A/N: Thank you so much for the sweet reviews. I was completely fail…yet again, but maybe this will be one of the last times. That's what I'm hoping anyway.
This chapter is extremely fluffy and citrus filled for the most part. Definitely an M rating, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it. ;)
And what's this? A chapter song? Why yes, it is. Song for this chapter: The Power of Love by Celine Dion
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, these character, or the song lyrics.
Lost is how I'm feeling, lying in your arms
When the world outside's too much to take
That all ends when I'm with you
Even though there may be times
It seems I'm far away
Never wonder where I am
Cause I am always by your side
Cause I'm your lady
And you are my man
Whenever you reach for me
I'll do all I can
Esme POV
"So where are we going?"
"Still not telling, sweetheart," Carlisle chuckled. "You'll find out in a few minutes." He lifted our clasped hands to place a kiss on my knuckles.
I nodded resolutely and went back to enjoying the drive.
I had already asked Carlisle twice and now three times, but he refused to tell me where we were going. I didn't really need to know, but I couldn't help but be curious. The only thing I knew was that we had reservations somewhere and the somewhere was moderately upscale.
My only clues came from my clothing. Carlisle had suggested I wear one of the new dresses I had received for my birthday. It was a simple, little black dress, but he loved it. He had also requested for me to leave my hair down and wear a pair of my highest heels. In return, I choose a dress shirt and a pair of slacks for him.
It hadn't taken us long to get ready once we were alone. Carlisle was able to take a quick shower, and I had ample time to apply my makeup, style my hair, and make sure everything was in place with my husband-chosen ensemble. Once Carlisle finished dressing, he loaded our bags into his car, and we were off.
The drive to the city was nice, even if I didn't know where we were going. Carlisle never let go of my hand, and there was such a feeling of contentment surrounding us. Our children were off having fun, giving us this special time together. To me, the car ride was just as welcome as any dinner or hotel stay. Carlisle and I were able to talk without any interruptions, and we had no one to think about but each other. It was amazing how much I could appreciate having an unimportant conversation. We talked just because we liked talking to each other; no other reason was needed, and I loved every minute of it.
By the time Carlisle turned into a parking lot, I was almost too distracted from my laughter to notice where we were. Almost.
"The Space Needle?"
"The Space Needle," he confirmed with a nod.
"I've never been here before," I confessed with a large smile. "Are we going up before we go to dinner?"
"No, sweetheart," he said with a chuckle. "This is where we're eating."
"There's a restaurant up there," he further explained, pointing toward the top of the structure. "It rotates so we'll be able to see everything while we eat. Plus, we can go to the observation deck after. How does that sound?"
"Amazing," I sighed, never losing my wide smile. I turned to him. "You're amazing, Carlisle. Thank you for this."
"You never have to thank me, my love," he said with a slight shake of his head. "You know I love doing things for you, and you deserve this. We deserve this…to be able to celebrate the wonderful years we've had together."
Carlisle's words nearly brought tears to my eyes. He was so perfect for me, always giving me everything I needed which included his words. No one could put me at ease like he could. And right now, I was completely tranquil and ready for our evening together. It was definitely going to be an exciting evening since we were spending part of it at 500 feet in the air.
It was no surprise when Carlisle helped me out of the car before wrapping one arm around my waist as we walked toward the entrance. He held my sweater in his other arm, and the smile on my face refused to diminish. The fluttering in my heart definitely hadn't gone anywhere in two years. I had a strong feeling it wouldn't be leaving me anytime soon with Carlisle as a husband. His caring for me had no limit, not that I had found anyway.
After the fastest elevator ride I had ever experienced, we entered the restaurant. Carlisle gave our name, and we were quickly seated at a table with four chairs. Instead of sitting on opposite sides of the table, we chose to sit together with me against the window. Carlisle wanted to make sure I experienced the view, and what a view it was.
The entire outer side of the rounded restaurant was made of windows that looked out upon the city of Seattle. The sun was setting, and it casted an orange glow around the city and behind the mountains.
"It's beautiful," I whispered, as if speaking louder would somehow change the incredible scene.
Carlisle chuckled softly and leaned over to kiss my temple. "Yes, you are, sweetheart. Yes, you are."
"Carlisle," I scoffed as I turned to face him. He was smirking with his eyebrows raised, clearly anticipating my reaction. "Not me. This view." I turned back toward the window, but he continued chuckling beside me.
"The view is wonderful, but I'd much rather look at you. Seattle is nothing compared to my Esme. I'm so blessed to be able to call you mine."
My attempt at acting annoyed quickly ended as I scooted over and relaxed against him. It was impossible to even pretend when he said such sweet things to and about me. I was definitely blessed to call him mine.
My head automatically rested on its spot on Carlisle's shoulder, and his arms wrapped around me. We looked out the window together for a few moments before I turned once more, this time to place a kiss on the edge of his jaw.
"You know," I murmured against his skin, "you could probably talk anyone into doing anything when you use sweet words like those."
"I'm not so sure of that, sweetheart. But I don't think I even need to use words for you to agree to the plans I have for tonight."
I smiled against him. "Why, Dr. Cullen! Aren't you confident tonight?"
"You bring it out in me," he said before slightly nudging my head until I lifted it. He reached over to cup my cheek in his hand, and his beautiful eyes met mine. "I can't help but feel confident because you make me so happy. I love you so much, Esme."
"I love you, too," I said as I leaned in to kiss him.
