Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. Stephenie Meyer owns anything and everything relating to Twilight. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended and in order to keep it that way, No reproduction, copying, reposting, downloading, or any kind of redistribution of this story is allowed. This is to cover my arse as much as yours! And finally, the Original characters, plot, names, nicknames, songs, poems—anything I created from my very own brain—are all the property of the author of this fanfic, My-Bella. Unauthorized use of the material is plagiarism so please be kind and don't steal my creations.
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Chapter 41 – End of the Line
Sunday, July 27th
Jingling keys had Bella opening her eyes to the sight of Edward staring at the dresser with his left hand tugging at his hair.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she sat up.
"Nothing. Just looking for my phone."
"Did you look in your shorts from yesterday?"
"I wouldn't have had it in my board-shorts. I learned the hard way that beaches and phones don't mix."
"No, Silly," she said with a groggy laugh. "The shorts you wore home."
"Good idea." He pulled open the closet doors and even with tired eyes she could pick out the dramatic difference between her messy side and his organized one. There hadn't been any discussion about sharing; it had just sort of happened the last couple times they'd come home. She liked that it was so effortless, that it wasn't something he puzzled over or over-thought.
She shook herself to wake up more and focus on him. "What do you need your phone for? And why are you up so early?" she asked. "The sun's barely up and we're not leaving until noon."
"We're not leaving at all." Before she could ask what he meant, he gave out a triumphant hoot and turned to show her his phone. He quickly came over to the bed and kissed her cheek. "Thanks. Go back to sleep."
She grabbed his forearm to stop him. "Edward, where are you going?"
"I'm gonna run down to the marina real quick. The weather radio reported a line of storms that turned in the night and now they're heading right at Gordon's Bay. Could be some strong winds with it so I need to make sure Galeos is locked down properly. I'll be gone maybe forty minutes. An hour at the latest."
"Are the guys going with you?"
"Nah, I'm going to let them sleep. They've earned a late morning. Besides, it won't take long and there's nothing that requires two hands, much less two people. Why don't you go back to sleep? You deserve a late morning too."
"I'm coming," she said, tossing the covers back.
"Bella, really, you don't have to."
"I'm coming," she insisted. She reached into the closet and grabbed the first things she saw that looked comfortable. "Just give me ten minutes."
"Alright."
She paused, wondering if he needed some alone time and was being too polite to say so. She knew he struggled with adjusting to being one of two and not just one alone. "If you don't—"
He slipped his arms around her from behind and hugged her tightly. "I never said I didn't want you to come, kapu. I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't prefer sleeping in over an early morning ride to the marina."
"I'd rather spend time with you."
He smiled against her neck and then kissed it. "Then I'll be in the kitchen. I'm going to go write Esme a note and post it on the coffee maker so she can't miss it."
Bella dressed quickly, knowing the longer he had to wait to secure the boat, the more keyed up he'd be about it. She slipped her feet into her sneakers, rushed to the bathroom for a quick moment, and then joined him in the kitchen.
He put his nearly empty coffee cup in the sink and then they were out the door, locking it behind them.
Bella looked up to the sky on the way to the Bronco, searching for some sign of the impending storms. "Edward, are you sure the radio said Gordon's Bay and not Gann's Bay? There are a few clouds here but nothing that says storm."
"I'm sure. In about ninety minutes the sky's going to be dark and the rain will be pouring down."
They were quiet on the drive to the marina, but it was a nice quiet. It was a happy-to-be-together quiet and she was enjoying getting to sit beside him and lazily run her fingers through his hair. From the smile that never once left his lips, she was confident he was enjoying it too.
After parking as close to their side of the marina as possible, Edward helped her out of the Bronco and kept her close, hooking his arm around her waist. She wasn't going to complain about the attention but she did wonder what he was thinking; she'd expected his focus to be entirely on the boat by this point.
Once they were inside Galeos, Edward finally became all business. "I need you to check all the portholes down below to make sure they're closed and locked. Lee's is really the only one that might not be locked but better safe than sorry."
"What are you going to be doing?"
"Putting the shutters down. The ones up front are automated so I just have to hit a couple buttons. The rest on this level are manual so if I'm not at the controls, I'll be right outside lowering shutters."
"Should we take radios in case you find you need help?"
His lips curled into a half-smile. "You're sweet for worrying, but I'll be fine. The shutters slide down and there's a pin to push in to lock them. Easy peasy."
"Easy peasy?" she asked giggling.
"It's Esme's phrase."
"Well it better be true. If you pop any stitches, she's gonna easy peasy you and I'm gonna help."
He chuckled and pulled her close. "You ordering me around?"
"Yes."
"Good." He kissed her on the forehead and then let her go so they could get to work.
Bella did her due diligence and checked every single porthole in every single room on both lower decks. All of them were locked, even Lee's. She checked her watch and saw that it had taken nearly twenty minutes, much longer than she'd expected. It was easy to forget how big this boat really was until she had to visit every room on it.
Upstairs, she found it weird for the lights to be on with no view of the outdoors. The shutters looked to be steel and were coated the same shade of blue that the boat's name was written in across the back.
"Edward?" When she didn't get an answer, she headed out onto the deck—and into a very different morning. The few white clouds that had been dotting the sky at the house had been replaced by a curtain of low hanging and menacing dark grey clouds. The day's light had taken on a purple glow, reminding her of Florida skies during hurricane season. The storm had also brought a cold wind that caused immediate goose-bumps to ripple across her skin while it whipped her hair into her face and flattened her shirt against her chest.
"Edward?" Her call was drowned out by a roar of rolling thunder and she had to wait for the echo to die down before calling out for him again.
A shouted response came from above her. "Viewing deck!"
She went to the side where the ladder was and carefully climbed up to meet him.
Edward had the sliding glass door open and was throwing cushions through it. "All locked up below?"
"Nice and tight," she assured him. "Are you almost done? The sky's looking awful angry all of a sudden."
"Yeah, all the shutters are down, the tie-offs have been triple checked, and these cushions are the last things not tied down."
