Seven
BPOV
I find myself on my hands and my knees. Quivering. Excitement palpable.
The chill of the skin against mine isn't what's causing the goosebumps.
"Please," I beg.
A dark chuckle behind me enjoying my need.
The hand runs down the back of my thigh at a tantalising, slow pace. Like it's taking the time to memorise each inch of skin.
I'm bare. I'm naked. I'm slowly losing the last little piece of my mind.
"Bella," his voice is rough granite, "this is how I've wanted you. All of this time I've wanted you just like this."
I want to reply. I want to take control so I don't let this slip before I'm ready for it to leave.
Just as his hand creeps up to between my legs, just as I bite my lip in preparation for the inevitable moan, just as I get what I want…
My alarm.
Fuck you, Apple.
I groan and grab for my phone blindly. Sending random contents on my bedside table tumbling to the floor, I locate my phone. Silencing the alarm.
It was 4pm.
I'd decided to take a nap after Wilbur had kept us up most of the night.
A text dings from my phone drawing my attention back to the screen.
Alice - "Send me a photo of what you are wearing."
Rose - "...and what you're wearing beneath it"
I rolled my eyes at the group chat.
Me - "I'm wearing skin."
Rose - "No babe. You want him to get to that himself."
Alice - "Normally I wouldn't condone talking about my brother this way. But I'm SICK of pretending like you're not totally into one another. Bella… you've got to do it. You've got to let the dirty things happen."
She's lucky she's texting this. If Alice were in the room with my right now I'd fly kick her.
Me - "How do you know he even wants to do that, Alice?"
Alice - "I know things. I know my brothers. I struggle to understand them on a good day… but this I know. I think you've just been waiting on an excuse and it's here in baby form."
Rose - "I just don't want you messing this up after we stuck our necks out to babysit. I want to see what you're wearing."
Alice - "Me too!"
Growling I throw my bedsheets back, stalking to my closet. I rummage through and pick out dark wash, high-waisted boyfriend jeans with ripped knees. I pair it with a chocolate brown singlet top that droops slightly at the bust and a pair of heels that lace up just above my ankle.
I layer two dainty necklaces and find some gold hoops to put into my ears.
When I'd gotten to London my wardrobe had been… not great. Alice had fixed that, bringing over new clothes and shoes to model on me every few weeks. She made me walk around in public feeling confident enough to think I look good.
Taking a photo in front of my mirror I hit send into the group chat and get to work on my hair. I settle to tie it up into a messy bun, some pieces of hair cascade down onto my shoulders.
Alice - "I'd shag her!"
Rosalie simply sends 15 fire emojis.
Me - "Happy?"
Rose - "Underneath?"
Me - "We won't get that far. He doesn't even really think this is a date. Just mates going for a drink."
Alice - "You're delusional. I mean that in the nicest way possible."
Alice lived just around the corner. So Edward had walked Wilbur there in the pram, snuggled tight in his blanket with a bunch of toys Esme had dropped off this morning in tow. When he returned I'd met him at the door. A leather jacket and scarf over my arm.
The chill was still bitter, but coming from Seattle it wasn't too difficult to manage.
"Woah," he looks me up and down, "you look sensational."
He did too.
Edward had changed into dark jeans, a light grey sweater and an army jacket over the top. His hair was the usual sexy mess and his face was slightly pink from the cold. He was a dreamboat.
"So do you," I motion to him, "we scrub up alright for a pair of sleep deprived, baby slaves."
"Baby slaves," he gives me a boyish smile, "did I really push you into that?"
"Nope. I just tagged along with you for the ride, I think," I shrug my jacket on, throw my scarf around my neck, "are you ready? Are we just going to the bar?"
"Actually I thought we could do something a little more exciting considering we are baby free," he opens the door, motions for me to step out before him.
"Thanks," I shuffle past him, look back as he pulls shut and locks our door.
He offers me his elbow, smiling down at me as I loop my hand gently through. We walk together slowly toward his car parked on the street. As if we both want to savour each second. As if we want to slow down time just for tonight.
He drives a flashy black SUV volvo with tinted windows and fancy seat warmers. Nothing about this man is simple in any sense. It's all larger than life.
While he drives the small talk is easy like always. We talk of the weather, of interesting sights we pass. I ignore the blatant sex appeal nipping at my toes. I ignore acting on it. Even though I so badly want to make him pull over so I can straddle him.
"Bella," he laughs, nudging my arm, "I said we're here."
We are. I open my seatbelt and nod.
"Sorry I guess that nap made me more tired," I say, "I need a few good sips of wine."
"I know how you feel," Edward smiles at me, "let's go let our hair down."
"Yes daddy!" I clap and cry out.
"That sounds just wrong," Edward visibly cringes, exiting the car.
With a giggle I follow him into the restaurant he'd parked in front of. Jazz music plays and the lighting is low. Candles flicker atop of tables beside rose centrepieces and the wait staff are dressed smart.
