Rating: M
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyers owns all things Twilight - I just like to get weird with her characters.
A/N…Much love and thanks to my beta LovinRob for all of her encouragement and hard work on this story! Without her OCD and her cock/pussy thesaurus, this fic would be a hot mess of past and present tense and the word erection used repeatedly…
Many thanks to AmandaC3 for creating the marvelous banner for this story and the Togaward bonus banner. I wouldn't believe it was possible – but she made Rob hotter by wrapping him in pink bed sheets…
Let's get this date over with so we can get our girl to the toga party...
Chapter 8 – Bella Notte
As I expect, I walk into my dorm room only to find an anxious Tanya and an expectant Rose.
"Well, well, well… Fancy meeting you here." Rose teases, as she quickly dials the phone and places it on speaker. As the phone begins to ring, Rose looks positively gleeful getting her interrogation underway.
Alice's voice comes over the line, "It's about time, bitches – is she there yet?"
"Yep, she's back from her coffee date with her new boy toy." Tanya replies with a smile that screams, "caught ya, you hoe".
"Excellent, let the interrogation begin. Now Bella, we each get five questions – you get to veto only one for each of us. Agreed?" Alice negotiates.
I shake my head and roll my eyes knowing that I have little choice in the matter as Alice ups the crazy factor to a solid 10. "Fine, but you each only get three questions and no follow ups or requests to elaborate." I counter.
"Ugh! Fine – but you know we live for the specifics so spare no details, agreed?" The pixie begs.
"Agreed, let's just get this over with – what do you want to know? I submit with a huff.
The girls came at me with both barrels. I divulge the dirty details of our evening as well as the unexpected events this morning. It is surprisingly therapeutic to put it all out there, allowing myself to analyze everything for the first time. The girls are equally puzzled by the weeks' turn of events, especially where Edward is concerned.
Friday and Saturday fly by as I focus solely on academics. That's a lie. Edward and I also maintain a steady getting to know you text conversation discussing everything from favorite movies and books to Edward confessing that he did in fact keep up with the Kardashians. Our banter is silly and fun and illustrated as well. I laugh hysterically as I open a picture of him pouting by a Jetson's futuristic looking high-tech washer and dryer which was housed in what appears to be a laundry room from the Pottery Barn Catalog.
Edward and I chat over the phone on Saturday night to firm up our plans for Sunday night coffee. I let him know that I will be working at the library until 5:00 pm so I offer to just meet him afterward. He insists on picking me up once my shift is over so he can walk me to the shop. I agree without hesitation as I knew I would take any opportunity to spend more time with him.
"So Miss Swan," he purrs, "are you going to wear your hair up and go for the whole naughty librarian look?
I can't help it, I hum audibly. I swear I try to stop the fantasies of him bending me over the card catalog or him slamming into me against the shelves, but the images won't stop. Edwards breathing seems to pick up, making me think that he too was having similar thoughts.
With a sudden surge of confidence I reply with a breathy moan, "Hmm… Would you like that Edward?"
After a few moments, possibly wondering if he heard that right, he answers. "More than you know, Miss Swan."
We are silent for a few moments when I hear his mom call him to let him know they are leaving soon. Apparently they are heading to dinner at their country club to celebrate his birthday. He tells me he will be in touch and is looking forward to our plans for tomorrow. We say our goodbyes, but I still feel the need to leave him with a lasting impression.
I pile my hair onto the top of my head and put on Tanya's cat-eyed reading glasses. I then remove my shirt and pull down my bra straps. I have Tanya snap a picture of me with my Human Sexuality book open, naked shoulders exposed, biting my lip, and giving him what I hope looks like bedroom eyes. After approving the picture, Tanya sends it before I lose my nerve. I receive an immediate text back thanking me for the early birthday gift. He continues to text me throughout the evening and the content of his texts become more and more indecent. I love it.
