Something Worth Fighting For
Chapter 14. Quick On Your Feet
Isabella Swan
So inspiration hit me because at the moment my husband and daughter are visiting my in-laws in Portugal again. We usually go four or five times a year and since we won't be there for Christmas, it's our time with them up there.
Peace and quiet will give you strokes of genius, you know. The baby is doing well and I'm starving so after this is posted, I'm going to eat(:
This chapter is very fluffy. It's just going into Bella's past a bit more. No real plot makers here. Hope you enjoy(:
…it is not only by personal preference, what with being so enraptured with Mr. Masen as a fan, but it is with personal experience that I found this tough, thickly skinned boxer to be just the opposite when you get to know him. He not only quick on his feet when in the ring but also quick with whit. He can take a punch just as well as he can hold a conversation and take quick care in his movements as well as caring about what he says and how he is portrayed to people. Overall, Edward Masen is not only one of the most talented boxers in the world - fact - but also what seems to be one of the kindest. Something of a People's Hero in the making.
Reading my own words in the newspaper was strange. Not in a bad way but in a way that I couldn't get used to. I had been getting calls and offers to my office most of the day after getting a slew of great reviews on the piece but none of them were really what I was after. Not the big dog I wanted; The New York Times.
Since I had moved to New York, I had been itching to apply for the Times but I always found a way to psyche myself out and just avoid the subject until I completely forgot about it.
I smiled down at my work, sending a silent prayer up to God so that my words might be heard. I set the paper down on my desk and turned back to my laptop, noticing a new message in my email. For a moment I thought about just brushing it off. I was done reading aimless messages from papers I honestly didn't want to write for anymore than I wanted to write for the paper I was already at, but decided just to open it.
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it was from Edward.
I clicked on the folder, opening it for me to read.
…
To: Isabella Swan
Subject: Busy?
Date: October 1, 2010 12: 15 pm
From: Edward Masen
Miss Swan,
As you may know, your column on none other than myself has become a huge hit. I hold myself accountable for this. I say this calls for a celebration of enormous proportions but since you are hard at work at the moment and I have just left from a brutal round of training with Carlisle, I suggest a lunch date.
I won't take no for an answer.
Edward A. Masen
Masen Inc., WBA Enterprise
…
I couldn't help but chuckle at the email. Edward knew exactly the right time to stick his beautiful head out and make my day seem a little brighter. I sighed and leaned down to touch my fingers to the keyboard, typing away frantically.
…
To: Edward Masen
Subject: Famished.
Date: October 1, 2010 12: 15 pm
From: Isabella Swan
Mr. Masen,
If it weren't for the fact that I am irrevocably in love with you, I would have decided against your request for lunch but since there is a bit of emotion blocking my good sense, I accept.
Name the time and place.
Isabella M. SwanLeading Reporter, The New York Newspaper
…
"Ms. Swan?" the familiar sound of Jessica's voice popped in through my open door. I didn't take my eyes off my laptop.
"Yes, Jessica?"
She pursed her lips before speaking in fear, "Mr. Newton is here, Ms. Swan. He wants to speak with you."
I bit my lip, suppressing a groan as an email popped into my inbox.
…
To: Isabella Swan
Subject: Excellent!
Date: October 1, 2010 12: 15 pm
From: Edward Masen
I'll come and pick you up. Be ready.
I love you.
Edward A. Masen
Masen Inc., WBA Enterprise
…
Fuck! Mike would want to talk for fucking ever and Edward would be here within fifteen to twenty minutes. I needed to get out of here and fast.
"Tell him I'm busy or something, Jessica!" I hissed, contemplating the pros and cons of hiding under my desk.
She looked at me with wide eyes, pleading for me just to let him in. Jessica had something of a crush on Mike Newton. I had heard her on several occasions telling her friends on the company line about how "delicious" he looked everyday. Her words. Definitely not mine.
She didn't want to have to go up to him and refuse him because she was only the messenger and people had a tendency to shoot at them first.
"He says it's important, Ms. Swan."
