CHAPTER 4

Bella POV

Pin-drop silence encompassed me, and I hated it. The inability to distinguish between reality and my thoughts left behind a single emotion in me.

Fear.

Thoughts ran wild in my head, and I wondered if I was even alive. Maybe there wasn't a reality. Perhaps death didn't mean Heaven or Hell, but nothingness. If the soul didn't exist, then when we died, there would be nothing left but a bunch of bones and rotting flesh.

I wanted to scream, voicing my displeasure of this timeless space, but no one would hear it. No one. Nothing. Nowhere.

Time passed.

Perhaps it was minutes. Maybe it was days. I didn't know.

But as time crawled by, the pain amplified in strength. With every brush of wind, the flames extended, reaching further. With every breath I took, it continued to consume, stretching far and wide, lapping at my skin with its fiery breath.

With its every touch, I awakened.

There wasn't much to go on. There wasn't much of a difference. I focused on my breaths. The puffs of air that flowed in and out of my mouth.

After a hundred and twenty-one counts, I gathered enough strength to open my eyes. It was like in the movies when the heroine's eyes slowly flutter open. It took a while for me to adjust to my environment, the lack of light. As my mind grew more alert, memories started filtering in.

Scorching heat traveled down the length of my torso, taking my every molecule to the brink of explosion. It moved in a teasing manner from the valley between my breasts to my hips. I squirmed under its torturous touch, and my brain caught up quickly with the fact that that there was no pain or burn that the fire left behind. Instead, it was a delicious heat that was devouring me.

I shifted in an attempt to control this heat until I realized I couldn't move. I was tied down, wrists and ankles bound.

"You know, it's no use. You can't break metal." A deep, masculine voice taunted me.

Handcuffs.

That was when I realized what was happening, why it was completely dark. We'd talked about this before, a while ago, when we were sharing fantasies. I'd told him that I wanted to try this; I'd described the scene to him, how it played out in my head. A warm buzz filled me, and I squirmed in anticipation.

Edward chuckled again – his beautiful laugh. "Look at you, so excited. I bet you dreamed about this, didn't you? You being completely and utterly at my mercy. You'll have to do everything I say if you want to be free. Are you willing to do that, Angel?" His voice was rough.

I blinked for a moment, shocked by the change in his demeanor. Gone was the gentle, loving boyfriend I knew. Dear Lord, what had I gotten myself into?

I gasped when I felt a cool, firm object slap the skin on my pubic bone. The jolt of pain quickly turned to pleasure, leaving behind a strange, welcomed buzz throughout my body. My curiosity spiked, and I wished I could see. But of course, Mr. Perfectionist had to be thorough and had blindfolded me.

"Answer me, Angel. You don't want to me to actually hurt you, do you? Speak," he sneered.

"No... Master. Please." I was unable to keep the huskiness out of my tone, but I doubt he minded.

"You're polite. I like that, Angel. Trust me when I say it'll go in your favor as the night proceeds." His words were a silky whisper like water rolling over smooth rocks. I bit my lip to withhold a moan.

"You know, Angel, I must admit, you look absolutely stunning. But since you can't witness your own beauty tonight, I shall describe to you what I see. Did you know that you are resting on a navy blue cot? Can you feel the cool, smooth leather against your pale skin? You certainly look heavenly today, Angel. Your coffee-color hair is twisted like tree roots surrounding your heart-shaped face. And that blush…"

A warm breeze tickled my nose, and I realized that he was closer now. "Your lips are so red, love, like raspberries," he whispered. My heart pounded. He was so close; I needed him closer. I felt his breath on my lips.

Kiss me.

I tilted my head upward to catch his lips, but he slipped away with a deep chuckle. The cool, firm object made a reappearance, this time right in between my breasts. Edward dragged it down to my hipbone. It left behind a strange feeling in me; I was filled with a wicked want and anticipation, something I've never felt before.

"Do you want to know what I'm holding in my hand, love?" His voice was husky, deeper. I bet he was hard. I grew slicker at the thought of grabbing his thick, hard cock in my hands and running my tongue along its underside. But then I remembered that he asked a question and nodded in reply.

"A purple riding crop. Purple's your favorite, isn't it, Angel? Oh, I wish you could see how beautiful the crop looks against your milky-white skin. It's as if you were born to be in this position." He moved the flat end of the riding crop upward, skimming it right above my skin, until it was directly above my right breast. A light tap was all it took for my nipple to harden under its smooth surface. That small action sent thousands of pleasure signals to my brain, overloading it until I became an incoherent mess.

