Training the Swan
Chapter Twelve – The Pushups and Pull Ups
I left them to sort out my thoughts down at the gym, but that still hadn't happened an hour into my routine, when I heard Bella come down the stairs. Through the mirrors, I was able to see that she had changed from her casual jeans and t-shirt she'd worn at dinner to a white terry cloth robe that reached just past her knees.
I didn't acknowledge her with anymore than a look. After several moments, she seemed to grow restless and sat on a weight-lifting bench to watch me.
"Edward, what's wrong?" she asked. I shrugged my shoulders unable to say what was on my mind. "This isn't about that Jacob guy, is it?" I shook my head. "Okay, so what is it? You've been like this all day."
I sighed, realizing that she was not going to let this go, but I wasn't about to tell her the truth. The realization that they were going to leave me someday already hurt, especially after I'd heard Ellie's heartfelt declaration earlier. I was in too deep and emotionally attached. I had been from the moment I'd seen them. With Ellie's whispered confession, it seemed that my heart both filled and broke at the same time.
"I'm just worried about what the men will report back to Charlie," I lied. The words felt like ash in my mouth. What the hell was the matter with me? I never had trouble lying before. "You know…about us."
"Well, it's not like either of us are going to cop a feel in front of them. I think as long as we keep all acts of affection PG rated, we'll be fine. We can't look like we're not together. They would get curious no matter how much Charlie pays them."
She was right about that, but something bothered me. "Are you willing to put on a show because of them, or because you want to kiss and touch me?" I regretted asking the moment the words were out. What the fuck was I doing?
For almost a minute she said nothing, making me sweat for a completely different reason. I suddenly didn't want to hear the answer to my question.
"Is that what has you so quiet?" she asked, her voice whisper soft. I looked in the mirror again to see that she had laid back on the bench. "I thought I made it clear that I want you." Internally, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, but you didn't want to want me."
She shrugged, not denying what I said. "Not at first. I don't regret what happened between us, if that's what you're thinking. I hadn't expected anything when Charlie sent us here. I said before I haven't felt like this about anyone in a long time."
"Like this?" Why I still talking about it, I had no fucking clue. I needed to stop questioning everything.
I heard her sigh before she answered, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror, sitting up again. "I haven't felt attracted to anyone, much less lust and passion in years, Edward." Her brow furrowed, biting her thumbnail as if she was trying to determine something. After several moments she continued.
"I felt like I hit a brick wall when I first saw you. I hadn't felt like…a woman in all that time, too." She looked away, a light tinge of color flushing her face. I could see her jaw clench. It almost seemed she was berating herself for the natural reaction. At that point, I thought she would've slapped the mask back in place. Instead she met my eyes in the mirror again.
"With you or maybe being away from him for the past several months, I feel like I can be the real me." Her voice cracked, the tone telling me that I had to get her mind off her asshole husband. If I didn't I'd risk her retreating from me again. No matter how unprepared I was for the sudden onslaught of emotions, that shit was unacceptable.
I looked at her as she lay back on the bench, one arm draped over her torso, the other over her eyes. I hopped off the treadmill and quickly hovered over her, straddling her waist and kissing her lips softly.
"Only PG rated, huh?" I growled, nipping at her lips and skimming my hands along her sides. "I don't know. I have trouble keeping my hands off of you as it is."
Bella looked at me and I could see in her eyes that she was grateful. I had successfully pulled her from the dark parts of her mind. Her hands moved to grip my arms, her nose scrunching lightly.
"You're all sweaty," she said, wiggling underneath my body and unraveling me.
"Hmm, yes and you will be soon, too," I said as I ground my cock against her thigh, licking her bottom lip. She moaned softly, her hands gripping my arms tighter.
"Really? And why would that be?" I pulled away slightly, causing her to arch toward me, seeking my lips again.
