Twilight belongs to S. Meyer, not me.

WitFit Word Prompt: Cordial

Highline

Chapter 16

We sat next to Sunburst Lake for the better part of the afternoon. We'd rearranged ourselves - Edward had laid out a matt from his pack for us to sit on, his back against a fallen tree stump, my back against his chest. Edward shared with me tales from his various mountain treks and world travels and I filled him in on my life as a teacher back home, but plenty of time passed where nothing was said at all.

He'd studied my hands, my neck – asking me about a tiny birthmark just behind my ear. He paid attention to details nobody else had ever noticed. Silence with him was comfortable, the quiet time filled with casual kisses and gentle caresses.

At one point I was so cozy that I nearly drifted off. Spending this time with him – completely removed from everything and everyone else – was escalating the growing feelings I had for him in a big way. I was worried that maybe it was all too much too fast, but it felt so natural that I just couldn't fight it.

I made Edward promise me that he'd at least be cordial to Jacob when we got back to camp. While I could see how angry Jacob's gossiping had made Edward, I knew that his heart was in the right place. I decided that I'd talk to him myself to set things straight, and hoped that the issue wouldn't come up again.

When we finally returned back to camp, Rose and Emmett were lakeside filleting a fish they had caught for dinner, and Jacob was napping against another fallen tree. We would be staying a full two nights at the Magog Lake campground, allowing us to explore the Assiniboine area and get some much needed rest for our hike home. The home stretch would be our longest day trek yet, clocking in at a grueling twenty six kilometers, so the downtime was a relief.

Edward and I worked quickly on food prep, which didn't take long. We were starting to run slightly low on water, so conservation was our biggest concern. We ate and visited while Jacob informed us that he was certain he saw a pair of wolves while he'd ventured off alone for some privacy that afternoon. After seeing the tracks on the lakeshore, I believed him and was disappointed that I'd missed the chance to see the animals in person.

After tents were set up for the night, I snuck the chance to grab my friend for some alone time. Rose and I headed to the camp outhouse for our nightly freshening up routine, after strict instructions from the guys to remember our bear spray and whistles.

"How're things going with you and Edward?" Rose asked from inside the outhouse. I stood guard for her right outside the door. "You guys were gone a long time today."

"Good. Really good. We mostly talked."

"Mostly?" she said with a giggle.

"Yes, mostly. How about with you and beef cake?" I teased.

"Also good. Impossibly good. We had the chance to talk today too, actually. I told him about everything – the assault, what happened after– it all just came out."

"Wow." I replied. I knew that was a huge deal for Rose. "How'd he take it?"

"He was angry for me, and sad, but he said he was proud of me too. It was easier telling him than I thought it would be." She said, swinging open the rickety door. "Your turn. Be quick – it's creepy out here."

"Tell me about it." I said, slipping inside the tiny shelter. "I'm happy for you, Rose. Seriously."

"Thanks." she replied, her voice soft. "How the hell are we going to leave here, Bella?"

"We've got lives back home waiting for us, but it'll suck – it's been an incredible trip."

"See, that's the thing. I don't - not really."

I finished up in the outhouse quickly. Rose was venturing into some new territory, and it was concerning me.

"That's not true – you've got your job, and you've got me." I said, taking her hand in mine. She gave my fingers a squeeze.

"I know, but maybe it's time for a fresh start."

"You don't mean you'd actually consider moving or anything, do you?" I asked, needing to see if that was what she was dancing around.

"I don't really know." She replied, letting go of my hand to click on her flashlight. The sun was setting quickly, making it tricky to see our path back. "But I don't think it's as crazy of an idea as it first seems."

"Whatever you do, I'm behind you." I said, knowing that I'd support her in any way as long as she was safe and happy. "Just promise me one thing?"

"What's that?" she asked, leading the way back to camp.

"That you'll take your time with any big decisions. Who knows how things will be when we get out of these mountains. For both of us."

xoxoxoxo

When we arrived back at camp, the guys had already retreated to their tents for the night, each one lit up with the glow of their flashlights inside. I noticed that they were spaced farther apart than they had previously been in other stops, and I was glad for a little extra privacy.

When I ducked inside mine, I found Edward already undressed and looking comfortable in our nest of blankets.

"What took you so long?" he asked, smirking at me. He was shirtless, with his arms folded behind his head, the sleeping bag hanging low on his hips. "I warmed up the bed."

"I'm glad." I said, slipping inside. I kicked my boots off, and removed my coat. It was always Edward coming in and getting undressed. I was a nervous to be the one on display for a change.

I wiggled out of my pants as gracefully as I could manage in the tight space.

I pulled my shirt over my head, leaving me in just my bra and underwear. I started digging in my bag quickly, the brisk air giving me an instant case of goose bumps.

"Bella?" Edward began, his voice timid, "come here like that?"

I hesitated for just a second before sliding up beside him. He pulled the sleeping bag up and over our shoulders, trapping in body heat. I huddled in closer to him, desperate to get the chill off. Skin on skin, it was working quickly. His palms started tracing lazy circles on my back.

"How come you didn't get me naked that night I thought I was freezing to death?" I teased, running a hand over his bare chest. The light scatter of hair just in the center tickled my fingertips. I could feel my toes warming up already, the heat trapped within our blankets swiftly working its magic.

"I didn't want to scare you away before I could do this." Edward cupped my face in his hands, bringing his lips firmly to mine. I felt a jolt of fire spread through me – a combination of warmth and surprise - as his hands swept up my spine, pulling me closer.

His tongue slid softly over my bottom lip and I welcomed it, deepening our kiss. Being cold was no longer a concern in the slightest. I was far from it.

Edward's hands, still moving in circles, were closing in on the clasp of my bra. He was tentative, visibly waiting for a cue from me that he could go further, but I was unable to form coherent words. Instead, I reached a hand around and unclasped the hooks myself, letting the straps softly fall from my shoulders.

A deep groan rumbled in the back of Edward's throat.

He rolled me onto my back, stretching my arms above my head - his palms firmly along my sides. With my bra barely held in place, Edward slid it up easily with his thumbs, leaving me bare before him.

I stared up at him staring at me. His eyes were hooded, his lips barely parted, and he was breathing heavily. His hair was wild mess, and I wanted him - every single part of him more than I had ever wanted another person before.

He cupped my breast in his hand, his fingers tracing an almost painfully slow circular pattern around my nipple. I felt as though I was going to come undone from this touch alone. It had been so long, and even then – it had never felt even close to as good.

He lowered himself to his forearms, placing his weight between my legs, giving me the friction that I so desperately craved. I could feel his length, confined by his boxers, as he pressed himself into me with another deep groan.

"God, I want you." He whispered, his lips trailing from my earlobe to my collarbone. I was only able to moan in appreciative response.

Edward kissed a trail down the center of my chest, his grinding between my legs growing in intensity until I was at the point where I almost couldn't take it. I was so far gone, but in the most blissful of ways.

When his lips locked on to my nipple, I couldn't hold it together anymore. "I need you." I moaned, thrusting my hips firmly into his. "Please, Edward."

He moved to his knees, sitting upright between my bent legs. He hooked his fingers in the sides of my bikini underwear, and just as he was about to tug them down, he froze.

"Edward! Get up! We've got to move!" It was Emmett's voice bellowing outside the tent. I was so confused, and was fairly sure I was going to die of embarrassment. "There's been another mudslide!"

A/N Please don't throw tomatoes at me! ;) Thanks so much for reading and for your reviews. I always love to hear your thoughts! xoxoxo