^^TotS^^
BPOV
"Bella."
No.
"Bella, wake up."
No habla Ingles.
"Come on, Bella. Don't make me start tickling you."
My eyes flutter open but I'm greeted by complete darkness, with the exception of a muted far-off light, only visible because my bedroom door is wide open.
"Hmmph," I mutter and slowly sit up as the fogginess clears from my head. "What time is it?"
"It's 1:30 in the morning."
I chuff and flop back on the bed. "One damn hour, you weren't kidding." I close my eyes again and mumble, "Freaking regimented Marine."
I hear Edward laughing but I don't think he's funny. I'm flippin' exhausted right now. A one-hour nap was a hideous tease.
He rubs my legs, which are still buried under the covers. "Gotta get up, Clementine. Part two of our date is kicking off in fifteen minutes."
I rub my eyes and grumble some more. "Have you slept at all?" I ask, sounding completely annoyed and throwing the blankets back while climbing over Edward's outstretched legs.
"About a half hour. I packed most of what we need, a few snacks, drinks, oh, and I grabbed your camera from the coffee table," he says matter-of-factly as I put on a pair of yoga pants and a long-sleeve tee. "The only thing I need now is you."
I finish pulling my hair up in a high pony tail and poke my head out of my bathroom, smiling widely at the words he just chose. "Well, why didn't you say so?" I decide to push my luck and walk quickly to the bed and throw myself on top of him, causing him to fall back on my pillows with resounding laughter.
"Feisty," he whispers, still chuckling while gently rubbing me from the middle of my back, over my ass, down to my thighs and back up again.
I nod in the dark and attack his lips with mine. He doesn't seem to mind at all, because he initiates the tongue action and we go at it for a hot ten whole seconds. On the eleventh second— but who's counting— he rolls us over, pulls away from my mouth, somewhat reluctantly, and begins a slow and sexy kissing trail. He starts at my jaw and hits my throat, collar bone, between my breasts, my abs and ends just below my belly button, and then he stops. Just a few inches south, pleeeease?
"Let's go, hot-to-trot, or else you're going to ruin my plans for this date!" He easily lifts himself off my body, basically doing a push-up over me and stands, readjusting his proud erection in the process.
"Ugh, you suck," I groan, rubbing my face brusquely, now tired AND turned on.
I hear his throaty hum as he steps back from the bed. "Yes, I do. And I'll lick and nip and kiss and rub and all sorts of other erotic verbs you can think of, but you won't ever know if you don't start moving that fine ass of yours!" He laughs and walks to the bedroom door, flicking on the light switch as he goes. "Grab a change of clothes, wear your sneakers, and please be in the kitchen in five minutes, Clementine."
How the hell does he do that? Get me all hot and bothered and then turn it off like a damn faucet? I suppose months at a time in a hot desert surrounded by only Marines with automatic weapons will teach you a certain amount of restraint. But, ugh! What's a horny girl gotta do to get some serious action around here?
Whatever's about to happen on part two of this date better be freaking epic!
^^TotS^^
"Okay, here I am. Do with me what you will." I plop down on a bar stool in the kitchen and wait for my instructions.
"Cool, let's get going; we've got quite a drive ahead of us," Edward says, extending his hand out for mine. He pulls me into his body and leans down, kissing me softly. "Thank you for indulging me tonight. I've had fun planning this for us. I hope you enjoy it, too."
I smile, wrapping my arms around his waist. "I'm sure I will. Can I really sleep in the car, though? Will it hurt your feelings if I'm not fully coherent for this portion of our date?"
He shakes his head, that crooked grin of his shooting straight to my heart. "My feelings won't be hurt. You'll need your energy for the destination, not the journey." He winks. "I'll take care of the drive."
The walkways and atrium of the hotel are virtually silent, with the only exception of the wildlife living in the open terrarium that runs down the middle of the resort.
The scenery is lovely. We were so busy all day with traveling and unpacking, then getting ready for our big night; we didn't get a chance to explore the property. Hopefully we'll have time for that tomorrow. With barely getting any sleep tonight, I imagine we'll have a relatively low-key day once we come back after this mystery adventure.
As we approach the main road outside the gates of the resort, rather than taking a left turn, Edward turns right, driving us away from the city. I narrow my eyes and look over at him.
"Driving south, huh? I'm intrigued!"
He chuckles. "I'm glad you're intrigued, but I'd rather you get some more sleep. Trust me. I'll wake you up when we get there."
I sigh and recline my seat, snuggling into the pillow and blanket Edward told me to bring along. "Alrighty, sir. Thanks for the extra snooze."
^^TotS^^
When the motion of the car ceases, I slowly come out of my sleepy state. I hear the door creak and force my eyes open, realizing I'm alone. Sitting up, I look around, trying to get my bearings. The dashboard clock says it's 3:45 a.m.; unsurprisingly, pitch black darkness still surrounds our car. I see no sign of life outside, but there is a small building off to the left with a glaring spotlight above its door.
A few seconds later, Edward emerges from the shanty with a piece of paper in his hand. He jogs over to the car and climbs back inside.
"Hi."
"Hey there, sleepy head," he says, handing me the paper, which turns out to be a pamphlet. I open it up, reading the bold print. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
I feel my smile grow now that I've put all the remaining puzzle pieces together. I remember reading online that it's best to visit the active volcanoes during the night hours in order to appreciate the luminescent orange glow of the lava.
"You're not just a pretty face, you know that?" I tease, smacking his thigh.
"Can you forgive me for waking you in the middle of the night?" he asks, his head tipped back on the headrest, eyes locked on mine.
"If you can forgive me for being so whiny and overly assertive."
He cocks his head in confusion. "I chalk the whining up to the lack of sleep. I know you love your sleep, but why would you ever need forgiveness for being assertive?"
