while she soaked away all the tension of the travel. I dried her off with a towel wrapped in her one of her lovely silk pyjama sets then I drew her as close to me as possible in our warm bed.

Once she was safely in my arms she dropped off immediately into a deep sleep. She didn't even mutter in her sleep which she often did when she had something on her mind. No, she was solidly asleep.

I on the other hand, although relaxed was no where near sleep. But her warmth, her smell, her softness, they all combined to calm me and help me to think clearly.

As I lay there holding her safely to me, I thought about what we needed to do about Anthony. I could've just contacted Kate's parents or even Kate to find out what the fuck is going on. Maybe that's what we will do but I don't think it would be smart to do that without some information about Anthony's circumstances.

After meeting with my family we all agreed that what we lacked most was information and then direction on how to proceed. Honestly, I had a much longer list of things I didn't know than things I did know. There were just too many unknowns. I didn't even know where they lived. The investigator's report indicated that they were in Portland with Kate's parents when the photo was taken but the report also listed a New York address for Kate and her new partner Felix, but he didn't believe that Anthony was there with her.

As much as I wanted to rush over to wherever he was, whether it be Portland or New York, scoop him up and bring him here to be with me. That would be incredible selfish. Obviously this was going to be a long slow process. This was not a time to rush in with all guns blazing. I need to be smart and I needed to be sensitive. At the end of the day there was a little boy whose life would be affected by everything I did from this point forward.

He may be happy where he is. He may not. He may be loved and cared for lovingly by his mother or not. Was in school? or pre-school? Did he live with his mother? or his Grandparents? Did he have a nanny?

No matter his situation I would claim my rights as his father but it might take years for him to get to know me or for him to want to live with me even for weekends or summer holidays. My dearest wish was that he was with me but I wouldn't wrench him from a happy home if that is what he had.

Kate and I were together for four years and had talked of getting married so of course I had met her parents but I had never been to their home in Portland. We'd always met in New Hampshire while we were in College, once we all met up for a Thanksgiving weekend in New York. Kate had always loved New York, it was her dream to live there. Perhaps she was finally making that dream a reality.

Her family's money came from steel manufacture and from my quick search through my investment searches today I found that the family were still pulling a tidy sum from the business each year even though Mr and Mrs Williams had retired from the operational side of the business. I had no idea if they were still supporting Kate but she had a trust fund which was sizable unless of course she'd lost it. I needed more information.

Earlier today I put in a call to ask Jane and Alec to meet with me to advise me on my legal rights in a paternity suit. Once she heard my story Jane immediately took me on as a client. She was quite excited because I was going to be her second male client after Jasper. Up until now she had exclusively worked with female clients. Her work for Jasper was to bring a formal complaint to the legal authorities in Texas against his legal representation. Jasper was already moving his legal concerns to Seattle and removing them from the clutches of Royce King. Alec recommended he get an independent auditor to review all his financial trusts etc to ensure Royce had not had an opportunity to get hold of any of Jasper's holdings while he'd been in the Service. God help Royce if he had.

My case, however, was Jane's first male client in a paternity case. A dubious honour, but I had to say I was very pleased to have her in my corner. We planned to meet the next day in the afternoon so she could discuss the matter with Bella and I together. I wanted to be sure to include Bella in all the discussions as we were a family now and this was family business.

I planned to work from home on Friday anyway because Bella wasn't going to get in until the afternoon in our original plan for this week. But with the news of Anthony and Kate. I squeezed her tightly to me as I remembered that she'd changed her plans to be here with me as soon as possible. We had a lot to talk about but I wanted to be sure to hear her news from her New York meetings with Epicure.

