A/N: I can’t ever thank Midnight Cougar enough for sharing her sexpertise (hee, hee!) each chapter, but I’m forever grateful and so is Edward. xx
Song inspiration for this chapter: “Let’s Stay Together,” Al Green
(Playlist for this story can be found on my YouTube channel, if you search for “ghostreader24”)
Disclaimer: Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond own the adorable little mouse whose needs inspired this very adult version of their story. Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight. I’m here having fun.
-OOO-
Chapter 16
It’s late when I step onto Bella’s porch and knock on her door, hiding a bouquet of red roses behind my back. After finishing nights of what felt like a never-ending shift, I stopped by the blood drive at the high school late this afternoon. By making a donation, I guaranteed that I’ll have the next couple of days off from work to spend with her, and after the shifts I’ve been working, I need the time alone—just the two of us.
When Bella opens the door, I’m filled with relief and can’t keep the grin off my face as she’s wearing one of my CCFD T-shirts.
Her smile reflects mine. “Hey, handsome. Here to check my smoke detector?”
My eyes roam over her bare legs. “Among other things. I don’t think my T-shirt has ever looked this good.”
“We’re going to agree to disagree on this one.” She reaches out, grabbing my wrist and dragging me inside.
I pull her roses from behind my back. “These are for you. Happy Valentine’s Day.” I peck her lips briefly, knowing I need more than a few kisses, but hoping my desperation at not spending time together for too long isn’t obvious. I doubt that’s possible at this point, knowing I should have rubbed one out before I left my apartment.
“Thank you. They’re beautiful. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll find a vase.” She disappears into the kitchen, and I can hear the cabinet doors opening and closing during her search.
After shutting the front door, I do as Bella requests and shrug off my jacket, hanging it on the hook by the door. My boots are next, then I walk toward the kitchen, pausing in the doorway. “Is it only us?”
“Yes. Dad packed up the last of his clothes and bathroom stuff this morning and dropped them off at Sue’s before his shift. He’s proposing tonight. Can you believe it?”
“I’m happy for them. How soon do you think they will marry?” I wonder.
“I have no idea. My dad has never been married, but he’s the kind of man who would focus more on the marriage than the wedding. Maybe they’ll do something small out at La Push or go to the courthouse.”
“How are you feeling about being here by yourself?” I’m exhausted and take a seat at the kitchen table, watching my T-shirt ride up her thighs, revealing the bare curve of her ass when she reaches for a vase.
Fuck.
I not-so-subtly shift in my seat and make an adjustment that does little good.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs. Once she has the vase in hand, she fills it with water and adds her roses, setting them on the table. “I want him to be happy, but I still don’t know what I’m going to do. I haven’t heard from the high school or the hospital after submitting my applications weeks ago. Would you like a beer?”
“Sure. Are you drinking?”
“My second.” She points to a glass of wine sitting on the counter, then hands me a beer from the fridge after twisting off the cap.
“Something will come up,” I reassure, tipping it back for a long draw then pulling her within reach.
My fingers tease along her silky legs and move higher under the hem of my T-shirt until I brush a knuckle gently back and forth across the growing wet spot I can feel between her legs.
“I hope so.” Her eyes close at the feeling, and she steadies herself by holding onto my shoulder. But I know my teasing touches won’t be enough for either of us.
“Even if it doesn’t. We’ll figure it out.” My hand roams higher until I hook my fingers in the waistband of her underwear, tugging each side until they drop to the floor. “You won’t be needing these.”
“Are you hungry?” She steps out of them and swings a leg over my chair, straddling my lap. “I made you a pizza, but I was waiting to bake it until you got here.”
“Yes, but I’m sorry.” I set my bottle of beer on the table and cradle her face between my hands, kissing her lips. “I don’t think I can wait that long. It’s been—”
“Hey, don’t ever apologize for needing me. I need you too.” Bella’s voice is soft as her fingers work the button and zipper, opening my pants. “Somebody’s happy to see me.”
“Always.”
“Here or upstairs?” she asks.
I grunt when her one hand tugs the waistband lower and the other wraps around me, stroking leisurely from base to tip.
“Here.” I groan. I can barely think with what little control I’m desperate to maintain slipping away at record speed. “I promise, I’ll take care—”
“I know you will.” She cuts me off quickly, already reading my mind. “Let me take care of you. Do you have a—”
“In my wallet.” I grit out when her hand picks up the pace. “Fuck. That feels too good. Bella—”
She grins, never slowing as I shift my weight and remove my wallet from my back pocket, plucking the condom from inside. I toss my wallet onto the table behind her, and she wastes no time tearing open the condom and rolling it on me. My hands move over her thighs until they’re cupping her ass and guiding her to me.
“God, I’ve missed you,” she says, sinking down on my cock and wrapping her arms around my shoulders, pressing her lips to mine. “We can’t go that long again.”
It’s been over a week, but I agree completely. There’s no containing our soft groans at the feeling of her flush against me, and I’m desperate for her to start moving.
“Your shirt is coming off,” I state without question, tugging it over her head, dropping it on the floor, and leaving her nude.
“Good to hear it’s mine now.” She grins and leans closer, watching her chest rub against me. “Fuck, the feel of my nipples against your shirt is incredible.”
I haven’t forgotten her previous request for me to remain clothed once she’s naked and leave my shirt on, no matter how much I wish for more skin-to-skin contact. My hands linger over her soft curves, but my mouth moves to her neck, sucking on the skin there and breathing in her addictive scent.
“You smell so good, but I need those tits in my mouth.”
With her hands clutching my shoulders, mine go to her waist then higher as she lifts and grinds against my lap. I cup her breasts and squeeze as they jiggle in my face. I’m sucking on a nipple and rolling the other between my fingers when she starts pleading.
