The Arranged Marriage
Disclaimer: I own this plot and nothing else. Glad we're clear.
A/N: Swimom7 and Jenny Cullen pulled beta duty for me this week and I'm so grateful for them. Really, they make it better. Bonnysammy's still fighting with HP so send some happy thoughts her way that they get her computer fixed before she goes crazy. Welcome to all my new readers. I love hearing from you and finding out where you stumbled across this story of mine. Um, I sucked at answering reviews, so if you haven't gotten my reply yet, you will, but it will be late. I was sick and trying to work on the beast that will be chapter 26. That's my only excuse. Sorry.
Chapter 25: Dinner
BPOV
It was safe to say that I didn't like this plan.
The boys were meeting James for dinner at Morton's Steakhouse on Thursday night. In an effort to gain his trust, they were going to pretend to be covertly undermining Carlisle and attempting to wrest control from him. Edward was determined that it was the only way that James would trust them enough to confide in them.
We made a few other contingency plans, as well. The boys told Carlisle what they were planning and what they suspected James was doing with Marcus. Rose picked up a digital recorder, and we planned to record the entire conversation through the phone. Edward would dial my number, and I would put the call on speakerphone to ensure that we had it all on tape. We briefly considered having him take the recorder with him, but Jasper dismissed that idea by reminding us that if it were found, things could get ugly.
In the meantime, we stuck to our normal routines. I went to New Horizons on Wednesday afternoon, and Bally's on Thursday morning with Esme. There was a lingering strain between us, mostly because I hadn't completely forgiven any of the Cullens for making me feel less than Tanya in their eyes, but we put it all aside to focus on the children at the hospital and our worries over the coming evening.
I'd become a little more desperate with Edward, too, although I didn't think he minded all that much. It was like we were making up for lost time in our intimate moments, and while I didn't want to think that I was storing them up, I kind of was. There was no doubt in my mind that James was dangerous. I just didn't know why he'd chosen to target me.
As soon as we got home from Bally's, I went straight to Edward's office. He was leaving in about three hours, and I was determined to spend whatever time with him that I could before then.
"Hey, baby." He greeted me with a smile when I walked in and shut the door behind me.
"Hey. What are you working on?" I asked.
He scooted back his chair, and I crossed the room quickly, sitting crosswise on his legs and tucking my head onto his shoulder.
He shrugged. "Just reading over some reports. Nothing earth-shattering. What are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?" He kissed my forehead, and I grinned.
"You, hopefully," I answered.
He froze for just a fraction of a second, before his arms slid tighter around me and one hand found its way underneath my shirt. "Me, huh? I think I can work with that. Just what do you want to do to me?" I could hear his teasing lilt, but his hand on my side was telling me just how much he wanted me to be serious.
I leaned up and pulled his earlobe into my mouth, sucking lightly. "I was thinking that I'd like to ride you, right here in this office chair," I whispered into his ear. Truthfully, I didn't even know if it was possible, but it sounded like fun. Clearly, I'd been reading too many romance novels.
"You want . . . wha?" Edward mumbled incoherently, shifting me so that I was straddling his lap. His other hand joined the first underneath my shirt, and they were both trailing dangerously close to my aching nipples.
I smiled against his neck where I'd been kissing. "You. Right here. Right now."
Edward's head fell backward against the back of the chair. "Oh God, Bella. You . . . that's . . . you have no idea how many times I've wanted you here."
"Then, let's do it," I said impishly. I knew he'd give in.
"But it's the middle of the day," he protested half-heartedly. He was pretending to fight, I guessed, to see if this was really what I wanted.
I pulled back and flashed him a smile. "And I locked the door. We passed your dad leaving on our way in, so we should be all by ourselves back here."
In a flash, those hands rubbing the undersides of my breasts were latched on to the hem of my shirt and yanking it upwards. He left out a combination moan and happy sigh when he took in the sight of my dark blue lacy bra. Edward cupped my breasts gently and ran his thumbs over my nipples, which pebbled instantly through the thin fabric.
"God, you're beautiful," he murmured.
I rolled my hips against his, and my head fell back at the sheer pleasure of feeling him hard and ready against me.
