Good Morning, Lovelies!
Let's jump right in today.
Thank you to Pamela for prereading!
-36-
Bella
July 12, 2023
Lighthouse Cove, Maine
Somehow, I manage to wake up with far less of a hangover than I deserve.
My head is lightly throbbing, and I'm thirsty as hell, but other than that, I feel mostly fine.
I stretch in my bed, then let out a small scream when my hand lands on a very warm, very naked chest.
I toss on the mattress and come face to face with Edward. He's blinking awake, looking confused.
"Bella?" he asks, his heavy eyebrows dipping into a frown.
"You scared me," I tell him, a hand flying up to my heart. "I didn't know you were here."
Edward shuts his eyes like he's trying to shake the last remnants of sleep before he opens them again and looks at me.
"Sorry," he murmurs. "We got in late, and you were demanding I stay."
I shake my head, slinking back down on the bed and sliding one of my legs over his hip. It brings my body closer to his and his hand automatically comes around my waist.
"No, I like it," I correct. "I'm glad you stayed."
His hand flexes over my skin.
"How's your head?"
I shrug, wanting to sigh but conscious of the fact that I probably have morning breath.
"Fine," I say after a moment. "Better than I deserve."
At this, Edward smiles softly. "I've seen you drunk," he says slowly. "But never quite that far gone."
"Was I?" I ask my mind still a little fuzzy on last night.
"You asked me to sit on your face," he says, a smile curling his lips. "Then tried to challenge me to a swim around the island. I thought I might have to tie you up."
I wince, embarrassed, but also, slightly aroused at the idea of Edward tying me up.
"Sorry," I groan, my head flopping against his chest.
His hand sweeps down my back, and I shiver lightly. He's hot from sleep and smells so good. My fingers flex against his chest, and I'm about to tilt my head up and kiss him when I remember my monstrous morning breath.
I groan, rolling away from him and sitting up.
"What's up?" he asks.
"My mouth tastes like ass," I say, glancing back at him. "Let me go brush my teeth so I don't accidentally kill you."
He chuckles, then throws the blankets off him. My mind short circuits when I see he's in his boxer briefs.
"In that case, I'll offer you the same courtesy."
My eyes are stuck on his perfectly tanned abs, and that absolutely diabolical shadowed v of his hips.
"Huh?" I ask when he sits up and gently nudges me.
"You okay?" His voice has the slightest trace of a smirk in it, and I know I've been caught ogling him.
I clear my throat.
"Yeah," I say, turning away from him. "Let's go brush our teeth before I try to tackle you or something."
Edward chuckles as we both climb fully out of bed.
Thankfully, our perfect seaside rental comes well stocked with additional toiletries for us to use, so I'm able to find Edward a toothbrush rather than having him share mine.
It's strangely domestic, standing in front of the mirror side by side as we brush our teeth. I realize that it's never been something I've done with a guy before, and though it's not really a big deal, I can't help sitting in the feeling.
Edward grins at me in the mirror, and I grin back, our mouths foaming from toothpaste making us look insane.
He's a courteous brusher, keeping the faucet off while he scrubs and rinsing the sink every time he has to spit.
It's a very unexpected turn-on.
When we are both done—and Edward has even wiped water droplets off the countertop—he turns to me. "Well, now that we're both up, should we—"
He never finishes his sentence, because I launch myself at him, unimaginably turned on by his simple attention to detail.
He catches me, clearly surprised as my lips fuse to his and my legs scramble to wrap around his waist.
"My god," I groan, my lips wrenching from his mouth to press open-mouthed kisses to his throat. "You're so fucking responsible."
Edward's laugh moves through me, even as he stumbles us out of the bathroom and towards my bed.
"Do you do your taxes on time?" I ask as his knees hit the edge of my mattress and he sits down.
"Yes," he laughs. "I even file them myself."
Why is this such a turn-on? When did maturity become so fucking hot?
I don't have much time to think on it as I whip my sleep shirt over my head. Edward groans against my lips as our bare chests press together. My legs squeeze his outer thighs as his hand rubs up and down my spine.
