Chapter Twenty-Eight

~With a Little Help From My Friends~

BPOV

"Bye, baby. I'll call you later."

I hear Edward's voice whispering to me, and I crack one eye open. He's crouched down next to me, so that we're eye to eye.

"You're leaving? What time is it?"

"It's quarter to seven. I need to get to my house and grab clean clothes. I've got a meeting with the cooks. We're sampling a few new dishes and we need to get the critique out of the way before they have to start their food prep for the day. Go back to sleep. We'll talk when you're more awake, okay?"

"Mmmkay. I'm going to dinner at Rose and Em's tonight. What time do you get off?"

Through my fuzzy morning vision, I see his smirk and wait for the one I walked right into.

"About five minutes after you start doing that thing with your tongue on my neck and your fingers in my hair," he chuckles.

I groan at his retort. Such a boy.

He clears his throat and prepares another answer. "Five. But don't worry about me, you enjoy your dinner. Call me when you get home, if you want."

Huh? Unh-uh. Does not compute.

"What? No! Come with me!"

"Bella," he's snickering, "you're asleep. You can't just invite me without talking to the host and hostess first. It's alright. You're allowed to still have friends and plans without me. I'm a big boy...I'll just talk to you afterwards."

"Don't be ridiculous, and I'm only a little bit asleep...you're coming. I'll talk to Rose when normal humans are awake and she's gonna say yes. I want you with me," I mumble into my pillow.

I hear him chuckling at my as-coherent-as-possible banter, and feel him brush some hair from my face.

"Okay, pretty girl. Whatever you say."

I feel his warm kiss on my temple just before I slip back into a glorious slumber.

~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~

"Isabella King...as I live and breathe. Mind telling me where you've been for the last three days?" Rose is smirking, her bitch brow in place.

Rosale & Emmett's summer rental in Ship Bottom, NJ

Time to commence the sweet talking.

"You love me. You forgive me. I can't give you any juicy details unless you actually let me in the house, Rosalie."

She steps back, propping the door open for me as I lean in for a cheek kiss. She kisses me back, but then smacks my ass...hard.

"Ow! What the fu—," I pause, looking around for the babies, but decide to err on the side of caution, "uhhhdgesicles are you doing? Was that really called for?"

"Fuck yes, it was. Where the hell have you been?"

My eyes pop open at her use of the f-bomb.

"Relax. Alice and Emmett have the kids down at the beach. And Jasper's on a conference call downstairs in the spare room."

"Oh! Okay. Anyway, ouch. That hurt, Rosalie."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cry me a river. You don't know how to pick up a phone? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"If I told you it started out hideously and then morphed into an exhilarating roller coaster ride all wrapped up into one big adventure, would you believe me?"

"I'd tell you that I need specifics and then I'd be the judge of hideous, exhilarating AND whether your lack of communication for the last seventy-two hours has been justified. Now start talking."

"DON'T SAY A WORD! Stop your story, do NOT go any further without me!"

Rosalie and I turn to see Alice fumbling with the kitchen door as she struggles to roll Emerson in her stroller-slash-limousine through the door.

"Where's Emmett?" Rose calls out, rushing over to help pull the baby inside.

"He's downstairs hosing off my sand-riddled son. After that, he'll be putting away all of our beach paraphernalia. You should've seen us leaving the beach. I was on point trying to maneuver this beast of a transport through the impossible sand. My brother looked like a pack mule 'cause all I could handle carrying was the beach bag, the small cooler and the baby's diaper bag. He got stuck with the blanket, our two adult lounge chairs plus Tristan's mini-chair, two boogie boards and the umbrella. And he had to keep hanging back to make sure Tristan was still with us. We were quite the spectacle."

I'm trying desperately not to laugh while Rose is unstrapping Emerson from her seat and Alice is soaking her flushed face with a wet paper towel. "Why didn't you call me? I would've come down to help you bring all the junk back up to the house," Rose hisses as she stands and starts to rock a very sleepy-looking baby girl.

