Hey all you lovely people. Thank you so much for all the reviews I received for the original one shot. I'm overwhelmed with the support for these two characters.
I've finally managed to make a start on the continuation of this story! And while I'd love to say I will be posting more regularly from now on, sadly real life doesn't work out that way. Chapters are likely to be shorter and to no set schedule. Trust me, I know how frustrating this can be! Some of my current favorites haven't been updated in a year! But fear not, I'm not going to keep you waiting that long.
I've just started a new job, so I anticipate things will be a bit hectic while I find my feet! But in the meantime I hope you like this next installment and it lives up to the first chapter : |
Last but by no means least, I must say a massive thank you to SunflowerFran for offering her beta services.
~Chapter 2~
"Seriously Edward, we really need to stop." I attempted to be firm, but in reality, I'm sure it sounded like I was begging rather than ordering, as I tried in vain to force myself away from him.
Edward however, seemed unwilling to let me go. If anything, he was more determined to keep me close, his arms wrapped around my waist anchoring me to him.
"Are you seriously telling me you'd rather be out there with both our families than just the two of us all alone in here?"
Groaning at the prospect of having to face the interrogation of my family, I buried my face in his neck for a moment, breathing in his pleasant scent before I stepped away from temptation.
When Edward went to pull me to him, I pushed back before either one of us could get carried away once again.
"Enough! I still haven't completely forgiven you, you know," I tried to sound annoyed, but one look at Edwards's handsome face and my resolve was already slipping.
"I'll make it up to you," he promised, leaning down to seal his apology with a kiss.
I accepted the kiss before turning my attention to the mirror, where I then attempted to sort out my disheveled appearance. It proved a difficult task with Edward distracting me by kissing my neck, my cheeks, anywhere he could reach, while his wandering hands roamed around my body. I playfully swatted him away, but deep down I loved the attention.
To be honest, I don't know why I was bothering trying to conceal what we'd been up to; my swollen lips, flushed cheeks, and bright eyes were a dead giveaway.
"Behave," I warned when he attempted to steal another kiss.
He pulled away pouting and then began to straighten out his own clothing and slightly rumpled appearance before he led the way back to the main dining area. I wanted to grab his hand, but I pushed the urge aside, instead focusing on calming my racing pulse and nerves.
How I was going to act like nothing had just happened, I had no idea.
As if sensing my unease, Edward stepped into the space separating us and drew me against his chest. Before I could object, he kissed me deeply, passionately, and without a hint of hesitation.
When Edward ended the kiss, I was breathing hard, and my heart was pounding way too fast.
"What was that for?" I asked when I'd finally caught my breathe.
"If I can't kiss you for at least another hour, I needed something to keep me going," Edward replied with a cheeky smile.
I couldn't help but smile along with him, blushing at the promise of more kisses to follow. I just needed to get through the next however long with my family first.
As if reading my distress, Edward sent me a long, intense look before declaring, "Relax Bella, trust me, the next hour is going to be a lot more uncomfortable for me than it is for you," he winked, gesturing down to his crotch. With that, he turned around, leaving me groping like a fish out of water while he went to speak with one of the waiters at the bar.
Once I'd recovered from the shock of Edward's declaration, I caught up with him, and the two of us made our way back to the main dining area. I purposely avoided looking at my family, but I could still feel their stares on me all the same. While I tried to make myself at least appear comfortable, I made the mistake of looking at Edward's brother, Jasper, who was smirking and unsuccessfully trying to hide his amusement.
The lady beside him, Alice I think her name was, nudged him and whispered some harsh words into his ear that soon wiped the smile from his face. He nodded up at Edward before turning back to his now smiling wife. I was grateful for her intervention. Being sat on opposite ends of the table, we had not spoken much during dinner, but from our initial interactions, she seemed like a genuinely nice person, and I hoped to get to know her better.
"What took you so long?" Rosalie's question drew my attention to her. She looked suspicious as her gaze drifted between Edward and me.
''There was a problem with the drinks. I've ordered some coffees, too while I was sorting out the mix-up," Edward made up an excuse on the spot, the lie effortlessly rolling off his tongue.
"What a wonderful idea," Esme praised, while I struggled to keep my expression impassive.
Right on cue, a waiter appeared carrying a tray with a fresh pot of coffee.
"How are you even keeping a straight face right now?" I demanded while everyone was momentarily distracted.
"I'm a very practiced liar when I need to be, Bella," Edward whispered in my ear before pulling my chair out and helping me into my seat. When no one else was looking he subtly squeezed my shoulder and offered me that devastating smile that was quickly becoming my favorite.
If anyone noticed my sudden change in attitude towards Edward, they didn't comment on it, for which I was extremely grateful.
