Bella

"Can I see it yet?"

"No! I'm not finished."

"How much longer?"

"Edward, stop whining!"

I hear a muffled dragging noise that sounds like his body sliding down the door. "Belluuhhhhh…"

I stomp over to the door and swing it open, causing Edward to lose his balance. He lands on his back, looking up at me with his big, lopsided grin. "Hi."

I stifle a laugh and cross my arms over my chest. "What is up with you today?"

He grabs my ankle. "I miss you."

"I live with you."

"I know, but you've been so busy with your internship and stuff."

Admittedly, I've been spending a lot more time at the gallery than I thought I would before I started. I don't mind. I love what I'm doing now. We're getting ready for a new show, and part of my job is to make sure everything is set up for the artist talk before the opening, as well as helping plan the opening reception. On top of that, my supervisor has encouraged me to submit some pieces, so I've been concentrating on that when I'm not at work.

I smirk down at him. "Are you going to get off the floor?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Why don't you come down here?"

"I can't, sweetie. I have to finish this. The deadline on the call for submissions is this Friday."

"Did you just call me sweetie?"

I pause. "Yeah, I guess I did."

"Oh, babe." He gets this crazy-sexy look on his face, rolls over, and crawls toward me, reaching for my ankle again. "I'm not sweet. I'm evil."

"No." I back away from him, but he pushes himself up on his knees and lunges for me, grabbing me around the waist, making me squeal and giggle. "Edward, no! I have to finish this…" My words trail off, though, as his lips make their way up my thigh, pushing one leg of my tiny cotton shorts up with his nose.

"You've been working on it for weeks. You can take a little break, right? Just give me an hour of your precious time. I'll make it even more precious." He grazes his teeth over the fabric between my legs.

"Edward…" I mumble in weak protest. My will is softening, and Edward knows it. His fingertips skim up the backs of my legs, and my knees buckle, allowing him to pull me down with him.

"I knew I'd get you over to the dark side eventually," he murmurs against my chest, then pulls my tank top down with his teeth.

"What's gotten into you?" I giggle.

"That's what she—"

"Don't say it!" I protest, wriggling away and laughing. "You blew it, dude. You almost had me."

"Oh, I'll give you something to blow. Where do you think you're going?" he growls, crawling over me and lacing his fingers through mine above my head, pinning me down to the floor. He grinds himself against me while his lips attack my neck.

"Mmmm…" I'm torn. I really need to finish the painting. But now that Edward's tongue is working its way across my collarbone, it's all I could think about.

"Want you, Bella." He hitches my leg around his hip, smoothing his hand up my thigh. Just as his hands make their way underneath my tank top, my phone rings. "Ignore it," he commands.

"I can't," I groan. "I'm waiting on a call from my boss." I sit up and grab my phone from the desk. "Hello?"

"Bella, it's Jake."

"Oh, hey, Jake. What's up?"

"I—well—my dad called this morning, and… Bella, Charlie had a heart attack."

My heart plummets to my stomach. "What?"

"He's stable and everything, but I'm not sure about anything else. Bells, I'm really sorry. I know things are tense there, but I thought you'd want to know."

"No, no. Thank you for telling me." My voice wavers as I pull the straps of my top up and rest back against the wall. I get the necessary information, and with another apology, Jake tells me goodbye.

I feel sick. I lean forward and put my head between my knees.

"What's wrong?" Edward asks urgently, clutching my hand.

"Charlie had a heart attack."

"Is he okay? Is he in the hospital?"

"Jake said he's stable, but he didn't know much else. Edward, what do I…?" I don't know what to say. I'm lost. As much animosity as I feel toward Charlie, he's still my father. And now he's lying in a hospital bed by himself. I know I have to put my past feelings aside and be there for him.

Edward rubs my back and caresses my knuckles with his thumb. "Let's get dressed. I'll drive you to the hospital."

I nod again, and an unexpected sob escapes me. He cradles me in his arms. "I know, baby," he says, rubbing circles on my back while I cry.

