True Love Way

Chapter 35

"Bella, I don't mean to be rude –"

"Oh my god – were you not done?" She slapped her sweat-laden forehead and cringed. "It's like clearing the table as soon as I'm finished, when you're still picking at the bones."

I chuckled at her comparison of a meal to sex. "Not exactly. I don't pick your bones clean. Anyway, yeah, I'm done for now. Unless there's something else I can do for you during down time."

"No, I already feel selfish. I'm on seconds before you're even at the main course."

"You're making me hungry," I teased in a light tone.

"And I've made you lose your train of thought. What were you going to say? Do you want me to do something, but you're too shy to ask? You don't have to be shy with me."

"I'm not shy with you." I placed a kiss on her forehead. Her warm thighs felt like a haven wrapped around my waist, but I was too sweaty to feel totally comfortable.

"I'm just saying…" Bella rolled onto her side as I stretched out beside her. I grabbed my discarded shirt to mop my forehead. Bella used the other end to do the same. "If there's something you're into, I'll give it a shot. I don't really know what I like or dislike but I trust you."

My alter ego – currently slung limply over my leg – perked up. Attempting to speak, my voice cracked slightly. "What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know. What are you into? It's probably better if you tell me so I can prepare myself for it."

I cracked a grin. "What do you think you'd have to prepare for?"

She shrugged. Her eyes never wavered from mine. I loved that about her, her confidence. It also showed she truly did trust me. "I could look it up. Get some tips. You know, learn about… whatever, so I don't disappoint you."

"Bell-laaa…" I pulled her into my arms, my damp t-shirt between us. "You could never disappoint me."

"I just don't want you to get bored with me or think there's a certain way we have to do this or whatever. You could teach me. I'm a fast learner." She quickly turned a potentially mushy moment into a comical tease. As always, she put me at ease to ask my question.

"No, it's nothing like that. It's just something I'm curious about, something I've been wondering."

She placed her lips against my ear and whispered, "Yes. I'm really coming every time you think I am. No faking necessary – you're that good."

"You're really easy," I blurted. Sometimes being at ease wasn't the best case scenario for me. I realized how that sounded when she jolted back and out of my arms. "I don't mean you're easy… because obviously, you're not. I've waited twelve years to get in your pants, all the while you were wanting in mine, so clearly… you're not easy."

Her eyebrow was arched at me. I hadn't dug myself out of the hole quite yet.

"It's just… for someone who's only been with one other guy…"

She lost the indignant look, replacing it with something more like remorse. Was she sorry she'd told me that? Or sorry she'd ever slept with Jazz?

I pressed on. It was too late to stop. "You orgasm really quick. And easily. It's like I don't even have to work at it. There have been times where I felt I was in a marathon. Coming up in the rear but too stubborn to quit." I paused. "That didn't sound right. I just mean that the others –"

"Edward, stop doing that."

"Stop doing what?"

"Stopping yourself from just saying what you want to say. I know you've been with other women. You don't have to clam up about it."

"I thought that made me sound like I've had dozens of women in my bed. I haven't."

"You're not a man whore, I know."

I smiled softly at her. "My past girlfriends didn't make it easy for me. And I'm pretty sure the first one faked it every time."

"I never came with my first boyfriend, so you're probably right."

It was my turn to arch a curious brow.

"You heard me right."

My smile grew.

"Don't look so cocky. I was young."

"But he was experienced."

"Not with me," she countered. "Every woman is different. I don't really want to talk about sex with– my first boyfriend. I know I brought it up, but I don't want to go into detail."

"I don't want you to go into detail," I assured her. It was enough to know that Jasper hadn't had the success I'd had with this particular undertaking. "I just want to know how you can come so easily."

"Practice." It was her turn to smile smugly. "I spent a lot of time with myself, Edward. I know me inside and out."

"Girls masturbate?" I'd like to say I was joking, but I wasn't – not entirely. "I mean… that much? I know they do, but I – I should shut up."

