The Love of the Game Chapter 11, a twilight fanfic

Chapter 11

An: Thank you for all the lovely reviews. I'm sorry I haven't had time to answer them all, but trust me, I read every single one. Y'all are amazing.

Also, I am humbled and honored that The Love of the Game as been nominated for Best WIP in the Golden Onion Awards. Thank you so much for the nomination. Voting is open now for The Golden Onion awards as well as the amazing Bodice Ripper Contest. Place your votes for your favorites today!

Now, on to the story. Remember the hike Darling and Shug wanted to go on, but Darling got injured? Well here we go…enjoy.

A big thank you to my prereaders and my beta, without them, this would not be possible.

**Fiddling was had. All mistakes are mine

"You good to go?

All I knew

This morning when I woke

Is I know something now

Know something now I didn't before

And all I've seen

Since eighteen hours ago

Is green eyes and freckle and your smile

In the back of my mind making me feel like

I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now

I just wanna know you, know you, know you

And all my walls

Stood tall painted blue

But I'll take 'em down, take 'em down

And open up the door for you

And all I feel

In my stomach is butterflies

The beautiful kind, makin' up for lost time

Takin' flight, makin' me feel like

I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now

I just wanna know you, know you, know you

Cause all I know is we said, "Hello"

And your eyes look like coming home

All I know is a simple name

Everything has changed

All I know is you held the door

And you'll be mine and I'll be yours

All I know since yesterday

Is everything has changed

Come back and tell me why

I'm feelin' like I've missed you all this time

And meet me there tonight

And let me know that it's not all in my mind.

I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now

I just wanna know you better, know you, know you"

"Everything Has Changed" by Taylor Swift.

~oOo~

"You ready?" Edward asked as he blew into his hot coffee from Dancing Goats. It was right around the corner from Bella's house and just happened to make an amazing cup of joe.

"Ready." She smiled, placing her cup in the drink holder and clicking her seatbelt.

The Braves, as well as Edward, ended up having a great year. His rookie season was sprinkled with accolades. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award, which was quite a feat considering his heel cost him almost a month on the injured list. However, the quest for the World Series was not to be, as they lost the pennant race to the Dodgers.

Edward was salty for the first few days of the offseason. He hated losing, and he took it hard. It was a tough loss for the whole team. They had been outperforming most of the league, so the sentiment in the clubhouse was that it should have been their year.

Once Edward moved past the disappointment of the loss, he was eager to get out of Atlanta and relax. He knew just the person he wanted to spend that time with too.

Bella's season had ended in disappointment as well. The Storm was plagued with injuries throughout the year, and it took its toll on the team's chances for the championship. As soon as the writing was on the wall for the Storm, Bella and Edward made plans to hit the mountains and take that hike they missed.

"How long is the drive?"

"About four and a half hours from here. We should be there by noon."

"Awesome. I'm really excited to see the fall colors. I didn't grow up seeing the leaves change like they do in North Carolina. This is a bucket list trip for me."

Edward chuckled. "I'm glad. We're going to see some beautiful color. I'll even show you my favorite tree."

"You have a favorite tree?"

"Yep. Right in front of the post office. Grammy takes a pic of it every year for me when I can't make it up there. I sure hope it's showing off. G said we're going at peak time."

"Are your grandparents going to be there?"

"No. They just left to come down here for the week for some doctor appointments. Our timing is perfect." At the stoplight, Edward leaned over to give Bella a sweet peck on the lips. "I want you all to myself. No sharing. No schedules. No obligations. I'm fucking burnt out. And I know you have to be too."

"Sounds fantastic. I don't know what to do with myself."

"Oh, I can think of a few things," Edward replied playfully.

"Hush," she scolded. "Is that all you think about?"

"Yes, with you." He shrugged. "Tell me you don't, and I'll turn this truck around right now and we can forget about the whole thing."

"Okay, okay…I may think about it more or less."

