Rating: M
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer of Twilight fame, owns it all. I got a call from Stephenie, but I wasn't home. I was at the movies watching something about a haircut. I think she wants to give me Edward.
A/N…Thank you… thank you… thank you LovinRob and Amandac3. You two are the true definition of beta.
Thank all of you that have been reviewing these chapters. You have shown me how much you really like this story and I get as much pleasure reading them as you do reading this. Thanks so much.
Thank all of you that voted for Black Diamond on The Lemonade Stand for fic of the week. The site says there is still 13 hours of voting left so if you are inclined to, please feel free to vote. Thanks to Jenny for nominating it. I am honored.
CHAPTER 43
Bella
"So, Edward, I have a question for you." I say curiously.
"What's that, babe?" He says as he loads boxes into the back of the truck. He couldn't wait another day to get me moved into his place. And I must admit his excitement has rubbed off on me and I find myself giddy at the thought of starting new with Edward.
"Now that I am living in Napa, that's really going to cause an issue with travel time to Stanford. How are we going to work this out?" I ask, standing behind the truck waiting for Edward to put down the box.
"Well, you won't have to do any of the driving so that's a plus." He reminds me, sliding the box across the truck bed.
"I know but it's nearly two hours each way, that's four hours in the car every day. That's a lot of road time for anyone to drive." Saying it out loud sounds really bad.
"Well first, baby, you don't have classes every day. Then you have online class days so that helps. How many days do you have in an actual classroom?" He asks.
"I guess it depends. Approximately two to three times a week. If I have a test I will need to be in the classroom for that so that could add an additional day." I look at the ground shaking my head. "Do you think I should get an apartment close to campus?"
"NO!" Edward shouts spinning around to face me.
"Hey baby, I'm just throwing ideas out there." I say, placing my hands on his chest.
"Don't do that, Bella." He stops to take a deep breath. "I want you here with me."
I can hear his breathing quicken and can tell he's clearly upset with that idea.
"Okay, no moving closer to campus." I say, kissing the side of his mouth.
"I do have a helicopter you know?" I hear him say. "I know how to fly it too." He says puffing out his chest. I swear he looks like he's going to do the Tarzan chest pound thing.
"Edward, that has got to be expensive. Hell, just fuel alone has to be outrageous."
"Well, I look at it like this. If I fly you back and forth to classes, it will be an investment in my future. If you decide to take the position of Volturi's in-house counsel, it will be worth the expense."
"You've been thinking hard about this haven't you." I smile at him and wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him to me and taking a deep breath of him.
"I've had Angie get it all set up. She arranged for landing at a hotel just across from campus. All you have to do is get from the hotel to your class." He explains. "The only thing you have to put up with is your protection. You will have two agents with you until this threat is over, do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand, Edward. I know how upset you are about this and I promise, I won't interfere with what you are doing, okay baby? You have my word." I say looking directly into his eyes. I know how scared he is about Jacob getting near me and with the car that followed me the other day; I'm not going to give him cause to worry further.
"Wow, a helicopter. How long will it take to get from here to Stanford by helicopter?" I ask, curious.
"About 40 minutes I would say. Maybe less." He answers.
We keep moving my boxes into the truck as we talk and I think the helicopter is the way to go. It will save a lot of time.
"And, I also have the motorcycle. I can give you a ride on that every once in a while. So our options are open. Problem solved." He says smiling down into my eyes, kissing me quickly on my lips before turning back into the house to get another box.
"Hey Jazz, put that down, and let Edward help you with that!" I scold him as I see him carrying my television without assistance. "We don't need you hurting yourself. Alice would never forgive me if you were lying flat on your back for a week, now would she." I say blinking my eyes at him. I love to see him blush.
"I think Alice would find a way around it, don't you Bella?" He responds. "Besides, I have it now. Almost there."
I run in the house and grab a six pack of Heineken out of the refrigerator and pass one out to everyone as we sit on the front lawn and relax for a bit.
"Hey Em, Jazz, you guys still have your bikes?" Edward asks before he takes a long drink of his beer.
"I do." Emmett says. "I took her out for a drive last weekend. She still purrs under my ass."
"You went out on your bike without me?" Rosalie says, looking him up and down. "What were you wearing?" She asks.
"I have leather. Why?" He asks quizzically, wondering where she is going with this.
"Because I don't want you running around out there looking all sexy on that bike without me… Oh, never mind. I'll just go get me a Harley and some purple leather and…" Emmett covers her mouth with his own.
"The fuck you will." He says. "You ride with me and no one else, got it?" We all look at them and shake our heads.
"Yeah. Do you?" She replies. Emmett grins and grabs a handfull of Rosalie's firm behind.
"How about you, Jasper?" Edward asks, still chuckling at Emmett's show of manliness.
"Yep, I just had mine in the shop getting a 30,000 mile tune up." Jazz chimes in.
I look at Edward, wondering what he is up to and I look at the girls and they too are wondering what's going on. I look at them and mouth 'road trip'. They smile. Except for Alice. She about pees her pants.
"Bella and I were thinking about going to Clear Lake for a long weekend before she starts school. Would you want to go with and make it a bike trip?" Everyone joins in excited and quickly begin to make plans.
"I will have Angela make the reservations for the cabins or if there is a large house for the weekend we can rent that instead." I look up at Edward from my comfortable seat between his legs and smile. I wrap my hand behind his neck and bring him down for a kiss.
"Thank you, baby. You knew I wanted them to go didn't you?" I say with my cheek resting against his.
"Yes. But I wanted them there too. We are family aren't we?"
"Yes, we are." I agree. "Thank you." He smiles into my eyes and hugs me tight.
Everyone convinces me to call Matt to call off my Friday tutor session and he seemed relieved because he wanted to take his wife away for the weekend as well so it all worked out anyway. We decide to leave Thursday afternoon and come back Monday morning in time for my session with Matt at 1:00. This will be my last week with him before I start my classes. I get butterflies just thinking about it.
"Okay, let's finish this and get on the road before it gets too late." Emmett says, helping Rosalie up from the grass.
"Thank goodness I didn't unpack much. That was rather convenient." I say looking at Edward.
I pull on his hands and drag him back toward the house and jump on his back for a piggy back ride, nibbling on his ear.
"You keep that up Bella and we will have everyone waiting on the other side of a locked door. You know how Emmett gets when there is a closed door with you and me on the other side." I giggle at the thought and how long Edward made me wait before he would make love to me because of Emmett.
"I don't care anymore, Edward. Lord knows I've had to endure their animalistic sounds enough. If they don't care, I don't care." I say, continuing to nibble his other ear.
Edward drops me from off his back and runs away from me, pointing at me telling me to keep my distance. I stick my nose in the air and sashay toward the house giving him a full view of my swaying ass for his viewing pleasure and then turn to face him, lifting my shirt showing him that I have no bra on underneath. The look on his face is priceless and even more so when he begins chasing me down the hall to my bedroom. Unfortunately, there are four other people in the room. Damn it! Edward and I are officially cockblocked!
~BD~
It's official. I am now a resident of Napa, California. I guess I better tell my dad soon, he is going to be perturbed as it is. He's still kind of angry at Edward even though I have told him countless times it was my fault and not Edward's. Hopefully in time Charlie will come around.
"Who all is coming to this feast?" I ask Edward as we are getting dressed.
"Just the winery owners. It's a big deal for mom. No one misses the Italian Feast." He explains to me while he contemplates shaving. I look at him and shake my head.
"I like that little bit of stubbage. You look extremely sexy with a couple days' worth of scruff on your face." I say to him running my hand over his jaw.
"I made two large pans of lasagna; do you think that's enough?" I ask, having never been to one of these feasts, I want to make sure there is plenty for everyone.
"Oh, baby, just wait until you see how much food there will be. That's why they call it "The Feast". There will be tons of food and wine, everyone gets drunk today." He says grinning at me as I work my fingers through his mass of coppery goodness.
I just have to touch it and begin scraping my nails across his scalp. He growls and locks his hands behind his back smiling at me. I know that is a defense mechanism so that he won't touch me and make us late. He smiles and smacks my butt through my flimsy skirt. I look up at him as he stops in his tracks and pulls me by my arm, spinning me around and lifting my skirt.
