Chapter 62

Chapter 62
EPOV

Since the moment we arrived in Forks I had wondered how in the world someone who was surrounded by so many people who loved her could have fallen prey to someone like James. Not that I’m ignorant of the fact that even women who have never been exposed to abuse or hardships in their childhood couldn’t find themselves in the same situation. There are all kinds of predators in the world leaving even the most self-assured person with strong family ties, vulnerable to their influence.

I had figured out the reason why no one helped her, she didn’t let them. Keeping all the terror and degradation to herself. Bella became a master magician at hiding all the misery from those who loved her, out of fear, shame or some warped sense of pride. She hid her scars behind half hearted smiles and isolation. Granted, I don’t know very much about the mental state of an abused woman, however since being with Bella, I have been given a crash course and, from what I can understand, that response is typical.

For all the issues that Bella has with her lack of confidence, she makes up for in stubbornness. That was evident the first time we had any play. That night on the couch when Leah and Jacob burst into the room, she had no instruction in control yet she refused to move her arms from where I placed them.

Pigheaded

In this cold cruel world we live in that trait can be very useful, it can also be twisted by someone who has ulterior motives and used as a weapon to exploit. That’s what James did. He preyed upon an innocent girl who had issues with herself and her surroundings and then took the one strength she had and utilized it against her.

I could see why Bella married so young, she was an outcast in a world of harmony. She lived in a small close knit community where everyone gathers around each other’s life achievements. They celebrate the good while gossiping about the bad. This is a world where generations of families subsist for the sole purpose of keeping their community intact. In doing that they shun the unfamiliar and that’s what Bella was.

She was a native, yet because she was removed from among everyone else Bella was all but forgotten. Her reemergence might have been a happier reunion had it not been for the circumstances. As a child who had just unexpectedly lost the one parent who she relied upon it would make sense that she would be standoffish. Had Bella arrived in the beginning of the school year or even a few months prior, perhaps things would have been different. She might have acclimated herself into the fold, made the normal alliances and become one with her environment.

Instead the school year ended and rather than place Bella where she would have been with other children from her class, her father sent her to the reservation with his friends to be cared for. I’m not second guessing that decision, even to me that seems like the best option; however it also enforced the divide between Bella and her classmates. She became even more of a pariah to those she went to school with. As she grew her natural instinct was to push them away to welcome in the people who she knew and who readily accepted her.

There would have been nothing wrong with that had Bella truly been completely accepted by those whom she associated with. To the outward eye she had been, Billy called her his own, Sue treats her like a daughter and everyone else at La Push thinks of her as belonging. However, even by her own admission there is a missing piece that keeps Bella at arm’s length; creating a chasm that could not be breached or overlooked.

The one time she violated the unseen gap turned into a disaster. She trusted that boy more than she would have trusted anyone who she had attended school with, making his betrayal a harsher sting. Jared- who I had yet to meet- did what every young boy does, exaggerated his conquest by bragging to his friends. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this was also the time when Bella realized that she was HO-quaht , and therefore unworthy of the boy she was infatuated with. It’s not the boys fault, but something tells me that the events surrounding that summer did more to throw Bella openly into the arms of James than anything else.

Sue had commented that she knew something happened but she never inquired about any specifics from Bella. Even when she realized that Bella no longer spent time with Jared, showing that whatever happened must have been rather devastating. I don’t know that Bella would have opened up to Sue about the circumstance behind the breakup, but at least it would have told Bella that someone cared enough to have noticed her grief.

The worst part about the whole thing was Charlie’s reaction. I can’t blame him for the way he responded, no father wants to hear the words ‘daughter and condoms’ used in the same sentence. However, the incident occurred ten years ago and rather than take in the information with an open mind he lashed out in accusation.

Bella who was the victim was forced to defend herself, which that alone spoke volumes as to their father-daughter relationship. For all intents and purposes Bella was a parent’s wet dream. She cooked, cleaned, worked, got good grades, and behaved in public so what more could a father have asked for? Charlie is the kind of man who shelters his emotions, limiting outward signs of affection and with his simple body language discourages open communication.

Bella had once told me that she would not have forced Charlie to hear all the details about what occurred between her and James. At the time I didn’t understand why not. Charlie was a cop; he sees people at their very worst; surely for the sake of his daughter’s wellbeing he would have stepped up to the plate and given her the support she needed. After having witnessed their interaction I can see that Bella was right, I don’t think he could handle it in the supportive manner that would be required.

My fear is that at hearing the details his natural inclination would be to lash out at Bella. To inadvertently place blame, by making her feel ashamed, guilty, or humiliated about something she had no control over. Just as he had done upon learning of Jared’s mild transgression, how much more appalled would Charlie be to learn why she had no bathtub? Besides I don’t like to hear the details I could not imagine the anger and pain it would cause Charlie, especially since he can’t do anything about it.

Sitting in the small living room waiting for Bella to come back from the kitchen with her father, my eyes once again moved to the photos on the mantle. It was as if her life was written in pictures across the wooden surface. From her birth to a toothless girl in pigtails with a happy face and a mischievous glint in her eyes, Bella was happy. Then it appeared that the gleam was gone, replaced with the dullness of a girl with shallow cheeks and short brown hair. The teenage years took on a look of resignation, the feeble smile plastered to her face to hide the isolation.

Perhaps it was symbolic that the last photo was her wedding day. I found it odd that should be included in the collection. Maybe it was placed there all those years ago and never removed, or perhaps Charlie keeps it because it was the last day she was his little girl. Whatever the reason, my thoughts remained the same as when I held it in my hand.

The young girl staring back from behind the veil had a face of innocent youth with eyes of ancient solitude. Bella wanted what everyone wants, someone who she could rely on to be there for her completely, unconditionally and without any hesitation.

Irrational as it may be the other thing that went through my mind was a flash of jealousy at the thought of Bella walking down an isle towards another man. I squashed that feeling down as soon as I recognized it but the thought still remained. I don’t care how long ago it was or that we didn’t even know each other, the only person that I want her to find the happiness in life that she’s looking for is me.

Bella came out of the kitchen with a strange look on her face. Setting the two glasses of ice tea down on the table she took a hold of my hands. “Come on I’ll show you the rest of the house.”

Looking up into her eyes I tried to decipher what was the matter with her, and being unable to tell I stood letting her lead me to the stairs. Charlie came in from the kitchen with a small plate containing a piece of pie. Seeing us going upstairs he cleared his throat making Bella stop. “You see that those doors remain open, in fact, Leah why don’t go up with them and show Bella my new den?”

Leah didn’t respond but Bella groaned, “Dad.”

“UH…I’m not having any shenanigans going on.”

“What do you think we’re going to do up there?” Bella was appalled but I thought it was rather funny and had to work hard to suppress my laugh.

“Nothing with the door open and someone with you,” Charlie was unyielding and Leah rose to the appointment of chaperone. “I’ll go; I have to pee anyway and I want to see her reaction.”

“Ohhh… me too,” Seth followed his sister while Bella led the way upstairs.

The small square landing at the top of the stairs contained four open doors. Bella pointed to the left where Charlie and Sue’s room was along with the one bathroom. To the right was Seth’s room and then Bella pushed open the last door and nearly stumbled over her own feet as she stepped though the doorway.

“What the hell happened?” Bella’s voice was total astonishment while Seth laughed and Leah agreed with my assessment, “Hideous.”

“Oh my god Leah…our room,” Bella whined while taking in the sight before her.

It was an outdoorsman’s erotic dream come to life. Two lazy boy recliners faced the TV that sat angled in the corner in a black entertainment center. In the area between the two windows was a large gun cabinet with a smaller cabinet next to it containing fishing poles and gear. The wall themselves had some kind of shiny wood grain wallpaper covering them. For decorations there were all kinds of fishermen plaques with silly sayings ‘Fisherman hook the big ones’ and ‘Fisherman’s tales are bigger than their fronts.’ The most predominate things on the wall were Charlie’s mounted trophies, a large ten point buck and three gigantic fish.

“What is this stuff?” Bella asked touching the wall.

“Contact paper,” Leah said with a grin while Seth offered more information, “Wal-Mart was discontinuing it so Charlie bought it for fifty cents a roll,” his laughter broke on the last word and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Bella looked at me in astonishment, “This room used to be purple.”

“It still is,” Leah announced peeling back a small piece of the contact paper to reveal the purple paint underneath it. That was all it took for everyone to break out laughing while Seth pointed his finger up in the air, “Charlie wanted to go get more and do the ceiling.”

“Noooo?” Bella asked through her laugher as Seth held up his right hand, “I swear he did.”

“Where is all our stuff?”

“In the attic,” Seth answered Bella’s question while she looked around again.

“Well Edward, you are going to have to picture it.” Bella then went on to describe how the room used to be set up. After explaining that they had twinkle lights around the perimeter of the ceiling she looked back to me with a serious expression. “Honestly what did he think we were going to do in this room, there is a freaking Moose watching us.”

“Wait you haven’t seen the best part,” Seth walked over to open up the closet revealing an RC Cola soda machine. “Do you have a quarter?” he asked me holding out his hand in expectation.

Digging in my pocket I held out my hand with what was in there. Seth put the coin into the slot pressed the first square button bringing the machine to life. Bending over he pulled a can of beer out of the opening.

“Don’t drink that,” Charlie’s unexpected voice came from behind us while Seth assured him that he wouldn’t. Charlie looked to Bella with pure enjoyment on his face, “What do you think?”

“Umm…it’s you dad,” that was probably the nicest thing Bella could say.

The room was faux log cabin and definitely fit Charlie’s personality and I could tell he was proud of it. He looked to me for an opinion; I just smiled looking around the room and asked about the mounted fish. He launched into a tale of where he caught each one and even knew the dates and how long it took to reel them in. I had been deep sea fishing a few times and when I was little my grandfather Cullen use to take Emmett and I out in his boat on the lake. That was the extent of my fishing experience, but at least it gave us something in common to talk about. When I asked about the buck Charlie told me that he didn’t actually shoot that, he bought it at the same auction where he got the soda machine. He thought that it added to the authenticity of the lodge atmosphere he was trying to create.

“Alright Seth are you ready to go?” Charlie asked when we finished with our conversation.

“Yeah, just let me get something out of my room,” as Seth started walking out the door he turned to look at me and Bella. “Remind me that I want to ask you a favor.”

“You want me to remind you to ask me for a favor?” Seth looked at Bella with narrow eyes, “Yeah…” his eyes shifted to me. “Edward you’ll remind me, right?”

“I’ll try to remember.”

“Thanks,” he smiled.

Charlie shook his head while Bella asked if he knew what Seth wanted, “No clue Bells it could be anything.”

Seth was back in the doorway telling Charlie that he was ready to go. As Charlie was leaving he pushed the door all the way open giving Bella a pointed look, “That stays open.”

Bella told Seth that we would all yell loudly for him and the two of them left. Bella looked around the room again letting out a sigh. She still had a strange look on her face like something Charlie had said to her in the kitchen had upset her. Wrapping my arms around her shoulders I pulled her close to me.

“Did you have a nice talk with your dad?” I didn’t want to push but I didn’t want Bella to dwell on negative thoughts either.

She shrugged, “Yeah.”

That was it - Yeah?

Bella moved away from me to stand in front of the mirror that hung on the inside of the open closet door. She looked at herself for a second and then lifted her sweatshirt up off her head, turning sideways to look at herself again.

What the fuck is she doing?

Her hands rested on her stomach, slid down her hips and then rested on the fullness of her bottom. Shifting her eyes they met mine in the mirror where her whole face scrunched up. “Am I getting fat?”

“What?” I had no idea why she would think that.

“Charlie said I gained weight,” I couldn’t help but chuckle as my arms once again wrapped around her body while Bella continued to look repulsed.

“It’s not funny Edward!”

My eyes shot up in surprise at the outburst, while my tone took on a harsh edge. “Excuse me, was there a part about saying my name correctly you didn’t understand?”

“No Sir, your girl is sorry it’s just…”

I cut her off, “It’s just that your mouth spoke before your brain could stop it.”

Bella took the reprimand with lowered eyes; I however wanted her to understand what Charlie was talking about.

“Look in the mirror Isabella,” our gaze met. “You have gained weight,” her eyes narrowed and I went on to explain before she got the wrong idea, “but it’s a healthy weight. Your cheeks aren’t as shallow,” the back of my hand skimmed along her face. “Your breasts are fuller,” my hand skimmed down to cup the fullness. “Your bottom is a little rounder,” my other hand gave her cheek a squeeze. “Your eating habits have improved tremendously making you appear more fit than you were before. That is what Charlie was talking about, he meant it in a good way.”

“Then he should have said that,” her admission made me grin as my eyes looked around the –if I was being honest – gaudy room. “Somehow baby your father doesn’t strike me as being a very tactful man.”

Bella giggled trying to turn in my arms, however I had other things on my mind and I held her still while opening the top of her pants. My hand sneaked down between her skin and jeans to feel her wet heat. At the feeling of her body’s readiness my dick twitched making me grind myself against her while I praised her with a growl, “Good girl.”

Bella’s body responded to my light touch by relaxing against me with a soft whimper. At the sound of her delight, I pulled my hand back out patting the exposed skin of her stomach while speaking in her ear, “No shenanigans.”

“Ohhh,” Bella groaned while I chuckled at her dismay.

“Come on my pet, let’s go,” I added with a swat on her bottom just as Sue called her name from downstairs.