Our quiet moment was interrupted by a server who brought menus for us. Carlisle put me in charge of choosing our entrees for the evening since he had planned everything else. I tried to overlook the high prices which wasn't too difficult since the whole menu sounded delicious to me. I was able to narrow my selection down to two just as the serve returned. I relayed what we wanted to eat as well as our drink orders, and Carlisle insisted on ordering a glass of the best wine for me because of the special night. I didn't turn it down because I knew he would share it with me, and I never turned down a chance to share with him.
Once the serve brought our drinks, we were able to return to our kisses and conversation. The evening crowd hadn't arrived yet, so we had some privacy. The soft kisses we shared weren't inappropriate, but it was still nice to be on our own. Our love of PDA definitely hadn't diminished in the slightest.
Another advantage of an early dinner was that our food didn't take long to prepare. Carlisle and I were soon enjoying our delicious meals. I had chosen the seafood fettuccini and the steak to give us some variety. We shared both entrees as well as a salad, and the food turned out to be as delicious as it had sounded.
Carlisle and I laughed and joked throughout dinner as we always did when it was just the two of us. We really were best friends besides all our other roles in life. It was nice to be able to have fun and be silly without all the responsibility we normally had.
To add to our fun, the restaurant did rotate just as Carlisle said it would. The movement was subtle, not enough to be able to feel it, but it was very evident as our view changed. We were able to watch as the sun went down and the city transformed into one full of light against the clear night sky. It was incredibly beautiful, and I couldn't wait to see the view from the observation deck.
Once we finished our meal, Carlisle took care of the check, and we headed up to the observation deck. It was a little chilly as we walked around, but with my sweater and Carlisle's arms wrapped around me, I really didn't mind. We managed to walk all the way around the deck before finally choosing a spot to stand and just enjoy the view.
"Thank you for bringing me here," I said softly as I rested my head on his chest.
His arms wrapped around me, holding me close to his body as he placed light kisses on the top of my head. "You're welcome, sweetheart, but I told you that you never have to thank me. I'm sure I've enjoyed it just as much as you have."
I hummed softly, and we went back to our comfortable silence as we stared out at the city.
"You know," Carlisle said after a few minutes, "we should bring the kids here. I bet they would like it."
"Oh, I'm sure they would," I agreed. "The boys, especially. We should bring them and Chelsea and Alec while they're here."
My sister and brother-in-law hadn't been able to make their summer trip to see us like that had originally planned. But because of that, they were going to be able to spend three weeks with us in November. This actually worked out better for us anyway. Rosalie and Jasper were better adjusted now than they had been in the summer which would make the visit less traumatic for them. Another positive was that they would be able to celebrate Emmett's birthday and Thanksgiving with us, all in one trip.
"That's an excellent idea," he replied. "I don't know if they have ever been, but even if they have, it will still be a fun trip. This is my third visit, but I have to say that this time is my favorite." He hugged me tighter, so I knew he was attributing my presence to his enjoyment. I understood because it was the same for me. Everything was always so much better when he was beside me.
After spending a few more minutes on the deck, we decided it was time to venture over to the hotel. I remained clueless about where we were staying, but I had no doubts about Carlisle's choice. He had a pretty good track-record with choosing romantic locations, and I knew this time would be no different.
I had expected the hotel to be very near the Space Needle, but instead, we drove for about 15 minutes toward the bay. The traffic was a bit heavy but not too bad, and we were soon standing in the lobby of The Edgewater Hotel. Carlisle checked us in and then carried our duffle bags as he led us up to our fourth floor suite.
The lobby of the hotel had been beautiful with its large stone fireplace, and I wasn't sure our room could be better. When Carlisle opened the door, however, I knew I had been mistaken.
The executive suite was absolutely gorgeous. The color tones used were very natural and earthy which gave the suite a very calm feeling. The sitting room contained its own fireplace which was lit for us, providing a welcome warmth we needed after being outside. The over-stuffed chairs and couch in front of the fire were also welcoming and made me want to just curl up and take a nap.
As I slowly explored, Carlisle walked ahead of me into the bedroom. I followed him into the spacious room and immediately decided that somehow the bed was more inviting than the chairs in the sitting room. The large, four-poster, king-sized bed appeared to be extremely comfortable, and I couldn't wait to try it out.
Carlisle placed our bags on the bed before going to the farthest side of the room to draw back the curtains, revealing the entrance to our own private balcony. I came up beside him so I could look out, but the darkness prevented us from seeing much of anything. It wasn't a big deal because I knew we would have an incredible view of the bay as soon as the sun came up.
"So what do you think?" Carlisle asked softly.
"I love it," I said as I wrapped my arms around his waist. "How did you choose this hotel?"
He placed his arms around my shoulders in return, squeezing my lightly. "Peter recommended it while I was planning."
"Is that what you two do at work all day? Plan romantic trips for your wives?"
"Well, we do have happy wives," he said with a chuckle.
I couldn't argue with that. I had never been happier, and I had no doubt that Charlotte felt the same way.
We watched the dark water for a few minutes until Carlisle moved the curtains to their original position. He turned so I was in front of him instead of beside him, and all of a sudden, the mood changed as if a switch was flipped between us. I wasn't sure if it was our teasing at dinner, the fact that we were finally alone, or a combination of both, but something made it impossible for us to get enough of each other.
Carlisle's lips met mine gently at first, but it wasn't enough for either of us. We were soon practically devouring each other as hands roamed anywhere and everywhere. My body couldn't get close enough to his, and he seemed to feel the same as he lifted my leg to wrap around his hip. Even with the change in position, it still wasn't enough.
