Here it is!
Sorry again about the delay, things have been really hectic and real life has been kind of tough :(
Thank you for your support, and also thanks to all of my readers, reviewers and people who have added the story to alerts :D
We didn't quite manage to make it to 25 reviews with the last chapter, but maybe we can reach it after this? Or even exceed it? Please continue to review, even if you didn't like the chapter or story, so that I can see where I am going wrong and improve my writing, or even if it is just a one word review or anonymous. I would really appreciate the feedback!
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns the characters, this plot is mine though!
Enough boring stuff, let's get on with it!
EPOV
I felt mortified as I sat in the car waiting for Alice. Bella probably thought I was a total perverted creep now.
I exhaled in frustration and hit the steering wheel. I felt angry for letting myself be seen in that cheap way, but feeling slightly frustrated, sexually, as well.
Eventually Alice came out, clutching a large bag. She got into the car in silence, and didn't say anything for a while. Then suddenly she spoke.
"What was that all about?" she said, trying to sound casual.
"It was too hot in there," I lied quickly. This seemed to satisfy Alice, and she was silent the rest of the way home.
I dropped her off at her apartment, and then drove the few blocks to my own. I let myself in, threw the keys down on the table and tried not to think about Bella.
I switched on the TV and started watching the game. I ordered a pizza a while later, and when the game finished I was surprised to see that it was pitch black outside.
I decided to take a shower and go to bed.
As I was in the shower, my thoughts drifted back to Bella wearing that dress...her hair had been all curly and wild, framing her heart shaped face, and her cheeks were tinted pink, her eyes alive and shining and bright...and that body. Wow.
The dress clung to her in all the right places. Her breasts looked natural and full, the dress enhancing her curvy yet slender figure. She had looked sensual yet sexy in that lovely blue.
Great.
I had managed to get hard again. I didn't even know why, I wasn't even attracted to Bella.
It must have just been the surprise of seeing her all dressed up.
I consoled myself with the thought.
Besides, she is married.
I put one hand against the shower wall, and took mini Edward in my hand and began slowly moving my hand up and down, pretending it was Bella's hand. I started moving faster, trying to relieve some of my tension, and unable to last much longer. After all, I had waited all evening.
I pictured the way she had looked in the dress, the way she had blushed, the way she bit her lip when she saw me...I moved my hand faster, and came moments later, moaning loudly. Wow. I couldn't remember the last time I had cum that hard.
I got dressed quickly, and went to bed. I fell asleep quickly, feeling content.
The next day, I decided that it was best if I tried to avoid Bella for a while, which meant no more visiting her shop. Damn.
I got ready and went into the kitchen, looking around at the cupboards, feeling lost. It had been a few weeks since I had eaten breakfast at home; I usually went to Bella's shop for that now, after discovering that her food was much nicer than my own instant coffee and toast made from stale bread, or soggy cereal that had gone limp from being left open for too long.
I finally settled on that coffee and a banana, and left the house, heading straight to work. I was very tempted to stop off at a certain shop on the way, and looked at it longingly as I drove past, but remembered my humiliation far too soon, and suddenly didn't feel so hungry any more.
I carried on like this for a few days, feeling quite pleased for not giving in, even though I had been deeply tempted to fuck it and go see her, acting nonchalant and as if she hadn't seen me modelling a tent a few days ago.
However, I kept talking myself out of this plan. Think how awkward it would be.
I had managed three days; I could manage a few more, right? Besides, James was back by now. I couldn't just show up at their house, asking to see Bella.
Then fate just had to step in and ruin it all. And it couldn't have just given a subtle push in the right direction, oh no, heaven forbid something go right for Edward Cullen.
I had stopped off at the grocery store after work to buy some food; having to cook an extra meal at home, had severely depleted my rations. I hated shopping, so I usually only went about once a month, and bought enough to last me, but the breakfasts were completely ruining my system.
I was on the phone to Emmett, who was yelling down the phone at me about some business venture he wanted me to join him in.
"Yes but Emmett-"
Emmett continued to talk.
"No but-"
"Emmett listen-"
"Why-"
I was growing increasingly frustrating with the one sidedness of this conversation. I was trying to manoeuvre my shopping trolley, pick up groceries, avoid innocent passer bys, at the same time as trying to get Emmett to listen to me. Cut me some slack here, I can't multitask that well. At the end of the day, I am still a guy.
"Emmett-" I got cut off again. I put a jar of coffee in my trolley.
"EMMETT WILL YOU SHUT UP FOR ONE FRICKIN' MINUTE?"
Shit.
I was met with silence on the other end of the line. Suddenly, everything was silent.
I turned around slowly, and grinned sheepishly at everyone who had stopped what they were doing and were looking at me, their mouths wide open.
