Chapter 78

BPOV

“Baby, I’m going to take Seth for a run”

I knew Edward had gotten out of bed because he had to move my head off his chest to do so. I thought he was only going to the bathroom so I rolled over on my stomach put the pillow over my head and went back to sleep. It must have been a deep sleep too because I didn’t even hear Edward getting dressed. Which he must have done, as the man leaning over my body was not naked, and he had defiantly been that way all night.

Lifting my head to squint at the clock I murmured groggily “mmm-kay …time is it?”

“Almost seven” Edward told me moving the hair out of my face to kiss my cheek “Go back to sleep baby” he kissed my shoulder “You’re going to need your rest for later” His lips moved to my neck. “It’s Friday…” another kiss caused me to hum as his mouth moved against my ear, sending chills through me as he practically growled “that means you’re all mine”

His teeth pulled on my ear lope making me giggle

“laugh now nâhtötse, because you won't be later”

“You’re not that scary you know” I said with confidence turning over to face him.
It was true, I had no fear with Edward especially when he smiled the way he was

“That’s good to know, because we have something’s to work on”

“What kind of things?”

I hated working on things because that usually meant I was going to have to endure some sort of discipline. However usually when there was something to work on, Edward never came right out and told me so. It was always a lesson that caused me to dig deep within myself until I had that ah-ha moment where everything became clear. Since Edward was giving me a heads up I could only pray that it wouldn’t be as severe as the last one.

“Oh Bella I would love to tell you...but that would ruin the surprise”

Him and his cocky smile

“But I don’t like surprises” griping and pouting worse than any two year old.

“I know” he said touching the tip of my nose with his “… and that’s one of the things we are going to work on”

What the heck did that mean?

I didn’t get to ask; besides I was fairly sure Edward wouldn’t have told me anyway. It didn’t matter because Seth let out a combination howl and bark and Edward quickly kissed me “Seriously, it’s going to be a long day so try to get another hour of sleep”

Edward headed for the door and I had to know “Long as in a lot of hours or long as in …stressful”

I truly was worried, it was the first time we would be going back into the playroom in almost two weeks and I really had high hopes of serving my Master. Stopping in the doorway Edward turned to answer me “I’m assuming that we are going to have a busy day and will be up very late…so please…be a good girl and rest.”

I did try and succeeded for about twenty minutes until my bladder just wouldn’t wait any longer. Then once I was up my stomach reminded me how much effort we had exerted the night before as I was suddenly starving. Dressing in my white eyelet pajama top and shorts I made my way down into the kitchen, threw in the first load of wash and opened up our new coffee maker.

It needed to be seasoned with a full pot of clear water before actually making coffee. Not wanting to wait any longer than necessary I started that while brewing a pot in the old one.

Getting the iPod out of my purse I plugged it to the docking station and picked out one of the playlist Edward had downloaded for me. There wasn’t much in the house by ways of food however we did have stuff for breakfast and even some pasties to offer Mr. Weiss.

Thank you very much Esme

She had sent us home the night before with two full grocery bags of food that contained everything we could possibly need along with some stuff I would never think to buy; like Boysenberry syrup.

What the heck is a Boysenberry anyway?

Food shopping was on the list of must do’s and pulling the supplies for breakfast out of the refrigerator I took note of the other things we would need. After making the batter for pancakes and putting the bacon under the broiler I took a second to look at my calendar. There were a few activities I needed to make note of.First and foremost were the Thursday night childbirth classes with Leah that were starting next week.

Edward and I had a good time with her and Jake while we were there for dinner the night before. Seth was so excited to see not only me but Edward as he practically knocked him over while Edward squatted down to pet his head. I got to see the nursery that Leah had painted without me and I had to admit that looking at the mint green walls with Winnie the Pooh boarder, I felt bad that I hadn’t helped. When I told her that I was sorry Leah gave me hug telling me “It was kind of my fault, I should have called you”

“I would have been here “I assured her

“I know Bella. But you’ll be here for the rest right?” At my assurance she told me about the classes.

Before we left the room that would be the nursery Leah mentioned that Sue was working on the curtains. Leah was excited to get the room done but wasn’t sure when her mom was going to be finished with them. I didn’t say anything but assumed Sue would bring them the following weekend when she came to the city for the shower.

Dinner went well and Jake assured me that Seth had shown no signs of crouch sniffing, furniture humping or ball licking. So Jake felt safe about what he done and told me that Seth could stay ‘intact’

That wasn’t happening; first thing Monday morning I would be calling the Vet to make an appointment for neutering.

The rest of the dinner went by fast and shortly after eight o’clock, Leah started yawning and asking when we were expected at Edward’s parents. I didn’t think we would leave until at least nine but Leah practically pushed us out the door so she could go to bed. It’s not like it really matter, yet it was kind of rude but I just chalked it up to Leah being pregnant.

Flipping over the first batch of pancakes I started cracking the eggs into a bowl. While the pan warmed I hung the calendar back up and got myself a cup of coffee. Pouring the eggs into the pan I thought about meeting Edward’s Aunt and Uncle.

Marcus was exactly the way I thought him to be, he kind of reminded me of an older wiser Emmett. With impeccable manors that were befitting of his upbringing, his wife was a different story. Didyme was nothing like the way I had pictured her. Even though Edward had told me on the way home from Lincoln City that Marcus and - as he called her- Aunt Diddy, did not in any way have a D/s relationship. For some reason in my mind I pictured a blond haired, blue eyed, Jane.

That was not at all what I met and I almost died of embarrassment at the first thing she said to me. Eying me with a curiousness that made me wonder if my mascara was smudged before saying to Edward “I can see why”

That was confusing enough but then right in front of Edward’s parents she announces “Such an innocent face, I’ll bet this one gets in the most delicious trouble”

Holy crap

Did she really just say that?

Looking to Edward – because there was no freaking way I was looking at anyone else- I could feel the blush on my face and Didyme laughed saying “That’s what I thought”

I was so embarrassed and all I kept thinking was ‘How did she know?’

I did get in trouble and sometimes it was delicious, other times not so appealing yet still it made me wonder why she would bring up my discipline in front of people. Edward laughed it off, telling his aunt that I don’t get in 'too much trouble' and then spoke against my ear “at least nothing I can’t handle”

Well that didn’t fucking help

All I could think about was Edward handling me, which is not good in a room filled with his family.

The rest of the evening was uneventful; Rose seemed to have come to terms with the new developments. While we were sitting on the couch watching Marcus and Jasper play Guitar hero I had mentioned to her that the center provides experienced judicial support.

Rose told me that Emmett had already contacted their lawyer and if anything needed to be done he would handle it. That was all well and good, but I explained that the woman from the center would only be there for her. She would provide Rose with the emotional support that is needed to get through such things. I also told her that if the thought of a stranger made her uncomfortable I would go along to act as moral support.

I didn’t like to go to court and even though I knew enough about the process to advice clients on their rights, it wasn’t my area of expertise. There were volunteers at the center who specialized in nothing but accompanying women to court appearance. They knew the lingo, and could provide not only invaluable support but also access to legal counsel. However for Rose, I would make an exception and be there for her in whatever capacity she needed.

The bacon was done so I turned the oven from broil to warm, putting the first batch of pancakes inside and started the second before whisking the eggs in the pan. The song changed to Poison’s ‘Sexual Thing’ and as the laughing started I turned up the volume, my body automatically began moving with the music as I started singing loudly.

There you lay all by yourself
So please allow me to introduce myself
I welcome you to the house of sin
Open your mind and let the games begin

Emphasizing the grunt ‘OHH’ while flipping the pancake over as my attitude started taking on the meaning of the words.

I'm your lust and I'm your greed
I'm every sick thought that you ever done dreamed
Eaten your cake now you want some more
Mmm, where have I heard that before?

As the chorus started playing thoughts of what Edward did to me in the hotel room while this song was playing ran through my mind making me sing with even more feeling.

I am your
I am your
I'm just your sexual thing
I am your
I am your
I'm just your sexual
Ain't nothin' but a sexual
It's just a sexual thing

Lyin' there you look so horny
Talk is cheap and startin' to bore me
Hold me close and tell me it feels so good
But damn, girl you knew it would

The chorus continued to play on but everything else changed. Seth rubbed up against the back of my leg startling me and as I turned a scream came out of my throat at the sight of two people standing behind me. Grabbing my chest my heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to pass out as my eyes focused on a rather amused yet concerned Edward “Are you ok?”

Nodding my head the song continued to play

Glad to have met you so pleased that you've come
But I must be movin' on my work here is done
Best believe me you, child the pleasure's been all mine
If you're in need, please do indeed call me anytime

However all I could do was stare at the man standing next to Edward as the song went on to talk about being medicated and caught masturbating when you’d rather be fornicating but cum with me and I’ll set you free because it ‘Ain’t nothin’ but a sexual thing’.

Finally the last two lines were spoken in a distorted robotic voice.

What you've witnessed is a sexual fantasy
Please do not try these tricks at home

Edward turned down the music while I swallowed hard before I could finally speak “Hi dad. What are you doing here?”

“Well that’s a fine ‘how do you do’. I drove three hours to my only daughter you would think she’d be happy to see me”

Stepping forward I hugged him “I’m always happy to see you, it’s just…”

Looking to Edward I was really hoping for an explanation however the smell of burning food took all my attention. “Shit!”

The eggs had been turned off but the batch of pancakes was past edible as was clear from the black smoke rising from them. Turning on the overhead exhaust I flipped the burned pancakes onto a plate then added the last of the batter before turning back to my father.

“Seriously Charlie what are you doing here?” that sounded kind of harsh so I added “Not that I mind, I’m just surprised because I didn’t know you were coming to the city.”

“That was the plan Bells”

Plan? Charlie planned this?

I was still trying to digest that Charlie was standing in the kitchen while I was dressed in –looking down at myself I was pleased to see I was decent – pajama’s and dancing to vulgar songs.

Edward on the other hand went into host mode “Can I get you some coffee or juice Charlie?”

“Coffee be good”

The gesture along with Edward getting my dad a cup out of the cabinet seemed to bring me out of my shock “Yeah dad sit down, are you hungry? What time did you leave this morning?”

Charlie sat down at the table. “You know me Bells; I’m always up for food. But I don’t want any of those burnt ones…”he chuckled along with Edward before adding“…and we came last night”

Last night?

Flipping over the last of the pancakes I wondered “Did Leah know you were coming?”

“Sure” he said spooning sugar into his cup “We had talked about before they left Forks.”

“Why didn’t they tell me last night when we were there for dinner?”

“It was a surprise?”

Plating the food I glanced over at Edward who had started the toast and was getting the juice out of the refrigerator. Before leaving for his run he had mentioned something about surprises and I wondered if Charlie’s arrival was one of them.

Getting the glasses out of the cabinet I asked him “Did you know about this?”

“No”

Relief washed over me, I wasn’t angry that Charlie was in our kitchen. He was my father and I loved him, but had Edward been a part of keeping his impending arrival from me, it would have felt like some kind of betrayal. So I was happier setting the food out on the table knowing Edward was just as surprised as I was.

Sitting down across from Charlie I really wanted to know why he was here, handing him a plate I asked “So you drove three hundred miles to come eat breakfast with us?”

“Well that and I figured it might be a good idea to see where my only child was living”

That was another question I had “How did you know the address?”

My father raised his eyebrows as if the answer should be obvious and from the corner of my eye I saw Edward smirk but I wanted an answer “Did you do a background check on Edward?”

Charlie laughed taking a bite of eggs “No…Jake told me how to find the house, although it would have been nice had you told me. That way I wouldn’t have been wondering around the neighborhood looking for a brown house on the corner”

“You didn’t know the address?” that was hard to believe as I was pretty damn sure Charlie did do a background check.

“Alright I knew the address; Jake just pointed me in the right direction”

“What time did you get in last night?” I asked using the tip of the knife to swipe jelly over my fork full of scrambled egg and toast.

“Around nine or so”

That’s why Leah practically kicked us out.

The room got quiet while we ate as no one wanted to address the large elephant in the room. Charlie was there for a reason that no one seemed to want to know about, finally he sighed “Sue wanted to bring the curtains up for the baby’s room and take Leah to buy a crib. She wants it all done before the shower next week.”

Dad looked to Edward “That way all the woman can ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh over tiny little socks and re-closeable diapers”

Edward chuckled while Charlie added “I came along to keep Sue company on the drive and to see where you moved into.”

“I haven’t exactly moved in dad, I still have my house”

“Are you planning to ever go back there?” The question was directed at me but his eyes went to Edward who looked to me awaiting an answer.

“Not in the foreseeable future” that was as honest I could get and seemed to make Edward happy as a smile crept across his face.

The answer must not have surprised Charlie as he nodded “That’s what I thought and since I wasn’t given an invitation, I decided to just crash the party.”

Edward who had been fairly quiet finely spoke “You’re always welcomed Charlie, you don’t need an invitation”

“Well thank you Edward” that time he spoke to Edward while gazing at me. I suppose in an attempt to make me feel guilty - and it was working. Wanting to ease the uncomfortable feeling I asked the first thing that came to my mind. “When are you leaving?”

Charlie took the question the wrong way “Trying to get rid of me already?”

There was a hint of irritation in his voice making me clarify “No, I was just wondering if you were going home tonight or tomorrow, that way we could all have dinner.”

I knew it was Friday and I should have asked Edward but this was one of those occasions that called for a change of plans. Waiting for dad’s answer my eyes shifted over to Edward to see his reaction. His lips were pursed tightly but he shrugged casually, telling me I had said the right thing.

I was really looking forward to our usual and didn’t want to lose the time with my Master so I was beyond happy with Charlie’s response “No we have to leave this afternoon, I’m starting midnight shift tonight”

Even though he was the Chief, dad still worked swing shifts along with everyone else. He said it was only fair and besides it gave him a chance to interact with all the personnel. On a small force it was vital that they all work together and dad never wanted anyone to feel like he was unapproachable.

Charlie swallowed and seemed to square his shoulders as he told me the real reason he was there

“And I was hoping that you wouldn’t mind me sitting in while this Weiss fellow is here. I would really like to know what he has to say.”

“I was going to call you dad, after Mr. Weiss left”

Charlie grunted taking a bite of pancake “Uh…I would prefer to hear it first hand and in full rather than the edited version”

The words stung and again my eyes went to Edward who pursed his lips at me in understanding. I deserved what Charlie said, not that I liked it but I realized that my past dealings have been less that forthright. The other night while contemplating the lesson Edward wanted me to learn I had also come to realize how unfair I was to my father. It had weighed so heavily on my conscience that one of the goals I picked had to do with rectifying that situation.

Edward shrugged “You’re more than welcome to stay Charlie”

As we finished eating I hoped that we didn’t regret that decision. I had no idea what Mr. Weiss was going to tell us or how personal his investigation had gotten. The last thing I wanted to have happen was for Charlie to be informed of our…alternative natures. Not that I was in anyway ashamed of my submission to Edward, it was just that as my father I wasn’t sure Charlie would understand.

Once the kitchen was cleaned up and a fresh pot of coffee was started – in our new coffee maker – Edward took a shower while I gave Charlie a tour of the house. He was more than pleased, albeit a bit shocked, to be shown my own room. And it was obviously mine as pictures, books and other personal items littered the space. The kicker was when he opened the top drawer to find it half full of my pajamas. “This really is your room”

“Yeah, it is”

Pride came over his features “Then there’s no…funny business, going on”

Funny business?

Assuming that was dad's way of saying that Edward and I were not sleeping together or having sex my eyes narrowed. I could have left him think that but it wouldn’t have been right besides, I was a grown woman “Dad, Edward and I love each other and this is my room, but I also have things in Edward’s room because that’s...where I sleep”

His eyes narrowed and for a brief second I felt bad for him. It must be hard for a father to realize that his daughter has a sex life.

It was his laughter that took me by surprise “Poor Edward, I’ll bet he didn’t know that having you here would mean you took over his house”

“I didn’t take over his house” I asserted while walking down the hallway with a still amused Charlie.

Edward came out of the bedroom and I left him with my dad so I could shower and dress. I was inspecting my outfit of brown Capri's and an ivory fitted sleeveless top when the doorbell rang. Looking at the clock I became slightly alarmed that it was only nine-thirty and I wondered why Mr. Weiss was so early.

Running the brush quickly through my hair I rushed down the steps surprised to see Esme and Didyme being introduced to Charlie. My father shook the hand of both women with a huge smile on his face. As I came closer they both turned to say hello. Esme gave me a hug before handing me a small manila envelope with our names written on the front in an elegant script.

“I forget to give hand these pictures out last night” Esme said

Oh

“Thank you”
“You’re welcome dear; well I know you’re expecting company and we’re off to do some shopping…” Esme stopped talking to gaze at my father “It was nice to meet you Mr. Swan…”

“Charlie…” dad interjected with a smile and Esme corrected herself “Charlie…next time you are in town we’ll have to have lunch or dinner so we can all get to know each other better and I would love to meet your wife?”

