Chapter 65

EPOV

Before I had even opened my eyes the dull thud in the back of my head told me what I already knew - last night I drank more then I should have. I don’t normally indulge in excess alcohol. In part because I don’t like the feeling it gives me of being out of control. It also puts an end to any D/s play. Cardinal rule number one for any Dom is: excess alcohol on the brain equals no submissive in your hands.

It’s not like I have never gotten drunk, my college days were the same as everyone else. Weekends were for parties, bars and women. I had my fair share of waking in my bed with an unfamiliar woman who I would promptly get rid of before going back to bed to sleep off the effects of the night before.

This time could not be blamed on youthful stupidity it was a calculated activity all in the name of having a good time. When I had mentioned to Bella that we were expected to attend a fire burning revelry, I didn’t realize how spot-on that assessment was. I think they did everything except howl at the moon and rut in the sand and even the howling I’m not too sure about.

Once Bella had rejoined me at the table, I told her some of what Leah and I had spoken about. She was upset and wanted to tell her sister to mind her own business. I however thought that our small talk had been a good thing. Leah had gotten some of her concerns out in the open, I wasn’t sure if she was asking me because of her lack of trust on Bella’s part to not hide anything or if she strictly wanted to hear it from the horse’s mouth. Either way I think that the few minutes we talked diminished some of Leah’s worries.

I could have said more to her on the subject and there was part of me that wishes I did. Thinking that the more enlightened Leah was the more accepting she would be. Although I remember my father talking to me about sex, he would only answer what I asked-when I asked, not elaborating any more than necessary. His thinking was that if he answered honestly without giving more information than I was ready for, I would feel secure enough to ask something else when the time came.

I was sort of using the same philosophy, keeping the doors of communication open in hopes that Bella can keep the relationship that she has with her sister. I know that over the past few weeks Leah’s withdrawal has been hard on Bella, the last thing I wanted to do was to be the cause of a rift between the two sisters. Leah said that she was willing to trust me and for the time being that was enough.

When we joined everyone else they still seemed to be segregated into their own groups much the same as everyone was during dinner. Clusters of chairs were scattered around the fire pit taking up their places on the beach for the night. On the far side in front of a larger rock Billy sat in his wheelchair next to Charlie and their friends each with a beer in their hands. We were on the other side situated between the fire and volleyball area. I’m not sure whose pickup trucks we were using but with the tail gates down and blankets to cushion the steel, it became a perfect space to spend the evening with friends.

They were friends, I was comfortable with them and for the most part they seemed to have accepted me, if for no other reason than to placate Bella.

Music came through the speakers attached to the pavilion where the lights had been dimmed. The only true brightness was cast down onto the volleyball area where the games were still going on. The other illumination came from the large blazing fire where the twelve graduates stood throwing things into the flames. Books, papers even some clothing all went up in smoke. I suppose it was like a rite of passage, burning the past to begin a new future. There was a lot of laughing and yelling as each one took their turn at destroying what they no longer deemed necessary.

Sitting on the corner of the truck, Bella stood between my legs with my hand wrapped around her waist holding her back against my body. The kids around the fire seemed to be finishing up when Sue came over to ask Bella if she could speak to her. With a kiss on my cheek the two women walked a few feet away to converse. I wasn’t paying attention to what was happening around me because my focus was on the fire. Someone had handed one of the kids a glass jar with what looked like a light amber liquid inside. Each one took a drink before passing it to the next person. I wasn’t exactly sure what it was but my best guess would have been homemade alcohol.

Quil who was sitting next to me handed over a similar jar, nodding his head as if to give me the go ahead.

“What is it?”

“LAHB…Plum juice.”

Taking a whiff of the contents it didn’t smell like anything, especially plums.

Looking back over across the beach it seemed like every group had their own jar and I figured ‘hell if the teenagers are drinking it, it can’t be that bad.’ Bringing the jar to my lips I should have stopped there when they started to tingle. I heard Bella yell, “Don’t drink that!” and a second later she was standing in front of me but it was too late.

I’ve heard of homemade liquor being called firewater and now I knew why. The tingle on my lips was nothing compared to the burn in my mouth or down my throat as I swallowed. My eyes watered as it felt like someone had taken a hot poker searing my insides. I couldn’t sputter or spit because all I could do was guzzle down the beer in my hand as fast as I could. When my eyes finally focused it was on Bella’s wide eyed gaze that I saw. She had both her hands clasped over her mouth in what looked like fright. At least I thought it was fright until she spoke.

“Are you ok?” the words of worry were mixed with humor.

I didn’t want to breath too heavy for fear that the heat from my breath would singe her eyebrows. Bella was biting her lip in nervous anticipation of my response. My body shook slightly as the last of the effects wore off and I could talk. “What the hell is that shit?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” Bella’s words were cut off by Emery who took the jar out of my hand giving it to Bella before patting me on the shoulder, “Now you’re truly one of us.”

“Fuck,” I muttered, “If I have to drink that shit I think I’d rather be an outsider.” As I said the words my eyes widened in amazement as I watched Bella take a rather large gulp before passing the jar to Claire.

Emery laughed, “It’s an acquired taste, and you’ll get used to it.”

Bella stepped back between my open legs still looking rather amused yet apologetic as she wrapped her arms around my neck, “I should have warned you.”

My arms embraced her around the small of her back holding her body close to me as I questioned, “Acquired taste?”

She giggled, “kind of like pâté.”

My eyes narrowed while Bella bit her lip trying to contain her merriment, “Oh…I see how it is.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose…honest I didn’t.”

The sincerity of her words were belied by the humor she still showed. But I didn’t care because her lips were so close that I couldn’t help myself. The kiss was soft and sweet until Bella’s tongue ran over my bottom lip. Opening my mouth I had to keep myself from groaning as I tasted the residue that was left from the alcohol she just drank. The normal tingle I felt whenever we touched was intensified by the strong liquid and I felt like I was melting into her. The only reason I was brought back to my senses was the heavy breath that came out of Bella. It wasn’t a whimper more like a needy shuttering that made my body respond with its own desire.

If we kept going there was no way I would make it through the rest of the night without having to take her somewhere to allay the craving that was building. My hands moved down to her hips pushing them away from my growing dick, Bella got the message and pulled her head back. The soft innocent blush that covered her face was worse on my hard-on then the kiss was and I did softly groan.

“You’re going to fucking kill me one day.” Bella tilted her head in confusion. I didn’t want to be crass and put her hand on my dick so she could feel what I was talking about. Instead I pulled her hips back to me smashing my hard-on against her thigh. Bad mistake because my dick throbbed even more with the contact and the blush that deepened on her face.

Bella put her forehead against my shoulder nuzzling her nose into my neck sending more shivers through me as she whispered in my ear, “Death by boner, is that possible?”

Dipping my head so that my mouth was against her ear, I growled quietly, “Hmmm…if he could fucking drown inside your wetness, little Eddie would die a happy man.”

Bella straightened up while she laughed so hard a snort came out as she mumbled ‘little eddie’ making me laugh along with her. The twinkle in her eyes increased as the tears from her laughter filled them. After a moment the laughter settled and with amusement she asked, “A happy man, uh?”

“Happiest man alive…or would he be deceased?” I asked with a chuckle.

Bella moved to kiss me once more with restraint and when she moved back I stared into those beautiful soulful brown eyes and couldn’t help the words that came from my mouth, “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The loud groan disrupted the moment, “AHHH…can you two stop? I’m getting nauseous over here!”

I wasn’t exactly sure who said it but my money was on Paul. Bella rolled her eyes and I chuckled at the blush that crept back over her cheeks. Jacob however took the opportunity to seek forgiveness, “Since you’re so full of love over there, are you going to talk to me now?”

Bella turn her body back around resting her back once again on my chest giving me a chance to see the expressions of the women staring at us. The smiles on their faces left no doubt that they approved, especially Leah who grinned wider when Bella responded with a resounding, “No, I’m mad at you.”

“Come on Bella, where’s the love?”

I grinned as she huffed ignoring him. She really could be stubborn, but I knew it wouldn’t last much longer.

The relationship she had with Jacob seemed much tighter than what she had with Leah. Not that Bella didn’t love her sister it was more of a closeness that radiated off of her and Jacob. Bella shared something with him that was special and she was much closer with Jacob than with any of the others. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was that bonded the two of them together and I was sure that there were never any romantic ties. Yet it seemed to me that the two of them sometimes existed in their own little space that few people (if any) penetrated. It was like they fed off of each other, needing the other in a way that I didn’t understand.

Kim’s words brought me out of my own thoughts, “Bella what beach are you going to?”

Bella tipped back the bottle of beer taking a drink before answering, “I’m not sure.”

Her admission earned some laughter, “You don’t know where you’re going?”

Her head turned to me with a questioning gaze making me chuckle, “We’re going to Lincoln City in Oregon.”

“Is that where?” I nodded as she gave her attention back to Kim.

“We were supposed to go down to California, but there was a problem with the number of rooms that were needed, so the destination changed.” Bella shrugged “It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Who else is going?” Leah wanted to know.

“Just Edward’s family.”

Claire spoke up, “So you get along with all of them?”

Bella nodded and while she was talking I half listened while answering Quil’s question about how long of a drive it was, and Emery’s response that they had a great golf course there. I was beginning to think that anywhere we went Emery would be able to tell us where the best golfing was. Bella was filling the women in on my family dynamics, giving names and basic information, and then she seemed to have thought of something.

“In fact Claire, you might remember Alice. She went to PACC with us, and would sit in on some of our study groups. Petit girl,” Bella held her hand up at shoulder level, “dark hair - real perky. In fact once you told her that she should lay off the caffeine.”

I had to chuckle at that because I often told my sister the same thing. Claire however shook her head in ignorance. Then after a second recognition came to her, “Wait! Was she the one who was supposed to go to Chicago to that fashion institute, but stayed here to be with that guy who was in Med School?”

Bella nodded taking another drink from the bottle, “Yes…that’s her.”

“Ohhh…yeah, she was annoying.”

I chuckled while Bella became serious, “Alice is Edward’s sister.”

Claire gave me an embarrassed expression, “Sorry…” then she justified her words, “She was just always so bubbly it was hard to believe that anyone had that much energy.”

“No problem,” I told her holding up my hand, “there are times when even I would agree with you.”

Clair however redeemed herself by being interested, “She is still with that guy?”

Bella continued to fill in the blanks while I talked with Quil and Emery. Leah’s question is what caught my attention, “Do you want us to take Seth? Then you don’t have to worry about him.”

Bella looked back to me; I gave her a shrug because it didn’t matter, whatever she decided was fine. She leaned forward looking over towards Jacob. “That depends on if your husband is going to take my baby trolling for bitches in the park.”

Leah giggled while Jacob became indigent, “I told you it was once and done…”

“I’m not even talking to you!” the words were spit at him with venom making me chuckle. Then Bella turned to me all sweet and gentle, “do you want another beer?”

“Sure,” I nodded watching her walk over to the large buckets where the cold drinks were.

Jacob sighed heavily, “Ok…enough of this shit.”

He followed Bella across the sand, but it looked like she was still ignoring him while he tried to use reason. My attention went back to what was happening around me when the jar reappeared.

Are they doing this on purpose when Bella isn’t here?

