Chapter 4
"Okay. He's hot. I'll give you that," Rose says, staring out the window at Bella's… Well, she isn't sure what he is. Emmett is having a chat with him. Edward doesn't look at all intimidated by her husband. Emmett actually looks pretty nervous.
Alice frowns. "I can't believe you moved this guy in with you."
"Honestly, this situation is win-win, really," Bella shrugs.
"How so?" Rose turns from the window as her husband and Edward laugh about something. Odd.
"Well, I want a baby."
"Is he giving you a baby as a trade off?" Alice questions quickly.
"Don't be crazy."
"Bella, please tell me you're using protection with this guy."
Bella looks away.
"Holy shit! You've lost your mind. She's lost her mind, Rose," Alice then says to Rosalie.
"Calm down, Alice. You're upsetting Henry." The baby wails on cue.
Rosalie's happy that Alice has to take Henry out. "So." She crosses her arms. "Is Edward aware that you're going to use him to get a baby?"
"I'm not going to actively do it." Bella tries and fails to defend herself.
"So you'll use condoms?"
"No."
"Bella help me out here, because I'm going to end up on Alice's side, which never happens."
Bella smiles a bit. "He's going to stay here and do work on the house. He just wants to rest before he hits the road again. If I get pregnant, it will be perfect."
"Don't you think, as a lawyer, you should inform him of your plan?"
"It might not work."
"And you might be knocked up."
"Either way, after he goes ‒ if I am or if I'm not ‒ I won't see him again, so…" Bella just shrugs.
"I knew you shouldn't have gone out with the slut trio."
"Rose, be happy. This is a good chance for me to have a baby."
"Bella, I just don't think you should deceive him."
She sighs. "I just… I want a child, and if it happens while he's staying here, so be it."
"I don't want you to get a disease from him."
"I know."
"You don't know him."
"I know," Bella says, looking away. She doesn't want to know him. She doesn't need to. And he doesn't need to know her or know what she has planned.
"Nice meeting you, man." Emmett shakes hands with Edward. "Good luck with this place."
Edward laughs and glances at Bella. She has pretty nice friends. The ladies are giving him the stink eye. He gets it, but he's not put off by it.
He has the spare room at her place. He starts work tomorrow, a Monday. She informed him that she leaves for work early. She also runs in the morning before that. He went out and used his money to buy some personal items. He'll be staying longer than three weeks, so he needs more than a change of clothing. He'll most likely donate it before he hits the road again.
Bella walks into the kitchen and gives him a tight smile. She's unsure about the living together, but they aren't together. It's a bit strange.
"Do you want to go over what you want done?"
"Sure. Let me get my list," Bella says before rushing to the living room and into her desk drawer.
He's sitting at her kitchen table when she returns with a file. "Christ, Bella."
"Naturally, I don't expect you to stay and do it all, but I need to know what's been done and still needs doing," she says before flipping the binder open.
Edward scans over it. "You are really… thorough," he says, choosing his words wisely. She's letting him stay here after all. Even though she's getting something from it, he's still a stranger in her home.
Slowly, they go through the work that needs immediate attention. Bella has kindly color coded the important tasks in red.
"Enough." He takes the binder and shuts it.
Bella jumps at his voice.
"Enough talking about your plans." He stands, taking her hips in his hands and lifting her onto the table.
"Edward, I don't think‒"
"Are we back to thinking and planning again?" He nuzzles her throat. "You smell good."
"Shower. You should try one." She pokes at him. He's been here two nights, one night officially, and they slept together both times. She's yet to see him shower.
"Do I smell?"
"No." In fact, he smells amazing. It is so odd. He's sweaty from being outside and sweaty from their sex, but he smells good. Great.
"Shall we shower now?" He sucks on her throat, and her hands are on his shoulders.
Quickly, he pulls back and pulls off his shirt. It needs to go into the laundry anyway. His new clothing is in his room. He'll wear something after a shower with Bella. His shirt is dropped to the floor.
Bella stares at him, her mouth open as she looks at his bare chest. Perfect. Her eyes take in all of his tattoos. She's never seen so many in one place before. They're like another skin on him. They've marred his skin, and yet they look very much in place. He's younger than her, she knows this, but by how much, she can't say. His body's very virile and healthy, but looks can be deceiving. Her hopes are that they aren't in this case. He's the perfect specimen.
"Just Bella."
"Stop it," she whines.
Edward smiles at her.
"Wicked," she mutters, leaning in and kissing him.
"I've never…" She pants in the shower. The water is beating down on them. Water pressure is not something that needs to be fixed in her house.
He doesn't wait. Instead, he thrusts up into her from behind.
Bella drops her forehead against the tiles, and her hands slide up, reaching and gripping for support.
Edward wraps an arm around her stomach, pulling her back close to his chest as he pushes up, deeper.
"Oh, God," she whimpers. Her hands go around his neck, holding him.
He smiles with his towel around his middle. "Get dressed." She's funny, a bit odd, but cute as well. "How old are you, Just Bella?"
"Do you think you should be asking a lady that?" She's standing in her robe in her bedroom.
"I think you need to fucking tell me." His words are harsh, but his tone is anything but.
"35. You?"
"27."
"That was…" She can't even describe what just took place in the bathroom.
Edward agrees with a nod, and just like that, the age conversation is over.
"We can order pizza for dinner," she offers.
"Sounds good. I'll be out in a bit."
"Me, too." She nods towards her dresser.
Edward turns and leaves her standing in her room, confused by the situation but still liking it.
Thanks a bunch again to MariahajilE
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