Chapter Twenty-Nine

~After Hours~

BPOV

The next twelve days come and go in a dreamy haze. Edward stays with me every single night, except for the two nights when has to receive the delivery truck very early the following morning at the restaurant.

When he's here, we're never more than a few feet away from each other. We just can't get enough. I hope that's normal...and I also hope this feeling never ends, but only intensifies with time.

One night, Charlotte and James come over for dinner at my house. There's absolutely no awkwardness whatsoever, thank goodness. Charlotte is very sweet and it's plain to see just how much she cares for James. Something I know Edward is thankful for and something that James richly deserves.

When I'm not working, I read my journal. It's engrossing and frustrating all at the same time. It's so hard to understand what was truly driving me to stay together with Alec when I clearly didn't care about him...at least, nowhere near the level of attachment I had toward Edward that first summer.

I skimmed a bit before going back to read thoroughly and found that I only wrote every couple of weeks for the next few years. It's odd. When I was with Edward, I was writing in my journal at least once and sometimes even twice a day. Once we broke up, it seems I rarely ever picked it up. The journal was a mirror of the feelings I was dealing with on a daily basis. I guess when you're happy, you're thrilled to be reporting the good things, the happy things, no matter how small or insignificant. When you're truly falling in love, even the tiniest detail (what we ate, the clothes we wore, a song on the radio while we kissed) is worth mentioning.

Once Edward and I were over, it probably hurt my heart too much to address any of that pain by writing it down on paper. Just easier to check in on a rare occasion, I suppose. I joined the swim team and was quite good, apparently. Always winning medals and putting Moorestown High in first place. Alec asked me to go to his homecoming dance that fall of his senior year and I wore a black strapless dress. I wonder if I have pictures somewhere to go along with these memories. I also attended his senior prom the following spring and then we spent the weekend in the Hamptons.

What could my parents have possibly been thinking, letting their fifteen year-old daughter shack up with an eighteen year-old horny boy, UNSUPERVISED, for a whole damn weekend? No other couples our age, certainly no adults, just a ton of alcohol and nothing but time. I dare my future daughter to ask me to spend the weekend with her boyfriend when she's fifteen, I will laugh in her face! Maybe not be totally callous about it, but come on! Show some parenting skills!

I continued to suspect my mother was having an affair with Royce, though I never had any proof. Even well into our second summer. It was just too convenient that, on the weekends that Alec's dad didn't come down to Ocean City, my mom happened to schedule a spa weekend in the Poconos or a shopping trip in New York City. My journal revealed that I even questioned Alec about it at one point and he just shrugged me off, retorting I was crazy.

That entire second summer in Ocean City, I think I only saw five journal entries recorded, and every one of them portrayed me as a girl who was more and more hardened, bitter, definitely holier than thou, like nobody could say or do anything right. Bottom line: I was a bitch. Just like those girls said I was. Just like Edward said I was (when he first saw me again). I even went as far as to no longer mention Edward by name in my entries. I actually called him the cabana boy. One entry in particular was so disturbing, I had to close the journal and walk away from it for the rest of that day.

August 12, 2004

My parents are going away for a long weekend on the Kings' boat sailing down to Annapolis Harbor. They asked Anna to check in with me every day, but basically, I'm on my own. I'm almost sixteen, so I'm not worried. Plus Alec will be here with me. Maybe we can do something more than just sit on our asses in this lame town.

These two months have been totally dragging. I'm so over being down here surrounded by the same assholes every day. Ocean City is so yesterday. The money is in Stone Harbor and Avalon. I try and get down there whenever I can so I don't need to be around the same old riff-raff constantly.

Courtney is annoying the hell out of me. Angela and Brooke don't have two brain cells to rub together between them. I only tolerate the sisters because Brooke has a driver's license and can get us to the functions down there. It's strictly A-list parties, connections I have from Moorestown through a couple of girls I consider only remotely acceptable in a school setting, but at least they know how to throw classy parties with the best drinks and hottest guys around. I don't want to show up with the B-list guests, but they're my only ride until I can drive myself next summer. So I'll continue to suck it up.

