Chapter 17

"Dad, did you know that education in Finland is free. I mean, parents don't have to pay anything at all. From the first school year to the university, all free," Bella told Charlie while she was completing an extra questionary for her scholarship. She and Charlie were sitting by the kitchen table sipping their coffees after late Sunday lunch.

"No, I didn't know that," Charlie answered, "they probably pay a lot of taxes."

"That they might do, not sure though if it's substantially more than we pay here, and they get a lot in return. My friend Anna for example, was diagnosed with leukemia when she was seven-year-old, and she got all the treatments, and her parents didn't pay anything. She was healthy after two years of treatments and goes to regular check-ups for free for the rest of her life."

"Sounds pretty awesome," Charlie said, turning the page of his newspaper.

"And you got to see this. It's so cool," Bella said and took her phone. She browsed it for a while and showed her dad a picture with lots of baby clothes and other baby stuff.

"This is a maternity package every pregnant mother gets. There are many different things for the baby like body suits, trousers, woolen overall, caps, a snowsuit, and a sleeping bag. OMG it's cute; it has seals and puffins in it. Look, dad! And there are socks, bibs, baby towel, thermometer, nail scissors, baby brush, muslin squares, bedding, and linen, and there is a book and a toy and some stuff for mum and dad too like sanitary pads, and condoms and lubricant."

Charlie coughed at this point.

"What, dad?" Bella was bemused; she knew it was very hard for her dad to discuss anything sex-related. "It is important to use protection after birth. Quite many think that breastfeeding prevents you from getting pregnant, but that's not true."

"How come you are so interested in baby things. Are you pregnant?" Charlie asked, his face started to turn red.

"No, I'm not pregnant, dad. This is just so cool. And many babies actually sleep in that box where all the stuff comes; it has a mattress on it. Look. I have to show this to Angela. She won't believe it." Bella babbled on and on. She couldn't wrap her head around all that Anna had told her.

"Maternity care with all doctor check-ups is free, and it's not that they have insurances that cover the expenses; no, every pregnant woman gets the same care and benefits. They use the same public health care system, with no private sector in maternity care. All Infant care and check-ups up to school age are free, and after that, kids are checked-up once a year by a school nurse or doctor, free dental care for kids under 16 years old…"

"Ok, kiddo, got the point. Should I get worried? Are you planning to move to Finland to have kids?" Charlie chuckled, his mustache twisting.

"Who knows, I actually might," Bella laughed. "For sure, I wouldn't have to worry so much if living there."

Charlie shifted in his chair and grunted.

Bella glances at her father worryingly.

"You would tell me if your leg and hip were worse, wouldn't you, dad?"

"Sure, sure," Charlie answered. He had adopted that annoying habit from Jacob, and it usually meant: "I tell you this, but the truth is something else."

Bella sighed. They would have the next check-up with Dr. Cullen in September when she was moving to Seattle.

"So, are you still paying most of the rent from the big-gran's money?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, and nothing you can say can change that. I wanted to have a nice place to live in, which costs a bit more. It's not your job to pay for my indulgences. And I got the job, did I tell you? Paula called me yesterday and told me that she's happy to hire me. Peter had called her to talk about me. I guess it helped."

"Hey, that's great, kiddo. It's a bookstore, right?"

"A bit like Armchair Books, but the café section is bigger, and the building is older, so it has that old bookshop charm. I love the place already."

"I'm happy how things go smoothly with you," Charlie said. "What are you going to do with that Lahote boy?"

Charlie stubbornly called Paul that Lahote boy, which amused Bella. She could see that he had started to warm up a little, and for sure, Paul hadn't given Charlie any recent reason to dislike him; he was ready to sit with him and watch whatever game was on and made the most delicious food her dad has ever eaten. All that pleased him more than he was ready to admit. Bella knew that. But her father was a stubborn man.

"I'm not going to do anything with Paul, dad. We're spending time together now, and when I move, we'll see where things go from there," Bella told him.

Of course, it was too early to think that they were in a relationship of any other kind than just liking to spend time together. They've seen each other just a bit over three weeks now, although it felt longer. And she must admit that their "thing," whatever it was called, had gotten quite intense quickly. They spend most of their free time together at Paul's place eating, watching Sherlock, and having sex.

So, so much sex. That man was insatiable, and he had brought insatiable side out of her too, and she loved it. There was absolutely no reason for them to go anywhere besides spending some time with Charlie, which Bella tried to do as often as possible. And that meant she had taken Paul to their house a couple of times even though she knew it was uncomfortable for both men. But she wanted them to get along.

They had around two months before she would move. She really didn't know what would happen, but she would know when the time came.

"Are you going to meet Dr. Cullen's son? What was his name… Edward?" Charlie interrupted Bella's thoughts.

"Probably, we did talk about going to meet up for a coffee in September," Bella said.

She glanced at the clock on her mobile. Paul would be home soon from work.

"Hey, dad, I'm leaving for Paul's soon. I think you can heat the leftovers from yesterday for dinner; there is still some Paul's lasagna left. I'm going to work tomorrow the whole day as Peter will be in Seattle. If you like, you could come and have some lunch with me; there will be those salmon bagels you enjoyed, remember those I brought home last week.

"Ok, Bells. I'll see how the day goes, and I'll let you know, ok?" Charlie said.

Bella went up to her room to back some clothes she would wear for work and her laptop to work with one online course. She packed her new jogging shoes. She was going to ask Paul to go for a run with her. After packing everything she needed, she kissed her dad and left.

Paul was all set to go for a run with her. They were just heading to First Beach when Paul's mobile buzzed. He glanced and said, "sorry baby, I have to answer. It is miss Silaigo, Aponi. I have to check there isn't anything wrong with her."

"Sure. Of course."

Paul had told her about miss Silaigo, but she hadn't met her yet. She thought it was amazing how Paul had kinda taken her under his wing and was taking care of an elderly lady without any family. If anything, it showed how big his heart was.

"Hey, I have to go and help her. Her fridge broke. Are you ok with going on your own?" Paul asked.

"Of course, I am. I'll meet you at your place."

Paul wrapped his arms around Bella and gave her a kiss that went straight between her legs. It happened every time. That mouth was going to be the death of her.

"I'll see you soon," he nipped her ear lobe and smacked her ass when she took off towards the beach.

Bella made a good five-mile run and returned to the Paul's and went to have a shower. Paul wasn't back yet. When she came out, she heard Paul had started dinner preparations in the kitchen.

"Good, that smells divine," she murmured.

In these last three weeks, she had eaten more food than ever before and so many different foods and flavors. Paul had ruined all other men for her. No one could ever satisfy her the same way, in any way. She sighed. Who would have thought returning to Forks would give her such a treasure? Well, for now, at least. Who knew what would happen when she moved to Seattle?

She put on a t-shirt and sweats but left the towel on her hair and went to see what Paul was making. She stopped at the door and just looked at him. It was mesmerizing to watch him cook. He was entirely in his own world, clearly enjoying himself, loving what he was doing.

He was frying something and tasting the gravy boiling slowly on the stove. He added salt to the sauce and tasted it again. Nodding, he turned to chop vegetables. He was shirtless, his jeans were hanging low on his waist top button open, and his feet were bare. He had a t-towel he used to dry his hands on his shoulder. It was his usual attire when cooking. And shit if he wasn't the sexiest sight in the world. Her mouth watered, and it wasn't only the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen. He looked good enough to eat.

Ah. That gave Bella an idea.

"Whatcha looking at?" Paul smirked. And there she had thought he didn't know she was there.

Bella pushed herself off the doorframe and walked slowly towards Paul. He continued to chop the vegetables, his back to her.

"I was wondering," Bella said and came to stand behind him. She put her hands on the small of his back and dragged them slowly up towards his shoulders. Kissing between his shoulder blades, she continued, "if you wouldn't mind me having my dessert before the dinner."

She kissed the same spot again and then trailed her hands slowly down his spine and back up again. Paul shivered. So beautiful, she loved his skin. It was like russet velvet stretched tightly over his hard muscles.

Bella lightly kissed the ridge of his shoulder blade on the left and slowly kissed her way to the other side and licked it. She inhaled his musky scent.

"You smell so good," she said.

"Oh yeah?" Paul asked, his voice cracked a bit. Bella smiled against his back.

"Uh-hu."

She slid her hands under his armpits to the front of his body, and she massaged his pecs gently and pinched his nipples. Paul sucked in a hiss of breath but continued to chop the carrots.

"This is so fucking hot, Bella," Paul rasped and arched his back, pushing his nipples into her hand.

