Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The original plot and storyline of Never Enough, however, belong to me. Please be nice and don't copy or translate without permission. Thank you.
I always thank my betas here, and it's never enough to fully convey all they do for me. So let me just say that Iadorepugs, Cullen_Crazy01 and Anne mean the world to me. Can't wait to see you on Saturday, CC!
Just to let you know, we've got between 3-5 chapters left of Never Enough, depending on how wordy these two get. I hope to stick to my once-a-week posting schedule, but that may change a little bit as I work to get the last chapters perfect. And that being said, there will be no update this weekend as I attend events at my former college's homecoming. I hope this chapter makes up for that...
Chapter 30
Instead of walking as we had yesterday, we took Edward's car to Marcus and Dee's house the next night. Edward said it was because we were going to stay late. I argued that it was because he couldn't walk through the woods without attacking me. Edward blushed lightly, but didn't deny it. Then he proceeded to pull over and attack me in the car. I laughingly protested that we were going to be late, not to mention disheveled, and he reluctantly agreed to stop, but not before kissing me so thoroughly that I considered launching myself at him over the console again.
We pulled into the driveway of the impressive home on the water, and I nervously smoothed my palms against my jeans, wondering again if I was under-dressed, even if Edward was in jeans and a button down as well. Edward reached over and lifted my hand to his lips. "You look beautiful, Bella," he reassured me. "Come on, let's go face the firing squad." He laughed when I yanked my hand away and glared at him. "Kidding! Geez, Bella, you weren't this nervous when you met my parents."
"I didn't know I was meeting your parents," I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest. "I didn't have an entire day to freak out about what everyone would think of me."
Edward got out of the car and came around to my side, opening the door and offering me his hand. I reluctantly realized I couldn't hide in the Volvo all night, and I allowed him to help me from the car. He pulled me into a tight hug. "They're going to love you just like Emmett and Rose do, just like Alice and Jasper, and just like Carlisle and Esme." He kissed me softly and then pulled back to search my face. "Are you sure you want to stay? We don't have to be here."
I shook my head. "No, of course we'll stay. It's just a case of nerves, and I'll get over it. Besides, I'm pretty sure he may have something to say about us leaving," I said, nodding over his shoulder where Marcus was waving from the porch.
Edward caressed my cheek with his fingertips, and kissed me once again. "I love you," he said softly.
"I love you, too," I told him, taking a deep breath. "All right, firing squad, here I come!"
Marcus waited for us at the top of the steps, and as with yesterday, he reached for my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. He clapped Edward on the shoulder in greeting. "The women in this house have been driving me crazy all day, waiting for the two of you. Please, come in!" he said, holding the door open for us and ushering us into the home which was every bit as luxurious on the inside as it was on the outside.
We were greeted in the foyer by a woman a little younger than me holding the hand of a beautiful little girl who was probably no more than three-years old. I was relieved to see that she too was wearing jeans, and felt myself relax just a little bit. The woman grinned at Edward mischievously. "Edward! My goodness, you just get better looking every time I see you, even if that hair of yours is an utter disaster. Whenever are you going to let me cut it?"
"I let you cut my hair once, and it's not an experience I'd like to repeat," Edward said dryly.
The woman's laugh was carefree. "Yes, and I was four at the time and using safety scissors. You'll never let me forget that, will you cousin?"
"Not likely. Esme had to nearly shave me bald in order to even it out. Even if you do own your own salon now, my hair is still off limits to you," Edward said with a chuckle. "Bella, this is my cousin, Kate, and her daughter Victoria. Ladies, I'd like to introduce you to Bella Black."
Kate smiled and waved at me. "Nice to meet you Bella. I'd shake your hand, but I don't think you want to share the apple juice I just got sprayed with," she said with an affectionate glance at Victoria.
I laughed. "Ah yes, I remember those days well."
"You have kids, Bella?" Kate asked.
"Yes, but I'm rather far removed from this age. My daughter is almost sixteen, and my son almost fourteen. Although he's a sloppy enough eater that it could happen even now."
Kate laughed. "Well we're headed to the bathroom to clean up. Everyone's in the sun room, and I know that Mom is dying to see you."
