Late Night Encounters 16 ~ Surprise!
As we lay entwined with my chest pressed against Bella's back, my fingers traced along her hip. Her head leaned back on my shoulder as she hugged my arm around her, my lips brushing lightly along the skin of her neck. We hadn't spoken a word since I'd covered our bodies over with the blankets, unwilling to relinquish the euphoric finally feeling of her against me. Yet, neither one of us seemed overly anxious to break the silence, either. We'd already said everything that mattered in that space and time.
Suddenly, I felt her body shift in my embrace and my eyes lowered to her face, smiling at the hint of a smirk I found there. "What?"
"Nothing," she replied softly but her smile grew, taking my face in her hands and brushing her lips lightly against mine. "Just absorbing the fact that you're actually here, and I'm not dreaming this time."
"So, you dream about me?" I teased against her lips, gently tugging her closer.
"Quite often, actually," she smirked, sliding her arms around my shoulders and tilting her head back invitingly. I gently captured her lips and a soft, contented moan emanated from her as she draped her leg around mine, pressing her body against me. "But I must say, this is infinitely better."
"Well, I would certainly hope so," I laughed softly, kissing her again firmly and my hand hitching her leg higher. Her fingers grasped my hair with a whimper, her hips rolling against mine and causing me to groan in return.
The door of the suite slammed just as I was about to enter her again, and her head fell back as she heard our friends enter outside.
"You know, a simple 'thank you' wouldn't kill you," Emmett's voice carried through the suite in an aggravated tone I'd never heard before.
"I would have been fine. I could have just called Bella, and she would have opened the door for me," Rose snapped back and Bella's eyes met mine, kissing me gently with a sigh and rolling away.
"What the hell is that all about?" I asked, nodding toward the door as we pulled our clothes back on.
"Your guess is as good as mine. I'm still trying to figure it out," she replied as she fastened her jeans.
Walking over to her, I pulled her back into my arms and held her against me, not ready to leave our bubble yet. "Just one more minute."
She chuckled against my lips, gripping my arms with her hands as she responded and nipping lightly at my lip. "Don't worry, you're not the one she'd like to castrate. And even if you were, I'd protect you."
Her voice took on a playful tone as her fingers trailed down my chest to my waist, tugging gently at the belt loops before pulling away again, reaching the door ahead of me.
Both Rose and Emmett turned to face us as it opened, and I felt Bella's arm slide around my waist as my eyes met those of her friend.
Her eyes ran over me and her arms folded over her chest, her lips pursed in speculation. "So this is the genius who put me in the same room as the buffoon?"
"Oh. pipe down, princess. I had every intention of sleeping on the couch," Emmett retorted sharply, surprising me again with his abruptness.
Rose stiffened slightly as her glare met Emmett's, and I briefly looked to Bella, who merely shrugged. "Well then, we won't have any problems avoiding contact then, will we?" Rose replied in an overly sweet tone and then turned her attention back to me, moving forward and holding out her hand. "Hi, I'm Rose. And judging from the disheveled state of semi-undress, you must be Edward."
Bella sighed heavily, pulling the front of my shirt closed as her cheeks flushed, burying her face in my chest. "You must excuse Rose. She has absolutely no filter."
As I gently kissed her hair, I reached out to take Rose's extended hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"You weren't kidding," she whispered as she leaned toward Bella's ear and then smiled as she brought her gaze back to me. "Don't worry, your taste in friends doesn't count as a strike against you."
"Guess opposites really do attract, even in acquaintances," Emmett shot back and then looked back to me. "I'm taking off for a bit. Good luck with the ice queen, man. Good night, Bella."
Rose's eyes narrowed on him as he began to walk away before storming away herself, both doors slamming simultaneously.
"Wow," Bella mouthed, lifting her eyes to mine. "So, yeah, that was Rose."
"Well, that went over well," I replied sarcastically with a slight chuckle. "I've never seen Emmett have that kind of effect on anyone, or vice versa."
"She does have a talent for bringing the 'best' out in people," she groaned, resting her forehead against my chest and sliding her arms around me beneath my shirt. I pressed my lips against her hair, running my hands gently over her back until her head lifted back up to look at me. "On the upside, she could be stewing for hours."
