Hey guys, I know it's been awhile. I'm so sorry. I'm internet's still off but the builders have promised that it will be fixed soon.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews :-)
Thanks to my beta cedward2417.
xxx
Chapter 12: Part 1
Daddyward
She licked her lips and smiled up at me- her brown eyes swirled with lust.
I reached out to touch her; her skin felt like silk– all soft and feminine.
"Bella," I pulled her body on top of mine. Her pale legs straddled each side of me. Her hands tugged my hair tightly, and my nose burrowed in her neck. Her scent was overwhelming with her cherry scented shampoo and lotion.
I was lost in my own personal heaven.
"Edward." She bit my ear while moaning into it, making me ache more.
I needed her. I needed to be inside her.
"Love, please." I tugged her silk nightie over her head, leaving her naked and glorious in front of me.
My hands went straight to her breasts; massaging, tugging, biting, licking, making her squirm and wriggle against my body.
I knew I was naked. I have no idea how, but I didn't care.
I had the women of my dreams naked and she made my body play like an orchestra. Every touch, every kiss, every moan; was building together to create the greatest masterpiece that had ever been created.
"Oh, Bella, Love," I grunted in pleasure as her hand covered my erection.
"Edward, I want you," she purred, stroking me. My hips bucked and I grabbed her neck and pulled her to me, kissing her with everything I had.
"Now, Edward. I need you inside of me now."
"God, yes, Bella," I muttered lifting up enough so that she slid gracefully over me. Her muscles- warm, slick, and wet grabbed me like their lives depended it on. I was home.
"Bella, you feel so good, Love," I mumbled into her neck as she moved above me. I have never felt something so amazing in my life.
My name fell from her lips as my body gave her pleasure. It sent my heart into overdrive, beating quicker than normal.
Our hands roamed. Our mouths roamed. Our bodies worked in sync, creating a perfect rhythm and filling our senses and hearts.
"Bella, I, I,"
"GET OUT THE WAY, YOU FUCKING DOUCHE," the car horn blasted through my ears. I jumped forward hitting my head on the car door window and my legs on the dashboard.
I was no longer wrapped in Bella's warmth. Fuck.
Instead, I found myself confused and slightly disoriented before I remembered my road trip.
"Finally awake, Eddie boy?" Emmett laughed and pressed the horn again.
"How long was I asleep?" I looked out the window to see where we were.
"About an hour or so," he smirked. "So Eddie's got a little crush on little Bell, eh?"
I felt my eyes widen in shocked. I was not ashamed of my feelings for Bella; I just didn't think I was that obvious.
"Oh Bella... Bella...," he moaned and started making kiss noises.
God, I was so embarrassed. I must have been talking in my sleep.
"Shut up, Em, what are we, ten?" I punched him in the arm. "Leave me alone."
Jasper 's laughter filled the car. I had forgotten that he was there. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.
"Aww, Eddie, I think you're so cute- you and little Bell. Does she know about your crush?" He laughed.
"Shut the fuck up, Emmett; and yes she knows I like her. But she's not ready for a relationship. We've decided to be friends for now."
Emmett grew quiet and his face was very serious. "Who said anything about a relationship? Ever heard of friends with benefits?"
"Bella wouldn't go for that, Emmett." Jasper voiced.
"You know Bella?" I turned around and asked him. I still knew very little about this man, in fact I didn't know anything at all.
"Yes, I've know her for years. She doesn't need a relationship or a hook up right now." His voice was laced with determination and possibly jealously.
My mind started wondering with images of Jasper and Bella. Somewhere in my heart I knew that nothing had happened between them; but I got the vibe that that was not by Jasper's choice. I looked back out the window, I didn't want them to see my jealously with that new knowledge.
"Bella needs to get laid. YOU need to get laid," Emmett voiced.
"Well, I don't want just a hook up. We've talked about it. I know she's attracted to me, but right now she needs to focus on her and Leah. So we're just going to be friends."
