A/N:
I have to send oodles of thanks to my Pufferfish, Hammerhips, who polished this sucker for me in less that 24 hours, sicker than a dog. She knows I flove her, but I can never say it enough.
Please, please, please don't hate me for not responding to your reviews. I love them all, I really do.
Get comfy, folks. It's a long one at just over 10,000 words. But...I think...well, you'll just need to read.
See you at the bottom. ;)
Chapter 11
"Nearly freeeee," I exhaled into the mirror, leaning against the vanity counter being careful not to poke my eye out wanding on some mascara.
It had been a loooong week. I'd never been so butt tired before. Really tired. Although the NSM was always exhausting, I usually found it within myself to kick it up a notch for the closing party. I'd made my rounds this week. The dinner with a territory of reps on Tuesday ended up at Red Fish where I bid my adieus at 1am catching a cab as Edward watched inconspicuously from the door. Karaoke in the Hospitality Suite on Wednesday night lasted til at least 2am when I finally left. Dinner at Blackbird with the top reps last night, Edward and I avoiding each other the whole time, being that we sat at opposite ends of the table of nearly twenty.
I was a fucking machine.
But the closing bash - they were having a full-fledged orchestra for part of it, members of the Chicago symphony among them. While classical musical wasn't my thang, the piece that Edward had played that one afternoon would still occasionally make me hum.
Of course, I'd be damned if I let him hear me. Next thing ya know, I'd be singing Dixie Chicks.
Besides that, there was some serious cash being spent on the Ball. After a few hours and copious amount of alcohol, the DJ would come on and most would hit the dance floor or clear out to various clubs around the city.
I had to get my shit together before then.
Finishing up my mascara, I took a last look as I brushed on some lip gloss, taking a step back as I finished.
"I guess I'll do."
Walking out of the bathroom in my black Armani pencil mid-thigh, and a hot-pink sleeveless with ruffles plunging on the v-neck, I stopped dead to spy on Edward as he expertly tied his Windsor. I'd secretly watched him doing it every morning now, and had to admit, it was damn hot the way the man's hands worked that knot. Leaning against the doorway, he finally glanced back at me through the reflection in the mirror.
"What is so mesmerizing about the process of tying a tie, Bella?" He quipped with a slight upturn of the corners of his mouth. It struck me as almost…
Embarrassed.
Hiding my smirk, I let my eyes run over his broad, muscular shoulders on my way to the seasonless black wool that covered his finely sculpted ass, and then back to his eyes, his expression now comically righteous, only the hint of his lips upturned gave away the fact that his mind was already with mine.
"The knot." I tucked my lips in and over my teeth teasingly.
"Don't tempt me. I've got plenty in that suitcase to get you in position on that bed."
"Who said I'd be the one…in position, Cullen?"
Fuck, I so wanted to be in position. Legs spread over him, riding him like a stallion.
Stallion.
"Your penchant for the wild and dangerous and the ability to ride me like a fine stallion."
Shaking my head slightly, the back of my hand swiping up my forehead as if to rid my mind of the memory, my one foot taking a step, and then…
Bam.
My knees buckled, my Laboutin-clad ankle turned as I grabbed for the door trim. Closing my eyes to the spinning room, I leaned back, my hip and ass pressing against the door frame as my other hand flew fingers spread to the wall adjacent.
"Bella!" Edward shouted through the drumming in my ears.
What the…
"Bella…" his toothpaste-laden breath was warm against my face, his hands catching my hips as I started to plummet, until one was around my back, the other under my already bent knees. Off I was whooshed, my head lolling back against his arm until I felt my back setting on something soft. The bed.
I didn't want to…I couldn't open my eyes.
"…ride me like a fine stallion."
"Ass…per," I barely whispered, as palms were suddenly at my cheeks, then skin on my forehead.
"Dammit, Bella…" The disappearance of hands, the bounce of the bed, water running, and then something cool lying across my forehead.
"I'mmm…o-okay," I mumbled even though I wasn't, slowly squeezing and fluttering my eyelids until I could focus, and seeing the concern in Edward's face just above me. He wasn't hiding it well this time.
I tried to joke, "Y-you're going to ruin…my makeup with this thing," weakly brushing it from my forehead with my hand until what I realized was a washcloth and my hand fell back onto the pillow.
"You don't need makeup." My eyes flew suddenly from where they'd been on the knot of his tie to the deep green of his. Searching the intensity with which he looked at me, the seriousness of his expression made me blanch. "I'm taking you to the doctor on Monday," he said with finality.
"I don't need the doctor. I'm just…tired."
He hesitated for only a moment, but somehow I knew I wasn't going to win the doctor argument. "You will make it an early night tonight, Rose and Emmett can cover for you. I'll get out of my dinner, we'll have room service. It's Friday, everyone's hungover today anyway and resting up for tomorrow night."
"Edward, no." Closing my eyes for just a moment, I shifted, testing the waters. Taking a deep breath, I opened them, searching for his. "You can't just ditch your President's dinner to hole up in here with me. People will wonder where you are. I'll come back here right after sessions. I'll even nap." I attempted the sweetest, most innocent smile I could conjure up. "Order the most expensive thing on room service." I left out the part about how I usually, secretly, did that at least one night during the week-long meeting.
A girl had to…recharge.
He let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "No alcohol tonight." He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss on my lips, reaching for my hands. "Do you think you can sit up?"
He made way as I slid my legs, pulling as I lifted. The room spun only slightly as I brought my feet to the floor. "See, I'm fine." I hid behind my hair that had fallen from my shoulders around my face.
"Bella-"
"Go. I'll be ten minutes behind you," I barked, nodding my head to the doorway. As he rose from the bed, his fingers softly caressed my back. I glanced up as he walked, gathering his wallet and phone as he went.
At the door, he turned back, his attempt at hiding his concern failing again.
I wasn't fooling him.
"Text me immediately if you feel dizzy again."
