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Chapter Seventy-Five

"Where are we going?" I asked as I realized we were not heading to the apartment after leaving his parents house.

Edward gave me a sly smile. "I just want to try one thing," he said in a playful tone.

I was even more confused than before when we pulled up in front of my mom's house.

"What are you-"

"C'mon."

We left the car and Edward grabbed my hand as we walked to the side of the house. He hummed to himself as he unlocked the gate.

"I wanted to...hang out," Edward teased as we walked towards the hammock. "And that's legitimately funny so don't bother claiming otherwise."

I held up my hands. "I wasn't going to say anything."

Edward held onto the hammock for me as I laid down. I watched as he gracefully laid next to me.

"It's nice out here," he said, enveloping me in his arms with a content sigh.

"Mmhm."

His fingers played with a piece of my hair as he asked, "Did you have fun tonight?"

"Yes."

We were silent and I smiled to myself, replaying the night.

The karaoke I tortured everyone with; Emma hitting Emmett instead of the the silly pinata; Emmett pinning the tail on Rose instead of the donkey.

"Thank you," I whispered.

It was my turn with the content sigh.

"You don't have to thank me, Bella."

"Oh, but I do. You've gone above and beyond. So has your family."

"So you didn't think the Minne Mouse mug was too cheesy?" he asked, sounding slightly worried.

"Are you kidding me? It's...no. It was perfect," I admitted, catching myself getting teary eyed all over again. "It's so much more than a coffee mug."

"I know," Edward said with a gleam in his eyes. "You know you're stuck with me for good now, right? We Cullens don't give those coffee mugs to just anyone."

"Stuck with you, huh?" I laughed. "That doesn't sound too bad to me."

"I'm holding you to that," Edward warned.

As if I belonged anywhere other than with him.

I brought my lips to his and kissed him hard, needing to be close to him; needing to connect with him.

Edward felt my desperation and deepened the kiss, turning in the hammock so his body was against mine.

"Hey." His fingers brushed my cheek. "I need you," he said boldly.

"I know. I know why you brought me here," I explained, pushing myself against him. "Don't pretend to look shocked."

"Nothing gets by you, huh?"

I shook my head and moaned as his hands trailed down my side, lifting my dress up to my waist.

"I'm not sure how well this will work out but I'm willing to try." I laughed.

"You know..." He started to say as his cool fingers grazed the edge of my underwear, pulling the material away from my skin. "That I'm so in love with you."

"I do know," I panted as he brought his fingers closer, lightly touching, probing. "Shiiit."

Edward smiled and held my stare as he slowly slipped one finger inside. "And I'd do anything for you."

"I know," I shuddered as he added a second finger, causing me to close my eyes.

"As long as you know," he whispered and I fisted his shirt, bucking against him.

Needing.

Wanting.

Taking everything he was giving me and more.

"Let's get these off you," he instructed as we both struggled to pull my underwear off without falling out of the hammock.

I pouted at the sudden loss of his fingers and yanked at his slacks. "Then you take these off."

"Yes ma'am." His voice was teasing as he unbuckled his pants, puling them down carefully as the hammock swung back and forth.

I reached inside his boxers and sighed, pulling him out.

Edward licked his lips and said, "Get on top, baby."

I slowly straddled him as he stared at me with hooded eyes. He pushed my dress further up and kept his hands on my hips, guiding me as I slid down onto his dick.

I gasped and slowly slid up and down, fully knowing I was torturing him.

"Ah, not funny," he scolded, pulling me down to meet his lips. "Baby."

"What?" I whimpered as he pushed me all the way down, keeping his dick inside me.

"You feel so good," he panted as I rolled my hips against his.

"I love you," I confessed as our bodies found a rhythm; moving in perfect synchronicity.

"You feel that? Us?" he asked in a strained voice, causing me to shiver as I felt a tightness in my stomach. "Baby."

I nodded and didn't slow my pace, not caring if we fell right to the ground.

Edward pulled the top of my dress lower, grabbing my breasts. "Gorgeous."

His fingers pinched and I gasped from the pleasure that was about to take over, push me over the top.

"I love you. I fucking-" he groaned, covering my mouth with his as we cried out together.

Always together.

The past two months had proven that things happen for a reason.

The past two months had proven that no matter how bad things can be, they can change if you allow them to.

They can change if you choose to do something.

I had to let my mother go so she could get the help she needed. I knew I'd lost her, not just recently, but a long time ago.

It was time for us both to find ourselves.

With that loss, I had gained more than I had realized.

Self-regard.

The feeling of belonging; security.

Edward.

And last but not least- a new appreciation for hammocks.

A/N: I promised Julie hammock sex. I had to follow through. Epilogue will be posted tomorrow as well as an epically long A/N. Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading :')