The Last One – Chapter Ten
Edward took a moment to gather some control before opening the door for his family. He wasn't surprised to see the hopeful look on his parents' faces or Emmett's eyebrows waggling when he did.
Sammy looked at his father, then asked, "Does this mean he got lucky?"
"I don't think so; he looks mad."
"No worries, there's still tomorrow," his mother said, patting Edward's hand as she passed.
Edward looked over his shoulder, nervous about introducing his obnoxious family to Isabella. He wasn't ready to share her yet.
"Did you finish wrapping the presents, at least?" Esme didn't regret bringing her son together with his lovely assistant the way she did. She just knew there was something there and that Bella was good for her son.
"No, not yet." He stopped the rest of them from passing, noticing a lingering odor. "I thought you'd all be gone until dinner."
"It was horrible out there, and Melissa got explosive diarrhea," Rosalie said, carrying his one-year-old niece.
"That explains the smell."
"Dad has dealt worse." Sammy gagged, pretending to vomit.
Edward tugged on his hair, still nervous. It didn't matter that Isabella had lunch with her father, or that she spoke more with his mother during the week than he did. He was essentially having them meet someone who meant something to him. The trust issue was a wall between them. Despite the five-alarm fire in the kitchen, she wasn't on the same page, but she was starting to turn the page.
If she wanted to trick a trickster, even though the trickster was his mother, should he play along?
"You're tugging your hair." His mother's eyes narrowed. "What did you say this time? Didn't I warn you to think before you speak?"
Yes, I can play along.
Edward stood straighter, offended. "I didn't say a word—"
"I wasn't done talking to you, Mr. Cullen." Isabella stood near the end of the foyer, her hands on her hips. "If you're so inclined to pay me for my help today, on a day I'm supposed to have off, I want holiday pay."
"Oh, Edward you didn't," his mother whispered behind him.
Edward ignored her, noticing how Isabella's fingers fidgeted when she lied. He turned to face her fully, neutralizing his features until he ready to rumble.
"Christmas Eve is not considered a holiday by the company. And frankly, I do not understand why are you are so upset?"
Isabella widened her stance, pulling up her sleeves, ready for a fight. "Your text begged for my help, and that included a damn meal in exchange. I thought the invitation was a gesture of friendship, or at least an olive branch after the shit you said."
"How many times do I have to tell you? I never sent you a text. I thought that was your made-up excuse to see me." Edward walked toward her, towering over her petite figure. He winked when he was sure no one could see his face. She looked at him, torturing the corner of her pretty mouth with her teeth. "If I remember correctly, you were the first to mention compensation." He leaned closer, enough to feel the heat of her body against his own. Their noses nearly touching. "Not me."
Isabella's lip curled into a mock sneer. "It was a joke, but of course, you wouldn't recognize one if it bit you on the a—"
"Hey! Hey!" Emmett clapped with his massive hands, bellowing, "Not in front of the kids."
"I'm sorry." Isabella appeared genuinely upset, as if she'd forgotten they weren't alone. "It was clearly a mistake coming here today, Mr. Cullen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going."
"Not until we've resolved this issue, Miss Swan." Edward gently grabbed her elbow, his lips near her ear to whisper, "Oscar-worthy performance, Isabella." He turned to his family. "Excuse us, introductions must wait. We have business to discuss."
Emmett faced-palmed his forehead at Edward's words, Rosalie winced, his mother looked horrified. His father, on the other hand, appeared suspicious. Of all the members of the family, he was the only one who could tell when his son was lying.
"So, this means he definitely didn't get lucky, Dad?" Sammy smirked, a dimple in each cheek. "He still seems kind of mad."
Esme watched as Edward rolled his eyes, tugging Isabella back toward his bedroom and away from his nosy family. The moment they crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind them.
Emmett shook his head and refocused on his own family. "Uh, hey, Sammy, want to earn ten dollars babysitting while your mom and I go wrap a couple presents in the room?" Emmett pulled out his wallet, handing off his three-year-old daughter Sasha to her brother.
"Make it twenty and you got yourself a deal, Dad." Sammy pocketed the money, pulling out his iPad from his backpack to entertain his sister.
As soon as Sammy was out of earshot, everyone, minus baby Melissa, exhaled sharply and whistled. "Anyone else feel the heat coming off those two?" Rosalie fanned herself, shaking her head. "Something tells me they're either still fighting or tearing each other's clothes off."
"I beg to differ. Edward is a gentleman. He wouldn't expect her to put out on the first date." Esme asked for the baby, cooing. "Now, why don't you two work on baby number four you promised me?" She walked toward the hallway. "Oh, and Carlisle?"
"Yes, dear?" The dimples Sammy inherited on full display as he smiled at his wife.
"Put me down for fifty that they will not seal the deal today."
Emmett clapped, giving his bet along with Rosalie's, before taking her hand and hauling her toward the guest bedroom at the end of the hall.
Carlisle counted the money twice, pocketing it, pleased that the odds were in his and Esme's favor. The staged fight might have fooled everyone else, but he knew his son. It was all an act to stop the others from interfering on such a new relationship. He didn't blame his son at all; he would do the same thing in their position.
However, Edward underestimated his mother. She wanted him to be happy, to be loved, and Bella Swan could give him all that on a silver platter. Yet, something told Carlisle his son's personal assistant could hold her own. He would sit back and watch it all play out, hoping for the best.
.
.
.
The moment they stepped through the threshold, Edward slammed the door closed, trapping her against the hard wood. His hands resting on either side of her head.
"Do you think they bought it?" Her breath was harsher, her fingers fidgeting along her sides.