I've brought Alec to a couple of the parties, but it's like bringing sand to a beach. Why bother when there are so many other guys to look at? Not that I do anything with them. I flirt. They flirt back. They ask for my number and I roll my eyes at them and tell them I'm not interested. They're not worth my time. I refuse to get my heart twisted up over anyone. Alec is here, and he's fine for now, until I'm ready to move on. He's got enough money to keep me happy. I ask for stuff, he gets it for me.

I did something kind of evil yesterday. I called the pavilion and told the cabana boy I wanted condoms from the gift shop. He told me he wasn't in charge of healthcare products, the little shit. He changed his tune a few minutes after I called Sam screaming about his servant telling me what he would and wouldn't do. A few minutes later, the CB actually had to call me back asking if I wanted 'ribbed for her pleasure', 'lambskin' or 'magnums'. It was fucking hilarious. I could hear how embarrassed and uncomfortable he felt. Serves him fucking right for kissing and screwing that girl last summer. I don't forgive and I sure as hell am not going to forget.

Anyway, I told him to bring one of each, because we'd probably need them all before the weekend was over. He showed up ten minutes later, stopping short in the doorway when he saw my tits in Alec's hand and mouth. Alec was drunk as a skunk, and didn't even know I had called. I wasn't planning on having sex, even if Alec would've been able to. I just wanted CB to have to bring them to me. I wanted to see his face when he handed those boxes to me. To know what I was about to do. To make it eat away at his mind and even his heart if there was any chance he still wanted me.

I know he does. I catch him staring. I'm glad he stares. It makes me feel better to know that he's still thinking about me, but knows he can't have me. Anyway, I smiled obnoxiously, told him it was about time he showed up and then told him to get out.

I'm almost relieved my mom made me break up with him last year. I finally understand what she meant. Some guy who plans to run a bar isn't worth the mud on the bottom of my shoe. I need someone who wears an Armani suit every day and makes more money in an hour than other people only ever dream about earning in a year.

It's what I want. It's what I deserve. And it's what I plan to get.

I ran to the bathroom and threw up after reading that entry. What a despicable teenager I turned into.

I can only assume my shitty attitude about money and power was cultivated and nurtured by my mother. I wish she were alive today, so that I could confront her about her beliefs, stand up for myself right now, explain that none of that matters...at all. She had money and power and she's dead. It's all sitting in a bank account in my name. For all the lying and cheating she supposedly did, and all the money and power she may have gained in her short life, she was dead at forty-three.

You can't take it with you, y'know?

I'll never be that way. I realize it's easy for me to say that now; my bank account padded with enough money to pay off a significant chunk of the national debt, but at least I know I'm doing good and honorable things with my money, or at least I plan to. Once I get all of that money from the auction next month, it's going straight to the charities that Aunt Didi loved. And though I haven't brought it up to Edward yet, I really want to help him with the renovations for his bed and breakfast. I know he feels very passionately about doing all the work by his own hand, but if I give him all the money for the materials, and help him hire the work crew, maybe even hire another bartender to fill in for the time he'd miss by spending it on the remodeling, I think it would help him out greatly.

He and James deserve it. And I'm more than happy to be able to help them out where I can, if he'll allow it.

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

Seeing me approach, Edward leans over the bar to hear my order.

"These girls in the bachelorette party are hilarious. Now they want two pitchers of blue kamikazes and the bride-to-be wants me to ask you if you can do a 'multiple screaming orgasm'," I ask Edward with a laugh and a shake of my head.

"Hop up on the bar, lift your skirt and I'll see what I can do," he smirks in response.

My eyes roll to the back of my head as I take in a quick breath, "You're the devil; quit teasing me."

"It's not teasing if you plan to deliver, baby," he replies without blinking, that fucking Adam's apple bobbing up and down with a serious swallow.

I take a moment to collect myself, wet panties and all, and sigh. "Just make my drink. I'll deal with you later," I challenge with a quirk in my eyebrow.

A few hours later, the restaurant is empty and a few stragglers shake Edward's hand as they stand from the bar stools they've occupied for most of my shift.

"Last call, gentlemen...anything else for you fellas tonight?" I address the final table of patrons that remain.

"Aww Bella, you're too sweet to usshhh." Mr. Eckard has clearly had too much.

"Jerry, I think you've had enough. We're outta here, Bells. Tell E we said g'night."

"Will do, Mr. Anton. I'm not working tomorrow, but I'll see you Sunday?" I ask the sweet older man.