It was Emmett's turn to fill the car with his laughter. "Bro, you and Bella have never and will never be just friends. Friends do not look at each other the way you's did the other morning. The whole diner could feel the sexual tension. But you're right, little Bell is not ready yet," he rambled and then took a deep breath before continuing his rant. "But, Edward, don't just sit around and wait. Bella needs a bit of a push- she needs someone else to show her what's right in front of her. I'm not saying that you should just jump the poor girl, but don't sit around and become her best friend because she'll get comfortable; then she'll be too scared to change anything- she'll settle for being friends."
"I have thought of that Emmett. That's why I have agreed to being friends, and I think that we can hopefully make a great foundation. But I'm not going to hide my feelings completely from her- I won't force her either Emmett."
"I know, I'm not saying that Edward."
"I know," I whispered back.
We all grew quiet, lost in our own thoughts for a moment.
"Are you going to tell me where we are going yet?" I asked. I was getting a little frustrated about the lack of information they had given me about this road trip. All they have told me so far was that we were going to help Jasper's sister, and that it would take all weekend. I'm guessing that she has been involved with a sick bastard who beats up women as Emmett mentioned Alice's situation with James; but that was all I knew.
"What do think Jazz, should we tell him?" Emmett asked.
I gave him what my sister called the 'death' glare. I liked to call it the 'fuck you' glare.
"I think it's safe now, we'll be there by morning." Morning? Where the fuck were we going?
"Alright, but you have to promise that you will not say anything to Bella." It was Emmett's turn to give me the 'I'm serious' face.
"Bella? What does she have to do with this?" Now I was very interested. If this had anything to do with Bella, then I wanted in.
"Because we're going to save Rosie," Emmett answered; his voice was low and vulnerable.
"Rosie, as in the girl Bella lived with in Phoenix?" I remembered Emmett telling me about her briefly the night I first met Leah. He got this far away look, dreamy smile, and twinkle in his eye. This told me that he cared a lot about this Rosie. I knew now that I was completely wrong about Emmett's feelings towards Bella, but maybe I had misread him all along, and it was Rosie that he was in love with. I guess I would find out when I got to see them together.
"Yeah," he sighed.
Jasper piped up, "She's been dating this douche for a few years now. I never liked him, but Rose was smitten and one of the things about Rose is that you can't tell her what to do. If I told her to stay away from him, then she would do the opposite. Anyway, Royce has always been a bit controlling, but last year I found out that he'd been hitting her and treating her like shit. I was ready to kill him, but she begged me not too, she told me that she would leave him." I could see the pain on Jasper's face as he filled me in.
I knew how he was feeling, but the difference between us was that I got to beat the shit out of the guy that hurt my sister. Jasper hadn't. Instead he had to sit on the fence line and watch his sister get hurt.
Jasper continued, "When Bella moved in with Rose, it stopped. Rose swears that he had changed and that he was treating her, 'like a princess.' Rose was happy, and I never saw anymore bruises so I let it go. I got a call from St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix last night. She has three broken ribs, a broken leg, fractured hand, and whatever bruises he had left on her body. Dr. Meyer said that she's lucky to be alive. Her neighbor got worried as she sees her everyday and went to check on her. She had been lying in her own pool of blood for three days, Edward. Three days- he fucking left her to die," his voice broke at the end.
I didn't know what to say about Rose. I felt sick to my stomach thinking about what she had been through. My thoughts went to Bella and Leah- they would have known this man. He would have been in the same room as them, maybe even stayed in their house. Now I wanted to kill this guy.
I was starting to collect quite a list of men that I wanted to take off this earth. I wondered how Jasper and Emmett would feel about going on a little murder spree; one guy each. Jasper could have Royce, Emmett could have James and I'll have... James. Two James's? It was just a coincidence, right? Two James's? James is a popular name after all. What would the chances be of two guys named James, that lived a few hundred miles away from each other, and both who have been beating up woman be?
