Stephenie Meyer owns these characters... I just wanted to play a bit. No copyright infringement intended. I don't own Twilight and everything here is fictional.
Thank you girls for helping me make this what it is… you know who you are!
Special thank you to everyone who is still reading and reviewing – I truly appreciate it! I hope to get back to a more regular schedule here now with the holidays being over but lots of RL stuff (school, work, vacation) coming up so I can't guarantee a regular update date.
Warning – fun and angst (sad panda) ahead… enjoy!
Chapter 13
Bella's POV
I snuggled closer to the warm chest at my back, trying to get comfortable without disturbing Edward. His body took up almost every inch of his tiny childhood bed. He was wrapped around me, legs tangled, quilt twisted. It seemed like a fun and cozy idea when we crawled in together, but by two in the morning, I was craving my queen size mattress at the lodge.
I stared into the darkness thinking about the evening with his parents. Realizing how naïve it was for me to be so nervous, they were incredible. Edward had the childhood I'd dreamed of having, stable and secure. The kind I'd resolved to give my own child one day. Esme and Carlisle were so naturally warm and caring, it was obvious the hand they had in the amazing man he was.
I suddenly felt warm, wet lips at the nape of my neck, I hummed in response.
"Are you awake?" He whispered
"Mmmmm, maybe..." I teased while moving my hands behind into his messy hair. He ran his mouth tantalizingly close to my neck, grazing slightly with his tongue while his fingers slipped under my tank to tease my nipples. I felt his erection, hard against my lower back, as his hands slid in a pattern down my stomach to the edge of my tight cotton shorts and back up to the sensitive swells of my breasts again.
"Edward… what are you doing?" I breathed. "Your parents…"
"Ah… won't hear a thing if you're quiet. C'mon this bed never saw any action."
I giggled "You're such a liar. I'm sure this bed saw plenty of action."
His fingers slipped between my legs, lightly teasing me through the thin layer of material. I moaned quietly and thrust my hips reactively against his hand. His mouth's sweet assault of my neck never waned as he began tugging at my shorts. I wiggled out of them quickly as he moved over me.
His muscular arms settled on either side of me, bracing his weight. We shared a few silent, reverent moments of soft kisses and stares. As his hard, lean body pressed against mine, I sighed, so content in his arms. His tongue teased my lips and ran along my jaw, teeth tickling over sensitive skin near my ear. I continued tugging at his hair, something I knew he loved.
"Baby, promise to be quiet, or I'll have to stop." His whisper ignited my entire being. He was the sexiest lover I'd ever known. He embodied the perfect balance of sensual and sweet. He rotated his hips, mercilessly taunting my center with his hard cock. "Oh… god." I bit my lip, while he smirked down at me.
"Can I continue?"
I nodded in my lustful haze, as his lips and fingers found the top swells of my breasts. One of his hands trailed lazy circles over a puckered nipple while his tongue and teeth worked the other. I watched him and was mesmerized with the way he worked my body, knowing just how much I needed, or just where to touch.
"Scoot back against the pillows."
After moving into a sitting position against the pillows, it occurred to me that he not only needed more room, but he also wanted me to see it all. "Fuck, Edward…"
"Shhhh," He warned playfully.
Spreading my legs wide, he wet his lips as his fingers teased my swollen flesh.
My fingers gripped the cool sheets beneath me, my eyes fluttering at the pleasure coursing through my body. With his gorgeous face between my thighs, his tongue slipped between my folds licking me from bottom to top, and swirling my clit before starting over. I was burning at the wickedly erotic sight. When he looked into my eyes while his tongue and fingers continued their magic, I fell… lost in hot waves of intense pleasure.
He placed a chaste kiss under my belly button as he crawled back up my body. His mouth found mine again and my arms pulled his weight against me. Feeling his hardness against my thigh, I slid my hand down between us. He caught my wrist and wrapped my arm around him again, pulling away from my lips.
"No way… there's no way I could stay quiet if you touch me. Maybe now you'll quit wiggling and go to sleep," he said smiling, pressing his hips against me.
"Are you sure?" I asked coyly, batting my eyelashes dramatically.
"Stop tempting me, baby."
He melted in beside me as I slid back down the bed. Resting my head on his chest, my fingers traced a random pattern into the soft planes of his skin. I dusted my lips over the warmth over his heart.
"How did you find me… changing my… everything, Edward?"
His arms tightened around my body and he sighed deeply.
