"This is it!" Jacob yells, grabbing the railings and hoisting himself up onto the wall. His eyes are bright and cheeks flushed with excitement as he stares at the red brick building of his old school.
"Be careful!" I scold.
Jacob ignores me and continues to address Edward. "This was my school." He turns back to the site before him and peers through the railings, his expression wistful. "See the climbing frame over there?" he asks, letting go with one hand to point.
I rush closer, ready to catch him if he slips.
"I see them," Edward says, following his line of sight. He moves in front of me and grips Jacob's calf muscles to steady him.
"That's where I broke my leg," Jacob says.
"You didn't break your leg," I chide. "You chipped a bone in your elbow. You broke your leg jumping off the roof of my car when you thought you were Superman."
"Oh yeah," Jacob says, remembering. He glances at Edward who is making a bad job of hiding his amusement. I can tell he's not amused by the injuries themselves, but rather the circumstances surrounding them. "Well this time I was Spiderman and Josh was the Green Goblin. I fell when my web shooter malfunctioned."
He says it so seriously Edward and I have to stifle our laughter. I manage to coax him down off the wall, and we walk to the gates where he can see in without climbing. Edward listens intently while Jacob gives him a rundown of every injury he gained in the play ground. I never thought about it before, but I have a very clumsy son.
There's a playground not far from the school, and Edward and I sit on a bench while Jacob runs around with some kids he doesn't know. Edward slides his arm around my shoulder, stretching his legs out in front of him.
"Maybe we should buy him some padding and a crash helmet," he says with a chuckle. "He certainly seems to have a knack for breaking bones."
I laugh. "I forgot about my frequent trips to the ER. It was practically a home away from home." I rest my hand on his thigh. "Thankfully, it wasn't ever anything too serious. He's just over exuberant in everything he does; he's less accident prone now that he's older."
Edward makes a show of inspecting my hair. "I'm surprised you don't have any grey hairs."
"They're in the post," I say, jabbing his ribs with my elbow.
The sun is warm on my skin, and leaning my head back on Edward's shoulder I let my eyes drift closed. The last week has been hectic. Despite his jet lag, Edward's energy levels have matched Jacob's. We've spent time at the beach, we've gone to a game with Phil and Renee, Jacob has given Edward a tour of all his favourite places – most of which are eating establishments – and we've taken Jacob and two of his friends to the cinema and bowling.
I smile at the memory of last night. Josh and Connor had a sleepover, but Edward had more fun than the boys. He spent the whole night indulging their every whim and, given that they are all quite boisterous, it made for a very noisy night in my little apartment which is not really suitable for all that running around. It was gone midnight before they finally settled down, and even then I doubt if they were asleep before one a.m.
Jacob has gone to bed late every night this week, and that has meant there has been little opportunity for Edward and I to be intimate. My fingers flex involuntarily on his thigh. I fear I'm full of enough pent-up sexual energy that it could fuel a rocket to the moon.
"I know," he whispers into my hair. I marvel at how he seems able to read my thoughts. "Tomorrow," he adds with a quick kiss to my head.
Jacob is going on a sleepover tomorrow, and I can hardly wait. Connor's mom has arranged to take the boys to the game, which means that the sleepover will start early afternoon. Edward has this crazy notion that we should go out on a date, when all I want to do is spend the entire day in bed.
"Is it time to go to Nana's? I'm hungry." Jacob's voice breaks me out of my reverie, and I snatch my hand away from Edward's thigh guiltily.
Jesus! We're in a public park and I'm practically fondling him.
I check my watch. "Yeah," I say as I stand up.
We walk back past the school and turn down onto the street that Renee lives on. The street is about a half mile long, and Edward suggests we take the route along the beach behind the houses rather than walking along the sidewalk.
We take our shoes off and Jacob runs on ahead while Edward and I walk hand in hand. The sand is hot beneath my feet but not uncomfortably so, since there is a strong breeze coming in from the sea.
"Jacob loves it here," Edward says, squeezing my hand. "It's great seeing him like this."
I turn to look at him while we walk. "He's always been like this," I say, confused.
He shakes his head slightly. "Don't get me wrong, he's always been an absolute joy, but it's different seeing him around his friends and everything that is familiar to him. He had so much fun last night, and today he's been glowing with pride while showing me all his haunts."
My smile is instant. "When we move to Seattle and you're with us all the time, he'll be the same. He'll make new friends at his new school and you can look forward to many more boisterous sleepovers." I shoot him a sidelong glance. "Don't think I didn't notice that you had more fun than the kids last night."
A glimmer of worry flashes over his expression. "Do you think I cramped their style?"
"Didn't you hear all that deafening laughter?" I say to reassure him. "Jacob was in his element, and I think he was really proud that his dad was so much fun."
We admire the houses as we stroll. The ones at this end of the beach are a lot larger than Renee's house. Most of them are at the high end of the market, and it tickles Renee that she lives in such a sought after area. Not least because her house was a rundown, dilapidated cottage when she and Phil bought it, and they've transformed it into a beautiful home that doesn't look out of place among the larger, more opulent ones.
