THE OTHER WOMAN
DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.
December 24, 2018
EDWARD
"No… no!" I hear Bella yell and my eyes snap open. "You can't take him… Edward, tell him!… He's ours. Please, he needs us!"
"Bella? Wake up, angel," I say softly and my heart breaks watching the terrified expression on her face.
"No! He's taking our baby! Stop him! Dad, don't!" Bella cries and I gently shake her shoulders.
"Bella love, it's just a bad dream. Wake up."
"Not our tree!" She gasps through her tears and grips the sheets tightly. "R—Riley…"
"Bella! Wake up, Bella!" I say loudly and her breathing quickens. Her eyes suddenly flutter open and she takes labored breaths.
I caress her face with my hands and wipe the tears from her cheeks. I stroke her hair and she turns in my direction. I cup her cheek in my hand and she leans against my touch. I wipe away the tear that trickles down her cheek and her brown eyes look anxious. Her body is shaking from the cold and I realize she needs to put on clothes.
Bella sniffles and tightly hugs me. I hold her in my arms and reach for the red camisole lying by the foot of the nightstand. I release her and help her put it on. She reaches for me again and I hug her. She cries softly and I rub her back.
"Hush, baby. It was just a bad dream," I coo softly and she nods. "You're my strong Bella. Don't cry, baby."
"It felt so real." She croaks out and I sigh.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"We were at my house in Forks," She starts off and rests her head on my chest. "You and I were decorating a Christmas tree with grandma. We had a baby who looked like Jake when he was young.. My father came out of nowhere and tried to take the baby. When I wouldn't give the baby to him, he lit the Christmas tree on fire just like Riley burning the car that night. And—And then Riley came and that's when I woke up."
We remain quiet in each other's arms and I stroke her soft hair. I hitch her right leg over my hip and pull her closer. I kiss her hair and wrap the sheets around her frame. I feel her warm tears soaking in my t-shirt as she cries.
I clear my throat softly. "Maybe you miss your grandma, baby. You are scared that your father might want to meet Jacob but you don't want him to."
"I don't want to be reminded of my father at all."
"I know. But, do you know if Jacob wants to meet him or not?"
"I don't think he would want to."
"You need to ask him, darling. It's not fair that you make that decision for him."
"I still haven't read the letter that man gave me."
"Hmm."
"I don't want to think about him the day before Christmas." She finally says and her brown eyes gaze at me.
I nod and wipe away the stray tears on her cheeks. "Okay. We won't talk about it again."
Bella buries her face against my neck and sighs soundly. "I love you, Edward."
"I love you too, Bella."
"What time is it?"
I check the radio alarm and yawn. "Four in the morning."
"Oh god, I'm sorry you woke up, sweetheart."
"It's okay. We can catch sleep until later. I'm not going to work today."
"You're not?"
"Nope. Plus, tonight is the Office Party—I might have to make an appearance for few minutes."
"Is it at your office?"
"No," I chuckle. "It's on a yacht."
She giggles. "Let me guess, your yacht?"
"Yes, we decided to do things differently this year. It's boring to have a formal party every year. Everyone is looking forward to it."
"Of course they are, I bet it's going to be amazing."
"Will you come? We'll just make an appearance and leave."
"Okay." She smiles and pecks my lips.
"We are giving Christmas gifts to the staff tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. I can't wait to give Mrs. Cope her gift!" Bella exclaims excitedly and I chuckle.
"I know. You might want to catch some sleep before that."
Bella gets comfortable and plants a kiss on my shoulder before closing her eyes. I notice the strap of her camisole has ridden down and her breast is on display. I stroke her hair and slowly move it away from her chest. I trace circles on her arm and play with the strap. Bella shifts closer, causing the strap to lower. Fuck, this is not good for my morning condition.
"You're such a pervert, Edward." Bella mutters and I freeze. She opens her eyes and giggles softly.
I stare at her narrowly. "Did you do this on purpose?"
"Maybe," She bites her bottom lip and smiles seductively. "Were you planning on staring at my breasts the whole time, sweetheart?"
Bella brushes her leg against my hard on as she unwraps it from around me. She pulls up the strap of her camisole up and adjusts it. She sexily trails her index finger from my chest, down to the waistband of my boxers. She places her hand on the tent in my boxers and strokes it. I inhale sharply and her captivating eyes lock with mine.
"You're so handsome, Edward." Bella whispers quietly and smiles.
I reach over and caress her thigh with my hand. She sighs softly and her hand plays with the waistband of my boxers. Her eyes shine brightly and I part my lips as she leans closer. Fucking finally. Her nose touches mine and I close my lids. I feel her lips planting a tender kiss on my cheek.
"Go to sleep, honey." She says against my ear and it takes me a couple of seconds to register what just happened.
I open my eyes and growl softly. I hate it when Bella teases me like this. She laughs and sits up. She grabs her robe and dons it around her slender frame. She ties the sash and I rise from my position. I glare at her and her eyes turn anxious.
"You think that was funny, Isabella?" I ask softly and her smile disappears. My eyes pierce into hers and she backs away from me.
"Yes, it was enjoyable for me." She mutters and scrambles out of the bed. I stand up and her eyes widen. I lunge for her and she gasps and she runs out of the bedroom.
I chuckle and go after her, knowing she is a slow runner. I catch up to her in the great room and grab hold of her silk robe. I lift her up and she squeals with surprise. She squirms in my arms and I crash us on the couch. She giggles softly and I smile staring at her gorgeous face. Her face is illuminated by the Christmas lights and she looks like an angel.
"You're mean, Edward." She accuses softly and I hover over her.
"I am mean?" I question and she nods. "Then why did you run?"
"Because you looked scary."
I laugh and kiss her nose. "You're so cute, baby."
Bella blushes brightly and wraps her arms around my neck. Her lips remain inches from mine and she stares at me from under her lashes. "Make love to me, please."
"How would you like to be teased, Ms. Swan?" I ask with a smile and she smirks.
"I think you'll be able to figure something out."
"I think I will."
Her lips press against mine and we pick up where we left off in the bedroom.
I wake up when the aroma of waffles and smoked bacon assaults my senses. My eyes open and I find Bella walking in my direction with a smile on her face. She sits on the edge of the bed and strokes my cheek.
"Good morning, handsome." Bella says with a smile and kisses my forehead.
"Good morning, beautiful."
"I made you breakfast."
"It smells delicious," I murmur and sit up on the bed. I rest heavily against the headboard and pull her closer to me. "What time did you wake up?"
She crawls onto my lap and wraps her arms around my neck. "At eight. You looked peaceful and relaxed so I didn't wake you. I made breakfast instead."
"Did you eat?"
"Not yet."
I caress her cheek with my hand. "What did you make, my love?"
"I made eggnog waffles with spiced whipped cream. I grilled bacon and made juice for you."
"Great, let's have breakfast."
"We need to shower and get dressed quickly. We have to distribute gifts to everyone."
"Hmm, I remember."
My eyes widen when she slides off my lap and puts the tray between us. I lift my glass of juice and intently stare at it. It is orange but looks different. I sniff it and smell hint of apple and orange. What the fuck is this?
"Bella, what's wrong with my juice?"
"Oh, I made apple carrot and orange juice for you. Try it." She grins at me and I make a face.
"What was wrong with my good old orange juice?"
"This juice is good for your immune system during the winter. It was either this or spinach lettuce and kale juice. Which one do you prefer?"
"This one." I answer within a heartbeat. She giggles and kisses my cheek.
"I knew it. And it tastes good. I drank it too."
"Okay." I grumble under my breath and drink the juice. It's not bad. I finish it and Bella smiles at me.
"See? It was good."
I chuckle and we start eating our breakfast. Bella asks me numerous questions about our Vienna trip. She is really excited and that makes me thrilled about our trip too. I plan to take her to my London estate on New Year's Day so we can spend our weekend there. She will love it. Then we can come back and get back to our routine starting Monday. I hope she likes the surprise.
Once we finish with breakfast, Mrs. Cope whisks the tray away. Bella and I take a quick shower and head to our respective closets to get dressed. I put on my boxers and a pair of grey jeans. I don a white henley and black cardigan on top. I run a hand through my wet hair and sigh. It is always a lost cause.
I peek into Bella's closet and find her rummaging through her clothes in nothing but a pair of white lace bra and panties. Fuck, she looks hot. I take a step inside the closet but resist myself from going to her. We need to give presents out, especially to Mrs. Cope. With great reluctance, I make my way to the store room instead.
Bella joins me in the great room where I have arranged all the gifts on the sofa. She skips to the kitchen and returns with armful of gift wrapped materials. She puts them on the coffee table and lets out a satisfied sigh. Her brown eyes meet mine and she walks over to me.
"What did you bring from the kitchen?" I ask and she snorts.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just made goodies to go along with the gifts."
I smile curiously. "What did you make?"
"Different things. For example," She lifts a small box and shows to me. "This is for Arthur. He once told me that his wife and daughter love the shortbread cookies I make, so I made a fresh batch for him. Then others love the chocolate crinkle cookie and others like the jam or candy cupcakes."
I marvel at her ability to remember everyone's preferences and have a pure, gentle heart to show so much love for people she has known for not more than four months. I'm pretty sure everybody is fond of my girl; it's easy to fall in love with her. All I care about is that she is happy.
"You are an amazing person, Bella. I'm so lucky to have you in my life. It must have taken you a lot of effort to make this, I wish I would've been there to help you." I whisper and wind my arms around her slender waist.
"It's alright. I know I went a little overboard but I liked making baked goods for everyone."
"I know, darling," I peck her lips and smile. "Should I call Luke?"
"Yes, please."
Bella and I spend the next hour distributing Christmas presents to our staff and they are surprised and overwhelmed to receive them. A couple of people give us gifts in return which is very kind of them. The last person to come is Marvin who works the dayshift at the entrance gate, I think. Bella gets really excited to meet him and I watch her pass him the presents.
"And these are for your daughter. I made peppermint sticks. If she liked those biscuit sticks, I'm sure she'll love this too."
"Thank you very much, Ms. Swan. I'm sure she will love it," His smile turns shy and he passes us a gift wrapped basket. "Uh, my mom came home last night and she brought lychee from our garden in Rio. You once said that you wanted to try something with it. These are fresh from our garden."
Bella gasps happily and takes the basket. "Oh, you didn't have to but thank you so much. I'll definitely use these. Thank you again."
"You're welcome."
"Merry Christmas, Marvin." I smile and he smiles back.
"You too, Mr. Cullen, Ms. Swan. Hope you enjoy the holidays." He says and bids us goodbye.
I turn to Matt and he nods. "All done, Mr. Cullen."
