Thanks to everyone who continues to review! This chapter was so long I had to cut it into two. So the next chapter is already complete!
Of course SM owns all things Twilight.
"Are you okay?"
Bella turned, surprised to find the concern came from Edward.
"I'm fine." She turned away, wiping her cheeks.
"Non boyfriend troubles?"
"Why would you think that?"
"You come out here for your phone and now you're crying."
"I'm not crying," Bella sniffed.
"Sorry, my mistake. The tears confused me."
She didn't have to turn around to know he was smiling when he said it. She could hear it in his voice.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked.
"I needed some air. It's a little suffocating in there," he said standing beside her.
"Yeah, you're surrounded by people who love and care about you. That must be horrible for you," she said sarcastically looking at him.
"Does that include you?" He grinned.
Bella shook her head and looked away with a sigh. She could feel his eyes on her.
"How well have you gotten to know my father?" he suddenly asked.
Bella's stomach dropped. The simple question sent her heart pounding and her legs felt like they had turned to rubber. She tried to swallow over the lump in her throat.
"What?" she asked.
"You're very curious of our relationship and why I feel the way I do about him."
Bella shrugged. "Anyone would be."
"Maybe." He stared at her. "But not everyone would defend him like you do."
"I… I don't defend him," Bella disagreed weakly.
"Yes, you do. It's as if you're positive I'm the wrong one and my feelings are unjustified."
They are.
"And then there was that the little comment about you knowing more than I think," he said.
Bella closed her eyes, cursing herself. Everything she knew Edward wouldn't know. She did not want to have this conversation.
"I'm curious about what you know," Edward continued.
Bella looked at him.
"What makes you think I know anything?"
Edward look confused, saying, "You said-"
"Did it ever occur to you that I just said that to see what you'd tell me?"
"Why would you do that?"
"Um, to see what you'd tell me," she repeated slowly. "C'mon, everyone can feel the tension between you and Carlisle. I just wanted to know why it was there."
"Wanted to know? So, you don't anymore?" he asked sounding unconvinced.
Bella shrugged like it was no big deal.
"Not really. I have my own problems to deal with."
Edward examined her closely. He didn't look like he believed her at all.
"So, my dad hasn't told you anything about me?" he asked.
Bella bit her lip, debating how to answer that. If she said no, it made it seem like Edward didn't matter enough to Carlisle to mention. If she said yes, she'd have to answer his questions and possibly make up lies on the spot that could get her into trouble later.
"Just the basic stuff. He talked about your music, you don't see each other very often because you go to school on the east coast, and that you don't get along entirely well. Listen," she said turning to him before he could ask her anything else, "we don't talk a whole lot when we're together."
At least that wasn't a lie.
"He just seems like a very private person and I didn't want to pry," she explained further. "But like anyone I was curious and just wanted to see if you'd tell me."
"No other reason?"
"What other reason would there be?" she asked acting confused.
Instead of answering he asked, "Why were you crying?"
Bella cocked her hip to the side and tried to look annoyed.
"If you want to know about me it's only fair I know about you," Edward said grinning.
"You just don't have respect for personal boundaries," she accused.
Edward's grin turned into a smirk. "Perhaps, but then you want to invade my personal boundaries, too" He winked.
"Not the way you want."
"We'll see." He raised an eyebrow waiting for her answer.
Bella inhaled deeply trying to think of a way to stick as close to the truth as possible.
"I found out something that upset me," she said simply.
"Obviously. What was it?"
"Someone I care about is taking the blame for something that's not their fault."
"What is it?" He took a step closer to her, waiting for her answer.
Bella shook her head. "That's not my secret to tell."
"Oh, so it's a secret?" he said.
Crap.
"Why did it upset you?"
"Why are you the only one asking questions?" she fired back.
That crooked grin almost glowed when he smiled. "No one's stopping you. Besides, you just asked one."
Bella rolled her eyes.
"There you are!" Alice cried. Bella turned around. "I thought you got lost."
"Lost in Forks?" Bella laughed.
Alice shrugged. "I guess it depends on your distractions, but it might be possible," she said looking Edward up and down.
Bella glared at her.
"Actually, we were just talking," Edward said, amused.
"About?"
"How did you put it?" Edward looked at Bella. "Invading personal boundaries?"
