Chapter Thirty-eight: Three Little Words
AN: I am supposed to be on vacation for the next week. Which means I'll wrote more or a lot less, depends on what I end up doing. I may end up trying to get out of town for a few days. Right now I'm not feeling that great, my father just told my mom he was moving out after 33 yrs of marriage. I'm not really surprised though, he's put her through a lot of crap with money and at least one recent affair that I know about. I'm really close to my mom, so I'm struggling more with this for her sake I think. My father has hit mid-life crisis and gone totally nuts, he's nothing like he used to be, it's sad. I'm hoping it doesn't color how I write the rest of this story. Fortunately this story was written before I found that out, I was just hanging onto it to make sure it's what I wanted it to say. Hope you enjoy it.
Characters belong to Stephenie Meyers
EPOV
Pushing Bella out of the door to the hallway, I saw Alice waiting for us. "Bella, why don't you go to the living room with the others, I need to talk to my brother." She said to us. Why? Hadn't everything been said?
As Bella walked away Alice said "You are a complete moron." Thanks a lot, Alice! "Why did you tell Mike you were having sex with Bella? It's none of his damn business. And for the love of god why did you mention that you were her first? Rosalie and I got Emmett and Jasper calmed down for now, but once they see you… I'm not sure they won't rip your throat out."
Why did I? I think to tell Mike she was with me and he couldn't have her. Although I wished my brothers hadn't been present for that conversation. "I don't know, I was angry and it slipped out." Just like when I'd said something about fucking girls without knowing their names in front of Bella. I was an idiot. I should have kept my mouth shut. It was true, but still she didn't need to hear it. Alice had slapped me across the face after that, after Bella had gone into the living room.
So I'd had two of my siblings hit me in one day over Bella. Well they did warn me that they'd protect her over me, I guess I should have expected it.
This day had been rotten so far. Before all that I had to fight off Victoria's advances. All Alice and Bella knew about was our conversation. They didn't see Victoria put her hand over my crotch and picking my hand up to cup her breast. Thank god they didn't see it. I was disgusted. I couldn't remember anymore why I wanted her in the first place. I must have been drunk at the time. She was pretty, but something about her was off just by looking at her. I'd almost told Victoria that I loved Bella, but feeling them behind me I chose not too. I did, but I didn't want the way she found out awake to be like this. It seemed wrong somehow. I also thought if I did Victoria would do something worse than she did. She still might.
"Edward? Hello? I'm talking to you here." Alice said pulling me away from my thoughts.
"I'm sorry Alice, but this has been an eventful day for me." I said touching my mouth where Emmett had punched me and the cheek Alice had slapped.
Alice laughed and said "That's your own damn fault." Yeah I supposed it was. "Let's go join the party." Alice said walking into the living room with me following behind.
They'd turned some music on and had food and drinks out. I saw some people there that I knew and some that I didn't. There was a suspicious lack of girls here from previous parties. As I looked around the ones that were missing were ones I'd had sex with. Most of the ones here were already in a couple, except a handful that I didn't know.
Bella was across the room and looked like she was arguing with Emmett. Oh please don't make this worse. Coming up behind her I heard her say "Emmett Cullen if you ever punch Edward over something like that again I will make you pay. You won't like it, trust me." I tried to hold back my chuckle at that. What could she possibly do? He was huge compared to her. Emmett seemed just as amused by her threat and his laugh boomed out drowning out all other sound. When I looked at Bella's face though I saw it wasn't an empty threat, she'd find a way to do something to him.
Putting an arm around Bella's shoulders I kissed her head and she turned to look at me with fire still in her eyes. She put her hands in my hair and pulled my mouth down to hers and kissed me hungrily. In the back of my mind I wondered if she wasn't doing this for Emmett's benefit, to piss him off.
Hearing Emmett clear his throat I pulled away from her, even though I didn't want too. "Hey Edward, we want to talk to you outside." No, I didn't have anything more to say to them. They'd heard it all.
