BPOV
I don’t know what I was expecting.
Edward was so serious. I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach as I started to read what he was talking about. Looking away from the screen I noticed Edward had a look of concern on his face.
“Holy Hell Edward!” I bellowed and then burst out laughing, “What is the matter with these people?” The look on his face turned from concern, to perplexed, and then finally amusement.
“You’re not angry or upset?” He sounded relieved and I just shrugged.
“Well, I would prefer if they not talk about me-or us, but come on, look at what they are writing,” I laughed pointing at the screen. “Are they insane? I didn’t even know that Aro had a harem or that you had a proclivity for men.”
“What?”
Oh, he must not have seen those comments. I moved the screen to show him what I was talking about.
“Look, bigirl35 says: ‘Who does E think he is fooling? There comes a time when you have to come clean with what you are, and stop chasing after something that is expected of you, and go after what you need.’ I don’t know how you take that, but I think she is insinuating that you’re in the closet.”
He got a bewildered expression on his face, making me chuckle.
“Ok, 4884grl replied: ‘What kind of woman - if that is what it is – lets herself be used as a guinea pig, knowing she will just be discarded like the plastic that it’s fake boobs are made of?’ So not only do I have fake boobs but I’m also a man, or I was a man.” I laughed because this whole thing was just absurd.
I pulled the top of my shirt open so I could look down at my chest. “Do I look like a man with fake boobs? Because honestly, if I was going to have fake boobs I think they would be a whole lot bigger.”
Edward was shaking his head with a huge grin on his face. “Baby, you don’t look like any man I ever saw; you, my pet, are the epitome of enchanting femininity.” Edward moved off his chair coming to a squatting position between my legs.
“Enchanting?” I asked for clarification, running my fingers through his soft silky hair.
“Yup, enchanting, you used all of your charms and completely mesmerized me.”
I couldn’t help myself; he was right in front of me. I closed those few inches and my hands dropped to behind his neck and I kissed him.
His lips were soft and warm; my tongue ran over his bottom lip and he opened to allow me entrance. Our mouths melted against each other and I was brought out of the heated moment by the sound of the soft moan that escaped my throat. When Edward pulled back, his hands cupped my breasts.
“Your breasts are perfect just the way they are, soft, full, and entirely delectable.” His lips moved down my throat and over my shirt placing a kiss at the top of my cleavage.
“I mesmerized you, huh?” Using my hands I pushed on Edwards’s chest making his back lean against the edge of the coffee table with me straddling his thighs.
“Yes ma’am, you sat there looking all cute and innocent and I didn’t have a chance in the world of getting away from you, and I just knew you were going to be mine.” Edward’s hands stroked the length of my back while I placed my hands flat on his chest to brace myself.
“How did you know?”
He quirked a smile at me before placing a kiss on my nose. “Because I knew that there was no way in hell I was going to let somebody else get their hands on you. Fuck Bella, I didn’t even want anyone to look at you, let alone talk with you, until I knew that you were mine. I wasn’t taking any chances, I had to move fast.”
I listened to what he said and then a thought occured to me. “You know what I think?”
He raised his eyebrows, “no I don’t, but I would love to hear it.”
“I think you are wrong…” Edward raised his eyebrows in disbelief, but I went on to explain before he could interrupt my train of thought, “ …about us needing to go to the club more often just to let people see us. I think we should go as you have already planned, but not any extra times just to appease your adoring public.”
Edward got that perplexed look on his face again.
“Think about it. All anyone really knows is that I showed up one night with Aro’s card. You yourself were kind of intrigued about how I knew him.”
Edward nodded, “you’re right I was. Aro doesn’t give them out.”
I went on with my theory while Edward’s hands moved down to rub my bottom. “Then the next thing anyone knows is that sometime within the next week you and I got together, and then when they see us I’m sporting your collar around my neck. Now, in order to justify why that happened they come up with all sorts of circumstances that would explain it. Which is alright, but then like an arrogant child who is looking for attention from their daddy, they start spouting it to others, knowing it’s going to get back to you.”
“Is that the psychologist talking? Because let me get this straight-- they…” he pointed to my computer “… are the arrogant child and I am the daddy, and they are doing this to get a rise out of me?”
I nodded.
“And it’s working.” Edward narrowed his eyes at me; he didn’t like that very much. “Bella, I understand what you are saying, however I don’t like that our relationship is being speculated about. It’s truly no one’s business. Even if all that stuff…” Edward pointed to my computer screen, “…was true, and you were a man with fake boobs.” I gasped smacking his chest with the back of my hand while he chuckled.
“Bella, no one has any right to say anything about it. They need to keep their mouth shut.”
I listened to what he said, sighing as I watched my fingers tips draw patterns against his chest. “Edward did you see that just about all of the comments were from women?” I looked in his eyes; he gave me a curt nod in acknowledgement. “I hate to be condescending against my own sex, but women can be manipulating bitches and Rose was right when she said that my collar was going to piss them off. She said that they…” I made air quotes around the word, “…would say or do anything to get to you, and that I just shouldn’t listen to them. That’s what I think we should do.”
He moved his head back to get a better look at me. “What should we do?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Don’t change any of your plans in order to make an appearance in the club to pacify or squelch the rumors. Edward, you are a man and your natural inclination is to try and fix things; sometimes it’s better to just let things go. It’s like a glass teetering on the end of a table. Sometimes when you go to grab it you can save it, other times you knock it over and it shatters making a bigger mess.” Edward was quiet and I gave him a few seconds to absorb what I had just said before finishing my thoughts.
“You were right Edward; this is strictly between us and no one else. But if you allow them to change your plans then they become part of us and that is what they wanted all along, not the us part but the you part. They want to be a part of you. Do you understand what I’m saying?” I smiled at his bewildered face because I can’t even remember all the countless times he had asked me that very thing.
“So, what you’re saying is that we shouldn’t make any adjustments to our schedule?”
“Right. If we have plans to go away, or if our…usual doesn’t warrant time to go to the club, then changing that will only serve to give them influence over our relationship, and give them the power over us. Eventually, that will begin to become a burden on us, and just like that glass our relationship will teeter and when it falls it will shatter. So I say we turn off the computer, let them say or think anything they want. Never change your plans to accommodate their bad behavior and we can just be us with no outside pressure.”
Edward gazed in my eyes for what seemed like an eternity before he finally spoke, “how did you get to be so smart?”
“I went to Dartmouth.” He chuckled at my smug response.
“I went to Dartmouth too.” He announced pushing on my back so my chest lay against his.
“I know; that’s why you’re so smart.” I said kissing his jaw.
He answered with a swat on my bottom, “alright my Bella, let’s get off this floor”
I stood, offering him my hand so he could get up. We had decided to watch a movie, so while he picked one out, I made a bag of popcorn, grabbing us each a beer from the fridge. When I returned Edward was moving through the previews, I set the stuff on the table and went in to change opting for a tank top and shorts.
I settled in beside him, nestled against the side of his body with the bag of popcorn on my lap. Seth placed himself on the floor next to Edward’s feet, watching and gobbling up any stray kernel that happen to fall his way. Edward had chosen to watch Pulp Fiction. I know it’s not a typical girly movie, but it was one of my favorites and I truly found it (at times) to be hilarious. It must have been one of Edward’s favorites too, because we took turns speaking out the dialog.
“You never told me how your shopping trip went.”
We had been quiet when he asked me, and I was shocked that he cared. I lived with a man most of my life and Charlie was never interested in our shopping trips, and with James shopping very rarely ever happened. He was always concerned about money and how much I spent, although there always seemed to be enough money for the things he wanted. I pushed all thoughts of James out of my head.
“It went great. Your mom said she and your dad had a wonderful night and the show they saw was superb. Alice wanted me to buy Jimmy Choos, but I’m sorry I am not paying five hundred dollars for something I wear on my feet. I bought a few things for myself, but most of the afternoon we spent in children’s and maternity stores. Rose bought some clothes, I got a bunch of outfits for Leah, Alice bought stuff for the kids, and then we came home.”
In those stores was where we seemed to all be on the same page. Rose was looking at furniture, seeing what she liked and asking about delivery times; which I thought was premature since her baby wouldn’t be here for another six months, but I guess these things are nice to know. The sales clerk had her try on the six month baby bump to see how one of the dresses would look on her. When she came out of the dressing room she stood in the three-way mirror and cried, apologizing for being so emotional and blaming it on her hormones. But the look in her eyes was pure bliss.
“How was your afternoon?” I asked him. I didn’t know what he did at the club and it didn’t sound like I was going to find out tonight either since Edward just shrugged. I shifted my body and I lay down with my head on his lap, looking up at him while he spoke.
“It was fine, but that reminds me Aro said that Jane will call you Thursday morning; she would like you to come to their home for lunch.” His hands ran through my hair, splaying it out away from my face.
“Yeah, she told me that. I have my doctor’s appointment that morning, so I told her to call me early.”
“Your GYN? Did you decide what you are going to do?”
I had discussed this with my doctor several times; there was no doubt in my mind.
“I’m going to get the shot; it last three months, I don’t have to remember to take it, and it’s effective twenty-four hours later.” I thought that would make him happy, but his face looked puzzled.
My hand went up to smooth the stress lines off his face that were beginning to appear. “What’s the matter, isn’t that a good choice?”
He did go to Med School, and I starting to get concerned since he looked almost pained. I sat up twisting my body so I was facing him. “Edward, I’ve discussed this with Dr. Gaye several times and she thinks it’s the best option for me.” I could hear the tension in my voice.
“What? No, I’m sure that’s fine. But Bella, can you even get pregnant?”
I sat there staring at him, feeling a sickness in the pit of my stomach like I’d been punched, and in a sense I had.
“Why would you ask that?” I could feel my eyes tear up and as he looked at me Edward’s eyes were remorseful.
“I’m sorry Bella; Jacob said that you might not be able to have children. I was just wondering if that were true, why the need for birth control?”
I straightened up abruptly, my defensive nature was coming out loud and clear. “Jacob should mind his own business!” I spit with venom in my voice as I stood walking to the door. I was going to have words with Jacob Black; it wasn’t up to him to tell the man I loved that I might never be able to bare his children. This was just another reason why Edward wouldn’t want me.
“Hey,” Edward grabbed my arm before I could make it through the door, my body swung to face him. He was so perfect and I was so defective.
“He just mentioned it in passing, Bella. Saying something along the lines of because of what your husband did, you may never be able to have children. He wasn’t being malicious.” I nodded biting my lip trying to keep the tears at bay.
Edwards hand was on my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“No secretes Isabella.” He said, wiping the tear off my cheek.
I spoke quietly; I couldn’t meet his gaze so my eyes looked over his shoulder. “I can get pregnant. I will have a very hard time carrying to full term, if I can do it at all. James left me...,” the tears were slowly falling over my cheeks; there was no way I could tell him how I was left. It made me feel inhuman and disgusting. I couldn’t imagine what he would think of me. I blinked my eyes clear setting my mind on what to tell him, deciding on just answering his question and telling him my medical prognosis.
“…I had such a bad infection that my uterus was damaged from all the scar tissue. It’s just one more thing that is damaged on me Edward.” I pulled my arm out of his grip and headed to my bedroom. I didn’t want to see the pity on his face, or worse the distaste from knowing that as a woman I wasn’t complete. Not that I really want children, at least not at this moment, but knowing that the possibility has been taken away from me hurts.
I didn’t hear Edward come into the room; I just felt his arms around me, pulling my back against his chest while a feeling of security washed over me. Once again I found myself trying to shove this memory into my brain, so that when he realized that I just wasn’t worth it, I would have something to hold on to.
“I’m sorry Baby; I didn’t mean to upset you. Damn, you have been through so much emotional turmoil the last few days. I just wanted tonight to be calm for you so that you could get some proper rest.” Edward spun me around cupping my cheeks with his hands. I sniffled as he wiped the tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
“How about you go take a hot shower and I’ll make you some warm milk?” I nodded in agreement, not able to trust my voice. Edward smiled sadly at me then placed a soft kiss on my lips.
I stood in the water letting the heat wash over me. I didn’t want to think about that night, here in my own home.
Winter break was over, and classes were scheduled to start in two days. I had spent all of Christmas and New Years in Forks. It was a nice visit and I had only seen James twice in the two weeks I was there. The first was on Main Street. I was getting into my car and he drove by, watching me from the corner of his eye.
The second time was more up close and personal. I was with Sue in the grocery store and she had gotten the wrong milk, so I ran back to exchange it. When I came around the corner, there he was. His blond hair splayed out over is shoulders and his blue eyes piercing into me. I didn’t say anything. I tried to walk around him, but he stepped in front of me.
“You slumming it in Forks, Bella?”
I turned to walk the other way, but he grabbed my arm. “James let me go, you’re hurting me.”
“You’re still my wife Bella, don’t forget that.” He released the grip he had on me, so I pulled my arm free.
“Only because you won’t sign the papers!” I hissed as I quickly walked by him rubbing my arm where he had squeezed it.
I was glad to be back in my own home. I truly loved everyone in Forks, but I felt free and safer here--away from there. My Master’s was going really well; I had begun my thesis, having made contact with Aro the previous year, and his background and expertise was beyond helpful. I had come home from grocery shopping and I didn’t close the back door because I had to go and get the other two bags. The door slammed startling me and when I turned around James was standing there.
Fear and dread washed over me instantly.
“Hello Bella.” His voice was cold.
I told him to leave, but he just shook his head. “I told you, I’m still your husband Bella. I’m not going anywhere.”
I tried to run into the other room, but he caught me. The last thing I remember was a sharp pain on the back of my head and everything went black.
When I started to come around I tried to get up but I was incapable of the smallest amount of movement. As my senses came back, I realized I was lying on the kitchen table, and I was tied to the four legs. I tried to scream for help, but something was in my mouth. Panic over took me and I had a hard time breathing. I must have passed out, because the next thing I remember was James slapping my face.
“I told you to listen to me. I told you not to waste money on going to Dartmouth, but NO! You just wouldn’t listen, and now look at you all high and mighty spending more of mommy’s money getting a Masters. For what? Just so you can think you’re better than me? You think because you can leave Forks, and buy your own house that you can just forget about me? You think you can do whatever you want, don’t you? Like I have no say about anything - Well guess what Bitch?!” The slap to my face rattled my jaw, and the punch to my stomach made me gag on my own vomit. “You aint shit! You aren’t good enough to lick my ass.”
I heard a chair moving and he settled between my legs. “Your pussy was always so tight, how many cocks have you had in there lately, Bella?” I could feel his breath against my sex and I tried to pull away, but there was no slack. He held up a pair of tweezers and I cringed.
“Do you remember these? Sure you do. How could you forget?” His fingers spread my lower lips and he started plucking the hairs out one by one.
“You really let this go Bella. Such a skanky, rebellious Bitch! You don’t appreciate anything I did for you.”
As was the ritual for every dozen hairs he plucked he would slap my thighs with his belt, making me scream through the gag. When he was finally done he went about with the beating - from my breasts to my thighs. I peed all over the table and onto the floor, and I think I passed out again because the next thing I knew my head was being slammed into the table.
“I want to know how many cocks were in you!” I shook my head, trying to tell him none. He looked at me. “I don’t fucking believe a whore like you!”
He entered me hard and brutal, and as he always did he pinched the flesh of my thighs and stomach. Before he was done, he lifted up my butt and entered my rear opening, pinching the soft flesh of my sex. It hurt so badly and my throat burned from all the unheard screaming I was doing. When he was finally done he slapped my face twice.
“You would think that with all those cocks, you would at least get wet!”
James had a speculum and was shoving it inside my vagina. He had something in a baggie and I didn’t know what it was at first.
“I took enough shit from you, now you’re going to take mine!” He had an evil look on his face, and he began to open up the speculum, it burned so badly. He put on a rubber glove and got the olive oil out. I knew what he was going to do; he had done it many times before. He shoved his hand inside me and I screamed through the gag. Then he started pulling out hunks of what smelled like shit from the bag and started filling me with it. When he was done he pulled out the speculum, wiped his hands all over my body, and slapped my face. The smell was putrid and I had to swallow back more vomit.
“Who’s the piece of shit now?! Fucking Bitch!”
He washed his hands, changed his clothes, and left me there for I don’t know how long.
When I heard the back door open I thought he had come back, but it was Jake. Leah was behind him crying.
The next thing I knew I was in the hospital. I was severely dehydrated, had a concussion, bruises over ninety percent of my torso, and a massive urinary and vaginal infection. It seems that James had perforated my uterus with the speculum and then he had left me there all the next day before calling Leah to gloat.
I spent a week in the hospital recovering. When I finally went home, my kitchen had been completely remodeled, and the table had been replaced with the one I have now. There was also a state of the art security system installed. James had been arrested, but I dropped the charges because Jake had gone after him and was facing assault charges. The only good thing that came out of it was that James had signed the divorce papers and they were in my lawyer’s hands.
The events of that night flooded back to me in a matter of minutes as I stood in my shower, the tears came with it along with the anger that I often felt. I punched the tiled wall.
“Fuck!”
I grabbed my hand and crumbled to the floor pulling my legs up against my chest and sobbed, my tears mixing with the water from the shower. I didn’t want Edward to find me like this--a crumpled mess. I had survived and that was all that mattered, at least that is what I kept telling myself. But I’m beginning to wonder if surviving is worth the nightmares, the lack of trust, and the constant fear? I just wanted someone to love me, and I wanted that person to be Edward.
Because there was no denying it anymore, I loved him.
I heard the soft knock, but was unable to move before Edward opened the shower door seeing me there.
“Fuck…Bella.” I could hear the concern in his voice but I couldn’t look at him, I just kept staring at my feet. He reached to turn off the water and was immediately kneeling next to me.
“Baby, come here.” Edward swathed me in a towel before lifting me into his arms and carrying me to the bed.
“I’m…I’m sorry.” I stuttered out against his shoulder.
“What are you sorry for? I’m the one who is sorry; I didn’t mean to make you so upset.”
I had to get myself together because he had to know that it wasn’t his fault. “Not your fault... it’s the memories, they hurt and make me feel soiled and unworthy”
“Isabella,” his hand ran through my wet knotted hair. “My Bella, so beautiful. Don’t you know that no matter what that animal did to you… or made you do, none of it was your fault and none of it matters to me? Memories are just that Bella, in the past. The only influence they have on the present or the future is what we allow them to have. Baby, you have taken a horrific past that would have killed a weaker person and have done nothing but good with it. It would be so easy for you to hide and play the victim, and no one would blame you for that. But you don’t, you rise up above the victimization and bring good to society in the work you do in the center. I am in awe of the strength you have. Baby, I don’t know why God let you go through all that hell, but it’s brought you to a place where you are now able to be helping others.”
He leaned down kissing my cheek. “And even more important than that, it’s brought you to me.”
I sniffled laying my head on his shoulder and just had to ask, “and is that a good thing?”
He hooked his finger under my chin making me look in his eyes. “That, my dearest one, is a very good thing. Baby, these last two weeks with you have shown me all that was missing in my life.”
I tore my eyes from his gaze because I didn’t want him to see the longing in my eyes. “I’m so afraid Edward. I know that when you hear what James did to me, you’ll find me repulsive and never want to touch me again.”
“I highly doubt that Isabella. I can’t think of anything that would make me feel that way.”
I didn’t say anything because it was easy for him to say that now, when he didn’t know all the abhorrent details. Finally he sighed cupping my chin, but I couldn’t find it in myself to look at him, I just felt so sullied.
“Isabella, look at me.” His voice was stern and even though I didn’t want to there was a compulsion in me that made me do it.
“Does your family and friends know what happened to you?”
I nodded, “yes, Jake and Leah had the privilege of finding me.”
His eyes were trying to drill some kind of truth into me, “and because they know, do they think less of you or find you …soiled?”
“No.”
Edward sighed running the outside of his finger along my jaw, “so what makes you think I would?”
“They love me Edward.” The words came out of my mouth with conviction, and before I could understand what I just said he spoke the words I never thought I would hear.
“I love you too, Isabella.”
I stared at him, not sure I heard him correctly.
“You love me?”
Edward’s eyes bore into mine as his head nodded with conviction; I was so stunned I barely heard his next declaration.
“With all my heart.”
I was stunned.
For a brief second I thought I was dreaming and then the realization of his words finally got through to me.
I smiled and new tears of joy filled my eyes. “Oh Edward, I love you too. I love you so very much”
Edward’s hands cradled my face, his thumbs running lightly over my cheeks, “yeah?”
I nodded at his question, “yeah.”
Then his lips were on mine. Soft and gentle with an expression of love that I have never felt before in my life. I felt like I was finally where I belonged; I was home in Edwards love.
My original Fan-fiction
Mine
A riding crop and a blindfold doesn't make it BDSM. There is a big difference between being kinky and being in the scene. It's not a sexual thing to me, it's a very spiritual thing. ~ DominaBlue
3/24/11
Chapter 21
EPOV
I went to sleep with Bella in my arms, the back of her body pressed against me with our legs intertwined. The aroma of her hair and skin mixed with the musk that hung in the air from our lovemaking created an aura of serenity. I knew that’s what happened; it wasn’t just sex or a means to achieve release.
