There was a daisy on the pillow next to my face when I woke up the next… morning? Afternoon? I moaned and reached for the clock. 1:25 PM. My head flopped back on the pillow and I arched my back slightly, feeling for kinks. It cracked audibly and I felt a rush of blood to my head. I hadn't slept this late since college, and that was usually after a night of outrageous binge drinking and questionable decisions. But I would prefer a night like last night to that option any day. Edward Cullen loves me, the thought made my toes curl in satisfaction and awe.
I stumbled into the bathroom to brush my teeth and saw myself for the first time. My hair was a rat's nest of knots, I had smudges under my eyes from not removing my make-up before falling asleep, but the biggest differences to my everyday appearance were the smile on my face that just wouldn't seem to go away and the identifiable bite mark on the nape of my neck. I couldn't suppress the girlish squeal before it came out of my mouth but I was too happy to be embarrassed. I scrubbed my face and teeth before attacking my hair with a brush. Showering helped get out any remaining knots and the hot water relaxed my aching muscles. Good sex always left you sore in the morning.
I floated back to my room and pulled on the first clothes my hands touched. My destroyed shorts were in tatters on the floor and I debated with myself about throwing them away. I decided to stuff them into a side pocket in my bag instead; this might be a memory to be cherished later on.
There was someone moving around downstairs and a delicious aroma wafted to me down the hall. My stomach growled and I was lured to the kitchen soon after. Renee was at the oven taking out a batch of blueberry muffins. They smelled wonderful but the fact that Renee made them cut back the urge to actually put one in my mouth.
"Oh there you are lazy bones. I was starting to think Edward murdered you and left the body for me to find," she smiled and I laughed at the strangeness of her comment.
"Right Mom, because that is the way to commit a murder; in my house, in my bed, in the room we are sharing, he would never be suspected." She turned slightly pink at my comment.
"About that Bells," she bit her lip just like I did when trying to think of how to word something I know the recipient wouldn't like. I didn't want her to continue because it was obviously going to be embarrassing but she was hell bent on finishing her thought. "Phil and I heard some, um," she coughed and averted her gaze before continuing, "things… last night. Perhaps you two could be a bit… quieter… next time?" She looked puzzled as if she should forbid me from having sex with my boyfriend ever again and slightly bothered that we were so loud to begin with.
"I'm sorry Mom; we won't wake you up again." I opened the fridge and the cool air calmed the blood in my face. Grabbing the orange juice and cream cheese I went in search of a bagel to toast.
"Aren't you going to have one of Phil's muffins?" she asked surprised holding the tin out for me to take one. Relief flooded me that she was not the baker, just the woman charged with removing them from the oven once the all knowing timer had gone off.
"Phil baked them right? You just took them out of the oven?"
"Yes, he doesn't let me bake/cook/ or touch anything in the kitchen anymore since I've nearly burnt it down and/or poisoned him on numerous occasions."
"Alright." I traded the cream cheese for margarine and pulled a hot muffin from the pan. It is surprising it took him this long to ban her from the kitchen since they had been married for quite a while now. The muffins were delicious and I smiled at my mother as she ate one too. "So where are the men folk?"
"They went golfing this morning and haven't gotten back yet. I was surprised Edward went without you actually. You would think he was scared of our family the way he sticks to you like white on rice." She laughed again. I gulped thinking of the advice I gave him before we ever entered the house Thursday night, 'Don't let them corner you'.
"Yeah, that's preposterous." My cell phone vibrated in my pocket and I gasped as usual in shock.
"Are you ok Bella? Do I need me to do the Heimlich? I took a class!" Renee propelled herself from her chair and had me around the middle before I could swallow the piece of muffin in my mouth. She jerked her clenched hands against my diaphragm hard enough to expel the food from my mouth. "There you are, I just saved your life," she strut back to her chair and pat me on the shoulder. "Do be more careful sweetheart." I just nodded and didn't tell her she wasted perfectly good muffin. Discreetly I flipped open my phone to see who sent me a message. It was from Alice.
