Perfect Snapshots: Episode Seventeen: Way to my heart

9/18/2019

Perfect Snapshots: Episode Seventeen: Way to my heart

Read Now

Episode Seventeen: Way to my heart

Warning: this episode contains graphic sexual descriptions. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for a mature audience only. (18+)

We finished a bottle of sparkling wine together, but that wasn't enough to soothe my frazzled nerves. I got my joints, smoking one while Bella excitedly opened up all the boxes of makeup that I had purchased for her. She had rubbed dozens of colors all over her arms and was now using my forearm.

It admittedly showed up on my light skin really well.

"I love the gold," Bella moaned softly as she examined one of the shades she just smeared across my arm.

“There was a gold lipstick,” I let her know. I searched until I found it and pulled it out for her.

“Ohhhh...” She said as she freed it from the box. “I've got a bunch of gold eyeshadow, too. I could go as an Oscar for Halloween.” She then used her camera as a mirror to spread it over her plush lips. “Oh,” she giggled. “I'm shiny as fuck.”

I loved her playful mood. I was a little drunk and stoned and beyond happy even though I was still anxious. Like the ham I could be, I took the lip gloss from her and smeared it all over my lips. Kind of. Sort of. I got it mostly on my lower face region.

I looked at her with a big smile. “Yes, but how do I look?”

Bella gave me the exact reaction I wanted. She laughed as she leaned forward to kiss me. Her hand slid over my cheek and into my hair, holding me in place. I could feel the lipstick spreading over our skin as our kiss became more and more passionate. My hands slipped up her back as she came to straddle my lap.

“Oh, Eddie,” she sighed against my lips, her forehead against mine. “Thank you for my gifts. I love them. You’re incredibly thoughtful.”

"I'm glad you like them," I replied, pulling back to look into her eyes. I couldn't help but smirk at what I saw. She had gold all over her beautiful face and none on her lips. She began to giggle as well, her thumb coming up to my mouth to wipe away some.

“Damn, that’s hot,” I teased, going in for another kiss. She giggled again, returning it happily.

“Now we’re both shiny.”

I reached for the phone that was in her hand, the camera feature still up. She saw right away what I was doing and started to pose with me. We took several pictures, including a funny one where we were both doing a duck face. Before I even handed the mobile back to her, I sent the images to mine to keep.

“Come on. I’ll help you get that off,” she offered after one more kiss, picking up one of the bottles from the pile on the couch.

Bella let me ramble my thoughts out to her while she finished cooking dinner for us. All I could seem to do was smoke as my anxiety began to prickle at the base of my neck. I had to keep reminding myself that it was a good thing, and I should be excited. Not terrified out of my damn mind.

“I should tell my family after dinner. They should all be awake by then.” I tried to do the math in my head as I passed her the smoke.

“Your nieces are going to think you're the coolest uncle ever. Especially the new one. She'll be about four or five when it comes out. She'll be the exact right age to be obsessed with the songs. How fun.” Bella smiled warmly as she passed it back.

"If they do a premiere in Sydney, I could get them all to come. All my girls. I'm going to be able to do whatever I want to do after this. Disney is basically a license to print money. I'll be able to set up funds for my sisters and their daughters and make sure they'll always be taken care of. I'll be able to buy my parents a house and a new car if they want it. Get them the best nurses when they get older and need more help. My grandparents, too. And I'll be able to do whatever project I want to do. I can just do what I'm passionate about. It won't have to be about a paycheck ever again," my mouth decided to take over and fully ramble on about exactly what was on my mind. This was a huge deal. I sighed as I tapped out the ashes in the tray before they fell off onto the counter.

“Fuck…This… This is so massive. I’ve never done anything like this. I don’t know what to expect or do. I feel like I’m just faking it and I’m just terrified they’re going to find out,” I admitted.