I just nodded as he went out the door.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
In order to avoid as much innuendo and talk as possible, Emmett and I had been meeting right near the elevators. I'd text him as soon as I was ready, give him 5 minutes, and then head down so he could play bodyguard at least on the walk to the meeting room. This morning, after Edward had left, I gave myself ten more minutes before I texted him to say I was coming.
Just to be sure.
Edward would have his boxer briefs in a twist until he took my ass to the doctor, and a little voice inside me knew I should go, but I made it downstairs without any problems, as I had all week. The better I felt, the more I chalked it up to the randomness of the Assper memory, and the lack of coffee or a morsel of breakfast.
Or just the thought of Edward and his collection of ties around his wrists and ankles.
"Bells, the look on your face right now would really interest my bro. Just sayin'." Emmett popped a mini-muffin into his mouth as I grabbed my coffee and a banana.
"I'll bet it would, Em." I grinned back at him.
We walked into our room together, Rose and Jeff already there. As Emmett walked over to Jeff, I met Rose up in the front of the room, frantically searching through her purse and briefcase. I set my purse on the back table next to her.
"Bella…I…do you have anything I can borrow?"
"Borrow?"
"Aunt Flo's come three days early." She looked up from her search and directly at me.
Aunt…Flo.
Fuck no.
Physically, I was giving the outward countenance of a kid playing the statue-maker game. Mentally, I was running the numbers, the days, the weeks, in my head.
"I…" I pretended to think for a moment, when in reality my head could barely remember the English language. "No…I don't, Rose. I'm sorry."
Wrenching her bag off the table, she whisked by me in a brisk walk. "I'll be back. Start without me." She barreled past Emmett's lost puppy look, which then went to me as if to ask, "What the fuck?"
I gave him a half ass shrug as my mind started to question, process.
When was my last…?
Rapid fire, I ticked off the weeks by events, inwardly cringing as the memories took me back, back, until that shittastic week. It had been the week before Edward was hired.
The week before all hell broke loose.
"God, Beller ya make me want ta come in my shorts like a schoolboy when you get like this."
That fateful day in my office flashed uninvited. Fuck, I was always hornier than hell the week after.
"I'm Yours, Your Majesty."
That same day, that same night.
"Omigod," I breathed, dropping into the chair just to the side of the table, catching the whip of Emmett's head out of the corner of my eye.
It can't be.
I was on the shot, I'd been careful, I…
Jasper and I never used condoms. We'd never needed to or wanted to. Edward and I had that first night. But…
The boat.
Oh shitfuck.
Shitfuckshitfuckshitfuck.
I'd fucked two men, in the same week, without a condom. The shot was supposed to be 99% effective.
There was no way I was that one percent.
I was not going to hyperventilate, whatever it felt like.
"Bella, you alright?" Emmett's voice floated over to me as my eyes darted around the room.
I needed to pull it together. It wasn't for sure. Maybe I was just sick. Yes…
Just exhaustion, periodic barfing, and...
I stood up. "Yep, just fine." It was the performance of a lifetime as I turned my back on both Emmett and Jeff, pretending to organize my things on the table, while I lightly ran my hand over my belly.
It looked…I don't know. Maybe it was bloated, or maybe I was just projecting. I'd heard that women get bloated when first preg…
Not even gonna think that word.
Busying myself with getting out my notes, I pushed it all to the back of my head. I needed to get through the presentations today. I just needed to get through today, and half tomorrow, and then…If I made it through the end of today, I could sneak out and get one of those kits.
I also needed to ditch Em.
This isn't happening.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
The last group of reps for the day filed out as Emmett, Rose, Jeff and I packed up everything and stowed it under or on top of the table.
"I'll take the projector." Jeff offered and I merely nodded.
I'd spent the better part of that last session when I wasn't speaking formulating a plan to the nearest Walgreens.
"Bella, you wanna come get a drink with Emmett and me?" Rose's question threw me for only a moment. If she and Emmett went to the bar, I could make an effective excuse.
"No, you guys go ahead. I'm going to go up to my room and relax for a bit. I don't have anything on my agenda for tonight, except room service." I gave Rose a smile, knowing she'd understand.
"Alright. Emmett?" She turned, walking from me towards him.
"You sure, Bells?" He handed the projector to Jeff.
"Yeah, no really. I'm just a bit beat. We've only got tomorrow morning and then we're done."
"Ok, then let's go. Jeff? One beer?"
"That's a start." Jeff snorted, walking to the doors.
Gathering up my purse and briefcase, I purposely fell in behind them. "You guys go. I'm making a stop in the ladies room and then straight upstairs." It was more for Emmett to think that's where I was going. "I'll see you all tomorrow. Only three more hours!"
Half ass cheerful, even smiling. Academy, I'd like to thank…
I quickly turned from them and headed towards the bathrooms, only stopping once I reached the doors to make sure they were headed the other way.
Nope. Not singing the S.W.A.T theme song in my head.
When I was positive they were out of sight, I snuck along the wall making my way to the lobby, avoiding anyone and everyone with my crackberry nearly to my nose. Once outside, I hailed the first cab I saw, and sent him on the quest for the nearest drugstore. I tried not to think of the fact that I was out and about without Edward, without my buff bodyguard, without anyone even knowing where I went. The last thing I needed was more fuel for the ramped anxiety I already had. Handing the cabbie a twenty to stay put as I ran in, I spent all of five minutes scanning the possible tests, until I picked the one that seemed the easiest.
Plus sign, you're pregnant.
Well, duh, I can handle that.
I'd never wanted to see a minus sign so much in my life.
Luckily there was no one in line as I reached the counter, although I didn't miss the smartass look the cashier gave me as I paid and grabbed the bag, giving her a nice bitch scowl as I left. Sitting back in the cab, I started to worry about getting back into the hotel and walking through the lobby without being spotted, and shoved the bag into my briefcase. But lady luck smiled as we pulled up, apparently anyone and everyone had gone to the hotel bar on the 16th floor, or was already in their rooms. I knew I couldn't head to mine, in case Edward was there, so I took off for that out of way bathroom by the conference rooms.
