Disclaimer: Jasper, Edward, and Emmett; I don't own you, but I can still do naughty things to you when the feeling strikes. And don't you ever forget that!

A/N I want to tell you something because I think some of you might be worried about what will happen to Bella in this story. So I'm going to tell you straight up: NO ONE IS GETTING RAPED. Not one single person, so I thought I'd tell you that in case you were worried.

Adore

Chapter 3 –Ease

Edward was antsy for the rest of the day, anticipating his talk with Bella and how she'd react. And what she might reveal. Bella was strong, but for the past few weeks she was fragile, or maybe that was just how she appeared. Whatever it was that was bothering her, they were going to set it to right.

When they arrived home from work, Bella was already there. Her car was parked snuggly in the drive, a welcome and unexpected sight. It was a race to the door to see who could make it to her first. Emmett won.

Bella was on the couch, a broad smile on her lips as she flipped through one of their photo albums. They'd taken a lot of pictures in the past three years, wanting to document everything. She was looking at a picture of a topless Emmett when the man himself assailed her.

"Lover!" He tackled her. "You're home early!"

Bella laughed. "We had our final exam, so we got to leave right after. I got home at three."

Jasper plopped down next to her. "You mean you've been here for almost an hour? Ugh, if I had known that I would have ditched school and rushed over here."

Bella raised her eyebrows. "Mm, I like that. But I don't think running out of the school with an erection would leave a good impression on the staff and students."

"That would be bad for my reputation, yes." Jasper grinned, his eyes moving from Bella's beautiful face to the album she dropped on the floor. "Reminiscing, I see." He picked it up. "We should take new ones soon."

Edward stood in the entryway, nervous. It didn't take long for Bella to notice him there.

"Hey," she smiled at him. He smiled back, tentative. Bella immediately sensed it. "Are you alright?"

Edward didn't know what to say. He was anxious and flustered. "Yes, it's just…we need to talk."

He knew better than to use that particular phrase, 'we need to talk'. That was what people said when they were going to break up with someone or when they were going to say, "I accidentally ran over your poodle. Oh, and I slept with your sister. It's feels so good to get that off my chest!"

Edward wasn't going to say any of that, but Bella thought it couldn't be pleasant, whatever it was. He wouldn't break up with her, would he?

"Um, okay. We can talk." Bella looked at Jasper and Emmett. Their faces held guilt and apprehension.

Shit. This is going to be bad.

Bella eased off of the couch and toward Edward. "You want to talk now?"

"Yes, alone."

Alone?

Bella didn't have time to ask why. Edward grabbed hold of her hand and steered her into their bedroom, shutting and locking the door. He was sweating, Bella noted. Dread descended upon her as she took in his wild eyes.

He sat her on the bed and began pacing. That wasn't like Edward at all.

"Edward, love, calm down." Bella placed one of her small hands on his arm. He relaxed instantly, a small grin pulling up the corners of his lips.

"Sorry," he said, sheepish, "I've been worrying about this all day."

"Is it that bad?" Bella almost felt like crying. She had the irrational fear that he was going to break up with her. It wasn't true, but she couldn't prevent the vile thought from entering her mind.

Edward was flooded with guilt, then. "God, Bella, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make you worry. It's nothing bad, I swear. I just want to talk."

Bella nodded, not entirely convinced. She sat back down on the bed and motioned for him to join her. "Come here. I've actually wanted to talk with you, too. But you can go first."

Edward was slightly startled at that, but decided to say what he was going to say and get it over with. "Right…Bella, I'm going to be honest with you." He sat next to her and took her hands in his. "We're worried about you."

Bella's eyebrows shot up. For some reason, she wasn't expecting him to go there. She should have, she thought. What else would he want to talk about?

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but something is going on, isn't it?" Edward prodded. "Please, I need to know." He held her face, willing her to reveal all of her secrets. Bella almost broke down and told him, too, but she held tight.

"There's nothing you need to know. I'm just stressed out with schoolwork as usual. I've had some tough classes."

"It's not usual for you, Bella. You were fine at the beginning of the year. You were happy and you ate right. Now it's like there's a dark cloud over your head from the minute you get up in the morning to the minute you get back home. You're not okay, and you have to admit it."

Bella was silent, tears forming in her brown eyes. Edward wiped them away, but to no avail. He didn't ever want to make her cry.