I didn’t want to say anything right at that moment but I had already planned on having everyone over for a cookout the next weekend. It was Edward’s birthday so I knew his family would be agreeable and my family would all still be in the city from Leah’s shower.

Both women hugged me goodbye, kissed Edward’s cheek and shook Charlie’s hand before leaving. Giving Edward the envelope from his mother I left the two of them in the dining room to prepare the stuff in the kitchen. While I was slicing the Cheery Cheese Danish Edward came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close to his chest.

Until that moment I hadn’t realized how on edge I had been.

Feeling his strength and love my body literally melted into his arms which tightened around me while he placed a kiss on my head “Relax nâhtötse. Weiss is just going to tell us what he found out”

“I’m not sure I want to know”

There I said it

“It’s always better to have the information of who, what and why…”

“I’m concerned what Charlie will hear…” Edward already knew what I was going to say. Turning me around to face him, his hand cupped my chin, lifting it to gaze into my eyes.

“When I let Weiss in I’ll speak to him about being…discreet. Now smile for me, because it makes me happy when you do”

He inclined his head to kiss me and I couldn’t help but smile, making Edward follow with a grin of his own. “That’s my girl”

Edward carried the tray of service utensils and condiments to the dining room for me while I finished plating food on the other one. Esme had given us an assortment of snacks to serve and looking down at the tray I was satisfied with the variety.

Taking the platter of food into the dining room I sat down next to Edward and looked through the two dozen photo’s Esme had given us. Pointing out who was who to Charlie and explaining what was happening in the picture. Just as we finished the doorbell rang again and while Edward answered it I went to get the coffee pot.

Mr. Weiss was a short middle aged man that was slightly overweight in his casual attire of Khaki slacks and a dark blue polo shirt. His full head of hair held more grey than brown as did his beard giving him the appearance of being unassuming. I had the feeling that Mr. Weiss was the kind of person who could mingle in amongst people without anyone truly noticing his presence. Which I suppose would come in very handy with his line of business.

Edward introduced us and as he shook my hand saying Ms. Swan I corrected him “Please call me Bella”

“Bella it is…” Edward than introduced Charlie “If you don’t mind Bella’s father is going to sit in while we talk”

“You pay me Mr. Cullen, you can have anyone here you like.”

Mr. Weiss sat at the head of the table, Charlie took the seat on his right side and I on the left. Edward pulled his chair slightly closer to me before sitting down with his arm over my shoulder. After taking a cup of coffee along with a few cookies Mr. Weiss spoke “Before we get started can I answer any questions?”

“Is my daughter in danger?” Leave it to Charlie to get right to the point

“I can’t say that for sure, nor can I deny it.” Mr. Weiss’s eyes went to me momentarily before returning back to dad “You are a police officer Chief Swan, you know as well as I do that anyone is capable of anything. My job is to inform you of what I found and then let you make the decision on what to do with that information.”

Charlie sighed “Fair enough”

Mr. Weiss opened his brief case, removed a laptop and a manila folder before placing the case on the floor next to him while he spoke “Mr. Cullen you gave me a list of names to run a background on. You were also concerned that someone was accessing Ms…” he corrected himself “…Bella’s personal information more specifically her finances.”

“This is about money?” Dad couldn’t help it, he was a cop, and it was his job to ask questions.

“Most offenses center around two things, lust and greed. Usually it’s a combination of both” Turning his head back to Edward Mr. Weiss continued “Now as I told you Mr. Cullen checking unauthorized access to credit records is a simple process and I’m happy to tell you that no one has done that”

No one? Than how did everyone at the club know my personal business?

Edward asked the question I was thinking and Mr. Weiss held his hand up “This will go a whole lot easier if you let me tell you everything first and then ask questions”

At Edward’s consent Mr. Weiss looked at his computer screen and pulled a picture of Caius out of the folder. “You had mentioned Caius Salvador as a possible suspect, but as I said no one has been accessing Bella’s personal information. Mr. Salvador is as far as I can tell an honest business man. He owns and operates four high end antique stores across the city. His past two quarterly earnings have showed a decreased over the same time period as last year. ”

His eyes were glued to his computer screen as he spoke “To be honest, with the nature of his business along with the bad economy the loss he reports is not as substantial as you would think. And certainly not anything that would cause me to question his motives.”

After hitting a few buttons on the keyboard he flipped the screen over to show us a spread sheet that I could only guess was Caius’s earnings. Facts and figures made no difference to me as I had absolutely no interest in knowing his personal business. Edward gave the screen a passing glance the same as I did, while Charlie seemed to study it a little fuller.

Once our interest in the graph had waned Mr. Weiss flipped the screen back over, once again hitting a few buttons before speaking. “Caius Salvador has two sons from his first marriage of eight years. Trevor - twenty-eight who lives in Sacramento and Kevin –twenty-five who is in Portland Oregon. He also has one illegitimate daughter Abigail – age twenty six.”

Mr. Weiss got a little twinkle in his eye as he smirked “I guess we know what caused the divorce.”

“I guess we do” Edward commented while I nodded and Charlie added “Men and their wondering appendages”

“Where does she live?” I questioned as Edward smiled “I was just going to ask that?”

Mr. Weiss didn’t bother with the screen “Tacoma, with her husband of five years and two children.”

Once again the computer held his attention for a moment “At age thirty-four Caius remarried twenty-two year old Jennifer Harding. That marriage lasted three years and produced no children. He has no vices other than an occasional illegal bet and his propensity to be in the company of pretty young woman. His latest…” Mr. Weiss hesitated searching for the right word that could be said in Charlie’s presence “…companions are Rachel Stephens and Kimberly Abrams both are in their early twenties and have been with him for only a few months.”

“Two?” Charlie questioned in astonishment “What the heck is he doing with TWO girls?”

I knew the answer to that question however I looked to Edward who seemed to be contemplating what to say when Mr. Weiss spoke up “I can only imagine, but I would assume anything he wants”

There was no way in hell I was going to comment on that remark, Charlie however looked like his eyes were bulging out of his head as he stammered “Well…that’s
…just…how old is this Caius fellow?”

“Mr. Salvador is fifty-two”

“Fifty-two…” dad nearly screeched “…and he’s fooling around with two, twenty year olds…he’s going have a heart attack” We all laughed at Charlie’s prophesy while he chuckle “I guess if you add them up he has one forty-something year old, with double the problems. One woman is bad enough, but two? Oh that stupid man…”
Charlie chuckled once again and then stared me straight in the eye. “What does this Caius person want with you?”

I shrugged as Mr. Weiss gave his opinion “I believe his interest in your daughter comes simply from an older man coveting the attraction of a young pretty woman. Mr. Salvador’s track record with women speaks for itself. He desires to be with young women who he can…” Once again he struggled for a suitable word.

“…shape and mold into his idea of a perfect creature”

Charlie narrowed his eyebrows in thought while I took a sip of coffee and nearly choked to death when my father put everything together “Is he into S&M?”

Edward patted my back while I took a drink of water waiting to hear what Mr. Weiss would say while I tried to get the coughing under control. “Actually Chief Swan, once I ascertained that Caius Salvador was not a threat to my clients his sexual appetite was no longer my concern.”

That was a good answer that must have appeased Edward too as he let out a deep breath. Charlie on the other hand continued to eye Mr. Weiss until he finally sat back, crossing his arms over his chest “Yeah, that’s what I thought”

Please god…please let someone change the subject

“As I said I don’t think Mr. Salvador is any threat to you, and in all actually Bella you are a little older than he prefers. So I believe that his interest in you is simply due to your friendship with Mr. Volturi. There were several intercepted emails to Laurent Moreau that might be of interest to your uncle Mr. Cullen. I won’t go into detail about them because they hold no bearing on what we are discussing here, however there are copies in the final report. What you do with that information is completely your business. You paid me for counsel and it is my opinion that the only jeopardy you are in from Caius Salvador is annoyance and that I’m sure you can deal with”

His remarks were directed towards Edward who nodded in agreement “What about the others?”

“Well” while Mr. Weiss turned back to his computer I glanced over at Charlie, he was staring at me. No not at me, at my neck.

Involuntarily my hand reached up to touch the round charm that hung from Master’s collar. My dad’s eyes shifted to mine for the briefest of moments before moving in Edward’s direction and then back to me. The whole exchange lasted only a few seconds yet it felt like an eternity as I watched my father piece together the fragments of information.

I wasn’t sure if he knew or rather remembered who Aro Volturi was. When I had first started on my thesis Charlie was not happy with the subject matter. Not that I blamed him, he was a father after all and his daughter was going to be delving into the world of sexual masochist. Throughout the years that I worked on my degree dad would occasionally ask how my dissertation was coming along. Usually followed by the standard answer of ‘fine’ but sometimes I would elaborate. It was during one of those times that I mentioned Aro and New Moon.

Charlie was a cop who served a community three hundred miles away from Seattle yet he knew exactly what New Moon was. To say he wasn’t happy about my association with Aro was an understatement. He called me daily, ranting and raving for almost a week until I finally convinced him that Aro was a gentleman who made no obscene gestures towards me.

Sitting across the table from my father his eyes continued to drift between me and Edward always falling back to my neck. Charlie might not remember the name of the man who was my connoisseur but the club New Moon was always recognizable. To top it all off Mr. Weiss made reference to Aro being Edward’s uncle, which was something my dad definitely wasn’t aware of.

Well he is now

Mr. Weiss broke through the intensity of dad’s glare “For the most part all the other names you gave to me Mr. Cullen came up clean.”

“So there’s no one…”

“I didn’t say that”

The exchange between them got Charlie’s attention off my neck and back to the problem at hand. Mr. Weiss pulled a photo out of the folder and laid it down in front of him in the middle of the table. I stared at the familiar face while he asked me “Do you know this woman Bella?”

“That’s Heather…”

Charlie scoffed “She looks like…Karen, with dark hair?”

Karen?

I shook my head “No that’s Heather Kohner, one of the women from the center”

“Actually you are both right…” Mr. Weiss commented “...however I’m surprised that you don’t recognize her Bella since she grew up – for the most part – in Forks.”

“See that is Karen” Staring at the picture I had absolutely no idea who Karen was and it didn’t help when Charlie added “She left a while back to attend Washington Academy of Performing Arts.” Thinking for a moment he shook his head “She was home for a visit this past fall…I saw her at a football game with a tall blond haired fellow that I didn’t know”

When dad was done reminiscing Edward’s’ hand that was still draped across my back squeezed my shoulder “Bella you said her name was Heather?”

“Yes. That’s what she called herself”

Mr. Weiss spoke up “Her full name is Karen Heather Kohn”

“Kohn” I could feel the blood drain from my face as I said the name

“Yes, she has three sisters Debra, Patricia and Victoria…” I was finding it hard to breathe while the words echoed in my head “…her parents are…” I spoke the names along with him “…Katherine and Alfred”

“You know them” Edward wasn’t asking as it was obvious I knew them very well and

Charlie didn’t help “Of course she knows them, we all do. Hell she graduated with Karen’s oldest sister Victoria”

Edward removed his arm and shifted in his chair to face me. “Victoria? ...as in the woman with James…that Victoria?”

My head was nodding yet I was still in disbelief when he asked “And this Heather
came into The Center and you don’t recognize her as Karen?
”
Now my head was shaking both literally and figuratively as I felt like my world was crashing in. However Edward was looking at me expectantly, waiting for an answer and it was only the intensity of his stare that kept me from falling apart.

"No S…” almost saying sir before catching myself “…she’s a lot younger than me. When I left for Dartmouth Karen was just a kid and …I avoided that family as much as possible. So when Heather…Karen…came to The Center, she kept asking to talk to me, like she knew me but I never…I didn’t know who she was…”

Dad interrupted “What could Karen Kohn possibly want with Bella?”

“Well she wants something” Edward spit out rather abruptly at Charlie before taking my hand and asking in a softer tone but still insistent “Baby what did she say to you?”

Swallowing down the bile in my throat I racked my brain trying to remember the small amount of conversations I had with the girl. The only time I had any personal contact with her was the one in the van. It was at the walk-a-thon, she had come along yet refused to get out.

“Isabella think”

The tears were filling my eyes and I blinked them away as I stared at Edward and gave the best answer I could “I…I don’t know…she said…something about wanting to talk to me, she thought I would understand better because…her husband…” I shook my head “…no her boyfriend was a cop…”

Edward nodded reassuringly “What else baby?”

“She said…” her words came back to me “…she said ‘I want what’s rightfully mine’.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“I don’t know” I said honestly while shaking my head as more dread filled me.

Edward pulled me into his arms and I willing let him wrap in a hug that made me feel so safe that my body let out all the tension I was holding in one long stuttering breath. His hand stroked through my hair bringing the peace and comfort that I desperately needed. I so badly wanted to get on my knees with my face buried in his lap so my Master could sooth away the fear. But at the moment I could settle for what I had.

“Its ok nâhtötse, we’ll figure it out” Edward spoke to me softly in a hushed whisper against my ear before his voice grew louder “Is there more?”

“A lot more Mr. Cullen. If you’ll allow me to fill in the gaps, you’ll have a better understanding of what you’re dealing with”

There was more?

I needed to get myself together it’s not that I was hysterical or even crying it was just a terrible sense of disaster hanging over me that seemed to dissolve in Edward’s arms. I didn’t want to pull away; I wanted to stay right where I was locked in the security of his embrace. But Mr. Weiss was waiting and we had to know – everything. Besides the sooner he’s done, the quicker he and Charlie would leave - and I so wanted to be alone with my Master.

Pushing against Edward’s chest his arms tighten around me briefly before I felt his lips against my hair and he allowed me sit up. Our gaze locked for a moment as he grasped both my hands “Are you ready to go on?”

Not sure if I truly was or not I tentatively nodded my head. Edward’s eyes seemed to soften as he smiled while leaning forward to kiss my forehead. Turning in my chair I came face to face with Charlie, he was intently watching me and after my prior revelation I could only imagine what he was thinking. Mr. Weiss on the other hand was studying his computer screen, patiently waiting for the emotional woman to control herself.

For some reason I felt the need to apologize “I’m sorry…I was just…freaking out for a minute”

Edward handed me a glass of cranberry juice silently telling me to drink it while Mr. Weiss dismissed my behavior “No worries Ms. Swan, but if you’re ready I would like to continue.”

Taking a sip of juice I watched as Mr. Weiss pulled yet another manila folder from his briefcase and laid it under his computer “Bella you mentioned a few things to Mr. Cullen but is there anything else that you can recall Karen saying to you?”

“Ummm…” I tried to remember “Just that she thought I would understand her because my dad was a cop…which was really weird she knew that. But now I guess it makes more sense.” Mr. Weiss seemed unphased by my revelation so I told him the only other thing I knew “…and she said she had a four year old son”

“Karen has a kid?” the news shocking Charlie.

“That’s what she said; of course I didn’t see him…so maybe that was a lie too” looking to Mr. Weiss for conformation because I was starting to wonder if anything Heather…Karen said was true.

After all dad didn’t know about a child and I couldn’t see how anyone could hide that news from the good people of Forks. It’s not that my hometown didn’t have its fair share of teenage pregnancies; there was usually one in every class. And believe me that news spread faster that a California brush fire so it didn’t seem possible to keep a child secret, especially for four years.

“She does have a son who is currently in the custody of the state in the Foster Care program”

“She said her son lived with her mom” I added but Mr. Weiss quickly corrected me

“No he is currently living here in Seattle with Glenn and Andrea Moyer. Andrea Moyer is the sister of Alfred Kohn – Karen’s father.”

“I’m sorry. I’m very confused…” Edward stated what I was thinking.

“Alright let me start from the beginning” Mr. Weiss looked to Charlie
“You were right Chief Swan, Karen Kohn did leave Forks the summer before her sophomore year; however she didn’t transfer to the Performing Arts High School. She moved in with her father’s sister Andrea Moyer and her husband Glenn, where she was enrolled in on-line Cyber Classes. The following spring on April twelfth, two thousand and six she gave birth to a son, Evan James Kohn.”

While letting what I just heard digest Edward asked “Who’s the father?”

“The Birth Certificate list him as unknown”

“Unknown?” I mocked “What is this, The Maury Show? Who’s my baby’s daddy? I mean come on, short of a drunken orgy with two dozen guys; I think I would know who made me pregnant”

Mr. Weiss grinned “I’m sure your father is very glad to hear that Bella” his chuckle making me blush from my outburst “…however just because a father is listed as unknown, doesn’t make it so. Ninety-nine point nine percent of the times, when you want to know something, you follow the money trail”

The words money trail rang in my ears and that feeling of deep dread settled back over me. It was as if the words Mr. Weiss was about to say were completely unnecessary, yet I listen anyway.

