Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight related. L.J. Smith and the CW get the Vampire diaries, but the rest is all us!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Rock and a Hard Place.
Everything I thought I could see, has disappeared.
Everything I thought I could be, Has been drowned by fear.
Somehow it seems all I can do, is sit and stare.
Somehow nothing good seems to last, or was it ever there?
I Realize by Megan McCauley
I could still feel the weight of him against me and I needed more, but his face was planted in a fucking phone and his mouth had formed a perfect O. He was starting to drive me crazy; that was until he handed me the fucking phone.
The moment I read the words on screen my blood ran cold and I knew . . . I just fucking knew it was me. All those stupid fucking decisions I was making, I'd thought about the bar. Fuck me I was an idiot a total and complete idiot and now I was a trapped idiot. I'd given the persistent vampires a ten minute head start because I was so lost in Damon's lips. Man was it worth it though.
"Bella?" Damon asked, stopping in front of the bed. I realized I was still glaring at the screen and wondered if my shock had mirrored his. I couldn't believe how stupid I'd been. This was all my fault. I'd been thinking about rubbing up on him while playing pool. I'd even decided to lure his hot ass back to the bar so I could grind into him some more.
Sadly, what pissed me off more than my epic fuck up, was Edward getting all territorial, and fuck me if I wasn't going to make a decision to be pissed off about that for Alice to see. They think they could push themselves on me?
"Princess?"
"Not now I'm making decisions."
"Oh yes? And what are you making decisions about? Is this really the time?"
"Oh yes," I growled, sliding off the bed. "This is the perfect fucking time. This is my mess and I am letting the fuckers know they're walking into a hornets nest. I want them to know I'm pissed off . . . actually I just want to leave, but at least they know right?"
I hated when I lost confidence half way through a rant, but in all honesty I was being shoved into a situation I didn't want to be in, and it was my own fault for being so stupid. I was feeling oddly loopy and very pissy and I was taking it out on the wrong person. I had to do something though, I couldn't stay here and let them try and rule my life. Why couldn't they just take no for an answer and leave me the hell alone?
I marched past Damon to get my bags but his hand caught mine and pulled me to him. I hit his chest hard but his arms wrapped around me making me feel a little more safe than I had alone.
"How did they see this decision you're making with Embry in the house? I mean, I thought wolves blocked her ability to see shit?"
I sighed. "They probably saw it before he showed up, and he's not really in the room. Add to that the fact that he wasn't part of the decision I made and you have a nice little opening for them to find us. I can't believe I was such an idiot. This is all my fault, but I can't stay, Damon. I can't see them."
Damon stepped back and sat on the bed, pulling me into his lap so my back was against his chest and his head was nuzzled against my neck. His breath was cool on the skin there sending chills down my spine and making my stomach flip again, just like it had while we'd been making out. Since I'd let go of this little control issue I had going on, I was actually enjoying his company and his lips come to think of it.
"Why are you running?"
I looked over my shoulder at him with my eyebrows raised in question. Did his arousal shut down his brain completely, or was he just losing his mind? Why was I running? Because I couldn't stand having to be in the Cullen's company. It brought back too many memories and they'd ruined my life and made everyone around me suffer because of it. I wasn't going to do that again. I couldn't.
Damon's ice blue eyes widened as his lips touched the column of my neck. My body reacted instantly, my head tilting giving him the prime target. I felt his fangs brush against my pulse point and I shuddered, loving the feel of the sharp tips against my flesh. There was something so erotic about it all. It wasn't the best time for it, but it didn't stop the moan falling from my lips.
"As far as Assward's concerned you've moved on, he's seen both of our decisions through Alice, he doesn't have any right to claim a damn thing here. He may be confident enough to believe that he can win you back, but like you said, he can't read your mind. You have me as your man; he needs to know no differently."
His tongue jutted out and licked the flesh that was still tingling from his fangs and I gasped. Could I do it? I knew that Damon wasn't really interested me in that way, and even though it wouldn't be that much of a stretch for me I still had the right to take up the offer. Maybe I could, I just had to try and not get lost in the lie. No matter how much I wanted it to be true.
