Six

They stopped at the supermarket and drove back to his boat and Bella felt happy to be back. The boat was bright and airy, the afternoon sun gave it a golden glow. They nibbled on olives as they cooked together. She made her famous peanut soup to start, followed by coconut rice, chicken in pomegranate sauce and a green papaya and jicama salad. They sat on stools around the kitchen island, across from each other. Edward drank wine and Bella sipped some sparkling water with the meal. "You seem to know your way around the kitchen." She complimented him as they ate.

"I pride myself on knowing a little bit about everything." He teased.

"And a lot about one thing in particular." she teased back.

"You must mean my detective work and powers of human observation."

"No, something else."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said with fake innocence.

"Of course you don't." She rolled her eyes and giggled.

"Tell me what you're referring to, I'm curious."

She looked into his eyes as he waited. "I was of course referring to your knowledge of…"

"Yeees?"

"Asian astrology."

"Okay my little tiger. I'll let you get away with that one.

After a bit she broached the subject again. "Have you always been like this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you seem to have remarkable stamina, in the bedroom."

"Stamina?"

"Well, you know what I mean. You just keep going and going. Like the bunny."

He laughed out loud. "You have a voracious sexual appetite too, you just don't want to admit it."

"I don't think so. You're the leader, you kind of take me along for the ride."

"I don't think so at all." He finished his meal and took a last sip of wine. He got up and walked around the counter and pulled her off her seat to hold her in a loose embrace. "For instance, you started this conversation so that we could start making love. You're pulling me in and taking me along right now, aren't you?"

She shook her head, "Not at all. I was just…" He shushed her with a finger pressed over her lips.

"And you want it all night long, like last night, don't you?" he teased.

He sounded so smug she felt like kicking him. "Actually, I'm a little tired. But once or twice should be fine." He laughed.

"Once or twice it is. Your wish is my command."

He lifted her up and put her back on the stool and she leaned back on the granite counter. Their eyes locked as he ran both hands up her thighs until his thumbs met at the edge of her panties. He rubbed them again and again at the lace edge. She was eager for him to put his fingers underneath and touch her, but he didn't. Instead he moved both hands up higher under her sundress, skimming her hips and waist until they reached her breasts. He squeezed and rubbed her nipples until they became hard and tight. Undoing her straps and pulling the dress down to her waist. Edward reached up and unbuttoned his shirt. "I want to feel you, skin to skin with me," he murmured as he pulled her to him, his nipple kissing hers. "You like that, Ku ipo?" he breathed.

"Yes," she smiled, as he moved her side to side to rub her soft breasts against his hair sprinkled chest. Finally he leaned down and sucked hard on her nipples, drawing a groan of sheer pleasure from somehere deep in her soul. Bella ran her hands up his arms past his shoulders, putting her hands on each side of his face and pulled him to her. She wanted to feel his tongue in her mouth, she wanted to taste and swallow his breath. When his mouth finally melded with hers in deep, delicious kisses, she sighed in satisfaction. He moved his lips to the side of her neck and nuzzled her as he peeled the dress down over her hips, urging her to lift a little as he drew her panties down with the dress, discarding them both as he moved to kneel between her thighs. He looked right in her eyes as he slowly spread her thighs far apart and used both thumbs to open her to his gaze. "Nani 'oe. You're so beautiful, my Bella," and he bent his head and used his tongue to circle her clit and lick at her wet folds.

She was leaning against the countertop her forearms supporting her. "No, you're beautiful." She gasped. She didn't ever want to stop looking at his face, but the tremor started, her head fell back and her back started to arch. He reached around and grabbed the back of her thighs in both his hands and brought her forward to his hungry mouth, holding her in place so she couldn't pull back.

He used his soft-rough tongue to bring her maximum pleasure. Her thighs tightened against his shoulders, the trembling in her belly became a full blown electric charge that shot all the way down to her toes. Bella could hear nothing except her heartbeat and the blood rushing in her ears, she was hot, beyond burning and her body jerked uncontrollably as she grabbed the edge of the countertop. She faintly realized that it was her voice sobbing, "Stop, stop, Edward stop," over and over and over.