"I'm surprised you're tossing them and not neatly stacking them."
"I want us out of here and home before this storm hits." He tossed another cushion through the door. "Done," he said before the cushion had completely made it through the doorframe.
He ushered Bella inside and then pulled a shutter across before closing the sliding glass door.
At the bottom of the stairs he patted his pockets. "Phone. Wallet. Keys … Where are my keys?"
She snorted. "For such an organized person, you sure lose things a lot."
"I don't lose them. I misplace them. And only sometimes," he replied, walking toward the kitchen. "Ha!"
Bella heard the sound of the keys scraping on the counter and then she felt his hand on her lower back, ushering her toward the cabin door. He locked it quickly and had them off the boat and onto the dock in record time.
They were still on the dock when the first cold, fat drops plunked down to darken the wood and wet her skin. He pressed more insistently against her lower back and she half-expected him to ask her to run.
They had just closed the truck doors when the sky opened up on them. The rain pounding against the Bronco's roof had Bella feeling like she was sitting in a drum during the fast part of a rock song. She couldn't remember the last time she'd heard rain fall this hard.
Edward laid his forehead on the steering wheel and muttered "fuck" under his breath.
"We finished just in time," she said, wondering why he seemed upset.
"We are most assuredly not 'in time'. If we were in time, we'd be at the house, warm and dry and indoors."
"We can't get to the house if you don't start the truck, Silly."
"Bella, look," he said, sitting up and gesturing at the windshield. "It's a wall of water. There's no way the wipers can keep up. Even if they could, I don't know this area well enough to try driving in this. We could hit a washout and not even realize it until we were already being swept away."
She chewed on her lower lip, realizing this wasn't just rain but the actual storm he'd warned her was coming. It seemed unreal because of the sunshine they'd had when driving over here only a little over thirty minutes ago.
"Come here," he coaxed while pulling her into his arms. He held her securely and lightly pressed his cheek to hers. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
She nodded, trusting him completely to keep her safe.
"I do have bad news, though. We're gonna get drenched."
"The truck leaks?" she squeaked, turning to survey the roof.
"Hell no!" he cried, clearly offended. "My truck is in pristine condition," he assured her. "But we can't stay here. We need to get back aboard Galeos."
Her jaw dropped. "What the heck for?"
"This storm isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I think it's best if we head back to the boat rather than sit here out in the open like this. Besides, we have no food or drink in the truck and neither of us has had breakfast yet. I know I'm starving and I'd bet you are too. More importantly, the boat has a radio."
"You have a cell phone," she reminded him.
He chuckled. "Have you really not noticed the distinct lack of view we have? Do you really think there's going to be a signal in this?"
Her shoulders slumped as she realized his argument was flawless. "We're going back to the boat," she said, trying to sound chipper.
"That's the spirit," he teased before leaning in to kiss her lips.
She narrowed her eyes at him and tried to hide her smile. "Still not the hilarious one."
He didn't respond to that. Instead he grabbed hold of her hand and intertwined their fingers. "Don't let go for any reason."
"What if I'm about to fall? I don't want to take you down with me."
"I'd rather hit the ground with you than lose you in this mess. Do not let go."
"Okay."
"I'm serious, Bella. Promise me."
It was the sincere worry in his expression and voice that made her immediately agree. "I promise."
He gave her his shitty grin. "We could always play spider monkey and I could carry you on my back."
"No." She said emphatically and with complete conviction—and with the understanding that she would do whatever he said was necessary to keep them both safe.
"On three, I'll open the door and we'll climb out." He lowered his head to look into her eyes. "What will you not do?"
"I won't let go," she promised.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
Masen swallowed down his anxiety as he let the "three" slide past his lips. He pushed against the door and the biting wind, already becoming drenched by the cold rain. He finally got the door fully open and he turned enough to push his hip into it and keep it that way.
Bella slid across the seat quickly, squealing when the first fat raindrop plopped onto her cheek. "It's so cold," she said as she gripped his left hand tightly.
"Gonna be a hell of a lot colder the longer we're in it, kapu." He slammed the truck door closed, turned them in the direction of where Galeos was docked and then set their pace at the quickest run he felt her feet could handle.
By the time he got the cabin door unlocked and them inside, they looked as though they'd jumped into a pool fully clothed. An ice cold pool from the look of their blue lips and their constant shivering.
"Hot showers," he ordered. "You first."
"You're cold too."
"Yeah, but you have a head full of hair so you're twice as likely to catch cold. I'll dry off and put on some fresh clothes while I wait. I'll be fine."
She had to be as cold as he assumed, if not more so, because she didn't attempt to argue. In fact, she practically bolted for the stairs, squishing along in her drenched sneakers until he stopped her. "Kick them off. You don't want to risk slipping on the stairs."
He kicked his own off too and then he practically hovered over her all the way down the stairs. She headed for her room to scrounge for dry clothes while he grabbed towels from the linen closet.
He walked up to her door right as she was rushing out of it and she collided with his chest, making a wet smacking sound and causing him to wince from the freezing fabric pressing against his skin.
"Sorry," she got out through chattering teeth.
"Shower," was his only reply as he put a couple towels into her hands.
She gave him a grateful smile and then raced across the hall and into the bathroom.
He waited until he heard the shower kick on and then he rushed to his own room, closing and locking the door behind him. He stripped first and quickly dried off to keep his body temperature from dropping any further, but then he wrapped a towel around himself instead of immediately dressing. He had something more pressing to do first.
He went to his nightstand and pulled out the emergency hand crank weather radio he kept there. He needed to know what they were saying about the storm without Bella overhearing; he didn't want to risk worrying her even more.
"…faster than expected. Now that the storm has reached Gordon's Bay, the low pressure system causing the storm has unexpectedly stalled out right over the coastal town. Flash flooding is possible in low lying areas and wind damage from low level gusts will be a threat as the storm continues to unleash its fury on Gordon's Bay and the surrounding area. Even without the wind, this storm is still quite dangerous as it will drop a high volume of water in a short amount of time. We urge everyone in the area to shelter in place until this storm dissipates or passes through. It's already surprised us numerous times, changing direction and speed. This is not a storm to take lightly. If you're just joining us, we say again, stay where you are. Conditions are far too dangerous for travel at this time."
