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Taking a Shot

Chapter Nine

Friday morning, I woke up with Bella in my arms, thankful that for once I didn't have to get up and run to an early practice and she didn't have to go in to work. The last couple of days had been hard on her – she was still on Garrett's son's case and she was miserable trying to keep her emotions in check. She looked like an angel as she slept - her hair a halo around her head as it tumbled over her pillow and part of mine. I changed my position so I could see her face and she whimpered at my slight movement. I kissed her bare shoulder and carefully slipped from the bed.

"Mmm … breakfast in bed?" Bella murmured sleepily as I set the tray on the bedside table.

"Mmmhmm," I grinned.

She was adorably rumpled as she tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"Thank you." Bella blushed.

I joined her again in bed and we sat against the pillows, feeding each other breakfast, licking sticky, sweet syrup off each other's fingers. We were content in our happy little bubble and it was the way it should be every day of our lives. For now, I'd settle for the far and few between moments.

"I have to go and find an engagement gift for Em and Rose this afternoon."

"Shit … that's Sunday right?"

"Yeah … you forgot right?"

"No … I didn't forget. The week goes by so damn fast and I don't realize it. Life only really slows down on days like these."

"I know what you mean. I want more days like this."

"Me too, baby. Me too."

If there was only a way that Bella and I could be together more. Then a thought popped into my head and I knew that very soon I was going to make it happen. I just had to figure out the right moment to suggest it to Bella.

Bella pulled me out of my thoughts as she slid her hand into mine.

"Edward, do you want to go with me to shop for a gift?"

"If it means spending the day with you, then my answer will always be yes."

"Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

"Hmmm … I don't think you have this morning."

Bella took my face in her hands and kissed my lips sweetly. "Well, I do. I love you, Edward."

"I love you too my beautiful, Bella."

I swept my tongue along the seam of her lips to slip inside. Our tongues dancing as our kisses became more urgent. I kissed a trail along her jaw, down her neck to the curve of her shoulder and back up again, pulling her earlobe in my mouth. Bella shivered and I had to chuckle.

"Cold?"

"No …"

I gently pushed her back onto the pillows as I took her mouth in mine again. I slid my knee between her legs rubbing against her warm center. Bella gripped my shoulders as she grinded against my leg. I lifted her tank above her head before taking a pert nipple in my mouth. I kissed and sucked until it was hard and wet then paid the other one the same attention.

Bella's soft moans were killing me. I loved how she wasn't embarrassed to take what she wanted and come undone under me. My cock was rock hard, and I needed to be inside her before I exploded like a teenage boy.

My fingers slipped into the waistband of her pants and pulled them down her legs along with her panties, throwing them over my shoulder. I placed a kiss on her inner thigh and Bella whimpered. I knew what she wanted and there was no way I could deny her.

With slow strokes my tongue teased her lips before I circled her clit and took it in my mouth. I pushed two fingers inside while I worked my lips along her wet folds. Bella was a writhring mess under me, hot and bothered, breathing heavy. Her fingers threaded into my hair, and her fingernails scraped my scalp in a fine line between pain and pleasure.

"Edward … please, I need you inside me."

My body was ready to explode even if I was taking great pleasure in teasing her. I crawled up the bed to settle between her legs as I slid the tip of my cock in her moist flesh between her legs. "Is this what you want, baby?

"Oh, God … yes."

I leaned down claiming her lips as I pushed forward inch by inch till I was completely filling her. She wrapped her legs around my waist and rocked her hips taking me deeper. I moved with languid strokes as I possessed her body. I never felt so much pleasure as I did inside Bella. She was a part of my soul.

My lips never left her skin as I kissed her mouth, her jaw and down her neck. I moved in and out in a steady rhythm as I felt my balls tighten and the quivering in my stomach. I was close and I wasn't sure how much longer I could last.

"Oh, God, Edward … please don't stop. You feel so good inside me."

There was no way in hell I was stopping.

"Bella … I need you there with me."

"So close."

My movements became shorter and harder. I was right on the edge, but then Bella fluttered around me and clenched down on my cock, triggering my orgasm as I came hard deep inside her. She was right behind me as she screamed my name.

My breath was ragged as I pulled out of her and slid next to her trying to steady my breathing.

"Wow … that was …"

"Yeah … You're insatiable."

"Only for you, baby."

I slapped her ass playfully. "Damn right only for me."

Bella giggled. "I need to get a shower. Wanna join me?"

"As tempting as that offer is, I don't think we'd ever leave the house today."

"Suit yourself," Bella said as she swung her hips and strolled to bathroom naked before closing the door behind her.

I jumped out of bed not caring if we ever left the house at all today, and joined her in the shower.