"I heard that, Isabella!" Rose yelled out from her room as Bella's lips enticingly met mine, causing us both to chuckle.
x-x-x
Seated at the restaurant the next evening, we silently glanced between our friends as they sat across from us. Rose had her chair shifted slightly away from Emmett, her lips pressed in a hard line and gazing up at the chandelier as she took a sip of her wine. Meanwhile, tension etched through his jaw and shoulders, gripping the beer in front of him so tightly, I was sure it would smash between his massive hands.
"So," Rose began suddenly, breaking the silence and bringing her gaze to me, causing a sudden rise in my anxiety. "Bella tells me that you're a doctor?"
I briefly glanced over to Bella and felt her hand rest gently on my knee. Laying mine on top of it, my fingers slid between hers as I took a deep breath, drawing strength from her as the long awaited questioning began. "Yes, that's correct."
"And a fairly prominent position at that, for such a young man?" she continued, folding her arms over her chest and raising a singular brow at me.
Bella cleared her throat and her fingers tensed between mine, shaking her head silently at Rose.
"What? It's an honest question," she stated non-chalantly, shrugging at Bella and then looking back to me.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that," I replied nervously, my brow pulling together in confusion.
"So why this?" she asked pointedly, gesturing between me and Bella. "You're young, good looking, have an excellent, stable job. I doubt there's a shortage of women in Chicago. Why Bella? Why this online thing?"
Letting out a heavy breath, I ran my hand through my hair nervously while Bella's remained on my knee. My mind ran over and over what I should say, as one wrong thing could lead to disaster. If I told her the truth – that I'd never intended on forming any kind of relationship with Bella – it would immediately rouse suspicion. Who goes to an online dating site, as both of us had claimed, without an intention to date?
"I really don't mean to sound like a hardass, but this is my best friend we're talking about. And I don't want to see her get her heart broken," she said, leaning forward on the table.
Bella's fingers tightened on my leg and her eyes fell to the table, reaching for her water glass and taking a long sip. Sliding my hand along her arm, I released her grip on my thigh and took hers into it, giving it a gentle squeeze. I watched a trace of a nervous smile appear on her lips, while still keeping her gaze down, before looking back to Rose.
"Bella is everything that every other woman I've met is not. Even women twice her age," I replied with a slight shake of my head. "I feel more comfortable and happy with her than I have with anyone else in years. The last thing I ever want to see is her heartbroken, let alone be the cause."
"The distance thing isn't a problem for you?" she continued her questioning, tilting her head in speculation.
"I wouldn't say it isn't a 'problem'. I certainly wish it were otherwise, but it's just not possible for either of us right now," I replied, feeling my throat begin to tighten and my palms begin to sweat with her intense gaze on me.
"But how long can this be enough?" Rose asked pointedly. "Before something more substantial will be needed? What about when she graduates in June? Do you expect her to come to you, or would you really be willing to give up everything you've worked for to come to her?"
"I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself, Rose," Bella interjected with an uncomfortable laugh, her face flushing more extensively. "We're not rushing into anything like that, and it's still months off."
"Think you should back off a little, Cujo," Emmett piped in in a low voice, leaning forward and reaching for his beer, his eyes remaining off to the side. "He fucking likes her. Why is that so hard to understand?"
"And why are you so flippant about it?" Rose retorted as he turned to glare at her. "I'm just concerned for my friend."
"So am I," he replied sharply, causing my eyes to widen at his tone and the forceful way he threw his napkin to the table. "In all the time I've known this man, I have never seen him like this. And if this woman is what keeps him smiling and happy, I'm all fucking for it. Just because you're petty and jealous because she has something you don't, doesn't give you the right to interrogate him like a criminal. He loves her, she loves him, and regardless of distance or how they met, they are both consenting adults. Let that be enough."
Bella jumped slightly beside me when he pushed roughly away from the table and stormed away, and I reached to take her hand again. However, my gaze was transfixed on Rose, baffled by the sudden shift in her demeanor. Despite the tightness of her jaw and the stiffness of her posture, the hint of tears began welling in her eyes that she insistently attempted to blink away.
"I..." she started, her voice cracking slightly as she took a deep, composing breath, before her napkin met the table as well and she grabbed her purse. "Excuse me."
Her hasty departure from the table left us both behind in a daze, stunned by what had transpired within the last few minutes. The venom lacing Emmett's voice, even with the sentiment behind it, was something that honestly unnerved me.