"Please. Don't get me started. Jazz never came back down, Emmett didn't bring his phone with him, and mine somehow lost its charge. All the planets aligned to make sure we'd be as screwed as possible."

Alice flops down on the couch next to me. "Is Jazz still on his conference call?"

I nod, "I assume so. I've only been here for a few minutes and I haven't seen him yet."

"Hey, can you put the baby down for her nap, Roe? She won't fight you at all."

Rose walks back into the living room from the kitchen and nods while continuing to sing softly in Emerson's ear.

"So, what did I miss? Go back to the moment that louse announced that Edward was taking off for California."

"What? You mean you don't know anything that happened since the party?"

"All we know is what Edward texted Jasper late Saturday night. That you came back to your house where he'd been waiting for you, you talked, and things were better."

'Things were better', HA!...understatement of the century. Yes, you could certainly say things were better. I'm sure Edward just gave them the highlights reel, not wanting to get into the private details of our intimate encounter. At most, he'd have sent a message so they knew I was safe and back home. He must've texted them sometime before he fell asleep.

"Hang on, here I am. WAIT! I just made a pitcher of sangria with fresh fruit. D'you girls want?" Rose comes dancing through the living room and stops in the kitchen doorway.

"Yes, please."

"Fuck yes, and super-size mine please. That walk from the beach took it out of me," Alice laments, walking over to the powder room.

Five minutes later, Rose returns with a carafe of chilled Sangria, three glasses and a tray filled with cheese, crackers, olives and nuts. Oh yeah, she's ready for a gossip session.

She pours our three glasses and we lift them in unison, "Bella?"

I guess I'm making the toast this time.

"To new beginnings." We clink, drink and smile, enjoying the fruity kick.

"Okay, GO!" Somehow they both exclaim in tandem and then laugh after they shout jinx at each other.

I open my mouth to start and Emmett comes bounding through the door humming the Superman theme with Tristan balanced on his shoulder; the little guy's arms and legs extended to imitate his favorite superhero.

Emmett freezes for a moment and narrows his eyes at me. "Hey, little man," he starts, lowering Tristan to his feet, "go to the potty like I told you and then we're hitting Custard Corner, 'kay?"

"Uh huh!" Tristan beams and darts down the hall.

"YOU!" Emmett marches across the room pointing at me. "I'm about done with your disappearing acts, young lady. You left the girls at the spa last week and then you left the party Saturday afternoon. You don't answer your phone and then we don't know you're safe until Edward contacts us...BOTH times. Not cool, Bells," he finishes, shaking his head and crossing his arms on his broad chest.

I swallow and nod, suddenly feeling awful for the way I've treated my friends. They've only ever been supportive and for the last few days, I've been behaving much like solo-act Steven Tyler, no longer in need of my Aerosmith.

My nose starts to tingle a bit, and I can feel the tears threatening.

"Hey. I'm stopping you right there, 'cause I see your eyes getting glassy on me. I'm not really upset with you...none of us are...but you can't keep running off, leaving us behind to figure out what the hell is going on, y'know? I know some things that happened in the last week have really thrown you for a loop. Just don't forget you have people who love you and who are in your corner, no matter what happened years ago, got it? People from back in the day might be questioning you, and accusing you, and telling you all sorts of shit about who you were. We," he pauses to accentuate his point, gesturing his hand through the living room, "are not those people. We don't want or deserve your silence. We're here for you, no matter WHAT. Understood?"

I swipe my tears and stand to give Emmett a hug.

He scoops me up in his big brotherly embrace, lifting my feet from the ground for a second. Once I'm back down, he pushes me two steps back and looks right in my eyes. "Now, I'm not looking for details, I just want to know if you're happy...if you're being treated right."

I smile, nodding, and wipe away the last remnants of moisture from the corners of my eyes.

