Hello! I hope this chapter finds you well. My only regret is that some weeks, work keeps me away from responding to more reviews. Please know, I treasure each one. Your words keep me going.
A special thank you goes out to Honorella (aka Lemon_Charlotte).
Thank you to my dear friends who do so much for this story: orangeapeal, Sunshine (who beta'ed this), and robsjenn.
This chapter goes out to all of those in education. May you enjoy your return or your continued stay.
When we last left our couple, they agreed to a week without sex and teased about spankings for Halloween. Let's see how they are doing…
Chapter Twenty-six
Fast
.
.
.
"Best week ever."
"Really? How so?" Jasper stabs his fork back into his salad.
"I don't know," I wipe the mayonnaise from mouth. "Bella's doing great. We get up early; I go running while Bella does her yoga. Breakfast together… I go to campus, Bella gets all sorts of stuff done. I don't know. It's all good."
"Excellent. It sounds like therapy is working out for her."
"Therapy…? Well, yes, but I'd like to think I have a little something to do with it."
"I'm sure you do, Edward. A supportive partner in times like this can be very important." I think he's placating me. "How's the turkey club?"
"Good." His salad looks a little lame, so I give him a piece of my sandwich.
"Thanks, Edward."
"You know, Jasper, I think the guy sounds a little like a tool."
"A tool? Who? Her therapist?"
"Yeah. He has all these little sayings," I lean in, "and he likes to be called, Doc. Don't you think he sounds like a tool? I mean, really… Doc?"
Jasper sighs and rubs his forehead. "Does it matter, Edward? You just said Bella was doing great. So what if he's using a nickname or whatever?"
"Yeah, yeah. I know." I go back to eating more of my sandwich. Should I drop it? Nah. "I'm just a little surprised she went with a man. You know?"
"No, I don't know. I'm not surprised at all. It's natural for Bella to gravitate towards a man. She has virtually no relationship with her mother, she's spent her whole life with Charlie."
"Yeah. I see what you mean, a Charlie type." It's easy to see someone like Charlie using a nickname like Doc.
"Edward, please tell me you haven't revealed these thoughts to Bella."
"No, I'd never. I've been totally supportive."
"Good. Knowing what a people pleaser Bella is, she'd probably dump him if she thought you didn't approve."
"Good point."
"So, have you made a decision about next year, yet? You should be working on those grad school applications."
"I know, I know… I change my mind every ten minutes."
"I'm not going to push, but you know I'd love for you to join the practice."
Ever since I told Jasper that I'm on the fence about my future, he's been talking to me about being partners. Working with Jasper in one career, or with Carlisle in the other—a win either way.
"Jasper, even if I started a PhD program next year, I wouldn't be ready for another three or four years." I dig my hands in my hair. I can hear each grain of sand fall through the hourglass as I continue to weigh this decision. "Augh… I don't know, Jasper."
"Okay," he shows his palms, "no pressure. My advice is to apply now, decide later. Maybe this is something you can discuss with your therapist. Your first appointment is next week, right?"
"Yes, next week." I go back to eating, hoping to end the therapy discussion. Bella is right; I do like my bacon.
"What else is happening? Are you still going to The Century Ballroom tonight?" Jasper asks.
"Yes. I really wish you and Alice were coming with us."
"I know. Normally, the Disco Halloween Ball is not my scene, but I'm sure Alice would make it fun."
"Bella tried to talk her into it."
Jasper shakes his head. "I casually brought it up once, but I could feel her tension, so I dropped it." He lowers his volume, "But I am hoping this costume shopping trip isn't only for Bella's benefit."
Details?
"Oh, so a little at home dress up?"
"Maybe, we'll see. Alice is making diner tonight. You two are staying at your place, right?"
"Yeah, if that works for you."
"I'm certain Alice is more comfortable in her apartment. The wheelchair accommodations make a considerable difference. In fact... you and Bella don't need to worry about staying in the apartment at night anymore."
More details?
"Do tell."
Jasper clears his throat; I think he's actually uncomfortable. "I am only saying that there is a good likelihood that Alice and I will continue sharing our evenings together. You can stay anywhere you want, but Bella doesn't need to worry about Alice's nights anymore."
"I am the best match maker in the history of the world." I come close to fist pumping.