"More or less? I'm turning this baby around…" Edward turned his turn signal on, teasing Bella.

"Oh my God. Yes, yes…I think about it all the time." Bella huffed out a laughed.

"That's better. I was getting worried there for a minute, shug. I thought I made a better impression on you than that."

"Oh, you've made an impression, all right."

~oOo~

The blue A-frame house stood out among the swirls of orange, red, and yellow leaves, welcoming Edward home. He pulled down into the driveway with a huge smile on his face. He spent every summer and fall break up here with his grandparents until ball interfered. There was always so much to do. It was the perfect place to make your own fun.

"Shug, we're here," Edward announced as he jiggled her arm lightly to wake her.

Bella's head popped up as she yawned. "Oh my gosh. I fell asleep. How long was I out? Oh no, I missed everything."

"Just thirty minutes. You'll see everything we drove through again. No worries." Edward squeezed her arm affectionately.

"This is beautiful."

Edward smiled. "I'm glad you think so. It's one of my favorite places to come and get away."

They grabbed their bags out of the back of the truck and walked down the long wooden bridge that brought them to a huge covered patio surrounded by trees and color.

Bella's eyes flitted everywhere, taking in all the beauty around them. "This is beyond how I pictured it when you described it."

"Yeah, sure is pretty, isn't it?"

"I'll say. I could live on this porch. I may never want to go home." Bella eyed the four Adirondack chairs, each with their own stunning and unique view.

"That's pretty much what we do when we're out here. We start with coffee, then iced tea, and then a cocktail. It's the ultimate place to hang out and just enjoy the view."

They stood on the porch a few minutes longer, breathing in the fresh mountain air as they took in all the fall colors.

When Edward opened the door and crossed the threshold, the familiar scent of his grandmother's baking hit their senses. Edward knew immediately she had made his favorite cookies. She had an uncanny way of knowing exactly what he needed, when he needed it. Edward led them into the house, pausing at the hallway to his left.

"Our room is just down this hallway. Unless you want your own room. Then you're on your own and it's upstairs," Edward teased.

Bella rolled her eyes and followed his lead to a room at the end of the hall. The black, wrought-iron bed was inviting, with a white duvet and a black watch plaid comforter folded at the end. On the nightstand, she spotted a bouquet of flowers, along with some bottles of water, chocolates, and the WiFi code. His grandmother certainly went out of her way to make their stay welcoming.

Assorted pictures of Edward and his family enjoying mountain life adorned the room. Bella couldn't help looking around at them all.

"Is this you?" Bella asked, looking at the sweetest picture of a six or seven-year-old snaggle-toothed Edward holding up a fish on his rod.

"Yep. That's me. That was an especially proud moment. I was able to fish in the falls and I caught that beauty. Grammy fried it up for me that night and served it with a bowl of cheese grits and biscuits. I was in hog heaven."

"You really were just the cutest thing without those front teeth." Her sweet gaze landed on him.

Edward's cheeks pinked up. The look she gave him made him feel self-conscious. "Thanks. That really was one of my favorite summers. I hit a lot of strides that year."

They went back out to the truck to bring in the groceries and the booze they brought, not wanting to impose on his grandparents' generosity.

As they walked into the kitchen, Edward found a letter on the island from his grammy.

My darling boy,

Papa and I are so happy you and your friend chose our house to get away. Please enjoy it as your own. You know all the workings of the house and what to do when you leave, so I won't bore you with a list of things to do. I took the liberty of making a few things for y'all to enjoy, so you wouldn't have to cook right off the bat. If you don't eat anything, please put it in the freezer. And as always, your cookies are in the jar. We'll be back next Monday.

Papa wants me to remind you of his birds, and to take all the feeders down when it gets dark. Don't forget to lock up the chest. BEARS.

Sorry about the end of your season, Neddy. Papa and I are so proud of you. You'll get them next year.

