Chapter 3

I sat across from Eddie in a booth toward the back at the diner. Edward was supposed to have joined us, but he'd been called into the office for an emergency. It was rare for him to be called in on the weekend, especially on a Sunday.

Edward had a knack for marketing, just like his father Carlisle, and once he'd completed his degree, he joined the family company, Cullen Media. Even though his father owned and ran the company, Edward worked hard to prove himself and work his way from the bottom up. Now, he sat as one of the chief marketing officers. His hours were long, but he loved his job.

Edward used to hope that one day Eddie would follow in his and Carlisle's footsteps; as undecided as he was about his future, Eddie knew he wanted to do anything but marketing.

I tilted my head to the side, staring at him. "How are you, honestly? Have you met anyone at school?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm... okay. Sometimes I regret not going to UW with you. I miss seeing you every day, but I needed to put a little distance between me and dad. I want to know that I'm making the best choices for me, without feeling like I'm disappointing him."

"I get that, but I think he'd be happy with whatever you choose to do."

He gave me a small smile. "Maybe, but you don't know him like I do. For most of my life, he and Grandpa have been hoping I'd change my mind and follow them."

I nodded, even though I knew his dad way better than he thought. Edward had spoken to me late one night a few weeks ago, confiding in me how he'd be happy if Eddie came to work for him. At the same time, what mattered to him most was that his son was fulfilled.

I kicked Eddie lightly under the table. "You avoided my other question; have you met anyone?"

"What? Like a girlfriend?"

I shrugged. "A girlfriend, or just friends in general."

"I'm not looking for a girlfriend while I'm there." He stared at me, and I had to avert my eyes. My stomach turned with the thought of how I was deceiving him. "But, I've met a couple of people who could be good friends. What about you?"

I sighed, glancing up at him. "Yeah, there's someone."

"Oh." He turned to look out the window for a moment. "Really? You didn't date at all in high school, but you're in college for a few months and you find someone?"

"There wasn't anyone in high school I was interested in like that." I wanted to take the words back as soon as they left my lips. The look of pure pain that crossed his features made me realize just why Edward wasn't ready to tell him. It was going to break him.

After that, we finished our lunch in uncomfortable silence.

—GG—

That night, I crawled under the covers next to Edward. I was happy to be able to lay next to him again, but the events of Eddie's visit kept swirling in my head. "Edward?" I whispered, checking to see if he was still awake.

"Yeah, baby?" He rolled over, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close to him.

"If you knew that Eddie—sorry, Junior— was in love with me, why were you okay with being with me? I mean, he's your son; why would you do that?"

"Were you ever going to love him the way he loves you, Bella? Were you ever going to return his feelings?"

I laid there silently for a moment, thinking over what he'd asked. Eddie was cute, he was sweet and would do anything for someone he cared about, but I just never saw him like that. I'd never once thought of kissing him or anything further. He was just Eddie, my friend. "No," I answered truthfully.

"That's why I'm with you. If I thought even for a moment that you had feelings for him, that you wanted more from him, I wouldn't have come anywhere near you. But, since that's not the case, I can't help the fact that for the first time in years since Kate left us, I'm in love with someone, and that someone is you. We have a connection, Bella."

"We do," I said quietly. "I love you, I love being with you, but I don't want to hurt him."

"And we'll do our best not to, baby. He's my son, he's one of the last people I would ever want to hurt, but I'm not willing to give up what we have. He'll understand."

—GG—

I stretched my arms above my head and gasped when I felt someone lean in and kiss my chest. I opened my eyes, surprised to see Edward still laying next to me. "What are you doing here? Aren't you going to be late for work?"

"Good morning to you, too," he smirked. "I know you don't have class until one, and I haven't had you in two days."

"God forbid we not have sex for two whole days," I teased. "Maybe you should just tie me here so I can't leave and you can have your way with me whenever you want." I watched as his eyes darkened. "Edward, I was only teasing—"

"Were you, though?" His breath was hot in my ear, causing me to shudder. "So, you don't want me to tie your hands above your head, and tie your feet to my footboard so that you're completely at my mercy?" I pushed out a hard breath as he rolled on top of me, grasping my wrists in one of his hands and holding my arms above my head. "What do you think, would you like that?" His other hand slipped underneath my tank top, cupping my breast and pinching my nipple.

I whimpered as he dropped my wrists and slid off me. "Where are you going?"

He smirked at me before slipping his shirt over his head and sliding his pants over his hips. My mouth watered at the sight of his cock; long, thick, and hard just for me. He wrapped his hand around his length and pumped it a couple of times before he turned and walked away. "Be right back, sweetheart."

He returned a moment later, throwing something down on the bed. "Strip for me, then put your arms above your head, Isabella." I immediately did as he asked before he wrapped one of his belts around my wrists, binding my hands together. He slid his hand down my body, running one of his fingers through the swollen lips of my pussy. He locked his eyes on me and brought his finger to his mouth, sucking my juices from it. "You taste so fucking good," he groaned. "Spread your legs wider for me." He tied my feet to the footboard of his bed and stood in front of me, his gaze roaming my naked body. "The things I want to do to you." He gripped himself in his hand again and climbed onto the bed, kneeling beside my head. "Turn your head, open those lips for me."

I knew what he wanted, and I groaned, trying to squeeze my thighs together for friction; it was impossible. As soon as I turned my head to face him and parted my lips, he slipped his cock past them and into my mouth. "Can I fuck your mouth?" He grunted as he thrust gently, but he knew he didn't need to ask. I wanted it just as much as he did.

"Such a good girl, letting me fuck this pretty mouth." He ran his hands through my hair before tangling his fingers in it, holding me still as his thrusts became quicker. His breathing became shallow and I knew he was close, but he pulled out of my mouth before he could come. Instead, he maneuvered down the bed, crawling between my legs. "You look so pretty spread out and waiting for me. You're dripping, sweetheart. Can I have you? Can I fuck your pussy?"

"Oh God. Yes!" I moaned loudly at his words. "Please, please,"I begged.

He lined himself up with my entrance before quickly slamming into me. "Oh, shit. I love your pussy. Always so fucking tight." His pace was frantic as he began pounding into me over and over. He reached down between us, rubbing my clit with fast circles. "I need you to come, Bella. You're close, I can feel it. C'mon, I need you to be a good girl and come for me."

"Don't stop, please, don't stop." I gasped as my orgasm came over me and I cried out his name, my pussy clenching around his cock.

"Oh, fuck," he growled, his thrusts becoming erratic. "I'm going to—" He let out a low moan before coming deep inside of me.

He collapsed beside me, both of us panting heavily.

After a few moments I glanced over at him. "Uh, do you think you could…" I wiggled my arms, reminding him I was still tied up.

He chuckled quietly, running his fingers up my arm. "Maybe I will just keep you like this."