The Whispering Woods

Chapter Forty-One

"My father said the results will be ready in about twenty minutes," Edward stated as he approached the table. The hospital's tiny cafeteria left a lot to be desired as far as aesthetics, but the food was good and it allowed them some privacy.

Bella nodded and grabbed one of the sandwiches Edward had bought. "How much do I owe you?"

Edward snorted and rolled his eyes. "Do you honestly think I paid anything? Name-dropping my dad is enough." He pretended to look all dreamy-eyed and batted his lashes playfully. "You're Dr. Cullen's son? Oh, I wouldn't dream of charging you."

She laughed as he had hoped.

"He is pretty dreamy."

Edward made a face of disgust, grumbling obscenities under his breath. "That's my father, uncle, whatever, Bella. I've had my hands on your ass, the last thing I want to think about the next time I get to do it is that you think he's hot."

She shrugged, thoroughly amused. "Does the confusion still happen?" He quirked an eyebrow in question. "The father, uncle thing."

Edward nodded. "They took me in as a kid, and they pretty much raised me. They're just as much my parents as my birth parents, but being here, fucks with my head. I've remembered more about my parents than I ever have. Memories of them no longer seem colorless and faded, if that makes any sense."

Embarrassed that his explanation made him sound soft, he averted his eyes from hers.

"Thank you."

He looked up and found her gorgeous eyes nearly brimming with tears. "Why? Didn't you say that everyone tells you things, as you can tell I'm no different?"

"Thank you for being here and fighting the instinct to run." Then she smiled at him, biting her lower hip and batting her eyelashes. Something that most would find lethal because she took his breath away. Bella, on any day, was sexy as fuck, but a seductive Bella would bring anyone to their knees.

He cleared his throat in desperate need to dislodge the lump that settled there. This girl had the potential to destroy him if he ever lost her; he was already that invested in her and having her in his life.

Scary thought, but it wasn't enough to walk away.

"You need to stop doing that." Edward finally broke the connection with her enchanting gaze. "I'm hard as fucking titanium and we need to head upstairs to see your father and mine in a few minutes."

The reminder of her father had her pulling back with a sigh and a nod. "You're right. There's so much going on before we could concentrate on us."

He sat back, gauging her mood. "Is there an us?"

"I'm not about to answer your question with a question. That annoys the shit out of me. Best you know that now."

He almost grinned at her rambling and glare, still avoiding the question. The predestined mates still bothered them, but fuck if he was going to let that stop him from being with her.

She said nothing, chewing on a bite of her sandwich.

"You're aware you didn't answer my question." He choked on the last word, her small foot sliding between his thighs. Fuck this girl.

She smirked. "I can't stay away from you."

He nodded, holding her foot over his cock for a moment then letting go. He groaned when it remained there for several seconds, testing his control. "Bella, as much as I'd like to continue this…new found kink for your feet…"

She snorted, attempting to cover it up with a cough. "You're right. Let's finish eating and head on up to see the others."

Carlisle Cullen had not only Charlie in for testing, but Esme and Bella's uncle Garrett. He wasn't taking any chances in case there would be any lingering effects to their trance. At least in the scientific sense, magical, they were basically guessing in that area.

"We still need to decide what we're going to do about Mike and his parents."

Bella shook her head. "Not sure they're going to let us do anything about it. If Mike's father is like us, we have to guess he has gifts, too. I have a feeling it's his mother we have to worry about the most."

"You did say, she had his heart."

"I don't remember that." She looked away, shrugging. "Sometimes, the visions or feelings get so overwhelming, I don't retain everything I said or did. It's why my dad tries to do his best to record everything when I do have an episode."

"Episode? Do you mean like me fainting?" He cursed his damn blush at the thought of passing out in front of Bella and her father. Had it been only a few days earlier? It seemed so much longer.

"Sort of like what they looked like."

She meant Charlie, Esme, and Garrett while under some kind of trance or spell. He couldn't imagine seeing Bella like that and not freaking the fuck out.

"Finished?" He rose to his feet, picking up the tray and tossing the last third of his sandwich, having lost his appetite.

Sensing his mood, Bella quickly followed him out of the cafeteria, toward the elevator, and gasped when they came face to face with Mike and his mother.

AN: Everyone is back in school/work again, but the first couple of weeks are a mess. It takes a while to get used to new schedules. Also, the baby is coming and we are so not ready for him. I did manage to get some cafe time this past Sunday and wrote this and an update for Denver Paranormal Society. I hope to have that up later this week. I have a few writing hours tonight, hopefully, my Mobward talks to me. If all goes well I'll have at least 3 hours four days a week to write while I wait for my kid near/at her college, just waiting to see how much the parking permit is.

Thanks for Midnight Cougar for all your help with the chapter, any mistakes are mine since I can't leave stuff alone, lol. On a VERY IMPORTANT note, I'm planning on participating in the relief fund collaboration to help with Australia fires. I'm going to go over my COMPLETED fics, pick three that I know I can write a future take and do a poll on which one I'll contribute to the collab. Be on the lookout of that, it'll be both on Facebook and Twitter. I can be found under Ericastwilight on Twitter and Ericastwilight fanfic group on Facebook, or Erica Marroquin for Facebook.