"Yes. I'm happy and I've been safe and Edward's done nothing but treat me like gold. Speaking of which," I turn to address Rosalie as well, "do you mind if I invite him to dinner tonight? You can do your 'what are your intentions' speech you've been saving for when I introduced you to my serious boyfriend," I kid.

"Serious boyfriend, huh?" Emmett smirks. "Yeah, definitely. I'll dust off my notes and rehearse. I say he should come...Rose?"

"Hell, yes! This is gonna be great! Forget dinner, I'm serving popcorn for this one!"

Tristan rounds the bend at warp speed and slams his little body right into Uncle Emmett, his head careening into Em's family jewels.

We all cringe as Emmett yelps. "Hhhhoooooooomph! Uggghhhh, little man. Don't you want cousins, buddy?" He's squeaking while we giggle at his pathetic joke, trying to make light of his pain.

"Okay, we're outta here."

"WAIT! I'm coming!" We hear Jasper shouting from the staircase.

"Without me? What the heck kinda conference call are you involved in back there?" Alice hollers back, earning uproarious laughter from the rest of us.

"Ha ha, very funny Mary Alice," Jasper says, rounding the corner, donning his shades and twisting his baseball cap backwards. "We'll be back in a little while; the men need to go do some bonding!"

"Well, dinner is at six, so don't be out too long. Tristan will need a nap. He's been up since the crack of dawn."

"Got it. See y'soon."

The instant the boys leave, the girls turn back to me.

Rose sighs dramatically, "Alright, I think we're done with distractions for a good little while. Start talking, Missy!"

~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~

Twenty minutes later, both girls are staring at me in astonishment. Their mouths are agape, Rosalie has tears in her eyes and Alice is a blubbering mess.

"Oh my God, Bella...this is beyond incredible! He said that to you? He actually said that he was falling in love with you after he waited for hours for you to come home from wherever you were," sighs Alice, dramatically. "Where were you, by the way?"

"Ocean City. I was just wandering around. Ended up at The Chatterbox reading my journal."

"Man, that journal is like the Holy Grail...I hope you're keeping it in a fireproof box when it's not in your hands. You don't want anything to happen to that baby before you've read it from cover to cover!"

"HA! Don't I know it! I carry it around with me wherever I go."

"WHAT?"

"You mean you have it here now?"

They're both shouting at me at the same time, making my eyes squint at their volume.

"Yes, I have it with me. Chill, please."

Alice leans back on the couch fanning herself. "This is huge, this is unreal! You better bust that sucker wide open and read it aloud!"

I sort of cower.

"What? What did I say?" She asks when she sees me recoil.

"Allie, think about it. She doesn't know what's in there. Would you want to find out about painful or surprising episodes from your past in front of an audience...even if it's us?"

"Yeah, guys...I'm sorry. I'm mortified enough when I'm approached in public about my behavior from the past—"

"Umm, stop that. Those girls were fucking hoochies and had no right to treat you that way, no matter what you did. You know we'd never do that."

"No, of course I know you wouldn't, but still...I just...I have no problem letting you read what I've already seen, but the new stuff, I think I need to do it on my own, or with Edward."

"Oh, definitely with Edward...you've gotta keep doing it with Edward."

"Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem," Alice purrs, causing us all to dissolve in a fit of giggles.

"Okay, so back up to the good stuff. Yeah, you said you did it...but spill. Let's get some juicy details!"

"Now that we know you're not a virgin anymore!" Rose adds, gulping the last of her sangria and adding a wink.

"Yeah, the fact that you lost it to Edward all those years ago, and he told you right before you made love again...for the first time...how amazing is that? They make movies about love stories like this, Bella!" Alice swoons.

"Oh Lord, let's not call any Hollywood producers just yet. With the luck Edward and I have these days, Tori would be the one heading up hair and makeup on the set. No, thanks."

"So okay...you gotta give us something. Did you do it while you were camping Sunday night?"

