A/N Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry... please don't lynch me!
Mid Night-Cougar and Jen McNamara are the best for not giving up on me!
I give you this as a peace offering...
Chapter 30
Isabella Pov
~ August 24th, 2012 ~
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"Ready?" Edward asked, closing the trunk to the rental car.
I smiled, giving the Sea-Tac Airport's parking lot one last look. My gaze lingered on the horizon where the mountains dwelled, and I inhaled the fresh air deeply. "Yeah."
He rounded the car and got inside, closing the door behind him. I hesitated for a moment, still mesmerized by the mountains I hadn't laid eyes on in a long time before reluctantly doing the same.
"I can't believe we're here," I said, putting on my seatbelt as he turned on the engine and put the car in motion. "Last time I saw Seattle was when I left for college."
Edward smiled a bit sadly, and I suspected he was thinking of my parents.
"Have you ever been here before?" I reached over to toy with the hair at the nape of his neck as it had become my habit.
"Yes, but only on business," he replied, leaning back into my touch. Over the months, I had noticed that my doing this seemed to have somewhat of a calming effect on him.
"I can't wait for you to see Forks. It's so quiet and peaceful."
"Mmmm," he hummed, letting out a soft sigh.
"Are you alright?" I inquired, watching his profile attentively. He had been unusually quiet the entire flight, and I was starting to worry that he was taking his impending surgery harder than I had initially thought.
"Yeah," he answered after a moment of silence. "I think this weekend away from Chicago and all of our problems is going to be good for us. I for one feel like I need to rest and just take my mind off of everything that's been going on lately."
I leaned over to give his cheek a light peck. "Well, Forks is just the place for that. I'm sure you're going to love it there."
He hummed again affirmatively, but remained quiet for the rest of the drive, which left me with nothing else to do but stare out my window and listen to the soft music playing on the radio.
Later, as we were pulling into the small driveway, and my eyes landed on the modest two-story house, an intense wave of melancholy overcame me. For a few fleeting seconds, I felt like I couldn't breathe, the sight lying in front of me causing such strong emotions that I had to look away to keep my composure.
Edward must have felt my inner turmoil because he reached over to run his warm palm over my thigh in a soothing manner. I glanced over at him, and he smiled gently as if to say 'it's okay' before taking my hand in his and placing a kiss on my wrist.
"Ready?" he asked again, but this time, I knew his question had a deeper meaning.
"Ready." I nodded, opening the passenger door and stepping outside.
I stood beside the car with my hands shoved into my jeans' back pockets as I took in my surroundings. Everything looked absolutely the same: the house, the woods, the small garden full of bright pink peonies, and most importantly, the tree-house my dad had built for me when I was ten. I could almost see him, perched up on a branch, hammer in hand and a couple of doornails between his lips as he worked on it relentlessly.
Even the mountain's fresh air I was currently breathing brought back so many memories.
"I can't believe how much I missed this place," I murmured.
"Nice garden," Edward commented from behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder and kneading the muscles he found there gently.
"Yeah, my dad loved his flowers. I'm glad Sam and Leah decided to keep it though."
"You're the owner, don't you have a say in this?"
"You can't force someone to keep a garden if they don't feel like taking care of it, can you?" I asked, looking at him sideways.
Just then, the front door burst open and Sam jogged down the stairs with a wide grin on his face. "Well, well, look who's here."
I smiled, taking him in as he made his way towards us. He was taller and bulkier than I remembered, his small playful eyes alternating between my face and my baby bump. If he was surprised, he didn't show it.
Sam and his wife Emily had been living there ever since I had moved to Chicago. They were a young couple, married for a little over a year, and the only people I trusted with the house.
After my parents died and I decided to leave Forks, I didn't know what to do with the place. I didn't want to sell it, but I couldn't just let it deteriorate over the years either.
So, one day, only a week away from my imminent departure, Sam showed up saying he'd given it a lot of thought and he wanted to rent the house. He and Emily had been together since freshman year, and they felt like it was time they had a place of their own.
Forks being the incredibly small town that it was, I had practically known both of them since I was a baby. I trusted them, so it didn't take me long to accept. They didn't have a lot to offer since Emily was a college student and Sam worked at the local auto shop, but I was more interested that the house was being taken care of properly than money.
"Hi, Sam," I said, letting him envelop me into a bear hug as a low chuckle escaped me. "Jeez, what has Emily been feeding you?"
He shrugged, continuing to grin down at me. "Long time no see, Bells."
"Yeah, I know. It feels good to be home."
He let go of me to shake Edward's hand. "You must be Edward."
"Nice to meet you," Edward replied, smiling politely.
"You too, man." Sam looked him up and down curiously before calling over his shoulder for his wife. "Hey, Emily! Bella's here."
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" came Emily's rushed reply, and a few seconds later, she was running out of the house with a blue apron on. "Oh my God, Bella!" she squealed excitedly as she hugged me. "You look… pregnant!"
"Yeah, well, I am," I chuckled. "Four months along actually."
"You look amazing," she gushed, staring at me in awe. "Chicago really is good for you."
"It is." I nodded, gesturing towards Edward. "This is my… well… I guess he's my future-to-be fiancé, Edward."
"Can't say I heard a lot about you, but it's definitely nice to meet you," she said, watching him with the same air of curiosity as did her husband.
Emily and I spoke on the phone every few months or so, last time being on Wednesday when Edward had booked the plane tickets. She knew I was seeing someone, but aside from Edward's name and a few minor details, she was pretty much clueless about him.
"Likewise. It's nice to finally meet some of Isabella's childhood friends." Edward smiled, unlocking the trunk of the car and starting to unload our luggage.
"Here, let me help you," Sam offered.
"Thanks."
"Come, Bella," Emily said, taking my hand. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
She led me into the house, and as soon as I stepped in, I couldn't help but notice the changes. The first thing that caught my eye was the walls' deep shade of purple instead of the bright, soothing yellow I was used to. And even though I was well-informed about the small renovations they had made over the years, I had to push back a wave of indignation.
On the outside, everything looked the same while on the inside nothing resembled my parents' home anymore. There were new carpets, new light fixtures, a new sofa, a new TV set, personal photos and even a couple of paintings that weren't there before. I had agreed to all of it, but now, as I took in what they'd done with the house, I felt so out of place, like I didn't belong there anymore. On paper, the house was still mine, but in a practical way, I knew it wasn't anymore. They had made it theirs, and I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I was intruding.
"Wow, the house looks great," I mumbled politely when I could find my voice, still taken aback.
"Thanks." Emily beamed, oblivious to my inner turmoil. "After the wedding, we just felt like we needed to make some changes, you know?"
