CHAPTER TWELVE

My dreams were that of nightmares. Mostly, a future where Edward the virgin finally man'd up and went out to explore all the women he could find. Learning what he had been missing and finally moving on.

I gasped when Edward's door closed, waking me from my restless slumber.

"Sorry, the door slipped."

I sat up in bed and see he had a plate in his hands.

"Thought you might like something to eat."

I took the plate and see a small steak, potatoes, and asparagus. It doesn't look so bad. I might not have to dip into my convenience store supplies just yet.

"I'm going to shower, okay?"

I nod in response and put the plate down on the bed. I begin to go straight for the potatoes until I get thirsty. Deciding to find my way to the kitchen with the chances of running into the sister was a thorough thought process. I should wait until Edward gets out and make him go down, but I was through being scared.

It wasn't the sister that I ran into, it was the mother.

"Bella," she said with a warm smile. "Did you get the dinner I sent up?"

I nodded still holding onto the door frame like it was a life preserver.

"Yes…thank you! That was kind of you and it was really delicious. I just came down to find something to drink," I replied.

"Perfect timing then. Perhaps you wouldn't mind joining me for a cup of tea?"

Wasn't really looking forward to that but was I about to say no? No!

I awkwardly shuffled my feet towards the counter where Mrs. Cullen began to pour out two cups worth into this ornate flowery gold and pink china.

"So, I wanted to apologize for my daughter's forwardness. We have been waiting for you for so long."

I shook my head, "No, Mrs. Cullen. You haven't been waiting for me. I…your son…we are…it's just…" I huffed. "We haven't even been on a date yet. Edward is…we're not compatible. Surely, you have to see that."

She shook her head slightly.

"First of all, it's Esme and no, I don't see that. I think I see two frightened people who owe it to themselves to talk about it and open their minds."

"He's my boss," I stated the obvious.

"And?"

"Don't you think that is a little taboo?"

Mrs. Cullen smiled. "Why? Carlisle was my boss and we seemed to come out just fine."

"Really?" I asked shocked.

"Well, I was a scrub nurse and he was the head of the department. We knew to keep it quiet for a certain period of time and then when we were ready, we came out and by then, we wondered what we were ever worried about. Because, the people who knew us, loved us, they were happy for us. In the end, when you go home at night, it doesn't matter who is occupationally over who."

"Okay, yeah I get that, but your son is like super smart. Super successful…hell, there isn't any area he doesn't dominate in. I think if we perused this, he would just be disappointed or really bored. He doesn't have a lot of experience. If he went out and dated, I think he would find someone far more intellectually suitable."

Esme gave me a soft smile. "Firstly, I don't think you should sell yourself short. I don't think you are as intellectually unsuitable as you may think. Also, my child has not returned home in almost six years. It doesn't take a genius to know what changed his mind. You did this, Bella. For the first time in a long time, he wanted to come back here."

I felt my hand drop down to make an embarrassing thud sound on the granite.

"Okay, I have to know…what is the reason for his exile? I mean, you seem pretty amazing. Why wouldn't he want to come back here?"

She opened her mouth to say something but then stopped herself.

"He didn't want to come back here because of me."

It wasn't Esme. I turned around and see the sister standing there.

"Alice," Esme whispered.

"No, it's true. We all know it."

Alice walked over and slide onto a chair near Esme.

"I'm sure you know that Edward was bullied a lot in school," she began.

I nodded.

"Well, I dated a guy who was like a big brother to Edward. He was amazing. He looked out for him and hung out with him knowing that Edward was having a hard time. His name was Brandon and I loved him soo much."

I watch as Alice's eye begin to water. Her small frame trembling as she searches for the words. My body froze in place while Esme consoled her with a gentle circular pattern she rubbed her onto her back.

"Even though I am shorter than Edward, I am two years older so when Edward was away at college…he went to Dartmouth when he was seventeen. Brandon became sick. Cancer. It was fast. When he died, Edward was only nineteen and I swear, you would have thought that Edward believed it was his fault. Like, he should have been smart enough to cure cancer. After that happened. He never came back."

I took a slow shallow breath in.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

Maybe it would have been better not knowing. To see Alice, relive the pain of telling that story, might not have been worth it. But her confessions gave me more insight into Edward Cullen then I had been able to deduce for myself since I had known him. I want to picture this sixteen-year-old boy who was the target of bullies but my mind seems to want to block that image. Poor Edward Cullen.

"I don't think he doesn't come here because of you, Alice. When we were on our way here, I asked him to tell me about you and he said, you were everything he wished he could be. I think he thinks a great deal of you. Edward doesn't seem to deal well with his past from what I have seen."

I see her watery eyes turn bright matching the smile on her face.

