Inspired by watching waaaaaay too much Sex and the city…first fic so give me some feedback. No throwing tomatoes, por favor. The song for this chapter is Melissa Ferrick "Drive". Listen to it if you enjoy dirty songs ;)
What do you get when you mix tequila shots, a battle of wits, Dr. McDreamy, a sex columnist and bake at 400 degrees? A steamy and sizzling serving of Sinful in Seattle. Enjoy while hot.
I don't own Twilight.
"Some rise by sin and fall by virtue."
BPOV
Why is it that as humans we constantly seek companionship? It's in our nature. It's inscribed in our DNA to want to have someone in our lives. Why? It makes us feel worth while. Why? No man nor woman has ever lived to tell the tale.
I have given up on finding a decent guy in Seattle. There are a ton of single men in this city and I have dated about forty-five percent of them. I've decided I'm going to let love find me instead of me finding it. Who wants to chase cupid down this time of year anyway? I'll let cupid track me down around Valentine's Day.
A and R aren't too pleased with my decision of halting operation Mr. Right. As many times as I try to explain this is for the best, they simply say I'm taking the easy way out of the love game.
They're right; I've been dating ten years and I'm already exhausted. So operation Mr. Right Now is about to commence: I don't need anything serious at this point in my life.
A seems to believe that my single days are numbered. I argue that; after Wolverine I don't want to claim another victim.
Hail Mary! Hear our cries! Where have all the good men gone?
Here is my advice ladies: if you find yourself in constant game of cat and mouse with Cupid then stop. Prince charming is most likely not here in Seattle. Trust me, I would have found him already. He's probably sipping a latte with your knight in shining armor in East LA, doing lunch with the man of your dreams in Atlanta, and having cocktails in the Hamptons with Mr. Right.
That's all the more reason to stop looking. The man is out there; he'll be found when he's ready. In fact, he could be right under your nose.
Until then, don't knock every dude off their high horse for coming to talk to you. Everyone has their sleazy moments; even Mr. Right. There is no reason not have fun before you settle down.
Remember, the guy isn't going to have 'Man of your dreams, here!' tattooed on to their forehead. Give that newbie a chance and show him how it's done. Take a deep breath, don your extra cute shoes, the outfit that screams 'Your missing out if you don't buy me a drink', and an attitude to match. Round up some friends and hit the city that never stops raining and paint the streets red.
-Bella Swan,
Sinful in Seattle
***
"I'm not wearing those."
Alice quirked an eyebrow at me while she watched me huff on to my bed. "Why not?"
I rubbed my eyes with my hands. "Because," I said, "I would like to live to see another day, thank you very much."
"Silly Bella!" she tossed the shoes on to the bed next to me. She smiled at me quickly, and then turned back into my closet.
I groaned. "Alice, these shoes are going to hurt me. They have spikes!"
"That's called a heel, sweetie. Say it with me. Hiiiiiigh heeelsss."
I made the motion to strangle her while she had her back turned to me, earning a laugh from Rosalie who was lying on my bed with me flipping through a magazine. I turned and glared at her.
"Really Bella, you should dress better. People know who you are now, so you have to dress accordingly," Rosalie explained. I elbowed her in the ribs. "Fuck! Stop being a brat."
I scowled at her while picking up the shoes and examining them. "I don't even know where these came from…" I mumbled to myself.
"I bought them for you!" Alice's voice came from the closet.
"It looks like Satan would wear those."
Rose smirked at me. "Well, you know the devil wears Prada."
I sneered at her from over my shoulder. "Original, Rose." I sighed, tossing the shoes back on to the bed beside me. "Where are we going tonight?" I asked in defeat.
"We're going to that new club that just opened up! Pulse, I think it was. It doesn't matter," Alice dismissed with a wave of her hand. "What does matter is that we get you in going out perfection. Now stop resisting."
My groan was muffled by the pillow Rosalie shoved on top of my head.
"If it's that painful to go out and enjoy yourself, just think of it as work. Think about new techniques for picking up men in clubs that you can write about. You know that's always a success."
"Fine, you can do what you want to me. But if—"
"Stop right there!" Alice screeched from the closet with a shirt in her hands. "I'm acting before you can provide the rebuttal. Rose, we've got work to do!"
Two hours later, Alice was admiring her work.
"Oh, Bella, you look beautiful!" Alice clapped her hands together as she stared at my reflection in the mirror. "You always are but this…this is a masterpiece!"
"Thanks, Alice." I rose from the stool in the bathroom and walked back into my room. Alice had laid out an outfit consisting of a plain blue tank top and black skinny jeans. I slipped them on without argument, knowing my attempts would be futile. But I still eyed the heels like they would attack me.
Rosalie snorted. "They're not going to eat you."