"Fuck, Bella. When were you going to tell me?" He quickly spins me back into his arms, pulling my hair back so that my face is lifted to his. "You know I can't resist commando Bella." He chuckles, kissing me then, playing with my bottom lip.
I decided to wear a long floral print skirt that hits a few inches above my ankle and a matching light blue sleeveless blouse and ballet flats. I knew I didn't have to be concerned about going without panties with the long skirt and I wanted to surprise him.
"Now I'm going to be thinking about that shit all day, Bella." He feigns being angry. But I know he's not. He's just thinking about my bare bottom. I giggle and run down the stairs to the kitchen to check on my lasagna.
We drive 'The Beast' to Edward's parent's house because he wouldn't be caught dead in Pinkie. We each carry a pan of lasagna into the house and Esme directs us out to the back where tables have been placed all over the lawn.
"Put one on that table, Bella, and Edward, put one on the table on the other side." Esme directs. You can certainly tell she's done this before. She is in her element and loves every minute of it.
I don't know Italian customs, and have only movies to go by, but this sort of seems typical seeing the women doing all the work and the men sitting around smoking cigars and drinking wine, comparing notes as to what they smell and taste.
"This one is Edward's." Carmine says.
I watch as he lifts his glass, swirling it, then lifts his glass again to see the legs run along the inside of glass. He sips it noisily and sucks air between his lips as he savors the flavor. I find this procedure very dramatic and elaborate and chuckle to myself.
Edward on the other hand takes it very seriously as I watch him out the corner of my eye while he observes Carmines tasting process. Carmine's eyebrows raise and he tilts his head and looks over at Edward.
"Bouquet eccellente, un tocco di lavanda, un tocco d'amore. Edward era innamorato quando ha prodotto questo? Dio non voglia il prossimo vino con la sua Bella al suo fianco.."
Everyone breaks out in polite laughter and looks at Edward and I can see he is blushing a bit. He looks at me and takes me by the waist and holds me close to him.
"Si." Edward says looking down at me.
"What?" I ask. "What did he say?" But he pats my behind and walks away to where a second group of men have gathered and doesn't look back at me. I want to know what Carmine said, darn it.
Suddenly music begins. I can hear the sounds of the accordian, the mandolin, a flute and tamborine. The music is so beautiful and I find myself swaying my hips as I close my eyes and listen. I then look around and see Alice and Jasper swaying in each other's arms and all Emmett wants to do is kiss on Rosalie. I look around for Edward and when I can't find him anywhere, I hear a beautiful voice begin singing in the Italian language, I look up and see it's him. He is singing. To me. And I am frozen in place. I knew he was musical, but his voice is so beautiful and so terribly sexy. He walks toward me, the crowd parting as he walks my way.
The Italian words roll off his tongue. His eyes are searing into mine. His lips are just inches from mine. After the last word is sung, he lowers his mouth to mine and gently parts my lips in the most sensual kiss I have experienced.
"Bella? Babe?" He says quietly, pulling me out of my trance.
"Oh God, Edward, that was... that was... What was that?" Is all I can say to him as I lean my torso into his.
"It's called Caruso." He says against my cheek.
"What does it mean?" I say quietly. "Tell me what it means."
"Are you turned on baby?" He whispers in my ear.
"Oh yeah." I say in shaky breath.
"Are you wet, Bella?"
"Oh yeah." I repeat myself.
"Do you want me to lift your skirt and fuck you, baby?" He says into my mouth.
"Oh yes, please."
I can feel my juices break free and begin to slowly trail down my thigh when Edward bends down and kisses me ever so sweetly at first then his tongue breaks through my lips and past my teeth seeking mine. When he slowly begins to pull away he looks into my eyes. I see raw need there. I try to think where we can go so he can lift my skirt.
"Good. That is for teasing me by not wearing your panties." He says running his thumb across my bottom lip, then sucks it in between his teeth.
He kisses the tip of my nose and walks away and looks at me over his shoulder giving me that drop dead grin then takes his bottom lip between his teeth.
"Why you son of a…" I whisper to myself. I have a right mind to go to the bathroom and take care of this myself, but I all can do is go and clean up the mess he left me in because Esme calls lunchtime.
