CHAPTER 3 – LOVE

EPOV

I just sat there. She was beautiful. Long brown hair that curled at the bottom, bright big brown eyes, she was an angel. She was my angel and I knew I had to have her. I had to get her out of this world; this life, before she got to far involved, before she got hurt or worse… dead. These have been my thoughts for the last two years. Every time I saw her on stage dancing that is.

As she danced I could see the sorrow deep in her eyes, the pain hidden in the deep chocolate that I saw when she looked at me. I knew she would see us; we were always out of place when we came here, we also seemed to sit in the exact same place all the time, but at this moment I really didn't care.

"Check out that tight ass."

"Check out that rack."

"How I would love for her to lap dance on me –sigh- not likely she always keeps to the stage during her dance. Oh but if she did… I would take her right there"

"I could suck on those…"

…I pinched the bridge of my nose trying to block those and other thoughts just like it… I felt… angry, no… I felt some strange emotion I couldn't quite place…

"Where are the protective feelings coming from" I heard it coming from my brother. That is what that emotion was… I was feeling protective of her. I wanted so bad to protect her from those thoughts around me. See when I hit puberty I was 'blessed' with the ability to hear other people's thoughts. My two brothers were also 'blessed' with abilities. One of them had the ability to feel and manipulate people's emotions, the other with uncanny strength.

I went back to trying to block out the voices around me. I thought back to that first time that we came here; wow was it really almost 2 years ago. I am thankful to my brothers now because had I not given in I would never have seen this wonderful creature before my eyes.

~*~FLASHBACK ~*~

I think my brothers have had enough of my being alone all the time. They thought it would be great to have a guy's night out and go "clubbing". I hid a laugh. I don't do clubbing even though I am 18.

"When was the last time you had a night out with the guys" I shrugged my shoulders at my brother. "Well that is settled then we go out."

"Em, I don't drink!" I said in protest.

"Little bro… where we are going… your not going to want to think about drinking at all. For once will you just trust me?

He was already sitting in my car waiting for me; he knew if he didn't drive I would back out, so reluctantly I got into my car. My brothers were great guys but this trying to cheer me up all the time was driving me nuts.

When we pulled up to the club my jaw just dropped. "You have got to be kidding me, a strip club? When you said "clubbing" I thought you meant a bar and that we were going to make fun of how people dance badly to 80's music, or pick up some drunk, single girls. But Emmett you're twisted if you think that we going in there. Do you know how sleazy these clubs are? The women are over the hill hookers trying to reclaim some sort of youth." I tried but failed to convince him we shouldn't go in there.

Emmett just laughed. "Dude, Jasper and I have been here several times. This place, it really is a classy joint and trust me when I say… these girls are not over the hill hookers trying to reclaim some sort of youth. I came here with Lauren once before we broke up and damn if we didn't have the best sex of our lives that night. Besides, you and your virgin self is need of a lap dance or two…"

"…Or Ten!" Jasper piped in with a huge grin on his face. He could feel the loathing coming off of me but he just laughed. "Common Edward you never know." And with that they each hooked an arm and dragged me into the club.

~*~END FLASHBACK ~*~

I stared at her, I couldn't help it. I kept wondering though. She was absolutely beautiful as always. Even 2 years later you can still see that life itself had dealt her a bad break. For 2 years I have wanted to talk to her, for 2 years I have tried but was to shy. When did I become shy around women, I was a trust fund kid who could have everything they wanted, so why couldn't I even talk to her.

She has a grace and elegance to her; she seemed to have training in ballet or gymnastics because as she moved, the body followed in such a graceful manor that seemed to be choreographed. Out of all the dancers I have only seen 2 others come in a close second to her, Rosalie and Alice her two best friends. I could always hear Rosalie and Alice's thoughts but never hers. I wonder why.

She flipped across the stage and with a hand grabbed the pole and spun seductively her hair following in graceful arcs with her body to the bottom in a graceful pose, she cocked her head slightly and winked at me. And then it hit me… it hit me hard like a wrecking ball.

"Dude, your eyes are black." What is going on? Why are you ready to attack? "Edward what's wrong?"

When I heard his words from his head,I relaxed I didn't want to draw attention to ourselves. I was having a hard time keeping the lustful voices out of my head. I was ready to knock the fuck out of some pour drunk for his lustful thoughts.

"Sorry Em, the damn voices are driving me nuts." I whispered my lie to him as I realized he was still looking at me. What it really was is; I didn't want these guys to think about my Isabella, my love in any which way, shape or form… whoa… love!? I was in love with her, that's why I couldn't talk to her.

It was at that moment I realized 3 things for sure, I knew is that I had to know this creature; I had to protect this creature and above all I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with her. Jasper gave me this knowing look; he knew exactly what I kept from Emmett.

All of a sudden she was walking towards us pulling me out of my thoughts. She came up to me and put one leg on each side of my lap and started lightly grinding me. She had no top on and being the gentleman that I am I kept my eyes locked on her face. She leaned in and pressed her chest up against me and flicked my earlobe with her tongue sending shivers up my spine. Her sent was intoxicating, waking the lustful monster inside me wild with anticipation of what she was going to do. I wanted her so bad that I had to restrain myself. I kept thinking over and over, I am a gentleman, I can't take her here.

She was now focused on my eyes and she whispered… "Tell me something, why are your eyes black? You never did answer your friend." With that she gave one more meaningful grind and walked back to the stage winking as she went. The lustful thoughts of all the drunken men around me hit me like a tone of bricks. The one that stuck out was 'lucky bastard'. That I am asshole… that I am!

How the hell did she know what Emmett said? Fuck me, who was this girl?

"Guys I think we should stick around and meet these girls don't you?" I said causally to my brothers. Again Jasper gave me a knowing look. Sometimes I hated his ability. I know Emmett has been lusting after Rosalie and Jasper after Alice. I knew they would be up for this.

"Why now after 2 years?" Jasper asked.

Simple enough answer, "Why not!"