A/N: Have you guys caught on that half my chapter titles are song titles? :)
Chapter 27
One Moment in Time.
Edward's POV.
Saturday afternoon just as dusk was setting in, I was sitting in the limousine on the way to Jazz's house, clutching Bella's corsage in my clammy grip. I was focusing on the pink streamers that were flapping about from the hood of the limousine, to keep myself from succumbing to the edginess I could feel infiltrating me. I was a fucking wreck; I couldn't remember in my life ever feeling so wound up over one night.
In my pocket the pen sat, poking me in the groin intermittently as I shifted in the seat; a pile of switched on nerves and impulses, and little else.
Emmett had given me the idea to have the pen engraved, and I got it done when the three of us went to Port Angeles that morning to pick up the corsages. Five words that had the potential to completely end me. It was all coming down to this night; I knew if it was finally going to work with the two of us, I'd realize it by the end of the night.
One way or another, I'd know.
My gaze broke from the hood and I caught Emmett's eye. He flashed me a quick grin and winked, while between his legs he was signaling me with his thumb outstretched, nodding freaking slyly, and arching an eyebrow in further emphasis. I broke into a small grin and shook my head to myself. The dickhead scrubbed up well in his tuxedo, but Emmett would always be Emmett no matter what he was wearing. There were no dud roots from him that day, though. There'd been no roots of any kind.
Jazz was buzzing, his knees bouncing the corsage as his feet jittered with a hypo-fucking-active anticipation, which was typical of him. He'd slicked his hair back, making him look deceivingly civilized, but all it did was highlight the fading hickey that was bruised into his neck.
I looked away, throwing off the impatience that threatened to set in as the limousine pulled onto the street where the asshole lived.
My stomach tensed and knotted, and I shifted in the seat again and tried to relax. No chance. My body was a live wire and there was absolutely no way I'd be able to shut it down by this point.
The limo came to a stop, and Jazz was the first out the door, leaping out and straightening out his jacket offhandedly before he made his way along the path to the front door. Emmett exited next with his usual ease. He was never dictated by time; his way of thinking was that nothing really started until he got there, anyway.
I retreated from the limo last. Pulling myself to my full height, I took mechanical steps following Emmett to the door while the energy continued to plow through my veins. I wasn't sure whether I was hornier than I was strung out, while my fucking hands, that still gripped Bella's corsage, began to shake.
Mrs. Hale had already opened the door for Jazz, gushing all over him before greeting Emmett with the same enthusiasm. Ushering him inside, she held out her arm to quicken me.
"Well, don't you boys look handsome!" she exclaimed once we had assembled in the foyer, pointing her camera in our direction and almost fucking blinding me with the flash.
My eyes drifted to the stairs, and my heart jolted. Releasing my breath deeply, I raked my fingers stiffly back through my hair. I was so fucking amped up, and I couldn't calm myself.
"They're ready, and gosh they look beautiful!" Jazz's mother started gushing again, before she disappeared up the stairs.
They all appeared at the top behind her a moment later. Bella, who was half concealed by Mrs. Hale, was wearing this tan and black dress that hugged her body.
Fuck me...
I almost went through the fucking floor. She was beautiful!
She smiled down at me then, all warm and tender—with no suspicion anymore.
No walls around her to stop me from getting through...
I smiled back, almost placing my palm over my heart. It was pounding so fucking heavily within me that I had this lame ass impulse to try and muffle it.
My eyes dipped to her dress and my breath caught, because—fuck me—she was gorgeous, but all I could suddenly think was how hard it would be to get that dress off her.
Then she was before me.
I stepped forward and took her hands in mine.
"Bella, fuck…" I said without really fucking thinking—making her smile, but I didn't realize she had this kind of body under all the clothes she was always wearing. "You look beautiful." I attempted to redeem myself, only my voice clogged in the back of my throat.
I cleared it roughly.
Her smile broadened, her face flushing, and that's when I noticed how sick she still was. I could feel the heat coming off her, and her eyes were too bright—but she was beautiful. It didn't seem enough, but it was all I could think of.
