DISCLAIMER: THE TWILIGHT SAGA IS OWNED BY S.M. – the twisted plot is mine!
REMEMBER – I AM NOT EXPERIENCED IN THE LIFESTYLE OF BDSM – ALL OF THIS COMES FROM MY IMAGINATION - AND IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 – PLEASE READ SOMETHING ELSE!
I'm sorry but there is a long-ass A/N at the end – please read it!
This is long – but I wanted to write this to the end – with no cliffy again this week!
At the end of Chapter 50:-
"W-what do you mean? Jacob's….Dad? Did you say…?" Edward watched as Bella turned white…
"….like I was saying Mr. Cullen Mr. Black died an hour ago. His father wants us to press charges of Culpable Homicide against Miss. Swan…"
"Daddy? Did you say that Billy wants me charged with murder..."
Edward dropped the phone just in time to catch Bella as she fell.
PEOPLE LIKE US
CHAPTER 51
"Bells? BELLA? ISABELLA!" Charlie's frantic voice rang out and Edward clasped Bella's sagging body against his.
Edward picked up the cell phone from where it had fallen on the floor.
"Charlie? Bella just fainted. I need to call you back!" Edward snapped and he disconnected the call.
He pulled the cordless phoned closer to where he was sitting and he heard Chief Westmoreland calling his name.
"Mr. Cullen! Is everything okay?"
"Chief, I'll be in touch. Isabella fainted."
Edward pulled Bella more fully into his arms as he stood up slowly.
He deliberated taking her upstairs, but decided to put her on the couch in the den as it was closer.
Edward lay her gently down on the couch.
He slipped her shoes off her stockinged feet and pulled a quilt off the back of the couch and draped it over Bella's legs and torso.
As he brushed her hair back from her face, he noticed that her skin was pale and clammy. Little beads of sweat had broken through her skin above her lip.
Edward put his fingers over her wrist. Her pulse was beating fast, like a trapped bird.
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Mom, I need to talk to Dad – quickly!" Edward waited for his dad to pick up on the other end. "Dad, Bella fainted and she hasn't woken up – what must I do?"
"First of all, did she hit her head?" Carlisle wasted no time in asking.
"No, I caught her."
"That's good, Son. Where is she?" As Edward listened to his father's calm and quiet voice, he found himself responding by calming down.
"She is in the den, on the couch."
"Okay, I want you elevate her legs, you need to put her legs on a couple of pillows. Do that now…"
Edward put two pillows under Bella's legs.
"Okay, now what?"
"Turn her head to one side."
"Okay… I've done that"
"Now, I want you to feel her pulse…"
"I did. It's fast – really fast, like a bird's…"
"Alright, you're doing really well Son. Now I want you to loosen her clothing. Take off shoes, belts, unbutton her top, anything and everything that may restrict her breathing… take off any jersey or jacket, but make sure she is warm… can you do that?"
"Yeah, hold on…"
Edward quickly found the side zipper of Bella's skirt and he slipped it off her. He removed her jacket and unbuttoned her blouse. When he was finished he pulled the blanket up and over her legs again.
"Okay, Dad, I've done that, and I put a blanket over her legs… what now?"
"How long has she been out for?"
"I don't know… about four, maybe five minutes or so…" Carlisle could hear the panic in Edward's voice rising up.
"That's fine, Edward. Sometimes fainting can last for several minutes… she will come around when she is ready. This is perfectly normal. Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"Charlie's on the other phone with your mother; what happened?"
"Bella just got home and I answered the land line. It seems that Black died a while ago and his father is insisting that they arrest Bella for Culpable Homicide or some shit. Bella got a call on her cell from Charlie just as I was talking to Westmoreland and then she fainted. I caught her and brought her in here and phoned you." Edward sat on the floor next to the couch gently brushing Bella's hair off her face. She looked so pale and still.
"Dad, she looks so pale and small. I can't believe that even now, this asshole continues to fuck with our lives! We are doing so well right now, we are both going to therapy and Bella is eating so well and there's been no vomiting or anything – and now this, I don't know if she can take much more!" Edward growled at his father in frustration.
"Alright, look she is going to be fine, it's just the shock of what Charlie said to her. There is no need to panic, Son. I'm going to call Jeremiah and then I will call you back later. When Bella wakes up, keep her calm and quiet for a bit. Let her take a couple of sips of water and see how she feels. Have you eaten?" Once again Carlisle was the voice of reason.
"Not yet…"
"Okay, give her a while and when she is feeling stronger, make sure that she eats something, even if it's something light, okay? I'll speak to you later."
"Thanks Dad… fuck! When is this fucking insanity going to end? We are just finding our feet…" Edward felt like bursting into tears from anger and frustration.
"Edward, do not panic! It's pointless panicking over something that we don't even know all the details of. Bella isn't going to jail nor will we allow her to get arrested. We will stop this…"
"Dad, she's coming around…" Edward said as Bella began moaning softly as her eyes fluttered.
"Okay, you take care of her and we'll speak later. Call if you need us." Carlisle said.
Edward quickly put the phone down and he framed Bella's face in his hands.
"Wha… what happened…" Bella whispered as her eyes focused on Edward's worried expression.
"Ssshhh… it's okay, Baby, you fainted, but you're fine. Dad said you must lie still for a few minutes…" Edward brushed his thumb over her jaw.
"Dad... Oh God! My Dad! Edward…." Bella's eyes widened as she remembered why she fainted. She had been surprised to hear Charlie's voice on the phone, but she had immediately grown concerned when she heard the gravity in his voice.
"Isabella, it's your dad." Charlie's clipped tone sounded too serious.
"Hi Charlie, how are you?" Bella said.
"Don't speak, just listen: Jacob Black died a while ago. Billy is completely distraught. He came to the station ranting about you being held responsible…"
Bella had felt the ground tilt slightly. This is not happening… Jake's dead?
"W-what do you mean? Jacob's…. dad? Did you say…?"
"Isabella, you need to get a good attorney, like, immediately, Billy Black is insisting that you be charged with Jacob's murder…" Bella stopped listening.
"Daddy, did you say that Billy wants me charged with murder..." Bella heard her voice from a long way off and then thankfully there was nothing…
Bella's fear stricken eyes met Edward's. Edward gently held her down on the couch as she struggled to sit up.
"Isabella. Relax! I know what happened. I spoke to Westmoreland. I don't want you to worry about a thing, okay? My Dad is speaking to Uncle Jeremiah right now and he'll call us back." Edward kept his voice firm and calm. He knew that Bella would respond to his 'Dom' voice better than she would if he tried to coax her into calming down.
Bella nodded and she turned her face away to try and hide the tears that filled her eyes, but Edward put a finger under her chin and tilted her face towards him with a slight shake of his head.
"It's going to be okay, Baby…"
Bella nodded and she lay still for a while as they stared at each other. Edward continued to stroke Bella's cheek with one finger.
"I'd like to sit up, please." She said quietly.
Edward helped her to swing her legs to the ground. As Bella swung her legs, the blanket slipped and Bella's eyes widened as she realized that she was half naked.
She stared at her unbuttoned blouse and the pale blue lace bra and matching boy shorts, her legs were bare except for the thigh high black stockings that she wore.
Bella frowned and looked up in confusion at Edward who looked as if he was blushing slightly.
"Edward… what were you trying to do, Babe?" Bella asked with some amusement in her voice.
Edward shrugged, "Carlisle said to loosen your clothing…"
Bella fought a grin, "Loosen my clothing Sparky; not take all my clothes off! You are such a perv sometimes!"
Edward smiled back at her. He was so relieved that Bella seemed to be alright. Her color was back and she didn't have that empty look in her eyes that he had been dreading.
"Loosen, take off, it's all the same thing, really! Besides, you look very sexy, in a wanton way…" he said as he took her hands in his and pulled her to her feet.
Bella shook her hair out of the way and looked up at Edward, suddenly feeling very wanton indeed.
In fact she felt downright horny! Bella wanted to push Edward against a wall and ride him. She wanted to go down on her hands and knees and have him fuck her and mark her and never let anyone touch her!
Edward groaned as he watched Bella's eyes darken. He knew the exact moment when her mood switched from teasing cocktease to seriously needy, wanting… fuck me! Edward thought as Bella ran her tongue over her bottom lip and then bit the one side of it as she looked up at him through her lashes.
Fucking lethal weapon right there… Edward thought as Bella flicked the front catch of her bra open and pressed her breasts against his shirt.
"I'm feeling a little… cold… do you feel like warming me up Sparky?" Bella said huskily as she blew gently on the chest hairs that peaked out of his shirt.
Edward felt his dick responding to the hard nipples that were gently rubbing against his chest and the soft delta of her pussy pressing against his jeans… she was almost irresistible… almost.
Edward came crashing back to reality and he gripped her shoulders.
"You are a minx, Miss Swan, a very naughty, very tempting little minx and you are going to get what you deserve if you don't stop teasing my poor cock!" He put one hand behind and swatted Bella's ass twice in quick succession.
Instead of deterring Bella, the spanks only seemed to spur her on. She gasped and pressed closer to Edward's hard length.
"Isabella! Enough!" Edward said firmly. He could feel the sexual tension between them that stemmed from the tension and fear that they were both feeling. There was an overwhelming need that he felt to just throw Bella to the floor and bury himself balls deep inside of her! Reason won out because Edward also knew that he needed to take care of her. He firmly stepped backwards, so that he created a small distance between them.
"Now, you are to stay right here, do you understand? I'm going to fetch you something to put on and some water. Do not move, Isabella or else I will give you something to feel faint about!" Edward said firmly.
Bella folded her arms over her bare chest as she gave Edward a narrow-eyed glare, "I'm not…" she began.
Edward was walking out of the den but he swung back to glare back at her, "So help me Isabella, if you tell me that you are not wearing my collar, I will add twenty five spanks to the thirty that I am already thinking of giving you. If you insist on being a sassy brat, I will add another twenty to that! Now, do you have anything else to say?"
Bella had taken a step back when Edward had begun speaking and she kept her eyes on the floor as she shook her head.
"What?" Edward barked at her.
"No, Sir." Bella mumbled even as she felt her juices pooling in her shorts. Fucking body betrays me all the time…
"That's what I thought…" Edward said as he fetched a bottle of water and opened it.
Damn! I can smell her arousal from here… can my cock get any harder?
"I want you to take small sips of water. You need to hydrate yourself. I'll be back."
Bella glared at his back as he walked out of the den and she heard him run up the stairs.
"Honestly! He is so fucking bossy sometimes…" Bella muttered to herself even as she was thinking… I love bossy, masterful, stern Edward… hmmm… the Dom is back….
Edward sprinted upstairs and he quickly found Bella's thick winter full-length robe behind the bathroom door.
He was about to walk out of the bedroom Edward was struck by an idea. He quickly walked over to the special box that he kept in his closet and once he had found what he was looking for he slipped it into his pocket and went downstairs quickly.
Bella was still standing where he had left her. Edward held out his hand and Bella gave him the half empty bottle of water.
Edward smiled to himself. Good girl.
"Put your arms out…" he said softly.
Bella held her arms out without looking up. Edward slipped her silk blouse off her and then he pulled her gown over her. He felt a little disappointed to see her delectable body being swaddled up in the fleecy material. He made sure that the belt was tied firmly so as not to tempt him, before he took her hand and squeezed.
Bella looked up at the sign that he had used for her to look at him.
"Will you wear my collar? I have a feeling that this is what you need from me. You don't have to, Baby, it's not Friday. You have a choice. Tell me what you want, Isabella…" Edward's voice was soft and loving.
Bella felt her heart rate pick up as she blushed and bit her lip.
"Please… please collar me tonight. I need you so badly…" Bella said hesitantly.
Edward nodded.
"I know, Love, I know. I need this too. Please kneel down."
He held her hand as she knelt on the carpet with her head bent and her eyes down.
"I expect total obedience while you are wearing my collar, Isabella. Trust and obedience! Do I have your submission?"
"Yes, Sir, I submit myself to you." Bella said quietly and she sighed as she felt the delicate chain from Italy resting on her collarbone. Edward pressed against her shoulder in a sign. When Bella didn't move, Edward prompted her.
"Relax for a moment…" he whispered.
"Master…" Bella leaned forward and rested her forehead against Edward's knee and Bella could feel the tension that had been gripping her, leave.
Edward ran his hand through Bella's hair. "Feeling better?" He asked after a while.
Bella nodded.
"Good, up you come… slowly; no sudden movement's right now, Isabella. Are you hungry?" Edward asked as he led her into the kitchen.
"I am, a little, Master."
Their dinner was waiting for them. Maggie had prepared a chicken pot pie with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
Edward set the table as Bella dished up their dinner. She brought glasses to the table as Edward fetched a pitcher of iced tea from the fridge.
Bella waited until Edward began eating and he had given her permission before she began to eat. There was silence for a few minutes and then Bella cleared her throat.
Edward looked at her and smiled. "It's your table Isabella; you know that you don't have to wait for permission to speak here."
Bella nodded, "How was your day Master?" She knew that over the past week Edward had made strives to keep their meal conversations on lighter topics, so she ignored the elephant in the room for the moment.
"Long. I missed you. It was harder than I thought it would be not to hear your voice. How was yours?"
Bella smiled, "Good. I missed hearing from you as well, but I was busy. We got a new collection from a new artist in today. I'm really excited about it! I also spoke to Riley; he's coming into town in a few weeks time and he wants to get together for dinner. I said that I would speak to you and I'd get back to him, because it was so close to the movie schedule. He's going to be here for a few days though because he's attending a couple of functions at the Indie Festival and he's invited us to go to Bottom of the Hill* when he is here. Have you ever been?" Bella was excited about her work and she was also looking forward to Riley's visit and Edward had to push down a very unfamiliar feeling.