"Thanks, Kate," Edward said, nodding his head toward the right. "Shall we?"
As we followed Marcus down the hallway, he asked Edward about Carlisle and Esme. I surreptitiously studied our surroundings as we walked, marveling at the beauty and warmth of the home. This branch of the Cullen family was obviously very well off, but it was still a family home, full of pictures and treasures that were valued for their sentimental rather than monetary worth.
We stepped into the sun room, which was probably the size of half the downstairs in my house. There was a very tall man with blondish brown hair standing beside the sofa, where a beautiful older woman sat with a little boy on her right and a baby in her lap.
"Didyme, you've got some visitors," Marcus said, and the older woman looked up, her eyes sparkling when they saw Edward.
"Edward, it's so good to see you!" she exclaimed. She rose and handed the baby to the tall man, and then practically skipped over to us and embraced Edward. "It's about time you showed up around here – it's been far too long! Now, introduce me to your lovely young woman," she demanded.
"Aunt Dee, this is Bella Black. Bella, my Aunt Didyme."
"Bella, such a pleasure to finally meet you. Esme has told me so much about you. Please call me Dee," she said, and I was surprised when she swept me into a warm hug. "So you're the girl who has finally stolen our Edward's heart."
"Aunt Dee," Edward groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Oh hush now, Edward," Dee said dismissively. "Bella, I'd like you to meet my son-in-law, Garrett, and my grandson, James. And that little bundle in Garrett's arms is Cassandra."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," I said, blushing under the scrutiny of so many eyes. "You have a lovely home here."
"Thank you, Bella. Edward, why don't you give her the grand tour, and meet us in the kitchen when you're done?" Dee suggested as the baby began to fuss. "I think Kate is going to need to nurse her, and then we ladies can put the finishing touches on dinner, if you don't mind Bella?"
"I'd love to help," I said.
"Make sure to show her the music room," Dee commanded, pointing her index finger at Edward.
Edward rolled his eyes again. "Of course, Aunt Dee. My lady?" Edward asked, offering me his arm. I giggled and tucked my hand in the crook of his elbow, following him down the hallway to the winding staircase. "We'll start upstairs and work our way down," Edward told me. Bending down to brush his lips against my ear, he added in a whisper, "Like last night." I blushed and partially hid my face in his upper arm, even though no one heard him but me.
The home was huge, easily the biggest one I had ever been in. Upstairs there were six bedrooms and four bathrooms. The master suite had a sitting area that was as large as my living room at home, and each room was decorated with rich, luxurious fabrics. There were a couple of rooms intended for the children, and I admired the pretty furnishings I saw everywhere.
On the main floor there were formal and dining rooms, a study that looked more like a law library, a media room with one of the largest screen televisions I had ever seen outside a movie theater, and finally the music room. It housed a beautiful ebony grand piano that was so highly polished it reflected like a mirror. I gently, reverently, touched the keys and picked out a simple melody.
"Do you play?" Edward asked in surprise.
"No. I suffered through a few years of lessons when I was a kid, at my mom's insistence, but dropped out as soon as I could. What about you?" I asked.
"I used to play all the time, but not as much any more," he admitted, leaning over the keyboard and playing a few soft chords. "Piano was my first instrument, but I prefer guitar now."
"I'd love to hear you play sometime," I told him, watching as his graceful fingers danced over the keys.
"Then I would love to play for you sometime," Edward said, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek and leading me over to the huge window that looked out to the West, where the sun was starting to set, casting a rosy glow over the entire sky. He stood beside me, his arm around my waist and his fingers absently caressing my arm as we studied the scene in front of us.
Edward gazed out the window, a far-off look in his eyes. "I always imagined bringing my kids up here just like my mom and dad did with us, just like Rosalie and Emmett do with the twins. Teaching them how to sail, hiking in the woods." Edward shook his head a little as if to clear his thoughts and then looked down at me and smiled. "I know they're a little older, but maybe Sarah and Will would enjoy coming up here some time?"
I felt both exhilarated and shattered by his question. I loved how much he loved my kids, wanting to be close to them, to include them and treat them as part of his family and not just mine. But despite his words to the contrary, in these unguarded moments I still saw his deep desire for a child of his own.
