Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Stephenie Meyer does.
Chapter six: Can't wait
Edward's pov
We managed to get a booth in the back of the restaurant and Jasper quickly came over with a round of shots.
"All drinks are on the house as long as you boys promise my girl doesn't go too crazy tonight. O, and you might want to make sure Bella doesn't drink too much either," he said with a wink in her direction.
I raised my eyebrows at her, silently questioning why Jasper had felt the need to add that. Bella shook her head and pretended to zip up her lips. Alice had other ideas and placed a hand on my arm, while leaning in a little closer.
"Bella had only been drunk once. It was at our house warming party and thank god there weren't a lot of guests."
Bella glared in Alice's direction, who shrugged it off and casually continued.
"Someone had put on a Celine Dion CD and our shy and clumsy room mate, decided to try and climb up on the breakfast bar in our kitchen and sing along with 'My heart will go on.' Miraculously, she makes it up there, unscathed, but just as she is closing in on the final chorus she throws her arms to the side, loses her balance and comes crashing down to the floor. She ended up with a broken rib and arm and bruises all over the left side of her body. It's safe to say that Bella never got drunk again."
Emmett guffawed loud enough to attract attention from half the patrons and I punched his arm. "Emmett, shut up. Bella's embarrassed enough as it is."
He rolled his eyes, but quieted down considerably. "I would pay to see you drunk, Bells."
"Well, not gonna happen, Emmett. I have learned my lesson the first time."
Naturally we agreed to keep the girls safe from any drunken stupidity and Jasper gladly handed over the shots.
We downed them quickly and slammed down the glasses at the same time.
"All right," Alice exclaimed. "This is one shot and that's all us girls will be having. Let's eat."
"Amen to that, sister," Emmett boomed.
While I perused the menu I noticed Bella wasn't looking at hers at all and neither was Alice.
"Do you girls know what you're having?" I inquired.
"Jasper is the chef here and he knows exactly what we like, so we usually get a surprise dish and not once did he disappoint," Bella explained.
I nodded and looked over at Alice. "If your boyfriend is a chef here, how in the hell are you still so tiny?"
She narrowed her eyes at me and I raised my hands in defence. "Didn't mean it like an insult, I promise."
"Okay... Well, I am a rather active person, so I usually burn a lot of the calories Jasper gives me during a normal day, but I'm also a part time dance instructor. Giving six hours a week in dance lessons will give you a good body no matter how much you eat."
Bella pursed her lips and fiddled with her fingers.
"What's the matter?" I asked her quietly.
She shrugged one shoulder. "I sometimes wish I was more like Alice."
"Why?"
"Because she's outgoing and social and everybody loves her. I'm just boring old Bella Swan who nobody notices," she whispered, her eyes downcast.
"Well, I noticed you. And you are far more social then me. You've got two very close friends. I only have Emmett and I wouldn't say we're best friends. It's not like we talk to each other all that much."
Bella's pov
I looked up at Edward from under my lashes and saw the sincerity, but also the pain and loneliness in his eyes.
"You have me," I breathed.
His eyes widened a little and a beautiful crooked smile curved his lips. I was drowning in his eyes again and it took all my will power not to lean in and kiss him deeply. I reluctantly tore my eyes away from him when the waitress came up to our table. I noticed that she was practically drooling over Emmett, but didn't even glance at Edward.
Part of me was relieved by that. At least not all the girls saw how beautiful he really was, and that way I could maybe, possibly have a chance to become his girlfriend. I sighed as I thought about the staggering odds against me, if he were ever to find out how gorgeous he could be with slightly different clothes and a little more confidence.
It was the same thing Rose and Alice always told me, but I couldn't believe that. I wasn't very interesting to look at and no matter how fancy or sexy the clothing or how high my confidence, I could never be anywhere but in the shadow of my two room mates.
Edward seemed to notice my glum mood and grabbed my hand on top of the table. He rubbed slow circles on the back and gave me a reassuring smile.
I decided to stop making myself crazy. I had just kissed this man in the middle of a mall, why on earth was I brooding now. I should be glowing and as I thought back on how good his mouth felt on mine and how our tongues had moved together, I felt so much better. The grin that spread across my face couldn't be contained.
Alice eyed me curiously, but thankfully didn't ask about my mood swings. The waitress came back with our food and Emmett immediately began shuffling his food in. I chuckled and started on my own plate. Jasper had made us both Cannelloni and it was positively scrumptious.
Conversation flowed easily throughout dinner and I learned a lot about Emmett. After hearing what he had said to Rosalie the other night, I figured he was just one of those players who only looked for quick hook-ups and then never called the girls back, but apparently he was a relationship kind of guy.
He was also completely hilarious and he had us all clutching out sides, laughing repeatedly. He kept regaling stories of pranks he pulled in high school and each one was funnier than the last.
When we got around to dessert, Jasper had finished his shift and joined our little group. He had pre-ordered the chocolate soufflés for me and Alice and they were brought out at the same time as the boys' desserts.
"So, Jasper please explain how you can handle that bundle of energy over there," Emmett said conversationally.
"I'm not quite sure, but when I'm around she doesn't feel the need to move around so much. I guess I calm her down enough for me to handle her."
Alice huffed and crossed her arms across her chest. I knew that expression and it meant that she wasn't pleased with Jasper's response. Then a glint came to her eye that had me scared shitless.
"Let's go clubbing!"
"No, Alice. No way! And besides, Rose will be home alone of we do."
"I'll call her and ask if she wants to come with."
