Forty-Nine

E

Luckily for us, we manage to survive the storm with everything intact. Aside from a lot of branches, leaves, and some trash littering the front and back yards, and a loose shutter, there isn't much damage.

Alice and Jasper weren't so lucky, and the Western Hemlock in their front yard nearly took out the front porch of their cottage. Equipped with my chainsaw, a box of lawn bags, and the ingredients for dinner, Bella and I arrive ready to help.

Jackson is happy to see us, abandoning his mother and toddling across the messy lawn, right into Bella's waiting arms.

"Hi, Jack Jack."

He places a smacking kiss on her cheek and giggles. "Hi!"

I follow them into the house and drop the groceries off in the kitchen while Alice pulls pots and pans out of cabinets.

"Jasper is out back grabbing his gear from the shed," she tells me with a pout. "I really loved that tree."

I give her a hug and remind her that it could have been much worse. They could have lost the house if the tree had fallen a mere two feet to the right.

As luck would have it, Jasper owns his own landscaping business, so he knows what he's doing. It takes hours to break the tree down and another two to move everything to the side of their yard. Once everything dries out, we plan to have a hell of a bonfire.

"Thanks for the help, man. I really appreciate it."

"That's what friends are for." I drop the last log on the pile and take my gloves off. "Let's go check on the girls. Hopefully, the food is done because I've worked up an appetite."

Bella and Alice have been hard at work as well and are waiting with big bowls of homemade chili and cornbread from scratch.

While Jackson makes a huge mess in his highchair, we eat and make small talk.

The wedding is coming up fast. One of Alice's bridesmaids backed out last minute due to a tiff. She asked Bella to stand in, and my wonderful girlfriend didn't hesitate to agree.

She really is the best. She makes it so easy to love her.

After dinner, Alice takes Jackson to get a much needed bath before bed, and Jasper offers to follow us home to get a start on cleaning up the mess the tornado left behind before the sun goes down.

I insist that I can take care of it myself and that he and his crew should focus on the more impacted people in the area. Bella and I passed a lot of damage on our way over this morning.

When we get home, Bella puts away the leftovers, and I call our crew to make sure they made it through the storm. Tomorrow is Tuesday, so Rebar is closed, but I need to know if we're going to be shorthanded this week so they can take care of things on their ends.

All three live in apartments, so they're good and offer to come and help out, but I'm sure Bella and I can clean up on our own. I tell them to enjoy the day off and be ready for a busy week.

"Hey, babe," Bella calls from the kitchen. "l'm sure you're tired. How about I grab us some beers and we soak in the tub? Maybe I'll give you a massage after." She comes sauntering out with a six-pack and a smile.

I raise a brow. "Do I have a choice?"

She shakes her head and heads for the stairs. "I'm sure we can handle the cleanup tomorrow. Let's go, boyfriend."

While Bella readies the tub with epsom salts and plenty of bubbles, I light a bunch of candles and shut the light off.

The soft glow from the flames makes her alabaster skin glow, and my body reacts accordingly as she slips into the hot water, scooching to make room for me.

We both give a deep sigh when I pull her against my chest and wrap my arms around her.

"I love it when you hold me."

"I love holding you."

We soak in the tub, drinking, talking, and re-warming the water when it cools until we're both pruned.

"Do you want that massage now?" Bella asks, her voice husky and full of want.

I nod because as relaxing as the soak was, I'm sore from all the manual labor. Of course, having her hands all over me is just the icing on the cake.

I wish we had cake.

Bella slips into my favorite nighty and runs downstairs to warm up the massage oil. Before she leaves, she tells me to lie down. When she returns, she drapes a towel over me and climbs on top. I moan as she works out the kinks and knots in my back and shoulders.

I relax so much I manage to fall asleep on her.

…

The following day, we work together, cleaning up the mess the storm left behind. It takes most of the day, clearing the debris and dragging the bigger limbs to the curb.

Unlike Alice and Jasper, our neighborhood doesn't allow burn piles, so we'll have to wait for the trash pick up.

"I think I'm going to need a manicure." Bella holds up her hands, showing off her wrecked nails despite the gloves she wore. "And I know I'm going to need a massage after this."

I smile. "You can go to a salon before your shift tomorrow. As for the massage, I volunteer, seeing as I owe you for last night."

"I still can't believe you fell asleep on me."

I apologize for the millionth time.

"I mean. I had so many plans for you when you turned over." She hums and sits on the front porch stairs, chugging from her water bottle.

