A/N: We past the 300 mark, and the overwhelming positive comments have been amazing! Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to read, favourite, and comment on this story that started as a little contest entry. As a heads up, this chapter is what earned this story its M rating. If you prefer not reading lemons, well... the M's been there since the start. What can I say - when Nessa's away, Daddyward shall play! If you'd like to get continued teasers, updates, as well as BTS info for future stories, please join my FB group, hmerdan's Fiction Spot. There's links to it on Fan Fiction Finders, but you can feel free to message me as well if you have trouble finding it. As always, thank you to kneon and her virtual red pen!
The weeks Nessa visited her mom used to be tough, but spending time with Bella made them more bearable. Normally, all I had to look forward to was a golf trip with my dad and brothers, but this year I'd been spending most evenings with Bella. She'd spent the night a couple of times when she didn't work at the restaurant the next morning. She even surprised me with a cake the night before my forty-third birthday. We had spent that time getting closer in every way possible but one.
I was nervous about the first time Bella and I would make love. Despite being seventeen years her senior, she was more experienced than me in that department. I had only been with three women in my entire life - Bianca Rossi, a regrettable one-night stand in freshman year, and Tanya. After the divorce, I hadn't even dated, much less anything else. On the other hand, Bella had told me about a few other men she had dated besides Alistair during culinary school and her early career. I didn't judge her for any of it, only judging myself. I was intimidated and didn't want to disappoint her. Thankfully, Bella was understanding and never pushed for anything, but I had a feeling it would happen while we were away.
As we drove down I-90, I looked over at Bella, who was singing along to the music coming through the speakers without a care in the world. I couldn't help but feel at peace as she bobbed her head with a gentle smile gracing her face. No matter how nervous I was, I knew I could find a way past it for her.
"So, what are you most excited to do?" she asked once the song ended.
"Well, I want to try out some of those spa pools. And that hike to Twin Falls. Honestly, I'm just looking forward to spending some time away with you." I shot her a cheesy wink, but she just playfully rolled her eyes.
"Such a charmer." She shook her head. "Well, I can't wait to spend some downtime with you, too. Especially during that fireside couples' massage," she groaned. That had been one thing she was excited about as soon as we booked, and there was no way I could deny her, even if I was nervous at the idea. I know I kept myself in good shape for my age. Even so, I was no twenty-five-year-old anymore. "You'll have to be patient with me on the hike. I'm not the most graceful person."
"Bella, I'd never let anything happen to you," I said sincerely. "And that's part of why we booked the massages after the hike."
"I can't wait," she sighed. "Do you think we could just order room service for dinner when we get there? I just want to stay in tonight."
"Whatever you want," I assured her. "I think they have the menu online if you want to look at it beforehand."
She let out an excited squeal she got whenever the topic of food came up. Don't get me wrong, I loved my job, but I'd never met anyone as passionate about their vocation as Bella. It didn't matter if she was cooking it, buying it, or just watching it on television - Bella loved all things food. And I loved watching her get excited about it. It was one of the many things I loved about her.
I know I had loved Tanya once upon a time, but it felt nothing like how I felt about Bella. She was constantly on my mind, and just hearing her voice could put a smile on my face. I was truly in love with Bella Swan, and I wanted to tell her while we were away.
"Do you think we can buy some of their honey while we're there?" Bella asked after reading through all the menu options.
"I'd be shocked if we couldn't. I'm sure they have some at the visitor center."
"Good, I think I need to get some for home." I couldn't help but smile at her giddiness. While we spent most of our time at my house, there had been the occasional evening at her apartment, where I discovered her collection of local ingredients. Some people collected magnets, but Bella collected spices, sauces, and condiments wherever she went. She insisted the maple syrup she got in Quebec was better than anything imported to Seattle. I couldn't taste a difference, but she's the expert!
It's hard to believe somewhere so off the beaten path is so close to Seattle, but less than an hour after we left my house, we had pulled up to the valet at Salish Lodge. It didn't take long to check in and head up to our room. Unbeknownst to Bella, I had upgraded our room to a river view. She wasn't great about having money spent on her, but I hoped she would be okay with this expense.
"Edward!" she gasped as we entered the room, her eyes glued to the window. "What did you do?"
I smirked to myself and put down our bags before wrapping my arms around her from behind. "I thought you'd prefer this to a view of the parking lot."
"It's beautiful," she sighed. "It's so green. Reminds me of Forks." She turned around in my arms and wrapped her hands behind my neck. "Although, if I'm going to stare at something beautiful and green, I'd rather it be your eyes."