He finally heeded her moans and stopped. Standing up between her thighs, he pulled her legs around his waist and held her as she leaned forward onto his chest. Every bone in her body had gone liquid, melted by his fire. She was gasping for each breath that she drew into her lungs.

It took a long time for her breathing to get back to normal and she became keenly aware that she was completely naked and wrapped around him like a ragdoll.

"Has any woman ever died in your arms?" she wondered out loud.

"Not yet." He laughed.

She groaned. "Well, maybe I'll be the first."

A few minutes later he said, "Bella, that's just once. Later we go for twice." he said.

"I don't think I can go again." She said tiredly. "I need a nap."

He swung her up into his arms and carried her to the living room and laid her on the sectional. "Don't disappoint me now. I know you can keep up." He took off his shirt and covered her with it and went back to the kitchen and she heard him cleaning up.

"Is this guy a sex machine?" she wondered to herself. And then she started to doubt that she would be able to keep up with him. Her body cooled and she got up to get her dress. She quietly snuck into the kitchen, to retrieve it. Edward was washing the dishes, looking so very sexy in his low slung jeans. His back was muscular, and his biceps rippled. He was bare chested and bare footed. She was pulling her dress on when Edward turned around and saw her.

"I see you've recovered." He had a huge smile on his face and she felt sure that he was laughing at her. Her insides turned over. She really, really liked him. She loved his laughter and his teasing sense of humor. She went behind him as he stood at the sink, and she slid her arms around his waist resting her face on his back and she inhaled deeply.

"Give me a few minutes, Bella." She started to slide her hands away, but he stopped her, "You can stay just where you are, I like it."

He finished the dishes and turned in the circle of her arms. He leaned back against the countertop, and ran his hand down the side of her hair, smoothing it against her scalp. "Bella, I want you to know that I like you. I'm not going to lie, I do lust after you. But I also like you, the person in here." He touched her chest.

"What else?" she asked.

"That's about it for now. Were you expecting more?"

She shook her head, "I was just thinking that I like you too."

"It's been a long time since I felt this comfortable with a woman, and I really, really like it."

"How about that skinny, blond chick at Angela's house party? Kathy or Katie, wasn't that her name? She was hanging on to your every word. You looked pretty comfortable to me."

He was silent and looked at her for a long time. "Bella, I don't want to sound older and wiser, but I am. And over the years I've learned that nothing good can come from answering a question like that. Whatever I say, you'll get upset. So I'm not going to answer."

"I won't get upset."

"Bella, I don't want to know about your lovers and I don't want to talk about mine."

'So she was your lover. Look, I'm not going to ask for the details, but I do think knowing if you slept with her is my business."

"How?" His lips curved and his brows dipped doubtfully as he folded his arms over his chest.

"Well, firstly I'm sleeping with you now, and I'd like to know if that relationship is over. That's not being nosey. Secondly, I'll get a handle on the type of woman you go for." She couldn't believe she was having this conversation with him. He was making clear that there were boundaries he wouldn't let her cross.

"Well, I'll make it clear. I only sleep with one woman at a time and I don't have a "type" of woman. And obviously, I "go for" you."

"Just tell me, did you sleep with her?" she insisted.

"Did you sleep with your boyfriends?" he countered.

"One boyfriend, only. Chris. And yes I did. See how easy it is to be open." She answered. "Now you try."

"Then. Yes. Happy?" he asked.

"Was she your girlfriend, girlfriend? For how long? When did you break up?" THe questions tumbled out.

He bent down and kissed her for a long time. "No comment." And when she started to ask another question, he kissed her again.

"Let's go watch the sunset from the deck." They went up and looked into the western sky until the sun went down between the graceful arches of the Golden Gate Bridge.

She said, "I always wondered what kind of person lives here at the marina. Now I know."

"What kind of person?"

"Special." She smiled at him.

"Yes. I am especially lucky." He held her around her waist and rocked her from side to side. "Let's go to bed, I owe you one more."