“The child was born April twelfth, the following month a series of money transfers
in the amount of six hundred dollars began to be wired from the bank account of James Arthur Cummings. The reoccurring exchange has continued to be sent on the third of every month to a Western Union Office here in Seattle.”

“That Son of a Bitch!” I seethed as Charlie was less convinced “Are you saying that
James is the father of Karen’s son?”

How could he not see it?

“Dad, the boys middle name is James…”

“So is Karen’s father’s…”

“Dad…” I tried again but Mr. Weiss interrupted “Chief Swan the only thing that would guarantee the child’s parentage would be a paternity test. However from the evidence, I would stake my reputation on the fact that James Cummings is the father, of course I can’t prove that without DNA…”

“James would never give DNA”

Mr. Weiss glared at me “I’m sure he wouldn’t”

My fingers rubbed along my forehead trying to ease the headache that was starting while I thought about the new revelation. If Heather-Karen was twenty that means she was sixteen when Even was born, so she must have been fifteen when…and James was…

Edward must have been thinking along the same lines “So this Karen was a sophomore in high school. That would make her about…fifteen?”

“She’s twenty now” I added only to be corrected by Mr. Weiss “She is not quiet twenty, her birthday is in two weeks”

Oh my god!

I was going to be sick

“I have another question” Edward seemed to be thinking how to word what he wanted to know “You said the boy is in Foster Care…” Mr. Weiss nodded and Edward finished his thought “…so why would James continue to pay for a child she no longer has custody of?”

“I can only assume that the funds are in part…hush money”

Hush money?

Mr. Weiss addressed Charlie “Chief you might know the laws better than I do, but I would assume that it is illegal to have sexual relations with a minor”

My father immediately going into the role of policeman “The age of consent in the State of Washington is sixteen; the degree of the charges depends on the difference in their ages. James is more than forty-eight months older than Karen so with her being fifteen…”

“Actually Chief Karen was fifteen when Even was born at the time of conception she would have fourteen”

“That’s a class one rape felony”

Dad’s words rang in my ears as I felt the sickness in my stomach grow and the desire to empty itself rise while I thought of that poor girl. I knew better than anyone the depravity of James’s sexual appetite. The cruelness by which he chooses to gain his sadistic pleasure was sickening. He got off on inflicting as much pain and degradation as he possibly could for no other reason than to ease his sick twisted desires. I knew some of the things that young girl would have gone through.

It was bad enough with me, but at least James and I were on the same maturity level. Karen was a different story, he was a grown man of – five years ago – twenty-two, she was only a child.

The words felony and rape rang in my ears to the point where my head started to throb and I rubbed it forcefully. Edward excused himself, getting up and leaving me there with the two men who continued to talk about the legal ramifications. That was all well and good because to them everything was black and white. My focus was on the grey area and the psychological damage that would have a occurred to a fourteen year old rape victim.

There was that fucking word again – Rape.

Not wanting to allow my thoughts to go there I pressed the word to the back of my mind to think about when all this would have occurred. If Evan was born in April of two-thousand-six that means Karen would have conceived him the summer before. I was at Dartmouth that summer because I had gotten a job working at the local woman’s center and received special permission to stay on campus.

Not that my being in Forks would have helped to alleviate what was done to that young girl. James and I had already been separated for years and even if we weren’t I would have been in no position to stop him.

Yes you could have

From somewhere in the recesses of my mind the accusation rang out loud and clear. I could have stopped him.

The hand that was rubbing my head went to the back of my neck to feel the jagged scar that was my constant reminder of how weak I truly was. James had broken into Sue’s home on the reservation in April of two-thousand-four. Throwing me into the pantry door, knocking me unconscious and causing permanent damage to my body, which I refused to charge him with.

Because it happened on the reservation Sam reluctantly abided by my wishes saying that it was an accident and sent James a certified letter banding him from being on Quileute land. That made me safe at least in theory as patrols were increased when I was around and the whole area went on ‘high alert’.

Everyone was proactive while I hid away, pretending everything was normal yet still afraid to leave. My fear would have been lessened had I stepped up, not been so damn ashamed and pressed charges. There were so many other times I could have arrested James, however that was the first time there was an actual witness. And yet I still somehow managed to convince myself that it was better to keep my mouth shut.

Would thing have been different had I told or would the same patterned have occurred?

Over the years I have dealt with a lot of ‘what if’s’, however up until that moment they were only my regrets. All of a sudden there was somebody else - a fourteen year old girl - who’s childhood was torn from her by an animal that I should have had caged.

Yes, I could have stopped James

In an attempt to ease my own conscious I wondered if the sex was consensual, even though Karen was young she still could have willingly been with James. After all he was handsome with his fit muscular body, blond hair and icy blue eyes. He also could be a charmer when he wanted to be, or more importantly, when it suited his purposes. I wasn’t trying to justify what James had done; he was defiantly old enough to know better, besides he had Victoria.

Jesus mighty, he fucked Victoria’s little sister

Whether Karen was a willing participant or not, how in the hell could James justify that? What in the world is Vickie going to think? Then again Victoria never seemed to mind that James was fucking me. I was his wife after all so she had to know that we weren’t celibate yet she was always in the background waiting for him with legs wide open. Still I wondered what Victoria would have to say about his fathering a child with her sister – her fourteen year old sister.

Holy hell…he is such a pig

Edward came back in, setting a glass of water in front of me and two white capsules – Tylenol.

Picking up the medication I smiled at him “Thank you”

“You looked like you needed them” nodding I swallowed the pills with a large gulp of water as Edward broke into the conversation Charlie and Mr. Weiss were having.

“Do we know why the child was taken from his mother’s custody?”

“It’s a combination of circumstance” Mr. Weiss said while momentarily glancing at his computer before giving Edward his total attention “Once Evan was born, Karen continued to live in the home of her aunt and uncle until she was eighteen. At that time she applied and received public assistance in the form of housing, medical, food and employment training. September of two thousand-eight she and Evan through the help of section eight housing subsidies moved into a two bedroom apartment in Graham Place and Karen enrolled in Seattle Central Community College on a part-time basis”

“So she was getting her life together” Edward stated what I was thinking. Karen might have had a rough start but she seemed to be doing fine.

“She was until February of two thousand-nine when she suffered a mental breakdown that required her to be hospitalized for two weeks. During that time Evan was sent to live with the aunt and uncle and when Karen was released she continued with the facility as an out-patient. As of now she is on a drug regimen of Lithium, Thorazine , and Paxil…”

I knew those drugs, Lithium is a mood stabilizer, Thorazine is an antipsychotic and Paxil is an antidepressant. The three of them together meant one thing “Bipolar?”

“That would be my guess”

I didn’t even get a chance to answer Mr. Weiss before Charlie screeched “She’s crazy?”

My anger rose at the ignorance of his statement “She’s not crazy dad! She has a medical condition that as long as she stays on her medication it should be under control”

“And what if she doesn’t?” Dad questioned with just as much anger as I had shown.

Edward gave the answer I didn’t want to think about “She’d be unstable”

“So she is crazy!”

“Stop saying that dad!”

Charlie’s eyes narrowed at my tone but I didn’t care. He had no right to say something like that. It wasn’t Karen’s fault “You have no idea what trauma that girl has been through or what she had to cope with and what her mind had to adjust to keep herself lucid.”

“Well excuse me Bella, but when I hear Bipolar all I can think of is someone walking around talking to themselves and pushing people in front of moving cars because the voices in their heads told them to!”

“That’s not what it is!”

“Well then please...by all means…enlighten me”

My father’s attitude was beginning to irritate me and it was only the feel of Edward squeezing my hand that kept me calm while I tried to make my father understand.

“Bipolar Disorder is a medical condition that usually onsets in early adulthood. Its causes have been linked to both genic reasons as well as Psychological trauma. And I don’t know about you but a fourteen year old being raped by a twenty-two year old man is a lot of trauma.”

At my statement Charlie looked almost wounded as his face softened and his eyes grew sad “I didn’t know it was happening Bells”

My eyes filled with tears for my father’s pain because I knew he wasn’t just talking about Karen anymore. “I’m not blaming you dad…” reaching across the table I clasped his clinched hand “…but you can’t blame her either”

My voice was shaker than I wanted it to be but my eyes stayed fixed on my father’s as he rotated his hand giving mine a small squeeze. That was his way of saying he understood and by drawing his hands away he was telling me our exchange was over and I should continue.

“I’ll agree with you dad, Karen has Psychological problems but she’s not …crazy…she suffers from a chemical imbalance, which the drugs she’s taking, are used to stabilize. The person with Bipolar Disorder is susceptible to extreme mood swings. Going from a deep depression that is so sever it interferes with their normal functions of life. They see no good reason to live, they sleep all the time, have no appetite, find no joy in anything. They don’t want to socialize, they don’t even want to shower and their sexual desire is completely gone. It’s a deep, gripping depression that can last for weeks or months.”

“The other side is the manic behavior, which is the exact opposite. The person experiences a euphoria state of mind. They are very talkative, but their attention span is so low that they make no sense because they are easily distracted. They don’t sleep and will go for days or a week with only a few hours of rest. That lack of sleep causes impaired judgment and reasoning, they will do things that a rational person wouldn’t consider. Their sex drive …goes into overdrive and they participate in activities they wouldn’t normally do. Sometimes they feel like they have been ‘chosen’ to be the vessel to perform some kind of “special job” that only they are qualified to do.”

“So what you are telling me is that my idea of someone walking around talking to themselves doing irrational things is fairly accurate” Charlie’s arrogance was back.

How the hell could he have taken everything I just said and condensed it back down to that?

Dad must have seen something in my eyes as he held up his hands in surrender “I’m not blaming her, and I don’t want to hear all that mumble-jumble because you are talking to a lay-person here. All I want to know is if my description is accurate.”

Damn I hated dimensioning a medical condition down to something that sounded so…crazy. Even though Charlie was right I couldn’t wholeheartedly agree “If they are not on their medications, then yes”

“Thank you” Charlie sat back in his chair motioning to me with his hand while addressing Mr. Weiss “Nine and a half years of college, to tell me something I already knew”

I sighed while along side of me Edward chuckled casing me to glared at him with a ‘don’t even fucking mess with me’ look.

“Sorry babe” Edward laughed “It’s just that for a minute Charlie reminded me of my dad”

Maybe it was the tension that had been so heavy in the room or maybe it was that my headache was starting to go away but I found the statement funny and I giggled. After taking a drink Edward sighed “So we don’t know if Karen is taking her meds or not”

“I can tell you she has refilled them, if she is actually taking them, that’s a different matter altogether.”

“And you have no idea what she could possibly want with Bella?”

“No Mr. Cullen” while they had their exchange I thought of something that was bothering me “Mr. Weiss do you know who Karen’s boyfriend is…because she said he was a policeman...”

“I was just getting to that. Karen is involved with a man; he is not a police officer. However he does work in …security” He took three more pictures out of the folder and had I not been sitting down I would have fell over looking at two of them.

“For the past eight months Karen has been living with one Mr. Michael Newton”

“What?” Edward practically growled while Charlie wondered “Who’s Michael Newton?”

Ignoring Charlie all I could do was focus on the pictures while Mr. Weiss explained “Mr. Newton and his friend here…” he pointed to the picture of a clean cut sandy blonde headed male “…Mr. Benjamin Cheney have a small little enterprise going on down in the Pike Market district. They are running a modern day speakeasy or what you might refer to Chief Swan as a hideaway. It’s a small enterprising afterhours….gentleman’s club…that caters to…shall we say a…discriminating taste.”

I didn’t know what a hideaway was, a speakeasy was a place where Al Capone sold
illegal alcohol. A gentleman’s club was a nice name for a Strip bar; discriminating taste could be anything from bondage to white slavery.

“So what is Karen doing with Mike Newton? “

“She’s his girlfriend”

Turning my head towards Edward I waited, watching while he seemed to be studying the three pictures on the table. After a long moment his head turned to look at me, he had the most bewildered expression I had ever seen. His eyes were blank, not with the dark burn of emotionless eyes my Master held, these were just …empty. “I…I…Bella…I …I..don’t even know what to say”

The man I loved needed reassurance.

It didn’t happen very often, and Jane had warned me that there would be times that I would have to step up and take the lead, so that’s what I did.
With an encouraging smile I told him “You don’t have to say anything Edward, it all makes perfect sense.”

He stared at me skeptically so I became a little more adamant.

“Think about it. The missing alcohol from the club, everyone knowing all my personal business, that’s all Mike’s doing. He was probably taking the alcohol to supply his own illegal bar, because you told me that only high end expensive liquor was missing and a lot of it. Beer and cheap stuff he could buy himself, but the expensive kind? That’s what he took. And all the rumors about me originated from him. He’s in the middle of everything that occurs and everyone talks to him. Even you, as we’re walking in will ask the person at the door ‘how’s everything going’ or ‘what’s happening’. So I’m sure others would do the same thing and wouldn’t hesitate to ask specific questions. And who better to ask than the person who is there from open to close…the security guy”

“Besides Mike would have had all the answers, because Karen would have filled him in. She knows all about me, where I came from, what I do, how much money I had, that would all be common knowledge to her. So I’m sure it started with a simple ‘hey Mike who was that girl?’ From there the gossip just spread, some of it was true – and that’s what had me worried – but now I know where it came from…the rest was all concocted bullshit.”

“It was all Mike and it makes sense now how everything was connected. It wasn’t odd random things happening it was one person. The sign in book, the gossip, the alcohol, and you know what I think about the break-in…it was all one person behind it.”

Edward continued to stare at me as if he was contemplating the reality of what I said. “What about the other stuff?” at my blank face Edward reminded me “Seth’s missing collar, your flat tire, what about those things?”

“That could have been Mike too, maybe he thought the collar would open the door and the flat tire? I don’t know…” I shrugged “…maybe it would be a way to get me stranded so Karen could talk to me”

Edward’s eyes widen as he took in what I was saying “How can you sit there so calmly talking about someone trying to take you?”

“I didn’t say they wanted to take me, I said she wanted to talk to me…it’s two different things Edward”

“Bella...” he said my name as if he was astonished “…if she wanted to just talk to you, she could call you”

I sighed in frustration and watched as Edward’s eyes narrowed like he was irritated “She tried to call me, remember? Heather asked at The Center for my phone number”

Edward continued to sit there gaping at me with an open mouth for a long moment before he shook his head in disbelief “What are the chances Bella?”

“Chances of what?”

“That the woman living with …of all people…Newton…would not only be from your hometown…three hundred miles away…but that she is the mother of your ex-husband’s illegitimate child…and for some reason, that we cannot phantom…that woman wants something from you and instead of her having to go hunt you down…you practically fall in her lap…In a city of over six hundred thousand people…what are the chances of that happening?”

I wanted to tell him one in six hundred thousand to one but I didn’t think that was such a good idea, instead I tried to appease him “It must be fate”

Edward’s eyes widened “Fate? Fucking Newton was probably creaming in his pants when he found out who you were. You walked into the god damn loins den and you’re calling it fate? Like it’s a good thing”

“It is a good thing, because now Aro knows…or at least can investigate what happened with the alcohol. We don’t have to be worried about who is invading our privacy and Heather-Karen…she would have eventually found me anyway, but now…this way…I know and can be proactive”

“Proactive?”

“Yeah, I assume that Mr. Weiss knows where she lives I can go there and….”

“The fuck you will!” Edward roared while Charlie – who I had forgotten was in the room - yelled “No way in hell!”

“Isabella you are not to go anywhere near them. In fact you are not to be out on the streets alone until we know what this Karen wants from you. Do I make myself clear?”

I understood what Edward was saying and his reason but I didn’t like him talking to me like that in front of people. Charlie on the other hand did not come to my defense as I had thought he would.

“Isabella Marie are you clear on that?” My mouth dropped open as I turned to see my father glaring at me almost begging me to say something.

Well I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

Looking towards Mr. Weiss he was watching me with narrowed eyes “Are you going to yell at me too?”

“No Bella I’m not, but I am going to tell you that regardless of what you may think, Miss Kohn is a woman who has an illness that makes her very unpredictable. It would be in your best interest to heed Mr. Cullen and your father’s warning, and not be out and about by yourself. As you said sometimes a person who suffers from Bipolar thinks they are on a special mission that only they can accomplish. I would hate for your demise to be that objective”

Edward and dad were still glaring at me and even though I wasn’t completely convinced that Karen was dangerous, I couldn’t deny the possibility. Looking at dad first I nodded once “Clear” then repeated the motion to Edward adding a word “Very clear”

The two most important men in my life seemed to relax and I wanted to change the subject before I was given more orders. Pointing to the third picture I wondered “What does Jessica have to do with all this?”

