This chapter is insanely long I think, but there was no way in hell I could break it up. So sit back, relax and enjoy.
This is where the 'M' rating really starts to come into play, so be prepared (more towards the end). Not that you mind, I'm sure, imagining Edward half naken and gorgeous!
Wednesday night came. I tried as hard as possible to stay out of Alice's grasp, but as soon as school had ended she had me cornered against my car.
"You're mine, Swan," she threatened. I looked over to Edward, upset that he was laughing so freely.
"I'll pick you up at six," Edward smiled to me, sliding in his car and following Jasper out of the parking lot. I had to accept the inevitable, knowing that Alice was going to have her way with me. If it were up to me, I would just wear jeans and a shirt. But of course that would be the death of all fashion. It was the first individual date (Alice said the group date didn't count), and it meant more to both of us.
She was right, and I could feel every nerve in my body sing with anticipation. It would be just Edward and I sitting down for dinner, and then he would be taking me somewhere special. I had been asking since we solidified plans the other night, where we would be going exactly. But Edward had told me not to worry. Dinner was taken care of, and as for our after-dinner plans, just bring walking shoes. So I had set aside a pair of comfortable sneakers to bring with me.
I was a good soldier, sitting very still in a chair in my bedroom. Alice had brought a bag with her, full of cosmetics and curling irons. I only had the courage to look at the mass of torture tools once before I kept my eyes closed.
"If you're going to do this then do it quickly." Those were the only words I could say to Alice before I concentrated on the black color of the inside of my eyelids. Alice had already dressed me in a sleeveless off-pink colored dress that stopped a few inches above my knees. I had complained that I would be cold, but it was quickly remedied when she handed me her white pea coat that would travel to halfway down my shin.
"It'll look classy," she commented. I didn't object the dress itself, but turned a bright red color when she had thrown a tan lacy bra and panties at me.
"You are not picking out my underwear!" I screeched. Alice didn't say anything, but glared at me until I hung my head in defeat before going to the bathroom to put the undergarments on. I wasn't sure why she was making me wear such a fancy pair of underwear; Edward would not be seeing it and I didn't plan on thinking about it at any point of the evening.
So now I sat in a chair in front of my large mirror, concentrating on the darkness as Alice constructed a perfect hair-do. The stereo blared in the background, and I smiled as I heard Alice's high pitched voice sing along with every word.
"I miss the catch if they throw me the ball. I'm the last chick standing up against the wall. Keep up, falling, these heels they keep me boring…" I laughed as Alice sang along to the song I didn't know, and sighed when I heard my phone start to ring.
"I'll get it!" Alice sang.
"Hello?" My eyes opened when I realized she had answered my phone.
"Hey! Give me that!" I laughed, pulling the phone to my ear and closing my eyes again. I was surprised Edward would be calling so soon. I knew it wasn't time for our date yet, but maybe he just wanted to say hi?
"Hey you," I smiled. I heard the sound of an engine in the background and my mouth immediately twitched into a frown.
"Bella?" What the hell.
"Kaiden?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
"Hey who answered your phone?" he asked. I sighed, wanting badly just to press the 'end' button and not to continue the conversation.
"None of your business. What do you want?"
"To visit." I felt anger boil within me, but didn't move as Alice curled a chunk of my hair around a hot iron stick.
"I said no, what else do you want from me?" I could hear a growl on the other end of the phone, and I rolled my eyes beneath my closed lids.
"Why can't I see you? Who is he? Who won't let me see you?"
"First off, I don't want you to come here, I told you this over and over again. Second, it's none of your damn business. No one controls my life but me, so if I say you aren't coming here than you aren't coming, got it?" I opened my eyes briefly to search for the red hang up button, and was satisfied when I saw 'Disconnected' flash across the screen. I threw my phone across the room, hearing the muted thud as it hit the bed.
"Should I ask?" Alice muttered. I glanced up at her once before closing my eyes again.
"Don't bother. Just an old thing from Phoenix bugging me. Won't take no for an answer."
"Should I gather the troops? I'm sure Emmett and Jasper would love to beat the crap out of someone." We laughed at that, me knowing full well that it was probably the truth. A few minutes later Alice stepped back and I heard her sigh.
"Perfect. You can open your eyes now." I squeezed my eyes even further shut before I let one of my eyelids relax. Carefully I looked into the mirror at my reflection and gasped when I saw that I looked fabulous.
"Oh my gosh! Alice!" She jumped up and down, clapping her hands at my reaction.
"You love it?" Of course I did! I nodded my head, looking closely at her masterpiece. The dress hugged my body perfectly, and my hair was artfully wrapped up onto the top of my head, random tendrils hanging around me to frame my face. The makeup she had applied looked radiant, and I was pleased to see that she used light tones, pinks and tans. My eyes seemed to pop out of my face, making me look alert and wide awake.
"I love it," I breathed. The doorbell rang.
"Shit!" I blushed when the curse left my mouth, but when I glanced at the clock on my wall, I realized that it was already six o'clock.
"He's here!" Alice grinned and ran to her bag that she had brought. She started to dig through it, looking for I didn't know what. It reminded me of Mary Poppin's bag and I half expected Alice to pull a building out of it. But instead she unearthed a pair of white suede boots.
