Twihigh cowers and waves.
Hello all. I know it's been quite some time since I've updated. I have had lots of exciting things happen in the past month and I couldn't find my way to a computer. I know, I know, no excuses, right? Well, since my life is about to get REALLY busy, here is a chapter for you.
This picks up a few weeks after Bella has been in NYC.
When the thousands of flashbulbs went off in my face, I was temporarily blinded. I heard the laughter first. It was coming from my right. Edward was the one laughing, pointing to me and holding his side. Then I noticed Alice there, too, doing the same thing. When I turned away from the cameras and looked at them directly, the laughter began to roar. Jasper, Rose and Emmett had joined in. I looked behind them, and saw Jessica, Laurent, and Angela. All laughing and pointing at me. My parents and Phil were off to the side, doubled over in laughter. Then I saw Jake and Leah laughing too. I looked down and saw that I was wearing only underpants and a bra. I shielded myself and began to yell at them.
"Go away! I hate all of you!"
"Leave me alone!"
I began to gasp for air as I was shaken awake.
"Baby. Darling, wake up," he cooed in my ear.
"Shhhh. You were having a dream Shhh..."
I opened my eyes and gulped in air. I couldn't breathe. I was shaking.
"Oh my god," I said and sat straight up in the bed.
I reached in the dark for my bottle of water that I always kept on the nightstand in case my mouth got dry in the middle of the night. Except it wasn't there.
"Edward. Water," I whispered.
"Shit, I forgot you did that. I'll be right back."
Edward sprang from the bed and opened the door. I could see his beautiful silouette as he retreated from the room. He retuned moments later with a bottle of water.
"Here baby, sorry I forgot your water. We kind of fell asleep. Are you alright?"
I chugged some of it and placed it on my nightstand.
"Yes, I'm fine," I sighed. My breathing had returned to normal, and I lay back down and pulled my sheet up over my nude breasts.
Edward slid in next to me and I laid my head in my favorite spot between his shoulder and neck and breathed in his lovely Edward scent.
"The dream I had was pretty funny, actually," I said and giggled. He began to stroke my hair.
"You almost gave me a heart attack the way you screamed," he said and kissed my forehead.
"Sorry."
"So what was it about?"
"It was weird. There were like thousands of photographers taking my picture, then you started laughing at me and pointing to me. Then Alice and Jasper, Rose, Emmett, Angela, Jessica and my parents appeared and joined in the fun." Jake and Leah could stay out of it, I decided.
"Then I looked down and saw I was only in my bra and panties."
"That's not really that funny, Bella," he said and stroked my arm.
"Why not?"
"Well obviously the dream has to do with your privacy, that's for sure. And that's totally normal given the...situation at hand. But don't think for one second I'd ever point and laugh at you, or let any photographers take a picture of you almost naked. That, I assure you, will not happen."
"Oh, Edward, how wrong you are. If I do recall correctly, I was photographed in a bikini in Hawaii unbeknownst to me."
"Yes but we purchased all the pictures," he said and kissed my fingertips ,"and you'll be wearing a one piece on the beach from now on thank you very much," he joked.
"Ugh. Sorry I woke you up," I said and glanced at the clock.
6:15 am.
I clicked the light on on the side table and looked over at Edward. "I guess we better get up anyway. I have to get over to the office."
I had been living in New York and working at Cullen Development for a few weeks now. New York I'd adjusted to with no problems at all. It was Cullen Development that was an adjustment. Where the men worked was a swanky over-the-top place. Edward's floor had a lobby with persian rugs and men's club furniture. His office wasn't much different. It sort of reminded me of an upscale hunting lodge with paitings of horses and hunting hounds. In the large reception area, there were three perfectly polished assistants that sat behind a large mahogany desks. Bianca, Justine, and Heidi. Pregnant, married Bianca was Emmett's assistant. Older, rounder Justine was Carlisle's, and Edward had five-foot-ten blonde Victoria's Secret model, Heidi. When he introduced us, Bianca and Justine were perfecty nice and welcoming. Heidi was not pleased, though. While Edward was watching, she gave me a warm smile and shook my hand. When he turned his back she squinted her eyes at me and looked me up and down in disgust.
It didn't take long for me to notice that she was definitely smitten with her boss. My boyfriend. She liked to perch on his desk in her short skirt and high heels or chew her pen in a certain way as he dictated letters. I took it in stride though, and used my power as Edward's girlfirend to my advantage. When Edward would want me to "help him with his typing" I sauntered throught the reception area and told her he'd be indisposed and to hold his calls and that she needed to run and grab his lunch uptown. She huffed and puffed, but did as she was told. The other girls snickered as she stormed to the elevators.
