I'M SO LATE AND I'M SORRY. RL is kicking my booty and basically school is a lot of work. But I have an update for you!

Little reminder, since it's been a minute, we are rated M for a reason!

Thank you very very much to Fran and Mariel! This chapter would definitely not exist if not for you!

Ok, I've made you wait long enough. Here you go!


"Rose?" I asked, pushing her door open a little wider.

"Come on in, babe," Rose said. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, laptop open.

I closed the door behind me and joined her on her bed.

She raised an eyebrow at me.

"How was the shopping excursion?" I finally asked.

She grinned. "You've got a nice boy there, my dear. He paid for the groceries, no surprise."

"Did you—"

"I tried, I tried!" she raised her hands in defense. "I had my wallet out and was all ready to pay and not let him, 'cause I was absolutely anticipating he was gonna try, but he pulled some, like, James Bond move. Next thing I know, it's all paid for, and the cashier is just staring at him like he's from another planet."

Shit.

"Did he get recognized?" I asked, suddenly paranoid.

Rose shrugged. "No idea. Don't think so."

"Where did you go besides the grocery store?"

Rose grinned. "A couple of stores. He proved to me he cares about you and knows you and has no interest in plowing over your interests in favor of his own or anyone else's, including mine. In fact, he would be completely prepared to defend you against me if necessary. It'll never be necessary, but that was a nice discovery either way."

I smiled. "He is sweet, isn't he?"

She nodded. "I'm not telling you what he got you, if you're trying to get it out of me. But I think he chose really well. It's nice, but sensible. But, babe, let the boy spoil you sometimes."

I bit my lip, considering.

"You deserve amazing things, Bella, and if he wants to give them to you, it's okay to let him. He bought much nicer wine than we ever drink, and I gave him a hard time, but you shouldn't."

"I don't want him to just throw money around, though," I said with a frown. "I mean, if there's something cheaper…"

"You gotta meet him halfway. It's not like he walked into the store and grabbed the most expensive wine. He, like, read the labels and shit. You know, analyzed the descriptions and tried to find something that would be good. He might be full of shit about whether one wine tastes different from another, but if he is, he genuinely believes it."

I nodded slowly.

"And," Rose continued. "I think he just genuinely always wants to pay for quality, and I think his priorities are in an excellent order."

"What do you mean?"

She smirked. "He rented a Tesla. Would you like to know why he rented a Tesla?"

"Why?"

"The windows are tinted, and it had the best safety rating."

My brow furrowed. "Wha—okay?"

"Babe, he wants you safe. If you're out with him, he doesn't want the paparazzi getting your face, and he wanted a car that would protect you."

I flushed. That was … incredibly sweet.

"And yes, I'm sure he spent a lot more getting this car than he would've if he'd gotten a random Nissan. But he also could've gotten something a lot more spectacularly … flashy."

I flopped over onto Rose's pillows and sighed happily.

"You like him."

Her words weren't a question. I didn't think she needed to ask.

I nodded anyway before I pursed my lips thoughtfully. There was an extremely sweet boy in the other room. He seemed like he was pretty much as head over heels for me as I was for him. He wanted to take care of me. That was … well, pretty amazing. It was what I'd always wanted.

"I think I'm gonna go to him. I'm … feeling really good right now."

Rose smiled. "Good."

I clambered not very gracefully out of her bed and out of her room to find my adorable boyfriend, not in the living room, where I had left him. I went to my room and discovered him sitting on my bed, reading on an iPad.

I felt a wonderful warmth spread through my body, seeing my boyfriend relaxed in my room. That domestic feeling was back with gusto, and I relished it, but more than that, there was something I couldn't identify, couldn't describe, couldn't come close to putting my finger on. But there was something, it was special, and it was … Edward.

On an impulse, I darted across the room and flew into his arms.

Edward laughed and put the tablet down, wrapping his arms around me and adjusting me so I was fully in his lap.

"Not that I'll ever complain about having you in my arms, but where did that come from?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I was happy. Wanted a snuggle. Rose made me happy."

