Love to my Beta...I'm glad she hasn't sent me a bill for her services...I imagine thinking for me would be quite expensive! Clarity...thanks LovinRob =)

I don't think I shocked too many people with the proposal.

It's not like they will get married in this chapter anyway...it can be a long engagement...as long as Edward can stand it.

It is also nice to know that I'm not the only person who would rather her kids know how to earn a living rather than hand them money every time a bill comes due.

They learn nothing that way. Anyhoo...

Chapter 48

Edward's POV

I woke up this morning, with every intention of sneaking off to the barn with Bella. I've tried to be a little more reserved and not try to have her on every surface I find. But she doesn't make it easy either; the more I try to behave, the more she tries to seduce me. All of her lip biting, eye-fucking, and even touching herself in front of me has kept my cock in a constant state of hardness. I can be a very determined person, but she is really wearing me down.

But my plans to take her to the loft were thwarted when Esme had some last minute errands she needed me to run for her. The woman has cooked and cooked and cooked some more. She could literally feed a small army with all that she's been preparing. I know one thing, since we haven't been out in the field as much, all this good home cooking is fattening me up. I'm sure I've put on nearly fifteen pounds in the last couple months. Bella doesn't seem to mind though; she can't keep her hands off of me.

But I had planned more than just a roll in the hay with Bella so I was a little disappointed. I've been picking up this ring and looking at it every morning since I got it last week. Esme really surprised me with that money. I never expected anywhere near that much and to be completely honest, I hadn't expected any at all. She's managed to pay me here and there but most of the time I refused it knowing she didn't really have it to give. I do feel guilty, kinda... I am living under her roof, eating her cooking, not to mention screwing her daughter; if that isn't taking advantage of a woman's kindness, I don't know what is.

I've thought long and hard about what I'm about to do. I wanted to ask Esme first, out of respect . . . for her daughter's hand in marriage. But she has been so busy the past few days, and she's kept me running ragged too. I just can't find any reason what so ever to not propose to Bella. We won't be getting married soon, but at least she will wear her promise to be mine on her finger, where all can see. I want everyone to know she's mine. I know that it will be frowned on by some, but it's not the only reason I want this ring on her finger. I want her to believe in me; without a shadow of a doubt, that I will make a future for us. I want to pledge to her that I will continue to put her first … always.

So here I sit in the den with everyone else; waiting and watching as Bella and Rose hand out gifts to everyone. Esme even made sure that Alec and Emmett had gifts under the tree. Those two lit up like little kids; they didn't expect anything except a meal and time with the family. Where Esme got all this money she's been throwing about, I do not know. But I do know that the mortgage is paid and the feed and fertilize bills as well. And the tractor got paid off too. Charlie didn't know anything about it either, or I'm sure he would have told me.

As I look out across the room I grin. It looks like a tornado passed through here. There is wrapping paper and ribbon and bows all over the floor. I decide to go and get a garbage bag and start to stuff it with the mess; thinking that doing so without being told might just score some extra points with Esme. It couldn't hurt, right? The next thing I know, Bella is lowering the boom on me about throwing out the bows. I get a little smart with her and toss a comment back to which she promptly tells me not to start chucking the boxes either. Apparently anything that can be re-used . . . will be re-used.

Then Rose has to go and put in her two cents with her comment about how we sound like and old married couple. I had quickly glanced at Bella and could see her reaction to what Rose said and I think to myself...'why not … why not ask her? Right here and now?' … so I steel my nerves and look to Esme who is already trying to figure out what's going on with me. Her face shows confusion and concern; I wonder what her face will show me in another couple of minutes?

Bella holds the boxes full of used bows and rises from the couch and I fear that my moment has passed. I can't help but ask her where she's goin' and even I can hear the desperation in my voice. Esme asks me if I feel okay and I suddenly realize that … I do. I'm kneeling in the middle of the floor, but can't bring myself to get up and walk over to where she and Bella are sitting. But I have to be closer, so I move to where they are … on my knees; like the begging man that I am. Because truth be told, if Esme says no, I will beg her. Right here in front of everyone; I will beg her until she says yes.

