Hi Ladies,

As I promised before our story is turning a corner, and I hope you all enjoy the direction. I am excited to see this couple grow stronger together. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

I am working on a Mobward-Halloween Drabble. It will start on October 1. Please let me know what you all think about that, and the chapter below. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 24

Edward-

Bella's supple form rested against my chest, little puffs of breath burst across my neck, and the scent of roasted vanilla tickled my senses as oblivion threatened to take me under. I buried my nose in her hair, relishing the warmth of her soft skin.

Beaches spread as far as the eye could see beneath my closed eyelids, and the lull of waves lapping at the shore beckoned me to let go of reality. Just as I was about to drift further along the coast, Bella whispered something about asking me a question.

Grunting, I stepped away from the beach, landing back in my bedroom. I nuzzled deeper into her silken tresses, inhaling another lungful of her sweet fragrance, mumbling, "Uh-huh."

Her fingers feathered along my side causing my muscles to jump in response. Her lips grazed my neck, sending a zing of sensation darting down my spine, as her question tore me away from the simplicity of the dream hovering on the other side of consciousness.

"Why are there mirrors above your bed?"

I adjusted my leg across hers, wishing I could just get a little closer, which was insane because there was only one way to get closer. The thought of settling between her thighs and being cradled by her curves had an adverse effect on my desire. Instantly, my balls drew tight and my cock perked up.

I put an inch between us, hoping she didn't feel the change in my body. Every cell drew taut, and I ground my teeth as I clenched my jaw. Even though I separated our lower bodies, I couldn't resist burrowing my face in her hair. "Baby, I don't think you want to know the answer to that question."

She huffed with impatience, the bridge of her nose brushing my jaw, making my blood heat. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know."

A chuckle vibrated through my chest as I considered how to explain it in a PG way. Even the PG version had my blood churning, my arms tightening around Bella. I could imagine having this woman—my wife—splayed out in front of me as I possessed her. Groaning with the torture of having her in my arms and being unable to act on it was playing hell with my psyche. I mumbled a curse under my breath at the same time as I dropped a lingering kiss on the crown of her head.

If I knew anything about my wife it was her determination. There was no way she would let this rest until I confessed. Swallowing tightly, I shifted nervously next to her. I liked having her here. I liked feeling her light weight in my arms, her head pillowed on my shoulder where I could smell her. The last thing I wanted to do was make her uncomfortable, and send her running straight back to her room. Letting my fingers drift through her hair, I wound the tresses through my fingers, holding tight. "If I tell you, you have to promise not to freak out on me."

"I think if I was going to freak out it would've been way before now," she answered, her head shifting on my shoulder to see my face.

While Bella was changing in my closet, I turned the lights down low. I figured if she woke up in bed it would be better if she were able to see me, instead of being surrounded by darkness. I met her gaze through the shadows, searching for the right approach to take. Her form went rigid, yet her feathering touch skimmed along my waist. Her brow creased as she studied me intently and her voice shook. "Do the mirrors have something to do with sex?"

I could lie to her. I could come up with a million reasons why I had mirrors above my bed. It might take some snazzy maneuvering but I might even be able to get her to believe me. Our whole relationship was based on truths, most of which had been hard honesties most people couldn't even imagine. I wouldn't start lying to her now. Licking my lips that had gone dry, I asked again, "You're not going to bolt, right?"

"No," she whispered on a rush of air, her lashes fluttering rapidly with the effort to maintain my gaze. I followed the dart of her tongue as she wet her lips, and I had to wonder if this conversation was having the same effect on her as it was on me. "No, I won't bolt. I promise."

My fingertips absently rubbed her scalp until she softened against me. Finally, after a submissive exhale, I gruffly confirmed her suspicions. "Yes, it's a sex thing."

Her nails bit into my abdomen, extracting a hiss from me, her nostrils flaring. "I don't get it. Who is it for? Do you like to watch?"

"Princess, you're driving me crazy," I groaned. Of all the conversations we could be having this one took the fucking cake, and made me harder than a spike. Briefly, I closed my eyes and counted slowly to ten—then to twenty. When counting didn't elevate the throb radiating throughout my body, I opened them and focused on Bella. "Yeah, I like to see everything, but it's not just for me. It can be stimulating for everyone involved."

"Everyone?" Her eyebrows drew together as she studied me. "Like more than two people?"

I grunted, shaking my head. "Perhaps everyone was using the wrong word. I meant the woman … sometimes the woman likes to watch too."

