Chapter 9: Allegations and transgressions

A/N: I own nothing. Characters are all Stephenie Meyers' creations. This is unbeta'd so apologies for any & all mistakes. Please take the time to leave some words if you really loved it or really hated it!

NB: It's a tiny bit lemony but I'm actually very shy and modest ;) so it's probably the most you're gonna get from one of my stories :) but I'm leaving it as M because there is some violence coming up in future chapters.

Edward and Alice gathered up everything I'd dropped onto the floor. Edward carried it into the classroom while Alice took me in her arms. "Bella, I need you to calm down. We'll figure out a way through this. But right now you need to go into the classroom and pretend that nothing is wrong, can you do that?"

Could I? I didn't know. I knew that at this second the principal was looking at a photo of Edward and I with our arms wrapped around each other in an obviously loving position.

"What's going to happen, Alice?"

"I don't know. There are too many events involved. I can't get a definite vision; it keeps twisting down so many different paths."

I nodded. I would have to ride this out as best as I could. I was terrified, I had seen teacher's accused of this sort of thing before and, as June had suggested two months ago, their careers never really got back on track. But there was no point worrying until there was something to worry about. I took a few deep breaths and planted a smile on my face.

"Good. Don't forget you've got Jasper in your next class. I'll explain what is happening to him. He'll help you through it."

She walked through the door first and took her seat. Edward had already put everything on my desk. I switched myself to autopilot and ran through the lesson. If the students suspected a weakness in me, they didn't use it to their advantage. Perhaps they all felt sorry for me too, the news about my father had spread pretty thoroughly around the school. That was the problem with these small towns - the gossip.

I felt Edward's eyes on me constantly and could hear him whispering a one-sided conversation to Alice. Obviously they were discussing different strategies to work out the best way through. But despite him being at the forefront of my mind I couldn't look in his direction. I knew my resolve would shatter if I did.

I spent the lesson wondering what was worse; the fact that Edward and I had our arms wrapped around each other in the photo, or that I was older but he hadn't aged a day. I was scared for my career, but far more worried that the Cullens would suffer because of my stupidity. Why did I pick up that damn envelope with everything else from the back seat? Why didn't I just leave it hidden where Edward had put it?

I got three-quarters of the way through the next class, with Jasper's assistance, when there was a knock on the door. I excused myself from the room and greeted my visitor. June was waiting...with a relief teacher.

"Mr Grossman will take over your lessons for the moment," she said quietly. "Mr Anders would like to see you in his office."

I nodded. Numbness took over as I drifted towards the principal's office. I felt like I was a teenager again - not that I was ever sent to the office then, I was much too well behaved. I knocked on Mr Anders' door.

"Come in," he called.

I hadn't had much to do with Mr Anders since starting at the school. Other than the obligatory staff meetings, and the fact he had been involved in the interview process and given the final approval for my appointment. I had certainly not spoken with him one on one since starting at the school. He was a short, balding man. But despite his size and appearance he radiated authority. He had his eyes closed, and his hands resting on his nose in a pyramid shape with his index fingers pointing to the bridge, as I entered the room. He didn't look at me once while I took the seat opposite him.

He sighed and opened his eyes. "Ms Swan, we've had some serious allegations levelled against you."

I raised my eyes to meet his. "Sir?"

"We had a complaint from one of your neighbours last night, apparently they saw a student enter your property last night before leaving a little over a half hour later."

I gasped, I hadn't been anticipating that. How had Edward let that person's thoughts slip? Then again, I had distracted him as he was leaving. I grew concerned. If they had seen Edward coming and going, did they also see our kiss? Mr Anders must have interpreted my pause as a refusal to comment.

"And then this morning we were sent an envelope anonymously that seems to back up the complaint."

I had to restrain myself from laughing that I was the anonymous person who had 'sent' the envelope. My desire to laugh made me realise I was in danger of becoming hysterical.

