Beautiful Hitchhiker

Chapter Three – My Escape

~Edward

I took in a deep breath, inhaling her scent so that I could taste it on my tongue: summer, fruit and flowers. I groaned as her lips left my ear, moving back toward my mouth at an excruciating slow pace. When I felt her petal-soft lips on my own, I lost all control. I attacked her lips, my hands ripping her shirt open and pushing it off, feeling the silkiness of her skin on her flat, toned stomach.

Bella moaned as I explored the depth of her warm mouth. The fingers of her left hand ran through my hair, sending small shock waves of pleasure down my spine. I felt her other hand pulling on the hem of my t-shirt. I pulled it off quickly, reluctant to have my lips leave her tender, swollen ones. Her hands roamed across my chest, and my muscles twitched slightly as her fingernails raked over my nipples. I groaned and wrapped my arms around her back, but she hissed when I laid her down on my leather seat. I had put too much weight on her. I hovered over her, watching her beautiful face try to hide the pain. What was I thinking? I shouldn't have taken advantage of her.

"I'm sorry, Bella, your ribs… I'm so sorry." I tried to pull myself together as I felt the guilt of causing her pain, gnaw at me.

"No, it's not that… leg cramp." Bella laughed but then grimaced again. I chuckled and went to her right leg that she was trying to rub with one of her hands. Using both of my own, I tenderly massaged her leg, using small circles. She watched me while biting her lower lip, and then she smirked.

"I think it would better if I didn't have my jeans on," Bella suggested.

"I agree," I said with a playful wink. I felt the weight of the guilt of taking advantage of her so soon lift when she returned my wink with one of her own. Using one hand, I unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans before pulling off the sandals she was wearing. Bella smiled at me, raising her hips slightly so that I could remove her jeans. I pulled the rough material from her body, my desire doubling as my eyes took in the sight of her matching blue panties. I threw her jeans over to the front seat as my hands made their way up her thighs to her hips. She moaned softly as I moved to remove her panties, but she shook her head.

Bella pouted. "My leg still hurts." I rolled my eyes but continued rubbing her leg as I continued my ascension, following the gentle slope of her calf to her thigh.

"Does that feel better, Bella?" My voice was husky and low, my desire increasing with every stroke of her soft flesh.

"Yes," she moaned as one my hands traced the edges of her panties. I pulled her legs around me so that I was lying in between them. I laid over her, carefully positioning my weight, and caressed her face. I looked at her, her eyes dark and bottomless. Her flushed cheeks, along with her moistened lips, made her look all the more alluring and beautiful. Her smile triggering my own, I laid a chaste kiss on her lips. Bella quickly turned that kiss into a searing one, her tongue asking for entrance as it traced my lips. I groaned as I felt her tongue against my own, warm and smooth. My hand went from her face to her breast, her nipple instantly hardening under my fingers. The pleasant softness under my fingertips fit perfectly in my palm. My other hand went to her hips, feeling the curve of sinful flesh as my hand delved under the fabric of her panties. I reveled in her smooth skin and used a few fingers to stroke her slit. She was wet and hot. God, I wanted to taste her. I wanted to suck on her clit and watch her moan my name as I made her cum.

My lips traveled from her lips to her neck, sucking on the warm flesh at her pulse point. Bella moaned as one of my fingers entered her, and I grunted when I felt how tight and warm she was. Her hands scratched at my back, and she continued to moan softly as another finger joined the first. My lips left a wet, hot trail, avoiding her wounds, and I took one of her hardened nipples in my mouth. I groaned at her sweet taste, but I needed more. I needed to taste all of her. My tongue swirled and gently bit her nipple before going to the other to give it the same attention. Her tender breasts were perfect, just the right size, and so soft but perfectly round. I ground my hips against her thigh and she mewled, the sound instantly making me harder.

Bella's hands left my hair and tugged on my jeans. She made quick work of the button and zipper, releasing my cock from my boxers. I groaned as I continued with my fingers, earning another moan from her as I curled my two fingers inside of her. I laughed gently against the skin of her breast as her feet tried to remove my jeans. I kissed further south, chuckling with her impatience.

"Not yet," I whispered against her hips, taking the fabric of her panties in between my teeth and pulling them down. My free hand pulled her panties down, realizing with my current position, I would have to stop my ministrations if I wanted them off. Bella noticed my hesitation.

"Rip them off," Bella growled, her eyes locking with mine. She didn't need to tell me twice. I ripped her panties off in one swift movement and then leaned down to kick off my jeans and boxers. Bella watched me as I kissed the inside of her thighs. My lips met up with my fingers as they continued to pump in and out of Bella's body. My tongue licked her slit from the bottom to the top as Bella screamed my name. That was music to my ears; I wanted to hear it again.