I reach up and take Bella's hand; the same hand I want to hold for the rest of my life. She smiles sweetly at me but I can tell from her expression, that she doesn't see this coming at all. I tear my eyes from my beloved and look to Esme, who seems to know all too well what is about to happen. I can read it all over her face. What a relief it is that she looks complacent and agreeable; no sign of the Esme who threatened me with her 30/30 months ago.

I swallow and hope that my voice doesn't fail me. "Esme, I want you to know that I love your daughter; more than life. I've never loved ... I've never felt this way in my life… ever. I know that if things were different, that I would be having this talk with her daddy. But… just because he's not here that don't mean that I don't need a blessing. That I don't need… your blessing."

Esme has tears in her eyes that haven't fallen yet and when I look to Bella, I see that her tears are dripping off her chin already. My own emotions threaten to take me when I realize how quiet the room has gotten. I smile at Bella and with tears still in her eyes, she smiles back at me. I search Esme's eyes for any confirmation … she finally nods her head as she looks from me to Bella.

I have her blessing to marry her precious daughter. I. Have. Her. Blessing. With trembling fingers, I pull the box out of my shirt pocket and as I open it and present it to Bella, our eyes meet and I finally start to lose my battle with the tears. I manage to choke them back long enough to speak the words she deserves to hear.

"I love you Bella . . . so much, and I know this is a little... unexpected, and… sudden, but I don't want to let another day go by without letting you know how important you are to me. I want you to be my wife. I want to deserve to be your husband. I just want us to be together, the way it should be; the right way." A tear makes its way down my face and I look to the floor, hoping the rest will not follow. As I look back into her face, I finally have the gumption to say those five words … "Will you marry me... Bella?"

Bella stares and smiles at me for what seems like an eternity. I never considered the chance that she might say no. She nods her head and finally utters "yes. I mean I will" as she slides off the couch and into my waiting arms. She has always felt like she belonged in my arms, but tonight it feels like … more. I don't want to let her go. Ever.

I look to Esme and nod to her and Charlie as I tell them that I won't let them down. I'll do what it takes to make a happy life for Bella. Esme smiles at me and Charlie has her pulled close into his side; holding Esme like they might be much more intimate than any of us know.

I realize that the room has been silent except for our exchange and as I look around to them, I see the women are emotional and happy and the men are lookin' at me as if to say 'how am I supposed to top that for Christmas?' The silence is then broken when Rose offers to explain that she didn't intend for us to really be married. Like any of what happened would not have happened if she hadn't said what she said earlier. I was gonna ask Bella before this week was out regardless. The seriousness of the moment seems to have passed though, because everyone seems to be laughing at Rose and her incredible ability to be entirely clueless at the most convenient time.

Bella looks at me and ruffles my hair and I remove the ring from the box and slowly slide it on her finger. My hands are shaking terribly, but that's okay, because hers are too. The ring is a perfect fit; just one more convincing sign that we indeed belong to each other. Bella looks down at her hand and smiles and then looks to me before pulling my face to hers for a kiss. It wasn't exactly a chaste kiss like I would expect from her in a crowd of people, but one of passion and desire. There could be a hundred nuns in this room and it wouldn't have stopped me from losing myself in her kiss. I finally have to pull back though, as badly as I don't want to … and offer up one last gentle kiss.

Emmett is already heckling us and while I expect some ribbing about it, I don't want Bella to feel any insecurity about any of this. Emmett is just being Emmett and when no-one else joins in his boisterous melee, he finally quiets down. Alice and Rose do come over quickly to see Bella's ring; and hearing them ooh and aah over it… reinforces my thinking that I picked a good one.

I resign to the fact that the women are gonna do their thing … which leaves me back to sittin' with the guys. It doesn't last long though; Alice wants to go home already. Not long after she and Jasper leave, so does Rose, Emmett, and Alec. Bella offers to have her and I take Rose home but Emmett insists he will drop her off after taking Alec home. I know Bella is trying to find any excuse to get out of the house for some alone time. I know her so well by now. I can see her failed attempt has her simmering, as she makes several trips to the attic with her precious, gently-used Christmas bows.

