A/N: Whew, I'm finished with the next chapter! I'm updating again! Yay! Thank you all for all the positive reviews and encouragement. I honestly don't know where I'll be without you guys, probably sitting alone in a room somewhere still preparing the plans for this fic instead of writing it and posting it on the website. Sigh…
Well anyway, in this chappie you find out who the shouting person was introduced in the previous chapter. I think one of the reviewers guessed right, I just forget the name – sorry! If you don't know who it might be, then read it! Duh! =D
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
35
"Isabella Marie Fortunato-Delacour, what are you doing to that man?"
Edward and I sprung apart, like two naughty schoolchildren being caught by a teacher snogging in a broom closet after hours. As my eyes took in the tall blonde beauty before me, I realized that our situation might not be that different from those two naughty schoolchildren, for two reasons:
One, though Edward and I were far from being children, we might as well be, judging from the way the 'teacher' were glaring at us accusingly.
Two, the 'teacher' was my aunt, Verdonna Fortunato, and she was mad – real mad. It reminded me of the time her rival fashion designer stole her innovative fall designs. Yes, she was that mad. It didn't help at all that she was more of a Veela than I, her mother being a full Veela, and so she looked very formidable when angry.
"Aunt Donna!" I cried in false cheerfulness. I snuck a snide glance at Edward, whose face was as impassive as ever. "What are you doing here…?" I trailed off as her reproving glare doubled in intensity, and I fidgeted as I discreetly fixed my hair. I knew that I failed in the attempt.
"What am I doing here?" Donna hissed. "What am I doing here? I think the more appropriate question is: what are you, Isabella, doing here with that poor boy?" My eyes narrowed at her change of vocabulary, but my aunt did not see me, blinded by her incredulity. "You were practically all over him! I come here to see if my dear niece was doing well in her road to recovery, and I find her – find you – acting like a scarlet woman! I thought I taught you better than that, Isabella!"
Rage at being insulted bubbled underneath my very skin. I was not a scarlet woman; I was not a harlot; I was not a skank or a whore or a slut. Before I could react, however, Edward had risen to my defense.
"In all due respect, ma'am," he said smoothly, "but I think you should not be insulting your niece like that."
Donna's eyes swiveled to Edward, and they narrowed into even thinner slits. "You!" she pointed a perfectly manicured finger at him. "I do not know, nor do I care to know, who you are, but I know this for sure: I do not like you. Partaking in inappropriate activities with my niece! This was all your idea, I bet. Men can't ever be trusted," she yelled at me. "Never, I tell you!"
"Donna, this was not Edward's fault!" I exclaimed in frustration, effectively ending Donna's diatribe. This was not the time for her silly prejudice against men and her lack of trust for the gender. I know that being half-Veela, she had greater influence over men and yes, it can get unbearable at times, but insulting Edward, and in my presence, no less? That was going too far.
"Oh, his name is Edward, is it?" she mocked. "Well, Edward, I think I will take my niece and bring her home with me." She grabbed the upper part of my arm and dragged me towards the fireplace, where she scattered a generous pinch of Floo powder into. The blazing red fire turned emerald green. It looked very sinister to me, foreboding as it threatened to take my away from Edward.
"No, you can't… make me!" I struggled and effectively broke free before I was even an inch away from the fireplace. "I am not going back to Italy with you, Donna. You have no right over me and my actions anymore. I'm seventeen, in case you have forgotten."
"Adult or not, it is still my responsibility to take care of you, Isabella. I swore to your father that I will protect you, stand in place as your mother if need be. And speaking of my dear younger sister Veronica, she will be terribly disappointed with you… and that boy you came in here with." She cast a sneering glower behind me.
I ignored the second part of what she said, mainly because it wasn't true. "You don't need to protect me, Donna," I said softly. "I've grown out of that eleven year old orphan phase. I'm seventeen, an adult, and I can take care of myself." I raised my eyes to look at her, and saw that my aunt had tears in her eyes. I didn't hesitate to envelope her in a much needed hug.