It is a sit anywhere affair so I find an empty seat and sit in it not looking for a seat next to Edward. When I sit down and look down the table at him he is shocked that I opted to sit so far from him. I rather enjoy sitting by myself as it gives me an opportunity to visit and get to know my neighbors. I am having a good time, laughing and learning some Italian customs and hearing some interesting folklore.
I feel Edward near me when he bends and whispers in my ear that he misses me and asks me to come and sit next to him.
"I frutti proibiti sono i più dolci" I say to him in the best Italian I can muster. I must admit it wasn't half bad. Mr. Giovanni taught me the saying when he saw me sitting away from Edward.
"Forbidden fruit is the sweetest." He whispers to my skin at the back of my neck. "Ioassaggiarela fruttaprima che la notteè finita, la mia Bella."
I stare back at him as he walks away from me and I look to my right and see Mr. Giovanni laughing with his head thrown back.
"What? What did he say?" I ask but he continues to laugh. "What? You must tell me." I demand.
Mrs. Giovanni reaches around her husband and whispers, "He said he will taste your fruit before the night is over." I snap my face in Edward's direction and see him grinning at me.
I know for a fact that my face has turned the deepest crimson possible. When I look toward Edward again he sees my blush and he throws his head back and starts to laugh knowing that I was told what he said.
I whisper to Mrs. Giovanni and ask her how to say 'I can't wait' in Italian.
"E voglioingoiareil frutto del tuocorpo,Edward." I shout and watch as everyone abruptly stops talking and looks at me. I hear someone drop their silverware. I think it was Esme.
Wait.. what?
Edward stops his fork midway to his mouth and looks at me shocked and puts his fork down and proceeds to get up and walk around the table to me.
"What did you just tell me to say Mrs. Giovanni?" I am angry now. "Tell me exactly what I just said that has everyone staring at me?"
"Bella, I am sorry, I had no idea you were going to shout it for the world to hear. I thought you were going to whisper in his ear as he did you."
Edward reaches for my hand and pulls me away from the table into the house quickly.
"What did I say, Edward? Please tell me." I beg, feeling totally mortified.
"And I want to swallow the fruit of your body, Edward." He says slowly standing directly across from me.
"Oh, God." I moan, sitting down on the couch.
"Edward, I am so sorry. I asked her to translate something for me and that is NOT what it was." I am so humiliated and embarrassed tears burn my eyes.
"Bella." He says standing there in front of me. I can tell he is embarrassed as well.
"I'm sorry, Edward. I want to go home. I can't face those people again."
"Of course you can. But I need to know if you are okay. My mom just about had a heart attack out there." He says smiling down at me.
"Does everyone here speak Italian?" I ask frustrated, covering my face with my hands.
"Everyone but you apparently." He says grinning. "I think Jasper and Emmett translated for Rosalie and Alice though."
"Shit... shit... shit." I say repeatedly. I am mortified as I look out the kitchen window at the guests that have gone back to their meal.
"Are you ready to face the firing squad?" He asks sympathetically.
"I guess." I say reluctantly.
Edward takes me by the hand and walks me outside and everyone watches us make our way back to the the tables. I look at Mrs. Giovanni and scowl at her.
"Bella, I am so sorry. It was wrong of me to misuse your trust like that. You asked me to help you but instead I told you something I shouldn't have." She says loudly for everyone to hear.
"Everyone, please forgive me. Bella trusted me to translate something for her and I thought I would play a game with her and Edward, not knowing she was going to shout it down the table at him. I apologize to Bella and Edward and to you Esme for disrupting this wonderful party."
Mrs. Giovanni walks up to me and hugs me,asking for my forgiveness.
"I guess I better order 'Learn Italian by Rosetta Stone' real quick, huh?" I say as Edward wraps his arm around me, grabs my plate and walks me to his seat, sitting me on his lap. And with that, everyone goes back to their lunch, their friends and their wine.
~BD~
Thank God Esme had the forsight to employ caterers to clean up after a long day. I was too exhausted to even walk, let alone do dishes.
"Bella, I did that the first year I held one of these. But I only did that once. I have had someone here to clean it up ever since."
"Well, Esme, it was wonderful. I had a blast. Humiliation and all." I say groaning to myself.
