A/N t&a: here it is, finally—I know. I (a) do apologize profusely for the delay. Between being away and the chapter just not chilling with me, it took a while to get it out. Don't give T any shit.

Also, part of this chap was inspired by a scene in a Shiloh Walker book... can't remember the title right now.. just putting that out there.

Aside from that… we fucking love you. Seriously. All of you. Come play with us on Twitter.

We don't own—blah, blah, blah. Love you all extra hard.

You want three wishes:
One to fly the heavens, one to swim like fishes
You want never bitter and all delicious
And a clean conscience and all its blisses
You want one true lover with a thousand kisses
You want soft and gentle and never vicious
And then one you're saving for a rainy day
If your lover ever takes her love away.
"Three Wishes" The Pierces

I had that dream again—the one where I'm on the beach by myself. I always have that dream. I'm always alone in it. Standing on the shore, waves lapping at my feet while I stare out at a sunset that is so beautiful it should, for all intents and purposes, be unnatural. The colors blend in soft, cotton-like clouds—purple and blue and pink while fading golden rays of sun warm everything.

I've had that dream for years. I've always been alone in it. Last night I wasn't.

Last night, Bella was in the dream with me. She was pressed into my side, her arm was wrapped around my waist and salty strands of her hair simultaneously warmed and tickled my back. And when she looked up at me her eyes burned a bright, golden brown.

I never thought I'd dream anyone into that dream with me. But when I woke up this morning with Bella wrapped around me, I couldn't even find it in me to… I don't know, be concerned that I'm having dreams like that when I haven't even slept with her.

I wrap my hand around the back of her neck as we walk down the sidewalk towards the convention. "You sure about this?" I ask.

She nods. "Yeah, I mean yes. Of course. I want to a lot, promise."

I squeeze the muscles there gently. "Not convincing. Wanna try again?"

She takes a deep breath before saying, "I'm sure. I want this." And then she gives me a small smile and leans up to press a kiss to my lips.

I smile and slide my hand down her back and into her back pocket. "You're sure you want a key?"

She reaches up and touches the skin on her neck where she wants it. "Yeah. I like the idea of it—like it could open things up for me."

I squeeze her ass once. I'm proud of her and how far she's come in the short time that I've known her. She's still shy, still sometimes seems like she doesn't really feel like she belongs where she is, but it's not often. "Aright. Let's do it." I hold the door open for her without taking my hand out of her pocket.

Yesterday pissed me off. I'm not jealous by nature. I'm an easygoing person. And yeah, I get where she was coming from. I get why she did what she did. I just wish she would've just said something to me rather than subjecting me to watching her kiss those poor excuses for guys. It pissed me the fuck off. But at least she got her point across.

I lead Bella to my friend Rosalie's stand. She's done a bunch of my tattoos and I think Bella will feel comfortable with her. I put both hands down on the table she's sitting behind and lean forward. "Rosaloo," I say with a grin.

She rolls her eyes and shoves my shoulder. "I haven't seen you in over a year and the first thing you do is try to piss me off."

I laugh and ruffle her hair before tugging Bella closer. "This is Bella. Bella, this is Rosalie."

Rosalie lifts an eyebrow and then smiles. "Hi."

Bella lifts her hand to her mouth, chews on her thumb for a second and then says, "It's nice to meet you. You have lovely tattoos."

"Thanks," Rosalie says and then looks back at me. "How's the kid?"

"He's good. Wants his own ink," I say with a small laugh and a shake of my head. Rosalie grins. "How's that meathead friend of yours?"

She rolls her eyes and looks at Bella. "I've been dating this guy David for four years and this asshole," she says and points a finger at me, "still refuses to acknowledge that he's my boyfriend."

Bella smiles with wide eyes. "I'm sure he's just teasing. He likes to do that. He thinks he's funny," she says in a low voice.

I snort and pull her into my side. Rosalie laughs. "Sounds like you're trying to insult me," I say.

She looks up at me through big, innocent eyes. "I would never." And then she snorts.

I roll my eyes but can't help the smile that tugs at my mouth. "Bella wants a tattoo," I announce.

"Oh, yeah?" Rose asks and lifts a brow at Bella. "Do you know what you want?"