The walk down the hall was quiet, but as I pushed the door open to the bathroom, I took one more glance around to make sure no one was still milling about, and then headed to the far side and the last stall. Hanging my briefcase and my purse on the hook, I scanned the directions.
Ok, just pee on this end, and wait for 2 minutes. I can do that.
Hiking up my skirt and pulling down my little bikinis, I did just that, amazingly contorting both myself and the little wand in my hand without dropping it into the toilet. Taking some toilet paper, I propped the thing up on the paper on the metal garbage box, as I finished and pulled my clothes back into place. This was one of those moments where I wished there was a lid on the toilet so I could at least sit. I didn't want to walk out of the stall in case someone walked in and god forbid saw the little stick of my future in my hand.
The two minutes seemed like four fucking hours.
Stuck in a handicap stall staring at that little stick contemplating conjuring up the force to make that little minus sign appear, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket jarring me. I didn't want to touch it, not yet. It was bad enough I had to stand here without being able to wash my hands. I glanced at my watch.
It had been two minutes, thirty-seven seconds.
My hand slowly came up from my side, two fingers reaching, gripping each side of the stick as I as I tilted it to see.
The little plus sign was like an auger straight through my head.
I dropped it like it was scalding, listening to the clackity clack as it hit the ground, then scurrying to grab it from the floor and throw it in the metal trash bin on the stall wall. Turning and taking the two steps back, I leaned back against the stall door, as my phone vibrated once again in my pocket. I couldn't think about email, I couldn't think about leaving this stall, I couldn't make heads or tails of anything except for those moments in my office with Assper intermittingly mixed with Edward and his boat, and all the times we'd fucked in the last month and a half.
Until three little words finally resonated through the chaos.
Whose is it?
I took a deep breath. "Pull it together." I said out loud to absolutely no one in the bathroom. It's exactly what I needed to do. I needed to get upstairs, without being seen, soak in a hot tub, clear my mind, wait for Edward to come back.
Edward.
How the fuck was I going to tell him? Would I tell him? Would I simply…
I'd never been the poster child for doing the right thing. Hell, my very predicament was testimony to that. But…
What if the little mutant was…Assper's?
No.
But what if it's Edward's?
The mere thought of a little boy with beautiful bronze hair and deep green eyes, the spitting image of his father, in a suburban backyard playing catch complete with baseball and mitts was enough to send a flutter deep inside my chest.
Holy shit.
The thought of a little piece of Edward and me, living and growing inside me…
I couldn't deny it. A little spark of…hope. I wanted it to be Edward's.
It had to be Edward's.
Taking another deep breath, I grabbed my purse and briefcase, washed my hands and my forearms in the sink. Grabbing my phone finally from my pocket, I walked out into the hall and saw the text.
"Where ru?"
And then the next…
"Answer me please."
And then the third…
"You'd better text me back in the next minute."
I glanced at the time on the phone. That had been nearly five minutes ago.
"Shit." I muttered, racing to the elevators, my fingers typing as I went.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
By the time I reached the door to our room, I knew what I'd find on the other side. I'd texted Edward back and his non-response was deafening.
In deep shit was putting it mildly.
I'd considered the possibility that he'd come back to our room after sessions, but never thought he'd be looking for me. Now, sliding my key into the slot, I knew I needed to make this good.
Nonchalant. Convincing.
Now was not the time to tell him I was knocked up.
Opening the door as if nothing major had happened in the last hour, I glanced over to see him standing near the windows, his back to me, arms folded and his jacket tossed on the couch.
"Where have you been?" His voice was harsh as he kept his back to me. All I could think of was that day in his office.
I walked further in, setting my bags down, slipping off my shoes. "What do you mean, where have I been? I was downstairs."
"Sessions ended over an hour ago, Bella."
"Yeah, well I stopped to talk to a few people, went to…went to the bathroom, and then headed up after I saw your texts."
"Is that so?" He still hadn't turned around, and I approached cautiously yet confidently to stand a few feet behind him.
"Yes. What the fuck's with the sudden inquisition?"
His hesitation lasted for at least 2 minutes. I could see his hand come up, his fingers pressed into and then rubbing against his forehead until they went up and through his hair.
Shit.
"Because Emmett texted me an hour ago that he and Rose were heading to the bar," he spun on his heel, his arms folding across his chest as he looked down at the carpet until his eyes met mine, the anger simmering within the dark green depths, "and that you were coming up here."
Doubleshit.
I hadn't anticipated that Emmett would report to Edward.
Starting to unbutton my blouse, I turned from his glare, trying to maintain my casualness, trying to come up with something good to explain a whole missing hour while walking toward the bathroom. "Well, I ran into some people, chatted, and-"
His hands were around my hips, spinning me to face him, throwing me off balance as my hands shoved against his chest. "Don't lie to me, Bella. Don't ever…" His mouth came crashing down on mine, just as my hands pushed to resist the force of his tongue, the strength of his arms clutching me to him.
What?
Did he think…?
I pushed even harder against him, the anger boiling up inside me at his insinuation, wrenching my head away from his lips. "Taste what you needed, Cullen?" I pushed again, breaking free or him letting me go, I wasn't sure.
I took off toward the bedroom, wiping the back of my hand across my lips. Who the fuck did he think he was? Confusion and fury only part of what was running through me, as I slammed the door behind me and plopped down on the edge of the bed.
What the actual fuck? Did he actually think I was whoring about?
Well, your track record…
"Fuck, fuck, fuck." My face fell into my hands repeating the only word that came to my head. How had my life become so screwed up? How had I let it get so-
The door suddenly swung open. I didn't need to look up to feel him, the tension, his anger only fueling my own. How dare he think, how dare he assume…I had to get away from him, somewhere, but there was nowhere for me to escape, nowhere to hide, and the animal that had been caged for far too long broke through the steel bars that had been imprisoning it.