Hey, I miss you! When are you coming home? I made Maurice a wardrobe that he wants to show off xoxo. I smiled picturing Maurice in a stylish tie accompanied by a fedora before responding.
We are flying home tomorrow night. I'm surprised he hasn't killed you in your sleep yet ily.
"So what do we have planned for today?" I asked snapping my phone closed. Tonight was the bachelorette party and I was not especially looking forward to it. With friends it was one thing, but without Edward I was going to flounder at small talk.
"Not much. I was just going to garden and do some errands. Would you like to join me?" If my options were join Renee or sit by myself in the house the answer was clear.
"Yeah I guess I can come. I need to find a present for Edward's sister anyway; she is babysitting my cat while we're away." I added 'and Charlie' in my head but I didn't want to upset Renee or ruin the light mood.
"Alright." We finished our muffins and collected our purses before getting into Renee's car.
I was surprised she hadn't commented on the events at the restaurant yet but her finger drumming on the steering wheel showed she was thinking about something. Self consciously I rubbed the spot on my nape where Edward marked me and was glad that the neck of my shirt hid it. That would be awkward to explain after she heard us last night.
"Is there something you want to ask me Mom?" I figured it was easier to get the ball rolling. Her brown eyes glanced at me before shooting back to the road in front of us knitting her brow.
"So," pregnant pause, "what was going on with all the cameras and yelling people last night?" These last few weeks of silence with Edward had lulled me into a false sense of security. I had not expected the paparazzi to pop out of nowhere and ruin the evening but Renee must have been even more unnerved. The first time the paparazzi harasses you seems to be the hardest.
"That was the paparazzi."
"Why were they chasing after Edward and you?" I rubbed the back of my neck trying to ward off the beginnings of a headache, commonly known as the paparazzi migraine from hell.
"Well, Edward is a celebrity in Seattle since he plays for the Seahawks, and he's one of America's hottest bachelors so they like to keep tabs on him I guess. Someone must have tipped them off to our location last night so they showed up looking for a story." I shrugged nonchalantly hoping Renee wouldn't notice how much the scene had bothered me.
"He isn't a bachelor if he's with you so why do they still dog him?"
"Well it's complicated," my hands fluttered around helplessly since there was no gesticulation in the world that could make this easier to explain. "He is such a 'hot commodity' they want to know all about me too since we are together. They want to know how a normal girl like me could bag two of the hottest men around with seemingly nothing special about me. That's why they are so adamant about asking us questions. No one knows anything about Edward and my relationship in the social networks yet so they want details. How we met, why he likes me, why we're together, and basically anything else they can get their claws into. That kind of information would have tabloids and ratings climbing the charts even if they are untrue. We've been hunkered down to avoid this kind of attention for a while now and it seems they haven't forgotten about us." Her fingers tapped the leather a few more times.
"Who was the other 'hot bachelor' you were seen with?" I sighed. I had honestly hoped she would not have noticed that part of my explanation.
"He was a Russian man by the name of Mikhail Strauss and not only is he a renowned ladies man but he is a vodka tycoon to boot. I met him at a restaurant one day and we went on a few dates. Nothing too special but the paparazzi caught us together on two different occasions." Oh yeah, and he was pretty attached when I cut him out of my life entirely and those occasions were rather steamy.
"Isabella, I would expect you to be more careful." It was a rare moment where Renee tried to be motherly but she could still pull it off with a tone like that.
"Literally Mom, it was blown out of proportion by the press trying to make the story seem like bigger gossip than it actually was." She just pursed her lips and we rode in silence for a minute or two.
"So how do we keep them out of your sister's wedding?" That had me stumped. With James playing into their greedy hands he added gasoline to the fire. If they thought there was going to be a fight between my sister and I over a guy who wasn't Edward they would be following close behind to catch the carnage on film.
"I'm not sure. We'll figure something out."