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it."
"It's okay," she assured me. "You saw the pictures. It was a really small wedding, very private. You didn't miss out on anything. Oh, and by the way, Sam and I decided to spend the weekend in Seattle; you know, let you guys have the place to yourselves. We're leaving tomorrow morning, bright and early."
"Oh, Em, you really don't have to do that," I said, suddenly feeling bad they thought they had to leave just because we were there. "This is your home, we're only visiting."
She waved me off. "Nonsense. You two need privacy, and Sam and I could use a little getaway from this small town's monotony."
"Did you hear that, Edward?" I asked, turning to him as he and Sam stepped into the foyer carrying our luggage.
"It's awfully nice of them," he replied, giving Emily a grateful smile. I knew he had wanted privacy, and she was offering him just that.
"Sam, show Edward where the guest bedroom is, will you?" Emily addressed her husband.
Sam nodded, and Emily grabbed my hand, guiding me towards the kitchen where something smelled really good.
"Sit, sit," she urged, gesturing to a chair, grabbing a kitchen towel and opening the oven door.
"What are you making?" I asked curiously as I sat down.
"Cherry pie," she replied, bending down to check on it quickly then closing the door to the oven.
"It smells amazing," I noted, the cherry scent so prevalent, it was enough to make my mouth water.
"Are you hungry? You must be. Can I fix you guys a sandwich or something? Dinner won't be ready for a couple more hours."
"A sandwich would be great, thanks. We actually ate on the plane, but I seem to be hungry all the time now."
Her gaze settled on my stomach, and she shook her head as if she had a hard time comprehending what she was seeing. "I can't believe you're pregnant."
I chuckled, rubbing a hand over my baby bump gently. "That makes two of us, actually. It all happened so fast…"
"It seems like yesterday you were just a high school kid, and now look at you! You're all mature and stuff."
"I can say the same about you."
"Yeah," she chuckled. "I miss those days. Being a grown up kind of sucks."
I smiled. "Some days it does. I have to say I'm surprised you and Sam don't have a little one running around yet. I know you're crazy about kids."
"Eh. There are some other things we need to take care of first," she replied cryptically. "Have you and Edward been together long?"
"We've known each other for about a year, but we've been in a relationship for eight months."
Her eyes widened for a split second before she caught herself and adopted a more nonchalant expression. "Wow, you're sure moving fast," she remarked, walking over to the fridge and pulling out what she needed to make sandwiches.
If she were anyone else, I would have probably found her comment rude or malicious. But she was Emily, and I knew she hadn't intended to offend me in any way. It wasn't a secret to anyone that my relationship with Edward was a bit atypical, but I believed that had no relevance to its evolution in time. What really mattered was that we loved each other and we were going to have a family together. The rest was merely details.
"Maybe we are moving fast, but I feel like I've known him my entire life," I said a bit defensively, although I hadn't intended to sound that way.
She sighed, putting down the cheese and turning around to look me in the eye. "Are you happy?"
"I am," I answered, not missing a beat. "We may have our ups and downs, but he makes me feel so much. Before meeting him, I never knew love like this existed."
Suddenly, a truly genuine smile lit up her face. "I know what you mean."
~~ 0 ~~
Later, after dinner, we were all sitting in the living room making small talk. Emily appeared with an uncorked bottle of wine and two glasses for the men, and I couldn't help but notice just how much effort she'd put into making the evening a pleasant one.
"Dinner was absolutely delicious," Edward complimented, accepting the glass of wine she was offering. "Thank you, Emily."
Sam stared at his glass with a bit of a frown, and I smiled to myself. He hated wine but was trying to be a good host for Edward's sake.
"You're making me blush." Emily grinned, patting her cheeks. "I'm glad you liked it though. French food isn't exactly one of my fortes, so I have to admit I was a little afraid of screwing up."
Edward flashed her a warm smile. "Your coq au vin was flawless."
"You sure know how to compliment a woman. I almost forgot what it felt like," she said teasingly, giving her husband a pointed look.
Sam rolled his eyes at her, angling his body closer to me on the couch. "So, I see life's been treating you good, Bells. You got yourself a pretty decent man, too. What does he do anyway?"
"He's a real estate attorney," I answered, watching Emily sit in an armchair next to Edward and start a conversation with him.
Sam looked taken aback for a split moment. "Interesting... I see it's pretty serious." He nodded towards my baby bump. "You plan on marrying him?"
I sighed. "Yeah, someday."
"Long story?" he asked, sensing there was more to our relationship than I was letting on.
"You could say that."
He nodded again, bringing the wine to his lips and taking a small sip. He made a face, put the glass down on the coffee table then turned back to me.
"Listen, there's something I really wanted to talk to you about."
"Shoot," I said, downing the last of my cranberry juice and setting down the glass.
He paused for a minute, looking like he was contemplating where to start.
"Emily and I have been living here for the past five years or so… and this is practically home to us. We love this house just as much as you do and soon we want to start a family of our own… here. What I'm trying to say is that we'd really, really like to buy it from you. We've been saving like crazy for the past two years, and our parents are willing to help, so I think I can offer you a pretty fair deal."
"Sam, I…" I trailed off, disconcerted by his proposal.
He held his hands up to stop me. "Listen, you don't need to give me an answer straight away. I know this house means a lot to you. All I'm asking is that you think about it. We really need a place of our own and there aren't many options to choose from in Forks."
He looked so hopeful that I couldn't just flat out refuse him. Besides, he did have a point. I loved the house because it was the only tangible memory I had left of my parents, but my life wasn't in Forks anymore.
"Okay, I'll think about it. I'll let you know by the end of the weekend."
He let out a relieved chuckle. "Thanks. I was kind of nervous about bringing up the subject."
"What are you two talking about?" Emily inquired, peering at us over the rim of her glass.
"I was telling Bella about our plans with the house. She promised she'll think about it."
"I know selling it was never your intention, but you'd be doing us a huge favor. I don't want to start a family without at least having a home we can call our own."
As soon as the word sell escaped Emily's mouth, Edward's eyes snapped to me. He sat up straighter, any trace of a smile gone from his face. His business instinct was kicking in as he listened attentively to what I was being offered. A price was mentioned, and I could see the frown on his face. The offer displeased him, but he remained quiet. The only indicators to his mood were the frown he was sporting and the light thumping he made with his leg whenever he was agitated.
Emily must have noticed because she suddenly jumped up from her seat. "Who wants dessert?"
"I could have some dessert," I said promptly, desperate for a change of subject. Selling was a big deal, I was aware of that, but I wanted the tension in the room gone. I had two days to think about it.