"'I can take care of myself'," she repeated, whimpering. "That's what your mother told me when she ran away to Alaska, all those years ago." I felt her hot tears staining my shirt, but I didn't bring myself to care. Over Donna's shoulder, I saw Edward standing by the doorway uneasily, uncertain of what to do.
"Can you please make us some hot cocoa?" I mouthed to him. He nodded and bustled around the kitchen, leaving my aunt and me to sit down by the table. "So what brings you here?" I asked, taking the steaming mug of hot cocoa from Edward. I smiled at him gratefully behind my cup, my eyes trailing him as he left the kitchen, picking Verity up on the way, and settled on the recliner in the living room.
"I came to check up on you, though I see you are doing fairly fine," answered Donna. She had cleaned herself up with a small silk handkerchief, and was looking quite exquisite in pinstripe suite getup that she was wearing, polished off with a large hat with a bright red flower. "I would've come sooner, except I had to wrap up the preparations for this otherworldly, ethereal themed fashion runway I was organizing.
"It didn't help, of course, that my main model called in and told me that she tripped and broke her ankle while wearing her heels – of all things! I thought it was a given that runway models are graceful with or without shoes. So yes, I'm pretty stressed right now." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I do apologize for blowing up on you like that, Isabella."
"It's perfectly all right," I comforted her. "I know how stressful it gets in those studios of yours. The hustle and bustle of the fashion industry – not quite my thing, really… So have you found a replacement yet for your main model?" I took a sip of my cocoa and peeked at Edward. He was reading a book that I had left on the coffee table, absently stroking Verity's back. I smiled at the scene before focusing my attention back on Donna.
"I asked Lai Xing, that friend that you made when you worked for me during winter, do you remember?" I nodded and she continued. "Well, she said she'll think about it. I tried to explain to her that I needed a definite answer, but she told me that she couldn't make her mind up without informing her fiancé first, so I told her not to bother, to concentrate on her upcoming wedding, et cetera, et cetera, and that I'll just ask someone else. Actually…" Donna ducked her head and gazed up at me shyly.
"Actually what?" I asked cautiously, for I knew that look. It usually didn't bode well for me, because it meant Donna had a plan, and most of her plans usually involved me.
"Isabella, I know you said you wouldn't walk down the runway again, especially after what happened with Franc and his crew, but I fired the guy, so you don't have to worry about him anymore!"
I bit my lip, wondering if I should accept the implied offer.
"Please, Isabella?"
"It's not just Franc, Donna. He wasn't much of a problem, anyway." I sighed and took another sip of my hot cocoa. "I have a life here in Forks, I can't just up and leave, and not to mention that the American Ministry's inviting me to visit some time in the following week."
Though I had already accepted the French Ministry's award of Order of Merlin, Second Class, Donna didn't know about that. What she didn't know won't hurt me. I was fishing for excuses, so bite me.
"Why?" she asked.
"I helped Gabrielle with her Auror mission, remember?"
"Oh yes, that," Donna shook it off with a wave of her hand. "But why won't you agree? It's just for a week at most, Isabella. I'm sure a week won't make much difference with your class standing in Forks High – why you've decided to attend a Muggle school is beyond me, but like you said, I don't control you anymore, and that includes all aspects of your life, including education."
"H-how?" I spluttered. "How did you know I attend Forks High?"
Donna laughed and finished the last of her hot cocoa. "My dear, I am a professional, am I not? I do background checks for my possible models, and since you are my niece, all I had to do was ask Gabrielle what you were up to recently."
Note to self: kill Bree for talking about me behind my back. It didn't matter that I had saved her life just a few days ago, and consequently collapsed from magical exhaustion.
"The Order of Merlin award from the American Minister," I said feebly. "What about that, huh?"
"Oh, don't lie to me, dear." Donna patted my hand as she stood up and dropped her mug into the sink. "I know that you've accepted the French Minister's award for the Order of Merlin, Second Class. When I talked to Gabrielle, she was having dinner with her uncle Antoine and he spilled the beans. You should see how talkative he gets when I'm around." Donna laughed loudly.
