Twenty

Bella hadn't heard from Edward in almost three weeks, although she despised him, a little part of her did miss the excitement of being with him. On Wednesday night she tossed and turned in bed and finally started to drift off to sleep. She was nearly asleep when the jarring trill of her cell sounded loudly in the quiet room. Heart racing she picked up the phone and sleepily said, "Hello?"

"Bella, it's Edward," his voice was soft and seductive.

"Edward, you haven't called me." Her voice was soft, drifting back into sleep.

"I know. I wanted to give you the little more time that you asked for. Bella, are you in bed?"

"Yes."

"Are you wearing my shirt?" he asked huskily.

"Yes. I've worn it every night." She confessed drowsily.

"Do you remember how we made love the last time? In your bed?" he asked her.

"Yes," she whispered. His voice was intoxicating. She rolled onto her side and cradled the phone to her ear.

"Bella, I want to hold you like that again. Do you miss me like I miss you?"

"Yes, I do. Very much. I feel empty."

Edward groaned in her ear. "Do you want me to fill you? Do you want us to make love like that again?"

"Yes, fill me. Again and again. Please." She wanted him like crazy, it had been too long. Bella tucked her pillow between her aching thighs.

"Tell me, what do you like Bella? What makes you tremble when we make love? Do you like when I kiss your sweet, sweet mouth? When I lick and suck your little nipples? When I taste your sweet, naked pussy?"

"Yes. I like all of it." She hesitated then whispered, "Edward, I like it the most when you come in me. You moan and say my name." Bella was aching, thinking about him.

"I like it too. You're so soft and sweet, Bella. Bella when can we make love again?" His voice was thick with longing.

"When you come home to me."

"You won't send me away?"

"No."

"You won't tell me that you want to end it?"

"No. Edward I want you so much. Please come back, soon."

"I'm right here Bella, a few feet away. I'm at your front door. Open it."

"What? Are you kidding?" She sat up in bed.

"No, Bella, I'm not. Open your door, baby."

The sound of running feet echoed through the house and the door opened.

Edward pulled her into his arms and carried her back to her bed. "Bella, Bella. I missed you." He laid her on the bed and pressed his body into hers as she opened her mouth for his deep, deep kisses.

He stood up and undressed quickly and returned to bed and pulled her into his arms. He searched under his shirt to caress her hips and her waist, he reached up and rubbed her breasts. He looked into Bella's bemused eyes.

Bella raised her hands and touched his face in awe. "How did you know I was dreaming of you?" she asked. She still couldn't believe that this wasn't part of her dream.

Edward laughed softly in her ear, kissing the curve of her neck. "Take off the shirt, Bella." When she raised her arms to take it off he sucked each nipple. He rolled onto his back holding the now naked Bella above him. "Bella you're mine, you'll always be mine. You can't leave me, ever."

Bella nodded, admitting to him and herself that what he said was true. "Yes. I'm yours, Edward. "

"I'll never let you go." He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly, binding her to him as if he never wanted to let her go. His arms moved down her back until he touched her behind and he slipped his hands into her panties. He squeezed and rubbed her pulling her into his hips, rubbing her against his stiff cock. He rolled her onto her back and slid down her body, peeling her panties off and opening her thighs; circling her sweet spot with the tip of his tongue, humming at the taste of her in his mouth. When Bella moved her hips in small circles he moved his tongue into her.

Bella moaned, "Yes, yes, yes." He licked her until she was whimpering her need, helpless and ready, begging him, "now, now" until Edward moved up her body licking a trail to her navel and then to her nipples. Bella was panting by the time he entered her and his thrust was hard and deep. He slid his arms under her body and held her shoulders. He pulled her down as he thrust up over and over again. Bella's eyes opened to look into his and he was so achingly beautiful that the words just poured right out of her.

She arched her back and shuddered with the pleasure he was giving her. "Oh Edward, I love you, so much."

He continued to move in her as she moaned his name and wrapped her arms and legs around him, her body surrounding him and for the next few minutes it was as if she'd become his whole world. "Bella, Bella, Bella." Her name was like a prayer that he said again and again until he was trembling in her arms.

Afterwards they lay next to each other, silver eyes staring into golden ones. He reached out with his right hand and slid it down her belly to the apex of her thighs. His hand squeezed her swollen folds and he said, "Mine." Just like that, he laid claim to her. Bella's heart turned over and she closed her eyes. She loved him more than she had imagined possible.

"Yours." she said.

A nagging beep, beep interrupted their canoodling, and Edward's gaze shifted to the door. Bella reached up and caressing his jaw directed his attention back to her. She wanted his kisses so badly. The beep, beeping continued and Bella rolled onto her belly, burying her head under the pillows. The annoying sound of the recycling trucks had robbed her of her Edward dream once again.