Bella bites on her thumb again and nods. "Yeah, a key. Not a regular ugly house key but one of those old ones. The pretty ones?"

Rosalie nods. "Yeah, definitely. You want to see some pictures?"

She nods eagerly and says, "Please. That would be so helpful. I mean, I know you're a friend of Edward's, but I'd like to see some of your work. It is going on my body forever. Doesn't exactly wash off."

"Of course. Gime a minute."

As Rosalie turns to grab a binder of her work and address some other people that have accumulated at her booth, I turn to Bella and tuck a piece of hair behind her ear before brushing my lips against it. "Rose did a bunch of my tattoos."

"She did? Which ones?"

I take her earlobe in between my teeth and pull her closer to me before turning my left arm over to show her the music on my arm. "She did this one." I slide my lips down her throat and then back up again. "And she did the flames on my shoulder."

She shudders and swallows hard. "Oh, I like those. A lot." And then her thumb goes back into her mouth.

I wind my arm around her waist and under the white beater she's wearing to rest my hand on her belly. "But I think we should hold off," I whisper to her, "and go back to the hotel."

She squirms in my hands and chuckles before pushing me away. "I don't want to lose the balls I built up for this. I really wanna do this."

"You don't need balls. I really like what you've already got."

She snorts and rolls her eyes at me. "I thought you were going to hold my hand. Don't you wanna be here when I get my first tattoo?"

I laugh and press my lips to hers. "I'm just playing with you. Rosabooboo, you ready?"

Rose shoots me a dirty look and opens the binder in front of Bella. "I've got a couple of keys in there. See if you like any of 'em and call me when you're ready."

Bella puts both hands on either side of the book so I lean over her and rest my chin on her shoulder. "That ones pretty cool," I say and point at a really old school looking key.

She takes a deep breath and traces the design with her finger. "Yeah, I like it. It's definitely the best one." She turns to smile nervously at me over her shoulder. "Let's do this. Before I chicken out, or throw up or something awful."

I laugh and run my hand down her hair. "You're gonna be fine. I promise."

Rosalie comes back over and asks Bella, "You all decided?"

She grits her teeth and nods. "Yeah, this one, on the back of my neck."

"Great. Let's get going. Come sit over here."

When she looks at me, I nod and squeeze her hand. If she wants it, I'm not gonna talk her out of it. And honestly, I really like feeling needed. I follow Bella to her seat and hang onto her hand as I sit on a stool.

Rose ties Bella's hair up. "I'm gonna transfer the stencil first," Rosalie says and gets to work. After a few minutes, Rose sits back and then starts shaving the fine hairs from Bella's neck. She hands Bella a mirror and the girl sticks her tongue out just a bit as she checks the placement. I should feel like a pussy for how much this girl makes me smile, makes me feel like I'm fucking glowing from the inside out.

The hum of the tattoo gun brings me back to the moment and to this girl. This girl who has crawled so far under my skin she might be more permanent than my ink. She's got this brave face on, but I know she's just about to shit her pants. And that's where I come in. My new role. Before Finn, I never wanted to be needed. The kid came along and I realized how good it feels to be essential to another person. With Bella though, the need goes both ways.

When she starts the tattoo, I rub circles on Bella's hand and make aimless conversation. I tell her stories, cause she likes that shit. I tell her about the first time I held Finn and I thought for sure I was going to either drop him on his head or squeeze him too hard. Her eyes light up whenever I say my kids name and it gives me a little high. So I keep on. Pulling out memories I had almost forgotten.

The humming continues in the background, a little accompaniment to my monologue. My eyes flick up to Rose, watching the progress, watching as alabaster and blood wipes away to reveal a new picture. I'm halfway through the story about Finn pissing on Emmett when he changed his diaper for the first time when Rose waves me towards her.

"I'm gonna take a peak," I tell Bella, pressing my lips to her knuckles. She nods shakily and it's all I can do to not chuckle. Her brave face is too fucking cute. I move behind her and take a closer look at the intricate key now laid across her neck. I can't lie, its hot as hell and I'm more than a little turned on that she wanted to do this, cause I know it has just a little to do with me.

