Hello everyone,
I have been waiting to share this since I started writing this story. I am hoping you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. The next few chapters are extremely important and everything is changing for this dynamic couple. Thanks for being a part of their journey.
Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.
Also thanks to Sassy for taking a look at this chapter to make sure everything lines up.
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Bella stared at the closed door. The tequila fog held her firmly in its grasp as she listened to Edward's footsteps fade down the hallway. She could still feel the press of his lips against hers. Licking her lips, the tempting flavor that was Edward Cullen lingered on her tongue, her taste buds doing a happy dance.
She could still feel the effects of his kiss long after he was gone. The pinch of his hands on her nipples as he'd caressed her breasts this afternoon, locked away in that damn half bath. Bella clenched her thighs together as a familiar ache came to life. Every time she thought of that man this sinful beast within, awoke.
She wanted him. She wanted all of him. Her brows furrowed as a light moan slipped from her lips. Just the thought of those strong, powerful hands exploring her body made her shiver.
So. She'd had a few shots. Did that lessen her want? Did it change how she felt about him? That's a big fat staggering, no.
Why exactly had he left her?
Her lashes dropped and she glared a hole through the door.
She wasn't ready for the night to end. A hot, steamy bath sounded like fucking heaven. The more she mauled over the idea the better it sounded. Slowly, Bella sat up, pulling her foggy eyes from the hallway to stare into the adjoining bathroom. Ever so slowly, her attention returned to the door.
Could she? Should she? Chewing her tongue, a smile crept across her lips. Why the fuck not?
Edward had made no secret about wanting her. She wanted him, tequila be damned. She was so sick of standing by and watching her life pass her by. It was time to take the bull by the balls so to speak. Tequila just took away all the hesitation.
Slipping from her bed, she padded across the room and grabbed the bubbles from the side of the tub. Bella turned with a devious smile and determination as she headed down the hallway.
Was she really doing this? Bella had the fire of the devil burning inside her. She must. What other explanation was there for what she was about to do?
Her breath caught in her throat as her fingertips landed on the doorknob leading to Edward's room. Her skin was burning. Anticipation song in her blood. With a tilt of her chin, she turned the knob, her lungs flaming with the need to exhale as she stepped inside.
Bella was more than relieved to find his room vacant. If he'd been sitting there in that chair, she might've lost her nerve. But he wasn't.
If there were more time perhaps she would've lingered longer. Perhaps she would've given in to this temptation to snoop. As was, however, her roaming gaze coasted around the room, spying the gold frame sitting upside down on his nightstand.
Just the thought of Irene next to his bed should've sent her hightailing it back to her room. It didn't. Instead, a glow emanated from her skin as pleasure filled her. Maybe he hadn't put Irene away entirely but he was no longer staring at her either.
The air suspended in her lungs came out in a sigh. Bella's hold on her bubbles tightened as she stumbled her way to his bathroom.
Yep—she was about to throw herself straight over the line. She could only hope Edward would be there to catch her on the other side.
Edward shook off the last of his encounter with Emmett as he strode into his room. Something was different but he couldn't put his finger on what it was. He stopped dead in his tracks as he shrugged out of his suit jacket. His gaze jogged around the room as he tried to place this feeling.
His life was about to change. He could feel it deep in his bones. He turned in a slow circle until he was facing his door.
Just one more kiss?
The question sang through his mind over and over. Isabella looked so disappointed when he'd gathered his things and headed for her door. If she hadn't consumed half a bottle of tequila, hell ….
Just one more, please.
His skin grew itchy as desire crept through his bones. Edward closed his eyes and counted to ten. He willed his fervent flesh to cool, yet the longer he paced his room the hotter his skin became.
He was about to pivot on his heel and go check on his little prisoner when a sound echoed from his bathroom.
What the hell?
That's when he realized what was different. His bathroom door sat ajar. Normally, the structure was open wide. Who would have the balls to come into his room uninvited?
Staring at the etched wood of his door, he finished removing his shirt when a floral scent teased his senses. He knew that smell, but Bella's scent was always a whiff away. Inhaling deeply, Edward's attention went back to his bathroom door
He curiously stared at the wood closing off his bathroom. There was only one person ballsy enough to come into his room. What were the chances Isabella Swan was on the other side of that door?
Perhaps he was crazy. Completely fucking mad. Maybe he was delusional and creating things in his lonely mind. That had to be it. As reckless as Bella tended to be there was no way she'd come into his room. Right?
A splash from inside caught his attention and his breath stilled in his lungs.