"Fucking shoes…" I muttered under my breath. I slipped on the death traps and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair hung down my shoulders in loose waves and Alice had even gone light on my makeup tonight for once.
"Are we ready?" Alice called from the kitchen.
The three of us shared an apartment together in downtown Seattle. We had met our sophomore year of college at the University of Washington and have been inseparable ever since. Honestly I don't know how much in common I had with Alice or Rose. They both had their love for fashion and shopping that bonded them. It seemed the only thing bonding them to me is that I loved them, which was good enough for me.
"I suppose so." I reached into my bag and grabbed my keys. Alice snatched them out of my hand and shook her head at me. "What?"
"The club isn't far. We're walking."
Locking up the apartment and riding the elevator down were taking considerably less time than I suspected they would. I guess I really just needed to man up and just go out.
I graduated UW with a degree in English. After my graduation my dad, Charlie, turned to me, huffed out his chest and asked, "English? What the hell are you going to do with English?"
At the time I didn't have an answer for him. I actually didn't until this opportunity kind of fell into my lap a little over two years ago. I had done some free lance writing here and there for magazines and newspapers and even got a job at a publishing agency that was good experience. But one day I received a phone call from the Editor in Chief over at the Seattle Observer asking for a meeting.
He briefly explained what they were looking for: a sex columnist. He told me what the position would entail and what was expected if I were to accept the job. I remember stuttering and asking why in the world they thought of me for this job. Sure I wasn't a virgin, but I hadn't been laid enough in my eyes to be a sex columnist.
"You're an amazing writer," he had said to me, "and you're young. All we're asking you to do is to write about your life, your romances, your dating tips, and whatever else you feel like."
He made ma an offer I couldn't refuse: he nearly doubled the salary I was getting at the publishing agency. I could work from home. I wouldn't ever have to step foot in the office unless I wanted to. Really? A dream come true for me.
So for the past year, I've been going out more, dating more, and obviously, having sex more. I dished about my bad break ups, along with Rose and Alice's (not first without them approving the edit) and my life. It wasn't long before I received emails asking how I met all these men.
The air in Seattle in August was thick and muggy. It was misting slightly, but not much, so if we walked quickly to the club we wouldn't get wet.
Alice was practically bouncing with excitement when we arrived in front of Pulse. There was a line around the corner and there was a very loud base coming from behind the front doors. A very large man with dark hair was standing outside the front door with a clip board in his hands. He looked like he could eat all three of us and have room for dessert.
This didn't faze Rosalie. She waltzed right up to him, placed a lingering hand on his forearm, and pressed her body up against his side while whispering something into his ear. We all knew how to stork the male ego; it was just less likely to get turned down using Rose as the bait. Who turns down a woman who belongs in magazines?
No one, which is my point exactly. She giggled a little and suddenly the rope is whisked aside for us three to enter. The bouncer had a look on his face that read something like I am male, hear me roar.
We settled at a small round table that was close enough to the dance floor for us to see any potential males, yet far enough away so we wouldn't see sweaty bodies groping each other as we tried to drink in peace.
"I'll get the first round. Beer?" Rose asked, placing her purse on her shoulder.
"And tequila shots!" Alice chirped. Rose grinned mischievously and disappeared.
"Tequila?" I asked, letting my head drop to the table. I was about to let it drop again but Alice's little hand got in the way and shoved me back up.
"You're going to ruin your makeup if you keep doing that. And get a nasty bruise while you're at it." She reached in her bag for her cell phone as if she got a text from some one. "Tequila is fun."
"Tequila makes my clothes fall off."
"That's the point," she retorted. I sighed. I was never going to win.
"Bottoms up!" Rosalie declared. She set down a bucket with three beers and handed both of us a shot from her other hand. She situated herself in her seat before raising her shot glass in the air.
"Bottoms up!" Alice and I shouted together. I licked the salt off the rim of the glass, downed the amber liquid, and bit into the lime. My cheeks instantly puckered, and I felt a familiar burn in the back of my throat. Oh Jose, it's always a good night with you.
The night was going along very smoothly. We danced together and even with some partners. Alice and Rose got asked to dance and accepted every time. I however declined half of them; it was for their own benefit.
"Whew!" Alice chugged down the last of her beer. "We're running on empty!"
I laughed and stood up from my stool. "My turn! I'll be back. More tequila?"
"Yes!"
"Got it!" I wandered my way to the bar. It was crowded with people and as far as I could see there were only two bartenders working. A man retreated from the bar with drinks in his hand so I dashed for his spot.
I leaned over the bar to see that I was dead center, and there were two bartenders at either side. The closest one was about ten people away. I sighed, plopped my clutch on the bar and sunk into the stool.
