~Edward~
Sweat is running down my hair and face, intensifying the stinging sensation of the new tattoo adorning the back of my neck. The stage lights are so fucking hot but they feel good, familiar. This is the one place where I am the most comfortable with myself, this is the man I know. My hair is soaking wet and I try to ignore the sweat that is dripping in my eyes as I sing.
“I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them fall away
Mildewed and smoldering, fundamental differing
Pure intention juxtaposed will set two lovers' souls in motion
Disintegrating as it goes, testing our communication
The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so
We cannot see to reach an end, crippling our communication…”
My fingers fly over the strings of my guitar without a second thought, this is second nature…this is me. When the song finishes, I take a moment to soothe my voice with a drink of water, as well as peel off the sweat-soaked short sleeved blue shirt I threw on tonight. We are about three quarters of the way through our set, and my nerves are starting to bubble to the surface. Tonight is a big night for me because tonight, I am singing Bella’s song. I have two more songs to prepare myself. To be honest, I don’t really know why I am so fucking worked up about it, like I’ve said before…I know she will love it.
It’s kind of nice that my family is here as well. They have all been more than accepting and accommodating to Bella, a fact that I am beyond grateful for. It would have seriously fucking sucked if she hadn’t meshed well with them, not that it would have changed the way I feel, though. It makes me happy that they are all equally protective of her as well. My father’s reaction to how the meeting went this morning is testament to the lengths he is willing to go to defend her. He was fucking pissed at how Peter turned the whole situation on us, threatening Bella, Lizzy and my mother in the process. My dad was ready to do anything that he could to help us, including hiring a private attorney to find some sort of loophole in the agreement, but when I mentioned that he had threatened to file assault charges on the girls, he was livid. Needless to say, once he was able to breathe again, he assured me that he would take care of it.
My blood boils as I think back to the meeting the band had with Peter earlier this morning.
**Flashback**
“I don’t know what there is to discuss, Peter. I told you…I’m fucking done with her. This isn’t the first time we’ve had a problem like this and I have let the persistent, unwanted advances as well as some of the disrespectful comments slide, but what happened last night with Bella is the last fucking straw. I’m not dealing with her anymore.”
“Look, Edward, Gianna is regretful of what transpired last night. You know as well as I do how alcohol can make you do and say crazy things. She has been really good to you boys in the past. You’ve known her for fifteen years, for fucks sake! I think we can all get past this.”
“No fucking way. I get that she is your niece, Peter, but I warned you beforehand. It’s not my fault that she can’t fucking control herself. I am all out of patience and I simply will not sit back and allow some jealous, bitter harpy to disrespect my woman…it’s just not gonna happen.”
“Think about what you are saying, Edward, we come as a packaged deal and we have an airtight contract.” He shakes his head in disbelief before continuing, “I can’t believe that you would even consider breaking our contract over some little girl that you have known for all of what…six weeks? Don’t be stupid, man. We have been working together for fifteen years! And Gianna has officially been with you for ten, there is no way that you could put your loyalty into a piece of ass! Girls like that are a dime a dozen, Edward…stop thinking with your dick!”
I feel Emmett’s massive arms lock around my chest as I lunge for Peter’s throat. How dare he fucking speak about Bella that way. He doesn’t know a goddamn thing about us. Jasper steps in front of me placing his hands on my shoulders speaking in the most soothing voice he can muster. He points out that assaulting Peter isn’t going to accomplish anything and that I need to calm my temper down before I ruing everything for everyone.
The words flying out of my mouth are jumbled and incoherent…I am so fucking pissed that I am not even making any sense. It takes both Emmett and Jasper to hold me down because I am a big motherfucker. Add that to the pure rage that is pulsing through my body and the both of them are struggling to maintain their grasp on me. I know that Jasper is right, but I just can’t overlook the shit he is spewing about Bella. She hasn’t done a fucking thing to him to deserve the way he is talking about her. She is good to the core and I will not sit back and allow him to slander her.
This motherfucker must have a death wish because he keeps spouting off his mouth, as if I need anymore provocation.