Love, G

P.S. Your secret is safe with us. Have a great time. Be safe and have fun. xoxo

Bella opened the fridge, and sure enough, there was a pot of chili and a casserole dish of baked ziti.

"Wow. Your grandparents are the sweetest people on earth." Bella closed the door, smiling up at Edward, who already had his hand in the cookie jar.

"Yeah. They're pretty special. Want to walk around and explore? I feel the need to move around after that drive."

"Yeah, let's do it."

~oOo~

"Hey, Bella?" Edward called from inside the house.

"Yes?" Bella looked up from her book.

"Ready for a glass of wine?"

"Absolutely."

"Coming right up."

Edward walked out with a glass of wine and a small charcuterie board.

"Here you go. And I made us a little something to snack on since we missed lunch."

"Come to mention it, I am kinda hungry. Thank you." Bella took her glass from Edward and looked at the food laid out in front of her. "Cullen, you made this?"

Edward walked back out onto the patio with a drink in his hand. "I did."

"You got some serious game, Cullen."

"I got some game when it counts." He gave her a wink.

Bella huffed a laugh. "I bet you say that to all the girls."

"I'm not quite sure what girls you're referring to, but I'll take the compliment."

"Well, I'm impressed. But can the man cook, too?"

"I'll have you know, I have a few hidden talents."

"Hmmm…I bet you do, Casanova."

~oOo~

After they devoured their dinner, they cleaned the kitchen and put away the dishes. Bella followed Edward into the den— a big great room with a beautiful stone fireplace and walls paneled with warm-toned, tongue-and-groove wood all around. She curled up on the sofa and grabbed a blanket.

"I can't seem to get warm all of a sudden."

"You cold?" Edward frowned, just realizing it was chilly.

"Yeah, just a little bit. It's all good. I'll just cuddle under a blanket."

"Nah. I'll turn on the fireplace. It'll heat up the room in no time." Edward flipped the switch on the fireplace, and snuggled in next to Bella on the sofa. He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. "Wanna see what's on?"

"Sure."

They settled on a movie. The last thing either one of them saw was the opening credits. Edward woke with a start when he heard the clock strike midnight. He turned off the TV and leaned over to wake Bella. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight shining through the window; Edward hardly wanted to move her. Before he could decide what he wanted to do, Bella began to stir. She opened her eyes to see Edward's reflecting back at her.

"Hey, shug," Edward whispered. "You ready to go to bed?"

She stretched before she sat up and kissed him sweetly on the lips. "I am."

They walked hand in hand back toward the bedroom, stopping in the bathroom to do their nightly routines. Once they got into bed, Edward opened his arms and invited Bella into them. They cuddled as they attempted to discuss plans for the next day, but neither of them could keep their eyes open for long.

In the still of the night, under a bright shining moon, they slept.

~oOo~

The birds were singing right outside their window as the day began. Bella was still tucked deep under the blankets sleeping hard when Edward woke. Not wanting to disturb her, he tiptoed out of the room to the kitchen to start the coffee. He stretched his sore and tired body while he looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in the view while he waited for the coffee to brew.

The coffee maker signal went off, alerting Edward that it was ready. He made himself a cup before he put on his jacket and walked out onto the porch. Edward took in the surroundings, smiling as he took his first sip. Memories of all the happy times he spent on that porch flooded his mind. He was hoping this time away with Bella would make even more happy memories and bring him some much-needed levity. So far, they seemed to be off to a good start.

The birds chirping roused Edward from his thoughts. He put his cup down on the table and walked over to the locked chest. As he examined it, his eyes widened as he noticed deep ruts on both sides of the chest. This could only mean one thing: a bear smelled food and tried to get into it. He grabbed the key over on the post and unlocked the chest, opening it to find the food and about fifteen bird feeders.

