*Fiddling was had. All mistakes are mine.
Songs:
"Shivers," Ed Sheeran
"Amazed," Lonestar
"If You Love Her," Forest Blakk
Chapter 17
Edward
I can count on one hand the number of times in my life I've woken up and had little to no recollection of the night before. Most of those times have been after a night of drinking with my squadron or other officers. In my experience, no one can party like the men and women of the Air Force. As consciousness comes back to me this morning, and the warm body I'm now intimately familiar with moves beside mine, I'm really thankful this morning isn't one of them, even if some of the finer details are a little foggy.
The ever-present magnetism between us draws me to her, and I reach out, my hand landing low on her naked back. Unable to resist the pull, I roll to my side, brushing my lips over the soft skin of her shoulder as I breathe her in. Our bodies are separated only by the tangle of bedsheets between us, but even those few inches feel too far. As my fingertips ghost over her back, up and down her spine, memories of last night flash behind my closed eyes.
Her soft skin as I kissed every inch of her body.
The sighs and moans I was able to draw out of her as I touched her.
The way she tasted on my tongue.
How she looked with my cock in her mouth.
But then I remember how the night ended.
I've spent weeks—months—fantasizing about what I'd do to her when I finally got her into my bed, and when I did, I fell the fuck asleep. I could kick my own ass. But, my god, what we did do was better than I could imagine.
I try to open my eyes to get a look at the beautiful woman beside me, but the morning light shining through the gap in the curtains makes my head hurt. I'd love to get between her legs and give her a wake up to remember, but even I know my limitations. I need water, Tylenol, and a shower, pronto. Before I can decide if I should climb out of bed to grab the pain reliever from the medicine cabinet, Bella stirs beside me.
I don't give a damn about the headache. I open my eyes.
Her breathing changes as she shifts, and I watch, spellbound, as she rolls onto her back. The sheet stays at her waist, and I take full advantage of the moment, drinking in the sight of her in the morning light. Makeup smudges her eyes, creases from the pillowcase line her cheek, and her hair is a mess. I must've imagined this scenario a thousand times, but nothing compares to actually having her next to me. Even sleep-rumpled, she takes my breath away.
The urge to explore every dip and curve of her naked torso is strong, but somehow, I restrain myself. It's probably not a good look to be caught fondling your woman in her sleep, especially the first time she wakes up naked beside me. It's a good thing I can control my baser instincts, too, because a moment later, her lashes flutter and her eyes open. I watch as she turns her head and looks over at me, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Shyness seems to creep up on her and her cheeks turn pink as she slowly drags the sheet up, covering her breasts. "Morning."
"Good morning," I murmur as I lean in and kiss her, resting my hand on her stomach. "How did you sleep?"
"Good."
The corner of my mouth turns up. "Just good?"
She rolls toward me, pressing her face into my chest and nodding. "Yeah, very good. I just wish I didn't have a headache this morning."
I chuckle and wrap my arm around her, holding her sleepy-warm body close to mine as my hand splays out on her back. "Do you have a hangover?"
"Maybe a little one. It's been a while since I drank that much." She pulls back and looks at me. "How do you not have a hangover? You drank way more than I did last night."
"Years and years of practice, baby. And I do have a bit of a headache, but it's nothing some water and Tylenol won't fix. I have the perfect remedy for you, though." I pat her backside. "Come on. I'll start the shower so it's nice and hot when you get in there."
There's a moment of hesitation before she replies with a timid, "okay."
I leave a lingering kiss on her forehead before reluctantly pulling away and rolling over to sit on the edge of the bed. I spot my discarded boxer briefs across the room in a haphazard pile with the rest of our clothes. How they ended up there is one of the finer details I can't recall. I don't have to think too hard to decide they're too far away to bother with.
Without another thought, I stand and walk toward the bathroom, only stopping to look over my shoulder when I hear Bella's soft laugh. "What?"
She sits up, pulling the sheet with her as her eyes scan me from head to toe. Her gaze lingers in a few places, and it makes me feel ten feet tall. "A girl could get used to seeing that first thing in the morning."
I turn around fully and grin. "I know the feeling."
Her wayward gaze snaps to mine. "What are you talking about?"