"Me too." Sam got up from the sofa. "I'll help with the plates."
They both disappeared into the kitchen, and I was left alone with Edward. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by my phone starting to ring.
"It's Angela," I said, bringing the phone to my ear and practically ending a conversation that hadn't even started yet. "Hey, you."
"Hey, hey," Angela greeted cheerfully on the other end of the line.
Edward got up without another word, heading upstairs. Half an hour later, he still hadn't come back down, so I made myself a cup of tea and stepped outside for some fresh air, leaving Emily and Sam to watch TV. On instinct, I headed over to the tree-house, making sure the stairs were still stable before climbing up.
I stood on deck for a while, simply taking in the silent neighborhood. Across the street, Mrs. Graham was doing dishes in the kitchen while Mr. Graham sat on the porch smoking a cigarette. He spotted me and waved, blowing out thick smoke all around him.
"Still climbing that tree like a spider monkey, huh?" he called out, grinning.
I shrugged. "I guess old habits die hard."
He laughed heartily. "Sam told me you were coming home. It's good to see you, kid."
I smiled. "It's good to see you too, Mr. Graham."
The front door opened and Edward stepped out. He looked around, his eyes finding me then moving on to Mr. Graham.
"Good evening," he greeted politely before walking over in my direction.
"Evening," Mr. Graham replied lazily, taking the cigarette to his lips once again.
Edward climbed up, joining me on deck, and I noticed his hair was damp from a shower and he had changed clothes.
"This is actually a nice tree-house…very cool," he noted, draping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me to him.
"Cool, huh?" I grinned up at him, my free hand finding its way into his back pocket.
"Yeah." He smiled, glancing down at the mug I was holding. "What are you drinking?"
"Tea," I replied, holding the mug up in offering. "You want some?"
He shook his head, his eyes finding mine. He held my gaze for a minute, looking as if he was thinking hard about something. Then he sighed, his expression becoming more serious.
"You know, I could get you a better price," he said cautiously, his fingers starting to knead my upper arm gently.
I sighed, looking away.
"It's not about the money, Edward, you know that. I want them to have the house," I replied, watching as Mr. Graham put out his cigarette and stood up, heading inside. "It's just… it's going to be so difficult letting this place go. I grew up here. My parents and I made such beautiful memories. Everywhere I look, I can almost see my mom and dad doing random stuff about the house. Their memory is still so vivid here."
"I understand," Edward said quietly.
I shifted my gaze towards our old house. Everything was dark, the only source of light coming from the TV in the living room. For a split second I was transported back in time.
It was as if they were still there, watching the evening's news or a movie while I sat on my little deck with a book in hand and my favorite hoodie on.
At around 8 p.m. Angela usually made an appearance, her own book tucked under her arm. First she gave me the 411 on whatever had transpired at school that day and I didn't know about. Then she whined about Ben spending too much time with his jock friends. I complained about what a lousy boyfriend Mike was being. And then we gossiped some more. We never got to read anything together.
Later, my mom stepped out on the porch, calling to us that it was time for bed. We both grumbled, reluctantly climbing down and saying goodbye for the night. On weekends, Angela slept over.
As I passed my mother in the doorway, I gave her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled, caressing my hair and whispering words of affection.
Next was my dad. He sat in his favorite recliner, a beer in hand. He spotted me walking over to him and his mustache twitched as he tried to hide his grin. He loved when I kissed him goodnight.
Then, as I lay in my warm bed, waiting for sleep to come, I felt blessed. I had my parents, my friends and Mike… even though sometimes he was an asshole. I had my books to keep me company when I was alone and my diary to confide in when Angela wasn't around. I had rainy days that I had grown to love because I could stay inside and read, and those rare sunny days that I had learned to cherish. I had the mountains and the woods and the beach.
I had everything.
And then… I had nothing.
"I loved them so much," I whispered, my emotions threatening to take over.
I had lost my parents but gained Edward and our baby, and for that I was thankful. For the first time since the death of my parents, I was starting to rely on someone other than myself.
Although he had made some serious mistakes in regards to our relationship, Edward was quickly becoming my rock; that solid fortress I could hide behind each time things got too much for me to take. And even though I wasn't the kind of woman to cower in her partner's shadow whenever life threw her a curveball, I did have my moments of weakness. Despite everything, with him I felt safe.
He had his flaws, but he was good to me. He was both strong and powerful. He was sweet and caring and such a wonderful man.
We still had to work on some things. Our relationship was far from perfect, but I was ready to face the world as a team.
"I know you did," he said, pulling me closer and wrapping both arms around me. "I'm sure they loved you back just as much."
"I still miss them. I miss them every day."
He sighed softly. "I know, baby. I know." His breath was warm on my cheek as he pressed his lips there. "You're tired. We should go back inside."
"Yeah," I agreed but made no move to detangle myself from his embrace. It felt good to be so close to him. The past couple of weeks hadn't been easy on our relationship, and I craved his affection.
"Come on," he coaxed, pulling away and taking my hand in his. "You need to rest." Then he smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Tomorrow is just the two of us."
I smiled back warmly, following his lead. "Okay."
~~ 0 ~~
The next morning, I was in the kitchen making breakfast while listening to the radio. Sam and Emily were long gone, leaving Edward and I completely alone.
The sound of bare feet against the old wooden floor reached my ears, and I turned around just in time to see Edward shuffle his way into the small room. He had on gray flannel pajamas and was holding what looked like a very thick bathrobe.
"Good morning," he greeted; his voice rough from sleep as he slid on the bathrobe. "Brrrr. Is it just me or is it really cold?"
I had to laugh at his tormented expression. "Yeah, it can get a bit chilly in the morning here. I'm used to it. Maybe you should put on some socks."
"You're probably right," he said, glancing down at his bare feet and wiggling his toes. "When did you get up? I didn't feel you leaving the bed."
I returned my attention to the omelet I was making. "That's because you were so deeply asleep, I could have chopped wood on you and you wouldn't have felt a thing."
He chuckled, coming to stand behind me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Well, I have to admit I slept like a baby. I can't even remember the last time I enjoyed such a peaceful sleep."
"It's the fresh air. At some point, you started snoring so loudly, I had to leave the bedroom. You practically forced me," I replied jokingly.
"Really?"
"Yep."
He leaned down to kiss my neck. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to keep you up. You should have woken me up; kicked me in the groin or something."
"I didn't have the heart to. You're too adorable when you snore. Annoying, yes, but adorable nonetheless."
He huffed, letting go of me and leaning with his back against the counter so that he was facing me. "There's nothing adorable about me. Are you trying to emasculate me?"
