The Time We Went To A Ball
It's been about a month since Halloween and things have been busy. I've been swamped at work and Edward has been working extra time at the hospital. It's not too bad though because we've spent pretty much every night together. Who knew having stuff at someone else's apartment would make things so much easier?
"Baby?" I hear Edward call from the kitchen.
"Yeah?" I reply, following the sound of his voice. I look up from the manuscript I'm holding and see him stirring a pot on the stove.
He's so cute when he's being all domestic.
"I need to talk to you about something," He says.
I put the manuscript down on the table and lean back against the counter, giving him my full attention.
"Okay, should I be sitting down?" I reply.
"No" He chuckles. "It's just about a work thing" He explains.
"Okay," I nod.
"So..." Edward says, turning to face me. "There's an event happening at the hospital and I should really go, but I wondered if you would come with me?" He says.
"What kind of event?" I ask.
"It's a ball," He says.
"A ball?" I giggle, "I didn't even know people still had balls".
"It's not like a ballgown kind of ball, it's just you know...formal" He shrugs.
"Okay, that sounds kind of cool" I admit. "Will I have to schmooze your boss?" I tease.
"You can schmooze whoever you like," He chuckles.
"And will I need to buy a dress?" I ask him, raising an eyebrow and moving closer to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"Yes, a long one." He nods with a smile.
"What are you going to wear?" I ask him.
"A tux" He replies. My eyes must widen comically because he chuckles and rolls his eyes. "I told you it was formal," He says.
"I'll go on one condition," I tell him seriously.
"Okay..." He says, looking down at me with a small smile on his face.
"You have to come dress shopping with me," I tell him.
"Oh come on!" He chuckles.
"Yes! Those are my terms, Cullen!" I giggle. "Anyway, from what I remember, you didn't mind when we went shopping last time" I reply with a wink.
I watch his face darken for a moment as he remembers the blow job I gave him when we got home. Then he laughs when he remembers us being walked in on my Emmett and Rose.
"Okay, deal" He chuckles.
"Deal" I agree.
"I can't believe I agreed to this" Edward moans as we walk into the third store of the evening.
"I can't believe I agreed to this either" I lament with him.
Who knew gown shopping would be so difficult?
"Okay, if there's nothing in here, I'm insisting on a coffee break at the very least," He says, pointing down at me.
"Deal" I nod.
We enter the small boutique store and both let out a sigh as we start the process all over again. I move to the racks of clothing, trying to find something appropriate when a voice behind me makes me jump.
"Can I help you?" The voice says. I turn around and see an older lady with a warm, smiling face.
"Oh, maybe" I giggle, "I'm looking for a dress to wear to a formal event" I explain.
"What kind of formal event is it?" The lady asks.
"It's a ball at a hospital" I explain.
I'm expecting her to make the same surprised expression that all the other sales assistants have made when that statement has left my mouth, but instead, she gives me a small smile.
"I think I have a couple of things that might work," She says.
"Really?" I ask, feeling slight relief at her words.
"Follow me," She says before leading Edward and me towards the back of the store. "I'm guessing a medium?" She questions. I nod in agreement before she fingers through the racks, pulling out a couple of options before hanging them from a hook in the dressing room.
"Sir? Would you care to have a seat?" She asks Edward. "And maybe a coffee while you wait?"
Edward looks like he could drop to one knee and whip out a ring for this unsuspecting saleswoman. He nods before she brings over a small padded chair and disappears to make a coffee.
"I love her" He whispers to me as I head into the dressing room. I giggle quietly before closing the curtain on him.
I strip out of my clothes before slipping the first dress over my head. The first dress is powder blue with ruffles. It just hits the floor and sits snug around my waist. I step out of the dressing room and see Edward sipping his steaming cup of coffee.
"So.. what do you think?" I ask him.
"I like it" He nods. "I like the colour," He says. The saleswoman nods in agreement.
"I feel a bit...ruffly" I admit, looking at myself in the mirror.
"Yeah, it's a bit..." Edward trails off, not knowing how to word it.
"Eighties?" The saleswoman finishes. We both laugh, nodding in agreement.
I head back into the dressing room and slip the next dress over my head. This one is a pale pink with long fitted sleeves. The entire dress is covered in beautiful embroidery and it's charming. I step out of the dressing room once more to show Edward.