"Most definitely. 'Night honey."

I walk the two men to the front door, wish them a safe journey home and lock the deadbolt and latch behind them. Before I step away, I punch in the code for the alarm to know we're safe inside at this late hour, while we do the final clean-up.

I go back over to their table and clear off the empties and the remnants of their chicken fingers and fries platter. In the kitchen, I finish loading the dishes into the machine and start the last cycle so that it's clean for the opening cooks in the morning.

After washing my hands, I chug the rest of my bottle of water, walk back out of the kitchen and hear the jukebox come to life. Strings of a guitar play the familiar chords of a Bad Company song that Edward and I danced to a couple nights ago at Joe Pop's, when we went out with Rosalie and Emmett.

Baby, when I think about you, I think about lo-ove.

Darlin', don't live without you, and your lo-ove.

Turning the corner, I see the lights on the floor have been turned off and smile . All that remains lit are the track lighting and accent lights that showcase the shelves of liquor bottles and the hanging glasses.

Edward is leaning against the outside of the bar, his arms stretched out across the freshly polished wood, his right knee bent because he's propped his foot up on the brass foot rail, sexy as fuck half-grin on display, surrounded by his stubbly mustache and jaw, the minute hair follicles stretching down his neck. His black Last Call t-shirt stretches across his sculpted chest, the hem bunched perfectly at his hips, where his washed out jeans grip his ass (and other parts) scrumptiously, just like I'm about to in a few seconds.

Damn.

I slowly walk his way, my mating dance beginning, untying my apron as I go. We study each other as I approach and his tongue peeks out to lick his bottom lip just before his teeth bite down slightly on the moistened area.

Feel like makin'...

Feel like makin' love.

Feel like makin' love.

Feel like makin' love.

Feel like ma-kin' love to you.

By the time the first chorus ends, I'm in his arms and our lips are tangling, doing a dance of their own. His hands have found their way to my ass and he's squeezing and thrusting our hips together in tandem with the guitar riffs and the drum line.

Our kisses continue to intensify, our breathing heavier in my ears, while my hands make their way up to the back of his neck where I'm tugging on the ends of his hair.

A sexy moan from Edward causes me to bite and suck on his lower lip, trying to keep up with his fervor. His hands have found their way to the button and zipper of my denim skirt and he loosens my tank top from its constraints, pulling it over my head in a quick motion.

This risky public display of affection might have been an outrageous and appalling thought to me in the past, but isn't affecting me in the least right now. We're alone after closing and I'm about to let my boyfriend fuck me.

Yes, fuck.

Hard.

I want it that way.

We've been flirting all night and now it's time to put our money where our mouths are...or will be in a few minutes.

Suddenly, he tugs my skirt and thong down below my hips and roughly maneuvers his fingers between my thighs. He pulls away from kissing me and forces me to stare into his lust-filled eyes. My mouth is open as he rubs up then down on my small patch of hair before he plunges two long fingers into my pussy. Our foreheads are touching and while we watch each other, he opens his mouth to let his tongue dart out and lick my lips, teasing my own tongue, which wants to come out to play as well.

A few swirls of our tongues later, and we look down to where he's fingering me. My juices have dripped all the way to the base of his two fingers, onto his palm. He wipes his thumb across the wetness and starts flicking and plucking at my clit.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" My staccato mewls might soon turn into a full-blown song while he continues to thrust and rub my g-spot with the pressure it needs to achieve that screaming orgasm he promised me earlier tonight.

He moves his hot mouth to my ear and whispers, "Come on, baby. Give it to me."

That, coupled with a wet lick and then a sucking bite under my ear pulls a cry out of me that practically rattles the glasses hanging above us on the rack.

My hands keep a death-grip on Edward's hair while I ride out my orgasm, my legs quaking a bit while I struggle to try and remain upright.

Edward's gaze comes back to meet mine as he pulls his fingers from inside me and forces them into my mouth for a lick.

It's a tangy, sweet and sweaty combination. And a few more juices escape because I'm so damn turned on that I'm sucking my own orgasm off Edward's talented digits.

Cue even more wetness dripping, because as soon as he pulls out of my mouth, he pushes those same drenched fingers into his mouth. I watch his eyes roll into the back of his head and I take that opportunity to undo his button and zipper, ready and willing to return the favor and more.

