A/N...This may be up earlier than expected. It's gonna be a weird weekend and I just wanted you guys to have this.
This chapter will answer some questions, I think. I'll let you get to it. I'll see you at the bottom.
CHAPTER 9
Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire – five months into the trail.
The Not So Comforting Truth
BELLA
"How can you see, baby?" I giggled, holding Edward's now way out of control hair away from his eyes.
"I can't," he chuckled, "but Emmett and I were thinking of hitting a barber shop once we get into the next town."
"Okay," I nodded, still playing with his unruly locks.
We were stopped just inside of Vermont on a break. We were lounging in a small meadow as the midday sun warmed our skin. The next town he spoke of was our goal for the next stop.
I looked around, my fingers twisting the tall grasses around me. My t-shirt was tossed to the side, leaving me in my bikini top and shorts.
"There was a place like this in Forks," I said softly, glancing around again. Edward sat up silently, tucking my hair behind my ear. "It was my own secret place," I smiled, biting my lip and looking over at him. His eyes were soft, the green so vibrant as he waited for me to continue. "I never even told Rose about it. It wasn't far from Charlie's. I would go there to read, write, listen to music – just to get away from everything."
I looked down at the grass I had wound around my finger, pulling it off and throwing into the breeze that caressed us both. "I want to take you there," I sighed.
"You're going to show me your secret hideout?" he teased, but love was overflowing from his gaze.
"Meadow. Not hideout. And yes," I giggled. "I want you to see it. I want to share my past with you. That place made me very happy, kept me calm. Will you let me?"
"Of course," he smiled sweetly, kissing my temple. "I suppose I should meet Charlie, too, huh?"
"Yeah," I nodded, a smile playing on my face until his body tensed beside me.
"Again," he grimaced. My confusion must have been all over my face. "You said he was there the night they found my car."
"Oh yeah," I winced. "Sorry, baby."
Edward picked up my hand and played with my fingers. His eyes glazed over, but he spoke slowly, deliberately.
"We were leaving Seattle," he sighed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was...trying to right a wrong. We weren't together, but her husband found out, and he hurt her." He ran a heavy hand through his hair. "I was taking her to a safe place – a shelter in California. I was going to drop her off."
I couldn't help myself. "You were going to leave her there?"
"Yeah," he nodded, still focusing on my fingers. "It was something I needed to do for her, but I couldn't be with her. She had..." His lip curled in anger. "Well, I wasn't the only man she'd used to try and escape her husband."
The picture he was painting of Gwen wasn't flattering. She sounded like she had married someone she didn't love, and then tried to find that love everywhere. His jaw clenched as he began to speak again.
"If Charlie was there, then he told you that the snowstorm was so bad, we weren't found for almost twenty-four hours." He looked over at me, and I nodded. "What else did he tell you?"
"Um, that you were barely conscious and covered in blood – dehydrated." I frowned, fighting my tears. "He said you couldn't talk, and that Gwen died on impact."
"I didn't realize she wasn't wearing her seat belt."
"And you were?"
"Yeah," he nodded.
"And you lost control on the ice?" I asked and he nodded again. He was done. I could see it on his face that he wasn't going to say much more. I scooted closer so we were eye to eye. "I'm still here, still loving you. May I ask one thing?"
"Sure," he sighed, touching my face with the lightest of touches. His fingertips barely made contact with my cheek.
"You got mad at her, didn't you?" I frowned. "You found out you weren't the only guy, and you got pissed, maybe said or did some things that weren't so...um, nice?"
"That's a really pleasant way of putting it, Bella," he frowned, looking down at his hands. "I was so mad that... I told her husband about all her indiscretions."
"Oh," I winced. "And he hurt her. Did you know he would hurt her?"
"I didn't care at the time," he sighed, looking up when everyone started to get ready to go back to the trail. "I was blinded by rage. I told you I was possessive, and I thought I really cared for her."
"I guess in some weird way, I don't blame you for being mad," I said, standing up and letting him help me with my pack.
"I know," he said, turning me to face him. "And there's still more to that. How we got to that point..." He shook his head back and forth slowly.
"Okay," I nodded. "Was Emmett involved in this?"
"No," he shook his head. "He knew of her. She was at UW with us. He didn't know any details about her or her husband or Dad until the wreck."
"Dad?"
"That's not a story for now, Bella," he growled, his face darkening with hatred.
"Okay, okay," I crooned, stepping in front of him before we joined the rest of the group. "Look at me," I smiled. "It's fine, and you're doing great, Edward, really. I'm willing to listen to this story until we're old and gray, understand?"
He snorted, but nodded with a slight smile. "You'd still be beautiful," he teased, tugging a lock of my hair.
"And you'd be distinguishably handsome," I tapped his nose. I leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly. I reached up and lifted the hair on his brow to place another kiss on his forehead. "Come on, shaggy, let's go get you sheared." I laughed, narrowly avoiding his tickling fingers that reached for me.