"Hey, guys, is it weird that both Bella and Alice were attacked by a guy named James?" I questioned. I wanted to make sure that I was not going a bit crazy.
"What was Alice's James's surname?" Jasper asked while looking thoughtfully out the window.
"Huh, Dawson, I think." I noticed Emmett's body stiffen and I knew in that moment that I wasn't crazy. I had just hit the jackpot.
"James Dawson? Short blonde hair, a little scruffy, and always wearing too much cologne?" Emmett asked clenching his jaw together.
"His hair was long blonde, but the rest sounds about right. I had only met him two times, and the second time I was too angry to take in his appearance beforehand. I couldn't see much of his face after from all of the blood."
I'm not an angry person. I don't go around getting into fights, and beating up random men whenever I feel like. In fact, I have only hit a guy three times in my life. The first time was when I was in high school. I was really skinny and very shy in high school. My hair was bright orange, and I wore bruises until I was seventeen. There was one boy named Simon who would take great pleasure in making my day as unbearable as possible. He would trip me up, put glue on my chair, pushed me into lockers- anything he could do, he would. But because of him, I learned how to fight. I grew myself a thicker layer of skin and became a fighter. If I wanted something in life, I would fight for it. When I wanted to join the school's basketball team, I joined the gym, got a private coach, and spent my summer before my senior year working out and training. When I wanted to get into Harvard, I spent my days with my nose in a text book and studied until I had the grades and my acceptance letter. I became a fighter and it was something that I was not about to give up. However, I also became a different type of fighter. I learned how to throw a punch and take down a man that was twice my weight. I gave Simon two broken ribs and a busted lip on my first day of senior year. He never bullied me again – no one did.
The second man I had punched was Jane's lawyer. He was trying to get my consent for Jane to kill my child, but I refused and I lost my temper with his petty comments and prejudgment towards rich people.
James was man number three.
"Wait, I thought you went with him?" Jasper asked Emmett.
"I did, but I was watching the door, making sure that no one could get in to help him. Eddie here, wanted to do it himself. I was just a backup." He smirked. I knew that he was proud of me that day. Emmett loved Alice as if she was his own sister, and it killed him to see her that way.
"But didn't you ever see him when he was with Alice?"
"Nah, they weren't together long enough for me to see them."
"So how do we know if it is the same guy?" Jasper asked.
That was one question that I had been dying to ask, but I was too much of a coward to ask Bella; and it didn't feel right to ask anyone else – until now. It was the perfect opportunity to find out the one thing I really wanted to know.
I turned away from the passing cars and faced Emmett, he was rattling ideas off from Jasper's question, but my brain was too focused on my own question to pay any attention.
"Emmett?"
"Yeah."
"Where is James now? Is he in prison?" I held my breath. He had to be in prison. There is no way he would be set free after everything he had done. He kidnapped a little girl from her babysitter's house, and then held her and her mother hostage.
"Yeah, he is now." He sighed deeply. I watched his face as he grew more worried as the day went on.
"Now?"
"He managed to disappear after Bella got her and Leah out of that house. It took them five weeks to find him." Emmett vented, his anger was seeping through each word.
"He got denied bail, but we're still waiting on the court date before we know how the bastard will be sentenced."
I didn't say anything to him- I had no words to bring any comfort. But it was an opening that I could use to bring the topic up with Bella eventually. I had always wanted to hear her tell me what happened. It was her story after all, and I wanted her to open her heart to me.
However, I knew that I was not being fair. Bella had already shared so much with me, and I have not shared anything with her- at least nothing about Anthony and Jane. But how do I tell her that Anthony was born in prison? That I paid his mother to give me full custody and stay out of his life. That every time she calls I pay her some more– praying that she would finally sign away her rights to him. What does that say about me? Sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing with Jane. Anthony deserved to have a mother, but when she calls, I'm reminded of the reasons I have done what I have.