Feel like makin...

Feel like makin' love.

Feel like makin' love.

Feel like makin' love.

Feel like makin' love to you.

"Turn around."

It's not a request. He places his hands on my hips and spins me to face away from him. He gathers my hair to one side and pushes it over the front of my shoulder, biting down where my neck meets my upper back. Continuing to suck and tease my shoulders, he unclasps my bra. Without pulling it down my arms to finish the job, his hands come around to grasp my breasts. He's pulling and tweaking and I'm gasping for breath, rolling my head back into his shoulders, squeezing my eyes shut as he continues to assault my overly sensitive nipples.

His hot breath and wet, open-mouthed kisses and bites make goose-bumps erupt all over my body.

With Edward's movements and thrusts against me, indicating just how turned on, rock hard and ready he is, my skirt has fallen completely to the floor. I kick out of it to free my legs, lest I fall over from shaky leg syndrome due to another mind-blowing orgasm.

The song has ended, though the silence only remains for a moment as the haunting sounds of monks singing in a concert hall take over, Enigma's "Sadness: Part One" now flooding the speakers.

"Kneel one leg on the stool, bend forward with your elbows on the bar," he commands, starting to pull up my thigh to demonstrate exactly where he wants me.

I comply, my head twisted over my shoulder to see what this man has planned next and I watch him drop to his knees.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

"Haaaaaaahhhh!" I cannot control my outburst as his mouth dives onto my pussy. I can feel his thumbs pulling my lips apart from behind as he takes his time with his tongue and in one long stroke, licks me from my clit up to my sodden entrance. He's sucking on every part of my anatomy down there. His tongue is conducting some kind of cardio workout of its own, never ceasing its motion, just alternating between fast and slow movements...all resulting in me hurtling toward the ultimate goal, the "multiple screaming orgasm".

Fuck the drink; I'll take the real thing any day.

My arms are crossed on the bar, my head resting on them while I do my very best to not pass out. I'd hate to miss the culmination of all his hard work. While his one hand continues to pull and roll my nipple in synch with each dart of his tongue inside my flooded core, I feel him slide a single finger inside me and twirl it around like he he's stirring a damn drink.

My eyes start rolling in time with the circuit I feel him making inside my slick walls.

Sweet agony. I don't think I'm gonna last too much longer!

"Holyshitholyshitholyshit!" I'm grabbing onto the bar, white-knuckled, because the leg I'm standing on is worthless and I'm precariously balanced with one knee, now made of Jell-O, on this wobbling stool.

Edward's tongue has yet to relent, although, mercifully, he has stopped flicking my clit.

I ride out my orgasm without any further obscenities and my boyfriend slows his movements. I seriously don't know how he didn't drown down there.

He places a trail of kisses from my ass all the way up my spine till he reaches my neck. He eases my leg off the stool and gently unfolds it, standing me upright. He doesn't seem to trust the stability of my legs either, because he wraps his arms tightly around my waist as my breathing slows to within normal limits.

"More?" he gruffly questions between kisses while the monks still chant in the distance.

I whimper, sounding rather pathetic, but don't turn him down as I bend my arms over my shoulders to tug on his hair. He chuckles into my neck, placing one last kiss before scooping me up in his arms and laying me out on the fucking mahogany bar.

I am naked and dripping where we serve drinks on a daily basis. I pray the Health Code Inspector never hears about this one.

"Edward...are you sure—" he cuts me off with his index finger to my lips and a shake of his head.

"No talking, Bella," he murmurs, his face hovering above mine. I swallow hard as he removes his finger and replaces it with his lips.

My chin, cheeks and lips are being positively bathed in my arousal, which drenched his two days' worth of facial hair growth, resulting in a slight mustache and scruffy jaw. Every time his tongue plunges into my mouth, I taste more of myself on him and I can't get enough.

I smell me, I taste me...I don't know why I think it's so fucking sexy, but I absolutely do.

I reach up and fist what little hair I can grasp at the back of his head, and allow my fingers to loosen and scratch at his scalp knowing how much that turns him on. I successfully elicit a groan while our mouths are sharing breath and I feel his hand travel down my stomach and back to my pussy.

Jesus Christmas...I don't think I'm gonna survive the night.