Bella finished what she was doing and went to wash her hands before she came to stand beside me. “Well, I think they know what they’re doing. They are Disney, after all. I think they know what they’re looking for. They’ll let you know what they expect from you. You just have to pay attention.”

“Do you think so?” She nodded. “You haven’t even read it.”

"Not yet. But I know you. I've seen the work you've done before. I must say, it's a genius move on Disney's part to snatch you up now before you realize how much you're really worth and start charging them out the nose," Bella said with a small smile as she ran her fingers over my chin.

“Thank you,” I breathed.

“I’m so proud of you,” she stated, pressing a kiss to forehead since she could easily reach it. “Why don’t you pick us some wine out to go with dinner? It’ll be done in just a few minutes.”

The roast was flawlessly cooked and delicious. It was the perfect meal for the day. The creamy chocolate mousse was beyond scrumptious as well. I enjoyed feeding Bella several bites, the way her lips wrapped around the spoon was more than a little arousing. During the meal, I kept leaning over to kiss her.

When we finished eating, I helped her clear the table.
“I’m going to make a few phone calls,” I told her quietly.

She smiled sweetly. “Of course. Take your time. I’m going to go take a shower.”

I seriously considered saying ‘fuck the calls’ and following her into the bathroom, but I wanted to tell at least some of my family members.

With a soft sigh, I watched her walk towards my room before I went outside to sit by the pool while I made them. I decided there was a fun way to do this.

In the group text with my sisters, I sent the message, “I’ve got good news. Who’s around?”

“Me!" Tanya texted right away, so I called her first.

"So, guess what?" I began when I rang her, beginning way braggier than I actually felt about the whole thing. I knew that I was about to hear a woman scream.

"You're dating the photographer!" She started right away, throwing me off guard. Of course, my sisters talked. I knew they had a group chat without me too. I had forgotten that I hadn't told them that yet.

"Yes!" I laughed. "That's not actually the good news, though. That's the amazing and unbelievable news. The whipped cream, sprinkles, and many cherries on the awesome cake that has been my week."

“What?! Really?” She laughed happily. “Sasha was right!”

“Yeah, well… Yeah,” I laughed. “Do you want to hear the good news or not?”

"It's not that you've got a girlfriend?" She questioned dryly. "Really?"

"Surprisingly… No," I chuckled. "They bought the script. Disney is making my movie, and I'm going to be the star. Tanya, I did it," I tried to say as calmly as possible. It was so hard.

“TONY!” She shrieked.

"Mummy!" I heard my niece shout worriedly.

“Oh, sorry, baby. Didn’t me to surprise you,” she mumbled with her mouth away from the phone. Tanya brought the mouthpiece back up. “Tony! Seriously?!”

“Yeah!” I beamed.

“The one I read?”

“Yeah.”

"I knew it! I told you it was good! Oh, darling!" She yelled. "Oh, my god. You have to tell everyone!"

“I know,” I laughed at her excitement. “I don’t know if I can do it all tonight. I think the Grands might have to wait for a day or two.”

“I can tell them if you’d like,” she offered easily. Our grandparents were always lovely to talk to. “You have to tell Mum, though.”

“Ugh,” I groaned. I would rather speak to my grandparents.

“She’ll be annoyed if she doesn’t hear it from you,” she reminded me. I groaned again in response, making her giggle. “Sorry. Anyway, that’s so great, though! Now tell me about her!”

"Seriously! I just tell you that, and you're still more interested in my love life?"

“Yeah?” Tanya spoke as if I was stupid. “Is she the new girl in your videos?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Oh. Yeah, I can see that. She’s beautiful, Tony!” She gushed.

"And she's smart, kind, witty, funny, talented, artistic, passionate, caring, and… just everything," I added happily.

“Wow! How long have you been dating?”

“Like four days,” I breathed. “It’s insane, but… I can’t explain how I feel about her. She’s literally the best person that I’ve ever met. You’re going to love her. I can’t wait for all of you to meet her.”

