A/N: SM owns all things Twilight. I'm just playing with her characters.
NewTwilightFan is the kickass beta with the patience of a saint. She makes this pretty. Give her loads of love.
NKubie, ForeverRobsessed, IpsitaC77, and Twimom1960 are my favorite pre-readers. They always keep me in line and give the best feedback and encouragement.
Last chapter didn't go so well. Many of you wanted to throttle Edward... and understandably so.
Let's see how this goes...
Chapter 9
He tasted like cigarette smoke, beer and a hint of mint. His hard body pressed against hers, igniting the flames of desire and longing that she had been trying to quell for the past two weeks.
Bella tangled her hands into his hair and brought him impossibly closer to her, opening her mouth to him. Heat pooled between her legs as he groaned, entwining his tongue with hers. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him until his strong arms were wrapped around her body.
Slowly, Edward eased from her lips. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
"It's all my fault," Bella whispered. The intensity in his green irises made her choke out a sob. Her eyes strayed to his shoulder. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
Edward ran his thumb over her plump lower lip. He urged her to look at him. "I know… now. I shouldn't have over reacted. The things I said to you… I'm so sorry."
"What happened?" Bella hedged. His reaction had surprised her. The accusations he had thrown at her still stung.
"The past snuck up on me. A similar situation, but with very different… bad results. She only wanted me for my last name."
"Your last name?" Bella frowned, confused.
"Cullen." Edward studied her face, looking for some kind of recognition, but found none. How did someone that lived in the Los Angeles area not know about either his mother or father? "You don't know?"
She shook her head. "No?"
Edward chuckled and placed his warm palm against her cheek. "Would it be a bad thing to say that I'm grateful about that?"
At her confused look, he explained. "Both my folks have high profile, wealthy clients. Over the years, I've had many, many women and men ask, or rather use me as a stepping stone, for an introduction." He snorted quietly. "What people won't do for a sliver of fame." Edward exhaled. "I've been bitter and jaded. I couldn't imagine that anyone who met me would want anything else."
"What changed your mind?" she asked.
He wiped at the lingering tears underneath her eyes. "These. And the fact that you didn't try to justify your actions. If you'd wanted… that, you'd have tried to save face."
Bella's gaze dropped down to his mouth, and she leaned against his hand. Closing her eyes briefly, she relished the feeling of having him close once more. "Do you…" she swallowed. "Do you want to come inside?"
At his small nod, Bella turned in his arms. He didn't let go of her as she opened the door and closed it behind him. In the darkness of her apartment, silence stretched.
Tension grew.
She could feel his breath on her neck, the movement of his chest against her back. Her skin prickled with anticipation. He eased his arm around her waist, drawing her against his chest. His nose brushed against her neck.
"God, you're so beautiful." He turned her and kissed her cheek, her nose, the corner of her lips, and when she whimpered, only then, placed his lips on hers.
Bella gripped his thick biceps, mirroring the fervor of his kiss. "I…"
Edward pressed his forehead against hers, brushing his fingers through her long hair. "Say it."
She swallowed once, her heart stuttering in her chest. "I missed you."
In the dim light of the entryway, Bella saw Edward's eyes close. "What do you wish for?" he asked.
"I wish… I wish I could look into your eyes as…" she swallowed, the heat of her want spreading through her body into her fingertips. "As we…"
"Fuck," he growled lowly into her ear, his lips brushing gently over her skin.
She nodded against his neck, feeling warmth creep across her cheeks. His ragged breath washed over her heated skin.
"Show me," he urged, placing open mouthed kisses down her neck.
With his hand in hers, she led him through the dark apartment and into her bedroom. Bella flicked the switch, bathing her room in light. She watched Edward take in his surroundings; her computer, her queen bed and the adjoining bathroom.
His eyes lingered for a second on the luggage sticking out of her closet, but didn't question its purpose. Then he looked at her computer, rubbing a palm along the back of his neck. "Is that where you created the app?"
Bella nodded, eyeing the three screens. It wasn't a normal computer set up, but it was what she needed to do her work. "Not all of it. It doesn't have the capacity, nor all the programs to create it. The rest, I built at the office. That's where we have the technology that I can't afford on my own."