He tortured me in that manner for a few minutes, or perhaps it was longer. I wasn't sure, too lost in the bliss. I could almost imagine him, his cock getting harder with every reaction I had. Before too long, I knew that I was squirming. I neededhim to touch me. I wanted to feel his warm hand on my skin, taking me to the brink and back.

He gave me what I wanted, I realized, as I felt his wet, hot lips clamp over my left breast. I gasped as he sucked on my nipple and I pulled against my binds, needing to touch him in return.

"Edward." His name was punctuated with a long moan as he began to play my other nipple with his fingers. My breath fell out in short puffs.

"You taste so good, Angel," he groaned against my breast, licking and sucking every part of it. "Like fresh strawberries."

A deep shudder went through me, and my heartbeat hitched when I felt his hand move further down.

"Edward...Edward, please!" He couldn't tease me about this, not now. I needed him too much. He slipped a finger into me. "Edward!"

My eyes shot open, and I flinched against the bright sunlight filtering through our room. A wave of pleasure rocked through me, and I gasped.

"What were you dreaming about, beautiful?" a low, throaty voice commanded, and I snapped my head down to see Edward's messy mop of various reds in between my legs. I shivered as he added another finger, pumping them in and out.

"You... Us." I gasped, having absolutely no control over my breathing. What a way to wake up!

"And what exactly were we doing? It sounded great." He winked at me, crooked grin in place, and I wondered what I did to deserve this man.

"I love you," I whispered.

His grin widened as he curled his fingers inside me, hitting thatspot, drawing the most sensual emotions within me. My fingers grasped the bed sheets into a tight fist as I moaned like a porn star, my head burying in the pillows, my back arched.

"So good. So fucking good." More, I needed more. With the accuracy of a telepath, Edward bent down to suck my clit into his bright pink lips before licking the entire length of my sex.

Oh God...

Jesus…fucking…Christ.

He sucked, licked and bit my clit until I felt the beginnings of my climax descend upon me. I focused on the feelings his fingers enticed within me as the waves of climax toppled over me, drowning me in ecstasy. I chanted his name as he continued his ministrations. He'd gotten so good.

I slipped my fingers into his silky locks to make sure he didn't go anywhere as I rocked against his soft lips and taut jaw, riding out my climax. Once he seemed sure that I was spent, he slowly rose, dropping light kisses on my skin until he reached my lips.

A wide grin stretched on his lips to match his twinkling eyes. "Good morning, beautiful."

"I missed you," I whispered, slipping my fingers around him and pulling him closer. He'd been so busy at the hospital, trying to please everyone. Even with the bright smile and happy demeanor, I could still see the bags under his eyes, even after a night's sleep. I traced his fatigued face, wishing that he would've sent me a text when he left the hospital; I would've gotten up and cooked something fresh for him.

He snorted lightly, as if he was reading my mind, and leaned down to plant a firm yet soft kiss on my lips before I could voice my thoughts. Five years and I was still as in love with him as in the beginning. I tightened my hold around his neck because I never wanted to let him go. Pressing my lips against his, I was suddenly desperate to show him my love. He pulled my bottom lip into his mouth, angling his head to the left to get closer. His breath was burning hot against me. I traced his upper lip with my tongue and released my clutch on his hair to cup his face.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The incessant sound of my alarm pierced through the air, causing us to jump apart. We glanced at the clock and then each other before bursting out laughing. He rolled onto his back, chortling as my breath came out in choking gasps. I swear that alarm had THE WORST timing ever. Let's just say that that wasn't the first (or I was certain, the last) time it had cock-blocked us, but it meant well, so we kept it. Not to mention, we'd be out of jobs and have no education without that damn thing.

I sighed. "I suppose that's my cue."

"Yeah, and as much as I liked tasting you…" He yawned largely, already closing his eyes for a few more minutes of sleep.

Hmmm. There was always tonight, I promised myself.

I kissed Edward one last time—on his forehead—before hauling my ass out of bed and into the bathroom. I put on my sports bra, an old ratty t-shirt and shorts, splashed my face with water and brushed my teeth. Edward was fast asleep again by the time I came out, so I quietly tiptoed my way across the room. He had to go in around lunch, so I knew he'd be catching as much sleep as possible before he got ready—he'd come in late the night before.

After that, everything was routine. I did my normal mile jog around town before returning home. I took a quick shower, grinned at a still-sleeping Edward, and stuffed my bag with all the materials I needed for today's class. It was an hour-long lecture about the history of art with in-depth analysis, again. I picked the class to be in the morning, so that I could have the evening to myself.