The tip of his nose brushed along hers, his lips hovering over the corner of her mouth, still flushed from her teeth. "Maybe."
"But, what do you think might have given us away?"
"The fact I could barely walk upright in the company of my own family might have been a good clue." He glanced down to the general vicinity of his lower frontal region.
She giggled, her hands finally settling on his arms. "Are you saying there's a chance they think we're either fighting in here, or fucking?"
His gaze dropped to her lips, asking her to repeat herself just to watch her mouth form the last word. "There's no doubt my father started a bet, and the odds are probably in his favor."
"What should we do?"
Edward lowered his hand from the door to her hip, loving the soft moan she gave him at his touch. The tips of his fingers tightening enough to elicit another.
"Since we've been quiet for a while, I suggest we finish what we started, then go for round two? What do you think, Miss Swan?"
"That sounds promising." When she said nothing else, leaving him hanging, he cocked an eyebrow in question. She grinned before continuing. "More fighting with you is hot, real or not. But the fact you're up for another round, sounds very promising."
"Indeed." He hummed, feeling a strange buzz that seemed to take over him whenever they were close. "Though, I can promise you something."
Her mouth parted when he pressed closer by resting his forearm on the door instead of his hand. "What?"
"I assure you, I could wear you out in one round, Isabella." Her thighs parted at his words, inviting him closer. He took advantage, almost groaning at the feel of all her curves pressed up against his hard body. There was no helping the slow grind of his hips. "I'd let you rest for a few minutes, but only long enough to catch your breath."
"Edward." She moaned, her fingers slipping underneath the cotton of his shirt. His skin reacted to her touch, small goosebumps forming along his stomach. "More, more, please."
"Once wouldn't be enough, Isabella. After round two, with the sweat still lingering on our bodies, I'd take you in the shower, wash this beautiful body, and have your taste on my tongue before the water cooled."
"Fuck." She fisted his shirt, meeting his dark gaze. "Kiss me like we've both wanted since I started working for you."
He groaned, his hands coming up to her face and hair. His lips slanted over hers, not gently, as she likely deserved, but with such a force, he would leave a mark. She met his kiss with equal fervor, taking as much as he did. Her fingers raked through his hair, tugging at the strands in the same rhythm of her rolling hips. Reluctantly, he pulled away to breathe, but his lips never left the warmth of her skin. Skimming across her cheek, along her jaw, and down the softly scented length of her neck.
She froze as a song he recognized from A New Hope's soundtrack blared from her purse on his bed. Her hands settled on his chest, pushing hard. "What am I doing? Fuck, fuck, fuck. That's my son calling."
He pulled back, giving her the space she wanted. "Isabella, I can step out."
She wouldn't meet his eyes, seeking her phone instead. "Hi, baby." The love in her voice and the way she turned away had him stepping out of the room. "How's PopPop doing?"
He closed the door quietly, unable to ignore the metallic taste on his tongue. No one cornered him on the way to the hallway restroom, and he managed to slip inside undetected. The bright lights nearly blinded him as he looked in the mirror. There was color high on his cheeks, his neck flushed from the heat still simmering in his blood. The inside of his bottom lip had a tiny nick from the force of the kiss. His hair was a total disaster, and it would clearly give them away. Before he had a chance to tame it, he heard someone running in the hallway. He just about took the door off its hinges in his rush to get out of the bathroom.
"Isabella?"
She turned toward him, grabbing his hand and pressing her mouth to his skin. "I have to go."
He shook his head. "I thought you were staying?"
"I need time to think this through. It's all so much."
"You can think here."
"Not with you around." She stood on the tips of her toes, her hand curling into his hair. "I'll see you tomorrow."
His hands slid down her sides, loving the curves of her hips. "You're still coming?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, but I need a little time. It's been me and Jared for so long, and now, now…I'm so confused, and a bit overwhelmed."
He nodded, resting his forehead against hers. "I understand, but please let me know when you get home."
She kissed him then, nothing like the one they shared in his bedroom. Softer, and it seemed somehow sweeter. He heard and felt her leave him, but didn't dare watch her walk away. He listened to her give some excuse to his parents, before he heard her voice no more.
He joined his parents, Sammy, and Sasha in the living room. His mother didn't say a word, but he could see she had a million questions.
"Hey, Uncle Edward?" Sammy looked away from the television. "Do you like her?"
Edward ruffled his nephew's hair, earning a gruff protest. Sammy wasn't the only one awaiting his answer. "Yes, I do."
"Cool."
"Where are Rosalie and Emmett?" Edward asked, turning to his parents. His father smirked. His mother chose that moment to check something in the kitchen.
Sammy snorted. "They're wrapping presents."
His father snickered, turning into a full-on belly laugh. Edward didn't try to get any more information from him. It seemed best not to know, especially since it involved his brother.
Thirty minutes later, he received a text from Isabella.
I'm home now. Thank you for today.
He typed out a message. Good, and thank you for all your help. Goodnight, Isabella. Sweet dreams.
Her reply was instant. You mean sweaty dreams, the good kind. ;)
Thanks for the imagery, about to step into the shower.
He chuckled when she sent him a short video of her waggling finger. Two seconds later, she sent another text. Goodnight, Edward.
"Are you sexting?" Emmett dropped the roll of dildo paper on the kitchen counter. Edward quickly hid it behind his back.
"Leave him alone, Emmett." His mother was putting the finishing touches on a piecrust.
"I didn't need the paper after all," Emmett said, grinning like an idiot.
Ugh, Edward thought. "I'm steam cleaning that bed."
AN: Thanks to Midnight Cougar, she helped make the chapter sparkle. Bella will explain why she had to leave so suddenly. See you tomorrow.