Oo~TWSL~oO
I awoke in an unfamiliar room, but in warm familiar arms. Taking him in while he still slept, chiseled jaw relaxed in sleep, slightly parted soft lips. How do I deserve this man?
Not only was he insanely handsome, he was the most giving soul I'd ever met. So honest, open… And he was going to live with me at the lodge. I felt no panic or regret; this was something I truly wanted. Everything with Edward happened so quickly, but nothing in my life had ever felt so completely right and true.
Decisions remained concerning when he would return to Chicago and tie up his loose ends. Maybe I'd go with him for a few days… the thought was exciting; everything about our near future was exciting.
"What are you smiling about?" His sleepy voice interrupted my thoughts. He was gazing at me with a matching contented smile and sparkling green eyes.
"Thinking about you." I kissed him tenderly on the lips and reached onto the floor for my shorts.
"I should get in the shower. What time did you want to head back today?"
"I think my sister is stopping by this morning, so you can meet her before she goes to her store."
After we showered and made the tiny bed, we headed downstairs. The kitchen island was covered with blueberry muffins, bacon, pancakes, fruit and fresh squeezed orange juice.
Esme was sitting in one of the chairs with someone I assumed to be Alice. As we made our way into the kitchen, they both looked up from the magazine they were reading and smiled.
"Come on in and get some food you two."
Edward pushed me ahead of him, grasping my hand while reaching for his sister.
"This is Bella." He grinned widely at us both.
"Hi, Alice."
"Oh, come on," she said pulling me into a sweet hug."
Apparently his family was full of 'huggers'. I missed out on so many growing up, I knew I could get used to that.
Edward pulled me away from Alice and directed me towards a seat at the island next to Esme while he started filling two plates with food. We began eating as Edward paged through a magazine laying on the counter.
"It's all nursery stuff. The owner of the store said he'd be able to get it for me at cost if I could help him out with a few purchases." Alice explained.
"Oh right…Edward mentioned you own a boutique right?"
She nodded as she picked at a blueberry muffin. "I do, it's kind of eclectic. A mix of whatever catches my fancy," she said laughing. "Edward mentioned that you run a bed and breakfast up in Sequim. Which one? I do business with a few places that way."
"It's the White Swan Lodge."
"Really? Was Renee was your mom?" She jumped off her chair and pulled me into another tight hug. "She was an incredible woman Bella. She always talked about her daughter, but never mentioned your name. I was incredibly sad to hear about her passing. She was one of my favorite customers. She ordered all of the organic bath products from my store."
Edward's hand was on my back, comforting me at the mention of my mother.
"God, it's amazing how small the world really is, isn't it?"
"She really was incredible, thanks Alice." Clearing my throat, "But enough of the sad talk. You're looking for nursery stuff? Does that mean you're expecting?"
"Yes!"
Her squeal was infectious; I found myself widely smiling as Edward pulled me closer and placed a kiss on the top of my head. Alice joyfully chattered about her plans for the nursery and possible names while Edward and I finished our breakfast.
I helped Esme clean up the kitchen while Alice coaxed her brother out of the room.
"He's really taken with you, you know? I've never seen him this way." Esme placed a hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed. "I'm just so happy he found you," she said, pulling me into a warm hug.
"I'm glad he found me too," I whispered softly.
"Now go relax," she said pushing me in the direction of the front room where Edward and Alice had headed.
When I entered the room, it was obvious they were having an intense discussion that halted as soon as my presence was known. Edward sat at the piano scowling up at Alice.
"Am I interrupting?"
"No, we're done… come here." He pulled me down to the bench next to him.
"I suppose I have to get to the store. Bella, it was wonderful to meet you. I hope I get to see you again soon. Edward…call me this week, ok?"
She leaned over hugging me and then kissing Edward's cheek.
"So… you want to tell me what that was all about?"
"It was nothing, just Alice sharing her opinion on something that isn't her business. Don't worry about it. Should we get on the road?"
"Okay."
Oo~TWSL~oO
The following week was spent in preparation for the new guests coming in for the weekend. I created a menu, went shopping and checked our wine stock. Edward helped where he could, but I encouraged him to write more. We enjoyed quiet nights by the fire, relaxing, still discovering and physically loving.
We hadn't broached the subject of him moving in since Seattle and I knew his vacation was coming to an end soon. He would have to begin making solid plans and getting back to consistent article writing.
"Have you told your parents that you're planning on moving back to the area?"
He lowered the book he was reading and pulled me back toward his chest, while laying on the couch.
"Not yet. I thought we could tell them together. What do you think?"