"Great, so it's your turn." I say and his eyes widen. Bella grabs the three gift wrapped boxes and Matt takes them.
"This is a special one for Ness," Bella says, pointing to the pink gift wrapped box. "She wanted a princess castle."
Matt sighs soundly. "She told everybody to buy her princess castle. We're going to have house full of princess castles this year."
Bella and I laugh at that. "I'm sure Vanessa will enjoy that." I mutter and he chuckles.
"Thank you, sir, and ma'am. Merry Christmas to you and your family."
"Merry Christmas, Matt." Bella beams at him and we look over his shoulder and find Mrs. Cope walking our way.
"Are we exchanging presents, kids?" She asks curiously and we smile at her.
"Yes, and we have something special for you." I say and make my way to the Christmas tree. I carry two gifts in her direction and she sighs.
"Oh my god, two gifts?"
Bella passes them to her and taps the small rectangular box. "You need to open this right away."
I wrap an arm around Bella and kiss her hair. We watch her open the envelope and my girlfriend turns impatient by my side.
"It's a ticket to fly to Minnesota to see your son and family!" Bella says excitedly before Mrs. Cope has the chance to read what's inside.
Mrs. Cope gapes at us. "How did this happen? I've been trying to get a ticket for months!"
"Edward pulled some strings. Your flight leaves in two hours, you need to pack! Matt will take you to the airport. We've already called your son and he'll be picking you up."
"Oh you kids. Thank you so much," She smiles and hugs us both. She releases us and sighs. "I can make your lunch before leaving."
"Mrs. Cope, we can cook. We'll be fine. Why don't you go pack your bags? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." I say and kiss her cheek. She smiles and rushes upstairs to her room.
Matt walks away and I spin Bella in my arms. She smiles and winds her arms around my neck. Her lips press against mine and I enthusiastically return the kiss. Bella and I get to spend the rest of the day at home and we'll have no interruptions, no work and nobody to invade our privacy. We'll just have to leave the house for a couple of hours in the evening. We'll open our presents tomorrow morning and meet the family in the evening.
We'll be leaving early morning on December 26 for Vienna. I can't wait to get away from the city for nine days. I've wanted to go on a vacation since last year and I'm finally getting my wish. It's even more special since I'll get to travel with Bella.
Bella and I have been spending quality time with each other and it can't get any better than this. Last week, I taught her how to play pool and we ended up having sex on the table. Later that same week, we went out on a drive and stopped by the construction site of her bookstore. Since, nobody was around, Bella dragged me to the back and we had sex against a wall.
My life is fucking perfect and I can't help think about the unfinished proposal. I want to. I really do. I want to get down on one knee and ask her hand for marriage with that one of a kind ring. But, I don't have the guts to propose to her, two weeks after the Riley incident. Maybe I'll take the ring with me to Vienna, in case I feel like proposing.
Right now, I don't want to think about that. I just need some time alone with—
"Mr. Cullen?" I hear Matt behind me.
Bella breaks our kiss and strokes my cheek, silently asking me to not get angry for the interruption. I sigh and turn in his direction.
"Yes, Matt?"
"I'm sorry to disturb but Mr. Laurent wants to urgently have a word with you over the phone."
"Alright, I'll give him a call. Thank you."
Matt nods and leaves again.
"What do you want to do now, Ms. Swan?"
"I need to wrap the presents I bought for Alice and Will. I have to ask Esme what I should make for dessert for tomorrow's dinner," I lift her in my arms bridal style and she laughs as her arms wrap around my neck. "And I have to make lunch for us. But, I don't think you are going to let me do any of it."
"No, I'm not." I murmur against her lips and she giggles.
My phone buzzes and I sigh tiredly.
"You're not answering your phone while you try to seduce me, Cullen." She warns me and I laugh.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"Good," She smiles and her face is inches from mine. She is so beautiful. "Now, take me to our bedroom."
Gladly.
December 25, 2015
I sigh as I feel warm fingers caressing my face and a soft pair of lips brushing against my chest. A soft hand cradles my cheek and the other one strokes my hair. I feel gentle kisses on my eyelids, my forehead and my lips.
"Edward? Wake up, honey. It's Christmas." Bella says sweetly and my eyes flutter open.
My eyes soften staring at her glowing face and I smile. I run my hands over her arms, her lovely face and I pull her closer to me.
"Merry Christmas, my love." I say softly and she blushes a brilliant shade.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
I connect our lips for a soft kiss and she moans against my mouth. I deepen our kiss and she straddles my lap. I playfully bite on her bottom lip and she whimpers. Her hands knot in my hair and I roll her onto her back. She giggles and pecks my lips. I trail warm kisses from her neck down to her shoulder.
She tilts her neck and I bite against her soft skin. Fuck, I can't get enough of her. She wraps her legs around my waist and grinds her hips against mine. I lower her silk shorts and her breathing deepens. She crashes her lips against mine and we sigh when my phone buzzes on the nightstand. I continue kissing my girlfriend but my mind remains distracted.
"Just answer the damn phone." She mumbles against my lips and I smile. I reach over and answer it.
"Cullen." I snap and take a deep breath.
"Edward, where the hell have you been? I've been calling you since yesterday!" Laurent, my lawyer yells and I sigh.
"I completely forgot to call you back, I'm sorry. I've been a little occupied." I whisper and stare at my beautiful girlfriend.
"I know it's the holiday season and I didn't want to disturb you but this is fucking important. Get off your girlfriend and listen to me."
I groan and sit on the bed next to Bella. She pouts adorably and takes a seat next to me. I put my head on her lap and she chuckles. Her hands stroke my hair and I sigh softly. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
"Yes, Laurent. I'm listening."
"It's about the Denali lawsuit. Tanya has filed for…" His voice becomes nothing but a buzz to my ears when Bella caresses my face with her hands. I feel her fingers trailing from my bare chest to the waistband of my sweatpants. I can feel my erection straining inside and I open my eyes to find her playful brown ones staring at me.
"Edward!" Laurent screams and I wince.
"Ow," I mutter and grab hold of Bella's hand. "Give me five minutes, baby. I'll be in the study."
"Not today, Edward. Please?" She begs softly and my eyes soften. I sit up and brush my hand against her cheek. I hate to make her sad.
"Five minutes, darling. I promise." I kiss the top of her head and get off the bed.
"It's never five minutes." I hear Bella mutter as I walk out of the room.
"Alright, now that you've ruined my Christmas morning and I have a sad girlfriend… Please go ahead." I say roughly and he sighs.
"Look, I didn't want to disturb but you need to know this. Tanya is making the case more complicated due to her pregnancy. She is claiming that you are the father to her babies. You need to take those paternity tests."
"No." I say quickly and he exhales soundly.
"Edward, we are trying to avoid what could happen. Tanya has been invisible from the public eye since you broke up. The moment she comes out in public, everyone is going to assume you are the father because they do not know she is pregnant with twins. She easily looks seven months along!"
"No, I'm not taking the tests."
"What about Bella? Do you think you can keep this news away from her forever?"
"I believe she trusts me enough to know that I won't lie."
"The court might have a different opinion, Edward."
"I don't care. I'm not taking those tests."
"Are you scared that you are father?"
"What? No! Of course not, what the fuck are you saying?"
"That's what the court will assume. Tanya has confidently claimed that she can prove you are the father. My people are already trying to figure out what her lawyers are up to."
I run a hand through my hair and take a deep breath. "Fine, I'll take the damn tests. I spoke to Eleazar last night and his family is out of town this week. We can do it after New Year's."
"Great, we really need you to take them. We weren't prepared for her to shock us like this. I don't think even she was prepared for this."
I chuckle humorlessly. "I still can't believe it. I'm just glad they aren't mine."
"You should be. The case needs to positively progress from our side. It's creating enough news."
"What is Eleazar's attorney preparing for?"
Laurent babbles to me about the lawsuit for the next thirty minutes. I finally realize how entangled few issues are. I should give some attention to this rather than letting dad take all the pressure. I was a part of it in the beginning but later, there was enough trouble in my life to keep me busy.
It's Christmas morning, for Christ's sake! What the hell am I doing?
"Laurent, I'll give you a call later during the week. Merry Christmas, bye."
"Merry Christmas, Ed."
I hang up and let out a deep sigh. I put the phone on my desk and find Bella leaving the bedroom, wearing a silk robe over her little clothes. She doesn't bother looking at me as she turns towards the hallway. Fuck, she must be really pissed. I don't want her angry with me today. God, I hate Laurent. And Tanya. And myself.
"Bella?"
Bella turns to me and gives me a thoughtful look.
"Yes?"
"Come here, please."
"It's okay if you have work. I'll be in the great room. I'll probably make calls to people who would rather talk to me than work on Christmas." Ouch.
I walk in her direction and cradle her lovely face in my hands. I stroke her cheek and she leans against my hands. Her eyes flutter close and I touch my forehead to hers. Her breathing mingles with mine and I brush my thumb against her bottom lip.
"I'm sorry about the phone call. I want us to spend the day together with no interruptions. I might have to work for a couple of hours this week but I won't work unless you are otherwise busy. I promise."
"Okay." She breathes out and opens her eyes.
"Really?" I ask surprised by her readiness to let me work during the holidays.
"Really, really. I know you have been working during the holidays from the past few years. It's a habit of yours and it will take time for you leave it behind. But, I would really really appreciate it if you spend time with me."
"I'm yours, Bella."
She grins and a beautiful blush covers her cheeks. "I know."
I smile and sigh softly. I look at the desk when my phone pings with a text message. "That must be Alice or Alex." I mutter and go over to check the screen. Oh, it's Karen. And she has sent a Hallmark ecard.
"What is it?" Bella asks and wraps her arms around my waist. I kiss her forehead and turn the screen in her direction. She giggles. "Open it, please. I think it's going to be very cheesy."
"You bet." I shake my head and open the link to the ecard.
The ecard plays a jazzy rendition of Jingle Bells and two animals are seen dancing along to it. They visit the city and play in the snow.
"That's Hoops and Yoyo." Bella whispers and I wind an arm around her shoulder.
"What?"
"These fictional characters are seen on Hallmark Greeting Cards. We used to sell them at the bookstore."
"Oh."
The video ends and I scroll down to read the handwritten message.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Bella and Edward!
P.S— Would you like to be godparents? Please let us know before June 2016.
Bella and I share a look and her lips curl into a beautiful smile. I smile back and she laughs.
"Oh my god, they're having a baby!" She exclaims excitedly and I chuckle.
"Poor kid." I murmur and Bella kisses my cheek. I wish I was in Chicago to congratulate them. They've always wanted to start a family and I'm so happy for them.
