Written for: LunaEclipse17
Beta: DayDreamDreamer
Pre-readers : .London, krida86, maniacalmuse
DISCLAIMER : Twilight and its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I'm just having fun with them and created my own storyline.
Chapter Three
"Thank you so much for this," I smiled, savoring the taste of smoked salmon and cream cheese with herbs. The lettuce was crisp, and the slice of tomato was nice and cool on my tongue. This was hands-down the best homemade sandwich anyone had ever made me.
"Glad you like it, it's the same thing I had for dinner," Edward said. He leaned back on the couch and put an arm up on the back of it. His T-shirt rode up a little, showing the band of his Calvin Klein underwear and a sliver of alabaster skin. I averted my gaze quickly, not wanting to get caught ogling him. I took a deep breath and watched him yawn.
"I'm totally keeping you away from a good night's sleep, aren't I?" I asked gently. I could tell he was tired earlier, and I knew he got up pretty early in the morning.
"I haven't been sleeping very well the last few days. But I really enjoy having you around, so staying up a little past my bedtime is perfectly acceptable," Edward admitted.
I snorted and rolled my eyes.
"Don't do that, you keep laughing at yourself and you don't deserve that. I won't allow you to do that, not if I can help it."
"Why the hell do you like me so much? I just don't get it." I turned to look at him.
"Because you're an amazing person and you just give off this vibe. Such a gentle vibe. I get calm by just sitting here next to you." He shrugged.
That was about the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me. I felt myself blushing, at a loss for words.
"You should go to bed," I remarked again.
"No." He stared at me, his green eyes vibrant and burning straight through me.
No?
"You get my bed tonight. I'll sleep here on the couch."
And some say chivalry is dead? Please… They clearly haven't met this guy.
"Oh, no. I don't want to impose, at all. It's your home Edward so—"
"So I get to decide who gets in my bed and who doesn't, right?" he interrupted me. His words sounded a little dirty in my head, but then again, he probably didn't mean it like that.
"If you put it that way then I guess I can't argue. " I smiled, and it was truly genuine.
Edward showed me the way to the bathroom first, so I could take a shower now or in the morning while he was at work. He'd just remodeled it, he told me. The bathroom looked very nice and monochromatic with black tiles all over, and black faucets that complimented the sinks, tub, and shower nicely. He opened the cupboard to show me where the towels were and gave me a new toothbrush he had lying around. It felt nice to be taken care of for once.
When we walked into the bedroom, I got a little nervous. Since Edward did not know I was coming over, and I had even less of an idea that I'd be staying the night, it was very obvious that he hadn't tidied up in order to present it better to me. The emerald green sheets were satin, and I'd never slept in those before. They were thrown in a messy pile on top of the bed, with the array of pillows strewn over each other as well.
Unruly nights. I could relate.
The room was agreeable, cozy, and it smelled exactly like Edward.
"I'm sorry I didn't clean up. But the sheets are fresh, I just put them on there the day before yesterday," he apologized, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorpost.
"Your bed is massive," I remarked. It was a king, but I'd had nothing bigger than a twin bed. Mike didn't want to splurge on a bigger bed when we moved in together.
"Yeah, well, I'm a big guy and I like a lot of space to sleep in." He grinned. Edward was a big guy, around six foot two, so I could imagine he liked a bigger surface to dream on.
I swallowed a lump in my throat before I spoke the 'I-cannot-take-these-words-back' words that I immediately regretted.
"You could always sleep here, with a bed this size it'd be like sleeping on different continents." I laughed. I noticed Edward's cheeks redden ever so slightly, obviously my comment was inappropriate.
"I'll grant you your privacy, B. I can't do that. I sleep like a crazy person sometimes and I don't want to backhand you."
Thank the heavens that Edward Cullen can make any awkward situation better.
I smiled at him and fumbled around with my hands.
"Could I maybe borrow something to sleep in? I didn't exactly pack an overnight bag."
He jolted into the room and slid open his floor-to-ceiling mirrored closet door, reached in, and pulled out a Metallica shirt that had seen better days.
"Thanks so much, Edward. I can't express it enough." I shrugged and bit my lip, touched by his hospitality.
"Oh sweetheart, you deserve it. Now, I hope you sleep well tonight. There's coffee in the kitchen; I'll be off to work around seven. You can stay as long as you want, do whatever you want. Okay? I'll text you when I can tomorrow," he said, looking down at me with a hint of something I'd never seen in his eyes before. I acted completely upon instinct when I leaped over to him and threw my arms around his waist. Whispering a soft 'thank you' against his chest, I was about to pull back when I felt him grip me tighter, leaning his chin on the top of my head. Melting against him, I felt his body move as he exhaled and caressed my back for a minute.
"It'll be alright, B. I promise."