I waggle my eyebrows as I stalk toward the bed. "I got quite the show before you woke up."
Chuckling, she falls back into the pillows. "Go start the shower. Oh, and find that Tylenol while you're in there."
I lean over, resting on my fists on either side of her, caging her with my arms. "You should get used to waking up like this, because, my love, this is just the first of many mornings together."
The kiss we share is as gentle as it is hungry, holding promises of things to come. But we have all weekend. There's no rush, no need to hurry things along … even if I'm dying to get inside her.
She pulls back and smiles up at me. "Go start the shower," she whispers. "I need to use your guest bathroom."
"Use mine." I peck her lips once more before extricating myself from the bed. "I'll use the guest bathroom while you start the shower and do what you need to do. There's a glass on the vanity and Tylenol in the medicine cabinet."
"Okay," she says softly. "You'll meet me in there in a few?"
Imagining all the trouble we can get up to in the shower, I shoot her a salacious grin. "Don't take too long."
I take off down the hallway and duck into the guest bathroom. Thankfully, there's a small bottle of Advil in the cabinet, so I down two and gulp some water from the tap. As I'm drying my mouth, I catch sight of my reflection. A day's worth of stubble covers my face, but as I scan through the few items in the cabinet, there's no razor to be found. I'll just have to be careful not to give Bella beard burn before I can shave. But what I do find is a bottle of mouthwash, so I swish a mouthful of that to chase away what I'm sure is monster morning breath. The mouthwash makes me realize just how thirsty I am, so I head to the kitchen and quickly finish off two glasses of water. Cotton mouth is no joke.
I snatch a few bottles of water from the fridge and a couple granola bars and carry them into my bedroom, placing it all on the nightstand. The ensuite bathroom door is closed, but I hear the water running.
My imagination runs away with me, filling my head with all the things I could do to Bella, but I know I need to proceed with caution. She may have been ready and willing last night, but that was last night.
Many things can look different in the light of day, especially to a woman like Bella.
I open the door and I'm hit by a wall of steam. But that's not the only thing that hits me. Scattered on the vanity are her hairbrush and toothbrush, and hanging on the towel rod is a silky, dark blue robe. It's probably a simple thing to most people, but this little snapshot of domesticity, seeing her things alongside mine, feels so damn right.
I've spent so long content with focusing on my career, not worried about finding anyone to share my life with. It wasn't until I met Bella that I realized just how badly I wanted that … with her. And now that I have her, I'll do whatever it takes to hold onto it.
"Edward?"
Stepping all the way into the room and closing the door behind me, I crack a grin. "Expecting someone else?"
She laughs a breathy laugh. "It's too early to tease me, you know."
I pull my eyes away from her hazy silhouette teasing me through the frosted glass and glance at the clock on the wall. "Hardly. It's almost noon."
"Still, you should pace yourself." I watch as she lifts her arms to work shampoo into her hair. "We've got all weekend."
I grin. "That we do. Think there's room in there for one more?"
"It'll be a tight fit, but I think we can manage."
Not one to miss an opportunity, I open the shower door to step in behind her, and I'm immediately almost brought to my knees. If I thought naked Bella in my bed was spectacular, she's got nothing on naked Bella in my shower, covered in soap bubbles and smelling absolutely fucking edible.
"Damn, baby." I can't keep my hands to myself, so I reach for her and pull her closer. Her pert nipples brush against my chest. I'm tempted to crouch down and suck one into my mouth, but her giggling as she steps back halts my nefarious intentions.
"Easy there, tiger. I need to get the rest of this shampoo out of my hair."
"Let me help." Without a second thought, I weave my fingers into her hair as she tilts her head back under the water, lightly massaging her scalp.
"God, that feels amazing."
My voice drops an octave or ten. "I bet it does."
I focus on her lips as her mouth falls open, the little throaty sounds she makes. The way the water clings to her skin, her lashes, and how her chest rises and falls with every breath she takes. She's goddamn magnificent.
And she's all mine.
When she opens her eyes, she smiles up at me, oblivious to the thoughts running through my head. "Your turn?"
I clear my throat and nod, leaning forward into the stream of water to wet my hair while she gets shampoo. Her fingers in my hair feel so damn good, I have to stop myself from moaning, for fear I'll embarrass myself.