Edward was quiet for a few hours, but not in his usual brooding way. He just looked tired and contemplative. Occasionally, I would reach over and take his hand in mine. We would walk hand in hand for as long as the trail would let us.
It was mid-afternoon by the time we reached the little town we'd been aiming for. Emmett and Edward both wanted to check in with their mother, and Rose, Alice, and I wanted a cold drink; something other than water.
Jasper, after much pushing by Alice, decided to get a trim as well. The boys headed into the local barber shop, while we sat at a table in a little park to wait for them.
"That was quite the serious conversation you had in that meadow, Bells," Rose said, leaning on her hands at the table.
"Yeah," I frowned. "He's slowly talking about the wreck." Both girls' eyes widened in surprise. "This Gwen girl doesn't sound nice, but I don't know much – just what he's told me." Edward was well aware that I discussed things with the girls, because they had been there when I had talked to Charlie.
"So, she did die on impact?" Alice asked, sipping a cold soda that was almost as big as she was.
"Yeah, no seatbelt."
"Oh," they both groaned.
"He hates himself so much about this whole thing...and then he mentioned his dad was involved," I frowned. "You know, the more I hear about him..."
"Don't you know it?" Rose frowned. "He sounds like a real piece of work."
"Right?" I growled. "Anyway, let me check in with Charlie." I pulled out my phone, but Charlie didn't answer. However, there were two messages I hadn't listened to. The first one was from Mike.
"Bells," he sighed, "look, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for things to turn out this way, honest. Your friend was right. I did lose the best thing I ever had. And I can't apologize enough. Listen, I'll be leaving for Florida in two weeks. I'll leave everything of yours for you to pack. I'll even leave some boxes. We were friends once. Please keep in touch. Let's not lose that."
My eyebrows shot up as I listened to that message. I replayed it for Rose to hear. She laughed, shaking her head. "Well, at least you can stay at your apartment to pack."
"I guess," I snickered.
The second message was from Charlie.
"Hey, pumpkin," he sighed into the phone. "I just wanted to let you know that I would be away for a few days. Billy and I are going fishing over the weekend, and I'm going to stay with him. Just wanted to let you know." He paused for a moment. "And um, Bells...I wanted to tell you one more thing about the Cullen boy's accident. I had left the file out and found it while cleaning my desk the other day. The autopsy on the girl...well, it came back that she was pregnant. Test results said it wasn't his, though, Belly. But I thought you should know. Be safe, and call me soon."
"Oh fuck," I sighed, handing my phone to Rose. Her mouth fell open as she replayed Charlie's message. "He really needs to stop giving me information," I groaned, rubbing my face in frustration.
"I bet she told him it was his," Rose guessed, and Alice nodded as she listened to the message. "She sounds like the type. She needed an out, and I bet she thought Edward was the key."
"I agree." I took my phone back from Alice and looked across the street. The boys were all still inside the barber shop. "Another subject, please," I begged. "I can't think about this anymore. I get pissed, and I want to hurt someone for doing this to him."
"Okay," Alice nodded. An impish smile crawled over her features. "So," she smirked, "guess who else is moving to Seattle..."
"You two?" Rose laughed. "Why?"
"I guess Edward and Emmett offered Jasper a job. He has a degree in architecture. They told him that they were still going to try to keep their business going. Jasper offered to help," Alice smiled. "We have no ties anywhere, and you two are the best friends I've ever had. So we're stalking you," she giggled.
"That's awesome!" I laughed, giving her a high five.
"I thought so," she nodded.
Her head turned, and she raised an eyebrow. "Well, damn," she snorted, "if that isn't a pile of handsome right there."
Rose and I both turned to see the boys walking towards us. They looked much cleaner, their hair so much shorter.
"God, you have to feel better," I laughed as Edward straddled the picnic bench beside me. It was still messy, but short enough that he looked completely sex ravaged. "I like it," I smirked, raking my fingers through it.
"I can see, at least," he smiled. His eyes looked lighter, and he seemed to be in a better mood. From the look on Emmett's pride-filled face, I could imagine he was responsible. I held my drink out for Edward, and he took a sip. He sighed gratefully and kissed my cheek with a thank you that I think was for more than the drink.
"And that's important, considering we're walking along mountains and cliffs," Jasper teased.
"Come on," Emmett smiled, "let's stop for the day. There's a hostel right up the street."
OoOoOo
"Just call her later, Em," Edward sighed. "She might be at the store or something."
"Yeah," his brother sighed, resting back in the lounge chair.
We had made to the next hostel and all agreed that instead of taking a zero day, we would just stop early for the night. It wasn't even sunset yet. Maggie rested her head on Edward's lap, and he was stroking her ear. They had been trying to call Esme for the last few hours, but she wasn't picking up either her cell or the house phone.