Handling my carefree, obnoxious friend was easy and routine after all these years, whereas I had no idea how to deal with this new side of him.
"I think separate rooms might be in order," Bella stated in an astounded voice, releasing a long held breath.
"Somehow, I don't even know if that would be enough," I replied, shaking my head distractedly until I felt the backs of her fingers gently brush against the side of my neck. Turning my head to look at her, I slowly began to feel the ease settle over me as I gazed into her eyes. I leaned forward to kiss her gently and her hand cupped my jaw, holding me against her for a moment before we parted. My arm slid around her waist and I smiled as I pulled her closer. "I've got an idea. I have dessert waiting for us up in our room. So, how about we let Rose and Emmett fight their own battle, and just focus on you and me?"
Her beautiful smile lit her eyes and she nodded, pressing her lips to mine in a brief kiss. "That's the best thing I've heard all night. You're right, they can sort it out themselves, or else just stick it out for a couple more days. I don't want to waste a single minute that I have with you."
I motioned to the server, requesting the check and retrieving my card from my wallet, eager to have Bella alone again. And from the constant feel of her touch, it seemed that the feeling was completely mutual.
x-x-x
Brief, stolen kisses and adoring, yet suggestive glances filled the walk to the room. Even with the experience of New York behind us, it still amazed me how easy it all was for us, how natural. How simply we fell into step with each other from the moment we said hello.
Her body tensed slightly as we reached the door and I brought my fingers to her chin to turn her face to me, gently brushing my lips on hers. "You and me, baby. That's it."
Taking a deep breath, she nodded and hugged herself against my side as I unlocked the door, stepping inside to find the main room empty with no sign of Emmett and Rose's door shut. I led her through the suite, stopping only for a moment at the mini fridge for the container I'd placed in there while she was in the shower before dinner, and closed the doors behind me as she sat on the end of the bed.
"When you said dessert, I must admit, I did not think you were referring to actual food," she teased with a mock pout, slipping off her heels and tossing them onto the floor. Sliding herself up the bed, her mischievous smirk reappeared on her lips as she laid her head back on the pillows. "It's a shame. Since you liked this so much in New York."
Her deep purple dress rode up her thigh as she bent her knee while eyeing me intently as I set the container on the mattress, crawling onto the bed to lie beside her. My lips met hers gently as my hand rested on her thigh, groaning softly when her fingers encircled my wrist and guided mine to settle between her legs. Her smirk grew against me as my fingers ran along her bare skin, nipping playfully on my lower lip.
"You play dirty," I mumbled against her lips, causing her to giggle and pull me closer. "With Rose and Emmett there?"
"I could have played much dirtier and clued you in before dinner," she replied as her foot glided along my calf that now rested between her legs. "But how could I resist? I don't think I've ever seen you sexier than that first night in New York, like you were going to devour me."
With a muffled moan, I kissed her firmly as I felt her arms slide around my shoulders and pull me closer. my hand traveling back down her thigh. I gave a gentle squeeze before parting my lips from hers, pressing my fingertips against them instead. "Don't rush, baby."
Her soft whimper caused me to smile as I lifted myself from her, reaching for the container beside me and setting it between us on the bed. She sighed and sat up in front of me, folding her legs in front of her. "This has got to be one hell of a dessert. At least, I'm hoping so."
"Every time I come to Vegas, I come to this hotel for a reason. And it has nothing to do with the rooms," I replied, opening the top to reveal the slice of seven-layer chocolate cake inside. After sweeping the tip of my index finger over the frosting on top, I held it up to her lips, hinting for her to taste.
Her tongue snaked out to circle my fingertip slowly before closing her lips around it, sucking gently as she hummed in contentment, causing my body to ache. "Not bad."
Clearing my throat with a slight shift of my hips, I took the fork in my grasp and cut off a small bite, guiding it back toward her mouth. "This is better."
Opening her mouth invitingly, her eyes held mine as the prongs slid between her lips and she slowly chewed. She shook her head as she swallowed, taking my hand gently in hers. "I completely disagree."
My brow furrowed as I watched her remove the utensil from my hold and set it back into the container, and then guided my hand to gather more frosting on my fingertips. Raising my fingers to her mouth, she coated her lips lightly with the dark substance and leaned toward me.