We made love.
I made love to Bella and it was incredible. There was no rushing, no ferocity, and no need to control; but the intensity was remarkable and unlike anything I have ever felt before. When it was over I didn’t want to leave her, I had an overwhelming need to remain close, to not lose the connection.
Now, in the darkness of the room I was alone in the bed that hung heavy with her essence. I waited a few minutes thinking that perhaps Bella had gone to the kitchen for a drink; when she didn’t return I pulled on my boxers glancing at the clock - 3:17- before stepping out into the hallway. There was a small light shining from the living room and as soon as I rounded the corner my eyes found her. Bella’s legs were tucked up under her bottom, her back leaning against the corner of the couch and she was intently writing in her journal. Her attention was so engrossed that she didn’t even notice I was there until I spoke.
“What are you doing baby?” Her eyes met mine with a startled gaze.
“I woke up to get a drink and I just had this nagging feeling like I needed to get this out of my head.” Bella’s eyes held a needless look of apprehension. I was glad she was using her journal as an outlet for her feelings. It will also stand as record of the progression she makes, as she gives more of herself over to her submissive nature. I nodded in understanding telling her not to be too long.
I was going to give her until four o’clock and then insist she come to bed. There was no need for my intervention since she joined me about twenty minutes later. Curving her body back against mine as my arms wrapped securely around her. There was a part of me that needed to know if her writing was therapeutic and if she felt more at ease; when she answered yes, I placed a kiss on the side of her head telling her to sleep before closing my own eyes.
When my eyes opened, I was fucking alone again. Damn, what time is it?
6:32.
Bella’s side of the bed was no longer warm, telling me she had been gone for a while. Making my way into the bathroom, I discovered where she went. The room was aglow with dim lighting, soft instrumental music played in the background, while Bella soaked with her eyes closed in the large white tub.
“Good morning.” At my words her eyes opened while a smile lit her face.
“Good morning.”
“I’m beginning to think you have an aversion to sleeping with me.”
“Why would you say that?’ Bella sounded almost hurt as she sat upright from the relaxed position she’d been in. I knelt down next to the tub, securing her hair behind her ear.
“Because this is the second time today I’ve woken up alone.” Relief flooded her face, I grinned at her smile.
“That is a big ass tub you got there.”
“Yes, it’s big enough for two.” Her voice sounded almost hopeful.
“Is that an invitation?” She nodded with a coy smile as her bottom lip went between her teeth, I fucking loved that innocent look and I wasted no time in joining her.
The bath was warm, with the jets stirring the water around our bodies. Bella’s head lay in the nook of my neck, her back against my chest while her fingers played with mine.
“Do you want more bubbles?” She asked me.
“Does it go higher?” With my question she took hold of a remote.
“This is the lowest setting, the jets aren’t even on.” She pressed a button, and the water bubbled behind my back and down at my feet, it felt amazing.
“That’s the jets. Then you can adjust the power.” After pressing another button, the water bubbled at full force like a hot tub.
“This is a really nice bathtub,” I knew I was stating the obvious, but I was rather impressed. “What kind is it?”
“This is a Jacuzzi Bellavista Salon Spa. Charlie had a fit when I upgraded, spending so much money on a bathtub. He just didn’t understand what was wrong with the one that was here.”
I thought about her dad and decided to ask a question that had been weighing on my mind. “Bella if your dad was the chief of police, why didn’t he do something to help you, why didn’t he arrest him or something?”
She sighed, remaining quiet running her fingers in a line up and down my arm, finally she spoke.
“Charlie couldn’t just go after James, he would have been charged with assault. Also, he couldn’t arrest him because I wouldn’t press charges.” Her words came out in a mater-of-fact tone that left me dumbfounded.
“What?” I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard, and I was more than a little irritated. I couldn’t wrap my head around the words she had just said. Even with all the activity of the water I could feel her stiffen against me and when she spoke her voice sounded small and distant.
“You don’t understand Edward. I was so young and I lived in a small town. It was embarrassing enough, people knowing what they knew or thought they knew. If I…”
Her voice broke and it killed me that I had caused her distress. My arms wrapped around her waist pulling her closer to me. Bella took a deep breath gathering her strength.
“…if I would have pressed charges I would have had to tell everything he did to me.”
She became really quiet and I thought she was done. I wanted to tell her I understood, I didn’t agree, but I understood--or at least I could try.
Then she started talking again, “the other night, when I told your grandmother that fear is the abusers number one weapon, it’s not…” Bella sat up turning to look at me, her legs laid on top of mine with her feet by my hips. When her eyes met mine there was fierceness in them.
“…it’s not just fear of the abuser. It’s fear of everyone else’s reaction. People are either going to pity you or they are going to blame you, neither of which I wanted. If I would have pressed charges, I would have had to tell my father and everyone else all the awful things that were done to me.” Tears began to well in her eyes.
“Charlie would have had to sit there and listen while I told how James would strip me and put me in the box for hours, sitting in my own urine. How he would tie me down to the table, pluck out my pubic hairs one at a time with tweezers. Or how he would take me anally then force me to lick him clean; it’s gross and disgusting and humiliating, no father wants to hear that!” The tears started to fall, but they weren’t tears of pain, they were tears of… anger?
“I didn’t tell, I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t put my father through that.”
Jesus Christ! She stayed in that hell in some warped attempt to protect her father? I wasn’t sure if that made me respect her, or want to punish her for being so damn stubborn. I was leaning towards the latter. I knew I couldn’t really punish her, but I’d be damn if I would ever let her put herself in danger again because of some twisted sense of loyalty.
I didn’t know what to say and I certainly didn’t want my own anger to be projected on to her. Bella had enough emotional ups and downs in the past two days; she needed some normalcy and relaxation. So I did the only thing I could think of, I kissed her tenderly. However, she had other ideas and as our kiss deepened her chest pressed against mine and my dick became wedged between our bodies.
Bella pulled back with that coy smile, “Little Eddie likes his bath.”
“Would you stop calling my dick Little Eddie?” I snarled as she placed her forehead on my shoulder and giggled.
The movement from her laughter caused her to rise up, making my dick slide through her folds and eliciting a moan. “Mmm…again…please,” she whispered the words against my neck and I was all too willing to comply. Her hips moved so her core slid along my length as my hands guided her motions.
Bella wrapped her arms around the back of my neck placing her forehead against mine and our gazes locked. She pressed her bottom tighter against my dick making me hiss at the sensation as her hips continued to slide her folds over me. The head of my dick making contact with her clit would extract the most amazing gasps of pleasure from her. My breathing picked up as the tightness in my balls began to grow. My hands moved her hips at a more frenzied pace and as she applied more pressure I watched in her eyes as the tension started growing and her breathing became irregular, coming out in pants. I was trying to hold on to my own control, but my irregular breathing pattern was matching hers.
The pace of her hips became frantic as her face contorted, her thighs shaking while she ground her sex against me. Bella’s eyes closed and her head dropped to my shoulder as she let out a shuddering moan gasping my name. The warmth in my own belly became too much; I pulled her hips tighter to my body, laid my head back against the tub and fucking came, and spilled my seed between our bodies.
“Jesus baby,” I said in panting breaths. Bella panted with her forehead pressed against my shoulder, my arms holding her tightly to my chest. “I haven’t fucking dry humped since I was in high school.”
She giggled in my neck. “Is it still dry humping if we are in the tub?”
I laughed turning my head to kiss her cheek, “I don’t know baby, but it fucking felt good.”
“Mmmm,” she breathed softly lifting her head to kiss me before whispering against my lips, “it sure did.”
The knock on the bathroom door sobered me up.
“Bells are you alone?”
Bella’s eyes locked on mine. “No Leah. I’ll be right out.”
“Umm…ok…I’m going to make some tea. Do you still have some of mom’s bread?”
“Yeah, I think it’s on the kitchen table.” Bella kissed me once more, before turning off all the jets and climbing out of the water. She wrapped herself in a towel handing one to me. In the bedroom she dressed for yoga class. Wearing a pair of deep purple pants with a gray waist band and a gray sports bra, she was just pulling a Nike t- shirt over her head, while I finished putting on my clothes from last night.
“You know, you could leave some clean clothes here. I could clear out a drawer for you.”
“My own toothbrush and a drawer.” I mused as we walked towards the kitchen.
Bella stopped short turning to me, “was that ok? I didn’t mean to overstep.”
I eyed her with speculation; did she think I was being sarcastic? I wasn’t sure. I figured I better make myself perfectly clear so I pulled her to me wrapping my arms around her back. “That would be great baby, I hate wearing dirty underwear.”
She cocked her head looking at me sideways. “You could always go commando you know. Let Little Eddie breathe.” I scowled swatting her bottom, which she wiggled against my hand, so I swatted harder, receiving a sigh and a kiss.
“I think your sister is waiting for us.”
“Sister, Shimister. She’s busy eating” Bella called out in a louder voice towards the kitchen.
“I heard that!” Leah’s voice rang through the room, making Bella smile.
Leah was just taking a piece of bread out of the toaster. “Good morning Edward”
“Hello Leah.”
She glared at Bella who walked over and kissed her on the cheek. “Good morning Leah.”
“Bitch! Telling people I eat all the time.” I listened to their exchange while I poured Bella and myself some coffee.
“I didn’t say you eat all the time, I said you were in here eating, and you are.” Bella was digging through a pink tote bag on the table pulling out some clothing as I handed her the coffee mug
“Thank you.”
When she turned to take the clothes to the laundry closet she informed me that there was a plate of muffins or she could toast some of the raisin bread that Leah was eating. I decided on the toast, while that was cooking Bella removed the bag from the table. When she did she seen that Seth’s collar was underneath.
“Hey, there’s his collar.” She picked it up to show me.
“Yeah, I put it there yesterday; I guess I forgot to tell you I found it.” She carried it over to the counter and called Seth.
“Where was it?”
“It was wedged between two rocks out front,” I said taking a drink of coffee. Bella turned to gape at me, while Leah narrowed her eyes.
“It couldn’t have been out front, he can’t go out front. Well he could, but he would get zapped. Unless the battery died, but even so he knows the boundaries and he never crosses them.”
“I don’t blame him, who the hell wants to get shocked?” While Leah was talking, Bella buttered our toast placing mine in front of me before calling Seth, then she took the collar and walked to the back door.
“Where are you going?” She had a determined look on her face and I wanted to know what she had in mind.
“I want to see something, come on Seth.”
Leah and I followed Bella outside standing on the back deck. We watched as she walked towards the front of the house with Seth following and when she had gone about eight feet Seth stopped and Bella yelled, “Ow Fuck!” shaking her hand.
Leah snickered. Bella then turned to Seth trying to coax him past the invisible line. That dog was not moving. “Leah, go get him a treat”
When she returned I took the treat down to Bella while Leah stayed on the porch out of the misty rain. Bella tried everything she could to get Seth to come to her. When the dog wouldn’t budge Leah came down with a rather large bone, trying to entice Seth. He sniffed the air and sat waiting for the treat, but he still didn’t move. Bella took the bone from her sister tossing it to the dog then turned to me.
“Where Edward, where did you find it?” She sounded stressed.
The three of us walked to the tree and I showed Bella how the collar was wedged between the rocks.
“Bells, maybe he got shocked and then pulled on the collar to get it off before going back so that he didn’t get shocked again?” Bella didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t have any other explanation, and standing out in the rain was not getting us closer to an answer.
“Ladies, let’s go back in the house where it’s warm and dry. We can talk about it in there.”
Back inside the kitchen Bella warmed up our coffee and toast and pulled over another bench seat to sit with us. I could see her thinking. “Well I guess it sounds plausible Leah, because it makes no sense for someone to take the collar, what would that do?”
“Is there any personal information on it? Is your phone number or anything on the tags?”
Bella shook her head at my question, but it was Leah who spoke, “both tags go to Jakes’s shop don’t they?”
“Yes, and if someone wanted to hurt Seth, they would have. Besides, why take the collar and then leave it there? What purpose would that serve?”
Neither of us had an answer for Bella’s question, and I noticed she hadn’t eaten. Leah finished her tea and announced that they had to leave or they would be late. I picked up Bella’s bag and placed it in the back seat of Leah’s car. After kissing her good-bye I handed her a napkin with her toast in it. “Eat,” she took it from my hand looking into my eyes. “I mean it Isabella; you need the carbs for energy.”
“I will.” I kissed her again before opening her door.
“See you tonight Leah.” She said good-bye and they drove away.
I had some time before the contractors came so I figured it was a good day for me to go for a run. It was misty but not a full rain and by the time I was half way through the run the cool mist felt good against my skin. I thought about Bella as I ran. It’s funny how that woman has all of a sudden taken up so much of my attention.
She worries me sometimes. She really does need to pay better attention to her nutrition and her sleeping habits. I’m going to have to get tough with her on that. I know that Sunday night she was emotionally drained and I have no idea what time she got up last night, or rather this morning, but I know she didn’t get her full eight hours, she didn’t even come close. I’m also pretty damn sure she is not getting her adequate calories. I knew what I was going to have to do about that and I know Bella is not going to like it, and personally, neither am I.
She amazes me. I watched her last night slip into a sub-mode right before my eyes; it was subtle and at first I thought perhaps she was being shrewd in an attempt to manipulate me into getting what she wanted. I kept waiting for her to show some sign of levity, watching her countenance change. Bella’s eyes had the most intent look, her chin and shoulders squared, back straight as a board with relaxed arms at her side. She talked with eloquence as she pleaded her case. It was the first time I had ever seen it happen and it was so fucking beautiful, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Bella agreed with my conditions. I had no choice but to do that; her communication with me has been hesitant. I believe that is because she is afraid of what my reaction will be. I can understand that to a degree, the experience she had with her husband was not conducive to frankness. I need her to tell me exactly what she is feeling and thinking, without hesitation or petulance. I figured that as she begins to become more unguarded in her writing and she sees that there is no adverse reaction on my part, then perhaps she will be forthcoming with me vocally. That is not to say that we won’t discuss what she writes, because we will. In fact I am very anxious to read what she wrote this morning.
The rain was beginning to pick up as I left the park, and I was soaking wet by the time I got home.
The contractor would be here in less than an hour so I decided to take a shower in the main bathroom. When I was done, I went downstairs got a drink and remembered to write a few things on Bella’s calendar.
The contractor took longer than I thought, and in order to put in the standing shower and the whirlpool tub, he was going to have to reconfigure part of the plumbing fixtures. That would also require a few extra days of work and no doubt a few extra thousand added to the bill, but it would be worth it to get what I wanted. He left with a promise of getting me a detailed estimate by the end of the week giving me only enough time to set up the playroom for tomorrow night.
The chair and side table needed to be moved, and then I placed the body mat on the floor with the black comforter over top for Bella’s comfort and warmth. I wiped off the toys I would be using to make sure they were clean, and got the media gear ready. The last thing I did was place a clean robe on the hook in her closet. The rest would have to be done right before she got here.
Before I realized it the morning was over and I needed to grab some lunch and head over to the club. Inventory needs to be done on a bi-weekly basis, and somehow it has become my job. Aro would very much like if I learned the day-to-day running of the club. I know that there are rumors going around about his retiring, but to be honest that’s not even in the cards for a least a few more years. Aro just always assumed that either Emmett or I would take over, and he’s been sort of grooming us in that direction for years. It is during these times when I miss Mason and I wonder had he lived would I be as close to my uncle as I am?
Aro hadn’t arrived yet, which is not that unusual. He hardly ever comes in on Monday and rarely arrives before two on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I had been doing this for over a year and so I just set about my work. I always begin on the top floor; each room needs to be stocked with paper products, disinfectant wipes, and various plastic bags. Each member who books the room is responsible for providing linens and then cleaning up the space when they are done. It’s a simple process that works very well.
Throughout the clubs existence Aro had told me that he could count on one hand the number of times that someone had to be reprimanded about not cleaning properly. His philosophy is that if it ain’t broke-don’t fix it.
Once everything was stocked, I checked the inventory noting what needed to be ordered and then moved down to the second floor. This is a simple area, I noted what was needed to stock the bar area, filled the shelves by each stage with disinfectant wipes and the plastic bags. The first floor was the easiest, strictly bar supplies. I stocked each area then went to check the main supply.
With all that done, I was sitting at Aro’s desk filling out the order forms. I hadn’t heard from Bella so I figured I would text her.
Hi Baby, just wondering how shopping is going. Did you find shoes? – E
Aro came in just as I hit send.
“Hello Edward,” he said sitting in the chair in front of his desk. He looked a little worn out, like he wasn’t feeling well or had not gotten enough rest.
“Good afternoon,” I didn’t want to add that he looked like hell. If he felt the need to share he would. I went back to the order forms, double checking my figures when Aro sighed.
“I spoke with Marcus last night about the situation that occurred yesterday.” My interest was piqued and I waited for him to continue.
“He is of the agreement that because they apologized that the issue should be dropped; however if another incident occurs then they would be censured and their membership revoked. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
My phone buzzed before I could answer him.
Yes, I found shoes. Not ones that met with your sister’s approval, so now she is torturing me by making me try on everything in the store…Please help me – your Bella
I chuckled, replying immediately:
Sorry my Bella, you are on your own. – E
When I looked up Aro was watching me with a knowing smile on his face. “Can I assume that is Ms. Swan?”
“Yes, the Cullen women are shopping,” I answered.
“Ah,” Aro nodded his head. “Isabella is now a Cullen woman?”
“She is in my book.” She would stay that way if I had anything to say about it, my phone buzzed again.
Thanks…what happened to protecting me? – B
I laughed as I wrote:
Sorry, I can protect you from everyone…except my sister – E
I looked to my uncle. “Sorry about that,” I said pointing to my phone, then added, “and as far as Caius and Irena goes, it’s a done deal. I really don’t want anything more to do with either of them.”
I went on to tell him about last night, “Bella brought up getting together with Jane.”
“Good, Jane is rather excited about it and I’m afraid she would have been very disappointed had it not occurred.”
That shocked me; Aro must have seen that because he went on, “Oh come now Edward, Jane has been speaking with Isabella on the phone for years. She had her little bout of jealousy…,” he said that with a grin and then went on, “…and became enraged upon learning of the attack that occurred in Isabella’s home.” He smiled shaking his head, “your aunt can become quite furious when it comes to defending someone she cares for.”
I had surmised that Bella was attacked in her home, but up until now I had no concrete evidence. Then something else he said occurred to me, “Jane was jealous?”
Aro shrugged, “not for long, but her attitude and demeanor changed and it took many discussions before she admitted her uncertainty of Isabella’s and my relationship. That was not hard to fathom; I was spending time with a woman half her age. Speaking one-on-one to her and Jane had no idea what was being said. I had never done that before, so once I realized Jane’s insecurity I changed my means of contact with Isabella so that she would have to speak directly with Jane. That changed the way Jane looked at the association I had with her, gifts and correspondence always came addressed to ‘Mr. and Mrs.’ and Jane began to look forward to speaking with Isabella. Now she feels a…,” he stopped for a second looking for the right word “…kinship, a bond.” Aro sighed, “When I told you that Isabella was special and that she would shine, I am not the only one who thinks so.”
At first I was astounded by what he said, but as I thought about it I suppose that if I was not immune to Bella’s charms, how could I expect anyone else to be?
Aro stood, “well, I will let you get back to work; Jane is planning on having Isabella to lunch on Thursday. One more thing, the two weeks after the anniversary party I will be on vacation. Will you and Emmett be able to be here to see to the operation of the club?”
“I will,” I assured him. “I’ll ask Emmett, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
I finished up the order forms handing them to Aro to authorize before placing them on Jane’s desk for her to call in. Then checked the demonstration schedule to see who had signed up for Sunday night. One caught my attention; we would have to be here earlier than I had planned, but that would work out.
I had some paperwork that I had put off that needed to be done when it dawned on me that Bella had not returned my last text message. I didn’t bother typing out a text, opting instead to just call. In all honesty I was expecting to get her voice mail, so I was surprised when she actually answered.
“Hi,” Bella responded with an animated voice.
“Hello, I’m surprised that you answered, I thought for sure you would be holed up in a dressing room knee deep in clothes.”
“That was earlier, they let me out on good behavior,” she giggled making me grin at the sound. “Actually, we are going home now. I know you said you would pick me up but Rose is just going to drop me off.” I looked at my watch – 2:25 – I told her I was just about done and that I would be at her house in less than an hour.
I needed to file the invoices that I had just gone over before leaving. Aro walked in as I was finishing up. “Edward, would you double check this figure? It seems unusually high.” Looking at what he was talking about I understood his concern and retrieved the file on the computer to show what the problem was.
New Moon runs on a no cash basis, the only exception would be open door night. Each member has an account and they use their membership card as a debit to their account. New members (or bronze) are required to keep a credit card on record that can be accessed immediately to pay their bill. Silver members are those who have been in good standing for more than five years and they can opt to receive a monthly bill.
“Stefan was billed last month but no payment was made, so that bill,” I said pointing to the invoice in Aro’s hand, “reflects two months worth of charges.”