I threw open her robe. She was nearly fucking naked under it, just a bra and tiny panties. I snapped my eyes back to hers. "Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?" I said, groaning and leaning down to take one of her sweet peaks into my mouth, tossing her robe and bra seconds later.
Bella's hands ran through my hair. "Not really," she gasped softly. "Answer the question, Edward." I smiled against her skin. It seemed that she liked a little dirty talk.
As my fingers slipped along smooth skin, reaching her underwear, I said, "I'm sure we'll both be covered in sweat, because I'm going to fuck you in front of these mirrors. You're going to see my cock slide into you over," I tossed her panties aside, "and over again."
She threw her head back and moaned, "Yes."
I pulled her up to stand. I brushed my lips against hers as my hands went to her shoulders and pushed off the robe, letting it pool around her feet. Reaching to cup her ass, I said, "I want you again."
"Yes, please, Edward," she moaned, tugging on my bottom lip. I groaned and tapped her ass softly so that she'd hop up. She complied and wrapped her legs up around my waist, all that warmth pressed against my abdomen.
"Bella, fuck, you're wet." I carried her over to the mats I had laid out for her to stretch every morning. I carefully settled over her, though she wasn't making it easy as she sought friction against my body. I felt her warmth against my skin, driving me crazy.
"Take them off," she grunted while trying to curl her fingers around the waistline of my shorts.
"Eager?" I kissed her lips, parting them slightly with my tongue, caressing hers languidly. She managed to successfully remove my shorts and boxers over my ass but couldn't go any further past my knees.
"Edward," she moaned as I sucked a small area where her natural scent was potent, just below her ear. I'd discovered in the shower earlier that it was a place where she thoroughly enjoyed my attention.
"Yes," I said, cupping her soft breasts in my hands. The perfect handfuls.
She arched her back for more. "Take the fucking clothes off," she growled. Fuck. I like feisty Bella. I quickly removed them past my knees and kicked them off while still playing with her pretty pink nipples.
Bella's hands ran up my back, over my shoulders and down my chest. She then pushed me away. I looked at her curiously. From the look in her eyes, I had a feeling she was about to surprise me.
"How do you do the proper push up?" Fuck me. She wants a lesson now. Pushups? Then it hit me and I grinned at her playfulness.
"Well, Bella, first of all," I nudged her knees apart so I could fit in between them, "for a single normal pushup you should start with your feet together." I pushed off her more and put my feet together. "Your toes should be curled in toward your head. The balls of your feet should touch the ground. Your hands should be shoulder width apart and flat on the ground or they can be fisted." I demonstrated by fisting mine, placing them on either side of her head. I assumed the normal plank position, hovering several inches above her.
"Maybe I should move over there to see?" Bella pointed to the other side of the room, looking serious until I saw the tiny twitch of her mouth.
"I think you're at the optimum angle to see everything I am doing. If not, look in the mirror," I said, amused as she turned to look in the mirror and gasped. I laughed as I watched her eyes dart to my prominent erection between us.
"Oh – um –" she stuttered adorably before turning to look at me. "Okay. Feet together, toes curled toward my head, hands placed on the ground shoulder width apart, now what?" She licked her lush mouth, her eyes darting to look at my cock again. It took everything within me not to taste her lips.
"Now, I lower my body until my elbows reach a ninety degree angle, and I draw a breath in," I said smoothly as I lowered my body in the standard pushup until I met with hers.
Bella moaned deeply, feeling my cock slide between her thighs, just skimming her wet skin. It took all my control not to thrust deep inside her."Now I push up against the floor and breathe out." I did as I said, waiting for her to say or do something as I hovered over her.
The change was fucking instantaneous.
Her legs wrapped around my waist, bringing my cock against her fully. I groaned as she took my mouth and thrust her tongue inside. I adjusted my hips slightly, making the tip of my cock slide inside her. Bella moaned and tightened her grip on me.
