A/N: Almost didn't get this out today, but here you go!

You can thank Michelle Renker Rhodes for being such a quick beta-ing fool! ;)

Most characters belong to S. Meyer

Chapter 37 – Important Dates

BPOV

Mel spins around and around on the ice rink. Her laughter carries in the cold air, above the chorus of Mariah Carey's ever-popular Christmas carol. She's carefree and so overjoyed on this, the day after Christmas and her thirteenth birthday that I know I'll never hear Mimi's winter hit again without thinking of today.

So now Mel comes and circles us for about…the fifth time. She spends a couple of minutes with us, holding my hand and her uncle's and laughing when he threatens to topple over. Then she and her giggles are on their very merry way.

Edward has never been ice-skating, and as good as he is as most things, let's just say that staying upright on a slippery slab of frozen glass isn't one of his many talents.

He slips again, and I laugh out loud at him for about the umpteenth time. "You are so bad at this!"

"Hey, it's my first time," he says, his right hand braced firmly around the rink's railing while his left hand is wrapped tightly around mine. "I'm sure you weren't an expert the first time you came ice skating."

Carefully, I let go of his hand so that I can skate backwards in front of him. He glares at me for a second but then has to quickly turn his attention back to the railing – with both hands.

"I think I was about ten the first time Charlie and Sue brought me ice-skating, and if I remember correctly," I say, lifting my chin high, "I took to it pretty quickly."

He scowls, taking these graceless, faltering, little forward steps.

"Well, we can't all be as well-balanced as you. I guess we Cullens are builders, not skaters."

Mel appears at my side and skates backwards with me. "Actually, Uncle Ed, Dad was pretty good at this."

Edward glares at her, and both she and I laugh. Just then, he loses his balance, and his feet flail anxiously in an effort to remain upright. Instantly, I grab for him, and he grabs for me, and we're this mess of arms and legs flapping everywhere. I manage to rest my back against the railing and dig my toe picks into the ice to lock me in place and Oomph!

Edward's entire frame lands against me, pinning me to the railing.

"Mph!" I exclaim.

Once his feet stop thrashing around, he let's go of me and grabs onto the railing on either side of me.

"Fuck, Baby, are you okay?"

My cold breath swirls in the frigid air between us. "I'm fine," I pant. "Not the first time you pin me with your body."

He stares at me, eyes wide.

And then breaks out into fits of laughter, bringing his mouth close to mine.

"Yeah, but usually when that happens I've just made you see stars, so you don't feel a thing afterwards," he says in a voice that doesn't belong on an ice-rink surrounded by a bunch of strangers.

I chuckle heartily, feeling my cheeks redden from more than the cold. "I just saw stars now!"

"Not the same thing," he smirks, moving in to press his cold lips to mine.

I want to wrap my arms around him, but I know his balance is precarious at best, so I respond to his mouth without touching him.

"You're right; it's not," I grin. "Nowhere near."

"You sure you're okay?" he breathes, sucking on my lips.

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Oh brother," I hear behind Edward as Mel skates past us once more. "Maybe that's why you two can't find your balance!"

OOOOOOOOOO

Ice-skating at Rockefeller on Mel's birthday was a tradition that her parents started when she was five.

Now we're at Max Brenner's where Edward brought me on our first semi-date after crashing my official date.

Since Mel and I, like most females I suppose, have a weakness for chocolate, we've brought Mel for some chocolate dessert, and while Mel squeals and indulges with me over a pot of melted chocolate, I wonder if this will become a new tradition for us.

"Aunt Bella, Uncle Edward, may I go order another pot of chocolate fondue?"

Edward purses his lips, but she just called me Aunt Bella again, the way she's been doing since yesterday morning, and as far as I'm concerned, she can order one of everything on the menu.

But I guess Edward has realized I've become a sucker for this new title in the past twenty-four hours.

"One is enough Mel. That shirt Bella gave you isn't going to fit if you have another one."