Bella is still in the attic when Esme and Charlie head to the door with one of her wrapped famous Jam Cakes.

"Where are you two off to with that cake?" I ask her.

"I promised Sister Edna a Jam Cake for Christmas. I don't want to be out tomorrow doing what I should have done today, so Charlie and I are going to take it to her."

Esme hands the cake to Charlie so she can button up her coat. I can tell by his raised eyebrows, that it's much heavier than it looks. Jam Cake is not light and fluffy! He also gives me an eye roll to tell me something else.

"Oh... and Edward, we won't be right back … so don't go sending out a search party for us. We will stay and visit a while. Okay?" Esme says as she takes the cake from Charlie.

"Yes ma'am." I answer, and as I look back to Charlie one last time before they walk out the door, he waggles his eyebrows at me and I can't help the smile that stretches across my face.

As soon as I see the tail lights disappear over the ridge, I run quietly up the stairs; taking two at a time. The ladder is still down, which means Bella is still in the attic. I tiptoe to my room and strip down and make sure and lay out a couple of condoms on the night stand. I hear her walking overhead and quickly go back and take position in the hallway.

Just as Bella folds up the ladder and pushes it toward the ceiling, I grab her from behind. She lets out a shriek and tries to spin around but I hold her to me. I shush her and kiss her neck from behind; gently nipping her skin with my teeth and then kissing each mark.

"Bella, why are you screaming? It's just me." I whisper in her ear right before I suck her lobe into my mouth. She whimpers and I almost think that is my answer before she gains enough of her senses to speak.

"I just … didn't expect anyone to be up here … waiting for me." She whispers as she tries again to turn around.

The way she keeps moving against my naked body has me hard as steel which she just notices. She presses her ass into me and I follow my instinct and bend my knees just enough to rub my cock against her heat. It feels good, but it would feel so much better if she didn't have her jeans on.

I wrap one arm around her; holding her shoulders to me as I continue to worship the softness of her neck. My other hand makes its way down to undo her jeans and once that task is finished, I slip my hand inside her clothes and my fingers easily finds her wet and willing. As I slide a finger through her wet folds, Bella lets out a moan, and quickly gasps as she comes back down to earth long enough to have some sense of reality.

"Edward! What are you... we can't do this … here! Now?" I don't answer her just yet, but continue with my ministrations and even though her mouth is protesting, her pussy is purring and twitching and begging me not to stop.

"Shhh... it's okay." I tell her.

I should tell her we have the house to ourselves, but I kinda like the thought of her thinking we might get caught at any moment. It's exciting in its own crazy, fucked up way.

"You know damn well you don't want me to stop Bella." I lick up the shell of her ear and then bend at the knees again and almost lift her off the floor. I could drive nails with how hard my cock is right now!

She doesn't want me to stop, but I can sense that she is not going to completely relax. I walk backward with her into my room and shut and lock the door. I don't think Esme will be back for more than an hour, and while I don't think she would actually just walk in my room unannounced, I won't be taking that kind of chance tonight.

The glow from the lamp in the corner is enough to see each other but not blaringly bright; enough to make the mood if you will. I stay behind Bella and we're standing in front of the mirror just watching. My hand is still in her pants and my finger is still warm and wet. Bella is still twitching and writhing in pleasure and she hasn't even lost her clothes yet.

"Take off that sweater Bella … please!"

Without hesitation, she reaches for the hem and pulls it over her head. She starts to undo the bra but my hand wraps around one breast and she pauses.

"Leave it … for now."

I stand there behind her and just look at her in the mirror; her lacy bra and her undone jeans with my hand hidden in them. I lean her back into me and whisper into her ear.

"God, Bella. Can you see how beautiful you are? Do you see yourself? Do you have any idea how perfect you are? I love you … I love you so much, baby."

She gives me a wicked smile and leans her neck to the side so I can taste her flesh there. She is delicious.