"If you have too, but nothing you say will change what is." I answered back.
"Emmett, I warned you… don't forget it. You will pay." Bella said. I almost wished he'd do something to make her mad just to see what she would do. It might be amusing. Oh well even if he didn't hit me again I was sure he'd do something stupid in the near future, like always.
Emmett, Jasper and I walked into the backyard. The front was off-limits since we didn't want certain people seeing us. "Okay, spit it out. I think we've already said what there was to say." I told them.
"Why? How could you not wait? She was as sweet and innocent as I thought she was and you… you… just went and fucked her." Emmett said angrily. Jasper said nothing. I got the feeling he was there just to keep us from truly fighting.
"You already know why she didn't want to wait. I promised her I wouldn't, even if I shouldn't have. I never said I wouldn't do anything with her either, only that I wouldn't be with other girls. You do remember that conversation, don't you? Emmett, I didn't just fuck her. I love her." They both looked at me with their mouths hanging open at the word love coming out of my own mouth. Okay, I'd had enough explaining myself for today. Turning, I walked back into the house. Jasper followed me, but Emmett stayed outside still looking angry. I thought I heard him hit a tree. At least it wasn't my face again.
In the hallway I could hear Bella's laughter, it sounded pleasant to my ears. I still can't believe she passed out on us laughing so hard. If I hadn't been so worried, I would have thought it was hilarious. Stepping foot into the living room I saw her surrounded by two guys.
Anger pulsed through my body when I saw them. They were clearly hitting on her, but she had no idea. Why did they keep touching her? Seeing red I had nearly had enough for one day, these guys had no idea what they were in for. Feeling a hand on my arm I heard Jasper say "Don't be an ass. We have to live with those guys." Live with?
Looking closer, I noticed the guys talking to her were some more of our roommates. Eric and Tyler must have moved in while we were gone and I'd been too preoccupied to notice they were back. I never liked either one of them, but as I was usually too busy to notice who I lived with it never mattered before.
Deciding to take Jasper's advice I didn't attack them today. It didn't mean I never would though. They didn't know I was with Bella and even if they did, they wouldn't think we were actually together. That just never happened in my life, instead fucking and leaving all the other girls. My stomach tightened and I felt sick when I thought of the other girls. Some of them were pretty horrible, but some of them weren't. They should have been treated better than that. Should have had someone to really love them. Of course I wouldn't have known that until I met Bella. Sex was just sex before, it was fun and messy and that was about it.
Staking my claim on Bella, I walked up to her from behind and wrapped my arms around her waist as I leaned down and kissed her neck. She moaned for me just like I wanted her too. When I looked back up I saw Eric look defeated, but Tyler only had a look of determination on his face. We weren't friend's so he'd bide his time until I did something stupid I was sure and try to swoop in.
Leaning forward so I could see Bella's face they had no shot of being with her. I knew the look that said she wanted me and it definitely wasn't there when she looked at them. Pulling her closer to me I said "I see you've met some of our other roommates."
"Yes, they were entertaining me while you and Emmett were off being cavemen." Bella said, the other two laughed hard. Well Emmett gave off that vibe most of the time, but I didn't, this was new.
"Yes and I was the winner so I get to drag back to my cave." I said and heard her sweet voice laugh at me.
"Not right now, maybe later. The house is full of people." Bella replied, answering the actual question that was between the lines. I sighed. I really didn't want to be here with all these people. Tomorrow would come and we'd be separated by school. I had two majors and I worked in the clinic here for school, aside from the band we were in. It was just good I could remember almost everything I had ever learned; otherwise I'd never have a life. I wondered how hard it would be to have a relationship with all of that. Fucking someone didn't take as much work. Well maybe my brothers and sisters can keep her out of trouble when I couldn't.
Whispering in her ear I said "Bella, please. I don't want to be around anyone right now except you." Nibbling the top of her right ear, I had to hold her up before she fell. I smiled to myself, that got her every time.
