Chapter 12: Clean Slate
He didn't wait for me to respond. Still holding my wrist, Edward pivoted on his heel and dragged me to towards the room that I assumed was his. I was increasingly unsure of having a conversation of this magnitude in his bedroom. Lord only knows how tempting it would be to forget words all together and scream out my feelings for him in the throes of passion. I pulled back on his grip, hoping that he would release me. But this was halfhearted. I wanted to be as close to him as possible, in as little a surrounding as possible.
H pulled me into the room and closed the door behind us. Just like the Stone Harem, the bed was the centerpiece. A beautiful, towering green-silk-draped bed dominated the area with a small bedside table made entirely of glass, arch-blown legs and a glass slab top, with a white lotus plant in it's corner. Marble floors, a luxurious sofa, and the single largest bathroom I'd ever seen.
"What...the hell...do you do for a living?" I was stunned. This room was about twice the size of the rest of the house by itself. I'd expect some big shot like Hugh Hefner to own this place but instead it was property of Edward Anthony.
"In due time, love."
He finally let me go, pressing his lips to the blue vein standing out on the inner side of my wrist before dropping it. He made a motion with his finger for me to follow. We went into the bathroom and the uneasiness I felt before spiked to uncontrollably. Again, there were too many lavish items in the room to pine for them all. The jacuzzi/bath, the see-through shower, the second bear clawed bathtub. Even the toilet looked expensive. I would bet money that it was one of those European toilets that squirted water up your bum so you didn't have to wipe. I shuddered involuntarily.
"If you think I'm about to get busy in your bathroom you have another thing coming, mister."
He snickered and covered his mouth with his hand to stifle it.
"Your one kinky bitch, Swan. The thought never crossed my mind, but now..." He trailed off to wink at me and I flipped him the bird.
When his man-giggles passed he told me to take off my shoes. I did, hesitantly, and watched as he did the same before stepping into the normal tub and pushing into a tile. He removed his hand and for what seemed like the tenth time today, I stared with my jaw agape. About 5 feet of tiles in length and width were pushed back then to the right, disappearing behind the walls visible to us, leaving a dark open space that led up an eerie flight of stairs.
"What the f—"
"Follow me."
He stepped over the edge of the porcelain bowl and into the dark and I was right behind him. I was moving blindly as I clung to Edward's shirt and, sensing this, he knocked my feet from beneath me and carried me up the steps. I was hardly able to protest. Behind us, I heard what sounded like a metallic click that unnerved me to no end. At the final step Edward told me to kick my foot out. I encountered something solid and the sound bounced off the walls and back to our ears. With no warning whatsoever, Edward threw his shoulder into the wall and a wave of sunlight hit us as we moved into the newly revealed room. All I could do was shake my head. What kind of world was this man dragging me into?
It would have been described as an attic but it seemed...prettier. Floor to ceiling windows that looked out to the forest behind the house, more floor to ceiling columns, more marble floors, and 8x10 pastel paintings adorned every square inch of wall. That's good, I thought idly. At least I was sure of his taste at this point. In decoration. Just above the window pane outside, a solar panel dock was visible. I wondered why I hadn't seen any light bulbs around. I was partly surprised that there wasn't a giant long table in the corner, but instead bean bags. Yeah. One green bag and one brown bag.
He set me down to my feet and went back to shut the door while I perused through the artistry. "I didn't know you were fond of art."
"There's a lot you don't know about me."
Isn't that the truth?
"I suppose this is where you'd prefer I conduct the interview, huh?"
"Have a seat."
I plopped down into the green bag closest to the wall. I was genuinely tired and at some point during this long conversation I was going to be sagging with fatigue and my best bet was to use anything within my reach as support.
As Edward got situated I watched the sun creep up past the breaking of trees and behind the mass of cumulus clouds. The sky was painted in array of light blues, soft yellows and dark pinks. The arising light flickered off the metal of the solar panels and they blinked like little white Christmas lights. I smiled a little and drew my knees up to wrap my arms around myself. Even in this secluded bubble in the middle of nowhere, France's beauty shined like a safe house in a cloudy harbor.