"What else do you do?" I gasp, my hands raking up his back to sink into his hair. His eyes flutter shut and he lets out a soft moan as I softly tug, my nails scratching at his scalp.
"Fuck," he mutters. "I cook my own food," he says slowly.
"And do the dishes right away?" I ask, tugging harder.
He groans. "Yes."
My lips descend his throat, biting and sucking. "What else?" I ask, my teeth lightly scraping his Adam's Apple. It bobs as he swallows hard.
"I uh…"
My lips travel down his chest, licking his firm pecks, my tongue swirling over one of his nipples. His hips buck under me, and I slip my hands down to his shoulders, my nails lightly scraping.
"Yes?" I ask, pausing to look up at him. "Tell me."
Edward lets out a breath, a smile taking over his face as he shakes his head. "I do the laundry," he says, his voice raspy.
"Do you sort it?" I ask as I lean back to resume the path my tongue is laving down his chest.
"Fuck," he moans. "Yes, I even use fabric softener."
I slip off the bed, tugging at his boxer–briefs as I go. He lifts his hips up, and I slide them off, barely giving him a chance to settle again before I'm descending on his glorious cock.
"Christ," he wheezes, his hands threading into my hair as I lap at him. He's bigger than I've dealt with before, but I definitely have enthusiasm on my side as I work him over.
"What else?" I demand, letting him go with a pop. My hand moves to fist him at the base, and I look up at him, my tongue out, laying flat against the head of his cock.
He looks dazed. "Huh?"
I grin and lick at his dick once more before pulling my tongue back a little. "What else?" I demand.
"Bella," he breathes, his hips rocking gently under me. I stay where I am, my hand fisting his base, the other coming up to cup his balls. I'm dying to put his fantastic cock back in my mouth, but I need him to speak again first.
He clears his throat. "I…" he lets out a breath, shaking his head. "Fuck, I keep a spreadsheet of all my finances," he says, eyeing me skeptically.
I lean forward, plunging his cock back into my mouth. He groans, his fingers flexing through my hair as I suck at him, taking him deeper each stroke.
"Bella, I…" his voice is shaky, and I know I've worked him close to coming. I want him to come in my mouth, but his fingers tug lightly on my hair. "Bella, I want to be inside of you," he says, and I release his dick, more turned on by this than anything else he's said. I let him go, climbing to my feet to shed my underwear.
"I need to get a condom," he starts, and I shake my head.
"I'm on birth control," I tell him, my body so desperate to actually feel him in me. "And I trust you."
He stares up at me, surprised, and I wait, my body singing in anticipation. The question is, does he trust me too?
Finally, his hand moves up to my hip, gently tugging me toward him.
"I trust you too," he says softly. I lean down to kiss him hard as I straddle his lap, my knees landing on the outside of his hips.
His hands move from my waist to my ass, squeezing and kneeding me until my body is rolling over his, my drenched pussy gliding over his thick cock.
"Bella," he breathes against my lips, and I know he can't take it anymore either.
I break our kiss, lifting my body up and reaching down to grasp him. I feel his breathing hitch as I carefully guide him toward my entrance. I tease him a little bit, lowering myself a fraction before lifting up again.
He lets out a sound something akin to a growl and I grin, leaning down to kiss him as I slide down his cock, my body squeezing and stretching in delicious pleasure.
I can feel the thick heat of him settling in me, and my whole body shudders. I wrap my arms around his neck, just as his hands come around my waist again.
Our kisses turn languid as I undulate over him, building a fire slowly between us. He matches my speed, his hands wandering, brushing, stroking, not hurried despite how frantically we wanted each other a moment ago.
I've had sex without condoms with one other partner before, and that had been nothing like this. The feeling of wholeness is new to me, and unexpectedly, it makes me want to cry.
I have to chase the thought away, focusing instead on how strong Edward is, how delicious he is from head to toe, and that somehow, he wants me.
My hips start to falter, as my mind and heart keep bringing me around toward sentimental feelings.
Edward—sensing the shift in me—breaks our kiss and stands, flipping us onto the bed. He unwraps one of my legs from his waist, hooking it over his arm, opening me wider to him.