Aro sighed; clearly not happy about the idea of one of the members not paying their bill. “Is it possible that the bill was paid and just did not get credited, or possibly was inadvertently passed towards another’s account?”
I nodded, “anything is possible. Jane reconciles the accounts; you should have her double check before you mail that to Stefan.”
“Yes, I would hate to debase him needlessly.” He placed the invoice on his desk and sat down jotting a small note before looking to me. “Have you spoken with Isabella about the rumors on Club Talk?”
Shit, with all that had happened in the past few days it completely slipped my mind.
“No, but I will tonight.” Aro’s expression became almost pained making me wonder. “Is it worse?”
“No, just more of the same, but make sure that Isabella is aware of what is happening before you bring her on Sunday.” I told him I would and we said our good-byes.
When I arrived at Bella’s she was leaning against the counter talking on the phone. Her pink paisley tote was on the table along with a half dozen shopping bags, she smiled at me in acknowledgement as I kissed her cheek, before she went back to her conversation. I knew it was rude to interrupt, but I hadn’t seen her all day.
“Are you sure? That seems like a lot of work. I don’t mind ordering…alright...,” Bella pulled out a jug of iced tea silently offering me some; I nodded as she went on explaining over the phone.
“Well, I can stay at Edwards…I’m a grown woman Sue…he’ll get happy again…No, Kim has room and you and Charlie can stay here with Rachel and Rebecca, the only problem would be Billy.” She handed me the glass, and I wrapped my arms around pulling her back against my chest while she finished her conversation.
“Ask Emily to call Kim, see how much room she has, then let me know…ok, I’ll talk to you Friday…yeah, love you too. Bye.” Bella sighed turning in my arms to place the phone on the counter. I ran my hand over her chin cupping her face before giving her a proper kiss hello.
“Trouble in Forks?”
She shook her head, “no, just planning Leah’s shower. I thought we would do it there, but Sue wants everyone to come here and surprise her.”
Truly, I was out of my depth when it came to planning a baby shower and it sounded like there were a lot of people that would need a place to stay. “You know, there is plenty of room at my house, your friends could stay a night or two.”
Bella stepped back eyeing me with total disbelief. “You would let people stay in your home that you don’t even know?”
I shrugged, “you know them, and you’ll be there.” She still looked staggered. “What are they going to do Bella, steal my soap?”
Finally she laughed, “no, they won’t steal anything.” Bella walked over to the table moving some of the bags out of the way pulling her tote towards her while I sat down. “I think the only problem will be Billy, Jake’s dad. He’s in a wheelchair, so he’s unable to do steps.” She was removing her workout clothes while she talked.
I thought about it before interjecting, “so Billy should stay here…” I was going to continue when something in her bag caught my eye. As I reached for it, Bella’s gaze followed the movement of my hand. The raisin toast that she made for herself this morning was completely untouched and still wrapped in the napkin I had placed it in. Bella’s eyes never left the offending piece of bread.
“I forgot about that.”
I remained quiet watching her, finally her eyes locked on my gaze. “I didn’t have time to eat it before class, and I didn’t want to just woof it down because I was afraid it wouldn’t sit right in my stomach.” She was trying to explain her logic, and I understood what she was saying, however the fact remains that she didn’t do what I said.
“I put it in my bag at the gym thinking I would eat it afterwards but I forgot about it.” Once she was done with her explanation I continued to observe her demeanor, and although Bella remained steadfast, her eyes dropped.
“Isabella.”
In an act of uneasiness she bit her lip, raising her eyes once again.
“Yes Sir?” There was apprehension in her voice, and that fact alone disturbed me.
“Why are you anxious?”
“I don’t want you to be angry with me.” I thought about her words, sighing as I placed my hand on her face to cup her jaw, my thumb lightly tracing her cheek bone.
“I’m not angry Isabella; it will take a whole lot more than this for you to make me angry. I am however disappointed; can I assume you at least had lunch?” Bella’s head move in my hand indicating she had.
“Your actions will have repercussions; you cannot simply disregard something I specifically told you to do…” My hand left Bella’s face while I once again listened to her try to justify her actions.
“I just thought… I didn’t want to feel yucky during yoga.” She was trying, I had to give her that, but she was falling short.
“Yucky? If you were afraid of felling ‘yucky’ then you should have voiced that concern.”
Bella interrupted again and she started to sound like a snappish child. “But I was already gone…”
I took a deep breath; ok enough excuses, time to put an end to this. “You have a phone Isabella, and if you didn’t want Leah to hear a conversation between us, then you should have texted me rather than disregard what amounted to a direct order.”
Bella was quiet taking my words in; I thought I would stress again one of my main concerns.
“This is our communication problem Isabella, and it may seem like a minor thing, however minor things have a way of growing. So they have to be stopped before becoming a habit. Do you understand what I am saying?”
Bella wasted no time in answering, “yes Sir, nip it in the bud.”
“Exactly,” glancing around the table and then at the clock I asked, “when are Jacob and Leah coming?”
“Six.”
I handed her the piece of bread, “throw this away and I will help you with dinner.”
Bella was making chicken enchiladas rather than fajitas; we sipped on a glass of wine while we worked. I chopped peppers and onions while Bella made some kind of pie. She called it Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake, saying the chill and subtle sweetness of the lemon went perfect with the spiciness of the meal. I had never heard of it, and when she let me taste a dollop off her finger I had to agree with her, because that shit was pretty damn good.
Jacob arrived alone a few minutes early, saying that Leah was running late from a photo shoot but she was on her way and would be here soon. He then went on say that Sue had called and made sure that the date for the shower would be alright with their schedule and to tell him to make plans for something to do with the men.
Jacob looked to me, “any ideas of what we can do Edward?”
“You’re inviting me?” I was taken aback. Jacob looked to Bella as he walked to the refrigerator and I noticed that they seemed to share a moment as she smiled at him.
“You’re one of the men with a woman at the shower; I think that means you are suppose to come along.” He said holding out a beer to see if I wanted one. I nodded, but before I could say anything Bella spoke up while she sat place mats and utensils on the small table.
“Just don’t do what you did at the Bridal Shower.”
Jacob rolled his eyes which made me wonder.
“What did you do?”
“We went fishing,” he answered quickly.
Bella stopped what she was doing. “UH! You all got drunk! And then I had to spend all night long convincing Leah that you were not an insensitive, immature ass.” She spit out the word.
Jacob laughed looking at me. “She was pretty mad,” he chuckled again before adding, “my girl is full blooded Quileute, when she gets a fire in her, holy shit, you better look out!”
Bella was smirking, “it’s not funny Jake, and she was going to call off the wedding.”
Jacob put his arm around her shoulder and somewhere in the pit of my stomach I got the strangest desire to rip his fucking arm off, I took a long drink to try and squash that feeling.
“Bells, she wasn’t going call off the wedding.” He looked to me again, removing his arm from Bella and probably the scowl from my face. “Women know a good catch when they got it, and I was the best thing that ever happened to her.”
Bella gasped, “oh my god, where are my boots because the shit is getting deep!”
Leah chose that moment to burst through the door announcing that she had to pee, NOW! The three of us watched as she practically ran through the house. Bella turned and spoke in a hushed voice, “see if there is a baseball game that day; that should be safe.”
Jacob nodded. Leah returned and Jacob wrapped her in a hug, “how was your day Nenemoo'sha?”
“Exhausting, and I had to pee so badly. For some reason your spawn seems to think my bladder is a punching bag.”
I caught Bella’s eye and noticed she had a strange look on her face. “That sounds pleasant.”
Leah turned to answer Bella’s comment, “it sucks. Is the food ready, because I’m starving?”
Bella pulled the food out of the oven where it was staying warm, and placed it on the counter next to the plates. Her kitchen table was small so we would be eating buffet style. Once everyone was at the table, Jacob once again said the blessing before we started to eat.
I took a bite of enchilada chewing while I watched Bella prepare the food on her plate. Basically, she had mixed the rice and refried beans together into one clump. Then when she had a piece of enchilada on her fork, she used the knife to scoop the mixture on top of it, before sticking the whole mess in her mouth. I grinned, shaking my head and wondering how the hell she could eat like that when Leah’s comment broke me from my train of thought.
“Bells, that idea you mentioned this morning--totally doable. There are only a few pictures I don’t have and I can get them when we go for graduation.”
“What’s your idea baby?”
Bella looked to me before explaining, “Charlie and Sue’s tenth anniversary is coming up, so I thought as a gift to make like a scrap book. There would be a picture of the person and a small writing of something memorable that they did together.”
“It sounds sentimental,” I admitted.
“It sounds cheap,” Jacob said flatly.
“I think they will like it.” Jacob shrugged at his wife’s retort.
“I think Sue will like it, Charlie would rather have a forty-two inch plasma.”
I laughed.
“Am I right Edward?”
Damn, why didn’t I keep quiet? Now I had two women looking at me expectantly.
“Well a plasma’s really nice.”
Jacob sat back nodding, “yeah, and now he got the room...Ow!” He bent down rubbing his leg as Leah glared at him.
“Bella doesn’t know, because she has to see it first.”
Jacob squinted his eyes at his wife while Bella asked, “does this have to do with what Charlie did to our room?”
They ignored her so she changed tactics. “I’m getting a tattoo.”
Leah dropped her fork and glared at Bella while Jacob laughed, “Charlie is going to freak!”
“I’ve wanted one for a long time, I’m getting it.” Bella said matter of factly.
Leah huffed then left for another trip to the bathroom. I then watched Bella’s whole character change: she leaned across the table looking up at Jacob from under her lashes, biting her bottom lip with her head slightly tilted.
“Jake…” Bella’s voice was quiet and Jake eyed her the same way I did-with suspicion.
“Jake, what did Charlie do to my bedroom?” I watched her as she tried to finagle information out of him.
“Stop that.”
Bella’s eyes dropped and her face followed into a deep pout.
“I have a right to know, come on Jake…” Her eyes got kind of misty as her voice grew pleading. “…my Kurt Russell Gladiator poster was still hanging on the wall. Did he rip it down?”
My god, my girl could work it when she wanted to. I watched the little show going on in front of me; the same way I watched her during our session last Friday. Looking for all the signs in her mannerisms that would alert me to what she was attempting to gain. That way, I would be aware of her intentions if, and when, she ever tries this shit on me.
“Bells, I promised my wife I wouldn’t tell.” I think Jacob was actually sweating and I figured it was time to stop her.
“Isabella.”
She huffed then sat up straight before giving me her attention.
“I don’t think it’s fair that you ask Jacob to break a promise he made.”
She didn’t get a chance to answer before Leah came back taking in the scene before her. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Bella answered while Jacob added, “she was trying to get me to talk Babe, but I didn’t cave!”
Bella grinned, “another minute and you would have.”
“It was close.” He said to his wife in all sincerity, while Bella chuckled standing up gathering plates and used utensils taking them to the counter and returning with the pie and dessert plates.
“I would have had him too if Edward hadn’t stepped in.” She grinned at her sister who became slightly irritated.
“Would you stop doing that to him?” Leah then turned her irritation to her husband, “and you’d better get tougher.”
“What did I do? I held my ground!”
Bella dissolved into a fit of giggles and Leah glared at her, “it’s not funny,” but then she grinned and started giggling too.
I was totally confused and at a loss for words, so as I did before I turned to Jacob who just shook his head at me.
Leah reached for the pie cutting herself and Jacob a piece and then asked Bella, “Were is the tattoo going?...” she looked up at Bella and continued asking, “do you have any chocolate syrup?”
“In the fridge.”
As Leah went to retrieve the syrup Bella answered, “it’s a tramp stamp.”
“It’s going to be a little bit bigger then a tramp stamp Bella,” I said as I watched Leah squeeze the chocolate sauce on her pie. I ignored the display in front of me and cut a piece for myself, then pushed the pie into the middle of the table, because I had no intention of giving any to Bella. Part of my reasoning was for her lack of obedience this morning and the other reason was her lack of attention to her nutrition in general.
Bella’s eyes met mine for a split second before falling to the table, she knew. Later, once we were alone, we would talk about it.
“Bella, we’re not going to stay tonight, is that alright? I’m exhausted; I just want to go home, take a shower, and collapse.”
“Sure, I’m tired too and I have a busy day tomorrow.”
An hour later the kitchen was clean, the talking was over, and the left over pie was wrapped and in Jacob’s hand as they walked out the door. Bella looked to me and smiled, I wrapped her in a hug, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
“Why did you send the pie home with them?” I figured I already knew the reason; I just wanted her to tell me for sure.
Bella shrugged, “I just thought that if you didn’t want me to have any tonight, then you probably wouldn’t want me to have any later either.”
Yeah, I was right. I pulled back cupping her chin in my hand while I gazed into her eyes.
“You know why I didn’t give you any, correct?”
“Because of the toast thing this morning?”
I nodded. I knew that her overall nutrition was lacking, but I would wait until tomorrow to bring that up. Right now I needed to tell her about the blog.
“Come, I want to show you something and then you, my dear, are going catch up on your sleeping.” I took her hand leading her into the spare room that housed her computer, motioning for her to sit, while I pulled over another chair to sit next to her.
“Log on and pull up the internet.”
She looked at me for a second, but then went about doing what I had asked. When she was done I began to explain what was going on.
“Jane started a blog for New Moon, it’s called Club Talk. She originally started it as a place for people to voice their comments on bands, activities, and upcoming events. It’s still used for that, however, occasionally it becomes a place for gossip and speculation. Unfortunately for us, our relationship seems to be at the center of that right now.” I took hold of her hand, silently pleading with her to understand what I was going to say next.
“Just as you told me last night that the only opinion that matters to you is mine, I want you to know that I feel the exact same way about you. Nobody else matters to me. I could give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks.” That was true. If they just thought it, without going around voicing their assumptions, I wouldn’t feel the need to even be having this conversation. But as it is, Aro is right, Bella needs to be informed of what is occurring around her, and why it is necessary to pay a visit to the club on a regular basis.
“Isabella, we will be going to the club on Sunday night, and we will be making an appearance at least once each weekend. We need to do that so that everyone else will see that the rumors are not true, and those that are spreading them are full of shit. Do you understand?” Bella nodded, I sighed and she answered while I used my password to pull up the blog.
“I don’t mind going to the club Edward; and what do I care what people say?”
I rubbed my hand through my hair cupping the back of my neck, while Bella started reading some of the posts. Her mouth dropped as her eyes grew larger in astonishment. Bella’s eyes met mine.
“Holy Hell Edward!”
I went to sleep with Bella in my arms, the back of her body pressed against me with our legs intertwined. The aroma of her hair and skin mixed with the musk that hung in the air from our lovemaking created an aura of serenity. I knew that’s what happened; it wasn’t just sex or a means to achieve release.
We made love.
I made love to Bella and it was incredible. There was no rushing, no ferocity, and no need to control; but the intensity was remarkable and unlike anything I have ever felt before. When it was over I didn’t want to leave her, I had an overwhelming need to remain close, to not lose the connection.
Now, in the darkness of the room I was alone in the bed that hung heavy with her essence. I waited a few minutes thinking that perhaps Bella had gone to the kitchen for a drink; when she didn’t return I pulled on my boxers glancing at the clock - 3:17- before stepping out into the hallway. There was a small light shining from the living room and as soon as I rounded the corner my eyes found her. Bella’s legs were tucked up under her bottom, her back leaning against the corner of the couch and she was intently writing in her journal. Her attention was so engrossed that she didn’t even notice I was there until I spoke.
“What are you doing baby?” Her eyes met mine with a startled gaze.
“I woke up to get a drink and I just had this nagging feeling like I needed to get this out of my head.” Bella’s eyes held a needless look of apprehension. I was glad she was using her journal as an outlet for her feelings. It will also stand as record of the progression she makes, as she gives more of herself over to her submissive nature. I nodded in understanding telling her not to be too long.
I was going to give her until four o’clock and then insist she come to bed. There was no need for my intervention since she joined me about twenty minutes later. Curving her body back against mine as my arms wrapped securely around her. There was a part of me that needed to know if her writing was therapeutic and if she felt more at ease; when she answered yes, I placed a kiss on the side of her head telling her to sleep before closing my own eyes.
When my eyes opened, I was fucking alone again. Damn, what time is it?
6:32.
Bella’s side of the bed was no longer warm, telling me she had been gone for a while. Making my way into the bathroom, I discovered where she went. The room was aglow with dim lighting, soft instrumental music played in the background, while Bella soaked with her eyes closed in the large white tub.
“Good morning.” At my words her eyes opened while a smile lit her face.
“Good morning.”
“I’m beginning to think you have an aversion to sleeping with me.”
“Why would you say that?’ Bella sounded almost hurt as she sat upright from the relaxed position she’d been in. I knelt down next to the tub, securing her hair behind her ear.
“Because this is the second time today I’ve woken up alone.” Relief flooded her face, I grinned at her smile.
“That is a big ass tub you got there.”
“Yes, it’s big enough for two.” Her voice sounded almost hopeful.
“Is that an invitation?” She nodded with a coy smile as her bottom lip went between her teeth, I fucking loved that innocent look and I wasted no time in joining her.
The bath was warm, with the jets stirring the water around our bodies. Bella’s head lay in the nook of my neck, her back against my chest while her fingers played with mine.
“Do you want more bubbles?” She asked me.
“Does it go higher?” With my question she took hold of a remote.
“This is the lowest setting, the jets aren’t even on.” She pressed a button, and the water bubbled behind my back and down at my feet, it felt amazing.
“That’s the jets. Then you can adjust the power.” After pressing another button, the water bubbled at full force like a hot tub.
“This is a really nice bathtub,” I knew I was stating the obvious, but I was rather impressed. “What kind is it?”
“This is a Jacuzzi Bellavista Salon Spa. Charlie had a fit when I upgraded, spending so much money on a bathtub. He just didn’t understand what was wrong with the one that was here.”
I thought about her dad and decided to ask a question that had been weighing on my mind. “Bella if your dad was the chief of police, why didn’t he do something to help you, why didn’t he arrest him or something?”
She sighed, remaining quiet running her fingers in a line up and down my arm, finally she spoke.
“Charlie couldn’t just go after James, he would have been charged with assault. Also, he couldn’t arrest him because I wouldn’t press charges.” Her words came out in a mater-of-fact tone that left me dumbfounded.
“What?” I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard, and I was more than a little irritated. I couldn’t wrap my head around the words she had just said. Even with all the activity of the water I could feel her stiffen against me and when she spoke her voice sounded small and distant.
“You don’t understand Edward. I was so young and I lived in a small town. It was embarrassing enough, people knowing what they knew or thought they knew. If I…”
Her voice broke and it killed me that I had caused her distress. My arms wrapped around her waist pulling her closer to me. Bella took a deep breath gathering her strength.
“…if I would have pressed charges I would have had to tell everything he did to me.”
She became really quiet and I thought she was done. I wanted to tell her I understood, I didn’t agree, but I understood--or at least I could try.
Then she started talking again, “the other night, when I told your grandmother that fear is the abusers number one weapon, it’s not…” Bella sat up turning to look at me, her legs laid on top of mine with her feet by my hips. When her eyes met mine there was fierceness in them.
“…it’s not just fear of the abuser. It’s fear of everyone else’s reaction. People are either going to pity you or they are going to blame you, neither of which I wanted. If I would have pressed charges, I would have had to tell my father and everyone else all the awful things that were done to me.” Tears began to well in her eyes.
“Charlie would have had to sit there and listen while I told how James would strip me and put me in the box for hours, sitting in my own urine. How he would tie me down to the table, pluck out my pubic hairs one at a time with tweezers. Or how he would take me anally then force me to lick him clean; it’s gross and disgusting and humiliating, no father wants to hear that!” The tears started to fall, but they weren’t tears of pain, they were tears of… anger?
“I didn’t tell, I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t put my father through that.”
Jesus Christ! She stayed in that hell in some warped attempt to protect her father? I wasn’t sure if that made me respect her, or want to punish her for being so damn stubborn. I was leaning towards the latter. I knew I couldn’t really punish her, but I’d be damn if I would ever let her put herself in danger again because of some twisted sense of loyalty.
I didn’t know what to say and I certainly didn’t want my own anger to be projected on to her. Bella had enough emotional ups and downs in the past two days; she needed some normalcy and relaxation. So I did the only thing I could think of, I kissed her tenderly. However, she had other ideas and as our kiss deepened her chest pressed against mine and my dick became wedged between our bodies.
Bella pulled back with that coy smile, “Little Eddie likes his bath.”
“Would you stop calling my dick Little Eddie?” I snarled as she placed her forehead on my shoulder and giggled.
The movement from her laughter caused her to rise up, making my dick slide through her folds and eliciting a moan. “Mmm…again…please,” she whispered the words against my neck and I was all too willing to comply. Her hips moved so her core slid along my length as my hands guided her motions.
Bella wrapped her arms around the back of my neck placing her forehead against mine and our gazes locked. She pressed her bottom tighter against my dick making me hiss at the sensation as her hips continued to slide her folds over me. The head of my dick making contact with her clit would extract the most amazing gasps of pleasure from her. My breathing picked up as the tightness in my balls began to grow. My hands moved her hips at a more frenzied pace and as she applied more pressure I watched in her eyes as the tension started growing and her breathing became irregular, coming out in pants. I was trying to hold on to my own control, but my irregular breathing pattern was matching hers.
