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Chapter 14: Hot and Cold
Bella's POV
After Alec's horrible comments and Rosalie's spectacular punch the night fell into a comfortable pace. We finished dinner and began to play Monopoly. It was Alice's favorite game. I, being the very uncompetitive person that I am, was out quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the antics in front of me. Rose liked to talk smack, Jasper and Edward were fierce strategists, and Alice was stealthy. Edward had Broadway and Jasper had Park Place. It was Edward's turn and he had been trying to buy Park Place for the last five turns.
"Okay," Edward said with a deep sigh as he turned toward Jasper. "Let's make a deal."
"It's not going to happen," Rose said. "Jasper's not a dimwit. He knows better than to hand that over. Even if you gave him all the money in your account, it'll cost him in the long run. Just move on you pansy."
We all laughed at her antics. She had been relying on the smack talk to intimidate the others. I was keeping an eye on Alice and what she was doing. I had played many games in the past with Alice and knew she could sneak up on someone and pull your feet out from under you. When she looked up and caught my eye we tried to keep our smiles and laughter in check. Alice had slowly gained property that alone would seem insignificant. When all the spots were combined, she owned probably 40-50% of the board. It took two more turns for anyone to notice.
"WHAT?" Rose yelled. "How did that happen?" Jasper and Edward both looked at her puzzled. "It doesn't matter who gets Park Place. Alice outsmarted us." Everyone looked at the board then at us when Alice and I started giggling. "You saw this?" Rose looked at me with her eyes narrowed.
"I did," I answered.
"How could you?" She placed a hand to her heart, feigning hurt. "I'm your roommate." I just giggled again.
"I've played games many times with Alice. I know how sneaky and stealthy she can be."
"We might as well just turn it over to her."
"Or," Edward said, "we could agree to a truce till we can bring her down a notch." Alice gasped, but Rosalie and Jasper smiled.
"I like the way you think," Jasper said. Alice whipped her head in his direction. He leaned over and kissed her quickly. "Baby, I love you, but you are hard to beat. I'll take all the help I can get." We all laughed at her pout then they returned to the game.
I asked if anyone wanted a refill and went into the kitchen to get the drinks. I needed a little reprieve. Jasper had been studying Edward and I intently all night. I knew he was only looking after me, but it was still a bit unnerving. I poured a glass of wine for Rosalie and Alice then got a beer for Jasper. I went to twist the top off the bottle, but my hand slipped. I hissed as I sliced my palm then dropped the bottle. It shattered when it hit the tile sending glass and beer in all directions.
"Bella?" I heard Edward's frantic voice from the living room. I closed my hand into a fist to try to stifle the blood flow. I bled easier and heavier since getting sick. They all appeared from around the corner. "Don't move. You don't want to step on any glass." I had removed my shoes before we began the game, and he was worried I would cut my foot. He walked towards the living room.
"Breathe through your mouth," I heard Jasper say. He knew I had always had an aversion to blood. The rusty, salt smell assaulted my nose and made me even more nauseous than I already was. I pulled my hand away from my view and held my breath. Edward came back wearing shoes.
"Breathe Bella," he said as he stepped towards me carefully then lifted me to sit on the counter next to the sink. He pushed my head between my knees just as black spots started peppering my vision. I sat back up once my breathing was back to normal. "Are you okay?" The genuine concern in his voice made my heart flutter.
I nodded. He turned on the water and pulled my hand under the stream. The water hit it, causing it to throb a bit. I saw Alice sweeping up the glass and apologized for my carelessness. She just rolled her eyes and brushed it off. She was accustomed to my little mishaps, courteous of what she called the Bella Syndrome. I had been a majorly clumsy person in high school, and though it had improved, it hadn't disappeared. Edward asked for a first aid kit, which Jasper retrieved from the bathroom.
"You know Bella," Alice began while she threw the shards into the trash, "it's a good thing you're dating someone in the medical field. He's going to come in handy."