As far as working out what to do about my newly discovered son, I needed to separate things into two issues - one was Anthony, I need to establish the authenticity of my claim to parentage. Once we'd proven what we already knew I would go to Court to affirm my legal rights and also commit to my obligations. He is my son and I want to take care of him. Even if I can't have him in my life yet, I can make sure he is well looked after financially. I want to have a say in the decisions which affect his life. I also want to establish my right to visitation or partial custody. I may not be able to enact either of these rights yet but I want to be sure to have these rights outlined clearly and legally. But most importantly I need to be sure that I didn't hurt him Anthony in any of these proceedings. He's just a little boy.

The second issue was Kate, I needed to confront her and find out what the hell she thought she was doing hiding my child from me. But again I had to be careful. I had no idea what her circumstances were. As much as it was easy to demonise her, the fact is she is Anthony's mother. If I attacked her I was at risk of having a negative effect on any relationship I could hope to have with him.

But if the investigation showed that Anthony wasn't getting all the love any child deserves then I would do everything in my power to help him. Whatever that help might mean.

Bella rolled in my arms and I dipped my head slightly so I could just breathe her in. I let my eyes close and drifted into a deep sleep wrapped around my beautiful sweet one.

That morning I swooped Lil Bit up into my arms when she knocked on the door to come in. Our door was never locked but Bella had taught her to knock on the door before coming in which was good manners and at times the only warning we had that Lil Bit was about to walk in on us. No risk of that this morning. Bella was out like a light. I jumped out of my bed when I heard Lil Bit outside our door. As always she had her book from the night before tucked up under her arm.

It was a new book which Carlisle and Esme brought for her. So I sat with her on the comfy couch in the play lounge to read her the story.

"What's this? A new book for you Elizabeth?"

"Wes, Nonna and Poppa gived it to me. It was a pwesent. S'called 'wed wipe strawbewwy and big hungwy bear'. Wead it me pwease Daddy?"

Every time she calls me Daddy I feel like my heart just grew a size. It's official I am the Grinch. I laughed to myself at how ridiculous my thoughts were this morning after all the drama of the past few days.

As I read the story both Lil Bit and I stopped to laugh at the pictures and the silly antics of the mouse trying to hide his big red ripe strawberry. This was a fun book to read which is a blessing because once Lil Bit likes a story she wants to hear it over and over again.

We read it twice before we decided we were both hungry and needed to find a red ripe strawberry of our own to eat. Lil Bit thought that was very funny and ran down the hallway to the kitchen laughing and shouting about hiding strawberries. I didn't find any strawberries but I did find some other fruit so I cut some up into a bowl and put some in a smaller bowl for Lil Bit with some vanilla yogurt which was her favourite. I made myself some toast and coffee since Bella was asleep and the smell wouldn't bother her.

"Shall we make momma a tray of breakfast and take it her Lil Bit?"

"Mmm," she put her finger to her chin while she thought about my question. So fucking cute. "But momma gets sick when she wakes up." Such an observant little thing, of course she'd noticed.

"Well, we could try to make her something that she likes that doesn't make her sick, couldn't we? Let's see …. some toast, some chopped fruit in a bowl and a nice cup of tea? What do you think?"

"Mmm," she was thinking again. "Wes, dats good but no yogurt daddy. yoghurt always makes momma sick now."

"You're right. Good idea, a bowl of fruit but no yoghurt."

I assembled it all on the tray as Lil bit finished her fruit. I put three plain croissants on a plate as well for us each to have one, if Bella was up to it. I lifted Elizabeth down from the table and grabbed the tray, "Let's go Lil Bit. I want to see my girl."

"Oo wov momma, daddy?"

"Yes, I do. I love your momma very, very much. So much she's going to be my wife. I want to get married very soon. I don't want to wait any more."

"I not want to wait, eiver. I want to mawwy you soon, too."

"Good. Now all we have to do is convince your momma, nonna and Uncle Jake to move the wedding date. No problem." I rolled my eyes and we headed down the hall to wake my sweet one.

"You knock on momma's door Lil Bit, nice and loud."

She banged her little fists on the door, "wakes up momma," she called out. I chuckled when the door opened and there was my girl with her hair wild like and tangled, sleepy expression on her face and half open eyes.

