The Final Mile

by Tropes Contest

Edward Cullen, semi-retired, multi-championship NASCAR winner, returns to his small-town North Carolina home to attend his mother's funeral and tidy up her affairs. Coming face-to-face with his teenage sweetheart, his life is turned upside down, and the spark between them burns fiercely once again.

Title: The Final Mile

Summary: Edward Cullen, semi-retired, multi-championship NASCAR winner, returns to his small-town North Carolina home to attend his mother's funeral and tidy up her affairs. Coming face-to-face with his teenage sweetheart, his life is turned upside down, and the spark between them burns fiercely once again.

Primary Trope: Return to Hometown / Second Chance / Small-town Romance

Disclaimer: The author does not own any publicly recognizable characters herein. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Present Day, August 2020

Edward

Today—a hot Tuesday in August—was the first time I'd been back to Mooresville in more than ten years, a fact I deeply regretted since I'd never had the chance to apologize to Mom for practically deserting her.

It was nothing to do with her, and although she understood, she had sounded sad whenever we'd spoken. I hadn't set out to make her feel that way, but the fact was that I couldn't wait to get out of town. That urge had as much to do with Isabella Swan, my first love, as it did with the life I found myself leading.

I regretted not making the effort to visit with Mom more often, or letting her into my life, but there I was, back in my hometown, ready to confront my past, sort out Mom's affairs, and lay a few ghosts to rest.

I was part way through a racing season, and not only had the dizzy spells I'd been having after last season's crash not disappeared, but my back had not been good. The doctor I'd seen on Riley's insistence couldn't tell me if that was due to the same incident or a result of too many hours spent in race cars.

Still unsure of when or even if I would've ever returned, nevertheless I was home after receiving a letter from the family solicitor telling me my mom had passed away. She'd never even told me she was ill—another reason for me to regret the distance I'd put between myself and the town.

At thirty years old, having been in the spotlight too many times to count, I shouldn't have been nervous. However, despite the air-conditioned interior of the expensive sports car I was sitting in, my sweaty palms and slightly high heart rate told me I was uncharacteristically and inexplicably apprehensive.

"Idiot," I muttered to myself, shaking away the disquieting feelings. "Get on with it."

Pushing open the door to my Aston Martin Vanquish allowed the punishing summer heat to replace the air-conditioned interior. Beads of sweat immediately formed at my hairline, and I resisted the impulse to wipe them away. Instead, I stepped out of the car, pulling on my Armani suit jacket, throwing my baseball cap into the back seat, and running my hands through my hair in a vain attempt to flatten it down a little.

I'd forgotten how humid Mooresville could be in August, and I was already regretting the all-black shirt and suit I'd chosen this morning.

Closing the car door, I slipped on my sunglasses and pushed my hands into my pockets as I surveyed the main street. It was mid-morning, the street lined with both small local and larger state-wide stores. Most people were going about their everyday business without giving me a second glance, and only a few younger men and girls stopped to admire the car.

Memories of frequenting the local café with my friends, seeing a movie, and taking in a burger at the diner assaulted me, but the street hadn't changed much in the last ten years. After a few minutes of appraisal, and noting the minor changes, I turned around to face the largest building on this familiar street: the town hall.

Being back here in the town where I'd been born and lived until I was twenty, brought the thought of Bella, the girl I had once loved, to the forefront of my mind. The last time I'd allowed Mom to speak about her was on the occasion of Bella's marriage, and I couldn't help but wonder about her now.

Was she happy in her marriage? Did she have kids?

As if my thoughts had brought her to life, the sunlight glinting off an opening door at the top of the stone steps of the town hall caught my attention. The vision that stepped out into the bright light had my breath catching in my throat.

Dark hair caught up in a high ponytail made her look younger than I knew she was—a year younger than my thirty years. The sun caught its length—a little shorter than her teenage self—showing the hint of red in its depths. Turning to someone still inside the building, her laugh rang out, sending a shiver of something skittering over my skin.

I watched as a man, somewhat older than her, stepped out into the sunlight alongside her, the glass door slapping back into place as they moved together down the steps. I had no idea who he was, but from the glimpse of the man who'd stood beside her on their wedding day, I didn't think it was her husband.

Her dark-colored skirt fitted her like a second skin, falling to just above her knees. The dark blue blouse, despite being buttoned at the collar and cuff, seemed to accentuate her narrow waist where it disappeared into her skirt, highlighting the gentle curve of her breasts underneath its almost sheer surface.

My eyes traveled down her body, my gaze hidden under the protection of my sunglasses. The pale-colored high-heels on her feet made her legs look long, and her calves were taut and sexy, flexing as she walked. They added inches to her height, which I knew to be just short of my chin.

Watching her walk down the steps, I saw how poised she was; no more the slightly clumsy teenager she'd been back then. Somehow, that was what brought me up short. She'd grown up just as I had, and I only had myself to blame for the decisions I'd made, and that included walking away from her.

As she neared me, still talking to the man beside her, my mouth formed her name, pushing it out into the open without conscious effort.

"Bella."

Even though the sound was not much more than a whisper, she heard. Turning to face me, her eyes opened wide, their iridescent whiskey color almost glowing in the sunlight. Her slightly turned-up nose, a fine haze of freckles across its bridge, wrinkled and her full pink lips parted with a gasp.

"Edward."

The breathy whisper of her voice hit me, and something inside me twisted, my name on her lips already drawing me back in. Her smile widened as her eyes traveled over me.

"What are you doing back in Mooresville? It's so lovely to see you." Her smile fell a little and her gaze turned apologetic and sympathetic. "Of course, it's not under the best of circumstances, and I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," I murmured, unable to take my eyes from her face, and somehow glad she couldn't see mine. I didn't want her to see how much she affected me, knowing it would show in my eyes.

"Are you here for the funeral?" she asked gently.

I nodded, and she placed her hand on my arm, her touch branding me, even through the soft silk of my suit. The same electricity slid over my skin as it had done when we were younger. I looked down and discovered she wasn't wearing a wedding ring, and my mind raced with the possibilities.

I swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to push past the effect she'd always had on me. "I'm just on my way to the lawyer's to discuss the will." I indicated the offices to one side of the town hall.

"Oh, that's right. I remember one of the partners was your mom's personal lawyer."

We were both quiet for a short while, taking each other in, until the man beside Bella cleared his throat.

"Um . . . I need to get going, Bella," he said. "I'll see you in the office tomorrow."

"I'm sorry. Edward, Greg . . . Greg, Edward." She introduced us, but there was no clarification on who he was to her. "You remember I have a dental checkup in the morning, so I'll be a little late."

He nodded, then leaned in and kissed her cheek.

Behind my sunglasses I narrowed my eyes, surprised at the surge of jealousy I felt. Neither Bella nor I spoke as he walked away.

Eventually, she turned back to me. "Well, I'm sorry I can't stay." She looked at her watch. "I have somewhere to be this afternoon, Edward. Are you in town long?"

"At this point, I'm not sure; probably a week or so. My appointment with my lawyer is in ten minutes, so I'd best be going too."

"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. With the funeral . . . or anything else."

"I will, thanks, Bella."

Bella took a step toward me, her familiar scent swirling around me as she placed a gentle kiss on my cheek before stepping off the sidewalk. She turned to give a little wave as she crossed the street.

My heart dropped as she walked away, and I called out after her. "Bella." She turned to face me again and waited while I hurried across the street, blurting out an invitation before I could second-guess myself. "Would you be interested in lunch? I'd love to catch up before I leave town."

"Actually, that sounds like a great idea. I'm busy for the rest of today. And I have municipal council meetings tomorrow and Thursday that I have to attend, so how does Friday at twelve sound? There's a really nice café on the street behind the town hall."

Bella sounded eager, and I agreed quickly. We parted company, and I watched her walk along Main Street until she disappeared around a corner, then made my way toward the lawyer's office.

~ oOo ~

Directed to an air-conditioned office by a receptionist who looked me up and down, licking her lips, I was more than happy to escape from her voracious eyes and close the door behind me.

"Good morning, Mr. Cullen. My name is Carmen Denali. Please. Take a seat."

She stood, and I shook the hand she offered.

"Don't think I'm being rude, but you're not who I expected," I said.

"No, of course not, Mr. Cullen. Mrs. Cullen's usual lawyer fell ill recently, after our letter was issued to you. If you'd prefer to speak to someone else, I'd be happy to arrange that for you."

