I love you guys more than life itself, I swear! All your reviews just totally make my day. This wasn't Beta'd, so I apologize for any and all mistakes.
Featured shout out of the week to: Edward Cullens true luv! You're so great - I love your reviews and how you basically tell me my story is the best in all of FF. Thanks so much for the support :] Check out her story "Surgeon Bella." The prologue is up now, and I'm her Beta!
I got a few comments about Edward's taking things slow. I know you all want them to get it on, believe me, so do I! But I can't make Edward do anything he doesn't want to do. I have arguments with him in my head about it. Don't worry, his self control is slowly wearing away...and me likey ;]
As always, Jasmine is my favorite, and Stephenie Meyer owns everything, including my heart on ice in a cooler.
BPOV
I was floating on Cloud 9 laying in my bed Wednesday morning. The covers were pulled up to my chin and I was grinning like a moron staring up at the ceiling. I couldn't sleep at all last night because of the excessive smiling and internal squealing I was doing. I guess the only word for what I was doing, would be 'swooning.'
And I was. Last night had to be the most amazing and romantic date I've ever been on. The execution, the thought process, and Edward being such a gentleman was just too much for the teenage girl inside of me to handle. Of course, there was the dark side of me that just wanted Edward to fuck me right in that meadow and forget everything. But he was sweet, and he was right. Because of how we had started this 'relationship,' we should probably take it slow. There was also the pessimistic half of my brain that was yelling at me, telling me that he wanted to 'take it slow' because he found spending actual time with me completely repulsive. But that didn't make sense, because if he didn't like spending time with me then all he'd want was a quick lay and then he'd drop me. I was so confused! I really wished I could stab my brain with a sharp object.
As much as I wanted to lay in bed all day and swoon, it was time to go back to work. My boss had given me the weekend off to move, Monday we're closed, and Tuesday is my regular day off. Having a big long break from work was like having one from school; great while it lasts but it only makes it more difficult to go back. So, rather regrettably, I dragged my body out of bed and over to the shower to get ready for work.
The lathering of soap and hot water cascading over me calmed me down from my overexcited state and I started to look forward to work. It had been a while, and all I really wanted to was just cook. It would keep my mind off Edward and in perspective.
After I showered and got dressed, I went in the kitchen and made myself a feta cheese omelet and hash browns. Cooking really soothed me. I was the only person in the house that could cook when Renee and I were living in Phoenix, so it was something I got to do all the time. Surprisingly I didn't get tired of it; on the contrary, I took to it like a fish takes to water. From an early age I knew I wanted to be a cook.
I sat down with my breakfast and ate slowly, really enjoying in all the savory tastes. The clock said 9:41 - I still had some time until my shift started at 12:30. So I decided to take my time eating, then went over to my laptop to pay some bills.
Again I was getting really restless and I didn't know what to do with myself. This had been happening more often since I had met Edward. I always felt jumpy and needed to be around him. When Edward was near me, I felt calm. Obviously I was nervous about behaving around this god, but he had this calming factor about him. I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Maybe it wasn't him at all. Maybe it was something that I had always needed, and it was finally here in the form of the most beautiful man on earth.
After going through the ridiculously long and irritating process of paying bills online with a slow computer, I gathered up my things for work. Since the weekdays were usually not a very busy time for the restaurant, I brought one of my favorite books along with me, Wuthering Heights. I figured between cooking I could catch a bit of reading. I made sure I had everything with me, then set out my door and down to the elevator.
"Bella!" someone called after me. I knew who it was. How could I mistake that velvety voice for anyone else than Edward?
I turned around to see a disheveled Edward in blue and green plaid pajama pants and a sinfully snug wife beater tee. He had obviously just gotten out of bed and his hair was messier than usual. Correction: it was sexier than usual. His pectoral muscles strained against the white fabric and his delicious shoulders were perfectly accentuated. I think at one point I started drooling.
"Hi," I managed.
"Going to work? Can I walk you to your car?" he asked.
"Sure," I nodded. I cocked my eyebrow at him when I saw his feet. He was wearing the most elderly looking slippers I had ever seen in my life. "Nice slippers," I teased.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm 85 years old. Do you want to be late to work?"
I continued laughing all the way down the elevator and to my truck.
When we arrived at the cab, I asked him something that had been troubling me since I saw him running after me down the hallway.
"How did you know I was leaving at that moment, going to work?"
"I…uh…well, I heard you, of course."
"You heard me? What, am I that loud?"
"No! No, of course not. Ugh…okay, don't be creeped out, alright?"