"Morning Elizabeth. I missed you so much sweetheart." She reached down and grabbed Lil Bit picking her up into a tight hug. "Is that for me?" She was eyeing the tray of food and tea hungrily.

"Yes, love. Sorry to wake you but we couldn't wait any longer. We needed momma hugs and you need to eat something. You are too thin, I don't like it."

Bella looked at me with a play pout on her face, "Y'know most men want their women skinny."

"Well not me, I like your soft curves, gives me something to sink into."

She hit my arm.

I laughed and stepped further into the room, "Careful, you'll make me spill the tea."

"Go to the bathroom, then come back and enjoy some breakfast. Lil Bit chose what's best for you. She doesn't want you to be sick again." I raised my eyebrows at her, as if to say, 'yes Lil Bit has noticed'.

She kissed Elizabeth's nose and pushed her hair behind her ear. "Momma's not sick this morning sweetheart, but you're very kind to think of me. Thank you."

Lil Bit beamed a happy smile at her. Bella placed her down on the ground and then headed into the bathroom. LIl Bit and I sat on the bed and I placed Bella's pillows in a pile against the headboard so she could sit comfortably when she came back to eat her breakfast.

"Do you want a croissant, Elizabeth?"

"Wes pwease," she nodded enthusiastically.

"Nice manners, little love. Here you go, try to eat so the crumbs fall on the plate okay?" That was probably a bit much to expect from a three year old but it was worth a shot.

Bella emerged from the bathroom and from the look on her face I could tell she'd been sick again. She shrugged at me as we both knew it was part of the whole pregnancy gig.

As she climbed into bed, I stroked her face gently, "Are you alright love. Will you try the tea at least?"

She nodded and I passed her the tea. She held it in her hands and sipped.

"What are we doing today?" she asked.

"Well, If you're up to it, I thought we'd take Lil Bit to the park and then go to play group together at the Shelter. We can take the bread delivery over and Lil Bit can play with the other children. We're meeting with Jane and Alec this afternoon but it should be around Lil Bit's nap time. Does that sound alright?"

She smiled but Lil Bit frowned, "I not go to the park, daddy."

I wondered if she would be okay with that and clearly she wasn't. Especially after my little fainting trick the other night, her little head was probably full of memories of the mugging in the park. I'd have to try and work with her on that. I won't push her but I don't want her to be afraid of the park.

"Well, what if we just go the park for a little while and I promise to hold your hand the whole time we are there?"

She put her finger on her chin again. I don't know where she picked this new habit up from but it was so fucking cute. "Okay. But we not stay long, okay?"

"Okay little love." Small steps, she needs some new happy memories of the park, so we'll just stay a little longer each time we go. Maybe we could organise to have a big family picnic there sometime soon with Jasper and my family, Seth, Rev J and Leah. She'd enjoy that, I hoped.

We sat there on the bed for about an hour, the three of us together chatting about Bella's trip and listening to Lil Bit's stories from her time with Nonna. I was pleased to have finally coaxed a little food into Bella. She managed some of the fruit and a few bites of her croissant. It wasn't enough but it was something. Lauren suggested lots of small meals so I'd try and keep to that but I'd be seeking some advice from the baby doctor next week on how to take better care of my little baby momma.

Once I'd cleaned up from breakfast, we all dressed for our outing. I packed some snacks and fruit juice boxes for both Bella and Lil Bit and we headed off.

Lil Bit was right, walking in the park for the first time since the mugging was a little scary. We each had memories to shake off, but we all tried to keep on brave faces. We even sat on the grass for a little while and ate some of the carrot sticks, cheese and crackers and bread sticks I'd packed. But I think we were all relieved when Tyler came back to pick us up again. He'd gone back to the bakery to load up the boot with the bread delivery for the Shelter.

