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Chapter 4
On a humid day in June, Ben and I make our way into Drexel University's Athletic Center, intent on seeing our girls graduate. Bella and I may not be an actual couple, but Ben and Angela certainly are. Since the night they met at our house for dinner, they've been nearly inseparable.
It seems that once I left them in the kitchen to talk to Bella, they finally started speaking to each other. Ben worked up the nerve to ask Angela on a date, and the rest is history.
Now, if only things were so simple for Bella and me. My feelings for her have certainly grown over the last six months, but I haven't been able to do anything about it. We spend plenty of time together, and to the outside world we probably look like a couple when in actuality, we're only best friends.
I'm hoping to change that. Tonight.
The reason I've withheld my feelings all this time is because I didn't want Bella to feel like she owed me anything while I was giving her a place to live and a loan. Although she won't be paying back the loan immediately, she already has a job lined up to teach English at a private high school starting in the fall, so I know she feels more comfortable with the idea that the loan will get paid back soon. And I'm not kicking her out of the house now that she's graduated. I've already told her she's welcome to stay as long as she wants.
Thankfully the graduation ceremony doesn't last too long. Ben and I cheered for Angela and Bella, and we got bright smiles in our direction from both of the girls when they walked across the stage. I don't know if they could see us, but at least they heard us.
We make our way outside to where we planned to meet them, and Ben spots them first.
"This way, Edward," Ben says, patting my shoulder.
As soon as I look in the direction he's headed, I find Bella's bright eyes. I hurry my steps and she starts in my direction. My arms wind around her waist the moment I'm close enough. Hers wrap around my neck as I lift her off the ground and hug her tightly.
"Congratulations, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you," I say into her shoulder.
She laughs lightly. "Thank you. I'm so glad I'm done."
I reluctantly put her down but keep an arm around her waist, turning toward Angela and Ben, who have now been joined by Angela's parents. "Congratulations, Angela," I offer.
She smiles and thanks me before inviting us to go to dinner with them.
I look to Bella. "It's up to you," I tell her. I'd rather be alone, but it's her night.
"Um, thanks, but Edward made a reservation for us somewhere, right?" She turns to me for confirmation.
I nod, so after taking a few pictures of the graduates, we say our goodbyes.
"Are you sure you didn't want to go with them?" I ask quietly once we start walking away.
"I'd rather it just be the two of us," she says with a shrug and a shy smile.
"Me too," I confirm, pulling her closer as we head toward my car.
It takes a little while to get out of the parking area, but then it's only a short drive home. We leave the car and walk to Tequilas, which is only a few blocks away. It's an upscale Mexican restaurant that I know Bella will love.
"What's that?" she asks as we walk, noticing the manilla envelope I pulled out of the car.
"Later," I tell her, squeezing her hip as we near the restaurant.
We're seated immediately in a small dining room, and I can see Bella taking in the atmosphere of the building. It looks more like a house than a restaurant, with the dining areas separated into smaller groupings, but the walls are a warm yellow with Mexican artwork hanging throughout.
Bella orders a margarita while I get a beer, and we decide on two meals to share. The food here is delicious, and I know I'll eat anything on the menu that she picks. We chat for a while about everyday things as we eat.
"So, have you made any plans for the summer before you start work?" I ask. I've actually been thinking about taking a vacation—something I've never really done before—and am hoping Bella might want to join me.
She scrunches up her face before answering. "I guess I need to start looking for an apartment soon."
"What? Why?" I can feel my heart racing at the prospect of her moving out.
"I don't know … I didn't think you'd want me to stay with you forever." Oh, if only she knew.
"Bella," I say, taking her hand from her lap. "I told you you can stay as long as you want. There's no rush." This is probably the best opening I'm going to get, so I decide to take it. "Um, I should probably give you your graduation gift now."
"Edward," she protests. "You've already given me so much. You shouldn't have gotten me anything."
I take a deep breath and let it out, picking up the envelope on the chair next to me. "This is something I wanted you to have." I hand her the envelope and then rub the back of my neck while I watch her open it.
Her brows furrow as she pulls the contents out and looks over the top paper, but it doesn't take long before she gasps and tears form in her eyes. She shakes her head back and forth several times while one hand covers her mouth.
"Yes, Bella," I say softly, pulling her hand away from her face. "It always should have been yours, and now it is."
"But how—I don't understand."
"I made arrangements to buy the house as a business deal when we were in Seattle," I explain. "My company owns several rental properties, so this wasn't out of the ordinary. The only difference was that I had planned all along to buy it from the company and give it back to you at some point. Um, it's rented out right now, but only on a month to month lease since I didn't know what you'd want to do with it. All the rental income going forward is yours though."
She's still shaking her head and now trying to hand me back the papers. "This is too much. I can't accept this."
"It's a gift, Bella." I place my hand over hers and gently push the papers back into her lap. "It's something I wanted to do for you."
When the tears flood her eyes and roll down her cheeks, I move my chair closer and wipe them away with my thumbs on either side of her face. "Please don't cry, sweetheart. You never should have had to give this up in the first place."