"I think you need to go back to therapy." Edward said, his voice hushed. "If you don't want to talk to me about it, then will you please talk to her? We just want you to feel better."

Bella couldn't argue with that. "O-okay." She met Edward's gaze. "You don't believe me when I say there's nothing going on, do you?" Edward shook his head, sorrow painting his face. Bella tried to stop herself from crying, but she was on a roll. Edward tugged her forward and hugged her fiercely, rubbing her back and head and kissing away the tears.

He laid down with her on the duvet, letting her cry on his shoulder until she ran out. Every time she cried, it was a stab to the heart for Edward. It literally pained him.

After what seemed like hours, but was in reality ten minutes, Bella was recovered. Her face was a red blotchy mess and her eyes and nose were puffy. She hadn't cried that hard in a long time. It was both a relief and an embarrassment. She felt like such a fool.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

Edward continued running his hands through her hair. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

That was far from the truth, and Bella knew it. Edward was too nice.

"Edward…"

"Hmm?"

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you…"

Edward brushed the hair from her neck, willing himself not to tense. "What is it?"

"You've been acting strange lately." She let that hang in the air. It wasn't fair of her to ask, she realized. She was keeping something from him, so why should he tell her his secret?

Edward sighed, sitting upright with Bella still in his lap. "You're right. I have been a little weird lately, I suppose."

"Why?" Bella asked, timid. She didn't want to pry too much.

Edward kissed her softly on the lips. "There is something going on. Nothing bad," he assured her, "but I'm not ready to tell anyone yet. Soon, though, I promise."

"Okay." She'd let it go for now if that's what he wanted. Another thought that had been bothering Bella came to mind. "Edward, why don't you want to make love with me?"

They'd had all weekend to do it, but he didn't give any indication that he wanted to make love. Bella was too afraid of rejection to try anything. Normally, she would have taken the initiative and pounced on him, but she had begun to feel insecure lately. Edward's obvious lack of interest in her only egged her on. That had never happened before. The only time they refrained from being intimate was when one of them was sick. Even when Bella was on her period they did it. It was uncontrollable, how much they craved one another.

Edward was taken aback by the question (of course he wanted to make love!), but he wasn't stupid. "Bella, that could never happen. A day hasn't gone by that I haven't wanted to make love to you."

"But –"

"No, I know why you think that." Edward mentally kicked himself for being such an idiot. He had believed he was helping her by not having sex. "I wanted to, but you've been so tired and…" he wanted to say 'fragile', but she wouldn't appreciate the term, "you haven't been feeling well, so I thought maybe you needed a break. Jasper and Emmett probably wear you out enough as it is."

He couldn't believe he'd made such an error in judgment. He'd wanted to be back inside her since the last time they'd made love, but something was telling him that she would be better off having an Edward-break for a few days. If only he'd been aware of how wrong he was.

Relief swept over Bella. He still wanted her!

"Thank god, I thought you were off me." Bella chuckled lightly.

"You're silly. I could never be off you. I have been and always will be on you." Edward caressed her hip, feeling slightly better than he had a few minutes earlier. Whatever was wrong with Bella wasn't yet resolved, but he felt they'd made a step in the right direction. At least they were talking.

"Edward, unless I tell you that I don't want to have sex, then you should always assume that I'm wet for you." Bella stared him directly in the eyes, daring him to make a move. She put the past fifteen minutes out of her mind, blotting out her stupid problems for the time being. Right now, the only thing her brain could focus on was Edward.

A jolt of arousal hit Edward, and his trousers suddenly became a lot tighter. "Are you saying you're wet for me right now?"

Bella smirked.

Edward's green eyes darkened. "Say it."

"Say what?"

"That you're wet for me."

Bella licked her lips. "I'm soaking wet for you."

"Say you want me to fuck you." He brought his hand to her core, rubbing her through the fabric of her jeans.

"I want you to fuck me. So badly." Bella moaned, keeping her eyes fixed on Edward's despite how hard it was to concentrate.

"What else? Tell me what else you want." Edward felt the strong grasp he had on his control snap. The past few days had turned him into a time bomb, and he was just about ready to explode inside Bella.