"A little," I teased.
The corners of his mouth lifted up into a smile as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Breakfast smells good."
"Mmhmm," I hummed in agreement, throwing the pan a fugitive look before concentrating on him. "How's your back this morning?"
He shrugged, but there was a slight change in his mood as his eyebrows formed a small frown. "Better than last night, I guess."
"That's good," I said, knowing that if I insisted on the subject too much, he was going to sulk for the rest of the day. "Will you go with me to the cemetery later?"
"Of course I will. You don't even have to ask."
I nodded, waiting for another minute before turning off the stove and placing the large omelet on a plate.
"Look what I found in the attic." I picked up a stack of photos lying on the table, handing it to him.
"Family pictures?" he inquired curiously, running his thumb over the first one.
"Really old ones. I'm going to take them home with me, buy a nice photo album for them."
"Who's this?" He pointed to the woman holding the hand of a little boy. The black and white picture had been taken in front of a toy store, and they were both smiling widely at the photographer.
"That's my gran," I replied, a sense of nostalgia gripping my chest. I remembered being much younger and looking at the same picture with her. "The little boy next to her is my dad. He must have been five or six at the time."
Edward nodded, moving on to the next one. "Is this from your parents' wedding?"
"Yeah. I had no idea I had left these behind. See how beautiful my mom looks?"
"I like the way your father looks at her," he noted. "His love for her is so visible."
I let out a soft sigh. "They really loved one another. My dad… he was just crazy about my mom. They would always kiss and hug even when I was around. As a teenager I used to think it was gross, but now… now I understand just how deeply their love for each other ran."
We were both quiet for a minute. Then I turned to look at him expectantly.
"I want us to have what they had. I want that kind of love that never fades away no matter how much time has passed."
"We can have that," he said soothingly, his voice so soft and full of promise that it made me want to believe him so badly.
"I really hope so," I replied, trying to find the right words to express what I felt. "It's not that I don't believe in our relationship, but… your family's been so hard on us. I love Jess and I think Alice and Jasper are really nice, but I'm so afraid that in the end they'll be the only ones to accept me as part of your life."
"Dad accepted you long time ago. I think he liked you from the very moment he met you."
"But what about Rosalie and Emmett and…" I paused for a second, "…most importantly, what about Esme?"
His brow furrowed. "What about them? Emmett has backed off, Rosalie is just being stubborn and Mom… she's sick." Then he rushed to add, "But she will get better, and when she does…"
He trailed off and I looked down at the picture he was holding once again. We both knew Esme's hate towards me wasn't because of her illness. She genuinely didn't like me. I didn't fit in to her pretentious world, which meant I wasn't worthy of Edward's attentions. Nothing I did was ever going to change that fact.
Edward shook his head as if trying to chase away bad thoughts. He took my hand and kissed my wrist, his eyes fluttering close for a fleeting moment. "I'm going to make you happy, Isabella. I promise you."
A smile tugged at my lips. He was being so sweet. "You already make me happy."
"Then I'll make sure you'll get your happily ever after. You deserve it. And I know I can be an asshole sometimes, but at least I'm an adorable asshole, aren't I?"
I chuckled, swatting at him playfully. "You sure are."
"Seriously now… I really want you to know that you are the most important thing in my life. You and our baby make my life worth living."
"I know," I said, touched by his little confession. "You and our Anthony are the most important people in my life, too. I can't see myself without either of you anymore."
Edward's face lit up. "Anthony, huh?"
"Yeah," I chuckled. "That's what I call him in my head. We really need to pick a name for him. Angela suggested Matthew as a first name. I really like Matthew."
"Matthew..." he murmured, trying it out. "Matthew Anthony…"
"Yeah." I nodded, enjoying how the names just rolled off his tongue and how pleasantly they resonated in my ear. "What do you think?"
"I like it," he stated simply.
"Really?" I wanted to make sure.
"Really." He smiled. "I like it a lot."
"Little Matthew Anthony..."
"…Cullen," Edward was quick to add before smiling sheepishly. "Don't forget Cullen."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Cullen, Swan, what does it matter?"
"It matters," he said, his smile fading. "I want my son to bear my last name. I want you to bear my last name."
I sighed, sensing an argument. "Edward… we already discussed this," I said softly, trying to placate him.
"I know. I'm just saying it would be nice for the three of us to be a family."
"Someday we will."
"Does that mean if I give you a ring right now you'll say yes?" he teased, and I was relieved he wasn't looking to make a big deal out of it. I needed a break from fighting with him.
"You don't have a ring," I teased back.
"Maybe I do." He grinned and it was so obvious he was bluffing.
"Give it to me then."
"Will you say yes?"
"Maybe."
He shook his head, his grin still in place. "It's not the right time. Besides, proposing is a big deal. I have to make reservations to a nice restaurant, buy flowers, get a new costume…"
At this I had to laugh. "Cliché much, Mr. Cullen? And here I thought you were actually more spontaneous. Don't tell me that is how you proposed to Tanya?"
"It isn't," he replied, not seeming upset that I had mentioned his marriage to Tanya. "I actually asked her to marry me on my birthday. I had a huge party involving a lot of alcohol. We obviously both got pretty wasted. At some point she dragged me outside the club hosting the party. We walked a block or two until we could find a dark alley, and you can imagine the rest. When it was over, I just blurted out the question. She laughed and slapped me but still said yes. She knew I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it, drunk or not."
"So you asked her to marry you on a back street while intoxicated?" I asked incredulously.
He chuckled at my expression. "Yeah. Surprised?"
"Actually yes. It doesn't sound like you."
"We were both young and a bit wild. We were living life to the fullest. I bought her the ring the very next day."
"Wow," I said, astonished by the unexpected divulgence of information. "I'm guessing your mother doesn't know about this story."
"No, she doesn't. She didn't even know about the party or she would have freaked out. Emmett was the one to organize everything. He used to be pretty good at hosting parties in his college years."
I gave him a suspicious look. "Emmett as in your big brother Emmett?"
"Yes, that Emmett. He's got a wild side to him too," he said, amused by my reaction. "But enough of that. Just know that one day I might surprise you as well."
"Okay…" I replied hesitantly. "Just please don't do it in a darkened alley. It's creepy."
"I already have a plan," he said, winking conspiratorially, and I wondered what he meant by that.
~~ 0 ~~
Minutes before stopping at the cemetery, Edward detoured to the only flower shop in town. We purchased two gorgeous white rose floral arrangements along with a couple of cemetery candles, before finally parking the rental car down an alley across from our destination. I got out of the car, careful not to drop the flowers in my arms, and Edward quickly rounded the car, rushing to help me carry them.