“If you agree to maintain our contract, Gianna is willing to forgo pressing assault charges on your girlfriend, your sister and your mother.”
My head whips around so fast at the sound of his words that it must be comical. “What the fuck did you just say?” I am literally shaking with anger at this point that I can hardly believe my ears.
“You heard me, Edward, and I would suggest that you calm yourself down…I wouldn’t want to have to add you to that list as well. It would be in your best interest to suck it up at this point. I would hate to have to turn this into a sticky legal situation.”
I turn my ire on Gianna, who is situated in a chair by the door, and her previous smug disposition shrinks under my wrathful glare. I have never felt so much hatred in my entire fucking life. Her face pales to a sickly looking green as she realizes the real threat behind the daggers in my eyes, but just as quickly the smug look returns as she looks away dismissively.
Knowing that I am at my breaking point, I shrug my boys off and flee the room. I don’t want to be held responsible for what would have gone down had I stayed a moment longer.
When Emmett and Jasper join me outside moments later, they let me know that they understand my feelings and would have reacted the same way had it been their women he was talking about. While their support soothes my worry some, I can’t help but fret over what is going to happen now. They both assure me that whatever it is, we will tackle it together. I have never been as thankful for my boys as I am in this moment.
**End Flashback**
Pulling my thoughts back to the present, I heave a deep breath and sigh. While the situation with Peter and Gianna is not worth wasting my energy worrying over, I can’t help but be put out knowing that it is destined to blow up into a huge ordeal. It fucking pisses me off how that bitch was able to virtually destroy a fifteen year relationship in a matter of six weeks, all because she could not take ‘no’ for a fucking answer. I hate that no matter what I say to Bella, she is going to feel responsible. What she doesn’t understand, and what I will do anything to make her understand, is that it really has nothing to do with her and everything to do with Gianna. She is just a spoiled, unstable woman who didn’t get her way. It wouldn’t have mattered who I brought home. Of course, it doesn’t help that Bella is- hands down- the sexiest and most beautiful woman to ever walk this earth.
My Bella.
The next two songs fly by and before I know it I am speaking into the mic, setting up the most important song that has ever fallen from my lips.
“How’re you feeling Barcelona?!” I shout out at the adoring fans. The crowd erupts in applause, hooting and hollering. I fucking love this city, they are always so responsive. “You guys are the best fucking city on the entire goddamn tour, you know that?” More cheers and applause. I take a moment to enjoy the energy they are throwing at us, grateful for the good fortune that allows me to do what I love every fucking day and the opportunity to share my passion with the world. “You know what you get for being the best fucking city on the tour?….You get to hear a brand new song. What do you think about that?” The stadium roars and it is deafening. I don’t think I have ever felt such excitement. I smile at the fuckawesome reception before introducing the song. “This is a song I wrote for the woman who has single-handedly changed my life, and captured my heart. Bella, this is for you…I love you, baby.”
I wait until the crowd hushes down somewhat before plucking out the opening chords.
You cool your bed-warm hands down
On the broken radiator,
And when you lay them freezing on me,
I mumble "Can you wake me later?"
But I don't really want you to stop
And you know it so it doesn't stop you
And run your hands from my neck to my chest
Crack the shutters open wide,
I wanna bathe you in the light of day
And just watch you as the rays tangle up around your face and body
I could sit for hours
Finding new ways to be awed each minute
Cuz' the daylight seems to want you just as much as I want you
It's been minutes, it's been days,
It's been all I will remember
Happy lost in your hair
And the cold side of the pillow
Your hills and valleys are mapped
By my intrepid fingers
And in a naked slumber, I dream all this again
Crack the shutters open wide,
I wanna bathe you in the light of day
And just watch you as the rays tangle up around your face and body
I could sit for hours
Finding new ways to be awed each minute
Cuz' the daylight seems to want you just as much as I want you
Crack the shutters open wide,
I wanna bathe you in the light of day
And just watch you as the rays tangle up around your face and body
I could sit for hours
Finding new ways to be awed each minute
Cuz' the daylight seems to want you just as much as I want you
When I look into the wings of the stage, all I see is Bella. She has both of her hands over her heart and tears streaming down her face. Pressing her fingertips to her lips she sends me a kiss, an action that I am happy to return. I thought I might be embarrassed to express my feelings this way, but as it turns out, I’m not. In fact, it feels really fucking good. I decide to skip the meet and greet because I really just want to be alone with her, so after the show we head straight to the house.