We're shown to a table deeper into the building. The waiter pulls my chair out to help me take a seat, as Edward takes his own opening the menu. He orders some fancy French champagne before we're left to study the menu.
"This place is fancy," I say.
Could I even afford it?
I glance at the menu and baulk. Nope.
"Jesus. Do they prepare the food using gold utensils?" I ask.
"It doesn't matter because tonight is my treat as a thank you," he looks up at me from his menu, "it's still not even close to being enough."
"You don't need to thank me," I shake my head.
"Oh, I totally do," he rests his menu down the table.
"I feel bad having you pay for this. It's not exactly burgers and fries," I say.
"Fine. I'll pay for dinner and you pay for the next part," he offers.
"There's a next part?" I ask.
"You'll see," he picks his menu back up.
I order a fancy beef dish. He orders the sir loin.
As we wait for our food I try my best to remain civilised. By that I mean not climbing across the table and into his lap. It's a mission to fight the impulse.
"Have you heard much about your students?" Edward asks.
"Just the usual two not doing the homework I assigned in my absence," I shrug.
"I don't mean to sound like a dick but detention with you wouldn't serve as much of a punishment. I would have loved a teacher like you," he smirks at me.
"Why's that?" I tilt my head.
"You're stunning," he says as if it's an obvious fact known by all mankind.
"I wouldn't say that," I sip my wine, stare at him as the bubbles soak into my tongue.
"I just did," he says, "as if that isn't your go to fantasy."
"Is yours a sexy nurse and sexy doctor?" I raise an eyebrow.
"No, I'm pretty sold on the teacher thing," he smirks, "why is there a nurse costume somewhere I should know about?"
He's flirting.
"Give me more wine and we'll find out," I wink at him.
Any clue of surprise or disapproval isn't clear by his reaction. He chuckles into his wine glass, watching me closely as he takes a sip.
When our meals arrive there's still a mischievous glean to his eye. I can't figure out what he's thinking. There's a part of me that'd do anything to find out.
"Nice?" He asks with a motion towards my plate with his fork.
"Delicious," I nod, "do you bring all the girls who fawn over Doctor Cullen here?"
Those dark eyes roll, his smile crooked.
"Is that what you think my life is like? A newborn baby and women lining up for a piece?" he asks.
"You're telling me you don't notice the female attention that gravitates toward you wherever you go?" I ask.
"It's not the attention I'm after," he shakes his head, "all of it combined isn't the same."
"As what?" I ask.
For a moment he stares at me. Contemplating what answer he should give me.
"Someone special," he says finally.
"Oh there's someone special?" I raise an eyebrow.
He rolls his eyes, that boyish grin back.
"You finished eating? I think we should go to that next bit," he says, "I'm done waiting."
EPOV
I'm done. I'm ruining the friendship.
I have plenty of friends.
I don't need her like that. I need her in other ways.
When I saw her ready to head out tonight I'd almost cracked. Ignored every meticulous plan I'd made tonight in hopes she'd open her eyes and see through the shitty little wall we'd built. We'd constructed it poorly, yet she was still missing the giant, crumbling cracks.
"What are we doing?" she smirks.
She clutches the grocery bag in her hand.
We'd made an impulsive trip to pick up crisps, sweets and more wine. I let her pay. Then I'd put her in the car again and drive. She hogs the radio, but I let her, simply enjoying the fact tonight had turned into the flirty date I'd intended it to.
Once I pulled up and cut the engine she had turned to me confused instantly.
"A look out?" she tilts her head.
"Humour me," I push open my door, climb out of the car to walk around to the boot.
I'm unsure if she's hesitating, trying to figure out my plans, or trying to call an uber but she eventually climbs out of the car to see what I'm doing. Her mouth drops at the site. Blankets and pillows cover the entirety of my boot.
"Get in," I motion, "we need to talk about something."
"We couldn't do it at home?" She smiles at me teasingly.
"I thought you'd appreciate the view," I point at the horizon where the London lights shimmer for us.
She studies me, eyes focused on my face. Have I fucked this up already? Had I read the whole thing wrong?
I can't have been the only one who had noticed a shift. Like what had been holding us back before had loosened its claws.
Maybe it was just me.
As I make the decision to tell her never mind, she turns to the boot. Climbing in, giving me a glorious view of her ass as she crawls toward my back seats.
I hadn't folded them down yet so we could sit and chat, but maybe as the night went on I could push them back and we could cuddle.
The parking lot was empty and it was just us, the quiet and the view.
Crawling in behind her I take the wine from her hands and open it. Picking up the glasses I'd smuggled in earlier I pour us both a drink. It's cold so we snuggle tightly together under the blankets, until we're warm enough not to notice.
"So I brought you here for one very specific reason," I begin, "I wanted your undivided attention to do this."
"Do what, Edward?" She takes her glass from me, suspiciously.
"I don't want to be your friend anymore," I look up at her, seriousness on every feature of my face.
Thanks