A/N: Thanks to my wonderful beta girlies- Prettyflour and Ninmesarra, they make this better with their mad editing skillz! Any mistakes that remain are no reflection of their awesomeness but rather my inability to leave it alone once they rock it!
Again, apologies for late update- I could give 100 reasons why it's late, but I'll save the space and let you guys read. Just know that it's never my intention to go longer than bi-weekly updates!
~*C2C*~
I met Eddie at his apartment at nine. It was on the top floor but he had the only view in the whole building. His living room and bedroom windows looked over the city. He had an unobstructed view of the lights that I loved.
I pulled my jacket off and he took it and laid it across the back of the couch. "I keep meaning to buy a coat tree or some peg shelf thing, but I forget everytime I go to the store. Please, excuse my mess," he said, motioning towards the papers on the coffee table and unfolded clothes in the chair. "I meant to get those put away, but time ran away from me."
"Don't worry about it. My house is rarely clean either." I smiled in reassurance, hoping to put him at ease.
He took two steps to close the distance between us and pulled me into his arms. I sighed in contentment when his lips captured mine in a sweet and sensuous kiss. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I plunged my hands into his hair. His lips made their way to my jawline and Eddie nibbled his way down to my neck. One of his hands slid up my shirt to caress my breast through my bra. He was making me crazy.
Holy crow- his lips and hands... magic...
I trailed one hand down from his hair to feel his muscles bunch under his shirt. God, I thought I just might die.
Knock, knock.
"Damn it," Eddie said, lifting his eyes to meet mine. "That would be our dinner. Hope Chinese is okay. I got the sesame chicken that you like. And your egg rolls."
"Yeah, that's perfect, thanks."
He answered the door and paid the delivery girl, bringing the food to the coffee table. "Do want chopsticks or a fork?"
"A fork, please. I never could master chopsticks." Walking across the open apartment, he grabbed a fork and brought it to me.
Sitting down on the floor, we opened and ate, telling each other about our week. "Oh my- I got the craziest story in my inbox this week. The boss-man wanted me to look over it and give him my opinion on marketability. Well, I think it was an attempt at a hot romance novel, but it was a total flop." I took my last bite and swallowed before continuing, "The author wrote about using hot dogs and mayonnaise. I wanted to puke."
"Are you serious?" At my nod, Eddie turned a little green. "That's just gross and wrong. On so many different levels. What the hell would make someone want to write a story like that?" He shuddered in horror.
"I don't know. And to be honest, I'm not sure I want to know. What about you? Did you have any excitement this week?"
"Nah, no excitement for me. Even Pete was quiet this week."
"Really? Wow... That's really something." I tipped my head to lean on Eddie's shoulder.
"You know Eddie, I'm glad I met you. You're an amazing guy."
"You are an incredible woman, Bella. I'm glad you walked into my bar." Eddie's lips kissed my hair and I looked up and smiled at him. "Is Ang still staying with you?"
"Yeah, she says she can't go back home with Ben yet. He really hurt her. I hope they work it out, but I don't know if they can."
"Well, if he's worth having, he'll figure it out and tell his mom to shut up. He can't let her rule his life forever. Especially not when it hurts the people you love the most."
"That's what I keep telling him when he calls. I think I'm going to have to change my home number. He calls at least ten times a day, trying to get Angie to talk to him. She really needs her space right now. She needs to think. And unless he's going to apologize, I don't think he should talk to her for a while longer."
"I'm with you. Do you want me to have a talk with him? I'll be happy to give some pointers on how he should treat a woman he professes to love."
"I don't think that's necessary yet, but I'll keep it in mind... you know, just in case." Tipping my head back to look at his face, I smiled a sad smile, "I don't want to talk about that anymore. It just makes me sad."
Eddie kissed my eyelids, then said, "You should never be sad, Beautiful."
His lips descended on mine in a searing kiss. Lips melded and tongues met. Hands caressed and moved over my body. Even through my clothes I could feel the heat that was Eddie.
He leaned up when we were both gasping for air. "If we don't stop now, there will be no going back, babe. I turned my phone off tonight."
"I turned mine off too." I stood up and held my hand out to him. "I want you, Eddie."
His green eyes darkened and I'd never seen him move so fast. He grabbed my hand and had me in the bedroom before I could think twice.
Not that I would have.
Shaking fingers gripped the hem of his shirt and I dragged it up his torso, pulling it over his head as he raised his arms, helping me remove it all the way. I reached a hand out to trace his abdominal muscles. He hissed at the contact of my cool hand on his hot skin. My eyes lifted to his and his hands went to my waist. He drew me in closer to him and I knew this was it. This was going to be what I'd been waiting for. The culmination of all our unsatisfied attempts... My knees grew weak at the thought that he really wanted me.
He was so handsome; it was still hard to believe.
He brought one hand up to trail a finger down my cheek. I leaned into the warmth of his touch and then he kissed me again. This kiss was like none before it. It was full of all the pent up tension and passion we'd been fighting from the beginning. The need and desire was completely overwhelming us both. We succumbed to the intensity of our attraction.
