I'm so happy I'm getting this up just in time for Valentine's Day. I don't know about you, but I'm in need of some fluffacious lemon delights. These past few weeks have been rough and my favorite fics have all been in different stages of heartbreak lately. Writing this cheered me up (as did some wine, but shhh).
First of all, I apologize for any and all errors in this chapter. I was drinking wine while writing it (and this) and pretty tipsy by the end of it. When I went back over it quickly, I noticed that I was writing words like "breath" instead of "breast", etc. and just repeating words/adjectives in general. You know how it is. Maybe when you're finished reading this A/N and the chapter, you'll know what I mean.
Second of all, thank you to everyone who reviews me. I don't always get back to everyone because I literally don't understand technology, but I read every one and they cheer me up and inspire me more than anything. Some people have expressed some concerns about some more major dramz/jealousy issues/3rd parties affecting B & E's relationship. Don't worry! They've been through enough in that regard. There are a few chapters left, and though I don't think they're all going to be 100 percent chipper, nothing/no one is going to mess with their relationship. Right now, I'm writing another story that is majorly depressing in the beginning, so I can't even THINK about bringing any more sadness into this one.
Third of all, I highly suggest you all check out SpyKid18's (Elizabeth18, I believe, on Twilighted) stories. I have so many favorite fics out there, but lately her stuff has been cheering me up majorly. She has some stories on Twilighted that she doesn't have on here (one is a Rob Pat fic... I'll admit that those RL fics creep me out for the most part, but her story- Lack of Color- is just amazing).
3894894823x of all, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Let me know what you think!
I love you all! Happy Valentine's Day!
We pulled up to an elegant French restaurant that I had heard was delicious but pricey. I gave Edward a look but said nothing as he helped me out of the car.
The restaurant was crowded but quiet, like almost all fancy restaurants are. The maître d', who looked positively thrilled with his job, brought us over to our table in a dark corner of the room. I thought I saw the bored-looking man wink at Edward but when I turned my head to watch his retreat, he looked as animated as a hemorrhoid.
A waiter walked over and Edward ordered us a bottle of wine in smooth French. He then ordered us something to eat, but I only made out the word poulet throughout the whole spiel. I was relieved that we were getting chicken. One time the Cullens brought us out to a French restaurant and Edward's grandfather insisted we all order duck. It was a memorable evening to be sure.
The memory made me smile, which of course Edward noticed. "What's so amusing?" he asked with a smirk of his own.
"I was just thinking about the time your grandfather brought us all out to dinner."
Edward rolled his eyes. "Oh, yes. If I knew bringing you here would dredge up that unpleasant memory, I would have brought you to Casa Mia."
Our red wine was placed before us and I took a big sip with a shrug. "I didn't throw up for all that long. Just an hour or two until every last trace of duck was out of my system."
"No duck. Ever again," Edward promised with a melting smile. Heat tingled through my body but I disregarded it as a side effect of the wine.
"I probably shouldn't be drinking this," I said, changing the subject. "The last time I drank wasn't pretty."
"Oh, I don't know," Edward said casually, "I thought it was a pretty good evening." My face flushed when I realized his meaning. I definitely couldn't blame it on the wine this time, not with the way Edward's green eyes shimmered and twinkled in the romantic lighting or the way his voice sounded like pure sex. It would be an injustice. He chuckled a little at my expression, which he undoubtedly interpreted, and added, "Yes. Certainly a better memory than the duck."
I played with my napkin, suddenly uncomfortable. "I don't know. It was a mistake." His eyes darkened and my words replayed in my head. "No, not like that! Thank God we're together now. I just mean that… well, I was drunk. I hate thinking that our first time together was when we were drunk."
"Isabella," Edward said, no humor left in his voice at all, "if what happened between us was a mistake, then I plan on making more of them."
"You don't consider it a mistake?" I asked shyly.
He snorted at me and shook his head, his expression hard. "No, I don't. I consider it the best thing that ever happened to me. Thank God Mike dumped you and broke your heart. Thank God you got so drunk that you didn't know your left foot from your right that night, otherwise it would have taken us that much longer to get together." He picked up his wine glass and smiled at me over it, his face losing all traces of fierceness. "Bella, if what happened was a mistake, then I'm glad it happened. It was my favorite mistake out of all the ones I ever made, and you of all people know I've made plenty."
