The Transfer (Revised)
A/N: I don't know who is more excited: You, when you get updates or Me, when I get your reviews. It is so, so, so appreciated! And it makes me update like a fiend. Let's hit the bar; drinks are on me! Actually I'd rather have Edward on me, but wouldn't we all?
I'm not Stephenie Meyer, neither are you. Infringing? Don't even think it!
When we last visited with Edward and Bella they were in the pantry. Let's get them out of there and on with the weekend!
A Very Cullen Weekend Part IX
Chapter 45: The Food Network (Revised)
EPOV
As soon as I'd heard Emmett's voice, catching me grinding up against Bella, I had opened the pantry door behind her, pushing up against her so she moved backwards. I'd walked her inside, shutting the door and turning on the light within. And then I just kissed the hell out of her again, because despite Emmett, I really hadn't been finished with her lips and tongue yet. She laughed into my mouth as she kissed me, and that made me laugh a little at her, into her mouth. Kind of a weird thing to do, I suppose. But really, nothing between me and Bella ever seems weird; it just feels pretty right and natural and comfortable and it's the greatest feeling in the world.
I'd never imagined that a relationship with a girl could feel so easy and natural. It was like breathing. And anymore it was probably just as sustaining.
Emmett yelled some other goofball remark, from on the other side of the pantry door, announcing to my dad that I was 'cooking in the pantry'. I know he's happy for me and he likes Bella, and I know he's got to respect her, because she dishes out some pretty good shit right back at him with all of his shit. This is his way of letting us know that he approves of our actions. Really, he's nothing more than a large cheerleader in his own weird way and he's rooting for Team Edward.
His antics don't bother me as much as you'd think. When I was younger, and Emmett was first dabbling in the whole girlfriend business, I used to spy on him, tattle on him, and just make his life miserable in general whenever possible. Then, when I'd gone on the occasional date, or had an interest in a girl, Emmett let me have it right back.
When Tanya and I were dating, he was a lot less aggressive, though, because I think he knew there was always more serious stuff to deal with in that relationship.
He'd left me alone, of course, after Tanya's suicide. He knew I had enough shit to deal with to last me quite a while. I think he missed having a younger brother to harass while I went through my MIA period of life. The whole family had tiptoed around me for a while, and that had been especially difficult for Emmett, as you can well imagine.
But now he was obviously done walking on eggshells around me. With Bella in the picture, and me the happiest I think I'd ever felt, he was stomping on the eggshells with great abandon; yolk and white flying everywhere. I think that's one reason why he likes Bella; she's given him back the younger brother he always wanted; to torment, that is. The torment is okay, though, I know it's just thinly veiled brotherly love.
I was realizing now, at this point in my life, that although I had cared for Tanya, and she had cared for me, it had never been an easy relationship. It had always been a bit of an effort. Part of that, obviously, was all of her issues. Part of it was also being younger, and insecure with my own self, and just not very knowledgeable in general about the whole business of being part of a couple and how that should work for the best results.
You might wonder how I would think I knew any more about being part of a couple now, since I had been very individual for the past three years. I think most of it came from observation. I'd watched Emmett in his relationship with Rose and Alice in her relationship with Jasper. Both of them had really good relationships, strong relationships, with someone who loved them for who they were. Although in the case of Rose, I knew she was at least trying to curb Emmett a bit. That was entirely understandable. But Emmett and Alice weren't trying to figure out how they should act for Rose and Jasper. They just were. And they accepted Rose and Jasper for the way they were. I think the whole key, besides love, was being accepting and nurturing of each other. Wasn't that all really just common sense?
So I already knew all that was important. That was what I wanted. And amazingly, that was what I now had with Bella. And it was really quite, fucking glorious if I do say so myself.
So there Bella and I are kissing in the pantry, and then Emmett's yelling. We stop to listen to what he's saying, and then Bella suddenly reaches up to wrap her arms around my neck and she pulls me back down and plants a big juicy one right on my lips. It's not the usual kiss from her; it's not just a sweet little chaste kiss, but it's also not the hot and sexy kisses I've been growing so fond of. It's just really exuberant. I pull back to look at her face and she is just all smiles; a big, happy grin plastered across her pretty face.
"Edward," she looks up at me, her hands against my cheeks now, "I'm so happy; you make me so happy." And then she sighs, contentedly.
I lean my forehead down against hers and smile and I have to agree. "I think this is pretty much my life at its very best so far," I tell her as I kiss her nose.
"How much of that do you think has to do with being inside a pantry?" she asks with a smile curling the corners of her lips.
