*Bpov*
Something startled me awake from a dream about Edward. He'd kissed my forehead, and then the scene changed. We were lying on a bed - his lips were trailing their way down my body when everything suddenly vanished. I gasped while loud thunder boomed outside, and I placed my hand over my heart. It took a few seconds for me to recall why I wasn't in my bedroom and instead, on the sofa. The time on the cable-box read nearly six in the morning, yet there was no light filtering in from outside, only complete darkness.
I groaned, realizing that my water bottle wasn't next to me. I sat up, stretching and yawning in my attempt to wake. A loud crack of thunder caused me to jump and sent my pulse racing again. Needing a distraction, I stood and headed for the kitchen, quickly quenching my dry throat with some juice.
"Hey," a voice behind me said.
"Shit!" I bobbled the bottle in my hands, nearly dropping it. "Stop doing that to me."
Edward smirked.
"Sorry," he mumbled sleepily.
I was momentarily stunned by his appearance. He was naked from the waist up - wearing only dark grey sweatpants. He had the body of an athlete. His toned chest glistened in the light, and I struggled to read the words on his tattooed right arm. His eyes were dark, as if he hadn't slept all night.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah." He stepped around me, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water. "Just can't sleep much during storms."
"Join the club."
He leaned his back against the counter, eyeing me curiously before grinning.
"What?" I asked.
He shook his head, quietly chuckling before taking another drink.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing ... really," he said. "Sorry." He put the cap back on his bottle, setting it down on the counter before crossing his arms.
I drank more of my juice, wondering if he thought this was a deja-vu moment as I was.
He cleared his throat. "I was wondering if you wanted to get out of the house a few days a week. We could use some help down at the gym."
That explains his body.
"Like a workout gym?"
He shook his head. "No, a boxing gym."
"Oh!" I said, curious if he fought, too. "Are you a boxer?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"I used to fight."
"Did you get hurt or something?"
"No. Actually, I never lost a fight."
"Wow! That's … you must be really good."
He smiled. "So I've been told."
Was he flirting with me?
I blushed at the thought but quickly dismissed the innuendo.
"Why don't you fight anymore?" I asked. "I mean ... clearly you're in shape."
His grin widened. "You think I look good, Bella?"
I gulped.
Okay, he was definitely flirting, and I was only digging myself deeper with every statement.
"I … umm ..." I mumbled before giggling softly, feeling like an idiot.
"Rose hated it. And she didn't want me to fight after we had Grace."
"Oh." His answer shocked me. "So, you just stopped?"
"Yup." He uncrossed his arms, resting them on the counter behind him. His bare muscles flexed, distracting me yet again.
"Bella?"
Did he ask me something else?
"Huh?"
"Is that a yes to the job, or do I need to place an ad in the paper?"
After yesterday, the thought of being closer to him in any capacity was exciting to me. I'd be a fool not to take the job. Plus, it would help ease the loneliness that I felt when I was here by myself. This would also bide me some time until I could figure out a way to get into school, and I'd earn my own money. Jasper wouldn't have to feel obligated anymore.
"Sure. I'd love to."
"Good."
I stood awkwardly, leaning my hip against the stove.
"So, have you talked to your friend lately?"
"Angela?"
He nodded.
"Yeah, when I can catch her."
I looked down at the floor. The thought of being apart from my best friend, coupled with the fact that I hadn't spoken to her in a few days tugged at my heart.
"Hey," he said, walking over toward me, lifting my chin with his fingers. "I didn't mean to upset you." His eyes shifted from mine toward my lips and back again.
Kiss me dammit!
He simply shook his head, releasing his hold on my chin before leaving the kitchen.
I stood there re-enacting the previous moments, wondering what I had done wrong, going to my room feeling more confused than ever.
Two hours later, Edward's partially naked body was still on my mind. I tried everything to get him out of my head - I read, watched TV, I even wrote Angela two emails-nothing worked. My fingers twitched at the thought of ever touching his bare skin, tracing every defined muscle. How can one person make your entire body and mind so crazy with need? It wasn't his looks alone. The care and tenderness he showed toward those around him, especially Grace, only made him that much more desirable to me.
To say that I was thoroughly disappointed when he didn't kiss me was an understatement. All the signs were there, or maybe I just thought they were. I don't know; he confuses the hell out of me. Most guys couldn't keep their hands off me, or at the very least, they showed their satisfaction with my body. I wasn't fat by any means, but I had curves-my breasts and ass never disappointed anyone, even me.
Maybe he likes stick figures?
Taller girls?
Blondes?
Rose was all of those things.
I groaned aloud at the my overactive imagination. I hated that I read too much into everything all the time.