She was chuckling at me. "I probably did it as much, if not more than you."

"Not possible." I shook my head, but truthfully, just the thought of Bella touching herself like I did turned me on.

"I'd introduce you to my silicone ex, but I threw it out when I did my last tour of the house in Phoenix."

A dildo? Bella had a fucking dildo?

"Ned was very capable. Very reliable. I'll never forget him, but I no longer need him."

A dildo.

A dildo which she named.

Named… Ned?

"Ned?"

She nodded. "As in nnnnnot-Edward, because that wouldn't be appropriate to think of you while I was doing that, but it was impossible not to. He became Nedward, then Ned once we got to know each other better."

"Bella, that's both the most hilarious and stimulating thing I've ever heard."

She shrugged, giving me an easy smile. "That's me. Hilarious –"

"And so fucking stimulating," I finished for her. "You are."

"By the way, don't tell Ned, but you're more adept at finding all the right spots than he ever was."

"It's like a cruise missile and you're my only target."

"Heat seeking?"

I kissed the smirk from her lips. "You're its homing device."

"Awwww!"

We kissed in between laughing. At some point I tugged the now-stiffened shirt from between us and paid homage to her perfect breasts.

"Easy there," she whispered, gently stroking my hair. "They're tender."

Briefly, I wondered if she was still capable of lactating. I then noticed the angry purple spot on the side of her right breast. Examining the hickey closer, I placed a soft kiss on it and let them be for the night. "Sorry. I get carried away."

"Don't be sorry. And listen, while we're asking questions that may or may not be rude, I've been wondering about something as well."

"Shoot." I covered my yawn, flipping onto my back and adjusting my pillow. I was getting used to Bella's little post-coital chats. I knew sleep wasn't happening soon.

"Well…" Her fingers walked the trail from my chest to my groin before they gently poked at the resting soldier below. She picked it up and gently tossed it to the other side, then repeated before making it helicopter in rapid circles.

"Um, it's tender too," I commented sleepily. "Be gentle."

Her hand cradled it, gently caressing the shaft with her thumb. Was she expecting another round? I wouldn't mind one, but there didn't seem to be much enthusiasm coming from the sausage she was holding.

"It looks like a sausage in your hand."

Bella mumbled an agreement. "Bratwurst."

"Better than a breakfast sausage."

Another sleepy mumble. "Definitely a brat, not breakfast."

"Ever had a brat for breakfast?"

She tipped her head back, resting her cheek on my chest as she smiled up at me. Her free hand traced circles in the hair there. "I love how you're so comfortable with me. Dirty boy."

"What's your question? We're gonna fall asleep before you get to it."

"Right." She cleared her throat as she turned her attention south once more. "I wasn't expecting you to look like this. Ned didn't look like you at all. I always imagined you and he were very alike."

I knew exactly what she was talking about, and I appreciated that she put Ned in place of my brother for this query. "Well, Isabella, no two penises are alike, but I do understand how you would think that Ned and Ed would be at least similar."

"I know you're not blood related –" I felt her release a gust of air from her lungs. "This is stupid. I shouldn't be asking you about this."

"We were raised by the same family," I responded softly. "One would expect that if one son were circumcised, the other would be as well."

She gazed up at me curiously. There was gratitude in her eyes for not making this difficult. "Is it because Esme was in the hospital after your birth? Was it too late to have it done or something?"

"Um, Bella… if you're subtly trying to tell me you prefer circumcised penises, I have to tell you I'm not having it done now. Or ever."

Her laughter told me she wasn't after that.

I whistled out my relief.

"Trust me, I'm not complaining. If you hadn't noticed, I'm rather fond of your penis as is. I just find it strange that Esme and Carlisle did everything possible to make their three children equals – one no different than the other. Didn't you feel different because of this?"

