Five

Sunday dawned and it was a beautiful day, Bella dressed in white short shorts and a teeny tiny tank top. She decided that she would spend the day lazily, getting some sun on the back deck. She went outside with a glass of orange juice and her newspaper. She was just settling down with the pink section when the doorbell rang. She thought of ignoring it, but then worried that it may Mrs Cope from next door who was probably looking for her cat Mr Jenks. Mr Jenks loved to escape and set up house with some hotsy totsy feline, and he usually found his way back after a few days of alleycat merriment. But Mrs Cope worried the whole time that he was gone, afraid that this time she had lost him forever. Mumbling to herself she got up after the third ring and went to get it. Edward stood on the doorstep. Her heart tumbled, "Why does it keep doing that?" she asked herself and cursed her body.

"I would have called but I don't have your number."

Bella stared at him, she finally shook herself out of her stupor and offered, "I'll give it to you."

"Do you want to go fly a kite?" and like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat he pulled a kite from behind his back. "It's a perfect day for it."

Bella was a little surprised by his proposal. Before today she would have bet he'd have more touchy feely activities on his agenda, but maybe he really did want to get to know her."Yeah, sure." She scribbled a note for Alice and left it on the front door.

Edward drove to the marina and he bypassed the boat dock and parked at the very end of the cul-de-sac facing the bay and the view of San Francisco. Edward handed her a blanket and he pulled out a picnic basket. "It's my turn to feed you." He smiled. They left the car and headed for the rolling green hills of the huge park where other kite flyers were enjoying the sport. They spread the blanket in full view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The air was cool, clean and invigorating.

He poured sparkling apple juice and gave her a glass. "Wow, I'm impressed, real crystal, china and silverware."

"Only the best for you." He clinked his glass with hers, "Cheers." They ate rosemary chicken salad with french bread, pate and assorted cheeses to the sound of the crashing waves. "You're awfully quiet," he said, as she munched.

"I have nothing to say." In truth she felt tongue-tied and shy. She really wanted to ask him where he had been and why he hadn't come by and why he'd left it up to her to make the next move but decided to bite her tongue.

"Well, I have something pretty important to say. Actually it's a request, but it's pretty important." He sounded very serious all of a sudden.

She couldn't imagine what on earth he would like to ask her that would qualify as 'pretty important'. "Really? What is it?"

"Well, I have to fly to New York, in a couple weeks. I'm there a lot for business so I have an apartment. It's only for a week. And I know it's kind of soon, but I would like you to come with me." He looked right into her eyes waiting for an answer.

Bella was shocked. She had no idea what to say so she said the first thing that came to her head, "If you're going on business why do you want me to come with you?"

"I'm meeting with my editor and my agent and doing some other business but I won't be very busy. I thought it might be really nice if you were there, I could show you New York. And I promise not to make a move on you." He reached for her hand and rubbed her wrist. "And if you don't come I'll be thinking of you every minute of every day."

She said nothing, what could she say?

"Bella?"

"Umm, I have to work."

"Couldn't you take time off?" he asked.

Again she said nothing, she was thinking. All sorts of questions were flooding her brain. Such as how could he kiss her like he did Saturday night, practically make love to her and then disappear for a week? Then show up and try to take her to New York, undoubtedly for a week of sex? As before, he seemed to have an inner link to her thoughts.

"I did want to see you this past week but I had to fly to Los Angeles - for work. Something came up suddenly on a script. I couldn't call you because I didn't have your number, I thought about calling the school but I thought you would jump to conclusions about me stalking you. You didn't even tell me your last name."

"It's Swan."

"How fitting, beautiful swan. Well, Bella Swan, when I go to New York I won't be able to see you for another whole week." He saw a hesitant look on her face. "Just think about it, I won't pressure you. We'll have fun today and you can think about it. I'll be leaving in two weeks. If you decide not to come I'll get your number and call you every day, okay?" He got up and pulled her by the hand. "Let's go fly this kite."

They ran up the hill, hand in hand, Edward pulling her ever higher. She was breathless by the time they got to the top. He released the kite and let out the string, it flew up, up, up. The sky in mid-June was cloudless. They ran and played like children, up one hill and down another. Bella had always loved this park it was one of her favorite places. She loved the salty spray of the bay and the panoramic view of the Berkeley Hills, the boats in the marina and the skyline of San Francisco. They stayed there for hours, walking the paths and enjoying the salty sea air, eventually packing up when the fog started to roll in and the temperature became nippy.

