Chapter Eight—Trust
Edward grimaced as his phone's alarm went off on Bella's nightstand. He was quick to turn it off, but she stirred a bit. She nuzzled his chest and fell right back to sleep. He really didn't want to leave, but knew he had to.
I should cancel.
"You're not canceling," she murmured, kissing his chest. He had said that out loud. "Go, I'll probably still be here when you get back." She stretched beside him, like a kitten, hands overhead. She was still naked, her eyes slightly hooded from sleepiness. "I'm going to play hookie." Her leg, slender and naked hooked around his hip, silky smooth and warm.
Yeah, she wasn't making it easy to get out of bed. She had to feel what was happening between their bodies. He'd been hard since dawn, thickening further when she nuzzled him.
"What if I want to play hookie too?" His hand slid up her back, tightening between her shoulder blades to pull her closer.
"Whatever has been keeping you out late some nights is important."
He swallowed, knowing it was the perfect moment to tell her what he'd been thinking about for days. She knew a little about why he sold his former home. "It's my dream home," he said, sweeping some hair from her face. He wanted to look into her eyes and didn't want anything to keep them from him. "That's why I work late sometimes. I figured out something though."
She looked concerned, her brow tightening. He smoothed the tiny crease between them with his thumb, kissing the area for a second.
"What did you figure out?" she asked, sighing at the touch of his lips.
"I need you."
She smiled a little, and she pulled herself up on her elbow. The sheet shifted enough to give him a tantalizing view of her breasts. Christ, he was going to lose all his control and attack her. He needed to tell her something else first.
"How do you need me?"
He wiggled his brow, thumbing one of her pretty, little nipples. It hardened under his touch. "That's a loaded question."
This time her smile reached her whiskey eyes, tempting as ever as she swept her tongue over her full bottom lip. He wanted to take a sip and drown in her.
She playfully punched his shoulder, failing to keep herself upright and falling against him. Her chest met his and he couldn't help the groan that slipped from his mouth.
"You know what I mean," she grumbled, her fingers running down the fine hair down his abdomen.
"Fuck, woman," he groaned again and slipped his hand down to her ass. Before he got lost in her, he pulled back enough to look at her face. "I figured out I need you to design the kitchen."
That got her attention.
"Yeah," he said, feeling so fucking out of his element and nervous. "I don't know shit about a designing one, especially one for a five star chef. I can see you cooking in my kitchen, eventually."
She didn't look like she was going to run, that was good. Edward ran a hand through her hair, knowing she needed a minute to work through everything in her head. She worked through the issues like that, but every second of silence seemed like forever.
"Leave me the blueprints," she said, propping herself up again. The look on her face said she was serious. She wasn't going to push him away or tell him they're going too fast. Most people would say that they were, except maybe his family. It all happened to them the same way, they fell quick and hard.
"You know how to read them?" he asked.
"I know enough to see how much space I'm working with and where everything needs to go. I also need a budget and if you have natural gas or LP, that kind of thing." It shouldn't have surprised him that ideas already started to form in her head.
Before he could do or say anything, his alarm went off again. "How the hell did you manage to distract me from your body?" He jumped out of bed, reluctant to leave.
She shrugged, watching him put on his washed shorts from the day before. "It only shows what a good guy you are."
"That means a lot coming from you." He bent to kiss her, loving the softness of her lips. Color, the shape, their taste, they fit his perfectly. "Not all guys are assholes like your ex," he added, wondered if she really trusted him. His phone alerted him to a message and he checked it, cursing. "Here. My ex won't leave me alone. Maybe she'll listen to you." He made his way to the bathroom, hoping he didn't regret what he'd just done.
Bella had hoped to watch Edward's naked ass as he walked, but he put on his damn shorts. She should've left them in the bathroom. Naked nights might be mandatory from that day forward.
There was an elephant in the room, or more than one. He hadn't said anything about their declarations the night before. She hadn't either. She had fallen asleep right after he kissed her, after he said the words too.
Had it been a dream? She didn't think so and hoped it was real.
She looked down at the phone in her hand. Privacy was very important to her, and though Edward wanted her to look, she didn't like the idea. She trusted him. Right? She groaned, falling back on her pillow. He wasn't Michael, and she knew that. She looked at the ceiling, listening to Edward run the sink in the bathroom. He probably found the extra toothbrush in one of the drawers.
The phone buzzed again. She checked it, concerned for him.
Eddie, I only want to give you back your key. I need to see you to do that. xx Lauren
"Oh, you're good," Bella hissed, her hand clenching around the phone. "But I'm better." She typed out a text and hit send, hoping she didn't overstep any boundaries.