His papa loved the birds and fed them every day, so Edward took to the task of putting up each and every feeder. He grabbed his coffee and sank into the outdoor sofa, watching the birds flit around, eating their breakfast. He sat there for a good long while reflecting on the past year as well as the woman who was lying in his bed. The creak of the door alerted him that he was no longer alone. Bella walked out onto the patio wrapped in a big, white down blanket, with her hair tumbled all around her.

She was a mess.

She was perfect.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," Edward crooned, a smile stretching across his face.

Bella wiped the sleepiness out of her eyes before responding. "Morning. How long have you been out here?" She wrapped the comforter tighter around her, warding off the chill.

"Not long. The birds woke me up, so I made some coffee and came out here to put up some feeders."

"I never took you for much of a bird watcher." Bella walked over to the sofa and sat down next to him. She really liked seeing this side of him. He was so relaxed, so in his element.

"There's a lot you don't know about me. And I'm sure there's a lot about you I don't know." He wrapped his arm around her and brought her tightly to his chest. "Maybe without all the distractions, we can learn a little more about each other." Edward leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

Bella loved the sound of that. He continued to surprise her at every turn, and at each turn, she seemed to like him even more. She was holding all these thoughts to herself. It made things simpler for her, but Edward Cullen was not a simple man, and neither was the way he made her feel.

"I'd like that. So, what are we going to do today? It's going to be beautiful."

"Well, after I get you some coffee"—he moved to get up off the sofa—"I thought we could go hike Linville Falls, and then head up to Grandfather Mountain. Sneak in a late lunch somewhere. How does that sound?"

"I think that sounds great. Will it be this chilly all day?" Bella shivered under her comforter.

"Nah…the temps will warm up quite a bit. Mid-sixties to low seventies. We'll need a jacket for Grandfather, though. It's windy as hell up there."

"Sounds great. I'm ready for a hike." Bella got up to follow Edward into the house, ready for coffee.

"Want some pumpkin bread to go with that coffee while I scramble us some eggs and bacon?"

"Yeah. Who am I to turn down homemade pumpkin bread? Bring it on."

~oOo~

The day was perfect. The weather held up. The hike was amazing, and the views overlooking the falls were stunning. They ate lunch in Blowing Rock before taking a drive all around the area. Luckily, it was a weekday, so the crowds on the viaduct and roads were less than on the weekends. They decided to head to Grandfather Mountain the next day since the day was a wonderful drive day. Edward knew all the ideal spots for pics and views. They even took a selfie or two, but Bella knew better than to post anything that could draw attention to them on Instagram.

They arrived back at the house tired and achy.

"Oh, am I lovin' your grammy right about now. Thank goodness for dinner being ready in the fridge. I'm way too tired to cook."

"That woman is always prepared. She has more energy than me, and she's seventy-seven." He shook his head in disbelief.

They sat out under the porch and enjoyed the twilight of the evening. Drinks in hand, they discussed their plans for the next day while they waited for dinner to reheat in the oven.

Today was a good day for them, Bella thought to herself. They hiked and laughed and talked. It really was a great time getting to know each other better and making the friendship side of this relationship stronger. She'd never felt as comfortable with anyone as she felt with Edward. The ways he managed to warm her heart made her resolve weaken even more.

The dinner, the wine, and the conversation flowed as effortlessly as the day had. They worked well as a team, putting the meal together and cleaning the kitchen once they had finished.

Music was playing and hips were swaying throughout the evening, setting the mood.

"You having a good time?" Edward asked.

"I'm having the best time. It was an amazing hike, and I loved the drive. You have really brought your A-game this time, Cullen. How could a girl refuse?" Bella clasped her arms around his neck, leaning in to give him a peck on the lips.

"I don't know. You tell me… how could a girl refuse?" He stared directly into her eyes, searching for something he didn't know he needed from her.

"Well, I'm hardly the first girl you've brought here, and I'm pretty sure I won't be the last. There's a lot of 'wow' factor going on around here. It's the ideal place for seduction."