"We are working on the assumption that you are carrying on an affair with a student at this school. Do you understand?"

I nodded. Feeling relief flood through me that he thought the photo was recent - at least he didn't ask why Edward wasn't aging.

"Do you have anything to say about these charges?"

I shook my head. I knew if I spoke now I would break.

"I need to stress to you how serious this matter is. Our board of trustees is very strict about this type of behaviour. You will be stood down, without pay, pending an investigation. If these allegations are proven correct, we will unfortunately be forced to pass the information across to the police and you may be charged."

I nodded. I would have argued that I wasn't sleeping with Edward but I was a bad liar. Even though nothing was going on between us now, we did have that one night in Forks. My emotions were in turmoil. I was amazed that I had been able to hold it together in the office as long as I had, but I could feel my composure slipping as quickly as my career. I stood calmly. "Is that all, sir?"

He nodded before resuming his position with his eyes closed and his fingers on the bridge of his nose.

I walked calmly to the car and sat in the driver's seat before the tears came. I clasped the steering wheel tightly in my arms and screamed. I wanted to scream away all the pain I had been through the last two months. The pain I put Edward through. I was angry that the space I had forced between us had all been for nothing, my career was going to be in tatters anyway. I should have just relented and enjoyed it for as long as it could last. I sat screaming at the steering wheel until Alice pulled the door open.

"Out!" she said. "I'm driving you to our house."

I nodded and moved into the passenger seat.

"Where's Edward?"

"He's heading home too, but we thought it would be better if I drove you."

I nodded again. I was in no fit state to drive and it was definitely better for Edward and I not to be seen alone in a car right now.

"I'm sorry I missed what was going to happen, Bella," Alice said, her face a mask of remorse and grief. I knew she felt like she had let me down...again.

I shrugged. There wasn't really much we could do about it now. We just had to face what was coming next.

By the time we got back to the Cullen's house, everyone was home. Carlisle informed us that he had just received a phone call from the school, Mr Anders wanted to see both him and Edward at the office.

"What do we do?" I asked quietly, but I was already making plans in my own head. I had seen this happen before; I knew that running would only make it worse.

"We leave." Edward replied, his face hard as he stared into my eyes. I knew he was including me in the statement this time.

I shook my head, "We can't. If we leave all together it will be all the confirmation the gossips of this town need."

"So, let them gossip." Emmett replied.

"No, that's not what Bella means." Alice said quietly. I had allowed my mind to wander towards leaving so I could show her the future. I could tell by Edward's face he had seen the result too.

"What aren't you three sharing?" Jasper asked. He could obviously sense our mood.

"I've seen this a few times before. Not exactly this situation, obviously, but student-teacher affairs. Without fail, the ones that had a level of assumed guilt faired far worse," I explained.

Emmett looked confused, "So?"

"The gossips in the case I am talking about started a campaign against the teacher. They plastered photos and video of the teacher and the student everywhere; all over the local newspapers. The national papers picked it up from there. The particular case I'm talking about happened about 18 months ago."

"I remember that," Esme whispered in horror. "We can't let that happen."

Rosalie looked between Esme and I.

I explained further. "Even though there was never any physical proof and the teacher was never prosecuted, the photos made it into every national newspaper. I have no doubt that photo of Edward and I would somehow get into the hands of the media if we flee. There is a potential for every town you have lived in for the last ten or so years to see a photo of Edward, not a day older than when he left."

They gasped. Rosalie started to argue that they would deal with it, but Edward silenced her with a shake of his head. And if he hadn't I would have, I couldn't let them take that risk for me.

"What are our other options?" Esme asked.

"We stay," I said. "We deny."

"But anyone can see there is chemistry between you two," Jasper pointed out.

"You more than most," I smiled at him. I hadn't even thought how much he must have been suffering from mine and Edward's unrequited lust. "I'm sorry... I didn't consider how we must be affecting you."