Edward comes in with a tray of port for everyone and we sit back and relax. I look at Alice who is laying on Jasper's shoulder.
"Alice, what is your schedule next week? I was hoping you and Rosalie would go shopping with me so I can pick out a few things before classes start." Never one to let a shopping spree go unnoticed, her head pops up and her eyes shoot out.
"Ooooh, shopping!" She says looking at Rosalie.
"Sure, how about tomorrow afternoon after we sleep in and roll out of bed bloated and full after eating all this pasta." Rosalie says. She's right. All that pasta, sauce and bread feels like a large brick sitting in my stomach.
"I can't tomorrow. I have Matt at 1:00. Tuesday?" I look at the girls and they nod their heads and I can tell they are excited. I wish I loved shopping the way they do. My life would be a lot easier.
"Oh!" Edward jumps, remembering. "Angie got us a large beach house to rent for the weekend and because I am paying for it, Bella and I get the master. But all the rooms have en suites so no complaining." He says, looking at the girls.
"Where are you kids off to?" Esme asks, hearing us make our plans.
"We are taking a bike ride to Clear Lake for a long weekend before Bella starts classes." Edward tells her.
"Oh, that sounds lovely. A bike ride. Carlisle, we haven't done anything like that in years." Esme says, looking dreamily at her husband.
"That's because you keep throwing parties like this one and I am too damned old to make it to bed, let alone lift my leg onto a bike, sweetheart." He says, laying his head back onto the couch, looking at Esme smiling.
"And if these kids don't mind, I will show you how tired I really am." He says getting up saying good night, he walks up and kisses Esme soundly on the lips and heads for the stairs while Esme goes into the kitchen to finish supervising the cleaning crew.
"I can't wait until the house is finished so I can be alone with you, Alice." Jasper says outloud.
"It's almost done, Jazzie." Alice looks at him lovingly then at the rest of us, blushing at her show of affection for Jasper. I think it is wonderful how in love they are.
"Yes, and I guess in starting a new tradition..." Jasper says, getting up from his seat, standing and looking at Edward, he gets the nod and turns around and gets on one knee in front of Alice.
Alice screams and scoots to the edge of her seat, covering her mouth to stifle her squeals.
Esme runs out of the kitchen and sees what is happening and yells "STOP." Everyone turns around and looks at her and she yells up the stairs.
"CARLISLE, GET DOWN HERE."
Carlisle who is shrugging on a bathrobe runs out the door and sees Jasper and stops to witness it.
"Okay Jasper, go ahead, son." Esme says. Jasper grins at Alice and she giggles her tinkling giggle and puts her hands on her knees and waits for his words.
"Alice, the very first day I met you I knew you were the one. I knew I wanted to get to know you but didn't know how to do that when I felt I knew you already. You make me feel alive when I am with you and I want to take care of you for the rest of your life. I want you to be the mother of my children and I want to be the first person you see when you wake and last person you see when you sleep. Alice, will you..."
"Yes... yes... yes..." She says crying, throwing herself at him tackling him backward onto the carpet, straddling him, smothering his face with kisses, nearly suffocating him.
"Well, can I at least show you the ring?" He asks laughing, holding the ring for her finger.
"Oh my goodness, Jasper. This is just beautiful." She says holding her hand in front of her face admiring her 3.5 carat diamond ring.
"I designed it myself. I hope you like it." He says, admiring his handywork on her small petite finger.
"Oh, Jasper, I do. I do love it." She says kissing him loud and proud.
"Let me see." I say, leaning toward her to see how beautiful it is. It's a large diamond cushion with baguette diamonds down each side. Simple elegance.
"Here is the wedding band, so you can see the set together." He holds up the ring guard that is a mix of cut diamonds and smaller baguettes. Together the set is simply stunning that takes up most of her small finger.
"Holy cow, Jasper." Edward said, stunned at his handywork. "And what happened to the plan we had discussed in my office?" Edward says to him smiling down at him.
"Your idea, your plan." Jasper says looking at his brother intently and quietly and as simple as that, he shrugs his shoulders at Edward.
"It's beautiful, Alice." Rosalie beams at her. "Congratulations, sister." She says and it was then that it hit me. They are going to be sisters. Without me.