"Yeah, I know," a smooth velvety voice said beside me.
I turned, kind of surprised that I could hear someone over the music, but I guess it would be hard to miss a voice that sounded like bells. The man smiled at me, with one corner of his mouth tugging higher than the other. It was a cute little quirk that fit his face well.
He had the brightest green eyes I'd ever seen in person. Sure I've seen pictures of people with eyes like that, but it's totally different starring into them first hand. It's mesmerizing. His bronze hair seemed to be sticking up in every direction possible, but it wasn't spiked. It seemed like he just rolled out of bed and that happened, which was half the appeal. His button down shirt was rolled up to his elbows, offering a much appreciated view of the muscles and tendons of his forearms.
I cleared my throat and returned his smile. Game on, Swan. "How long have you been waiting for your drink?"
His smile grew and he ran a hand through his hair. "A while." He chuckled as he watched my face drop.
I leaned back over at the bar to try and catch on of the bartenders eye. No such luck. I turned back to the beautiful man next to me. His eyes were sparkling at something he must have found amusing.
"I guess if you can't get service here, no one can," he observed. I blushed slightly at his words. I sucked in a breath and tossed my hair over my shoulder; a move Rose had showed me.
"Well I could say the same for you," I stated, my voice slightly deeper than I had planned on. I stuck out my hand for him to shake. "Bella."
He chuckled. "I'm Edward." He took my hand in his, and for the split second we were touching, I felt an electric shock pass through my veins.
"So what do you do, Edward?" I asked, trying to make small talk. The man was beautiful, but I was expecting something like hair model to come out of his mouth.
"I'm a doctor," he answered sheepishly. I felt my jaw slacken slightly. "Well, to be honest I'm a surgeon. Or will be, once I finish my residency."
"Where at?"
"Virginia Mason," he said, the corners of his mouth tugging up slightly. He must have been amused at my surprised expression.
"What about you, Bella? What is it that you do?" The way he said my name sent my skin into goose bumps.
"I write for the Seattle Observer." I toyed with a coaster that was left from the last customer.
"Oh a writer? That must be very fulfilling."
I frowned instantly. What the hell? "Excuse me?"
I watched his eyes widen slightly and him shake his head. "No! Sorry, that's not at all what I meant. Well, it's actually exactly what I meant. I didn't mean for you to take it the way you did, though."
I turned away from him to face the bar. Where were those fucking bartenders?
"Take it the way I did?"
"Yes," he snapped. "I didn't mean for it to sound like that. I'm sure it is very fulfilling."
I fought back a grin. He was playing the cards just right, and if I held out for just a little bit longer then he would feel guilty, buy me a drink and offer me to dance. I had this shit down to a science.
"It was very rude of you," I snapped right back. If only he could see the fact I was laughing on the inside.
"I apologize." He turned to get a better look at my face as if that would get him some indication. "But I must say, for someone who is as attractive and snarky as you seem to be, the whole kicking while the man is down tactic seems a little elementary."
"E-Excuse me?"
His grin only widened as I stuttered. "You know, the whole I offended you, not on purpose of course, so you're going to milk it for what it's worth in hopes that I'll buy you and your friends' drinks and offer you a dance later on tonight."
I licked my lips. "Is it working?"
I watched his eyes dart from my eyes to my lips and him shift unconsciously as my tongue left my mouth. My mouth tugged into a smirk as his gaze finally lifted back up to mine and smirk appeared on his own lips. "You bet," he answered truthfully, his voice slightly strained.
I must have hit the jack pot or Santa must have thought I've been very good this year so I deserved something early. Or naughty, depending on how you looked at it.
I turned my attention back to the bar and caught the bartenders' eye. I smiled and did a small wave, hoping to lure him over to where Edward and I were perched. It worked.
"What can I get for you tonight, babe?"
"Three beers and three shots of Jose," I returned, and then shot a look at Edward. "And…"
"Make it six beers and three shots."
The bartender nodded, and turned away to grab our drinks. I leaned back on to my stool. "Three, huh? I didn't realize you were waiting on drinks for your friends as well."
"Do I seem like the kind of person who comes to bars by themselves in hopes that beautiful women plant themselves next to me?" he asked.
"Not entirely," I smiled at him, which he returned without hesitation. "So do you live near here?"
"As of a few days ago, yes," he replied. "I just moved here about two weeks ago or so from the east coast."
"That's a pretty big jump. What is it? Two time zones?"
He laughed heartily and it sounded like music to my ears. "Something like that." He was glancing at me in a way that my heart was jumping in my chest and made me want to pounce on him.
Down girl.
"Okay, that'll be 34 bucks," the bartender interrupted. He placed the last shot in front of me while putting the bucket with six beers in it in front of Edward.