"Not much," I chuckle. "I mean, sure the pantry is good and all that, but I have this fabulous girlfriend, and she just makes everything pale in comparison to the pantry."
"I love you, Edward Anthony Cullen." She says this with a big, happy smile on her lips.
"I love you, Isabella Marie Swan." My smile is an identical one.
We stand there, hugging, swaying together a little to some imaginary music in our contentment. But I know it has to come to an end. We have to get back out to our pain-in-the-ass chocolate cake. The annoying, pain-in-the-ass, chocolate cake that just keeps disrupting the flow of things. Such a bastard! The timer is probably going to go off any minute now.
So I open the door as I turn off the light, and as I walk back out into the kitchen, I see that they are all there. Emmett, Rose, Alice and Jasper are all standing, leaning against the granite countertop. They all have their arms crossed over their chests and have been waiting for us and now are smirking, eyeing me and Bella as she appears from behind me, exiting the pantry together.
I turn to her and quickly say, "…and so, that is the pantry, Bella! And now you've seen the whole kitchen and the way my mother likes to organize her shelves!" I waved grandly with my arm, like I was finishing up some extensive homeowner's tour.
They don't look convinced, but Bella jumps right in.
"Wow, that was really interesting, Edward! Thanks for the tour. I really like what your mom's done with the place and I'm so impressed with her alphabetical organization of her cupboards and pantry."
She's quick on the uptake, and it's one of the things that just delights me about her.
"Yeah, nice try, both of you," Emmett shakes his head. "You're going to have to do better than that." They all nod and wait expectantly.
We both look at them for a second, and then at each other, and then Bella rushes across to the other counter area, saying, "Oh, Edward, here's the bittersweet chocolate for the cake! You didn't put it away in the pantry like you thought after all!" She smiles sweetly at me, and then rather hopefully at them as she tries to pass me the chocolate. I reach my arm out to take the proffered chocolate from her.
"No, uh-uh," Alice was shaking her head, "that's even less likely. Bella, I'm surprised at you! We've seen and heard what you're capable of. We deserve better. You have no idea what an effort it was to stand out here quietly and wait for you both to emerge."
Bella looks up at me, shrugs, and then she tries again.
"Edward," she says, curling herself into my side and speaking in a rather sexy, breathless voice, while drawing little circles on my chest with a fingernail, "you are most definitely The Pantry Sex King. That was the best pantry sex I've had in, like, forever! And your creative use of canned goods, well, I still feel overwhelmed just thinking about it. Now let's go try out the pool table." She quirked her eyebrow at me. I pursed my lips and gave her a little nod, then I wrapped my arms around her and dipped her almost to the floor, growling and then kissing her like I had in the grocery store for Emmett's benefit.
I thought that must have gone over pretty well. We turned our heads to look up at the others as I held her there, dipped to the ground, post-kiss, and they all burst out laughing and applauding.
"That works for me," Rose declared as I stood Bella back upright. "Come on, Emmett, we've got to start on our appetizer, and then we'll have to try out the pantry and canned goods later. And you'd better dip me when you kiss me."
"You know I will, Baby!" Emmett said, seemingly agreeable to pantry sex.
"Alice," Jasper turned to her, "when did you guys get a pool table?"
"Oh Jazzy, there's no pool table. Just the one in Bella's twisted imagination. If we'd had a pool table, you'd have found out about it long ago."
He just looked a little sad, but nodded his head. And then his features brightened a little. "You might think about mentioning getting one to your dad. It would be a nice addition to the playroom. I'd chip in. A pool table has possibilities."
We were all still chuckling as the oven began beeping, announcing that the annoying, pain-in-the-ass, Chocolate Bastard Cake was done baking.
BPOV
Edward grabbed two oven mitts and removed the cake tins from the oven, setting them on the counter to cool. The kitchen was beginning to bustle with dinner preparation activities.
Emmett and Rose had begun cleaning and then peeling potatoes and an onion. Jasper and Alice had washed several different varieties of tomatoes and bell peppers. Carlisle had entered the kitchen and was taking various ingredients out of the pantry and cupboards.
"This has got to cool a little before we do the next step." I told Edward as I looked down at the hot, chocolate-cake-filled pans, touching their springy surface lightly with a fingertip. "I guess we can just hang out a bit until they're cool enough to do the next step."
Edward looked at me for a moment, then he cocked an eyebrow and he took me by the hand, leading me into the living room. At first I thought he was going to pull me down to one of the couches, after that kiss in the kitchen but then he pulled me over to the piano instead and sat down on the bench, patting the space next to him for me.