"Get…out!" I screamed into my hands, so loud my own voice nearly unrecognizable. Nearly flying of the bed, I shouted again, "Get the fuck out!" I didn't want to see him, even look at him, my eyes falling on the bathroom doorway as I avoided his, and suddenly realized…
I could lock myself in the bathroom.
A quick glance at the middle of the floor between us and then at the open doorway had me sprinting toward it, but I only made it halfway. His hand was suddenly wrapped tightly around my arm, spinning me around and into him, my hands imprisoned at my sides as his one hand pressed my head to his chest, the fingers of his other spread firm over the small of my back. Rigid in his arms, he only held me tighter, his fingers twisting in my hair.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly with a kiss into my hair. "I'm sorry." He repeated with another kiss. "I'm an ass. A colossal one." He mumbled through more kisses, his hand slowly going behind my neck, coaxing my eyes to his.
Yes, you are.
I fought every intention, every nerve cell in my body reacting to his touch and its persuasion, but I couldn't help it. The sincerity and emotion in his voice struck a relatively unfamiliar chord, the tenderness reminding me only of when I'd been sick. As my eyes found his, the sudden furrow of his brow and the brush of his thumb on my cheek made me realize the wetness there. The rage was gone from his face, now only his scrunched forehead and the soft Emeralds that held my own.
"I…" I wanted to smack him for being so…
Him.
I wanted to tell him.
I needed to tell him.
"Shhh…" Bringing his hands in front of me, he started to unbutton my blouse, his eyes darting back and forth holding my own, neither of us able to look away as I just stood there, his fingers finally finishing and pushing the thin material down my arms. Sliding his large hands around my waist, his fingers worked the button and zipper of my skirt, sending it to the floor and taking my hand as he led me toward the bathroom.
Standing shell-shocked in the center of the room, my tits heaving with each still-angered breath I took, I focused on a floor tile as he tugged at his tie and reached down to turn on the water. As he turned back around, my eyes darted up to his to see him throw off his tie and work his buttons until his shirt was off, his pants around his ankles and flung away.
He was just so…damn perfect. I slowly ran my eyes over every inch of skin and sinew, frozen, lost in the vortex of the fight that just was and the confusion of what he was doing now, and just what he wanted me to do.
Reaching back, I started to undo the hooks of my bra.
"No." He raced to stand in front of me, his hands gently pulling back my arms. "Let me." It was a whisper into my neck as his lips found the spot, my head floating backward as his fingers traced the path from the closure, up to the straps on my shoulders pulling them away. Falling to his knees, his lips and tongue traced and sucked each of my tits on the way down to my stomach, his fingertips sliding down each side of my spine until they were at the small of my back pressing my belly to his mouth, his lips.
Like an instinctual response, my fingers wound softly through that fuckhot mess of hair, winding, twisting, and overcoming my anger as his kisses covered every inch of my stomach, his fingers slowly sending my bikinis to my ankles…
His attention to…his near reverence for…
Omigod.
My fingers stopped moving as I stared down at the top of his head. "Y-you…know?" I stammered, as he kissed more, his tongue trailing and circling my belly button.
He didn't say a word as he stood up, his boxer briefs falling into a heap as he took my hand and led me toward the bath. His hand steered mine over the water as looked back at him, his head nodding to get in. Glancing down at the rush of the water, I poked a toe in, testing it, testing myself, until I slowly lowered myself in, curling my knees to me as I felt the heat engulf me. As he stepped in behind, the water swooshing around us both, his hands gently took my hair moving it to one shoulder, and then both sliding under my arms and around my waist as he sat down behind me. His thighs straightened to hold me between them, his lips traveling my shoulder blades.
"I suspected…yes."
Of course. The son of a doctor.
Hanging my head lower, my eyes closing to the feel of his lips and tongue across my back, his hands kneading my upper arms and then down, straightening my arms as he went. It was unnerving, it was comforting…
I had to come clean.
He must've felt me tense, his hands leaving my arms, working the outsides and then the tops of my thighs, pressing them down as I let him, straightening them as he continued his massage.
My head lolled back to his shoulder. "I…I went to get one of those tests." I finally admitted, as his lips stopped, until his hands folded both of our arms around me. My mind working on warding off the sensations of his dick pressing against my ass as he pulled me back into his chest. "I-"
"You shouldn't have gone alone." The severity of his words was only tempered by his hand sliding to my abdomen.
"I…didn't…I didn't know how you'd take it." I almost whispered, his hand running gently over my skin, until I turned in his arms, pressing him backward to lay my cheek on his chest, my hands running up to clutch his shoulders as he laid back. I didn't know how to say what was rushing around in my head, the biggest if, the monumental if…
I didn't know how to tell him.
"I thought-"
"No, you didn't think. You didn't think how he may be out there. You didn't think how Emmett would let me know where you were every minute of every single day this week. You didn't think that when you didn't come back to the room as he had texted me you were doing, that I would be worried out of my fucking mind."
He sighed deeply as his arms came up, holding me tighter, almost too tight.
"I'm sorry." It was just a whisper, my lips pressing against the skin and hair on his chest. "But…"
Just say it.
"I need…I need to tell you something else."
His chest heaved underneath me as he took another long deep breath. "Yes?"
I slid up further, trying to find the right way to say it, feeling his semi-hard cock beneath me as I did. I'd never felt so unsure, so completely insecure than I was at this moment. "It…I…he…" I actually stumbled, the mere thought that what was inside me could be-
"It's mine, Bella."
My head popped so fast to stare at him my hand slipped on his shoulder. Searching his eyes, seeing the frustration wrought with concern and something else that I was starting to recognize. "H-how…?"
"He's sterile. It's in his file."
For all of five seconds, my mouth dropped open, until I pulled myself up, finding his mouth, his lips, his tongue, his arms sliding me to the side, water flowing out over the edge of the tub as we kissed with all the abandon and longing we had, arms clutching, legs wrapping.
