Southern Comfort: Chapter 19

Southern Comfort

Chapter Nineteen

I wake up alone on Valentine's Day.

The curtains are drawn so the light peers inside the bedroom, illuminating the vase of roses sitting on the nightstand next to my head. The glass vase sends fragments of light across the empty bed. Sitting up I hear the crinkle of paper and realize I must have rolled over onto something. After a little maneuvering, I'm able to free the piece of paper out from under my ass and find that it's a regular piece of lined paper ripped out of a spiral notebook.

Morning, Beautiful.

Happy Valentine's Day. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up, but there are things I need to take care of to make this day extra special. There's breakfast in the fridge (no, I didn't cook it). Take a shower and get dressed. We'll be outside most of the day and some of the night, so dress appropriately. I'll pick you up.

Love, Edward

I practically skip to the kitchen and find a bowl filled with an array of fruits all cut into hearts in different sizes. I take my time munching on my breakfast while I sift through my closet for outdoor appropriate date clothes. It's dangerously hot outside these days, so I choose a pair of plaid Bermuda shorts of different shades of red and pink and a red tank top that I plan on layering over a pink one so that it matches.

I spend so much time in the shower, making sure every speck of unwanted hair is gone, that the water is ice cold by the time I'm finished. I dry off and slather down with my favorite cherry blossom lotion. My hair's being cooperative today, so I let it hang down my back in loose waves with a headband holding it out of my face. I watch some television and try not to stare at the clock too much because he didn't say what time he would be showing up, just that he was. With a light dusting of makeup and my red Keds on, I'm sitting in the living room nervously waiting for Edward to pick me up.

My wait isn't long. I've only checked my makeup three times and brushed my teeth twice when I hear a faint but familiar knock on the door. My bag is by the door so I snatch it up before throwing the door open and there he is.

Trainers have replaced his work boots, he's traded in his wranglers and flannel button down for a T-shirt and a pair of cargo shorts, showing off his farmer tanned legs, but I can't complain because he's perfect.

Just the way he is.

"Hey beautiful," Edward greets, lifting my left hand and kissing it sweetly. I'm highly perceptive today because I'm hoping that he'll choose to make an honest woman out of me by the time it's over.

"Hi."

"You ready to go?" he asks, his Adams apple bobbing nervously. As if he has anything to be nervous about.

"Depends on where we're going," I counter.

"I'm not tellin'," he chuckles, pulling me out of the house and making sure the door is locked. "It's a surprise."

"But I don't like surprises," I pout childishly.

"Then you'll have to get over it." Edward holds my door open and helps me climb into his truck.

We drive through town and I am entranced in the decorations hanging in every window. City Diner's sign is covered with paper mâché flowers and little pink lights. Their marquee describes romantic couples special even though no one in their right mind would take their date there for dinner. The Crazy Horse is having a singles night and buy one get one free drinks for the entire day. I'm not surprised to see a couple of cars already hanging out there. The stop signs are even covered in something heart shaped or love related.

I love my town and our need to over dramatize the smallest holiday just to make it festive.

I'm a little taken aback when Edward pulls down the long winding street that leads to Maggie's stable.

"I'm not riding a horse, Edward," I explain sternly.

"I'm not gonna make you ride a horse, darlin'." He grips my hand in his and gives it a sweet kiss. "We're gonna take an ATV."

"Oh ok." My mood perks up. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere's," he chuckles.

I humph impatiently as we pull around the back of the stable. Edward disappears into the tack room while I say a quick hello to Cupcake and Shortcake. "He's getting so big so fast," I comment to Edward when I hear the door to the tack room slam shut.

"Yeah he's growin' like a weed." Edward has a giant bundle wrapped in a tarp in his arms.

"Are you planning on taking me out into the middle of the woods and murdering me?"

"No. These are just a few things we'll need tonight."

"Tonight?" I quirk an eyebrow.

"Yep, we're campin' tonight," Edward explains, walking past me and out of the stable.

"Camping? You didn't tell me anything about camping, Edward Cullen." I've been camping before, but I'm also a woman and I have needs. There are things I need that the wilderness can't provide me.

"Just trust me, Bells," he drawls as he attaches the tarp covered bundle to the back of the ATV. He disappears back into the tack room and comes back with a cooler.

I spend the entire drive with my chin resting on Edward's shoulder, taking in the way the colors of the trees and everything surrounding us melts together. He maneuvers the ATV through the woods perfectly until we come to a small clearing surrounded by nothing but nature. The ground is rough, but there's a large square completely cleared away of sticks and brush.

At Edward's insistence, I sit down and watch him lay out the tarp and then assemble a small pup tent he's brought with us. It takes a good forty five minutes, but he refuses my help and I enjoy watching him pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration.

When he's finally done he gives a cute little fist bump.

I applaud and he gives me the finger, clearly annoyed, before he stalks towards me. I hold my breath as he runs a finger down my left arm before grabbing my hand.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he whispers.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Edward," I say softly, my entire body racked with nerves.

"We're alone out here. For the entire night." He kisses my lips. "Just you and me."

"Whatever will we do?" I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I was thinking about having a picnic while we watch the sun set and then some star watching." He kisses my lips again. "How's that sound?"