The only source of light in the bedroom is the flashing screen from the television which is playing a cheesy eighties slasher film and casting a faint bluish light on Bella’s dark hair. I’m leaning against the headboard with her nestled between my legs and she is subconsciously picking at the hair on my calves, causing a periodic stinging to shoot through my leg, while she is totally engrossed in watching Johnny Depp be consumed by his bed in the most gory and disturbing way. We are both still completely wired, a completely unfortunate side effect of touring.
I laugh as she cringes at the disgusting scene, turning her face into my arm. When she registers that I am laughing, she bites me hard and then looks up at me with a scowl, which admittedly only makes me laugh harder. Taking advantage of her distracted state, I mute the fucking lame ass movie she conned me into watching, by promising sexual favors, and turn her so that she is facing me while straddling my thighs.
“So, I suppose I should call some movers to set up a time to ship my stuff to your place then?” I ask as I thread my hand through the silky strands of her hair, fascinated by the way they slip through my fingers. Her small, warm body clad only in the thin camisole and lacy boy shorts she threw on after the two rounds of love-making earlier is molded completely to mine fitting perfectly into the contours of my body.
She was made for me, just for me.
“Oh, uhm, I don’t have a place,” she admits sheepishly, peeking up at me through her long, curved eyelashes. “I was staying with Seth and Sam before we left for this trip. I was planning to find a place when we returned from Europe, you know, before classes start.” Her expression is so sweet and regretful that I cannot help but smile.
“Well, that’s better then.”
She gives me a bemused look before I continue, “It would be easier to mesh our things into a new place rather than trying to merge my things into a space that’s already occupied.” I accentuate my point with a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Her smile is infectious as she comments, “A place that is truly ours.” I nod my head slowly locking my gaze with hers while returning her smile.
“The last city in the European part of the tour is Athens. I have two weeks between that show and the one in Sydney…maybe we could fly to Seattle then to find something? I mean, unless you want mom to find something when she returns to the States, that way it could be set up and moved into when you arrive.” I suggest this, hoping that she will seriously consider the latter idea for purely selfish reasons. Especially since Australia and Asia were added to the tour cutting in to my off time before the US portion. If she allows my mom to set up the new place, she would be able to stay an extra three days with me.
“She wouldn’t mind?” she asks with the most hopeful expression in her dark, expressive eyes. “I mean, we could pay her…”
I don’t even let her finish that thought. There is no way my mother would want to be paid to help us. I know Bella means well, but it would seriously offend her. “No, we couldn’t pay her. She would be ecstatic to help…believe me. Renovating and decorating is what she does. Besides, baby, we’re her family.”
Bella’s eyes fill with tears, obviously overwhelmed by the prospect that someone would be willing to help us. I have to admit that it is nice to be able to rely on family, but I also don’t want Bella to feel bulldozed, so I suggest that maybe we should look at a few property options online. You know, narrow it down to a handful that we would both be happy with, that way she knows upfront what she will be returning to in Seattle. I think she will feel less overwhelmed if she is able to maintain a semblance of control over the situation. Plus, I like the idea of us picking out our first home together rather than just accepting one that my mother chooses.
While we browse through properties online, Bella begins to tense up. I immediately worry that she is having second thoughts…maybe actually purchasing property together is too much for her. I try to hide the hurt and disappointment in my voice as I give her an out.
“Baby? If you’re not ready for all this, I’ll understand.” I clear my throat awkwardly, feeling very unsure of myself. “I can leave my shit in London if you prefer. Of course, I still promise to come and spend every free moment I have with you.” I concentrate on steadying my breathing as I thread and unthread our fingers together.
“What? No, Edward, that’s not it. Uhm, I was just wondering why we are looking at homes that are millions of dollars…” she trails off, gesturing toward the monitor of my laptop before looking up at me with so much innocence shining in her beautiful brown eyes that I want to laugh and scream with frustration all at once.