"We'll meet them soon, sweetheart." Bella says soothingly and strokes my cheek. I don't know how she can read my mind so easily.
"We will." I smile and peck her lips.
"Should we call them?"
I grin at her. "They won't answer. Karen and Benji go to their cabin in Palm Coast every year on Christmas Day. It's their thing. They are always in a bad cell area."
"Oh," She pouts but then smiles. "We'll call later."
"Sure. I think we should open our Christmas presents now."
"Okay!"
I lift Bella in my arms and she giggles. Her arms wrap around my neck and I kiss the top of her head.
"I saw Matt putting a Christmas Card under the tree last night. I think it's from Vanessa." I comment as I carry her to the great room.
"Okay, Sherlock. We'll find out."
I gently put Bella on the sofa and make my way to the Christmas tree. I bend down and collect all the gifts kept under the tree. I open the greeting card and smile when I see drawing of a giant Christmas tree and two stick figures standing next to it. I was right. It's from Vanessa. I grab hold of the last box and sigh. That's a lot of presents.
"That's a lovely sight, Cullen." I hear my girlfriend comment which makes me laugh.
I stand up and turn to her. "Were you staring at my ass, Ms. Swan?"
"Maybe."
Bella walks over to me and takes a couple of boxes from me. We put them all on the coffee table and sit on the sofa. I grab the present from Matt and Maria and unwrap it. They've given us an electronic wine chiller and a collection of fine chocolates. I laugh when Bella unwraps the box and eats a piece of chocolate truffle.
"It's delicious." She whispers and feeds me a piece.
We open a couple of gifts that were sent from my company clients and most of them are rare wine bottles and abstract showpieces.
"You get so many gifts every year." Bella marvels and I shrug.
"Yeah, they are all of the same kind. I keep the showpieces in the store room." I mutter and she smiles.
"What do you give to them?"
"I don't know. Victoria and somebody from HR does that."
"Oh."
"Would you like to open your gifts, Ms. Swan?" I ask and she blushes.
"Yes, please."
I give her the small rectangular box and she slowly unwraps it. She bites her bottom lip and curiously takes off the lid. She lifts the bracelet and smiles at me. I pull her closer and she gives me a chaste kiss.
"Thank you."
"It's incomplete." I mumble and she giggles.
"I figured."
I gave Bella a bracelet for Christmas and I have asked everybody in the family to give her a charm each later tonight. This way she can carry everyone's memories with her on one bracelet. Currently, there is only one charm attached to her bracelet. A key charm from me.
"Your bracelet will be complete this evening." I promise her and she tinkers with the key charm.
"A key?"
"You have the key to my heart, baby. Always."
She blushes redder and presses her lips against mine. I pull her astride my lap and she smiles. I deepen our kiss and she breathlessly pulls back before we get carried away.
"Wait," She mumbles and I pout. "We still have to open few more gifts."
I huff. "Fine."
"And thank you for the bracelet. I love it."
"I'm glad. Now, the second one."
"This one is heavy," Bella says and slides off my lap. She places it between us and smiles. She takes the cover off and pulls it out. She covers her mouth with her hand in shock and her eyes prick with tears. "Oh my god, this is amazing."
I contacted a sewing studio in Seattle so they could prepare a quilt for me. Bella once mentioned that her grandmother used to make quilts for her using old t-shirts and she loves them. I used t-shirts too, but they all had a meaning behind them.
Bella eagerly opens the quilt and stares at the patchwork. She smiles through her tears as she traces the firework patchwork.
"Our first kiss." She murmurs and I kiss the side of her head.
"That's your favorite book," I point to the Wuthering Heights patchwork. "Do you remember we went out for ice-cream after your shitty date and I dropped you home after that?"
"We met for the second time that night," She says quietly and traces the patchwork of ice-cream. "How much time did it take you to find t-shirts that matched the patchwork you wanted?"
"A long time."
"I can see that, it's so perfect,"
The other patchworks include— Hot air balloon (our first date), Dubai (our first foreign outing), Pretty Woman (the first movie we watched together) and many others.
"I'm glad you like it, love."
She smiles and gives me a long hard kiss. "Thank you for such an amazing present."
"Can I open mine now?"
She giggles and nods. "Sure."
I open the smaller of the two of boxes and find a photo frame inside. My lips curl into a smile staring at the photo. It's from Thanksgiving. This was taken when everyone was gathered on the terrace to watch the snow fall. Bella and I are wrapped up to each other as we look into each other's eyes and the snow falls. It's perfect. Alex probably took it.
I pull Bella closer to me and give her a soft kiss. "Thank you, baby. It's perfect."
"Really? You liked it?" She asks shyly and I nod. She sighs with relief and smiles. "You once told me that you wanted a picture of me on your desk in the office and I really like this one. You already have everything, so I got this."
"I love it. You couldn't have given me anything better than this. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, open the next one."
I smile curiously and grab the other box. I unwrap it and frown. It looks familiar. I take the contents out and carefully study them. Oh god, she remembered. I chuckle incredulously and marvel at the equipment in front of me.
I remember talking about this in September, when we had officially started dating. I told Bella that I used to make my own paint years ago and stopped doing that after I joined University. Mom and dad had a separate room for me where I used to paint for hours.
When I moved into my own home, I stopped doing everything I loved. My nana used to help me sometimes. She was the only person who was allowed to see me paint. I was complaining to Bella how I never have time to use pigments and make paint so she gave them to me.
I realize that I was a different person eight years ago and the choices I've made have shaped me into who I am today. In the last six months, Bella has changed me in more ways than she can imagine. I am a different man now. I hope I am good enough for her. I wonder if my parents or others in the family told her how different my personality was back then?
"Edward?" Bella's sweet voice snaps me out of my reverie. I look into her brown eyes and she watches me with a concerned expression. "What's wrong, honey?"
"Nothing."
"You looked very happy when you opened it… what happened?"
I smile and shake my head. "You brought back memories."
"All good I hope."
I put the box away and cradle her lovely face in my hands. I stroke her cheek and she gazes at me from under her lashes. "Thank you for these supplies."
"I want you to make time for yourself and use them," She says and strokes my hair. "I need to see that smile on your face when your eyes light up. That doesn't happen often enough. Maybe this will help."
She continues. "Alex, Esme and even Alice tell me all the time how much you've changed over the last few years. I think they miss your old self. But, I don't know that guy. I know you and I love you for who you are."
I register her words and realize just how lucky I am to have Bella in my life. If she doesn't give three shits about my past, then I don't care what others think.
"I love you so much, Bella. You have no idea." I murmur and press my lips against hers. She smiles and eagerly kisses me back. I throw the strewn wrapping paper off the sofa and roll her onto her back. I hover over and touch my forehead to hers.
"I love you too." She breathes out and her face glows from the crackle of the fireplace near us.
My life really can't get better than this.
BELLA
"… and we had to walk four miles before we saw a car drive by." Jake says and I smile, listening to his story when he went hiking with friends for Thanksgiving.
"At least you came back at the end of the day." I mutter and he chuckles.
"Yep."
"Before I forget, don't forget to take the mini cheesecakes that Esme packed for you. Take them at Ben and Angela's tonight. They'll love them."
Jake grins at me. "It's going to be a lot of fun. We're having A Christmas special karaoke night."
I internally shudder. "Great."
"I know you hate karaoke, Bells," He laughs and shakes his head. "How was last night at their place?"
"It was great. Edward and I didn't stay at your office Christmas party for long. We left for their place and had an amazing time. Everyone was there. Emily, Sam, Ben, Angela, even Seth and Paul! I'm just glad they get along well with Edward."
"Of course they do. And you missed a lot of fun because you left early from the cruise."
I roll my eyes. "Edward and I had decided that we wouldn't stay for more than fifteen minutes."
"Oh. You guys are leaving tomorrow, right?"
"Yep."
"And when do you come back in town?"
"On January 3rd."
"You've always wanted to go to Vienna." He smiles and I lean against him.
"Yes."
"I'm so happy for you, Bells. These people are amazing."
I beam at him and take a look around the room bustling with people. Everybody is sitting in the family room and there is wrapping paper strewn everywhere. The gorgeously lit Christmas tree is shimmering with ornaments and there are still a couple of presents lying under it. We had a Christmas feast for dinner and later Alice and Emmett pounced on the gifts.
Rosalie's parents flew down from New York to surprise her because she was told that they were going to Kentucky to celebrate Christmas. Edward's dear grandfather, Anthony is also here and he is the most lovable person ever. He is kind, funny and young at heart. He absolutely adores Edward. I'm glad I met him tonight.
Alice suddenly squeals and my eyes race towards her and I find her holding the gift that Edward gave her. It's an 8-night trip to Zanzibar and Tanzania for two. She can take whoever she wants. Maybe she can go with Jasper. It's better if I don't speak about Jasper in front of Edward, he gets very angry.
Carlisle and Will are discussing the regular season football game, and Esme is busy speaking with Rosalie and her parents—who are the nicest people I've ever met, Emmett and Alex are playing Monopoly on the balcony and Jane is reading the first few pages of the book I gave her.
My eyes race over to Edward and I find him laughing about something his grandfather is saying. Anthony is sitting on an overstuffed chair and Edward is sitting on its arm. Edward is teaching him how to order things online.
Jake sighs next to me and I turn my head to find him staring at his phone. He gazes at me and smiles.
"That's Sam. I have to get going. Bye, Bells. I'll see you next week." He says and stands up. I rise to my feet and tightly hug him.
"We'll meet once I come back. I haven't gotten to spend time with you over the last month or two." I mumble and he rubs my back.
"I know, it's alright. Things are changing," He pulls back and smiles. "At least you have a family now to spend Christmas with."
I frown. "Hey, you are a part of that family. Don't make yourself feel like an outsider."
"Okay. Have fun in Vienna and get me something cool."
I giggle. "Sure. Do you have any plans for the week?"
"Not really, my roommate has left so it's just me at my place. It's alright, maybe I'll start packing now."
"Oh right, you're moving to your new apartment next week," I murmur and sigh. "Are you sure it's a good place? How's the neighborhood?"
"It's an excellent apartment, Bells."
"I'll take a look at it once I come back. I want to see it."
"Okay."
"Can't you stay for a bit longer?" I ask softly and he shakes his head.
"Sorry, I already told Sam that I'd come over to his place. His parents are there too."
"Hmm."
"Bella, will it be alright if I call you when you're in Vienna?" He asks shyly and my eyes soften.
"Of course, Jake. Any time you want to speak to me, please call."
I hug him again and he tightens his arms around me. "I love you, Bells."
"I love you too." I mumble and he kisses my hair.
"I'll say goodbye to the others before I go."
"Okay."
