Chapter 25 Bella Bella

Edward's POV

Bella was avoiding me.

Not physically, but emotionally she'd shut me out.

I ran my hair through my untameable hair and sighed in frustration as I paced my room.

All through dinner she'd held my hand, acted normal, but something was off. She hadn't looked me in the eye for longer than a few seconds since the tree house and I was very concerned.

I really hoped that I hadn't been too forward, I loved Bella and sometimes I lost myself in her, but I'd gladly control my hormones if it would show her how much I cared about her inside.

I couldn't take this anymore.

I had to fix this.

I crossed the hall to her room and knocked quietly on the door, it was still relatively early, just after eight.

"Come in." her soft voice came from the other side and I let myself in.

She stiffened when her gaze fell on me, but then she smiled timidly. "Hi."

I smiled back widely but frowned when she looked down at the essays she was grading on her bed again.

"Bella, please look at me." I pleaded gently as I went and sat next to her on the bed. I cupped her face in my hand and turned it so she was meeting my gaze.

"Bella, I'm sorry, love. I obviously went too far."

The hint of the hurt I'd seen this afternoon showed on her face again and she once again looked down at the papers she was grading on her bed.

"It's fine Edward." Her smile was forced and I let out a frustrated sigh.

"No it's not Bella. Talk to me, what did I do wrong?" I took the stack of papers away from her and placed them on the bedside table- it was then that I noticed that a tear had dripped down her cheek.

She hesitated for a long moment, before looking me in the eye. Her beautiful brown eyes were filled with tears.

"Why did you really pull away Edward?" she asked softly, "Tell me, and please don't worry about hurting my feelings."

Then I understood.

Bella thought that I didn't want her in that way, that by pulling away I was rejecting her instead of showing her the respect she so deserved. Absurd! As if I couldn't want the stunning creature in front of me now, the very idea was ludicrous!

"Isabella Swan." My tone was a bit harsh from aggravation and I tried to tone it down- the last thing I wanted was for Bella to think I was angry at her, I could never really be angry at her.

"Do you honestly believe that I pulled away because I didn't want you?" I asked in disbelief.

Bella bit her lip before nodding, "I'm not exactly the best lo–"

I interrupted her ridiculous train of thought by quickly pulling her into my arms, onto my lap and brushing a kiss across her mouth.

"Bella." I said huskily as I gazed intently into her eyes, "You are so so beautiful and I don't care what other people think, I think you're stunning, inside and out and it's that, Bella, that made me pull away."

She blinked in confusion, "I don't understand."

I sighed, how could she think so little of herself?

"I want you. So much. You have no idea just how desirable you are. But I respect you and I don't want tp make you uncomfortable so soon in our relationship."

She thought about this for a moment before a bright, genuine smile broke out on her face and she wrapped her arms around my neck, "You really are the perfect man." She whispered before leaning in to give me a long adoring kiss.

I chuckled when we parted, "Well I don't know about that."

Suddenly Bella sobered up and looked down at her lap. "Edward?" her face was bright red.

"Yes, love?" I rubbed circles on her back with my hand.

"Um…" she still wouldn't look at me and I was getting increasingly more curious.

"Well," she said, "How far d…do you want to go with me?" she eventually looked up at me again, her face still a brilliant red, "I mean, I know you told me you regard sex very seriously, but what are our boundaries? So this doesn't happen again."

I kissed a red cheek, she was so endearing when she was embarrassed. "I want to make love to you when we're married Bella." I told her softly. I knew that it was old fashioned, but something about becoming one for the first time when we were legally bound together, appealed to my hopeless romantic side. I knew I was probably going to end up marrying this woman someday, it was too soon to be thinking about now, but I thought I'd let her into my thoughts anyway.

Her eyes grew wide and she nodded, "I understand." She smiled, "And I agree, I want to wait too."

"But." I grinned mischievously, "We can still do plenty of this…" then I kissed her passionately and we didn't break apart for a good, long while.

Bella's POV

I sighed in relief as I settled into bed that night. I had just been paranoid, how could I have ever doubted Edward? No matter what my own issues about myself were, I knew Edward was the one thing that would be constant in my life. I really loved him.

I was just drifting off to sleep when there was a gentle knock on the door.

I sighed and sat up, turning on my bedside lamp, "Come in." I called, expecting Alice or Edward.

Never did I ever expect it to be Rosalie.

The beautiful blonde stood hesitantly in my doorway until I motioned for her to come in.

"I'm sorry for disturbing, but can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked timidly. I didn't think I'd ever seen Rosalie so unsure- it made me feel a little better about myself, and that immediately made me feel guilty.

"Sure." I patted the space on the bed next to me and she strode gracefully across the room to take it.

She looked me directly in the eye when she was seated and started talking, "I'm so sorry Bella."

I hoped my face didn't betray the shock I felt, "For?" I managed.

A slight smile lit her face, "For being so cold to you since you've arrived."

My shoulders slumped in relief and I smiled, "Its okay Rosalie." My forgiveness was genuine, "But may I ask why you were like that?"

Her blue eyes studied me for a while, obviously deliberating. "Edward's always been like a younger brother to me Bella. We have a weird sort of close relationship. Almost like the way Emmett sees you."

I looked at her in confusion, what did that have to do with me?

"I'm very protective of Edward. After Jessica basically destroyed him, me and the rest of the family had to watch him as he closed himself off, he didn't want to trust anyone anymore." She took a deep breath, "So with that being said, I'm sure you can understand why I was weary when you came onto the scene."

I was about to interrupt her by telling her that I'd never hurt Edward in that way, but she spoke before I could say anything, "And that's why I need to apologize. I can see now that you're not another Jessica, you and him are perfect together and I want to thank you for giving us back the Edward we knew and loved before. Maybe even a happier version."

I felt tears well up in my eyes, had I really made that much difference in his life?

Rosalie must have noticed my disbelief because she smiled the warmest smile I'd ever seen her give me, "Yes Bella, you've changed him for the better."

"Thank you." I said to her, "For telling me this."

"You're welcome." Then she looked hesitant again, "Would you like to be a bridesmaid?" she asked me, "Heidi, my cousin is coming down to be my maid of honour, but I want you and Alice to be bridesmaids as well."

I smiled, touched at the thought, "Yes sure, I'd love too."

"Great! After all, you're pretty much family now anyway."

I smiled, now all I had to do was concentrate on not falling down that aisle.