Masen turned off the radio and slid it back into the drawer. With a frustrated sigh, he shook his head and sat down heavily on the edge of the bed. "I should have made her stay home. I never should have let her come. What the hell was I thinking?"
Knowing his thought process didn't matter a damn bit now, he pulled himself up and over to his dresser to find something to wear while waiting for his turn in the shower. Once he was dressed, he opened his door and hung his damp towel on the knob. He then grabbed the second towel and draped it over his head before rubbing it against his hair to soak up some of the frigid water trapped there.
His attention wasn't on his hair, though; it was on the location of the emergency supplies aboard Galeos. There was a set of flashlights in his office and another upstairs in the TV room. Candles and matches were in the kitchen in the cabinet above the fridge. There was a small pack of bottled water in the medic room and three full cases downstairs where they stowed the extra gear. Half a loaf of bread was still on the kitchen counter and they had a couple jars of peanut butter in—
The opening of the bathroom door pulled him out of his head. "That was quick," he said as Bella stepped into the hall with a trail of steam following her.
"You need hot water too. Besides, it didn't take long to warm up under the spray. Now I just need to get my hair dry."
"If you don't have a dryer with you, I know Lee keeps one in the top drawer of her dresser."
"I've got mine."
"Alright. I'm gonna hop in the shower and when I get out, we'll go up and see if we can get Esme on the radio to let her know we're safe." He kissed her on the forehead and then ducked into the bathroom to take just long enough of a shower to warm up.
When he exited ten minutes later, he felt a lot warmer and a little less tense. The storm was bad but Galeos could handle anything it threw at her. Especially with her anchored and him having made sure she was tied securely in place. There were plenty of supplies on board so they were good if they ended up being stuck here longer than a few hours. There were books and cards for entertainment so they wouldn't be bored—not that he ever felt bored when he was with Bella.
He found his kapu nearly buried under his comforter with a book in her hands and her dry hair framing her face. She was so enraptured with whatever she was reading that she didn't notice him standing in the doorway. It wasn't until he'd been watching her for a few minutes that she finally looked up from the book and realized he was there.
"Feel better?" she asked, gifting him with a bright smile.
"Much. You?"
"While I'm not thrilled to be trapped in a storm, I can't say that I mind having you all to myself while we wait it out."
"That is a plus," he agreed. "Ready to head up and find some breakfast?"
"Leave the bed?" she asked, hugging the blankets to her chest. "But it's cold out of the bed."
He saw the little smile she was trying to hide and decided to play along with her. "Feel free to stay then. I'll bring back a granola bar or something after I finish my hot breakfast."
Bella immediately crawled out from under the blanket. "Hot breakfast does sound good."
Before they figured out breakfast, they headed to the front of the boat and tried to reach Esme on the radio. After trying several channels and finding nothing but interference, Masen hung up the radio and did his best to act like he'd expected nothing else.
"Storm's out to be a bigger nuisance than Gopher," he joked. "We'll try again as soon as it slacks off a little."
"Should we try to pick up the news on the TV?"
"That thing is definitely not going to get a signal in this mess." While that was true, he knew he would have said it regardless. He'd rather her make the most of this morning than sit in front of the news worrying.
She chewed on her lip for a few seconds before lifting her apprehensive brown eyes up to meet his gaze. "Do you think they're okay?"
"They're fine. Esme's an early riser and I know as soon as she saw my note, she turned the weather radio on. She probably even woke the whole house to get them to pull the shutters and set out flashlights just in case."
"You would tell me if you were worried for them, right?"
"Come here," he coaxed, taking her hand and tugging her close. When she was nestled snuggly in his arms, he told her, "If I thought for one single second that Esme wasn't safe, I'd be headed for her right now. I'd walk to the house in that mess out there if that's what it took."
"I love you for loving her that much."
He didn't miss the sniffles that had accompanied her words. "Why are you upset? What's wrong?"
"I just … Things are going so great finally and—"
"And you're finding it hard not to wait for something bad to happen?" he ventured, remembering that particular stage of grief clearly. With his life with Esme settled into a comfortable rhythm and his new friendship with Whit growing, he'd become anxious almost to the point of paranoia, convinced that one wrong word or action would throw his life back into chaos. The only cure for it had been the passing of time, seeing for himself that things were continuing to become better with no sign of impending doom.
Masen hooked his finger under Bella's chin and lifted her eyes to his. "You can't start over-thinking like this. There's only room for one neurotic person in this relationship and I already own that slot."
She burst out laughing at his comment.
He let her settle and then he told her, "You'll miss out on so much good if you're looking all around for the bad to appear. I know exactly how hard that is to do, but I also know it's the only way. In time you'll stop worrying all together but until then, you have to keep your focus on now, on the good right in front of you."
"I'll try," she promised him.
He pressed his lips to her forehead and then let her go. "Let's go find something for breakfast."
"I could eat," she joked, grinning up at him.
"You know, I'm at a disadvantage here," he said as they walked down the short hall.
She pulled herself up to sit on the kitchen island. "You disadvantaged? I can't wait to hear your explanation for this one."
"You know my favorite breakfast but I don't know yours."
She giggled and then pressed her lips together.
"Seriously? You're not going to tell me?"
"No, I'm going to tell you, but you probably won't understand a word of it."
He stood between her legs and rested his hands on her lower back. "You really think you like something I haven't heard of? You are the grape snowball eater after all."
"All right," she said with a sigh. She then grinned and hit him with, "Easy eggs on the run smothering sliced taters with heartache on the side and how-now brown cow."
Masen was so unsure of how to respond that he just stood there staring at her, a reaction that she found highly amusing given that her giggles had her shaking.
"I told you."
"You did," he allowed. "Now tell me what the hell all that means."