"Number two?" I ask.
"That's...pretty" He nods.
"Why'd you say it like that?" I ask him, examining myself in the mirror.
"Nothing. It's just...not what you'd normally wear I guess" He shrugs.
"Edward, I don't normally wear a gown" I giggle. He rolls his eyes before telling me to try on the third option.
I slip back into the dressing room and throw the third option on, seriously beginning to wonder if there's a dress out there for me. The final dress is red. It's sleeveless with a deep v-neck and tiered skirt. The material is soft and floaty, giving it a feminine feel.
I step out of the dressing room and see Edward's eyes almost pop out of his head.
"That's the one," He says immediately.
"Yeah?" I grin, looking at myself in the mirror and smiling a little.
"Yes. Definitely. What do you think?" He asks me, adjusting his position on the chair slightly. I glance down and notice he's sporting a semi in his jeans.
"I really like it. I feel...I don't know...like a lady" I giggle. Edward chuckles in response.
"Well, I think that settles it then," He tells me.
I nod before heading back into the dressing room and changing back into my original clothes. The saleswoman takes the dress from me, packaging it up in tissue paper before slipping it into a bag.
"That will be $565 dollars," She says. I feel my heart stop at the number before my mouth drops open.
Before I can react though, Edward's swiping his card through the machine and entering his pin number. I stare at him in horror but he just winks at me before taking the bag from the woman and grabbing my hand, practically pulling me from the store.
"Oh my god. We have to take that back!" I cry once we're out on the street.
"What? Why?" He chuckles.
"Because it was five hundred and sixty-five dollars!" I cry.
"So? I paid for it so you don't have to worry about it" He shrugs.
"It's way too much money Edward!" I argue.
"No, it's not. As I've told you before, it's my money so I can do what I want with it and you looked way too beautiful in that dress to leave it behind" He says seriously, his eyes meeting mine.
I open my mouth to argue with him again but he slams his mouth to mine, silencing whatever words I was going to say. I kiss him back, feeling his tongue swipe against my bottom lip before pulling back.
"I think you owe me a coffee" He teases, giving me a small smirk, "And a slice of chocolate fudge cake". I giggle, rolling my eyes before he drags me further down the street.
"Deal" I nod.
"Okay Bella, I think we're done," Alice says, leaning back away from me and putting the lid back on the lipstick.
I stand from the chair I'm sitting in and make my way to the mirror. I look at my reflection, taking in Alice's work. I'm wearing the red dress Edward bought the other week, Alice has pinned my hair up away from my face, leaving it long down my back. My eyes shimmer with gold and my lips with a pale red.
"Wow Alice" I giggle, "Not bad" I admit.
"Not bad?!" She cries.
"Amazing" I correct myself. She grins at me.
"Well, I believe your prince charming is waiting for you in the living room," She says with a smile. I giggle at her before grabbing my purse and stepping out of my bedroom.
I walk towards the living room, turn the corner and feel all the air get knocked out of my lungs. Edward sits on the couch, dressed in a tux and looking like sex on legs.
"Oh my god," I say when I see him. He lifts his head, his eyes meeting mine.
"You're telling me" He chuckles, his eyes dropping down my body. He stands from the couch and moves toward me. He takes my hands in his, holding them out in front of him and taking in my outfit.
"You look so beautiful," He says genuinely.
"You look incredibly handsome too," I tell him. He grins at me before he gives me a soft kiss.
"So, you ready to go?" He asks. I nod before he takes my hand in his.
We head towards the door, sliding my coat on and saying goodbye to Alice before heading down to the lobby and hailing a cab. When the car stops, Edward opens the door, letting me climb in first. He helps me tuck my dress into the footwell before climbing in behind me and giving the driver the address.
"Hyatt Regency please," Edward says.
"Wow, that's a nice hotel," I say. He turns to look at me, grinning.
The drive passes fairly quickly and before I know it, we're stopping outside the hotel. Edward opens the cab door, stepping out before making his way around to the other side of the car and helping me out. He pays the driver before taking my hand and heading into the hotel.
"Good evening Sir" The man on the door greets us.