I grumbled to myself, quickly replying to Edward in affirmation before telling Jessica to let him in. It wasn't five seconds after she left that Mike came storming in, his eyes wide with rage and face almost purple from anger.
"How could you?" he snarled, fists slamming down on my desk.
Almost instantly my defenses went up. I was smart to wear flats today, making it easy to kick, run and pounce if I needed to. Ways to get him away from me rushed through my head but they all stopped when I noticed a envelope in his hand.
"What are you talking about, Mike?" I asked calmly.
My eyes never left the envelope.
"I'm talking about how you could tell me yes to a date when you obviously had a boyfriend already!"
He pulled out some gossip magazine out of his back pocket and flopped it down to show Edward and I getting into a car together after the pre-fight interview. The article was supposed to talk about how I was the first woman people had seen Edward with throughout his entire career and how I must have been something special and blah, blah, blah.
It was all just crap that I didn't want to read but Mike obviously did.
I leaned back in my chair, fodling my hands in my lap as I glanced up at my employer.
"Mike," I said quietly. "Edward and I hadn't become public yet. If I had turned you down so quickly, questions would have risen. When questions come up, lies form. I'm not one for lying."
"I wouldn't have asked questions, Bella!" he fumed.
"Yes you would've, Mike. And I couldn't risk it. You know that."
"So now your keeping things from me? What's next, bella?" he threw the envelope my way. The heading was addressed to me but at the very corner of the envelope was the only name I had been looking for the entire day. From The New York Times. "Are you going to ditch us for a better paper now? What now? Huh?"
Mike's voice became totally tuned out to my ears as I ripped the letter open, reading the paper inside.
Dear Ms. Isabella Swan,
"I can't believe this, Bella!"
We have had many of our head editors, staff and executives read your column on Edward A. Masen,
"And to think, I was considering giving you a Christmas bonus! Well now you can forget all about that, missy!"
And it seems that all of us agree when we say that your piece was not only charming, endearing, light and a breath of fresh air but also completely factual, you got down to some very serious points with Mr. Masen.
"I really liked you, Bella…"
You conquered what many writers would kill for and at such a young and prosperous age. You have proven to us that not only have future generations come up to some very high standard but reached exponential expectations.
"Bella? Are you even listening to me?"
Therefore, we would like to welcome you, if you will, onto our staff as a reporter of The New York Times. We would like to hear back from you within the week and we are hoping that you will accept our offer.
Thank you for your time and we hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Angela Webber
Editor and Chief, The New York Times
"I quit," I whispered to myself.
Mike stared down at me with wide eyes.
"What?"
I clung to my letter for dear life, feeling tears of joy fill my eyes.
"I quit!" I laughed, my voice louder. "I quit!"
Mike was taken aback, stumbling back until his knees hit one of the chairs in front of my desk.
"Y-you can't quit," Mike stuttered out. "You have to give us two weeks notice! It's in your contract!"
I fumbled around my desk, gathering things into my messenger bag like my laptop and the few personal things I had kept with me at the office like pictures and my diploma.
"Sorry, Mike," I sniffled, wiping my tears. "But I fucking hate this paper. I hate you and I hate everyone in this hellhole."
I slung my bag around my shoulders and bolted for the door, ready to tell Edward and celebrate. Mike simply sat down in the chair in front of my old desk, staring off into space flatly, his jaw touching the floor.
"Have a nice life, Mike, because I know I will."
After that, making my way down to Edward was a blur of happiness. When I reached the parking garage, knowing he would be there after a few text messages, I couldn't help but fucking run to his Aston and flinging the door open before launching myself inside.
Edward stared at me with wide eyes but didn't have time to get in a word before I crushed my lips to his, heat, passion and excitement filling our kiss. When I finally pulled away, we were both panting heavily. Edward's hair a mess and lips smeared with my lipstick. His eyes were wide with shock but also glazed with lust.
"What was that for?" he chuckled after a beat.
"I got it!" I panted excitedly.
His teeth beamed my way.
"Got what?"
"The Times!" I squealed. "They want me! I got a reporting job at The Times!"
