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Disclaimer, you know who owns the Twilight people.
In from the cold ~ Chapter 2
I could do this, right? It was a huge bed, it was that or I would be sleeping on a cold wooden floor. We would be in the same room anyway. I could not go out into the storm…Jake was already asleep…snuggled up with Emily.
"Bella would you like some hot chocolate, more tea or anything?"
I looked at the beautiful man standing beside me.
"No thanks Edward."
He walked over to the TV, switched it on, and picked up the remote control before walking back over to his bed or our bed as it would soon be.
"Do you have a side you prefer to sleep on?" he asked as he pulled the bed covers back.
I shook my head as he jumped onto the bed and pulled the blanket up towards him. I watched him tilt his head to the side before he patted the bed and smiled at me.
"Come on Swan, I don't bite. Jump on board!"
I wandered over and sat right on the edge of the bed, took a deep breath before swinging my legs round and sitting up beside him. Edward pulled the blankets up and over us, I sat back into the pillows, relishing the softness behind me. I sighed at the warmth of the blankets, and maybe even the warmth coming from Edward's body.
Relaxing and settling down I started watching the TV before my eyes became heavy and my head fell to the side. I was vaguely aware of something pulling me down the bed as I snuggled into the source of heat in the bed before I dreamed of green eyes and a crooked smile.
As my eyes struggled to open I realised I could feel someone breathing on my hair, it was probably Jake on my bed again. I cuddled the pillow more as I tried to figure out what was going on. The pillow moved slightly, and I could feel a heart beat coming from it…that's strange.
SHIT!
It was not a pillow, I was snuggled up in Edward's embrace, and my face was on his chest, his arm was wrapped around me. I tried to move out of his hold without waking him.
"Not so fast there Miss Wriggles…" He yawned before pulling me tighter into his hold. "The fire has gone out and you are keeping me warm."
I laughed and shook my head. "Sorry Edward, I didn't mean to invade your space." "It's ok you were probably making the most of the heat I was giving off." He laughed.
"Yeah…that will be what it was Edward!" I nodded and giggled.
"Do you think it is still snowing?" I asked.
"It was when I let Emily and Jake out a wee while ago."
"Right…is it ok if I stay a bit longer today?"
"Uh huh, go back to sleep Bella." Edward mumbled.
"Need to use your bathroom first." I yawned.
He moaned before letting me out of his hold, telling me to hurry back.
I got up and ran to the bathroom, it was freezing.
It wasn't till I jumped back into bed and Edward pulled me in close that I realised I had at some point over night lost the sweat pants I had been wearing; I sat up quickly and looked at him. "Where did my clothes go?"
"What?" he looked puzzled at me.
"I don't know, you were wriggling around at some point, your legs were kicking about." I looked down at the bottom of the bed as saw the pants hanging out under the blankets.
"I am so glad I kept my panties on…" I murmured.
"Yeah, I was just thinking that very same thing." Edward laughed.
I blushed and gave his chest a push.
"Oh be quiet and get your skinny legs back in here and cuddle up, I need more sleep." He moaned.
"Is this weird?" I asked him as I moved back over towards him.
"NO!" He yelped as my cold skin made contact with his. "But you are bloody freezing!" He squealed as I now purposely touched him with my freezing cold feet.
I giggled and tried to attack him again with my feet pressing against his hot body. Before I knew what was happening our legs were tangled together, our arms wrapped around each other and Edward had pulled me up on top of his body…we were laughing like crazy people.
Suddenly, our eyes met, I licked my lips before biting down on my bottom lip, Edward's eyes darkened as his head moved towards mine.
Just as our lips almost touched the bed moved and Jake and Emily bounced up, excited by our laughter and jumped all over the two of us. Emily was licking Edward's cheek and softly woofing while Jake bounced on the bed barking his head off, breaking the moment and knocking us apart. I almost fell out of the bed, squealing as I held onto the covers trying to prevent my fall.
Edward grasped the blankets and his arm moved down to hold onto mine as he shouted at the dogs to get off the bed. I felt him pull me up before falling against his chest, knocking the wind out of myself!
Edward chuckled as he held me tightly against his body.
"Bella Swan…" He sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"
I gulped trying so hard not to ask him to kiss me.
I wanted to taste his lips. Was he thinking the same thing? His head cocked to the side, it was as if he was trying to figure out some puzzle.
"I think… I want…" I looked at him, he was my best friend's brother this could be a complete disaster if it got messy. "I want…"
He smiled at me, a smirked twitching on his beautiful mouth. "I err…a cup of tea!"
I jumped out of his arms and ran over towards the kitchen to put the kettle on, I heard him sigh as he fell back onto the bed.
Standing in front of the kitchen sink, I filled the kettle and switched it on. My head came down to rest on the worktop. What had I almost done? Just as the kettle came to boil a few minutes later I felt his hand on the small of my back.
"Bella…are you ok?" I nodded after sighing. His didn't lift his hand from me, but rubbed small circles as he reached above to take mugs out of the cupboard.