I was looking forward to seeing Leah, she was fast becoming a good friend for me. She never judged me she just supported my efforts. I really appreciated her quiet strength. I wanted to talk to Jacob too. I wanted to start dropping hints about moving the wedding date forward.

I couldn't wait another two months. I just couldn't. Bella's birthday was next week and I thought the Saturday after that would be perfect. She'll have turned twenty which for some reason was important to her before we go married, something to do with not wanting to be a pregnant 'teen bride'. Not that I gave a fuck. I was so happy she was pregnant and going to be my wife that I was practically giddy.

Getting Jacob, Esme and Bella on board with moving the date was my new mission. I knew I was going to have a fight on my hands but I am Edward fucking Cullen and sometimes I just want what I want and I want Bella to be Mrs Edward fucking Cullen right now, not in November.

Bella took Lil Bit in to the playgroup while Tyler, Jacob and I unloaded the bread delivery. Jacob and I went into his office so we could catch up and discuss a project I wanted to sponsor financially to help with the work of his Shelter.

I liked the idea of donating the cost to establish a Men's Shed. Leah had given me some literature about the idea, which is basically to give men a place to meet with purpose. Apparently men aren't big at sharing their feelings. Go figure!

According to the literature often when men can't find work or retire or just generally lose their sense of purpose they shut down emotionally even more. This can lead to depression and even suicide. Even if you get men together to 'talk', they often just won't. But if you bring them together and give them something constructive to do they share plenty.

The Men's Shed we were going to build would have tools and equipment so the men in the groups could build things like toys for kids and do odd carpentry jobs for people in the neighbourhood either for free or as fundraising for the Shelter. This project was close to my heart given that I was definitely a man who both found it difficult to talk about my feelings with others and who thrived with a sense of purpose.

My sense of purpose which at the moment was focussed on three objectives - making Bella my wife in two weeks time; giving Lil Bit my name as soon as fucking possible and finding some sort of relationship with my son.

After spending an hour going over the design ideas for the Shed, it was time to get to work on objective one.

"Jacob? You know Bella's pregnant. I really want to do the right thing and make her my wife before the baby is born."

"Yes, that's the plan Edward." He narrowed his eyes, he knew I was up to something.

"But I mean, I want that sooner rather than later."

"How much sooner?"

"Two weeks."

"Are you nuts? Bella will never go for it and your mother will certainly never go for it. I mean I can do it for you. I can make the Church available. We could have a morning wedding on a Saturday or even an evening wedding on the Friday. But I don't think the ladies will go for it there's too much to be done to get it done in time."

"So Rev you're saying that you'd have no objections?"

"None, I want to see you two married as soon as possible. I'm not really that happy about you getting Bella pregnant before getting married and I am not that thrilled about you two living together without being married either."

I leaned forward folding my fingers together and resting my elbow on my knees. I took a deep calming breath. I didn't give a flying fuck if he was happy about us living together or that we were pregnant before marriage. I loved that woman and I saw no reason to be parted from her just because we weren't married yet.

But I did respect Jacob. He was a good man who did great work in this community. Not only that, he'd be incredibly supportive to my sweet one when she needed help the most. So I was willing to take a bit of holy man preaching from him. I could probably use a bit help in the good man department and Jacob was a good role model for that.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Jacob but I hope you don't doubt how much I love Isabella and Elizabeth. I hope you understand how important they are to me and how serious I am when I say I want to protect them and care for them always."

He looked at me silently for a while but then leaned forward placing his hands on his desk, "Actually I do believe you Edward and I do know how serious you are. Leah thinks highly of you and I trust her judgment about people, she says you have potential." He smirked at me.

"High praise indeed from Leah," I smiled back at him. "That's a very good woman you have at your side Jacob."

"Yeah, I guess we're both pretty lucky on that score."

"All the more reason for me to make my sweet one my wife, so you'll keep the Friday night and the Saturday morning free for us. Leave Esme and Bella to me. I'll get them to move to one of those dates."