"You want to invade Edward's personal boundaries?" Alice asked.
"No!"
"She does." Edward nodded.
"I do not!" Bella cried giving him the same glare as she had Alice. "I said you have a problem respecting people's personal boundaries."
"Edward has problems respecting people?" Jasper faked surprise. "I never would have guessed."
Edward rolled his eyes.
"Real funny, dude."
"Edward and Jasper asked if we wanted to hang out with them back at the hotel," Alice told Bella, rocking back and forth on her heels.
"Oh." Bella looked from Jasper to Edward. "Tomorrow is a big day and I feel pretty tired."
"Bella, it's eight o'clock. Is your pacemaker acting up?" Alice snipped.
"You can go, but I'm tired. Besides, there are probably a million pre-wedding details Esme needs help with."
Alice clicked her tongue.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked grabbing Bella's arm not waiting for an answer. "What is your problem?" Alice asked as soon as they were alone.
"Nothing. I told you."
"Look Bella, I'm glad you've let loose this week and got down and dirty with Carlisle, but I have needs, too."
Bella made a face.
"I really don't want to hear about your needs, Alice."
"I've had to listen to a lot more from you, Bella," Alice shot back. Bella blushed remembering the shower. "I haven't gotten laid in over a week. A week! That's seven days, Bella. No, more than seven days! You know me; I need sex like I need oxygen."
"So, basically you're suffocating," Bella said, amused.
"Exactly!" Alice cried so loud the guys looked at them.
"By not going I'm really doing you a favour then, Alice. You can't…breathe with me there. I won't allow it," she added because she knew Alice would if she let her.
Alice thought about that.
"You're right." Her eyes lit up. "You're right! Don't come."
"Great-"
"But take Edward with you," Alice added.
"What?" Bella cried.
The lack of oxygen must really be messing with her mind.
"It doesn't help to have him there either. So, take him with you."
"And what am I supposed to do with him?" Bella hissed darting a glance at Edward.
"I know what I would do with him if I were you," Alice giggled. Bella glared. "I don't care what you do to him, or with him, or whatever," Alice said, impatiently, "just get him away from us for a few hours."
"Hours?" Bella whined.
"Bella, just do it!"
"How do you suggest I suggest he comes with me?" Bella asked. "I haven't exactly been nice to him and now all of a sudden I want to spend more time with him?
"I don't know," Alice moaned. "Please Bella, I really need-"
"Fine." Bella held up her hands. "I'll think of something," she grumbled. "But if he tries something-"
"You'll enjoy it despite the fuss you'll make." Alice beamed, pulled Bella in for a quick hug and then danced back to Jasper leaving Bella stammering.
Now what?
Bella sighed, racking her brain for an excuse she could use to get Edward to come with her. The last thing she wanted was to show up at home alone with Edward in tow. What would Carlisle think?
Alice owed her big time for this.
"Um, Bella?"
Crap.
She turned to Edward.
"Did you just get the same awkward leave us alone plea I did?" he asked.
Bella sighed, grateful she wouldn't have to bring it up. "Yeah, kinda. Only mine was more of a demand than a plea."
"And you agreed?" He sounded surprised.
"Like I had a choice," Bella mumbled.
"Everyone has a choice. We could still leave them alone, but you can go back to Charlie's and I'll go hang out wherever people hang out around here." He grinned. "It won't be the same without your pleasant company of course and we won't be able to continue our conversation."
"It was more like a game of twenty questions than a conversation."
"Fine." He shrugged. "It just means you won't get your turn. I know you're dying to have a turn." His eyes roamed over her body and he smiled wickedly.
He so did not mean a turn at twenty questions.Alice was going to pay for this dearly.
"Let's go," she finally said turning to her car.
He reached for her arm, stopping her.
"Maybe we should take my car." he suggested.
"Why?"
"So you don't have to drive me back to the hotel and Alice has your car to leave whenever she wants, too."
Bella dropped her car keys in his open palm with no comment. Oh, she wanted to complain. The whole thing seemed like a trap, but it was a very logical trap. One she couldn't think of a way out of.
"My car is unlocked," he told her. "I'll give these to Alice."
Bella felt like stomping off like a sulking child. Why couldn't Alice just get a room of her own instead of asking her to baby-sit Edward.
Did she not realize the awkward position she put her in by doing this?
