Chapter 26: Alone

E POV

Over the past week and a half Bella and I had not had much time together. She had gotten hired on for holiday help at Newton's Outfitters. I would bring her lunch and we'd cuddle in the back of my car and listen to music, and after her shifts I would go over to her house to help her make dinner for Charlie.

I could never tire her of watching her cook. She was so adept and skilled at it. Not only that but this raw passion and confidence awakened in her, nothing like I had never seen before. If she was sure of herself in one particular aspect, it would be in her ability to cook.

I watched her make lasagna that tasted like it came from Italy itself, freshly caught salmon that five-star chefs would've swooned over, pulled pork sandwiches that would've made Paul Bunyan cry like a baby and more. How Charlie hadn't gained twenty pounds since she moved here beat the hell out of me.

We had gone to the Winter Formal, which was a blast. Bella looked so beautiful in her dress that Alice and Rose had chosen for her. It was a floor-length red strapless with rhinestones along the top. It had a bodice that was bunched and had an asymmetrical waist line that made her hips stand out more then I had ever seen.

Mom and Carlisle had insisted on taking picture after picture of all of us kids and then had finally let us leave. I was a bit apprehensive to go to the dance because of the experience at the last one. However, Rose and Alice made sure to go with her to the bathroom. I think they were slightly nervous about a possible disappearing act as well.

Tonight however would be amusing. It was the night of the annual Cullen Christmas. My parents would invite some of the important business men and women of the town and their families to a nice dinner and gift exchange. Some of the traditional guests were Mayor Denali and his family, Chief Swan, Frank Hale, The Newton's, The Webber's and The Franciscos.

Bella had said her and her dad would be over early to help setup. It was 4:20 and guests would start arriving at 5:00. I was milling around in the front of the house, pretending to clean a glass table for the last fifteen minutes and obsessively checking my watch.

I hear the sound of a car door slam and immediately rush to the door. Bella and Chief Swan are walking up to the house. Bella is dressed in the same black dress that she wore the night of the Homecoming Mixer. Her hair is pulled up in a half bun, allowing the stray strands that usually dangle in her face to be restrained and the length and curl of it to rest on her shoulders.

"Hey you." I greet Bella as she enters the door, a large pie dish in her hand. I take the pie from her.

"Hey yourself." She smiles as she takes her jacket off.

"Hello Edward." Charlie greets me amiably, a large clap on my shoulder almost makes me fumble the pie, but I catch it.

I transfer the pie into one hand and take her jacket from her, open the coat closet to the right of the door and hang it on a hook. I take Bella by the hand and lead her into the kitchen.

"EMMETT!" Esme calls as she pours potatoes into a strainer in the sink.

"Mom," I interrupt. "Bella and Chief Swan are here."

"Oh dear." Esme scolds herself. "I'm sorry about that. Welcome!"

"Thank you Mrs. Cullen." Charlie answers.

"We brought a pie." Bella offers as she gestures to the pie I just set on the counter. "It's custard. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Oh thank you so much! Oh well, I'm terribly sorry about this but do you think you could help me mash these?"

"Of course!" Bella steps towards the potatoes in the strainer.

"Chief Swan, Carlisle is out on the back deck starting the fire, do you think you could help him?"

"Absolutely," Charlie nods his head and walks to the back door.

"Edward," Mom turns to me quickly. "Please go find your brother. I need him to help move some furniture around."

We all busily work to finish make the house presentable and ready for guests. Rose and Jasper arrived with their dad and his new girlfriend.

"God," Rose vents. "I mean it's great that my dad is getting back into the game and everything since mom died, but seriously?" She looks over to where the parents are conversing, Miss Johnson's laughter squawks over to us. "She dresses like a tramp, laughs like a Dodo bird and looks like a horse."

"Well," Alice shrugs, "It could be worse. Remember the year he got terribly drunk and ended up crying?" Rose shudders.

"That was the year after mom's death." Jazz answers mildly. "He was liable to be a mess."

"HA!" Emmett guffaws. We all look at him like the insensitive ass that he was for laughing at that. "Dodo." He spits before we can berate him. "It's funny...'cause they're extinct..." He trails off and puts his head down realizing that he was off on the timing, by a long shot.

The doorbell rings. "I'll get that!" I shout at no one in particular. I walk hastily to the door, and open it to see Mr. and Mrs. Denali, followed by their three daughters. All have matching dresses on, which I find extremely tacky.

"Hello there Mr. Cullen!" Mr. Denali shakes my hand. "Where's your father?"

"In the main room." I point in the general direction and wave my hand for them to come in. They all pass silently until Tanya decides to stop for a second, in the doorway. I can't very well shut the door on her, it would be rude and I'd probably get in trouble.

"Are you coming in?" I ask Tanya.

"Well if that's an invitation." She flirts, gives me a grin which I think is supposed to seduce me and bats her lashes. I look away and grimace.

I close the door as she clears the entryway. She turns her back to me, pulls her hair to one side, revealing her neck to me and let's her hands fall into a 'take my jacket off' kind of way. Is this supposed to make me want her? I inwardly chuckle at her feeble attempt.

"Let me take your jacket for you Tanya," I sarcastically and unenthusiastically say as I roll my eyes. Bella walks into the room and sees me touching Tanya's shoulders. I toss her a panicked look, not knowing what her reaction is going to be. She seems fine because she just smiles at me. I take Tanya's jacket and throw it in the closet, not caring if it lands on a hook or not.

Tanya turns to me and goes to kiss my cheek, I dodge her incoming face and practically leap towards Bella. Bella gives me a 'Go with me on this' look.