"She's allowed to leave the house," Rose teased. They both chuckled and nodded.
"Okay, kids," Harold, the owner of the hostel called to us. "Dinner's ready. I know you're starving. Those girls need weight on their bones."
He was the sweetest of old men. He had recently lost his wife of forty-something years, but her last request was that he keep up the hostel as long as he could. They had been running it for as long as they had been married, which was like forty-something years.
"Yes, sir," the boys all chuckled.
We were the only ones there so far, but it was early in the day. Harold said he didn't expect any more Thruhikers until the next day.
As we joined him in his dining room, Edward's eyes locked onto an old upright piano in the corner of a sitting room. We all ran into him when he stopped cold. He looked to Harold, asking, "Do you play?" His voice was reverent, almost a whisper.
"No, son," Harold smiled wistfully. "That was Helen's gift."
"May I?" Edward smiled, looking younger than I had ever seen him.
"Eat first," Harold chuckled. "And then you can entertain us all."
"Yes, sir," Edward smiled. His cheeks tinged a light pink when he realized we were all watching him.
Emmett chuckled softly. "Ed, don't make it all boring classical now, okay?" He slapped his brother's back when we all sat down.
"Classical isn't boring," Rose huffed. "It's timeless. Edward, play what you want."
"Okay," Edward laughed.
"Yeah," I smiled, "it's about time I got to hear you."
"That old thing has only heard church songs," Harold chuckled at us. "Should be interesting to see what a young pair of hands can make it do."
Harold was an amazing cook. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits covered the table. We ate like kings and queens. With every second and third helping that we all took, Harold glowed with pride.
But it was Edward's side glances at the piano that were adorable to watch – and I wasn't the only one that noticed.
"Go, Ed," Jasper laughed. "You look like you're about to burst."
With a chuckle and a smile, he stood up and pulled the bench out. He lifted the lid over the keys. He didn't even look like my Edward. A calm, knowledgeable serenity settled over him as his beautiful hands flowed over the keys. The chords he made were so pretty, the songs easily recognizable. He played classical, contemporary, and even for Harold, a few old church songs.
"How do you know gospel?" Emmett snorted.
"Piano lessons, Em," Edward smiled, but didn't turn around. "We had to learn it all."
"Yeah, I lasted about a month with those," Emmett laughed. "Mom said Eddie took to the piano like a fish takes to water."
Harold laughed, shaking his head. "Edward, when did you start playing?"
"Six," he finally turned around. "Bella, baby, come here," he smiled, patting the seat beside him. I took a seat next to him, watching his hands as he whispered in my ear, "I've had this one in my head since I met you."
It was an amazing song, completely stunning with moments of sadness and crescendos that sounded almost erotic. I didn't realize I was crying until he'd stopped playing and wiped a tear away.
"That was really pretty, Edward," I sniffled. "Did you write that?" He nodded quietly.
"You compose?" Jasper smiled.
"Just a few things," Edward shrugged, but his eyes didn't leave mine. "Why are you crying, my love?"
"It's too pretty to hold in. There are sad parts in there," I sighed.
"You were sad when I met you," he smirked.
"I love you," I mouthed, realizing we weren't alone in the room.
"And I love you," he chuckled, wiping another tear. He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "I need a cigarette, what about you?" he asked, his eyebrow rising. I nodded and took his hand as we left everyone behind us.
"I can't believe you wrote that," I smiled as he sat down in a chair, pulling me into his lap.
"I don't think about it," he shrugged. "Notes just come to me sometimes."
Edward lit us a cigarette, settling me in a more comfortable position with my back to his chest. My legs hung over each side of his. I leaned my temple to his jaw as his long fingers traced lazy circles around my kneecap. It was a comfortable silence.
Maggie laid down beside us, reminding me of something Charlie had said once. I turned my head, pressing my lips to Edward's cheek.
"What was that for?" he smirked, nuzzling my neck.
"I just remembered something Charlie said, and I meant to tell you," I smiled, feeling him tense all around me. "Relax." I twisted around slightly in his arms. "I think you'll like this."
"Okay," he nodded.
"When Charlie realized who you were, he asked what I thought about you," I snickered.
"And just what did you say?" he smirked, raising his dark, sexy eyebrow at me.
There was no way I could resist teasing him. "I told him that you were fuck hot and made my panties wet," I purred, dragging my lips down his cheek and raking my nails over his stomach.
"Bella," he laughed, his head falling back. I leaned in, pressing my lips to his neck. "What did you really say?" He was still chuckling, a slight blush on his face.
"I said that you were really nice and that you took care of me when I was hiking alone," I smiled, picking up his hand and linking our fingers together. "Then he asked if Mags liked you."
"I'm beginning to understand why all of you trust her," he chuckled, reaching down to tug her ear. She looked back at him with a goofy grin, her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth.
"Rose told him that she adored you." I tilted my head at him. "He said that you must be good people – that you had just seen some shit."