Edward's nimble fingers tugged the cup down, and his lips closed over my peak, while his other hand rolled and pinched the other. Moisture soaked my panties, and I wanted nothing more than to feel him without the barriers of our clothes.
"Please, Edward," I begged. "I need you." And I did need him. I not only needed him home and safe with me after this meeting tonight, but right now, I needed him inside me, reminding me of his love, before he risked his own safety to protect mine.
He didn't respond; he just scraped my nipple with his teeth and switched sides. I moaned again and pushed against him, wanting friction in any way I could get it.
"Patience, love," he chided. "Don't worry, I fully plan on fucking you against my desk, but it would be a damn shame to waste what time I have with these."
He returned to showering my breasts with licks, sucks, and kisses, and my body responded accordingly. I could feel myself become wetter with each nibble and lick, and I was a panting mess by the time he pulled away.
He looked me up and down and smirked at me. "These pants? Off. Now," he ordered.
I'd never heard this side of Edward, at least not when we were intimate. And I liked it. A lot.
I slid of his lap and slid my khakis off my hips; they pooled around my feet. Then, I hooked my fingers in the sides of my matching panties.
Edward stopped me. "No, leave them." He prowled around me with an appreciative gleam in his eye.
His large hands found my hips and shifted me to the edge of his desk. One long finger trailed across my lower cheek and between my thighs, skimming up my slit, over my panties, and pushed them to the side.
"You're so wet for me," he whispered into my ear, blowing my hair out of the way. "I want you, right here, right now. Would you like that, my love?"
"Mmmhmm," I moaned, his husky voice making me even hotter than I already was. "Please."
I heard the clink of his belt and the parting of his zipper, and then I felt his warm body pressed up against me, his body folded over mine as I leaned down.
I could feel him between my legs, as his hands trailed down my sides, paying special attention to my breasts on the way down and coming to rest of my hips. Edward placed kisses down my spine and shifted my hips back.
"Are you ready for me, my Bella?"
I nodded eagerly, and Edward thrust into me in one move. We moaned simultaneously, and I reveled in the feeling of being full once again. It didn't last long, because Edward pulled almost all the way out, and then slammed back into me.
Unlike our previous encounters, this wasn't gentle. It was passionate and exciting and . . . fucking. Plain and simple.
Edward held tight to my hips as he thrust into me. He was hitting spots inside of me that I didn't even know existed and careening me towards a massive orgasm. I could feel each ridge of his dick as he slid in and out of me. Each time Edward held a little tighter, tingles shot through me and sent me soaring even higher.
"Come for me, baby," Edward grunted.
"I'm so close. Don't stop," I begged. Three more thrusts, and I flew off the cliff, calling his name as I did so.
He cried out with his own orgasm and stilled as he spilled into me. Moments later, I felt his weight against my back and his trembling arms next to my sides. With one last spurt of effort, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his lap on the floor.
"That was . . . I love you," he whispered, cradling me into his body.
I hummed against his neck and nodded my agreement. "Love you, too," I mumbled. I felt completely boneless and blissful.
He held me for several minutes, and I relished being this close to him. I might fear for him later, but right now, I was completely content in his arms.
"So, did that fulfill your fantasy?" I asked, teasing, when I finally found the energy to shift and look at him.
He grinned wolfishly. "Nope. It blew it out of the water!" He grew quiet for a moment and looked at me seriously. "I love you, Bella. With my whole heart. No matter how this meeting tonight goes, I'm coming home to you. I will always come home to you. Do you understand?"
A tear slipped down my check, and I nodded, holding his gaze with my own. "I'm just worried, Edward. What if he tries to hurt you? I, I can't . . ." I trailed off, unable to finish the thought that had plagued me all week.
"Bella, I promise you that I won't let anything happen to me." He held my face like it was precious to him and kissed me sweetly. "I'll be home this evening, hopefully with a little more information than I had before, and maybe with enough to keep you safe and by my side for the next fifty years."
"Thank you," I whispered thickly, nuzzling into his neck.
His arms tightened, and I snuggled close to him. It was the most peaceful we'd been in days.
The doorknob rattled and startled us both. "Edward?" Carlisle called through the door.
We both jumped and looked at each other in shock. I was still mostly naked, only in my lingerie, and Edward wasn't wearing pants.