Smiling, I shook my head. Affirmation that my penis was preferred boosted my confidence and turned me rather talkative. "Actually, this was the one thing my brother was the odd man out with. We noticed very early on that we were different that way. I just assumed it was like everything else – my hair's different, my eyes, body shape, and so on. After we stopped bathing together, it was kind of forgotten until puberty hit. Call it sibling rivalry or whatever, we had a habit of comparing… certain developing traits and whatnot."

"You competed over whose schlong grew faster?" There was a mix of shock and amusement in Bella's face.

"Brothers do these things, Bella. Jazz came to me all excited the first day he grew a pube. When I dropped my shorts to show him I had a small crop already, that's when the competition really grew. No pun intended. I developed physically before Jasper, and it bugged his ass. He always said I had extra skin advantage." I paused to chuckle smugly. It was one area I always bested my brother in. "It wasn't until we were on vacation, changing into our swim trunks with Dad that we noticed I wasn't the different one. He sat us down and explained how that happened.

"Apparently, Jazz had some issues down there when he was a baby. He wasn't retracting properly and got a pretty bad infection. I still remember his face as Dad told us about how he took him to the urologist, and how Jazz screamed bloody murder through the procedure. He was around two years old at that point. Neither of us had any recollection of it, but I was queasy just hearing about it."

"Poor Jazz." There was some definite sarcasm in her statement of pity. I guess women really do wish ill health on male genitalia for any hurt caused by said man. Lucky for me, I would die before I hurt Bella so my junk was safe.

"That was the first time in my life I was glad to be me and not my brother. A case of 'I'll stick with my awkwardness if it means I have my intact penis.'"

The hand on my chest moved to stroke my cheek. "I'm glad you're you every day. Always." Her lips nuzzled my chin. "By the way, your cruise missile – intact penis – tops both Jasper and Ned. I'm one helluva lucky gal."

I slept with the satisfaction of knowing that I pleased my lady. Me. It was one thing to be pleased with myself, but it felt phenomenal to be appreciated by the woman I loved as well.

~ 0 ~

"Give me ten minutes," I hollered out when I barrelled through the front door. Bella was on the balcony with Don Everly, most likely camped out there to watch for me coming home from work, but I wasn't on foot and the parking lot was out view from our apartment.

Today, I had driven because there was a very important errand to run during my lunch break. After a minor delay, the rings I'd commissioned were finally ready. And I was more than ready for Bella to have her own token of our love on her finger. I didn't want to just hand it to her, and I couldn't top her naked proposal so there was no point in trying. Instead, I would romance her.

I, Edward Cullen, was taking my beloved Bella on an actual date.

After a quick, but efficient shower, I dashed into the bedroom to dress. I was buttoning my shirt when familiar arms wrapped around my waist from behind.

"Mmm, you smell fantastic," she murmured against the nape of my neck. "Are you sure you want to go out?"

"Keep moving your lips on my neck that way and I could be persuaded to strip again." I twisted around to return her hug but pulled back when I saw her. I had to take a moment to take it all it.

"What's wrong?"

I shook my head, chuckling. "Absolutely nothing. Bella, you… you take my breath away, you are that beautiful." I stroked her blushing cheek. That only added to her beauty.

She was wearing a slim-fitting, cream dress that showed off the tan she'd gotten from her long walks with Don, as well as her gorgeous legs. It ended mid-thigh, making her legs seem a mile long. It was also the first time I'd noticed how quickly her hair was growing. She had parts of it swept up into a messy knot, the loose pieces falling in soft curls around her face and shoulders. There was no evidence of a four inch scar under the silkiness. Gazing downward once more, I noticed there was no sign that she'd had a baby just months earlier either. In fact, it was really difficult to even remember what she was like with a huge belly.

"You look beautiful," I repeated. "Truly. Everyone will wonder what you're doing with a slob like me."