I went in to use the bathroom while Bella put her sweatshirt back on and went downstairs. I could hear the woman in the kitchen while I sat down with Jacob and Billy in the living room. Handing me a beer Jacob asked what I thought of the room and then laughed when I said that Charlie had achieved the look he was going for. We sat there for a few minutes talking about baseball until the conversation switched to the woman who Billy has been seeing. As I listened it became clear that Billy was not completely paralyzed, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with Jacob when Billy told us the reason he stopped dating the last woman.

“Don’t laugh boys I’m telling you that stuff is important,” As he said the words Seth came running up to me with his tail wagging and Bella following with his leash in her hand.

“What’s so funny?” Billy glanced over his shoulder at her then gave me a pointed look, “Well maybe it’s not as important for you.”

Bella eyed us waiting for an answer and I didn’t know what to tell her so I was more than happy when Sue and Leah joined us asking if we were ready to go. Leah needed to use the bathroom again, while Bella put Seth on his leash and Jacob asked if I would help him get Billy down the stairs. With everyone outside I held Bella’s hand while we walked the few blocks down to Main Street. It appeared that the whole town had turned out for the parade and a few more people either said hello or stared at Bella as we walked up the street to where the group from La Push seemed to have conjugated. Jacob opened up a chair for Leah while everyone said hello and the women hugged.

That was something I was still getting use to, all the female hugging. It’s not that it bothers me; I just find it to be one of those amusing things women did that I had never noticed before. I could see the draw if it had been a while since they had seen each other, that would make sense. But it appeared to me that women hug every time they join or part one another’s company. I suppose it is equated with a hand shake or a pat on the back but it still seemed strange.

Standing there in the slight drizzle of rain watching the interaction of friends I didn’t at all feel left out of the conversations. I stood behind Bella with my arm wrapped around her waist talking with the men while she carried on a chat with the women. It seemed natural to me that I should be in such a position talking about dog breeding and darts over the heads of the women. Every now and then one of girls would butt into our discussion with a question that had nothing to do with what we were talking about.

Like when Quil was explaining about the addition he is putting onto his house and the horror stories that the contractors were putting him through. That was interesting to me because the contractors were to be starting my bathroom the following week. He was just saying how he had ordered high efficiency windows and they installed regular double paned when Claire turned around to interrupt.

“Baby, who was that football player?”

Quil stopped talking to look at her just like the rest of us did, “Which one?”

“You know that one from Dancing with the Stars, he started dating his partner, bought her that expensive ring. What was his name?”

“Umm…LT, LaDainian Thomlinson.”

“Yeah…who did he play for?”

“The Jets,” Quil answered while Claire shook her head, “nooo, here on the west coast.”

“San Diego.”

Claire smiled at him, “That’s right San Diego, why can’t I remember that?” she asked herself turning back around to talk to the girls, “he was there.”

Quil shook his head with a smirk then went back to finishing his story, it was then I realized what a man in love looked like to an outsider. I had seen my brothers and father interact with their women, doting on them to the point of being indulgent. The respect that I always had for women was a learned trait from my parents, the coddling that I give Bella is pure love and I will indulge her as much as I damn well please no matter what I look like to someone else.

That thought caused my arm to squeeze her a little tighter to me making her look up and smile, “Everything ok?”

“Everything is perfect,” I told her before placing a chaste kiss on her lips when our lips parted I continued to stare into her deep brown eyes, “I love you.”

The most gorgeous blush broke out on her face as she asked coyly, “a whole bunch?”

“Bucket loads.”

Before I realized what Bella was doing she had spun around wrapped her arms around my neck and jumped up to bring her face level with mine. My arms automatically wrapped around her back to hold her to me as she spoke against my lips, “I love you.”

The moment was sealed with another kiss but nothing went too far because I was well aware of the fact that we were in a very public place with many eyes on us. I was just about to tell her to behave when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Hey sweet cheeks when you are done mauling Edward I have something for you.”

Fucking Emery and that damn nickname

Bella giggled as I patted her bottom before she let go of my neck sliding back down my body to stand on her feet. “I was not mauling Edward,” she held her hand out while I turned to face him and his family. “Can I have it?”

“No way,” he shook his head. “I’m not that easy, you have to come get it”

What the fuck is he talking about?

“No,” Bella didn’t sound very convincing.

“Come on sweet cheeks I dare you,” he taunted while his wife Kim giggled “Oh don’t do that.”

Bella shook her head and he grinned, “I double dare you.”

I was still confused at the exchange wondering what the hell he wanted Bella to do when she patted my chest took a step towards him and leaped up onto Emery’s chest wrapping her legs around his waist. Just as I had done his hands wrapped around her waist to keep her from falling while his face took on a look of shock, “Damn girl my wife is here.”

Bella didn’t seem to care about that as she patted around his chest like she was looking for something while demanding, “Where are they?”

I could feel the scowl growing on my face and the only thing that kept me from ripping her out of his arms was the laughter from Kim and Jacob’s hand on my shoulder. Emery must have seen my anger because he pushed her back off his body, but she wasn’t releasing the grip around his waist. “Jesus Christ Bella, Edward is going to punch me in the face.”

“Well you shouldn’t tease me!” she yelled while I assured him, “Edward is thinking about punching you.”

“Here take ‘um before you get me beat up,” Emery reached inside his jacket pulling out a white envelope giving it to Bella who was now thankfully standing on her own two feet.

“Thanks,” the glee in her voice was replaced with sarcasm as she elbowed him in the ribs, “You big oaf.”

I still had no idea what just happened, looking around at the people who had watched their expressions were a mixture of shock and amusement. Jacob patted my shoulder as he chuckled “Bells is back.”

Emery however was still as bewildered as I was, “Geez what happened to blushing sweet cheeks?”

“She’s on vacation,” Bella announced opening up the envelope. “What is all this stuff?”

Emery ignored her question as he stepped towards me holding his hand out, “Sorry dude, I wasn’t expecting to be jumped, Bella’s never done that before,” he added with a chuckle while Bella stepped up closer to me.

“Bella’s never done a lot of things before,” she spoke before I could say anything, looking up at me through her lashes with a blush on her face that made me grin and my dick twitch at the deviousness of her words.

My blood pressure had calmed down enough to finally shake his hand and Emery explained what Bella was holding, “These are the four tickets.”

Tickets?

My brain was still reeling as he spoke to Bella, “You asked me to get the best seats I could, that’s them. You’re going to have to put up with my brother and his friends but those are the concession you are just going to have to endure. That other ticket is VIP parking; I could only get you one of them. Oh and by the way don’t tell Charlie you have that or he’ll be pissed and start pulling me over every time I’m in town.”

“He would not,” Bella giggled.

“Yes he would,” Emery assured her before she asked, “So this pass is good the whole season?”

Season? What is holding in her hand?

“Yes and if you lose it I can’t replace it.”

“What do you have babe?” I was starting to get excited but until I knew for sure I was going to keep myself under control

“Season Tickets,” They both said at the same time, Emery like it should be obvious and Bella with pure excitement.

Taking the tickets from Bella I studied them, “These are VIP Booth tickets?”

I knew my statement sounded like a question and that was how Emery answered, “Yes and they include playoff games. And we are going to the playoffs this year.”

“Thanks,” it was all I could think to say.

“Oh don’t thank me, sweet cheeks just asked if I could supersede the waiting list. They are in Bella’s name so next year you just renew them.”

The sound of sirens could be heard telling us that the parade was starting and Emery told us he would talk to us later he wanted to get his family seated. As he moved to leave us alone I could feel Bella staring at me while I held onto the ticket. There was a look of concern on her face that I didn’t understand.

“Don’t you want them?”

“What?”

Bella spoke so fast I had to listen closely to what she was saying, “Emmett said that you have been on the list for a long time and that you had to wait until someone died so I called Emery and asked if he could help, I thought you would be happy.”

She thought I wasn’t happy?

“I’m sorry baby,” I told her putting the ticket from my hand back into the envelope with his brothers. “I’m just slightly shocked and torn between wanting to jump up and down like a five year old and taking you behind the building to show you my appreciation.”

“Oh,” she beamed at me stepping closer. Bella wrapped her arms around my back looking up at me with her chin resting against my chest she had the devious look back in her eyes. “I vote for the second one.”

Her words made me chuckle and I kissed her quickly as the noise from the sirens grew louder. Bella tucked the envelope containing the tickets into her purse then stood in front of me with my arm protectively wrapped around her waist, just as Charlie was in eyesight. Everyone waved at him as he turned the sirens on once again. As the marching band from the high school started playing my eyes scanned the crowded street, on the other side towards the end of the block was James. He was standing with a very tall redhead with wild curly hair and he was staring right at us.

The parade passed by quickly, each class from Forks high school had a float while the reservation only entered two. The rest of the parade was filled in with boy scout troops, daycare groups and one dance class and of course the graduating senior class. As the kids walked by people would yell out their names, Bella, Leah and Sue yelled out to Seth so loudly he rolled his eyes and blushed. As the last fire trucks went by everyone started gathering up their stuff to leave and we stood in a circle saying good-bye as the hugging commenced.

Once we got back to the house Billy left and the rest of us sat down waiting for Charlie to come back. Jacob came in from the kitchen with beer offering one to both Bella and me and sitting down he made an announcement. “Everyone is going to Casey’s.”

“What’s Casey’s?”

Bella looked at me, “It’s a bar.”

“It’s a pub,” Jacob clarified. “They have dollar draft happy hour and awesome food you should come.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Beside what am I going to do with Seth?”

“Everyone is meeting at four, you can leave Seth here with Sue and she’ll bring him tonight.”

Bella didn’t hesitate in responding, “Sue doesn’t want to keep him and besides I should stay and help her get ready.”

“Sue!” Jacob yelled towards to kitchen, “do you need Bella’s help?”

“No,” she was standing in the doorway. “You go have fun, I’ll keep Seth.” Jacob smiled at Bella as if he had just solved the mystery of life.

“I’m not dressed,” Bella came back with but Jacob stopped her. “It’s Casey’s, your fine and stop making excuses. Come on Bells it will be fun, live a little,” he smirked, “I dare you.”

I could see Bella was beginning to consider the idea and admittedly I didn’t know what was holding her back however it seemed Jacob did, “What are you afraid of?”

Bella stiffened, “I’m not afraid.”

He completely ignored her protest, “Yes you are or you would go.”

I didn’t like the way he was manipulating her. Granted I didn’t think that Bella should be fearful of attending something she wanted to do, but I wasn’t even sure that she desired to go. That was the first thing I needed to find out.

“Baby do you want to go?” her eyes roamed the room like she was searching for the answer written on the walls while she bit into her bottom lip. Cupping her chin to force her attention to me, I searched her eyes to see if I could find the answer but all I saw was indecision.

“Isabella it’s a simple yes or no question. Don’t over think it and don’t feel pressured into it either. Do you want to go?”

“Is Leah going?” She tried to turn her head to ask Jacob but I held it firmly keeping her attention on me.

“I didn’t ask about Leah, I ask you Isabella. Do you want to go?” Punctuating each word so she would understand.

Her head nodded in my hand, “Yes.”

With her answer I smiled adding a playful wink. It was a simple thing as far as obedience goes yet I wanted her to know that I was proud of her. Kissing her forehead I whispered against her skin, “Good girl.”

Looking back towards Jacob he was watching us with a curious expression. I couldn’t tell if it was one of awe or aversion and to be honest it didn’t matter to me. I needed Bella to be focused on her own needs not those around her.

Charlie came in a few minutes before we left, happy that everything was back to normal in the town and glad that Bella was joining her friends. Although I found that odd that he was so concerned about her going to bars in Seattle yet here it was encouraged.

We followed behind Jacob to Casey’s which was located on the outskirts of town and housed in a large green converted barn. Pulling into the half full parking lot Bella looked around at the cars and she physically relaxed into the seat.

“Are you sure?” I asked looking up at the building before turning to her, “we could go back to the house or you could show me another trail in the woods.”

She giggled, “pervert.”

“Always,” I answered with a grin as she got a resigned looked on her face. “No, let’s go in.”

As I opened my door Jacob and Leah were standing there waiting and he yelled for us to hurry up, then practically whined that we were taking too long as I opened Bella’s door. Leah watched us while Bella took my hand to step out of the car, “Edward can you teach Jake to do that?”

“I open the door for you,” he protested as we walked up the stairs to the front door.

“When?” she objected.

“I thought you prided yourself on being independent?” she rolled her eyes while opening the door to a blast of music while Jake smirked holding the door open with a wave of his hand, “After you my dear.”

“Screw you,” Leah grinned stepping inside while Jacob assured her, “I keep trying.”

I grinned at their exchange while Bella openly laughed.

The inside was rather dark and reminded me of one of the local bars from my college days with ‘Father Figure’ coming from the speakers. Signs and beer posters covered every spot on the wall that was not occupied with the twenty-five different sized flat screens that appeared to be broadcasting every sporting event available. The room seemed to be in an ‘L’ shape that mimicked the dark wooden bar. In the corner gathered around several tables Paul was sitting with Sam, Emily, Quil and Claire.

As we walked in the man behind the bar pointed his finger in warning, “Jake I don’t want no trouble here.”

Jacob held up his hand as he continued walking, “No trouble Case.”

Taking our place with the others Paul couldn’t wait to say something, “You beat somebody’s ass one time…”

Bella sighed looking uncomfortable at what was being said and Jacob leaned over to kiss the top of her head. It was an intimate exchange that told me how much the two of them shared and a small part of me was envious that she seemed to rely on him so much. The majority of me was glad that she had someone in those harsh years to turn to.

“What are you drinking babe Coke or Sprite?”

Leah thought about her husband’s question, “ummm…I think I’ll go with the hard stuff…ginger ale.”

