oOo
Bella didn't call Edward immediately once she was home.
She retrieved his present from the sock drawer. She placed it on the coffee table and looked at it.
She smiled, and went to get the wrapping paper.
.
Their arms and legs entwined, they lay in her bed after making love.
She was spent, in the best of ways. Her head on his chest, she fondled his bristling hair. She kissed his warm skin and revelled in his scent.
"Edward?"
She moved until she could look at him.
"Yes?"
He looked like she felt: exhausted and high on a cloud of bliss.
"I love you."
His full lips lifted into a beautiful smile.
"I love you too," he replied.
"Good."
"Very."
"Did you think we'd end up like this?" she mused.
"In your bed?" He grinned cockily.
"That, too."
"Hmm…"
His fingers were painting unknown patterns on her back.
"I knew from the moment I met you at Boots that you were… someone special. I was intrigued by your eyes."
She kissed his chest.
"And now you're intrigued by my boobs?"
Now that he'd seen, kissed, licked, and again and again professed his love for her breasts, she wasn't so shy about them anymore.
He chuckled and patted her bottom.
"I'm intrigued by your mind, Bella. Your charm, your sweetness, your beauty. Your sensitivity, your warmth. And your boobs, yes. Big time."
"You're silly."
She loved that he was.
When they'd met, he'd always seemed sombre and sad.
"I'm serious, Bella." He nuzzled her hairline with his nose. "I know you don't see your body clearly, but you're divine."
She closed her eyes and relaxed into his warmth. She believed him, and she could almost see herself through his eyes.
They fell asleep with their arms around each other, floating on clouds of peace and security.
.
When Bella woke, the space beside her was empty, but she could hear him in the kitchen – her flat was small, after all.
Edward appeared after a few moments, bearing two mugs of coffee.
"Hey," he smiled. "Merry Christmas."
He set the mugs down and slipped back under the covers with her.
"Merry Christmas," she murmured, rubbing her eyes.
Edward handed her the coffee.
"I hope you don't mind."
"That you made coffee?" She took a sip. "Why would I mind? It's very sweet of you."
Edward cleared his throat.
She looked up.
He had not been referring to the coffee. He was holding an envelope in his hand, reminding her of the last time that had happened. This one had the drawing of a sprig of mistletoe on it.
"You're crazy," she grinned.
"Open it?" He actually seemed nervous. "It's… I hope you don't think this presumptuous…" He scratched the back of his neck.
Bella pulled a card from the envelope. To her surprise, it wasn't a drawing, but a picture postcard. There were snow-covered hills and it said, Greetings from Penarth.
Confused, she turned the card. There was Edward's fine, black handwriting.
New Year's Eve in Wales for Bella and Edward.
I love you.
E
"What… what does this mean?"
She stared at him.
"It means that I would like to spend New Year's with you. In Wales."
"But… Why…"
"If you don't want to, that's okay," he hastened to assure her. "We can go some other time. Or somewhere else. Or not at all…" He shook his head. "It probably was a stupid – "
"I'd love to." She kissed him. "But… why Wales?"
He shrugged. "My aunt has a cottage there, which she rents out, but I've never been there. I asked her if we could have it, and she said yes."
Bella kissed him again.
oOo