"You don't look so bad yourself," she replied, her voice still so hoarse, before she reached out and smoothed down my jacket.
The pen jabbed me again—not that I could do much about it, but she noticed me react to it, her forehead quirking. I just smiled back down at her, recovering quickly, before opening the little plastic box that held the corsage.
"Here," I said gently, slipping it around her wrist, while she watched me almost curiously.
"That's what that thing is for..." she replied, chuckling softly.
Mrs. Hale then ushered us into a line and began taking photos of us. I held my hand steadfast to Bella's, pulling her closer to my side, unable to tell if the heat between us was from her or me. I was already roasting after all, and she was so warm.
After several dozen more photographs, we made our way back outside to the limo.
"How do you feel?" I asked her, my voice dropping.
"I'm fine," she said with a sigh.
"Okay, okay." I pulled her closer to me again, before releasing her hand and wrapping my arm around her shoulders, when Bella stopped us short.
I looked down at her in confusion. She was staring at the limo in surprise.
"Bella, what—" I began.
"Pink streamers? Edward..." her voice trailed off, before she exhaled into a knowing kind of smile, shaking her head slightly to herself.
"It was part of the condition, remember?" I murmured into her ear.
She nodded, leaning into me and nudging me playfully. "I remember," she replied softly. "You're a dag."
I had absolutely no idea what that word meant, but I was taking it as a good sign.
. . .
The prom was being held at Kalaloch Lodge. A log cabin restaurant just outside of town, with views of the ocean, and by the time we arrived—because of freaking Emmett we were late—there were students everywhere.
We were directed to an archway that held the sign: Forks High School, class of 2015. Bella and I stood beneath it to have our photo taken, before we followed Jazz and Alice into the restaurant.
Inside it was warm, and I felt Bella relax more in my arms. The lights were dimmed and several dining tables surrounded a dance floor where a DJ was already set up, blasting out that idiotic techno music that the little rat liked.
Each person that we passed exclaimed an enthusiastic greeting to us as if we were putting aside all the bullshit politics of high school and were all best friends. I returned their ridiculous greetings and led Bella over to the table where Jazz and Alice were sitting.
I figured they'd start feeling each other up before too long and it'd give me an excuse to go somewhere private with Bella.
"Isn't it great here?" Alice exclaimed to Bella, who sat beside her.
"It is," Bella agreed.
They chatted for a while as the room slowly filled with people. Bella had her hand firmly entwined around mine for the most part of it, and I was happy to just listen.
After several minutes she turned to me, releasing my hand to rest hers on my leg. "What are you so quiet for?"
I only smiled at her, shaking my head and half shrugging. If I told her I liked listening to her talk, she'd only tell me I was cheesy anyway, so I said nothing. Besides, I didn't think I had the brain capacity at that moment while I was so focused on her body beneath that dress, and the fact that every time it got away from me, the pen in my pocket kept poking me in the dick.
Of course, with Bella distracted by me, pissant Jazz took the opportunity to start groping my sister in front of us. This only made Bella's attention become more focused on me, and after only a few minutes, she started asking me why I looked so "uptight".
Uptight didn't quite cover it. I was a fucking basket case over the pen I was carrying—or the fact that I was going to use it to ask her to be my girlfriend. If she said no, it would fucking end me, but if she said yes, then I would in all reality try at some point during the night to get that dress off her—and probably fuck everything up in the process.
This was on top of just wanting to confess to her that I loved her—regardless of what she felt for me. And considering that not too long ago she couldn't stand me, it made the least fucking sense of all.
But when did Bella and I make any sense?
After the fifth time I'd assured her that I was fine, dinner was served; roast lamb, or whatever the hell it was. I didn't really pay that much attention to it. All I noticed was that Bella didn't eat much of it. She picked mostly at it with her fork as she chatted with me.
I let her talk for the most part, I was too wound up and I discovered that watching her facial expressions was a good distraction; the way her eyebrows would pull together intermittently as she gazed at me—probably trying to work out why I was so "uptight". All the while her hands were constantly in contact with me, whether they played with my fingers, or rested on my knee, straightening and smoothing my tie...