The pace of her hips became frantic as her face contorted, her thighs shaking while she ground her sex against me. Bella’s eyes closed and her head dropped to my shoulder as she let out a shuddering moan gasping my name. The warmth in my own belly became too much; I pulled her hips tighter to my body, laid my head back against the tub and fucking came, and spilled my seed between our bodies.
“Jesus baby,” I said in panting breaths. Bella panted with her forehead pressed against my shoulder, my arms holding her tightly to my chest. “I haven’t fucking dry humped since I was in high school.”
She giggled in my neck. “Is it still dry humping if we are in the tub?”
I laughed turning my head to kiss her cheek, “I don’t know baby, but it fucking felt good.”
“Mmmm,” she breathed softly lifting her head to kiss me before whispering against my lips, “it sure did.”
The knock on the bathroom door sobered me up.
“Bells are you alone?”
Bella’s eyes locked on mine. “No Leah. I’ll be right out.”
“Umm…ok…I’m going to make some tea. Do you still have some of mom’s bread?”
“Yeah, I think it’s on the kitchen table.” Bella kissed me once more, before turning off all the jets and climbing out of the water. She wrapped herself in a towel handing one to me. In the bedroom she dressed for yoga class. Wearing a pair of deep purple pants with a gray waist band and a gray sports bra, she was just pulling a Nike t- shirt over her head, while I finished putting on my clothes from last night.
“You know, you could leave some clean clothes here. I could clear out a drawer for you.”
“My own toothbrush and a drawer.” I mused as we walked towards the kitchen.
Bella stopped short turning to me, “was that ok? I didn’t mean to overstep.”
I eyed her with speculation; did she think I was being sarcastic? I wasn’t sure. I figured I better make myself perfectly clear so I pulled her to me wrapping my arms around her back. “That would be great baby, I hate wearing dirty underwear.”
She cocked her head looking at me sideways. “You could always go commando you know. Let Little Eddie breathe.” I scowled swatting her bottom, which she wiggled against my hand, so I swatted harder, receiving a sigh and a kiss.
“I think your sister is waiting for us.”
“Sister, Shimister. She’s busy eating” Bella called out in a louder voice towards the kitchen.
“I heard that!” Leah’s voice rang through the room, making Bella smile.
Leah was just taking a piece of bread out of the toaster. “Good morning Edward”
“Hello Leah.”
She glared at Bella who walked over and kissed her on the cheek. “Good morning Leah.”
“Bitch! Telling people I eat all the time.” I listened to their exchange while I poured Bella and myself some coffee.
“I didn’t say you eat all the time, I said you were in here eating, and you are.” Bella was digging through a pink tote bag on the table pulling out some clothing as I handed her the coffee mug
“Thank you.”
When she turned to take the clothes to the laundry closet she informed me that there was a plate of muffins or she could toast some of the raisin bread that Leah was eating. I decided on the toast, while that was cooking Bella removed the bag from the table. When she did she seen that Seth’s collar was underneath.
“Hey, there’s his collar.” She picked it up to show me.
“Yeah, I put it there yesterday; I guess I forgot to tell you I found it.” She carried it over to the counter and called Seth.
“Where was it?”
“It was wedged between two rocks out front,” I said taking a drink of coffee. Bella turned to gape at me, while Leah narrowed her eyes.
“It couldn’t have been out front, he can’t go out front. Well he could, but he would get zapped. Unless the battery died, but even so he knows the boundaries and he never crosses them.”
“I don’t blame him, who the hell wants to get shocked?” While Leah was talking, Bella buttered our toast placing mine in front of me before calling Seth, then she took the collar and walked to the back door.
“Where are you going?” She had a determined look on her face and I wanted to know what she had in mind.
“I want to see something, come on Seth.”
Leah and I followed Bella outside standing on the back deck. We watched as she walked towards the front of the house with Seth following and when she had gone about eight feet Seth stopped and Bella yelled, “Ow Fuck!” shaking her hand.
Leah snickered. Bella then turned to Seth trying to coax him past the invisible line. That dog was not moving. “Leah, go get him a treat”
When she returned I took the treat down to Bella while Leah stayed on the porch out of the misty rain. Bella tried everything she could to get Seth to come to her. When the dog wouldn’t budge Leah came down with a rather large bone, trying to entice Seth. He sniffed the air and sat waiting for the treat, but he still didn’t move. Bella took the bone from her sister tossing it to the dog then turned to me.
“Where Edward, where did you find it?” She sounded stressed.
The three of us walked to the tree and I showed Bella how the collar was wedged between the rocks.
“Bells, maybe he got shocked and then pulled on the collar to get it off before going back so that he didn’t get shocked again?” Bella didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t have any other explanation, and standing out in the rain was not getting us closer to an answer.
“Ladies, let’s go back in the house where it’s warm and dry. We can talk about it in there.”
Back inside the kitchen Bella warmed up our coffee and toast and pulled over another bench seat to sit with us. I could see her thinking. “Well I guess it sounds plausible Leah, because it makes no sense for someone to take the collar, what would that do?”
“Is there any personal information on it? Is your phone number or anything on the tags?”
Bella shook her head at my question, but it was Leah who spoke, “both tags go to Jakes’s shop don’t they?”
“Yes, and if someone wanted to hurt Seth, they would have. Besides, why take the collar and then leave it there? What purpose would that serve?”
Neither of us had an answer for Bella’s question, and I noticed she hadn’t eaten. Leah finished her tea and announced that they had to leave or they would be late. I picked up Bella’s bag and placed it in the back seat of Leah’s car. After kissing her good-bye I handed her a napkin with her toast in it. “Eat,” she took it from my hand looking into my eyes. “I mean it Isabella; you need the carbs for energy.”
“I will.” I kissed her again before opening her door.
“See you tonight Leah.” She said good-bye and they drove away.
I had some time before the contractors came so I figured it was a good day for me to go for a run. It was misty but not a full rain and by the time I was half way through the run the cool mist felt good against my skin. I thought about Bella as I ran. It’s funny how that woman has all of a sudden taken up so much of my attention.
She worries me sometimes. She really does need to pay better attention to her nutrition and her sleeping habits. I’m going to have to get tough with her on that. I know that Sunday night she was emotionally drained and I have no idea what time she got up last night, or rather this morning, but I know she didn’t get her full eight hours, she didn’t even come close. I’m also pretty damn sure she is not getting her adequate calories. I knew what I was going to have to do about that and I know Bella is not going to like it, and personally, neither am I.
She amazes me. I watched her last night slip into a sub-mode right before my eyes; it was subtle and at first I thought perhaps she was being shrewd in an attempt to manipulate me into getting what she wanted. I kept waiting for her to show some sign of levity, watching her countenance change. Bella’s eyes had the most intent look, her chin and shoulders squared, back straight as a board with relaxed arms at her side. She talked with eloquence as she pleaded her case. It was the first time I had ever seen it happen and it was so fucking beautiful, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Bella agreed with my conditions. I had no choice but to do that; her communication with me has been hesitant. I believe that is because she is afraid of what my reaction will be. I can understand that to a degree, the experience she had with her husband was not conducive to frankness. I need her to tell me exactly what she is feeling and thinking, without hesitation or petulance. I figured that as she begins to become more unguarded in her writing and she sees that there is no adverse reaction on my part, then perhaps she will be forthcoming with me vocally. That is not to say that we won’t discuss what she writes, because we will. In fact I am very anxious to read what she wrote this morning.
The rain was beginning to pick up as I left the park, and I was soaking wet by the time I got home.
The contractor would be here in less than an hour so I decided to take a shower in the main bathroom. When I was done, I went downstairs got a drink and remembered to write a few things on Bella’s calendar.
The contractor took longer than I thought, and in order to put in the standing shower and the whirlpool tub, he was going to have to reconfigure part of the plumbing fixtures. That would also require a few extra days of work and no doubt a few extra thousand added to the bill, but it would be worth it to get what I wanted. He left with a promise of getting me a detailed estimate by the end of the week giving me only enough time to set up the playroom for tomorrow night.
The chair and side table needed to be moved, and then I placed the body mat on the floor with the black comforter over top for Bella’s comfort and warmth. I wiped off the toys I would be using to make sure they were clean, and got the media gear ready. The last thing I did was place a clean robe on the hook in her closet. The rest would have to be done right before she got here.
Before I realized it the morning was over and I needed to grab some lunch and head over to the club. Inventory needs to be done on a bi-weekly basis, and somehow it has become my job. Aro would very much like if I learned the day-to-day running of the club. I know that there are rumors going around about his retiring, but to be honest that’s not even in the cards for a least a few more years. Aro just always assumed that either Emmett or I would take over, and he’s been sort of grooming us in that direction for years. It is during these times when I miss Mason and I wonder had he lived would I be as close to my uncle as I am?
Aro hadn’t arrived yet, which is not that unusual. He hardly ever comes in on Monday and rarely arrives before two on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I had been doing this for over a year and so I just set about my work. I always begin on the top floor; each room needs to be stocked with paper products, disinfectant wipes, and various plastic bags. Each member who books the room is responsible for providing linens and then cleaning up the space when they are done. It’s a simple process that works very well.
Throughout the clubs existence Aro had told me that he could count on one hand the number of times that someone had to be reprimanded about not cleaning properly. His philosophy is that if it ain’t broke-don’t fix it.
Once everything was stocked, I checked the inventory noting what needed to be ordered and then moved down to the second floor. This is a simple area, I noted what was needed to stock the bar area, filled the shelves by each stage with disinfectant wipes and the plastic bags. The first floor was the easiest, strictly bar supplies. I stocked each area then went to check the main supply.
With all that done, I was sitting at Aro’s desk filling out the order forms. I hadn’t heard from Bella so I figured I would text her.
Hi Baby, just wondering how shopping is going. Did you find shoes? – E
Aro came in just as I hit send.
“Hello Edward,” he said sitting in the chair in front of his desk. He looked a little worn out, like he wasn’t feeling well or had not gotten enough rest.
“Good afternoon,” I didn’t want to add that he looked like hell. If he felt the need to share he would. I went back to the order forms, double checking my figures when Aro sighed.
“I spoke with Marcus last night about the situation that occurred yesterday.” My interest was piqued and I waited for him to continue.
“He is of the agreement that because they apologized that the issue should be dropped; however if another incident occurs then they would be censured and their membership revoked. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
My phone buzzed before I could answer him.
Yes, I found shoes. Not ones that met with your sister’s approval, so now she is torturing me by making me try on everything in the store…Please help me – your Bella
I chuckled, replying immediately:
Sorry my Bella, you are on your own. – E
When I looked up Aro was watching me with a knowing smile on his face. “Can I assume that is Ms. Swan?”
“Yes, the Cullen women are shopping,” I answered.
“Ah,” Aro nodded his head. “Isabella is now a Cullen woman?”
“She is in my book.” She would stay that way if I had anything to say about it, my phone buzzed again.
Thanks…what happened to protecting me? – B
I laughed as I wrote:
Sorry, I can protect you from everyone…except my sister – E
I looked to my uncle. “Sorry about that,” I said pointing to my phone, then added, “and as far as Caius and Irena goes, it’s a done deal. I really don’t want anything more to do with either of them.”
I went on to tell him about last night, “Bella brought up getting together with Jane.”
“Good, Jane is rather excited about it and I’m afraid she would have been very disappointed had it not occurred.”
That shocked me; Aro must have seen that because he went on, “Oh come now Edward, Jane has been speaking with Isabella on the phone for years. She had her little bout of jealousy…,” he said that with a grin and then went on, “…and became enraged upon learning of the attack that occurred in Isabella’s home.” He smiled shaking his head, “your aunt can become quite furious when it comes to defending someone she cares for.”
I had surmised that Bella was attacked in her home, but up until now I had no concrete evidence. Then something else he said occurred to me, “Jane was jealous?”
Aro shrugged, “not for long, but her attitude and demeanor changed and it took many discussions before she admitted her uncertainty of Isabella’s and my relationship. That was not hard to fathom; I was spending time with a woman half her age. Speaking one-on-one to her and Jane had no idea what was being said. I had never done that before, so once I realized Jane’s insecurity I changed my means of contact with Isabella so that she would have to speak directly with Jane. That changed the way Jane looked at the association I had with her, gifts and correspondence always came addressed to ‘Mr. and Mrs.’ and Jane began to look forward to speaking with Isabella. Now she feels a…,” he stopped for a second looking for the right word “…kinship, a bond.” Aro sighed, “When I told you that Isabella was special and that she would shine, I am not the only one who thinks so.”
At first I was astounded by what he said, but as I thought about it I suppose that if I was not immune to Bella’s charms, how could I expect anyone else to be?
Aro stood, “well, I will let you get back to work; Jane is planning on having Isabella to lunch on Thursday. One more thing, the two weeks after the anniversary party I will be on vacation. Will you and Emmett be able to be here to see to the operation of the club?”
“I will,” I assured him. “I’ll ask Emmett, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
I finished up the order forms handing them to Aro to authorize before placing them on Jane’s desk for her to call in. Then checked the demonstration schedule to see who had signed up for Sunday night. One caught my attention; we would have to be here earlier than I had planned, but that would work out.
I had some paperwork that I had put off that needed to be done when it dawned on me that Bella had not returned my last text message. I didn’t bother typing out a text, opting instead to just call. In all honesty I was expecting to get her voice mail, so I was surprised when she actually answered.
“Hi,” Bella responded with an animated voice.
“Hello, I’m surprised that you answered, I thought for sure you would be holed up in a dressing room knee deep in clothes.”
“That was earlier, they let me out on good behavior,” she giggled making me grin at the sound. “Actually, we are going home now. I know you said you would pick me up but Rose is just going to drop me off.” I looked at my watch – 2:25 – I told her I was just about done and that I would be at her house in less than an hour.
I needed to file the invoices that I had just gone over before leaving. Aro walked in as I was finishing up. “Edward, would you double check this figure? It seems unusually high.” Looking at what he was talking about I understood his concern and retrieved the file on the computer to show what the problem was.
New Moon runs on a no cash basis, the only exception would be open door night. Each member has an account and they use their membership card as a debit to their account. New members (or bronze) are required to keep a credit card on record that can be accessed immediately to pay their bill. Silver members are those who have been in good standing for more than five years and they can opt to receive a monthly bill.
“Stefan was billed last month but no payment was made, so that bill,” I said pointing to the invoice in Aro’s hand, “reflects two months worth of charges.”
Aro sighed; clearly not happy about the idea of one of the members not paying their bill. “Is it possible that the bill was paid and just did not get credited, or possibly was inadvertently passed towards another’s account?”
I nodded, “anything is possible. Jane reconciles the accounts; you should have her double check before you mail that to Stefan.”
“Yes, I would hate to debase him needlessly.” He placed the invoice on his desk and sat down jotting a small note before looking to me. “Have you spoken with Isabella about the rumors on Club Talk?”
Shit, with all that had happened in the past few days it completely slipped my mind.
“No, but I will tonight.” Aro’s expression became almost pained making me wonder. “Is it worse?”
“No, just more of the same, but make sure that Isabella is aware of what is happening before you bring her on Sunday.” I told him I would and we said our good-byes.
When I arrived at Bella’s she was leaning against the counter talking on the phone. Her pink paisley tote was on the table along with a half dozen shopping bags, she smiled at me in acknowledgement as I kissed her cheek, before she went back to her conversation. I knew it was rude to interrupt, but I hadn’t seen her all day.
“Are you sure? That seems like a lot of work. I don’t mind ordering…alright...,” Bella pulled out a jug of iced tea silently offering me some; I nodded as she went on explaining over the phone.
“Well, I can stay at Edwards…I’m a grown woman Sue…he’ll get happy again…No, Kim has room and you and Charlie can stay here with Rachel and Rebecca, the only problem would be Billy.” She handed me the glass, and I wrapped my arms around pulling her back against my chest while she finished her conversation.
“Ask Emily to call Kim, see how much room she has, then let me know…ok, I’ll talk to you Friday…yeah, love you too. Bye.” Bella sighed turning in my arms to place the phone on the counter. I ran my hand over her chin cupping her face before giving her a proper kiss hello.
“Trouble in Forks?”
She shook her head, “no, just planning Leah’s shower. I thought we would do it there, but Sue wants everyone to come here and surprise her.”
Truly, I was out of my depth when it came to planning a baby shower and it sounded like there were a lot of people that would need a place to stay. “You know, there is plenty of room at my house, your friends could stay a night or two.”
Bella stepped back eyeing me with total disbelief. “You would let people stay in your home that you don’t even know?”
I shrugged, “you know them, and you’ll be there.” She still looked staggered. “What are they going to do Bella, steal my soap?”
Finally she laughed, “no, they won’t steal anything.” Bella walked over to the table moving some of the bags out of the way pulling her tote towards her while I sat down. “I think the only problem will be Billy, Jake’s dad. He’s in a wheelchair, so he’s unable to do steps.” She was removing her workout clothes while she talked.
I thought about it before interjecting, “so Billy should stay here…” I was going to continue when something in her bag caught my eye. As I reached for it, Bella’s gaze followed the movement of my hand. The raisin toast that she made for herself this morning was completely untouched and still wrapped in the napkin I had placed it in. Bella’s eyes never left the offending piece of bread.
“I forgot about that.”
I remained quiet watching her, finally her eyes locked on my gaze. “I didn’t have time to eat it before class, and I didn’t want to just woof it down because I was afraid it wouldn’t sit right in my stomach.” She was trying to explain her logic, and I understood what she was saying, however the fact remains that she didn’t do what I said.
“I put it in my bag at the gym thinking I would eat it afterwards but I forgot about it.” Once she was done with her explanation I continued to observe her demeanor, and although Bella remained steadfast, her eyes dropped.
“Isabella.”
In an act of uneasiness she bit her lip, raising her eyes once again.
“Yes Sir?” There was apprehension in her voice, and that fact alone disturbed me.
“Why are you anxious?”
“I don’t want you to be angry with me.” I thought about her words, sighing as I placed my hand on her face to cup her jaw, my thumb lightly tracing her cheek bone.
“I’m not angry Isabella; it will take a whole lot more than this for you to make me angry. I am however disappointed; can I assume you at least had lunch?” Bella’s head move in my hand indicating she had.
“Your actions will have repercussions; you cannot simply disregard something I specifically told you to do…” My hand left Bella’s face while I once again listened to her try to justify her actions.
“I just thought… I didn’t want to feel yucky during yoga.” She was trying, I had to give her that, but she was falling short.
“Yucky? If you were afraid of felling ‘yucky’ then you should have voiced that concern.”
Bella interrupted again and she started to sound like a snappish child. “But I was already gone…”
I took a deep breath; ok enough excuses, time to put an end to this. “You have a phone Isabella, and if you didn’t want Leah to hear a conversation between us, then you should have texted me rather than disregard what amounted to a direct order.”
Bella was quiet taking my words in; I thought I would stress again one of my main concerns.
“This is our communication problem Isabella, and it may seem like a minor thing, however minor things have a way of growing. So they have to be stopped before becoming a habit. Do you understand what I am saying?”
Bella wasted no time in answering, “yes Sir, nip it in the bud.”
“Exactly,” glancing around the table and then at the clock I asked, “when are Jacob and Leah coming?”
“Six.”
I handed her the piece of bread, “throw this away and I will help you with dinner.”
Bella was making chicken enchiladas rather than fajitas; we sipped on a glass of wine while we worked. I chopped peppers and onions while Bella made some kind of pie. She called it Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake, saying the chill and subtle sweetness of the lemon went perfect with the spiciness of the meal. I had never heard of it, and when she let me taste a dollop off her finger I had to agree with her, because that shit was pretty damn good.
Jacob arrived alone a few minutes early, saying that Leah was running late from a photo shoot but she was on her way and would be here soon. He then went on say that Sue had called and made sure that the date for the shower would be alright with their schedule and to tell him to make plans for something to do with the men.
Jacob looked to me, “any ideas of what we can do Edward?”
“You’re inviting me?” I was taken aback. Jacob looked to Bella as he walked to the refrigerator and I noticed that they seemed to share a moment as she smiled at him.
“You’re one of the men with a woman at the shower; I think that means you are suppose to come along.” He said holding out a beer to see if I wanted one. I nodded, but before I could say anything Bella spoke up while she sat place mats and utensils on the small table.
“Just don’t do what you did at the Bridal Shower.”
Jacob rolled his eyes which made me wonder.
“What did you do?”
“We went fishing,” he answered quickly.
Bella stopped what she was doing. “UH! You all got drunk! And then I had to spend all night long convincing Leah that you were not an insensitive, immature ass.” She spit out the word.
Jacob laughed looking at me. “She was pretty mad,” he chuckled again before adding, “my girl is full blooded Quileute, when she gets a fire in her, holy shit, you better look out!”
Bella was smirking, “it’s not funny Jake, and she was going to call off the wedding.”
