Sunlight streamed into my bedroom and I felt time warp as I took in my old possessions. My doll house still sat on its stand untouched by the years. My hand thrown pots still sat uneven and lopsided on my shelf. This room was the childhood I left behind.
Slowly the day before came back to me as surely as Edward's arm around my waist tightened. Stretching I looked at him. He was still wearing that ridiculous mask and I felt my mouth quirk into a grin. The thought of snapping a picture danced in my head, but the inevitability of it winding up on the internet stopped me. Instead I leaned forward and kissed his lips softly.
His lips melded to mine even in his sleep. I was hoping to keep it light, but the fact that we were still waging war had my blood pumping. I had never considered myself reliant on sex in the past, but perhaps the person who came up with the old adage about there never being too much of a good thing had never had sex with Edward Cullen. Actually I sincerely hope whoever came up with that saying had never had sex with Edward. All I did know was that I was hooked and I could not get enough of such an amazing thing.
Since we had been together there were only rare days when we did not drink each other in so this wager would truly test both of our control. When Edward's tongue traced my lips softly I knew he was no longer sleeping. I gripped his bottom lip in my teeth until his eyes opened lazily before I released it and licked the wound.
"Good morning." His voice was husky with pent up desire and sleep and I felt myself almost purr in response.
"Good morning. How does your face feel?" I shifted up in the bed as he carefully removed the mask. His nose was faintly yellow but his eyes were purple. It was not as bad as I was expecting, but it did not look pleasant.
"How does it look?" Edward tentatively touched his face wincing slightly.
"Purple but it isn't to swollen."
"It's a good thing I'm hard headed or I would never survive a relationship with you." His eyes drifted closed for a second but I could see him peeking at me from under his lashes. I rolled my eyes but smiled.
"And it's a good thing you aren't horny, because I would hate to have to shut you down." Smiling sweetly I slid from the bed. He chuckled and rose to.
"So what's in store today?" I watched his chest muscles ripple as he stretched his arms over his head. My fingers itched to scratch down his Pecs and over his tight abs but then my last threat would be null and void. Shaking my head I tried to remember the itinerary for the day.
"I know the rehearsal dinner is tonight, but other than that I'm not really sure." I had only glanced at the intricate list Renee had sent out after I RSVPed. Edward nodded as he opened his suitcase. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a nice sweater. I stared at my bag trying to decide what to wear. I was now the girl with the famous boyfriend and I did not want to over or under dress for whatever Renee had planned. Frowning I decided to eat breakfast in a pair of jeans like Edward after a quick shower.
French toast simmered in the pan as Phil flipped the crisping bacon. I was relieved to see that he was the one cooking, not Renee. I did not know if I was capable of eating her food anymore, my stomach had been desensitized by edible nourishment these last few years.
"Good morning you two, did you sleep well?" Phil grinned at us before flipping the eggy bread.
"Yeah. It's rather strange being in my old bed again." I shrugged and perched on a stool at the island or 'breakfast nook' as Renee insisted on calling it. "Do you need any help Phil?" My fingers twisted my damp hair into a messy bun before snaring it with a hair elastic.
"Will you set the table Bells?" Phil asked nicely as he flipped the bread once more. My feet carried me to the correct cabinet and my memory set the table. Napkin, fork, plate, knife, spoon. Some things never change. Renee entered as Phil flipped the bread onto the plates. "Perfect timing." He grinned at her. Her returning smile awed me.
Renee and Phil were so happy together. It made my heart ache to know that Charlie could not make her this happy, but it was a truth I had accepted long ago. Renee stretched on tippy toes to plant a kiss on Phil's waiting lips and I smiled at them.
"Good morning everyone!" She trilled once she finished greeting her husband. Edward stepped up behind me as his arms snaked around my waist. The heat of his chest made my heart tighten as I watched the happy couple. That could be us one day.
The thought froze me for a moment. Normally the thought of marriage would throw me into a fit, but to see Renee and Phil so happy made me yearn for that companionship despite the constraints. Everyone took their seats once breakfast was on the table.