"No, no, it's fine," I assured her.

"Okay." She smiled. "Let's get down to business." She pulled a file toward her, opening it. "Your mother made a will some years ago and left her affairs in good order, but the value of her estate is enough that we will have to apply for probate. She has named you as the executor, and you may, if you wish, appoint us as your attorney to follow through with the appropriate actions."

She stopped and looked up at me.

"That would be great, thanks. I haven't the first idea what comes next."

"Okay, I'll get my secretary, Heidi, to draw up the paperwork for you to sign, appointing me to carry out whatever work is necessary. It should be ready on Friday morning." She paused and turned a page in the file. "Now, to valuation. The total estate is worth in the region of seven-hundred thousand dollars. That includes the house, car, stocks, and shares, and the balance of cash in savings and current accounts. It doesn't include personal items in the house or jewelry since they weren't listed separately at the time the will was signed."

I was a little surprised at the figure Carmen had quoted. "I wasn't aware the estate would be worth that much."

"Your mother made some very astute investments in the last few years, which have increased its value considerably. The good news is that North Carolina has no inheritance tax, so all we have to do is to register probate with the courts, then make the necessary changes to the deeds on the house and the car. Do you have any questions for me?"

I breathed out a sigh. "What about the funeral? Are there any instructions in the will . . . you know . . . what she wanted?"

Carmen opened the drawer beside her, pushing a bunch of keys and the file across the desk to me. "These are the keys to the house and the car. Everything you need to know is all in there, Mr. Cullen, including the combination to the safe. However, if you need assistance in any other way, please don't hesitate to contact me." She leaned back in her seat. "Is there anything else I can do for you today?"

"That's fine, Carmen, I'll let you know if anything crops up, and thank you for your help." I stood and held out my hand to shake hers as she rose from her seat.

"I'll be in touch, Mr. Cullen, as soon as I have any information from the court, but I don't envision any difficulties."

Stepping outside the office after signing the document Carmen had prepared for me, I breathed a sigh of relief at being out from under the salacious eyes of Heidi Carter. She took great pains to let me know that she was not only single, but also available.

Slipping on my sunglasses, I made my way down the path toward the car, sliding into its soft leather seats and turning on the engine so the air-conditioning could start to cool the interior.

My eyes roamed the streets, a part of me hoping to catch a glimpse of Bella again. I shook off those thoughts, knowing we'd already set a date, time, and place where we could catch up, and pulled out into the minor traffic toward my mom's house.

I hadn't really forgotten where things were in town, but in the more than ten years since he'd been back, it had changed, grown bigger. I had only visited once in that time—the day of Bella's wedding.

Unless you lived outside the town limits nothing was very far away, and within ten minutes, I was pulling up into the driveway of the house. I sat in the car for a few minutes after turning off the engine, my mind looking for familiarities. I'd only lived there for eighteen months before I'd headed out of town in advance of the lucrative contract I'd been offered.

Getting out of the car, I stood in the driveway, looking up at the house Mom had lived in for the last ten years, and once again, I felt a deep sense of regret. Walking up the path to the front door, I noticed the garden was neat and tidy, and made a mental note to find out who had taken the time to care for it; though, I knew most of the work was down to Mom and her love of gardening.

Finding the right key, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The house was absolutely silent, not even the hum of any air-conditioning breaking the silence. These days most houses had digital clocks, so there wasn't even the sound of ticking. I closed the door quietly behind me, hoping the utilities were still connected.

Flicking a switch, the light illuminated the hall, and I turned on the air-conditioning before walking through double doors into the living room.

Looking around the room, I could see that it had changed little in the intervening time. The walls had been repainted a bright yellow, and the living room furniture had been replaced. It was a little old-fashioned for my taste, but it really suited Mom. In the kitchen, there were a few clean dishes still on the drainer, despite the dishwasher under the countertop. It was just like Mom to hand wash dishes, even though she didn't have to any longer. It was a chore she'd had me doing most of my teenage years.

There were some other small things making it feel as if she'd just stepped out. A pair of glasses on the table beside the sofa, an open book on the coffee table.

Not much of the person I'd been before I left was apparent in the house until I noticed a wall in the living room. I swallowed around sudden emotions as I was faced with pictures centering around my wins at various racetracks.

Mom had never berated me for staying away, and now nostalgia and regret had me wondering why I'd not given more thought to what her life had been like.

On impulse, instead of booking into a hotel as I'd planned, something inside me wanted to stay here; to feel closer to Mom than I'd been in a long while. With that decision made, I went back out to the driveway to collect my bag from the trunk.

Back indoors, I headed upstairs to my old room. I expected Mom to have made it over into a guest room, but other than changing the linens on the bed away from the racing car images I'd liked at one point, it remained almost the same.

The posters on the wall weren't of naked women like a lot of teenage boys, but of race drivers and cars. I moved along them, seeing the idols of my teenage self, some of whom I'd met and raced against in the last ten years.

With a sigh, I slipped across the hall to the family bathroom, turning on the shower. While I waited for the water to heat, I went in search of towels, then stripped out of my suit, throwing my shirt and underwear into the hamper, the actions so familiar.

Out of habit and the respect Mom had drummed into me, I wrapped a towel around my naked waist before walking into the bathroom. She'd always said that it wasn't right to walk out of my private space with no clothes on and into shared areas.

Stepping into the shower stall, I was grateful for the hot water, and stood under it for a long time before washing my hair. Dressing in loose gray sweatpants and a white V-neck T-shirt, I rubbed most of the water from my hair, then raked my fingers through it. I could control it when I wanted to, but for once, I wanted to kick back and relax.

Of course, there was no food in the house—someone had been by to empty the refrigerator—so having decided on takeout, I called in the order and headed out to the back deck.

Relaxing in the porch swing, I finally allowed my mind free rein over the events earlier in the day. She'd looked so good, very different from the Bella I'd known ten years ago, but sexy and grown up. My thoughts wandered to eighteen-year-old Bella in skintight jeans, sleeveless tank, and flip flops, or that damned yellow bikini when we went swimming in the lake.

My musings were interrupted by the doorbell, and I made my way through the house, paid the delivery guy, and took my seat outside again. I regretted not thinking earlier and picking up some beers, but finished up the pizza and soda, contemplating everything I still had to do before leaving town.

My heart clenched as I thought about leaving. I put it down to eating too much pizza and went in search of antacids, but there was a small voice in the back of my mind. As I slid into bed, that voice was telling me how much I'd missed her, and I drifted into sleep thinking about how much I didn't want to miss the opportunity for another chance to know her.

~ oOo ~

Edward Past - 18

At eighteen, I hadn't been out on many dates; I'd always been much more interested in cars to really notice girls except for a quick glance at some of the more obvious ones who hung around the track. They were superficial and seemed desperate for attention, which detracted from any prettiness I first noticed.

At seventeen, Bella was different—not just because she'd always been there at Charlie's, hanging out back while he and I were fiddling around with my dad's old car, but because somehow she was more—more beautiful, more everything.

That didn't mean to say I wasn't nervous—quite the opposite. Bella and I had been out for ice cream, or pizza, and to the movies, or had gone out in a group with friends from school.

Most of the time, I'd gone straight around to the back of the house as, since Dad had left, more and more of my time was spent at the Swan's. Today was different. It wasn't the first date Bella and I had been on, but it was the first time I was introducing her to Mom as my girlfriend.

My nerves were making the palms of my hands sweat, and I hoped that was the only place. Surreptitiously, I sniffed at my armpits, relieved when all I could smell was my deodorant and cologne.

I stepped up to the front door, which swung open as I raised my hand to knock.

"Goo . . . good evening, Charlie," I stammered when it opened to reveal Bella's dad.

"Evening, Edward. Come on in, son," he answered. "Bella's nearly ready, I think. She's upstairs with Renée doing some sort of primping. Hell if I know what!"

I stepped inside the front door, instinctively glancing up the stairs at the sound of footsteps. My breath caught in my throat, our eyes meeting, as Bella seemed to float toward me. Her bare, tanned legs seemed as if they were miles long and my eyes followed the line of buttons up the front of the short skirt. She'd almost always worn jeans, or shorts, but there was something really sexy about her wearing something different.