"I think I prefer this," she continued in a sultry tone, as her tongue flicked my fingertip.
As I took her bottom lip between mine and sucked at it gently, she rose to her knees in front of me and held my face in her hands. I raised mine to the side of her neck, smearing the remnants of frosting remaining on my finger along her skin and her head tilted back invitingly with a soft sigh.
Trailing kisses from her collarbone to her ear, I felt her body shiver as I grasped her hips, pulling her closer to straddle me. Her breasts pressed firmly against my chest when her back arched as my tongue drew small circles just below her pulse point, my lips sealing over it to feel the racing of her heart.
I brought my eyes back up to meet hers and my fingers slid around to her back, lowering the zipper of her dress and easing it off her shoulders. Returning my hands to her thighs, I slowly inched the fabric up her legs and torso, lifting it over her head. "I think we've had enough dessert for now."
Her eyes noticeably darkened and her lips met mine feverishly as she began loosening my tie, pulling the two ends free and dropping it on the bed. As her fingers rose to unbutton my shirt, I reached around her to unhook her bra, an impatient whimper escaping her throat as she paused to pull her arms through the straps before resuming her task.
Pushing the fabric over my shoulders, her kisses moved along my neck as I shrugged it off, her hand slipping between us and pressing against my hardened erection, stroking me slowly through my pants as her lips met my Adam's apple. "Oh fuck, baby."
My fingers gripped her hips as I felt her unbuckle my belt and make quick work of the button and zipper, her teeth dragging lightly over the skin of my neck. Her hands grasped mine and removed my touch from her, smiling wickedly as she slid off my legs and pulled me to kneel in front of her. Her lips brushed against mine teasingly as she lowered my pants and boxers, and then dipped her finger into the frosting. "I don't think I'm quite done with dessert yet. My turn."
Tapping her fingertip against my chin, her lips closed around the small dab she left there, repeating the action all the way down my chest and abdomen, causing my breaths to increase significantly. She trailed what remained on her finger along the underside of my length, followed by her tongue dragging slowly and torturously to the tip before taking me into the warmth of her mouth.
My head fell back as she moved along me, her fingernails running lightly over my thighs and causing a pleasurable shiver to course through my body. Suddenly, her mouth left me and she kissed her way back up my chest, my hands gripping her sides as she knelt in front of me and kissing her passionately.
"What the fuck! Get out of my room!" Rose's voice screeched through the suite.
Bella's shoulders fell with a sigh and she began to pull away, but I held her firmly, raising one of my hands to weave my fingers into her hair and turn her back to face me.
"Uh-uh, no. Just you and me tonight, remember? Nothing exists outside of this room, just for tonight," I whispered against her lips as I lowered her to the bed, settling my body on top of her as I kicked off my pants. Her hands slid around my back and gripped my shoulders, our kiss deepening as she pulled me against her.
As I slowly entered her, every other sound disappeared with her soft moan filling the air around us, our lips parting and gazes locking. Her hips lifted to meet mine more firmly, pressing me deeper and causing me to breathe out shakily.
"Make me forget everything else, Edward," she murmured softly, her fingers tracing lightly over the back of my neck.
Beginning a slow pace, I watched her face as her eyes closed and her lips parted, exhaling a soft breath each time I filled her. When she began arching her neck, I lowered my lips to the exposed skin, kissing up to her ear and feeling her body tremble in response. "How's that?"
"Getting blurry," she panted breathlessly as her hand weaved into my hair to hold me in place. She gasped abruptly as I bit lightly at her neck, followed by a resonating groan. "Blurrier."
Removing myself from her hold, I sat up and took her hands, pulling her off the mattress and silently motioned for her to turn around. She kissed me gently and complied, her hands gripping the top of the headboard tightly as I slid back inside her, my hands taking hold of her hips. My thrusts resumed at a slightly quickened pace and her head rose sharply, sending her long, brown locks cascading down her back – one sight that she knew drove me crazy.
Leaning forward to press my lips to her shoulder, my fingers slid around her stomach and lowered between her legs, massaging her in time with my thrusts. "And now?"
"Gone. Completely gone," she cried out in a strangled tone, bringing one hand back to grasp my hair again while her body rocked back anxiously against me. Her grip gradually tightened on my hair and her knuckles began whitening on the headboard, the soft whimpers emanating from her clearly indicating how close she was.