"Did you two sleep well?" Renee inquired as Phil liberally applied maple syrup and butter to the heap of carbohydrates in front of him. Her eyes smiled so I could not tell if she was asking simply or implying a double entendre.
"As good as to be expected with this one jabbering away in her sleep," Edward replied as his skilled fingers cut his food precisely. It is a good thing his medical training was not going unused I mused to myself. I rolled my eyes at him.
"I slept fine and I think that's all that matters." Smiling sweetly I took a bite of bacon. The crunch was satisfying and made my point.
"Are you not even curious about what you said then?" He quirked a brow and sipped his coffee. Sighing I took the bait.
"Ok so what did I say?" I pinned Edward with my gaze.
"Apparently Muffles wanted to come to the tea party, but Reginald did not want him to attend." He kept his face free of emotion but I saw the laughter dancing in his eyes. "So who are Muffles and Reginald?"
"Muffles was my stuffed elephant. He was not good at sharing and was a bit of a glutton so he was rarely invited to the tea parties. Reginald was my pink bunny, and the Mayor of Swanville, in charge of the invite list. Tea parties were purely an A-list event." Phil chortled into his coffee as he stifled a laugh. He was not around then for the worst of my games. Thankfully I had grown out of it by the time he walked into their lives.
"So what about Nathaniel? Who was he?" My cheeks flooded with heat as I remembered him and Edward became more interested instantly from my reaction. More from surprise that I could forget someone who had once been the sun to my earth had me blushing.
"Um…" I stuffed food in my mouth trying to come up with a good lie. Phil was all out laughing now and Renee smiled at her own memory.
"Nathaniel was the little boy who lived next door. He was our Bella's first boyfriend." She smiled over her coffee cup at me. I swallowed the ball of toast in my mouth and took a long drink of my juice.
"Yeah, he, uh, moved away when we reached middle school."
"Now Bella, Edward deserves to hear the whole story." Phil chimed in with an Emmett-esque grin on his face. It is strange that I surround myself with people who love to embarrass me.
"What's the whole story?" If the blood had dissipated from my face at all it had returned full blast now as I remembered my crass move.
"Well I was too misguided by Disney movies to realize it wasn't true love until the damage was done. So I, um, handcuffed him to my arm in the second grade and shoved the tip of a pencil in the holes for the release so it couldn't be unlocked to prove we were meant to be." My fork dragged absently across my plate leaving trails in the syrup that would slowly close once the prong had passed by.
"So what happened?" Edward directed the question to Renee this time.
"They were cuffed together for 26 hours before anyone could find chain cutters and Bella had to wear the bracelet for a week beyond that before we could find a tool specialized enough to get between the metal and her skin without causing her harm."
"He didn't talk to me after that point. I was heartbroken at the time, but then I saw him picking his nose in the fifth grade and I moved on to better things."
"You're a stupid girl Bella! Why would you do that? I can't pee with you in here?!" Nate rattled and ranted as we stood in my kitchen. My eyes just watched his dimple flicker with life as his face moved. It was just too cute.
"Why can't you just pee? Boys do it in the woods all the time." I rolled my eyes at his attempt at evading me. He huffed and his cheeks flushed with frustration.
"But you're a GIRL with GIRLIE THINGS. I don't want to be chain to YOU." Instead of being sad or hurt I felt my anger spike. My chubby little fist connected with his adorable upturned nose before I knew what I was doing. His eyes filled with tears and I knew mine were shooting sparks.
"Here Nate, I know what we can do," Renee took his hand in hers and led him towards the bathroom wiping the snotty tears from his face.
"Do you still have that picture Mom?" I smiled slightly at the memory.
"I sure do, hold on a second." Renee bustled off to find the old photo from her intricate file system known as a pile.
"So if I don't share my graham crackers you'll handcuff us together?" Edward stated seriously as if he needed to worry about it in the future.
