Chapter Four – In the Grass
Isabella's disbelieving smile widened. "Are you telling me that you've never taken the time to have lunch in the park in the last eight years since you've moved your company here?"
I shook my head, tossing a grape into my mouth.
"But you work right across the street!" She was a lively one, at least once she allowed herself to relax and not have her guard up. Isabella Swan was passionate about many things. Food was being one of them, as evident by the few key items she gathered from the local venues to have a simple picnic in a matter of ten minutes.
Together, we sat on a blanket she usually kept in her car for such spontaneous outings and shared her impromptu lunch with me. It wasn't a five-star meal, but it was fulfilling and entertaining, to say the least. She charmed me out of my shoes and socks so that I could relax even further within a minute of arriving.
I looked around. "It is rather nice out here." There wasn't a cloud while I looked up at the clear blue sky. "I haven't the time for these types of outings for lunch, Ms. Swan." I never had the inclination ever to try either.
Her nose scrunched a little as if she didn't like me to address her so formally. "Call me Bella."
I said her informal name aloud, causing the corners of her sexy mouth to twitch up slightly. I had hoped for a reaction of some kind. She hadn't so much as batted an eyelash in my direction after she pulled me away from work. The kiss in my office had left us both wanting, but she hadn't mentioned it since it happened. It made me wonder if it hadn't been a figment of my lustful imagination.
I licked the corner of my mouth and there, I still had the taste of her lips. No, the kiss had been real. Mingled along with the grapes, wine, and chicken, her flavor was unmistakable. I had wanted more from the moment she pulled away from our kiss. I hated that I dwelled on it, while it seemed she had forgotten about it.
She had kissed me back and her mouth, her body was put into that kiss. There was no way that it was all me. It was disconcerting, the woman had me in knots, and yet she acted as if it was an everyday occurrence for her to kiss someone as she had.
I plucked my phone from my jacket pocket and typed out a text to Banner. The man had never failed to obtain every bit of information on someone. I wanted to know everything about Bella's past and that included more information on all the damn assholes before me.
Was I being a little possessive? Hell yes.
A little crazy? Possibly.
Cautious? Absolutely.
I had to be.
Before I could hit send, Bella pulled my phone from my hand and tossed it to the corner of the blanket, out of my reach. Before I could protest, she hovered above me, smiling, with her thighs on either side of my hips. Her position made me instantly forget about what I was about to do.
"You work too hard, Mr. Masen." The hushed tone of her voice put me on an edge, her lips an inch above mine.
There was no helping my groan as I pulled her mouth into another heart-stopping kiss. Insanity, that was the only way to explain the deep, gnawing need to consume the woman before me. However, my desire for her was not only a need to devour but to conquer and claim her.
Insanity and lust were two things that could drive any man to make mistakes. I had already made a costly one. She had come to me willingly, but it was after she found out all about me. Found out how much I was worth, and my bank account did often cause women to throw themselves at me.
I tugged on the back of her head, pulling her by the hair, bordering on the pain I was sure, though her face was composed as ever. Her nails bit into my shoulders, causing pleasure to run down my spine. "You're teasing me. You couldn't stand me this morning, why is that, Isabella?"
She laughed throatily and pushed her hips closer to mine. I barely managed to contain the guttural groan from escaping me. "I was attracted to you at the boxing club, but you were staring at me like I should drop to my knees and suck your dick just because you took the time to notice me." She emphasized every word with the tightening of her hands on me and a roll of her hips.
I pulled her head closer, watching the fire I'd seen before ignite. She was livid for the accusation in my voice, which made her appeal to me more. No one had stood up to me as she had on more than one occasion.
She continued her little rant, teasing me with another roll of her hips over my covered cock. "I called you on it and you still acted like your shit didn't stink, threatening my cousin's job, to have me arrested. I don't like cocky assholes that think they're better than everyone."
I bit her bottom lip, soothing it with the tip of my tongue. "Don't you? You're on my lap right now. Tell me, were you willing to fuck me before or after you found out what I was worth?"
She laughed again and didn't stop for several moments. Her body started to relax in my hold. "Edward, there are a billion reasons why I shouldn't give you the time of day."
