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27

I'm awakened by a loud clap of thunder, followed quickly by a flash of lightning a few hours later. I'm not sure what time it is, but it's late. I stretch, feeling the weight of Edward's arm around my middle. We'd shifted at some point; I was now on my side, with Edward spooning me from behind. I was comfortable and relaxed in a way I hadn't been in a long time.

Listening to the rain hitting the window, I try to go back to sleep, but it's being elusive. Sighing, I give up for now, knowing it's useless. I'm wide awake.

Edward tightens his grip around my middle, pulling me closer. Clearly, I'm not the only one struggling. He kisses the side of my neck, and I melt.

I roll on my other side so I can face him. His eyes are puffy with sleep, and his hair is a mess. Even so, he's still the sexiest man I've ever seen. If not more so.

"Did the storm wake you up, too? I ask, my fingers running along the scruff on his jaw, feeling it prickle against my skin. He was always clean-shaven, but I liked this little bit of facial hair. It added to his handsomeness.

"No, I've been awake for a while." He brushes some hair behind my ear, his fingertips tracing the shape. Goosebumps travel along my skin at his touch.

"Do I snore? Is that why you couldn't sleep?" I jest, making him laugh.

"No," his smile is so bright his eyes are sparkling. "I struggle with insomnia sometimes."

"I didn't know that." I'm discovering so many things about him tonight that I didn't already know. I liked peeling back the layers that made up the man beside me and getting to know him better.

He shrugs, "It's just a thing. I've learned to deal with it."

"It may just be a thing, but it's a thing that makes up you." I scratch the stubble on his jaw again, enjoying the feel of it under my fingers. "And there isn't anything about you I don't want to know."

He cups my jaw, thumb stroking my cheek. The intensity in his gaze is overwhelming. "What are you doing to me, Bella?"

His question is weighted, and because I don't know how to answer, I kiss him instead.

It's a soft brush of the lips that sends my heart racing. The novelty of kissing him is something that I hope I never get over. I never wanted that spark of electricity over a simple touch to fade, even though I knew it would in time, making way for something better in its absence.

I moan softly into his mouth when his tongue finds mine, stroking gently. It was never about battling for dominance when he kissed me this way, but mutual pleasure. The other guys I'd kissed, not that there had been many, were too focused on themselves to make sure I'd enjoyed it. That isn't the case with Edward. I crave his kiss like an addict, always wanting more.

The hand that's cupping my jaw slowly travels down my neck, his touch featherlight. I shiver when his fingers graze the side of my breast, and I press myself closer to him. His thumb finds my nipple, brushing it lightly until it pebbles under his touch.

"Is this okay?" He pulls back from my mouth enough to speak.

I nod, swallowing thickly so I can speak. "Don't stop."

His lips find mine again, tongue going deep, and I'm dizzy, drunk on the moment. His hand travels down my side, over the dip of my waist, to the hem of the t-shirt I'm wearing that's ridden up to my lower belly. The muscles of my abdomen clench when his fingers circle my belly button. Flattening his palm against my stomach, he slides his hand over my ribs, the tips of his fingers finding the underside of his breast.

"Your skin is so soft." He whispers, eyes hooded and glazed over. He's just as lost as I am.

I whimper when he cups my breast; the feeling of his thumb stroking my nipple with nothing between us sends pleasure rippling through my veins, where it settles between my legs. I didn't know I could be this turned on.

"I want to see you." He pinches my nipple, making what he means clear. "Will you let me?"

"God, yes." I'm too far gone to be embarrassed by my eagerness. All I can think is more, more, more.

In the next moment, my shirt is thrown over the side of the bed. Edward's gaze rakes over me, a hunger in his forest green eyes that helps me forget that I should be self-conscious being this bare in front of him.

"Fuck, Bella." His voice is like gravel when he speaks, lust clearly visible in his hooded gaze.

I blush, but not out of embarrassment.

His lips meet mine, and I whimper when he takes my bottom lip between his, his teeth nipping it. He quickly follows it up with his tongue to soothe the sting. I thread my fingers through his hair when his lips leave mine, peppering kisses along my jaw and neck.

I gasp when his mouth envelopes my nipple. Arching my back, I pull on his hair, causing him to moan, the vibrations making my toes curl. The ache between my legs is becoming unbearable, and I rub my legs together to try to get some relief.

His lips find mine again as he moves so he's on top of me. Grasping his shoulders, I pull him to me, trying to get him as close as possible. I don't want there to be any space between us.

After a few moments, he starts to pull back, but I clutch the back of his neck. I know he's going to try to slow us down, but I don't want that. I want all of him.

"Don't." I gasp.

"Bella…" he starts, but I interrupt him.

"I want this with you. I've never been more sure."

"Goddamn, Bella." He presses his forehead against mine. "I want you so fucking badly; I can't think straight."