I would never have enough of his mouth, those lips…
Of him.
As he pulled me back to his chest, my cheek resting once again on him, his heart pounding beneath my ear, I felt myself let go – let it all go – as only his arms, his body, his touch, could make me relax.
"I want you, Bella. I want you both." He said softly, his voice nearly cracking with emotion.
Slowly running my hand over his chest, struggling desperately to find it within myself, trying to come up with the right words, I said the first thing, the only thing that I could think of.
"You have us both."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
It was mid-afternoon on Saturday and sessions were done. Me and some of my more high-maintenance colleagues were retiring to our rooms or hitting the hotel spa to primp and prep before the big night, the men doing manly things which most definitely involved pre-festivus alcohol.
Damn, I hoped someone had nabbed Edward's ass and held him for at least three Jamesons.
He'd likely be more…pliable.
After our soak in the tub the night before, Edward had been very…un-Edwardlike. Soft kisses and caresses had led to him toweling me off, carrying me to the bed, before he left me to order room service. He'd seen to it that I had most of what was on the dinner menu brought to our room, watching me eat, before tucking me in in the most un-dom-like fashion.
"If you didn't need to walk out that door in a few minutes, Yours, I'd fuck you senseless." I stretched dreamily on the bed, belly full and still completely naked from the bath with only a sheet obscuring my spreading thighs.
Knowing he needed to go, I just wanted to fuck with him…a little.
I'd been checking him out as he dressed but avoiding any eye contact, and tossed that little teasing tidbit out there as I casually pointed the remote to flip through TV stations, pretending to be more interested in some sitcom than the ripple of muscle over his back that I could see, or the tingling it gave me between my thighs.
"Hmmm." He tried to sound disinterested. "Is that…so…"
Throwing one arm behind my head and arching my back to perk up my tits and fuck with him just a bit more, I kept my eyes on the TV as he turned around, one arm going into the sleeve of his shirt.
He stopped mid-sleeve.
Check.
I quickly caught his eyes as they travelled up my legs to somewhere in the middle.
"You're playing with fire, Miss Swan."
"I…" Running my other hand up over the sheet to stop at my tit, my fingers massaging lightly "…am?"
The corners of my lips drew up slowly.
He tried to hide his huff as he turned back to the mirror.
"But since you like…challenges," he slid his other arm in and hastily started on his buttons, "I say tomorrow, after you're well-rested tonight, the first one who can return to this room after sessions…" grabbing both ends of his tie, he whipped the fabric around his neck and started on the knot, each threading a slow slide into the center, followed by a quick, tight pull.
He was doing that on purpose.
Bastard.
"…gets his or her…" his hands straightened the knot at his neck as he faced me once more, "wishes."
The shit grin was back.
Checkmate.
I grabbed the nearest thing I could, sending a pillow flying toward him which only made it to his feet. "I call Shenanigans, Cullen. Your VP ass can get up here whenever you want."
As he sauntered over to edge of the bed, he bent to get his jacket when suddenly his hand was around my ankle, those devious Fuckhot Emeralds holding mine. The corners of his mouth rose higher as his fingers wrapped tighter.
"I know."
Our staredown lasted two more seconds, until he gave my leg a tug and let go. Turning quickly, he continued his confident saunter out the door as he threw on his jacket, his laughter following him out.
"Don't leave this room, or you will be punished, Bella." His raised voice carried from the adjoining living room, the click of the door signaling his leaving.
"Hmph." I said to the empty room as I rolled on my side to curI up, the TV only a minor distraction now to the plotting in my head.
I was sooo ditching that last session early.
Now, as I did the 50-meter dash through the hotel, I hoped the few mingling about in the hall didn't notice my stealth maneuvering or the shit grin on my face as I thought of Edward's little challenge last night. Oh, I obeyed his little threat, even though a very small part of me considered testing his limits. Unfortunately, my eyelids weren't cooperating, nor was my stamina, the last thing I remembered was the seeing the weather on the local news. Until the sudden quiet of the TV going off and the feel of Edward's arm wrapping around my waist pulling me to his chest, did I even know he'd come back.
He didn't have a clue who he was fucking with.
Well, maybe he sort of had a clue.
I had asked Rose to handle our last session, figuring between her, Jeff, and Emmett, I could sneak away, faking an urgent call. As I reached our room and before putting my key in, I leaned my ear against the door, listening for any movement, any sign he was behind that door.
Silence.
I did a mental fistpump as I hurriedly slid my key in and slithered inside, bringing my purse and briefcase with me to the bedroom, planning on tricking him into thinking I wasn't here.
Lost in the thousand different ways I could use those damn ties of his, I wasn't paying attention as I took the two steps through the bedroom doorway.
"Hello, Bella."
My purse landed on the floor with a thud as a strange noise slipped from me, sounding like a yelp. "Christ, Edward…" I dropped my briefcase near the wall by the door, trying to hide my pissiness and recover from the momentary shock. I hadn't wanted to lose, I hated losing, and all of the visions of Edward restrained with those heavenly ties. I'd checked this morning after he'd left – mostly Armani – the special thong I'd worn getting wetter at the thought. Dammit, I needed to regain my edge. I needed to…
Fuck the edge. I'd already gone off the cliff.
As I stood back up and got a good look, my eyes travelled over the single sheet that was laying over him to find him already pitching a massive tent until they met his, his lips seductively curled in a way that only said…
"I believe I win." He finished for me.
No shit.
"Come here to the front of the bed and remove your clothes as you walk…slowly."
I stood rooted for a moment, fighting within myself to listen or disobey, knowing full well I had lost but wanting to maintain some sort of upper hand. So I slid my shoes off, one after the other, while letting my jacket fall down my arms. I knew his expectations - to slump forward, dropping my eyes to the floor. Which is exactly why I didn't, taking a step forward as my fingers reached for the hem of my camisole and lifting it up and over, the only loss of eye contact the moment it slipped over my head. I stepped as I unzipped, letting my skirt fall in a puddle as I walked over it, my fingers reaching around to unhook my bra, letting it skim down my arms as I came to stand where he'd asked. Oh, I'd follow audible direction, but I was not going to make it easy for him.