"Think about it princess, you know if he shows up he'll smell how hot you are for me, he can't deny that, it's your body, all I have to do is . . ."
His fingers brushed over the top of chest making me rock in his lap. I received an equally rapt groan from him for my effort. This was insane, but I was enjoying it while I could. I knew once the Cullen's arrived there wouldn't be much to feel good about. Damon's arm snaked around my waist and pulled me back against him as his hand gripped my throat lightly. My whole body was alive to his touch, and as the hand around my waist moved to grip my thighs, I almost exploded with need.
Then the Cullens did what they did best and fucked up my happy time. The ring of the bell was ominous as it worked its way through the house. For me, it was like a bell toll that signified it was time to climb the gallows.
"Bastards," I mumbled, panting for breath.
"Indeed, they could have at least let me get to third."
I giggled and caught his lips with mine, suddenly feeling reckless with all the hormones and adrenaline kicking through my body. I finally felt ready to face them and I wasn't quite sure where the inclination came from. It was a feral drive, and as anger flooded my body and mixed with the already rambunctious emotions I found myself being the one to make the moves.
I stood up and turned to face Damon, standing between his legs was almost intoxicating as he looked up at me. I leaned in and kissed him hard, my tongue finding the tips of his fangs again.
"We'll finish this later then?"
Damon's bemused expression told me I'd surprised him, but I was pumped and ready to do this.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, hell cat."
"Oh I fully intend to keep this one, pretty boy," I grinned, taking his hand and pulling him from the bed. "The sooner we kick them out the sooner we can continue."
It took me until I was halfway down the stairs to lose the wind in my sails. I could hear the voices of the Cullen's and it threw me off course and into the rocky water that had those jagged rocks and impossible emotions, not to be forgotten they were also coated with fear.
Damon seemed to notice the change in my attitude and threw his arm around me casually while guiding me down the stairs. The moment I saw them all crowded at the door I froze. Embry was stood protectively in front of Caroline who had Elena around the waist to stop her from bolting to protect Stefan. I could understand why, he was stood at the door in the heart of the lion pit looking like he was carrying a full load in his shorts.
I was scared, but it wasn't in the same way. I knew the Cullens wouldn't physically hurt me, it was the emotional wounds that were about to be lacerated completely, and I hadn't even looked at Edward yet. My eyes were on Alice and Emmett who were at the front of the group looking just as wounded.
Alice was the first to see/sense/smell me, I wasn't sure which it was, and it didn't really matter, because the moment she skipped forward I shifted closer to Damon and out of her reach. I could see it hurt her, but I couldn't help the reaction. Memories were slamming into me like kitchen knives, cutting deep.
"Why couldn't you just leave me alone?" I asked quietly, knowing full well they could hear every word. "I asked you not to track me down."
No one said a word, but Stefan, ever the diplomat and trying as always to dampen the situation, invited the rest of them inside. They filled the small entry way, Emmett's hulking figure closest to us other than Alice, who was still looking at me as though I'd run over her favorite Louboutins. I couldn't ever resist that look of hers. It was like emotional blackmail of the worst kind.
I stepped away from Damon and gave her a one armed hug, hoping it would be enough for now, but the moment she stepped away her place was filled with Emmett and he wasn't half as gentle as he pulled me up into his arms and swung me around. I was dizzy by the time I was back on my feet but I couldn't help grinning at him as he planted a kiss on my forehead.
"Good to see you, kid," he teased, ruffling my hair.
"I missed you too Emmett."
I found Rose stood next to Edward and gave her a smile, and was shocked to get one in return, and it wasn't just any smile, this one was an approving smile, and it was made all the more prevalent by the narrowed eyes Edward gave her.
I was surprised at my reaction to Edward. I'd expected the dull blunt edged hole in my stomach to rip open and tear me apart, but instead, I felt nothing but anger. It had been too long, and I finally realized there was never any going back. I didn't love him anymore.