The rest of the afternoon was spent planning hypothetical situations of escape if the press got into the Wedding somehow. Eventually Renee and I were just laughing and trying to decide the best place for a helicopter pad and spare parachutes to fit under the tables at the reception. Once we made it back from returning a few dresses she hadn't liked to the department store and I found an adorable silk scarf for Alice we parted ways. She went out into the garden to weed and fret about her flowers while I went upstairs to read.
The pleasure of sitting and just reading a book quietly in the house was strangely surreal. I couldn't remember the last time I just sat and read for the pleasure of it. Usually I was rereading articles or doing some type of research on who is up and coming. Edward and I hadn't made an appearance at one of Aro's parties since his yacht so I really should have been working. Yet here in the relative quiet of this house I felt at ease. As if impending deadlines were not looming over my head.
I must have dozed off at some point because I woke to pressure on my lips. My lids slid open to see two beautiful emerald orbs smiling at me. My hands circled his neck of their own accord pulling him from his kneeling position next to me to practically on top of me.
"What a lovely way to wake up from a nap." I kissed him again slowly loving the feel of his lips on mine.
"A pleasure I was not expecting to give since you were sleeping when I left this morning." He grinned at me between kisses. His hands traveled to the hem of my shirt pulling it up over my head barely breaking our embrace. His eyes traveled over my body but stopped when he saw the mark he left on my nape. A worry line creased his forehead but he did not speak. Instead he leaned forward and kissed the purple flesh gently. "I was too rough with you." He started to pull away. My hands captured his shirt not allowing him to move farther.
"And what makes you think I didn't enjoy every moment of it?" Pulling his collar to the side I nibbled at his neck in the mirror place he had bitten me. "Would it make you feel better if I marked you as well?" I bit a little harder and laved the skin with the tip of my tongue but not enough to leave evidence. He didn't respond in words but I took the deep rumble in his chest as a 'yes'. I bit harder as his hand slid down my stomach and started to unbutton my shorts.
We were interrupted when we heard Phil's voice on the other side of my door.
"Hey you kids coming down for supper? It's quesadillas and I promise Renee did not help at all!" He laughed and knocked lightly as if he didn't want to open the door. Considering what they had heard last night I didn't blame him.
"Yeah we'll be right there Phil." I called out and Edward's head slumped to my shoulder and his fingers stopped trying to open my pants. I felt the hot breath of his sigh on my skin but didn't comment. Instead I pushed on his shoulders until he flipped over onto his back. Something occurred to me that might cheer Edward up. "You know, we never did finish our bet." I smirked coyly as I pulled my shirt back on. It was a bit wrinkly now from being in a ball on the floor but I wasn't worried about it.
"Are you sure about that Miss Swan? Because I distinctly remember some canoodling occurring in the wee hours this morning and last night if I recall correctly." His eyes were shut with his fingers laced atop his chest but I caught a flash of green as he peeked at me. I laughed and shook my head.
"Now Edward the rules were whoever asks for sex first correct? And last night there was no asking, it just happened." His teeth flashed but for he hopped up off the bed.
"If someone had asked, nonverbally of course, it was definitely you." He whispered in my ear as I led him down the stairs. I scoffed.
"Mr. Cullen that is complete and utter bullshit, I did no such thing. If I remember correctly it was you who literally tore my clothes from my body." He gave me a doubtful look but we had entered the dining room at this point so we stopped that train of conversation.
"Did you have a nice nap Bella?" Renee asked as she slipped the hot food onto her plate. There were steak and chicken quesadillas both with wild rice, corn, cheese, and peppers just the way I liked them.
"It was restful. I miss just sitting, reading a book, or taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. It was a very nice treat." I blew eagerly on the cheese dripping from the edges hoping it wouldn't scald my mouth. "How was golfing for you men? Dangerous? Daring?" I munched waiting for an answer.
"Well Edward here came in second to me; James and his father are absolutely terrible at the game so they were no competition. We had to give them a steep handicap just to make it sporting really. Mark opted to sit in the bar and drink instead of actually playing with us so I can't really comment on his golf skills. But I did promise not to Charlotte so you two should pretend I didn't say anything about it."