"Good evening, I'm looking for the UW Medical Center Ball?" He says.
"Oh yes, if you go down that corridor you will find the Regency Ballroom," The man says, giving us both a warm smile.
"Thank you" Edward replies.
We walk hand-in-hand down the corridor before seeing a sign stating UW Medical Center and hear the soft sound of music. Edward pushes open the door and we see a large group of people all mingling, drinking and eating canapes in the room beyond.
The room is large with lights hanging from the ceiling and Christmas trees all around the edge of the room. There's a dance floor set up in the centre of the room and a swing band playing at the far end of the room.
There are two young women sitting at a table surrounded by papers and cards. We make our way over to them and I notice their eyes light up at the sight of Edward.
"Good evening Sir" One purrs and I restrain an eye-roll. "Name?" She asks.
"Cullen, Edward and Swan, Isabella" He replies, ignoring the eyelash flutters in front of him.
She looks down the list in front of her and ticks our names off before handing us both a card.
"This is your table number. Would you like to leave your coat?" The girl says, looking at me with a little distaste.
"Yes please," I reply. Edward helps me remove my coat before handing it to the girl.
She hangs it up on a rack behind her before wishing us, or shall I say Edward, a lovely night. He thanks her before taking my hand again and leading me into the ballroom. Now that we're here, I'm kind of nervous to meet Edward's colleagues. Edward grabs us both a glass of champagne before handing one to me.
"You okay baby?" He whispers in my ear, his eyes meeting mine.
"Yeah. I'm kind of nervous" I admit.
"Don't be. I'm right here" He says, squeezing my hand comfortingly and giving me a small smile. I smile back before we're interrupted by a voice.
"Edward! How are you?" An older man stands in front of us. He's fairly short with thinning hair and a warm smile.
"Dr Carmichael, nice to see you. I'm good thank you, yourself?" Edward replies respectfully. "This is my girlfriend Isabella Swan" He introduces me.
Dr Carmichael holds out his hand and I take it, shaking it.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Miss Swan," He says.
"Bella, please" I reply.
"I've heard a lot about you Bella" He smiles.
"Oh dear, really?" I reply with a small smile.
"All good things" He chuckles. He turns back to Edward and begins discussing some medical stuff that means nothing to me before an older woman appears by his side. "Ah, Edward, Bella, this is my wife Marina" He introduces her to us.
The woman is beautiful, her dark hair twisted into an elegant chignon on her head. Her deep blue sparkly dress is elegant and timeless and suits her perfectly. She's the kind of woman I aspire to be as I get older.
"It's a pleasure," She says, shaking both of our hands. "So, you're Dr Cullen, I've heard so much about you," She says kindly.
"Really?" Edward replies, looking a little surprised.
"Oh yes, I think John is very impressed with you" She grins. Edward looks uncharacteristically bashful and I can't help but giggle quietly. His eyes flash to mine and I can see the humour behind them.
"You must be very proud of him too Bella" Dr Carmichael says.
"Yes, I am" I nod, smiling at them both and I see Edward's eyes linger on me for a moment longer than needed.
We all stand talking for a while, Marina asking what I do and about the recent book we published, which staggeringly she had read. Eventually, they disappear to speak to someone else and Edward and I are left alone again.
"He's nice" I whisper. "He's obviously a fan of yours" I grin at him.
"Yeah," Edward shrugs. "He was the surgeon that operated on Tommie" He explains, "He was very...kind...after" He whispers. I squeeze his hand and lean up giving him a soft kiss, not wanting him to be sad. He gives me a small smile.
"Edward," Another voice says. I turn to see a blonde man, maybe a few years older than us, with a smooth smile on his face. His eyes immediately drop to me and I notice them move down my body. It gives me the creeps.
"James" Edward replies curtly. I can tell he doesn't like him.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" James replies with a leer.
"This is my girlfriend Isabella" Edward replies, wrapping his arm protectively around my shoulders.
"Pleasure," He says before taking my hand in his and kissing the back of it. I feel the immediate need to wipe it away. I smile back as politely as I can.
"So, James, how are you?" Edward asks, interrupting his ogling.