I got nervous all of a sudden, but I just nodded my head in agreement.
"I…I called the restaurant and asked about your schedule. I wanted to find the right opportunity to sort of nonchalantly ask you your phone number…"
Edward freaking Cullen actually went out of his way to see me in the morning, just so he could nervously ask for my number after having slept with me twice. Shit, could this guy get any better?
"Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, but you could have just asked me, you know," I said, taking his phone and putting my number in it.
"It's nerve racking!" he said.
"You had sex with me twice, you big goofball!"
"It's not the same," he muttered, feigning hurt.
We finished exchanging numbers and I looked at my watch: it was 12:08.
"Crap," I said, getting into the truck, "Edward, I would really love to stay and talk with you, but I have to get to work. Call me later, maybe?"
"Definitely," he said, watching me as I drove away.
I looked in my rear view mirror to see Edward still standing in the lot, waiting for me to be out of sight. He was staring after me, then at his cell phone, smiling. I felt so giddy as I floored it to work, realizing that exchanging numbers was the next step in our relationship. Okay, not really 'relationship' yet, if ever, but still.
I pulled into the lot of Fetta di Calabria and came in through the back employee entrance. I said hello to my boss, clocked in, and got my apron and chef hat on.
As I was doing this, one of the other chefs arrived. His name was Jacob Black, and he was freakishly tall, had russet colored skin and jet black hair that was slightly longer than the average cut. I dated him for a while last year; I never usually dated a coworker (it was sort of a rule of mine) but at the time he seemed so irresistible, and I hadn't really dated in a while. So I gave him a shot. Needless to say, he was a horrible lay and very childish. I broke it off after a month but he wouldn't stop bothering me. Making lewd, but harmless, comments and begging for another chance. Today wasn't any different.
"Hey babe, lookin' fine," he called after me.
"Jake," I acknowledged him indifferently.
He motioned to the front of his pants and made a very lewd gesture.
"Want some of this, babe? I know you liked it."
"Hardly," I said, and I tried staring at the wall in front of my work station. This is going to be a long day.
Just then I felt my phone vibrate in my pants pocket. I took it out to see who it was. It was a text from Edward.
Have a good day at work.
Hope it's not too stressful.
I'll be missing you.
- Edward
I sighed and smiled in adoration at the text message. He said he was missing me! It was almost too good to be true. I texted him back a thank you.
Thanks, I miss you too.
- Bella
"What are you grinning at, Swan?" came the voice of my boss, Mr. Banner.
"Nothing, sir," I responded, tucking my phone away quickly.
"Well get ready, we've got a party of 12 coming in for a birthday at one o'clock. I need everyone on deck. That means you, Jake."
The cooking staff was comprised of a head chef, Garrett, the su chef, me, and two regular chefs, Jacob and Benjamin. There were a few other floaters that came and went, but this was the core staff. Of course, I was the only girl, and it sucked most of the time. Large parties weren't uncommon in our restaurant; Italian families are big and they tend to extend their families to close friends. But 12 people right off the bat was a little daunting.
I guess I won't be taking a break to read anytime soon…
And so the long day began. The party of 12 ordered two of almost everything on the menu. Daunting, indeed. We worked feverishly over the stoves making bulk amounts of manicotti, ravioli, antipasto, chicken marsala, and so much more. Then a few more people came in from a different party, and apparently they had a huge appetite because they were ordering massive quantities of food. By the time 4 o'clock rolled around, the crowd had faded out. There were only two parties of two, and they were pretty calm and slow. I was able to take a break while the rest of them took care of the food.
I sat outside to get away from the heat and massive amounts of ricotta and checked my phone for any missed calls or texts. There was one from my Adonis.
I wish you were here with me.
- Edward
A smile spread across my lips as I thought of all the things we could be doing if I was with him, and where we could be doing them, repeatedly…
Me too. But what did you have in mind?
- Bella
I breathed in the fresh air and was greeted a minute later by another text from Edward.
You are a vixen, Bella.
But I shall not succumb to your temptations!
- Edward
I laughed out loud at his response and decided to play with him a bit. I needed a bit of fun.
That isn't fair, Edward.
I would succumb to any of your temptations easily.
- Bella
My phone buzzed quicker this time. It was on.
That's because you have less self control than I do.
Mine is wearing thin, however.
I keep imagining you in that blue dress…
- Edward
So he was thinking about me, eh? Well I could do better than that. He needed to be all hot and bothered, begging for me to be there with him.
Don't you mean you're imagining me out of that blue dress?
- Bella
A slight pause, and then a response.
Careful, Bella.
