DISCLAIMER: This story is a Twilight spin-off/crossover of the movie made for TV in 2000 titled Sex and Mrs. X. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, dialogues, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT: Come Closer


I set my phone down and lay back against the pillows. It had been such a long time since I'd felt this way. No, I'd never really felt this way before. What I had with Tia didn't compare to what I could possibly have with Bella. In my forty-two years of life, no one had ever come close.

She owned me.

Completely.

Irrevocably.

I was so afraid to come on too strong, knowing that she still held some reservation, thanks to that salaud she was married to. I could never understand how he had been able to mistreat a woman like Bella, so tender, sweet, sexy and witty. She was one in a million, and I vowed to never make the same mistakes he had. I knew I was bound to do something wrong eventually, I was only human after all, but I prayed to be able to recognize my mistakes before it would be too late.

I wanted so badly to be good for her, to show her what we could have should not be something to be afraid of, but I felt like my time was running out. I knew she had to go back to Seattle sooner rather than later, and I dreaded to think she would forget about us once she left Paris.

That was why I decided to make some plans of my own.

I hoped it was not too presumptuous of me to make them.

I hoped she wanted me as much as I wanted her.

I could only hope.

The next morning I was surprised when I went downstairs to not only find my son and housekeeper, but also Cara and Lexi.

They had decided to extend their trip and attend Tatie's ball. I had taken this past week off, thinking I would be spending it with Bella, not counting on her going on tour. Alas, I had to take advantage of my free time, so after I came back from Cannes, I had arranged a week getaway for them as an anniversary present; which gave them a little privacy that they couldn't have with Alex around. I sent my friends to a beautiful beach cottage a client of mine had rented so they could enjoy their last week of vacation alone.

The girls had returned early in order to rest before the ball on Saturday, but I could immediately tell the trip had been good for them. They came back refreshed and glowing from Cannes. They lived such a hectic life in New York, with their interior design business booming for the last couple of years. I knew this trip had been very difficult to organize, especially for Lexi, who managed the business like a tight ship. She could be fierce and I had seen her make men twice her size cry. I often mocked her by telling her she had probably been an Italian mob boss in her former life. Cara was more laid-back about the business side, but I would never dare call her when I knew she was in one of her creative modes; that woman could be lethal with a can of Pringles, the scar on my hairline being proof of it.

We ate breakfast, the girls telling us about the sailboat they rented for a day. When they asked about my plans for the day, I told them I had a date with Bella, but that I had no idea where to take her. Cara recommended the restaurant she had helped design here in Paris, but I wanted a more private setting. Lexi recommended a dance club when I mentioned I wanted to take Bella dancing, but I wasn't sure I would like to practically yell every time I wanted to say something.

It was Alex who made the most brilliant suggestion of them all.

"How about having a picnic under the stars on the terrace? The weather is nice and I could even help you set it up. There are some white Christmas lights we could drape on the bushes and you have the computers in the shed to play music."

I threw my arm around Alex's shoulder and kissed the top of his head. "You are brilliant! That is an excellent idea, mon fils."

Three hours later, we had everything set up on the terrace. I had even called in some reinforcements to help me decorate.

"This is the last of the candles," said Tanya, as she walked in with a box of small perfumed candles. Those were supposed to float on the small fountain along with the rose petals she brought too.

"Thank you, Tan. For everything."

"I'm more than happy to help," she answered. "You never told me if Bella liked the dress."

I smiled. "She did. At first, she tried to tell me it was too much, but I managed to convince her otherwise."

Tanya laughed. "I bet you did, smooth talker. I'm glad Felix was able to help you."

"Yes, remind me to buy him a bottle of scotch when he comes back. How is that husband of yours doing? Is he coming to Tatie's ball?"

Tanya shook her head. "No, he is going to be in London for another week, but it's okay. Irina will be my date for the ball, even if I have to drag her by the hair!"

I chuckled and helped her put the candles into the small glass cups. "God forbid she attends of her own free will."

We both broke into laughter and then finished up decorating the terrace.

I decided not to cook a big meal, but settled for a few finger foods and paninis, to give the feel of a picnic date. I did, however, purchase a bottle of champagne and placed everything inside a basket. Because I had spent too much time getting everything ready, so I decided to buy dessert at Le Canard. I bought two of their famous peppermint and chocolate crème brûlée with Madeira cake and caramelized walnuts, knowing Bella loved this particular dessert.

Once everything was ready, Lexi and Cara took Alex to see a movie and a sleepover at their hotel, wishing me luck and a nice evening. Tanya left soon after and I, once again, thanked her for all her help when I escorted her to the door.