They went to sit in his car and they talked as they finished the creme caramel he had brought for dessert. "So, have you thought about it? Are you going to come to New York? Or do you need more time to think?" Edward asked her.

She cleared her throat and replied, "I don't need more time. Like you said, Edward, I think it's too soon. I barely know you and you barely know me. Spending a week together seems like it might be a lot of time together; you know, a long time without a break from each other. What if we find that we get on each other's nerves?"

"I'm sure you won't get on my nerves, but I think I know what you're thinking. A week in a strange apartment, in an unfamiliar city will put you at a disadvantage. What if I do try to pressure you into sleeping with me? And what if you don't want to? You think I'll be angry and you'll feel forced and uncomfortable. Then it's going to be a long week in some creep's apartment. Is that what you mean?" he asked her.

She assumed he was joking, so she laughed and replied, "Now that you mention it, that exact scenario did cross my mind, except for the "creep" part, of course."

He blew out a frustrated breath, and only then did she realize he was upset. "You know you are the strangest woman I've ever met. You're a mass of contradictions. You come across as this confident person. You have tattoos and piercings, you perform seductively in front of total strangers who are all lusting after you and you're comfortable with that. That's just fine and dandy. You're attracted to me, we both know that, but when I try to get close to you, you act like a timid little teenager and run away. When we start kissing you want it to go on and on and you have no problem saying so at the time, yet when we meet again you revert to this shy frightened kid. I don't get it. What's your problem? Aren't you comfortable with your body and your sexuality?" He was getting angry and he was breathing hard.

But Bella was getting angry too. "Firstly, you said that you wouldn't pressure me into going to New York with you. And when I tell you no, what do you do? You try to pressure me. You're the mass of contradictions. And secondly just because I look one way doesn't mean that's all there is to me. Don't you know the old adage that you can't judge a book by its cover? Seems to me as an "ex-detective" that would have been a lesson you would have learned long ago." She gave it to him with full force, jabbing her index finger into his chest. "And thirdly who the hell do you think you are? God's gift to women? Just because I'm attracted to you that doesn't mean that I want to open my legs for you as soon as you give me some attention." She turned to open the passenger door to get the hell out of the car there was no way she was going to stay. She was determined to get home on her own.

Edward leaned over and pulled the door shut. He grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her toward him for a kiss. She tried to pull her head away, but he was too strong for her. As soon as their lips touched she was lost. She couldn't help it she had to kiss him back. He was sexy as hell and she had no way of stopping her body from responding. He twisted one hand in her long pony tail and then he reached over and put his other hand on her hip and brought her closer, only the gear shift prevented him from pulling her all the way into his body. His tongue wreaked havoc on her senses and her heart beat crazily in her chest. She melted with no thought of resisting him. His hand slid from her hip to her thigh where her short shorts ended. He ran his strong fingers in between her thighs and they parted. He reached beneath the edge of her shorts and pushed his fingers under her panties and touched her wet softness and she moaned and opened wider. (So much for her claim that she wouldn't open her legs just because he wanted her to.) She pulled her lips from his and looked down to see what his fingers were doing. She looked up and their eyes met and she covered his hand with hers and pushed into him, wanting more. She licked his earlobe and bit it gently. He smelled so sweaty and male and she inhaled deeply. His hand left her pony tail and he pulled her tank top sleeve and bra strap over her shoulders and down. Her breast was exposed and he bent down and sucked one nipple so sharply that she squeaked and arched into him.

"Say you want me. Say you want me to make love to you." He demanded.

"I want you." She gasped out.

"Good. Because I want you, very, very badly." He looked into her eyes. "I want to make love to you, Bella. I want to taste and touch every inch of this perfect body. I want to see you naked under me. I want to smell you sweaty and hot. And I want to taste you, all of you. I want to feel you move and tremble in my arms when I satisfy you. I want to hear you moan my name when you come and sleep on me when we're done." God he was good. Bella almost had an orgasm right then and there. She wanted to beg him to make love to her now. "Bella, do you want what I want?" he asked.