I might come over there and make you my sex slave in another minute.
- Edward
My lips curled up into a smile.
I fully hope so.
Need to get back to work.
I'll still be thinking of you ;]
- Bella
I went back inside with the triumphant feeling of making this god crumble over a few text messages and made myself a sandwich with mozzarella, roasted peppers, lettuce, and balsamic vinegar. It was a quick fix before a frozen dinner when I got home around 11.
After I finished with my lunch, I worked nonstop until about 9:30. The last party left, and since we closed at 10, we assumed no one else would be coming. We packed up our things and Banner sent us home before closing up. Jacob had to give it one last try today, of course.
"Wanna come back to my place, Bella?"
"No, Jake. Goodnight," I responded, rather exasperated.
He sped off in his car, defeated.
In what seemed like hours I finally pulled into the parking lot and went up to my apartment. I stumbled in and my stomach alerted me to the fact that I hadn't eaten since four; it was now 10. I popped a frozen macaroni and cheese dinner into the microwave and took off my shoes, exhausted.
The microwave signaled its completion of cooking my terribly artificial meal, and I sat on the couch and ate it in three minutes. I cleaned up my mess and was about to go sink into bed when my phone buzzed with a text message.
I know you're home (no, I'm not a stalker) and you're probably already asleep.
Just wanted to say goodnight to a beautiful woman.
Goodnight, Isabella.
- Edward
I texted him back with a smile before I passed out.
You're too much.
Goodnight, Edward.
- Bella
And with that, I threw my phone on the counter, shuffled to my bed, and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
The rest of the week went on like this. Ridiculous hours at the restaurant, flirty texts with Edward, and passing out in a plate of some frozen meal. Pretty much like a lather, rinse, repeat deal. Friday and Saturday are our busiest days, and I was going on complete overdrive those two days. I seriously thought I was going to die of exhaustion.
Then came Sunday. We're only open until six on Sunday, because traditionally (at least with the Calabrese) Sunday dinners occur around two in the afternoon. We like to stick to tradition.
I was coming back from my shift Sunday evening when I got to my door and saw a note attached to it. I took it off and read it.
Bella,
I know it's been difficult for you all week. I feel like such a bum having been on vacation this week, sitting on my ass like a…well, bum. I'd like to you to be at my apartment at 7:30 for dinner. You deserve to be pampered. Besides, I'm a selfish bastard and need to see you. Until then, beautiful.
- Edward
My heart leapt and then sunk.
I look like a total scrub right now!!
I ran into my apartment like a banshee and showered faster than a jackrabbit on a hot grill in August…or something like that. Jasper's Southern phrases always confused me…
I bolted into my room all dried off in a towel, and then realized: I had no clue what to wear. Alice wasn't here to help me, and she didn't have enough time to come over here. I didn't even have enough time to call her! I had 40 minutes left to get ready, and I had no idea what I was doing. I sifted through my closet and was met with jeans, jeans, and more jeans! I wasn't looking for a ball gown, but perhaps something less grimy and casual than jeans. Finally I came across a white skirt that flowed to my ankles. I put on a pair of flip flops and a light blue t-shirt. I figured it was casual while being a little dressy but not too much so. I pulled my hair up into a bun and used what makeup skills Alice taught me and applied a light amount of black eyeliner and mascara, along with a soft touch of blue eye shadow and a light gloss on my lips. Deciding there was nothing more that I could do with myself, I looked at the clock. 7:23. Perfect.
If our first date said anything, it would be that he was just as anxious and nervous about this as I was, and that he wouldn't mind my getting to his place a little early. I locked up my door and knocked on his. A few seconds later, Edward answered the door in a pair dark slacks and a gray button down shirt which had, as always, the top few buttons open and the ends of the shirt hanging loosely outside of his pants. Talk about perfection…
"Come in," he said.
I stepped over the threshold and into his apartment where I was greeted with the most romantic sight. His kitchen table was set with beautiful china atop a blue tablecloth. A bottle of red wine sat on the table in front of two wine glasses. A deliciously mouthwatering scent filled the room and consumed me. I wondered what he was making for dinner, and was anxious to see his cooking skills. I was also dead starving, but that's besides the point.
"Why don't you sit?" He pulled the chair out for me and I sat down, looking around with a mesmerized look on my face.
"This is very nice, Edward. You didn't have to do this," I said.
He scooped some tossed salad onto the appropriate plate and added a dressing that I selected.
"Yes I did. You've been slaving away all week. You need a break."
"I really appreciate it."