"And you say I'm charming," I grinned and leaned down to kiss her. As we pulled away, I looked deep into her mocha eyes and said what's been in my heart. "I love you, Bella. This isn't how I was planning to tell you, but I'm so in love with you."
"Edward…" Her face broke into a gorgeous smile. "I love you, too. I don't think I've been in love like this before."
Feeling overcome with emotion, I brought my lips back to hers tentatively, in a way that spoke of longing and possibility. The world ceased to exist around us, and all that remained was the connection between us.
Her fingers lightly traced the contours of my face, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. It wasn't just a meeting of lips; it was a merging of souls, an acknowledgment of the feelings that had bloomed between us. The softness gave way to a profound intensity, a silent promise that spoke of shared dreams and uncharted futures. It spoke of vulnerability, of the fears and hopes all wrapped up in our connection.
Once we finally parted, I looked at her and saw love and lust swirling in her gaze. I know it matched the feelings inside me, although mine were also mixed with nerves. "Bella, you know it's been… a while for me," I gulped.
"We don't have to do anything," she replied softly.
"Believe me, I want to," I assured her. "I just don't want to disappoint her."
She shook her head with a coy smile. "Somehow, I don't think that's possible."
She brought her lips back to mine, running one hand through the short hairs on the back of my neck. I couldn't stop the moan that erupted from my chest as she lightly scratched my scalp I pulled back from her mouth, kissing her cheek and then her neck. I let my tongue flick out to taste the salty skin of her throat. She sighed as I nibbled on the soft flesh of her neck. "God, you're so fucking sexy," I whispered into her neck as she ran a hand down my chest, coming to rest at the waistband of my jeans.
I pulled her into me with one hand around her waist, while running the other up and down her back, eventually making my way under her shirt and feeling the expanse of her soft skin under my fingertips. I felt her shiver as my hand slid up and down her back, eventually resting on the small of her back. "Mmmm," she moaned into my ear. "You're so fucking sexy, too." She ran a hand down my chest, then under the waistband of my jeans to grab at the skin just above where they rested on my hips. "I want you." She leaned in and kissed me again, her tongue darting into my mouth. I reached down and grabbed her ass, pulling her up against me. She broke the kiss and moaned as she felt my hard cock press against her stomach.
"I've wanted you since the first time I saw you," I confessed.
"Silly Edward, you've had me since the beginning," she replied breathily. "You just needed to realize it."
I pulled her back into my arms and kissed her deeply. I reached down and grabbed the hem of her shirt, pulling it up over her head. She lifted her arms to help me, then wrapped them around my neck as I tossed the shirt aside.
I ran my hands down her back, caressing her skin. I kissed her neck, and she sighed contentedly. "You're so beautiful," I whispered in her ear, then sucked on the lobe as she moaned. My hands moved to the clasp of her bra and l unhooked it with ease. I pushed the straps off her shoulders and she shrugged it off. I took a moment to admire her body, her full breasts, small waist, and round hips. She was perfect in every way. I kissed my way down to her breasts and took one nipple into my mouth. I swirled my tongue around it and sucked on it. She moaned and ran her fingers through my hair. I took the other nipple into my mouth and did the same thing, sucking on it hard before moving to the other one.
Suddenly, she pushed me away. Before I questioned her, she deftly pulled off my shirt and tossed it to join hers before taking my hand and leading me to the large king bed. She pulled me down on top of her and I pressed my lips to hers. She opened her mouth, and I slid my tongue inside, exploring every part of her mouth. My hands roamed over her body, feeling the soft skin beneath them. "Edward," she mewled, as she ground herself against my hardening erection. "Stop being such a tease."
I pulled away and looked at her with a heated expression. "Bella, now that I have you, I'm going to take my time and worship you the way you deserve." I kissed her again, this time more passionately. I trailed kisses down her neck and over her collarbone, back to her perfectly round breasts with pert, dusty rose nipples. Dragging my tongue over each one before trailing it down her abdomen, I swirled it around her navel before stopping at the button of her denim shorts. Looking up at her for consent, I quickly got a nod of confirmation.
I unbuttoned her shorts and pulled them down her legs, revealing a pair of black lace panties, and hooked my fingers into the waistband, pulling them down as well. I looked down at her, and she was completely bare before me. Her skin was pale and smooth, with a dusting of freckles across her chest. "You are absolutely perfect," I whispered in reverence as I unbuttoned my shorts and disposed of them.