When I'm calmer, I pull away to look at him. "Edward, what if he'd—"

"Don't think right now. Let's just do what we can. Come on," he says, pulling me up from the floor. We dress quickly and are on our way to the hospital in the next five minutes.

I grasp Edward's hand as we approach the information desk. "My dad had a heart attack," I blurt, embarrassed at my slightly dazed state. "Charles Swan?"

"He'd be in the cardiac wing," the volunteer says as he looks up Charlie's information in the computer. "Eighth floor, room eight-two-four."

"Thank you," Edward says, pulling me toward the elevators. A nurse intercepts us when we step out on the eighth floor.

"We're looking for my father," I tell her. "Charlie Swan."

The nurse's composed smile matches her kind but tired eyes as she tells us to follow her. "He just came out of surgery a couple of hours ago. I'll get the doctor to come speak with you. He'll want to give you some details before you go in."

We wait next to the door of Charlie's room until a tall, handsome man approaches, introducing himself as Dr. Uley. "Acute myocardial infarction," he says simply. "He presented classic symptoms and was luckily brought in by a couple of police officers early enough for us to prevent major damage."

Edward supports my weight as I slump back against him. He rubs his hands up and down my arms soothingly. "The nurse said he just got out of surgery?"

"We performed an angioplasty to open up the blocked artery. He's recovering nicely, very lucky to have had those officers bring him in as quickly as they did. He's just resting now. You can go in if you'd like."

"Thank you so much," I tell him when he flashes a friendly smile and pats my arm.

Edward shakes hands with Dr. Uley, and we enter Charlie's room. For whatever reason, I peek up at Edward, waiting for a signal to keep going. He nods and kisses my forehead, always knowing what I need.

I approach the bed slowly. Charlie's sleeping. He looks so pale. I touch his weathered hand tentatively, and he opens his eyes.

"Bella."

"Hi, Dad. You don't look so good."

"Really? I'm feeling pretty good with these meds." He indicate the IV bag with a slight nod.

"Dad, I'm so sorry."

"Don't mention it, kid." He winks at me, knowing that I mean so much more than his current condition.

I choke down a sob, knowing I've been a fool for cutting him out of my life. I could have lost him without getting a chance to say goodbye. But now he's looking up at Edward, who's still holding me firmly by the arms.

"Dad, this is my boyfriend, Edward. Edward, my dad, Charlie."

"Pleased to meet you, sir. I wish it were under better circumstances."

"You too, Edward."

Edward gives me a quick squeeze and says he's going to find some coffee.

"Whatever happened to Mike?" Charlie asks weakly when Edward's gone.

"He broke it off last January."

"Oh." We're silent for a moment before we speak at the same time.

"Dad, I'm—"

"Bells, it's—"

Charlie chuckles weakly. "Go ahead."

"I'm so sorry for everything. I acted like a brat. What happened between you and mom shouldn't have affected my relationship with either of you." I try and failed to hold back tears.

"I understand, kiddo. I'm sorry for everything, too. I've missed you."

Charlie and I have never been good at divulging feelings. I start to feel a little awkward, needing to change the subject. "So I quit my job at the restaurant and got this really great internship at a gallery."

He smiles brightly. "That's great. Still doing art?"

"Yeah. I was working on something when Jake called to tell me…"

"Glad to hear you and Jacob are still close."

"He's a great friend. He's seeing my friend Jessica now."

"Yeah, I've met her."

"You've met her?"

"Yeah. Jake brought her to Billy's for a fish fry the day before Thanksgiving. Sweet girl."

I snicker. "Uh, okay. She's changed a bit since she and Jake got together, I guess."

"And this Edward? Is he good to you?"

"He's amazing, Dad."

"That's all I need to know." He sighs and winces as he shifts around on the bed.

"Here, let me help you," I say, fluffing pillows and propping them under his back.

Edward peeks his head around the door. "Hey, come on in," I tell him.

We visit with Charlie for a while before one of his deputies comes in with his wife, who's carrying a bouquet of flowers. I promise Charlie I'll come back the next day to check on him, and Edward and I take our leave.