She looks down at the shirt I gave her this morning for her birthday and smiles from ear to ear. It's dark purple and black, the official colors of our studio, with the words "Baila Staff" written in black, Broadway-style lettering across the middle, with her name under it in block letters. Along with it came an official key to the studio door so that she can "open and close" the studio herself – with either Angie or me there with her, of course.

"Oh, alright," she huffs before her smile brightens again. "But I'm still getting that chocolate cake for my birthday party tonight, right?"

"You do realize she's playing you with that name, right?" Edward grins after I've given Mel a five so she can get herself a hot chocolate to go. "Seeing just how much she can get out of you with that 'Aunt Bella, Aunt Bella,'" he mimics Mel.

I chuckle heartily. "Yeah, I've realized. I'm not a total pushover, you know." I adjust the collar of his dark blue pea coat. "But I'd like to think she's also a bit happy about the fact that it'll be official in a few months."

Edward gives me that perfect, one-sided grin of his, brushing my cheek with his cold knuckle. "Of course she is."

OOOOOOOOOO

We've kept Mel's birthday get together small and low-key for that evening. For one, we're still recovering from last evening's Christmas party. Even Carlisle and Esme paid a quick visit, and Ben stopped by too. I've been worried that maybe a thirteenth birthday required a little more celebrating than we'd planned.

But as we sing Happy Birthday to Mel, I'm glad we just had Rose and the kids, and Emmett and Angie over.

Mel gazes at her cake as we sing and releases a long sigh, and I know she's thinking about her parents. It's understandable. She's had a long and busy day, a long and busy few days actually, but now it's winding down, and she's bound to feel their absence.

The next few days are pretty quiet actually. With Christmas and Mel's birthday behind us, the three of us settle into our new living arrangements, talking and spending time together late into the night since schedules are so relaxed for the holidays, and then Mel retires to her room, and Edward and I make love behind our closed door.

New Year's Eve after the ball has dropped, Mel quietly cries on my shoulder for the first half hour of the year. Everyone else is in the living room, and she and I are alone in the kitchen. Suddenly, when I feel a pair of strong arms wrap around us, I know that Edward had joined us. His shoulders rise and fall, rise and fall, and then I hear the uneven gasps, the deep inhalations of his grief pour out, and I hold them both so tightly. And then I smell the perfume that in the past couple of months I've come to associate with Rose, and I make room for her in our circle.

My family.

They will always ache for what they lost this past year, and I pray for the strength to help them heal.

OOOOOOOOOO

The rest of the month passes quickly. Mel returns to school, and Edward and Emmett begin a new job not too far from home. They'll be remodeling a complex consisting of two, sixteen-unit apartment buildings. The job is expected to take a couple of months, and in between, Edward is finishing up work at the studio. He and Emmett are almost done; there are just a few odds and ends that need to be completed, and then we'll be able to reopen the wing we've had closed during renovations with a new, state-of-the-art room. The waiting area/lobby has been completely remodeled as well with lockers lining one of the walls and a seating area along the lockers because Edward knows how to get as much as possible out of available space. He's built me shelves to display the awards we've won in the couple of years we've been around, and he's redone the counter area into more of a glassed office with more space. It's all so beautiful I want to cry every time I walk in here now. And the students all love it and can't wait to try out the new rooms as well.

I return to the studio and rehearsals. Once every couple of weeks, I accompany Edward to his AA meetings. Afterwards, we have coffee with Carlisle and Esme. We've taken Mel with us on a couple of occasions, otherwise, she stays with either Angie or Sue. She's got her afterschool job at Baila after all, and she wears her staff tee-shirts proudly.

One Wednesday towards the end of the month, I'm just starting on the Hip Hop class when the door to the room opens, and Edward stands there dirty and beautiful. I'm both surprised and suddenly apprehensive because for one, I was supposed to meet him at his AA meeting, but that's not for another hour and a half, and for another, he looks completely agitated.

"Babe- Bella," he corrects himself, but not before I hear a few of the girls in class giggle and snicker like the teenagers they are. "Can I talk to you for a few?"

"Sure. Jake?" I say, indicating he should take over.

"Got it, Bella."