She cleared her throat a lot too; it broke when she talked. I almost became mesmerized with the ritual of it. Her voice would break, she'd raise her fist to her mouth to clear it, and then afterwards her voice was adorably husky again, before it slowly retreated back to croaky. Then the throat clearing routine would start all over again.
I became so distracted by her that when I looked up I realized we were the only ones still sitting at the table. I leaned in to her, to be heard over the music, and she tilted her head toward me just as the fucked up alluring scent of her perfume flooded my senses.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" I asked her, trying to swallow stiffly past it.
She nodded, and as we stood up she grabbed my hand, but the moment we walked outside, I released it; wrapping my arms around her and pulling her against me.
We walked through the gardens, as I led her as far away from everyone as I could. She was shivering—as much as she was trying not to—and I wondered how she could be cold. It was summer now, after all.
Trying not to grin to myself, I pulled her tighter to me. Her skin was hot, but at the same time she was breaking into goose bumps.
"Cold?" I asked her gently, rubbing her arm slowly as I led her to the gazebo at the rear of the gardens.
"Edward, when am I not cold?" she replied wryly.
"You'll get used to it soon," I promised her, sitting her down on one of the benches.
"Hopefully..." she mumbled, smiling to herself as she looked down.
Taking a deep breath, I shoved my hand in my pocket, gripping the pen in my fist. The fucking thing had been maiming me the entire night.
"I got you something, Bella..." I confessed to her after a minute of working myself into a sweat.
Her brow shot up with surprise, just as I pulled the pen out of my pocket and held it out to her. I'd wrapped a red ribbon around it that now looked dead—on top of really corny, but Bella only stared at it. Her expression, which had been initially curious, slowly softened and that warm smile lit up across her face. She took it from me and only gazed at it for a moment, before she turned her eyes to mine
"Edward ... oh my God—you are such a sweetheart," she said softly, her smile steadily broadening.
I reached over and turned it in her hands so she could read the inscription.
"Bella, all my love, Edward," she read out loud, softly, and when she looked up at me again, her eyes were serious and shining with ... something I couldn't read.
"What am I going to do with you?" Her tone was gentle and teasing, before she leaned in closer to me for a brief moment then pulled back again to hold my gaze.
"You can do whatever you like with me, Bella!" I replied, before apprehensively bringing my hand to cup her cheek, slowly tilting her face back to mine.
This is when I stalled, completely second guessing myself, as my heart began to pound furiously behind my rib cage. Then, needing a moment to work up the courage, I bent down to kiss her, and immediately she pulled back.
I was on my feet in and instant.
Putting my hands on my hips, I turned my back to her, feeling like she'd fucking punched me again, and immediately feeling the rejection burning my ears.
Dropping my head, I gazed at the ground, when suddenly Bella was on her feet and clutching at my arm.
"Edward—I—"
I spun around to face her, cutting her off. "You're what, Bella? You're sorry?" I asked her, my tone flat, while my fucking heart clenched in my chest. Breaking my gaze from her, I reached up and dragged my hand roughly back through my hair.
All I could think was that she didn't want to kiss me, and like the idiot that I was I'd bared my soul to her and made a fucking idiot out of myself.
She shook her head. "Edward, it—"
"I can't do this anymore, Bella," I said quietly to her, before I moved to take a step away but she only clung to me tighter.
"Edward, stop—it's not like that. I—" she attempted to plead with me, but I cut her off again, feeling a stubborn ache rise in my chest
"Do you have any idea what you do to me, Bella? Do you have any idea how I feel about you?" I demanded, my tone defeated just as I ran my fingers impulsively through my hair again.
I was restless, and I needed to get away from her.
"Of course I do!" she exclaimed, while the attempt she made at increasing the volume of her voice only made it break. She sighed and paused before she gazed up at me again. "I just didn't want—"
"To kiss me?" I interjected, finishing the sentence for her.