“You got it,” he said turning to me, “beer?”

“I’ll get it,” he waved me off, “you get the next round, but you better watch it because my woman can drink a lot of ginger ale.”

Emery and Kim came in and the group seemed to settle into a round of various conversations of laugher. Kim asked Paul where his wife was and rather than be civil he told her that she was at home where she belonged.

Kim laughed as he continued with the macho comments about telling her that her place is at home with the kids. Leah however didn’t take it as easily, “I am sooo telling her you said that.”

“Go ahead she knows who wears the pants in the family,” he said taking a long drink from his glass.

“Oh my god, you are in so much trouble. Somebody give me their phone so I can record this shit, because Rach will never believe it.”

“Go ahead, I’m not afraid of her,” everyone laughed because it was clear that he was definitely worried as his face changed to a serious expression.

“No seriously Kim…she wanted to put the kids in for a nap and mom was busy so Rach had to stay with them.”

Leah laughed harder, “I’m still telling her.”

He shrugged, “She won’t believe you and besides if she makes me mad she won’t get the high hard one.” he cupped his balls, “and that would be torture for her,” making everyone laugh.

“Torture?” Claire questioned through her laugher, “Rachel probably pisses you off to keep you away from her.”

“Nahh…she knows where her loins are buttered,” the laughter grew except from Jacob who looked sick. “Hey that’s my sister!”

From the corner of my eye I could see someone approaching the group. He was Quileute, tall with a muscular build long black hair and five o’clock shadow. As everyone said their hello’s to Jared, Bella smiled. “I was wondering where you were.”

“Hey Bells…” he gave her a small hug, “…I had to work.”

Besides her family he was the only one who I heard call her Bells and he seemed rather friendly with the hug, but I overlooked it. Bella introduced us and I shook his hand more out of respect for her. Foolishly as it sounds I was pissed off at what occurred between them, it irritated me that he could have been so callous with her emotions. I knew he was just a kid at the time and I shouldn’t hold it against him, especially since it seemed obvious to me that Bella had excused his actions. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as forgiving and found it a whole lot easier to hold a grudge.

While the girls went in to use the bathroom Emery and I started talking about golf. He has a normal four-some that meets on Friday mornings however two of them are going to be gone for a few weeks. He had suggested that perhaps Emmett and I would be interested in joining them, that sounded great to me and I knew that Emmett would jump at the chance. We were just exchanging phone numbers when the women came back without Bella. I glanced over to see her standing by the bathroom talking to some guy.

“Who’s that?” I asked Jacob inclining my head in her direction.

“Joe. He’s irritatingly talkative but harmless. His parents live two doors down from Charlie,” as he finished talking Bella looked over at me giving me look that said – help me.

I chuckled and Jacob grinned, “fucking Bella, she’s too polite for her own good, I better go get her.”

“I got her,” chuckling again as I got to my feet. Joe had a pool stick in his hand blocking the pathway so Bella couldn’t make her escape. From what I heard of the conversation there was nothing inappropriate being said, Bella was just trapped.

“Baby your food is getting cold,” I told the blatant lie while holding my hand out. Taking it, she quickly introduced me and after saying ‘nice to meet you’ I guided her back to the group.

Once she sat back down Bella smiled at me, “Thanks I was stuck there.”

Leah rolled her eyes, “Why are you so nice to everyone?”

“I can’t be rude,” she told her sister who assured her, “Well I can.”

Of course Bella couldn’t be rude it’s part of her submissive nature to please people, to think of others and their feelings. It’s just part of what makes her so very special.

Just like at the parade the conversations split the women were chatting amongst themselves while the men were talking about baseball. Bella was leaning into my side singing along quietly to ‘Breath’ she got to the words:

Caught up in the touch
The slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be

Her head tilted slightly so the words were directly in my ear and I could feel the rush of air from her breath across my neck. My eyes looked down into hers bringing our faces so close together that our noses nearly touched. “What are you doing?”

“Singing,” her tongue peeked out to moisten her lips.

“I think you’re doing something else…” the innocent smile on her face made me grin, “…and I think you should try and behave yourself.”

Bella sighed dramatically, “I’ll try.”

“Succeed.”

She tilted her chin higher to reach closer to my ear whispering, “Will your girl get a reward?”

“Maybe,” at my answer Bella became animated sitting up quickly to press her chest against mine bringing our faces to an almost level plane.

“Yeah …do you promise?” The excitement in her voice and eyes was so cute it reminded me of a child on Christmas morning.

“How can I promise a maybe?” I asked her tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Ohhh…” she whined twisting further so more of her body was facing me making the arm around her shoulder drop down to her waist to hold her tighter. “So I have a fifty-fifty shot.”

“That sounds about right,” I didn’t understand the huge smile that lit up her face and Bella must have seen my confusion because she spoke slowly into my ear, “That means your girl is getting her reward.”

“And tell me how my girl figures that?” The words were spoken quietly against her ear but she immediately pulled back to look in my eyes with that same optimistic smile.

“Because this girl is a glass is half full kind of girl,” I couldn’t help the chuckle that came out making her giggle with me.

“Is that right?” I asked through my laugher while she nodded her head in absolute certainty as I told her, “I guess we’ll have to wait and see if you’re correct.”

“I am,” Bella was sure of herself as she kissed me softly then pulled back with a smug smile. “You watch, I’ll prove it.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it,” I told her as she sat back correctly in her chair with a confident grin.

When my attention came back to the rest of the people in our group I found that the conversation had ceased and it would appear that our exchange had become their focus. Other than the last few sentences, the words Bella and I spoke were soft enough and the music loud enough that no one would have heard us, so they were only reacting to what they saw. Most of the faces staring at us were pleasant, in fact they seemed pleased. The only one who didn’t seem to appreciate our exchange was Jared, and hey, fuck him. Even Leah was sort of smiling but it was Emily who spoke up.

“You guys are so cute,” once that was out in the open Paul had to chime in, “Yeah, it’s almost sickening.”

I glanced over at Bella to see her face was so red from the blush that I knew her cheeks must be in pain. The music had stopped playing so I gave Bella money telling her go pick out some more, hoping that she would relax. With her gone the conversation once again picked up and the only people who paid me any attention were Leah and Jared.

Leah was eyeing me with a curiousness in her gaze and a knowing smile on her face. I had nothing against Leah, she was only looking out for her sister and that was a trait I can admire. If it was going to take time for her to fully trust me I could wait, just so long as she is civil along the way. Jared’s narrow eyes were harder to read and of less importance to me.

Bella was standing at the jukebox picking out music and I wasn’t paying much attention, after all she was only about fifteen feet away and the place wasn’t that crowded. I didn’t hear anyone new come in however, the voice was unmistakable.

“Just fucking great. How long are you going to be here?”

“Shit,” Jacob muttered angrily while Paul mumbled, “there goes the party.”

I couldn’t be concerned with them because Bella was standing alone. I got to my feet so fast that the chair flew backwards however it wasn’t fast enough. Bella turned to move away from him and he grabbed her arm. “I’m talking to you bitch!”

“Let me go!”

“Get your hand off her!” James looked me in the eye, “Now!” I growled angrily because I was going to kill that motherfucker.

“Let Bella go,” it was Sam who was standing beside me with a voice of authority.

James huffed, shaking his head like he was disgusted with the whole situation. I didn’t want to grab him because he still had Bella’s arm, besides Sam had his arm out like he was blocking my approach. James smirked at me before shifting his eyes to Sam then dropped Bella’s arm as he spoke.

“So not fucking worth it, god damn cunt.”

I wanted to seize a hold of Bella to get her to safety then get her out of there without any more incidence, fate seemed to have a different agenda. The whole thing happened in slow motion I could see Bella’s hand drop from his grasp, then it started to move again. It came up with such force that James’s head actually moved sideways from the blow. I was so stunned that it didn’t register that Bella had slapped him until the ‘crack’ from the impact reached my ears.

“Don’t you ever touch me!” Bella screamed with furious anger.

“You fucking Bitch!” he screamed whether from pain or shock I don’t know.

The adrenaline in Bella’s system was wearing down because she was visibly shaking and the furiousness that she had just spoken with was gone as she called with a trembling voice, “Casey call Officer Mark and tell him that James is in violation of a PFA.”

James narrowed his eyes at her in an attempt to intimidate; however as anxious as she was, my girl was not backing down and I think James knew it. My mind was torn between removing her and letting her have the moment of strength to stand her ground. I chose the latter hoping that she could feel my presence and let her gain whatever she needed from it.

“Well aren’t you the fucking brave one”

Bella didn’t say anything to him and she didn’t back down either. It seemed like an eternity that they stood there playing a bizarre game of chicken, waiting to see who would break first. Bella’s tenacity which James had used as weapon against her was now being turned against him, and it didn’t matter how scared she was, there was no way she was losing.

He spit on the floor at her feet, “I’m leaving smells like shit in here anyway.”

That motherfucker

I couldn’t think about the implication of James’s parting words because Bella was a shaking mess. Pulling her to me her hands gripped my shirt while I held her tightly, “Shhhh…it’s ok baby, you’re ok.”

I didn’t think Bella was crying and if she was it would have been in response to the hormone fluctuations because I didn’t think James actually hurt her. That was something I would have to check out once she settled down. She was still trembling so much that I lifted her up by her hips. Sensing what I was doing her arms moved around my neck and her legs wrapped around my waist. Bella buried her face in my neck taking deep breaths, with each one I could feel her relaxing against me.

“Better?” I asked when I could feel the fullness of her weight on my arms.

“Yeah…” Bella lifted her head to look at me, she just stared for a moment with a sadness in her eyes. “I hit him.”

“I know baby, I wanted to do that and you beat me to it.”

She smiled looking down at her palm, “My hand hurts.”

Setting her down on her feet I took her hand making sure that she didn’t damage anything. After having her move all her fingers I placed a kiss in the center of her palm and then lifted her sleeve. Under the elbow there were a few red marks from the pressure of his fingers. That didn’t make me happy and I wanted to hunt James down but that was not in the cards. Touching the red marks the whiteness disappeared quickly telling me that they shouldn’t bruise, however I would be sure to check them again.

Turning around to the people at our tables they were all sitting there in stunned silence. It took about a half of second before Leah wrapped Bella up in a hug. “Holy Shit! I can’t believe you did that! I’m so proud of you for standing up to him!”

“I shouldn’t have hit him. He’s going to go home and take it out on Vickie.”

That’s the woman I love, she was assaulted, bruised, and disrespected and she is worried about someone else. Maybe that is because she has lived it so she can empathize or maybe it’s just because she has a genuine concern for her fellowman.

“Fuck Victoria Kohn! She stays with him that’s her problem,” Leah grinned. “I wished I would have had a video camera so I could see it again. CRACK!” the sound of her hands slapping together makes Bella flinch.

“Can we go please?” Bella looked up at me with pleading eyes.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Leah didn’t agree, “GO? Come on you need to have drink to celebrate…hell even I’m thinking about having one.”

Bella continued to look at me, “I need my purse.”

Emily brought it over for her and Sam, who had followed James outside, walked us out to the car. Once Bella was inside with her belt on, Sam squatted down in the open door. “Bella do you want me to call Mark, and report the violation?”

“I hit him Sam can’t he press charges on me?”

Sam shook his head, “He was in violation of the restraining order. He assaulted you first by grabbing your arm; you have a right to defend yourself.”

Bella thought about it for a few seconds, “What would happen to him?

“He would be booked, spend the night in jail until his bail hearing.”

“They would finger print him and take his DNA?” Bella asked and I knew that she wasn’t going to press changes.

“Yes, they will.”

The tears that weren’t there before came as she sobbed, “I can’t do that Sam.”

“Ok,” there was no disappointment in Sam’s voice; he knew the same as I did. He stood shutting the door then shook my hand, “You’re a good man Edward, take care of her.”

Getting in the car Bella sniffled wiping her tears away with the back of her hand, “Please don’t be mad at me.”

“Why would I be mad at you?”

“Because I won’t press charges.”

I sighed, “I understand that you are trying to protect Jacob.”

Bella shook her head, “That’s not it Edward, those charges were dropped they can’t be brought up again. I just…”

She stopped talking to take a deep breath, “I would have to tell everyone what happened. I can’t do it!” She wailed at the words, “I’m so horrible … I…let him walk around free…all because…I..can’t do it!”

Releasing the clasp on the seatbelt I held her to my chest shushing her while I stroked my hand through her hair. I continued to hold her until she calmed enough to stop crying. I knew what courage it took her to stand up to her own personal demon. Somehow Bella had found the strength within to accomplish what she deemed unattainable. Who knows, maybe as she digs deeper within herself she just might find enough fortitude to overcome the next impossible hurdle. In the meantime she needs to be proud of what she accomplished, not feel bad for what still scares her.

Taking her face in my hands to look in her eyes I spoke firmly, “Isabella, did you ever think that you would be able to stand there and face him like that?”

She shook her head in my hands.

“Speak please.”

“No Sir.”

“And yet you did it, so I say don’t worry about what you can’t do, rejoice in what you can. Do you remember your half full theory?”

She nodded, “Yes Sir.”

“Apply it now and be as proud of yourself as I am. Because baby, you did great.”

“Yeah?’

“Yeah,” I told her with a kiss that deepened before I could stop it. Then again I didn’t want to stop it. Bella moaned softly into my mouth making me realize that my own breathing was erratic and the windows were getting steamy. Pulling away from Bella’s lips is always a difficult thing to do; this time was even harder because I could feel her need. However due to where we were, getting carried away was out of the question, so reluctantly I backed off.

