Outside In – Chapter 6

Rating: M

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer.

Thanks to her for bringing them to us.

No copyright infringement is intended

Big thanks to the endlessly patient and helpful Snuggler for being my beta.

CHAPTER 6

BELLA

That night, as Bella lay in bed, she thought about Edward. She had seen a different side to him, one she was keen to see again. That wasn't likely to happen any time soon but a small part of her hoped it wouldn't be too long. She smiled and hugged herself. For a while it was good to lie there filled with happy thoughts. She wanted to make the most of it before anxiety started edging its way in again. The past few nights, ever since seeing the guy with the dreadlocks in Mickey's, she had been plagued with nightmares and going to bed meant lying awake fearing that they'd come again. Eventually she slept and, in the middle of the night, the same flashes of memory assaulted her subconscious. She was stumbling up stairs, she was falling back onto a bed, she felt sick, confused and limp. Then the dream took a new turn, she was in a field, aware of a presence behind her and she looked round to see twinkling green eyes. This time she didn't wake at 3am but relaxed back into a deep and peaceful sleep. By 9am she was up, showered and dressed. She looked at herself in the mirror. The dark rings under her eyes were still there but the puffiness had definitely gone down. She smiled and started humming to herself.

"You're bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning," commented Renee as she passed Bella's room, "going somewhere?"

"No, it just looks like it's gonna be a nice day," said Bella, and it did because she'd found someone who could chase the demons away - Edward. Nothing had been said to Renee about the dog-walk. On the way back Edward had asked Bella not to mention it. She thought it a little odd. They had nothing to hide, after all, but she wasn't going to do anything to jeopardise their budding friendship. The whole thing was still a bit surreal. Logically, following a relative stranger into secluded woodland may have seemed a reckless thing to do but she would do it again in a heartbeat. She trusted him; either that or she told herself she trusted him because she wanted to. Time dragged irritatingly slowly till Mum went to work and then Bella sat on the edge of the settee waiting for she knew not what, so engrossed that the three clear knocks made her jump. She flew to the door and had to stop to regain control before opening it, reminding herself that, even if it was him, he was only looking for a companion, nothing more. Anything more than 'friendship' with the lord of the manor was impossible and if she looked too eager she would ruin even that.

The first sight of him took her breath away. He stood in her doorway in jeans, trainers and a polo shirt, a vision of casual perfection, holding the two, by now familiar, spaniels. Edward really was quite beautiful. It was an odd word to use about male looks but it couldn't be more appropriate. His frame was slim and elegant. His unruly hair flowed in all directions like a cornfield being blown about by the wind and it shone like polished copper, in the sun. His sweet mouth had a soft pout and his profile was almost unreal in its perfection. He grinned. That was when his face really lit up, when his green eyes dazzled. It was irresistible. She smiled back.

"You up for another walk?" he asked and she nodded. By a sheer fluke, or possibly not, she was dressed appropriately and didn't have to rush away to cover her legs.

He turned and led the way and she slipped in behind him as if it was something she did every day. They went a different route this time, to a beautiful flower-filled meadow. Before they sat, he tied the dogs' leads to a small tree with a piece of string and left Ben and Jerry with a dog-chew each. "I came prepared this time," he said, nodding in their direction with a knowing smirk. He obviously didn't fancy being pounced on again.

Talking was a lot easier today and he seemed as keen to find out more about her as she was to find out about him. What films did she like? She liked thought-provoking films that explored the human psyche. She was surprised to discover that Edward's taste in film was eclectic. He appeared to be open to anything, even foreign films. What music did she like? She mostly liked singer-songwriters. He liked everything from hard rock to classical. He really was quite the everyman. Did he play any instruments, she wanted to know.

"Piano."

Looking at his long, slender fingers, she could well believe it. She pictured them flowing over a keyboard.

"I'd love to hear you play," she said, and watch you play, she thought. She was hypnotised by those elegant fingers as he twisted them around a bottle of water in intriguing ways, so dextrous, it was almost like they had a life of their own.

He held the bottle towards her, "Ladies first," he said. It broke the spell. It was still sealed with one of those annoying plastic rims on the lid. Bella fumbled to open it in a hurry.

"Rats."

"Problem?" said Edward.

"Broke a nail."

He took the bottle from her. "They're a pain, these lids, aren't they?" he said, removing it deftly and handing it back to her.

While she took a swig, he reached into his pocket saying, "Hang on, I've got one of those things for taking boy scouts out of horses hooves." Bella giggled.

