49

EPOV

"Edward, get your ass off the ropes," yelled Carlisle.

I stifled the urge to roll my eyes as I pushed the guy I was fighting off of me. Number 57 was a large boy with long curly hair that had been pulled back into a greasy, sweaty ponytail. He was wearing a black tank top and his large, fleshy chest was rubbing against my arms, making me want to scrub off every inch of my skin. He stumbled back into the ropes on the opposite side of the ring and I went on the offensive.

I shouldered up to him, throwing my fists into his body, hitting him wherever I could find a place to connect with. He seemed surprised that I was attacking him so viciously as he curled his body up and dropped the mats, whimpering quietly. The referee pushed me back and I stifled my laughter at the boy. He did know that this was a boxing match, didn't he?

Moments later, the referee declared me the winner, wishing me luck in my matches tomorrow. I nodded my head before I climbed out of the ring. As I spit my mouth piece out, I noticed that the guy I had fought this morning, Number 213, watching me from the stands. He smiled and nodded his head before he stood up and headed up the bleachers. It was weird that he had been watching me fight.

"You did good," said Carlisle, pulling my gloves off while Ed pulled my headgear off. Carlisle reached up and pressed down on a cut I had over my left eye. I winced and muttered for him to fuck off, which only caused him to laugh. "Yeah, that's going to sting like a son of a bitch when you shower but it's pretty shallow."

I ignored him as I grabbed my bag and headed over to where Bella was fighting with him and my father following me. She was in the middle of her ring, fighting for her life against the girl with her. The redhead threw her fist into the side of Bella's head, causing her to cry out. It was the first time I had ever seen her show any type of weakness in the ring. As she countered with right, I noticed that the entire arena was completely silent. Looking around, I noticed that everyone was watching her and the other girl fight with bated breathes.

Sitting up in the stands, on the other side of the arena, were Nolan and Corrine. They were sitting on the edge of their seats, watching their youngest child fight the hardest match she had ever had to fight so far. Corrine was running her hands over her face, almost like she was trying to stop herself from running down and pulling her daughter out of the ring. Nolan had one hand on her knee, trying to keep her calm down or maybe trying to keep her in her seat. His eyes, however, were trained on his daughter and the girl she was fighting.

I turned my eyes away from them as the referee ended the match. Bella pulled her competitor up and carried her over to her corner, showing the ultimate respect for the girl. Bella shuffled over to her corner and spit out her mouth piece. She shoved her gloves into Emmett's chest, begging him to pull her gloves off. I had never seen her so vulnerable after a match like she was right now. She grabbed the bottle of water Emmett was holding out to her and drained it. She tossed him the empty bottle and grabbed the towel, wiping away the sweat from her face and arms. The referee moved back into the middle of the ring. She looked between Bella and her competitor for a moment.

"The winner is Number…" she trailed off as she looked around. "108!"

The entire building erupted in cheers, drawing Bella's attention to the fact that everyone had been watching her, eagerly anticipating the outcome of her match. Her checks turned a rosy red as she thanked the referee and climbed out of the ring. Bella looked up and saw me waiting for her. The most amazing smile spread across her face, causing my own to follow. She ran over and jumped in my arms, wrapping her arms and legs around me. We didn't need to speak right now, we were saying so much with our actions. We both had had a challenging few matches and just needed to hold onto each other for a few moments.

"Number 108," called the girl Bella had just fought. Bella looked over her shoulder at her. "Nice match."

"Thanks," said Bella, smiling. "You were really good. I almost thought you were going to get me."

"Maybe next time," she laughed. "Good luck tomorrow."

The girl turned and walked away with her trainer. Bella smiled bigger as she looked back over at me, pressing her forehead down onto mine. "You look like shit," she whispered.

"I feel a little like shit," I murmured. "You look good, though."

"Oh, yeah, bruises are all the rage," she said, sardonically as she placed her feet on the ground. "But I won all my matches so I move on to tomorrow."