It's a pleasant surprise when we reach the house to find that Renee has set the table outside for dinner and Phil fussing over the barbecue.
"I hope you're hungry," Phil hollers, waving his spatula when we step into the yard. He tips the rim of his baseball cap higher and wipes the back of his hand across his brow before handing Edward a beer. Phil is wearing long, baggy boarding shorts and a white vest which shows off the large tattoo on his bicep. As I watch them it strikes me that my mother and I are with men who are only two years apart in age.
I head into the house and find Jacob harassing Renee into letting him go for a swim. Turning to me, Renee lifts an enquiring eyebrow. "I'm sure I have a pair of his swim shorts upstairs; I suppose he could have a swim until the food is ready," she reasons.
I shrug my shoulders in a noncommittal gesture which Jacob takes as acquiescence and zooms upstairs before I can take it back.
"You look tired," Renee observes, kissing my cheek. "Too many late nights?" There's a suggestive glint in her eye.
"I'm fine. Do you need any help?" I ask, ignoring her lack of subtlety.
She winks at me before asking me to put together a salad. I sip on the too sweet lemonade she's poured for me while I peel and slice cucumbers, enjoying the familiarity of my mom's kitchen. Jacob rushes past us in his swim trunks as I'm pulling out a wooden salad bowl from the cupboard, and I hear the almighty splash of him jumping into the pool.
Renee is buzzing around looking for the little prongs that hold the corn. She starts to fuss when she can't find them, and when I remind her that she stuck them into the cork notice board above the fridge she unexpectedly bursts into tears.
I stand stunned as she wraps her arms around me and squeezes me impossibly tight. "I've missed you so much baby," she sobs. "And I can't..." Her voice catches as she cries into my shoulder.
I rub her back while tears prick my eyes. Edward is just a shimmer on the periphery of my vision when I hold my hand up to indicate that he doesn't need to intervene. I swipe away a rogue tear and focus on him more clearly; he looks concerned. I smile at him and mouth that we're okay.
Eventually Renee pulls back and swipes her fingers beneath her eyes. "I'm sorry, honey. It's just so good having you here and..." She takes a deep breath and forces a smile. "... listen to me going on. You're happy and that's what matters most."
A dichotomy of emotions churns in my stomach. I bitterly regret that my bad behaviour when I was a teen caused Renee so much heartache and led to me being shipped off to Forks, but on the other hand I can't regret the time I eventually spent with Charlie.
She cups my cheek in her palm and smiles sadly at me, understanding shining in her eyes. I know she can see my thoughts written in my expression. "You're a wonderful daughter... I couldn't wish for anything more."
She composes herself and gives me another hug before we take the salad and bread outside. I spot Edward sitting at the edge of the pool watching Jacob show off. Edward has rolled his trouser legs up and his feet are immersed in the water. His shirt is already soaked, but he doesn't seem to mind as he laughs and shouts encouragement to Jacob.
Phil announces that the meat is ready, and Jacob scrambles out of the pool and heads straight for the table, dripping water everywhere.
"Aren't you going to dry off?" I ask with amusement.
He lifts a napkin and dries only his hands before taking a giant bite of his burger. He grins at me while he chews, and I shake my head laughing.
As we eat, the sky darkens to a deep purple while the dying sun melts to coral on the horizon. Renee lights the patio heater and places some citronella candles on the table while we listen to Phil's funny stories about training and travelling with his team. Jacob sits curled into Renee's side while Edward pulls my leg over his knee beneath the table and throws his arm across my shoulder. Intermittently, he raises his hand and sifts his fingers through my hair, and every time he does it Renee's eyes meet mine and a smile lights up her face.
The evening wears on amid our raucous laughter, and Edward encourages Renee to reveal all the embarrassing secrets of my childhood. Jacob listens with rapt attention, especially to the revelations of my misbehaviour. I can't help but feel I'll pay for this somewhere down the line.
Renee stands abruptly and puts some music on. Edward nuzzles my hair as Phil and Renee dance slowly in the yard – lost in their own private bubble. Jacob lies curled up on the bench and I watch his eyes begin to drift closed before he snaps them back open.
Edward pulls me closer, wrapping his hand around my hip while he kisses my temple repeatedly. He asks me if I want to dance, but I decline with a gentle shake of my head. I'm happy to watch Renee and Phil act like teenagers on their prom while Edward and I just relax. Eventually though, Jacob begins to wriggle uncomfortably on the bench, and we realise it's time to go home.
Renee is overcome with emotion as she hugs us all at the door.
She stabs a finger playfully into Edward's chest. "You're taking my baby away," she accuses. "You better take care of her mister! Promise me you will."
Edward kisses her cheek. "I promise," he says with a chuckle.
She almost strangles me with her hug which prompts Phil to step in and peel her off me.
