Big thanks to BellaBeth222 and nails233.
Chapter 7. Shall we dance?
Bella's POV
I saw the bright sign across the street; it was The Bloody Shake Bar. At that moment, the door of the bar opened with a bang. While laughing loudly, four drunken people - three men and a shapely, red-haired girl, spilled out of the bar. The girl's messy hair was waving down her back like a blazing wild fire. The hands of the men were drawn to her, but the red-haired beauty gracefully dodged her annoying followers with a laugh. She was tall and well-proportioned, graceful and distinguished-looking. It was not clear what such a beauty was doing with three absolutely bombed-looking guys. She immediately made me feel rather ordinary next to her beauty. I didn't know whether this anxious feeling was because of the redhead or the guys, most probably the guys. I didn't like the drunken company - they frightened me.
I tensed, feeling Edward's muscles tightening into steel bands under my arm.
"Let's get out of here," I begged him.
"Of course," he nodded until he noticed the redhead take a step in our direction.
I took his hand, pulling him aside. Something about the redhead made me want to escape from her presence as soon as possible. But Edward suddenly stopped and turned with a snap in the direction of the four. I watched as he cocked his head to the side and stared at her, his shoulders shuddering as he inhaled the dense air. A strange, spicy fragrance infused the evening atmosphere.
The redhead also froze, gazing at Edward. She bowed her head to one side and narrowed her eyes. It looked like she had copied Edward's gesture. She took a few steps in our direction, going into the light projected by a street lamp.
What did she want? Why was he even looking at her? Why hadn't we left yet? Was he really going to talk to her? Had they ever met each other before?
I turned my gaze from the stranger to Edward. I had no idea what she wanted from us.
"Hello," she cooed.
"Hello," Edward answered, his eyes and body completely absorbed in the woman in front of us.
"My name's Victoria."
"Edward," he answered.
"Pleased to meet you, Edward," she said with a playful, cushioned voice. There was a provocative smile on her face.
"Likewise, I'm sure," he replied, taking another step closer to her. "I live close...with my family."
"With your family?" I couldn't miss the surprised tone in her voice.
"We are a family of seven."
I was lost by their conversation. Why was he talking about his family to this stranger in detail? It didn't look like they had met before this evening. Why was Edward still talking to her?
"Baby, we're tired of waiting for you," one of the men shouted, waving his bottle as beer slopped all over him.
"Don't be lonesome, sweet," she gave a cursory glance over her shoulder, blowing a kiss to the guy. "I'll be back soon." She turned back to us, narrowing her eyes.
The redhead's dark eyes studied me intensely. Even though I was shielded by Edward, the gleam in her features sent a shiver down my spine. Turning her eyes back to Edward, her full lips smiled again.
"I'm sorry for the interruption, Edward. I hope I have not offended you and your family. I was unaware that this territory was already claimed."
"That's alright," he said. "But, please, do not linger. I would hate for unwanted attention to be brought to the area."
Territorial rights? Unwanted attention? My mind was in a fog.
She appraised me and then smirked at Edward without batting an eyelid. "Well, then may I invite you to my little party? I am going to have a little fun. Din..." She nodded toward the man, "...has kindly invited us back to his apartment."
These words made me squirm. What kind of sick game was she into?
I looked over and saw the man standing in the middle of the group, palming himself through his jeans, while the other pinched at his nipples through his shirt. "Come on, baby," the pincher whined to Victoria. "It would be a waste not to taste him. He's ripe and ready for you," he said.
"Give him an extra tweak for me. I won't make you wait long. Hell, you won't even have to wait till we get to the apartment. Just be patient a little bit more, and then I promise to make it up to you...all of you," she purred before running her own hands across her prominent chest. The redhead winked at the men and turned to us.
But she didn't look at me, all her attention focused on Edward. She smiled knowingly at him.
"Your girl would be a lovely addition to our little soiree."
Did that hussy invite us to join them? I stiffened, clutching Edward's hand, slightly pulling him to myself and wanting to leave this place quickly after finishing this unpleasant conversation.