I shrug, feeling unsure of myself for the first time in a long time. "I was trying to pressure you into, you know, joining me in my bedroom when we got home from dinner and dancing, but you knew what your plans were." I sigh. "I didn't mean to usurp your ideas about a perfect first date."
His half grin sneaks onto his face. "You'll never know how hard it was to walk away from you last night," he chuckles, looking at his watch, "well, a few hours ago. But yeah— trust me when I say this; I won't be walking away from you ever again."
I feel my breath catch. Obviously, the sexual vibes he's hinting at aren't lost on me. Beyond that though, I can't help but wonder— hope, even— did he honestly mean to say that he won't walk away from me…ever?
A few silent moments pass and I find myself smiling and rolling my lower lip between my teeth.
"Ready for some early morning adventures, Clementine?"
"Let's do it!"
^^TotS^^
We follow the map that leads us down Chain of Craters Road. On our way, we pass numerous signs indicating EXTREME DANGER AHEAD but yet, we keep going. What we're doing isn't illegal; the park is open twenty-four hours a day, every single day of the year for this exact reason. I suppose though, for insurance purposes, they're required to have a dozen bright orange markers along the way. I guess you never know when a clueless person, who happens to take a wrong turn looking for the nearest McDonald's, won't show up and drive straight into an active lava flow.
Edward literally drives us to the end of the road, thus necessitating my best soulful rendition of Boyz II Men's hit song regarding that same problem. Edward joins me when I sing the chorus, making me giggle through our lyrics. I love that he's finding it easier to release his inner child and just have fun. Of course, there's always a time and place for organization, planning and seriousness, but I see him relaxing more easily and it makes me giddy.
We're completely alone out here, not another car or tourist as far as I can see, and I don't mind in the least. Alone time with my gorgeous date and Mount Kilauea, pretty cool if you ask me.
Edward shuts off the engine and turns to face me. "Are you up for a little nighttime hike?" he asks, hopefully. "You've got your camera; I've got two liters of water and a pair of flashlights." He's so excited that he's practically bouncing in his seat.
"Well, I know I did well enough on our hike up Olomana, but I should probably tell you that I'm not the most coordinated person on the planet," I confess, making a face.
"No big deal," he says, reaching for his pack in the backseat. "We'll go as far as you feel comfortable. Hell, we could even stay here at the edge and just use our cameras to zoom in on the lava if we really wanted to. The ranger on duty said it's over six miles of treacherous terrain to get to the flow."
My eyes widen at the reality of the situation. "No! I definitely want to try to hike a bit. I highly doubt we'll make it to the lava's edge, but just the fact that we're here makes this an amazing experience…and hello? You made it the second half of our date," I croon, "You sure do know how to melt my heart."
Edward snorts, rolling his eyes at my hideous pun. "Hardee har har. How long have you been waiting to use that line?"
"Since about twenty seconds after you handed me the pamphlet and map," I laugh.
"Well, I'm about to make our date even better."
I furrow my brows in excited confusion. "Is Ed McMahon about to show up with a six-foot check and three dozen colorful balloons?"
Edward's dimples deepen with his bellowing laughter. "Umm, I sure as hell hope not, considering the man's been dead for like three years!"
We're both cracking ourselves up and trying to catch our breath. "Okay, okay, okay…tell me what you're about to make better," I heave out between giggles.
He swings a key around his finger and then dangles it between us. "I rented us a cabin. We can head over there whenever we get tired."
I squeal and throw my arms around his neck. "YOU are the best first dater…EVER!" He chuckles and puts one arm around my back.
"We have it until noon tomorrow."
I shake my head, smiling, blown away by his forethought.
"So what do you say? Let's hike for a little while and get the pictures we want in the dark, then go back to the cabin and rest. If we're really up for it, we could try to hike the whole thing in the daylight, which is definitely the safer option." He opens his door and I do the same, stepping out. "Plus, there are other craters, steam plumes, lookouts, museums…plenty to do between later today and tomorrow."
We lock up the car and approach the craggy formations left behind from past lava flows. I wonder briefly when the eruption occurred that covered the remainder of this particular road. Edward directs his light toward the ground and steps up onto the rocks, wobbling just a bit but then continuing.
"Bad?" I ask, ready to step up and follow him.
"Well, it's not easy. Even through my sneakers I can feel how sharp the formations are…it's pretty crazy! I'm wishing I had my uniform boots."
I follow behind him, slowly but surely. Our steps are tentative and infrequent. Every few minutes he pauses and shines his flashlight around our walking area. At one point when he's stopped, I bend down carefully and gingerly touch the surface of the unstable ground. It gives me the sensation that I'm feeling my way through a bucket of scissors. The jagged edges seem infinite and unforgiving.
We've been walking for about twenty minutes, snapping pictures from time to time, but have probably only walked about a quarter of a mile.
In the distance, we see the vivid glow of lava that illuminates the clouds. It's thrilling and this journey could be considered a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but hiking in the complete darkness might be the stupidest decision we've ever made.
"Bella, I—"
"Know wha—"
Both of us start speaking at the same time and then laugh for a few seconds.
"What were you about to say?" he asks, turning around cautiously.
I shine my light on my face. "I was just about to say that I'm worried one of us is going to trip, slip, fall, whatever and get really badly injured. And I'm having the best damn time with you; I don't want us to end up back in the hospital."
"Thank goodness," he mutters and moves his light to his face. "With every step we took, I was getting this sick pit in my stomach worrying that something would happen to you."
I stand still as he comes right up next to me. "Awww, Cap'n! You were worried about me?"
"Was and am…until we get back on solid ground. Please be careful."
"Oorah, sir!" I say, giving my best salute.
I hear him snickering. "Listen to you, 'Oorah, sir.' You're so fucking cute. I wanna put you in my pocket, Clementine."