Jake releases me and I settle on the sofa again. I watch him talk to Esme, Carlisle and Jane. They insist that he stay but he politely declines. Lastly, he speaks to Edward and his grandfather for few minutes before leaving.
I stare at my hands and blink back my tears. I know it's difficult for Jake to celebrate holidays. We usually celebrate Christmas Eve, just the two of us in my apartment and tag along with Sam—Emily or Ben—Angela for Christmas dinner. He always stays at my apartment with me until New Years because he hates to be alone during the holidays.
For the first time tonight, I saw Jake having a good time on Christmas. He was genuinely happy to be around everybody. He never asks about our parents. I don't know what goes on inside his head. But, I've always caught him longingly staring at our friends interacting with their parents. I try not to make him feel lonely this time of the year. Ever since Grandma passed away, it's been worse.
I snap out of my reverie when I feel a warm snaking around my waist. I look up and Edward studies my face. His green eyes look thoughtful and kind. He reaches over and wipes away the tear gathered at the corner of my eye.
"What's wrong, beautiful?" Edward asks gently and I shake my head.
"Nothing."
"Come here," He wraps me in his arms and I take off my pumps. I draw my knees up and curl closer to him. "Jacob will be fine. He's a lot stronger than you think he is. I'm sure he'll call you if something happens."
"Okay." I mumble and hide my face against his chest.
Edward strokes my bracelet and kisses my hair. "Which charm did Jacob give to you?"
I pull back and show him the heart charm. "I really like it," I whisper and smile. "This was a good idea."
"What did the others give you?"
"Carlisle and Esme gave me the book charm, Alice gave me a shoe, the cake charm is from Emmett and maybe Rosalie too, Alex gave a camera and Jane and Will gave a star."
"It looks great."
"This one is my favorite," I point to the key and blush softly. "The key to your heart."
"And you'll always have it," He murmurs and presses his lips against mine. I eagerly kiss him back and wrap my arms around his neck. We pull back when we hear a loud throat clear. I gaze around and my eyes fall on Anthony who cleared his throat.
"Behave, kids." He says sternly and I nervously stare at him. I didn't know he was this strict.
"Oh shut up, Pops. Don't make my Bella anxious," Edward says and tightens his arms around me. "He is kidding, baby."
Anthony glares at Edward but his face breaks into a grin. "I'm sorry, Bella. I just always wanted to do that to Edward."
I sigh and chuckle. Edward grabs his glass of wine and passes mine to me. Anthony continues. "You are the first girlfriend he's introduced me to. I once considered the possibility that he was gay."
Edward chokes on his wine and I gently rub his back. I can hear a couple of others laughing and can't help but giggle. Edward frowns at me and I stop laughing. I kiss his cheek and stroke his hair.
"I'm sorry, baby." I whisper and he sighs.
We turn our attention to Will and Emmett who are fighting over which movie to watch. Apparently, it's a tradition on the Cullen-Platt holidays to watch a movie on Christmas. Will wants to watch It's a Wonderful Life but Emmett wants to watch Die Hard. Ugh, Die Hard.
Chris and Jill make rounds and bid everybody goodbye. They are tired from their flight and are calling it a night. They own an apartment in the city which they use every time they are in town. They walk over to Edward and me and we stand up.
"Merry Christmas again, you two. Have a lovely vacation and Bella; let me know when your book comes out. I can't wait," Jill says and hugs me. I smile and hug her back. I release her and she beams at us. "If you ever come to New York, don't you dare forget to call us."
"We will definitely call." I say and Chris shakes hands with Edward.
"Good luck with the project, Edward. I'm sure it's going to turn out very well," He turns to me and smiles. "Bella sweetheart, I'm sure your book will do gangbusters. Our best wishes are with you always." I blush and smile shyly.
"Thank you very much."
Edward wraps an arm around my waist and makes soothing circles with his thumb. "You guys are very kind. We hope to see you again sometime."
"Of course. Good night, kids." Jill gives a quick hug to Edward and they bid us goodbye.
Edward and I sit again and I lean closer to him. I brush my lips against his ear and his lips curl into a smile.
"Why is Rosalie like this if her parents are such great people?" I ask softly and he chuckles.
"Her friend circle."
"Oh." I kiss his cheek and put my head on his shoulder.
"Have you finished packing, darling? We have an early morning flight."
"I'll be done with it tonight."
"You had better, or I'm going alone." He warns playfully and I giggle.
"Sure, sure."
There is a lot of commotion on the balcony and we look over to find Carlisle and Will standing in the doorway watching Alex and Emmett bicker about something related to the game. Emmett suddenly stands up and flips over the board, letting all contents fall on the ground. Alex glares at Emmett and throws scotch in his face.
Jane stands up and walks over to them. I gasp when Emmett pushes the table away and pounds Alex into the ground. They wrestle on the floor and Edward chuckles by my side. I frown at him and watch Rosalie rush over to them. Anthony seems too engrossed fiddling with his phone to care about the fight.
I stand up to go to the balcony but Edward pulls me in his direction. He buries his face against my hair and sighs soundly.
"Edward, they are fighting. We should stop it…" My sentence trails off when his hand glides across my stomach.
"Shh, calm down. I'll drive them to the hospital if something happens." He whispers and kisses behind my ear.
"Not now, Edward," I push his hands off me. I stand up and he groans.
"Fine, let's go see. And nobody told them to get drunk and play that ridiculous game." He clasps his hand with mine and leads me to the balcony.
Will is grinning from ear to ear watching them fight and I shake my head. Rosalie is hovering over Emmett, asking him to stop fighting with his cousin.
"Does this have to happen every single Christmas?" Esme mutters under her breath and Jane shrugs.
"Emmett, Alex! Stop it right now!" Jane yells but they don't listen to her.
"You piece of shit! You cheat every time! And then you flip the board over!" Alex grunts tries to push Emmett off his body.
"Shut the fuck up, Platt! I'll knock all your teeth out."
"Oh really? I would like to see you try."
Edward sighs angrily and marches over to them. He asks Rosalie to move and she stands next to Jane. Edward rolls up the sleeves of his shirt and grabs Emmett by the back of his collar. He yanks him away and pulls Alex to his feet. They stagger heavily and Edward puts his hands on their chests to stop them from fighting.
"Alright, that's enough! I swear to god, I'll kick your asses if you fight again!" Edward roars and his wild green eyes fall on Will. "Will, stop smirking like a lunatic and take Em away!"
Anthony coughs inside the house and I turn to see him frowning at his phone screen.
"Edward, I think I forgot the zip code again. What should I do…" He looks up and his eyes fall on all of us. "What's going on?"
All pairs of eyes turn to him and he looks at Edward. "Edward, I forgot my zip code."
Everyone sighs collectively and Edward rolls his eyes. "Pops, I'm in the middle of something. Why don't you ask Bella?"
"Sure," He beams in my direction and I walk over to him. "Bella, thank you for helping. What's going on out there? Is somebody fighting?"
"Um, kind of."
"That's fine, they do this every year. As long they don't break any furniture, it's alright."
I giggle and sit on the chair next to his. I glance towards the balcony and find everybody laughing about something which makes me smile. Things go from tense to happy within seconds in this family. Alice skips over to us and sits next to me.
"Hey, Pops. What are you ordering online?"
"A lawn mower."
"Oh," She makes a face and I stifle a smile. She grins and gasps. "Oh! You should order a Kindle to read your books."
"Kindle?"
"Here, let me show you."
Alice takes the phone from my hand and shows her grandfather what a Kindle is. I gaze towards the family and find Emmett picking the things that he flipped over moments ago. Esme and Carlisle chuckle as they watch Jane give an earful to Alex. Edward is speaking to Will and they seem to be laughing about something.
I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by these people and there is never a dull moment with them around. I'm grateful that I met such an amazing family who care about each other so deeply. God, I love them all.
Edward unexpectedly meets my gaze and I blush. He winks at me and a smile twists on my lips. He smiles back and returns to his conversation with Will.
Oh, I love him so much.
December 26, 2015
I frown when I hear a phone buzz. It's very irritating and I don't know where it's coming from. I feel a warm body pressed against mine and soft breathing against my hair. My eyes flutter open and I see Edward's peaceful face. I stroke his hair, his face and plant a soft kiss on her forehead. Our arms and legs are tangled and there is no way I can move even an inch from this position without waking him up.
Oh, the phone! I recall why my slumber was broken in the first place. Whose phone was that? Mine or his? I crane my neck and check the time on the radio alarm. It's four in the morning. Ugh, we fell asleep less than two hours ago. And we have to get up in two hours. Great.
The phone buzzes again and I sigh. I turn to see it's Edward's phone. What if it's an emergency? I try to loosen his arms from around me but he just hugs me tighter.
"Edward?" I whisper and he stirs a little. "Edward baby, your phone's ringing."
"It's okay," He croaks out and buries his face against my neck.
"Honey, what if it's an emergency?" I ask and the phone buzzes again. "You've received a couple of calls. What if somebody is calling from Dubai?"
"They can call Kate then. They have a lot of options. Let me sleep." He mumbles and kisses my neck.
I remain silent and the phone stops buzzing. I close my eyes and few minutes later, it buzzes again. I huff and squirm in Edward's arms until he rolls away from me. I quickly sit up and reach for the phone. I check the screen and it's an unknown number. I answer the call.
"Edward? Edward! Why aren't you answering my calls? You asked me to call you in the morning. What is it that you want to tell me? Is it about us? I miss you so much! I love you. Say something, please!" Tanya begs and weeps gently.
I pale listening to her loud sobs. I know that woman is evil but her cries are painful to hear. I still remember the last time I saw her. She held me at gunpoint in the guest room. Why the hell is she calling my boyfriend? And she said that he asked her to call in the morning. Why is he talking to her? What's going on?
"Edward?" She croaks out and I hang up hastily. I can't fight with that woman if my boyfriend is the one responsible for her phone call.
I cover my body with the duvet and peek in Edward's direction to find him fast asleep. I unlock his phone and take a deep breath. I check his call logs and he has a lot of unanswered calls of Tanya since yesterday afternoon. He has answered a lot of unknown numbers and calls from Kate, Victoria, Dave and others from office, probably to wish a Merry Christmas.
But, if he never answered her calls, how on Earth did he ask her to call today? Maybe she called from an unknown number and he answered. I check his texts and my heart skips a beat when I see Tanya's name on top. I open it.
I need to talk to you
T 14:04
Stop calling me.
E 14:08
I will once you tell me what's going on
T 14:08
What do you think you are trying to prove with those results?
T 14:14
The truth.
E 14:16
When are we meeting next week
T 16:09
I'll let you know.
E 16:13
I can't wait to see you. It's been too long.