His hands trembled slightly as he unbuttoned my cardigan. Heat coiled in the pit of my stomach when he removed the sweater and the camisole under it. I needed his hands on me. I needed to touch him and be touched. Everywhere. The desperation between us was at an all-time high.
I craved him- all of him.
"Eddie... I need..."
"What, baby? What do you need?"
"Everything..."
"Me too," he breathed. His mouth went to my throat and he removed my bra while I fumbled with the button on his jeans. Once it was open, I shoved them down over his hips and legs. He stepped out of them and kicked them to the side. My bra was unclasped and pulled from my body. My pants met the same fate as his. He pulled me tight to his chest and kissed me again. His hands roamed over my back before gripping my ass and lifting me up. I could feel his hard erection between us- he was absolutely huge. My lips found their way to his neck and I kissed and nibbled there, loving the feel of our bodies pressed together.
He carried me to the bed and peeled my panties from my body. I felt a wee bit embarrassed laying naked before him. He stared intently at me, as though he was trying to memorize each and every part of me. I pulled my hand up to cover my chest, but he whispered, "Don't, you're so beautiful..." He took his boxers off and lay down beside me.
I was so nervous.
This was everything I'd wanted and hoped for since we met, more or less, and I was afraid of not being enough for him. I didn't want to let him down.
"Stop, Bella."
"Stop what?"
"Stop thinking so much. Just feel..." his words died away and he lowered his mouth to my breast. I sucked in a gasp at the sensation- it was amazing. He knew just what I needed and when I needed it. One hand trailed to my most sensuous spot and stroked there. The other hand was busy plying my other breast and rolling it between his fingers and thumb. He had me writhing in no time.
"Fuck, Eddie, I need more... Please..." I was begging him. If he didn't fill me soon, I was going to explode from the tension that he was building to a frenzy inside me. He lifted his head and licked his lips- like a predator claiming his prey. He settled himself between my legs and after assuring himself that I was ready for him, he slowly- oh-so-very-slowly, pushed his way inside.
He was taking his sweet time in loving me- that's exactly what it felt like. It was more than a quick fuck, more than just a roll in the hay. This was more. It was intense and full of caring... maybe even love. I could feel how much he cared about me in the way he made sure my needs were satisfied. The way he touched me- gently as though I were a porcelain doll afraid of breaking...
I wrapped my legs around his waist, using my feet to increase the speed and intensity. I could feel myself drawing closer to the edge. I pushed him harder and faster, plummeting myself over the edge and free-falling into ecstasy. He came right after me, both of us crying out at the intensity of the pleasure.
When we'd both semi-recovered from our experience, he kissed my lips and rolled to the side. Eddie's arms wrapped around me again and he pulled me closer to his side.
His eyes closed and his breathing evened out. He was sleeping peacefully.
My mind raced with thoughts and memories of what we'd just done. There was no going back now. And I had absolutely no desire to. I was different.
Changed.
I had an eye-opening epiphany laying in Eddie's embrace. He truly cared about me where Sam never had. Sam was the type that would fuck you and then turn over to sleep. Eddie held me, keeping me safe in his arms. And I also realized that I'd only thought I loved Sam. I was wrong. I cared about him sure, but I'd been in love with the idea of being in love. I didn't hate him anymore either though.
There was no room for love and hate to exist in the same space.
And I loved Eddie. I really did. In the last weeks- tonight especially- he'd completely eradicated Sam's name from my heart and soul. It was full of Eddie now.
Turning my face to his, I kissed his chin and whispered, "I love you, Eddie."
He cracked an eye open at me and held me tighter to him. "Do you really mean that, Bella?"
I was embarrassed at having been caught, but I fully believed in complete honesty. So I confessed, "Yes, I really do."
His lips found mine again. He kissed me with everything he had in him. Finally raising his head up, he said, "I love you too."
Eddie loved me. My heart felt lighter and I wanted to stand up and dance. I was so excited and ready to start this new step with him. I absolutely loved him. And he loved me too. I didn't know how soon I'd stop replaying that in my mind.
We made love again, tender and sweet. He was even more gentle the second time than the first. This time though, it was filled with whispered love words.
The third time, I told Eddie that I wasn't made of glass and he wasn't going to break me. It was hard and fast and just as amazing as it was different.
We finally slept after that, content to cling to each other.
~*C2C*~
The next morning, I made Eddie breakfast and we showered together. It was hot and steamy and I couldn't believe how gluttonous I was becoming. I wanted his touch and his kiss as much as I wanted to breathe. He seemed just as needy as I was. Keeping close to my side.
After watching the movie he'd rented the night before, I remembered I should probably turn my phone back on.
I was surprised to see fourteen missed calls and a voicemail to go with each one, as well as thirty text messages from Alice and Rose all telling me to call them asap.
I called Rose, she was always the less dramatic and more level-headed of the two, and waited for her to answer. "Bella, thank God. I've been trying to get a hold of you all night. Ang is gone..."
~*C2C*~
A/N: FINALLY! What did you think? I can't even wait to hear your thoughts on this chapter! And the next one is written and off to beta, so hopefully it's up by this time next week!