"Oh, we're actually separate—"
"No problem," Edward answered. He reached in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"No! No, I can't let you do that, especially when I made a fool out myself earlier. Please, allow me. Let me buy you and your friends' drinks." I argued, reaching into my purse to retrieve my own wallet.
"No, Bella." Edward put his hand on top of mine. "I've got this, okay?"
I bit my lip roughly as his winter fresh breath swept across my face. Who constantly chews on tic-tacs? "I can't let you."
He smiled. "Yes, I can actually. Watch me." He reached in his wallet, retrieving two twenties and some ones and handing them to the bartender. "Keep the change."
I scowled as I put my wallet back into my purse. "Thanks," I muttered. I blushed as he just kept smiling and looking at me.
"Tell you what," he started. "I'll let you buy the next round of drinks, if we happen to bump into each other again tonight, or some other night for that matter."
"Oh really? What if we were to bump in a place where there were no drinks offered?"
"Then I suppose you're stuck with buying me dinner or a movie—you know, depending on wherever we bump into each other," he added with a grin.
I've never seen a man smile more than this one in front of me. But I don't think I've ever smiled this much either, so I'm not sure what to make of it.
"Well if that's the case then I really hope to bump into you sometime soon," I said slyly.
His eyes grew a slightly darker shade of green as he watched my lips. "I really hope we bump into each other soon as well." He stood from his stool and offered his hand out to help me down from mine. As I tried to maintain balance, he leaned down and whispered into my ear, "Perhaps you should give me your phone number? Just so we can insure we'll bump into each other soon."
"Of course!" I squeaked. He chuckled as I reached for a cocktail napkin and an abandon pen on the bar. I scribbled it down and handed it to him with a little blush on my cheeks.
He looked at it briefly before tucking it into his front pocket of his jeans. "Would you like help with the drinks?"
"That would be lovely, thank you." I gripped the bucket in my hand as Edward took the shot glasses in his and slowly led him away from the bar. I managed my way back the table that was now currently empty. I set the bucket down and whirled around trying to find them.
"Dancing?" Edward asked.
"Most likely," I sighed. "Either that or using the restroom. Beer kind of runs through them."
He laughed softly and set the shots down. "Of course." He turned to face me with a smile on his face. "Well it was wonderful meeting you, Bella, but I think if I don't return soon my friends are going to die of thirst deprivation."
"Of course! You know, who can survive without their alcohol," I joked.
"Who can indeed?" His eyes smoldered mine for the moment they were starring at me. He cleared his throat and held out his hand. I stuck it out but instead of shaking it, Edward brought it up to his lips and placed a small, sweet kiss on the back. "I hope we can bump into each other sometime very, very soon, Bella."
"I hope so too," I hinted. His grin never faded as he grabbed three beers by their necks with one hand and walked away into the crowd.
I collapsed in my chair and started to fan myself, trying to put out the fire that had started in my hand.
I was hoping we'd bump into each other extremely soon.
The night continued on with several more beers, tequila shots, and I think we finally called it quits after a round of screaming orgasms. The three of us stumbled out of the club at two in the morning, somehow still managing to walk in our something inch heels, singing dead early nineties songs by Backstreet Boys and N*Sync.
The last thing I remember was throwing my shoes against the wall next to my closet and falling on to the bed, not bothering with the sheets or blankets.
And now it was bright. Very, very bright. Uncomfortably bright.
My face was hot. I threw an arm over my eyes, effectively blocking out the light but I was still left with the heat issue. I sat up quickly, only to fall right back on to the pillows.
Fuck. My head was killing me. Hello, hangover.
I sat up again, more slowly this time, inwardly grimacing at every throb of my head. "Oh my…" I swung my legs over the edge until they cam in contact with the carpet and rested my elbows on my knees. Rubbing my temples in small circles, the visions of last night came rushing back to me.
Scary heels. Tequila shots. Gorgeous doctor. More tequila. Bad nineties music.
I somehow managed to make my way out of my room and into the kitchen. Rose was sitting at the counter with a magazine out in front of her while clutching a steaming cup of coffee.
"Good morning, sunshine," Alice sang while pouring herself a cup.
"Fuck you and your ability to never be hung over." I grabbed a mug from the cabinet and shoved it to her so she could pour me a cup. "What's on the agenda today?"
Alice put the mug back in my hands and started searching for the Splenda. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe a lazy day or something? I assume you and Rose are hung over and therefore are useless until at least six tonight."
"You know me so well."
She snorted softly. "Yeah, well I'm thinking we'll try to go to that place that just opened up tonight? Trinity, I think? Whatever it's called—it'll be great for your column. Apparently it's the place to be these days."