#

Nineteen days had passed since she last heard from Edward, Bella had been a little concerned that he would try to contact her again, but apparently her vicious words of rejection had done the trick. So much for his professed obsession, she thought to herself. He had probably already set his sights on some other poor fool. Who was she kidding? He probably had the poor fool in bed already. Or maybe he had opted to go back to the kind of women he was used to, the kind like Kate who knew the score. She wondered if Kate had known that he was married. Stupidly that possibility had never crossed her mind.

It was now the first week of August and it was the last week of her dance classes. Bella left her position at Bon Vivant the week before because she had decided to devote all her energies to the upcoming final year at CAL, or so she told Alice and her co-workers. And it was partially the truth, but she'd also left because she did not want Edward to have a means of getting in touch with her. She knew that she was being a bit cowardly, but she did not trust that she would be able to stand her ground, if the asswipe ever decided to pursue her again. Her recurring dreams of Edward attested to the fact that she was still weak and yearning where he was concerned. Edward had opened a world to her that she had never known existed. She craved him, her body missed his and while she tried to suppress the desire during the day, the dreams would come unbidden in the night, leaving her even more unsatisfied the next morning.

With Chris, the sex had been nice, a way to express their affection, and when he had left she had missed him, but she had never missed the sex. Perhaps that's why he had left her, she thought to herself. Maybe that's what he'd found with Adrianna, someone who loved him that way, so much that she would yearn for him when he was gone. She felt ready to forgive Chris. If there is one good that came out of this mess with Edward it was that. She had moved on and had come to a point in her life where she had accepted that Chris had made the right decision when he had left her.

The last night of classes, she had made pink lemonade cupcakes and given each of her young students a certificate of accomplishment. The parents had been treated to a little performance and she was happy when everyone had finally headed home. Jacob was home for a weekend visit, and would be picking her up and they would be "doing something fun" later that night. She picked up the colorful scarves that had been carelessly discarded by the excited performers, and found other sundry items which she placed in the lost and found. Rushing a little to get out of the studio, she didn't even bother to shower and change out of her black yoga pants and top.

She turned off the lights and locked up the studio and headed down the street to her car. A shiver of apprehension and déjà vu swept over her as she looked up from her cell and saw Edward leaning on his car which was parked just ahead, in front of the coffee shop. He cocked his head and smiled at her but did not make a move to approach her or come closer, seemingly content to just watch her. Bella tightened her lips and shifted her eyes away from his, quickening her steps a little she gave him a wide berth and made it to the corner. She hurriedly got into her car, buckled her seat belt and started the ignition. A quick glance over her shoulder, and she saw him, still standing there, staring at her. And he had the nerve to be smiling.

She shifted into gear and headed for her house, constantly looking behind her for his vehicle. He hadn't followed her. Bella ran quickly up the stairs into her house. She leaned against the front door breathing heavily. "What the hell was that all about?" she muttered to herself, her legs still shaking. Heart thumping she went to the front window, moving the curtain gingerly aside, there was no sign of him. She sat for many long minutes at the edge of her bed, still jittery, still wondering.

When the bell rang, she walked quietly to the door, sidling up to the glass and peeking around the edge until she could finally make out Jake's muscular silhouette. She heaved a sigh and opened the door.

"What's up, my Bella?" he came in and lifted her up and swung her around then set her down. "How's it hanging? You over the creepy sugar daddy yet?" The question was left unanswered and he tussled her hair, while she squirmed away. "My Bella, why aren't you dressed for our night out, I want to wine you and dine you."

Bella sat down heavily on the arm of the couch. "Would you be totally bummed if we just stayed in tonight? I just got through with my class and I'm not quite up to a night on the town."

Jake shook his head. "My Bella, you're young, don't be such a stick, let's just go out and dance, baby, dance." When he said this he shimmied his hips.

"Fine, Senor Pushy, I'll get dressed, even though I would love to stay in and cook for you and talk."

"Sounds like you are trying to hide, I'm not your best girlfriend, you know. I'm not going to eat ice-cream and cry with you over a chick flick. I'm here to party babe, and take you along for the ride, and you're going whether or not you want to."

"I said fine, where are we going and what should I wear?" she heaved a tired sigh and stood up.

"Well we are going to Booth's Steakhouse and then we are going dancing at a new club I heard about in Soma."

"What kind of dancing?"

"Line dancing." He said with a straight face.

Bella couldn't imagine anyone less likely to go line dancing than Broadway bound Jacob."Oh. My. God! Line dancing?

"Yep, I got my Stetson in the car."

