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 Four
I couldn't sleep right away.
After Edward and I said goodnight, I changed into the Metallica shirt and carefully folded my own T-shirt and hoodie in the bathroom after I washed my face. Luckily, the shirt was oversized on me, and the fabric actually fell past my butt. I crawled into the sheets, which felt cold to the touch, but they warmed up instantly as soon as I laid down. It then dawned on me why people would buy these kinds of sheets. The feel of them was simply luxurious, like you were sleeping in some kind of extravagant five-star hotel. Not that I knew what that was like. The pillow smelled of body wash and laundry detergent. I loved the smell, but nothing I bought could ever replicate it because the smell was unique to him.
I kept the door slightly ajar and could hear the faint noise of the television coming through the hallway and bedroom door. It felt strangely connected, even though we were both in different rooms. I turned off my phone and internet access to save some battery, and also because I really didn't want to be bombarded with drama right now. After a while, I was able to doze off.
Around three in the morning, I was awake again. I jolted up in the bed, my forehead clammy and my head disoriented by my surroundings. The light from the street filtered through the sheer roller blinds, putting me at ease.
I'm at Edward Cullen's place. In Edward's bed.
My throat felt dry as chalk, so I made a trip to the kitchen to fetch myself a glass of cool water. I pulled on my socks since the floors were cold. If I didn't, there was no way I'd be able to sleep any more tonight. I slipped through the open door to the living room and could still hear the low noise coming from the television. I glanced down at the leather couch where Edward was sleeping. I froze, unable to move even a single muscle as I studied him. He looked so young, so handsome, and I felt like a crazy stalker watching him, but I couldn't find it in me to care. A big blanket was draped around his legs, around his arm, but had slipped off his torso. He lay there on his side, bare-chested and vulnerable, his tattoos out in the open.
Oh, my God.
I almost gasped audibly when I noticed the bareness of his side and the curve of his back that led to the most glorious ass I'd ever seen.
He's naked?! On his couch?
Feeling my cheeks burn, I realized I could finally move, tiptoeing toward the kitchen as silently as I could, doing what I could not to wake him. In moments like this, glasses always clunk together louder than they're supposed to. You bump into things in the dark, more often than not, and sometimes you walk around in someone's home in the dark and do all of those at once. Yeah, that was just my luck.
"Fuck," I whispered under my breath.
"B?"
My heart raced at the sound of his raspy and sleep-filled voice.
Shit.
"Sorry, I was a little thirsty, so I came out for some water," I announced.
I was kinda afraid to go back into the living room since I knew now that Edward Cullen slept in the nude and there was no one stopping him from doing so. Not even my staying here.
I heard him make a pained noise, so I went over there anyway, trying to keep my composure.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Edward carefully wrapped the blanket around himself again and sat up now. I was incredibly grateful for the lack of light, making it possible for me to hide my flushed cheeks.
"Yeah, fine. Just my back, this couch wasn't the best idea." He groaned, unbelievably sexy to me.
"Just switch with me," I said, a little nervously. "Or come lay in your bed, I really don't mind."
There was a moment of silence I couldn't exactly place. Was it awkward silence? Loaded silence? What kind of tension was this? Edward looked at me with heavy eyes and frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Edward, we're two adults. I'm sure sleeping in the same bed is fine. I swear you won't even notice I'm there," I babbled.
"Come..." I took his hand, temporarily forgetting the part where he was wearing nothing besides a blanket.
"B, wait. I'll be right there. I just need to check something," he said, releasing my hand.
Somehow, Edward was the only person ever to just call me by a letter, but I didn't mind. I nodded and went back to his bedroom. Doing what I could to settle my nerves, I glanced over at the massive bed and bit my lip. Not knowing which side Edward slept on, I figured I'd take the side with no bedside table and just lay as far from the middle as I could. I tried not to think about the fact that I hadn't slept in a bed with a man, other than Mike, for the last five years.
Jesus, I hope I won't snore.
I hope I don't get my period.
I hope I don't fart.
GOD!
Edward walked into the room, wearing his boxers low on his hips. I couldn't see much in the dark room, but the way the light from outside shone upon his body highlighted his toned physique. My heart was thumping wildly, I could even hear it as I laid down. I tugged on the T-shirt, but I was still only wearing my underwear. Not exactly the most modest pair of underwear, either.
I wish I would've worn my bra.
"I hope you're not grossed out by me sleeping in my boxers," Edward joked, sitting down on the bed, his weight dipping the mattress slightly. "But I usually sleep naked, and I have been doing so for a long-ass time so, yeah..." He shrugged, scratching his neck. It seemed like Edward wasn't entirely sure of this sleeping arrangement either.