"Oh my god! Bella! That's so awesome!"
He pulled me into his arms, sealing his excitement with mine as he kissed my temple.
"I can't believe this," I whispered to him. "Everything is so perfect…"
"You deserve this, Bella. You've worked so hard and-"
I stopped him abruptly, crushing my lips to his once again, my hands lingering on his face after pulling away.
"Thank you," I whispered.
He stared at me in confusion, his brows knit slightly together.
"Why are you thanking me?"
"Because if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been noticed. If it weren't for you I wouldn't be me again. If it weren't' for you I wouldn't be…whole."
"Oh Bella," Edward sighed. "It was never me. You did everything. You wrote that story. I just sat there and looked handsome."
I couldn't help but giggle at his cocky smile. He was right, I had done a lot when it came to myself and my career but Edward had been there for the past couple of months through thick and thin. He had captivated me as much as I had him.
"I love you," I whispered against his lips.
He smiled into our kiss, sighing in content.
"I love you, Bella."
"Now," I cleared my throat, leaning back into my seat. "Can we go eat? I'm starving!"
Edward pulled the car into drive and nodded.
"Sure, babe. Whatever you want."
…
Skin against skin, lips against lips. The thick air pressing against my sensitive flesh and flowing my lungs was mixed with our heavy pants and the scent of sweat and love.
My skin was slick with sweat as Edward's body pressed against mine.
"Edward…" I breathed, feeling my eyes roll back.
"Mmmm," he moaned into my breast.
His lips and tongue were latched onto my nipple, swirling, nipping and lapping at the pebbled flesh. My fingers tangled into his locks, sending a silent prayer that he'd stay right there as he moved slowly inside of me. Painfully slow.
Edward's hand slipped under my knee with gentle determination. His thrusts into were slow, calculated. He was driving me crazy and loving every moment of it.
"Please, Edward," I pleaded. "Faster. Harder. Anything!"
He shook his head, pulling his lips off of me. Once his hands had pulled my legs further apart, making me feel every inch of him as he pressed into me.
"No, baby," he panted, his eyes boring into mine. "I'm going to take my time with you. Worship every bit of your body," his hand ran down my stomach, making me arch my back off the bed completely. "Until I feel," kiss on my stomach. "that you," kiss on my belly button. "Have been fully," kiss on breast. "Satisfied."
He began to slow even more, my body quivering in ecstasy. His hands worked on every bit of my skin, kneading and pressing on all the right spots. His lips and mouth worked against me as well, licking and speaking words of worship on my skin.
"I love you," I panted, knowing I was close. "Oh god, I love you…"
Edward placed his lips on mine, pain and determination mixing on his face as he tried to hold on for dear life. His arms wound around my body, his stomach flexing and curling to meet me pelvis to pelvis. I placed my hands on his ribs, not caring how slow he was moving anymore.
"Fuck!" Edward cried, flinging his head back as he struggled to remain at a languid pace.
I hitched both my legs on the small of his back, trying to keep him close to me as he began to move faster. Our breaths, our heartbeats…everything was one. Our bodies were one as well as our souls.
I placed my forehead to his shoulder, feeling tears of pleasure and joy forming in my eyes.
The warmth of my climax radiated everywhere, starting in my toes until it hit every nerve and fiber in me, sending my wails of ecstasy throughout Edward's apartment and bedroom. It didn't take Edward too long to follow right behind.
He tried to pull out, worried his weight was too much on me but I locked my legs around him, never allowing him to move. He relaxed on top of me, his weight actually feeling great on top of me. His forearms kept most of him up but I wouldn't mind having him all on me.
His lips placed languid, lazy kisses along my shoulders and neck until he met my lips, our eyes meeting each other's as we kissed.
Hands, legs, lips and hearts all got lost in between the mix of skin and love. It wasn't forced, wasn't painful. Everything about being with Edward was easy, fantastic and complete ecstasy.
I reached up to touch his cheek, palming his skin gently.
"I love you," I hummed.
His eyes closed, rolled back in harmony as he heard the words. His forehead touched against me.
