Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: So my beta and I just proved why you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions. She betaed this the night she got it and forgot to send it back. I didn't want to bother her because of being busy with FGB…end result, you ALMOST didn't get your update today. Thankfully, I asked tonight and so here it is. Thanks to my awesome beta, AgoodWITCH for her work!
We're starting to see a bit more racing, but I just wasn't feeling it quite like I did before, so it may be a bit weak. I'm sorry for those of you wanting to see the racing again. As for those of you wanting the romance, let's just say that their intimacy is like Pringles, they just can't stop! LOL! Hope you like it!
Also, please take some time to go check out my original story The Children of Creation. The first five chapters are now up on TWCSlibrary. (www. twcslibrary. com/viewstory. php?sid=2334)
The Sacrificial Lion
Bella was floating in a sea of perfect serenity as she opened her eyes to find herself draped nakedly across Edward's also naked form in the bright morning sun shining through the window to the bedroom. Edward's breathing warned her to move slowly since he was still sleeping. Very carefully she shifted, resting her head on her hand as she propped herself up on her elbow and watched him sleeping. This was not the first time she had watched him sleep, but it was all so different this morning than it had been before. Somehow, she just felt closer to him, more connected.
With gentle fingers, she began to rub her hand across his chest, watching as they floated over the ridges of his firm body, remembering the absolute pleasure it had given her. She had never begun to suspect that actual intercourse could be so amazing. In her prior experience, she always found oral sex to be so much better than penetration, but with Edward, that certainly wasn't the case.
He was amazing. The way he moved with her, it was as if someone gave him a roadmap to her body complete with speed limit signs. Without her saying a word, he just knew when to speed up or slow down, when to change the angles of their bodies and when he was in the perfect position. Sometimes with Jake she felt like she was directing traffic or giving instructions to a three year old, but Edward seemed to be able to read her body, no verbiage necessary.
Bella sighed as she thought back over the night. The first time was epic. It was all so romantic and sweet, a moment she would always remember. They fell asleep draped across one another and rested for a few hours before Bella was awoken by the feel of Edward's hands grazing her skin. She was immediately wide awake as they engaged in encounter number two, which was still amazingly intimate, but much louder and wilder, as if all Bella's inhibitions were gone. This time she allowed him to take the reins and she fucking loved it.
The third time was close to dawn when Bella roused to the sensation of his arousal straining against her leg, which was thrown over his hips. She had smirked to herself before shifting to wake him up with her mouth on him before positioning herself above him. He smiled wickedly up at her as she bounced above him, both of them finding their completion together. She had collapsed on his chest; his body still not removed from within hers, and fell asleep, blissful in the feeling of closeness. Either he shifted her after she fell asleep or she did so herself, but by the time she awoke, Bella had moved once more to Edward's side, her head resting over his heart and her leg draped over his recovered hardness.
Bella smirked as she let her hand drift lower, under the covers and atop the soft line of hair that led to where she was headed. She grasped him in her hand, slowly moving it as she watched his eyes flutter open in surprise before locking on hers with a satisfied smirk.
"You're going to kill me, woman, but it's totally worth it."
Bella chuckled as she leaned forward to kiss along his chest as she tightened her grip and increased her speed. After a few minutes, Edward stopped her, kissing her lips as he moved her closer to him. Moments later, he had rolled atop her and was moving within her, slowly and lovingly as he gazed down into her eyes. In the light of the morning, they could both see so much more, the emotions more intense, the reality of the love they have for each other so much more pronounced as it reflected within each other's eyes. They found their climax together, not in loud screaming grunts, but rather long, low husky moans.
They lay together another ten minutes before Bella's stomach began to rumble, making Edward smile as he glanced down at her.
Bella walked to the dresser to grab out one of the silk nighties and robe combos that Alice and Rose had sent along with her as Edward watched her unabashedy, his eyes hungry in spite of the fact that they had spent the entire night and morning making love repeatedly. Once her form was covered, he shook his head before moving to throw on a pair of shorts and a shirt before guiding her to the kitchen by the hand. They both washed their hands before they began working together in the massive kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops to make omelets with fresh cut veggies.
As they worked, Bella sighed happily leaning into Edward's side slightly as they both diced at the colorful veggies. "This is so awesome. This kitchen is amazing! It's really nice to work in it with you."
Edward smirked, already getting to implement phase one of his plan to get Bella to move in with him. "Yeah, it's pretty nice, but it's not any better than the kitchen in the new house. If I have my way, we'll spend a lot of time working together in there when we are home."