I was speechless as he took a generous gulp from his glass and continued to smolder at me. My body felt like one big puddle, and though his words taken at face value could be considered kind of awkward (after all, to outsiders some of them might seem a tad insensitive), they warmed me from my heart to my toes.
"You think we would have gotten together eventually if it hadn't have happened?" I asked softly, thinking over his words.
Edward put his wine glass down and stared at me. The waiter came over and placed our delectable looking dinners in front of us, but Edward's eyes never drifted from mine.
Once Philippe, or whatever his name was, went away, Edward leaned across the table and caressed my cheek.
"Without a doubt. If we hadn't gotten together yet, I would still be drifting around unhappy and incomplete. I would like to think that I'd be smart enough to realize that your presence was necessary. And once I got a taste of the ecstasy you would bring, I'd never let you go."
He picked up his fork and knife like he hadn't said the sexiest and most beautiful words to me ever. After gaping at him like a complete freak for a few minutes, I did the same. The chicken was literally the most delicious meal I'd ever had and I was glad that we ate in silence so the two of us could savor it. And so that I could play Edward's words over and over again in my head.
We were nearly finished when Edward cleared his throat. I looked up at him and he smiled seductively. "What?" I asked dumbly.
"I'm just thinking about how I'm going to prove my points to you."
"What do you mean?" I was confused.
He laughed softly to himself and leaned forward again conspiratorially. "All the points I made to you. All the promises. I'm going to make you so happy tonight, Bella, so happy. I can't wait to see you beneath me again."
I choked a little on my potato.
"Won't you like that, Bella? Or would you prefer to be on top?"
An elderly gentleman sitting not too far away from us turned his head at Edward's words. I blushed but couldn't deny the thrill running through me at the delicious indecency of it all.
Edward noticed the man's stare and grinned at him. "Good evening, sir," he purred.
The man just nodded in response but continued to stare at us. It was making me fidget, no matter how much I tried to ignore it.
"This is my girlfriend, Bella," Edward said, still looking at the man. I squinted my eyes at him, trying to convey that I wanted him to just stop and eat his dinner. He merely grinned wider at me and looked back at the man who was now watching us unabashed interest. Really, I couldn't get was so fascinating about us. Some people just liked to stare, especially when they heard special keywords in someone else's conversation, but they usually turned away when they realized they'd been noticed. Apparently this guy just didn't care.
"And guess what, sir?"
"What?" the old man asked, actually speaking.
"I'm going to make passionate love to her tonight."
I groaned and buried my face in my hands and wouldn't look up until Edward paid the check.
Edward drove us back to our apartment, replaying our interaction with the old man from the restaurant. After the fifth recitation, involving an exaggeration of my reaction, I begged him to stop. I could tell he was starting another round but luckily we pulled into his parking lot. The energy around us instantly changed and Edward appeared to no longer be interested in recounting the humiliating event.
Instead, he began to undress me with his eyes. Slowly, ever so slowly, his green eyes tenderly danced across my body, lingering on my face and breasts. I did my own evaluation, focusing much too long on his jaw. It sounds silly, but one of the sexiest things to me is a strong jaw. Edward's was the finest specimen I'd ever seen and literally made me hot whenever he clenched it or swallowed.
Tonight, for some reason, I couldn't be bothered with thinking myself as a pervert. The jaw was Edward's, and everything of Edward's deserved to be worshipped.
We sat in the silent car for what felt like hours as we delighted ourselves in studying one another's body. Finally Edward got out of the car and assisted me out of my side.
"I can't wait anymore," Edward whispered in my ear.
I tried not to shiver, really I did, because all of that stuff is so clichéd in my opinion. But damn it, I shivered anyway. You try not to shiver when Edward Cullen is referring to his impatience regarding having sex with you.
He held my hand as we walked up his steps. As he unlocked his door, his eyes were on fire with vows of what was to come.
I'm ashamed to admit I nearly came right there, right in the hallway with chipped paint and neglected newspapers from months ago. Without one single touch from Edward. Without so much as a dirty word.
Thankfully I made it inside, hot and bothered but not completely out of control.
Edward spun around and threw off his coat. He took measured steps over to where I stood frozen and smiled at me. I couldn't take my eyes off his lips as he unbuttoned my own coat and draped it over his arm.