I thrust deep inside her, stilling for a moment, hoping to prevent it from ending too soon. Bella rolled her hips slightly and I hissed, dropping my head on her chest.
"Fuck, Bella," I moaned as I pulled back and slipped back inside her.
"More, please," she gasped as I thrust again.
I groaned and turned my attention to the wall of mirrors beside us. "Bella, look. Look at what I'm doing to you." I nudged the side of her cheek with my nose, pressing my lips continually along her cheek and temple. My elbows rested on either side of her body as I slid into her.
Bella looked at the mirrors, and we watched as I vigorously pushed in and out of her body. She moaned but her eyes remained locked on the scene playing out before her. She watched as her chest heaved with every breath she took. I leaned down and watched myself kiss her cheek and then along her jaw to her ear.
"Do you like watching me fuck you?"
"Yes," she moaned as she pulled her eyes away and grabbed my face, sucking my tongue into her mouth. I grunted as I laid my body over hers and carefully rolled us so she could straddle me.
Bella sat up, curling her legs back on either side of me. I bent my knees slightly and groaned when she suddenly slammed down on me. She had one hand on my chest as she continued at a frenzied pace, rolling above me. She cried out, fisting her other hand in her hair as I thrust up to meet her hips.
I ran my hands up her thighs, over her abdomen, grazing her ribs and then cupping her beautiful breasts. I bit my lip to keep myself from groaning, but it was futile. She felt too fucking good. I groaned and grunted in unison with her mewls and moans.
"Bella, sweetheart," I said lowly, watching her as she threw her head back, her long tresses skimming over my thighs.
"I'm so close," she moaned. Then she opened her eyes, looking at me. She leaned in and licked my nipple. "Edward," she gasped as I held her hips still so I could thrust deeply inside her, harder.
I kissed her lips fully as I felt one of her small hands move in between us. She pulled back a bit, allowing for more room. Her hand moved to her clit, formed a V with two fingers and fit it over my cock as it slid in and out. I groaned as I watched her play with herself.
"Fuck," I said, feeling the burn that cascaded down my back and settled in my chest and stomach. Bella moved lithely over me as she met each one of my erratic thrusts. She moaned heavily as she clenched tightly around me.
"Edward," she whispered hoarsely. "Open your eyes." I snapped my eyes open as she watched me. Her breathing hitched, and her face flushed pink. The blush extended past her cheeks, down the long expanse of her neck to her chest. I grunted feeling her fingers still around me as I held her still just as I came hard, sending her careening over the edge.
After a few more swirl of her hips, she leaned forward and kissed my chest before settling her face against my neck. We remained that way for several minutes, catching our breaths.
"Bella, I think you're ready to learn some fighting techniques tomorrow. If you can handle this, you can handle increasing your strength training, too."
"Really?" she asked as she looked up from my chest.
I nodded and brushed some of her hair behind her ear. "I need to train you right?"
Her brow furrowed as she frowned. "I want to know that I can take care of myself if something were to happen," she said quietly. "Just in case he finds us again."
"He won't and if he does," I said firmly, running my hand down her smooth back. "He'd have to go through me to get to you and Ellie. It won't fucking happen."
She didn't say anything again for several minutes, only continued to draw patterns with the tips of her fingers on my chest.
"Any chance we can spar naked sometime?" she asked innocently. An angel with horns of a devil, she was. I shook my head and groaned. I knew she was only trying to break the tension that settled around us at the mention of her husband again. "What? It will help burn calories and increase muscle tone."
"Well then, naked training tomorrow at ten in the morning." Though I had a feeling she'd wake up the following morning and distance herself. I'd have to wait and see.
I felt her lips form a smile against my skin, nipping softly. She wiggled her lower body, causing me to begin to harden. She gasped softly, her eyes darting between our entangled bodies, at my cock that hardened under her gaze. She looked a little surprised at my quick recovery.
"We covered pushups." Her hands moved between my thighs, teasing me. "How about we go over pull ups?"