Alone, I checked that everything was ready one more time, and then ran up the stairs to my bedroom and started getting ready. I showered and shaved. I picked a charcoal grey suit to wear. I forwent the tie and simply left the top two buttons of my white oxford shirt open. I checked my black dress shoes for any dirt or marks before I put them on. After splashing on some cologne, I picked up my keys and wallet and left to pick Bella up.

One hour later, I stood in front of Bella's bedroom door. I could hear her walking around the room and when I knocked on the door, I heard a soft thump and a curse.

"Bella? Are you all right?"

The door opened and I felt all the breath leave my lungs.

Bella stood there in a satin blue dress. The dress looked like it was wrapped around her from the waist up, with the skirt flaring down to her knees. She was wearing black stockings and a pair of very high black pumps. Her hair was down in waves and her makeup was natural, but the red coral lipstick she wore called out to me. Her lips looked so plump and ripe, it took everything in me not to kiss her senseless.

"Bella… you look magnifique, so beautiful."

She blushed and bit her bottom lip. "Thank you," she answered breathlessly. "You look…"

I chuckled and took her hand. I kissed her knuckles softly and then pulled her to me to plant a small chaste kiss on each of her blushing cheeks.

"You look good, too, Edward."

"Merci. Are you ready?" I asked her.

She nodded and a few minutes later, I was helping her get into my car.

"I'm surprised," she commented when I pulled the car away from the curb. "I never pegged you for an Aston Martin driver."

I smirked, surprised she recognized the model. "My father was a big fan of English cars. This car was actually his; I inherited it when he passed away. It's an Aston Martin One-77 and it was originally white, but my dad hated it, so he had it painted the dark chrome color it is now."

"I'm just so used to seeing you drive your compact SUV."

"I do not have the pleasure of driving it often; it is not very practical since it only seats two, but I thought tonight would be perfect." I grabbed her hand and kissed her pulse point. "I have missed you, so I wanted to make tonight special."

She blushed and then leaned in, planting a long kiss softly on the corner of my mouth. "Thank you and I missed you, too," she practically purred in my ear.

I groaned, glancing at her, but kept my eyes on the road in front of us. "Tease."

"You love it!"

I grinned and turned my head to look at her at a red light. "More than you know."

She blushed beautifully, and I took advantage of the red traffic light to steal a kiss.

One hour later, we were at the terrace. Bella had gotten teary-eyed when she saw what I had arranged and thanked me with a searing kiss that left me wanting more.

We were finishing off our meal and the second bottle of wine, talking about Alex and Bella's step-siblings, when I noticed Bella's expression darken, as if she were reliving a bad memory. I took her hand and squeezed it to gain her attention.

"Hey, what is it? What has you so sad?"

Bella shook her head and sighed. "I was just remembering back to our first date. There is something you should know, Edward."

I stood up from my seat across the table and sat down next to her, pulling her chair closer to mine.

"You can tell me anything, ma douce," I reassured her.

"The reason why Peter and I never had kids was because neither of us could."

I froze. "Oh, Bella…"

She shook her head, biting her lip. I saw her eyes watering, but before I could say anything else, she continued.

"When we first got married, we tried. For five years, we tried to have a baby. Eventually, we both decided to seek a specialist and he pretty much confirmed what we'd wanted to deny. Peter was practically sterile and I… well," she huffed, running a hand through her hair. "I wasn't producing enough hormones to ovulate. We gave up after that. I tried to sell Peter the idea of adoption, but he didn't want to." She shrugged, like it was something that didn't matter, but I could see that it still hurt her from the small flinch she made. "When my dad remarried, and Seth and Leah came along, I pretty much became like a second mom to them. Being the eldest, they often sought me out for advice and looked up to me. They were the reason why I wanted so much to be a mom, but I guess it wasn't in my destiny to become one. It eventually became another dream I'd never see come true."

I couldn't stand her sad look anymore. I picked her up and sat her on my lap. I cupped her lovely face and looked straight into her eyes.

"You will be an excellent mother one day, Isabella. I have seen the way you are with Alex. You are so caring, so selfless, so loving... you were born to be a mom, and when the time comes, if you allow me, I would do everything in my power to make that dream come true for you, I promise."

I softly dried her tears with my thumbs and then pulled her face closer to me.

"You deserve all the happiness in the world, ma douce," I whispered against her lips right before I kissed her.

When she pulled back, she was smiling again. "Thank you, Edward."

"No need to thank me, Bella." I winked and she blushed.

