Come Undone – Chapter 3

BELLA

What did I want? The question swirled around in my head and bounced off my heart about a thousand times in less than a few heartbeats. What came back was a long list of my wants.

I wanted the gorgeous man, whose lap I was currently on, to kiss me – really kiss me – because I could feel him holding back. I wanted him to continue singing softly against my skin like he was doing right then to my wrist, and by now, I was certain he had no idea he was doing it. I wanted him to never, ever stop looking at me like he was right then – like I was the light at the end of a long tunnel. I wanted to get to know Alice, not to mention Edward's parents, but I also knew I would be accepting more than just a guy into my life. Edward wasn't an average guy; he was adulting way more than any guy I'd dated before, and he was raising a daughter. He shouldered all of it all seriously and without question and rather gracefully. This was different and more and so much scarier than merely dating. This could be permanent, and I was shocked at how okay I'd be with all of that.

"Wow, sweetheart," he whispered with a slight laugh as his fingers trailed along my cheek. "You don't have to decide anything tonight. Your face just ran the gamut of emotions."

I laughed, slightly embarrassed, but I knew he was right. "Sorry."

Reaching up, I cupped his face in both my hands and pressed a kiss to his lips. I moaned when he pulled me closer but still didn't give in completely.

"I want…" I whispered when I pulled away from his lips. My eyes rolled back when his mouth slid down my throat.

"You want what, Bella?"

The only sound I could make was something of a moan-groan-exhale combination, and I felt his smile against the soft skin beneath my ear as he hummed a song I didn't recognize.

"Tell me. Please?" he asked, pulling back to look at me.

"You…this…all of it. Everything." I nodded, suddenly nervous, because this was new. This was also serious yet beautiful and surprisingly easy to admit.

"You're sure?" he whispered against my lips as his hands slipped slowly and gently into my hair. "Bella, you've got school, and I'm… This is…"

Nodding, I gave into what I wanted, what we both wanted, and I pressed my lips to his. I knew we'd figure it out. He knew my brutal school schedule, and his was no different with the Pour House and Alice.

However, all I cared about at that particular moment was finishing what we'd started in that hallway. He'd teased and touched me all while singing to me, starting a fire that I needed to put out – or stoke into an inferno, I wasn't sure which would happen.

Lips touched, tongues tasted, and fingers gripped hair. Eventually, what started as a kiss deepened into a total make-out session. My hips shifted over his, and his hands helped me seek friction, but his words were a warning.

"Sweetheart, you gotta… We're… If you're…" he rambled against my lips, grinning as I chuckled breathlessly. "Tell me what we're doing, beautiful. I'm…" He pushed out a heavy exhale, capturing my lips in another searing kiss. He pulled back, whispering, "We can stop. We can do this differently. I mean, I can take you out…f-first." He gripped my hips to be still. "Please stop moving, or I'm gonna… You're going to make me…"

Grinning, I pressed my forehead to his. "I'm sorry." I really wasn't sorry; he was gloriously handsome when he was losing control.

"No, you're not," he said with a rough, light laugh when I shook my head a little. "I want you to stay."

There was a moment were the responsible college student with a paper due soon almost stopped everything. I knew without a doubt Edward would smile and understand, because he knew more about me than I had realized. Or maybe he just paid way more attention than I'd ever thought.

"Stay," he begged again in a whisper up my neck. "I know…papers are due, Bella. I'll make sure you have time, but stay. Tonight?"

Placing my hands on either side of his face, I nodded and pressed a rough kiss to his lips. When arguing with Rose earlier in the evening, I would've never guessed that I'd end up here in the arms of my favorite bartender. I would've told her she was already drunk if she'd have told me he'd carry me to the bedroom in his apartment next door to the Pour House. And I would've outright laughed if someone would've told me I'd end up in Edward's bed with its owner gazing down at me like he'd just had every birthday wish come true.

"Damn, I never thought I'd see you in my bed," he breathed against my lips.

"How long?"

He chuckled sexily, but his cheeks reddened a little. He hid his face in my neck. "How long have you been coming into my bar, beautiful? That first Friday you walked in, I was done." He lifted up to meet my shocked expression. "Yeah, like six months. Everyone knows. I never shut up about you."

I had no words for that. None. Though that probably explained Jasper's reaction earlier, which made me smile stupidly.