Bella looked over at the pull up bar beside my hand weights. I raised an eyebrow in confusion. She grinned playfully before carefully climbing off me, my dick already twitching at the loss.
I watched as she walked away. The fact that she was stark naked and playful, told me that the real her was breaking through her defenses more and more. And if that was the case, I knew I was in deep fucking trouble. Not only from her father, losing my life by his hands, but because she was capable of tearing me apart with every day that passed. Every touch, kiss and whispered word between us would make it harder to let her go if the time ever came.
I doubted she was as emotionally invested in this relationship as I was.
She looked over her shoulder wickedly before she changed the height of the bar to accommodate her height and she hung off it to test it. She looked over at me again, where I was watching her on my propped up elbow, trying to appear as casual as possible. I was rock hard from just watching her. She wiggled her ass. "I'm ready to learn the proper pull up now."
My eyes widened. Damn, I really loved this new side of her. Was it new? She had said she felt she could be the real her. The fact that she was showing me this part of her had my heart racing again.
I jumped up from the mat I was lying on and stalked toward her. She looked completely serious about learning, but at the same time, she had a mischievous glint in her eye. The idea of teaching her while naked had merit. How else would I retain her interest in proper exercise techniques? But I wouldn't actually be able to do it, because the chances were we'd get nothing done. She didn't have to know that, for now.
I cleared my throat and stood behind her. She looked over her shoulder at me with bright, inquisitive eyes.
"First of all, don't be disappointed, because in all likelihood, you won't be able to do even one proper chin up or pull up."
Bella's eyes narrowed and something sparked in them. Ah… She saw my words as another dismissal or possibly a challenge. I didn't want to argue with her. It also didn't hurt for her to have some determination.
"Now, pull ups are tougher. To do a proper pull up, your palms should be facing away from you." Bella looked at the bar above and fixed her arms and hands accordingly. "Now so that you prevent blisters from forming on your hands, make sure that your fingers sit on the bar more than your palms." She nodded and made the necessary adjustments.
"Okay, it's easier to take a breath before you attempt to pull yourself up."
Bella took deep breaths through her nose while paying strict attention to her hands above her. I walked around her lithe body to make sure that she was in proper form. I placed my hand on the middle of her back.
"Chest out," I instructed, pushing against her back lightly. "Nice. Shoulders back." Bella grinned when she noticed my eyes glued to her chest.
Hey, I was a man.
"Good form," I commented, allowing my hand on her back to rest on her backside. "Look up at the bar and concentrate on driving your elbows to the floor. You start out on a dead hang with straight elbows. Once you pick yourself up off the floor, cross your legs at your ankles."
My other hand settled on her ass, and I leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Squeeze your fantastic gluts on the way up." She laughed and nodded. "Go on then," I encouraged.
Bella returned her attention back to the bar and bit her lip. She wiggled her fingers and allowed herself to hang in proper form. I watched as her eyebrows furrowed in concentration and she took a deep breath just before pulling herself up. She crossed her legs as instructed and managed to get her chin just below the bar, but not over it. She let out a huff and brought herself down.
"I'm surprised you managed to do that much, Bella. Don't let it discourage you. When I first tried to do one I didn't even manage halfway." She smiled at that and looked at me over her shoulder.
She batted her long lashes over her gorgeous eyes. "I think I need a little assistance, please."
I smiled and moved my hands to her slender waist. I kissed her neck, "With pleasure."
The effect of watching her had my cock ready for more. She returned to a dead hang, and I squatted a bit. We both took a deep breath and lifted. I pressed up, my hips against her backside, moaning as her chin held above the bar.
I helped her down slowly as not to hurt her shoulder or arms. As soon as her feet touched the ground, I spun her around and took her mouth with my own. She moaned and tugged at my hair while I groped her ass.
After a few minutes, Bella pulled away. "Can you show me how to do a proper pull up?"
