13
I searched for Edward for almost an hour before I found him sitting alone down shore from the beach. His arms were stretched over his knees and his head was resting on them. Just his posture seemed sad and defeated. I walked up and when I got close he raised his head and looked at me.
"Hello, love," he said softly.
I smiled and sat down next to him. "Are you communing with your God?" I asked.
He took hold of my hand and shook his head. "I'm just thinking," he admitted.
"About what?" I asked.
"The universe was created from chaos," he began and I looked up at the night sky. I wasn't sure if he was relating me to chaos or if he was just speculating. "So many things are beyond our understanding."
"Don't tell Jasper," I teased. "He thinks he knows it all."
"Sometime I believe he does," Edward laughed.
I sat quietly for a few moments and when he didn't speak again I decided to start the difficult conversation. "Edward, tell me about the nun."
His head fell again and I almost told him to forget it, but I stayed quiet because I was extremely curious.
"We worked together at a hospital in Chicago. She was a nurse and I was a counselor. We were both so young and I was physically attracted to her. I fell in love and it spiraled out of control." He turned to look directly at me and smiled. "Or I should say I thought I was in love. I'm not so sure anymore."
I wanted to tell him if you keep a huge painting over your fireplace you are absolutely in love, but since she was the other woman I kind of wanted to tell him it was all an illusion.
"I left the Priesthood and thought she would follow, but she didn't. She went to the convent where she took her vows and shot herself."
"Oh my God," I mumbled and my hand rose to my mouth.
"I was a mess," he admitted, "Until Esme saved me."
"How did she save you?" I asked, wondering if he would tell me their story.
"I was hell bent on self destruction and Esme came to me and offered to take me away. She told me we would make our own rules on our own island. It was just her way to get me here. She was staging an intervention and I was glued back together by her and Carlisle."
"She was in your parish?" I asked, slightly confused.
"Yes, and she was Jane's sister."
"Jane?" I asked.
"The nun."
My head was spinning faster than a whirlpool. Esme seemed particularly happy Edward was marrying and didn't appear to blame him for her sister's suicide. They saved him instead of condemning him. He cleared his throat and said, "Bella, I'll understand if you want to cancel the wedding."
It was right there, an out for me to grasp. I could be shocked by his past and refuse to get involved with him as he pines over a lost love. But the words were stuck in my throat. I finally managed to say, "Do you want to cancel it?"
"I asked you," he pointed out.
"Yeah, and I'm asking you," I explained.
"Just say the word and I'll explain things to my parent and to the Cullens," he offered.
"You say the word," I tossed back at him, because now it was on. I wasn't a quitter and I was going to make him be the one to say it.
"I think we should continue on," he said as a challenge.
"Then we continue on," I agreed, and felt a bit nauseous.
What in the hell was wrong with me? I would instantly yell at one of my students for acting this way and tell them to be the bigger person, but for some reason I refused to admit defeat to Edward. He was the one with all the strict rules and it would be him who would be forced to bring an end to this.
He finally wanted a few questions answered himself. "So, tell me about Jake," he said while playing in the sand with his finger.
"Well, he is like an old shoe. He's comfortable, but I want something much better to wear in public. I've known him for years, his father is a friend of my dad's."
"Does he love you?"
I shrugged, because I really didn't know. "Do you love an old shoe or is it just familiar?"
"What would he say about me?" he asked.
I wasn't sure how to answer that question, since I never had a fake fiancé before. He would respect my effort at trying to get Edward into bed and also respect Edward for pushing the engagement to make me back off. I wanted to tell him to Jake would want him to lose, but I'm not admitting I am aware of the sick game we were playing.
"Jake wouldn't come after you or anything," I said. "The pastor thing would freak him a little, but what religious relic isn't a bit freaky."
"Relic?" he laughed.
"Yeah, you're almost twenty-nine," I reminded him.
A random staff member came running up and told Edward his mother was looking for him. I wished I had more balloons. It was nice talking so openly with him and I didn't want it to end. Edward looked at me for a moment and then bumped my shoulder with his before asking, "Do you want to come with me?"
I refrained from saying, "Hell NO." I simply smiled and said, "I have some plans to take care of. Tell her I said hello."
He stood and helped me up before pulling me in for a kiss. This time it deepened slowly, and neither one of us pulled away. It was a kiss with feeling, not sensuous or needy, but almost loving. We walked back to the bungalows together and then parted as I headed back to mine.