"Sounds good to me," he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

I sighed happily.

"We should go to bed," I finally say. "Maybe not totally mess up my sleeping schedule."

I liked my job, but the early mornings weren't my favorite.

Edward agreed and, once again, we brushed our teeth together and had a very minty good night kiss, well, more like a very minty good night make-out session. It was natural and good, and that warm feeling spread through me again as Edward tucked my body into his. I couldn't help thinking how right it felt, how we fit together like puzzle pieces—and how much I was going to miss him when he went back to LA.

oxIPxo

I woke up in the morning to soft kisses on my neck. I didn't move, enjoying them too much.

"I know you're awake, beautiful," that incredible velvet voice rumbled through my body.

"I don't want to move," I mumbled. "Feels good."

"I'm happy to hear that."

I suddenly remembered what day it was.

"Happy birthday!" I exclaimed, starting to twist so I could see him.

"It certainly is so far," Edward replied, tightening his arms so I couldn't move. "Stay still; I'm doing some good work here."

I giggled, but I let him keep up his nuzzles and nibbles as his hands very slowly and gently roamed my body.

He never let them settle anywhere, just kept skimming my torso, occasionally brushing across my breasts.

I wanted more.

I was sure.

I was so turned on. And I was turned on by him.

I didn't care about making him happy. Well, I did. But that wasn't why I wanted more.

I wanted him touching me.

"Touch me, Edward," I half begged. "Please."

"Whatever you want, baby," he replied.

He kept kissing my neck, and one hand slipped below the neck of my tank top to cup my boob.

"Wanna kiss you," I mumbled, trying to twist in his very tight arms.

He let me roll over and immediately captured my mouth in an intense kiss, morning breath be damned, tangling our tongues in a passionate dance as he went back to work on my boob. He tugged the straps of my tank top off my arms and pulled the whole thing down to free both my breasts, turning my shirt into a useless belt wadded around my waist.

Edward kissed his way down my jaw to my neck before licking down to my nipple, where he nipped at it lightly.

I cried out, my hips flexing instinctively, involuntarily.

He chuckled against my skin. "That's a neat trick," he said, his voice coming out a little muffled. "I wonder if I can do that again."

Edward rolled us both, so he was lying on top of me, his hips nestled in the cradle between my thighs and moved to the other side, shoved the rest of my shirt out of his way, and caught my nipple in his lips before adding a little tongue and teeth.

The sensation from his teeth shot straight to my core; I could feel the dampness seeping out to soak my panties. I whimpered and moaned in his arms.

"I want more," I whispered. "Please."

Edward sat up, resting on his forearms on either side of me, the furrow in his brow deep, eyes searching mine.

"How much more, sweetheart?" he murmured. "Where do you want me to take you?"

I hesitated. Full sex on a whim first thing in the morning was probably not the greatest of ideas. I wanted him. I was completely sure. I also had enough brainpower to know that even if it was the best moment of my life, I'd never be totally happy with myself if I went right for it without any forethought at all.

"Just … some more …" I hedged. I swallowed. If I wanted him, I had to be able to ask for it. "Will you … touch me?"

A smile spread across Edward's face.

"Of course, baby."

Edward leaned down and kissed me.

I moaned into his kiss, and he took advantage of my open mouth to sweep his tongue into mine, one hand going back to my boob for a quick squeeze before journey down my front.

He pulled back slightly and looked into my eyes, searching for something as his fingers danced across the waistband of my pajama shorts. He let the tip of just one finger slip under the thick elastic band, tickling me slightly, unexpectedly, making me gasp.

Edward chuckled.

"I love all the sounds you make," he murmured. "Don't hold back, please."

And with those words, he cupped me over my shorts, drawing a much sharper gasp from me this time.

He pressed the heel of his hand against my clit and rubbed a little, not roughly, but definitely not softly either. More … firm. Hard.

It felt so fucking good, and oh goodness, I needed so much more.

