Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended.
Legally Bound
Chapter 3
"Faster," I whined and took a deep breath.
"Patience, my dear. Besides, if you hadn't bitten half my finger off this wouldn't take as long."
"Please, that was two days ago. Grow up," I huffed and moved closer to him to get a better look at what he was doing.
"Wait, I feel it. Almost there."
"Damn, wiggle it just a little and hold your tongue lithe thith." I punched his shoulder and pointed at my tongue which I had stuck out at the corner of my mouth.
"What, like thith? Thath's inthane." He giggled, shaking his head and going back to what he was doing.
"Oh, there, Edward. So close."
"Now that's what I like to hear, babe," he whispered slowly, his voice laced with seduction.
"Shut up." I slapped him on the back of the head. "Get back to work. I think I hear the lock turning."
"Look, bossy pants, back off. I know what I'm doing." His shoulders tensed and released as he tilted his head and continued to work the rickety lock on my door.
"All those years of picking girls' locks are finally paying off, huh?" I crossed my arms and gave him a smug smile.
He knelt in front of my door, turning to look at me where I stood behind his shoulder. His green eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Trust me. Getting in is something I happen to do very well." He gave me that melt-my-insides smirk then winked before turning back to the door and resuming his work.
"Ah, whatever, just get this damn door unlocked or I'm gonna piss on your leg." I rolled my eyes and shuffled my weight back and forth trying to hold off my bladder.
Click
"There, I got it. Now go." He laughed as he pushed the door to my apartment open and rose from where he had been kneeling on the floor.
"Come in and stay, okay? I'll do thank you's after I pee." He nodded and waved me off.
In the bathroom I glanced at myself in the mirror as I washed my hands. I saw a woman who wore a huge smile on her face. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen myself smile like that, especially after what Edward and I had went through to get the door unlocked. Edward and I? Hm. I smoothed my hair and exited the bathroom to find him standing in the living room, holding the remote and flipping channels on the television.
"Hey, you want something to drink? I have beer, wine, or water?" I stood in front of the fridge and called out over my shoulder.
"Sure, beer's fine." I handed him the beer as he leaned casually forward, resting on his elbows at the opposite end of the island counter top while I poured a glass of wine.
"So, my bladder thanks you and I thank you." I smiled and raised my glass. My bladder actually wanted to name him hero of the day and put his picture on a billboard.
"No problem. What would you do without me?" He held his arms out to the side then raised his bottle and took a long drink.
"Well, first, I would have peed in the hall in front of your door, and then I would have gone back to the office to sleep. How does that work for ya?" I deadpanned, then watched him over the rim of my glass as I took a drink of wine.
"Hmm. Is there something about you I should know?" He raised a brow and eyed me closely. "I may be prettier than you, but I can keep a secret." He leaned over the bar and whispered before taking another drink.
"What are you talking about?" I scoffed. "You are delusional on both counts."
"Well, you did bite my finger and now you're spouting off about peeing at my door. I don't know, I mean, if you morph into some kind of werewolf or dog or something, well...I'd be totally cool with that." He took a drink then shrugged and patted me on the head.
I growled and gave him the the finger. He was caught off guard and started laughing so hard he snorted, spewing beer out of his mouth and down the front of his shirt.
"Now that shit is funny!" I shouted and pointed at him, continuing to laugh while I grabbed a paper towel for his shirt.
"Shut up, woman. There's nothing funny about me." He huffed a little and dabbed at his shirt while stealing glances at me from under his lashes, a slight blush covered his cheeks.
"You totally giggle snorted. Yes, that is funny." Finishing my wine, I chuckled and looked away. At that point, it couldn't be helped. I knew if I looked at that blush any longer I was not going to be able to stop laughing.
"To answer your question, no, I'm not a dog or a werewolf. And even though I'm sure you are quite possibly the Devil's spawn, and I know you deserved it, I'm sorry for biting your finger." I stuck my tongue out at him. He responded with a smirk and threw the beer soaked paper towel at me.
"Friends...who bite." He looked at this ceiling as if in deep thought. "It's a little different from friends with benefits, but, hey, I can work with that." He responded as he raised a brow at me and with his lips turned up into a small smile. He drained his beer and placed it back on the counter.
"Who said anything about us being friends?" I shot back with a smirk.
"Oh, you wounded me. Seriously? Lots of women find me very...friendly." He placed his hand to his heart and gave me a wide eyed look, trying to hide his laughter again.