We make it back safely to the car, agreeing that though the lava is spectacular by night, we'll be much better off trekking across the sharp terrain in the light of day.
Edward drives us back a few miles toward the ranger station and we pass a hotel called Volcano House.
"I hope you don't mind that I didn't get us a room in the hotel, I thought it would be more fun for us to do it Marine Corps style, well, without the tents, I mean."
We pass the sign for Namakanipaio Campground as I look over at him, my eyes wide. "No way! I'm glad we're roughing it! I haven't been camping in years. I can't wait to see what the cabin looks like," I squeal to his delight.
"Well, wait no more. Here we are, cabin number seven," he says with a wink.
"Woohoo! Lucky number seven, baby. Bring it on!"
We hop out of the car, passing a fire pit and grill. I don't even know if it can qualify as a cabin, it's so tiny. My heart is racing and I can't believe he's done all this for me…for us.
The cabin is the shape of an upright pentagon, the angled roof coming almost all the way to the ground. There's a picnic bench covered by the roof at the entryway, too. Edward unlocks the door and pushes it open, inviting me to step inside.
It's perfectly rustic with a double bed against the wall to our right made up with the hotel's linens. There are also two wooden bunk beds attached to the back wall. Five small windows of varying size are located above the top bunk, which we'll have to open to allow some air to circulate, but it smells clean, fresh and brand new to me.
Edward is quiet while I've been taking in our meager surroundings. I turn around to see that he's clenching his jaw and swallowing tightly.
"Hey," I say, walking over to him, yanking on his belt loops. "Why the scowl?"
He jerks his head with a shrug. "Nothing compared to the places you've found for us to stay. Probably should've just stuck with the Volcano Hotel a few miles back."
I draw my head back, "Stop it. Stop it right now," my head shaking, teacher voice front and center. "Here…feel this." I yank his right hand out of his pocket and place it on my chest, over my heart. "Do you feel that?"
He nods, stoically.
"That's what you do to me. That's what this teeny little cabin in the middle of nowhere, Hawaii is doing to me. What you've done tonight," I exhale, looking down, "from the flowers to the dinner and then the dancing," I trail off with a laugh, remembering how incredible it was to watch Edward just let go of himself on that dance floor with me. "Then you drive us out here, you're completely sleep-deprived, we hike across volcanic rock in the dead of night, just the two of us, and then you surprise me with the news that you rented us a cabin, so that we can get the full experience down here and not have to cram it all into a two-hour visit."
I sigh and swallow tightly, not caring that I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes. "Nobody has ever made a first date so special…or any date for that matter. I clicked on a few websites and found us two condos, big damn deal." I shrug.
I step to the door and point outside toward the car. "Come with me, please."
I walk over to where we've parked and stand there as Edward approaches, his hands stuffed back in his jeans.
"If I opened this trunk, what would I find?"
"Our overnight bags and a cooler filled with food and drinks," he responds.
"Exactly! Open it for me, would you?" He pops the trunk and pulls out an enormous Coleman cooler and lumbers back toward the cabin. I grab our bags and follow him inside, shutting the door behind me.
He sets it on the floor but walks back out to the car once more, returning with another large black duffel bag and placing it on the shelf next to the bunk beds. He looks at me expectantly, knowing I'm not done with my speech.
"You told me back at the condo that you 'grabbed some snacks' for our adventure," I say, using air quotes. "May I?" I ask, kneeling down in front of the cooler.
"Sure," he says quietly and sits on the edge of the bed.
I open the top to find multiple packs of blue ice covering a package of ground beef, carrots, potatoes, hot dogs and buns, eggs, sausage, orange juice, frappuccinos, salt, pepper, mustard, butter, onion and garlic powder, bottled water, graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows and a bottle of wine. He even included our cold pizza.
I look up at him and whisper his name on a sigh. The care he took, the planning, the expense…I can't even wrap my head around how he did all of this without my knowledge. We only arrived on the island eighteen hours ago! And I absolutely know that more than half of these items were NOT in our food cart at Walmart yesterday.
I close the cooler, walk over to where he's sitting and stand between his legs. He looks up at me with his lips twisted, shrugging. "I plead Supply Officer again, always the planner."
I place my hands on his cheeks as he wraps his strong hands behind my thighs. He's holding my gaze while I gently scrape my fingers over his scalp.
I lick my lips, which are suddenly bone dry. "This cabin, this night…all of it," I sigh again, closing my eyes, but then focus back on him. "It's perfection, Edward. I want to make sure you know that. Please don't doubt what you've done here. I love it. I love everything about it. But most of all, I love it because you took a leap and made a decision for us. And yes, even though it took an incredible amount of planning for the little things you've done here, you made a spontaneous decision for both of us, and THAT is what excites me."
He allows a hint of a smile to grace his beautiful face. "You deserve it, all this and a hell of a lot more. I feel like I'm undergoing an extreme makeover, and I owe it all to you." He sighs and looks away for a second. "I'm having the best time with you, Bella. I like the person I'm becoming. It's like I'm seeing the world for the first time with a whole new vision, a new outlook."
I lean down and gently brush my lips against his. His smile is one of relief, maybe because he's admitted some things that he's been holding close to his chest. Or maybe he's just happy in the moment; either way, I'll take it without question.
"So, what are our sleeping arrangements here in this cozy cabin?" We simultaneously look over at the bunk beds."Wanna be on top, Cap'n?"
He barks out a laugh and looks back up at me. "More than you know," he says, squeezing my thighs. "But the sun's about to rise, so I say we catch up on some much-needed sleep."
"Oh, thank God." I exhale in relief. "I'm worried if we tried anything, I'd fall asleep in the act!"
He looks at me, eyebrows raised.
"Okay, maybe that wouldn't happen…but yeah, let's get some rest. We both need it."