Was Isabella in his bath? It was a stupid question considering he could hear the water splashing with her movements. Edward wasn't even aware he was moving, seeming to gravitate closer until he came to stand on the threshold of the bathroom. Very slowly as to leave her unaware of his presence, Edward pushed the door open. From his vantage point, he had an excellent visual of the tub yet, more importantly, the woman inside.
Fluffy white bubbles filled the tub, and the devil inside looked as if she were sitting on a cloud. Of course, she was much more enticing than the devil, making her extremely dangerous to his sanity.
Her milky complexion had a rosy hue from the heated water. Faint perspiration dotted her cheeks, making her skin appear glossy and her hair was piled on her head to prevent the strands from getting wet, and Edward's fingers itched to dig into the smooth mane.
He should be pissed. Bella had invaded his life like the swat team to a crack house. This one little chick has swept into his house and changed everything. Even as his jaw ticked as he fought the pull of attraction no annoyance came. Instead, Edward greedily ate up every inch of her exposed flesh.
Her shoulders were barely visible beneath the fluffy clouds encasing her slight form, and he'd gladly pay millions to see what was under that froth. Edward's tongue prickled with the need to taste the cherries bud hidden beneath the water. He went hard, his breathing turning labored, and his blood turned to lava and headed south.
His chest vibrated with a growl, and he felt his control slipping. He licked his lips with anticipation as he considered crossing the tiled floor and yanking her against him. Fuck, he wanted her silken legs wrapped around his waist.
Edward wasn't sure when it happened, but Isabella's golden lashes lifted and he was staring into those deep blue eyes. Neither spoke, merely watching and waiting, neither was sure what the next move would be.
Bella's blood pressure spiked under the weight of those intuitive eyes. The water should be boiling at this point, she decided, refraining from fanning her fevered cheeks.
Since Edward left her room twenty minutes ago, she'd been able to think of little else than the man standing a few feet away.
"What are you doing in my tub?" Edward shifted in the doorway, arousal making him restless as all fuck. "You have one in your room."
Bella moved to the edge of the tub, closer to where Edward lingered. She was taking a huge risk. She might have been pushing way too hard, yet it was beyond her control. Dazed, she let her eyes trek down his bare chest. "But you're not there."
"Bella, you're drunk. You don't know …" Edward tried to talk sense to her. He was seconds away from losing his shit. "You …"
"I'm not drunk," she disagreed with a shake of her head. Staring into his eyes, she swallowed hard. "Well, maybe I am—but not off tequila."
"You don't know what you're asking for," he argued even as his resistance started to crumble.
She knew that look in his eyes. She'd seen it numerous times. They held the same heat she'd spied when he kissed her. Bella's lips parted on a gasp as Edward pushed away from the frame, and stalked toward her. He had the appearance of a wild animal on the hunt, and she was the prey.
Giddiness zipped through her nerves and Bella found herself balancing on the edge of anticipation. Something that would change her life forever was about to happen, intuition told her so. Not wanting to ruin the moment with talking she silenced the zillion questions clamoring through her head. Bella sucked in a sharp breath when Edward stopped at the edge of the tub.
Edward braced his hands on the edge of the tub as he stared intently at the woman covered by bubbles. She had a curious expression on her face, coupled with the same anticipation racing through his body. She was absolutely fucking beautiful, he decided, feeling the familiar pinch in his chest.
He followed the movements of her throat as she swallowed, wanting to sink his teeth into the delicate chords and suck her tender skin.
Fearlessly she held his gaze, and air slipped between her lips as the moment held them suspended. "I just wanted another kiss before bed," she whispered, never breaking eye contact. Tequila didn't change what she was feeling, it just knocked the fucking barriers down. Boldly, she cupped his cheek, her thumb coasting over his rugged jaw. "Can I have another kiss, Edward?"
His pupils narrowed as his gaze danced between hers and her lips. His breathing became harsher, and he was right on the edge. Still holding her gaze, Edward brushed his lips against the flesh of her palm.
"You know you want another kiss." Bella shivered as the space separating them evaporated, his mouth so close, her lips tingled as she awaited his possession. It seemed to take an eternity for his mouth to reach hers, each second lasting a lifetime, yet the desperation between them was so thick, Bella could touch it. "What are you waiting for, Edward? It isn't like you to hesitate when you want some—."
Bella exhaled on a whoosh of air and his mouth dropped on hers. Edward's kiss was just like everything else about him, fucking hot, spicy, and flavored with sin. Bella fell victim to her own weakness as Edward's mouth took command. A wanton whimper escaped her throat as his lips ground down on hers.