I climb the stairs trying to concentrate long enough to find Edward's room once again. My thoughts still on Alice. I open the door and find Edward without a shirt, his treasures hidden by a dark blue towel. His face was filled with worry.

"God, where did you go? You scared me. I was worried you had left."

I feel like the cat that swallowed the canary. I had been entrusted with way too much information and now I stood to stare at Edward in his towel confused as to what I should say.

"I was downstairs…talking to your mom…and Alice."

I walked over toward the bathroom, "So, I guess it's my turn to shower."

I began to strip out of my clothes after I entered the bathroom. I placed them in a small pile on the sink and ran the water. Instead of a nap, I should have taken a bath or shower. I can instantly feel my body destress the moment I step in.

"What did my mom say?"

Edward walked in and I was a little surprised at his brazen attitude. Was he so worried about the conversation I had downstairs that he didn't notice all this nakedness in all its glory?

"Wouldn't you like to know," I teased.

He sighed loudly and gave me a look. I decided to see just how focused Edward was. I shifted and walked toward the glass door and opened it, so he could get the full gander of my full Monty.

"Edward, can't you see how dirty I am? Be nice if someone could help me wash my hard to reach places."

I see a fog come over her eyes and his mouth opened slightly. It takes a moment for his hamster wheel to start up and then he drops his towel and like a mosquito drawn to the zapper of death, he comes to me.

I hand him the loofah and turn around, so he can begin to wash my backside. I feel his body press up against mine, his rock-hard cock playing with my ass crack. He begins with soft kisses along my neck as his arm comes around so the loofah I gave him can do its work to clean my chipper hardening nipples.

I wonder and wait in anticipation as to how far he is going to allow us to go. We said after the reunion but maybe he had a change of heart. Plus, shower sex could help keep our groans and screams muffled from possible prying ears.

The loofah is traveling down so I open my legs to allow further access. The loofah makes one...two passes and then dropped so Edward can dip his fingers into my wet center. Well...I imagine its wet by more than the shower water beating down upon us.

It feels so good, but I need more. I turn around and smile because I am about to show him why this shower is far superior to his shower back at his space house. I grab a towel from off the shower door and place it down on the bench before guiding Edward to sit down. I look down and I have to say, the way his dick is standing at attention, it makes me want to break a rule.

I straddle his lap and feel excited as he not only allows me to lower myself onto him, but he places his hands on my hips and practically slams me down on his cock. I groan louder and louder as I bounce up and down, my hands gripping around his neck so I don't slip.

"Bella," I hear him say.

I look into his eyes. My face inches from his.

"Please...I need more. Please," he begs.

I know what he wants. He wants to break a rule.

I don't know what possessed me to do it. Call it the heat of the moment or whatever the fuck but I grabbed his face and roughly kissed him….and then kept on kissing him.

Nope, still kissing. Oh, fuck me! Now I know why Julia told Richard Gere no kissing. It felt like we went from one-night stand to say 'I do' with one kiss. His lips were soft. His tongue tasted minty-fresh and I felt how his cock grew the second my lips collided with his. This is what was missing all along.

One of my new favorites was running my fingers through his wet hair bringing my fingertips to tug at the ends. I continued to keep our lips together while I resumed my upward motion. Suddenly I felt my whole body moving and I gasped, my lips leaving Edward's as he stood up and expertly placed his arms under my butt securing me to him and making sure my pussy remained occupied.

"Can we finish this in the bedroom?" Edward asked.

I sighed feeling my drive begin to diminish.

Edward pulled out of me. I think he already knows how much his pause caused a shift in my libido, so he quickly turns off the water and pulls me out of the shower.

"Edward…" I begin to complain. "I don't know about this. I don't want your parents or worse, your sister to hear us."

Edward lays me down on the bed and since we never dried off, the bed is instantly wet. Thank god for rich ass mansions and their enormous heating bill. However, wet sheets will be a nightmare later after we were finished.

"My parents are so far away from this room they might as well be in the servant's quarters and my sister isn't near here either."

Edward is on top of me in seconds pushing my legs apart with his own. He positions himself and pushes back in. Pulling my leg up to allow himself deeper access, his lips find mine and it feels so good, I don't care if the Pope himself is staying in the room next to us. I need this orgasm!

He's pushing in and out of me. His lips come off mine and I see his eyes lock with my own. There is something there but I'm not sure.

"No place I'd rather be," he whispered.

PAUSE.

We interrupt the regularly scheduled program to bring you this important message.

I have to pause for a minute because it was this precise moment that caused a fight between Edward and myself later on. He seemed to think that this was love-making. That by him stating, 'no place I'd rather be', he was letting me know that we were making love. However, I explained to him in great detail that it takes two people to decide when lovemaking occurred. I swear! Virgins!

