Chapter 2- The Last Time
His voice was raspy, like he had been running. I loved it when his voice sounded like this. Like he had just spent the last few hours making love to me in my bed. I shuddered, my body involuntarily turning to mush with the sound of his voice.
"Bella, love. Where are you?" He asked, his voice much stronger this time. I leaned into my hand, letting it block out the rest of the world around me. I relaxed into the coolness of my hand on my forehead, fighting the sudden wave of nausea and hysteria.
"I…I'm with Alice. I had to leave Edward." I told him, my voice barely coming out a whisper. I swallowed again, loudly. I fought to keep my lunch down as my stomach heaved.
"Why Bella, you just left. No note, no phone call. Nothing, what am I supposed to think?" he asked. His voice was rising quickly, he was mad. I was silent, praying that I wouldn't have to throw up right in my trash can on my first day.
"There's something that I have to deal with Edward. Its better this way." I responded. He was silent.
"Whatever it is Bella, you know you can trust me. Is there someone else?" He asked, he didn't even stutter. Like he had any room to ask, much less be jealous.
"Like I have a right to ask you that." He added, mumbling. I smiled, at least he was miserable too.
"No Edward, there isn't someone else." Could I count the living thing inside me yet? This child would forever be my someone else.
"Why did you leave then?" He was exasperated now. I could tell by his voice that he was trying desperately hard to not yell. I gulped in a quick breath, afraid to let in a smell of any kind.
"Look, Edward. Just let me work through this please?" It was more of a question than a request. It was silent on the other end. He was thinking.
"Please Bella, I cant do this without you. You have been my rock, my grounding force since I married Tanya. I cant do this without you." My breathe stopped, he had just said what I had wanted him to say for the last three years. Now I didn't know how to respond. I let my tears spill over, soaking my cheeks quickly. My stomach heaved again, I choked it back down.
"Edward…don't do this please. I cant, not now." I begged him. I wiped at the moisture before it hit the manuscript below.
"I'm coming to LA, we'll work this out." I didn't have time to respond, I hit the end button just as I hit the floor to throw up into my trash can. What a wonderful first day. I got myself cleaned up, thankful of the mirror Alice had stowed in my purse. After straightening my clothes, and removing the liner from the trash can I grabbed my purse and left. I made a detour to maintenance and then practically ran to my car.
*
Alice was perched on the deck, a mai tai in one hand, a fashion magazine in her other. She gave me the once over, a grin appeared quickly.
"What have you eaten today?" she asked eyeing me. It was making me nervous. I nervously straightened my clothes, pulling the shirt down self conciously.
"Oh, toast and half the sandwich you made me this morning." I answered hoping it would appease her that I ate what she had made for me, only to throw it back up of course.
"How long did you keep it down?" I groaned, of course she was going to be all protective. I sat down in the lounge chair next to her and wished silently for my own drink. A frown appeared onmy face, I could feel it.
"A few hours." I was never going to tell her that I threw up because Edward made me upset.
"I got a phone call today. Guess who it was?" she asked as she starting leafing through her magazine again. Of course he called her. He had said he was coming here. She was his sister, who happened to be keeping me from him at the moment.
"Alice, don't." I groaned, I wasn't in the mood for this. I didn't have the energy to play her games. I picked up my purse and headed inside, she was hot on my heels.
"I bet he's already on a plane Bella. What did you say to him?"
"Nothing, that there is something that I need to get through and he just wouldn't let it be." I told her, I didn't stop as I passed Jasper on the couch. His interest was peaked too. He got up and followed his wife as she followed me into my bedroom. They stood side my side in the doorway. I let out a loud sigh.
"Fine, he told me that he couldn't do it without me, that I was his rock to get him through his marriage." I mumbled. Alice actually started doing a jig. Jasper though, didn't look very thrilled.
"He said he was coming here. To LA." I finished. Alice stopped dancing. Jasper now had a grin on his face.
"He what? Why didn't you tell him no?" Alice yelled. I cringed away from her. Jasper came in between us, looking almost happy.
"Calm down Alice, I think that it wasn't an option. We all know how he gets." He answered in his thick Texas drawl. I smiled at him, silently thanking him for the cheer squad.
"Bella?" She asked.
"I started to throw up when he said it, so I just hit the end button." I whispered, ashamed of my stomach. Jasper sat down next to me and pulled me into a hug. A hug I severely needed at the moment. Alice sat on my other side, hugging me from that side.
"I doubt he'd actually get on a plane. He's no that spontaneous." Alice said in a matter of fact voice. I shurgged, letting Jasper keep his hold on me. She stood, making my bed tilt.
"Come on Jaz, lets let Bella get cleaned up, and we will get dinner ready." She whispered out of the blue. They let me be, and I headed to the bath tub. I could smell dinner cooking as I soaked in the hot water. My muscles loosening, and the tension rolling from my neck.
