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Alice and I joined the rest of Edward's family in the lobby of the restaurant. As we walked back to the cars Emmett would occasionally clap his hands, then rub them together while an almost evil smile played across his face, "Ready to be destroyed little brother?"
Edward laughed, "Emmett you say the same thing every year and guess what-"
Emmett cut him off, "This year little brother YOU will be mine," he bellowed pumping his fist into the air as he strapped himself into his jeep. Rosalie gave us an evil smirk. They sped away.
I gave Edward a curious look as we got into his car, "You'll see," he said grinning and pulling out of the parking lot.
We stopped at a paintball field. I sat there watching him suit up in paintball gear, I couldn't help but ask, "This is what Emmett was crowing about? He nodded smiling as he continued to gear up. "I see, is this what you normally do on your birthday, Edward?"
"Yep," he said as he pulled on his gloves and kissed me on the cheek. "Cheer me on when I win." He picked up the paintball gun. I had played paintball a few times with the staff of Toot's and it stung like a bitch when you got hit.
I watched Edward walk away and noticed Esme waving at me from the bleachers set up by the concession stand. Making my way over, I smiled at Esme and sat down. "Here, Bella I got sodas," Esme said, handing me one.
"Thank you Esme," I said, accepting it and taking a sip.
"So, Bella, tell me about yourself," she said.
"Well, I was born in Riverside, California. My dad got a job with the Forks police department, about three hours west of here, so we moved," I said. "My mom left my Dad when I was almost a year old and we went back to Riverside to live with my grandparents. After they died we moved to Phoenix. I lived there until I was seventeen and when my mom got remarried I moved back in with my Dad in Forks. I've lived in this area ever since."
"What made you become a lawyer?" she asked.
"I tell people as a joke it was because of the movie Erin Brockovitch, but actually it was because of my Dad," I said. "He would tell me stories about what happened on his job- helping people who found themselves in the worst situations and sometimes even defending people with his gun. I know I couldn't do what he does but I knew I could defend people using the skills I have-my words and my brain. Law school was difficult but I worked hard and graduated. I never made the law review but I put everything I had into getting my law degree," I shook my head. "I thought I'd have a job when I got out of school, but things didn't work out that way so, here I am- three months later, no job, no prospects…"
"I see," she said glancing out at her family assembling at the starting line. "Don't give up hope. Sometimes, the worst thing to happen to you can turn out to be the best. Did you know that all of my children were adopted because I had to have a hysterectomy before I was married?"
"Oh," I said, playing dumb, "I knew they were adopted but I never knew the reason."
"Yes. When it happened I thought it was going to be the end of the world. Some people are born to be mothers I am one of those people," she said. "But, things worked out I got my children- and I believe we made a difference in their lives by adopting them instead of leaving them in foster homes. Life isn't what you expect, sometimes, but it can be beautiful."
I smiled. I liked Esme. "So, tell me," I said nudging her shoulder, "… who usually wins at paintball?"
"Oh, it's about even," she laughed, "Unfortunately, where sports are concerned they tend to cheat when they play against each other," she said. "This should be interesting."
The horn went off and the red and blue teams scattered across the field. "Go Edward!" I yelled, clapping. I had never been a cheerleader, either.
The first person who got shot was Carlisle. "Pick on the old guy, why don't cha?" he yelled when Edward and Alice covered him in paint balls. "And I thought I was in shape," he huffed when he got to the stands with Esme and me. Smiling, she handed him her soda patting him on the shoulder, "You are dear, you are." Squeezing her hand he returned the smile and refocused his attention on the game.
"Hey, no fair!" Emmett yelled from the range, apparently they got him- too bad the big guy was an easy target. Rosalie was the only member of the red team left- but she didn't give up without a fight- she got Jasper, and then picked off Edward. It came down to Alice verses Rosalie.
Alice darted around the course. Rosalie couldn't see her without taking her helmet and goggles off.
Finally, when it was obvious Rose lost sight of her, Alice jumped out from a ledge pelting Rosalie with paint while Rosalie screamed in pain. At least I wouldn't be the only one with bruises, now.
"I AM A NINJA!" Alice screamed whipping off her helmet.
Red team won.
"Best two out of three," Emmett grumbled as they came out, taking off the protective gear. Esme,Carlisle, and I went to meet them.
"It's over, Emmett," Edward said. "You have to do my bidding."
"I'd do it for you, anyway, Edward," Alice said, beaming at her victory. "It's your birthday!"
"And that is?" Rosalie asked, taking off her safety glasses.
"We agreed- you all help Bella pack up her things tomorrow," Alice said.
Rosalie's face twisted. "Oh God," she groaned. I might as well have told her she was having a root canal without novocain.