"Do tell."

"Hand job, blow job," she ticks off. "Me riding you and doing all the work to reward you for all of your hard work."

Speaking of hard. I adjust my pants and approach with an outstretched hand, pulling her to her feet. "Do you want me to tell you what I have planned, should you manage to stay awake?"

Bella shakes her head. "I'd rather be surprised."

I tell her to go start the shower while I order dinner. I ask for it to be delivered in an hour, giving myself enough time to start what I have planned for my girl.

Climbing the stairs, I hear Bella singing softly to herself and smile because she's so damn cute.

When I enter the bathroom, I find her already naked. She asks me what's wrong and takes her hair out of the braid, letting the curls fall down her back chaotically.

I lean against the doorjamb and give her a slow once over.

"What?" she asks again.

"You're so fucking beautiful, baby."

Bella rolls her eyes. "I've been doing yard work all day. I put the mess in hot mess."

I push off the doorjamb, take her glasses off, setting them on the sink, and wrap my arms around her, burying my face in the wild mane.

"You're my hot mess," I whisper.

She reaches for my shirt and pulls it over my head, kissing my chest and grimacing. "You reek."

After shucking my pants, I help her into the shower and go about shampooing her hair, causing her eyes to roll. I clean her head to toe and ask Siri what time it is.

I still have twenty minutes before the Chinese will arrive, so I hurry, washing myself, before dropping to my knees and throwing one of Bella's legs over my shoulder.

Placing an open mouthed kiss on her sex, she buckles, crying out and gripping my hair for stability. Her arousal, as always, is addictive as I lap, suck, and bite at her clit until she's come twice. I want to keep going, but she pushes me away, catching her breath.

"God."

I kiss my way up her body and let her suck on my tongue, moaning at the taste of herself.

"As much as I'd like to continue this, dinner should be here soon, and you're going to need your strength." I shut the water off and reach for a towel.

"Oh, really?"

I nod and dry her off before myself.

We dress in comfy clothes and head downstairs right in time for the doorbell to ring.

Bella turns on a rerun of a show we both enjoy while we eat, and she shovels food in her mouth with gusto.

"Worked up an appetite, didn't you, baby?" l joke.

"Sure did," she says after she swallows a bite.

I warn her not to get too full or she's going to ruin my plans for her.

When we're finished, I send her back upstairs, clean up dinner, and lock up before joining her.

She's lit some sweet-smelling candles and grabbed her favorite lotion, already lying on her stomach in nothing but her panties.

"Do you want to turn on some music?"

I climb onto the bed, straddling her legs, and reach for the bottle. "No, baby. The only sounds I want to hear are loud moans."

She chuckles and squirms underneath me. "Better get to it then. I'd hate to fall asleep on you."

I smack her ass for being cheeky, earning a squeal.

I warm a palmful of lotion in my hands, and for the next thirty minutes, the only sounds echoing off the walls are Bella's pleasure-filled moans. I rub her back thoroughly, working my way down her legs, to her feet, paying close attention to the arches because I know she likes it.

"Are you still with me, baby?" I ask and turn her over, taking in the blissful state I've left her in.

She smiles with hooded eyes and nods.

I grab the lotion again and spend extra time on her spectacular tits, making sure they're good and moisturized. By the time I'm finished, her nipples are stiff peaks, and she's writhing, begging for me to take her already.

And I do. I do take her.

After I slip her panties off and toss them to the floor, I go down on her for the second time tonight and bring her to the brink, stopping only to slip inside her with one smooth thrust.

"Edward!" she groans.

I dominate her mouth and thrust hard until she's coming. Hard. Screaming my name and dragging her jagged nails down my back, roughly enough to draw blood.

The pain is sweet torture and welcomed as I empty myself inside her with a roar before collapsing on top of her.

Our breathing is labored as we come down.

"That was intense," she whispers, running her hands over my back, soothing the scratches. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

I shrug it off because I would definitely do it again. Just like that.

I roll off of her, and Bella slips out of bed, going to the bathroom to clean up while I pull the covers up, waiting for her to join me.

When she crawls under the blankets, she moves over until we're smashed together, all tangled limbs and sharing breaths.

"Do you think we'll be busy this week?" she asks, muffling a yawn against my chest.

"Let's not worry about Rebar."

She looks up, eyes bleary with exhaustion. "I care about the bar because I know how much it means to you. Your success is my success, baby."

I kiss her softly and tighten my hold on her. "I love you."

"I love you too."