I offer to drive home so Edward can sit in the back with Jacob. At a stop light I glance back at them, and it warms my heart to see Jacob snuggling into Edward's side. I watch mesmerised by Edward's long fingers brushing through Jacob's hair until the sharp blast of a car horn alerts me to the fact that the lights have changed.
When we reach the apartment, Edward carries Jacob up the steps while I follow closely behind. Since Jacob is wearing a pair of old sweats that were left at Renee's I tell Edward just to put him straight into bed.
"Tonight was great," he says with a tired sigh, slipping into bed beside me when he's finished settling Jacob in. "Was everything okay with your mom?"
"She's just enjoying having me around and not looking forward to us leaving again," I explain. "But we'll visit as often as we can."
He wraps his arms around me, and his kiss draws forth a needy sigh from my lips. I instantly forget what we were talking about when his hands slide beneath my shirt and ghost over my nipples.
"I'm so horny," I confess, arching up to meet his palms.
He buries his face in my neck and laughs throatily. "Me too."
"Jacob won't hear us tonight," I insist. "He's exhausted."
My insides clench in anticipation when I find him looming over me.
In the morning I hear the toilet flush and leap out of bed to pull on a nightshirt before Jacob knocks on the door. I slide the lock open as quietly as I can and then scoot back into bed before greeting him. He bounds into the room and leaps onto the bed startling Edward awake.
"What time is Connor's mom picking me up?" he asks, wedging himself between us.
I ruffle his hair and check my watch. I'm surprised to see that it's almost ten o'clock. It seems the busy week has drained all of us more than I thought. "Thankfully, in about two hours," I say to Jacob, only half kidding.
He fakes a pout which makes me laugh.
"You know I love you but you have way too much energy in the morning," I tell him.
He scrambles over my lap and jumps off the bed. "I'm gonna bring you guys breakfast in bed," he announces.
Edward is still sleep rumpled, and his response makes Jacob and I laugh. "You cook alone?"
"No, silly," Jacob sniggers. "I'll bring some cereal and juice!"
He rushes out of the room and Edward leans over the edge of the bed, retrieves his boxers and puts them on. He gently squeezes my breast, kisses my temple and rearranges his pillows before sitting upright.
Jacob almost throws a tantrum when I suggest we eat at the coffee table in the living room. He's got his heart set on us having breakfast in bed and I find myself conceding, despite the fact that my eyes can't seem to stop following the trajectory of his spoon. The last thing I want is for my bed to end up smelling like sour milk.
Five minutes before he's due to be picked up Jacob is suddenly ultra-clingy with Edward. He's been like this every time either he goes out or Edward does. Edward went out on Thursday for a couple of hours, and Jacob was beside himself thinking he wasn't coming back. The talk we had with him yesterday morning has seemingly not reassured him.
"You'll still be here when I get back tomorrow, right?" he asks.
"Of course," Edward responds.
"What if you have to go to Europe again?" Jacob counters.
Edward smiles affectionately. "I don't have to go anywhere, Jacob, I'll be right here when you get home, we talked about this yesterday. I meant what I said... you're not getting rid of me."
This appeases Jacob a little, and when the horn sounds from outside he skips down the steps, only looking back when he gets to the bottom. We wave the car off before stepping back into the apartment. I whirl in surprise at the sound of the door slamming.
"Come here you!" Edward demands with a salacious grin.
I take off down the hallway towards my bedroom squealing like a child while his footsteps thunder behind me.
"Indulge me?" Edward insists.
I roll my eyes and sink my cheek into the pillow while I look at him. "I'd rather stay in tonight. Jacob isn't here. We should take advantage."
He grinds against my thigh. "We already did... several times," he reminds me. His gaze becomes tender. "I just want to take you out on a proper date. We rarely have the chance to do it. At least let me take you out to dinner."
Rolling onto my back, I lift my watch from the nightstand and glance at it. "It's nearly seven. Can't we just order pizza and stay in bed?"
His response is to drag me out of bed and walk me to the shower. "C'mon, getting out will do us good," he insists, guiding me beneath the spray.
Less than an hour later we pull into the parking lot behind Guilliano's. "I booked a table for eight." Edward informs me as he gets out of the car. He walks around to my side and frowns at me when I open the door and get out.
"What?" I ask, confused by his expression.
"I wanted to open the door for you," he says.
"Jesus, Edward, it's 2011... and I'm not the Queen of England."
Shaking his head at me, he takes my hand in his. "Is this too chivalrous for you?" he mocks lightly, swinging our hands between us.
He opens the restaurant door and a loud buzz of voices mixed with elegant music emanates from within. I've never been inside this restaurant, and it's classier than it looks from the outside. The lighting is subdued with glass-covered candles flickering on the tables. A statuesque blonde greets us at the podium.
"Do you have a reservation?" she asks, her eyes raking appreciatively over Edward while she ignores my presence entirely.
"Yes," Edward responds.
She somehow manages to drag her eyes off him and looks down at the reservation book.