I was the third one to arrive to the class, and I picked a seat in the far back. My hearing was completely fine and Professor Gongora absolutely loved me. I kept myself awake during the class by texting Angela, who was in Intro to Theater Arts—God knows why—and playing Temple Run on my iPhone. With immense concentration that should have been focused on the class, I beat my high score by seven points. I tuned back into Professor Gongora's droning voice at the end of the class to catch the homework assignment, and I smiled at her on the way out.

I was taking a little detour to drop off my paper to Professor Marcus when Edward called, frantic, demanding that I go home. Apparently, there was a tornado warning going around. I huffed a little at his protectiveness before distracting him enough for me to pick my "groceries" at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory and return the recipe book at Stephano's. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. The weather was pretty nasty outside after a while.

I remembered getting home safely and wanting to work on my third paper of the week. But I never got to it. I remembered the tornado, the winds, the panic, the roar. I remembered the shoes and Felix and Jasper. Alice was with him, us. Alice, my sister—my eight-and-a-half-month-pregnant sister was with us when the tornado hit, destroying our home.

Holy fucking shit!

I shot up straight and shuddered when pain exploded down my back. A choked cry left my clenched teeth while tears gathered in my eyes. I took a deep breath, trying not to scream, trying to see in the dark. Alice! I needed to find her and Jasper.

Dear God, please let them be okay.

I stood up gingerly, careful not to jolt my back too hard. Blinking constantly to clear my eyes of tears, I limped through the pile of broken cement, feeling with my hands. There was no light; I figured the debris must be blocking the sunlight, and I doubted the light bulb that was connected to the ceiling worked. What I wouldn't have given for a flashlight then.

I stumbled around, trying to get adjusted to the lack of light and to reach a wall for support. Though I wasn't really sure how, after a while I was able to make out at least large shapes in the dark. Most were jagged edges. I couldn't see any human forms on the ground. I even got down on my stomach to get a better view. Of course, I almost bit off my bottom lip trying to hold in a scream from the pain, but Alice came first.

A soft noise to my left distracted me from my search, and I scrambled back in fright. "Hello? Jasper? Alice?" I didn't think there was anyone else there with us. "Jasper?"

I slowly moved closer toward the initial noise, wondering if there'd be more. I tried to use my hands to guide me through the darkness, but I ended up tripping anyway. While I sat there waiting for the bursting flames to diminish, I reached out, searching for the rock that tripped me. I only felt sand, gravel, and chunks of what I assumed to be cement, until I accidentally brushed over a softer item. I pressed against it harder, feeling out its texture and shape. After a minute of examination, I concluded that that thing was a hand.

I inhaled deeply. Now to see if the hand is attached to something.

I scooted forward until the hand was comfortably within reach before I began to scrape the gravel of it. Many of the pieces were easily movable though they varied extremely in size. I had shoved most of the pieces to the ground, when I felt something shift near me. Touching the palm of the hand, I followed it as it expanded into an entire person. It took me a little time to realize that the person was on his/her stomach, but once I did, I attempted to get them on their back. As I was pulling the person's arm, I became aware of the fact that it wasn't only one person. There were two people, I concluded, and from what I could see and sense, one was covering the other. This had to Jasper and Alice.

A sudden panic settled in me, and I jerked their hands around while screaming their names.

They were okay. They had to be okay. Please, God, let them be okay. Let them wake up.

A small grunt sent a wave of relief over me, and I began slapping their faces lightly.

"Alice! Jasper! Wake up! Where are you hurt?" I continued to panic until I heard a rough whisper, begging me to stop. I squinted through the darkness, trying to find something that'd help, but it was futile. I couldn't see a thing.

"Be-ll?" The word was hoarse and choked.

It's okay. He's okay.

I closed my eyes to control the tears.

"Jazzy!" I reached out to touch him. I needed to know he was okay.

"Bella, you...okay?" he rasped, his voice breathless.

"Yes! Yes! Alice?"

He cleared his throat. "She's right here. She's... fine. I made sure... she was."

"And you, you're alright?"

He scoffed and then coughed vehemently. "As fine as I can be, I suppose. What happened back there?"

"A tornado," I replied, flatly.

"No shit." I could almost hear him rolling his eyes. "But the stairs were supposed to hold up."

I shrugged before remembering that I had landed on a bunch of sharp rocks, and that they'd left behind their mark.

"Bella, what's wrong?" Jasper had heard the hiss I couldn't hold back.

"Nothing, nothing, I just... it's a few scratches."

"There should be a first-aid kit in the box." I heard him shifting closer.

"The box?"

The shuffling stopped. "The box with the emergency supplies. The one that Edward spent a week putting together, remember that?"

Oh riiight. "I do now." How could I have forgotten?

"Do you know where it is?"

"He said it'd be in a corner. The farthest one from the stairs."