"Let me," he said, taking them from my arms.
"Thanks," I murmured absentmindedly, my eyes already trained on the massive iron gates across the deserted street.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concern laced in his voice.
I sighed. "I don't know. It's been so long since I was here last. I'm nervous and emotional and…"
I trailed off, and he placed his free hand against the small of my back soothingly. "It's alright. We don't have to go in right now. We can stay in the car a while longer."
"No," I shook my head adamantly, "I want to go in."
"Okay," he complied. "Just let me grab the bottle of water."
He went back to the car to retrieve it, and when he returned we started walking side by side at an unhurried pace. It was an unusually warm afternoon for Forks, the light breeze caressing my skin underneath the green summer dress. Edward reached up to run a hand through his hair, and I watched his profile for a moment before turning my attention to the daunting gates we were coming closer to with each step we took.
I was going to start crying before we even reached the grave. I could just feel the familiar sting in my eyes and the overwhelming wave of emotion that was starting to take over. My heart started beating faster and faster, and by the time we stepped inside, I felt like I was going to hyperventilate.
Edward stood, waiting for me to lead the way. I looked around disoriented, trying to figure out which way to go. It wasn't that I didn't know where my parents were buried, but I was so overcome by emotion I could barely even remember my own name.
A tear slid down my cheek and then another. Edward noticed and opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by a deep voice coming from behind me.
"Can I help you?"
Edward frowned, his gaze now trained on the person speaking, and I turned around to see and older man wearing rubber boots and navy blue coveralls. He was also holding a dirty shovel, and I realized he must have been the cemetery's gravedigger.
Before any of us could say anything, he raised his hat to get a better look at me and smiled. "I know you. You're the Swans' daughter."
"Yeah," I replied softly, wiping my cheeks with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry but I don't think I know you."
He chuckled. "It's alright, very few people notice me. But hey, who can blame them? Most people who come here are grieving, so they tend not to pay much attention to the old man lurking around."
I nodded, not knowing what else to say. Edward was quiet beside me.
"So," the man said after a small pause, his kind eyes never leaving my face. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I can't exactly remember my way through the cemetery," I replied, ashamed to admit it. "I haven't been here since the funeral."
"No worries," he said, not seeming fazed by my confession. "I'll take you there."
"Thank you," I murmured, following as he led us through the silent headstones. "Do you know where everyone is buried?"
He chuckled once again, throwing me a roguish smile over his shoulder. "Pretty much, yeah. I've been working here since I was nineteen. I know this cemetery like the back of my hand."
I tried to imagine what it would be like to be around dead people all the time, and shuddered. "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but isn't this job a bit depressing?"
He shook his head, throwing the dirty shovel over his shoulder. "I used to think so too when I was your age, but I got used to it. Now I've actually come to appreciate the silence. Sometimes I come here to read when I have nothing else to do. It's peaceful. "
I smiled at his moving frame. This man seemed to have it all figured out. He seemed genuinely happy with his modest life.
Moments later, he stopped in front of a familiar black granite headstone. The same headstone I had picked out all those years ago. A vase of fresh lilies sat next to it, and I suspected it was Emily's doing. The grave looked well-kept, and I felt a pang of guilt because I had nothing to do with it.
"Here we are," the man said, gesturing in that direction.
"Thank you," Edward replied as I was already starting to zone out, my eyes trained on my parents' grave.
"I'll be nearby if you need me," I heard the man say before he departed at a leisurely pace.
I let out a quivering breath, reaching out to grab the flowers from Edward. The stone was shaped as a heart pierced in the middle by a white cross. On top of the cross said Swan while on each half of the granite heart were written my parents' names along with their birth and death years. The inscription loving husband and father adorning Dad's half of the gravestone had me breaking down, and I dropped to my knees on the grass, letting the tears fall freely.
The flower arrangements slipped from my hands, but I couldn't bring myself to pick them up. It felt as if a weight was pressing down on my chest, making it almost impossible for me to breathe. I brought my palm to my chest and rubbed in a feeble attempt to make the disturbing feeling go away. My head started pounding, and I shut my eyes tightly, needing to get a grip on myself.
I missed them so much it hurt deep within my heart and soul. Even though I had accepted my loss long ago, the grief was still there. It had subsided in the years following their death, but was still dwelling in a dark corner of my subconscious, mocking me, reminding me that I was an orphan.
There wasn't a single day I didn't think of them or wish I could go back in time and change their unjust fate. They had been so young and full of life... so happy.
God, I wanted them to meet Edward... to be there beside me when I got married... to welcome their first grandchild into the world...
"I miss you guys," I let out a choked whisper, opening my eyes and running my hand over the polished granite. "I wish you could meet our little Anthony."
Edward knelt down beside me, his hand going straight to my baby bump. "They would have been so happy for us," he whispered in my ear.
"I know." I nodded, wiping my cheeks.
"And I'm sure that wherever they are now, they're smiling down on us because they're so proud of their daughter and the amazing woman she's become."
I squeezed his hand. "I'm so grateful I have you now. You make me feel like I'm not alone in the world anymore."
"You'll always have me. No matter what, I'll always be there for you when you need me. I know I can't fill the void they left, but I'll try my best to give you the happiness you deserve," he promised, and there was solemnity to his voice.
"You already make me happier than I've ever been. I may not have my parents anymore, but I have you. You're my family now, Edward."
He kissed my temple, his hot lips lingering on my skin. "I'm glad you think so."
"My mom would have loved you," I said after a moment, a smile tugging at my lips.
"What about Chief?" he teased.
"Him too. After he made sure you were properly introduced to his shotgun, of course."
Edward let out a short laugh. "Of course. I think I like him already."
We sat there in silence for a while longer. At some point Edward decided to give me some space and got up for a little walk, while I quietly cried the grief out of my system. By the time he was back, I had lit the candles and carefully placed the flowers on the grave.
"Here." He offered me the bottle of water. "I thought you might need it."
My throat felt parched, and I took it from him gratefully. "You're always so thoughtful."
He smiled in return, and I brought the bottle to my lips, taking a large gulp.
"Are you ready to go yet?" he inquired, leaning down to brush off some grass from my dress. "If you're not, we can stay as long as you want. There's no pressure."
"No, we can go," I said, glancing over my shoulder at the silent grave.
"We'll come back," he assured me. "In fact, we can come to Forks as often as you want and my schedule allows. But in case I can't accompany you, you can take Angela. I bet she won't refuse the opportunity to see her family."
"Yeah. She hasn't been home for as long as I have. Now I feel bad I haven't asked her to come. I didn't even tell her I was going to Forks."