Edward nodded, his brows furrowed, and Bella could see the questions on his handsome face. "None of our texts are saved. They disappeared after twenty-four hours."
"I wasn't worried about that." He took a step closer to her. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around all of this." Edward motioned around the room with his hand, at the computer and then at Bella. "Quite honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. Beauty and brains?" He grimaced and rubbed a hand across his neck.
"Oh, didn't I tell you? This is just for show," she motioned to her face and down her body. "I've got minions doing all the hard work for me." Bella laughed as his eyes widened for a second.
"Very funny," he retorted, drawing his arm around her waist and pulling her close.
"Is this okay?" Edward asked, running his fingers slowly through her hair.
Bella smiled gently and nodded, kissing the inside of his palm as he caressed her cheek.
"With everything I've said to you…" She watched him swallow harshly, his face contorting into a grimace. "You… you still want me here?"
Taking his hand in hers, she tugged lightly until he sat beside her. She tapped along his fingertips like she would on a keyboard. Edward's eyes watched the action, guilt eating at him, making it impossible for him to meet Bella's eyes.
"How we met," she started. "It wasn't the best way to meet someone. I kept myself hidden - anonymous - and that wasn't fair." When she tapped his index fingers twice, Edward met her eyes. The understanding in her gaze made him pause. "I should have been open with you from the start."
Edward shook his head and tightened his long fingers around her smaller ones. "That still didn't give me the right to assume. I should have let you explain."
Bella shrugged. "You should have, but sometimes we, as humans, don't think before acting. It was a lapse in judgment."
"How can you be so accepting of this? Of me?"
"Because maybe I would have reacted the same way if I'd been in your shoes." She chuckled nervously and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "But you're here, and you apologized. I know now you didn't mean it. I believe in giving people a second chance. Hell, I've been given many of those. Why wouldn't I do the same?"
-MTSD-
Edward couldn't believe his ears. In his entire life in Tinseltown he had never met someone with such a logical mindset.
She accepted his faults and still wanted him here.
God, this was all kinds of fucked up.
His head was screaming at him to run. Run, fucktard. Run! Don't hurt the girl. You don't deserve her.
This was a disaster waiting to happen, he knew, but he was anchored to her bed; to her side. She drew him in. The peace he'd felt - experienced - that first night, expanded and spread through his chest.
But his demons fought, screaming and clawing at his sanity. In his heart, Edward knew he'd hurt her. He knew he would eventually break her heart. He was too broken to be good for anyone.
And yet, he couldn't make himself leave.
Fuck, he loathed himself.
The war inside him raged, the demons sneering at Bella, ready to claw her to pieces with his fucked up self.
He drew her close, closing the gaping space between them, and covered her mouth with his, silencing the demons. Edward sighed into her mouth. His eyes remained open, and he watched hers flutter, dark eyelashes sweeping across her rosy cheeks.
She echoed his sigh, and he closed his eyes and let himself drown - in her scent, her soft lips, her luscious curves... just her.
"Smart and beautiful," Edward breathed, ghosting his mouth over hers.
Her soft laughter made him pause, focus on her, feel her. Fire flared inside him, and he stopped breathing.
They both groaned at the same time as she sucked on his bottom lip and pushed her tongue into his mouth. Edward pulled her closer, desire burning through him.
His hand pushed into her hair, pulling at the strands. He pulled her head back, breaking the kiss. Bella opened her eyes to his heavy-lidded green ones.
"These have been the longest fucking two weeks of my life," he growled against her lips, reclaiming them.
His hands spread through her long mahogany hair, gliding from her shoulders to her hips. Wrapping a hand around her waist, he lifted her and set her on his lap, her legs straddling his. Bella fisted his shirt in her hands, attempting to get closer, and his cock pushed against her soft stomach. Edward's insides twisted in anticipation, the feeling spreading through his entire body. Her skirt pushed up her thighs, and like a magnet, his fingers swept down to find the creamy soft skin he'd been dreaming about.
At her slight flinch, he drew back. Concern evident on his face, Edward asked, "What's wrong?"
Bella blushed and kissed his pouty lips. "Nothing. Just nervous."
"Do I make you nervous?" Edward asked, his fingertips trailing to the inside of her thigh. "Does me touching you make you nervous?"