Starting the engine I followed her directions to get back into town. I was thinking about all that I had learned about Bella since coming to Forks. There was still one thing that had me baffled and my mind must have still been foggy from the lack of blood leaving it for lower pastures because I didn’t even think before asking what I wanted to know.

“Isabella why in god’s name did you go out with that asshole in the first place?"

Chapter 61

Chapter 61
BPOV

Freaking Leah, we were already behind schedule and she was making me wait until a fresh pan of sticky buns was ready. I had to agree with her that they are better right from the oven. The diner made the raised dough from scratch daily. On the weekends, or days when there was something happening, it was a non-stop production of yummy goodness. But we had a deadline of free time this morning and her craving was cutting into it.

The morning was going by quickly, Edward let me sleep longer than usual and by the time everyone showered and dressed there wasn’t much time for me to show him around. Then again why in the world he was so interested in seeing the schools I attended or the grocery store I worked at left me baffled. Those places meant nothing to me other than being somewhere I was forced to spend my time.

I could feel the eyes of the people in the diner on me, when I met a few of their stares some would look away. Others, like Brenda Nagel who was now Tatasure, sat with her mother and two children gawking openly. She looked out the window pointed at something and then continued to cast glances at me like I was some kind of science experiment.

The girl was irritating the crap out of me more than she ever had in high school and I was on the verge of going over and asking what the hell she found so interesting when Jake came inside.

“Are you making them?”

Rolling my eyes at his outburst, “Leah wants fresh ones.”

“How much longer do you have to wait?” his impatience with Leah was clear but she didn’t seem to care. “A few more minutes, we’ll be right out.”

“Well hurry the fuck up, Sue’s going to be pissed if we’re late and I have to stop at the store and you want to go to the bakery.”

Leah huffed, “They just came out of the oven give us another minute.”

Jacob sighed and looked out the door with narrowed eyes and left without saying another word.

Leah tisked, “What the hell, it’s not my fault.”

I smiled at her because it was her fault but I wasn’t going to say that. She continued to prattle on about some shoot she had done while I glanced around the diner. Several people were looking out the window with interest making me curious about what was happening. I would have gone over to see for myself but Bob called out to us that our buns were ready.

While we paid it seemed like I had gained even more attention from those inside and I wanted to get out of there in the worst way. Opening up the outer door Jake was standing next to Edward with his arm resting against his shoulder. Leah gave me a quizzical look and I shrugged because hell if I knew what was happening.

“Are you two bonding?” she asked going down the stairs while I stood on the bottom step behind Edward. Following his gaze my eyes focused on the other side of the street where Officer Mark was walking a few feet behind someone.

“What’s going on?” I asked putting both arms around his chest while resting my chin on his shoulder, kissing his cheek.

Edward’s head turn in my direction placing a soft kiss on my lips, “I’ll tell you later.”

Jake sighed loudly and Leah became agitated, “What happened?”

They seemed to be having a wordless conversation but I couldn’t pay attention because Edward started talking against my ear sending tingles through me, “Did you get your sticky bun?”

“Yes Sir,” I smiled coyly opening the bag so he could get a whiff the warm bun. “Do you want some?”

“Absolutely, I want everything you’re willing to give me,”

His words made me roll my eyes and blush at the double meaning. Ripping off a piece of the bun I brought it to his lips. As Edward opened his mouth taking it from my fingers he sucked the sticky molasses off. The feel of his tongue against the sensitive tips of my fingers went straight to my core and a small whimper escaped me. Edward’s eyes grew darker making my breathing quicken while I remained caught in his gaze.

“Alright that’s enough, you two need to get a fucking room if you’re going to do that shit,” Jakes comments made me blush while Edward chuckled.

We stood there for a minute talking while I took turns feeding Edward and myself the sweet treat. Leah was going to take Seth with her while they drove to the store so Jake could get beer. Edward and I were going to the bakery and then I was going to finish the tour of Forks before we met back up at Charlie’s. While we were finishing up the details I heard people coming out of the diner. Rather than release my hold on Edward I stepped with him off to the side to allow the exiting patrons room to maneuver the stairs.

Mrs. Nagel came down holding on to the hand of Brenda’s son while she was behind them with her daughter perched on her hip. Both women eyed Edward before shifting their gaze to my arms that were still draped over his shoulders.

“Hi Bella,” Brenda spoke to me. “Leah, Jake,” she added with a nod before looking back to me expectantly. I stepped away from Edward introducing them out of politeness. Mrs. Nagel asked if we were home for the parade and then made a comment about how time flies when we told her that Seth had graduated. Brenda wasn’t really listening as she continued to size up Edward before turning to Jake.

“What was the problem?” She asked in curiosity.

“There was no problem,” he answered solemnly to which her eyes narrowed, “Oh. It looked like…”

“Looks can be deceiving,” Jake cut her off with his retort. I had no idea what she was talking about; however, it was clear that she wasn’t going to get anything further from him and she was not happy about that.

“Hhm,” Brenda huffed, “maybe I’ll see you later.” She started to walk away and then turned, “Oh, by the way Bella, did you hear that Elaine was pregnant again?” She continued talking in a superior tone. “Her and Wade got married a year after you did and this will be their fourth baby.”

“I hadn’t heard but I’ll be sure to congratulate her.”

Brenda grinned at my statement then moved to her car. Her words were meant in a malicious fashion as if to hurt or insult me and for a second she succeeded.

“Elaine weighs two hundred and fifty pounds and Wade was caught sucking that guys dick down at the truck stop last year.” I burst out laughing at Leah’s take on the situation making her laugh with me. “Personally Bella I think you’re better off,” she added with a chuckle. “Really another woman Elaine might be able to contend with …”

Jake couldn’t resist to comment, “She could always sit on her or smother her with the rolls on her thighs.”

Leah shot Jake a look of disbelief and then laughed along with us while finishing her thought, “…and I don’t care how fat she gets or what else grows on her she’s never going to have a dick.”

“There’s always strap-on’s,” Edward said with a slight chuckle while Jake added even more to that suggestion. “She could get one of those double headed ones, so she gets off while doing him.” We all laughed as Jake put the motion of thrusting his hips along with the words.

“Ewww gross!” Leah commented through her laughter, “I don’t want that mental picture…big Elaine and skinny Wade…with his greasy hair…bending over and taking it up the ass!”

“Thanks for sharing,” I knew it was mean but the thought was just too much and I laughed.

“That’s worse…” Leah’s laugher was dying down to a chuckle, “…than walking in on Mom and Charlie on the chair!”

“Ohhh…Leahhh,” I complained, “why did you have to bring that up?”

That was not something I wanted to be reminded of, especially when we were going to be going over there. As our laughter died down all thoughts of Brenda’s disparaging comments were gone.

“Ok,” Jake chuckled, “let’s go or were never going to make it on time.”

As they walked away with Seth my arms wrapped back around Edward for a quick hug and he reached down with his hands gripping my thighs to hoist me up onto his back making me squeal. “Which way m’lady?’

“Ummm…that way,” I pointed down across the street with a giggle.

As Edward started walking across the road Charlie’s cruiser turned the corner. Seeing us he stopped driving, rolling down the window he eyed my position and the way Edward’s hands held on to me. “Something wrong with your legs Bells?”

“Nope…I get carried like this all the time.” I announced smugly while dad grinned “Oh yeah? How do you manage that?”

“Do you see this finger?” holding up my pinky with a giggle. Edward squeezed my thigh and kind of growled, he knew damn well what I was referring to. Charlie on the other hand just smiled shaking his head.

“What are you doing out? I thought Sue would be keeping you busy all day.” Charlie blinked a few times then his eyes went to Edward with a blank stare before shifting back to me.

“Just making sure that Mark had everything under control.”

Oh

“Ok…well we’re just going down to the bakery and then I’m going to show Edward the school and we’ll be over.” I told my dad our plans wondering what Officer Mark had to do that required Charlie checking up on him. Mark had been working with Charlie for ten years and he knew how to set up the barriers for the parade.

“See you at the house, oh and Bells…” I thought for sure he was going to comment about me hanging on Edward’s back but he surprised me. “Do your old man a favor and get a wet bottom pie.” I smiled as Charlie rolled up the window.

“You are in so much trouble,” Edward growled spinning in a circle so that I had to tighten my grip around his shoulders while I giggled burying my face into his neck. Placing a kiss under his jaw before tugging on his ear lobe with my teeth eliciting a small groan while I admitted into his ear, “Sometimes I like trouble.”

“Hmmm…I know you do.”

Turning my face into the crook of his neck the heady scent of his skin always drawing me in for more I whispered against him, “I love you.”

“Ah, my Bella.” I felt his arms tighten around my body while his shoulders rose as if giving me a hug

I realized that he came to a stop and when I looked up we were outside of the Bakery. Edward let go of my legs allowing my body to slide down his back until I was standing on my own two feet.
There was a young girl behind the counter whom I didn’t know. It was possible that she had just moved here or more than likely because of her age I knew her parents but couldn’t recall her.

“What’s wet bottom pie?” Edward asked while he held my hand walking back to the car.

I thought for a second while standing at the corner waiting to cross the street where the car was parked. “It’s like funny cake with a layer of sweet dark pudding on the bottom.”

Getting ready to cross the street my breath caught and I could feel my body stiffen at the sight of the light blue pick-up truck. James was driving with Vickie in the passenger seat, his head was facing forward but his eyes bore into us. His expression was passive and I noticed that he cut off his long hair but his stare contained the same the hardness that always caused me panic. His fury that constantly brought about my fear now produced an intense hatred that made me angry with myself for reacting as I did.

Edward noticed the difference in my stance immediately, squeezing my hand as the truck continued at a steady pace down the street. The movement of Edward’s feet caused me to follow along with him to the car. As he opened the door for me to get in his hand lifted my chin making me look into his searching eyes.

I had to say something so that Edward wouldn’t think I was crazy, “That was…”

“I know who it was,” he interrupted my explanation.

My eyes narrowed in confusion, “How?”

It was the only thing I could say while searching my brain to remember if Edward had seen a picture of James, or had he known strictly from my reaction. “We’ve met.”

What?

“When?” I was getting frustrated with myself and the one word responses that kept popping into my head, but I couldn’t help it. Edward’s eyes searched my face before letting go of my chin with a resounding sigh. “Get in, we’ll talk on the way.”

Strapping the seatbelt across my shoulder I sat with the cake box balanced on my lap watching Edward walk in front of the car to his door. He didn’t say anything while getting his own belt on and starting the engine. “Which way am I going Isabella?”

Isabella?

My mind automatically settled into a peaceful state as I pointed over my shoulder, “That way Sir.”

Putting the car in drive Edward pulled out of the parking space, made a U-turn and headed in the direction I had pointed. Keeping my eyes on the road I waited for a few minutes for him to start talking. The time seemed to drag on as I cleared my mind while concentrating on my breathing. Each breath that I took in was filled with Edward’s scent drawing me further into myself. I could feel a calm wash over me, and although I still wanted to know what happened I was content to wait until he thought it was the right time to speak.

“Are you better my pet?” the words were softly spoken as if out of concern while his hand lay on top of mine.

“Yes Master.”

As I said the words a thought occurred to me that Edward purposely tapped into my submissive nature as way of giving me fortitude. The words he said last night while we were getting ready to go to Sam’s came to my mind. “This weekend is going to be tricky Isabella, and believe me if I thought for one minute that it would be in your best interest, our usual would not be taking place at all.”

When he had said those words I thought he meant that our usual would be tricky, trying to have our D/s time around everyone else in such close proximity. Which I suppose was true, the thing I didn’t fully understand until that moment was the part about it being in my best interest. I assumed that Edward was talking about not wanting me to get complacent with a long interval of down time; forcing him to have to go backwards in my training, frustrating both of us and completely undermining my self confidence.

Sitting there in the car drawing in on all the training I had been through. Focusing my inner strength and self control, I realized that’s what it was all about. Since day one Edward had me working on control, not just my body but my mind, emotions, and basic functions. Forcing me to take stock of myself and getting to know myself better than I ever have before. Drawing on the power that I get not only from his control of me, but the control I have over myself.

These lessons weren’t just about sex; they were to be used to enhance my whole self, to embrace my submissive character and draw strength from it. Never before have I been as accepted as when I kneel before him with nothing but my desire to serve. Because never in my life have I felt as strong as I do laid bare, naked, before my Masters feet.

That was what he meant by his statement

Yesterday I told Leah that Edward understands me and he makes me understand myself. At the time I said it I thought those words to be true, but sitting there in the car I knew without a doubt that they were. He knew what I needed all along. At that thought my heart soared with more admiration and love for him then I had before.

“Thank you Master.”

A small smile played on his lips, “You’re welcome my love.”

Edward turned at the sign that pointed the way to Forks High School. “Isabella, I want you to remain quiet and not say a word until after I am finished. Do you understand?”

“Yes Sir.”

While we drove the half mile into the school Edward began telling me about James coming up to him outside of the diner. I listened with intense interest at his recall, grimacing at the nasty things that James had said but not at all surprised by the arrogance that he showed. Pulling up into the parking lot facing the main office Edward turned off the car, removed his seatbelt and then turned his body to me.

“I don’t want you to think that I was trying to hide it from you Isabella. I had every intention of telling you this evening. I told you before there are no secrets between us, however I wanted us to be alone in a private place where we could discuss it rationally, with both of us in the right frame of mind.”