Another giggle escaped and she cleared her throat to try to stop them. "When we first moved in with him, Uncle Carl felt that if he made meal time fun, then we would eat and not just push our food around our plates. One night he put on an apron and pulled out a notepad and asked us what we wanted to eat. Whatever we'd say, he'd translate it into these crazy phrases and tell us that's how they do it in diners, he was sure of it." Her eyes and smile softened as she shared, "Some of the first times we laughed after the accident, we shared them in the kitchen thanks to Uncle Carl's silliness."
Masen smiled as he groaned so she'd know he was teasing. "You are crushing me here, kapu."
"How?"
"I've been going by the assumption that your uncle is the straight man to Esme's comedic tendencies. Now I know he's just as goofy as her."
Bella giggled. "Told you they made a good pair."
"Uh, huh," he answered with an eye-roll. "You gonna decode that breakfast for me or what?"
She giggled yet again and he was glad for it, glad to know he really was keeping her from worrying. "I'll decode it. Easy eggs on the run is just eggs over easy with lots of yolk. Smothering sliced taters means I want my egg on top of hash-browns. Heartache on the side is buttered toast. And the final bit, how-now brown cow, is chocolate milk."
Masen snorted. "Your uncle has a way with words."
It was Bella's turn to snort. "Why do you think your mom fell so hard and fast for him?"
"Hey, I'm still reeling from finding out he's just as silly as her. Don't give me any more to think about right now."
That got an outright laugh out of her.
"Back to breakfast," he told her. "We lack the hash-browns but we've got everything else. Is that what you want me to cook for you?"
With another of her big, happy smiles, she responded with "That would be lovely."
"You are lovely," he corrected before soundly kissing her on the lips. Getting trapped on the boat had never been his intention but maybe it was the best thing for them. Here with her like this, he felt none of the apprehension and anxiety he'd had last night before his talk with Esme. He felt comfortable and relaxed, ready and able to enjoy a morning alone with his kapu.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
Bella spotted it out of the corner of her eye and came to an immediate stop. Sitting there against the wall, it was like it was calling to her, telling her this morning was probably her best chance for getting Edward to agree. She carefully picked it up and brought it into his room.
He was deep into a game of spider solitaire spread out across the blanket and she smiled; of course he wouldn't play the regular and simple version of the card game. He was on his fifth or sixth hand so she didn't feel bad about interrupting.
"I found something I want to do," she announced.
He looked up from the cards and his grey eyes zeroed right in on the guitar in her hand. While she adored that unique shade of green she brought out in his eyes, she was pretty damn proud to be able to get the grey and know he could truly relax with her.
"What do you want to do with that? I wouldn't suggest hitting me over the head 'cause that might break it and Whit loves that old guitar."
She rolled her eyes at him. "I want you to teach me to play it."
"That's not something I can teach you in a few hours."
She approached the bed and laid the guitar across his folded legs. "I know, but you could teach me one chord. And the next time we have some free time you could teach me another."
"If you want to learn, why are you giving it to me?"
She gave her sweetest smile as she answered, "Because I also want to hear you play something first." She sat down beside him and added, "You don't have to sing at all. I just want to hear you play."
"Oh so there's your real intention," he said, grinning at her.
"It's part of my overall intention," she clarified. And then she threw in what she hoped would be the clincher. "Please?"
He picked up the guitar, shaking his head the entire time, and she began to worry he would refuse. But then he smiled and settled his hands over the strings. "It's been a long time so no judging."
"None," she promised, crossing her heart as proof.
After randomly strumming a few chords, he paused before starting to send an actual tune through the room. It was simple but catchy and she smiled in pure pleasure.
"Whit made me learn this one while we were stuck inside for a week of torrential rain our first season out," he shared.
"It's very pretty."
He looked up to share his smile with her and then brought his focus back to the instrument. He also began to sing …
How do I love you? Well let me see,
I love you like a lyric loves a mel-o-dy.
Ba-by,
Complete-ly
Wrapped up in you.
How do I need you? Well can't you tell,
I need you like a penny needs a wishing well.
Ba-by,
Complete-ly
Wrapped up in you.
How do I love you? We'll count the ways.
There ain't a number high enough to end this phrase.
Ba-by,
Complete-ly
Wrapped up in you.
How do I love you? Well, don't you know,
I love you about as deep as any love can grow
Ba-by,
Complete-ly
Wrapped up in you.
Bella let the sound of the last chord fade and then she clapped and whistled in appreciation of Edward's performance. "I loved it. I really did."
"It's not that big of a deal," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "It was easy to learn, just a few chords and a simple melody. It's from Garth Brooks back in his hay-day. You know for a little while there I thought Whit was gonna go cowboy on me but he hates shoes in general so boots feel claustrophobic to him."
She shared her observation with him. "You're not much of a fan of shoes yourself."
"I don't feel right in shoes. I need the sand and grass under my feet, not shoes on concrete."
"Hey, that's almost a country lyric right there. Maybe you're the one with the cowboy dreams."
"All that dry land? Hell no." His mock outrage had her laughing.
"Okay, time to teach me a chord."
"You're being awful demanding this morning, kapu."
"You said I could pick anything for us to do," she reminded him.
"I did do that," he agreed. "Wait right here. I'll be right back."
When he returned, he was carrying a couple packets of bandages. "What are those for?" she questioned.
"You don't have calluses on your fingertips yet so you need to protect them or you'll rip them up on the strings," he explained as he put the first bandage on her.
"How do you know I don't have calluses?"
He paused to look up into her eyes, a cocky smile teasing his lips. "I know because I felt them damn near everywhere yesterday when you were kissing me on the beach."
"Oh," she mumbled, her blush staining her cheeks a deep pink.
"You know, we could do that instead," he offered, leaning in closer. He glanced at her lips and added, "You did say you needed more data."
"We can do that in addition to this but only after you teach me a chord," she responded, fighting not to be distracted by his offer. With his attention and his innocent touches and his overall sweetness this morning, she was a little afraid of her ability to keep a clear head and their line if they should share a kiss like that one from yesterday.
Once he finished bandaging her fingertips, he put the guitar into her lap and helped her position her left hand around the neck and her fingers over those strings. He then helped her bend her right elbow to the correct angle and position her fingers over the lower strings.