I looked over at Edward as he gently cleaned and bandaged the cut, my cheeks heating slightly. Are we dating? I would certainly love for that to happen, but we hadn't actually discussed it. I watched his face hoping to get some glimpse as to how he felt about the subject. He looked at me hesitantly, question in his eyes. He smiled slightly but otherwise gave no indication to his feelings.
"I guess it is," I said, hoping I wasn't scaring him away with that revelation. His smiled turned brilliant and I could only smile back shyly. His crooked grin put me at ease.
"Wash your feet, missy," Alice said sternly. "I don't want any traces of beer throughout my place." I watched Jasper put up the mop he had just used. He, Rosalie, and Alice walked back into the living room leaving Edward to throw away the trash as I washed my feet.
He walked back over to me and smiled sweetly. He stood close, his scent engulfing me. His proximity sent my heart racing. I licked my dry lips and watched as his eyes followed their movement. He stepped forward to stand between my legs. He leaned forward slowly, glancing at my eyes then back at my lips.
"COME ON!" Alice yelled from the living room, breaking me out of my Edward trance. He stepped back and took a deep breath.
"Let me help you," he said as he placed his hands on my hips and lifted me off the counter. I rested my hands on his forearms and waited for him to look at me.
"Thank you," I whispered. He nodded and smiled then we walked back into the living room.
The rest of the game was tense. Rosalie, Jasper, and Edward were very competitive. Their witty banter was fun to watch. Rosalie slowly dropped her icy façade and her funny, crass side came out full-blown. Alice was competitive but in a much quieter way. She had a way of sneaking in on people by not bringing much attention to herself. The game finally ended around 9:30 with Alice as the winner. She stood and danced around the room in celebration. Jasper caught her around the waist on her third circuit of the room and pulled her giggling form into his lap.
"Gloating is not very nice," he said with humor in his voice.
"I'm not gloating," she said with her signature pout. "I'm just celebrating." We all just laughed.
"I hate to do this," I started, "but I really need to get home. I have an early appointment with Dr. D tomorrow."
"Oh! Isn't it your last appointment?"
"It's the last appointment for the burn. I'll be excited to not have to go to the hospital every day." We all said goodbye. Alice winked at me while Rosalie gave me thumbs up. We all giggled eliciting curious looks from the two guys before Edward helped me into the car before getting in himself.
Once inside he started the heater. I was freezing. The cold was not helping much. I was already slightly shaking but trying to hide it from Edward. I had forgotten my gloves at home. He looked over and noticed. He pulled off his gloves then took my hands into his own and rubbed to create friction. My hands warmed fractionally from the fabricated heat. After a moment, he pulled one hand away and pulled out of the parking lot. His other hand continued to hold mine on the center console. I felt the butterflies in my stomach. I blushed and looked at him from the corner of my eye. He had a small contented smile on his face. Once we arrived at my apartment, he pulled into the visitor parking area.
"I'll walk you to your door," he said then got out to open my door for me. He offered his hand as I stepped out of the car and held it all the way to the door. "I had a great time tonight, and your cheesecake was amazing."
"Thank you," I said. "Oh! Why don't you come in while I put it into a container for you to take home?" He nodded and followed me inside. We walked into the kitchen where I found a container to put the cheesecake in.
"Bella, I wanted to ask you about what Alice said earlier." He spoke hesitantly and when I looked over, he was shuffling his feet and looking down. My heart dropped. Does he not want to date me? I thought I saw it differently when we were in the kitchen.
"Okay."
"Do you remember when I asked you to be mine on Valentine's Day?" I smiled at the memory and nodded. "I wasn't asking you to be my Valentine." My smile faded slowly, confirming my other thoughts, but then he smiled. "I was asking you to be my girlfriend." My breathing hitched. Even through the excitement, I felt apprehensive. This was the first time I had let myself get close to a man. My mind began to race. Will he turn out to be abusive? Jacob was sweet at first. I thought I could trust him. Is he going to expect sex? I'm not ready for that. What am I getting myself into? "Bella?"