My eyes wandered from her beautifully curled hair, held back from her face, and greedily took in the bare skin from her neck to the soft swell of her breasts above the edge of her dress. My gaze flicked up to her face, to find her watching me too. Her cheeks pinked up, and her bottom lip found its way between her teeth at my blatant perusal.

"Beautiful," I whispered.

As she stepped off the bottom stair, I took both of her hands in mine, turning them over and planting a kiss in the center of each one.

"Hi," she whispered shyly.

For a few moments, we stood face-to-face, gazing into each other's eyes until Charlie cleared his throat. We'd been so wrapped up in each other that we hadn't noticed Renée coming to stand by Charlie.

"Aren't they sweet!" She laughed, a huge smile on her face.

"Come on, Ren. Let's leave them to their date," Charlie chided, taking Renée's hand, drawing her toward the kitchen.

A few moments later, with Bella settled in the passenger seat of my old truck, along with the tub of cookies she'd spent all morning baking, I climbed behind the wheel. Turning the engine over, I headed in the direction of my house, and for the first five minutes there was silence in the truck until it was broken by Bella's quietly spoken words.

"I hope your mom likes me."

"What?" I answered. "What do you mean? Of course, she likes you."

"She doesn't really know me, not as your girlfriend."

"You're the same beautiful girl, Bella. Just a little more grown up."

"Well, I've never been to your house for dinner as your girlfriend."

I pulled the truck over to the side of the road, and leaned over the center console to kiss her.

"Bella," I said, taking her hand in mine, "Mom knows you're important to me, so it'll be fine. She knows I . . . like you, so she will too. You're worrying about nothing."

After a few more kisses, she seemed to relax, and we continued on to the house. I had already spoken to Mom about how important Bella was becoming to me, and of course, Mom was thrilled.

As I'd known, once we entered the house, there were no uncomfortable silences, and within minutes, Bella was calling my mom, Beth, and they were chatting about family and college.

A couple of hours later, when I'd finished cleaning up and we'd filled up on the cookies Bella brought, Mom went to bed, and the two of us headed out to the patio with glasses of lemonade, sitting beside each other on the swing seat.

The silence between us was comfortable, but I could tell Bella had something on her mind. It always took her a little time to order her thoughts, so I just slipped my hand around hers and waited.

A few moments later, Bella placed her glass on the table, then hitched her leg up onto the seat, turning to face me. My eyes drifted to her bare inner thigh where her dress had ridden up, my pants tightening at the almost forbidden view. It wasn't as if I hadn't seen her legs before—she wore shorts all the time—but somehow wearing a skirt made the action enticing, and arousing.

I shifted in my seat, my cock stiffening in response. Bella's hand slid along the edge of my jaw, gently shifting my gaze away from her leg and onto her face, making the heat rise on my cheeks and the tips of my ears. Her slow smile told me she knew exactly what the sight of her thigh was doing to me, and her face flushed in answer, but she didn't look away.

Taking my glass from my hand, she placed it beside hers on the table.

"Edward," she said quietly, "you know I more than like you, don't you?"

I cleared my throat. "Yes, I know, and I more than like you too. Should we get out of here, sweetheart?" I murmured. "Go somewhere?"

I covered her breast with the palm of my hand, feeling her nipple harden.

"Oh, God," she whispered. "Yes."

Leaning back and putting a little space between our heated bodies, I blew out a calming breath.

"Come on, let's get out of here, then."

Bella slipped off my lap and stepped back to allow me to stand. I smirked at her, not bothering to hide the evidence of my arousal. She grinned and watched me adjust my hard cock into a more comfortable position, then picked up the two empty glasses, leading the way back into the house. When we finished cleaning up, I held out my hand to her, and we headed out to my truck.

As always, Bella snuggled into my side, but we hadn't gone more than a half mile before I felt her hand slide from my knee to my crotch, placing her hand right on my cock. Even though I was half expecting her touch, my body still jerked at the pleasurable feeling, and I groaned, flexing my hips and thrusting into her hand.

"Pull over, Edward," she whispered in my ear.

Goosebumps chased themselves over my skin, and I wasted no time in pulling into the road that led behind Bella's house.

The properties backed onto a small woodland park where, the previous year, Bella and I had stumbled on a small area free of trees. It was open to the sun, making it a haven for wild flowers, and we'd found our way there as often as we could.

Switching off the engine to the truck, the only sound left was the ticking of the engine as it cooled. Turning to look at Bella, I cupped her chin, lifting her face so I could kiss her.

She leaned back, her eyes full of love and lust. She shuffled backward on the seat, and I willingly followed her. I leaned in to kiss her again, but she pushed me back in my seat, then climbed onto my lap, straddling my thighs. My hands automatically grasped her hips to steady her as she lowered herself down until her hot center was settled over my ever-hardening cock.

Her hands gravitated to the shorter hairs at the back of my neck, digging in and making my insides quiver, and a surge of desire to shoot through me. I closed my eyes, swallowing hard, then opened them again to find her face only a short distance away. Our eyes met, the deep brown of hers, flecked with gold, filled with all the feelings that I knew were in mine.

Our lips met again, our kiss deepening, her mouth opening under mine as my tongue sought hers. Heads tilting first one way, then the other, we devoured each other, as I enjoyed her sweet taste. Eventually, we pulled apart, our breathing fast and heavy.

Bella's fingers tightened in my hair, pulling a grunt from me, and my cock reacted, my hips jolting upward, rubbing my hard length against her damp center. Leaning in toward me, her lips trace the edge of my jaw, following a path down my neck, nipping at my skin, then kissing each spot to soothe the slight sting.

A trail of fire followed each touch of her mouth, and I groaned out loud, my hands tightening on her hips momentarily, before smoothing down over the expanse of the soft material of her dress, sliding over the smooth skin of her thighs.

Rotating my hands, my thumbs brushed over the edge of the damp material of her panties. Her nipples beckoned me like beacons, and I leaned forward, taking one into my mouth, nipping and sucking at it through her top.

"Shit." The expletive burst from her mouth. "That feels so good."

Tilting her head backward, her throat exposed, I kissed along her jaw, the way she'd done to me, concentrating my efforts on the spot below her ear, grinning at the whimper that fell from her lips as I nipped at her earlobe.

She shivered, and her hips flexed over me again.

"Are you cold?"

Bella shook her head. "It's what your touch does to me."

Her lips returned to mine as she pressed herself closer to me, her hands sliding underneath the lower edge of my T-shirt. My abs flexed, and it was my turn to shiver as she lifted the shirt. I yanked it off over my head, and within seconds, Bella had done the same.

My fingers traced slowly along the top edge of her lacy pink bra, gently caressing the soft skin, and I leaned forward to place a single kiss between her breasts. At Bella's sharp intake of breath, I glanced up at her face. With her skin flushed, and her eyes sparkling even in the dim light of the cab, I knew she was all I ever wanted.

"I love you, Bella," I blurted out.

I hadn't meant to say that right at that moment, but I realized it was the truth. I'd never want anyone else.

Bella leaned forward again and kissed me. "I love you too. So much."

Her barely covered breasts grazed my nipples, the friction pulling a strangled groan from me. Need and arousal flooded my body.

"Can I take this off?" I asked, my fingers slipping under the strap of her bra.

She nodded, smiling as I fumbled with the hooks until I released it. I held my breath as she peeled the straps off her shoulders, throwing it to one side.

I'd felt them before over her clothes, but this was the first time we'd been topless with each other. Slowly, I raised my hands and cupped each of her breasts in my hands, squeezing the fleshy globes. The hardness of her pretty rosy-hued nipples in the center of my palms were a contrast to the soft skin surrounding them, and I gripped them between my forefinger and thumb, tugging lightly.

Bella groaned loudly, the sound echoing through the truck, and pushed her chest closer to me while she fumbled with my belt buckle, the heat of her hands brushing over the sensitive head of my cock as she undid the buttons on my jeans.

I groaned as the scalding heat from her hands surrounded me. "Fuuuck!" I breathed out the word, unable to find enough breath to say more than the one word.

I lifted up as she hooked her fingers in either side of my jeans and boxers, exposing my length to the cooler air of the cab.

With her skirt hiked up around her waist, I could see the damp patch in the center of her pink panties, and watched as she slipped her fingers under the waistband. I followed their path as she delved into her warmth, withdrawing them coated with the wetness from her arousal.

Gripping my cock, she moved her hand slowly down then up, twisting around the tip on the upstroke, my hips flexing as I thrust upward into her hand on her downstroke.