"Oh, this is great! I completely forgot about you playing the piano, Edward! Will you play something for me?"
He smirked at me. "No, I thought we'd just sit here quietly for a few minutes and look at the keys."
I gave him a well-deserved shove and he snorted a laugh.
"I mean, obviously I brought you over here to sit by me while I play something for you!" His smiling face was tipped down toward me and I saw the silly twinkle in his eyes.
"Just get on with it then!" I laughed, shoving my shoulder into him once again.
He wiped the silly expression off his face, pursing his lips in thought for a moment. Then he made a big show of limbering up his fingers, hands, wrists and arms, stretching out and rolling his shoulders and then stretching his neck. He turned to me after about a minute of that.
"Ready?" he asked.
"You're not going to stretch your long legs and do ankle twirls?"
He giggled. "No."
I love his giggle. It's still really so unexpected. And the fact that it's coming from such a big, hot-looking guy just makes it all the more priceless.
"So start playing! You're the one holding things up here. Either start or I'm going to take a nap, this is taking waaay too long."
He threw back his head and laughed, then turned to smile at me and kissed me on the temple.
"So impatient! Okay, here goes."
He held his fingers over the keys momentarily, then with a great flourish, began playing 'Chopsticks'. I burst out laughing and joined in a moment later. We were both soon laughing hysterically as we played it faster and faster.
"Why, Isabella Swan, I didn't know you were so accomplished!" he yelled over the sound of the frantic, pounding music.
"Why Edward Cullen, I wasn't aware you were such a freaking dork!" I giggled right back at him as we finished.
His arm went around my waist and he kissed my forehead, smiling. "Only for you, love. I don't share my dorkiness with just anyone. It takes a very special person to turn me into an idiot."
I rolled my eyes at him as he smiled back proudly. "Now I feel really special, Edward. Just play, already."
Finally he turned back to the keyboard. I watched him then, as he became more serious, and began running his fingers up and down the keys, warming up a little. He stopped for a moment, rubbed his palms on the thighs of his jeans, and then began playing. I instantly recognized the beginning notes of "Claire de Lune." The music filled the room.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Carlisle appear at the doorway and smile as he leaned against the archway, listening for quite a while before retreating back to the kitchen.
Edward played beautifully. It was hard to decide whether I should watch his long elegant fingers moving across the keys or the concentrated, yet serene look on his face. He seemed transported as he played, and I was completely taken by surprise at his ability and the way the music obviously moved him. He was stunning to watch as he played. The music was so flawless he sounded like a concert pianist.
As the last of the notes sounded out and ebbed away he turned back toward me, his eyes wide, smiling a little shyly, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Edward, you play beautifully! That was lovely," I told him truthfully.
"That was 'Claire de Lune'…" he began explaining, but I already knew.
"…By Claude Debussy," I finished for him. "Yes, I know, it's one of my mom's favorites. I've always loved that song. That was truly amazing. Play something else, please."
Edward turned back to the piano, thinking for a moment, then began playing another song that I'd never heard before. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye once again and looked back to see Esme appear and take a seat in the corner of one of the couches, smiling at me and giving me a wink as she relaxed back and closed her eyes, listening to Edward play. I smiled, then turned back to watch his hands as he played. When he'd finished the piece, Esme began clapping and Edward turned around in surprise.
"Just beautiful, Edward! Thank you for playing my song. As you can see, it lured me out of my hiding place."
He smiled at her in response.
"What song was that?" I asked.
"Uh, it doesn't have a name. I've just always called it 'Esme's song'."
"Wait, you wrote that song?" I asked him in surprise.
"Yeah, it's a song I wrote for my mom. I like to write music. I told you that when we had our ice cream picnic up on your roof."
"I guess I just didn't realize you'd be that good," I told him honestly.
He shrugged nonchalantly. "If the college thing doesn't work out, I just may become a lounge lizard, playing piano in bars, drinking and smoking, becoming a creature of the night."
I smiled at him as he turned back to the piano and suddenly began playing a rather slow, calm 'Happy Birthday' in rather muted tones. Esme smiled as Carlisle, Emmett, Rosalie, Alice and Jasper slowly began to appear in the archway at the entrance to the living room.
Edward heard them, turning to look over his shoulder, and began the song a second time, playing much more loudly and forcefully. They all chimed in singing exuberantly to Esme, but not necessarily in tune. Edward and I joined them as well. And, horrible singer that I am, Edward began making faces at me, wincing and flinching at every other note. I elbowed him as he finished with a crescendo and everyone hit their own individual parting note in a variety of octaves.