"These complete the outfit," she said, pushing me onto the bed. I felt like a princess, letting her put the shoes on. But every time I tried to stick my hand into the mix she pushed me away with unnatural force. When she was done and I stood, I was in awe. The boots stopped just below my knees, letting just enough skin to show between the shoes and the dress. With the coat I was borrowing, I would be covered almost entirely. And that was good, I realized, as I looked out the window and saw that the tree outside was bending slightly in the breeze. It would be somewhat chilly out tonight.
The doorbell rang again, this time with an almost urgency behind it, and I jumped before grabbing my bag and the jacket. I started to turn to the stairs, but stopped when I realized that I would be leaving Alice behind. But when I looked at her, all I saw was a large smile and waving hands.
"Go! Go and have a great night! You better call me when you get home!" I rushed forward and hugged her, grinning like a fool.
"Thank you so much Alice, you have no idea how much I appreciate this!" And with that I rushed out of the room and down the stairs. Before I could pull the door open, I heard Alice yell out to me,
"Don't worry, I'll lock up when I leave!" I laughed, pulling the door open. The laughter died on my lips though when I saw that Edward was standing in front of me, arms full of white calla lilies.
"Oh my…"
"Hello, sweet Bella," he said calmly. Once the flowers were in my arms, I felt all of the breath leave my lungs as I took in what Edward was wearing. He was adorned in white dress pants and a black button down shirt, black loafers shinning in the porch light.
"Does Alice always coordinate our outfits?" he asked with a grin. I nodded.
"Apparently so." And just then I heard the tiny footsteps on the stairs, and the flowers were removed from my hands.
"I'll put those in water, you two get going." I rolled my eyes at Alice and stepped out onto the porch, gladly taking Edward's offered arm.
"You look beautiful," Edward sighed into my ear. I felt a chill roll down my spine and glanced up to the golden eyes that were still locked on me.
"As do you," I responded quietly. When we reached the passenger side of Edward's car, he leaned in and set a gentle kiss on my lips. I didn't expect it, and gasped when his lips left my own.
"We have all night Bella," he whispered, letting his cool breath fan across my face. I nodded, afraid to move. Edward laughed though, kissing me once more before he opened the door for me. I slid in to the warm car, feeling the leather seats beneath my thighs. I set my purse onto the floor and watched Edward as he walked around the nose of the car and opened his own door. My heart was pounding as I felt his presence even closer to me in the confines of the car. I could smell is cologne in the air, and even let myself close my eyes to breathe deeply.
"You okay over there?" I blushed with the realization that I was caught.
"Fine." Edward pulled out of my driveway, steering the car towards the highway.
"So where are we going?" I dared to ask.
"Didn't I tell you it was a surprise? Don't be a nag." I bit my bottom lip, wanting badly to retort with a sarcastic comment, but Alice's warnings were still fresh in my ears. Don't fight with him, Bella. You want tonight to go perfect. And I did. I wanted tonight to be smooth and romantic. Not just for us, but I knew that he had to loosen up a little more so that he would 'slip'.
Some part of me felt guilty for watching him so closely when it came to his behavior, but I was still confused when it came to all of the things I had seen. Or not seen for that matter.
"So what are you thinking about?" Edward asked me as we drove out of the city limits. I didn't bother staring down at the speedometer, knowing that he was going well over the speed limit. I was hoping that there were no police around, but Edward didn't seem to care about pushing the limits. The trees whipped by us in the dark, creating a small bubble around Edward's car.
"You," I finally admitted.
"Really now?" I sighed, shaking my head with a smile.
"Don't get an ego," I warned. We talked about a few things, not really staying on one topic too much. But when Edward pulled the car into the parking lot of a restaurant I didn't recognize, I stopped talking.
"Where are we?" I asked softly. Edward made sure the car was parking close to the entrance and reached over to take my hand in his.
"Bella Italia." My eyebrows rose on their own.
"Seriously?" I had heard of the restaurant, heard of the rave reviews, heard of the insane prices. But I had never thought of actually going there. Alice herself was telling me about how Jasper took her there on their one year anniversary.
"We can go somewhere else if you want," Edward started to say. I could see worry etch out onto his face, and I realized that he thought I wasn't happy.
"No, no, I want to stay!" I stared at the building, taking in the thousands of white Christmas lights that were wrapped around the trees and the doorway, giving it an enchanted look. In the darkness, it looked right out of a fairy tale. Edward shifted in his seat, and I could hear the crinkle of the leather as he turned to me.
"Bella," he whispered. I looked away from the lights and focused on Edward, sitting only a foot away. "Thank you for coming out with me tonight." I blushed, looking down at our entwined hands on my lap.
"No, thank you. I really lo- like spending time with you." I had almost said 'love'. Even though it wasn't being used to describe our official feelings, I didn't want to throw the word out into the air too quickly. I didn't want to scare him.
"I love spending time with you too." I grinned at his words, becoming lost in his golden eyes. Silence hung in the air, not uncomfortable in the slightest. I just smiled, continuing to memorize every inch of his face as I openly stared at him.