"I'm fine. Busy you know." He says before launching into some kind of medical speak. Unlike when Dr Carmichael spoke, this sounds deathly boring and I even notice Edward's eyes begin to glaze over a little as the conversation continues. Thankfully, after about ten minutes someone calls James's name and he disappears.
"Thank fuck for that" Edward mumbles. I giggle quietly.
"Not a fan?" I ask.
"No" He replies. "I also didn't like how he looked at you" He admits, looking uncharacteristically jealous.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about" I snort. Edward chuckles before giving me a soft kiss.
"Come on, let's mingle a bit more, then we can go sooner," He says, making me giggle again.
Edward works his way around the room, introducing me to various doctors and specialists. I try my best to mingle, including their wives or partners in the conversation. After a while, I see Edward's eyes light up and he excuses us from our current group.
"I have two people I want you to meet," He says before tapping on a woman's shoulder. She turns around and I see she's a little older, round, with dark eyes and hair. She beams when she sees him.
"Dr Cullen!" She says before giving him a quick hug.
"Hello Brenda, how are you?" He chuckles.
"I'm very well Sir, you?" She replies.
"Brenda, I think you can call me Edward, it's only been five years," He says. She blushes a little under his gaze before nodding. "Suzanne!" He grins before giving the younger woman in the group a grin and a hug.
Suzanne is a little taller than me, slim and maybe around my age. Unlike all the other young females tonight, she doesn't ogle but instead just gives him a warm smile.
"Dr Cullen" She grins.
"Brenda, Suzanne, I would like to meet someone very special," He says, "This is Bella".
They both look at me before wide smiles cross their faces.
"Is this...?" Brenda asks, pointing at me. Edward nods, a wide smile on his face.
"It's so nice to meet you, Bella," Suzanne says genuinely.
"You too" I reply. I must look a little confused before Edward chuckles a little.
"Brenda and Suzanne were the ones who told me to have a...what did you call it?...my rom-com moment on New Year's eve" He explains.
"Oh!" I giggle, blushing brightly.
"We knew you must be someone special when he took off running like a bat out of hell!" Brenda laughs, Suzanne nodding and laughing with her. "I can see now what all the fuss was about now," She says kindly.
I smile at her, blushing brightly.
"Well, I'm very grateful" I reply. Brenda and Suzanne chuckle.
"Oh yeah, I had nothing to do with it at all" Edward replies sarcastically. We all laugh at him before I roll my eyes.
We stand talking to Brenda and Suzanne for a while and I have to admit, I really like them. They're both very sweet and I can see why Edward seems to have such a soft spot for them both.
"If you would like to take your seats, we will be starting the award ceremony shortly," A voice says, coming across the speakers.
I look up at Edward, a small frown on my face.
"Award ceremony?" I question.
"Some people get an award. Some are for specific areas of medicine, others are for research and some are just contributions to the hospital." He shrugs.
I nod a little before he leads us over to our table, saying our goodbyes to Brenda and Suzanne. I see we're with Dr Carmichael and Marina and smile warmly as I take my seat. A couple of minutes pass before a man walks up onto the stage and leans into the microphone.
"Good evening everyone. It's so nice to see so many of you here tonight..." He begins introducing the evening and then moving on to the various awards on offer.
We sit through a few awards, seeing various people go up for clinical neuroscience, general practice, nephrology and occupational medicine before the awards turn to contributions to research and then finally contributions to the hospital.
"And finally, the last award of the night is actually a new one. It's an award for patient care and has actually been solely voted on by the patients of the hospital." He says. I glance over at Edward and he shrugs, looking a little surprised.
"It's an award I hope the recipient will be very proud to receive as, as medical consultants, our first priority should always be the care of our patients, their wellbeing and even the members of their family." The organiser says. "So, without further ado, the award for patient care goes to..."
"Who's your vote?" I whisper in Edward's ear.
"Dr Carmichael, he's everyone's favourite" He replies.
"Dr Edward Cullen!" The organiser says.
I stare open-mouthed at the stage, hearing applause go around the room before my eyes meet Edward's shocked ones. He remains motionless in his seat before I nudge him in the ribs.
"Baby, it's you! Go up there!" I hiss at him.
He looks at me wide-eyed before stumbling to his feet and slowly making his way to the front of the room and climbing the stage. He shakes the organiser's hand before taking the glass award from him. I see him pushed towards the microphone, his eyes roaming the room.