Am I jealous? Nah! That's ridiculous!
"Where to: The Indie Fest or Bottom?" Edward asked, ignoring the irrational urge that he had to tell Bella to tell Riley to fuck the hell off and kept his voice casual and non committal.
"Either or both, it just sounds like fun…" Bella said.
Edward smiled, "Actually I've been to both many times in fact. Emmet, Rosalie, Jazz and I took Alice there to see her 'favorite freebie' at Bottom."
Bella grinned at him, "Jared Leto? Really?" It was no secret that Alice and Rosalie that what they called their favorite freebies – men that they would be tempted by if Jasper and Emmett were not in the picture. Jared Leto was Alice's one and only entry on her list.
Edward nodded, "Wow. I didn't realize that 30 Seconds to Mars had played there. Ali must have gone crazy…"
Edward laughed at her, "She went crazy! So did Rosie! Alice and Jasper weren't going out but he was pissed off with her for days after that and Emmett walked around like he had been mortally wounded. You should ask Rosalie where her 30 Seconds to Mars t-shirt went to… yeah it seems like it mysteriously disappeared one day..."
They smiled at each other and carried on eating. Bella ignored the nervous clenching in her stomach as she ate slowly and deliberately. She was determined not to be Jacob Black's victim any more!
Since Bella had spoken to Paul, she felt so much more at peace and in control of her surroundings. She knew that she had a long way to go, but she was taking back control of her life and she would not let circumstances dictate to her body any longer!
Edward matched his eating to Bella's. He knew that she hated being watched as she ate and to avoid him sitting as she finished eating, he just kept pace with her. Edward noticed that Bella took a little longer than normal to finish eating and she also ate less than she had been. But he told himself that this was better than her puking or not eating at all!
"Are you finished Isabella?" He asked after Bella had put her knife and fork onto her plate.
Bella nodded.
"Good. Why don't you clean up in here and meet me in the study? Remember what you have learned Isabella." Edward said and he left the room. He went upstairs and took his socks and shoes off. He washed his face and changed his shirt, putting on an old and comfortable check shirt.
Edward walked into the study and quickly got it ready for Isabella. He closed the blinds and curtains. Edward lit the fire in the fireplace and turned the lights down low. He poured Bella and himself a small glass of wine each. He had no intention of 'playing' tonight, and he figured that they could both do well to relax a little.
Edward felt that special electrical charge and turned towards the door. Bella knelt just outside the doorway. Her legs were shoulder length apart, her head was down. Edward noted that she was still wearing her dressing gown.
Good girl, he hadn't told her to remove it.
Instead of sitting behind his desk, Edward sat on the leather sofa. "Come to me, Isabella."
Bella looked up uncertainly. She was biting her lip. She wanted to crawl to him! Edward was rock hard as he saw the longing in her eyes.
Edward swallowed.
"Crawl to me…." He said huskily.
Bella ducked her head down, but not before Edward saw the smile that she tried to hide.
Edward held his breath as Bella began to crawl across the carpet. She parted her dressing gown, so that she didn't slip on the long sides and Edward could see her bra as well as a tiny peek of light blue at the juncture of her thighs.
She is breathtaking. Edward thought as her hips swayed gently.
At last she knelt at his feet and she leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his bare feet.
"Look at me." He said as he combed his hand through her hair.
Bella looked up at Edward, feeling peaceful since her father's phone call.
"How are you feeling?" Edward asked her quietly.
"Much better now Master. Thank you for collaring me tonight." Bella said as she leaned into his hand that cupped her cheek.
Edward nodded. "It's my pleasure, Little Girl. Come and sit beside me." He said.
Bella frowned slightly.
"Isabella? Is there a problem?" He asked.
"No, Master, but I'm happy here beside you…" Bella began.
Edward hardened his steady gaze, "Obedience, Isabella! Do not test me tonight! I am not in the mood for your smart mouth!" He snapped at her, harsher than he had intended.
Bella cheeks were bright pink as she got to her feet awkwardly and sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry Master; I didn't mean to question your instructions." She said quietly.
Edward stared at her bowed head for a moment before stopping her fingers from twisting her bracelet.
"Relax, Little Girl. Look at me."
Bella raised her eyes hesitantly.
"For tonight only, this is a free zone. We need to talk and Carlisle and probably Charlie will be phoning and we are going to talk to them. I want you to be honest with me and them, but remember, Isabella. I expect your respect at all times, so keep a check on your temper and your mouth tonight. Do you understand?"
Bella nodded.
Edward shook his head, "That's not going to do tonight, Isabella. I want to hear you. Now, do you understand?"
"Yes Master."
Just then the telephone rang in the study, causing Bella to gasp and jump. Edward frowned at her.
"Relax!" Edward said. He passed her a glass of wine as he got up and answered the phone.
"Hey Dad! She much better, thanks. Yeah, she's here; hold on, I'm putting you on speaker phone…." Edward pressed the loudspeaker button and made his way back to the sofa.
He picked up his own glass of wine and put a hand over Bella's that was clutching her gown in one hand. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckle in tiny circles.
Bella let out a breath that she didn't even realize she had been holding inside.
"Okay Dad, we are here…"
"Hey Bella"
"Hi, Carlisle" she said quietly taking a gulp of her wine. Edward frowned at her. "Slowly" he mouthed.
"Look, Kids, I've spoken with Jeremiah and he has been on the phone to the S.F.D.A's office. Isabella, there is no way that they are going to charge you, Sweetie. Billy Black is distraught at the death of his only child and he is looking for some sort of retribution. Jeremiah says that if anything, it was self defense – plain and simple. They are wrapping up their investigation now and we should have some answers soon. The D. A. spoke about a worst case scenario of Involuntary Manslaughter and that is stretching it – by a long shot!"
Edward was nodding, but Bella was confused. She didn't understand. Her father had said that they were going to charge her with Jacob's murder…
"Hang on… Carlisle"
"Yes, Bella"
"Charlie said that … that Billy wanted me charged with… M-m-murder…" Bella cringed as she stuttered over the word. She felt Edward's hand tighten on hers. She looked up to see him smiling encouragingly at her.
Carlisle sighed, "He was… he flew into San Francisco tonight, after the hospital called him. Before he left he went to see Charlie at the station. He was ranting and crying that you were going to pay for what had happened. Charlie managed to get him calmed down and he had someone drive Billy to the airport. When Billy got to SF he went straight to see Westmoreland and insisted that they lay a charge against you. When he refused, Billy went to the D.A."
Bella was shaking her head, "This is insane… he attacked us! He was going to… going to…" Edward pulled Bella onto his lap.
"Dad, can we let this go for tonight? Bella has just about had enough for now. She needs to rest…" Edward said.
"I agree, Son. Look, Bella, I know that this is crazy and it's not fair – you girls are the victims here. The District Attorney has assured Jeremiah that they will be as quick and as quiet as they can be, but Edward, you know that there are always leaks in Government offices… all someone needs to do is to draw a parallel line between Bella's name linked to Rosie and Alice or even Kate and they will put two and two together and come up with you… you need to be prepared." Carlisle warned.
"Fuck! You're right Dad; I'll speak to Felix in the morning. Thanks again for everything."
"We love both very much, Son."
"We love you too, Dad. I'll call you tomorrow."
They disconnected their call and Edward put the phone down. He looked down at Bella and saw that her eyelids were drooping. He tilted her face up to his and he sighed when he met her dull, sad gaze.
"Come, Isabella. It's time for sleep." Edward knew that she was beyond tired with the evening's events.
"Not yet, I need to call Charlie. He'll be worried. Please Master." She said quietly.
Edward nodded and handed her the phone.
Bella dialed her father's home number and wasn't surprised when he picked up straight away.
"Swan."
"Charlie, its Bella."
"Sweet-pea, it's good to hear your voice! Are you alright? I'm sorry that I scared you, I just wanted to warn you, Bells…" Charlie's voice sounded worried.
"Dad, slow down! I'm fine. We just spoke to Carlisle and he explained that it's probably just a big deal about nothing."
"I spoke to Esme. She got Carlisle to phone me back. Jeremiah Jenks is a good alley to have Sweet pea. His firm is one of the best law firms on the West Coast. Look, what Billy did was crazy; but Bells, he just lost his only child and I know that it's no excuse, but I just kept thinking that if I lost you…" Edward and Bella could hear Charlie's voice break before he cleared his throat.
"Dad, don't… I'm fine. Edward and I have started seeing a really good therapist and I will get better; I promise. Are you still going to your meetings?" Bella said deliberately cheerful.
"Yes, Miss Worrywart! I'm still going to my meetings and I haven't had a drink; Sue is keeping me busy around here. I'm, um… thinking of doing some changes to the old house, you know. Um, I wanted to ask you, if that's okay? You would still have your room, Bells, but I thought that I would modernize it, you know, for when you and Hollywood come and visit." Charlie was relieved that Bella was sounding stronger. Getting personal still felt strange to him and he was secretly relieved when Bella made it clear that she wanted to change the subject.
"I'm sure it will be fine, Charlie, it's not like I live there… wait did you just call Edward 'Hollywood?'" Bella giggled a bit. She felt punch-drunk and she tended to get giggly when she was tired.
Charlie snorted, "Well, it fits right? So Sue and Seth send their love…" Edward shook his head; Charlie and Bella were both so damn stubborn. Bella's eyes were closing as she tried to listen to her father.
"Charlie, hi, it's Edward. Listen, can Bella call you tomorrow? She is kind of tired out and I want her to get some sleep." Edward said quietly, while Bella frowned at him.
When he turned to stare back at her, she quickly dropped her gaze.
"Hey Edward, that's fine, I'm just glad that you're okay, Bells. I'll speak to you in the morning."
"Night, Dad."
"Night, Sweetpea, Edward."
"Night, Charlie."
Edward put the phone back in the cradle. He looked across at Bella who was losing the battle to exhaustion fast.
"Come on, let's go to bed."
Bella stood up and Edward took her hand and guided her to the bottom of the staircase.
"Isabella, I want you to get ready for bed. When you have brushed your teeth and washed your face, I want you to get into bed, Little Girl. I'm going to lock up and I'll be upstairs in a moment."
Bella nodded and she slowly mounted the stairs.
She was so fucking tired all of a sudden.
She just wanted it all to get away – run away! That's what her mind was telling her to do – to run away and hide. Hide from everyone and everything. She wondered when all of this would end? Would she and Edward ever just be able to be?
Bella felt tears of self pity and confusion; fill her eyes – STOP IT! STOP IT NOW, ISABELLA! She gave herself a mental shake up and walked into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and took her makeup off. After brushing her hair and quickly braiding it, Bella made her way into the dressing room. She took off the dressing gown and underwear and put on a sheer 'blueberry' baby doll and a lacy pair of panties that she had ordered online from La Perla.
Bella climbed into bed just as Edward walked into the bedroom and smiled encouragingly at her. He walked into the bathroom and Bella heard the shower running. There was so much that she wanted to talk to her Master about but her eyelids felt so heavy that she decided to rest them until Master came back…
Edward stood under the shower. He was so fucking tired of all the shit that just seemed to keep coming their way. He just wanted to take Bella and run away! The cold hand that had gripped his heart from the time that Westmoreland had spoken to him was slowly unclenching its fist and allowing him to breath.
His main concern was Isabella. He had to protect her at all costs from the media frenzy that was going to descend on them. Edward wasn't sure if Bella would be able to cope with the constant and relentless hounding that was about to happen!
Edward wished that he could get out of the commitments that he had coming up and then there was the filming the following month. Although they wouldn't be far from home, he was a seasoned actor and Edward knew that there were going to be days and weeks when he wouldn't be getting home until long after Bella was sleeping if at all!
He turned the shower off and wrapped a towel around his hips. He looked at himself in the mirror and rubbed his hand over his three day old beard. He needed to shave, but decided to leave those ablutions until the morning.
He pulled on a pair of sleep pants and noticed that Bella was already asleep; she was curled into a fetal position facing his side of the bed. Edward noticed that she was frowning; her hands were curled into loose fists as her mouth was moving as she uttered sounds and random words. He ran a hand through his damp hair. He needed to talk to Felix and Garrett. Edward also remembered that Bella and he had therapy the next day.
Edward was relieved because he had seen the change in Bella after just one session. He decided to get into bed just get some sleep.
As soon as Edward slipped under the covers, Bella whimpered softy and she pressed into his side. Edward opened his arms and pulled Bella on top of him. He arranged her legs on either side of him, so that she was straddling him. Her arms found purchase in the hair at the nape of Edward's neck and she nuzzled her nose into his shoulder.
"Hang on tight Spider-monkey…" Edward whispered quietly.
Edward's arms wrapped around her, with one hand rubbing the small of her back and the other cupped her soft, covered derriere. Edward groaned and shifted slightly as Bella wriggled her bottom and pushed her core against Edward's burgeoning length.
Edward could feel her heat and the dampness that was spreading on his pants. Bella was moving sensually against him and Edward became exasperated.
He was so turned on but he also knew this was not about him and it wasn't about sex.
Fuck sake, Cullen stop thinking with your dick for a change! He admonished himself. He was proud of the fact that he was able to control his cock when Bella pressed her little pussy against him again. This time Edward tapped her ass lightly but sharply, muttering "No, Isabella!" into her ear at the same time.
Bella seemed to hear him and although she let out a whimper again, she seemed to relax slightly. Edward closed his eyes and settled down to sleep.