Eager to avoid any unwanted attention, I turned my attention to family and tried to act as if the last ten minutes had not just happened. Emmett looked confused by my sudden change in mood, but I brushed his questioning looks aside and tried to seem indifferent. It was a hard task, trying to be discreet when all I wanted to do was openly stare at Edward.
It felt like a constant battle between the two of us as we shared shy looks across the table. Sometimes when I thought he wasn't looking I would casually glance his way, but more often than not, he was already looking at me, and I'd lose my train of thought.
When Sue commented that she was glad I was feeling better and how happy she was that Edward and I had sorted out our differences, I wanted to throttle Edward for the smug look he sent my way. His smugness, however, was nothing compared to the delighted smile that lit up Esme's face. I had a feeling she was on to us.
Damn those sneaky Cullens and their perceptiveness.
In a contrast to earlier on in the evening, when I had been paranoid about every little thing Edward said or did, I found myself actually relaxing and enjoying the conversations and the playful banter that was exchanged, particularly between the siblings.
As different as the brothers were, Edward, Jasper, and Carlisle were clearly very close and enjoyed an incredibly tight bond that I'm sure their 'family business' relied upon.
Evidently, Cullen family gatherings had a tendency to run well into the night if tonight was anything to go by. But as the drinks continued to flow, I stuck to water after one Irish coffee. I'd had too much to drink already and needed to keep my head clear; otherwise, I'd likely lose all sense of propriety and invite Edward home with me.
When Esme and Carlisle announced they were going to be making a move shortly, it signaled an end to the night. Finally, a few people started leaving one by one until there were only a few couples remaining.
"I'll see you soon, Bella," Esme told me with a sneaky smile as we said our goodbyes.
Once our table had been cleared and after a minor disagreement over who would be paying the bill; Carlisle won of course, but not without accepting Dad's offer to return the favor another time, we were finally ready to leave.
"You coming home with us, Bells?" Dad asked hopefully. I'd hitched a ride with Emmett on the way here, but he'd gone back to Rosalie's place, so I was stuck without a ride home. Still, that didn't mean I wanted to put them out.
"That's okay Dad, I'll just grab a taxi home. I have some chores to do tomorrow anyway. I should make a start on them first thing."
"I'd be happy to see Bella home," Edward thoughtfully offered.
"Are you sure Edward?" Charlie didn't even attempt to hold his laughter. "Do you think you can make it back in one piece?" he joked.
Between the sly looks and our earlier disappearance, I was sure my parents were on to us. Perhaps we hadn't been as obvious as I'd thought.
No sooner had I thought we were in the clear, did it all come crashing down on me. When Sue nudged Dad and whispered something in his ear, he instantly turned red and wouldn't meet my eye, instead directing his harsh glare at Edward.
"I'm trusting you to see her home safely Edward. No funny business, you hear me?"
I felt my own cheeks flame in embarrassment. I was twenty-four, not a sixteen-year-old school girl on her first date. Though I suppose I could forgive Dad his overreaction. It's not as if he'd had much experience dealing with potential boyfriends.
"Dad, please," I attempted to intervene, but Edward seemed unaffected by Charlie's sudden bout of protectiveness.
"I'll be on my best behavior, Mr. Swan," he reassured him. Unexpectedly, I felt disappointed, and I hoped this was one of those occasions when Edward was a very good liar.
It took a few more moments to finally say goodbye to everyone who was left, but eventually, we went our separate ways, and I followed Edward over to his car.
It was not difficult to spot in a car park full of average run of the mill vehicles. The sleek Aston Martin I'd glimpsed at the airport stuck out like a sore thumb.
While I knew absolutely nothing about cars, even I knew it must be worth a small fortune. God knows how much Edward was paying to hire it, but I guess he didn't need to worry about the cost.
Together we walked hand in hand in silence, but it was not an uncomfortable one. Ever the gentleman, Edward held the door open and helped me inside.
While he walked around to the other side of the car, I took a moment to admire the luxurious interior. It was as immaculate inside as it was on the outside.
When Edward turned the key, the car purred to life, and he smoothly pulled out of the parking lot. I was both surprised and impressed by the classical music, lowly playing in the background. It added to the relaxing atmosphere.
"Nice rental," I commented after a few moments of silence. "This must have set you back a small fortune."
"It's not a rental, Bella, " Edward replied, not looking away from the road ahead. "This car is mine. I leave it at Jasper's to use when I'm home. I've not spent too much time here recently, but maybe I'll get more use out of it from now on," he winked across at me.
"Oh right, it's very fancy," I felt my cheeks heat at the inadequacy of my comment, then added. "Business must be going well."