Another note to self: kill Bree for not stopping Antoine from opening his typically quiet mouth – I suppose I couldn't blame him since Donna, a half-Veela, was in his presence. He must be really proud of my achievement. I wonder how everyone else had reacted to that, because as far as I know, I was the first person to receive an Order of Merlin since my great-uncle Albert incapacitated a goblin after being cheating at by Gringott's. and that was just the Third Class kind.
"All right, I'll be your main model," I acquiesced after some consideration. To be honest with myself, I loved the adrenaline and confidence I felt whilst walking down the runway, flash cameras snapping away at my Veela beauty (not that the Muggles knew that).
"That's wonderful, dear!" Donna exclaimed, clasping her hands in delight. "Well, I've got to go," she kissed me on both of my cheeks, "I've to redesign everything to rotate around you, my dear. I'll write to you when the final date is set, but I would want you a couple of days early for practice and dress fittings, all right? Oh, and by the way, you should really swing by England and visit that other cousin of yours, Fleur. She'd been hounding Kooky back at the Manor, dropping by every day with that very pregnant belly of hers because you seem to be too busy with your life here to contact her."
Amidst her flowing speech and speedy delivery of it – I almost got lost in the cadence of the Italian accent – all I managed to do was nod my head timidly. When in her element, Donna was a force to be reckoned with. I couldn't help but wonder though that if she was not born a Squib and was able to perform magic, then perhaps she might've been a little bit different. I know she had envied her sister, my mother, for being magical while she was not, but she had accepted the fact a long time ago.
Oh, and it was nice to hear that Fleur was doing fine, despite the fact that I was the subject of her fury. I had to apologize for Kooky some time.
Tidying up after myself, I sauntered into the living room and found a comfortable spot on Edward's lap. I had to shoo Verity away, but she didn't seem to mind as she joined Genviève underneath the coffee table. Hmm, I wonder where Prudence was… I knew Serendipity was out hunting, for night had already settled over the surrounding forest.
"Comfortable?" Edward asked, peering over the book he was reading – well, used to be reading. Now he was talking to me and vampire or not, Edward simply can't talk and read at the same time. If he can, then I would envy him so badly.
I answered his question with a kiss on the lips, easing the book away from his grasp in the process and throwing it over my shoulder. It flew with a flurry of papers and landed somewhere with a dull thump.
"I apologize for my aunt's untimely interruption," I said between kisses.
"My, aren't you eager today," Edward commented, though he was not complaining. I positioned my ear just above where his heart should be and traced indecipherable patterns on the cotton material of his shirt. I regretted that he wasn't wearing a button up shirt, in which I could just unclasp one button and his chest would be accessible to me.
Stupid t-shirts.
"Can't really help it," I shrugged. "You're just too damn kissable for your own good."
Edward chuckled. "You really think so?" he asked, playing with my hair. He seemed to be mesmerized by the color, the feel and the way the light danced on each individual strand. Sometimes, I get mesmerized myself. I should really charm it back to brown, or else I'd be too distracted to function normally.
"I don't think so. I know so." I raised my eyes to glare at him in warning, "But don't let that get into your head, alright?"
"Don't worry, love," he assured in that sensual, deep velvety voice that was definitely Edward… my Edward. "I won't. Goodness knows how much I've heard from Emmett's mind how amazing he was, and it doesn't really help that Rosalie echoes his thoughts."
I giggled. That really sounded like Emmett – but I didn't want to think and talk about Emmett. I wanted to think and talk about the Greek god underneath me, my personal Adonis. I sighed and reached up to suckle on Edward's Adam's apple. He sucked in a breath, unsuspecting the kiss. I must've taken him by surprise.
"Isabella," he whispered, "what are you doing?"
"Didn't I tell you that I found you kissable?" Just to prove my point, I kissed him softly on the neck. "I didn't just mean on the lips, you know." I kissed him again, this time on his jaw, moving ever so closer towards that earlobe that I loved to nibble on.