I knew for some couples, the passion waned through the years. That was absolutely not the case for us. When we finally paused to catch our breath, I knew we needed to do something else. We obviously weren't going to be stopping this any time soon, but we couldn't stand up forever.
"Do you want to…bed?" I asked breathlessly as Carlisle trailed hot kisses down the side of my neck.
"Yes, please," he murmured but didn't stop what he was doing.
Once I caught my breath, I started giggling at Carlisle until he finally stopped and pulled back to look at me.
"What's so funny?" he asked, his eyes gleaming happily.
I shook my head. "Just us. Is this part of your plan?"
"It is now," he said before returning to my neck.
"What if…," I asked hesitantly, "what if I have a plan?"
That caught his attention, and I felt him still before pulling back to look at me once more.
"You have a plan, sweetheart?" he asked as he brought his hands up to cradle my face. I nodded slowly, and his smile instantly grew. "Well then, I'm sure your plan is much better than mine. Where do you want me?"
"Umm…you sit on the bed," I instructed. I wasn't exactly confident or forceful, but Carlisle listened and took my hand before heading over to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Now what?" He was so trusting as he looked up at me, and it was easy to see how excited he was.
"Now…I'm going to change. I guess you could, too?" I really didn't know what I was doing, but it was now or never. I wasn't going to let my new lingerie go to waste, no matter what. Carlisle seemed to sense my slight anxiety, and he brought my hand up to his lips to kiss the back of it.
"All right, my love. You go change, and I'll wait for you. Take your time."
His gentle voice effectively settle me, and I nodded before quickly grabbing what I needed out of my bag and heading to the bathroom.
The bathroom was a nice size and contained a gorgeous claw foot bathtub along with all the other amenities. I didn't think we were going to have a chance to use the tub, though. I didn't really think we were going to enjoy anything in our suite other than the bed, and that was fine with me.
Once I was safely in the bathroom, I undressed and freshened up a bit before slipping on my surprise. I turned slowly as I looked in the mirror, examining every angle.
It definitely didn't leave much to the imagination, not that an imagination was needed. This was for Carlisle, and he knew all of me.
The butterflies were fluttering away in my stomach, but I wasn't scared. This was more of a feeling of anxious anticipation. I had never done anything like this while being confident about it, but I was going to try tonight.
Carlisle did know me, inside and out, and that knowledge made me more daring. Our two years being married had been filled with exploration and learning to the point where nothing was unfamiliar.
I had many roles in life, but tonight, I was going to be Carlisle's lover just like he was mine.
After my internal pep talk, I tousled my hair one last time before taking a deep breath and readying myself to leave the bathroom. Wasting our precious time was not something I wanted to do, so I turned out the light and opened the door before I lost my determination.
I resisted the urge to cover myself with my arms as I walked into the bedroom, but I relaxed slightly once I was standing on the threshold.
Carlisle was sitting on the side of bed where I had left him. He was working on unbuttoning his shirt, but he wasn't staring at me. Apparently, I had been too quiet for him to hear me enter, so I didn't make a sound. I wanted him to discover my presence by himself.
As I waited, I took in his whole appearance. He seemed very serene as he worked on shedding his clothing. A small smile played at his lips, and I knew I had a matching one. He was truly beautiful without even trying, and I almost couldn't believe that he was really mine. This man had only ever loved me and would continue to love me for many years to come. My feelings reflected his, of course, and the contentment I felt made me sigh softly.
My soft sigh finally caught his attention, and he looked over at me. I couldn't help but smile upon seeing the affect I had on him.
His small smile immediately disappeared as his jaw dropped and his eyes widened. His hands seemed to stop working, buttons completely forgotten. He had never reacted quite like this before, but I had never done anything like this before. It seemed to be working out for me so far, and I couldn't wait to see how he would react next.
As Carlisle tried to gain control of himself, I slowly walked toward him. I was trying to be seductive although it felt rather silly to me. I didn't matter what I was feeling though because I was basing my actions on Carlisle's reactions, and he was definitely enjoying this. He forcefully swallowed as I came closer to him, and we both sighed when I was directly in front of him.
"Oh, Es. You're stunning," he said in a breathless whisper. "This…you're…just so beautiful."
It didn't surprise me that he liked the lingerie. I had picked out the black lace baby doll especially with him in mind. The black lace stood out next to my pale skin, and the see-through material was very beautiful.
His eyes seemed to drift to different places on my body, as if he wasn't sure what he wanted to look at most. My lower half seemed to be of interest to him, and I was a little nervous to tell him what else was special about this specific lingerie. These barely-there panties actually covered much less than they seemed to, and as his eyes continued to linger, I knew I needed to tell him.
"They're…umm…crotch-less," I said in a whisper, as if the fact was completely scandalous. But for me, it practically was.
He inhaled sharply and looked up at me. "Really?" he asked, his voice just as quiet as mine. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and nodded as I somehow retained eye contact.
His eyes somehow widened further, and he reached out to pull me close to him. I moved willingly until I was standing between his legs. My hands rested on his shoulder, both for support and because I needed contact. Even after our years together, this was new for me. Somehow, I was at a new level of vulnerability, and I needed him close.
I stared into his eyes, getting so lost in the swirling gray that I gasped when I felt his fingers drifting down my abdomen under my top. He didn't stop until his fingers found the evidence of the new style of lingerie, and my back arched at the sensation. My legs felt like they were turning to jell-o, so I leaned into him with my head resting in the crook of his neck.