Jacob laughed and shook his head, "Good luck man."

"So you'll send the paperwork to my office so Alec can get the legals all signed away and we'll get started on the Men's Shed in the New Year?"

"That'd be great. We have to get the zoning and designs finalised. If we start in the new year we should have everything squared away ready to get to work on the build by Spring."

"Good deal," I stood up, reached my hand out to shake his and then we headed out to find my girls.

Leah was busy organising lunch for the children in the centre so I promised her we'd catch up on all the news at the engagement celebration on Saturday night. I bundled Bella and Lil Bit back into the car and Tyler took us back home.

After lunch we settled Lil Bit down for a nap. There was still an hour until Jane and Alec were due to arrive so Bella and I decided to have a nap too. Well that was the idea, once lying in the bed together we actually ended up having some pretty fantastically vigorous sex first in our bed and again in our shower. Bella loved shower sex.

We'd just dressed again when Jane and Alec arrived.

I grabbed the baby monitor and switched it on before leading them into the kitchen where we sat around the table over a cup of coffee or tea in Bella's case. At least the smell of the coffee wasn't setting her off today thank goodness because I really needed the coffee.

I explained again the whole story of Kate's and my relationship, our break-up, the abortion a year before our split, her affair with her professor, and the realisation Anthony was my son.

"What do you want here Edward?" Jane gave me a cold stare, which honestly was unnerving.

What do I want? That was a good question. What did I want? I looked at Bella's smiling face and then back at Jane's hard stare, "I want my son to be happy. I want him to know that while I want him with me, I would never uproot him from a happy life. I want him to know he is my son and I am his father. I want him to know that I love him. I want him to know that if he ever needs me I will be there for him. That's what I want."

Bella squeezed my hand and leaned her head on my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head, recognising her silent show of support and agreement.

"And Kate?"

"I don't give a shit about that woman. She stole two babies from me. She stole my son's first four and half years of life from me. She stole my chance to be a father to him. She stole my chance to support him, care for him, play games with him, sing him to sleep, hold him when he hurt and laugh with him for those four and half years. But she is my son's mother. Because it would hurt him for me to hurt her I won't do it."

I looked at Jane with a cold hard look, "But we will establish my legal rights as Anthony's father even if he doesn't come to live with me, but he will have the choice always. We will go to court and I will have my rights as a parent recognised in the eyes of the law. She can't keep him from me any longer. She won't make decisions about his life without consulting me ever again."

Jane smiled a small terrifying smile, "You just hired yourself legal counsel Edward. Your thoughts are of your child first so you have my full support."

I smiled and Bella let out a sigh of relief. Just then the sound of Lil Bit singing to herself came over the baby monitor. We all smiled to hear her sweet voice singing. She was singing the song I sang to her last night which was a slowed down version of, 'You are my sunshine'. She was doing a pretty good job of carrying the tune too. Alice was so right about her being musical.

"I'll go to her, you stay. Talk to Jane and Alec baby. You know I'll support you with whatever you decide. I've missed Lil Bit so much, I might spend some time with her. We might do some painting, we haven't done that in ages."

She leaned over and shook Jane's and Alec's hands, kissed my forehead and then headed off. I turned the volume down a little on the baby monitor but I left it on so I could listen to Bella and Lil Bit chirping away with each other. Their chatter and laughter was one of my favourites sounds.

Alec laughed at me, "You've got it bad boss."

I nodded. I couldn't argue. I was completely lost to those two lovely girls.

Jane drew my attention back to our discussion, "So our first action needs to be gathering some information about the situation. You need to know more before contacting the family. You don't want to make the same mistake as Royce King and jump into legal action before even approaching the family. So let's find out what we can through the investigator, nothing invasive or illegal just a background check and general information, okay?"

I nodded.

