Well...better late than never, right? *insert sheepish smile here*
Lolo84 is the greatest! Lots of love and thanks for pre-reading! Any mistakes are mine.
Oh, I'm not Stephenie Meyer.
Alice stared at us with a shocked expression for a moment before her face morphed into disgust. "What is that supposed to mean, you 'got married last night?' Are you fucking kidding me? Of course you aren't. Why would you joke about something this sick and twisted?"
"Alice-"I softly spoke, my happiness fading swiftly.
"No! You do not get to speak. I thought you were my friend, my best friend. And you're telling me you married my father? Do you understand how fucking gross that is? You're my stepmother and you are only a few months older than me!" Alice paced the room and waved her hands dramatically as she shouted at me.
"Mary Alice, stop right now," Edward interrupted and she whirled on him.
"Don't you dare try to play high and mighty with me! Bella is the same age as me. Don't you see how dirty and perverted it is that you married her? Jesus, how long have you two been screwing around in secret?"
"That's enough!" Edward growled. "Isabella and I have never done anything, not even once, before yesterday. Don't make this out to be more scandalous than it might already seem. But understand this, Alice, she and I have had a connection from the start." He moved to stand behind me and slid his arms around my waist.
"Isabella was always mature beyond her years, even as a young girl. She has transformed into a beautiful, sophisticated woman that I fell in love with. I asked her to marry me for this very reason. I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't completely serious about being with her. I don't just want to sleep with some innocent, barely legal girl. I am in this for life." Edward paused to swallow heavily and his voice turned pleading. "I had hoped that as my daughter, you would want me to find someone who makes me happy and complete. Isabella is that person."
I knew if I said anything it would set Alice off, so I kept my mouth shut as we both processed what Edward said. I subtly pressed back against him to try to show him how much his words meant to me. My heart sang with the knowledge he was as committed to me as I was to him; and that was all that mattered in the long run. I knew not everyone would understand our relationship and might expect the day when we broke up, but it was not going to happen. I would fight tooth and nail to keep Edward and no one would get in our way. He held me a little tighter and I knew he understood the nonverbal message I was sending.
"Dad, I do want you to be happy, but not with my best friend. That's just more than I can handle." Alice's eyes welled up with tears as she glanced between us. "And you can't say nothing happened before this, even if it was just in thought," she added accusingly.
Edward sighed softly. "You are right. Yes, I've thought about what it would be like to have a relationship with Isabella. She is insightful, smart, funny, and beautiful. I would be a fool not to see everything she has to offer a man. I was aware she harbored some feelings for me, a crush perhaps, but I didn't know how deep they were until this trip. Alice, I know it's hard to accept, but Isabella and I are meant to be. Even with our age gap, she and I are drawn together inexplicably and I'm tired of fighting it. I don't want to anymore."
The sound of the door opening again startled everyone. "Alice," Rosalie brightly called, as she and Jasper walked in. "There you are, sweetheart…" her voice trailed off as they both took in Edward and my position.
"Dude, you're my fucking hero," Jasper said in an awed voice to Edward. Alice promptly burst into tears and threw herself into her mother's arms.
"Edward, what is going on here?" Rosalie hissed.
"Mom! Dad a-a-and B-bella… and s-she's m-m-my best friend!" Alice hiccuped. "Th-th-they got married!" she wailed.
Rosalie and Jasper both gasped. "What were you thinking, Edward?" she reprimanded.
Edward protectively tucked me under his arm and into his side. "Like you can talk, Rose. Or did you forget Royce, the twenty year old pool boy you took up with before you met Emmett?" My eyebrows shot up at this bit of information.
"Don't even go there. That was a fling and we both knew it. Marriage? You are just asking for a world of trouble!"
"Stop acting so holier-than-thou, Rosalie. You weren't exactly a saint during our marriage and you've been through more men than you can probably count. At least I won't have to worry about Isabella straying."
Rosalie snorted. "She's eighteen, good luck with that."
"I would never cheat on Edward!" I replied indignantly.