I expect Edward to give his name, but he doesn't. Instead, he leans across the podium and points to the page. "That's us," he says.
With a flick of her wrist she scores her pen across the page and looks up again. When she speaks she's practically purring. "I'll show you to your table, Mr.–" she practically purrs.
"Edward," he says hastily, earning a frown from me.
"Jesus, could she be any more obvious," I grumble after she's seated us at our table. "And what's with asking her to call you Edward?"
"That's my name, isn't it?" Edward chuckles as he glances at his watch before picking up his menu.
"I'm glad being eye fucked by the waitress amuses you," I say sourly.
"Your jealousy amuses me," he points out. "Isn't that usually my department?"
I can't hide my smile as I start to relax. "I'm sorry, I just didn't like the way she was looking at you."
"Well I'm only looking at you. That's all you should care about," he says, looking pointedly at me. "I have no interest in any other woman but you Bella."
Suitably chastised, I drop the subject. I do trust him, but it's not easy witnessing beautiful women fawning over your man.
The waitress doesn't bother us for the rest of the meal. Our food is delicious, and I can't resist asking Edward if I can try a little of his monkfish. He flicks my fork away when I try to stab a piece and instead spears it with his own fork and raises it to my mouth.
His eyes burn as he slides his fork between my lips, and I squirm a little in my seat.
"Good?" he asks huskily.
"Very," I respond, licking my lips. When he mirrors this motion I swallow hard.
He cuts off another piece of the fish with the side of his fork and scoops it up to offer me more. Our surroundings recede into the background, and all I'm aware of is the way his lips pout softly as I let him feed me.
I'm busy planning on having something sticky for dessert when he glances at his watch for the third time in as many minutes and waves his hand at the waitress. The bubble bursts, and I frown when he asks for the bill.
"We're not having dessert?" I ask when he opens his wallet and starts counting out bills.
"Later," he says, still concentrating on the money.
The air is humid and muggy when we step outside. It's dark now, and the neon blue lights illuminating the bridge in the distance catch my eye.
"Let's drive to the beach and go for a walk," Edward suggests, taking my hand and leading me to the car.
"Let's not," I say. "I'm more interested in dessert. Maybe you could feed me in bed."
He slaps my butt playfully and opens the car door for me. "All in good time."
He parks the car at the end of Renee's street and gets out. This time I wait in the car to see if he'll open the door for me. I chuckle when he does. "Why here?" I ask.
He shrugs. "It's as good a spot as any. Come on." He holds his hand out and I take it, wondering if he has a sex on the beach fetish.
The beach looks beautiful at night. The moonlight reflects off the water and casts a soft white glow over the sand. Edward wraps his arm around me and I press myself to his side as we walk. The sound of the waves rolling and receding almost drowns out the muted voices drifting from yards and houses on the periphery of the beach.
Edward scans the houses as we pass.
"What are you thinking?" I ask, raising my chin to look at him.
"It must be wonderful having a view like this," he says, casting his gaze out over the water. "Listen to the sound of the sea. Wouldn't it be lovely sitting out on your back porch listening to that every night?"
Before I have the chance to respond he starts walking with more purpose, and I realise he's leading me towards one of the houses. "What are you doing?" I whisper harshly when he lifts the latch on a gate and tries to pull me into a stranger's back yard. I'm shocked that the gate is unlocked, and I dig my heels into the sand when he curls his hand around my wrist and pulls gently.
"It's okay," he says, motioning his head towards the house. "It's all in darkness. Nobody is home."
"Edward, this is trespassing."
"Don't be so melodramatic," he scolds, his lips curving up into a smirk. "I just want to see what it's like."
"See what what's like?" I ask, looking around frantically for any sign of life.
"Sitting out on the porch with you enjoying the evening."
I look up at the house. It has two stories and looks like it might be some sort of pastel color, but it's difficult to tell in the moonlight. The window frames are white as are the railings that surround the upstairs balconies. I stand frozen to the spot as Edward boldly marches across the paved yard and up the steps that lead to a large deck.
"Edward," I whisper hiss as he saunters past the patio doors and starts pulling back the cover from the porch swing.
Ignoring me, he pulls the cover back completely, sits down and pats the space beside him. Not for the first time tonight he says, "Indulge me."
With another quick glance around I scurry up the steps intent on pulling him away, but he's too fast for me. He grabs me and pulls me down onto his lap. "Shhh!" he says, kissing my lips lightly. "Let's just sit here for five minutes and enjoy the view."
"What's got into you?" I ask, still whispering in case there is someone in the house.
He doesn't answer me, and I start to wonder if he's gone a little bit crazy or if they slipped something into his soda back at the restaurant. He releases his hold on me a little, and I have no choice but to slide onto the seat beside him. His smile is almost beatific when he slips his arm around my shoulder and pushes his foot against the decking. When the seat begins to swing, I cringe at the loud creaking noise it makes.