That night there were no quick thrusts, he made love to her long and slowly, over and over again. Afterwards he kissed her all over her face and body and she felt worshipped. He told her that she was beautiful, he even called her his golden sex goddess. He lay behind her spooning her, falling asleep. She lay there in his arms wondering "Why me? What does he see in me?" She almost asked him, but decided to keep quiet. Maybe he'll start wondering the same thing too.

#

"Edward?"

"Hmm?"

"I have to go home."

"Now?"

"No, not now. In an hour or so."

"Why?"

"I have to go to work tomorrow."

"I'll take you home in the morning."

"By ten o'clock?"

"Yes."

"Okay." And they fell into a deep relaxed sleep.

#

The next morning she woke up alone again. She checked the room, no clock. She took a quick shower, got dressed quickly and went upstairs. The clock on the microwave indicated that the time was seven-thirty. She didn't see hide nor hair of Edward. She made a pot of coffee and some toast. He came in after about fifteen minutes. He was dripping with sweat.

He came straight over to her and kissed her.

"You went for an early morning run, I see."

"Yeah. It feels great."

"I made some coffee, do you want me to pour you a cup?"

"No thanks, maybe I'll have a cup later." He ran down the stairs, to go shower.

Bella ate her toast and waited for Edward. She really didn't want to go home. She wanted to stay and the admission made her worry. How did she get so comfortable so soon? When he came back upstairs, all showered and fresh, she reminded him that she needed to go home.

"I'm ready when you are" he said.

"I'm ready." she said, but she wasn't. Not really.

The drive to her house was quiet. He opened the car door and walked with her to the top of the stairs. He took the hand he had been holding and kissed it. "Thanks for a wonderful time, Bella."

"It was wonderful, wasn't it?" she couldn't help but sound wistful. She leaned into him and gave him the kiss she had been dying to give him since early that morning.

"Bella?" he whispered into her hair when their lips finally parted.

"Hmm?" Her head fell to his chest, and she heard the rapid beat of his heart. It pleased her no end to know that she affected him just as much as he affected her.

"When do you get off work?" he asked.

"Five o'clock."

"I would like to come and pick you up after work. Or do you need a break from me?"

She shook her head. "Pick me up, please?"

He kissed her sweetly. "I'll see you at five outside the restaurant."

She nodded. He started down the stairs, and she shouted at him.

"Edward, I forgot. I have my dance class from six to seven tonight."

"What if I take you there, and wait for you, then take you home with me?"

Happy to be invited to his boat again so soon, she nodded her agreement.

"Don't forget to ask for time off for our trip to New York." He reminded.

He ran down the stairs and left. She stared after his car, realizing that the last two days had changed everything for her.

She opened the front door and went inside. Alice was ready to leave for work and as soon as Bella saw her she burst out:

"Alice, I've had the best weekend of my life. I have never had a better time."

"Tell me all about it, in five minutes or less."

"Well, he is sexy and sweet and great."

"I'm so glad you're happy. Letting yourself fall in love. Details, please."

"I'm trying not to fall in love. I want to stay in lust. He'll be dangerous to love, I just know it."

"Details.

"Well we made wonderful love, and I can't wait to do it again, and again." She gave her sister the outline of what happened, how it felt, how many times, but no real details. That was just for her and Edward to know.

At work Bella positively beamed. She thought about him every minute of the day; she relived their nights and days together. She was caught up in endless daydreams and everyone noticed. Even if she appeared to be in a conversation, she would start smiling, suddenly remembering some little thing; her thoughts weren't far from Edward at any given time. Her body tingled when she thought about him and she was in a constant state of readiness.

At five o'clock she ran to the staffroom and washed up. She released her hair from the net and the white hat and brushed it out. She took off her white uniform shirt and the tee shirt and shorts she had been wearing under it. She put on a turquoise jersey wrap dress. She didn't wear a bra or panty under because she wanted Edward to untie the bow and make mad love to her. She had ordered two boxed dinners to go and added two little loquat tarts, then walked out the restaurant, her long hair flowing loosely down her back. She saw him leaning against the car and her steps quickened.