"He did?"
"Mmhmm," I nodded.
"Say it again, Bella," he smiled, leaning his head back. His eyelashes were long, making his face take on a very lust-filled expression. He was dangerously handsome.
"I love you," I sighed with a smile, standing up to turn around. I straddled his legs, meeting him face to face.
Edward's hands caressed my back and thigh softly. "I love you so much," he breathed, pulling me to his lips. His hand slipped slowly up my back and into my hair.
I didn't need his encouragement to turn my head. With a heavy moan from the both of us, our tongues met in lazy, wet strokes. I felt an arm wrap around my waist, holding me securely to his chest. My hands made their way up his neck, twisting his shorter locks through my fingers.
I don't know how long we just kissed, never taking it any further than a caress here or a moan there. It could have been minutes or hours. I had no idea. I felt drunk with love and lust as we lost ourselves in different kisses – deep and wanton, chaste and sweet, licking and nipping – all of them leaving us breathless and smiling lip to lip when we were busted.
"Get a room," Emmett growled, laughing when Edward flipped him off without removing his forehead from mine.
"We had the entire outdoors," I sighed, smiling when Edward chuckled.
"Until we were so rudely interrupted," he added, rolling his eyes at Emmett's shameless laugh. "That was the Best. Kiss. Ever," he crooned sexily in my ear.
"Uh huh," I nodded, feeling almost light-headed. I laid my head on his chest, listening to the sounds of Emmett and Jasper starting a fire in Harold's fire pit, Rose and Alice talking about places to live in Seattle, and Edward's deep and steady heartbeat. My eyelids grew heavy with happiness, contentment, and exhaustion. Picking up his hand, I curled it to my chest, sighing when I felt his sweet kiss to my forehead. And then I knew no more.
EDWARD
"Put her to bed, Eddie," Emmett smiled, his eyes taking on a softness when it came to Bella.
"I will," I sighed, wrapping my arms around her. "It's too soon. She'll wake up if I move now."
There wasn't a single person out there that believed me. And I really didn't care. She had fallen asleep in my arms, and I didn't want her heartbeat to stop thumping against my chest or her fingers to stop twitching in my hand. Placing another kiss to her forehead, I slipped lower in the chair and held my girl close.
As I rubbed her back softly, barely hearing the conversation around me, her muscles slowly relaxed, and she melted further into me.
My girl. I closed my eyes and let that possessive term float over me. I liked it. No, I really fucking loved it. She was mine. She was mine as much as I was hers. Just when I think I can't get through something, she would push and pull me along.
There were things I needed to tell her, and she was so damn patient. I promised myself that before we were finished with this hike, she would know everything. She knew Gwen was married and that she had cheated on me. She knew I had been so upset with finding out about her infidelity, I told her husband. If anyone could understand that part of my story, it was Bella.
Upset wasn't the word. I was a rabid dog when I found out. It was Emmett that had told me. I would have, and almost had, destroyed our apartment if it weren't for my brother. He'd slammed me to the ground in order for me to gain control over my emotions. Once I had, I told him about her. All about her. I told him she was married to Caius Verducci, a business rival of our father's.
He knew I had met Gwen at school. She was in my economics class with me. She was a pretty girl with dark auburn hair and hazel eyes. Like most freshmen, she hung out at the local coffee shop. We were attracted instantly. She never mentioned that she didn't live on campus or that she was married. She didn't mention that she was the daughter of my father's old business associate, Stephen Harper. She saw me coming and knew exactly who I was from the very beginning.
I discovered her biggest secret the night of a Christmas party at my parents' house. She was there with Caius. When she saw me, she pulled me aside, begging for me to understand. She told me her father had basically arranged the marriage in order to merge with Caius' company. My attraction for her couldn't be denied, though at the time, I was sure I loved her. So we kept our relationship a secret.
Until my father found out. I took a deep breath to stop my temper from getting out of control.
When I told Caius, I told him everything. I told him about her pregnancy and every man she had been with besides me. When Gwen called me and told me that Caius had beat her, I immediately went to get her. I couldn't be with her, but I needed to make it right. I had poured gasoline onto an inferno, and it was my fault she was hurt. I didn't have to tell him there were other men, and I certainly didn't have to tell Caius about the baby. But I had. And he'd tried to kill her over it.
The police report of the wreck explained all of her injuries as accident related. They weren't. The report also stated she died on impact. She didn't. She suffered for hours next to me in that mangled car, begging to me to save our baby. It wasn't until later I was told the baby wasn't mine.
That was my nightmares. That was what woke me up every night for over two years – hearing her cry out to me, thinking my unborn child was dying right next to me. Gwen lasted for four hours, until the cold and her internal injuries took her life. But I would always feel responsible for the loss of two lives that night.