While Bella never experienced such a blatant show of lust, she mimicked the play of his lips, losing herself in the moment. Every cell in her body came alive as his tongue dove into her mouth, winding around hers, drawing her into the foray. It was the most delicious battle of Bella's life, her soapy hands leaving the water, wet fingers plunging into his hair.
Edward grunted as Bella's fist balled against his scalp, yanking him closer, frothy bubbles popping against his bare chest. Each kiss fed the craving he had, encouraging him to take another and another until he was ravaging the delicate petals of her lips. He'd forgotten his torso was bare until warm, wet fingers slid down his pecs. Nipping her bottom lip, he groaned, "Open for me, princess."
Dazed with desire, Bella whispered, "I am."
"Like this, Bella," Edward directed, taking her chin between his index finger and thumb, he urged her mouth open wide. For a long intense moment, he stared at the tantalizing silk of her tongue. "Like that. I wanna put my tongue down the back of your throat."
Perplexed, she murmured, "That doesn't sound appealing."
"Let me show you, princess." Ever so slowly, Edward nibbled at the skin on her chin as he traced a path back to her mouth. His assault began with a few nips of her lips, the tip of his tongue darting inside the space she created. Still holding her chin, he urged her mouth wide as his tongue pushed deep, playing over hers, tempting her to follow suit.
When Edward had started to instruct her on kissing technique, Bella was slightly offended. Now, however, with Edward's tongue groping hers, sliding around her mouth as if he wanted to taste every inch, she understood. Eagerly, Bella followed suit, penetrating his hot mouth with new vigor.
Suddenly, Bella couldn't get enough, wanting him closer as she returned kiss after kiss. Desperately, she clawed at his fevered skin, petting the curls covering his chest. His flavor tantalized her taste buds, drugging her senses she helplessly pulled. Mumbling against his lips, "You are so addictive. How can a guy be such a dick, but taste so good?"
"Probably the same way a woman can be such a sassy, little …" Edward listed before Bella silenced him with her wicked possession. Chuckling, he kissed her lips, whispering, "That's it, Isabella, fucking kiss me."
Returning her kiss, his hand slid below the water, encountering one smooth leg. The tips of his fingers kneaded the round muscle of her thigh. With Bella's tongue lodged in his throat, he was having a difficult time resisting the urge to push one step forward.
Bella arched into Edward's touch, offering the achy mound throbbing with longing. She'd experienced this feeling of desperation only once before while she and Edward had played. She wanted to know what his touch was like, to be thoroughly owned by this man.
Edward was mindless with desire, his tongue and teeth taking Bella's lips with greed. His fingertips were centimeters from the bare flesh between her legs, curling against her thigh as he tried to ignore the allure. Ripping his lips from hers, Edward's forehead fell against hers and they both gulped for breath.
Rational thought tore through the delicious fantasy, and vague recognition pulled Edward from the lull threatening to overtake him. Caressing the velvet warmth of her thigh, he licked her flavor from his lips, "I gotta—we gotta stop. I'm about to forget who we both are."
Bella didn't want him to stop. Staring him in the eye, she lifted her hips. "I don't want you to stop, Edward."
His nipple puckered as her fingernail played over the sensitive nub. Groaning, Edward gave in to temptation, kissing Isabella for all he was worth. The hunger she displayed encouraged him on so many levels.
It has never been like this. Nothing Edward had ever experienced was as intense as this. Unexpected longings and desires were awakened, and Edward was swirling in a vortex of another dimension.
Isabella was his captive. She was essentially his prisoner and he shouldn't be doing this. Even while the argument played through his mind, so too did all of her meddlings. With her insistent nature, she had mended the rift between him and his daughter, and suddenly, the creature wasn't just a prisoner anymore.
He had some serious things to think about. Fuck. He was seconds away from pulling her sodden form from the bath and fulfilling the ravenous hunger. He moaned as his willing captive sucked his tongue hard, causing his mind to spin.
Tearing his mouth from hers, Edward stumbled to his feet. "I have to go. I have to go before I can't."
Bella climbed to her knees bringing her naked torso flush against Edward's chest. Her fingers combed through his hair as she kissed her way over his jaw. "I don't want you to go. Don't go, Edward."
Bella had survived her life on her own for years. She was so tired of being alone. Here, right now, with Edward's mouth on hers, she had a sense of belonging she'd never expected to feel and she wasn't ready for that to end.
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