I have to thank my a fantastic trio of friends for helping me with this: m0t0b33, teamalltwilight and Pyejammies! ;)
As always, I don't own anything Twilight related or anything else you might recognize in my story. I DO own the idea.
We'll just call them Hot Mama and Jailbait. :) Check the pictures in my FB group: Addicted-to-romione-bedward Fanfiction (link on my profile)
Bella's POV
Allowing Edward to drive is a bad idea.
We agreed to make it a two days trip so not to exhaust the driver. Hypothetically we should have covered the distance between Seattle and Boise – our overnight stop, in nine hours, but we're parked in front of the hotel I booked a room in seven hours after our departure.
I made myself a travel bag, but Edward didn't want one.
That's why he's rummaging through his clothes in the hotel's parking lot, showing everyone passing by his red briefs and holey black socks.
I take pity on him and take his necessities out of his bag, shoving them in my small travel bag. He slings the strap of my bag over his shoulder as we make our way inside the hotel.
The lady behind the front desk greets us warmly, welcoming us to the hotel. I tell her about the reservation and push my ID card to her.
While she clicks away, Edward looks through one of their brochures.
I hope he doesn't mind I booked us one room.
"Mrs. Cullen, I'm afraid we have only one double room left, but it has a double bed," the girl's voice gets my attention.
"I booked a room with two beds," I tell her.
"Yes, there was a system error."
I'll give you a system error!
"Is that the only room you have left?"
"There's also a suite," she tells me.
To pay double for just one night?
We slept together at Kitty's…and it's been heaven and hell.
"Fine," I accept. "I take the double bed room." I glance at Edward to see him staring at me wide-eyed.
I pay for the room and grab his arm, leading him to the stairs. We're 105 – first floor.
"Are you sure about the double bed?" he asks urgently. "I mean…I dunno…it was weird at Grandma's."
"I'd rather not pay one hundred more so you have the couch. We can share a bed. You're a big boy." I stop in front of the door and run the keycard in the slot. "Suck it up," I add giggling as I press the door handle.
The room isn't big or small – it's great.
The bed is made to fit exactly two persons with no space between them.
Oh well.
I'm going to hell anyway.
I've been having so many dirty thoughts about Edward in the past month that sleeping in the same bed would be nothing compared to them.
I'm aware nothing will come out of my fantasies but a woman can dream…
"So what do we do now?" Edward asks, dropping the bag at the foot of the bed. "I'm kinda hungry."
"Then let's grab a bite."
Thankfully we don't have to search for food too far. The hotel is just serving dinner. We talk about what we should do once we get to Aspen.
"Well, I'll get in, start a fire and laze," he tells me smirking.
"And I'll start a hot chocolate because it's tradition right?" I grin.
"Who said anything about you in the house? Remember, I have the keys!"
"By all means! Stay in there alone. You won't make it for more than an hour alone."
"Maybe you're right." He takes a bite of his vegetables. "Still, I can't believe Dad left you the Cayman vacation house! I ended up with the Aspen house. How many times did I come with you to Aspen?" He's pouting which is extremely funny.
"Only a handful of times, but I guess he saw how much I loved the Cayman house," I whisper, thinking of the small cottage on the beach.
"I let you in the house in Aspen and you let me in the house in Cayman?" Edward asks, extending his hand to me.
I slap it away, rolling my eyes. "We're a family. Those houses are ours now."
"I like that," Edward says quietly. "Ours." He beams at me, squeezing my hand.
Over dessert, I broach a subject I've been meaning to touch for some time now.
"So, Edward, have you thought of college?" I wonder.
"I'm not sure…"
"Well, you have good grades. You can get in any good college."
"Bella, I have no idea what I want. Actually, if you don't mind…I'd rather take a year off." He looks worried, biting his lip.
"Is that what you want? Really want?"
"I guess."
"Okay then. But you'll have to look for a job," I tell him seriously. "I'll support you materially, of course. But I'm sure you'd love to have your own money for stuff it must be weird to ask me that you need to buy."
He smirks a little and nods. "I'll see what I can do. Thanks. I thought you'd throat punch me if actually came to you and told you about taking a year off."
"No," I whisper sadly. "I wanted the very same thing but…considering my Dad was a cop and we had strict rules…yeah." I shrug. "I don't really regret it. College brought me to Seattle – alone, away from home. I could do whatever I wanted." I laugh.
"Oh yeah, because I can totally imagine you doing crazy shit!" Edward barks a laugh. "I bet you were the studious type, not losing a night or—"
I shake my head, giggling madly. "You're wrong. Though I was studying and keeping good grades, I always went out – frat parties, clubs, movies. You name it, I was there." I smirk at his shocked face. I trace the rim of the glass wondering if it is a good idea to voice my thoughts. "If I wasn't so…open to stuff, I bet I wouldn't have…" I clear my throat. "Let's just say I'd have sued you father for not giving me a decent interview. It was rather unconventional."
Jesus, I feel my blush spreading to my chest.
"I don't think I want to know," Edward mumbles.