Edward broke their embrace, putting some distance between them. He crossed his arms over his chest, furrowing his brows as he considered her statement. He couldn't help wondering why she had this biased opinion of him.

"Why do you do that?" he questioned.

"Do what?" Bella looked at him curiously.

"Generalize. Lump me in with all these players? All the shitty athletes. Is it sabotage? Self-preservation? Because I can't for the life of me understand why you keep putting me in that box when all I've ever done is try to be intentional and give you my undivided attention when we're together."

Bella dropped onto the sofa, her demeanor stiff and uneasy. She killed the playful mood between them, and she was pissed at herself. "Edward, I didn't—"

Edward interrupted. "Look, I have no delusions about how I am during the season, especially when we're away. I was hoping I'd apologized enough for that, even though I was upfront about it from the get-go. I've really attempted to make a conscious effort with you, and I thought you were making an effort with me. Did I misread the signals between us? Because I was really starting to think we were on the same page. I know we have this deal—that we're friends who get together when we're in town, but I actually thought without all the distractions and work around us, we could lift our boundaries and see what's between us. If it's not something you want, cool. I can live with that. But please stop making me out to be the bad guy."

"I'm sorry," she murmured, looking away from Edward.

She felt bad for calling his integrity on the carpet. He was right. When they were together, he was fully engaged. He'd also made more of a concerted effort throughout the rest of the season.

Edward sat down beside her, his expression softening. "I really thought this week away would give us both the clarity we needed about whatever this is between us. Maybe I should've been more upfront with what I was thinking, so that's on me."

He was frustrated with how this conversation was going, but he needed her to know it was not okay to keep saying those things. Garrett was so in his head about her. He couldn't turn the sound off. Edward loved the way he felt with Bella; however, maybe this was all a bad idea. Yet, just maybe that wall he built around himself since Emma did need to come down. He felt that maybe it would happen with Bella.

"Edward, I truly didn't mean to insult you or your integrity. You've been nothing but upfront and honest with me. It's me. All me."

He looked at her with confusion. "How's it all you?" He turned his body toward her on the sofa, waiting for her response.

Bella took a deep breath and decided to put it all out on the table. "Look, I've been burned, okay? The whole 'it's too good to be true' thing? Yeah, it's happened to me. Twice. So, when you go waxing poetic on me and woo me with all your southern charm, I can't help but wonder if I'm that placeholder girl again, or if I'm the girl who simply can't measure up no matter how hard I try."

She took a deep breath to steady herself for the last thing she wanted to say, knowing how pathetic she was about to sound. "And when I say those things…about other women…I say them so I'm prepared for when everything goes south between us. It makes the disappointment easier to swallow."

Being that vulnerable in front of him, exposing herself like that, made her feel even more inadequate. She got up to leave the sofa, embarrassed by this display.

"Excuse me. I'm just gonna…" She motioned her thumb over her shoulder toward the bathroom.

Edward grabbed her other hand and pulled her down into his lap, wrapping his arms around her.

"Shug, you're nobody's placeholder. And you certainly aren't mine. If anyone made you feel that way, well, it's their loss. They didn't know the treasure they were holding in their hands."

Bella shook her head. "Thank you. But that's not how it felt at the time."

He kissed the top of her head, holding her, hoping the safety of his arms brought her some comfort. He knew she'd just splayed herself open for him, and that certainly had to be difficult.

"I'm sorry I got all defensive," he whispered against her temple.

"I'm sorry I said what I said. It wasn't right."

"It's okay. I get it." His lips skimmed the shell of her ear. "I hate you've been through all that."

Edward thought back to when he'd googled her, remembering that she was engaged to someone else. He noticed she didn't bring that up. He couldn't help wondering if that was why they broke the engagement. Could that tool have cheated on her? How could anyone make her feel like she didn't measure up? He decided not to broach the subject tonight. She told him more than he ever anticipated, and he didn't want to bring the mood down any more than it already was.