"Well now, that was certainly thoughtful," Esme teased, with a finger stuck in her ear and a pained look on her face, when the noise had died down. "But I might add that I'm glad I only have to listen to that once a year."
Everyone laughed, beaming about their raucous commemoration of her special day.
"Now, you're not out here to spy on us, are you, my lovely?" Carlisle asked Esme. His eyebrow was arched and he had a twinkle in his eye.
"Uh-oh, caught!" She laughed at him then. "No, actually, Dear, I came out to listen to Edward play. It's been a while. It sounded so wonderful. I promise I won't snoop in the kitchen. Play one more song for me Edward. How about 'Stardust'?"
Edward nodded to her and turned back to me.
"Do you know it?"
I shook my head. "I don't think so."
"It's another old classic; this was written by Hoagy Carmichael, late 1920's. Originally it had a faster tempo, but beginning about a decade or so later, it was played as a ballad. That's the way my mom prefers it. It's one of my mother's favorites."
He began playing. The music was a little melancholy but mesmerizing. Again, as I listened, I was torn, unable to decide whether to watch his seraphic face or his long, sensual fingers. I looked at him in profile, his brows knit slightly in concentration, his lips pursed just a bit, making them look even more pouty than normal. I was looking at his lips, thinking of how they felt when he kissed me; how it would feel if I leaned over and took that lower lip between my teeth and sucked on it. Suddenly he glanced at me and caught me staring at them. A wave of recognition registered on his face and he was smirking as he looked back down at the keys. I could feel my pulse quicken and the heat rise to my face.
I looked back down at his fingers on the keys. As I watched his hands and fingers I began thinking about how it had felt when he had been touching me; how gently he had caressed my breast and nipple only a short while ago. Once again I felt a wave of heat rising up to my hairline, as I contemplated those fingers moving on my body.
The song finished and I saw Esme stand. She thanked Edward for playing and said she'd see us later. Then she disappeared back upstairs as we said goodbye.
Edward's arm went around my shoulder and he leaned down to look closely at my face. I suddenly felt that he could read my thoughts and I was embarrassed anew.
"What?" he asked, a smile creeping across his features, an eyebrow quirked as he tried to read me.
I exhaled rather exaggeratedly. "You're kind of hot when you play," I confessed.
He laughed. "You think I'm hot when I play the piano?"
"Well, I always think you're hot, but something about that was a little hotter than usual. I'm just glad your mom can't read minds."
His eyes glanced past me, toward the archway that led out to the kitchen. We must have been alone, because he looked back at me and then down at my mouth. His lips dropped to mine and we were suddenly kissing. I felt his tongue seeking mine, and then tasting mine as one hand went up to the back of my head, holding me tightly to his mouth. He didn't need to be too concerned, my mouth wasn't leaving his anytime soon. A second later I felt his long fingertips inching upwards and finding my nipple through the fabric of my shirt and bra.
Not only was he rather manually skilled, but he was also indeed a mind reader.
After a moment he pulled back and moved his hand away. I was sorry that ended, but I really didn't want to get caught with him feeling me up at the grand piano in celebration of his mother's birthday.
"Want to go back to the pantry with The Pantry Sex King?" he asked hopefully in his low, musical voice, smiling his lopsided grin.
I laughed, blushing at the nickname I'd given him earlier. "No, not with all those family members and friends in the kitchen. How about if we go finish our cake? I'm sure it's cool enough by now."
"That cake has been a total annoying, pain-in-the-ass, chocolate bastard today. It's constantly ruining all my fun," he quietly said in my ear.
I laughed as I stood up from the piano bench. My legs felt only slightly shaky at this point. We left the living room and we rejoined the activity in the kitchen.
Rosalie had poured cooked onion and potato slices into a bowl. I could smell garlic in the mixture, and there were also bits of green, parsley, I assumed. Emmett was taking a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator. He set it down near a whisk and bowl on the counter.
I looked over at Jasper and Alice, at the food processor. There was a large bowl that already had some processed chunks of vegetables in it. Garlic and onion, by the looks of it. They were now tossing a cut up pepper into the food processor, and there were several different varieties of tomatoes waiting nearby. Jasper made additional food processor noises every time he pulsed the machine. It sounded a little like he thought he was driving a race car.
I stepped over to the sink to wash my hands and suddenly Edward was behind me, pressed up against me, reaching around with both arms, washing his hands with mine as I giggled.
"Aw, Alice, look. Aren't they cute? Remember when we used to do that?" Jasper was staring at us from the food processor station.