"Um...I don't know what to say" He says, looking completely out of his depth. I smile a little, seeing his eyes searching the room under the bright lights until they find me. I give him an encouraging smile and he swallows thickly.
"Thank you, for the award. I'm honoured that I was even considered, let alone voted for. As Professor Matthews said, it's incredible to be awarded for something that as medical professionals, should be our priority - caring for people. I would very briefly like to thank Dr Carmichael for his help over the past year as well as his understanding during certain circumstances." He says, swallowing thickly.
I look over Dr Carmichael and he's looking at Edward like a proud father. I can't help but smile.
"And I would also like to thank my beautiful girlfriend, Bella, for supporting me and encouraging me. She's put up with some very long days and even later nights so...thank you for not dumping me!" He says. The room laughs and I can't help but giggle, despite my flaming cheeks.
Edward thanks everyone again before he moves away from the stage to a room full of applause, making his way back over to me.
"I'm so fucking proud of you" I whisper when he takes his seat again. He grins at me, looking like a proud school child.
"I love you" He whispers.
"I love you too" I grin. "Can I see?" I ask him pointing to the glass award on the table. He nods, moving it towards me.
I take the award in my hands, examining it closely. It's made from thick glass with the name of the award and Edward's name engraved beneath. It's beautiful.
"So where are you going to put it?" I ask him.
"I don't know. Maybe you should choose" He grins at me. I roll my eyes before the organiser wraps up the proceedings and we all applaud once more.
"Well, Edward" Dr Carmichael says when we can finally talk easily. "You should be very proud".
"I am, Sir" Edward nods. "I had no idea".
"I did" Dr Carmichael replies. "I was consulted on the matter. Put you forward actually" He grins.
"Really?" Edward asks, shock evident in his voice. "I'm...surprised." He admits.
"Why? You're an exceptional doctor Edward" Dr Carmicheal smiles. "You're kind and compassionate. You don't rush out of the door as soon as your shift ends. You're always ready to offer a helping hand when needed. And...when faced with circumstances none of us would ever want to be faced with..." He trails off, referring to Tommie's death, "You were there. You kept calm and level-headed. You did all you could do. And even afterwards, you cared for Tommie's mom as if she was an actual patient of your own, not just a bereaved relative."
"I didn't feel calm and level-headed" Edward admits quietly and I see his eyes glaze over slightly as he flashes back to that day. I squeeze his hand gently, bringing him back to the present.
"I'll let you in on a little secret Edward, none of us do," Dr Carmichael says kindly. "We're all just humans after all. We all have days that make us question why we do this job and we all have nights that make our loved ones question it too" He says, looking over at Marina and giving her a soft smile. Edward shoots me a glance and I know he's remembering the night I held him as he cried.
"How do you...handle it?" Edward asks.
"You don't. You experience it, you live through it and then you come out the other side. And if you're lucky, you have a good woman by your side to help you" Dr Carmichael admits smiling at me. Edward nods a little before we're interrupted by the sound of the band starting again.
"And on that note," Dr Carmichael says, "I think I'm going to go and dance with my beautiful wife".
We both smile at them as they stand from the table and make their way over to the dance floor. I watch as Dr Carmichael takes his wife in his arms, his eyes trained only on her. It's kind of beautiful.
"What's that smile for?" Edward asks quietly. I turn my head and see him looking at me.
"I was just thinking how sweet they are" I shrug.
"They are" He nods. "Thank you" He adds after a moment of silence.
"For what?" I ask.
"For always being there. I know sometimes what I do is hard to be around. It can get lonely." He admits. "I appreciate you sticking with me through it."
"Edward," I giggle, "I love you."
"I love you too." He says with a smile. "So, wanna dance?" He asks.
"Sure" I grin.
He stands from the table and takes my hand, leading me over to the dance floor. The music changes to something smooth and mellow as Edward wraps one arm around my waist and takes my hand in the other. I place my hand on his shoulder and look up into his eyes smiling. We move to the music for a while, Edward twirling me in front of him before I rest my head on his shoulder. As we continue to dance I suddenly have a thought and giggle quietly.
"What?" He chuckles, looking down at me.