"And what about Mike, Bella?" Alice sneered. "Or did you conveniently forget to mention him?"
"What the hell does he have to do with anything? I wasn't with Edward then and I made a stupid fucking mistake! I don't see how that means I would sleep around while married," I snapped back at her.
"I am well aware of Mike Newton and what transpired between them," Edward ground out between his teeth. I tensed at his anger and guilt pressed down on me from not being completely upfront about my previous indiscretion. Edward soothingly rubbed his thumb along a thin strip of my skin under the hem of my shirt and I relaxed a little. I knew we would have to talk more, but at least he wasn't mad at me.
"Mom, can I please go with you for the summer? I can't stay at home," Alice begged.
Rosalie hugged Alice tightly. "Of course, sweetheart! We'll go switch your flight and you can come back immediately."
"Alice, please," Edward whispered. My heart ached for them. I hated to be the cause of turmoil between the two and I blinked away the moisture gathering in my eyes.
"I'm sorry, dad. I love you, but I can't look at you two together! I want you to be happy, I really do, but not with my best friend." She shifted her gaze to me. "Ex-best friend."
With that she grabbed Jasper's hand and the three of them left; and I collapsed into tears.
"Shh, baby. It'll be okay," Edward murmured and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "Alice needs time to calm down and reconcile things. She will get over this, I promise."
I looked up at him and sniffled. "You really think so?"
He nodded. "I do. It make take a while, but she'll come around."
"I'm so sorry for tearing you two apart," I cried and threw my arms around his neck. Edward lifted his own around my waist to hold me to him.
"It will all work out and you are worth it, Isabella. I love my daughter, but I love you too. So much. And I wasn't lying when I said I was done fighting my feelings and this connection between us. I am in this one hundred percent."
"I love you, Edward," I murmured into the crook of his neck. "I have for years. I just thought it was unrequited. I mean, why would you ever look at me as anything but a silly, young girl. The most I ever hoped for was one night with you and you've given me the world instead." I tilted my head back to look into his brilliant green eyes. "I swear to you, I won't take you for granted and I would never, ever cheat on you. You hold my whole heart and I may only be eighteen, but I know that will stay constant forever."
"I believe you and I trust you, Isabella. That won't change." His mouth captured mine in a heated kiss that sent licks of desire shivering through me. Edward lifted me and my legs automatically wrapped around his waist as he led us back to the bedroom. He slowly undressed me, kissing his way along the curves and valleys of my body. We both groaned when his fingers found me wet and wanting as he pressed them inside to tease me into a frenzy.
"I know you gave Mike Newton what should have been for me to receive, and I know I drove you to that because of my own pathetic moment of weakness. I won't hold that against you, but never again will any man touch or taste or take what is mine. You are mine, Isabella, and I won't ever let you go."
Abruptly, Edward plunged his cock to the hilt inside my pussy and I screamed out from the delicious sensation of him filling me completely. With hard, feverish thrusts he slammed into me over and over again and I heard myself begging him not to stop. I scraped my nails along his back, desperate to keep Edward's body as close to mine as possible. Sooner than I would have thought, I felt that beautiful tension coil low in my belly before exploding out like a burst of stars through my entire being.
"Fuck, Isabella!" Edward roared, as he gripped my hips tightly. And with one final push he followed me into ecstasy.
He dropped his head to rest his forehead on mine. "Jesus Christ, Isabella. Being inside you, loving you like this, it's absolute heaven. You are my heaven."
My emotions threatened to overwhelm me and all I could do was kiss him and hope he would know what I wanted to say but couldn't find the words.
I snuggled myself into Edward's side in our First Class seats on the way back to Seattle. I glared at the overly friendly flight attendant who kept offering to help Edward with anything he needed and possessively laid my left hand on his chest to display my wedding ring. I smirked and felt Edward's chuckle when her eyes widened and she realized I wasn't his daughter. That's right, bitch, he's all mine!
"Edward?" I quietly asked after she'd moved on.