Or didn't she care as long as she got laid?
"Penny for your thoughts?" Carlisle asked suddenly beside her.
"I'm not sure you want to know," Bella muttered.
"If I didn't I wouldn't have asked," he said softly.
"Alice asked me to hang out with Edward so she can have…alone time with Jasper," she said dryly.
Bella looked up at him. She wanted to see something. Jealousy. Confusion. Uncertainty. Anything to show her he cared and didn't like the idea.
But she saw nothing.
Just the same calm expression that he always wore.
What the hell did that mean?!
"It wasn't my idea," she started to explain. "Alice…"
Wait. Why was she explaining something that he clearly didn't care about?
If he couldn't even voice his objections about this, why should she feel guilty over spending time with his son?
She wouldn't.
Or she'd try not to at least.
"Well," he finally said, "if you come back to the house I'll see you there. Remember what I asked you though," he added quietly.
"Right." Tears stung her eyes as she yanked open the car door making him step back.
If he had told her he was going to be with someone - platonic or not - she would have been jealous. And all he cared about was her keeping his ridiculous secret. And it really was ridiculous. All this could be resolved if he'd just tell Edward the truth.
She slammed the door and looked down at her hands so he wouldn't see her cry. Out of the corner of her eye she saw what looked like him reach for the door and then drop his hands.
She looked up in time to see him walking away just as Edward opened his door and slid in beside her.
"They promised they wouldn't be too long," he told her smiling.
"Knowing Alice she'll probably start before they even reach the hotel," Bella grumbled. "They better not stain my car."
Edward laughed so hard he startled her. She stared at him as he laid his head against the headrest, eyes closed, catching his breath.
It had been the first real emotion, besides his anger, that she'd seen from him. He opened his eyes and looked at her. They were brighter, more alive. They had lost the hardness that had been there since she met him. His smile was relaxed making his entire face change.
His guard was down. For a second he had forgotten to keep his defences up and it was in this moment she saw the part of himself he tried to hide.
She saw the gentle side. The side that was most vulnerable. The part of him that needed and wanted to be loved and cared for by the people around him.
It was the part of him he never let show.
She saw Carlisle.
"What?" he asked as she continued to stare at him.
"For a minute there…" You looked like your father.
She was pretty sure he wouldn't take that as compliment.
"For a minute there what?" he asked again his face slowly turning back into its hard shell.
"You looked human," she finished.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Compared to all the other times I'm not human?" he asked, confused.
"Maybe that was the wrong comparison. You looked like a nice guy."
"Because I laughed?"
"Because it was something real. You've acted like an ass the entire evening."
"Please, don't spare my feelings," he said not at all offended.
"You don't spare Carlisle's."
"See, there you go again," he said sitting up and twisting his body towards her. "Always defending my dad and bringing him into conversations."
Yeah, Bella. Shut. Up.
She shrugged. "He's the only one you are mean with."
"Why do you care? Why does it bother you so much how I treat my father?"
He stared at her so intensely she became nervous. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his. No matter how much she wanted to look away he held her there.
"Your father and I have become close. Very close. Intimately close. We've been sneaking off every chance we get to be with each other. It was only supposed to be about sex, but something changed. It wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. That's why I care and why it bothers me. I hate to see the man I've grown incredibly fond of treated like shit."
Edward leaned back against the door as if he'd heard her thoughts and was shocked.
Wait. They were just thoughts, right? She hadn't really said that out loud had she?
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.
Bella's brain felt scrambled. She couldn't remember speaking, but she couldn't remember not speaking.
Panic set in. What if she had said it? The way he'd been looking at her made it feel like she had been under some spell. And now that he'd relaxed and the spell had broken she couldn't remember a damn thing!
What the fuck had she just done?!
Bella looked at Edward and saw that he was watching her closely. Maybe his expression wasn't shock. No, if anything he looked puzzled.
Did that mean she hadn't said it and he was still waiting for a response?
And how big of an idiot did she look like right now just gaping at him?
"Bella, you're kind of freaking me out right now," Edward said.
Right. That big of one. How embarrassing.
"Sorry, I guess I zoned out." The words rushed out with the breath Bella released.
"Okay," he said drawing out the word.
"Are we going to sit out here all night?" Bella asked changing the subject. "I thought we were going back to the house."