My body shuddered with the memory, bringing me back to the present. I closed my eyes, inhaling deep the scent of Bella's hair. "Oh, baby," I sighed softly into her hair, "I love you so fucking much." She wrapped her arms tighter around me, almost as if she could sense I needed her. "Come on, beautiful, let me take you to bed."
With that, I bid a quiet goodnight to everyone and walked into the house with her still in my arms. She never even woke up when I tucked her into bed beside me.
OoOoOo
"I'll kill you, you little shit," Caius shouted, pushing his body away from his car. His driver sat impassively behind the wheel of his limo like nothing was about to happen.
"Bite me," I growled, still pissed off after having confronted Gwen. "She's all yours." I huffed a bitter laugh, "Well, as much yours as she'll let you. Though I think she's fucking every guy in my brother's dorm."
"You lie," he growled.
"And one of us sprung a leak in our condom, 'cause she's pregnant," I snapped. "Why would I lie?" My hands were balled up at my sides, my entire body shaking with rage. My heart was shattered. I was an asshole for all the girls I treated like shit. This is what it fucking felt like to have your heart stomped on, spit on, and handed back to you without so much as a fuck you. "Good luck," I snorted. "It could be any one of us."
"That stupid bitch," he snarled. I shrugged, knowing I had called her that myself not even an hour before. "He only told me about you. He didn't mention anyone else," he muttered, almost to himself.
"Who?"
An evil smile crossed Caius' features. With his long blonde hair and blue eyes, he looked like an angel of death.
"Carlisle," he smirked. "He ratted you out, son..."
"No," I shook my head. "He told you?" I shook my head in denial. All that bullshit about helping us. All the lies about how love would win out. And my own father sold me out to his rival, just to get a leg up.
"Edward, baby," I heard in my ear. "Baby, wake up. It's not real. It's just a dream."
I opened my eyes to see the sweetest of sights. Deep brown, loving eyes raked over me with concern.
"I'm so, so sorry," she begged, sitting down beside me. "I shouldn't have left you, but I needed to use the bathroom. And then the smell of coffee was too much to resist."
I smiled at her ramblings. "Baby," I sat up and stretched. "I don't expect you to be glued to my side. Sleeping or not."
"I know, but I just..."
"It's fine, love."
She nodded and handed me a cup of coffee. "That dream sounded rough. You called out for me."
"I'm sure I did," I frowned, looking down at the mug in my hands. "I've come to depend on you. That's not fair of me."
"Sure it's fair," she snickered. "I need you just as much." She leaned in to kiss my forehead. "Now, get dressed. Harold made an amazing breakfast."
"Yes, ma'am."
Once I was showered and dressed, I walked out to see that Bella had packed up my things. I joined everyone at the table. Harold was a gracious host, and seemed to enjoy being surrounded by loud and boisterous young people. He egged my brother on for silly stories, which Emmett was only to happy to tell him.
Maggie sat at his side, taking pieces of sausage he thought he was sneaking her. I smiled and shook my head when they both would wait until Bella was looking another way. Maggie was a piece of work.
Before we all left Harold, we thanked him, the girls covering him with hugs and kisses. I couldn't help but chuckle when his face turned beet red.
I pulled out my phone to try our mother one more time. There was no answer at the home phone, so I tried her cell. It went straight to voice mail, but she had changed her message.
"Hi, this is Esme. I can't get to the phone, so leave a message. And if this is my handsome boys, I'm with your Aunt Jane for the day...she's having some tests run at the hospital and my phone can't be on. But I love you. Check in again when you can. And let me hear your voices."
I smiled, waving my brother over, and we both left her a message that we were fine and that we loved her.
We were in Massachusetts most of the day, opting to stop just before sunset just inside Vermont. We were all surprised at the good timing we had made that day. As we all collapsed around the campfire, no one really talked. We sat as couples, speaking softly to one another.
"I need to tell you something," Bella said nervously.
"What, beautiful?" I smiled, leaning back against the log.
"I know Gwen was pregnant," she winced, bracing herself for my reaction.
"Yes, she was," I nodded, picking up Bella's hand and playing with her fingers. "It wasn't mine, though."
"I know that, too," she sighed, forcing me to look at her. "Is that your nightmares? From the accident?"
"Yes," I whispered, kissing her nose. "I was responsible for two deaths that night."
"Is that why you think you're a bad guy, Edward, because that's not..."
I cut her off with a kiss to her lips. "No," I shook my head. "Well, yes and no. I was..."
"It was an accident, Edward," she urged, caressing my face with her small, warm hands.
"I know," I nodded.
"Did she try to convince you it was yours?" she growled, her face wrinkled in pure disgust at Gwen.
"She did. And succeeded until after the autopsy." I flinched at the last word.
"I don't want to upset you, baby." Bella sighed, tilting her head at me. I wrapped my hand around her ponytail, twisting it around. Her hair was so soft, and with each movement, the scent of it calmed me.