"That's the terms of my birthday wish," Edward said, firmly.
Rosalie stormed off.
"Well, gotta go," Emmett said. "It was nice meet you, Bella. See you tomorrow."
Everyone said good-bye to us. Carlisle and Esme followed Edward and I to the hospital parking garage to pick up my truck. I was happy to see that my truck was still in one piece. I limped over to see if everything was still where I left it, thrilled that I was able to limp on my bum ankle.
Thankfully nothing had been stolen. As I sifted through the paperwork in the cab I noticed Carlisle standing next to me admiring my truck. "It's a great truck, really, Bella. Real craftsmanship, this was built back when things were made to last, huh?" Carlisle asked, as he ran his hand across the hood.
Placing the files in my bag I called out to him, "Carlisle would you mind driving it back to Edwards for me, my ankle is really sore?"
His head shot up, eyes wide in surprise, "Really!"
"Absolutely. Here are the keys," I said. I heard a chuckle come from the front seat of the Mercedes as Esme moved over behind the wheel.
"Meet you back at Edward's house," Carlisle said, starting the engine with a roar. He pulled out.
"Bella, you just made his day," Esme called as she drove away.
After Carlisle and Esme arrived back at Edward's apartment, we relaxed on his couch falling into conversation.
"Bella, were you even aware of the severity of the situation before you agreed to take on this case?" Carlisle questioned, concern marking his face, "I'm only a doctor and I knew the Volturi Group was mob-related before I ever heard of Heath Standish. They know you are all alone and will bury you in enough paperwork to drag this case on for years. You are definitely going to need some help taking on the team of lawyers they assigned to this case."
He was right. What they were doing is a standard big business law department practice. Hell, they had already begun to file motion after motion just to try to get me to back down.
"Believe me Carlisle, I understand, but there isn't an ethical lawyer or firm that will represent Bethany Standish and the rare one that agrees to take her case will charge her a fortune to represent her." I said, "And out of that group they are all aware of the Volturi's mob connections basically because they are connected themselves." I sighed.
"Bella, you need to be careful," Esme said taking my hand in hers.
Edward's arm tightened around my waist.
"Granted, I've only known you for a day but something about you just feels like you're a little too good of a person to take on the Volturi." Carlisle said quietly, "And no offense but you're still a little too green-"
"Too innocent," Esme said. "We're afraid of what dealing with people like the Volturi Group is going to do to you."
I audibly swallowed.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to protect her," Edward said.
"We trust you, son," Carlisle said, patting Edward on the shoulder as he got up from the couch. "We'll see you tomorrow."
"It was lovely meeting you, Bella," Esme said, kissing me on the temple. "Good-night."
Moving past me she hugged Edward and wished him a happy birthday. As his parents left, I began to sort through the paperwork from my car.
"Did you like my family?" Edward asked.
"Yes, yes I did," I said looking up from the pile of papers. "Rosalie is a bit difficult to handle, but… I like them."
"Rosalie will come around," he said as he brushed my hair back out of my face. "I need a shower- my hair looks like I just killed a clown."
"Alright," I said laughing, "Hurry back."
The door to the bathroom clicked shut and I went to the bedroom and took off the blue overshirt he let me borrow and my shoes and socks. I climbed under the covers and began to read more of my notes. A few minutes later I heard the squeak of the water tap being turned off followed by Edward walking out of the bathroom, hair towel-dried, a white towel wrapped around his hips.
"Going to bed already?" he asked.
"Well…not really, but"
"Don't you want dinner?"
I really wasn't that used to eating so much in one day. My stomach felt bloated and full and I felt sluggish. "I'm not used to eating this much."
"We can have a naked dinner," he offered wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. We hadn't had our naked breakfast. "You're able to chew, some, right?"
"Yes," I said.
"I'll make soft food," he said. "Not canned soup, though."
"Alright, let's have a naked dinner," I said.
Reaching over he lifted me from the bed and carried me into the kitchen. Gently placing me in one of the kitchen chairs he walked into the living room and closed all the blinds in the apartment. On his way back to the kitchen he dropped the towel from his waist. Alright, two can play at this game. I took off my tank top. I never appreciated going braless before.
"Here, let's even the field," he said smiling as he slid the jeans I was wearing down my legs. "Now, that's much better," he said.
My bruises were getting uglier- even darker than before. I felt like a shabby underling as I sat there watching him sort out pots, pans and dishes, completely naked. I limped over to a chair in the breakfast nook. "Are you feeling alright, Bella?" he asked looking over his shoulder at me as he diced potatoes.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said as I moved into a more comfortable position on the chair. He moved around the kitchen with unpracticed grace and I realized that I loved watching him move. Although I felt guilty, as if I shouldn't be allowed to gaze upon such a creature as he.