She seemed serious. I nodded and adjusted the bar to accommodate my height. She moved behind me and watched as I started the motions to complete the pull up and continued with another. She walked in a circle around me, appraising my form.
Her hand slid across the rippling muscles of my back and arms as I executed another pull up. She walked behind me and groped my ass, leaning in. "Nice form," she whispered throatily. "Keep going," she stated firmly, walking another circuit around me.
Her eyes roamed my body and her nails scratched my back gently before she stood before me. Just as I started another pull up, she smirked and then dropped on her knees, engulfing my cock in her mouth quickly.
I groaned, throwing my head back. "Fuck," I growled when I realized that I could see everything she was doing in the mirror and that she tasted us on me.
"God, Bella." I watched her lips wrapped around me. She moaned, and I felt the vibrations reverberate through my dick, tightening my gut. I hissed as she cupped me with one of her hands, the other exploring my thighs and ass.
Trying to maintain the position I was in, I couldn't bring myself to care about the burn that radiated through my arms. I didn't give a shit; what she was doing felt too amazing. I wasn't going to last much longer, but I wanted to make sure she came again.
"Stop," I pleaded.
She looked up at me through her lashes and smiled around me. She kissed the tip of my cock once more before standing up. The moment my feet touched the floor, I grabbed her neck and ass, pulling her closer. She moaned and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
"It's your turn again," I said huskily, kissing along her neck. I adjusted the bar again, tall enough for Bella to hold on to while still being low enough that the balls of her feet would touch the floor. I placed her hands on the bar before saying, "If this hurts you in any way, please tell me. There's plenty more places for us to make love on." I playfully nipped at her neck.
I stood behind her and grabbed her hips. I leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Mmm…you look delicious like this."
My calloused hands roamed over her delectable ass, the small of her back, and ghosted along her shoulder blades. I caressed both of her arms and ducked under the bar to explore the front of her body.
Her little white teeth bit into her lower lip as her eyes locked with mine. I kissed her temples and each eyelid before stopping just at the corner of her mouth, making her whimper. I chuckled, earning a glare.
"You're not in any position to fuck with me, Edward." I felt her knee touching my dick. I gulped and backed away. I knew she had it in her. Her playful smile a second later allowed me to take a tentative step forward and kiss her lips once before licking her bottom lip.
I growled and grabbed her face, kissing her until she opened for me. She moaned deeply and threaded one of her hands through my hair. But I took it quickly and put it back on the bar.
"Leave them there," I scolded lightly.
Her eyes widened but she nodded in consent. I kissed along her jaw and neck as my hands traveled from her face to her breasts. I pinched and rolled each nipple between my fingers, as my tongue was otherwise occupied with her neck. I pulled back and kissed her again before continuing south. I reached a dusty rose nipple and gently took it in my mouth.
My hands grazed the sides of her torso gently. "I love the taste of your skin," I whispered, kneeling and kissing each of her ribs softly. I licked and nipped around her belly button.
"Oh…hell, Edward," she moaned, shifting as she tried to move her legs, seeking friction. I explored her hip, licking a trail around her navel. She moaned again and threw her head back.
I stood up, taking her face back in my hands and kissing her languidly. I started to walk behind her, our lips still touching until we were forced to break apart by her raised arms. I kissed her shoulders, placing one arm around her waist and gripping her hip with the other.
I ground my cock against her ass. "Feel how hard you make me," I breathed into her ear, watching her in the mirror. Our eyes locked as we watched the erotic scene before us.
Her small body was light as I lifted her just enough to slide her back on my cock. She was fucking tight in that position. Moving her hair aside, I dropped my forehead onto her shoulder. I wrapped an arm completely around her waist. I pulled out and then sank back in, groaning at the angle and depth.
"Fuck, Bella," I muttered against her ear. I kept a steady pace, repeating the movement over and over again. Her ass, her pussy, and her clit were all receiving stimulation from the thrusts.