“Oh, thank fuck,” I breathe as the tension instantly leaves my shoulders, the relief in my voice is obvious, causing her to turn and look at me with concern. “Well, I hate to be presumptuous Bella, but we really need a gated property. That is not really a negotiable point for me.” Defiance flashes in her eyes and she quickly challenges me, “Not negotiable, Edward? I’m not going to be dictated.” She huffs as she narrows her eyes, glaring at me while crossing her arms over her chest. My cock stirs in my pants at the fire in her eyes as she glared at me, I have to admit that shit is hot as fuck. I love feisty Bella.
“I’m not dictating to you, well, I kinda am but only because it is necessary. We are celebrities, baby, whether you want to be or not. Arguably the most popular couple in the whole fucking world right now. Security and a gate is imperative if we want any semblance of privacy. Americans are relentless, especially the paparazzi. I want you to be safe--no, I need you to be safe. Especially because I won’t be around as much as I’d like to be while the tour is going.” I am looking intently into her eyes trying to convey just how important her safety is to me and how there is just no way that I’m willing to budge on this point.
Her eyes soften at my words and she sighs, reaching out to smooth away the worry lines on my forehead and then trailing her fingers down the side of my face. “I guess I never really thought about how this would transpire in the real world,” she concedes, motioning between us. “I’d like to feel a sense of security as well as privacy in my home as well.” She looks down while twisting her hands in her lap nervously. Going crazy with wondering what is going on in her head now, I prompt, “Something is still bothering you.” It is a statement, not a question.
“Well, it’s just that, I mean, I have some money saved from the book and a bit of an inheritance, but not nearly enough to pay for half of what you are looking at there.” She points her tiny black manicured finger at the property on the screen.
I take a deep breath thinking about the best way to go about this. The last thing I want is to start another disagreement. “Bella, I realize that contributing financially to our home is important to you, and to be honest it is important to me too. If only to make you feel like it is as much yours as it is mine. That being said, however, I realize that you are not going to be able to put half. If I had it my way you wouldn’t put a dime, but I’m not stupid enough to suggest that. And like I said before, I understand the need to contribute.” I know that I just contradicted myself, but whatever, she gets my point.
“I just don’t want to feel like a kept woman, you know? I want this to feel like a partnership.” She looks a little uncomfortable with this revelation, and my heart aches for her. It pisses me off at the same time, though.
“Bella, you are a student. You are an artist. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met, with dreams and aspirations. You are the furthest thing from a ’kept’ woman that I have ever encountered and I hate that you think that. You really need to understand something about our relationship, though.” I pause, looking into her eyes. I want her to really listen to what I have to say because I don’t want to live the rest of my fucking life having this same argument over and over. “I am thirty-five years old and have been a famous musician since I was twenty. I have had fifteen years to make and collect obscene amounts of money. I’m not a frivolous spender, so I’m sure you can imagine how much I have saved. On top of that, I come from a very wealthy family…many generations past, old money if you will. My father is a prominent, world renowned surgeon and my mother is the most sought after interior designer in the country. My inheritance alone grossly surpasses everything I have made and saved on my own. I’m not trying to scare you or brag or whatever, I’m just trying to make you understand that we will never be able to bring equal amounts of money to this relationship, and that fact will never change. But, the thing is…that shit doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters is that we both bring equal amounts of love and devotion. The rest is just stuff,” I finish waiving my hand around the room dismissively.
When did I become such a profound motherfucker?
I have no idea, but I am fucking thankful because understanding washes over her beautiful face and she throws her arms around my neck peppering kisses all over my neck and jaw. “Thank you, ciccino. You always know what to say to make me feel better.” She places one final kiss to my mouth and then moves to situate herself next to me as I scroll through various properties.
We spend the next hour looking at available homes in Seattle, each of us making a list of amenities that we want and some that we cannot live without. I for one can’t live without a music room/recording studio, soundproofed and large enough to fit all of our equipment along with a piano. It would be really fucking nice to be able to record from home. Bella’s eyes light up as she shyly states that she would really love to have an art studio with an attached darkroom. I vow at the wistful expression on her face that she will have the art studio that she deserves. I will do anything to keep that expression on her face.