"Here," he said, handing me another dose of Tylenol and a glass of water, "This should help." I nodded in thanks and took the pills, grabbing a magazine from the table I skimmed through it while Edward cooked.
"You spoil me," I said as he set down the plates.
"You can make it up to me later," he said, kissing me.
"I promise I will," I said, gazing up at him through my eye lashes. He grinned.
He had made mashed potatoes, meatloaf and soft green beans. "Oh, another full meal!" I sighed.
"Bella, don't you eat three times a day?"
"No," I said. "The cupboards in my kitchen were bare. Except for cat food for Sunny."
"You didn't go on food stamps?" he asked.
"I'm a lawyer for god's sake," I said, picking at the remaining food on my plate, suddenly not hungry. "How often do you see a licensed attorney standing in line for food stamps? How embarrassing would that be?"
"I see," he said. "Pride, huh?"
"Yeah, pride, I guess," I said. I didn't want to tell him about the sixty-thousand in student loans that I'd probably never pay off. I'd never tell him about all the jobs that laughed in my face for being over-qualified and over-educated. I'll probably have to file bankruptcy before my loans hit maturity. What a way to start off my professional life.
"Bella, you know you can stay with me, if you'd like," he said. "We'll find a law firm to help you with all the paperwork and we'll help you get through this." He picked up my utensils and poked a piece of meatloaf with the fork. He lifted it to my mouth and lifted his eyebrow. It was actually pretty good. "How's that?"
"It's delicious," I said, nodding. "Mmm. I'm going to start gaining weight if we keep on having naked dinners."
He got me to eat my entire dinner, despite all the food I had eaten today. I was so full, I needed to sleep. After clearing off the table he carried me into the bedroom and lay down on the mattress beside me. I sat up, gingerly and pressed a kiss to his toned side and caressed his stomach muscles moving my hand slowly down to caress his erection. He stroked my hair. "Stop if it hurts," he said. I nodded. I moved to lay on top of him, my breasts over his hips.
"How does this feel?" I asked, caressing his chest and nipples with the tips of my fingers.
"So good," he said, sighing. I licked, kissed and nibbled my way down his torso to right above his cock. "Can you pull your hair back?"
I remembered that most guys liked watching oral sex, and liked it even more when you looked at them during the act. He helped me pull my hair back into a messy, hand-held ponytail. I carefully moved my body down and took the head of his member into my mouth, flicking the tip with my tongue.
I had given blow jobs before, but it was more of a demand from boyfriends and one-night stands. I kneeled between his thighs and wrapped a hand around the base. It was quite comforting, doing something so intimate to him. I didn't know why.
"Fuck…" he whispered.
Swirling my tongue around I slid him further into my mouth and moaned, wantonly, sucking slightly so he could feel the vibrations of my throat. I had to use my hand at his base because even as far as I could take him in, there were still a few inches left. My mouth was so full, I could barely swallow and my lips felt swollen as I rubbed my tongue back and forth against his cock. The sensation caused his hips to jerk forcing him deeper into my mouth. I had to pull back a little so he didn't choke me. I used my teeth to nibble his tip causing him to groan in delight. I pumped my fist up and down. "Will you come for me?" my voice husky with desire.
He groaned. "Oh, God yes, keep going."
I rubbed his balls, and then took one into my mouth sucking lightly, causing him to cry out. His body trembled. I wasn't sure if he was close or not-although we had had sex I still didn't know all the telltale signs for when he was close to release. I took the other one into my mouth, and teased it a little while pumping his cock and rubbing my thumb over the pre-cum leaking from the tip. I felt little spasms starting and watched as the muscles in his stomach began to clench. Cupping his sack in one hand I returned my mouth to his shaft, taking him as far into my mouth as I could. One hand gripped the sheets below us as the other braided into my hair as he met his release with a deep guttural groan.
His seed was salty and thick as it coated my tongue, his hips bucked as I continued to lick and kiss his throbbing cock causing him to curse and cry out my name.
His head dropped back on the pillow and he exhaled, "That was absolutely wonderful, Bella."
Smiling to myself I carefully moved from between his legs to lay beside him groaning as I did so, and placed a kiss on his lips, "Happy Birthday, Edward."
He chuckled softly. "That was one hell of a present," he said, sitting up and gently placing his hands on my shoulders, "Lay back. One good turn deserves another."
"Edward, really, can we take it easy?" I asked.
"Of course," he said. "Tell me if this hurts," he said, his hand running down between my legs.
I gasped, my ribs expanding and hurting. "Oh!" I groaned.
"Okay," he said placing a kiss above my belly button, "Let's wait on this."
I nodded. I could wait forever for him.