Don't get me wrong. It was fuckawesome sex and just because I broke a rule doesn't mean that I was suddenly in a love-making mindset. I told him that two people had to be in love before successful love-making occurred. He might have made the mental journey before me, but he had to wait for me to catch up.

To be perfectly honest, the first time we made love was the night of the reunion after he told me the truth of how I came to be at The Cullen Conglomerate. Thinking back on it, that was when I fell for Edward Cullen. Even if I couldn't admit it to myself. However, I wasn't about to tell him that. Why split hairs over a couple of hours. Plus, he always thought he was so smart. Like he knew me better than I knew myself. Even if that were true in the instance, I was so not about to admit it. I told him that the first time we made love was after the amazing Christmas gift he gave me. He didn't believe me, and I think he was offended with me for not coming clean. Besides, it wasn't exactly like he was Mr. Honesty.

UNPAUSE

"FUCK!"

I think I screamed loud enough so that even the servant's quarters heard but my god! After dancing around sex for weeks, it was finally time. Edward kept me in a stiff awkward position punishing my favorite orifice until he joined me in post-coital bliss.

If I wasn't confused before on our 'relationship' then this event certainly didn't clear it up. Thankfully, Edward did me the courtesy of letting me pass out good and proper without giving me the third degree.

I didn't even get dressed or cover up but somehow the next morning, there I was lying naked in his arms completely covered by soft warm blankets. I opened my eyes to find out that I was indeed the little spoon.

Ah crap! I never got up after he came and discarded his useless swimmers. Great! Thank god for birth control. No telling what would have happened if I let those babies cook overnight.

Groaning, my feet find their way to the bathroom to free all the Willy's. I finish up with the shower I never quite completed the night before and was back in the bedroom a little after nine surprised that Edward was still asleep. Something told me that he was usually an early riser so perhaps I should check his pulse.

I step forward tentatively, but he moves, and I see him wake up before my very eyes. He looks concerned until he spots me standing over him and then he melts back into the sheets his copper brown locks in disarray probably from my new hair pulling obsession.

"Morning," he velvety voice declared.

"Do you think I can get something to eat around here? I'm a little hungry and candy only works after noon."

He groans and sits up.

"I'm sure my mother will have made breakfast. It's a tradition in our home on Saturday mornings. Let me get dressed and I will accompany you downstairs."

While he was taking his sweet time to primp and pamper himself into a decent outfit, I took the time to peruse his personal belongings. His wall of accomplishments, however, made me very depressed, so I stopped myself from looking any further. Edward was completely my opposite in every way. If there was an academic achievement to be had, he always came in first. My greatest high school contribution was not ending up on some reality program for pregnant teenagers. His wall was the truth staring me right in the face. An Edward Cullen did not belong with a Bella Swan.

"Are you ready?"

I shook my head to free up my mind from the self-pity farewell tour and plastered a fake smile onto my face. Hey, fake it till you make it.

We walk toward the door, but I stop him before I open it.

"Just so you know, pity sex is set for after the reunion."

I flipped around and headed out.

What? Just because I wasn't going to end up with an Edward Cullen, it didn't mean I couldn't enjoy the perks of my position within his company for the moment.

In true perfect rich wife fashion, Esme had set the table beautifully for breakfast. I see pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs done two different ways and what I could assume was a basket of baked goods that were not store bought. Yes, this table told me everything I needed to know about my future with Edward Cullen or lack thereof.

Edward pulled out my chair and I sat down feeling even more depressed. He could see the change in mood and wanted to ask me about it, but we were stopped with the interruption of what I could only assume was the patriarch of the Cullen clan.

"You must be Bella. I've heard so much. I'm Carlisle."

I stood up immediately to take his hand.

"Mr. Cullen. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Well, I could definitely see why Edward was the epitome of perfection when it came to the looks department. I don't know why but for a brief scandalous second, I couldn't stop myself from wondering if Edward took after his dad in every way. I know! Just rethinking about this causes my face to go red all over again. Damn me and my head in the sex cloud.

"Like I said, please call me Carlisle. The pleasure is all mine, I can assure you."

I took my seat once again and Esme walked in with another platter. This one was filled with fresh fruits delicately sliced. After we said our good mornings and were all sat down, I wondered where the sister was. I didn't have to wonder long. Like Edward was a freakin mind reader he asked for me.

"Mom, where's Alice?"

Esme looked down and placed a couple strands of hair behind her ear.

"Actually, I wanted to speak with you before she came down. I wanted to give you a heads up."

That sounded ominous.

"Edward…she brought home someone with her. I want you to be respectful."

Her tone was warm but warning as well. I could see why. At the word, Edward straightened up and went rigid.

"Who? Is it serious?"

Alice popped into the room toting along a taller, thinner guy who seemed about as shy as they come. A complete opposite from the Alice I had come to know.