She shook her head, for the first time appearing angry. "Edward—you're doing it again! Would you just bloody shut up for a moment and listen to me?!"
"I can't, Bella. I'm done," I answered flatly, before removing her grip from my arm and stepping out of the gazebo. I walked, not back to the restaurant, I just walked, feeling the fucking ache in my chest growing, threatening to become unbearable. Where I was going I had no fucking clue, I just had to put a large distance between the two of us.
She didn't follow, at least not initially, but I soon heard the awkward thudding of her feet on the damp ground behind me as she got closer, before she grabbed hold of my arm again; almost pulling me backwards.
I turned back to her fucking resigned. She was out of breath, her face flushing deeper. She tried to talk but instead broke off and started coughing. My heart went out to her, and it took nearly every part of my will power not to pull her into my arms.
"Bella, you can't keep doing this to me," I whispered, expelling my breath heavily, and it wasn't until I heard the sound of my voice that I realized I'd spoken it out loud.
"Edward..." her voice broke and a single tear slipped down her cheek, "I ... I just don't want you to get sick."
I only stared at her for a moment, my heart beginning to beat fucking anxiously just as hope ignited within me again.
Tentatively, I brought my hand to her face, grazing her cheek with the back of my fingers as I gazed into her eyes. They were burning too bright, when realization suddenly hit me. I was being a prick to her again, when all she was doing was thinking about me. She was the one who was sick and here she was worried about me.
How many times was I going to do this to her?
Reaching out, I took her hand in mine, easing her gently toward me. She only stared at me, her eyes looking fucking wounded, before pulling her hand free.
"Edward, of course I want to—" she began softly, but cut herself off, taking a deep breath and exhaling.
I was about to apologize, ridiculously fucking apologize, when the next thing I knew, she'd grabbed the lapels of my jacket, pulled me down—almost dragging me on top of her—and pressed her lips to mine.
My initial reaction was shock, and I froze slightly as the heat began surging through my body.
Her lips were soft and slightly open, and she pressed them against mine with slightly more pressure before pulling away fractionally; only to part her mouth more and kiss me with more depth.
With my brain finally catching up to my body, I grabbed her, engulfing her in my arms and pressed her against me—almost hauling her off the ground in the process—as I kissed her back.
I couldn't get her close enough, and as I pulled back several times to angle my face to her, my nose pressed into the soft skin of her cheek. She smelled so fucking good that for a moment I almost lost my bearings.
This time she was completely willing—to every move I made. She didn't go tense, or shy away. When I pulled her tighter against me, she wrapped her arms around my neck, her fingers running into my hair. When I opened my mouth to her more, she immediately responded—reacting with the same intensity.
I kissed her until my heart rocked my entire body, until the heat beneath my skin broke to the surface; and until I could barely breathe.
It was Bella who broke away first.
"Edward," she whispered my name breathlessly, as her warm breath washed over my lips. She seemed unsteady in my arms, almost swaying.
But barely taking a single breath, I pulled her back to me, again taking her lips between mine, but it was all I could think and feel—and fucking conceive.
The smell of her, the taste of her; the fucking warmth of her...
She continued to kiss me back with the same energy, pressing her fingers into my skin, grabbing fistfuls of my shirt and jacket, drawing me closer, her body pressing tortuously against mine. She was consuming me, while her shortened breath continued to flood me, her face growing hotter and hotter next to mine.
When I released her, parting our lips slowly, I was almost stumbling, practically drunk on her. Pressing my lips against her forehead I rested against her for a moment, catching my breath while my pulse hammered through me.
Her chest rose and fell to meet mine, the heat of her breath washing against the base of my throat. Completely overwhelming me, until I felt like I was breaking into a freaking sweat.
When I felt like I had even a fraction of control of myself, I released her. My hands slipped down her arms, until I found her hand, threading my fingers with hers. My hands were fucking sweaty, but I didn't care, and she only gazed up at me and smiled.
It was that I-own-your-ass smile, but now added to it was something more. It was in her eyes, and her expression; an unspoken promise that she was finally mine.