"Esme," he groaned, pressing his head against my shoulder. "Please tell me that my aunt didn't buy these. Or Charlotte. Please."
His fingers were still lightly caressing my exposed folds, and my pleasure was preventing me for forming a coherent thought. It felt so good, too good for me to want to make room in my mind to think, but I knew he needed an answer.
I shook my head against him. "I bought these online," I said with a sigh. "Just for tonight. Part of your gift."
All of a sudden, he increased the pressure of his touch, and I moaned loudly.
"Thank goodness. I don't know what I would've done if someone else had seen these. 'Esme the vixen' is for my eyes only. You're absolutely gorgeous."
He turned his head to suck on the skin of my neck as he pushed two fingers inside of me. My moans grew increasing louder, and I was glad we had the freedom to let lose. At home, we were always quiet and restrained, but this…this was loud and unhindered and perfect. I only hoped that there wasn't any one with a room close to ours.
My body moved in synch with Carlisle's fingers, up and down to his set rhythm. The muscles in my abdomen tightened with every movement, but when his thumb pressed against my most sensitive spot, my knees buckled as I fell against him. I wasn't there yet, but I was close. Apparently too close to even stand.
"Carlisle," I moaned, knowing he would understand what I needed. He had been in tune with my body for the past two years which was something I was glad we were celebrating.
"Alright, sweetheart. Okay, give me a second."
I barely understood his mumbling against my skin, but I nodded quickly, ready for whatever he was going to do next. I was vaguely aware that his movements had slowed slightly, so I moved my head to see what he was doing. With some amount of skill, Carlisle was managing to remove his pants and underwear with one hand while his other remained touching me. I was amazed that he managed to do it, but didn't have time to think about it before he lifted me up to straddle his lap.
His hand finally left me as he placed his hands on my hips and guided us together where we needed each other most.
"Yes," I sighed as my body accepted his. I placed my hands on either side of his face and tried to give back everything I was feeling in a kiss. It wasn't nearly enough, but I knew Carlisle understood. He felt everything as intensely as I did, and there was nothing more intense than how we were currently positioned.
We stilled for a few moments to absorb the moment before Carlisle gently squeezed my hips. It was a light pressure, but it was a sign that he wanted me to take control. His fingers splayed out across my bottom were just resting there without trying to move me, but that wasn't what I wanted. This time, I wanted him to take control.
I lightly tugged his hair and rocked my body enough to catch his attention. He seemed to finally understand, and his hands tightened their grip on me as he began to move us. The movement started slow, but quickly sped up as we found the right rhythm for us.
Carlisle's small sighs and gasps along with his mumbled "I love you's" were enough to make me take a little control back. Instead of him controlling us completely, we were equal: both of us giving and taking pleasure to and from each other.
After a while, our movements became even more frenzied. One of Carlisle's hands drifted up my body until it rested on my breast. He gently kneaded it through the thin fabric until he finally pulled the top down slightly to expose me. His mouth then joined his hand as he kissed, nibbled, and sucked every inch of flesh he could reach. I was already lost to the pleasure at this point, but my unintelligible sounds seemed to encourage him.
The kissing and nibbling continued from my breast to my neck as Carlisle slowly leaned us back until he was lying on his back with me lying flat on top of him. Our movements had to slow slightly, but everything was somehow more intense. His body was hitting mine just right, and I was suddenly spasming around him.
"Oh!" I gasped as the waves of pleasure caught me off guard. My body collapsed against Carlisle's, and I moaned softly as I enjoyed the feelings coursing through my body.
Carlisle continued moving until he reached his own peak, and then he was also moaning softly as he slowly relaxed against the bed. His arms wrapped around my back, and he held me tightly, pressing kisses against the top of my head.
I sighed in contentment, feeling nothing but utter bliss. My body was completely limp, and I was perfectly fine lying on top of Carlisle with my head tucked safely under his chin.
"I love you so much, Esme," Carlisle mumbled against my head.
I gathered enough strength to lift the top of my body so I could look into his eyes. They were sparkling in joy as he smiled lazily up at me, obviously as blissed out as I was.
"I love you, too," I said softly. "That was amazing."
"Mmhmm," he nodded. "Sorry I attacked you, though. That wasn't exactly what I had planned."
"But I liked it."
"Somehow I could tell," he teased. "Was that part of your plan?"
I shook my head. I hadn't planned anything past wearing the new lingerie. Everything after that was a surprise to me, too. A most welcomed surprise at that. But Carlisle wasn't really apologizing. I could tell by the look on his face that he had enjoyed it as much as me, if not more. I couldn't help but giggle at his appearance.
"Well, Mrs. Cullen. May I ask what you find so amusing now?"
"It's your hair," I giggled again. I reached up and ran my fingers through the soft strands that were sticking out in all directions. "You have sex hair."
"Do I now?" he asked with a wink. "That would be completely your fault, sweetheart."
"I know," I said proudly. There was something about seeing his normally tamed hair turn into a mess that made me smile. Knowing I caused it during all of our pleasure was even better.
I laid my head back against his chest, feeling his heart beating directly under my ear. His arms held me tighter against him as we remained motionless. Our bodies were still one, but I didn't have any desire to move. The eventually separation was inevitable, but for now, I wanted to enjoy the closeness as long as possible.
"We didn't even undress," Carlisle mused after a few minutes of silence. His statement was full of mirth, but he was right. My lingerie was still in place, apart from being slightly rumpled at the top. His dress shirt was unbuttoned, but it hadn't left his arms, and it appeared that his pants and boxers were around his legs after being moved down only a few inches.