We sat down and chatted while we ate our salad. He had just the right blend of vegetables and fruit and dressing. I couldn't wait to see the main course. A timer went off and he pulled a pan out of the oven.
"It was done a few minutes before you arrived…I just wanted it to stay warm until you got here and we had finished our salad."
He appeared at my side and put a beautiful piece of steak on my plate. There was garlic salt and different kinds of spices and it was cooked to the perfect color. Next he scooped onto my plate the fluffiest and most delectable mashed potatoes I had ever seen. He added a tiny bit of butter and went over to his own plate to serve himself.
"I figured," he said as he sat down, "you might want a break from Italian food."
"Good thinking. It's rare that I get to eat a good steak. It's pasta all the time," I responded.
I cut a piece of my steak while Edward poured me a glass of wine. As soon as the meat hit my tongue I moaned. It was savory and had so much flavor; it wasn't tough like leather, but it wasn't soft like lamb. It was absolutely perfect.
"Oh my god," I moaned, "this is so delicious. Mmmmm."
"I take it you're enjoying the meal?" said Edward.
I just nodded my head as I shoveled a forkful of mashed potatoes into my mouth. I couldn't talk when this scrumptious food was clouding my senses. I swallowed whatever food was in my mouth and finally spoke.
"Edward, you're an incredible cook! Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"My grandmother. She was the best. She used to give me lessons every Sunday afternoon."
Another forkful of mashed potatoes went in my mouth and I felt a bit miss my mouth and stick to my lip. I darted my tongue out to catch it. I looked over at Edward whose jaw had dropped a few inches.
"What?" I asked.
"You're too enticing for your own good. Your tongue, Bella. Unnhhhh…"
I pulled one corner of my mouth up into a half smile, going for something real slick and sultry.
"You mean when I do this?" I asked as I licked my top and bottom lips.
"I'm warning you, Bella…" he trailed off.
I bit my lip and smiled innocently. He groaned and shifted uncomfortably in his chair as he poked at his steak with his fork.
I giggled and we finished our dinner without any seduction attempts. I figured it would be for the best; giving Edward a case of blue balls would be very rude.
We finished up and Edward cleared the table like a gentleman. He wouldn't even let me help, claiming, like he did in the letter, that I needed to be pampered. Tonight was about me. If it was really about me then he'd let me jump his bones hard…
After everything was cleaned up we sat over on his couch with our glasses of wine. He wanted to know more about me.
"I know this subject is a sort of taboo for dates, but I wanted to ask you about your past relationships and sexual encounters. I feel it's important to know, and I think we're past all the formalities."
I was definitely not expecting that, but I didn't have a problem with letting him know. I wasn't totally inexperienced, but I wasn't a slut either.
"My first boyfriend was the first person I slept with. Mike and I dated our whole senior year of high school and our freshman year of college. He started getting kind of stupid and clingy so we split."
He nodded, signaling me to continue.
"During college I went on a few dates. Nothing really major. I never went as far as I did with Mike. Except I got really stupid drunk my senior year of college and had a one-night-stand with this accounting major, Eric. He was so greasy…" I shuddered at the terrifying memory.
Edward chuckled a bit and I went on.
"The last person I was with was my coworker, Jacob. We dated for about a month last year and I slept with him. And then came you. That's my entire history. It's your turn now."
"Well," he cleared his throat, "I had one girlfriend throughout high school, Jessica, and we had sex. We wanted to go separate ways for college so we broke up after graduation. Then in college I sort of had this on and off girlfriend/booty call, Tanya. She was a real creep though. I know it's gross but sometimes I needed a good lay. I'm not proud of it. And then I had a one-night-stand…I can't remember her name but I wasn't in my right mind at the time and ended up leaving her without an explanation. Again, I'm not proud of what I did."
I stared at him in disbelief. "That's it?"
"What, were you expecting?" he asked sincerely.
"I was expecting you to have to start counting on your toes because there weren't enough fingers left! And then pull out a list that was so long it rolled all the way down to the floor!"
"So, in short, you expected me to be a manwhore?"
"No! I didn't mean it like that!" It sounded so bad when he said it like that. "You're just so gorgeous…and, well, fuckable, I just figured you had been with a lot of girls."
"Look who's talking, Miss Vixen. I'm surprised you didn't have the entire United States army!"
We joked about each other's sex lives and divulged information about each of our partners. Then Edward got up and went over to the fridge and took out a piece of chocolate cake.
"Dessert," he said simply.
He got a fork out of one of his cutlery drawers and made his way back over to me on the couch.
"I'm going to feed you," he said seriously.
