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Chapter Twenty-Four

Edward went to pick up dinner, leaving me alone in the room to call mom and dad and break the news that we're getting married tomorrow on the prettiest beach I've ever seen.

I've put off the phone call for two days, and even now, I'm kind of being a chicken.

Honestly, mom will be shocked but accepting. It's dad I'm worried about. He's always been protective and brutally honest - probably where I get it from.

Deciding against FaceTime, I call mom's phone almost wishing she wouldn't answer.

"Hello, sweetheart," she says.

"Hey, mom. What are you up to?"

"Oh, just sat down to watch an episode of Criminal Minds."

"I forgot about that show," I say, kind of excited. I'm going to have to look it up on Netflix and have Edward watch it with me. We'll start from the beginning, though. "I still think Derek and Garcia should have been endgame."

"You and me both, honey."

"What's dad doing? Is he sitting down?"

"Why?" She asks, her voice lowering like she knows something's coming that is going to set dad off.

"Well, I have some news, but wait, can you go in your room so I can tell you alone first?"

"That's not suspicious at all," she says, but I can hear her shifting and moving around.

Once the bedroom door closes, she says, "Spill."

"Okay. It might sound crazy, but if you know him like I do, you wouldn't think so." I say, smiling to myself, my stomach all toasty warm just thinking about Edward. "He's so amazing, mom, and the sweetest most adorable man I've ever seen in my life…"

"I get that, sweetie."

Taking a deep breath, I work up the courage to just put it out there. "We're getting married."

Okay, wow, it feels good to get it out there and plus I like those words.

We're getting married.

"What!" Mom screeches in my ear. "Dear Lord, did you just say what I think you just said?"

"Mom…"

"Sweet Lord, your dad is going to flip out, Bella."

"Mom…"

"This is so sudden," she says, and I can tell she's pacing the room because she sounds out of breath.

"When you know, you know," I say, shrugging even though she can't see me. "I love him, mom. Like seriously love him. It's unreal. I'm freaking obsessed with him. You should see how he treats me - how he looks at me…"

"Those pictures do tell a story," she says. "When?"

I cringe and bite my lip. "Tomorrow."

"Wow, Bella. Want me to call dad in here? You need to just get it over with. Like a bandaid - do it quick."

"He's going to be mad," I say.

"Yeah," she says, another honest one. "But he'll get over it. He has no choice. You're a grown woman. Yeah, it's soon, sweetheart, but I trust your judgement. You've never been a dummy. Thank God this road trip didn't end up with you stabbed 68 times and left for dead."

"Mom!"

"Maybe I should take a break from Criminal Minds," she says, then she covers the phone and yells, "Charlie!"

"How mad do you think he's going to be?" I ask, biting my lip, nervously.

"Oh honey," mom says, voice full of sympathy, and I cringe when I hear dad in the room now.

I should just hang up.

"Bells? Are you okay?"

Oh my God!

"Hi, dad. I'm fine. How's it going?"

"Well things will be better once I know you're home safe and sound. Are you still in Florida?"

"Uh…" I wish Edward was here. I think staring at his beautiful face would help. "Yeah, we're in Siesta Key. I'm having so much fun. Has mom been showing you all the pictures I've been sending?"

"I've seen them," he says, and for some reason I can tell he's running a hand down his face, annoyed. "When are you coming home?"

"The thing is…"

"Do not even think about telling me you're not coming home," he says before I can even finish. "I swear, Bells, I will get on a plane and drag you home if I have to."

"Charlie!" Mom scolds him. "Don't be ridiculous."

Thank God mom's Team Bella and Edward.

"Dad," I say. "Tomorrow I'm getting married - I'm marrying Edward." I spit the words out quickly, and I'm embarrassed to admit that my voice shook a little.

Silence.

That's all I hear on the other end - complete freaking silence.

"Dad…"

"You're joking," he says, calmly and that's scarier than the rage.