I nod, with an embarrassed smile on my face. "Twice."

"TWICE!" Again with the shouting in unison.

"Ahhh, young love."

"Ohhh, you naughty girl. I remember the days of Jazz and I doing it twice in one night. Psssshh. Nowadays, between his crazy work schedule and the kids, we're lucky if we do it twice in one week!"

"Poor Alice," Rose 'tsks'.

"Mehh...you won't hear me complaining too much; we've fucked every night on this vacation!"

I burst out laughing at Alice's unexpected candor and Rose rolls her eyes. "Good thing I decided to put you two horn-dogs in the downstairs bedroom, I couldn't handle hearing you banging the wall down every night. It's much more peaceful to have Tristan and Emerson next door. "

"It's a very good thing you did, Roe...he had me swinging from the damn ceiling fan last night."

"Oh, my God. I so don't need to hear this," belly-aches Rose as my fitful laughter continues. "Back to Bella, please..."

"What do you want me to say? I'm learning not to be embarrassed, that's for sure. Any trepidation I have goes out the window when he's there with me. He reassures me, in everything we do. I feel safe with him...it's...it's the relationship and closeness I've been dreaming about finding since the accident."

Both girls have sappy grins plastered on their faces.

"I...I told him I loved him in the shower yesterday."

"Shower? You mean together? Jeez, Emmett and I didn't shower together for like a year! What about you, Al?"

"Umm, I don't know...definitely a few months. Look at you, getting down and dirty, or should I say clean, in the shower together!"

"Well, we didn't have sex in the shower! I meant, I told him I loved him while we were in there. I washed his hair and used the loofah all over him...it was..," I trail off, not knowing how to find the words, so instead I just shake my head in disbelief over the circumstances that have led me to find this man. "And hello? Isn't the knowledge that we've already exchanged 'I love you's' the bigger headline in this discussion?"

"No, you're totally right. But it makes sense. You two just fit together. Two ships sailing on rocky seas, separated by storms, finally coming into the same home port. It's perfection." Alice is crooning her sentiments.

What a sap. Gotta love her.

"Okay, I can see you're embarrassed about giving us details, and that's okay. But listen, if you have questions or need advice about anything...bedroom-related or otherwise...we're here for you, just let us know, okay?" Rose offers in all sincerity.

The two of them look like caged animals, salivating as their trainer approaches with today's treat. Maybe I'll just give them a little taste.

"Ugh, you two. Fine. What do you want to know? This isn't twenty questions, I'll give you each ONE question and I promise to answer it honestly. Shoot." I close my eyes, preparing myself as I give them their green light for a freebie.

Alice starts jumping up and down wildly in her seat, clapping and squeaking while Rosalie refills her glass, looking very contemplative, her lips pursed and eyes narrowed.

"Okay, me, me, me, I'm going first!" Alice proclaims. "Hmmm, I have to make this a good one."

Her eyes are darting around as she ponders God-knows-what.

"You know, Allie, we've only been together for going on three full days...we haven't had THAT much time to get freaky...so don't go wasting your question on some imagined porn star moves or something, okay? You'll only end up disappointed! I'm not that experienced!"

She flutters her eyes at me, "Well, I know that, I'm not stupid...okay, I've got it. How many positions have you used?"

I think it over briefly to make sure I've got it right. Yup. "Three."

Rose and Alice's eyes widen.

"Three?" Rose shouts, "I'm impressed. When I lost my virginity, I was flat on my back the first dozen times, at least!"

"Shit, I figured I'd ask an easy one to avoid putting you on the spot. You've got to hand over a bonus on that one, though...which positions?"

Oh jeez. "Umm, first time was missionary, the next morning was me on top and the third and fourth times were in the tent and it was technically missionary, but my legs were pinned up in the air in different directions."

"WHAT!" This shouting in unison is getting ludicrous.

"What? You asked, I answered."