The right frame of mind- It wasn’t just me that needed to delve into my inner self, Edward needed it too

That thought was cut off by his comment, “I have no idea how James knew my name. Other than to say that it is very apparent that everyone here seems to know that you are in a relationship. That leaves me to assume that with me standing there with Seth, he put two and two together.”

That made total sense to me, how many people had commented that it was about time they got to meet Edward? So it would only figure that James would know his name. I just felt bad that Edward was even put in that position. “Your girl is sorry Master.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You have no control over other people; the only actions a person can be responsible for are their own.”

I knew that of course, and his words were meant to comfort me but instead I internalized them twisting it into a double meaning. Thinking that if it weren’t for me then he wouldn’t have been faced with the awkward situation he was in earlier. “Master takes responsibility for his submissive.”

“I do that willingly Isabella, and so far my submissive has yet to cause me embarrassment, so she can get that thought right out of her mind.”

He really does know me

The car was quiet for a moment until Edward opened the latch on my seatbelt, “Is there anything else that needs to be said on this issue, or can we put it behind us?”

“No Master, we can put it behind us.”

“Good choice.”

He got out opening my door, pulling me into his arms as I stepped out of the car. I could feel his lips against my hair but he never lifted my face to kiss my mouth and I was content feeling the warmth of his embrace. Stepping back he took my hand in his tugging me towards the buildings. As we walked the five separate structures that always reminded me of army barracks, I explained what each building was used for. Edward looked in a few windows and I marveled again at how interested he was with seemingly inconsequential things.

Walking around the back of building ‘C’ I explained about the trail in the woods and how when it wasn’t raining hard I would go out there to eat lunch alone to escape all the chaos of the cafeteria. So of course Edward had to see what I was talking about. Following the trail back about fifty yards was the tree limb that served as a bench. It had fallen over so long ago that it was covered with moss and surrounded by over brush that created a little canopy of sorts.

Sitting on the log Edward pulled me down into his lap, his hands wrapping around my waist holding me without crushing me to him. Looking towards the school the deserted buildings were still visible through the gaps in the forest.

“What did you do in there Isabella?” Edward asked motioning with his chin towards the red brick structures.

“Your girl went to school Master.”

“What else did you do?”

Thinking about that question I didn’t know how to answer so I said the first thing that came to mind, “Your girl went home from school.”

Edward chucked at my response, “No. I mean what did you get involved in? Sports, cheerleading, clubs, organizations, activities, what extra things did you do?”

Staring at the building I shook my head, “Nothing, just homework.”

“Nothing?” I could see from the corner of my eye Edward’s head turn to look at me.

“No…what did you do in school?” my head turned to meet his gaze, watching as his face took on a look of nostalgia.

“I played football, basketball and baseball. I was a member of the young republicans, the key club, and student council. I participated in odyssey of the mind and the year book.”

“You did all that?”

He smiled broadly, “yeah.”

Looking back at the school where I had spent four years just getting an education, there was no remorse in me for things I didn’t do. It had never occurred to me to be active in school. It was just a place that I had to go.

“Why didn’t you get involved in something?”

His question was simple enough, and I suppose to someone who fit into the ins and outs of the popular crowd it would seem strange that I never did.

“Your girl doesn’t know,” I answered with a shrug of my shoulders.

“Well what were your friends doing, didn’t they try to talk you into joining something?”

My head turned once again to look at him, “This one’s friends all went to school on the reservation.”

“Didn’t you have any friends here?” he asked with narrow eyes, making me feel insignificant and causing me to look away from his glare.

“No.”

“You spent four years here and had no friends?”

I thought about his question before answering, “There was the occasional lab partner or if we got grouped into a project. But no one to just hang out with, most of the people your girl knew from junior and senior year were friends of James, not hers. She spent evenings, weekends, and holidays with her friends from the reservation.”

“And you would sit out here eating lunch by yourself?” I nodded resting my back and head against his shoulder, staring out into the trees.

“When it was cold or raining too hard your girl would sit in the library. She didn’t fit in here, so your girl came here and did what she had to do, worked hard to get an education so she could get out. It went all the way back to when she first moved here. Your girl was in the second grade, it was the beginning of May and her mother had just died. Her whole life was turned upside down. Three weeks later school ended and she spent all summer at the reservation, and that was her life, they were her friends and family. The next year this girl was still an outsider to everyone in school, but she was one of the rez kids to everyone at La Push. She was proud of that and felt like she belonged there.”

After a long moment Edward spoke quietly, “So why didn’t you date one of the boys from the reservation?”

“Master, your girl is HO-quaht.”

“White?”

I nodded, “As much as she was just one of the kids, and the adults watched out for her like she was their own, in the back of her mind your girl always knew that she really wasn’t.”

I didn’t want to get into the proud heritage of the Quileute people or their land distribution policies. Edward didn’t need to know that as a white girl I would never have been accepted as a first wife. That was reserved for girls from the tribe who could breed full blooded Quileute babies so that family lands could be passed down generation to generation. Not that it really mattered to me anyway, all those guys were never more than friends to me. Except for the one summer when I played touchy feely games with one of them. That ended in a total mess when Jake kicked his ass because of rumors he had started about his male prowess.

Edward’s arms tightened around my middle, “Stand up Isabella.”

His hands held my hips for a second keeping me in place standing between his open legs as his hands worked to open the button and zipper on my jeans. His fingers wasted no time with teasing instead pushing down my pants and plunging two fingers deep inside me. The shock from his actions caused me to gasp and Edward swatted me fully on my bottom with a stern warning, “Quiet.”

His fingers were working in and out of me with such fervor that it didn’t take long before I was panting shamelessly.

“Lift up your shirt and touch yourself” the directness of his voice told me it wasn’t a request so I did as he said. Lifting the bottom of my sweat shirt up to my armpits my hands cupped each breast. Edward’s other hand reached up pulling my bra to free them.

“Don’t tease them Isabella, pinch your nipples, twist and pull,” as I did what I was told the pain from my fingers sent ripples of pleasure through me that added to the delight of Edward’s fingers inside me.

“Harder Isabella,” the extra pressure from my own hands made me whimper, earning me another swat and a warning to be quiet. My eyes focused on the brick building while I tried to think about anything other than what my body was feeling, but Edward wouldn’t allow that as he ordered with a harsh tone, “Harder.”

I could feel my legs starting to shake and my hips tucked slightly to try and rub my clit against his wrist. Edward knew what I was doing because he turned his hand so that I couldn’t get any friction while he order, “Harder!”

My breathing was erratic and my lip burned from the force of my teeth biting into it while the pressure in my stomach built.

“How desperate is my slut to cum?”

I couldn’t tell if he was asking me or making an observation so I remained quiet, trying to hold on to anything that would keep me from crying out. Edward’s hand twisted and the side of his thumb rubbed against my clit making a strangled whimper leave my throat. There was no way I was going to be able to continue and I was going to beg him to let me cum when he ordered sternly, “Hold it!”

Oh fuck – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona…

“Harder.” The word reached my brain taking me away from my internal thoughts making me realize that my own hands had let up on their task. The hasty removal of Edward’s hand from my body made me gasp with need. In my lust induced state I felt his hands pull my jeans down to my thighs. Placing both hands on my hips Edward pulled me backwards into his lap lowering me onto his errection. The feeling of fullness was so exquisite that it took me a second to realize what was happening.

“I want those nipples throbbing Isabella.”

The words spoken in my ear made my hands get back to work pinching and twisting the aching nubs as his hands on my hips started directing their movement. My back arched from the delight of the pain that I was causing myself while I rode through his thrusts inside me. My body responding to him in the most primal way and I could feel my muscles starting to squeeze around him.

“Don’t you cum.” The growl was a warning that I took seriously.

My mind was so lost in the sensations cursing through me that I lost all reality of where I was as my body responded with pure need. I tried really hard to keep quiet pushing against the pressure growing in my stomach. Edward started to thrust against my movements as small grunts sounded in my ear. I felt his fingers dig into the flesh of my hips using them to guide my body against his own. Slamming me against him a few more times his hand dipped down to my clit, pinching it tightly while he ordered, “Now!”

My body spasmed in sweet relief, as the back of my head slammed against Edward’s shoulder while my internal muscles clamped down on him. I heard him grunt a few times but I was too lost in my own release to think about it.

My eyes fluttered open for a brief moment as a small breathy moan left my throat from the feel of Edward’s warm hands on my breasts lightly rubbing the tender nipples. “Shhhh…Relax my pet.”

At his words my eyes closed while my head lay against the juncture of his neck and shoulder, the smell of Edward and sex hung in the damp air but it was peaceful. “What are you thinking Isabella? Tell me what you are feeling.”

“Right now your girl is feeling very content,” My eyes opened at the realization of where I was and I stiffened in reaction. “Your girl hated it here, she hated everything about it.”

“Shhh…” his hand moved to caress the side of my face. “…I know. Close your eyes Isabella,” as I did he continued talking. “Smell the earthy forest, listen to the rain drops against the leaves, the rustle of the trees and absorb your surroundings”

Becoming aware of all those things going on around me my body relaxed even more against his.

“Now tell me Isabella, what is the one thing that you sense the strongest?”

I didn’t even need to think about that, the words came out through closed eyes.

“You Master, all your girl can think about is you. The smell of your skin, the feel of your breath on her face, how your heart beats with the rise and fall of your chest. Your girl smells our sex in the air and feels you inside her. You Master are all that this girl can sense in this place.”

That was the best way that I could sum up what I was feeling. The old associations that were connected with that spot in the woods didn’t seem to matter anymore. There was no dread of the school bell ringing that making go back inside. There was no feeling of not belonging because at that moment I felt whole. I might have spent four years sitting there alone reading a book while eating sandwiches but those memories had been replaced.

From that moment on, whenever I thought about the space where I had spent so much time alone, my brain would automatically recall in vivid detail the time I spent there with Edward. It was only a short period of time in comparison, but the events and emotions involved surpassed everything else. Those feelings would always leave me with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart.

We didn’t get to stay there very long. Edward tucked himself back into his pants while I fixed myself and by the time we got back to the car, I needed to take off my pants to remove my panties. He laughed at me while I struggled in the small space to pull my pants back on but I didn’t care there was no way I could spend the rest of the day with our sloppy juices amassed in my underwear.

We were thirty minutes late in getting to Charlie’s and everyone was waiting as we walked in the door. The little living room was filled with people as I handed the white box with the pie in it to Sue. Everyone said hello while Edward looked around the small room taking in the humble surroundings while I petting Seth who came over with a wagging tail.

“It’s about freaking time I’m starving,” Seth’s complaint coming in from the kitchen with Tracy. “Where the hell were you? I tried to call and it kept going to voice mail.”

“I was showing Edward around and I don’t think I get reception in the woods.”

“Why were you in the woods?” rolling my eyes at my own big mouth I came up with the best answer I could.

“We just followed the tail out behind the high school” my excuse didn’t seem to hold any weight as Leah eyed me suspiciously while my gaze shifted to the one person I had not had a chance to see yet. Sue told everyone they could eat while I took Edward over to meet the man who was like my second father.

“Hi Billy,” my arms wrapped around him in a hug. “I missed you last night.”

His legs were paralyzed but his arms were strong and it took nothing at all for him to draw me into his lap while Edward sat down in the chair next to us. “I know and I felt bad about that. It was the first ceremony I ever missed.” His eyes moved to Edward and I introduced them while they shook hands.

Jake and Leah sat on the couch with their plates while Billy focused his attention on Edward, “Now you tell me young man what your intentions are with our girl here.”

“Billy!” I squealed with embarrassment but he didn’t seem to care.

“No..no Bella, these are things we need to know.”

My eyes went to Edward trying to convey my sympathy; however he didn’t seem to care. He smiled shifting his eyes to me for a moment then looked back to Billy who was waiting for an answer.

“Well sir, at the moment I just want to make Bella happy.”

That sounded like a good answer to me and I would have thought that Billy would be content with that, I was wrong.

“And just how are you planning on doing that?” I think the whole room got quiet at Billy’s inquiry waiting to hear the response.

Edward’s eyes went to mine while he spoke, “I’m going to love her, with everything that’s in me.”

“Aweee….” Sue purred while Seth made a gagging noise and Edward chuckled at their reaction.

“That’s a good answer son,” Billy approved. “I thought maybe you were going to say something like spoil her rotten.”

Edward chuckled, “I would like to do that too. But Bella never asks for anything”

“That’s the way Bella has always been, she’s the responsible one. Never asking or expecting anything extra.”

My face heated up with embarrassment at Billy’s words, “hellooo, I’m sitting right here.”

“You hush up young lady and let me speak man-talk with Edward,” Billy admonished.

“Man-talk?”

Billy nodded at me.

“Well can your man talk wait until Edward has some food?”

At my question Sue came over with a plate for Billy. Standing I led Edward towards the small kitchen watching him as he eyed the pictures that covered the mantel. He stopped walking to look at them. Most were me in the traditional blue back ground that all schools use but there were a few more personal ones, Charlie leaning over Renee while she reclined in a hospital bed holding me. One of Jake and me up in the tree grinning triumphantly down at the camera and one of Leah and me in our bathing suits standing in the lake posing in what we thought were seductive stances. The one he picked up to look at was me in my wedding gown with the veil pulled over my face clasping Charlie’s arm.

“You were so young,” Edward’s fingers traced the outline of my face over the glass. I had no idea what he was thinking at that moment and his face gave nothing away. After a second he replaced the picture smiling sadly at me.

“Food?” he questioned making me show him into the kitchen.

Sue had made baked macaroni and cheese with broccoli along with scrambled eggs and sausage links. We got our plates full before going back into the living room to join everyone else. There were only a few spaces to sit down and as I walked by the recliner I mouthed to Edward, ‘don’t sit in this chair.’