Like this, he hits me in places I've never felt before, and soon all thought is gone as I writhe and gasp under him. His lips are back on mine, swallowing every sound coming out of me.
"Oh, fuck," I wheeze as he swivels his hips, hitting me somewhere new. "Oh fuck, fuck, do that again."
He does, and my vision starts to go spotty as pleasure builds at the base of my spine.
He knows how close I am, and his hand slips down, circling my clit. I gasp into his mouth as the pleasure rockets through me, seizing my whole body in white-hot fire. I might be silent, I might be screaming, there is no way to know.
I can feel Edward pounding into me a few more times before he's coming in me, and a whole new round of pleasure sweeps me up.
Why does that feel so good?
I cling to Edward, overcome by the flood of feelings in me.
Even after we both come down, our breathing settling again, I cling to him, silent and confused. Sex with Edward is so different. Is this just what sex is like with a mature adult man? Or is it more than that?
"Are you okay?" Edward asks after a moment.
I let out a breath that fans his shoulder. "Yeah," I whisper, my fingernails trailing on his back. "Are you?"
He shifts, his lips pressing to my naked shoulder. I turn to see his face.
"Yeah," he whispers back.
I don't know what is said in those simple words, but I know we've both said more than we intended to.
It's a scary and wonderfully breathless feeling.
Edward shifts, sitting upright and slipping out of me. Immediately, I miss the feeling of his body intertwined with mine. "I'll go grab a cloth," he says softly, shifting off me and standing. I sit up and shake my head.
"Or," I say, hoping I'm not pushing too far too fast. "We could just jump in the shower."
Edward smiles and extends a hand to me. I take it eagerly, climbing to my feet.
"Lead the way," he says softly.
I grin and tug him out of the room, and down the hall toward the bathroom.
…
After attempting shower sex that is much more work than either of us realized it would be, we head downstairs for coffee and breakfast. Alice and Jasper are working on cooking a large scramble, and we jump in to help them cook.
There are jokes about our piss-poor drunken melodies from last night, which have us all laughing, and by the time we have food on the table, Rose and Emmett are joining us too.
Breakfast with the six of us feels good, right even.
After the dishes are done, Edward asks if I want to head out on his boat. This time, I run upstairs to pack a bag before we head out, strolling toward the dock.
I'm not entirely sure who initiates it, but we walk hand in hand.
I can't remember the last time I held hands with a boy.
"Do you work tonight?" I ask, looking up at Edward.
He nods. "Yeah, around four," he says, glancing at me.
I lick my lips and nod. "Do you think it'll be a busy night?"
Edward shakes his head. "Not likely, why?"
I bite my lip. "I thought you might be able to teach me how to drive the pontoon boat, you know, for science."
Edward smiles, and it's so bright and warm that my heart skips a beat. "That sounds great," he says.
I smile and have to stop myself from squeezing his hand.
The Compass is docked in her usual spot, and after helping my climb aboard, Edward climbs up, turning to me.
"Go ahead and put your bag downstairs," he says.
I turn and head below deck, smiling as I look around the cabin. It's crazy to me that not even two days ago we were down here, having sex for the first time. In some ways, it feels so much longer than that, and others, I'm well aware that we are still so early in whatever this is.
I put my bag on his bed, noting that it is made. I don't even know when he had a chance to make it considering I was with him the last time he slept in it.
I move back out into the living space and spot Proust up on his bookshelf. I blink at it, surprised. Is he done? What is he reading now?
Curious, I head up to the deck where Edward is slowly launching the boat from the dock.
I snap into action, helping him as he directs until the boat is out on the open water, the cool sea breeze mingling with the bright heat of the sun.
After Edward settles on a place to anchor, he meets me on the deck, sinking onto the seat beside me.
"So," I say looking at him. "How was Proust?"
Edward smiles, leaning back. "Tedious," he says after a moment. "And a touch whiny for me, but I think perhaps brilliant in the end."
I'm amused by his assessment. "What's next?" I ask, curling up on the seat and turning toward him. He looks at me.
"Pride and Prejudice," he says, surprising me.