Bella turned her body around pressing it against mine. Leaning down I kissed her lips gently sucking on the upper one. When she moaned into my mouth I heard Eric and Tyler walk away from us. I knew people were here, but I didn't care, as far as I was concerned we were alone.
"Get a room." I heard someone say.
"Hey you two, please stop grossing out our guests. Can't you wait to do that later?" That was Alice's voice pulling us back to reality.
Bella pulled back and looked at Alice significantly and said "I need to go lie down somewhere, anywhere."
"No way, you two aren't leaving the party. Edward you live here, you can't leave. That would be rude to your guests." Alice said back to us.
"I don't care. I didn't invite these people or ask for a party, Alice. That would be all you." I said sharply.
Bella said "Edward can stay here, but I really need to lie down Alice. That Advil is not cutting it. It's hard to pretend to have a good time when you hurt too much." Ahh… girl stuff. I was so glad I wasn't one. However, I was happy they existed, their soft skin… Bella's soft skin… I had to shake my head to get that image out.
"Okay Bella, if you are sure." Alice said to her. "Oh tomorrow after your classes we are going to do something together. Edward will be too busy to see much of, so it's you and me." I was grateful to Alice that she would at least entertain Bella. Although I wasn't sure that she needed it, Bella had pretty much been on her own for a while.
"Alright Alice, whatever you say. I'm sure I couldn't get out of it even if I wanted too." Bella said, rolling her eyes at Alice.
"Nope, you couldn't. I'm glad you are learning." Alice said with a wide smile.
Bella kissed me again and said "Good night. Have fun with the rest of these people." She said gesturing around the room and laughing. She seemed to know I wouldn't think that was fun at all.
Watching Bella walk away from me, I felt like I was being drawn to her. Only Alice's hand on my arm kept me where I was. When I watched Bella go up the stairs it gave me joy to know she would be staying here with me, instead of leaving.
Alice pulled me down to her and said "You can see her later. Just don't leave right this second, wait a while please. Give her some peace to herself. We haven't given her very much of it." I had to agree with Alice on not giving her much time to herself.
Walking around the party I attempted to make small-talk to the people here. What I discovered is I wasn't very good at it. I knew how to hit on women, but to have a normal conversation with one? Or talk to a guy? Forget it. The only people I could truly stand being around were my family and Bella. Interesting…
"Has it been long enough Alice? I don't think I can take anymore of these fake conversations." I asked, pleading for her to let me go.
"Yes, it's been long enough. Edward, you are the only one not enjoying themselves. All of the people here are having a good time. Don't you hear the laughter?" Alice replied. No, I didn't until she asked me to listen to it. I still thought even that sounded fake or forced.
All I said was "Thanks Alice." Running up the stairs I hurried into our room. Wait. Our room? Did I really just think that? I guess I did. That's how it felt to me now.
Shutting and locking the door this time, I saw Bella lying on the bed. She was on her stomach with her arms hugging a pillow to her head. I could tell she was still awake even though her eyes were closed. Her brow was furrowed like she was still in pain.
Sitting on the bed next to her I said "Bella are you okay?"
"No. I'm in pain. I won't be very good company if you want to go back downstairs to the party." She replied. No, I didn't want to go back down there. Her not talking to me was better than that drivel.
"Bella, I'm not going back down there. I'll stay here with you." I said to her.
"Well it's your own funeral." I chuckled at that response.
Rubbing small circles into her back I thought that might help relieve some of the ache. I heard her moan at that, but not in a sexual way. "Keep doing that." I heard her muffled voice from the pillow.
"Is there anything else that will make you feel better?" I asked her. I had no clue what that felt like or what to do about it.
Arching her back she pulled her knees up to her chest first before sitting up. "The only thing that makes it feel any better when I'm like this is taking a hot bath as hot as I can stand." Bella said to me.
"If that'll help, you can take one in my bathroom." I said.
At that she threw her arms around my neck, surprising me and said happily "Thank you. Our dorm only has showers. They aren't really all that helpful to me at the moment."