"Okay, so let's meet again on Monday at your office say at four. You should have the report from the investigator then and I'll bring the documents for requesting a DNA test and the preliminary work for a paternity claim. We need to have these ready in case we need them. Hopefully we won't but from what you've told me Kate may be a problem to deal with but let's stay positive and hope for the best.

"This won't happen overnight Edward. You need to prepare yourself for a long journey but if he is your son, then we'll make sure your rights and your responsibilities are recognised."

Alec leaned in at that point, "We've progressed the adoption work also boss. So I'll give you an update on that on Monday as well."

"Good deal, thank you both. This is huge for me. When we're done, I'll have a son and a daughter. Then of course there's the baby on the way too. My family is growing pretty fast!"

I saw Jane and Alec out and went to find my girls who were now covered in paint and laughing hysterically over their drawings. I sat behind Bella pulling her close to me and just enjoyed being with them.

We enjoyed a quiet, playful intimate afternoon and evening just the three of us. We painted, read quietly while Lil Bit worked on puzzles, watched the 'The Little Mermaid' which was weird but Lil Bit seemed to like it. I had her in my lap with my arm around Bella so I didn't really care what we were watching.

We took our time putting Elizabeth to bed reading an extra story and singing an extra song. Ater we she was finally asleep. We tidied up the play lounge and the kitchen before heading off to bed ourselves. We read for a while although Bella was absentmindedly playing with the hairs on my chest and it was incredibly distracting. Eventually I just gave up threw my book on the nightstand, rolled Bella on her back and plunged my face between her legs licking, biting, and pleasuring her until she screamed with her orgasm. We made love and then crashed into deep sleep. All round it was a perfect day.

The next day was the date of our engagement dinner and dance party. Bella and Lil Bit were very excited and chirped all morning about their dresses and shoes. After lunch, Esme came and picked them up to take them to the spa and hairdressers. Apparently she'd booked out her favourite salon and all the favourite ladies were being treated to 'the works'. I'm not sure what that meant especially for Lil Bit but Bella assured me that Lil Bit would just be having her hair done and a mani/pedi but I insisted on no polish. No three year old daugther of mine was going to be wearing nail polish or any make up of any kind. Esme tried to explain the concept of children's safe nail polish but I wouldn't budge. She was too young for that nonsense and that was my final word.

After they left, the apartment felt incredibly empty without them. I decided to work out in the gym so I did the new intense circuit program Lauren had designed for me and then put in five miles on the running machine. I showered dressed in the new suit Alice had sent over for me. It was a dark grey suit with a light lavender coloured shirt and a darker lavender coloured tie. Not my usual style but I know the girls had all discussed the clothing choices for the night so no doubt my shirt colour was to match with Bella's dress.

The apartment was beginning to buzz with activity as food and alcohol deliveries arrived. Bella's catering team were setting up for the pre-dinner gathering we were having here. Lil Bit was at Alice's, since she'd begged for the chance to get Elizabeth ready for tonight. People began to arrive so I went in search of my girl who'd been locked away in our room dressing for the past hour.

I walked into our room and shut the door. When I looked up Bella was standing with one foot up on a stool strapping some incredibly hot shoes to her feet. Fuck. She looked like sex, I was going to have to fight off every man and some of the women at the club. I'm not really sure how I managed to get this lucky but I was seriously the luckiest man in the world. Bella looked so fucking sexy, so beautiful.

If the apartment wasn't filled with people already I'd rip that dress off her and take her up against the bedroom wall. She could keep the heels on though. Damn, now I was painfully hard. She was just so gorgeous.

Her dress was a soft lavender colour, the top wrapped tight around her body but left her shoulders and arms completely bare. The skirt was short but not indecent just suggestive and it was in a soft lace. Her long legs were smooth and bare down to her feet which were wrapped in barely there five inch heels. Her ears were adorned with the last of my mother's jewellery set namely long drop diamond earrings. Her neck and wrist were wrapped in the matching necklace and bracelet. Of course her left hand had my favourite piece which was her kick-arse engagement ring.