I looked over to see the worry etched on his face. I forced myself to calm down. If I didn't take the chance then Jacob would still be in control of my life. I couldn't allow him to have that kind of power over me. I would have to take a chance with someone, whether that person was or was not Edward. I just had to keep an eye on things and look for signs. But I had a good feeling about Edward. He made me feel things I had never felt before. I had never felt this comfortable or safe with a man. That had to mean something.
"I would like that," I said simply and smiled. He flashed his crooked grin and his eyes sparkled.
"Great." I blushed and looked down and slid the cheesecake toward him. "I have to be at work at eight so I need to get home."
"Of course. Share with Emmett. Next time we should invite him as well."
"I'll let him have a piece but only one. I'm rather fond of the cheesecake." I could only laugh. I walked with him to the door and stood holding it open. "Thanks again for the dessert, and I promise to give Emmett some. I'll call you tomorrow afternoon to see how the appointment goes."
"Okay. Sleep well and be safe tomorrow. I hope it's a boring day." He leaned forward and I closed my eyes anticipating the kiss. I smiled when I felt him press his lips to my cheek. He held for a moment then pulled back. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, beautiful." I blushed wondering if he said things just to illicit that reaction. I watched as he walked down the steps and to the Volvo.
Thursday morning Edward called at 7:00am, just as he had every day that week. He said it was so he could end his day, since he got off at 8:00am, and I start mine on a bright note. His calls always made me smile, even if they only lasted five minutes. I was already driving towards the school when Edward called. I answered the phone with a smile on my face.
"Hello," I said.
"Hey," he said in a strained voice.
"Edward, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. How are you?" It still sounded like something was wrong.
"I'm okay. Angela and I are meeting for coffee before the day starts. Are you sure you're okay? You sound stressed. You can tell me if something's wrong." He took a deep breath and sighed.
"It's been a horrible 24 hours. We had some pretty severe calls. It's just taking a toll on us both." I frowned.
"Is there anything I can do?" I turned into the parking lot of Starbucks.
"Nothing more than you already are. I'm sorry to make this a depressing call. I just wanted to say good morning, and I hope you have a better day than me." I got out of the car and walked toward the door wondering what I could do to brighten his day. I remembered Jasper had rescheduled our appointment for the following day, which gave me the afternoon free.
"Hey. What do you say to me making dinner for you and Emmett? Sometimes home cooked food can help lift your spirits."
"You don't have to do that?"
"I know I don't have to; I want to. You know how much I enjoy cooking. I want to help you; let me help you." He paused for a moment.
"I'm not going to pass up a home cooked dinner. Especially after hearing Alice, Jasper, and Rose rave about your cooking skills. Let me see if Emmett has dinner plans so you'll know how much to cook." There was a muted conversation on the other end. I waved to Angela and motioned for one more minute. Once Edward came back on the phone, he was laughing. "Emmett is ecstatic. You're welcome to come dirty up our kitchen. Then when you're done, you won't have to clean up."
"That sounds good. What time do you want me to come over?"
"Does five sound good? You can cook, we'll eat, then hang out."
"Okay. I'll call you after school to get directions and see what you two want to eat. Does that give you enough time to sleep?"
"Yep. I'll talk to you later. Tell Angela I said hi."
"Will do. Talk to you later."
It was my turn in line so I ordered my drink. Once I got my drink, I walked over to join Angela. In these past four days, we had gotten closer. She was a genuinely sweet, nice person. When it came to her students, she was demanding of them but not overly so. She pushed their boundaries and forced them to think for themselves. Headmaster Matthews had observed her class yesterday and spoken to her after saying she was to not put too much stock into my teaching methods. Little did he know Angela had her own thoughts and ideas about teaching methods that were not influenced by me.