Tongues swirled and tasted as hands explored and pushed clothes out of the way. Edward lifted up, gripping the back of his black T-shirt and tugging it off over his head. My hands instantly started exploring smooth skin and taut muscles, but I was interrupted when my own clothes were removed. I lost the ability to speak when lips sang softly against my skin everywhere.

I caught words like need, love, coming undone. I heard heart and hope. I wasn't sure what song he was singing, but once we were both completely bare and his fingers and mouth found where I needed him the most, I was lost to him.

Edward's mouth was talented in more than just singing. His kisses were deliciously toe-curling, but his talented tongue did things to my clit that made my breathing falter. I came hard, my back arching up off the bed, and when I could see straight, his handsome face was near mine, pressing kisses to my temple as his hand soothed my stomach.

"We can stop, sweetheart…" he said against the side of my head, and I could feel his smile in my hair when I shook my head.

He was still in his jeans when he stood up from the bed to open a nightstand drawer. He pulled out a condom, but I took it from him, setting it aside and reaching for his belt as I sat up a little.

A nervous huff of a laugh escaped him as I popped open his button and slid the zipper down. He was hard and ready and restrained behind black boxer briefs. Once he'd kicked out of his jeans, his hands opened and closed as I pushed his underwear down.

I reached for him, wrapping a hand around his length. Edward's own hands were in fists at his side, and an unidentifiable sound escaped him when I pressed a kiss to the tip of his dick. A string of deliciously naughty curses erupted when I licked him from base to tip.

"Oh, God… Bella, I can't, and you… This… I want…"

I nodded in understanding and backed away a little. I wanted him inside me, too. He gently knocked my hands away and rolled the condom down. There were deep kisses as he slipped inside me. There was a split second of awe when he was fully inside me, and then there were whispers for more, for right there, for faster, slower, deeper. Gripping hands, flat palms, and teasing fingers explored and caressed.

The rhythm became more and more erratic when we were both close. His long, talented fingers found my clit as he begged me to come with him. And we both fell over the edge one right after the other.

Edward's eyes were closed as his forehead pressed to mine. "Don't move, don't move," he whispered in a plea. "I'll be right back."

He stood up, disposing of the condom and walking gloriously naked back to the bed. We slipped under the covers of a bed that smelled like him – soap and cologne and a tiny hint of smoky scent that reminded me of whiskey.

Edward pulled me to him, and we lay face to face in comfortable silence. His fingers brushed my hair from my face, and mine trailed up and down his spine.

"That's it. I can't let you go now," he teased, dropping a kiss to my forehead when I laughed softly.

"Okay," I said in surrender.

His smile was sweet but short lived. "I know you're busy, Bella. I know you're on your last year. I also know your family is across the country…"

"I'm not planning to move back to Washington, Edward. This is my last year, but I was staying in Florida. I already have teaching prospects."

"You're staying?"

"Mmhmm," I hummed against his lips with a nod. "So what do we do about that?"

Edward chuckled. "Have dinner with me…and Alice. I have to close tomorrow, and you have class, but…Monday night? Please? Here. I'll cook."

I could see I'd probably just erased the last concern he'd had. I wasn't temporary. I wasn't leaving. And I was willing to accept that he was a package deal with his daughter. I could also see the beginning of something amazing and easy and perfect.

"I'll bring dessert."

He licked his bottom lip as he grinned at me. "You might be dessert."

I laughed, pulling him to me. Yeah, it was already pretty perfect.

~oOo~

One Year Later…

"Bella, stop!" Alice begged through a laugh as I kept flicking water at her.

"Then be still, silly girl," I told her, scooping her up and setting her on the vanity. "We'll get your hair and teeth brushed so you can go stay with Grandma and Grandpa."

"Daddy's singing?" she asked conspiratorially in a whisper.

"Yes," I whispered back. "Want me to record him?"

She nodded, grinning like the silly thing she was. She was all things fun and sweet. Her eyes were Edward's made over, as was her ability to melt my heart. That first dinner with Edward and Alice had been awkward at the beginning, but it ended up with me tucking my new best friend into bed that night – and every night I could from that moment on.

"Okay, I will try. Sometimes he doesn't let me."

"Yay!" She wriggled a little dance on the bathroom counter as I tried to brush the tangles out of her dark hair.

I kissed the middle of her forehead. "Okay, fairy baby," I started, having adopted Edward's nickname for her. "Go get your stuff to take across to Grandma's."

"Okay!"