Alice glanced over and rolled her eyes. "We still do that, Jasper. What is it with you guys that you need assistance with hand washing? You're all just big mama's boys" She shook her head in mock dismay.
"I thought this whole process was supposed to be a team effort," Edward defended himself as he dried his hands and mine with a kitchen towel. "I'm just helping my teammate."
Emmett had to add his two cents into the mix. "Bella is probably capable of washing and drying her own hands, Edward. She seems like a fairly smart girl."
"Leave them alone, Emmett," Rose cautioned, "you know how they have that showering-washing fetish? This is probably just one more manifestation of it. I say it's just good clean fun. Carry on, Edward, Bella." She nodded to both of us, smiling.
Carry on?" Edward asked, raising his eyebrows at me hopefully.
"Cake, Edward. Cake!" I reminded him pointedly.
"Such an annoying, pain-in-the-ass, chocolate bastard of a baked good," he muttered.
Edward got out a small saucepot and put it on the stove, heating up some whipping cream until it was steamy. I had chopped up the bittersweet chocolate and it was now in a bowl on the counter. Edward poured in the whipping cream and stirred the mixture until the chocolate pieces had melted. While he stirred that, I spread some raspberry preserves on top of the first layer of cake and then added raspberry preserves to a portion of the chocolate and whipping cream mix in a separate bowl. He got me a whisk so I could fluff up the mixture. I added that chocolaty-raspberry goo to the cake, on top of the raspberry preserve layer.
While I stacked the top layer of cake onto the bottom layer, Edward dug out a wire rack and a cookie sheet. I moved the cake to the rack, and set the rack on top of the cookie sheet to pour the chocolate ganache topping over the whole thing.
"How does this stuff taste?" Edward asked, barely dipping his index finger into the mix. He licked the end of his finger. "Mmm, that's really good, Bella!"
"Is it?" I asked. I hadn't made this particular recipe before, but it had sure sounded good and seemed fairly simple.
Edward dipped his middle finger into the chocolate and brought his finger to my lips.
You can probably imagine where this was headed.
I opened my mouth and leaned a little bit too far toward his finger, then I sucked my way back out to the tip, slowly, licking the tip with my tongue where the chocolate ganache was waiting for me.
Edward's eyes widened, then his eyelids fluttered and he looked slightly dizzy. For a split second, I though his eyes were about to roll back in his head. I felt my blush zoom up my neck and face as I looked at him. I turned abruptly back around to the cake and picked up the bowl of ganache. Edward was right behind me, leaning up against me, with his hands on the countertop on either side of me. I felt his recurring arousal against me as he leaned in, close to my ear. I felt his warm breath on my ear.
"What the hell are you trying to do to me?" his low, velvety voice nearly whispered in my ear. He breathed hotly against my neck to punctuate his question.
Thank goodness it was a rhetorical question. I couldn't have managed an answer if it hadn't been a rhetorical question. I couldn't even turn around to look at him. I knew what I wanted to do to him, but I didn't think it would help matters to tell him about it right now.
I began pouring the ganache over the cake, with somewhat shaky hands, careful to let the chocolate spread and drip evenly over the top and sides of the cake. And all the while I thought about pouring chocolate ganache over a naked Edward, letting if spread and drip evenly over him.
After the sensation that I was about to faint, passed, I finally turned back around to him. I felt like my blush was somewhat under control again.
His heavy-lidded eyes told me that he had some chocolate ganache ideas of his own.
"Um, this has to set for a while," I mumbled. "There's nothing else we have to do until we're ready to serve it."
"Well, what do you want to do now?" he asked me quietly, one eyebrow raised provocatively as he tucked a loose strand of hair back over my ear. Before I could answer him, he continued softly, "I've got some pretty specific thoughts…"
I couldn't breathe.
Carlisle was suddenly speaking to him and I realized there were still other people around us here in the kitchen.
Oops! God I hope that exchange went unnoticed and unheard!
"Edward, can you carry this tray out to the grill for me, please?" Carlisle was asking.
Carlisle handed Edward a tray with shrimp on skewers, and several lobster tails. He himself picked up a second tray that held several chicken breasts and some spicy Spanish chorizo sausages. The two of them disappeared outside through a sliding door that led to a deck off the kitchen, where there was a barbecue grill.
I decided to check in on the progress Alice and Jasper and Emmett and Rose were making with their courses. It would keep my mind off the image of a naked Edward, dripping with chocolate ganache as I bent to lick him.