****~~~~PLU~~~~****
Jacob's eyes glared down at Bella – "You little cunt! You are MY little cunt, my little whore, you will ALWAYS belong to me – I will kill him if you leave me…"
She couldn't move. Bella struggled but her hands were tied… she tried to open her eyes, but she felt the blindfold against her lashes.
"Jacob please… I love Edward… I will do anything… I will be anything but please don't hurt him…" she could hear her voice pleading and whining.
"You wanted me to take charge, Bells, well this is me… I'm in charge… you WILL NEVER BE FREE OF ME…"
Bella was standing in the little church yard behind Cullen Crest. She looked around; it looked as if it was spring. Bella looked down.
"NO!" Edward was laying in an open coffin… there was blood… so much blood… blood on her shoes… in her hair… on her hands….
"The blood is on your hands, Isabella!" Bella frowned. She knew that voice…
She was standing in the kitchen – everything was the same way it normally was but there was something different…
Bella walked down the hallway to Edward's study. She frowned as she walked into the room – it was empty.
There was nothing – no desk, no chair, no sofa – nothing – just an empty room.
"Edward?"
"Edward…"
"He's gone. He doesn't want you… you are not worth loving Isabella – you never were; don't you see? You are not lovable…"
Bella stared in confusion at her mother standing at the end of the hallway, but as she looked it wasn't their house, Bella was back in Charlie's house.
"Edward loves me!" Bella shouted.
Renee laughed, "oh Bella please! You are pathetic and sad. You will rot in jail for a long time and you will finally be out of our lives…"
"No… no… Edward… Edward... don't leave me… EDWARD!" Bella sat up as her voice filled her ears. She felt Edward's hands grip her hips.
"There is blood on your hands…"
Bella was shaking. She wanted to puke! She wanted to scream and cry!
"Baby..." Bella drew a deep breath as she heard Edward's sleepy voice.
"Oh Edward…" Bella whispered.
Edward hissed and drew her into his arms. He held her as she lay shaking and he could feel her wildly beating heart. Bella was pushing herself into Edward that it became uncomfortable for him.
Bella pushed her hands into his hair as she took deep breaths of his scent. She could feel the shivers running down her body as tiny rivers of perspiration trialed down her spine.
"Bella… calm down… Baby… sweet lord, please Bella… listen to me…" Edward's quiet pleading went unnoticed as Bella tried to pull him closer… tighter… she needed to feel him around her - in her – over her… she knew that she needed to wash her hands… she was dirty…
"Isabella!" Bella felt a sharp spank to her hip. She yelped and jumped slightly, her head shot up to finally meet Edward's dark gaze.
"Isabella, I want you to tell me what you need from me… I want to help you, Isabella, but I am not a mind reader. What do you want, your Master to do?" Edward spoke with quiet authority.
Edward reached up to take her hands in his, Bella gave a scream of fright and tried to pull herself out of his arms.
"My hands! Don't touch my hands! I need to wash them… don't touch them… NO!" Bella's voice was frantic.
Bella began to struggle as she tried to keep her hands away from Edward. Edward was having a hard time holding on to her.
Her mind was filled with images of blood and Jacob lying on the floor, James lying in a pool of blood; so much blood; Kate; Rosalie; Alice… Edward, lying in blood – no, it's not real; no, no, no!
Bella became aware of being picked up and carried. She was slightly cooler. She could feel that thick blanket of nothingness pressing into her, trying to pull her into it… "NO!" The sound of Master's stern voice made her open her eyes.
The overhead lights were on and Bella squinted against the sudden brightness and she frowned and tried to turn her head into Edward's neck but he stopped her.
"Open your eyes, Isabella"
Bella shook her head. "No…"
"Isabella! I said: Open. Your. Eyes. Now!" Edward growled his order out. He knew that he had to get control of Isabella before she slipped into that space that she was so accustomed to!
Bella felt something cold against her cheek and she jerked away and opened her eyes. Her Master was pressing a cold, wet cloth to her neck and cheek and Bella tried to move away.
She looked around her for the first time and noticed that they were in the playroom.
She came up onto her elbows and saw that she was lying on the soft table in the middle of the room.
"Ed..." Edward cocked his eyebrow and he touched a finger to the collar at her throat.
"Master... what are we doing here?" She asked still confused by the feeling of surreally that she felt.
Edward helped Bella to sit up and then he pulled the small chair on rollers that usually sat in the corner and sat down.
"What do you need from me to make you feel better?"
"I need to wash my hands" Bella said almost sulkily.
"Watch your tone, Isabella. Why do you need to wash your hands?"
Tears filled Bella's eyes. "Imdirty" she whispered.
"Isabella; tell me again..." Edward commanded.
Bella bit her lip and stared at the floor, willing herself not to cry out aloud, "I'm dirty, Okay? My hands are full… they are full of blood. So much blood… I can't get the images out of my head! Are you satisfied? Is that what you wanted to hear, Master? I AM DIRTY!" Bella shouted.
Edward's eyes widened and then they narrowed into bright green slits.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?" Edward shouted at her. He knew that he was pushing her, but he also knew that Bella wouldn't accept his help if he was soft on her.
"I NEED YOU TO MAKE ME FEEL SOMETHING! SPANK ME… I need you to make me forget the blood… I need…" Bella broke down and cried into her hands.
Edward could feel his heart pounding. He hated causing her to break down and cry, but he also knew that this was part of what Isabella, his submissive, needed from her Dominant.
Edward had to dig deep before he stood up and kicked the stool across the room. It hit the wall with a bump that make Bella look up.
"That's enough crying from you! I want you to go and stand at the cross. You will ask me to bind your hands and feet. Move now!" He snapped sharply.
Bella scurried off the bed and she almost ran over to the cross and she stood with her back to the cross. Her hands automatically went above her head and she clasped the upright pole. Her legs were shoulder length apart and she stared at Edward with raw need.
"Isabella, remove your clothes immediately! Move your ass!"
Bella quickly stripped and she ran across the floor and put her nightie and panties on the chair next to the door.
"I'm sorry Master!" Bella said as she stood beside the chair.
Edward realized that Bella needed to hear his instructions. She needed to get grounded in her submissive role.
Edward checked the clock in the corner. They had gone to bed early and it was just after 2 a.m.
Edward crossed to the armchairs at the side of the playroom and he picked up a scatter cushion. He walked over and dropped it in front of the cross.
"Crawl over here and kneel before me Isabella." He kept his voice terse, deliberately cold.
Bella stared at the cushion for a moment before she dropped onto all fours and she crawled across the hard wood floor.
She knelt on the cushion, in position. Edward noticed that she seemed more focused already. The shaking in her limbs had stopped and her tears had dried up.
"Focus on me Isabella. I want you to only focus on me. I am your Master. What are your words?"
Edward watched as Bella closed her eyes, "Keep your eyes open! Now, what are your words?"
"Honor, submit, obey, safe word, love, trust, care, respect, discipline…" Bella whispered.
"Now, I want to feel your mouth on me. You are to think only of me as you suck my cock. You will only hear my voice, Isabella, do you understand?"
"Yes, Master."
"Take my pants off and begin. Use your mouth and your hands and you will swallow every ounce of my, cum."
Bella leaned up and she gently pulled his sleep pants over his hips and thickening cock and down his legs.
"Hmmm…" Bella hummed as she licked her lips.
"Look at me…" Bella eyes shot up to meet Edward's dark gaze.
"Kiss the tip of my cock."
Bella flushed and obeyed immediately. Edward noticed that her eyes widened at his instruction before he watched the spark of lust and desire light her watery chocolate eyes.
Bella looked up at Edward as she puckered her lips and kissed the tip, barely brushing her lips to the tip.
Edward hissed. "Open your mouth and suck me in… jeez… that's it Isabella. Use your mouth. Fuck your tongue feels so good. Wrap your tongue around my head! Fuck... that's it Little Girl, lick my balls… use your hands. Twist the head…. yes! Fuck me, you are such a good little cock sucker aren't you? Hmm" Edward gripped the base of Bella braid and he pulled her hair hard, causing Bella to gasp.
Edward sniggered at he pumped his cock deeper into her throat. "I love to fuck your mouth, Isabella. Do you like it? Do you like sucking my thick cock down your throat?"
Bella was almost climaxing just from listening to her Master's voice. She could feel her juices flowing freely from her pussy, running down her thighs. She was sure that she was dripping onto the floor. The more Edward spoke, the dirtier words that he grunted and whispered to her, the harder Bella sucked, almost gobbling the thick, hard length of him. She milked him with her mouth, desperate for his cum to shoot into her mouth and down her throat.
Edward knew what Bella wanted and it was taking every ounce of his self control to hold his climax back. He was panting from the effort, but he watched in amusement as Bella began to get frustrated with him.
Bella hadn't taken her eyes off Edward's face since he had instructed her to look at him. She could see the amused smirk on her Master's face and it pissed her off. She slid his cock deeper into her mouth, letting it hit the back of her throat as she relaxed.
Edward narrowed his eyes at her raised brow. "Be careful Isabella…" he warned before he let out a groan. Bella could feel his balls begin to twitch and she had a sudden inspiration as she stroked his cock with her one hand and quickly sucked two of her fingers of her other hand.
Edward grunted as Bella flicked her thumb over the tiny slit as she twisted the head before slipping it back into her mouth. She gently pressed her fingers to Edward's ass.
He gasped and gripped her shoulders as she rubbed the puckered hole before gently pressing the tip of her finger inside him.
"FFFFFuuuuuck!" Edward shouted as his cum exploded down Bella's throat. Edward came with such force that he felt his knees buckle and he gripped Bella's shoulders painfully.
Bella couldn't hold the smile of satisfaction and she gave herself a mental pat on the back, and that, Ladies is how you bring your Master to his knees….
For several minutes, Edward was incoherent. He was sure that his brain had stopped functioning as his climax had shot out of him. He was positive that he'd heard angels singing!
Edward wasn't beyond experimenting, but he had never felt the desire to have anything inside his ass. It seemed that Isabella was far more adventurous in that area.
Bella licked Edward clean and then she sat back on her heels with her hands in her lap.
Edward stepped out of his sleep pants and he put then onto the chair. He returned to Bella.
"You are soaking wet, Little Girl. Did you like sucking your Master's cock? Answer me."
Edward knew that Bella wasn't as comfortable at talking dirty was he was, but he wanted to push her.
"Yes, Master, I love sucking your cock. I, um, will, drink your cum anytime…" She said hesitantly.
Edward smiled to himself.
"Stand up and face the cross, Isabella."
Bella inhaled sharply. This is what she was craving! Her body tingled as Bella tried to subtly rub her thighs together as she stood facing the cross. She was aching for release!
A sharp smack to her ass stopped her quickly.
"I didn't say that you could do that! Do you want to cum at all?" Edward snapped.
Bella trembled with the effort to not let herself go.
"I asked you a question, Isabella!" Edward's voice rose as he walked over to the rack that held his floggers.
Edward hit one into his hand and he watched Bella arch her back slightly.
"No, Master! I mean yes, Master! Please…" Bella stumbled over her words.
Edward walked back quietly. He ran the flogger gently down the arch of Bella's back, over her pretty ass.
Bella whimpered.
Edward pressed into her back, causing her to press her body flush against the pole, the hard wood pressed against her core.
Fuck! Don't cum! Don't cum! Humpty dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty dumpty had a great fall…
"No… yes… what is it… Little Girl…" Edward's lips brushed against her ear lobe.
Jack and Jill went up a hill… FUCK!
"Master… please… tie me up and spank me… please…" Bella voice was high and needy.
Edward was hard as a rock and he nodded against her, "You beg so nicely, Isabella…"
Edward wasted no time in pulling Bella's arms above her head and securing them in the red silky rope.
He tied her ankles to the large rings secured into the floor.
At last… please… now…
Bella tried to stick her ass out, but a smack with Edward's hand made her jerk against the pole again.
"Be still, Isabella."
Edward picked up the flogger and he switched it against her back.
Bella hissed.
"I want you to hold your climax as long as you can, Isabella."
Bella nodded.
Edward continued to rain soft blows across her back, hips and ass. He moved up and down, each stroke was slightly harder than the last, until he saw her back and ass turning bright pink. Bella didn't utter a word.
Edward could smell her arousal from where he stood. Bella was on the edge of her climax, but she was holding back.
"Do you want to cum?" He asked.
"Please… I'm so close Master…"
Edward suddenly threw down the flogger and picked up the thin whip that he had chosen. He had never used it on Bella before.
The first blow made Bella scream. It was different, stinging her skin even as it set her pussy on fire!
Edward grinned.
"More!" Bella shouted.
"Are you telling me or asking me?" Edward said sternly, flicking the whip against her back a couple of times.
Bella swore under her breath.
"Asking Master! Please!"
"Let go Bella…"
Edward flicked the whip across the inside of Bella's thighs; first one and then the other. "So wet. My little cum slut…"
Bella's legs began to shake. Edward brought the whip down onto her ass as his hand smacked her open pussy. Bella jumped. Edward could feel how her juices were running freely. He longed to put his mouth to her core and drink that sweet, tangy juice from her.
He moved closer to her, so that Bella could feel the heat from his body. Edward stayed one step below Bella so that his cock was almost perfectly lined up to her ass. He smacked her harder this time.
"Cum now!" He ordered.
It was almost too much for Bella as she felt the pins and needles spread out from her clit…
Edward wasn't satisfied with Bella's reaction and he pinched her clit between his fingers, ending with a sharp twist of the bundle of nerves.
"Cum, Isabella!"
Bella screamed as her cum erupted out of her, soaking Edwards hand as well as the thigh that he had pressed between her open thighs.