T 16:14
Does she know
T 17:04
You should tell her…
T 17:05
… Or I will
T 17:08
Stay the fuck away from my Bella.
E 17:10
I will but you can't seem to stay away from ME. Does your dear dad know about this?
T 17:12
He will soon and the rest of the family
E 17:15
Also your Bella?
T 17:17
She isn't my family. Call me tomorrow morning.
E 17:18
A tear drops from my eye and lands on the screen. I wipe it away and lock the screen. I bury my face in my hands and take a deep breath. What is he hiding from me? Why can't he tell me? She isn't my family. I'm not his family? Is that what he thinks of me? That I'm an outsider? What is it that Tanya wanted to tell me but Edward didn't?
Firstly, he told her to call him. Secondly, there is something important that he doesn't want to share with me. And lastly, it hurts me that I'm not the person he wants to confide with to tell important things.
But, maybe it's something that I should not be bothered with. It still doesn't mean that he can speak to his ex-girlfriend; the one who attempted to kill me!
I shake my head and feel tears streaming down my cheeks. I lean over Edward and put the phone back in its place. My tears drop on his face and he frowns. I hastily wipe away my tears and get under the covers. I turn my back to him and shut my eyes. I feel him shifting behind me.
"Bella?" Edward whispers and I resist the urge to respond. He waits for a couple of seconds and sighs. "That's weird."
He wraps his arm around me and spoons my sleeping figure. He buries his face against my hair and takes a deep breath. "I love you, baby."
Just not enough to tell me what the hell is going on.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Cullen. Have a good time." The First Officer purrs to Edward and he yanks his hand away from her clasp. He dons his coat and scarf and interlaces our hands. Caius, the pilot gives a quick hug to Edward and they laugh about something amongst themselves.
"Ms. Swan." He smiles and nods at me. I smile back shyly and nod.
"I'll see you on New Year's Day then." Caius says and I frown. Weren't we supposed to be here till January 3?
Edward sighs loudly and glares at him. "January 3rd, Caius."
"Right, sorry."
They bid us goodbye and Edward and I go to the waiting car. Edward holds the door open for me and I sit on the opposite end, facing the window. I feel warm and hear the door shut behind me. Felix starts the car and I see another man sitting in the front passenger seat and wonder who it is. I sneak a glance towards my boyfriend to find him typing something on his phone
Is it Tanya? Is he talking to her? Did he call her this morning?
I set my watch to Vienna's time and it's nine in the evening right now. I gaze out of the window towards the beautiful city. I smile as I watch the twinkling lights, Christmas trees, glistening snow and people strolling the streets. It's magical.
My ears perk up when I hear Edward speaking to the burly man in German. I don't understand anything but it's always nice to hear him talk in foreign language.
"Bella?"
I turn to Edward and avoid directly looking into his green eyes. "Yes?"
"Is there something wrong? You've been distant since this morning."
"Everything's fine."
"Okay." His lips curl into a gorgeous smile and I look away.
My heart pounds in my chest when he scoots towards me. He puts an arm around my shoulder and interlaces our hands. He kisses my knuckles and I bite my bottom lip. He tells me about the various places we pass by and I'm in awe looking at this amazing city.
Edward nuzzles my hair and takes a deep breath.
"Bella love, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"If there is something I did to make you mad at me, tell me." He begs softly and my will almost crumbles. I turn to him and his phone buzzes next to him. Tanya.
"Figure it out yourself." I whisper icily and take my hand from his clasp. I cross my arms over my chest and he shifts away from me again.
I close my eyes and gradually drift off to sleep. Minutes later, I hear someone calling me. I open my eyes and find Edward nowhere near me. Felix is standing on the other side, holding the door open. I blush and scramble out of the car. I realize I'm standing on a high-end street with Victorian-style buildings around me.
I gasp looking at the gorgeous hotel in front of me. Hotel Sacher. Wow, it looks spectacular lit up for Christmas. I curiously gaze at the local shops around and smile. I need to visit them later.
Felix clears his throat and I follow him inside the hotel. I am astonished looking at the marvelous interior of the hotel but I stop short at the reception where Edward is speaking to two women who are making eyes at him. A man walks in our direction with a professional smile on his face and leads us to the elevator.
Edward briefly glances at me as we awkwardly stand in the elevator with slow sexy saxophone music playing on the speakers.
The man opens the door to the presidential penthouse suite which is possibly the most gorgeous hotel room ever. The room has the color red expressed in drapery, furnishings and other textiles. It also has a fireplace, a large dining table, a separate study, rare paintings hung on the wall and designer carpets.
I step out onto the rooftop balcony and see a table and two loungers for seating purpose. I lean against the railing and take a cleansing breath. I need to speak to Edward. I don't want to think about her and waste my time.
A couple of minutes later, I go to the bedroom but find my boyfriend nowhere. I return to the living room and I glower at Edward when I find him sitting at a desk with a laptop in front of him. We've been in this city for not more than an hour and he wants to work?!
"There is a coffee maker in the bedroom, or else we can order dinner if you'd like." Edward mutters, not bothering to look at me. I walk over to him and cross my arms over my chest.
"I need you to do something for me right now." I murmur urgently and he finally gazes at me.
"Yes?"
"I need to go back home."
Edward frowns and stands up. "Why?"
"If you're going to work here as well, I might as well go back to Seattle. We're on our first holiday together and if you find work more important, what am I doing here?"
"You are the one to talk, Bella." Edward says and walks past me towards the bedroom. I follow him.
"I would like to know what you mean by that."
He laughs humorlessly and turns in my direction. "If I remember correctly, you were the one pushing me away in the car. And you aren't even giving a fucking explanation for that! What do you expect me to do?"
I take a deep breath. "Well, I would've been a little ecstatic and overjoyed in Vienna if I hadn't answered your ex-girlfriend's call last night on your phone. How do you expect me to pretend that didn't happen! You are always hiding something from me! I wish I was as fucking bright and smart as you are! Why are you even texting and talking to a woman who tried to kill me?!"
Edward grows quiet and stares at me warily. "Bella, can you trust me when I say that I'll tell you everything you need to know?"
"And I don't need to know why she is talking to you? Why do you keep me in the dark?! After all that we have gone through! You don't think of me as your family, I get it… but the least you can do is tell me if something bothers you."
"There is nothing bothering me, Bella! Can you stop with that? Please!"
"You still haven't answered my question."
"Bella, try to understand," He says and I hold in my tears. "That woman means nothing to me."
"That line would've been a lot believable twenty four hours ago." I whisper and he groans in frustration.
"What the hell do you want me to do?!"
"Get out of this room!" I snap and he marches out of the room. He slams the door shut and I plop on the bed. I hold my head in my hands and cry my heart out.
This is not how our trip was supposed to start. I try to stop my tears and rise to my feet. I roughly wipe away my tears and step out onto the balcony again. I breathe in some clean air and calm myself. I move a lounger close to the edge of the long rooftop balcony and curl up on it. I stare at the dark sky and other buildings that I can see from here.
"Hey!" I look around when I hear a male voice. "Over here!" I hear it on my left and turn my head to see someone leaning over the neighboring balcony. I stand up and walk closer to the edge of mine. I see a man, probably my age leaning over with a wide grin on his face. "Great night, huh?"
I don't answer as I blankly stare at him. Why is he so happy? Can't he see that I'm miserable here? God, what does he want?
"You don't seem like a person who talks a lot," I sigh softly and look away. "Hi! I'm Embry! Good to meet you," His eyes widen. "Um, I'm sorry. German? Shit, I think I know a few words," He mutters and scratches his head. "Uh, Guten Abench? Is that right? Or are you Portuguese? Spanish?" I don't answer and he sighs with frustration. A smile threatens to escape my lips but I don't speak. "Am I getting close?"
I chuckle and shake my head. "I'm Bella."
"Ah, I knew you would know English. Bella, what a sweet name. I know a girl named Bella too."
"Oh."
"So, boyfriend trouble huh? You should give him an earful for not giving you enough time."
I frown. "How do you know?"
"I can tell," I blush and play with my fingers. "Where are you from?"
"Seattle."
"Ah, Seattle? Not my city. I'm from Helena." He says and I nod.
"What brings you to the rooftop of the finest hotel in the city?"
"Some girls invited my friends and me to their party or else we would be stumbling drunk to our shitty motel."
"Why don't you go inside and enjoy the party?" I suggest and he sighs.
"And leave the chance to speak with a pretty girl like you? No, thank you. Why do you look so familiar? Have we met before?" I shake my head and he nods thoughtfully. "That must be it. Alright, now that we know so much about each other, I think you owe me a smile."
I frown. "What?"
"A smile. I've told you so much about me, how do I know that you are not a CIA spy working on an undercover project? Maybe you were sent here to give my details to the field office. A smile will reassure me that you aren't dangerous."
I chuckle and shake my head. "CIA spies do smile. You're crazy."
"So I have been told."
"I really think you should go in and enjoy the party. I'm just going to bring you down with my gloomy mood."
"If you say so. And I think you should go talk to your boyfriend," I shrug. "I may have something to cheer your mood, hold on," He holds up an index finger and pats his pockets. He smiles and produces a blue freesia from his pocket. "Here, I only have this."
We both lean over and I take the flower from him.
"Thank you. And I wouldn't say no to candy." I mutter and he laughs.
"What? You eat chocolate? You're so skinny! I thought you must follow a healthy diet and only eat raw vegetables," I can hear the surprise in his voice which makes me laugh. Embry's laughter pauses when he looks over my shoulder. "Uh-oh, I better go. From the looks of it, your boyfriend looks ready to murder me. Good luck. Bye, Bella!" He winks and disappears within seconds.
I mentally prepare myself and turn to find Edward staring right at me; his green eyes look scared and anxious. I frown. What happened? I thought he was angry. I nervously bite my bottom lip and step in his direction. Should I go to the bedroom or speak to him?
His eyes fall on my right hand and the blue freesia I'm holding. He pales and fear visibly rises on his face. He walks back in the suite and my heart skips a beat. Oh dear god, what happened?
I go after Edward and find him nowhere in the living room. I hear some movement in the bedroom so I follow the sound. I find him checking his overcoat and jacket and then opening his suitcase. He opens it and I watch him frantically search for something. He throws the clothes out of the bag in the most haphazard manner that I have ever seen him do. I kneel next to him and rub his back.
"Edward? Edward sweetheart, what's going on? Are you trying to find something?" He pauses for a second and then checks the extra pockets of the bag. "Baby, talk to me. What are you searching for?" He is scaring me and that haunted expression on his face is horrible.
Maybe I should give him time to himself.