Edward felt the change in my body immediately and put his arm around my shoulder. After Alice and Jasper get up from the floor, I smile and jump up to give them a congtratulatory hug. I couldn't be happier for them.
"Wow, my two best friends in all the world. Getting married. I am so happy for you both. For all of you." I say hugging them all again and I can feel the tears threaten.
"I'm such a softy. See what all this talk of weddings is doing to me? I am so excited and happy to see two people I love this happy." I say, swiping a tear off my cheek.
"Yes, Bells, and we owe it all to you." Emmett says.
"Yes, if you hadn't run our brother off the road, he would never have met you and we wouldn't have met our girls. So we owe our thanks to you." Jasper says, walking up to me pulling me in for a big hug.
"Don't worry little sister, your time is coming." Jasper whispers in my ear, sensing my emotional state.
"I don't deserve it yet, Jasper. When I do, it will come." I say quietly.
"How about a toast to our two engaged sons, Carlisle." Esme says to Carlisle as he walks down the stairs toward the bar.
Once we all have our fresh glass of Volturi Pandora Special Reserve in our hands Edward steps up to toast.
"Brothers, we have been through some rough and tumble times in our youth. We've had our hearts broken and we've broken a few of our own along the way. But today I know in my heart of hearts you two have found your life mates. Rosalie, Alice, you will be my sisters soon, if not already. I know how my brothers feel for you and I have to say, you are two very lucky women."
"Amarsie prendersi cural'uno dell'altro. Love one another and take care of each other."
"Well said, Edward." Carlisle says. "Welcome to the family, daughters. It feels so strange to say that." He says smiling.
Edward reaches around to wrap his arm around my shoulder. I am very happy for my two best friends. They have found love and are cherished and adored. I couldn't want more for them and there couldn't be two better men for them.
After a while of more wedding talk, Edward catches me stifling a yawn and suggests we go home.
"Good idea. I am exhausted." I say.
"Okay, family, I am taking my girl home before she crashes on the couch here. Brothers, congratulations again." He says, shaking their hands and kissing Alice's cheek and hugging her and I do the same, saying goodnight.
I am quiet on the ride home and don't really want to talk. I just want to snuggle in close with Edward and go to sleep.
"Bella, baby?" Edward starts when we get home.
"Edward, I don't really want to talk if you don't mind. I just want to sleep. I'm really tired." I reply.
"But I need to say this before you sleep, baby. I know you feel left out..."
"Edward, I am watching the two people I love most in the world get engaged to the men they love. I am very, very happy for them. I am happy it is because of us that it is happening. I am happy that I get to watch it all evolve. That's all I want. It's what I want for them." I say, climbing under the covers and pulling the pillow under my head.
"Bella..." He starts again.
"Edward." I say sittting up in bed. "I don't even want you to think about feeling any obligation whatsoever in asking me to marry you because you think I may feel left out. The only thing that hit me was that you called them your sisters and I can't do that. I don't deserve you yet Edward. When I do, then if you want to ask me, I will be ready. But I am not ready. Now, I'm tired. Come to bed, baby." I say rolling over and curling up on my side of the bed.
I hear him walking around the room, brushing his teeth, changing his clothes and climbing in bed beside me. He turns off the light, then reaches over to me and literally pulls me to the center of the bed, wrapping his body around mine.
It's the most wonderful feeling in all the world... the feeling of being loved.
A/N...Caruso, by Josh Groban is so beautiful. I loved this chapter. Hope you did too.
Italian Translation
Bouqueteccellente,un tocco dilavanda,un toccod'amore.Edward erainnamoratoquando haprodotto questo? Dio non vogliailprossimo vinocon la suaBellaal suo fianco. – Excellent bouquet, a touch of lavender, a touch of love. Edward was in love with when he produced this? God forbid the perfect wine with his Bella at his side.
I frutti proibiti sono i più dolci - Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.
Ioassaggiarela fruttaprima che la notteè finita, la mia Bella- I'll taste your fruit before the night is over, my Bella.
E voglioingoiareil frutto del tuocorpo,Edward- And I want to swallow the fruit of thy body, Edward.
Amarsie prendersi cural'uno dell'altro- Love and take care of each other.