My tongue took her swollen clit and sucked it gently as I added another finger, causing Bella's hips to buck against me. I took my other hand and held her down, with her hands in my hair as she continued to moan and whisper my name. She was close; I could feel her walls starting to tighten around my fingers. I quickened my pace; my tongue swirled around her clit and gently bit it until Bella screamed my name as she came, her whole body trembling from her release.

After making sure to get all of her sweet juices, I kissed a trail up her stomach to her neck. Bella's hand took the fingers that had been in her moments before and brought them to her mouth, licking her own juices from my fingers. I watched the erotic scene before me; my eyes following her tongue as she licked my fingers all clean. I growled and ravished her lips.

Bella moaned again. I needed to be inside her now. I pulled away slightly and fumbled with the center console between the front seats as Bella's warm heat bucked against my erection. I groaned as I quickly looked for a fucking condom. I felt my fingers touch a small foil packet and I quickly grabbed it. I tore it open and rolled it on me, Bella watching me the whole time. She smirked as she moved her hips against me again.

I gripped her hips with both of my hands and hitched both of her legs around my waist. I slowly entered her, trying to control the urge to pound into her. I gripped her hips a little tighter as my cock entered her completely. We both groaned in pleasure. It felt so fucking good to be joined like this. After a moment to let her adjust to me, I started a steady rhythm, and Bella met me with every thrust.

"God, Bella… so tight… so fucking hot," I groaned as I turned her hips slightly to get another angle. Bella cried out as I found the spot that she would enjoy me hitting over and over again.

"Edward!...fuck… so good…" Bella moaned as her hands scraped down my back, increasing my pleasure. Her lips kissed everything that was within her reach. My lips found hers and I pressed against hers as I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her up. I sat on the leather seat and shifted so that she was now straddling my lap. We both groaned at the deeper penetration as her head fell back. I continued thrusting up into her as I kissed her neck and chest. My hands gripped her firm ass, guiding her movements as she rolled and bounced on top of me. Her beautiful chest rose with every movement and breath she took. I felt her walls start to clench around me, a little taste of ecstasy. I felt the long-forgotten tightening in my abdomen as I grew closer to my own release. Bella's hands left my hair, and she arched back away from me, her hands on my shoulders, her long hair tickling my thighs. I leaned toward her, taking one of her nipples in my mouth and biting it.

"Edward!" Bella screamed, her mouth forming a perfect "O" as I continued thrusting into her. I felt my body stiffen as my release approached, and then I let go as I reached my peak and fell over the edge with Bella's name on my lips.

I don't know how long we stayed connected, but I didn't complain. Bella's body felt so good against mine, her head resting in the crook of my neck. Her sweet breath fanned against my sweaty skin, and she sighed, licking just under my ear.

"Edward, I need a shower now." Bella chuckled, pulling away. I brushed away an errand strand of hair from her face.

"We can stop in the next small town, probably near Fort Bragg, and get cleaned up. But we won't be able to stop overnight until San Francisco," I whispered into Bella's hair, inhaling her scent.

"Overnight?" Bella questioned.

"Yes, we won't hit great camping grounds until maybe near Hearst Castle. It's in San Simeon I think, but that's still over seven hours away, and it's getting dark already." I grabbed Bella's blouse and helped her put it on.

"I've never been to the wharf before." Bella smiled as I buttoned up her top. I tenderly kissed the skin on her chest, gently moving over the scratches. Bella's hands ran through my hair, and it felt so nice.

"I haven't either, but it's the weekend, so it will be impossible to get a room on the wharf," I said as Bella climbed off me. Both of us groaned as I pulled out, missing the contact instantly. I looked at her backside as she tried to gather the rest of her clothes. I grabbed her hips, bringing her back towards me, as I noticed that she had a small tattoo on her left hip – a J. I touched it, and she stiffened instantly.

"What does the J stand for?" I whispered as my fingertip tracing the curve of the letter.

"For someone that was my best-friend-turned-lover," Bella mumbled. "But all that's now forgotten." Her voice was low and sad.

"I'm sorry, Bella." I wanted to take the sadness from her voice.

"It's alright, he's – he isn't really forgotten," Bella whispered as she put her jeans back on. "It's just that something happened that changed our relationship." My curiosity was piqued, and I wanted to know more, but at the same time I didn't want to see her face saddened with thoughts of her past. I knew the feeling all too well.