When we have our picks narrowed down to seven, we settle in for bed, agreeing to speak with my parents about the situation in the morning. I also make a mental note to contact my attorney and financial advisor to let them know of my intention to purchase a new home and to set up a joint household account for Bella and I, deciding to get her accustomed to this idea first, before adding her to the rest of my accounts. I know it seems rash and stupid to just give her complete access to all of my money, some people would argue that it is stupid to give someone that much power over you. I just don’t see it that way, though. Yes, giving her access to my money gives her a certain amount of power over me, but it nothing compared to the power she has over my heart. That is where the real risk is. That is the only way she could destroy me. So, if I trust her with that…what the fuck difference does the money make? Hugging Bella closer to me, I place a kiss against the side of her face and let sleep take me.
We find my mother along with my father at the kitchen table the next morning sharing companionable silence. They both look up as we approach, smiling warmly after noticing our tightly clasped hands and then returning to their previous activities.
“We have something we’d like to discuss with you. Something we need your help with.” I realize after the words leave my mouth how frighteningly I have just presented our request for assistance. I chuckle at how my parents look like cartoons when they snap their heads toward us in perfect synchronization.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out, we were just hoping that maybe you could take care of some business in Seattle for us.” My mom’s eyes twinkle with excitement as she pieces together what it is that we need.
“Oh yes, of course! We’d love to help in any way we can…what do you need for us to do?”
Scrubbing my hand over my head and face I delve into our request, “We made a list of seven properties in Seattle, in order of preference, along with a list of amenities we each can’t live without, and we were wondering if you wouldn’t mind helping us secure one and fix it up so that Bella has somewhere livable to go home to, since she starts school immediately upon her return.”
“Wow…yes, of course. I’d love to help you.” Mom’s eyes fill with tears as she mulls over our request. “Thank you, both, for including me.”
Bella is up out of her seat and wrapped around my mother instantly, thanking her for her trouble. Mom dismisses any implication of trouble with a flick of her wrist and a stern ‘nonsense.’
The next hour or so is spent with mom discussing color schemes and Bella’s preference for décor. It seems that we will be maintaining a mostly neutral palette with red accents. I scowl at my dad when he mutters ‘pussy’ under his breath, obviously jabbing at how intently I am paying attention to paint colors and furniture styles.
Deciding that I have had enough estrogen filled conversation and that I really don’t care what color the walls are, I retreat back to the bedroom we have been occupying this week to finish gathering our bags to place them by the door for when the driver arrives to take us to the airport.
Running into Jacob in the hallway, a thought crosses my mind as I think back to the day I introduced him to Bella. That conversation seems like ages ago and I smile to myself thinking about everything that has transpired since then. I honestly never thought that I would ever be this happy. I acknowledge my most trusted member of our security team and let him know that I have something that I’d like to talk to him about later. First, I need to run the idea by my girl. It’s a little strange to have to constantly run things by her, but nice to have a partner to make decisions with at the same time.
Wandering back to the kitchen, I run into my dad. He teases me about color schemes before I land a playful jab to his side. He quickly grabs me putting me in a headlock and sticks his wet finger into my ear. Fucking gross. I push away glaring at him, “That’s fucking nasty, dad.” He just laughs at my petulance before his expression turns serious. “Have you thought about security for Bella?” His question makes me smirk because I have indeed thought about it, I was just thinking about it in the hallway as a matter of fact. “Yeah, I was thinking about asking Jacob to relocate with us. I figured that he would jump at the offer considering that his dad lives in La Push, besides…he’s the best.”
“I think that’s a good idea, especially with the shit that went down yesterday between you, Peter and Gianna. I don’t think it would be a good idea to leave her alone and unprotected.” I nod my agreement, noticing the tense set of his jaw. I’m just about to ask him what his fucking problem is when he continues, “Did you fuck her?”