Silence descended, and I closed my eyes thinking the question and answer session was over. Willing my erection to calm the fuck down, I tried to go back to the beach, envisioning foaming water sweeping over my toes. Just when my body started to cool, her finger tapped my stomach. "Have you been with a lot of women?"

My mind screeched to a halt as her words played through my mind. Holy fuck. How the fuck was I supposed to answer that? Nothing I would say in this situation would appease my curious wife. Playing it safe, I tightened my hold on her. "I'm no saint, princess. I've been with my fair share of women."

She grunted unsatisfied with my answer, her foot tucking between my legs, making me shiver as her ice-cold toes pressed against my warm skin. "How much is a fair share? A lot?"

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I renewed the same patience I'd used with Bella since we met. I dropped my hand to look down at her. "Babe, the last thing a man wants to do is talk about past women with his wife."

"Did you love any of them?" She pressed, watching me closely. "Was there ever anyone special?"

Special? Has anyone ever been special? I sorted through my history and couldn't pinpoint one woman that stood out over the other. Until now.

Bella was the bravest person I'd ever met, and every time I looked at her there was this comfortable warmth flooding me. Instead of wanting to get away from the unusual heat, I found myself wanting to bask in it forever. I couldn't envision another day without it. "Not until now."

"Oh," she murmured, studying me as if she were trying to figure out a mystery. Just when I would've prompted her to continue, she said, "I don't get it … maybe I never will."

"What don't you get?" I should be steering her in another direction, changing the subject, anything other than prolonging this torturous conversation, yet I didn't. Calmly, I stroked her head waiting for her to speak. Intuition told me what she didn't understand, but the best way to help her was to let her direct the discussion. I would only fill in the blanks, giving no more or less than she wanted.

She wiggled in my arms, and I felt the nerves humming through her limbs. Her leg jumped beneath the one I had thrown over hers. The air between us grew thick. I felt like I could reach out and touch it, energy snapping and popping as I awaited her response. I was beginning to think she'd lost her nerve, and a wave of disappointment flashed through me. Our conversation might be a difficult one, but it was the most enjoyable—even if it was tempting me to forget who we were and why we were here. I slid my hand down her back, my fingers digging into her hip to still her movements.

"I don't understand what the big deal about sex is," she explained, her gaze dropping momentarily on my lips before returning to mine. "I-Is it good? Why do so many people want to?"

"Princess … fuck." The pulse of pleasure rippled through my gut and settled between my legs. Her insistent wiggling wasn't helping my situation at all. I blew a frustrated breath, reminding myself why I had to keep a cap on it. "You're trying to kill me."

Tossing my arm over my eyes, I tried to block out the woman wreaking havoc on my better judgment. Finally, she ceased her squirming and sunk into the curve of my body. Her warm breath caressed my jaw and her lips grazed my skin as she spoke. "No. I'm just trying to understand the hype."

My entire body was burning so hot, that I feared dying of consumption. If I didn't put a quick end to this line of questioning, I was going to give in to the urge to kiss her. I dragged my arm away from my eyes until I stared back at her. My lips tingled and the urge to taste her became so intense my whole body was prickling with sensation. "Babe, I am going to tell you this last thing, and then, we need to go to bed. Alright?"

"Okay," she nodded, her lashes blinking rapidly, and her fingers slid up my side, her head nestling under my chin.

I drew circles on her back until her shirt bunched, and I was tracing warm skin. Resting my cheek on her head, I swallowed the desire threatening to close my throat. "Sex is only bad when it's not a mutual decision, princess. It wasn't meant to be taken."

Her hot breath teased my neck, sifting down my chest enlisting tingles I couldn't suppress. "So … maybe someday it can be good for me?"

"Baby, you promised you'd go to sleep," I growled, my arm tightening around her as my frustration mounted. Even though I was ready to put this conversation on hold for a later day, I felt compelled to ease her worries. "I think one day it will be amazing for you."

"I hope so," Bella whispered, her voice drifting as sleep claimed her.

I laughed lightly with the irony of it all. The woman had a real knack for falling to sleep right in the middle of a conversation. The fucked up part was I was wide the fuck awake, staring at the goddamn mirrors that had gotten me into this situation.

—

I must've fallen asleep because a long time later I awoke to a one-eyed kitten standing in the middle of my chest, screaming into my face. I blinked the sandpaper from my eyes, my brow scrunching as I studied the wild banshee trying to wake up my foggy mind. "What could you possibly be yelling about this early, huh?"

Hope howled in answer, her little fangs making an appearance as she cried. Groggily, I lifted a finger and rubbed her chin, only for her to take a swipe at my hand with her tiny mitten. "Feisty, little shit. Just like your mother."