I stilled, released her hair, and took her chin in my hand. Forcing her to look at me again, I asked her to repeat herself. Eye to eye, she said those words again.
"My money bothers you?" She nodded slowly, but my eyes narrowed. "You're saying what you think I want to hear." I pushed her off my lap and onto the blanket beneath us.
Bella sat back, propped up on her hands, her long legs extended in front of her. "I told you I was merely curious as to why someone like you would try his hand in blackmail."
She smirked as she paused long enough for me to growl in response. She knew exactly how to play me and I didn't like it.
Her nonchalant shrug offended me. "I was also intrigued on why a man like you, who could have any woman he wanted, decides to take interest in little ol' me." She shrugged again and averted her eyes again.
It hurt her to confess such a thing, admitting she couldn't understand my attraction to her. She had no idea how much she unmanned me. It would be in my best interest to ensure that she never found out.
She continued though, holding up her chin as her eyes again met mine. "There is also the fact that someone like you, with all that money, may think he has the right to hurt me because of all that money and power."
She'd been hurt before, by someone that could buy her everything, but give her nothing she really wanted.
I mentally went through her file and sure enough, Alec V. Williams, a local real estate mogul was one of her exes. He would've been the man she spoke of, and likely the father of her son. She had never listed his name on the birth certificate.
Shifting so that I was hovering over her beautiful body, aware that despite the fact that we were off the beaten path in the park, someone could come upon us. Not that it would make a difference to me. Close to the source of her delectable scent, I murmured against her ear, "I want you."
She moaned softly, her undulating hips moved in a slow, torturous roll under my own. However, I had to get myself under control, managing to pull away a few seconds later. She smiled. "You want me, but you want to trust me first?"
"No, I really want to sink my cock deep inside your pretty mouth." I waited for either a slap or a tasty little moan. I would've preferred the former, only because my control would snap with the latter and I'd fuck her in the middle of broad daylight and not give a damn if she'd regret it later or if it ended up on page six.
She licked her lips slowly and her lids lowered a fraction of an inch, giving a sexy, heated quality to her eyes. It was then that I realized I was in way over my head. There was little resisting her.
Her eyes lingered on my own mouth before descending over every inch of me. It felt like she was exploring me with the tips of her fingers.
I had to get a hold of the situation quickly, moving away from her fully. The impromptu picnic was packed up within a minute, her soft laughter her only reaction. Thankfully, she gave me no comment and offered a hand. Once we disposed of the trash and I put on my shoes, I'd taken her hand and walked back to the office.
There, she grabbed her file on my desk. "You have my number, Mr. Masen." She kissed my cheek, the tips of her fingers sliding down the center of my chest and tapping my belt twice. My cock's reaction couldn't be contained once again, which made her smirk. "If you'd like to explore this further, give me a call."
Before I could react, she was gone.
.
.
.
For three days, I tried my best to forget Bella Swan. All the while, I prepared my home for the little temptress. I knew she was allergic to peanuts, so I had everything that contained peanuts or peanut oil thrown out of my apartment. I had even subconsciously ordered new linens in her favorite colors.
She was fucking with my mind. I knew she could call at any time, but she left the decision to me. Why? She knew I was worried about the reason she wanted me, so she put the ball in my court.
She wasn't considered wealthy, though she made enough to live comfortably. Her portfolio clearly indicated that she liked to save her money and would live nicely when she retired. Once she had quite a bit of money from an inheritance, enough for her to splurge and take care of herself for years without having to work.
Years earlier, she bought a house, fixed it up, and flipped it easily, making a tidy profit instead of spending all her money on some frivolous as most would. Within two years, she doubled her inheritance and donated half of it to various charities and created a college and trust fund for her son.
The woman was too good to be true.
Women like her wanted what I couldn't give her – love, marriage, and kids. Yes, I wanted a nice, monogamous relationship with a woman; however, I felt I'd never find someone that would allow me to open up further or hold my interests long enough.
Frustrated with the constant thoughts of her running through my mind, I cursed. I was never going to get her out of my system until I fucked her. For that, I had to make a move, something subtle where she'd have to make the next one. I had never given that kind of control to a woman, but I was curious to see what she would do. Pulling up Banner's name in my cell, I made a call since I needed more information on the delectable Bella Swan.