EPOV

Okay, show time. I've done a great job making my gorgeous girl come twice in the last ten minutes, but I'm hoping to rock her fucking world right now.

I've heard the guys in the kitchen talk about this stuff, but I seriously thought it was an urban legend. So, on the nights I didn't spend with Bella this week, I came home and Googled some stuff and even found a damn 'how-to' video.

We'll see if this internet guy knows what he's talking about.

I continue to kiss and tease Bella's mouth. I'm sucking on her lips, then I pull away just to stare in her eyes, while my right hand travels down to the apex of her thighs, rubbing the existing lubrication all over her pussy lips, gently palming her clit, and dragging my thumb through the little sculpted landing strip of hair.

When I believe she's teetering on the edge of coming again, just by messing with her clit alone, I slip my middle and ring fingers inside to find her g-spot and start tapping. I have no idea what I'm doing. I only watched the fucking video and never tried this on any other girl, although I've heard the myths about it for years.

Still kissing her and licking her neck, I feel the chills continue to pop up and recede all over her body. Her heavy breathing and whimpers are coaxing me along. I hope I'm on the right track. I so want to do this for her AND for me, if I'm being totally honest here.

Fuck yes; I wanna see my girl gush.

Next step is the rubbing. Inside, my fingers massage in a 'come hither' motion for several more strokes until I shift to phase three. I curl both fingers up inside her, locked on and repeatedly and rapidly pressing into that one spongy, g-spot area.

Damn, this guy wasn't kidding, my arm is getting tired. Just as I start to lose hope of unlocking this mystery, Bella starts moaning uncontrollably, crying out, and almost hyperventilating.

I pull my lips away from her neck and stand up straighter to watch what my hand is doing when I see this small burst of fluid shooting straight up from where my hand is latched.

One, two, THREE little spurts! It's like watching footage of a mini-Old Faithful! My mouth drops open and my eyes bug out, I can't believe it! I fucking did it! She's doing it! I wonder if my fifth grade science teacher Mr. Banner would be proud of me now. Never did get that damn volcano to shoot out lava back then. He gave me a 'B' for trying. HA! You can keep your 'B' now, dude! I'm looking at something that resembles Kilauea.

"Holy fuuuuck," I groan, turning my head from watching her pussy with rapt attention back to her face. Bella looks completely mortified and picks her head up to look down to where my hand is working its magic.

"Ahhh...hhhoooooooomygod," she whines and then covers her eyes, while I slow down my movements, take my fingers out and just continue rubbing between her legs, but not penetrating.

I lean down to capture her lips with mine. "You are fucking sexy as hell, you know that?" I moan softly in her ear before plunging my tongue back into her mouth, conveying my love. "C'mere." I pull her upper body from where she's stretched out before me and lift her off the bar.

She wraps her legs around my waist and I stumble the ten feet over to my office door. Bella's lips have moved to my neck and she's sucking and nibbling at my scruff. I can feel her yanking my shirt up and diving her hands underneath, scratching their way up my back.

Her feet are also trying to dig their way into the back of my jeans, attempting to draw them down my legs. "Hang onto me, baby," I whisper as I take one of my hands from below her ass and wrestle my jeans and boxers down toward my knees.

I line my dick up with her soaked entrance and she comes back to attack my lips.

"Bella—"

"Do it. I'm on the shot, just do it...I trust you," she sighs impatiently. I don't wait for any further confirmation and I slam my cock up inside of her causing us both to groan out in pleasure.

We're against the office door, banging away.

Her pussy grips me like a fucking suction cup. She's wet and hot and still pulsing from her squirting episode.

I thrust hard, over and over, setting up a faster pace than we normally use. Our grunts of mutual passion, coupled with her heels digging into my ass, only serve to encourage me to keep going until we can't see straight anymore.

"Fuck Bella, you feel so goddamn incredible."

She smiles and opens her mouth, lunging her lips forward to try to devour my tongue and lips, clearly turned on from my dirty talk.

"Yes, baby..." she's purring, "yes, yes!"

Pound, pound, pound...I can't get close enough to her.

"You got another one, love? Tell me you have one more, cause I'm about to come so fu-cking hard..." I'm thrusting faster and harder trying to drive my girl to the same edge I'm approaching.

I dive my face into her neck in the hopes that my hot breath across her flushed skin and ear will have her screaming out my name soon.

