One chapter will talk about the past, one about the present until we reach the point where we began with the present. Confusing much? It keeps things interesting. ;)
Same disclaimer applies-Twilight belongs to S.M., but the idea of this story is mine.
Many thanks to my awesome betas and friends - TeamAllTwilight and m0t0b33.
January 2011
Ringing in the New Year at the company's party is pure torture.
Especially, seeing Edward dressed in only slacks and a button up, sleeves rolled to his elbows, slightly tipsy, talking and laughing with the boss.
He keeps stealing glances at me, but stays away. I guess I grabbed his curiosity with my romper. It's lacey, very transparent but strategically covering all the important places. Of course the surprise will be on Edward because this outfit doesn't allow underwear, but he doesn't need to know that until the right time. It's enough he realized it's not a dress when I stayed with my legs a little more spread than I should have for a picture.
As the night wears on, I finally give up wearing my heels and kick them under my chair. I don't give a fuck about what others may think.
My poor feet have suffered enough.
"A dance?" Mr. Brown asks, offering me his hand.
Shit.
I'm so embarrassed, I trip over the chair.
To bend and put my shoes or simply decline because I don't know how to dance?
"Don't worry. I understand you. You're not the only one ditching the shoes," he says amused, nodding to a woman a few chairs away—she's rubbing her feet.
Smiling, I put my hand in his and we walk away from the tables. It's a relatively normal song so neither slow, nor fast—just perfectly suitable for the boss.
I glance at his face, but never keep my eyes on his. It's awkward. I don't know what to talk to him because we don't usually socialize while we're working.
"Edward tells me you're one of the best he had in a long time," he comments.
I smile modestly and try to hide my blush behind a few strands of hair, fallen from my up-do.
"He rarely praises his newbies."
"I'm special, then," I say without thinking.
His eyebrows shoot up, and to make it worse, Edward in person appears next to us. "Can I steal Ms. Swan?"
He's oblivious to Mr. Brown's looks.
"Do you remember about the policy?" he asks, placing my hand in Edward's.
"Of course, James. I just want a dance."
"You know what I mean, Edward. That policy is there for your own good. I don't want tensions in the team or between teams if a relationship goes wrong," he tells us sternly. "In my opinion, you can do whatever you want. I can't stop you, but I don't want drama at work because he broke your heart or one of you cheated or God knows what else. Are we clear?"
I share a look with Edward. "Of course, sir," I answer. "Don't worry. He's just my annoying boss."
"And she's my stubborn employee, though she has a nice ass," Edward adds under his breath.
Mr. Brown nods, pats Edward's back and heads away.
"What was that?" I hiss.
"What? You're right. We're not in a fucking relationship, so he shouldn't worry." His hand wraps around mine, while the other pulls me close as a slow dance starts.
It's like the DJ is in ballade mode now.
I'm about to protest and suggest we should leave or something, but when I look into Edward's eyes I see something that hasn't been there before.
One of his hands comes to my cheek, rubbing it softly as he's gazing at me with that look.
What the fuck?
I don't like that look—it's too soft, too glazed over.
I start paying attention to the lyrics.
To some secret place to find
Watching in slow motion
As you turn to me and say
My love
Take my breath away
Through the hourglass I saw you
In time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you
And turned to hear you say
If only for today
I am unafraid
Ungh.
"Ready to go?" I whisper, hoping to snap him out of it.
His green eyes widen then he blinks. "Sure."
"Let me grab my shoes." I wink.
"Your…what?"
"Shoes." I point to my feet, laughing.
"I should have known you were too small."
"Hey!" I swat his arm.
We leave the building side by side and I regret not taking a jacket or something warmer than this flimsy shawl.
Just to make it perfect, Edward didn't drive considering he knew he'd drink.
"We can go to my place?" I suggest, rubbing my arms as we walk on the almost empty streets—just a few late party-goers noisily going home.
"We can take a cab to my place if you want," he says quietly, shrugging out of his jacket and draping it over my shoulders.
"Oh, no. You'll be cold," I protest, pushing it away.
He presses his lips together, but listens to me. Wow. That was easy, though I'm cold again.
"Now, you have to come here," Edward whispers, bringing me under his jacket. "This way we're both warm."
It feels nice, and I'm not thinking clearly.
I live pretty far away from where we work, but still closer than him. Though, half way to my house, my legs start protesting.
"What's wrong?" he asks concerned when he sees me wobble.
"I can't feel my feet. Those shoes are killing me," I whine, wrapping my arms around his waist to keep myself upright.
"Are you opposed to me carrying you?"
"Yes!" I shout.
"Hmm. Let's try our luck and look for a cab."
Luck's not on our side, so we keep walking. Edward eventually lights a cigarette and shares it with me.
I don't understand what's going on.
Something's changed during the night, but I like it.
"Tell me something about you," he whispers in my ear.
"I hate heels. I mean, I despise them!" I hiss, leaning into him further.
He chuckles. "Something else. Something I don't already know. We never talk enough."
I glance up at him, my brows furrowing. Edward gives me a smile and brings the smoke to my lips. I take a drag, thinking of something random about me.
Releasing the smoke to the side, I sigh. "I never visited Lady Liberty." I point in her direction. "And I've lived here most of my life."
"Are you serious?" he asks shocked.