“You sound like you’re in love!” She informed me excitedly.
"I am," I blurted out. "I am, but don't go telling everyone that, please. I realize my tendency towards drama, and I know I need to chill out. But, yeah, I am. I am really in love with this woman. The first thing I thought when I saw her is that I wanted to marry her."

She squealed. “And I can’t tell everyone?”

“I mean, not the grandparents and the parents. You’re going to tell the girls whatever I say.”

"Okay, that's reasonable," my sister agreed. "Okay, now tell me more about this Disney thing, so I know what to tell everyone."

I then spent the next fifteen minutes giving her all the details. Then I got a call from Irina. I let Tanya go so I could answer it.

“What is your news! Don’t leave us hanging like that!” She chided right away.

“Sorry. I was talking to T,” I laughed. “So, you remember that script I wrote?”

"Did you sell it?" She asked in an enthusiastic voice. She got a little squeaky when she was happy.

“You bet your skinny ass I did!” I laughed in elation. “Guess to who!”

I then proceeded to talk to my two other sisters. Carmen actually cried, telling me how proud she was of me. Her tears made me cry too. It took several minutes to finally catch my breath and make the call I was putting off for last.

"Hello?" My mother began in boredom. She always sounded so annoyed on the phone, like she had something else better to do. Just like when I was in boarding school.

“Hi, Mum. Is this a good time?” I hoped she would say no.

“Yes, of course, Anthony, darling. Is there something you need?”

"No," I answered quickly. "I actually have some good news that I wanted to share with you. I sold a movie script to Disney. They're going to be making my movie, and I'm going to be the star. I'm going to have a lot of creative control, and I am getting a percentage of the sales of everything involved with the movie," I explained as fast as possible before I knew whatever questions or comments she had were coming. She had a tendency to talk over anyone and everything.

“I see,” she replied very calmly. “That is very exciting news. Have you finalized the contract?”

“We’ve only put some basic paperwork in as of right now. I’m having my lawyers and my manager look over everything first. But I don’t foresee any issues. Their offer is more than generous for a first-time creator.”

“Hm. When will you know for sure?”

“By the end of the month.”

“Are you sure your lawyers can handle it? A contract with Disney must be a complicated thing. You’re not a very big star. Perhaps you should have someone else look at it,” she commented doubtfully.

“Mum, my lawyers are-”

“I can research-”

My mother thought she knew everything about everything, especially when it came to the law. I was sure she could research American contract law, but that was why I had good lawyers.

“No, thank you. Really. I’m sure it’s fine,” I clarified swiftly. “If I need help, I’ll let you know,” I added politely. I would rather cuddle a rabid dingo.

“So, I imagine you’ll finally give up your internet foolishness,” she sniffed. I bit my lip and looked up at the sky. “It’s about time. I don’t understand why you’re wasting your time, embarrassing yourself like that all the time. It’s shameful.”

"I'm not giving up anything. I love my channel, and I'm sorry it's foolishness, but it's not a waste of time. It makes me a lot of money, in fact. And I enjoy it. I wouldn't have gotten Disney if I wasn't doing it."

“You could clearly be making more money if you applied yourself elsewhere. You’ve outgrown it, surely.”

“I just sold a damn script to Disney. What else could I be doing?” I demanded, closing my eyes tightly. “I made millions of fucking dollars today.”

“Language. And I don’t know what else you could accomplish, that is the point,” she stressed sharply.

"You know what, Mum. I need to go. I've got a date tonight," I lied. I had a woman waiting for me, but we weren't going anywhere. The only place I wanted her was in my bed. I needed to stop talking to my mother before she sucked out all of my happiness and killed my buzz completely.

“With who?”

Did she think she would know her? She didn’t watch my videos or talk to me. “A beautiful woman. A photographer. Her name is Bella,” I explained.

“Did you ever call Mariane?”

“Who?” I asked in confusion.

“My friend’s daughter. She’s in California for work.”

