A/N: Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews. I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this story.
I really hate it when FFN eats my formatting when I upload a document. Hopefully I didn't miss anything when I fixed it.
Here's an extra long chapter to make up for the last cliffie!
Chapter 14
"Did you just say you're dating Edward?"
I hear the shock in Esme's voice and squeeze Bella's hand a little tighter.
"Yes," Bella answers confidently. "We started dating a little while ago, and I honestly think that Edward's the best thing that has ever happened to me."
I look over at her and give her an encouraging smile, letting her know I feel the same.
"But what … how did … I don't understand," Esme stutters out. She takes a deep breath and tries again. "I mean, I know you two have always been friendly, but you're twelve years older than him." She points at me. "He's my step-son!" she says loudly, rising slightly from her seat.
"I know, Es. This isn't something that we planned," Bella defends calmly. "But you're right, we've always been close, and now we've gotten closer." She looks back and forth between her sister and my dad. "Edward was there for me when I needed him—"
Esme cuts her off in an outrage, turning her fury on me. "Did you take advantage of her?" she yells toward me.
I open my mouth to say something, but Bella beats me to it.
"He did not take advantage of me, Esme. I'm a grown woman and I make my own decisions. Edward is also an adult, and very capable of making his mind up for himself." Esme tries to get a word in, but Bella holds her hand up and continues. "I understand that there will be questions—between my marriage just ending and our age difference—but I want you to know that he makes me happy, which is what I need right now. And, if I'm not mistaken, I make him happy, too."
She turns to me and I nod in agreement, not really feeling like I have anything to add.
"But, Bella …" Esme starts, only to be silenced this time by my father who I had almost forgotten was at the table.
He's the picture of calm and collected, always the reasonable man, as he puts his hand on her elbow. "Esme, sit down and let's talk about this instead of jumping all over them."
"Thank you, Dad," I chime in.
"Look," Bella starts back up. "I know this seems somewhat … unconventional, but we've talked …" She waves between herself and me. "And this is something we want to pursue. Neither of us can predict the future right now, but we'll deal with whatever comes our way. Esme, you know I love you and your support means the world to me, which is why we chose to tell you instead of keeping this quiet. I'll understand if you can't accept this, for now, but I do hope that you'll come around."
Esme huffs but doesn't say anything.
After a few moments of silence, Dad jumps back in. "I can't say I'm thrilled about this, but you're both adults and have clearly thought this out, so I doubt there's anything I can say that will change your mind. Edward, I know I raised you right and I can trust you to be respectful. I expect you to treat Bella properly." He gives me a pointed look.
"Honestly, Dad," I start, glad to finally have a say. "That's one of the reasons I wanted you both to know about this. For one thing, I'm not ashamed of dating Bella and don't want it to be a secret. Also, I'd like to be able to take her out on a proper date." I turn and smile at Bella, whose expression softens immediately.
"What happens when this doesn't work out?" Esme asks, clearly not on board yet. "What about your apartment?"
Bella fields this one. "We're taking things slow right now, and we'll work through whatever comes our way. At the moment, we're still roommates who happen to be dating. We both have our own rooms and we function as two adults who share an apartment. I understand your concerns, but I really would like you to give us a chance to work through everything on our own."
Esme sits back in her chair and crosses her arms. "I still don't like it, but obviously my opinion is not going to change your mind."
"You're right, Es. But I would still like to have your support."
Bella's last comment does the job of softening her sister. "You'll always have my support."
"That's all we're asking for," Bella says, smiling at her sister and ending the discussion.
We stay for a little while longer, but decide to leave when things start to feel strained. Even though they know about our relationship now, I think Bella and I are both unsure how to act in front of my dad and her sister.
Returning home, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I pull Bella down onto my lap after I flop on the couch.
"So, about that date," I say as her arms circle my neck. I feel her fingers tangle in my hair before she kisses me lightly.
"Mmhmm?" she questions.
"May I take you out tomorrow, Ms. Swan?" I ask with formality.
"I'd love that."
I spend Saturday morning planning our date, mostly on the internet but also making a few phone calls.
"Bella," I call out from the living room.
"Yeah?" she answers, walking in from the kitchen.
"Do you have anything you need to do tomorrow?"
She thinks for a moment then answers. "Not really. Why?"
"We'll need to stay over somewhere tonight for where I'd like to take you. Is that okay?"
"That's a little presumptuous for a first date, isn't it, Mr. Cullen?" she says playfully.
I smile at her as I walk over and grab her waist, pulling her close. "I promise to be a perfect gentleman," I say quietly.
"I don't know if you need to go that far," she retorts playfully.
"Is that a yes?"
"Just tell me what to pack," she says, smiling brightly.
I explain that she'll need a cocktail dress for tonight and whatever comfortable clothes she wants for tomorrow. She'll have plenty of time to get ready when we get there, so she goes to pack up while I firm up the plans.
An hour later, we're packed and in the car. After begging me for the first hour of the trip, I finally relent and tell her we're going to Seattle, but I don't give her any other details.
Bella's jaw drops when I pull up at the valet of the MarQueen Hotel. It's a charming, historic building that happened to have a last minute deal when I looked for bookings this morning. We check in and are shown to a beautifully appointed room with a king size bed and a kitchenette.
