oOo
They spent the first night at the cottage in front of the fireplace, snuggled up to each other, kissing and talking. Everything was light and warm.
They slept soundly and deeply, the murmur of the sea accompanying their dreams.
New Year's Eve came with a shopping list and a trip to Penarth to finally buy some groceries. It started to snow in the early afternoon, and Bella and Edward watched the flakes float down from the upstairs bathroom window, where they were having a long, hot bath.
Edward sighed comfortably. Things between them were still so new, but when Bella was in his arms, like now, it felt perfect and natural. Everything about her appealed to him. Her fingers, as they braided with his. Her hair, with its clean, flowery scent. Her pale skin. Her delicious breasts.
Her breasts – Edward wanted to write them a symphony, or a sonnet.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do either.
"I'm getting pruny," she remarked. "And so are you." She kissed his fingertips. "We should get out."
Edward kissed her neck.
"Okay."
Seconds later, he was presented with her beautiful backside, watching as she slipped into a thick bathing gown.
"Come on," she grinned. "Or do you want to keep staring at me?"
Edward nodded enthusiastically, which made her giggle. He only climbed out of the tub when she went into the bedroom. He wrapped a towel around his waist and followed her.
The sight before him made him gasp, made his breath hitch and his mouth gape open.
Bella was draped on the bed, smiling angelically, the robe slipping down her shoulders. Her hair was flowing down her back, her cheeks a lovely pink shade. Huge, luminous eyes cast their spell on him.
"Baby…"
"Yes?"
Her smile was at once seductive and naïve, playful and sweet.
"Don't move."
And Edward darted downstairs to fetch his drawing pad and his pencils.
She had not moved when he returned seconds later, still only clad in a towel and slightly out of breath. He looked at her. The light from the fireplace gave her hair a chestnut shine.
"Don't move," he repeated, his voice husky and urgent.
He grabbed his glasses and sat down, and continued to look at her, his mind working with lightning speed.
His pencil touched the paper, and he was gone, lost in his own world as he captured the beauty before him. He worked swiftly, his decisions happening on an unconscious level. Once, he had to get up.
"Can I move this?" he asked, his thumb inching into the fuzzy material of her robe, pushing it lower until he was able to see a bit of cleavage.
Bella smiled, so he pushed the robe still lower. He revealed half a nipple. Bella grinned.
"Do I amuse you?"
"Do you have any idea how hot you look?" she whispered, watching him intently. "Almost naked, with your glasses…"
Edward shook his head.
"You're impossible." He gave her lips a small peck and returned to his original position.
His hand was working without any conscious support from his brain and he let it happen. As if directed from a different, secret source, he sketched what he saw: a mesmerizing young woman.
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
He looked up. Bella didn't look too happy and Edward realized he hadn't noticed how much time must have passed.
"Do you think you'll be finished soon? Because I'm getting a little cold…"
"God, I'm sorry."
One more line, and he put his work aside: He knew he'd set down what he needed. The rest would follow in his studio.
Edward stepped to the bed and crawled over her, kissing her arm, her shoulder, her collarbone, feeling her skin react with goose bumps that were not caused by the cold.
"Then I'll have to warm you up, I guess," he whispered, and skimmed his nose over her nipple.
"Yes," she replied, but it was swallowed by a delighted moan.
oOo