"Oh, Edward." She says a little louder than necessary. "Your mom wants you to give me a tour of the upstairs. She never got to give me one. I'm really interested in what your room looks like. You said you'd give me your own personal tour yesterday remember?" She raises her eyebrows, licks her lips and bites her lip.

"Oh that's right." I pull her to me, let my hand run down her side and rest on the curve of her butt. I kiss her and bite the lip that she teases me with so often. She pulls back a little so that the small nip is seen from Tanya's position. She twists out of my grasp a little and heads to the staircase.

"Oh, Tanya." She innocently smiles. "I'm sorry I didn't see you there." Yeah right.

"Tanya," I smile at the look of disbelief and jealousy emanating from Tanya. "You know where the living room is. Why don't you join everyone? We'll be down in...well...we'll be down before dinner." I take Bella's hand and rush up the stairs before Tanya can argue. Bella giggles as we hit the second floor landing.

I lead the way into my room and let the door snap closed behind us.

"Think she's pissed?" I tease from the door.

"Eh, she deserved it, the little boyfriend stealing bitch." She shrugs her shoulders.

"Well," I answer walking towards her. "That was definitely a turn on."

"Oh really?" She purrs. "So you like me getting defensive?"

"Uh-huh." I nod sharply, narrowing my eyes at her as she sits on my bed, and scoots back to the center, her legs straight out, her arms bent at the elbow supporting herself. I rest my knee on the edge of the bed and continue to crawl towards her, my body holding itself above hers, off center so that both my legs are straddling one of hers.

She stretches her neck to try and kiss me, but I pull away slightly. She narrows her eyes and tries again, I let her barely touch my lips before I pull away again. She pulls back, her face looks fierce and she practically growls at me. Her arm throws itself around my neck and pulls me towards her. I relent and kiss her with as much force as I can muster, her hand drops back down now that I've given her what she wanted.

Her right leg skims up and down my calf. My hand traces up her thigh and pulls the hem of her dress higher until I can feel the curve of her hip and the lace of her underwear. I toy with the delicate fabric, allowing her to grasp what I'm doing. Our lips disengage and I move to kiss her neck. Her breathing is coming in quicker breaths as I zone in on her cleavage.

"Edward," She whispers.

"Hmm?" I let her know I'm listening without stopping my parade of kisses.

"Please." She whimpers. "Please, touch me." I pull back, a tad bit confused. She meets my eyes, a look that's quickly becoming one of my favorites, one of lust, need and desperation, is etched on her face. I understand almost instantly. She wants a release.

My mind wars with itself. It's Christmas, this would be a good gift for her. Her father and my parents are right downstairs. From the little she had told me of Drake I would assume she wouldn't have orgasmed with him. It would look fishy if we went downstairs with our clothes all messed up. What if someone walked in?

"Edward," She whispers. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that this...is something that you and I both definitely want, but might not be the right time for." I say quickly and quietly.

"But..." She argues, "Everyone is downstairs, and this is the first time we've gotten a chance to be alone since the day winter break started." She has a point, she knows it and she definitely takes advantage of it. She rests her hand above mine, which is frozen to her hip. She guides it to where she needs it most and I can't argue. The touch short circuits my brain and I can't help but continue where she left me to.

"Edward," She sighs as I begin my ministrations.

"Bella," I sigh. "You're so...ready."

"That's what you do to me." She teases. Her head falls back slightly, her tongue darts out to lick her lips. I crush my lips to the column of her throat and continue caressing the part of her body that has been off limits for so long. The mews and the sighs coming from her help to guide me to where she wants me most.

My fingers delve, rub, circle, explore, learn. Her body begins to tremble and I know that she's getting closer. I've never been able to get her this close this fast. Her hands grip at my shirt, pulling me to her, her hips begin to move of their own accord, seeking out my movements.

I nip at her earlobe as I quicken my movements. Her back arches, her head thrown back onto the bed, a loud sigh breaks through her lips, I continue rubbing the small nub that has sent her over the edge.

"Ed-ward," She gasps as another wave rolls through her. "Ed-oooooh." I smile against her shoulder as she shoves her chest against mine. I slow my fingers and tickle the soft flesh along her plevis back to her hip. She lets her back fall to the bed and exhales a large breath. Her eyes snap up to mine.

"What was that?" She asks surprised.

"Do you want me to explain or can you guess?" I chuckle against her lips.

"Well I know it was like nothing I've ever felt before." She blushes.

"That's good then isn't it?" I ask smartly.

"Very," She nods enthusiastically.

"We better get going." I whisper, "Tanya is probably alerting the fact that I took you for a personal tour to everyone right now."

"But," She grabs my bicep. "You didn't...you know." She tilts her head in a seductively innocent way.

"That's alright." I answer. "I did before you got here."

"What?" She asks amused.

"You heard me." I scoff. "I knew you were coming over, and I knew you'd probably be dressed in something that I would've fantasized about all night, so I took matters into my own hands, so to speak."

She giggles and sighs again. I leave one more kiss on her lips and push away from her. She readjusts her dress so that it covers her again and shuffles to the edge of the bed. I play with her hair a little to make sure it doesn't look too put of place and offer my hand to help her up. She takes it, I rest a small kiss in her knuckles and then help her stand.

We walk slowly to the stairs, her awarding me with sly glances, soft smiles and light blushes the whole way down. When we reach the landing the doorbell rings. I kiss her hand again and go to answer it. I open the door to be met by none other then Mr. Francisco, his wife and their son, Aro.