Lust bloomed inside me, and I leaned forward again, drawing a nipple into my mouth, my teeth nipping, my tongue flicking over the bud. I switched to the other side as she arched her back, thrusting her nipple farther into my mouth, and I took the opportunity to slip my fingers under the edge of her panties.

Her arousal coated my fingers, and while her hands pumped my cock, I searched and found the hard nub of her clit, caressing and rubbing circles around it with my thumb.

A strangled gasp slipped past her lips. "Oh, God!"

Her body quivered as I increased the pressure against her clit, her grip on my cock tightening every time I brushed over the sensitive spot. As she rocked her hips toward me, I pushed two fingers inside her, my thumb continuing to make circles over her clit.

"Don't stop, Edward. I'm gonna come." Her breathless words rushed out, her inner muscles fluttered, squeezing my fingers.

I watched as the flush of her orgasm spread from her cheeks and down her neck to her breasts, turning the skin pink. With her eyes tightly closed, her whole body vibrated and tensed as her orgasm washed over her.

Her hands tightened on my cock, pumping harder and faster. My body tensed, my heart almost beating out of my chest, my breathing speeding up. I could feel my muscles beginning to tighten in anticipation.

I woke up with a groan, my hand gripping my cock. Collecting the precum already spilling out of the tip, I thrust my hips up in time with each downstroke. Pressure built with each stroke, and my cock hardened further, my skin tingling as the feeling spread down my spine and through my body.

My eyes rolled back in my head as my orgasm took over, pleasure coursing through my veins as I came over my stomach. As my breathing slowed, I found I was more than disappointed that the experience was just a dream.

After cleaning up, I turned on my stomach, sliding my arms under the cool side of the pillow, wondering if there was a chance for Bella and me to rekindle the fire that used to burn between us.

My final thought was that even if she wanted to, was I being fair to her, because staying in Mooresville hadn't been part of my plans.

~ oOo ~

Present Day, August 2020

Bella

Today was my twin nephews' sixth birthday, and I'd left the office early in order to pick up two birthday cakes before heading over to Rosie's house for their party. The twins, although identical, were like chalk and cheese. Now that they were getting older, their characters were developing.

Robert, or Bobby as he insisted we called him, was the quieter twin, liking legos and drawing. Thomas, or Tommy, was exuberant and loud, much like Emmett, his dad, and would be outside kicking a ball or climbing trees.

Nevertheless, the two still gravitated toward each other. Heaven only knew where their new sibling would fit in. Rosie and Emmett had chosen not to find out the sex of the next McCarty, though I knew Rosie was hoping for a little girl to even out the ratio.

Edward Cullen's voice saying my name shocked me out of my conversation with Greg, a work colleague, stopping me mid-speech, as I chatted to him about the birthday party I was heading to this afternoon.

I turned to face the man in question, softly uttering his name.

Edward—the love of my life.

I shook away my insane gut-reaction to seeing him standing in front of me, reminding myself he was in town for one reason—his mother's funeral—then he'd be gone again. Placing my hand on his arm, as I expressed my sympathy for his loss, I barely managed to hold in a gasp as a familiar electrical tingle raced up my arm.

We were quiet for a few charged moments, our silent interaction interrupted by Greg, telling me he needed to leave. I knew the man harbored a wish for us to date, something I'd shot down a number of times, but to be polite, I quickly introduced the two of them, then waited for Greg to go on his way.

I turned back to Edward, feeling a little tongue-tied, not sure what to say to him. After a slightly awkward moment, we exchanged a few pleasantries, and I managed to push away the feelings his appearance had evoked—feelings I had no idea were still there.

There were a million thoughts going through my mind, and I had to suppress the urge to beg him to stay, knowing both he and I had somewhere to be.

I was disappointed when he told me he'd only be in town for a few days, and before I could second-guess myself, I stepped toward him, kissing his cheek. For a single moment, I was transported back thirteen years to our first date. I'd been sixteen, with Edward a year older. After ice cream, he brought me back to the doorstep of my home, hugged me, and it was he who kissed me on the cheek.

Today, he smelled the same, and I couldn't help but inhale and close my eyes for a second to take him in. Of course, he now wore cologne, but underneath that, somehow, his scent was still of clean, warm skin, sunshine dried linen, and all man.

His stubble was soft under my lips, the feel of him drawing me back in time. A sharp pang in the center of my chest was unexpected—as was the lump in my throat and the tears forming in my eyes.

Not wanting Edward to see the emotion he'd elicited, I turned and stepped off the sidewalk, waving to him as I crossed the street. I couldn't have spoken if I'd tried, and I quickly walked in the direction of Cope's Cakes, resisting the urge to look back.

It was harder to walk away from him than I expected. I hadn't seen him in ten years, and he looked really good. There were things about him that hadn't changed at all. His hair, for one, and his hands; I'd always loved his hands—slightly work-roughened but long, gentle fingers.

Unfortunately, I hadn't been able to see his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. I wished he'd taken them off, but I would have guessed they were still the same vibrant ones, and I'd remember them for the rest of my life. In all other ways he'd grown up, and his body had filled out. Standing beside him, it even felt as if he'd grown taller.

I blew out a breath, and just when I felt my heart settle, I heard my name ring out, then Edward asking me for lunch.

Those were exactly the words I wanted to hear at the moment, and I whirled around, unable to keep the smile off my face as I agreed to Friday at noon.

He nodded after I told him where, and I continued on my way, turning the corner. As soon as I was out of his sight, I leaned back against the wall, grinning insanely, my heart beating faster. I stood there for several moments to allow my breathing to even out before resuming my journey.

After collecting the cakes, I walked back to where I'd parked my car this morning. On the drive to Rosie's place, I wondered if anyone else had heard he was back.

~ oOo ~

I drew up outside Rosie's house, turned off the engine, and sat inside my car for a couple of minutes, in an attempt to calm my nerves. Pulling down the vanity mirror, I inspected my face. My eyes were bright and my cheeks a little pink. I took a few deep breaths and tried to make sure nothing of my excitement and trepidation showed on my face.

I didn't want to talk to any of the family about seeing Edward yet; not until I'd talked to him, or at least figured out what was in my head. I thought I'd come to terms with him leaving, especially the way he did, but it was clear there were unresolved feelings, at least on my part.

A tap on my window drew my attention from my thoughts, and I rolled it down a few inches.

"Are you coming in, Bella, or shall we bring the party out here?"

Rosie smirked at me, and I was thankful that my job often entailed me thinking things through at any given time, so my inattention wasn't entirely out of character.

"Just coming, Rosie. Getting rid of pesky work thoughts before I give the boys one-hundred percent of my attention."

"Did you manage to pick up the cakes?" she asked next.

"Of course, I did." I scoffed.

I rolled the window back up and pushed open the door while Rosie went around to the passenger side to pick up the cake boxes. I stepped out onto the driveway and walked to the trunk, grabbing my bags containing gifts and a change of clothes, then followed her inside the house.

"I'm just going to get changed," I said. "I'm hardly dressed to roll around the floor with two rambunctious six-year olds."

Rosie nodded and disappeared to the back of the house where I could hear the shouts and laughter even from here. Upstairs, in the guest room, I scrubbed my face free of makeup and ran a brush through my hair, putting it back up in a messy bun, before changing into a swimsuit, and covering it with shorts and a T-shirt.

My thoughts drifted back to Edward, as they'd done a dozen times in the last hour, and I wondered what he was doing now.

Nevertheless, I shook my head trying to rid myself of useless thoughts that solved nothing. I was determined that for the rest of the day, my family would have my attention.

Barefoot, I made my way back downstairs and into the kitchen where Allie, Mom, and Rosie were sitting around the kitchen island, with a glass of lemonade in front of them.

"Hey, Bella," Mom called. "Lemonade's in the refrigerator, honey."

Putting the gifts on the dining table where there was a huge pile of neatly wrapped presents, I grabbed a glass from the overhead cupboard, and poured myself some, topping up everyone's before taking a seat next to Mom, kissing her cheek as a hello.

My sisters were beautiful. Allie with her startling blue eyes, long, light-brown hair, and elfin features was tiny, barely as tall as my shoulder. Rosie was a little taller than me, slim, and with dark blonde hair and violet-blue eyes. They both took their features from Mom that way, while I inherited mine from Dad—dark brown hair and eyes. I always thought I was pretty plain, but they were quick to tell me that wasn't true.