Rose opened her mouth to speak but she was cut off by the ringing of my cell phone. I held up a finger at the two of them and sprinted back into my room, curious as to who would call me at this ungodly hour.
It was a number I didn't know. I bit my lip, about to let my voicemail pick it up, but decided to just answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hi!" a smooth voice called in my ear. The man paused, I'm guessing because he was surprised I answered. "Bella? This is Edward. I met you last night…"
"Yeah! Hey." He was bypassing the three day rule…interesting.
"Well that was a very detailed response. Someone a little hung over?" he laughed.
"That's a definite possibility," I stated dully. "Although normally after drinking my weight in beer and tequila I usually wake up just huge ball of sunshine."
He laughed again and I decided that I really liked the sound. "That sounds like it's an unusual morning for you then," he joked.
"Yeah it is. Hung over and the guy from last night calls before three days? I must have really done a number on myself last night."
He coughed nervously. "Yes, about last night…" he paused cautiously. "Do you have plans tonight?"
"Not yet," I answered coolly. The trick with men who ask if you have plans is not to lie; if you don't then don't say you do. Just play it off that just because you don't have them yet doesn't mean you won't have them later.
"Well then I'm going to have to snag you before someone else does." I felt my heart skip a beat with his words. He chuckled softly and continued, "Would you be opposed to bumping into each other sometime tonight? For drinks maybe? Or something else if drinking your weight in tequila last night will prevent you from drinking tonight."
"Please, no more tequila talk! My brain can't seem to forget poor Jose." I bit my lip slightly and tugged on a loose thread from my shirt. "Drinks sound lovely."
"Great! Does Chopstix sound alright to you?"
"The piano bar on Roy Street?"
"Yep."
"Sure, sounds great. Nine?"
"Perfect."
I hung up the phone and tried to wipe the smug smile off my face but it was pointless.
"Bella!"
I walked back into the kitchen and sat down next to Rosalie. They both were looking at me with smiles on their faces. "What?"
"You just got a date! I can tell by your smile. It's almost as good as your post orgasm smile," Alice inferred.
"It's weird that you know that, Alice."
She shrugged and I heard Rosalie laugh next to me. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and squeezed them slightly. "Who's the lucky guy?"
"Or next victim," Alice interrupted.
I bit my lip as I murmured, "He's a doctor. We're meeting for drinks at Choptix."
Alice arched an eyebrow. "The piano bar?" I nodded. "Wow. The guy is cheesy."
"Alice! It could be fun. Besides he's cute, it's worth drinks to go out with him. If I need to be rescued, you both will get the 911 text."
Alice grinned. "Okay, fine. But we need to get some food in us before I die of starvation over here," Rosalie said.
***
Seven and half hours later, and after a huge meal of spaghetti with Rose and Alice, I was primped and polished and declared 'ready' by Alice for my "cheesy date with the hot doctor".
I shut the apartment door on their calls of "Have fun!" and "Don't do anything I wouldn't!"
It was a relatively short walk to Chopstix. I had only been to the place once, with Alice and Rose, and it was more of we were drunk and curious. Never have we returned to the place.
But the idea of being able to test this guy and watch his reactions as the pianists flirt unabashedly with me was putting a slight thrill in me. That was until I saw him leaning against the brick of the building with his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. He wasn't dressed up at all—in fact he was incredibly casual. And it was completely irresistible.
His eyes met mine and he immediately pushed off the wall with his foot and started to walk towards me. He was wearing a worn out The Who's t-shirt that clung to his body in all the right places and during his walk I took a glimpse downwards and noticed that his jeans were tight in the right places too.
I checked my watch. Nine oh five. "You're on time," I noted.
He shrugged. "I've been known to be punctual." He nodded towards the door. "Care for some drinks?" he asked as he offered his arm out to me.
I hooked my arm through his shyly. "Of course." He held the door open for me as we entered the bar. I took in my surroundings slowly, noting the pianos and the men sitting at them and the woman they were currently serenading.
Edward cleared his throat to get my attention. I turned to see him and the hostess waiting to show us where our seat was. I smiled apologetically and turned to follow the woman to our seat.
As we made our way through the crowd, I felt Edward put his hand on the small of my back. My heart accelerated slightly.
We ordered drinks and fell into conversation easily. I learned that he was the middle child and that he had a brother and a sister. His parents were still together and the two most in love people he had ever seen in his life. He graduated college early in the top of his class and jumped right into medical school. He chose to be a surgeon because his father was a doctor and he wanted to feel like he could make a difference in the world.
It was normal first date talk that I usually was repulsed by…but for some reason I was honestly interested. And every new tidbit of information just made me want to pounce him even more.
We were on our third round of drinks when I brought up the piano bar. He laughed, taking a sip of his drink. His cheeks were slightly flushed and his smile was deliciously crooked. "I used to work here," he admitted.
