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Many thanks to my babelicious Beta Butterflybetty.
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In from the cold ~ chapter 7
We managed to get showered and dressed just before the guys appeared, along with Rose, Alice, Esme and Carlisle. This was going to be more difficult than I thought it would be.
I got Jake and Emily hooked up on their leads and made it to the back door just as they pulled in front of the house. With a quick kiss from Edward I ran out the back door and took off running into the woods. The snow had all but gone now, the air was crisp and cold in my lungs, made me feel alive! I loved running, curiously it was one of the few places I avoiding being such a klutz!
Once we were a safe distance away I let both dogs off and we set a running pace. Emily ran beside me, while Jake ran around us, taking off almost as if he was keeping the area around us safe. After a while I stopped at a creek to let them have a drink, filling up on fluids from my water bottle. I took out my cell phone out from my pocket and sent Edward a text.
'You doing ok? Did we get away with it?'
I sat down on a tree stump catching my breath, Emily stayed close by. Jake stood remaining on constant alert. Sometimes I felt like I was being watched, and I am sure Jake picked up on my nervous behaviour.
My phone alerted me to Edward's text.
"Think so. Come back soon, I told them you called in by and took dogs for run while we moved stuff into our room.
Thank goodness. I really wanted to keep us to ourselves for as long as I could.
And I worried that secret was not going to last for very long.
I loved everyone but didn't want them to pressurise us about everything. I didn't freak out when Edward called me Mrs Cullen or talked about asking me to be his wife. It felt so right. But I didn't want Alice and Esme plaguing us about big wedding and fancy stuff like that. None of that mattered to me. I sighed and sent Edward a text back saying I was on my way home. Jake was jumping about in the water and Emily was sitting watching him wagging her tail. "You are such a sweet girl Miss Emily, not like that naughty Jake." I told her, scratching her ear, laughing as she moaned in delight. Jake came running over and shook right beside us. "Lovely Jake…I smell of wet dog now!"
I wiped my face and arms down with the edge of my shirt before we took off on our run home.
I rang the front door bell and waited for the door to open. Both dogs looked at me; it was as if they knew I was doing something strange. Jasper opened the door and laughed as both dogs took of inside past his legs. "Make your self at home Jake!" he shouted after my dog. "Hello Bella, how are you doing?"
"Fine Thanks Jasper, just returning Emily back to Edward."
"Uh huh…" he raised his eye brow at me and I started to blush.
"I know what you are up to Bella?"
I blushed and looked at his face, my heart starting to race a little.
"I don't know what you mean Jasper." I walked in, passing him trying to smile as best as I could, while the butterflies in my stomach were going crazy. I called both dogs back, wiping them down with a towel.
"You were just avoiding all the hard work!" he laughed.
"That's so true Jasper, hey there Emmett!"
"Hey Belly!" Emmett picked me up into a bear hug kissing my cheek before telling me I tasted of wet dog!
"Jake shook all over me after he had been swimming. Hey Edward, I have a change of clothes with me do you mind if I use your shower?"
"No worries… let me show you where it is." Edward jumped up, leading me to the shower room, his hand on the small of my back.
"Thank you Edward." I smiled.
My mind now racing, suddenly full of memories from the mornings shower and all the touching we had enjoyed there.
As soon as we were in the shower room, Edward started stripping my clothes off, his mouth latching onto my nipples before he had even removed my running shirt and sports bra completely.
I started moaning at his touch.
"Shush Baby, you need to be quiet."
"I can't Edward, I…" I muttered as his fingers found my wet core waiting for his attention as he slid his hand into my panties.
He knelt down and pulled my running shoes, socks & sweat pants before toying with my underwear.
"May I Bella?" He smirked at me, sliding my panties down as I started to nod.
He lifted my foot up so my leg was over his shoulder, I grabbed onto the sink and door handle to steady myself as he leaned in and started licking and kissing my core again. "See…I think you …are …getting addicted…to all…this…Oh Edward…" I banged my head as I threw it backwards in response to his tongue probing inside of me. He quickly began to make me fall into oblivion using his tongue and fingers to bring me over the edge of ecstasy. I turned my head and bit down on Edward bath robe hanging on the door, attempting to muffle the screams I wanted to let out.
Edward stood up and pulled me into his arms, kissing my forehead before whispering into my ear. "I need to go back out there Baby."
I nodded and sighed, not wanting to let him go yet.
He leaned back and started the shower running. I took a washcloth and soaked it before using it to wash his face. He looked at me and I laughed as I removed all evidence of my climax from his face.