"How's work?" Mom asked.

"Mo-om," Allie protested. "Let's not talk about work today, please. I'd rather talk about what Bella's wearing on her date with Tyler."

Alice looked expectantly at me. She was all about the clothes, more so now she was limited to what was the most comfortable for her. The eight-month bump she carried looked like a basketball taped to her stomach, a comparison I'd made more than once.

"Well, I have that little black dress I bought for—"

"Bella," she screeched. "You can't wear that. It makes you look old."

"No it doesn't," I protested. "Does it?" I turned to Rosie for her opinion.

Rosie shrugged, letting me know she agreed with Alice. "What about the white one with the blue flowers and the spaghetti straps? It's really pretty and suits you too," she suggested.

"You're a traitor, Rosie McCarty. Why'd you agree with Allie?" I whined. "Anyway, it shows too much skin. I don't wanna be giving Tyler the wrong idea."

"You could do with a bit of the right idea yourself, Bella," Allie said. "How long has it been?" She raised her eyebrows.

"I'm not having this conversation, Allie, since it's none of your business when I last had s-e-x," I countered. "I'm going outside to say happy birthday to my nephews."

I stepped outside the double doors onto the patio, finding Jasper, Allie's husband, Emmett, and the boys playing chicken in the pool with Tommy on Emmett's shoulders and Bobby on Jazz's. Tommy and Bobby took after their dad,with dark blue eyes, curly hair, and dimples.

Jazz was originally from Texas, and he and Allie had met at college. He looked like a typical surfer boy, with blond curls and eyes as blue as the sea. He was laid-back and easygoing, and the perfect partner for my sister, who was hyperactive and excitable.

Dad was already sitting under an umbrella with a beer in his hand, and I joined him.

"Hey, Bells, everything okay?"

"Yeah, just Allie on her usual kick about me finding a partner. It gets old, you know?"

"Don't take any notice, Bells," he said comfortingly. "You do your own thing."

Dad was always a quiet man, and I had no idea how he and Mom had gotten together. Mom was a pot smoking, hippy-type when she and Dad met. The way she told it, getting pregnant was the best thing she'd ever done. They say opposites attract, and the two of them were so different, but somehow they worked. He fell silent, giving me space as he always did.

As the two of us watched the raucous game in the pool, my mind flicked to Edward, as it seemed to do since I saw him. I allowed myself a moment to miss him and what I was sure we'd had years ago.

My heart skipped a beat, and I mentally scolded myself for allowing my old feelings to surface. I couldn't afford to let myself feel hope, or anything that would leave me heartbroken.

Through the open door, I could hear Mom berating Alice. "Leave her alone. It's her business what she does and with whom. You have to let her find her own way in her own time."

"We just want her to have what we all have, Mom," Alice said softly.

"I know, but you can't force love. It will happen when the time is right."

I sighed, wondering when that time might come, and more to the point, when would I stop comparing everyone to a decade old childhood romance.

~ oOo ~

For the rest of the day and into the early evening, I managed to be present for the family, and not get lost in my head. It was fairly easy once ten little kids around the twins' age arrived and we all became involved in party games, gift opening, and then a barbecue.

It wasn't quite as easy once the other kids left. Tommy and Bobby took a while to calm down, and we played a couple of board games until it was time for a bath. While Emmett and Rosie were upstairs with the boys, Mom, Allie, and I worked in harmony to clean the dishes and the kitchen of wrapping paper, wet towels, and gifts.

Jazz made sure the barbecue was out, then built a fire in the firepit, pulling up chairs around it. The evenings were beginning to cool a little now that we were coming to the end of August, and the flames created both warmth and ambience. The boys were allowed to come back downstairs as we made s'mores, something we'd done a lot of as kids ourselves.

A few hours later, when the boys were in bed, next door neighbors, Angie and Ben, joined us, and the alcohol flowed freely. Mom and Dad didn't stay much longer, as he had work the following day. Jazz was on school vacation time, and Emmett was his own boss, so going in late was his prerogative. Angie was a stay-at-home Mom to their kids, while Ben worked from home.

For the last four years, since Mike and I divorced, I'd been the fifth wheel on numerous occasions. Sometimes, when I'd been dating, whatever partner I had at the time, joined us, but I wasn't with anyone right now. I was the odd one out, though no one made me feel like that. Mostly, my family kept out of my relationships or lack of them—except Allie, and occasionally Rosie.

Usually, I took it well, but today, Allie had pissed me off. I was aware enough that my attitude was likely because of meeting Edward this morning, but I didn't want their comments and thoughts on that particular issue. I admitted to myself that when Edward left, I'd been heartbroken and thrown myself into nothing but school for a couple of years. Marrying Mike was a monumental mistake, and I'd known it from the moment I said "I do."

"I'm sorry." Allie's quiet voice broke through my inner thoughts. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad, Bella."

"I know, Allie, but you have to let me do this myself. I'm not rushing into anything, and it doesn't matter how long I have to wait, I'm simply not going to settle ever again. Okay?"

She leaned in and hugged me. "You got it, B."

With Allie being only one month away from her due date and Rosie now five months pregnant, the party started to break up with Angie and Ben returning to their home next door.

Rosie and Emmett followed Allie and me to the front door, and Allie hugged me before allowing Jazz to help her into the car. The three of us waved them off, then Emmett headed back indoors to tamp down the firepit and watch a game, leaving Rosie and me on the doorstep.

"Is everything okay, Bella?" she asked. "You've been quieter than usual today. You know Allie and I only want the best for you, don't you? We didn't mean any harm."

I hugged her. "I know, Rosie. Just have a lot on my mind, but I promise, I'm absolutely fine."

"Okay," she answered. "I'll accept that for now, but I know there's something you're holding back. Talk to me when you're ready, all right?"

"I will," I promised. "I'll see you on Sunday, as usual."

Climbing into my car, I reversed out of the drive, and pointed it in the direction of home.

After a quick shower, I dressed in shorts and a camisole, made a cup of tea, then climbed into bed. I picked up the book I'd been reading, but gave up after ten minutes of reading the same passage and still not taking in anything I'd read.

Sighing, I finished my tea, placed the book on my nightstand, then turned off the light and slid down into bed. Finally, I let go of my conscious mind, allowing my thoughts to roam through the memories not only of meeting Edward today but also the past.

~ oOo ~

Waking the following morning, my mood was a little melancholy for a Wednesday, although I didn't really have a solid reason to feel that way. Some of it was definitely due to being around my sisters and their husbands, and even my parents. I was envious of the relationships they had—I wanted that too.

I had to admit to myself that I'd missed Edward for longer than my mind had allowed me to accept before yesterday. I couldn't help but wonder why he wanted to have lunch with me. Just to catch up?

Sighing, I slid out of bed to get ready for my day and found myself dressing with more care than usual. I didn't even try to tell myself it wasn't in case I saw him today.

Friday seemed such a long way away that I wished I'd suggested an earlier meeting. Slipping behind the wheel of my Mazda sports car, I drove to the town hall without really remembering anything of the journey, my head filled with memories of Edward and the past.

By the end of the day, I felt as if I'd been at work for more than a day straight, but in reality, I'd achieved practically nothing. I was thankful for Cassie Waters, my assistant, knowing she would've taken notes for the two meetings I'd attended today. A couple of times, I'd caught her glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't ask me any questions.

Later that evening, after changing out of my work clothes, I called for takeout instead of making a meal as I usually would. Collecting my book from where I'd left it last night, I curled up in the cuddle seat in front of the bay window overlooking the garden, and read for a bit, before I made sure all the doors and windows were locked, and headed to bed.

Thursday was a little better, and I managed to be more present during meetings, but was still prone to daydreaming instead of listening to the words around me.

Eating a sandwich at my desk, I decided I couldn't concentrate on work again until I'd seen Edward, and we'd talked.

"Cassie, I've decided to take the whole day off tomorrow. Is there anything that can't be rearranged for next week?"

"There's only one meeting, and I can charm old Mr. Smithers into agreeing to a day next week." She smiled at me. "What are you doing tomorrow that has your eyes sparkling? You have a date tomorrow, don't you?"

I could feel my traitorous blush rise, something I'd mostly managed to curb throughout my stint as Mayor, and I let her believe it was my date with Tyler that was in my thoughts.