It was the most erotic experience I had ever had.
We had just made love- loud, passionate love- and we weren't anywhere near completely naked. I shivered slightly at the realization.
"Are you cold?" he asked, mistaking my shivering, but I quickly shook my head.
"No, I'm fine," I said, although I was a bit more than just fine. There were no words to describe how I was feeling.
"Are you sure? Maybe we should get cleaned up now and get under the covers," he suggested half-heartedly, as if he didn't have a desire to move either.
I finally agreed, albeit reluctantly. A quick shower did sound appealing, even if it meant we had to be separated. Our position wasn't the most comfortable one anyway; Carlisle was only lying on the bed halfway with his clothing completely askew. We were definitely a sight.
Carlisle slowly sat us up and gently lifted me off of him. I frowned at the feeling of emptiness, but he held my face in his hands and quickly kissed that frown away.
I helped him remove his shirt and then laughed softly as he removed his shoes, socks, pants, and underwear. The evidence of our impatience was very clear, and somehow I still couldn't believe what we had done.
When Carlisle finished undressing, he quickly lifted me up to carry me into the bathroom. I yelped in surprised before wrapping my arms and legs around him. The giggles were threatening to return, but as he lowered me to stand next to the shower and tenderly removed the rest of my clothing, nothing was funny anymore.
Our shower was quick and innocent, but left us feeling very refreshed. After I was dry, I decided to forego putting on any pajamas and climbed into bed. The cool sheets felt amazing on my warm skin, and I couldn't wait for Carlisle to join me.
As I relaxed in bed, Carlisle took care of everything in the bathroom, including gathering our stuff and putting it back in the bags. I would have offered to help, but I knew he would turn me down. Once everything was packed away, he double checked the locks on the door and turned the lights out. The curtains were opened just enough to allow the soft moonlight to enter, creating the perfect atmosphere for our quiet night together.
Carlisle navigated his way through the dark room, reaching the bed with ease. He crawled across until he was above me, lowering his body slowly as he let it rest on mine. He supported himself with his forearms, effectively caging me between him and the bed. I felt so small and safe with his weight on me and his arms surrounding me. There was no better feeling.
I stared up into his gorgeous face, and my lips curved into a smile as he leaned down to kiss me.
"Hi," I whispered.
"Hi," he replied, just as softly. His nose trailed along my cheek, nuzzling against me. "Everything's locked up so we're all set. What should we do now?"
"This," I replied as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Okay," he mumbled before kissing me again. "Just tell me if you want to do something else." He pulled back slightly and looked at me with a serious expression. "This suite was for you, sweetheart. If you want to spend the evening in bed, then I am more than agreeable to it. But there is more we can do. Whatever you want."
I almost regretted not taking advantage of everything the hotel had to offer, but I really was content exactly where I was.
"I'm perfect right where I am," I said with a smile. I shifted under him, and his answering groan was all I needed to know that he was just as happy.
The evening was young, but I knew we wouldn't be leaving the bed until morning. And I was perfectly fine with that, too.
Carlisle POV
I woke feeling slightly disoriented. There was no small body cuddled against me and no jumping on the bed either. I forced myself to fully open my eyes and then smiled when I realized where I was.
One look at the clock alerted me to the fact that even though I was not at home, my internal clock was not aware. It was actually a bit earlier than our usual Saturday morning wake-up time, but at least Esme was still asleep beside me. I was a little afraid she would be too exhausted after our incredible night together, only to have to go back to being mommy to three active little ones for the rest of the day.
I carefully turned from my back to my side and pulled Esme's body to meet mine. She was using my arm as a pillow which she snuggled closer to but otherwise didn't move.
As she slept, I took a few moments just to watch her in the dim light of the room. The bed sheet only covered us up to waist level, so I had a clear view of her bare back and side. My mind immediately flashed back to her special anniversary gift to me. I smiled as I thought about how this innocent woman beside me could so easily turn into a sexy vixen who made me lose all conscious thought. She was so beautiful, and the confidence she had shown made her even more attractive. Watching Esme grow more confident with herself through our years together was amazing, and I felt a small sense of pride knowing that I had somehow helped. We had made an environment together that allowed her to become the woman I always knew she could be.
I couldn't keep my hands to myself any longer as I remembered our night together. My hand gently began to trace over the soft skin of her back, moving to her side and finally resting in the front. I loved the curves of her body, especially knowing that they had been shaped in part from her pregnancy with Emmett.
As I rested my hand on her stomach, I thought about the future and her being round with another child. We didn't talk about it as much as we did before Rosalie and Jasper came home, but the possibility was always there. For a while, it had been a blessing that we hadn't conceived. But as Rosalie and Jasper slowly adjusted to our life, I began to feel more confident. We would be able to handle a newborn, whenever the time came. Even if we had created a new life last night, we would still have nine months to get ready. It would work out.
My thoughts were interrupted by Esme shifting further toward me, her breathing speeding as she began to wake. Since she was waking up anyway, my hand resumed its exploration, moving slowly up her stomach to rest on her breast. She sighed and arched toward my hand, making me chuckled softly. I leaned over, burying my nose in her soft curls as I breathed in her scent.
I could tell when she was fully awake, even if she remained silent. Her hand moved to mine, and she traced my knuckles and fingers before threading her fingers with mine. Without a word, she began moving our hands, and I almost removed mine until I realized she was moving them toward her center. I chuckled again but allowed her to continue, knowing I could never refuse her.