Bella glanced up at him through her lashes with a smile, her cheeks blooming pink. "That sounds nice."
He sighed next to her, turning to kiss the top of her head as he finished his onion and laid down his knife. "Yes, it most certainly does."
He moved to the fridge to grab out the eggs and milk as Bella watched, wishing it could always be like this.
They worked together seamlessly and enjoying the most amazing omelets either had ever eaten. Once they were done, they trudged upstairs, knowing it was time to return to reality, but not really wanting to. They showered in separate rooms, knowing that showering together would only make them horrendously late, slid into track appropriate gear to wear under their firesuits, and trudged back downstairs to climb behind the wheel of the beautiful car Edward had rented, this time putting the top down in order to enjoy the morning breeze.
The track was busy when they arrived. Bella was anxious that they might get teased, but nobody said a word as they arrived, all acting business as usual. Bella slid into her suit and slid on her helmet as she prepared to take her turn for her timed trial. It was a new day and she was feeling good. She slid behind the wheel with a smile as she saw Edward sliding into his suit in the pits, preparing to go as soon as she was done.
Bella was on fire as she sped around the tri-oval track, breaking her speed record on the first pass, to which Jasper suggested she just come in and not bother with others. She was all smiles as she slid into the pits and hopped out, hugging Edward before walking back to her friends as Edward walked out to slide behind his wheel. He also broke his record, putting him only milliseconds behind Bella in the lineup. They would be close when the race began, which was a great relief to them both.
They engaged in a little publicity photography with their cars before slipping back out of their suits and rushing out to the waiting rental right away. They rushed back to the serenity of their borrowed home, choosing to slip into swimsuits and take a swim in the lake. It was a murky lake, but the water called to them.
Edward had to resist the urge to attack Bella when she stepped out of the bathroom in the string bikini that Rose and Alice had packed for her. It literally was a teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini and he mentally made a note to buy something awesome to thank the girls. Bella seemed a little shy at first, but after the hot kiss that Edward simply could not resist giving her, she relaxed and had fun.
They stumbled out to the dock together, as Edward kept reaching out to tickle her sides, unable to resist touching her. They abandoned their towels on the benches before sliding into the water, Bella's giggles echoing off the water and trees around them. Edward swam up to Bella, smiling as he grasped her narrow waist and brought her close. Bella wrapped her arms and legs around him, smiling down at him as he supported her in the water.
"Hold your breath, baby, we're going under!" Edward warned a split second before taking them both under. Bella barely held her breath in time, squealing after the emerged again, her hair fallen in her face making her feel like a drowned rat.
Edward laughed as she pushed back her hair and slapped his arm. "Sorry, baby, you just know how much I like it when you're wet for me."
Bella groaned, rolling her eyes before her aggravation slowly morphed into a smile. She couldn't help but appreciate the view herself as the water droplets sparkled in Edward's hair moments before it dropped to his shoulder and rolled back to its home in the murky water. Before she realized what she was doing, Bella leaned in to kiss Edward, the small peck quickly transforming into a passionate kiss.
Hands began to roam under the surface of the water before Bella began to instinctually shift her hips over his in reaction to the semi hardness Edward was already sporting, growing into a very aroused state. Edward moved his hands to her hips, helping her along as they kissed, resisting the urge to push the tiny bottoms aside and claim her right there in the water. Those plans were ruined, however, when something brushed past Edward's leg, making him jump and sending them both back on the docks with worried yelps that became howling laugher once they were back on safer ground.
They sat in the sun on the Adirondack chairs letting the sun dry them slowly as they talked and laughed, holding hands between them. Eventually the call of food took them back inside where they ate an early supper before retiring to the large movie room where they curled up together on a leather loveseat and somewhat watched movies between the long make-out sessions. Eventually they gave up hope on focusing on a film, retiring to their room where they made good on all of the close calls of the day.
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The next two days, Edward and Bella spent the majority of their time not spent fulfilling obligations at the track relaxing together in the large house. They really enjoyed the privacy of the big house all to themselves, dreading returning to the tight quarters that the track would have to offer. They were laying in bed reading, Edward's back against the headboard as Bella leaned into his bare chest. They had four more hours until their getaway became a bed and breakfast again and they would have to leave.
Bella sighed at something in her book, making Edward smile down at her, smoothing her hair back away from her face again so he could see her. He hated not being able to see her face, so he had spent the majority of their day there, pushing it away, and running his fingers through the long soft locks.
"You okay?"
She closed her book after sliding the bookmark into place and shifted toward him. "Yeah, I just don't want to go back to the RVs yet."