"I'm not entirely sure I can teach you a chord today," he said as he sat down beside her. "Before you can pick up on the right and wrong sounds, you have to get a feel for all the different sounds you can produce. Strumming the lower strings alone will give you one set of sounds, and holding down an upper string while strumming a lower will give you another set. Why don't you get a feel for the sounds and the strings, and then we'll see about a chord?"
"Makes sense," she agreed.
Her very first try ended with her finger slipping off the string and the only sound produced being the thud of her elbow against the guitar's body.
"Relax. The body is braced on your leg and you have the neck gripped so even if your fingers slip off, the guitar's not going anywhere."
Bella nodded to show she was listening as she worked to reset her elbow and fingers.
"I've never done this so I'm not …" Edward scooted right up beside her and reached in to put his finger on the string. "Just sort of cup the string with the pad of your fingertip and then pull up and away," he instructed as he demonstrated.
She completely missed it, too focused on how close he was and how good he smelled and wondering what kind of kiss he would give her if she asked for one right now.
"Bella?"
She tried not to look guilty but she could feel her traitor blush forming. "Could you show me again?"
"Are you feeling okay? You look a little flushed. You're not feeling sick, are you?"
"No, I'm good. Show me again, please."
He demonstrated again and this time she watched and committed it to memory before giving it a try herself. She became glad for the bandages pretty darn quickly, never having thought of the force required to pluck a tightened guitar string. It gave her a whole new appreciation for the beautiful melodies Whit and Edward could pull from this guitar.
"Now this one," he said, reaching in to pluck a different string.
The inexplicable hyper-awareness of him she was suffering from had her turning her head and greeting his lips with hers. She had intended for it to be a small "hello" kind of kiss but she hadn't figured his reaction into her plan, which was to grip the back of her neck and deepen the kiss with soft strokes of his tongue along hers.
The loudness and possessive quality of the "more" in her head caused her to immediately end the kiss and shift the angle of her body away. "So like this?" she asked, plucking the bottom string.
"Bella, I'm—Look, I'm sorry but you kissed me and it felt like you wanted me to—I'm sorry." The wretched tone of his voice made her heart clench with guilt and remorse.
She put her hand on his knee, too cowardly to look up into his eyes, to see the green mixed with confusion. "Edward, you didn't do anything wrong. I just … Sometimes it feels like too much and I don't know how to keep calm when that happens."
Wordlessly, he moved the guitar to the floor, brushed the cards off the bed, and then laid her down, covering her body with his and gazing into her eyes. "Kapu."
She smiled and pressed her hand against his cheek, loving that he could make her feel so much from one word. "I love you too."
"Do you remember what you told me before your first dive? The thing about perfection?"
"About it not being possible?"
"Yes. You said perfection can't happen because no one can control all of the reactions. I didn't completely grasp that then. I still thought I could give you a perfect career and a perfect relationship. I thought you deserved that, and I still do. But I realize now I can't give you those things. No matter how perfect I force myself to be, I can't make anyone else act that way. I can't decide what opinions people will form when they find out you're my kapu. Or that you've taken a chance on a guy like me, someone who's painfully practical and has the bare minimum understanding of what's considered romantic. All I can do is love you to the absolute best of my ability and hope it's enough to make you happy."
"I am happy with you, Edward, and I don't give a damn what anyone thinks. I love you just the way you are, practicality and all. I'm not trying to change you, just some of the ways you react to me."
"I know, and you are right to want those changes. I want those changes too. And, kapu, I want you. I don't want to keep waiting, to keep denying what we feel for each other."
"But our line—"
"It was a bad idea and a wasted attempt at perfection because anything that keeps us apart is flawed and unnecessary. Forget everything I said about that stupid line because it never should have been there in the first place. This is just about us. I want so many things for us, Bella. I really do. And right now, I want us to erase that line. What about you? Do you want this to be the end of the line? Do you want me?"
She could see the uncertainty in his eyes and she was amazed all over again by his cluelessness—she had been his for so long now. "Silly boy, I'll always want you." But she'd also made him a promise to wait. "I just have to accept I can't always have you. Some things are more important, like your piece of mind."
"My mind is what got us into this mess. All I'm listening to right now is my heart."
"You won't be able to rewind things," she cautioned.
"I'd only want that so I could do it all over again." He followed up his promise with a gentle kiss to her lips. "Un-kiss your lips just to kiss them again. That's the only kind of rewind I'll ever want."
"You're confident?"
"I love you." He leaned in, his lips just a breath away from hers, putting the control into her hands.
And the trust, she thought as she lifted up to kiss him, her eyes never leaving his. There would never be enough words she could use to say everything she was feeling right then but that was okay because the way he was kissing back made it clear talking wasn't expected.
They kissed until they were both breathless and then with gentle, almost reverent touches he peeled back her clothes, his light touches setting her skin on fire. It was almost scary to feel so much from feathery touches and know there were harder presses of his hands in her immediate future. She'd thought she was prepared for this, having felt his hands all over once before. But this was so different; he was different—focused, unworried, and unhurried. He wasn't holding back this time.
And neither was she, sitting up and forcing him to lean back on his knees so she could get his shirt off. Her hands sliding down his sides had him closing his eyes and clenching his fists. She smiled secretly, pleased to have this physical proof that he was just as affected. She traced every curve and line of his chest with her fingers and palms, fulfilling a want she'd held privately for so long.
His answering kiss was strong and deep and destined to leave her breathless all over again. It certainly left her oblivious to the fact that he'd lowered her back into the pillows, at least until she turned her head to give him more room to kiss her neck. She loved that mix of softness from his lips and roughness from his scruff, and couldn't help grabbing onto his hair to keep his mouth from leaving her skin.
His hand sliding down her outer thigh created goose-bumps and caused a shiver, not of cold but of expectation and desire. His mouth settled over hers again and then he cupped her knee in his hand and lifted her leg, making room for himself between her thighs and never once breaking their heated kiss. She worried she might not be able to keep up this pace but as usual he seemed a step ahead of her because he slowed things down, alternating his kisses between her lips and her neck while ghosting his hands along her sides and legs.