Alice tittered. I gave her a quizzical look.

"Oh, he hasn't been suffering from it. In fact, he's found a very good outlet for it."

Jasper and Alice grinned at each other sheepishly.

Edward's face tightened in response to their thoughts. "Okay that is not helping." He looked at Alice. "So if we stay what happens?"

"There are still too many options. I know if we leave it will be bad for us," Alice began.

I interrupted her. "I won't leave and make things harder on you."

Alice nodded. "If we stay, it might come down to how good a liar Bella can be."

Everyone groaned. It was no secret how bad I was. I blushed bright red, demonstrating the exact reason I was such a bad liar.

"I can give you lessons," Edward volunteered. Then he muttered, "We all know just how good a liar I am."

It sounded like he was attempting a joke, but no one laughed.

Edward and Alice both stopped as her vision of the future swung to the course were we stay and deny. "I think it will work out okay. Bella, you may still lose your job – I can't see that outcome – but I don't think there will be any danger of our secret being exposed." She looked at me apologetically. I understood...she felt like she was making me choose her family over my own happiness. But their secret was bigger than my career. I could work the rest out later.

"Did you want to go home, Bella?" Edward asked. "I can drive you down...if you like?"

"No. I think we need to go back to how it was before Forks happened. I'll come up here as often as I can, but I don't think you and I should be at my place alone." It killed me to say it.

"Still, I want to know you get home safe."

"Alice can drive me," I said. His face was pained and he tightened his jaw, I knew he just wanted to be there for me - he could obviously tell how unhinged I really was. My resolve faltered. "Why don't you bring your car down and give Alice a lift home."

Alice scoffed. Everyone knew it would be dark enough that she could run home. Jasper looked between Edward and I. "I'll drive down to bring Alice home."

Edward smiled a little. "It's up to Bella," he said, answering someone's thoughts.

"What is?" I asked, confused.

"Jasper thinks you should start your lying lessons ASAP. He thinks I should come down with him but stay hidden. I can move in stealth you know." He flashed me a wicked grin.

"So as far as the neighbours are concerned, Alice will drive me home and Jasper will pick her up?"

"And I'll be there for you for the rest of today and all of tonight. We don't know when you might be called in to discuss this further."

I nodded; the plan did make some sense.

Half an hour later I was biding Alice and Jasper farewell. Alice had raced around the house closing all the curtains while I hung around out the front talking with Jasper, making sure the neighbours saw us. Then Alice came out and I hugged them both goodbye. The plan was to convince the neighbours I was close to all the Cullens, and that nothing happened when Edward was here last night.

I tried to slow myself down and walk at normal pace back into the house. I had made a decision on the drive down with Alice. If I was going to have to lie my way out of this, I may as well make it worth my suffering. I had decided I would stop resisting. I would stop fighting what I felt and just allow it to take me over. Basically - I was going to do the very thing I was being accused of.

I opened the door and couldn't help the smile that crossed my face when I saw Edward standing there. He grinned in response. At least if I was going to lose everything anyway I would have some fun doing it. "So, how do we do this?" I asked him.

He scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion, obviously hearing the double entendre in my words. He would have also heard my heartbeat racing since Alice and Jasper left. Finally he spoke. "First you have to hold eye contact. Looking away is the first sign of an incompetent liar."

I stared straight into his eyes. I felt my cheeks come over bright red with a blush.

"You have to try not to blush."

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

"Now...lie to me."

"About what?"

A cheeky glint came into his eye. "Do you want me?"

I looked deep into his eyes. "No."

He took a step closer. "You'll have to do better than that – you weren't very convincing." A smile played on his lips. "Do you want me?"

I met his eye again and made my face hard. I lowered my voice to take away the shake that existed when I lied. "No."

He took another step towards me until he was just inches from my face. I could feel his breath against me.

"Better, but still not completely believable." He closed the gap between us and put his lips on my ear and breathed. "Do you want me?"