"No way!" she fell back onto the couch, legs in the air kicking as she giggled helplessly.

Jake picked up the hem of his jeans and showed her his silver snakeskin boots. "Looky what I rustled up at Crossroads Trading today. Ain't it purtier than all git out?"

"What on earth are you saying?"

"Bella get with the program babe, we're going Texas tonight. You and I are gonna eat and talk Texas Tawk. Git it?"

"Aw righty?" she attempted to get on board.

"Well it's a start, but not a good start." He teased her.

"Why are we doing this?" She giggled again and stood up.

"I just auditioned for an off-off Broadway musical based on DALLAS."

"What part?"

"JR Ewing, who else?" He deadpanned.

"So, Godzilla, The Lizard King didn't pan out?" she questioned.

"Nope, didn't get the part." He shook his head and curled his lips dismissively.

"Awww, come here for a little huggy, wuggy."

They hugged and Jake kissed her cheek as he squeezed her tightly. "I only ever want to see you laugh, My Bella."

Tears sprung to her eyes. "I know Jakey. I love you, lots."

They broke apart and Bella exclaimed, "But I don't have a Texas outfit, Jake."

"Sure, ya do, durlin," and he went out to the porch and brought in a green shopping bag containing a pair of red cowboy boots and a short frilly denim skirt. "Just shower and grab a t-shirt and we're good to go."

"Okey dokey artichokey."

"Bella, that's not Texas Tawk, that's kindergarten talk." She showed him her tongue and skipped off to her room to change. Her spirits high and thoughts of Edward firmly pushed to the back of her mind.

#

Bella and Jake walked into the wood-paneled, sawdust covered bar. Jake whooped it up when he caught sight of the mechanical bull. "You're getting on that tonight." He told her.

"No way. You can do it, I can't. I'm liable to fall off and break a bone or something."

"I'll try if you will."

"Nope. Nuttin' doin' pardnuh."

They listened attentively to the basic instructions for the texas two step and started dancing. When the line dancing started Bella learned that she loved country music and line dancing. They had so much fun that Jake didn't bring her home until nearly one o'clock.

Jake walked her upstairs and stayed for a little bit before sauntering across the street and down to the corner to his parents' place.

As she moved the curtain aside to see him cross to his side of the tree lined street, she thought she saw the profile of someone in a dark car across the street, but the shadows from the overhanging leaves and branches were such that she couldn't be sure if it was Edward's car or even if there was really someone in there. Her heart thumped and she hurriedly closed the curtains. Was he stalking her?

#

The next day Bella went on campus and bought textbooks for her fall classes as well as registering on-line for the LSAT. She hoped to get into Boalt or Hastings, but made up her mind that she may apply for out-of-state schools as well. Since Alice was back in Austin, Bella bought just the barest amount of groceries and came home to put them away and do some household chores. She wondered idly how serious Alice was this time around about Jasper, and wondered what that would mean for her and her sister's living arrangements. It had suited them fine to remain in the family home as roommates, but what would she do if Alice moved in with Jasper, or vice-versa he with her? She made a mental note to bring it up with Alice when she came back home in two week's time.

From that her thoughts drifted to Edward, he wasn't really in that car last night, was he? It was more than likely her overactive imagination brought on by seeing him earlier that evening. The next week and a half loomed in front of her, a boring stretch of humdrum days, with nothing to occupy her time. She would get started on required reading for her classes, but she needed more than that to keep her busy. So, when Margo asked her to help man the booth at the fair in the park that Sunday she agreed. She had nothing better to do.

Members of Margo's troupe either took two hour turns, giving out information on classes for children and adults, or performed for a few minutes each hour. Her two hour turn at the booth was almost done and she was itching to walk around to the different booths and see the different performers. She was being relieved by Terra when a head of burnished auburn hair teased the corner of her eye. She turned and thought it was Edward, but she couldn't be sure.

After she lost sight of the head weaving through the crowd, her desire to visit any other booth had passed. Was he here? Surely this was no coincidence, was it? Bella wondered to herself. The only desire she had was to return home and curl up in her bed. Why did she keep seeing him? If it was him why didn't he say anything? Ohh, she was starting to get a headache. It was strange that she had gone three weeks without him and now two sightings in the last three days. If only Alice were here she would confide in her, but she was hesitant to call Alice and worry her.

A week went by with no Edward sightings to disrupt her equanimity. She settled into thinking those two incidents were just happenstance. She was reading her text books and looking forward to the start of classes in a few days. She even took a little saunter down the hill to the neighborhood library, as she passed the fountain in the circle she decided to skip the library and walked to Indian Rock park, she needed a little fresh air. As she sat on the grass soaking up a little sun, a little black and white spotted cocker pup ran to her and started licking her face. "Oh aren't you just the cutest little thing!" she exclaimed as the excited little bundle burrowed into her lap. "Where is your person, sweetie?" she asked as she tried to reach the tag, but just as she almost got it, a tall figure rounded the large boulder, panting and out of breath.