"Just a second, Dad," Edward yelled back, attempting to suppress the mirth in his voice. He looked at me, and we both burst into laughter.
I rose from his lap and started grabbing my clothes, getting dressed as quickly as I could. "I guess he's back from his meeting," I whispered.
"Thank God he wasn't here a little bit ago," Edward whispered back.
I spun around and glared at him. "You don't think someone could have heard us?"
He chuckled. "We weren't exactly quiet, Bella. Let's just say that it's good thing he was gone."
I panicked. Having sex in here had been a bad idea. Anyone could have walked by, and, oh God, what if Esme heard us?
"Bella." Edward grasped my shoulders and spun me to face him. "Stop. Please. I love you, and I don't care who knows. No one heard us, and if they did, it's not the end of the world." He pressed his lips to mine, and I lost myself in the feel of him.
We parted with a final kiss, and he straightened my shirt. "Now, get out of here," he said with a wink. "Aren't you making dinner for the girls so you all can eat around the phone?"
"Yeah," I told him with a smile. "When are you leaving?"
"In about two hours now. I'll find you before we leave. I promise."
I kissed him again and left the office quickly, looking left and right to make sure no one was watching. I ran up to our room and changed into my yoga pants and a T-shirt. They were comfortable clothes for my frustration for the evening, and after our escapades in Edward's office, I needed the lack of restriction. I was . . . deliciously sore.
The guys were going out for steaks, and we had decided on nachos for dinner. They were an easy finger food to eat, and we could cloister ourselves in the rec room around my phone while eating them. Methodically, I worked to prepare each ingredient, trying to take my mind off the meeting I knew was coming. Each tomato was diced to perfection, the lettuce was hand shredded, and the cheese grated. I wouldn't cook the meat until the boys left, because it would just get cold.
I'd underestimated the time I'd spent in the kitchen, though. Within minutes of me replacing the vegetables in the refrigerator, the kitchen door swung open, and Edward stood, ready to leave.
With one look at my expression, he crossed the room in three strides and gathered me into his arms. "I promise you, baby, I'll be fine, and I'll be home with you in no time."
I leaned back, and his mouth found mine instantly. His kiss was hard and intense—he was feeling the strain as much as I was.
"I love you," I whispered, my eyes filling with tears.
"As I love you. I'll call you when we get there, okay? Just like we planned." He continued to reassure me for a few more minutes, before Emmett came to retrieve him.
I watched them walk away with a heavy heart, and with only the sound of sizzling meat to soothe me.
TaM
"Why did we agree to this again?" Alice wondered as we sat on the couch in the rec room, eating nachos and willing my phone to ring. "I mean, this has got to be the dumbest plan ever."
"I'm not thrilled about it," Carlisle muttered as he and Esme walked in with their own food. "Do you mind if we join you?"
Alice and Rose waved them over, and they pulled their chairs up to the other side of the table. They hadn't been settled long, when my phone chimed.
Going in now. Will call as soon as I see him. Love you.
My lips turned up in a smile automatically, and when I looked up, there were four pairs of eyes on me, each accompanied by their own smile.
Before my embarrassment could flood me, though, my phone rang. I hit the button to answer on speakerphone, and immediately hit the mute button. I didn't want any noise on our end to give the game away. Rosalie clicked on the recorder.
The sounds of the busy restaurant filtered through the phone, and I could just make out Emmett's voice over the din, though I couldn't understand what he was saying.
Suddenly, the background noise died down, and I shivered as I heard a clear voice ring through the speaker.
"Edward! Good to see you. Emmett, Jasper." The rustle of clothing indicated that they were shaking hands and sitting at the table. "Where's your little woman tonight?"
I could hear the tension in Edward's voice, but he masked it well. "I left her at home. This didn't really involve her, right, so why bring her?" I knew his words were a show for James, but I couldn't deny that they stung a little.
"True, but it's a damn shame she didn't come." I could almost see James' leer in my mind. "I don't mind mixing a little business and pleasure."
The waitress interrupted and took their drink orders. Rosalie's phone chirped with a text from Emmett.
This guy is a real creep. Tell Bella it's good she's not here.
We listened while they chatted about inconsequential things, nothing of great importance, until the waitress had brought their drinks and taken their orders.
"So, tell me what you wanted to know, James." Edward's voice came through, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.