I couldn't answer because my breathing had become ragged. He moved his lips from my ear to my cheek. I shifted my face so that he caught the side of my lips instead. He recognised the texture at one. His tongue slid gently along my bottom lip. I shuddered. His lips met mine and I took his bottom lip between mine and sucked on it. He groaned with pleasure before forcing his tongue into my mouth. I wrapped my own tongue around it and reached my hands into his hair, pulling him closer to me. His hands wrapped around my waist before gently running down to my thigh. He cupped his fingers of each hand around the inside of each of my thighs and pulled me up onto him. I locked my legs around his waist and he carried me towards the bedroom, his lips never leaving mine.

He backed me into the bedroom door and pressed himself hard against me. I could feel every muscle in his body straining into me. My arms were wrapped securely around his neck. He slid one hand off my bottom and pushed the door handle. The weight of our combined bodies pressing against it made the door slam into the wall behind. I couldn't help laughing. He took advantage of the freedom of his lips to run his tongue up the length of my neck. I moaned in pleasure, leaning my head back into the door. He ran his now free hand up the length of my waist, snagging the hem of my blouse on the way. He pushed me further into the door so it was supporting my weight and repeated the move on the other side. He grabbed the material and pulled it over my head in one swift motion. He grabbed my face between his hands and pulled my lips back to his again.

I pulled my hands away from his hair and started to unbutton his shirt. He dropped his hands from my face, but didn't release my lips as he shook his shirt off. He put his hands back onto face before running them down the sides of my neck and across my shoulders. When he hit the strap of my bra he pulled it down and kissed my collarbone. His hands trailed down my bare stomach and back around my waist. He pulled me back into him and carried me over to the bed.

At the last second, he turned and sat on the bed, holding me securely on his lap. I put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him down onto the bed. I pushed my hands into the bed on either side of his head, leaning my body over him. I looked into his eyes. "I love you."

"Now that I do believe."

I laughed. "Yeah, but it doesn't count because it wasn't a lie."

He joined in my laughter, but as I shook against him he groaned. I felt his hands slide up my back and onto my bra. A second later I felt the release as the clasp came undone. He slipped his fingers through the straps and glided them off my arms. He threw it against the wall with our shirts.

His hands continued to move higher and curled in my hair. He gently tugged it, pulling my head backwards; as he did he leaned his head forward and pressed his lips onto my exposed throat. The pressure he applied was the perfect mix to create absolute pleasure. When he dropped his hands to my waist again, I pulled myself off the bed, trailing my mouth and tongue over his chest and stomach as I went. His hands remained stationary from where they were at my waist so his fingertips ran over the length of my body. I stood on the floor in front of the bed and looked down at him. He was the picture of perfection and all I needed to do was ask and he would be mine forever.

Forever. I meant it figuratively, but I realised I could mean it literally.

I realised that maybe that was the solution. Maybe I didn't need to get any older. As Alice pointed out, I didn't look that much older than I did when I was seventeen or eighteen. She hadn't been lying when she said that; I was told that all the time and obviously it was true if the school assumed the photo of Edward and I was recent. I could probably fit in as a high-school student again. I almost laughed at the thought.

I leaned over him again and kissed his cheek. "I want you to turn me," I whispered in his ear.

His whole body went rigid.

He unlocked his muscles enough to grab my shoulders gently and pull me away from his chest. He looked deep into my eyes. I didn't know what he was trying to find, so I held his gaze.

"It looks like you're getting it now," he said before kissing me again.

I pulled back. "What?"

"Well, I would have believed that."

"It's true," I whispered, rejection stinging me. I pulled myself off him and wrapped my arms around my chest, trying to maintain some dignity in my rejection. I tucked my legs up to my chest.