"I'm not joking," I say, standing from the bed and pacing around the room. "We're really getting married tomorrow on the beach. I know it's fast…"

He scoffs. "You think? Getting in a truck with a man and driving all over the country was foolish, but marrying him? You've lost your mind, young lady!"

"I haven't," I say, squeezing my phone in a death grip. "I love him…"

"You don't even know him!"

"I do!" I argue, on the verge of tears - angry tears. "He says I leave him breathless, that he thinks I'm the love of this life…"

"You didn't tell me that," I hear mom breathe on the other side of the line.

The room door opens, but I ignore it, trying to get dad to understand how much I want this.

"...I feel the same way, dad. I know it's only been a little over two weeks, and this is all so crazy, but I know he's the one. I think I knew it the second he looked at me on the plane." I'm deep breathing, sucking back unwanted tears and waiting for dad to continue telling me what an idiot I am.

My hair is bunched in a fist, and I feel Edward behind me. He doesn't say anything but the soft kiss on my shoulder nearly freaking kills me. I turn and look at him over my shoulder, and he smiles and lifts his chin. "You good?" He whispers, a hand wrapping around my waist.

I nod and then jump when I hear dad's voice in my ear. "I'm just supposed to accept this?" He asks.

"Yeah, dad," I say, righting my head so I'm not staring into Edward's eyes - they're too much to take right now.

"I'll never walk you down the aisle?" He asks, and it feels like he's knocked the freaking wind out of me.

"What?" I breathe, and Edward's hand tightens in my hair and around my waist.

The phone jostles on the other end and then mom's back on the line. "He's upset, honey."

"Mom…"

God, I want to freaking cry.

"It'll all work out. Don't worry. I'm happy for you, sweetheart. I better go check on him."

"Okay," I say, taking a deep breath and blinking a lot so the tears stay away.

"We both love you."

"I love you, too."

Mom hangs up, and I drop the phone, feeling like the biggest jerk in the world because dad's upset but also because I don't want to not marry Edward tomorrow because of it.

"Swanie…" Edward says, releasing my hair.

"Dad's mad," I say, turning to face him, my nose itching with the need to cry all over him instead I hug his waist, laying my cheek on his heart. I can hear the steady beat, and it makes me feel better.

One of Edward's hands flattens against the side of my head, holding me to him. "You knew you loved me on that plane, Swanie?" Edward asks.

I nod. "Yeah," I say. "It was love at first sight." I smile when his hand tightens in my hair. "Then you smiled at me. It was the dimples that got me. Oh, and you saying things like flyin' and thinkin' and throwing away all the peanut butter."

Edward chuckles, and I lift my head, his descends and I get up on tippy toes so our mouths meet in the sweetest kiss of my life. "You still wanna marry me, baby?"

"I've never wanted anything more in my life," I say, and melt when he grins.

"I'm sorry he's mad, baby. I'm thinkin' he won't stay that way."

My phone beeps in my hand, and I flatten my feet and read the screen.

You'll be a beautiful bride, dad says, making my heart both happy and sad.

I show Edward the screen, and he smiles soft and sweet.

"I have to pee," I say, clearing my throat.

Edward nods and kisses my cheek before letting me go cry like a baby in the bathroom. Once I let it all out, I feel better. I wash my face and deep breathe, feeling really freaking happy.

I can't believe I'm marrying Edward tomorrow.

I'm going to be Bella Cullen.

Chip is going to be our dog.

How freaking sweet is that!

Edward's in the bed, dinner left forgotten in its plastic bags. I'm more hungry for him than I am for dinner.

"Can we do that thing we did in Orlando?" I ask, climbing onto Edward's lap. He's resting back on all the pillows, an arm behind his head, his eyes on the T.V. Well, they were on the T.V. until I sat on him. "I like, really liked it."

"Like really?" He teases, his hands moving to my hips, smirking like the sexy God he is. "If you want it, I'll give it to you, Swanie."

I nod and wrap my hands around his neck, leaning down to kiss his lips. "I want it, cowboy," I say, licking into his mouth, smiling when his arms tighten and he pulls me harder against him.