"I want your huge, hard cock inside me. I want you to pound into me so hard that I won't be able to walk right for days. I want your cum dripping down my thighs, and you know what, Edward? I want you to make me forget my own name. That's what I want."

Edward gripped her small body so hard that he was going to leave bruises, but he didn't care right then. In the next instant he slammed Bella onto the bed and ripped off her shirt and jeans. Her panties were just a piece of torn cloth after he was done with them, and her bra was an evil entity that covered Bella's beautiful perky breasts. So he tore that up, too.

He attacked her breasts hungrily, sucking her nipples and massaging the swells of her breasts like they were the most sacred things in the universe. He was out of control, his only focus on Bella's perfect body, on touching her, pleasing her. She knew precisely how to drive him crazy. She could be sweet and even timid at times, but in bed she was a vixen, a seductress, a firecracker. She was experienced in the art of dirty-talking, and knowing how easily it turned him on made her exercise her skills all the more often.

Bella pushed at his shoulders. He stopped what he was doing, his eyes ablaze as he looked at her.

"I want you in me now." She whimpered, rubbing her thighs together. She would die if she had to wait any longer.

Edward realized that he had all of his clothes on.

Blasphemous!

He made quick work of his garments, seriously considering foregoing boxers from now on. It was just another unnecessary barrier between him and Bella.

And that was wrong.

"Edward…" Bella spread her legs wide in invitation, her toes curling in anticipation. Edward didn't need any more incentive. He threw himself onto the bed and, upon pinning her down and clasping her hands above her head, thrust into her. He was greeted by her tight, soft walls and moist heat. She hadn't been kidding when she said she was wet for him. Sometimes, when they were joined like this, he couldn't comprehend how he managed to arouse a creature such as Bella. But she was made for him and his brothers.

Edward did exactly what Bella wanted him to and pounded into her relentlessly. She cried out his name, struggling aimlessly to free her hands from his grip. She wanted him closer, and without having to say a word, he complied. With his free hand, he hitched Bella's leg over his shoulder, plunging deeper into her tightness. He grimaced at the overpowering pleasure that enveloped his body. He was reaching all of her hidden depths, angling himself so that he hit every magical spot, yet he wanted more. He wanted to touch every inch of her, wanted to be ingrained in her, wanted to get lost inside her. He really was going off the deep end.

"God Bella, look what you're doing to me." He groaned through clenched teeth, trying to hold off on his release. Bella was panting hard beneath him, out of breath and lost in frenzy. Her small cries and mewls reached his ears, mixing with the sounds of their heavy breathing and slapping skin. Sweat ran down his back and buttocks. He didn't think he was going to be able to hold off much longer.

"Bella, cum with me."

Bella pushed her hips up harder to meet his thrusts, the familiar tingles making their way down her belly and into her core. She gasped, throwing her head back, her chest heaving wildly as she found her release. Edward still held her hands captive near the headboard, pressing her body deep into the mattress as he buried himself to the hilt. With a guttural cry, he came.

"Bella!" He was all things desperate and needy in that moment; exposed. He was naked in every sense of the word, needing Bella so much that he didn't care to hide it.

Exhausted, Edward slumped over Bella, their bodies drenched in sweat. He let go of her hands and caressed her leg, letting it drop off his shoulder. He kissed her forehead, nose, cheeks, eyelids, and lips. It took minutes for them both to catch their breaths.

Edward rolled over onto his back, bringing Bella into his chest and holding her. "That was definitely worth the wait." He pressed his lips to her hair. "I'm sorry I made you think I didn't want you. That's impossible. I was just being an idiot. You have no idea how much I had to masturbate in the shower."

Bella perked up. "Really? I should have joined you. I could have lent you a hand."

Edward felt his cock stirring again. "Don't get me started, love."

Bella laughed. "Okay, okay. I could use a rest, too. Your dick wears me out. I'll need to sleep it off until Friday just to recover."

"Hmm, I'm that good, huh?" He nudged one of his legs between her thighs, teasing her.

"Oh yeah." Bella waggled her eyebrows, a habit she'd picked up from Emmett.

Edward lay Bella on her back and hovered over her. "I'll give you a break, then. Don't want to overtax you." He took her hands and began lightly kissing them.

His eyes widened in horror.

"Oh my god!"

Bella jumped. "What is it?"

