Chapter 26

TNMC

BPOV

It took a few minutes for things to calm down. Seth needed convincing I wasn't trying to kill his boss. The panicking restaurant staff were desperate to establish that he hadn't choked on something untoward in their food. The heavies in the corridor were lurking, none too discreetly, checking that the big bad Mob boss was still alive and kicking.

In all the confusion and everyone coming and going Edward never once took his eyes off me. He stopped choking as the liquid found it's natural path. As his reflexive cough passed he quickly dismissed everyone leaving them in no doubt he was both okay and still very much in charge. There was something about the way that he could bend grown men to his bidding with a single word and a hand gesture that thrilled me.

Perhaps I hadn't quite twigged that he was THE BOSS and not just a boss. There was no doubt whatsoever in my mind now. The way that everyone had reacted to a little coughing fit was so far over the top that anyone would have thought they were dealing with royalty. I, on the other hand had remained calm, even after Seth thought I was trying to poison Edward. I sat and let everyone else do what they felt they needed to and when everyone was finally gone I took another drink of champagne and asked him quietly if he was okay.

"I'm quite alright Isabella," he replied, raising his glass as if making a toast, "thank you." He took a large gulp of champagne, almost defiantly, as if suddenly determined to prove that he could manage his food and drink without intervention. "I can confirm that I am in complete working order."

I had to stifle a giggle because I knew he was referring not only to his coughing fit but also to the images we both had had before the interruptions. His eyes widened and I thought for a terrible moment that he might choke again. He swallowed the champagne safely, a wicked glint in his eye as he recovered his composure.

Just as I was about to suggest leaving there was a knock on the door and the server came back in to ask if we were ready for our next course. Edward looked at me and raised his eye brow; he was leaving the decision to me. I half closed my eyes for a moment, relishing the delicious smells of the restaurant.

"Yes thank you," I told her, deciding that if I was only going to be in a place like this once that I would make the most of it. "I think we are both ready for what comes next."

She smiled her response and rushed off. As the door closed Edward let out a huge breath. "Are you fucking trying to finish me off tonight in one go Isabella?"

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked, rearranging my features into my best approximation of a coy expression.

"You know damn well what I mean," his voice was tough, but his expression was full of mischief. "I don't think I've ever had a conversation before where every word and sentence had a double meaning." He drained his drink and put his glass down. His expression darkened, his jaw setting to marble. His face really was exquisite, flawless, the deep cupids bow, heavy eyebrows and green eyes strong, set off by the neatly arranged hair that I had become accustomed to seeing him with. Even his hair did as it was told.

"I want you so badly Isabella," he said, his voice so low that it made my spine reverberate, "no fancy words, no double meanings. I want you in my life, in my home and in my bed."

I let the conversation hang, not because I didn't agree with him, but because I needed to catch my breath. I wasn't expecting him to be so open.

"Don't tell me I've finally managed to silence you," the hint of a smile ghosted on is lips. "If being up front and honest with you was all it takes I would have told you that when I locked you in the closet the first day I met you."

"What are you saying?" I squeaked.

"I'm saying Isabella," he reached his hand over the table and took my hand in his. "I knew the first time we met that I wanted you and nothing has changed. In fact the feeling is stronger now that I am actually getting to know you. If I thought for one minute you were ready for me I'd marry you the day my divorce comes through."

Seth, with impeccable timing, tapped on the door, popping his head around to ask if we were ready to eat. Edward nodded to him, then surreptitiously let go of my hand. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. The servers came in and with almost theatrical presentation put a beautifully presented steak and potato dish with some veggies on the side in front of me. As soon as they had left the room Edward picked up his cutlery and started to cut into his food.

"I don't know about you but all this honesty has given me one hell of an appetite," he said as he put a piece of steak in his mouth. I had the distinct feeling the tables had been turned on me as he started to moan in appreciation of the flavours on his tongue. I just sat and watched as he devoured what was on his plate. "You know Isabella, I can only imagine that one thing is going to taste better than this meal." I knew what he was going to say but I had to ask. Before I could open my mouth to formulate an appropriate response he continued. "You Isabella, when I finally get to taste you."

The rest of the meal went off quietly and calmly. I think both of us had reached the point of no return and one more comment would probably have found us locking the door and rolling around on the restaurant floor. Fun as that sounded I really didn't want our first time to be like that, it might sound cliched but I wanted it to be special.

We skipped desert but had a brandy and coffee and our conversation flowed more along the lines of a first date. I was shocked he didn't follow any sports team or do anything even remotely 'brotherly' with Emmett. He never went on nights out or even just to the cinema or a bar, he ate because he had to and made sure that most of his meeting in the evenings included food so he could eat and talk at the same time. He owned nightclubs, restaurants, bars and strip joints but very rarely visited any of them and even conducted his business in the competition so he could assess them, eat and do business all in one go. I was both amazed and saddened with his life.