He sat up and wrapped his arms around me and rested his face against the back of my neck. "I didn't think you wanted that anymore? You said you were happy that you got to go to college and have your career." His breath tickled my neck and I relaxed my hold on myself a little. He seemed to notice and gently pulled my arms the rest of the way.

"I know I did. But now my career is probably done anyway. And besides, I don't want it anymore if it means I can't be with you."

He licked the back of my neck and chuckled when a shiver ran down my spine. "Can we discuss this later? I was enjoying myself before."

He sucked gently on my earlobe. I moaned with pleasure.

"Now, where were we?" He lifted me onto his lap and wrapped my arms back around his neck. I smiled at him before kissing his lips again. Then I nuzzled my face into his neck and dragged my teeth softly along his neck. A sound almost like a purr escaped his lips. "That's new," I laughed.

He just grunted in his desire.

I used the loose hold I had on his neck to direct him to follow me as I pulled myself backwards onto the bed. He balanced his weight perfectly on top of me. His cold body pressed tightly against mine. Every inch of my skin tightened, and goose-bumps erupted all over my stomach and chest.

"I'll be back," he whispered before I felt his weight disappeared off me. He was back and undoing my jeans before I could even really miss him. He kissed my stomach as he peeled back my jeans.

"Mmm," I murmured. "Where'd you go?"

He chuckled. "Just turning the heat up. You looked a little chilly and, well, it was either turn up the heat... or stop." He tugged my jeans and panties off in one fluid motion.

"Good choice," I said.

"I thought you would agree with my decision."

"There's just one problem now," I said, as a wicked smile grew on my lips.

"What's that?" He asked, concerned.

"These." I tugged at the waist of his jeans.

"That's an easy problem to fix though." He laughed and pulled them off. I gaped at the sight of him in black satin boxers. I wanted to strip them off too – to take every part of Edward inside me. And I knew exactly where to start. I pulled myself into a seated position. "Stay still," I commanded.

His muscles locked tight. No one could do still like Edward.

I splayed my hands across his cold stomach, my fingers pointing towards his sides. I applied pressure to his stomach as I pushed my hands out and down towards his bottom. My fingers ran straight into the waistband of his boxers, pushing them down off his body. His erection sprung free and I claimed it into my mouth. Edward's body dipped momentarily as he was overtaken with by pleasure. He grunted. I ran my tongue around the tip of him, watching his face for any sign that this was too much for him to handle. All I saw there was pure ecstasy so I pulled him deeper into my mouth. His hand came onto the bedpost, his fingers twisted around – and then into – the metal. I moved my hands from his back to his stomach, using one to run small patterns across his abdominal muscles and cupped him with my other.

"Bella, stop," Edward said urgently.

I froze instantly. Was something I was doing causing him to lose control?

"I'm going to come if you keep that up," he whispered, shyly - almost silently.

I smiled in response. Then I slowly sucked his length deep into my mouth, watching him watch me the whole way. I could feel the muscles clench underneath my hand and I knew how close he was. "But the venom?" He whispered again.

I wanted to show him that I didn't care. I would take any risk for him. I pulled his shaft back in again, drawing it to the back of my throat. I felt his cool seed release down the back of my throat. A delicious shudder ran through his body.

I slowly pulled my mouth away from him, before shifting backwards on the bed. I sat against the headboard, with my legs bowed and my hands resting on my inner-thighs. Edward's eyes were closed for a fraction of a second before he opened them and looked at me with such adoration. I watched as his composure began to return. I couldn't believe I had brought him so thoroughly undone. He released the bed frame, leaving an indent the shape of his fingers behind, I realised it should have worried me, but the fact he was able to cause such damage and yet be gentle with me made me feel confident in my safety.

He climbed across the bed towards me. I smiled at the look on his face. "Good?" I asked.
He rolled his eyes. "That is the understatement of the century."

"I just wanted to take your mind off your own pleasure so that you didn't have to rush mine."

"Oh, is that right Miss Swan? And what pleasure might that be?" He grabbed my feet, separating them before pulling me down the bed towards him.