“Oh, god. Are you serious?” I laughed. “No, I learned my lesson the first time. Vicky was enough. I’m done with your friend’s daughters.”

“Vicky is a lovely woman.”

“She was. And she thought that I was a childish jackass, just like you. No, actually, I have a girlfriend right now. And I’m making her wait. So, I’m going to let you go. Have a good day,” I asserted promptly, hanging up before she could say anything else to me. I didn’t even talk to my father. It took all of my mental energy to speak to her.

I decided to smoke again before I went back to Bella.

She was sitting at the vanity in my bathroom. Bella had straightened her hair, and it fell all the way down her back in a shiny black sheet. She was wearing a very sexy red nightgown and was painting her lips to match when I came in. Her eyes found mine in the mirror, catching me staring.

“I'm sorry that took so long.”

“You're fine, honey. I hope everyone is doing well,” she answered in her rich accent.

“Yeah, they are. That was a lot of calls,” I replied softly. “You look stunning. Your hair is so much longer when it's straight. It's almost to your arse.”

Bella stood from the vanity and began to walk towards me. She did a little spin, shaking her hair free to show it off to me. Everything about her was perfection.

“How did I do?” She asked as she showed me her eyes.

“It's very pretty. You are very pretty. Though it's like you're photoshopped your face in real life,” I joked stupidly. “I'm afraid to mess it up.”

She pulled on my shirt, her smile mischievous. “I only put it on so you could mess it up.”

Bella was doing all of this for me. She made herself somehow even more beautiful just for me. She wanted to feel her lipstick smear on my mouth, just like I did.

“Well, in that case,” I mumbled just as I pulled her into a kiss. My hands had to touch every part of her body, but especially her thick gorgeous ass. I loved how the lace felt against my palms.

We both smiled when we pulled back from our wild kiss. Just as it had with the gold, the red had smudged across her face. I found it incredibly hot for some reason that I couldn’t explain. Her sparkling eyes were naughty and amused. She was just as eager to mess it up further, letting me kiss her for as long as I could stand until it became too much.

I lifted her up and placed her on the countertop, enthusiastically throwing her nightgown over my shoulder as she took off my shirt. I smiled to myself when I realized she was wearing the lingerie that I had picked out for her. It looked better than I could have ever imagined.

Every part of her skin was luscious and soft. I needed to kiss every inch of her chest. She was so vocal about her pleasure, holding me to the places that she liked my attention the most. I fell to my knees in front of her, excited to worship her. She spread her legs open, allowing me to taste her dripping wet panties. Her fingers twisted into my hair, obviously enjoying my efforts.

"Damn, damn... damnnnn...." She cried out as her whole body reacted. I could feel her thighs stiffen around my face, her heels dug deep into my back. And that was through her clothes. I knew it would only get better with my fingers. When I did, she cried out over and over again, just for me.

I stood to kiss her delicious lips, pulling her bra away as she tugged off my slacks. When they were gone, she wrapped her legs around me. Her mouth was pressing hot kisses along my neck before she began to nip at my shoulder.

Bella slid down from the vanity and took my hand as she led me over to the bed. She very purposefully bent over to fix the blankets, pressing her plush ass against me. She looked so good like that, the shape of her bum perfect. I moaned to myself as I tugged her back against me hard.

“I want to fuck you like this. I want to fuck you from behind,” I whispered in her ear as I held her against me. I saw her slight smile as she hooked her thumbs around the panties and pushed them to the floor.

Then she crawled onto the bed for me on her hands and knees. I honestly couldn't get the condom on fast enough. She was visibly wet, waiting for me to take her. I wasn't going to go slow, though. It wasn't going to take long for both of us to cum. As soon as I slid into her, she cried out loudly. Her body pushed back roughly to meet me as she shoved her face into the blankets to muffle her moans. Her beautiful hair bounced around her, blocking her face. I pulled it back roughly so that I could see her orgasm as it ripped through her, tinting her skin red. It was too much, the perfect sensation and gorgeous views bringing on my own.

