Can you all believe we are just six days from Christmas? Where
on earth did this year go? SO much to do yet. *sighs*
Fran, dear lady, ILY. That is all!
I don't own Twilight or its characters, just the plot. No infringement
intended.
-LWTC-
Chapter 25
Bella sat in her usual spot on the loveseat by the fireplace, with her legs drawn up underneath as its rich flavor burst on her tongue. The sweet blend of roasted beans that Edward so artfully blended to perfection was the only coffee (espresso, really) that she could stand to drink anymore. He had spoiled her for life. Thank God, Edward knew this, and being the thoughtful man that he was, always made sure to send her with a thermos full to last her the day.
Today, however, she was off … finally. This was her first full day off from work since the day after the Gala. That night had been the best of her life. Falling to sleep in Edward's arms was wonderful, but waking in them … that was the singular greatest moment of her life.
She had opened her eyes to find him staring at her with a look of awed bliss on his face. His lazy grin and sleep-heavy eyelids were a sultry sight that stirred up butterflies in her belly, and quickened her pulse.
"Good morning, Princess," he said in a husky voice as he kissed the tip of her nose.
"Good mor-"
"I love you."
"I love you, too," she breathed out, unperturbed at being interrupted in her morning salutation.
"Did you know that I've never slept with anyone before?" Bella arched a brow, and looked at him dubiously. "No, seriously! I mean—I've slept with a few women, but I have never gone to sleep with one in my arms before."
"All of my firsts have been with you, Edward."
"I know, and I thank you for trusting me with them, beautiful girl," Edward ran his fingers through her long, soft hair.
"I want-, "Bella swallowed heavily, biting her bottom lip, and looking at him through her lashes. "I want you to have all of my firsts."
Bella's eyes burned, boring a gaze deep into his soul, as she willed him to understand, and follow through on her invitation.
"I want that, too," Edward whispered. "But not yet. I don't think we're ready for that, Princess."
Bella looked at her fingernails, picking at a cuticle nervously, and bit her lip as she fought to keep her eyes from filling with the tears that prickled at her ducts. "When do you think we'll be ready?"
"How about when I claim you as my wife, before God and all of humanity?" Edward stilled her hands, took her left hand in between his, and began to massage her palm and run his fingers between hers, and found himself focusing on her empty third finger. Without really considering the consequences of taking such an action, he sucked her ring finger into his mouth, and ran his tongue across the pad, then down its length. He circled the sensitive base with the tip of his tongue, and imagined how a smooth metal band would feel and taste against her skin.
He stopped abruptly when he heard the sharp intake of breath between Bella's teeth, and glanced up into her dilated pupils. He noted her increased rate of respiration and the gape of her lips as she gazed at him hungrily.
"Shit, Baby." Edward shook his head in disbelief at himself. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean … I wasn't think-"
Bella silenced him by crashing her lips against his, and rolled to press herself more fully against the firm length of his body. She sensed his hesitancy, and moved to straddle him before he could begin to pull away from her.
She may have been inexperienced, but she was a woman on a mission, and she knew that she wanted … more. She wanted to know what it was like to heave and sigh in pleasure. She wanted to feel the power of bringing her man pleasure. Bella wanted to hear him sigh her name as she took him to places of physical and emotional release.
She wanted them to be branded into each other's souls.
What followed was the most satisfying, and beautiful thing she had ever shared with anyone. She smiled, and her cheeks pinked as she remembered Edward taking the lead, pulling that top sheet barrier from between them, and bringing them both to release … fully clothed. She never knew that could be done, and she couldn't wait until later that evening, to re-enact the scene.
-LWTC-
"What has my Princess blushing" Edward asked as he dropped a kiss on her forehead on his way to press the accept button and silence the pay by cash request beeping away behind the convenience counter.
Bella just giggled and took another sip of her coffee. "Do you have any idea why Alice has been so busy this last week? I can't seem to pin her or Esme down for that matter."
Edward chose to focus all of his attention on getting a coffee for the customer who had come to get a cup for himself, and the driver of the vehicle currently pumping gas. He had managed thus far to avoid questions about Alice's hectic schedule in recent days. He knew he had heaped a lot onto her plate, as well as Rose and his mother's.
His request was such a large undertaking for such a short time period. So far, he had managed to distract her, and divert her thoughts with deep kisses before sending her off to work, or bed, thus distracting her from her line of questioning. He had a feeling that was not going to work today. Thankfully, Alice had foreseen this eventuality, and had given him a story to tell her that was not a lie … per se. He jumped right into it as soon as he cleared the store of his latest round of customers.