"Bella…" I shook my head, finding courage that I didn't know existed. I leaned forward, pleased when I saw Edward do the same. He licked his lips, creating a shine across the smooth skin. My eyes flickered down to his mouth and when I looked back up I smiled when I saw that his eyes were still trained on my own. He kept leaning, stopping only an inch away from my face. Slowly I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Bella," he whispered again, and with that I leaned forward, crashing my lips to his own. There was no hesitation as Edward's hands left my own and found their way to the back of my neck, pressing me closer. Our lips melded together, and I smirked when I heard a moan leave his throat. I tilted my head to gain more access to the soft entrance, and was pleased when Edward opened his mouth to let me have full access. Our tongues slid against each other slowly, no urgency in the touch. I flicked the tip of my tongue against his top lip, sucking gently when I was able to capture it between my lips. I was breathing heavily as he pulled his face back slightly, gazing into my eyes as we tried to catch our breath. With courage, I let my fingers sink into his hair and felt the texture slide along my fingertips. I gave him a small wink as I moved my lips down to his jaw, pleased when I heard a spike in his breathing.
"You taste so good," I muttered against his skin. And he did. He tasted like strawberries and champagne, of cool water and minty freshness. He tasted like heaven.
"Bella we have to stop," he groaned from above me. I let my tongue slide along the pressure point on his neck, glancing up at him with questioning eyes.
"Why oh why do we need to stop?" Edward seemed to stutter until he let his words fly out in a rush.
"Because if we don't then we're never going to make it into the restaurant, and our first time is going to be in the backseat of my car." I froze. Our first time? Our first time? Did he already have these things planned? I grinned and pulled my face back to the same level as his, searching his eyes for the truth. What I saw were once golden eyes, now darkened with want and lust. I was happy with that for some reason.
"Okay Edward, we'll stop for now." I sat back, removing my hands from Edward's skin and smoothed out my dress and my hair.
"Ready?" I asked. Edward was still frozen where I left him, his hands clenched on his lap.
"You will be the death of me," I heard him mutter. And with that, his car door opened and he stepped out. There! My breathing spiked as I watched Edward leave the car. The door had opened without him even touching it. I saw it!
I knew my eyes were wild, and I watched carefully as Edward rounded the back of the car and approached my door. What did I do? What do I say? Did I say anything? What did it mean?
"You okay?" Edward's voice penetrated my crazy thoughts. I jumped and forced my composure to return to normal. I still didn't know what it meant, but I knew that my plan was working because he was slipping up again. But what exactly he was slipping up on was still unclear to me. Things moved around him, with no help from anybody. Did he move things? How was that possible? I felt like I belonged in a Stephen King novel, or in a bizarre sci-fi movie.
"I'm fine, let's eat." I would be damned if I ruined this evening. I would just watch closer if possible. I accepted Edward's outstretched hand and grasped it in my own as we walked to the front entrance of the building. Edward opened the door for me and I walked into the warmth, smelling pasta and tomatoes.
"That smells heavenly," I admitted. Edward smiled as we approached the hostess stand, setting his hand onto the small of my back. His spot.
"Reservation for Cullen," he said to the gentleman standing in front of us. The man ran his finger down a list in front of him, smiling when he found what he was looking for.
"Ah, yes Mr. Cullen, if you and the Misses will please follow me." I raised my eyebrows again, grinning at Edward as we followed the man through a small maze to the back of the restaurant. The lights were dimmed, and all of the tables were secluded from one another. I noticed that these were the types of places my friends likes, places with seclusion.
"I hope the table is to your liking," the man said, and Edward nodded graciously. "Yes sir, your waitress with be out with you in just a moment." Edward stepped behind me, setting his hands lightly on my jacket, and I wordlessly shrugged the coat into his grasp. He set it on a hook behind the table, and turned back to me. His eyes grew wide when he saw my dress in full, and I blushed before turning away. Edward reached out and held my hand as I slid into the booth, not moving until he knew I was settled.
"You look beautiful," he said as he sat across from me.
"You said that already."
"Yes, but I need to say it a million times more before I make myself heard." I lowered my face to the table, eyeing the menu without seeing the words.
The dinner went as I thought it would, very peaceful and comforting. The waitress had come to take our orders, only letting her eyes linger on Edward for just a moment before she gained her composure. After all, the way he was looking at me clearly showed off the fact that he was not available.
Twirling the pasta around my fork, I eyed Edward carefully as he remained silent.
"Penny for your thoughts," I whispered. The table was tucked into a corner, away from all the other patrons eating their meal in peace. Candles were covering almost every surface, and white and gold accents splashed across the restaurant. It was very romantic, and I wasn't sure why I even had to whisper. I was sure that no one would be able to hear my words.
"How is your meal?" Edward asked me. I chewed on a mouthful of shrimp and pasta, reveling in the incredible taste.
"Unbelievable," I admitted when I swallowed. Edward was almost done with his chicken, and I eyed it for a moment before I snuck my fork over the bread basket to spear a small piece.
"All you had to do was ask," he laughed. I shrugged as I let the chicken settle in my mouth, and I groaned with pleasure.
"This is absolutely terrific!" I remembered what Edward had said it was when he ordered it: Chicken Rosa Maria. Absolutely fantastic.
"We'll have to come back here often then," Edward laughed. I nodded, not wanting to swallow the food in fear that I wouldn't be able to taste it again.
"I want you to be my girlfriend." The statement hung in the air for a split second before I registered what Edward said. I swallowed the food quickly, ecstatic that I didn't choke.
"What?" I whispered. I had heard him. He didn't have to repeat himself. But the words just sounded so grand coming from his mouth. Edward looked worried but still kept his eyes trained on me.
"I want you to be my girlfriend." I felt the smile grow on my face, not believing my ears.
"Really?" I asked.
"Okay you so can't play with my emotions right now, Bella. You heard me, and I'm not going to say anything else." I laughed at his unease, wanting badly to touch his face and his hair. Wanting badly to hold him closely to me.
"I want to be your girlfriend," I said while he shook his head. But when he heard what I said, he snapped his gaze back to me, and grinned.
"Yeah?" I laughed softly.
"Yeah. I thought you'd never ask." Edward didn't wait for us to leave the restaurant. He stood quickly, reaching down to take my hand in his and pulled me out of my seat. I felt all the breath leave my chest as he crushed me to him, hugging me with a fervor I didn't recognize.
"It's gonna be hard getting rid of me," I whispered into his ear. His laughter drowned me out though.
"I should be saying the same thing to you, love, because it's going to be a cold day in hell that I will want to leave you." We held each other for a moment until we heard someone clear their throat behind us. I peaked out from the comforts of Edward's shoulder, smiling at the waitress who stood with a pitcher of water.
"Sorry," I laughed, and I pushed Edward back towards his seat. I wasn't surprised that dinner ended soon after that, and before I knew it Edward was guiding my arms back into my coat, glancing once more at the dress I was hiding.
"Let's get out of here." Edward's voice had dropped an octave, very rough. I swallowed hard as he led me to the door, nodding to the gentleman behind the hostess stand. The cold air bit into me as we walked down the path to the parking lot. The temperature dropped drastically while we were inside, and I grasped my fingers around the lapels of my jacket. I saw the silver glint of the car just seconds before Edward trotted ahead to open my door for me. I smiled graciously at him before I slid inside. The interior of the car was not as warm as I wanted it to be, but when Edward started the car I felt the heat start to blow from the vents.
"Better?" he asked. I nodded, raising my hands to the heat, gracious that the seats were warming themselves beneath us.
"Cozy ass-warmers," I laughed. Edward nodded as he backed out of the spot. We headed down the road, but I didn't pay attention to the road. My eyes were glued to Edward, drinking in every line of his face, every muscle that I could see in his arms. The way his chest rose and fell with each breath, and the way his mouth tilted into a crooked grin when he saw me staring at him.
"You're going to give me a complex," he said. I reached over and turned the radio off, not really hearing the music that flowed from the speakers.
"Now, where are we going now?" I asked. Edward lifted his hand, shaking a finger at me. I reached out to grasp it between my own fingers, holding his warm hand tightly between my own.
"It's supposed to be a surprise Bella. How would it look on my part if I just told you everything now?" I shook my head, daring myself to look out the window. I couldn't see anything beyond the small space in front of the car that was illuminated by the headlights. Peering at the speedometer I let my jaw fall open. Ninety. He was going ninety mph.
"Edward," I said calmly, "I think you should slow down before we get pulled over or something." He laughed but relented just the same. I watched in relief as the needle drifted towards fifty.
"Some racer you are," he laughed. I smacked him with my free hand, not letting my hand stay on his chest for longer than the one second it took for impact. Even in the one second I could feel the hardness of his abs.
"When there's no one racing against you, it's just called speeding!" He laughed, knowing I was right. It didn't take long before we were riding down my street.
"The surprise is at my house?" I asked in confusion. Edward laughed and held up his cell phone. I glanced at it closely and saw that there were words displayed across the screen.
Stop back at Bella's house be4 you head out. She 4got her sneakers ~Al
"Shit!" I knew I was forgetting something.
"Grab the sneakers and then we'll head to my place."
"Why didn't Alice just grab them if we're just heading to your house?" It made sense, right?
"Because she is at Jasper's house tonight." I nodded. When we pulled around the corner, I looked up at my house to see if Charlie's cruiser was parked in the driveway. He should have been off work sometime soon, and didn't know if I should be stopping to cook him something.
But in Charlie's spot was a blue Honda Civic.
"Fuck," I whispered. Leaning against the dark painted car, was none other than Kaiden himself.
"Who is that?" Edward asked cautiously. I shook my head, wanting badly to tell him to keep driving. But I knew it would do no good.
"That would be my ex, Kaiden." Edward's hands gripped tighter, his hand on the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white.
"Key word being ex, Edward." He nodded, slowing the car when we approached the driveway. "Please don't start anything, let me take care of this." And with that I opened the door and stepped out of the car.
A low whistle sounded through the air, and I reluctantly let my eyes fall on Kaiden. He was leaning against the car, clad all in black jeans and leather, glaring right at me.
"Didn't I tell you to back the fuck off?" I said. I heard Edward's door open behind me and silently cursed what was undoubtedly going to happen.
"Well Bells, when you told me you didn't want me to visit, I didn't expect that you already had someone in the palms of your hands." Kaiden's voice was thick with disgust, and I was immediately annoyed. His hair had gotten longer over the weeks that I hadn't seen him, and now hung loosely in his face, dark tendrils looking greasy in the night. His eyes were dark, hate filled and spiteful.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked. Kaiden pushed himself off his car, taking a step towards me. I saw his eyes drift behind me, most likely to Edward, but landed on me again.
"Visiting my girlfriend," he said. I bristled.
"I am not your girlfriend, Kaiden, no matter what your diluted mind may think!"
"Is there a problem here?" Edward spoke from behind me. I was comforted, knowing he was here no matter what. He would protect me from whatever was to happen, I knew this.
"No problem Romeo, just wondering what you think you're doing all dolled up here with my girl." I growled at the word, taking a step forward. What the hell had I ever seen in this guy? He looked dirty and rude, disgusting even. The way he was presenting himself was so unappealing to me.
"I'm pretty sure she is no longer your girl," Edward responded calmly. "Mistake me if I'm incorrect, but didn't she break up with you when she moved?" I held back the grin that was on the surface of my face.
"You don't know shit," Kaiden snapped.
"Let's go Bella," Edward whispered. I turned towards the house, telling myself to grab my shoes and we would leave.
"She's not going anywhere." Kaiden stepped in front of me, blocking the path I needed to get to the house. I raised my eyes to him, not believing him in the slightest.
"Excuse you? Don't make me call the cops on your ass!" I didn't have time to say anything else, and Edward was no longer behind me, but standing next to me. He stood at his full height, suddenly intimidating. I had never seen him that way, only as gentle Edward, careful touched and smooth caresses. But tonight he stood in front of Kaiden, inches taller than him. His eyes were narrowed and dangerous looking. His chest was broad and protective, and I suddenly wanted to stand behind him and let him play protector.
"Leave," Edward growled in the night. I felt a chill roll down my spine when his voice echoed through the cold air, and I saw Kaiden take a step back. That's right, I thought, be afraid.
"You really want to fuck with me?" Kaiden spat. Edward took a step forward, somehow growing another inch.
"Get the hell out of here, before I remove you and your piece of shit car." I wanted to laugh. Kaiden loved that car, bragged about it every chance he got. I could tell that Edward's words hit home.
"Fuck you," Kaiden snapped. He glared at me for a moment before stumbling to his car and revving the engine before kicking up dirt in the drive. I stood motionless, still standing behind Edward. My breathing was uneven, and I could feel tears brim my eyes. I didn't want to act like a hopeless girl, but seeing Kaiden standing in my driveway brought waves of anger that I didn't know still existed.
When I lived in Phoenix, I caught myself throwing slight temper tantrums. It only happened after spending so much time with Kaiden, Jess, and my other friends. My mother blamed it on the company I kept, but I wouldn't listen to her. Rarely did I find myself feeling that way anymore, but just seeing him standing there made me want to hurt someone. Yell, hit, curse.
"Bella, are you okay?" I forced my eyes to stay on the front door, memorizing the white painted wood. Kaiden was long gone, the roar of his engine having disappeared around the corner.
"Bella?" Edward stepped in front of me, blocking my view of the chipping paint.
"I'm fine," I choked out. His arms circled around my shoulders, bringing me close to his chest.
"You don't look fine. Let's get inside, get you warm." I nodded, leading the way to the front door. Fishing my keys out of my bag, I unlocked the door and flipped on lights as I walked to the kitchen. I heard the door close behind us, and sighed when I heard Edward turn the lock.
"So what was he doing here?" Edward asked. I turned around, throwing my bag onto the kitchen counter.
"He's been calling me lately, trying to get me to talk to him. But I guess the word 'no' is not in his vocabulary." I shook my head, not wanting Edward to see the shame in my eyes. "I got a call from him before our date and he was hounding me about seeing him. I told him basically to fuck off, and hung up on him. Guess he was already on his way." Edward stepped forward and put his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look up.
"If you ever have a problem with him again, you need to tell me. That's what I'm here for." I nodded, brushing away a tear that had escaped.
"I know, I just didn't want anything to ruin our evening." Edward chuckled and brought me up to his chest.
"Darling, no one can ruin our evening. How about we do my little surprise another evening?" I shook my head immediately and backed away.
"No way! I've been waiting to see where you were bringing me." So many scenarios had been going through my head about where Edward was taking me, and I would be so upset if I had to put it off to another day.
"You can't do that to me!" I kept protesting. Edward shook his head, holding his hands up to me.
"How about this. If I tell you what it is, will you agree to doing it another day?" I paused for a second, knowing that he was throwing the surprise away prematurely.
"Sure I guess."
"Well," Edward whispered, rubbing his hands along my arms, "by my house there is a meadow, full of flowers and open to the sky. Even at night, you can see every single star, bright as the sun. Sitting there right now, is a basket with a bottle wine, along with a large quilt and a few blankets." I gasped, imagining it all in my head.
"That sounds so romantic!" Edward blushed, nodding.
"No one knows about the meadow but me and my sister, and the only way to get to it is by walking. That's what the sneakers were for." I sighed, suddenly very angry that the surprise was taken away from me.
"I'm sorry I made you tell me. I would have loved to see that."
"No, it's okay. I'll just collect that all in the morning, no harm done. Just remember that we'll be doing that sometime soon." I smiled, leaning in for a kiss.
"Wait," I pulled back. "Where did you get the wine? You're eighteen!" Edward laughed, shaking his head.
"People in high places," he said cryptically. He didn't let me speak any further, and leaned in to press his lisp to mine. I sighed, wrapping my arms around his neck. My hands touched his neck, feeling his cool skin.
"So what are we doing now?" I asked against his lips. He laughed and shrugged.
"It's up to you." I glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost ten.
"Charlie should be home soon," I muttered, and turned to grab the phone. I stopped though when I saw a note taped over the receiver.
Bella, had to cover a shift for Derek. Won't be home until after you're gone for school. Lock the doors. Love, Dad
"Never mind," I smiled, "Charlie's at the station." I glanced around the kitchen, not knowing what to do. We were alone in my house, and I was suddenly nervous.
"Are you tired?" Edward asked. I shrugged, knowing that I was fighting off yawning, but not wanting Edward to leave.
"How about I give you the grand tour?" Edward seemed to like that idea, and I slowly started to show him around my house.
"I know it's not as big as your castle," I joked as I led the way up the stairs, "but it's just me and Charlie." Edward waved me off, shaking his head.
"It's great."
"There's my dad's room, the bathroom, and here's my room." I blushed as I pushed open the door. I silently praised Alice when I saw that she had cleaned everything up from our preparation time, including making my bed. Did she know that we would be coming back here?
"Cozy," Edward muttered. I stood next to my bed for a second, not knowing exactly what I should do. We both looked like we had just gotten home from prom, much to my amusement, and I didn't know if we should just watch television, or if I should bid him a great night and watch him drive away.
"Let's watch a movie," Edward broke the silence. I watched as he walked over to my small television, and started to look through the DVDs I had stacked on the dresser. I smiled, relieved he took the step I was too scared to take.
"How about Knocked Up?" he asked. I laughed and nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed to remove my shoes. I set them next to my nightstand, not sure if I should change into pajamas or if we were going to curl up in suit and dress.
"Why don't you get comfortable, and I'll go downstairs to see if you have any popcorn?" I smiled at the amazing man who seemed to know exactly what to do.
"Cabinet next to the refrigerator," I said as he walked out the door. I waited until he hit the bottom step to stand quickly and grab the pajamas Alice had convinced me to buy. The blue silk pants and tank top were perfect for tonight. I ran to the bathroom with the blue material in hand and shut the door. The girl in the mirror was awake and excited, and I laughed when I realized that it was me.
"Calm the hell down," I told myself. I had my dress off in just seconds, pulling my pants and top on immediately afterwards. I unclipped my hair, letting the curls Alice had spent so much time working on fall around my face. As much as I loved them, I picked up my hairbrush and ran the bristles through the curls. It didn't take long for my hair to fall in waves, and I pulled it back into a lose ponytail. I scrubbed the makeup off of my face, wincing when I felt so ordinary without it. Maybe Edward didn't want me to get completely comfortable. Oh well, too late.
I ran back to my bedroom, listening carefully when I heard the faint sound of the popcorn cooking in the microwave. From my purse I heard my phone beep softly, telling me I had a message.
"Better not be Kaiden," I swore aloud. Digging it out, I was relieved to see that it was Alice.
Hope your night is great! See you in the morning ~Al
Dare I tell her that the plans changed? I glanced around my room, realizing that if I told her anything now, she would most likely show up at my door and demand answers. No, I would wait. Tonight would be about me and Edward. I shut off my phone, throwing it down onto my desk. Seconds later I heard the microwave beep. I ran to the hallway closet, pulling out an extra comforter to throw on the bed. I wasn't sure how cold or hot Edward wanted it, and my bedroom usually got pretty chilly. Then again, I liked it that way.
"You decent?" Edward called up the stairs. I laughed softly at his manners.
"Yes, come on up." I walked to the television, slipping the movie into the player and grabbed the remote. Turning back to the bed, I watched as Edward walked into the room, setting the bowl of popcorn on my nightstand. He looked up at me and froze, his eyes raking up and down my body several times.
"Didn't your mother teach you it's not polite to stare?" I whispered. Edward shook his head.
"My mother taught me nothing about what is going on in my head right now." I blushed. My heart was pounding, and I didn't know how to react exactly. Without another word Edward tore his eyes from mine and started to kick off his shoes. My eyes were glued to him as he removed one shoe after another, and then removed his socks. Unbuttoning his dress shirt, he revealed a white t-shirt underneath. I had to bite back a moan as I saw the hard muscles of his chest beneath the thin cloth.
"You okay? Didn't your mother ever teach you not to stare?" Edward laughed. I boldly let my eyes meet his.
"My mother never taught me the things that are going on in my mind." I don't know what the hell gave me the courage to say that, but I couldn't take it back now. Edward's smile drifted away, and he took a tentative step towards me. We had gone from dressed up to flat out casual and lazy in just minutes, and I wondered just how comfortable we planned on getting tonight. I took a deep breath and stepped forward and around Edward. He froze in shock, but I had a motive to my actions. I reached out to close the door, turning back to see Edward smiling at me.
"Now we're alone," I smiled. I walked up to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I sighed when I felt him melt into me, kissing me lightly on my hair.
"Stay tonight," I whispered. "Charlie won't be home until we leave for school and I don't want to sleep alone." I looked up to catch his reaction and was happy to see him nodding.
"Yeah, I'm okay with that." I pulled back, standing on my toes to kiss his quickly. I walked over to the bed, climbing beneath the covers as the opening credits of the movie started. "Just don't try anything Cullen." We laughed and I watched Edward as he turned off the light and walked over to the bed. He paused for a moment, and I was sure that he was torn between lying on top of the covers and climbing beneath them with me. I solved the problem for him, pulling back the covers and reaching out for his hand, pulling him down next to me. The bed was only a full size, so we were pressed against each other in every way. I refused to let him see my reaction, instead sinking down into the pillows next to him and curling against his chest.
We lay in peace, watching the movie unfold before us. Edward's arms were holding me closely to his chest, and I let my fingers brush along his arms slowly. His hands gradually made their way to my arms, leaving my back somewhat cold under the blanket. Edward's fingers started to trace patterns along my skin, and embarrassingly enough I head a small whimper escape my lips.
"Bella?" I looked up to meet Edward's eyes, my breath hitching in my throat as I read the double meaning in my name. I licked my lips slowly, knowing what was going to happen. Did I care that I was breaking the rules my father had blatantly laid out for me? No, staring into the eyes of my boyfriend, I did not care.
I pushed up, letting myself have the advantage with Edward at that moment. Leaning down, I pressed a firm kiss on Edward's lips. What happened next caught me off guard, and I squealed when he grabbed me and swung me around so that he was lying over me.
"That's not fair," I muttered against Edward's lips. I ignored his laugh, and opened my legs, drawing him closer to me. I could hear Edward hesitate, but when I ran kisses along his mouth, he settled in. He raised his lips until they were positioned directly above mine, asking me silently if he was okay to continue. I wanted to kiss him just for that, knowing that it would be hard for him to hold back. I nodded though, urging him forward.
The kiss was starting off slow and gentle, using our tongues as we explored each other's mouths. I let my hands leave the nape of his neck, drifting down until I felt the muscles in his back tighten.
"Bella," he whispered. I shook my head, ordering him to stop talking. I felt a want for him in every nerve in my body, and I wasn't ready to hear him say 'no'. Unable to resist his bottom lip protruding like it was, I leaned forward and captured it between my teeth. Edward let out a moan, and I sucked gently on the lip, running my tongue along the smooth surface. Edward pulled back, and settled his lips on my neck, running his tongue along the sensitive part below my law.
"Edward," I sighed. He only took that as me urging him on, and pressed into me. I gasped, clinging to his back with all of my being as I felt every inch of him press down. He was long and muscular, manly and graceful all at the same time. And he was all mine.
"Edward, I need you ," I whispered. He paused, raising his face back to mine.
"Define need," he said. I concentrated on the feeling of his fingers on my skin, drifting below the silk cloth of my shirt. Feeling his skin against my own caused a fire in my center that I didn't recognize.
"Define it," Edward demanded. I moaned and sunk my fingers into his bronze hair.
"I want to feel your mouth on me," I admitted. Edward pressed his lips onto mine, forcing his tongue into my mouth once before he pulled away.
"Your wish is my command," he whispered. Slowly he rained kisses all over my face, traveling down to my neck and collarbone. I arched my back, wanting to feel his touch over every inch of my body. Edward's fingers dipped under the bottom of my top, running the tips along my skin. I moaned when I felt his thumb brush along my belly button, and dared to open my eyes. Edward was staring down at me, a sultry look crossing his fingers. Without breaking eye contact, he hooked his fingers into my pants and started to pull down.
My heart stopped, creating a frenzy within me. I had never done that before. Kaiden had been my only boyfriend, and we hadn't dated long enough to go beyond a slight make out session. I think subconsciously I knew I didn't want to give anything like that to him. But with Edward I felt no boundary. I wanted to feel his touch, and I wanted to give him everything. Since day one I had thrown caution to the wind and broken every rule I had laid out for myself.
And I was okay with that.
I blushed when my pants hit the floor, and I silently thanked Alice for making me wear the underwear ensemble she had thrown at me. I heard Edward's sharp intake of breath, and smiled at him as he met my gaze.
"So gorgeous," he muttered. I resisted the urge to cover myself with the blankets, and concentrated on my breathing. Edward sat up then, grasping the edges of his shirt in his fingers and pulling up. I gasped when his shirt dropped to the floor, and every edge of his chest shone in the dark room.
He was like a God. Every line in his sculpted chest begged to be touched, and I let my fingers graze his skin carefully.
"Look who's talking," I said. Edward lowered himself back to me, carefully settling himself between my legs. I could feel him press his body against me, and I was in ecstasy when I felt the bulge in his pants press against my center. His lips found mine again and I let my tongue have its way with him. I all but stopped living when I felt Edward's hand drift down my hip, and eventually finding its way to the thin cloth covering my heat.