"My father and I have a different viewpoint on how things should run. I have some ideas that would increase our profits, but he refuses to hear them. I'm going to take those parts that I do have control over, make them more profitable, and then take control over the rest. That's what you've been doing, right?" James asked.
Edward cleared his throat. "Yeah, Jasper and Emmett have been working on the land holdings, and I've taken over most of the business dealings. We've done it little by little, so he hasn't really noticed. We just have him playing golf a little more."
"Has it gone . . . smoothly, then?" he asked interestedly.
Edward and Jasper spelled out the details that we'd discussed on how they had slowly eroded Carlisle's control of his enterprise. James asked a few questions, and they had to wing their answers a time or two, since we apparently hadn't thought of everything. It was lucky for them that Edward had such intimate knowledge already, or this wouldn't have worked as well as it did.
"Good Lord, I'm glad I trust my sons," Carlisle muttered as he listened to them talk about the demise of his role.
Esme smiled and patted his arm, shushing him so that she could listen closer to what was being said.
The discussion was briefly stalled when their meals were delivered, but it started again with a random question here or there. Emmett asked James where he was thinking of taking his father's business, ostensibly to see if there was a chance for cooperation.
"Ah, well, I've been working to break into some other markets, enterprises." He carefully avoided the mention of the less legal things he was working on. "There are some things we might be able to collaborate on, though, Edward."
"Oh really? Do tell," Edward said.
"Yeah, you, ah, inherited some land when you married Bella, right?" James asked, trying to sound somewhat disinterested and failing miserably.
"I did. I've actually been looking at it lately. Which part interests you?"
"There's a big industrial development along the southern edge, with shipping docks and rail access, I believe. It might be useful for me to have access to those, and I'd be willing to pay handsomely."
Shipping ports. This whole mess was about shipping access? I didn't understand why he needed that access so badly. Surely there were other ways he could move his product that didn't include threatening me?
Edward responded, but I missed what he said, too lost in my thoughts to hear the rest of the conversation. It was only when my own name came through the phone that I snapped back to attention.
"—Bella. I understand things aren't going so well. I could . . . take her off your hands for you," James offered.
Edward laughed, but it wasn't genuine. "Nah, I'll keep her around."
"She's a pretty trophy, Edward," James agreed. "Man, I would like to have a piece of that, especially the way she looked on your wedding day. Mmmm."
"Bella's a . . . good wife," Edward said, somewhat stiltedly.
James laughed loudly. "Wife! Well, I suppose. It's not like you don't find your . . . pleasure elsewhere. It's a good cover for you. I'll admit, I should have manned up and made the offer to break her in for you years ago, but I thought it might be bad form. Now, though . . ." James trailed off.
Emmett coughed. "Now though?"
"I'll still break her in," James responded, and his voice had taken on a more sinister tone.
"I think I can manage on my own," Edward responded coolly.
"Eh, just an offer between friends," James said, and I could almost hear his shrug. "Let her know I offered. She might want to get hers elsewhere, too."
Some utensil clattered against a plate, and there was a rustling that covered any conversation. Minutes passed where we heard nothing, and when James' voice returned, we all jumped.
"Boys, thanks for all the info tonight. I've got some business to attend to downtown, so I have to be off. I've already covered the bill with the manager. And Edward, don't forget my offer—either of them."
"I won't forget. Have a good night, James," Edward said evenly.
Jasper and Emmett offered their own goodbyes, and silence reined for several seconds.
"Son of a bitch!" Emmett swore, presumably when James was out of earshot. "Girls, we'll be home soon."
Then, the line went dead.
With wide eyes, we all stared at each other, wondering what in the world we'd just heard.
"Did he-" Rosalie started to say, but shook her head and cut herself off.
"No, surely not," Esme said quietly.
All I could do was stare and swallow. Unless I was much mistaken, James had made Edward a proposition for . . . me. Was it really that simple? I'd almost convinced myself that I'd misheard him, when I realized that everyone was staring at me.
"You aren't leaving this house," Carlisle stated firmly. "He can't get to you here."
I bristled. "I can't be a prisoner in my own home, Carlisle!"
He looked pained. "It's not that, Bella. I just . . . I can't . . ." He fumbled through his words, and I could hear his nervousness and fear. "He can't get you."