"So, how does it feel to have won Dr Cullen?" I ask, holding my hand in front of his mouth like a microphone and mimicking the video of us in our teens. He rolls his eyes at me, chuckling.
"It feels...weird" He admits. "It's weird to win an award for something you're supposed to do" He shrugs.
"Well, I for one am incredibly proud of you," I say to him, earning a smile. "Anyway, now I can tell all the girls at work that my boyfriend is an award-winning doctor" I tease him. He laughs, tipping his head back onto his shoulders.
"Oh really? That's what you're proud of? Your achievement?" He teases. I nod, giggling at him. "Well, I'll take it" He admits.
Our eyes meet and I can feel the air change between us, buzzing with unspoken words and desires. We continue to dance for a couple of minutes before I can't deal with the tension anymore.
"Do you want to go home Dr Cullen?" I ask, biting my bottom lip.
"I'd love to Miss Swan," He says before giving me a quick kiss and leading me off the dance floor.
Unfortunately, leaving is easier said than done. We collect Edward's award from the table before saying a thousand goodbyes.
Finally, Edward slips my coat over my shoulders and takes my hand, leading me out onto the street. He sticks his hand out, hailing a cab, opening the door for me and helping me slide into the back. He gives the driver my address before leaning over and giving me a hot kiss, only pulling away when we hear the cab driver clear his throat.
Within a couple of minutes, we're pulling up outside of my apartment. Edward climbs out, holding his out for me to take before paying the driver and leading me inside. We head into the elevator, reaching my floor before I unlock my front door and head inside. Once the door closes behind us, the silence is almost deafening.
I hear Edward place his award down on the kitchen counter before I turn to face him. He slowly walks towards me before his hands meet my waist and he dips his head, capturing my lips in a soft kiss. We kiss slowly, my hands going to his hair before I feel his hands pushing my coat from my shoulders. It slides off my arms before Edward takes it, blindly placing it on the chair behind him.
Eventually, he breaks the kiss, looking down at me before silently taking my hand and leading me to my bedroom. Once inside, he closes the door before his mouth finds mine again. He kisses me soft and slow and for some reason, it's hotter than anything else. I hear our breathing become elevated as my hands move to his jacket, pushing it from his shoulders.
Edward shrugs out of his jacket, the fabric falling to the floor before his hands move to my hair, cupping my face and deepening the kiss. My hands then run from his shoulders across to the bowtie around his neck. I break the kiss, needing to see what I'm doing before I gently pull the material, loosening it from around his neck.
"I'm surprised it's not a clip-on" I giggle breathlessly. Edward chuckles deeply and rolls his eyes.
"I'm nothing if not authentic" He replies before kissing me again.
I pull the tie from around his neck, dropping it to the floor before my fingers slowly undo each button of his shirt. When the shirt is undone, I push it from his shoulders. Edward's hands leave my face and reach behind him, pulling the sleeves from his arms and dropping it to the floor. He breaks the kiss looking down at me and I'm suddenly struck by how hot he looks in just his dress pants, his chest rising and falling quickly.
"How do I undo this?" He asks, his hands moving to my waist.
"There's a zip at the back," I tell him, turning slowly so that he can reach. I feel him gently move my hair over one shoulder before his fingers find the clasp of the zip and pull it down. I feel the fabric around my waist loosen before he pushes the dress from my shoulders. I grasp the material in my hands, wiggling my hips a little until it falls to my feet and I can step out of it.
I turn back to face him in just my underwear and heels.
"Fuck, you're so beautiful" He murmurs before his mouth meets mine. This kiss is a little harder than before, a little hotter. I moan quietly against his lips, feeling his bare chest meet my semi-clad one.
In one quick movement, I feel Edward undo the clasp of my bra and I drop my arms so that the fabric falls to the floor. Edward's hands come up and gently cup my breasts, rubbing his thumbs over my hard nipples. I moan again before my hands go to the belt around his hips.
I undo the buckle, the sound of metal loud in the otherwise quiet room before pulling it through the loops and dropping it to the floor with a resounding thud. My hands then move to the button of his pants, popping it before dragging the zipper down slowly. I slide my hands under the fabric, pushing it over his ass and dropping them to his ankles.