When I see Bella with him, I feel guilty and excited at the same time. He has become attached to her so quickly, and loves the attention that she gives him.
"I think we should stop here and grab something to eat before I fade away." Emmett grumbled while breaking me out of my thoughts.
"Sure," I mumbled back, suddenly wishing I was back at home.
The weather had dramatically changed since we left Forks; there were no grey clouds, foggy air, and damp grounds; instead the sky was cloudy white, the air fresh and warm, and the ground was dry and crackly. It felt great to be away from the rain for a bit, I just wish that I had my son with me. I knew I would miss him, but I didn't realize just how much. I was working most of the day and even though I got to see him a little bit before I left, I was not enough. I had also missed his bedtime. That was the one time of day that I made sure I spent with my son every day, and tonight was the first time I had not been there. I did call him after his bath and made up a story for him and Leah though the phone, but it wasn't the same.
I wonder how Bella is handling it? I knew she went home not long after I left. I wonder what she's doing with her free time?
With Bella still on my mind, I quickly grabbed some chips and a soda before sneaking away from Emmett and Jasper. I opened my phone and dialed the number. She answered after two rings which made my heart flutter.
"Hello."
"Hey, Bella. It's Edward." I mumbled shyly while kicking around the stones on the ground. I don't know why I was suddenly acting shy around this woman.
"Hey, Edward, how's your road trip?" She replied with a smile in her voice.
"Good, I just thought I'd give you a call and see how you're doing without Leah there?" It was meant to be a statement, but it somehow came out like a question.
"I'm fine," she giggled, "I'm just unpacking the rest of my stuff. I was thinking about decorating this place. Everything's plain and cream, and I want it to feel homey and excited. Right now it just looks plain and boring, but I start work on Monday and I don't think I'll have time to get it done," she rambled. I tried not to laugh, but was unsuccessful.
"It's not funny Edward, this is our home. I want Leah to feel at home."
"Love, Leah will feel at home as long as you're there. That's all that matters. But if you want I'm not back to work until a week on Monday, why don't I help with your house. I don't have anything to do when Anthony's at school, and I'm sure my mom would love to help."
"Edward, I can't ask you to do that," she sighed. I smiled to myself. The thought of spending a whole week in Bella's house was like a dream come true. It would require me to spend a lot of time with Bella and Leah deciding what color to do the living room or kitchen, and I could finally get Mom's hands on Leah's bedroom.
"You're not asking, Love, I'm offering, and I'm not taking no for an answer." I stressed. I could hear Emmett calling me. "I have to go- I'll call later or in the morning if that's okay?" I held my breath, waiting for her to answer.
"That's okay," she finally answered.
"Great," I let the breath I was holding out, "I'll speak to soon, Love."
"Okay, goodnight, Edward," she breathed down the phone.
"Goodnight, Bella." I closed the phone and walked around the corner from the side wall. Emmett was standing beside the car while Jasper was pacing in front of the shop, talking on his phone.
I made my way over to the car, opening up my soda.
"Why do you look like the cat that got the cream?" Emmett grinned, dimples and all. I shrugged my shoulders and took a sip of my soda, hoping Emmett would leave me alone.
"Alright, don't tell me. I'll just phone Bella and she'll tell me." He chuckled. I gave him another shrug; I knew he wouldn't do that to Bella. He wouldn't embarrass her the way he does me... at least I hoped he wouldn't.
Jasper's voice caught my attention. He was trying to keep himself under control, but I could tell that he was losing his patience with whoever he was talking too. "Is he okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, he's just really worried about Rose."
"What's the plan anyway?" I asked. "You do have one right?" I leaned against the car next to him. I didn't want by-passers to hear our conversation.
"Sort of. I know that we're going to the hospital first to get Rose, and take her to a hotel while he hunts down Royce." Emmett sneered when saying his name.
"Well that's a start."
"Argh," Jasper yelled. His long bendy legs stormed over to the car. I opened my mouth to say something, but was cut off by the slamming of the car door. I looked at Emmett who just shrugged, and got in the car.