"Lock the door behind me Honey," with one more kiss Edward left me alone in the shower room. I slid down onto the shower seat and caught my breath, giggling at what had just happened.
I quickly showered, using some of Edward's shower gel, inhaling his smell, making me feel safe like I did in his arms. I washed my hair using my favourite strawberry shampoo and conditioner, de-tangling my long hair. I was fairly low maintenance, a quick comb and a blast of my hair dryer before I swept it up into a messy knot before dressing in jeans, tee shirt and hoodie and a pair of warm socks.
I gathered up all the towels and leaving the shower room clean and tidy. I couldn't put it off any longer it was now time to face everyone.
"Bella Darling, what a lovely surprise to see you here."
"Hello Esme." I gave Edward's beautiful Mother a hug and kiss as she pulled me closer. "You look beautiful my dear!" she smiled lifting her hand up to my cheek, "You have such a healthy colour in your cheeks today!"
"Thank you, I think running agrees with me," I answered.
"That will be it… Carlisle is through in the sitting room, let's go and say hello..." Esme took my hand and led me through to the other room, the bed was gone and everyone was sitting on the new sofa and chairs that had been delivered while I was out running. I gave Carlisle a hug and he pulled me in close, kissing my forehead like he had done since I was little.
"So good to see you Sweetie!" he smiled. "You look very well, no more injuries?" I shook my head, reaching out to the table that now held a lamp on it. "No… touch wood, nothing today." I laughed.
Carlisle had patched me up far too many times since I was such a clumsy child and adult.
Edward brought me a glass with juice and ice in before sitting down beside me, our legs touching, he was so close but not close enough, it took all I had not to jump into his lap.
"Thank you Edward." I took a long drink before sitting it down on the table beside me.
"Oh that looks nice, what is that you are drinking Bella?" Alice asked.
"Cranberry and Raspberry juice." Edward and I both said at the same time.
"I didn't know you liked that?" Alice smirked. "I always have it here for you Alice. It is all I have in juice wise. I thought Bella might be thirsty after her shower." Rose and Alice both looked at each other. Carlisle raised his eye brow at Edward but then asked about the house improvements.
"Well, now my bedroom is painted and the floors done, I don't have much more to do there. I like the colour in here; I think it will be ok for a while, so really just the spare room and hallway to paint now."
I nodded smiling at Edward the whole time.
Esme handed me paint charts and asked what I thought of the mushroom colour she had found for the spare room. "I like it, but have you seen the duck egg blue over the page?" I turned the brochure over and Esme took it back looking at the new shade.
"What do you think Honey?" She showed Edward the colour and he smiled at me. "I love it." He looked at me and I blushed before smiling at him.
Alice squealed and jumped up off her seat. "Alice…Are you ok?" I asked her concerned.
"Oh yes, I am so excited at Edward being so close by again, aren't you Bella?" everyone looked at me.
"I guess so, I will miss Grandma Cullen though, I'll need to go and see her soon." I said before taking another drink of juice.
"Well I am delighted that Edward is now home again." Esme said, pulling her youngest son towards her as he sat beside me.
"I missed you too Mum!" he laughed, before winking at me.
Carlisle patted my knee, "My mother was sorry she didn't get to say goodbye to you Bella, she will be delighted to see you if you have time to pop into her new place."
I smiled at Carlisle; the look in his eyes settled me with their comforting softness. But I knew then, that he knew about me and Edward. Was our secret safe?
He gave me a gentle nod, and I knew he was not going to tell. I let my head fall down onto his shoulder, and he pulled his arm around me. I may not have a mother for most of my life, but Carlisle was like a second Dad to me. I loved him dearly. I often sat cuddled in beside him while we watched TV or chatted.
"So is Charlie fishing this weekend?"
"Not sure, he will be over tomorrow though."
"How are you getting over tomorrow Bells?" Emmett asked me. "I heard Sam saying the old truck was going to need a whole load of work doing to it this time."
"I hadn't thought about Emmett, to be honest." I said, feeling sad about my truck, "I knew it was on its last legs but I love that old truck."
"You can take my Volvo." Edward shrugged. "What?" Everyone looked at him.
"Or the 4x4, please yourself, I don't need both of them."
His whole family looked stunned at him. They all knew he loved his Volvo and he never let anyone drive her.
"Thank you Edward."
"You are Welcome Bella, least I can do for you helping me with Emily."