"Would you like some toast or anything?"
"Yes please." I whispered.
I could hear him working beside me, his hand still never moving away from my back.
"Bella please look at me Honey?"
I turned my head to the side. He bent down so he was also leaning on the work top his eyes level with mine.
I tried to smile; my heart reminded me how I had always really liked Edward.
We had grown up together, played together, went to school together. I was devastated when he went away to University. We lost contact, but Alice kept me informed of how he was doing. I saw him now and again on the holidays, but it was not the same.
He had a strawberry blonde with him last Christmas; I had dropped off gifts and quickly left. I didn't want to see him with her. She was beautiful. My head was telling me how he was Edward Cullen completely out of my reach.
Yet here I was, standing here before him, in his tee shirt…his hand was on my back. What must he think of me just now? I was plain Isabella Swan, standing here in his home… after sleeping in his bed… in hardly any clothes…
"I don't do this Edward." I whispered.
"Do what Honey?" he asked, his hand moving up from my back, pushing the hair off my face and tucking it behind my ear before he returned it to my back.
"This, I don't get into bed with men, I don't you know…I have never…" I blushed furiously now.
"I know Bella, I know you. I have known you all your life." His hand touched my flushed cheek. I sighed at the contact.
"I like you Bella." he smiled gently.
"I like you too Edward." I whispered back. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, I closed my eyes, relishing his lips on my skin.
"I really like you. I have liked you for a long time but you were my sister's best friend and I never thought you were interested in me." He spoke quietly.
I blinked at him. "You liked me… like me?" I asked.
"Yes." He chuckled. "I really like you."
I sighed. "I feel like a school girl."
"Do you? Why?" he chuckled.
"I used to tell Alice that I really liked someone and I would never tell her it was you."
"I wish you had told me back then." His fingers moved to caress my cheek.
The toast popped up and Edward stood up before he moved closer to me. "Come here." He pulled me into his arms.
"Let's get this toast sorted, make some tea and go back to bed to talk about this properly, you will be getting so cold." I nodded into his chest, inhaling the familiar scent that was pure Edward, cinnamon, mint and almost chocolate. He always smelt so good.
He kissed my forehead again, his hands moved down to my waist before he lifted me up on the worktop counter before sitting me down. I squealed at the cold surface below my exposed skin, I tried to pull the tee shirt down to cover my legs a little as I realised just how much skin I was showing.
"I have seen your beautiful legs before Honey." Edward laughed. "We spent a lot of time together at your family's pool in the summers didn't we?" I agreed.
Edward buttered the toast and offered various topping for us to choose from. The tray was set. Edward lifted me down from the worktop. "I could have done that myself." I giggled. "I know, but this way I get to hold you again." He shrugged his shoulders as he explained his actions to me.
He balanced the tray with one hand and offered me his other one. "Come on, you are getting cold."
I took his hand, delighted at how comforting this contact was between us, and followed him back into the living room.
Letting go of my hand he took the tray and sat it down on the small table beside the bed. "Get back under the covers Honey." Edward pulled the blankets back before covering me back up once I had jumped back into bed.
He started to walk away from me. "Are you not coming back to bed?" I asked nervously. Edward smiled at me.
"I am just going to get the fire started again."
Once it was roaring back to life Edward pulled back the blankets and moved over to sit beside me. I passed him his mug of tea and sat the plate of toast on my knee, we shared it quietly together.
Once we were finished, he moved the mugs and plate to his table and turned to face me.
"Will you lie down and cuddle in with me Honey?" I nodded silently, moving towards him and settling in his arms, laying my head down on his shoulder.
My arm draped over his chest and he pulled me tighter.
"Do you want to get some more sleep?"
I shook my head I was too on edge to sleep.
"Do you want to talk about what is happening here?"
I nodded unable to reply.
"I would like to see more of you." He whispered. I turned my head up to look at him shocked.
"What I mean is I would like to see you again, to spend time with you… take you on a date." He laughed.
"Oh, I would like that too." I giggled. "Edward, I have been on a few dates, but I have never been serious with a guy." I hid my face back down in his chest.
"That's ok Honey…I am no expert myself."
"I thought you were with Tanya. Alice said it was serious."
"Tanya was serious, but more so about marring me for my name and money." He sighed. "Not serious enough to stay faithful to me though. Thankfully I found her and Felix before we got engaged or anything."
"No! I am sorry Edward." I moved to sit up so I could look into his beautiful eyes.
"I was upset, but I am not sorry now, I have you here in my arms, what is there to be sorry about?"
I smiled before snuggling back down in his embrace.
"What about you Bella? I heard there was a young man, a few dates?"
"How did you know?"
"Alice and Esme…oh and Charlie…"
"My dad told you?"
"Well yes, he was busy telling my dad about James getting bitten by Jake, and I asked him what happened." Edward laughed.
"James…he tried to kiss me, I didn't want him to." I shuddered at the memory.