The rest of the day seemed never-ending, and it was with a sigh of relief that I switched off my laptop, slipping out the door a few minutes before five. My thoughts were all over the place, though concentrating on the Edward I had met again on Tuesday. He had looked somewhat like his younger self, and I wondered if he was the same inside as the boy I'd known in my teens. I had no idea how I got home, but found myself drawing my car up into the driveway twenty minutes later.

"Get a hold of yourself, Bella," I chastised myself.

I took a deep breath, and pushed open the car door, gathering my purse and laptop, heading into the house. After I dropped my laptop on my desk in the dining room, I headed to my room to change clothes, then returned to the kitchen.

Pouring myself a glass of lemonade, I made my way outside onto the veranda. Not for the first time, I contemplated having a pool put in, as a dip in cool water sounded perfect right about now.

I felt too restless to cook anything, and wasn't really hungry, so I decided to heat some soup and make myself a grilled cheese. I sat in front of the television trying to watch reruns of Friends, eventually heading to bed early because thoughts of Edward Cullen wouldn't stop running through my mind.

There was so much to our young past. Edward was my first everything—first date, first kiss, first time he called me his girlfriend; first time he told me he loved me, first orgasm, and finally, first time making love.

First heartbreak, as it turned out.

~ oOo ~

Bella Past - 18

I first really noticed Edward when I was fifteen, and even at that age, I'd been attracted to him. Up until then, he was just the boy who spent a lot of his time with his dad, and mine, in our garage fixing up some old racing car.

He was already tall, and when he turned sixteen, looked far more grown up than any of the boys at school. His hair was this strange mixture of colors—red, brown, and gold—making it a sort of bronze color, especially in the sun. I could spend ages looking at his face and how all his features together made him somehow more handsome than any other boy. High cheekbones and a sharp jaw, already covered in stubble every day, and his eyes . . . well, they were the greenest I'd ever seen, framed by thick, dark lashes any girl would love to have.

Talking about the girls, they all wanted Edward, but he had eyes for none of them, and initially, not even for me. I knew his dad had left town a couple of years ago, and he and his mom lived in an old rental place halfway between our house and the high school.

His dad and mine had been friends since before my mom and dad even met; in fact, he was the one who introduced them. I couldn't imagine not having my dad in my life, and a part of me felt sorry for Edward. Dad must've felt the same because he coaxed him into continuing to work on his dad's old car, which had been abandoned in our garage.

Then Edward was at our house most days after school, and on Saturdays, as Dad helped him to get it running again.

Mom often made sandwiches for Edward or invited him to stay for dinner, but he usually declined saying his mom needed him at home. So, mostly, he and Dad stayed out in the garage until dark, then Edward headed home, only to repeat it again the next day.

I remembered clearly the day he looked at me, really looked at me—like a boy looks at a girl. His eyes settled on me, and everywhere they looked my skin tingled. No boy had ever made me feel that way.

That summer, we hung out with our friends, went on a few ice cream and pizza dates. When we were alone, we found ourselves pushing boundaries. There was a spark between us that we couldn't continue to deny.

My final year at high school was a busy one, as I intended to graduate early, taking as many AP classes as I could. The time Edward and I spent together was limited both because of my studies and because he'd started entering junior races, spending a lot of time at the track.

However, no matter how hard I tried to rile him up, he always refused to let things get out of hand. Getting him to take that final step, and make me his in every way that counted, proved to be difficult.

He had iron self-control, and though his kisses were hot and heavy, and I could feel how much he wanted me, he had the insane idea that when we took that final step it had to be somewhere special, somewhere with flowers and candles.

It wasn't until I had graduated and we'd spent most of the summer fooling around that both of us realized that in a few weeks our lives would change, and we would be separated for weeks instead of seeing each other every day.

I was desperate to make sure Edward knew how much we meant to each other, and maybe he wouldn't be tempted by the hussies in town, and the pit lizards at the racetrack who threw themselves at him every time he raced.

I wasn't going to let him go without that reminder, and it was my plan for us to be each other's firsts. I persuaded Mom to help me pack a basket with all the food Edward liked, and dragged him out of the garage in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. Dad almost pushed us both out into the summer sunshine, and we climbed into Edward's truck, heading down to our spot by the lake.

With the windows down and cooling the air in the truck, I slid across the seat, and snuggled under Edward's arm for the thirty-minute drive. He pulled me close into his side, kissing the top of my head as I snaked my arm across his stomach under the edge of his T-shirt. I could feel his muscles contract and dared to slide my fingers inside the waistband of his shorts.

I almost giggled at his sharp intake of breath, but he didn't protest and I didn't push it any further, even though I could see obvious signs of his arousal. Edward parked at the far side of the parking lot, under the trees, where the truck would stay cool. He rounded the front of the cab, opening my door for me, and taking the cooler, leaving me to grab a blanket from the back seat.

Following him through the trees to the beach at Ramsey Creek, Edward set the cooler down on the narrow strip of sand, and I watched him strip his shorts and T-shirt off and wade into the shallow water.

He wasn't hugely muscular, but there was something about seeing his naked torso and legs that had me salivating and my panties dampening. I laid out the blanket, then when Edward turned to look back at me, I slipped my shorts and T-shirt off. Underneath, the tiny yellow bikini I wore would've given my dad a heart attack, and I would've been sent back to the house to change.

I grinned to myself as Edward made a kind of strangled noise in the back of his throat, especially when I turned and bent over at the waist to pull a bottle of water out of the cooler. Yes, I was teasing him, but I wanted him to be thinking of me every minute of today.

Dropping the bottle back into the cooler, I sauntered down the beach to the edge of the lake. I bent over, scooping the cool water into my hand and letting it trickle over my shoulders and down between my breasts. I had no idea where the flirty me had come from, but the look in Edward's eyes was enough to overcome my normal shyness.

We spent the rest of the day swimming, playing around in the water, then ate lunch. After Edward enthusiastically slathered another layer of suncream on my skin, we lay side by side in the sun, while I pretended to read. As always, I could sense his eyes on me more than once, so when I suggested we head back to his truck, he didn't hesitate.

The sun began to set as we cleared away the blanket, putting the remains of the food back in the cooler. We drove to our meadow with the windows down, enjoying the early evening breeze, and it was twilight as Edward pulled into the narrow opening, turning off the engine.

There were a few moments of silence, the only noise in the cab, the ticking of the engine, and outside, the sound of the wind sighing through the trees.

Edward reached his hand out to me. "Come here, Bella."

Taking his hand, I slid across the seat, and he pulled me into his waiting arms, his lips meeting mine in a fierce kiss. His kisses became harder as his tongue invaded my mouth. Pulling me onto his lap, I could feel him, hard and heavy between my legs, creating a tingle and a low throb in my belly.

All day, he'd watched me, seemingly as aware of the upcoming changes as I was, somehow knowing where my thoughts had been.

"Are you sure?" he whispered, drawing back to look into my eyes.

I understood what he was asking. Was I sure I wanted to join our lives together along with our bodies?

"Yes." I slipped my hands around his neck, tugging at the hair that had grown longer over the summer. "Yes," I repeated, kissing the edge of his jaw. "Yes," I murmured against his ear as I nibbled at the soft skin. I smiled to myself as he shivered.

Edward nodded, and I climbed off his lap, watching as he lithely jumped out of the cab.

In the last few moments twilight had fallen, and under the trees, it was almost dark. It wasn't the first time we'd been here, at our meadow, after the sun had set, but there was an anticipatory silence, as if the world was aware that this night would change everything between him and me.

"Bella?" Edward's voice brought me back to the present.

I smiled at him, taking his outstretched hand. Blowing out a breath, I climbed out of the cab on shaky legs.

"You're shaking," Edward murmured, as he drew me into the comfort of his embrace. "You know we can stop at any time if you're not ready?"

I slid my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest, listening to the comforting beat of his heart. We stood together for a minute or two, and slowly, the shaking in my limbs stopped. Leaning back, I kissed the underside of his jaw.

"I'm just a little nervous, but I want this, Edward. I want you."

Edward's eyes searched mine, and obviously found conviction in them because he nodded, taking my hand. Grabbing the blankets we'd used at the beach off the back seat, he enveloped my hand in his much larger one, and I willingly followed as he led me round to the back of the truck.