I knelt down in front of her and took a deep breath, inhaling her scent. She smelled like flowers and honey, with a hint of muskiness that made my cock twitch. I ran my hands up the back of her thighs, feeling the softness of her skin under my touch.
I leaned in and kissed her inner thigh, starting at the knee and working my way up. She moaned my name softly as I trailed kisses along her skin, moving closer to her center with each kiss. When I reached the top of her thigh, I gently spread her legs wider, giving me better access to my prize. I looked up at her, and she was watching me with a mix of anticipation and desire. "Are you ready?" I asked, my voice low and husky. She nodded eagerly, her eyes wide with excitement as she let out an impatient whine. I moved my hands to the inside of her thighs, spreading them wider as I leaned in closer. "Just relax and let me take care of you," I whispered, my breath hot against her skin.
I felt her shiver as I teased her with the tip of my tongue, tracing light circles up and down her slit, paying special attention to her clit. I could feel her body tensing up as I continued to tease her, my tongue flicking over her clit in a steady rhythm. I moved my hands to the back of her thighs, pulling them closer to me as I sucked. I brought one hand to her core and worked my fingers into her.
"Fuck, you're tight," I groaned into her.
"I'm so close," she moaned, her voice hoarse with desire. I worked my fingers in and out of her, feeling the walls of her pussy clench around me as she neared orgasm. "Oh god, don't stop!" I sucked harder on her clit, my tongue flicking over it in a steady rhythm as I continued to finger fuck her.
"Fuck, I'm cumming!" she cried out, her body tensing as the waves of pleasure washed over her. I slowed my movements as she came down from her high, gently kissing and licking her sensitive skin before making my way up her body. "I think it's my turn," she panted before pushing me onto my back. She ran her hands down my chest as she sat up, straddling my legs before taking my cock in her hands. "I knew there was no way you could disappoint me," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But I think it's time I got a taste." Without warning, she brought her lips down to my erection and quickly took me into her hot mouth.
I let out a groan as she worked her magic on my cock. She worked me over for a few minutes before letting go of my cock with an audible pop. "I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out," I said breathlessly. "And I don't want to cum in your mouth this time."
"That's okay," she said, as she moved up my body and straddled me. "I want to feel you inside of me." She reached down and guided my cock into her wet pussy. She was so tight that I almost came right then and there. "Oh my god," she said as she slowly lowered herself onto me. "I've never felt anything like this before."
"Neither have I," I said, as I looked up at her beautiful face. She was so incredibly sexy, and I couldn't believe that we were finally doing this after all of this time.
"I've been waiting for this moment for so long," she said as she started to move her hips.
"Me too." I reached up and grabbed her breasts as I watched her ride me.
"Oh my god," she said as she rode me harder and faster. "I'm going to cum."
"Same," I grunted, as I grabbed her hips and thrust up into her. She let out a loud moan as we both came at the same time. Feeling spent, she flopped down on top of me. "I swear, I didn't expect to start our vacation like that," I chuckled, trying to catch my breath.
"Now I really don't want to leave the room for dinner," she giggled.
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving," I said. "Why don't you order some room service while I run us a bath?"
After our dinner and bath, we went another round before crashing asleep. Bella shocked me awake this morning with her lips wrapped around my cock, this time not stopping before letting me cum. After I reciprocated, we made it down to the restaurant, thankfully with enough time to grab brunch before our planned hike to Twin Falls. As we dug into our food, discussing our plans for the day, we couldn't help but overhear an argument at one of the neighboring tables.
"I don't care if she's your mom, Kyle!" a shrill voice exclaimed. "It's our wedding and you need to rein her in!"
"Shawna, baby…" The man seated with her, Kyle, groaned. "She was just trying to help."
"She changed the fish to pistachio-crusted salmon when she knows I'm allergic to nuts!"
"Sounds like pre-wedding problems," Bella murmured, trying to hide her chuckle.
"What's a wedding without some family drama?" I snickered. "I remember Jasper's mom getting drunk at Alice's wedding and singing Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy during his dad's toast."
Bella couldn't contain herself and let the giggles erupt. "Oh, my god! Please tell me there's a video of this!"
"Alice demanded the videographer edit it out, but I think Emmett still has it somewhere."
"That's amazing." She wiped a tear from her eyes. "I swear, whenever I get married, I want to keep it simple and as drama-free as possible," she sighed and went back to her omelet.