Fucking Rose.
What gives her the right to think that she rules the world? Just because she gave birth to Edward's daughter doesn't give her the right to play him like a damn puppet.
Why does he let her? I saw him stand up to her, yet he told me earlier that he didn't fight because she didn't like it.
Maybe I see these things because I'm an outsider looking in. I didn't know, and it was giving me a headache to think about them.
I quickly grabbed some clothes and headed for the bathroom, hoping a shower would ease my frustrations.
Later, I found Edward and Grace in the living room.
"Hey guys," I said, sitting in the chair.
"Hi," Edward said, smiling.
"Daddy! Bella sick," Grace announced, shoving a pink stethoscope into his hand.
"Looks like you have a doctor in the making, Edward," I said, playfully.
He laughed. "Actually, I'm always the doctor." He rose to his knees, and my heart skipped a beat at the mischievous look on his face. "Which is why my little nurse handed me this," he said, wiggling the toy in his hand. "Now," he continued, inching closer, "tell me where it hurts."
I blinked. To anyone else this might seem innocent, but to me it was anything but.
"Umm ... I'm fine. Really."
"Relax, Bella," he whispered, looking over toward Grace, who was playing with a baby doll. "Play along."
Oh God!
He's serious?
I swallowed hard. "Okay ... it's kind of hard to breathe right now."
He grinned and nodded, placing the ends of the stethoscope in his ears and guiding the other towards my heart. My pulse raced when the plastic made contact with my body. He moved even closer - his t-shirt covered abs touched my knees. I fought to keep my legs closed. My nipples hardened from the lustful images that flashed through my mind. Edward's wrist moved over my right breast, and I sucked in a breath.
"Your heart's beating faster, Bella." His smirk proved that he was fully aware of what he'd done.
I nodded, closing my eyes, fighting to keep control as his pinkie began gently rubbing along the top of my breast, all the while holding the toy steady.
"Daddy! My turn!" Grace shouted.
My eyes flew open.
Edward's eyes were on mine as he handed the toy to his daughter.
"Here, Gracie. I think your baby is sick. You should check her out."
"Okay," she said, running over to her doll.
Edward backed up, resting his back against the coffee table.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have done that."
Sorry?
I narrowed my eyes.
I needed out, away from him.
Standing, I shook my head.
"Stop playing games with me, Edward."
I bee-lined for my bedroom.
"I'm not playing games," he said, following behind me.
"No?" I replied in a quiet but firm tone. "What do you call what you just did back there? What about yesterday, huh?" I continued, but he stopped me by gripping my arm, turning me around.
"I'm not sorry for touching you," he whispered. "I'm sorry for doing it in front of Grace."
Right!
Wait... what?
Being me, I needed to push for answers.
"Whatever, Edward. Good excuse."
He inched closer, backing me up to the wall, placing his hands on both sides of my head.
"It's not an excuse."
"Then what is your problem?" I asked. "Because Grace didn't seem to stop you from holding my hand at the park yesterday, and she hasn't stopped you from eyeballing my ass since I moved in here. I might be young, but I'm not stupid. Or wait... is it Rose? Is she the real problem?"
He shook his head and backed up to the opposite side of the hall.
"Unbelievable!" I said a little louder than I meant to, walking toward my room.
I needed to talk to Angela.
Before I had a chance to shut the door, Edward was behind me.
"Get out!" I demanded.
"No." He shut the door behind him. "Not until you've heard me out."
"Fine." I crossed my arms, waiting for him to continue.
"I like you," he said. I rolled my eyes and shrugged my shoulders. "But this shit is complicated. I need some time."
I shook my head.
Time?
"That's all you have? That you need time. Time for what?"
"You're seventeen, and Rose is-"
I held up my hand. "Just stop, Edward! You don't really give a shit about my age. I've seen the way you look at me. No brother would look at a sister like that, so don't try that one either. I believe you when you say you like me, but what are you going to do about it?" I stepped closer to him. "You say you need time, but for what? I'll be eighteen in a month. Will you be ready then? And when are you going to take control of your life and stop letting Rose run the fucking show?"
His eyes narrowed and turned darker. He was almost scary.
Shit!
Maybe I'd gone too far.
In an instant, I was grabbed and pushed against the door. Seconds later, his lips were on mine, and I closed my eyes, reveling in the intimacy. The kiss deepened quickly and soon our tongues softly brushed against one another. His hands gripped the back of my neck firmly, and just when I thought I'd pass out from the intensity, he backed away and rested his forehead against mine - his unsteady breathing matched mine.
"Tell me you want me; that there's a chance for something here and I'll fix this," he whispered breathlessly.
Thank you all so much for reading.