"One match does not make you a match maker." Although he is trying, Jasper is losing his fight with a big, toothy smile.
"What do you think Alice is going to wear?"
"I have no idea, but I think this is their third shopping trip."
"I know. I'm pretty excited…"
I stop myself before giving Jasper the more private details of this past week—a week that Bella and I named, 'The Fast.' Instead of making love, we talked, wrote, and read. I put aside my men's magazines and we devoured books on everything from the evolution of human sexuality to the psychology of spanking.
I treated this week like an intense graduate course on intimacy. Analyzing each time we had been together, I tried to identify where things went wrong and why they went right. I made charts and diagrams with my findings—lots of charts. Through it all, Bella always made me laugh. One day, I came home to a gift-wrapped bottle of lube—real lube, not lotion or oil—and a card asking me not to damage anything during my 'private time.' Last night, I came home to find Bella pretending to be asleep wearing my huge down coat to keep me away. Excited about tonight? Yeah, I'm pretty excited.
"Here they come." I see Bella wheeling Alice into the restaurant. Alice has several shopping bags on her lap, but nothing from our department store. She'll probably never use that store credit card.
Wheeling Alice to Jasper's side, Bella gives me a big smile. "Hello."
"Good trip?"
Bella takes some of the bags, sits next to me, and gives me an innocent kiss.
"Very."
I reach for one of her bags, but she pulls it away, "No peeking."
"I picked up a few things, too," Alice says, swinging a small bag on her finger.
Jasper tries to hold back his smile as runs his hand from her shoulder to the nape of her neck.
I've never seen him like this… touching in public? Not Jasper.
~0~
"What? Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Bella shakes her head and looks away, but she can't stop smiling.
I know I'm staring, unabashed. She looks stunning. We're sitting at a secluded table, close enough to watch the dance floor, but dark and hidden enough to feel alone.
"What is this kind of dress called again?" I ask, sliding my finger under the white, stretchy material on the far side of her neck and nibbling the side close to me.
"It's a halter dress." Bella buries her face in her hands, laughing. "More booze, please."
"You're fucking hot, Isabella," I say against her neck, before pouring her more Champagne and sliding my hand up her leg again.
The floor length dress has a slit up to her hip. Bella straightened her hair and parted it down the middle. Without a doubt, Bella is the most beautiful woman here.
"You look pretty good yourself, Dr. Rev. Masen. I need to meet this Jay character so I can thank him properly."
I went to Jay for help on my outfit. He stopped me from getting the iconic white and black John Travolta Saturday Night Fever costume. Good thing. There are about forty guys wearing that exact outfit tonight. Instead, Jay lent me his very own disco suit. It looks a lot like Travolta's but instead of black and white, it's all black. It's more Pacino in Scarface. Yeah. We're Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer, that's who we are. But I'm taller than Pacino.
I drink more Champagne; my buzz intensifies.
The band begins to play Le Freak, and Bella asks, "Do you want to dance some more?"
"Not yet. I'm not ready to share you." I hold her head and trail kisses down her throat. Everyone else is making out, why not us?
"Everyone keeps looking at you," I say.
Bella tugs at my hair lifting my head up; it's a little rough, and I like it. "Baby, they're looking at you."
"No," I slide away from her and fill her glass. "That guy over there hasn't taken his eyes off of you for a half hour. I think you have a stalker."
"Where?" Bella looks over her shoulder.
"That guy in the Travolta suit."
"Can you narrow it down?"
"The one with the big afro wig."
"Oh."
Bella turns back to me with a sober expression. My high evaporates.
"Edward, you trust me, right?"
Fear lances through me.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong," she says. Bella's fingertips are on my face; her eyes look large and serious. Unexpectedly, Bella leans in and begins kissing me tenderly. What's going on?
"Bella? That is you." A man's voice breaks our kiss. We look up to see Afro Man at the table.
"Hi, Jared. It's nice to see you. You remember Edward, from the funeral."
Holy shit. It's Mike Newton's best friend. As every muscle in my body tenses, Bella squeezes my hand under the table. The blue and red disco lights flash across his face, making him look demonic one second, and pathetic the next.
"Um, yeah… Hi, Edward." The flashing stops and I see his eyes glaze over; he's stunned.