"Good morning," Angela said taking a sip of her latte.
"Good morning. Edward says hello," I answered. She smiled sheepishly.
"Does he? Was that him on the phone?"
"It was. We were making dinner plans."
"That's so sweet that he calls so early in the morning. Where is he taking you for dinner?"
"I'm going to his place to cook. He and Emmett had a bad shift. I'm hoping some home cooked food will cheer them up." I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. Things were moving so fast with Edward. We had only met a few weeks prior.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I looked over at Angela, her eyes full of curiosity and concern.
"I do. I just worry. Things seem to be moving so fast. I told myself, I'd take this slow. I don't have the best track record when it comes to relationships. I need to take this slow."
"Sometimes feelings and love don't work on our time schedule. Slow doesn't mean at a snail's pace, and fast doesn't mean like a cheetah. Each relationship is different. If you feel you two are moving too fast, the most important thing to do is talk to Edward about it. Things can't slow down or speed up without both of you committing to the pace."
"I know. It just get nervous. I'm worried he'll not want to go as slow as me and end this before it has a chance."
"Bella, Edward's not like that. I've known him since he and Ben started working together. He's a patient guy, and from the gossip at the station, and yes, I mean gossip because they're as bad as old women," we both giggled here, "Edward's the kind of guy that is looking for someone to have a connection with, not someone just to hook up with. I really think you can trust him.
"I'll let you know that I was the same way with Ben. We started dating our junior year of high school. Of course I wanted it to last and be significant, but I was also a realist. I know how many high school relationships work or rather how often they fail. Ben jumped in headfirst. He wanted to move the relationship along quickly. I, thinking of all the other failed relationships, wanted to go slow, make sure whatever we had was going to last." She got a faraway look, as if she were reliving her memories.
"I didn't talk to him about it. I decided I was going to try and slow things down a bit and not worry about bothering him with it. He didn't see it as slowing down however. He thought I was pulling away. So, near the end of senior year, to save us each from heartache, he broke up with me." I was shocked. I never expected that. She chuckled at my shocked state. "We were apart for a year and a half. We both went to U of Washington and dated other people for a year.
"The relationships never measured up to Ben, even if it was never at its peak. After careful examination, I realized that it wasn't the relationships that weren't working out; it was the person. Ben is meant for me; I know that now. The person is the important factor, not the pace." She sighed and patted my hand. "It's okay to be scared; it's even healthy to.
"If the person is right, the pace is going to be as well. Talk to him, though. I know it's cliché, but communication is key. I lost a year with Ben because I was too stubborn to talk to him."
We spent the rest of the time talking before heading towards the school. I had three students come by the classroom before the first bell. They each had questions about the readings we would be discussing in class. Each class discussion went well. The students were formulating some great ideas and thoughts about the reading. I took notes from each discussion and decided to compile them all into a document to share with the other classes. I had learned that sometimes the class thought with one mind, meaning they often took on each other's opinions and ways of thinking. It would be good to expose them to other thoughts as well.
During my advanced class, we were wrapping up the discussion on A Separate Peace. I was looking forward to hearing everyone's input but especially Jason's. He had been a daily contributor with some really great insight. I wanted to hear his final assessment. He seemed to be unusually quiet. I continued to watch and noticed he was writing. I waited until the discussion had ended and gave the class the last ten minutes of class free and called Jason to my desk.
"How are you today Jason?" I asked after he sat in the chair next to my desk.
"I'm okay," he answered.
"You seemed distracted during the discussion. I was really looking forward to hearing your input." His face fell a little.
"I'm sorry. I was writing. It's been on my mind a lot lately, and I can't get it out of my head so I thought I might try writing it down."
"Writing's a great outlet. Is it something you would want help with? I'm more than willing to take a look, give you feedback." He looked up at me in astonishment.
"Really? You would do that for me?" I smiled.