Edward glanced across at me briefly before returning his attention to the road. I worried I had somehow offended him when I saw the crease in his brow. When his shoulders slumped, and he took an uneven breath, I wanted to reach out and smoothed gentle fingertips across the taut line of one high cheekbone.
"Every penny I've earned is my own Bella," he said suddenly. "I know that might be hard to believe given my family's reputation, but I promise you it's the truth."
"I didn't mean anything by it," I replied, my voice intoned with regret. I hoped my comments hadn't offended him and I told him as much.
"I know you didn't," I met Edwards gaze, his own open, honest, and so achingly vulnerable. "You're bound to be curious Bella, and I will tell you anything you want. But you've got to understand how hard it is for us to trust people outside of the family. We need to be very careful who we trust, who we let in. Family is everything to us."
"You can trust me. I'd never say anything. " I promised. It was the truth; I'd keep whatever secrets Edward had if it meant we could be together.
Edwards face split into the grin that turned my insides into mush.
"I know I can," he told me, barely getting the words out before he leaned over and kissed me. It was short and sweet, but when a car behind us beeped its horn it drew us apart instantly, and Edward returned his attention to the road.
"Hey, don't you need my address?" I asked as we reached the main intersection.
"Not necessary. I've done my research, remember," Edward replied.
I was confused what he meant at first, but then I recalled what Edward had said about 'researching' my family.
"Oh, of course," I muttered, unsure how to respond.
Edward had the decency to look embarrassed. "Are you still mad at me?" he asked, his speech hesitant.
I looked up and saw him smiling sheepishly at me.
"Honestly, Edward I don't know how I feel about it. I should be mad that you pretty much stalked my family and me, but I know that you were only looking out for Rosalie. I can't fault your intentions even if it does creep me out a little," I joked, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.
The rest of the journey passed all too quickly, and before I knew it, we had pulled up outside my apartment. Ever the gentleman, once again, Edward raced to my side and helped me out before he walked me to the door.
He seemed almost nervous as he said, "I had a lovely time tonight Bella."
"Me too, " I replied, my natural shyness resurfacing before I worked up the courage to invite him inside.
Edward seemed to think about my offer before responding "No, I'd better not, I said I'd see you back, and that's what I intend to do."
"What's with the chivalry?"
"No matter how much I want you, I'm doing things right by you. I'm determined to make this work. After the misunderstanding of last week, I want to prove to you this isn't a fling for me." He sounded so sincere I was touched.
"I don't think that," I told him honestly. " I might have reacted angrily before, but now I can understand your reasoning."
"Still, I think it's best I don't come inside, at least not this time," Edward told me.
While a part of me was disappointed, a larger part of me was relieved, because no matter how strongly I felt, I wasn't ready to jump straight into bed with Edward.
"There is one thing I would like to do before I go," he told me, with a cheeky smile as his lips edged closer to mine.
"What's that?" I asked, playing along.
His eyes danced over my face, glanced down my body, then focused on my lips. Edward's hand cupped my cheek, and his mouth found mine. He kissed me slowly, his lips pressing firmly but not too hard. What started out as a fairly innocent kiss quickly turned more passionate, and I reached around and pulled him against me. I needed him closer. Perhaps I should have been scared by how quickly I had fallen for Edward but when he deepened the kiss, I truly didn't care if we were rushing into this.
The kiss went on and on before Edward abruptly pulled away and attempted to put some distance between the two of us.
"I should go," he told me though he sounded just as reluctant as I was to let him leave.
"You don't have to," I said. Feeling brave, I leaned in, this time attempting to persuade him to stay, if only for a few more minutes.
He broke the kiss, and I spent a few seconds trying to catch my breath. I wasn't alone in that; I could feel Edward's rapid breaths brushing the hair over my forehead. Lifting my eyes, I met his dark gaze. A strange look crossed his features, and he stepped back, dropping his hands from my waist.
"You're testing my will power, Bella," Edward warned.
"Is it working?"
Usually, I was shy and incredibly reserved when it came to guys, but Edward brought out feelings that I had never felt before. I felt brave, confident even.
"Can't you tell?" Edward pressed against me, giving me the answer to my question.
I leaned into his touch as his lips met mine. I felt his tongue sweep across mine asking for entrance, and I immediately parted them to allow him to deepen the kiss. This one went on and on, but when we eventually parted to catch our breath, my eyes immediately met Edwards tortured gaze.
"Be good Bella," he warned, still smiling in spite of his obvious disappointment. "I should let you sleep now, but I'd like to see you tomorrow if you don't already have plans," he asked hopefully.
"That would be nice," I replied, smiling brightly. "Goodnight Edward,"
"Goodnight Bella." He offered me that devastating smile of his then turned and headed down the driveway.
AN: I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter!