Thanks again to my beta, Paige! You're a dream!
"I'll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day and through
In that small cafe
The park across the way
The children's carousel
The chestnut trees
The wishing well."
-Billie Holiday-
BPOV:
Days have past since I heard the news of King's death, but the wounds are just as fresh. My mind runs wild with different imaginings of how King died. I picture the look on his face when he sees his killer-my attacker-for the first and final time. He finally uncovered the truth, but was killed before he could do anything about it. I shudder at the thought. When my imagination gets really overactive, I envision myself in King's place. I visualize it's me they found on the floor in a pool of my own blood.
"Bella? Do you want to get out of this room? You've been in here for days."
Edward's voice pulls me out of my horrible daydream. Can I leave this room? I don't feel ready. But he's right, I have been cooped up in here for days. I just haven't had the stomach to go anywhere. King's death has made me more paranoid than ever. I would consider talking to a professional about it, but I'm too frightened to leave this room.
"I don't know, Edward…" I trail off, wishing I didn't look as cowardly as I feel. Maybe I'm being ridiculous. I need to be strong. I need him to see that nothing will affect me. He can try to shoot me down, but I'll just keep on getting back up. All I need is the courage to do so, but that courage has been so hard to find. Maybe going out will be like ripping off a band-aid. I just need to get it over with, so I can see I had nothing to fear all along. Accept the fact that you do have something to fear, Bella. You do. One day, he'll finally succeed in finding you. It's only a matter of time. Pushing my frightened thoughts to the back of my mind, I say, "Actually, let's get out of here, Edward. I want some fresh air."
"Good," he smiles, "You can finally make use of those clothes I bought you."
Edward went out shopping for a little while a few days back. He was only gone for thirty or so minutes, but it felt like a lifetime. He bought some food, clothes, and all the necessities we'd need for our extended stay, before returning to me. I tried to distract myself by watching TV when he was gone, but it was no use. I was hyperventilating by the time he returned and he spent an hour, rocking me in his arms, until I could finally breathe easy again. I kept thinking someone would show up at our hotel door and take me far away. I was so sure it would happen. I just kept staring at the door, waiting for that bastard to walk through it.
My eyes flicker to the bag on the small sofa in the corner of the room. "Do you mind if I bathe before I change? I feel sort of grimmy."
In truth, I haven't bathed for a couple of days. I've spent pretty much every second in bed, only getting up to go to the bathroom. Edward's been keeping me entertained, but not in the way he used to. He treats me like I'm incredibly fragile, taking care of me as if I were a small child. It's sweet, but I hate that I'm acting this way.
Edward lifts me up off the bed and carries me to the bathroom, he's careful as he strips my clothes off before setting me down on the closed toilet seat while he fills the tub with warm water. I shiver as the air conditioner tickles my naked skin. Edward must sense my movement, because he turns his head to look at me. He looks at my face for a moment, before his gaze drops down to my breasts and stays there for a moment. My nipples harden under his gaze and another shiver runs down my spine, that has nothing to do with the cold air.
"Let's get you in the tub."
He lifts me up before gently lowering me into the warm water. I rest my legs on the side of the tub as I lay back and close my eyes. The water feels divine, and for a few moments, I forget about everything else. I feel Edward run his fingers through my hair. He massages my scalp and takes his time washing my long hair, before he begins to wash my body. I sigh, enjoying the feeling of his strong, yet careful hands on me.
"Can you join me? I just want to feel you."
I open my eyes and find Edward smiling at me. He takes his hands off of my body long enough to take off his clothes and slip into the tub behind me. My body practically falls against his. He feels so incredible and in his strong arms I feel so protected-like nothing in this world could ever hurt me. I know in my heart that while he's around, he'd never let it.
Turning, as much as I'm able, I raise my head and press my lips against his, savoring the salty taste as I slip my tongue inside of his mouth. Edward kisses me back with such enthusiasm, I feel utterly breathless. Sometimes I forget how incredibly passionate he can be. His lips are a dream as they work against mine. I'm so distracted, I barely notice his hand as it creeps down my body and settles between my legs. He slips one finger inside of me, and then another, before slowly pumping them in and out. I moan against his mouth, desperately wanting his fingers to be replaced by his cock.
"Please, Edward," I moan, wanting nothing more than to feel him thrusting inside of me.
"Baby, are you sure?"
Edward barely waits for me to answer before he carefully maneuvers around me until he's between my legs. Because of my injuries, I can't be on top, so we just have to make do while we're in the tub together. I don't care if it's uncomfortable; I don't care if my tailbone cramps for the rest of the day. As long as my pussy is aching after we make love, I'll be perfectly content.