"Of course I would." The bell rang and students began to scurry towards the door. "Jason, I'm never joking when I say you have some great insight. I would love to see you explore writing. I think you've got some unexplored talent. I'd like to see what you can do." He smiled widely.
"Okay. I'll type up what I have so far and bring it by tomorrow morning. Thank you, Ms. Swan." I just nodded as he stood and hurried to his next class. I was just as happy as he was. I could see his talent through his papers, but I just knew he would excel in fiction. This would be my chance to see it and begin helping him grow further.
I called Edward as soon as I left. He didn't answer so I left him a message to call when he could. I decided to go to the grocery store and pick up the food. As I was paying for the food, my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID to see it was Edward.
"Hello," I said, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder so I could sign the receipt.
"Hey," he said a little sleepily. "I'm sorry I missed your call. I must have been sleeping hard." I checked my watch to see what time it was. 4:35.
"If you're still tired I can do this another day. I don't want to keep you from your rest."
"No! I want you to come over. Are you really gonna deny me dinner?" He was using a cute, pouty voice.
"If you're sure. I just need directions. I hope you don't mind, but I already bought groceries."
He gave me directions to his apartment, which wasn't far from where I was. I wrote the directions on the back of the receipt then went out to the truck. I started the car, cursing the broken heater and myself for forgetting my jacket at the school. It had rained recently which caused the temperature to drop. My hands felt frozen by the time I reached the apartment complex. My gloves were sitting in the jacket pocket. I called Edward as I pulled the groceries from the truck.
"Hey, beautiful," he answered.
"Hey," I said breathlessly. "I'm in v-visitor parking. How do I get to your apartment?"
"I'll come get you and help carry the bags. Give me two minutes." I hung up and stood next to the truck bouncing in hopes to create some heat. Edward came jogging up within a minute.
"What are you doing? Where is your coat?" He kissed my cheek then took the bags from me.
"I f-f-f-forgot it at the s-s-s-school." I followed him when he began walking, my whole body shaking.
"You should have waited in the truck."
"The heater d-d-d-doesn't w-w-work." The cold seemed to have seeped down to my bones.
I followed him into an apartment on the first floor. Edward took me into the living room and told me to sit on the couch. He left to what I assumed was the kitchen to put the food away. I wrapped my arms around me to try to create some warmth. Edward returned with a blanket and motioned for me to stand. I did and he wrapped the blanket around my shoulders. He pulled me to his body and rubbed his hand up and down my back.
"You need to make sure to remember your coat," he whispered in my ear. His breath fanned over my neck causing me to shiver at his closeness.
"Trust me. I won't forget again." We stood there a few moments while my body temperature slowly came back to normal. I pulled back reluctantly when I felt normal again.
"How about a tour?" I smiled and nodded. I held the blanket around my arms while I followed him.
"So, obviously this is the living room." I followed him as he walked towards a hallway opposite the front door. He opened a door to the right. "This is the bathroom. Esme decorated most of the apartment including the bathroom." It was a standard bathroom. Esme had decorated in a navy blue and deep maroon. He pointed toward the door on the left. "That's Emmett's room.
"He is still asleep, but even if he weren't, I wouldn't recommend venturing in." I snickered and followed him forward. "Here's our balcony. It's a fairly decent size." I gasped when I stepped outside. The balcony had enough room for a grill, patio table with six chairs, two potted plants, and room to stand. The view was phenomenonal. It was a water view, and I could only imagine watching the sunset or rise over the water from the comfortable chair.
"The view is breathtaking," I whispered.
"It is," he agreed softly. I looked over to see him gazing back at me. I blushed and looked down. He cleared his throat and walked back into the apartment. We stopped at the door next to Emmett's room we had passed. "This is my room." He opened the door and motioned me in.
The first thing I thought was that it screamed Edward. It consisted of a five-piece infinity bed set. The bed was a platform bed close to the floor with drawers under the mattress and a high headboard. The mattress was covered in a forest green comforter with crème pillows. There were also two bedside tables. A dresser and armoire were on the left wall. All furniture was in a dark chocolate finish.