Once Bella showers, I take my belongings into the bathroom to get myself ready and give her some privacy while she dresses. I shower but leave the stubble I know Bella likes, and then get dressed in a charcoal suit with a lighter grey shirt and a brown tie.
"You decent?" I call out as I knock on the bathroom door before exiting.
"You can come out," Bella responds.
My breath gets caught in my throat when I see her reflection in the mirror as she finishes applying her lipstick. Her hair is mostly up, but long, brown waves flow over one shoulder. She's wearing a black dress with beads and sequins on a lacy overlay. Her décolletage is on display and it takes all my control not to drag my mouth across it.
"You look stunning," I tell her as I approach from behind. My hands find her waist as I drop a kiss in the crook of her neck.
She sucks in a breath before responding. "Thank you. You look pretty good, yourself."
Remembering the gentleman I promised to be, I offer her my arm once she's ready to leave. We walk the few blocks down to Prelude, the restaurant I reserved for dinner. We share a delicious meal and light conversation, but I can't help staring at the beauty before me. I use any excuse to hold her hand or touch her during the meal, and she doesn't seem to mind.
We finish dinner right on time, making our way across the street to Intiman Playhouse. Bella looks at the marquee as I step up to the box office to pick up our tickets.
"Edward," she says with shock in her voice. "You didn't …"
When I look back at her, she's smiling brightly, and I know she's happy that I did. I walk back to her and show her the tickets. "Two for The Taming of the Shrew."
Her smile gets impossibly wider and she shakes her head. "You couldn't have planned a better first date," she says, standing on her toes to kiss me on the cheek. She stays there and whispers in my ear. "And, you just may get lucky later."
I laugh and offer her my arm once again to escort her into the theater.
As expected, Bella and I both enjoy the play. It's even more enjoyable because we're together, and I don't think it hurts that she leans into me and holds my hand most of the time.
We walk back to the hotel in comfortable silence, with Bella tucked under my arm right where she belongs. As soon as the hotel room door clicks closed, I turn to drop the key on the desk but Bella surprises me by pushing me up against the wall.
She pulls my head down to hers and kisses me deeply. "Thank you for a perfect first date," she says as soon as our lips part.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did," I respond with a smile.
"Now, I'm pretty sure I promised something along the lines of getting lucky," she says as her hands work to open the buttons on my suit jacket. As soon as she pushes it over my shoulders, it drops to the floor and she pulls on my tie, loosening it just enough to slip it over my head.
I hum in agreement when she starts working on the buttons of my shirt with one hand, the other hand dragging down my chest over the exposed skin. My head falls back against the wall as her lips follow the same path her hand just took and my shirt joins my jacket on the floor.
Wrapping my arms around her, my fingers feel for the zipper of her dress and begin pulling it down her back. I lean over and place kisses on her neck and across her shoulder, enjoying the bare skin once I've slipped the strap down her arm. Once the zipper is fully open, I lean back to enjoy the view of her dress pooling around her feet.
"Beautiful," I whisper as I take in the sight of her black strapless bra and lacy underwear, my hands ghosting down her arms. She turns around to open the clasp of her bra and I realize she's wearing a thong. I reach out once again and slide my hands from her ribs to her waist, ending on the full flesh of her ass. I groan as she bends over to remove her underwear.
Still wearing her heels, she walks over to the bed and sits on the edge, crooking her finger in a "come hither" way. I'm off the wall in a flash and moving toward her.
"Leave them," I command in a voice I don't recognize when she starts to take off the shoes.
She looks up and bites her lip as I stand between her parted legs. I make quick work of the rest of my clothing while she watches. Her lips make contact with my chest and she wraps her hand around my cock, causing me to groan in appreciation.
I push her body gently so she's lying on the bed and I hover over her, kissing a fiery trail down her neck, across the flawless skin of the décolletage that's been taunting me all night, and finally covering a perfect breast with my mouth. She moans as my teeth gently nip at her taut bud, and again when my fingers find her wet center.
"Mmm, so wet for me, Angel," I tease before slipping two fingers inside her.
Her breath catches before she whimpers, her hips shifting against my hand. "I need you, Edward. Now," she whispers.
"Anything you want, baby." I slip my hands under her shoulders and slide her up the bed, dropping my body on hers and gliding my flesh through her wetness.
She reaches between us and takes me in her hand, guiding me to where she wants me and shifting her hips so I enter slightly. Following her lead, I thrust quickly, stilling when our hips meet.
"So good," she mewls.
I kiss her deeply as our hips begin to work in tandem, pushing and pulling and meeting perfectly in the middle. When our breathing picks up to where we are no longer able to kiss, I pull back and watch her closely. Her beauty, both inside and out, astounds me. Her eyes are squeezed shut and her mouth is open, panting breaths escaping as she focuses on our movements.
Her eyes fly open and lock on mine when my fingers reach between us to heighten her pleasure. I continue watching her while our tempo increases. Her face and chest flush when I feel her orgasm start, and I hold myself back so I can enjoy seeing her pleasure.
"God, you're beautiful when you cum," I tell her through gritted teeth.
When her eyes finally close, I let myself go. With a few erratic pumps, I spill deep inside her, throwing my head back and screaming her name in ecstasy.
I come to my senses and look down at her, finding her smiling at me. She reaches out and cups my cheek. "You're pretty beautiful, too."
A/N: No cliffie this time! Please let me know what you thought.
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