Chapter 39

"Bed of roses"

Edward's POV

I already like you.

I could feel my stomach flip as I read those words. I shouldn't be surprised by it really. I already knew that Bella liked my company and that I was an important person in her life. But seeing as I'd officially declared my obsession for her earlier today I was walking on needles and pins, waiting for some kind of sign that she reciprocated the feelings I'd expressed. I contemplated what I should answer for a bit. I didn't want to come on too strong, but I also really wanted her to know that I missed her and that I'd been serious about what I'd said earlier.

Another thought that I hadn't been able to get out of my head all day was Dan. Dan, Dan, Dan. Fucking Dan. At the beginning of my friendship with Bella he'd just been a puzzle piece from Bella's past that I'd tried to figure out, if only to understand where Bella stood in the matter. Even though I didn't appreciate the fact that Bella didn't seem to be fully over him he didn't pose a threat to whatever it was that I had going with Bella. He was a gloomy cloud that from time to time managed to dampen Bella's mood, and in its turn my mood. But he wasn't a threat.

But as my feelings for Bella had grown stronger his presence had also grown stronger, occupying a considerable amount of my thoughts these days. The ball had finally dropped when Bella had disclosed that she'd be spending her spring break in Phoenix with her mother. I'd panicked at the thought of her being in the same town as fucking Dan. On the one hand I was pretty certain that they hadn't been in contact at all since she'd come to Forks. I hadn't degraded myself to the point of checking her emails or her phone while she was sleeping, even though I'd been pretty close to doing both things the nights before her departure. But yes, I was still pretty sure that there was complete radio silence between them.

On the other hand, I had grasped on several occasions that Bella's mother had a sweet spot for Dan. Fucking Dan. I'd heard Bella bickering with her mother on the phone, Dan's name being mentioned, and I'd understood as much that her mother from time to time seemed to be defending him. So I couldn't be a hundred percent sure that her mother wouldn't try to broker peace between the two, or that she'd at least mess with Bella's head regarding the matter, filling her head with what-ifs.

Another thing I had working against me was the fact that I was no one to Renee. I was just one of Bella's new friends in Forks. I knew that Bella hadn't told her mother anything about us and I'd noticed how she always tried to mention my siblings and I equally when talking to Renee on the phone. I wasn't anyone special to Bella, at least according to Renee, so what was to stop her from trying to reconcile her daughter with her previous son-in-law, whom she seemed to be so fond of? Fucking Dan.

I felt myself getting angry at the mere mention of his name in my head and before I knew it I was typing away, disregarding all my previous thoughts about not coming on too hard.

Thrift shopping sounds fun! Are you looking for anything in particular? I'm off to bed soon. I wish you were here so that I could make you moan my name into your pillow.

I pressed send before I'd even had time to think through what I'd just written. So aggressive, Cullen! Bella and I had never been in the habit of sending explicit texts to each other but the thought of Dan being in the same town as her while I was a thousand miles away made me feel territorial in a way I'd never experienced before. Why shouldn't I be sending her these kinds of texts seeing as I was the one she was sleeping with these days? Me, and not Dan. Fucking Dan. I hated that guy.

However, my previous confidence began to falter as the minutes went by and I still hadn't received a reply from Bella. When an hour had passed without a reply from her I was beginning to panic and had to stop myself from calling her to explain that I hadn't meant to be crude. I just really, really, really already miss you and I don't know how I'll get through this week, Bella Swan.

When she finally answered I was dazed, to say the very least.

I'm only writing this because I've had two glasses of champagne, and this is probably the first time in my life that I'm somewhat drunk, so nothing that I say tonight can or will be held against me in the future. But if you were here then I'd be the one getting you to moan MY name, not the other way around. You know that time when I trailed kisses all the way down to your waistband and your skin was covered in goosebumps? Tonight I wouldn't have stopped at the waistband.

I stared incredulously at my phone. Bella wasn't afraid to take initiatives when we were alone in the dark, but she'd never, and I mean NEVER, said anything remotely close to this while we were doing the deed. I threw myself back onto my bed and proceeded to pull my own hair, not knowing what to do with myself. I felt as if I was going to explode. Why the fuck did she have to be all the way over in Phoenix tonight? Why?! I could feel the fabric of my briefs tighten and without hesitation I stuck my hand in my trousers, taking hold of the part of my body that was betraying my thoughts. It only took me a minute or two to find release, all the while thinking of Bella and her soft lips. Just imagining how she'd be looking up at me while taking me in her mouth was enough to finish me off. The mere thought of having her like that made me shudder and made my skin cover with goosebumps.

After I was done with my self-defilement I proceeded to reach for my phone. She hadn't written any more messages and for a short while I played with the thought of letting her be in agony for a bit longer, just like I had been before receiving her reply. Maybe it would do Bella good to know that she didn't have me a hundred percent wrapped around her little finger?

But seeing as she did in fact have me wrapped right around her little finger I promptly replied to her cheeky text.

There is no way in hell that I won't be holding this against you when you get home again. I'm kidnapping you for the remainder of the weekend once you get home and we are NOT leaving bed once. I want to be inside of you and on top of you for at least 24 hours if I'm supposed to forgive you for leaving me all alone. Please?

I pressed send and then placed a pillow over my head. "Fuck", I sighed into the fabric. I'd barely had time to put my phone down when I heard it buzz.

You've got yourself a deal, Cullen.

I felt myself grinning like a mad man and I squeezed the pillow I'd been holding tightly. Please, God. I know you probably don't listen to hormonal teen vampires and that we're not held in very high regard in your book. But if you do listen, could you please fast-forward this entire week? I'd really appreciate it.

Author's note

I've so far edited and extended chapters 1, 2 and 3, and I will be working my way through a couple more this weekend. My plan is to fill out the story with a bit more details to give it more depth. I plan on having replaced all the old chapters with revised ones within a couple of weeks. I know it might be a bit of a hassle, but I'll try to finish as fast as I can to not disturb your reading.

A longer and more eventful chapter will be coming this weekend. Enjoy!