She just barely managed to stop herself from running into his arms. Instead she calmly walked up to the car and he opened the door for her, she got into the seat and carefully arranged her dress. Once he got in and they were on their way, she asked him about his day.

"I got some writing done, so it was a good productive day. But five minutes ago it got infinitely better." As they pulled up to the studio he inquired, "Am I going to be able to watch you teach your class? Or should I wait outside?

"You can stay. I have eight to ten year olds and what I do is stretching exercises and then breathing exercises. They're mostly learning breathing techniques and how to move their abdominal muscles. At the end I do hip warm ups. I'm teaching them a short dance so then we play music and I show them a few steps and then we dance for about ten minutes. You think you can watch that without getting bored?"

"Sure." Bella unlocked the front door, it was dark and quiet. The dance school consisted of three studios, plus an office, a staffroom with lockers and a shower. She went into the staffroom and Edward followed. Bella reached into her locker and took out the black yoga pants and the midriff baring short tank that she normally wore when she was teaching. Before she started to change she turned to him and said, "You know you haven't kissed me hello."

"I know. I didn't want to get started." He said.

"Why not?" Bella walked over to him and reached her hand up to the collar his shirt and gave a little tug.

He bent down and obliged her with a light little kiss. She started to open her lips but he pulled away from her.

"Later." He said.

She trailed her hands up his arms to his shoulders. "Please? Just a little kiss." He obliged her and gave her a long, deep, wet kiss. Bella moved closer and pressed her whole body along the length of his. He reached around her back and ran his hand down to her bottom. He rubbed and caressed, and then broke the kiss.

"Bella you're not wearing panties." He was surprised.

She looked up at him and shook her head with a smile. "Nor a bra." She said in her most seductive voice. And she rubbed her breasts against his chest. She wanted a foretaste of the night to come. "Edward? Please kiss me again?" He kissed her again and she started to walk backward, leading him until they stopped at the table.

He pulled his mouth away from hers. "Bella we can't. Kids are coming."

"Not for another forty minutes." She reassured him as she reached up to kiss him again. He kissed her mouth and her neck and started kissing the curves of her breasts. He pulled the bow of her wrap dress, just as she had hoped he would. The dress fell open revealing her naked body. Bella reached behind her and pulled herself onto the table.

"Bella, I didn't come prepared for this." His voice was hoarse as he reached for her bottom and pulled her into him and ground his hips against her.

She reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a single foil-wrapped condom. She lay back on the table and placed it on her abdomen. "I did."

Edward leaned over her and gave her a hard, rough kiss. He spread her legs and after putting on the condom he pushed himself inside her with force. He pulled her to a sitting position on the edge of the table and she wrapped her legs around his hips. He put his hands on both of her hips and pulled her into him, with each thrust he made a deep grunt. She reveled in his roughness.

Minutes later she started to feel her muscles clench and release and then she started to shudder, reaching that peak again and again. He released his hold on her and she lay back onto the table while he continued to push in and out. She covered her breasts and squeezed them in ecstasy. Edward moaned and stilled and came to rest on her breast. He lay there breathing hard.

"Bella, that was a set up." He accused her.

"What do you mean?" she was also gasping. "I wanted you to make love to me and you did and you loved it."

"I mean that it was deliberate and risky. What if a student came early? Or a co-worker?"

"The front door is locked until five minutes before the class, the parents know that. It's a safety precaution since I'm the only instructor here on Tuesday evenings." She explained.

"Maybe you should have told me that."

"Why? Who hates being out of control now?" she teased.

He relaxed and laughed, "You have a touch of evil manipulator in you, you know."

"I learned from the best." She laughingly replied.

Edward pulled out of her and discarded the condom in a tissue and zipped up. He sat on the table and raked his hands through his hair a few times. He obviously was trying to regain his composure. Bella watched him as she changed into her yoga pants and tank.

"Are you really upset with me?" She asked him.

He shook his head, and looked at her. "Just amazed that I have such little control where you're concerned."

Edward sat on the visitor's chair watching Bella and thinking about what he had said. It was true that his control over his libido was almost non-existent. The last three days had changed the plan. As he had feared, his time with Bella had caused him to want more from her. Much more.