"Alice was asked by her brother, to plan his wedding; rather last-minute actually," Edward informed her.
"Her brother?"
"Yeah, she has a friend who she thinks of as a brother, at least. They are super close. Anyhow, last week, he asked her rather suddenly to help him plan a surprise wedding for his girlfriend. Apparently, he plans to propose, and then marry her on Christmas Day; assuming she says yes."
"That's incredibly …"Edward cringed as he awaited her words. He sincerely hoped that she liked that idea. "Romantic, and thoughtful. I know that some would think it horrible to take away the planning process from her, but I figure if a guy knows the woman he loves well enough, and cares about what she likes and dislikes, it would take an awful lot of stress away from her just to be able to sit back, and enjoy the day."
"Really? You think so," Edward tried to hide his relief as he pushed forward. "I know that Rose would have strangled Emmett for thinking of such a thing."
"Yes, but Emmett is kind of a big, man-child. I mean, can you imagine what kind of wedding day he would have planned?"
Bella and Edward laughed at the imagery that such a suggestion inspired. Edward sent a few texts to Alice throughout the morning following that enlightening conversation, and hummed happily through the day.
-LWTC-
Hey, chicka! Sorry I have been so busy, but Worryward informs me that you know about the wedding I am planning. So, along that vein, I have a few questions for you. The bride dresses similarly to you in her every day clothes, and really liked the dress you wore for the Gala. (Yes, I showed her your pics, deal) Ennywho, to shorten this novel, would you please look at the pics I am forwarding you, and tell me which dress you think you would want to wear if it were your wedding I was planning? Thanks. x (Alice)
Ohmigosh! The one with the capped sleeves, and the tulle. It is gorgeous! *jealous* you'll have to either get me an invite to this thing, or at least show me pictures. That dress is to die for! x (Bella)
I kind of thought so too, the other one was a little bit too over-the-top, fairy-tale princess looking. x (Alice)
Agreed! :) (Bella)
-LWTC-
Ugh! My brother is leaving it up to me to decide how many people should stand with her. I have already contacted her closest friend, and she's agreed to be the MOH, but do you think I should just insert Rose and me, or is that being presumptuous? I mean, we're really, super close with this girl. (Alice)
I can't speak for her, Ali! LOL I don't even know her, but you keep saying how alike we are, so I'll tell you what I think. If I were planning my own wedding, I would want sophisticated simplicity. Just a MOH and Best Man, (No way am I abbreviating that… just ew!) and all of our family as witness. I mean, I know I don't have family, and this isn't my wedding, but when I imagine what my wedding would look like, it's just me and him, and our family. Your family. *blush* #can'tbelieveIamdaydreamingaboutweddings (Bella)
Candle light, or Christmas lights, since it is a Christmas Day wedding? (Alice)
Ooooh… pretty, twinkly Christmas lights! The unity candles will be there anyhow. WHITE Christmas lights, though. The kind that they call 'fairy lights' in the UK. And a HUMONGOUS Christmas tree at the altar, the white lights, and those faux-candle bubble lights! See what you've done?! You have me thinking about this obsessively! I have to stop. Really. I'm bowing out, because thinking this way is only making me want to rush things. (Bella)
Don't trip, Bella! Besides, beginning to think this way is a good thing. That way, when Edward gets around to proposing, you'll already have some ideas in mind. One more question … the cake. Fondant or butter cream? x (Alice)
This is a joke, right? Are you seriously asking me this right now? You KNOW that Edward makes the best white-chocolate fondant in the entire universe. *rolling my eyes* (Bella)
True, but not everyone knows this! Before you knew him, what would you have thought? x (Alice)
Not about weddings, that's for sure … so I couldn't begin to say. x (Bella)
-LTC-
This is how the days leading to Christmas Eve passed, with early morning visits to Edward, and several wedding related questions from Alice and even Rose each day, plus all of the planning for the rather large Christmas feast that Esme was hosting on Christmas Day. It appeared that this was going to make her Thanksgiving Day feast look anorexic.
What Bella was truly eager for was Christmas Eve. She and Edward were planning to spend the evening alone at her house. She was planning on some serious canoodling.
-LWTC-
Their sneakiness might wind up catching up to them this time, eh?
Do they think she earned her degree from a Cracker Jacks box? LOL
*huggles*
There are a lot of really good Christmas stories going on out there right
now. Which is your favorite?