Let's see what Tanya is up to...Leibeezer doesn't like the look of this...
Damn, she's hot. I'm in no way into women but even I can admit that.
"Oh, yes, Garrett told me Edward was seeing someone."
She's just standing there and my good manners get the better of me.
"Would you like to come in?" She was obviously waiting for the invitation because as soon as I move to the side she breezes past me. Jean Paul Gaultier fills my senses and I'm reminded of how much I love that perfume.
"Something to drink?"
"What are you having?"
I look at the clock. It's almost five in the afternoon so a glass of wine should be in order.
"Merlot?" I ask.
"Perfect, thank you."
I pour us a glass and we make our way back to the patio area where I have a roaring fire going to keep the last of the winter chill away.
I don't know what to say to her but she fixes that problem pretty quickly.
"So Bella, how did you meet Edward?" she asks casually.
"We met up on the West Coast where I was living," I say, not sure how much information I should divulge. I light a Camel and take a sip of my wine.
"Oh Darling," she starts with a distinctly condescending tone. "You shouldn't smoke. Edward hates women that smoke."
"Hasn't seemed to bother him thus far," I hit back. "We smoke together now and again; we're not full time smokers." She looks surprised at that.
"You do realize you're in way over your head, don't you?"
"Excuse me?" I can't believe she said that.
"Well, I'm not trying to be rude or anything but Edward doesn't do relationships very well. It won't be long before he tires of you."
"Tanya, I'm really not comfortable discussing Edward with you. You are obviously still harboring some undealt with feelings but that is none of my concern. If you were so worried about Edward why did you let him go in the first place? From what I hear he took it very hard, he loved you. He was devastated when you left him."
A flash of pain crosses her aristocratic features and I know I've hit home. She still loves him. After all these years she still loves him.
"Don't speak about things you know nothing about. I am just looking out for Edward's happiness."
"Well, Tanya, I don't think that's your job anymore. Edward and I are perfectly happy and it's my job to make sure it stays that way. Now, I think it's best if you leave."
She stares at me for a few seconds before she gets up and makes her way to the front door. As she walks out she turns around and gets the last say. "Don't say I didn't warn you. You are nowhere near enough woman for a man like Edward."
I slam the door shut, breathing hard and anger flushes through my body. I let go of the wine, grabbing the half bottle of Jack from the cabinet and taking a swig from the bottle before I fill a whiskey glass. I should have refilled the fucking Xanax prescription when I wanted to and hidden the bottle between the bushes in the garden. And then I start brooding.
What if she's right? I mean, look at her. She's a gorgeous sophisticated woman whilst I must look like a child compared to her. If Edward was happy with her once upon a time, how can I ever measure up to that? What the hell am I doing here?
I'm on my second glass of whiskey when Jasper and Edward walk in. Zeus runs to greet them but I stay exactly where I am on the patio. I've been crying and I know my eyes must be red and swollen.
"Hey Baby," Edward calls. I don't reply. I don't trust my voice. He comes walking over and falters slightly when I look up. "What happened? Are you okay?" he asks worriedly as he kneels in front of me, his hands on my thighs.
"I had a visit from an old friend of yours," I reply calmly because honestly, this is not his fault.
"Who?"
"Tanya."
"Oh shit," I hear Jasper from the lounge.
"Oh shit is precisely how it went down dear Jazz," I pipe up. I get up and walk back to the cabinet, pouring myself another Jack. "Anyone want?"
"I'll have one, thanks," Edward murmurs, gauging my mood. I'm pretty much a closed book at this moment so I think he comes up empty handed.
"Listen guys, if you don't mind, I'm going to head down to Pete's. Rosalie and Emmett are there with a few other guys. If you want, join us later?" he says as he grabs his keys. I glare at him. He's running away. He blows me a kiss as apology and rushes out the door.
"I'm assuming she said some things that upset you," Edward says from behind me. I can hear the anger in his voice.
"She did," I say turning around and the tears start again. "She really did Edward." I don't wait for him. I walk to him and he wraps me up in his body. I need to be close to him right now.
"I'm so sorry," he whispers into my hair. "Do you want to tell me what she said?"
I push away from him gently and sit down, taking a gulp from my Jack.
"She still loves you."
"She said that?"
"Not in so many words but it was written all over her face."
He doesn't say anything.
"Would it matter Edward? If she still loved you. Would it change what we have?"
"Oh Bella, you should know me better than that. We have something that very few people in this world ever experience and there is no way I'm giving that up."
"She also said that you'll tire of me quickly. That I'm not woman enough to keep you interested."
He's really angry now, but in a flash his eyes turn desperate and he's next to me, holding my face in one hand. "Please tell me you don't believe her."
I shrug. "I don't know Edward. I know how I feel about you and I'm pretty sure how you feel about me. But you need to remember where I'm coming from. Somewhere in my head I'll always feel like I'm not good enough. And she's beautiful Edward. Fuck, she's gorgeous."
"You're gorgeous Bella. No one else is more beautiful to me. You're all I see."
"I know that. But…"
"No buts. I'll make sure she doesn't bother you again. I'm sorry you had to go through that."
"It's not your fault. She was important to you once upon a time, I get that."