I turned my head back to ask if he was ready to begin but my breath caught in my throat as I made eye contact with Edward, his face but a mere inch from my own. Those jade pools of his were dark and devoid of all emotion and for some unforeseeable reason this saddened me. Before I could prevent whatever was happening from occurring he kissed me, his long fingers holding my face still as his mouth covered mine. He gave me a featherlight brush against my lips, followed by his tongue, just touching them lightly. I should have pushed him away, I knew that, but I opened my mouth anyway, like the damned fool that I was.
I wanted him, and a small, nagging part inside of me knew that I needed to have him if only for now. But, after I had him, what would change? Would he suddenly care more for me like I did for him or would his indifference border apathy towards me? It would be like taking two steps forward and five steps back, back to how I had found him. Could I risk that? Would I? All for a kiss that got carried away?
Then again I could be overseeing this. What harm could one kiss do? Especially from someone as gifted as Edward. We were both adults. If things escalated to a level we couldn't help it could be just as easily stopped there. I doubted that too much could transpire with bean bags between us so I sank back in my seat and let him kiss me, slowly, and, using his teeth now, he gave a tiny, erotic tug on my lower lip that made me utter a quiet moan.
He lifted his head, his eyes glittering like polished emeralds in the dim room. "You like that, Bella? You could always just kiss me back."
"Public not private, remember? You said this," I motioned to the small space between us, "wasn't a wise idea."
"No, it isn't," he said pressing his lips against the curve of my jaw. "But wise ideas are so very boring."
He kissed me harder this time, no longer just seduction. He was making demands now, demands I craved to meet.
His hand was on my jean-clad thigh, slowly moving up into dangerous territory, and his touch was like kerosene on flames, licking at me, taunting me. I put my hands down to stop him, but I couldn't get him to budge. All I was doing was pressing him against my thighs, which was hardly an improvement. His fingers clutched me then and my resolve was quickly crumbling. He's married, I chanted. He's married, he's married, he's married.
I pulled away to catch my breath, and Edward did the same, as I tried to rein in my fast-departing sanity.
"Why are you doing this?" I demanded in a whisper.
"Stupid question. Because I want to. Because I want you. And all you have to do is say 'no.' But you're not going to because you want this just as much as I do, no matter what you tell yourself. You want to taste my mouth. You want my hands on you. Don't you, Bella? Tell me that you do. Say it."
I wanted to deny it, to tell him how delusional he was, how conceited, mistaken, and arrogant, and wrong-headed...
"Kiss me back, Bella," he whispered. And I did. I latched my mouth onto his fiercely, hot tears rolling down my face as I took the collar of his shirt in my fists. I liked kissing him, loved it, even. But with Edward kissing was bordering orgasmic, and he didn't even have to move his hand any further up my leg because I was already so close to the breaking point. All he needed was his mouth—moving, touching, and tasting mine—deeper, harder—and I could feel a dark shiver run from my throat to my womb.
My hands went to his face and I roughly pushed him away, turning my head so that he couldn't see my expression, see the pain that was so deeply etched into my features. I hated this. Why did he have to use me so crassly? Why couldn't he just reciprocate my feelings so I didn't feel so damn guilty? Taking the bean bag with me, I scooted myself back with my hands until I was as far from him as possible.
"If you move any farther you'll be hanging out the window," he said calmly.
"I think that would be best for both parties."
He chuckled and the deep sound made me scowl.
"Well I don't recommend it. Not now anyway. Relax. I said I wouldn't touch you if you didn't want me to. All you have to do is say so."
"I don't want you to touch me," I deadpanned. It was an out-and-out lie. Or at least a lie of the flesh. My body sang for him but my mind knew that he was no good for me. At present, it was an all out internal war within me. I wanted him to kiss me again, I wanted to bash him upside the head. I wanted him to get away from me, and I wanted him to lay his naked skin on top of mine.
"If you say so, cherie."
"Why?" I asked abruptly, ready to get the ball rolling.
"Why what?"
"Why did you save me from Jacob. Prior to him showing up out of nowhere you made a point of constantly telling me that I wouldn't live long enough to leave the cave. He could have killed me right then and there. What made you change your mind?"
"I didn't," he stated coldly, expressionlessly.
A thrill ran up my spine and I shuddered involuntarily, immediately throwing my arms around myself. "Then why were you there? Did you just come to watch?"
He shrugged. "I was surprised you were still alive. Jacob's not one to drag out anyone's death. That you were still breathing baffled me."