Edward had deliberately kept the ties on Bella's ankles slack so that he would be able to move her backwards.
"Fuck!" Edward couldn't stand it any longer and he pulled Bella's hips against his hips as his cock slid into her in one stroke.
Bella came again as she felt him pushing into her heat.
Edward didn't slow down. He set a punishing pace, pulling out as far as he could before thrusting up into her passage.
For Bella it was one climax after another. She wasn't sure if she had one that seemed to go on for hours or if she came so many times that they blended into one another.
All she knew was that the sensation of her Master mercilessly pounding his cock into her pussy, pinching her clit, her nipples, pulling her hair so that he could bit her neck sent her into a euphoria that she'd never known before.
Her back, ass and thighs were still smarting and every time her Master slapped his thighs against hers, she felt the pain and the pleasure deep inside her.
Edward changed his stroke and he gave short, sharp jabs inside her. Teasing her, until he slid two fingers, that was coated with her cum into her ass.
"More… Master…" Bella panted as she pushed back against his hand, grinding her hips to get closer, deeper.
Edward laughed. "Tell me…"
"Please fuck my ass, Master.
Edward wrapped his arms around her, "give me one more cum, Isabella. One more for your master… feel my cock inside your sweet cunt… can you feel the head pressing deep into you? Touching your soul? Fuck, you are exquisite Isabella! I want you to cum again for me…"
Edward pulled out of her pussy and before Bella could think, Edward pushed inside her back passage with ease. Bella felt his cock pulse inside her as he slipped three fingers inside her to stroke her g-spot.
Bella and Edward came together, shouting each other's name. Edward's ribbons of cum filled Bella ass: As she came over his fingers.
Edward held Bella in his arms until he was able to move her so that he could unclip the ties from her hands and ankles.
Bella floated in a cloud of post coital bliss. Edward smiled down at her as he lifted her and walked into the bathroom. Bella sat on the bench as Edward filled the bath with steaming fragrant water.
He lowered her into it and followed behind her.
They didn't speak. They didn't need to.
Edward gently washed every inch of Bella's body, soothing her back, hips and thighs. He kissed the hickey marks on her shoulders.
Once he was washed, Edward urged Bella to stand up. He climbed out of the tub and wrapped Bella in a huge bath sheet. Edward quickly dried himself and he told her to wait for him. He put his sleep pants on and picked Bella up in his arms.
Bella smiled at him sleepily as she linked her fingers around his neck. Edward turned the lights out and closed the door.
Once in the bedroom, Edward laid Bella on the bed and rolled her onto her stomach gently as he peeled the towel away.
He checked her wrists and ankles first. He could see faint marks on her wrists where she had pulled against the ropes but they would be gone in a few hours.
Her back, ass and thighs were bright pink in places, the thin welts were raised but Edward was satisfied that the marks would not bruise.
He fetched some arnica based cream and began to massage the cream into Bella's skin.
He worked in silence, taking care not to press to hard on the marks that adorned her skin.
"Hmm" Bella hummed in contentment.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked quietly.
"Never been better, Master" Bella mumbled.
"I'm very proud of you, Little Girl. You did so well tonight, or should I say, this morning." Edward whispered as his hands worked the muscles of her thighs and lower legs.
"Thank you Master. You gave me so much more than I asked for. It was amazing… truly amazing." Bella said.
Edward bent forward and gently kissed her neck as he took the collar off her neck.
Bella sighed. She missed the weight of it and the feeling that it gave her, even though she felt safe with Edward, she relinquished so much of herself when she wore his collar, that it was comforting to feel it warming her skin.
Edward turned her over and he lay down next to her. Bella turned onto her side gingerly to face Edward. She was tender but Bella relished the feeling.
"Are you sore or just tender?" Edward asked her quietly, as he brushed her hair back from her face.
Bella nodded, "A little tender; but it feels so good… if that makes any sense. I feel so focused suddenly. Everything looks sharper."
"Sure, it makes perfect sense. A lot of people don't understand how much strength and concentration it takes to be a submissive. When all of your energy is focused on the pain in your back or ass and you top that with a mind blowing orgasm or four..." he grinned as Bella smacked his chest half heartedly, but she was glowing.
"Well, it brings everything back into perspective, doesn't it?"
Bella nodded, "you know, I was just shocked at the news. I don't know what I thought; I was half expecting the cops to come banging down your door or something…"
Edward's eyes searched her own. "It's going to be okay, Baby. Come on, we need to get a couple more hours of sleep in, before you need to get up. You have a session with Paul in the morning."
Edward lay in the pale predawn hour, watching Bella sleeping. She had fallen asleep swiftly and her sleep had been deep. He smiled as he watched her brush a strand of hair from her face.
He would bet that she hadn't dreamt again and that her sleep was a peaceful as she looked.
Ironically he had not been able to get back to sleep after he had put the lights out. His mind was active. He was thinking about the press release that Felix and Heidi would have to give and he wondered whether he should ask Carlisle, his brothers and Garrett to hold a joint press conference and give a statement.
They would keep the girls out of it. He would call Felix as soon as he had spoken to his brothers and Garrett.
Just as Edward's eyes were closing, the alarm went off. He chuckled as Bella groaned and mumbled as she burrowed deeper into her pillows and under the covers. All that was visible of Bella was the top of her shining hair and the tips of her ears.
"Bella…"
Bella smiled under the covers but she shook her head fervently.
"Oh, Isabellllaaaaa" Edward crooned.
Bella couldn't help the giggle that escaped her.
Suddenly the covers had been thrown back and Edward was crouched over Bella. His heart warmed as he saw the clear, mischievous glint in her eyes. The drama of the night before seemed to fade away.
"What are you up to there, Minx?" Edward growled playfully.
Bella giggled, "I was going to pounce on you but I couldn't stop laughing." Bella said.
Edward grinned at her.
"I'm hope you have lots of energy today, Love. I'm in the mood for a cardio workout competition!" Edward said brightly and he smacked Bella's bottom lightly as he got out of bed.
"Ow Sparky," Bella exclaimed as she got up a little slower.
Edward looked at her in concern, "Did I hurt you, Baby?"
Bella narrowed her eyes at him until she slipped passed him into the bathroom. As she closed the door in his face she stuck her tongue out, "no, I just needed the bathroom first!" She said.
Edward rolled his eyes as he heard the lock click.
"You are going to pay for that fuckery Ms. Swan!" He shouted through the door and grinned when she retorted, "I'm counting on it, Mr. Cullen!"
****~~~~PLU~~~~****
Bella found it easier to talk to Paul in that morning's session about all that had happened the previous evening. She was glad that Paul was in the lifestyle as she explained, while stuttering and blushing profusely how Edward had taken her to the play room after her nightmare.
Paul listened as she went over the dream as she remembered it and then the relief that she felt from the spanking.
When she had finished talking, Bella almost drank half a bottle of water as she waited for Paul to say something.
"I think that you and Edward don't have as many communication problems as you two think that you do." He said with a smile and Bella looked up at him in surprise.
"What?" She asked.
"Well, you handled what happened last night perfectly. From what you've told me Edward tended to your needs with care and dedication and you were able to tell him just what you needed from him without too much prompting, so I would say that you are on the right track. I want to talk about how having this potential charge hanging over your head makes you feel?" He asked quietly.
Bella scowled and shifted in her seat.
Paul could see that Bella was angry, but he was aware that showing anger scared Bella. He knew that she had become better at voicing her anger since Christmas, but he was interested to see if she would articulate her feelings in this instance.
"I'm confused, I suppose. A bit frightened too." Her voice was strained.
Paul nodded, "Go on."
"I didn't want him to die, but I'm glad that he's dead…" Bella whispered the one thought that she had hidden from Edward.
"That is perfectly natural, Bella."
Bella let out a laugh that sounded like a sob. "I'm as bad as he was… how can I be glad that another human being is dead? That I killed him… Jesus!" Bella let out a frustrated growl and she jumped to her feet.
Paul watched as Bella paced backwards and forwards for a couple of times. He could see that she was trying to control her emotions.
Eventually Bella stood at the window of Paul's office overlooking the small courtyard with its Japanese Zen garden that Paul had created to add a peaceful atmosphere to his patients' surroundings. Bella looked at the the little waterfall that ran under a series of decorative bridges.
Suddenly Bella turned around and she looked at Paul, "I am not Jacob Black's victim anymore! Finally, he can't hurt me and I don't' have to live in fear any longer. I WON'T apologize for defending myself or my friends. Those women didn't ask for what he did and neither did I, so fuck him! If he paid with his life for his sick, twisted fucking schemes, then that is his problem. I'm sorry that Billy is hurting, and I will be sorry if my father loses his friend, but I am alive and my friends are alive and Rosalie is going to have a baby and that's what's important to me. If the D.A. wants to bring charges then he must fucking bring it! I'm not hiding from anyone! Not anymore!"
Bella watched as Paul started to clap.
Bella glared at Paul as if he'd lost his mind, "Have you lost your mind?" She snapped.
Paul laughed, "No, and neither have you. Are you pissed off?"
"Fuck, yes!" Bella said and she blew out a gust of air. She felt good and strangely in control.
"So what are you going to do about how you feel? How are you going to cope with the media that are going to be all over this story like buzzards on fresh meat?" Paul prompted.
Bella huffed and crossed her arms.
"I… I…" Suddenly Bella deflated. "I don't know… but I need a plan. And I need not to panic. And I need to talk to Edward about this, because we are in this together and it affects both of us. I'm no one special Paul, but Edward…" Bella shrugged a shoulder and gave him a half smile, "well, he's Edward Cullen and the whole world wants him, and this is going to be so bad for his career… fuck!"
Paul pointed to the sofa. "Sit down, Bella."
Bella sat down and stared at him.
"First of all, you do need a plan. Having a plan will help you to focus and not get distracted by unimportant things that happen along the way. You also need to talk to Edward, because you are in this together. What concerns me is what you said at the end there. Edward doesn't strike me as the type of man who worries about what people think of him. Why is your self-worth so low, Bella? I want you to think about that."
Bella nodded but she refused to meet Paul's gaze. She had a feeling that he wasn't going to let it drop there.
She was right.
"Okay, we are almost finished, but I want to ask you about Renee. Do you ever talk to her?"
Fuck!
Bella scowled again, "Sometimes. I touch base with her every now and then. Why?"
"Well I was wondering if you don't have a real relationship with her, why do you bother to phone her? And why she appeared in your dream? Do you miss her?"
Bella rolled her eyes, "It's not like we are enemies or anything. Renee is… not a mother's ass, but she's like a flighty friend that flits in and out of my life. Her husband is a nice man, weak, but nice. I suppose you are going to ask if it hurts that she doesn't love me and the answer to that is: it used to. But it doesn't anymore. I don't hate her, she can't help it. She's defective. Renee should never have been a mother. She was right; she should have had an abortion. I don't know why she appeared in my dream Paul. My so called mother never knew Jacob Black and no, I don't miss her. I used to miss having a mother, but I have great friends and Esme and Carlisle are great substitutes."
Paul didn't say anything, but he made a couple of notes. "Okay, let's leave it there. You have some homework."
Bella groaned and Paul chuckled. "Oh come on, it's not that bad. I just want you to keep a journal or do you have one?"
Bella blushed, "I have a sub journal, but it's private, you know just for my... for Edward and myself."
Paul nodded. "That's good. I'm just going to ask you to begin writing in it each day. I want you to write your high point and your low point."
Bella was frowning, "that's all?"
Paul nodded, "that's it."
Bella frowned, "what's the point?"
Paul smiled, "the point is, that each day you are going to begin to look for opportunities to have a high point, no matter how small. A good mug of coffee might be a high point. A rude client could be a low point."
"Okay, but I think it's silly…"
"Humor me" Paul said as they both stood up.
Bella snorted.
****~~~~PLU~~~~****
Edward had a busy day. He called Felix, who almost fell out of bed when he heard the latest potential scandal.
Edward said that he would call him as soon as he had spoken to his family and Bella. Next he called Jasper, Emmett and Garret, who arranged to meet him within the hour. His last call was to his father. Carlisle listened to Edward's proposal and offered his own suggestions.
Edward then phoned Jeremiah who took his call immediately. He agreed to meet with Edward and Bella that evening.
Once the guys arrived, Edward ushered them into his study.
"Look, this is all speculation at this point and Jeremiah is confident that there will be no charges brought against Bella. But the truth of the matter is that the media won't care. They are looking for a scandal – any scandal and it's always 'open season' on public figures. So, do we just ignore this and wait for it to blow over or do we meet it head on?"
Edward looked at Jasper who had been quiet during the entire conversation.
"Jazz, what are you thinking?" Edward said.
"I think that we should wait and see what happens. If we make a big deal of this, it could get really ugly. Black's father could pose a problem. None of us need or want to bring a fight to the media. I say, talk to Jeremiah first. He's meeting with the D.A. today right?"
Edward nodded.
"Well then wait. Just do nothing. We can decide after you've spoken with Jeremiah and after Felix has had a chance to check with his sources and see if the story is out there. I'm going to do the same from my side. My publicist has been bugging me for days about this fucking story!"
"I agree with Jasper here." Garrett said.
Emmett grumbled to himself but when he spoke up Edward was the most surprised. "Right now, I think that Jasper's right. We can talk later."
"Fuck me, it's going to snow! Emmett you just made perfect sense! God help us all!"
Everyone chuckled.
Emmett looked around as his face changed and he became serious, "but, if this story is leaked and it gets out of hand, we face it head on. You guys know that you can always count on me."
Garrett nodded.
"Thanks man." Jasper said.
Edward smiled at his brother, "thank you, Bro. I'll give you all a call after out meeting with Jeremiah and let you know what the plan of action is going to be."