When Bella sprang to mind, memories impaled me, and I glanced at the mirror overhead. The spot next to me was empty, but I couldn't help but smile as our conversation played on a constant loop in my head. No doubt as soon as she opened her eyes, she'd sought safer ground—figuratively speaking—of course. Bella was one of the last people in this city who needed to fear me, yet she tested my sanity with every question.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I shoved upright in my bed, Hope's razor-sharp claws digging into my chest. Hissing from the instant burn of scratches she left across one pec. "Damn, demon, let's go find your mother."

I expected to find my wife burrowed beneath her own covers, hiding in her bedroom. What I didn't expect was to find Bella wearing the exact outfit she'd slept in, wiggling her hips in front of the stove as the beat played from the TV as a Maroon 5 song filled the living space. Amused by the sight, I rested my hip on the countertop five feet behind her, enjoying the sway of her body as she continued her dance.

From the smell wafting through the condo, fried eggs and sausage were on the menu. She waved the spatula in the air, singing along with Adam Levine as he sang, She Will Be Loved. Even though I would rather stab my eye out then listen to pop music, I couldn't help but smile at her solo performance.

My gaze never left her as I set Hope at my feet, and crept closer. I had no desire to startle her and cause her to burn herself on the hot pans. Contentedly, I crossed my arms over my chest and watched the basketball shorts I'd loaned her last night ripple against her ass.

If things were different, I would've closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around her. I might've let my hands wander up the oversized shirt she wore, maybe cupped her breasts while tweaking her nipples. The visual played through my mind, and the temptation did wicked things to my blood pressure. My cock saluted the sight before me, urging me to take action.

I adjusted my length as it threatened to bust through my sweats, I cleared my throat with a raised eyebrow to keep from spooking her. Her head whipped around in my direction, her wandering eye sweeping down my chest, stopping on the scratches left by her kitten.

"Did Hope do that?" She wondered aloud, the spatula clanking in the pan as she dropped it to move closer.

The critter in question was trying to climb my sweatpants, yet I couldn't take my eyes off the woman before me. She looked brighter, maybe lighter, and after everything that transpired last night, Bella had finally shucked some demons that had plagued her soul. Whatever the reason for that sparkle in her eyes was, I couldn't look away. I tucked a strand of her damp hair behind her ear, giving her a short nod. "Yes. She was screaming for you when I woke up." Pinching her chin, I held her face up to mine. "You look the happiest today than you have ever been. What's that all about?"

A blush crept across her cheeks, and she shrugged nonchalantly as she tried to appear sterner. However, the way she bit her lip gave me a tiny bit of insight into how she was feeling. "I don't know." The corners of her mouth tipped with amusement. "I just woke up this morning feeling different—a good different."

"That's good to hear," I murmured, distracted by the pink blossoming on her skin. My gaze dropped to her lips, studying her mouth as I wrestled with restraint. Judging by the interest in her eyes, I had to wonder why I was keeping such a tight leash on this hunger to claim her. Dipping a toe in the water, I stared her in the eye as I inched closer. When she didn't even flinch, I caressed her jawline, loving the way she trembled in response. "Keep looking at me like that, and I might have to kiss ya."

Her chin tipped in a teasing angle. Green embers smoldered back at me, her lashes dropping a fraction as her pupils narrowed on my mouth. "Hmm. Who would we be fooling this morning?"

"Everyone," I murmured, letting my response graze her, giving into the temptation to taste her. When her lips parted on a gasp, I deepened the kiss, exploring every inch of her sweet mouth. When her hand settled on my waist and her nails cut into my skin, drawing me closer, my hand wound in her hair.

I forgot all about ploys and ruses. I forgot about the kitten clinging to my sweats. I forgot the eggs on the stove.

All that existed was the woman returning lick for lick, and nip for nip. Switching our positions, I pressed her back against the counter, sucking on her tongue until mewls erupted from her throat. Her tits brushed my chest, her nipples growing rigid as her breathing became erratic. Mindlessly, I gripped her waist, barely remembering to keep my hands in safe territory.

I was licking a path from her bottom lip to her jaw when the smell of burning eggs and oil stole her sensuous scent. Reluctantly, I nipped her jaw one last time before backing away to gesture to the stove. "Breakfast is burning, princess."

She stood as still as a statue, staring at me like I'd grown a second head. I was starting to think maybe I'd misjudged things between us, but then her swollen lips curved upward. Timidly, she blinked back at me before turning her attention to the smoking pans on the stove. "Holy shit," she cried, grabbing the pan with a potholder. "I wanted to have breakfast done before you got up. Guess we're not eating this ash."