She doesn't stop once the shampoo is rinsed out. Instead, she grabs the bar of soap, working up a lather and rubbing it across my chest. As her hands move lower, her eyes trail down my body, landing on my obvious erection. The corner of her mouth turns up. "Someone's excited to get clean."
"Can't help it. My girlfriend has magical hands." I lean closer and whisper in her ear. "And a magical mouth."
She looks up at me. All traces of the seductive vixen are gone from her eyes and replaced by a mischievous look. "You actually remember all that, Sleepy?"
"Sleepy? I'll show you sleepy!" In an impulsive move, I grab her waist and pick her up, spinning us around to swap places.
The bar of soap falls to the shower floor with a thud as she clings to me, squealing and laughing. "Edward! Put me down!"
"No, I don't think I will."
"Stop! I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry!" she cries, giggling as I turn us so her back is pressed to the tile wall. She wraps her legs around my waist and holds on tightly to me.
But her giggles turn to whimpers when I bury my face in her neck and kiss her damp skin. And when I grind my dick against her pussy, those whimpers turn to moans. Her soapy, damp skin slides against mine as we move together.
"I want you inside me," she gasps as I press especially hard.
It would be so easy to do as she's asking, too. Just a swivel of my hips and I'd be inside her in a second. But as much as I want that, our first time shouldn't be in my cramped shower.
With more restraint than I ever thought I had, I pull back, meeting her hungry eyes. "I want that, too, but the first time I'm inside you isn't going to be a fuck against a wall. I want to make love to you in my bed." And because she's driving me insane, I grind against her again.
With a soft groan, she thumps her head against the tiles. "Oh, god. Then what are you waiting for? Take me to bed, Edward."
I have no doubt my grin is positively obscene. "Thought you'd never ask."
I spin us so we're under the water, careful not to drop her as we rinse off the soap still clinging to us. My mouth doesn't leave hers, even when I place her on her feet and use my hands to help speed up the process.
Blindly, I reach out and turn off the water, pushing open the door and grabbing for the towel hanging on the rod outside the shower. I somehow manage to cover her in it without fully breaking our kiss. Careful of my footing, I step out of the shower, guiding Bella to follow me.
"What about you?" she mumbles against my lips.
"What?" I pull back and shake my head. "What about me?"
"You're wet, too." She takes a step back and peels the towel from her body, rubbing it over my chest. "We'll get your bed all wet if you don't—"
"I don't care." I tug the towel out of her hands, carelessly rubbing it over my head and body before tossing it to the floor. I grab her again, picking her up and carrying her toward the bedroom. "The only thing I care about is getting you wet."
Her responding laugh is cut off when we fall into bed, our arms and legs as tangled as our tongues. As much as I regret falling asleep last night, seeing her this way, in the bright light of day, feels like an even bigger gift. There's no darkness to hide in, no way to hide how she responds to my touch.
We touch and test, taste and tease, until we're both out of our minds with desire.
Unable to take another moment of self-inflicted torment, I reach for the bedside table drawer.
"What are you doing?" she asks, her lips feather-light on my chest.
I grab the new box of condoms out of the drawer and hold it up. "Protection."
She plucks the box from my hand and tosses it back on the bedside table. "We don't need one."
"We don't?"
"IUD. And I was tested … after, and I haven't—"
I kiss her quickly, silencing thoughts she doesn't need to have right now. I pull my lips away and press my forehead to hers. "I haven't for a while, either. And I have a full work up every year." Lifting my head, I search her eyes. The thought of being with her with nothing between us makes me want to drive into her, but I hold back. "Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
My pulse races and my breaths are fast and deep as the weight of the moment falls on me. This next step, this line we're crossing, is one she's only ever crossed with one other person. And as I stare down at the woman below me, it settles in my bones just how much trust she's placing in me.
It's something I don't take lightly.
"I love you," I say, barely louder than a whisper, my finger tracing her lips. "Before we do anything else, you need to know how much I love you."
A smile lights her eyes, and I can feel her whole body relax. "I love you, too. Now show me."