"Yes." she moaned.

"Now?" he asked.

"Now." She begged.

He got out of the car and quick as lightning he was opening her door and pulling her out of her seat. He started to walk quickly, holding her hand tightly in his, his long strides forcing her to run to keep up as he tugged her along.

"Oh my god, where are we going?" she was wondering if he was going to shove her under a bush and make love to her here in the park.

"To my boat." He answered her. "This is where I live."

They boarded the houseboat and he hurried her down into the wood paneled bedroom. She barely saw the bedroom before he turned her into his arms and started to kiss her. Before she knew it he had stripped her clothes off and they were both naked and she was in his arms. True to his words he started to kiss her all over. He scattered kisses over her shoulders and down over her breasts. He dropped to his knees and held her hips between his big hands. He kissed her belly and the bones of her hips and the top of her thighs.

His voracious hunger frightened her and she whimpered, "No," and covered herself as pressed his mouth to her and tried to lick between her thighs. He grabbed both her wrists in one large hand and stood up. His other hand reached for her chin and he whispered, "Yes", against her lips and then he kissed her hungrily. "I've been dying to taste you since I touched you at the river. Your sweet, naked pussy has been haunting my nights." All thoughts of resistance fled from her mind as they fell together onto his bed and he parted her thighs with his and he lay in between them. His mouth delved into hers again; licking, sucking, roaming leaving no part untasted. When his lips left hers, she let out a deep sigh. "Oh, Edward."

He kissed and licked her throat and the space between her breasts. His mouth traveled to her nipple, he licked and then sucked it hard. He licked and sucked the other nipple as he rubbed and pinched the first and she thought she would just melt all over the bed. He moved lower and kissed her navel and he pushed his tongue into the indentation. All the while he still held both her wrists in one hand. His other hand played with her secret nub. Finally, he opened her upand his tongue reached into her folds and he licked her. He ran the flat of his tongue on it over and over again. She moaned and struggled to free her hands from his hold. When she finally managed to free them, she ran her fingers through his hair and held his head between her thighs, her body started to twist, moving toward him and away. She moaned "yes" again and again. She thought she would die, her heart was beating so fast. She was on fire and her whole body was dewy with sweat.

He moved up and his body hovered over hers. He gasped "Bella, look at me." Her eyes opened and they were liquid gold. "I want to see your eyes when I come in." She saw him in the weak light of the setting sun. He looked intently at her. He entered her slowly, filling her inch by inch. And as he did she felt deliciously complete, eager for him to move. His face was tight, his jaw was clenched and his gray eyes stared right into her amber ones. She couldn't look away. He started to move in and out with slow, deep, hard thrusts.

She heard the sound that their wet bodies made as he moved in her and on her. The moist slide and suck, slippery skin against slippery skin, the slap of hip meeting hip, the soft panting moans that came unbidden from her throat and his answering growl and groans. The thump of the bed bowing, the shurr of the waves outside all met in a symphony of sound made by them, just for them.

As he moved in her, she became afraid of not keeping up so she anchored herself to him by holding onto his broad shoulders and her feet latched onto his calves. With each deep stroke she felt that she would come now and now and finally when she did her back arched and her head pushed back into the pillow. She felt the electric tingle start from her spine and spread all the way up to the back of her head and down to her toes. Her toes curled into his calf muscles and she dug her fingers into his bulging biceps. Soft moaning whisper-words, the "Don't stop"s and "Please, Please"s and "Oh God"s escaped her lips as her head moved from side to side. She wanted the feeling to go on and on at the same time she wanted it to stop. It was so much pleasure that she thought she might faint. She moaned his name over and over again. Still he kept thrusting in and out, seeking his own rapture. She wrapped her legs around his hips, loving the feel of him between her thighs. Edward shuddered and became still as he let out a deep moan and fell on top of her panting for air. They stayed like that for several minutes as their bodies cooled.

He rolled onto his back and pulled her next to him, into the crook of his arm. "Don't ever tell me no again." He told her.

"I won't" she said weakly. He was in charge.

They lay there until her thundering heartbeats returned to normal. "Can I have some water?" she asked hoarsely.