He looked at me in confusion for a second and then realization came to him in the form of a grin. “Thanks for the warning,” he whispered in my ear as we sat down. I was on the couch next to Jake while Edward sat in the chair along side of me. Charlie was talking about getting together for some fishing trip while Billy was being evasive about a definite answer. It was so out of character that realization dawned on me.

Leaning over I whispered to Jake, “Does Billy have a lady friend?”

He smirked then nodded in response while I was annoyed at not knowing that, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I haven’t seen you.”

“You saw me last night and besides I think news like that warranted a phone call!”

He rolled his eyes at me and I couldn’t be mad because I wanted the details.

“Who is she? Where did they meet? How long have they been together?” I was rattling off questions in Jakes ear when Billy’s laughter made me stop talking.

“You better get use to that Edward.” Billy pointed over at Jake and me, “From the time they were little those two were inseparable. They did everything together they played, ate and slept together. Hell I even caught them in the bathtub together,” he laughed as Charlie’s voice stammered for words while I stared in shock.

“It was hot out and we were in our swimming suits,” Jake corrected him quickly while Billy kept laughing, “Sure you were son.”

Charlie had finally found his voice “My daughter never would have done that,”

My attention turned to Edward assuring him that we were in our swimming suits. Edward smiled at me leaning over to kiss my cheek while the conversation continued. When my attention came back to the group Billy was still talking.

“Well Leah could always defend herself, she was a hellion; there was no boy going to get anything over on her. But Jake was Bella’s defender; even got in a few fights with the others if I recall.”

I don’t know why Billy was bringing up these things and I didn’t think I liked going down memory lane, however Jake just fed right into it. “When was that old man?”

“I seem to remember Jared’s mother calling me.”

I knew exactly what he was talking about and so did Jake “That asshole was lucky I didn’t kill him”

I tried to come to his defense “Jake was defending my honor”

“Uhh…” Charlie grunted, “…you shouldn’t have been doing anything that needed your honor defended for.”

“That was the point dad; Jared started telling the guys that he did things that never happened.”

“Well you must have done something to encourage him.”

My mouth dropped open, “Are you saying it was my fault?”

“Now Charlie,” Sue interjected. “You know how boys are, a simple kiss becomes a grope and a grope becomes a lap dance and the next thing you know he’s talking about needing condoms.”

Charlie was on his feet staring at me, “Who needed a condom and how old were you?”

Seth couldn’t keep his mouth shut, “Damn Bella…my whole image of you has been shattered this weekend.”

“No one needed a condom!” I was trying to get that point across to both of them when Leah spoke up.

“Do you want to know what happened? I’ll tell you what happened,” Charlie who was still standing turned to Leah while she went on to explain. “Bella was kind of going out with Jared. Not really going out just holding hands and kissing every now and then…”

“When were you kissing him? How old were you?”

“Ohhh,” I groaned rubbing my forehead while Edward silently chuckled next to me. “I was fifteen it was the summer before…”

“Uh…” Charlie huffed again. I suppose it was difficult to have his image of the picture perfect daughter tarnished, he always did better living in ignorance.

“Anyway,” Leah interjected, “Paul and Quil came with Jared into town and he said that he needed condoms for him and Bella. Paul went back spreading that around and Jake heard it and went right to Jared to confront him. Jared tried to act all big like him and Bella were getting it on”

“Which was total bullshit” Jake interjected while Leah finished “So Jake called him a liar and beat the crap out of him.”

“It was all a lie Charlie nothing happened,” Sue assured him as he sat back down.

“You knew about this?” Sue smiled at him

“It was the summer we got married. Don’t you remember Bella was dancing with Jared all night?” Charlie nodded as she went on, “Towards the end of the summer Bella came home in tears and the next day Jared was at the door with a black eye and busted lip. I called around, found out that Jake beat him up and Bella stopped hanging around with Jared so I knew that something, not so nice must have happened.”

“You never told me.” Charlie was bewildered

Sue patted his arm reassuringly, “That’s because there was nothing to tell. I didn’t know the details, Bella never told me and I never asked.”

Charlie’s eyes met mine with a slight bit of sorrow in them, “You should have told me Bells.”

“Jake took care of it, he…”

My dad shook his head, “I’m your father, and it was my job to protect you.”

Charlie stood taking his empty plate into the kitchen while I stared after him. As he rounded the doorway I caught Sue’s glance and the small jerk of her head. Taking Edward’s plate along with mine I asked if he wanted a drink. One look in his eye told me that my farce of an excuse wasn’t fooling him but he said yes for the sake of appearances.

Charlie had his back to me looking out the window, his left arm leaning against the wooded frame with his head resting against the back of his wrist. Putting the plates down on the counter I didn’t know what to say to him so I wasted time filling the sink with hot soapy water to start the dishes.

Charlie cleared his throat, “You should have come to me Bells.”

“It was nothing dad, jus…” he stopped me mid sentence.

“I’m not talking about that, although, if you would have come to me about that mess with Jared, maybe you would have trusted me with other things.”

My father turned to look at me with red glassy eyes, “Do you know how hard it is for a father to watch his daughter die a little bit more each day? To know that something is very wrong but be unable to help because she refuses to tell you what’s happening, and still to this day won’t trust you with the details?”

I could feel the tears in my own eyes begin to form, “It’s better this way…”

“Better for who Bells? Last night was the first time I’ve seen you openly laugh in years. So who was the self imposed misery better for?”

“As a cop…”

“I’m not talking about being a cop, that’s my job. I’m talking about being your father, keeping you safe, that’s my responsibility.”

His words made me remember that he was out this afternoon patrolling, “Is that why you were out today?”

His eyes narrowed, “Mark called and told me that there had been a problem so I wanted to make sure you were alright. How did you find out about it? Jake told me you were in the diner when it happened.”

“I was, Edward told me about it after James passed us in the street.” I couldn’t tell if Charlie liked the idea or not that Edward had not kept that from me, and I felt the need to defend his choices. “Edward doesn’t keep things from me and he refuses to let me keep things from him.”

“What does that mean?” the suspicion was clear in his tone.

“That means when I’m upset he holds me until I tell him what’s bothering me, getting everything out in the open so that we can work through it together.”

Charlie sighed, “I guess that’s a good thing, maybe I should have done that, forced you to tell me. Then all the secrets could have been exposed and maybe it wouldn’t have gotten as bad as it did. I’m a man set in my ways who would rather turn a blind eye than look at what is right in front of him. Who out of shame for his own misdeeds let a criminal go unpunished,” he sighed lightly, shaking his head. “That’s my own private sorrow.”

I didn’t want my dad to feel guilty about anything. “You were, are a great dad.”

“I tried Bells, but sometimes I feel like I fell short of the mark.”

“Nobody is perfect,” it was all I could think of to say. Charlie was never a warm hug kind of guy, that was always reserved for Billy.

Charlie sighed again, “Yeah I guess not. But you look happy, you smile with a glow about you and you’ve gained some weight.”

Gained weight?

“I guess that I have Edward to thank for that” I heard what he said along with the tone he used but I was still stuck on the gained weight part as I looked down at my frame. “You’ll tell me Bells if something goes ... if Edward ever..”

My head shot up meeting his eyes as I spoke with conviction, “Edward’s not like that.”

“Promise you’ll tell your old man,” he pressed.

“I promise,” as the words left my mouth I could see his shoulders relax, so I asked the question that I needed to know, “What do you think of Edward?”

Charlie hummed, “hmmm…Well I haven’t felt the need to shoot him…yet.”

Uncharacteristically Charlie stepped forward wrapping me in a hug, while I giggled. “I guess that’s a good thing.”

“It’s a start Bells…it’s a start.”

Chapter 60

Chapter 60

BPOV

Thinking about the events of that night wasn’t on my list of things to do. Ever since Paul mentioned getting lost in the cave there was no stopping my brain from recalling it in perfect detail. School had just let out for the summer, I had a part-time job but had the whole day off so as usual, I spent it at LaPush. Being in the cave it’s self was daunting but we were all together and I knew that we would find our way out.

Paul on the other hand started hyperventilating with panic. We sat on the ground with his head on my lap while I ran my fingers through his hair until he became calm. Jacob and Leah stayed with us while Quil, Emery and Jared went down the different passageways to find the entrance. When they finally came back to get us, Paul had relaxed and was drawing on my jeans with a Sharpie. The pants were ruined but that didn’t matter to me, just so that Paul was composed enough to think rationally.

By the time we had gotten out of the cave and back to Jacob’s house I needed to leave right way so that I would be ready when James came to pick me up. He had graduated that year and just started working fulltime at his parent’s store. It was suppose to be a celebration, he was using his first real paycheck to take me out for dinner and a movie.

We weren’t going to go anywhere fancy, just to The Italian Restaurant in Port Angeles but I was still looking forward to it. After the prom, our relationship had become more physical, much to my dismay. I always felt like he was expecting me to give into is sexual advances, although I had on occasion, it wasn’t my favorite thing to do. Getting naked in the back of his car while he basically speared me with his penis while groping my breast and biting my neck was not enjoyable to me.

Whenever I would try to change the subject he would call me a cock-tease, ignore my protest and do whatever he wanted to anyway. Maybe I was naïve about the whole thing but I kept thinking eventually I would know enough about what I was doing so that it could at least be tolerable. Try as I might nothing ever got better and there was just no one for me to talk with about it.

Leah was as inexperienced as I was; she and Jake had been virgins until prom night. Her experience was similar to mine in that it hurt enough to leave her vag sore. Yet different in that she said it only lasted a few minutes and she wasn’t coved in bruises or bite marks, at least none that I ever saw. Then again it wasn’t like I showed her the marks on me either, it was just too embarrassing.

At home in the shower I realized that the black marker had bled through my jeans, leaving ink on my upper thigh. Scrubbing it with a loofah until my skin was red didn’t remove it, yet because of the location my kaki skirt kept it covered. Besides I honestly didn’t think anything of the ink, figuring that it in a few days time, it would wear off.

Charlie was working the night shift so the only one home when James beeped the horn was Sue. She found him rude making a comment about good manners and ringing the door bell like a gentleman. That just wasn’t the way James behaved, the only time he ever came to get me at the door was the first time we went out. According to James, Charlie gave him the third degree, wanting to know where we were going and reminding me about curfew. It didn’t seem that invasive to me but James took it as a personal attack.

Taking my purse I held on to the hand rail so that I didn’t fall going down the wet stairs but I still managed to stumble as I opened the car door. James was wearing jeans and a dark green polo shirt, the unmistakable smell of strong cologne filled the interior making my nose burn.

“Hi” I smiled in greeting as James nodded giving my appearance the once over.

“Couldn’t you do something else with your hair?” my hands automatically felt the barrette that held the two sides in place at the back of my head while he started to drive.

James didn’t speak another word and I was getting anxious at the uncomfortable silence so just to make small talk I asked how his day was. “It sucked, I hate working there”

“Well, maybe you could get a job…”

“There is no maybe nothing Bella, I’m stuck there” he sounded so defeated. James had just graduated high school; he could do anything he wanted to do.

“Why don’t you take some classes at …”

He cut me off again with a scoffing huff “Yeah, and who exactly is going to pay for that? Just face the fact that my life is going to be wasted away at a sporting goods store.”

“It could be worse” I was trying to get him to look on the bright side, he had a job and one day the store would his but he must not have thought that a good thing because he yelled back “How could it be any fucking worse!”

The anger in his tone caused me to cringe away, when I moved my skirt must have slipped up my thigh revealing a portion of the ink just as James looked in my direction. “What the fuck is on your leg, can’t you even fucking shower?”

“I did shower...” I told him with a nervous laugh. In the six months that we had been going out I had learned more about his anger problems than anything else. Up until that point he had never really hit me, there was a lot of pushing and shoving, he would grab my arm or pull my hair and there were always threats, but no actual hitting.

I started telling him about my day among the snide comments about ‘it must be nice’ and ‘the fucking tribal boys.’ Ignoring him as best I could my story continued until Paul was mentioned.
His eyes flared “what the fuck do you mean, you were holding him?”

“N…Not anything bad and we weren’t ever alone” I could feel the tension rising in my voice and was glad that we had gotten into town.

Being in the restaurant was better, after eating his mood seemed to improve and I didn’t think anymore about it. When we left I was surprised to be escorted back to the car because I thought we were going to a movie, instead I was met with a glare. “I spent enough money, besides we can’t all be spoiled brats some of us have to work tomorrow”

The movie wasn’t really important to me moreover with the mood James was in it would have been better to just go home. And although I had to work the next day, I didn’t mention it. My mistake came about ten miles outside of town when I reached down on the floor to get my purse, something gold caught my eye.

“What’s this?” I asked holding up the lipstick.

“What the fuck are you doing snooping around my car!” the accusation was overshadowed by the anger.

“I …I wasn’t …it was just lying on the floor” I was taken aback by what was being said that I didn’t even notice that the car had left the main road.

James pulled to a stop in a small dense wooded area, putting the car in park he got out slamming the door, leaving me stunned as I watched him walk around to my side. If I would have been thinking or had some kind of forewarning I would have locked the doors in an attempt to keep him away from me. But before I could think James ripped open my door and was pulling me by the hair yelling at me “Who the fuck do you think you are!”

The seatbelt was still connected keeping me where I was as my hands grabbed a hold of his to stop the pain from the grip he had on my hair. James was yelling at me while I pleaded with him to please leave go. I don’t know how the seatbelt got unfastened but the next thing I knew he threw me up against the hood of the car.