The floor Alice and I worked on was much different. It was open and modern. Her assistant Jane answered the phones, and the rest of the staff were gay men. It was excellent. Alice started me off slowly, making me accompany her to meetings with clients and asking opionions on furnishings and lighting. Now I had some creative control and was getting more used to the fact that I was putting together a place that someone would actually live in. When I received my first paycheck I almost had a heard attack. It was a month's rent in a week. It was too much. Alice shrugged and said I deserved it. I got bitchy and said I was going to go talk to Edward. Alice told me she'd put a hit out on me if I opened my mouth, and once again, I only half way believed her.
Most days we took long lunches and bummed around high end furniture stores, ordering five thousand dollar couches and priceless chandeliers. Mostly working hard, but sometimes hardly working. Paparazzi follwed us around sometimes, and I began to know a few of them by first name. And trust me, I did all I could to stay away from newsstands and the internet. I was recognized on more than one occasion by people on the street. It was surreal.
Carlisle and Esme had been back a week, and we had already been out to dinner with them twice. Carlisle had actually given me a small "Good evening, Isabella," both times. Esme threaded her arm through mine and clung to me just as fiercly as Edward when we talked. Alice and Jasper were always with us, and Rose and Emmett had finally been able to move on to California to break ground on a new building in LA. Even though she looked like she was from there, Rose hated being able to see the sky and couldn't wait to get back to New York. They'd be back for my birthday, which was in a week.
"You don't have to go into work, you know. I know I kept you up last night," Edward said and laid his head on my chest.
"No, I might as well. I need to be a responisble employee and all," I said and kissed Edward's lips softly.
"And don't forget who's the boss, baby," he said turning us so I was pinned to the pillows and the soft matress.
"Ohhh, ok, boss," I said trailed my tongue over his lips.
"Oh, want a little sunrise surprise, do we my little subordinate?" he asked and licked the spot behind my ear.
"Can you arrange that for me, Mr. Cullen?" I said and trailed my fingertips down his rock hard abs to his rock hard cock that was poking me in the stomach.
"You are insatiable, Miss Swan," he said and took one of my niples into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the bud, licking and sucking until I was squirming and gasping underneath him.
"Edward," I moaned.
He continued his minstrations and trailed his hand to my already wet sex. He slid two fingers deep into me. " Fuck," he said and pumped them in and out of me slowly. I took ahold of him and guided him deep into my body.
Edward moaned and attacked my mouth with his. He pumped in and out of me slowly, tourturously slow, until I was forced to beg him to move faster.
"Edward, please," I breathed.
He groaned ,"I like to take my time sometimes, baby. Am I drivnig you insane?"
"Yes."
"Tell me what you want then."
"Please. Hard."
"As you wish," he whispered in my ear and began to thrust into me hard and fast. All the time he took, taking it slow in the beginning made my body release quicker than I had intended.
I gasped "Oh, Edward! Fuck!"
My release washed over me intensely, causing my body to shake, and my head to fall back. Edward groaned out shortly after, and collapsed onto my chest.
"Mmm. Good morning, baby."
I chuckled,"Good morning."
Edward began to kiss my neck and my shoulder lovingly. "Bella, I think you have something you need to do that you agreed to do back in Seattle?" he asked and looked at me with an amused smirk.
"What?"
"It involves the coffee maker and you with no clothes on I believe."
Oh, geez.
"Nude coffee making? You were serious?"
"Deadly."
"You know, you better enjoy this now, because when we're married and have little kids running around, you'll never see me nude again."
Oh fuck. I did not just say that out loud. That was just a little something I thought about on the daily. I tried to push those thoughts away to no avail. It just slipped.
Oh fuck. My hand flew to my mouth and I winced. I could feel the heat flood to my face as Edward stayed silent, looking down at me while biting his bottom lip.
"I didn't mean...well...sorry. That just came out. I meant our imaginary...I mean you're my boyfriend and maybe I thought about it but...Oh my god I'm going to stop talking now." Edward was still looking at me and biting his lip.
"So, you would marry me?" he asked confused.
"I well...I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I well...yes...maybe..."
"Maybe is not an answer."
"What? what are you talking about?"
"This is so not..." he trailed off and quickly got up from the bed and put his robe on.
I sat up in shock. I had just freaked him out. And now...he's mad at me. He opened his closet door and pulled something from the top shelf and stuck it in his robe pocket. He walked up to my side of the bed and took one of my hands in his, his face twisted in pain. I was about to pull him into the bed and kiss him and tell him I was sorry. I wanted to hug him and tell him how stupid I was.