Blinking slowly, her eyes fell to my mouth and her smile slowly broadened.
"Come here," she said, her voice a hoarse whisper before she carefully reached up and wiped my lips with her fingertips; wiping them free of her lipstick, I assumed.
I only grinned drunkenly, completely fucking intoxicated by her. Then, grabbing her hand in both of mine, I pulled her flush against me, kissing her again.
It sounds like a fucking cliché, but I felt like time stopped; I have no idea how long we stood out in the dark, but I knew one thing then; whatever it was that drew Bella back to me over and over again, she had finally surrendered to it.
After a while I couldn't kiss her any more—at least, not without ripping that damn dress off her. Even just holding her to me became too much of a physical torture, but I didn't let her go.
She was cold again and trembling against me. I'd asked her a couple of times if she wanted to go back to the restaurant, but she only shook her head and wrapped her arms tighter around my waist. She was coughing a lot though, and I knew I really needed to get her indoors.
Reluctantly, I released her and wrapping my arm around her, I slowly walked us back.
"Edward, you know what?" she asked softly, stopping and turning her eyes to mine.
I gazed down at her, quizzically. "What?"
She broke into that freaking tender smile again. "We really need to work on our communication."
I laughed softly. "That we do."
She only continued to smile up at me, before suddenly drawing her breath in sharply and stiffening, pulling herself from my arms. "Oh, shit! I left my pen at the gazebo!"
Almost subconsciously, I put my hand over my heart—Jesus, this girl was going to kill me. "Okay, don't panic. It has your name on it, after all."
The pen was sitting on the bench where Bella had left it, still wrapped in the corny red ribbon. With a sigh she picked it up, before sitting down and holding her hand out to me. I removed my jacket—I was fucking alight beneath it anyway—and wrapped it around her shoulders before sitting beside her and pulling her into my arms.
We listened to the music; it was nothing but slow songs from that point. Bella only hummed along to them softly as she lay against my chest, playing with my fingers—after she'd wrapped my arms tightly around her. She was still ridiculously hot.
Releasing her breath deeply, she rested her head fully against me, turning to plant her hot lips against the side of my neck.
Fuck...
I groaned beneath my breath, fighting hard to prevent it from being audible. I was as stiff as a flagpole and with Bella lying directly on top of me there was no way I could hide it.
Pressing my lips to her cheek, I ran my fingers up and down her torso, feeling her ribs beneath the material of her dress. She turned her head to me again, but this time I intercepted her, covering her mouth with mine.
It threatened to get away from us again, when Bella paused, breaking into a smile while her lips were still merged with mine, before she eventually broke away.
"Is that a pen in your pocket, Edward, or are you just happy to see me?" she teased me gently.
Chuckling softly, I pressed my lips against the top of her head. "I'm very happy to see you."
She kind of laughed through her nose for a moment, until she fell quiet. Holding my hands tightly around her waist, she relaxed fully against me, seeming content to lay with me in silence.
"Bella?" I asked her after a moment.
She only hummed in answer.
I exhaled deeply. "About ... everything that happened before..."
"Oh, God, Edward ..." she said with a sigh.
"Just tell me what I have to do to make it up to you?"
She turned to face me again, burying her face into my neck before she spoke, "You don't have to do anything."
"You seemed to forgive me so easily, and I was really worried you'd never speak to me again," I said lightly.
"… I shouldn't be telling you this, but you're kinda hard to resist," she admitted reluctantly, sounding almost cynical.
"Really…?" I replied, my tone teasing before I wrapped my arms tighter around her, resting my lips at her temple. "Just tell me how I can make it up to you and I'll feel a lot better."
She huffed out a mockingly impatient sigh. "How about I just take a rain check on it, okay?"
"Deal," I replied, before I moved to get to my feet, pulling her up with me. "Come on, we have to dance at some point. It is prom after all."
"Hey, dancing was my deal breaker!" she protested, only sounding semi-teasing.
Chuckling softly, I took her hand and wrapped my other around her back, pulling her close to me. "Stop whining. You'll live," I murmured against her ear.