"You're going to kill me, you know that," he chuckled softly.
I smiled, shaking my head.
"Well I wasn't hoping for that response but I'd prefer you not to die. I could really use you," I teased.
"Oh?" he cocked an eyebrow up at me. "Use me for what?"
I giggled wildly before kissing the tip of his nose. He tasted of salt and love. Magnificent.
"What do you think?"
"Careful now, my love," he growled playfully. "Keep talking like that and I might have to pull out."
"I dare you to try," I challenged, locking my ankles easily.
"Is that another challenge, Miss Swan?"
"You bet."
"I told you not to challenge me."
"But I did."
"I can see that."
"What are you going to do about it?"
Edward made a move to force himself back but my legs kept him down, against me. To me it didn't even feel as if he was trying but when he fell back down against me, his face and eyes widened in shock.
In a fit of determination, Edward placed his hands beside my head, making me press my lips together as I tried not to laugh at his attempts. He tried to force himself but once again, my leg strength was much more than the rest of my body. Edward came crashing back down, his face still shocked.
"H-how…?"
"I told you," I shrugged, untangling my legs and body form under him until I rolled off the bed. "Seventeen years of dancing and then the rest of my life spent working on boxing with my cousins. I'm not weak, Edward. Not even close."
Edward lay on his side, elbow propping his head up so he could stare at me as I pulled on a pair of clean underwear I kept at his place now, a pair of huge, grey but very comfy sweat pants and a sports bra.
"What time is it?" Edward asked as I pulled my hair up into a ponytail.
"Five thirty," I looked at his digital clock beside the bed. "Perfect time."
"Perfect time for what? Why are you getting dressed?"
I smirked at him, throwing on my favorite sneakers and an easy tank top I only used for times like these.
"I'm going to show you what I'm really made of."
…
After half an hour of trying to pry Edward out of bed and fussing pasta couple of exhausted paparazzi, I was able to bring Edward down to the studio I hadn't visited in almost four months. Cars lined the darkened parking lot, just as I knew there would be.
I had been so busy with life that dancing, my hobby, had taken a backseat. I hadn't stepped foot in a studio for almost four months and this one would be difficult. Especially with Edward at my side.
When we finally made our way inside and up to the level where music was already blaring, Edward was in awe. There was a small group of people about my age dancing as we stood there, mirrors reflecting every motion and movement they made.
My entire life I had danced ballet and contemporary but when I made the trek to New York I had taken up a bit of hip hop here and there. I loved it and thought that it was a better form of dancing when you just wanted to fool around instead of becoming so serious.
Edward was gaping at the wild movements of the women and men before us, their focus on the beat and rhythm of the movement. Their style of dance was impeccable, even if it was hip hop, and untamed and wild form of dance. It was feverish and deliberant. Rebellious and beautiful. I loved it.
I was lost in the music as well as the movement when I heard a familiar voice squeal out.
"Bella!" I was thrown to the floor before I could even open my mouth and see who it was.
It was the voice that threw the dancers off. And my name.
"Leah!" I groaned, trying to push her off of me as best I could. "What the hell? Are you trying to snap me in half?"
When I looked up to see one of my best friends and former dancers standing before me I noticed how awesome Leah looked. Her long, shining black hair hand grown, even if it was in a ponytail. She had gotten a couple of tattoos to match the one she had gotten on her upper arm a couple years back, making her russet skin pop even more. She wore sneakers, a pair of sweats that matched my own and a sweatshirt.
"Sorry," she laughed, offering me her hand. "I just haven't seen you around these parts for a while."
"I know," I rubbed my hip after standing up and pulled her into a tight hug. "But I came to show friend what a badass I can be."
She gave me an inquisitive glance before spotting a stunned Edward.
"He doesn't believe you got skills?" she placed her hands on her hips, winking at me.
She liked him.
I played along.
"Nope," I shook my head. "So I was hoping you could help me show him what kind of skills I got under my belt."
"Shit!" she scoffed at him. "You're in for a treat, guy. C'mon, B."