And just like that...

"Oh fuck! EDWAAAARRD!" There she is.

"Nnnngh," I grit through my teeth, still not allowing my pounding cock to slow down until my thighs tense up and I come inside her, roaring in fucking ecstasy.

I pick my head up from her neck and lick her lower lip. She smiles and kisses me back and then shakes her head.

"I have never, EVER thought it could feel like this," she gasps out, "I can't believe I get to keep you."

Her words make me smile. Hell yeah, honey, keep me. Keep me forever. I want it that way, too.

I shuffle us over to my couch and fall onto it, her legs still wrapped around me. I can feel her juices and my cum, all of it leaking out onto my thigh but I can't find it in myself to care, I'm so fucking in love with this girl.

I wrap my hands through her hair, cupping her face. "I love you so much, Bella. So much."

She smiles and tightens her hug around my neck. "I love you, too." I hear her hum softly into my neck, "And don't ever, EVER let me catch you giving some other girl a 'multiple screaming orgasm', got it?" she giggles.

This girl.

"Yes, dear," I reply smugly and with a wink. "I think it's safe to say there will be no sharing of that…drink.

She huffs and shakes her head but then sits straight up, looking me dead in the eye.

"Hey, here's a question...did I pee on you out there?" She whines, her same horrified look returning from earlier.

I chuckle and shake my head. "No, baby. Not at all, you ejaculated. Squirted, gushed. There's a whole crop of terms for the same thing, and I always thought it was a load of crap guys tried to sell...y'know, locker room talk, 'you won't believe what I got my girlfriend to do last night' bullshit."

Bella's eyes are scrunched up, still worried about my response.

"Anyway, I knew I wanted to try it out; see if I could get you to that point. So, I did some searching online and actually watched a video," I confess, sheepishly. "Then, watching you spin around the room working so hard, you had a sheen of sweat on your neck and chest all night, batting your eyelashes at me whenever you'd come up to the bar for an order, swishing your hips every time you'd walk away from me with a full tray…you were driving me wild. I knew I had to deliver tonight. So no, you didn't pee...just had one hell of an orgasm!"

"I couldn't understand what was happening. I was terrified that you were disgusted with me!" her fears voiced in a mild, yet panicked way.

"What? God no, Bella. I did all that different stuff to try and get you to gush. Whadjya think of it? Did it… feel good?"

She smiles and widens her eyes.

"Well, I'm certainly not a sexpert, since I've only been at this a couple weeks myself, but yeah, it was beyond intense. And now that I know that you liked that I did it, and tried to make me do it on purpose, I wouldn't be opposed to adding it to our repertoire," she adds clinically, with a sarcastic giggle that forces me to kiss her hard.

"Thanks for the drink, sexy man of mine."

"Oh, it was my great pleasure, m'lady."

"Yeaaaah, somehow, I think it was all mine, actually!"

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

I wake with a start at the obnoxious vibrations of my cell on the nightstand.

I reach over to check whose call I missed: Mom. She probably just wants to remind me what time to show up tonight.

Oh man, am I wiped out. Bella and I literally collapsed onto her bed after our busy Friday night of work and crazy sex.

We had sat on the couch talking quietly in the dimly lit office for a little while, which led to hugging. And that led to exchanging soft kisses and bites on each other's necks and with little effort, I got it up again and had her riding me so hard, that if anyone was walking in the back parking lot outside the office, they sure as shit heard me scream her name.

We redressed and finished up our closing procedures for the next half hour. Our eyes at half-mast, I seriously don't know how we made it home in one piece, leaving the bar at 3:30 in the morning.

What a night.

I yawn and stretch, rolling over and wrapping my girl up in my arms before I take a quick look at her alarm clock to see that it's almost ten.

"Morning, pretty girl. Want some coffee?" I kiss her shoulder and wait for a response.

"Mhmmm."

"Want me to bring it up here for you?"

"Mhmmm." I laugh at her unenthused reply.

"We don't have to be at my parents' place for dinner till five, wanna just swim and lounge out by your pool today?"

"Mhmmm."

I chuckle again and give her one final kiss on her head before rolling back and throwing the covers off. I grab a pair of sweats from the duffel bag I've been keeping in the corner of her room and walk downstairs to grab the paper and get the coffee started.