I stared at him in shock more than anything else. There was no doubt he was still gorgeous, his perfectly messed hair and the honey amber eyes, he was beautiful, but that's as far as it went. There was nothing. Stefan led everyone into the living room, but I was stood stock still next to Damon and facing Edward. It was actually quite bizarre.
Edward took a step toward me but I moved closer to Damon, feeling all the more relaxed when his arm slid around my waist and squeezed my hip. I could see the anger in Edward's eyes but there was still no guilt. He'd been the one to leave, not me. I'd finally moved on, just like he'd asked me too.
"You okay, baby?" Damon asked, dropping his lips my collar bone and sending a shiver down my spine. I was so lost in the feel of it, that it took me a second to realize Edward was growling.
"What's your problem?" Damon asked, his fingers tightening on my hips asking me to go with it. Instead of nodding, I laced my fingers through his.
Edward said nothing, but the tension in his body was like a knife, which only gave Damon fuel for his little bonfire. If I felt guilty about anything it was the fact that I was actually letting Damon goad Edward and not doing anything to stop him. Maybe it was wrong, but maybe Edward deserved it. Over three years had passed since I last saw him. What did he expect to happen?
"You're jealous," Damon finally laughed, pulling me tighter into his side. "So you're the idiot that let her go?"
Edward held his silence, once again displaying that perfect hold on his emotions that used to drive me crazy. I used to think it was attractive to watch him hold back, but not so much anymore. I decided I wanted a guy that would fight for me, and Edward was about three years too late for that.
Obviously unimpressed by Edward's silence, Damon took it a step further. His fingers caught my chin and turned my head so my lips met with his. I had to give it to him, Damon had balls. Here he was facing off with a pureblood and he was trying to instigate a fight. For me, it was morbid curiosity, now that I was no longer under the love spell, I was interested to see how long it would take Edward to make a move. Because right now, I was beginning to wonder if he had ever really loved me, because the only reaction was another growl, and it just made me kiss Damon all the harder.
It was official though, I had turned into a bitch.
"Let her go," Edward finally spat through his teeth and I turned my head to look at him. Pissed that he thought he had a right to dictate what I did with my life. Once again he was trying to step in and make decisions for me.
"Oh I get it," Damon said, pulling back slightly. "You can't do this can you?"
Damon's fingers shifted the hair from my shoulder, his lips touched my shoulder in a quick warning, and then I felt his fangs. The initial piercing made me yelp, but the sound soon turned into a hum of pleasure as he drew the blood from my body. His fingers were lightly stroking my body and his lips . . . were gone.
I opened my eyes and felt myself looking across the room at a grinning Damon and I couldn't help but smile back. Even though I was currently trapped behind Edward against the wall.
Damon
As pissed as I was, I was so proud of Bella for standing her ground. Not once did she waiver, even when her warm blood was traveling down my throat. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to control the urge to attack the prissy bastard, but I knew he could rip me in half without even breaking a sweat. Not that vampires sweat, but I digress.
Bella stood behind the prick, looking torn between being pissed and terrified. I smirked at her in hopes that she would feel reassured and she answered it with a weak smile of her own.
"Baby, do you think you could ask your dick of an ex to let you go? We were kind of in the middle of something." I winked at her and she let out one of those giggles that made my dick hard.
Edward growled loudly.
"Edward, just back off. You did interrupt us." I grinned like a mad man as she stepped around him.
Then the fucker decided to grab her and pull her back again. Before I could lunge at him, Stefan grabbed me.
"Damon, you can't get involved," he whispered in my ear causing me to growl at him.
"If she doesn't want that fucker touching her then he has no right. And it seems that the rest of these assholes aren't going to do anything to put him in his place." I glanced at the Cullens who were all just standing there like bumps on a damn log.
Before I had a chance to say or do anything else, Bella lost it.
"You have no fucking right! No right to be angry or jealous! No right to touch me! No right to even fucking be here!" Tears streamed down her beautiful face, but anyone with eyes could see that they were from anger and not pain.