"Hmm?"
I angled my head to look at him and became distracted by admiring his strong jaw line. "Yes, Isabella? Did you have a question for me?" he said in an amused voice.
I shook myself out of my reverie and blushed slightly. "Oh, um, yes. What happens when we get back to Seattle?"
He furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean 'what happens?' We'll go to your father's house and break the news, pack your things, and go home."
"Home," I repeated with a smile. "That easy, huh?"
He nodded. "Yes, it is. We are married and I won't spend another night without you next to me. Not to mention I am desperate to have you naked and writhing beneath me in my bed. Our bed. I've fantasized in ways I really shouldn't have about you for too long and I won't be denied any longer."
Edward pressed his lips to mine, sliding his tongue into my mouth to tangle erotically with my own. I felt myself grow warm and I squirmed a little in my seat from the throbbing between my thighs. Holy hell, the insanely lustful things this man did to me! When he pulled back I was breathless and a small sound of protest escaped me.
"Isabella, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be pushing you so much on the physical side of things. I know you and Mike…but I believe that's been quite some time ago and your body is unused to this kind of activity and might be sore. You must tell me, okay, baby?"
I flushed again at the mention of Mike. Stupidest mistake I'd ever made. "I promise I will say something, but I'm fine. Perfect, really. I want you just as much." I bit my bottom lip and looked down to try to find the words. "You should know it wasn't only one time with Mike. It was twice, " I whispered.
"I know," he replied in a menacing voice. "I heard the little shit bragging about it to his friends one day soon after. Something about 'popping your cherry in the backseat of his car at a party' and then you calling a few days later and 'begging for more.' I made sure that bastard and his friends kept their mouths shut after that."
I gasped, "Edward! Oh my, God. I can't believe you had to hear about it that way. It was a very low moment for me."
"I'm sorry I drove you to that, I greatly underestimated your feelings for me and pushed too far. Tanya was a huge mistake on my part and I'll never forgive myself for bringing you to that breaking point."
I closed my eyes as memories washed over me. While it was technically true nothing had really happened between Edward and me before this weekend, it was a bit of a stretch.
I can't believe I let Alice talk me into a freaking birthday party. I'm only seventeen today, it's not like I'm eighteen and finally legal. If I were, Edward and I could maybe… I shook away those thoughts, afraid to let myself hope.
I slid on my white, eyelet lace dress and steeled my nerves. I headed down with a plastered on fake smile. I spotted Alice right away and butterflies danced in my stomach knowing that Edward was also here.
"Bella!" she trilled excitedly. "Happy birthday! This party is great, but we're going to have way more fun at the one at Tyler's house tonight." She winked at me conspiratorially and I pretended enthusiasm back. "OMG! Did I tell you? My dad brought a hot date with him! The man has been like a monk for years. I mean, ew at thinking about my dad doing…it, but we're not kids anymore and I don't want him to be lonely, you know? Anyway, her name is Tanya and she's totally gorgeous. I'd kill to have her boobs. She's super nice. She came over for dinner the other night and I think there's a total love connection!"
Alice pointed across the room to where Edward stood with an undeniably beautiful strawberry blonde woman. He was smiling down at her and she was pressed against him familiarly, holding his arm with an air of possessiveness.
My stomach churned and I thought I might be sick. "I'll be right back, Alice," I mumbled and pushed through the other guests with a forced smile, as I made my way upstairs to the bathroom. I let my tears fall silently as I gripped the edge of the counter.
"Isabella? Are you alright?"
I spun to see Edward standing in the doorway with a worried expression. I frantically swiped at the wetness on my cheeks. "I'm fine. I'll just be a minute."
"You're not fine," he replied and walked closer. "What's wrong? You've never had trouble talking to me before."
I waved him off. "It's nothing. I'm being a stupid girl, that's all."
"Isabella, we both know you've never acted that way a day in your life."
I sighed as I stared at his perfect beauty. The only man who had ever made me feel anything in my entire life. "I'm seventeen today."