"Looks good Rosaboo. I knew it would," I comment and Rose smirks. She wipes off the skin once more and leans in to start and then stops. She glances up at me and makes this sweeping motion with her eyes towards Bella. It's just a look, but I get her meaning. She knows. She knows I'm all wound up about this girl.

Her eyes glance around her before a slow grin crosses her face. The kind of grin that makes me uneasy, like she's plotting to kill somebody and burry them under my bar.

"You wanna give it a shot?" she asks. I know my grin is of the shit eating variety, but I don't care. I've always wanted to do this. I lean down and look Bella straight in the eye. She locks her wide chocolate eyes on mine and gives me a smile.

"Rose is gonna let me do a line or two. You cool with that?" I ask. I hope like hell she doesn't say no. Her smile widens and it makes her eyes sparkle. Jesus, I need a hit of testosterone after looking in this girls eyes.

"Yeah, you have steady hands right? I mean you're not going to slip and turn my key into something awful?" she rambles. I chuckle and press a kiss to her lips to stop them from moving, resisting the urge to taste that sweet little tongue. Later, I tell myself.

"I might as well be a pro my hands are so steady," I answer. She rolls her eyes and I know I have my go ahead.

I position myself behind her and try to have that steady hand I just told her I have. My finger taps the trigger and I smile as the hum traveling up my arm. There's only a small part left, a very small loop of the key.

"Just go slow and put good pressure on it," Rose coaches. I nod and lean in, I press the gun to skin and the girl moans. I almost fucking lose my shit. I lick my lips and swallow, following the stencil. Just as I'm about finished, I twist my wrist, adding a small embellishment.

I pull away, wiping and cleaning the skin and finally meet Rose's eyes. Her brow is raised so high it almost touches her hair. I smile sheepishly. She takes the gun from me and fixes a few places before cleaning Bella's neck once more.

Rose reaches out and taps my addition to the original design and questions me with her eyes again.

"Call it improv. All the greats do it," I answer. Then I tap a finger to my lips, pleading her to keep this to herself. I'll tell her, I will. But not now, later when she's feeling really warm and all lit up.

I pull Bella up and into my arms, kissing her soundly, before turning back to Rose. I rush the aftercare talk and the payment, not wanting to give Rose any time to change her mind and remember her allegiance to all women.

I just want this girl to myself. Need to feel her to come to life beneath my fingers.

x*x

"Wasn't so bad, was it?" I ask when we're back in the hotel room.

She reaches back and touches the skin before smiling. "No, it was so different than I thought. Like this intense heat. I kinda liked it."

The shy little smile combined with the faint blush on her cheek is so endearing. I curl my hand around her shoulder and tug her close to me before dipping my head and pressing my lips to hers. A small moan vibrates in her throat and I put my hands on her hips and pull her against me. One of my legs goes between hers and her hands tangle in my hair.

"I want you all the time," I whisper and pull away, holding her face in between my hands so that I can look into her eyes. There are traces of embarrassment and self-doubt there but not as much as there used to be. I turn us so that her back is to the bed and move us towards it as I slide one hand into her hair and slip the tip of my thumb between her lips. "I wake up hard in the middle of the night dreaming about you."

I kiss her again and reach for the hem of her tank top, pulling it over her head. I unbutton her jeans next and push them to the floor. She kicks out of them and then reaches for the hem of my shirt. I lift my arms for her and then stare down at her.

"Take off your bra," I tell her because as much as I like taking her clothes off, watching her do it with all of her shy, nervousness is infinitely sexier.

She lowers her eyes and reaches behind her, unclasping it and letting it drop slowly to the ground before peeking up at me again. "I want you all the time too. I would carry you with me if I could."

"Jesus." I reach for her hips and lift her up. Her legs go around my waist and her chest is right in front of my mouth. I slide one hand down to rub her pussy through the thin cotton of her underwear as I take one of her nipples into my mouth. Her head drops back and she tightens her hold on me.

I groan and lower her to the bed, pulling her underwear off before arranging her thighs so that they're spread wide. Her hair is fanned out all around her and she's chewing on her lip and staring at me through half opened eyes.

"You have no idea how fucking hot you look like this." I kneel in between her legs and run one finger through the puffy, wet lips of her pussy until I reach her clit. "I want to taste you."