"I'm not," I shook my head. "You know most of the story now. I confronted Gwen at the hotel where we always met. She lost control. She sobbed, telling me she was pregnant and the baby was mine, but by this time, I couldn't believe a word she said. I was too angry."
"I don't blame you," Bella frowned, rubbing her hand up and down my chest.
"I left her at the hotel, crying hysterically on the floor." I winced at how heartless that sounded. "By the time I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment, her husband was waiting for me. I was so raging mad, I told him I wasn't the only guy and that she was pregnant. He was livid, but at her, not me."
"So he went home and confronted her himself?" she asked, already knowing that answer. I nodded slowly. "And he hurt her. Is that when she called you?" I nodded again. "Did you feel remorse for telling him? Is that why you tried to make it right by taking her somewhere safe?"
"Yes, Bella." I sighed. "I felt bad that she got hurt, but I couldn't even look at her."
My girl studied my face for a moment. "Enough," she smiled sweetly. "No more tonight, okay?"
"You started it," I smirked, poking her in the stomach. Her sweet giggle was like music to me. "I think I deserve a trade."
"You want a scar, huh?" she smirked. She was so sexy, and she didn't even know it. "I've told you most everything, I think. Let's see," she mused, biting her bottom lip as she tried to think of a story for me. I chuckled at her. She was too adorable. "Don't laugh," she huffed. "I love that you know everything about me."
"Me too," I teased, "but I think you're just stalling."
"Shut it," she laughed. She swatted away a bug, and her eyes lit up. "Oh I know," she beamed, holding up her shirt sleeve. There was a faint scar at the top of her shoulder. "This will make you laugh. I got this when my friend Jake tried to teach me, Mike, and Rose how to ride four wheelers."
"Those can be really dangerous, baby," I frowned, tracing my finger over the almost invisible scar.
"We were supervised," she growled, folding her arms across her chest. "But that was from a branch smacking me when we got to close to the brush." I smirked, loving her sweet, put-out face.
I leaned in and kissed the scar. "Can I have it?" I whispered against her skin.
"If you're going to take it, you better get me in that tent," she purred sexily in my ear.
We bid everyone goodnight, not that they were paying any attention to us. They were all off in their own worlds. Maggie settled just outside the tent flap when we crawled in.
Something changed when we were finally alone. Well, as alone as we could be with two other couples just on the other side of a thin piece of fabric. The air became charged, causing both of us to look at each other with questioning faces.
Bella reached down, lifting her shirt over her head, and I followed her example. I leaned forward, crawling on all fours to press my lips to the scar on her shoulder again. This time, my tongue swirled over it, tasting it.
"Really take it," she breathed, her eyes locked with mine. Without looking away from her, I opened my mouth to suck her skin. She gasped, her mouth hanging open slightly and her breathing picking up.
"I want you, baby," I sighed, pushing her onto her back and looming over her. "You're so beautiful." I shook my head in awe of her. "I want to touch you. Everywhere."
"Edward," she moaned, her brow furrowing as she reached for me. God, I loved the sound of my name coming from her lips. I tugged at her shorts, stripping them off of her as she lifted her hips. She sat up, flicking open the button of my cargo shorts. With a little shifting around, I was out of them.
"Turn around," I commanded, my voice not as soft as I would have liked, but she didn't seem to care. I sat back on my heels, pulling her back to my chest so that my hands could roam her soft, smooth skin. I reached up and tugged her ponytail down, brushing all of her hair away from her shoulder.
I ravished her neck and shoulder, all the while my hands cupped her breasts, pinching and rolling her nipples. She arched into my hands, her breathing heavy as she tried to keep her noises in. I skimmed my hand down to the soft hairs of her mound, finally cupping her in a possessive way. She whimpered, leaning her head back to my shoulder.
"Always so ready for me," I whispered into her ear, dragging my teeth along her earlobe. She nodded, closing her eyes tight as she tried to control herself. "You said only I could do this to you, right?" I asked, slipping my fingers between her folds. She nodded again, her hands gripping my forearms. She was urging me for more – more squeezes to her breast, more touches to her most sensitive area. I was teasing her, coming so close but not quite to where she wanted.
"Please," she begged, her entire body writhing in front of me. "I have never been this wet...with anyone, Edward."
My eyes closed, my nostrils flaring at the wanton feelings that splashed over me. I claimed her with my fingers, delving two inside of her as deep as they could go. My thumb made tight circles around her swollen nub. She twitched around me, already so close, as my mouth attached to the soft spot behind her ear.
Her hips undulated in the same rhythm as my hand, her juices making a sound I was afraid could be heard outside our tent. "I want you to come for me, my love, hard. I'm going to help you keep quiet, okay?" Air rushed from her lungs, her eyes closing as she got closer and closer to the edge. As soon as her tight walls clenched down around my fingers, my hand shot to her mouth, muffling the sound I knew she couldn't help. Nor would I ever want her to.