"I'm sure they would," I said, fighting to get the words past the lump in my throat.
Edward's eyes searched mine, and he frowned, reaching up with his hand to caress my cheek. "Bella, don't. We've talked about this, and you know how I feel. I love you. I want you." His lips were soft as he leaned down to feather a kiss across my lips. I turned into his embrace and wrapped my arms around his neck, wanting to lose myself in him as our kiss quickly turned passionate.
Edward groaned into my mouth, and I felt a shudder go through him as I swept my hands along his shoulders and down his back to slide my fingers into the back pockets of his jeans. He pulled back, breathing raggedly, and rested his forehead against mine. "I-must-not-have-a-hard-on-at-the-dinner-table," he chanted, and I giggled. "C'mon my pretty girl, I think we should probably get to the kitchen. Otherwise Aunt Dee will do all the work herself and I won't be able to live with the guilt."
The kitchen was a cook's dream. Long expanses of countertop to do prep work, a double oven, an oversized range, and a huge refrigerator filled the space. Dee stood at the center island, rinsing some vegetables in the deep sink. A glance to the side found Kate nursing Cassandra beneath a blanket, and I quickly looked away to give her privacy, remembering those moments with my own children that seemed so long ago now.
"All right, Aunt Dee – put us to work!" Edward said, rubbing his hands together.
"You, go keep Marcus and Garrett company while they watch Victoria and James," Dee instructed Edward. "Bella, you can help me with the vegetables. Everything else is just about done."
"Yes ma'am," Edward said, escorting me to the sink, and then pressing a loud smacking kiss to Dee's cheek. He pressed a softer one to mine. "No more cutting yourself," he instructed in a teasing tone.
I felt myself blush as I recalled it had been the sight of him freshly fucked and half dressed that had caused my little slip with the knife in the first place. Edward's wicked grin in response told me he knew exactly what I was thinking about. "Well, you won't be here to distract me, so I should manage just fine," I murmured under my breath, just loud enough for Edward to hear.
He pressed another kiss to my temple and then whispered, "I plan to distract you later...in the hot tub?" I shivered at the erotic promise of his words. "Have fun, ladies," he said cheerfully, winking at me and slowly walking away.
"I swear to God, that boy's charm should be illegal," Dee said, shaking her head and laughing.
"Hmmmmm?" I said, slowly turning back to both find Dee and Kate both giggling. I felt my blush flare again. "Oh, sorry."
"Honey, you've no need to apologize. That boy just…dazzles people. Especially women, of all ages," Dee said, rolling her eyes comically. "And that's without even trying. You don't have a single hope of resisting when he focuses all that charm on you with a purpose."
"You certainly don't have to tell me," I grumbled, and both Kate and Dee laughed again.
"Ahhh Bella, I have to tell you how thrilled we are that he's found you," Dee said, patting my shoulder. "That boy has been lost for so long, searching for his soul mate, his other half. He tried so hard with that former wife of his, but she was no good for him."
"That's the understatement of the century," Kate muttered, frowning darkly. I felt a rush of affection for these women who loved my Edward so. They protected him in a way I could identify with.
"You don't have to tell me that, either," I growled, and both women smiled again.
"After what Heidi did to him, and the way she manipulated him by using Chelsea, we were all afraid that Edward would simply retreat within himself and stop trying," Dee said. "And for a while he did. He was always there, at every family function. He said the right words and moved the right way, but you could just see that his heart wasn't in it anymore. He had just….given up."
My heart ached. I couldn't imagine Edward as they were describing him. He was so vibrant, so full of life and love. I couldn't picture the way they were describing him without my eyes filling with tears. But then I remembered how he behaved the very first night we met, and remembered seeing hints of what they were recollecting.
Dee handed me some rinsed vegetables, breaking me from my memories. "But now, my dear? Now he is not only the man we have known his whole life, he is so much more. The way he talks about you, the way he looks at you, even the way he orients himself when you are around, it makes my old heart flutter," Dee said, her eyes warm as they met mine. I shouldn't have been surprised to hear that Edward had talked to his extended family about me, but it was still a shock to me how open he was with everyone.