Bella sort of slid down onto her stomach, crawling up, so just her feet were dangling off the edge of the bed. I chuckled to myself, knowing exactly how she felt. After getting cleaned up, I slid in beside her and gave her a soft, slow kiss on her now completely bare lips. Her once lovely eye makeup was now smeared all over her cheeks and forehead, the red of her lipstick dotting her neck and jaw. It was hilarious and awesome, and I wished I could take another picture, but I knew she wouldn't let me.

“Well, your makeup looks wild now.”

“That's because half of it's on your bed,” she answered as she rolled over a little to show me where her face had been shoved into the sheets. On it was almost the complete mask of her makeup.

“Well... shit,” I said in a laugh that I couldn’t help. “Whoops.” I would have told her that I was sorry, but I wasn’t. Not one bit.

“I'll wash the sheets tomorrow.” She smirked a little as we readjusted in the bed so that we were laying the right way. Bella put her head on my chest, getting more comfortable beside me.

I was almost about to drift off to sleep when I remembered something. I was going to make the same mistake again and forget to tell her what I needed to do the following day. I also had to set my alarm.

"I have to go to the studio tomorrow. I have to do some voiceover work for a commercial. Will you be okay by yourself again? I feel bad, but I can't get out of it."

“No, it's perfect. I need to finish up your pictures, so I can send them. I'm almost done but, there is always more I can do. What time do you have to go? I'll make you breakfast before,” she answered sweetly, glancing up at me with such adoring eyes. I loved that they were for me. But I wasn’t going to make her do that. That’s not why I wanted her there, even if I already loved her food.

"Noon. But you don't have to do that. I love your cooking, but I feel bad making you cook for me all the time," I informed her as I tugged her even closer to me. Her leg slid between mine.

"Don't. I love cooking for my friends. And a way to a man's heart and all that," Bella giggled as she ran her finger along my pec, just over my tattoo and thumping heart. "Besides, you're still in the super grateful stage, and it's my favorite part. I was thinking breakfast tacos."

“Yes, I would be very grateful for breakfast tacos.” I nodded, making her smile. “The way to a man's heart is definitely tacos.” I fucking loved them in all of their forms. It was one of man’s perfect foods. I could eat them daily.

“You know, there is this myth that the most proposed over a meal is roasted chicken and somehow not tacos,” she stated in a jokingly serious tone, her chin coming to rest on my shoulder.

What an odd fact to know. “How would they know that? If it's true, why chicken? Is it just roasted chicken or does fried chicken count? Or is that too greasy?”

She hummed for a minute, pretending to think. “A roast chicken takes a lot of work and often comes out bland and dry if you don't know what you're doing. I guess it shows a certain level of skill in the kitchen. Wife material. But is it the same if you go to a restaurant? Then someone else is doing the work but does it provide the same desired effect? A placebo, if you will.”

Bella was a natural comedian. I wasn’t even sure she knew how funny she actually was. I swallowed down my smirk.

“These are the hard questions that need to be asked,” I tried to say seriously, making her scoff and laugh. “I don't think I'd want to propose over food. What if they had garlic or onions? What if they had chicken in their teeth? It's not very romantic or original.”

“Most proposals aren't very romantic, I don't think. Or, original. But I'd rather get engaged over a meal than over a pregnancy test any day of the week,” she replied with a little roll of her eyes.

My brain decided it was time to make a bad joke. The conversation was getting a little serious, and I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. I wanted it to go away.

“Wait... You don't have kids, do you?”

She pursed her lips to one side as her eyes got wide then narrowed on me. Then Bella whacked my stomach playfully, making me laugh. It wasn't hard, but it had a little smack to it. "Sorry! I'm joking. I'm joking.”