I found Alice and Rose working on different hairstyles for the wedding. They showed me the dresses they chose to wear and I showed them the dress I got from Esme. I was feeling like a bride and it scared me a bit.
I woke up the next morning to the smell of flowers and something soft running across my face. I opened my eyes to see Edward sitting on the edge of my bed with a single rose in his hand. I stretched and said, "Take off your clothes and climb in with me."
"In 35 hours I'll take you up on that," he said, to remind me he wasn't going to budge.
I groaned and he smiled at me. "Hey, get dressed and I'll get you some breakfast. I have a big surprise for you."
"Does it involve you getting naked?" I asked hopefully.
He laughed, because he was a prick, and set the flower across my chest before walking out. I took a shower and took the time to flat iron my hair. I came out to the main area and he was waiting with coffee and toast.
"So what is my big surprise," I asked.
"You'll see," he smiled and raised the toast to feed me. He kept looking at the time on his phone and I grew very curious to see his surprise.
"I'm done," I said and downed the coffee.
He pulled a blindfold from his pocket and covered my eyes. I held onto him tightly as he led me to a golf cart and then inside a building. I was excited and had a huge smile on my face. Until he removed the blindfold and yelled, "Surprise."
I was staring at the faces of my mother, Renee, and my father, Charlie. I gasped loudly and spun around to look at Edward with pure hatred. He crossed a line and I would happily castrate him for it.
"Bella," my mother cried. "Edward was kind enough to bring us here. We just couldn't miss your wedding."
"Edward is too kind," I said through gritted teeth, as they hugged and kissed me.
Edward smiled knowingly, pulling the trump card and placing me in a weakened position. How could I let my father walk me down the aisle for a fake wedding? He knew this would cause me to fold.
But Bella Swan is one tough cookie, and with enough time to prepare I could put my parents through hell. I would remember the haircut my mother gave me that rendered me a freak for all of third grade. Or when my father made me sit thought the birds and bees talk the summer before college, as if I hadn't already had sex by then.
"Mom, wait until you see my dress, it is to die for," I announced, leaving out the part where it would most likely be Edward dying.
"I got you a little something for the honeymoon," my mother said and raised her eyebrows up and down.
At that point the Masen's walked in. Edward introduced my parents to his and my mother immediately stuck her foot in her mouth. "We'll be grandmas together," she squealed to Elizabeth, "And knowing Bella she may already be pregnant."
Mrs. Masen turned pure white and then a furious shade of red. "I doubt my Priest son has lost his mind entirely."
"Pastor, mother, not a Priest," he corrected her.
My father was about to bust a gut with glee but my mom looked at me in shock. "You're marrying a Pastor?"
I wanted to scream that no, I wasn't marrying him, if I could just get him to call everything off and admit he was pretending to be engaged to force me to back off with the physical stuff.
"What can I say, opposites attract," I said with a shrug, and Elizabeth couldn't contain her disgusted tisk.
"I'm the lucky one," Edward said, and I felt my hands pull into fists.
I turned and threw my arms around him and said, "Oh Edward, thank you for this surprise. You're the best fiancé in the world."
"Anything for you, love," he answered, as we both stood tensely.
"Oh, don't they make the cutes couple?" my mother cried. "Are you writing your own vows?"
Edward smiled widely and said, "What a great idea, Renee. What do you say, Bella?"
I wanted to say, "Ef you." But instead I clapped my hands enthusiastically and agreed it was a great idea. Esme and Carlisle arrived and got busy getting my parents settled as I headed off to write my stupid fake vows.
It had to be something epic that would force Edward to cave at the last moment. It would be so great to be the poor scorned bride and I knew my father would take a couple of punches at Edward. I wonder if Pastors have a good left hook?
I worked clear until lunch on the romantic speech I would give, making sure it would bring Edward to his knees.
14
The night before my wedding was magical. We had a special dinner with real dessert, like with sugar and everything. Edward and I sat with our parents at a head table as all the resort guests joined us in the celebratory dinner. They kept tapping their glasses so Edward and I would have to kiss. I wish they would bang the table so I would have to bang him.
"Are you nervous?" Edward asked in a soft voice
"Not at all," I lied. "Are you?"
He shook his head and took a sip of his wine. I could see the pressure getting to him and it made me smile. I actually began to relax a bit, knowing he would end this soon and take the wrath of everyone for me. Edward senior was talking with my father and they seemed to get along really well. Elizabeth acted like she would be burying her son tomorrow and kept throwing death glares at me.
