A/N: Well, here we are again my lovelies! Back with another chapter.
I wanted to start out by introducing and publicly thanking my new Beta, DT! She is the person that will be keeping my shit in line, and making it all super sparkly, so … thanks!
There are 2 songs in this chapter… the one that Edward performs is called Bella Luna and it is by Jason Mraz, and the other that Bella performs is called Killing Me Softly… which I based this performance off of one I heard Colbie Calliet do, where she played the song on the piano while singing, it was refreshingly different from the version the Fugees did…. You should check it out to get the right idea before reading that part of the chapter.
Things I own: Shutter /island on DVD (this movie is fucking awesome, and if you haven't seen it you should), and be bag full of crisps (poato chips) in some very Crazy flavors, like Australian BBQ kangaroo (My son liked them. Me, I'm too scared to give them a shot. No I'm not a pussy, it just seems wrong, kangaroos are cute!), that I pictured up at my fave UK Gourmet shop.
Things I don't: All things Twilight and any of the song lyrics I use in this story. I wish I did, but I guess I'm just not that cool.
Chapter 8
EPOV
I walked up to the door of the club, stopped to crush the smoking filter of my cigarette under my shoe, and looked into the large front window of the bar, waiting for everyone else to arrive. Alice had just sent me a text saying that they were running a bit late. Perfect, that would give me a few minutes to go in and check up on my surprise for Bella before they got here.
She had really enjoyed it this afternoon when I played for her and seemed genuinely shocked to find that I composed a ballad just for her. I was nervous to think of her reaction when she found that I hadn't composed just one piece for her, but that I had a composition book full of music, inspired entirely by her. And that was simply from the last week. I had scores of older books that I could tie to my little obsession with her voice. But I didn't want to show her my creepy stalker side just yet.
I sincerely hoped that she would find my extra effort tonight sweet and encouraging, as it was intended. I had to call in a favor to get Carmen to bring down the piano from the upstairs apartment for tonight. Thank goodness for her two strapping sons, and their appreciation of my superior bed side manner and sewing skills when they came into the hospital last summer after Carmen had cut herself in the kitchen of this place. I had been stopping by ever since. At first it was to check up on Carmen, but then I kept coming around when I realized just how under appreciated her little bar was, if you could even call it a bar.
Havana had been around for decades. It had started out as a salsa club when Carmen's husband was still alive, and when he passed, Carmen decided to renovate the old place and turn it into what was now a very chill social club. Friday nights were the best for local musicians, and lately it had turned into a great spot to try out new material for some of Seattle's best up and coming musicians. Carmen had been after me to play at her place for months after she found out I played piano, and once I indulged her, it was a non stop campaign to get me to Havana on a regular basis to play for her and her clientele.
When I told her about Bella and how talented she was, Carmen enthusiastically told me that I should bring Bella to her place to sing. I know that Bella was expecting some campus dive bar with a microphone and a stool, but she deserved more than that for her first time out, and Carmen would take care of her.
I entered to find Diego at the bar, charming a group of women that Alice would affectionately call "Cougars". They ate up his young Latin charm and dark good looks, fawning and preening while he served them fruity, overpriced drinks. He winked and nodded in my direction causing one of the women, a red head in a too tight green dress, who looked to be in her late forties and fresh off her latest chemical peel, to look at me. I winced at the wide eyes, the "i'mma gonna getcha" look she shot my way, and continued to the back area where Carmen's other son, Felix, was arranging a drum set behind the piano.
Both of Carmen's sons played an instrument, Felix played drums and percussion, while Diego was all about the electric guitar and slapping a little bass. We jammed whenever I was in the neighborhood, which definitely wasn't as much as I would have liked.
"Hey Felix, what's going on?"
"Eduardo, my friend! Que Paso? Where is your chica?"
"She's meeting me here with my sister and some friends, they should be along shortly. Is everything ready to roll?"
"You know Felix takes care of you, my man, always. Your girl, she is already down with your familia, eh?"
"Actually Felix, she has been friends with my sister since we were kids. That's actually how we met."