"Good morning. Edward, I wanted to introduce you to Jasper."

Edward looked over Jasper like he was fresh meat that he was planned on paying someone to roast at his next luau. Jasper knowing his manners came over to shake Edward's hand and after a few seconds, Edward extended him the honor to touch him. Where was the hand sanitizer when you needed it?

I could see Alice was nervous. Even though she was the older sibling, it still meant a great deal to her for her successful brother to give his blessing. Talk about the most awkward breakfast ever! I mean, I should have shimmied down the trellis and walked the distance to the nearest McDonalds.

Edward began to fire off questions to Jasper in a way that made Alice look like a mute when we first met.

"Edward!" Alice finally snapped. "Maybe you wouldn't mind holding off until we've had a chance to digest."

"I was merely curious. I think that knowing a person's ambitions can give me an idea of the man that is sitting in front of me. Besides, where did you meet this guy, Alice? Did you even do a background check on him? I can have Emmett…"

"WHAT? NO!" She screamed. "Of course not. I love Jasper and I'm sorry if he doesn't meet your standards but you're not the one marrying him so back off!"

"Alice," Esme said.

"Edward," Carlisle warned.

"Marrying? Did you give them permission?" Edward spits at his father.

I finally took matters into my own hands and before Mr. Cullen could remark, I elbowed Edward in the ribs super hard.

He jumped back and looked at me in shock.

"My apologies. We were set to do a system reboot to include the new sensitivity software. Looks, like maybe Edward needs the upgrade now," I said through my teeth while kicking him under the table.

Alice looked close to tears and Jasper…poor Jasper looked like a deer in the headlights of Edward's Batmobile.

"Would you excuse us for a moment?"

I stood up and dropped my napkin down on the table and pulled Edward up and along with me until I reached the living room two rooms away from the breakfast dining room.

"Bella!" Edward snapped.

"Edward! What is the matter with you? Alice has found someone that makes her happy and he doesn't look like a serial killer or a Bieber so maybe you should back off and get to know the guy before you hire some assassin to take him out!"

I had never seen him so angry before and he had dealt with me for the past three weeks which is sayin something.

"He could be using her. He isn't good enough for Alice and until I have him checked out, I don't trust him, and he sure shouldn't be sitting down to dine with us till that happens!" he spits.

I laughed.

"Edward, are you serious?" I shook my head, "I'm pretty sure, out of the Kennedy table in there, if there was anyone who would be roshambo'd off the island, it would be me. Maybe you should think about that! Your sister…she maybe intrusive but she never made me feel like crap like what you just did to Jasper in there."

Edward's anger ceased immediately, and he pulled back to pause.

"What do you mean?"

I didn't reply.

"Bella!"

I let out a soft breath.

"Everyone in this house is accomplished. Hell, your mother could tell Martha Stewart to hang it up. Your sister has been living off in France doing god knows what but I'm sure it's impressive. Your father…well, I don't even have to go there and you…you are by far the most impressive person of all. Why do you think, I know this won't work? I'm a high school dropout with no ambition. Everything you said to Jasper in there, you could say to me. I have no idea how I ever passed your background check because…it's so very clear that I don't meet your expectations."

Edward took a step back like I wounded him with my words. I sighed and turned to find an exit. For some reason, I required some air.

"Bella," Edward wouldn't let me get far. "That isn't true at all. I can't believe you feel this way. Why didn't you say something? Is this the reason why you are so hesitant in beginning a relationship with me?"

I bit my lip and shrugged.

"Look, I need some fresh air and you need to make this right with your sister. But…if you can't find it in your heart to see past all of Jasper's supposed shortcomings then you should ask yourself if it's time to find yourself a new assistant. One who is not uniquely qualified but truly qualified."

I wasn't trying to be dramatic. Honestly, I just wanted Edward to make right with his family. I didn't want him to go another six years before coming home like the prodigal son. Plus, I think my questions were valid. It was time for Edward to clear the fog of his virginity and really see who was standing before him. The someday wife of a billionaire who would jump at the chance to spawn or someone like me. The lowly uneducated assistant whose biggest accomplishment includes downing a pint of Chunky Monkey in less than ten minutes.

In the end, it didn't matter what I wanted. I guess that was the problem all along. I kept thinking that this was a decision I had to make. It wasn't. It was a realization Edward should come to. I was not the girl of his dreams.

AN: Always a big thank you for reading and reviewing! I will say I love hearing all your theories for how these two will end up. I can say for those who are anxiously wondering if Bella will tell Edward what she has done, all will be revealed in about three more chapters. However, just know that although Bella is keeping this from Edward...Edward is not totally innocent on his side of the deception scale. SO happy you have enjoyed. I really love writing this.

DISCLAIMER: STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.