I groaned and put my head in my hands. A gentle pat on my shoulder made my look up at Jasper. He was smirking and I knew I had already lost the battle before it had even begun.
Alice grinned like the Cheshire cat and flipped open her phone. I swear she only bought that thing because she could use it to act all dramatic. She talked to Rose for only a few minutes and after she hung up she squealed in excitement.
Apparently we were going clubbing, oh joy!
Edward's pov
Bella didn't look pleased at all, but Alice just waltzed right over her objections and made us all promise to be at the Twilight club tonight at ten. I wasn't the type of guy to go to clubs, but I also didn't want to miss out on an opportunity to spend time with Bella, so I agreed to go with them, which earned me the sweetest smile from my girl.
Yeah, I knew I was quick, but I really wanted her to be my girl and thinking of her like that, made me happy, so I decided not to over think it and just let it go. The girls said goodbye to us all and headed home to change. I felt a little lost. I had no idea what I should be wearing to a club. What would Bella expect?
"Hey, dude. You look a little panicked," Emmett said while we walked back to my car.
"I haven't got a clue what to wear or what she expects of me. I never go to clubs. I have no idea what I'm doing, Emmett."
I didn't care that I was showing him how much of a hermit I really was. He already knew, any way.
"Don't worry. I know for a fact that your mother keeps sending you clothes which you just shove into the back of the closet without looking at it. We'll find something decent in there. It's not like Bella will expect you to be a totally different guy. She did kiss you in this get-up didn't she?"
I blushed and nodded. "Yeah, I suppose I shouldn't worry, but I can't help it. She makes me nervous."
Emmett smirked and clapped his hand on my shoulder, shaking his head in amusement. For a moment he was like the big brother I didn't have.
~*~
It was half past nine when Emmett and I were ready to go to the club. I had dug through the clothes my mother sent me and found a pair of reasonably snug fitted dark wash jeans and a fitted black t-shirt. It was closest to my own style and was good enough to wear to the club, or at least that's what Emmett told me when I showed it to him.
We had decided to take a cab, in case either of us wanted to drink and we arrived about five minutes early. Emmett knew one of the bouncers so he strolled up to the front of the line and started talking to them.
I looked around nervously, noting that some girls were looking me up and down. I cringed a little, not knowing how to feel about it. This never happened to me before. Just as I was about to ditch, the others came walking over.
Rosalie glared at Emmett and refused to talk to him, instead opting to hang onto Bella's arm as we walked into the bar. Bella shot me an apologetic look over her shoulder and I smiled back. At least I was able to look at her thoroughly without getting caught.
She had on a tight pair of black jeans and a midnight blue silk top, with a back that plunged down to the middle of her back and a neckline that was fairly chaste. The combination was almost sinfully sexy. Her hair was twisted up into a loose bun, a few locks curling around her face. I was in awe of her and wondered, for the umpteenth time since I met her, what on earth she saw in me.
We found a table in a quiet corner of the bar and Emmett offered to get us all drinks. Alice was perched on Jasper's lap and seemed to be having a silent conversation with Rosalie, which left me and Bella to ourselves.
"You look absolutely stunning," I whispered in her ear.
She shivered. "You look very handsome yourself."
I smiled and kissed her cheek before pulling back to look at her. Yes, we kissed in the mall, but I wasn't sure she was okay with more PDA. Her eyes were showing her insecurities and I gently pecked her lips.
"What's the matter, love?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing. You... I just feel so unworthy of you."
I was stunned. This beautiful woman thought she was unworthy of me? The biggest nerd on campus?
"Bella, you must be kidding me."
"No, I'm not. Look around you, Edward. With the way you are dressed now, you can have your pick of any woman in this room. There are several gorgeous women, ogling you from across the room. How can you even sit here with me?"
I didn't look around. I didn't have to. The only woman I wanted to look at me was right in front of me, her eyes downcast, her lip quivering.
I put my finger under her chin and turned her head so she had to look at me.
"My dear, sweet Isabella. There is only one woman in this room that I want to look at and she is sitting right here. I don't want attention from anybody else. I only have eyes for you."
Bella's pov
There he was, saying the most perfect words ever spoken and I realized that I was falling in love with him. My stomach was assaulted by butterflies and my heart beat erratically in my chest.
I didn't know what to say, but my instincts drove me forward. I leaned over and kissed him softly on those full lips. I didn't have any intent on doing more than that, but Edward put his hands around my waist and lifted me into his lap, so I was straddling him. He pressed his mouth more urgently against mine and I felt him harden under me.
I moaned and opened my mouth so I could touch his tongue with mine. We kissed deeply for several minutes, my hips gyrating in time with the thumping music. He pulled away first, breathing heavily. His eyes were hooded with lust and all I wanted to do in that moment was take him out of there and get him into my bed.
He leaned up and licked just below my ear, before nipping at the lobe.
"Bella," he groaned against my skin. "I know we said we would take it slow, but I want to take you home with me. I want to hold you in my arms and caress very inch of your body. I want to explore and worship you. God, I want you."
I closed my eyes and threw my head back. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I was in a public place. I knew my friends were on the other side of the table, I knew we were moving to fast, but I couldn't find it in me to care.
"Let's go," I murmured close to his ear, before jumping up and grabbing his hand.
He stood up and pulled me close for another heated kiss. I didn't even take the time to say goodbye to my friends. I couldn't wait any longer.
A/N: Next chapter will be one hell of a lemon! I promise. So what do you guys think? Let me know!