ELEVEN

BPOV

The past week with Edward has been a dream. Every moment, every laugh, every stolen kiss felt like time had stopped just for us. We've been wrapped up in our own little world, free from the pressures of his life, free from the outside noise. But like all good things, it seems our time together is coming to an end once again.

This morning, he was summoned. His father had sent for him, and the weight of his royal duties was once again pulling him away.

I sit on the edge of the bed, watching as he gathers his things, trying to keep myself together. But as he turns to face me, his expression softens.

"Bella…" he starts, his voice gentle but full of regret.

I shake my head, trying to smile, but my throat tightens, and before I know it, tears sting the corners of my eyes. I blink quickly, not wanting to cry, not wanting to make this harder than it already is. But the thought of saying goodbye—again—hurts more than I expected.

"Don't," I whisper, standing up and taking a shaky breath. "I know you have to go."

Edward steps toward me, his brow furrowed, clearly taken aback by the sight of my tears. "Bella… don't cry," he says softly, his hands reaching for mine. He pulls me into his arms, and I feel the warmth of his body, his lips pressing gently against my forehead.

"I hate this," I mumble, burying my face into his chest. "I hate saying goodbye to you."

He holds me tighter, his hand running through my hair. "I hate it too," he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. "But this isn't the end."

I pull back slightly, wiping the tears from my eyes as I look up at him. "What do you mean?"

Edward smiles, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "We don't have to wait until I come back. Let's meet somewhere. Somewhere new, somewhere we can escape to. Just the two of us."

I blink, a spark of excitement cutting through the sadness. "Somewhere new?"

He nods, his eyes brightening. "Yes. Anywhere you want."

I think for a moment, trying to come up with a place that feels like an adventure, something far away from the life we've been running from. "How about… Kenya?"

Edward raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Kenya?"

I nod, feeling a little more hopeful now. "The first place that entered my mind. We can go somewhere else."

He grins, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "No, baby. I love it."

But then reality sets in, and I shake my head, laughing a little. "But I can't afford that. I shouldn't have even said it out loud."

Edward smirks, leaning in close as he cups my cheek. "Don't worry about that part," he whispers, his voice full of confidence.

I bite my lip, the idea of disappearing with him sounding too good to be true. But as I look into his eyes, the promise of a new adventure together fills me with a sense of hope I didn't expect.

"Okay," I whisper, nodding. "Let's do it."

As the plane descends into Kenya, I can hardly believe this is real. It's like something out of a dream, and my heart races with excitement and nerves. Edward had taken care of everything—he always does—but even so, stepping into a new world like this feels surreal.

At the airport, a man in a crisp white shirt holds up a sign with my name, and I smile as I approach him. He introduces himself as Samuel, my driver, and ushers me into a sleek SUV that's waiting outside. As we drive through the countryside, I can't stop staring out the window, taking in the vastness of the landscape—the golden savanna stretching as far as the eye can see, dotted with acacia trees and the silhouettes of giraffes and zebras in the distance.

It's like a movie.

After what feels like both hours and seconds, we pull up to the property. It's more beautiful than I imagined. The rustic but luxurious setting blends seamlessly into the wild surroundings—like the most glamorous form of camping. I take in the thatched roofs and open-air design, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of the savanna.

Samuel opens the door for me, and as I step out, a servant greets me with a chilled glass of champagne. I smile gratefully, taking the flute as I follow her through the winding stone pathways toward the main lodge.

The view from the balcony takes my breath away. It's a sweeping panorama of the African wilderness—giraffes grazing in the distance, zebras wandering by, and the sun hanging low in the sky, casting everything in a warm, golden glow. I sip the champagne, feeling the bubbles dance on my tongue as I stare out at the endless expanse of nature.

I walk closer to the edge of the balcony, the champagne glass cool in my hand, and I can't help but smile. This feels like stepping into another world—a private paradise that's somehow mine for the time being.

The sun begins to dip lower on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink. I stand there, completely absorbed by the beauty of the savanna, when suddenly, a pair of familiar arms snake around my waist from behind. I jump slightly, my heart skipping a beat.

Edward chuckles softly, pulling me closer into his chest. "Penny for your thoughts?" he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear.

I lean back into him, smiling as I take in the comfort of his presence. The world feels perfect like this—just the two of us, away from everything else. I bite my lip, a playful thought crossing my mind.

"Is it weird," I whisper, turning my head slightly to meet his gaze, "to have sexy time with my sex god of a boyfriend in a pool… while elephants watch him make me come?"

Edward bursts into laughter, his grip on me tightening as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. "That's what you're thinking about?" he asks, clearly amused.

I grin, shrugging slightly. "Well… when in Kenya, right?"

He shakes his head, still laughing softly as he spins me around to face him. "You, Bella Swan, are one of a kind. I missed you."

I beam up at him, feeling the warmth of his affection in every glance, every touch. The idea of us, here in this secluded paradise, feels like something out of a dream. And the playful banter between us makes it all the more real.

I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to Edward's lips before pulling back just enough to look into his eyes. "How was your flight?" I ask softly, my hands resting on his chest.

He smiles, his hands still holding my waist. "Long, but worth it now that I'm here with you," he says, his voice warm. "How was yours?"

I nod, trying to suppress a grin. "Fine, but… I may have watched a documentary about your family's history. Very educational."

Edward groans, throwing his head back slightly. "Oh no. What did you learn?"

I bite my lip, struggling to keep a straight face. "Well, did you know you have an ancestor who insisted on having sex in front of cats?"

