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Chapter 4
Caresses - the Second
Bella
That was a horrible day. We had barely gotten anything done. Because when Alice presented me with the guest list, I was completely stunned. I could have cried or freaked out ... Thus, I had spent the entire day trying to keep her from inviting my former classmates and old neighborhood from Phoenix. Plus the parents and families of my current classmates ... So all of Forks. It had gotten on my last nerve. I didn't even want to discuss the pack members and their families from La Push. It hurt too much to be constantly reminded of Jacob. Besides, I was sure that almost no one would come anyway.
I was so happy when I finally sat next to Edward in the car again and could hold his hand.
He also did not ask.
Either he had overheard everything, or he sensed that I was just too exhausted and wanted my peace. I had to concentrate on him. He was my future now. I needed him.
It wasn't difficult for me to lose myself in his perfect appearance.
His hair, which looked especially tousled today, his elegant eyebrows, his full curved lips. ... And he wanted me ...
I sighed and his dark eyes covered me with an uplifting look full of affection. I rested my head against his shoulder and sucked in his incomparable scent.
Once we got home, I felt much better.
Edward wanted to come inside, but I asked him to wait for me upstairs.
I should talk to Charlie alone.
I just warmed up the leftovers from today's lunch.
Esmé had cooked for me and given them to me. But my father was still so offended and grumpy that no one could get a sensible word out of him.
And I had no more nerves to give away today, so I quickly retreated and left him to the flat screen.
When I entered the room, Edward was already lying on my bed.
"Well, that was fast. I just came through the window. What about Charlie?"
I just waved it off and shook my head.
"Forget it. There's nothing you can do with that stubborn guy."
"Mmm ... hmm ..." he grumbled.
And it sounded pretty darn ambiguous.
I sparkled at him knowingly.
He smiled wryly and raised his shoulders caught.
"No comment!"
I needed a shower now.
So I pulled the sweater over my head and registered how he followed my every move with interest. I threw the garment in his face. He graciously even let himself be hit and fall backwards into the pillows with it.
"You're so cute when you're mad, you know that?"
"Oh shut up," I hissed, reaching for my usual sleeping clothes.
An old worn-out T-shirt and loose yoga pants.
"I'm going to take a shower now."
"Like a little angry kitten ..." he continued to tease me.
I paused.
Well wait, I could also fight with unfair means.
I turned to the closet to pick out a tighter top and a pair of sleep shorts.
"My offer from yesterday still stands, by the way ...", I remarked as if casually.
"I'll get back to you on that when I get a chance."
His answer made me whirl around. In doing so, I lost my balance and bumped into the closet door.
Immediately, his strong hands were on my arms to stabilize me, and he stood in front of me.
A brief anxious inspection.
And then he grinned impudently broadly in my face.
"What is it?"
"Were you serious?"
"Well, certainly not tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, but sometime soon ...?"
I reached up - inwardly jubilant - to kiss him.
Much too soon he detached himself from me and gave me a slap on the butt.
"Off to the bathroom and come back quickly."
I could hardly believe it. What had happened to him?
"Be right back."
Totally elated by the hope of no longer encountering too much resistance, I set off on my evening routine. Today, however, it was - surprisingly - more like a cat bath.
I slipped into my fresh clothes and was back in my room not even ten minutes later.
"So, is it my turn today?", I asked expectantly when I had closed the door behind me.
"That was quick ... So impatient?", he remarked amusedly, raising his head and turning it toward me.
His gaze wandered over my body, lingered on my breasts, and then jerked back to my eyes.
Suddenly he sat there rather stiffly and swallowed.
I looked down at myself.
Oops ...! Okay, the top was perhaps a little very tight, it went through my head.
Due to the cooler air in the room, my nipples had contracted and stood out all too clearly under the thin fabric.
Crap.
I folded my arms uncertainly in front of my chest.
"So, what now? You or me."
He closed his eyes, scratched his forehead, and cleared his throat.
"Um ... if you don't mind, then I would ... I don't know if I can do that yet."
His voice sounded occupied.
What was that again? Was the sight of me already too much? It would have been too good if it hadn't been.
"That's okay. Then take off your shirt and lie on your stomach."
Visibly relieved, he followed my instructions while I knelt next to him on the mattress.
"So authoritarian today. I'm discovering whole new sides to you," he murmured into the pillows.
I didn't really notice it; I was so distracted.
Had I ever seen his bare back? He was so athletic. Muscular and yet slim.
As if by themselves, my fingers began to trace the ridges and hollows of his muscles.
After some time, my aching legs woke me up from my trance-like state.
I sat down on his butt, bent over him, and kissed him lightly on the nape.