His question catches me completely off guard and he must register the shock in my features because he quickly clarifies, “Gianna, I mean.”
“What? No! I wouldn’t touch that dirty bitch with someone else’s dick.” I vaguely recall having said something similar to Bella about Rosalie and that thought makes me laugh. My dad disregards my inappropriate laughter, but raises his eyebrow I’m sure to let me know that he knows I have stuck my dick in some pretty shady places in the past. And while that is unfortunately true, Gianna’s nasty cunt is not one of them.
“Hmmm. What is her fucking problem then?” He seems to be really baffled by the revelation that I have not fucked her.
“I don’t know, dad, she just fucking wigged out. She called me the day after the first pictures of Bella and I broke and just wailed on me for being inconsiderate and shit. It was a little weird. That’s when I started to think she had feelings for me or whatever. You know, the thing is that I never led her on…at all. As a matter of fact, I was always kind of an asshole to her. But thinking back I guess she irritated me because she was always hanging around, showing up uninvited trying to include herself into our group. I don’t get it though, because I never encouraged nor did I ever accept her presence.”
He nods his head, lost in thought for a moment before speaking, “Well, just be careful with that one. I don’t think she’s all there and to be honest, I think she may be dangerous. I don’t want to give her a chance to get to Bella. The way she looked at her the other night was pretty intense. In other words, I don’t think that this is a passing fascination. I think that bitch is obsessed with you. I put a call into Jenks today, he is going to get his son involved, you know, have him watch her. You never know what people are capable of, son, and I’m not willing to take that risk with either one of you.”
I’m really fucking touched by the lengths he is willing to go to protect us. I may be thirty-five years old, but it is still nice to know that my parents have my back.
I find Bella sitting with my mother, Alice and Lizzy on the couch watching the other women argue about the benefits of silk shaunting versus raw silk for curtains and throw pillows, etc. The look on her beautiful face tells me that she has had enough decorating talk so I smile sweetly as I ask my mom if I can steal Bella for a moment while taking her hand and leading her out onto the patio.
“Are you excited to get to Italy?” I ask as I pull her into my lap inhaling her floral scent deeply, nuzzling her hair with my nose. I let the familiar sweetness envelop me filling my head with one word, home.
“Yes, I can’t wait to see my grandparents.” Her expression is filled with wistfulness and anticipation. I am thankful that I thought to fly us separately straight into Le Marche, since we only have three days before the show in Rome. “I can’t wait for them to meet you,” she adds shyly while threading her fingers through my hair.
“I can’t wait to meet them,” I assure her sincerely, wanting very much to convey how honored I am that she wants to include me in such an important part of her life. Tightening my arms around her waist I decide to bring up the real reason I brought her out here.
“Baby, I want to run something by you before I make the offer.” I pull back so that I can look into her gorgeous eyes to gauge her reaction. “I was thinking about asking, or offering rather, for Jacob to relocate to Seattle with us, well mostly for you.”
When her eyes meet mine they are full of questions so I press on, hoping to assuage some of her concerns. “As you know, his father lives near Seattle and I’m sure that he would be really fucking happy to be closer to him.”
Some of the concern leaves her eyes as she questions, “What about Leah? Where will they live?”
“Leah will go with him of course, and finding a place to live is why I’d like to let him know as soon as possible, you know, so that they can find a place.”
“Oh, okay.” She remains quiet for a moment before she asks, “What if I need him in the middle of the night?”
The innocence in her expression melts my heart as I pull her tightly to my chest and attempt to reassure her, “He will come anytime, day or night.”
“Okay then, yes. I would be happy to have him around…but, what about you? That will leave you shorthanded. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
My baby, always looking out for me.
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about me. I’ll be safe, besides we really only keep that much security around for the girls and crowd control. Losing him isn’t a big deal…I promise.” I take this opportunity to tease her a little, in effort to convince her that I don’t need a fucking bodyguard. Flexing my arms to make my biceps bulge then straightening them to contract my triceps I ask, “I don’t look like I need a bodyguard, do I baby?” The innocent tone I use is fucking hilarious.
She shakes her head slowly looking slightly dazed, so I continue to goad absolutely loving her reaction.