He kissed my cheek and whispered, "Go wait for me in the bedroom."
Surprisingly, despite my nerves, I managed to walk briskly across the room. Just before I reached the hallway leading to his room, Edward called my name. I stopped but didn't turn, afraid that if I actually did meet his gaze again, I'd lose myself completely.
"I expect you to be naked under the covers by the time I get in there." His voice had a hint of playfulness but overall it was commanding. Authoritative.
I loved it.
I ran into his dark room and ripped off my clothes savagely, shaking with thoughts of what was about to happen. Edward and I hadn't had sex since we became a couple and I was leaving soon. I wanted tonight to be incredible, and considering who my significant other was, I didn't doubt it would be.
I had just slipped beneath the covers when Edward strolled in, still completely dressed. He smirked at me as he began to undress silently at the foot of the bed, his dark eyes locked on mine. My eyes, which usually never left his when he stared at me like that, watched his hands greedily as they quickly took off his dress shirt and slacks. Then he walked around, dressed only in his boxers, and climbed onto the bed next to me.
His hand reached out hesitantly, like if he moved too fast I'd run away. How silly. It stroked my covered thigh and I could just make out Edward's face in the darkness.
"You're sure?"
"Positive," I breathed.
"You want me?" Edward asked his question seriously but I could detect the lust hidden in his words. Did he want to talk dirty? Or did he really need validation?
I almost laughed at the thought but answered seriously. Devoutly.
"More than anything."
"Bella," he sighed as he tugged off his boxers and moved under the sheets beside me. "I want to be inside you."
My heart pounded and I just knew tonight was going to be special. The first time Edward and I had sex, I was too drunk to savor it. The second time it was tainted with insecurities and hurt.
This time, it was bounding with love.
There would be no mistakes here. Just love. Just me and Edward.
"I want you," I whispered.
Edward kissed my hair. "I love you." It didn't sound like a declaration, or an empty phrase, or anything like that at all. It just sounded like a promise.
"I love you, too."
We didn't speak again. Edward shifted so that he was on top of me and even through the darkness we managed to find each other's eyes. In one fluid motion, Edward was inside of me. The rest of world melted away into blackness while Edward and I were illuminated in whites and warm reds and golden greens.
With each thrust, Edward was deeper. With each breath, I felt Edward closer to my heart. With each moan, we were one.
It felt so good, as I knew it would, and I silently urged Edward to move faster with my hips. He understood and began to move quicker inside of me, still keeping most of his weight off of me. I wanted to feel him, though, feel him everywhere, so I pushed on his back with my hands to lower him down. Again, he understood me though no words were spoken. He let some of his weight down and I'd never felt so happy in my life. Tears slid from the corners of my eyes but I ignored them.
Edward was grunting and making noises of pleasure as I panted and heaved beneath him, lifting to meet him each time. It was all I'd ever wanted and yet it wasn't enough. I needed more. My lips blindly sought out his and, unsurprisingly, we found each other. Our kiss was hot but sweet and soon we were moaning wildly into one another's mouths.
One hand of his moved down to tease my already excited flesh while the other gently but firmly caressed my breast. It wouldn't be long now, I was sure of it. Edward's thrusts had taken on a desperate edge and his length hardened and trembled inside me.
The flames were chasing me and I knew I wouldn't be able to outrun them much longer.
After one powerful, purposeful thrust, my world erupted around me. Judging from the scream of ecstasy and the shudder of completion coming from Edward, I assume the same happened to him.
He came inside me, long and hard, as his body shook on top of me. My own legs shook around him from my unbelievable orgasm. The two of us held onto one another for a long time afterward, anchoring ourselves to the happiness and love.
And I just knew, just knew, that no matter what came, we'd never let go.
We said nothing to each other when Edward finally lifted off of me and pulled me to his chest. For once in my life, words were unnecessary.
For the first time I could remember, I had the most amazing conversation. And it had been completely silent.
There was just so much love. No words can express it. If I were to tell you, to really tell you, I would ruin it. It was the kind of love, the kind of connection, that can never be explained or rationalized with words.
We fell asleep soon after and when we awoke the next morning, our arms were still firmly clasped around one another. We truly were one.
Finally.