Bella quieted her nerves as she reached out and entwined her fingers with his. "If you still want…" She cleared her throat and looked right into his eyes, showing him that she was willing to try. "I'd like to push our boundaries a bit during this offseason." She righted herself on his lap. Then, ever so sweetly, she reached out to cup his face, running her thumbs back and forth over his stubble. "I'd like to see where this goes."

Edward pulled her back, his eyes flitting back and forth between hers to see if she truly meant it.

Her lips moved forward to press against his as she nipped and sucked on his lower lip. Edward moaned softly, "Shug…" as she continued to suck and tease his lips. "Are you sure?"

"Completely sure." She continued to kiss him and tease him, as her breasts pressed against his chest.

Unable to take the teasing anymore, Edward raked his fingers through her hair, bringing her lips closer to his in an all-consuming kiss. His tongue swept in, tasting her, as her lips slid against his.

Bella's hand moved over his chest and stomach, her fingers lightly running up and down as each pass went lower and lower to the place he ached to have her touch. Edward's lips trailed to her neck, ghosting light kisses that made her toes curl.

"Bella…" His warm breath ignited something deep inside her. "Do you have any idea the things I want to do to you?"

He smoothed her hair down behind her ears to look at her face, her silky strands playing between his fingers.

"Show me." Bella crushed her mouth against his, her soft moans urging him on.

His hands glided down her body, inching toward the place he knew she needed him the most. He traced over her already damp, covered center, enticing her, making her wetter as his fingers continued to stroke her. She gyrated her hips slowly against his fingers, seeking and yearning for more friction.

"Please," she panted as he continued to tease her.

"Get up. Let's go to our room. I can't do what I want out here." He leaned in and kissed her soundly.

Bella could only nod her head as if she was in a trance. Edward took her hand and led her down the hall to the bedroom. Their mouths met the moment they made it there, frantically kissing as Edward walked her backward toward the bed. Her knees, already weakened, hit the end of the bed, causing her to collapse back onto the mattress.

Once she was down, Edward pulled his shirt over his head, then rid himself of the rest of his clothes before stripping Bella bare. He laid her out like a starfish; her body completely open and bending to his will.

Edward's fingers slid through her core, teasing and taunting as her hips swiveled to meet him, desperately trying to grind herself on his hand. He slipped his fingers into her tight, wet heat, gliding in and out. The rhythm was unrelenting. His hand skimmed up to her breast, grazing over her nipple, causing shivers to break out all over her body.

Bella's breathy moans spurred Edward on as he continued to take control of her body. "Do you like that, shug?"

"Oh shit, Edward…more, please, I need more…"

"That's my girl. Let me make you feel good."

Edward lightly bit the inside of her thigh, scraping his teeth, nipping and laving his tongue along the way, until he reached the apex between her thighs.

"There's that pretty pussy," he murmured gruffly against her thigh.

She was already wet and needy for him. He swiped his tongue through her folds, eliciting a groan from Bella as her hips arched off the bed, searching for more. Edward put her legs over his shoulders, halting her movements as his hands held her hips down while he devoured her.

Bella gasped. His lips and tongue burned as he licked and nibbled and sucked. He wanted to take his time, open her up more to his mercy, but the sounds she was making kept egging him on. His fingers returned, going deeper and stroking inside her while his tongue continued to circle, refusing to relent.

"Come on my tongue, baby. I want to feel you, hear what I do to you." Edward was hard and extremely turned on by all her sounds, knowing he was making this incredible woman laid out before him moan and thrash underneath him.

"Edward, Edward…don't stop… please. I'm…" Her hands grasped his hair as she ground herself into his mouth, seeking the delicious friction she needed to tip herself over the edge.

Bella raced toward an orgasm as she continued to grind, causing her hips to bolt up off the bed as it hit her. Blinding white fireworks burst behind closed eyes as she cried out, the pleasure unexpectedly more than she had ever experienced this way.