He watched her for a few more seconds before starting the car.
"You never answered my question," he said once they were on the road.
"Which one?"
He looked at her, annoyed.
"You know which one."
Oh right, that one.
"Actually, I did. I told you before I think it's disrespectful."
"That still doesn't explain why you care."
"Who's Tanya?" Bella asked suddenly remembering the name. She desperately needed to get him off this topic.
He quickly glanced at her. "What?"
"Who's Tanya?" she repeated. "You're not the only one who gets to ask questions, you know," she added when he didn't answer.
"Tanya is a friend," he said shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
Oh, Tanya was definitely more than a friend.
"You said things didn't work out," Bella recalled.
"So?"
"So, that implies she's more than a friend."
"She is always an ex." He shrugged. "That doesn't mean she's not a friend."
"What happened?" Bella asked genially interested.
"Like I said things didn't work out."
"Is this really going to be like pulling teeth?" she snapped, irritated.
He laughed. "That depends. Do I get the pain meds?"
Bella shook her head and looked out the window. She refused to say another word until he gave her something.
Finally, she heard him groan, "What do you want to know?"
She smiled looking back at him. "Everything."
He was quiet a long time before answering.
"I met Tanya at a club two years ago," he finally said. "I was eighteen and she was twenty-four."
"Twenty-four!" Bella cried.
Edward looked at her like she was overreacting.
"Sorry, I just assumed she was your age," she muttered.
"I like older women." He winked at her. "We started talking and I told her I was twenty-two. Fake i.d's come in handy for more than just sneaking into clubs," he laughed.
"She didn't believe you?"
"Not until I showed her. Even then I think she had her suspicions. Anyway," he continued, "we started dating a few weeks later. I didn't think it would be a long term thing so I never bothered telling her the truth. One morning I woke up and it had been six months and I thought it might be time to say something."
"Bet she wasn't happy," Bella guessed.
"That's sort of an understatement. She refused to take my calls for weeks. She even had her friends answer and tell me off just so she wouldn't have to talk to me," he remembered, smiling.
"Why didn't you give up?" Bella asked.
"I did eventually. A week after I stopped calling we ran into each other and finally talked about it. She forgave me and we moved on, although she did keep my age from her friends," he added.
"Why did it end?"
"We have no time for each other right now. She's a ballet dancer for ABC," he explained.
Okay, officially impressed.
"So, this break up might not be forever," Bella said. "Once things settle down you could work things out."
"Only time will tell."
He looked at her so long Bella was worried they'd crash. She looked out the window and was surprised to see they were in Charlie's driveway.
When had that happened?
Bella noticed Esme's car was there, but Charlie's cruiser and Carlisle's Mercedes were missing.
"Looks like Esme's the only one home," Edward said.
"Have you ever been here?"
"Nope."
"You can come in if you want," Bella invited getting out of the car. "I'm sure Alice won't be done with Jasper yet, anyway."
"Are you sure Esme's the only one here?" he asked following her.
"No." Bella turned. "Are you worried you might see your dad?"
"No." He walked closer to her, smiling when he was only a few inches from her. "Just wondering how alone we'll be."
Bella took a step back. "Why would we need to be alone?"
"I can't do the things I want to do to you with an audience. Well, I could," he added, "but I'm not sure how comfortable you'd be with that."
"I'm not comfortable with you doing things to me audience or not," Bella replied. "I'm involved, remember?"
"Involved with someone you're not even sure you're involved with." He looked down at her with amused eyes. "That sounds so complicated."
Bella rolled her eyes.
"You're not even slightly curious about what I want to do to you?" he asked trying to be seductive.
Bella swallowed. "Not in the least."
He grabbed her jacket and gave a gentle tug, making her stumble forward. Instinctively, she reached out to keep from falling and her palms landed on his chest. She inhaled sharply at the contact.
She realized her first impression of him may have been all wrong. He might not look like he worked out, but he definitely felt like he did.
Hard muscle lay beneath her fingers. She could feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt. Her fingers curled, grasping the material with a mind of their own. His heart beat quickened beneath her touch.
She stared at his chest, unsure of what she was waiting for.
"Bella," Edward whispered dropping his face closer to hers.
His mouth was right there. His lips were almost against hers. She felt his breath on her skin and he smelled like cinnamon and spice. It was intoxicating.