Edward's inside of me in one, hard thrust. I gasp, enjoying the feel of him as he stretches me. He gives me a moment to adjust, like he always does, before pulling out so his tip is teasing the entrance of my pussy, before he pushes back in. He rocks inside me, causing water to splash all over the floor. I smile and look at him, enjoying this simple moment with the man that I love.
I come so hard I see colors behind my eyelids, like fireworks going off on a pitch black night. Edward follows me, pulling out to come all over the side of the tub. I grin at him, feeling sated,for now. He kisses me once before pulling the plug on the tub. He gets out and then picks me up and carries me back to the main room to get dressed in my new clothes. They're nothing special, but they're better than the clothes I've been wearing for the past few days. Edward helps me blow dry my hair, and then gives me a hat and sunglasses to hide my face before we head out.
As soon as we leave our hotel room, I don't feel well. My senses are on maximum overdrive as I take in the sights and sounds around me. I feel like I'm living in a strange dream, feeling so disorientated as Edward pushes me toward the car. Everywhere I look, he's there. He's everywhere. Watching me. Waiting for Edward to leave me alone so he can come and take me. I see his face everywhere I look. He's putting a suitcase in a red truck I don't recognize. He's talking to another man, who looks eerily like him, standing by the hotel office door. He's standing at the bus stop, staring right at me.
"Bella? Babe, what's wrong?"
My eyes leave my attacker's face and I look at Edward. His face is etched with concern. "Bella? What is it?"
I look back at the truck to find an older man packing up his things to go home. I look by the hotel office and find two middle aged men talking to each other, then laughing at something funny. Then, I look to the bus stop, only to find an older, frail woman staring at me.
"I thought I saw…" I trail off, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.
"You thought you saw what?"
"Him," I say quietly. "I thought I saw him."
"Do you want to go back inside?"
"No," I quickly say. Too quickly. I don't want to feel weak anymore. "Let's go, Edward. Please," I add, when he doesn't move right away.
He nods and pushes me the rest of the way to the car. We spend the drive over in a comfortable silence, listening to music on the radio as I close my eyes and try to forget about my surroundings. I don't know what happened earlier. I don't know why I saw him the way I did. It was like I was having some sort of episode. I suppose I was having an episode. Maybe I'm really falling apart. Maybe that bastard has finally gotten under my skin. Or maybe he's always been there. Maybe he knows it and that's why he's toying with me.
I manage to control my thoughts by the time we arrive at a small diner about ten minutes away from where we're staying. I keep my head down as he wheels me inside and we're directed to a table in the furthest corner of the restaurant. I don't look up. I'm too frightened to look at anyone. I gaze at the menu and tell Edward what I want so I don't have to talk to anybody. I'm afraid if I look up at the waitress, I'll see him.
Our lunch is nice and uneventful. We eat our sandwiches and fries and Edward tells me about some old, science-fiction movie I've never seen. I'm grateful he doesn't expect much from our conversation, because I barely comment on anything he says. Edward knows when I want to talk, and when I don't. He knows when to push, and when to allow me time to relax.
"Can I get you another tea, Miss?"
I look up at our waitress and instantly regret it. I see him again. The angular face, the bright blue eyes, and the devilish smirk. A chill runs down my spine as I stare at him. A smile tugs on his lips, and they twitch a few times before breaking out into an eerily friendly smile.
"Miss? Another tea?" asks a baritone voice that causes me to gasp. "Miss? Are you all right?"
"Bella?"
I can't pull my eyes away from his face.
"Bella!" Edward says, his voice stern.
Finally, I pull my eyes away to look at Edward. He takes in my horrified expression and stands up, slapping some cash on the table before coming around to get me.
"I'm sorry," he quickly apologizes to our waitress as he unlocks my wheels and pulls me away from the table. "That should cover our meal and tip," he mumbles, before rushing us out of the restaurant.
When I look up into his face again, all I find is a confused woman. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. God, I'm falling to pieces. I'm truly falling to pieces! This has to end, and soon. I want him locked away. I want him far from my mind. I want him to stop haunting me like this.
"Everything will be all right, Bella. I promise."
I wish I could believe him.
A/N: I'm so, so happy so many of you are enjoying this story so much! It's definitely fun to write, so I'm glad it's fun for you to read!
**Fun Horror Movie Fact- In 1930, dubbing technology was still unreliable, so Universal made two completely different Dracula movies: One for English-speaking audiences and one for Spanish-speaking ones. The same sets were used, but the actors were different. Instead of Bela Lugosi, Carlos Villarias became the iconic face of the vampire in the Latin world.***