I pulled Hope off my pant leg and set her back on the floor. The furry ball raced across the floor toward the dining room table. With the kitten preoccupied, I wandered up next to Bella, tweaking her hip, saying, "Since I'm partially responsible for distracting the cook, I will help you redo it."

"I think that's a fair deal," she nodded, shifting a little closer. She bumped me with her hip before heading to the fridge and grabbing the eggs. "I kind of suck at making fried eggs, anyway. I always pop the yolks when I flip them."

I nudged her playfully with an elbow. "Well, scoot over, princess. I happen to be the master at fried eggs."

"Is that right?" She laughed, her eyebrows lifting in question.

I let my gaze wander down her body before meeting hers. "Among other things." When her lips parted on a gasp, I shook my head. "It's alright, baby. You're not ready to hear about that right now. Maybe someday though." Once again, I focused on the shirt she wore. "As sexy as you are wearing my clothes. I do hope they deliver yours soon. I can't exactly take you out in those."

Bella used a spatula to roll the sausage links in the pan. "They already did." She laid the spatula on the counter, tossing me a quizzical glance. "Where were we going to go?"

"My parents are having dinner tomorrow night," I shrugged as I broke an egg into the frying pan. Watching the oil pop and snap, I said, "I figured we could go out and find you a nice dress."

"Why can't I just wear something I bought the other day?" She questioned, pulling the sausage from the pan to place them onto two plates, I just noticed waiting on the counter. She waved toward the coffee pot. "I bet you didn't even notice that I made coffee, huh?"

"Honey, if you have a ball gown then we don't have to find a dress," I grinned. When she looked at me skeptically, I had my answer. "I didn't think so, babe. When we walk into my parents I want you looking like a million bucks." Leaning over, I dropped a kiss on her forehead. "And no, I didn't notice the coffee. I was enjoying the sight of you dancing too much to notice."

A hesitant smile played across Bella's lips as she turned away to retrieve two coffee mugs. After filling the cups, she grabbed a loaf of bread and headed to the toaster. Once she popped four pieces inside and pushed the lever down, she wandered toward the box of donuts Rose packed for her yesterday. "Don't go filling up on junk. We have breakfast almost ready, princess."

"I know," she groaned, pulling apart the pastry and shoving it in her mouth. Her eyes rolled as the sugar and cinnamon dissolved on her tongue. "They're just so damn addicting."

I watched her chew with growing interest. Her little noises of pleasure tempted me away from the stove until I was standing in front of her. Staring her in the eye, I leaned forward and took a bit of the donut she held. With a cocky smirk that had worked on many women, I chewed the bite, grunting in satisfaction as the sweetness coated my tongue.

She glared at me causing me to chuckle. "You made it sound so good, princess, I had to get a taste for myself." I swallowed the pastry, leaning in until my lips hovered over hers. "But nothing is as sweet as you."

I was about to show her just how sweet I thought she was when she pointed at the stove. "I believe your eggs are burning, master." Her face turned red and she burst out laughing. "Maybe we should say fuck the eggs and just have that sausage, toast, and donuts."

"Fuck," I laughed with a shake of my head as smoke rolled from the skillet. "New rule." Heading to the stove I switched off the burner. "You aren't allowed in the kitchen while I'm cooking anymore. You're too fucking distracting."

I grabbed the coffee from the counter and headed for the table. "You win, princess. Donuts, sausage, and toast it is."

Once breakfast was on the table we chose our donuts and silence descended. I was midway through my second donut when I remembered Bella's ring in my pants pocket from the night before.

I tossed the half-eaten donut down on my plate and pushed it away from the table. "I bought you something yesterday. I'll be right back."

The heat from her gaze left a simmering trail down my spine as I walked down the hallway. A feeling of rightness overwhelmed me as I found my slacks and dug into the pocket to retrieve the velvet box. I pulled the ring out of the box and stared at the diamond laying in the center of my palm.

This didn't feel like pretending anymore. Something about this was starting to feel pretty fucking real. Bewildered by the direction of my thoughts, I hurried from the closet and retraced my steps.

Bella was still sitting at the table with Hope in her lap. The kitten was licking sugar from her fingertips, and Bella was baby-talking her, causing me to smile. When she heard me approaching she looked up from Hope. Curiosity lit her eyes as she looked me over before settling on my closed hand. "What did you get?"

"I bought my wife a ring," I explained, stopping at her side. Cupping the back of her neck with my free hand, I kissed her on the lips before opening my hand and presenting her with my gift. I grinned like a fool when she gaped at the ring, and her jaw dropped.

"Holy shit."

Please review ...