She stood up and excused herself to the bathroom. I took the opportunity to get the dessert from the cooler I had in my office and set it on the table.

When Bella came back, the air felt lighter, like she had finally let the weight of her past go. We ate our desserts, stealing bites from each other's plates, even though we were eating the same thing.

"I love this crème brûlée," she said, licking the spoon and making me bite back a groan. "And the strawberries that came with it are so sweet."

"I know," I said, biting one of those said strawberries, the juice spilling down my chin.

Before I could wipe it off with my napkin, Bella leaned in and licked it off.

This time, I didn't hold back the groan.

"Bella," I whimpered, and then crashed my lips against hers, tasting both the chocolate from the crème brûlée and the strawberries.

I had no idea what had gotten into her, Bella had never been this forward with me before, but I couldn't complain. I wanted her so badly, but knew that I had to let her set the pace.

I slowed down the kiss knowing that if I didn't, I would take her right then and there on top of the table. She deserved so much better than that.

A familiar tune started as I pulled back.

"Dance with me," I said against her now-swollen lips.

She blinked. "Um, I'm not really a good dancer, Edward," she said hesitantly, as I pulled her up and a few paces away from the table.

I grinned. "Do not worry, ma douce, it is all in the leading."

I took her hand in mine as she placed the other one on my shoulder. The beat of the song was sensual and I quickly led her into the dance as the singing began. I danced the known eight beats of the salsa and, for someone who had claimed not to be good at dancing, Bella was able to follow easily.

Mirándote a los ojos se responden mis porqués.
Me inspiro en tus palabras y mi casa está en tu piel.

Que tierno amor, mi devoción, viniste a ser mi religión
Mi dulce sentimiento de nada me arrepiento

Que vivan los momentos en tu boca y en tu cuerpo

Mujer…

I spun her around as the beat quickened and her laughter filled me with warmth. She was so easy to lead, and there was a spark in her eyes as I pulled her closer to me. She kept looking down at her feet, not in a self-conscious way, but to see the steps. After she got the count back, she would look up and smile a proud smile as she kept up with me.

She was fearless.

She was exquisite.

Valió la pena lo que era necesario para estar contigo amor.
Tú eres una bendición las horas y la vida de tu lado, nena.
Están para vivirlas pero a tu manera.

Enhorabuena, porque valió la pena.
Valió la pena, valió la pena.

I couldn't take my eyes off her, her smile was wide. I did everything to make her laugh and I mentally thanked the dancing lessons Lexi had forced me to take back in college. I dipped her again, her head falling back exposing her lovely neck, and I couldn't help myself from kissing her pulse point.

Valió la pena lo que era necesario para estar contigo amor.
Tú eres una bendición las horas y la vida de tu lado, nena.
Están para vivirlas pero a tu manera.

Enhorabuena, porque valió la pena.
Valió la pena, valió la pena.

¡Boricua!

I kept her close, our hips gyrating to the beat of the song. One of my hands traced her back and then down to her hip and thigh. I hitched her leg around my hip and spun us around.

Porque valió la pena amor
Sí que valió la pena
Vivir a tu manera amor, ay enhorabuena
Valió la pena.

As the song ended, I dipped her one more time and when I pulled her back, she kissed me. Her hands were pulling my hair and I moaned when her tongue pushed my mouth open.

It was a hungry kiss, one like she had never given me before.

I loved every second of it.

I loved her.

When we pulled back, both of us panting, she asked me something I never thought she would.

"Where is your studio, Edward?"

I ran the back of my hand against her flushed cheeks. "It is just a block away. Why?"

She took my hand and kissed my knuckles. "Because I think—no, I'm sure that I'm ready for my close-up."

My breath hitched. "You mean…"

"Yes," she nodded, biting her lip. "I want to pose for you, Edward."


BETA: Mauigirl60 | PRE-READER: Alterite

SONG: Valio la pena by Marc Anthony

LINK: youtu. be/Ns9YYSqLxyI [delete the space after the dot]

TRANSLATION SONG:

Looking in your eyes, my whys receive an answer
Your words inspire me and my home is in your skin

What a tender love, my devotion, you became my religion
My sweet feeling, I regret nothing

Long live the moments in your mouth and in your body

Woman...

...

It was worth it, what was necessary to be with you, love.
You are a blessing, hours and life with you, baby.
They are to be lived, but in your way.

Congratulations, because it was worth it.
It was worth it, it was worth it.

...

Because it was worth it, love
Yes it was worth it
Living your way love, oh congratulations
It was worth it.