"What's happened Jazz?" Emmett asked after about another half an hour drive in complete silent.
"Rose has checked herself out of the hospital AMA, and no one has any idea where she has gone." He huffed in a temperamental way. I was not sure if he was frustrated with Rose's action or with the whole situation. I knew he was worried about her, and I could see him clenching his hands every so often- helping him control his anger. I even saw Emmett grip the car wheel a few times while huffing out his nose.
The car was filled with comfortable silence for the rest of the drive; Emmett had doubled his speed so that we could reach Phoenix tonight. My mind was filled with plans of what I really wanted in life. When I was in Bella's house and saw all those beautiful photos she had taken, and listened to how passionate she was about her work, it made me think about my own life.
When I met Jane I was in cutlery school training to become a chef. But all that changed the moment I decided that I wanted to raise Anthony by myself. The day that I left Chicago and moved to Forks -I left my dream of becoming a chef behind. Things were changing now, Anthony started school next week, and I wondered if it was time that I made changes with my career.
"So what's the plan now, Jazz?" I asked, "Are we going to look for Rose?"
"It's late, maybe it's best to check into a hotel right now, get some sleep, and start fresh in the morning." Emmett voiced. I nodded my head with agreement. I wanted to rest and call Bella again, but at the same time, if this girl was badly hurt, or if Royce was dangerous and could really hurt her, then I wanted to find her now. I wanted to make sure she was safe.
I voiced this concern to them, and we agreed to check into the hotel and then try to find Rose. Jasper gave me a smile that showed that he was grateful that I wanted to help find Rose.
We checked into a hotel that Jasper recommended just after eleven. I was excited to see the town where Leah was born and lived for the last few years. But I was feeling uneasy about having to lie to Bella. Jasper and Emmett both agreed that it was best not to tell her where we were or what we were here for. I understood why they didn't want to tell her, but I knew that she was going to ask when I called. I didn't want to lie to her, but I couldn't tell her the truth.
"Hello," she answered groggily.
"Hey, sorry Love, did I wake you?" I felt bad that I left it so late to call her.
"No, I was awake. I think everything is just catching up with me. How's the trip? Where are you?" She asked.
I sat down on the bed in my room, trying to get as comfortable as possible. "It's alright; we've just been driving so far- nothing exciting yet. Did you get everything unpacked and put away?" I asked trying to dodge her questions.
"Yeah, it's amazing what you can get done if you're left alone."
"Did you think about my offer earlier?"
"Argh, Edward," she moaned in frustration.
"Yes, Love?"
"Are you sure you want to spend your week off painting my house?"
"I can't think of a better way to spend my time." I grinned.
"Alright, I'll talk with Esme tomorrow when I pick the kids up." My grin grew wider and butterflies filled my stomach at the way she said 'the kids.' It made me think of us as a family. A guy could dream, right.
"Great. How about when I get back on Sunday, we can all go out for dinner and then we can discuss what you want to do to the house?" I asked feeling very excited.
"That sounds great Edward." I heard her yawn through the phone.
"I think someone needs their bed," I chuckled. "I have to get back to the boys anyway. Can I call you tomorrow?"
"Of course, I was thinking of taking the kids to the movies tomorrow. Do you think Anthony would like that?"
"Yeah, he loves the movies. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Beautiful."
"Good night Edward," she whispered making my body hum.
"Good night, Bella," I whispered back.
The room was quiet, lonely. The curtains were opened- allowing the moon light to cast over the bed. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so alone, even though Emmett and Jasper were just next door.
I didn't have time to dwell in my pity party as Emmett banged on my door, telling me to get my ass moving.
It was going to be a long night.
xxx
I know you have more questions now and they will get answered very soon.
Next chapter;
A search for Rose. A very drunk Edward. Emmentt arested and Jasper wakes up with a black eye.
Sound good?