Her head felt like it was spinning. The closer he got, the dizzier she felt. His hands were on her face, gently cupping it and lifting it up to meet his.
"Bella" he whispered again.
The fog she was in broke with the sound of his voice. His lips brushed hers just as she pushed him away. He had to grab the railing to keep from falling backwards.
"What the- Bella?" he cried, surprised.
"You have to go," Bella mumbled covering her mouth with her fingers.
"What? Bella, c'mon," he said half rolling his eyes, "I didn't do anything you didn't want me to do." He looked at her and sighed. "Fine. I'm sorry, okay?"
"No, not okay. I want you to leave," she demanded. "Now."
"Bella, you're over reacting."
"I don't care."
Why was he still here?
"Think about Alice." He grinned. "Do you really want to ruin her night?"
Screw Alice!
"I want you to go, Edward."
He was about to protest when headlights washed over them. Bella's stomach flipped when she saw the sleek black car.
"Edward, Bella," Carlisle said stopping a few feet away from them. "Everything okay?"
"Fine," Bella said quickly. "Edward was just leaving."
"I thought you were going to be here longer," Carlisle said. "I hope you're not leaving because of me, Edward."
"Not this time." Edward looked at Bella. "Apparently, I've overstepped some boundaries and Bella has asked me to leave."
Oh God, please no! The last person she needed to explain this to was Carlisle.
Carlisle looked up at Bella, concerned.
"I'm fine," she answered his unspoken question. "I'm just tired. I have no problem with Edward being here if you want him to stay," she added.
"No, I should go," Edward said before Carlisle could extend the invitation. "Big day tomorrow, right?"
"You're welcome to stay," Carlisle said anyway.
"No. Jasper probably needs rescuing by now."
Bella couldn't help it and giggled. Edward smiled at her.
"I'm sorry again, Bella," he said. He spared Carlisle a quick glance and a nod before taking off.
As soon as he was gone Carlisle turned to Bella.
"What happened?" he asked. "Why are you upset?"
Bella shook her head. "It's nothing. I just couldn't take anymore of his attitude," she lied.
"His attitude?"
"You mean you haven't noticed?"
Carlisle chuckled. Bella smiled, relieved he didn't seem to suspect anything more.
She turned to go inside the house and heard him follow close behind. Silence greeted them as Bella felt along the wall for the light switch. Before she could locate it, Carlisle's hands gripped her hips, pulling her against him.
Her bottom pressed against his arousal. He nuzzled the back of her neck, sweeping her hair to the side to expose more of her skin. Her body responded immediately to his touch. Her nipples were painfully erect. Her skin had broken out in goose bumps and with each touch of his lips her body ached for more of his touch.
"I want to make love to you in your bed, Isabella," he murmured into her ear.
She shivered, not just from the feel of his breath on his ear, but from his words. His hands dropped to her thighs and he dragged his palms up. Thanks to his earlier disposal of her panties his fingers brushed her wet flesh.
She spread her legs granting him better access. He pulled his hands away and she groaned.
"Upstairs," he ordered.
"I thought you were worried about being shot," she teased.
Carlisle chuckled. "Charlie's camping out at the Black's tonight. No seeing the bride tradition, you know."
Bella turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Convenient." She smiled.
"Very," Carlisle agreed.
"But what about Esme?"
"She's with relatives right now."
He crushed his mouth to hers before she could say another word and lifted her up at the same time. Bella wrapped her legs around his waist. His cock pulsed behind his pants, pressing into her center.
Bella wiggled against him and moaned.
"I want you in a bed, Isabella. Your bed." He squeezed her ass and thrust against her.
"You should put me down then. I wouldn't want you falling on those stairs and breaking anything important." She gave another little wiggle.
Carlisle laughed and slowly lowered her down his body. Bella grabbed his hand and led the way to the stairs. They'd barely made it to the top landing when Carlisle's hands were back on her.
He turned her to face him, kissing her as he backed her into her room, unzipping her dress as he did.
"I don't know what it is about you, Isabella," he spoke into her neck, kissing his way down to her collarbone, "but you make me feel like a sex crazed teenager. I could spend all day in bed with you and never get tired."
"To hell with the wedding tomorrow let's do that!" Bella laughed.
She felt his cheek curve into a smile against her skin.