I looked around. Even the shop assistants had stopped and were looking at me disapprovingly.
I saw a little kid, standing near me. He was the only person I could see who looked slightly amused. He looked about twelve, and seemed to be alone.
"Are you on your own?" I whispered out of the corner of my mouth. The boy nodded.
"Do whatever you need to," he replied subtly, faking a cough.
I tried to think of the best way to deal with this, to try and gain back a little bit of self respect.
"HA, I WIN!" I yelled, giving an air punch. "I shouted the loudest! I win, you suck, I rule all!"
"No fair Dad!" the kid whined, playing along. "I want a rematch!"
People had started to lose interest, some even smiled at this so-called father sacrificing his self respect for his child. Yeah right.
When I was sure that no one was looking any more, I motioned to the kid to follow me, and we walked down the next aisle which was empty.
We took one look at each other, and burst into peals of laughter, leaning against each other so that we wouldn't fall, clutching our stomachs and on the verge of tears.
"That," laughed the kid, "Was genius!"
I wiped my eyes and continued to laugh. We began calming down, but started up again as soon as we saw each other.
"The best bit," the kid choked out, "Was...was..." he was laughing so hard, he couldn't get his words out, "I win, you suck, I rule all!" at which I burst into a fresh torrent of laughter.
Finally the laughter died down. "Look," I said, seriously. "I owe you one. Thanks." I handed him a ten dollar bill, and the kid gave a huge smile.
"If I'd have known you were gonna pay me, I would've given a better performance," he joked. "Thanks!"
I smiled at him. "No, thank you. What's your name?"
"Jack."
"Nice to meet you Jack. See you around buddy," I said. He gave me a fist bump, and I carried on with my shopping, in a considerably better mood than before.
I considered ringing Emmett back, but decided against it. I still remembered what had happened the last time I spoke to him whilst shopping.
I carried on, absentmindedly throwing things in my trolley, not really paying attention to what I was doing.
I suddenly felt my trolley hit something.
I looked up, and there was Bella Denali. Shit.
"You should look where you're going, you could've hit someone pretty hard with that thing," she joked.
"Someone pretty...hard...that thing..." for some reason, these parts stuck in my mind, and coming from her mouth...and ladies and gentlemen once again Edward Cullen is modelling his latest tent!"
Fucking shitty bitchy motherfuckers.
I moved slightly to stand so that the trolley hid my arousal. "Sorry," I said. "I guess I wasn't paying attention."
"No worries."
Then we stood there for a few minutes awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"Is James back?" I asked, trying to break the ice.
"Not yet, the conference was delayed, the organisers went on strike for some reason. It only just started today, so he'll be back in two days."
"Oh."
"Why don't you come over tonight for dinner?" she asked. "You look as if you haven't eaten properly in a while, and besides, I wanted to try out a new recipe. You could try it for me?"
Say no, say no, say no. "I'd love to!" What the fuck Edward? What was that?
We stood awkwardly again.
"Well, I should go-"
"I need to-"
We both started at the same time. We smiled awkwardly at each other.
"See you later Edward."
"Bye Bella."
Okay, now to tackle the bigger problem.
Think of Bella and James, having hot, steamy sex...
That did it, and I finished my shopping and raced home, without having to lug the tent around.
I showered and dressed casually in dark jeans and a light blue shirt with a navy sweater.
I sat around for a while, debating if I could cancel on Bella. I finally decided that it would be rude, and so grabbed my car keys and drove over to Bella's.
I knocked on her door and waited for her to answer, realising too late that I should have bought something, like a bottle of wine or flowers or something.
I started to feel stupid, but she opened to door before I could get too carried away.
She looked amazing. She was dressed casually in dark blue jeans and a periwinkle blue sweater.
"Hi!" she smiled, ushering me in before I could answer. She led me into the kitchen, and I admired how good she looked. The jeans were tight and clung to her, emphasising her great ass and legs, and the sweater made her look curvy and welcoming.
She handed me a glass of wine, and told me to sit down, while she checked on something in the oven.
"No way," I said, getting back up. "I am not sitting while you make my dinner. What do you want me to do?"
"No, really-"
I gave her a stern look, and she shut up. "Could you cut the salad?" she asked. "The stuff's over there." She pointed towards the counter, where an array of vegetables were lined up next to a wooden chopping board.
"Of course ma'am," I said, and picked up my wine to go start chopping.
"So," she said. "How was your day?"
"It was okay," I said, chopping a lettuce. "Pretty boring actually. The highlight of it was probably at the grocery store."
"The grocery store?" she asked, puzzled.
I had forgotten that she wasn't there, so proceeded to tell her what had happened with the kid, and by the end of it we were both laughing.
"You know, you're actually quite funny," she said, acting shocked.
"Why is that so hard to believe?" I asked, trying to sound offended, making her laugh more.