Pussyward stood stock still as she unleashed her years of pent up rage on him.
"You come in here acting like you have some sort of claim over me, but you don't! You gave up that right when you left me alone and crying in the woods! Where were you to protect me then? Where were any of you?" She turned on the rest of the Cullens then.
"You love me like I'm family? Really? Who the fuck leaves their family without so much of a kiss my ass?"
"Edward said…" Emmett began but Bella cut him off.
"Edward said what? Emmett, you are twice his size! You had a choice! You all had a choice! Edward couldn't make you do anything you didn't want to! I just wasn't important enough for any of you to even consider what your disappearance would do to me!" Her beautiful face was red and splotchy. I felt a wave of calm washing over me and looked around the room to see if anyone else was feeling irrationally calm at the moment.
"Don't you fucking dare, Jasper!" Bella spat at the scarred vampire standing next to Alice. "You weren't thinking about calming me down when my heart was being ripped to shreds so don't start worrying about my emotions now!"
"Bella!" Alice sobbed and her mate placed a comforting arm around her.
"And my dearest sister… What a joke! Not even a phone call! But when I move on and want to be left the hell alone you are all over my ass! Where was your care and concern when I was a zombie for MONTHS! Rosalie, you are the only one I cannot fault. You didn't like me then and never made a secret of it. At least you were honest! The rest of you all lured me in like the stupid little human that I was. But not anymore! You can all go fuck yourselves!" Bella wrapped her arms around her waist and her breaths came out in heaving sobs.
Edward made a move to touch her and I tried again to break free of Stefan's hold. I noticed Embry shaking with rage.
"Hey, teen wolf, a little help, please?" He nodded at me and stepped forward.
"Bella has made her decision, just as you did all those years ago. You can either respect that, or the pack will be forced to step in." His voice was calm, but his body was telling a different story.
"Bella, please!" Alice begged, and then the more motherly figure took a hesitant step in Bella's direction.
"We have regretted leaving you every day, Bella. You are my child, just like the rest, and I am begging you to give us another chance. We will never leave you again, no matter what Edward says." She glared at Edward as she said his name, but his eyes were only focused on Bella.
"She's telling the truth, Bella. I would never leave you again. Never." I ground my teeth together at the look of adoration on his face. His lips were curved up in a half smile, that was meant to be endearing, but thankfully it had the same effect on Bella that it had on me; she was pissed.
She calmly stepped closer to him and his smile widened. That was until she slapped the shit out of him. Sadly, he felt no pain, but Bella on the other hand did.
"! Assfucker! Shit! Shit! Shit!" She was hopping around while cradling her hand. If I hadn't been afraid that she had broken her hand I would have laughed at the looks on the Cullens' faces. I guessed that they had not been fully introduced to Bella's potty mouth.
The doctor was the first to recover from his shock and began examining her hand tenderly. She glared at him, but allowed his touch. He examined her carefully before sighing heavily.
"I'm afraid that you're going to have to go to the hospital for an x-ray." She rolled her eyes, but didn't protest, thankfully.
When he let her go, the douche of the century took a hesitant step toward her. Bella scrambled away quickly and practically launched herself into my arms. The feeling of being so wrapped around her was indescribable. Her warm little body was pressed so firmly against me, that I could practically feel every bit of her anxiety bleeding into me.
"Please," she begged in a whisper. I had no idea what exactly she was begging for, only that I would give her whatever she wanted in that moment.
"It's all right, baby." I bent down and kissed her lips gently and she sighed sweetly.
I hated that the whole thing was an act. That was the exact moment that I admitted to myself that I didn't want it to be.
Edward looked at me and smirked, but said nothing. Damn mind-reading pureblood.
"Bella, love, you need to go to the hospital." Edward reminded her without taking his eyes off of me.
"No shit, Sherlock!" She spat. "And don't fucking call me that!"
"But it's what you are. Regardless of what I have done I have never stopped loving you. I will spend forever proving that to you, but first we need to get you to the hospital." He smiled indulgently at her, causing her body to tense even further.