“No. I just thought I was pregnant, and I had a panic attack. Aiden brought me a couple of tests and handed them to me and said, 'it doesn't really matter. We were going to get married anyway.' And it was negative, of course. It was actually food poisoning, not morning sickness, but somehow we were engaged. We got married a few months later. I was only nineteen,” she explained to me softly. “That is the most simplified version of the story, to say the least. I guess it was romantic that he already knew what he wanted. I don't know.”

What ass doesn’t make his proposal to this gorgeous woman special? Why wasn’t he on his hands and knees begging for the honor? I knew in a heartbeat that I would. Bella was worth it. She was worth the pomp and circumstance. The flowers, balloons, champagne, music. Whatever it took. She was worth a New Years’ level firework display and whole Macy’s day parade worth of marching bands. At the very least, more than plastic bag wrapped pregnancy tests. I could almost see it: two in the morning as she sat beside the toilet, green from illness.

“You deserved something more special than that.”
“I was so young. I was just happy someone wanted me at all, let alone wanted to keep me. He did get me a ring after that. Gave it to me on the first night of Hanukkah.” She quickly covered herself. “I'll take a shitty proposal and a good marriage over a good proposal and a shitty marriage.”

“It's possible to have both.” I could give her both. I would. I would do anything to keep her happy. Her smile was worth the effort alone.

“It's also possible we make ourselves unhappy by having too many expectations for ourselves and others. You might not know that yet, since you’re young and you’ve reached for the moon and literally made it to Jupiter right off the bat. It's not that you haven't worked for it either. You're just lucky enough not to have that life experience yet. I'm insanely jealous,” she said quickly before stopping, her face becoming warm with slight embarrassment. I rubbed her back soothingly as I considered my answer.

"You're right about expectations. It's an obvious thing. I know we can't have it all, but it doesn't stop me from wanting it," I finally replied.

Bella shifted so she could look at me. “Well, in your case you could have it all. So, why listen to me?”

I swiftly shook my head. “Don't discount yourself or your thoughts and feelings. They're valid.”

“In another life, you would make for a good therapist,” she breathed as we looked into each other’s eyes. My world sort of melted away around her. “Did it ever get that serious with anyone for you?”

I guess I should have expected that question. It seemed fair.

“Um... Not really. Yes and no. I was going to propose to the girl I had been dating before I moved here. I thought that she'd move with me to LA and I'd ask her to marry me on our fourth anniversary in June. Victoria didn't want to move, though. She didn't want to leave Sydney or her friends. Or, her job. She is an interior designer. I understand, I guess. I just wish she told me right away, instead of at the last minute. Letting me plan everything as I did. But, to be honest, I think Vicky was ready to be rid of me,” I babbled on nervously.

“Why do you think that?”

“I don't know. A feeling. She thought I was an immature ass most of the time. She started dating someone pretty soon after, too. I don't think she was cheating, per se, but I think she was thinking about it really hard. I wish her all the best. I hope the next asshole likes her weird tastes in furniture and burnt toast.” I frowned at all the time I wasted on trying to please someone who didn’t really like who I was, but the idea of what I could be. Someone I could never be.

Bella liked me for me, though, the version that I was right then. Imperfect and as immature as I was. She was happy to be there in my arms, playful and opening herself up to me.

“Well, her loss,” she purred before kissing my tattoo.

"I think it worked out for the best.” I grinned, brushing her hair away from her cheek. She smiled in return.

“Me too,” she giggled before pressing another quick kiss to my lips. “I’m going to get washed up. Then are you ready for bed?”

“Mm, sounds perfect.”

I smirked to myself as I watched her nice round ass sway its way into the bathroom. When she came back, her face was clean with her hair brushed straight again. She had also put her pretty little nightgown back on.

This time I opened my arms to her, and she crawled into them with a giggle and a kiss. Bella was my exact little spoon, fitting against my body as if she was designed to be there. Wrapped in her scent and curled around her soft warmth, I quickly fell asleep.