It came time for everyone to share a toast. My father stood and raised his glass. "Bella, you've always been my little girl, and I can't think of anyone better to hand the responsibility over of keeping you happy. I wish you both nothing but happiness."
Tears fell from my eyes and I almost bolted when people began tapping their glasses again. Edward looked at my crying eyes and gave me a smile to bolster me. It wasn't a smile of joy at my wavering bravado, it was a smile to tell me he was right there and everything would be okay. We kissed and it lasted just a bit longer than the other kisses.
Edward senior stood and raised his glass. "Son, you've never given me a moment of worry. You always took responsibility for your actions and brought joy to your mother and me. I am so happy you found the woman of your dreams. Congratulations to you both."
Crap, that one had to cut deeply. I looked at Edward to see if he was caving but he only took a steadying breath and brought my fingers to his lips to kiss them.
When the party finally broke apart Edward and I stood awkwardly knowing the next time we saw each other would be at the altar. I fully expected to receive a note tonight or tomorrow telling me he was calling it quits.
"I hope you sleep well tonight, because you are not sleeping at all tomorrow night," I reminded him, so he would get right to writing the note.
He looked at me without saying a word, just stared into my eyes. I felt my heart begin to race and I knew he was going to say it. I waited, but he only stared. I finally asked, "Is everything okay?"
"What is your middle name?" he asked, and at an odd time for a man who is marrying me.
"Marie."
He said it and I liked the way it sounded coming out of his mouth.
"What's yours?" I asked.
"Anthony," he smiled.
"Like St. Anthony?" I asked and he smiled widely.
"Patron Saint of lost things and missing persons," he informed me, "No, not like him."
His smile faded and he took a deep breath. "Bella, I want you to know I think you are an incredible woman."
"But?" I pressed.
He hesitated and finally said, "But nothing. Goodnight, love."
He kissed me and I couldn't stop my arms from pulling him tightly to me. He moaned a little and my body caught on fire. I pressed my mouth harder to his and he backed me up to the door of my bungalow. For the first time Pastor Edward's hands wandered a little, running up and down my sides as he pushed his pelvis against me.
If he would have been willing to do this in the first place we could have avoided the whole wedding fiasco. I took hold of both of his ass cheeks and squeezed them as he rocked back and forth. This was heaven, this was paradise.
"Hey," someone yelled, and we both jumped apart like teens being caught by our father. "Knock that off," Emmett teased.
"Shouldn't you be doing this with Rosalie?" I asked and he laughed.
"She owns me," he admitted. "But I'm sure you know the feeling."
Edward nodded shyly and then told me a final goodnight. He walked off and I turned to talk to Emmett. "Can you believe he would marry me in such a short amount of time?" I was hoping Emmett would try and talk some sense into Edward for me.
Emmett thought silently for a moment and then said carefully, "Edward is a great man. I hope you know that."
I realized at that moment Emmett was most likely sent to get me to run. Of course, he was Edward's friend and he would pressure me when Edward couldn't. I smiled and nodded after admitting I thought Edward was a great man too. Emmett gave me a hug and left without saying anything else.
I was ready for bed when my mother arrived to give me her gift. I opened the box to find a very salacious nightie for my wedding night. I felt a bit sad that Edward wouldn't get to really see me in it. But I would wear it for the next guy…most likely my old shoe, Jake.
Alice and Rose slept in my room with me, making it one last girl's night. We laughed and reminisced and I never once hinted this was all a ruse. It would make it much more real if they reacted honestly when Edward ended things.
The next morning a tray of food arrived at my door with a rose and a note from Edward. I handed it to Rose to read aloud, so I could concentrate on my pretend tears. She unfolded the paper and read:
Love,
I was told every little girl dreams of her wedding day, wanting it to be absolutely perfect. I hope in my heart this day can live up to your expectations. It will be the one and only wedding you will ever have, so take advantage of the moments and enjoy every second.
All my love,
Edward
That sanctimonious bastard, I thought as I pretended to act touched. Alice and Rose both placed their hands on their hearts and declared Edward a true romantic. If they only knew what a lunatic he was.
I was pampered and babied all day. I got a manicure and pedicure, as well as my hair done into a style that matched the dress perfectly. Small strands of hair were pulled back and tucked loosely with baby breath flowers. Rose and Alice applied my makeup as I spent the entire day sitting.