Edward smiled down at her, smoothing his fingers over her cheeks. "I know, love. I don't want to go back either."
Bella snuggled into his chest, kissing his pec lightly before resting her cheek over his heart. "I just like being able to relax like this and not have to worry who might see. I don't like making people uncomfortable."
Edward smirked, finally understanding another little piece of the Bella puzzle. "I think it makes people more uncomfortable if you try to distance yourself from something you care about. It translates to the world in general and makes you seem more closed off than you are. Besides, they all know we're together, and we're all adults, nobody is going to think we knitted all week. I'm sure they would find it more of an oddity if we weren't affectionate after this."
Bella sighed again, shifting closer and resting her knee across Edward's thighs. "I know. I just like how relaxed it is here. We don't even have to worry about it."
Edward wrapped his arms around her body, cuddling her close and kissing her head. "We could have this at home, you know. I…I was thinking, it's not too late to change our arrangements."
Bella lifted her head, staring up at Edward in confusion.
He smiled. "It wouldn't take much at all to have movers take your stuff out of the small house and put it in the new one. We could be like this all of the time."
Bella's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as the skin between her eyebrows furrowed so deeply, they practically gave her a unibrow. "You mean move in with you?" She yelped, her face burning bright red.
Edward smiled down, reaching to push her hair away again. "That's exactly what I mean."
Bella's eyes began to dart back and forth frantically as she pushed away to sit up cross legged on the bed facing him. "Have you gone insane, Edward? We've only been together for a few weeks! We're just now really starting to get to know each other. I…I've never lived with any guy besides my Dad! I…I don't know if I'm ready for something like that. I mean…I love being with you, and being so close, but…I don't know…It just seems too fast!"
Bella's jugular was jumping rapidly in her neck as she panicked before Edward, causing him to reach out to soothe her. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her temple and trying to push away his disappointment.
"Ssshhh…It's okay, love. It was just a suggestion. Please don't panic, sweetheart. Calm down."
Bella breathed heavily against him, still drowning in her fears as Edward soothed her, seeing that she truly wasn't ready yet, but that didn't mean she would never be.
"It's okay, Bella. We'll keep things as they are for a while, but when the time comes, and you think you might be ready, will you promise to bring it up with me? I don't want to pressure you, so I won't bring it up again, but I don't want to give up on it either."
Bella sighed, melting into Edward's chest. "I promise. I…I'm sorry I can't be ready for it now. It's just, everything is so new."
Edward shushed her, rocking slowly with her as his cheek rested atop her head. "No, baby. It's fine. I understand, and you're probably right. Will you still be willing to sneak through the back yard for nightly sleepovers?"
Bella glanced up to see him smiling down at her with a devious twinkle in his eye. She smiled back up, letting her fingers trail up his chest. "I don't know. I'm not sure I can trust you, Mr. Cullen. What if you take advantage of me?"
Edward let out a rumbling growl combined with a small chuckle as he flipped her over, pinning her under him on the bed, his lips immediately finding her neck. "Oh I can guarantee that I will take advantage of you, Miss Swan, in many, many ways."
Bella gasped, arching her back as his hands slipped to the bottom of her silk nightgown, ripping it over her head. His hands immediately took hold of her chest, caressing and teasing as his tongue probed her mouth sensually.
Soon Bella found herself pulled to the edge of the bed and being feasted upon by Edward before he stood and lined up with her, pushing into her forcefully. Most of their interactions to that point had been all about love and tenderness, while this time it was nothing but pure, fiery passion. Bella came hard, arching on the bed moments before Edward stilled, grunting loudly as his fingers dug almost painfully into the flesh of her hips.
They shifted onto the bed where they stayed for the next three hours, curled together in a naked heap until the time came for them to dress and clean up, leaving the house as much like they found it as possible. They both felt sad as they handed over the keys and drove back to the speedway, this time to stay until after the race was over.
When they got out of the car, Edward walked to Bella's side, reaching out to take her bag from her before adding it to his own in his left hand and stretching his hand out again for hers. She reached out to take it with a smile, which quickly turned to shock when he yanked her to him and kissed her softly.
"Just relax, Bella. Just be ourselves, that's all we can do."
Bella smiled, relaxing her shoulders before walking by his side toward the group of smiling friends and coworkers waiting for them. Edward carried Bella's bag to her door and tossed it in before turning back to her with a smile.
"Alice is about to pop a nut over there, dying to do the girl talk thing. How about you chat with your girls for a while and I'll go put my stuff away and catch up with the crew and we get together again for supper in an hour or so."