As I pass her, Mel looks from me to her Uncle, tilting her head questioningly, but then I see Edward shake his head, silently telling her not to worry.

But I am worried. Edward has never interrupted one of my classes before, and as I walk out of the room in front of Edward, I've got a hundred scenarios flashing through my head: Mel's school, my parents, his job, Rose or one of the kids, Emmett…

Or…he slipped…

A wave of guilt washes over me even as I stop once we reach my office, and I turn around to study him, to see if I see anything different in his face.

"What is it?" I ask anxiously.

He swallows and paces a few steps back and forth before stopping in front of me and sliding his rough hands around my neck. I reach up and wrap my hands around his wrists.

"Me and a couple of the guys, we were working, gutting a couple of the kitchens, and then Emmett comes in…"

My heart drops to my feet.

"He got a call from the Evaluation Panel for the office…" He grins. "Four crews picked."

"You got it," I breathe.

Edward sighs and rests his forehead on mine. "We got it."

OOOOOOOOOO

A couple of weeks later, we inform my Dad's attorney that the work on the studio has been completed. He in turn informs Eli's attorney, and then we wait for word because Eli wanted to wait until the remodeling was complete to determine whether my father's offer was a fair price.

To say that I regret the day I involved him in my life so deeply would be an understatement, yet as guilty as I feel about having to accept my father's help in untangling me from the mess I created, I have to get this done. Edward and I are getting married at the end of the summer, and I want to start this phase of our lives free of any ties to Eli. I know it's important to him, and that makes it extremely important to me. Sue and Charlie tell me it's my inheritance anyway, but once this is all done, I'll do whatever I have to in order to pay them back.

Some nights after classes are done, Mel and I hang out at the studio, just like we used to when Mel and Edward first came into my life a few months ago. We finish up work, Mel completes her homework, we order food from the corner restaurant and then Mel watches me practice for the show. Sometimes she just sits there, texting her friends and watching, and sometimes she "practices" right along with me. She's good considering she's only had formal dance lessons for a few months. There's talent there, and more than that, she feels the music.

One night, I'm in the middle of Renata's closing dance. As understudies we're not given much time to practice the lead's dances, but we're still expected to know them when the curtain goes up. A week before the show opens, the understudies will have their own dress rehearsal, but that will be their only time to go through entire production. Until then, we're expected to practice our own parts as well as those of the ones for whom we're understudies.

And I'm in my zone, in that place where I hear and see nothing. I'm vaguely aware that Mel is in the room, but I'm leaping, and the only thing that suddenly brings me out of my dance trance is Mel loudly yelling my name.

I land and look at her. Her eyes are wide, frowning towards the door, and when I follow her gaze, Eli is standing there.

He brings his hands up and slowly claps his palms together over and over in a clearly sarcastic imitation of applause.

"What are you doing here?" I pant, exerted from the dance.

"What am I doing here?" he repeats, lifting one of his perfectly groomed brows. "This is still my studio, Bellita."

I've told him not to call me that, and I've got some pretty choice words on the tip of my tongue that'll serve as a reminder, but Mel is standing there, watching us anxiously, and I've got to swallow back every word burning to escape because I won't get into it with him in front of Mel.

"What are you doing here?" I repeat much more slowly, enunciating every word clearly.

He sighs. "I've brought a couple of contractors to look over the work your boyfriend did - make sure it's all up to code."

"Of course it's all up to code," I hiss. "Edward knows very well what he's doing. He and his crew did a hell of a job on your crappy lofts, didn't they?"

"They did their job; I wouldn't call it a hell of a job," he sneers. "And I heard they'll be working on that office building next. Turned out to be pretty convenient that his girlfriend's dad was part of the selection panel, didn't it?"

"He and his crew got that job fair and square."

"Oh, I'm sure they did," he smirks.

I clearly here the taunt in his tone. When I glance over at Mel, she's standing there with a pronounced frown marring her forehead.

"Look, you should've told us you were coming. Edward and my father should be here for this."

His black eyes harden, and he steps closer. "I don't have to tell anyone what I'm doing, least of all ese maricon pelao."