I nod. "Your turn." I feel his chest expanding under my cheek as he takes a drag himself.
"I used to be quite rebellious in college."
I snort. "I can't imagine you…rebellious."
"I was Freshman and had befriended James—he's a couple years older than me—and I tried to impress him and his group. You know, it's not every day when the older students accept fresh meat in their group?"
"You mean like frats?"
"Yeah. Anyway, I always got in trouble if I skipped a class, but they never did. When we got drunk at a party…and drove back…I got pulled over. I was still a minor."
"Quite the bad boy," I joke, patting his chest.
"I tried to keep up the reputation I got during their last years once they graduated, but then I befriended a guy from my year and he was this calm, laid-back dude. I realized I should have never tried to be something else." He's quiet for a while. "Even though Jasper studied the same thing as me, he never finished. He gave up just a month before graduation saying school wasn't for him and he went off Los Angeles."
I burst in laughter. "That must have been a bummer for his folks."
"I doubt they know much of him. He was always the rebel and artist kind out of the two brothers. I really miss him. Haven't heard of him in months. He usually shoots me text messages or emails."
"I'm sure he's having fun in the City of Angels. He's an artist? What's he doing?"
"He's the singer and lead guitar of a small band. When he left he was alone, but over the next few months, he told me he found four other members," Edward explains.
I can tell he really misses his friend.
"Hmm, so our boss was a bad boy, too?" I change the subject.
He snorts. "You can say that, but when I returned to New York after graduation, I started looking for a decent job and just so you see how destiny plays, I bumped into him at a coffee shop. We caught up and he told me about his intention on opening this advertising company. I was one of the first five who started this wonderful project." He rubs my arm absently. "At first we started in the basement of a big building, then after a few good advertisements, we decided to find a better office. After pulling some strings, James found the office we're now in."
"Wow. I had no idea. What was the first commercial?" I ask, looking up at him.
"Ah. No. We recently started working for TV. Our first advertisement was for toothpaste, if I remember right. I used to grin like a lunatic when I saw it on some bus or even in Times Square. Fuck, when Rose called me to tell me she saw it there, I kind of squealed."
I giggle. "I was all kinds of giddy during Christmas break when I saw our commercial on TV," I tell him. "So proud."
We keep talking about how the small company became as big as it is today, and before I know it we're in front of my building.
It's probably still late, or early, depending how you look at it.
"Come upstairs?" I ask, unsure.
Edward winks. "Of course. I'm really curious of what's under this." He rubs a hand over my side.
I smirk and open the front door, before I guide him to the elevator. The crammed space makes the transition for cheery and friendly to sexual charged and needy. By the time I unlock my door, Edward's hands are everywhere, his lips on my neck, while he grinds against my ass.
I help him out of the jacket then I loosen his tie and as last minute thinking, I pull him close by the ends of the tie, pressing our lips together. He moans, opening my mouth and devouring me.
His fingers are on my back then at my side, seeking for something—the zipper. The non-existent zipper.
"How do you take this thing off?" he grumbles, pulling away and turning me around.
"The buttons at the back of my neck," I explain.
But Edward's busy tracing my bare back and cupping my ass, pushing into me and groaning.
I quickly undo the buttons before I slip the sleeves off my arms and shimmy my way out of the romper. I can hear his breath picking up as he realizes that not only did I skip the bra, but the panties as well.
Once I'm naked in front of him, I help him undress, take his hand and lead him to my bed.
We haven't tried it yet.
"You have some Kama Sutra positions to show me," I whisper teasingly.
"That I do, Isabella. By the time I'm done with you, you'll graduate from Sex Positions 101."
I giggle, stopping next to my bed. Edward turns me to face him and after kissing me thoroughly making my toes curl, he pushes me on my back on the bed.
"We'll start with something easy. Ever heard of the Hero position?" he asks softly, rising my legs until my knees are pressed to my chest and my feet are extended facing the ceiling.
I'm not sure my body is that pliable. I'll probably pull a muscle.
Edward kneels down with his thighs under my ass—so I can rest on him as he enters me.
Whoa!
He's in so deep and it feels so good.
The look on his face can only be described as smug, but I can't complain when he moves agonizingly slow inside me. My legs start to go numb after a while.
"Another position?" I prompt him, with a sly grin.
"I'll show you one that takes you over the edge." In one swift movement, he has my lower half in the air—the only parts of my body touching the bed are my shoulders and head. "This is called the Dolphin."
My legs are on either side of his waist, my feet dangling down, and my toes touching his soles. He moves slowly, but with precise movements. His fingers come to play with my nipples as he continues to thrust slowly into me.
We never moved so slowly.
He leans me until I'm once again lying on the bed, my legs open with him between them, his arms around my waist, holding me close. He lifts my hips for a better angle and at the same time he bends down to kiss my belly.
Holy fuck.
Where has the kinky fuckery gone?
"Edward!" I moan as I shiver under him, clamping down on him.
It's more the gesture than the slow…uh, sex. I'm so not ready to label this.
We're just fuck buddies.
Friends with benefits.
"This was Glowing Juniper," he whispers, switching to Missionary to get access to my lips. His thrusts are jerky and hurried—proof he's nearing his release.
"Oh." He falls on top of me, hugging me tightly. "I can't get enough of your body."
Pictures in my group - link on my profile. ;)
If you're curious about the positions...Google 'em.