Eyeing the jar I passed it to Clair who was sitting on the truck bed between Quil’s legs she wasn’t paying attention and automatically took a drink, I shivered from the effect while she showed no reaction at all. Apparently Quil seen my response because he laughed, “There is a trick to LAHB, babe give me one of those sugar packets.”

He held his hand out while Claire pulled a small white packet from the pocket of her hoodie. Quil then proceeded to explain what to do. “It sounds gross, but get a good bunch of spit in your mouth then dump the sugar in it.”

I still wasn’t sure it was something I wanted to do but I figured it was worth a try. Quil handed me back the jar, “Now move the sugar to the back of your tongue and take a small sip, swallowing real fast.”

The wad of sugar kept me from taking very much of the liquid and it still tingled on my lips but the burn wasn’t as bad as it moved down my throat. When I gave Quil back the jar he smiled like he knew that this time around was much better than the first. There was no sputtering and my eyes didn’t feel like they were going to pop out of my head so I was able to talk, “Thanks that was much better.”

Quil smiled, “Sorry about before dude, I just figured that being around Jake so much that you would have some experience with Juice.”

“It’s alright,” I assured him. “There was no LAHB?” I questioned the pronunciation, and Quil understood giving me a nod as I finished, “the few times we got together.”

He seemed to take my words in disbelief and I would have questioned him but I heard Bella yelling, “Jake put me down!”

Looking over he had Bella hanging upside down over his arm like a trapeze artist. She was still insistent but laughing as the two shirts - my shirts - she had on bunched down around her rib cage. While her hands clutched to his leg as he walked slowly back over to us. “Jake I’m serious, my shirt is falling down!”

“Then I guess you better start talking, because Charlie is coming over and he’s going to see that tattoo,” I looked up and Charlie was nowhere to be seen, however from Bella’s position she wouldn’t have known.

“Jake! Come on I’m getting dizzy.”

“You are not and you’re not getting up until you talk to me.”

“No…not until you say you’re sorry and mean it!” By this time they were only a few feet away and Bella tucked her head against his leg and Jacob yelled, “OWE! Fuck!”

Bella started wiggling more and I was afraid he would drop her. “Jacob.” It was all I said while motioning for him to hand her over.

With a sigh his arm swung in my direction, “Take her she bites.”

Chuckling I bent down to grasp Bella under her arms pulling her up and into my body. Her arms and legs wrapped around me as I sat back against truck, “Did you bite him?”

“It was only a little nip,” she assured me while eyeing Jacob with a sideward glance

“I have sensitive skin,” Jacob tried to defend himself.

“Sensitive skin my ass, you’re a big baby.”

Their eyes locked for a moment as something passed between them. I felt like for a second I was intruding on a private conversation, which was fucking weird in and of itself, and it irritated me because I didn’t understand what was going on. If I didn’t know any better I would say they were lovers. Except Jacob was married to someone else and Bella was clinging to me for all she was worth. My eyes went to Leah who didn’t seem to be paying any attention as if it were all ok.

Was it ok? Is this normal behavior for them?

I didn’t want to come off as the possessive jealous boyfriend yet I was beginning to feel like a third wheel.

Jacob leaned down kissing the top of Bella’s head in an intimate gesture that was slowly becoming a habit for them, “I’m sorry na-WAY-th.”

Bella sighed and seemed to relax against me even more as if a weight had been lifted, “I forgive you, but don’t do that again.”

Turning back to me Bella seemed to remember that I was there as she kissed my cheek, “My hero…you saved me.”

“Saved you? I handed you over to him.”

“No you didn’t…Edward took me from you.” The exchange they were having was playful in nature and even though I was at the center of it, I wondered if Bella’s words were more truer than I originally thought.

Had I taken her from him?

“Not that I needed rescuing,” she told me pointedly. “I can handle Jake,”

Jacob laughed, “Only because I let you.”

“Na ah…I know your weakness.”

Bella giggled and their talk was back to playful banter, yet there was a truth behind what she was saying that nagged at the back of my mind. I had a sudden need to take Bella away from there, to keep her from the intimacy that she was sharing with another man. It was stupid and irrational that I should feel that way. I had seen the two of them interact several times, heard and seen the closeness that they shared, yet I hadn’t realized until that moment how close they really were. And it unnerved me as I wondered for the first time if it would be possible for me to ever be to Bella what Jacob seems to be.

I didn’t realize as my mind was wandering that my hands were also roving around until Bella wiggled in my lap and I believe it was Emily spoke, “That’s nice ink Bella. When did you get it done?”

Bringing my mind back to reality I realized that my hands had roamed over Bella’s ribs taking her shirts with them and exposing her back. Emily stood behind Bella who had moved to stand while Claire and Kim also came to investigate.

“Ummm…a month ago?” Bella’s answer was a question directed at me. I nodded in agreement.

“Hey!” Bella yelled as I realized someone pulled the back of her pants out to see the rest of the tattoo.

“How far down does it go?” Kim asked in interest as Bella slapped her hand away from the elastic in her pants and once again looked to me for the answer. Bella’s hand touched the spot on her butt, “To here?”

I smiled at her because this was something about Bella that I knew that Jacob didn’t. “Little bit further down…to about here,” my finger swirled over the black yoga pants she was wearing right where the tattoo swirled on the fullness of her ass cheek.

“Holy shit…you had to get naked for that?” Emily’s question was humorous in its innocence.

Of course she had to get naked

Bella’s back had become the thing to see at the moment as everyone came to take a look. She blushed and whether it was from the attention or the question I wasn’t sure.

“Yeah…but not completely, and Edward was there,” She said that as if it should have been obvious.

“Jake did you know he took her to get a tattoo?” Quil asked.

“Not until it was done,” Leah assured him as Jacob shrugged in nonchalance. Quil’s gaze moved between Jacob and me and when I looked around Jared was openly staring at me.

What is his fucking problem?

The music changed to a dance song that was familiar and Claire stood from her seat next to me grabbing Bella’s arm to take her along. All the other women had already abandoned the art work on Bella’s back to move where the lines were forming. Bella pulled down her shirt taking my hand, “Come do the Cupid Shuffle.”

I chuckled, “You go…I’ll watch. You know how much I like to watch.”

Bella bit her lip giggling and as she turned to go I swatted her bottom making her gasp while a small groan left her throat.

Yeah her ass was still tender

Watching her join the dance lines with everyone else, as they moved to the left, to the left, to the right, to the right…now cha cha, they were all laughing and having a good time dancing in the sand. Leah didn’t join them, instead she stood off to the side taking pictures; I suppose with her advanced pregnancy, jumping around wouldn’t be a good thing.

“I don’t know Black I think you lost your other woman to Edward” Paul’s words rung in my ear. “She’s making kissy face, going to motel rooms and getting tattoos” He laughed taking a drink from the glass jar.

“Bella’s not my woman. And don’t say that shit in front of my wife. Leah’s moody enough without you adding to it”

“Oh come on Jake, you know damn well that Bella and you…”

“Bella and I what?” Jacob was getting irate and so was I, yet my interest was peaked at what Paul was going to say. The jar came to me and I didn’t need any sugar, the burn was welcomed as Paul continued, “Who was your first kiss…”

“That doesn’t count...”

“Oh yeah…” Paul mocked, “I forgot Big bad Bella forced you.”

Jake narrowed his eyes and I wasn’t liking where this conversation was going any more than he was.

Emery tried to interject, “Bella was taller than him.”

“Yeah…yeah…and who were the first tits you ever touched, then walked around with a fucking hard on for three days?”

What the fuck

I wasn’t sure if Paul realized I was sitting there or if he was just too drunk to care either way but I was pissed and so was Jacob. “First off asshole, I was thirteen years old so the wind blew and I was sporting wood…”

“Wood and then you slept in the same bed with her every night…”

That was enough

My body stood, shaking off Quil’s hand that he had on my shoulder, but before I could say anything Jacob grabbed Paul by the shirt.

“You better shut the fuck up right now! And don’t you ever…say anything like that about Bella again. You want to talk about all the other skanks in Forks you go right ahead, but don’t even insinuate anything like that about Bella!”

“Hey..hey..hey…let’s just calm down,” Sam who had been quiet most of the night had spoken up.

Jacob pushed his fist against Paul’s chest making him stumble backwards while letting go of his shirt. Jacob walked passed me with a sideward glance shaking his head as he went over to his wife. My attention went back to Paul who had a stupid look on his face like he wasn’t sure what the problem was.

“What? I was joking around.”

“Not fucking funny,” I told him trying hard to control my temper.

“Whatever, I need a beer.” The last thing Paul needed was another beer and luckily before he could reach the bins Rachel came over with a baby on her hip to stop him.

“That woman must be a saint,” I heard laughter from next to me letting me know that I spoke my thoughts out loud.

“She definitely has patience,” Emery said clapping me on the shoulder as the music changed to play ‘Love Shack.’

There was a squeal from where everyone was dancing and the men standing with me groaned in unison. Not sure what had happened I watched Bella and her friends, do some kind of hokey dance. Laughing with the others as they stomped on the sand, shaking their butts and waving their hands in the air while moving around in a circle.

“Do they always do that?” I chucked watching the silliness of their made up moves.

“It’s like their theme song, and yes they always do it.”

That’s why it’s Leah’s ring tone

The smile on my face left when Jared sat down next to me on the truck bed, “Paul is talking out his ass.”

I sighed tipping back the bottle of beer nodding as I swallowed while he continued talking, “I’ll admit that Bella and Jake are more than friends, more than siblings too. Paul has always razzed Jake about it. That’s what was happening; Paul was looking to get a reaction.” Jared shook his head, “He should know better than to say that shit. Jake never let anyone talk about Bella like that, and Paul just likes to talk smack. He never understood why Jake was always so protective of Bella, or why he would threaten anyone who showed any interest in her.”

“He threatened them?”

“Oh yeah,” Jared took a sip from his own bottle. “It wasn’t really a threat; it was more like a promise. Everyone knew they would have to answer to Jake if something happened to Bella,” he chuckled, “believe me, I had firsthand experience.”

There was no need to tell Jared that I knew what he was talking about, besides I had a better question that needed an answer. “So how did James get under that radar?”

“That was my fault I guess. Paul can be a pain in the ass and he was goading me into saying shit that got back to Jake, who made good on his promise…it was kids stuff and I was sorry about that. Not because Jake beat the crap out of me but because I hurt Bells. Anyway, when she first went out with Jimmy we were all shocked, everyone hated him. He was an arrogant asshole always talking about the college scholarship he was going to get for football. James was ok for Forks but…”

I interrupted before finishing the bottle in my hand, “He was a big fish in a little pond.”

“Yeah,” Jared reached behind him in the truck bed handing me another beer, “and even as a kid he thought because his parents owned the store that he was better than everyone else. The reality that they struggled just like everyone else was lost on him. I mean come on let’s face it…this is Forks, there isn’t a big tourist trade and his parents store survives on placing orders for the surrounding schools along with the occasional backpackers going through.”

What Jared was saying made sense, the landscape was beautiful it was all green and plush. The mountain ranges were vast creating a great spot for hiking. I thought about the kids we had met while Zip Cording, they had started their trail here in Forks. However I wondered if they were the norm, simply due to the location I couldn’t imagine that there would be many hikers that actually came this far west.