"Oh, I don't know, possibly that broody expression you always have? Or your very serious work clothes?" she looked at me calculatingly, scratching her head and pretending to think long and hard.
"Okay, I am going to end this conversation before I get offended and leave," I said dramatically, flinging one arm over my forehead, and we laughed harder.
"Tell me something else," she said, getting a bottle of what looked like vinaigrette out of the fridge.
"Your ass looks great in those jeans," I blurted out automatically without thinking. I dropped the knife onto the chopping board and clapped a hand over my mouth.
I heard Bella drop the bottle.
I turned around, to see the bottle (miraculously intact) on the floor, and Bella looking shocked.
"What did you say?" she said slowly.
I put my other hand over my mouth, and shook my head furiously. "Nothing!" I said through my hands.
"My ass looks great in these jeans?" she said, slowly walking towards me.
"No!" I said quickly. "I mean...oh shit!"
"My ass doesn't look good?" she said, still walking towards me slowly.
"You bastard!" she screeched, and launched herself at me. I ran away from her, genuinely scared for my life. She chased me into the living room. I climbed over the sofa, my shoes still on, and backed away from her, knocking over several things in the process. I didn't hear any smashing, so I hoped everything was intact.
"I am married!" she yelled, chasing me around the room.
"I never said that!" I yelled, avoiding the cushions she was throwing at me. "I said your glass is very clean!"
She stopped at that and looked at me. I stopped running for a moment. We paused to try and make sense of what I had said in my moment of utter genius. I had tried to think of something that sounded like what I had said that made sense.
Yeah right.
Then, without warning, she launched herself at me again. "Liar!" she yelled, and tackled me onto the sofa, as we both laughed and panted.
Just then we both noticed how close we were to each other.
Bella had pushed me onto the sofa, so I was lying down on it. She was straddling my lap, her hands on my shoulders and in my hair, and her face inches from mine. Her chest was pressed against mine, as we both panted from the exercise.
We sat like that for a few minutes, caught in each other's gaze.
"Bella? I'm back! What the fuck is this?" James exploded. We hadn't heard him enter the house.
Shit.
Bella looked scared, and got off me. "Edward just came over for dinner," she said quietly, smiling at James nervously.
"What type of dinner?"
"Just an ordinary dinner!" Bella said heatedly, her cheeks flaming.
"So why were you both on the couch, with you lying on him? Was it a dinner and then a quick fuck? Or maybe dessert?" James looked as if he wanted to kill us.
"It wasn't her fault," I said. "It-"
"I don't want to hear it," said James coldly. "Get out of my house."
"But-"
"JUST GET OUT!" James yelled.
"Edward, just go," Bella said softly.
I took one look at them, and left, feeling like shit. It wasn't until I was on the porch that I realised that I had left my car keys behind.
I turned around to get them, and opened the front door, when I heard James shout.
"Do you want this whole deal to be off? And then your whore mother can die painfully? We both know that without my money, she will die. You can't afford all of her medicine, equipment, treatment by yourself. You need my money. But you need to earn my money!" I heard a crash, he must've thrown something. "And to do that," he yelled, "you need to be a convincing wife! You need to be faithful, and look after me and my house, and be ready for me when I need to fuck you! YOU ARE MY WHORE!" James screeched, and I heard a loud slap, followed by loud sobs.
"James...please..." I heard more slaps, and felt sick. I decided to leave my keys, and ran, ran as far as I could, trying to leave what I had heard behind.
I had been right all along; it wasn't a proper love marriage. But I hadn't expected all of this.
I called a cab, and went home, the sound of Bella's cries ringing in my ears.
The next morning, I was irritable at work; I had hardly slept all night, and I was tired and cranky.
Halfway through the morning, I didn't have any patients, so I sank down onto my desk, with my head in my arms.
I heard a soft knock at the door.
"Come in," I said tiredly, looking up, and was surprised when Bella walked through. I stood up, and walked around my desk to greet her.
"You left your keys," she said, waving them. She threw them at me, and I caught them in one hand.
"Thanks," I said. I looked at her face carefully, but could see no traces of marks. She must've used a lot of concealer. She was wearing a long sleeved cardigan over a shirt, and it was boiling hot today, meaning that she was covering up the marks on her arms.
"I'm sorry about last night," she said unexpectedly.
I was surprised. "No, no, not at all. If anything, I should be sorry," I replied.
"Lets call it quits," she smiled. The smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Won't you sit?" I asked.
"No, I should get going. Bye Edward," she said, leaving the room.
What should I do now?
What did you think? What was your favourite part? Drop me a review and let me know!
I loved when Bella chased Edward...What I wouldn't have given to have been in her position; lying on a sofa, on top of Edward...ahem (blushing)
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