We sit quietly for a few minutes, swinging in time with the rushing of water rolling over sand. The creaking dies down and, despite my misgivings, I can't fight the relaxation that washes over me. The warmth of Edward's body seeps into my skin, and I lay my head back on his shoulder while I admire the stunning view. Of course I've seen it many times from Renee's house, but something about being here with Edward makes it a hundred times more wondrous.
A long shrill creak pierces the air, and my heart leaps into my throat when it is followed by the unmistakeable clack of footsteps.
"Someone's coming!" I cry, leaping off the swing and almost tumbling directly down the steps in my haste. "Quick!"
I've only made it to the second step when a tall, light-haired woman, dressed in a white blouse and a dark pencil skirt, turns the corner. She smiles at Edward as she walks toward him. I watch in confusion as she tucks the binder she's carrying under her arm, before extending her hand to him. My mouth drops open when she speaks.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting, Edward."
"You're right on time, Celeste. Thank you for doing this," Edward says smoothly, rising from the swing seat to greet her. He clasps her hand in both of his briefly. "I appreciate you agreeing to come at this hour on a Saturday night."
I stand rooted to the spot while they converse as if we're not trespassing on her property. My confusion starts to turn to curiosity. How could Edward possibly know this woman?
As if suddenly remembering that I'm present, Edward turns to me and gestures for me to come forward. "Bella, this is Celeste... she's the realtor selling this house. She's going to show us around."
"What?" is my less than eloquent response.
"Could you give us a few moments please, Celeste?" Edward says, before stepping towards me.
"Of course. Take your time," Celeste answers, unlocking the doors. She disappears inside and almost immediately the decking is illuminated by light streaming from the windows and doors.
I look up at Edward. "What's going on?"
"I wanted to surprise you," he says softly. "I don't want to keep Celeste waiting, so I'll explain it in more detail later... but I think we should stay in Florida." He cups my cheek in his palm. "You and Jacob are happy here. You have your mother here and Jacob has his friends–"
"Wait. You want to move out here? What about your job?" I ask.
"Let's go look at the house," he suggests, pulling me gently towards the door. "We can talk details later."
The house is stunning, but I can hardly concentrate on its beauty or any of what Celeste is telling us about it. My mind is whirling with the sudden change of plans. I have so many questions I want to ask him, but he seems blissfully happy as we roam around what is probably the most beautiful house I've ever been in.
The master bedroom seems to be bigger than my whole apartment, and Edward nudges me when Celeste swings a door open to reveal a large adjoining bathroom complete with a tub that could almost double as a swimming pool.
After we've perused all four bedrooms, three bathrooms and every closet on the upper floor, Celeste leads us back to the master bedroom. "I'll leave you to have a look around. I'll be right downstairs if you need anything. And please, take as much time as you need."
"What do you think?" Edward asks eagerly as soon as her footsteps recede on the stairs.
I stare at him blankly until the questions start to form in my mind. "When did you decide this? When did you plan this?"
He stuffs his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels. "I've been thinking all week that it would be better for us to stay here. You and Jacob are different here; you're more relaxed – like you belong here. I saw the sign outside this place last week and contacted the realtor's office – just to enquire –but the more I thought about it the better the idea seemed. This house is perfect for us."
He takes my hand and leads me to the window. "Look outside. Can you imagine waking up to that view every morning?" He points down into the yard. "We could sit on that swing every night."
He doesn't give me any time to linger before guiding me out of the room and into another down the hall. "This could be Jacob's room," he says, stepping inside. He moves towards the small shower room Celeste showed us earlier. "He'll love having his own bathroom."
This brings a smile to my lips, but again, Edward grabs my hand and strides down the hallway. "This," he says, opening yet another door. "Could be my office."
"Office? Slow down," I beg, struggling to keep up with both his movements and his words.
"I have so many plans," he says, brimming with excitement. "There's so much we need to discuss. Let's start with the house. Do you want us to buy it?"
"I don't know what to say... of course, I want to stay here in Jacksonville, but isn't this place a bit too big? I can't imagine myself living in a house like this."
He pulls me into his arms. "It's beautiful, Bella. You deserve to have the best. We'll be happy here. Imagine Jacob being able to go to the beach all the time... and it's only a short run along the sand to his Nana's house. Say yes, Bella."
In the past I might have worried about moving too fast, but over the last six months I've realised that life is too short. This feels right. I want to spend the rest of my life with him... I want everything he just described.
Happy tears prick my eyes as an epiphany strikes. "On one condition," I say, feeling nervous energy coil in my belly.
"Anything," he says, his lips curving up into a beautiful smile.
"I know we're already a family, but I want it to be official," I say, stumbling a little over my words. "I want it all to be... real. Permanent." I look up into his eyes. "I think we should get married."
His smile vanishes, and my heart lurches in my chest. It never occurred to me that he might not want to get married again.