"Very tempting," he murmured.
Bella stripped him of his shirt as his mouth found her breasts. Her dress slipped off her arms, falling to her waist.
Carlisle moaned and sucked a nipple into his mouth. His teeth pulled and nipped at the hard bud while he rolled her left one between his fingers.
Bella moaned. She squeezed her thighs together, trying to create some pressure to relieve the empty feeling.
He gently pushed her backwards until the back of her knees hit the bed. He took his mouth away from her skin just long enough to tug her dress down so it pooled at her feet.
He captured her bottom lip between his teeth, softly biting her flesh. Bella moaned again as she fumbled with his zipper, needing him naked as fast as possible.
"Troubles?" Carlisle teased running his hands over her back to her ass.
"That doesn't help," she said.
"What about this?" He cupped his hands over her mound, his middle finger sliding between her drenched folds. "Does this help?"
Bella whimpered and rocked her hips, riding his finger.
"What would help," she panted, "is if your pants were off."
"How is that my fault?" he asked as he plunged his finger into her. "You're the one taking forever to get them off."
"Shut up," she ordered finally yanking the zipper down. "Off. Now."
Carlisle dropped his pants and kicked them off to the side.
Impatient to have him, Bella turned him around and pushed him back on the bed. She straddled his hips, his cock throbbed against her. She grasped the base of his shaft and twisted her hand as she stroked him. A small bead of moisture appeared and Bella spread it around the head of his cock with her thumb.
Carlisle moaned and Bella locked eyes with him.
"Ride me, Isabella," he said his voice thick.
He quickly grabbed the condom he'd tossed on the dresser and put it on faster than she could blink. He grabbed her hips, positioning her over his cock. She held his straining length in her hand as he slowly lowered her onto him.
Bella pulled his hands away as soon as she felt him inside her. She placed them on her breasts, pressing into his palms.
Carlisle groaned as Bella rocked her hips back and forth in slow agonizing movements.
"Faster Isabella," Carlisle moaned.
Bella ignored him. He dropped his hands to her hips trying to increase her pace.
"None of that, Dr. Cullen," she scolded and stopped moving.
"Isa-"
"Don't doctors recommend kegal exercises?"
"What?" He looked at her like she had lost her mind. "I can't think of what- Jesus Christ!" he gasped.
Bella smiled and squeezed her muscles around his shaft again, this time sliding up as she did it.
"Holy…fuck…." Carlisle panted thrusting his hips.
Bella cried out and had to brace her hands on his chest from the force of his thrust.
"I said," Carlisle growled grabbing her hips, "ride me, Isabella!"
Bella stomach flipped with excitement at the demand. With his hands firmly on her body this time, Bella rode just the head of his cock. She rotated her hips, never fucking more than just the first couple of inches of his hard length.
"Isabella," he hissed.
"I'm…ahhh…doing as you…told me…. Oh! Yes!"
Bella leaned forward and rocked her hips again. The part of his cock that wasn't inside her rubbed against her clit. Her muscles clamped around him on their own this time. Bella slid back slowly once more, hitting her clit exactly the way she needed. Her body shuddered as she came, calling out Carlisle's name.
"Enough!" he cried before her orgasm ended and slammed her quivery body onto his.
The feel of his cock ramming all the way inside her caused Bella to come again.
"Oh fuck!"
"Yes!" Carlisle grunted, lifting her and thrusting into her again.
Bella straightened up and rode his cock, harder and faster. Carlisle reached up and pulled her nipples.
"Yes! Mmmm, oh yes!"
"Now, Isabella," Carlisle said. "Come again for me now."
"Carlisle… I…."
He moved his hand between their bodies and flicked her clit.
"Ohmygod!"
"Come. Now!" he groaned.
When she felt his cock shudder with his own release, it was enough for Bella's over sensitive body to come again.
"Oh!" She collapsed on top of him, out of breath.
Carlisle wrapped his arm around her, turning both their bodies so they lay side by side. Bella snuggled up next to him, pressing her nose into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent. She'd never really paid attention to his smell before, but it was so familiar.
What was it?
She inhaled again, only to stop abruptly half way through the breath.
Cinnamon and… spice.
She immediately pulled away.
"What's wrong?" Carlisle asked surprised.
"What are you wearing?"