"Do you see something you like Mr Cullen?" She walked into my arms and reached her hands up to play with my hair. I leaned my face into her hand and kissed her palm.

"I think you can feel how much I like what I see Isabella soon to be Cullen."

"Isabella Cullen, I really like the sound of that."

My hands were sliding down her back, over her perfect round bottom, until my fingers reached the hem of her skirt and my fingers playfully teased the skin of her upper thigh.

"Are you trying to tease me Mr Cullen?"

"Well, I think it may be payback for the teasing you're doing with that dress Mrs Cullen."

She leaned her head back and rolled her eyes close, "Oh Edward. I love it when you call me Mrs Cullen."

I leaned down and nuzzled at her neck just below her ear, "I love you Mrs Cullen."

"Mmm, Edward. I love you, so very much. Please baby, don't tease me anymore, please."

I kissed her lips deeply and passionately, bringing my hand up behind her neck and into her luscious hair. We were lost in the kiss, completely lost. Damn I loved this woman so much. I wanted her to feel it, to feel just how much I loved her. The way she kissed me back I could feel her love for me and it was such a powerful feeling.

We pulled away and I leaned my forehead to hers. "Marry me, marry me soon. I don't want to wait baby. I don't care about the details. I want you to be my wife, now. Please."

She looked up to me and smiled, "Baby, I feel the same way. I know there is so much happening but I get the feeling our lives will always be busy. I don't want to wait either."

I smiled at her and kissed her again. I lifted her into my arms and she wrapped her legs around me, damn she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I walked us into our bathroom and kicked the door shut behind me. Without breaking the kiss I reached behind me and fumbled to lock the door. I dimmed the light switch so the room was barely lit. Bella was moaning and pulling my hair as we kissed passionately.

I backed her up and sat her down on the bathroom counter. My hands went immediately under her skirt, finding the sides of her panties I slowly slid them down finally breaking our kiss as I stepped back to take her panties all the way down her long beautiful legs.

I reached down and undid my belt, popped the button on my trousers and lowered the zip. Bella reached out to my waist pulling me closer to her, she reached into my boxers to push them and my trousers down. She gripped my hard as fuck cock and pulled it towards her heat.

"Now Edward, please I want you hard and fast, now."

"Yes, ma'am." I smirked at her. Damn I loved her pregnancy hormones. My sweet innocent Bella was becoming insatiable. As I said, I am the luckiest man on God's green earth because this sexy as fuck woman wanted me ... all the time!

She'd lined me up at her entrance so I just thrust forward. She arched her back and I held her with one hand in her lower back and the other was between her shoulder blades. I thrust into her mercilessly, throwing her head back she moaned with every push. Her legs were wrapped tight around me with her ankles crossed behind me and she pulled me into her wanting me deeper and harder. Yes, ma'am.

I changed my angle slightly and she screamed her orgasm so loud I am quite certain everyone in the apartment would hear her but I didn't give a fuck. My girl wanted me and I was going to give her whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. I'm selfless like that.

I lowered her down to stand up but then spun her around to face the counter. Our eyes met in the bathroom mirror as I stood behind her.

"Keep your eyes open and keep them on me," I demanded. Then I pushed into her from behind. Her moan spurred me on even more, I reached my hand around and rubbed her clit. "Cum for me baby, give me one more my love."

She moaned a deep, guttural moan as her inner walls clamped around me pulsing with her orgasm pulling mine from me. I came inside her so hard my knees started to buckle. I leaned against her back trying to catch my breath.

Bella was panting and trying to get control of her breath, "Thank you baby, I needed that."

Did I mention I was a lucky man? She just thanked me for basically fucking her like an animal.

"I think I should be thanking you sweet one."

She giggled and the sound did things to my cock which was still inside her.

"Keep that up love and I'll have to take you again."

"Sorry baby, no time. We're late already," she giggled again and I playfully slapped her beautiful round butt.