"Thanks, but my date and I already have plans for the evening." His lips were held firmly shut in a scowl. Edward shielded me with his body, leaning forward a little and looking straight into Victoria's eyes.
"You will be missed. It could truly have been a memorable night." She tilted her head once more toward Edward and me. "Have a wonderful evening." She smirked.
Edward nodded.
He put his arm around my waist, waiting for Victoria and her companions to disappear from our sight, before leading me away from the area quickly. We walked in silence. Edward was absorbed in his thoughts while I was at a complete loss as to what had just happened. Questions bombarded my brain with every step I took. Who was that redhead? Why did she speak to us? Had Edward met her before? No, they were introducing themselves to each other. What was that strange dialogue between them? For what reason did Edward tell the stranger where he lived and with whom? What about "territorial rights?" I didn't understand anything.
"Did you know her?" I finally gathered the courage to ask, breaking the silence that surrounded us.
"No."
"She seemed very interested in you," I commented, trying to get him to talk.
"She was." His clipped tone was doing nothing to assuage my growing frustration at the situation. His heavy, almost angry, footsteps on the walkway echoed through the night.
"She wanted you to join them," I blamed him.
Silence.
Edward continued walking at a furious pace. The darkness of night made it hard to see his face to discern what he might have been truly feeling. I needed to see his eyes.
"She seemed to want me to follow her, too."
Edward halted, turning right in front of me. His eyes were black, his features stone. This was not my Edward from earlier, the one who called me his lady and held me close.
He was staring at me now, his silence and the intensity of his stare making me nervous, my stomach twisting in over-lapping knots.
"You can go back if you want. Join them. Make it a foursome." I knew the snide comment was uncalled for. The longer the silence, the more I began to doubt exactly what he was doing with me. Edward drew a deep breath, bringing his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose before turning back down the street, grabbing my hand and again pulling me with him.
Even just the thought of what kind of party Victoria and her entourage were about to participate in was disgusting in and of itself. I shuddered and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to get rid of the nasty visuals. However, one fact was undeniable. Victoria was a very beautiful woman, a transcendent beauty.
"She is beautiful," I murmured, hoping again to get a reaction out of Edward.
"Yes, very attractive."
My breath caught at his totally unexpected response as we continued trudging down the walkway. He said nothing, the silence stretching into what felt like years.
Suddenly, Edward's cold demeanor made sense to me. I felt uninvited tears blurring my vision. Victoria. Alluring. Beautiful. Fiery with a passion I have never witnessed. And Edward. Silent. Brooding. Angry. Disappointed. Because he was dragging me through the night streets instead of enjoying the pleasures of the enchantress he had just left.
Through my tears, I did not notice when we walked into a blind alley and were forced to stop. The red brick walls of the houses reached out toward the starry arch. Rain clouds had cleared away - the sky was clear and serene. It must have been about midnight. I pulled my hand from the cold of Edward's palm and walked away from him.
"Bella?" There was a taste of surprise in his voice.
"Edward?" I mimicked him. "You know what, I'm going home. Why don't you go back and join Victoria. She's more your type."
"What? Why did you say that?"
"I don't need your pity. Go. Indulge yourself. Be with someone more attractive. More beautiful," I whispered, lowering my head. I just could not look at him now. Otherwise, I could lock myself up and would not be able to squeeze out a word.
"What are you talking about?"
"You just admitted it," I snapped, turning away from him to hide my shining eyes. "You said she was beautiful, attractive. Are you really so bored with me that you don't even remember our conversation two seconds ago?"
"I never said that, Bella." He frowned at me.
I shook my head dismally. "It doesn't matter who said it, the only thing that matters is that this red-haired beauty is perfect, she is beautiful...more beautiful than me."
Jealousy was a terrible feeling. I had never experienced it before. Somehow, I always believed that jealousy was followed by anger, although I felt complete emptiness.
"Bella, look at me." I heard Edward's firm voice behind me.
I raised my right hand, brushing away my telltale tears, and shook my head like a stubborn child.
"Look at me," he repeated again. "Please?" he added. I could not resist this quiet, gentle voice and turned to Edward, blinking at him timidly.