Kate stood up and placed Cassandra on her shoulder, patting her back softly. "Edward is four years older than I am, and I have looked up to him my entire life. The poor boy never got a moment's peace when I was around, because I was forever pestering him to spend time with me. I have seen him in good times, and at bad times, and everything in between. But I have never, ever seen him this happy before, Bella."
I sniffled, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. Suddenly I found myself in Dee's warm embrace, and I couldn't help but hug her back. "Thank you," I whispered.
"Thank you," Dee said with feeling. "Thank you for bringing back our Edward, and for loving him."
"And I do, I love him so much," I said, wanting to convince them of my feelings.
"We know that, Bella. Just looking at the two of you, we know it," Kate said.
I looked from one woman to the other, all three of us with tears in our eyes, and I started giggling. Kate and Dee joined in, and soon we were all laughing. Dee wiped the tears from her eyes, still chuckling. "All right, if we expect to eat tonight, we'd better get dinner done. Those men of ours are going to wonder what in the world has happened."
Dinner was a joyous affair. Although we sat in the formal dining room, there was nothing formal about the gathering. The food was delicious, the wine excellent, and the company incomparable. Many stories were exchanged about the childhood days of Edward and Kate, and they both retaliated by telling as many stories of Dee and Marcus that they could recall.
We retired to the sun room where we had first started the evening. Kate and Garrett's children were treasures, hopping from lap to lap as the evening wore on. Edward was a favorite of theirs, and he was infinitely patient with their questions. I sat next to Edward and he had his arm casually slung across my shoulders. I kept sneaking glances at him as he laughed and talked, loving his carefree attitude. Dee and Marcus sat on the adjacent couch, sitting in a very similar position, and my imagination ran away, picturing Edward and I together twenty or thirty years from now, surrounded by our family and friends.
"All right, cousin. She's been fed and changed, and you've been eyeballing her all night long. You ready for her?" Kate asked, bringing the blanket-wrapped bundle over to him.
"Hand her over," Edward said, his eyes lighting up as he removed his arm from around my shoulders and reached for the baby. I watched Edward smoothly switch Cassandra around so that she was cradled in the crook of his elbow, amazed at how comfortable he was with her in his arms.
I could barely look away from Edward to acknowledge the others in the room. He was enraptured by the baby girl in his arms, his smile wide and his eyes shining as he cooed to her. And she was responding to him in that way babies do when they know they are being adored unconditionally. Her eyes were wide with curiosity, and when he sang to her quietly, she smiled up at him. I felt my heart melt at the sight before me.
Dee leaned toward me. "Edward has always had quite a way with children. He was forever looking out for his cousins during the summers, and is a favorite uncle as you have seen tonight. I've always said he's going to be a wonderful father some day, not to mention how beautiful his babies will be."
Dee's innocent statement hit me like a punch to my stomach. Edward's head snapped up and his eyes met mine, and for a split second he was unable to hide the naked longing in his gaze. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared, but there was no mistaking what I had seen. My smile faltered for just a moment as well, but Edward saw it, and I watched his brow furrow in concern.
Edward held Cassandra for a few more minutes and then he yawned hugely. "Sorry Aunt Dee, Uncle Marcus. I guess I'm still not caught up on my sleep from the last several long weeks."
Marcus and Dee didn't notice the deception in his eyes, but I did. With Dee's comment coming on the heels of our short discussion in the music room, knew why he was anxious to get out of there, and I felt my stomach clench. I didn't know if I was ready to have this conversation with him yet. I wasn't sure I could make the decision that could change the entire course of our relationship… or possibly end it entirely.
We said our goodbyes, and I accepted warm hugs from both Kate and Dee. They invited us back this week, but Edward smoothly deflected them, alluding to plans he had for the remaining days. He ushered me out the door into the darkness, and I tilted my head back to look at the canopy of stars above us.
The five minute drive back was silent but not uncomfortable. Edward's hand rested on my thigh, tracing circles just above my knee. I looked out the window, although I could see nothing but darkness beyond the edge of the road, nervous to meet his gaze.
"Hot tub?" Edward asked when we got back to the cabin.
"Uh, sure?" I said, trying to remember if Alice had packed a suit for me.