I step back and shimmy out of my bra while I try not to salivate over Edward's fast removal of his jacket and t-shirt. I crawl up to the head of the bed and pull back the covers, settling myself beneath them with a happy hum. Moments later, Edward switches off the overhead light and the bed dips behind me. I feel him inch closer and my heart beats wildly as he wraps his hands under and around me, pulling me into him. We're in a full-on spoon and he settles his left hand on my hip, kissing the back of my head.
"Thank you, Cap'n," I whisper into the darkness. "This night, this day…whatever's to come…it's meant more to me than you'll ever know."
I feel his body relax against mine. "You read my mind, Clementine."
^^TotS^^
I've been in and out of sleep for a couple of hours. I'm not sure how long Edward and I remained spooned together, but we must have drifted at some point, because I'm on my stomach right now with my face stuffed into the squishy pillow. I decide to crack an eye open to see how he's lying. There's an empty space next to me, but it still feels warm. I assume he just got up, but he's not in our cabin.
I sit up and run my fingers through my rat's nest, hoping to God I don't look as bad as I fear I do. I bury my face in my hands and groan while pointing and flexing my toes. Just then the cabin door swings open, and Edward walks in wearing only gray sweatpants and his dog tags. The smile he gives me could light up a room, but at the very least it sends my heart into a tizzy again.
"Morning," he says brightly, holding up a tube of toothpaste, toothbrush and a bottle of water.
"Hi. Any chance you know what time it is?"
He fishes his watch out of his jeans from last night. "Twenty minutes till ten. Feel any more rested?"
I yawn in a most unladylike manner. "Goodness, 'scuse me. Umm, yeah. Four hours is better than nothing, right?"
He grins and takes a seat on the bench across from the bed. "I hear ya. I've gotten spoiled over the last few weeks since I left Afghanistan. Four hours over there was a gift," he chuckles.
While he's talking, I can't pull my eyes away from his amazing chest. Jeebus, I can't wait to run my tongue all over it.
A hideous thought suddenly crosses my mind. "Aww, crap! I didn't bring my toothbrush," I wail and fall back onto the bed. Nothing like toothpaste on the finger in a pinch. Ugh.
In my periphery, I see Edward move from the bench and rifle through his duffle bag. A few seconds later he's crouched down in front of my face, which is hanging off the side of the bed. "Haven't you started trusting your super-planner of a traveling partner, yet? He hands me a sparkly purple toothbrush, still in the packaging.
I purse my lips and sigh. "Maybe we make a pretty good team, Captain Masen. Between your crazed need to organize things, with a dozen contingency plans to back each one up…and my need to fly by the seat of my pants… I think we could solve all the world's problems, don't you?"
He huffs, his perfectly crooked smile enticing me to do sexy things to that mouth of his. "An awesome team. Like peanut butter and jelly."
"Or peanut butter and fluff?" I tease, rolling out of bed.
"Of course, peanut butter and fluff!" he groans, but in a joking way.
"Just you wait," I yell into the cabin with a mouthful of toothpaste bubbles. "I'm gonna have you eating fluffernutters before this vacation is through"
"Somehow, I don't doubt that." He's leaning against the doorjamb, watching me finish a crude and abbreviated version of my morning routine.
He leaves me to get changed. Afterwards, I join him outside on the picnic bench and see that he's set up a cold, well, room-temperature, pizza breakfast for us.
"Mmmmm," I groan around a mouthful of meaty, mushroomy goodness. I look over at him and he's nodding, enjoying his slice as well. "Breakfast pizza, right? What'd I tell you?"
"It is pretty good, Clementine, I'll give you that. But…my preference is for hot." We fix our eyes on each other.
I stop chewing and swallow with a wry smile. "Hot is good...better than good."
Edward chugs the remainder of his bottle of water and leans into my ear. "Glad we agree on that," he whispers, leaving me breathless.
^^TotS^^
We decide to head over to the Kilauea Visitor's Center to get the up-to-date information about lava flows and the best viewing areas. The rangers remind us that the hike to the flow is an arduous journey. We thank them for the advice, but we still want to give it a try. After all, how many times are you within walking distance of an active volcanic eruption and have the opportunity to stand on the banks of lava tubes?
Jaggar Museum is our second stop and has an astounding view of the billowing plume of volcanic gas. It blows my mind to know that we're standing over molten rock churning in a lava lake beneath the crater floor. They have webcams set up throughout the museum allowing us a live-feed of the current activity from the numerous steaming craters and of course, the active eruption of the Halema'uma'u crater.
After our visit, Edward drives us back to start our hike. Though it's still dangerous and painstaking, I feel one hundred times more confident taking this journey in the daylight. Every once in a while we stop for pictures and drinks of water, but we continue on with our lofty goal.
"I read in the pamphlet that there are two types of Hawaiian lava," I say through choppy breaths as we continue our semi-uphill trek.
"Oh yeah? What'd you learn?"
"Well, even though the lava is similar in chemistry, the appearance of it after it hardens looks one of two ways," I pause to take a breath and a sip of water.
"Ready?" Edward asks with a smile, after realizing I stopped for a second.
"Yup! I'm good. So anyway, if I were a betting girl, I'd say most of this sharp, jagged stuff that looks and feels like a field of knives is called a`a."
"A`a," he repeats. "Sounds like we're speaking chimpanzee."
I laugh out loud at his silliness. "That it does. The other kind of hardened lava is smoother and ropey, called Pahoehoe."
"Well, aren't you the most adorable ranger there ever was?" he teases, extending his hand to mine. I clasp my hand in his and we continue our walk. Thankfully, we've hit a smooth surface, so we don't have to concentrate as much on where or how we're stepping.
"I can only be a true ranger when I have one of those cool wide-brim hats and that sexy blouse and khaki shorts combo," I laugh and we stop again to drink from our bottles of water. "So what do you think?"