"Only if you catch my fancy, I was born for BDSM from a young age." I gesticulated dramatically and Phil laughed out loud again at my intended joke. Edward's eyes just took on a slight predatory look under his smile that had my stomach clenching with want. It reminded me of the last time we used handcuffs…
"Here we are!" Renee glided back into the room holding the photo. It depicted an intricate blanket system that created a small enclosed area around the toilet in our downstairs bathroom so Nate couldn't be seen as he did his business. I stood with my free hand on my hip waiting, my other arm stretched out through the crease in the blanket to allow Nate a small margin of space. Renee's laughing face was reflected in the mirror as she captured such a Kodak moment.
I was actually chuckling at the memory now that it was so far removed from my life. It was quite a humorous situation.
"Oh Bella, I thought I had done something horribly wrong. As if I taught you that the only way to keep a man was to cuff him to an inanimate object or yourself." Renee laughed openly now before everyone calmed down.
"So what's going on today?" I asked her.
"Did you not keep your itinerary Bella?" Renee tried to hold an angry face but it would not stick.
"I kept it. In its envelope, in my desk at home." Renee just rolled her eyes.
"Well since you aren't in the wedding party, you only really need to attend the rehearsal, dinner, and bachelorette party. Most of your day is free to do with as you please." There was a pang in my chest that I was not close enough to Sarah to warrant a place in her wedding but I was also grateful since I was not exactly happy for the couple. "Why don't you take Edward sightseeing?"
"Sure. I could do that." I smiled thinking about driving that beautiful car even if it was highly unlikely that Edward would let me drive.
"Ok, well you kids run along. I'll clean up after breakfast." Renee smiled cheerily again.
"So what time is the rehearsal?" She shook her head slightly 'tsking' under her breath.
"5:00 pm."
"Gotcha." I stood and Edward followed me back up the stairs. I knew exactly where I wanted to take Edward first.
"I still don't understand why I can't drive." I complained as he pulled away from the curb. There was a picnic basket tucked into the back seat along with a blanket for us to sit on when we got hungry so we didn't have to search for a cafe. I had changed out of my sweater into a ¾ sleeve deep v-neck shirt to allow my skin to breath. It was rare in Washington to get such a warm day so late in the year, but here it was warm almost year round. Edward had changed into a t-shirt as well displaying the wonderful muscles on his arms.
"Because." His eyes and bruises were hidden under his aviators but I knew he was laughing at me.
"Because why. You have no good reason. I'm the one that use to live around here and you don't even know where we are going." My lips pulled into a pout as he accelerated around a turn. This car screamed power and I desperately wanted to try it. His lips tilted into his sexy crooked grin and I felt my stomach clench once more. How he could have me quivering just with a smirk was beyond me.
"I have better hand-eye coordination and I would know where we were going if you would just tell me." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms under my breasts.
"Nice try hot shot."
"Ok, how about this? You tell me where we are going and I will let you drive back." Pursing my lips I tried to gauge whether or not he was being serious. There was no sign of dishonesty so I consented.
"Fine. We're going to the Desert Botanical Garden."
"They have gardens in the desert?"
"It's mostly really cool cactus and grasses. There are a few hot houses around that have more exotic plants but with such an arid atmosphere we can't grow too many diverse plant species with the lack of moisture."
"So I'm assuming you have been there before? You seem to have you facts straight."
"I haven't been since I was small but it was one of my favorite places to visit." I shrugged and sank back into my seat. We fell into an easy silence as Edward navigated us to our location. Without realizing it my eyes had slipped closed and my mind fell into a lucid dream. I thought about Edward's lips this morning and of the possibilities of what would have happened if we were not at my mother's house.
"Bella," his voice was husky as it pulled me from my deep thoughts. My eyes slid open and I stretched in my seat noticing about ten minutes had passed in a flash.
"Are we almost there then?" I asked assuming he woke me to tell me of our arrival.
"Not yet, but if we are to stay on the road you should stop making those noises." His knuckles strained white as he gripped the steering wheel and his jaw was set. Amusement flickered and I crossed my legs slowly.