He offers his hand, and reluctantly, I shake it. His palm feels cool, sweaty. I return my hand to Bella's and she gives me another firm squeeze.
"Would you like to join us for a drink?" Bella offers with a tranquil smile plastered on her face.
What is she doing?
"No… I don't want to interrupt."
"You're not interrupting. Are you here with the guys?"
"Um, yeah." He gestures behind him. Though I wanted to beat the shit out of the guy at the funeral, I feel a strange pang for him. Lord, am I supposed to feel bad for this prick? I mean, this child of yours?
Bella turns to me with beseeching eyes. "Edward, would you mind if Jared and I talked for a few minutes?"
"Um… okay."
She holds my face and speaks in my ear, "Tell Teddy, I'll be fine." Teddy—my internal, raging sixteen-year old.
Bella goes to stand, but I stop her. "No, stay here." Where I can keep my eyes on him. "I'll get drinks… What are you drinking, Jared?"
"Me? Oh… thanks, Edward. I'm good."
I walk to the bar, nearly backwards so I can keep watching them, still surprised by my offer to buy him a drink. Maybe Bella's St. Francis grace is rubbing off on me.
The bartender pours me two club sodas—I don't want us to get too drunk too soon—and lets me bum a couple of cigarettes from him. I watch them talk. There is good distance between them. Good, keep your hands to yourself, Jared. Bella glances at me and I know it's time to head back to the table.
When I arrive, Bella briefly hugs him good-bye, he shakes my hand, and disappears.
Leaning back in her seat, Bella closes her eyes, and inhales deeply through her nose. When her eyes open, she sees me holding the tip of the cigarette.
We don't say a word as Bella stands and I put my suit jacket on her shoulders.
When we get outside, we walk away from the large gaggle of smokers and the vibrations of the band's bass and find a private space half way down the block. I light the cigarette and offer it to Bella.
She takes a puff. "Are you okay, Edward?"
She's worried about me? I should know this about her by now. "I'm fine. How are you?"
Bella nods, "I think I'm good." She hands me the cigarette. I take a few drags and wait patiently, watching Bella work out something in her mind.
"I've been preparing for that, but I didn't expect it to happen tonight. Seattle is a small fucking town."
Fucking?
"Expect what?"
"Coming clean… telling people about you."
I always forget that I'm Bella's dirty little secret. She doesn't sound happy and I feel a dull ache in my heart.
"Is that what you told him?"
"Yes, I did. But mostly, I wanted to see how he was doing. He knew Mike wasn't good to me, but he was still his best friend. If I lost Alice in that accident," she shakes her head, "I can't even think about it."
"I know." You've thought about it enough.
She's distraught, beginning to pace.
"This part of it is really hard for me, Edward." I hand her the cigarette and she takes several non-inhaling puffs in a row. "I don't like doing this to people, it goes against everything I try to be."
"Bella, what are you doing to people?"
"I'm disregarding their feelings. Like last week, at Newtons. I had to sit down all of those people and say, 'You've known Mike since he was a little kid, but I need to tell you what a shit he was to me before the wedding.' I'm getting really good at speaking ill of the dead."
"And you said they weren't surprised at all. Were they?"
"No."
"You see. All you are doing is telling the truth. It's been festering; you needed to do it. The worst is over, Bella. Mike's friends know; people at Newtons know… the word will spread."
Her sad eyes meet mine, then she nods and gives a small smile. "Thank you, Edward."
She hands me the cigarette and I take a drag. It isn't as good as those minty, girly ones.
"Bella, why did you kiss me in front of him like that?"
"I knew he was coming over. I didn't want you to think I was going to hide you." She holds her hands to her chest.
"You are my bright, shining light, Edward. The good part of coming clean is that I can let the world know how much I love you."
The grip I felt in my chest loosens. I put out the cigarette. "Come here."
Bella slides her arms under mine and I sway her while we embrace.
"I know this is hard, Bella, but it's much healthier this way."
"Doc will be so proud of me."
"Hey," I lift her chin to meet her eyes, "I am proud of you."
"Thank you, Edward."
I pull my phone from my pocket. "Should I call for the car?" I knew we would drink tonight, and cabs would be difficult to find, so I hired a car—not a limo—just a car.