He looked down at himself and grinned. "Is that a trick question?"
"No." Bella shook her head impatiently. "I mean what cologne do you wear?"
"Oh. I don't wear any." He smiled at her confused expression. "Most hospitals don't like their staff to wear anything that has a scent to it. I just got used to not wearing anything."
"But you smell like…" Edward.
Bella was pretty sure this was the wrong time to tell him she'd been sniffing his son.
"Like?" Carlisle prompted.
"Like cinnamon and spice. You smell good."
He smiled. "It's my soap."
"I've never noticed it before." On you, anyway.
"It's not that easy to smell with clothes on." He shrugged.
Uh, wrong!
"Oh."
She curled back up against him, laying her head on his chest this time. But it didn't help. The smell was all around her and all she could focus on. It wasn't a bad smell, in fact he smelled amazing, but he smelled like Edward. And Edward was the last person she wanted to be thinking about right now.
"So, what did you and Edward talk about?" Carlisle asked cautiously.
Oh God, really?
"Tanya mostly," she said.
"Tanya?" Surprise raised his voice.
"Yeah. I was curious who she was so I asked." She listened to his breathing for a minute before asking, "Have you met her?"
"Yes, a few times. Nice girl," he added stroking her hair.
"Do you think they'll work things out?"
Bella felt him shrug. "I'm not sure."
Okay, now change the subject.
"What happens after tomorrow?" Bella asked.
Well, don't change it to that subject!
She bit her lip, wishing she could take back the question. What was she thinking? More importantly what was he thinking?
"After tomorrow," he paused continuing to stroke her hair, "its back to reality for me. I start work the day after. I'll probably be fairly busy for awhile."
Was that his way of preparing her for the brush off?
She swallowed, not trusting her voice to say anything.
"What do you want to happen after tomorrow?" he asked softly.
"I want…." Her voice trailed off.
What did she want? Did she want to see him again? Or was it better, smarter to just leave things once they left Forks? Would she be able to treat him like a vacation fling? What about if they saw each other again at a family get together? Would it be less awkward if they didn't continue this?
"Isabella?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"Do you want to know what I want?"
Oh God, yes!
"Sure."
"I want-"
The door flew open and Alice barged in. She stopped dead as soon as she saw them, her mouth hanging open.
"Alice!" Bella screamed grabbing for the covers.
"Oh my God!" Alice cried still gaping at them. "Ew."
"Alice!"
"I don't mean 'ew' as in you two," she explained quickly. "You're both hot. I mean 'ew' I'm not sleeping in those sheets."
"Alice!" Bella cried again. "Can you give us a minute?"
"Oh, right." She looked away.
"Outside!"
"Oh! Right." She smiled and closed the door.
Bella buried her face in her hands, mortified. That's when she felt the bed vibrating. She looked down at Carlisle.
"Are you laughing?"
"It's kind of funny," he laughed. "Alice is funny. It's never a dull moment with her around, is it?"
"Yeah, she's a real comedian," Bella said dryly.
"You're lucky to have her," Carlisle said looking at her. "You know that saying 'family is forever, friends are fading'?" Bella nodded. "That's not always true. If they're true friends they'll never fade. I think Alice is one of those friends."
"I think you're right," Bella said.
"C'mon, you two!" Alice banged on the door. "You better not be going for round two or three or whatever it is!"
"Even if I do want to kill her most days." Bella glared at the door.
Carlisle laughed and sat up reaching for his clothes. Bella snagged a pair of yoga pants and a tank top out of her suitcase and threw them on. She watched Carlisle finish dressing before speaking.
"What were you going to say before Alice came in?"
Carlisle bent down and kissed her, whispering, "later" against her lips.
Bella watched him leave and Alice enter.
"I'm sorry, Bella," Alice said as soon as the door closed. "Okay, not totally since I got a sneak peek at his doctor's equipment and wow, you were not exaggerating!"
"Alice-"
"But I am sorry I just barged in and interrupted."
"It's okay," Bella sighed.
"I am serious though. I'm not sleeping on those sheets."
"There are probably other ones in the linen closet." Bella stood. "I'll go look."
"No, I'll go." Alice said casting a quick look at the bed. "You get rid of those."
Bella rolled her eyes. While Alice was searching for new sheets, Bella stripped the bed. As she threw the old ones in the hamper she caught the scent of cinnamon again. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.