"What kind of noises was I making?" My brow tilted in question as I stretched again seeing the cords in his neck tighten. This time I lifted my arms above my head to cause the fabric of my shirt to pull tight across my chest. Edward's nostrils flared and I knew he was watching me from the corner of his eye. I hid my smirk with my arm as I arched my back forward and my nails raked the ceiling.
"My name a few times and there was definite panting and whimpers," he replied still gripping the wheel tightly but attempting mockery.
"Hmmm, that's not ringing any bells." My fingers trailed down the sides of my torso on the decent back to my lap, but they didn't stop there. My right hand traced my stomach where the waist band of my jeans ended while the other slid back up into my hair. "Wow this Phoenix heat is really getting to me. I must have lost my immunity to it." Tugging slowly I pulled the edge of my shirt up and continued to run my fingers along my skin allowing Edward flashes of my stomach.
Edward's jaw was clenched so tightly I was waiting to hear the crack of his molars.
"Let me help you cool down then." His voice was deep and husky as his hand shot out to flip on the A/C a little higher. The new rush of cool air caressed the flesh of my stomach causing goose bumps to erupt along my skin.
"That's better." I grinned as my hand traveled up to cup my own breast. The new temperature had my nipples hard and asking for attention so the moan that slid past my lips was involuntary once my finger tips grazed the sensitive peaks. I arched my back again as I tweaked myself. "Oh I remember now, this is what my dream was about." My own voice was deep and husky now as I watched Edward watch me.
My left hand moved under my shirt as well to replace my right hand on my breasts as the right traveled farther south.
"The only difference was that it was your hands touching me, not mine. Don't you want to touch me Edward? I love the feel of your hands on me." I sighed as my hand slid under the fabric of my jeans. He was fully erect and straining against his pants as my cries coincided with the movements of my hands when I glanced at him through heavily lidded eyes.
He did not respond verbally. Instead he pulled off the road into our destination's parking lot before growling menacingly. My spine tingled as I felt his hot gaze through his sunglasses. His hands moved quickly unfastening his seatbelt before he unsnapped mine. Before I knew it he grabbed my hips pulling me into his lap rubbing his erection against my ass.
The steering wheel bit into my back as I rocked against him. He pulled my hand from my pants and slowly brought it to his face. My eyes widened as he took the moist digits between his lips. His tongue cleaned my skin as my hips moved against him a little harder. I shifted so I was straddling him and moved my lips to the junction of his shoulder and neck.
I bit the skin there as his mouth still pulled at my fingers and his other hand explored the skin of my back under my shirt. Tugging, my hand was released so it could curl into his hair pulling his lips to mine. We fought for dominance as we ravaged each other's mouths. The pent up energy from the last few days was driving my need up a wall and I needed a release.
Edward's hands slid into my jeans to cup my ass to grind my pelvis against his a little harder until we both got to rambunctious. His elbow hit the car horn drawing the attention of everyone in the parking lot to our seating arrangement. My head jerked back in time to see a line of elementary school children march by in a line as they continued their field trip while peering into our window at us. We even got a few waves.
Face flushed I shifted back into my own seat trying to get a hold in myself. Edward ran his hands through his hair trying to calm the disarray but to little avail. His breath still came in small bursts and I knew he was not as calm as he pretended since Little Eddie was still awake.
The small victory towards our tempting each other was bittersweet now that I still had no release. It was just as much a punishment to me as it was to him. Showing herculean strength Edward climbed from the car and came around to open my door. I smiled at him trying to dampen the need to taint this public place with screams of pleasure but I knew he saw through me.
He reached into the back seat removing the picnic basket. Originally he wanted to carry it but I just rolled my eyes.
"Edward, I think the blanket might help more with your, situation, than a basket full of food. We can switch later I promise." His cheeks flushed ever so slightly as I reminded him of his boner but he didn't argue as I handed him the blanket. He folded it over his arm like a waiter before offering me his other forearm. Some people might think he was being chivalrous, because he was, but it was also a safety procedure we were after all surrounded by a lot of rocks and tripping hazards.