Jacob put his arm around her shoulder and somewhere in the pit of my stomach I got the strangest desire to rip his fucking arm off, I took a long drink to try and squash that feeling.
“Bells, she wasn’t going call off the wedding.” He looked to me again, removing his arm from Bella and probably the scowl from my face. “Women know a good catch when they got it, and I was the best thing that ever happened to her.”
Bella gasped, “oh my god, where are my boots because the shit is getting deep!”
Leah chose that moment to burst through the door announcing that she had to pee, NOW! The three of us watched as she practically ran through the house. Bella turned and spoke in a hushed voice, “see if there is a baseball game that day; that should be safe.”
Jacob nodded. Leah returned and Jacob wrapped her in a hug, “how was your day Nenemoo'sha?”
“Exhausting, and I had to pee so badly. For some reason your spawn seems to think my bladder is a punching bag.”
I caught Bella’s eye and noticed she had a strange look on her face. “That sounds pleasant.”
Leah turned to answer Bella’s comment, “it sucks. Is the food ready, because I’m starving?”
Bella pulled the food out of the oven where it was staying warm, and placed it on the counter next to the plates. Her kitchen table was small so we would be eating buffet style. Once everyone was at the table, Jacob once again said the blessing before we started to eat.
I took a bite of enchilada chewing while I watched Bella prepare the food on her plate. Basically, she had mixed the rice and refried beans together into one clump. Then when she had a piece of enchilada on her fork, she used the knife to scoop the mixture on top of it, before sticking the whole mess in her mouth. I grinned, shaking my head and wondering how the hell she could eat like that when Leah’s comment broke me from my train of thought.
“Bells, that idea you mentioned this morning--totally doable. There are only a few pictures I don’t have and I can get them when we go for graduation.”
“What’s your idea baby?”
Bella looked to me before explaining, “Charlie and Sue’s tenth anniversary is coming up, so I thought as a gift to make like a scrap book. There would be a picture of the person and a small writing of something memorable that they did together.”
“It sounds sentimental,” I admitted.
“It sounds cheap,” Jacob said flatly.
“I think they will like it.” Jacob shrugged at his wife’s retort.
“I think Sue will like it, Charlie would rather have a forty-two inch plasma.”
I laughed.
“Am I right Edward?”
Damn, why didn’t I keep quiet? Now I had two women looking at me expectantly.
“Well a plasma’s really nice.”
Jacob sat back nodding, “yeah, and now he got the room...Ow!” He bent down rubbing his leg as Leah glared at him.
“Bella doesn’t know, because she has to see it first.”
Jacob squinted his eyes at his wife while Bella asked, “does this have to do with what Charlie did to our room?”
They ignored her so she changed tactics. “I’m getting a tattoo.”
Leah dropped her fork and glared at Bella while Jacob laughed, “Charlie is going to freak!”
“I’ve wanted one for a long time, I’m getting it.” Bella said matter of factly.
Leah huffed then left for another trip to the bathroom. I then watched Bella’s whole character change: she leaned across the table looking up at Jacob from under her lashes, biting her bottom lip with her head slightly tilted.
“Jake…” Bella’s voice was quiet and Jake eyed her the same way I did-with suspicion.
“Jake, what did Charlie do to my bedroom?” I watched her as she tried to finagle information out of him.
“Stop that.”
Bella’s eyes dropped and her face followed into a deep pout.
“I have a right to know, come on Jake…” Her eyes got kind of misty as her voice grew pleading. “…my Kurt Russell Gladiator poster was still hanging on the wall. Did he rip it down?”
My god, my girl could work it when she wanted to. I watched the little show going on in front of me; the same way I watched her during our session last Friday. Looking for all the signs in her mannerisms that would alert me to what she was attempting to gain. That way, I would be aware of her intentions if, and when, she ever tries this shit on me.
“Bells, I promised my wife I wouldn’t tell.” I think Jacob was actually sweating and I figured it was time to stop her.
“Isabella.”
She huffed then sat up straight before giving me her attention.
“I don’t think it’s fair that you ask Jacob to break a promise he made.”
She didn’t get a chance to answer before Leah came back taking in the scene before her. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Bella answered while Jacob added, “she was trying to get me to talk Babe, but I didn’t cave!”
Bella grinned, “another minute and you would have.”
“It was close.” He said to his wife in all sincerity, while Bella chuckled standing up gathering plates and used utensils taking them to the counter and returning with the pie and dessert plates.
“I would have had him too if Edward hadn’t stepped in.” She grinned at her sister who became slightly irritated.
“Would you stop doing that to him?” Leah then turned her irritation to her husband, “and you’d better get tougher.”
“What did I do? I held my ground!”
Bella dissolved into a fit of giggles and Leah glared at her, “it’s not funny,” but then she grinned and started giggling too.
I was totally confused and at a loss for words, so as I did before I turned to Jacob who just shook his head at me.
Leah reached for the pie cutting herself and Jacob a piece and then asked Bella, “Were is the tattoo going?...” she looked up at Bella and continued asking, “do you have any chocolate syrup?”
“In the fridge.”
As Leah went to retrieve the syrup Bella answered, “it’s a tramp stamp.”
“It’s going to be a little bit bigger then a tramp stamp Bella,” I said as I watched Leah squeeze the chocolate sauce on her pie. I ignored the display in front of me and cut a piece for myself, then pushed the pie into the middle of the table, because I had no intention of giving any to Bella. Part of my reasoning was for her lack of obedience this morning and the other reason was her lack of attention to her nutrition in general.
Bella’s eyes met mine for a split second before falling to the table, she knew. Later, once we were alone, we would talk about it.
“Bella, we’re not going to stay tonight, is that alright? I’m exhausted; I just want to go home, take a shower, and collapse.”
“Sure, I’m tired too and I have a busy day tomorrow.”
An hour later the kitchen was clean, the talking was over, and the left over pie was wrapped and in Jacob’s hand as they walked out the door. Bella looked to me and smiled, I wrapped her in a hug, placing a kiss on the top of her head.
“Why did you send the pie home with them?” I figured I already knew the reason; I just wanted her to tell me for sure.
Bella shrugged, “I just thought that if you didn’t want me to have any tonight, then you probably wouldn’t want me to have any later either.”
Yeah, I was right. I pulled back cupping her chin in my hand while I gazed into her eyes.
“You know why I didn’t give you any, correct?”
“Because of the toast thing this morning?”
I nodded. I knew that her overall nutrition was lacking, but I would wait until tomorrow to bring that up. Right now I needed to tell her about the blog.
“Come, I want to show you something and then you, my dear, are going catch up on your sleeping.” I took her hand leading her into the spare room that housed her computer, motioning for her to sit, while I pulled over another chair to sit next to her.
“Log on and pull up the internet.”
She looked at me for a second, but then went about doing what I had asked. When she was done I began to explain what was going on.
“Jane started a blog for New Moon, it’s called Club Talk. She originally started it as a place for people to voice their comments on bands, activities, and upcoming events. It’s still used for that, however, occasionally it becomes a place for gossip and speculation. Unfortunately for us, our relationship seems to be at the center of that right now.” I took hold of her hand, silently pleading with her to understand what I was going to say next.
“Just as you told me last night that the only opinion that matters to you is mine, I want you to know that I feel the exact same way about you. Nobody else matters to me. I could give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks.” That was true. If they just thought it, without going around voicing their assumptions, I wouldn’t feel the need to even be having this conversation. But as it is, Aro is right, Bella needs to be informed of what is occurring around her, and why it is necessary to pay a visit to the club on a regular basis.
“Isabella, we will be going to the club on Sunday night, and we will be making an appearance at least once each weekend. We need to do that so that everyone else will see that the rumors are not true, and those that are spreading them are full of shit. Do you understand?” Bella nodded, I sighed and she answered while I used my password to pull up the blog.
“I don’t mind going to the club Edward; and what do I care what people say?”
I rubbed my hand through my hair cupping the back of my neck, while Bella started reading some of the posts. Her mouth dropped as her eyes grew larger in astonishment. Bella’s eyes met mine.
“Holy Hell Edward!”
Chapter 20
BPOV
The class was billed as a beginner but my muscles felt like I had been through advanced expert.
I was really out of shape. I had started kick boxing after the last episode with James two years ago; I figured it was a good way to not only provide the physical therapy my body needed, but it also gave me a sense of self protection. I came here religiously four days a week building my endurance and self-esteem. It’s been a year since I came at all; and so when Edward’s rules insisted on three days of cardio, I thought this would be a good choice. Damn, those thirty-five minutes were brutal though.
Of course it didn’t help that I had not slept last night, or the emotional exhaustion I’d dealt with all day. All I had wanted to do this morning was drop by Edward’s to say thank-you for the roses he had sent me. His words on the card had been so true. They did brighten my day, he said I brightened his life; but to me he is like the bright morning sun - warm, comforting, and full of possibilities.
I didn’t realize he had guests, although I was so ecstatic I don’t think it would have stopped me from wanting to see him. Then the whole fiasco occurred, I couldn’t believe what they were saying. I did everything Edward showed me to do, looking to him before I spoke to any of them, and yet the pompous ass and the snotty bitch found nothing but fault. I didn’t want to break down in front of them; I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing that.
Once I shut the door to my room, I felt it was like my own sanctuary, like a safe haven-and all of my emotions and feelings of inadequacy came out. I was only there for a few minutes when there was a quiet knock on the door. I was surprised to see Jane standing there.
“Master sent his slave to see if she could assist you.” Stepping aside, Jane entered looking around the room. “Edward has painted this, it looks more… homey.”
I smiled wiping my nose, “Yes, he did it for me as a surprise for my first weekend here.”
She eyed Seth’s dog bed on the floor, “Edward has a dog?”
I sat on the bed and grinned, “On the weekends he does.”
Jane looked at me, understanding dawning in her eyes. “Oh, he must really want you here, if he allows you to bring your dog.” She sat on the bed next to me. “May master’s slave speak freely Isabella?”
“Yes, but please call me Bella.”
She smiled, “Bella.” Jane turned on the bed drawing her knees up into an Indian style; I had to hike my pencil skirt up to match her position. “This girl...”
I stopped her before she could finish her sentence. “Jane, this is my room; this is a no sub-mode zone. You can speak any way you want.”
She smiled, “When we first started out, Master gave me a room also where I could go and scream at my husband without any reprocussions.”
“Do you still have a room?”
“No Bella, I do not, but that is my choice. I will speak to you about that at another time, right now I would like to talk about what happened down stairs.”
I sighed, “I messed up and I must have done something wrong.”
Jane shook her head, “That’s not true, I don’t know why those two attacked you, but I saw you do nothing wrong.” Jane took my hands, “I saw Edward’s eyes light up when you jumped in his arms. I saw the smile of contentment on my nephew’s face, which I have not seen in a long time. I believe that the others saw that too and that was the reason behind their attack.”
I was shocked, “Why would they do that? Wouldn’t they be happy that their friend is happy? I don’t know Jane, I still think I did something wrong.” I sighed, “maybe it would be better…I don’t know…I keep messing up. I had three writing assignments on the first weekend we were together. Maybe I’m just kidding myself, maybe I’ll never get it right, or maybe this is just not the life for me.” I could feel the tears forming in my eyes.
Jane squeezed my hands in a show of comfort, “That is nonsense. I’m assuming your writing assignments were a form of correction from Edward?” I nodded, and then she went on,
“The first three month’s Master and I began, I thought my hand would fall off, and I couldn’t sit down without wincing for another three months. But Master was patient and he was just learning also, it was very hard on him to deal with my stubborn ways.”
Jane got a sad look on her face, “That also is a story for another time; the thing I want you to understand is that we had two choices. We could go on living the life we found fulfilling, the life we believed we were born to live. Or we could stop and go back to mediocre. I believe we made the right choice. It wasn’t an easy choice and there were many people on the outside who didn’t understand, but it was Master’s and my life to live, not theirs. Bella you also have a choice. You can take what others say or do, and let them influence your life to the point where you are afraid to go after what you want. Or you can say what we said, ‘“fuck you” this is my life, I will live it any way I have to in order to feel complete!’”
Jane was quiet for a few seconds before continuing, “Listen to me Bella. Your only duty is to follow the rules and procedure that your Master has set for you. All others can shove it.” Jane got a wicked grin on her face, and then became very serious before continuing with a warning.
“Don’t ever say that to their face, I’m sure that would earn you a harsh punishment, but since our Master’s are not mind readers… we cannot be punished from simply thinking it.” I smiled at her grin.
“Edward is a good man who has been trained by the best, he can be a stickler on his rules and he expects total obedience. But all real Dominants do. You don’t want someone who is just role playing, if you yourself are truly serious.” I thought about that for a minute and then asked Jane.
“What if I keep messing up? Edward’s going to end up hating me.” I knew I sounded like a whiney teenager, but for some reason I felt a companionship with Jane.
“That man will never hate you.” She had a shrewd smile on her face, “besides you have a few things going for you. One, like I said, Edward is a trained dominant. Two, you come from a background that will make you more determined to achieve your goals. And three, you have me.”
I was shocked, “I don’t understand what you mean by that last part?”
She smiled, “Master has given me permission to assist you as a mentor if you would like.”
“Jane you don’t have to do that, Aro shouldn’t force me on you along with all your other duties.”
She looked hurt, “Bella, when Master told me that Edward had accepted your submission, I begged him to allow me to help you. I have so many years of experience, some of it filled with joy and some sorrow. I have learned the hard way that it helps to have someone to talk to; I would like to offer you that.”
“What exactly does that entail?” I had no clue what she was talking about.
“I’ll tell you what, maybe towards the end of the week we could do lunch and talk more about the possibility.”
“Thursday’s a good day, I have an appointment at ten but that’s all.”
Jane smiled. “Thursday it is. I’ll call you in the morning around nine?”
I nodded in agreement as Jane warned, “Make sure it is alright with your Master first; I would hate for you to have to write some more.”
We giggled. “Oh, my poor hand.”
That was when Edward knocked on the door, he had such a worried look on his face when he told me to come to him, I practically flew to his arms, and I felt like I was home. Jane was right I had two choices, and I chose Edward.
That’s why I was walking out of the fitness center, carrying my pink paisley gym bag and feeling like I had just went fifteen rounds with Laila Ali.
I only had fifteen minutes before Edward was to arrive. Dropping my bag on the kitchen table, I wanted to get it prepared for tomorrow morning, since Leah and I would be going to the early class. Taking a fresh bottle of water out of the refrigerator I took a long drink before feeding Seth. I was taking my t-shit off as I moved towards my bedroom and jumped slightly as I heard the back door open. The feeling of contentment washed over me once Edward’s voice reached my ears.
“Hey boy, look what I have for you.”
I smiled to myself while making my way back to the kitchen to see Edward pull a fresh pig ear out of a small brown paper bag.
“You know he loves those things. He’s going to think you have them all the time.” Edward’s eyes met mine.
“Well hello my Bella, you look … sweaty…” His eyes appraised me as he moved closer.
God, he looked good in his jeans and gray t-shirt with an open white button down shirt over top.
“Is this what you wear to the gym?” His one hand wrapped around my bare lower back the other cupping my chin.
His words brought me out of my ogling. “Yes, this is what I wear.”
“Hhmmm...” That was all he got out before his lips met mine.
I didn’t want to get too close to him. I felt gross from my workout and wanted a shower, but his lips on mine broke all my resolve. I couldn’t help myself as my body folded into his.
When Edward pulled back he sighed, “Perhaps if you are going to be looking like this in the gym, I should go along with you and protect what belongs to me.”
I giggled, “Don’t you worry Sir, your property is safe. Right now she needs a shower though.”
“Then get moving my pet.” He swatted me on my bottom to sending me on my way.
The quick shower I took felt amazing, and if I had time I would have stayed in there longer and let the water wash away all the stress from the day along with the grunge. Edward was sitting on the bed when I came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
“Where are we going?” I wanted to know what to wear. I was hoping for casual, I just didn’t feel like dressing up.
“No where fancy, just a quick bite to eat and then we have somewhere else I want to stop at.”
I pulled my bra and panties out of the drawer along with a pair of dark blue skinny jeans. When I came out of the closet holding a red fitted t-shirt Edward had my hair brush in his hand.
“Come here,” he motioned to the bed, I got a tight feeling in my stomach and my girly parts practically begged me to hurry to him. He sat back spreading his legs pulling me onto the bed so I sat between his thighs. Edward unraveled the towel on my head and began running the brush through my hair.
Ok, it was not what I thought he was going to do, but I sighed in contentment just the same. It had been so long since anyone brushed my hair. Edward paused, swishing part of my hair over so he could place a kiss on my bare shoulder. I closed my eyes and hummed in appreciation, as he continued with my grooming.
“The last person to brush my hair was Sue, the night before my wedding.” Edward stopped for a second, but then continued. “I forgot how relaxing it was.”
“Did he never show you any kindness Bella?” His soft voice was by my ear.
I thought about his question as he began to work on another section. “Sometimes he did.”
“When? Give me a happy memory.” Edward was just beginning to work on the last section of wet hair.
“It was our first Christmas, after the bathtub fight. Classes were over for the semester, so I was home making cookies and decorating. James came home early from work and he said, ‘come on Bella let’s go do this right.’ We drove out to the tree farm and walked around the mountain until our toes were numb, finding the perfect tree. When we got it home, we stumbled and laughed until it was finally up. And it was huge and crooked, and we turned on Christmas music staying up until after midnight stringing popcorn and decorating the tree. It was a good night.”
I didn’t want to tell him the next day James grabbed my arm and threw me into the tree, yelling because he spent money on a fucking tree that was just going to be thrown out. Or that every day he would check the floor for needles, locking me in the closet ten minutes for every one he found. I blinked the tears away not wanting Edward to see them.
He had finished my hair, placing the brush on the bed beside him, “I’m glad you have some happy memories.”
His arms wrapped around my bare shoulders drawing my body to him. I nodded snuggling my head in the nook of his neck. I guess I couldn’t hide my tears from him, because his fingers came up to wipe them away before he kissed the top of my head. I closed my eyes placing a kiss under his chin drawing in the scent of his skin.
“Why don’t you get ready?” I nodded in agreement, regretfully leaving the security of his embrace.
Fifteen minutes later I came out of the bathroom with dry hair and some make-up on to an empty room. I quickly made the bed, only now feeling embarrassed that it wasn’t done before. I also took the two towels from this morning’s bath off the chair, throwing them in the laundry and got dressed before joining Edward in the living room.
“Ready?”
I smiled at his enthusiasm, “Yes.”
“Take a jacket Bella; it’s going to be chilly.”
I still wasn’t used to someone watching out for me, but it was getting easier. Edward helped me with my leather jacket and I grabbed my purse.
We walked past the kitchen table and I noticed my forgotten gym bag; but decided I would get it ready later.
Edward drove us downtown to TGIFriday’s, surprisingly it wasn’t crowded and we were able to be seated right away. The waitress came over announcing that her name was Amber. She had short blond hair and boobs that looked like they were going to pop out of her tight black shirt if she so much as hiccuped. Of course she proceeded to stick said boobs in Edward’s face every chance she got.
After Amber took our drink orders I picked up the menu, not really having to look at it because in all honesty it never changes, but I wanted to give my mind something else to think about. When Amber returned with our beers, Edward backed away from her, ordering a spinach dip for us to share before looking to me.
“Bella, do you know what you want?” I couldn’t help myself; I had to say something to let Amber know to back the fuck off.
“I already have what I want.” I said looking deep in his eyes.
He smirked, “As do I baby, however we need food to keep up our energy.”
Amber must not have liked that comment because she seemed to become impatient, telling us she would return in a few minutes for the rest of our order.
“Does her trying to breast feed you bother you?”
Edward smirked, “Yes it does, now what would you like to eat?”
I told him, and before the lactation consultant could return I had moved to the spot next to Edward inside the booth.
As before, Edward ordered for both of us, stressing the fact that my burger was to be well done. He put his arm along the back of booth, allowing me to feel the warmth of his body against mine. As I picked up my glass to take a drink Edward asked, “Do we need to talk more about this morning, or is it a closed subject?”
I thought about it while I took a drink, “I think it’s closed, you don’t want me to talk to them, and I have no desire to do so.”
He nodded taking a drink himself.
The spinach dip arrived, it was warm and yummy. We talked about the rest of our day, and our schedules for tomorrow. Edward was going to interview some contractors for the bathroom remodel he wanted done and then he was going to the club in the afternoon to help with some paperwork.
The spinach dip was almost gone when Amber brought our burgers and fries.
Edward put a circle of ketchup on his plate, while I prepared my burger. Placing the tomato slice on the bottom, peeling the onion apart so there were only a few circles on top of the cheese, then a circle of ketchup with a dap of mustard in the middle, the lettuce goes on top of that, lastly spooning the little cup of cole slaw over the lettuce before replacing the top bun. As I picked up my knife to cut it in half, I realized Edward was watching me.
“What?”
He smirked shaking his head, “Nothing, continue.”
I squished it all down before taking a bite and moaning, “Mmm...” I chewed and swallowed then taking a drink I asked, “Burgers are the best, aren’t they?”
