A/N ~ Special thanks again to my lovely Beta ButterflyBetty.

Thank you for helping me to keep going when I wondered if I should. Hugs xx

Please review if you can xx

In from the cold ~ Chapter 5

We lay beside each other, neither one of us needing to speak; instead we left soft kisses on each other. Holding on, trying to be as close to each other as we could be, after a little while I felt Edward stir beside me.

"Baby, I am going to go and run us a bath," He whispered.

I whimpered, not wanting him to move away from me at all. I heard him chuckle before he kissed my lips gently. "I just want to soothe your muscles and get us cleaned up before we go to sleep."

Nodding at him, I sighed before letting go.

I stretched up, wincing slightly, feeling a little bit sore now. I had expected more pain when I lost my virginity, especially after seeing what Edward had to offer me.

"Bella, I have a cloth to clean you up a little, is that ok?"

I opened my eyes to see him standing before me smiling shyly back at me. I held my hand out for the cloth but Edward cocked his head to the side before speaking again. "Can I please? I want to take care of you…?"

I realised what he was asking of me, it was a bit late to be shy of Edward seeing me down there, but no one else ever had apart from my doctor.

But then no else but Edward had been there like he had been… so I nodded.

He sat down beside me, leaning over to kiss me before I felt the warm soft wash cloth gently cleansed away the evidence of our union. His touch was soothing, and tender, I loved him even more right now.

"Is there much blood?" I asked him nervously.

I had never been good at coping with blood.

"There is just a tiny bit Bells, but I have got it all, rest a moment Honey, I am just going to let the dogs out and see to the bath."

"I am alright Edward, I can see to the dogs, I need to get up and pee," I blushed.

"Okay…well you see to them and I will sort out our bed."

I looked down and noticed some blood on the sheets.

"Oh I am sorry, are they ruined?"

"No, don't worry about them. I just thought we would both like some clean dry ones. Here, do you want to put this on? Not that I would not prefer to see you wandering around naked…" He laughed as I blushed again before pulling his tee shirt over my body.

The hem of it came to just above my knee; I smoothed it down and heard him groan.

"Oh you have no idea how sexy you look just now." He shook his head as we stripped the bed. Edward gathered up the sheets and I went to the restroom and to see to Jake and Emily's needs.

Once they were settled back inside, Edward and I remade the bed, before he led me into the bathroom.

A warm bath with some sensual oils soothed away the ache in my muscles. Edward sat in behind me, kissing my neck, both of us washing each other. My breasts were cleaner than they had ever been before!

We settled back in bed with snacks and drinks, Edward gave me a glass of cranberry juice, explaining it was 'good for ladies who loved.'

"Just how many women have you provided this de-virginising service to?" I joked.

"Just you Honey," He smiled. "I had a look online at a few things earlier on today. I always have cranberry juice here as Alice loves it with Vodka." He shrugged his shoulders; I loved how he had wanted to look after me.

"I didn't think that I was going to use this information so soon," He chuckled.

"Do you think I gave it up too soon?" I asked slightly panicking that Edward might think I was easy.

"No…No Honey, this is about you and me, and what was right for us both. I have no regrets, do you?" He looked concerned.

"No Edward. I have no regrets at all." I leaned over and kissed his lips.

We cuddled up together and watched some TV before settling down to sleep.

I woke early the next day, Jake nudging me with his cold wet nose as Emily sat looking at me patiently wagging the tip of her tail. I moved out of Edward's embrace, got up and let the dogs out before putting the kettle on.

After a quick rummage in the kitchen I decided to cook French toast and bacon for our breakfast. I had cooked the first two slices when I sensed his presence. I felt his finger tips move my hair to the side before his lips brushed against my skin, my head rolled to the side, allowing him better access as his hands moved along my ribs to under my breasts. I sighed as his mouth moved up to my ear lobe, sucking on it slightly before he whispered in my ear.