When she finally relaxed fully into the mattress, he began his lovemaking in earnest, slipping an arm under her to lift and tilt her hips to the angle he needed to work himself inside of her. He was tender and careful and constantly looking into her eyes to make sure she was okay and enjoying this as much as him. And when he was finally completely inside of her, he moved his arms under her shoulders and hugged her entire body to his. "Aloha Au Ia 'Oe, kapu."
She had to move after hearing those words, unable to take the precarious feeling of having him and not having him for one more second. He followed her lead and it wasn't long at all before they had a rhythm built up that worked well for both of them.
Right up until his thrusting got a little overzealous and he knocked her head into the headboard. Her startling cry of "owww" had him saying "oh shit" and reaching into her hair to feel for a bump, which for some reason tickled her to no end and set off her giggles.
"You loved me into the headboard," she said through so many giggles and snorts that it took him a moment to figure out what she'd said. She knew exactly when he caught on because he released a low, breathy laugh.
"Completely your fault, kapu. You're the one digging your heels into my ass."
"It's a really nice ass," she said honestly, causing them both to laugh again.
"Is this a bad sign for us?" he asked while peeling her damp hair away from her face. "Laughing during sex?"
She smiled while smoothing back his hair hanging in his face. "I think it's just proof we don't need perfection to be together. We just need to love each other."
He responded with a sweet kiss that quickly turned into more as they moved together again, this time a little less eagerly than before but with the same passion in every touch and taste.
They finished one after the other, her first with her hands clenched against his back and his name falling from her kiss-swollen lips. He followed right after with a wordless shout, collapsing beside her with his forehead pressed to her cheek. A bolt of lightning lit up the room, illuminating the sweat on their bodies, while the accompanying boom of thunder reminded them there was a storm raging outside.
Bella chewed on her lip, debating whether to stay silent or to ask and potentially ruin the euphoria she was feeling.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Edward murmured.
She rolled onto her side, both to face him and to be closer to him. He had his eyes closed, his face was flushed, and his chest was visibly rising and falling with his heavy breaths. He looked ridiculously sexy and perfect, like some statue impeccably carved out of the most flawless marble.
"What are you thinking about, kapu?" he asked, pulling her out of her admiring daze.
"How did you know?"
"You went from completely relaxed to tense in under a second."
"I don't want to be tense. I just … Am I awful to be happy we got trapped on the boat?"
His green eyes studied her face while his fingertips traced her arm from elbow to wrist. "You're not happy we got trapped on the boat. You're happy I finally got my shit together and got us together."
She smiled and slipped her hand into his hair, gently massaging his scalp the way he enjoyed. "I like that, and not just because it makes me feel better. I really am happy."
"Good 'cause you can't rewind," he said, his lips curved into a smile.
Since he'd used her words from earlier, she decided to use his in return. "I can if I wanna do it all over again."
"Again sounds good to me." He clutched her against him and rolled over onto his back, causing her to squeal as she went from lying beside him to lying on top of him. His hands gently cupped her head, bringing her mouth closer to his. "As many agains as you want," he promised.
"That's not a real word," she mentioned while kissing the corner of his mouth.
"Don't care," he answered, sliding his fingers down her back and causing her to shiver. "Cold?"
Though his smile told her he knew she wasn't, she decided to say she was just to see what he would do. "Very. You should warm me up."
He smiled up at her while softly squeezing her ass. "Any ideas on how I can do that?"
"I'm sure you'll think of something."
"Smart ass."
"Yep. Your smart ass."
"Lucky me," he murmured before kissing her soundly.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
Masen woke from a light doze and listened closely to gauge the strength of the storm. He could hear the rain spattering against the boat still but it thankfully lacked the ferocious pounding from earlier. If the worst of the storm truly had passed and there were no reports of road issues, then they should be able to leave for home soon.
His ears picked up on a buzzing sound and he realized it was his phone on the nightstand. He tried to reach for it but he was just a little too far away. As much as he hated to move, he needed to check his messages and hopefully make a call to his family.
Bella was sound asleep on his chest, the tip of her nose and her pouty lower lip the only parts of her face he could see from his angle. He didn't want to wake her and get her hopes up so he decided to try his phone out first.
After carefully moving Bella to the mattress and covering her up, he threw on his shorts, grabbed his phone, and went into the hall. He found two texts from Whit, about a dozen from Lee, and a missed call from his mom.
He tried calling his mom back but after a single ring he got a busy tone. He turned toward the stairs to head up to try the radio but then decided it would be wrong not to wake Bella knowing how worried she had been earlier.
Once she was awake and dressed in his shirt and her shorts, they headed upstairs together with their fingers tangled and happy smiles curling their lips.
Before reaching for the radio, he decided to open one of the shutters to check the conditions outside. Since the rain was definitely not pounding the boat like earlier, he felt comfortable opening one up.
When the most recent flash of lightening faded, they were able to see the sky remained a dark grey but visibility was better. They could actually see the top of the dock post that anchored Galeos in the front.
"Maybe we can go home soon," Bella commented as he sent the shutter down again.
"First we have to get through and find out what conditions are like at the house," he cautioned. "Just because it's slacking here doesn't mean it's let up there yet."
Masen was relieved to get through on the first try, and he could hear both Esme's worry and her relief in the way she said his name. He hated knowing she had spent her morning worrying for him but he knew there was no way to prevent it; as she often said, it was her right as his mom.
"No harm, no foul, Mom," he said to ease her worries.
"Good. That's good. Same here."
"How's my girl?" He had no doubt Lizzy was curled up beside Esme and trying to hide from the storm. Thunder was the only thing his puppy had shown signs of being fearful of so far.
"She keeps getting up to look for you and Bella in your room but then runs right back to me as soon as she hears the thunder."
"I should have taken her with me."
"So she could be trapped on the boat with you? Don't be silly, Edward."
"It was never my plan to get stuck," he told her. "So what's the rain like there? It's slacked off a lot here."