I stand up and suddenly feel his hand grabbing my wrist. I turn and find him looking up at me with his eyes glazed over with tears.
"Don't leave me," He says hoarsely and I feel tears pricking my eyes.
"No, baby. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."
"Please, don't go. I won't work until we are back in Seattle, I promise. Don't leave me. Please, I can't lose you. I love you, I really do. Don't go."
I kneel in front of him on the carpet.
"Hey, I've got you. We're here," I place my hands on either side of his handsome face. "I love you too, honey. I love you so much," I wrap my arms around his neck and tightly hug him. He presses his face against the crook of my neck and I cradle him closer. I stroke his soft hair and feel a tear trickling down my neck. Why is he crying?
I clear my throat and speak up. "Edward, what happened?"
"Bella, I know you are angry that I'm talking to Tanya and you have every right to be mad at me. I'm so sorry, darling. It's just that I don't want to involve you in this mess. There is finally no dark cloud looming over you and you are so happy. I like to see you happy. If things get out of hand, I'll let you know."
"Okay."
"And you are my family, Bella. You know you always have been. I don't want Tanya to drag you into this mess. I told Tanya to call me because I had to talk to her about… an issue with the lawsuit. That's all. She is always desperate to be with me and it's pathetic. She always tells me that she loves me and misses me but that doesn't mean I return those feelings. I love you, Bella."
"I know you do," I whisper and blink back my tears. "I just became scared that you were keeping something important from me. I don't like to hear about Tanya at all. She is an unimportant person to me. I know I'm not supposed to feel insecure but sometimes I do."
"You don't have to. I'm yours, always."
"Let's not fight again."
"Never again," He pulls back and I gaze at his beautiful face with a fond smile. He's so handsome. I wipe the trail of tears away and plant a soft kiss on his forehead. I stroke his cheek and watch him study my features carefully.
"I'm always here for you." I say fiercely and he nods, touching his forehead to mine.
"You're the best thing that has happened to me, Bella. I love you."
"I can say the same, Edward." I murmur and he wraps his arms around my waist.
Edward brushes his lips against mine and I draw him closer as I passionately kiss him back. I moan when his tongue tangles with mine and I feel him lifting me up in his arms. I am too engrossed in our kiss to notice what is happening but I can feel myself getting lowered on the warm, soft mattress. Slowly, our heavy pieces of clothing disappear along with our shoes and socks.
"Give me a second." Edward murmurs and wraps the duvet around my naked body before he shuts the long drapes. He shuts the door and takes off his boxers. I appreciate his naked form and notice his erection has grown exceptionally large and is throbbing as he gets back on the bed.
Edward plants gentle kisses on my lips and trails down to my neck, my shoulders and finally claims my nipples. He sucks my right nipple into his mouth and his fingers tug and pinch the other one. I moan softly as his teeth grazes against it before he switches sides. I bury my hands inside his hair and arch my back.
I open my eyes and see his lips leaving my breasts and moving south, towards my stomach. He drags his lips to every part of my skin and plants warm kisses on my body. I whimper when his lips brush against hip bone and move closer to my wet center. I feel his warm hands finally leaving my thighs and pushing my thighs apart. His nose presses against my clit and he lets out a soft sigh.
His lips curl into a smile against my skin. "God baby, you're so wet."
I moan when he circles my dripping sex with two fingers.
"Please, Edward," I beg and squirm as his torturous fingers continue their slow assault.
"Say it, baby. Tell me," I gaze into his sensual green eyes and his lips are curled into a warm smile. I pant breathlessly and blush.
"Kiss me, touch me, do whatever you want, please!" I groan and my body tingles when I feel his fingers slowly entering me. My toes curl as his long fingers patiently thrust in and out of me. God, this is torture. I grab a fistful of the sheets and his lips brush against my inner thighs.
"Like this, angel?" He asks and I shake my head. He chuckles softly. He is enjoying this so much. "Show me how then."
My eyes snap open and I blush redder than ever before. He gives me an easy smile and leans towards the carpet to get something but I can't see it. He pulls his fingers out of me and I pout. He reaches me and kisses my lips soundly.
"Show me." Edward repeats and grabs my right hand in his. He kisses my fingers and his dark eyes bore into mine. I bite my bottom lip and he guides my hand down to my wet sex. I feel the warm liquid against my hand which makes me sigh. I gently rub my clitoris to stimulate it and close my eyes.
I can feel Edward watching me which makes this even hotter. I rub against my G-spot and feel his rough breathing against my neck. I moan and rub faster as I get more aroused.
"Edward, I'm close." I murmur breathlessly and his lips brush against my shoulder.
"Should I do something about it?" He purrs softly and I nod and slow down my fingers.
"Please." I whimper and he pulls my fingers out. He licks them clean and moans appreciatively.
His green eyes meet mine and I sigh breathlessly. "That was the hottest thing in the world but we have other plans too. I found something in one of your boxes at home. So I brought it with me," His gives me an impish grin. "Close your eyes,"
I frown softly but do as he says. I gasp when I feel a hard silicon pressure against my clit. Edward plunges it inside me and I spread my legs wider.
"Feel good, baby?" I nod and feel his soft kisses on my thigh.
"Ah!" I gasp when the vibrator completely fills me.
"Joe, isn't it?" He asks and I nod.
I moan when he licks against my wet sex and continues moving the vibrator in and out of me. I tighten my hold on the sheets and thrash against the bed when he increases the speed. I tighten around it and Edward circles my clit with his fingers. I convulse violently against his mouth, fingers and the vibrator.
Edward pulls the vibrator out and I have no time to recover as he adjusts his erection against my sex. He leans his forehead against mine and I bite my bottom lip when he moves inside me. I let out a slow moan and open my eyes. I find his forest green orbs gazing at me with adoration. I blush and wrap my arms around his neck. I wind my legs around his waist and grind my hips against his. I press his lips against his and feel his hand cradling my face. He brushes the stray hair away from my face as our sweaty bodies rock against each other.
"Bella, you're so beautiful."
He tugs on my bottom lip and a whimper escapes my lips. His lips press soft kisses all over my face. My heart expands in my chest staring at his love-filled expression. My eyes fill with tears and I blink them back. He kisses away the tear that trickles from the corner of my eye and connects his lips with mine.
"I love you," I whisper and caress his face in my hands. He strokes my cheek and nods at me.
"I love you."
Edward and I continue our gentle lovemaking until we fall apart in each other's arms. We are too tired to move afterwards, so Edward just kicks everything off the bed and gathers me in his arms. We cuddle under the warm sheets and duvet and I place my head over his heart.
"Night, baby."
"Good night, Edward."
December 27, 2015
I smile as I watch Edward read the details of the painting with a thoughtful expression on his face. He loves it here. We are at an auction house called Dorotheum that has over 40 sections of exhibits and 40 experts. The interior of the building is white and ivory, giving it a soft, gentle vibe.
I walk closer to Edward and clear my throat, grabbing his attention. He smiles softly and puts an arm around my shoulder and nestles me closer to him.
"Mr. Cullen, why has this painting fascinated you so much?" I ask and he chuckles. He kisses my hair and hands me a small booklet. "Well, this is German, I can't understand it."
"I'll tell you, Ms. Swan," He nods and I grin. "This painting is by Frans Francken, called Man having to choose between virtues and vices," I gaze at the painting that is captivatingly beautiful and lean against Edward as I study the little details as he explains me the in-depth meaning.
The man in the painting sitting in the upper right half is torn between the temptation of lust and riches and honor and power, while a concert of angels show him another possible path. In the middle, the three Theological Virtues; Faith, Hope and Charity are accompanied by Athena and Hercules as the mythological hero who also had to choose between Virtue and Vice.
The lower half of the painting is devoted to the representation of Hell, which no doubt awaits the sinner if he makes the wrong choice. There are fiercely expressive faces of the figures, especially Satan astride a dragon.
"Beautiful." I murmur and feel Edward nodding out of my periphery. He strokes my hair and I imagine this painting somewhere our house; maybe in the great room. It would look so elegant there or maybe in the library or perhaps Edward's study.
"Maybe we should buy it. I like the idea of putting this up in our home." Edward suggests softly and I give him a smile.
"I was thinking the same thing. Could we do that?"
"Yes," He strokes my cheek. "We'll have to absentee bid or I'll ask Victoria to send them an email from the company. It'll take more than fifteen days to deliver it to our place."
"How much will it cost?" I ask and Edward laughs softly.
He turns me in his arms and leads me someplace else. We take the stairway and reach the third floor. I notice there are jewelry exhibits beautifully arranged. I can see women shyly glancing at Edward and I sigh. I don't blame them; he really does look handsome today.
"Baby, do you want to take a look around?" Edward asks softly and I nod.
He interlaces our hands and we skim through the items. I see a lot of gemstones, mostly sapphires and yellow diamonds.
A platinum necklace catches my eye. It's very simple and elegant. There are twelve round diamonds in the middle and the chain is made of emerald cut diamonds. It's not too sparkly or too shabby. Just perfect.
I look away and feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to Edward and offer a smile.
"Yes, honey?"
"I have to attend a call, I'm sorry. Can you give me a minute or two?" He gives me an apologetic smile and I nod.
"That's fine, no worries," I peck his lips and continue strolling around the place. I fiddle with the orchid pendant around my neck and hear my phone buzz. I pull it out of my jeans and check the screen. It's Alice. I answer it.
"Hey, Alice."
"Bella! Hi! How are you? Are you having fun?!" I chuckle.
"Yes, it's been great. It's our first day here and I'm having a lot of fun. We're at an auction house. We visited museums, observation towers and had a slow morning at the Sacher cafe."
"You didn't go shopping yet?" I can hear the shock in her voice, like we had forgotten to do the most important thing in Vienna.
I laugh. "No, not yet. We planned it for the day after tomorrow. We'll get something for everyone."
"Get something pretty for me!"
"Of course, Alice."
"Actually, I have to tell you something.
"Shoot."
"Jasper is a good guy, right?"
"Yes, he is the best. Why?"
"I… I kind of like him."
I smile smugly. "Really? That's great. You guys would be perfect for each other, trust me."
"You think so? We started off on the wrong foot but over the past few weeks, we've been having great conversations. I love his company. I invited him to my New Year's party."
"That's lovely! You should spend some time with him; maybe you might have your first kiss at the countdown."
"That's the plan! Wouldn't that be lovely?"
"I'm sure Jasper is just as crazy about you."
Alice squeals. "Oh, thank you Bella! I was just—"
Her voice suddenly fades away and I realize I'm not holding my phone anymore. I feel my favorite pair of arms wrapping around me and I lean against Edward's chest. I stare at his handsome face and he smiles, planting a soft kiss on my lips.