"I'm very aware of that fact," he interrupted lowly.
"Did you know that I haven't ever had a boyfriend? God, I haven't even been on a date! I'm practically a fully-grown woman, and I've never been kissed. How pathetic is that? What's wrong with me that not one single boy my age captures my interest? Or worse, nothing about me attracts them?"
"Isabella, stop. I've seen the way males of all ages look at you. You most definitely are attractive to the opposite sex. None of those boys you go to school with is worthy of you. You are young and just started your junior year. Don't rush into adulthood. It's okay to be picky and wait for the right man. It will be worth it in the long run." Edward cupped my cheek in an effort to comfort me and I couldn't help leaning into his touch. It was so very rare for him to make physical contact with me, that each time was imprinted into my memory.
I stared into his viridian eyes, utterly captivated. "What if I don't want to stall anymore? I'm saving myself for this dream that I'm very much afraid will never come true. I have needs, too. I want to be kissed and held and desired. Is it so wrong to want to be with that one person who understands me in ways I didn't even know about myself? I'm so lonely."
Suddenly his mouth was pressed to mine. A simple, chaste kiss. Lips moving in time with one another for a few, brief seconds. His free hand traveled up my side, his thumb barely brushing the bottom swell of my breast. My arms barely had time to grasp his before it was over. A tiny squeak of objection slipped out of me when he pulled away.
"Happy Birthday, Isabella," he murmured in my ear and then strode out leaving me speechless in his wake.
I lifted my fingertips to my lips and grinned. Edward had given me my first kiss. I tamped down on the urge to squeal like a fangirl and took a deep breath. The sight that met me as I reached the landing at the bottom of the stairs annihilated everything that had transpired before.
That Tanya woman had pulled Edward down for a true kiss, a kiss shared between lovers, before leading him out of my house with a smile that held promises of sordid things to come.
Very shortly after, I'd dragged Alice to Tyler Crowley's party, had a couple of drinks, and allowed the overly attentive Mike Newton to assist me into the backseat of his car. Three unsatisfying minutes later, Mike was disposing of the used condom and pulling his pants back on and I was no longer a virgin. It wasn't particularly painful, more annoying than anything.
At the time, I'd thought that I should at least try to see if there was something more between us and I invited him over when my dad was working a nightshift with the SPD. What a giant, fucking waste. That time there was at least a little more talking, some kissing, and he lasted five unsatisfying minutes—an entire two minutes longer than before. I'd known immediately there was nothing between us and it wasn't worth my effort to try further. A day or two later Alice sadly informed me her father had ended things with Tanya, stating she wasn't who he wanted to be with.
I exhaled softly. "Edward, the only reason it happened the second time was to try to see if there was anything between us. I thought I owed it to myself to see if he and I were in any way compatible. Turns out I was wrong on all counts. I hate that I let my emotions blind me into throwing away my virginity with him. I am truly sorry."
"Don't ever apologize for that. You don't owe me anything of the sort. I acted abominably and practically gave you whiplash with my actions. I only dated Tanya in the first place because I was sadistically obsessed with you. Especially after watching you prance around my pool in that tiny, blue bikini all summer.
"Fuck, and the way you looked in that white dress! All sweetness and sin rolled into one. Baby, it almost broke me to have you bare your soul that way, but you didn't deserve to be some hidden secret. I refused to sneak around with you and not be able to show the world we were together. I can see now that if I'd only talked to you about this, it would have saved us both heartache."
"It wouldn't have mattered." I grinned at him. "If you'd told me you wanted to wait until I graduated from high school to be a couple, I would have done everything I could think of to seduce you earlier."
He smiled back at me. "It wouldn't have taken much to break me. I've wanted you so badly since you were sixteen years old. Makes me a perverted letch, but undeniably true."
"I would have given myself to you then, too. At no time would I have ever said no and I wouldn't regret it for one damn moment. Like you said, we've always been drawn to one another. We're meant to be, we just had to wait for the timing to be right."