"The lightning and thunder have lessened but the rain is still coming down steady. Can't believe it's this much of a mess after being so pretty yesterday. Not that it ever matters with storms." She paused and sighed; he wished he was there to hug her. "How's Bella?" she asked.
"Good. She's right here."
Bella leaned forward to speak into the mike, greeting Esme enthusiastically. "Hi, Esme."
"It is so good to hear your voice, sweetheart," Esme responded.
"How's everyone there?"
"We're all fine. Not a single hair out of place for any of us. You two?"
"Safe and dry and all of Edward's stitches are still in place."
"Good. That's good."
"Mom, you sure you're okay?" Masen questioned. "You still sound worried."
"Hello! There's a monsoon outside my window and my son is not standing right beside me." Her comment had him smiling and picturing the cross look he knew was on her face.
"I'll be home soon," he assured her.
"As soon as it's safe," she corrected. "We've heard conflicting reports of roads being underwater around here. You are to stay put until I tell you it's safe to leave."
"Mom, I know—"
She responded immediately and forcefully. "Parent card."
"Okay. I'll wait for your go-ahead." He knew this was one of those times when it was best to give in and put her mind at ease rather than argue for his impeccable driving abilities. "Hey, can you tell Whit and Lee cell reception is still spotty so I can't answer their texts?"
"Oh, sweetheart, ignore those," Esme replied with a laugh. "Whit just wanted to tease you and Lee hates that you're not here with us. I hate it too."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Kid. Storms have a mind of their own. Now I want you to promise me you'll radio as soon as the storm completely leaves your area."
"The absolute second," he promised.
"You two look out for each other. I love you both."
"Love you too, Mom. Over and out." He hung the radio up and then turned to face Bella. "I'm glad we got through. I wasn't worried but it was nice to confirm."
"It was," she agreed, hugging him tightly.
"You okay?" he questioned, feeling the tension in her stance.
"She said it's a monsoon over there."
Masen couldn't help himself and snorted. "She didn't mean that literally."
"But it is still raining hard for them and has been for hours. What if the roads really are washed out and we can't get to them until things dry out?"
"It'll suck to be without them while we wait, but it'll be fine. We have supplies on board for us and they have a ton at the house. Please try not to worry."
She nodded and tightened her hold on him for a moment before releasing him. "I'm thirsty. You?"
"Yeah," he answered, following her to the kitchen. "And I could eat too."
She giggled at that. "I still think you might have a tapeworm. Breakfast wasn't that long ago."
He caught her around the waist and held her against him. "Pretty sure we burned off breakfast, kapu."
She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Think if it's still raining after lunch we can burn that off too?"
"We can sure as hell give it a try." He gave her a quick kiss and then let her go so he could get to the fridge. "Water?"
"Please."
He pulled a bottle out for each of them and after making sure she didn't want anything to eat, he grabbed two cheese sticks and an apple for himself.
"Yep," she said as they settled into the booth together. "Tapeworm."
His answer was to bite a cheese stick in half.
"So …" she said as she picked at the label on her water bottle. "Did you paint the shades to match the boat's name or vice-versa?"
He could tell that wasn't the real question she wanted to ask him but he figured it wouldn't hurt to indulge her and give her a few moments to collect her thoughts. "The shades came after we named the boat," he told her.
"They aren't typical for this kind of boat, are they?"
"No, but that's true of most of the accessories on this boat. Once we knew she was the one, we had her outfitted for our particular needs. With the upstairs, we didn't want to give up all the natural light these windows provide but we also had to protect her from fierce tropical storms. The shutters were our answer."
"What's different about the downstairs?"
"We had that small sink added to the medical room, we put in the washer and dryer, and then all the shelving for our gear."
She nodded and grew quiet, not saying anything else until he'd devoured his apple. "Do you think you'll ever want a bigger boat?" she questioned.
He slipped his arm around her back and pulled her right up against him, hoping it would make her feel comfortable enough to open up to him. "Kapu, as much as I love your interest in the boat, we both know it's not what's really on your mind. If I were you, I'd take advantage of this uninterrupted time we have and tell me what's swimming around in this pretty head of yours."
She opened her mouth but then paused. "Um … things will probably be different now."
He chuckled. "No probably about it. We have absolutely entered new territory."
"You don't sound apprehensive at all," she said, lifting her eyes to regard him. "Why is that? Every other big change between us has caused you stress. Why do you seem at peace with this one?"
"I'm not at peace but I'm not apprehensive either. I'm a little nervous to see how this affects our work relationship, but I've already decided the changes are worth it." He leaned in, stopping just short of kissing her. "You are worth it."
He backed up his statement with a kiss that left them both breathless. He understood her hesitancy about his sudden change of heart, and that she might need a little convincing. He'd get her to believe, even if it took all day—and all night would be fine with him too.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
The rain had finally come to a complete stop by mid-afternoon but the main road from the marina to the house was still a mess so Esme had felt it best for Edward and Bella to spend the night on the boat. Edward had been disappointed, mostly because he'd wanted to get home and see for himself that everyone was as okay as his mom was saying. Bella had felt torn; she loved spending time with her family, especially since it had grown, but having Edward's undivided attention had been amazing so far. In addition to ending their line and growing closer, she'd been able to experience his sense of humor, a part of him usually reserved for Whit and Lee and Esme. They'd also discussed books and played card games, and he'd made that attempt to teach her a chord on the guitar. It had been a wonderful day despite the horrid weather.
Thankfully, Edward's disappointment hadn't lasted long. He'd decided to make the best of their situation and he'd pulled out a few of his shark books to quiz Bella and gauge how much she'd learned the past few weeks. She'd surprised both of them with how much she'd picked up and how easily the answers had come to her.
Right around sunset they'd gone outside for some fresh air and to get a look at the multi-colored sky. It had always fascinated her how the ugly grey could turn into such a gorgeous array of colors once a big storm passed. While they'd been on deck, Bella had tried to get a glimpse of the road but they were on the far end of the marina so all she had seen were other boats and the back of the marina's office building.