"You're kidding."
"No, I'm not." He waved his hand at the piano against the wall. "I used to play here my first year of college."
"I thought you went to school in New York?" I asked curiously. I brought my drink up to my lips and took a sip.
Edward's eyes followed the action and darkened slightly as I licked my lips. He brought his gaze up from my mouth to my eyes and smiled. "I transferred there after about a year and half. My first year was here at UW."
"Oh! I went to UW," I declared. So far I had been doing wonders with the word department tonight; Edward had to have been questioning the fact that I was a writer.
"Did you?" he inquired. His eyes were lined with emotions that I couldn't read right away. "Maybe I should have stuck it out for another year or so," he added. He rubbed the scruff on his jaw and asked thoughtfully, "How old are you, Bella?"
"Twenty-five." I notice him nod slightly and shift the ice in his drink. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-seven," he tipped the glass back and took an ice cube into his mouth and started chewing on it. A sign of sexual frustration? I know I was feeling it.
Around ten thirty my phone vibrated. I flipped it open after Edward excused himself to the restroom and saw a text from Rosalie.
No 911 yet? Wow, that's a first B. -R
I smiled, shut the phone and secured it back in my purse. Edward returned a moment later with a smile across his lips.
We chatted for another thirty minutes before our waitress came by and dropped off the check. I snatched it up before he could and was met with a slight pout and complaints.
"Bella, please."
"No! You said it last night that wherever we happened to bump into each other again, I'd pay. No arguing." I slipped my credit card into the book and handed it back to the waitress.
Edward leaned back into his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, and bit his lip. He was watching me through his lashes as I signed the credit card slip and fumbled to put the card back into my wallet.
We walked out of the building and hesitated by the closest street corner. "Would you like me to walk you home?" he asked softly.
My smile faltered slightly. Home? No, I didn't want to go there. Not yet anyway.
"Or we could go back to my place," he added with a rush. His hands were deep in his front pockets and he was rocking on his heels. The image reminded me of a teenager nervous for his first date because that's exactly how I felt.
"Yes!" I said a little too enthusiastically. His eyes widened and he smiled brightly at me. "I'd love to," I added in a more appropriate voice.
"Great! It's not far from here." Edward grabbed my hand in his and laced our fingers together. We had some kind of conversation on the way to his apartment, but I couldn't remember a word of it. Instead, I was solely focused on the fact that his skin was touching mine and that I had to remind myself to breathe.
He unlocked the door and held it open for me to step inside. It was a large apartment with an updated kitchen and large furniture in the living and dining rooms. A huge flat screen television hung on the wall above the fire place. Typical guys.
"Would you like something to drink?" he asked as he flipped on a light switch to the kitchen.
I followed him in, running my fingers along the granite counter tops. "Water would be wonderful."
He retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator and handed it to me with a smile. I unscrewed the top and took a swig while leaning against the counter. Edward crossed his ankles and leaned on the counter across from me. I licked my lips and set the bottle on the counter next to me. "Thanks, I needed that."
He nodded. I watch him shift his gaze from my eyes, to my lips, then farther below to my body. I felt a knot twist in my stomach as his eyes came up to mine again. One emotion was bright and brilliant in his eyes at the moment: lust.
Without saying anything, he pushed himself off the counter and came over to me. He placed his hands on either sides of my hips and leaned forward slowly, silently giving me time to push him away if this was too forward.
Like I would do a silly thing like that.
Instead I went forward and met his lips half way. I felt a spark of electricity ignite under my lips and moaned softly into his mouth. My arms wrapped around his neck and my hands tangled themselves up into his hair, trying to press his lips harder to mine. His hands came rested on my back, effectively pressing himself firmly against me. I moaned again when I felt his very eager and ready dick press into my leg.
Then his hands were traveling. They left my back and went down to my sides and even down my legs. He stopped on my thighs, reaching around to the back of them so he was right below my ass and in one swift movement he lifted me off the ground and put me on the counter. My legs spread apart, making my dress ride dangerously high on my thighs. Edward placed himself between my legs, putting one hand on the back of my neck and the other resting on my ass.
I'm not entirely sure how long we made out in the kitchen but I know that it wasn't long enough when he finally pulled away.
"Bella," he panted, resting his forehead against mine. "If you're going to keep kissing me like that and making those noises we're going to have to go to the bedroom," he smiled.
I tighten my fingers in his hair, earning a hiss from him. I brought my lips close to his ear and whispered in what I hope would come out seductively, "Promise?"
I felt him take in a quick breath before crushing his lips and body back to mine. He lifted me off the counter, wrapping both of his hands around his waist while I wrapped my legs around his.
