Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Warning: This chapter contains lemon.
Bright lights passed by in a dizzyingly rapid rate. Paul sat next to Bella with a hand resting on top of hers. In the front seat Emmett fiddled with the radio while Alice took in the sights outside her window.
Bella leaned against Paul and he pressed his lips to her temple silently. The car slowed enough that Bella could actually see the scenery outside. There were smack-dab in the middle of the city with casinos surrounding them on each side.
"I think that we should find a place to stay first," Emmett said over his shoulder.
"I still don't understand why you insist on paying for our room," Bella protested.
"Every couple deserves a wedding present. This is mine."
"And mine is buying you a dress," Alice added.
"We aren't turning down a free room at a nice hotel," Paul whispered.
"If they try to pay for the wedding I'm putting my foot down."
"I will too," he agreed.
The car came to a stop in front of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Paul opened his door and held out his hand for Bella. She took it and he led her into the building. Emmett was already talking to the concierge and Alice had their bags. Paul pulled her towards the couch in the center of the lobby and they sat side by side still holding hands.
"Why exactly did you ask them to come with us?"
"I wanted someone who wouldn't a lot of questions. Emily wouldn't have, but Sam would have asked a million questions. Leah would have come too, but Jacob would have more than likely tried to stop us by calling your dad. Emmett and Alice are the only Cullen's that I trust."
"I can understand that," she said with a nod.
"Let's go Bella. We've only got a few hours before the boutiques close for the night and Paul needs to get ready too," Alice said walking over to them.
"I'll see you later," Bella said kissing Paul's cheek.
"Let's meet back here at eight," Emmett suggested looking between them.
They both nodded in agreement before Alice pulled Bella away. The first store that Alice wanted to try was at the other end of the hotel. The store employees looked at Bella, giving her a cautionary once over. A man walked from the back and walked up to them with no reservations.
"Can I help you?"
"My friend is getting married in a few hours. We're looking for a dress," Alice said giving the man a sweet smile.
"Of course, follow me."
They followed him through the store and the other employees continued to stare at Bella in disbelief. She was starting to feel uncomfortable when the guy stopped at a long row of racks at the back of the store.
"What exactly are you looking for?" he asked looking at Bella.
"Something that isn't so formal, I don't want lace. Nothing too risqué either. I want it to be simple yet understated. It can't be too short either; I don't want to look cheap."
"We're you thinking of having sleeves or going strapless?"
"It doesn't matter," Bella said shaking her head.
"I'm sure we'll find you something," The guy said with a smile.
Bella's eyes scanned the racks looking for something that caught her eye. She started sifting through the dresses until she found what she was looking for. She pulled one off the rack to look at it as Alice came to stand beside her. The dress was ivory white silk with a tiny cinched waist. It was strapless and the bodice was formfitting.
"That is beautiful; do you want to try it on?" Alice asked.
Bella looked at the tag sewed into the side of the dress and realized that it wasn't her size.
"It's not my size, but it is something to go by."
Alice nodded as she continued looking. The man held up a dress to inspect it but Bella couldn't see the front. It looked almost identical to the other except that there was tulle overlaying the skirt of the dress. He held it close to him as he walked over to her.
"You're a size three, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Have a look at this," he said holding the dress for her to look at.
The dress was pulled tight at the waist with a jeweled clip. The skirt was billowy and soft as she held the fabric between her fingers. Alice came back to them looking over Bella's shoulder at the dress.
"That is gorgeous," she said with a nod.
"Would you like to try it on?"
"Yes," Bella said, nodding her head quickly.
Bella and Alice followed him to the back of the store and he held open a changing room door for her. Alice followed her in without thinking twice.
"I might not be able to get it," Bella said as her eyebrows knitted in concern.
"Yes you are," Alice said pointedly.
"I didn't bring a strapless bra with me."
"What size are you?"
"I'm a thirty-four B."
"I'll go find you one," Alice said opening the door.
Bella heard her talking to the salesman and he offered to find her a bra but Alice quickly declined his offer. It seemed like forever before the door opened again. Alice held a few bras in each hand.
"I got several so that you could try the dress on with each one."