"Um okay, Bella. Please go." I said trying to suppress the laughter at her over-enthusiastic response to a bathtub.
When she got up, I stayed where I was. This morning she had been mortified about the whole thing, so I was certain she didn't want me with her right now. I had sisters though, I was used to it.
Getting up I turned some of my own music on to drown out the party downstairs and laid down on my couch listening. Through the closed, but not locked bathroom door I could hear the water running. Laying there I tried to concentrate on the music without much success. Every once in a while I could hear the water sloshing. Whenever I heard it I thought about Bella being naked in there.
Pounding on the bedroom door made me come back to reality. Sighing I got up and opening the door I saw Emmett of all people standing there. "What do you want now?" I asked him, exasperated. Why wasn't he done already?
"You should be back down at that party, not fucking Bella in the middle of it." Was his angry response.
"Uh… Emmett look around you. I'm still dressed. Bella is in the bathroom by herself. We aren't doing anything right this minute." I said sweeping my arm across the room.
He looked into it and said "You need to come back down when she gets out."
"I don't need to do anything. I'll do what I want too. That party was getting to me, that's why I came up here. Bella was already here, she was in pain." I said glaring at him.
"Pain?" Shit! Keep your mouth shut. "Why is she in pain? What happened?" Emmett questioned.
"Nothing happened, she's just in pain." I said to him. He was even bright enough to catch on to what I didn't say.
"Oh." Was his response.
"Yeah. Oh." I said. "So if you don't mind, please go away." I said trying to shut the door on him.
"I guess nothing will happen anyway. I don't guess she'd want you to touch her now." Emmett said laughing. Shutting the door in his face I locked it again. No, she probably didn't want me to touch her. Then again… maybe not. She seemed more aggressive than usual downstairs. Don't think about this now. If I kept thinking of it, nothing would stop me from going into the bathroom.
Going back to the couch I laid down listening for her again. I could still hear the water moving, so she was alright. Closing my eyes I drifted off not into sleep but the music that was playing.
Coming back to my surroundings I heard a quiet that shouldn't be there. The music was still playing as well as the music downstairs. What was missing? Then I heard it, no movement of water. I wondered how long it'd been like that. The bathroom door was still closed, so she was still there.
Getting up I walked to the bathroom, at first only knocking and asking "Bella, are you okay? Do you need something?" No response. Opening the door I saw Bella in the bathtub her body and head completely submerged in it. Only I didn't think it was intentional and she'd be up for air any minute. "Oh my God, Bella." I said out loud making my legs move as fast they would to get to her, heart racing.
When I stuck my hands in the water, it was cold. How long had she been in here like this? Pulling Bella up out of the water I immediately turned her over on her stomach and she choked out water. At least she wouldn't need CPR.
Pulling her wet body to my chest I cried out in relief "Bella, are you alright?" Her body was shivering and her teeth were chattering. She didn't say anything for a while so I just held tight to her. Draining the cold water out first, I then added warm, hoping to warm her up.
"Edward, I…" Her voice came out rough and raspy from choking on the water. "I think I fell asleep in here." I was relieved, she was talking.
"It's okay, I found you. It's okay." That had shaken me; I was actually scared for her.
"It's happened before. I've fallen asleep in my bathtub before, nearly drowning. More than once." Bella told me. Of course it had, she seemed to attract hazards to her.
"Bella, it's okay. Next time I want to be here to make sure you don't do the same thing." I told her. I meant it. I never wanted to feel like that again.
As her body slowly began to warm up she suddenly seemed aware of how naked she was and I wasn't. Pulling away from me she pulled her knees up to her chest in the bathtub wrapping her arms around them. No, this wouldn't do, not after what I'd just been through. Removing my clothes I climbed in behind her. "What are you doing?" She snapped at me.
"I'm taking a bath with the woman I love that nearly drowned. That's what I'm doing." As I said this I pulled her back to my chest. Her head turned to look at me, staring.