He furrows his brows as he's chugging. My eyes are transfixed on his Adam's apple bobbing up and down underneath the shadow of stubble.
"What do I think about what?" he asks, happily back to downing his drink.
"About me in a sexy ranger get-up," I smile devilishly, stepping up to him so that my lips are practically grazing his jaw. "Any naughty ranger fantasies in your arsenal of go-to images for lonely nights?"
He starts coughing — well, choking— and I step back in surprise but quickly smack his back. He bends down, dropping his head and desperately trying to search for oxygen.
"Jesus, Bella," he sputters and starts laughing, still gasping for breath. "You can't say that shit to me, least of all when I'm drinking, and especially when I can't do a damn thing about it!"
I'm half laughing and half shivering between the image of me in a ridiculous ranger costume and him ravaging me up against a tree in or out of said outfit.
"Sorry," I giggle. "Are you okay, though?"
He nods, taking a few deep breaths and pulling me close to his chest. "I'll have you know that, since we reconnected a few weeks ago, only one person has starred in my fantasies on my lonely nights." His voice is raspy, full of want. It makes my throat run dry and I struggle to swallow.
I hum, unable to look away from his deep gaze. "Lucky lady," I manage to squeak out. "I hope you've told her."
He smiles, a man with a secret held close to his heart. "I think she knows."
I breathe in deeply, my heart rate feeling like it just increased by a factor of ten. "We should keep going; we're almost there."
He dips his chin, stepping back and we continue our hike for another twenty minutes.
Once we're close enough to feel the incredible heat and power emanating from the flowing lava, we stop, drop our packs and just absorb the enormity of Mother Nature's awesome display.
Sizzles and crackles can be heard as the flow runs lazily down the side of the mountain. Even though we didn't walk along the lava bank at the shoreline, we can still hear the steamy collision of the lava once it comes in contact with the ocean.
I get teary-eyed once again, not because of Mike this time, but because I'm still so proud of myself and of my leap of faith in taking this trip on my own. Though Edward has been traveling with me the last ten days, I still can't help but pat myself on the back for doing what nobody back home thought I could or should do.
I look over at Edward, who's studying the lava flow in earnest. Concentration is evident on his face as he listens to one of the rangers.
I have no idea what's going to happen with Edward for the next few weeks. I know what I want and I think I know what he wants. And I know I'm feeling things for him that have completely blind-sided me. I certainly never started this journey with the intention of having a vacation fling or more. But it's here and it's at my fingertips…and everything in my heart is telling me to do exactly what I promised myself I would do years ago when I didn't have any more tears to cry.
I'm living in the moment; I'm doing the best I can to smile every day and finding joy in the little and the big things. And if heaven sent Edward my way, I refuse to turn away. Whatever comes of our time together will be fate's design. I'm trusting it without fear. I just want to continue to feel alive…and Edward is helping me do just that.
We take boatloads of pictures of the slow-moving lava. A young couple asks us to take a few shots of them standing on the banks, which I do. They return the favor by snapping several pictures of Edward and I, our arms wrapped around each other, looking every bit the happy couple.
Eventually, we agree to head back to our cabin and get started on dinner. Much like the journey out to the lava flow, we take our time, stepping cautiously and stopping for frequent drinks of water. Almost three hours later, we make it back to our car, exhausted but thrilled beyond measure that we accomplished such a feat.
^^TotS^^
"Okay, so what's for dinner, here?"
"I bought the ingredients for hobo dinners."
I smile at the silly name. "And what's in a hobo dinner, Cap'n?" I ask, sitting next to him on the picnic bench. Spread out on the table is tin foil, ground beef, vegetables, butter and spices.
"So this is what we do. You take a sheet of foil and throw a handful of meat on it. Then you take whatever veggies you want." He grabs the bag of miniature carrots and pours about a cup on top of his ground beef. Next, he grabs one of the potatoes and peels that sucker faster than I've ever witnessed any cook do it. I suppose a life in the military will give you certain skills. "Then, I add some chunks of potato, some seasoning and several pats of butter."
As he's narrating, I do the same to mine.
"Now, we just seal up the packet really tight and literally throw it in the fire pit," he says proudly, as we both stand and walk over to the pit all ready filled with pre-heated charcoal. We toss our hobo dinners down and watch them get wrapped in flames.
"We'll give it about forty-five minutes to an hour and it should be sizzling and ready for us by then."
"Sounds yummy," I say, running my fingers through my hair. I feel really sweaty and sticky and in desperate need of a shower. "Do you mind if I run over to the camp bathroom and use their shower facilities?"
He smiles, shaking his head. "Not at all, I was actually going to do the same thing. By the time we're back and settled, I'm sure it'll be ready to eat."
"Great, showers it is!"
^^TotS^^
Edward and I drag the picnic table out from under the overhang to enjoy our meal under the stars. Being here, camping practically on the side of a volcano, makes me feel like we're at the closest point to heaven. The stars seem bigger and brighter, only just out of reach.
"So what'd you think of the hobos?" Edward asks, while we're hunched over the fire pit, melting our s'mores in between sips of wine.
"Oh my gosh, they were faaaaabulous," I sing out, grandly. "Are they a Marine Corps thing?"
"Oh no, actually it was something my dad and I used to make when we went camping. It's supposed to have onions in it too, but since you and I share a mutual hatred of onions, I figured we'd be better off with the spice rather than the vegetable," he says, snickering while readjusting our almost-melted treats.
I nudge him with my shoulder. "Man of many talents."
"Speaking of talents," he says, stretching back over the fire pit. His shirt rides up just a bit and I can see the waistband of his boxers. I suddenly have to rub my thighs together to quell a growing need. "Wait until you wrap your mouth around this."