“Ahhh…Miss. Jessica Stanley”

“Hold on” Charlie interjected “I still don’t know who this Michael Newton person is”

I guess Charlie really didn’t want to be left out of anything and needed the full story. Edward gave him a brief idea of how we were all acquainted saying that Mike worked security at his uncle’s club. Dad didn’t inquire as to which club, so I guess he knew. Once the majority of the story was told and dad was satisfied that he wasn’t being left out of anything important our attention turned to Mr. Weiss.

Charlie was the one who asked the first question “Who is this Jessica girl?”

“Miss. Stanley age twenty-six is…involved…or perhaps I should say was…involved with Mr. Newton”

Mr. Weiss had just confirmed what I had already told Edward. Jessica was Mike and Karen’s third fiddle.

“He has two girls too?” Dad questioned in total bewilderment.

“It’s more like a three way tag-team” Mr. Weiss explained and I watched as understanding came to my father.

“Oh...well…” he swallowed “…to each their own…I guess”

To each their own?

I didn't have time to fully analyze dad's comment as the next question completely unnerved me.

“How long has Jess been in a relationship with Mike?” my eyes went to Edward’s, wondering why he would ask that question. Part of me worried that he was upset that Jessica was with another man and I couldn’t help but to feel hurt.

Mr. Weiss hit the buttons on his computer before answering “According to phone records the three of them have been getting together at least once a week for the past several months. Around the beginning of May their tryst began to escalate to three or four times a week. Two weeks ago there was a decline in their contact and last week it completely cease to exist.”

Edward sighed heavily letting his eyes shift to mine, not wanting him to see the hurt I was feeling my gaze dropped to the table. That wasn’t a good idea as I ended up coming face to face with a glossy five-by-seven picture of the person I was trying hard not to think of.

Edward reached down taking my hand and the hurt girl in me wanted to shake him away while the woman wanted to hold on tightly. Blinking back my tears I choose the later, deciding to ask about his inquiry when we were alone.

“Is there anything else?” Edward asked.

Mr. Weiss lifted his computer taking out the folder that he had placed underneath it. “This folder contains my full report along with a copy of all intercepted correspondences, medical and financial records and a breakdown of my fees. As I said there are emails and text messages that might be of interest to your uncle along with Mr. Newton’s activities. Of course this belongs to you and what you do with the information it contains is your business”

Edward took the folder placing it in front of him before addressing me “Bella do you have any more questions?”

Shaking my head I answered “No, I can’t think of any”

“Charlie?”

“I was just wondering how much of this information was obtained through illegal means.”

Mr. Weiss smirked “Are you planning on arresting me Chief Swan?”

“No, not exactly. I was more curious about how much of this stuff I need to be forgetting about”

“Remember all of it Chief, it just might be important one day. But don’t go around repeating it to people you don’t trust”

“Wasn’t planning on doing that anyway”

Mr. Weiss nodded at my dad before turning to Edward “Mr. Cullen if there is nothing else, I’ll be going”

After gathering the pictures off the table and returning them to the folder he had taken them from, Mr. Weiss packed up his laptop and stood to leave. As I got up he reached out to shake my hand “Bella it’s been a pleasure to meet you. I might add that until we know for sure what Karen Kohn’s motives are, you should heed Mr. Cullen’s advice and please be careful.”

“I will” He nodded once before Edward asked me to stay with Charlie while he showed him to the door.

Dad went to use the bathroom while I began clearing off the table however my eyes kept drifting over to the file folder sitting in front of the chair Edward had vacated. I was so fixated on the light beige folder that I hadn’t heard Charlie approach and the sound of his voice startled me.

“That girl Jessica was a…friend of Edward’s?”

“Yeah” I guess my father was more astute than I gave him credit for.

“Hmmm…” he hummed “I don’t know everything about your …private life and I don’t think I want to know. But one thing I’m sure of is that boy loves you.” My eyes went to my father’s “I just want to know that you are happy, safe and with someone who cares for you and I can see that.”

My father knew or at least suspected the lifestyle Edward and I shared and in his own way was giving his acceptance of it. Closing the distance I hugged my father “I have never been more happier daddy.”

“That’s all that matter’s Bells” he said patting my back and as I stepped away Edward returned.

Charlie cleared his throat “If you don’t mind sitting down, I have something to talk to you both about before I leave”

Oh Shit

Tentatively we took the same chairs only this time Edward sat slightly closer to me with our hands entwined on top of the table. Charlie eyed our clasped hands before reaching into the back pocket of his jeans to pull out a small notebook. It was no bigger than a man’s wallet bound in wore black leather. Dad flipped it open to a spot where a business card laid sandwiched between the pages. “I wanted to tell you about Officer Jason Hawk.”

Oh

“I’m not as thorough as Weiss was, I didn’t hack into his computer or tap his phone line, I did it the old fashion way. I asked his Sargent and then talked with him directly.”

Charlie looked down at the open page as he spoke “Hawk has been with the Seattle police department for twelve years. Right after the academy he joined the Southwest Precinct where he stayed for eight years before transferring to the East Precinct…” looking up at us he added “… which encompasses the Montlake neighbor you reside in.”

Dad looked down at his notes before once again making eye contact with us “Hawk has received several accommodations for his work with the DARE program and he volunteers as a basketball coach for the police athletic league. In the twelve years he has been on the force there have been no internal complaints lodged against him and eight civilian complaints.”

“Eight?” that sounded like a lot

“In a town this big with all the citations and arrest he has been involved in, that number might as well be zero, I myself have a dozen or so.”

My mouth dropped open in shock while dad raised one eyebrow “That’s not hard to understand Bella, parents don’t like when their little Johnny gets pulled over for speeding or sweet Suzie gets caught shoplifting. They will try anything to get to keep their little darlings from suffering the consequences of their actions. That includes trying to discredit the officer who is doing his job by upholding the law.”

That made sense but still I had to know “What were the complaints about?”

He sighed and spoke without looking at his notes “Most of them were for excessive force, they were all unfounded and he was cleared. Some of those were probably the perpetrator trying to discredit the arrest and then… well you’ve met Hawk, he’s a bit abrasive.”

“Abrasive?” I questioned “He’s downright rude”

To my surprise Charlie laughed “Yes well, I suppose he is a no non-sense type of fellow. He wants to get right to the point and doesn’t see any reason for coddling people. But he’s a good man and an excellent officer who was only doing the job he's paid to do when he was investigating what happened that night. His main concern was that you were safe here with Edward. So he was baiting you to see if your story would change. At the time he could only go by what he saw and what Edward had told him. He needed to make sure that was the truth and you were here of your own free will.”

I felt all the breath leave me and I had to literally force air back into my lungs as I felt Edward stiffen at my side. I swallowed hard while Charlie’s gaze dropped down to the collar around my neck. When his eyes came back to mine there was not a doubt in my mind that he knew. Whether it was from Officer Hawk telling him about the playroom in the basement or his own deductive reasoning it didn’t matter – because he knew I was Edward's submissive.

“Dad” I didn’t know how to respond yet I felt like I had to say something.

Charlie held up his hand “You are a grown woman Bella and what goes on behind closed doors is nobody’s business. The only reason I’m saying anything at all is because I want you to know that Officer Hawk was only doing what he felt was best at the time.”

Dad looked to Edward “It was nothing personal. He knew Bella’s history and unfortunately that is a history that often repeats itself. He is a good man and was just making sure that you were a good man too.”

His shoulders relaxed as he leaned into the back of the chair “So that’s all I have to say”

“Well thank you Charlie” Edward’s voice still sounded rather far away as my mind wrapped around what had just happened. My father seemed to be waiting for me to say something but I couldn’t think of anything so I repeated Edward’s words “Thank you dad”

His shrug of indifference waking me up “Really dad…”

I wanted to say thank you for understanding, for accepting, for not freaking out. I wanted to ask him who the hell he was and where my real father was because I was sure the man sitting across from me was some kind of alien pod. Yet I didn’t want to push my luck by letting him know how grateful I was.

Wording myself very carefully I tried to show the hidden message “I know that talking to Officer Hawk was not something you really wanted to do and I know what that means to you. But we…” purposely including Edward “really appreciate it”

“You don’t ask for much Bells, you never have and I like to see you happy. Hell I just want to see you”

My father’s words brought tears to my eyes as I saw how much he loved me. I didn’t get a chance to say anything before dad spoke “Would you do your old man a favor?”

“Anything”

Leaning forward he placed his index finger on the business card laying on the table, propelling it in my direction across the smooth surface. Once it was within my immediate reach he straightened up, stared into my eyes and spoke with a unwavering voice.

“You call Officer Hawk, tell him what happened in your kitchen and you put that son-of-a-bitch behind bars where he belongs”

Chapter 77

BPOV

I wasn’t really paying attention to the TV, who could blame me when a shirtless Edward was sitting there ripe for teasing. His comment about me giving him a urinary infection was so funny that my laughter had drowned out the commentator. I heard the woman say something about Chicago and the word arrested. That was nothing new, it was a big city and I assumed that many people got arrested. The word Alderman was slightly more important because as an elected official, he should have known better than to do something illegal. Thinking that the man’s crime had been something along the lines of misapplication of funds, or embezzlement I listened closer.


Chicago Police have arrested twenty-nine year old
Alderman Marshall Baldwin. He was taken into custody last
night on allegations of sexual harassment, battery,
deviant sexual assault, and rape of a 20 year old female intern.


‘Baldwin’- The name was familiar yet I was sure the only Baldwin I knew of was the actor - not that I knew him personally…Alderman, Sexual Assault, Rape…Those words rang in my mind along with the memory of Alice and I siting on the bed at the cabin, watching as Rose’s face contorted with loathing when she said the name ‘Marshall Baldwin’

Holy Shit!

My eyes were transfixed to the TV while I listened to what he had been apprehended for

The victim states that on June 8, 2010 the Alderman from the cities twenty-second district requested that she
remain after hours to assist him. After several attempts and lewd comments the victim became alarmed and attempted to leave. The victim who is hospitalized from the injuries she received stated that Alderman Marshall then became agitated threatening her with termination.
He then proceeded to physically batter her around the face and genital area before the rape occurred.


He detained her, like he did with Rose accept now he had moved on to personally terrorizing young women, with Rose he had his friends hold her down. Baldwin beat the young intern around the face, just the day before Rose told us how her jaw was wired shut. If this was the same man, he had advanced his techniques to become a sexual predator.

What a sick bastard!



Alderman Baldwin is the son of Councilman Wilson Baldwin. Alderman is being held in police custody pending arraignment and due process.


The son of a Councilman…Rose told us at the cabin that Marshall came from a wealthy family who used their money to keep him out of trouble and make her look bad.

Dread came over me at what this news – if it was what I thought it was – would mean to …“Rose.”

At the mention of her name I could see Edward’s head turn in my direction, “What is it?”

“I don’t…I’m not…,” the words stuck in my throat as all I could think of was… “Rose.”

Not thinking about what I was doing, my feet propelled me through the room. Setting the coffee cup down on the table as I walked past, I was out the door running down the hall to get to her. Edward must have followed as he was calling after me from the doorway of our room.

“Rose…Rose open up!” I called loudly at the closed door while my fist ponded on the wood.

“Bella!” Edward’s concern was clear in his voice as he came towards me while I kept banging.

“Hold on,” Emmett called from the other side of the door. Opening it, he took one look at me standing there wearing only a T-shirt, with what I’m sure were wild eyes then past my shoulder to see Edward. He was dressed in pajama bottoms, walking at a quick pace towards me with narrowed confused eyes. Emmett’s expression turned to anger as he eyed me once more, “Are you alright?”

“No…” pushing past him I didn’t wait for an invitation to go inside. At my answer Emmett became even more alarmed as his anxiety was directed at Edward. Throwing his arm in front of the door he blocked Edward’s entrance, “What the fuck did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Edward defended himself but my worry was placed somewhere else “Where’s Rose?”

“She’s still in bed.”

Relief that she hadn’t seen the news cast flooded through me as I took in what Emmett was wearing, or rather not wearing while he stood there in a pair of tight grey boxer briefs that left nothing at all to the imagination.

Holy Hell was he muscular…everywhere.

Pushing past his brother Edward became incensed. “Bella what the hell…?”

Knowing what he wanted I cut him off, “I think…I’m not…” he stared at me in disbelief.

We had just had a long discussion on my being forthright with him. I wasn’t deliberately trying to evade his question I just didn’t know if my suspicions were correct and I didn’t want to be a drama queen either. Holding up my hand I asked, “Five minutes…give me five minutes…please?”

Edward nodded once and I didn’t wait to see if Emmett approved or not. Heading into the bedroom Rose was laying in the middle of the bed curled up around a pillow with the blankets covering half of her naked body. I couldn’t figure out how she had slept through all the banging and our conversation in the outer room, but she had. Lightly shaking her shoulder as I sat on the bed she still hadn’t moved so I shook a little harder, “Rose…Rose wake up.”

“Bellllaaaa” she groaned in annoyance. “Come on, Em had me up half the night…”

“Rose …something happened. “

Leaning on her elbow she lifted her head and grasped the sheet above her breast giving me a look that was somewhere between panic and anger, “Did someone die?”

Staring at her I couldn’t help but feel a stir of self-consciousness, even just waking up she was beautiful. Her blue eyes sparkling, no makeup on her face yet she has a glow to her skin, and not a hair on her blonde head out of place.

Shaking my head I reassured her, “No…no one died…” and not knowing exactly how to bring up the subject I asked, “…the guy in Chicago…what’s his name?”

“You fucking woke me up for that!” she was angry but I persisted. “It was Marshall Baldwin…wasn’t it?”

“That’s not fucking funny Bella!”

I don’t know what caused her to think I saw any humor in the conversation, because I was sure that my face held no smile. She was uncomfortable and her eyes darted past me to the doorway where I’m sure the men were standing, yet I had to know and my tone became insistent. “Wasn’t it!?”

“Yes…It was fucking Marshall Baldwin! Are you fucking happy now?!”

I knew I was right.

“Rose…he was arrested…”

“What?” the anger left her face as she stared at me in disbelief.

Nodding I gave her all the information I had, “It was on the CNN this morning…last night they arrested him for beating and raping his intern…”

Several emotions flittered through her eyes, fear, anger, sadness and …. disbelief? Shaking her head tears welled in Rose’s eyes, “Nooo…his daddy would…”

“It’s true Rose…” my own eyes becoming blurry as I stared at my friend who had endured so much pain and humility.

The sound from the TV switching on made my head turn and as I moved to get a better view Rose reached out to grab my hand. Edward came to stand next to me and Emmett handed his wife a t-shirt to put on before moving to sit on her other side. Rose let my hand go for a second, pulling the shirt down over her head before taking ahold of my hand again and then leaned into Emmett’s side. Edward sat down on the bed behind me wrapping his arm across my stomach to hold me close to his chest and the four of us watched the story unfold.

The newscaster was different, a man this time who gave basically the same story. As he announced that Marshall was being held the broadcaster tapped his finger to his ear, listening to something. When he looked back into the camera he continued on…

New information on this story has surfaced. The victim is believed to be twenty year old Alisha Williams, who is the granddaughter of Illinois Senator Alfred Williams. The victim is a Political Science major at UIC, she was awarded an internship with the Alderman’s office
for the summer break.

I cringed at the personal information that was being leaked about the victim. Rose squeezed my hand tighter making me look in her direction. “They shouldn’t do that.”

Shaking my head was about all I could do as the report continued.

Upon further investigation allegations involving Alderman have surfaced. Several other women have reported crimes of similar nature against Alderman. Police reports that have just surfaced stemming back to November 2001. The District Attorney is holding his own investigation into the misconduct of his office and has suspended Assistant District Attorney Walter King pending the investigation.

Rose gasped but I didn’t know what it was for, “Do you know that King person?”

“Royce’s last name was King,” Rose said not taking her eyes off the TV.

Royce?

Royce was her boyfriend, the one who held her down, the one who died after being beaten with a baseball bat at a bar.

Holy Shit! It was a fucking conspiracy.

“I never understood why the DA’s office wouldn’t press charges,” the tone of her voice was detached as the pieces started to come together. “They were related and he was being protected.”

Squeezing Rose’s hand she turned to look at me, “Not anymore.”

“A senator’s granddaughter…looks like he fucked with the wrong person,” Emmett sounded angry.

There was subtle change in Rose’s demeanor and she started to laugh, loud boisterous bellows of laughter. “I hope some big motherfucker named Raoul makes him his bitch!”

Staring at her it became too much and I laughed along with her for a moment stunned by her behavior. Rose’s breath caught, it was like a switch went off in her head and the reaction that I had been expecting happened. Tears welled in her eyes as she sobbed, “OH, Bell…”

My arms wrapped around Rose pulling her away from Emmett and clutching her to me. “Rose, he’s going to get what he deserves.”

She squeezed me tightly, sobbing against my shoulder, “What about …what I deserve…or the others…how many have there been? And the only reason…now is because she was …a Senator’s granddaughter.”

“Well thank God for that.” In my mind it seemed that finally someone with enough clout was able to sidestep the red-tape and prosecute him.

“Why…Why is she so special?” She wailed and then her words turned to shouts. “Why not me or the others…didn’t we deserve the same protection, the same justice? What? because we weren’t related to someone…we’re just Shit!”

I tried to calm her anxiety, “Justice isn’t fair Rose.”

She sucked in a deep breath through a stuffy nose, “You’re telling me, I did what I was supposed to do! Not like some pathetic loser who pretends it never happened!”

Her words were sharp and cutting making me stiffen. Rose abruptly straightened up to look in my eyes and I felt the tears run down my cheeks.

“I didn’t mean that Bella,” shaking her head the tears ran down her devastated face as she started pleading with me to understand. “I didn’t mean it…you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do…to survive…please don’t be mad at me…I didn’t mean it.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat I nodded, “I know…”

She hugged me tightly resting her head on my shoulder while I did the same to her as we wept tears of pain. We cried for ourselves, for each other and for every other woman who has lived through the hell and lived to tell about it.

When the tears were all gone Rose took a deep stuttering breath, “Men are such pigs.”

“Not all of them,” I said shaking my head against her shoulder.

“Yeah…you’re right…” she agreed, “…not all of them.”

Taking a deep breath I lifted my head and was surprised to see that the only person there was Alice. She was standing on the side of the bed wearing a pair of beige silk pajamas with tears streaming down her face. I didn’t know how long she had been there, or when the men had left us. Once our eyes met she nodded once, giving me a sad smile which I returned.

Kneeling on the bed Alice reached out to touch Rose’s shoulder, “Are you alright?”

Rose held my gaze while patting her hand, “Yes.”

“As soon as I figured out who it was I got here as fast as I could.” Alice wrapped her arms around Rose’s shoulders hugging her tightly. “I’m so sorry Rose.”

Rose closed her eyes drawing in another deep breath, “It’s going to be alright. I have to keep in mind that piece of scum is finally going to pay for his crimes.”

“Do you think the authorities will want to talk to you?” at Alice’s question pain flashed through Rose’s eyes as she looked to me for the answer. I didn’t want to lie to her, yet I didn’t want to upset her anymore either; but I simply had no clue.

Shrugging I told her what any psychologist would say, “One day at a time, face what comes, one day at a time. You can’t dwell on what might happen.”

“Rosie.” Emmett stood in the doorway giving his wife a compassionate look. She bolted off the bed and into his arms clinging to him as if her life depended on it. Emmett’s large frame encircled her as he buried his face into her neck mumbling something I couldn’t hear, but she held him tightly nodding her head at whatever he was saying.

It was a touching intimate moment that left me feeling like I was intruding on something private. As I started to get up Emmett’s shiny blue eyes shot to mine and I could see muscles in his arms tighten around his wife as he mouthed ‘thank you.’

Nodding once I got to my feet getting ready to leave so that they could be alone, Alice followed my lead and when we got to the doorway Emmett stepped aside setting Rose down on the floor. “Ok ladies, you have fifteen minutes to get down into the workout room.”

“What?” Alice groaned, “We’re still doing that?”

“Yes…we are. I need to be assured that you all know how to keep yourself safe. We should have done it when mom was here, but that don’t matter because we’re doing it anyway.” There was going to be no discussion as Emmett made it very clear he would not be deterred. We were doing self-defense lessons, whether we wanted to or not.

Edward was standing in the living room with Jasper who was dressed in pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. Taking a drink from his coffee cup Edward eyed me wearily and in an attempt to keep him from worrying I smiled saying good morning to Jasper.

“Mornin darlin.”

I smiled at his slight southern drawl as Edward put his arm around my shoulder and kissing my head, “Everything kosher?”

I had not ever heard Edward use that expression; looking up into his face I smiled giving him a nod. His eyes softened as he brought his other hand up to graze his knuckles lightly along my cheek, “I hate when you cry.”

His words alone making my eyes swell with moisture, “Sometimes tears have a cleansing effect.”

He nodded once bending down to kiss me gently, nuzzling his nose against mine. Our interaction must have been a bit too intimate as Alice said, “Get a room,” while standing next to her husband.

Edward winked at me as he straightened up and I looked over at the time on the TV becoming alarmed that it was already eight-twenty and I only had ten minutes. “Ummm…can we go back to our room?”

Edward cocked his head, wagging his eyebrows making me giggle, “I need to get dressed or I’ll be late and have to suffer the wrath of Coach Cullen.”

“Damn right girl!” Emmett said emerging from the bedroom dressed in workout clothes.

“We’ll leave as soon as the key gets here.” Not understanding what Edward meant I gave him a curious look. He shrugged, “We left so quickly I accidentally locked us out.”

Alice and Jasper started to leave and as they walked out the door, she pleaded with Emmett to give her more time. He sighed and finally conceded to an extra fifteen minutes, but we had better be no later than that. Rose came out dressed in yoga pants and a loose t-shirt saying good-bye to them and Edward gave her a hug, “Are you ok?”

She patted his back taking a step away from Edward to glance at me, “I’m good, one thing at a time…right?”

Giving her a nod I agreed, “Right.”

The key arrived but since the room was registered in my name the guy wouldn’t give to us until I showed him ID – which was in my purse, locked in our room. He scrutinized my attire, which I suddenly felt rather uncomfortable with. All I had on was one of Edward’s T-shirts that hung rather long over my thighs and it was loose enough to conceal my bare boobs, yet he stared at me rather lecherously.

Edward cleared his throat but it was Emmett who became vocal, “Yo Buddy! You want to quit eye-fucking my sister?”

Sister?

While the guy stammered out an apology Emmett gave me a smirk, shrugging at my surprised expression like it was no big deal.

“See you in a few minutes Rose,” I called over my shoulder. Stopping as I walked past Emmett who was holding the door open, to look up into his face while patting his chest. “By the way big brother, about earlier…” his face contorted into confusion and I smirked. “I just wanted to let you know…you’d look better in red underwear.”




EPOV

The look on Emmett’s face was priceless as Bella walked out the door laughing. Her amusement at the comment making me chuckle. Emmett cracked a smile, “Get her the hell out of here.”

“See you in a few,” I said in a way of good-bye, shutting the door behind him as he mumbled, “fucking red underwear…”

My attention went back to the Bella who was still giggling, placing my hand on her back to follow the guy down the hallway to our room. He had already irritated me with his roaming eye and I was going to say something to him about it when Emmett beat me to the punch. I saw the way Bella reacted to my brother calling her his sister, like she couldn’t believe he thought of her that way. Well, she had better fucking get used to it because if I had my way, that’s exactly what she would be.

Besides, I knew Emmett was glad that Bella had dropped everything, running out of our room practically naked to make sure that Rose was alright. It was one of the things that I loved about her, the compassion and empathy she has towards those in distress.

I was unsure of what the problem was when she sprinted from our room, practically banging their door down. Emmett must have still been sleeping since he answered the door in his boxers; and after Bella telling him she was not ok, the murderous rage in eyes was directed at me. There was no doubt in my mind that if I ever hurt that woman, my brother would not hesitate to kick my ass.

The problem being, I didn’t know what the problem was and Bella wasn’t giving me any information. That irritated the fuck out of me considering we had spent the previous evening in some kind of messed up purgatory. Finally coming to the conclusion that Bella was going to be direct with me, actually I believe the word was ‘surrender’. So at the evasion I was once again receiving…Yeah it fucking pissed me off. She asked me for five minutes; my patience was wearing thin but that I could give her.

Rose was completely blindsided at the news of that man – no fuck that – that piece of shit, being arrested. The laugher that came out of her reminded me of a cackling witch taking great pleasure in inflicting pain on someone. Her joy at the situation only lasted a few seconds and before I knew what was happening Bella and Rose were clinging to each other, crying. My heart broke for both of them and I was as torn about leaving them alone as much as Emmett was. We both sat there watching the women we love fall apart and with a resounding sigh he motioned with his head towards the door.

I didn’t want to leave Bella, my natural inclination was to pull her to me and chase all the demons away. She had cried enough the night before, yet I somehow concluded that my interfering would only serve to make the situation worse. The two women sitting there on the bed clutching each other shared a bond that only they could fully understand and it seemed best to allow them to do it the way they needed.

Emmett grabbed a T-shirt, pulling it over his head as we quietly walked into the outer room. He started a pot of coffee and then stood there resting his clenched fists on the counter, looking like he wanted to hit something or someone.

“Hey, you ok man?” I asked clapping him on the shoulder. It was a stupid question as it was more than obvious that he wasn’t.

“No, I’m not fucking ok Edward!”

There was venom in his words but I couldn’t fault him for that. “Eight god-damn years later and the nightmare continues. It’s bad enough that I have to listen to her cry in her sleep, waking up drenched in sweat and screaming to the point where the only way she’ll calm down is by being restrained. She’s my wife, I love her and right now I feel so fucking useless. The woman who means everything to me is in that room falling apart and I should be in there. But all I can think about is hunting down that motherfucker and ripping his fucking balls off.”

It was a natural response and one that I knew well. “Don’t feel guilty, it might be better for Bella to be with Rose at the moment. Firsthand experience gives her a better insight…”

Turning his head to glare at me, “What the fuck does that mean? Rosie was raped.”

All I could do was stare back wondering why the fuck I said anything. After a long moment I figured I might as well tell him, “So was Bella.”

“When?”

“A few years ago, her ex-husband…” I huffed in annoyance, “…actually they were still married, separated for years, but still married. He came to her house, tied her to the table, beat her…”

“Why the fuck is he still walking around?”

I knew that whatever I said to Emmett would never be repeated, yet I didn’t want to go into more specifics then I had to. The only reason I had said anything at all was so that he would know that Rose was in good hands. Emmett continued to glare at me waiting for my answer so I gave him the watered down version. “She basically made a deal with the devil, she got the divorce, and he kept his freedom.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“Yeah it is.” I said with a nod, “Believe me; I understand that feeling of rage, the rock in the pit of your stomach that happens whenever you think of someone hurting her. The helplessness you feel from the nightmares, along with the guilt and shame that overcomes her. And I’m telling you that right now those two women in there are comforting each other more than we ever could. So let’s give them a few minutes while you calm down so that when they are done, you have your senses and can give Rose the support she needs from you.”

I had just given Emmett almost the same speech that he had given me at the cabin, it was good advice then and it worked well in this situation also. He blinked a few times nodding his head, whether in agreement or acceptance I couldn’t be sure.

Emmett reached up to open the cabinet getting out two cups, filled up one of them and was interrupted by the knock on the door. Sighing, he went over to let our sister in with Jasper following. They were both still in their pajamas with grave expressions. Alice didn’t say good morning, instead glancing between Emmett and me she asked, “Where are they?”

Inclining my head in the direction of the bedroom she moved quickly across the room, leaving the door slightly ajar as she went in. Jasper inquired as to Rose’s condition and after handing Jasper a cup of coffee we stood there filling him in, which in all honesty was not very much information. Emmett kept looking over at the door to the bedroom. In an attempt to take his mind off what was happening in the other room I brought up his plan for the self-defense lessons. Maybe it might have been better to cancel, but Emmett wouldn’t hear of it.

“No. After everything that happened this morning,” giving me a pointed look, “I need to know that those three women,” thumbing over his shoulder in the direction of the bedroom, “in there can protect themselves. Besides, it will give us all a chance to work off some aggression.”

That was something I couldn’t argue with, especially after being informed that he intended on using Jasper and me in the demonstration. I hadn’t sparred with Emmett in a long time, he may be bigger than me, but I was quicker so our workouts were always on an even keel. Jasper? He was a wiry son of a bitch who could always hold his own.

Jasper reached into the pocket of his flannel pants pulling out his phone to see the time. When he did I noticed the key card for his room and groaned, “Shit!”

At their bewildered expression I confessed, “I left the damn key in the room.”

Standing outside of the open door to our room with the hotel employee – because he wouldn’t allow me entrance until Bella showed him proper ID- I wondered if he was the same asshole who answered the phone. He had given me a really hard time when I said the name was Cullen, insisting that the only room registered under that name was the one I was calling from. It took me a second to remember that we had checked in under Swan. When I asked him why he just didn’t freaking tell me that when I said the room number? all I got was that standard answer, ‘security purposes.’

I was all for keeping my girl safe, but I also wanted to spend a few private moments alone with her before we had to meet everyone down in the workout room. Bella came over to the open door showing the guy her license. He examined it quickly, confirming her identity, eyed her once more before giving it back and told us to have a good day. Shutting the door I couldn’t wait anymore, wrapping my arms around my girl and hugging her to me. Bella’s arms encircled my back as she laid her face against my chest, letting out a deep sigh. Resting my cheek on the top of her head, I gently stoked along her back, and just held her to me.

“Oh Edward,” Bella spoke softly with a shaky voice.

She didn’t need to say anything more; I knew. “It will all work out baby, just the way it’s supposed to.”

Tipping her head up to look at me she got a sly smile on her face while her eyes penetrated into my soul, “I thought you didn’t believe in fate.”

Smiling, I cupped her chin. “How could I stand here holding you, staring into your beautiful brown eyes and deny something so obvious?”

Moving onto her toes reaching to kiss me, “I love you.”

“Ah, my Bella, I love you more.”

She smiled shaking her head, “That’s not possible.”

“I guess we’re back to our see-saw,” I told her with a grin before placing a kiss on her forehead making her smile brightly. “But right now my darling, we better get moving.”

“Yeeeaaah,” rolling her eyes, making me chuckle at the unenthused tone.

“Let’s go nâhtötse,” I said swatting her bottom making her yelp and me chuckle as she rubbed her butt while going into the bedroom.

We were a few minutes late getting downstairs, however Alice was even later and upon entering the room she pointed her finger at Emmett, “I am not running laps.”

“I’m in charge here and you’ll do what you’re told missy,” Alice rolled her eyes obviously not liking the tone Emmett used but blew him off with, “whatever…”

Alice plopped herself down on the mat next to Bella, reaching over quickly to squeeze Rose’s hand and Emmett started.

“Ok, we don’t have much time so pay attention.”

Jasper and I stood off to the side while Emmett started talking about keeping calm in a situation. He was going on about how self-defense was like drowning, and how you only had about thirty seconds to react before you start to sink. “In that short amount of time you have to keep yourself in control and put your attacker off his intended purpose.”

He called Jasper over instructing him to be the aggressor and try to come at him. Jasper stepped in closer and attempted to take ahold of him. Emmett threw his arms up between them yelling loudly, “BACK OFF!” making everyone jump. He turned to the girls pointing his finger at them, “The first thing you do is let him know that you are not going to be an easy target and yell as loud as you can to alert anyone in hearing range that something is wrong.”

Emmett once again turned to Jaz, “Ok plastic man, come and get me.”

Jasper reached out trying to get ahold of Emmett’s arm and every time he was close Emmett moved his hand and explained, “a moving target is harder to get, so keep moving. Shift your weight, wiggle and twist your arms. It’s going to frustrate him and give you a chance to react.”

He stopped Jasper, calling me over for the next part, instructing me to grasp his wrist. “If he gets ahold of you, ball your hands into a fist, twist your arms and push outwards,” demonstrating as he went.

“Once your hands are free, bring both hands up between the two of you and…push…against his chest with your palms,” shoving against me he sent me stumbling backwards a few steps. “That is your chance to run…screaming …FIRE! Everyone listens when they hear the word FIRE! You run to the nearest house or business that has a light on or appears to be occupied.”

“What happens if you can’t get away?” Emmett answered Alice, “That’s when you bring your claws out.”

“Come at me again Edward.” This time when he brought his hands up between us his palms cupped my face, making his fingers into claws. “This is where you hurt him…Remember, “ING”…Eyes, Neck, Groin…the three most vulnerable spots on the body.”

Alice interrupted him “Eyes start with an E, not an I”

“I know that…” the irritation was clear “…ING is just to job your memory, because you will be bitt-ING kick-ING, scream-ING and a lot of other ‘ings’ so think ING. Eye, Neck, Groin” Emmett stressed the point with hand motions to the three area’s on my body. Had me come at him again and remonstrated what he had said before Alice interrupted him. When he got to the point where he was cupping my chin with his palms he spoke with more vigor as he explained.

“With your hands on his face rake your fingers over his eyes, in a scratch-ING, goug-ING motion. He’s going to let go of your hands,” I dropped his wrist, “you make a fist and you punch him as hard as you can in the neck and bring your knee straight to his groin,” Emmett demonstrated on me without actually making contact. “and that motherfucker is going down. Again run like hell…scream-ING.“ He looked over at the women who all seemed to be listening intently “What are we screaming?”

