HAPPY NEW YEAR, LOVES!
EPOV
I pulled into the driveway and saw that the kitchen light was on. Bella must have been waiting up for me. It was late. I stayed where I was to gather my thoughts. I rubbed my eyes, which I was sure were red from the emotional encounter with Carlisle. Today was long and draining for me, and I was very tempted to sleep in my car. But I knew being with Bella would be much, much better. After everything I learned from Carlisle, I knew there was no other place I'd rather be than with my wife. No other place I was meant to be than with Bella.
I should have known that. My mind was still reeling from the fact that I would eventually go back. And I would want Bella before even officially meeting her.
And she would probably think I was insane.
She probably wouldn't realize the hold she had over me. She wouldn't know what I knew.
Would I have wanted to get to know her had I not come here?
I have no idea. I was certain I would have at least been intrigued by her spirit.
But there was no use pondering those thoughts because I was here.
Where I needed to be.
The pull towards her was stronger than ever, and I quickly got out of the car. I practically ran to the doorway and unlocked the front door. I took off my shoes and stopped short when I saw Bella sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. My whole body became warm. I smiled.
She was beautiful.
She didn't look up at me, but I knew she heard me come in. Her posture was rigid.
"Bella?"
She flinched, but still didn't bring her gaze to mine. I furrowed my eyebrows and felt a chill run through my body. I sucked in a breath and walked further into the kitchen.
"What's wrong, love?"
She looked up and she had tears in her eyes. Her face looked blotchy as though she had been crying.
Oh no. Did somebody die?
"Where-" her voice cracked before she cleared it. "Where were you?"
"I was..." How could I explain where I had been? "I visited my dad."
Her gaze softened for a split second and then she hardened her expression again. "Why didn't you answer your phone? Or any of my texts?"
"What-" I pulled out my phone and sure enough, I had seven missed calls and several text messages. All from
Bella. Shit. "I'm sorry. I didn't even hear-did something happen? You're freaking me out."
"I'm freaking you out?" she exploded. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? You didn't hear your phone?! Are you fucking kidding me, Edward?" I flinched at the way she sneered my name. There was a spark in her eyes and her face was flushed. It reminded me of earlier. Even when she was terrifying, she was still incredibly sexy. My body started to respond until her shoulders sagged.
All the energy appeared to leave her body. How long had she been holding that in?And then, she looked so...sad.
In that moment, I vowed to never be the reason for the look on her face. I would never be the reason for her unhappiness.
I took a step toward her.
"Don't," her voice broke. She bit her lip as her eyes welled up again. My hands were itching to touch her. It took everything in my power not to walk over and embrace her. "Are you seeing someone?"
I felt my eyes widen. Seeing someone? The only person I was seeing that I shouldn't be seeing was my dead father.
But I couldn't exactly tell her that.
"What?" I whispered, unable to comprehend the question.
"Are you seeing someone, Edward?" she asked firmly, deliberately. "Is there someone else?"
Did she think I was cheating on her?
"No," I responded simply. The idea of there being anyone other than Bella was ludicrous. How could she not see that she owned me?
"No?" She looked exhausted and sullen. "Who's Jane?"
Jane? Who the hell was Jane?
"What?" I'm sure my face was incredulous.
"Your girlfriend?" she spat. "Your phone beeped in my ear this morning. I saw the text from Jake."
Text from Jake...
Jane...
Oh.
I laughed in relief. She narrowed her eyes at me.
"Jane is a middle-aged woman who came into the food pantry," I responded. "She likes peanut butter. That's about the extent of our relationship."
She looked down. "I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize," I spoke softly. "There's only you."
She nodded. And took a breath.
"Why do you run away from me?" Her voice was quiet and broken.
"Bella, I-" I'm a coward.
"Why- What did I do wrong?" she sobbed. "Today was the first time we've been even close to intimate since you started acting strangely."
Holy Jesus. What have I done?
"Bella," I spoke softly-cautiously, as though she was some wild animal, "you've done nothing wrong."
My fingers twitched with the need to touch her.
"Then why don't you want me?" Her voice was so small. She looked down at the floor.
I lost every ounce of control I had and rushed over to her, pulling her to me. She tried to fight against me but wasn't strong enough.
"I am so sorry for making you think I didn't want you. You are in my every waking thought." I grabbed her face and looked into her heartbroken eyes as I whispered fiercely to her. "And in my dreams. I sometimes believe I'm insane for how obsessed I am with you. You mean everything to me, Bella. I will always want you. It will always be you. I'm in love with you."
Of course.
I had been in love with her the whole time. Since she first jumped on me. It was like a breath of fresh air to finally admit it. Like a burden had been lifted from me.
I leaned forward and kissed her forehead, "Bella." I brought my lips to her eyelids, tasting tears on them. "I love you so much." I kissed her cheeks. "Everything about you is everything I want, everything I will ever want." I smashed my lips to hers and brought her closer to me, claiming her as mine. Finally.
"I love you," I breathed against her lips and slid my hands up to her shoulders. I kissed the corner of her lips and moved to her ear to whisper, "I will always want only you." Her neck broke out into goosebumps as I kissed it. I peppered her neck with kisses and pulled her even closer. Her arms which had been dangling at her sides finally moved up to my shoulders. I dragged my finger tips down, grazing the sides of her breasts and trailing down her stomach. I slipped my hands under her shirt, caressing the soft skin there, and she moaned against my mouth.
"Take me to bed, Edward."
Phew!
-Bravery