The front door slammed, and feet pounded across the foyer. The door to the rec room burst open, and Edward strode through, looking wild. His hair was sticking up, as if he'd been running his hands through it constantly. His eyes scanned the room, until they fell on me. Eyes locked with mine, he lifted me from the couch and held me tightly to him.
"How did you get here so fast?" I heard Rosalie whisper to Emmett.
"He drove, like, ninety the whole way. Can't blame him, though. You didn't see him, Rose." Emmett shivered.
The other couples were talking about the dinner, but Edward just hugged me tightly, afraid to let go even a hairsbreadth.
"I'm okay," I whispered to him. "I'm here."
"I know," he whispered back. "I just . . . I can't lose you, Bella. And he wants you."
I curled my arms up his back and pressed my face into his chest. The room could have crumbled around us in that moment, and we wouldn't have noticed. We were in our own little bubble.
As bubbles do, though, our moment burst, and we were brought firmly back into reality.
"What's the plan, son?" Carlisle asked, staring at Edward worriedly.
Edward loosened his hold on me, but clasped my hand and held it as we sat down on the couch. The rest of the family sat with us and looked to him for guidance.
"I have no idea. We saw the shipping area he was talking about, but if that's what it was about, it wouldn't be hard to rent a warehouse space. He could easily use one of their current businesses as a front if he needed to move something illegal."
"Not if he didn't want any evidence that he was ever there," Emmett pointed out.
"It's not about the shipping," Jasper cut in, clearly on edge. "He made that abundantly clear at the end."
"But why Bella?" Rose asked, bewildered. "I mean, she's pretty and all, but she's no Helen of Troy. Her age? If he was into that sort of thing, she'd be too old for him now."
I snorted. "Gee thanks, Rose. Way to make a girl feel better about herself." I wasn't really offended, mostly because I whole-heartedly agreed with her. I was just trying to lighten the mood.
Rose rolled her eyes and smiled at me. "Sure, sure, Aphrodite. But really? Did you know him before?"
"No." I shook my head. "I'd see him at the occasional wedding or funeral, but other than knowing he freaks me out, I don't know him at all."
"Maybe he just wants what he can't have," Alice suggested when the room fell silent. "Marcus Windemere has two sons, right? Caden and James. If James is taking over from Marcus, that means he's cutting out Caden, too."
"It was Marcus that would have inherited the land, not James," I added. "Could he be trying to take it all, and I'm part of that?"
"He doesn't want you for the land, Bella," Emmett stated harshly. "His motives might be twofold where you are concerned, but the primary one isn't a few acres of concrete."
Edward had been staring off into space, and suddenly, his head snapped back. "He got too close on Monday, and next time, I don't think he'll be so . . . talkative."
"You think he'll try something?" Esme whispered, the lines on her face creasing with worry.
All three boys nodded. "Yes, he'll try," Edward confirmed.
Later, once we'd escaped to our room, Edward made me promise not to venture out on my own for a while. "I'm not going to keep you locked in the house," he argued exasperatedly. "I just want you safe."
"I get that," I sighed. "But I can't quit living my life, just because he's a total creep!"
"You can't take unnecessary risks, either, baby," he said quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose and pacing.
I placed my hand on his arm, and he stilled. "I know what I heard, and I know what you all said when you came home. What did you really think he meant?"
His eyes fell closed, and he pulled me to him again. "There's no way I can accurately explain to you the look in his eyes, Bella. He physically reacted to just the thought of you. I'm not sure, though, whether his . . . excitement was fueled by your age, status, or if it is simply you. There's no doubt in my mind that had he had the opportunity, he would have taken advantage of you—roughly—when we got married."
"Does he . . . does he have a thing for young girls?" I asked tentatively, not sure if I wanted to know the answer to that.
He shrugged. "He has a thing for a young you, and that's all I really care about. Demetri's checking into it, though. The more information we have against him, the better."
"But I'm not fifteen any more," I argued.
Edward's hands snaked down my back and grabbed my ass. "Thank God for that," he murmured into my ear, and then took my earlobe into his mouth, nibbling and sucking lightly.
I couldn't repress the moan that came out of my mouth. I also couldn't control my hands from sliding down his back, either, and cupping his backside.