He puts the phone to his ear and starts talking. "Hi, Alice. I'm sorry but Bella and I are currently busy and I'm sure things aren't serious so now I would love to go back to spending time with my girlfriend. Goodbye," He ends the call and hands me the phone. I chuckle and put it in my purse.
"God, you look beautiful, Bella."
"Thank you." I mumble and he kisses my cheek.
I opted for a simple outfit today. A pair of dark blue denim jeans, a black and ivory striped bodysuit and cream stretch twill blazer.
He turns me in his arms and I caress his cheek with my hand. "Are you finished with your call?"
Edward nods. "Yes, I am. Do you want to look around or shall we leave for the Belvedere?"
"I want to go to the art museum. You mentioned Gustav Klimt, I can't wait," I sigh dreamily and peck his lips. "What have you planned for the next two hours before dinner?"
He smirks. "Oh, baby you're going to love it."
I'm so intrigued.
I put on a pair of diamond stud earrings and take a step back to look at my reflection and I look good. I'm dressed in a black off-the-shoulder crepe gown with a floor sweeping column silhouette. I've matched my outfit with a pair of black lace stilettos. I grab my clutch and smile when I hear Edward's footsteps approaching the bedroom. I turn just as he enters.
"Wow," Edward breathes out and I blush furiously. He closes the distance between us and plants a searing kiss on my lips. "You look radiant, Bella. Absolutely breathtaking."
"Thank you," I say shyly and stroke the lapels of his jacket. "You look just as handsome."
He grins and gives me a chaste kiss. He looks perfect in a black suit and white dress shirt.
I frown when I hear a knock on the main door.
"Wait right here," He whispers and walks out of the room.
I stand in front of the full length mirror and take a final look at my reflection. I fiddle with the cluster bracelet around my wrist and smile. Edward has a good eye for jewelry. Suddenly, I feel a soft kiss against the back of my neck. Goosebumps rise on my skin and my knees almost buckle.
"You look so lovely, darling." I blush and my eyes lock with his in the mirror.
"Aren't we going to be late?" I ask and he kisses my cheek.
"We will leave but after you're ready."
I frown. "I am ready."
Edward chuckles, shaking his head. "Your neck looks empty."
"Nothing I have goes with this dress," I mutter and sigh. "Maybe the pendant you gave me will look nice. Wait, I'll get it," I turn to leave but he shakes his head.
I bite my bottom lip and my mouth falls open when he pulls out a necklace from the pocket of his suit. It's not just any necklace; it's the one I loved at the auction house earlier today. Oh my god, how did he do this? I give him a teary smile as he clasps it around my neck. His blinding smile makes me cry.
I turn in his arms and bury my face against his neck. He rocks me in his arms and soothingly rubs my back.
"Hush, baby. Don't cry," I nod and he holds me for a minute or two. "We're going to be late, Bella. We should leave for dinner."
I pull back and he cradles my face in his hands. His gives me a heart-stopping smile and brushes his thumb against my bottom lip. "Come on, we should get going."
"Where are we going? Tell me."
"It's a surprise."
"Please?" I pout and wrap my arms around his neck. "Please? Tell me," I brush my lips against his and he sighs.
"I can't." He says but there isn't much resistance in his voice. I gaze deeply into his eyes and move flush against him.
"Where are we going?"
"It's a restaurant called Eisvogel where we're having a four-course meal."
I grin and kiss his lips. "Thank you!"
"Yeah, whatever." He mumbles unhappily under his breath, disappointed that I pulled it out of him.
I kiss his lips again and then his right cheek. He points to the left one and I giggle but kiss his other cheek too. He points to his lips and I plant a loud kiss on his lips. He chuckles and touches his forehead to mine.
"You need touch-up." He says and I nod.
"Give me a minute."
"Your carriage awaits, my love." Edward whispers in my ear as we walk past the reception center. I smile and curiously stare at him.
"I wouldn't call a shiny, black Jaguar a carriage," I murmur and step out as he holds the door open for me. "Maybe you should think of a better na…" My words hang in the air when I find a carriage in front of me.
I tighten the coat around me and gaze at Edward with a shocked expression on my face. I snap out of my reverie and stare back at the carriage. A man, dressed in a gray suit holds the little gate open but I can't stop staring at the white horses and the gorgeous carriage.
I feel a hand on the small of my back and I finally get the strength to move my limbs. The man offers his hand and I carefully get inside. I settle on the seat and Edward sits next to me. He says something to the man and our ride towards the restaurant begins.
I turn to Edward and grab his face in my hands. I passionately crash my lips against his and moan when he bites hard on my bottom lip. His hands wind around my waist and I knot my hands in his soft hair. We breathlessly pull back and I touch my forehead to his.
"Thank you. This is unimaginable." I murmur and he strokes my cheek with a warm smile on his face.
"Anything for you, baby."
I rest my head on his shoulder and place my hand on his chest as I listen to him mention the places we pass by. The architecture is splendid. I still can't believe I'm here. Vienna is beautiful. And since it's the holiday season, it's glowing. Twenty minutes later, we ride away from the city's first district alleys and I gaze at Edward—who is speaking to the driver.
"Edward, where are we going?"
He smiles. "It's upon you, angel. Well, you see that?" He asks and points to the ferris wheel. I nod and he kisses my hair. "We can have our first course there or the last one. What do you suggest?"
"First." I answer within a beat and he laughs.
"First it is."
The Vienna Ferris Wheel is the best place to be at night time. The view is breathtaking and the skyline is gorgeous. The city shimmers by the Danube and the reflections of the building sink into the water. I have no doubt Edward would want to paint this.
I rest my hand on the window of the cabin that is artfully decorated and is illuminated with the glow of candles. There is a table in the middle with a bottle of champagne and canapés that look mouthwatering.
"Like it, Ms. Swan?" Edward murmurs against my cheek and I nod. He gently rubs my arms and I sigh. "Baby, aren't you cold?"
"I'm alright."
He plants a soft kiss against the corner of my mouth. "You look so beautiful."
I blush and lean my head against his shoulder. I tilt my head to look at him. "This view is beautiful."
"Isn't it?" He smiles and tightens his arms around my waist. "We'll visit the churches tomorrow. St. Stephan's Cathedral is one of the best in the city."
"Sure."
He turns me in his arms and offers me a loving smile. He rubs his nose along mine and I wrap my arms around his neck. He takes my bottom lip between his teeth and tugs on it. I moan and touch my forehead to his.
"Shall we have the canapés? They look delicious."
"Yes, please."
We step towards the sleek back round table and Edward pulls out a chair for me to sit on. He plants a soft kiss on my forehead and sits across from me. I grab my champagne flute and take an inviting sip. I glance at Edward when his phone buzzes. He offers me an apologetic smile and checks the screen. He gazes at me and then at the phone.
"May I? It's Alex calling," I nod and he grins as he answers it.
"Hey, Alex. Good Afternoon, how did you sleep?" Edward laughs and shakes his head. "It's almost twelve, what did you expect me to say? Hold on," His green eyes meet mine and I smile. "Baby, please eat," I blush and nod my head.
I eat a small mushroom pinwheel and try the steak tostada bites. They are delicious. I focus my attention on the first course meal and attempt to eat every canapé that I haven't tasted before. They are delectable. I don't focus my attention on Edward's conversation but I know he is talking about something ridiculous. I think it's about their last road trip.
"Edward sweetheart, try this one," I say eagerly and lean over to feed him a bite of salmon mousse. He smiles and eats it.
"It's lovely."
"I'm going to try this one at home again." I say to myself and he chuckles.
"Okay."
"Have something." I push the tray in his direction and he nods.
"Give me two minutes."
I rise to my feet and walk over to where he is. I settle myself on his lap and feed him the canapés while he speaks to Alex.
"… That's great. I'm happy for you… Well, there is nobody like my girlfriend so you need to compromise," Edward whispers and I blush. He strokes my hair and I rest my head on his shoulder.
"Alex attempted to make breakfast in bed for his new girlfriend."
"That's sweet," I murmur and take a sip of my champagne. I don't like this champagne. I put the glass down and Edward frowns. "I don't like it."
"It's not bad." He shrugs and drinks from his glass.
"Can I have a lemonade?"
He snorts. "Not now but at the restaurant, you can."
"Good. And what does Alex want?" I ask and Edward sighs.
"Alex, why the hell did you call me?" Alex says something on the other line and Edward smirks. "Really?... Yeah, I know. Jesus Christ, you are impossible… I'll ask Matt to call the housekeepers and the reception… I'm warning you; do not sleep in my bedroom… Okay, bye."
"I'm so sorry about that, Bella." Edward whispers and puts the phone in his jacket.
"What did he ask?"
"Alex wants to take Senna to New York for New Year's. He wants to spend two nights at my penthouse there."
"You have a penthouse in New York?"
"Yes, it's on the 95th floor and his girlfriend loves high ceilings."
My eyes widen. "Wow, that sounds spectacular. At that height, I bet you can see everything."
"You can see all of Manhattan. It's floor to floor with ceilings. The windows are huge and every window has a seat attached so you can enjoy the view and read a book or two. You'll love the kitchen and library. And the bedrooms."
"How many bedrooms are there?"
"Six."
"That sounds great."
"We'll go soon. I would love nothing more than to take you there. I have a lot of plans for what we can do in that penthouse."
I blush and shake my head. "You have a one-track mind, Cullen."
"Sometimes, I do. Anyway, so I'm letting Alex use it."
"I want to meet Senna."
"Me too," Edward murmurs and gives me a chaste kiss. "Shall we resume our wonderful night and forget about Alex?"
I smile and nod. "Yes, please."
December 29, 2015
I can hear Edward talking on the phone to someone as he paces in the room. I bury my face against the pillow and try to go back to sleep. I wonder what time it is. Edward sounds disturbed. What a bad start to the day. I hope things get better as the day progresses. We are planning to check out the Butterfly House and take a walk in the Whimsical Garden. It's going to be wonderful.
My ears perk up when I hear Edward say New Year's.
"… And I know what this is in reference to, Mr. Linc but we won't be able to send anyone to your offices until the coming weekend… Yes, I deeply apologize for the issues and I'm going to have a word with Mr. Platt about it… That would work, Stuart. Let me check on that and get back at you… I would appreciate it if the Directors from Creek Construction are not present… Yes, thank you very much… Goodbye."
I feel the bed dip and I open my eyes. I find Edward sitting on the edge of the bed staring at me with a thoughtful look. He strokes my cheek and I blush shyly.
"Good morning, beautiful." Edward whispers and kisses the top of my head. I smile and his lips curve into a charming smile.
"Good morning, handsome. What's wrong?" I ask and stroke his hair. He closes his eyes and sighs softly.