“Anyway, when Bells told Jake that she was going out with Jimmy Cummings,” he said the name like it left a nasty taste in his mouth, “He freaked out and somehow or another she made him promise to leave Jimmy alone.” Jared sighed, “and he did. I think she pointed out the strain in our friendship at the time…I don’t really know for sure, except I overheard Bells tell him that he can’t go around kicking everyone’s ass.”

Twisting off the lid of the bottle I didn’t know what to say about that. I could see Bella’s point. She had seen what happened to Jared and if Jacob was going around warning everyone to stay away from Bella, how was she ever going to be with someone? Dawning came to me as I thought about it, the boys weren’t blind to Bella’s charms, they were afraid of Jacob’s bronze.

Jacob was only doing what he thought best and I can’t blame him for wanting to protect Bella, but everything that happened only seemed to cement her fate. The one person Jacob should have kept her from was the one who he looked the other way because Bella had asked him to. I wondered if it was out of respect for Bella’s wishes or if Jacob felt guilty because of what happened with Jared. Not that I wouldn’t have kicked someone’s ass if they said that shit about Alice, no matter who goaded them into it.

“That’s what I thought had happened with you.”

“What?”

“I thought Bells had once again asked Jake to back off, and I wanted to make sure that if he did, that someone like Jimmy wasn’t getting through the safety net. Did you know that fifty percent of women who leave their abusers will find themselves in another abusive relationship?”

“No, I didn’t know that.”

His eyes narrowed, “Fifty percent, it’s a toss of a coin and I wasn’t going to let that happen simply because Bella asked. So I was watching, looking for any kind of sign that something wasn’t right.”

That’s why he kept fucking staring at me

I laughed, “and here I thought you wanted my woman.”

“Oh I do,” Jared chuckled stopping when he caught the glare in my eyes. “I want her to be happy…I want her to be safe…I want her to have the good fifty percent.”

The giggling from the women returning was the only thing that took my attention away from Jared. Along with Charlie’s voice telling us that he and Sue were leaving. The arrangements to meet for breakfast in the morning were set. Seth came over – it was the first I had seen him all night – asking if we, the old guys wanted to play them in a game of volleyball.

I wasn’t sure I liked being called one of the old guys but we played them anyway. Three games and I couldn’t tell you how many beers and passes of the jar later us old guys were beaten two games to one, even though our cheerleaders were louder and drunker than theirs. It was fun and getting late.

Most of the adults had left and the kids were starting to put up tents on the beach to sleep out for the night. Emery and Kim sent their children home with Kim’s mom; and they, along with everyone else decided to come back to the house we were staying at to continue with the party.

Jacob started the fire in the ring out in the front yard, while Bella and I got some extra chairs out of the shed. Leah brought out the radio turning it to an oldies station that seemed to be stuck in the eighties. There was more laughing and reminiscing while we sat around the fire for a while.

“Let’s play truth or dare,” Kim suggested.

“No!” Bella was adamant while Emery laughed, “Come on sweet cheeks…”

“Why the fuck do you call her that?” I had been hearing it all weekend and wanted to know the meaning behind the nick-name. Bella took my hand ready to explain but Emery just laughed harder, “because she fucking hates it,” while Leah laughed, “Come on Edward you remember we told you about Bella running around the barn naked and falling in the mud.”

Oh…yeah. The truth or dare story

They all laughed while Jared questioned, “Why wasn’t I there for that?”

Bella pointed a finger at him, “Because your momma wouldn’t let you play with Jake anymore.”

He took the words with a knowing grin as Leah looked over to Bella and out of nowhere exclaimed, “You have to shave my legs tomorrow.”

“What?” she asked dubiously.

“I go to the doctor on Tuesday and I need to shave my legs but I can’t see them so you have…”

“That seems above and beyond the call of duty. Why don’t you go get waxed?” it sounded like a simple solution.

“Because it fucking hurts,” Leah’s response was met with Claire’s reply, “it’s not that bad.”

“The hell it isn’t!” Leah’s retort made me lean towards Bella in wonder, “Does it hurt really badly?”

I made her get a full body wax and she never questioned or complained, so I was surprised by her answer. “Yes…it hurts”

Thinking that she would elaborate I was even more surprised when she burst out laughing, “Ask Jake.”

“Bella!” he yelled but she was laughing too hard to care and the others picked up quickly that there was something they didn’t know, “Dude?” Quil chuckled while Leah wanted to know, “When did you get waxed?”

Bella was still laughing while Jacob was staring daggers at her as she tried to back pedal out of the situation, “No, he didn’t!” but no one believed her.

“Jake, my man you did.” We were all laughing mostly because of Bella’s fit of hysteria.

“Alright…yes I did.”

Leah giggled, “When?”

“Right before the wedding…” Bella was laughing so hard it was hard to understand her, “didn’t you notice…he was all baby smooth?”

“Thanks a lot Bells,” Jacob huffed but the chuckle was there while Emery wanted to know, “Did it hurt?”

That question made Bella laugh so hard there was no sound coming out just a few words at a time, “He screamed…so loud…I …had to go…in and …hold his hand.”

“Dude you screamed?” Quil question through his laughter.

“Let somebody rip the hair out of your ass and see what you do,” Jacob was trying to justify his actions.

“Why the fuck did you need the hair off your ass, was somebody going to use it?”

Bella pointed at Emery still hysterical, “That’s the same thing I asked him!”

Jacob glared at Bella before answering, “I don’t know. The woman called it a fancy name and it came in some kind of package deal.”

“See Leah he loves you,” Bella said before looking at Jacob, “I’m sorry…I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“Yeah..yeah…yeah…a little bit of alcohol in you and nothing is sacred” Bella’s laughter was dying down when Leah asked her, “Did you really go in and hold his hand?”

“I had too…and he was squeezing my hand so hard…I thought he was going to break my fingers…and the whole time he’s screaming into the pillow.”

Bella looked over at Jacob again while Jared assured everyone, “Leah I don’t care how much I loved you, I wouldn’t rip the hair out of my ass for you.”

“Why were you screaming the whole time?” Kim wanted to know.

“Because even when she was putting on the wax – which felt really good by the way – I knew it was going to have to come off.”

“Why didn’t you stop?” it seemed to me that Jacob had reached his limit but his answer made sense, “You can’t walk around with half your ass waxed…besides women do it all the time,” glancing at Bella she nodded with a smug smile as Jacob went on, “The worse part was a month later.”

Bella started giggling again making me wonder but Quil asked before I could, “What happened a month later?”

“The hair grew back.” He said like it was obvious, “I was standing there putting on a set of rotors scratching my ass like a monkey in the jungle.”

“I can’t believe you made Bella go in there with you with your ass hanging out,” it sounded like Leah wasn’t too happy about that and when I thought about it in that light I wasn’t too happy either.

“I didn’t see anything,” Bella assured her but Leah glared like she didn’t believe her so Bella explained, “You know how in TV shows the woman is getting C-section and they put up a drape…” Leah nodded, “That’s what happened. I sat up by his head,” she started laughing again, “holding his hand like an expectant father…”

Bella looked at Jacob, “Who’s your daddy?” she asked seriously before bursting out laughing.

“Shut the fuck up Bells…” he chuckled looking at me, “Give Bella some alcohol and watch her go.”

“Yeah…” Claire interjected, “like at Easter when you told Quil I needed a good ass fucking.”

“I didn’t say that,” Bella was sure but Quil chuckled with a nod, “Yes you did. You said she was all moody and that a high hard one up the ass would get her back on track.”

“Did it work?” Bella asked with a giggle.

“Screw that…I had to ward him off my ass for two weeks…it was nothing but missionary …thank you very much.” Claire added with a contrite grin. “Quil kept saying Bella’s a psychologist…she knows about these things.” Claire giggled as she changed her voice in an attempt to imitate Quil while we all chuckled and he added, “I figured it was worth a shot.”

“A shot in the dark,” Emery laughed handing me the jar that was almost empty. Taking a small sip I realized that the LAHB was actually starting to taste like plum juice. Passing off the jar to Bella, Claire chuckled, “See Edward you don’t even need the sugar anymore.”

Kim giggled as Bella looked at me, “They gave you sugar?”

Before I could answer Kim spoke up, “It’s just like swallowing cum, straight shot right down your throat.”

“I never swallowed cum, but I get the idea,” I assured her while Emery added with a chuckle, “That’s good to know Edward.”

Bella laughed pointing her finger at Kim and Leah, “They taught me how to give head.”

I was thinking about thanking the two girls for that but Kim started laughing, “We did, with the carrot…it was for Jared…” she was in near hysterics as she pointed to him and Leah started laughing. “Bella was sure it couldn’t be bigger than a carrot…or she was backing out.”

“Excuse me but can you all stop referring to my dick as a carrot,” Jared tried to exert himself but his request only spurred on a fit of giggles from the girls as Claire wanted to know, “Was it bigger than a carrot?”

Bella was shaking her head laughing, “I don’t know it never got that far…” she stopped laughing. “Too bad for you Jared, because I just won an award…for the best deep throat…my name is on the wall...” she taught for a moment before pointing to me, “…actually it’s Edwards name…he got the honor for having me…”

“What?” Jacob seemed confused but I wrapped my arm around Bella’s shoulder pulling her me in hopes that she would stop talking. I didn’t want Bella in her drunken state to say anymore then she already had. Taking her chin I kissed her gently, quietly speaking against her lips. “You are the only prize I need love.”

Bella’s whole concentration was focused on me as she stared into my eyes. The trance we seemed to be in was broken when Claire announced, “I won a metal in the Bahamas’ for the best fake orgasm.”

Quil groan as all eyes went to them.

“I did,” Claire said proudly then proceeded to tell the story. “The resort we stayed at was an adult only and every night they have different themes. It was scavenger hunt and in order for the next clue to be given out, each person at the table had to take a turn on stage to do something. Like sing the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ or like Quil’s group had to dress these mannequins to look like drag greens, with makeup and hair dos. Then the audience would vote for the best one, the winner got a medal and then the clue would be given out to the room. Anyway my group had to do a fake orgasm…and I won.”

“Do it Claire,” Kim coaxed. “Come on show us what you got!”

Quil groaned again as she stood closing her eyes and started breathing heavy adding a few moans, heavy sighs and some ‘oh gods’ into it. Her head fell back as the sounds became deeper and more primal and then her body started quivering as the words changed to ‘fuck...yes…harder…yes…do me harder…more…come on more.’

Throughout her little exhibition Quil sat there watching her in disbelief when she screamed, “Yes!” as her body shook one last time before she opened her eyes and started laughing. I had to admit it was pretty damn convincing and everyone else must have thought so too as they were laughing and clapping. Claire bowed, “Thank you...thank you,” she leaned down to give Quil a kiss who didn’t seem as impressed as the rest of us, “I would never do that with you baby.”

Quil pulled Claire down into his lap by her hips chuckling, “That’s not the end of it.” Claire giggled while he went on, “The next day we’re on the water taxi going over to Paradise Island and there is this older lady on the other side of the boat who keeps staring at us. I’m ready to say something to her and she points at Claire and yells, ‘You’re the orgasm girl!’ So my meek, quiet Claire, stands up in the middle of the boat and starts moaning and bowing.”

Everyone around the fire was laughing and Jacob chuckled, “Quil I think she has been practicing a lot,” while Emery asked with a chuckle, “Why would you fake it anyway?”

Leah giggled, “Because sometimes you just want it to be …over.” stressing the last word with a hand gesture of finality, then added “What I really want to know I is when the hell was Claire ever meek and quiet?”