I cradle her cheek in my palm and kiss her, slow and deep, as she wraps her legs around me, bringing me closer to where I want to be. I shift, adjusting my body over hers until we're aligned everywhere. Where I'm hard, she's soft, but our bodies fit together like we were made for each other.
With slow movements, I rock my hips, sliding my dick through her slick, hot pussy as I find her nipple with my lips, drawing it into my mouth and teasing it into a stiff peak with my tongue.
"That feels so— oh, do that again." She undulates her hips as I continue to rock mine, eliciting moans from both of us.
What might have been a frenzied, foggy, alcohol-fueled fuck last night is … so much more as we move together at a measured pace. I glide my hands up her arms, lacing my fingers with hers as I press our joined hands into the pillow above her head.
Drawing my hips back, I line us up, the head of my cock right fucking there. I lift my head to meet her eyes, my voice shaking with all the emotions running through me.
"I love you, Bella," I whisper as I push into her.
I still, my eyes falling closed as I drop my forehead to her shoulder, groaning with the nearly crushing sense of relief flooding my veins. The feeling of finally being inside her is almost indescribable. Yes, pleasure shoots up my spine, surging through me like a jolt of electricity, but there's also an underlying feeling of … home.
She must feel it, too, because sighs and whimpers escape her as we begin to move, her grip on me tightening. Gentle touches follow tender kisses, and words of love and devotion are whispered as we move. In long, purposeful movements, I angle my hips and thrust, hitting her in places that make her call out to god. I drag one hand down her arm, my fingertips dancing on her skin and around her nipple, exchanging them for my mouth as I seek out her clit with my touch. When my thumb finds her swollen, I circle the sensitive nub gently as I move deeply in and out of her, focusing all my concentration on making her come.
And when she tosses her head back and moans, calling my name and clenching around me as her body rolls in waves beneath me, I see and feel the results. It's what I've waited months to experience.
I've known how breathtaking she is when she comes. I've seen it. But to be inside her when it happens is an altogether different experience.
And I can't imagine not having it for the rest of my life.
Her release triggers mine, and when currents of spine-tingling bliss roll through me, the rest of my future flashes before my eyes. This is where I'm supposed to be. This is the woman I'm supposed to be with. I know with utmost certainty, this woman, the one who's allowed me into her life and into her heart, is my destiny.
My skin is sticky with sweat, and my whole body vibrates with aftershocks. My heart is also about to pound right out of my chest. I'm not sure it beats as hard when I'm pulling Gs.
I haven't felt this alive since the first time I took to the skies.
"Damn."
Bella giggles beside me, slightly out of breath. "I know." She tilts her head back and looks up at me. "Four times in as many hours. Who knew you had it in you?"
I cock a brow. "Are you trying to insinuate something, ma'am?" In a flash, I roll us over, hovering over her and grabbing at her sides to tickle her. "Do you have something to say, Bella? Huh?"
Laughing, she tries to squirm away while trying to fight me off. "Stop! Stop! I'm not saying anything!"
"I'm not sure I believe you."
"Okay, okay!" I slow my assault, and we're both breathless again. "I'm impressed with your recovery time, that's all."
"That's all, huh?" I nuzzle her neck and nip at her skin. "'That's all', she says," I murmur. "I'm in the best shape of my life, I'll have you know. The nation's top docs agree I'm a perfect male specimen."
"Do they, now?" She giggles again, and it's the best damn sound in the world.
I pull back and smile down at her. "What? You don't agree?"
She runs her hands over my chest and abdomen, following her movements with her eyes. "Oh, I agree." Her gaze meets mine and she grins. "I'm just impressed they check all the equipment," she says, grasping my cock and making me grunt.
But before we can get carried away again, Bella's stomach growls so loudly even I can hear it.
"I should probably feed you," I murmur against her mouth as I kiss her.
"Who needs food when there's this?" she asks with a squeeze.
With another grunt I pull away, grudgingly. "You do." I rise up on my knees and offer her a hand. "Come on. It's, like, four o'clock and we haven't had anything but water, Tylenol, and granola bars."
Slowly, she sits up. "Are you going to cook for me?"
I pull her closer, pressing her hand over my heart, and kiss her. "Anything you want is yours."
"I have everything I want right here," she whispers.