That afternoon, Edward sat across from Paul. He was staring moodily at the man who was asking him all sorts of fucked up questions!
"Edward, why won't you even consider my question?"
"Because it's fucking stupid, that's why! You keep asking me how I am and why I'm hiding my emotions – well I'm not, for fuck's sake!"
"Well I think you are. Tell me about last night."
Edward's eyes shot up to meet Paul's.
"She's not getting charged with anything! She doesn't have to worry about it. I've got it under control." Edward said grimly.
Paul leaned forward, "you can't control everything Edward. There are some things that Bella has to do alone."
Edward bit back a curse and fisted his hair. "What are you saying, that I'm too controlling? I'm a Dominant for fuck's sake! So are you! We like to control things!"
Paul nodded, "that's true, but why you do like to control so much around you? Have you always been like that?"
Edward gave a short nod, "pretty much."
"Tell me about last night" Paul prompted again.
"When Bella fainted, I got scared. She's still putting back the weight that she lost, and I didn't want her to have a setback. She surprised me though. She only needed a little prompting to get her to tell me what she needed from me."
Paul nodded, "that's good. You know studies show that people that lead an alternative lifestyle, like we do, and especially in the D/s relationship, where the couple is romantically involved, are more in touch and in tune with each other than 'normal' married couples. You are a good Dominant Edward. You seem to be quite in tune with Bella on all levels. Now, back to your control issues…" Edward hissed and Paul hid his smile.
"How is your homework going? So far have there been any slip-up's?"
"No. I miss hearing from her, and even though I know that if anything is wrong she will call me, I still can't help worrying that something's going to happen to her… and I won't be able to stop it." Edward spoke quietly.
This was his greatest fear. This was his worst nightmare. He felt vulnerable and exposed.
Paul sat quietly for a moment. He chose his next words carefully, "Edward, first of all, that fear that you have is so normal. And we are working on getting you to cope with that, so I want you to keep up with your homework until next week. In addition to that, I want you to not collar Bella on Saturday."
Edward's eyebrows shot up.
Paul held up his hands, "just listen to me. I need everyone to be 100% honest and open with me and if any of the women are collared, they are not going to open up. I also want you to allow Bella to dictate what the feel of this weekend will be."
Edward frowned. "What's the point…?"
Paul smiled gently, "well, each weekend you collar Bella and you are in charge. This weekend I want you to give the 'reins' as it were, to Bella. Let her do what she wants to do. All weekend. Can you do that?"
Edward shrugged, "it seems silly…"
Paul grinned and rolled his eyes, "Edward, I think you and Bella are made for each other…"
"Whatever… still seems silly to me…" Edward grumbled. He had lost his cell phone rights and now he couldn't even collar her! Shit… maybe he could write a few suggestions down for her…
"And don't tell Bella about it until tomorrow either – don't you go dropping hints!"
Edward shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.
Fuck!
Paul smiled; Edward was going to be interesting to work with…
****~~~~PLU~~~~****
Bella went through her day, trying to keep busy and not think too much about the situation. Even though she had been full of bravado in front of Paul, she couldn't help the little knot of fear in the pit of her stomach from feeling like a stone.
Bella had taken extra care to eat as slowly as possible that morning. Although she had taken her packed lunch, she really didn't feel like eating anything. Her stomach churned at the thought.
The bell above the gallery door opened and Bella looked up.
The stone in her stomach fell to her toes at the sight of the policemen standing in the doorway.
"Miss Swan, we are…"
"I remember who you are, Detective. What can I do for you?" Bella said. She was vaguely shocked to hear how calm she sounded.
The two men looked uncomfortable as they walked to her small desk.
"Would you like to sit down?" Bella asked.
She indicated the cream directors' chairs that were grouped around a small table on one side.
"Thank you." Detective Brady said quietly. He and Miller knew that this was such bullshit. This tiny woman had done nothing wrong! She and the others were fucking lucky that they had only suffered minor injuries. If it wasn't for their quick thinking, things would have been much worse.
Brady and Miller had spent the better part of the morning in a shouting match with their captain, who was only following orders from the D.A's office. They had pretty much wrapped up the investigation within a couple of days of the attack, but they had to go over each statement with a fine tooth comb before submitting their findings to the D.A. This was their last stop.
The three stared at each other for a couple of minutes. Bella felt nervous but confident, even though her stomach was doing somersaults!
"Miss Swan, I'm sorry that we have to bother you again, but we have to close this investigation off today. I have to ask you if there is anything further that you would like to add or need to add to your statement." Miller said quietly.
Bella shrugged, "I don't think so, and I think that I told you everything. Can I see a copy of my statement? I said so much when I was in shock, that I really don't remember half of what I said at the time."
Brady nodded. "Sure. Take your time and read it through…" he handed a few neatly typed out pages.
"Would you like some coffee? There is a fresh pot over there…" Bella nodded towards the coffee pot.
Detective Miller poured three cups of coffee. He brought over the milk and sugar.
Bella read through her words carefully. The knot in her stomach twisted and Bella felt that she was going to lose it.
She jumped up "excuse me…" she mumbled through the hand over her mouth and she raced into the small adjoining rest room.
As her stomach emptied, Bella made a decision that this would be the last time that Jacob Black wielded any sort of reaction from her!
Bella washed her face and quickly brushed her teeth with the spare toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste that she kept in the closet. She walked back into the gallery slowly, absently rubbing her stomach that was cramping slightly.
She blushed as she met the faces of the two policemen. They watched her with sympathetic expressions.
"I'm sorry…" Bella began as she felt waves of embarrassment wash over her.
Detective Miller Held up his hand, "please don't apologize. We are sorry that we had to come here and upset you today." He said as Bella took her seat again.
Brady brought her a small glass of water from the water machine.
"Thanks..." Bella said.
"Do you want us to call someone for you? Will you be alright?"
Bella thought about calling Edward, but in the end she decided against it. She would tell him when she got home. He had enough to worry about without the added stress of knowing about this.
Bella took a deep breath.
I can do this! I am stronger than this…
She gave the policemen a small smile, "I'm just fine. I don't need to worry anyone. Let's just get this over with, shall we?"
For the next half an hour Bella re read her statement and answered some questions. She once again signed her statement as being true to her recollection of the events she walked them to the door.
"Look, we don't have much to do with what the D.A will decide to do, but between us, I don't think that any charges will be filed against any of you. You were very brave Miss Swan."
Bella shook their hands and said goodbye.
She closed the gallery door and locked it before she slid down onto the floor. Bella took great big gulping breaths, trying to stop the panic from rising in her chest.
Stop it! Stop it! You can handle this, you are strong…
Bella heard knocking on the glass door and she groaned as she got up. She stepped to the door and saw Jasper standing there looking quite alarmed.
Bella was shocked to see him. She hadn't seen or heard from Jasper since she had gone to see him and Alice before New Year.
Bella opened the door slowly.
Jasper pushed the door open and they stared at each other.
"Are you okay?" He asked with a frown.
Bella nodded hesitantly, "yes, um … what are you doing here Jasper?" She asked.
Jasper closed the door behind him and leaned against it. His careful gaze took in the pinched look around Bella's nose and mouth. She was pale and he could see her fingers shaking slightly as they twisted together.
"The cops came to see Alice this morning. We were worried about you, so I came to see if you needed anything."
Bella stared at Jasper for a moment. "Thank you, but I'm fine." Bella said.
Jasper looked uncomfortable and Bella felt awful. This was her fault! She had ruined her friendship with Jasper as well.
"Look Bella…" he began but Bella interrupted him.
"You don't have to say anything Jasper. I'm sorry that Alice made you come here. I know that you must be really pissed off with me still for shouting at you…"
Jasper was shaking his head and grinning. "How do you women get things so wrong? Bella," he reached forward and rested his hands on her shoulders.
"I am not pissed with you. In fact, I owe you a huge apology and a big debt of gratitude."
"You do?"
"Stop interrupting! Yes I do. If it wasn't for your honesty, God only knows how long this would have gone on for! I behaved like an arrogant prick and your boyfriend didn't hesitate to tell me to get my head out of my ass and fix things with Alice. So, I'm sorry and thank you, Darlin'."
Bella smiled. "Did you fix things with Ali?"
Jasper nodded, "I did. She got her clothes back too."
Bella grinned, "She must be ecstatic."
Jasper pursed his lips, "not really. She'll be ecstatic when she's off house arrest and she sees you on Saturday."
"I've missed her too."
"I know."
They smiled at each other. "So, we're okay?" Bella asked.
Jasper pulled Bella into a hug and kissed her forehead, "we are better than okay. You're my little sister, Darlin'. I could never be mad at you. I'm proud of the way you stuck up for yourself actually."
Jasper turned to go, "we'll see you soon, B."
"Yep, see you soon"
Bella felt much better as she work that afternoon. Bella was glad that the conflict that had surrounded her friendship with Jasper and Alice had been resolved.
As Anderson drove Bella home that evening, her phone rang. It was Harry.
They chatted for a few minutes and they made arrangements to meet at a small coffee shop a couple of shops away from the gallery the next day.
Edward forced himself not to pace the floor until Bella arrived home. Instead he had sat in the music room and worked on a couple of pieces. Edward felt some of the tension from the past couple of days fade as his fingers flew over the keys.
He loved to play the piano and he was grateful every time he sat down that Esme had found the patience to sit with him so long ago.
Suddenly Edward felt quite homesick. He missed his mother and father and although he adored Carlisle, the bond between Esme and her youngest son, was very special.
He pulled out his phone and dialed the familiar number.
"Hey, Mom…."
When Edward put the phone down he heard the front door opening and closing. His heart skipped a beat.
What a pussy! Oh! Shut up! He thought as he got up and hurried out of the music room into the den.
Bella took her coat off and put her purse down on the hall table. She walked into the kitchen and sniffed appreciatively.
Maggie had made roast chicken with all the trimmings for dinner and Bella smiled as she rubbed her stomach. Her appetite hadn't returned for the rest of the day and although it wasn't great, she kept reminding herself that it was just one day.
Bella opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. She opened it and heard Edward clear his throat from the doorway.
"Hey, Love." He said.
Bella turned around with a smile that lit up her face.
"Hey there, Sparky" she walked towards him as he opened his arms.
Bella hugged him tightly, nestling her face against his chest. Bella inhaled; Spice, cigarettes, lemon, and something that was just Edward. She sighed contentedly.
Edward tipped her chin up so that he could kiss her.
They stood for long moments in the kitchen, as the kiss deepened and Bella felt her need for Edward spiraling.
Eventually she had to pull away to take a breath.
Edward frowned, "are you okay?"
Bella nodded, "I am now, Love."
"Did something happen?" He asked tensing up.
Bella shook her head quickly, she didn't want to see the worry lines on his forehead right now, and she just wanted to get past this fucking thing!
"Not really. Come on, I want to change and then we can talk. Keep me company?"
They walked upstairs holding hands, just soaking the nearness of each other in.
As Bella changed, she told him a little bit about her session with Paul. Edward laughed when she told him about her having to keep track of her 'highs and lows' and how she thought it were ridiculous.
"I also got homework and I said the same thing to Paul. That's when he told me that you and I are perfect for each other." Bella smiled at him.
Edward held out his arms and Bella curled up on his lap in her yoga pants and long sleeve T-shirt. Edward ran his hands over her 'toe socks' and smiled at the different color wool covering each toe.
"Tell me." Edward said and Bella knew what he was talking about.
"The cops stopped by the gallery today." She felt him tense and went on quickly. "They just wanted me to verify my statement. They called on all of us apparently, but it was fine. I signed it again and they left."
Bella had been playing with the top button of Edward's shirt as she gave him the explanation quickly. She looked up and saw that his eyes were almost black with anger.
"Don't Edward! Please, Babe, we need to get through this. I need you to not lose your temper every time something happens. Please. I can't… I can't do this without your support…" Bella put her hands on his cheeks so that she was looking into his eyes.
Edward closed his eyes for a moment as he struggled for control of his emotions.
When he opened them again, Bella was relieved to see that he had calmed down.
"Sorry, Baby. I'll behave." Edward smiled his signature smile and Bella groaned as she leaned forward and kissed the side of his mouth.
"You are too fucking cute for your own good, Cullen, but I'm on to you…" she said.
Edward grinned at her; he loved it when she swore! "That's what my momma says too…"
Bella burst out laughing. Just as she was going to retort, her stomach rumbled.
Edward picked her up and put her onto her feet. "Come on, let's feed that monster that is obviously living inside your stomach." He said.
Dinner was a lighthearted affair. They didn't talk about the investigation at all and Edward waited until they were sipping wine in front of the fire in the den before he told Bella about his meeting with his brothers and Garrett earlier. Bella told him about Jasper checking on her and apologizing to her as well. As they relaxed, the phone from the guard house rang.
Edward frowned at Bella, "I wonder who that is?" She said as Edward got up and answered the phone on the wall.
"Let him in." Edward said and Bella paused as she was about to turn the television set on.
"Jeremiah is here to see us." He said.
Bella looked at Edward with wide eyes and for a moment they held each other's gaze before Bella took a deep breath.
"Let's do this." She said and she got up and walked over to Edward. She put her hand in his as she looked into his bright green eyes.
"Come on, Sparky." She said quietly.
Edward held her hand tightly as they walked to the front door and he opened it.
Everything inside him wanted to pull Bella into his arms and run away. He wanted to throw her behind him so that he could protect her, but sanity prevailed.
Jeremiah stood on the door step.
"Good evening Edward and you must be Isabella." The grey haired man said.
Bella felt herself smiling in response to his smile.