"You good, baby?" He asks, and I freaking love him.

"Yeah. We're getting married tomorrow," I say, widening my eyes and squeezing his cheeks. "I'm so excited. Aren't you?"

"Yeah," he grins, puckering his lips for a kiss - holy cow, he's freaking cute - and I press my lips against his.

"So, back to Orlando…" I say against his mouth, shivering when his eyes get all melty.

"You gonna keep your clothes on?" He asks, gripping my shirt and lifting it. I raise my hands and let him pull it off. I'm not wearing a bra, and his hands immediately cup both of my boobs, thumbs swiping across my nipples, making me shiver. He leans forward and captures one in his mouth, and I rake my hands through his hair and pull a little. "You wet for me, Swanie?"

"I don't think there was ever a time I wasn't," I say, truthfully, and he looks up at me with those beautiful eyes, and bites my nipple, gently, but it does things to me - good things. When he grins with my nipple between his teeth I die. I'm literally freaking dead.

His hands dip into the back of my shorts, gripping my butt as he gives my other nipple the attention it deserves, and I'm close to ripping his hair from his scalp by the time he's done with me.

"Stand, baby," he says, and I listen immediately, standing in front of him while he pulls both my shorts and underwear off. He scoots forward, his hands wrapping around the back of my thighs and kisses me right there. My knees wobble when he does it again, and he smirks up at me. "I'm hungry, Swanie."

"Okay." I slide my fingers through his hair and bring him closer. "I'm always feeding you," I tease, giggling before it turns into a moan as his tongue slips inside me.

Holy cow, I love when he does this.

His hands tighten as he yanks me closer, his tongue licking and sucking, and my legs are shaking so bad they buckle. He pulls away from me and lays me back on the bed. His mouth is glistening, and it's so freaking hot. Seriously, how is it so hot?

I run my fingers across his lips, feeling my own wetness and shudder when he kisses my fingers. "You're fucking sweet, baby," he says, sliding me down the bed. He licks a path up my stomach, between my boobs and across my collarbone before nipping at my neck. Then he's whispering in my ear, "You wanna roll over for me?"

"Yeah," I say, turning to my stomach and pushing to my knees, wanting to be embarrassed but with Edward, there's no reason to be.

"Fuck, Swanie," he rasps, sliding a hand down my spine, making me arch at the rough touch. "You like it like this?" I nod not even sure if he can see me, but he slips a finger inside me and puts all his weight into my back as he leans over me. "I'm gonna give it to you rough, yeah? I wanna see you touch yourself while I'm doin' it." He pushes my hair out of my face, his finger still slipping in and out, and kisses my cheek. I can feel his lips stretching into a smile, and it turns me on so bad. "You're so fucking pretty."

"So are you," I say, pushing back into his finger and lifting my head so he'll kiss my lips. He does, and I melt into him.

"You love me?" I nod and nibble his lip, kind of whining a bit when he slips his finger free which makes him grin with those dimples. "You wanna make love, Swanie, or you want me to fuck you?"

"I'm thinkin' I want to make love with you but I want it rough like you're fuckin' me," I say, and he slips inside, biting down on my lip as he does it. "Ow," I say, but I don't know why because it wasn't the bad kind of hurt.

"Swanie…"

"No, don't stop. Sorry. It didn't hurt," I say, when he stops moving. "It was a good ow. Please keep going, cowboy."

He lifts from my back, grips my hips and roughly yanks me into his erection. My arms slide along the mattress as he does it over and over again, pumping his hips fast and rough, his fingers digging into my hips. "Baby," he says, breathless and so freaking sexy. "Move with me. Yeah, like that."

My fingers tangle in the sheets, and even though I love it when he does me all sweet and hot most of the time, I freaking love it like this, too.