“Hey” Claire sounded indignant “you all know how genteel I am”

The women laughed as Kim comment “Oh yeah you were real genteel when you held on to that guys pants while you popped a squat at the hill climb”

“I couldn’t help it, I had to pee and the port-a-potty’s were a mile away” Claire tried to justify herself “besides he didn’t care”

Kim was laughing again “No he didn’t care he wanted Leah and me to join you”

The three of them were laughing Quil however didn’t fine it as funny “You peed on some guy”

“No that’s disgusting I just held on to his belt so I didn’t fall over”

“When was this?” Quil was sounding more perturbed then amused and Leah interrupted the pending dispute by announcing “I have to pee.”

That declaration made all four women head out in a mass exodus towards the house. When they were gone Quil chuckled, “Women, why do we put up with them?”

“Because the alternative isn’t any better,” Jacob replied and Emery added, “or as soft…” he looked to Jared, “and you know I love you man, but I don’t want nothing to do with your carrot dick.”

“Great…just fucking great…a carrot. You think they would have at least used a cucumber,” Jared sounded dejected but Quil laughed, “You’re just lucky they didn’t use an asparagus.”

“Yeah we’d be calling you stalk dick,” Quil laughed while Emery asked Jacob, “Why the fuck would they teach each other that shit and how the hell did Kim and Leah know what to do anyway?”

Jacob shrugged, “I don’t know I think it’s fucking weird Leah just tells Bella, you’re going to shave my legs,” he looked at me, “You know damn well she’s going to do it.”

I grinned knowing full well that Bella would be shaving Leah’s legs. Seth came running out to the fire to sit alongside my chair. I figured Bella must have left him out as I petted his head Jared observed, “He likes you.”

I nodded, “Yeah…he’s a good dog and he’s used to being around me now. Especially since Bella’s been staying with me…”

“Is she going to sell her house?” Jacob asked while Emery added, “I was wondering that myself.”

“Bella moved in with you?” Jared wondered and I realized that when Bella made the announcement earlier he was on the other end of the table and must not have heard that piece of information.

“Not completely. They have been staying at my house …”

“Someone messed with Seth’s collar and Bella’s car a few weeks ago so I felt better knowing that she was staying at Edward’s,” Jacob’s approval seemed to make the other men relax while it made me feel more uneasy about the bond that they shared and whether it could be broken.

“Why was someone messing with Bella?” that was a question that I had pushed to the back of my mind since we left for our little vacation. To be honest we had been having such a nice time away, I didn’t want to have to think about it and the fact that I had no answers to give only added to my uneasiness.

“If I knew that, then I would know who it was and...”

“Maybe it was the last woman you had living with you,” Jared was being cocky but I also knew that it was his way of finding out more about me, so I played along.

“Bella is the only woman who has ever lived with me.” That was a true statement, others stayed over but only on the weekends and only occasionally in my bed. I thought it might be a good time to set something straight. “I’m not sure what Bella is going to do with her house, sell it, rent it, whatever she wants to do that’s up to her. The only thing I know is that I want my house to become our home, permanently.”

It’s not that I needed their approval or was even looking for it; my thought process was more along the lines of, these men gathered around the fire were an important part of Bella’s life, which made them (by proxy) part of my life too. That didn’t disturb me in the least; I found them very entertaining and friendly, even Jared who after we talked didn’t seem so infuriating to me. I wasn’t at all happy that Bella had been taught the art of falatio for him, yet that was many years ago and I could overlook it, especially since he never got to experienced it.

The poor bastard

“Seth,” Bella called from the porch as the other women came out into the yard. She smacked her lips together while Seth looked up at me like he had no intention of listening. Standing up I started towards the house calling after him, “Come on boy.”

Bella held open the screen door letting him into the house before coming down the two steps. I stood there watching her move towards me with a fire in her eyes. As she got a few feet from me she started singing along with the song that was coming from the radio.

“But I know what I like, I know I like dancing with you,” she smiled as the song continued. “And I know what you like, I know you like dancing with me.”

As the song persisted Bella walked up to me tilting her chin to look into my eyes while she sang, “Kiss me once, kiss me twice. Come on pretty baby kiss me deadly.”

As the last words left her mouth she wrapped her arms around my neck tugging my head towards her. Our lips met in a searing kiss, tongues, teeth, raw passion coming through. Reaching down my hands lifted her by her bottom making her whimper into my mouth causing me to become even more insistent. My hands squeezed her cheeks roughly making Bella moan as her legs tightened around my waist while she wiggled against me looking for friction. Her legs formed a vice grip around me and she used her calves to hold on to my back as her center lowered over my straining dick. The contact made me grunt and I squeezed her butt cheeks tighter causing her to gasp and pull back from my mouth.

“Edward please?” Bella’s voice was breathy and laced with lust.

“Please what baby?” I asked against the skin of her neck as I trailed kisses along the line of her jaw.

Once again her center dropped down to grind against my throbbing dick, “Fuck me.”

My head snapped up to gaze into her eyes, if her words weren’t enough to make me take her inside and give her what she wanted, the look I was getting certainly did it. “Say good night to your friends.”

My hands loosened their grip and I expected Bella to get down, walk over, and tell them we were going in for the night, instead she yelled over my shoulder, “Good night!”

Her enthusiasm made me chuckle as I heard Kim call out, “Are you going to bed?”

“Yup…We’re really tired…”

“Sure you are.” Kim called back but I was already making strides across the yard.

When the screen door shut Bella attacked my lips with a kiss that I couldn’t completely give into because I had to look where I was going. Once the bedroom door was kicked closed that problem was no longer present and she had had my full attention. I felt her doing something with her legs and a second later her sneakers dropped to the floor. There was a frenzy of motion as my hands moved to her hips and slipped into the elastic of her pants in an attempt to remove them as our lips moved against each other’s.

Unable to get them passed her hips I set Bella down on the dresser. Her sore butt coming in quick contact with the cold wood made her cry out in a groan while she lifted her legs up for me to strip off the pants. Her breathing was already strained as my mouth crashed to hers forcefully. Our tongues were struggling for dominance as both of us worked our hands feverously to open up my belt.

Toeing off my shoes I had to pull back from her mouth to push my pants over my hips and step out of them. While she grabbed the end of her shirts lifting them off her head, I followed her lead by removing mine. Bella watched me from where she was perched on the dresser with her knees bent and her feet resting flat on the surface. I took in the sight of her; brown tresses hung freely down over her shoulders partially covering the light blue bra that remained. Her thighs spread provocatively exposing her moist glistening center.

Reaching behind my neck she pulled me towards her, “You’re taking too long.”

Her eagerness made me grin smugly as I immediately remedied that situation. Slipping my hands under Bella’s knees I wrapped them around her hips, moving her body to the edge of dresser and she cried out as I slid inside of her. She leaned her shoulders back against the wall grabbed me around my waist with both hands and whimpered, “Please.”

Normally I would draw it out, listen to her beg; make her wait for satisfaction however I myself just couldn’t wait, so I gave her what she wanted. Each thrust was met with her own as she used her thighs to push up against me. She moaned out in pleasure as her hands cupped her breasts, pulled them out and began teasing her nipples.

“Oh fuck baby,” she felt so good and the sight of her touching herself was making me crazy, I needed to taste her.

Withdrawing from inside her I sunk to my knees placing my head between her thighs and took a long slow lap up her center. The sweet tangy flavor that was all Bella sent me into fury. The sounds coming from her were only adding to my lust and I felt like a hungry animal attacking its prey. Lapping up her juices as my tongue worked its way deep inside her core.

“Ahhh….God…Edward!” Bella cried out gripping the back of my head and wiggling herself against my face. Her moans became stronger and when I moved my mouth to circle her clit, Bella fisted my hair so hard I thought she was going to rip it out while she yelled, “Yes!”

My fingers curled inside her while my mouth worked against her clit and it didn’t take long until she was writhing around letting out a loud primal moan as she clamped down on my fingers and came with a shuddering breathless moan, “mm…mmmm…mmyyeeesss….god…fuck yes…”

Moving back I placed small kisses on the inside of her thigh watching as Bella’s body came back down. Her eyes opened as a smile formed on her face and I stood between her parted legs. Before I could register what happened she pushed on her feet, springing herself at me. Her mouth was on mine as her tongue licked across my lips, tasting herself she moaned again. The sound of her pleasure was too much and I grabbed under her thighs while she wrapped her legs around my waist. Our mouths were plastered together as Bella seemed to be searching for any remnant of her juices that was left.

Taking two steps I twisted so that her back was against the wall, lifting Bella’s body I was able to slide into her. That action caused another cry to leave her throat as I set up a steady rhythm of movement. Bella threw her head back banging it on the wall and giving me perfect access to her neck. She gripped the back of my head as I licked, kissed, and sucked any spot I could find. It didn’t seem to be long before Bella was gasping for breath, gripping my shoulders and clamping down on my dick with such force that I couldn’t hold back anymore. My body slammed into her while my dick seemed to find a new depth and I spilled myself inside her with a groan.

“Oh baby…I fucking love you,” I said breathlessly resting my forehead against the wall while Bella’s fingers threaded through my hair.

“Is that because you love fucking me?” her voice was soft and quiet with a touch of humor. However she had to know that it was more than that. Didn’t she?

Straightening my head I looked into her face, even in the dark room her eyes shined in the moonlight that was coming in from the window. “I love you so much…you mean everything to me Bella.”

She smiled hugging me closer and once again attacking my lips, when she pulled back her tongue ran over corners of my mouth, I knew what she was doing. Taking a few steps backwards I felt the bed behind my knees and fell down into the softness taking Bella with me. She giggled gripping my shoulder as I pulled the quilt from the other side of the bed on top of us.

Bella kissed me softly letting her tongue move over my lips.

“I think you missed a spot, right here,” Her tongue snaked out to lick the spot on my chin where my finger had pointed to. When she seemed satisfied that I was cleaned of her liquids Bella looked into my eyes, her hair was a jumbled mess hanging down in her face. Tucking one side behind her ear it was easier to see her. She continued to gaze at me quietly for a moment before I could see her eyes become glassy.

“I’ve never loved anyone, like I love you. And I’ve never felt more loved than I do with you.”

Smiling at her I reached up to kiss her gently before tucking her head under my neck while she settled onto my chest. Lying there in the stillness of the night, I could hear them still out by the fire, laughing and talking; their world was a happy place. My world was lying on top of me falling asleep with one arm against her side and the other against my shoulder, and she was my happy place.

I was drifting off to sleep when I heard someone walking up to the door giving a tentative knock. Opening my eyes the door cracked open a few inches, “Edward are you awake?”

My mind came to full awareness as I pulled the blanket further up Bella’s back to shield her from Seth’s gaze, “Not a good time my man.”

At my words Bella stirred mumbling, “Mas..”

“Shhh…” I shushed her taking her free arm to bring it alongside her body holding her securely, “…sleep my love.” I whispered against her head. Bella wiggled slightly while I restrained her body as much as I could until a small sigh escaped her throat and I felt her relax against me. Once she was settled and modestly covered my attention went back to Seth.

“I wanted to ask you…” cutting him off I told him to give me a minute and I would be out to talk to him. He shut the door quietly as I held Bella turning us so she could lie on the mattress. She snuggled into the pillow with a small whimper as I pulled away from her tucking the blanket in to keep her warm.