Fifteen minutes after I placed a steaming mug of coffee on her nightstand, Bella comes walking into the kitchen to find me sitting at her island. I'm reading the paper.

"She walks in beauty." I deliver, grinning like a fool.

"Thank you, Lord Byron. Whatcha got there?" She wraps her arms around me from behind and attempts to peek around my shoulder at the paper.

"'Grease!' is playing its final week at the Surflight Theater down in Beach Haven, would you want to go see it?"

"Yeah, absolutely! Always loved the music from 'Grease!'. I remember Aunt Didi once told me a story about when I was three years old. Apparently, I was singing to myself and my Dad asked me to sing a little louder and I crooned, 'Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity...' haha, Aunt Didi said my Dad hit the roof and threw away the DVD and soundtrack," she laughs.

I feel a lump form in my throat at the mention of Bella's dad sounding like a parent that made a sound decision for his three year-old daughter. Where was that same thought process when he agreed to let her marry Alec King?

"Hey, what's wrong?"

She must have caught me spacing out and at a loss for words for a minute. I just have to tell her this part of our history right now. I would love for us to skip right to that part of the journal to see if the pieces come together to make any kind of sense.

I inhale deeply, preparing for a tough conversation.

"I want to try and search for something in your journal, babe. At the beginning of the final summer I worked for the Flanders, there was an incident that I was involved in, and maybe it will help me and even you understand the relationship between your Dad and the Kings and what it was that made him allow you to marry into their family."

A crease forms in between her eyes and she nods, "Okay. What dates am I looking for? Can you ballpark it?" she asks, reaching for her journal.

"Umm, the very beginning of June in 2006," I answer, before draining my coffee cup and standing to get a refill.

"Alright. While I skim and look for dates, why don't you tell me what you know and I'll see if I can find any answers."

"In a nutshell, I overheard Alec and Royce betting you, like, putting you up as collateral, during a late night poker game while your parents were away for the weekend. The men stopped throwing money in the pot, and they were hoping to win this really fucking rare bottle of Chivas. Their opponents had been eyeing you all evening, probably because you were walking around in this string bikini that should've been outlawed."

She laughs at my over-protective and semi-asshole-ish comment. "Go on."

"I think they must've slipped you something. I suspected GHB, you know, the date rape drug, because you were beyond torn up, didn't have a clue what was going on, you fell, split your lip, couldn't see straight, it was nuts." I shake my head in anger, remembering how it upset me to see her that way. I glance over at her and she's sitting across the kitchen island from me, her hands folded around her coffee cup, hanging onto my every word.

"Anyway, the Kings lost. And I heard them say they'd drop you off at one of the hotels a few blocks away where the winner was staying. They all went out to grab some food on the boardwalk, but I got you out of there before they came back and I stayed with you for the rest of the night in your suite."

"So wait. You're saying my boyfriend and his father BET me in a game, LOST, and then planned to trade me into a night of sex slavery? Because they lost the fucking hand?"

I scrub my hands over my face for a second and nod, continuing to rub my hands on my sweats.

"But you said you saved me and stayed to watch out for me for the rest of the night...so it never happened, right?"

"Right. Even though we were acting like we despised each other at the time, I couldn't let them hurt you like that. I was terrified for you that night." I take another deep breath and continue. "Anyway, I approached your Dad that Monday morning to tell him what I knew. I told him what I overheard from them and that I kept you safe that night."

"And yet, somehow, here I sit with that fucker's last name!" she shouts in anger and frustration...not at me, but at the universe...I get it.

"That's what we need to find out. Maybe your journal will tell us what went on that final summer and explain how you came to agree to getting engaged. Especially knowing that you came to me at the end of the summer, pleading with me to hear you out before I left the Flanders for good."

"Sounds pretty desperate of me...go on."

"About a week or so before Labor Day, you found me in the pavilion and asked if you could talk to me off Flanders property, after my shift ended. You sounded serious, so even though I hated spending time with you because it hurt so badly, I agreed to meet you."

I watch her face, almost morphing into a smile, showing some hope. My face doesn't reflect the same, though.

I know what eventually happened.

And even though I may have smiled that final week and weekend while it was happening, my heart ended up in a dumpster, shredded to pieces within a few weeks.

Here comes the hard part.

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."