“Edward… God… I…” She pants, and her half-lidded eyes find mine.
I know she needs my words and there’s no chance I’ll hold back when her desperation rivals my own. My tongue reaches out teasing her nipple before sucking it into my mouth then letting it fall from my lips.
“You’re going to need to move faster, if you’re going to come before me, Bella.” I move to her other breast, watching as it responds instantly to my attention. “You’ve had me on edge from the moment you opened the door in nothing but my shirt and the tiniest pair of panties you own.”
After her post karaoke demonstration at my apartment, there’s little doubt what will also push her closer to the edge. Maybe I can hold on and not lose it before her. Doubtful, but I can hope.
“I want to watch you touch yourself while you come on my cock.” I move my hands to her ass, squeezing her cheeks and helping her keep the pace I need when she slows.
“God, yes.” She moves her hand lower and rubs herself intently.
“Fuck.” The visual is too much for me, but I encourage her to continue. “That’s it. Don’t stop. I-I can’t… Bel—”
There’s no holding back the freight train of my release, and I wrap my hands around her shoulders, minimizing her movements as I explode through waves and waves of orgasmic bliss.
“Edward, I’m…” She begs, desperately close and needing me to take over.
“I’ve got you.” I release her shoulders, panting against her chest. I brush away her hand while her hips tilt and grind against me, frantic to come. “I want all of you, Bella. Every time.”
With one of my arms supporting her back, she grips my shoulders, grinding her hips against mine and together her body can’t resist the persistence of my fingers or the onslaught of my mouth.
“Fuck—” She succumbs with the arch of her back when her orgasm takes over and stills against me, plunging over the edge.
I wrap my arms around her body, holding her close as she slumps with relief. She tries to catch her breath as her head rests against my shoulder.
“I love you,” she whispers between breaths.
Mindlessly, my fingers caress a gentle path along her spine, but her words bring a smile to my lips and I turn my head, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I love you too, Bella.”
She sits up, running her fingers through my hair until I’m nearly purring at the feeling.
Her gentle voice breaks the comfortable silence between us. “I have a surprise for you, but I have to leave your lap to get it.”
I groan at the thought, but know we need to dispose of the condom anyway. “Okay.”
“Can I have this shirt?” She taps on my chest.
“The one I’m wearing?”
“Yes, it smells like you and your scent is fading from the one I have.”
I kiss her lips, ready to grant her simple request. “It’s yours.”
Bella looks as if she’s won the lottery when I pull it off and she holds it to her nose, inhaling deeply. “So good. I wish I could bottle this smell.”
She slides it over her head and reluctantly moves from my lap, holding up her barely there underwear from where it was discarded earlier. “I don’t think this pair is wearable.”
“You’re welcome, and we both know you need zero underwear for the next couple of days.” I grab the shirt she was wearing from the floor, putting it on, then remove and throw the condom in the trash.
“Is that so?” she says after chucking her underwear into a basket in the laundry room.
I tuck myself back inside my underwear and refasten my pants. “Yes, it will save on laundry.”
“Will we be showering together too?” She smirks.
“You know I’m all about water conservation.” I grin, pulling the cotton gauze and tape from the site at the bend of my elbow where I donated blood, tossing them in the trash.
“That’s what I thought. I need to bake your pizza. I know you’re hungry.” She turns on the oven, then removes a heart-shaped pizza from the refrigerator. “What do you think?”
My heart flutters at how she can take something so simple, like offering to make us dinner, and turn it into another special moment between us.
“God, I love you. You’re amazing and that looks incredible. Did you eat already?” I wonder, taking my forgotten beer from the table and finishing the rest of it.
“No, I thought we could share.”
“Perfect.”
“Are you still able to stay over?”
When we found out her father was officially moving in with Sue this week, Bella began making plans for me to sleep over at her home again. In order to make it happen, I traded for some of the least desirable night and weekend shifts but still had to work most of Valentine’s Day, so I could be off for two days in a row after the day. Even though I couldn’t get here until late, we discussed going out to have dinner, but eventually settled on being secluded for a couple of days.
“Yes. I’m yours for two solid days,” I confirm.
She lets out a squeal and wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly. “Did you bring a bag?”
“Yeah, it’s out in my car. I should go get it.” I press my lips against her forehead, but she tilts her chin and puckers her lips for a kiss that I happily give.
“You better. Once I tie you to my bed, there will be no leaving.”
“Sounds naughty.” I chuckle.
“You know me.” She wiggles her eyebrows and releases me to put the pizza in the oven.
“I’ll hurry.”
-OOO-
If you give a postal worker a love note, she’ll wonder about the identity of the author when it’s delivered by an unintended mail carrier.
After a visit from a sexy firefighter, the mystery surrounding the note will add to her curiosity, but it won’t be solved any time soon, when she has no choice and accepts another job far from home.
Her secret admirer will hold on to hope for their paths to cross again, and when they do, he will find that being near her again is better than he ever anticipated.
Visiting her during his breaks and getting to know each other will be the best parts of their days, until one day she unknowingly makes his favorite childhood cookies, giving him the sign he needs to move forward.
She’ll hold back nothing as she tempts and teases him when they’re alone, testing his resolve, until a few adorable photos of him with a friend’s new baby causes an unexpected shift in her world.
As they grow closer, they’ll understand that the intimacy between lovers isn’t only about a physical connection, but the everyday interactions through the simplest moments and sharing of new experiences.
Through private conversations, their relationship deepens with the reveal of a variety of secrets, and with a new confidence, the truth of their adoration for one another is undeniable.
After another wonderful evening together filled with fun and flirting, she’ll realize that she’s never been loved like this before, and for as much as he wants to be everything she needs, she wants to be that for him too.