"I – Isabella…" he shivered when my hands roamed underneath his t-shirt, his own pressing me as close to himself as possible. I was by now silencing his moans with my lips, kissing him hard and deep – well, he was kissing me back, but it was more like I was taking the lead here.
I paused our kissing for a while to catch my breath, leaning my forehead on his and my eyes boring into his own. Not wanting to stop things just because we had stopped kissing, I gripped the hem of his shirt and slowly lifted it up. Edward looked at me questioningly; I knew what he was asking. The only times when he had ended up shirtless was during heated, desperate moments, where either of us were attacking the other with frantic kisses. This was heated and desperate, all right, but far from frantic.
When the cotton t-shirt passed over his head, I absently willed for it to be thrown against the room, letting my magic be of some use. My hands, shaking from anticipation, traced every contour of Edward's torso. I haven't really given much time to appreciate how built he was, how strong he must be. I watched with childlike fascination as my shaking fingers played with line of hairs trailing from his chest, going down between the ridges of his toned abs and disappearing into his pants.
My heart was thudding loudly and heavily in my chest, barely contained by the ribs. The blood pounded within my veins, the most heated around my ears. I could barely hear anything apart from my own thoughts, and they weren't as clean as I would've wanted them to be.
Damn, I'm not sure if liking this control Edward had over me was a good thing or a bad thing.
I looked up when Edward cupped my cheek and made me face him. There was a note of worry in his eyes, battling over the desire and lust that he barely controlled. I gulped at the amount of lust he was exuding, because I knew I mirrored them.
"Isabella," he said tenderly, his voice barely above a whisper. I closed my eyes and leaned into his hand, reveling in the coldness and concentrating only at the feeling as his fingers played with my hair.
"Edward," I muttered just as tenderly, perhaps even more. I turned my head to softly press my lips to his palm, breathing in his unique scent.
"Isabella," Edward called again, this time more urgently – but not the way I wanted it to be. He was serious and controlled. My eyes shot open and stared at him, perplexed. "Look," he said. "I'm sorry but…" He untangled his hand from my hair and pushed me back slightly. I felt hurt wash through me at his rebuff, and he noticed it. "Please, love, don't be hurt. Let me explain first."
"What is there to explain?" I cried, the Veela inside of me boiling in fury. Who was Edward to reject me? What did I do wrong? Didn't he find pleasure in all the things I did? As those questions flew to the forefront of my mind, I freed myself from Edward's grasp and moved away. "Don't you want to be with me?" I asked weakly, my arms circling around myself.
"It has nothing to do with that and you know it, Isabella Marie." Edward picked up his shirt from where it had landed across the room and donned it. He then rushed to my side and stroked my cheeks with the back of his hand, gently, affectionately. "I want you. I want to be with you, more than you could ever fathom, but there are… complications."
"What complications?"
"There are several."
"Hence the use of the plural form of the word," I snapped, impatient. "Will you explain already?"
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, telling me that he was just as impatient. I felt bad for interrupting him. But hey, he should not have interrupted me before. "For one thing," Edward grounded out, "I know that you are not ready for this yet."
"Not ready? Not ready?" I screeched. "I think I know myself better than you, Edward. I know whether I may or may not be ready, and let me tell you this: I am –" I poked his chest, "– ready as hell." My initial bout of anger dissipated and my hand rested on Edward's chest. "Why do you say that, though?" I asked, looking up at him under my lashes. I smiled to myself when he swallowed before answering.
"You are not ready," he insisted, "and neither am I. You just woke up the night before from a three day coma. I know you missed me, just as much as I missed you, but I don't want to take this next step with you if the reason behind it was because we missed each other. You might regret it later on, and it would break my heart if I saw you crying one day because you gave up something special to a monster like me."
His declaration spoke to my very core and it brought tears to my eyes. It tugged at my heartstrings and I really, really felt bad for behaving like I did.
"Oh, Edward…" I wrapped my arms around him in a gentle, loving hug. "You are so wrong on so many levels," I chuckled and rubbed my forehead on his chest.