Sunday morning I wake with a start, clearly overly excited about my evening. I shower and shave thoroughly just in case Edward feels like studying anatomy, my anatomy to be exact. Having thirty minutes to kill before I have to head over to the library, I jump on Facebook to distract myself from my thoughts of Edward. Unfortunately, I can't escape Edward even if I tried. I am immediately bombarded by images that Heidi tagged him in from the night before. The pictures start fairly innocent, pictures of Edward with his mom and dad, pictures with Edward, his parents and another couple. And finally, pictures of Edward and Heidi. And here I thought Mike and I were good on paper. They were posed like the King and Queen of the Prom or like an engagement photo you would see in the society pages. The pictures don't get any better from there. It appears the more he drink the friendlier they get. Most pictures were of her hanging all over him, or her and her friend Gianna kissing his cheeks. I couldn't help but agree with Rose that she was marking her territory with him.
I am determined to not let this get me down. I have to trust him. If he says that they are just friends, I have no reason not to believe him. Besides, he was texting me all night, right?
Arriving at the library shortly thereafter, I am given a tour of the facility by a very enthusiastic guy named Eric Yorkie. He is outwardly friendly in that I'm not trying to look at your tits kind of way. You can tell that this tour is a major social event for him, especially since in doing so he is able to ogle the other new hire, Heidi's second in command, Lieutenant Skank – Lauren Mallory. Eric is going to have spank bank material for weeks after watching her bending over to load the microfilm or reaching high to return a book to its shelf with the hem of her shirt rising above her mid-rift.
The day goes by quickly, so quickly in fact that I don't realize that it is almost time to go, until a certain green eyed friend of mine makes his presence known. I am sorting books to shelve when he comes up behind me, resting his head on my shoulder and his arms around my waist. He turns his head and inhales deeply, hopefully my hair doesn't smell like sweaty little boy head.
"I hardly recognize you without your glasses and your Human Sexuality book," he whispers deeply before placing a soft kiss under my ear. "Tell me Miss Swan, do you plan on wearing that get up to work, or can it be for my eyes only?"
I close my eyes, sigh and lean my head onto his shoulder and… grind my ass back into the now prominent bulge in his pants. "Gee, I don't know Mr. Cullen. I usually reserve that outfit for special study sessions. Perhaps you should make an appointment…" I suggest casually.
His hands move from my waist to my hips, holding them in place as he pushes forward slowly. "Oh yes, Miss Swan. That could definitely be arranged." He replies through gritted teeth, letting me know the effect I am having on him.
A throat clears and someone approaches us, stomping loudly enough on the carpet to make a ruckus.
"Ed-ward" a high pitch voice calls out.
Edward and I turn our heads to the left to find Lauren Mallory standing there with her arms crossed under her tits pushing them up which partially distracts from the disbelieving look on her face.
"What are you doing here?"
Unmoving, Edward clears his throat. "Hello Lauren." He sneers.
I drop my eyes back to my job, desperately trying to distract myself from the situation at hand. Clearly noticing our embrace, Lauren approaches. I can't help but notice her expression goes from incredulous to predatory. She lowers her voice to a harsh whisper.
"Does Heidi know that you are banging the bookworm?"
Edward releases my waist and nudges my hip so I find myself standing behind him. His stance is protective as he towers over her. She smiles seductively, clearly pleased with her ability to elicit a reaction from him.
With his teeth clenched, Edward responds, "What I do and who I spend time with is none of Heidi's concern. I am sure she will tell you the same thing when you run back to report like the good little minion that you are."
He turns back to me presumably to ask if I am ready to go, however Lauren decides to try to get the last word in.
"You could have fooled me. It looked pretty clear that you two are far from over from the pictures she posted on Facebook." She snips, smiling smugly. She leans over to address me directly, "You seem like a nice girl, bookworm. Wouldn't want you to get hurt thinking you actually stood a shot…"
"One," he grits his teeth firmly, "Her name is Bella, not bookworm. Two, it was actually you who didn't stand a shot with me a mere two weeks ago when you snuck down to my room with every intention to blow me. Your friend Heidi didn't seem to be a concern to you then."
My eyes widen at the amount of venom in his voice. He turns and quickly grabs my hand, leading me to the elevators. On one hand I am mortified by how this situation escalated so quickly. On the other, I am quite sure I am completely turned on by how quickly Edward took control of the situation. His anger was swift and dominating, scary and sexy all at once.