She smiled for me as my heart did flips. As I had frozen in place, her fingers made quick work of the remaining buttons on my shirt. "No way. You are the most handsome man I've ever known. This is my favourite colour on you. You look amazing in blue. You were wearing blue my first day at Forks High."

"I was?"

"You were."

"How do you remember that?"

She smirked at me as she flipped my collar up to work on my tie. "Because when you were walking across the cafeteria, I thought, 'That's the cutest boy I've ever seen, and he's even cuter because he has no idea how attractive he is.'"

"You're full of shit." I called her on it with a hearty laugh. "I was probably in something black. Or grey."

"It was blue," she asserted.

"If you say so."

"You wore a grey t-shirt with a short-sleeved blue shirt over it when you came to Phoenix the first time. It was the first time I'd seen you since you'd lost weight and really grown into a man." She expertly knotted my tie and drew it into a perfect knot before straightening my collar. "A gorgeous man in blue with a sweet heart is my downfall."

I stared at her in wonderment. Not only had she remembered – with clarity – how I'd looked on those days, but she'd liked it. When I had looked in the mirror back then, I'd seen nothing appealing about myself at all. Admittedly, I wasn't too bad now, but back then? "You're going to inflate my ego," I warned. "Will you still love me if I'm full of myself?"

"You couldn't be full of yourself if you tried. But I do find it adorable when you pretend to be. I think, Mr Cullen…" Bella paused to make one final adjustment to my collar. "I'm just completely enraptured with you, and nothing can change that."

"Even if you have to spend the rest of your life fixing my tie when we go out?" I examined her perfect knot in the mirror. "How did you learn to do this anyway?"

"Charlie," she replied. "I learned for my dad. Do you know he had one tie? My mother tied it for him, and he just loosened and tightened it every time he wore it over the years. He got a new one for graduation and had no idea how to tie it."

"Sweet," I purred, mocking her in the most loving of ways. "Daddy and Bella getting ready for grad together."

"You're going to leave this one tied, aren't you? You're teasing me, but deep inside you've stored the best tie solution and you'll follow Dad's lead."

I quirked an eyebrow at her. "Come with me." I led her to the closet where I had my tie collection – all three of them. All purchased for specific occasions – two weddings and a christening. They were all pre-knotted. "Do you see why Charlie and I get on so well?"

We left for our date still laughing. I was on a high knowing that my fourth tie purchase was for the best occasion of all, and it wouldn't be permanently knotted. I'd forever have Bella to make me right.

Bree was coming out of her apartment as we were. She gave us a quiet wave.

"Probably wise to head out. We're out for the evening so there may be a little howling."

Bree smiled politely at my joke. "I'm just heading to work. I had to take a second job now that I don't have a roomie." Her voice was nasal-sounding, drawing my attention to her red nose.

"Are you not feeling well?" Bella asked with sincere concern. She'd told me she always pictured Bree as a little sister. Bella would have been a great sister. "You should have told me. I could have made you some soup."

"And Jell-O," I added. "She makes great Jell-O."

Bree smiled sadly. "I wish it were a cold. This can't be cured with soup."

"Bree? Are you okay… really?"

The small girl shrugged, obviously struggling to hold back tears. "Maybe we can talk tomorrow?"

The girls set up a time as we all headed down the stairs. Bree wished us a good evening out and gave Bella a hug before she left for work on foot.

"I'm not going to let Bree put a damper on our night out, but I am concerned about her."

I was, as well. The few times I'd seen her since her roommate had moved out, she hadn't been herself. I figured she was just missing her. "She's probably lonely over there. We should invite her over for movie nights or something so she doesn't start howling like Don – what?" Bella was staring at me oddly.

"This is one change in you that I'm liking a lot. Social Edward."

I chuckled as I opened the car door for her. "What? I have friends. You've met Ben…"

She slapped her forehead as she sat back. "Don't remind me. And don't even think of welcoming Bree into our home with you wearing only an apron."

"Please." I let out a disbelieving snort. "I was thinking of just a tie."