“You fucking little bitch! You’re out running around with all kinds of guys while I’m at work, and you have the fucking nerve to accuse me!”

The tears were running down my face as I tried to get my breath from the gasping sobs “I…I…didn’t mean…”

“You fucking whore! You’re laying around with tribal boy, letting him mark you all up…”

The fear shot through me as I tried to get away from the car while I watched James open the buckle on his belt. “You want fucking marks …I’ll fucking mark you!”

There is a distinct sound that a belt makes as it slides along the material while it is released from the loops. My heart was beating so fast and I tried pleading with him through my tears but it was no use. The swish of air accompanied the thwack as a searing pain ripped through my body from the leather belt hitting my thigh.

The scream hadn’t even left my throat when the leather made contact with my skin once again. James had me wedged between the still open door and the hood of the car as he hit me repeatedly over my thighs and hips. My screams and sobs were drown out by his angry words, calling me spoiled, whore and useless bitch along with the constant thwack of the belt against my lower body. I don’t know how many times he hit me all I knew was that my thighs felt like they were on fire while I cried begging him to stop.

James grabbed the back of my neck yelling in my face “Don’t you ever fucking accuse me!”

I couldn’t answer him through the gasping breaths as he shoved me towards the open door “Get in the fucking car!”

He threw the belt in the back seat as he got in the driver’s side yelling at me to stop crying or go to my tribal boys and let them comfort me since I love the dogs so much. The whole way home I rested my overheated forehead against the cool glass of the window trying to calm down my shuddering breaths. My thighs burned as my hands rubbed them through the material of my skirt, while my stomach wretched with nausea.

When we pulled up to Charlie’s house all I wanted to do was get as far away from James as possible. Opening the door he jerked my arm making me look at him “Thanks for ruining my night”

Running in the house I didn’t stop to say hi to Sue as I went straight to our room. Leah was sitting on her bed talking into the phone. When she saw my face she asked if I was alright, but all I told her was that James and I had a fight. She told he was an asshole and that I could do better but I didn’t want to stand there talking for fear I would say too much.

I was humiliated beyond belief by what happen; she didn’t need to know anything more then what I told her. Besides what was Leah going to do? Nothing she could have said or done would have taken it away and I was afraid that if someone said anything to James he would do it again. It was my own private hell that no one else needed to be a party to.

The arms around my waist pulled a little tighter bringing me back from the memories that had me in their wake. The scent of Edward’s skin was enough to pull me through the darkest recesses of my mind, telling me I was safe and loved.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go back to the house?” The concern was clear in both the words and his tone.

“Can we stay just a little longer?” Edward answered with a kiss on top of my head “We can stay as long as you like. But why don’t you go to the bathroom and wash your face, while I refill our glasses.”

I was just going to agree with that idea when Paul’s voice traveled through the room “Hey are you two going to have your own private party over there?”

“Is he always annoying?” I giggled at the question

“He grows on you” as I moved away Edward turned me to look at him. Cupping his palm against my face while his eyes bore into mine, there were no words needed for him to express what he was feeling, but I wanted him to know that I understood. My own hand rested softly against the back of his.

“I know” it was all I said as a bright smile formed on his face and Edward winked at me causing my face to heat up with a blush that made him chuckle.

We stayed at Sam’s for another hour talking about what everyone’s plans were for the next day. We had to be at Charlie’s for an early lunch then everyone was going to meet up on Main Street for the parade. When we left to go back home it was almost mid-night, Jake was slightly drunk and started singing ‘The Summer of 69’ which we all joined in with him on the trek through the woods back to the house.

Seth needed to go out before we went to bed, but I didn’t want him running off into the woods so I put his leash on to walk him around. Edward was sitting on the porch with Jake when I came out; he took the leash from me saying that he would handle the dog so I could get ready for bed.
I said goodnight to Jake leaving the three of them outside while I met Leah in the bathroom. It might seem weird to others but when you only have one bathroom there is no privacy.

Standing there brushing our teeth she kept looking at me in the mirror. I thought for sure she wanted to say something about what happened at Sam’s so she surprised me with her whiney words. “Are you going to be really loud?”

I had to stop mid-brush to glare at her “Is that your main concern?”

“Yes…” she said seriously.

I couldn’t help myself but to reply “You know Leah you need to put a bunch of pillows under your belly, lean over the bed and take one for the team. You’ll feel better” I added patting her back as I left the bathroom.

Just as I was shutting the curtains in the bedroom the door opened, Seth came in first going right for his bed on the floor while Edward picked up the toiletry bag. “Isabella wait on the bed, facing the door”

“Yes Sir” He left the room while I continued to get undressed.

There is always an excitement inside me whenever I’m preparing myself for Master, but this night I was even more excited. I knew that he had been waiting all day to give me my task and frankly my mind was running rampant with the possibilities.

Turning out all the lights except for the small one on the night stand I situated myself in the center of the bed listening to the squeak as my full weight settled into the mattress. My mind was in overdrive making it difficult for me to relax. The day had been filled with all kinds of revelations. Between Leah’s worries, my private life being aired in front of other people and then the memories of the cave I couldn’t seem to get into the right frame of mind.

Using the last few minutes I focused on my position, squaring my shoulders while my bottom sank further into the bed. My eyes glued to the patchwork quilt I heard the door open telling me that my Master was near. Something inside me settled, there was shift in my focus and nothing else matter but him, it was as if his raw essence put me at ease.

I didn’t look up but from the corner of my eye I could see him walking around the room, removing his shoes and then his clothes. My heart rate picked up in anticipation and I could feel the slick wetness filling my center as he moved to sit on the bed behind me. The shifting of the mattress caused me to readjust my own weight in order to keep upright as he leaned towards me. Edward’s body didn’t come in contact with mine but he was close enough that I could feel the heat coming off him. His hand gathered all my hair bringing it over my left shoulder to leave my back completely exposed.

“Tell me Isabella, who do you belong to?” the feel of his finger running down the length of my spine along with the stir of his words spoken so close to the back of my neck, sent a shiver through my body.

“This girl belongs to you Master” his finger moved back up my spine to the spot of the closure on my collar.

“What part of this girl belongs to me?” I didn’t know what he was getting at or why he felt the need to ask these questions but it wasn’t my place to try and guess so I answered him honestly.

“Every part is yours”

“Every part?” it was as if Edward was asking for clarification and I couldn’t help but to answer.

“Yes Sir, body, hea…” I stopped talking on my own, unsure if he wanted me to speak out or not.

“Go on” he prompted while his finger ran down the length of my side making my breath quicken.

“Your girl just wanted to say that she is yours body, heart and soul.” my stomach muscles tighten as his body moved closer to me while his hand slid down to the wetness between my thighs.

“That would include your words?”

I tried to think if I said something inappropriate to him or anyone else, my hesitation cause him to question me further. “Is that something that requires thought?”

“No Sir that would include words…” I answered immediately then added “…did this girl say…”

Edward cut be off “What did I tell you about trying to think for me?” at my silence Edward responded. “You are to answer the questions as they are given. If there is something that needs to be taken care of, do you have doubt that I will do it?”

If there was one thing I could count on it was Edward taking care of my mistakes. “No Sir”

He was quiet while his fingers slid along my outer lips making me fill with even more wetness. After a moment he sighed “So then back to your words, they also belong to me?”

“Yes Sir”

“Hmmm…” His nose moved slowly between shoulder blades making me take in a sharp breath and bite into my bottom lip to keep quiet.

“That is good to know Isabella because normally you would not be allowed at anytime to use my proper name. However due to the circumstances of meeting everyone for the first time, that simply is not a possibility. That means you have to be extra careful of how you say it.” His finger continued to skim up and down over my outer lips while he talked against my skin.

“You are to make sure that whenever you say my proper name, it is spoken with reverence. My name coming from your lips should sound like a prayer, reminding you of you place. Along with standing as a witness of your devotion to me to everyone who hears it. Do you understand?”

That seemed easy enough “Yes Sir”

Slipping one finger between my folds Edward groaned softly against my ear “Ugh…so wet, so ready.”

His words and actions were driving me crazy with need making me have to concentrate on what he was saying. “For the rest of the weekend Isabella you are to always be ready for me.”

Ready for him?

Unsure what he meant I wanted to ask, but he continued to explain as the finger began circling my clit. “At any given time, when I require the use of my property it should be primed to receive me. Do I make myself clear?”

Clear?

I understood what he was saying, however, was that possible? As I thought about it the only thing that came to my mind was the way my body reacts to him. How with a simple look, word or gesture he sends my pulse racing and my body responds with a yearning desire. I had no idea why he would want me to be in a constant state of arousal but he wasn’t asking me that, so I answered the only way I possibly could “Yes Master”

“Good girl” his finger twirled around through the wetness before he slid the tip along my stomach and between my breasts before bringing it to my mouth. “Don’t suck; use your tongue to lick it clean.” Opening my mouth the tangy flavor hit my tongue as it curled around his finger, my lips started to close making Edward admonish me.

“No…only your tongue” as he said the words his hand rotated to give me access to the other side before removing it from my mouth to hold out in front of my face. “Look at my finger Isabella…” the forefinger pointed straight in the air “…this is what I’m going to control you with tonight…one finger.” My eyes narrowed as I stared in wonder.

How the hell is he going to do that?

“It’s going to require you to pay attention and failure to do so will result in my extreme displeasure.” Edward pointed the finger downwards twirling it, telling me to turn around.

Once I faced Edward he moved back slightly putting more space between us. “There are two rules you have to follow. One, at no time is your mouth to be removed from my cock. And two, you are not allowed to release until after I have.”

That didn’t sound so hard

I still didn’t grasp what he meant about the whole one finger thing but when he asked me if I understood I answered with a “Yes Sir”

Edward had me lay on my side with my knee bent and my foot flat on the bed while he laid flat on his back with his head on the pillows. His beautifully hard dick was directly in my line of sight and I’m not embarrassed to say that I actually started to salivate.

Edward chuckled “What do you want to do Isabella?”

My breathing was increasing by the second, all I really wanted to do was take him into my mouth and keep him there, but I didn’t say that. “Your girl wants only to please you”

That wasn’t really a lie because I was sure that my actions would be pleasing to him but he chuckled deviously rubbing his hand down my leg to the junction between my thighs. “Somehow I think my girl is telling me a fib, but go ahead. Just remember the two rules while I explain the rest.”

What else was there to explain? I knew how to suck cock.

My tongue licked from the bottom of his shaft to the top as I did this Edward’s finger swept slowly along my clit. “When my finger is not penetrating you, are to pleasure me with your tongue parallel to what I am doing to you. So if I do this…” his finger moved in the opposite direction “…what would you do?”

Without thinking , my tongue moved slowly back down his shaft and I was rewarded with a ‘Good girl” and his finger moving back up over my clit while I moved my tongue back up him.

“Now if I do this…” his finger circled slowly around my clit and my mouth hovered over top of his dick as my tongue circled the head.

“Good girl. The only time your lips are actually wrapped around me is when you are being penetrated…” His finger circled around my entrance and my lips tighten around his velvety head “…then you are to go down on me as deeply as I have entered you coming back up when I do.”

His finger dipped inside me just a little bit and my mouth moved down him to mimic his actions coming back up when his finger came out of me. Then going half way down when his finger pushed that far into me. On the next pass his finger plunged deep inside me making me take him as deeply as I could.

It wasn’t a hard concept to understand however it became increasingly difficult to follow his lead. Edward would have me bring him to the point of where I thought for sure he would cum. Then stop penetrating me so he could manipulate my clit making my actions change to a licking motion. This would give him time to get back under control while driving me into frenzy where I would get so close to orgasm only to have him go back to the slow building penetration.

After the third time of my body screaming for release his finger slowly circled my entrance. So as my lips wrapped around him, my head moved side to side in the same motion. His finger circled inside me as it moved down and my head followed the same action. As his finger got deeper the circular motions increased in pressure hitting that spot making me moan against him.

I could feel the twitch of his dick against my lips as he grew harder and I expected him to remove his finger but he didn’t. Edward grunted making a noise that sounded like a rush of air escaping through clinched teeth. Pushing his finger deeper inside me my mouth clamped down on him and I moaned from the feel of his cum hitting the back of my throat.

His finger was still inside me moving in slow steady strokes so my mouth followed his lead while I swallowed around him. Edward’s other hand pulled my hips closer to him, lifted my leg and put his mouth on me. The warm feeling of his tongue moving against my over sensitive clit along with his finger inside me was too much. Using his thigh to muffle my cries, my jaw went slack as the rest of my body tensed while I rode out the bliss of my orgasm.

My body was spent as I laid there enjoying the numbness from the release. Edward lifted me up by my arms handing over a bottle of water. Taking a drink I realized my jaw was tender and I wondered what time it was. The clock on the night stand was facing the opposite direction and I was just too tired to worry about it. Edward took a drink from the bottle I handed back to him, and then gave it me again.

“Take another drink” After I complied he put the lid on before sitting it on the nightstand and turning the clock around. One –eighteen.

No wonder my jaw hurt.

Edward got to his knees pulling the blanket up for me to crawl underneath then moved over to his side of the bed, turned out the light and pulled me into the shelter of his arms. It had been a long day my body was relaxed, listening to the steady beating of his heart I could feel myself slipping of f into sleep. His arms tighten around me causing me to stir enough to think of something.

“Master?”

“Hmmm”

“Does that mean that your girl is wrapped around your finger?”

He chuckled making the sound echo in my ear “I suppose it does, now go to sleep.”

I felt his lips against my hair “Good night sweet girl.”