"I'm good to continue our evening, if you are."
"Come on, love, I owe you a dance."
With my hand on her lower back, we proudly walk back to The Century Ballroom. When we walk in, the band begins to play I Will Survive.
We both start to laugh. "They're playing our song," Bella says and heads onto the dance floor.
I think dancing with Bella might be my third favorite thing to do with her—maybe second. She lets me spin her around the dance floor using every move the elementary school nuns taught me, and some I create on the spot.
A few times I try to lift her, but because of her uncontrollable laughter, it always ends in me placing her down before she falls. She does like it when I dip her, though.
We continue to drink and to dance and to laugh. As much as I like holding her while we dance, there is a special kind of pleasure I get from stepping away and watching her. Bella dances with abandon—closing her eyes, lifting her arms, bopping her head, and singing at full volume.
We dance more, and go back to our table to drink more, kiss more.
When the band takes a break and Donna Summer's, Love to Love You Baby, starts to play, I finish the last swallow of Champagne, intertwine my fingers with Bella's and lead her back onto the dance floor.
It's not a song; it is a porno soundtrack—overlapping moans with a funk baseline. Sultry.
I lift Bella's arms and drape them around my neck. Her body lilts, completely at my will.
There is no dancing, little movement at all.
Just breathing…
And pressing hard bodies…
I look up from the shoulder I'm sucking on. I think the couple next to us is having sex. I don't care…
If anything, I'm envious.
I feel intoxicated, not only from the Champagne, but from the music, lights, smoke machines—Isabella Swan.
Bella moans in my ear, her sound mingling with the song.
I'm hard.
I don't care.
She sings against my neck, "Ahh, love to love 'ya baby."
I shouldn't come in Jay's suit.
I press my erection into Bella's stomach and she fists my hair, bringing my head to her lips. "Take me home, Edward."
I pull out the phone and call for the car. I can't hear the driver on the other end, but I'm sure he gets the point.
As we wait outside for the car, I keep my arms wrapped around Bella's waist and shoulders and my erection stay firmly pressed against her backside. The history of baseball isn't long enough to take care of this hard on.
Bella angles her head and I kiss her neck again as my thumb brushes against her collarbone. I want to slip my hand inside her dress…
Hi God. I'm drunk. I know I don't usually talk to you during hanky-panky time, so I'll keep this simple. Please help me remember all I read about and thought about this week: Control. Honesty. Communication. Control. Thanks, God. I love you… and I love Bella, too.
I lift my head from her shoulder and repeat my mantra, Control, Control, Control…
The car arrives and we slip into the backseat.
"Back to The Vine, please."
"Certainly, Mr. Masen."
He's a nice man.
I hold Bella's legs over my lap and stroke the smooth skin on the inside of her leg, from her ankle to her knee. That's control, right God?
Bella begins to suck on my ear lobe, and whispers, "higher" in my ear.
I lengthen my strokes up the slit of her dress, from her ankle to the inside of her thigh… but not too high. Control.
"Looks like some traffic tonight, Mr. Masen, Miss Swan. This might take a little while."
Bella tilts my head to her ear and says in a breathy voice, "I can't wait to get you home."
"I know, love, I can't wait to get you home, either."
Bella's breath is hot on my cheek, "Edward, I mean I can't wait to get you home." Just when I realize what she is saying, Bella palms me. "You can't wait either."
I look in her dark, hooded eyes and her smile turns licentious.
"Excuse me, could you find someplace private to park and give us a few minutes?"
"Of course."
He's a very nice man.
By the time his car door shuts, my hand is all the way up to Bella's hip—my tongue in her mouth. I reach her bare backside.
"No panties?"
"Thong, baby. Keep going up."
I find the band of material at her hip.
"Lie back."
Bella stretches out on the car seat and I drag her thong down her legs and off of her silver high heels. I hold the tiny wad of fabric in my hands and say a little prayer to come back in my next life as Bella's thong.
I shift to get on top of her. "Put your legs around me, love."
Bella stops me. "I want to be on top."
Fuck yeah.
I help Bella sit up and she straddles me. I hold her face for a second. She is striking in the moonlight. Thank God for tinted windows. Bella reaches for my belt, as I continue to stroke her cheek.