He nestled into the bed quickly, arranging the blanket around his bottom half, leaving his chest bare and his arms behind his head. He let out a deep sigh as he stared at the ceiling. I just lay there, on my back, as close as possible to the edge on my side of his humongous bed, scared to even move into a more comfortable position.
"Please don't tell your mom about this," Edward said, his voice rugged but soft.
I could imagine having your work friend's daughter in your bed would stir up some type of drama at the garage. I snorted, imagining my mom's face if I ever told her about this. All mom could ever say about Edward is how good-looking he was and how he needed to get out more and meet people. She'd definitely go for him if she wasn't happily dating Sue; because yes, my mother was a bisexual now.
"My mom doesn't even know I'm not home tonight. No one knows I'm not home tonight." I felt myself shrug.
Edward turned onto his side, one hand supporting his head as he gazed down at me. My cheeks flushed, since he was so close now.
"B," he started. "I know I've known you since you were little, but trust me when I tell you that life is more than him."
I knew that.
"I wish I was still that little girl, you know. Life was better way back then. It was simpler and I wasn't this fucking angry all the time," I confessed, turning onto my side now as well, facing him.
"Well, B, we all have to go through shit we don't want to. And I know, you're all grown up now. So you can deal with it all, I know you can."
I watched his eyes roam my face, down to the neckline of the shirt.
"You don't know me that well, Edward."
"I know you well enough."
Somehow that made sense to me at that time, because even though I didn't know him that well myself, I felt oddly connected to him.
I stared back at him. Even though it was dark, I could still spot the deep pools of his green eyes and the details of his face in general. The straight nose, the strong cheekbones and sharp jawline with the ever-present, perfect five o'clock shadow.
"We should go to bed," I said dumbly.
Edward snickered, the sound of his genuine laughter echoing somewhere in my body along with the look he just gave me. Sharing a bed with him like this was not good for my heart. This had been a bad idea. God. I wanted bad things right now. I wanted Edward to do bad things to me right now. The kind that feel really fucking good.
"We are in bed, sweetheart."
"Smartass," I laughed, feeling some tension lift.
"What's that about my ass, Miss Swan?" he shot at me, heat instantly pooling in my belly. I sort of stammered because I had a lot to say about that ass, but knew it wouldn't exactly be appropriate.
"Like you don't know," I murmured.
"What don't I know?" he teased. I had a distinct feeling that Edward was flirting with me, here, in his bed.
"You have a fine ass, and you know it."
I threw a spare pillow his way, but I was too slow. He was luring me out of my shell, succeeding like he always did.
"Did you just throw that at me? In my house? In my bed? My pillow?" he accused in a playful tone.
I just nodded, too dumbfounded in this lighthearted change of vibe he gave off instead of his usual more serious one.
He reached over to retrieve the fallen pillow, smirking devilishly at me before attacking me with it.
"No, okay! I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I said, out of breath.
It had been a while since I laughed like this, unchained and free. Taking a breath, I couldn't help but notice now how dangerously close he was, sitting on his knees, clutching the pillow tightly as one of his legs sat in between mine, on top of the silky sheets. I watched him biting his lip and running a hand through his unruly hair, eyes burning with some kind of unspoken question.
You are dating.
He is dating.
"What?" I asked, scared to learn the answer.
"You're fucking beautiful right now, you know that?" he whispered, almost as if he was shy about admitting this to me.
"What? Stop it, don't mock me." I felt mortified, covering my face with the sheets. The fact that he just saw me without makeup and sleepy made me feel self-conscious.
He was beside me again, laying on his side. I could feel the weight of one of his arms on my torso as he pulled the silk fabric away.
"I'm serious, B," he sighed and smiled. "Your hair all over the fucking place, your bare face all smiley and cute."
I rolled my eyes at him and looked away, turning to my side again. Would I ever be anything other than 'cute' to him?
"You should go sleep or you'll be a wreck tomorrow."
"It's already tomorrow."
"Then take a beauty-nap," I shushed him, unable to keep my eyes off his.
"Okay, okay. You're probably right," he said.
"Goodnight B," he whispered softly, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. He was so close now I could actually feel his breath fan over my face. He inched closer and kissed my cheek tenderly, his lips lingering for a moment. My breath hitched and I forced myself to lay still, afraid to even move.
Is this a moment? What do I do? What does he want me to do now? What the fuck do I even want?
Unsure of what I should do, I lifted my eyes to his for one final time.
"Night," I responded, my voice a little shaky.