The front wall was a floor-to-ceiling unit filled with a fancy stereo, flat screen television and more CDs, records, movies, and books than I could count. Two windows framed the bed and were covered in a thick crème colored curtain. There was a walk-in closet on the right wall as well as a connecting bathroom. I walked over to the entertainment unit. I read over a few titles, smiling when I passed over a favorite of mine.
"It's very nice," I said as I turned to him. He had a curious look on his face that I couldn't place. "You have an extensive collection, varied."
"Emmett says it's strange. He likes classic rock and nothing else," he said quietly.
"I like variety." I stepped closer to him. "How about showing me the kitchen? I can get started on dinner."
"Sure. Follow me." We walked out of his room and he shut the door. I walked a few paces behind him. When we passed Emmett's door, I jumped as it swung open. Emmett pulled me to him and lifted me off my feet into a bone-crushing hug. I smiled despite the lack of oxygen.
"Bellaboo," he boomed as he carried me toward the kitchen. "You're my favorite woman, besides mom. Eddie says you're making dinner. I'm so excited. That cheesecake was amazing. I can only imagine what you're actual food is like."
"Can't…breathe," I managed to squeak out. He sat me down once in the kitchen. "I'm glad you enjoyed the cheesecake." I started pulling things out of the bags.
"What are you cooking?" He was peeking over my shoulder looking into the bags.
"I'm going to make chicken picatta, peas and prosciutto, and roasted potatoes with peppers and onions. I also picked up some ice cream for dessert. I figured you probably had drinks."
"We do," Edward said. "We've got beer, water, and tea. What would you like?"
"Could I have tea please?" He smiled and nodded, walked to the fridge to get the tea pitcher. He got drinks for all of us. Emmett sat in a barstool.
"What can I do to help?"
"No, no. I'm going to cook. You two need to relax." Edward sat down next to Emmett to watch and keep me company. I started pulling out pots and pans then looked for a cutting board. "Emmett, tell me about yourself."
"I'm the best son of Esme and Carlisle Cullen. I was chosen before Eddie. I'm 26. Seattle U is my alma mater where I got a BS in Biology. I like working on cars, playing sports, and hanging out with little kids. I also like to eat and probably should have been a food critic; that way I could eat all I want and get paid for it. I'm single, have been for a while. I enjoy my job, but it's not what I want to do forever." I giggled when I saw Edward's look of annoyance.
"So, your parents love you best. Got it. And you're single. Do you want to be single or are you looking for someone?" I started cutting up the prosciutto and potatoes.
"I just haven't found the right woman yet. I'm kinda picky."
"Tell me about her. What are you looking for?"
"A blonde bombshell with a heart. I want her to have similar interests as me; hard to find since bombshells usually hate guy stuff."
"Huh. What is it you want to do besides being a paramedic?" He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. This peaked my curiosity.
"I want to do research on rare diseases." He was quiet when he spoke, almost hesitant.
"That's amazing." I turned and smiled widely at him.
"You really think so?"
"Of course. I could never do that. I'm not a medical person. Could you do that here in Seattle, or would you have to move?"
"I could do it here. I'm already helping Dr. Denali on a Sitosterolemia case. It's fascinating really. If I ever go back to school and make the career change, I'll most likely join his team." By this time, I had the peas and prosciutto on the stove, the potatoes, onions, and peppers in the oven, and the chicken breaded.
"I think if you go back that's very brave. Not many people go back once they stop. Edward, didn't you say you'd take that test once Emmett decided to make his career change?"
"I did, and it's funny you should say that," he looked between Emmett and I nervously. "I was going to start researching the test today. I figured I could go ahead and take it. The results will be good for three years, and even if I don't use it within that time, it'll be good practice for the next time."