Sitting on the edge of the bed I glanced at the clock two-thirty.

This better be important

I didn’t really worry about what I was putting on, grabbing the pair of pajama pants and sweatshirt off the chair that was left there to be washed. The bright light of the kitchen made me squint as I followed the sound of voices out to the front porch. Jacob was sitting on the swing with Jared talking with Seth who was leaning against the railing holding heavy blankets over his arms. The two men on the swing eyed me as I stepped outside but didn’t say anything. That was good because I just wanted to see what Seth wanted and get back to Bella.

“What do you need?” I asked running my hand through my hair which I was sure was a mess

“Listen, when we come to the city for the baby shower can we stay at your house?’

Is he fucking kidding me?

“You pulled me out of bed to ask me that?”

“Yeah,” his youthful selfishness made me chuckle. “I guess, but don’t you want to stay at Leah’s?”

That seemed like an obvious place for him to stay, however his answer made sense. “Well, we wanted to come Friday morning and Leah would wonder why we were there. Oh, but don’t worry we have plans to go shopping and to the movies so we won’t bother you. Besides …Leah can be kind of a bitch sometimes.”

I huffed looking at Jacob, I don’t care who was saying it, if someone called my woman a bitch I would have something to say about it instead I came to Leah’s defense, “She’s not so bad.”

Seth smirked, “You don’t have to kiss up to us, we already like you.”

“Whatever,” I sighed, “is that all you needed?”

“Yeah.”

As I nodded and he turned to go I thought of something, “Who is we?”

“Tracy and me,” his tone made it seem obvious and maybe if I wasn’t dragged from a warm bed with naked Bella in it at two-thirty in the morning it might have been. However, his answer made me wonder.

“How old is Tracy?”

“Seventeen.”

“Seventeen? Does her mother know that she is going and staying at my house?” I wasn’t sure that I wanted a seventeen year old girl that I didn’t know very well staying with me, especially if her mother wasn’t aware of it.

“It won’t be a problem.”

My eyes narrowed in thought as I looked to the two men on the swing for conformation. Neither of them gave me an answer, in fact all I got was a one shoulder shrug from Jacob.

Well that was a lot of fucking help

I had to clear my mind and think quickly, “Ok here’s the deal. You can both stay with us under one condition, does Tracy’s mom know Bella?” he nodded in affirmation. “Ok then, I’m going to need Tracy’s mother to call Bella and give her consent. As long as she does that then I don’t have a problem with it.”

“Ok…see you in two weeks,” he walked away with a smile but he stopped on the first step turning back to look at me with a strange expression. “Is that comfortable?”

I had no idea what he was talking about and my eyes narrowed in question. “Bella sleeping on top of you, is that comfortable?”

Not wanting to get into my sleeping arrangements I didn’t answer, instead bringing the subject back to a more important point so that there would be no misunderstandings. “Seth…no phone call…no room at the inn.”

“I got ya, and Tracy will have her mom call,” he seemed sure about that as he opened the door to his truck. While he drove away my attention went back to the other two people on the porch. “What did I just agree to?”

Jacob laughed, “It won’t too bad. Although, you’ll have to put up with their loud sex.”

“Great,” just what I want to deal with, loud teenage debauchery, oh well one weekend wouldn’t kill me.

“Yeah they might even be louder then you,” Jacob’s comment made me smirk, but not care at all as I opened the door to go back inside. “I’m going back to bed.”

Grapping a bottle of water from the refrigerator I used the bathroom before going back in to Bella. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I could see that she was lying on her side much the same way I had left her. The blanket tucked under her arms with her hands nestled under her chin. Pulling off my pants I sat on the edge of the bed to remove the sweatshirt.

Bella’s hand touched my back making turn to look at her. “Where did you go?”

“I got a drink,” I said picking up the bottle of water off the nightstand and opening it, “and Seth wanted to talk to me.”

“Mmmm…” she sighed. “What did he want?”

“I’ll tell you later,” I said putting the bottle on the table and leaning down to kiss her bare shoulder.

“Mmmm…round two?” Bella asked with a sleepy grin.

“Are you up for round two?”

She smiled, “The question is, are you up for round two?”

“Oh baby,” I said removing the blanket from under her arms and perching above her. “I’m always ready for you, it doesn’t matter if it’s round two, three, or ten.”

Bella gripped my shoulders as I kissed her. Round two was gentle, filled with soft whispers and touches that showed our love for one another along with the squeaky bed. When we were both sated we crawled under the blankets holding each other and letting the long day finally come to an end.

Even through closed eyes my brain realized that it was actually sunny out. Reaching out, my arms searched for Bella only to come up empty.

Where the hell is she?

Sitting on the bed putting back on the clothes that I wore to speak with Seth my eyes glanced at the clock- seven twenty-four. With a groan I looked around the room realizing that the laundry bag was missing as I went to find her.

The tidy kitchen that usually held so much activity was empty. The pot of fresh coffee on the counter stood half full, with cups hanging on the holder next to it. Pouring myself some I could hear the soft hush of voices coming through door that stood open. With my cup in hand I stood inside the screen door watching Bella and Jacob on the front porch. They were sitting together on the swing looking out into the rising sun. Jacob was sitting upright with his arm draped across Bella’s shoulder while she leaned against his side with her head on his shoulder and legs tucked underneath her.

I knew I should have made my presence known and not eavesdropped but I was torn between two instincts. The first was that even though Bella was cozying up to another man, there was no feeling of jealousy and I didn’t want to interrupt their moment. The other more dominating impulse was the one that wanted to hear what they were saying. That was the one that prevailed.

“Teddy is thinking of retiring, I could sell my shop and buy him out. Leah can work from here as well as anywhere else.”

“Would you live here in this house?” Bella asked.

“No. Seth is going to stay here. We could either build on our parcel or a better plan is to add on to Billy’s house.”

“Would I still have my closet?” Bella asked hopeful.

Jacob chuckled, “Of course. You know you still have shit in there.”

“Why doesn’t Billy get rid of it?”

“He says it’s yours and he’s not touching it. Besides, I think he likes knowing that you are still part of the family.”

They were quiet and I was going to refill my cup to join them when Bella asked. “When?”

“Two maybe three years, a lot of things have to happen and it sort of depends on you.”

“Jake you can’t live your life around me,” Bella’s voice was soft.

“I can’t live it without you…besides we made a pact…remember?” Jacob held his hand up with his forefinger sticking out.

“Yeah…I remember,” Bella’s forefinger grasped his curling around it with a resounding, “…always.”

“Always.”

I could hear the squeak of the springs from the porch swing moving. I assumed that what they were sharing was childhood pact of friendship that created a bond of loyalty. That was something that I admired in Bella her unyielding devotion to those she loved. I had worried that what she shared with Jacob would interfere with our relationship however I thought of her words from the night before.

“I’ve never loved anyone, like I love you. And I’ve never felt more loved then I do with you.” And I believed her.

Pushing open the old wooden screen door they both looked at me, Jacob had a grin on his face but Bella’s smile lit up my day.

“Hi, good morning.”

“Good morning,” I told her leaning against the railing in front of them while Jacob asked how I was feeling.

“Not too bad, I just have a small headache.”

Jacob glanced at Bella with a smirk, “THOH-oh-lee.”

Bella sat up with a look of concern, “I’ll get you some Tylenol.”

“Please.”

When she stood taking the cup out of my hand, I saw that all she was wearing was a short yellow nightshirt with a thin grey rope that wasn’t much longer. My eyes went to her form and the way the material clung to her body leaving very little to the imagination, to Jacob’s credit he didn’t seem to notice. Regardless of how close they seemed to be or what they shared it truly was a brotherly –sisterly love.

“Bells,” Jacob called out as she reached the door. “put a tablespoon of LAHB in the coffee, it will make him feel better.”

The thought of even a tablespoon of that stuff made me nauseous, “Isabella, just the Tylenol” I knew using her full name would stress the point. She nodded giving me a smile before going inside.

“You’re up early,” Jacob had gone to bed after I did however he shrugged, “I get up at the crack of dawn every day and I heard Bells walking around in the kitchen…”

Bella came back out with fresh coffee, giving me a kiss along with the blessed Tylenol. “Since you’re up, I’m going to change the sheets, throw in the last load of wash and shower. Then I thought maybe we could take Seth for a walk?”

“Sounds good to me babe.” I said taking another drink, “We can look for a good rock.”

“I already have a rock from here.”

She still didn’t get it so I enlightened her, “We…don’t have a rock.”

Bella’s face lite up in understanding and she kissed me again, “I love you.”

Jacob groaned, “I can’t wait until you two pass out of this stage and act like normal people.”

I chuckled as Bella gave him a smirk before going back into the house. I sat down next to Jacob watching Seth run around the yard. While we talked he said they were going to be staying until late tonight and were keeping the dog while we were at the beach. That must have been decided while he and Bella talked alone. He worked with me on some more words for a little while until Bella came outside to hang the quilt from our bed out on the wash line and she told me that I had better shower and dress or we wouldn’t have time for that walk.

In the bedroom everything was packed away, her suitcase sat closed on the bed with the picture Leah gave her sitting on top. My bag was sitting next to it, open waiting for me to dress so it could be closed. Showering quickly and shaving I dressed in the bathroom and by the time I got back into the bedroom Bella had both bags ready to go with the laundry bag containing her sleep shirt sitting on the floor. Assuming that was where she wanted me to put my own pajamas I took both suite cases with me to put in the car.

Leah was up, sitting at the table with a cup of tea looking rather tired. “Do you have everything?”

“I think so, Bella packed it.”

“Then you probably do, she double checks eight times.”

Bella came in with the dry quilt looking at the clock and then giving me a knowing smile, “Ok..I’m going.”

Shutting the trunk- after putting the bags in- Bella had Seth on his leash and ready for the walk. Instead of going towards Sam’s house we went the opposite direction. Coming out of the woods there was a red garage with all kinds of rusty car parts sitting alongside of it. Bella had no qualms about going inside the barn and pulling the string to turn on the light. Back in the corner she showed me the two bikes that were covered in dust leaning against each other along the wall. One was painted a cherry red while the other blue, they were simple basic models yet I could see her young and carefree riding around the reservation.

Turning out the light she closed the door and we headed for the small red house. Not even bothering to wait after knocking Bella seemed shocked to see a woman standing in the kitchen making breakfast. “Oh…excuse me is Billy here?”

The words no sooner left her mouth when Billy came around the corner from the hallway where I assumed the bedrooms were. “Hey Bella, I was hoping you would stop by before leaving.”

“Of course,” She hugged him but kept her eyes on the woman reminding me of a mother hen. Billy seemed to come to his senses. “Loretta, this is Bella and her boyfriend Edward…this is Loretta, she insisted on making breakfast before we go out on the boat for the day.”

Loretta wiped her hands before shaking ours with a pleasant smile and a ‘nice to meet you’ to me and telling Bella that she heard so much about her that it nice to finally met her. Bella however eyed her skeptically and then noted, “It’s kind of late to go fishing.”

“Oh were not fishing, we’re taking the boat over to the Island for a picnic.”

Bella smiled replying conventionally to Loretta, “It should be a beautiful day for a picnic,” then looked to Billy telling him that we had to leave. After another hug Billy shook my hand saying he was looking forward to getting to know me better and he would see me in two weeks. When we walked by the cars on the side of the house I laughed as Bella felt the top of a white Sentra but she didn’t seem to care as she gave me a pointed look, “I think she slept here.”