"You need to flip that over before it burns…"

I laughed and looked down at the toast. It was just about to be ruined; quickly I flipped it over before checking on the bacon.

"Good morning my Love!"

I turned round and smiled at the beautiful man standing beside me.

"It is a fantastic morning Beautiful!"

"What do you want to do today?" I asked as I plated up the French toast.

"Are you too sore to suggest some more of last night?" Edward raised an eye brow as he asked his question.

"I could be open to suggestions…" I whispered back at him.

After a morning of gentle love making and some touching in the shower we decided that I would take both the dogs back to mine for a while. Emmett and Jasper had texted to say they were coming over with the girls to help with some painting, after the two boys and Edward collected the paint.

Sam had towed away my truck and would be working on it over the next few days. I didn't know if he could fix my old truck but he would do his best.

We decided to tell everyone know we had been spending time together as friends; no one would suspect we were more than that. We were friends who just helped each other out, just friends. That's what we were going to tell them.

With a few more kisses shared, Edward popped both the dogs in his 4x4. I was going to get some groceries and cook a meal before returning with the food for everyone.

I decided to make a couple of lasagnes, garlic bread and salads. I walked both dogs after shopping before returning to my place to cook.

Alice called asking if I was coming over to help Edward paint. I explained that I was dog sitting to keep Emily from getting covered in paint, but would be over in a wee while.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me Edward was moving back into town Alice!"

"Oh did I not? I thought I had mentioned it…" she giggled.

"No...Anyway, it was nice catching up with him again."

"Uh huh, you were catching up with him."

"I missed him," I whispered.

"I know he missed you too." She was not laughing now.

"You still like him Bella?" You could have hope in her question.

"I do Alice, I always have done."

"I know you have Bella Honey."

Neither one of us spoke for a little while. I didn't want to say any more, I wondered if Alice was scared to ask what she already suspected of me.

"Anyway, I have Emily here, so we will see you soon at Edward's house?" I asked.

"Sure Sweetie, look forward to seeing you later on."

The lasagne and garlic bread was ready for the oven, the salad would not take long to put together. I tried to keep myself busy packing a few more items up.

Jake and Emily were playing with some of Jakes dog toys. He kept nudging her with his pulling rope but was being such a gentleman with his Emily; if he really wanted to he could have pulled it straight from her with very little effort.

I put his bigger bed into the car, deciding there would be more room for them both on it.

Our dogs were part of our family unit, we were a family already.

Jake ate so much, so I packed all of his food and some of his bigger toys in the car.

I would move other bits of mine in when the house was painted. I didn't want to have to explain what it was doing there yet.

Scooping up more clothes including some fancy underwear that Alice and Rose had bought me in the hope it would spur me into looking for someone to have some fun with.

I stayed away as long as I could bear to be apart from Edward and smiled the whole drive home. Grandma Cullen's house was home to me and Edward. I had no fear inside me. I should have, I was not the kind of girl who made spur of the moment decisions. But this felt so right.

I giggled to myself as I looked back and saw both dogs cuddled up again together, Emily was keeping warm snuggled into Jakes body, and he was like an electric blanket!

Pulling in front of our house felt so good. I let the dogs out and they both ran to the front door. I lifted up the food and shopping leaving everything else in the car meantime, I managed to press the door bell unable to open the door with my hands full, Edward grinned as he opened it. We both looked at each other, could we sneak a kiss in?

Rose appeared. "Hello there Miss Bella, you have arrived just in time, we have just finished."

They had shut the bedroom door to keep the dogs out.

Folding seats had been set up in the kitchen with a patio table for our dinner.

"You need to get proper dining furniture Edward," Alice was making a list of everything she thought Edward still had to buy.

"No point until we get painted," I replied.

Rose looked at me, raising her eye brow as she took a drink.

I turned my back to everyone and started to put the lasagne into the oven Edward had pre warmed for me.

I realised I was too familiar with everything in the kitchen, so shouted through asking Edward where he kept serving spoons and stuff.