"I'm sorry," I mumble, the mood ruined. "I thought you'd–"
The pressure of his thumb against my lips stops me from completing my sentence, and when I muster the courage to look up at his face, his eyes are glittering. "This is the Bella I remember," he says approvingly. "Impulsive, passionate, and utterly impatient." He presses his forehead to mine. "So you think we should get married?" he asks with a challenging quirk of his eyebrow. "Or do you want to marry me?"
My head dips. How could I ruin such a lovely moment that he has clearly been planning with my crass suggestion of marriage? Of course I want to marry him, but his question underlines the banality of my words.
"I want to marry you," I insist.
"And this is your idea of a proposal?" His words might have seemed harsh if they had not been accompanied by the tender amusement reflected in his eyes.
Hope bubbles in my chest as I decide to play along. "Give me a minute to get down on one knee." To my surprise he steps back and gestures that I should do so. Maintaining eye contact I drop to the floor, half expecting him to stop me.
"Do you have a ring?" he asks, his tone teasing.
"Men don't wear engagement rings," I point out.
I'm about to ask him when he abruptly pulls me to my feet and kisses the tip of my nose. "May I take over?"
I stare at him while he arches his eyebrows in question. I blink a few times in surprise from the sudden intensity in his eyes. His mood has shifted, and he's suddenly a man on a mission. "Sure," I say, utterly bemused.
He takes my hands in his and leans into me, pressing me back against the wall. "It took me too long to understand my feelings for you, Bella, but I do now. I need you. I've been so lonely without you, and wherever you are is where I need to be. So it doesn't matter where we live," he whispers. "Because you are my home. I love you so much..." His fingers seem to be twisting around mine, pulling and separating until I feel something cool and hard slide into place. "Stay with me forever... be mine," he whispers as he raises my hand to reveal a glittering diamond adorning the third finger of my left hand. "Marry me, Bella."
His words melt my heart and my whole body starts to shake with emotion as a sob chokes in my throat. I nod my head, unable to speak.
He has me in a vice grip, but his touch is still tender. "Say it!" he urges.
"Yes!" I cry, as tears of joy start to spill down my cheeks.
He lifts me up and spins me around, and I cling onto him, burying my face in his neck.
"I love you," I say on a long shuddering breath. He holds me close to his chest, rubbing the bare skin on my shoulders. After a few moments, he gently raises my chin and covers my lips with his. I taste the salty tang of my own tears on his lips.
Eventually I pull back and look at the ring again. "You were going to propose?" I ask, wiping the tears from my cheeks.
"Yeah. You're impatience sort of sidetracked it." He chuckles.
My face flames. "I'm so sorry... it just came to me that I want to marry you."
This seems to please him. "Well before you steal any more of my thunder, I think it's important that I tell you everything I was planning on telling you before I proposed."
"Shouldn't we finish up with Celeste first, she'll be keen to get us out of here so she can go home," I ask as he leads me back down the hallway.
"Are you kidding?" He laughs. "She'll make a very large commission on this place. I'm pretty sure she'd stay here all night just to get the sale." He points to the doors. "Okay, so we've established that this will be Jacob's room. And this," he says, moving his finger, "will be my office, if I want to work from home." I open my mouth to speak, but he doesn't let me. "Shh, I'm not finished."
He pushes open the door next to the office. His demeanor changes, and for the first time he looks a little hesitant. "This could be a nursery," he says softly, watching me closely for my reaction.
His eyes are unwavering as I stare back at him. Closing the short distance between us he takes my hands in his. "I don't want to pressure you, but I have to be honest with you and tell you that I want us to have another baby. I want us... you, me and Jacob to share in it this time. I've been thinking about it a lot... and you don't have to give up your dreams this time. I'm quitting my job with Emmett–"
"What?" I gasp.
"Hear me out... please," he pleads. "I worked hard through med school to become a doctor, and I worked hard with Emmett to build a successful business – but while there was a certain amount of satisfaction and personal pride an attaining those things – I was never fulfilled. Being with you and being a father has fulfilled me in ways I never expected. I want to be around to raise our children with you. You can still go to college because I'll be here sharing it with you. I'm going to be a hands-on father, Bella. I want to take Jacob to school and be here when he gets home. If we have another baby I can take care of it while you're in school..." His voice trails off, and he looks at me hopefully.
"You want to be a stay-at-home dad?"
"Yes. I want to be here taking care of my family."
"But you said you wanted that room to be your office?"
"If I want to work, I can do consultancy work for Emmett from home." He brushes his knuckles down my cheek. "You don't have to answer me right away. I just wanted to tell you that this is what I want, but I know we both have to want it, or it wouldn't fair."
Letting go of his hands, I clasp my fingers around the back of his neck and pull him down. I kiss him with all the passion I can muster before releasing him and gazing up into his face. "I love you. I want to marry you and live here with you," I tell him. "And I do want to have more children with you, but this is a lot to process."
He exhales deeply, seemingly relieved. "We have plenty of time to talk about this," he agrees. He hugs me tightly and whispers in my ear. "We have a wedding to plan first."
My heart feels fit to burst with happiness.
