Epilogue - EPOV
There was a time when I thought I'd live out my life in solitude. That's what I wanted. Thanks to my family's name and fortune, I had been thrust into the limelight my entire life. I went to prestigious schools. I went to fancy parties. We had people wait on us hand and foot. I was expected to befriend certain people, interact with certain people… marry someone who my family thought would advance the family business and secure our future success. Everything was planned for me. I never had a choice. Even though I practically had the world at my fingertips, I slowly crawled into a hole, wanting nothing more than to be left alone. My sister, on the other hand, flourished. She never allowed the expectations to hold her back. I always wished I could be like her, making things work to my benefit, but it just wasn't me. It wasn't how I was made. I did what I had to do, interacted when I had to, but I wasn't really living. Until Bella.
I've told her that she was the best thing that ever happened to me. She was the one thing I wanted—needed—even though I didn't know it. To the outside world, we seemed like an unlikely match. We came from two different worlds. I'm twice her age. On paper, nothing about us fit. But in reality, everything about us fit.
From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I wanted her, physically. Something about that first night we spent together tethered me to her. I found a connection deep within her, and I wasn't willing to let her slip away. Even when I insisted on taking a break, it was only momentarily. I wanted to give her a chance to make sure I was what she wanted. Bella was so much like me. She'd had all of her choices taken from her. I didn't want to do that to her. I wanted to change that for her. I wanted to give her everything.
As I lie here beside her and watch her eyes flutter as she sleeps, I feel like the luckiest person alive. I'm back to wanting to crawl in a hole and never come out, but I want to crawl in a hole with her. I want to hide her away with me, keep her all to myself.
My sister told me I was playing with fire that night at the fundraiser, warning me to stay away from her. After that night, she thought I was obsessed with Bella because she was forbidden, but that wasn't it at all. The truth is that she was fire, and she ignited something within me… love and need and want. They were things I'd never felt before, until her.
In life, we don't get to choose the family into which we're born. We don't get to choose our beginning. We also don't choose who our soul wants. That stuff is all predestined. Thankfully, my soul wanted her. It knew all along what it wanted. It just hadn't found it yet.
She stirs at my side, slowly shifting her body around, awakening other parts of me, parts of me that belong only to her. I want to bury myself inside her.
That saying the minister says when two people are getting married—"and two shall become one"— I always thought that was just a figure of speech, but now I know it's real. It's so real because I feel that for her. We're one now. She's my wife. She's my past, my present, and my future.
"Edward," she whispers, half in sleep and half out.
"I need you," I whisper back, pressing myself into her backside, letting her know just how badly I need her. "Please."
My hand glides up her naked hip and around her thigh, lightly gripping her and pulling her closer to me. When I slip my hand between her legs, I groan at how wet she is. Even now, in the middle of the night, after hours of mind-blowing sex, she's still ready for me.
"Oh, Mr. Cullen. Always so needy," she sighs.
"Only for you, Mrs. Cullen."
"I like the way that sounds. Say it again."
"Mrs. Cullen."
"Again," she says, rolling onto her back, giving me a full view of her delectable tits. I hover over her, bracing myself, and her hands run up my shoulders and through my hair.
"Mrs. Cullen," I say, willing to give her anything she wants and loving the way my name sounds attached to hers.
"Has anyone ever told you how handsome the specks of grey in your hair are?" she asks.
"No." I laugh, shaking my head.
"So distinguished and manly." She's beautiful. Her messy hair is all over the pillow and her sweet face and sleepy eyes look up at me with nothing but adoration.
"Manly? Really?" She makes me laugh. I love that about her.
"Yes. Very manly." Her fingernails gently scratch my scalp, and it makes my toes curl. I close my eyes and lean down to press my cheek to hers. "I'd like to show you just how manly I can be," I whisper into her ear. The shiver that causes her body to shake beneath me is enticing. Her response to me always makes me want her more.
"Please do."
My lips devour hers, claiming her. She deepens the kiss, pulling me in farther. Slowly, I leave her lips and move down to her neck, inhaling as I go, loving the way she smells like her and me… and us. When I nip at her skin, she moans. I travel lower, paying special attention to her breasts. Taking a nipple into my mouth, I twirl my tongue around it, loving how it perks under my touch. My grip is firm on her hips, and I'm overcome with her… the taste of her, the feel of her. How can I be so lucky to get to have her for the rest of my life?
"Edward," she moans. "I need more. Please."
I lean back on my heels between her legs, running two fingers between her wet flesh and then rubbing it on my cock. Her brown eyes are hooded as she watches me; a sly smile creeps up on my face. She bites down on her lip and groans, her head pressing back into the pillow.
Lining myself up with her entrance, I slowly push in, realizing in that split-second that it gets better every time. I don't know how that can be. It would seem as if I'd get used to it, and being inside her wouldn't affect me so much, but it does, even more so today than three years ago. I still myself, not wanting this to end too soon. She's so wet and warm and tight… so, so tight. "Oh, God, Bella," I groan, pushing her knees farther out to the side so I can press in deeper.
"Move, please," she whimpers. "I need to feel you move."
I fall forward, holding myself up on shaky arms as I steadily begin to thrust. My head falls forward, and I lean into the crook of her neck, inhaling and then kissing softly, whispering how much I love her.
Our beginning was desperate and needy, but this… This is slow and patient. It's taking our time and savoring each moment… each caress, each kiss, each touch. It's knowing it'll be me and her forever.
I may be all Bella has, but she's all I need.
A/N:
Gosh, I don't know what to say about this story other than it has been a learning and growing experience...seriously a Catch-22 at times. Thanks to everyone who stuck with it and finished reading. You're appreciated more than you'll ever know.
A big thank you to Geeky, Rachel, and Pamela! You girls are wonderful. We love you and we couldn't do any of this without y'all!
Until next time!
P.S. Our next full-length story will start posting later this month! There will be a Sneak Peek on The Lemonade Stand on June 20th and then we'll post the Prologue on June 22nd! We hope you'll come along for the ride. ;) #WatchAndSee