"Please call me Bella." She said.
"Come in, uncle Jeremiah," Edward said as he stepped to one side.
Jeremiah removed his Burberry overcoat, and Edward hung it in the hall closet.
"Can I get you some coffee, or wine?" Bella asked.
"Coffee will be fine," Jeremiah said.
Bella looked at Edward who nodded slightly.
"Let's go into my study" Edward said.
Bella quickly poured three mugs of coffee and carried the tray into Edward's study.
"Have you eaten, Mr.… Jenks?" Bella asked as she put the tray on the small table. Edward was sitting on the sofa and Jeremiah sat in the armchair facing him.
"I'm fine thank you dear and none of that Mister nonsense. You call me Jeremiah. Why don't you take a seat?"
Bella sat down next to Edward and Jenks watched as they sat thigh to thigh and shoulder to shoulder as their hands clasped one another's. The tension which had been rolling off Edward in waves since he had arrived seemed to dissipate slightly at Bella's presence.
Jeremiah smiled at them. It was obvious that they were very much in love with each other.
"I won't keep you waiting, Bella. I had a meeting with the district attorney this afternoon."
Bella nodded and swallowed nervously. Don't puke… don't puke… she felt Edward's thumb rubbing against hers.
"They have closed the investigation. There is no evidence to even suggest that any of the accusations that Mr. Black Senior made are remotely true."
Bella stared at Jeremiah. What?
"Bella, do you understand?" Jeremiah looked at Bella in concern as she turned even paler than she had been.
"I'm sorry… what does… what does that mean?" She whispered. She licked her lips that were suddenly dry.
"The case is closed Isabella. You and Mrs. Cullen acted in self defense."
Bella swallowed as she turned to look at Edward who hadn't moved since Jeremiah began speaking.
"Edward…" she said before she was crushed against his chest.
Bella wound her hands into his hair as Edward held her with his face buried in her hair.
"It's over... it's over…" he muttered, before he claimed her lips in a desperate kiss.
Jeremiah sat back and sipped his coffee as the two young people seemed to have forgotten his presence.
Eventually Bella peeped over Edward's shoulder and saw Jeremiah smiling indulgently at her.
Bella pulled away and she turned deep red. "Sorry…" she said.
Edward grinned, "yeah, sorry Uncle Jeremiah."
"No you aren't Edward and if I was holding a young woman as beautiful as Bella in my arms, well I would also forget that we weren't alone." Jeremiah laughed as he got up.
"Now, you will need to excuse me, young people, I need to get home to my own beautiful wife."
Bella hugged the small man, who blushed as she kissed his cheek. "Thank you." Bella whispered.
"You are most welcome, young lady. You keep this scoundrel out of trouble, okay? I had to threaten all sorts of legal action because someone can't keep their temper in check…" he said as he looked at Edward sternly.
"Let me show you out…" Edward said.
Jeremiah told him that the reporter wasn't pressing charges as there was enough photographic evidence of the incident to prove that the reporter had been trying to pull on Bella before Edward hit him.
"You need to watch that one, Edward. He could be trouble in future, he has a grudge against you now…" Jeremiah warned.
"I will. Thanks again for everything."
Edward shut the door and headed straight for the study it was empty except for a long sleeve T-shirt that was draped over the door handle.
Edward's mouth popped open.
What the…
He looked down the hallway and saw a toe sock… fuck me…
At the entrance to the kitchen, he found the matching sock.
In the doorway of the den, Edward found yoga pants, panties and a matching bra.
His cock strained against his jeans. Edward stepped inside the den. The lights were off, but he saw Bella standing against the glass doors on the opposite side of the room.
"I got hot…" Bella said with a smirk.
Edward grinned as he ripped his shirt off, making buttons fly around the room.
"I liked that shirt…" Bella teased.
"Fuck the shirt!" Edward said as he pulled his pants off.
"I'd rather fuck you, Sparky. I want you to fuck me hard and fast… fuck me like there's no tomorrow…" Bella's voice was husky and Edward could see the slightly aggressive look on her face.
"You wish is my command, Baby." He growled.
Bella leaped at Edward and they tumbled over the sofa and onto the carpet. They wrestled each other for top position. Bella laughed as she rolled Edward onto his back, but her victory was short lived as he quickly flipped her.
Their laughter died as they stared into each other's eye in the firelight.
"Take me, now." Bella said as she lay panting beneath him.
Edward pushed into her heat and wetness. Bella arched her back and closed her eyes.
"No! Don't close your eyes, look at me. Watch me fuck you… watch me cum with you…" Edward's movements were slow and deliberate, he loved to tease her. He grabbed a fistful of Bella's hair and she moaned in pleasure.
"Fuck Edward, I love you." Bella panted.
Edward's hand tightened and he tugged her hair as he drove his cock into her dripping heat.
"You love my cock!" He retorted and Bella grinned.
"I do love your cock… do you know how to use it, coz right now you are tickling me…" Bella reached up she pulled Edward's hair until his forehead was resting on hers. "I told you to fuck me… now; do it!" Bella hissed.
Edward's eyes shone black in the firelight. "Baby; you shouldn't have said that!"
Bella screamed as Edward pulled rolled over bringing her with him so that she was sitting on his lap.
His eyes glared into hers as he lifted her up and then he dropped her onto his length.
Edward held Bella in place as he pulled her up and down him. Bella's eyes rolled back at the incredible sensation of having him so deep inside her. Every stroke pressed against her g-spot and he pulled her against him, her clit was stimulated and Bella began buck against him.
"That's it. That's it baby… now, Bella, NOW!" Edward shouted as he felt Bella cuming around him. Her passage squeezed him, milking him. Edward forced himself to wait, and as Bella began to come down from her climax he pulled out and shot his cum over her stomach and breasts as he pinched her clit.
Bella came as Edward spilt his seed over her. Bella had never experienced anything so erotic in her life before.
She knew that other women would have been disgusted, but she was in ecstasy as she watched Edward's cum spread over her breasts and stomach in ribbons. I like a dirty, dirty man, bring it on baby!
They stilled their movements and looked at each other.
Bella made sure that Edward was watching her as she scooped some of his juice onto her finger and put it into her mouth and licked it off.
"Fuck Bella… you are going to be the death of me!" Edward said in disbelief.
Bella grinned as she raised an eyebrow.
"What? I wanted to celebrate the good news…" she said.
"Lets' go and shower and then you and I have some calls to make!" Edward said as he used his ruined shirt to wipe up, my cum off Bella. They got up and celebrated again in the shower.
Bella poured them some more wine as she and Edward sat at the kitchen counter afterwards as they made their phone calls.
Edward phoned Aro, Felix and his father. Aro and Carlisle were thrilled. So was Felix, but he cautioned Edward that the paparazzi were snooping around, having smelled some blood in the water.
Bella phoned Charlie. She spoke to Sue and Seth as well as they were having dinner with Charlie. Bella was smiling as she put the phone down.
She turned to Edward, "Baby, it's going to fucking snow in July!" She said.
Edward smiled, "why do you say that?"
Bella giggled, "Charlie is taking cooking lessons! As true as fuck, my father, Mr. Dinner himself is taking cooking lessons from the retired Home Ecc teacher from my old high school. Seth says that Charlie cannot make a fried egg! It's priceless!" Bella laughed again.
Edward watched her. She looked so carefree and young.
Edward was leaning his chin on the palm of one hand as he leaned forward and tucked Bella's hair behind her ear.
"I love you..." he said.
"I love you so much." Bella replied.
****~~~~PLU~~~~****
Bella was impatient for Friday's work day to finish. She had met Harry and Bernice for coffee that morning. They had promised to make plans to get together for dinner one night after clearing it with their respective Dominants.
Bella and Sam had chatted for a while before Bella raced off to her salon appointment for her waxing. She was used to it by this time, but she missed sharing the usual gossip session with Alice.
Bella pushed the feeling of sadness away and she closed her eyes as she was 'prepared' for the weekend. She was excited to see what Edward had in store for them this weekend.
Will he push me? I need to still talk to him about what Kate and I spoke about… hmm.
Bella was smiling as she and Anderson drove home.
She was smiling as she entered the house. She could hear Edward on the phone in his study. He sounded impatient.
"…I don't want to involve Bella in this, Felix! No! We have all been through enough…."
Bella made her way down the hallway. She hesitated before she entered the room. It was Friday and she should be preparing herself for the weekend, but it sounded like this was important…
She stood just outside the doorway waiting for Edward to notice her.
As if he sensed her, Edward looked up and he immediately cut Felix off, "I have to go, Felix. I will speak to my family and get back to you… do nothing until you hear from me! Goodbye."
Edward stared at the phone for a moment, before he stood up and walked around the desk. He leaned against it with his arms folded.
"You are a sight for sore eyes…" he said smiling.
Bella frowned slightly, "is everything okay? I couldn't help overhearing you…" she nodded to the phone.
"It's just Felix. He's making me crazy, but let's not talk about that now. Come here, Baby, I need to tell you what my 'homework assignment' is for this week… fucking Paul..."
Bella walked over and stood in front of Edward. He smiled at her and took her hand in his, kissing her wrist.
"For this weekend, you are in control…" Edward said.
"What?" Bella asked.
"You are in control of all of our activities this weekend. Whatever you want to do, in the playroom, or outside of it is up to you. You are making all of our decisions." Edward said. He felt her pulse begin to beat faster as he held her wrist.
Bella pulled her hand away from him. Edward took a breath… fuck… here it comes… three… two… one…
"NO! Absolutely not! That's stupid! You know what I want! I want you to collar me!" Bella half shouted as she glared at him.
And there she is… my spitfire… Edward hid his smile wisely.
"Bella, come on, this is a good thing…" Edward tried to placate her, but her growl stopped him.
"How? How is it a 'good thing' Edward?" Bella snapped at him.
Edward could feel his temper rising.
"Paul wants you to be able to speak your mind tomorrow without being in submissive mode. I think that he has spoken to Kate and Alice as well…" he explained.
"Why can't you collar me for tonight then?" Bella changed tactics as she whined.
Edward frowned at her, "I will collar you during the week to make up for it, now please be reasonable, Baby…"
"Fuck reasonable! I …" Bella began but she stopped at the dark look on Edward's face.
His Dom face
Shit.
"That's enough, Isabella. We said that we would do this together. Now you may not be collared but I am your Dominant and you are my submissive and we are going to do this and you will fucking enjoy it! I have a long memory Little Girl. You would do well to remember that. I have not forgotten the other night. I can see a punishment session in your future." For a moment Bella reveled in the sound of the dark velvet Voice. Holy shit! He's so good… Wet panties… Nipple stand… hmmm.
"Bella!"
Bella's startled and guilty gaze met Edward's knowing smirk. Bella rolled her eyes at him, "Smug bastard!" Bella muttered.
She looked at Edward and put her hands on her hips.
"I need to think about this. I mean this is your homework and I don't see why I must suffer. This is my weekend for fuck sakes! Paul isn't your mentor or mine – he's our fucking therapist but he is interfering in our 'time'! Damn it! This is our time, my time! I don't want to be in charge, Edward! That's why you are my Dom!"
Edward cocked an eyebrow at her, "that's an awful lot of 'I's' Isabella. Are you forgetting the basic and first rule of our arrangement?"
Bella sighed and shook her head. There was also a lot of 'our' in there as well. Bella thought to herself.
"No" she said sounding like a sulky teenager. Edward felt his hand itching.
It really was too bad but he was definitely making plans for the week…
"What is your first rule, Isabella?" Edward asked patiently.
"I submit for my Master's pleasure." She said.
Edward nodded. "Maybe you need to think about that for a bit." He said.
Bella hissed and turned her back on him as she tried to rein in her temper.
Control yourself, Bella! This is really not going to help you next week. I can already see him calculating how many wallops I'm getting. Maybe I should buy him a calculator… Bella bit her lip to hide the childish grin.
Edward watched with a mixture of amusement and slight irritation as Bella walked around his study talking mostly to herself, but throwing him the occasional comment. He was beginning to understand that this was a woman thing… they had to rehash and retrace their steps before they came to the same conclusion that a man would reach in half the time. Edward shook his head. He would never understand how Bella's brain worked!
He pushed himself off the desk and walked to the door of the study.
"Um, would you like to go out to dinner?" He asked.
Bella swung around and glared at him, "what I want is to meet my Master in the playroom and then serve him dinner, but obviously, that's not going to happen now…" Bella stopped mid rant and stared at the carpet for a moment before she raised her eyes to meet Edward's. What a brilliant idea! She would trick him into taking charge… She bit her lip. I can do this… he is not the only one that can be sneaky…
What the fuck did she have in mind?
Edward wondered as he watched a naughty glint flicker in Bella's eyes which she tried to hide by lowering her lashes, but the sudden blush that spread up her neck was an easy giveaway.
Hmmm… this might be an interesting weekend after all… Edward thought to himself.
"Okay. Let me take a shower and change and we can go to dinner. Um, thank you. I'm sorry for being such a mouthy bitch. I'm just a little disappointed you know." Bella said as she came to stand in front of Edward with a sweet, horribly fake smile on her face.
Edward smiled at her. Bella had to be the world's worst liar. She was pissed, not disappointed and somehow or another, she was going to try and force him to take charge over the weekend.
Oh it is so on! Let's see what you've got Little Girl.
"Great! I'll make reservations. What do you feel like?" Edward asked.
Bella smiled as she kissed his cheek and walked passed him to the stairs. "Italian" she said.
"I'll call 'Volterra'. It's a great little place down by the yacht club. You'll love it."
Bella nodded as she ran upstairs.