I laughed, but I felt myself tense up. Yes, I loved Bella. Yes, I couldn't picture anyone else for me. But marriage? After my failed first time, I never thought about getting married again, but of course Bella has. She's twenty-five and still has her best years ahead of her. Why wouldn't she want to get married one day? Could I do it again? And, if not, could I be selfless and let Bella go so she could find someone who could give her a marriage and kids? Oh god, kids! Even if I could wrap my head around marriage, could I do the dad thing again? I just turned forty-three. Could I handle the late nights? Sometimes I looked at Nessa and wished time would slow down, but I didn't know about starting from scratch.
"You okay?" She asked, giving me a concerned look.
"Yeah," I replied, giving her a tight smile. "I just can't wait to get to the waterfalls."
"Okay…" she hesitated, clearly not believing me. "Well, why don't we finish up here and get on the road?"
I nodded in agreement and shoved my corned beef hash into my mouth, cleaning my plate. Once I signed for our breakfast, we made our way to the valet station and got in my car, heading to the trailhead. I knew from the beginning that I needed to tell Bella about how I was feeling, but she thankfully knew I needed time to process whatever was happening in my head and didn't push as we made our way to the hiking trail.
Thankfully, the two-mile hike and uneven terrain were a good excuse to stay quiet as Bella and I made our way down toward the waterfalls and riverbed. I was always careful not to compare Bella and Tanya, even though Bella would win every time, but in this case, I let myself go down that mental path.
On the surface, Tanya and I had been a perfect match. We had similar life and career goals, were the same age, and had common life experiences. But there were core differences. I was definitely more of a suburban guy, while Tanya was made for the heart of the city. After we separated, I was shocked that she opted to move back to Anchorage instead of somewhere more metropolitan, like Los Angeles or New York, but I knew she traveled to places like that regularly for work. Also, I have a soft spot for traditions, while Tanya would have been happy avoiding all family holidays for travel opportunities. Sure, we usually found a compromise, but looking back, I wondered if we were ever both completely happy with our choices.
On the other hand, Bella and I looked like opposites from the outside. I was forty-three years old and worked a pretty normal nine-to-five. She was a twenty-five, almost twenty-six-year-old chef, still establishing her place in the world. But we had more in common the more I got to know her. Her family, whether by blood or by choice, was the most important part of her life. If she worked a holiday, she would always find an alternate date, and she got excited about spending time with them. She even shared that she had put aside money for Jacob's upcoming eighteenth birthday present - a wolf tattoo he's wanted for years. And this love extended beyond those she'd known her whole life. She had been gleefully giving me ideas for Ness's upcoming sweet sixteen party and even offered to take the lead on food without being asked. When Bella loved someone, she loved with her whole heart and she deserved to share that love with anyone she wanted. Including her own child one day.
"Wow!" she said in awe as we made it to the base of Twin Falls. "I know we can see a larger waterfall from our room, but this just feels so powerful."
"I know what you mean," I agreed, taking a seat on the ground and patting the spot beside me. Bella smiled and dropped next to me, resting her head on my shoulder. "There's something… magical about waterfalls."
She nodded in agreement and looked up at me. "So, are you going to tell me what was bugging you at breakfast? Was it the strange woman's potential anaphylaxis?"
I laughed at her obvious attempt at humor and at her calm demeanor over my behavior. "No, it's not that. Although Kyle should really keep an eye on his mother." Bella nodded emphatically in agreement and urged me to continue. I took a calming breath, scraping together all the courage I could find. "When Tanya and I separated, I figured that was it. I was married and then I wasn't. I never thought I would get married again. But then you casually mentioned your future wedding, and it threw me for a loop."
"Edward, I never meant that we had to get married right away," she replied, shaking her head. "It was just an off-handed remark about Kyle and Shawna."
"I know that," I insisted. "But it brought up a lot of thoughts in my head. You're so young and so beautiful. You deserve the wedding of your dreams, if that's what you want. And I just don't want you to regret anything."
"Are you saying you never want to get married again?" She gulped nervously.
I shook my head. "No, that's not it. I'm saying I've never thought about doing it again. But if I ever did…" I looked down at her beside me, ready to lay my heart on the line. "You're the only person I could see doing that with."
She smiled back. "Well, if I get married, you're the only person I could see." She leaned up and placed a soft kiss on my lips. "Besides, I don't even know if I want to get married. It didn't work out so well for my parents. If we decide to get married or just live in sin, that's fine. As long as it's with you."
I smiled in relief, glad at how well she'd taken everything I laid out. "Bella, I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm so grateful that I have you now. I love you, sweetheart."
"I know," she grinned back at me. "I love you, too."