No fucking way.
Holding a straight face, I brought my hand to just above my tit, feathering my collarbone with my fingertips, watching his face, his eyes, for any indication, any change. The disappearance of his grin as his tongue sneaking out to wet his lower lip said it all.
Queen takes Knight.
"Feel yourself up. Just like you did last night."
So Edward wanted to…watch. As I did what he asked, cupping and massaging, I nearly gave away my inner giggle as I realized just how much my little performance last night must have been torturing him through dinner.
He threw the sheet off of him, his rock hard cock springing free, but I didn't leave his eyes, and his didn't leave my hand. "Get that thong off and climb up here. Straddle my thighs on your knees. Do not sit." He ordered, raising one hand behind his head casually, the whole time his eyes not on mine, but on my hand as I slowly worked down the miniscule piece of fabric. I hoisted one knee up and then the other, scooting along the bed, until I could throw a leg over him, on my knees, working my tit again with my hand, the other at my side.
"Touch yourself, Bella. Touch yourself as you wanted to last night, and again this morning after you ransacked my ties."
"I-"
"Ah ah ah…don't deny it."
Anal ass knew I went through his ties. It was a good thing I never tried to get at those files in his desk.
Taking a deep breath only to control the aching need that had already growing between my thighs, I slowly glided my hand over my stomach and then down between my legs, my fingers sliding between my lips and finding my clit with an even slower more torturous circling and sliding. His abs clenched as I watched his eyes on my hand, my fingers, slightly quickening the pace as I felt my own body respond. Parting my lips slightly, my breaths came faster as his hand suddenly wrapped his dick, stroking slowly, in time with my fingers.
The power I had over him, the expression on his face as he watched me only made my fingers move faster, my hips starting to rock as my inner thighs clenched, wanting him inside me.
As if reading my mind, he suddenly sat up, grabbing my waist, his mouth crushing my tit, licking and sucking it into his mouth, his one hand reaching to take mine and wrap it around his cock, the other pressing down at my hip. With his hand over my own, his fingers guided the tip of his cock teasingly over my clit.
"Take me inside you, Bella. Just like that first time," he muttered through lips still on my tit. "Fuck me."
As my slow smile started to form, I pushed against his shoulder as he laid back, my other hand holding his cock as I moved my knees to position myself directly over him. Those fuckhot Emeralds were so dark, so focused with intensity as they met mine. I swirled the tip of him up and down my wetness, wanting him to beg, waiting for reaction, realizing that I wasn't only torturing him but myself as my insides clenched in anticipation.
"I'm going to fuck you, Yours," I said, as I lowered enough to take in the tip of him. "and this time," I led him a little further, ever so slowly rocking my hips, "I want to hear…" dropping all the way down, feeling him fill me, "youuu…" I breathed out, controlling my own body's response as a groan rolled from deep in his chest.
It was like heaven, watching the expression on his face as I gradually rocked faster, his hands clutching and squeezing as they moved up my thighs to my tits. Throwing my hands back on his thighs, my head fell back as I remembered that first time, the feeling of his cock and the sensations that went through me, until his hips start to thrust upward.
"Bella…" He breathed, as I alternated pulling up and then down onto him with harder grinds.
Oh…my…Yours.
"Yesss" I replied, again and again as I felt his fingers finding my clit, stroking harder and harder. All that went through my head, all that we'd been through in such a short time, obliterated by the feeling of my insides beginning to respond, purposely clenching around him as they did.
"Oh…fuck…Ed…" I moaned as I rode him, the sounds coming from me and him, the smacking of my ass on his thighs blending into a sweet, sweet chorus.
Fuck I could come right now.
Fighting it, relishing it, owning him and everything surging through me, every single moment, every single breath and sound that he made, that we made together…
Fuck, I love him.
"Jesus…Bell…" his fingers on my tit squeezed as I leaned back up, one hand over his on my tit, the other bracing on his forearm as I felt it build inside me. Finding his eyes, my own half-lidded, I clenched again.
"Ed…" I tried to let him know, his fingers on my clit rubbing ruthlessly now. I loved him with everything I had, everything I was, and everything I was going to give him growing inside of me. It was better than fucking euphoria. It was more amazing than any fuck, any business win, anything that previously made me remotely happy. None of it compared to this, being connected to him, seeing what I did to him, and feeling what he did to me.
All of it made me cry out, my body trembling uncontrollably.
"Let go…baby."
The words half-grunted from him were all I needed, as the force within me exploded around him again and again, screams of his name as each one shook me, my insides contracting so hard I grabbed for his neck and shoulders as he sat up, tugging as the waves kept rolling.
"Oh yes…God yes…" I heard as his arms went around me, pulling me to him, bursting inside me as he bolted us both off the bed with the power of his final thrust.
"Ed…ward…"I breathed, feeling him ram into me continually as he rode it out, until he dropped back on the bed, bringing me with him, both of us freefalling.
Completely silent, lost in the sounds of our breaths, my cheek against the warmth and sweat of his skin and hair of his chest, I couldn't move if I wanted to.
If this is love, I'm all in.
Moments later, our breathing starting to even out, his fingers slowly played across my back.
"Sleep, My Queen."
I merely nodded my head against him, my eyes closing, listening to his still rapid heartbeat beneath my ear.
I love you.
A soft whisper from him, the words lost against the pounding of his heart and consciousness.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
No.
"He's coming with me, Beller. You're nothing but a whore, and unfit to be his momma."
NO!
"Bella…babe…"
A gentle shake from a hand on my back, had me jumping up, the fear rushing through me until I realized it was Edward's hand, his body beneath me, and I laid my head back down.