Edward sat up, remorse plaguing him. "Your wrists. Look what I did!" Indeed, Bella's wrists were an angry red. Bruises were already beginning to form.

"It's not a big deal, Edward." Bella tried to make him feel better. But he wasn't going for it.

"Of course it's a big deal." Edward said. "I hurt you. I can't believe I did that. I just restrained you and-and squeezed you. It's almost like I was raping you!"

Now that was ridiculous. "Edward, I loved it. I would have told you to let go if I didn't. We've done it rough before and there was never a problem."

Edward closed his eyes. Maybe she did like it, but the point was…he had hurt her. There were bruises to prove it. He should have been more careful. Considering all of the tantric sex they'd had not only just the two of them, but the four of them, it was surprising that Bella had never been injured in any way. Sure, she was sore a lot, but that was basically it. Even when they played rough…she didn't end up with bruised wrists. He really had been out of control.

"I was too rough with you." He dropped his head to her belly, ashamed.

Bella threaded her fingers through his messy hair. "No you weren't. You underestimate my level of kinkiness. I have no idea why since I've more than proven what a pervert I am." She hoped to lighten the mood, and it was working to a small degree. Edward relaxed against her, taking comfort in her soft skin and her steady breathing.

"That's true," he agreed, "you're not Miss. Vanilla, are you."

Bella settled the palms of her hands on Edward's smooth back, tracing his spine. "Remember that time I handcuffed Jasper to the bed?"

Edward snorted. "Yes. As I seem to recall, his eyes bugged out and he couldn't say a word."

"Well it was a surprise. He loved it, though. I think he secretly likes being dominated. Don't tell him I said that."

Edward smiled. "I won't." He willed his semi-erection to go away, but the memories of Bella riding Jasper with wild abandon excited him.

Bella sighed, feeling oddly contented despite the issues she had yet to conquer. "Edward…" Her hands stilled on his back.

He peered up at her. "Hmm?"

"I love you."

Edward's heart gave its usual thud every time she said that. It never failed to turn him into an emotional wreck. 'I love you' sounded so simple, so common because people said it all the time without meaning it, but when Bella said it, he knew she meant it, felt it, just like he did. His brothers had the same reactions. A day didn't go by when they weren't uttering those three little words to each other.

"Bella, I love you so much." Edward crawled up her body and embraced her.

"Do you think it's going well?" Emmett asked. He and Jasper has been waiting patiently on the couch for Edward and Bella to come out of the bedroom. They too were worried about what Bella's reaction would be and what she might say, if anything.

"I don't know, but I'm about ready to find out." Jasper said.

They'd been in there twenty minutes, and Jasper and Emmett were getting impatient.

"I don't think Edward will appreciate us barging in when he's having a heart-to-heart."

"No, but I want to know what's going on. Just because we can't be in there, doesn't mean we can't be privy to what's happening."

Emmett snorted. "Privy? Aren't we smart."

Jasper ignored him, leaping up from the couch. Emmett followed him, curious as to what his plan was. Jasper tended to be impulsive when it came to Bella, so his expectations were not high.

Jasper led the way outside, sneaking over to the bedroom window and ducking underneath. The curtains were open, thankfully, and the window was cracked open to let in fresh air. He had expected to hear fragments of a heartfelt conversation; what he heard instead was certainly not that.

I should have guessed. Jasper became slightly uncomfortable. The front of his pants strained. Judging by Emmett's reaction, he was in the same boat.

Yup, they were going at it. Hard. It seemed almost rude to eavesdrop on Edward and Bella's private time, but that didn't prevent Jasper and Emmett from keeping their feet glued to the ground by the window.

"I guess they're done talking." Emmett muttered. "Think Eddie would mind if we joined?"

Jasper was tempted, but Edward needed his alone time with Bella, and Jasper wasn't going to ruin it for him.

Even though he wanted to.

"Best not to." His hand wandered down to his bulge of its own accord. He touched himself through his jeans, savoring Bella's cries. He stood with his back flat against the house, out of sight but still able to hear. Jasper unzipped his jeans, dipping his hand inside and cupping himself. The sounds Bella made set the tempo that he pumped himself to. Emmett was doing the exact same thing a couple feet away. There was no shame or embarrassment between either. Hell, they'd been having foursomes for the better part of three years. They were way past the point of being embarrassed.

"God Bella, look what you're doing to me."