"Ah, poaching your sisters school friends. Man, you need to get out more. Your girl, is she pretty?"
"Beautiful. Bella is one of a kind, just wait until she sings, you won't know what hit you."
"Holy Maria … would you look at those legs…"
I turned to see what had captured Felix's attention to find Emmett standing just inside the door of the club, assisting Rosalie with her jacket. Rosalie was wearing what had to be the shortest black dress in history. Add to that the 5 inch heels and she easily drew the attention of every man, and even a few of the women, in the bar. She was a beautiful woman by anyone's standards, but she wasn't really my cup of tea.
She wasn't Bella.
Emmett and Rosalie made their way over to where I was standing, both drawing the eyes of patrons as they passed by tables. It was kind of funny watching the look of possession on Emmett's face as men gawked at Rosalie as they walked by.
"Hey Bro! Where are the girls?"
"Hey Emmett, Alice is driving with Jasper and Bella, they should be here soon."
Rosalie looked around, with a smirk on her face. Her gaze finally landing on the band stand set up behind me, "So, has Bella made that much progress in one session, that she's going for the piano tonight?" Rose asked, nodding toward the big instrument behind me.
"No, I'll be playing for her tonight, although she doesn't know it yet. It is my surprise for her."
"Surprise? She has heard you play before, Bro." Emmett replied, puzzled.
"Em, I'm gonna go grab us some drinks. Be right back baby." Rosalie said, walking away. The sway in her hips momentarily captured Emmett's attention.
"Earth to Emmett," I waved my hand in front of his face, "man, you are in deep, aren't you?"
"Edward man, she is freaking amazing! Everything she does is just...perfect. I'm gonna marry that girl, I'm telling you."
"Well, good for you man. She is a beautiful woman. You could do worse" I replied with a quick wink.
"Dude, so what happened with you and Bella today?" Emmett leaned in to whisper conspiratorially.
He suddenly lurched to the side, as if pushed out of the way. I looked down and met a set of devilishly laughing eyes.
"That is exactly what I would like to know!"
Alice. Shit.
"I have no idea of what you speak, sister dear." I state innocently.
"So I'm guessing it was someone else that sent Bella home this afternoon with the best case of sex hair I have seen on her in years. I couldn't wipe the grin off of her face. But I'm sure you wouldn't know anything about that, right?" She said, chuckling at her own joke. "But seriously, Edward, didn't you listen to a word I said last week? I told you not to fuck with her. She's not one of your whores that you can fuck and chuck! This is Bella, you know, the person that has been my best friend and a part of our family since we were kids? She isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so if you fuck it up, you better fix it … no … you know what? You just better not fuck it up! If you do … I will fuck you up … 4 foot 11 or not … I'm not playing, I will FUCK. YOUR. SHIT. UP!" She reached out and patted my cheek softly, with a sweet, innocent smile on her face. "Mm'k Brother dear?"
"Damn it Alice, you are fucking scary. Slow your role! I'm not going to screw this up. I really like her. She's just-" I ran my hand through my hair, "it's like she's … I don't know … Everything. I even planned something nice for her tonight, to help her feel more at ease."
"Ooh, a surprise? Tell me! Tell me!" Alice's mood went from fierce to insanely excited in 0.2 seconds. It was more than a little frightening.
"No chance in hell, you can't keep a secret. Where is she anyway?"
"I resent that Edward, I can too keep a secret! And Bella is at the bar with Jasper, probably loading up on liquid courage. Not that she needs it. I heard her singing in the shower and she sounds amazing! I never would have chosen that song for her, but it's perfect!"
"Which song did she decide on?"
"Duh, she's doing Killing Me Softly, like you didn't know."
"Alice, we didn't pick that song together. I didn't even know that she knew that song. Huh."
I was kind of confused. I thought we had decided she would do the Sara B. song she played for me on the guitar on Tuesday or a cute folksy Jewel tune that she liked playing around with. I thought we had decided on something easy and second nature to her for her first go, so to hear that she wanted to tackle something bigger was a surprise, but a pleasant one.