"Please tell me this is okay," Edward's voice penetrated my thoughts. I nodded, not letting anyone, including myself, talk me out of this. I wanted this, needed this. With the permission given, Edward rubbed his finger along my core, grinning when I let out a moan. Quickly he dipped his fingers under the tan cloth, grazing against me softly. I couldn't believe this was happening. No one had ever touched me there, and I was suddenly feeling things that I didn't know could happen. His feathery touch was driving me insane, and I could feel an ache every time his finger came close to touching my clit. After a minute of him driving me insane, I threw my head back and yelled his name.
"Edward! Do it!" And he did. His fingers pressed into my heated flesh, causing me to cry out as I ground my hips into his hand. I felt his long finger trail along my folds, and finally finding my entrance. Before I could stop him, or encourage him, he plunged his finger into me. I cried out, arching my back even further into the air. Slowly he started to pump it, in and out.
"You are so tight," I heard Edward say. I couldn't respond though as I grabbed onto the wrist attached to his hand, holding it close to me. I had never felt something this wonderful, and I would be damned if he stopped now.
"More," I heard myself say. Edward pulled out his finger, and much to my surprise, added another one to the movement. I cried out, pumping my hips to the rhythm he created. After a moment Edward pressed his thumb to my clit, rubbing it in small circles. I had no words, no time for reaction, before I felt a heat spread through my abdomen.
"Oh my god!" I screamed out.
"That's it Bella, let go." I rode his hand for all I was worth, loving the feeling of his fingers in me and his thumb caressing me so gently. Within a minute I exploded, feeling the heat spread through me.
"Edward!" I screamed. Edward withdrew his fingers, but quickly lowered his mouth to my folds. I cried out when I felt his lips press down onto me, moaning when his tongue plunged in to replace his fingers. When I finally came down from my high, I was whimpering with pleasure. Edward moved his face back up to my neck, hugging me close.
"You're wonderful," he whispered. I barely had the energy to open my eyes after that, feeling every bit of me tingle.
"Sleep," he muttered. I shook my head lazily.
"No, I don't want to." He laughed, kissing my temple gently.
"Don't worry, I'll be here all night." And with his promise, I fell into a deep slumber.
Jacob's Point of View
I sat at my desk, almost bored as I stared at the wall. Nothing was happening that evening, and there was almost no point for Charlie to come in to cover Derek's shift. I would have been fine by myself. The phone rang, and I all but lunged for it in hopes for some action.
"Forks Police Department, this is Jacob."
"I need to talk to Charlie Swan please," the man on the other end said. In the background I heard the roar of an engine, and I rolled my eyes, wondering if it was one of the kids from the Rez trying to prank him again.
"He's out on the street right now, is there something I can help you with?" The guy on the phone grunted in response.
"No, it's regarding his daughter…"
"Bella? What happened?" My voice rose a bit, I knew. But when it came to Bella, I knew I would overreact. Even as kids I felt things towards the girl, and now that we were old enough to act on those feelings, I wanted badly to just have her. As barbaric as that sounded, the prospect of holding her close to me sent me into overdrive.
"Oh, so you know Bells? Well, I'm sure the Chief would like to know that his wonderful daughter is slumming it with the locals."
"What do you mean?" I asked. This kid made no sense.
"She's at her house with some guy in a shiny silver car! Doing God knows what!" The kid sounded angry, furious that Bella was spending time with someone else. But when I thought for a second about the silver car, I thought of Cullen.
"You mean Edward? Oh they're just friends." I felt like I was back in high school, listening to a soap opera unravel in front of me. I ran my hand through my black hair, rolling my eyes at the ceiling. I already didn't like Edward Cullen, and I didn't need some punk giving me ammunition.
"Yeah they looked real cozy after their night out on the town. All dolled up looking like they'd just finished having sex." I sat up straight, letting my feet that had been propped up on the desk, hit the tiled floor with a thud.
"Who is this?" I asked suddenly.
"An old friend of Bella's. Just tell her father that you all need to watch out for her. Make sure she doesn't get in trouble." And the line went dead. I let the receiver fall into the cradle, but kept my eyes trained back on the wall. An old friend of Bella's… saying her and Cullen were getting close.
I didn't like Edward. Something about him rubbed me the wrong way. I knew he had been the one who was racing in Port Angeles over the weekend. I was hoping against all hope that his mirror had been destroyed, but much to my disappointment there was nothing but a few scratches. I had nothing to go on. Just the way he looked at Bella gave me cause to not like him. I rolled my eyes at the way my thoughts were headed, and closed my eyes, enjoying the silence for once.
I knew I would have to watch Bella closely for now on. Even if I had to follow her around town, to Port Angeles, or even sit outside her house at night. I would make sure this random caller wasn't right when it came to her being in trouble.
It would be a project I suppose.
Well? It's all in motion! Jacob is going to be having a larger role in the next couple chapters, but don't worry. This was also my first sexual scene that I've ever written, so be nice. lol.
Also, don't worry, the rest of the story is going to be in Bella's POV unless I say otherwise. Every now and then I'm going to be inserting someone else's POV just to make sure things are making sense.
OH and no one reviewed on my last chapter. THIS MAKES ME SAD. That's all I'm going to say. ~*AM*