Alice and Jasper had added the finishing touches to their fresh Gazpacho soup, adding tomato juice, vinegar, and various spices to the freshly chopped tomatoes, peppers, onion and garlic mixture. They were putting the bowl into the refrigerator, since it was supposed to be served chilled.
Rose and Emmett had just about finished with their appetizer. It looked a little like a very thick omelet in the pan. Into the cooked potato and onion they had mixed eggs and cooked it on the stovetop. Now they were ready to put it under the broiler for a few minutes to cook until it was golden brown.
Edward came back inside from the patio and sat on one of the barstools, out of the crowded kitchen, watching me with dark eyes and his crooked grin.
Carlisle came back into the kitchen with the empty trays. He stood at the sink washing them off as he spoke over his shoulder.
"I think we'll be good to go in about an hour and a half. I think I've got a handle on the main course, and I can set the dining room table between steps. If you all want to go hang out and relax or take a shower or change, whatever, now's the time."
"Edward, Bella," Emmett couldn't let it go, "shower opportunity. Right up your alley." He laughed at the expression on Edward's face and the middle finger Edward was now extending toward him behind his father's back.
"Oh, Emmett, shut up and get in the pantry," Rose told him.
"Really, Dollface?"
Emmett raised his eyebrows at Rose, and then obeyed her with a smile on his face and turned to the pantry, opening the door and stepping inside. Rose stepped to the door and closed it, remaining on the outside. She leaned against it as she spoke.
"It's too bad Esme didn't put a lock on this pantry, you know?"
The rest of us chuckled as we heard Emmett's voice from within.
"Come on, Honeybunch, Edward knows I'm just yanking his chain. Let me out. I can behave. Rose? Honeybunch? Hello?"
Carlisle headed back out onto the deck to check the items on the grill.
The rest of us began to take off for our respective rooms, giggling, wondering how long it would take Emmett to realize that we had walked away and he could actually come out of the pantry if he would just open the door.
Jasper chased Alice upstairs, smacking at her butt as they went. She shrieked the whole way up the stairs, batting at his hands as she went. Jasper was making food processor noises in between smacks.
Rose stopped at the stairway and called back toward the pantry.
"Emmett, come out, come out, wherever you are!"
The pantry door slowly opened and Emmett peeked out sheepishly. He came out of the pantry, shutting the door and walking up to Rose. His hands were spread in supplication.
"Why would you tease me like that Rose? I thought I was going to get a little pantry sex."
"Oh, come on you big goofy boy; I want to show you something in your room." She winked and then turned around and began to sashay her hips up the stairs.
"Now you're talking!" Emmett said, rather agreeably as he followed her upstairs.
I turned and looked up at Edward. His eyes had that dark, wicked glint in his eye and that devilish smile on his lips. Two things happened almost simultaneously then. Edward bent down, wrapping his arms around my thighs and picked me up, hoisting me up and flinging me over his shoulder like a giant duffel bag, with my butt up in the air. I, of course, shrieked as I hung upside down over his shoulder.
At the same time, Carlisle had come around the corner of the kitchen, saying, "Oh, Edward, could you…" He paused, looking at us, catching us in mid-whatever. It was very difficult for me to see him well from my position, hanging upside down over Edward's shoulder. Carlisle finally continued speaking."…Never mind, son, I can see that you're busy. You've got your hands full. I'll take care of things myself." He smiled broadly and turned on his heel back into the kitchen. I think I heard him chuckling.
I giggled as the blood rushed to my head. Edward began a careful walk downstairs, holding the handrail so he didn't kill us both, growling as he went, like some sort of wild man. I got in a few spanks on his butt as we went, although, once he reached the bottom of the stairs and he no longer needed to hold the handrail of the stairway, he was able to spank my butt, conveniently located atop his shoulder.
We entered his bedroom and he shut and locked the door, walking over to his bed, where he pulled me back upright and over his shoulder, dropping me, more or less, onto the middle of his bed.
"So you're a caveman, now?" I laughed as I bounced on the bed.
"Cake, bad!" he growled. "Girl, good!" Then he flopped down on top of me, tickling me and kissing my neck, making growling noises the whole time, making me laugh until I could hardly breathe.
This again? Aw hell, who cares? I kind of like this!
When he finally stopped I managed to gulp in a few breaths, calming down. Finally I was able to speak coherently.
"I don't know what your problem is, Edward," I smiled up at him from where I lay beneath his big warm body and smiling face. "That cake was an easy recipe. It wasn't so bad."
"That cake was a totally annoying, pain-in-the-ass, two-layer, chocolate bastard cake. The cake is my enemy." He grinned down at me. "But the cake is done now, the door is locked now, and the cake can't get to me now. You're on your own, Bella. The cake can no longer help you."