"I need you, Bella," he whispered huskily. "I need to feel you around me."
I tilted my head so that I could have better access to his lips and pressed my mouth to his, hard. The kiss was frantic and full of our shared need. Within seconds, Edward lifted me up, and I wrapped my arms around his neck to hold on, never once breaking our kiss.
I hadn't felt us moving, too consumed in my own lust to think about anything else, but Edward had traveled across the room and set me down on the edge of the bed.
"Take that shirt off," he ordered, while unbuttoning his own.
I yanked it over my head, threw it on the floor, and then went to work on my jeans. We were frenzied, and I was sure that I'd never gotten naked this quickly in my life.
There were times that I couldn't believe my luck, that Edward was really mine and mine alone. He stood in front of me, bare-chested, and I couldn't help but drool. His pecs and abs were chiseled, but not abnormally so. There was a light coating of dark hair across his chest and at the lower part of his stomach. I knew what it led to, and parts of me did actually get wetter. Sometimes, I pondered, just looking at him was foreplay in and of itself.
His slacks slid off his hips and on to the floor in a heap, revealing a very large bulge in his boxer briefs. He hooked his thumbs in them and shoved them off his body. That body . . . I knew what that body could do to me, and I shivered in anticipation.
Edward stalked toward me, and I scooted up the bed, not really to get away from him, but for the chase. He didn't let me get far, before he grabbed my ankle and yanked me backwards. Without warning, his head fell between my legs, and his tongue licked up and down my slit furiously. He groaned against me, and the vibrations traveled straight through me, igniting my fire like gasoline. Two fingers caressed my opening, and then slipped inside me, pumping me while his tongue worked my clit.
I cried out in pleasure, hearing most of the nonsense I spouted as if someone else were shouting. I was almost there, ready to fly into ecstasy, when I felt suddenly exposed and bereft. Edward's mouth and fingers were no longer on me. I wasn't allowed to come down for long. He grabbed my legs and propped my ankles on his shoulders, just before he pounded into me.
One push was all it took to set me off. I screamed his name and spurred him on. He pounded harder and harder, each thrust scooting me on the bed, until he latched onto my hips and held on tightly. It was the most unrestrained I'd ever seen my husband, and I was more turned on than I'd ever been. It was raw and frantic.
"Touch yourself for me, baby," he called, his neck tight with strain. "I want to feel you come on me again."
I did just as he ordered. One hand pinched and pulled on my nipples, while the other made circles on my clit. With that hand, I could feel Edward sliding in and out of me, and it sent me careening into orgasm again. Mine triggered Edward's, and he thrust erratically.
"Fuck . . . shit . . . Bella . . ." he yelled as he came, his eyes screwed up tight in pleasure and pain. Once again, power flooded me as I saw what I did to my strong and stoic man. He collapsed on top of me, rolling to the side before he could crush me.
We were both panting hard and sweating, but that didn't stop him from pulling me into his side and kissing me passionately.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asked when he pulled away. He was still breathing heavily, but running his hands over my side gently.
I shook my head. "No, that was incredible. We can do that again anytime you want."
He laughed lightheartedly and kissed the side of my head.
"In fact," I added, "I rather like seeing this possessive side of you."
Edward laughed again. "Good, because he can't have you."
All joking aside, I knew that Edward would protect me and wouldn't let anything happen to me. For now, at this moment, I was safe in my lover's arms.
Hmmm, so do you think James laid it all out on the table or do you think he's still got something up his sleeve? Is he really that smart?
I have a few recs this week. When you are sitting up at night coughing or with a bloody nose, there's not much else to do. Thanks to those who rec'd them to me as well. You guys rock.
A Quiet Fire by Magnolia822—Bella and Edward meet again after being apart for 10 years. Can they repair the damage? It's a must read. I'm telling you.
The Last Breath and The Long Way Home by First Blush—This is WWII Edward at his finest. TLB is complete and TLWH is a companion piece. If you haven't read it and you like historical fic, you won't regret it.
The Mail Order Bride by Lady Gwynedd—Again, historical fic. Set in the late 1800's, Edward and Bella "meet" through a mail-order catalog and she travels across the country to be his bride. The Lady has done her homework and works hard to keep it as accurate as possible.