She pressed her sweaty forehead into the crook of my neck as her body writhed like a snake. As her spasms slowed, so did her movements. I lifted her up, keeping her back to me as I positioned her over my now throbbing cock. I was dying to be inside of her.
"Is this okay?" I whispered.
"So okay," she nodded, slipping down over me. We both stopped all movement once I was sheathed completely inside of her warmth. My head fell forward to her shoulder, and hers fell back. Our breathing was shallow and ragged as she started to roll her hips over me. "Kiss me," she commanded in my ear, turning her head.
With shared breaths and muffled moans, we reveled in being one. Teeth nipped lips and tongues collided as our bodies reacted on their own. We let instinct take over, only controlling our mouths, but letting our hands do what they wanted as we met each other thrust for thrust.
Bella broke from my mouth, leaning forward and resting on her hands. I sat up on my knees and took her in the most basic of ways – and she felt fucking amazing. Her walls fluttered around me again as I cupped her perfect ass in my hands, squeezing and kneading at her flesh. Her head fell between her shoulders as she fought to keep her sounds down.
I leaned over her, my arms on each side of hers, my lips at her ear. "You feel so good this way, baby," I breathed as quietly as I could. "You're close, beautiful. You need my help to keep it quiet?"
Her head nodded fervently. With a few more unbelievably deep thrusts, her breathing stopped altogether. I covered her mouth again, whispering in her ear. "That's it, come for me. Only I can do this to you. I love you so fucking much, do you know?" She nodded under my hand, her walls clamping down on me, and I was done. I buried my face in the crook of her neck, my teeth biting down. She bucked under me as another orgasm shot through her.
I saw stars at the feel of us coming together. Once I could see straight, I pulled the covers of our sleeping bag back and pulled her to me. "I'm sorry," I sighed, placing a kiss at the mark I had left on her.
"I'm not," she giggled shamelessly. She rolled in my arms to face me. "I like it when you lose control." She smirked, tangling her legs with mine. "It's damn sexy."
I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "Go to sleep, silly girl."
"'Kay," she sighed, nuzzling my neck. We both mumbled 'I love you,' and were asleep almost before the next breath we took.
OoOoOo
Vermont was a long walk, and most of the time a stunning view surrounded us. Bella used up more than one battery taking pictures over the next few days. As we neared New Hampshire, Emmett tried to call our mother again.
Again, no answer, but this time there was no change on her voice mail message.
"We'll try her again at the next hostel," I sighed, frowning. She had never not answered. Not that I expected her to sit around and wait for our calls, but it had been some time since we had actually heard her voice.
The next hostel happened to be just inside the New Hampshire state line. We were debating on whether to take a zero day or not. Bella voted yes, because she needed to charge her camera. Rose and Alice wanted to do some laundry. My brother, Jasper, and I really didn't care.
"Okay," Rose smiled, "we stay one day." She looked up at Emmett, concern on her face. "You guys should try your mom again."
"You're right," he sighed, kissing her lips and pulling out his phone. He shook his head when there wasn't any answer again. "A week?" he growled, looking over at me. "We haven't been able to reach her for a week? I'm starting to worry."
I nodded, but tried not to dwell on it. "If it happens one more time, we'll have to call Dad's office."
"Fuck," Emmett snarled. "Yeah, that's just what I'm looking forward to. A chat with Daddy."
I laughed, slapping him on the back. His malice towards our father was in protection of me. Our separation from Cullen Construction was in vengeance for what he'd done – to me. Emmett may never forgive him for almost losing his best friend and baby brother in the accident.
"Okay," I chuckled, "then we'll just keep trying her."
We settled into the small house without much fanfare. The owners lived in the house next door, allowing the Thruhikers to come and go as they pleased.
Everyone was on the honor system. Signs were posted all over the small house stating that hikers were responsible for their own food, clean up, and laundry.
We weren't the only people staying there that night. Two summer hikers heading south, Tyson and Danny, were the other guests. Emmett affectionately dubbed them "Cheech and Chong." They were fried. Not just fried, but their brain cells never stood a chance at recovery.
Our girls took pity on them when they saw the only food they had was peanut butter and jelly. They offered to cook if the two guys pitched in. And they did – with huge happy smiles and hugs – the latter of which I was none to happy about.
After a whole day of lounging around and laundry, and two nights of indoor sleep, we began our hike back out on the trail. We were looking at another three weeks or slightly more before the hike was over – a thought that had me nervous and excited.
Nervous, because I knew the separation from my Bella would be the hardest thing I would ever face. I had fallen in love with her, and knew there was no way I could face my life without her. She deserved better than me, but the selfish creature I was couldn't give her up.
I was excited about the finish as well. For the first time in a really long time, Emmett and I were going to finish something we had started. It was sense of accomplishment and pride.
