|- 200 -|
"What kind of help?"
"For one thing, could you try to keep your belly under wraps?"
"Okay."
"And the male conditioning to a minimum?"
"Edward, sometimes Esme gets backed up and I have to take care of my own heads."
Ugh.
"I understand. But …at least promise me you won't enjoy it?"
I'm begging. She answers by flipping her hand over and holding mine.
"Promise."
I nod, and some of the tension flows away.
"And about that teasing? Can you just …not? Because honestly, Bella?"
She doesn't wait for the end. She meets my lips and shimmies into my lap.
-o-
Bella holds my face between her palms and kisses me as if trying to wipe away any doubt I've ever had. It's a gesture of acceptance, comfort and new understandings. I return her kiss with equal fervor, communicating that I'm going to give this everything I've got, because she's worth it.
We're worth it.
"You sure you don't mind if I stay over? I don't want to cause any problems with Alice."
"I'd be shocked if Alice came home tonight; besides, she couldn't care less."
I catch sight of my hair in the mirror as I wash up for bed.
-o-
"I can't go to work like this."
"C'mere, let me unpouf you," Bella steps behind me. "Dunk your head in the sink."
Easier said than done, but I eventually manage to bend down enough that we don't slosh water all over the tile floor. She towels me off, and I close my eyes, readying myself for the unique brand of foreplay I've come to love. She runs her fingers through my hair a few times, and then announces, "All set."
"That's it?"
Bella giggles. "The bed's gonna do the heavy lifting. I just got you started."
"That you did, baby."
A/N: What a nice place for her to be after 200 chapters- shimmied into his lap with new understandings. XXX ~BOH