"You ready, baby?" I whispered, brushing my lips against her jaw and she nodded quickly. "Tell me, Bella. Let me hear you."
Her teeth clenched as her muscles began to tighten, her pants escaping as hisses until a growl rumbled from her throat and her head flew back against my shoulder. "Oh fuck, yes!"
My arm wrapped tightly around her waist as her body began to shake, my other hand continuing to move briskly against her. She cried out incoherently as her orgasm claimed her and I sucked lightly at the skin of her shoulder with a deep moan as mine joined hers a moment later.
Releasing her hold on my hair, she collapsed onto the bed, rolling over to gaze up at me with a satisfied smile. I slowly lowered myself onto her again, claiming her lips with mine softly as I felt her arms circle back around my shoulders.
Our friends' tirade continued to echo through the doors, but it faded into the background once again as I gazed down at the woman beneath me. Her skin still held a slight flush, but it was the look in her eyes that spoke volumes; a radiance held there that I only saw when we were together like that. Moving only to share a brief kiss or touch, the rawness of our encounter melting seamlessly into the tender passion we felt for each other.
Then suddenly, her fingers slowed as they traced through my hair and her gaze shifted to a more serious appearance. "I really do love you." She spoke softly, but the intensity of her eyes as they held mine rendered me speechless. Pulling my lips to hers, she inhaled deeply through her nose as her arms clung tightly around me and held me against her, catching me temporarily off-guard.
"Bella, baby," I managed to mumble against her lips before she finally broke away, opening her eyes again to look at me. "I love you, too, but what's wrong?"
She sighed heavily before placing a smile on her face and shaking her head. "Nothing. I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you I love you," she said, pushing me gently onto my back and brushing my lips with hers. "Be right back."
Before I could stop her, she lifted off the bed and ran into the bathroom, leaving me more than a little confounded. I sat up, removing the cake box from the bed and setting it on the bedside table, then slid my legs under the covers and leaned back against the headboard. While waiting for her to return, the look in her eyes and sudden change in her demeanor would not leave my mind. I could only hope that she wasn't already dreading the end of the week again, as she had in New York on our first morning, when we hadn't even made it to Chicago yet.
When the door opened again, she stepped out of the bathroom with a fresh face, free of make-up, rolling up the sleeves of the white bathrobe wrapped around her. Lifting her gaze to meet mine, a small smile appeared on her lips and she walked toward the bed. "You covered up. Damn."
"So did you," I pointed out, gesturing my hand to the robe and she giggled softly, crawling up the bed to lay beside me with her head on my shoulder. "Are you ever going to tell me what you were thinking?"
Her cheek lowered to rest on my chest and her arm wrapped securely around my stomach. "Is it always going to be like this?"
"Like what, baby?" I asked in a soft voice, running my hand gently over her hair.
She turned her head to press her lips against my chest for an extended moment and then sat up, propping herself on her arm as she gazed at me. "If there was no distance between us, would you want me this much still?"
I felt my brow pull together as I sat forward, resting my elbows on my bent knees. "What?" I asked in a tone of disbelief.
She ran her hand through her hair and sighed, chewing her lip gently and drew in another slow breath before continuing. "I'm not doubting that you love me, I know you do. But something Rose said tonight really got to me. And probably not even in the way she intended."
Brushing my fingers along her cheek, I attempted to coax her into looking back at me but she closed her eyes. "Bella, what?"
"Do you think if we were closer and could see or touch each other whenever we wanted," she paused, swallowing hard before bringing her eyes back to me again. "That you would still look at me the way you do now? You make me feel so beautiful, and sexy, and desirable, before you even touch me. I never want to lose that. I love the way you see me, and I don't want that to change."
"Oh, God," I breathed out heavily as her eyes lowered again, cupping her face with my hand as I slid closer to her and kissing her gently. "Baby, I'm always going to want you this much. Whether there's two thousand miles between us, or two feet. I still rush home every single day just to see you and hear your voice. You're part of me, Bella."
She leaned her cheek into my palm and lifted her hand to cover mine, never taking her eyes off me. "I just never want to become ordinary to you."