"Okay," Bella said as she pulled her shirt over her head.
Her jeans were next and Alice looked her over in the mirror.
"What?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you have an amazing body," Alice said with a coy smile.
"Thanks, I guess," Bella said slowly.
"Your breasts aren't too small and they aren't too big, your stomach is flat enough that you can't see your ribs, which I hate by the way and I would kill to have your ass."
"Paul says my legs are my best feature."
"I would have to agree," Alice said as her eyes traveled lower.
"Turn around," Bella said as she reached around to unclasp her bra.
Bella held out her hand for a bra and quickly pulled on a bra that clasped in front. She pulled the dress on and shook her head in disappointment. The top of the bra was showing over the top of the dress. She pulled at the dress and it didn't work. She pulled the dress off Alice held out another bra.
It clasped in the back and it was a little snug so she took it off without putting on the dress. The next bra also clasped in the back and she liked the cut of it. It was a lace padded bra, so her small breasts were lifted a few inches.
"I think this might be the one," Bella said as she pulled the dress on.
She smoothed down the dress as she looked at herself in the mirror. The bra made all the difference. The dress was pulled across her perfectly, accentuating her breast. It fell just at the knee.
"You look hot. Paul is going to want to take it off of you as soon as he sees you," Alice said in appreciation.
"That's what I was going for."
"How about we get you a pair of underwear to match the bra?" Alice asked hopefully.
"Do we have time to look for some?"
"I already have some," Alice said opening the door.
The salesman handed Alice a handful of underwear and Alice held up a pair of silk bikini briefs. Bella shook her head in disagreement. Alice held out a thin lace pair of bootie shorts next. Bella's eyebrows shot up in intrigue before taking them. She quickly pulled off her underwear and slid the other pair up her legs.
"No panty lines. That's a good sign. I also found some shoes."
"They had better not be sky high heels," Bella warned.
"I think you'll be surprised," Alice said with a sweet smile.
She opened the door again and the salesman handed her a box. Alice opened the box and held out the box for Bella's inspection. The shoes were non-threatening three inch backless sling backs. She took them out of the box and slipped them on.
"How do they feel?" Alice asked.
"I should break them in."
"Give me the clothes and shoes and I'll pay for them. Then you can wear my jacket. That way Paul won't see your dress until it's time."
She quickly undressed and Alice handed Bella her jacket. Ten minutes later Alice came back. Bella quickly dressed then she donned the jacket again.
"You really do look beautiful. Paul is going to be floored," Alice said as they left the store.
Alice led them to the elevators and pressed the button for the second floor.
"Our rooms are on the second floor?"
"Emmett's and my room is," Alice said with a nod.
The elevator doors opened and Bella followed her without asking anymore questions. She knew that she would never get a straight answer. Inside the room Alice told her to head into the bathroom and that she would be right there.
Alice came in with a large bag and sat it on the counter in front of where Bella sat. She opened the bag and started pulling things out. A straight iron and a curling iron were pulled out first followed by a slew of brushes and more styling products than Bella had ever seen.
"I'm not really a hair spray, gel using kind of girl."
"Are you telling me that your hair is naturally that beautiful?"
"Yes," Bella said with a laugh.
"I am so jealous. You do not want to know how much product I have to use before I am satisfied with my hair."
"I use hairspray sometimes."
Alice plugged in the straightener and curling iron before pulling Bella's hair into sections. She tested the straightener before running it slowly through Bella's hair.
"Are you nervous?"
"No," she answered honestly without thinking twice.
"You look so calm."
"I am. I can't remember a time when I was more at ease."
"I hope I am as calm when I get married as you are right now," she wishfully.
"Do vampires get nervous?"
"You would be surprised," she said seriously.
"I really appreciate you and Emmett doing this."
"Think nothing of it. It was only a year ago when we were doing the same thing," she reminded her with an endearing smile.
"So much has changed," Bella said dauntingly.
"You included."
"Have I changed that much?"
"You have blossomed into this amazingly fearless person who is not afraid to try new things. You have grown so much, I am so proud of you," she said squeezing Bella's shoulders encouragingly.