Her assumption made me laugh and after what Billy had said the day before at Charlie’s, I’m sure Bella was right – Loretta did sleep there. However, I had other things on my mind, Billy’s parting words reminded me of Seth’s request. Walking through the woods in the back of the house I told Bella about the two of them staying with us under the condition that Tracy’s mom calls giving consent. She agreed with me that it was a good idea to make sure they had permission however she was sure that Tracy’s mom wouldn’t have a problem with it.

A few minutes later we walked out of the woods into an open area with a cliff that jetted off over the ocean. The sun was shining brightly making all the green from the grass and moss shine. Bella took my hand leading me over to edge, looking down my stomach dropped. Far below us the black water of the ocean rolled smashing white foam against the wall of the cliff.

She didn’t need to tell me what this place was, “You jumped off of here?”

“Several times” My eyes went from her to the ocean below and unlike being able to picture my Bella on a motorcycle; my Bella jumping off a cliff was inconceivable. I could actually feel my heart beating in my chest at the thought of what could have happened to her. The danger she put herself in was mind-boggling.

“What’s the matter?”

What’s the matter?

“I’m seriously thinking about dispensing a retro-punishment and for the first time I think a spanking is in order.”

“You can’t do that,” she giggled.

“Oh…” I assured her, “I think I can, somewhere in that contract there has to be something about deterring dangerous behavior.”

“I’m not going to jump off anymore and besides my butt is still tingly from yesterday,” she gave me a knowing grin, “and no spanking for punishment remember?”

I did remember, however I wanted to make my stance clear. Placing my hands around the small of her back, looking down into her eyes I guaranteed her, “if you ever even think about jumping off this cliff again, believe me when I say, I will make an exception.”

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t do it again.”

I knew she wouldn’t and as the story she told me about jumping off the cliff something else came back to me - the kiss from Jared. Tilting her chin my lips pressed against hers in a claiming kiss that left us both breathless and me with a straining pole in my pants and no time to take care of it. After finding a rock, Bella and I made our way back to the house where Jacob and Leah were waiting for us to leave. Packing up the rest of the stuff we headed into town to meet everyone for breakfast.

Emery and Kim were already seated and while we waited for the others to arrive the girls went to bathroom. Emery made a comment that I had survived my first trip to Forks, laughing like it was some great feat or something. Then laughed harder when Jacob told him I had woken up with a headache. Quil and Claire joined us a few minutes later ordering coffee and asking if Bella shaved Leah’s legs. I had forgotten about that and was surprised when Jacob said that she did.

“When?”

“While you were in the shower,” Jacob said with a smirk. “It took all of about five minutes and Leah’s right I couldn’t have done it.”

The others laughed at my expression of disbelief but I didn’t have time to comment as Leah and Kim came quietly back to the table without Bella. Leah sat down in a huff and when I looked over I saw Bella standing there talking to a woman with short blond hair that looked to be in her early fifties.

“What the hell does she want?” Jacob asked his wife.

“I don’t know. I told Bella not to talk to her, but you know how she is.”

Everyone else at the table was quiet as they all looked over to where Bella was. She didn’t look anxious, yet I could see that Bella wasn’t exactly happy to be having a conversation with the woman either. Everyone’s reaction piqued my curiosity making me question. “Who is that?”

It was Kim that gave a name, “Maggie.”

Raising an eyebrow, I had no clue who Maggie was and Jacob sighed in annoyance. “Maggie is James’ mother.”

Chapter 64

Chapter 64
BPOV

“A booty call?” the words left my mouth in astonishment while Seth must have thought I needed a definition.

“Yeah a booty call, you know-snatch, poontang, pussy?”

My face was in a permanent state of shock as I stared at Seth, “I know damn well what it is.”

“Bells…”

Glaring at Jake I didn’t care what he had to say, I was pissed. “How could you do that without asking me?”

“You weren’t here and I didn’t think you would care.” The calmness in his voice fueled my anger to the point where I could feel the blood boiling in my face.

“Y…you…you…” I must have sounded ridiculous struggling for the words while my mouth kept moving with no sound coming out because Paul laughed, “you look like a fish out of water.”

My eyes widened and the word water brought back a memory. Glaring at Jake I yelled and pointed an accusatory finger at him, “This is worse than when you put squeakers in the pool!”

Jake rolled his eyes “How the hell was I supposed to know gerbils couldn’t swim?”

“That’s not the point,” I was still pointing my finger at him, “you had no right to touch him!”

“You’re the one who left him outside on the porch. I was trying to help by cooling him off.”

I could hear Sue at the door asking what all the yelling was for while Edward was trying to hand me back the hoodie. But I couldn’t answer because there was no way I was taking the blame for him killing my gerbil.

“Only because Billy wouldn’t let me take him in the house!” as usual when I get angry my hands become animated, shaking a pointed finger at my chest, “Besides Squeakers is my gerbil!”

“Was,” Jake said smugly. “Now he’s buried in the front yard under that rock you made me paint.”

“That was your…” I wanted to say penance, instead I gasped in shock from Edward pulling the sweatshirt over my head with a stern voice in my ear, “Isabella put on this fucking shirt.”

It was then as I was sliding my hands under the hoodie, bringing them quickly through the arms that I remembered how I was dressed. The sweat shirt I had been wearing was wet so I took it off when I got a new one for Edward. That was all forgotten when I couldn’t find Seth. Pulling the hoodie down over my body it was clear that in my anger I acted rather trashy. Then with all the hand movements the girls were probably bouncing all over the place and Edward sounded irate.

Paul didn’t make it any better, “Awww! Edward you ruined it, my boy parts were just starting to get bigger.”

The growl from Edward’s chest vibrated through my body.

“Oh fuck me,” I muttered looking up to heaven for support while Paul laughed, “Damn girl, you just came back from the motel.”

“Fuck you!” my yelling only made him laugh harder while Paul waved his hand at me, “No thank you, I’m not in the mood anymore.”

Sue reminded me about the language as my anger flared again. Pointing a finger at the annoying man leaning against the railing my voice came out in a seething tone, “If you say one more word…just one…go ahead I dare you.”

He seemed unfazed by the threat as he took a drink of beer while my attention went back to Jake. “Where is he?” From the corner of my eye I saw Paul lean towards me, “Boo.”

A frustrated scream left my throat and I leaped in his direction yelling “You are such a fucking asshole!”

I didn’t get anywhere near him because Edward’s arm reached out and grabbed me around my waist. Pulling me back he spun us to look away from the insufferable ass and into the heated glare of Sue standing in the doorway.

“Isabella, settle down,” Edwards’s words were stern and my body shook against him while I took in deep breaths still listening to Paul chuckling behind us. “You’re getting feisty Bella, I kind of like it. What other tricks…”

His words came to an abrupt end when Edward spoke in that tone of his that was both intimidating and exciting, “Jacob, I assume Seth is over at Sam’s?”

“Yeah”

Hearing that, I felt some of the tension leave my body.

Of course where else would he be?

I felt kind of stupid that I didn’t figure that out before, but then again with all the yelling I really wasn’t thinking straight at all.

Edward moved us to the end of the porch, “Come on.”

Jake moved along with us, “What are you going to do?”

“I’m taking Bella to go get him,” Edward spoke as if it should be obvious. Going down the two steps he grasped my thighs hoisting me onto his back so he could carry me. Wrapping my body around his I rested my cheek on his shoulder. “I can walk.”

It’s not that I didn’t like when Edward carried me or that I minded the way my body flooded with warmth at being so close to him. It was more of the fact that I didn’t want him to think that I was so upset that I was incapable of basic functions.

“I’m not going to let you walk through the wet grass and the woods with those things on your feet.”

Looking down at what he was talking about I understood his reasoning. I had kicked off my sneakers when I went into the bedroom to change, slipping on flip flops to walk through the house, never dreaming that I would be traipsing around outside. Then again, I never dreamed that Jake would send my baby off to be some kind of canine mack daddy.

As we walked across the yard Jake said something about getting flashlights and as we entered the woods I looked back to see both him and Seth following us. The other three stayed on the porch, which surprised me, especially Paul who enjoys being in the center of things. He always has something to say and usually it’s inappropriate. He means no harm nor would he purposely cause any and it’s not like he tries to be an ass, he just was.

My arms tightened around Edwards’s chest, I knew that he wasn’t happy about me being semi-exposed on the porch. In all honesty I couldn’t understand why. Edward was a sexually adventurous person who had no problems with public orgasms or nudity. Still I had to know how mad he was.

I kissed his neck rubbing my nose against his skin breathing in his scent. “Are you terribly upset?”

“Not so terribly,” he sighed. “Just a smidgen.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

I did know why, at least the initial reason but I didn’t understand how he could seem to have a double standard of appropriateness.

“That was the reason I gave you the sweatshirt in the first place, so that you would keep yourself covered. I don’t want everyone staring at you with bulging eyes, making lewd comments about your assets. Those belong to me Isabella; no one has a right to see them unless I say so.”

I thought about everything that was said on the porch, “Paul didn’t really get a hard-on, he was just…”

Edward cut me off with a quick retort, “Does it really matter?”

Did it?

“No, but…” I stopped myself unsure if I should continue with what I was thinking.

“But what?”

I sighed uncertain of how to even phase it while Edward groaned in annoyance. I figure it would be better to just say it and clarify later if needed, than to have him even more upset with me. “You said that it would bring you pleasure to have others watching and wanting me knowing they could never have me.”

“I did say that and it does bring me pleasure. Isabella, I’m not averse to showing off your body, it’s fantastic and worthy of attention. However, it needs to be done in the correct atmosphere where conduct is expected to be restrained and you are treated with the respect you deserve.”

That was true I was disrespected but it was only the guys and I was used to them. After all they have known me since we were children; we’ve watched each other grow through the awkward adolescence stage to the fullness of adulthood. We’ve laughed, cried, and teased one another just like any other close group of friends who know each other so well. I wanted to explain all that to Edward but he continued talking.

“That’s why I wanted you covered, in part because I knew that there was no way I would be able to control their reactions. The other more important reason was because neither of us received any pleasure from the comments that were made. All they did was serve to make me angry and you frustrated to the point of losing your temper.”

I did lose my temper however my mind fixated on one word, “Are you angry with me?”

“Absolutely not, you did nothing wrong Isabella except to react without thinking. I can’t fault you for that especially when your concern was for Seth. I didn’t forbid you; my words were that I preferred that you keep yourself covered. Had you defied me with putting on the second sweatshirt that would have been a different story”

Looking over my shoulder I saw that Jake and Seth were far behind us. Still, I didn’t want them to hear me so I made sure to speak softly by Edward’s ear. “Master, your girl would never intentionally defy you.”

“Never say never Isabella.” Edward grinned deviously then added, “The only thing I’m going to ask of you is that in the future you please think before reacting.” His eyes shifted sideways to look at me, “Please?”

How could I say no to such a request?

Kissing his cheek I assured him that I would try hard to think about what I’m doing and I made a vow to myself to always consider his feelings. Edward had a need to stay in control of things especially where I was concerned. Not that he had to control every aspect of my life or keep me under lock and key. His control came forth when it was needed, taking command of a situation and seeing that no harm came to me either physically or emotionally.