“Good night Master” I settled my head back into the nook of his neck and let his steady breathing lull me into a peaceful slumber.


EPOV

The room was still dark when I felt Seth’s paw tapping on the bed. He doesn’t normally have to go out in the middle of the night so I tried to ignore him by nuzzling my face into Bella’s hair. Unfortunately that didn’t seem to be working because the dog was persistent in his attempts to get me up. Glancing over my shoulder at the clock I understand why, it was after eight o’clock and past his normal time to be left out.

Bella made a sound of protest as I dislodged myself to sit on the edge of the bed. As my senses started to awaken I realized that the room was dark due to the drawn curtains, along with the gray sky that surly accompanied the rain that was pelting the roof.

While I dressed in my discarded clothes from last night I could hear the soft mummer of voices coming from the kitchen along with the alluring aroma of fresh coffee and bacon. Glancing over at Bella as I open the bedroom door she had tucked the pillow under her arm and remained asleep.

“Come on boy” Seth was out the of the room and around the corner that lead into the kitchen before I could shut the door leaving Bella in privacy. The voices were much clearer in the hallway and as I came around the corner the bright florescent kitchen light made me squint.

“Good morning Edward” Leah said from her place in front of the stove while Jacob greeted me with a simple ‘morning’ watching me as I opened the door to leave the dog out. Seth came in from the living room clapping my shoulder on his way to the coffee pot. “Dude you get doggy duty?”

“Usually” I answered while Leah turned to look at me asking where Bella was.

“She’s still sleeping” Seth handed me a cup while Leah narrowed her eyes in contemplation.

“Does she sleep better?” her question made me think as I poured coffee into the cup.

She has been sleeping better

“Lately yes…” I answered then clarified as I sat down across from Jacob “…it took a few weeks and she still has an occasional nightmare…” I didn’t think I was telling them something they didn’t already know “…but for the most part, her sleep has improved”

“No more two am walks around the neighborhood?” Jacob’s question made me remember when he told me about that – the day he fixed the tire – and I shook my head “nope”

I could feel Leah continue to watch me when I looked at her she smiled warmly “Do you want some chocolate chip pancakes?”

“No thank you” I was never one to eat dessert for breakfast besides Bella would be getting up soon and I would wait to see what she wanted to do.

Leah set a plate of pancakes on the table along with a tray of bacon before sitting down next to her husband. As she put a hotcake on her plate she looked at me again with what appeared to be concern. “Was Bella alright last night?”

I nodded knowing damn well what she was talking about but Seth who was digging into a plate of food had no clue and wanted to know “What happen?”

“Paul brought up the cave” Jacob announced taking a bite of bacon like it was common knowledge of what occurred. That thought unsettled me.

“You all knew what happened?” the accusation was clear in my tone. How could they have known and not done something?

“Not at first…” the sadness in Leah’s voice was tangible. “…Bella hid it for a while. Making excuses for bruises, and she used to be really klutzy so I didn’t question it. But then…”

“Why didn’t you tell her father?” I couldn’t understand how they knew and didn’t talk to the one person who could have stopped it before the abuse became worse.

Jacob got a distant look in his eye “I should have done that, instead of confronting James…”

Leah patted his hand in a comforting manner “At least you tried to do something…”

“No…that just made things worse for Bella.” he told her with conviction before her eyes came back to me.

“We were seventeen, parents were the enemy and once the guys knew what was happening, they went after James. But like Jake said, it just made it worse and Bella isolated herself from all of us. Which is what James wanted, it was like we played right into his hands. I tried so hard to talk Bella out of marring him…” the tears were forming in her eyes as Jacob rubbed her back trying to sooth his wife. “But she is sooo damn stubborn”

Stubborn? That’s an understatement

“I hate that fucker” Seth fumed under his breath. “I seen this documentary once about a guy who advocated that every city should have a sniper on the payroll”

My head turned to look at him in amazement. Apparently I wasn’t the only one because Jacob asked in wonder “What the fuck does that have to do with it?”

Seth answered as if it should be obvious “Dude the guy said that there are ‘some people who just need to be shot’ and that mother-fucker is one of them”

The three of us sat there looking at Seth and if the others were thinking the same thing I was, we were in agreement with him. The only thing was that in my opinion the great city of Forks needed to employ a sniper years ago, before all the turmoil and heartache had ever taken place. At the present time it was a matter of healing, not just for Bella but the whole family.

While we were at Sam’s the night before it occurred to me that Bella isolated herself from anyone who could have helped her. Leah had just confirmed my suspicions, calling Bella stubborn. I wasn’t so sure that was the only reason for her withdrawal. I would agree that there are times when Bella has the tenacity of a mule. However in this case I believe that she acted more out of fear and shame then obstinacy. She found herself in a situation that she didn’t know how to get out of and the people who could have helped were as Leah said, the enemy.

The subject was dropped with the sound of the bedroom door shutting and Bella coming into the kitchen yawning. She was wearing a pair of yoga pants with a sweat shirt and bright pink fuzzy slipper socks. Her hair was kind of wild and her eyes were still glassy from sleep but she was still the most beautiful woman I ever seen.

“Good morning” the words were garbled by another yawn as she moved to get herself coffee before sitting down next to me with a small kiss. “You should have woke me up”

I didn’t get a chance to reply because Seth injected “I was going to wake you up soon because I need to get ready to go if we have to be at moms by eleven”

“That wouldn’t have been good…” Bella answered while Seth reassured her “I would have knocked...” He thought for a second then added “…did you defile my bed?”

Jacob cough under his breath while saying one word “couch”

Seth rolled his eyes getting up to put his plate in the sink muttering something about ‘people needing to shut the fuck up’ while he headed into the bedroom.

Leah started cleaning up from breakfast while Bella left Seth in and then toasted some bagels for the two of us. While we ate and drank a few more cups of coffee everyone took turns in the shower. I had never lived in a house where there was only one bathroom. Bella on the other hand had never known anything different and assured me that it was all in the timing.

She and Leah explained that when they all lived at Charlie’s each person had a set time in the morning to shower and if someone over slept that was their loss. They either had to wait until the end hoping that there was hot water left or they went without. I asked what happened if someone needed to use the toilet. Leah made me laugh when she shrugged saying ‘that’s what shower curtains are for.’ Bella also explained that the only person that was never interrupted in the bathroom was Charlie.

The whole concept seemed very mid-evil to me however I could see how the lack of privacy could have helped shape Bella’s exhibitionist tendencies. If throughout her whole life there was never a feeling of shame attached to human needs it would be feasible that those notions carried over into adulthood.

By the time everyone was dressed for the day we only had an hour or so before the time we were to arrive for brunch. We had decided that it would be a good time to take the tour around Forks. Leah had told her mom that she would get a dessert from the bakery and Jacob wanted to get a case of beer because he refused to drink Charlie’s ‘cheap ass shit.’

I knew the town wasn’t very big, Main street consisted of the Municipal building which housed all of the civil offices, including the police and a few holding cells. There was a library, two banks, two pizza shops and various other businesses that the good people of Forks would need. While the four of us walked down the sidewalk with Seth on his leash a police officer and a municipal employee were setting barricades at the cross street. I assumed that they were to block off access to the main road for the parade.

While we were waiting at the crosswalk Bella introduced me to Officer Mark – Charlie’s deputy- along with Dennis. Some of the business along Main Street were setting up stands for the parade and as we walked by Bella always said hello before making an introduction. I was beginning to see what she meant about small towns gossip. More than a few people commented about either ‘finally getting to met me’ or saying outright ‘so this is the young man I heard so much about’.

When this happened Bella would give me a look of remorse while Leah or Jacob would comment right back ‘this is him’ or ‘now you know he’s not a gigolo.’

The first time Leah made the gigolo comment was to the woman who ran the bookstore. I thought poor Bella’s eyes were going to pop out of her head while I bite down on my tongue to keep from laughing. The woman’s face turned bright red telling me she had either believed that rumor or had helped to spread it.

“You shouldn’t say that to Mrs. Murray” Bella admonished her sister when we walked away.

“Oh Bella, she’s an old busy body, besides you asked me to squash the rumors…now it’s squashed”

Leah truly had no remorse for her comments and I wondered how Bella being meek ever stood up to her sister’s obvious dominating character. We walked by the dinner and Leah wanted to go inside to get some kind of sticky bun much to Bella’s protest. “You just ate. And we are going to Charlie’s to eat again”

Leah was pulling on her arm imploring “Come on…the baby wants a sticky bun”

“Why do I have to go in? I don’t want one”

“Bella you know damn well once you see them with that gooey shit hanging all over them with the nuts and raisins, you’re going to want one. And I’m not sharing mine”

Bella looked up at me silently asking if it was alright to get the sweet treat. While I took the leash from her hand I leaned in to kiss her cheek and whisper. “We’ll share it”

The girls went up the three stairs into the building leaving me outside with Jacob. I hadn’t spent very much time with Bella and Leah while they so freely interacted together so the last twenty-four hours had been eye opening. “Are they always like this?”

Jacob nodded at my question “Leah will push Bella and keep pushing until she fights back. Then Leah is happy because she feels like Bella is standing up for herself. But Bella gets all…”

“Guilty?” I asked

“Yeah…and she’ll just shut down which just frustrates Leah even more. She wants Bella to be happy but she thinks the only way for that to happen is for her to be assertive and aggressive.”

“That’s not Bella” I was telling him something Jacob already knew that much was clear from the look I got.

“That’s why I think it’s good that you are here this weekend. My wife thinks you’re…”

I cut off his train of thought “I know what she thinks, Bella told me”

“Sorry man”

I shrugged because there was nothing I could do about what Leah thought other then be myself and let time tell her the truth. But even that didn’t matter because regardless, Leah was going to think whatever she wanted.

“Look Edward, give Leah some time and she’ll come around. In the mean time she sees the difference in Bella, she laughs, she eats and she hasn’t thrown up once since she’s been here.”

Thrown up?

I didn’t get to dwell on that comment because Jacob continued talking “So my man whatever you are doing you have my blessing to keep doing it. Because the Bella I know and love is coming back to life” Jacob looked to door of the dinner “Where the hell are they?”

“There is probably some old woman in there wondering how Bella could fall victim to my charming ways” I smirked

“Fuck you, you’re not that god-damn charming” he laughed going up the stairs to see what was taking the women so long.

I wasn’t really paying much attention as I thought about what Jacob had said about the changes in Bella when Seth growled. Thinking that he was just getting antsy from waiting I squatted down to pet him when a pair of black boots and jeans filled my vision.

“Vicious little thing isn’t he”

Standing back up the dog continued to growl making me pull his leash tightly and caution him with a stern voice “Seth quiet”

He calmed some but still didn’t relax as I looked at the man in front of me. He was about my height, slightly broader through the shoulders with blond hair cut in military fashion and blue eyes that held more grey then actual blue. He continued to glance at Seth for a moment then his eyes fully met mine. “Too bad we can’t get women to listen like that”

My mind was so focused on Seth’s unusual behavior that I didn’t pay attention to what was being said “What?”

“I said…” his words were interrupted by Jacob’s voice coming from behind me “Keep walking Asshole!”

The guy smirked with a devious chuckle “Black…”

The two of them continued to stare each other down until the guy smirked “You still her little lap dog? I would have thought that with a new stud, she’d stop spreading her legs for you. Or maybe you both do her, she likes that” he added with a wink.

“What the fuck did you just say?” I could feel the bile rising in my stomach as his eyes moved from Jacob back to me.

He chuckled boldly keeping his eyes on me while Jacob asked “What the fuck do you want?”

The shrug of nonchalance was annoying as hell “I was just passing by, thought I would introduce myself, you know, being friendly”

“You aren’t my friend so there was no need to stop” Jacob answered with a menacing tone.

“I wasn’t talking about you Black. I was referring to Edward here”

“How the fuck do you know my name?” he laughed darkly making my fist clench together in anger.

“Anyway, I thought maybe I could introduce myself and give you some pointers. After all I did break her in for you.” the sarcastic tone of his voice pissed me off but not as much as when he put his hand up and patted my chest.

“Get your fucking hand off me!” I said gripping his wrist and wrenching it away from my body making him laugh dryly “Oh, you think you’re a big man”

“I’m not a woman that’s for sure” the smugness on his face was replaced with a scowl. He opened his mouth to say something but another voice came from behind me. “Is there a problem here?”

The grin was back on his face as he muttered under his breath ‘daddy’s calvary to the rescue’ then raised his voice to speak “No problem Officer Mark. I was just welcoming a stranger to our peaceful little town”

The officer was buying his story “Where’s Bella?”

“Inside” I answered coldly without hesitation watching as his eyes narrowed in disdain.

“Is that less than five hundred feet Mr. Cummings?” officer Mark didn’t even question what was happening. Something told me he already knew.

He huffed “I’m not physic, I don’t know where she is”

“Well now you do. So move along” the officer wasn’t giving him any choice

“Yes Sir” He turned to leave with that same damn smug-ass grin “See you around”

“Was that a threat Mr. Cummings?” Officer Mark called after him

“Absolutely not, just a parting goodbye” He said over his shoulder as he crossed the street with Officer Mark following him.

With them gone my worry was back on Bella “Where is she?”

“They were waiting for a fresh pan”

I nodded watching the two men walk down the street. Taking a few deep breaths to calm down I could feel the muscles in my face and chest relaxing. “James I presume”

“The one and only”

After a moment I felt more at ease “I really hate that son-of –a-bitch”

Jacob put his arm over my shoulder and laughed “Edward my man. I’m starting to like you more and more”