He produced a Swiss army knife, pulled out the folded scissors and swapped it for the bottle. Bella felt completely cack-handed as she struggled to cut a fingernail on her right hand with scissors held in her left. She really was beginning to feel too incompetent to do anything. He twisted the lid back on the bottle and laid it on the grass. "May I," he said, holding a palm towards her. She remembered him brushing the hair off her face and the tingle that had taken her by surprise. As she placed her hand in his, she felt the tingle again but was half-prepared for it this time and didn't let on. It was better to keep it to herself, like a delicious secret. He gently held her finger while carefully cutting the offending nail until it was rounded and smooth. The phrase 'in safe hands' came to mind. "Thanks," she said. For someone used to asserting her independence, she was finding she enjoyed being taken care of.

He folded back the scissors, returned the knife to his pocket, lay back on his elbows and closed his eyes. She gazed at him for as long as she dared and was disappointed when he said they had to get back. She was even more disappointed when he said he wouldn't be around the next day.

"OK if I come the day after that?" he said

"No problem," she said and it certainly wasn't.

The 'Edward-free' day was Mum's day off so Bella spent the morning with Mum and, in the afternoon, popped over to see Jake.

She told him that she'd had the opportunity to chat to Edward recently, felt she knew him a bit better and that he seemed like a good guy.

"Oh," was his first reaction, shrugging as if uninterested. He walked towards the dartboard, "60, what's that leave?" he said.

"43," said Bella from the bed. They were in Jake's bedroom and he was thrashing her at darts. He glanced across to her and chewed his lips. Jake had told Bella that he had a dartboard in his room and when he suggested they go there to play, she had read nothing into it. Now, as she looked at him, she wondered if his motives had been entirely innocent. If they hadn't, it might explain why it wasn't going down too well that they were spending the time talking about what a good guy Edward was.

"So what did you two talk about?" he said, yanking the darts from the cork.

Bella tried to keep it neutral, "Oh, you know, the usual, what we like, what we don't like, friends..."

"So you've told him about me?" he said, handing her the darts as she got up.

"Yes."

"And he doesn't mind."

Bella lined up to take her throw, keeping her eyes on the board. "What's there to mind?" she said, "He seems friendly and you're a friend. We could do maybe do something together, the three of us."

Bella took her turn, missing the target entirely. She wasn't really focusing. She retrieved the darts, returned them to their rightful owner and went back to the bed. As she sat on the edge, she gazed at the neatly trimmed nail while Jake took his turn. The truth was that Bella didn't want to 'do something together'. She was enjoying having Edward all to herself, even if it was just to walk dogs. She had her suspicions about the way Jake felt towards her and wondered if she was beginning to feel the same way about Edward. "Get in!" announced Jacob pumping a fist to his side. "Double top. I win."

Bella looked up and, despite her discomfort at being in his private space she offered, "Well done. Again?" Bella knew Jacob would win again but felt she could give him that, at least. "No, thanks," he said. She had an inkling how hard this 'friendship' thing might be for him.

The next day Renee was back at work and Bella kept everything crossed that Edward wouldn't forget about seeing her again. She couldn't wait to see him and he didn't disappoint.

She was filled with a radiant warmth at the sight of him. The sky was cloudier and the weather cooler but it didn't make any difference. Edward brought sunshine into her life. "Morning, scruffy," he said, reaching over to straighten her collar.

Bella rolled her eyes in response, "Yeah, thanks for that," she said, secretly enjoying the attention.

This time, they found a small stream and followed it as it trickled through the woods and over mossy rocks. He sat by the brook on a fallen tree and Bella joined him. The air was cool and earthy smelling and the constant sound of running water made her feel perfectly relaxed. They barely spoke this time but seemed happy just to be. He led them a different route back, one that took them over a stile. Edward went first, turned and held out his hand to help Bella over. It wasn't necessary but she wasn't going to turn down any opportunity to make physical contact. What was it about Edward touching her? Jacob often playfully punched her or mussed her hair and it was a sign of cozy friendship, nothing more, but even a brush against Edward's fingers was like the sweetest electricity. It almost made it difficult to be near him, but she wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

When he returned the next day, she felt they were slipping into a predictable and perfect routine. Edward would arrive at about 10am, they would walk, find somewhere to sit and chat and be home by about 1pm. This time, they sat under the shade of a tree. For a change, he hadn't tied the dogs up. Instead he leant against the trunk, with Jerry at his feet and Ben lying across his legs. Absent-mindedly, Edward's hand made long, smooth strokes down Ben's silky coat from head to tail. The dog looked blissfully relaxed and Bella couldn't blame him, she could just imagine how Edward's caress must feel. She found herself irrationally jealous of the animal, although had to admit that it was a step up from feeling jealous of a bottle of water.

"It must be nice to be a dog," she said without thinking.