He scooped a small portion of the cake onto the fork and held it to my lips. I opened my mouth and ran it over the fork and took the cake with me. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back, moaning. Chocolate was a weakness of mine, and this was definitely the best I had ever had. I licked my lips free of all the chocolate and I heard a moan in front of me. Edward was looking the way he did during dinner when I pulled this routine. I smiled and took the fork from him, feeding him a piece of the cake. A little bit of chocolate was left on the corner of his mouth. I leaned in closer to him and licked it up, tasting his sweet skin along with the sweet chocolate.
"Delicious," I said.
Before I knew it I was laying on my back with Edward on top of me, panting. The plate with the cake had been discarded somewhere on the floor, probably a mess. He crashed his lips to mine and licked the chocolate from my lips. He plunged his tongue into my mouth and we sucked on each other's tongues, hands flying everywhere. I ran my fingers through his messy hair and pulled gently, eliciting a groan from him. So he likes it when I do that…
His hands traveled up and down my body, cupping my breasts through my shirt while our tongues danced and fought with each other. I hitched my leg up around his waist, bringing us closer. He slipped his hand underneath my skirt and massaged my leg up and down at an alarmingly slow rate. I released my mouth from his; I was running out of breath. I wanted to keep the contact going so I kissed and sucked down his jaw line. I gasped when his fingers started playing with the elastic band of my panties. In less than a second Edward had sat back up and looked a little…what was the word? Upset maybe? There was a tent starting in his pants and he pouted.
"I almost lost it, Bella."
"What are you talking about?"
"I want to take it slow, and instead all I could think about was taking you slow on this couch."
I sat up and gripped his chest. "I don't mind," I said.
"Neither would I, believe me." He motioned to his pants and chuckled. "But I want to do this right. I know it might be stupid but I think it's important."
"I totally understand. You're so different, Edward. That's one of the things I really like about you."
"So…you want to see me again?"
I smiled. "Definitely."
He let out a big gust of breath. "Phew. I'm glad."
I went to pick up the cake that had fallen on the floor in the heat of our passion but he stopped me.
"You're still not allowed to clean up, Bella."
I rolled my eyes and sat back down on the couch as I watched him put the plate in the dishwasher and clean the rug. After a few minutes of straightening up he joined me back on the couch.
"Will you let me take you out again?"
"Of course, silly," I said, playfully swatting his arm.
"Good." He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my lips. I cupped his cheek, deepening the kiss before pulling away.
"As much as I would like to stay and continue this, I have to get to bed. I'm so exhausted; I could quite possibly pass out right on your face. Although you might like that…"
"I probably would, and that's a dangerous thing. Would you…uh, never mind."
"Ask me! Come on," I pleaded.
"Would you like to sleep over?" he rushed. "Since you're already so tired, I think it's a good idea. Besides, I like waking up next to you."
I smiled and nodded my head. He let me go into the bathroom and brush my teeth; he had an extra. I went to the bathroom and let my hair down. I didn't have anything to wear to bed, and I felt slightly uncomfortable with asking him for some pants. So I just took my skirt off and folded it, placing it on the bathroom counter. I washed off some of the makeup on my face; enough so it wouldn't bother me and smear but not too much so I looked like a hideous beast. I stepped out of the bathroom and made my way into his bedroom.
Edward's bedroom was much like his living room: filled with books and journals and pictures and painted in his favorite navy blue. His bed was as big as mine without the ridiculous canopy. He had black cotton sheets and matching comforter and a few pillows. He turned around and gasped when he saw me.
"Bella you're killing me. Do you want me to take you in the middle of the night?"
"Actually, yes. But I swear I'm not trying to seduce you."
"You don't even have to try. But I promise to be good as long as you do."
"I pinky swear!"
He laughed and locked pinkies with me, and then kissed the spot where our littlest fingers intertwined. We got into bed and I pulled the covers up to my chest. I rolled over and looked at Edward's beautifully calm face. He leaned over and kissed me once on the lips, then scooted over, turned me over, and held me close in his arms, wrapping them around my waist. He placed a kiss atop my hair and then on the side of my neck.
"Goodnight, beautiful," he said, and we floated off to sleep together.
So....you likey? Let me know what you think! How would you like their relationship to progress? Suggestions for conflict? Do you want to see Edward's POV for the next day? Anything at all just let me know! I'm dying to hear your thoughts/comments/questions/concerns/suggestions. As you veteran reviewers should know, I respond to each and every review without fail.
Reviews are better than licking chocolate off of Edward's mouth. Actually, no they're not, but they DO make me update faster.