Edward tucked a strand of hair behind my ear lovingly. His small touches sent a wave of calmness through my entire body. "We had other things on our minds."
"Yeah," I agreed, taking a step towards him and wrapping my arms around his neck. "Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it."
He shook his head, pulling me closer. "And you really should stop thanking me so much."
"I can't." I smiled sheepishly. "You're so good to me."
"Get used to it." He smiled back, kissing my lips softly.
As we neared the iron gates, I noticed the man from earlier was sitting on a bench, taking a long drag from his cigarette. His shovel was now gone, and he looked almost pensive as he glanced up at the sky.
He saw us and waved, the corners of his mouth turning up in a lazy smile. "Have a good day."
"You too," I replied. I kind of liked him. He had this fatherly aura about him that I actually found comforting.
Edward stared his way for a moment, his brow furrowed. He hesitated before walking in his direction. I wondered what he was doing, but remained silent, watching as he neared the seated man. He pulled out his wallet and said something to the man, handing him a couple of bills. The man nodded his head, then saluted as Edward turned back around.
"What was that?" I asked confused as we exited the cemetery.
"I just made sure the grave will always have fresh flowers," he replied nonchalantly. "Well, at least for a few weeks."
I sighed and opened my mouth to speak, but he cut me off quickly. "Yes, yes, you want to thank me. Don't. It was my pleasure."
I chuckled, shaking my head as he opened the passenger door for me. "Nonetheless... thank you."
He chuckled back, giving my cheek a warm kiss. "Get in, you annoying woman."
On our way home, we decided to stop by the local diner. I was craving steak and Edward was feeling thirsty, so we found an empty booth and slid in, a few familiar people greeting me as they passed us.
I didn't recognize our waitress, but she was young, probably a high school junior. She jotted down our order, popping her bright blue bubble gum every few seconds. While I found her demeanor quite funny, Edward didn't. He kept frowning at her, but the girl was oblivious to his unfriendly stare.
"Can you believe that?" he asked as soon as she was out of earshot.
"She's a teenager," I brushed off his comment.
"A teenager with no manners," he muttered, toying with his napkin.
"Shocking," I mocked.
"Bella Swan, is that you?" a voice said, and we both looked up to see Mike Newton stand next to our booth with a look of pure excitement on his face.
"Michael, hi," I replied, feeling my cheeks warm up at the unexpected encounter.
"What happened to Mike?" he scolded playfully. "Wow, I haven't seen you in a long time."
"Yeah." I smiled tentatively and could feel Edward's eyes on me.
Mike looked almost the same as I remembered. He was of average height with shaggy blond hair and intense blue eyes. He had grown a bit of a beard, but other than that, he was still that boy I had left at the airport a long time ago.
"And who's this?" he inquired, glancing at Edward.
"This is Edward, my… uh… my fiancé," I said, and could have slapped myself for being such a babbling idiot.
Mike's eyebrows almost hit his hairline as he stared at Edward perplexedly. "Fiancé, huh? Wow. I'm Mike Newton, Bella's… ex, you could say. We used to be high school sweethearts." He thrust his hand at Edward, his smile seeming to hide some great secret.
"Really?" Edward shook his hand slowly, his tone indicating that his interest was piqued. "That's interesting."
"Yeah. Man, you look great." Mike redirected his attention to me, his eyes roaming over my face and upper body appreciatively. "I knew I shouldn't have let you go all those years ago." Then he chuckled and glanced over at Edward. "No offense, man. I'm just kidding."
Edward smiled, but it was forced. He certainly wasn't amused.
"Hey, do you guys mind if I sit for a moment?"
"Yes," I rushed to say just as Edward said 'No'.
I looked at him, not understanding what his game was, but he just gestured to the opposite seat. "Please."
"Thanks." Mike sat down, calling to the young waitress to bring him a beer. She brought his beer and our drinks before quickly taking off to another table.
"So, Mike, what is it that you do?" Edward asked, drumming his fingers on the table.
He took a sip of his beer before answering. "I own the small grocery shop down the road and the only gas station in town, so I guess you could say I'm an entrepreneur. You?"
Edward sat up straighter, and I got the distinct feeling this was about to become a pissing match. "I'm a real estate attorney and an investor in several businesses throughout Chicago."
Mike let out a low whistle. "Making the big bucks, huh? You drive a Mercedes or something?"
"A BMW actually," he said matter-of-factly.
"Huh." Mike glanced over at me, seeming a bit deflated by this new piece of information.
"High school sweethearts, you say?" Edward inquired slyly, bringing the subject back to where he wanted.
"Yeah. We used to make such a good team; didn't we, Bells?" Mike beamed proudly.
"Maybe for while. But it didn't work out in the end," I said, not liking where the conversation was going.
"She used to be so good at English," he went on. "Remember when Mrs. O'Connor almost failed me and the only reason she didn't was because you begged her to let me take the test again?"
I nodded, starting to feel really uncomfortable. I didn't want to discuss my past with Mike in front of Edward. "Yeah."
"Mrs. O'Connor loved you. All the teachers did."
"How long were you together?" Edward fished for info, his voice taking a lower tonality.
"A couple of years, I think," he answered, grinning.
"Why did you break up?"
Mike shrugged. "Bella left for Chicago, and we both agreed it was better that way."
It was time I did something before the conversation became even more embarrassing. "So, how have you been, Mike?" I asked, faking curiosity. "Do you have someone special?"
He took another sip from his beer, giving me a rueful smile. "I actually do. Her name's Cassie. We've been seeing each other for a few months."
"I hope it works out," I commented sincerely, absently stirring my decaf cappuccino.
"We'll see," he said indifferently, his blue irises lingering on my face a bit too long.
"How are your parents?"
"They're okay. Dad had a heart attack last year, but he's recovered pretty well. He's quit smoking and you know... leads a healthier life style."
"I'm glad to hear he's feeling better," I replied, giving him a small smile. His parents had always been so nice to me.
He nodded, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah." Pausing to quickly check his phone, he then asked, "I can see life in Chicago is treating you well, but tell me more. What is it that you do?"
I stalled, not quite sure how to answer the question because at that moment I wasn't exactly doing anything. "Well, I'll be starting my Master's classes in the fall. I used to work at my aunt Kate's book store but recently quit."
His eyebrows rose questioningly. "Oh? Did you get a better paying job or something?"
"No," Edward interfered with a chuckle. "I just wanted to take care of her, that's all. That way she can focus on school and our family."
Mike gave Edward a suspicious look. "Family? I don't understand. You're not married."