Edward rested his chin on his fingers as he looked towards her with a teasing smile. "Really, why's that?"

"I mean…they don't have any worries…or anything…" she trailed off. She was becoming so relaxed in Edward's company she was in danger of giving the game away. She would have to be a lot more careful.

At the three knocks on the door the next morning, she felt the familiar feel of her heart skipping a beat. It was getting to be a conditioned reflex but, as always, she was composed enough by the time she answered it.

"So where to today?" she asked.

"I thought we could go up along the ridge. It's a bit further than usual but the view's great from up there."

"OK, let's go."

They set off, as always, in comfortable silence with Edward leading the way and then, when they got into their stride, they started to chat.

"Tell me about boarding school."

"What do you want to know?"

"Well, were there girls there too?"

"You get a few day-boarders but it's mostly chaps." He gave Bella a sexy sideways glance. It probably wasn't intended to be sexy but it was Edward, he couldn't help it. "If you're wondering if I've experimented with members of the same sex, the answer's no. If you're wondering if I've had girlfriends, the answer's yes. It's not a prison, you do get chance to meet people, they allow you out sometimes." He chuckled, deliciously.

Bella could feel herself blushing furiously. Why had she started this conversation? For the moment, it was too embarrassing to look at him and she felt the safest thing would be to stop talking.

When they reached the ridge, they stood gazing at the view. Edward was right, it was wonderful. A colourful patchwork of fields was laid out before them with gentle hills leading away in the distance; they were separated by clumps of bushy green trees and dotted with just the occasional little red brick house or grey stone farm. "Stunning," said Edward.

He tied the dogs to a nearby tree again, gave them each a dog treat and then sat with Bella on the grass. He lay back and closed his eyes. Bella looked across at him, drinking him in, "Yes, stunning," she said.

She sat watching the slow and steady rise and fall of his chest, wisps of inviting hair peeking through the "V" of his polo shirt. He seemed so relaxed that she wondered if he might actually have fallen asleep. Such perfect features, such a beautiful profile. She gazed at him, fascinated with his jaw. And then, she didn't know what possessed her, whether it was that she believed him to be asleep or that their little physical touches were making her bolder, but she reached towards him, her heart beating faster, and ran her finger along his jaw line. His composure didn't leave him, his eyes stayed shut but his lips drew back in a smirk. She flinched back as if burned. His green eyes opened and holding her gaze, he reached his hand up to hers, pulled her fingers back towards his lips and kissed them gently. It was sweetly sensual.

"Hold still," he said. She couldn't have moved if she'd wanted to; she was mesmerised. Pushing himself to sitting, he brought his mouth close to the side of her face. He whispered in her ear. "Do you know what this is?" and surprised her by fluttering his eyelashes against her cheek. She held her breath. "It's a butterfly kiss," he told her. "Not like this one". He took her chin with his slender fingers, turned her mouth to his and gently kissed it with soft, warm lips. Bella closed her eyes to savour it. She had told herself it would never happen, that it couldn't happen but it hadn't stopped her imagining it. Wonderfully, it was everything she'd hoped it would be – a small taste of heaven. He pulled away far too soon. Bella had tasted heaven and was hungry for more. Instinctively, she reached one hand to the back of his head and ran her fingers up through the nape of his neck into his hair. It felt silky and smooth. Desire for him flowed over her. She pulled his lips to hers again greedily and he responded: reaching into her hair, kissing her top lip, then her bottom one, parting her lips with his, breathing into her mouth and sliding in his tongue. Bella felt she would explode with pleasure. It was delicious and amazing and, somehow, right. Kissing Edward felt like coming home. He pulled away. She opened her eyes and found him gazing into them. He quirked an eyebrow and sighed into a satisfied smile. "You can't believe how long I've wanted to do that," he said. They kissed again, gently, and traced each others features with their finger tips.

Then, suddenly, Edward stopped, as if he'd remembered something, and got up. It was over for now but as they walked back, Bella felt as if she was floating on air. Maybe she could be more than 'friends' with him, after all.

When they got back to the lodge, Edward reached over and tucked Bella's wayward hair behind her ear. He planted one final glancing kiss on her forehead before promising to see her again. It wouldn't be the next day, he said, but the one after that. Bella could wait; it would make the next kiss that much sweeter. That night, Bella lay back in bed looking at Edward. It was a picture of him in her mind's eye lying on his back with his eyes closed. Every time he had done this, it had provided her with a safe way to indulge in the pleasure of just looking at him. She began to wonder if he'd known that all along and had done it on purpose. She closed her eyes now, blew the image a kiss and snuggled into the pillow. Ever since their first walk, the nightmares had been getting easier and easier to cope with. That night, she slept like a baby.