He laughs, his grip tightening around my waist. "Ah, yes. King James, 1803. We've come a long way since then, I promise."

I gasp, laughing. "Wait, you also had another one who had four wives at the same time!"

Edward nods, his expression amused but a little embarrassed. "Yes, well… King Harold was a bit… ambitious."

I shake my head, still giggling as I lean against his chest. "Your family history is wild."

He grins, leaning down to kiss me again. "You have no idea."

The tented suite surrounding us is a mix of luxury and rustic charm, the perfect escape from everything. I stroll inside, letting the light fabric of the curtains sway as I walk toward the bed. Edward is standing near the entrance, looking at the view, but I can't take my eyes off him. With a soft smile, I sit on the edge of the bed, my gaze following his every move.

"So, what did you get up to while we were apart?" I ask, my voice light but curious.

Edward turns to me, his lips tugging into a smirk. "Engagements. Endless royal meetings. And of course, my parents nagged me about settling down."

I nod, understanding the pressures he's under. "My mother nagged me too," I admit with a shrug. "She wants me to come home."

He walks over to me, sitting down beside me, his fingers gently brushing against mine before he takes my hands and presses soft kisses to them. "What do you want, Bella?"

I sigh, my eyes drifting out toward the view of the endless savanna beyond. "I don't know. Maybe I could live in this tent and hide from the world."

Edward grins, his fingers intertwining with mine. "I'll join you. We can hide together."

I laugh, the sound light and full of affection. "I'll trade in Belle for Tarzan."

Edward chuckles, as he moves to lay beside me on the bed. I end up sprawled on top of him, and he looks up at me with that familiar twinkle in his eyes. "I like the sound of that."

I grin, leaning down to kiss him softly. The next few hours pass lazily, filled with kisses and quiet conversations. We catch up on everything we've missed, and for a while, the world outside of this tent doesn't exist. It's just us, lost in the warmth of each other's company.

I step out of the bathroom, slipping my earrings in as I walk toward the main room of our tented suite. The dress I've chosen flows around me, the vibrant greens and blues catching the soft evening light. Edward sits on the edge of the bed, engrossed in a game on his phone, but the moment I appear, he looks up.

I catch his gaze, and his eyes widen as he takes me in. A smile tugs at my lips as I do a playful spin, letting the fabric of the dress swirl around me. "Is it okay?" I ask, a hint of uncertainty creeping into my voice.

Edward scoffs, standing up and moving toward me, his phone long forgotten. "Okay?" he repeats, shaking his head. "Bella, you are absolutely stunning."

Heat rushes to my cheeks as his words sink in, and I feel his hands gently brush my waist before he leans in to kiss my forehead. "You're breathtaking," he murmurs softly.

"Thank you," I whisper, smiling up at him.

He offers his arm, and I gladly take it as he leads me out to the dinner he's arranged. As we step onto the balcony, I gasp. The setting is beyond anything I could have imagined. Candles flicker softly, casting a warm glow over the table, and the sound of live music drifts through the air. Dancers move gracefully nearby, the whole scene straight out of a dream.

We take our seats at the candlelit table, and Edward reaches across to take my hand. His fingers brush against mine before he lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against my skin. "This is so romantic," I whisper, my heart swelling with the beauty of the moment.

Edward smiles, his green eyes shining in the soft light. "Only the best for you."

The soft music floats through the air, blending with the flickering candlelight as we sit at the beautifully set table. Edward's hand rests in mine, his thumb lightly brushing across my skin. The night feels like something out of a dream, the soft sound of the musicians and the dancers moving gracefully in the background adding to the magic.

"So, how did you manage this?" I ask, glancing around at the stunning scene. "It's like we're in our own private world."

Edward grins, his eyes twinkling. "It took a bit of planning, but I wanted tonight to be special. Something we'll both remember."

I smile, feeling a warmth spread through me as I squeeze his hand. "You've definitely succeeded."

The waiter brings out our first course, and as we begin to eat, the conversation flows easily, like it always does with Edward. We talk about everything and nothing—the time we've spent apart, our plans for tomorrow's safari, and the little moments we've missed over the last few weeks. It feels comfortable, natural, like we've known each other far longer than we have.

"I have to say," I start, a teasing smile tugging at my lips, "this dinner… it might just top the Louvre."

Edward laughs softly, shaking his head. "Tough competition. But I'm glad it's holding up."

"It's more than holding up," I say, leaning in a little closer. "It's perfect."

Edward's eyes darken slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. "You're perfect."

Before I can respond, he stands up and extends a hand toward me, his expression soft but full of something deeper. "Dance with me."

I smile, taking his hand as he pulls me to my feet. The musicians shift their melody to something slower, and Edward wraps his arms around my waist, drawing me in close as we begin to sway under the stars. His hands feel warm and steady on my back, and I rest my head against his chest, letting the rhythm of the music guide us.

"This is quickly becoming our thing," I glance down at our feet.

"I'll forever save a dance for you," he kisses my forehead.

For a while, we simply dance in silence, the world falling away as we move together. The sound of the savanna in the distance, the warm night air, and the soft hum of the music all blend into a perfect symphony.

When we pull back, breathless, I can't help but grin. "What's next on the agenda, Your Highness?" I tease, raising an eyebrow.

Edward laughs, his arms still wrapped around me. "Well, we've had dinner, we've danced… I think it's time we unwind."

I laugh softly, resting my head against his chest again. "Unwind, huh?"

He nods, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. "Tomorrow is going to be another adventure. But for tonight, it's just us."