"ASSHOLE!" My voice raised, and he moved so fast that he was a blur in the now bright room, his hand covering my mouth, silencing me as he held me against the wall.
"Lower your voice," he said. "Try not to be as stupid as your behavior suggests." He moved his hand and I stayed silent, seething, waiting for him to finish the explanation. He moved back, sitting several feet away from me again and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"I came to speak to Jacob of another matter," he continued, "saw you were still alive, and on a whim, saved your life. To think you'd be a little more grateful."
"On a whim?" I inquired skeptically.
Again, he shrugged. "Part of my own death wish, I suppose. I'm living on borrowed time as it is, and rescuing you is just speeding up the process."
God, he was so cryptic. Always dancing around the real answers. But then something he'd said stuck with me. He went back to speak to Jacob? That doesn't sound right.
"If you were only returning to talk to Jake why did you try to kill him?" Was he lying? Why would he lie?
"As you saw, the mutt was already hostile as it was. How idiotic of me would I appear to just throw myself in the lion's den unarmed with bait hanging from my shoulders? No, ma petite. I had to disable him and get him in a position where not cooperating meant death."
"If I remember correctly, you blew out his kneecap and dropped a ceiling on his head. I don't know about you, but I think I'd be too far gone to talk about anything."
"You didn't let me finish. While he was unconscious I would have tied him to the bed post and waited for him to wake up. If he refused to answer my questions than I would have to revert to torturing him."
"Torture?"
"Hot blade to the skin, dismembering of fingers and limbs, breaking his bones. Things of that nature."
"Are there worse coworkers than you?" I doubted it.
"Actually, the very best at torture and interrogation are usually women, which is no surprise to me."
I could only stare at him, my jaw so far down that I was sure it was unhinged. "Who the fuck are you?"
"You no longer believe I'm a simple caveman from Forks? It took you long enough."
"Then who are you? Is Edward Anthony even your real name?"
"Well, I'm certainly no saint—that's for sure. And you don't need to know who I am. Suffice it to say I'm part of an international operation few people know exist, and it's better they don't. It's like the underground United Nations of trade. Sounds simple but believe me when I say your life is hanging by a thread on a balancing act and I am your ring master, so to speak. Just do as I say, and you might live to see another day."
"How do I know you can keep me safe?"
"You don't. There are no guarantees in this life. You certainly stand a better chance with me than on your own and if I fail, I can promise you, I'll be the one to kill you before you get in the hands of anyone worse than me. I'll make it fast and painless. I owe you that much."
He spoke so matter-of-factually about death and killing, and I had not the slightest doubt that he would do just as he said. All I had to do was take one look in his dark, emotionless eyes.
"Can you tell me one thing? Are you part of the good guys or the bad guys?" I'd asked him this before, of course, but at the time I was completely aloof of the situation. I knew better now, and I knew I needed answers. Where did Jacob fall and where did he?
"Trust me," he sighed wearily, "there's not much difference anymore. People die on either side and even those caught in the middle are executed mercilessly. You were almost one of those. I guess if I could help just one person, I can convince myself that I'm not all that much of a heathen." He smiled emptily and held his palm out, silently requesting. I slid my hand into his and he scooted closer to me but kept a foot of space away.
I was quickly learning that anything that Edward said always contained a double-meaning. Nothing was as it seemed with him. The first I noticed was his way of interrogating. In other words, for every minute of time he lost trying to get someone to speak, they'd lose something as well. I had firsthand knowledge of this, I thought wryly. The very first time Edward asked me a question and I hadn't answered him to his liking he began interrogating me. With our first kiss went my sanity. Thinking back to that dark chapter in my life I realized just how much of this Edward shone through in the man I once thought to be a robot, or, even worse, a caveman. Well, he did possess the qualities of both but he also had a beating heart. No matter how much he denied it I knew. I wouldn't be here now it that weren't the case.
"I don't know about you but I'm exhausted." I looked up from my lap to see Edward's head hanging lazily on his neck, his eyes slightly hooded as he looked up at me. Just to add to the sexiness, he dragged his tongue over his lower lip and smirked my favorite crooked grin. Such an asshole.