I smiled and turned in his arms, kissing him softly. "I'd love to tell them together. Should we invite them up next weekend? I know that's the weekend before you're supposed to leave, but maybe we could get the details all worked out before they get here and ask all the questions."
"I think that would be perfect. Should we invite Jasper and Alice too? I'm sure they'd love to see the place."
"Absolutely. There's plenty of room and no reservations."
"I like the sound of that," he whispered in my ear, placing a soft kiss on the side of my neck.
"Do you have a lease on your place in Chicago?"
"I do, but it's month to month since I've been there so long. I figured I'd give a thirty days notice. We could go together; you could help me decide what to keep and what to get rid of."
"I've never been to Chicago."
He tilted my head back, placing wet kisses along my neck.
"I'd love to show you the sights if there's time."
"I'll check the schedule." His fingers trailed lightly over my breast bone, effectively changing the topic.
Oo~TWSL~oO
"Garrett, oh my god. Look at this beautiful sight. I just cannot even… will you look at her!" An extremely delightful force blew into the lodge. I was accosted by two of the loveliest gentlemen, who'd been regulars of my mother's for years.
"You are simply stunning. You look so much like your mother. I can't even believe it," Alec, the taller of the two said while kissing each side of my blushing face.
"Listen, sweetheart… I know this is no surprise, but we loved your mother. We loved her head to toe. She was just exquisite, inside and out."
"She was. We adored her. We adore her lodge, and we adore you for keeping it alive."
"And who is this gorgeous creature?" Garrett moved towards Edward, who was behind me holding Quil.
"I'm Edward, nice to meet you." He held out his hand under the mass of cat fur. But, Garrett pulled Quil right out of Edward's arms and held him in the air, then nestled him towards his chest.
"Well, you are the most gorgeous creature… yes, you are." Garrett gushed over the cat. Edward's eyes widened and I smirked with an arched brow, giggling.
"Now Bella, you don't need to do a thing for us. We have a routine here and we know which suite is ours, and you just relax," Alex said with a comforting arm around me.
"That's very nice of you, but I'm here for you two. I have a béchamel lasagna in the oven for dinner and you're welcome to choose a wine for yourself from the cellar." The couple seemed thrilled about the meal ahead and hurried up the stairs with their matching luggage.
Alec and Garrett were the epitome of gracious. They invited Edward and me to join them for dinner. They told of their theatrical endeavors at local venues in Portland and shared stories of their previous visits. The men had created a special scrapbook of photographs from their years of visiting The White Swan Lodge. Many of the images included Renee. It was exactly as I'd imagined her relationships with guests to be, appreciating the individual and the personal stories. Realizing the precious impact my mother made on her guests and friends motivated and inspired me on an entirely new level.
Sunday morning Edward headed outside to chop firewood, as cooler weather was settling in. I was preparing a crock pot of beer cheese soup for lunch later in the day, when the main phone began to ring. "Hello, White Swan Lodge."
"Yes, I'm looking for Edward Cullen," a deep direct voice stated on the line. I glanced through the window just as he looked up, offering a sexy smirk and a sweet wave of acknowledgement.
"He's outside chopping wood right now, can I take a message?"
"Chopping wood?" The question was followed by an eerie bellow of laughter. "Well sounds like he's made himself at home… how nice."
"Um… yes, I suppose. May I ask who this is? I can have him call you back."
"Sure, tell him Aro from Adventure Magazine called. His review of The White Swan Lodge is past deadline."
A/N
Dun dun dun…
Thanks for reading everyone!
Hey - I have a blog.. and I made it pretty - please check it out- sign up for updates cuz I post teasers, pictures and things I'm working on over there www(dot)jaimearkin(dot)blogspot(dot)com
Just a few notes this week –
Phoebespromise and I won the A Christmas to Remember contest – thank you everyone who took the time to head over and read/vote. Willow can be found on our profiles.
Also – we entered a collaboration in the Pick a Pic o/s contest. It's quite a departure from our normal stories and we hope you'll take the time to read and vote for your favorites.
War Zone can be found here www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6630822/1/
And – you can vote for both the stories and the banners that inspired them here – twificpics(dot)com/?p=702 I also entered the banner portion so…
Just a rec or two this week:
My Viking – I was told I HAD to read this.. and I did and I'm glad someone told me. I love it. www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6533751/1/
Please check out this slashy o/s that had me LMAO The Eggnog Effect www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6616689/1/
And as always - please tell me you're reading Love is the End by phoebespromise – it's so incredibly beautiful www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6445022/1/
thanks again everyone - xo - jaime