"Umm...I don't know, maybe you could repay the favour?"

His reply was a look of devastation and disgust. I knew that look – it was his self-loathing. I raised my finger and traced the lines of his sorrow. "You don't have to if you don't want to," I said. "In fact, I'll take anything you give me."

"Anything?" He repeated.

I nodded.

"Anything..." he mused quietly. He leant over me and then, starting at my forehead, trailed his fingers over her face and down her neck so gently. Then he circled each breast slowly, before continuing to run his fingers down the centre of my stomach, over my hip and down my leg to my foot.

"I'm going to follow that exact line with my mouth now, okay?" He asked.

I nodded. His touch alone was sending my body into a frenzy; I couldn't even begin to imagine how his cool lips would feel. His mouth followed the trail his fingers had left within half an inch. Mostly soft cool kisses flamed against my skin, but when he arrived at my hip his lips parted and his tongue brushed across my skin. The feeling caused ignited my desire. When he arrived at my leg, he lifted it off the bed and ran his lips across my thigh and shin. He rested my leg over his shoulder and worked his way to my foot.

He left my leg over his shoulder as he pressed back down against me. He pressed his mouth against mine, sliding his tongue along my lips. I groaned with delight. His tongue pushed forward into my mouth, I parted my lips and drew it in. As he kissed, Edward leaned further against me. I could feel his ready erection against my entrance. He was ready to go again.

He trailed kisses across my face and collarbone, before dropping his face down level with my breasts. He sucked lightly on my nipples. Slowly his touches dwindled, and his mouth left my body. I glanced at him and saw that same look of self-loathing. I touched my finger to his chin, drawing his eyes to mine. Then I slide my leg off his shoulder and called him closer. I wasn't going to let him back away from me. We'd done this before and he'd left me completely unharmed.

I wrapped my arms around his neck as he leaned in to kiss me again. He kissed me deeply, his other hand roamed across my body before finding its way to my heat. One finger trailed across my arousal, the cold a delightful relief against the slow burn there. My hips rose of their own accord to beg him for more. He traced a pattern with his fingers, sliding them between my inner and outer lips. I dropped my head back to my pillow and arched my back. "Oh. God. Edward."

I wanted him to press harder against me, he did the opposite – sitting up, away from me. But I didn't have time to think that he was pulling away completely because his fingers ran down my sex again, before one found its way deep inside me. The others remained on the surface, toying with the sensitive skin there. I bucked against him and each time he thrust his finger deeper he made me moan with ecstasy.

"I want you in me," I panted. "Now, Edward."

He pulled his hand off me and I wanted to cry at the lack of contact. I watched as he placed his fingers into his mouth. A look of desire, hunger, crossed his features. It made me want him even more, if that were possible. He drew his fingers out of his mouth and pressed them to my lips. I flicked my tongue over his fingertips. Then he rested his hand alongside my head and hovered above me, teasing me with his proximity. I could tell he was going to prolong my agony so I reached down and guided him into me. As he pushed against me, he kissed my neck and sucked my earlobe. The feeling was divine. My hands trailed his body, before one settled into his hair and the other onto his hip. I pressed my fingers against him, pushing and pulling to control the speed.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, locking them in place. He pulled himself up onto his knees, drawing my back off the bed but leaving my shoulders pressed into my pillow. He wrapped one arm around my bottom, and ran his other over my body. He cupped my breasts and rubbed at my nipples. Then he trailed his fingers down my stomach. They trailed further down until they stroked against my clit, sending me reeling – pleasure unlike any I had ever experienced before coursed through my body. I felt Edward follow quickly after me, his whole body locking rigid as he came. His thumb rested against me, and it was enough to send me tumbling into ecstasy for the second time in minutes.

He lowered me back down onto the bed and gazed down at me as if he'd won a prize. Silly boy, didn't he realise I was the winner.