“That’s right. I don’t. You see this?” I say as I resituate her to sit on the lounge chair so that I can stand in front of her while lifting the hem of my shirt exposing my abs and flexing them for all I’m worth. I have to say it’s pretty fucking impressive.
She drops her eyes to my exposed abdomen, squirming in her seat and licking her lips.
“Six feet, three inches. Two hundred twenty one pounds of pure, rock-hard muscle,” I taunt with a cocky smirk, lifting my shirt higher and inching closer to her while reaching down with my free hand to place hers on my stomach. She trails her fingers along the ridges with a whimper before hooking them into the waistband of my jeans, pulling me even closer to her as she attacks my abs with her mouth, making me drop my head back and groan loudly.
“I’d be able to take any motherfucker who is stupid enough to try me,” I finish my rant, threading my fingers into her hair urging her to continue what she is doing with her tongue.
A frantic Alice pulls us out of our hormone induced display just as Bella starts unbuttoning my pants. Fuck. “You guys need to come inside,“ Alice calls from the doorway. Dread washes over me at the anxiety etched on her face as she disappears back into the living room. When I look down at Bella I notice a deep red blush has stained her cheeks. I don’t know why she is shy and embarrassed now after all the PDA we have engaged in up to this point so I ask, “Why the blush?” I caress the side of her face as I pull her to her feet, momentarily pushing the worry of Alice‘s comment aside.
“What? Oh, it’s just…well, what if that had been one of your parents?” She reddens even further before scowling at my amused expression. I still don’t get it. “So what if it was? It’s not like my dick was in your mouth for the whole world to see.” She continues to glare at me while crossing her arms over her chest as she bites back, “I just don’t want them to see me as some kind of hussy, Edward.” I raise one eyebrow before answering, “I must fucking love you, because you are goddamn ridiculous. Why would they even care that you were kissing me? It’s no big secret that we touch, and grope and kiss and that I stick my dick in various parts of your body…why are you freaking out?” She rolls her eyes trying really fucking hard to stay pissed but the way the corner of her mouth twitches lets me know that her irritation is starting to subside. Still she presses, “Do you honestly think your mom wants to witness me giving her son a blowjob? I swear, you make me fucking stupid, Edward. I can’t seem to control myself.”
“And that’s a bad thing? Oh, baby, I’m a sick, perverted asshole, I’ll admit. But, I would never let you suck me off for the whole goddamn world to see. Give me some fucking credit, please.”
Her expression softens and she wraps her arms around me. “I know you wouldn’t, I trust you…completely. I’m sorry I freaked out. Forgive me?”
“Yeah, but only if you finish what you started before we leave for the airport.” I tease with a wink and a smack to her ass, making her laugh.
“You’re such a fucking perv,” she teases looking over her shoulder as she heads for the front door.
And I have no retort for that because I am, especially when it comes to my girl.
The morose atmosphere in the living room hits me like a ton of bricks as soon as we cross the threshold. Everyone is sitting around the television watching with rapt attention to some jackass whining about how his girlfriend left him for someone famous without telling him on one of those entertainment news shows. And that he didn’t even know until he saw her picture on a weekly tabloid. Why the fuck are we watching this? It doesn’t hit me until I look over at Bella and notice that all of the color has drained from her face. Snapping my attention back to the television I demand, “What the fuck is going on?”
Fire courses through my veins when I see the caption underneath the pompous asshole’s face ‘Collin Brady’ dressed in his pink polo shirt with a goddamn white sweater tied across his shoulders, along with the photo of his ‘girlfriend’ that they have now done a split-screen to include. The photo is of Bella and I walking hand in hand along the beach earlier this week, then cutting to a photo of us kissing from the same outing. I swear to fucking Christ I will kill the bastard for doing this to her.
A broken sob escapes Bella’s lips, pulling me from my murderous thoughts. I quickly wrap my arms around her protectively while trying desperately to reign in my temper for the onslaught of questions and chaos that are about to ensue as I glance back at the fourteen pair of curious eyes that are now trained on us.
So much for our perfect bubble.
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