Edward lifts me up onto my knees, still buried inside me and slides his hand down my arm until his hand covers mine, guiding me, urging me to touch myself. He helps me, both of our fingers sliding in sync as he continues to do me rough. I like that he's rough but not out of control and unattractive. I love that he rubs his nose along my cheek and kisses me, open mouth kisses as he catches his breath. He bites my shoulder and rests his chin there, head hanging, hair damp with sweat as he watches our fingers, never letting up as he pumps in out and out of me. "You're such a good girl, Swanie. You wanna come?"

"Yeah," I say and gasp when he kisses my neck and shoves me forward.

"Keep going, baby. Make yourself come." He picks up speed, making my heart nearly pound out of my chest. My fingers swirl, and I can feel it right there.

"You're so hot, cowboy," I say, turning my cheek and resting it on the pillow. You'd think I'd feel weird talking during a time like this, but when I talk, Edward does me faster, squeezes me tighter.

"Tell me you love me," he grunts, knocking my fingers out of the way and taking over. "I wanna hear you say it."

"I love you," I say immediately. If he wants to hear it, I'll shout it every freaking day.

He groans, and I arch back when it starts to spread through me. I know he feels it when he grunts and pauses his thrusts before picking up speed, his fingers moving so good against me. "Fuck…"

I bury my face in the pillow and gasp - maybe even kind of moan aggressively which is embarrassing - as I come with him inside me. He seconds behind me, thrusting roughly inside me and staying there, falling on top of me and pressing me into the mattress.

"Swanie…"

"Hmmm?" I say, turning my face to the side again.

He kisses my cheek, sloppy and lazy, and it makes me smile. "You know I love you, too, yeah?" I nod, and he kisses me again, slowly pulling out. I miss him immediately. He cuddles in next to me and pulls me half on top of him, him on his back. "I'm thinkin' I'm gonna love keepin' you forever."

"Same, cowboy." He grins and nibbles my lip. "What's for dinner?"

"Burgers," he says. "I went to this place down the road a bit but I saw peanut on the entire fucking menu and left."

"I like burgers," I say. "Thanks for not wanting to kill me."

"Shut up," he says, lifting his head to give me a rough kiss on the lips before slipping from the bed. He pulls on his briefs and pulls out one of the chairs at the small, round table. "Come here, baby."

I crawl from the bed and slip his shirt over my head. He pulls me into his lap and opens the containers, making my mouth water. "I'm starving," I say. I reach out for my burger, but he grabs it first, holding it out to my mouth. "I thought that was my job." I take a bite and nearly roll my eyes at the taste even if it is a little cold.

"I wanna feed you," he says, shrugging, his lips tilted up a bit.

"Okay."

"I don't like seein' you cry," he says, holding the burger up, his eyes trained on my lips as I take another bite and chew and swallow.

"You didn't see me," I point out, swiping a fry and shoving it in my mouth when he's not fast enough.

"I don't like knowin' you were cryin'."

"I'm fine."

"I haven't heard that word in a while," he says, taking a bite of my burger.

"Hey! That's mine."

"Sorry," he chuckles and gives me another bite. "You're makin' me hungry. I like the way you devour it like you haven't eaten in years."

I peek at the clock. "It has been hours," I say, picking up the other burger and shoving it toward his mouth. "It feels like years."

He smiles, closed lip, before chewing and swallowing. "You ready to be my wife?" He asks.

"I can't wait, honestly. I know you've seen the dress, but I'm excited to wear it even if I don't like dresses usually.

He lifts his chin, his way of asking for another bite and I give him one. I watch him as he chews and swallows. It's literally one of my favorite things to do. "I heart it," he says, grinning like an adorable dork.

"I've been wondering," I say, pushing the hair off his forehead. "You're going to give me Ryder and Wilder, right?"

"Yeah, Swanie, but don't forget about Sawyer."

I smash my lips against his, not even caring that we taste like greasy burgers and french fries.

I'm marrying Edward tomorrow.

Holy cow.

I'm going to be a wife.

I think I'm getting closer to the end. Another chapter or two before the epilogue. I want to keep them going forever but I know it would be impossible for me.

Also, I find it hard getting Edward to be rough during sex. My brain can't fathom such a thing although I do like what he's doing.

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