"I think it's a great idea, little brother," Emmett said as he clapped Edward on the back. "Is it because you're tired of living in my shadow?" We all laughed.
"I think it's a great idea if that's really what you want," I said from the stove. I put in the last of the ingredients and covered the dish to simmer. I looked over to see Edward looking deep in thought.
We talked more while dinner cooked. Emmett was a very interesting person. He was very much the teddy bear I first imagined him as, but there was depth to him as well. The more I talked to him, the more I could picture him and Rosalie together. He had described her when talking about his perfect girl. I could see him helping to loosen her up and see her keeping him grounded. I smiled at the thought as we dished up dinner.
"What are the green balls?" Emmett asked as he eyed them suspiciously. I laughed at the way he asked it.
"They are capers, Emmett," I answered. "Just try them. If you don't like them, we'll get rid of them." I didn't have to wait long for a verdict. He put a bit into his mouth and moaned.
"Bella, this is amazing. God! Can we hire you as our personal chef?" I blushed and shook my head. "Well, it was worth a try."
"Bella," Edward said. "This is great. Thank you for doing this." I just nodded and continued to eat.
Emmett moaned and grunted his approval of the food throughout dinner. After we were done, Edward gathered our plates and took them to the sink. I began to clean the kitchen, but he shooed me out, reminding me that I was not supposed to clean. I sat at the bar and watched, my admiration for him growing. Not many men willingly cleaned after eating. Jacob always forced me to. Where did that come from? I frowned at the thought and tried to push it aside.
"Well, kids," Emmett started. "I'm going to my room. I've got some research to read over before I meet with Dr. Denali. Bellaboo, thank you again for dinner. It was great and helped brighten my day."
"Well that was my goal so mission accomplished," I said. He came over and gave me another bone-crushing hug.
"Goodnight. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." He left us in the kitchen. Edward took my hand and led me to the living room.
"It's 6:20. Do you have time for a movie or is there something else you would like to do?"
"A movie sounds great actually. It's been a heavy week and would be nice to just relax."
"Okay. Is there anything in particular you would like to watch?" I shook my head no. "Why don't you go pick a movie from my room? I'll get drinks and blankets."
I walked back to his room to browse the movies. I took a closer look at his room this time and noticed it was very clean. There were no dirty clothes in the floor or take out containers on the bedside table. Instead, I found a reading lamp and a picture of Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Edward. It looked like a photo that had been taken at a summer picnic and couldn't have been more than three years old. I smiled, seeing the pure joy and happiness on all their faces.
I finally made my way over to the movies and looked for something funny. I spent a few moments wondering where to start. There were so many movies that I began to feel overwhelmed. I jumped slightly when I felt arms snake around my waist and pull me against a hard, warm chest. Edward leaned down and kissed my head. I smiled at the gesture and placed my arms on his. He breathed deep and hummed in what sounded like contentment.
"Did you pick something?" he asked.
"No," I answered. "I didn't know where to begin looking. I wanted to pick a comedy." He chuckled and pointed to a shelf.
"These are all comedies. See something you want to watch?" I browsed the titles for a few moments, Edward not moving from his spot.
"Oooh!" I pulled down the movie. "Can we watch this? I've never seen it, but Rose says it's hilarious." He laughed.
"Yes, we can watch it. It's actually one of Emmett's favorites."
He released my waist and tugged on my hand. He led me back to the living room and sat me on the couch while he loaded the DVD. My tea glass was sitting on the coffee table and a blanket draped over the back of the couch. He grabbed the remote then sat next to me. Once he started the movie, he pulled the blanket off the couch and laid it over my lap. He pulled me to sit closer to him and draped his right arm over my shoulders. It felt very secure and protective, very comfortable and right. I leaned into his embrace, enjoying his warmth and the butterflies he caused to flutter.
