Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for several reasons.
Chapter 15 Belle of The Ball
BPOV
There's isn't exactly a big reveal when we're ready to leave, though I did at least get dressed in the bathroom, unlike Edward who, being Edward, just whipped his towel off and got dressed without batting an eyelid. Of course I watched that show, I'm only human.
And its was weirdly not odd as he lounges on his bed, watching me apply my makeup and put my hair up while we chat easily.
He doesn't comment when I open the leather case and put the diamond drop earrings in but he jumps up immediately when I lift out the necklace, gesturing for it as he comes to stand behind me.
"Harry Winston?" He observes having glanced at the case as he places them around my throat and moves my hair to fasten the clasp.
Even the light brush of his fingers transfers his warmth into me. How does he do that?
"Yes."
"Who gave them to you?"
"The Old Man."
He steps back, smiling at me now in the mirror.
"They look beautiful against your skin."
"Thank you."
"You about done?"
"Just lipstick."
"Am I allowed to kiss you once the lipstick is applied?"
"Pfft. No. How many times have you heard Esme yell at Carlisle for the same offence?"
"In that case." He chuckles, grabbing my waist and spinning me round. "I'd better get in while I have the chance."
And he lays one on me, bending me backwards bodice ripper style.
Its not sexy or sweet, just hilarious and we break apart laughing.
"Okay." He says as he steps away from me again. "You can apply your lipstick now."
...
Bless Aro, this is indeed an occasion, there's even a receiving line, along which the diamonds I was so worried about pale into insignificance.
Not that I care. Years ago this would have intimidated me. Being on Edward's arm with so many predatory women covertly sizing him up would have intimidated me. But I'm made of sterner stuff these days.
I even know some of the people here just as Aro predicted, though I'd previously had no idea they owned racehorses.
Its a beautiful venue and beautifully decorated and I have to wonder if Aro has a crystal ball since my light blue silk dress is bang on the color scheme.
We grab a glass of champagne and wander off to one side so Edward can quietly tell me who everyone is.
"How many of these women have you actually slept with?" I ask as another beautiful specimen finds an excuse to walk past and give us both the once over. Hot eyes for him, appraisal and narrowed eyes for me.
"Um." He hesitates, looking embarrassed for once. "A few?"
I roll my eyes but he doesn't laugh, instead he changes the subject.
...
The dinner is pretty good and we're at a table that includes several trainers that he seems to know quite well. And they clearly know who I am and are applying varying degrees of persuasion to get me to buy a horse and place it with them.
Its fun.
...
After dinner most people set off table hopping while the orchestra warms up but Edward and I kick back with our cocktails to people watch.
Back in the day, the circling women would be closing in on him by now, but femme fatale wise we're in a little oasis of calm. Its different and I'm not so unaware that I don't realise why. They're not scared of me, but things have changed enough for them to think twice about making a move on him while he's sat next to me.
I like it.
So much so that I may be smirking at the more obvious ones.
Okay, so I am, because every time I do a chuckle rumbles in Edward's chest.
"Enjoying yourself?" He whispers eventually as he coils one of the trailing tendrils of my hair around his finger.
"So far so good."
"Ready to dance?"
"No, there aren't nearly enough people out there yet."
He leans toward me, brushing his lips against the shell of my ear as he speaks.
"I didn't think you'd care about things like that anymore?"
I turn to face him, accidently rubbing our noses together.
"Just how much do you think I've changed?" I ask, sounding pathetically breathless.
"I don't know." He murmurs. "But I am going to enjoy the finding out."
"Edward!" Someone yells, slapping him on the back so our foreheads smack together. "Oops. Sorry. Edward, been looking for you, we need to talk about Violet, you haven't been to see her for two weeks."
We remain face to face.
"Violet's a broodmare." He laughs quietly.
"Oh."
And he pulls away, turning to face the intruder.
"Hi John, you haven't called me so I assumed everything was alright with her pregnancy."
"I think it is Edward, she seems fine, but I'm not the expert am I?" The man responds, plonking into the chair beside Edward and launching into a long tale about things I'd rather not know.
"Excuse me." I murmur, getting up and heading for the restroom.
The skirts on this dress require a little manouvering but eventually I manage to alight on the toilet seat, relieved to be relieved . . . .
The door bangs open and two people enter, mid gossip.
"I know right? If it were me I'd have sued the surgeon, we've all heard of fish lips but those things are more like camel toes."
"Ew. Maury really screwed up my hair, should I take it down?"
"Its looks fine, just pull a few wisps out, here, let me help . . . ."
They're silent for a moment.
"Better?"
"Yes, thanks Carla, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"De nada. Did you see Cullen? Damn if he can't decorate a tux."
"Don't." The other one groans. "Have you seen who he's with? I didn't believe the rumours were true but he really is dating La Belle Bella. He's so out of my league now it hurts my heart."
"I told you giving him a chance to grieve for Tanya Denali was a mistake."
"I was trying to be nice. Supportive."
"Nice girls finish last Lucy."
"And on that depressing note, lets get back out there . . . ."
...