As she stood under the shower, Bella's mind was working overtime.
He thinks that he and Paul are so smart! I don't want to 'top' him or make endless decisions this weekend. Men are such asses! I need a plan… Paul said that having a plan eliminates the unexpected; well I need to think about this… how can I get him to succumb to my will, while putting him in charge? Only he can't know that he's in charge… the girls! They'll know what to do!
Edward made reservations and then he phoned Anderson to check if he was available to drive them.
Next, Edward made his way upstairs. Bella was out of the shower and busy getting dressed. She was wearing a towel as she brushed out her hair and twisted it up into a pretty French twist.
"Is it dressy?" She asked as Edward walked into the dressing room.
"Hmm... smart/casual, just don't wear jeans." He said as he took the black jeans that he was wearing off.
Bella nodded and dropped the towel. Edward grinned at her with a gleam in his eyes.
"Maybe we should stay in…" he said as he took in her naked, pink, soft looking body.
Bella shook her head, "not even maybe, Cullen, you have promised me Italian food after a really unsettling week, so move your very fine ass!"
Over the past week he had noticed changes in Bella's body. She had put on weight and her skin had recovered its healthy glow. Her limbs were toned and her hips were not as sharp as they had been previously, even her breasts looked a little fuller.
The soft swell of her well-toned ass was just begging to be held, squeezed, spanked…
Edward turned away as his cock hardened and he quickly moved to this closet and pulled out a pair of black pants.
Bella was watching Edward out of the corner of her eye and she had seen his perusal of her naked form. She was glad that she had taken the time to have a manicure and pedicure as well. The French manicure that she preferred looked sexy on her fingers and toes. Bella saw Edward try and hide his very alert looking dick and she hid a smirk.
It's so on!
She took her time and selected a dove grey bra and matching boy shorts. Black stockings with lace trim and a simple black flared skirt was teamed up with a grey silk blouse and a black waterfall jersey.
Edward pulled his green button down shirt on and grabbed the matching black jacket. Bella slipped into a pair of black pumps and she quickly applied light makeup.
Edward adjusted himself discreetly as he watched her put some lip gloss stuff on that made her lips look pouty and fucking kissable.
Dinner was wonderful. For once there were very few people out and about as it was raining hard and had been for almost three days straight.
Edward was the perfect dining companion as her regaled Bella with amusing stories and anecdotes' of his family life. They swopped stories from school days, although Bella could have sat and listened to Edward all evening, he drew her out so that she ended up telling him about the 'geek' club that she and Angela had belonged to all through middle school and most of high school.
They drank almost two bottles of Chianti as they shared antipasto, linguini with clam sauce and the most delectable Cassata ice-cream that Bella had ever tasted.
Anderson and Brian had escorted them to dinner and Edward insisted that they eat as well. They sat across the restaurant engaged in quiet conversation.
The drive home was uneventful and because of the bad weather, there were no cars or paparazzi parked outside the gates.
Edward hurried Bella inside and that night Bella made love to Edward – as was her wish.
****~~~~PLU~~~~****
Bella woke up early on Saturday morning and she rolled over and sat up. Edward was still sleeping and although she enjoyed sharing her day with him, she wasn't a morning person and having him all chirpy and happy in the mornings, was sometimes a little too much. She enjoyed her quiet work outs, with only her iPod for company.
Bella dressed quickly and made her way into the kitchen, where she put the coffee percolator on before she made her way into the gym.
Over the past few months and especially since she had lost weight, Bella's workout routine had changed. She still ran and had come to enjoy it. Only now she also did some weight training to develop her muscles as well as cardio. She enjoyed doing the circuit and she usually did two rounds before ending with yoga or palates.
Bella had been restricted to five workouts per week in an attempt to stop her body from burning too many calories.
Bella was sweating and her muscles ached by the time she had finished her work out.
She quickly had a shower in the gym before she stepped onto the scale.
Bella hadn't told Edward about her puking at work; she was waiting to see what impact it had had on her weight.
Please… please… Bella felt a grin spread over her face as she watched the numbers on the electronic scale settle… YES!
Bella jumped off the scale and she air punched a couple of times as she did a little dance around the scale.
"That's what I'm talking about…
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
Bella the weighty…
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
No more puking…
Yeah, yeah, yeah…"
Edward had watched as Bella approached the scale as if it was a giant anaconda. She stalked around the upright scale first, checking that there were no obstructions and she took a deep breath and dropped the towel that was wrapped around her as she climbed onto the scale. Edward smiled as he saw that her eyes were closed tightly. He was about to go to her when he saw that she opened one eye and stared down at the numbers illuminated on the screen.
Suddenly she grinned and let out a delighted laugh as she lurched off the scale, almost tripping, but she righted herself as she air punched with both fists raised high and if that wasn't enough she began to do the most ridiculous 'touch down' dance that he had ever seen. She coupled that with shaking her ass and singing an even more ridiculous ditty,
Edward couldn't contain himself any longer and he doubled over and he began to laugh.
Bella swung around and grinned at him. Her cheeks were bright pink with exertion and pleasure. She bounded forward and Edward quickly moved to catch her as she flew into his arms and wrapped her legs around his hips.
"FOUR AND A HALF POUNDS! Fucking amazing!" Bella shouted as she laughed again.
Edward held her to his thinly clothed body, trying to ignore the fact that Bella was stark naked and wrapped around him like a vine on a tree.
She smelled of watermelon and flowers, fresh and sweet.
"Baby… I'm so fucking proud of you…" Edward muttered before Bella put her hands on either side of his jaw and she kissed him passionately.
Edward groaned as he felt Bella's tongue glide over his. Edward groaned into her mouth as he deepened the kiss.
Bella fisted Edward's hair as she pulled away to take a much needed gulp of air. She pressed her mouth to his neck.
"Fuck me…" she whispered as she caught his ear lobe between her teeth and bit sharply.
"What about the time…" Edward tried to focus on the clock on the opposite wall, but all he could focus on were Bella's hard nipples pressing into his thin vest and her very wet centre grinding down on his aching dick.
"Edward…"
"Hmm?"
"Fuck me now."
"Okay…"
Bella suddenly found her back pressing against the cool wall of the gym entrance, as Edward lowered his gym pants with one hands as he held onto her ass with his other.
Her eyes were dark and smoldering. Her breath came in little puffs.
Edward grinned at her as he teased her slit with the head of his cock, spreading her wetness and his precum. He stroked himself once and guided the tip to her entrance. His fingers were already coated with their juices and Edward smiled as Bella licked her lips even before he brought his two wet fingers up to her mouth.
She sucked on them greedily, her eyes never leaving his.
"More…" she said and Edward nodded once.
"Hold onto me…" he grunted as he pushed himself into her tight passage.
"Aaaagh, you are so tight, Baby. So fucking tight and wet for me… I'm not going to last…"
"Make me cum Edward… I want you're cum inside me today…"
"FUCK!" Edward shouted as he gripped her hips and began to piston into Bella faster and harder than he could remember doing before.
She surrounded him, she had enthralled him, bewitched him. She owned him.
"I want you to cum hard, Edward. Make me scream as you pound that cock into my hot pussy… I want your juices dripping out of me… running down my legs… marking me as yours…" Bella's voice was husky. Her lips were pressed against his ear and her fingers clutched his shoulders.
"So close… fuck I'm so close Baby… fuck… touch yourself Bella…"
Bella used one hand and snaked it down between their bodies to begin rubbing hard circles around her clit. As she looked up her eyes met Edward's in the mirrors.
"Watch us…" Edward said and Bella felt herself losing control as she watched the muscles of Edward's back, ass and thighs flex and move as he ground himself to completion.
He was breathtaking, as Bella watched as her fingers and nails made red indentations in his skin.
Edward hissed at the pain of her sunken nails and Bella felt his cock twitch. She smiled at his narrowed eyes reflected in the mirror.
As she felt herself reaching her own climax, Bella bit down on the cord of muscle of Edward's rock hard bicep.
"FUCK ME!" Edward yelled out and Bella immediately felt a retaliatory mouth bite down on her neck.
Bella screamed and felt herself begin to unravel as Edward squirted stream after stream deep inside her.
Edward's legs were shaking with the effort of staying upright and he slowly lowered Bella to the ground. She whimpered at the loss of him and she rested her head on his chest as they slowly caught their breath.
Suddenly Edward started chuckling.
Bella look up at him. His hair was soaked with sweat and was dark, but his eyes were positively sparkling like twin emeralds.
"What?" Bella said.
"I hope you keep putting on weight Baby, but I need to work out more…" he said with a chuckle that changed to a shout of protest as Bella smacked his chest.
"Are you saying I'm FAT?" Bella stepped away from Edward and all thoughts of post coital bliss flew out the door as he took in her expression of outrage.
Oh fuck! Emmett and Jasper had spoken about this once… what did they say? Edward was in a panic and he couldn't remember what advice his brothers had given him….
He swallowed noisily and ran his hand through his wet hair. He could feel his palms sweating….
"Of course not Baby… I love you putting on some weight… I will be even happier when you are bigger…" Jesus, Edward began to pray, help me... Abort! Abort! This was going to get ugly fast… he watched Bella's eyes narrow into tiny slits.
"You are unbelievable! I am not spending my day with someone who wants me to get 'even bigger' than I am! I'm going to spend the day with the girls…." Bella snapped at him as he cringed, fuck, yes, he was actually cringing in the corner like a pussy. Bella walked over and picked up her towel. She wrapped herself in it and walked past him.
At the foot of the stairs she stopped and turned to lance him with her glacier stare. "Do NOT phone me or contact me in ANY way and don't you DARE try and tell me to stay away from your sisters, EITHER of them. And do not follow me. Or else YOU will be sleeping in the subs room tonight! You are such a… BOY!" Bella spat out.
And with that Bella swept up the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and poured herself a mug of coffee.
Asshole! Dick head! Bella silently fumed as she took her coffee and a large bowl of cereal topped with hot milk and she went upstairs and closed their bedroom door firmly.
She checked the time and saw that she had just over an hour to get ready, before the car arrived for her. Once again Anderson and Brian were accompanying the ladies, which they were secretly dreading. They remembered their experiences from the trip to L.A.
After jumping into the shower again, Bella dressed in faded jeans, a red long sleeved T-shirt, with one of her favorite check navy and red button downs over it. She topped the outfit off with her red padded jacket and her red converse sneakers. She pulled her hair up and braided it down her back. Bella was surprised that it was so long, with the end of her braid ending in the small of her back.
She applied some make up and painted her mouth with red lipstick and swept lip gloss over her lips again. Bella was pleased with her appearance but she knew that Alice would have something to say about the fact that she was wearing Edward's button down.
Bella heard the door bell and she skipped downstairs. She rolled her eyes as she tripped on the last step and would have landed in a heap if Edward's arm had not shot out to stop her from hitting the floor face first.
Bella began to wrap her arms around him for a hug, before she remembered that she was pissed with him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to squash you with my fat ass!" She hissed sarcastically.
Edward made his second mistake of the morning when he grinned at her 'joke.'
Bella pulled herself out of his arms and hissed at him as she took her jacket out of the closet. Edward reached out to take it from her but her dirty look stopped him and he watched as she pulled it on herself.
"What time…" he began.
"That depends on when we are done with our bonding time." Bella said.
Edward nodded sadly. He was going to fucking kill Paul…
Bella turned with her hand on the door handle and she looked back. Edward looked as if he had lost his favorite toy and she couldn't help but feel her heart give a tug.
She sighed impatiently and put her arms around his neck and pulled his face down to hers.
"I love you, even though you have the tact of a Bull in a china shop!" She said and she pressed her lips to his.
Edward wrapped his arms around her small waist as he kissed her thoroughly until an impatient voice sounded at the door.
"LET GO OF HER EDWARD! I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO GO!" Bella started giggling as Alice's voice boomed through the door.
"Bye"
"Bye"
Bella opened the door.
****~~~~PLU~~~~****
Bella's feet were so sore! After therapy, that had gone surprisingly well, the girls had gone to lunch on Fisherman's Warf before they headed to several shops to shop for maternity clothes, baby clothes, casual clothes, clothes for their men, underwear for sexy days, underwear for sick days and sleep wear for both occasions as well.
Rosalie was arguing with Alice and it was music to Bella's ears even as she felt her small toe cramping.
"Guys! Please! Enough! I'm starving!" Bella said to the three women ahead of them. Anderson walked in front of the quartet while Brian brought up the rear. They looked menacing and Bella watched in amusement as several patrons either backed away or retreated completely.
Bella was thankful to head off to the car. As they came out of the multi-story Gap Store, Bella heard someone call her name and she turned around, only to find herself half lifted off the ground and then she was in the car.
"Anderson, what the hell" Bella shouted as first Rosalie, and then Alice and then Kate were all 'escorted into the car before it pulled away sharply.
"What the…?" Alice was spluttering.
Anderson turned slightly in his seat in front and leveled a stare at the four women that was intimidating enough to silence them. Bella could have sworn that she saw a shadow of a smile but when she blinked it was gone.
"Paparazzi, Miss Cullen. We had to move quickly." Anderson said.
After a late lunch, Bella opened the front door just after five in the afternoon.
She found Edward lying on their bed, reading a script and making notes.
"Hi" Edward smiled as he watched Bella drop various bags onto the floor.
"Hi" she smiled as she toed her shoes off and walked over to the bed and sat down.
Edward eyed his check shirt that looked infinitely better on Bella than on him.
"Nice shirt" he smiled.
"Thanks. I'm sorry that I blew up this morning." She said quietly.