Throughout the movie, I could feel him running his hand up and down my arm. I could feel his gaze on me a couple times throughout the movie, most often when I was laughing. It made me self-conscious, and I wondered how strange I probably looked while laughing. He would also lean over every once in a while and kiss my temple. These little loving actions would cause my heart to race. He was too sweet for his own good.
"So, there's something I wanted to talk to you about," I hedged while he was getting the DVD from the player.
"What's that?" he asked.
"I was thinking that Emmett and Rose seem like they might hit it off." He stopped and turned to me with a mischievous smile.
"I was thinking the same thing. Emmett needs someone that will kick his ass, and Rose won't take any of his crap." I laughed at his assessment.
"He's Rose's idea of the perfect man. I think she'll be stubborn about it at first, but if anyone can break through her defenses it'll be Emmett." I looked at the clock above the television and noted it was 8:30. "I hate to do this, but I should probably go. I have some papers I need to look over before tomorrow."
"No worries. Let me walk you out." I stood and followed him to the door. "Wait here just a minute." He jogged back into his room then emerged with a thick jacket. "Wear this. I won't have you freezing before you get home." He helped me into the jacket, which swallowed me, then pulled gloves out of the pocket and helped me put them on. He put on his own jacket then led me out of the apartment with an arm around my waist. I unlocked the truck door then turned towards him, my back to the door.
"Thank you again for tonight," he said softly as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "It was perfect, just what I needed."
"You're welcome. I enjoyed it too." He looked down at my lips then back to my eyes.
"Bella, I don't want to be too forward, but may I kiss you?"
My breathing hitched and heart melted when he asked for permission. He would never know how much that meant to me. I had never been asked permission; it was always taken without question or apology. I bit my bottom lip to keep the emotion from showing too strongly on my face. I looked into his eyes and saw the tenderest expression, no maliciousness hidden behind them, and nodded.
He leaned forward slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel his breath on my face, causing mine to quicken. My eyes slid shut when his lips lightly pressed to mine. His lips were soft and smooth. Upon contact, my heart beat heavily against my chest. One of his hands slid up my arm to tangle in my hair while the other slid torturously slow around my waist. As he pulled me closer, I let my hands travel of their own accord. My fingers found purchase in his hair at the base of his head. His unruly, perfect bed hair was softer than I thought. He moaned when my fingers massaged his scalp.
His deepened the kiss, applying more pressure with his glorious lips. This kiss was more than I could have imagined. His hold on me didn't feel possessive and forceful. Rather it felt loving and reverent. I felt sexier and more cherished in that moment than ever before. I pulled back only when oxygen became necessary. He leaned his forehead against mine, both of us trying to catch our erratic breaths.
"I don't think I have to worry about being cold on the way home," I said without thinking. I flushed crimson when he began to laugh.
"I was just thinking it would be a perfect night to sleep with the window open," he answered in an amused voice with that intoxicating crooked smile on his face. I smiled back, appreciating the sentiment. "Please call me when you get home so I know you got there safe."
"I will," I whispered. He pulled me forward and opened the door for me. I slid in, started the truck, and buckled my seatbelt. I turned back to him, smiling at what had just taken place. "I'll talk to you in a little while."
"Okay. Drive safe." I nodded. He leaned forward and placed a soft, sweet kiss on my lips. "Bye."
"Bye." He shut my door and stepped back when I pulled out.
I touched my lips after pulling onto the road. They were tingling a bit as I recalled his lips on mine. The kiss was literally indescribable. It was perfect, more perfect than I could have asked for. He was gentle, but I could feel the emotion and need behind it. I had never understood why Rosalie and Alice wanted to talk about their…escapades, but after experiencing this, I understood completely. I wanted to share the bliss I was feeling. I couldn't wait to get home and see Rosalie.
AN: So, this was uber long. I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I want Angela to take a bigger role in the story. There was the first kiss, after Alice interferred the first time. Meddling pixie. I hope you liked it. Review, and let me know what you think. If you review I'll send you a sneak peek at the next chapter.