I never had my nipple tweaked by a woman on a date in rebuttal to my jokes. I took that as a definite sign of good times to come.

~ 0 ~

I'd booked us on a dinner cruise for our very first official date. The air was warm and still, and the sky was clear for a change. It provided us with a remarkable display of stars. The moonlight reflected off the ripples in the water. The most beautiful spectacle of all, however, was my girl. Bella looked radiant as she chatted with the couple at the next table. I sat back and admired the full turn she had made – she was back to the girl I'd known in high school, all confident and cheerful in any situation. Another thing Aro would be pleased to know he was right about – she had needed time and reassurance to get back to her old self.

The couple Bella befriended were old enough to be our grandparents, but that didn't mean we had no common interests to maintain conversation. Carmen was born and raised in Phoenix and was enthralled with the size of my White Ghost. Bella, unbeknownst to me, had snapped a picture of it on her phone and pulled it out to show off. While the desert botanists discussed cacti, Eleazar filled me in on his background as a field medic in the National Guard. We compared then-and-now emergency care until dinner was served.

I slipped over into Eleazar's seat next to Bella when he vacated it after dinner to dance with his wife. "They're a sweet couple," I commented.

"He rarely takes his eyes off her," she added. "Almost fifty years together, and they're still very much in love. You can't write shit like that."

"I've got a twelve year head start. I know I'll still be gawking at you in thirty-eight years. And fifty-eight, for that matter. You truly are beautiful tonight, Bella." I was pumping out enough cheese for an extra-large deep dish pizza, but I meant every word of it. "You really can't write this shit."

Bella snickered affectionately with me. "Know what else you can't write, but you're living proof of? A gorgeous, sweet guy only getting better with age. Every time I walk into a room on your arm, I feel like gloating. Yeah, this is MY man!"

Before I could wimp out – or whimper after her ego-boosting praise – I extracted the small box from my jacket pocket. "I hope I do this right." I cringed as my voice cracked. When I looked at Bella, her eyes were misting up. She grabbed onto my hands as they clenched the box. "I mean, officially, you did this already, so it should be a no-brainer. I just want it to be as memorable as your proposal."

"Oh my god…" Bella removed one hand to fan herself. I stared at her momentarily, wondering why girls did that. Did waving your hand prevent tears from flowing? I'd have to try it the next time I pussied out. "No, Edward, no. Don't go somewhere else. Stay on track."

My mouth dropped open as if to speak, but all words were lost.

"Stay with me. Keep going."

Her gentle encouragement made me grin. My grin made her smile and emit a tiny wet snort. God, this woman could not be more perfect for me. Just like that, I was in love with her all over again and back with the program.

"I've loved you from the beginning," I told her softly as we turned to face each other. "You know that now. And you should know that I will love you until the end. You're perfect Bella – not perfect… I mean, nobody's perfect. Your nose runs when you cry. If you don't get eight hours sleep, you get puffy dark circles. And sometimes, your feet are a little rough when they rub against my leg when you're sleeping. We should get some heel balm or something. At the very least, one of those scrubber thingies."

She was staring at me oddly.

"I've gone again, haven't I?"

She nodded.

"Sorry. We can discuss your feet later. Everything else is great. Soft. Smooth. And you never smell – did you know that? Not even your feet."

"Edward…" Bella chuckled as she pressed her forehead to mine. "I adore how you express yourself."

I frowned slightly. "I shouldn't be talking about your feet at all right now, right?"

"Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Maybe you should just love me until the end of time."

"I plan to."

"And give me my ring."

We stared into each other's eyes as I opened the box, withdrew the freshly made piece of art and slipped it on her finger. "I adore you, Bella Swan. Today and always. Marry me."

She let her kiss speak for her. It was all-consuming. It made everyone and everything on the boat vanish. We were in our own little bubble with kneading fingers and slick tongues. The only sounds were our heavy pants and occasional moans. And the odd sniffle-snort-sound. Bella was still crying. Or was it me? Did it matter who it was? They were happy tears.