Jasper sighed. "Alrighty then." I heard him moving again, this time away from me. Suddenly, he groaned in pain.

"What! What happened?" I scurried toward him.

"Nothing... nothing. Just a couple of scratches," he gasped out.

"You're not bleeding too much, are you?"

"No, I don't think so. You?"

"I think I'm fine."

"Okay, okay, good. Now to find the emergency kit." He crawled around for a bit, ordering me to stay put when I tried to help. From the sound of it, he was moving alongside of a wall, and he was going to follow it until he found the box. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it. Edward spent days on it, making sure everything that anyone could ever need in case of an emergency was in there. I was very surprised that it even fit in one box.

I stretched to find Ali's hand in the dark and scooted closer to her. I felt around, trying to find her face, and when I did, I placed my finger under her nose. A tidal wave of relief washed over me when I felt a hot breath against my clammy finger.

She's okay, alive. We're all going to be okay.

I chanted the mantra in my mind to keep myself calm. I knew that was what Alice would have wanted me to do. Holding her hand like she'd once held mine, I brushed Ali's hair out of her face while remembering that time we got lost in the woods.

"Ali, where are we?" I asked for the gazillionth time and in my defense, I would've totally stopped if Ali would've just told me. "Do you even know?"

Ali huffed, rolling her pretty brown eyes. We both had the same brown eyes, but somehow they were prettier on her. "I know where we're going, munchie. Just wait, you'll see Daddy in a sec."

But that second turned into hours and before we knew it, it was dark, and we were jumpy. I was holding Ali's hand as we passed the same tree—again.

"Ali, that's the fifteenth time we passed that tree." I pointed to the pine tree with the broken branch that was grazing the forest floor. "I think we're lost," I whimpered.

Ali sighed before crouching down in front of me. She smiled as she wiped away my tears. "Yes, we're lost. But we have to keep going, 'kay? Daddy's out there, looking for us."

"But what if he isn't? What if he gave up and went home to sleep?" I knew he'd never do that, but I had to know for sure.

Ali simply laughed and pulled me in for a tight hug. "We're gonna be okay. I promise. Until then, I want you to be calm and brave. Okay?" she said, in such an adult voice that I knew I had to obey, so I nodded and until Daddy found us, I didn't cry or bug Ali about where we were.

A loud bang brought me out of my reverie, and I flinched as I heard Jasper curse. I was about to ask him if he was alright when he yelled, "Found it!"

I heard him start to dig through the box. A few seconds passed and then there was a golden circle with a halo around it against the wall.

I cheered as Jazz rolled a flashlight toward me.

My first thought was to flash the light over Ali, and once I saw that she wasn't bleeding badly, just some cuts and abrasions here and there, and that she just seemed to be sleeping, I drew a deep breath of relief.

"Jazz, she seems fine."

I heard his breath exhale. Needing to focus on something, I asked, "What else is in there?"

He snickered. "You know, just enough supplies to last us for a year." He'd been there when Edward went just-in-case crazy.

"Got any food?" I said just as my stomach cramped. Suddenly, I wondered just how long we'd been passed out. Since we couldn't really see outside, there was no real way to figure out what time it was. It was a bit cooler than I remembered, so I guessed it was probably somewhere near ten o'clock.

"Yep." He chucked a tiny package at me, and I flashed the light at it to see that it was a packet of fruit snacks. I ripped it open and tossed a couple in my mouth, taking the time to really look around.

The basement looked like a bomb had exploded in it, and I shuddered to see the sharp pieces of metal sticking out here and there. I'd been dumb to be moving around without the light… but really, what other choice had there been? Considering there had been no light coming from above, I had to assume we were well and truly stuck.

The snacks were good, but I was still hungry. "Do you have anything healthier?" I wasn't a complete health nut, but some nutrients were probably a good idea after what'd just happened.

"I have crackers and dried fruit. And water."

"Gimme the fruit and water, please." Once I stuffed them into my mouth and washed it all down with water, I decided to look for my phone. Though I might not get reception down here, I could at least see the time. With my new best friend, Bob the flashlight, I set out on the mission to find it.

However, the mission ended when I saw that my phone wasn't really a phone anymore. I bent down to pick up the scraps of metal, wondering how the fuck these could possibly turn into a rectangular piece of technology. I sighed.

Well. I suppose that's that.

Another look back to Ali, and I trudged back to where Jasper was still looking through the bin. All around him was... stuff. I could spot everything from Swiss Army knives to water bottles to first-aid kits to a deck of cards. I grabbed the deck of cards because it felt like we'd be here forever and this could at least be a bit fun. A distraction was certainly something we needed.

A/N: I'd love to know your thoughts.