"Jesus honey, for an almost, may-as-well-have-been-a-virgin, he's sure got you in all the right places! How was it?" Rosalie begs.

I'm shaking my head; I knew I'd get wrapped up in way more than one question/one answer.

"It was amazing, every time. I mean…I even had orgasms! Which they say isn't likely when you first start having sex unless the guy really knows what he's aiming for and how to move to get them going."

Alice and Rose both look at me pointedly. Like, if we were in school and they were teachers, they'd be looking over their bifocals at me, readying the dunce cap or something.

"Oh, we believe he knows what he's doing, alright! A man doesn't look like that and NOT know what he's doing, baby."

"Too bad he wasted it on Whorie Tori for the last couple of years." Rose groans and we all roll our eyes. "Sorry, shouldn't have brought that up. But hey! He even admitted he couldn't concentrate on her at all since you walked through his door!"

I smile, remembering him telling me that I've been all he's thought about since Memorial Day Weekend.

That's quite an anniversary for us, now that I think about it. It's when we first met, and then when we saw each other again every year at the start of the summer season down in Ocean City.

Wow. Maybe some things are meant to be.

"Okay, okay...back to the shmexin'! My turn to ask a question!" Rose announces.

Oh, boy. I'm bracing myself.

"I need to know this, since he's had you in more positions than a tilt-a-whirl in such a short time...has he gone down on you?"

I bury my face in my hands. I cannot believe I'm actually allowing this conversation, let alone providing answers to their invasive questions. I need more to drink.

"Don't you have anything stronger than sangria?" I ask, refilling my glass to the brim.

Rose and Alice are absolutely howling right now. I suppose I've answered their question without verbalizing it. Thank God for small favors.

"Should I take it as a 'yes', Bella dear?"

"Oh, my God… you guys, are you really making me say this out loud? When have I ever asked you about your sex lives?"

"Oh, lighten up! We're like proud fairy sex-mothers over here! We've been waiting for somebody to sweep you off your feet! And he's arrived! Now we just want to make sure his other parts are sweeping you in all the right places."

My mouth drops open.

Their cackling and roaring continues for a solid two minutes. I've never seen these two women acting more childish than they are right now. And to be honest, it's beyond hilarious.

It is kinda fun to be able to bond over sex stuff. I've never had the opportunity to openly talk about this...now's my chance.

I continue to pound my sangria until I'm well into my third glass and feeling happier than normal. My purse vibrates next to me on the couch and I quickly reach to see who it is.

Cue enormous grin.

"Uhh! Is that the sweeper?" Alice shouts in gasps, clutching at her stomach, desperately trying to catch her breath and compose herself.

"You two better hush; you're gonna wake the baby!" I chide, teasingly and press the button to answer my call.

"Hi."

"Hey, pretty girl. How ya doin'?

"I'm good!"

"Apparently she's more than good, thanks to you Edward Cullen, sweeper extraordinaire!" Rose is convulsing in laughter as Alice licks her lips to emphasize his oral talents.

"Oh my God, would you two—" I get up and walk out to the deck, leaving the two hyenas behind. I hear Edward laughing at his end.

"What's going on over there? Are you getting drunk without me?"

"Hahaha, not nearly enough. Just a little liquid courage to get through a chat with the girls...well, it seems more like the Spanish Inquisition," I explain, rolling my eyes at my current predicament.

"Hmmm...might this inquisition have anything to do with me?" he fishes.

"How'd you guess? Do I sound that transparent?"

"Nahh, I just figured you'd have some explaining to do, since you took off from the party and then haven't spoken to them since."

"Well, yeah. You're right on the money. Rose almost didn't let me in the house, except that I promised her some juicy details," I add sheepishly.

"Oh, jeez. Are you already in your pajamas, painting each others' nails and having a pillow fight?'

