Disclaimer - All recognisable characters belong to their original owners. I do not make a profit from writing this; I simply do it for my own amusement. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Nine: Funeral

After the funeral, most of the attendees had gone back to the Swan house and celebrated Charlie's life. Bella wasn't aware of what was going on around her and Rose had a fake smile on her face. She just wanted all these people to leave.

When Jake finally escorted the last person from the house, Bella wandered into the kitchen where she saw Rose stood over the kitchen sink, frozen in time, her hands either side of the basin as she stared out into the now dark night.

Bella approached her cousin and gently turned her, wrapping her arms around her as they both sought comfort from one another.

When Rose pulled away slightly, Bella could see that her beautiful purple eyes were watering.

"I can't believe he's gone," Rose whispered before loud sobs shook through her body and she leaned against Bella, the sadness of the day riding over her like a tsunami.

Bella had no words of advice and no words of comfort. There was nothing she could say that would make things better. Their grandfather had been murdered.

After a few minutes, Rose pulled away and swiped at her eyes. She very rarely cried. "Will you promise me something, Bella?"

Bella nodded.

"You'll carry this around with you." Rose reached into her the pocket of her slacks and pulled a small red object out and handed it to Bella.

When she held the object in her hand, Bella knew exactly what it was. "You want me to carry Grandpa's pocket knife with me?"

Rose nodded her head.

Bella wanted to protest; to tell Rose that it would be strange and odd but when she caught wind of her thoughts it made sense.

I've just lost Grandpa, Bells - I can't lose you too.

"You're not going to lose me," Bella reassured her cousin. "There's no way I'm going anywhere."

It wasn't a promise but it was the best she could do given the circumstances.

Later that night, when Rose was fast asleep in bed and Jake had reluctantly headed back to his trailer, Bella text Edward to let him know she would be coming round. The house was too empty and quiet without her grandfather in it. She'd left a note for Rose in case her cousin woke but she hoped she didn't; she wanted this time with Edward.

Bella slipped out of her black dress and changed into a pair of comfortable jeans and a large sweater. She wasn't going for attractive.

When she got to Edward's house, he was on the porch steps staring out into the night sky.

Bella shut the truck off and went straight into his arms. They wrapped around her like a vice and provided her with some much-needed comfort.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you today," he murmured against her hair.

"It's alright," Bella told him. It would have been impossible.

"Come inside," he told her as he gently took her hand and led her into the dimly lit house.

Bella had been inside before and she was sure that in its heyday it had a beautiful home. Edward had been slowly getting the house redecorated, working on making it more modern and livable.

The entranceway was wide and boasted high ceiling with intricate covings weaving along the walls. It was minimally decorated; a dark wooden floor and cream walls with one plant in the corner, a sideboard where Edward put his keys and a white and brown coat cupboard. There were no pictures on the walls and no soft furnishings - you could tell it had been decorated by a man.

He led her through and into the living room where Bella gasped at what she saw. Not only had it been redecorated and was now an actual useable room, but Edward had set up a picnic in front of the roaring fire. The lights were dimmed and candles littered the coffee table giving the room a beautiful glow.

"Edward…" She really didn't have any words.

"You've had a difficult day. I wanted to do something nice for you."

She turned to look at him with watery eyes because this was sweet.

"Don't cry, Bella," he urged. He swiped under her eyes before the tears could roll down her cheek.

"It's just so sweet," she managed to say.

Edward just smiled.

He led her into the middle of the room and they lay down on the blanket that Edward had carefully laid out. He poured her a glass of prosecco and handed her a small plate. From behind him he pulled out a small bag and reached inside. Edward took a container out of the bag and opened it, revealing some very delicious looking desserts.

"I asked Rose what your favourite deserts were and then had a bakery make some mini version of them." Edward looked at Bella as if he were hoping that he'd got it right.

"They look delicious," she admitted.

Edward held the container out towards her. "Pick one."