I turned toward the bar to find her and Jasper leaning against it, chatting with Diego, Bella with her head thrown back, laughing at something Diego was saying. She was a vision, dressed in a black denim mini skirt, a softly draped black satin camisole that looked like it should have been worn under as shirt as opposed to as one, and a killer pair of sliver studded black heels that made me want to lift her onto the bar and wrap her impossibly long legs around my waist as I fucked the shit out of her, only to feel those sexy ass shoes digging into my back as I took her. God, I wonder if she had any idea what she did to me, walking around like that.
I watched her talking easily with the guys at the bar, amazed that she didn't see the attention she was garnering from the other men in the vicinity. She was turned towards Jasper now, smiling broadly, a hand placed on his chest. Just the sight of her touching another man filled me with loathing. I actually liked Jasper, but the sight of Bella standing there, with her hand on his chest, made me want to stalk over to them, pull my arm back, and plow my balled up fist into his face as hard as I could. The feeling was strong, unjustified, and scared the shit out of me. I couldn't understand how I could be feeling such strong emotions for someone that I had really only been spending time with for a week. Regardless of how long our families had known each other, it still felt too fast.
Bella looked up as if she felt my gaze, hot upon her, and smiled at me. Her lips, coated in cherry red, turned up gently, her chocolate brown eyes shining. She tilted her head slightly, said something to Jasper, who nodded, before pushing away from the bar and making her way slowly towards me. She teetered once, on her spiked heels, steadied herself, and continued on, her hips swaying as she walked.
"Bella, You look-" I said, shaking my head. She was so beautiful, there were no words.
"Thanks Edward. Alice and her demanding ways, I swear these shoes are going to be the death of me." She lowered her head, while turning one of her heel clad feet this way and that, examining her shoe. "I may have to burn them, once the night is over, if they don't kill me first!"
"No!" I almost yelled, "I mean, I like them, they, um, look good on you."
Bella blushed, took a sip of her drink, and smiled at me tentatively.
"So my sister tells me that you decided on a new song."
"Um, yeah. I was just driving home this afternoon and it popped into my head. I couldn't stop singing it or humming it." She shrugged "I just figured it was fate. I was meant to sing it tonight." She nodded toward the piano behind me, "The fact that there's a piano here just solidifies it. I was planning on playing the guitar, but the piano will sound so much better. I just hope that I can do it justice."
"Bella, anything you choose to do tonight, I am sure, will be nothing sort of amazing."
We walked to the table where our friends had gathered together. Alice was perched on the lap of a very happy looking Jasper, and Emmett and Rosalie were whispering to each other, their heads close together. It was funny, standing there looking at them all. Our group fit together so well, all paired off, that it was as if you could call Bella and I an actual pair. I looked to her, only to find her looking at the group in much the same way as I; fondly, and with a bit of awe.
"What a difference a week makes." She said quietly.
"Yes, what a difference."
We sat down, Bella setting her drink in front of her.
"What are you drinking?" I asked, curious about the kind of liquid courage Bella was imbibing in.
She leaned in conspiratorially, "Sprite with lime."
I looked down into her eyes, brow raised inquisitively.
"If I have them serve it to me like this, it looks like a drink and I can save myself from the peer pressure." She answered, winking slyly.
I chuckled at her ingeniousness.
"I think they're going to start soon." I said, trying to speak over the noise of the now packed bar.
Felix walked up to the microphone, looking out at the people who had gathered, before moving to flick a small switch on the mic stand and clearing his throat.
"Good evening my friends, and welcome to Havana. As I look out at you all tonight, I see a lot of familiar faces, and to those faces, I say, welcome back mis amigos," Felix began, "I also see many new faces here. To everyone here for the first time tonight I say, welcome, we are glad you came to us this evening, for we have a special treat for you."
Felix looked out at me, winked, then continued.
"Our familiar faces know that our Friday night tradition is to showcase local musicians and singers, very talented people, to come and share with us their gift, and mi hermano, Diego and I will sometimes join them in the fun. Nothing like keeping it in the family, eh?"
The crowd laughed politely with him.
