When I got home I practically ran into the shower. I wasn't kidding when I told Alice that I wanted to shower the hooker off. After the shower I quickly gave up all thoughts of sleep- I never could sleep the night after I killed someone, and if I did against all odds fall asleep I would just replay the murder in form of nightmares. I did not feel any remorse over killing Hunter or any of the other ones for that matter, they all deserved it but I think it is my minds way of reminding me that I actually have done it. To not forget what ruthlessness I am capable of, a reminder to stay compassionate.
So instead of falling asleep I went into my kitchen and made myself a cup of tea- marvelous. I sat on my couch underneath a cosy blanket with my notepad and pen and started thinking of designs for Alice's and Jasper's wedding cake. It would have to be spectacular. It was Alice- event planner and bride to be, she would need a cake like no one else's. The size of the cake needed to be set latter on, when they knew the guest number- but I was sure big is the word.
I wanted the cake to represent both Alice's exuberance and Jasper's calmness. The pair really was a perfect match, they completed each other- they were better together. Alice was a total city-girl while Jasper with his southern drawl was the epitome of country. But they accepted and balanced each other out. I twisted and turned and pondered my ideas, before I was hit with the one.
PERFECT. They are going to love it.
Feeling giddy with my idea I couldn't sit still anymore. I had to work. Since I wasn't going to open today I didn't need to be in full work clothes so I changed to a pair of bleached jeans shorts, ending at the middle of my thigh and a t-shirt that had a v-neck and was almost 3 sizes to big. It hanged off of my not so petite frame. It only came in that size and Angela got me it because of the patterned print on it "Sarcasm - Because beating the shit out of people is illegal." I found it ironic and hilarious, so I kept it. It had become one of my favorite shirts. Bringing some boxes of the food I had to stock up on in the bakery- in case of late nights and just, you know, lunch I was of.
I arrived at the bakery around 5 am and the sun wasn't completely up yet- late spring is the best time of the year, the slow rising sun, the promise of warmth, the smell of fresh dew in the morning and the people when they get spring feelings. Well, since I lived in a city the dew wasn't really relevant, but you get the gist. I loved it.
I opened the shop taking in the smell of baked bread, a smell that lingered. I turned on the lights, started the kettle- I was addicted to tea, it was to me what coffee was to other people, and put on some pop music in the speakers, rock didn't suit my mood today. Making myself a grilled cheese sandwich with some day-old bread I finally sat down at the counter in front of my laptop and started to go through the coming weeks orders. When I was done with that I started to sketch the cake I imagined for one of the customers- a birthday cake for a little girl that loved dirt bikes and cars, I would make sure it was awesome, when I heard the familiar chime of the door bell. Still looking at my notepad I said:
"I'm sorry, were not open today but you are more than welcome to come back tomorrow." I heard the soft reply that made my head shoot up.
"I know. Alice told me." He looked haggard, like he hadn't been able to sleep last night. His hair was an utter mess it looked like he had run his hands through it constantly for hours. He had on a snug t-shirt and distressed jeans. Both items were wrinkly- it was the most casual I had ever seen him. He looked stunning.
"What are you doing here Mr. Cullen?" He may be cute but I wasn't letting him of the hook that easily, he annoyed the absolute shit out of me yesterday, amongst other more confusing emotions...
He winced at the name and humbly said "Can you please not call me that? It feels weird and not right. Mr. Cullen is what my dad's associates call him. It makes me feel really old to be honest." I laughed at the admission.
"Carlisle can't be more than 50!"
"Well, I'm half of that, so as I said quite old." He smiled a shy smile. "I actually came here to apologize for being a right ass yesterday, if you would accept my apology?"
"Really? What are you apologizing for exactly? Normally you have thoughts and actions behind the dickishness you displayed yesterday."
"Well, really... I was... Shit. I was shocked." His hand rubbed frustratingly against his cheek and jaw.
"You were shocked? That's the reason you acted like an asshole? You were shocked?" I laced my words with sarcasm and incredulity.
"No! Wait, yes. No. Fuck." He pulled on his hair- hard.
"No or yes? Because it can only be one or the other in this case." I was feeling smug, Edward was so visible flustered. I liked the fact that he could be as effected by me as I were of him.