I try to contain my smirk. He knows darn well that his double meanings are driving me batty. He hands me a gooey cookie sandwich, the strings of marshmallow trickling down the sides of the graham crackers making my mouth water in anticipation.
I take my first bite at the exact moment that he screams out, "WAIT!"
I pull my mouth back, a feeling of fire blazing all over my tongue and the roof of my mouth. Whimpering in shock, it's all I can do to just drop my jaw open, allowing the cooler evening air to attempt to deaden the pain.
Edward's face is completely contorted in sympathy and frustration. "Are you all right? Why would you bite it immediately? They're scalding right out of the fire!"
I nod, opening and closing my mouth repeatedly, hoping for instant relief. "I think my tongue suffered third degree burns," I pout.
"Here," he says, offering me my water bottle. "This might take some of the sting away."
It helps, but only a little bit. I continue to sip the water and nod with a forced smile.
"I'll be fine. It was a stupid move on my part," I chuckle. "You just made it sound so inviting, I wasn't thinking straight!"
A few minutes later, we settle back on the bench, looking up at the stars while slowly nibbling at our desserts. Edward throws sand on the fire to extinguish the last of the burning embers.
"Mmmm, this was so good," I compliment, licking the remaining chocolate from my fingers. "You're an excellent chef, sir."
He huffs, the wrinkles at his eyes scrunching together in the cutest way. "I do have fantastic culinary skills. Tacos, hobos and s'mores…pretty impressive, right?"
I giggle, clearing the trash from our table while he packs up the leftover ingredients and then hauls the cooler inside the cabin.
"Beautiful night," he offers, quietly.
"It really is." I look over and smile at him reclined back on his elbows. I decide to mirror his pose. "Thank you for everything, Edward. You sure outdid yourself from the moment you showed up with flowers at the door."
"You're welcome, it was my pleasure. I can't believe it was only last night. Talk about a jam-packed twenty-four hours," he laughs.
"We were very tenacious," I agree. "Going after what we wanted…it's a good way to be."
Both now lying flat on our backs, he's staring into my eyes. I think he knows that I mean every word of what I just said; he's not the only one who can throw around the double meanings like a champ.
"Bella," he whispers, inching his face closer to mine. "Please tell me your tongue feels better." I hiss my positive response as he threads his fingers through mine. He doesn't say another word, but softly touches his lips to mine. He cups my face, his thumb rubbing my cheekbone while his other fingers dance on my neck below my ear. His breath is warm and sweet. Our eyes are open, completely fixed on each other.
Pulling gently on my neck until we're both sitting upright on the table, he tenderly pecks at my lips with his, causing chills to erupt all over my body.
Within seconds, we're fully engulfed in a heated kiss. Our tongues rolling around in each other's mouth, heavy breathing and soft cries add to the sounds of wildlife and crickets that sing into the night.
Edward shifts his body and steps down from the table, unwilling to break our lip-lock. I open my eyes for just a moment as he smiles at me, pulling me forward to the edge. His lips meet mine again and again, our kissing becoming feverish. I'm melting in his embrace like the marshmallow and chocolate we just enjoyed. The taste of his mouth has me flying high, all sweetness and power and lust.
My legs are dangling off the end of the table, with Edward's body planted firmly between them. The hardening bulge in his pants grinds against me, and I whimper.
"Oh, God," I sigh, my head lolling back, overcome with desire. "Please, Edward."
He thrusts his pelvis again, eliciting another mewl of pleasure. If we don't take this inside soon, not only will I have my first loud and proud orgasm by a partner in over three years, but we'll also be arrested for public indecency.
Edward must be thinking the same thing because he tucks his strong hands under my ass and picks me up. My legs wrap tightly around his waist causing him to groan.
I pull back from his lips. "You okay?" I ask, breathlessly, searching his eyes.
"I'm fucking high, Bella. Your legs locking around me just gave me a small taste of what's waiting for me." He kicks the door closed and lays me down gently on the bed. As my hands run up and down the taut muscles of his back, he hovers over me, dipping down to kiss me while our hips continue to buck against each other.
It's the sweetest torture.
He attacks my neck, licking and sucking. He knows I'm sensitive along my ribcage and lightly trails his fingers back and forth until he brushes them over my nipple, which is standing fully erect under my satin bra and thin t-shirt.
I hiss in pleasure, and can feel Edward smile in our kiss. "Like that, Clementine?" I respond with an unbecoming grunt as he resumes placing lingering, wet kisses along my collarbone. Thank goodness for V-neck shirts.
"Can we— oh Jesus, uhh— remove a layer of clothing?" I squeak out, my hands in the back pockets of his jeans, squeezing and pinching his perfect ass, encouraging him along in our dry humping. My eyes cross as he rolls his hips into mine again and again.
Edward pushes himself up onto his knees and tugs my arm, helping me into a sitting position. His breathing is heavy while I watch him put his arm over his shoulder and yank his t-shirt up and over his head, tossing it on the bottom bunk bed a few feet away. His upper body makes me salivate with his well-defined shoulders and arms, his chest and abs a masterpiece. I feel like I'm alone at an art gallery and I'm the lucky girl chosen to study the spectacular sculpture before me.
I remember that I should probably undress too, so I pull my shirt over my head and toss it close to Edward's and quickly release the clasp of my front-closure bra. A moan slips from his mouth as he shakes his head, taking me in.
"God, you're sensational," he whispers in reverence causing a smile to play at my lips as I lie back on the pillows. He's still up on his knees and entirely too far away. I reach my hand out and softly slide my fingers above his jeans, through the hair below his belly button, up his chiseled chest until I reach the black rubber-encased dog tags that shimmer, hanging from his neck. I close my hand around the two slabs of cool metal and gently tug him forward so that he falls carefully onto his arms, which are now on either side of my head.