"I do believe someone just got engaged."

The bubble popped.

Bella slid back slightly, blushing furiously but unable to contain her smile as Carmen leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"Congratulations, sweetheart. You'll be very happy, I'm sure. This young man looks at you the way my Eleazar would look at me when we were first married. You'll be very happy." Her salacious wink cracked me up. Clearly, the secret to fifty years of true love was good sex throughout.

"I already am happy," Bella proclaimed, seemingly unaware of Carmen's innuendo. That drew out laughter from all three of us while she looked on in confusion. "I am happy. Edward can keep at it for a lifetime."

Poor Eleazar had tears streaming down his cheeks from laughing, and Carmen clenched her stomach. I buried my face. I wasn't ashamed – in fact, I was thrilled that for the first time it was Bella running off at the mouth instead of me. Perfect.

"What is so funny? I know what you mean, Carmen. I get all mushy inside when Edward looks at me. He was commenting on Eleazar's affectionate looks earlier… I get it. I think I always have gotten it. Maybe it's the way he's always looked into me that made me feel safe with him – that made me want him to love me the same way I did."

Bella's sincerity brought our laughter to a halt. Carmen gave her cheek a tender sweep before reaching for her hand. "Let's have a look at this ring of yours. It says a lot about the man who gave it."

Bella looked at it for the first time, and any lingering naughty thought I had of Bella's misunderstanding was gone. Her eyes glistened. Her lip quivered. And the right hand was waving about incessantly once more. I had to stop it.

"Bella…" I pulled her hand down and held it on my knee. "I took a big chance with this. I probably should have let you select something you wanted –"

She was shaking her head. Wiping at her cheeks with the thumb of her free hand. It was shaking. The hand I held was, too. Since she seemed unable to speak, I pressed on.

"I wanted something that would tie us together forever. The stone was it for me. I hope it will be for you as well. If you don't like it –"

"Stop!" Her hands flew up to my face, gripping my cheeks. "I love you, Edward. I love you. And it's… perfect."

She kissed me again, stopping only to look down at her ring once more. The eye makeup she'd so carefully applied was smudged under her eyes, and her cheeks no longer needed artificial colouring. There seemed to be wetness everywhere, but she was still gorgeous. Except for…

I drew my arm across her mouth, quickly removing the offending sight. "Snot bubble," I whispered. She blew another one with her snorting laughter.

"You know, here's an idea for your first wedding anniversary –"

Our proverbial bubble we were in once more popped with the sound of Eleazar's voice rather than my sleeve. We both looked up at him.

"This outfit offers novelty weddings. You can book a cruise and renew your vows with loved ones around, or complete strangers, or all on your own if you've got enough cash." He snickered good-naturedly. "Ship marriages are only that, you know – novelties."

"Now, if you were to have my Eleazar hitch you up, that's another story."

Our heads turned to Carmen in confusion.

"He's a retired minister. Non-denominational. As long as you believe in true love and the Holy Man upstairs blessing you, you're as good as married with his say-so."

Bella and I looked at each other. My heart raced in the best way possible as my grin grew wider than ever. I lifted my eyebrows at her quizzically.

"Let's do it," she mouthed, a massive smile gracing her face as well. "Eleazar? Will you please marry us?"

The kind man stammered, moping his brow. "Oh, now honey, I think the missus misled you. You still need to go through with this the legal way. You need all the papers and the technical stuff before –"

I shook my head, staring into my Bella's eyes. "We've got true love, the Man Upstairs, as well as Gran and a beautiful woman named Elizabeth watching over us. That's all we need. Oh, and I've even got the wedding bands in my pocket. I picked them up together. Marry us. Please?"

"Marry us," Bella agreed emphatically, our fingers intertwined and holding onto each other for dear life.