Edward came over and gently placed his hand on the small of my back, I smiled at the contact I had been missing. We set the table, sharing discreet smiles, lingering touches of fingers, brushing past each other when we could.

Alice sat on the bed, shuffling up till she was resting her back against the head board, she pushed my pillow up and discovered Edward's tee shirt that I had been wearing this morning. I noticed her tuck it back under before she looked up at me. Edward's sleeping pants were on the other side under his pillow. She knew I had slept over, I was hoping she wouldn't say anything else about it.

I took a look in the bedroom, and I loved the soft colours together.

"It is beautiful Edward." I smiled, the rest of the gang were relaxing in the living room.

He stood really close behind me, whispering in my ear. "I can't wait till me and you are in here, alone, naked and…"

"Yes I can see what you mean about the view you have here." I stepped forward realising that someone had come into the room behind us.

"Yes I am really fond of the view." He nodded looking at me before walking towards the window.

Jasper stepped further into the room.

"Edward do you want the bed in here tonight or tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, the paint fumes will be too strong tonight."

We couldn't look at each other, I turned and went to check on the food, hearing Jasper muttering to Edward "You need to grow a set of balls and just tell her how you feel about her...before she falls in love with some loser."

I smiled as I walked away.

"What has got you so happy Bella?" Emmett asked as he pinched some of the salad I had started to prepare.

"Just a happy Bunny Emmie Bear," I giggled at him.

"Oh, so nothing you want to share with the class?" Rose asked me.

The timer went off; I was saved by the bell.

Emmett lifted the hot dishes out for me, placing them on the table to cool a little while the garlic bread warmed through.

We all enjoyed the food, and several drinks before Jasper who had been designated as the driver for the night managed to bundle everyone into his car to take them home.

"Do you need a lift home Bella?" Emmett slurred a little worse for wear. "No thanks Edward can take me home later on."

"No he can't he has had a couple of drinks just like you have Bella," Rose giggled.

"Oh I will get Charlie to pick me up," I answered quickly.

"No need, come on jump in." Alice patted the space beside her and Rose.

"Oh I have Jake here too."

"He can go into the boot of the car," Jasper grinned.

"The boot is full of stuff; there would be no room for him. Oh could he sit on your knee Rose?" I asked knowing that Rose just tolerated Jake and no more.

He on the other hand loved her and slobbered all over her and Alice any chance he could.

"Yuck! No thanks."

They seemed appeased at last with the fact that Charlie would collect me later on and left after blowing kisses and telling me they would see us tomorrow.

After they drove away Edward and I took the stuff I had stored in the car and walked back into our house. Edward closed the door, locking it behind him, before pulling me into his arms and kissing me with wild abandonment.

"I have missed you today," he gasped.

"Me too…I have wanted to do this since the moment I came home," I answered him before moving to kiss him again.

"You came home…this is our home," He smiled.

"Yes it is our home," I grinned back at him.

We settled the dogs back in for the night before getting ready for bed, undressing each other, peppering kisses as we went. Edward's hand moved down towards my core and I realised how tender I was after last night and today's sessions.

"Sorry..." I looked down at my feet, feeling disappointed.

"Hey….Honey…Don't do that. Look at me please?"

His fingers lifted my chin up gently so I was looking in his eyes as he whispered to me, "I love you."

"I wanted you," I whispered back.

"I wanted you too, but I won't hurt you." His voiced soothed my fears, his arms wrapped around me before he softly kissed my lips.

"Lift your arms up Honey." Edward pulled his tee shirt over my arms and down my body. I watched him kneel down and gently kiss my kitty before looking up at me smiling; he lifted me up carefully and carried me to our bed. "This is the last night we will sleep in here," I whispered. "Tomorrow night we will be in our room," I giggled before yawning.

"We sure will my Love." He lowered me down gently before heading off to switch off the lights and check on the dogs.

We cuddled up, whispering about our day and our plans for tomorrow, knowing Edward was now in my tomorrows made me so happy.

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