"Not yet." Edward smirked cockily, and I wanted to wipe it off his face with a slap. He could be an arrogant prick when he wanted.
Mike smirked back, his next words coming off almost as a challenge. "Careful with this one, Edward. She might change her mind at the last moment. She's slippery like that."
I stared at him in shock, not getting where this was coming from. I mean, yeah, I had been the one to break it off with him, but it's not like he'd put up too much of a fight when I let him know of my decision.
"I'll keep that in mind," Edward stated calmly, not seeming affected by his words.
Mike nodded, bringing his beer to his lips once again. "So, Edward, how are you finding Forks so far? It's kind of boring, isn't it?"
"It's quiet. I like it. It makes for a nice change. We both needed the rest, especially Isabella since she's pregnant." He made sure to emphasize the last word, and Mike's head snapped in my direction, his eyes trying to burn holes through the metallic table.
"Are you shitting me?" He looked just as bewildered as he sounded.
"Uh... no."
"You're actually pregnant," he uttered, shaking his head. "Wow. I mean... wow. Congrats, I guess."
"Thank you." Edward beamed, having achieved his purpose. "We're very happy."
"Yeah," Mike breathed; his brow furrowing as he glanced up at me. There was something unsettling about his reaction, like he actually regretted that I had found happiness with someone other than him.
After that, he only stuck around for a few more minutes before saying he had to meet up with Cassie.
"So, I guess I'll see you, Bells?" he said, reaching for his wallet, and I nodded, giving him a half smile. "Good luck with the pregnancy. Edward, nice to meet you."
"You too."
"Thanks," I murmured, watching as he got up and walked out of the old diner at an unhurried pace.
I sighed, staring at his barely touched beer.
That was awkward, I thought to myself. We used to fight a lot when we were together, and even though he had sometimes been an asshole to me, I knew he wasn't a bad person. I only hoped that one day he was going to find true love just as I had.
Edward probably mistook my silence for nostalgia, because when I glanced up at him, I found him frowning at me.
"What?" I asked, bringing the cappuccino to my lips and taking a sip.
"You slept with him," he said, and it wasn't a question.
"Edward..." I sighed.
"I'm not jealous..." he trailed off abruptly, his jaw clenching. "Okay, maybe I am."
"You knew about Mike." I tried to sound calm although on the inside I was feeling a bit annoyed.
"I know, I know, I just can't help it. It bothers me."
"What exactly bothers you? Would you have preferred that I was a virgin when I met you?" My voice was sharper than I intended.
"No... I mean, I don't know. I just... I hate thinking about other men touching you." He was stammering which was a clear sign of nervousness. He knew he was being unreasonable.
"Well, I'm sorry to break it to you, but there were two other men before you. Deal with it," I snapped, now glaring at him.
Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said it like that, but my hormones were getting the best of me.
His eyes darkened the instant the last word slipped from my mouth. He angled his body towards me, the hand that was resting on the table clenching into a fist. Now he was getting angry. "No, I won't deal with it. I have the right to be jealous, damn it."
"Then be jealous all you like," I hissed, turning my head away from him and towards the window.
I could hear his heavy breath as he remained quiet for a minute, probably trying to get a grip on himself. Then I felt it on my neck as he leaned to whisper in my ear. "I'm jealous as hell. I wanted to punch him in the face the moment he sat down with us. I can't stand to know that he has seen you as only I should. But please don't take it the wrong way. I don't blame you in any way. Heck, I know I've been with other women, so I shouldn't be the one talking. But I can't help how I feel. And I only feel this strongly because I love you so fucking much."
His words sent shivers down my spine, and I glanced at him sideways. It was insane how one minute he could make me mad as hell and the next he would say something to make me melt and forget why I was being angry in the first place.
"You're a jerk," I said, half-heartedly.
He smiled. "But this jerk loves you."
I sighed, turning around in my seat to face him. "And I love you too, although sometimes you don't deserve it."
"Let's not fight anymore," he whispered, leaning in to kiss my neck seductively.
"You started it," I breathed, my eyes closing on their own accord as the short hairs on my arms stood up.
"Yes I did," he murmured, caressing my hair as his lips moved from my neck to my left cheek. Then he looked at me, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "I have an idea."
~~ 0 ~~
Sometime later we found ourselves lying on our backs on an old quilt I had found in the attic, surrounded by woods and wilderness. Edward had insisted that we needed to have a picnic while we were in Forks, and after a bit of protesting on my part, I had begrudgingly agreed. Since we had already eaten at the diner, we only packed up some fruit, crackers, peach juice and a non-alcoholic beer for Edward.
"I'm not so sure I like your idea," I complained, swatting at a really annoying bee.
Edward sighed. "You grew up here. Are you saying you don't like it out in nature?"
I frowned up at the clear sky. "That's not what I'm saying. I just... I don't know... I'm cranky, I guess."
He laughed, rolling on his side, his palm resting on my baby bump. "You're always cranky nowadays."
I peeked at him from under my lashes. "Always?"
"Weeell..." he trailed off playfully. "Maybe just 99.9 percent of the time."
"Ha-ha," I replied dryly. "You're so not funny."
"Say that again?" he said, his hand inching up my ribcage and towards my armpit. He tickled me there, and I barked out a loud laugh, struggling to get away.
"Let go!" I laughed. "Edward, let go!"
"I don't think so," he breathed, shutting me up with a long kiss and making me melt against him almost instantly.
"Oh," I exhaled when he broke the kiss, my eyes closed. "That was nice."
"Really?" he asked in a very self-satisfied tone, and I glanced up at him to see him smirking down at me. The sun was shining over his head, basking his angular features in a strong, almost blinding light.
"Yeah." I smiled, letting my eyes flutter closed once more. "Do it again."
"Are you ordering me around, woman?" he joked, going back to tickling me.
I laughed, swatting his hands away. "Get used to it. That's what wives do."
"Hmmm. I like how that sounds," he said, and I could hear the wolfish grin in his voice. One of his hands slid up my thigh, riding up my dress in its ascent.
"This area is off limits," I said, placing my hand atop his on my lace panties.
"Why?" he asked, undeterred in his task of slipping his fingers inside.
I looked up to see that his green eyes were already hooded with lust. The sight was enough to put me in the mood.
"Edward," I protested weakly, biting on my lip when his middle finger started rubbing lazy circles around my clit. "Someone could see us."
"No," he breathed, leaning down to kiss the side of my neck languidly. "No one will see us."
My legs parted on their own accord as my arms wrapped around his neck like ivy. I wanted this as much as he, but my consciousness was telling me we needed to be careful.
I could only debate what to do for a split second before deciding to just let myself get carried away.