"When do you have any fun Edward? You know kick back relax and just enjoy doing nothing?" I asked as I finished my brandy.

"I don't have much spare time," he explained, "my businesses take up a lot of my time and my other responsibilities can take up just as much time sometimes."

"What are your other responsibilities?" It was a natural progression in the conversation however I could see his posture shift, his gaze harden just a little.

"Those are the ones we need to be married for," he stated pushing his cup and saucer away, "I can't discuss those with you."

I let it go. Not because it was in my nature to leave big things unsaid but because I think I understood what he was saying. No matter how much he wanted me it didn't guarantee my silence or my trust. This cemented my thoughts on just how important he must be.

"Okay, I understand." I smiled to make sure he understood I meant it.

"What that's it," his expression was surprised and I liked that I surprised him, "you're just taking my word for it? No questions? No second guessing? No trying to wheedle it out of me?"

"No," I shrugged, "if that's what it is, then that's what it is."

He stood up and walked around the table so he could pull my chair out for me, I stood and turned to face him. His warm hands came up to rest on my cheeks. I could feel his heat close to me, breathe in the male scent underlining the expensive cologne.

"Can I kiss you Isabella?" I nodded and watched as his face came towards me. He licked his lips and as they met mine I swear I heard him sigh. I opened my mouth slightly to grant him access and I felt the emotion surge through both of us. He became much more demanding and I let him take control of the kiss. His tongue explored my mouth and he kept the kiss going and going. To allow us both to take in the oxygen we needed he would break the kiss and place small pecks around the sides of my mouth before diving back in. His hands moved from my cheeks into my hair and then finally rested on my back as he pulled me against the length of his body. As I felt his very prominent and hard penis against my stomach I finally found the power to move. My hands ran up over his back and I pulled him even closer.

Once more a knock on the door stopped us in our tracks, as we broke apart I couldn't help but blurt out my feelings. "I am so sick of people knocking on that door tonight."

"Miss Swan," he sighed, stepping away from me reluctantly. "I couldn't agree more but it's probably for the best at this moment in time."

Right on cue the door knocked again, this time more firmly.

"Come in Seth," Edward growled an answer and turned his back to the door to protect his modesty.

"Are you ready to go Boss? You have an appointment in the office." I looked at Edward questioningly.

"Thank you Seth," he said. "Isabella," he turned to me. I opened my mouth to protest as to why he was going to work, but something in his sombre expression made me stop, "please forgive me. I have to go to the office to sign some paperwork."

"Do you want me to order a taxi?" I was trying to be polite but inside I was screaming, how could he just walk away now? After that meal. After that kiss?

"Of course not," replied Edward, a little indignant, "it would be inappropriate to leave a date to make her own way home." I wanted to add how rude it was to rouse my passions with a kiss like that then leave me alone but with Seth there I just bit my tongue and nodded.

Seth checked the corridor and nodded at Edward and we followed him out to the foyer. The mysterious other guy appeared at the wheel of the Range Rover and as Seth held open the door I slipped in and Edward followed me. Seth slipped into the drivers' seat and the other guy got into the car behind us. I hadn't realised Edward had a separate security detail.

We drove home in silence but with our hands clasped tightly together. It was both comforting and arousing. As he stroked the top of my hand all I could think about was how it would feel if he was doing that on other parts of my body. I could feel the wetness spreading between my legs and my nipples straining against the soft luxurious lace. I sighed as I rubbed my thighs together trying to get some relief. Tonight was going to be a long night alone and I hadn't replaced my last worn out vibrator.

"Thank you for an interesting night Edward," I leaned towards him so I could give him a kiss on the cheek, "hopefully we will get chance to do it again."

"If you are agreeable I could come over later after I've finished what I need to do, or I could come over later in the morning and take you to breakfast?" He looked so hopeful I couldn't have turned him down even if I wanted to.

"Well seeing as you have managed to get through most of the evening without too much swearing and you have been very open with me why don't you come back after your business?" I fished in my purse, "I'll give you my spare key and you can let yourself in. If I'm asleep you can either wake me up or snuggle up to me and then we can go to breakfast in the morning." His answering smile was breathtaking and I knew the gamble I'd just taken had paid off.

"I'll be as quick as I can Isabella that is quite the incentive." I dropped the key into his palm and he curled his fist protectively around it. We pulled up outside my building and Edward walked me to my door, I didn't expect him to come in with me but as he pointed towards the camera I understood he was protecting me from prying eyes. After a quick but passionate kiss he left.

EPOV

It's fucking typical that tonight had to be interrupted but it's for a good reason. If everything has gone to plan Jasper should be waiting in my office with my divorce papers in his hands. All I have to do is sign and get them notarised and it's done. I'll be a free man; well free as in I'm no longer married to Tanya. I plan to get them signed and be in bed with Isabella before the dawn breaks. I have promised myself all along that I wouldn't take things too far until I was a single man but she was testing my resolve tonight, looking so good in that black dress, especially as I already had a good idea what she was wearing underneath it.