"Work."
Edward slips under the covers and snuggles against my neck. I wrap my arms around him and rub his back.
"Did Alex do something wrong?"
"He messed up big time. I'll have to go to London on January 01 to meet Mr. Linc and his team. I'm so sorry that our trip will be cut short. I was planning to take you to London for the weekend so we could spend time there. You could come with me but I'll be very busy for those three days."
I kiss his forehead and his green eyes quietly stare at me. "Edward, it's okay. It sounds like you have a crisis at work. I can be reasonable. I'll go back home. I have a lot of tasks to complete."
"Thank you for understanding, Bella," He whispers and kisses my hand.
"Anything for you, Edward."
"Thank you, Felix." Edward mutters as Felix puts the bags on the nearest couch. He leaves and shuts the door with a soft click.
I hurl my purse on the coffee table and close my eyes. I hear Edward walking in my direction and I open my eyes. He strokes my cheek and I tightly hug him. He sighs and rocks me in his arms. I bury my face against his chest and close my eyes.
"Hush, it's okay." He whispers soothingly and I shake my head.
"How did they find us? I don't want them following us with their stupid cameras for the next two days."
"They won't, my love. I'll make sure of it. Don't get worked up about this."
"Okay," I pull back and he kisses my lips.
"How about we have a quiet night? We'll watch a movie and order room service. It was a long day. I'm a little tired myself." He admits and I nod.
"It was a fun day," I smile and he chuckles, gazing at the shopping bags.
"I didn't know you liked shopping for others."
"As long as it's not for me, I'm happy."
"You look so fucking sexy in boots," He whispers and I blush.
Edward has a thing for boots. He loves it when I wear boots. My black boots can be used for any outfit. They look great. I'm dressed in red trousers and a white cashmere sweater and they look perfect with it.
"Why, thank you."
I peck his lips and sit on the couch. I power up my laptop and let out a yawn. It really was a tiring day, although an eventful one. I enjoyed myself.
Sleep flies out of my eyes when I check my emails. Frieda has sent me the final three selections for the book cover. I open the attachments and bounce my knee anxiously. I hope they are good.
"Hey, why are you so nervous?" Edward asks and I glance at him.
"Frieda sent the shortlisted covers for my cookbook. Come here!"
"Oh, fantastic. I was waiting for this."
Edward sits next to me and pulls me onto his lap. He has a soft smile on his face as he skims through the photos. We did the photoshoot in an industrial, modern and eclectic kitchen. There were vintage stools, exposed brick, stainless steel shelves and copper pendants. I wanted a vintage touch to the cover and that kitchen was a perfect place for it.
The three photos have me in different candid poses holding a cup of steaming soup. I like the one of me from the partial sideway pose, sitting on the stool and staring far off with a smile on my face. My smile looks genuine and I kind of like it. I was dressed in a sky blue one-shoulder cashmere sweater which blends with the background.
"What do you think?" I ask softly and Edward sighs.
"I think you are the most beautiful person in the world."
I roll my eyes. "What do you think about these photos?"
"They are perfect. I like the second one the most." He whispers and I grin. It's the one I like too.
"Me too."
"You look amazing in all of them. I can't believe you are getting your book published. I'm so proud of you, baby."
I blush and turn to straddle his lap. "Thank you, for helping me through this. Nothing would've been possible without you."
"I'm always here for you, Bella." He smiles and strokes my cheek.
"I know," I peck his lips turn back to the laptop. I slide off his lap and start typing a reply to Frieda.
"Oh Bella, don't start working now."
I chuckle. "This won't take more than two minutes."
"Bella!" He takes the laptop and puts it on the coffee table. I turn to him and gasp when he pushes me onto my back. He hovers over me and places his lips inches from mine.
"No work rule, remember?" He whispers huskily and my breathing falters. I gulp and nod. "You violated the rule, Ms. Swan. What should be done about that?"
"Are you going to punish me?" I ask and his eyes darken.
"Oh, I'm going to punish the fuck out of you." His words send shivers down my spine and I wrap my legs around his waist.
"Then I'm all yours."
"Good girl."
The night is going to be more fun than I thought it would be.
December 31, 2015
I look at our clasped hands when Edward squeezes mine softly. I gaze at him and he offers me a loving smile. I blush and smile back shyly. We turn our attention back to the operetta on stage. I never thought I would be able to see Die Fledermaus live; especially not sitting in the best seats of the opera house.
It's a wonderful experience to sit here with Edward and watch this. It's been almost three hours and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I'm a little disappointed that the operetta will end in thirty minutes. I wish we could stay longer.
The costumes, lightning, sound effects and the music are mesmerizing. It's like we've been transferred to a completely different universe.
Everyone starts clapping as the curtains close and reopen a few seconds later as the cast steps forward. I gasp when sprinklers, balloons, ribbons fall from the roof and the acting crew takes a final bow. There is an earth-shattering applause and people whoop as the members are introduced one by one.
"Where should we go now?" Edward asks as we descend the stairs of the state opera.
"Where do you want to go?" I ask and he chuckles.
"I don't know, darling." He pulls my hand through his arm and grasps it tightly.
"You look very handsome, Edward." I whisper and kiss his cheek.
"And you, my love, look absolutely ravishing tonight. Shall we just go back to our suite?" He asks and I laugh.
"Well, sex can wait until later tonight. I want to celebrate our first New Year's with fireworks and a proper countdown."
"We will celebrate and there is no better way to celebrate than sex." He says cheekily and I lean against him.
"That does sound tempting, Cullen."
"But you are stubborn." He murmurs and kisses my lips soundly.
"The city is full of life tonight."
"I think you'll love to see the city coming alive on the streets. It's beautiful." He says as we reach our car. I tug on his hand and he turns in my direction.
"Can't we walk?" I ask hopefully and he grins at me, nodding his head.
I gaze at the Ferris Wheel where we had our first course a couple of days ago. It's shimmering and glowing with lights. I can see people in their wagons, waiting for the hour to pass so they can start their New Year gazing at the fireworks and city from up there.
Edward interlaces our hands and leads me from the throngs of people to a small musical event around the block. People are moving to the beat and enjoying the jolly music. Edward stands behind me and wraps me in his arms as we watch the performance. I am in awe looking at the perfect synchronization of the dancers as they perform various western dances.
"They are such great dancers." I murmur to Edward and he nods.
"It's a treat to watch." He says and kisses my cheek. His lips trail to my ear and move towards my neck. I let out a soft moan which goes unheard by the throngs of people around us.
I turn in Edward's arms and crash my lips against his. I wind my arms around his neck and deepen our kiss. His lips curl into a smile and we continue kissing. His hands pull me flush against him and I whimper when he bites hard on my bottom lip.
"I need to see the city center." I mumble against his lips and he laughs.
"As you wish, Bella."
We weave through the crowd and it takes us a lot of time to reach the city center which is crammed with people. Edward grabs two glasses of punch from a man who walks past us with a tray. I giggle and take the glass from him. I sip on the drink and tap my feet along the upbeat music played by the DJ.
Edward leads me towards an open-air ballroom where couples are performing the waltz. He sways me in his arms as we watch them dance. We laugh when a drunken couple stumbles into us, almost knocking us over. God, people go crazy tonight.
Edward immediately grabs my hand and we leave the city center. We walk along the riverside on a slightly less crowded street and I see cruise ships lined up with people dancing and celebrating, waiting for this year to end.
I shiver from the cold and Edward takes off his jacket and wraps it around me. I smile and kiss his cheek. He rolls up the sleeves of his white shirt and puts an arm around my waist. I check my phone and check the time. It's 11:40. It's getting close. I can't believe I'm going to start the next year with Edward.
When we return to the City Hall for the countdown, I am gobsmacked looking at the endless crowd of people. Some have their phones out to record the event; people are drunk and stumbling into each other while others are struggling to find a place just like us. The City Hall is decorated to the nines and it's mesmerizing.
I gaze at Edward and an idea strikes me.
"What?" He asks softly and I smile.
"I think I like your plan."
"If you would've only been a better listener," Edward murmurs and walks on the rooftop of our suite. I smile and push one of the chairs towards the view of the City Hall and Opera House. Everything is steps away from our hotel. We can see the entire city from here.
I turn and find Edward walking in my direction with a blanket in his hand. He has changed into his pajamas just like I have. This is much better than getting clobbered by drunken people on the street.
Edward settles on the chair and pulls me onto his lap. He wraps the blanket around us and I cuddle closer to him. I feel warmth radiating around us which makes me sigh. I close my eyes and lean my forehead against the side of his head. Few minutes later, I open my eyes and snuggle against his neck as we gaze at the city.
"Bella?" I pull back to look at my boyfriend. "I have something for you."
I smile curiously. "Show me." I murmur and he puts his hand inside the blanket and pulls outs a black velvet box. I bite my bottom lip and quietly gaze at it. I wait for him to say something.
"I got this for you last week and I imagined you wearing it when I first saw it," He pauses and opens the box. I gasp looking at the gorgeous ring. It's a cluster ring with sapphires, aquamarines and diamonds. It's simple and perfect. I love it.
"Wear this as a promise ring until," His green eyes bore into mine. "Until I propose with an engagement ring."
I touch the ring and tears prick my eyes. I nod slowly and he grabs my right hand. He slides the ring on my third finger and wipes the tears around my eyes. I quietly gaze at the ring and smile. This ring makes me realize that he really wants us to spend the rest of our lives together.
"Thank you," I croak out and clear my throat. "You have no idea how much this ring means to me, Edward. Thank you. I love it."
I wrap my arms around him and kiss him.
"I'm so happy that you like it."
"Like it? I love it!" I study the ring and smile at him. "I love the ring and I love you."
"I love you too, baby."
He tightly hugs me and plants a soft kiss on the ring. I grin staring at his relieved and comforting smile.
The music gradually decreases and I frown. The shimmering lights blind me for a second and I find a lot of people on rooftops gazing at the City Hall. And then I hear it. 10… 9… 8… 7, the countdown begins and Edward and I share a smile.
"Alice is probably making party arrangements right now. They are nine hours behind us." Edward comments and I laugh.
"We're ending our year before them."
"Yes."
3… 2… 1
Edward smiles and connects our lips for a sweet, long and breathless kiss as we hear the fireworks and cheers in the city. The music resumes and our lips move in perfect sync before we breathlessly break apart. I beam at him and touch my forehead to his.
"Happy New Year, Bella."
"Happy New Year." I murmur and we turn to delight ourselves with the marvelous firework display.
This is possibly the best way I could start my year.
SPECIAL THANKS TO EdwardsFirstKiss FOR EDITING THIS CHAPTER!
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