I snapped my head up and realized that her eyes were still on the mirror in front of us. Between her thighs, I could clearly see my cock sliding in and out of her. Her teeth once again threatened to draw blood with how hard she bit her lip.
"Bella," I panted, angling her hips and slamming back in, "—you like that, don't you?"
She nodded and whimpered, "Edward," as I hit that spot deep inside her. "Harder," she murmured in a strangled moan. I groaned as I pulled her lower body higher and closer to me. I bent my knees and continued filling her.
I was insatiable.
I was uncontrollable.
I was hers.
It was primal and animalistic. I felt territorial and possessive every time my cock sunk into her beautiful body. She was mine and only mine. I would do whatever it took to make that a reality, even if I had to kill James to ensure my desire.
"Mine," I growled in her ear.
"Yes!" she screamed, trembling around me. She clenched my cock almost painfully, taking me in further. I thrust inside her two more times before holding her still and spilling my release inside her, solidifying my claim.
Seconds after those thoughts, I felt like an ass, but I couldn't fucking help it. I wanted her to be with me always. It hadn't taken long for me to reach that conclusion.
I wrapped my arms around her and pulled out gently. I uncurled her fingers from around the bar and took her in my arms. She went limp in my hold and was covered in sweat, her hair matted to her face, but she had never looked more beautiful.
I helped her into the robe and set her down on the bench. "I'm going to wash up," she murmured, making her way toward the small gym restroom. I quickly pulled on my shorts and grabbed the baby monitor. After Bella came out of the bathroom, I swept her in my arms despite her protests. She was obviously exhausted with the way her objection hadn't lasted long as we made our way upstairs.
I suddenly worried if I was too rough with her. I would hate for her to think about that bastard husband of hers if I had been. "Are you all right, sweetheart?" I asked, kissing her temple.
"I'm very all right," she said with a beautiful small smile. "I need to check on Ellie, please." I nodded and put her on her feet near Ellie's door.
She crept in the room and took the blanket that was wrapped around Ellie's feet and covered her back up. Bella kissed her daughter's cheek before coming back to the doorway and pausing to look back at her. With a soft sigh, she gently closed the door.
I took her hand and kissed her lips softly. "You need to sleep, sweetheart."
Bella sighed and nodded. "I haven't been sleeping well." She looked up at me. Her eyes were vulnerable and open, if only for a moment. "Can you lay with me?"
I smiled and took her hand as I guided her to her room. "I'd love to, but first we need –"
"To shower," Bella said, playfully pinching her nose and wiping a bit of sweat from my shoulder. I pinched her side and quickly threw her over my shoulder, making my way inside her room. I placed the monitor on the bathroom counter and sat her peachy ass right beside it. I nudged her legs apart and kissed her luscious lips.
"Mmm, salty," she uttered against my lips. I growled and nipped at her lower lip, before I kissed her nose. I turned my back on her and entered the shower, turning on the water. Bella hopped off the counter and removed her robe before joining me.
Occasionally our touches lingered on certain areas of each other's body before moving on to other parts as we washed each other. It didn't hurt to be thorough. We exited the shower and dried each other with a couple of towels. Bella slipped back into her robe, and she ran to my room for a pair of boxers.
"Here you go. I'm going back downstairs to get some of that fruit salad from this afternoon." She kissed my lips and disappeared quickly while I disarmed the motion sensors downstairs with the alarm panel in the bedroom.
She returned a few minutes later with a couple of bowls of fruit and bottles of water. I armed the alarms and joined her on her bed. After about an hour of twenty questions, I put my foot down and insisted that she get some sleep.
With my arms wrapped around her small frame and my nose buried in her hair, she drifted off to sleep. As I laid there beside her, I came up with a plan to ensure both Bella and Ellie's safety and my freedom. I hoped in time, Bella would be willing to commit to it.
All in due time, I told myself.