That earned him a dramatic eye roll. "Really? Well, typically when someone figures out my secret, I have to kill them. Eh, I don't know, I might be able to make an exception. After all, too many people around here would come looking for you and I don't need that kind of exposure you know." I swiped at a non-existent piece of lint on my skirt.
"Um... well, friends it is then and thank you." He coughed and extended his hand. I took it and when our eyes met he gave me that thousand watt smile that always melted me into a puddle of girl goo.
"Well, good...and don't make me regret it, Mister." I raised my chin and nodded as I enjoyed the firm handshake between us. Then, just for good measure, I flipped him off again. I swore he couldn't do it again, but he giggled and it was infectious. It took all that I had to hold a serious look as he turned to leave.
"Well, I better go. But, look, I'm out of coffee and I'm too lazy to go the store. Could I come by here in the morning to share yours? Please?" His lips curled out into a pout and he gave me these silly puppy dog eyes.
"You're one of those neighbors who sponges off the rest of the building for groceries. I should have known." I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at him.
"No way, it's much more simple than that. I just want to drink your coffee and see how pissed off I can get you first thing the morning. That's all," he stated nonchalantly as he opened the door and leaned against the door frame.
"Well, if it's only that. Jeez." I sighed and threw my hands up. "You better have your ass here at 7:45 or the coffee service stops, you got it?" I paused to scowl at him before I continued. "I take my coffee time seriously and I'm not gonna be late for work because you're too busy primping." I jutted out my hip and rested one hand there while I waved the other towards his hair.
"Got it, Bossy Pants." He gave me a serious look and saluted me.
Just as the door was closing, he stuck his head back in again. I had made it only as far as the couch when he called my name. "Hey, Bella."
"Yeah?" I sighed and turned around to face him as he moved to open the door a little wider, standing in the doorway again.
"By the way...I have a thing for biters." He made an exaggerated chopping sound with his teeth and winked.
I groaned and quickly picked up the television remote from the back of the couch. I threw it straight for his head. He made a move to dodge it, but he caught it and playfully threw it back to the couch.
"You're pushing it, Hotshot," I said as I narrowed my eyes and pointed my finger at him. He smiled before he walked out and pulled the door closed behind him.
I walked over to lock the door and struggled with it again. I made a mental note to call the next day about getting that lock changed out.
Heading off to my bedroom, I decided on an early bedtime. I knew I had better get some sleep if I wanted a few quiet coffee minutes before Edward came by. Maybe I could do this friends thing if I could just keep those thoughts of beating him with a baseball bat to myself, for the time being.
I made myself stop thinking about him as I crawled into bed. I knew if I didn't I would have another night of crazy dreams about severed fingers and emotional-man-whore-vampire neighbors sucking the life out of me. I shivered at the thought, then settled lower under the covers. Edward...me...friends.
LB
The following morning I stood at the kitchen counter pouring my coffee when I heard a knock at the door. I unlocked the door, opened it and, before I could say anything, Edward breezed through my door with what looked to be my newspaper in his hand. Flinging his coat over the couch, he proceeded to help himself to my coffee pot as he stood in front of me and handed me the folded newspaper. My newspaper.
"There's a good article on 10A." He tapped the paper and took a sip of coffee.
"You stole my newspaper." I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I like to call it sharing amongst neighbors." He nodded and raised his cup.
"And the whole coffee stealing thing you have going," I waved my hand between our cups, "is that just part of your 'sharing' gig, too? I asked as I raised my cup to take a sip.
"Well, it seems to be working well so far." He shrugged, and with a smug smile he relaxed a little and leaned back against the counter across from me with his arms crossed, still holding his cup of coffee.
"Really?" I gave him a questioning look and scrunched my nose.
"Really, really," he deadpanned, using the most ridiculous Shrek voice I'd ever heard. I watched as his lips curled into that dazzling smile. I grabbed the counter behind me for a second, just for support.
"Quoting Shrek won't get you anywhere." I raised a brow and shook my finger at him.
"Hm, I see. You'd be surprised though." He smirked as he shrugged and continued to look at me while he slurped his coffee.
"What was that?"
"What?" His eyes scanned back and forth before landing back on mine, then he raised his cup and slurped his coffee again.
"That," I pointed at his cup, still in his mouth. "That god awful slurping."
"I didn't slurp."
"Um, yeah, you did. Real sexy, by the way." I shook my head..