"I am?" he asked, almost foolishly in my opinion. "About what?"
I leaned back and raised an eyebrow, asking, "What makes you think you were the only one I had ever planned on being intimate with?" Despite the seriousness of the situation, could I blame myself for teasing the guy?
Nope, not at all. His expression was to die for, eyes all wide and surprised, like a deer caught in the headlights. Oh, my poor deer – pardon the pun.
"I suppose I should've expected that," he mumbled as he lowered his eyes. He wasn't livid, like what I was rooting for, but his entire facial expression melted into the complete epitome of disappointment. I wondered if I should be disappointed myself, to find out that he had not reacted the way I had hoped, or at the fact that he thought of me so lowly.
"Edward," I called to him, asking him to step out of his thoughts. "Edward…?"
"Yes, Isabella?"
"Mon sucre d'orge, you look adorable when you're disappointed, like a child who wished for a puppy from Santa but found out that he didn't exist."
"If you say so," he shrugged morosely. I bit my lip; perhaps I had taken the joke too far.
"Edward, you do know that I was teasing you, right?" I said, trying to convey to him the truth of my words. "As both a Fortunato and a Delacour, I have to keep myself as pure and chaste as possible so that when a suitor comes and asks for my hand in marriage, the dowry would be deemed acceptable by my family's standards. It's an old tradition, something that doesn't happen too often anymore, but the Fortunatos are an old family, and they abide by tradition… the Delacours," I thought of Bree, "not so much."
"So you're saying…" Edward trailed off, letting me finish the sentence.
I closed my eyes and prepared for what I was about to say next. It has been engraved into my mind ever since I was old enough to understand. "I'm a virgin, Edward, and I will remain so until the night of my wedding, in which my husband and I will consummate our marriage," I recited in a hushed whisper, my heart fast and erratic at the idea that perhaps, it was Edward who was to be my husband. I was his mate, after all.
I've never given much thought as to who my future spouse would be. I had always assumed that it would be someone high in stature, someone like me in the magical sense, someone handsome and kind and smart… I suppose three out of five was as good as any, so who was I to complain? At the back of my mind, my brain deemed it appropriate to remind me that Leon fulfilled four out of five requirements, as he was a wizard.
'Oh, shut up, brain,' I thought. 'Being prejudiced against Muggles was not a worthy feature of one's personality. Besides, Leon's dead.'
"Mmm," Edward hummed, bringing me out of my internal arguments. "That's good to know, at least. So I was right about one thing, how about the others?" he asked, pertaining to the previous conversation before we had delved into the status of my virginity.
I blushed, did I really just had that conversation with Edward, of all people?
"Well," I sighed, "you were right about my missing you, and you were right about not being ready. It seems you pegged me very well. Yourself, on the other hand…" I took his hand and led him back to the recliner, pushing him back down as I plopped myself on his lap. "How is it possible," I asked, "for you to know me so well though you cannot read my mind, but to not know yourself at all despite the fact that you can read your own mind? It's hypocritical for me to say, sure, but how could you not know yourself?"
"What do you mean, Isabella?" Edward's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "I think I know myself pretty well, considering that I have to fight seven other personalities in the form of my family in my head, and that's not including the copious amount of people I encounter at school."
I searched his eyes for something, searching long and hard. I found it a minute later. Edward, my sweet, sweet Edward, was as masochistic as they can get!
"Edward, you are not a monster," I stated sharply, leaving no room for discussion. I was convinced of that simple fact: Edward was a vampire, yes, but he was no monster. "If you were, then I wouldn't be doing this…" I leaned in for a kiss, which he gladly received.
A/N: This was awkward to write…yeah. I was cringing as I wrote the scenes, and I keep thinking to myself "Why am I writing this?" Then a voice at the back of my head says "It's okay. It's part of the story". Still, it was awkward as hell. Anyway, how was the chapter? Good? Awesome? Bad? Horrible? Somewhere in between? Tell me in a review!
=P