We stumbled into the room and hadn't made it two feet from the door before Edward pushed my back up against the wall. His lips were velvety and smooth and I wanted them everywhere.
Eventually we found the bed. He laid on top of me, still kissing me fiercely, and currently trying to pull of his shirt without loosing contact with my skin. As soon as he sat up to tug off the fabric, I gasped silently at his chest.
There were no words to describe his body. Chiseled is close. Perfection is even closer. Close but no cigar.
He met my lips again and his hands worked down the zipper at the side of my dress. He helped me wiggle out of the cotton and his lips went to work at my skin, not leaving an inch of it free of kisses, nibbling or licking.
"Bella…" his voice was low and husky. I felt heat pool even more between my thighs. "We don't have to."
I grinned. "I know we don't. But we are," I announced, pulling his hips toward mine roughly with his belt.
A lazy smirk plastered across his face. At that moment there was no place I'd rather see his face than between my thighs.
The rest of the night was filled with moans and grunts, and the wonderful sound of skin slapping against skin.
Afterwards, we both were lying side by side on his bed gasping for breath. I glanced at the clock next to his bed: two thirty. I closed my eyes and smiled.
"That was amazing," he breathed against my skin. He planted a small trail of kisses up my neck and caught my lips with his. We made out again for a few minutes, although this time it was much tamer…sweet even.
He pulled the sheets over our sweaty bodies and wrapped an arm around my waist tightly before I fell asleep.
***
I woke up with a start in the morning. The first thing I realized was that I wasn't in my bed. The second was that I was in Edward's bed. The third was that I was in Edward's bed alone.
I sat up, clutching the sheets to my chest tightly. I listened for a shower or even sounds from the living room or kitchen but all was quiet. I looked over at the clock: Seven twenty-five.
I tried looking around for a note or something that would say where he was, but nothing of the sort was found. The bastard just left me here?
Bella Swan does not do the walk of shame, because in order to do it, you must have something to be shameful of. I was not shameful I just had amazing sex with a man I hardly know.
I was a little miffed though he didn't leave a note.
I slipped my dress back on and left the room. I shut his apartment door probably to hard but I didn't care. I made my way back to my apartment, stopping at the Starbucks to get Alice, Rose, and myself a pick me up.
"Honey, I'm home!" I called from the kitchen. I set the coffees down on the counter and kicked off my heels.
"BELLA!" Alice shot like a cannon from her room. "How was your date?"
"It was good," I said. I took a sip of the scalding hot beverage. I nodded up to the other two cups still on the counter.
"Good enough to bring us coffee in the morning? Someone got laid," Rosalie sang. She picked up her coffee and plopped down on a bar stool. She opened up the paper.
"Yes, someone did get laid." I sat down next to her. Alice watched me through narrow eyes. "What?"
"Were you safe?"
"Alice, you're my best friend not my mother."
"Isabella!"
"Yes, mom. I was safe." I put my head on Rose's shoulder and looked over the paper with her.
"Good article, Bells. I really like the part about prince charming and Mr. Right in the Hamptons," Rose complimented me.
"Really? I wrote that part thinking of you," I grinned at her. I looked at the top of page six from over her shoulder and saw my article, big and bold: Sinful in Seattle by Bella Swan.
I don't know who thought up the name Sinful in Seattle, but I had a feeling whoever did definitely ripped off the makers of Sleepless in Seattle.
"Bellaaaaa!" Alice whined. "Really? 'A's got this feeling that my single days are numbered.' Because they are."
"I'm glad that your forte is seeing into my love life."
"Don't bet against me, Bells. I saw that and then you get this date with this amazing doctor and you come home and you're all smiles. They're numbered. Trust me. So was he a McDreamy? Or was me more of a McSteamy?"
"It would be easier to believe you if I hadn't woken up alone and without a note or anything," I mumbled. "And both."
"He didn't leave anything?" Rose asked, arching an eyebrow at me.
"Nada."
"And both?" Rose smirked at me. "He was that good that he deserves the title of both McDreamy and McSteamy? Wow, why didn't I meet this dude first?"
Alice ignored us and put her hands on her hips. "He has some nerve! It sounded like he really liked you since he asked you out so quickly. Hmm," she tapped her temple and then shrugged. "You're better off. The guy who you'll end up will sweep you off your feet."
"I have enough experience falling down. I'd much rather have a guy catch me once in a while," I added dryly. "Remember our talk? Operation Mr. Right is on hiatus. Operation Mr. Right Now has commenced."
"Do you guys have plans tonight?" Alice asked, taking another sip of her coffee and effectively changing the subject. "Dates or anything?"
I shook my head and I heard a muffled "No" come from behind the Sports section from Rose.
Alice clapped her hands together excitedly. "Good! Because you do now."
