.

Chapter 4

Evening Occupations

Edward

Her smell was clearly audible around me. I inhaled deeply to take in as much of it as possible. She seemed as if she were one with me as I ran through the forest.

I was so happy that I couldn't tell anyone.

I slowed my steps as we reached the house.

"Do you want to come inside with me or wait for me in the car, my heart?", I asked, even though I knew the answer.

But I wanted to give her the choice. After all, I was a gentleman.

"I'll wait in the car if it's okay."

As I had thought. She felt uncomfortable because of her subsided arousal, which was smellable for me and my fellow species.

She held her breath as I stopped next to my Volvo.

"Hey, breathe, Bella. Don't worry, they won't make a stupid comment. Honestly, they won't!", I tried to say as convincingly as possible.

I put her in the car, kissed her one last time before stepping into the house.

I wasn't quite through the door when Alice's thoughts immediately flooded into me.

'Hey, loverboy! You better hurry before Emmett finds out. He'll be raising you for eternity.'

So I ran up the stairs to my room, literally ripped my clothes off my body, took a quick shower, and then put on fresh boxers and a pair of black jeans.

I think not five minutes later, after I went into the house, I was back with Bella.

"You took a shower? Wow ... That was really fast."

I rolled my eyes and stepped on the gas.

"Is Charlie home yet?" she asked as we approached her house.

Grinning, I sparkled at her.

"How am I supposed to know that? Can I read minds?"

She rolled her eyes, but then grinned and leaned toward me.

Before I could react, she had bitten my earlobe.

I squealed.

Such sounds from me! Otherwise I knew something like that only from her.

Bella chuckled.

"So, what is now, favorite fiancé? Is he there or not?"

I sighed.

"Bella, it's two in the afternoon ... weekdays. He's lucky if he makes it around five."

She grinned.

"Good, so we have the place all to ourselves."

I laughed.

Normally I couldn't read her thoughts, but this time they were really written on her face.

"Forget it, little angel. I'm tired."

Now it was her turn to laugh.

"You sound like Charlie when he comes home from work."

I gave her a mocking look and then stopped in front of her house.

Once there, she went straight to her room.

I followed her unconditionally and settled down on her bed.

"We're staying here tonight?"

I nodded.

"Of course. We don't want to overstress your father, after all."

I grinned at the thought of last evening.

Flashback

"Oh God, Edward, do you know what you're asking me to do? I can't ask him. He ... his heart can't survive that. He's at a critical age. I don't want to put him through that."

Bella was in a total panic.

I sighed and pulled her into my arms.

"Believe me, my heart, he'll be fine. And so can you. Come."

Carefully, I intertwined my fingers with hers and pulled her with me down the stairs to the living room where Charlie sat watching baseball.

"Um ... Dad ...? Would it be okay if I slept at Edward's tonight? We want to have a DVD night and ... well, it's not going to work here. After all, I don't have a TV, and secondly, you do wake up so fast and have to get up so early and stuff ...!" she hummed and hawed.

I squeezed her hand tighter.

'Oh no, now is the time! He's going to deflower her; she's going to come back pregnant and ...'

I quickly noticed his thoughts and said, "My parents are there too. My mom wants to make especially her super good pizza."

Charlie eyed me suspiciously.

He probably still wasn't pleased with the fact that Bella loved me and not Jacob.

'Dr. Cullen certainly won't let him pounce on her. On the other hand ... once they're in his room, he's not going to barge in and stop him either ...'

Sometimes Charlie really had a wild imagination!

Bella suddenly drew in a sharp breath.

Confused, I looked at her.

"Dad. Edward and I have no plans to make love tonight. So I won't be coming back pregnant tomorrow either."

Confused and blushing, he looked at her.

"Can you read minds?"

Nervously, Bella looked briefly at me, then at him.

"Something like that. No, seriously, Dad. We're getting married in four weeks. Are you going to sit on the edge of the bed next to us with your rifle then?"

'Since she's been with him, she's been so unruly and sassy! He is not a good company. At the same time, his family members are so nice ...'

"Dad! Please! Now don't be so ... old-fashioned. This isn't the eighteenth century anymore! I'm the last one in class anyway!"

He was blushing, she was anyway.

"Oh ...!" was all he said, "Couldn't you stay with Alice ...?"

Angrily, Bella glared at him.

"Dad!"

Her voice sounded threatening.

I had never seen her like that before. Not even with me had she ever spoken like that. Not even when I had driven her crazy again.

Charlie sighed and gave up.

"All right, okay. Do what you can't help doing."

Then he turned angrily back to his TV and Bella grinned up at me.

Triumphant!

Flashback end

"Good!" she said, gathering a few things together. "Then I'll go take a quick shower now. Maybe I'll be as fast as you!" she laughed.

I stood up, hugged her tightly and kissed her. Tried to show her how much I loved her.

She returned the kiss, dropped her clothes, put her arms around my nape and her hands went into my hair.

Our bodies merged, so soft and warm.

I quivered; Bella quivered as well.

I quickly detached myself from her and remembered her shower plans.

"Sorry!", I muttered.

Although I didn't mean it ... and Bella knew that.

She winked at me.

"Don't be sorry. I don't either."

With that, she disappeared into the bathroom after picking up her things again.