"Everything okay?" he asks, squeezing my hand as we walk to the car.

"Yeah. It really is okay." We stop next to the car, and I lean against it and take both of his hands. "Thank you so much, Edward. I'm glad you were with me when Jake called. I don't think I would've known what to do with myself."

"Of course." Edward kisses the top of my head and reaches around me to open the door.

A few minutes later, we sit sipping hot tea at a Vietnamese restaurant. "So," Edward begins. "Are you excited about the trip?"

A slow grin spreads across my face, some of my tension melting away at the thought of our coming trip to Chicago. "I am. But I'm nervous, too."

He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. "You have no reason to be nervous. They're already in love with you. Almost as much as I am."

"Have I told you how much I love you today?"

He scrunches up his eyes and nose, pretending to think hard. "Hmm. I don't think you have."

I laugh and bring his hands to my lips, placing soft kisses on his knuckles. "I do. I love you so much. Sometimes I feel like my heart might explode from it."

His eyes soften, and his smile is reverent, underlining our mutual awe. "I know. Me too."

It's past midnight as I finish up the final touches on my painting, so immersed in it that I don't hear Edward sneak up behind me. I yelp in surprise when his arms snake around my waist.

"Come to bed, babe," he says, placing open-mouthed kisses on my neck.

"Hmm, this scene feels familiar," I tease, turning in his arms and taking his bottom lip between mine, pulling it gently with my teeth. "Just let me wash up and I'll be right there."

"I'll be waiting." He backs out of the room, lifting his shirt over his head. His worn jeans sit dangerously low on his hips, drawing my eyes to trace the V that leads down under the waistband.

Jesus, I think. The things he does to me without touching me, without saying a word…

I quickly wash my paintbrushes and scrub paint from my hands and arms eagerly. When I return to the bedroom, Edward's sprawled naked on the bed, hands behind his head. I jump up next to him and straddle his stomach.

"Hey, you," he says, hands gliding up my thighs. "You've got too many clothes on. Let me help you with that." I lift my arms up, and he pulls off my shirt and tugs at the waistband of my shorts. I stand over him, push them down my legs along with my panties, and kick them aside. Edward's hands wrap around the back of my calves. "Stay there," he orders, looking up at me as I loom over him. "The view from here is amazing." He smirks and licked his lips, then reaches for me. "C'mere."

I sink to my knees, and he put his hands on my hips and pulls me forward, wiggling his arms underneath me, hooking them around my thighs.

"What are you—oh…" I sigh as he shimmies underneath me and lifts his mouth to my damp center. He drops his head back to the bed, pushing on my hips so I'll lower myself over his face.

The vibrations of his moan against my slick flesh shoots through my body, and my head lolls, my hair tickling my naked back. In all my experience, this is something I've never tried. I open my eyes and peer down at Edward. The angle allows me to look straight into his eyes, dark and piercing with their gaze.

His whole mouth is on me, his tongue prodding my entrance, his teeth grazing my clit. I groan and rock my hips slightly, and he pushes me further, encouraging me to move, to work myself on his mouth. I move over him, his slightly scruffy stubble bristling my sensitive skin. Fuuuuucckkkk…

"I'm coming," I breathe as it takes me fast and hard. "I'm—" My words are cut off abruptly as he doubles his efforts, pressing his hands to my ass as he feasts eagerly on me. His tongue stokes the heat while I spasm and shiver, waves of insane pleasure dying slowly.

Edward scoots back up the bed, and I move back down to straddle his hips, his very prominent erection nudging my backside. He sits up against the headboard, licking his lips, moving my hair to one side and bringing his mouth to my ear. "I love the way you taste."

My face heats in a self-conscious blush, and I'm sure he can feel it radiating from me as he brushes his lips over my ear. When he kisses me full on the mouth, I taste myself mixed with the sweet, heady taste of Edward's tongue, and it's deliciously arousing.

I straddle his lap, and he lifts and lowers me onto his engorged cock, slipping easily into me, slick from his mouth and my orgasm. I gasp at the feeling of him filling my still-throbbing tightness.