"Really?" I ask, skeptical.
He lets out a soft laugh but nods.
I stare at him, trying to guess what is spawning this frankly bizarre list when I finally sigh. "Okay," I say, shaking my head. "I give up. Tell me why these books."
Edward glances at me, a cryptic smile on his face before he turns toward the water. He takes a breath.
"Six years ago," he says slowly, his eyes on the horizon. "You and the girls were here for your annual vacation. You were all talking about bucket lists or something," he shakes his head, and I gaze up at him, curious how we could have anything to do with his book selections. "Rose made a joke about never letting you see her bucket list, because if she died, you'd be compelled to do all that she hadn't." He looks at me then, and I blink, surprised. I do remember that conversation. "You looked at her and said, 'You never know what adventures the universe might be trying to hand you when you find a list that meant so much to someone.' You all laughed it off, but that stuck with me." He shrugs his shoulders. "That November, I was helping clear boxes of belongings from a house where the owner had passed. He'd left a list tucked into his desk. It was a list of books people told him would change his life, but it looked like he'd never gotten to it." Edward takes a breath. "So I've been doing it. Reading every book on his list." He turns to me, and his eyes are endless and brilliant as they bore into me. "And you were right. Working through this stranger's list of books has changed me. I'm a better person for having listened to the universe, and to you."
I have tears in my eyes, and I have to reach up and wipe them away as they spill over onto my cheeks. I'm silent, trying to understand all that he's told me.
He's been paying attention for so long.
Edward doesn't push me to speak, he doesn't even seem like he's waiting for a response.
After a moment, I put my hand on his thigh, drawing his gaze back in my direction. I don't have the words, but I swallow hard and lean my head against his chest, curling into his side. His arm comes around me, pulling me closer until I can feel his heart beating against my cheek. I feel his lips press into my hair, and I let out a breath.
We sit, curled up, for a long time, letting the water gently rock us.
…
My heart is heavy with complicated feelings of happiness and some unknown word that I cannot describe.
After Edward's confession, we eventually headed into the ocean for a swim. The water was cold but refreshing, and when we climbed back on the boat, things were light-hearted once again.
Edward taught me more about his boat, and we spent a considerable amount of time christening new corners of it.
In the late afternoon, as Edward was heading onto his shift on the ferry, I returned to the house to talk Alice off a ledge as she prepared to go see Jasper's family. Once everything was sorted and she was calm and collected on her way, I headed back to the docks to join Edward for the remainder of his work hours. As promised, he taught me how to drive the boat. We only practiced when no passengers were on board, and I'm still a little unsteady, but slowly I got the hang of it.
After his last fare, Edward ran on shore to buy some fresh fish, which he brought back onto The Compass to cook for us.
We stayed docked on his boat, but even being tethered to land, inside the cabin it feels like we're in our own beautiful little world.
It's been a stunning day getting to know this incredible man better. Looking at him, I can't figure out why I pushed off ever trying to know him in the first place. He's gorgeous, sure, but he's so much more than that. He's kind, intelligent, thoughtful, responsible, patient, and actually decently funny.
It's almost scary how easy it is to just be with him.
I'm curled up in his arms in his bed, both of us worn out from our day. He's reading Pride and Prejudice, and I'm alternating between TikTok and actually answering my email.
I get a notification banner on my phone and I switch out of TikTok to my inbox, frowning.
The moment I see the actual email, my heart lodges into my throat.
I know immediately it's a job offer.
I freeze, and I feel Edward glance at me. My phone's out of his view, but still I worry about him seeing the email.
"Everything okay," he asks softly.
I let out a breath. "Yeah," I say, forcing my voice steady. "Just emails piling up."
He hums and turns the page of his book. "You're on vacation," he points out gently. "You should give yourself a break."
I lick my lips and close my phone, deciding to push off the job offer for another time. "You're right," I say softly. "Will you read to me?"
He looks surprised, but then smiles, pressing a kiss to my forehead as he begins reading aloud.
It isn't long until his melodic voice is lulling me to sleep in his arms, worries about the future slipping away from me to be focused on another time.