I laugh to myself as I make my way back to the table, wondering if poor Lucy is one of the women now surrounding Edward.
One has her hand on his shoulder as she leans into his personal space, earnestly whispering something in his ear while her other hand caresses his bicep.
Now back in the day I would have withdrawn to my friends at this point but that's not happening tonight. He invited me.
I retake my seat, carefully arranging my skirt and then I lean into his unoccupied ear, exhaling a long breath into it.
"Edward." I purr when he shivers. "My glass is empty."
"Excuse me Nancy." He murmurs, leaning toward me. "Would you like another one Bella?"
"I'd love one Edward."
"Would you like me to get it now Bella?" He murmurs as her hand falls away from his bicep.
"Any moment now Edward." I respond just as quietly as our faces edge closer.
Her other hand slips off his shoulder.
"Right about now in fact."
He smirks at me and gets to his feet.
"Excuse me ladies, Nancy."
We watch him depart.
"Hello." I say to Nancy, offering her my hand. "I'm Bella."
"Hi." She drawls granting me a reluctant handshake, I'd place her in her early twenties and well used to getting laid out by any man she flutters her eyelashes at.
"Are you having fun tonight?"
"I guess."
"You don't know?" I ask, raising my eyebrow and registering the tittering going on around her.
She narrows her brown eyes at me and I laugh, turning away to watch the couples on the dance floor and revel in the feeling of power. I'm sure he'll get round to her eventually if he hasn't already, but it won't be tonight. Tonight he's mine.
Edward returns with our drinks, ignoring them and pulling his chair closer to mine.
"You ready to dance yet?" He asks.
"I think I am."
...
Dancing with Edward is almost as good as kissing him. I'm more than happy to let him take the lead and just enjoy being swayed in his arms.
...
I glance up from the hilarious conversation I'm having with one of the trainers to see Edward bearing down on us, brows knitted together.
"Oops." He says, withdrawing his hand from my knee with an apologetic look. "Someone's feeling a little possessive."
"Laurent." Edward says stiffly as he arrives at our side.
"Edward. My apologies I was so caught up entertaining the fine looking filly you brought with you this evening that I completely forgot about you and my hands wandered."
Edward leans in and kisses my temple, slipping an arm around my waist.
"Sorry Bella, I got caught up with one of the owners."
"Its alright Edward, Laurent was keeping me entertained."
"I bet he was."
The older man, Laurent, who is not without his charms winks at me, lifting my hand to kiss the back of it.
"I will see you later La Belle Bella and we can finish discussing how I am the best man to train your horse. Edward."
Edward nods stiffly in acknowledgement and we watch in silence as he walks away.
"Dance?" Edward asks.
"If you're asking."
"I am."
I slip off the barstool and sneak covert glances at him as he guides me onto the dance floor, the expression on his face is familiar to me but I can't quite work out why . . . .
...
"I'm sorry." She laughs, flapping her hand. "Its odd to realise that our little Edward knows someone as famous as you."
"He's hardly little Moira." I murmur, watching him over her shoulder as he chats with a group of men who are half a head shorter than him and pale into insignificance beside him. God he does decorate that tux well Carla.
"I know, I know." She sighs. "But he was so young and scared when he first joined the practise I just wanted to mother him. I even had Esme send me the recipes for all his favourite meals. I'm sure that sounds sad but my own had flown the nest by then and it so good to have him around the place. And such a nice boy too."
I raise my eyebrow and she laughs.
"Oh I know." She says, winking at me. "He thought he was very subtle but I knew. The wives and daughters had never been so interested in the welfare of their husband's horseflesh before. William still maintains that Edward almost doubles the turnover of the practise with his smile alone, though he's a very fine veterinarian. How long have you known him?"
"Almost ten years, we were in college together."
"Well sometimes these things take time, you make a lovely couple and its nice to see him happy. I couldn't dislike Tanya but they were wrong together from day one, I never could understand it."
"Wrong?"
"Well for a start it was all so sudden, she's beautiful and just his type and I'm sure they'd, you know, but he went home for a week's vacation and all of a sudden when he came back they were dating. It was so unlike him. I wanted to believe it was because he's finally found love but if he had it didn't seem to be making him particularly happy. And I do so want him to be happy but I have to confess I was relieved when he called off the wedding. Though I felt terribly for Tanya. The poor girl, what must it have been like to have come so close?"
I hum in leiu of a response and she's immediately contrite.
"I'm so sorry Bella, how totally inappropriate of me. My children do tell me that I over share. Tell me about this gorgeous dress you're wearing, how did you find it . . . ."
...
"Are you having fun tonight?" He asks as we sway together and I stifle a laugh at his choice of words so I can answer.
"Yes Edward, I am."
"Not too boring compared to what you normally do?"
I lift my head from its spot on his chest to look at him.
"No. Not boring at all."
Our eyes lock and the sudden change from lazy swaying to something else is a like a slap in the face to my mildly drunken contentment.
"If I kiss you now." He says quietly. "Its going to be in the all the newspapers tomorrow."
There's a long, long, pause before I answer his unspoken questions.
"Then you'd better take me home."