Bella smiled up at him. "Sounds good."
Edward turned to walk away when Bella grabbed his arm and tugged him back, leaning up to give him a quick peck on the lips before pushing him away again. Edward watched with a surprised smile as she smirked, winked, and then turned toward the girls. She nodded toward the trailer before stepping in the door as a squealing Alice and a smiling Rose rushing in after her.
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All too soon, Edward and Bella were suiting up for race day, walking side by side with their helmets in the crooks of their arms as they made their way toward the lineup. Today Edward would start right behind Bella. Bella already felt tired, having sat through an hour long autograph session and a long talk with Jasper, Felix, and Edward to strategize the best way to handle Daniels if he tried anything. She saw the look in Edward's eye when scenarios were brought up about him putting pressure on Bella, and she didn't like it. He no longer had the face of a competitor, but rather a protector. She didn't want him putting himself in the line of the metaphorical bullet for her, but she was quite certain that was what he intended to do.
Alice took her helmet as they approached the pits area, smiling knowingly at Bella while Felix discussed something seriously with Edward as he nodded. When they were done, Edward turned to her with a smirk.
"Cameras are all over here, love. If you do what I think you're planning, it's going to be broadcast fifty times before the race is even over, and national gossip fodder for at least a couple of days."
Bella smiled up at him as she stepped closer, lifting her hand to his chest. "Good luck, Edward. Be safe, and don't you even think about taking a hit for me, or I'll kick your ass."
Edward tried to look innocent, all the while his eyes telling the story that his mouth didn't want to admit. Bella shook her head as she rolled her eyes, a bright smile on her face the whole time, before she stepped in, closing the last bit of space, and shifted to her tiptoes to kiss Edward's lips. Edward's arms reached around her, securing her to him as her hands clamped onto his shoulders for balance. The kiss wasn't overly sensual, but it was also certainly more than just a peck.
They broke away quickly, Edward leaning his forehead to hers. "Good luck to you too, and be careful. You carry my heart in that car with you."
Bella rolled her eyes at his cheesy line before pecking his lips one last time, and stepping back to turn and walk toward her waiting car. The team cheered her on as she passed, her head held high as well as her spirits.
She climbed into the car, thanking Alice as she handed over her helmet and then her steering wheel. Alice smiled as she double checked Bella's harness straps. "Well you've made your claim now. Just wait until the groupies see the proof positive. You're probably going to be slandered to high heaven on all of those blogs…but it's so worth it. You guys are so adorable and absolutely perfect."
Bella smiled behind her faceplate of her helmet. "Thanks, Alice…I think."
Alice chuckled before securing the mesh netting and stepping away. Soon afterward, the announcement was made for the racers to start their engines. Bella smiled as the engine roared with power, the vibrations filling her body from head to foot. She fluttered the gas pedal, with a chuckle as the car shifted under the restrained power.
"Oh man, are you giggling up there, Swan?" His velvet voice called through the coms, making her giggle again.
"Yep, Cullen. I sure am. I feel the need…" Edward joined in as she finished the quote from Top Gun. "The need for speed."
"I have a good feeling about today, babe," Bella said. "I think today you and I are going to be fighting for first again."
She could hear Edward's smile in his reply. "Oh, do you now? Well, we'll just have to see how this race goes, but I'd be happy to leave you in the dust as I take this race."
"Sure, Cullen. I'll believe that when I see it…or do I have to remind you of VIR?"
Edward scoffed. "Oh, but you're on my turf now, sweetheart. This is where I rule."
Bella laughed, "For now, Cullen. For now."
Another voice interrupted their trash talk with a clearing of the throat. "One would think, after this past week, you would be past all of this, but I guess not. Need I remind you that you are a few seconds from the green? I suggest you focus on the race."
Bella giggled, surprising Edward who expected her to be mortified. He heard her voice calling back to Felix. "Sorry to break it to you, Felix, but Edward and I are always going to razz each other. It's part of our charm."
Felix chuckled. "That it is, Bella. That it is. Fifteen to green."
And with that, all joking died as the couple focused on the race ahead. Many would find their distractions detrimental to their racing, thinking that they should have more mental focus, but for both Edward and Bella, driving was like breathing. If they over thought it, it typically hurt them more than helped them. Their banter helped ease and relax them, so they could allow their bodies to do what it needed to do, and focus more on what is happening around them.