I close my eyes, a flash of fury racing up my spine.

"Come on, Mel," I say, glaring at Eli. She silently walks over and takes my hand.

Outside the room, there are a couple of guys inspecting every nook and cranny that Edward worked on for the past couple of months.

"Bella, I think we should call Uncle Edward," Mel murmurs nervously.

"He's at his meeting, Mel. Besides, it's just a quick inspection; they'd be done before he could even get here."

"I still think we should call him," she mumbles.

Finally, one of the guys walks over to Eli, and they quietly whisper to each other before Eli turns to approach me again.

"Mel, go wait in the office," I instruct because I don't want her to witness the next few words I'm going to have for Eli.

She sucks her teeth in protest, but when I raise a brow at her, she listens.

"Well?" I ask Eli when he reaches me.

"Well…I suppose it's all fine," he sneers.

"I told you it was. Now you need to get back to your lawyer and sign those-"

"Hold up, Bellita."

"Stop calling me that."

He laughs. "What? Only your man is allowed to call you that now?"

"I'm not getting into any of this with you, Eli. Just get back to your lawyer, and sign-"

"Like I said, you need to hold up. Your pops made me an offer based on the studio's previous value, before your man did all this…spectacular work," he grins sardonically. "Now I have to make a counter offer."

"My father offered you a more than fair cut for your half of this studio!"

He merely chuckles. "And there are a couple of other points I'd like to address."

"Like what?"

"Like the fact that your bookkeeping doesn't seem to add up."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I cross my arms against my chest.

"Not everyone seems to be paying tuition." He jerks his chin towards the office where Mel waits and then gives me a meaningful look.

"Seriously, Eli?"

He quirks a brow.

"Ugh! Fine!" I throw my hands up in the air. "I'll take care of-"

"What the fuck is that on your hand?" he snarls, his eyes glaring at my left hand. "Is that an…is that an engagement ring?"

"Yes," I say coolly.

He looks at me and shakes his head. "Tu 'stas fucking loca? You gonna marry that bastard? And what, support him and his niece financially? That's the kind of fucking man you were looking for all along? You should've told me; I would've let you pay my way."

"Fuck you, Eli," I spit, unable to hold back any longer. "Who I marry and what I do are none of your business. Just sign the goddamn papers, and we can be completely rid of each other."

"Maybe I don't want to be completely rid of you."

"That's too fucking bad. Get the fuck out - right now before I call Edward."

His nostrils flare, but he takes a step back. "I love it when you get agitated - so fiery and…passionate. I remember that passion," he says with a lewd grin.

I draw in a deep breath and try desperately to control myself while he watches me in amusement.

"You gonna marry him, that's your fucking problem," he grins, "but throwing me to the gutter is gonna cost you and your father. All this beautiful work your asshole just did," he sneers, pointing a thumb behind him, "it's just upped the value of this place, and you will be hearing from my lawyer with a new figure. After all the shit I did for you," he rants.

"What you did for me?" I snort incredulously. "You think I don't know what you've been doing? You and Felix?"

"Just because all you can get are shitty parts in third rate productions, don't come blaming me. I told you a while ago, Bellita, girls like you, talented but without a fucking clue, are a dime a dozen. You need the right rep to get anywhere, and with that gutter-dwelling new agent you've hired for yourself, you'll be getting nowhere! You would've stuck with me and Felix-"

"I was in hell with you and Felix, and if I would've stuck with you and him, I'd be the most miserable person on the face of this Earth!"

He jerks his head back as if I've slapped him.

"What a waste," he spits scornfully. "You're never going to amount to shit, especially if you marry him. You could've had it all someday."

"I already have it all," I smile.

He glares at me. "I'll have my lawyers contact your Daddy with a new offer, so if you want out of this, you better be ready to shell out."

And with that, he lifts his chin towards the two contractors waiting off to the side, and they follow him out.

OOOOOOOOOO

Edward's boots pound our bedroom floor, back and forth and back again. I sit on our bed watching him, the tightness of his jaw, squared angrily. His green eyes dark and in slits, broad shoulders stiff and hard.