"Thanks," Bella said with a smile.
Alice squeezed her shoulders once more before moving on to another section of hair. They were silent as Alice finished straitening her hair then worked on curling her hair. She brushed out the curls until soft curls framed her face. She pulled a few strands back with silver comb. She kept her makeup simple and only applied eye shadow and lip gloss. She stood back to examine Bella.
"Your dress is your something new, and the comb is mine so it's your something borrowed."
"So I need to find something old and something blue in half an hour."
"I have something blue in my bag. It's Carlisle and Esme's wedding gift to you," she said heading back into the room.
"How were they able to get something so fast?"
"Esme bought it in the hopes of giving it to you when you married Edward. Your plans may have changed, but hers did not," Alice said from the front room.
Alice came back into the room with a square black velvet box. She sat it on the counter before opening it. Inside was a simple silver necklace with a sapphire pendant the size of a quarter.
"Where did this come from?"
"It's Cartier, I think."
"It's perfect."
Alice came to stand behind her and she pulled her hair over her shoulder. The necklace was in place within seconds and Bella fingered the delicate chain.
"Here, put these on," Alice said pulling off her earrings.
"You're already letting me borrow your hair comb."
"But these will be your something old," she said holding out the earrings.
Alice stood behind Bella taking her in with her hands resting on her shoulders.
"They match the dress."
"Thank you so much. I can't stop saying that," she said shaking her head with a small laugh.
"I am happy to do it. You deserve everything that is happening to you."
"I have earned it," Bella said with a laugh.
"We should head downstairs. The guys will probably be down there."
Once they stepped off the elevator Bella saw Paul across the lobby. He took her in with a smile before making his way over to her. His fingers ran down a sleeve of the jacket before his eyes met hers.
"You aren't naked under there are you?"
"The jacket is to keep you from seeing my dress until the right time," she said with a shy smile.
"Ah," he said, nodding his head in acknowledgment.
"Are the two of you ready to go?" Alice asked.
"Let's go," Paul said, taking hold of Bella's hand.
In the car she turned towards him, leaning against him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. She knew that she would have been anxious for the hour and a half that she had been away from him if Alice hadn't kept her occupied. Thoughts of what they would tell her dad put a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. Naysaying aside, she had no other qualms about what was about to happen. She would face her dad with Paul when they got back without complaint. It was time that he was finally put in his place when it came to Paul. He had doubted him for far too long.
XXXX
In the chapel lobby, waiting for the doors to be open so that she could walk down the aisle the fact that her dad wasn't there ate at her conscience. He would be upset that he wouldn't have the chance to walk her down the aisle like most fathers did. She pushed the thought aside as the doors opened. She saw Paul twenty yards away with Emmett and Alice standing off to the side.
She took a calming breath before starting towards him. They had been able to find a preacher at the last minute because she and Paul both refused to be married by Elvis. The ink on their marriage license wasn't even dry yet. She came to stand a few feet away from Paul taking in his demeanor. He was calmer than she was. He looked at her lovingly as he took her hand.
The preacher started and Paul looked down at her with curious eyes when the preacher asked if there was anyone who objected to the marriage. She squeezed his hands in encouragement making him smile. Five minutes later they were announced as husband and wife and he pulled her to him to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. He put his forehead to hers to look down at her.
"Any regrets?"
"No more than most brides would have that didn't have their father walk them down the aisle. He wouldn't have agreed to it anyway," she said sadly.
"We'll tell him first," he said reassuringly.
"I love you," she said putting a hand on his cheek.
He kissed her wrist in response before taking hold of her hand. They followed Emmett and Alice out to the parking lot and Emmett handed Paul the card for the valet.
"You two go back to the hotel. Make use of your room. We'll see you when you get back," Emmett said over his shoulder.
"Congratulations, you two," Alice said before slipping her hand into the crook of Emmett's arm.
Paul looked down at her, taking her in once more. His free hand trailed down her arm as they waited for the car to be brought around. Goose bumps lined her arm as she looked up at him.
"You look beautiful."
"You look good too," she said with a smile.
"You look like an angel. And I am not worthy of your love, but I am not going to screw everything up."