With the last of the food put away, I watch as Bella walks toward the patio door. Dressed in only my t-shirt, she stands at the glass, peering into the backyard. The sun shining through the window illuminates the cotton, highlighting the shape of her body hidden underneath.
"You're just full of surprises, Vamp."
"I am?" I ask as I walk up behind her, draping an arm around her waist.
"Why didn't you tell me you had a pool?"
I skim my nose along her neck. "It didn't seem important the last time you were here. And we've been a little preoccupied this time."
She tilts her head to the side, allowing me better access.
"Yeah, I guess so." She sighs when I reach a particularly sensitive spot. "We've barely left your bedroom."
"Are you complaining?"
"Not even a little."
"Good." I place a few kisses on her neck. "And you have a key now. You and the boys can come by anytime you want to swim."
"They'd love that." She turns in my arms, looking up at me with a mischievous grin. "But maybe you and I can take a dip tonight … once the sun goes down."
I raise a brow. "You didn't pack a suit."
Her smile turns indecent. "I know."
We've spent most of the day in bed. Well, except for that one round in the kitchen this afternoon. She was just too damn tempting running around here in my t-shirt and nothing else. And now we're back in bed after our adventures in skinny dipping, freshly showered, our naked bodies between clean sheets. She's on her side, I'm on mine, and our entwined hands lay on the mattress between us as we face each other.
Content.
"I'm not ready to go home tomorrow," she admits quietly into the darkness.
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. "I'm not ready to let you go home."
She inches closer to lay her head on my chest, tucking her head under my chin. "But we still have tomorrow."
"We do." I kiss the top of her head and close my eyes.
With her cradled in my arms, those visions of my future flit through my mind once again and I'm able to drift off to the best night of sleep I can remember ever having.
"Do you have everything?" I ask before I lock the car.
Bella rifles through her giant bag. "Yeah, I think so. Blanket, snacks, and water bottles." She raises a brow at me. "If we'd have brought my car, we would have had actual chairs to sit on."
"I can be your chair today." I press the button on the key fob and grab the bag from her shoulder. "I got this."
"But—"
I kiss her. "I said I got it." I hoist the bag a little higher on my shoulder and reach for her hand. "Lead the way."
We walk through the lot to the entrance of the park, finding the footpath and walking toward the fields. The park is a sea of parents, most of them with folding chairs, and dozens of kids in brightly colored uniforms. All of them are going in different directions, presumably, to their designated field.
"This way," Bella says, guiding us to the right.
"How can you tell this is the right one?"
"The fields are numbered." She smiles up at me from under the bill of her ball cap, "What's the matter? Don't you trust me?"
"Indubitably. You're my trusty guide, gorgeous."
The nearer we get to the field, the more excitement I feel knowing I'm going to see the boys. It may have only been a matter of weeks since I met Jacob and Seth, but I already feel attached to them. Looking over at their smiling mother, it's not hard to guess why.
I'm head over heels in love with this woman.
When we reach the line of chairs, we look for an open space to lay the blanket Bella brought with us.
"There's a spot," she says, pointing to a bare patch of grass.
As I'm pulling the blanket out of the bag, a familiar voice carries over the crowd.
"Mommy! Edward!" Through the assembled crowd of parents and onlookers, Seth comes hurtling toward us, his arms open wide. He lands on me with more force than I thought him capable of, throwing his arms around my waist. "You came!"
"Hey, bud."
He looks up and grins at me. "Look," he says, pointing at a gap in his teeth. "I lost a tooth yesterday." He looks over at Bella. "Daddy said the tooth fairy knew I was at his house, and she did! She left a whole dollar under my pillow."
Her expression is guarded, but she tries to smile. "I didn't think that one was very loose yet."
His expression—a scrunched nose and a bit of a frown—makes it clear he isn't happy about it. "Kate pulled it. She said it was ready, but I don't think it was. It hurt."
Bella's lips disappear between her teeth before she forces a smile. "I'm sorry it hurt, baby. Some just hurt more than others. I'll talk to Daddy about waiting next time, okay?"
"Okay."
"But I'm so happy the tooth fairy found you. I knew she would, wherever you were."
Seth looks up at me and squints into the sun. "Will you sit with me for the game?"