"Edward," I moaned, my hips thrusting once against his hand.

"You're so wet, baby," he whispered, pressing his fingers against me. "You're soaking through your shorts."

I didn't have a response to that, so instead, I whimpered and took his ear in my mouth, mostly because I could reach it. I was rewarded when he growled at my light nibble, and he rubbed harder at my center.

"Can I take these off?" he asked, plucking at my shorts.

"Yeah."

He sat up and tugged my shorts down, running his hands along my legs as he undressed me. He surveyed me for a moment, lying there in probably ruined panties with a tank top wrapped around my waist. He looked at me quizzically as he took a handful of the bunched fabric. I nodded.

Edward pulled me to a seated position and helped me untangle myself from the tank top before he lay me down.

I barely had time to be self-conscious in only my panties before he spoke.

"You're so fucking beautiful, sweetheart."

And then, he was back on the bed with me, laying half on top of me as his fingers tugged the crotch of my panties aside so his fingers could swirl in the wetness gathered there.

"Christ, you're soaked," he mumbled. "I want to taste it."

I inhaled. He wanted to eat me out. That was. Yeah. Okay. I couldn't process that because he was slipping one finger, and then a second, inside me, and oh shit, that felt so right and so fucking good.

He wrapped his other arm around my waist and pulled me against his body as he began pumping his fingers in and out of my body.

I gasped at the sensations, and my back arched. This was a very different experience than I usually had when there were fingers in my underwear. Usually, the fingers were mine and it was frankly boring compared to Edward's hands.

He scissored his fingers, making me cry out.

"Can I taste you, baby?" he asked, sounding a little desperate.

I felt myself nod before I realized I was doing it. And then I nodded again, quite enthusiastically.

And then he was grinning over me, kneeling between my thighs and pulling my undies down.

"Oh, fuck!" I squealed as he dove straight for the gold, swiping long licks of his tongue along my slit before settling his mouth on my clit and sliding two fingers back inside me.

My hands were in his hair, and he had his free hand pressing down on my belly. I felt his fingers touch that place inside of me, and he pressed firmly against them from the outside as he did something especially clever with his tongue. I didn't even know what it was. There were too many sensations, and they were all pushing me toward the moon.

"Edward," I cried. "Please!"

I didn't know what I was asking for; I just wanted him to never let me go.

"Give me more, beautiful," he mumbled into my inner thigh. "Just focus on what I'm doing to you, how you feel; listen to your body."

I whimpered and writhed under his hands and mouth, the tension building. I couldn't hold still; my limbs were taking on lives of their own, each independent from the others. My back was perpetually arched, and I thought I might snap in half if he pushed me harder.

And then it wasn't building anymore. It just … was. And, oh lord, I was sensitive.

"Y-you can s-stop," I stammered.

Edward looked up at me, something I couldn't identify swirling in his eyes.

"Is that as far as I can take you?" he asked quietly.

I nodded.

"It's different, though," I whispered when he was lying next to me, holding me tightly in his arms. "It's different with you."


I really thought we'd get further than waking up on Edward's birthday, but this is where the chapter wanted to end *shrug*.

Going forward: I am doing writing exercises every day of April and trying to generate a lot of words, but they aren't all good words (and not all InstaPals either). So I really have no idea if I'll be able to keep an update schedule. I don't want to promise to and then fail, so let's say there will be sporadic updates through the middle of May and when my semester is over and I am a little less frazzled (my dumb ass decided to submit a paper to a conference, so that's one more thing I'll have to do if it's picked, which is not helping my stress!) I will get back on a schedule, and hopefully a weekly schedule.

Thank you very much for your patience. I promise I am not abandoning, I am just a depressed college student and that comes with complications.

And if you haven't read it, I posted a new OS a couple of weeks ago: Cupcakes in the Library. I'd love if you read it and if you like it-it was nominated for Top 10 Completed Fics of March 2022 on TwiFanFictionRecs, so you can go vote for me every day!

I hope you all have a lovely Monday and the rest of the week!