After thoroughly washing each other and another bout of lovemaking we finally came up for air an hour later. We dressed in silence trying our best to keep our hands to ourselves before we headed out for our shopping trip.

I had no idea what we were shopping for, but lucky for me Bella did. She had already picked up a gift certificate for a spa weekend at the Poconos, but she wanted something to go with it. I was happy to be spending the day with her.

We hit the mall first going from store to store and Bella was getting more frustrated by the minute. She had said that she only wanted the best for her brother and future sister-in-law and nothing was catching her eye. I took her hand in mine and snuggled her into my side and reassured her Emmett and Rose would love anything we got them.

After we grabbed lunch we shopped some more until we came across a specialty store that had personalized gifts. We found so many different wedding pieces but settled for a matching picture frame and candlestick set. We had their names and engagement date engraved in the frame. Bella was happy, which in turn made me happy.

That night we curled up on my couch and watched movies with a bowl of popcorn between us. It didn't take long for the exhaustion of the day to catch up with us. I carried Bella to bed before we fell asleep in each other's arms.

In the morning I kissed Bella goodbye.

"I miss you already."

"It's only a day, baby."

"I know but I hate not being able to go to your game tonight."

"If it means I get to spend tomorrow with you then I'm okay with it. There'll be other games."

"Promise to call me after the game?"

"I promise. Now go before we're both late."

"Love you."

"Love you, too. Bye, baby."

I kissed her one last time as she went off to work and I went to the arena to get ready for practice and the game that night.

Most game days consisted of a run on the treadmill and a workout, then a run through some plays. Ice time was minimal since we needed to be prepared and not exhausted. We ate a light meal before we suited up an hour before the game.

Playing hockey could be grueling, but the feel of ice beneath my feet was exhilarating. Even as a little boy I dreamed of playing professionally.

I stood with my helmet over my heart as the national anthem played. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I waited for the puck to drop. Montreal gained possession as soon as the puck hit the ice. It was short lived when midway through the first period Timonen rocketed a slap shot from the blue line that zoomed past the goalie to put us up one to nothing.

The puck moved fast up and down the ice. Montreal tied the game four minutes into the second period while on a power play. They eased around the net to slip it in past Bryzgalov. That didn't stop us. Briere put the Flyers ahead again when he deflected a wrist shot and shot the puck in the net.

Bryzgalov was on fire in goal stopping shot after shot but we couldn't let our guard down letting easy mistakes overtake us. With us up two to one going into the third period we had to step up our game if we wanted to hold our lead.

With two minutes left in the game, I took a pass from Bryzgalov and flicked it to Briere who took a wrist shot putting us up three to one. The light in the back of the net flashed and the fans went wild. Will held our own for the last minutes of the game and with that win we clinched a playoff spot and eliminated Montreal from any chance at the cup.

It was a big victory for us.

Sunday afternoon, Bella and I went to Emmett and Rosalie's engagement party. The party was at Bella's parent's house in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I'd never been there before, and if I was being honest, I was nervous going in because I'd yet to meet them.

"You'll be fine, baby," Bella reassured me. "Mom can't wait to meet you. As for Phil – he loves hockey, so you're good there. Emmett would be much harder on you anyway – he's always been protective of me. So if you have Emmett's approval, you're good to go."

Thankfully, I knew I didn't have to worry about Emmett. In our own way, we'd already discussed my relationship with Bella.

We pulled up in front of her parent's house and I put the car into park. Bella smiled over at me and gave my hand a gentle squeeze reminding me that everything would be okay.

Bella grabbed the food we'd brought, and I grabbed the gift and a bottle of wine.

"Bells!" A man who looked like an older version of Emmett greeted as he held open the door.

"Hey, Dad," Bella giggled.

She stopped in the entryway to introduce us.

"Dad, this is Edward. Edward, this is my dad, Phil."

"Hey, Edward. Nice to meet you. Come on in."

After greeting Phil, I followed Bella into the kitchen where she was already greeting her mom.

"Edward!" Renee squealed. "It's so nice to meet you, sweetheart. My daughter speaks so highly of you, I feel like we already know you!"

I moved to shake her hand, but Renee pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

"You make my little girl so happy," she whispered.

"Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. McCarty."

Bella and Renee both giggled.

"Edward, honey, Mrs. McCarty is my mother-in-law. Please call me Renee."

"Eddie!" Emmett hollered, giving me a fist bump. "Come on outside and have a beer."

I kissed Bella softly before following Emmett outside to the enclosed patio.

Emmett's circle of friends included quite a few current as well as retired hockey players. Several familiar faces were huddled around a large stone fireplace.

"Eddie, you've met my girl, Rosie, haven't you?" Emmett asked as he wound his arm around a tall, attractive blonde.

"I think I've met her in passing," I admitted as I reached out to shake her hand. "Hi, Rosalie, I'm Edward."