I continue to pull until his lips collide with mine again. The feeling of his tags sliding between my breasts is intoxicating. Oh, how I've waited for this moment. I've daydreamed about the sensation of the weight of his body on mine. His hot skin pressing against my sensitive nipples is more than I can take and I cry out when he thrusts his denim-covered cock between my legs. This has been a long time coming, literally and figuratively. I'm wound so tight, I'm certain to burst at any moment.
Edward hums and slowly licks and kisses his way down to my breasts. He wraps his hot, wet mouth around my nipple while the pads of his fingers brush back and forth across the other one. His tongue swirls and flicks, his hips continuing to rock into mine as I meet him with every motion.
I wrap my legs around Edward's torso, spurring him into faster and harder movements. He's kissed his way over to my other nipple and he's giving it equal attention with his divine mouth. I can feel the burning start low in my belly and I freeze, wanting to absorb every ounce, every moment of passion that he's creating between us. My hands, which have been scratching at his upper back and through what little hair he has on his head, fall limply next to his.
I think Edward must realize I'm on the brink because he stops kissing my chest and suddenly attacks my lips again with his. Darting his tongue in and around my mouth in sync with every thrust of our hips, my head falls back onto the pillow and I arch into him, completely falling apart in silence.
My head is still tilted back, half of my face buried in the pillow enjoying every millisecond of my high. Edward places tender kisses along my jaw and up to my ear, his hot breath continues to create goose bumps on my skin.
"Christ, you're so goddamn sexy, Bella. I could watch you come over and over again and it wouldn't ever be enough."
As I float back down from my cloud, my head turns toward him and I smile blissfully. "Mmmm, when can we do that again?"
His throaty, sexy laugh rocks our bodies. "Pretty fuckin' soon, I hope. 'Cause this guy hasn't had his final say on the matter," he quips, poking me with his rock hard erection while he rolls to the side and settles his warm body next to me.
I turn toward him and fold my hands under my face. We stare at each other wordlessly for a few seconds and then he pulls my right arm away from my body, resting it across his hips. I quirk my eyebrow at his random maneuver.
"You were obstructing my view," he says, unapologetically. "I had to rectify the situation."
I run my hand up his side, his abs clenching as he's tickled. Apparently, my touch is too much of a tease for him because he reaches over and yanks my entire body flush to his with one pull, so that our chests are skin to skin. He pushes his leg in between mine while I hitch mine over his. It's like we can't get close enough.
"Better," he rasps, his forehead pressed to mine. "This is what I want."
I raise my eyebrows. "This is all you want, Cap'n?" I allow my hand to continue to roam and slide between our bodies, palming his thick erection over his jeans; he groans. "Even if I kept doing this?" I squirm down slightly on the bed and start placing soft, wet kisses over his chest. With little nips here and there, sucking, and blowing my hot breath across his abs, I manage to create chills over his skin.
He's rolled backward a bit, which gives me access to his whole body while I'm on top. His fist is clenched at his forehead, he's breathing hard, jaw clenched in concentration.
I can see the teasing is getting to him. I should probably back off with the delayed gratification. The man spent the last eight months unsated in the barren desert. This can't be fair. I'm sure he's been trained on how to deal with torture at the hands of the enemy: name, rank, serial number, end of story. What I'm doing right now is more than likely cruel and unusual punishment, though.
I push myself off the bed. My movement causes Edward to open his eyes, probably trying to focus on me in the shadows cast in the cabin. I shimmy out of my pants, pulling my soaked panties down with them. I have no time to be modest. I want Edward. He wants me.
I walk around to his side of the bed, his eyes trained on me the entire time. Straddling his knees, my hands work deftly at his button and zipper. I slide my fingers into the material and start tugging, getting him to lift his hips in the process. I don't even allow myself a peek until I've stripped him fully and we're equally bare.
After dropping his pants and boxers on the floor, I turn my attention back to his perfect body only to find that he's sitting up with his legs crossed in front of him, and he's reaching out for my hand. I thread my fingers through his and swing my legs back over his lap, crossing my legs behind his back.
He pulls his hands from mine and runs his fingers over my breasts, up my collarbone and into my hair. One hand stays firmly behind my neck, with his thumb rubbing over my ear while he weaves the fingers of his other hand through the top of my hair.
Our faces are nose to nose, exchanging the same chocolatey breath between us. He moves in to kiss me. I can't help but move my hips, teasing his firm cock that's grazing against me. I can't even find it in me to be embarrassed by how wet I am. And to be perfectly honest, I don't think he minds at all.
"Bella," he moans into my mouth; all I can do is nod. "I need to be inside you."
I whimper, happily, desperate to feel him finally claim me. Our kisses are sloppy, our lips smacking and teeth clattering. I suddenly can't get enough. I lick and suck my way across the stubble below his jaw. It pinches and stings my swollen, tender lips in the best way. His groans and growls only turn me on more. For all that he gives me, I'm giving it right back.
I've never felt so completely desired by someone, nor wanted somebody more than I want Edward right now. He's invading every one of my senses. All I feel right now is Edward, Edward, Edward.
He splays his strong hands across the expanse of my back and without warning, flips us over. I unhook my legs from behind him and he continues to pull at my lips with his, sweeping his tongue in and around my mouth. I feel his hand run back down my body and dip into my wet folds. I shudder in anticipation as he parts my lips with his fingers and gently swipes at the moisture that's pooled between my legs.
He slides one long finger inside, and I gasp out in pleasure. I open my eyes to see Edward's gaze locked on mine. He shakes his head slightly, his mouth turned up in a hint of a smile.
"You're so fucking gorgeous, Bella." He leans back in to kiss me again and then trails his tongue down my body, spreading my legs wider when he arrives at his destination.