"If he would've tried anything stupid, I would've called you. Besides, that's not what he was there for. He knows better than to-"

He stops stalking and looks down at me. "He knows better," he repeats in a low, even voice that belies the outrage in his eyes. "You're right; he does know better. He showed up there without any warning, without calling your father, without calling me when it was my fucking work he was having inspected. He does know better. He knew exactly what he was doing."

"Edward-"

"No, Bella," he hisses, leaning over so that our faces are level. "You should've friggin' called me!"

"You can't fight all my fights for me!"

"We're getting married!"

"That doesn't make you my father!"

"But it'll make me your husband and your partner in everything! And Mel is my kid for all intents and purposes, and she was there too!"

I open my mouth to retort, but nothing comes out immediately. Meanwhile, Edward's face hovers close to mine. His chest heaves angrily.

"I would've never let anything happen to her. I take care of her too, Edward," I say defensively.

"Bella," he breathes in frustration, closing his eyes. He suddenly drops to his knees in front of me, resting his palms on my legs. "Bella," he shakes his head, "what did you think I would do, Bella?" He looks up and meets my gaze. "Do you still not trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, Edward! I trust you with my life! I've got no doubts of your love for me!"

"That's not what I mean," he clarifies. "Bella," he says in a pained whisper, placing a hand over my heart, "you trust me here…" – he moves his hand and rests three fingers over my temple, "but you don't trust me here."

I frown at him, confused.

"I've got a short fuse, yes, but I'm learning. Unless anyone ever lays a finger on you or Mel, I'm not going to lay a finger on him. I just needed to be there," he says slowly, his voice pleading. "That's all. You were two females there alone with three strange men that were inspecting work that I did." His nostrils flare. "You should've had me, or your father there. Bella…you didn't stop yourself from calling me because you don't want me to fight your fights, but because you're still trying to fight mine. You want to protect me from everything because you still don't trust that I can handle things like a normal man."

I'm about to say that's not true, but then suddenly, the entire scene back at the studio replays itself in my head, only now I see it from Edward's eyes.

I cover my mouth with my hands as the realization hits me. I trust Edward with my heart, but I haven't stopped doubting his own self-control, though in the past few months he's done nothing but show me how responsible he can be. I mean, what was one of the first thoughts that popped into my head the other day when he came to tell me he'd gotten the office bid? I thought something had gone wrong, or that he'd…slipped.

I have been doubting him, and that doubt may have caused me to make a couple of seriously stupid decisions tonight.

"My God, I'm so sorry," I choke. "I'm so sorry, Edward."

I throw my arms around his shoulders and sink to my knees in front of him.

He swipes me up and holds me tightly against him.

"Shh, it's okay, Baby," he murmurs in my ear. "It's okay."

"I doubted that you could come and not go nuts. I did, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry," I repeat over and over.

"It's okay, Bella, just…don't doubt me anymore, okay?" he says softly. "If this is going to work, you can't doubt me."

I nod vehemently, gripping him tightly, and he holds me there just as tightly, allowing my guilt to ebb and recede.

OOOOOOOOOO

The next morning, after Edward has left for work, Mel and I are in the kitchen having breakfast. She quietly stares at her plate while she eats.

"Are you mad at me?" she finally asks.

"What, Sweetie?" I ask with a confused smile. "Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because I called Uncle Edward and told him that asshole Eli was there."

I shake my head and sigh, putting down my fork before pushing a stray strand of hair off her pretty face.

"Mel…I was going to tell your uncle anyway, and…you were right, I should've called him."

"I was?"

"Yes, you were," I grin.

"Is he mad at you now? It sounded like you were arguing last night, but I couldn't hear what you were saying. I…I don't want to have to move out."

"Mel," I breathe, pulling her close so that I can wrap my arms around her. "First of all, it's not a good idea for you to try to hear what your uncle and I are saying behind closed doors. That's why the door is closed."

She's silent.

"And your uncle and I…we'll have disagreements sometimes, but it doesn't mean any of us are going anywhere, okay?"