"Hardly. Jasper and Emmett took Tristan to get ice cream. The baby is sleeping, but not for long because Tweedle Kink and Tweedle Kinkier are screaming like banshees at the littlest things. The innuendos are flying. You better brace yourself for dinner."

"So it's cool that I come over?"

"Yes, you dork! I told you it would be fine! How's your day going?"

"It's kinda slow, actually. I think I might take off a little early once James gets in," he replies through a yawn. "Maybe I'll grab a catnap before I come over for dinner."

"Oh, my gosh. You must be exhausted. Go home and get some rest. Just come over around 5:30, okay?"

"Yeah, sounds good. What can I bring?" he asks, ever the gentleman, ever the caterer.

"Oh, hang on, I'll ask Rose if she needs anything." I peek my head back in the living room and see Rose and Alice wiping mascara from under their eyes. "Roe, Edward is asking what he can bring."

"Just himself! And his appetite, I've cooked for an army!" Rose replies as her giggles calm down.

"That he can do. He's always ready to eat!" I answer, innocently until—

"Reeeeeally? Lucky bitch; a man who's always ready and willing to eat." Alice retorts, her eyebrows waggling…and that's all it takes for the two nutjobs to start cracking up all over again.

"Oh man, babe. You totally walked into that one," I hear Edward say, chuckling.

"Listen to you! You're just as bad as they are!"

"Somehow, I sincerely doubt that. Anyway, I just wanted to check in with you. I'll see you later, alright?"