"You don't," I confirm. "Let's go back to our room. We can watch some TV then sleep. We have a long way ahead. And I'm driving."
"Aw, man!" he moans, getting up. "But you promised."
"Edward, I thought you'd kill us a few times. So I'm driving."
"Fine, fine."
On the way to our room, he pulls his phone and starts playing with it. I swear I have no idea what he's doing with it half of the time.
True, I play on mine as well, but I mostly use it to call people.
"Say," Edward speaks as we step in the room.
"Huh?" I turn to him.
"What's a good present for a girl you like? I mean from a boy…you know what I'm saying."
"Aw, you don't have to! But I'm kinda surprised you didn't already buy something."
"Not for you!" he hisses.
"Oh." I realize he wants to buy something for a girl.
Of course.
"Not like that either. Actually, it's Em." He shows me his phone. "He's clueless."
"Oh," I gasp. "Uh, well…I don't know. I bet you know his girlfriend better than me."
"I don't. Seen her only once or twice," he tells me. "She's not in high school."
"Oh." I really need an award for saying that exclamation three times in a row. "So Emmett's into older women?" I laugh.
"Is there something wrong in that?" Edward asks promptly, almost defensively.
"Definitely not." I grin. "I used to date a senior when I was in my second year of college. Well, we didn't last more than a week, but yeah…it was nice. Kids your age…" I trail off not ready to admit that we hadn't left my dorm that week. We had a marathon of sorts. Amazing. Boy, did that kid had stamina!
"Oookay. Back to Emmett. What do I tell him?"
We end up discussing good presents for a girl in her early twenties. I end up grabbing Edward's phone and calling Emmett when Edward doesn't know how to write some things in a message.
"Dude! Finally! I was sure you were busy doing Hot Mama." I check the phone's screen – Emmett.
After a curious glance toward Edward, I clear my throat. "Hi, Emmett. Hot Mama speaking," I say as seriously as I can.
Edward's eyes are so wide I fear they might fall off. And he's red as a lobster, looking away.
"Holy shit! Mrs. Cullen! I'm so sorry," Emmett mumbles. "I swear to you that…"
"I called to give you a few suggestions about the present," I cut him off. "Still interested?"
"Yeah. Really, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, kiddo." I start rattling off ideas for presents, but my brain is mulling on what just happened.
When I finally catch Edward's eye, he cringes then disappears in the bathroom.
"Emmett…" I say quietly once we cover the present subject.
"Yes, Mrs. Cullen?"
Funny. He calls me that when he's in trouble.
"What you said earlier…that's an idea you came up with…or Edward?"
"Uh…I really can't…it's…"
"It was Edward's idea," I state, feeling my heart beating wildly against my ribcage.
"You didn't hear it from me. He's gonna kill me!" Emmett exclaims panicked.
"I thought so. Well, then I'll leave you to your shopping. Send your mom our traditional holiday greetings!"
"I will. Goodbye, Mrs. Cullen."
"I hope I'll be Bella again by the time we return from the holiday. Mrs. Cullen makes me think of Kitty." I shudder and hear a chuckle from behind me. "Bye Emmett."
"He called you Mrs. Cullen?" Edward asks amused.
"Yes, but before he called me that…" I narrow my eyes at him as I advance to where he's leaning against the wall. "Thinking he was talking to you…he referred to me as Hot Mama. Any idea why?"
"Nope." He gulps visibly.
"And it was your idea to call me that," I add, stopping in front of him. We're toe to toe, nose to nose – almost…most likely forehead to chin but whatever.
"Bella, fuck." He looks scared.
"Is that what you think?"
Maybe, just maybe I'm not the only one with crazy feelings.
"Bella, no. Don't do this," he begs.
"So you don't think of me as more than a mother figure?" I wonder, really curious.
His green eyes flash with some unknown emotion.
"You were never a mom to me! You were always my best friend."
"Girl best friend," I whisper, leaning closer. I can smell his aftershave.
"No, Bella…" He's pressed against the wall, his hands balled at his sides. "Don't come closer. We'll both regret it."
I cup his cheek, close my eyes and take a deep breath.
I can do this.
I have a feeling he wants this just as much.
When I open my eyes I see his green one staring into mine – there's definitely lust in them.
"I've seen you grow up over the years, and if you asked me a year ago what I thought of you, I'd have told you that you were the little brother I always wanted." I rub my thumb to his stubbly cheek. "Lately…something changed."
His eyes search mine, frequently landing on my lips.
"It's forbidden and it makes me want this more," I breathe out closing the gap between us, bringing his head closer. "You want it too?" I murmur against his lips.
We're so close.
"For far too long," he groans, pressing his lips against mine.
Suddenly it's my back against the wall as he kisses me roughly. All the pent up frustration is pouring out in this kiss.
My fingers grip the hair at the back of his neck as one of his hands raises my leg, pressing his body into mine. I can feel all of him – warm, long, pulsing flesh against my stomach.
I want so many things but I'm not ready to go to any next level until we talk about this craziness.
So I push him away gently. "We need to talk."
Call me cockblocker extraordinary but they need to talk first. :)