Edward breaks the kiss, breathing heavily before kicking his shoes off, followed by his pants. He stumbles a little and we both laugh quietly.
When he's free of the garment his hands find my hips before he pushes me back gently to lie on the bed. I shuffle back until my head is on the pillows behind me. I watch his eyes rake down my body before he slowly takes one ankle in his hand and removes my heel. He kisses from my ankle up my calk to my thigh until I'm breathing heavily, my head swimming. He does the same with the other shoe before his lips leave the same trail of fire up my other leg.
When he reaches my inner thigh he slips his fingers under the fabric of my panties and pulls them slowly down my legs. When I'm naked beneath him, he groans quietly. He stares down at me for a long minute before I can't take the tension anymore.
I sit up, bringing my mouth to his stomach, kissing and licking while I slide his boxers down over his hips and down his legs. He kicks them off before grasping the back of my head, bringing my mouth back to his. He kisses me hotly crawling up the bed until I'm lying on my back again.
He settles between my legs before breaking the kiss and grabbing a condom from the nightstand. I watch as he fixes it to himself before resting on his arms, either side of my head. His eyes flick between mine before his mouth finds mine again and he slowly pushes into me.
"Mmm," I moan against his lips, feeling rather than hearing Edward groan in reply.
He stays completely still for a moment, just feeling me wrapped around him. Eventually, he begins a slow pace after what feels like a lifetime. He moves leisurely over me, his mouth never leaving mine, swallowing any moans or groans that threaten to escape.
He thrusts into me for what feels like hours. We breathe for each other, cling to each other, our bodies entwining and our heart beats synchronising. Eventually, I have to tear my mouth away from his, breathing heavily, my hair clinging to the side of my face.
"Fuck...so good...oh my god..." I whimper, never having felt like this before. I feel like every nerve-ending is on edge and something strong is building inside me, like the crest of a wave.
"I know" Edward groans. "Fuck...I love you" He whispers, his mouth dropping to my breasts and kissing and licking across the slippery flesh.
"I'm gonna cum" I moan, feeling the wave gaining momentum and my legs begin to twitch.
"I know" Edward pants against my skin, "I can feel you".
He never increases his speed, he never touches me, he just keeps moving his hips back and forth slowly, pushing me towards the edge with every movement of his hips. My moans turn high-pitched and breathy and I cling to his shoulders, trying to ground myself to something. Edward begins to grunt with every flick of his hips and I suddenly feel the wave inside of me break the surface.
"Urgh!" I cry out, my eyes slamming closed and my back arching under the force of my orgasm. My body shakes and my legs squeeze tightly around Edward's hips as I let out whimpers into the darkness.
When I finally come back down, I realise Edward is still moving over me, his eyes watching my face. He looks at me with complete adoration before he groans lowly and shudders above me, his eyes closing and his mouth dropping open as he pants hard. It's hands down one of the hottest things I've seen.
Eventually, he opens his eyes and his gaze meets mine again. He stares down at me for a long minute before a smile crosses his face and he lifts his hands, pushing my hair away from my eyes. The gesture makes my heart swell a little.
"I love you" He whispers.
"I love you too" I reply.
He leans down, giving me one more soft kiss before he rolls off of me and disposes of the condom in the bin next to the bed. He reaches over, pulling me into his chest, kissing the top of my head and sighing. We lie like that for a long time before I feel my eyes start to droop a little.
"What are you thinking about?" His deep voice says.
"Nothing really" I admit, my voice sounding sleepy. "You?" I ask.
"I was just thinking how much I love you," He says quietly. I smile against his chest. "And..." He trails off a little.
"And what?" I ask quietly.
"And I don't ever want to leave" He whispers.
I lift my head, looking up at him in the dark and see his eyes watching me warily. I don't know if he means leave me, leave the apartment or leave the moment, but regardless my answer is the same.
"So don't" I reply.
His eyes flick between mine for a moment before he leans in, kissing me softly. He gives me a small smile before pulling me back down into his arms and cuddling me close. I lie there for a while, listening to the thump of Edward's heartbeat under my ear and how his breathing evens out as he falls asleep. The sound eventually makes my eyes droop and before I know it, I'm sound asleep, surrounded by the man I love.