"Tonight is no different. We have a wonderful lineup for you this evening. We have a few bands that have been favorites here for a few years, a very talented young songstress, and something very special for you tonight. A very good friend to my family is here and will be joining me up here in just a moment to play something for you all. I must say, my friends, that I have been begging this person to come and play for you all for a very long time, and while he has joined us a few times to play a bit of guitar, tonight he will be favoring us with something truly blessed, he will be performing tonight on piano and vocals. Please join me in welcoming once again to the Havana stage, Edward Cullen, performing Bella Luna."
The crowd applauded politely. I turned to face Bella, who sat next to me, a look of shock on her face. A quick glance around the table showed Jasper, Alice and Rosalie mirroring her reaction, while Emmett sat looking at me with a rather large goofy grin on his face.
"Edward?" Bella reached her hand out to touch my sleeve, looking at me inquisitively.
I simply smiled, squeezed her hand lightly, and stood, pushing my char back into place before heading to the stage area. My heart was pounding in my chest, not nervous about the performance itself, but from Bella's reaction to it.
Felix had placed the mic in a small holder attached to the piano. I sat at the bench, adjusted it to my comfort, and looked up to see that Diego and Felix had joined me on the stage, the former picked up the electric guitar that had been sitting in a stand to the left of the piano, while the latter made his way to the bongo drums set up to my right. I nodded to them both, before taking a deep breath and speaking.
"This song is for someone who has inspired me for as long as I have known her. Bella, this is for you."
I took another breath before setting my hands to the keys, and began to sing.
Mystery the moon
A hole in the sky
A supernatural nightlight
So full but often right
A pair of eyes a closing one
A chosen child in golden sun
A marble dog that chases cars
To farthest reaches of the beach and far beyond into the swimming sea of stars
The cosmic fish they love to kiss
They're giving birth to constellations
No riffs and oh no reservation
If they should fall you get a wish or dedication
May I suggest you get the best
For nothing less than you and I
Let's take a chance as this romance is rising over before we lose the lighting
Oh bella bella please
Bella you beautiful luna
Oh bella do what you do
Do do do do do
I glanced briefly out at the table where Bella and our group sat, to find Bella looking up at the stage and me, with something that looked suspiciously like awe, written on her face. Her enraptured demeanor sent a burst of confidence and positive energy through me.
You are an illuminating anchor
Of leagues to infinite number
Of crashing waves and breaking thunder
Tiding the ebb and flows of hunger
You're dancing naked there for me
You expose all memory
You make the most of boundary
You're the ghost of royalty imposing love
You are the queen and king combining everything
Intertwining like a ring around the finger, of a girl
I'm just a singer, you're the world
All I can bring ya
Is the language of a lover
Bella luna, my beautiful beautiful moon
How you swoon me like no other
May I suggest you get the best
Of your wish may I insist
That no contest for little you or smaller I
A larger chance yet, but all them may lie
On the rise, on the brink of our lives
Bella please
Bella you beautiful luna
Oh bella do what you do
Bella luna
My beautiful beautiful moon
How you swoon me like no other, oh oh oh
I ended my song and stood, letting the applause from the audience wash over me. It felt good to perform, I could see how people became addicted to this. As I made my way off the stage, toward Bella and our table, Felix took the stage again, thanking me and inviting the next group of musicians to the stage. I reached the table, sat without comment, and looked to Bella. I needed to know what was going on in that gorgeous head of hers.
"Edward, that was awesome! " Alice yelled shrilly, while clapping excitedly.
"Yeah Bro, it's been a while since you sang in front of people, I was afraid that you had lost it. You realize that once mom hears about this, it'll be all over for you. You won't have a prayer of declining to sing at her Christmas party this year." Emmett said with a laugh.
Everyone at the table took turns complimenting my performance. Everyone, that is, but Bella.
I looked at her again, with the intention of asking her what she thought, only to find her staring into my eyes. I went to open my mouth to speak, and she put her hand up to stop me from talking, placing one finger to my lips.
