Edward
When we get to the house and park in the garage, Dwayne comes out to meet us with champagne flutes in hand. "I put together plates for you both because I know you'll be too busy to eat later." He hands each of us a flute and smiles. "Everything is finished. Once you eat, there'll be time to take pictures everywhere."
He disappears inside as Bella turns to look at me, raising her glass in a toast. "Here's to our first Halloween party."
I tap my glass gently against hers. "First of many traditions." We both take a drink before walking in, and like every year, my assistant has outdone himself once again.
Netting hangs from every available surface, with strands of pearls accenting things. Old timey buoys and several small ship's wheels are hung up in strategic places, along with fake skeletons, some with pirate hats or eye patches. He's got lights reflecting on the ceiling to make it look like we're underwater and a bubble machine.
"Dwayne," Bella breathes out. "It's magnificent."
I can't agree with her any more. "Everyone is going to flip when they see it."
"I hope so. You know the invitations were treasure maps, and they had gold coins included." He's beaming, but of course, he's talking about chocolate coins. "I just hope everyone has fun."
"When will Austin be here?" I ask about Dwayne's husband, and he smiles.
"He's on his way. He knows better than to interrupt during the final touches. But he's dressed as Blackbeard, and I'm Bluebeard." He has on a dashing and elaborate pirate costume in blue, and if I know anything, Austin is dressed in a matching costume of all black.
Bella and I eat, and then she waltzes around capturing pictures of everything, every detail, every Easter egg that Dwayne had laid out for all our guests. I go around thanking the staff and reminding them to take breaks and enjoy themselves as much as they can. At quarter to, my parents along with Rose, Emmett, and Austin arrive, and we all have a quick toast.
"I want to thank you all for being here. Some of you are regulars and some of you are new to the festivities." I nod to Rose and Emmett while drawing Bella closer to me. "I just hope that we all have many more years together to celebrate and many more party's to come!" We all raise our glasses, and I send Bella off to talk to the DJ about starting up.
Slowly but surely, guests begin to arrive; most in costume but some just in fancy dress with elaborate masks. I make the rounds with Bella, introducing her to colleagues, friends, and acquaintances. She holds her own with every person, making small talk and being herself; a genuinely kind person.
Until Eleazar Donnelly arrives with Lauren as his arm candy. Eleazar is her editor-in-chief, her boss, and easily old enough to be her father. Not that I'm judging, but I can guarantee that Eleazar thinks that Lauren is a sweet girl who actually cares for him instead of a conniving, blackmailing devil who's after his job.
"Fix your face," Bella says as she steps into my line of sight.
"Huh?"
"You look like someone just told you that magazines were dead and your bank account was empty." She holds out a glass to me, and I take a drink before smiling at her.
"Thank you. I'm sorry, I just saw—"
"Eleazar Donnelly and Lauren, your ex? I did my homework." She smirks, taking a gulp from her own drink. "Dwayne told me she moved to the East Coast. My advice? Let them come to you. Make Lauren work for it, and do not mention anything about your past with her. If she wanted to use it, she would have told Eleazar already, and she'll try to get a rise out of the both of you. Don't let her."
I stare at Bella, somehow doubting that I could have ever underestimated her. "You're a genius."
"I know. I'm also beautiful and all yours. Don't forget it." She leans up to kiss me before leading me outside where our friends are, knowing we'll get a small reprieve before the wolves descend. Bella is talking and laughing with my mother and Rose while Emmett, Austin, and my dad are shooting the shit and talking about their golf game. Dwayne catches my eye and nods in my direction.
"You did good with this one, Edward. I like her and her friends." He raises his glass to me in a mock toast, and I smile.
"It's real this time too," I tell him as he looks at me with wide eyes. "I feel something different with Bella; I don't want to lose it."
"I'm happy for you." He sips at his drink as we watch the crowd. "Maybe she can handle things while Austin and I are away."
"Yes; Australia. Do you have everything planned?" Turning to look at my friend, I see the excitement on his face.