The green signal brought on a roar as the cars shot forward, gaining speed quickly before the first turn. Bella and Edward were on fire as they pushed their way up the pack. They started pretty high in the ranks to begin with. They quickly pushed to the second and third position, avoiding several crashes as they zoomed toward the halfway mark, staying behind Jeff Burton in the Caterpillar car who was doing surprisingly well during this race.
Trouble started when Bella started feeling something off in her handling. She called out to Jasper, asking if the track bar needed adjustment. After two laps of debate, Bella decided to go in. Edward wanted to go with her, but Bella fought him on it. She was in and out fast, but was almost at the back of the pack by the time she returned to the track.
Meanwhile, Daniels had slithered his way up, dodging past Edward to fall in behind Burton. When it came time for everyone to pit later, Bella discussed with Jasper and chose to stay out, putting her back in the lead followed by Daniels and Edward who both beat Burton out of the pits due to an issue with a tire valve. Two pileups resulting in yellows later, the race was down to fifteen cars, but only three were keeping the attention of the crowd as Daniels repeated attempts to take the lead were thwarted by the sharp moves of Izzy Swan.
The commentators kept mentioning over and over how the timid Izzy Swan from last week seemed to have gone home and a newer, more confident Swan had taken over the track.
Bella didn't let him intimidate her this time as he tried to ease her off the track, tapping her once, but Izzy, having anticipated his maneuver, out steered him and managed to stay on the track and in the lead. The next time he went to take her, Edward decided he had enough and when he went to clip her quarter panel for the second time within five laps, Edward sped up and shifted into Daniels, sending him skidding into the bottom of the track. He didn't get knocked out of the race completely, but he did lose his place and never recovered enough ranking to regain it before the race ended.
Edward's maneuver did, however, set him back two spaces as Kasey Kahne and A.J. Allmendinger, locked in their own rivalry that had been building all year, passed him up, taking up residency behind Bella. Fortunately for Bella, the two men were too focused on their own conflict to gain the lead, sending her across the line first, the battling duo coming in second and third, with Edward in fourth place.
Bella smiled and did all the things she was supposed to do, but her heart wasn't really in it, knowing it was Edward's sacrifice that ended up allowing her to safely win the race. She answered the questions shot at her, and posed for pictures, her smile not even genuine when Edward walked over to hug her in the winner's circle. As they hugged, Bella's face was tucked into Edward's neck.
"You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have sacrificed your place for me. I was fine."
Edward sighed, looking down at her. "We'll talk about it later. Now's not the time."
Bella smirked up at him. "Ya think?"
Edward chuckled before turning with her to pose for more pictures as the flashes snapped at dizzying speed. Edward left her shortly afterward to clean up and wait for the hell fire he was sure he was about to endure when she returned from her obligations.
An hour later, a tired, but freshly showered Bella stumbled into his RV with a dour look on her face. Instead of fire and brimstone being hurled at him, he was surprised when she collapsed on his lap and began to sob. He held her close and rubbed her back as he begged her not to cry.
After a long while, she leaned back with a sniffle. "You can't do that, Edward. You can't risk your career for me. Felix pulled me aside and told me what Aro told you. If you don't start stepping up, and stop worrying about me so much, you're going to lose your position."
Edward scoffed, making Bella scowl. "I'm serious, Edward. I will not let you risk your career for me. Our relationship has enough strain on it. I will not have you taking the bullet for me. If we hadn't been put together, then I'd be out there on my own. You can't always protect me, sweetheart, as much as you might want to."
Edward sighed, kissing her temple as he pulled her close again. "I know, love. I just…it's like a monster gets unleashed in me when someone puts you in danger. It's a reaction older than time itself."
Bella scoffed, kissing his jaw as she shifted to straddle him. "Alright, caveman, it's time to enter the twenty first century with me. No more, okay?"
Edward sighed, closing his eyes. "I'll TRY."
Bella chuckled, leaning in to rest her forehead against his. "I guess that's the best I can get." She leaned down and kissed him, her lips lingering and teasing.
Edward moaned as she deepened the kiss and shifted above him. His hands fell on her hips pressing her harder into him. When they broke the kiss, both panting, he looked searchingly into Bella's eyes.
Bella smirked at him before removing her top to reveal her bare chest, before grinding into him again. Edward's eyes grew large as he stared, moments before she hopped up and tugged him toward the bedroom at the back of the RV.
"Bella, are you sure?"
Bella laughed. "I just won a race, even if it was because my Neanderthal boyfriend took a hit to get me there. I think I deserve a reward don't you?"
Edward groaned, pulling her against him before closing the door with his foot and reaching behind him to lock it. They didn't emerge until late the next morning.