"Yeah, I could use some sleep now." I guess this was his way of concluding the interview for the day. I wouldn't push it. I was physically and mentally exhausted at this point, but this discussion was no where near over. I'd just have to ambush him at a more appropriate time. I used the wall to erect myself and Edward did some athletic move where he rolled on his back and jumped to his feet. I simply shook my head and replaced my hand in his as we walked back the way we came.
xxXX~XXxx~xxXX~XXxx
Before I slunk off to bed Edward forced me to eat something after hearing my stomach moan aloud. It was a terrifying sound and hearing something like that myself this time I didn't fight him about the oranges. As I ate, Edward promised that he would see me off to bed, providing ample entertainment by playing 21 questions with me. It was a simple, good-natured, game that I was truly enjoying before the British bastard had to go and ruin it.
"I'll have to leave you first thing in the morning."
I was just chewing into my orange when he said this and my teeth clamped down into the fruit, sending a circular seed shooting down my airways. I hacked and coughed, beating on my chest until I spit the pre-produce back up and glared at the man across from me.
"Where do you think you're going?" I demanded.
"I have business. Don't worry about it." And we're back to patronizing again.
"And just what do you expect me to do while you're gone?"
"I expect you to be sitting at this table or asleep when I return, lest I take you for dead."
"You can't be serious right now."
"On the contrary—"
"What is so important that you have to leave me here alone, Edward?"
"None of your goddamn business, that's what! You don't have to be here right now. Remember that."
"No, I don't have to be here, but I should be! It's your fault that I'm in this mess in the first place!"
He scrubbed his face with his hands and brought his fingers through his hair before leaning on the table with his head down. "Bella, love, please—"
"Don't Bella, me, Edward. You said you'd protect me! What use are you to me miles away? I could be gagged, bound and shot to death in the forest and you'd be none the wiser. Please just don't leave me here alone! Edward, please!"
He abruptly pushed off his chair, sending the furniture crashing into the floor as he came to my side and took my face in his hands pulling me to my feet until we were looking eye-to-eye. We stood like that for an immeasurable amount of time until he finally spoke.
"Isabella, you're going to be fine, I swear. Otherwise I wouldn't leave you here by yourself."
"How do I now that, Edward?" I whispered, biting back tears. "How will I know you're coming back for me?"
"Because I said I'm coming back for you. Are you calling me a liar?" The last part came out as a growl and the tears fell unbidden now, rolling onto his fingers.
"No, but I can't be here without you. Please, just take me with you!" Second by second my anxiety was spiking just a bit more than the last time and I felt a full on attack approaching. "I won't leave the car! I'll hide in the backseat under a blanket or something. I'll dress up as a man and moderate my voice! I'll even pretend to be your whore for the day, but please—!"
"Bella!" He shook my shoulders until I cut off mid sentence and broke into sobbing. I brought my hands to his shirt and curled the fabric in my fingers, hiding my face in his chest and mumbling unintelligibly. With a second's hesitation he wrapped his arms around me and rocked us back and forth until I calmed down a little.
"Don't leave me, Edward. Please don't go. Take me with you." I whispered this over and over, tiring myself out more and more till I could no longer stand on my own two feet. He picked me up and cradled me in his arms like a small child as he brought me to my room, laying me down on the bed. I was so tired but as I saw him reach for the door I broke into more hysterics.
"Shh, Bella, I was only closing the door. I won't leave you right now. I promise."
He shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the door hook before coming back to my side of the bed. He told me to lay down and pulled my jeans off after removing his shoes. I didn't fight him as he removed my clothes, I just wanted to be near him. He left on my undershirt and panties so I wasn't uncomfortable and drew the blankets up over my shoulders before crawling into the bed next to me. He put his arms around me over the sheets and kissed my forehead before beginning a gentle hum in my ear that was lulling me to unconsciousness.
Just before blacking out I gripped his collar in my hands and threw my leg over his, trapping him.
"You won't leave me, Edward?" I breathed quietly.
"No, Bella, I'll stay for a while," he said just as softly.
"Promise?" I asked, just on the brink now.
"I promise. I'll come back for you. I won't leave you here, okay? Now get some sleep, love. You've had a long day."
I nodded lazily and let my eyes drift shut. "Mmkay." I drifted off to the familiar smell of Edward and prayed to sleep without dreams, silently weeping when my caveman's solid figure disappeared from my reach.
Author's Note: I'll be honest, this was my favorite chapter so far. Until next time, lovelies!