"Another nightmare?"
"Yeeah. Just a little one though."
"Care to talk about it?"
"It was nothing. Really." I glanced up at him, scooting up to kiss his lips but my eyes caught the clock.
"Shit, Edward, it's 4:30. We have to be downstairs in less than two hours."
"So." He laughed out.
I scampered off him, running into the bathroom and getting into the shower. Men just never understood.
Twenty minutes and a shampoo and condition later, I was finished, walking out towel around my head and my body, over to the dresser. Edward was still in bed, his eyes closed, his chest steadily rising and falling. Moving closer to the bed on silent toes, I studied him, realizing I'd never truly seen him sleep, him always up and at 'em way before I was. Walking over to his side of the bed, I took him all in, every inch of exposed skin and that still hidden by the sheet, and felt something come over me.
Recognition.
Peace.
He really was mine.
I sat down softly next to him, my fingers reaching to play over his lips until I leaned down, softly brushing my lips across his.
"Mmmm." He mumbled, opening his eyes with a smile.
"I always wanted to kiss a frog."
He smacked my ass.
"Hey!"
Pressing his lips together, he tried unsuccessfully to control his smirk. "We can do amazing things with our tongues."
I slid off the bed like it was covered in oil. Up and out of his reach before getting another smack.
Going back to the dresser, I dropped my towel, getting out the thong that Edward had purloined, or should I say Emmett had chosen for the occasion, and slipped it on. I couldn't help to run my hands over my belly, the little bump. Assper's voice suddenly shot in my head, my hands stilling as I wondered.
Was he right? Would I be a crap-ass mother? What kind of experience with kids did I have? I generally avoided them at all cost.
"What's going on inside that head of yours, Bella?" Edward's voice had me glancing up in the mirror to find him lying on his side, one arm propping up his head.
"Nothing." I lied.
"Is it your dream?" He said, sliding out of bed and coming up behind me, wrapping his arms around as his kissed my shoulder.
"He said he was going to take him. That I…that I was a whore and…unfit." I felt Edward tense behind me, his arms wrapping tighter as his fingers spread over my own, and over my stomach.
"Him?"
I met Edward's eyes in the mirror.
"It was a dream. He will never touch you. Ever again. Please try not to think about him anymore. Not now."
Seeing the concern of his face, I just nodded.
"Just do me the favor of not disappearing like you did this afternoon."
Twisting in his arms, I wrapped mine around him hugging him to me, biting my tongue to the small part of me that cringed at the idea of being confined, yet letting go the apprehension to listen to the other part. The part that said do what he says.
"I'll see what I can do." I muffled my cover laugh against his skin.
His fingers came up to beckon my chin, pulling my face to his for a quick kiss. "That's a start. Now, your King needs to go shower." He punctuated with another kiss to the top of my head.
As Edward did his thing, I did mine in front of the mirror. Deciding to let my hair air dry to bring out the wave, I started on my face, remember what Edward has said before.
"You don't need makeup."
Yeah, well that dress needed some.
We discussed everything about how we should act that night, even sitting at separate tables, avoiding each other to make sure no one catches on.
"I'll have my eye on you the entire time."
"I'm sure you will. Don't trip, or lose your train of thought if Bill corners you." Bill, our President and biggest of Big Kahunas.
"I'll be worried more about you tripping in those shoes," he said, his undisciplined hair becomming even more so as he ran a towel through it.
Damn.
I stopped putting on my unnecessary brown eyeshadow to watch the reflection of him.
"Like what you see?" he mumbled walking up behind me, his hands reaching from behind to cup my tits.
"Don't start, Cullen." I pretended to ignore him, leaning forward a bit, my ass just happening to rub against his cock.
He pinched both of my nipples lightly between his fingertips before letting go. "I hope it's cold in the ballroom." He muttered, walking out.
My mind started to plot all the subtle ways I would torture him tonight.
Half hour later, Edward was dressed, haphazardly coiffed, and decked in his black Armani tux, a plain black leather mask in his hand as he sat in the chair, watching me finally put on the dress. I'd left my hair down, hoping to hide any of the telltale marks still left on my shoulders, but as I slipped it on I realized the back was high enough to cover. It was the front I was worried about.
"You didn't by chance pack double-sided tape, did you?" I asked, pretending to be worried about the low cut front.
"That would be…a negative." He twirled the mask by its string in his fingers.
"Hmmm. Then perhaps the boys in Accounting will enjoy the show." I mimicked his nonchalant tone as I twisted and turned in front of the mirror to determine boob poppage.
"I think it would be best you didn't make any sudden movements," he rose from the chair, walking towards me until he stood directly behind me, looking over my reflection in the mirror, "those belong to me now." His hands moved slowly to cup my ass. "As well as this…" sliding one over my hip to cup my pussy, "and this…" until he moved them both over my little bump, "and this."
Something about the way he held my eyes in the mirror as his hands moved over me. Something about the expression on his face as he did so. Something about the way little tingles ran through my body with each touch, made me take one of his hands, sliding it up and over to my left tit, holding it there, gazing back at him through the silence that lasted as I realized what I wanted to say.
"As well as this." It was the best I could do.
"Bella…"he breathed into my hair, spinning me around, his hand reaching up to cradle my neck as our open-mouths met, tongues winding, additional conversation unnecessary, my hands winding their way around his neck pulling myself further into him as the fingers on his other hand gently squeezed my ass.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Edward actually let me go down alone in the elevator, texting Emmett twenty minutes before I did to make sure he'd be in position at the bottom. Donning my mask only after I spotted him, we walked together to the door. Splitting up as we went in, I worked the room like a good Publisher, chatting briefly with Jeff who graciously got me my signature drink, blue cheese olives and everything.
I'd start working on getting his promotion through next week.
But as I wrapped my fingers around the base and stem, a sudden thought nearly caused me to drop it right there.
Shit, I can't drink this.