As we leave the room, I look at the house with renewed interest. Suddenly the colour of the walls, the flooring and the fixtures seem more important. Celeste hops off the barstool in the kitchen when she sees our approach.
Edward strides towards her happily. "We'll come into the office on Monday and make our offer."
Celeste clasps her hands together and grins at us. "I'm so glad you like it," she says sincerely.
We thank her for agreeing to come here tonight and then hurry back to the car. "Do you want to go tell your mom?" he asks, starting the engine.
"No," I say. "I want us to tell Jacob first. He'll want to be there when we tell Renee and Phil."
"Of course," he agrees.
On the drive home I admire the ring on my finger and struggle to comprehend what happened tonight. The ring spins freely, and though I know that I will have to get it resized, the symbolism of it keeps the grin on my face all the way home.
"I can't believe you were planning to propose," I say, and my voice sounds breathy with emotion. "When did you buy the ring?"
"I bought it in Paris," he says, sliding his hand across the seat and onto my thigh. "The time apart made me realise that I never want to be away from you again. I want to be bound to you in every possible way."
I turn my head to stare at him. His eyes stay trained on the road, and I let my eyes roam over his handsome features. I take in the few flecks of grey at his temples, his impossibly long eyelashes, the strong sharp jut of his jaw, and my insides quiver when my gaze falls on his soft full lips. Everything about him is perfect for me, both inside and out.
His eyes cut to mine briefly. "What are you staring at?" he asks lightly.
"My future husband," I say with a smirk.
His hand captures mine, and he presses his smiling lips to my fingers before lowering our hands and leaving them resting on his thigh.
We practically run up the stairs to the apartment, and as soon as the door closes behind us we're a tangle of limbs and locked lips as we stumble towards my bedroom. The door crashes against the wall – he pushes it open so forcefully – and then my feet are off the ground as he lifts me before lowering me onto the bed.
His knees force my legs apart, and he settles between them. "Would you like your dessert now?" he asks with a playful smirk.
"Yes please!" I gasp as he grinds his erection into me forcefully.
The pent-up sexual tension that we've hardly been able to sate all week explodes into life. The air is electric around us as we pull each other's clothes off. I attack every inch of bare skin I expose with my lips and teeth and revel in the feel of his strong hands gripping my hair tightly. His groan is so loud it's almost a roar when my lips slide over his engorged length.
The freedom of not having to worry about being heard is exhilarating, and I make as much noise as possible as I suck his orgasm from him. He flops back onto the bed and pulls me gently up his body.
"Fuck, Bella!" he pants, struggling to catch his breath. His eyes are still fiery and filled with passion when he cradles my chin in his hand and plants a scorching kiss on my mouth. He leans back against the pillows and pulls me into his arms so that my upper body is positioned across his chest. I rub my fingers over his soft chest hairs before resting my chin on the back of my hand. The heavy thump of his heart drums against my fingers.
"I'm sorry I ruined the proposal," I say. "When were you going to do it?"
"You didn't ruin it." He smiles at me tenderly. "I was hoping you would agree to buying the house, so I could do it right after."
"What if I didn't want the house?"
"Then I would've waited till we found one you did want."
"It was beautiful," I say with a wistful sigh.
"It is a beautiful house." He smiles.
"That too, but I was referring to what you said. When you said I was your home... that means so much to me. I can't wait to be your wife."
Raw emotion burns in his eyes when I say the words. "You've made me so happy by saying yes," he tells me, his voice thick and low. "I can't imagine living without you now. Nothing in my life has made me feel the way you do. Nothing compares to the feelings I have when I'm with you. I never knew it was possible to be this happy and content – and sometimes I feel like I don't deserve it –but I want to be a better man for you Bella. For you and Jacob."
"You're perfect just the way you are," I insist.
"I want to put it all behind me. I don't want to be Edward Cullen anymore," he says. "He was weak and selfish, and I don't want you to be the second Mrs. Edward Cullen..." He pauses, looking a little worried by that admission. "I changed my name back to Masen. All of this is new to me. I've never felt this way about anybody but you and I don't want you to be my second wife, I want you to be the first and only Mrs. Edward Masen."
I am stunned by his heartfelt admission, but he doesn't wait for me to respond. His arms envelop me as he rolls me onto my back, his lips covering mine. His kiss is firm and strong and filled with need as his tongue slides between my parted lips.
His fingers delve into my hair, his thumbs massaging my temples as the kiss deepens. My whole body hums from the pleasure of his skin pressed against mine. His head rises, breaking the kiss, and my heart swells when I watch his pupils dilate with desire. His eyes blaze with need, and my heart starts to pound as loudly as his.
His breath is warm and sweet when it huffs through his parted lips, fanning across my face. "I love you," he promises.
"Make love to me," I respond, trailing my fingers down the firm expanse of muscles on his back, feeling them undulate as he moves over me.