Nodding, Bella took his hand and placed it against her chest. "Feel that?"
Her heart beat hard and erratic against her ribcage. His eyes remained glued to the place where his hand rested.
"It's been doing that all night," she confessed, covering his hand with her own. "Touching you… you touching me, it feels kind of surreal. After I told you goodbye, I honestly thought I'd never see you again."
She took his hand and guided it lightly over her breast. "But you're here." Bella kissed his temple, her warm breath ragged on his skin. "In my bed." Her lips ghosted over his earlobe, and Edward's skin prickled with want. "I'm nervous and excited, Edward."
The way his name fell from her lips made Edward buck his hips upwards. He pulled down her blouse, exposing her navy blue bra. He groaned while she whimpered and pushed herself into his palm. Bella rocked into him, thrusting her warm heat against his hard cock.
Her fingers clawed at his shirt, and Edward quickly pulled it over his head, throwing it over her shoulder to the floor. With hooded eyes, Bella traced her fingers along his muscles, from his shoulders, over his collarbone, down his chest and abs. His stomach contracted when she touched the tattoo that was etched into his ribcage beneath his arm. Edward could see the curiosity in her eyes, trying to decipher the meaning of it, but she only bent to kiss it, her lips feather light. He closed his eyes and held his breath to focus on the feeling.
Edward groaned and pushed up her shirt, watching with his lower lip between his teeth as Bella lifted it up and over her head. Reaching behind her, Bella unhooked her bra and let it slide slowly down her arms.
His breath faltered at the sight, his eyes glued to her rounded breasts. Then he saw the jagged scar below her navel, and his brows furrowed. Noticing his concern, Bella covered his lips with hers. "Not tonight. Please."
The pain in her voice crippled him, but he nodded and returned her kiss. The thought of someone or something hurting her made him cringe.
His hands explored her skin. He loved the whimpers of pleasure that left her mouth. Kissing down her cheek and across her collarbone, he captured one nipple in his mouth, sucking while his hand gently kneaded her other breast. Bella moaned and gripped his hair, holding on tight as her hips rocked over his hard length.
God, he needed to get naked and inside her.
Edward groaned. "Stand for me, sweetheart," he commanded in a raspy voice, his tongue still teasing her nipple.
"Take it all off," he whispered with a slight nod towards her skirt.
With a raised eyebrow, Bella slowly slipped out of her skirt and panties.
His breath caught in his throat, and he swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. "Beautiful," left his lips in a hushed whisper.
But his stomach somersaulted as she knelt in front of him. Reaching for his belt buckle and zipper, Bella looked at him through her lashes. Edward removed her glasses and placed them on the nightstand, never taking his eyes off her.
He allowed her to tug down his pants, then Bella leaned forward and sucked the tip of his cock into her mouth.
"Fuck!" he cursed, his thigh muscles clenching. "Damn!"
His eyes closed and he leaned back on his elbows, enjoying the heat of her mouth as she sucked him further in. Her tongue swirled over the head, and this time, his hips bucked reflexively.
"Holy fuck. Sorry!" Bella hummed around him and dug her hands into his thighs. The sensation spread up his legs and into his balls. "Your mouth," he grunted. "Fuck!"
Heat gathered in his stomach, his orgasm fast approaching. Fuck, damn him if he was going to come in her mouth. "No, no, no…" he murmured, his hands cupping her face and pulling her off him.
"Not doing it right?" she asked, tilting her head until she could suck his thumb into her mouth. "Show me." She repeated his words back to him, casting a glance at his cock.
Edward chuckled darkly and helped her to stand. "Did you hear me complain?" She shook her head. He ran his fingers up her thighs and slowly, gently spread her open. "So wet," he rumbled, circling his finger around her swollen clit. Drawing her closer, he inhaled her musky scent.
"Edward," she whimpered, her nails digging into his shoulders. Her body shook with need.
Lust spiraled through him as he slowly licked through her folds.
"Oooh," she breathed. "Oh God."
Edward feasted on her sounds as he pleasured her with his tongue, her taste driving him wild.
"Condom?" she asked suddenly, her breathing heavy. Tiny beads of sweat glistened across her chest and stomach.
"Wallet. Back pocket," Edward murmured against her delicate skin, running his tongue over clit.