She only groaned, but let me guide her slowly from side to side.
A few times she stumbled with my feet, huffing in frustration. "I did warn you."
I broke into an immediate grin, trying not to laugh, but said nothing.
She only flashed me a cynical look before pulling awkwardly back so she wasn't standing so close to me, but I drew her in again.
"You're thinking about it too much," I said to her.
Taking a frustrated sounding breath, she bent her forehead on my shoulder so she could see what she was doing. She didn't stomp on my feet, at least, and after a while she seemed confident enough to look back up to me.
"Better?" I murmured.
"No—shut up," she replied, making me immediately laugh.
It was slightly awkward but we managed to dance for a few minutes without her feet colliding with mine. Of course, she didn't exactly appreciate my amusement over it, but since I was hard to resist and everything...
Actually, I'd be an asshole to play on that, and she was a hundred times better at resisting how irresistible she apparently thought I was. She could rip all my confidence to shreds with just a raise of her eyebrows. I'd be an idiot to push her.
Besides, she was a lot more irresistible, and she had no idea exactly how much.
It was easy to tease her, to distract myself, because with her body pressed against mine—and my body's reaction to her—I was becoming more and more compromised by her.
I eventually snapped, kissing her impulsively, and again she responded, breaking away only to stretch on her toes, her body streamlined against mine to the point that it was painful.
It was right then that my iPhone, that was inside my jacket Bella was wearing, vibrated against my stomach—startling us both that we immediately pulled apart, flustered and confused.
Slipping my hand into the pocket, I retrieved my phone and opened the message.
Bella, who'd peered over my arm, read it aloud before I could stop her, "Edwina, stop rooting Bella. The limo is here." She glanced up at me, her forehead puckering slightly in an almost bewildered expression before she started chuckling.
"Well, come on then, Edwina. I guess we'd better be going," she said, curling her arm around my elbow and snuggling close to me.
Untangling her, I wrapped my arm around her and walked back to the restaurant. Her voice had become croakier the longer we'd stayed outside, and her cheeks had become ruddier—but then I couldn't be entirely sure of the reason behind that one. What I did know was that she'd seemed to become a lot warmer.
Of course, the limo ride back home was torture. Every one of them sat scrutinizing us with various expressions of fucking amusement and mocking—or in Alice's case, bursting pride. Bella seemed oblivious to them as she sat snuggled into my side.
"Nice shade of lipstick you're wearing, douche bag!" Jazz smirked.
I just grinned sarcastically back at him, knowing I looked as drunk as I felt, but it was unavoidable. Every one of my senses was buzzing with her, and I was so fucking horny it was beginning to become torture.
She went into several coughing bouts on the way home, making me feel like a fucking bastard for keeping her outside for most of the night.
"Bella, did you bring your flu meds?" Alice asked her, her expression mirroring mine.
Bella only nodded and croaked out a stiff, "Yes".
I tightened my arm around her, taking her hand with my free arm. She curled her fingers through mine and with her other hand she tickled the side of me, immediately making me tense. "I'm okay, Edward," she whispered to me.
By the time we arrived home half the town was already waiting outside, and when idiot Emmett stepped out of the limo, everyone cheered as if he was some kind of returning fucking NFL hero.
In five minutes the house was crowded and blaring with music. I'd left Bella in the living room talking with Angela for a few minutes while I disappeared into the kitchen to make her a hot chocolate. I was going to get her to take some more medication—despite the fact that she insisted she didn't need any.
I took the two mugs up to my room before going back downstairs to get her—checking quickly that I didn't have anything embarrassing lying about before I closed the door.
At the top of the stairs I paused, scanning the crowds for her. When I finally caught sight of her, it fucking jarred me again. I only gazed down at her for a moment, marveling at how freaking beautiful she was in that damn body hugging dress.
Just at that moment, she turned her head, her eyes searching the crowds ... for me.
I bounded down the stairs, approaching her from behind, before encircling my arms around her. She jumped slightly then turned herself in my arms to face me.