I chuckled and told Edward to just watch as I got reacquainted with some of my former dance buddies. There were a lot of new comers to our old group but from what I could tell they all loved dance as much as Leah and I always had. An important aspect to both of us when it came to our group.
"You think you can get the moves down, B? Or are you a little rusty?" Leah teased as she made her way to the front of the group.
I snorted at her, rolling my eyes.
"What do you think?"
She shrugged, and called to the class.
"Alright guys," she called over them. "Let's show her what we've got."
The music started, pounding against the walls and windows as I watched Leah closely. every move she made was easily stored in my memory, my body moving slightly so I could remember in a moment. She was testing me. Making sure I still had what it took to dance. Fuck if I didn't.
I could feel Edward's eyes on me as I tried to memorize everything. It wasn't easy to focus with him here but I could do it. I had to prove not only to Leah and Edward that I could still do this but also to myself. As much as I loved boxing, I missed dancing every now and then. It was good for the soul.
When they finished, Leah called me in. her arm failing and people in the group around her giving her inquisitive glances. They didn't think I could do it but as I made my way to the front, standing right beside Leah, I knew I could.
"Ready?" she asked me, our reflections staring back at us.
I took a deep breath, feeling my heart start to pump enormous amounts of adrenaline into my blood.
"As I'll ever be."
Leah nodded, making the music come on within moments. My body moved easily, my movements swift and easy as I shifted in and out of each count. I couldn't help but smile at my friend and myself as I followed each movement perfectly.
When the song finally ended and our movements ceased, I could feel the need to do more. I needed. It and had missed it more than anything.
"She's back!" Leah cried happily, wrapping her arms around my neck.
"I never left, L," I laughed gently. "I never left."
"You want to try a different style?" she asked eagerly.
"So early in the morning?" I laughed. "I thought morning runs are for hip hop?"
"We can make an exception for you, B. You haven't danced in a while, huh?"
"No. Just boxing."
"Wow. That sucks."
"Eh," I shrugged playfully. "I like it."
"You're boy," she cocked her head towards Edward's direction. "He a dancer?"
I shook my head, "Boxer."
"Thought so. He's got the body for it."
"He's number three in the world."
"Yeah," she nodded. "I saw something about him and you in a magazine a couple days back. What's that about?"
"He's a celebrity. Comes with the territory I guess."
"Well he's hot," Leah smirked. "That's a plus."
I chuckled, placing my shin on my shoulder as I stared at Edward. He sent a smile my way, winking at me playfully as he leaned against one of the enormous poles that were scattered throughout the studio.
"Yeah. He is."
Leah was silent for a moment, her eyes on me from what I could feel.
"You love him."
It wasn't a question but it was the truth so I didn't mind.
"I do," I looked back at her softly. "I love him."
Leah rolled her eyes, a large, goofy smile on her lips.
"C'mon," she nudged my shoulder. "Let's get to dancing."
"Contemporary?" I asked, sliding off my shoes and sweatpants. I had put on tights on top of my underwear so I could dance easier so I had been lucky.
"Sure," I nodded, throwing my stuff off to the side and taking my place in front of the mirror.
Edward still stood there, watching me with careful eyes. He wanted to see what I could do and I would show him what I was. Who I was.
"Ready?" Leah called from the sound booth.
"Play it!"
The song came on strong, my body making angles and shifts I forgot were possible. It had been a while since I had choreographed anything and it was rough but I really enjoyed the articulate and powerful force I created within myself. I pushed harder than I ever had, legs reaching up and jumps at least three to four feet off the air. Pointing toes and rapid heart beats. Rhythm and style all combine into one.
It was all so fluid. So angry and passionate. Everything I wanted and needed.
When I was finished, I knew he could see it.
He could finally see me.
I own none of these dances! I did not make nor choreograph these! I am simply using them on a temporary basis!(:
Group dance: http:/www (dot) youtube (dot) com/watch?v=rWyqDsfjvbQ
Bella's Contemporary Solo: http:/www (dot) you tube (dot) com/watch?v=rWyqDsfjvbQ