AN: Love to Eternally Edward's Girl and Chocaholic123 for sorting me out. They rock my socks.
Happy Birthday to Chocaholic123 for Tuesday. I flove her.
SM owns Twilight.
~o~o~0~ Adagio ~0~o~o~
Chapter 35
Isabella reveled in the sensation of having Edward by her side. His thumb, gently caressing her hand, never let up its ministrations, and she never wanted it to.
They walked a few blocks until they came upon row of red brick houses lining a quiet road that was edged with tall trees, their branches bare. Lights from the windows spilled out onto the white sidewalks, which were slushy in places, the powder undisturbed in others.
Edward stopped in front of a building, and Isabella could hear the distinct sound of singing—the rise and fall of the voices and pitches as they wrapped around the harmony in undulating waves.
'Where are we?" Isabella asked, looking up at the grand frontage. It had a rectangular window of stained glass, and the light was reflected onto the snow, a harlequin pattern of jeweled colors—ruby, sapphire, emerald, and amber.
"It belongs to the music school. Sounds like it's choir practice tonight. I was banking on that." A smile tugged at the edge of his mouth; that crooked smile sent thrills through Isabella's body. Every minute they spent together revealed another layer of him, another part of the picture that made Edward who he was. It felt so satisfying, like learning the correct words to a song you've been humming for weeks.
It gave Isabella the courage to open herself to Edward and show him who she really was underneath the heavy cloak of heartbreak she wore.
Edward led her up the stairs and through the heavy oak door. The music swelled once they were inside, but they walked down a hallway and into a smaller room where it was quieter. The walls were lined with row upon row of photographs and certificates in a multitude of frames. There were musical instruments propped up in every corner, and a small desk piled high with paper sat in front of the window that looked out into a darkened garden.
"Are we okay to be here?" she asked, unraveling her scarf from around her neck and placing it on a small arm chair, shrugging her coat off too.
"Yes. I'll let them know. We don't want to get locked in." Edward joked, watching the way her hips swayed gently as she walked over to the wall to look at the pictures. "Or maybe we do," he added quietly, feeling his arousal building once again. She was going to be the death of him.
Isabella turned around and arched her brow, lilting her head slightly with a mischievous grin.
"I guess you heard that?" Edward chuckled, pausing with his hand on the brass door knob.
"Yep." She grinned back at him, her pink tongue darting out and moistening her lips as she coyly lowered her eyes, watching him. He remained motionless at the door, entranced by her. The abrupt halt of the singing, snapped him back to reality and he muttered something under his breath as he twisted the handle and left the room.
Walking down the darkened corridor, his smile took over and he shook his head, unbelieving at the reactions she created in him. Every step he took away from her felt like a step in the wrong direction, but she was capable of making him lose his mind, and he wasn't sure what to think about that.
Isabella studied the photos as she waited for him to return. Many of them were of musicians on stage—soloists, duets and full orchestras—and large pictures of a choir. In one, a large Christmas tree, covered with silver and gold, towered into the dark night sky with the choir clustered around its base, holding old-fashioned lanterns.
One of the singers caught her eye. She couldn't be sure, the darkness and the shadows cast by the light distorting it, but the beautiful woman with the flowing caramel hair looked familiar. She searched other photographs, finding her in almost every one.
Footsteps in the hallway gradually grew louder, and Edward reappeared with two cups of steaming coffee in one hand and plate of cakes in the other. He placed them down onto the desk, and moved to stand behind Isabella.
"Is that Esme?" Isabella gestured to the photos.
Edward stepped closer, his body almost touching Isabella's back as he looked over her at the photo. "Yes, it is." He dropped a kiss onto her shoulder.
"She looks so different, but I could tell it was her. Her eyes are so expressive." The tiny gap between their bodies felt like a canyon, so Isabella leant back, pressing her shoulders into his chest. Edward reflexively wrapped his arms around her waist.
"That's from a couple of years ago before she became sick. This is her choir. She's been a member for years; even before I was born. That's why I have certain privileges here." He laughed, and his breath tickled against her ear, sending a shiver across her body. Her eyes instinctively closed in bliss.
"The cakes and coffee?" Isabella asked, leaning her cheek against Edward's head. She felt his hand brush across her shoulder and pull the neckline of her top to one side. He leisurely kissed along the exposed skin, his eyes drawn to the swell of her breasts visible from his position. The creamy skin gradually flushed, and her deepening breaths were evident in the rise and fall of the soft, supple skin. He desperately wanted to move his hands to cup them.
"Mmm hmm, and the trespassing." He continued his teasing path toward her neck. Isabella pressed her whole body back against his in response.
"Isabella," Edward growled in warning, but grasped her hips—the action speaking louder than his words. His thumbs slipped under her top and onto the soft skin around the top of her jeans; his fingers followed, searching and caressing from her hips to her waist. His touch felt like it was searing into her body, and yet she wanted more.
"Bella," she said breathlessly, and his movements stopped and lips paused.
"Call me Bella; not Isabella." She span around to face him. From only a few moments under his hands, the color was high on her cheeks and her lids were heavy with lust.
Wondering how beautiful she would look when he got the chance to touch and taste all of her, Edward groaned loudly. The thought was almost unbearable. He knew he should stop, that his was neither the right time nor the right place, but he couldn't help wanting more.
He crashed his lips against hers, passion exploding across the room as he pushed her up against the wall, tangling his fingers in her hair and cupping her neck to taste her lips. He couldn't be gentle. He wanted her so badly, and the sounds she responded with and the movement of her body against his never left him in any doubt that she felt the same.
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AN: Thank you for reading, and for all of your reviews, I appreciate every single one. I'm sorry my updates have been slow, RL has been a little hectic this past week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. xoxo
Fic Recs - as its Chocaholic123's birthday soon I am rec'ing both of her stories. She is a fantastic writer and if your not already reading her stuff, you should go and check it out.
Fix You (WIP)
Two lives. Different worlds. The ripples from this twelve year collision course will last forever.
Corporate Affairs (Complete)
Bella is a Management Consultant who works hard and plays harder. Edward is a Union Leader who fights for his workers' rights. She is brought in to change things at the Car Factory. He won't let her. The fight is on, attraction becomes obsession, and the lines between love and hate are blurred.