"Some women think so, in the right scenario at least." He tilted his head and smirked as he placed his cup on the counter behind him while gripping the edge of the counter with his arms. "Besides, we were talking about my awesome Shrek voice before you interrupted me"
"I think I just threw up in my mouth a little," I deadpanned, coughing and patting my chest.
"You can't seriously tell me that Shrek voice of yours has gotten you anywhere with women," I stated incredulously as I took a drink of my coffee and eyed him over the rim of my cup.
He pushed away from the counter, stood to his full height and closed the distance between us. He was so close I could practically breathe him in and I'm sure he could feel my breathing pick up.
"Actually," he lowered his head so it was level with my forehead, his voice was low and raspy from sleep, "It's not so much the accent as it is the body language and what you say." He breathed the words with only a slight Shrek accent as he trailed his fingers lightly up my skirt, from my hip to my waist.
In thirty seconds this man had made me hotter than the scalding coffee in the cup I still held in my hand. I had to bring this back to a respectable point or I was seriously about to strip down and go super-freak on his ass before breakfast and that's just not what I was all about, especially not with him.
"Ew, step back, would you? Your cologne is gonna give me a migraine." I pushed him away and pinched my nose.
"Damn, and just when I was about to steal some cream." He snapped his fingers before quickly shifting to move around me to the fridge.
I gasped and stood there a little frozen for a second. I was stunned a little when I realized I found this whole morning coffee exchange kind of sexy. Before I knew it, he was bent over with his head stuck in my fridge. It was unavoidable. I lost all control of my eyes as I caught sight of his ass in those pants with the suspenders slung low and hanging to the side.
I closed my eyes and chanted to myself, Edward is obnoxious, you don't want him, he is an idiot ass, then choked on my coffee and quickly poured it in the sink. Yep, I was back in reality and stepping away from Edward's ass.
"Wait, this isn't creamer. It's half and half," he said, with his head still inside the fridge. His brows were scrunched together when he stood up to look at me while rotating the carton in his hands.
"Whatever, it's all the same." I waved him off and grabbed the newspaper from the counter while I made my way to the kitchen table for my bag.
"It most certainly is not the same. I think I'm a little crushed," he rambled on as he filled his travel cup and went over to grab his suit jacket from the couch.
"I think you'll live, Hotshot," I responded dryly, raising my brow at him. "Besides, that's what you get for stealing." I walked over and opened the door. He was right behind me and I smiled to myself because I just knew he wouldn't let this go without getting the last word. He couldn't, and the truth was, I didn't mind so much anymore. It's how we were.
We stood waiting for the elevator when I felt his arm brush mine. He leaned in closer; I leaned my head away, glancing at him from the corner of my eye as he spoke.
"Obviously, I'm just gonna have to teach you the difference between half and half and a really good cream," he spoke slowly and seductively, maybe a little too seductively for a coffee and cream discussion. I saw him rock back on his heels, then he slurped that damn coffee again.
Fighting the urge to slap him on the back of the head, I clenched my fists and followed him into the elevator.
"Two things, dude. Stop invading my personal space and stop slurping that damn coffee. I swear you are really grating on my nerves this morning." I huffed and looked away from him, watching as the elevator landed on the first floor.
"Okay, not gonna respond to that since you're so chipper this morning. So, tell me, what you know about the Clearwater case?"
"Have you had a chance to review the file yet?" I asked as we exited our building onto the sidewalk. He brought his coffee cup to his lips and casually took a sip, not slurping, before shaking his head.
"Not really. I've been busy with some other things and I kinda hoped you would fill me in a little before I look at it today," he responded and looked away.
"Fine, but only because you're on this case and I need you to know," I hissed.
We lived only five blocks from the office so it wasn't a bad walk on days like today. I knew I should make the best of it even in light of the fact that what started as a good morning was totally going in the crapper given his attitude towards the importance of this case.
"What does the file say about Seth Clearwater's chances?" He sipped his coffee as we continued walking.
"Well, unlike you, I've looked at the file, and maybe once you decide you have enough time, we can really find the key to winning this case. I know Seth didn't do it and we just have to prove it," I stated flatly and watched as he bobbed his head and looked thoughtfully towards the sidewalk.
"What's his record look like?"
"He has no prior arrests, no history or behavior problems or abuse in any form. He hasn't even had a speeding ticket. This isn't the record of a guy who would commit rape against his estranged wife while wielding a deadly weapon," I responded, gesturing with my hands as we stopped at the intersection and waited for the light to change.