"What are we doing?"
"Well my brother just moved back to Seattle, so my mom is throwing him a kind of welcome home celebration, if you will. There will be tons of food and tons of alcohol if you're up to drinking again," she added with a smirk.
"This is the one I've never met, right?" I asked, vaguely remembering her other older brother.
"Yeah, this is the one neither of you have met. Rose, you haven't met Emmett but you will tonight if you come."
Rose peaked from over her paper. "Why have you met one of them and I haven't?" She eyed me warily before looking at Alice.
"That year you went skiing with your parents over Thanksgiving? Bella had Thanksgiving over at my house and met him then," Alice retorted. She started to rinse out her coffee mug and place it in the dishwasher. When she was done, she turned to us expectantly. "So…is that a yes?"
"Sure."
"Why not?"
Alice squealed and I swear it felt like an ear drum popped. She smirked at both Rose and myself and I saw a glint of something flash in her eye before it disappeared. I knew that look; it meant my pixie of a best friend, the four foot warrior, was scheming.
If I hadn't been riding the post orgasm high I would have called her out on it. But for once I just let it go and took the paper that Rose was finished reading.
***
Alice's parents lived about thirty minutes away from us just outside the city. I had only been to their house one time before hand, and that was the Thanksgiving I had decided to pass on going to see Renee and her new husband, or Charlie and his new girlfriend.
"Alice! Bella! Rosalie!"
Esme came into view as she pulled her daughter into a tight hug. "Hey Mom!" Alice chirped. Esme smiled at me and Rose before pulling us both into an equally tight embrace. "Is he here yet?"
Esme seemed to know exactly who she was talking about because she shook her head. "No dear, he's not. He and Emmett are running late—as usual. You girls must be starving! Get something to eat and drink!"
Rose and I sipped on martinis and nibbled on finger sandwiches for about fifteen minutes while talking to an attractive older man and Carlise. And then there was a scream.
Alice.
I whipped my head around, trying to find the source of her cry when I saw her tackle someone in the door way. Her arms wound around a mans neck while his wrapped around her waist and picked her off the floor. Despite the fact that he spun her around twice I hadn't been able to see his face.
The one thing I could tell was that he was tall. Tall is good.
I noticed Emmett right away, because, well it was hard not to. The man was huge. He towered over most men at 6'3" and his body was made of pure muscle. A man with blonde shaggy hair stood next to Emmett with a lazy grin on his face.
"There're my boys," I heard Carlise say proudly.
Finally the mystery man let Alice down and she was pulled into a hug by Emmett, although it wasn't as enthusiastic, and shook hands with the blonde man at his side.
Her brother hadn't turned around since putting her down; his eyes seemed to be trained on the blonde man and Alice. All I could see was a lean body and a mess of copper hair that looked extremely familiar…
No.
"EDWARD!"
I felt my stomach drop. Rose noticed my suddenly green face and clutched onto my hand tightly. No. No no no no no!
It couldn't be. It was impossible.
McDreamy could not be Alice's brother. But there he stood in all his beautiful glory, just absolutely glowing like he had just gotten laid the night before and I couldn't help being angry at myself for not making the connection. Damnit, Bella. Think before you act.
He pulled Esme into a hug. His eyes lifted from hers and somehow met mine out of all the eyes in the room. I felt blush creep up on my cheeks. His eyes widened and he froze mid hug. Esme seemed to sense this and pulled back from him and looked into his eyes.
I didn't break eye contact with him. His hair was in disarray, his clothes casual like the night before, and another set of emotions pass through his green eyes. He forced a smile to Esme, eventually breaking the eye contact but regained it a few seconds later.
A smug smirk crept across his face as he watched me, occasionally looking away to say hello or accept a "Welcome home!" or a "It's so good to have you back!" My guess was that he was reliving the images of last night in his mind; as soon as the memories came, I felt a small smile tug at my lips as well.
Before I had a chance to run away, Alice was clutching tightly to Edward's hand and dragging him over to where Rose and I stood. I held on to my martini tightly and forced a carefree smile.
They stopped right in front of us, Alice beaming up at her brother while he smiled brilliantly at us and ran a hand through his hair. "Edward, this is Rose and Bella. Guys, this is my brother, Edward."
Your mouth waters, stretched out on my bed
Your fingers are trembling
And your heart is heavy and red
Your head is bent back, your back is arched
My hand is under there holding you up
I'll hold you up and drive you all night
I'll hold you up and drive you, baby,
till you feel the daylight
-Melissa Ferrick "Drive"
Super long chapter. I promise they all are not going to be twenty pages…I just had a lot to say in this one. And it's an obvious ending but you know you love it…the smut will come. Be patient, young grasshopper.
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