"Okay," she nods hesitantly.

I smile at her and shake my head again. "Come on, Kiddo, let's get you to school."

OOOOOOOOOO

March is a hectic month. Just like the old adage claims, it comes in like a lion with so many things going on: It's a month 'til the show opens; it'll mark a year since Edward entered sobriety…which means it will be a year since Jasper and Alice passed away.

Mel is moodier in the week leading up to the anniversary of her parents' death. So is Edward.

On a sunny Sunday that belies the heavy hearts surrounding us, we acknowledge the passing of the two most important people in Mel and Edward's lives.

Rose hosts a memorial service at her local church. When Edward, Mel and I arrive, Rose is in the front pew with the kids, all dressed in their prettiest clothes. Emmett is next to her with little Leah asleep in his arms. I'm not surprised to see him here. Jasper was his best friend after all.

What does surprise me is that Alice's parents aren't here, though Rose told me that she was going to let them know about this service. And despite everything I know about Rose and Edward's parents…some part of me held out hope that somehow they'd be here today.

As the service progresses, Edward reaches out and takes my hand, and I know that although to any outsider he may seem stoic right now, his face dry and his eyes front and center, he needs strength as well as comfort, so I squeeze his hand, encouraging him to squeeze back as hard as he needs. After that, I wrap my other arm around Mel's shoulder, resting her head on my shoulder.

When Rose quietly starts sobbing in the pew in front of us, Edward reaches out and places a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she leans into it.

And then Emmett turns his head sideways and kisses her temple.

I look up at Edward. His eyes are on Emmett now, expression unreadable before he moves his gaze front and center again.

OOOOOOOOOO

After the service, the plan is to head to the cemetery, but as we all get into our respective cars, Mel calls out,

"I don't want to go."

"Mel, come on," Edward sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's their one year anniversary."

"I can't," she cries. "Please don't make me go."

Edward looks at her, his expression full of bewilderment as to what to do.

"Mel, you have to go," Rose says. "We're all going."

Mel shakes her head and then runs to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Please, Aunt Bella, please don't make me go. I want to go to the studio. Please, Aunt Bella."

I look at Edward, and he meets my gaze.

"Look…how about you guys go, and I'll spend the afternoon with Mel."

Edward rakes a hand through his hair and draws in a deep breath, and though he doesn't seem very happy about it, he kisses me softly and then places a kiss on Mel's forehead. "I'll see you both later."

OOOOOOOOOO

"What would you like to do?" I ask Mel once we arrive at the studio.

"Can I…can I just be by myself for a little while?"

"Sure," I smile softly.

And for the next couple of hours, I sit in my office and watch her through the TV screen on the wall as she does what I know best: release it all through dance.

OOOOOOOOOO

I spend the rest of the day with Mel, bowing out of rehearsals despite how close we are to opening. She doesn't say much, but I'm with her. And that evening while she's on her phone texting back and forth with Becca, I quietly remind her that if she needs anything, I'm here. I'll always be here if she needs me.

"I love you, Mellita," I smile.

She stares at me and nods and goes back to her texting.

Edward has also been subdued and pensive today, yet when he makes love to me that night, he holds me as if he's afraid I'll fly away if he loosens his grip. When he comes, it's as if he's releasing from deep within his soul. And when let's go of my hips, I'm sure I'll have the imprints of his fingers there in the morning as reminders, but I don't care.

"I love you," I repeat to him over and over.

OOOOOOOOOO

The following Thursday is the pre-opening party for the show, which will be officially raising its curtains in a week and a half.

Sue comes over to watch Mel for the evening because Edward will be coming with me to the party. Ben is set to meet us there.

Edward undresses me with his eyes when I step out of the wonderful walk-in closet/dressing room he built for me- I mean us.

"You look…unfuckingbelievably gorgeous."

I chuckle and look down at the thin-strapped, sparkly black dress with a plunging neckline and and short, full skirt that I'm wearing. It ends mid-thigh, and I've paired it with black stilettos that elongate my legs even more.

Then I look at Edward and bite my lip.