"Are you sure?" I ask. "You're good? You want this? We're good?"
"Absolutely. You?"
"Yeah, yeah, just checking."
I must have sounded funny, because Bella looks down and laughs, which starts my own laughter.
"Why did we go a week again?" she asks, yanking my belt strap.
"I forget." I struggle with the dress's knot at the nape of her neck.
"Here… wait," Bella says as she dips her head and pulls the top of her dress over her head and it falls to her waist. Her breasts are bare, creamy white, and glorious.
I run my nose around her areola, gently lick, and look up at her.
"Perfect, Edward. Nice and gentle."
So much for all my reading about nipple clamps this week.
I continue the controlled movements of my lips, tongue, and fingers. Her nipples pebble, responding so well to tenderness.
Hi ladies, we haven't talked in a while. Sorry I was so rough with you last time. I'm glad we're still friends.
She unzips my fly.
There's a strange combination, a delicate speed. Like we're in a relay race involving eggs and spoons. Our hearts are racing, our breath is quick, and our kissing hungry—but our touch is soft. It's new for us, good for us.
"Oh, fuck," I grunt as Bella lets me free and strokes my shaft. My head drops back.
"Good, baby?"
"So good."
I hold onto Bella's hips as she lifts herself over me.
"Look at me, Edward." I do, and she holds my face in her hands. "I love you."
Bella slowly sinks down onto me.
I let out a throaty cry of relief, and both of our heads drop to the others' shoulder as I wrap my arms around her.
"Jes—cheese and crackers," she says.
We both laugh between our heavy breaths.
"You okay?" I ask.
"Yeah… I just need a sec."
Bella lifts her head from my shoulder. She licks her lips and kisses me as she lifts herself again and eases back down.
"Oh, oh, Edward. You have no idea how good this feels."
"Yes… yes I do." Bella's body feels hot and soft; she's so aroused. I am completely engulfed by her.
By God's design, there is a place in Bella's body for me to be. We are two incomplete puzzles that lock together, creating one complete picture.
"I like being here." I want to build our house in here.
"You're welcome anytime."
She lifts again.
"Edward, I think I'm drunk."
"You are. Me too."
"Oh, good."
She lifts again—aching slowness.
"Am I doing this right?"
It's only the second time Bella has been on top—the first time changed my life.
"Yes, love. It's very slow… fast is good, too."
"Edward, I love your… penis." She starts to laugh and it ends in a moan.
She lifts again.
"I'm no good at dirty talk… talk dirty to me."
"What?"
"Say dirty things."
Make this good, Masen.
She lifts again.
"You're so wet, Isabella. I love how wet you get… ungh… for me… you're so wet you're sliding on me."
She hovers, with doe eyes and parted lips. "More."
"You like to ride my cock? You like my hard cock, Isabella?"
"Oh, God."
"Ride my cock, baby. Ride it faster." Because this pace is killing me.
"The car will bounce."
"Make it bounce, Isabella. I want you to feel good."
I start to move my hips, giving her more friction. Bella lifts more quickly.
"That's it, Bella. Keep going."
"Oh, God, I love you, Edward." She moans. "Please say the word."
"What? What word…" I'll say anything you want.
"You never say the f-word. Please say it."
Oh, shit. I say it a hundred times a day, but I've never said it like this, when we're doing this… I don't think I can.
"I know we're making love—but let's pretend—just say it."
I swallow hard and muster every fiber of macho I've ever had, currently have, and will ever have.
"Fuck me, Isabella."
I'm going to hell.
She mewls the sexiest sound.
"Fuck my cock. Fuck me fast, Isabella." My voice is husky.
Bella begins to really move… I can feel my orgasm mounting from deep within me.
I watch her breasts sway in front of me as she bounces. She's riding me, fucking me, loving me, and enjoying every second of it.
Tipping her head back, and closing her eyes, Bella smiles with her mouth open. It's the same liberated look she had on the dance floor.
My hands are free to move over her body, but I'm too lost in the sight of her to do anything but hold onto her hips. Even Keith Richards is in awe.
"Say it, Isabella… "
"I love to fuck you. I love fucking your big, hard… Oh, God, I'm close." She gasps and clutches my shoulders.