"You're so damn tight after you come, Bella," he growls, grabbing my hips hard and thrusting up.

"Oh, fuck," I utter quietly.

"What was that?" he says, apparently pleased with my reaction. He thrusts up again and jerks me forward.

"I said f-fuck!" I didn't mean to scream it quite so loudly.

"Dirty girl." He chuckles darkly and wraps his arms under mine, bringing his hands to my shoulders and pulling me down as he drives himself up into me. I cry out something undecipherable and tighten my legs around his waist, pressing my feet into the bed for leverage, bouncing on top of him, giving as well as I get. We both thrust hard, skin slapping damp skin, pushing each other to the edge.

The familiar winding and coiling starts deep inside, and then the pulsing starts. Ecstasy surges through me, and I coat him with my release, making it more intense.

"Yes," he hisses. "Come on me, baby."

I don't know what unleashed naughty Edward, but I want to find out so I can bottle it up and use it on him whenever I want.

As I squeeze him inside, he thrusts harder, if it's even possible, and twitches inside me, pulsing and filling me up. "Fuck, Bella…"

Our movements slow, leaving us panting and exhausted, leaning against one another, bodies slick with sweat.

Once I catch my breath, I lift my head from his shoulder. "Where did that come from?"

He leers at me. "I think it's those tiny shorts you wear around the house. They drive me crazy."

"Yeah? Maybe I'll just have to invest in a few more pairs, then."

"I'll buy you all the sexy little shorts you want, love."

I shift as he grows soft inside me. "I don't know if I can move. My muscles are all quivery."

"Then don't," he says. "I want you right here always."

The next day, I call my mother to let her know about Charlie's heart attack. The phone rings three times before she picks up. Never pick up before the third ring, she always told me. If it's important enough, the caller will wait for you to answer.

"Hello?" she says, laughing breathlessly, which reminds me of how happy her life is without me.

"Mom, it's Bella."

"Bella! Honey, how are you?"

"I'm good. Listen, Mom. I thought I should let you know that Charlie had a heart attack yesterday."

Seconds of silence. "Is—is he okay?" she asks, uncertainty in her voice.

"He's fine now. He's in the hospital, and they did surgery yesterday." I pause. "I went to see him."

"Oh, Bella, I'm so glad you did."

I'm dumbfounded. Puzzled at her encouragement. "You are?"

"Of course, honey. I never wanted what happened between your father and me to rupture your relationship with him."

"Mom—"

"When are you coming to see me?" she asks.

I sit back on the couch, stupefied, my mouth opening and closing like a fish's. "I—"

"How is that boyfriend of yours? Still treating you well?"

I take a long, cleansing breath. "Yeah, he's…still great. Mom, I thought you hated Charlie."

"Oh, Bella," she says with a sigh. "I could never hate him. He was my first love. He gave me you. But people grow apart sometimes. I never intended to give you the impression that I hated him or for you to have any animosity toward him."

How much time have I wasted feeling bitter on my mother's part when she doesn't even resent him herself? I don't know what to do with this. "Mom, I have to go," I tell her. "I'll call you in a couple of days and let you know how things are going."

"Bye, honey. I love you."

"Bye, Mom."

I hang up the phone and fall sideways on the couch cushions, completely nonplussed. It seems impossible to organize the zillions of thoughts racing through my head. Enough, I think after a while and pick up the phone again to dial Alice.

"Bella!" she says excitedly. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I think we need a girls' night out," I say without preamble. "Friday night?"

"Absolutely. It's been so long since we've had a girly night. I'll call everyone else?"

"Please and thank you." Alice's excitement encourages my own. "Can't wait! And don't forget the opening at the gallery Saturday night."

"'kay! See you on Friday."

"Friday," I repeat. "Bye, Ali." I hang up again and make my way to the kitchen to start dinner. It really has been too long since I've had alone time with my girls. I need a night of frivolity after the last couple of weeks. I want to kick off the holidays right. Edward and I leave for Chicago in twenty-one days. And for once, I don't feel like something was bound to go wrong.