Merry Christmas! (I celebrate in a strictly commercial way)
Happy Holidays! (to those who celebrate something different)
"Look what I found," Edward says as he walks out of the bedroom.
He's holding up a box, and when I see what it is, I smile. "That would've been nice a week ago. I think my back has finally gotten used to the carpet."
"It's never too late," he says, pulling the air mattress and pump from the box. "We can sleep in luxury for a few nights at least."
I laugh, shaking my head. "We've always had the bed."
My comments don't deter Edward, though, as he gets to work inflating the mattress. As soon as it's ready, he starts making it up with the fresh stack of blankets I'd taken from the dryer before our trip to Volturi Valley.
"There we go," he says, flopping on top of his masterpiece and rolling to his stomach, his chin propped on his palm. "It's nice and roomy." He spreads his other hand over the empty space beside him. "I don't know about you, but I don't like too much room."
"I don't know." I toe the coffee table, toying with him. "Spreading out can be nice, too."
"The pain." He rolls to his back, clutching his heart.
My own heart does a little pitter-patter, and that's when it hits me. It doesn't matter what he used to do, who he's slept with, or whether it was for film or from the heart. All that matters is he only wants to sleep with me now, and I want the same.
I jump from the sofa and bound over the coffee table, my punch-drunk-happy heart thundering a staccato of love inside my chest. My hands shake as I stand over him, frantically ridding myself of my clothes. My eagerness to be with him is swelling inside me to the point of bursting.
He recognizes my desperation and climbs to his knees, yanking his sweater over his head and tossing it to the side. He grips my bare thighs. "Bella," he murmurs, breathing deeply. "I don't know if I could stand to lose you."
I kick my leggings and underwear off my feet and fall into him. "You won't."
Something wild runs rampant inside me, driving me insane with need, and I don't hold back. My lips attack his, and my hands roam his taut skin. He tastes like snowy sin, and I want to live on his essence for the rest of my life.
The emotions that course through me are new and exciting, things I've never before felt. It's strange and exhilarating but also scary. I almost committed myself to someone else. Someone unworthy of my love and attention.
Tears burn my eyes, but they aren't from sadness over what I've lost. They're thankful. Honest. Relieved over what I've found. The connection between us is strong, as if there's tangible cord tethering us together for better or worse.
"I love you," I whisper against his skin as my lips continue a path across his jaw and down his neck. "I want to keep you."
"Fuck," he rasps, grabbing my arms and pressing my back to the air mattress as he hovers over me. "Done."
Everything else is a blur as he rids himself of his jeans and covers his cock in latex. When he enters me this time, emotions bubble up and spill over into words. I whisper my love and adoration as he rocks into me with tender strokes. The climb is slow and agonizing, pleasantly painful, and when the cliff approaches, I dive over it head-first.
My life with Edward awaits, and I don't want to miss a second.
You guys! You can't imagine the gift you've given me with this story. Never in a million years did I imagine it would have over 1600 reviews. Reading your comments, and so many of them, on a daily basis truly has brought happiness to my heart. I'm going to mark it complete because this right here was the intended end, but you never know when I'll pop in and add an occasion to it. We have a year to get through before next Christmas and peeking in on them before then isn't out of the question.
Please, if you've ever stopped in to review, make sure to do this chapter. I'll be replying tomorrow, and I want to be able to thank every single one of you in person!
See you sometime :)