"I'm sorry that I put my foot in it this morning. I didn't mean you to think…" he said and was grateful when she put her small hand over his mouth to stop his stammered explanation, because he was desperately trying to remember what Emmett, Jasper and his father had told him that morning when he phoned them frantically after Bella had left.
Emmett was the least sympathetic: "Man, have you lost your fucking mind, you never, never say the words: bigger, large, weighty, hippy, or anything like that. When she says 'do I look fat?' you say – Sweetheart, you look gorgeous or breathtaking or perfect! Eddie, have I taught you nothing?"
Jasper was more in tune: "Fuck E! You insinuated that you wanted her to be bigger? You actually used the word 'bigger?' Fuck man, you are toast. When she asks you – you need to put something in your mouth, shake your head and frown like it's a stupid question!"
In desperation Edward phoned his father, who was at work and didn't appreciate the fact that his relatively intelligent son seemed to have lost his mind! "Edward, you said what? Are you fucking crazy? You had better fix this latest fuckup of yours immediately!"
"But…I didn't mean it like that…" Edward mumbled.
"Well, she's not going to care that you didn't mean it – you said it, you idiot! Now, you need to buy her some flowers, organize a great dinner and show her a good time…"
Edward shifted uncomfortably "Yeah well I would, but Bella is in charge of the weekend activities…" he said, bracing himself…
Carlisle laughed.
Edward winced.
"Unless you are really, really lucky; be prepared to sleep in your study. Bye Son!"
Edward stared at his phone.
Great fucking help they were!
Bella lay back on the bed next to Edward. She sighed. "I'm far too tired to even remember what we squabbled about. Fuck, my feet are sore!"
Edward put his script down and rolled onto his side to face her, "can I be your slave tonight? Will you allow me to cherish you; will you let me spoil you with love and attention?" He whispered as he brushed the strands of her hair that had fallen out of her braid.
Bella bit her lip as she smiled and her eyes lit up. She scrunched her nose at him, "you want to do that? Really?"
Edward smiled at her, "I do, really."
"Can I have a massage?"
"Yeah"
"Full body massage?" Bella was scarlet, but her lady bits were tingling.
Edward's eyes darkened, "yeah, with your friend the sqweeler, if you like…"
Bella's eyes widened "Oh my…"
Just then her phone rang. Bella groaned, "Hold that thought Sparky..."
She got up and found her phone. The number wasn't one that she knew.
"Hello?"
"Isabella, it's your mother."
FUCK. MY. LIFE
Bella was instantly furious, "who?" She barked.
"It's Renee, Isabella. How are you?" Renee sounded completely unconcerned that Bella was not responding to her as usual.
"I'm fine, Renee. You sound fine too. Now what do you want?"
Bella felt Edward move from the bed to stand next to her.
"Well, Isabella, it seems taking up with the likes of Edward Cullen hasn't made you more forthcoming. I read about your shenanigans in Hotspot Magazine, and I thought that I would see what else you've been up to. I mean really, you have an affair with some Rez boy, then you offer yourself up to Edward Cullen and then I believe you have taken up with some playboy, Riley? You have been a busy girl!"
Bella felt herself begin to shake with fury at Renee's callous tone and spiteful laugh.
"Hotspot? That's just like you to read that shit and believe it! If you ever listened to me, Mother, you would know that I dated Jacob in fucking high school! Edward and I are in a relationship and Riley is my boss! But what the fuck do you care? I phoned you when I moved and you didn't bother to return my call, so why do you care now? Is it so that you can make a quick buck by running to Hotspot to spread more shit about me? I'm your daughter for fucks sakes! Your own flesh and blood!"
Bella was shaking with anger. She knew that she needed to end this shit once and for all.
"Are you taking drugs, Bella? I knew that you would end up just like your father…"
Bella put her phone on speaker and she saw Edward's eyes widen as Renee's poison spewed out.
"I knew that leaving you with Charlie was a bad thing… but you were so needy… he was always a no good looser, a two bit small time cop and you have ended out just like him, Bella. I must say you clean up good, but all the men? Jasper Whitlock, Emmett Cullen? Garrett Damon… there is photographic evidence Bella and none of it makes you look like any more than a cheap piece of ass. You need to learn to close your legs, young lady, because one day you are going to end up…"
"End up like you?" Bella spat out.
Renee gasped.
"I want you to listen to me Renee and listen well. Forget my number. Forget that I exist. Pretend that you had that abortion twenty four years ago. Stay away from me. I don't want to ever hear from you or see you again. Stay away from Charlie. You were the reason that he became a drunk. You are the reason that he stayed a small town cop who drank too much. He drank because it was too painful to wonder where the fuck you were and why you had left your three year old child alone at home with a peanut butter cookie and a glass of milk for a night while he was on duty so that you could go and fuck your way out of your own little world!"
"It was you! You are the poison that almost devastated us! Not anymore. I don't need you in my life and I don't want you anywhere near me! I don't hate you, Renee. I feel nothing for you but contempt and pity. I have a family who loves me and no thanks to you, Charlie is doing better than ever!"
Bella felt Edward's hands rubbing her shoulders and she felt herself growing calm. This woman wasn't worth her anger or her sanity! "I mean it Renee; I really hope that you can make it work with Phil. I hope you take a long hard look at yourself and that you see what a horrible, selfish human being you really are and that you change. Because if you don't it won't be me that will be alone, Renee it will be you. Now please don't ever call me again. I am going to block this number from my phone and your old one. Good bye Renee. Have a good life."
Bella switched her phone off and threw it down on the sofa. She felt… relief. Finally she had said all the things that she had needed to and wanted to say and it was over. She was free. She wasn't Bella Swan daughter of fucked up parents Charlie and Renee Swan. She was Isabella Marie Swan, a grown woman who was loved by a wonderful man.
Bella took a deep, cleansing breath. She hadn't shed a tear.
Bella turned to face Edward. He was looking at her with so much love in his eyes.
"Baby, are you okay?" He asked.
"I am much better than okay. Really, I just realized that I didn't feel guilty because I loved her, I always felt guilty because I didn't love her. I'm free from her Edward and it feels great."
Edward could see that she meant it. He imagined that she may shed tears later on, but for the moment, Bella was holding her own.
"Now, my Slave, how about you run me a bath, while your Mistress…"
"Nubian Queen…" Edward whispered with a hint of a smile curling his lip.
"Okay, while you're Nubian Queen goes to fetch us some delectable morsels to nibble on, before we nibble on each other? Does that sound good?" She said with a teasing smile.
"That sounds wonderful, my Queen." Edward said with a bow.
As Edward moved passed her, Bella reached out her hand and took his, "I love you Edward Cullen. Thank you for loving me."
Edward smiled at her, "you are very welcome, Bella Swan, you are very easy to love and you complete me."
Bella went downstairs and she filled a platter with crisps, pickles, different savory biscuits, slabs of various cheeses. She added a jar of dip, cherry tomatoes, capers, biscuits and some sliced roast beef, ham and other cold cuts. She put two beers on a tray with the platter and a few serviettes before she walked back upstairs. When she walked into the bedroom she stopped. Edward had lit what looked like a hundred candles all over the room. The decorative fairy lights that were shaped like tiny lanterns glowed around the ceiling.
Edward had piled cushions onto the carpet as well as their comforter. Bella smiled, the sounds of soft classical music played on the stereo.
Edward came out of the bathroom and he hurried forward to take the heavily laden tray out of her hands and he set it on the table.
"You bath awaits you, your Highness."
Bella grinned, "Would my servant like to join me?"
Edward grinned, "It would be my honor, Majesty."
Bella smiled as she began to take her clothes off.
"Let me help you…" Edward smirked knowingly.
Bella closed her eyes and smiled as his hands found her zipper. She was looking forward to some slave loving – what a great weekend it was turning out to be!
A/N: Hello all of my beautiful friends - *I can see you rolling your eyes and thinking "Oh God, she's been drinking…..'*
But if you look up at reviews box, you will see that we have over 2000! Now that is completely unbelievable – and so it's time for me to say thank you to everyone for your comments, reviews, reflections, advise and encouragement and yes even the crits!
Fiorella – you are outstanding and I love your dirty mind! My true Mistress.
There are too many of you to mention that stop by to review and chat each week and I look forward to reading them each week.
Bammers – you read this for the second time and if any of you can believe this she reviewed each chapter again on ff! Thanks so much.
I love you guys. My kids sit and snigger when I mention something that someone says (and no they will NEVER read this story) and they make fun of my 'imaginary' friends – but you have become real friends and they should be so lucky as to ever have friends like some of you have become. We cross borders, oceans, languages and come together over ….SMUT! It's a beautiful thing… *Now you are saying - Oh God, I need that drink!*
The midweek playroom scene is one that LETROBSTENLOVE4EVER asked me to do eons ago! I'm sorry it took so long to put in, but I had to get the timing just right. I hope that I did it justice. Thanks so much for the suggestion!
Okay, so I have a confession to make: Jared Leto is my dirty little secret (not any longer)! And I am quite unapologetic about it – because – I AM GOING TO A 30 SECONDS CONCERT ON SUNDAY NIGHT! Yip, they flew into SA last night and they are playing here for 3 days and I am completely and utterly doing girlie fan squeals – every time I think about it! I heard that they were coming one morning about 3 months ago when I was driving to work and almost crashed my car because I was screaming so much – I bought my ticket the day they went on sale! OMG, I know that this is ridiculous but you have to indulge me, there is something about him….and there I go again…okay, so I'm going to go now before I completely embarrass myself! Look, just let me be like a 15 year old, okay – I mean what are the chances that RP will ever come to Cape Town – slim to none!
I also posted the J & A Outtake on the PLU o/takes. I hope that you all enjoyed it.
Okay, I'm done – you can breathe easy again! Till next time, Michele xoxo
Fiorella's Rec's for this week: (comment from Michele – as you can see Fiorella reads more than I do these days – I am wearing my fingers to the bone writing!) and so you should!
The Path We Choose by les16 - This is an AH story with an older Edward who is a single father of 7 year old twins. Bella is a 24 year old model with a heartbreaking past. She's given up everything to help those she loves and when she and Edward cross paths in Central Park; will they each have found exactly what they both have been longing for? - This story pulls you in from the get go. It is only a new story and i can't what to see where Les16 take it. Bella's life has not been perfect with a father that loves her more than anything and a mother that is obviously jealous of their relationship. She tells Bella that she should have been a boy and I have to say that she is quite the piece of work. Edward meets Lauren in uni and they don't really have the conventional relationship but as he is comfortable with it he leave sticks with it. Then Lauren drops a couple of bomb shells that leaves Edward with the two most beautiful twins out there Mason and Maddie. Wonderfully written and just a little gooey! (Michele – I loved this story! Les16 has a new one out which is awesome – check out her profile page).
Twilight Reflected in Brown Eyes by mcgt - Bella Swan is in for the shock of her life when Edward Cullen comes back into her life 7 years after graduation. Can the scars from her past be healed by the reclusive musician or will she shut him out like she has everyone else since the fateful accident four years ago. – I have only started reading this one and I am about 5 chapters in and I have to say, so far I love it. I am not sure what has happened to Bella or in her life to make her feel the way she does but I am sure I will find out soon enough. Bella was once the popular girl at school till an accident of some sort that left her back burnt. Edward Cullen was the shy band geek that all the girls wanted but he never knew. Bella over the time has become a Radio disk jockey and has the prime time morning spot. Edward has become famous for his music. They meet again when she has to interview the new and upcoming star Edward Mason. You watch as these two get to know each other again and I am sure secretes will come out in the end.
For the Love of Domination by krazi4TwiSaga - Dr. Edward Anthony Masen Cullen is a world renowned neurosurgeon, he´s also a very sought after Dominant living in the Seattle area. What happens when the thrill of the playroom is no longer enough? What happens when he wants more than just a Friday through Sunday arrangement... Bella Swan a very young and very successful Corporate Attorney, who happens to be secretly crushing on her best friend's older brother. It all starts with a dream, but after a very short, but failed marriage, Bella decides it´s time to give in to her submissive nature. With the help of her best friend and a blind date, can Bella finally find all the things her live is missing? ExB Rated for BDSM themes and lemony goodness. - This is a new story, so there are not a lot of chapters, but I have to say it gets hot and heavy from the get go. If you love your BDSM stories, then you will like this one. Krazi has put a lot of thought into where she wants this story to go and set her characters up to take you on this journey. Bella comes from money and is expected to marry Jacob whom comes from new money and a guy her mother has chosen for her. Jacob is what I would term a 'root-rat'. A few weeks before they get married Bella catches him cheating and decided to get him where it hurts, his back pocket. Edward is a well know doctor that is looking for what his parents have. He known that Bella is the person for him but one problem, she is getting married already. What no-one but Edwards family knows, is that he loves to Dominate. What no-one knows and Bella is only finding and figuring out, is she wants to submit. I feel it is going to be an interesting ride for these two and I can't wait to see where this story goes.
Swing My Way by aricullen1134, DLIR - Everyone's got secrets... dirty little secrets. Bella Swan is tired of her life, so will a swinger's party have someone swing her way. BPOV and EPOV. Warning... LEMONS AHEAD – This story starts off with a raving Bella about how she married Eric too young, never get what she needs sexually from her husband and more. Edward is in the same boat, married to Angela the crazy woman from hell. Bella owns a day spa and Edward is a top lawyer, their jobs are in the same building and they have been admiring each other from afar, but neither of them is game to speak to each other. During the chapter watch how they spend one night together at a swinger's party and then all hell breaks loose for both of them. They have choices to make and neither of them is sure where they will end up. Beware you do get angry at both of them throughout the story but real life is like that. (Mich again – this is wonderful... hot! Cold shower stuff girls!)