"We were standing at my Dad's front door, he had dropped me off, he kept asking me to see him again but he scared me." Edward pulled me a little closer and buried his nose in my hair. I sighed and relaxed a little before continuing my story.
"I told him I didn't think it was a good idea, he called me a tease and grabbed me, Jake had run round to the back of the house, out the kitchen door and appeared at my front door, baring his teeth and looking like a huge wolf!" I whispered now, hating the memory of James, thankful for Jakes protection.
"James went to push me and Jake lunged at him, biting him in the groin. Charlie appeared home and had seen the whole thing, along with Sam his deputy, they arrested James and discovered he had other accusations of assault against him. I had a lucky escape."
"I never knew that Bella. I heard that he tried to kiss you and Jake bit him, like he was jealous or something."
"I asked Dad not to tell anyone."
"Why?"
"I was ashamed. James said I was a tease and I had encouraged him."
I started to move back and pull away from his body.
"Oh Edward, please, I am not a tease, yet here I am in your arms wearing very little, what must you think of me?" I panicked.
"No I don't think you are a tease, stay Bella, please?"
I sat back but didn't get out of the bed.
"I won't hurt you Bella, I promise."
I nodded; this was Edward, my sweet Edward who I had known forever. He was the boy who cleaned my scraped knee for me when I fell down as a clumsy child. He was the boy who shared his school lunch with me when I left mine at home. This was the teenager who taught me to swim, and never let me go till I was ready to swim alone. He was more than Alice's older brother, he had been my friend. He had called round at my house to see me, to watch TV with me when Charlie worked late. How had I not seen this?
"You cared about me, not just as Alice's friend?" I asked him.
"Yes." He smiled at me. He was lying on his side looking at me. I reached out to touch his arm.
"You care about me?"
"Yes." He laughed with me as my face broke into a goofy grin. I moved closer to him, sitting up on my knees next to his body.
"I wanted you to be my friend as much I wanted Alice to be my friend Edward."
"And now…what do you want now Bella?" he whispered softly.
"You, I want you to be my friend." His face fell slightly until I continued. "I want more though." I smiled and reached to touch his face. "I want to be more to you Edward."
"Bella Swan, you have always been more than a friend to me. Tanya used to get pissed as I refused to get rid of these."
He jumped up and ran over to a box lying beside the fireplace. It was full of photo frames, everyone had Edward and I in them, some with Emmett and Alice or our parents, but each and every one had us in the picture. The photo on the fire surround was of the four of us. It was the winter that Edward tried to teach me to ski.
"I fell over and every time it was you who picked me up Edward." He laughed. "You didn't fall that much Bells." "Yes I did."
"Yeah…you did!" He chuckled. "But it just meant I got to hold on to you more."
Suddenly I realised that this was why I didn't date very well.
I had been in love with Edward.
"No one was you." I explained.
"What Honey?" he looked at me, puzzled at my statement.
"The boys who asked me out, Mike, Liam, Paul, Ben, Eric…they were not who I wanted, they didn't make me feel they way that I felt when I was with you."
Edward moved the box of photographs safely down onto the floor before moving cautiously closer to me again.
"I compared everyone to you. I wanted someone to treat me like you did. I wanted to feel like I did when I was with you...I wanted them to be you."
Edward smiled and tilted his head to the side.
"No one was like you for me. I dated a few girls, but they couldn't hold a conversation, they never watched the films we liked, they didn't eat proper food, they didn't understand Star Wars like we did!"
He burst out laughing and I remembered the many hours we watched and re-watched all the Star Wars films, arguing about how cool I thought Princess Leia was, when he thought Luke was the actual hero! She was the real star of the film!
"Do you remember when Alice made me wear her gold bikini, with my hair in buns on the side of my head that Halloween party; I was meant to me Princess Leia…"
I shuddered.
"Do you remember how you spent the whole evening wearing my Jedi robe? There was no way I was letting those boys look at your beautiful body then!" Edward shook his head.
"You thought I was beautiful?" I asked.
"Yes. You were always beautiful to me Honey, and you have never looked more beautiful than you do now."
He pushed a curl away from my face. His eyes were soft and his smile gentle.
"You were my first kiss." I whispered.
"You were mine Baby." He replied.
"I didn't want to make a fool of myself and Alice asked you to help me out!" I remembered.
"I didn't want you to share it with anyone else." He admitted.
"I have another first I have not shared with anyone else Edward." I took a deep breath and hoped he understood what I was telling him. One of his hands moved to my hip, the other up to my cheek.
"I don't want to make a fool of myself here Edward."
I murmured.
"I wouldn't want you to share it with anyone else Honey." He nudged forward and I licked my lips.
"We don't need to do anything you don't want to Isabella." His eyes were locked on mine, his desire obvious, and his voice soft and protective.
"And if I want to Edward?" I questioned.
"Then we both want this."
"We do." I nodded slightly.
"It does not have to be today." He gave me a choice.
"And if I want it to be?"
"You know I could never refuse you anything you wanted…"
~oooooooOooooooo~