"Don't look at me like that!" She spoke through clenched teeth and I felt her good hand gripping my shirt tightly.
"I believe Bella has had quite enough of your platitudes for one day, you sanctimonious prick." In truth, I had had enough as well. I wanted him as far away from my princess as possible.
"Damon," Stefan scolded.
"Oh, shut up, Stefan! I've had about enough of you ordering me around. If he wants to kill me then fine, but I can assure you that Bella will never want anything to do with him again." Bella nodded and a strange look came over her face.
"Thank you," she whispered before standing on her toes to kiss me sweetly.
"No problem, princess. I'm not going to let you deal with this alone. Now how about I take you to the hospital? I hear they have good drugs there." I winked at her hoping to lighten the situation for her.
"She's not going anywhere with you, half-breed," Edward growled and stalked toward us.
Pushing Bella behind me I took a protective stance.
"Move," Edward ordered.
"Edward, no," Alice whimpered and his face tightened before he stopped moving all together.
"What did Alice see, Edward?" Bella taunted. "That I would run forever? That you would never see me again?"
He winced and I knew it was true. He had broken her so badly that there was no going back as far as she was concerned.
"If you had come back, Edward, even within a year, I could possibly have forgiven you, but you didn't. You chose to make life-altering decisions about my life for my own good, without even considering what it would do to me. You altered me so completely, Edward. The girl you love no longer exists."
If he hadn't been such a prick, I would have felt bad for him. He truly did what he thought was best, but never considered how it would change Bella. He never thought about how it would change her outlook on life or her feelings for him.
"You're right, Damon. I didn't. I was a fool, and I will regret it forever."
"Yes, well, that doesn't mean that Bella should be stuck looking over her shoulder forever. You really love her? Go and clean up the mess you made and then leave her in peace." Bella shook her head frantically, not wanting to bring up the red-head who was still trying to ruin her life.
"Victoria. I can promise you that you will never have to fear her again, Bella. I will find her and kill her myself." Bella said nothing to his vow; she simply pressed her face in between my shoulder blades.
"I think we've wasted enough time. Come on, princess, let's get you taken care of." I turned to face her and once again wrapped my arms around her.
"I've got this handled, so why don't you all disappear while we're gone." I spat, keeping my back to them.
"I'll get your hand taken care of, and then when we get home I'll take care of you." I winked down at her and she blushed and grinned like a fool.
Edward's growl made me look at him and I saw that he was being restrained by the scarred blonde. I took my time and focused on just how many scars marred his flesh. This pureblood was dangerous and if it hadn't been for the need to protect Bella I probably would have ran as far as possible. I may have been cocky, but I wasn't suicidal. My feelings must have showed on my face because Alice smirked at me.
"Damon, I don't think you've met my husband, Jasper. You may have heard of him. He's known as the God of War."
Shit.
Sabi'sSookie: So, the Cullens have arrived and Bella is pissed! I think they have underestimated Bella, don't you think?
First of all, I have to apologize for my lack of review replies. I have been taking care of a very sick little man and haven't had time for much else. I hope that he will get well soon and I can get back to my normal routine! But I did read every one and appreciate them so much! You guys rock!
Thanks to Nostalgicmiss for being the best BFF ever, and you guys be extra nice to her as she has been working way too hard lately and I am trying to talk her into relaxing a bit! Well, as far as RL goes anyway… you know I would never encourage her to not write. I love ya', hunnie!
Nostalgicmiss: Hehehe, I think Edward just got his ass handed to him by a really pissed off Bella! And Damon seems to have this new need to protect Bella!
Thank you to everyone who has read, favorited and reviewed! you guys are amazing! I have been super busy at work so the replies may not be as prompt as they normally are, they will be answered as always though. You guys are all amazing and I love you all for reading and giving us your support!
Sabi, thank you for being an amazing BFF and for always encouraging me, as always that goes both ways and you know I will be there for you whenever you need me. Look after Ninja and give him a big hug for me. Love you guys!