"Just about." He turns to face me. "I want to talk to you one more time. I don't want you to—"
"If you're going to fight me about paying for the trip, please don't. It's my gift to you every year after the holidays. Every year, you fight me on it, and every year, I pay for it; can we just skip it this year?" I clap my hand to his shoulder, and he smiles.
"Fine, but when it's time for me to plan your wedding, I want carte blanche." Dwayne smirks.
"You and Bella can duke it out if we ever get there." I see Eleazar walking over, and Dwayne excuses himself before he arrives. He can go warn everyone, and he doesn't have to get stuck in the conversation.
As Eleazar approaches, I take in his tuxedo and half-mask, making him the Phantom of the Opera. Lauren was in a stunning ball gown, so she must be Christine Daae. He extends a hand as he reaches me, and I try to remember that I mostly like and respect this man, even if he is trying to come for my empire.
"Edward, good to see you, my boy!" He pumps my hand just like he always has as he slaps my right shoulder. "It looks amazing as always; I'm sure Dwayne is around here somewhere, orchestrating this whole shebang."
Smiling, I nod. "He's around somewhere, but I'll be sure to pass along your congratulations." I flag down a waiter to grab a couple glasses of champagne, handing one to Eleazar. "How's business? I heard you recently got a new staff writer."
Eleazar pauses the glass on the way to his mouth. "I'm sorry about Irina, Edward, but she was ready to fly. No hard feelings, my friend." He sips at his champagne, smiling warmly at me.
"So I shouldn't have any hard feelings about you trying to buy my magazine?" I stare directly at him as he splutters.
"Edward, I thought you had a no shop talk rule at these parties." When I don't answer, he clears his throat. "I heard some talk going around about Real Men going up for sale. I made some inquiries. I was under the impression it was a done deal."
If Eleazar isn't the interested buyer, then maybe Lauren isn't really pulling his strings. "I have no interest or intention in selling. I'm sorry I brought this up, Eleazar."
He smiles knowingly. "Edward, I feel like after all these years, if either of us were going to sell, we would want it to be to the other one, right? And we would talk to each other first?"
I know he's right. Eleazar has been a mentor to me and, more importantly, a friend. I reach for his hand, shaking it comfortably. He smiles at me, winking as Lauren and Bella walk toward us, arm in arm.
"Edward, please introduce me to your handsome friend," Bella asks with a forced smile. She's trying to communicate with me, and I desperately want to pick up on it.
"Allow me," Lauren says, stepping away from Bella and stepping up to Eleazar. "This is Eleazar Donnelly. El, this is Bella Swan, Edward's girlfriend."
They exchange pleasantries as Bella slips next to me. "Lauren was kind enough to introduce herself to me while you two were talking, but she's out of wine. Eleazar, could you freshen our glasses for us?" She smiles coyly at the older man, and he hurries off to the inside bar.
"What's going on?" I'm looking between Bella and Lauren, waiting for one of them to tell me what's what.
"Lauren was just explaining to me how she has no interest in Real Men and neither does Eleazar. He's mentoring her to take over his publication when he retires," Bella explains slowly.
"Which won't be for at least another five years or so. He's terribly healthy, and I personally don't want him to step down for as long as possible." Lauren sighs. "This may be hard for you to believe, but I truly love Eleazar, and being with him has changed me."
Bella wraps her arm around my waist, squeezing gently when I don't respond right away. "Look, Lauren—"
"Have I been climbing up the ranks exceptionally fast? Yes. But I've been working my ass off, Edward. I've been studying and diligently learning all I can about the business. Eleazar wants to teach, and that's all I ever really wanted. You never wanted to take the time to teach me because you wanted to keep everything separate between us." Her voice is a forced whisper.
"By the way, Eleazar knows about our relationship, but I'd rather not bring it up. It makes him uncomfortable, and I want to respect that." She sighs, dropping her guard. "I've changed a lot in the last couple of years, Edward, and it's clear you have too."
By the time Eleazar returns with drinks for both women, Lauren whisks him away, and Bella and I take a moment of silence with each other. "What were you two talking about earlier?" I ask, and Bella laughs.
