We use napkins from the backpack to clean up and make the ride home less sticky. On our way back to Seattle, Edward asks if I'd like to spend the night with him, making it clear he doesn't expect it. "I don't have anything planned tomorrow," he says. "Just laundry and errands."
"Me too - Sundays are usually quiet for me. But Edward, I don't have anything to change into at your house," I say, knowing that I won't want to put my panties on again in the morning.
"We could throw your stuff in the wash tonight," he suggests. It's a good idea, and since I'm not ready to say goodnight to Edward I agree we should spend it together at his place.
When we arrive at Edward's condo, we clean the backpack of food but leave the rest of our items for the morning. He does start a load of laundry, though, throwing in everything except my cashmere sweater while I wear one of his t-shirts that hangs to mid-thigh. Edward grabs my hand and pulls me into the bathroom. "Do you want to soak in a bath?" he asks.
"If you'll join me."
He fills the tub and adds some bath salts to the water, making the room smell like lavender. "My mom stocked these in the guest bath," he explains. Edward pulls his clothes off and then lifts the t-shirt over my head. "Bella, you are so beautiful. I love your body and how responsive you are. But more than that, I love how adventurous you are. You make me feel so alive."
I blush at his words, and then remember something my mom once told me when she married Phil - that men like to know they're attractive, too. "You're beautiful, too, Edward. Inside and out. And you're an amazing lover," I say affectionately as I step forward to kiss his lips sweetly. Despite our words, the moment is not erotic. We're both tired from our earlier activities. I love telling him these things, and hearing them from him, when there's no chance the words will be interpreted as merely foreplay.
We step into the tub, me sitting between Edward's legs and leaning against his chest. "How do your legs feel?" I ask while rubbing up and down his thighs.
"Relaxed," he laughs, knowing I'm referring to the workout they received earlier. Edward wraps me in his arms, and I lay my head back against his shoulder, resting my hands on his forearms.
"Where have you done substitute teaching, Bella?"
"Mostly for two public schools in West Seattle where I've gotten to know the principals."
"How did you end up as a tour guide? Did you decide not to become a full-time teacher after college?"
"Not exactly. In college I worked for Holland America during the summer, handling shore-excursion check-ins for the Alaska cruise ship passengers. That's how I met Carlisle. He would do tours when he was short-staffed, so we'd see each other down at the terminal. Carlisle suggested that I should give being a tour guide a try. He offered to train me on one of his excursions. It was fun, and it helped my confidence as a teacher because talking in front of a tour group is similar to delivering instruction to students.
"I started helping him out during my senior year of college. It was just fill-in work whenever Carlisle needed extra help. That Spring I did my student teaching at a Catholic elementary school on Capital Hill. Allie and I were living off campus a few blocks away, which worked out great because I could walk to my student teaching. The school offered me a full-time position starting in September. Their enrollment was up and they had the space to add another third-grade class. I was thrilled to get the job."
"What happened?" Edward asks.
"Nothing and everything. My first-year teaching experience was great." I sigh as I think about whether to tell him now about Jacob. I clutch his arms that still surround me, and he gets the hint to hug me tighter. I breathe deeply and take the plunge. "But other things that year were challenging...things with Jacob."
A/N - Please tell me what you think.