My legs part willingly, and the sensation of him hardening against my thigh sends a current of bliss rushing through my body. His muscles bunch beneath my hands when he stoops to capture my nipple with his lips and my fingers bite deeper into his flesh in my attempts to pull him closer still. Delight erupts in a loud whimper from my throat when he sucks my aching bud into his mouth, laving it roughly with his tongue. The soft sucking noise of his mouth on my skin arouses me further. I need his kiss. My fingers slide up into his silky hair, gripping it lightly to lift his face to mine.
His lips are hot and wet and slightly swollen and he exhales into my mouth when my hand reaches down to cup his firm buttock. When his tongue presses between my lips, I stroke it with my own, enjoying the familiar taste of him that I can never get enough of. My hips jut upwards of their own volition, telling him silently that I need him inside me.
He breaks the kiss and gazes deep into my eyes. I feel him nudging at my entrance. He pauses briefly, asking me a question without words. I tip my chin slightly in acquiescence. His eyes flicker with an emotion that is somewhere between pleasure and gratitude, before his head drops to my neck and his hips push slowly forward.
In the quiet of the apartment I can only hear the soft panting he emits into my ear. Long, slow stroking – no one can make me feel the way he does. No one ever will. I grip him and no matter how close he's pressed into me it isn't enough. He lifts me to him as though he can't get close enough either. Heat and pressure and the stirrings of pleasure to come radiates through me – consuming me.
His pace is slow but strong and sure. He rises, leaning on his elbows and I lift my head to his chest. The salty tang of his sweat greets my tongue when I taste him. His musky scent fills my nostrils, and I glory in the pure pleasure of him filling up every one of my senses.
He asks me to look at him, and I do. His face is beautiful, flushed from his exertions and glowing with a heady mixture of love and lust. His lips drop to mine delivering another potent kiss. I reciprocate willingly while my hips start to undulate in time with his. His words from earlier play in my mind, deepening the connection I'm now feeling.
This is more than physical gratification... so much more.
My pulse kicks up a notch as my body starts to crave release. His breath washes over my face in short sharp puffs as his pace quickens. His hand cups my face, holding it in place while his eyes penetrate mine. He gazes at me as if he can see into my soul. "I love you so much, baby," he pants, his face contorting with pleasure. "Can you feel it?"
"Yes," I rasp, emotion constricting my throat. Everything is heightened: his intoxicating scent surrounding me, the tangy taste of his skin on my tongue, the feel of his heart pounding in time with my own, and most of all the love I can see in his eyes and hear in his voice.
Desperate to be closer still, I raise my legs and wrap them around his waist. Desire ripples through me when his pubic bone starts to rub against me – heightening my pleasure.
"Come inside me," I gasp.
His eyes are filled with emotion, and I pull his head down into the crook of my neck. I call out in pleasure when he clamps his mouth to my shoulder, scraping my skin with his teeth. His muscles flex and bunch beneath my eager fingers as he pushes us both to completion, and the loud groan that heralds his orgasm sounds like music as it tips me over the edge towards my own.
Tiny aftershocks send tremors rippling through my muscles as he continues to stroke languidly, bringing me down from my high. We lie with arms wrapped around each other, still breathing heavily. His lips flutter over my collarbone while I smooth my fingers through his sweat-soaked hair. He kisses a path up to my lips and then nibbles my lip gently.
His forehead rests on mine. His breathing is still a little laboured. "I know it's a little like acting after the horse has bolted, but are you sure it was okay?"
I know instantly what he's referring to. "I want it all: Marriage, more babies," I cup his cheek. "A full life."
"I didn't want to rush you," he says.
"I want this," I insist. "I want to live in the moment, do everything we want now. What's the point in waiting when we both know this is what we want? And besides, who knows how long it will take us to conceive... we're not getting any younger." I try to inject some humour into my tone on the last part.
"What if it happens right away?" he asks, still seemingly concerned that he's pushing too hard.
"Then it's meant to be... and I'll be delighted."
He rolls off me, and I snuggle into his side. His hand caresses my hip, and I press a kiss to his shoulder.
"When did you change your name?" I ask eventually.
"It was finalised a few weeks ago."
"Doesn't it take forever to do that?"
He chuckles softly. "Not if you know the right palms to grease."
"What made you decide to do it?" I can't resist asking.
His fingers tighten on my skin. "I meant what I said. I've never been comfortable as Edward Cullen... I know it's only a name... but I really believe that I'm a different man now. I don't want to bear Carlisle's name and I don't want you to be sullied by it either. I'm sorry if indirectly referring to Irina bothered you, but I need you to know that this is so much more. You are so much more than she ever was. You and I are equals, and I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of."
I touch his face, sweeping my thumb over his lips. "I know," I whisper. "I can feel it."
His smile lights up his whole face and instantly the mood is lifted.
"Just one thing though," I say, and he quirks his eyebrow at me. "Wasn't your mother the first Mrs. Edward Masen?" I ask, tongue firmly in cheek.
He tickles my ribs. "Ever the pedant."
Thank you for reading
Kat