oOo
It was after midnight when they went upstairs to retire to bed.
There had been few words as to whether Bella was going to spend the night. It seemed the natural thing to do, and she felt totally comfortable at Edward's house. He showed her around, pointing out the guest room and his small office.
"That's my studio." He gestured to the left.
The door was half-open.
"May I?" Bella asked.
"Um, of course."
She peered into the dark room. It was huge, with a floor-to-ceiling window. The smell of paint hung in the air. There were two easels, and paintings she couldn't figure out were leaning against the walls.
"I'll show you tomorrow, okay?"
Edward had stepped behind her and kissed her ear. She understood his need to protect his workspace and nodded. She slipped her hand into Edward's, and they took a few steps to the last door on the hallway, the one next to his studio.
He opened the door for her and switched on the lights.
"Voilà," he said.
Bella smiled immediately. His bedroom was gorgeous.
Facing the dark garden, there was a huge, Victorian-style double bed with a purple bedspread. The bedside tables on each side matched it in style, and there were lovely white lamps on top.
A settee in front of the window with a chest next to it, an enormous mahogany wardrobe and lavish curtains matching the colour of the bedspread made her gasp. On the right, next to the wardrobe, was a door. On the left, there was a chest of drawers and an armchair.
The whole room was cosy, elegant, and masculine at once, and it reflected Edward. It smelled very nice also. Like warmth and vanilla and a touch of cedar wood.
"Wow, this is beautiful!"
Edward cleared his throat.
"Really?"
She turned around.
"Yes. Really."
Standing on her toes, she kissed him.
"Which side do I get to sleep on?"
"Um, I usually sleep in the middle." He smiled shyly. "But my stuff is on the right side."
"Your stuff?"
She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
He laughed softly.
"Books, alarm, water bottle?"
"Oh. Oh your stuff!"
She grinned as if he'd said something dirty, and Edward giggled and kissed her cheek.
"I placed a toothbrush and towels on the storage drawers. And a T-shirt, too."
"Thank you." She kissed his chin.
"Um, if you want to take a shower, or –"
She silenced him with another kiss, this one on his lips.
"I'll go change and brush my teeth, thank you very much."
Edward grinned.
"Take your time."
Once she'd shut the door, Bella turned to the mirror and screamed soundlessly.
How much longer was this man going to torture her?
Yes, he wanted to do this slowly.
Yes, he'd been through a lot.
Yes, she wanted to undress him and feast on his body.
Bella splashed cold water on her face after she'd furiously brushed her teeth.
She felt scrubbed clean and rosy-cheeked when she returned to the bedroom. Edward was sitting on the side of the bed in pyjama pants and a T-shirt, looking at his bare toes as he wiggled them.
She groaned inside.
Even his toes were turning her on.
oOo
Hmm… Will she feast on his body anytime soon? What do you think?