I sent everyone from my room and put on my dress alone. I stood back and looked in the full length mirror. All the times I imagined being a bride I never saw myself looking this beautiful. It was beyond my wildest dreams and I felt like my legs were going numb.
My mother knocked and I let her in. She gasped and began to cry. I couldn't cry, I was too stunned to cry. "Edward is going to freak out," Alice said when she saw me.
It was my last hope. He would see me in this dress and immediately admit we weren't really getting married. Any woman who looked like I did just now deserved a real wedding with a groom who loved her.
Alice and Rose looked amazing in their sundresses with full hair and makeup, and damn if the leis didn't look great too. We all walked together to the gathering room. Edward's father whistled loudly and gave me a hug of approval. His mother simply looked me up and down before saying, "No shoes?"
"We are marrying on the beach, barefoot," I said, since she was ruining my little girl bridal fantasy.
My father, who I had never seen cry in his life, was trying to dry his eyes before coming to give me a kiss. "You're beautiful, baby girl," he said into my ear.
It felt so real and the numbing feeling began to change into an excited happiness. The bridal party didn't walk down the aisle; they simply took their places by the flowered arch on the beach. I waited in the room until the music began and then stepped outside on my father's arm. I immediately stopped in my tracks.
White chairs had been set up for the guests of the retreat and satin ribbons led the way to an arch covered in island flowers. Emmett and Jasper had on shorts, but their shirts matched the women at their side. A man in a long robe stood under the arch and next to him was Edward, in a tux.
He was wearing a tux, like a real groom, at a real wedding, waiting for his real bride. I felt my father pull on my arm and I took a hesitant step. The next step was easier, until I was walking without assistance. The guests were standing and I focused my eyes on Edward.
I couldn't read his expression. He stared at me like he was trying to read mine, so I just smiled. His entire face lit up and he smiled in return. My father stopped and turned to give me a kiss and said, "Be happy, Bella."
Edward reached out and took my hand from my father and said, "Oh my God, you look beautiful."
Of course I looked beautiful, it was my wedding. All brides look beautiful on their wedding day. The official began talking and I was waiting for Edward to interrupt and begin explaining, but he remained quiet.
It came time for our vows and luckily he had to go first. He held my hands softly and said, "Bella, marriage is important to me. It has spiritual meaning as well as temporal meaning. I believe it is a binding of two people together no matter what the circumstances. Will you agree before God and our loved ones to journey with me throughout our lives, never to be parted, and to build a righteous family?"
It was good; he got it all in there. The fact he would never divorce, the fact he wanted a brood, and the fact he was asking me to lie to God and my family. He was a great opponent, but I hadn't had my turn yet, so I smiled and said, "Yes, I do."
"Bella will now read her vows," the officiator announced.
I didn't need to read them, I had it down pat. "God's word talks about love often," I began. "Any servant of his would truly understand fully what love is and how to respectfully show it. I have faith in you, Edward, because you have faith in God."
I saw his eyes shift a little and he swallowed before maintaining his calm.
"Do you take me as your wife in the manner God would approve of?
"Yes, I do," he responded.
Holy Shit, I think we were just married.
"Bella, will you place the ring on Edward's finger," I was instructed.
I took the small suitcase ring from Esme and placed it on Edward's finger, and damn if the sucker didn't fit!
Edward was handed a box by his father and he took my left hand and smiled widely. "This is my Grandmother's real ring."
I looked down at a huge diamond, big enough to knock out two of his teeth. It was a bit large so he put it on my middle finger, how apropos.
"I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Masen," the jerk announced.
Edward and I froze. We didn't move to kiss or to smile at the spectators cheering for us. We were actually married and the thought of kissing him felt obscene and way too intimate.
"Dear Lord," Edward mumbled.
"We are majorly fucked," I said, without any concern for my husband's delicate ears.
"I can't believe this," he said as his face began looking tormented.
"You can't! I have to call my boyfriend and tell him I got married. This could just possibly cause us to break up forever."
Emmett pushed Edward and said, "Kiss your wife, idiot."
Oh God, I was a wife, and a wife of a Pastor. Surely God would smite me for this and a divorce would be unnecessary. Edward kissed me like a Priest would kiss an elderly donor to the parish. Our parents descended on us with hugs and cries. Finally Edward and I began to cry, too.