"Okay. Dream of me while you're napping!" I hang up, smiling like a fool.

~~~~~L~A~S~T~C~A~L~L~~~~~

EPOV

"Thanks again for dinner, Rosalie. It was delicious."

She smiles genuinely as we walk toward the door together, "You're welcome. And thanks for taking care of our girl, I've never seen her happier. Sorry the teasing got out of hand at the table."

I snort, "Hey, I get it. I just needed to be initiated, right? It was all in good fun."

"That it was. Don't be a stranger, okay?"

I smile, nodding as Bella approaches. "Hey, you ready?"

"All set!"

"'Kay...goodnight all!" I call out with a wave.

"'NIGHT!" Everyone shouts their collective goodbyes.

I follow Bella out to the driveway and lean on the driver's door of her car. "So, what's the plan?"

"I'm going home to my big, wonderful bed. Care to join me?"

I smile at her not-so-coded message. "I'd love to. Sleeping or otherwise, I want to be next to you as much as possible...simple as that."

"Sorry they grilled you so much in there. I can't believe Emmett actually asked you what your intentions with me are, I always thought he was kidding about doing that," she rolls her eyes and smacks her forehead in disgust.

"Oh, stop. It was funny, but at the same time, I took it seriously. Those friends in there are all you've got since you lost your aunt; or at least until you walked through my door a couple months ago. The fact that they want to make sure you're in good hands is admirable and shows just how much they love you. I'd have stayed to answer a hundred more questions," I confess.

Bella leans forward and wraps her arms around my waist, allowing me to envelop her with my body and bury my face in her neck.

"Thank you," she whispers, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Come on, let me take you home, okay?"

Twenty minutes later, we're ready to lie down in bed when Bella takes out her journal. "Mind if I read a little bit more?'

"No, not at all. Are you going to read out loud? Or do you just want to read on your own?" I question, not wanting to pressure her, but still trying to let her know I'm here in whatever capacity she wants.

"How about if I read to us?"

June 1, 2004

Watching Edward every day is still as painful as ever, but I don't let him know that. To be honest, I've kind of become a mega-bitch, at least that's what Court said the other day. I flipped out on her, but maybe she's right.

I don't think I've been happy for a while now. When we arrived last weekend and I found out that Edward wasn't assigned to our cabana this summer, I lost my mind. I screamed like a Looney Tune until Sam apologized profusely and sent Edward to our penthouse.

He probably requested not to be around me anymore, which is why that other kid got assigned to our cabana but that's too fucking bad. He needs to see me every day and be reminded of what he doesn't have anymore. I've made sure to be all over Alec whenever possible. I can see it drives Edward crazy, his jaw tenses and he narrows his eyes.

It makes me sound evil, but I don't even care. I want to make sure he knows what it's like to be hurt.

Alec tells me he loves me all the time. I don't really know why. I'm not very nice to him. I guess he's excited by the thrill of the chase. And that's all it's ever going to be.

Ultimately, the one I want was taken away from me by my bitch of a mom. It makes me sick to my stomach at the thought that he hooked up with that skank last summer and probably had sex with her. Alec wants us to have sex after my birthday this year. He says he's tired of waiting. I guess I'll do it to get it over with. I doubt my heart will be in it. I felt like I came so close to love last summer. Held it in my hands for six short weeks, then it was gone. So why bother feeling for anyone anymore? It's a waste of time when you can't be with the one you truly want.

I'm shaking my head and listening to her hurt teenage words. I can't believe my craptastic setup stunt created such fucking havoc for the next few years.

Speaking of which, I'm convinced my whore of a mother is cheating on my dad. I watch the way Royce looks at her, I think there's something going on there. How would I ever tell my dad something like that? He doesn't deserve to be treated like trash. It makes me feel awful for him. All he does is work for us. And all he gets in return is a bratty bitch of a daughter and an unfaithful witch of a wife who's always out sniffing around for someone with a bigger paycheck.

Edward's probably better off staying away from me and my psycho family.

"Aaaaand, we're done." I say, grabbing the journal out of her hands and laying it down on the nightstand. "Enough for tonight, okay?"

Bella just leans back on her pillow, eyes welling with tears. "I'm sorry Edward...I'm so sorry for everything I put you through."

I roll over onto my side and prop my head up on my hand, my other hand caressing her cheek. "Hey. It was a long time ago. I don't want you to torture yourself. I'm worried that this journal might hurt you more than help you."

She nods and swallows hard, tears dripping down her temples. "Will you be mad at me if I keep reading, though? I mean, not tonight, but in general? I can't not know, Edward," she pleads, her voice quaking.

I'm torn.

What can I say? I'm not going to forbid her! I'm her boyfriend, not her parent.

"I won't be mad. I just want you to know that whatever it is you find, it doesn't change you OR us. We're here together now because we were meant to find each other again. So, no matter what your old journal says, it doesn't change the simple fact that I'm in love with you. I was back then too, whether I admitted it or not, Bella. Your words from a long time ago can't and won't change my feelings now...and I hope they'd never change yours."

She wipes away the streaks of tears and whispers, "Okay."

I study her watching the ceiling fan blades spin for a minute or two until she rolls over on top of me to kiss me soundly.