“They are. I don’t know how the hell you can taste the burger through all that mess, but whatever.” Edward laughed before taking a drink.
I wiped my mouth, “I like my stuff all mixed together, so you get all the flavors and textures at one time.”
He wiped his mouth, and then wiped mine telling me, “You missed a spot.”
I smiled at his smirk and he placed a kiss on my lips.
I picked up the ketchup placing a line down the middle of a fry before popping it in my mouth. Edward shook his head but didn’t comment. Half way through our meal I thought of what Jane said this morning, I figured it was a good time to bring it up.
“Edward, I wanted to ask you something.”
He looked at me expectantly.
“Jane said she could be like my mentor. Did she say anything to you about it?”
His face showed no expression when he talked, “She mentioned it.”
I ketchuped another fry thinking he would say something, but he didn’t, so after taking a drink I pressed on. “Would you mind?”
Edward swallowed, “First tell me why you are asking.”
I took another drink gathering my thoughts, while pressing my burger together. I didn’t want to look at him; it was like I was a kid asking my daddy for permission to drive the car. It was a strange feeling, but I didn’t resent it. I suppose I should have because it was demeaning and yet I found I revelled in the feeling. It gave me reassurance. Well that was something I would have to think about later.
Edward didn’t pressure me; I assumed he could see me trying to get my thoughts together.
“Well, sir,” I called him sir? It just came out of my mouth without me thinking about it. I chanced a glance at Edward through my lashes, he was patiently waiting, and I sighed.
“Jane has...” I began to explain but Edward interrupted.
“Look at me Isabella.”
My lip came between my teeth as my eyes met his.
Edward held my gaze, “Now finish your thought.”
I released the tension on my lower lip took a deep breath cleared my throat and started again.
“Jane has a lot of experience; she knows what it’s like. I think she would be the best person to help me work through all the emotions that I’m dealing with.”
Edward raised his eyebrows.
“Not that you can’t, but as a woman…as a submissive woman she would really understand a lot better, don’t you think?” He just nodded.
Amber chose that moment to see if we needed anything else. Edward told her just the bill and two glasses of water. I started wracking my brain to come up with other reasons. Starting to talk as soon as Amber walked away and Edward gave me back his attention.
“I know Jane, I’m comfortable with her, and she with me. I know she won’t tell me anything that is not true or do anything that would cause you any disgrace.” His head tilted to the side and his eyes bore into mine.
“Jane was really kind to your girl this morning; she helped her to see that others have no place in the relationship between Master and his girl, and that the only person who should have any power over this girl is her Master.” I really wished he would say something and I thought he was going to, but Amber was back with the check and our water, which I picked up taking a large drink.
Edward’s hand was back on my chin compelling me to look at him once again. His face held no expression and I was starting to think he was going to say no, so I kept imploring him.
“Master, Jane also made this girl realize that the only opinion of her behavior that has any bearing on her happiness is yours and only yours.” That was it, I was out of ammunition. Edward continued to hold my gaze until I was fidgeting.
“Sit still Isabella. If I allow this there are conditions that you will have to abide by, will that be acceptable to you?”
“What kind of conditions Sir?”
“Does it matter?”
I thought about it. I knew that whatever he would ask of me would be reasonable and he must have his motives.
“No Sir, it doesn’t matter.”
Edward looked at his watch and as Amber walked by he handed her the black billfold with cash in it telling her to keep the change before returning his attention to me.
“I believe that you having Jane to talk to would be good for you.”
I smiled widely at him.
Edward showed no response at all as he continued, “On the following conditions, first I will transport you to and from your meeting place. That means that it will have to be scheduled in advance and marked on your calendar so I will know when to make time for that.”
Ok, that’s not so bad; he was waiting for my reply.
“Yes, Sir.”
Edward let out a sigh before taking a drink from his water.
“I’m going to tell you the truth Isabella; I have a concern that your communication with me is not ready for such an intimate relationship with another.” I heard what he said; I just didn’t understand what he was talking about. I didn’t want to get intimate with Jane; I just wanted someone to talk to. Edward must have seen my confusion because he clarified.
“If I allow this there cannot be any private matters between you and Jane. The only privacy that you can totally count on is between us, and our relationship. Do you understand?”
“I think I do.”
“Think is not an appropriate answer. So let me make myself perfectly clear. All the communications that exists between Jane and yourself needs to be disclosed.” While Edward was quiet, I thought about what he was saying. He wants to know what we talk about. How did I feel about that? I wasn’t sure at the moment and I couldn’t think about it anymore because Edward went on to explain.
“So in order for that to happen you are to catalog in your journal the…talks with Jane. What you discussed, her suggestions or comments, and how you feel about it. I want it to be as detailed as possible, and I want it done by the time you go to sleep that day.”
“And you are going to read it?”
Edward nodded once.
“And no matter what I write I won’t be punished?” I just wanted to clarify that point.
“No, never.” He was scrutinizing me as I thought about his condition. I could feel my teeth biting into my lip and my eyes were looking at the rise and fall of Edward’s chest so the quiet sound of his voice startled me.
“Isabella?” My eyes once again found his. “Do you want to hear the last condition?”
Geez, there’s more? All I wanted was someone to talk to.
“Yes Sir.”
“If it becomes obvious that you are not complying, or if you fail to get your writing done as you are instructed to do, the relationship will stop immediately. Is that something you are willing to agree to?” Edward watched me with intensity as I thought about it. He wasn’t requesting anything too outlandish, expect for the whole full disclosure thing, but I could live with that.
So I said the only answer I could give, “Yes Sir.”
Edward smiled at me then kissed my forehead before checking his watch again.
“Come Isabella, we need to go.” He stood, taking my hand and helping with my jacket.
I caught the eye of the man who was sitting in the booth directly behind us. He was in his fifties with a very round face and receding hair line. He sneered at me, making me feel dirty and cheap, he then winked. I glared at the rudeness and then suddenly realized he must have overheard our conversation.
Edward noticed how tense I had become, his attention going to the man. “Can I help you?” The man quickly turned his head, and Edward placed his hand on the small of my back leading me outside.
Holding the car door open for me he seemed upset.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized, “I should have kept my voice down.”
He sighed cupping my face, “Bella, stop apologizing for other people’s bad behavior.” He leaned down placing a chaste kiss on my lips, the sweetness of the kiss told me he wasn’t mad at me.
As we drove north through the city Edward was really quiet, it was beginning to make me anxious, so I jumped when he finally spoke, “Bella, I’m sorry that man disrespected you like that. It was rude and degrading and why men think they can behave like that is beyond me.”
I took a hold of his hand giving it a small squeeze, “His momma just didn’t raise him right.”
I could see the grin form on his face, “Yeah, I guess you are right.”
Edward parked the car, opening my door to help me out. As I looked around I noticed the street was lined with businesses and quaint shops with brightly painted doors and large store front windows.
My curiosity was getting the better of me as we walked up the street and I asked, “Where are we going?”
He stopped in front of a large red door with a sign hanging over the top that read Slave to the Needle. My mouth dropped open, and I couldn’t tell if the feeling in the pit of my stomach was from excitement or nervousness.
The door opened and two college aged girls came out. As Edward held the door for them, the tall blonde looked at him and smiled, he paid her no attention.
“I know you,” the blonde said.
“Excuse me?” Edward seemed confused.
“You’re from that club. You wouldn’t let us in that night. You know you could have had all three of us. All you had to do was let us in.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you.” Edward said and then motioned for me to go inside “Come Isabella” As I walked by she wrapped her hand around his forearm in an intimate manner stepping closer to him.
“That’s the point; I would have given you something to remember.”
Oh, this day just gets better and better. I placed my hand on top of hers effectively removing it. “He said he doesn’t remember you, so stop embarrassing yourself.”
“Who the fuck are you?” She huffed.
“Obviously someone he remembers.” I just smiled at the snotty bitch - the second one I had to deal with today.
Edward chuckled moving me inside, away from the string of profanities. Once inside Edward was still amused at my show. “You’re kind of cute when you get all domineering.” I tried to ignore him but he was having none of that. He pulled me in for a kiss, and maybe I was feeling a little forceful because I pulled his bottom lip between my teeth making him growl.
“You’re going to get in trouble doing that.”
“I’ve been in trouble before, nothing I can’t handle.” My eyes met his.
“Is that a challenge?”
I shook my head, “Just a simple statement of fact.”
Edward chuckled again and with an evil expression promised, “Ok, have it your way.”
His smirk made me swallow hard, and he laughed out-right. I needed to place my attention somewhere other than Edward’s intense stare so I looked around the room.
The walls were painted a dark red color, small black leather chairs sat in two groups of four. To the left was a glass counter that held various types of studs and gages for body piercings. Black stencils lined the whole right wall; they seemed to be categorized by type. The back wall housed individual photos of actual tattoos, those are what caught and held my interest.
Written on the bottom of each photo was a name and a date. I studied the works of art as if they were precious masterpieces. Most of the pictures had the name Alex under them. Some were small and intricate, like the tiny rosebush that was placed inside some woman’s ear. Others were large and covered a wide expanse of skin. One picture showed a man that had no discernable skin; every part of him was covered in ink. To be honest it was too much and I wondered what would make a person do that?
The photo that caused me to cringe the most was a picture of a man’s penis.
“Oh, my word Edward, look at that one.” I pointed the photo out to Edward.
He stood behind me with his arms around my waist and his mouth next to my ear.
“Ouch!” He cringed at the photo of the man with a rattle snake tail by his navel, and the rest of the snake wrapped down around his groin and onto his penis with venomous fangs coming out around the head.
“You should do that,” I said with a giggle.
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” He said with his voice sounding pained.
Just then the door to our left opened and a large burly man with a blue bandana on his head stepped out. He was followed by a much shorter man with shoulder length brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt. His arms held numerous tattoos, but you could still see some skin.
“Edward I’ll be right with you.” Edward just nodded to the smaller man in response.
A few minutes later he had joined us. “Ah, the illustrious Isabella, I presume?” I cringed at the word. “Alex,” he held his hand out to me.
While I shook his hand in introduction, Edward explained. “Alex is Jane’s brother.”
I smiled feeling more at ease. “Please call me Bella.”
“Bella it is.” I liked him immediately.
Alex looked to Edward, “Come on in, I took what you told me this morning and made a few rough sketches.” The room that we followed him into reminded me in a way of a dentist’s office, with the chair in the middle of the room and a table setting next to it. Alex took out a folder from the cabinet, showing us three different sketches.
“You said scrolls with roses and butterflies.”
I examined the drawings before looking to Edward. He raised his eyebrows in a motion that I was beginning to understand. He wanted me to elaborate on what I was thinking.
“Umm… I like this one.” It had three roses wrapped amongst scrolls with five butterflies surrounding the outside. “But…is this the actual size?” Alex didn’t say anything so I continued, “Because I was thinking bigger.”
“Edward said a trap stamp.” Alex glanced to Edward as he said this looking for…approval? He was quiet and just nodded again, I suppose in consent of my request. I ignored the exchange. I might be Edward’s submissive, but damn, it was my body wasn’t it?
“Yes, but bigger, could you pull this out, add more scrolls to it, make it really flow, so it looks like the butterflies are fluttering around it?” Alex pulled out a pencil, drawing what I just explained to him. I liked what I saw except, “Could you make it span out more?”
“You want it to wrap around your hips?”
“No, only on my back.”
“Bella you’re challenging me here.”
I started to giggle but Edward spoke up, “Isabella’s been doing that a lot tonight.”
My eyes met his, and they were dark and dangerous making me get that tight feeling in my stomach that sent happy little tingles to my girly parts.
Alex was very intent on his work. “The only way to stretch it out would be to angle it. Take off your jacket and turn around Bella, let me see what I’m working with.”
I did as he asked laying my jacket on the chair, flinching when his hands lifted the back of my shirt. Edward took hold of my hair gathering it over one shoulder.
“I could start it here,” his finger on my back was at the top of my hip, “sweep it around with the majority of the art in the small of your back then end it around here,” Alex’s finger ended at the bottom of the opposite hip.
“Could you go down further?”
“Onto your butt?”
“Yes.” I couldn’t see him, but I could see Edward so I knew that Alex once again was looking for authorization.
Alex sighed, “How far down?” Edward must have approved.
“Only the scrolly’s, half way down the cheek.”
Alex laughed, “Scrolly’s? Is that even a word?”
“It is in Bella-language.” Edward chuckled while I rolled my eyes.
“Edward, hand me that tape measure on the counter.” Alex placed it at the starting point. “Can you hold this?” I went to reach around with my hand, but Edwards hand was already there.
“Not you Bella, hold still.” Alex demanded as he continued to measure where my tattoo would be going, stopping in the middle of my left cheek. “Alright, when do you want to do this?”
Now I looked to Edward for his opinion. “How long will it take to heal and what limitations will Isabella have?”
“It will take a week to ten days to heal properly, no hot tubs, no skin to skin contact, and no contact sports for the first three to five days. Let’s go out and check the book to see what times I have available.”
Edward took my jacket and we followed Alex out into the main room. He started paging through his appointment book; we set a time for Thursday evening at five. I still wasn’t too sure about the skin to skin contact restriction. That was going to suck. But I was excited about the prospect of finally having the tattoo I’ve always wanted to get.
The kitchen was dark when we arrived back at my house. In my haste to leave I’d forgotten to turn on the light over the stove. I hated coming into a dark house, so I was more than pleased when Edward agreed to come in.
“Do you want to watch a movie?”
Edwards pursed his lips shaking his head. “The only thing I want to watch is you sleeping. You didn’t get any rest last night, you go get ready for bed, and I’ll take care of Seth.”
I smiled in agreement, I couldn’t really argue, I was tired, the day was stressful and tomorrow would start early.
When I came out of the bathroom, Edward was leaning with his back against the headboard with just his t-shirt and jeans on. I walked over to the bed climbing over him to straddle his thighs, before I kissed him.
“Did I say thank you for dinner and taking me to see Alex?”
“No, you didn’t.”
My fingers ran through the soft hair at the nape of his neck, I leaned in to kiss him once again whispering a thank you against his lips. Edward responded with a deeper kiss, I opened my mouth feeling his warm tongue against mine. When he pulled back he sighed.
“Your welcome, I wanted to speak to Alex Saturday night but I didn’t see him.” His hands ran up the sides of thighs over my bottom and holding my hips firmly.
“Is it weird for you, that your whole family is involved in this stuff?”
“What stuff is that Bella?” He asked against my neck.
“You know this whole D/s stuff.” Edwards head came back to look in my eyes.
“They are not all involved. My parents definitely are not, Alice and Jasper, no. They will come to open door night once in a while if there is something going on. Really, Alice only goes because of her business. She has a lot of customers there. Emmet and Rose like to go, but they are not really serious about it. Rose has some issues in her past, and she finds comfort in playing the submissive. But she gives as good as she gets.”
“You mean Emmet lets her dominate him?” I was shocked and images of big massive Emmett on his knees with a butt plug up his ass came into my mind. I could feel my face heat up, and I knew I had to be red as a beet.
“Oh my Bella, I would love to know what is going on in that pretty little head of yours right now.” He chuckled and kissed my cheek. “Would you care to share?”
I gasped then bit my lip shaking my head, making me blush more.
“Come on Bella, tell me.” His lips moved down my neck and over my collar bone as his hands skimmed my ribs sending shivers through my body.
“Stop it!” I demanded as well as I could through the giggles.
“No way my dear, one way or another you’re going to tell me.” His words were whispered in my ear before he took the lobe in his mouth, nibbling on it lightly.
“I was just thinking of Emmett on his knees that’s all.”
Edward looked me in the eye scrutinizing my words. “I think there is more to it.”
I tried to look innocent, but my face was getting warmer by the second. “I’ll let you go though. And, no, Emmett doesn’t let her dominate him; at least I don’t think he does. But he doesn’t expect her to be in full sub-mode either. If she behaves submissive that’s ok, but most of the time she doesn’t.”
“Wouldn’t that be confusing?” I couldn’t reconcile in my head, how they played sometimes when she wanted to, how would Emmett know that she was...in the mood?
Edward just shrugged, “It works for them, that’s all I can tell you. Rose will slip into submissive mode, just as you did tonight. Although I don’t believe she does it as easily nor very often.”
I was perplexed about what he was talking about. “When?”
Edward smirked running his hands along my thighs, “See? It comes so naturally to you, that you’re not even aware you did it.”
I thought about the events that had occured tonight. “At dinner.”
It wasn’t a question I knew exactly when it happened. He nodded in agreement with me. While I sat on top of him, his hands roamed over my bottom, cupping my bare cheeks, pushing so that I laid flat on his chest. My hands moved under his shirt, my fingers running through the small amount of soft hair on his chest. Edward’s hands continued moving up over my ribs and his thumbs traced along the outside curve of my breast. I couldn’t think any longer about why I did that at dinner, all I could think about was the feel of his hands on me.
He shifted, causing me to roll over so my back was on the bed. His lips placing small kisses down my neck. My hands moved to the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up and removing it before dropping it to the floor; he was so perfect, like my own personal Adonis. The muscles in his abs, chest, and shoulders, were defined, and flawlessly proportioned for his body. My hand reached out tracing the line down the middle of his chest to the button on his jeans.
As I started to open them, he grabbed my hand. “Not yet Bella.” He took ahold of my night shirt and I lifted my body off the bed so he could easily remove it. His eyes ran over my naked form, making me feel self-conscious and utterly exposed in both body and soul.
I had to look away from his intense gaze, but his hand came to my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. “You are so absolutely beautiful, every part of you so very perfect.”
Then his lips were on mine, there was nothing rushed or forceful about the kiss and yet it made my blood boil. My hands reached into his hair, and I pulled him to me, desperate to have the feel of his body on top of mine.
He wasn’t having that though; his arms planted themselves on either said of my head, and as he pulled away from me, his lips made their way down my neck across my chest, until he took a hold of my nipple licking and sucking it.
My body automatically arched, as a moan left my mouth. It felt like he was worshiping my body and I relished in the sensation. His hand moved down over my stomach to the junction between my thighs. I parted my legs slightly, but his hand continued its downward motion to my knee lifting it to place my foot flat on the bed.
Edwards’s lips moved down my body placing sweet kisses along the way that seemed to burn through my skin. My breathing picked up, and as his face met the junction between my thighs, I whimpered in anticipation. He ran his nose through the small tuff of hair as his tongue skimmed just on the outer edge of my sex. I raised my hips trying to get more contact, letting out a groan of frustration when Edward pulled away, to adjust my other leg. When both feet were planted on the bed, he pulled on my hips making my bottom hover over the edge of the mattress.
He used the tip of his nose to run along the inside of my thigh, as he got closer to my sex, his nose moved in a circular motions, passing over my slit with the lightest of touches and a heavy breath, before descending down the other thigh. By the third pass I was a quivering mess and my hips bucked up when his tongue made a long swipe through my folds. I groaned in frustration, as that was the only contact he made before going back to his tortuous teasing.
Edward was using the tip of his nose to lightly rub over the area where my clit lay. When I tried to move closer to get more fiction his hands came up to hold my hips down and my thighs open, as he spoke against my sex, “Mmmm…you smell so good...”
“Please Edward, please…” I was to the point where I was begging for him to touch me with meaning. He hummed swiping his tongue once again through my folds making me moan, then causing me to beg some more as he continued to torment me.
His hands held my hips so tightly as his elbows pushed on my knees. I was having a hard time keeping my breath even and a harder time holding still as he now started using the tip of his tongue to run patterns over my bare skin. I could literally feel my clit throbbing and I tried to use my hands to shove his face where I needed it most. He bit the junction of my thigh hard, making me gasp and cry out as he spoke against my overheated sex.
“If you do that again Isabella, we will have to start all over again.” I quickly tucked my hands under my back, because there was no way in hell I was starting this over.
His tongue ran over the spot where he just bit soothing the pain, before going back to what he was doing. I was a quivering mess and I felt like every nerve ending in my body was centered on the spot where he was touching me. This was beyond torture, this was pure agony.
“Oh, my god, Edward…plea…ssee?” My voice was shaking, and I felt like I was on the verge of tears.
Abruptly, his hands grasp my hips firmer and he slid my bottom further off the bed as he drove his tongue deep inside me. “Oh…Fuck!” I screamed.
As he lapped my core his nose rubbed my clit. I could feel the heat begin to grow and I panted as my legs shook uncontrollably, while the pressure in my stomach built to an unbearable point.
Edward shifted, holding me with one hand while the other pulled hard on the small tuff of pubic hair and he sucked my clit into his mouth. My body rushed with a warm tingle and when he scraped his teeth over my clit, I lost it. Coming so hard my muscles seized as I arched my back screaming out his name.
My body was lost in a sea of satisfaction, all I could feel was the euphoric warmth of sweet release as I tried to get my breathing under control. I knew Edward was next me, I could sense him, and when I opened my eyes we were laying across the bed. He was perched on one elbow looking down at me, while his other hand stroked my face.
“Welcome back.” His smile was warm and charming.
“That was …amazing.” I smiled.