They all looked back at me. "Oh, yes, Edward and are helping each other out with dog sitting duties." I explained.
"I am dropping Emily off in the morning so she can join Bella and Jake for their morning run, and I will pick them up from Bella's flat and walk them after school." "They both get some company from each other during the day, I don't start till later in the mornings and I will pop across the road from the shop to let them out at lunch time."
"So, they will both benefit." Edward explained.
Emmett snorted his drink, "Went down the wrong way." He spluttered and got up to go to get a cloth.
I heard him shout out in the kitchen, "Jake, what have you got there? Is that a sheet?"
Edward's face blanched and I felt sick, that was our sheet that Jake had stolen this morning. Emmett carried the savaged sheet through to the sitting room, "Sorry Man…I have no idea what Jake was doing with this!"
"Oh, I was using it as a dust sheet, and Jake and played tug with it yesterday." he muttered.
"Edward! That was a very expensive sheet!" Alice shouted!
"I will replace it." I stuttered.
"There is no need for you to do that Bella it was Edward who ruined it!" She folded her arms cross with her older brother's antics.
"Yes I know, but he was fighting with Jake," I explained.
"I have never known Jake to rip things before Bella." Jasper stated. "Oh you know what he is like." I shook my head. Jake gave me a funny look.
Jasper got up and said to me, with a glint in his eye.
"Oh yes, I know what he is like." I could have sworn that he turned and looked back at Edward rather than Jake who was now sitting at Edward's feet.
"So…thanks for all your help guys, the bedroom looks much better now my bed is in there." Edward said to everyone.
"I love the colours you have chosen Edward." his mum said. "They are very homely." I nodded.
Just then another delivery van appeared with Edward's boxes from storage. We all got up and helped unload them into the spare room. Esme offered to start unpacking but hesitated when she opened the first box. It was a box I had left in the spare room, and it contained my underwear!
"Edward, why do you have a box of women's panties?" she shouted.
"Ermmmm…souvenirs?" he questioned back at her. "That is disgusting Edward Antony Cullen! I expect that from your Brother, but not you!" he hung his head, pretending to be ashamed but was trying his best not to laugh. I was mortified, more so when Alice looked at them and glared back at us both. Edward scooped the box up and walked away with them, "What can I say Mother, the ladies love me!"
I shuddered, looking round to see Edward and Emmett bump fists. Jasper shook his head laughing at the sight before him.
"I am shocked Edward!" Alice muttered, "I always thought you were better than that."
I didn't want Edward to take the blame for something he hadn't done, just as I was about to speak up Edward shook his head slightly and started laughing.
"They are probably my last flat mates girl friends." He laughed.
"Or Tanya's?" Emmett laughed. Alice lifted a pair that still had its tags on out of the box. I was going to be sick. I knew Carlisle could feel my body tensing beside him. I looked up into his eyes. He kissed my forehead and pulled me closer.
"They can't be Tanya's, these are nice panties, and she had a much bigger ass, she wouldn't fit in these."
"Put the away now Alice." Carlisle spoke up.
"I will take these," Edward stood up and grabbed the box before walking away with them and putting them in his closet.
"Who knew Edward liked panties?" Rose laughed.
I wanted to leave, I felt awful with them all making Edward out to be some sleazy creep.
He came back into the room and flopped down to sit beside me. "You ok?" he whispered. I nodded. "You?" he smiled and nodded back at me.
Esme called through saying she had made food for everyone.
It was only Carlisle, Edward and I left in the sitting room. I looked at Carlisle. "You know don't you?"
"You have always been like a daughter to me, always part of the family. You two have always loved each other."
I smiled and snuggled back into Carlisle side.
"Why is it a secret?"
"Just, well you know everyone will make a big deal out of it, and we just want to enjoy some quiet time before everyone else…well you know what they are like?"
Edward sighed.
"I love you both, but you know that we will not be able to keep this from them all for much longer?"
Edward and I nodded.
"I love you both. You are perfect for each other; we have all known it for years." Carlisle kissed the top of my head before getting up from the sofa and walking through to join the others in the kitchen.
I turned and gave Edward a smile. He winked and gently squeezed my thigh.
"I am so sorry for the whole box of panties incident,"
I whispered.
"I am just sorry I haven't seen you wear some of the naughty ones…yet!" Edward laughed. "And my brother thinks I am some sort of stud!"
I giggled. "Come on stud, let's go eat." Edward stood up and offered me his hand.
"Stay beside Edward." I whispered.
"I will always be beside you Honey."