When she realized that I knew what she wanted, her hand came back up to rest in my other one, and I squeezed it gently. My hand continued its descent until it was where she wanted it, and she hummed in approval. I caressed her softly at first, gradually gaining speed and pressure as I expertly worked her body.
Just when I knew she'd almost had enough, I moved my hand to her leg, lifting it to rest over mine. She immediately scooted back to meet me, and together we joined our bodies. Our pace was slow and lazy as we took the time to just feel the love flowing between us.
Eventually, my hand returned to her as I coaxed her body to release its tension with mine following shortly after. It was quiet and completely satisfying. I trailed kisses down her neck and shoulder as we spooned, basking in contentment after our carefree love-making.
"Good morning," I whispered, placing a kiss behind her ear which made her shiver.
"Mmm…it is a good morning," she replied sleepily. "I wish I could wake up like that more often."
"Soon," I promised, knowing that Jasper wouldn't sleep in our bed forever. At least I hoped he wouldn't.
She nodded. "I'll hold you to that," she said as she turned her head so her lips could meet mine.
The angle of her neck didn't seem like it would be very comfortable, so I shifted us around as we kissed until we were facing each other. Our bodies had to separate, but our sweet, unhurried kisses made up for it. We kissed until we were satisfied, and then Esme laid her head against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, just enjoying the quiet.
A few minutes later, the quiet was interrupted by my phone ringing. Esme immediately rolled over to retrieve it from the bedside table, and her expression turned to one of concern once she saw who it was.
"It's Carmen," she explained anxiously as she passed the phone.
I furrowed my eyebrows, knowing that Carmen wouldn't call without a reason.
"Hello," I answered calmly, only to be met with silence. I repeated my greeting once more and finally heard a little voice.
"Daddy?"
I smiled in relief since this little voice was not upset from what I could tell.
"Good morning, Jasper," I said cheerfully. "Are you having lots of fun, buddy?"
I looked over at Esme to show her that nothing was wrong, and she was relieved as well.
"Hi, Daddy!" I could definitely hear the smile in his voice this time. "Daddy, I eatin brefast."
I chuckled softly. "You are, huh? Is it good?
He didn't respond right away, but I could hear Carmen coaching him in the background. He was absolutely adorable as he repeated what she was telling him.
"Daddy, I pay go outside wif Pops…and I 'wake now…and I eatin oh-meal wif Nana."
I chuckled quietly as his long sentence, but I could tell Esme was growing impatient beside me. I knew she had been worried, so I wanted to make sure she had a chance to speak with him while he was being so talkative.
"Wow, bud!" I interrupted before his sentence could get any longer. "It sounds like you're having lots of fun. Do you want to talk to Mommy now?"
"Uh huh," he replied.
"Okay, buddy. I love you." He repeated it back to me, and then I passed the phone to Esme who was more than ready for it.
She was so excited to talk to Jasper, and I knew she had been worried about him while we were gone. It was tough to leave the kids, him especially, but I knew that if we could survive the one night away, it would only help us in the long run. Jasper needed to see that we would come back when we said we would.
I smiled as I listened to Esme's half of the conversation, knowing that Jasper's half was probably very similar to the one he had shared with me. It was nice to know he was enjoying himself now, no matter what the night had been like. I had a feeling it hadn't gone as smoothly as in the past since he was now sleeping in our bed all the time. He also had nightmares during a few nights of the week, but they were getting better slowly. Jasper was getting better, albeit slowly.
As Esme continued to talk, I lay back down beside her and lightly traced over her free arm with the tips of my fingers, just to occupy myself. She didn't stop me, so I kept going, enjoying the feel of her soft skin. I truly hadn't had enough of her although I was pretty sure that our getaway was about to be over.
I could tell when the phone was passed from Jasper to Carmen a few minutes later because there was more silence on Esme's part as Carmen answered her questions. I tried not to eavesdrop, but it was very difficult given my proximity. From what I could tell, Esme was completely willing to get dressed and immediately pick up the children, but Carmen was trying to convince her that it wasn't necessary. I agreed with my aunt since Jasper had seemed fine while talking to me.
"Are you sure?" Esme asked once more before sighing in defeat. "Okay. We'll be there before lunch. Tell Rosalie and Emmett we love them when they wake up, okay? Alright…I love you, too…bye." She closed the phone slowly and set it back on the table before cuddling next to me.
"Everything, okay?" I asked hesitantly, kissing her forehead as I held her closer.
She sighed and nodded. "Carmen says they're fine," she said softly.
"And…you don't believe her?"
"I believe her," she said, sounding rather reluctant. "Jasper sounded fine, and Rose and Em are still sleeping. There's really no reason for us to leave early."
"We'll see them soon, sweetheart," I assured her with another kiss. "But in the mean time, maybe we can take advantage of our last hours alone." I shrugged. "Maybe watch some TV or something we didn't get to do last night."
"You really want to watch TV?" she asked before giggling. "But I'm not wearing any clothes."
I smiled, realizing how insatiable she really was. We did have a lot of time to make up, after all.
"You're not?" I gasped in mock surprise before pulling the sheet up. "Hmm…I guess you're not. And I'm not either."
"Oh, I know," she said as she giggled again and pressed herself closer to me. I dropped the sheet and turned to wrap her completely in my arms. Her eyes were shining as she looked up at me. "Still want to watch TV?"
I shook my head. "I don't think so. I'm sure we can think of better ways to spend our time." I captured her lips with mine, and we picked up where we left off only a little while before.