Bella looked over the five delicious treats that waited for. Knowing immediately what one of them was she reached forward and took the small round yellow treat and placed it on her plate.

"Lemon meringue cheesecake?"

"Correct." Edward smiled.

As Bella worked her way through the delicious food, her and Edward ended up reclining on the floor, Edward leaning against the couch as Bella laid on her back and placed her head on his stomach.

"Tell me a secret," she said as she sipped on her prosecco.

"What kind of secret?"

"Any."

Edward gently ran his long fingers through her hair and twirled the ends around the tips of his fingers. "I really want to kiss you."

"That's not a secret."

"Yes, it is." Bella looked up at Edward from where she was laid down. "I've been trying to hide the fact that for the last half an hour all I've wanted to do is kiss you because that's not why I invited you over here."

For some reason, her response surprised him. "Shall I tell you a secret too?"

Edward nodded.

Bella leaned closed to Edward. "I want to kiss you too."

There was a pause before they both moved towards each other and their lips met. Bella moaned and Edward greedily lapped at the sweet taste lingering on her lips. Just because he didn't eat human food didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the taste.

Bella propped herself up on her knees and straddled Edward, wrapping her arms around his neck as she clung to him in desperation. Edward returned the fervour as his arms went around her back and teased the hem of her sweater.

Bella sat back from him and pulled her sweater over her head. Then she placed her lips back against Edward's.

His hands skimmed up her back and over her sides, his cold fingers leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

He circled the clasp of her bra, testing the waters, not wanting to push.

"Take it off," she mumbled against his lips.

Eagerly, Edward unclasped the bra and stopped kissing her so he could see the beauty that awaited him. He blew out a breath when he took in her breasts.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered.

Bella smiled and used a hand on the back of his neck to pull him close so she could start kissing him again.

His hands returned to her back and luxuriated in the soft warm skin.

Edward let his fingers breeze across the sides of her breasts and when he put a hand in between their bodies and squeezed the soft flesh, Bella moaned in his mouth.

He trailed his kisses away from her mouth and down her neck, licking and sucking at her skin until he got to her breasts. His tongue circled the nipple before he pulled the peaked bud into his mouth.

Above him, Bella moaned. "Oh!"

Her nipples tingled and her eyes squeezed closed.

Edward smiled against the skin at her breast. This was how he wanted her. His fangs clicked down are arousal spread through his body. His tongue returned to her nipple and he sucked it into his mouth, sliding his tongue across the rigid flesh.

Bella rocked against him and then in desperation, she dragged his mouth from her breast and back to hers. Her hands grasped at his shirt.

"Off - I want this off," she gasped.

Who was he to argue?

In a matter of seconds, his shirt was off and Bella's mouth and hands were exploring his chest, much in the same way he had done to her.

Edward let his eyes fall close and Bella smiled at the look of pure pleasure that crossed his features.

Her lips caressed the skin of his chest and she let her fingers wander over his nipples.

When her fingers stroked down to his abdomen, his muscles clenched and he pulled her back up to his lips, shifting her body slightly so she was now straddling one leg.

Edward began rocking against her and Bella moaned and grasped at his neck as he sucked on the skin of her neck.

Her arousal was fresh in the room and it drove Edward wild.

"Edward… oh!" she moaned. "Oh God!"

He rocked harder against her and placed his hands on her hips to guide her motions, pushing her closer and closer to her pleasure.

"There!" she cried when he rocked her harder.

Edward used that as his cue and kept up the strong thrusts, continuing to kiss her neck as he did.

Bella whimpered and then her body froze before violent shivers wracked her body and Edward could smell her come as she gushed against him.

The smell of her, the feel of her and the taste of her was enough to send him flying over the edge with only two more thrusts and for the first time in a long time, Edward Masen came in his trousers.

As they both came down, Bella rested her forehead against his and Edward kissed the tip of her nose.

The atmosphere was peaceful and quiet and perfect.

Until a deep voice called out, "Edward - I need to talk to you."

Sorry for the wait. I hope you enjoyed this one.