She hopped down from the bathroom vanity and ran to her room. I walked to the bedroom that was now mine as well as Edward's. I'd moved in not long after I'd graduated from USF. Rose had waited until then to move in with Emmett, and our lease was up by then. Edward had begged for me to move in. I was practically at his place every night possible, so it only made sense. I'd just started teaching this past August at an elementary school a few blocks away. Everything had fallen into place.

My very strict, very uptight parents had flown in from Washington for my graduation and met Edward and Alice. Shockingly, they'd fallen in love with the two of them. I would've never bet money on that. But Alice was pretty easy to love. She'd been the key. My parents had gotten a taste of grandparenthood. It was all over.

I grabbed my phone and keys, smiling when there was a knock on the door. "Alice, you ready?"

"Yes, yes!" She came running down the hall, and I scooped her up. "Love you!"

"Love you, too, baby," I told her, opening the door to Esme. "Thanks for watching her."

"Are you kidding? My toes are in dire need of painting," Esme gasped, opening her arms for Alice. "You've got to help me, Mary Alice."

"Okay!"

I gave a wave to them both before they disappeared across the hall. And I made my way downstairs to the parking lot. I smirked as I walked up the sidewalk to the Pour House, remembering how Edward had come running outside just in time to stop James, who I never saw again – and Edward had never told me what he'd said to the guy that night either.

Stepping inside the restaurant was like it always felt – like coming home. I waved at Emmett and the new girl behind the bar. Jasper had moved away to Texas. This girl was good, and she was amazing enough to help manage too.

The back hallway was my aim; Edward was pacing back and forth in his office as he hummed softly to himself. I wasn't sure what he'd sing, and I never really cared, but if he thought James brought in business a year ago, then he had no idea just what he did for business. They packed in to see him sing, and he usually only did one set. That's it, but it was enough to drive them crazy.

Edward caught sight of me, and his whole face melted into a happy smile. "Hey, baby," he sang. "Alice at Mom's?"

"Yes, and I'm supposed to ask you two things tonight, Daddy."

"Yeah? I'm supposed to ask you one."

"Oh, boy. Are we being set up?"

He chuckled. "Probably. You first. What's the questions?"

"Well, the same argument as always. She wants a pet, Edward. Cat, dog, fish, hamster…something."

"She's four!"

"She is. She's probably ready, handsome," I said, reaching up to run my fingers through his hair. "She's a smart cookie, and something simple might be okay."

He groaned, wrinkling his nose. "Nothing is simple, beautiful. Everything needs cleaning or scooping or walking or grooming or whatever…"

I laughed, holding my hands up in surrender. "I'm okay with whatever. You're the parent," I teased that last thing, something I used all the time when the issue was a big one.

He chuckled, but something flickered in his deep-green eyes. "I am, but I'm ready to share the job." He held something out for me in the palm of his hand. "That's my question. Marry me…marry us, Bella." He held out the ring, and it sat on a picture of Edward and Alice wearing T-shirts. One said "Marry." The other said "Us."

"We love you," he went on to say.

"I love you both," I barely said aloud.

"Then say yes."

"Okay." It was all I could get out through tears and a weird laugh, and he chuckled at me, slipping the ring onto my finger.

It was simple and perfect, and I kissed him until I couldn't think straight.

There was a light knock on the door. "Ed, showtime!"

Edward pulled back, cupping my face. "You've made me the happiest man, sweetheart. You tell me when and where, and I'll be there. We'll take as long as you need."

"Okay," I answered, kissing him one more time.

Just before he walked out, he turned back to me. "What was your other question?"

"Oh, Alice wants me to record you singing."

His cheeks pinked a little, but he nodded, leaving the office. I followed him out, leaning in the same spot I always did. It was the side of the stage where Edward had made me watch a year ago, only this time I was watching the better singer. I put my phone up, hitting record.

Edward took the microphone in both hands, saying, "This set is dedicated to my girls." He gave me a smile and a wink. "I'm a lucky man."

~oOo~

A/N… There you have it. It was a relatively angst-free story. I have a soft spot for a Bartenderward/Singerward. LOL

I need to thank JenRar for beta'ing this as usual. A big thank you to Beffers87 for the stunning banner you can see on my blog. And a huge thanks to my pre-readers – SueBee, DrivingEdward, maplestyle, smusic, and inkedupmom.

On the Mercward side of things… I have not given up. It's not abandoned, but my muse is a fickle bitch. I'm doing the best I can, but it is rather slow going. Until next time… Mooches, Deb ;)