He loomed in to my neck once more, making very low growling noises that were a little less comical and a lot more predatory.
And so freakin' hot.
And we had nearly an hour and a half with nothing else to do.
EPOV
Damn!
I was in worse and worse shape as the day progressed. I was becoming concerned that I would suffer from some sort of orgasmic combustion in the middle of my mother's birthday dinner celebration. I'd gotten worked up into a frenzy more and more throughout the day. To some extent, it had happened somewhat due to Bella's unwitting actions, but my rampant sexual thoughts were also a big contributing factor. How the hell do you turn that shit off in your mind?
All day long I'd been thinking about what had happened in the poolhouse shower this morning. It had been a ridiculously sexy and an amazingly fulfilling turn of events, and yet, just a taste of the potentialities to come. Throughout the day, as we worked on assembling the annoying, pain-in-the-ass, Two-Layer Chocolate Bastard Cake, I was constantly assaulted with mental images of what had happened; how she had looked and the way she had touched me. I thought, too, about what else might have happened, had we had more uninterrupted time together. The image of a wet and topless Bella was ruining my concentration. I wanted to show her how I felt about her; how I wanted her to feel. I had had the worst time keeping my shit together throughout the day, just creating that demon birthday cake with her.
I wondered fleetingly what the parents would think if I suddenly exploded during dinner, or afterwards, during dessert, after having spent the entire day alternating between a semi- and a full-on. Knowing them, they probably would have thrown condoms like confetti, just to celebrate. They're so forward thinking or liberal, or liberated, or maybe they're just certifiably insane. You could really see how they might have lost their minds, though, with Emmett as their firstborn.
I thought back to when I had taken Bella into the living room, so I could play the piano for her. I had thought it would be a good way to focus on something other than sexual thoughts of her. It had seemed harmless and like it would be a good mental detour. The whole "Chopsticks" thing had been a kick. I didn't even know that she could play that, but then again, just about everyone can, right?
When I'd begun playing "Claire de Lune," it made me think about her in more romantic, more emotional terms. That piece is truly beautiful and moving, and there was something about it, as I played it, that spoke to the beginning and unfolding of a really deep and meaningful relationship. The kind of relationship I was beginning to feel that I was involved in with Bella. By the time I finished and turned to look at her, I was feeling slightly embarrassed, wondering if she could see, written on my face, all of the feelings and thoughts I was beginning to have regarding her. I was probably really overstepping the bounds of rational thought, but I just felt so in love with her.
I'd begun playing my mother's song afterwards, hoping that if I focused on her, I would focus a little less on Bella. I was unaware that my mother had come into the room until she clapped at the end of it all. Once I knew she was there, I'd played "Happy Birthday" for her and everyone had chimed in to sing a rather poor, yet incredibly loud and heartfelt rendition of the song. It nearly made my ears bleed by the time we were done.
Once I'd begun playing 'Stardust' for my mom, I felt like I had gotten over that all-enveloping feeling of lust. Until, of course, I happened to turn and look at Bella and saw that she was staring at my mouth. Her eyes were dark and unfocused, her lips were parted and her jaw was slack. Well, that just says one thing to a guy. It says 'Take me, now, if not sooner and take my clothes off while you're at it.' And when I saw her blush furiously, it only served to confirm my initial assessment of the situation. She seemed just as horny for me as I was for her. And of course once I'd read that in her expression, I was sporting another stiffy.
She was still all rosy and unfocused when my mom thanked me and left us. I wanted to attack Bella right then, but all I could do was to kiss her. Severely. I sure as shit wanted to rip her clothes off right then and there, but that would have caused a stir with the kitchen brigade. She told me I was hot when I played the piano. Actually she allowed that she thought I was hot all the time, but especially when playing the piano. So now I wondered how conceivable it was to take the piano back to my dorm room and whether or not Jasper would agree to sleep under it or on top of it just to accommodate it in our room. Then again, if the piano were there with us, Bella and I might never go to classes again, and I don't think that was the general intention of us being enrolled at the university.
I finally peeled myself away from her mouth and she announced that we really had to go finish The Cake. I helped her with the remaining steps and finishing touches on that annoying, pain-in-the-ass, two layered, chocolate bastard cockblocker, and I had to admit, it really looked delicious. I wondered about the topping and dipped my finger in, tasting it and announcing that it really was very good. Then I made the imbecilic mistake of offering her a taste on my middle finger.
Oh holy fuck!