"You go ahead & get ready, I'll meet you out there in about ten minutes," Edward said, pressing a kiss to my forehead and leaving me at the foot of the staircase to watch after him as he went into the kitchen.
Alice had indeed packed a swimsuit for me... if the tiny scraps of navy fabric could indeed be called a swimsuit. I blushed as I pulled it on, more of my skin being revealed than in the sexiest of lingerie I had worn before. I quickly donned a robe that was hanging in the bathroom and walked through the silent house, wondering where Edward was. I was grateful for the privacy as I slid into the bubbling water, letting out a weary sigh.
Edward joined me a few minutes later, clad in swim trunks that rode low enough on his hips to make my mouth water. He was carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses, and smiled when he saw me sitting in the hot tub.
"Damn, I missed the show," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at me. My face was already flushed from the heat of the water, but I knew I'd be blushing if I could. I watched silently as he climbed into the hot tub and sank down beneath the bubbles across from me, and then poured glasses of wine for the both of us. I accepted mine and took a sip, forcing a smile when he studied my face over the rim of his wineglass.
Edward set his glass down and beckoned for me to come sit with him. I put down my glass as well and slid over to him through the water. He pulled me across his lap, his fingers lightly caressing my arm. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, and then sighed. "Bella, I think we need to talk about what happened tonight. I know you were caught off-guard by Dee's comments, and I wanted to make sure that you understand exactly how I feel about you. I love you, and I love your kids. You are all that I need, all that I want."
I lay my head on his shoulder and buried my face into his neck, not wanting to look him in the eye. "You want me now. But for how long? What if you decide some day that it's just not enough?" I whispered, my voice hoarse as I tried to restrain my emotion. "I've thought of it a thousand times since that morning we first talked about it, but I still can't give you the answer you want. I don't know if I'll ever want to have more kids."
"And I'm okay with that," Edward answered me evenly, his fingers continuing to stroke the smooth skin of my arm. "What we have together is far more important. Think about it this way – what if we decided to have a child, and you weren't able to conceive? Or I wasn't able to get you pregnant? Would that be the end of our relationship?"
"No, but that's different," I protested.
"No, it's not different at all. So you're not able to give me a child. I love you, and that's enough. You're enough. Who says in order to be happy we have to have a child together?"
"Because it's what you want," I argued.
Edward pulled back and cupped my chin with his hand, forcing me to meet his gaze. "When are you going to get it through that beautiful thick skull of yours that it's YOU that I want? You, Bella, and you alone. If we decide to have a child, great. If we choose not to, great. As long as we're together, love – that's all that matters."
"I feel so selfish," I muttered, hating myself for the way I felt and feeling sick acknowledging my failings to Edward..
"For speaking your mind? For being honest about how you feel? I'd rather have you do that than end up pregnant and resenting me and our child. This isn't like you giving in to me on Chinese versus Italian for dinner. This is a decision that we need to agree on in order to be together."
"But you're giving me everything I've ever wanted, including things I never even dreamed could exist. You're not asking me to give up anything by being with you! And I'm asking you to give up the one thing you've always wanted, to be a dad."
"You're not asking me to give anything up, Bella. I honestly never thought I'd be a father. Sure, I'd hoped at one point in time, just like I'd hoped to be an astronaut when I was a kid, or a rock star when I was a teen."
"But you can still be a dad," I argued, trying to look away, but he wouldn't let me. "I'm keeping you from those hopes."
"Don't you get it? Before I met you, Bella, I merely existed in my life. I had given up all hope of ever being happy again. I knew after what happened with Heidi that I would be alone. But when I met you, even that first night, it was enough to hope for a future again. I don't want a child without you. I have no future without you. I have no hope without you." Tears were glistening in his emerald eyes now, matching the ones that filled mine.
"Bella, let me ask you a question, and I want you to think about it and respond to me honestly, the whole truth, okay?"
I nodded warily.
"Say our situation was reversed, and you were the one who didn't have kids, but wanted them. And say I didn't want them, or that I couldn't have them. Would you want to break up?"
"Of course not!"
"Why not?"
"Because I love you, not some nameless, faceless person who may or may not be able to procreate with me."