He got up from the bed and she watched his beautiful naked body. She felt the aching heat again between her thighs. "Oh God help me." She muttered softly to herself.

Edward came back with ice water for both of them and threw himself down on the bed next to her. He kissed her shoulder and ran his hand possessively over her belly. "I want more."

They started to make love again. The moon shone in through the porthole and she saw Edward smile like she had never seen anyone smile before. The ghostly, blue moonlight made him radiant, angelic, like some strange, otherworldly being and her hand moved to tenderly caress his cheek, making sure that he wasn't some dream creature her mind had conjured up. As she felt him solid beneath her hand she wondered, "Why me?"

Again, it was just as though he could read her mind, "Bella, you're the most beautiful creature, made just for me."

And he pulled her on top and made her straddle him. "I don't know how to do this." She whispered.

"Just try." He insisted.

He held her hips in his hands and moved her body with his. As she got the rhythm and moved on top of him, he reached between them and rubbed her nub with his thumb. Her thighs went weak and she reached her hands to his chest to support herself. She could barely move. He rolled her onto her back and knelt between her legs, hoisting her splayed thighs on top of his. He slid into her wetness and he held her hips as he pounded into her. Bella grabbed her breasts as one by one the waves of orgasm flooded her body.

"You feel so good." Edward whispered in her ear afterwards. "I can't get enough."

They made love many more times that night. He made her body feel and do things that she'd never imagined. Each time they recovered their breathing he would start kissing and caressing her again. Through the porthole the darkness was receding and the morning sky was beginning to turn blue before they fell into an exhausted sleep.

#

When Bella opened her eyes she was lying on her stomach. The bed was empty. She moved her legs tentatively, her thighs ached so deliciously. Rolling over she spotted a breakfast tray on the low granite shelf that served as a nightstand. There was a cup of warm coffee, a toasted bagel with cream cheese and some sweet strawberries. Realizing she was famished she started to eat; smiling ruefully at her own outlandish behavior. Imagine, she, Bella Swan, was lying stark naked in a strange man's bed, sucking on giant sweet strawberries. How decadent! She stretched luxuriously, wondering where Edward was, when the door opened and he came in. He was drying off from a shower, one towel rubbing his head and another towel wrapped around his waist. His chest hair was glistening and she remembered the rough feel of it on her breasts. He stopped when he realized she was awake. Smiling softly he said, "Good morning," and he dropped to his knees by the side of the bed and kissed her shoulder softly and sweetly.

All her tentativeness disappeared and she caressed his hair and said, "Good morning."

"I've been waiting for you to wake up, sleepyhead, you know it's already past eleven o'clock."

She gasped and sat up. "Eleven o'clock! Oh my god, I have to call Alice, she must be so worried." She was frantic. "I don't even know where my handbag is!" she wailed.

"Here use my cell, Bella." She thanked him and called her sister's office and she picked up right away.

"Alice, I'm so sorry I didn't call last night. I'm okay, I'm with Edward, and I hope you aren't worried."

"I kinda figured you were with him, I got your note."

"What note?"

"The post it you left on the front door. You said, and I quote, "Going out with Edward, see you when I see you." end quote."

Bella had totally forgotten about the note. "Oh good, so you weren't worried? At all?"

"Nope, not at all. He seems like a good guy, he'll take care of my little sis." Louise said breezily. "But when I see you again, I want details."

"Okay." Bella whispered and hung up.

"So everything's okay? No reason to panic?" He moved the sheet aside and bent down to kiss the tender area between her breasts. "Mmm. I love your breasts." He reached both hands up and started to massage them, then he licked each nipple. He reached up and kissed her on the lips. His breath was minty fresh and his body smelled of soap. All of a sudden she felt sweaty and sticky.

"I need to take a shower." She wrinkled her nose.

He laced his fingers with hers and pulled her off the bed, as she clutched the sheet in front of her.

"The shower is in here," he opened the door to the shower cubicle "and the towels are up here. Here is an extra toothbrush." he opened an overhead compartment. "Don't be long."

She showered quickly and then got dressed in yesterday's shorts and tank. She went back into the bedroom and spread the bed. She picked up a used condom from the floor and dropped it in the waste basket. There were so many in there that it boggled her mind. "How on earth did we do it so many times?" she wondered. She also felt extremely thankful that Edward was so responsible, because, as Bella was ashamed to admit to herself, the thought of protection never crossed her mind last night. Not even once.