Letting the tailgate down, he vaulted up onto the flatbed and laid out the blankets, rolling one up for us to rest on, switching on a small camping light I hadn't noticed before. Jumping down and returning to my side, he lifted me up to sit on the open back, then stood between my legs. His hands cupped my jaw, a light, tender kiss falling on my forehead, my eyelids, each cheek, and finally my lips.

I heard myself whine shamelessly when he took a step back, but he leaped back up onto the flatbed, then held out his hand to help me stand.

The air was warm and sweet-smelling, reminding me of the scent of the jasmine that grew through the trees, and for a few moments, we lay facing each other in silence, simply listening to the breeze whisper through the bushes surrounding us.

As one we moved toward each other, our lips meeting. He nipped at mine, pulling me in closer to his body, and I could feel his hard length between us, pressing against my stomach. His tongue invaded my mouth, and I capitulated, allowing him free rein to plunder and take what he wanted.

Leaning up on one elbow, Edward cupped my jaw with his free hand, his fingers dragging through my hair before gripping my neck lightly. His gaze was so intense I thought he might ask me again if I was sure.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured, lightly kissing my lips. "I love you."

For a while he didn't make a move to take things further, so I pushed my nerves aside and slid my hands underneath his T-shirt, feeling his abs contract under my touch. Silently, I urged him to take it off, and he complied, swiftly throwing it somewhere behind him.

I followed suit with mine, smirking as his eyes followed the line of my neck and settled on my lace-covered breasts. My nipples were already hard, so when he leaned over and took one in his mouth over the material, I gasped out loud, a surge of lust racing through me.

Switching sides, his lips covered the other one, his fingers taking over where his mouth left off. He pinched and pulled at it, sending a jolt through my body as he reached behind me unclipping my bra. The cooler air tightened my nipples, and I moaned loudly as his teeth connected with one then the other, nipping, sucking, and licking at them as I writhed under the onslaught of the sensation.

"Please," I begged. "I want you."

Edward popped the button on my shorts, pulling down the zipper, and sliding his hand inside my panties, he swirled his finger around my clit. My hands fumbled at the waistband of his shorts, clumsy with my need to feel all of him.

Together, we hurriedly pushed and pulled at each other's clothes until we were naked.

Edward's hands roamed my skin, creating goosebumps in their wake, caressing my stomach, my hips, my inner thighs. He kneeled between my legs, pushing them open as he gazed at my center. We'd never been fully unclothed in front of each other, and suddenly, I felt a little shy and self-conscious.

His fingers trailed from my ankles to my thighs, pushing my thighs wider. His thumbs brushed each side where my thighs met my torso, and I shuddered, feeling a throb deep inside me.

"I love your pussy," Edward breathed. "Soft , pink, inviting, and glistening with your need for me."

"Come here, Edward." I held out my arms, inviting him to come closer.

"I want to taste you first," he answered. "I've dreamed of it—of what you tasted like straight from your body." He looked up at me, his green eyes glowing in the low light of the lamp. "Will you let me?"

My breath caught in my throat at the thought. I'd heard the school gossip as the girls talked about their experiences. Every time they talked about how heavenly it was to have a boy lick between their legs, my heart and belly jolted with desire, and I squeezed my thighs together.

I nodded, my clit pulsing in anticipation. Edward placed his hands on my inner thighs, pushing my legs wider. He moved to lie down between them, and I trembled, held my breath, and waited.

I jumped when I felt the tip of his tongue tracing the crease of my inner thigh, then gasped when the warmth of his exhaled breath on the sensitive skin between my legs made me shiver. My body jerked in shock at the sensation of his tongue as he licked from bottom to top, then swirled the tip around my clit.

"Oh, God," I moaned. "Again."

Groaning, I fisted my hands in the blanket when his fingers found my entrance and he pushed first one, then a second inside me, slowly thrusting them in and out. Liquid desire poured out of me as I got wetter, and hotter, my skin burning.

Needing to be closer to him, I tangled my fingers in his hair, tugging at his every kiss and lick as his tongue alternated between flicking my clit and delving inside me. My breathing became choppy and I gasped and moaned under the onslaught of his tongue as it seemed to touch every part of me.

The coil in my belly tightened, and my skin prickled, warmth racing outward from my center to my limbs. My nipples hardened even further, and I tightened my grip as he sucked my clit into his mouth. His teeth bit down lightly, followed by his tongue flicking quickly across it and my body exploded.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I screamed out his name. "Edward, I'm coming."

My whole body stiffened and shivered, my muscles clamping down, as pleasure coursed through me. My ears rang and my heart pounded in my chest. I closed my legs, not for him to stop, but to keep his mouth where I wanted it as I rocked against his face and tongue.

I had no idea the pleasure lasted, but eventually, I had to take a breath, and my muscles started to relax. I pushed his face away from my very sensitive clit and dropped my legs open, releasing my grip on Edward's hair. He placed a kiss on my clit, sending a little jolt of desire through me, then sat back on his heels, and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.

He smirked as I giggled when he rubbed his head where I had held on so tightly.

"Sorry," I said, not really meaning it. "Fuck, Edward, how did you know how to do that?"

"I might have watched a porn movie or two." He shrugged. "Did you like it?"

"Did I like it?" I gasped. "I loved it, and you have to do that again, sometime."

I kneeled up, leaning in and kissing the middle of his chest. Pushing him onto his back, I wrapped my hand around his cock.

"Your turn," I mumbled, placing a kiss on the tip.

"You don't have to, Bella," he protested. "If you put your mouth on me, I won't last very long, and I want to come inside you when I do."

I sat back and nodded, a little disappointed that I wouldn't be able to do for him what he'd done for me. Instead, I pushed him onto his back and straddled him, his cock sandwiched between us.

Leaning forward, I kissed from where his happy trail began, up his chest to his neck, nipping at his skin. Pushing his head back, he bared his throat to me, and I kissed from his Adam's apple along his jaw to his ear.

"I want you to fuck me, Edward," I whispered.

His cock twitched where it lay between us, and his hands tightened on my hips.

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't," I assured him.

I sat up, and took his cock in my hand, holding it against my body between my legs. Experimentally, I rocked my hips back, then forward, the tip nudging at my clit on each pass. A jolt of electricity surged through me, and my eyes closed as I did it again and again.

"Bella, wait!" Edward's strained voice broke through to me. "I have a condom in the pocket of my pants."

"You don't need one, Edward. Remember, I'm on the pill?"

"Okay." He nodded, and I lifted up on my knees, positioning myself over his cock, pushing the very tip inside my body.

"Ah, fuck." Edward's hands went to his hair, his fingers gripping the strands as I eased my body slowly down onto him.

I was wet and excited from the orgasm he'd already given me, so there was only a slight pinch as my body stretched to accommodate his girth, but it wasn't exactly painful, just a little uncomfortable. With no space between us, I sat still for a few moments, adjusting to the intrusion.

"Are you okay?" Edward caressed the skin of my thighs, running his hands up and down them. "You feel so good, baby. Can I move . . . please?" he begged, his voice raspy with pent up desire.

"Yes." I nodded, feeling slightly breathless and fuller than I expected.

Tentatively, I rocked my hips forward and back, feeling the head of his cock brush against a spot somewhere inside me that made my body shiver each time.

"Fuck!"

I leaned forward, resting my hands on his chest as he gripped my hips and thrust gently upward.

After a few mismatched thrusts, we found our rhythm, and each time I dropped my body down onto his, he thrust up into me. A myriad of sensations overwhelmed me—the feel of the rough hair of his thighs brushing against the back of my legs, his cock sliding in and out of me, the friction against my clit each time it made contact with his body.

With every thrust, the head of his cock stroked that spot inside me, my body jolting with pleasure.

"Oh, God, that feels so good." I exhaled breathlessly. "I'm close," I whispered.

Sliding one hand down my body and between my legs, finding my swollen, wet clit, I rubbed it in small circles, feeling the heat begin to spread out from there to the rest of my body.

Edward's eyes watched me touch myself, his thrusts becoming erratic and his cock swelling inside me.

"Oh, God, Bella. Fuck, I'm coming."

The sound of his voice washed over me, his orgasm triggering my second one. Heat and tingles spread over my skin, as my orgasm barrelled through me in a tidal wave of pleasure.

Collapsing against his chest, I could feel the rise and fall of his breathing and his heart thundering under my ear.

~ oOo ~

Friday morning, I found myself wide-awake just before dawn, tears already forming in the corners of my eyes.