"You love me?" Her voice cracked and her eyes were wide.
"Yes, I love you more than anyone before." I answered. Unsure I was ready to say it to her; I couldn't help but do it after she nearly drowned. It seemed I was wasting time holding it off.
With her eyes shining she said "I love you too." Watching her mouth move I had to taste it. Cupping her cheek, I ran my thumb across it. Then kissing her lips softly I brought my tongue between them as she opened them for me, moaning.
"Bella, I need you now." I said after a few minutes of kissing.
Her brow wrinkled and she said "Right now?"
"Yes, right now. I thought you'd drowned. I need to know you are still here, with me. I love you." I explained myself to her.
She didn't say anything after that only pressed her back into my chest. Sweeping her hair away from her neck I kissed the soft skin there. Bella leaned her head back against my shoulder, exposing more of her neck to me. Sucking the skin lightly there I worked my way down to her collarbone and shoulder. She moaned deep in her throat for more. I could feel one hand move up toward my head and held me there to keep kissing her.
Moving my hands down I caressed her stomach for a while still kissing her neck and shoulders. One hand moved up to cup her right breast and my thumb lightly ran over her nipple as I felt her harden at my touch.
"Oh my God, Edward. I need you now." Bella said as she grasped my thighs to keep from slipping further into the water.
The remaining hand on her stomach moved it's way down to her core and started rubbing it lightly. Her legs opened even wider for me then and her moaning was becoming louder. If I wasn't careful everyone would hear it. I wasn't sure that I cared if they did or not.
Finding a condom in the pocket of my jeans that I'd left on the floor by the tub, I opened it and rolled it over my erection. "Bella, kneel on either side of my legs still facing away from me." I commanded as I scooted my body down just a little in the bathtub. Doing as she was told, I put my hands on her hips and pulled her closer to me. Brushing my erection against her core I had her moaning for me to come inside her. Finally I pushed myself into her and I watched as she put one hand on the wall and one on the side of the bathtub to give herself leverage to move up and down over me.
From this position I could see the bruises I'd left on her, they looked even worse now than before. Never again, I wouldn't let that happen. I wasn't going to dwell on it right now, I had a beautiful girl in front of me, naked and riding me.
My hand came around to touch her core rubbing her with the same pressure she did when she did it to herself. One of her hands still out for leverage the other one moved to play with her nipples as she moved up and down faster. "Edward, please rub me harder, I'm so close." I did as she told me and felt her body shudder as her muscles contracted. She continued riding me until I couldn't take it anymore and exploded.
Getting off me she turned her body around and pressed her breasts against my chest. Looking into my eyes she said "Thank you for saving me." Placing my arms over her back I brought her closer to me, her mouth so close I could feel her breath, it tasted sweet even from here. Bella brought her hands to my head closing the gap between our mouths as she lightly kissed my lips, sucking on the bottom one. I could feel her nibble on it a little. I liked that.
Hearing the party float up to us, we could hear people talking about us and how loud we were. Who cares? It wouldn't stop me from doing something I wanted. Bella pulled away from me blushing, she must've heard it too.
"I think we need to get out Edward, the water is starting to get cold again." Bella said trying to cover up her embarrassment. Draining the water out we got out and dried off. I left Bella in the bathroom to get dressed however she wanted as I walked back into my bedroom nude. Lying down on my bed I waited for her to come to me. When she came out the only thing she had on were panties. She'd forgone all other clothing. Good.
Coming to the bed she laid down beside me with her head on my chest. She didn't look like she was in pain anymore, that was good. She'd sleep better that way. I wondered if it was the water or sex that made it feel better. I knew some girls found relief from cramps by having sex and others it only made it worse. Well I planned on having enough time with her to find out myself.
Snuggling closer to me I heard a deep contented sigh. Turning out the lights I laid there thinking how much I loved her. In such a short time, I wasn't sure that was normal. Did I care? Not really, I knew that I loved her and that was all that mattered.