Bella kissed Paul's shoulder blade again and trailed her tongue to the other one.

"Hmmm, I love my dessert," she bit the shoulder blade lightly, "so tasty."

"Jesus Bella. I'm going to chop my fucking fingers off," Paul groaned.

Bella chuckled and lowered her hands toward the abdomen scraping her nails over his delicious V, and Paul threw his head back.

"Fuuuuck." His muscles were trembling.

She opened the buttons of his jeans and slid her hand into Paul's prominent erection. Paul didn't wear any underwear when he was home. She loved that. With the other hand, she slid his jeans down. She squeezed his left buttock and trailed her tongue down his spine. She knelt and bit the buttock she had just squeezed. Paul bucked his hips forward with a loud hiss.

"So big and hard," she said, and Paul moaned and finally stopped chopping.

Bella stroked his length. Paul panted loudly, leaning onto the hands he had placed on the counter. His hips started to rock against her hand. She pumped his cock and licked his tailbone. Paul's noises went straight to her pulsing core. This was so hot. She was soaking wet herself.

"Turn around," Bella ordered him.

"Fuck Bella! You wanna suck my dick?"

"Hmmm. My favorite flavor," Bella hummed.

He turned the gas stove off and turned around. He took the towel on Bella's hair off and tossed it into the corner of the room. He wound his other hand into her hair. He leaned back against the counter and grabbed his dick over Bella's hand, and pumped it with her. What a sight to behold. She wrapped her other hand around Paul's hand, and they pumped him together. Oh, how sexy it would make him come like this.

"Suck it, baby. Make me come." He panted. Bella took Paul's hand and licked the precum. She sucked one of his fingers into her mouth.

"Hmmm, you're making me something with sesame oil," she licked her lips and sucked the finger again, stroking Paul's dick harder.

"You are killing me, woman," Paul moaned.

He knotted both hands tightly in her hair and spread his legs slightly.

Bella licked the leaking top and sucked it like a lollipop. Then she slowly lowered her mouth onto him.

Paul hissed and thrust his hips. She did gag a bit, and Paul started to withdraw, but she grabbed his hips and pulled him deeper into her mouth. She tasted his precum and moaned, making Paul moan.

"Fuck baby, that is… shit that is…"

She opened her throat more and took him deeper. She couldn't get all of him inside her mouth; he was too big, so she wrapped her other hand around the base of his cock and started to suck and pump and twist. Her other hand grabbed his firm ass and kneaded it. She loved how he felt in her mouth, how it affected him when she sucked him.

She was getting better at this if the noises Paul made were any indication.

Bella moved her other hand to Paul's balls and cupped them gently, and scraped her nails softly over the skin. Paul hissed and bucked his hips with more force.

"Oh God, Bella, just like that … oh fuck!"

She flicked and twisted her tongue up and down him as she began to move faster, bobbing her head. Her hands and mouth sped up, and she sucked harder.

Paul mumbled curses and thrust his hips into her mouth.

"So close…Jesus Bella…so close…Ahhhh"

Paul's grip on her hair tightened. Bella scraped her teeth gently along his length, and Paul almost shouted.

"Fuck ... I'm coming…"

He thrust his hips a few times, grunting, and then he held her head still and exploded into her mouth with a long deep groan that made Bella's whole body shiver with lust and want.

Streams of his cum hit the back of her throat, and she swallowed everything. That was the first time she swallowed. Shit that was hot. She lapped the tip of his dick and looked up to see Paul's eyes half-masted and his cheeks flushed. Her heart almost skipped a beat; the look on his face was so full of emotion.

"That was amazing, baby."

"Was it good? Better than last time?" Bella asked.

"Oh God, baby, that was the best blow job ever, not that I haven't loved it every time with you," Paul said and lifted her.

He pressed her against his body and kissed her hungrily, sucking her tongue. Bella moaned. Paul slid his hand under her sweats and found her without panties. He grabbed her ass cheek and pulled her against his already stiffening cock.

"Now, what are we going to do about you, hmm?" He leaned down to kiss her neck with open mouth kisses, licked her ear lobe, and returned to her lips. She was trembling with want, but she was all for waiting a bit longer. There was nothing she loved more than tension building up while they ate. That was so sexy.

"Serve me dinner, and we think of something," she whispered.