Bella stepped away from his mouth, and he growled at her. With a slight snicker, she took the condom and handed it to him. With her lower lip wedged between her teeth, she watched him sheath himself.
"Stop that," he growled, stroking himself. "It drives me crazy." He ran his thumb over her lower lip, pulling it from between her teeth.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled one knee wide, settling her back over his hips. Bella reached between their bodies and wrapped her fingers around his length. He groaned her name as she rubbed his head over her opening. Bella ached in anticipation and rocked his length slowly into her swollen, wet heat.
Edward's muscles clenched. His fingers dug into her hips.
"Is this what you want?" He grunted out, his eyes never leaving hers, no matter how much he wanted to watch her sink down on him.
"Yes," she hissed. "God, yes."
Edward lifted his hips and pushed deeper. She whimpered and captured his lips, moaning into his mouth as he pulled her hips lower. Edward knew there was no way he was going to last long.
"I don't think I can go slow, sweetheart."
"Don't," she whimpered.
Just like two weeks earlier, the emotions Edward felt when he was with her, buried inside her, were electrifying. He couldn't get close enough, and yet didn't want to be closer.
"Bella," he groaned, trying, and failing, every trick in the book to stave off his orgasm. "I'm not gonna last."
Her hair had fallen forward over her shoulders and brushed against his chest with every thrust. It framed her face in a gorgeous display of raw beauty.
That wasn't helping him hold back either.
Edward lifted his hips and pushed deeper.
Bella's lips parted. Her eyes closed, and her head tilted back. "You feel so good."
With each passing moment, a strange new emotion rose within Edward's chest. A desperation to mark her, to own her.
He didn't understand the fierce, growing need, and he pushed it from his mind, focusing solely on the beautiful creature sliding up and down his cock.
"Bella… come on, sweetheart. Ride me." He growled the words against her throat, sucking down to her breasts and taking her nipple back into his hungry mouth.
"Aaah," she cried and, with one more desperate thrust, she stilled.
"Fuck me," she breathed out, pulling on his hair until their gazes locked - desire upon desire.
"Fuck... " He lost it and dug his fingers into her hips, driving upward.
Bella covered his mouth with hers. He swallowed her cries while his body shook from the effort of holding back his own climax. Bella was so perfectly snug around him.
"Oh God…" she moaned, leaning her forehead against his, her hips rocking over his engorged cock. "That's so… good."
Edward wrapped his arms around her waist, barely able to keep from losing control, and laid her down on the bed. Her hair spread in dark waves across the cream-colored pillow.
He reared back and pushed into her slowly. Her eyes fluttered closed.
"Open your eyes." When she did, he said, "You wanted to fuck looking into my eyes. Keep them open," he grunted through gritted teeth.
Placing a hand flat on the bed beside her head, Edward traced a finger down her torso and circled a nipple. Bella mewled, her fingers digging into his biceps. He dragged it lower and circled her swollen clit, watching his cock, slick with her heat, pushing into her.
"Oh God."
Her eyes closed.
Her pussy clenched.
"Keep. Them. Open." He gritted out, punctuating each word with a forceful thrust.
She opened her eyes, pools of sparkling darkness, and Edward drowned in the intensity of her gaze. Her lips parted, and she gasped his name one more time before her orgasm broke. He watched the pleasure rush over her beautiful face.
"God damn…" was all he got out before his own orgasm hit. His hips jerked, his muscles contracted and released, sending pleasure rocketing through him.
Bella went limp beneath him. She kissed his cheek, his jaw, his neck and then drew his body flush against hers.
Edward wrapped his arms around her, then rolled onto his back, still buried deep inside her. He smoothed her hair back and sighed, peaceful and sated.
This was heaven. He never wanted to leave.
After a moment, she lifted up and off of him. Edward threw the used condom in the trash and ran a hand through his hair, feeling nervous. "I should go."
He didn't want to, but he knew he should go. Leave before sleep claimed him and the demons robbed his dreams.
"Don't," Bella whispered, drawing him back to bed and into her arms.
A/N: Not what you expected? Still wanna kill Edward? Let me know your thoughts...
Thank you for reading, reviewing, all the favorites and follows. You guys are pretty awesome!