"Perfect," I breathe.

I take my shoes off after deeming the ground safe to walk on and help Edward lay out a picnic blanket a few feet away from the tent. We use a few stray heavy rocks to weigh it down because it's a little windy, but the air is warm so it's comfortable. I sit across from him on the blanket and he pulls out our food.

Finger sandwiches, fresh fruit and chips.

"I forgot wine glasses," he laughs as he pulls out a bottle of red wine. "Remembered the corkscrew, but not the glasses."

"It's alright," I giggle.

We eat the food he's provided before laying back on the blanket and watch as the sun turns in for the evening. Edward's arm is wrapped around my waist, playing with the skin under my shirt.

"Stop!" I laugh softly, rolling over and facing him.

"Why?"

"Because you're driving me crazy."

"What if that was my intention? To drive you wild?" His nose skims against mine as his hand rides higher under my shirt.

"Then I think I'd be okay with that."

He leans in to kiss me. His lips are slow and seductive against mine. He waits a good amount of time before deepening our kiss, all the while his hand lifts my shirt until it's under my breasts. We haven't even done anything, but the feel of his hand on my stomach has turned me into a panting mess against him.

My shirt's gone in a flash, the cool night air raising goose bumps along my skin. It's the first time Edward's ever seen me without a shirt on, but I'm not embarrassed because he's my best friend. He loves me even though my stomach isn't as flat as it was in my earlier twenties and I can tell by the hungry look in his eye that he wants me.

He pulls away and my protest stops short when I realize it's so that he can remove his own shirt. It's nothing I haven't seen before, but he's flushed with lust and that's all new. He's on top of me in a flourish, pressing his bare chest against mine as he attacks my mouth with his. I spread my legs and he nestles inside the opening, grunting and groaning when our sexes grind against each other.

His hot mouth trails down my neck and straight for the sensitive flesh of my right breast. His teeth are sharp as they nip at me, biting down on my rock hard nipple, causing me to cry out in a mix between pleasure and pain. He gives the other one the same treatment before returning to my mouth. His tongue runs across the back of my teeth as he unbuttons the top of my shorts and I feel my eyes roll in the back of my head.

"Do you think we should stop?" he asks, pulling away before my shorts are over my hips.

"Don't you even fucking think about it!" I snap, shrugging out of them and reaching for his pants. "I want you. Right now."

"Good." He shucks out of his pants, leaving both of us in our underwear.

Before I can reach out for him he's attacking my mouth again; our teeth clash, his tongue rubs against mine and I can feel the hardness of his want against my heat. I release a few mewling sounds before I feel the burn of nylon on my backside.

Edward just ripped my underwear off of my body.

I can't even yell at him for ruining my favorite pair of panties because it was so entirely fuck hot. I want him so bad and I tell him so.

"Fuck me Edward!" I bite his bottom lip. "Oh God! Fuck me!"

We're in such a hurry that his boxers barely make it past his ass before he thrusts into me roughly. We both cry out in sheer pleasure. I've never felt this full in my entire life. Forget the stars that are starting to pop up across the night sky because closing my eyes, that's all I see.

He gives me a second to adjust before he starts moving and I'm so glad we are alone in the woods because I'm embarrassingly loud. My legs wrap around his hips as he thrusts his hips against mine. My moan is long and overly loud, but I can't help it.

Edward's mouth opens, but the only thing that comes out are pleasure filled sounds. I can tell he's trying to say something, but the sensations are too much. His grunts, my moans and our gasping surround us, adding more fire to our already passionate love making.

"I-ungh. I love you," Edward manages to get out before his hands grasp my thighs, holding me in place while he pivots inside of me at a new angle, causing high keened squeals to leave my mouth with every thrust.

I'm practically screaming when one of his hands rests on top of my sex, his palm applying sweet pressure and friction to my swollen clit.

I can't return his words; I'm in sensory overload and the only things coming out of my mouth are animalistic cries as I feel the world crumble around us. My orgasm rips through me so furiously that my back arches off of the ground and my toes curl, all the while Edward is still moving. His hand leaves my over sensitive clit and he lets go of my thigh before laying on top of me, still thrusting deep inside of me.

"One more," he groans into my mouth, his body tense.

I can tell he's trying to hold off until I come again. My legs unwind from around him and I plant my feet on the ground, meeting him thrust for tired thrust until the both of us are howling. I feel the familiar tingling as Edward thrusts harshly into me and he begins spilling his seed deep into my womb. My orgasm isn't as powerful as the first one, but it leaves me feeling like a pile of goo once he pulls out.

Covering my face, neck and mouth with kisses, he continues whispering his love for me. There are tears pouring down my face because that was the first time I've ever felt completely connected to someone.

Ask me Edward.

He uses the picnic blanket to clean me up before he carries my boneless body to the tent and lays me down on a thick down sleeping bag. We're alone out here, so neither of us bothers to put any clothes on as we wrap ourselves around each other. I tell him I love him forever. He promises to never let me go.

My tears eventually stop and I fall asleep.

My Valentine's Day is perfect despite the fact that he hasn't asked me.