Sliding my arm around her waist, I laid back and pulled her on top of me, brushing her hair from her face. "There hasn't been an ordinary thing about you since the first night I talked to you. You never cease to amaze me. And if I had any doubts about us, I might have still invited you to Chicago, but never to meet my family. I haven't done that with anyone since college."
"No one? Tanya?" she asked, her brow furrowing more as she spoke and I shook my head silently. "Wow, now I'm really nervous."
"Don't be," I replied with a smile, rolling us over to hover over her. "They're going to love you just as much as I do."
x-x-x
BPOV
"Bella…"
Soft lips and warm breath moving along my neck caused me to stir. I reached back for Edward, taking his hand and wrapping his arm around me again, whimpering groggily when I felt the fabric of his shirt against the back of my arm. "Don't go."
"I have to, baby," he whispered as I turned my face toward him and he kissed me gently. "One more morning after this, then I'm all yours."
I felt the smile tug at my lips and I opened my eyes, tracing my finger along his jaw. "Good. I want to wake up to you in the bed with me, not just on it."
"I'll make it up to you, I promise," he replied softly, kissing me once more. "I gotta go. I love you."
"Mm, love you, too," I mumbled sleepily and pulled the covers tightly around me again as he stood to leave.
As I nuzzled back against the pillow, I had every intention of falling back asleep, passing at least another hour or two while Edward was gone. However, without his body beside me, I suddenly felt cold and sleep wouldn't claim me. I rolled over and pulled the blanket that had been covering his body all night to my face, inhaling his scent deeply and smiling.
The way he'd made love to me the night before, once he shed my robe and I slid into bed beside him, was indescribable. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt, even with him. The passion between us practically radiated through our skin, the look in his eyes as he gazed down at me, as if I were his entire world, was intoxicating, as well as enlightening.
I couldn't be without him.
Slipping out of the bed, I reached for the robe on the floor and wrapped it around my body as I stood, glancing down to the blinking light on my phone. When my screen illuminated, I smiled at the text waiting for me from Edward, sent over an hour before.
Good morning, beautiful. Coffee's on the table. See you tonight. xo
After sending a quick reply to thank him, I walked out into the living area, surprised to find no sign of Emmett still. Then, as I heard movement in Rose's room, I realized I probably shouldn't have been. If she was already awake, he was most likely long gone; particularly after the screaming match that Edward had so successfully distracted me from the night before.
I had just settled down at the table to take the first sip of my coffee when the door across the suite opened and Rose stepped out, closing the door behind her. Slowly lowering my cup back to the saucer, my eyes widened at her.
Rosalie Hale had always been the epitome of beauty and pride in her appearance. Yet, there she stood before me with smudged mascara and lipstick that she'd neglected to remove the night before, and her hand brushed back her tangled mass of blonde hair. Her robe hung haphazardly on her body, and she hugged it tightly around her.
"Morning," she said softly in a meek voice I'd never heard from her, which immediately rose alarm in me. "Look, before you freak out, let me explain."
"Explain? There's something to actually explain?" I asked and she lowered herself into the chair across from me with a nervous look on her face.
"Emmett is… kinda in my room," she stammered, her eyes gazing out the window.
"Kinda in your room?" I replied, shaking my head in disbelief. "How is he kinda in your room?"
"Alright, he's in my room. In my bed," Rose said, her breaths coming more quickly in her anxiety. "And there's no kinda about the most amazing sex I've ever had happening last night, either."
"You slept with Emmett?" I exclaimed with wide eyes, to which she instantly hushed me, and I continued in a softer tone. "You hate Emmett!"
She shrugged her shoulders and looked away again, laughing uncomfortably. "You'd think so, huh? But something happened last night, Bella. I can't explain it. Like one minute, we were screaming at each other, and the next we couldn't keep our hands off one another. It was the weirdest thing."
I was stunned speechless, unsure of what I would say if I had use of any of my faculties. I held my head between my hands, attempting to make any sense out of what she'd just told me, but there was none to be found. None of it made any sense at all.
"And don't hate me," she said after several moments and I brought my gaze back to her. "But I think I'm moving to Chicago at the end of term."
I furrowed my brow until her eyes met mine and I began shaking my head violently. Of all the cliché...
"I married him," she said with a nod, pulling her left hand from the pocket of her robe and holding it up, revealing a gold band now gracing her ring finger.
Holy shit!