He could be possessive but not in an abusive way that causes fear or anxiety by being overbearing. There are never any harsh belittling insults to get me to do what he wanted or to keep me in my place. Explanations always accompany his reasoning, giving me a clear sense of his feelings rather than filling me with guilt. It’s a gentle reminder that I belonged to him just as he belongs to me and he wants there to be no mistake about that fact in anyone’s mind.

Edward loved me beyond any way that I have ever been loved before, unconditionally. He loves me the same whether I’m perfect or flawed. That was something that I have never known. The whole time I was growing up Charlie never said the words. As an adult I can understand that he does indeed love me and that his lack of vocalizing it had nothing to do with me. As a child I always wondered what I was doing wrong. Why my daddy didn’t love me the way other daddy’s loved their children, with hugs, bedtime stories and kisses goodnight.

James never loved me at all he was only with me to get something. Looking back and knowing what I feel for Edward, I can see that I never loved him either. I was enamored with the idea of someone loving me. A bad reason to get married and I suppose it would be simple to chalk it up to my youth but it was more than that. It was my own self esteem telling me that what James was giving me was the only thing I was worthy of.

Now I know that’s bullshit. Edward has taught me the meaning of mutual respect. He respects me in all things, insists that I respect not only him but myself as well and expects me to demand it from others. I’m learning to do that because Edward has also shown me that I’m worth it.

Sam wasn’t in the yard, however the door to the shed was open and I told Edward to go in there. Just as we got to the door there was a howl that made me cringe. Inside my poor baby was on his hind legs mounting Bessie while Sam stood off to the side.

“Oh Seth, that’s your sister!” I cried out as Edward let go of my legs so I could stand. I was going to tell Sam to throw some water on them when Seth backed away, twisted his body and stood with his rear end butted up against Bessie’s.

Oh my god…what the heck is he doing?

I stood there with Edward staring in shock while Jake and Seth walked in and Sam was saying something but all I could do was watch my baby struggling to get away. I didn’t know what to do and all I could hear was Jake praising him, “Way to go buddy, you knew what to do,” and my brothers calm tone, “Cool.”

Cool?... Way to go?

My dog is starting to freak out because he can’t move and they think this is a good thing? My anger that had dissolved on the walk over was back in full force. I tried to keep my voice as calm as I could so that I didn’t upset Seth anymore than necessary, “Edward…give me your belt.”

“What?”

I didn’t even look at him as my hands went to his pants, “I want your belt.”

Edward’s hands clamped down on my wrist stopping me from opening the buckle, “NO!”

“Edward pleeasssse…look what he did,” he might have had my wrist but my fingers were still able to move the leather through the buckle.

He squeezed my wrist tighter pushing them away, “Baby I never thought I would say this but stop trying to take off my pants.”

I looked up into his eyes shaking my head and pleading, “Pleeeaaaseee…I don’t want your pants, Just your belt…please Edward? I want to hurt him!”

“Fuck you woman!” Jake yelled while I kept trying to plead with Edward as my dog was whining and yelping in pain.

“No…Isabella…No.” Edward pushed my hands away in a final answer.

“But he hurt my baby, listen to him crying he’s in pain.”

Edward smiled at me, “He’s not in any pain.”

As he said the words Sam laughed making me look at him, “I guarantee Seth is not in pain Bella.”

“Then why is he freaking out?”

“He’s stuck and a little scared…come here.”

I walked over kneeling next to Sam sucking in a small breath as my bottom rested against my heels while I listened to what Sam said. “Pet him and talk calmly to him. He’ll settle down.”

Once my hand rested on Seth’s head he did calm down. I shushed and petted his head while looking over as much of his body as I could see. A feeling of protection for him surged through me as he looked up at me with sad helpless eyes. He needed me to stay composed so that I could bring him comfort. Kneeling there taking care of my pet, I wondered if this was how Edward felt when he was caring for me. It didn’t matter that my own bottom was tingling heat near to the point of pain, or that the floor was cold damp concrete, Seth needs came first. My eyes shifted up to Edward for a second. He had his own look of concern and I realized I was right, that is exactly how he feels.

“Awe…my poor baby what did mean old Jake do to you?” I asked Seth while scratching behind his ears the way he likes it.

“I didn’t do anything,” Jake was still insisting making me glare at him while Sam was perplexed, “What is going on? I was assured that it was alright.”

“It was not alright. I didn’t give him permission to do this, and how come Bessie isn’t scared?” Bessie was standing there with her butt smashed up against Seth’s looking calm as could be; in fact I think she was panting.

“Bessie is seasoned. She’s been mated before so she knows what’s happening.”

My eyes went back to Jake, “You not only turned my dog into a gigolo you gave him to a slut?”

“Bessie isn’t a slut,” Sam interjected while Seth just had to make a comment, “I wouldn’t call him a gigolo since they get paid for their services. He’s more like a hump and jump.”

Glowering at my brother I didn’t find him amusing, unlike all the other people in the room who were snickering, “You’re not helping here…honest to god, you’re not helping at all.”

My attention went back to my dog while the four of them stood there talking about how this came about. I was half listening as Edward said that he mentioned to Jake that I was talking about getting Seth fixed. The two of them agreed that it would be sad that he would never get laid. Jake then took it upon himself and talked to Sam, who said that Bessie was in heat and since it had been a year she was ready for another litter. One thing led to another and that was how we found ourselves in the shed with my dog’s dick stuck inside his sister’s coochie.

“I don’t know how this happened,” I muttered while petting down Seth’s back staying far away from the butt end.

“Well you see Bells the male has a penis…” my piercing stare stop Seth in mid sentence.

“I know that…what I mean is he never showed any interest in sex. He’s not a crotch sniffer, or a furniture rubber, he never even licked his own balls. Why…”

“He is male Bella, just because he never did those things doesn’t mean the urge wasn’t there. He needed something to stimulate him and a bitch in heat did the trick.” Sam was quiet for a second then he asked, “You were thinking about getting Seth fixed?”

I shrugged, “I don’t know, maybe.”

He pursed his lips nodding slightly, “You might have to now…” he must have seen the question on my face because he went on, “dogs are like people Bella. They get a taste of sex, it feels good, they like it and they want more.”

Comprehension of what Sam was saying dawned on me making my fury with Jake come back once again only this time there was no yelling. I spoke with dead calm seriousness. “If my dog turns into a leg humping nympo, I’m going to get the biggest fucking whip I can and beat your ass…” My voice grew sinister, “…and I know where they are. So if I was you I would be afraid, I would be very afraid.”


EPOV

Bella continued to glare with an evil stare that was unnerving and I was kind of glad that it wasn’t directed at me. Bella weighs all of a hundred and fifteen pounds but something told me that in her current state of mind, she would be a force to be reckoned with. I wasn’t the only one who saw it, as Jacob took a small step behind me so I could be his shield.

“Does she really know where the whips are?” he spoke quietly while I nodded in affirmation.

“Does she know how to use them?”

Shaking my head I answered quietly, “I don’t think so.”

Jacob breathed a sigh of relief and I figured that it was too early to let him off the hook for what he did. “They hurt more in the hands of the inexperienced user.”

Jacob gasped, “Well damn dude, hide them or something. Order her not to touch them, come on you have to watch my back.”

It was hard not to roll with laugher at the ‘order her’ comment, for Bella’s sake I stifled the amusement to a chuckle. A few weeks ago Jacob sat in my kitchen telling me that he didn’t want to know or think about what we did in private, yet there he was making light of it in silent acceptance.

“What the heck is going on in here?” Charlie came into the shed followed by Leah, “Jake come on I’m...” her words faltering as she took in the scene, “…ohhhh”

“Dad…” Bella whined, “…look what Jake did.”

Leah jabbed an elbow at her husband’s ribs, “I told you not to do it, you know how she feels about that dog.”

Charlie sighed clapping the back of his neck, “Well Bells these things happen. Boys have urges and the girl shakes her tail to get his attention and the next thing you know,” he gestured with his hands at the dogs making it obvious what he was talking about.

Bella looked appalled, “Are you going to stand there explaining sex to me?”

“I didn’t think I had to, but if you need a refresher?” Charlie’s lips twitched as he tried to keep a serious expression.

The rest of us snickered while poor Bella rolled her eyes, “No thank you, once was enough.”

The thought of Charlie having a facts-of-life talk with Bella made me chuckle as he continued, “I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” Bella’s eyes widened at his words but he didn’t care. “If anyone should be upset it would be Sam. He’s the one who is going to get stuck with the care of puppies.”

“Puppies?” she questioned.

“Well what do you think Bessie is going to have, chickens?”

“Puppies,” Bella muttered like the thought hadn’t even occurred to her.

Jacob spoke up, “We’ll take a puppy.”

“Sam, how long?” Bella asked still sounding astonished

He shrugged, “two months.”

Seth moved a little finally coming away from Bessie, Leah pointed her finger, “oh…look his little wiener is sticking out.”

Bella first looked to Sam, who assured her that he will go back to normal and then went into protective mode, “Can we not talk about Seth’s dick please?”

“Yeah, stop talking about my dick, besides it’s not that little.”

Charlie being indignant at what was being said, “Hey now, there is no need for foul language.”

Bella moved to get up wincing slightly making me wonder if her discomfort was from her bottom or her knees, either way I stepped closer reaching out my hand for support. Bella smiled at me mouthing a ‘thank you’ before answering her father, “Dick is foul language? What about Dick Cheney?”

“Now he’s just a foul man, Republicans. Huh!” Bella looked at me biting her lip to keep from laughing while I chuckled silently.

It was good to finally see her laughing, the last half hour had been intense and while Charlie continued to huff about republicans I made a mental note to never discuss politics with him. Sam told us to take Seth home while Leah once again complained about being hungry. Charlie and Leah had brought two vehicles over and everyone else piled into one truck while Bella and I used Seth’s to go back to the house.

That was a good thing because Bella refused to let Seth walk and I wasn’t sure how I was going to carry her and the dog at the same time. Once we got into the house Seth went straight to his bed - poor little guy was exhausted. Bella changed into her black yoga pants and sneakers while I put on the last clean sweatshirt I had.

Before we left Bella took the bottle of wine out of the refrigerator, “I think I’m going to need this.”

I chuckled pulling her into a quick hug, “It has been quite a day and I could use a drink myself.”

Bella sat close to me in the truck leaning against my side while directing me through the dirt roads that led to the beach where the bonfire was being held. A few of the kids were playing volleyball in the sand with the lights shining down from the outside of the large pavilion. Off to the side was a large fire pit that was ready and waiting to be set ablaze.

Bella held my hand as we walked into the pavilion where it seemed that groups had segregated themselves according to ages. Bella set the bottle of wine on the wooden picnic table saying hello to everyone before heading over to the food tables along the back wall. Looking at everything that was being offered my stomach growled with hunger making Bella giggle. I didn’t care, we hadn’t eaten since early afternoon and there in front of me was every kind of food imaginable. As we walked along filling our plates Bella was pointing out various dishes telling me what they were and who made it. She had a plate full of a little bit of everything where I stayed with more of a few things.