Isabella Swan, Porn Star.
The way she leaned in, with her eyes half closed, her mouth taking in my finger, her lips wrapping around, sucking and pulling back and licking the tip…shit! Just…SHIT! I thought for certain that my eyes were going to roll back in my head just before I passed out and collapsed on the floor in a puddle of my own jizz. And it seemed that the whole thing was unplanned, because she looked absolutely mortified afterwards. She hadn't been able to say a thing; she just turned back around to her friend, the annoying, pain-in-the-ass, Two-Layer Chocolate Bastard Cake.
I fully expected zipper teeth to start flying everywhere, as my pants exploded, but of course that didn't happen. I did move up behind her though, pressing into her so that she would know exactly what her actions had done to me. I figured I was kind of evening the playing field. I asked her what she was trying to do to me but I could see that she was pretty affected by the whole series of events, too, because when I pulled that stunt, her body sort of sagged and melted against mine. So at least I wasn't alone with my unrequited lust and raging hormones.
My dad had asked me to help him then; to carry the tray of food out to the grill on the patio. It wasn't until we got outside that I realized that he really hadn't needed my help. He could have carried both trays out himself quite easily. It had just been his way of getting me alone for a moment to talk to me. I was wondering whether he would try to offer me a condom, or give me some kind of a sex talk like he'd done with us once we'd been in our teens. Like I had never researched all that shit starting about a decade ago. I mean, come on! I'm a guy for fuck's sake! But instead he just smiled, looking over my shoulder towards the house.
"She's a lovely girl, Edward and I can see how much she means to you."
I hoped to God he wasn't referring to my boner, because that is sooo not the conversation you want to be having with your father. But before I could really respond, or think what kind of a response would be appropriate, in case he was referring to my boner, he went on talking.
"She's been really good for you, it seems. I don't know when I've seen you have fun and laugh so much or have a smile on your face as much. At first I thought she was kind of a quiet girl, but she strikes me as being a little spunky."
I smiled. "Yeah, she is funny and kind of feisty. She's really sweet, and smart, and she does make me smile a lot."
It was a little awkward to be having this conversation with my father, but I knew he just wanted me to know how he felt. So I told him how I felt.
"It just feels like she belongs with me, you know? And the six of us all have such a great time together. She fits right in with the rest of them." I nodded my head back in the direction of the kitchen.
He smiled and nodded. "I'm glad for you, Edward. It's about time you decided to let yourself move on. You were quite a bit overdue for some happiness, son. She seems like a really special girl."
"She is."
Right then and there I had a fleeting glimpse of a thought about my future but I immediately cut myself off before I voiced it. I didn't dare to put it into words. I didn't want my father to think I was a total lunatic, thinking about something that wouldn't even be a possibility for a few years probably, so I just bit my tongue and saved the thought for some point down the road.
"Well, thanks for carrying the tray outside for me. I don't want to keep you from your guest."
I smiled and nodded and headed back inside the house.
I sat on one of the kitchen barstools so I could just watch Bella as she talked with the others and looked at what they were making, asking questions and nodding thoughtfully. She was just so lovely. And she was mine. And I was hers.
Damn! I think I'm in love with love.
After a bit, my dad announced that we had about an hour and a half to waste before dinner and I knew exactly how I wanted to waste my time.
We all headed out of the kitchen, and when it was just Bella and I left standing there on the landing, I suddenly swooped down and picked her up, throwing her over my shoulder. My dad had been about to ask me to do something, but I guess he figured I had my hands full, so I was off the hook and down the stairs to my dungeon with my prisoner.
I'd shut and locked the door and begun attacking her on my bed as she shrieked with laughter, gasping for air. She accused me of being a caveman, so what else could I do but growl at her?
She tried to get me to accept The Cake, but I was having none of that. Who wants to be friends with an annoying, pain-in-the-ass, Two-Layer Chocolate Bastard Cockblocker Cake?
Maybe it was because of the tickling and laughing; I wasn't really sure, but I quickly became aware of how warm Bella's body felt, lying under mine. I'd been contemplating her and her little, perfect body the entire day. Even though I'd quit tickling her, she was still a little breathless and breathing a little erratically. That sound had a definite appeal. I growled at her as I leaned back down to kiss her. But this time I was serious.
I was done with the caveman act.
It was time to get down to business.
A/N: Edward...getting busy with Bella's unfinished business. ;)
You get busy leaving me a review and I'll get busy on chapter 46, writing about Edward's and Bella's before-dinner business. That way, NO ONE will have any unfinished business! Not even you. Or me.