"I don't know how to accept something like this," she chokes out.
"Just say thank you." I move slightly closer, unable to resist her much longer.
She stares into my eyes and whispers, "Thank you."
With only inches between us, my eyes lock on her lips. It's been too long since the last time I kissed her, and even then I didn't know what this feeling was. I brush my mouth across hers lightly, a gentle kiss, but the warmth spreads from our point of contact throughout my entire body. She surprises me by angling her head and kissing me fully, her hand coming up to grasp my neck while her fingers rake through the back of my hair.
I let out a relieved breath and open my mouth to her, our tongues meeting, stroking, gliding against each other. The saltiness of her tears mix with the spiciness of our dinner and something that is inherently Bella, combining in the best possible way. Before we can get carried away, I kiss my way across her cheek and toward her ear.
"I love you," I say, just a whisper, unsure if she'd even hear me.
Her gasp tells me she does, and my heart races when she pulls away from me. Her eyes are wide and still teary, but a smile slowly forms on her lips. "I love you too," she murmurs before diving back in to kiss me again. A moment later it's her turn to move her mouth to my ear. "Take me home, Edward," she whispers.
Within minutes the bill is settled, papers are thrown haphazardly back into the envelope and we are running down Locust Street arm in arm. Every half block or so we can wait no longer, and I press Bella up against a car or the side of a building to kiss her breathless again.
As soon as we enter the house, I slam the door closed with my foot and push her up against it. My lips attack her jaw, her neck, her collarbone that peeks out of the V of her dress. My hands find purchase on her waist and work their way up the sides of her ribs while her breath washes over the side of my face in pants and gasps. I let my thumbs rub the underside of her breasts, and Bella lets out a groan.
"Please, Edward," she nearly whines, grabbing my wrists and moving my hands to her breasts. "I've waited so long for you."
My hands give a gentle squeeze as her words register. I pull back from my attack on her neck and look at her, dumbfounded. "You mean … all this time …" She nods. "Fuck, Bella."
I dive back in to my kissing and groping, holding nothing back. Bella's hands are everywhere—grasping my hair, fingernails digging into my shoulders, squeezing my waist—and then finally they are frantically pulling at my belt. I have the top of her dress and her bra cup pulled down and am sucking on a nipple when her hand makes contact with my cock. A hiss escapes my lips at the gloriousness of her soft fingers wrapped around me.
I abandon her breasts and put my hands on her thighs, lifting her off the floor as if she weighs nothing. "Where …" she breathes out.
"Bedroom." I spin and take a step toward the stairs.
She shakes her head. "Here. Now."
I groan and spin again, moving quickly to the couch in the living room. As soon as her ass hits the cushion, my hands are under her dress and grasping the sides of her underwear. The silky material of her dress pools at her waist, and I get my first glimpse of her beautiful pussy as I pull pink lace down her legs.
"Fuck," I mutter, shaking my head. "One of these days, I'm gonna feast right here." I toss her underwear away and cup her pussy.
She moans and drops her head to the back of the couch, her thighs trying to clench around my hips as I kneel between her parted legs.
"Protection?" I ask as I push my pants and boxers down my thighs.
She shakes her head. "On the pill."
I lean over and kiss her deeply, pulling her hips to the end of the couch and lifting her legs to wrap around my waist. My cock is like a divining rod finding its true north as it lines up perfectly with her wet center. I rub up and down a few times, coating it in her arousal.
"Stop teasing," she demands, and she reaches between us, grasping me and shifting her hips so the tip slides inside.
My head drops to her shoulder as I let out another groan at the feel of her tight, wet heat surrounding me. With one thrust, I'm buried inside of her.
Her nails claw at my back as I still and soak up the feeling. "Okay?"
She nods against my shoulder. "Perfect. It's just been a while."
"Me too," I admit.
With my hands on her hips I begin moving with long, deep strokes. Bella's feet dig into my ass and she uses the leverage to counter my thrusts perfectly. Her hands come between us and fumble with the buttons on my shirt until her fingers reach skin and explore it greedily. I wish we were both completely naked, but there'll be time for slow and sweet later.
I kiss and lick any available skin I can find as my hand drifts to where we're joined. I circle my thumb over her clit in time with our thrusts, intent on seeing her fall apart before I do.
"Oh God," she moans. "Harder."
The sound of our skin slapping together mixed with her breathy noises spurs me on. Our bodies move together like a perfectly choreographed symphony. She lets out a long moan as her walls begin to flutter.
I suck on her earlobe and then whisper, "Come for me, Bella."
With one last cry she bites my neck and falls apart, taking me over the edge with her. I pump erratically a few times as I lose myself in the bliss, holding her body tightly against mine.
We lay spent and panting for a few moments until I realize I'm probably crushing her with my weight. I pull her body up off the couch and sit back on my ankles, intent on keeping our connection as long as possible.
When we've caught our breath enough to speak, I pull back from our embrace and cup her face in my hands like the precious gem that she is. I kiss her lips sweetly. "Will you stay with me tonight?"
She smiles. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."