I wasn't sure what she was up to, but before I was able to ask, she leaned forward, replacing the finger she held to my lips with her soft mouth. Bella was kissing me, in front of my family and our friends, and it was like nothing I had ever felt before.
Her lips moved on mine, her tongue in my mouth stroking reverently, lovingly. Her hands, which had been framing my face lifted to sift through my hair. I did the only thing I could have done in this situation, I kissed her back.
I kissed Bella with everything I had. My heart, my body, it was all hers. I moved my hands to her waist, stroking the satiny smoothness of her top, my fingers edging the bottom of the fabric, reaching her soft, silky skin.
I don't know how long we sat there, leaning into each other, kissing, but I knew that too soon she leaned back slightly, our foreheads resting against each other, catching our breath as she whispered to me softly, "Thank you Edward. Thank you so much." She pressed her lips to mine once more, quickly, before leaning back in her seat.
I reached my hand up to stroke her cheek.
Just then I noticed a hand on my shoulder. Emmett.
"Bro, they just called Bella to the stage. Dude, she has to go up there."
Bella looked at me once more before standing up and moving toward the stage, glancing back at me, giving me a hesitant smile.
She took the same seat that I had taken, moments before, on the piano bench, and with no introduction and a brief smile at the group of people at our table, began her intro.
Alice reached across the table and patted my hand.
"Edward, I'm sorry I doubted you. I didn't know."
She didn't know? Didn't know what?
Bella began to sing and Alice's cryptic statement, and behavior, were forgotten.
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life, with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him and listen for a while
And there he was this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life, with his words
Killing me softly with his song
I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters and read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life, with his words
Killing me softly with his song
He sang as if he knew me
In all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me as if I wasn't there
And he just kept on singing
Singing clear and strong
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life, with his words
Killing me softly with his song
The crowd went wild for Bella. Her song was flawless, her voice, pure magic. I sat, speechless as always, basking in the enormity of her talent and her genuine love of music. Everyone watching her tonight could see that she was special, that her talent was one that couldn't be faked, and it couldn't be taught. She was, quite simply, amazing.
As she rejoined our group, I stood and kissed her soundly, yet chastely, on the lips; after all, I didn't need to invite anymore weirdness from Alice. I motioned for her to sit but she hesitated for a moment.
"Edward, is there anywhere private here? I think I need a minute," the look on her face intense, but indecipherable.
"Sure, I'm sure we could use Carmen's office, she went home for the night."
We excused ourselves from the group and I guided her to the hallway that led to the offices. As we reached the door to Carmen's office, I opened the door, flipped on the light switch and stepped aside, allowing Bella to enter. I shut the door behind her, locked it and turned to ask her if she was okay, only to be violently pushed against the door, Bella's lips attacking mine.
Momentarily stunned, I stood stock still as she grabbed at my hair and pushed her tongue into my mouth. I wasn't exactly sure what had gotten into my Bella, but I wasn't going to question it right now. I wanted her so badly and she was here with me, kissing me passionately.
I lowered my hands, smoothing them down her back to her ass, grabbing it through her short denim skirt and squeezing, before turning her so that her back was now against the wall. I lifted her, until her feet left the ground and her legs wrapped around my waist. My fingers worked their way under her short skirt and found soft, bare skin. She wasn't wearing anything under her skirt.
"Oh god, Bella. You have no idea what you do to me."
Her heels were digging into my lower back and she moved against my hard cock. It was rock solid and straining against my zipper, almost uncomfortably, given my choice to go commando under my jeans tonight. My lips lowered to her exposed collarbone, licking and sucking at it, my restraint gone. I wanted to get inside of her, and soon. My hands tightened on her hips and I ground her against my rigid length, groaning.
I could feel her wetness through my jeans, soaking into the heavy fabric, and smell her hot arousal; she smelled divine. She moaned as my hands on her hips grasped and moved her tight against me. I pressed her harder against the wall as one of my hands reached between us to stroke her wet slit, making her gasp loudly.
She was so ready for me and I couldn't wait any longer to be in her, pleasuring her.
I moved my hand from her damp core to unbuckle my belt, release the button on my jeans and lower my zipper, releasing my rampant hard on.
