* CHAPTER 8 *
Bella tucked her phone into her back pocket and gave me that same carefree smile I'd seen before she'd left my room. "So, did we turn you into a bingo aficionado?"
"Ha! Hardly."
She chuffed. I added a hasty, "No offense or anything."
"No offense taken. Clearly, it's not your thing. You're a good guy to do that for your mom."
There was no way to hide my blush now. "You were sweet to her. Thanks. And also . . . thanks for not . . . you know." God. I looked down at the carpet and bit my tongue before I said anything worse.
"Hey, I like Esme. And what we did last night, that's between us. What happens at Foxwoods . . ."
My head shook on its way up. I was about to say more than I wanted to, and there didn't seem to be a damn thing I could do to stop it.
"It's great you're so cool with it, but . . . I don't usually . . . I haven't ever . . .that's just not me."
"Did you just call me a whore?"
"Oh my god, no! I'm sorry, I didn't mean there was anything wrong with it, just that I've personally never—"
"Relax," she said, grabbing my arm and stepping in way too close. "I'm kidding."
She giggled while I clutched my heart. I wasn't going to forgive her, but then she batted her eyelashes behind those dark-rimmed glasses.
I let out a long sigh they probably heard across the room. "You know you're killing me, right?"
"Yeah, well . . . maybe you kill me a little too."
Whoa. Was that a blush on her face? Just when I was about to file away this whole experience as a crazy, hot, one-night stand, Bella became a real girl. With that first, tiny shard of vulnerability, she sliced me wide open.
Which is probably why I said the stupidest thing I'd said yet. "I do?"
She lifted her hand to my cheek and ran her thumb across my lips. "Hell, yes."
The room tilted. I gulped and swallowed. We stared at each other through her lenses for what felt like hours. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted her to kiss me.
She smiled at me. "You know, it's not a one-night stand if you do it the next day."
I gulped again. I had to close my eyes, but that turned out to be a huge mistake. Images from last night bombarded me—her crashing against me in the elevator, her head kissing its way down my belly, "play with my nipples" . . .
How much time do we have before dinner?
Who ARE you?
I shook my head until most of the horny thoughts fell out, leaving me with a dull roar I could probably manage. "I know this is going to sound really . . . old-fashioned or something, but I think I really like you."
"You think?"
"See, that's the thing. I don't know. I don't know you, but I'd really like to."
She smiled, different from the coy, teasing smiles I'd seen up to this point. I'd caught her off guard, and that's what she finally was—utterly unguarded. Just like me.
I clasped her hand against my cheek and found the other one by her side. My fingers tangled with hers, locking us together. "I really want to kiss you," I said.
Her smile widened. "Okay," she whispered back. And for once, she waited for me to make the move.
I closed the distance between our lips. Unrushed and unclouded by alcohol, I tasted the girl in front of me for the first time. My eyes closed again as our mouths and hearts opened to each other. Without the cover of the casual quickie, we allowed ourselves the exquisite joy of risking everything.
Huh. Me, taking on risk. How about that?
I pulled back from our kiss, enjoying the view of her lips forming a most beautiful smile almost as much as I'd enjoyed the taste. "That was nice."
She agreed, letting me know with a low purr.
"What's your last name, Bella Jean?"
"Your mom's got it in her phone."
"You're really going to make me ask my mother?"
She shrugged. This one was a challenge. I liked that.
"You're impossible, you know that?"
"No, Edward. I'm easy."
She had a point there.
"Are you planning to give me a hard time when I call to ask you out?"
"Only if you wait too long."
"I won't."
"Speaking of waiting . . ." She nodded toward the door.
"Somehow, I don't think Ma will mind if I kiss you one more time."
Bella giggled as I went in for another kiss. I was greedier this time, now that I knew it would be a while until my next one.
Still holding hands, we turned toward the exit and took a few dizzy steps together. I couldn't feel the floor beneath my feet.
Bella cut through the giddy high. "So, you sure you don't want to get lucky tonight?"
I squeezed her hand and chuckled. "I'm sure I already have."
Author's Note: Hope you're smiling as wide as I am. I have an epilogue for you, and this one is told. Thank you all for being here and leaving me your very interesting reviews!
If anyone is interested in the BOH behind the story, you can check out this interview by A Different Forest, which posted yesterday. My understanding is you can read the interview but can't leave a comment unless you have an account. (www dot) adifferentforest (dot net slash) Campfires/30673
Thank you all for your support! :)
XXX ~BOH