I pulled her closer to me again and kissed the back of her neck. Bella moaned quietly and then turned to straddle my lap again. My softened cock responded instantly as my hands went to her hair, my lips on hers.

But then a horn blared from somewhere near the highway. I groaned, knowing that we had to get out of here or we'd get a ticket – or worse, James might decide to catch up with us. Bella giggled and ground her hips against me, causing me to groan again. She jumped off me, throwing my jeans at me as she climbed into the driver's seat.

"Get dressed. I'll get us to the next town so that I can clean up. My laptop is in my backpack; look up a room for San Francisco." Her directions were clear as she started my car. I never let anyone drive my car, but at moment, I was in no condition to drive as I was still naked with a fucking raging hard on in the back seat.

"Thanks for leaving me in this predicament, Bella," I said sarcastically. She giggled as she pulled onto the road. She adjusted the rearview mirror so that she could see me.

"Well, take care of it. I wouldn't mind watching." Bella smirked at me from the mirror. I must have looked shocked, because she started laughing. I recovered quickly, pulling on my boxers and removing the condom. I tossed it into one of the small trash bags that I had brought to use for camping. I pulled on my t-shirt, ignoring my jeans since I was still not ready to confine myself in them. I jumped into the front passenger seat before grabbing Bella's laptop from her backpack.

It didn't seem to bother her at all that she just had sex in the back seat of my car. It didn't seem to faze her that I was ready for her again. Not that it bothered me – I quite enjoyed it. It had been so long since I had allowed myself to get lost in another's arms. It was nice to forget everything – to forget the loss, the pain and the regret of the ghosts that haunted my soul. Bella was my escape, my way of forgetting. I told myself then that this was one escape I was willing to run to instead of run from.

Bella's tinkling laughter filled the car again as she went through her playlist and started playing George Michael's "I Want Your Sex", singing at the top of her lungs. She was the most carefree person I had ever seen, even more so than my sister Alice. I shook my head as I started up her spring green laptop and opened the internet browser. I did a web search and found a hotel on the wharf for a little over two hundred dollars a night. I addressed this with Bella, and she said it was fine. But to reserve the room, they wanted a credit card. I didn't want to use one, knowing my family would most likely be checking the activity on any of my credit cards or bank records.

Bella suggested that I use her account through Expedia to book the room. Using her password of "wonder woman" I booked the room without having to put in any of my information.

Bella drove for a couple of hours as I surfed the net, from time to time, joined her in belting out a tune. Once we got to Fort Bragg, we decided to stop to fill up the tank and grab snacks.

~Jacob

"What do we got, Agent Clearwater?" I asked, passing the yellow police caution tape.

"Another one, sir, I'm sure of it. It's a perfect match to the others in Oregon and Washington. I think it's just like you said, a possible serial rapist and killer." Seth led us to the back of a local diner in Eureka, California as he explained the situation. I brushed by a few officers who were all talking amongst themselves.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves yet, Seth," I scolded him. "We don't know if it's a perfect match to the other three murders." I didn't like reprimanding him, but he was young and got excited whenever there was a chance to get a break in a big case.

"Wait, other three murders, sir? I was under the impression that there've only been two murders that match," Seth indicated with a questioning look in his inquisitive features.

"Sam found a cold case from a little over a year ago in Seattle. The body was left in the same condition as these except for that she was beaten. She must have been his first victim." Seth shook his head in remorse for another victim whose family that we'd have to start questioning.

Seth led me near the dumpster to the body of the newest victim. I pulled the white sheet away from the body to get a better look at the face. It was a blond woman, and her hair was in a tight ponytail, her eyes still open to display a glazed look. She was wearing a form-fitting white button up blouse with a hot pink skirt and a black apron. She most likely worked as a waitress at the diner here. I noted that the killer didn't bother putting her panties back on, as they were still around her ankles. A black silk scarf was tied around her neck – our killer's murder weapon of choice.

So far we had managed to keep this out of the papers, but this was the third, potentially fourth victim; we had to issue some kind of statement soon. My mind wandered to Charlie's little girl out here traveling. The last time she had used her computer, she'd been in Oregon, and I prayed that she stayed safe, for both her father's sake and for mine. Charlie would kill me if he knew that she was out there alone.

I made my way to a local hotel a few hours later and decided to call, Leah.

"Hello?" Her tired voice came through the line.

"Baby, I'm sorry it took so long to call you back," I said, plopping down on the old mattress.

"It's fine, Jacob, I just got back from the hospital." The sound of a door closing could be heard in the background as Leah spoke.

"How's the old man?" I asked, wondering how Bells' father was doing.