Mothers clutching their children eyed Edward appreciatively and I just laughed.
"So, why do you like this place so much?" Edward asked once we began our stroll through the exhibits.
"I think it's because it's so unlikely. Who would think that such a beautiful place could flourish in such a dry barren place?" Edward smiled softly bringing my knuckled to his lips.
"Who indeed?" His lips sent a flash of heat to my face and I prayed people just thought I had a horrible sun burn.
We ate our lunch in the picnic area under the shade of a cactus, there was no grass, but the blanket protected us from rocks. I thought while I ate my chicken salad sandwich and Edward did the same. A wasp buzzed quietly a few yards from our position and I watched it sting a grub and drag the carcass towards a hole in the ground. Ants marched back and forth from the trashcan to their colonies as I watched.
"Do you have any other places you would like to go Bella?" Edward inquired as we packed up and headed back to the car hand in hand. It had been a relaxing visit since it was not too hectic and I just liked to spend time with Edward.
"What time is it?" Edward pulled his pocket watch that I gave him for his birthday from his pocket and flipped open the face. I smiled just seeing it.
"Just after one."
"I'm not sure what to do. There are a few things around, but mostly everything is just tourist stuff that no one else would ever do."
"So you wouldn't mind if I decided out next destination?" I shrugged.
"That should be fine. Where did you have in mind?"
"You'll see." Was all he would say.
We pulled into a small parking lot after a short drive but there was no indicating sign as to where we were. Edward climbed from the car and helped me from my side.
"Where are we?" He just smiled and ushered me towards the small hut sitting on the cracked pavement. To my surprise the inside was air conditioned allowing my pores to relax if only for a moment.
"Mister Cullen, it is nice to finally meet you in person!" A rotund Hispanic man reached across the faded Formica countertop to shake Edward's hand. "I am Paulo, we spoke on the phone."
"Is everything in order then?"
"Si. Come right this way." He waved us towards a slanted doorway that led to a tunnel under the parking lot. My brows furrowed at the creepy doorway.
"What's down there?" The path we were supposed to follow was dark and ominous. I could see myself tripping down those stairs.
"The way to your surprise. I promise I won't let you fall. Don't worry." Edward went down the stairs first so I could grip his shoulders for stability. The hallways lengthened once it flattened out. I ran my hand along the cool stone wall as we walked so I didn't lose my Barings. I could only see the faint shine of Edward's hair in front of me as we moved.
After what seemed like days the path sloped up again and a light could be seen under a door, a mechanical sound reverberated across the hard surfaces as we moved closer to the exit. Finally the door opened and shed the light into our eyes. It took me a minute to readjust to the sun but when I did my mouth dropped open.
"You didn't."
"I did." Edward led me towards the helicopter and we ducked to avoid the wind surging over our heads. The door slammed shut behind us and my eyes wouldn't stop moving. Edward chartered a helicopter for us.
"Hi, I'm Ted. I'm your guide for today. This is my copilot Ben. Just sit in your seats, buckle your safety belts and we will be on our way." The driver swiveled around to wink at me while his copilot flipped various switches. My seat belt stuck in place and I gripped the seat as we took off. I had a feeling being in a helicopter didn't 'even out' the same way a plane did since we were not going to fly about the turbulence.
"Are you going to be ok Bella?" Edward asked cupping my cheek with concern. I took a deep choking breath and tried to smile.
"Peachy." Ted pointed out the major skyscrapers as we swooped over the city oblivious to my green face. Edward barely glanced out the window trying to help me and the thought that he was missing what he paid so much money for force me to swallow the bile rising in my throat and forcibly turn my head to look out the window to my right.
Once we were flying over desert instead of cars and people my stomach calmed down a bit. My fingernails gripped the edge of the window and I stretched to see all the amazing rock formations. Edward smiled at me and I leaned over to rest my head on his shoulder.