Sitting down I grinned at Bella when she stiffened from her bottom hitting the wooden bench and was rather proud that she did it without drawing any attention to herself. I opened the wine with the travel cork screw that’s on my key chain, pouring us both a plastic cup. Not exactly the best way to drink wine, but it works. Bella started mixing her food together beginning in the middle and working her way around the plate until half of everything was all mixed into one pile. Taking a bite I watched her face morph into bliss, her eyes closed as she savored what she was eating, enjoying it so much that she moaned.

She fucking moaned

My dick became rock hard in a nanosecond and I sat there hoping and waiting for another sound, instead I was met with deep brown eyes. “What?”

She caught me watching and she must have known what I was thinking about as her eyes grew slightly darker and her tongue peeked out to moisten her lips. Her sudden quick intake of air made my dick throb with need. I was torn between wanting to kiss her furiously to build her desire, and wanting to take her into the woods to fuck it out of her.

The intensity of our gaze was broken off by Kim, “Bella did they ever catch that guy who was sending those messages to the center?”

What messages?

Bella blinked a few times coming back to reality she looked towards Kim, “Ummm…no. But whoever it was stopped sending them about a month ago.”

“Then you don’t know how he got the address?” Bella took a drink swallowing hard.

“It was probably one of the women who left. They go back to their men and tell them where they were. The women are supposed to keep it a secret but they are scared and when faced with a fist or telling, they tell. Or sometimes they tell of their own free will as a way of proving to be trustworthy. That’s why we have all the security and only a few people have codes to the entrances.”

Kim shook her head, “I don’t know how…” she sighed as her little boy tugged on her arm asking for another drink. She excused herself giving me a chance to ask Bella about the messages.

“They were nothing serious, basic threats against the volunteers. No one was exclusively named, so whoever it was didn’t have specifics.”

Bella spoke so calmly about it that it made me wonder how often something like that occurs. However I didn’t get to ask because Kim returned with sippy cup in hand. Sitting down she picked right back up with the conversation, “anyway, the reason I thought of that is because I have two big bags of clothing to donate. I was going to drop them off at your house this week.”

“Oh, I won’t be home; we’re going to the beach for a few days. Next week would work but…it might be better if I pick them up because I’m never at my house, I’ve been living with Edward.”

Kim seemed shocked and spoke slightly louder, “You’re living together?”

Everyone within the sound of her voice stopped talking to look at us waiting for the answer. “Ummm…” before Bella could completely answer Leah chimed in, “Yeah…Bella has her own room and everything.”

I wasn’t sure if that made the conversation easier or not but Leah went on, “It works out really well because remember when you first started living together and you argued over what you get to keep and what has to go,” Kim nodded showing she remembered. “They don’t argue. Bella can bring the ugliest piece of furniture she has and put it in her room and Edward won’t care. It’s like her chick haven and she can do whatever she wants to in there without him bothering her.”

Kim’s eyes went back to Bella, “So you can sit in there all day long reading and he won’t barge in to bother you?”

I figured it might be a good time to make it clear, “When Bella is in her room, I don’t go in without being invited.”

Kim gasped, “Ohhh…Em…” she looked to her husband with longing, “…I want one of those chick havens, where I can go and be all alone and you or the kids can’t come in.”

Emery didn’t seem as excited as his wife, “Thanks Edward.”

I chuckled looking down the table at Leah who gave me a smile. It wasn’t a glowing recommendation but it was a start at some kind of acceptance. The other person who caught my eye was the person sitting next to her. Jared’s gaze kept shifting back and forth between Jacob and Bella with an expression I didn’t understand.

Everyone else had gotten up and moved to the fire pit while Jacob and Leah sat with us until we finished eating. Bella still had not said anything to Jacob and I could tell that it was starting to bother him. “Bells are you going to talk to me?”

“No…I’m mad at you,” she sounded like a petulant child who needed to stand in the corner.

Leah laughed, “Jake why don’t you have Edward make her talk to you?”

What the hell?

That was the second time tonight that one of them made reference to our relationship. I didn’t get to think about it very long because Bella was still acting rather snappish, “He can’t make me talk to you!”

My eyes shot up in disbelief and she realized her mistake immediately, “Well…he could. But my heart wouldn’t be in it.”

Damn straight I could and she is wrong her heart would be in it

“Never mind I’ll wait. I don’t want your pity talk,” the fake pout was predominate and lost on Bella who rolled her eyes and giggled. She wasn’t that mad at him Bella just wanted him to sweat.

Someone called Jacob’s name making Leah groan, “I don’t want to get up yet.” Jacob laughed kissing her head, “stay here Nenemoo’sha and pick your feet up.” As Jacob got up Leah swung her body lifting her legs onto the bench with a sigh of relief.

“That bad?” Bella asked.

“You have no idea,” Leah didn’t mean to say anything hurtful however the sadness in Bella’s eyes couldn’t be hidden.

“I’m going to get fruit salad, do you want some?”

I nodded watching Bella walk away towards the food tables. She still had on my sweatshirt which was big over her small frame, yet no amount of material could disguise the way her hips swayed. I could picture the full roundness of her bottom all pink and warm from our earlier activities. The thought brought to mind the memory of her squealing and begging while unable to move from the grip I had on her. My own body reacted to the images with arousal that was making it uncomfortable to sit.

“So how would you do it…”

“What?” My brain had registered a voice yet I had no idea what was said. Looking at Leah she clarified her question, “Make her talk to Jake; I was wondering how you would do that?”

I debated if this was a conversation that we should be having. Leah had some preconceived ideas that I didn’t believe would be disbanded no matter what I said. However, avoiding the question wouldn’t do either her or Bella any good.

“I would make it known to Isabella that I wanted her to talk to Jacob.”

“That’s it? It would be that simple?” I simply nodded in agreement not wanting to get into the whole realm of building a relationship. This wasn’t the time to get into all that is required to form a bond of trust that allows the submissive to respond without any hesitation.

She thought about that for a moment then looked at me with an expressionless face, “and what if she didn’t do it?”

I knew from what Bella had told me of their argument where her question was coming from. The problem was that I didn’t know exactly how to answer her. I could whitewash the whole thing make it seem like it wouldn’t matter if Bella disobeyed me, but that would be a lie. Because whether it was something large or small, disobedience would warrant discipline. On the other hand telling Leah the truth might reinforce the ideas she already had. I chose the truth, deciding to let the chips fall where they may.

“Isabella would be reprimanded for disobeying.”

She nodded in understanding “That’s what I want to know about. What do you mean by reprimand? What exactly would happen to her?”

“For something like that a writing assignment would work best.”

“What about for something worse, what would happen then?”

“I can’t truthfully answer that, each offence warrants its own response.”

It was clear that she didn’t like that answer and honestly I didn’t like the vague question. It would have been simple to tell Leah some of the punishments Bella had already received; I didn’t think it was any of her business. If Bella chose to share that information with her sister that was one thing, I wasn’t going to betray her trust simply to ward off Leah’s curiosity.

I could tell that there was something that Leah wanted to know from me. She was the kind of person who was forthcoming with her thoughts so it made me curious why she was being so evasive. I figured it best to save us both the frustration and cut right to the chase.

“What do you really want to know Leah?”

“Bella says that you never hit her…”

“Not for discipline…no I don’t.”

She narrowed her eyes, “Isn’t that standard operating procedures? You beat the crap out of them because they didn’t pick up your socks?”

I couldn’t help the laugh that came out, however Leah didn’t find it funny so I thought it best to enlighten her on D/s 101. “There is no SOP in our world. Each relationship is different just like every marriage is different. What works for one couple doesn’t work for all. There might be some who whip their submissive for not picking up the socks, but that is something that they both agree upon.”

I gave her a moment to think about that before giving the real reason, “Because of Bella’s history of past abuse, it would be detrimental to her and our relationship to physically strike her in punishment. She would shut down, revert back to that scared insecure person. There would be no joy in our relationship, it would only be fear and I would be no better than James.”

Leah was quiet allowing me to comprehend the truth of what I had just said. I couldn’t imagine Bella being any other way then the warm, fun loving woman who shares my life. In a way I’m glad that we hadn’t met before we did. I’ve heard a few comments this weekend about the changes in her and I’m thankful I wasn’t around to see what they all saw. It must have been devastating and it would kill me to be the cause of her suffering. Leah’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Bella said that one of the reasons she trusts you is because you understand her and make her understand herself. I’ve known Bella practically all my life and I feel like lately I don’t understand her at all.”

There was pain in her voice whether it was from past reflections or present regret I couldn’t tell. The one thing I did know was that Leah wasn’t seeing Bella for what she is. Leah was seeing her for what she thought Bella should be. I didn’t want to cause any more discord in their relationship, but Leah had to see what the problem was.

“I guess that’s because I accept her for what she is. I don’t try to change her or expect something from her that she can’t give. You asked her this morning why she allowed that woman at the diner to talk to her the way she did.” Leah nodded in remembrance, “It’s not in Bella’s nature to be rude or to start a confrontation. The same thing with what happened with James. You wanted her to celebrate, and she was so racked with guilt that she was very near panic.”

“Guilt? From hitting that piece of shit?”

I shook my head, “No, guilt because she was sending that piece of shit out into the world to possibly hurt someone else. Guilt that she felt others would disapprove of her decision and be angry with her. Guilt from knowing that her past actions have caused those she loves pain; and guilt from the fear she feels if all the details of her private hell are made public.”

“Bella told you all that?” surprise laced her tone.

“She did.” I assured her before she turned belligerent, “While you were fucking her I suppose.”

That’s the Leah I know

My voice became stern, “If you must know there was no sex of any kind.”

Her eyes narrowed while she continued to stare at me, “Then why go to a motel room at all, why not go back to the house?”

“Because we needed privacy,” that was as much as I was going to offer and it seemed to me that Leah could understand that.

“In that privacy she could tell you about all those things because she knows that you won’t pass judgment on her weakness.”

“Bella is not weak,” I wanted to make that fact clear. “In fact she is just the opposite. It takes a strong person to live through all that she has without bitterness or self-pity. Strength doesn’t mean loud and harsh. It’s not in her nature to be vindictively cruel and it takes someone very tough to forgive those who have wronged them. Bella’s has a quiet strength that lets everyone around her know that she cares about them and respects them as a person even if you or I don’t think they deserve it.”

Leah nodded, “That quiet strength…is that what makes her …submissive?”

The fact that it was the first time in our conversation that the word submissive was mentioned was not lost on me. I got the feeling that Leah was starting to see the real Bella.

“Yes…among other things.” There was a lot more to a submissive personality that I didn’t have the time to get into. For now it was a starting point.

Leah’s eyes looked passed my shoulder as my eyes followed her gaze I watched Bella hug an older woman in what appeared to be a parting gesture. “I still don’t understand the whole thing. I don’t know why she feels the need to …” she sighed then went on, “In these times when a woman can be anything at all it seems barbaric to me. I have to admit that Bella is happy…” she shook her head in disbelief, “happier than I think I have ever seen her and that’s all that matters. So I’m going to support her in any way I can.”

“That’s good Leah, she loves you and I know that she missed you.”

She nodded putting her hands on the table to push herself off the bench. With a sigh both her hands rested on the small of her back, stretching out her round belly. She stared blankly out onto the beach where the fire was just getting started. I didn’t know what to say and the silence was uncomfortable so I asked the first thing that came to my mind.

“How much longer?”

Her hand moved to rest on top of her belly, “eight weeks.” Leah turned her head giving me a pointed look.

“Edward, I’m trusting you with my sister. Don’t make me regret that decision”