We enter the elevator, my hand still firmly grasped in his. His eyes are shut and he is breathing deeply through his nose, I can tell he is trying to calm down. I am trying to settle down myself, trying to hold back the urge to throw him against the elevator doors and drop to my knees showing my appreciation. I begin rubbing small circles into the back of the hand I am holding. He turns and looks at me slowly. His green eyes are apologetic, yet feral. Perhaps Mr. Cullen wanted to throw me against the elevator doors too.
The elevator doors open and I tell him that I need to clock out and grab my coat. He nods and says he will wait for me near the entrance. I run to the break-room to clock out and steal a quick look in the mirror. My eyes are wide and my cheeks are flushed. I dab a little mint lip balm across my lips hoping that in the next hour or two they will be swollen from a passionate make out session.
Just as I am about to leave, the break-room door swings open. Lauren saunters in with a haughty smirk. She must not have been aware that I too am fluent in bitch. I give her my brightest smile and a teasing finger wave.
"Have a great night, Lauren!" I beam as I walk past her. Opening the door partially, I turn back and with a self-satisfied smirk and a wink I add, "I know I will."
Confidently, I stroll up to Edward wrapping my arm around his elbow, hugging it slightly. "Alright Cullen, I am starving. Care to do dinner instead?" I ask quirking my brow in challenge.
Edward nods, smiling my favorite crooked grin. "You got it, Swan! I know just the place."
We walk arm in arm through the quad and about three blocks. We are on the complete opposite side of campus from my dorm and his house, can't say I am bummed that we will have a long walk home. We make small talk for the most part, reviewing the early part of our weekend. I told him about how Mike and I talked on Friday, agreed to still be friends. I couldn't quite read his reaction to my good news, although his biting tone and bitter retort of "good luck with that" made me think that he found this turn of events unpleasant or was well versed in the delicate nuance of being friends with an ex. Like Scarlet O'Hara – I guess I'll think about that later. Before I realized it we had arrived at a small Italian restaurant. As we walked in we were loudly welcomed by a portly balding man with a pencil mustache.
"Edward! How are you my boy?" The man grasps Edward's cheeks, greeting him in a booming voice and a thick Italian accent.
"Doing well, Carlo! Long time no see!" Edward beams, clearly just as happy to see this guy as well.
"And who," releasing Edward's face, "is this beautiful lady?" Carlo asks as he grabs both of my hands and places delicate kisses on the backs of each.
I can't help the blush that creeps across my face; this guy is so over the top, yet so sincere. Edward places his hand on my lower back and smiles at me, reverently.
"Carlo, this is my Isabella. Bella, this is Carlo Russo, the owner of this establishment and longtime family friend."
Carlo releases my hands and goes in for the double cheek kiss before turning to Edward, "She is beautiful, Edward! Come, you'd like to eat, yes? I will get you the room in the back."
He turns quickly, grabs a couple of menus and leads us to a private area in the back. It is dimly lit and so romantic. Carlo's son Gino is our waiter for the evening, he is just as friendly as his father, though it doesn't escape Edward's notice how his eyes roam over my body. Edward quickly places an order for the two of us, effectively dismissing Gino. I've never had a man chose for me; normally I think I would find it presumptuous, offensive even. But when Edward did it, it was sexy as hell, and just like that, my inner feminist is silenced.
We laugh and chat for hours as Carlo sends over a complimentary bottle of wine, which leads to us ordering two more once the evening is said and done. Around 10:00 pm, Gino brings Edward the slip to sign for our bill. As Edward is placing his credit card back in his pocket, Gino wishes us a good evening and thanks us for dining with them. Walking away though, he abruptly turns around with a slight smirk on his face.
"Oh and Edward,I spoke with Gianna this evening, she said she is sorry she missed you."
Edward stiffens slightly before his signature cool comes back, nodding mechanically at Gino as if he is willing himself not to punch him in the face. We begin walking back to my dorm. It is chilly, but I can hardly be bothered since his arm is holding me tightly.