"What did you tell her?"
She yelped, sending the phone in the air. Luckily, it landed on the bed. She looked sheepishly at Edward, ready to tell him off for startling her but her mouth fell open. He's fucking gorgeous.
Shirtless, wearing gym shorts that sat low on his hips, she made out the definition of his abs she had only seen a glimpse of before. Just only had the pleasure to touch, they had showered the night before, but her mind was full of horrible "what if" scenarios that she hadn't even noticed. The only thing she focused on was how his touch made them all go away.
She had to have been out of her mind. He had a nice light golden tan all over, muscles dipped and curved in all the right places, trim hips, and thick thighs. God, the things he could do with that body.
Do to her.
"Damn," she moaned, her legs bending at the knees, rubbing together. "Come here," she urged, settling again. He crawled over her, looking every bit the predator, eyes darker than ever. "I want to give you something to make you hurry back," she whispered. He kept his body away from her, propped up on his hands and knees. Too much space between them, but he made no move to close the distance.
He wanted her to come to him.
Bella started on his bicep, noticing a light shiver move through him. Her hand slipped up the curve of his shoulder, lingering on the nape of his neck. She teased the hair there. At lunch the day before, their discussion about fantasies changed directions when she confessed how long it had been for her.
She wanted to share her dreams with him. "Yesterday morning, I woke up with my hand between my thighs."
"Fuck," he hissed, his hips meeting hers too briefly.
She gasped, wanting more. "I was dreaming of you."
"What was I doing to you?" His question was all honey, filled with need. She wasn't being fair, knowing he had to go. She needed him though, wanted him to finish his business and come home to her.
"You were hard." Her wandering hand ran down his chest, stopping just where the formation of his hips started. That tantalizing V made her mouth water. "Every inch of you was inside me."
"Fucking hell." Another groan and his arms finally collapsed under the weight of his desire. His mouth poised over her lips, but not touching her. She wanted his kiss, needed it. "Tell me more."
"You loved my mouth on you," she murmured, rubbing him outside of his shorts. He grunted. His forehead tight against hers, his eyes clenched closed. "But you were desperate to feel me, needed to get inside me."
He was desperate, his hips thrusting between her thighs. "Fucking condoms are downstairs," he moaned, kissing her hard. "No fucking time, you're driving me crazy." His tongue moved over hers, thrusting inside her mouth with an intensity that stole her breath.
Her hands slipped inside his shorts, grabbing his ass and pulling him closer. She cried out, his cock, thick and hot behind the fabric, hit her just right. He cursed and set a pace, thrusting against her, kissing her again.
There was something hot about how she was completely naked and he was partially clothed. Her head fell back, dark curls spread across her sheets, better than any fantasy he had of her. His lips moved from her mouth, down her neck and teased a pink nipple. It was the same color of her lips, and he groaned at her taste. The light brown sugar and honey of her body wash only enhanced it.
She was fucking sweet.
"Right there," she breathed in his ear, just before he went back for more of her mouth. She stole all his senses with her touch, the look of pleasure on her face, and her words. His hands curled over her shoulders from behind, his body fully meeting hers. He thrust harder, groaning, wishing nothing but skin existed between them. She cried out his name on the next thrust and shook on the one right after. His name mingled with curses. He was so fucking close and he needed it. It was the feel of her nipples against his chest, and her mouth at his ear, the whispered, "I love you," that made him come.
Her hands played with his hair as he tried to capture his breath, ease his racing heart. "We may need to have the fire department on speed dial," she murmured, laughing sweetly.
"Why is that, Beautiful?"
She grinned up at him, his smile matching hers. "That was fucking hot." He chuckled and promised another scorcher when he returned.
"I shouldn't be more than a few hours," he said several minutes later, at her door. She was in his t-shirt and nothing else. He really wanted to fucking stay. He caressed her cheek. "You sure you're okay?"
Her face softened and she shrugged. "I didn't have any nightmares," she told him. "I'm fine. Go get the approval, be the boss for a while, and come back when you can."
"Around lunch, okay?" She nodded and pushed up to the tips of her toes to kiss him. "I really do love you," he added.
She smiled and pushed him out the door when another alarm went off. He did need to go, his shorts were uncomfortable, and work called. Almost twenty minutes later after a shower, he was in his truck when he remembered the text from Lauren.
He read Bella's return message. Keep it. The locks have been changed. I also regret to inform you that Edward is off the market, indefinitely – xx from his girlfriend Bella.