"YES! I was shocked, I first saw you thru this window looking relaxed and joyous and just fucking beautiful and peaceful and then yesterday, fuck, only 5 hours ago I saw you looking fierce and sexy and deadly and satisfied over the fact that you had successfully killed a man! I could see that the person was the same, but damn it, it was hard to connect the personalities! A girl that was dancing around her shop is the same as a women that sauntered towards me dressed like sex on legs while explaining how fucking LETHAL she was! So naturally I questioned how the ever lasting fuck she was able to discreetly kill a man twice her size with out any fucking help or with out getting harm to her person! AND that's not even all. Because what do I find out?! That this person that I find myself drawn to with out any reasonable explanation is Charlie Swan's FUCKING DAUGHTER! The same Charlie that felt like a second dad to me, THE Charlie that, when mad, scares the ever living piss out of me. THAT CHARLIE. Charlie that loves his daughter and will beat the shit out of me if he found out what she makes me feel!"
During his rant I could feel my jaw hit the floor. Is that really how he sees me? Beautiful? Joyous? Shit I knew he felt attraction but this? This is so much more. So very much more. And he must really mean it as well, because he visible zoned out at the beginning the tirade, he had paced the floor of my shop from end to end, pulling on the strands of his hair. I wish I could drag my fingers thru it. I wish I could make him feel better. At this thought my mind halted to a swift stop. Fucking what? I knew I had some kind of feelings for him- lust mostly, anything deeper that I might have been feeling I did not acknowledge even to myself. I am NOT crushing on Edward Cullen. NO. Or maybe. What do I make him feel? What does he make me feel?
I could see the exact moment that Edward snapped out of his haze. He stiffened, straightened and slowly turned his head to look me straight into my eyes. I could see several emotions in his eyes and as being under such a strong gaze made me feel shy, I lowered my eyes. I bit my lip. I looked up again when I heard a growl.
The expression in his eyes was of no question, it was lust. His eyes darkened, his jaw tightened, his fists clenched and unclenched and I could see him scanning the bit of my body that he could see above the counter.
He slowly stalked around the counter- his movements was one of the most graceful things I have ever seen- panther like, smooth and secure. I could feel myself getting heated and tingling at the thought of what else that body would be good at. I followed him, turning my back against the counter, feeling as if I would die if I couldn't watch him.
He was in front of me gazing, taking in my whole body, I couldn't do the same to him- my gaze was firmly set on his face. I saw everything from the widening of the eyes when he saw my exposed legs, the small quirk of the lips when he read the text on the shirt, the clenching of jaw when he saw my ample cleavage. Everything. He put his hands on the counter on either side of me, caging me in. When he finally fixed his sight on mine we were both panting heavily and his usual emerald colored eyes were practically black and I was convinced mine were the same. My eyes roamed his face, taking in everything from the high cheekbones to the defined jaw, the straight nose and those eyes framed with long lashes. All straight, firm, angular. The only truly soft feature about his face was his lips. Soft and pillowy and lightly pink- perfect. I licked my lips and heard a longing groan. I was melting with lust and he hadn't even touched me once. He leaned into me, his lips hovering centimeters from mine- like he was waiting for permission. I licked lips again and gave a slight nod. Kiss me kiss me KISS ME. My mind chanted those two words.
"She's my cherry pie, cool drink of water such a sweet surprise. Tastes so good makes a grown man cry, Sweet cherry piiiiiiiiie yeah!"
I jerked out of the haze Edward and I was in, blinking my eyes furiously- not understanding the sudden noise and then I remembered. Fucking Alice. She had changed the phones ringtone to Cherry pie by Warrant, she thought it was funny, I thought it was stupid considering that we don't even sell cherry pie. And considering that said ringtone made Edward slightly back up in confusion, I fucking hated it.
I jumped of the stool thinking that since the moment was ruined I might as well take the call. I went back to locate the phone, finally finding it and answering in the nick of time.
"Hi! This is Panetteria di Teppisti, What can I help you with?"
It was a wrong dial.
Of fucking course. The call interrupting the hottest moment of my entire life wasn't even an important one.
I sighed and slumped my shoulders, tilting back my head to relive some of the tension that festered in my neck when I felt two arms encircling my waist, hugging me to a muscular, firm and much taller body. A head resting on my shoulder, a nose running up and down my neck creating goosebumps in it's wake. A low and grumbling murmur saying:
"Mm, you even smell fantastic."
Leaning in and tilting my head back even further I nipped at Edward's chiseled jaw, wanting more.
The feeling of him touching me was electric.
It was more.
It was everything.