"Well, he wouldn't be the first you know? Plenty of men with no priors have committed crimes much worse than the charges he has against him. We need to find out what the community people witnessed of the relationship between he and his wife just before this." He looked at me briefly as he straightened his shoulders and slurped his coffee. I shook my head at his obvious logic, then we started to walk again.
"What are we gonna do in Forks, Boss?" He nudged my shoulder with his and gave me that lazy smile that does strange things to my insides. I nudged him back causing him to side step a little. He laughed and paused to adjust his jacket as I walked ahead of him.
"We're gonna visit with Seth's parents and anyone else outside the family that they recommend we speak to about the case. I have a feeling that Seth's wife was up to something. I just don't know how that got them to a point where this rape charge came about. I believe that something happened during the separation that made her file this charge and I don't think it was because he actually raped her," I finished just as we reached the door to our office building. He gave me questioning look, raising his brow as he opened the door and gestured for me to go in.
"You don't think he could have just gotten angry and raped his wife at gunpoint like she said? I mean, no one really knows what goes on behind closed doors. He may not be the person you think he is, Bella." He pursed his lips and continued to watch me, gauging my reaction. I knew this was his method, he gave me that look to try and shake me up, make me question myself. I hated when he did that to me.
I didn't answer. Instead, I set my shoulders and narrowed my eyes at him as we entered the glass doors of our office suite and stopped at the reception desk for our messages. Edward immediately began talking with the receptionist about his schedule for the day. As I flipped through my messages I felt like I was being watched. I slowly lifted my head and turned to see my four nosy friends eying Edward and I like we were some carnival sideshow.
I quickly glanced his way to see that he wasn't paying attention, then I turned and mouthed 'go away' to all of them as they stood coupled up across the room. Alice just giggled and pushed Jasper who smiled before they retreated to his office. Rose smirked and started to walk away, but Emmett made some ridiculous humping motion. She quickly smacked him on his arm.
"Ow!" Emmett yelped and rubbed his arm.
"What did he do now?" Edward came over and asked as we watched Rose grab Emmett by the ear and pull him away from the lobby and down the hall.
"Oh, it was Emmett's usual. Nothing more," I lied. I can only imagine what they were thinking and I certainly wasn't ready to discuss it with them, much less give Edward any ammunition to torment me.
"How bout I put my things down and come into your office so we can finish discussing this case. I'd like to know the rest of your thoughts on this before I get the file. Is that okay?" he asked as we continued to walk down the hall towards our office. It didn't escape me that his hand rested on my low back as he led me to my door.
Again, I felt that stupid crazy energy between us as we stood there in hall. What is that? I could only say that his touch made me feel like a live wire and it unnerved me to the point that I had to step away, just out of reach. I couldn't be distracted long enough to give it any more thought. We had work to do.
"Sure, I'm gonna get some coffee. I'll be right back." I dropped my briefcase on the couch and returned with my coffee. I turned on my laptop and pulled out the Clearwater file just as he sauntered into my office and flopped down into the overstuffed chair across from my desk. He slumped a little in the chair, crossing his arms and stretching his long legs in front of him to cross them at the ankle.
"Please continue, Bella." He nodded and gestured with his hand while speaking in some mock ominous voice. I scrunched my nose and stared at him for a second, confused.
"What's with you and the funny voices today?"
"I like to shake things up a bit. Makes life...less serious. You should try it some time," he responded, shrugging his shoulders.
"Okay...whatever." I shot him a look that only a crazy man deserved. "Anyway, I'm not saying she is crying rape and I don't intend to try to paint her as the 'town whore'. I just know that I'm right. I've known him all his life and I just know there's something simple we're overlooking in this case. It's our job to find it and I believe we will, in Forks." I leaned back in my chair, holding my coffee cup with both hands, and took a sip.
"Okay, well, we just have to talk to the family and go over the file again. After we finish that, I suggest we plan to interview Seth as soon as possible. More importantly, I think we should leave the investigating the rest of this to the police."
"And why is that?"
"Well, look at you. I really don't think you could pull off the whole black beanie and dark sunglasses look." He shrugged. "Just saying." And there was that dazzling smile again.
"Do we really need to go there? Seriously, you can't even comb your hair, much less fit it under a beanie. What makes you think you could pull off that look any better than me?" I asked as I raised my chin defiantly.