"Edward…" I wrap my arms around his neck and press my mouth to his warm lips, letting my tongue tentatively touch and retreat from his. He's got on a dark suit with a grey dress shirt and a thin, black tie. His body is so perfect that though the suit isn't tailored, it might as well be. His broad shoulders fill out the jacket wonderfully and then it tapers slimly to his trim waist. The pants fit perfectly over his hips and down his long, strong legs.

I'm reminded of the night over five months ago now when he crashed my date.

"God, if you do this to me in a suit, I don't know how I'm going to handle you in a tux for our wedding. My panties are going to be wet all the way down the aisle," I chuckle.

He laughs out loud, and then rests his forehead on mine, groaning. "Hold on to that thought 'til tonight," he grins wickedly, his hands splayed firmly on my ass under my skirt. He runs a finger up and down the length of my thong.

He scowls. "You're staying pretty close to me tonight in this getup. Just one little breeze…" His finger curves around my thigh, following the thin, wiry material of my panty and then dips just under, tracing a circle around my clit.

"You are wet," he confirms.

I close my eyes and sigh while his finger moves further down my slit. "I'll be right next to you all night. You can hold my skirt down for me." And then his fingers slips deep inside, and I whimper against his mouth. "Or you can lift it up."

He snorts while he pumps me quickly, his other arm firmly around my waist holding me up.

"Fuck, I want to be inside you," he murmurs in my ear, sucking on my earlobe.

"Yesss," I half hiss, half sigh.

"But your mom is right outside this door," he chuckles. "waiting for us."

I whimper again, but this time in disappointment, and as if to make up for it, Edward adds another finger and moves them in and out quickly, circling around and around, his thumb pressing against my clit. I press my hand against his and help him move it around, pushing him in deeper.

"You like that, Baby, huh?" he encourages me. "You like my fingers inside you."

"Ohh," I cry silently because I love it when he talks to me like this.

"I love your fingers inside me. They're so long and thick and rough," I say breathlessly.

By this time, he's pumping me so hard and quick that he has to put his other hand on my ass to keep my body from jerking back with every thrust.

"You like my rough fingers?" he chuckles quietly. "When I first met you, I wanted to touch you so badly. I imagined my fingers on you…inside you…but I used to think they were too hard for your smooth skin."

"Mm, mm," I shake my head, kissing him sloppily because my mind is in too much of an uproar to remember how to do it properly.

"Tell me what else you like, Bella," he asks, his voice gruff and commanding.

"I…oh…I like having our windows open like this." I want to climb onto his fingers by now. I want to push his entire fist inside me. "Oh fuck…I like…I like being this way…the city all around us while you do these things to me."

"Yeah?" he asks shakily. "But you want to know the great part? It's that no one sees us, Bella. We see the city but no one sees us because this is just you and me, Baby, just you and me. I don't want anyone else seeing that beautiful face when you fall apart. That's just for me."

"I know," I smile, my mouth falling open when he curls his fingers inside. "For you…just for you…"

"Fuck, you're so sexy, Bella. You're so fucking sexy."

"Edward," I pant, rocking desperately against his hand, pushing his fingers in knuckle deep. I bite his shoulder to keep from screaming while I come. "Edward."

OOOOOOOOOO

When we emerge from the bedroom, Mel smiles at us and tells us we look great. She gives us each a kiss and then puts her headphones back in and returns to her homework.

"Your cheeks are so bright," my Momma Sue tells me, pinching one of my cheeks a little too knowingly and making my cheeks redden even more. "Have fun you two, and don't worry about Mel; I'll take good care of her."

"Thanks, Sue," Edward says.

And then hand in hand, we leave for the party.

A/N: Thoughts?

Translations:

Ese maricon pelao – that broke bastard (as I've explained, literally maricon is a derogatory term for homosexual, but when used in anger this way, it just means asshole, bastard, motherfucker, etc.).

Tu 'stas loca? – are you crazy?

Alright, we're on track to finish up this month. :)

Twitter: PattyRosa817

Link to 'Stories by PattyRose' is on my profile page.