"Oh, my God," I cry out as his mouth closes around my clit. His tongue flicks around at a speed I can't even comprehend and then he continues his assault by alternating slow and hard licks of my slit. My hands are tearing through my hair, I feel like I'm having a break from reality. I sense his tongue plunge in and out of me repeatedly before he comes back up to tease my clit again.
He glides two fingers back inside me and curls them, rubbing and teasing my walls while his thumb continues to strum at my clit. Kisses pepper their way up my body until his mouth meets mine again. I groan in ecstasy tasting my arousal on his mouth.
"Please, Edward," I beg. "I can't wait anymore."
He searches my eyes for a minute. "This is a lousy time to have this discussion but—"
I interrupt him with a kiss. "I know what you're going to say. I've been getting a shot for years. You've got nothing to worry about with me." I wrap my hands around his thick cock and slowly stroke him up and down as we continue to nip and tease at each other with our lips.
He smiles, looking almost triumphant. "Well, you know where I've been for the better part of last year. We get medical screenings before and after the deployment…so I'm clean, too."
I smile in relief, "Thank God. You feel so fantastic, I don't think I could bear you leaving the bed in search of a condom."
We both chuckle and he lines his body up with mine, slowly pushing his way in as we stare deeply into each other's eyes. My mouth opens in silent ecstasy, having craved this feeling of fullness for so long. He pauses once we're fully joined and swipes his thumb across my bottom lip.
"You okay? Did I hurt you?" he whispers, concerned. His other hand pushes the hair off my face, then he gently traces my eyebrow with his finger.
I shake my head, pulling my lower lip between my teeth, and giving myself a few seconds to adjust to his size. "I'm fine," I smile, cupping his face with my hands. "More than fine…perfect. I want you so desperately, Edward Masen."
I can see his crooked smile as he dips his mouth to mine again. "You have me. And I honestly don't know how you're ever going to get rid of me," he growls.
Warmth spreads over my body as I comprehend what he's just said to me. There's a truth behind those words that I won't permit myself to overanalyze.
I'm meant to be here…we're meant to be here…together.
Kissing me the entire time, Edward moves inside me as we exchange smiles and soft cries. I run my hands up his defined arms, over the muscles of his shoulders and down his back, squeezing his firm ass. The wonderful feeling of him thrusting within me sends an electric current of pleasure through my body that makes me shudder uncontrollably.
"Fuck Bella, you feel so amazing," he moans and lifts himself up on his elbow, hanging his head down to watch where we're joined. When he tilts his head to the side, I can see his thick cock pumping in and out of me, while I'm lifting my hips to meet his thrusts.
Edward picks up speed and slides his hands under my shoulders, wrapping his fingers over the top of them. Our tongues continue to dance in each other's mouths as his hips piston faster and faster. He's grunting into the crook of my neck, my pelvis continuing to buck underneath him seeking every bit of friction possible.
My mouth is totally dry and I'm breathless. Last night, this whole day leading up to right now…it's beyond expectation and my emotions are getting the better of me. I feel tears welling in my eyes, completely overwhelmed.
"Oh, God, Bella…please tell me I can get you to come again. I'm right there," he rasps and slips his hands between our undulating bodies. He finds enough moisture waiting for him that he rapidly flicks at my clit, his pounding still unrelenting.
We're sweaty and sticky, the sounds of our skin slapping together turning me on even more.
I feel the exquisite rush of my orgasm coil in my belly, my whimpers revealing to him that I'm right there as well.
"Come for me, Bella. Let me feel you," he growls, his pace stuttering as he explodes inside me. "Nnnnnngh!"
His words push me over the edge and my head presses back into the pillow, calling out his name like a prayer on my lips.
We lie there together, panting, gasping for air. He picks his head up from where it was buried in my neck. I trail my hands up his back and hold his face in my hands. Picking my head up, I meet him in the middle for several long, lingering kisses.
When our energy wanes, we continue to exchange sweet, chaste kisses and sigh in unison as he pulls out and lies down alongside me. I roll my body into his as he wraps his arm around my waist, while I tuck my head into the crook under his shoulder. My fingers dance through his chest hair, up and down his torso; he hums contentedly.
"You sure you're okay?" he asks, softly.
I exhale and my eyes flutter closed. "I've never been better," I whisper, kissing him on his chest. "Thank you for being so gentle and sweet."
His arm tightens around my back and he runs his fingers down my face. "I don't know that it's possible to be any other way with you. You're the best thing that's happened to me in…well, for as long as I can remember. Who knew that almost getting my nose broken would eventually feel so good?"
I giggle and twist my head up to kiss him on his jaw. "This has been the best first date ever. Sleep well, Cap'n," I reply, snuggling into his embrace.
He kisses my forehead tenderly. "Sweet dreams, Clementine."
How could they be anything but? I'm in Edward Masen's arms. I don't think I could ever want to be anywhere but here. Safe, sated and swooning over this amazing man. Sweet dreams, indeed.
Military term:
"Oorah" - motivational battle cry of Marines. Similar to the "Hooah" in the Army and the "Hooyah" in the Navy. The Marines often shorten it to "ERR!" or "RUH!" making it sound like the bark of a dog...remember their nickname is Devil Dog.
A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed Spearward's meticulously planned-out part two of their first date! I know Bella did…in more ways than one. ;)
Thank yous and hugs to Team Cabana: LaMomo, Born, Cejsmom & Jules. This was a beast of a chapter to tackle, but they came through, as always. Love my girls.
I replied to every review of chapter ten, so if you didn't get a reply, it was because you were signed in as a guest. :( Thank you to everyone who's been reading, rec'ing, favoriting, alerting, tweeting, and lurking. Your support means so much.
Come join us at The Cabanaboy's Playground on FB. I have an album of TotS pictures so you can check out the places that E&B have visited thus far.
xo, Jen