It's insistent, like she's trying to prove something to me, or more likely, herself. I answer her back with fervor, gripping her shoulders under her arms and pulling her chest closer to mine.

Her plump lips are soft, though her kiss is hard, her tongue demanding. My kiss reflects hers as well.

I can empathize with her fears, and I continue to shower her with the affection she's seeking for validation.

I know what happened. I'm not sure how much of the painful truth she was able to admit to herself and include in her journal, but I do believe that with each turn of the page, she'll uncover more answers. And I'm going to be here with her for every tear that may fall as a result.

We remove each others' clothes until we're bare. Our kisses are hot and wet and my heart rate feels like it's through the roof. I love this woman so damn much.

After she's pushed me down on my back, she pulls away from my lips and starts kissing my jaw, neck and collarbone as her hands roam further down my stomach, across my hips until she wraps her fingers around my throbbing dick and starts to stroke up and down slowly, but tightly.

Holy shit.

"Will you tell me what you like? I- I want to do this for you so badly, but I'm so inexperienced and..."

"Hey, c'mere." I pull her back up my body so that we're face to face, our lips mere centimeters away from each other. "We're gonna learn together what we like, okay? Experience isn't what matters here...we love each other. I'd say that's a pretty perfect place to start, wouldn't you?"

She huffs, smiling. "We are perfect...together."

I lift my head from the pillow and take her lips in mine. I tug and suck and bite...all of my energy concentrated on helping her see and feel just how in love with her I am.

She pulls away once more and drags her tongue down my body, creating a trail of goose-bumps along the way.

When she finds me hard and standing at attention, she licks the underside of my cock from the base to the tip, then surrounds me with her hot, wet mouth.

"Goddamn." My hands immediately go to my face because the feeling is so intense as she timidly begins sucking, licking and kissing my cock.

I can't stand not watching her, so I prop myself up on my elbows to get a better view. The suction she's creating is incredible and what she can't fit in her mouth she makes up for by pumping up and down with her moistened hand and...FUCK! Did I just see her swipe her hand at her pussy and then rub the wetness onto my dick? Jesus...

"Mmmmmph!" I collapse back onto my pillow and groan from behind my fingers again as my breathing picks up. I'm not going to last much longer, she's moving up and down quickly and taking me so deep in her throat.

I can feel the tightening in my stomach as my abs clench and my balls start tingling. I...I...I have no coherent thoughts right now, except I need to warn her that I'm seconds from coming.

"Beh...Bellaaaaaa," I clench my fists on my eyes, "Ahh, I'm coming!" I tug on her hair to pull her away from the impending explosion, but she starts sucking harder instead, if that's even possible.

Shhhhhhhhhhit!

"Bellaaaa! You gotta...you...you..."

FUUUUUCK!

Too late. I can feel my body freeze and I blow my load while Bella is still sucking. I feel her gag while trying to swallow and then she pulls off and continues to pump up and down with her hand gripped firmly around my dick.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" I grumble, coming in three more spurts all over my stomach as Bella slows her motion and I attempt to resume normal breathing functions.

I try to focus my eyes and realize that we never turned off the lights.

Oh my God, Bella doesn't care if the lights are on or off. Another fantasy she fulfills.

Next thing I know, Bella is sitting upright on her knees looking at me, as if awaiting a grade on a midterm project. I tug on her upper arm and she falls into the nook my arm creates around her.

"Did I do okay? I mean, was it...good...for you? I'm sorry I couldn't swallow everything...I- I didn't realize how quickly my mouth would, you know, fill up." I hear her convey softly, her voice warbling with nerves.

"Bella, are you kidding me? Hey..." I grab her chin and tip it up so that my eyes meet hers, "did you not hear me groaning and cursing like a madman? You did more than fine. If I didn't know that was your first blow job, I've gotta say, I'd be a little concerned it was your profession, baby."

She bursts into laughter.

Success. I want her to feel comfortable, and if humor gets us there, it's a win-win.

"I have to confess that Alice and Rosalie gave me some pointers this afternoon. I was really nervous...but I take it from your reaction that maybe I don't have anything to be worried about in the future?" she questions in a hopeful manner.

I lean down and kiss her once...twice...and linger with the third kiss, sucking just a bit on her top lip.

"If the future is as good as tonight… trust me, I will never EVER turn down an offer from you." I smile and readjust onto my side so that we're face to face.

I brush her hair from her shoulder and then run my hand all the way along her side to her ass and down to her knee as I push her onto her back, shift my body and settle between her legs.

"And now, sweet Bella, I think I need to show my appreciation for your grand gesture with some sweeping of my own," I smirk and wink as I take one of her nipples into my mouth.

"Ohhhh, my God! You...you hearrrd that sweeping thing on the ph-hooone earlier?" she's gasping as my tongue swirls and tugs on her nipple, my fingers already dancing their way between her legs to tease her heated core.

"I heard, baby. And you should know," I pause for effect as I start kissing and licking further down her body while my hands spread her thighs wide open under me, "that I truly am ALWAYS ready and willing to eat."