"Daisy, Daisy come here."

Of all people to run into, there was Christopher, standing, mouth agape, right in front of her. She held on to the squirming creature, and stood up. "Is your name Daisy? And do you belong to this guy over here with the leash?" she asked the now docile pup. "Oh, okay, well if you say so, Daisy." And she handed the dog over to Chris. He bent his blonde head down to attach the leash and when he stood back up his cheeks were flushed, either from exertion or surprise, she couldn't say.

"How are you Chris?" she asked softly smiling, looking up into his familiar sweet-shy face.

"I'm good, Bella. And you?" He moved from one foot to the other.

"I can't complain. How's Adrianna?"

"She's fine, we're fine. " There was a little silence and he lifted the leash in his hand, "We just got Daisy, yesterday. She's not trained and she's a handful." He yammered. "I remembered this park and thought it would be safe to bring her here. I haven't been here for a while."

"That's great. Isn't it funny how things happen? I just decided to take a walk, and came here for the first time in months and I run into you."

"Yeah, well, I guess I should keep walking her…"

"It was good seeing you. I mean it." And as he turned to go she put her hand on his arm and said, "Chris, I just want you to know that I'm glad, really glad, that you and Adrianna are happy. I know now that you and I were just high school sweethearts, first love and all that. I'm over it, and just wanted you to know that ..well… what can I say?" She let out a little laugh. "No hard feelings, okay?"

He nodded.

"Can I hug you goodbye, or would that be weird?" He laughed and they put their arms around each other. "Good-bye Chris."

"Good-bye Bella." And she walked out of the park as he headed further in with Daisy. Bella was on cloud nine the rest of the day.

#

Classes began on the third Monday in August and Alice returned from Austin later that week, she and Bella talked about their future.

"I don't know what to tell you Bella. If you stay at CAL for law school, we can continue this way, if you move away for school, I'll just play it by ear. I don't want a roomie, but the house is a little big for one person."

"How are things with Jasper?" Bella asked, it was unlike Alice to hold her cards so close to her chest like she'd been doing lately.

"Fine I guess." Alice shrugged, not giving up any info. She chewed her beet salad.

"I ran into Chris last week." Bella volunteered as she too chewed her food across the kitchen table from Alice.

"Really? How was it?" Alice's green eyes were wide with concern.

"Awkward. And then nice and then over, the end. I basically told him I'm happy for him and I'm not mad anymore. I understand we were just, you know, puppy love." Bella shrugged, indicating to Alice that she was fine with how it went.

"Yeah, once you get a taste of the real thing, then you know the others were just the dress rehearsal." Alice watched Bella over the glass of white wine she had brought to her lips.

"What do you mean the real thing?" Bella's quirked her eyebrows.

"You fell in love with Edward." Alice delivered the line with authority.

"What? No." Bella didn't know what Alice was on about.

"Yes."

"No!"

'Yes. I hear you at night talking in your sleep Bell, you tell him you love him."

"I do?" Her mouth fell open.

"Quote, "I'm yours Edward." And "Edward I love you. So much." I've heard you say that in your dreams on at least three occasions."

"It's just a dream Alice. Or rather a nightmare."

"A recurring nightmare that you appear to be enjoying, but don't worry, I'm done interfering. I was wrong, you were right. He was a no good lying piece of shit eating cock sucking motherfucking bastard. I'm glad you kicked his ass to the curb."

"Wow!" Bella gasped admiringly. "I wish I'd said that."

"Comes with practice, babe. Lots of practice." And Alice winked and returned to her salad.

#

Saturday Bella wandered into Cody's books and rounded the children's fiction corner, to come face to face with Edward. He was talking to an employee and he looked up and saw her staring at him. He continued speaking, but kept looking at her. He didn't smile like he did outside the coffee shop instead he just stared coldly and it frightened the bejeezus out of her. They locked eyes for about ten seconds and then his eyes shifted back to the woman, he hadn't acknowledged Bella, not even by a nod of his head. It was the diner all over again. Surely, this was no coincidence, was it? Bella wondered to herself if he was following her. She walked out the door of the bookstore, only to notice a poster indicating that Edward Cullen would be there from seven to nine tonight for a book signing. The name of his new spy thriller was Devil or Angel.

She walked around the corner coffee shop and ordered a latte. She was going to buy his book and wait in line for him to sign it. Then she'd ask him what the hell was going on.