"Don't you understand I feel the same way?" He asked, his voice passionate. "If I only wanted a baby, I could go out and find any number of willing women to carry one. But I don't just want a baby, I want a family. And I only want a family with you, because it would be an extension of our love for one another. I don't want 'a baby.' I would want 'our baby', but only if you wanted one, too."
I was completely overwhelmed by the truth in his voice. He didn't want 'a baby.' He wanted 'our baby,' a baby with me. I couldn't deny that my heart—and probably my uterus—fluttered at the thought, even as my brain protested. I wasn't ready to deal with my own reaction to the idea, so I chose to tease him instead. "Any number of willing women?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Well, I have it on good teenage authority that I'm kinda hot for an old guy," Edward joked, tightening his arms around me. I could hear the relief in his voice when he realized I accepted and believed his words.
"I think you're more than kinda hot," I murmured, turning slightly and moving my arms up around his neck. I reached up and pressed my mouth to his, opening my lips and gently sliding my tongue into his mouth. His hands stroked up my sides and around my back as he responded to my ardor, his lips warm and persuasive...not that I needed much persuasion. What I needed was to reaffirm our connection to one another. Or just to fuck him silly, I thought.
I reached up and combed my fingers through his hair, using my nails against his scalp as he liked. Edward groaned, his fingers clenching at the slick skin of my back. He found the tie at the bottom of my bikini top and with one forceful tug, it came loose. He slid his hands around my body and cupped my breasts in his palms, using his thumbs and forefingers to roll and pinch my already aroused nipples.
I let out a squeal of surprise when he lifted me to straddle his lap, the top half of my body out of the warm water and exposed to the cool night air. My squeal turned into a groan of desire as his warm lips took one of my nipples into his mouth. I pressed down against him, feeling his erection through the thin fabric of our suits. His hips bucked in response, and his switched his attention to my other breast, untying the top string and tossing the bikini top away. His hands roamed down my sides to grasp my hips and pull me even tighter against him, grinding against me and making me weak with lust.
Edward's fingers loosened the ties on my hips and he practically ripped the fabric off of me, flinging it away as he had done with my top. His lips still worshiping my breast, he slid his fingers along my folds. "I can feel how wet you are for me even in the hot tub, Bella," he groaned.
I moved against his hand, trying to get him to focus his fingers where I wanted them the most. I moaned in disappointment when Edward pulled away, my hands tightening in his hair as I tried to hold him to me.
"Turn around, Bella, and kneel on the seat," he whispered, nipping at my earlobe and making me shiver. I shook my head as I rocked my hips against his again, not wanting to move from this sublime position. "Trust me sweetheart," he said, his voice as silky as the water the flowed around us.
I did as he asked, kneeling nervously with my palms pressed against the side of the hot tub. Edward moved to stand behind me, trailing a finger down my spine. He slipped both hands over my hips and encouraged me to kneel down a little further. Then he slid his hands down the tops of my thighs and pulled my knees apart. It felt awkward and posed, and I didn't understand what he was trying to do.
Until he grasped my shoulders and encouraged me to straighten my back. One of the pulsing jets hit me directly between my legs and I gasped loudly. I heard Edward chuckle behind me. He slid his hands around to cup my breasts, pressing his lips to my neck and sucking gently. "Like that do you, beautiful?" he asked, tugging at my nipples.
I mumbled incoherently, robbed of the powers of thought and speech as the water pounded against my clit. When Edward started thrusting his hips—and his rock-hard erection—rhythmically against my ass, I thought I was going to faint. I leaned back against Edward to steady myself, and the jet hit me even stronger. My legs started to tremble when Edward used one hand to caress down my back and between my legs, seeking my center. When slipped two fingers within me, I cried out and arched back harder, desperate for the fullness to match the stimulation on my clit.
"Fuck!" I cried out when he curved his fingers forward, seeking out the spot that always made me come unglued. The combined sensations spiraled me higher and higher, until I was gasping for breath and calling out his name, the strength of my orgasm making my knees so weak that I had to grip the side of the hot tub harder to support myself
I could feel Edward still behind me, rock-solid and straining against his swim trunks. I wanted...no, needed...to give him the same fulfillment that he had just given me. I turned around and pressed him back against the seat, straddling his lap again as my fingers worked the tie on his swim trunks. I leaned forward and captured his lips with mine at the same time I reached into his shorts to stroke him. "Tell me you've got a condom with you, please?" I begged.