Edward chuckled, leaning down to kiss me. My arms wrapped around his neck, and I moaned as I tasted myself on him. He tried to pull back, but I held on to him, letting my tongue come out to lick more of my taste off his lips.
“Mmm…Bella,” he growled as he moved his body over mine using his hips to part my thighs.
My body opened for him matching his sigh as I felt him fill me. He used unhurried movements kissing me again while his hand stroked my face.
“Baby, you feel so good.” At his words my hands moved down his back feeling his muscles flex as he slowly thrust into me.
“Mmmmm…” I hummed out in contentment. There was a tenderness to his touch, we were bringing pleasure to each other and I didn’t want it to end. I could feel the warm pressure beginning to form, and Edward picked up his pace.
“Mmm, baby...my Bella…always my Bella.” Edward’s words made me truly feel like I was his, and always would be, and for a minute just one brief moment I allowed myself to believe him.
My orgasm was not mind blowing, and as my body responded to his, I shuddered underneath him, kissing any part of his skin that I could reach. Edward’s motions became more forceful, the muscles in his back flexed and he shuddered whispering, “Oh, Bella,” before kissing me more tenderly then he ever had before. The total experience brought tears to my eyes and as they fell over my checks, I thanked God that I finally knew what it felt like to make love to someone.
His face was snuggled in the crook of my neck, where he placed small wet kisses behind my ear making me giggle. I used my finger nails to skim over his ribs causing him to chuckle and twist in an attempt to get away initiating his withdrawal from my body.
He kissed me once more then lay with his cheek pressed against my breast. We were quiet for a few minutes as he just lied there while my fingers ran lightly through his hair. Finally his head lifted and he rested his chin between my breasts.
“Why were you crying baby?”
Damn what was I suppose to say? I didn’t want to lie to him, and yet I didn’t want to scare him by coming off as some emotional insecure crazy woman. His eyes were beseeching and I told him the truth.
“I had a really emotional day; and you were so tender.” I shrugged, “I’ve never been treated so affectionately, it just overwhelmed me.”
Edward scooted up bringing his lips to mine, “I find I rather like to be tender with you.”
I smiled and was going to respond when he got a devious glint in his eye. “However, I also like to treat you like my wanton slut.”
“Wanton slut huh? Well, I like that too, but tender is nice sometimes.” I giggled wrapping my arms around his neck as he rolled over on his back, taking me with him.
Edward grinned, “Yes it is.” He said tucking my hair behind my ear.
Edward got up to use the bathroom and throw the condom away.
“I bought you a tooth brush; it’s in the basket on the sink.” I called after him. He turned and winked at me. When he came back to bed, I snuggled up next to him, lying with my head on his chest, running my fingers through the sparse hair. I could hear the steady beating of his heart, and I let it lull me to sleep.
My eyes opened to the green glow of the clock - 2:17. I was still wrapped in Edward’s arms, feeling safe and warm, but I had a nagging feeling inside of me. I tried to close my eyes let my exhaustion take me back to sleep, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. I slid out of Edward’s embrace, pulling my night shirt back on before making my way into the kitchen for a drink. On my way back to the bedroom, I spotted my purse sitting on the end of the couch. The feeling of unease was almost unbearable as I sat curled into the corner of the couch and began writing in my journal.
It was the first time I wrote of my own free will, and as I poured out all my thoughts on what happened throughout the day, all the questions that I pushed to the back of my mind came flooding out. I found in the quiet stillness I could analyze my reactions and free my feelings from the mental prison they were in.
“What are you doing baby?” Edward’s sleepy voice startled me.
“I woke up to get a drink, and I just had this nagging feeling like I needed to get this out of my head.” I tried to plead with my eyes for him to understand that I wasn’t some ragging lunatic. I’m not sure if he understood or was just being tolerant, but he nodded in assent.
“Don’t be too long, you need your rest.”
“I’m almost done.”
Edward went back to bed, leaving me to finish.
Climbing back into bed the green glow read 3:42. Edward opened his arms for me to snuggle into a spooning position. “Do you feel better?”
“Yes.”
“Good, now sleep my Bella.”
The last thing I remember was the feel of the kiss he placed on my temple.
The class was billed as a beginner but my muscles felt like I had been through advanced expert.
I was really out of shape. I had started kick boxing after the last episode with James two years ago; I figured it was a good way to not only provide the physical therapy my body needed, but it also gave me a sense of self protection. I came here religiously four days a week building my endurance and self-esteem. It’s been a year since I came at all; and so when Edward’s rules insisted on three days of cardio, I thought this would be a good choice. Damn, those thirty-five minutes were brutal though.
Of course it didn’t help that I had not slept last night, or the emotional exhaustion I’d dealt with all day. All I had wanted to do this morning was drop by Edward’s to say thank-you for the roses he had sent me. His words on the card had been so true. They did brighten my day, he said I brightened his life; but to me he is like the bright morning sun - warm, comforting, and full of possibilities.
I didn’t realize he had guests, although I was so ecstatic I don’t think it would have stopped me from wanting to see him. Then the whole fiasco occurred, I couldn’t believe what they were saying. I did everything Edward showed me to do, looking to him before I spoke to any of them, and yet the pompous ass and the snotty bitch found nothing but fault. I didn’t want to break down in front of them; I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing that.
Once I shut the door to my room, I felt it was like my own sanctuary, like a safe haven-and all of my emotions and feelings of inadequacy came out. I was only there for a few minutes when there was a quiet knock on the door. I was surprised to see Jane standing there.
“Master sent his slave to see if she could assist you.” Stepping aside, Jane entered looking around the room. “Edward has painted this, it looks more… homey.”
I smiled wiping my nose, “Yes, he did it for me as a surprise for my first weekend here.”
She eyed Seth’s dog bed on the floor, “Edward has a dog?”
I sat on the bed and grinned, “On the weekends he does.”
Jane looked at me, understanding dawning in her eyes. “Oh, he must really want you here, if he allows you to bring your dog.” She sat on the bed next to me. “May master’s slave speak freely Isabella?”
“Yes, but please call me Bella.”
She smiled, “Bella.” Jane turned on the bed drawing her knees up into an Indian style; I had to hike my pencil skirt up to match her position. “This girl...”
I stopped her before she could finish her sentence. “Jane, this is my room; this is a no sub-mode zone. You can speak any way you want.”
She smiled, “When we first started out, Master gave me a room also where I could go and scream at my husband without any reprocussions.”
“Do you still have a room?”
“No Bella, I do not, but that is my choice. I will speak to you about that at another time, right now I would like to talk about what happened down stairs.”
I sighed, “I messed up and I must have done something wrong.”
Jane shook her head, “That’s not true, I don’t know why those two attacked you, but I saw you do nothing wrong.” Jane took my hands, “I saw Edward’s eyes light up when you jumped in his arms. I saw the smile of contentment on my nephew’s face, which I have not seen in a long time. I believe that the others saw that too and that was the reason behind their attack.”
I was shocked, “Why would they do that? Wouldn’t they be happy that their friend is happy? I don’t know Jane, I still think I did something wrong.” I sighed, “maybe it would be better…I don’t know…I keep messing up. I had three writing assignments on the first weekend we were together. Maybe I’m just kidding myself, maybe I’ll never get it right, or maybe this is just not the life for me.” I could feel the tears forming in my eyes.
Jane squeezed my hands in a show of comfort, “That is nonsense. I’m assuming your writing assignments were a form of correction from Edward?” I nodded, and then she went on,
“The first three month’s Master and I began, I thought my hand would fall off, and I couldn’t sit down without wincing for another three months. But Master was patient and he was just learning also, it was very hard on him to deal with my stubborn ways.”
Jane got a sad look on her face, “That also is a story for another time; the thing I want you to understand is that we had two choices. We could go on living the life we found fulfilling, the life we believed we were born to live. Or we could stop and go back to mediocre. I believe we made the right choice. It wasn’t an easy choice and there were many people on the outside who didn’t understand, but it was Master’s and my life to live, not theirs. Bella you also have a choice. You can take what others say or do, and let them influence your life to the point where you are afraid to go after what you want. Or you can say what we said, ‘“fuck you” this is my life, I will live it any way I have to in order to feel complete!’”
Jane was quiet for a few seconds before continuing, “Listen to me Bella. Your only duty is to follow the rules and procedure that your Master has set for you. All others can shove it.” Jane got a wicked grin on her face, and then became very serious before continuing with a warning.
“Don’t ever say that to their face, I’m sure that would earn you a harsh punishment, but since our Master’s are not mind readers… we cannot be punished from simply thinking it.” I smiled at her grin.
“Edward is a good man who has been trained by the best, he can be a stickler on his rules and he expects total obedience. But all real Dominants do. You don’t want someone who is just role playing, if you yourself are truly serious.” I thought about that for a minute and then asked Jane.
“What if I keep messing up? Edward’s going to end up hating me.” I knew I sounded like a whiney teenager, but for some reason I felt a companionship with Jane.
“That man will never hate you.” She had a shrewd smile on her face, “besides you have a few things going for you. One, like I said, Edward is a trained dominant. Two, you come from a background that will make you more determined to achieve your goals. And three, you have me.”
I was shocked, “I don’t understand what you mean by that last part?”
She smiled, “Master has given me permission to assist you as a mentor if you would like.”
“Jane you don’t have to do that, Aro shouldn’t force me on you along with all your other duties.”
She looked hurt, “Bella, when Master told me that Edward had accepted your submission, I begged him to allow me to help you. I have so many years of experience, some of it filled with joy and some sorrow. I have learned the hard way that it helps to have someone to talk to; I would like to offer you that.”
“What exactly does that entail?” I had no clue what she was talking about.
“I’ll tell you what, maybe towards the end of the week we could do lunch and talk more about the possibility.”
“Thursday’s a good day, I have an appointment at ten but that’s all.”
Jane smiled. “Thursday it is. I’ll call you in the morning around nine?”
I nodded in agreement as Jane warned, “Make sure it is alright with your Master first; I would hate for you to have to write some more.”
We giggled. “Oh, my poor hand.”
That was when Edward knocked on the door, he had such a worried look on his face when he told me to come to him, I practically flew to his arms, and I felt like I was home. Jane was right I had two choices, and I chose Edward.
That’s why I was walking out of the fitness center, carrying my pink paisley gym bag and feeling like I had just went fifteen rounds with Laila Ali.
I only had fifteen minutes before Edward was to arrive. Dropping my bag on the kitchen table, I wanted to get it prepared for tomorrow morning, since Leah and I would be going to the early class. Taking a fresh bottle of water out of the refrigerator I took a long drink before feeding Seth. I was taking my t-shit off as I moved towards my bedroom and jumped slightly as I heard the back door open. The feeling of contentment washed over me once Edward’s voice reached my ears.
“Hey boy, look what I have for you.”
I smiled to myself while making my way back to the kitchen to see Edward pull a fresh pig ear out of a small brown paper bag.
“You know he loves those things. He’s going to think you have them all the time.” Edward’s eyes met mine.
“Well hello my Bella, you look … sweaty…” His eyes appraised me as he moved closer.
God, he looked good in his jeans and gray t-shirt with an open white button down shirt over top.
“Is this what you wear to the gym?” His one hand wrapped around my bare lower back the other cupping my chin.
His words brought me out of my ogling. “Yes, this is what I wear.”
“Hhmmm...” That was all he got out before his lips met mine.
I didn’t want to get too close to him. I felt gross from my workout and wanted a shower, but his lips on mine broke all my resolve. I couldn’t help myself as my body folded into his.
When Edward pulled back he sighed, “Perhaps if you are going to be looking like this in the gym, I should go along with you and protect what belongs to me.”
I giggled, “Don’t you worry Sir, your property is safe. Right now she needs a shower though.”
“Then get moving my pet.” He swatted me on my bottom to sending me on my way.
The quick shower I took felt amazing, and if I had time I would have stayed in there longer and let the water wash away all the stress from the day along with the grunge. Edward was sitting on the bed when I came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
“Where are we going?” I wanted to know what to wear. I was hoping for casual, I just didn’t feel like dressing up.
“No where fancy, just a quick bite to eat and then we have somewhere else I want to stop at.”
I pulled my bra and panties out of the drawer along with a pair of dark blue skinny jeans. When I came out of the closet holding a red fitted t-shirt Edward had my hair brush in his hand.
“Come here,” he motioned to the bed, I got a tight feeling in my stomach and my girly parts practically begged me to hurry to him. He sat back spreading his legs pulling me onto the bed so I sat between his thighs. Edward unraveled the towel on my head and began running the brush through my hair.
Ok, it was not what I thought he was going to do, but I sighed in contentment just the same. It had been so long since anyone brushed my hair. Edward paused, swishing part of my hair over so he could place a kiss on my bare shoulder. I closed my eyes and hummed in appreciation, as he continued with my grooming.
“The last person to brush my hair was Sue, the night before my wedding.” Edward stopped for a second, but then continued. “I forgot how relaxing it was.”
“Did he never show you any kindness Bella?” His soft voice was by my ear.
I thought about his question as he began to work on another section. “Sometimes he did.”
“When? Give me a happy memory.” Edward was just beginning to work on the last section of wet hair.
“It was our first Christmas, after the bathtub fight. Classes were over for the semester, so I was home making cookies and decorating. James came home early from work and he said, ‘come on Bella let’s go do this right.’ We drove out to the tree farm and walked around the mountain until our toes were numb, finding the perfect tree. When we got it home, we stumbled and laughed until it was finally up. And it was huge and crooked, and we turned on Christmas music staying up until after midnight stringing popcorn and decorating the tree. It was a good night.”
I didn’t want to tell him the next day James grabbed my arm and threw me into the tree, yelling because he spent money on a fucking tree that was just going to be thrown out. Or that every day he would check the floor for needles, locking me in the closet ten minutes for every one he found. I blinked the tears away not wanting Edward to see them.
He had finished my hair, placing the brush on the bed beside him, “I’m glad you have some happy memories.”
His arms wrapped around my bare shoulders drawing my body to him. I nodded snuggling my head in the nook of his neck. I guess I couldn’t hide my tears from him, because his fingers came up to wipe them away before he kissed the top of my head. I closed my eyes placing a kiss under his chin drawing in the scent of his skin.
“Why don’t you get ready?” I nodded in agreement, regretfully leaving the security of his embrace.
Fifteen minutes later I came out of the bathroom with dry hair and some make-up on to an empty room. I quickly made the bed, only now feeling embarrassed that it wasn’t done before. I also took the two towels from this morning’s bath off the chair, throwing them in the laundry and got dressed before joining Edward in the living room.
“Ready?”
I smiled at his enthusiasm, “Yes.”
“Take a jacket Bella; it’s going to be chilly.”
I still wasn’t used to someone watching out for me, but it was getting easier. Edward helped me with my leather jacket and I grabbed my purse.
We walked past the kitchen table and I noticed my forgotten gym bag; but decided I would get it ready later.
Edward drove us downtown to TGIFriday’s, surprisingly it wasn’t crowded and we were able to be seated right away. The waitress came over announcing that her name was Amber. She had short blond hair and boobs that looked like they were going to pop out of her tight black shirt if she so much as hiccuped. Of course she proceeded to stick said boobs in Edward’s face every chance she got.
After Amber took our drink orders I picked up the menu, not really having to look at it because in all honesty it never changes, but I wanted to give my mind something else to think about. When Amber returned with our beers, Edward backed away from her, ordering a spinach dip for us to share before looking to me.
“Bella, do you know what you want?” I couldn’t help myself; I had to say something to let Amber know to back the fuck off.
“I already have what I want.” I said looking deep in his eyes.
He smirked, “As do I baby, however we need food to keep up our energy.”
Amber must not have liked that comment because she seemed to become impatient, telling us she would return in a few minutes for the rest of our order.
“Does her trying to breast feed you bother you?”
Edward smirked, “Yes it does, now what would you like to eat?”
I told him, and before the lactation consultant could return I had moved to the spot next to Edward inside the booth.
As before, Edward ordered for both of us, stressing the fact that my burger was to be well done. He put his arm along the back of booth, allowing me to feel the warmth of his body against mine. As I picked up my glass to take a drink Edward asked, “Do we need to talk more about this morning, or is it a closed subject?”
I thought about it while I took a drink, “I think it’s closed, you don’t want me to talk to them, and I have no desire to do so.”
He nodded taking a drink himself.
The spinach dip arrived, it was warm and yummy. We talked about the rest of our day, and our schedules for tomorrow. Edward was going to interview some contractors for the bathroom remodel he wanted done and then he was going to the club in the afternoon to help with some paperwork.
The spinach dip was almost gone when Amber brought our burgers and fries.
Edward put a circle of ketchup on his plate, while I prepared my burger. Placing the tomato slice on the bottom, peeling the onion apart so there were only a few circles on top of the cheese, then a circle of ketchup with a dap of mustard in the middle, the lettuce goes on top of that, lastly spooning the little cup of cole slaw over the lettuce before replacing the top bun. As I picked up my knife to cut it in half, I realized Edward was watching me.
“What?”
He smirked shaking his head, “Nothing, continue.”
I squished it all down before taking a bite and moaning, “Mmm...” I chewed and swallowed then taking a drink I asked, “Burgers are the best, aren’t they?”
“They are. I don’t know how the hell you can taste the burger through all that mess, but whatever.” Edward laughed before taking a drink.
I wiped my mouth, “I like my stuff all mixed together, so you get all the flavors and textures at one time.”
He wiped his mouth, and then wiped mine telling me, “You missed a spot.”
I smiled at his smirk and he placed a kiss on my lips.
I picked up the ketchup placing a line down the middle of a fry before popping it in my mouth. Edward shook his head but didn’t comment. Half way through our meal I thought of what Jane said this morning, I figured it was a good time to bring it up.
“Edward, I wanted to ask you something.”
He looked at me expectantly.
“Jane said she could be like my mentor. Did she say anything to you about it?”
His face showed no expression when he talked, “She mentioned it.”
I ketchuped another fry thinking he would say something, but he didn’t, so after taking a drink I pressed on. “Would you mind?”
Edward swallowed, “First tell me why you are asking.”
I took another drink gathering my thoughts, while pressing my burger together. I didn’t want to look at him; it was like I was a kid asking my daddy for permission to drive the car. It was a strange feeling, but I didn’t resent it. I suppose I should have because it was demeaning and yet I found I revelled in the feeling. It gave me reassurance. Well that was something I would have to think about later.
Edward didn’t pressure me; I assumed he could see me trying to get my thoughts together.
“Well, sir,” I called him sir? It just came out of my mouth without me thinking about it. I chanced a glance at Edward through my lashes, he was patiently waiting, and I sighed.
“Jane has...” I began to explain but Edward interrupted.
“Look at me Isabella.”
My lip came between my teeth as my eyes met his.
Edward held my gaze, “Now finish your thought.”
I released the tension on my lower lip took a deep breath cleared my throat and started again.
“Jane has a lot of experience; she knows what it’s like. I think she would be the best person to help me work through all the emotions that I’m dealing with.”
Edward raised his eyebrows.
“Not that you can’t, but as a woman…as a submissive woman she would really understand a lot better, don’t you think?” He just nodded.
Amber chose that moment to see if we needed anything else. Edward told her just the bill and two glasses of water. I started wracking my brain to come up with other reasons. Starting to talk as soon as Amber walked away and Edward gave me back his attention.
“I know Jane, I’m comfortable with her, and she with me. I know she won’t tell me anything that is not true or do anything that would cause you any disgrace.” His head tilted to the side and his eyes bore into mine.
“Jane was really kind to your girl this morning; she helped her to see that others have no place in the relationship between Master and his girl, and that the only person who should have any power over this girl is her Master.” I really wished he would say something and I thought he was going to, but Amber was back with the check and our water, which I picked up taking a large drink.
Edward’s hand was back on my chin compelling me to look at him once again. His face held no expression and I was starting to think he was going to say no, so I kept imploring him.
“Master, Jane also made this girl realize that the only opinion of her behavior that has any bearing on her happiness is yours and only yours.” That was it, I was out of ammunition. Edward continued to hold my gaze until I was fidgeting.
“Sit still Isabella. If I allow this there are conditions that you will have to abide by, will that be acceptable to you?”
“What kind of conditions Sir?”
“Does it matter?”
I thought about it. I knew that whatever he would ask of me would be reasonable and he must have his motives.
“No Sir, it doesn’t matter.”
Edward looked at his watch and as Amber walked by he handed her the black billfold with cash in it telling her to keep the change before returning his attention to me.
“I believe that you having Jane to talk to would be good for you.”
I smiled widely at him.
Edward showed no response at all as he continued, “On the following conditions, first I will transport you to and from your meeting place. That means that it will have to be scheduled in advance and marked on your calendar so I will know when to make time for that.”
Ok, that’s not so bad; he was waiting for my reply.
“Yes, Sir.”
Edward let out a sigh before taking a drink from his water.
“I’m going to tell you the truth Isabella; I have a concern that your communication with me is not ready for such an intimate relationship with another.” I heard what he said; I just didn’t understand what he was talking about. I didn’t want to get intimate with Jane; I just wanted someone to talk to. Edward must have seen my confusion because he clarified.
