Five Days of Holiday Hell

Chapter Nine

Tuesday Morning

Someone was going to die, especially for disturbing a filthy dream that starred her and Edward in the copy room at work. "Why did you have to wake me up now? I was getting to the good stuff." She grumbled and turned to face the star of her dreams. "Ugh, you're lucky you're so good looking or I'd smash your face with a pillow."

Edward groaned, already hard from listening to Bella moan for the last couple of minutes before he woke her up. Waking her up every two hours as suggested for a possible concussion, he did not know what a hard task it would be.

Pun intended.

She let him stay with her in bed, her under the covers, and him on top. A wall of pillows did little to keep Bella to her side of the bed. She clung to him like a spider monkey or a boa constrictor.

Early on, while she slept off the long evening, he starred at the ceiling of her bedroom, wondering how the hell he got in her bed. He offered to monitor her and planned to sleep on the couch, but she didn't have one. Only a comfy recliner and end table decorated her living room, and she wouldn't hear of him there.

She had mentioned they were adults and that he could keep his hands to himself. He could do that, however, but his thoughts, yeah, those he had little control over. Not when within minutes of falling asleep she turned toward him, threw the pillows on the floor, and clung to his side like a second skin. One of her long legs lay across his waist, only slightly above his cock. Her hand curled around his bicep, her arm hot on his chest, her breath teased him along his neck.

Longest fucking night of his life.

Every two hours he had to maneuver out from under her, replace the pillows and shake her awake. He knew she'd likely either be embarrassed by her cuddle loving status or take advantage of his already out-of-control state of arousal.

"It's too soon," he chanted to himself, not interested in being a rebound.

He had to wake her early too. Whatever Bella dreamed off, almost made her sleep hump his body, and there was only so much he could take.

"Come on sleeping beauty," Edward murmured, sitting on her side of the bed. "Let me see those pretty eyes and answer a couple of questions."

She grumbled some more, sitting up against the headboard, blinking slowly. Not one ounce of awareness as the sheet exposed her body, only covered by a minuscule set of sleep shorts and the thinnest pale purple tank top he'd ever seen.

"My guess is nine inches from what I felt, I'm okay with a little bondage, but I'm a big ass baby with pain. Any spanking would be for pleasure only. Oh, I also have a bit of a praise kink."

Edward choked and fell off the bed.

Bella laughed and laughed, leaning over the edge of the bed and looking at his face. "Good morning, sunshine!"

"You're obviously feeling fine this morning," Edward grunted, sitting up and staying his ass on the floor. Any closer and he'd find out how much she loved to be praised. In fact, why not test it out? "Good girl."

Bella's eyes closed, a shiver moving through her. "Oh yeah, definitely need to explore that some more. Anyway, I think I'm going to start my day." She stretched her arms over her head, knowingly exposing her stomach. It earned her another choked sound from her caretaker.

Edward cleared his throat and all but ran out of the bedroom. "I'll get started on some coffee."

Bella couldn't help falling back in bed to do a full-body dance once he left, with the occasional fist pumps in the air.

He liked her like really liked her.

How many guys would be kind enough to watch her and not attempt to take advantage of the situation? She wasn't interested in a one-night bump and grind. Okay, a part of her was, but she also wanted to explore the possibility for more.

The thought surprised her and, to be honest, scared her a little. Her last relationship ended badly; the asshole had cheated on her. Since then, she'd dated a few times, and quickly realized online dating was not for her. Why were there so many profiles of men holding up fish? Did they think that was sexy?

Her self-confidence had taken a hit, but she promptly reminded herself she had already known the relationship had an expiration date. Things had grown stagnant and whatever she did to prevent it, he hadn't tried to help.

Refusing to dwell on the past, Bella started her day, ready to face the future. If it included a six-foot-plus bearded computer nerd, that was fine with her. She had to slow her roll in the teasing. It was obvious Edward wanted more than a quick romp in the sheets.

.

.

.

Edward broke a couple of eggs into a bowl and sighed, adjusting his stance to relieve a little pressure on his ever-present hard-on. There was no mistaking the sound of the shower on down the hall. It meant there was a naked, wet Bella nearby.

"Stop thinking of her in the shower," he grunted under his breath. He whisked the eggs together with the pre-chopped ingredients he found in the fridge.

Bella was a bit of an organized goddess in the kitchen, which surprised him. Her pantry and fridge resembled the after photos popular in organizing videos.

The scent of coffee called to him and he helped himself to a cup, wondering if Bella preferred iced coffee since she had some. He flipped the omelet onto a plate a few minutes later. The shower had shut off a while before, so he knocked on the partially opened bedroom door.

"Do you prefer iced coffee or warm in the morning?" Whatever answer she had was lost as he stared at her zipping up knee-high boots over her long legs. She'd never worn those to the office, he would've remembered.

"Edward, I said I preferred warm. Are you okay?"

He shook his head. "I think I have a boot fetish now." The rush of heat to his face colored it and left him speechless again.

Bella had a smile for him, walking, stalking toward him, taking the coffee mug in his hands. "Is this for me?"

No, it was his but she could have it. She could have anything.

"Yeah, sure. You look pretty."

"Thank you," she whispered. Unable to help herself she closed the distance between them a little more. "So, what did you get me for Secret Santa today?"

Edward's eyes widened. "Oh fuck, I was supposed to go out after work yesterday to get something else." He groaned, checking the time. They had plenty of time to eat and head to the office, but now he had to make a stop somewhere else.

"It's okay if you're a little late, I won't tell." She brushed past him and walked toward the kitchen, squealed a little when she saw he had made breakfast. "Wow, you made breakfast but not french toast."

Edward placed his hand on the small of her back and gave her a little push. They needed to be as far as possible from the bedroom. "My French toast is for a morning after a sleepover, sorry." He couldn't help but tease her, too.

"But you did sleepover."

Edward pulled out the chair at the snack bar section of her kitchen island. "The sleepovers where there's no sleeping."

"That's fair, I guess," she sighed, but thanked him for breakfast and started digging into her omelet full of veggies, cheese, and ham. "Can you drop me off at work before you head to your place? I need one more hour to make up for Wednesday."

"Sure." Happy for the change of subject, he had to ask. "Why do you leave early on Wednesday, anyway?"

Bella wasn't sure how to answer the question without having to explain a traumatizing experience from her past. "I teach a class in self-defense and Zumba at a local gym."

"Nice, good to know you can kick my ass."

Grateful he didn't ask why she held up a tight fist. "Don't you forget it. Though I would never hit you intentionally, I will occasionally talk loudly with my hands, so please be careful."

"Also, good to know." He finished the last of his food and coffee, attempted to grab her empty plate.

"You cooked so I'll clean. Go freshen up, there's a new toothbrush on the counter for you."

Edward used the time in the bathroom to call his buddy from the hobby shop to see if Bella's next gift was ready to be picked up. He had ideas for another gift, having looked at her bookshelf, that one would take time since it would be handmade by him.

He did not know what the rest of the week would bring, but he hoped for more of Bella. She saw Secret Santa as five days of holiday hell. He wanted to change her mind about it, to see it as five days of fun.

AN: All mistakes are mine.