"Condoms aren't safe in a hot tub," Edward gasped as I worked my hand up and down his shaft. "C'mon, let's go to the bedroom."
I suddenly had an even better idea. "You're not going to need a condom for this," I growled in his ear. "Right up here, baby," I said, motioning to the ledge that was just under the waterline. As he rose, I tugged on the bottom of his suit, the shorts sliding down his slick flesh. When he sat down again, I smiled wickedly when I saw his erection standing proud above the water, positioned exactly as I wanted it. I put my hands on his knees, pressing his legs open and situating myself between them. As I licked my lips, I saw a shudder run through Edward's frame. "Are you cold?" I asked with concern. I was completely submerged in the water, but he was exposed to the elements.
"No, the exact opposite. Watching you lick your lips when you're that close to my cock gives me all kind of dirty thoughts," he growled.
"As it should," I said, reaching up to smooth my wet hands over his rigid flesh, my fingertips sending water droplets down his hard length. He hissed at the contact, putting his hands behind him and leaning back on his arms, his hips rising at my touch. As always, when he talked to me like that, I felt inspired to respond in kind. "God knows I've got dirty thoughts with your cock in my hands…and my mouth."
Edward groaned loudly when I leaned forward and ran my tongue along the same path the streams of water had followed. I blew on his heated flesh, enjoying the shiver that ran down the length of his spine before opening my mouth and taking him in.
"Shit!" Edward swore, and I hummed in approval. I moved slowly up and down his shaft, taking a little more in with each gentle thrust from him. I feathered my fingers along the insides of his thighs, one hand reaching up to cup his balls and the other wrapping around the part of him that I couldn't fit in my mouth. I squeezed him gently as I began to increase the suction, moving faster. I looked up to find his eyes on me.
"God, it's so hot watching your mouth on me like this," Edward moaned, cupping my cheek with his hand and moving my hair out of my face to give him a better view. His gaze was on my lips as I moved up and down his cock. I pulled back, swirling my tongue around his tip before taking him in even deeper than before. He swore again, tugging at my hair. "Bella, you need to stop."
"No," I mumbled around him, and he shuddered.
"Sweetheart, please, I can't last any longer," he begged, his hips shifting faster and faster as he lost the final threads of his control..
"Good," I said, moaning as I sucked him, knowing that the vibrations would intensify the sensation for him. I squeezed his balls once again and swirled my tongue as I went down, his length hitting the back of my throat.
"Bella!" he yelled as his orgasm hit. "Fuck!" he shouted, both hands fisting in my hair now as he came in long spurts. I could feel the pulsing warmth of his release in my throat and swallowed around him. He shivered uncontrollably as I slowly pulled away, still gently sucking and laving his sensitive skin with my tongue as he softened.
When I sat back, Edward let go of the side of the hot tub and slid back under the water, breathing heavily. I reached up to trace his cheek with my fingertip, and he captured my hand and pressed it to his chest. His heart was beating wildly. "I think you killed me," he said, lying limply back against the hot tub.
I giggled. "Death by orgasm, is there any better way to go? I told you the other night I was going to make you scream my name."
Edward chuckled, pulling me up against his chest and pressing a tired kiss to my lips. "I love a woman who keeps her promises."
So, there's the baby discussion that everyone's been asking about... as well as the hot tub lovin! I'd love to hear your thoughts on either, or both!
I've had a lot of people comment about the condom issue and ask when Bella's going to go on the pill. She's 35 years old, and at her age there can be medical complications when you are on oral contraceptives, so they will continue to make the condoms a part of their lovemaking routine. And I have no plans for condom failure – sorry for those that are wishing for an accidental pregnancy. I hope you can see why, in light of their conversation in this chapter.
If there was anything in this chapter that made you smile, laugh, sigh, or even growl in frustration, I'd love to hear about it. One of my greatest joys is responding to your reviews :)
Thanks so much for reading!