"I'll leave you guys to it then," I heard Angela say.
Bella looked back quickly, but Angela was gone. Turning back to me, she flashed me a quick grin, before wrapping her arms around my back, resting her forehead against my chest.
"Do you want to hang out in my room?" I asked her as a surge of heat brought my fucking erection back to the forefront at just the idea of it. "I promise not to attack you in anyway—if I can help it," I added, grinning at her teasingly.
She smiled lightly, with a hint of cynicism that freaking conquered me, before opening her mouth to speak. Her voice broke, and clearing her throat she only nodded in answer.
"You're taking some more medicine too—if I have to force it down you," I whispered into her ear as I led her upstairs.
She expelled her breath but didn't reply, and when I glanced down at her, she was smiling to herself; though, her eyes were way too bright and her cheeks were flushing deeper. I placed the back of my hand up to her forehead gently; it creased immediately, before she turned to me and grabbed my hand with a sigh.
"Edward, you are too uptight. I'm fine. I have the flu—that's all!" she insisted, her eyes turning warm as they met mine.
Grinning at her, I shrugged. "I'm still forcing those pills down you."
"You won't be able to attack me if I'm out cold," she said simply with a sly grin.
Fuck me sideways...
As my body immediately reacted, I paused and gauged her for a moment. She was still surprising the hell out of me—and she knew it too!
Opening my bedroom door, I led her inside, sitting her down on my bed before I got up to get the hot chocolate I'd left on my dresser.
She glanced around my room looking both apprehensive and genuinely curious at the same time. I paused, suddenly feeling like I had the surreal urge to freaking start dancing around in victory that I finally had her in my bedroom. On my bed.
Not that I'd ever be in control of the situation with her, or anything...
She clasped her fists in her lap, drawing her shoulders up for a moment before relaxing them, causing the strap from her dress to slip from her shoulder. I acted before I thought about it. Placing the two cups on my night stand, I sat beside her and slipped it back up for her. Her skin was soft and silky, making me wish I could take that dress off her.
She turned her head to face me; she didn't look surprised, she just smiled at me; though, she wasn't completely relaxed with me just yet. It was something about the way her brow bunched...
I only returned her smile, before running my hand from her shoulder to cup the side of her face, tilting her slightly to me. Her expression was just beginning to turn suspicious when I pressed my lips down against hers.
It was only brief, while I continued to fight every burning, primitive desire with an instinct that was slowly wearing down my resistance.
It should have been enough just to kiss her, but it wasn't. I wanted to feel every inch of her body beneath my hands—I wanted to know every inch of her body, and I just couldn't seem to get close enough to her.
It wasn't just about me being horny—even though that was the fucking understatement of the century—but this desire I was feeling was almost too hard for me to properly comprehend.
She reacted to me without any of the boundaries I was used to; kissing me back and opening her mouth to mine with a fraction more pressure, but it was just as brief when she pulled apart. For the longest moment she just stared into my eyes, and I was just on the verge of bending in to kiss her again, when she broke her gaze.
She began to straighten my tie, before tucking my hair behind my ear, tugging on my earlobe playfully; a smile suddenly lighting up on her face again.
"Do you know what Alice told me about you?" Her smile turned to a grin as she locked her eyes with mine.
I groaned and half rolled my eyes. "Let me guess; when people walk past me they spontaneously combust?"
She laughed softly. "No..." She began playing with my tie again; this time she was loosening it.
"What did Alice tell you about me?" My voice was tight, and I swallowed thickly. It wasn't the smartest thing to do, considering her attention was on my neck.
"She told me you swear a lot," she answered, her grin broadening.
Fucking little rat!
"I bet she did!" I muttered.
Bella only chuckled; she'd completely undone my tie and was pulling it slowly from around my neck. "I don't believe it, though. You'd have to prove it to me first."
I smiled at her for a moment, before clearing my throat and leaning closer to her; my forehead almost touching hers. "You're fucking beautiful, Bella."
Her expression almost made me burst into laughter. Her eyes widened, surprised yet ... not, her entire face flushing, before her lips again curved into a small smile.