"The same as usual, unresponsive for the most part." Leah sighed, clearly tired.

"Did you let him listen to the game today?" I knew that Charlie loved to watch any sporting event.

"Of course. Your father stopped by, too," Leah whispered.

"How's he doing?"

"He's worried. Have there been any more developments on where she is?" Leah asked, an edge creeping into her voice.

"She was in Oregon earlier," I said flipping the TV on. "If she's still heading south, she's probably in California."

"At least she's getting some sun," Leah said with a laugh. She knew that Bella didn't tan, she was always pale.

"Yeah, she's probably already tanning somewhere along the beach." I smiled at the thought.

"You sound worried, too."

"I am. The murder here is the same as the others, Leah. She's out here where a sick mother fucker can get to her," I snapped, my mind picturing Bella's cold dead body in the same position that our serial killer left each of his victims.

"You'll catch him, Jacob," Leah assured me. "You've caught everyone you were after, since you left the army." Leah sighed but continued. "He called again. He's worried about her," she whispered warily. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Of course he is," I growled. "He doesn't want another dead person on his conscience." I couldn't help taking it out on my wife. I wished I could take it out on him.

"You can't blame him, Jacob," Leah said trying to calm me. "Not even Bella blames him anymore."

"Well, if he hadn't driven when he was too tired," I said frustrated, "then maybe Renee wouldn't be buried six feet under, Charlie wouldn't be in a coma, and Bella wouldn't be traveling alone in this fucked up world." Everyone warned him not to drive when he was like that.

"Maybe so, Jacob, but he still cares for her, and she cares for him, too."

"And maybe he shouldn't have moved on so fucking quickly to the next woman that warmed his bed," I continued. By now, this argument sounded so familiar. They were the same words I had said to him when he had announced to us that he was engaged. As our conversation reverberated through my head, my stomach turned anxiously. Because of him, Bella was out there alone. She couldn't stand being home anymore.

~Edward

I topped off my tank as Bella returned from the bathroom in the gas station. Bella put her backpack in the car before climbing in – she had changed into a pair of black shorts and a blue tank top. She gave me a bag of chips and a cola, and we got settled for another leg of the drive. I made my way back to Highway One as Bella started typing away on her laptop.

"What you doing there?" I asked, watching Bella deep in concentration as her fingers flew over the keyboard.

"Oh, I like to write journal entries," she said with a smile.

"Really?" I asked. I wondered what she would have to say about me. "Are you writing anything about me?"

"Yes," Bella answered with a smirk.

"Can I ask what you're writing about me?"

"You can ask, but I won't tell you," Bella teased.

"Bella," I said, looking at her as she laughed. I leaned over to see if I could take a peek. But Bella moved the screen so I couldn't see anymore, and I pouted.

"Don't worry, it's nothing bad." Bella smirked, closing the laptop, and leaning over to kiss my cheek.

I took her right hand and kissed her wrist. Then I noticed it, a light scar that went across her wrist and up her arm. I looked at it and then at Bella. Her eyes widened as she quickly pulled her arm away from me. It was the telltale scar of someone that had tried to kill herself.

I felt Bella's eyes on me as I pulled the right sleeve of my hooded jacket up. I showed her my matching scar.

"My ex saved me. He was a highly trained soldier," she whispered.

"My dad found me in the tub," I said, my eyes returning to the road ahead of us. "He's a doctor."

"I guess we all have our demons," Bella whispered, her fingertips tracing over her scar.

"Yes, that's why I'm out here. I'm hoping to escape them." I looked over to Bella again to see that she was gazing out the window.

"Same here. I had to leave," she whispered, wiping a tear from her cheek.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," Bella answered quickly. We were both quiet, just listening to the music that had become secondary. We both seemed to be lost in thought.

Strange enough, my thoughts didn't revolve around myself, Tanya or my family; they now revolved around Bella. What could've happened to this beautiful creature beside me to cause her to want to end her life? Did she still wish that she hadn't been saved?

We both sat in silence for a little over an hour, just watching the passing scenery as the sun set and the moon began to light the sky.

"Edward, how much longer until we get to the hotel?"

"If I'm right, about another two hours. Why?"

"I don't think I can wait that long," Bella whispered, shifting in her seat.

"Wait for what?" I asked, looking at her. I was surprised by the intensity of her eyes.

"I need to feel you again," Bella whispered, her face flushing a delicious pink as she bit her lower lip. I groaned as her hand caressed my thigh.

I smirked and responded, "So do I."

AN: Beta'd by the wonderful lisa89, thank you.