"You'd better not," she said mock glaring at him.
The car was brought around and Paul opened the passenger door for her. The valet said something and Paul nodded with a tight lipped smile. They were pulling out of the parking lot less than a minute later.
"What did that guy say to you?"
"The same thing I told you. He also said that I was lucky."
"He did not," she said rolling her eyes.
"I swear that's what he said," he said with a small laugh.
It took five minutes to get back to the hotel compared to the minute and a half that it had taken to get to the chapel. In the elevator Paul pressed the button for the top floor. Bella stood next to him and he pulled her to him. She looked up at him and he gave her a lazy smile. She smiled back before resting against him.
The elevator door opened to a vast open room with a room at the other end and the far wall was a bank of windows. They stepped off the elevator and he let go of her.
"Take a look around. I'll go put your stuff in the room."
"This is amazing," she said turning in a circle to take in the room.
"You should see the bed. It would fit four of us," he called from the bedroom.
There was a mini bar in the corner stocked with more liquor than she had ever seen. She shut the door and slowly stood seeing Paul watching her out of the corner of her eye. She crossed the room to stand in front of him. She heard water running from inside the room as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He stared down at her tenderly as he pulled her into the room.
His white button down shirt was open so her hands went beneath the fabric to run them over his skin. They stopped at his chest and she felt his heart beating steadily underneath her fingertips. They moved up to his shoulders to push his shirt down his arms. He let go of her long enough to pull it off the rest of the way and she rested her head on his chest. His hands went to her hair and he pulled out the comb.
Her hair cascaded over her shoulders and he pushed it back before hooking two fingers underneath her chin. He tilted her head so that she was looking at him and she smiled up at him. His fingers traveled down her neck to her bare shoulders. His hands moved down her back to unzip the dress. She let the dress pool around her feet after she had taken off her shoes. His hands moved lower to the small of her back as she leaned up to meet his lips.
Her hands moved down to his belt buckle, jerking it free from his jeans within seconds. His jeans lay inches from her dress a few seconds later.
"Bathroom, now," he murmured against her lips.
He pulled her through the dark bedroom to the dimly lit bathroom. He pulled away from her to turn off the water giving her a chance to look around the room. There were tall pillar candles in each corner of the room casting a romantic orange glow over the room. The room was twice the size of her bedroom at her dad's.
He pulled her into his arms again and he reached behind her to unhook her bra.
"This is new too," he said before pulling it off of her.
"Alice decided to buy me lingerie and shoes to go along with the dress."
"It looks good on you, but it looks better off of you," he said with a smirk.
"I thought you might say that," she said giving him a teasing smile.
He kneeled down in front of her, slowly pulling off her underwear. His fingers blazed a searing hot trail up her body starting with her ankle paying attention to her center for no longer than a minute before moving to her torso. He lavished attention to her breasts making her sigh in contentment. His eyes met hers when he finally stood upright five minutes after he had started.
"You're beautiful."
"You don't have to keep saying that," she said smiling shyly.
"It goes without saying, just like I don't always have to say that I love you. You should know it without me having to say it," he said running his fingers through her hair.
"I do know that you love me."
He pulled her towards the steps leading to the Jacuzzi. They stopped in front of the bottom step and he pulled off his boxers before climbing the two steps to step into the water. He held out a hand for her and she took it before walking up the stairs. Once they were both in the tub he sat down pulling her with him so that she sat in his lap facing him. The warm water lapped at their chests as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
She leaned up on her knees, reaching in between them to guide his erection into her. She rocked against him and he draped his arms over her shoulders. She leaned down to brush her lips against his as he lifted himself to meet her rhythm. His hands glided over her back underneath the water making her moan.
Her eyes met his, giving him an intense look as her hands came to rest on his chest. She moved against him in slow fluid motions. She could feel his heart thundering underneath her hands, it was slow and even unlike before. Her heartbeat was almost identical to his. Everything seemed to stand still except for them. She took a few seconds to take in his face. One of her hands caressed his cheek and he leaned into the touch. She smiled down at him as her hand moved over his chin. Her thumb brushed over his lips and he kissed the pad of her thumb lightly.