“FIRE!” the three of them called out.

“Good! Ok team up and practice.”

I smirked at Bella reaching out my hand to help her up, “Come on baby, I’ll attack you.”

Before Bella could take my hand Emmett slapped it away. “No kissy shit in defense training. You take Allie, Jaz you get Rosie and I’ll do little Bella.”

“I want to do Bella.”

“You do Bella enough,” Emmett’s implication making her giggle and blush.

We paired up letting the girls practice everything that Emmett had explained. While we worked out Emmett would every now and then stop working with Bella to have her watch. He gave more instructions going over in detail how to react when attacked from behind. After a half hour we were all done, but Emmett wanted to make sure that Bella had enough practice so the girls sat back down watching.

Emmett held her wrist and I watched as she twisted them, bringing her palms up to push him away. He got a glare in his eye, “Harder Bella…cock your elbows back and push with all your might.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t hurt me. Do it again, this time with force!”

Bella sighed that fucking irritating way she has and when Emmett held her wrist he wasn’t as easily deterred. No matter how much she wriggled or twisted she couldn’t get away. Emmett inclined his head staring down at her, “What are you going to do?”

Once again she tried getting away but Emmett just seemed to glare harsher, “Thirty Seconds…What… Are...You...Going...To...Do?”

I could see the anxiety cross her features, staring back at him with wide eyes that seemed to be getting bigger as she started to slightly shake - this needed to stop.

“Emmett,” I warned.

His face contorted with harshness as he spoke to me while holding Bella’s gaze, “No! She needs to know Edward!”

I started to move forward to forcibly remove him if necessary when he narrowed his eyes at Bella leaned in closer to her and snarled menacingly, “What are you going to do!”

The sound of his ruthlessness stopped me in my tracks and I watched as Bella’s trembling fear turned to rage. I could see the fervor in her eyes as her nostrils flared and her arms twisted effectively breaking his hold and brought them quickly up between them yelling, “FIRE!”

As she screamed her palms made contact with Emmett’s chin causing his head to jerk backwards and she twirled her body bringing her fist around to hit him in the face while her knee came up jabbing him hard in his lower stomach, he grunted once and then he went down.

It happened so fast and yet it was like in slow motion with every move burned into my memory. Before I could completely comprehend what had happened, Emmett lay on the floor groaning while he clutched his stomach and Bella was shaking in my arms. I was so shocked that it must have been instincts that hugged her to me while I spoke calmly, “It’s ok baby…it’s ok…shhhh…”

I held Bella tighter while Jasper and Rose moved to check on Emmett and Alice sat there giggling with her phone in her hand. Rose was trying really hard to keep her laughter contained, but Jasper just gave it up chuckling while he asked if Emmett was alright. The poor guy was still moaning and as I looked at his face the red mark from Bella’s fist was causing his left eye to swell. Seeing the damage to his face made me worry about Bella. Moving her just enough to bring her hand up I noticed that her knuckles were red.

“Does your hand hurt baby?” I asked placing a kiss on the sore knuckles causing her to wince, yet Bella shook her head ‘no’ and Emmett moaned, “Her hand…my fucking intestines…are in my lungs.”

Alice pointed her phone at him, “Serves you right scaring Bella like that.”

Jasper laughed holding his hand out for Emmett to take so he could sit up, “You’re lucky that you weren’t standing closer to her…or your balls would be in your lungs.”

“Yeah, you fucking laugh plastic man, my fucking face hurts.”

Jasper touched the red spot on Emmett’s eye making him hiss while he checked out the damage before announcing with a grin, “It’s just bruised…but you better get some ice,” the last part was directed at Rose.

Bella seemed to come out of her stupor bringing her hands to mouth in a gasp, “I’m so sorry Emmett!”

I wasn’t sure what Emmett was going to say, after all it was all his fault. He just smirked up at her getting to his feet, “What the hell was all that twisty shit, I didn’t teach you that?”

Her face scrunched up as she shrugged, “Kick boxing?”

I snickered and Emmett muttered, “Kick boxing.”

Rose came back with two bags of ice, giving one to Emmett who put it on his face and one to Bella who stood there holding it while Jasper checked her hand. At her wincing I took the ice from her, placing the bag over her red knuckles and Alice wondered, “Can we leave now or should we get Bella to kick your ass again?”

Bella’s face turned bright red as she looked apologetic, “I really am sorry Emmett.”

“That’s ok, I’ve should have known better after the last time you clocked me,” He said putting the ice pack on his stomach as we started to leave.

“Last time?”

Rose pushed the call button for the elevator while he answered her, “Yeah, when you punched me at the cabin, I had a bruise for days. For a little thing you’re fucking strong.”

Bella looked remorseful but remained quiet as we rode up the elevator discussing the plan for the rest of the morning. I wanted to take Bella to the pancake house and the other’s all agreed. We decided to get packed up and leave by eleven, stop for an early lunch and then head home. Getting off on our floor we told Alice and Jasper we’d see them in the lobby and headed down the hall. Emmett was still shifting the ice pack from his eye to his stomach when they stopped at their room and we kept walking. After a few feet Emmett called out, “Oh Bella…” she turned to look him. “…next time, aim for the throat.”

“I’ll try to remember that.”

In our room I checked Bella’s hand one more time, having her bend her fingers to make sure there was no damage. Jasper had already checked it saying that she just bruised her knuckles hitting –as he called it –‘Emmett’s thick skull,’ but I still needed to make sure. Once I was satisfied it was indeed only bruised I gave her some Advil for the pain and swelling. We showered together getting one last use of the space, being in such a luxurious shower made me excited for the contractors to start ours. I also decided that I was getting one of those waterfall nozzles – because that is fucking awesome.

Bella had worked on the packing earlier, even turning down joining me in bed and she had more than half of it done. Most of what was left to pack consisted of my clothing so while I did that Bella put our dirty clothes into the laundry bag and walked around collecting what she called ‘personals’ and I called grooming products – same shit, different name.

She insisted on making the bed and cleaning out the refrigerator of the few Styrofoam cartons that contained leftover food. It didn’t make any sense to me as the maid would be in to clean up, but that was my Bella. As I started bringing everything out of the bedroom I realized that we were leaving with twice as much stuff as we came with. Knowing that we could never carry it all, I went out into hallway to get a cart while Bella took one more look around. Loading everything, I watched her opening all the drawers and checking under the furniture to make sure nothing was left behind.

“Are we ready?” I asked once she seemed satisfied that we had everything.

She shrugged giving me a sad smile, “Are you sure you don’t want to go to Mexico?”

I laughed pulling her to me for a hug, “Maybe next month nâhtötse.”

Snaking her arms around my neck she tugged me closer for a kiss, which I deepened, letting our tongues mix together in an erotic dance. My dick was springing to life and Mexico was sounding better by the second as I produced images of us lounging on beach chairs in the hot sun. Bella dressed only in the skimpiest bikini or better yet topless. I could almost taste the fruity cocktail drinks with little umbrella’s sticking out of the top along with the salty air from the Gulf waters. The longer we kissed the more detailed the images became. Reluctantly, I pulled back from her soft lips, taking a deep breath and bringing my lips to hers one more time.

She smiled, “I had a really nice time.”

“So did I baby.” I said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a sigh, “But, life awaits us at home and I’m sure Seth misses you.”

“Okay,” the word was there yet it was clear Bella’s heart truly wasn’t into going back to reality.

She picked up the roses that were in full bloom, I left the housekeeper a nice tip, took one last look around and we left. The room was in Bella’s name so she tried to send me for the car while she checked out. I wasn’t having that as there were charges on the account that I was paying for, she huffed at me when I gave the woman my card but frankly I didn’t care. I placed the orders for room service and her roses, so I was paying – end of story.

By the time I had brought the car to the entrance my family was all checking out, each with their own cart loaded with stuff. Everything was put in the car, the cart returned to the lobby and we were ready to leave.

Just as I had predicted, Bella was rather excited about the Fruity Pebble Pancakes; however, my girl being who she is decided on the half dozen silver dollar variety. I smirked, sitting back watching the joy that came over her from eating all the varieties she had picked. I was grimacing every now and then when she winced from the pain in her hand. The swelling had gone down a bit, but it must have still been tender. Emmett was a little worse for wear; he was going to have a black and blue mark.

Half way through the meal Bella’s discomfort bothered me so much that I asked our waitress if she could please get me a small bag of ice and forced Bella to put it over her hand. Emmett rolled his eyes, making me laugh at him while he shook his head in disbelief. “How long have you been kickboxing?”

Bella shrugged, “A few years. I started it as a form of physical therapy after,” she stopped herself-taking a drink of juice - while Emmett’s eyes went to mine.

I had told him more than I had planned to, even knowing that he would be discreet, I still had to inform Bella. Figuring that we had four and a half hour car ride ahead of us, it would be a good time to discuss that. Besides, I was driving and that meant no matter how mad she got, I would be safe from being hit. Not that Bella was prone to violence, it was just a precaution as there was no way I wanted a black eye like Emmett

Bella picked back up in her explanation, “anyway, I thought it was a good way to get a workout plus learn some defense.”

“I took a few Karate classes,” Rose added, then shook her head. “I didn’t like it.”

“Well, Osborn is going into Jujitsu as soon as he can walk,” Emmett was sure about that fact. “The kid will be a black belt by the time he’s five.”

“Yeah I think that would be good for Roscoe” Rose added with a smirk and a conspiratorial wink at Bella.

What was that for?

Alice picked up her coffee cup, “I did Ballet and let me tell you, that’s a workout,” she took a sip and smiled at Bella. “Did you think about those classes, I think it would be fun.”

What classes?

“Umm..I don’t know Alice,” not showing much interest. “I have to see when Leah’s childbirth classes are, and I’m not sure about pole dancing…”

Pole dancing?

“…when the heck are you ever going to use that?” Bella wondered.

My all-knowing sister had an answer, “You can get a portable pole to use in the privacy of your own house, we’re going to get one,” turning to Jasper she added, “right daddy?”
Oh. Fuck. Me.

My appetite was suddenly gone, pushing my plate away I sat back in the chair laying my arm along the back of Bella’s letting my thumb rub circles over her shoulder. All those images that I had removed the night before came back in full force and I hoped like hell someone would change the subject.

Thank god for Bella, “I don’t think I have time right now, besides Edward and I have a certificate for Ballroom Dance Lessons.”

Emmett laughed, “Didn’t you have enough of that dancing shit when you were little, Eddie?”

Bella gasped, shifted her eyes to me and started laughing, hysterically. I knew damn well what she was laughing at but no one else did as they looked at her like she was crazy. Especially when she started talking under her breath in between the fits of laughter, “Little…Eddie…dancing…does he do ‘the swing’?” “Wait...wait…,” composing herself enough to wipe the tears away she looked to me and started laughing so hard I barely understood her, “the Cha-Cha!”

I couldn’t keep the smirk off my face at the enjoyment Bella was having at the expense of my dancing dick. The rest of the family had no clue what she was laughing about and Jasper questioned me on what kind of pain killers I had given her. Bella leaned against my side collecting herself but still giggling, “I’m sorry…Emmett what were you saying…about dancing?”

Rolling his eyes my brother smirked, “Didn’t Edward tell you he took dance lessons?”

“We,” I clarified.

Mom thought that it was a good idea for us to learn different dances. The year I turned thirteen she sent us for classes. It was mandatory because as mom put it, ‘all gentlemen should know how to lead a lady on the dance floor.’ It wasn’t really that bad and after the last class my partner Whitney Greenawalt let me touch her boobs. I often wondered if my mother would have thought that was gentlemanly – since I did ask for permission first.

While I was strolling down memory lane Emmett told about our dancing tutorage and Alice’s Ballet, which she took all the way through high school. Jasper leaned down to kiss his wife, “My little ballerina…she looked so cute in her tutu.”

“Yeah, if I would have known at the time that you were seeing her tutu…” Emmett shook his fist. “I would have given you a four-four.”

“You were away at college,” Alice wasn’t helping. It had always been a point of contention with Emmett that Jasper jumped on our sister as soon as we left. Ten years later it still pissed Emmett off.
“I would have flown home.”

Alice sighed turning back to Bella, “Didn’t you do any dance lessons as a kid?”

“No,” Bella laughed. “I wasn’t that graceful; I probably would have broken my neck and taken someone out with me.”

“Klutzy?” Rose wondered.

“Extremely, like fall over my own feet standing still klutzy,” she giggled. “It was so bad, in high school the kids would see me coming down the hall and separate like the red sea,” using her hands to demonstrate.

Jasper chuckled wondering, “Was that something you grew out of? I mean you’re pretty steady now,” his laughter intensified. “After all you brought down Emmett!”

Everyone at the table laughed including Emmett while Bella stiffened against my side. When she didn’t answer his question Jasper took in her posture and a look of concern came over his face. My hand squeezed Bella’s shoulder as I inclined my head towards her, “You alright nâhtötse?”

She nodded, “Fine.”

Jasper didn’t push, but I could see the curiosity in his eyes.

The waitress came around asking if we needed anything else, at our ‘no’ she left the check. We finished up, used the bathroom, paid and then stood out in the parking lot for ten minutes. The three of us men standing there watching while the woman hugged, reiterated plans, hugged again and finally said good-bye.

Holding open the door for Bella she stopped before getting into car to look up at me. The look in her eye was warm and loving causing an automatic smile on my face. “I really did have a good time, thank you for bringing me.”

“It was my pleasure, besides it wouldn’t have been any fun without you here.”

Wrapping my arms around her we stood there hugging while the others drove away. Jasper blew the horn waving. Emmett rolled down his window yelling, “get a room!” and then smirked saying, “I’ll race you home,” before pulling out of the parking lot.

Shaking my head I looked at Bella, she was laughing making me chuckle when I asked what was becoming our patent question, “You ready to blow this joint?”

“Yeah…let’s go home.”

Chapter 76

EPOV

“That’s it nâhtötse, let it all out” My fingers were threading through Bella’s hair soothing her as she wept.

From the moment we had come into our room Bella hadn’t stopped crying. Sitting on the couch she slunk to the floor kneeling at my feet with her head in my lap. My first instinct was to stop her by keeping her in my arms but I understood the need she had to be where she was. After the night she endured the security and reassurance that came from being on her knees would be most welcomed. The tears were therapeutical, allowing her to finish processing her thoughts and release all the pent up emotions.

The relentless crying came in spurts through muttered words about fluted vases, see-saws and glass blowers. There was no way for me to tell what she was talking about so I just let her cry while I comforted her best I could.

It had been almost twenty hours of an emotional roller coaster ride that I was ready to get off of. After Bella had gone to sleep in the early morning hours, I picked up her journal and began to read. The words she writes are so articulate that there leaves no doubt in my mind as to the point she is making. That has both a positive and negative effect on me. On one hand I’m glad that there is a full understanding of the workings of her mind yet on the other I don’t always like what I read. In this instance the latter was definitely the case.

It was slightly disconcerting to read the casual references she made to both me and my collar she wore. I could see how with my property adorning her neck, Bella would think of it as her possession. It would also be easy to allow her to continue with that train of thought. But to what end? It would seem detrimental to her mindset if I tolerated the misconception. If it is hers, then what reason does it serve others than to be a pretty trinket, rather than an outward expression of submission and therefore obedience?

Getting Bella to adjust her train of thought on that matter should be an easy endeavor and I hoped that once it was mentioned to her, that I would not have to revisit the problem again. But it was Bella I was talking about and that was something I would have to see about later along with her referring to me as Edward.

Hmmm…one thing at a time

My biggest concern was Bella’s assumption that I would be proud of her for not bothering me while she figured out a course of action on her own. She might have saw not coming to me as a source of pride, but I knew it was much deeper than that. Whenever Bella was in a situation that she couldn’t control she used an “I don’t need you” attitude as a defense mechanism.

She had done it her whole life, starting when her mother died and making the move to Washington. In her earlier journal entries Bella talks about never allowing Charlie to see her cry because she didn’t want him to think that he had inherited a sniveling child. That same behavior continued all through her life intensifying to include her whole family during her marriage.

Bella separated herself from any and everyone who offered help in order to have some control over an uncontrollable situation. Judging from her unscrupulous activities she was attempting to do the same thing with me.

The unhappiness Bella had over the task of setting three short term goals was made known immediately. To me it seemed like a simple assignment that would give me an insight into how she prioritized; yet to her it became major event that she would have been very happy to not comply with. I however wasn’t giving her a choice, so in her mind by not seeking my guidance she reverted back to what had worked in the past.

Wielding her stubbornness like a two edged sword, using it as protection against an assault while also striking it towards anyone who could assist her. The last blow was struck in my direction because if she had no power over what I was requiring of her then she was going to control any part of it that she could. That included keeping me at a distance while she fumbled around trying to figure out what it was I wanted from her.