To hell with being vigilant, I told myself. For once in my life, I felt like throwing caution out the window and just act on impulse. Spontaneity was what great memories were made of. I needed this moment with him.
"I love you," he murmured, removing one of my straps so he could kiss his way down my shoulder.
"Love you back," I replied softly, running my fingers through his hair. "I'm so glad we have some time just for ourselves. We both needed it."
"Yes," he said distractedly, going on with his mouth's descent until it reached my cleavage. "Have I ever told you how good this dress looks on you?"
"No." I smiled sheepishly.
"You're beautiful."
My smile turned into a grin as I stared up at the sky. His words and what his fingers were doing to me down below was enough to send me into some sort of lust high. His mouth turned feverish as he left a hot trail of wet kisses along the green piece of fabric concealing my breasts from view.
"Oh," I exhaled when he pushed down said fabric, revealing the sheer bra I was wearing. He bit the nipple gently, and I had to rein in the urge to moan loudly.
"Mmmm," he hummed appreciatively grabbing hold of my breast and squeezing lightly, all the while his other hand still exploring southern regions.
He went on with his ministrations for a while, and I had to bite on my lip a couple of times to refrain from making too much noise. Getting me worked up didn't take much these days, and he knew it all too well. Judging by the cocky smirk he flashed me as he glanced up at me, he was enjoying this a little too much.
"A little to the right," I breathed throatily, grabbing hold of his shoulders and pawing at his clothed skin in an feeble attempt to maintain some sort of control over my own body. I was so close in such a short time that I knew what was coming was going to be so good.
"Here?" he asked, looking up at me through hooded eyes.
"Yes!" I hissed in pleasure when he began hitting a certain sweet spot. "Oh, yeah. Do that again."
He did it again and again and again, until I began convulsing around him. He held me down with his body, his skilled fingers never haltering their pace, and soon I was falling over the edge. I let out a guttural groan just as the familiar surge of heat enveloped my groin, followed by the anticipated orgasm.
I could barely come down from my high before he was ripping open his pants, his expression making him look almost desperate to have me. He might have had a hold over me just moments prior, but roles were about to switch.
"That was so sexy," he moaned, making quick work of pushing down his pants and boxer briefs. "I need to have you right now."
I reached between us to rub and fondle his shaft in preparation. "I'm not stopping you. We could get caught, but I can't bring myself to give a damn anymore."
At this point, we were both pretty far gone to care that we were practically in the middle of an open field. People could pass by and catch us in the act anytime. If I was being honest, it was kind of exciting knowing that anyone could show up at any time. The meadow wasn't that exposed, but I knew it was the usual gathering place for local high school kids. If they happened to stumble upon us, we were screwed.
"Thank God," he murmured, placing his hand atop mine and moving both at a slower more languid pace.
Soon, he was divesting me from my panties which ended up lying somewhere in the tall grass. He probed me once more with his fingers before moving in until just the tip was inside. He stroked my hair, staring into my eyes with pure adoration.
"Please don't stop," I moaned, already feeling like my groin was on fire.
I was so wet it only took a single swift thrust before he was completely immersed in. We both let out sounds of pleasure, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, needing to get him as deep as humanly possible.
He sighed contently, starting to move at an unhurried pace. "I missed you these past few days."
It had been exactly three days since we'd last had sex. It may not have been much, but to him it must have seemed like an eternity. Since finding out I was pregnant, he had been spoiled rotten. We'd have sex daily, sometimes even multiple times a day. But his back pain had gotten worse as the week wore on and we hadn't been able to get physical.
"Let's just take it slow," I said, although I kind of wanted him to be a bit rough. I liked it when he was being dominant and in charge. "I don't want you hurting yourself."
"I'm fine," he retorted with a slight frown. "Let me enjoy this."
I smiled conciliatory, moving against him. "Okay."
He leaned over to leisurely drag his lips against mine before his tongue slipped inside. I moaned, loving how soft his lips were and just how right his tongue felt wrapped around mine. Never in my life had I felt such sexual chemistry with a man. We knew what the other liked and we were perfect for each other. I only hoped that this compatibility of ours wasn't going to fade out over time.
He placed a hand under my waist, lifting me slightly so he could hit the spot he wanted, although careful not to put too much of his weigh on my baby bump. I hissed, my eyes rolling to the back of my head as he hit that spot over and over again. It felt so good, it almost made me delirious. I wanted more; I needed more.
"Edward," I mewled, loving the new angle. "Oh, right there."
"God, you're so tight," he whispered seductively, his hips increasing their pace with each thrust. "You feel amazing."
"You too," I murmured distracted by the sensations his thrusts elicited from my body. I ran my palms all over his back, feeling the crisp material and wishing for more skin-to-skin contact.
He kissed my collarbone, my neck, my cheek, my lips, his pace relentless. His moans and whispers served to arouse me even more than I already was. Then his strokes became shallower as he searched to build up my release. My whimpers became needier as I clutched at his shirt desperately. I was close again, my previous orgasm having nothing on this one. It was going to be intense; I could feel it in my every fiber.
Edward felt it too because he started to drive in deeper, causing my back to arch and my mouth to open. His moves became faster and harder, and I couldn't take it anymore. My walls began to constrict around him and I climaxed, my teeth digging into my lower lip forcefully as pleasure surged through me.
I expected him to slow down his movements after that, but instead he kept pushing into me with the same intensity. I worried he was going to strain his back, but kept my mouth shut not wanting to ruin the moment for him. I stroked his hair lovingly, and he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his breath getting heavier with each hard thrust.
I kissed and ran my tongue over his earlobe and that was all it took for him to reach his own release. I held him as he came with a strangled cry, his hips now moving against mine spastically.
"Shit," he cursed, rolling off of me instantly.
"Edward, what is it?" I asked panicked, watching as his expression contorted into one of pain.
"My back," he strained. "It hurts so fucking bad."
I sat up and straightened my dress, the earlier state of euphoria quickly replaced by worry. "We should call your doctor."
Edward shook his head, clutching at his back. "You heard him; he said he'll be out of the country for a while."
"He said he's leaving next week. I'm calling him," I replied adamantly, already reaching for my phone.
He looked at me then, and for the first time since finding out about the extent of his injury, I could tell just how afraid he was. It made me want to cry because to be honest, I didn't know what else to do. I was helpless when it came to helping him and that made me incredibly sad and extremely scared.
A/N I don't know when I'll have the next chapter done. Free time is scarce right now, but I'll try my best to finish this story in reasonable time. It's my baby and I have missed you guys a lot :)
As usual, thanks for reading!
~Andreea~