She sighed before putting her forehead to his. He kissed her, cupping her neck to keep her in place. Her fingers threaded into his hair, brushing her tongue over his bottom lip. He opened his mouth to her and her tongue swept into his mouth. She explored his mouth as his fingers tangled into her hair.
He growled deep in his chest when his moan was cut off by her tongue. She pulled away from him with a smirk when he gave her an even look. She leaned down to his neck so that there was no space between them before applying pressure to his neck. He growled once more, the sensation vibrating through Bella's body. She smiled against his neck but didn't move away.
"You know that whatever you do won't stay for long," he said huskily.
"I know, but you love it just as much as you do," she whispered in his ear.
"If you stop I'm going to be pissed," he threatened.
She laughed softly before kissing behind his ear. She moved up and down his erection slowly, wanting to take her time. So far there hadn't been any discomfort and she was hoping that it would last. He kissed her shoulder after pushing her hair behind her. She took his earlobe between her teeth pulling gently making him hiss.
He put his hands on her shoulders to push her away. She looked down at him knowing what was happening. He was close. She leaned up to let him slip from her and he pulled her off of him completely. He stood, water cascading off of him making him look even more gorgeous than she had ever seen him. He grabbed his jeans from off the floor and pulled something from the pocket while Bella stood in the tub. He held out a hand to help her down the stairs before pulling her to him.
"This isn't over yet. We're just moving to the bed," he said picking her up.
He carried her to the bed, gently laying her down. He opened the condom wrapper in his hand quickly before rolling it down his erection. He pushed his way inside of her once more with a sigh. Bella wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him to her. Her tongue ran across his lower lip and he opened his mouth to her. She sighed against his lips as his tongue gently caressed hers.
He moved in and out of her slowly as his hands moved down her body. He stopped at her breast and his thumb and forefinger tweaked her nipple lightly making her breath hitch. He pulled away from her with a lopsided smile.
"You aren't the only one who knows what they're doing," he said before leaning down.
His tongue swirled around her areola slow enough to make her growl deep within her chest. That was something that she had never done before and he had to admit that it turned him on. His teeth pulled at skin making her dig her nails into his shoulders. He would never stop wanting to please her because he knew that she would always want to please him. She was the first girl to bring out any kind of reaction from him. Usually his mind shut down and he felt like he was going through the motions when he was with a girl. Being with Bella was like experiencing everything again for the first time.
He could feel his climax approaching so he knew that he wouldn't last much longer. He quickened his thrusts but made slow work of her breasts. He moved to the other without looking up at her. Her breathing was shallow so he knew that she was close too. He finally lifted his head when he felt his climax was close. He thrust into her a few more times before his seed spilled into the condom. He felt her walls clamp down on him less than a minute later.
They stared at each other, his eyes wide and hers filled with wonder. Her fingers brushed his hair away from his forehead giving him a contemplative look.
"What?" he asked quietly.
"I was just wondering what you were thinking."
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he said shaking his head.
"How do you know if you won't tell me?" she asked putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Everything is different with you," he mumbled.
"Is that a good or a bad thing?" she asked laughing lightly.
"It's something that I didn't plan on," he murmured.
"What's different?"
"I've never had…" he cut himself off, embarrassed.
"You've never…?" she asked with questioning eyes.
Her eyes widened as it dawned on her. He'd never had release before.
"Never?" she asked in accusation.
"No. I have no clue what I'm doing," he said in frustration.
"Then we'll learn together. It's not the crisis that you're making it out to be."
"You don't think any less of me?"
"No," she said shaking her head.
"Not only are you beautiful but you're perfect," he said with a shaky laugh.
"I am not perfect. I'm nonjudgmental."
"You're perfect to me," he said giving her a sincere look.
She smiled before pulling him to her. Her arms rested on his back while his head rested in the crook of her neck. They had a lot of things to work out and they still had things to learn about each other. She knew that things weren't always going to be this good. She would wait out the rough spots because she knew that in the end he would never leave her. It was comforting to know that she had someone to spend the rest of her life with at a young age.