"So… Gianna?" I ask smirking as if I would be able to resist asking about Gino's cryptic warning.
Edward snickers, clearly expecting my line of questioning. "Gianna, is Gino's sister and Carlo's daughter." He replies dryly.
I nod, obviously not satisfied with that answer, "Or an old flame, by chance?" I counter looking up at him.
He smiles again, shaking his head. "No, nothing like that. She is another one of Heidi's minions." He looks right back at me to gauge my reaction.
Putting two and two together I realize why the name seemed familiar.
"Ahh, Facebook Gianna. Double cheek kissing, drunk friend, Gianna. Got it." I reply sarcastically. "I am sure she was sorry to miss you since it has been ages since she's seen you last."
"You saw those, huh." He speculates, rubbing his jaw with his free hand.
I shrug, nodding my head and dropping my eyes to focus on the sidewalk. We fall into an uncomfortable silence. I don't want our perfect night to end like this and we are about 200 feet from my dorm. So I remove his arm from my shoulder and grasp his hands in mine, walking backwards so I can look at him as we walk.
"So what would you like for your birthday, Cullen?" I ask excitedly, trying to lighten the mood.
He beams back at me; he seems to be thankful that I'm not going to press him about his evening with Heidi and Gianna.
"I want lots of things, Miss Swan." He replies playfully.
In an instant, confident Bella is back. I grip his hand tighter and begin rubbing the back of his other hand slowly.
"I am sure you do," stepping forward to get closer to him and whispering seductively, "but what would you like from me?"
Our eyes lock and he steps towards me, standing centimeters away. I release his hand and just like the first time, he pulls me closer, wrapping his fingers in my hair. I close my eyes and part my lips slightly in anticipation. I can barely control my breathing; I am desperate for his kiss. He comes closer to my lips, and then at the last second, he turns my head, placing his lips near my ear. He breathes deeply through his nose before he begins speaking.
"I want you to stay with me, all night. I want to wake up in the morning, next to you. We don't have to do anything; I just want you to be by my side. Will you do that for me, Bella?"
I close my eyes and nod my head. I would do just about anything to be beside him. And right there, under a lamp-post in the quad, he lifts my chin and places a small kiss on my lips.
"Thank you, my Bella." He whispers, smiling against my lips.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I grab the back of his head and kiss him hard. It takes him a split second to catch up, opening his perfect mouth to deepen the kiss. The kiss is consuming, we are all lips and tongues and gnashing teeth. It is feral and sloppy, yet intimate and reverent. I am clearly high on his words – in this moment, I am his Bella. We continue in our enraptured state until I hesitantly release my hold on his hair and extracted my lips from his, panting into his mouth.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening. I had the best time." I speak softly, hoping he can hear the sincerity in my voice.
He once again gives me his crooked smile. "It was entirely my pleasure, Bella. I can't wait to do it again." He murmurs against my forehead before placing a soft kiss against it.
"Goodnight, Edward" I reply quietly, walking backwards and giving him a soft wave.
He waves back before sticking his hands in his jean pockets. I turn around and start briskly walking to my dorm. It takes everything in me to walk through that door; otherwise I am sure I would have sprinted right back to him and rode him like the Kentucky Derby on a nearby bench. Just as I am about to place my key in the lock, I receive a couple of texts. I glance at the screen and smile so big I am sure my face will hurt.
On Thursday, Bring your iPod with you so we can make a playlist of our own. – E
Best first date EVER! - E
A/N… Now that the first date is out of the way - it's time to let Bella's inner whore out to play... Who's with me?
Strip your beds, dolls and wrap your sheets securely around your body - it's time to get down with Togaward! Let me hear ya, everybody now... Toga! Toga! Toga!
Thanks a bunch to whoever nominated me for Fic of the Week at the Lemonade Stand. I am beyond humbled. There are some wonderful fics up this week, including one of my faves, The Life Aquatic by Coldplaywhore. Here's the link if you would like to vote for the five that move you most, tehlemonadestand dot net/?zx=a9e70feedaaa6484
Also, thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, favorited, pimped and lurked this fic. I am so grateful :)