Outside the window she could see that it was another gorgeous day. She carried the breakfast tray upstairs and wandered around into the living room/kitchen. It was bigger and brighter than she expected. The kitchen had everything you could imagine. Honey oak cabinets, ceiling fan, stove, microwave and refrigerator. It was extremely spacious. The kitchen flowed into the living room. The living room was furnished with a cream colored sectional, built-ins and a fireplace. The room was surrounded by windows. She saw Edward standing outside on the deck. Bella walked out to meet him.

He pulled her into his body and linked his arms around her lower back. He gave her a long slow kiss. "What'll we do today?" he asked her.

"I don't have clean clothes so I would like to go home and get changed."

"And then?"

"And then I guess we could get to know each other standing up."

He laughed. "How about we go for a walk? I would like to take you for a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. What do you think?"

"Sounds good. But before we go can you show me your boat?"

Edward showed her around. He said it was 18' by 50'.

"Have you ever sailed it?" she asked.

"Oh yeah. I have to leave the berth every three months, but I usually only take it out a little ways and then I come back. I never go too far."

He took her downstairs and showed her the other three bedrooms each with their own bathrooms. She was amazed by the luxury and size. "What made you decide to live on a houseboat?" she asked.

"Many things. When I was about eleven I saw this old Cary Grant movie and he lived on a houseboat. Then Sophia Loren came to work for him. Ever since then I had a fantasy that I would live on a houseboat someday with Sophia Loren. Do you want to be my Sophia? You certainly look the part." She didn't answer the question.

He continued. "I grew up around boats and I always loved them. I love being near the water, it gives me the feeling that I can go anywhere, anytime that I choose. A feeling of freedom. But this isn't my main home. I have the apartment in New York that I told you about and I also have a house in Los Angeles. I'm there most of the year."

"How about in Hawaii, do you have a place there?"

"You know, I have a lot of family there and when I go back I stay with them. I really don't need a place there anymore." He smiled down at her. "This is my paradise now." Her heart tumbled over.

He drove her to her house and parked in the driveway. She invited him upstairs. "Alice is at work. Come on up." She ran ahead leaving him to follow her up the stairs. She went into her bedroom to change. She stripped her clothes quickly and rummaged through her underwear drawer. When she turned around she was startled to see him staring at her from her bedroom doorway.

He had his arms outstretched on either side of the frame and she knew that he was getting turned on watching her get undressed. There was no doubt that his face had tightened and that desire was in his eyes. She loved having the power to excite him. She stared at him as he stared at her body, she took slow deliberate movements and unhooked her bra. Peeling the lacy garment slowly down her arms she let it fall to the floor. Then she slowly wriggled her hips and reached her thumbs to the waist of her panties. Ever so slowly she shifted them down from around her hips and let them fall to the floor. He watched her silently. She put on her new panties and pulled them up. She walked over to the closet and grabbed a short yellow sundress. She stepped into her dress and slowly pulled it up. She walked over to Edward and turned her back to him. She lifted her long hair and asked him to tie her straps.

He tied them and then reached around and cupped her breasts. He bit her gently on the back of the neck. She leaned back and pressed her body into his and she could feel him harden. "God, you're sexy." He muttered. Both arms snaked around her midriff and then he reached down and pulled up her dress. He bunched up her dress in one hand while his other hand quickly skimmed her abdomen and slid down into her panty. Her head reeled with the quickness of his movement. His fingers pinched her folds gently and then she felt a rush of wet heat as he stroked her with his finger. Her back arched as he stroked her wet insides and her hips ground against his hand. Just as swiftly as it began, it ended; and he turned her around and took his finger out and let her skirt fall.

Bella gulped as he rubbed his wet finger over her lips, then licked it off, "So, deliciously good."

"Ohh, gosh." Her golden eyes were soft with desire as she slid her arms around his neck.

He did not hesitate to devour her mouth, his tongue stroking hers as his arms tightened around her waist, but he pulled away too soon. "Let's go, now. Before I change my mind." he said. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door.