“If I allow this there cannot be any private matters between you and Jane. The only privacy that you can totally count on is between us, and our relationship. Do you understand?”
“I think I do.”
“Think is not an appropriate answer. So let me make myself perfectly clear. All the communications that exists between Jane and yourself needs to be disclosed.” While Edward was quiet, I thought about what he was saying. He wants to know what we talk about. How did I feel about that? I wasn’t sure at the moment and I couldn’t think about it anymore because Edward went on to explain.
“So in order for that to happen you are to catalog in your journal the…talks with Jane. What you discussed, her suggestions or comments, and how you feel about it. I want it to be as detailed as possible, and I want it done by the time you go to sleep that day.”
“And you are going to read it?”
Edward nodded once.
“And no matter what I write I won’t be punished?” I just wanted to clarify that point.
“No, never.” He was scrutinizing me as I thought about his condition. I could feel my teeth biting into my lip and my eyes were looking at the rise and fall of Edward’s chest so the quiet sound of his voice startled me.
“Isabella?” My eyes once again found his. “Do you want to hear the last condition?”
Geez, there’s more? All I wanted was someone to talk to.
“Yes Sir.”
“If it becomes obvious that you are not complying, or if you fail to get your writing done as you are instructed to do, the relationship will stop immediately. Is that something you are willing to agree to?” Edward watched me with intensity as I thought about it. He wasn’t requesting anything too outlandish, expect for the whole full disclosure thing, but I could live with that.
So I said the only answer I could give, “Yes Sir.”
Edward smiled at me then kissed my forehead before checking his watch again.
“Come Isabella, we need to go.” He stood, taking my hand and helping with my jacket.
I caught the eye of the man who was sitting in the booth directly behind us. He was in his fifties with a very round face and receding hair line. He sneered at me, making me feel dirty and cheap, he then winked. I glared at the rudeness and then suddenly realized he must have overheard our conversation.
Edward noticed how tense I had become, his attention going to the man. “Can I help you?” The man quickly turned his head, and Edward placed his hand on the small of my back leading me outside.
Holding the car door open for me he seemed upset.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized, “I should have kept my voice down.”
He sighed cupping my face, “Bella, stop apologizing for other people’s bad behavior.” He leaned down placing a chaste kiss on my lips, the sweetness of the kiss told me he wasn’t mad at me.
As we drove north through the city Edward was really quiet, it was beginning to make me anxious, so I jumped when he finally spoke, “Bella, I’m sorry that man disrespected you like that. It was rude and degrading and why men think they can behave like that is beyond me.”
I took a hold of his hand giving it a small squeeze, “His momma just didn’t raise him right.”
I could see the grin form on his face, “Yeah, I guess you are right.”
Edward parked the car, opening my door to help me out. As I looked around I noticed the street was lined with businesses and quaint shops with brightly painted doors and large store front windows.
My curiosity was getting the better of me as we walked up the street and I asked, “Where are we going?”
He stopped in front of a large red door with a sign hanging over the top that read Slave to the Needle. My mouth dropped open, and I couldn’t tell if the feeling in the pit of my stomach was from excitement or nervousness.
The door opened and two college aged girls came out. As Edward held the door for them, the tall blonde looked at him and smiled, he paid her no attention.
“I know you,” the blonde said.
“Excuse me?” Edward seemed confused.
“You’re from that club. You wouldn’t let us in that night. You know you could have had all three of us. All you had to do was let us in.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you.” Edward said and then motioned for me to go inside “Come Isabella” As I walked by she wrapped her hand around his forearm in an intimate manner stepping closer to him.
“That’s the point; I would have given you something to remember.”
Oh, this day just gets better and better. I placed my hand on top of hers effectively removing it. “He said he doesn’t remember you, so stop embarrassing yourself.”
“Who the fuck are you?” She huffed.
“Obviously someone he remembers.” I just smiled at the snotty bitch - the second one I had to deal with today.
Edward chuckled moving me inside, away from the string of profanities. Once inside Edward was still amused at my show. “You’re kind of cute when you get all domineering.” I tried to ignore him but he was having none of that. He pulled me in for a kiss, and maybe I was feeling a little forceful because I pulled his bottom lip between my teeth making him growl.
“You’re going to get in trouble doing that.”
“I’ve been in trouble before, nothing I can’t handle.” My eyes met his.
“Is that a challenge?”
I shook my head, “Just a simple statement of fact.”
Edward chuckled again and with an evil expression promised, “Ok, have it your way.”
His smirk made me swallow hard, and he laughed out-right. I needed to place my attention somewhere other than Edward’s intense stare so I looked around the room.
The walls were painted a dark red color, small black leather chairs sat in two groups of four. To the left was a glass counter that held various types of studs and gages for body piercings. Black stencils lined the whole right wall; they seemed to be categorized by type. The back wall housed individual photos of actual tattoos, those are what caught and held my interest.
Written on the bottom of each photo was a name and a date. I studied the works of art as if they were precious masterpieces. Most of the pictures had the name Alex under them. Some were small and intricate, like the tiny rosebush that was placed inside some woman’s ear. Others were large and covered a wide expanse of skin. One picture showed a man that had no discernable skin; every part of him was covered in ink. To be honest it was too much and I wondered what would make a person do that?
The photo that caused me to cringe the most was a picture of a man’s penis.
“Oh, my word Edward, look at that one.” I pointed the photo out to Edward.
He stood behind me with his arms around my waist and his mouth next to my ear.
“Ouch!” He cringed at the photo of the man with a rattle snake tail by his navel, and the rest of the snake wrapped down around his groin and onto his penis with venomous fangs coming out around the head.
“You should do that,” I said with a giggle.
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” He said with his voice sounding pained.
Just then the door to our left opened and a large burly man with a blue bandana on his head stepped out. He was followed by a much shorter man with shoulder length brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt. His arms held numerous tattoos, but you could still see some skin.
“Edward I’ll be right with you.” Edward just nodded to the smaller man in response.
A few minutes later he had joined us. “Ah, the illustrious Isabella, I presume?” I cringed at the word. “Alex,” he held his hand out to me.
While I shook his hand in introduction, Edward explained. “Alex is Jane’s brother.”
I smiled feeling more at ease. “Please call me Bella.”
“Bella it is.” I liked him immediately.
Alex looked to Edward, “Come on in, I took what you told me this morning and made a few rough sketches.” The room that we followed him into reminded me in a way of a dentist’s office, with the chair in the middle of the room and a table setting next to it. Alex took out a folder from the cabinet, showing us three different sketches.
“You said scrolls with roses and butterflies.”
I examined the drawings before looking to Edward. He raised his eyebrows in a motion that I was beginning to understand. He wanted me to elaborate on what I was thinking.
“Umm… I like this one.” It had three roses wrapped amongst scrolls with five butterflies surrounding the outside. “But…is this the actual size?” Alex didn’t say anything so I continued, “Because I was thinking bigger.”
“Edward said a trap stamp.” Alex glanced to Edward as he said this looking for…approval? He was quiet and just nodded again, I suppose in consent of my request. I ignored the exchange. I might be Edward’s submissive, but damn, it was my body wasn’t it?
“Yes, but bigger, could you pull this out, add more scrolls to it, make it really flow, so it looks like the butterflies are fluttering around it?” Alex pulled out a pencil, drawing what I just explained to him. I liked what I saw except, “Could you make it span out more?”
“You want it to wrap around your hips?”
“No, only on my back.”
“Bella you’re challenging me here.”
I started to giggle but Edward spoke up, “Isabella’s been doing that a lot tonight.”
My eyes met his, and they were dark and dangerous making me get that tight feeling in my stomach that sent happy little tingles to my girly parts.
Alex was very intent on his work. “The only way to stretch it out would be to angle it. Take off your jacket and turn around Bella, let me see what I’m working with.”
I did as he asked laying my jacket on the chair, flinching when his hands lifted the back of my shirt. Edward took hold of my hair gathering it over one shoulder.
“I could start it here,” his finger on my back was at the top of my hip, “sweep it around with the majority of the art in the small of your back then end it around here,” Alex’s finger ended at the bottom of the opposite hip.
“Could you go down further?”
“Onto your butt?”
“Yes.” I couldn’t see him, but I could see Edward so I knew that Alex once again was looking for authorization.
Alex sighed, “How far down?” Edward must have approved.
“Only the scrolly’s, half way down the cheek.”
Alex laughed, “Scrolly’s? Is that even a word?”
“It is in Bella-language.” Edward chuckled while I rolled my eyes.
“Edward, hand me that tape measure on the counter.” Alex placed it at the starting point. “Can you hold this?” I went to reach around with my hand, but Edwards hand was already there.
“Not you Bella, hold still.” Alex demanded as he continued to measure where my tattoo would be going, stopping in the middle of my left cheek. “Alright, when do you want to do this?”
Now I looked to Edward for his opinion. “How long will it take to heal and what limitations will Isabella have?”
“It will take a week to ten days to heal properly, no hot tubs, no skin to skin contact, and no contact sports for the first three to five days. Let’s go out and check the book to see what times I have available.”
Edward took my jacket and we followed Alex out into the main room. He started paging through his appointment book; we set a time for Thursday evening at five. I still wasn’t too sure about the skin to skin contact restriction. That was going to suck. But I was excited about the prospect of finally having the tattoo I’ve always wanted to get.
The kitchen was dark when we arrived back at my house. In my haste to leave I’d forgotten to turn on the light over the stove. I hated coming into a dark house, so I was more than pleased when Edward agreed to come in.
“Do you want to watch a movie?”
Edwards pursed his lips shaking his head. “The only thing I want to watch is you sleeping. You didn’t get any rest last night, you go get ready for bed, and I’ll take care of Seth.”
I smiled in agreement, I couldn’t really argue, I was tired, the day was stressful and tomorrow would start early.
When I came out of the bathroom, Edward was leaning with his back against the headboard with just his t-shirt and jeans on. I walked over to the bed climbing over him to straddle his thighs, before I kissed him.
“Did I say thank you for dinner and taking me to see Alex?”
“No, you didn’t.”
My fingers ran through the soft hair at the nape of his neck, I leaned in to kiss him once again whispering a thank you against his lips. Edward responded with a deeper kiss, I opened my mouth feeling his warm tongue against mine. When he pulled back he sighed.
“Your welcome, I wanted to speak to Alex Saturday night but I didn’t see him.” His hands ran up the sides of thighs over my bottom and holding my hips firmly.
“Is it weird for you, that your whole family is involved in this stuff?”
“What stuff is that Bella?” He asked against my neck.
“You know this whole D/s stuff.” Edwards head came back to look in my eyes.
“They are not all involved. My parents definitely are not, Alice and Jasper, no. They will come to open door night once in a while if there is something going on. Really, Alice only goes because of her business. She has a lot of customers there. Emmet and Rose like to go, but they are not really serious about it. Rose has some issues in her past, and she finds comfort in playing the submissive. But she gives as good as she gets.”
“You mean Emmet lets her dominate him?” I was shocked and images of big massive Emmett on his knees with a butt plug up his ass came into my mind. I could feel my face heat up, and I knew I had to be red as a beet.
“Oh my Bella, I would love to know what is going on in that pretty little head of yours right now.” He chuckled and kissed my cheek. “Would you care to share?”
I gasped then bit my lip shaking my head, making me blush more.
“Come on Bella, tell me.” His lips moved down my neck and over my collar bone as his hands skimmed my ribs sending shivers through my body.
“Stop it!” I demanded as well as I could through the giggles.
“No way my dear, one way or another you’re going to tell me.” His words were whispered in my ear before he took the lobe in his mouth, nibbling on it lightly.
“I was just thinking of Emmett on his knees that’s all.”
Edward looked me in the eye scrutinizing my words. “I think there is more to it.”
I tried to look innocent, but my face was getting warmer by the second. “I’ll let you go though. And, no, Emmett doesn’t let her dominate him; at least I don’t think he does. But he doesn’t expect her to be in full sub-mode either. If she behaves submissive that’s ok, but most of the time she doesn’t.”
“Wouldn’t that be confusing?” I couldn’t reconcile in my head, how they played sometimes when she wanted to, how would Emmett know that she was...in the mood?
Edward just shrugged, “It works for them, that’s all I can tell you. Rose will slip into submissive mode, just as you did tonight. Although I don’t believe she does it as easily nor very often.”
I was perplexed about what he was talking about. “When?”
Edward smirked running his hands along my thighs, “See? It comes so naturally to you, that you’re not even aware you did it.”
I thought about the events that had occured tonight. “At dinner.”
It wasn’t a question I knew exactly when it happened. He nodded in agreement with me. While I sat on top of him, his hands roamed over my bottom, cupping my bare cheeks, pushing so that I laid flat on his chest. My hands moved under his shirt, my fingers running through the small amount of soft hair on his chest. Edward’s hands continued moving up over my ribs and his thumbs traced along the outside curve of my breast. I couldn’t think any longer about why I did that at dinner, all I could think about was the feel of his hands on me.
He shifted, causing me to roll over so my back was on the bed. His lips placing small kisses down my neck. My hands moved to the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up and removing it before dropping it to the floor; he was so perfect, like my own personal Adonis. The muscles in his abs, chest, and shoulders, were defined, and flawlessly proportioned for his body. My hand reached out tracing the line down the middle of his chest to the button on his jeans.
As I started to open them, he grabbed my hand. “Not yet Bella.” He took ahold of my night shirt and I lifted my body off the bed so he could easily remove it. His eyes ran over my naked form, making me feel self-conscious and utterly exposed in both body and soul.
I had to look away from his intense gaze, but his hand came to my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. “You are so absolutely beautiful, every part of you so very perfect.”
Then his lips were on mine, there was nothing rushed or forceful about the kiss and yet it made my blood boil. My hands reached into his hair, and I pulled him to me, desperate to have the feel of his body on top of mine.
He wasn’t having that though; his arms planted themselves on either said of my head, and as he pulled away from me, his lips made their way down my neck across my chest, until he took a hold of my nipple licking and sucking it.
My body automatically arched, as a moan left my mouth. It felt like he was worshiping my body and I relished in the sensation. His hand moved down over my stomach to the junction between my thighs. I parted my legs slightly, but his hand continued its downward motion to my knee lifting it to place my foot flat on the bed.
Edwards’s lips moved down my body placing sweet kisses along the way that seemed to burn through my skin. My breathing picked up, and as his face met the junction between my thighs, I whimpered in anticipation. He ran his nose through the small tuff of hair as his tongue skimmed just on the outer edge of my sex. I raised my hips trying to get more contact, letting out a groan of frustration when Edward pulled away, to adjust my other leg. When both feet were planted on the bed, he pulled on my hips making my bottom hover over the edge of the mattress.
He used the tip of his nose to run along the inside of my thigh, as he got closer to my sex, his nose moved in a circular motions, passing over my slit with the lightest of touches and a heavy breath, before descending down the other thigh. By the third pass I was a quivering mess and my hips bucked up when his tongue made a long swipe through my folds. I groaned in frustration, as that was the only contact he made before going back to his tortuous teasing.
Edward was using the tip of his nose to lightly rub over the area where my clit lay. When I tried to move closer to get more fiction his hands came up to hold my hips down and my thighs open, as he spoke against my sex, “Mmmm…you smell so good...”
“Please Edward, please…” I was to the point where I was begging for him to touch me with meaning. He hummed swiping his tongue once again through my folds making me moan, then causing me to beg some more as he continued to torment me.
His hands held my hips so tightly as his elbows pushed on my knees. I was having a hard time keeping my breath even and a harder time holding still as he now started using the tip of his tongue to run patterns over my bare skin. I could literally feel my clit throbbing and I tried to use my hands to shove his face where I needed it most. He bit the junction of my thigh hard, making me gasp and cry out as he spoke against my overheated sex.
“If you do that again Isabella, we will have to start all over again.” I quickly tucked my hands under my back, because there was no way in hell I was starting this over.
His tongue ran over the spot where he just bit soothing the pain, before going back to what he was doing. I was a quivering mess and I felt like every nerve ending in my body was centered on the spot where he was touching me. This was beyond torture, this was pure agony.
“Oh, my god, Edward…plea…ssee?” My voice was shaking, and I felt like I was on the verge of tears.
Abruptly, his hands grasp my hips firmer and he slid my bottom further off the bed as he drove his tongue deep inside me. “Oh…Fuck!” I screamed.
As he lapped my core his nose rubbed my clit. I could feel the heat begin to grow and I panted as my legs shook uncontrollably, while the pressure in my stomach built to an unbearable point.
Edward shifted, holding me with one hand while the other pulled hard on the small tuff of pubic hair and he sucked my clit into his mouth. My body rushed with a warm tingle and when he scraped his teeth over my clit, I lost it. Coming so hard my muscles seized as I arched my back screaming out his name.
My body was lost in a sea of satisfaction, all I could feel was the euphoric warmth of sweet release as I tried to get my breathing under control. I knew Edward was next me, I could sense him, and when I opened my eyes we were laying across the bed. He was perched on one elbow looking down at me, while his other hand stroked my face.
“Welcome back.” His smile was warm and charming.
“That was …amazing.” I smiled.
Edward chuckled, leaning down to kiss me. My arms wrapped around his neck, and I moaned as I tasted myself on him. He tried to pull back, but I held on to him, letting my tongue come out to lick more of my taste off his lips.
“Mmm…Bella,” he growled as he moved his body over mine using his hips to part my thighs.
My body opened for him matching his sigh as I felt him fill me. He used unhurried movements kissing me again while his hand stroked my face.
“Baby, you feel so good.” At his words my hands moved down his back feeling his muscles flex as he slowly thrust into me.
“Mmmmm…” I hummed out in contentment. There was a tenderness to his touch, we were bringing pleasure to each other and I didn’t want it to end. I could feel the warm pressure beginning to form, and Edward picked up his pace.
“Mmm, baby...my Bella…always my Bella.” Edward’s words made me truly feel like I was his, and always would be, and for a minute just one brief moment I allowed myself to believe him.
My orgasm was not mind blowing, and as my body responded to his, I shuddered underneath him, kissing any part of his skin that I could reach. Edward’s motions became more forceful, the muscles in his back flexed and he shuddered whispering, “Oh, Bella,” before kissing me more tenderly then he ever had before. The total experience brought tears to my eyes and as they fell over my checks, I thanked God that I finally knew what it felt like to make love to someone.
His face was snuggled in the crook of my neck, where he placed small wet kisses behind my ear making me giggle. I used my finger nails to skim over his ribs causing him to chuckle and twist in an attempt to get away initiating his withdrawal from my body.
He kissed me once more then lay with his cheek pressed against my breast. We were quiet for a few minutes as he just lied there while my fingers ran lightly through his hair. Finally his head lifted and he rested his chin between my breasts.
“Why were you crying baby?”
Damn what was I suppose to say? I didn’t want to lie to him, and yet I didn’t want to scare him by coming off as some emotional insecure crazy woman. His eyes were beseeching and I told him the truth.
“I had a really emotional day; and you were so tender.” I shrugged, “I’ve never been treated so affectionately, it just overwhelmed me.”
Edward scooted up bringing his lips to mine, “I find I rather like to be tender with you.”
I smiled and was going to respond when he got a devious glint in his eye. “However, I also like to treat you like my wanton slut.”
“Wanton slut huh? Well, I like that too, but tender is nice sometimes.” I giggled wrapping my arms around his neck as he rolled over on his back, taking me with him.
Edward grinned, “Yes it is.” He said tucking my hair behind my ear.
Edward got up to use the bathroom and throw the condom away.
“I bought you a tooth brush; it’s in the basket on the sink.” I called after him. He turned and winked at me. When he came back to bed, I snuggled up next to him, lying with my head on his chest, running my fingers through the sparse hair. I could hear the steady beating of his heart, and I let it lull me to sleep.
My eyes opened to the green glow of the clock - 2:17. I was still wrapped in Edward’s arms, feeling safe and warm, but I had a nagging feeling inside of me. I tried to close my eyes let my exhaustion take me back to sleep, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. I slid out of Edward’s embrace, pulling my night shirt back on before making my way into the kitchen for a drink. On my way back to the bedroom, I spotted my purse sitting on the end of the couch. The feeling of unease was almost unbearable as I sat curled into the corner of the couch and began writing in my journal.
It was the first time I wrote of my own free will, and as I poured out all my thoughts on what happened throughout the day, all the questions that I pushed to the back of my mind came flooding out. I found in the quiet stillness I could analyze my reactions and free my feelings from the mental prison they were in.
“What are you doing baby?” Edward’s sleepy voice startled me.
“I woke up to get a drink, and I just had this nagging feeling like I needed to get this out of my head.” I tried to plead with my eyes for him to understand that I wasn’t some ragging lunatic. I’m not sure if he understood or was just being tolerant, but he nodded in assent.
“Don’t be too long, you need your rest.”
“I’m almost done.”
Edward went back to bed, leaving me to finish.
Climbing back into bed the green glow read 3:42. Edward opened his arms for me to snuggle into a spooning position. “Do you feel better?”
“Yes.”
“Good, now sleep my Bella.”
The last thing I remember was the feel of the kiss he placed on my temple.
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