"Jeans … on the floor baby. Please!"

Again, she doesn't hesitate, but easily pushes her jeans over her hips and they fall to the floor. I step on them and she pulls her feet free; leaving her standing there in the mirror with only her bra and panties on. She is a goddess. No. She is my goddess.

"Mmmmm...Bella" I moan against her shoulder and she pushes her ass against me once more. I hear her gasp and her hands reach around behind her.

"You're naked! Ohhh... fuck!" Her words cause my cock to bounce and she again reaches back for it.

"Uh uh uh... I want your hands where I can see them. Wrap your arms around my neck."

As she does this her breasts rise and almost spill out of her bra. I reach around and pull each one up over the cup and smile as her nipples respond to my touch. They could probably cut glass, and each time I pass my thumb across them, not only do they get even harder, but I feel her pussy clench around my finger.

I slide my finger out enough to wet her clit and with a few perfect movements of my finger and thumb, it's all Bella can do to keep her feet on the floor. I feel her legs shaking and I know she is so close. I gently bite her shoulder; earning a passionate moan from her lips.

"You close baby? You gonna cum on my fingers while we watch? I want you to watch Bella. Look at yourself baby. Look and see how fuckin' sexy you are when you cum."

She opens her eyes and meets mine in the mirror.

"No. Watch yourself Bella!"

I pinch her nipple and her clit and run two fingers inside her and she falls apart in my arms.

"Watch! Don't close your eyes!"

She continues to see for herself what I see when her orgasm takes her. Her hips thrust and her pussy clamps down tight on my fingers.

"Fuck baby! So tight! You feel so good and tight when you cum baby. God, I love you!"

Bella's orgasm seems to go on for several minutes and by the time her quivering has passed, she can hardly hold herself up. Which is no problem, because I'm strong enough to hold her up. I ease my fingers out of her, and bring them slowly to my mouth; never once taking my eyes off of Bella's in the mirror.

"Mmmmm... next time, I won't be licking it off my fingers."

Her mouth drops open and a small whimper falls from her. I finally turn her to face me and she immediately kisses me, shoving her tongue in my mouth and tasting herself.

I pick her up and carry her to the bed. As I gently lay her down, she opens the front clasp on her bra and peels it off her arms. I pull her now soaking wet panties down and off and she draws one knee up and the swollen, glistening, pink heaven that awaits me is just shining against the white sheets. I start to climb on the bed but she stops me. She points to the dresser we were just standing at.

"Move it Edward." For just a second I think she wants me to move it to block the door, but I quickly realize that she wants me to move it to a different angle. "I want to watch you fuck me. Move. It." Ohhh fuck!

"Your wish, my love." I go over and easily scoot the dresser away from the wall and angle it to where we both have a great view of the bed. In the reflection, I can see the smile on Bella's face and her lip pulled between her teeth. "So fuckin' sexy Bella."

"My god Edward... you think I'm sexy? You walkin' around with that sledghammer swinging between your thighs all the time... get your fuckin' ass over here and quit teasing me already!" To further prove her point, Bella runs her finger along her pussy and lets out a hiss.

I crawl between her legs and look over at the mirror. She's already looking at us, or rather it, and her hooded eyes tell me just how much she is enjoying tonight already. I reach across and open the damn condom. I really hate these fuckers, but I'm trying to be responsible and if that means I gotta cover it, then dammit, I'll cover it.

I roll the condom on and Bella is lookin' at my cock like it's the most glorious thing she's ever laid eyes on. I can't help but feel a bit proud right now. She is pullin' at my arms already and I want to take my time, but my cock wants to plow into her and fuck the shit outta her pussy. My cock obviously has a mind of its own. I ease inside of her and I have to stop once I'm completely sheathed inside her. She's so hot … so tight … I swear I could slam into her three times and blow my load!

"Baby... what is it? Are you okay?" She asks.

Am I okay? Hell yeah, I'm okay. I've never been more okay in my life! Buried to the nut-sac inside the tightest, juiciest pussy that just so happens to belong to the most beautiful, smart, and sexiest woman I've ever known. Top that off with the fact that she loves me. Me!