Before I could do any of those things, he dropped to his knees in front of me. He took my hand and kissed my knuckle lovingly, while he squeezed his eyes shut. He opened them and looked at me. They looked pleading and sincere.
"Bella. I have loved you since the first moment I saw you...You took all the air out of my lungs and all rational thought out of my brain. I have never in my life felt so complete when you're with me, or so lonely when I'm without you. I don't want to wait anymore. There is no reason for us to wait if you feel the same way. "
I started to gasp for air. Was this? Oh shit.
"Isabella Swan, will you do me the greatest honor and make me an honest man?"
I didn't say anything. My jaw dropped and my eyes began to water.
"Bella, marry me," he said and pulled something out of his pocket. The last time I hesitated when he told me he loved me, I hurt his feelings. This time I wouldn't hesitate.
"YES!" I yelled and hugged him around the neck. I began to sob then. I pulled him closer and hugged him tighter. "Yes, I'll marry you Edward Cullen. Yes."
He let out a whoosh of air and hugged me back tightly. I closed my eyes and sobbed onto his shoulder, and somehow he unclenched my left hand from around his neck and slipped a ring onto my finger. I couldn't believe it. We were going to be married.
"Bella, look at me."
I sniffled and looked into his eyes. His were just a bit misty, but no sign of fallen tears.
"I. Love. You."
"I love you too, Edward," I said and pulled him on top of me. I kissed him with all I had, tongues, lips, teeth and all. He wrapped his arms around me and didn't let me go for what felt like forever.
After awhile, "Thriller" was playing on a loop throughout the room. Fucking Alice. I checked the clock again, and realized we had been lying there for two hours in silence, loving each other again with our bodies and with sincere touches.
We were going to be late for work, and I was going to be Mrs. Cullen. Oh. my. God. I touched the ring on my finger. I was shocked that after everything that had happened, I hadn't looked at the ring.
When I did, I screamed.
"Holy Christ! Fucking shit, Edward!
He jumped up form the bed and looked at me like my hair was on fire. "What's wrong baby!"
I pointed to the hugely obnoxious center diamond surrounded by tinier diamonds that sat atop my ring finger. Edward smirked and collapsed back on top of me. "Oh, that."
"Edward, you can't expect me to wear it. Its...huge...and..." It caught my eye again and I looked at it on my tiny hand.
"And?" he asked and kissed me on the cheek.
"Ok, well fine. It's huge and obnoxious...and so...beautiful," I said and sighed while the diamonds entranced me.
Edward chuckled and I smiled. "Thank you Edward. It's gorgeous."
"So are you. You, know, Isabella, that was not at all how I was planning on proposing. But when you mentioned us being married and having kids, I couldn't wait any longer. I want so much for you to be my wife. I just...I'm actually glad I did it like this. I was planning a cheesy carriage ride around central park in the fall. Guess that's out the window!" he said and kissed me.
"Fuck," he sighed and looked at the clock, "I have to go get ready for work, baby. I really don't want to, you know, since I'm newly engaged and all, but I have an important meeting today."
"Well ok. Let's go get in the shower. I'll call Demetri and tell him to be here in an hour."
"You're coming in?"
"Um, yes, my fiance, I am coming in."
"Mmm...I like the sound of that," Edward said and pulled me out of bed and into the warm shower and into his embrace.
When I began getting ready for work, I started to panic. How the hell was I going to tell people about this? I thought first about my father and mother who had never actually met Edward in person. My father was still apprehensive about my picking up and moving across the country for "some boy I didn't even know". He would hate this and may possibly disown me. My mother would be an easy sell. Even though they had never met, she insisted on speaking to Edward whenever he was around when she called. He charmed the shit out of that woman.
I started to breathe a bit heavier when I thought about having to tell Carlisle and Esme. Girlfriend is one thing, but fiancée is quite another. We had been together for such a short time that I didn't want them to think I was in it for the wrong reasons. If Edward hadn't been a part of this family and dug ditches for a living, I would love him just as fiercely.
Angela would support me in anything I did, so I was not worried about her. Rose knew that Edward wanted the same things as I did, and wanted me to be her sister.
Alice.
I didn't know how she was going to react. Jasper still hadn't proposed and was still working toward some sort of grand gesture. I didn't want her to feel like I was taking something from her by getting engaged first.
Edward did nothing but beam at me the entire time we danced around each other getting ready for the day. I wish I was like him.
I wish I didn't care what other people thought.
Come on, you guys totally knew this was going to happen.