My dream of Edward and me together that first time was so poignant, so wonderful, yet I also remembered that while I had been dreaming of a shared apartment, and a life as husband and wife, his dreams were totally different. He wanted to race; it was in his blood. His dad had hung around racetracks all of his adult life, and had raced as a teenager, even illegally, and it seemed Edward had inherited his dad's love of the track.

I knew he'd loved me—he told me often enough—but I was still blindsided when he told me he wanted us to break up.

I sat up and took a deep breath; I needed to clear my head and get on with my day.

With the time barely six, I slipped out of bed, deciding my shower could wait until later. I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face, then pulled my hair up into a bun, and found myself heading to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

Not bothering to dress, I wandered out onto the veranda with my coffee, but couldn't settle, partly because of nerves and partly in anticipation. My stomach was filled with butterflies, and after finishing my coffee, I retreated to my bedroom to look through my closet for the perfect outfit.

An hour later, with every item strewn across my bed, I still had no idea what to wear. I was regretting the third cup of coffee, though I wasn't sure if it was that or the thought of seeing Edward that was giving me the jitters.

Usually, if I was having a problem deciding what to wear, I could call Rose or Alice, but for now, I didn't want to mention Edward. I'd been absolutely heartbroken when he left, and it had taken me some time to get over it, so I felt as if I needed to get my emotions under control before talking to anyone in the family.

I shook off my thoughts, putting everything to the back of my mind, deciding I needed to make a trip into town to find something just right.

~ oOo ~

Standing in front of the full length mirror, I was finally satisfied with the outfit I'd chosen for my lunch date with Edward. I did feel a little guilty, as I'd not made anywhere near this effort for my upcoming date with Tyler, but when I saw it, I knew it was the one for today.

I had been looking for the perfect dress, but when I'd spied this top, my mind was immediately made up. It was made of a fine, white, gauzy cotton material decorated with splashes of pink. The bardot neckline skimmed my collarbones, the sleeves fell to my elbows, and the embroidered edges were the same as the frill at the waistline.

I had chosen my most comfortable pair of white jeans to match it; the ones Allie had bought for me, and they fit me like a glove.

Slipping my feet into a pair of pink high heels, the outfit made me feel both young and sophisticated, and I hoped Edward would like it. I grinned to myself, knowing that the younger me would never have worn heels like these.

I ran the brush through my hair once more, and pinned it back away from my face, then added a little mascara and pink lip gloss. As I picked up my keys from the hall table, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The face that smiled back at me looked beautiful, my eyes sparkling with anticipation and happiness. Despite my trepidation, I was so looking forward to meeting up with Edward.

Practically skipping from the house, I climbed behind the wheel of my car and reversed out of the drive, turning in the direction of town. In no time, I was drawing up beside the curb a few doors down from the Patisserie Café.

I sat in the car for a few moments, checking my face in the interior mirror. Taking a deep, calming breath to quell my nerves, I gave myself a quiet talking to.

"You can do this, Bella. This is just Edward."

Finally, I pushed open the door, letting in the August heat. Pressing the remote and locking the car door, I walked toward the café, my legs a little shaky.

As I approached, I could see Edward, standing with his back to the large plate glass window, to me, his form was unmistakable.

I watched as he ran his fingers through his messy bronze hair; something he'd done all the time we'd been together; something he did whenever he was nervous or frustrated.

Unashamedly, I allowed my eyes to roam from his broad shoulders, where they filled the black shirt he wore, then down his back to his narrow waist. The shirt was tucked into dark gray slacks that curved over his ass, encasing strong thighs.

He'd truly grown into himself in the ten years since I'd seen him. He looked strong and capable, and for a moment, the nerves returned. At that moment, he turned, his face lighting up when he saw me, and the nerves were replaced by butterflies the size of birds taking flight in my stomach at the sight of his smile. I fluttered my fingers at him as he raised his hand in greeting.

Edward stepped toward the door of the café, opening it for me. For a moment, I was as tongue-tied as the teenage me, but then I took a calming breath and stepped into the cool interior. He leaned in and kissed my cheek, branding me with his lips.

"I'm so happy to see you, Bella."

He smelled so good, his cologne lightly spicy and classy. He stepped back and held out the bouquet of flowers in his hand. My eyes roved over them, seeing shocking pink gerbera daisies, which had always been my favorite, tiny pink rosebuds, yellow alstroemeria, and two shades of mums.

"Oh my god, Edward. They're absolutely gorgeous. Thank you." I buried my nose in them, inhaling their fragrance. "You remembered." I smiled.

"Of course, I did. Gorgeous flowers for a gorgeous girl."

Edward's words sent a thrill through me, and I told myself, yet again, that I had no idea what his plans were and not to get ahead of myself.

The hand that settled in the small of my back sent a rush of warmth through me as Edward spoke to a waitress who led the two of us to a table that held a reserved sign. He pulled out a chair for me, and I took my seat as another waitress appeared beside me.

"My, they're beautiful," she said, indicating the flowers. "Would you like me to put them in water for you until you're finished?"

"That would be great," I answered. "Thank you."

Both Edward and I ordered an iced tea, and the waitress disappeared behind the counter with the flowers, giving us a little more time to decide on our lunch.

"How have—"

"I'm sorry—"

We both spoke at the same time, breaking the slightly awkward silence. I giggled like the schoolgirl I'd once been, and his voice, which had deepened into something soft and velvety, sent goosebumps washing over my skin. The laughter proved to be the ideal icebreaker.

"I'm truly sorry about your mom," I said once our laughter had died away. "She was a lovely lady, though I haven't seen much of her in the last few years."

"I'm ashamed to say, I haven't visited in a while," Edward answered softly. "We spoke a couple of times a month on the phone, but you know how racing is—always busy."

I reached out and placed my hand on his bare forearm, sending a shockwave of warmth and desire through my body.

"If there is anything I can do, Edward," I said, trying to ignore the feel of his skin under my hand—the rough texture of the hair, and the smooth softness underlying it. "You will let me know, won't you? I'd love to help you with the arrangements for the funeral."

"I'd like that very much," he answered with a soft sigh. "Despite the circumstances, it would be great for us to spend a little time together."

Neither one of us broached the subject of the future or delved much into the past, preferring to stay in the present. We were just content to spend time in each other's company as he shared humorous stories about his friends, and I talked about my family.

We lingered over lunch, then leisurely enjoyed a decadent dessert of crepes drizzled with chocolate and decorated with fresh strawberries. It was almost three o'clock when Edward, reluctantly it seemed, placed his hand over mine.

"I really don't want to, but I'm going to have to go shortly. I have an appointment to keep with the realtor."

My heart sank at the thought of parting from him. Irrationally, I felt as if he might disappear if he was out of my sight.

I plastered a smile on my face. "Of course, I didn't mean to keep you for so long."

Edward gave me a sweet smile that made my heart beat faster. "You haven't, I promise. I've enjoyed every minute I've spent with you today."

Despite my protestations, Edward insisted on paying the bill as I collected my flowers from the waitress. Outside, the day was still hot and humid, but neither of us made a move to separate and return to our cars.

"I'd like to see you again, Bella." Edward was the first to break the silence that had fallen between us. "And not just to help with the arrangements."

"I'd like that too."

So much was new about Edward, but there were things that were the same: the same green eyes, the same messy hair, the same crooked smile. His touch had the same effect on me that it had always had, making me feel special, firing a desire that I'd never felt with anyone else—ever.

This new Edward was self-assured and confident, but there was a vulnerability about him, and I wanted to know him too. On a visceral level, my physical reaction to him was as strong as ever, and without a doubt, for my part, emotional too. But was the connection one-sided?

I took a step toward him, having to tilt my head back to look in his eyes.

My gaze drifted from his eyes to his lips and back again, willing him to read my mind and kiss me. He stepped forward and folded his arms around me, the warmth of his hands resting on my lower back, his familiar scent surrounding me. His eyes searched mine, and I reached up and touched his face, before he slowly dipped down and kissed me gently.

When he pulled away, I buried my face in his shirt, swallowing hard and blinking away the threat of tears.

I didn't know what Edward's future plans were, or if any of them included me. The electricity was still there, between us, but was it enough for us to rekindle any kind of relationship?

Dammit, who was I fooling? My heart had never stopped being invested in Edward Cullen, and I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it would be my heart that would be broken when he left again.

~ oOo ~