Two hours later, we were showered, dressed, and ready to check out of the hotel. Esme seemed very blissful and miraculously well rested as we headed down to the hotel lobby, which made me very happy. I had hoped that our short getaway would be relaxing for her, and it appeared that I had succeeded. She deserved it after all the energy she used every day to help our family run smoothly.
After quickly checking out, we ate a quick breakfast at the hotel restaurant before heading out.
I drove leisurely toward Carmen and Eleazar's house, wanting to enjoy our last few moments alone. I had missed the children, just as Esme had, but the time I spent alone with my wife was always incredible. I was very thankful we had the opportunity to reconnect because we really did need it. We made it a point to always keep our relationship a priority, but sometimes we were pulled in other directions. It was unavoidable, and that was why we needed times like this. And this time had been especially fun for us. I couldn't wait until we could get away again.
For now, it was time to go back to being Mommy and Daddy, and as we pulled into Carmen and Eleazar's driveway, I could tell we were both excited to jump back into the craziness.
Esme and I walked to the door together and entered the house, only for her to be met by a little jumping body.
"Mommy!" Rosalie cheered as she held her arms up. Esme immediately lifted her into her arms and showered her with kisses.
"Good morning, baby girl," Esme said with a large smile. "Did you miss us?"
"Ya huh, Mommy," Rosalie said as she placed her hands on Esme's face. "I miss you sooo much. We go to da park. And eated ice cream," she added in a whisper.
"Ice cream?" I whispered back. "What kind did you eat?"
"Choclate," she replied with wide eyes before grinning as she giggled.
"Oh wow," Esme gasped as she played along. "Did your brothers eat ice cream, too?"
Rosalie nodded. "Mmmhmm. They eated cholate, too."
"Where are those boys? Can you help us find them?" Esme asked. I could tell she was anxious to make sure Jasper was okay, too.
"I find them," Rosalie said confidently. "Em! J!, Mommy and Daddy are heere!" she yelled. She wiggled in Esme's arms until she was placed back and on the floor and then ran out of the room, I assumed to go wherever they were.
Esme giggled softly, and I couldn't stop smiling. Hearing Rosalie call me Daddy was one of my favorite sounds. Hearing any of the kids call me Daddy was amazing, but somehow it was more special to hear it from her.
It was also nice to see that Rosalie wasn't upset because we were gone. I was surprised to see exactly how happy and giggly she was this morning. She had a silly streak to her, especially after being around Emmett a lot. I guessed he had been her chosen playmate for the night.
"I guess we should follow her?" I asked as I took Esme's hand.
She smiled and nodded, so we headed into the den. When we entered the room, Carmen was gently scolding Rosalie for yelling, but it was easy to see that Carmen was trying to hide her smile. This side of Rosalie was incredible to see after the months of her being timid and afraid.
Emmett was lying on the couch watching cartoons, so I sat down beside him and pulled him into my lap, kissing the top of his head.
"Hi, Daddy," he said with a yawn as he leaned against me.
"Good morning, buddy. Did you just wake up?"
"Uh huh," he nodded as he yawned again. "I just eated breakfast, and now I watching the TV."
I chuckled but left him alone as Esme came over for her own hug and kisses before sitting beside us. Rosalie quickly climbed into Esme's lap, so we were all sitting together except Jasper.
"You two look like you had a good time," Carmen commented as she watched us. Esme just sighed and nodded which made my aunt laugh.
"So where's Jasper?" Esme asked. "I figured he would be waiting on us. Or did he take a nap?"
"E was actually lying down with him, but I think they're awake now," Carmen said. "I heard them upstairs a few minutes ago."
"How were they?" I asked curiously. "Was everything really okay?"
"I think everything was as good as we could have expected," she answered guardedly. "Emmett was fine, of course. Although, I think he might eat you out of house and home soon. I've never seen such a little person eat so much cereal."
"He does have a healthy appetite, doesn't he?" Esme said as she tickled Emmett's belly, making him giggle, but neither one of us missed the fact that Carmen didn't exactly relieve our worries.
"But the other two?" Esme hedged. "How were they?"
"Rosalie was fine as well. She and Emmett have been a little crazy," she said with a chuckle, "but that was fun. They entertained Nana and Pops this weekend, didn't you?"
Emmett was paying attention to his cartoons, but Rosalie nodded proudly and giggled.
"We didn't have any issues going potty or sleeping either," Carmen continued. "She slept with me, and we were fine all night."
"That's wonderful!" Esme said with a smile, hugging Rosalie tightly. "You did so good, baby. I'm so proud of you."
"And Jasper?" I asked, not knowing what kind of answer she would be giving us.
Carmen sighed and smiled sadly. "He was…okay. Bedtime was hard, but we made it. Other than that, he's been happy, but he did ask for both of you a lot."
"Did he get any sleep?" Esme asked sadly, and Carmen nodded.
"Eleazar rocked him for a long time, and he eventually fell asleep for a little while. He woke up once, but then slept until this morning. I got up so E could stay in bed, and we had breakfast. After we finished, I put him back in bed. They're probably getting dressed now."
I leaned over to place a kiss on Esme's temple, knowing she was upset. This was probably the best we could have hoped for, but it still hurt to know that Jasper had a difficult night without us.
"But he's okay, right?" Esme asked hopefully. "He did have some fun?"
"Oh, yes," Carmen said, her smile turning happy again. "He loved going to the park, and you know he loves playing with Pops. I promise he's okay, and he's going to love that you're here."