They parked at the San Francisco end of the Golden Gate Bridge and then walked over the span. It was a warm day, but a nice breeze was blowing. He held her hand in his and they talked as they walked across. Bella asked him about his family and found out that he has a sister and a younger brother. His paternal side of the family were originally from Denmark and Finland by way of Chicago. His grandfather came to Hawaii during World War II and married Edward's grandmother who was the colonel's daughter. Edward's mother is half French and half English with a smidge of Hawaiian.

That explained his build. "Hawaiian? No wonder you're so big. How tall are you?"
"Six-two, two hundred pounds." And gorgeous, Bella couldn't help thinking.`

"So you're like a Hawaiian-Viking combo? A Ha-Viking." she teased.

"You could say that." He laughed. "Didn't I hear you say that you were French too? On your father's side?"

"You have a good memory, it must be the detective in you. I don't remember my father, he died when I was two. But he was French Canadian from Quebec. My mother is French Creole from New Orleans, and Native American too, Choctaw, I think. "

"She must have been beautiful, your mother I mean. French Creole, Choctaw, and Cajun. What a combination!"

"She was very beautiful. She was feisty too; that woman could put you in your place with just a few words. She was so witty, and she had a tongue like a knife. I sometimes still can't believe she's gone. She pretty much raised Alice and me on her own, you know. She didn't have family in the bay area. She moved out here to go to Cal and met my father here. She never went back to New Orleans."

"How did he die?"

"My dad died in a motorcycle accident. He was young and crazy, I guess. Alice remembers him. She says that he was always laughing. He was only twenty-nine when he died."

"And your mom never remarried?"

"No, never. She had one boyfriend, when I was seven and Alice was eleven."

"And?"

"And he was a nice guy. Very nice. He owned a bicycle shop. I remember that he was a big teaser, he would make fun of us but in a hilarious way that had us laughing at ourselves. And he was fun, he taught us how to play cards—gin, poker, blackjack." She smiled as she reminisced about Phil. "He was a gamblin' man." she joked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, one time he disappeared for almost a month. He didn't come by, he didn't call, he wasn't at his house. His employees didn't know where he was, or so they told mom. Finally, my mom piled us in the car to go look for him. She went to his hangouts to find friends and ask about him. She was really worried. We finally found him in a back room of a bar in the Mission. He'd been gambling for days. She was so mad at him she made a scene and threw a drink in his face and broke up with him. Then a couple weeks later he came by with a new pink bike for my birthday and she made up with him because he promised never to do that to her again, but of course he eventually did. And she cut him off for good. That was the end of Phil."

"No more boyfriends?"

"Nope. Not even a date. My mom once told me "Sometimes the price of love is too high."

"Hmm. Sad. How did your mom die?"

Bella was surprised that suddenly her throat became tight with tears. "Brain aneurysm." She said sadly. "A little over two years ago. It was so sudden. One day she was here, the next she was gone." She whispered to herself, "I miss her so much."

He stopped to hug her tightly and said quietly, "I'm sorry." They both became quiet, each lost in thought.

Then they started walking again. Bella cleared her throat and asked, "How about your parents?"

"My parents are still alive. They're retired and loving their grandkids."

"So you have nieces and nephews."

"Yes, I do. My sister has one of each."

"And your brother?"

"No, he's still not married. He hasn't met the right person yet he says."

"Like you? Not met the right person yet?"

He didn't answer. He looked towards the ocean, away from her gaze. They were quiet again for a long, long time.

They reached the end of the walk and stood on the Marin side. He reached down and put his hand on either side of her waist. He picked her up, and she squealed. Her hair flowed over them both like a curtain, and he looked up into her golden eyes. He let her slide back down slowly along his body. "Are you hungry?" he asked.

"Very. I've only had strawberries and a half of a bagel."

He pressed his forehead to hers. "I meant are you hungry for me?" he whispered.

Instantly liquid heat gushed to her thighs and her abdomen clenched. "Yes." She sighed.

"What are we going to do about it?"

"Eat?" she suggested and he laughed.

"And then, what?"

"Make love?" she whispered.

"Yes." He kissed her. "We are going to make love."

They started to walk back over the bridge and he put his arm around her waist and let his hand caress her right hip. She put her arms around him and it felt so right.