"What the hell are you doing?" Alice asked.
"Nothing." She dropped the sheet back into the basket.
"Oookay. Here." Alice threw the new sheets at her.
"So, how was your night?" Bella asked.
Alice's eyes lit up.
"It was great! Did you know Jasper comes from a huge military family?"
"How would I know that?" Bella muttered snapping the sheet in place.
"He's still undecided if that's what he wants to do. I think he's feeling a lot of pressure from his family to follow in everyone's footsteps."
Bella's hands stilled and she cocked her head to the side looking at Alice.
"What?" She couldn't believe what she'd just heard.
"What?" Alice looked up confused.
"You just told me something about a guy that didn't involve the size of his penis or mattress skills. You know something real about this guy."
"So?"
"Alice Brandon you rarely know a guy's last name, sometimes not even his first."
"He likes to talk." Alice shrugged.
"Since when do you listen?"
"Since when do you listen?" Alice mimicked.
"So how's the sex?" Bella asked.
Alice shifted her eyes and suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"That bad?"
"No. We didn't have sexy," Alice confessed.
Bella was sure she could have been knocked over with a feather. Alice looked at her and rolled her eyes.
"Please don't make a big deal out of this."
"Wasn't that the entire reason you begged me to spend time with Edward? And why did he beg Edward to get lost if he didn't plan to do anything?"
"Hang on," Alice stopped her. "Jasper never asked Edward to take off. It was Edward who wanted him to ask me to hang out alone so Edward could spend time alone with you."
"What?" Alice must have been smoking something earlier and gotten her information wrong.
"Mmm hmm," Alice hummed smugly.
"Why would he do that?"
"Why do you think? That boy wants something while being at this wedding and it ain't to make up with daddy."
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Bella muttered trying to deny what Alice said, but the feeling of Edwards lips against hers came rushing back to her.
"So he didn't try and make a move tonight?" Alice asked.
"That doesn't mean anything! He's a cocky SOB who thinks everyone wants him."
"Do you want him?"
"No! How can you even ask that?"
"Bella, you're not married to Carlisle, hell you're not even dating the guy. It isn't wrong if you want another man."
"What I feel for Carlisle makes it wrong," Bella said.
Alice narrowed her eyes at her. "How do you really feel about him, Bella?"
"We're not talking about me. I was talking about you and Jasper."
"There is no me and Jasper." Alice turned her back to her. "I'm not foolish enough to confuse lust with anything else."
"You know about his family," Bella fired back at Alice to get her back on track about Jasper. "You think he feels pressured by them, and it was a great night even though you didn't have sex."
"So what?" Alice avoided her eyes as she finished making the bed.
"When was the last time you spent time with a guy and didn't have sex?"
"Does it matter?"
"Maybe. Do you think it matters?" Bella asked.
"No."
Liar!
"Do you think it matters junior wants to jump your bones when you're jumping his father's bone?" Alice shot back.
Bella grabbed her toiletry bag and headed for the door. "I'm going for a shower."
"That's what I thought!" Alice cried after her taking Bella's avoidance of the question as an answer.
Bella made sure to putter around in the bathroom longer than necessary to give Alice some time to think. By the time she got back to the bedroom Alice was in bed. She crawled in beside her and turned off the lamp.
"How is it possible that you're the one having the amazing sex and I'm the one talking?" Alice asked struggling with the last word.
Bella knew Alice well enough to know this was her attempt at an apology without actually having to say the words.
"Is it that bad?" Bella asked.
"No," Alice admitted. "Jasper is interesting."
"Oh, Alice!" Bella giggled.
"Don't 'oh, Alice' me. We didn't just talk."
"Of course not." Bella smiled.
"Shut up."
She laughed again but kept quiet.
"So Edward made a move, huh? How was it?"
"I thought you told me to shut up?" Bella said avoiding the question.
"That good?"
"Nothing happened with Edward."
"You're a horrible liar, Bella. Did you kiss him?" she pressed.
"No." Bella gritted her teeth, knowing the next question before Alice even asked it.
"Did he kiss you?"
"Almost," she admitted quietly.
Bella was almost asleep when Alice whispered her name.
"Hmm?"
"What the hell are we going to do?"
Bella sighed, "I have no idea."
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