Her breathing was erratic, her chest heaving up and down, as Edward crawled up her body, peppering kisses along the way. When he met her lips, she drowned in him. Bella tasted herself on his mouth, and it turned Edward on, knowing exactly how he made her feel only moments ago. His hot breath washed over her as they shared the air between them. Edward's needy cock rubbed hard against her, sliding through the wetness, seeking its entrance.

Bella met his eyes as he looked at her tenderly. His hands caged her in, resting on either side of her head. She reached up and brushed her fingers over his damp forehead, moving a few stray hairs. His eyes closed, as the soothing gesture rocked something inside of him. They both knew something was changing between them, but neither was quite ready to admit it. Edward took her hand from his forehead and pressed a kiss to the palm.

The intimacy of the moment was not lost on either of them.

Edward reached over to the nightstand, grabbed a condom, and rolled it on.

Bella moved her hand down to meet him, guiding him to her entrance. She arched into him as he thrust forward. Edward groaned loudly in her ear when he began to move. The feel of her tightness around him was almost too much.

"God, Bella…You feel so good, I'm not gonna last..."

Edward pushed forward again, causing Bella to moan. He was hitting her in exactly the right spot. She sped up her hips, angling to meet him while he delved deeper inside of her. They stared into each other's eyes, connecting in a way they never had. There was safety, caring, and adoration between them. But Edward saw something new in her eyes; something he hoped could grow deeper between them: trust.

The moment was too much. Edward met her movements, stroking in and out, harder and harder, taking so much from her, yet hoping he was giving her enough back. Bella reached around, grabbing his ass, pulling him into her.

"More, please…more," she cried out as his thrusting became stronger and more erratic.

"Come with me, baby. I can't…" he panted.

Bella nodded, her eyes locked with his as they began to unravel together. They were totally lost in the sensations spreading throughout their bodies while they barreled toward the finish, their climaxes hitting them at the same time.

Bella was shivering as her body pulsed through her orgasm. Edward, unable to hold himself up any longer, collapsed on top of her before he gently rolled off.

"Edward." Bella's whimper was barely above a whisper as she lay spent and dazed, unable to move.

"I know, baby, I know. I've got you."

Edward pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her as she rested her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head as Bella ran her fingers in a pattern through the sprinkling of his chest hair. As their breathing returned, they both lay in awe, individually replaying the emotions and feelings that moved each of them so profoundly.

Neither one of them was ready to admit to the other how they were feeling, yet each of them found the other holding on just a little bit tighter as they drifted off to sleep.

An: So now we have a little bit of Bella's history, but trust me, there is more to come. Edward certainly wasn't happy with Bella calling his integrity on the carpet, was he? What are your thoughts of their discussion?

I would love for you to share with me what you think, so please kindly leave a review. It tells me how you're feeling and what your thoughts are. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I will happily answer them

If you haven't seen the promotions yet, we are knee deep in promoting The Eras Contest. No this isn't a Taylor Swift contest, but a historical one. One for all the eras. Any Twilight character in any era…Please join our facebook group and our FFN page. Submissions begin September 1-October 31st.

You can find all the info on my FB page Pamela Lorraine as well as the numerous groups the contest is promoted in. If you need further assistance finding the pages, please contact me, and I will send you a link. FFN makes it super hard to share links.

Can't even believe it is August already. I am about to put together a you tube or spotify list of the songs for the chapters. Would that be something you would like? The songs inspire me, and I can't tell you how many times I listen to them while I write.

I am also made an author page. One I can post things about the story and put all the pic teasers in. I'm sure many of you are missing the teasers on Monday, and the pictures are quite dreamy. Come Follow me on DrivingEdward Fan Fiction on Facebook.

See you in two weeks.

~Be Happy

~Be kind

~Be Blessed

~DrivingEdward