"How does that feel?", I whispered in his ear.
"Mmm ..." he growled with relish. "Very good! Keep going."
I kissed him on the ear, and he winced slightly and shook his head.
"No, not with that."
"Okay okay." I straightened up again and thought. "Do you feel any difference at all?"
"What do you mean?", he asked, raising his head slightly.
I braced my hands on his back and shifted all my weight onto it.
"This."
"The pressure? No, not really. Just a small change in heat intensity."
Too bad. So a massage was out. Well, it also saved me some energy.
I stroked his spine up and down thoughtfully and decided to tackle a new venture.
I rose a little and let my hands slide sideways under his belly to get at his pants button.
"What are you going to do?", was the immediate objection.
As if I had suspected it.
"Taking off your pants," I replied, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
"Why?"
Why. What a question. To get to your tempting ass, to be able to examine your long legs ..., I thought.
"So you can feel my hands better."
"Don't worry, I can do that through the fabric too!"
I could literally hear him grinning. Grrr ... That was clear.
I lowered myself down next to him.
He angled one leg and pushed me with it.
I grabbed his bare foot and held it tight.
Good, from the bottom I also came a bit far.
And already I let my fingers slide into his trouser leg.
He froze, but said nothing.
With pleasure I stroked his calf up to the back of the knee and down the shin again, switched to the inside and slowly crawled higher and higher past the knee.
"Bella ..." he pressed through clenched teeth.
And I noticed that his posture was no longer so relaxed. His hands were clawed into the pillows, that his muscles on his arms and back were even more prominent.
"... Yes?", I said ignorantly ...
But the pants leg became too tight anyway.
So I stroked his leg down again.
He expelled a breath and visibly relaxed.
I had to laugh inside myself.
But he must have felt the vibration, because he muttered, "Not funny!"
Then my eyes fell on his foot, which was still in my hand.
Perfect. How else? Long and narrow. Straight shapely toes.
I stroked the tendons and bones that stood out.
I noticed that his skin actually felt different. Above the toes it felt gossamer and velvety soft and at the heel almost a little rough. I wonder if his skin would taste different here. I wanted to stick out my tongue and stroke his toes ... But I didn't dare. Could vampires actually be ticklish?
I tested on the sole of his foot.
No reaction. He probably didn't even feel it.
"Are you ticklish?", I asked spontaneously.
"Maybe - but definitely not with your delicate hands."
That was so unfair.
I dug my thumbnail into the inside of his sole.
That is, at least I tried.
And he actually flinched and withdrew his foot from me.
"Ha ...", I triumphed and sat back down on his buttocks to test my new discovery.
I tried it on his sides, where you should actually feel the ribs, and higher up on his armpits.
Without success.
"You better give up before you break your nails!", he laughed softly.
"Mmpf ..."
It really hurt already. But then another idea came to me.
But first I stroked his back again extensively until he was completely relaxed again.
And all of a sudden I heard a deep comforting hum from his chest ... Or did I just feel it? How sweet. My purring cougar! To bite into.
I bent down and slowly kissed my way along his shoulder blade and then - I bit his shoulder.
An indignant sound.
And already I was being lifted up as if I were lighter than a feather.
I squealed in surprise.
He turned under me and squatted on the bed in front of me.
"Hey ...! How dare you!"
The mischievousness glittered in his eyes.
"Just you wait ... you little beast."
Slowly he approached me and before I knew it, he had me in his fingers and was tickling me.
I had to pull myself together not to let out a loud snort and chuckle that I could only gasp for air.
"No ... o o ... o! ... Stop it! Cha ... ha har ... lie!"
I writhed and squirmed under his deft nimble fingers that were everywhere at once.
"Don't worry, he's snoring downstairs on the sofa," he said calmly and continued.
Oh no! Not on my feet!
I could take no more and shrieked out.
Laughing, he wrapped his arms around my body from behind and held me tight.
"Shh ... not so loud. Are you giving up?"
Chuckling and gasping for breath, I snuggled into his embrace.
"You're so mean."
"You should think about who you're dealing with before you attack," he murmured in my ear, kissing me on the neck underneath.
"Mmm ...", I grumbled with relish. "Go ahead."
Slowly he let us sink into the pillows.
"You should get some more sleep tonight if you want to go to Seattle with Alice tomorrow," he murmured against my neck, giving me one last kiss.
I did not complain. It felt too good as it was. His strong chest and belly, tight against my back. His hands now loosely on my stomach.
I put mine on his to stroke them gently.
Only rarely had I felt so completely safe and secure ...
And so I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
The shopping marathon, my fears, and my plan to talk about it with Alice were far away.
Thank you for reading!