"Phillip, if you didn't want me to tell your sister that her husband spent all afternoon getting drunk instead of bonding then you would not have just told us at family dinner just that." Renee raised her eyebrows and sipped a glass of iced tea. Phil looked sheepish but she had caught him red handed.
"Just leave my name out of it when you tell her ok? Maybe Mark will think Edward ratted him out and maybe stop the hero worship." Phil shot Edward a grin.
"Oh, and lose my biggest fan? Fat chance there Phil, if Mark asks me I couldn't possibly lie, I'm telling on you like the fifth grader that I am. The fat lady has sung."
"Just so long as it isn't Bella." Phil winked at me and I nearly choked on my beverage. Renee glanced at me scrutinizing me. I knew he was talking about my horrible singing skills but I did not appreciate being likely to an obese lady.
"Bella, didn't we learn once today that we need to chew our food completely? I won't always be here to give you the Heimlich if you keep choking. Slow down." It was Edward's turn to nearly spit out his tea and I had to hide my snicker.
"Yes Mom, I know. I would have died long ago without you but I believe Phil just called me fat." I sent him a withering glance and he pretended to shrink back in fear of my wrath. She rolled her eyes at my sarcasm but didn't comment.
"So what are you wearing to the bachelorette party Bella?" She asked smiling again as the meal wound down. I sighed having forgotten completely that I was expected to go out with Sarah and her barely twenty-one year old friends for a night on the town. Plans of dragging Edward back upstairs and making him beg me to take him shriveled and were replaced with screaming drunken girls and terrible karaoke. I shuddered at the thought.
"I hadn't really thought about it actually."
"So Edward what are you going to wear to James' Bachelor party?" Phil propped his face in his hand doing his Renee impersonation. She proceeded to slap his shoulder but he just batted his lashes at her in response. I laughed at the spectacle.
"Well Phil, does it honestly matter? The guy barely knows me and I was quite surprised to be invited in the first place. I thought I would be having a nice quiet evening here with Bella." Renee and Phil shared a look that had my face flaming that Edward just ignored. "But if Bella is deserting me I guess I should go and help celebrate James' last night of bachelorhood."
Edward and I washed the dishes since Phil made dinner. It ended up that I washed and Edward dried. We were surprisingly efficient considering our 'accidental' touching fight. As he dried I immediately needed something out of the drawer adjacent to his crotch and he would need something between my legs as I scrubbed the sauté pan. The thought of going to separate parties sounded good and bad to me by the time we made it upstairs to get ready.
I wanted to take Edward now, but first he had to beg for it. I dressed more for his benefit than any desire to look good tonight. I wore a light blue spring dress (because fall in Phoenix is the equivalent of spring anywhere else, except perhaps the Arctic) that stopped mid-thigh. It had a fold collar and a princess bust but wasn't outrageously revealing. He didn't stop watching me as I pulled it over a matching light blue panty set.
He pulled on a coal gray polo and faded jeans and looked like a male model. Those jeans were soft from age and hugged his ass causing saliva to pool in my mouth. My eye twitched thinking about all the girls who would be throwing themselves at him this evening. He had a mirroring grimace, presumably thinking about the men who would flirt with me. I walked a hand up his arm, over his glorious bicep and rested it were I left my mark on his delta muscle. The neck of my dress covered mine just like the collar of his did the same.
I rose on my toes to give him a searing kiss.
"I love you and you better not let any skanks touch this," I grabbed his ass with both my hands and squeezed. "It is mine after all and I don't share well." I occurred to be that this was the first major social outing we were making apart from each other. Hopefully this possessive urge died down a bit. He smirked and cupped my ass with his palms as well. It made my calves quiver with anticipation.
"And I love you so you better keep your pepper spray in your hand because I will rip the arms off anyone who touches this, since it is mine. I don't share. Period." I grinned as a shiver ran up my spine and kissed him one final time. His eyes sparkled as we walked hand and hand down the stairs to our various destinations.
A/N I know it's a bit fluffy but I didn't have time to go into th parties as well. Next time. Off to Maine for the weekend won't be back until next week sometime.