"I'm waiting for you, baby… I love watching you fuck me… because I fucking love you and I love making love to you…" I'm a fucking idiot.
She starts bucking her hips over my slippery flesh.
The pull in my stomach spreads like wildfire, and the muscles in my legs petrify.
She moans, on the precipice.
I lay my hand on the side of her face. "Look at me."
"Come… with… me…"
I thicken and Bella tightens.
We fall together.
We are a pulsating, moaning creature with unblinking, wet eyes.
I hold Bella tightly to my chest as she continues shuddering waves of aftershocks.
We begin to come out of our haze, still blissful. I tuck Bella's hair behind her ear and look down at her face pressed against my chest.
"You okay, love?"
"Mmm. I'm sweaty." She peeks up at me, sliding her hands inside my suit jacket.
"Me too." I kiss the top of her head and rub her back.
"I think I like being on top."
"That makes two of us."
I lift her chin and give her a soft kiss. "You are a very dirty girl."
"I am," she says proudly, and a grin grows until it is ear-to-ear. Then Bella sighs and rests her head back down. "I had such plans for you tonight."
"You say that like we're done. I am nowhere near done with you."
~0~
Since we left hours before the band got to play Donna Summer's, Last Dance, I find it on my iPod and play it through our condo's sound system. I take Bella's wineglass of Pedialyte from her, drink some, and place it down on the coffee table.
"Dance with me?" I ask.
"Love to."
Taking her hand in mine, I wrap my arm around her waist, and feel her fingers slide up my back. My scalp prickles as she touches my neck. I close my eyes and gently sway us in our living room. This is my favorite dance of the night.
Bella lifts her head from my shoulder and serenades me, "Yes, it's my last chance, for romance to-oo ni-ight."
I join her. "I need you, by me. Beside me, to guide me. To hold me. To scold me," we laugh and sing like we have an audience, "'Cause when I'm bad, I'm so, so bad…"
The tempo picks up and I spin Bella. She lets go of my hand and heads to the stairs.
"Where are you going?"
"Getting changed. 'Cause when you're bad you're so, so bad."
I drop my head back like I've been defeated and listen to Bella laugh as she ascends the stairs.
I dance around our condo, waiting for her. When the song ends I yell up to her, "More disco?"
"I don't mind... play something sexy."
Sexy? Sexy? Sexy? What do I want to listen to while Bella walks down those steps?
I cue up Jet's, Are You Gonna be My Girl.
Glancing at the staircase every few seconds, I pace back and forth wondering what she has in store. She isn't really going to spank me, is she? Oh, Bella, what are you doing to me?
I see her legs descend the stairs. Ruby slippers? On the third step, she stops, turns, and runs back upstairs. I try not to laugh too loudly.
"Get that sweet ass back down here."
I can envision her hesitating at the top of the steps. And then I see them again—ruby slippers, a tight black skirt, a white—oh fuck, she's wearing one of my white oxfords. She has a leather satchel over her shoulder. Bella's hair is up and she has on bifocals with dark frames.
At the bottom of the stairs, she strikes a sexy pose with her hand on her hips. There's lots of black smudgy make-up around her eyes, and her lips… crimson. I still don't get the shoes.
"If you have a question, Mr. Masen, I expect you to raise your hand." She presses those red lips together, already playing a role.
I raise my hand and she gives a nod, so I speak. "I… I um… You look hot."
"That's not an appropriate way to speak to your teacher and that is not a question. Do you have a question?" Oh, God… she is into this. She might actually spank me.
I want to ask her what's in the satchel, about those shoes, and a million other things… but I keep it simple and raise my hand again. I'm actually nervous.
"Yes, Mr. Masen?"
"Where do you want me?"
"I'm taking you someplace where no one can hear you scream."
She stole my line.
.
.
.
.
There are visual and audio accompaniments to this chapter on my profile. If you need a good laugh, please check out the male dancers on Summer's, Love to Love You Baby video. By the way, the full version of the song is 17 minutes long!
The next time you hear from me will be later this week with a Jasper/Alice outtake that I really hope you will enjoy. It has lived in my heart for a long time and I'm so happy to share it with you. It will be under the Outtake/Teaser story on my profile.
As always… love to know what you think. Does Bella have it in her?
Love (to Love 'Ya),
Liz x