"Bella, dinner is ready." Jasper sounded through the door. I got out of the cooling water and threw on some sweats. I glanced at myself in the mirror, I looked worse than I thought. My eyes were already sunken in, and I looked like I have already lost five pounds. I sighed, throwing my hair into a tie at the top of my head. I headed to dinner. Fearful of how it would be when it came back up.
*
Four hours later I was fed, satisfyingly so and curled onto the massive couch in the den. The TV played quietly as I worked on the book I had been editing at the office. Alice and Jasper were on the other couch, and I found it hard to look at them as they snuggled. They were perfect for each other, complemented each other to the fullest. The quiet of the evening was pierced by the doorbell. Alice was out of the room so quick all I saw was a blur of pink. Jasper and I stared at each other, waiting. I knew who it was. We both flinched at the sound of a bag hitting the floor, and the door slamming.
"BELLA!" His sweet voice echoed throughout the house. I heard footsteps, and stood, using the arm of the couch as support as my body was still weak from the lack of nourishment. The door opened, and there he stood. His eyes were bright and worried as they took me in. I wondered if I looked better at all since I had managed to keep dinner in me. He silently made his way to me, his hand raising to caress my cheek.
"Love. Look at you." He whispered. I started crying. I couldn't handle it. He crushed me to his chest, letting me soak his shirt. It was hard to breath in his scent, the manly smell of cologne and coffee. I absolutely love the way his scent always clung to everything he touched.
*
How I ended up upstairs was beyond me. I peeked open my eyes and met his. His beautiful emerald green orbs. A grin lit up his face, as he shoved a piece of hair out of my face. I couldn't help but grin back. This is where I belong.
"You had a nice nap. Feel better?" He asked, the velvet soft voice sounding in the dark. My breathe stopped, did he know? I panicked, trying to think of an answer.
"A simple yes or no Bella." I nodded yes, and laughed as my stomach growled. He ran his fingers along the dark circles under my eyes. I didn't like that he was seeing me like this. I kissed his thumb as he passed my lips. To let him know that I still wanted him.
"I'm sorry Edward." My whisper broke the continuing silence as he relearned my curves. I sat up, lifting my tank top over my head, praying he wouldn't notice the slight bump. I listened as he pulled din a shaky breath. His hands were now on my hips, so close to where my secret resided. I let him pull my sweats off, and worked the buttons on his jeans quickly. In an instant we were both naked, his hands were everywhere. Lightly tracing over my skin as he explored every inch like it was the first time. He stopped at my breasts, surely he couldn't tell that they were swollen. Taking a sensitive peak into his mouth, I groaned as I felt his teeth graze my skin. His other played with the tiny nub as his mouth worked me into a frenzy. My hormones were out of control. I gripped his hair, pulling his lips to mine. I needed him inside me, quickly.
"Edward please. Stop teasing me." I demanded. He was silent as he pulled my knees apart with his knee, and rested himself in between my legs. Still taking to long. He was kissing me again, pulling away to reach into his jeans pocket.
"No, Edward. I want to feel you. I trust you." I interrupted his actions. He stared down at me, searching my face for something. He nodded, bringing his lips back to mine. I felt him, harder than I had ever felt him. I bit my lip as he slowly entered me, my body felt like it had gone back to being a virgin. I let out a groan, it felt just as good as it hurt. I could feel every inch of him inside me, my body squeezing him.
"Christ Bella, I don't know how long I can last. You feel so good." His voice was shaky, like he was already controlling himself. I concentrated on every single move he made, memorizing it. I knew this would be the last time I would see him for a long time. I tried desperately hard to try to ingrain this into my memory. The way he felt as his hips met mine with each thrust. The sweet nothings that he rambled into the silent room. I tried hard to take in all of him, my body protesting at his size. I stayed silent, letting him enjoy the moment, and trying to keep his sounds in my head. I was consumed by all of him, he leaned back onto his knees, pulling my body with him. He quickened his pace, he drove deeper, and harder. I let out a moan. He found his spot that he knew would make me come all over him. It only took a few more thrusts for me to reach my orgasm. A cry of pleasure escaping my lips, the only sound I had made the whole time. I was so tight around him that I felt it when he started to twitch inside me. I met his eyes, they were pleading, he needed this. He kissed me as he spilled into me, I felt every drop of it. I kissed him back. His moan was muffled my our kiss.
"Oh god. Bella." He stuttered. I smiled knowing I did this to him. He didn't move, he stayed inside me as we laid there, coming down from our high. I ran my fingers through his hair again, and kissed his lips silently. I didn't even know that I had let a tear escape until he wiped it from my cheek. He kissed me again, his eyes knew. He knew that this was the last time. He knew why I had done this, to show him that I still needed him. That I would never forget him. He rested his forehead on my chest, I started crying hard then. He had surrendered.