"She told me she was happy to see you seeming so happy. I don't think we have to worry about Lauren." She leans up to kiss me lightly.
Groaning, I kiss her back. "So, we have to regroup and figure out who it actually is." Sighing, I look down at her petite frame in her costume. "All I really want to do is usher all these folks out and forget everything else except for us."
Bella smiles widely. "It's closing in on midnight. Why don't we play a game? We'll take a shot for every group of ten that leaves. I have a feeling drunk sex with you is going to be really fun."
"Is someone still feeling frisky after earlier?" I chuckle as she blushes.
"Frisky for you? Always." She grabs my hand to drag me inside. "C'mon, we need to set up shots with the bartender. You're going to see college-Bella tonight. I hope he has SoCo."
I cough lightly. "Are you talking Southern Comfort? Oh my god, we're going to die."
She turns to smirk devilishly. "Yeah, but what a way to go."
As guests begin to leave, Bella keeps track until after the fourth shot; after that, she's basically just giggling and trying to get into my pants. I love it. Once it seems that everyone has cleared out, except for Dwayne and Austin in the guest house and my parents downstairs in the converted basement, I take Bella upstairs.
And she brings the bottle of liquor with her.
"This was an amazing party! I had so much fun really! You should give Dwayne a raise or a bonus or something." She's rambling as I help her undress.
"I'm sending them to Australia. How does that sound?" I ask, stifling a laugh as she trips a little as she tries to remove her fishnets on her own.
Bella topples onto the bed, smiling like a loon. "You know, you could just rip these off of me." Propping herself up on her elbows, she watches for my reaction.
"I could do that, but I kinda figured you'd want to wash your face, and then I could fuck you in the shower and use the fancy shower head on your clit when I do it." I'm completely stripped down, my cock standing at full attention for her.
Bella's eyes go wide, and she giggles. "I better get on that before you lose it." She starts trying to pull her tights off before I step over to help her.
"Alcohol has an interesting effect on me; it keeps me hard longer." With one swift move, I rip her tights from her body before I pull her up into my arms. "We can wash your face after."
"Whatever you say, Daddy." She slings her arms around my neck, nibbling at my neck as I carry her into the bathroom. When I set her down to turn on the shower she sinks to her knees to suck my dick into her hot, wet mouth.
"My baby is so good to me." I moan before threading my fingers through her hair, guiding her mouth over me.
As the room fills with steam, Bella gags a little. She never has before, so I pull her away from me gently, taking her cheeks in my hands. "Are you all right? Are you going to be sick?"
She shakes her head. "No, but it's a little warm in here. Can you turn the water down a little?"
Nodding, I reach into the shower and turn it down a little before turning back to her and pulling her to her feet. Opening the shower door, I tuck us inside, letting the water cascade over us. Bella snuggles up close to me, wrapping her arms around me but letting her hands wander.
"Five shower heads in here and only one that's removable. How exactly do you plan on using it?" Bella murmurs as I laugh.
"No foreplay tonight?" My hands travel down to her ass, cupping her cheeks.
"Mmm, I might not make it through your type of foreplay and fucking if we don't move things along, Edward. I'm ready for you." She tilts her head up, pressing her lips to mine.
Deepening the kiss isn't difficult when she's trying to climb me like a tree. Instead of letting Bella have her way with me, I pull her from me and set her on the steam bench, spreading her legs before licking her clit and sucking it into my mouth. Before she can get too comfortable, I stand up and reach for the shower head, turning it to a steady stream and aiming it directly on her clit.
The low moan she elicits sends a shiver down my spine and makes my cock twitch in anticipation. Bella has always been vocal, but when I enter two fingers into her soft pussy, she all but screams in ecstasy. "Fuck, Edward. I'm already coming."
She's panting her way through two orgasms before I drop the shower head, swap places with her, and sink her down onto my hard cock. Watching her bounce up and down gives me some unexpected joy. She's gorgeous, she's sexy, she's smart, and kind, and she's all mine.
I can feel her tightening around me as she comes one more time, and I can't hold my release any longer. "Fuck, Bella. I love you."