The weeks after our vacation confessions flew by in a way I wasn't used to when Nessa was out of town, but suddenly it was August and my girl was coming home. Instead of picking her up on my own, Jacob asked to come along as well. I'd been initially unsure, but eventually, I relented, which was why he was now in the backseat, his leg shaking, while Bella sat beside me in the front as a calming presence.
"It still says her flight's due at four-thirty-three," Jacob announced from the backseat, fidgeting with his phone.
"Just like it's scheduled," I chuckled. "You know, it could still take a while for her to get off the plane and get her bags."
"Which is why Jake and I will wait patiently in the cell phone lot," Bella added, giving him a pointed look.
Jacob just huffed and sat back in the seat. "Sure, sure." I knew he was excited to see Nessa, but she was my daughter and I wanted a moment alone with her before the two of them became wrapped up in each other. When I mentioned this to Bella, she had actually been the one to suggest the two of them wait with my car in the cell phone lot and come around to pick us up once I called.
"You know, it was really nice of Edward to let us come along," Bella added in a singsong voice. "He could have said he wanted to pick up his daughter alone. Or even spend the night with just the two of them."
I had a feeling Bella had used this voice with Jacob in the past because he went from annoyed to contrite in a split second. "Thanks, Mr. C. I appreciate you letting me come along. I just missed Nessie so much."
I smiled at the new regularly used nickname. "I know, son. And I know Nessa missed you, too. She'll like us all having dinner together tonight." While I had changed our dinner habits, Nessa had said not much was different with Tanya in that respect, although Irina enjoyed cooking with her. Still, things had improved with Tanya the last time Ness and I talked. She was even looking forward to meeting Jacob again in September for Nessa's sweet sixteen. An event Tanya already confirmed she and Irina had booked a hotel room and rental car for. No house guests this time.
Once we pulled up to arrivals, all three of us jumped out of the car and swapped seats, with Bella taking my keys and getting in the driver's seat, while Jacob took her passenger seat up front. I had been a little nervous about Bella driving my XC90, knowing she was used to driving her tiny little Spark, until she and Jacob told me about her first car - a 1957 Chevy truck. If she could handle that, she could handle my SUV. I was right to trust her as I watched her easily pull away from the curb, leaving me to wait for Nessa at the baggage claim. The arrivals board said her flight had landed, but no carousel was assigned, so I took a seat on a nearby bench and waited for my girl.
I watched the escalator anxiously until I finally saw Nessa's familiar red hair riding down as she adjusted the bag on her shoulder. She was only gone seven weeks, but something about her looked so much older as she scanned the area. "Daddy!" She called out as soon as she found me and started waving before carefully running down the escalator steps to me.
"Hey, Ness," I greeted her with a huge smile and a tight hug once she made it down to me. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too, Dad," she answered, squeezing me once more before releasing me.
"So, how was everything?" I asked, slinging my arm around her shoulder as we made our way to her baggage carousel.
"It was so much fun! Irina used to be a volleyball player, so she helped me train for next year. And she's a ship captain, so she took us out onto Cook Inlet a few times. That's how she knows Uncle Garrett." I listened silently as Nessa regaled me with her tales from the summer. No matter what issues Tanya and I had, I was happy that our daughter could return with nothing but cheerful stories from her visit. Once the bags started coming down the conveyor belt, I sent a quick message to Bella, letting her know we would leave soon before grabbing Nessa's first bag. "Which lot did you park in? Last year you were so far away!"
"Actually, I have a bit of a surprise waiting for you," I answered secretively as her second bag followed. I easily plucked it off the belt and extended the handle for her.
"What is it?" It didn't matter how much older my girl looked. When it came to surprises, she was still the same easily excitable Nessa she'd always been.
"You'll see in a minute," I laughed and led her towards the exit. Standing outside beside my car were Bella and Jacob… and a pink bouquet Jacob definitely didn't have when they dropped me off. I quirked an eyebrow at Bella, but she just shrugged with a smile as we made our way over, Nessa dropping her handle before running into Jacob's arms.
"We never made it to the cell phone lot," Bella explained, as we let Ness and Jacob have their moment. "Apparently, Jake had already found a florist close to the airport and ordered them for pickup. I didn't think you'd mind."
I shook my head with a smile. "I don't. As long as she's happy." I watched Ness sniff the flowers while telling Jacob how weird Laurent was as Jacob retrieved her bag. What the hell is a thrupple? "Shit, I'm stuck with him for a long time."
"Get used to it," she laughed, wrapping her arms around my waist. I tried to look annoyed, but I couldn't help but feel overjoyed. I finally felt like my family was back together and complete.