Bella made a loud keening sound, cooing as I grabbed my stone hard length and rubbed it up and down against her sopping wet opening and clit, teasing her before I aligned our bodies and sunk myself deep inside her in one thrust, groaning as I hit previously unreached depths. She was so tight and so wet, I slid home inside her tight body, ready to come deep inside her already.
"God, Edward, YES!" she cried.
I began to move frantically, plunging inside her with no finesse, seeking my release fervently. I couldn't be suave, I couldn't be gentle. I reached between our slick bodies, to the small bundle of nerves that I knew would bring her intense pleasure, and rubbed it softly, spreading some of her slick juices around, making her squirm and buck against me.
"Yeah baby, I'm gonna make you come so hard for me. Ugh, yeah Bella, I love fucking you."
I picked up the pace of my thrusting as she gasped and moaned her pleasure, telling me she was going to come.
"Yes baby, come for me. Come all over my rock hard cock. I want to feel you milk my cock. Do it baby."
And she did. She came hard, screaming and writhing against me, but still, I didn't stop. I pressed my mouth to hers, trying to muffle the sound of her screams as we continued to move. I wanted to make her come for me again. I craved it.
I continued to thrust hard into her. Her heels dug painfully into my back, but I didn't care. The pain, the pleasure of it all, mixed until I couldn't tell where one ended and the other began. I was out of my mind and loving it. Bella was so wet and so tight, I just wanted to keep fucking her, but I knew that I wasn't going to last much longer.
I backed away fro the wall, carrying her to the desk in the center of the room, laying her down on the top of it before raising her legs to rest against my shoulders. I plunged into her this way, finding a new angle of penetration, and it was so good. Bella began to moan and writhe below me all over again, sticking her index finger into her mouth and sucking on it gently, before moving the moist digit to her already swollen nub, rubbing it roughly.
"Please Edward, harder … faster, baby, please."
"Oh yeah Bella, I love fucking you. Your tight pussy feels so good. You wanna come for me again?"
"Yeah baby, fuck me! Fuck my pussy harder."
I fucking loved the dirty, filthy words coming out of her mouth. I was going to come soon, I could feel it. Bella was going to be the death of me.
Bella's breath quickened. She was panting now and that sound, mixed with the sound of our skin slapping together noisily, was the sexiest sound I had ever heard. I looked down to watch my cock sliding in and out of her, and to watch her pleasure herself as I fucked her, her finger moving quickly over her slick, pink, swollen flesh.
I was so close, but I wanted to feel her come again before I succumbed, and I could see it was going to happen soon. I reached down, brushing her hand aside, replacing her fingers with mine. I could feel her pussy tighten around me and I thrust harder, knowing that she enjoyed it by listening to the sounds she made as I moved in her.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes," I chanted, punctuating each word with a hard thrust into her wet, willing body.
I felt my balls tighten, I moved my fingers and pinched her clit gently, silently begging her to come with me. Bella found her release, her mouth open, head thrown back, bucking and gasping as I was blinded by the strength and brightness of my own orgasm; I spilled deep inside her.
Bent at the waist, I leaned down against her. With our bodies damp with sweat, and both of us panting heavily, I gathered her in my arms. We stayed there in that awkward position, holding each other, for minutes or hours, I don't really know. Time seemed to stop completely as I just enjoyed the feeling of Bella in my arms, and her arms around my neck as she gently stroked my hair, her eyes still closed.
"Bella," I whispered after some time.
"Hmm?"
"Will you come home with me tonight?"
A/N: Yes, I know I'm evil for leaving it there, but if I had continued, this would have been a 30 page chapter and I just plain ran out of time here. But no worries, it will be worth the wait.
It looks like their relationship is progressing a bit quickly, no? New relationships can be tricky like that. I wonder what everyone thinks of their not so secret sneaking off together…
Well until next time my lovelies… Please press that button to review… your reviews are better to me than a hot, dirty talking Edward that goes commando… OK, well maybe not better, but almost, kinda, sorta, close to equal… anyhoo, please Review!