15
The lowest moment of my life was when I walked to my honeymoon bungalow with my fake husband. We were given a special room on stilts over the water. It was secluded and filled with rose pedals and candles. Everything a couple consummating their marriage would want.
I flopped down on the bed and screamed in frustration. "You are the most stubborn man in the world. This is all your fault," I added.
"My fault, you brought up the whole subject when you thought it was funny to stick your crotch in my face."
"You didn't knock," I yelled in rage.
"I thought it was a finished topic until you announced we should do it as quickly as possible," he yelled back.
"Because I figured out what you were doing. And I saw your shrine to Jane, if you think I'm living there with that portrait you are wrong."
He shook his head in confusion and said, "Living where?"
"Your mansion in the jungle, where you worship the one who got away," I said in jealousy.
He laughed incredulously and pointed an angry finger at me. "I don't live there. That is Esme's home. I own a home in Chicago."
Did I just enter the twilight zone? I thought we were staying here for our fake marriage. I wanted paradise, not the windy city. I realized we never talked about it, but isn't that something you tell a girl when you are pretending to court her?
"I thought you live here?" I said.
"I do, eight months out of the year. It is my job, not my home."
"So we'll live here for eight months?" I questions.
"Oh God," he groaned and had to finally sit. "I'm married."
"Right back at cha, Romeo," I said angrily.
He thought for a moment and then said, "I'll resign here. I have a home I want to raise a family in."
Oh yeah, he reminded me of his plan to use me as breading stock. "I have a two, possibly three, load capacity uterus. You're not getting any more out of me."
He closed his eyes and mumbled. "I like the name Barnabas; it was the name of a Priest I admired."
"I'm good with the dog being named Barnabas," I said, and he smiled without opening his eyes.
We were talking as if we were actually going through with this marriage, when we both knew it wasn't going to happen. I finally said the words we had both wanted to hear. "I give," I said. "We can have this annulled and it would spare you from a divorce."
I was a bit sad that I didn't actually get to consummate with him, but it was our only way to fix this. He looked over at me with a sad face and finally nodded. I scooted over and patted the place next to me on the bed.
"I won't touch you, come get some sleep."
He took off his jacket and shirt and climbed into bed with his pants on. I got up and went to the bathroom and changed from my dress into his tuxedo shirt. I got into bed and he turned onto his side to talk to me.
"Are you going to tell your kids what you did this summer?" he teased.
"It would be easier to tell them I spent the summer as a drug mule in Mexico."
He laughed and said, "I had a teacher in sixth grade that I was madly in love with. She was young and smelled so good. I bet some of your boys have a major crush on you."
It was such a sweet thing to say in a distorted, sick way. "What were you like as a kid?" I asked him.
"I was very serious. I didn't play much because I was always studying." I felt sorry for him, missing a childhood because his mother wanted to produce a priest.
"Did you ever jump on your bed?" I asked.
"No," he laughed, so I climbed out of the covers and stood.
"Come on, father, get up."
He stood and looked at me with frustration. "Don't call me Father," he demanded.
"Okay, husband," I said with an evil grin. I jumped up and down a few times and then took hold of his hand. "Come on, this is your only chance to rock the bed with me."
He laughed and finally began to jump along with me. We continued to jump as the bed creaked and moaned, until finally the frame broke and the mattress dropped to the ground. We both laughed so hard I couldn't catch my breath. I was sure the cleaning crew would spread the word of our raunchy night.
"See how wild life with me would have been?" I said as a joke.
He looked at me and his laugh changed to a sweet smile. "I never doubted it," he replied.
I snuggled up to him and put my head on his chest. He held me tightly and kissed my head a few times before we both fell asleep. I woke up with a terrible headache during the night to find Edward gone. I got up and looked in the bathroom and then walked outside to see if I could find him.
He was leaning over the railing, looking out at the dark water and his silhouette sent a feeling of relief spreading through me. I realized I expected him to be gone, moving on before our first night was over. I walked over and wrapped my arms around him.
"Do you have a champagne headache too?" I asked him.
"No, I just couldn't sleep," he said and hugged me tightly. "Would you like me to get you some Tylenol?"
It was so sweet of him to offer, but come on, if he showed up looking for a pain killer everyone would assume I couldn't handle the good Pastor. I wasn't about to gain a reputation as a virginal bride, it would be humiliating.