"Oh, you're Bella's Edward." Rosalie smiled.

"Yeah," I grinned.

It was true. I was Bella's in every sense of the word.

As if she knew we were talking about her, Bella joined us, her hand caressing the small of my back as I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her into my side.

"Hey, Rose."

"Hey, Bells. Emmett was just re-introducing me to Edward." Rosalie smiled. "Are we going to hear wedding bells playing for you two anytime soon?"

Bella gasped and I couldn't hold in my chuckle, although I was learning very quickly that there was no one else for me and it wouldn't be long before I'd be itching to ask Bella to be mine forever.

"Rose! You sound like my mother! We've only been dating a couple of months, how in the world could you think that we'd be ready for such a big step after so little time together?"

"Because, Bells. When you know … you know. Like I knew with Emmett … I can't imagine my life without him."

"See, Bella? I keep telling you that, but you won't listen to me," Renee sang as she carried out a tray of appetizers.

"Sorry," Bella whispered apologetically. "Every time I see them this is what I have to deal with."

"You don't have to apologize, baby. My mom does the same thing." I chuckled.

Eventually, I sat down with the guys, and we talked about hockey and how everyone thought the playoffs would pan out. We hoped like hell the Flyers would prevail but the unknown was always a factor.

"What are you going to do in the off season, Eddie?" Emmett asked with a grin as we walked to the kitchen to get more beer.

"I'm hoping to move your sister in with me." I grinned back.

"Yeah? You think Bells will go for that?"

"God, I hope so. When I'm not travelling for games and she's not working, we spend our free time together so it only makes sense."

"You may have to convince Bella of that," Emmett warned.

"Convince me of what?" Bella asked, walking into the kitchen, her arms full of empty plates.

I took them from her and helped her clear them. Emmett chose that moment to step out of the kitchen.

"Convince me of what, Edward?" Bella asked again.

"This so isn't how I wanted to do this," I muttered.

"Do what, Edward?"

Bella's tone was bordering on aggravated.

I turned from my task and wiped my hands, placing them on her hips and pulling her to me. I kissed her forehead before resting my own against hers.

"I wanted to ask you to move in with me," I sighed.

"Is that what you were talking to Emmett about?" Bella asked quietly.

"Yeah. He asked me what I was going to do in the off-season. I told him I was hoping to move you in with me."

Bella pulled away – not completely but enough that she could look up at me. She was quiet as she gazed at me – her eyes seemingly searching my face to determine whether or not I was hiding anything else from her.

"Okay."

"Okay?" I asked.

"Okay. I'll move in with you," She whispered.

"Yeah?" I grinned against her forehead before I pressed a sweet kiss against it.

"Yeah." She nodded.

We stood in each other's arms for the longest time – right there in her parents kitchen. Bella didn't say anything else and I wasn't quite sure what else to say to her – she'd agreed and I didn't even have to resort to giving her a list of pros and cons or begging if it came down to it.

"I love you, Edward," Bella murmured, finally breaking our silence.

"I love you too, baby. Are you okay?"

"I'm perfect. I guess I can understand why you didn't want to ask me that here … now."

"Yeah," I agreed, rubbing the back of my neck. "You're not upset by it, are you?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I mean, yeah, I wish you hadn't asked me to move in with you in the middle of my mom's kitchen but I really didn't give you a choice."

"I'm sorry, Bella. It's not the way I wanted to ask you either but when you walked in – I couldn't lie to you about what Emmett and I were talking about. You know I'd never keep anything from you."

"I know. Would you mind terribly if we kept it to ourselves for a while? I don't want my news to impede on Rose and Em's engagement."

"That's fine, baby. We can tell them whenever you're ready."

We stayed for a few more hours, chatting and talking. The women eventually snuck into the house to look at wedding magazines and talk about the plans that Rosalie already had in motion for having the wedding of her dreams. I could tell that Emmett wanted to ask me about what transpired in the kitchen after he left, so I avoided him by striking up a conversation with Rosalie's dad who was in real estate. I thought maybe if Bella and I wanted to live together, we should get a bigger place. My apartment was bigger than hers but we'd have to move eventually – especially if somewhere down the road we decided to get married and start a family of our own.

Later that evening, when Bella and I said our goodbyes, Emmett walked us out and hugged his sister as I held open the car door for her.

"Call me when you guys are ready to do this and I'll help you move." Emmett grinned, clapping me on the back.

"Thanks, Em." I grinned.

I climbed into the driver's seat and we made our way back to the city.

"I can't wait to get home," Bella smiled sleepily.

"Your home or mine?" I asked, slipping my hand into hers.

"Our home," she yawned, her eyes sliding shut.

Little did Bella know that she was my home.

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