As we approach the club I can feel my palms getting damp. I want Isabella so badly and I'm almost there, she knows how I feel now and hopefully we can start a new life together.

"Evening George," I say to the doorman as I walk in through the front door.

"Evening Mr Cullen," he replied, dourly.

I am intercepted in the corridor by Mike, the duty manager, and I can see already he is flustered.

"Boss," he said in a low voice, "your wife is waiting in your office for you along with Mr and Mrs Whitlock." His hands wrung nervously. Mike knows, probably better than anyone, how protective I am of my inner sanctuary. "I hope you don't mind but Mr Whitlock said it would be okay." No one was supposed to be in my office if I wasn't here and that included my sister and her husband.

"We will talk about this later Mike," I pushed rather rudely past him as I made my way to my office. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door, the sight before me should have made me explode but it just made me laugh for some reason. Jasper was sat behind my desk working on his laptop but Alice and Tanya were sat opposite sides of the room almost snarling at one another.

"What the fuck is going on here?" I asked as I walked in.

"Finally. Where the fuck have you been?" my delightful sister asked.

"None of your business Alice." I sent her a look that was meant to silence her.

"Okay well care to explain what this skank is doing in your office, I thought we had seen the last of her?"

"As I've just said," I said it slowly, pretending to myself that she hadn't understood the first time, "this isn't any of your business"

"Now Jasper, are you ready for me to sign?" I looked over his shoulder at the paperwork he was working on. I could see he had some reports on Charles Swan but that could wait. All I wanted to do was finalise my divorce and get back to Isabella. As I thought of her my hand instinctively went to my pants pocket and felt for the key. She had given me her spare key and if I had my way she wasn't having it back.

"Yes Edward it's all ready," he slid the papers across the desk to me, "Tanya signed a few days ago so it just needs you to sign here." As he pointed to the area I needed to sign his words made me look up.

"How the fuck could you sign a few days ago?" I didn't even try to be polite. "You were supposed to be gone until after the divorce?"

"Daddy wanted me home," she pouted, "he sent word we could come back because things were happening and he wanted us close at home." Tanya got up and walked towards me. "Have you missed me Edward, is that what all this is about?"

"What the fuck are you talking about woman?" I pushed her hand away before she could place it on my chest. "I haven't given you the slightest thought in weeks." If only she knew I'd already replaced her in my head.

"So what was this then," she sounded indignant, "the summons to your office to meet you here in the middle of the night?"

"I don't have the first fucking clue..."

Before I could finish Alice cut in. "Why don't you just fuck off back to the money grabbing family you come from and leave us all the fuck alone."

"Tanya," I suppressed a smirk, "I probably wouldn't have been as direct as that, but as my beautiful sister has explained it so eloquently, would you please leave."

She picked up the coat and purse I'd undoubtedly paid for and turned to walk out the door. I knew there would have to be a parting shot, she couldn't resist having the last word.

"I know it was you who blew up the truck," I kept my features neutral as she watched my face like a hawk for my response, "don't think I will let that go because I won't. I will get my revenge." With that she slammed out of the door.

I called down to the doorman and made sure he saw her off the premises and left word she was never to be let in again. I would deal with Mike later, now I just needed to get back to Isabella.

"What the fuck was she doing here?" Alice asked again.

"I have no idea," I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose, "and right at this moment I really don't care, I'll deal with it all tomorrow. Jasper are we done?"

"Yes Boss," he said closing the laptop, "I have filed the paperwork on line. It's done, you are officially divorced. We should get a notification in a day or two at my office."

"I want a full report tomorrow on why the fuck she was back and I didn't know. I will also be interested to hear how you knew she had signed and I didn't." My anger was simmering dangerously close to the surface but Alice was in the room so he got a free pass for now, tomorrow she may find herself a widow.

Jasper's expression was a little unreadable as he quickly packed up his things and stood up.

"Go home both of you I will see you tomorrow sometime."

As soon as they left the office I sat down leaned back and put my feet up on the desk. Once again I felt for the key in my pocket, I was free, I was free to pursue Isabella properly and it was going to start in earnest now.

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I was going to answer some of your questions but ... hopefully I've just thrown a few more into the arena !

Thank you to LL for a superb job as always. I'm so looking forward to seeing her and AJG on the 26th for our catch up. Off to meet up with some new and old friends tomorrow in Birmingham UK, if you haven't heard of MY PEAK CHALLENGE, please look it up. It's a charity based programme based around getting us up off the sofa and looking after ourselves. There are nutrition plans, daily exercise plans and a huge support network. It's been set up by Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser in Outlander) and 50% of the money goes to his charity. Please check out the website it's an amazing plan, I've lost around 30 lbs so far and I'm certainly in a lot better shape than I've been for a long time. Sorry plug over, I'll see you all next week. Looking forward to your reactions to this chapter and just to let you know I just wrote an incredible lemon if I do say so myself hehe.