Silly girl

Had I been anyone else it might have worked, but to her detriment I knew my Bella better than she knew herself. I will admit that when the problem first raised its ugly head I was perplexed. Once we spoke about it on the balcony it started to become clear, especially when she admitted to purposely evading my questions. By the time I had read her journal there wasn’t a doubt in my mind as to what she was doing and I knew that the self-destructed behavior had to end.

That left me with the dilemma of what to do about it. After going back to bed I laid there holding Bella while different ideas ran through my head. As I thought about the whole thing several truths fell into place.

Bella was still under the fallacy that independence was something to be prized. She wanted to prove that she was fully capable doing things on her own without my assistance. She wore my collar (and pretty as it was) the significance of that act carried connotations that she seemed to have forgotten about. And last but not least was her delusion that somehow I had become a willing partner in the bizarre game of chicken she was playing. Unfortunately for her I was not going to be the one to flinch.

Perhaps had my Bella been anyone else a stern talking to or a compassionate plea would have been enough for her to see the error of her ways. But not my girl, she was the type of person that needed to see things for herself. I could tell her the sky was blue and she would nod her head in agreement but never truly believe until she saw it.

No, when it came to tenacity Isabella was likened to a drug addict or an alcoholic, she had to hit rock bottom. Letting it shatter her apart until all the fight was gone and she was confronted with the truth staring her in the face.

As the lesson started to formulate in my mind I wondered if it was the right thing to do. It seemed like an obvious form of discipline. As surly as Isabella dismissed me and all that I can give her, I would turn the tables and dismiss her. I had to rationalize the degree to which I would go. In no way did I want her to feel abandoned or neglected. I would be attentive, respectful, and caring yet when it came to showing acceptance of her service that would be totally rejected.

God I hated to fucking do that

I’m a selfish bastard who enjoys Isabella’s submission and all the little ritual protocols that come along with it. Yet, if she’s going to fight me every step of the way with her manipulative willfulness then it’s all shit anyway. Bella needed to rationalize her behavior against what is expected of her and that was something she was going to have to see for herself.

No, it was the best way, maybe the only way

The ramifications alarmed me as I worried about her fragile confidence. Bella had worked so very hard at getting to where she is in her submission and she needed to remain that way. If I was not careful six weeks of hard work, tears, and letting go of pent up anxieties could be destroyed, that was something I was not willing to let happen. Bella needed to remain assured of her place in my heart, positive in her submission, and aggressive in moving forward; all of which basically meant that I had to break her without annihilating her delicate self-esteem.

Words from the journal kept resonating through my mind ‘my own pride stopped me’ and ‘what was so wrong?’ both statements were followed up with justified intentions. That was another thing Bella needed to think about. There should be no need to justify, her only justification is that it had been asked of her – again it comes back to total obedience. Once that was set in her mind all the rest would come easily. Well, at least easier; because it will all come back to her setting aside her own arrogance to obey my words and my rules without question. Isabella’s total obedience was not something I was willing to compromise on.

Yes…it had to be done

It was going to take a lot of strength on my part, first in just carrying out the discipline. Isabella was not going to be a happy, in fact I was downright positive she would be miserable. It was going to kill me to see her like that and all I could hope was that it didn’t take all fucking night. I was going to have to be constantly on edge keeping her close so she didn’t doubt my affection yet distant enough for her to learn the lesson. It was going to be a balancing act that would require me to walk on a tight rope made up of my own emotions.

I was also going to need the strength to pick up the shattered pieces once Isabella broke, and there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she would break. Once that happened the crash would come like a tidal wave that I would need to let her ride out while still keeping myself on the same tight rope. Again I liked it to an intervention that takes place with someone addicted to a chemical and the one thing that is required – tough love.

Could I do that?

For Bella ? For our relationship? For her growth?

Yes, I could!

Once my mind was made up I let sleep take me knowing that I would need to be strong, and for Bella I could that.

Several times throughout the day I second guessed my plan, it was hard to show her that she was loved and meant everything to me while still refraining from fucking her. Twice - I almost caved twice -throughout the day.

The first in the morning while I was still considering other routes, Bella was enticing standing in the bedroom wearing nothing but a towel twisted on her head and a bra. I hadn’t a chance to really kiss her good morning and once I did the touch of her skin sent that fucking tingle I feel straight to my dick. Reasoning in my mind that it wouldn’t be a good idea wasn’t enough and it was one of the few times I was glad my brother interrupted.

The next was when we came back from our trip into town. I fucking wanted her and the thought of Bella in the next room naked with nothing but a thin wooden door between us nearly drove me mad. Pacing the floor like an expectant father while I kept repeating ‘it’s for Bella – tough love Edward – stick to your plan’ was the only thing that kept me in the outer room.

Fucking longest five minutes of my life

It was easier on the beach as I could exert some energy by passing the football around with my brothers while the women talked. When we joined them Bella was all too eager to comply with my time schedule and I had surge of remorse for dashing her enthusiasm for the evening. That only lasted for a brief moment as I was told the topic of the conversation the girls were having.

I still find it rather disconcerting that whenever women get together they seem to always talk about sex. It’s not like men never mention sex or make innuendos because we do. The thing I can’t grasp is the open, in-depth conversations about personal preferences and experience; Emmett’s right, women tell each other everything.

Once the women went inside we sat on the blanket talking, and I mentioned that Bella was not going to be her happy self for the evening. My only reason for saying anything at all was so that neither of them, especially Emmett – who has no filter – would question Bella as to her demeanor. Which I was sure would be downcast and I didn’t want to make her any more uncomfortable. Jasper didn’t exactly understand what I was going to do and I didn’t go into explanations with either of them as to the reasons.

Emmett knew the routine and dropped the subject but Jasper was more persistent, “What exactly was Bella’s crime Edward?”

Giving him an It’s none of your fucking business look I told him flatly, “There was no crime. My submissive needs discipline. If that makes you uncomfortable we will spend the evening by ourselves.”

Emmett shrugged, “Do what you have to do.”

“You’re not going to hit her,” Jasper stated as if he would not allow that to happen. At my assurance he shook his head, “I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to like it. The only thing I’m asking is that you not interfere and for god’s sake don’t tell Alice.”

That was all I needed. If my sister knew she would be sure to tell Bella and I wanted my girl to come to her own conclusions. Rose – Rose would keep her mouth shut.

“Whatever Edward.”

I expected that Jaspers acquiescence had more to do with his curiosity than actual acceptance. If we were all together it would give him a glimpse into our world and it would also give him the assurance that I don’t ‘hit’ Bella. Whatever his reason, he gave me his consent to join them for the evening with the promise to not say a word to Alice.

Knowing something is going to be difficult and actually living it is two different things. My mind was going round and round at the fact that Bella had no words for what my collar meant. It’s not that I had picked out a word and no other would do, because that wasn’t the case. In my heart I wanted to hear something that had to do with obedience; anything that took the focus off of Bella and placed it at my feet would have been sufficient.
Her generic answers of ‘this girl is owned’ and ‘she is his’ where not an acceptable answer and frankly I found them to be inwardly centered. Focusing the attention on what Isabella gets - owned and controlled - I wanted to know what my collared submissive was willing to give.

The more I thought about it the more positive I was in following through with my plan. That was until the look of devastation crossed her face when I told her it didn’t matter what she wore. I had seen that same look before, while Bella laid restrained to the mat on the playroom floor right after I reprimanded her for poor eating habits.

Standing there staring into her eyes, watching as the pain rolled through her, fucking broke my heart and I had to tell myself it was for her own good. Calling upon all my training it took every ounce of control I had to remain strong and impassive. What I really wanted to do was pull her to my body and beg her to see the destruction that her attitude brought to her life.

Once Bella left the room to dress I needed a drink but the wine was finished off the night before and all we had in the refrigerator was ice tea.

That was so not going to cut it

Bella came out dressed in what I would call semi-casual, jeans, heels and a black sleeveless shirt that hugged her body in all the right places – she was beautiful and sexy as hell.

The night progressed as I thought it would. The pouting, the lost gaze, the tears she tried to hide behind forced smiles. All night I kept thinking ‘Come on baby get the message’ and yet all I got was sadness and what looked like self-pity. Bella couldn’t see the lesson because she was still too focused on figuring out what she did wrong.

This wasn’t going to work

That made me angry, at myself for putting her through it and at Bella for being so damn stubborn she wouldn’t look beyond her own hurt. Had she listened to my words, the truth would have been there. Riding back from the Casino I wanted to grab that poo-poo face she was making and yell at her to stop thinking about herself. With each passing moment it became more difficult to keep up the pretext and as we walked to Emmett’s room I was half tempted to just call it a night, go to our room with this night behind us and pick the whole damn thing back up on Friday.

Damn is she frustrating!

Somewhere between standing in the hallway and walking into the room clarity came from the recesses of her mind.

“Asgaya.”

Sir

The word was like a whisper that I wasn’t sure I heard as every muscle in my body stiffened. When she repeated it adding a term I didn’t know but sounded like a plea for help, I had to turn and look at her. Yet I kept my expression as hard as possible to let Isabella know I was not pleased. Our gaze locked and I didn’t know if she had come to a conclusion or had reached her limit, either way the next word didn’t surprise me.

“PAY-chuh.”

Red

It was over

For the time being it was over, I would pick it up again and even though I dreaded the thought of a repeat performance I knew it would have to be done.

The tears were streaming down Bella’s face as I held my arms out offering her a safe place. She jumped up, clasped her hands behind my head, buried her face in my neck and sobbed. The room was completely quiet, Emmett and Rose both looked on with sympathy while Jasper was scornful and Alice was just plain confused. Needing to get Bella alone I told them that we would see them the next day and carried Bella out into the hallway.

The words that came out amongst the sobs were like music to my ears, “I kn..know what your collar means.”

Holding her closer I kissed her head, “Tell me baby.”

“Total…com..complete…surrender.”

I had to stop walking to allow my brain to register the words she had just spoken.

“Surrender” repeating the word to make sure I heard correctly.

That was so much fucking better then obedience

In one word Bella summed up everything that my collar could possibly mean. Respect, admiration, obedience, trust, gratitude, the list could go on and on yet none of that means a thing unless there is – surrender.

Reaching our door I had to grip Bella tighter as I reached in my pocket to get the key card out of my wallet. As my one arm tightened her head snuggled in closer as she let out a strangled cry, “Nooo…don’t let me go.”

“Shhhhh…I got you baby….I won’t let you go…”

That was the last coherent thing Bella actually said.

Her tears were starting ebb as she wiped her nose on my pants while taking a deep sputtering breath. Continuing to sweep my fingers through her hair I let her finish getting all the tears out before reaching down to lift her under the arms, "Come here baby.”

Her arms squeezed around my legs just slightly before she complied and allowed me to lift her so she was straddling my lap. Bella kind of tensed for a second before as she settled her chest against mine, resting her head against my shoulder while she struggled to get her breathing under control.

Stroking the length of her spine in long smooth motions I spoke as softly as I could, “Calm down nâhtötse, breathe with me…nice deep even breaths…shhhh…that’s my girl.”

Bella was still struggling to get control as I moved to stand while she clung to my neck, “W…whh…whhher…where we go…ing…going?”

“In to take a bath and get you some Tylenol before you get a headache.”

“T..too late.”

Setting Bella on the edge of the bed I asked her to stay still while I started the bathwater, getting a glass of water and pain tablets on the way back to her. “Here baby.”

While Bella popped the pills I squatted down to remove her shoes. They were actually very nice open toed heels with scalped sides that were held together with a thin black leather cord that tied in a bow. As I worked to take off the second one I thought about having Bella wear them for me on another night when I could fully appreciate them.

With her shoes off I took her hand leading her into the bathroom to finish with the undressing. Taking a step back I tipped her chin to stare into her eyes. Her face was blotchy; her eyes puffy red with black under them from the makeup, yet she was still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Placing a soft kiss on her swollen lips my head hovered over hers as we continued gazing at each other, “I love you nâhtötse.”

Tears prickled in her eyes threatening to spill, wiping them with the pad of my thumb I spoke as gently as possible, “Don’t cry baby, enough tears for one night.”

Sniffling she nodded but stayed quiet, “Come on, let’s get in the tub.”

Stepping in the bath she relaxed down in the hot water with a deep sigh while I turned off the faucet and undressed to join her. As I settle in behind her my hands wrap around her belly pulling so she would lean back against my chest. Bella nuzzles her face under my chin, taking a deep breath as her nose skims against the stubble that has grown over the evening.

We stay unmoved for a few minutes until she spoke against my neck, “I love you.”

Even though it was music to my ears I had to see it in her face. Stretching my head back I looked down into her deep brown eyes that were still bloodshot, “Do you?”

Bella’s brow furrowed, “Why wouldn’t I?”

Pursing my lips I answered as honestly as possible, “I put you through hell tonight.”

“Yeah you did,” my heart sunk, it was one of my fears that she would resent me and I was going to ask when she reached up to palm my cheek, “But…” stopping, Bella seemed to change her train of thought “…was it your intention to be mean?”

“No.”

“I knew that,” pursing her lips Bella smiled softly. “It wasn’t personal, it was business…and this is the business we chose.”

Leave it to Bella

“The Godfather? You’re quoting the Godfather?”

“It’s appropriate…don’t you think?” the question was an honest one and as I thought about it, she was right, it was business and for some reason - although I believe it’s still fitting - I liked her analogy much better than my drug addict one.

“Yeah, very appropriate.”

Removing her hand from my face Bella settled back against my chest and took my hand in hers playing with the tips of my fingers. “If I wasn’t being so selfish…”

Selfish?,,,No…No…No

Entwining my fingers with hers I grasped her hand, “baby you are the most unselfish person I know. Giving and kind with all your charity work…”

Sniffling Bella squeezed my hand and interrupted my words, “Those things are easy to give. Time, money, abilities,” sniffling again she sucked in a ragged breath as my arms squeezed her closer to my chest. “…Su…Sue was right. She told me… that… keeping Charlie out of my life was … cruel and selfish.”

“Shhhh…baby don’t cry.”

“No Edward,” Bella took in a deep cleaning breath through a stuffy nose. “I realized that my actions were hurtful, and that I was so wrapped up in what was happening to me, that I didn’t think about what anyone else was going through. Tonight I thought about… how malicious …and selfishly unfair that is to the people that care about me.” She started sucking in air in gasping breathes, “E…ess…esspecal…especially you. I..I..I…”

She needed to calm back down.

With my free hand I cradled her face against me nuzzling my face against the top of head as I tried to create a shelter around her while I shushed her. After a few moments Bella spoke with more coherency, “I wasn’t ready yet Edward, I didn’t want to give it up. After everything I’ve been through with James it was all I had left.”

“What baby?”

“The…last piece of my will… It was the one thing James wanted from me the most...if he could have that …if I gave it up…he would have had everything.” My arms held her impossibly tighter as Bella shivered against me. “He tried to force me into surrendering….and I wouldn’t do it,” the last words came out in a wail before she took deep breath speaking as she inhaled. “I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of …breaking me.”

Son of a bitch! I’m a fucking asshole

That fucking piece of shit couldn’t break her and yet I had. What the fuck was I thinking? If she wasn’t ready, I should have been more patient and waited for the right time. As that thought came to me I wondered why now? James had tried for years to get Bella to surrender.

As if she could read my mind Bella raised her head to look into my eyes. “But there’s a difference between someone trying to force me to concede and me surrendering freely to someone I trust, respect and love…so very much. And as soon as I saw that damn vase I knew…”

“Vase?”

At my one word question Bella turned in my arms to face me and for the moment the tears had stopped as she told me about the vase Rose had purchased. How she thought about the glass blowers working together to make something beautiful that was both fragile and durable at the same time. While I listened to her I couldn’t help that smile that came to my face as I wondered about the workings of her mind.

“What’s so funny?”

My smile must have been wider than I thought

“I swear nâhtötse I will never understand how your mind works.”

“Pretty fucked up uh?”

Running my wet hand down the length of her hair I gathered the ends, tugging slightly to tilt her head back and kissing her. As our lips parted I whispered against her, “I love you.”

“I know.” Craning my neck back I stared into her eyes. It was the first time she had acknowledged truth in my love for her.

“That’s why I know that I can surrender to you. I know you love me, just as much as I love you, and you would never do anything to jeopardize what we have. We’re like the vase…”

“I thought we were a see-saw.”

Finally a real smile crossed her face, “We are…in that we have to balance each other and work together to stay that way. I stepped away and that made you crash…I feel…bad about that. But the vase is what we are producing…the thing that we’ve worked together to make. It’s a beautiful piece of art to cherish, one that with care and proper use will last forever; but when not given the correct attention it’s very breakable.”

Cupping my face with her wet hands Bella spoke the words I had been waiting to hear, “I want us to be that beautiful enduring piece of fine art that can be admired, not a shattered piece of glass that just gets swept away with the garbage.”