He pulls me up and kisses me. I can taste my tears on our lips as his tongue meets mine in a slow and sensual stroke of our mouths. My heart is aching. I can't think of him not wanting me. I can't stand the desperate pain that stabs my entire body when I think of him in another woman's arms.
I push him away and not caring that we are on the patio I lift my shirt over my head. I proceed to undress as his eyes go black. I stand before him naked.
"Are you sure I'm enough Edward?" I ask softly, shaking my head slowly. "Please tell me I'm all you need. I need to hear it because I'm not so sure of myself right now."
He's on me in a flash and picks me up, cradling me in his arms as he carries me to our bed. He undresses before he lies down next to me, tracing his finger over my breasts, down my stomach and back again. I'm breathless.
"There is nothing I'll ever want more than this Bella. Just you and me. Because no one else will ever be able to make us feel like we do when we're together."
His hand moves back down and his fingers softly find my entrance, slowly pushing into me. My hips move up to meet him as he watches me intently. The palm of his hand is rubbing against my clit and I moan loudly.
"Has anyone ever made you feel like this?" he asks hoarsely.
I shake my head. "No Edward, only you."
He dips his tongue into my mouth before closing his mouth over mine, kissing me senseless.
"Can anyone kiss you like that?"
"No," I whimper, my hips meeting his hand's rhythm. His palm pushes down a little harder and I grind myself against it. Just as I'm about to come he pulls his hand away and I moan loudly in protest.
"Does anyone else make you feel the need that you're feeling right now?" he asks, covering my body with his.
"No," I whisper.
He inches into me slowly at first but then suddenly plunges into me all the way. I cry out at the sensation.
"I feel the same Baby," he whispers against my lips as he moves against me. "No one can make me feel like you do. Your hands, your body, they were made to worship me. We were made for each other Bella, there's no two ways about it. Don't doubt what we have. Trust it. Trust me."
"I love you Edward," I moan as I feel my body tense up at the impending orgasm that's licking at my insides.
"Oh baby, not more than I love you," he groans as he claims my mouth again. My orgasm explodes and I'm sure I see the Milky Way with a million stars hang above us as he stills, emptying himself inside of me.
"Now," he breathes at my ear. "Tell me this isn't real."
We lay next to each other for a while, his fingers entwined with mine. I suggest we head down to Pete's for a drink seeing as though it's a Friday night and he agrees.
I shower quickly and he follows. We head down to Pete's and for once whilst out we have a fun evening without drama.
Saturday sees us heading to Edward's parents for a braai and Pickle has a good laugh when I tell her about Tanya while we're making the salad. Esme overhears the conversation, much to my embarrassment but she assures me I have nothing to worry about and that she never liked Tanya or the way she used to treat Edward. It seems she was hell bent on keeping Edward to herself and away from his family which he stupidly allowed for a while.
After dinner the guys play some darts while I sit with Esme watching them. Pickle is watching TV.
"My son is quite taken with you," Esme murmurs as we watch the men having a jolly time.
"Thank you," I reply. "I am quite taken with him as well. He has become very important to me in a very short time and I know he feels the same."
"That's good Darling. You seem to fit perfectly. Maggie can't stop talking about you. She is ever so glad you came for the interview."
"Me too. She is a lovely woman and I enjoy working for her. I've always preferred a varied position where I don't do the same thing every day so I am really enjoying it."
We sit for a while not talking before she starts on the Tanya issue.
"Bella, if Tanya keeps on pestering you I need you to please tell me. We are quite good friends with her parents and I will not tolerate such behavior from her, especially considering that she is married."
"Thank you Esme but Edward said he would take care of it and I'm sure he will. He was furious. I didn't take it very well." Tears form in my eyes and she sees it before I can look away.
"Bella, I know we don't know each other that well but I really am here if you need anything. Your parents are so far away, it must be hard for you."
For some or other reason I believe her and I decide to let the cat out of the bag. I tell her mostly everything and by the time I'm done she is almost crying as well. "Oh Sweetheart, I am so sorry you had to go through that. No woman should. And I am ever so happy that you confided in me. Please, you must promise me you will come to me if you need to talk or if you need anything."
I nod and she gets up to hug me, holding me a little longer than necessary but I revel in it. Now that she's mentioned it I do miss my parents. When I look up again I see Edward looking over at us. He blows me a kiss and I smile at him sadly.
We don't get back too late and I decide to call my mom. We chat for a while and I promise to visit soon. I might as well fetch the rest of my stuff there and bring it this way.
When I'm finished on the phone he comes up behind me in the kitchen and hugs me from behind. "I'm glad you told my mom."
"How did you know?"
"She warned me when we left to look after you and treat you well. She's very sad about what you went through."
I sigh. "Yes, she is. I'm also glad I told her. It's difficult being away from my parents for so long and not seeing them."
"Well, why don't we head over there this coming weekend? Aro said he'd only call us during next week to give us a date."
"Really?" I turn to him excitedly.
"Yes Baby. If you need to spend time with your parents then that's what we'll do."
I call my mom back immediately, almost jumping up and down on one spot. She's ecstatic.
"You do realize that you'll be sleeping in my brothers' room?" I smirk at him. "There's no way in hell my dad will let a guy sleep in my bed until we're married."
"That's fine Baby. I didn't expect anything else."