"Bella, listen to me. There is no other woman more beautiful than you. Victoria is attractive, but holds none of the allure that you hold for me. You are Beatrice to my Dante. And just like Botticelli has depicted these two lovers, you are a part of me, one that can never be replaced."
I could not believe my ears. It was too unrealistic. A minute ago, I was the unhappiest girl on Earth, but now happiness flowed through my cold body like a warm stream. The fragile wall of ice, which I had already built around myself, cracked and crumbled.
"I can't tell you what I feel, but I can show it." Edward offered me his hand. "Dance with me. Now." His voice was gentle and caressing as ever.
At first, I was confused and could not understand anything, but soon I caught a distant sound of a slow melody. Someone was playing a heart-stirring blues; a sensuous woman's voice was singing Sade's song.
"Edward, I'm no good at -"
"Trust me."
"Okay," I said. I wanted to believe him for some reason. Oh, man, I am so clumsy.
"Come to me."
I took a few steps in his direction and after a second, I was encased in the safety of his arms. He pulled me closer to him.
"That's it. Just hold onto me."
My right hand laid down on his open, cold palm, and my left hand rested on his solid shoulder. As my body molded into his, the world around us seemed to fade and die away. Our eyes met and the silent dialogue of our souls began.
This connection between us, pulsating chords binding us - he knew it; I knew it, without the need for words or explanations. Only the two of us were in this deserted alley with the quiet melody drifting over us.
You think I'd leave your side, baby? You know me better than that...
His arm encircled my waist. It made me feel comfortable, made me feel...safe? I closed my eyes and leaned my head against his shoulder.
Oh, when you're cold I'll be there to hold you tight to me...
He pressed his cheek against the top of my head and sighed.
I will show you, you're so much better than you know...
The evening noise faded away, the roar of passing cars in the distance, the sounds of the city that had fallen asleep. Those were the last minutes of this long day. We were immersed in each other completely.
My body finally relaxed and fell for the music, and for Edward. The tenderness toward this enigmatic man overwhelmed me. I wanted him to feel the happiness that came over me.
I took a deep breath, listening to the slow chords and enjoying his strong arms surrounding me.
When you're alone and you can't get back again. I will find you darling I'll bring you home.
I blinked away my unshed tears. Edward felt the change of my mood and pressed his lips to my forehead in a long kiss.
I am here to dry your eyes and in no time you'll be fine.
He pulled me closer as I ran my fingers from his neck up into his hair.
I'll be there by your side baby...
The last trembling note hung in the air between us for a second before melting away. We stopped, swaying a bit as we returned to reality. The song embodied us - I felt it in my heart. But as his fingers trailed along my arm, I knew I could no longer hold silent. I needed to talk to him. The questions, the dreams and his indecipherable moods were haunting me.
I took several steps back, out of his reach in an effort to clear my head, knowing full well that if I remained in his arms, my questions would forever go unasked.
He looked at me with a puzzled expression as he tried to do something with his now empty hands.
I searched his eyes for a moment before I found my voice. "This was from you, wasn't it?" I questioned, fingering the heart-shaped pendent that was now a permanent fixture around my neck.
His lips curled slightly. "Yes."
"And the music box?"
"The song it plays reminds me of you. I wanted you to have it. And my mother once told me that giving an empty box as a gift is bad luck. So the heart was to ensure that you would have good fortune."
I was taken aback by his sudden honesty. "Why didn't you admit that the night we went to dinner?"
"I was selfish. I didn't want to scare you away with the truth," he admitted as he took a step closer to me, his eyes sinking into the depths of my soul.
I took another breath in an attempt to keep my resolve. "You weren't a dream, were you?"
Without a word, he took another step closer.
"The dreams, in my bedroom. You were really there, and that kiss...it was real."
"It was real," he divulged, inching closer again. Instinctively, I stepped back, my back now flush with the brick wall of the alley.
Putting both hands against the wall on either side of my shoulders, he ensnared me before leaning toward my ear. "A dream come true, actually. I told you that we shared the same dream."
His breath caused goose bumps to trail down my neck.