I arch up, taking his bottom lip between my teeth and pulling on it, causing him to thrust against me. I moan because it felt so fucking good.

"Be with me."

With a muttered 'fuck,' his lips meet mine with a crushing force. He isn't holding back; a rush of satisfaction at breaking his control goes through me. When one of his hands makes its way between my legs, sliding without pause into my panties, my thighs fall open, giving him better access.

"Edward." I pant when his fingers brush my clit.

"Fuck, you're soaked." He says, but it seems like it's more to himself. "Am I the only one?" He whispers in my ear, but I can barely focus on his words because one of his fingers has made its way inside me, his thumb giving my clit firm strokes that have pleasure building in my core. I was already close; embarrassingly fast.

"Yes." I gasp, arching my back when he finds a spot inside me that has me seeing stars.

His tongue traces the shell of my ear. "I want to make you come." He nips the spot below my ear. "Are you close?"

"So close." My hand covers his between my legs, trying to get him deeper.

"It's okay, baby. You can let go."

When he takes my nipple into his mouth, sucking it deeply, I do just that, crying out his name.

"Are you sure?" he asks once I've caught my breath, fingers hooked into the sides of my underwear.

I nod. "I'm sure."

He sits up on his knees, keeping his eyes on mine as he slides my panties down my legs, and they disappear over the side of the bed to mingle with my t-shirt.

"Fuck me." He breathes, taking in my bare form. "You're so beautiful."

"You make me feel beautiful," I confess, ignoring the blush that comes to my cheeks. Sitting up, I place open-mouthed kisses along his chest, pausing to circle his nipple with my tongue as I push his boxer briefs off his hips.

It wasn't like I hadn't seen a naked man before, but I was sure none of them compared to the god of a man in front of me. I took him in, swallowing thickly. He was all lean muscle and… perfection. Everywhere.

Edward puts his finger beneath my chin, tilting my face up to bring his lips back to mine. He moves me to lay back, hovering over me once again. Never taking his mouth from mine, he reaches over to his nightstand to take out a condom.

Nerves invade when he rips open the wrapper with his teeth, and I take a few deep breaths to calm myself.

"Still okay?" He checks in with me, sensing that I need him to ground me.

"Yeah," I smile timidly up at him. "Just nervous."

He kisses me softly once. "I got you. I'll take it slow, okay?"

"Okay."

Edward comes to rest on his forearms on either side of my head, settling himself between my thighs. My nails dig into his shoulders as he starts to enter me. When he meets the resistance at my entrance, he pauses, eyes meeting mine, silently asking for permission. I nod, giving him my consent. In the next moment, he gives one firm thrust, bringing us fully together.

It's different than I imagined, not nearly as excruciating. More discomfort than pain, which was already starting to fade. The feeling of him inside wasn't like anything I'd experienced before. The stretch of him filling me was foreign but also pleasurable in a way I hadn't expected.

"How do you feel?" He asks, brushing his nose against mine.

I reach up, pushing the hair that had fallen on his forehead back with my shaking hand. "I'm okay."

Turning his head, he places a kiss on my wrist. "Can I move?" His body was filled with tension from holding himself back, but he wasn't going to move until I told him it was okay.

"Yeah."

He pulls back, giving another thrust that somehow takes him deeper than the first. I let my hands wander, touching him wherever I can reach, delighting in the shiver that rolls through him. Knowing I can affect him like this, that I can make him lose his mind, makes me feel powerful.

Gripping the back of my knee, he moves my leg higher on his hip, and I gasp. The change in angle has pleasure rocketing through me. I expected my first time to be lackluster, a non-pleasurable experience that I had to just get through, but the coil that is tightening low in my belly is contradicting everything I thought I knew.

"Shit." I moan when he hits that same spot, digging my nails into his back. I knew I was leaving marks, but he didn't seem to care.

"Feel good, baby?" He thrusts a bit harder, and I bite my lip because it does feel good. So good. Too good.

"Edward," is the only thing I can say, the pleasure starting to take over. I wrap my legs around his waist, locking my ankles at his lower back.

When his hand slides between us, finding my clit, I detonate, screaming his name as I come. A few uneven thrusts later, Edward follows me over the edge, my name on his lips.

We collapse in a sweaty heap of limbs, gasping for breath. I run my hands up and down his back, liking the feel of his full weight on me.

"Holy shit." I lick my lips as I try to catch my breath. "I didn't…" I trail off. I can't find words that are adequate enough to describe what I just experienced.

I feel him smirk against my shoulder. "That good, baby?"

My face burns. "I don't think your ego needs any more of a boost."

He looks down at me; love and satisfaction are written all over his features. "You should see yourself right now."

"What?" I ask, feeling self-conscious at his statement.

"You're glowing." He smiles. "I like knowing I'm the reason for that."

"You're always the reason."

See you next time.