In her own way Bella was telling me that she wanted to build a life with me, one that was strong enough to withstand the test of time. That was confirmed with her next statement.

“I had broken trash before Edward, now I want the beautiful,” tears were back in her eyes. “And that means,” Bella paused collecting herself, “in order to do that I have to surrender the last piece of my will, with the knowledge that it will be safe with you.”

My heart was fucking soaring. It’s not like I had an illogical idea that every day was going to be bright and rosy. It was just the idea that we both wanted the same thing and that both of us were willing to do whatever it took to get there.

Holding her by the back of the neck my lips crashed against hers in a searing kiss. Threading her fingers in my hair Bella slid closer to me closing the small distance between us as she moaned into the mouth. With a ragged breath I reluctantly pulled back to see her confused expression. Tucking her hair behind her ear I gave her my reason, “We have more to talk about baby and if I don’t stop…” giving her a grin, “…we’ll never get any talking done.”

“What do you want to talk about?” my girl asked with innocence as she turned in the water to once again rest her back against my chest while clasping my hand.

We sat in water for a long time, even releasing half of the contents and refilling it with hot water when it started to chill. By the time we were ready to get out we had systematically discussed all that had happened earlier in the evening. Bella told me how she finally stopped feeling sorry for herself, realizing that there was a reason why I wouldn’t accept her service. Once that came to her mind she was able to put everything into the right perspective and see the lesson. Throughout our talk I explained my side of the story along with the drug addict theory.

Bella scoffed, “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Have you met my Isabella? She is one ornery…”

“Ornery?” she questioned turning to gawk at me. “Now you sound like Charlie.”

“Oh Bella, I’m not your daddy and thank god for that.”

With a giggle along with the deepest blush I had ever seen on her face Bella reached over to open the drain. “Are we getting out?”

I assumed that’s what she meant by the action but wasn’t sure if she just wanted to refresh the hot water. Holding up her hands Bella showed me her wrinkly fingers, “I’m getting all water logged and pruney.”

At my nod she got to her feet, standing to full height in front of me. Her wet body shimmering in the overhead light, my face just inches away from her center. Grasping both hips with my hands I held her in place as my nose skimmed over her mound. Rubbing it through the small patch of hair my tongue parted her lips taking one swirl around her clit. The soft moan from Bella matched my own as I savored the taste.

God she is fucking delectable

Bella held perfectly still while I continued, and only voiced her discontent when my licks turned to kisses, “Ohhh…don’t stop.”

Placing one more kiss on her sensitive skin my eyes shifted up to hers, “Needy or greedy?”

“Both,” Bella smiled down at me biting her lip in that provocative way she has.

“Ahhh…indecisive,” I said pushing off the sides of the tub making Bella step back to make room for me to stand. Stepping out of the tub she handed me a towel before wrapping one around herself and stepping over to the sink to brush her teeth.

“What was all the blushing about in the tub?” I wondered aloud as I picked up my own toothbrush.

Holding the side of her hair back with her hand Bella bent over to spit in the sink before meeting my eyes in the mirror, “You were doing that swirly thing on my clit.”

Narrowing my eyes I prompted, “No…I mean when I said I wasn’t your daddy.”

Starting to brush I watched as Bella’s whole body practically turned red while she giggled and spit again, rinsing with water from her cupped hand and made like she was going to leave. Spitting quickly I reached out for her arm to stop her, because this I had to hear. “Tell me.”

Through a stiff face that looked about ready to pop she asked, “Do you know your mother calls your father…daddy?”

Is that all?

“She’s always done that,” I shrugged going back to finish my teeth.

Bella stepped up behind me standing on her toes so she could peer over my hunched shoulders into the mirror and whispered, “But did you know she does it while their…ummm…going at it?”

My hand stopped moving and I practically choked on the wad of toothpaste in my mouth, Spitting, my wide eyes went back to Bella’s smug smile nodding at me in the mirror, “It’s true, Alice used to hear them and your sister…”

“NOOO?”

I so did not want to know this

Bella’s face was so red I couldn’t tell if it was from the giggling or the blush as she said, “Alice too…” at my bewildered expression she giggled once more nodding her head, “Yup…and not only that your sister likes…”

“I don’t want to know!” I said throwing my hands in the air to stop her from talking.

Picking the hairbrush up off the counter Bella giggled, “Ok, but if you’re ever interested…”

The suggestion was obvious as she sauntered out of the bathroom leaving me standing there looking at myself in the mirror. All kinds of images came into my mind, each one stranger than the previous. I did not want to know about my parents, and I certainly didn’t want to think about what Jasper was doing with Alice.

That rat bastard

He has the nerve to condemn my relationship with Bella, acting all holier than thou when apparently he is defiling my baby sister on a regular basis. And when the fuck did this all start? Alice swears she was a virgin when they got married and within a few months she was pregnant. You don’t do nasty shit to a virgin or your pregnant wife and the mother of your children…do you?

Fuck!

How the hell does Bella know that shit anyway?

God damn women and their talking

Rinsing out my mouth I turned out the light and joined Bella in the bedroom. She still had the towel wrapped around her body as she lay across the width of the bed. Her one leg bent at the knee while she relaxed threading her fingers through the length of her hair that hung over the edge almost touching the floor. Her eyes were closed as if she was in peaceful mentation, yet sensual as her tongue peeked out to moisten her lips.

She was fucking gorgeous and I knew in that moment that whoever she was to anyone else, sister, daughter, mother, it didn’t matter; to me, Bella would always be the one I did nasty things to.

Hearing me enter the room Bella tilted her head back, watching me approach she smiled and I couldn’t help but grin back. “So…who’s your daddy?”

“Augh,” she groaned scrunching her face in disgust, “don’t say that. It’s kind of disturbing.”

“I seem to remember age play as a rather high number on your limits; do you wish to change that?”

The blush was back as her teeth bit into her bottom lip, “Ummm…nooo.”

What the fuck is she thinking?

Staring down at her red face I prompted, “What did you have in mind?”

“I was thinking something along the lines of…You being Mr. Letcher…”

“Letcher?” I laughed making Bella nod, “Yup and Mr. Letcher comes home to find his virtuous but curious baby sitter going through his porn stash and he schools her in the proper way to give a blow job and then…other things.”

Ahhh…that’s my girl

Yet I wondered, “Are you sure you’re that good of an actress?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well Ms. Swan, I mean you are very talented with that mouth of yours, so you would have to be one hell of actress to pull off inexperience.”

“You never know, I just might give an academy award performance.” As she spoke her hand came up to my waist opening the towel. Reaching her head back I watched her tongue peek out to lick the tip of my dick making it spring to life.

“Is that so?”

“Mmm..umm” Bella nodded running her tongue along the underside making me suck in air through my teeth. Her mouth continued its movement down to my balls which Bella licked before sucking the right one gently into her mouth.

“Fuck”

The incredible feeling only got better as she grasped my dick firmly with her hand taking one long stroke while her mouth opened to take in the other one. It felt so fucking good my hips involuntarily thrust forward and a little hum came from Bella adding a small vibration that made me thrust again.

Reaching down I opened the towel that was hiding her body. She was a fucking vision to behold; soft supple skin with firm breast and taunt nipples that I tweaked and rolled between my fingers. She let out a soft moan moving her mouth in a long sweep up my dick to swirl her tongue around the head. She teased me for a few more moments before sucking me into her mouth while her hand continued to stroke me.

Fuck

Needing something else to think about, I let my fingers drift softly over the skin of her stomach until I reached the patch of hair, which I forcefully tugged causing her to moan around me as her bottom lifted off the bed. Bella gripped behind my ass with her other hand pulling me closer to her as she sucked more of me into her mouth, and rather than bob her head she just sucked my dick like it was a thumb.

Holy hell

The feeling that the suction of her mouth along with the subtle movement of her tongue created was fucking awesome making me call out, “Oh Fuck baby!”

Embarrassing as it was, I could have blew my load then and there but I pushed back the sensation by focusing on the woman in front me. Bella must have been feeling her own need as she bent her other leg and began squirming to find some friction.

Leaning over her body I put my hand behind both her knees and pulled them towards me so her body was in a “C”. Using my elbows I spread her legs open, gripped her hips to keep her steady and lifted them to put her slick center level with my chest. I was worried for a second about the pressure on her neck but that didn’t seem to be a problem. The move I made must have caused Bella to slide on the silky duvet because her head was hanging off the bed between my legs. She grabbed my ass with both hands, sucked my dick further down her throat, and began to fuck me with her mouth.

Fuck she was good

Bending my head my tongue took a swipe through her folds stopping for a moment to dip inside her. Bella moaned around me as I worked my tongue in and out of her and then whimpered as I left to continue my journey to her puckered rear entrance. The movement of her head faltered for a moment when my tongue swirled around the outside and the most glorious moan I had ever heard came once I broke through the surface.

Finger nails dug into my flesh as my tongue took another plunge and I thrust my dick deeper into her mouth.

Don’t stop now baby

Easing my hips back my mouth followed the trail it had started with, dipping deep inside Bella’s pussy to enjoy the taste of her essence. She continued to moan against my dick as my hips thrust in unison with the movements of her mouth.

The quickening in my balls started to flutter along with the pressure in my stomach, both feelings I pushed aside as I concentrated my attention on lavishing my mouth upon Bella’s clit.

She moaned loudly when I quickly flicked my tongue back and forth over the bundle of nerves.

She squirmed and shook when my tongue flattened and lapped over the hardening bud.

And her whole body tensed as she freed my dick from her mouth, screaming out in release when I held her clit between my lips and sucked.

After placing a few kisses over her sensitive skin I released the hold I had on her hips, watching her body fall limply on the bed and stood to gaze down at her. Bella’s head lagged over the edge of the bed, her eyes closed, mouth wide open with panting breaths that made her chest rise and fall in exaggerated motions.

Yeah that was a good one

Sensing my gaze Bella’s eyes fluttered open to meet mine. Staring down at her post-orgasmic face I wondered aloud, “Did I say you could cum?”

The response came through panting breaths and wide dazed eyes, “My mouth…was full.”

Raising one eyebrow I showed none of the humor I felt as she went on. “Besides…I was trying to make you go…first. Thought I …almost had you.”

You almost did - twice

“The word is control nâhtötse and it looks like over the next few weeks we will be working on yours. But right now…” Leaning over her I grabbed under her arms flipping her so she lay on her belly and gave her a good swat on the roundness of her bottom making her yelp.

“Quiet,” I warned with another swat.

Running my hands firmly down her legs I gripped Bella’s ankles swinging them sideways so she did a one-eighty. Keeping a firm grip on her ankles I used them to flip her on to her back and pulled quickly so her feet were resting on my shoulders with her butt hanging off the bed. The look of surprise in her eyes was as alluring as the scream that came out of her as I held her hips and slammed my dick inside her.

The endless moans and gasping breaths only served to enhance the look on her face and the bounce of her breast as I moved in a rapid hard pace.

“It’s…all…about…control…Isa..bella,” the words came out of my mouth with each thrust.

“Goddd….Yesss...” She cried out fisting the edge of the bed.

It wasn’t going to take me long, I had already warded off my release and frankly I didn’t want to do it again. My fucking balls felt like they were in a vice as the pressure built to an unbearable point. Bella seemed to tense and I knew she was close, squeezing my fingers tighter on her hips I inclined my head and bit down on her big toe as I grunted out, “Now.”

“Fuck!” I roared as Bella arched her back and clamped her internal muscles down on me.

She was so fucking tight and felt so damn good that I let go of the hold I had on myself. The wait was worth it as I slammed into her, cuming so fucking hard my legs buckled making me collapse on top of her in overwhelming ecstasy.

Bella’s exaggerated breathing matched my own as I laid on her chest kissing any part of her skin that I could reach. After a few moments I realized that I was probably crushing her so with a grunt I pushed my arms off the bed and fell onto my back next to her. Bella made a kind of whimpering noise as she turned to snuggle into my side. And that’s how we stayed holding one another and just enjoying the high that we brought each other.

As relaxed as I was it would have been easy to drift off to sleep but we really were in a weird position with half our bodies on the bed and our feet on the floor, at least mine were. Raising my head I saw that Bella had curled herself against me in a fetal position.

Yeah, this was not good for sleeping

Bella groaned out her displeasure when I sat up but made no inclination that she was planning on moving. Looking around the room I spotted an unopened bottle of water sitting on the dresser, getting up on shaky legs I got the bottle and took a long drink downing half of it. Glancing over at Bella she still had not moved.

Nothing like wearing out your woman Cullen

Putting the bottle down on the table next to my side of the bed, I went over to Bella’s side, moving the disheveled blankets out of the way. My body was so drained that Bella felt like she weighed fucking three hundred pounds as I lifted her from the spot she was in to tuck her into bed. Turning out the light I climbed in next to her, spooning my girl I kissed the top of her head, “Good night nâhtötse.”

The back door of Bella’s house was wide open- the kitchen empty, bare, like no one had lived there for a long time. There was some kind of rustling sound coming from the living room “Bella” I called out but there was no answer. Fear ran through me at the empty living room but the rustling sound became louder. I could hear someone crying making me call out “Bella” once again as I run through the empty house looking for her. Coming to her bedroom door I stop to hear the crying turning into her voice, “help me”. Calling out her name I throw open the, only to see another door and her call for help getting louder along with the rustling, “Bella!” Throwing open the next door I’m met with another one and another one. I keep opening more doors, and with each one her cries for help become louder, the panic in her voice clearer and that damn annoying rustling….

“Bella,” I awoke with a start.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” She says quietly from the seating area where all the bags from her shopping trip had been placed. She’s dressed in the T-shirt I wore last night standing over an open suitcase.

Breathing a sigh of relief I glance at the clock – seven-thirty- “What are you doing baby?”

“I had to pee and since I was awake I thought it would be best to start packing.”

Oh yeah, we’re going home today

“Why don’t you come back to bed with me, we’ll sleep for another half hour?”

She got an amused look on her face. “Edward, you know damn well if I get back in that bed, we will not be sleeping.”

“And what’s so bad about that?”

“Nothing…” she smiled broader, “…in fact it’s always good.”

Damn right it is

Leaning on my elbow I used the other hand to hold up the blanket, “Come on nâhtötse, just a little snuggle.”

Bella’s eyes raked over my naked body from chest to dick – which was standing at attention and saluting her. For a brief moment I saw the desire grow in her as she took a deep breath, licking her lips, then her eyes blinked a few time before she placed the clothes in the luggage.

“No time, I want to get this stuff packed,” she gestured to the pile of clothes on the table. “And I’m not going to be late for Emmett. Knowing him, he will make me run laps and throw in some calisthenics for good measure.”

She’s probably right; still, I had to try. Tilting my head to the side I gave her my most alluring look, “I’ll make it worth your while.”

It would have worked had Bella even looked in my direction; instead she kept packing, “No can do.”

Throwing the blankets off me I sat up putting my feet on the floor, “Oh you are a cold woman Isabella Swan.”

Her giggle made me smile while I pulled my pajama pants up, “Alright be that way, I’ll take little Eddie and go make some coffee.”

She giggled louder at my fake pout, but kept up what she was doing as I headed into the bathroom.

After starting the coffee I switched on the TV, we had been gone for over a week and I figured since we were going back to reality I might as well see what has been going on in the world. Getting myself a cup I sat down on the couch watching the NASDAQ figures run long the bottom of the screen while the CNN reporter gave a rundown of the Middle East.

A few minutes later Bella came out of the bedroom still dressed in my shirt. She got herself a cup of coffee and came over to stand behind me. Bending over the back of the couch she kissed my cheek, “Good morning Edward.”

“Now you want me…too late woman, you had your chance.” I said taking a sip from the cup

“Are you playing hard to get?” she purred in my ear.

“I was hard in the bedroom…which by the way, it’s not easy to pee in that condition; you could have given me a urinary infection.”

She burst out laughing, “Poor baby…”

As we laughed the new story switched to a woman dressed in dark gray suit and the word Chicago came on the lower right of the screen.

Chicago Police have arrested twenty-nine year old Alderman Marshall Baldwin. He was taken into custody last night on allegations of sexual harassment, battery, deviate sexual assault, and rape of a 20 year old female intern. The victim states that on June 8, 2010 the Alderman from the cities twenty-second district requested that she
remain after hours to assist him. After several attempts and lewd comments the victim became alarmed and attempted to leave. The victim who is hospitalized from the injuries she received stated that Alderman Marshall then became agitated threating her with termination.
He then proceeded to physically batter her around the face and genital area before the rape occurred. Alderman Baldwin is the son of Councilman Wilson Baldwin. The Alderman is being held in police custody pending arraignment and due process.


Bella’s whole body stiffened while her eyes were glued to the TV, after the report was read all I heard was one word that was filled with dread, “Rose.”