"Do you not remember?" he teased.
"Yes, I remember." He chuckled lightly at my response, making my cheeks flush. The momentary embarrassment got my mind to spin again with another unanswered question. "Why come at night? When I'm not even awake?"
"I like to watch you sleep," he answered honestly, as if it was a totally natural behavior.
The rational side of my brain buzzed with warning bells. Why? How? This information should have scared me, but somehow, it didn't.
Instead, I asked another question. "Are you going to continue doing it?"
"Yes," Edward said seriously. "Unless you'd rather I not. But I can't guarantee that I'll be able to stay away."
"No!" The desperation in my voice even shocked me as I noticed Edwards' eyebrows rise in surprise. "Promise me something, though."
"Anything."
"Wake me. I want to know you're close by, and no longer a dream."
"Whatever you say." He nodded.
I began breathing heavily, the proximity of his body and memories about our sweet kisses forcing my blood to run through my veins at double speed. The smoldering fire, ignited by his touch now swept across my stomach. I swallowed hard, and his eyes followed how my tongue was leaving a wet mark on my lips. He bent down and pressed his lips against my forehead.
"Bella, don't," he whispered. "Don't do it that way. Do you even know what you're doing to me?"
"What?" I asked.
"Seducing me."
"I'm not seducing you." Honestly, his words surprised me.
"Yes, you are, and only God knows how it will work out between us!" He closed his eyes for a moment. "Bella, every second that you spend next to me, you are in danger, you take a chance with your -" He suddenly stopped short.
"I can't help it." My voice trembled with excitement. Feelings and desires overwhelmed me. "You say I'm in danger - that I'll only get hurt? But pushing me away will break me beyond repair. Not only my mind, but my soul." Bringing my hands up, I cupped his face, staring into his darkened eyes. "I am not afraid of you. Your words can't scare me away. There is no place safer for me then in your arms."
"Bella." His firm tone was a reprimand, as if I was a naive child.
"Stop! What could you do next? Going to stop a van with one hand again? Or do you have something new for me?" He smiled wryly and shook his head.
"Did you really think I forgot about that? One day, I will find answers to all my questions."
Now he frowned. "Don't jest..."
"I'm not!" I interrupted him.
"Don't play with the words..."
"I do not play."
"You don't know why..."
"Why is not important anymore," I interrupted him again.
"You don't understand..."
"I will."
"I tell you that..."
"Some things are better left unsaid." I took Edward up short again and again without letting him finish a single sentence.
"Bella."
"What?"
"Hush," he sighed and covered my lips with his mouth.
Edward pressed me against the brick wall with his weight, so that I could not stir. His tongue brushed the outline of my mouth, tasting, teasing and at last, parting my lips. Our kiss grew deeper, more frantic as our breaths came more erratic. My heart missed a beat. It was a frenzied kiss. It was a fight. It was a confrontation, which I lost, abandoning myself to the conqueror's mercy with pleasure.
I felt Edward's hand slide to my knee. He pulled my right leg on his hip abruptly, leaning further into my body, lifting me up a few centimeters. I gasped sharply, wasting the last air in my lungs.
His mouth left my tortured lips and slid to my neck. I panted for breath as hundreds of incomprehensible, unknown feelings raged inside of me. I was caught by the passion, the thirst for this man.
I could not figure him out, but there was one thing I was sure of. I had wanted to be with Edward since the very first second I'd seen him in Biology class. Moreover, I drew the evidence of my sureness from his kisses, caresses and words.
Abruptly he halted, his lips secured against my neck near my jugular vein. One hand squeezed my thigh while the other slipped from my waist up toward my chest. His palm traveled over the bodice of my blouse and lay down on the other side of my neck.
Time stopped. A muffled growl escaped his chest. Suddenly, he was away from me and at the opposite end of the alley.
"Edward?" I squeaked.
"Don't move! For Heaven's sake, stay there!" His panicked voice echoed in the dark narrow passage.
Ignoring him, I took a timid step toward him. "Edward?"
His voice sounded with an undisguised agony. "Keep back! Please, Bella, don't...move..."
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