They got louder, more desperate, and when Bella and Edward came, so did Emmett and Jasper. They were quick to right themselves and dash back into the house so as not to be caught peeping. Edward and Bella were more likely to notice them there now that they weren't in the throes of passion. Bella likely wouldn't mind, but Edward would.

Edward and Bella didn't emerge from the bedroom for another ten minutes, during which time Jasper started preparing dinner (after washing the jizz off his hands). Emmett was in the recliner waiting for Bella.

Both came out looking thoroughly fucked. Bella's eyes were a little puffy. She had obviously been crying. Emmett was a little steamed that Edward had made her cry, but he supposed it couldn't be helped. He watched her, worried.

Did she tell Edward what was going on with her?

Edward seemed to know what he was thinking, for when he entered the room and caught Emmett's eye, he shook his head as if to say 'no', and walked into the kitchen. Emmett frowned, disappointed. He got happy again as soon as Bella was in his sight and coming towards him.

"Hey baby." Emmett opened his arms to her. She beamed, sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. She was only wearing one of Edward's shirts and a pair of panties, and her hair was perfectly messy.

Fucking hot!

"You look happy." Emmett commented. He wasn't just talking about now. When they'd walked through the door after work she'd been in a good mood, which was not how she usually was. It typically took longer to get her happy-ish again. Today she was…normal. Like she was before the semester began. He wondered what had changed.

Bella never ceased to be a mystery, Emmett thought.

"I am happy." Bella pressed her lips to his. She blushed all of a sudden, prompting Emmett's curiosity.

"Bella?"

She looked down at her lap.

"I'm sorry I've been so difficult lately." She met his eyes. "I know I haven't been easy, and I know it's my fault. But I promise everything is okay. It really is. I just have some issues that I'm having trouble shaking. I'm going back to therapy as soon as I can get an appointment."

Emmett sat there stunned. He hadn't expected her to say any of that. "Bella, you haven't been difficult." He cupped her cheek with his hand. "We've been worried about because you've been…less happy. And we hate that. All we want is for you to be happy and content. I guess you don't want to tell me what these "issues" are?"

Please tell me!

"That wouldn't be a good idea right now." Bella said.

"You don't trust me?" Emmett didn't bother hiding his hurt.

"No! That's not it at all!" Bella insisted.

"Then what is it?"

"Oh…this is going to sound stupid." Bella groaned.

"Nah, everything you say sounds interesting, but never stupid. Tell Papa Emmett what you mean." He poked her bellybutton.

Bella laughed. "Right, well…the thing is that my so-called "issues" aren't even real issues, they're just figments of my imagination or something. I make them a big deal and blow them out of proportion. The silly thing is they are nothing, I'm sure of it. It's nothing compared to my father or Victor. Now they were real problems…" She trailed off, blushing harder. "Does any of that make sense?"

Emmett nodded. He didn't want to negate anything she had said, but he knew his Bella. Nothing was a figment of her imagination. That was probably her way of explaining away something that she didn't want to admit was true. He could see why. After the ordeal they all went through three years ago, no one was exactly eager to rock the boat.

The bottom line was this: if Bella thought that something was wrong, then there was. Hearing her doubt herself and deny her own instincts was worrisome. She thought she was causing trouble, but that was ridiculous. Trouble was attracted to Bella, not the other way around.

"It's okay, Bella, we'll get through it together. And you're already smiling again, so that's progress." Emmett made sure to sound as upbeat as he possibly could, and it worked.

Bella kissed his lips again. "You're right about that. I feel good. And I promise that I won't let myself go back to that miserable twit I've been." She hugged him. Emmett hid his face in her hair. He concealed his emotions, not wanting to let on just how much more worried he was than he had been a few minutes earlier.

Bella was back to criticizing herself and making herself out to be a bad person when she was the exact opposite of that. She used to do that sometimes when she was feeling her most vulnerable, but she'd gotten past it. Or so he thought.

That was a clear sign to Emmett that something was most definitely wrong.

The rest of the week flew by. Bella finished what was left of her classes, and she was happier the whole week, much to their glee and astonishment. It was as if nothing had ever been wrong.

Edward scheduled her in for an appointment with the therapist the following week.

And with that they officially started their summer.

A/N Hope you liked it! Please review and have a great weekend!