Her eyes go wide and she wiggles her hips uncomfortably. Before she can say no, I lay down between her thighs and spread her open before drawing my tongue up the slit once before resting my chin on her lower belly. "Has anyone ever tasted you before?"

She shakes her head lazily on the pillow. "I never wanted to ask," she says quietly. "And it seems so personal, so intimate."

I slide two fingers deep inside of her, twisting my wrist and watch as her body arches up off of the bed. "You taste really good," I tell her and lower my head. She cries out when I take her clit between my teeth and suck on it, still pumping my fingers inside of her.

I'm glad no one has tasted her. I'm glad I'm her first. The idea of anyone's mouth on her makes me really fucking angry.

I place my free hand flat on her belly when she starts writhing beneath me and use my shoulders to keep her thighs spread. Her hands tangle tightly in my hair and then she cries out as she comes all over my hand.

I look up and her eyes are closed, her lips parted, her chest heaving with ragged breaths as little whimpers sound in her throat. I stroke her belly and whisper, "I love watching you come for me."

She opens her eyes slowly and smiles lazily at me. "That was kind of amazing. The kind of amazing that I wish I could rewind over and over."

"You don't need to rewind it," I tell her and crawl until I'm on top of her. "I'm not going anywhere." I lean down and press my lips to hers, grinding my hips against hers gently. "I'm gonna jump in the shower. You're welcome to join."

I don't want to ask her to get me off—don't want her to feel pressured or uncomfortable to do something—but my dick needs attention. As I step into the shower, I hear Bella moving around in the other room. After the water's at a comfortable temperature, I close my hand over my cock and start to pump slowly at first and then faster.

And then I look up and Bella's standing in the doorway. "Do you know how I often I've done this since I met you?" I ask her as her face flushes. "I think about you and this happens. Do you like watching me?"

I groan when she licks her bottom lip subconsciously and tell her, "I can't wait to be inside of you, Bella." I drop my head back and continue stroking my cock.

I freeze when I feel soft, small fingers on my knuckles. I open my eyes and groan again. Bella with her flushed cheeks and heaving chest is kneeling on the floor in front of me. She looks scared but I can't really tell because she's not looking up at me. She's staring straight ahead the way people do when they're trying not to see anything.

Her fingers wrap around the base of my cock and she slides them up and down slowly. After a few strokes, she leans closer. I groan and arch towards her. "That's it, baby, just like that."

And then she slides her tongue around the head of my dick. I tangle my fingers through her wet hair to urge her on. Hesitantly, she starts to move shallowly, following the rhythm until she finds her own. With her hand around the base, she strokes what she can't fit in her mouth. I groan and start rocking my hips against her.

I stare down at the messy, damp head in front of me. She's keeping her head low so that I can't see her face, just the top of her head, her back and her ass. Her mouth is like hot satin, sliding up and down slowly, carefully.

When she swirls her tongue around the head again before sliding slowly back down, every muscle in my body tenses. I tighten my grip in her hair and force her head up, just slightly, as I feel my orgasm start. "Look at me," I order roughly.

When her eyes meet mine, I shudder and push my cock a little further between her lips. "I'm gonna come, Bella." I try to pull away but she hangs onto me. And I swear as I explode in her mouth.

I drop down to my knees, wrapping my arms around her and tugging her close. I press my face to her neck and her arms tighten around me. "Where the hell did you learn how to do that?" I ask after a minute, squeezing her ass.

She chuckles into my neck, clutching me. "I may have done some research in the goody file. There are tons of blowjobs online. A very extensive database."

I groan and press my dick into her belly. "Did you seriously just say that? You're by the far the coolest fucking girl ever."

She looks up and gives me a wide smile before wrapping herself around me. I stand up holding onto her and turn the shower off before walking over to the bed. I pull the blankets back before lying her down. "I'll be right back."

I need a condom. Now. There should be one in my wallet. But I don't know where the fuck I threw my jeans before my shower. I finally find them under the bed and fish my wallet out.

With the condom in hand, I stand up with a victorious grin only to find her fast asleep, curled up on her side.

Of course.

I drop the condom on the nightstand and get into bed, wrapping my body around hers. She hums and then silences.

I should've listened to her when she said the tattoo wasn't sore enough for pain medicine.