When Eleazar came into the room carrying Jasper a few minutes later, Carmen was proved to be right. As soon as Jasper saw us, he made Eleazar put him down so he could run over. He couldn't decide who to sit with first, but he finally climbed into Esme's lap after Rosalie moved.
"Mommy missed you so much, sweet boy," Esme said as she held Jasper. His arms were wrapped tightly around her neck, as if he never wanted to release her.
Emmett moved down into the floor to play with Rosalie, and that gave me a chance to hold my other son. Jasper resisted Esme's attempts to move him until he realized that she was going to pass him to me. His arms wrapped around my neck just as tightly as they were around Esme, and I held him close, trying to show him that we weren't going anywhere now.
"I missed you, bud," I said softly. I kissed his head, and he sighed happily. He might have been happy now, but he refused to release me. One look at Esme told me that she was thinking the same thing: we needed to get home to get back into our routine. Jasper wouldn't be comfortable until he realized that we had really come back to him.
"E already brought their bags downstairs," Carmen said knowingly. "Feel free to stay here with as long as you want or head home."
I nodded and smiled. "I think we'll probably head home now. We'll see you tomorrow, though. Thank you so much for watching them."
"Yes, thank you," Esme seconded.
"Don't thank me, darlings," she said while shaking her head. "I'm sure you two needed that night together, and we have so much fun keeping them. I think this was probably a good thing for him, too." She nodded toward Jasper, and I knew she was probably right.
"Daddy, do I hafta go?" Emmett asked suddenly.
I looked over at Esme, and she shrugged.
"I guess not, buddy," I answered. "Do you want to stay here for a while longer?"
He nodded and turned to look at Carmen. "Nana, can I stay here?"
She looked over at us, and we nodded. Really, there was no reason why he couldn't stay for a few more hours since we didn't have anything planned.
Carmen gave Emmett an affirmative answer, but the Rosalie came over to Esme to ask if she could stay longer. We were both caught off-guard since we had assumed that she would want to come home with us right away.
"Peas?" she asked, looking up at us through her long eyelashes. "Nana gonna make my hair petty."
"Braids," Carmen explained with a large smile. I could tell how happy it made her to know that Rosalie wanted to spend extra time with her.
I wasn't going to tell my baby no, so I looked to Esme to give her permission. When she did, Rosalie thanked her with kisses and then went back to her playing.
"I guess it's just the three of us," I said to Esme as I stood up with Jasper. "Come on, sweetheart." I offered her a hand and chuckled at her bemused expression as she let me help her stand.
Since I had Jasper, Esme grabbed the bags. We said goodbye to Rosalie and Emmett and thanked Carmen and Eleazar once more before heading out to the car. Jasper still didn't want to let me go, but I gradually coaxed him into his car seat.
"We're going home, buddy," I explained as I buckled him in.
"Home?" he asked, unsure about the word.
"Mmmhmm," I nodded. I kissed his head before closing the door and quickly the door and getting in the driver's seat. I had forgotten that we were in my car, so it was a good thing that Rosalie and Emmett weren't coming home with us since we only had one car seat.
Esme held Jasper's hand throughout the short drive home. That contact was still necessary for him to know that we were really with him. It was a little sad to think about, but at least we were able to easily reassure him.
Once we were home, Esme carried Jasper upstairs to change his diaper. I followed her, carrying the bags to our bedroom so we could unpack later.
As I waited on Esme to finish, I sat down in her chair and rocked slowly, praying that Jasper was okay and that we wouldn't have a setback.
When Esme came into the room, I opened my arms, encouraging her to sit with me. She carefully sat down, and we situated Jasper between us before pulling a blanket over him. Our first goal was to make him feel safe again, and this was the quickest way to put him at ease. He had both of us close by, and as we began talking to him about his visit with Nana and Pops, he gradually began to relax.
We talked and giggled for a while until Jasper began to get tired. He needed a good nap after his rough night.
There was no way that we would all be able to comfortably sit in the chair for that long which meant it was time to move before Jasper fell asleep. I helped Esme stand, and then she took Jasper over to the bed to lie down. I joined them, lying on Jasper's other side so he was in his favorite spot between us.
Esme hummed softly as she ran her fingers through his hair, and it only took a few minutes for him to fall asleep. Seeing him completely relaxed made it possible for Esme and me to finally relax as well. I reached over to hold her hand as we watched our son sleep.
Only time would tell if Jasper was completely okay. In our minds, we showed him that we would return when we left. But realistically, he was two years old. There was no way to know right away whether or not he understood. So far, the signs were promising, including the small smile on his face as he slept.
Esme squeezed my hand, and I turned my attention to her. She smiled and nodded, which I returned. Whatever happened, we would face it together.
A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long, but I'm currently in the middle of finals. The good news is that the semester will be officially over after next Friday, so updates should be a lot faster.
In other news, Perfect Love has been for a Sunflower Award for Best All Human Story. I am so excited and amazed by this, so I want to thank whoever nominated me. I never expected this, and I'm grateful beyond words. There is a link on my profile for anyone who wants to see all the nominations. Many other Carlisle and Esme stories have been nominated, too, which is awesome!
One last thing, my amazingly awesome friend MelissaMargaret has started a new story called Shattered. It's Carlisle/Esme, all human, very OOC, and very awesome, I might add (and I'm not just biased because I'm a pre-reader ;).) Go check it out if you get a chance!
Thanks once again for reading. Reviews will receive a teaser, so please feel free to share your thoughts! =)