"The fresh air helps," I said and kept him in my arms.
We stood there silently, wrapped together as if we were a couple experiencing the bliss of a honeymoon. I began thinking about the whole marriage thing again and addressed the annulment issue. I sighed and said, "So how do we get this mess erased?"
"I'll take care of it. There will be some things for you to sign; do you have a fax number?"
I laughed, because I didn't live in a business or a church, I lived in a dive condo that I could afford on a teacher's salary. "No, I don't have a fax machine. But I can give you the schools fax number. It would get to me there."
"Okay," he said sadly.
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me what your wife will be like?" I asked. It wasn't a very fair question because right now I was his wife, but I meant his real wife, the one he would spend his life with.
"She'll make me smile," he said softly as his face buried in my neck. "And she'll love me."
I was silent; since those were his only two requirements and knowing I could do both of those. I didn't want to think of another woman holding his hand and jumping on the bed with him. It was funny how my focus shifted away from sex once we were married. I had heard that rumor, but damn if it wasn't true.
"Some woman is going to worship you, Edward. You are easy to love so raise the bar a bit," I told him honestly, because my husband deserved to have an amazing wife.
"I think you ought to throw out the old shoe," he said and I chuckled a bit. "I'm serious, Bella. You deserve a man who makes you the reason for his existence, not just familiarity."
Wow, that sounded a bit excessive to me. Did I want to be the reason a man existed? It seemed like a lot of pressure. I was willing to settle for a man who came home at night, and it didn't even have to be every night.
"Jake's not so bad, I'm sure one of his other girlfriends really loves him," I said, and he pulled back to look at my face to see if I was teasing. "There is a whole other world out there you know nothing about," I laughed.
"Well, I'm glad you entered mine, it was a pleasure meeting you, and being engaged, and getting married."
We both began to laugh quite loudly at the absurdity of our situation. We were two spoiled rotten people who couldn't bear to lose. We actually deserved each other, too bad we weren't really a couple.
We had worked out the situation between us, but we still had to face our parents and go through that drama. I made a mental note to make sure my father didn't have his service revolver with him. I was certain Elizabeth would jump up and down with glee at the knowledge I hadn't soiled her son. At the moment I regretted passing on the spectacle wedding. I could always wait in the jungle with another water balloon. I decided to come clean with everything, since this may be my only chance to confess to a semi priest.
"I have to tell you something and I want you to remain calm," I said and felt him tense in my arms. "You have to understand I was trying to win our game. I wanted you to call things off and I was doing all I could to make it happen."
"You didn't have poison ivy, did you?" he said with a knowing glance.
"Are you kidding, I was almost crippled. I spent a week in paradise with a corroded crotch. That was all true."
"Okay, so what do I need to remain calm about?"
I stepped away from him, in case he wanted to toss me into the ocean or punch me in the gut. "I was the one who hit your mother with the balloon."
I cringed and waited for his anger to explode but he looked a bit confused instead. "How, you were in Esme's office?"
"You're right, I ran there right when I launched the balloon. I was actually aiming for you but she was at the right spot at the right time."
I wasn't making the story any better and I was sure the honeymoon was over. I didn't expect his hilarious roar. He doubled over and held his stomach tightly as he laughed uncontrollably.
"You have to let me tell her," he said with tears in his eyes.
Was he insane? I would admit nothing until Mommy church lady was far from where I was? I shook my head adamantly and tightened my mouth to show him how resolute I was on this subject. "Your mother is too scary," I admitted.
"Can I at least tell my father?" he asked.
I gave it some thought and finally agreed. Senior seemed like a jolly good chap and able to see the humor of the situation, I had no idea how they ended up together. I reached out and took Edward's hand and pulled him back into the bungalow.
"Come on, it will be morning soon and we have one hell of a day tomorrow."
He let me lead him to the bed and we returned to our snuggling position. He ran his fingers through my hair and said, "You look so hot in my shirt."
I couldn't blame it on the headache or the champagne. I couldn't even blame it on the game anymore, but something made me turn my face up to his. We stared into each other's eyes until the tension was almost palatable. He took hold of my chin with his fingers and pulled my mouth to his. My leg rose automatically and brushed against his cradle of civilization, which was on full alert to begin creating.
Edward rolled over onto me and I lost all control. He pulled his shirt, popping the buttons as I pulled on his pants with my feet.
Oh sweet Jesus, the annulment was no longer a possibility.