"Because I have this whole James Bond thing going on." He pointed at his body and made a sweeping motion with his hand. I automatically took extra notice of his lean body and long legs as he still sat reclined in the chair. Such an ass head! I gave him the finger and sat my coffee cup on my desk.
"Well, Bond Boy, get your ass out of my chair and go look over this file." I smirked as I held out the file, watching as he slowly got to his feet.
"So, Forks is your hometown, right?" he asked as he took the file, shoving the other hand in his pocket.
"Yeah, and I plan to stop and say hello to my mom and dad while we're there. So I don't want to hear a word about it," I stated calmly, raising my brow at him. Again, he gave me that intense look. I tucked my hair behind my ear on one side and started to put away all the ink pens on my desk.
"Wow, meeting the parents already. I didn't realize you cared that much, Bella. But I'm good with that." He smirked, walking backwards towards the door.
"Would you shut the hell up?" I huffed, rolling my eyes. Deep down I kinda loved the shameless flirting that had leaked into our conversations over the last few days.
"We are not in a relationship, Edward. God, I know you want me, but you're not my type. You'll get your heart broken, babe," I responded dramatically, my words dripping sarcasm and then I shrugged just as he had done earlier. "Just saying." I was flushed and even though I thought I was being cute with my comeback, my heart was pounding in my chest.
"Aww." He put his hand to his heart. "It's so cute how you think I want you and all. But, we'll see who wants whom." His tone was equally sarcastic as he shot me a devious grin.
"Well, I'm pretty extraordinary. Just so you know, your usual shitty moves won't cut it. You better bring your A game."
"Point taken," he said as he raised his hands in surrender. When our eyes met, his green eyes danced with a mixture of mischief and sincerity. He opened and closed his mouth like he was gonna say something else, but instead he gave me that lopsided grin as I watched him disappear behind the closed door of his office.
I let my head fall back against my chair. What the hell was I thinking when I said all those things? Damn, Bella.
I closed my eyes and thought about all the rules I had set for myself when it came to men and dating. I thought about happily ever afters. I thought about my career and not letting a man stand in the way. But, actually, it was the thought of stuffing a smirking Edward in a six foot long duffel bag, with duct tape over his pretty mouth that made me smile.
I lifted my head and began rearranging the files on my desk. I needed something, anything to keep away thoughts that didn't center around my work, the kind of life I had built for myself. Letting a man get in the way of the things I wanted to accomplish on a daily basis wasn't me. It couldn't happen.
But somehow Edward did that to me. His presence was making me rethink everything and every goal I had set for myself. He was the first one, in a long time, to do that and he worked in the office directly across from mine.
That crazy stupid man who munched on cheese puffs that he took from his desk drawer at exactly two-thirty every day was the same one who liked cream and not half and half in his coffee. He was the one who helped me with the lock on my door, even after I bit him, and he was the one who wanted to be friends in spite of that. He was making me forget how much I enjoyed being alone.
It's not like I could avoid him, he was everywhere I went. Emmett had already assigned him to half of the cases I had. I wasn't so much irritated about partnering with him on cases due to his experience. It was the fact that he could melt me with a look one minute and make me crave a homicidal rage the next minute, that was doing a real number on my nerves.
I wasn't used to being confused or unsure of how to proceed. It was frustrating. He was frustrating.
I made a few notes on my upcoming cases and returned my calls from the morning. However, as the day continued on, my thoughts drifted back to Edward. Aside from his quirky work routine and the fact that I couldn't get away from him at all, I realized that not only was he nice to look at, he obviously had somewhat of a photographic memory and excellent grasp of legal theory which would always be a great asset for the firm. That's what was important here.
I made my way to the door of my office and turned off the light. I paused briefly outside my door. Edward's door was closed, but I watched through the blinds of his office window as he worked with his head down at his desk. At that moment, I admitted to myself that, although he and I butted heads a lot, we were both equally passionate about our work.
With that first concession that we may be more alike than I thought, came the realization that he was starting to get under my skin, in a good way. I knew then what I had to do. I had to focus on my work, my life goals, and forget all the rest.
00-00
A/N:
Thank you to Liv for reading this and making it sparkle a little before her "eyes go out" for a couple of days for surgery. I know you will be fine. Just think, all the "pretty" will look so much clearer without contacts or glasses.
Thank you Meg for reading and fixing all the horrible grammar stuff, even when you were tired. It really means so much to me. Really.
Thank you also to Modernsafari1 and my non-twitter bestie, Jennifer, for pre-reading this for me.
:)