"I'm going to sit with your mom. Do you want to sit with us?"
"I'll go ask Daddy." He takes off like a shot, disappearing just as quickly as he appeared.
"Hey," I say, tugging on her hand. "Are you okay? You seem upset."
"I just … I wish he'd call me when stuff like this comes up. He knows I don't like pulling the kids' teeth until they're ready. And to let Kate …" She grunts in frustration.
I kiss her cheek as she scowls in the direction where Seth ran. "Then remind him. Maybe talk to Kate."
She turns her scowl toward me and raises a brow. "I don't talk to that woman unless it's absolutely necessary."
I kiss her pouty lips. "Hey, I'm just trying to be supportive."
She sighs. "I know. It's just that I was in such a good mood and then …" She waves a hand.
I wrap my arms around her and tug her to me. "There's no reason to let that good mood disappear. I'm not going to let anything ruin mine." I discreetly kiss her neck, thinking of how we started the day. "After all, we had a pretty fucking spectacular morning, didn't we?"
My attempt to distract her works, and I elicit a bashful smile from her. "Yeah, we did."
"And I plan to continue that when we get back to my house." Another kiss, this time with the faintest scrape of my teeth. "There are a few more ways I want to take you, baby," I whisper.
My naughty teasing is cut short when I spot Seth running toward us. "He said okay!"
Bella clears her throat and steps out of my arms. "Okay, good." She points to the blanket and her bag she's tossed onto it. "There are snacks in there if you want something."
"Thanks, Mommy." He plops his butt on the blanket and digs through the bag.
"What did you pack, anyway? Anything in there for me?" I ask, pulling her to me, her back to my chest, and sneaking another kiss on her neck while Seth is distracted.
She laughs and tilts her head, glancing back at me over her shoulder. "Unless you like Goldfish and Fruit Roll-Ups, no."
As I nip at her ear, I spot Garrett staring at us out of the corner of my eye. If we weren't surrounded by kids and their parents, I'd shout over to him to take a picture so it would last longer, but I somehow restrain myself.
The ref blowing a whistle gets my attention, and I search the crowd of kids until I find Jacob running with his teammates toward the field.
"He's so excited for you to watch him play," Bella says, keeping her eyes on her son.
"You told him I was coming?"
She looks up at me and smiles. "Yeah, I called him this morning while you were in the shower."
I squeeze her tighter. "I'm excited to be here."
As the game gets underway, Bella and I stretch out on the blanket beside Seth. I lean back on my hands, and Bella sits between my legs. It's another slice of domesticity, and it only adds to the long list of things I want for my future. The idea of adding another to the mix flashes through my mind, going as fast as came.
I need to pace myself.
It's been a long time since I've watched a soccer game, and it wasn't kids this age. This is a lot less aggressive, but it's still enjoyable to watch Jacob. When Jake nudges another player out of the way and steals the ball, my heart starts pounding and I sit up straighter, screaming along with Bella.
"Go, Jake!"
And when the ball flies into the goal, Bella shoots to her feet, cheering for her son. "Yes! That's my boy!"
I'm right behind her with my fingers in my mouth, whistling as loudly as I can. I don't think I could wipe the smile off my face if I tried. The only thing that makes it fall is when I look toward Garrett.
He's standing, too, clapping and cheering for his son, but the woman sitting in a lawn chair beside him, a thin blonde dressed way more formally than anyone should be at a kids' soccer game, has her eyes glued to her Blackberry. Her fingers fly over the keys and she's totally oblivious to what's going on around her.
Kate.
She's not really what I expected, although I'm not sure exactly what I expected.
We return to our spots on the blanket, and I turn my attention back to the game. I'm glad I do, because at that moment, Jacob spots us and his face lights up like a Christmas tree.
"I told you he'd be happy to see you," Bella says, squeezing my hand where it rests on her hip.
Seth climbs out of his mother's lap and plops down beside me. "Edward?"
"Yeah, bud?"
"Can you come to my birthday party?"
"I don't know. When is it?"
He looks at his mother. "Next week, right, Mommy?"
"Yeah, baby. Next Sunday."
"Can Edward come?"
"If he wants to, of course."
He grins at me. "I want you to come."