As Maine neared, Bella began asking a few more questions. She knew just about everything concerning my past. The only thing she remained ignorant of was my father's betrayal and the last words exchanged between Gwen and myself that fateful night. Those were things I didn't know if I could share. And as I told her so, I saw nothing but complete and utter love on her face.
"Can I tell you my opinion, baby?" she whispered in our tent. We were at the last campsite before Maine.
"Always," I smiled, kissing the back of her neck. We were spooned together, trying to ignore the sounds of the couples around us and a bobcat in heat somewhere to the east.
"I think Gwen knew who you were, was sent in to hurt you...to get to your Dad," she sighed, rolling to face me. I nodded, having come to that conclusion myself months back. "It breaks my heart, Edward. To think that you – as sweet and smart as you are – were used as a pawn in a corporate game of chess. I hate them for it." She sighed, shaking her head. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I kissed them away.
"Me too, baby," I smiled sadly, "and Emmett as well."
We were quiet for a few moments, just holding one another.
"I'm so proud of you," she smiled up at me. "I know there are some things I don't know, but I want to thank you for telling me about you. I love you."
"Thank you for not running." I chuckled when she rolled her eyes dramatically. "I'm not perfect, Bella." I frowned, shaking my head. "I'm stubborn and easily discouraged. I have issues that I can't even tell you. I wasn't a good guy."
"You are now," she insisted. "I could care less about the past, except for the fact that it still pains you."
"How long will we be apart?" I asked suddenly.
"A month, maybe...give or take," she frowned, but her eyes held the same concern as mine.
"And you'll call me every day?" I smiled. "Send me pictures of your stunning face?"
"Yes," she giggled, rolling her eyes at me again. "I have a surprise I'm thinking about for all of us."
"What's that?"
"I can't tell you," she huffed.
"I can force it out of you," I warned, rolling on top of her.
"You can try!" she growled, wriggling underneath me.
I didn't force anything out of her that night but my name from her lips.
We reached Maine three days later. We all celebrated at the state line with an unbelievable and immature happy dance – led by Emmett and Alice. We decided to revel in our accomplishment by taking a much deserved break for a few hours.
I was lounging with my head in Bella's lap when my brother's booming, angry voice caused us all to snap around to him.
"Uncle Garrett, tell me, right fucking now!" he growled into the phone. "Where is my mom?" He fumbled with his phone, turning the speaker on.
"Em, your father's in the hospital," I heard my uncle's voice on the phone. "Your mother's been with him. I just got here to wait for you two to call."
"Garrett, what the fuck happened?" I asked, standing up to gather around Emmett with everyone else.
"Heart attack, Edward," he sighed. "Your mom is asking for you boys. She told me to tell you she needs you."
My eyes locked with my brother's. I could see the same internal battle I was going through. Do we go for our mother? Or do we finish, because our hatred for our father was too high and we were selfish? We seemed to come to the same conclusion. Our mother needed us, despite the fact that it was over a man we no longer wanted to speak to.
"Really?" I asked Emmett quietly. He nodded slowly, sadly, glancing around to Bella, and then lingering his now very loving gaze on Rose. I turned my head to Bella; there was nothing but concern and worry on her sweet features. I didn't want to leave her, but the only thing that made me say the next statement was knowing we would soon be living in the same state. "Tell Mom we're coming."
A/N...I know...it's a cliffie of sorts, but it's the fact they're leaving that will bug you. Relax and trust that I'm taking this WAY into life after the trail. I know you trust me... ;)
And Edward...well, you now have the whole story. Gwen, daughter of Stephen Harper (Carlisle's competitor), knew EXACTLY what she was doing when it came to Edward. Her dad bargained her out to Caius AND Edward. The poor girl had no mind of her own. She not only did what was asked of her, but tried to find an escape. Emmett caught her with another guy and told his brother, who in perfect Edward-like temper, flew into a rage. He confronted her about the guys at school and she countered with a pregnancy.
Edward came unglued and left her shattered on the floor of the hotel they always met. But as he pulled into his driveway, Caius confronted him about his own indiscretions with Gwen. As angry as Edward was, he threw her...pregancy, college boys and all...under the bus. Caius beat her half to death over it. Feeling some regret, Edward tried to fix the situation by at least taking her some place safe. They never made it.
Edward's nightmares are of being trapped in the car with a dying girl...of seeing all the mistakes he made...his temper tantrum and harsh words. He feels responsible for Gwen and the baby, even though the child ended up not being his.
And yes, though Bella doesn't know this, Carlisle was the one that ratted his own flesh and blood out.
Okay...much thanks to JenRar for her beta on this. And on Twilighted.
Oh, and I've updated my profile. There is now a section for updates and notes on my stories. And the link to Photobucket which has an album for every story. In the Nature of Love album is a map of AT. There's also new banners for some of the older stories.
Okay...review for me. I just know you'll have opinions on all of this...and since I'm posting early, you'll humor me, right? LOL ;) Later...