"Well, now we don't have to worry about being apart or if what we're doing is wrong. We both know this is our path and the law is on our side," Edward said and leaned down to kiss me again.
I swallowed hard as I stared at my house. Well, my father's house now. My mother had died in childbirth, so I never knew any differently than simply growing up with only my father. He'd done the best he could in raising me, but I'd always thought the reason I was so much more mature than the rest of my peers was because I'd had to fill the matriarchal role at such a young age.
Edward squeezed my hand reassuringly. "What are you thinking, Isabella?"
I blew out a heavy breath. "I'm not quite sure how he'll react, is all."
Fucking ballistic, perhaps? Just a guess.
He laughed and shook his head. "I think we both have a fair idea of his initial reaction, but Charlie is a reasonable person. Once he calms down, I think he'll be okay."
I quirked my eyebrow at him. We'd have to see how long it took for him to get over his anger.
"No sense in putting this off any longer," I muttered and climbed out of the car. Edward placed his hand on my lower back as we made our way up the walk. "Hello! Dad?" I called out in the entryway.
"Hey, Bells! How was your trip?" he answered as he came out of the kitchen. "Hey there, Edward. Thanks for taking care of my girl."
I almost snorted at his words. If he only knew just how fucking well Edward had taken care me. Over and over.
"Listen dad, I uh… have something I need to tell you." I almost groaned at the way he suddenly narrowed his eyes and went all cop on me. "Stop it, dad! This is actually a good thing." I glanced at Edward and couldn't help the way my mouth twitch upward. "A very good thing."
"Oh, you son of a bitch!" Charlie shouted and lunged at Edward. He swung hard and hit Edward squarely on the jaw, opposite of the side I was standing on.
"Goddamn it, Charlie!" Edward groaned as he hunched over holding his jaw.
"Oh my, God! Baby, are you okay?" I dropped down to cup Edward's face in my hands. I whipped my head around to glare at my dad. "What the hell is wrong with you? Are you out of your fucking mind? You just assaulted him!"
My father stared at me wide eyed. "You think I care that I punched him? God only knows what kind of illegal things he did with you as a girl!"
"Nothing! We never did anything at all before this weekend, I swear!" I turned back to where my husband was gingerly moving his jaw. Tears shimmered in my eyes as I brushed my fingers along the red, swollen area. "What can I do? Do you want ice? I'm so sorry!"
"Not your fault, it's alright. I'll be fine," he murmured and gave me a half smile. He pulled us both upright and turned to face Charlie and sighed. "I know you likely won't believe it, but Isabella isn't lying. We have never acted on our feelings, however strong they might have been, until this weekend. I love her, Charlie. I want to take care of her and have Isabella in my life always."
"She's a child! Bella, how could you possibly believe you know who you want to spend the summer with, let alone the rest of your life?"
"I'm not a child!" I yelled. "Are you saying you didn't know you wanted to spend the rest of your life with mom when you two got married at eighteen? Is that why you've never so much as looked at another woman even though she's been gone for years? I'm just like you, dad, once I make a decision I stick with it and I don't regret it."
My dad stared at me with a slightly crestfallen expression. "I know, Bells. I was just hoping this wouldn't happen so fast. Don't think I haven't noticed how you looked at him. I kept wishing someone your age would come along and capture your attention, but it seems like that didn't pan out." His shoulders slumped forward as he examined my still protective stance around Edward. "I'm going to need some time to adjust to this. I love you, Bella, and I don't want to lose you."
Edward nudged me forward and I stepped forward to hug him tightly. "You won't lose me, I promise. I realize this was a huge surprise, but he really is a good man. We love each other."
"I get it, I do. When you find that person you can't walk away. I just wish you'd found someone a little closer to your age, Bells. Would have been easier on your old man."
I gave a stuttering laugh as relief coursed through me. I might have destroyed one of my most important relationships today, but at least I'd salvaged the other one.
So...a couple show downs, a dash of lemon, and a bit more back story. Thoughts? I'll try to get the next chapter out faster. :)