"Then I'll be there."
He gets up on his knees and slings his arms around my neck. "Thanks, Edward." He sits back down beside me. "Oh, and Mom knows what I want for gifts, so you can ask her what to get me."
"Seth Charles McCarty!" Bella cries, a look of mortification on her face. But it morphs into laughter when Seth starts giggling.
I can't help but chuckle, too. "I'll be sure to check with her, kid."
Jacob's team wins 2-1, and even I have to admit it was a good game for a bunch of preteens. While we wait on the sidelines for Jacob to finish up with his team, I fold the blanket and gather the rest of our things.
"You don't have to do that," Bella says.
"It's fine. Gives me something to do."
She hugs my waist and smiles up at me. "You can't just sit still, can you?"
"Sorry."
"No, it's cute."
"Cute? I'll show you cute."
"Are you gonna kiss now?" Seth asks us, squinting into the sunlight and completely putting the brakes on whatever impulsive thing I was about to do.
"No, Seth," Bella says with a laugh, pulling away from me. "Come on. Let's go find your brother." She leaves me with a kiss to my cheek and grabs Seth's hand, walking off.
"You just couldn't wait to swoop in and play Daddy, could you? What's your angle, anyway? Do you get your kicks from playing house with women with ready-made families?"
Irritation simmers under my skin as I turn to Garrett. "There's no angle. I'm here for Bella and her boys."
"Our boys," he corrects. "I'm their father. Or have you forgotten that part?"
"Believe it or not, no, I haven't forgotten that part. I'm more than aware of that fact, actually."
"Then why are you playing house with my wife?"
A humorless chuckle rattles my chest and I clench my teeth. "I believe you threw away that honor. She's your ex-wife. And you'd be smart to remember that little detail." I glance past Garrett to where Kate is talking on her cellphone, pacing. I turn my attention back to the jerk in front of me and cock my head, narrowing my eyes behind my sunglasses. "I'm sure your fiancée would love to know how you think of Bella."
"Hey, it was a slip of the tongue."
"I don't care. And no, I'm not playing house. I'm also not planning on going anywhere." I point to where Bella is standing with the boys. "I'm in love with that woman, and her boys are every bit as important to me as she is. So, you better get used to seeing me. I have no intentions of taking your place, but I do intend to support Bella in whatever way she needs me to when it comes to her children. Like I said, I'm planning to be in their lives for a very long time." I snatch Bella's bag off the ground and take a step toward Garrett, lowering my voice even more. "I guess I should thank you. If you hadn't thrown away the most incredible woman I've ever met, I wouldn't have had the privilege of being by her side as she picked up the pieces you left behind. I'm not going to be stupid enough to let her go."
And with that, I walk past him and toward the three smiling faces that have become my entire world.
A/N: How are we feeling after that? I hope you enjoyed the EPOV chapter! They finally sealed the deal! Woot! The sky's the limit, baby! Seth absolutely kills me with that "Mom has a list" stuff. Lol. And is Garrett is a giant douche canoe or what? Do you think that was a case of old habits die hard, or do you think there was more to his slip of the tongue? I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Sending a shoutout to Honeymoon Edward for taking a look at this when I wasn't sure if Jayhawkbb would be able to check my Ps and Qs this week due to a family emergency. I can't wait to hug both of these gals this weekend.
Speaking of which, I'm just a couple hours away from hopping in the car to start my TFMU weekend super early. I'll get to hug one of my gals—the incomparable Pamela Lorraine—before dinner tonight! I'm so excited!
The words are still slow to come, so we're still on a every-two-weeks update schedule for now. I'm hoping the longer chapters make up for it. Thanks to all of you for sticking with me on this! I know I'm probably biased, but this Edward is one of my personal favorites of those I've written. And … we'll get to hear from him a few more times before this story is over.
Remember, the best way to stay up to date with what I'm up to, join in the discussion, and to see exclusive weekly teaser pics, check out my Facebook group, Sunshine Fics. I'd love if you all could join us. I'm also on Twitter at CSunshine1220.
Some of you I will actually SEE in a few days, but for the rest of you … I will "see" you in two weeks!
Be kind.
Stay safe.
Stay well.
Lots of love
~Sunshine