"This is amazing Edward." He went to kiss my awaiting lips when Ted interrupted us.
"So is it your birthday or something pretty lady?" He gave me a wry smirk. Ben rolled his eyes so powerfully his head moved.
"No, just in town for my sister's wedding," I volunteered trying to be friendly to the guy holding my life and Edward's in his hands.
"Would you like to try driving a little?" Ted leaned back exposing all the knobs and gauges on the dashboard and I felt my previous sickness return.
"No, I think I will sit here, with my seat beat fastened and my tray table in the upright position." I smiled weakly.
"Suit yourself. We'll be there soon."
"Where?" My curiosity was still raging despite my discomfort.
"Be patient." Edward hushed shoot Ted a glance that plainly said 'Tell her and die'. Ted's perfect tan dulled a little under Edward's gaze but he didn't argue.
"So the Indians used to call this area…" He began his tour guide spiel again. Then, up ahead, the earth seemed to open up.
"Edward, what do you suppose that is?" I whispered in awe so Ted wouldn't hear me. Edward craned his neck trying to get a good look and smiled.
"That's the edge of the world." My face made him chuckle. I thought we would turn allowing me a better view of the ravine coming up, but I nearly screamed when Ted took the Helicopter into it. One second we were horizontal, the next we angled down causing my body to pull against the restraint. Instinctually my hand shot out and grabbed Edward's, for if I was to die now I wanted to know he was with me.
"Below is the Colorado river. It is rather low right now since it is the end of the summer months and the ice melt waters have completely subsided." I could pick out little ant sized people at the edge of the ravine and some were even venturing down the dangerous path to the bottom. The different colored sedimentation gleamed in the sun as Ted's prattle caught my interest.
"Would you like me to take your picture or something?" Ben spoke for the first time.
"I didn't bring my camera." I frowned thinking about all the memories I would not be able to describe to people of our trip.
"Here." Edward handed Ben his cell phone. Ben fumbled with the buttons a bit but figured out the mechanism quickly. I shifted towards Edward so the view of the ravine was visible behind us and we both smiled. There was a faint 'click' sound signaling the photo so I shifted back to my seat. Ben handed Edward his phone back.
"Do you think we could take a few pictures of this place with your camera? I forgot to bring mine."
"Absolutely." He handed me the slim device and I scrolled through his other pictures. The picture Ben had just taken stole my breath. I was beaming like a little kid in a candy store while Edward smiled at me, not the camera with a brilliant view behind us. There was such deep emotion in his expression I felt guilty for looking at him and it juxtaposed beautifully with the scenery.
I snapped a few more photos of the landscape and the beautiful water below. A timer signifying a low fuel cell went off and Ted proceeded to fly the helicopter back towards the landing pad.
"So I hope you guys enjoyed the Grand Canyon. Very few people get to see it from the air these days."
"I also hope you enjoyed your tour." Ben said after Ted but he actually sounded sincere. I had adjusted to the movements of the helicopter so I no longer felt motion sick. As a result a genuine smile broke across my face.
"That was fantastic thank you very much." The helicopter touched ground and Edward thanked our drivers as well before helping me out.
I grabbed Edward around the waist once we were outside the small hut and walking to the car. My face pressed against his back as my fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt. He smelled faintly spicy and like his cologne. He stopped moving and turned in my arms until my face was pressed to his chest instead. His arms came around me too. I felt his lips in my hair and the restrained heat from before simmered under the surface.
I kissed his chest and slowly mad my way to his mouth. Our lips met sweetly before I pulled away.
"Thank you Edward." He removed his sunglasses for the first time that day and his eyes sparkled.
"Anything for you." He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed them softly. I returned his smile before kissing him once more.
"We should probably go back and get ready for the rehearsal dinner." Edward rolled his eyes pinched the bridge of his nose without thinking. The move made him cringe.
"Back to the madhouse we go then. Your chariot a waits." He held the keys out, dangling from his finger. I beamed at him before snatching the keys to the Tesla and skipped to the car. This was going to be fun.