"Bella, baby … I'm fuckin' perfect! My cock thinks he wants to be done already though, and I want to go another thirty minutes … at least!" I tell her as I ease out of her and back in again. Damn … she feels too good.

I manage to find a rhythm and it doesn't take Bella long to start quivering; of course she is watching my profile move and as soon as I look to the mirror, I have to stop again to keep from cumming too soon. I don't want her to get frustrated with me... it's been too long since we've got to do this and I'm just not gonna last much longer.

I hear her sigh and look down to her and I can tell she is getting' close and I should be thinkin' about her right now... so what if I don't last... as long as she gets off, that's what's important. She raises her knees and makes to move out from under me.

"Hey … wait! Where are you goin'?"

She sits up and pushes me back. When she gets up on her knees and turns across the bed to where she … we will be facing the mirror, I have to swallow hard. She's gonna kill me when we finally get married. Fucked to death by my own loving wife. What a way to go!

Bella is on her hands and knees, wigglin' her tight ass in the air in front of me like you would wave a red flag at a bull! I reach down to play with her and keep her one step ahead of me, when I feel her own fingers goin' at it. I give her a few more moments for good measure and simply rub my cock up and down her slit; teasing her and trying to hold off as long as I can.

She starts rocking her ass back toward me and when my cock slips inside her oh so wet pussy, I ease forward slightly. Bella pushes against me hard, impaling herself; at the same time I see her jerk her head up and watch us in the mirror. The switch has been flipped and there is no turning back. As I watch Bella's face in the mirror, I can't help but see everything else. Our bodies coming together, her breasts bouncing with every thrust, and her hair swaying back and forth.

I feel her body begin to tremble and I feel my own orgasm draw in and as Bella clamps down on me, she begins to moan my name, still holding my gaze in the reflection. I let go and I cum hard and long. It feels so damn good, I just wish we could do this all the time. Just fall asleep and wake up later and do it all again.

I pull out and reach down, pulling the condom off. I clean myself off with a tissue before wadding the condom up in it and throwing it in the trash can. Bella has flopped down on the bed on her belly and I can't help but admire the view from behind her. I rub her legs and her ass, and rub up her back and she lets out a relaxed sounding sigh as I continue to massage up to her shoulders and slowly back down to her legs again.

"I love you Edward." She sighs before finally rolling over to her back. "You wanna do the front now too?"

"I love you more Bella … and of course I'll do the front."

I tease her and then kiss her. I can still taste her sweet juices on her lips from earlier. I run my fingers through her hair and brush it away from her face. Sitting back on my haunches, I slowly rub her shoulders, gently running my fingers down her arms to her elbows; which earns me a delightful giggle.

"I love you most ..." She whispers as her hand reaches up and touches my arm. I lean back down and kiss her beautiful mouth.

"Mmmm... I don't know … I think I love you most … but I won't argue with you on Christmas Eve Bella."

I sit back up and begin rubbing her breasts and her sides; not missing that her eyes rolled back in her head as I did so. By the time I am rubbing her thigh muscles, I'm hard again. I glance at the clock and realize that Esme may be on her way home but I can't bring myself to stop. I hear the foil packet rip open and Bella hands me the second condom which I quickly roll down my cock. Bella's knees rise as I position myself over her; she looks to her left to see our reflection. It is so erotic; our naked bodies engaged in the act of love. I think I've created a monster here … but if she wants to watch, I won't argue with her. Our lips meet in a heated kiss as I slide inside of her again and again. Not fucking, but making love … to my future wife … no, not to her … with her.

Merry Christmas to me … to us.

I know this was longer than my usual chapters...sorry about that, but it IS Christmas after all ... and I am trying to make up for my failure at posting last week. I hope I can get back on track with the story and keep you guys updated frequently. I think these two were due for a nice lemon, don't you?

New fan fic story rec: Black Diamond by dishie ... it's her first and it's a very good read if I do say so myself! Check it out and show her some love! Don't forget to leave me some too! =D