He laughed aloud and stopped at the local hardware store to grab new locks. He'd tell the property owner about changing the locks later, knowing he'd understand. What surprised him was that Lauren hadn't responded to the message.
"Hey," Jacob said, one of Edward's best employees. "Your phone has been ringing nonstop out here."
"Thanks," he said, catching the phone and saw who it was. "Hey, Beautiful."
"They arrested the assholes!" she stated rapidly. "We helped catch the killers. I have to go to the station to pick out the ones I saw yesterday in a lineup."
"That's good, baby. Just be careful."
"I'll see you soon?"
"I have about another hour."
"I should be done by then." They ended the call with plans for lunch and Edward returned the call from one of the detectives that left a message. Since Bella and another witness were able to identify the men, they didn't need him to come down to the station yet.
As promised, he arrived at his apartment an hour later. However, when he arrived, he noticed his door was unlocked. He cautiously moved inside his apartment, and heard someone moving inside his bedroom.
Had Bella returned already?
No.
Not by a fucking long shot.
"What the fuck, Lauren?" He was aware he was yelling but didn't give a shit. His ex-girlfriend was on his bed, fucking naked. He had a right to yell. She struck a pose on the damn bed, making him curse again. "Get the fuck out of my bed. Are you fucking insane?" His voice was rising with every word.
"Eddie." Blonde, too fake, and all wrong on his bed, he tossed more curses and a blanket on her.
"Get up before I call the police."
He heard her come in before she said a word. "Edward?"
His eyes widened and Lauren fucking smirked, tossing the blanket off her so Bella would get the full effect.
"I should be pissed," he heard Bella say. "Forget it, I still am, but not at you, Edward. I trust you." That made him hiss out the breath he was holding. "You have five fucking seconds before I pull you by your extensions from the damn bed."
It was Edward's turn to smirk. Standing just behind him was his new best friend, looking all fierce and ready to throw down. He wanted to tackle her. He stepped aside since he'd done all he could to get Lauren to leave him alone. Short of a restraining order, which he would file as soon as possible, now that he saw just how bat shit crazy she was.
What made him smile more was the fact that Bella hadn't jumped to conclusions, she trusted him. He couldn't love her more, but as he watched her keep her composure, he realized that he'd likely fall in love with her a little more each day.
A few minutes later, in front of the building, Bella tapped her foot as Lauren tried once again to get his attention.
"I'm sorry."
Edward snorted, his arms crossed over his chest. "Nothing has changed, Lauren. I'm still building my dream home and sinking every extra penny I have into it. Why the sudden change of heart?"
She shrugged, sniffled as she wiped away at her eye. The tears were as fake as the rest of her. What had he seen in her? Sure, she was sweet when they first met at some barbeque, but how had he missed how high fucking maintenance she was?
Suddenly, the timing made fucking sense. She hadn't started to want to get back into his life after their break up until two months before. It was around the time the local newspapers announced that his construction company had won the contract with the city. The same contract would take his mid-size company into the big leagues. He wouldn't be insanely rich, but enough and it would get him more business. That would likely line his bank account nicely in a few years.
"Get out of here," he hissed, shaking his head. "You know about the contract. It's still about the money, again."
Bella stepped toward Lauren, but he was quick to pull her against him to keep her from going after her. He knew after everything she went through with that prick of an ex, how she lost the passion for a restaurant of her own, she wouldn't stand for anyone to hurt somebody the same way.
Her shoulders squared, her eyes narrowed. "You heard him, get out of here." She slammed the cab door closed the second Lauren was inside.
"Fuck," Edward hissed. Her ass was tight against his groin, driving him crazy. "You're fucking amazing." His mouth lingered on her neck, biting gently. She wiggled in his hold, moaning. "You trust me."
"Not sure when that happened," she said, turning to face him, "but I do." She wrapped her arms around his neck, but scowled. "Now your fucking bed is tainted." She pouted, looking up at him. He brushed his lips over hers and bit her cute pout.
"We'll just make a stop for the box of condoms before heading to your apartment." She nodded, pulling him toward the building. They ran up the stairs, desperate for each other. Her ass was right fucking there as he followed her up the stairs. He could take so much, so he needed to taste her. On his floor's landing, he had to stop and kiss her again.
Breathless, she pulled away first. "I trust you, I love you. But if you don't get me upstairs and fuck me, I'm going to hit you." He groaned and flung her over his shoulder, running toward his place.
"Bella, I guarantee you, the moment we get inside your apartment we ain't making it to the bed."
She moaned. "Oh yes, yes please."
