Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T+, Shadows
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Prompt: Browse
Edward squeezed a sponge, sending water over my shoulder as I leaned against him in the tub. He was being overly gentle, but that was probably because of the bruises. Looking down my body I could see the places his fingers had lingered during our first time together. My arms, shoulders, breasts, hips and thighs all showed evidence of his ardor. If I looked in the mirror I'd see another, very faint, bruise on my chin and my swollen lips. It was impossible not to smile at the memory.
Unfortunately, Edward wasn't smiling. "You look like you've been beaten," he said, his voice pained.
"I feel like I've been loved," I grumped back. I was tired of this. When I woke up he was across the room, sitting in a chair, wallowing. It wasn't until he pulled back the sheet and pointed to my body that I had any idea what he was talking about. Actually, at first I thought he was unhappy with my less-than-perfectly-flat stomach.
"Love shouldn't involve pain, Bella," he said, shifting behind me. Despite his words I could feel the effect having me naked in front of him, in the tub, was having on his anatomy. Naturally, I pushed back against him there. "Don't."
I shoved away his restraining hands, turning quickly in the tub, ignoring the water that splashed over the sides. "If it doesn't involve pain, then don't hurt my feelings by rejecting me," I said, pressing my lips to his as I tried to wrap my legs around his waist.
"Bella." He sounded like he was in pain. "I don't want to hurt you again."
"Then don't tell me no," I said. He let me lift his hands from my waist and put them on the sides of the tub. "Hold on here. I want to learn about you. Can I at least touch you?"
"What if I can't control myself?" he asked, his knuckles turning white where he gripped the sides of the tub as I began to trace the muscles in his shoulders.
"All the better for me," I replied, full of snark as I lightly kissed his lips. I took my time, allowing my fingers to travel over his body, kissing his at my leisure, and trying not to giggle when I made him groan.
After a few minutes he stood up, carrying me out of the tub in his arms. "You need to stop, Bella. I know you think you're fine, but I don't."
"Why not? Aren't I the one who gets to decide if I'm fine or not?" I asked, placing the hand not trapped between our bodies on my hip. I didn't wince when I hit a bruise, I swear, although his arched eyebrow seemed to be arguing with me. "Give me one good reason why you think I can't decide this for myself."
He carried me over to the full length mirror and set me on my feet. "Why don't we count the reasons?" he asked, his fingers pointing to each bruise as he said a number. "One, two, three…" On and on he went. Only, instead of proving his point, he was having quite the opposite effect on both of us.
"Are you sure this isn't just some excuse for you to browse through my assets?" I teased, getting a smirk in reply.
"They are some mighty fine assets," he said, sliding up my body so he could wrap his arms around me. "Too bad someone damaged the merchandise."
"Well, maybe he should kiss it and make it better?" I offered. He snorted and shook his head.
"You aren't playing fair, Bella," he whispered as he complied with my request. His lips moved from one spot to the next, making me squirm with excitement and anticipation over where he'd go next. "You know this isn't making me feel any better, right?"
My only answer was a soft moan when he reached a particularly sensitive place. "Did I hurt you again?" he asked, pulling abruptly away. I shook my head and wove my fingers into his hair, returning him to where he was. "Bella, I…" I looked down to see he was warring with himself, but as soon as his eyes met mine he picked me up and rushed me to the bed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," I breathed, desperately trying to pull him against me.
"We need to meet our boat in a few hours," he said. "Do you want to do your hair?"
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
"Shut up and kiss me."
I'll get to review replies, I promise. Sorry, it shouldn't have been that busy today.
I did read them, though, and the majority of you want a little something, something. So I hope you enjoyed it, even if it was only a little something. xoxo!