After another round of battle with the cards—and Bella's first and only win—they'd worked together to whip up a filling dinner of homemade mac and cheese with the last of the milk and cheese from the fridge. It had been the perfect gooey consistency that was the hallmark of excellent comfort food. She'd felt stuffed and sleepy by the time she'd emptied her bowl so when Edward had suggested they read in his bed, she'd happily agreed. Her chosen reading material had been his copy of Princess Bride while he'd gone through a couple marine magazines. It had been so calm and comfortable—right up until he'd quoted the book and she'd had to kiss him, and before she'd known it they'd been wrapped around each other enjoying their lack of a line through a sweet, slow build up and into a fiery ending that had left them both happily exhausted.
It was nearly midnight now and though she was tired from her full day and completely comfortable pressed against Edward, sleep continued to elude her. She wasn't sure if it was not wanting the night to end or if she just hadn't yet put her finger on what was nagging at her and keeping her from sleeping.
Edward hadn't moved or spoken in a while so she whispered just in case he had fallen asleep. "Are you awake?"
"Mmhmm."
"Are you okay?"
He chuckled and pressed his lips against her bare shoulder; a tiny peck of a kiss with the power to make her heart flutter and her skin warm. "I'm naked-spooning with my kapu. How could I not be okay?"
"You've never been this still for this long before."
"I don't have to move to think."
She lifted his hand from her stomach and threaded her fingers through his. "Are you thinking about the ways work might be different now?"
"I was actually thinking about how lucky I am. I almost passed this up. I would have if not for your patience and Whit's persistence. Kind of amazing how I can be both so damn smart and improbably stupid at the same time."
"Don't you mean impossibly?"
"Impossible means unable to occur, exist, or be done. Improbable is unlikely to happen but not completely ruled out. So while I would love for it to be impossible for me to screw-up, it's likely to happen and therefore improbable is the correct word."
Bella raised her eyebrows at his long explanation. "You've given far too much thought to this."
"What about you?" he countered. "What's keeping you awake?"
"I don't think there's really any one thing I can put my finger on. Just chock it up to restless brain, I guess."
"You've had a lot of that lately."
"I've had a lot of changes to digest and understand," she replied, a little surprised he'd noticed with all that had been going on. It made her wonder if maybe he was thinking about the future the same as her so she decided to test the waters. "I was wondering ... Really, I'm not expecting anything, but have you thought at all about what comes after the internship ends?"
"Yes and no. I've thought about it but haven't really gotten anywhere since we still have a lot of work to do in addressing your anxieties and getting you comfortable around sharks."
"Sharks." She said the word slowly, feeling it out and feeling out the emotions it invoked in her. "It still feels weird to be able to say that word and not feel absolutely terrified. I owe you and the team so much for giving me that."
"We didn't give you anything, Bella. We just helped you uncover it within yourself."
"Don't do that. Don't make it seem trivial because it means the world to me," she demanded, turning in his arms so he could see how much she meant her words. "I went on a dive. Multiple dives with you guys. I never thought that was going to be in my life again, that feeling of wonder and awe that comes with exploring a completely different world from the one we live in daily."
"I'm not trying to make it trivial, Bella. I'm trying to get you to see that you are just as responsible for the changes you've seen. I could talk until I'm blue in the face but it won't do a damn bit of good if you aren't open to learning, to growing. In addition to easing your anxiety, I want to bolster your confidence. I don't want for you to ever think for a second that your success is solely tied to this team. If you decided—well, if you worked with another team like on Submarine, you should feel as confident and capable there as you do here."
"I do feel more confident," she assured him. "I wouldn't have been able to go diving or get on the surfboards if not. I know I can finish this out and gain so much from you, from the whole team. I didn't have that belief when I arrived and now I do and I feel like it's opened up so many possibilities I'd never considered."
"We, um, we haven't—" He rubbed at the bridge of his nose a couple times. "I was just wondering if you're still set on Atlanta. Maybe if there was an opening here—do you think you would consider it?"
The shock she felt was so deep and sudden that she stopped everything, even breathing. While she was definitely having doubts about Atlanta, she'd never ventured to picture a permanent place here. It would have been too cruel to imagine it and never have it as a true possibility. Now that it seemed like it could be, her mind raced with scenarios.
"I would absolutely consider it." She quickly added, "But not until the internship is over. I don't feel like it would be fair to answer now when there's so much more to work on with me. I have to feel like I earned the position, Edward. I know you would need that too or you'd end up regretting the offer. Will you ask me again when we're done with the internship? Promise to ask me?"
"Done. Promised." He looked so adorably pleased that she couldn't resist kissing him. He wasted no time in rolling over on top of her to deepen the kiss and his eagerness caused her to laugh.
"Now? Aren't you tired?"
He responded between sensual kisses across her shoulder and along the side of her neck just below her ear, "Now … Later … Tomorrow … All the tomorrows."
She gripped his cheeks with her palms and lifted his face so she could see his gorgeous green eyes. She wanted nothing more than to kiss his lips and show him how good 'all the tomorrows' sounded to her, but first she had to share the part of her future she was completely clear on. "Whatever happens in the next few weeks with my progress, I need you to know that you're in my future regardless. I'm not letting go."
His eyes seemed a little watery but it may have just been a trick of the light since he was sporting the biggest smile she'd seen on him yet. "I think maybe I finally figured out what Elizabeth and Esme were trying to tell me. Of all the things I thought I could never live without, it's really only you. You make everything better, even when you make it harder, which is the most illogical thing I've ever said, but it's also completely true. I am ridiculously lucky to have you as my kapu and I'm not ever letting go."
His heartfelt declaration was immediately followed by a bone-melting kiss full of promise, passion, and desire. No future could ever be right for her without these feelings and the man who made her feel indescribably loved.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
A/N: We hope you all enjoyed the end finally coming to the line dividing Masen and Guppy. We wanted to do it both tastefully and in a way that very much felt natural to who they are right now in their relationship together. Thank you all so much for continuing this journey with us and being patient for this turning point for them. - MyBella & Eternally Addicted