"You're such a sap," she mumbled warmly, before reaching up and slowly unbuttoning my top shirt button.
Fuck, what was she doing?
Again I swallowed nervously, all but giving in to my erection.
I needed a distraction.
"I'll swear more if you want me too, but you have to promise me something," I teased her, my voice only slightly restricted and turning gravelly.
"Okay?" she asked, her brow quirking.
"You can't stop saying those Australian phrases," I said, breaking into a grin—almost laughing from her replying frown.
She huffed. "I don't exactly realize I'm saying them anyway."
"But if you stop saying bloody and bugger, I'll be really upset."
Rolling her eyes, she shoved me playfully, but I knew I'd made her self-conscious by the way her cheeks suddenly burned. "I can't promise anything but I'll bring some Tim Tams back from Australia and I'll show you how to slam them."
Slamming Tim Tams? I liked the sound of that...
My brow shot up at her slyly.
Rolling her eyes again, she opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by a rap song that began playing from inside her purse. I felt the frown immediately etch my face. Knowing Jacob had put it on her phone bugged the fuck out of me. I'd have to replace it—and soon!
She stood up to retrieve it, pulling it from her bag and bringing it to her ear without checking the caller ID—throwing me that freaking grin of hers as she did. "It's nothing like you think, Edward... Hello?"
The laugh immediately died on my lips; something was wrong. Bella had frozen almost literally, then taking a shaky breath, she stepped backwards as all color drained from her face.
"W-When?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper and wavering as her face slowly crumbled in pain.
I knew what is was immediately...
I was on my feet and by her side in an instant, but she held out her hand, pressing it against my chest, holding me at arm's length, and preventing me from pulling her against me.
"Okay..." she spoke into the receiver, nodding her head slowly, her voice so faint that I barely heard it, before her hand that held the phone to her ear fell, dropping her phone to the floor. She swayed on her feet; her face so pale that my heart stalled in sudden panic. I pulled her into my arms but she shoved me roughly off, shaking her head.
"No!" she exclaimed, her voice immediately breaking.
"Bella..." I said gently to her, panicked by the sheer look of fucked up wounded look of desolation in her eyes.
She only shook her head more. "No!" she repeated; though, it was barely more than a whisper. She brought her fists to her forehead, pressing her closed palms roughly against her skin, before inhaling back a sharp breath.
Her entire body began trembling.
I wrapped my arms around her, a little rougher this time, and pulled her against me. She immediately struggled, pushing herself against my chest as she began to sob, her voice choked and broken.
"Edward, don't—let me go!" she cried, fighting against me, as I tightened my arms around her, holding her to me. "LET ME GO!" she yelled this time, continuing to struggle.
I only held steadfast to her, pressing her head to my chest. I knew she wasn't fighting me but against the realization that Kel was gone. I knew any minute it would hit her, and when it did she was going to drown under it, and I knew her pain. I knew what was about to be unleashed on her.
I rubbed her back up and down, gently; I wanted to tell her it was going to be okay, but I knew it wasn't, and there wasn't a fucking thing I could do to make her feel better. I just enclosed her in my arms, pressed my lips to the top of her head, soothing her as best as I could until her struggle against me weakened.
She continued to shake her head back and forth. "No, Edward, please. Please, no..." she pleaded against my chest, before she stopped struggling and completely broke down.
"I know, honey. I know..." I whispered to her softly.
Collapsing against me, she surrendered herself to the tears that seemed to strangle from her. I knelt down to the floor, keeping her tight against me and continued to rub her back as she fell slowly apart; trembling violently, struggling repeatedly for breath.
I was beginning to worry she was in shock, and just as I contemplated getting Alice, my door flew open. I looked up into Emmett's accusing fucking gaze.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?" he demanded.
"Emmett, get Alice," I told him urgently.
He just stared at me, his eyes narrowing darkly as they focused on Bella then back to me. "What the fuck did you do this time, Edward!?"
"GET FUCKING ALICE!" I roared at him.
A/N: Um ... sorry?