"Let's get cleaned up. Good thing we're already in the bathroom."

"Mmm, convenient."

Ten minutes later we joined the others in the lounge room for drinks. Some of Bella's catering staff were there to serve drinks and finger food to everyone. The family gave us very knowing looks and I wondered if they'd heard us. Oh well. It's our engagement night, my fiance is pregnant, I think they probably have figured out we have sex. They don't know just how much sex we're having but the stupid permanent grin on face should probably give it away.

"What kept you bro?" Emmett wrapped his arm around my shoulders and wiggled his eyebrows at me. I punched his arm and smirked at him.

Bella joined me walking into my embrace, she turned in my arms and I wrapped my arm around her waist to pull her back against my body. I leaned down and placed a soft kiss just below her ear and whispered to her, "Marry me Bella. I want you to be mine. Now." I bit her gently. Her head rolled back and leaned against my shoulder. I turned her again and kissed her gently, intimately.

"Edward," she sighed. I stroked her cheek with the back of my hand. She looked up into my eyes, "I'm going to say hello to everyone then talk to Esme about moving the date."

I smiled and nodded. I leaned in so that my lips were brushing her ear, "Thank you love. I can't wait until you are my wife. Please don't make me wait."

She nodded, turned and walked away from me. She was a little dazed and I enjoyed watching her beautiful frame walk away from me. Damn she was gorgeous.

Jasper walked up next to me. "Evening," he nodded to me.

"Evening," I nodded back.

Emmett, Jasper and I stood there watching as Bella joined Rosalie, Leah, Zafrina and Alice. The girls were all laughing and hugging each other. They were clearly admiring each other's outfits. Women do that, men don't. I mean I really couldn't tell you what Emmett or Jasper were wearing other than a suit and its colour. I laughed to myself imagining Emmett twirling going 'do you like my outfit' and Jasper admiring his shoes. I chuckled to myself, I mean why the fuck do women do that. Mind you I did enjoy watching the girls admiring each other.

Strangely the room sort of segregated naturally. Bella and her friends congregated together and their partners congregated around me. While the older couples and guests all formed a group sort of in the middle. It was weird.

Garrett, Emmett, Tyler, Jacob, Jasper and I formed a sort of unofficial line of defence. We were all standing side by side as we men prefer to do, and talked to each other while keeping an eye on the girls.

One of the catering team brought a tray of drinks past us and we each grabbed a beer. It was definitely time for a beer.

Emmett spoke the most frightening truthful words which I am sure we were all thinking, "Those are some damn fine looking women. Gentlemen we are going to have our hands full keeping the competition away from our ladies tonight, especially once we get to the club."

We each drank from our beers and then nodded watching the women talk and laugh together. These women were beautiful and dressed to kill. Yup, this was going to be a long night.

A/N: So it is the night of the engagement party. Edward is determined to bring the wedding date forward, I wonder what Esme will think of that! Edward's made some pretty mature decisions about how to handle the Anthony and Kate situation - I for one am proud of me. I'd love to hear your thoughts. I hope you are all well and taking care of yourselves at this very busy time of year. Love and hugs. See you soon.

Book credit
'The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear'
Authors and contributors: By (author) Audrey Wood, By (author) Don Wood, Illustrated by Don Wood Audience: Children/juvenile Language: English ISBN: ISBN 13: 9780859536592 ISBN 10: 0859536599

Movie credit
'The Little Mermaid'
Format: Animated; Rated: G (General Audience); Studio: Walt Disney Video; DVD Release Date: December 7, 1999; Run Time: 83 minutes

Song credit
'You Are My Sunshine'
Written by Oliver Hood, member of "Rice Brothers' Gang" (Paul Rice, Riley Puckett, Oliver Hood, Pud Brown); Published 1939; Written 1933; Language English; Form Ballad; Original artist Pine Ridge Boys (1939); Recorded by Rice Brothers Gang (1939)