As I made a requisite, but polite departure, I scanned the room for all possible drop-off points, finding a tray with a few empty glasses already on it. Surreptitiously setting it down, I made the mental note of having one glass of wine, maybe two, tempered with copious amount of water with lime. Two glasses of wine shouldn't hurt, and the water will look like a VT.
One hurdle down.
By dinner, I was positive Edward had stored a chip in my evening bag because every time I glanced up, every time my eyes searched for him, they would find those Emerald homing beacons zeroing in on me. A quick nod or lip twitch was all he gave, nearly imperceptible to those around him, but one that went straight between my thighs to rev. He sat only two tables away, both of us with place cards for seats facing each other across the space, Emmett at the table next to me and Rose at the table next to him.
Wonder how the Cullenator finagled that.
By mid-dinner the orchestra started to play, and while it was a nice touch, the members of my table seemed to know more about the music than I did, commenting on the selection, the quality, and the various composers that had been chosen. Apparently since this was a masquerade ball, most of them dealt with the theme. The only one I recognized was one from that Webber-dude's Phantom.
As everyone finished their dessert, some of my colleagues brave enough gathered on the dance floor, showing off their skills, while I sat, sipping my second glass of wine, the first having gone down way too quickly. While twirling my fork amidst what was left of a fruit-laden tart, I got the distinct sense that Edward's eyes were on me, but as I casually looked over to where he was sitting, his eyes were focused intently off to the side of me. As I slowly tracked the path of where he was looking, I caught what looked to be a pretty heated but hushed exchange between Emmett and Rose, both of them standing, Rose's eyes blazing up at Emmett's whose back was to me.
To say she was pissed was putting it lightly. I'd seen that expression before.
I had just enough time to think good thing there was no one left at his table, when suddenly Rose stormed off, Emmett letting her as he threw his napkin that had been balled up in his fist to the table.
What the ever-bloomin' fuck now?
I stood up just in time to see Edward doing the same, heading over to Emmett, taking his arm and pulling him off to the back of the room. I chanced a look around, to see if anyone was paying attention, if anyone had pulled out a phone and was texting madly, if anyone was using their drink napkin to take notes.
Nope.
Everyone had either left their tables to go closer to the dance floor, or was on the dance floor.
I couldn't imagine dancing to this shit.
So I stayed put, flitting between walking over to the two of them and going to find Rose, studying Emmett and Edward in between subtle glances elsewhere to not look like I was staring at them.
That's when the little bladder fairy decided to sprinkle tinkle dust.
Don't break the seal.
Fuck it. I could kill two birds with one stone, checking out the bathroom for Rose while I did. I decided to text Edward where I was going, waiting for him to get it and giving me a nod while he and Emmett continued discussing whatever drama had just gone down.
I was midway out the door when the orchestra struck up a tune sounding vaguely familiar, a waltz, and the nightmare, Assper, flashed in my head like a smack to the face.
"Say goodbye to Edward, Beller."
Stopping momentarily in my tracks, I scanned the few people who were walking back or milling around.
Get a grip, Bella.
Jesus H. Christ I was becoming a paranoid schizophrenic.
As I pushed open the bathroom door, I sent Bizarro packing, shaking off the willies, avoiding the two gals from Production who were at the mirror, looking to see if there was anyone else in the stalls. But the doors were all open, so I happened a look on the other side, where there were more stalls. Nada.
If I were pissed off, where would I go?
I'd want to get as far away from Edward as I possibly could. In fact, I'd been there a few times just this past week.
How far I'd…no, we'd, come.
I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. How stupid I had been, how truly mystifying Edward was and continued to be. To think, I once thought he was a colossal prick, stealing my promotion, leveling a threat of what he knew about me. Until that incredible night, how I hadn't even known it was him hidden behind a mask kneeling in front of me. A line from a movie suddenly struck a chord… "You know, like magnets. You swoosh 'em around, and swoosh 'em around, until…"
Swooshing as an effective euphemism.
I wonder if he's up for swooshing again tonight. I nearly giggled out loud.
Mmmph. Fuck, I needed to pee.
I needed to find Rose.
Remembering there were two bathrooms in this hall, one way further down, I took a deep breath to help hitch-up the bladder for just a bit longer. She was gonna fucking owe me. I walked out, not bothering to worry about the looks the two bitches at the counter were giving me.
Venturing further down the hall, I only partly noticed how it grew deserted, barely hearing the music as I remembered Heaven and Yours, Edward's boat, that first time in his guest room, the shower…
If I didn't stop soon, and if Rose wasn't in this bathroom, I was texting him to get his ass down here.
But as I pushed open the door, the only sound was the squeak of the hinges.
"Shit. Where are you, Rose?"
I'd text her soon as I finished. Entering the first stall, starting my business, I suddenly heard the door squeaking again, and for a moment I wondered if it was Edward.
Naughty, naughty VP. I smirked as I finished.
The clicking of shoes not of the male persuasion flooded me with disappointment as I opened the stall door.
It was that chick from the Command Center. Princess Pixiedust. Yeah.
I seriously wanted to growl as I went up to the sink to wash my hands.
"Hi Bella! Wow, I never thought I'd find you in here. That is absolutely the most gorgeous dress. "
I smiled the best I could at her reflection in the mirror, "Thanks," as I set my bag down and reached for some soap.
God, she was so annoyingly perky.
I had just enough time to get my hands under the water when suddenly something was around my mouth.
"Night, Bella."
And just a few seconds more, my hands tugging at hers and the rag held over my mouth, to see that perky ass smile turn, and everything fading to nothingness.
Everyone still breathing? Need a cold shower? Cocktail? I hope it was a good rollercoaster-esque type of ride.
If anyone would like to see Bella's dress, Edward's tux, their masks, or hear the waltz that the orchestra plays, please head on over to this chapter's posting on TwiWrite, since I can't do a link here without CIA-lookin, mind-boggling, code. ;)
As always, thank you for reading, and reviewing if you so choose.