"Me too," I smiled, kissing her. "I'm proud of you."

"You are?" she asked. I nodded my head.

"Edward, Bella, lets get up to our rooms," said Carlisle, moving over to us. "You both need to shower before we meet with Phil Dwyer for dinner."

Bella's eyes fluttered to a close as she nodded her head, silently telling him that we were coming. I slipped my arm around her waist as we headed up the cement steps and followed everyone out. Suddenly, Bella stopped and looked back. I followed her gaze and found her watching her parents as they walked out on the opposite side. She frowned as she looked up at me.

"Did you know they were here?" she asked.

"I noticed them right after your match ended," I murmured. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," she said, smiling weakly. "Is it wrong that I like that they are at least watching me fight? I mean, I know that I pushed them away but…"

"No, it's not wrong," I said, quietly as I leaned my head down onto hers. "Maybe it's a step forward."

"Maybe," she whispered.

"Bella, Edward, let's go," yelled Carlisle.

Bella and I looked up and saw him standing by the large, metal doors that led out of the arena. Esme was standing next to him, clutching onto his hand. Bella sighed as she looked back across the arena but her parents were already gone. Ducking her head, she and I turned and headed up to where everyone was waiting for us. Carlisle gave her a look, but she just shook her head and walked past him.

The trip up the elevator felt like it took forever. Bella stood with her head resting on my chest and we both ignored the sighs and whispers that were coming from Elizabeth, Rose, and Alice. Clearly, they thought it was cute or sweet that she was resting on me. Mentally, I rolled my eyes at them. The doors opened and I pulled Bella out, leaving them all there with goofy, disgusting grins on their faces. I kissed her before heading into my room and letting her go into hers. After grabbing some clean clothes, I walked straight into bathroom.

The hot water felt great on my tight muscles. I could already feel the soreness starting to build and knew that tomorrow was going to be a challenge. My body had already been put through the ringer and I wasn't sure how much more I could take. Slowly, I could feel the grim being washed off my body. I can't think if the last time I had sweated this much. After letting the hot water wash over me for several minutes, I turned it off and dried off. I stepped out of the shower and pulled on my boxers, jeans, and white dress shirt. I headed back out to the room and slipped on my socks and shoes, stifling my groan at how sore I was already feeling.

When I stepped out of my room, I found Bella standing against the wall across from my room. I couldn't stop the smile that sprang up on my face when I saw her. She was wearing a denim skirt and red tank top with a black skull on it. I reached over and grabbed her by the hips, pulling her closer to me. She blushed as she looked up into my eyes. I was fixing to tell her how beautiful she looked but was stopped when I heard a loud squeal. Snapping my head to the side, I saw Alice and Rose standing in front of Jasper and Emmett. Alice was bouncing up and down, clearly happy about something.

"Dude, Bella is wearing a skirt," smarted off Emmett, hitting Jasper in the arm.

"She must have gotten hit pretty fucking hard in the head," smirked Jasper. Bella stepped away from me and stormed down the hall to the elevator.

"Ignore them, Bella," squealed Alice. "You look so cute!"

"Fuck off, Pixie," snapped Bella as I followed her.

Emmett, Rose, and Jasper all laughed as Alice huffed. Bella and I let the doors to the elevator close before they could join us. She moved over and laid her head in my chest again, fisting the sides of my shirt in her hands. I wasn't sure if it was just because she was exhausted after a long day of boxing or if it was seeing her parents, but she was clearly struggling with everything that she was feeling at the moment. I slipped my arms around her, holding her as tightly as I could. I would make sure she was okay.

The doors opened once we reached the lobby and we stepped out to find Ed, Elizabeth, Carlisle, and Esme sitting with Phil Dwyer on a large collection of sofas. Bella tensed up just a little as we headed over to join them. I knew it was because new people scared her and Phil obviously knew a lot about her family and their place in the boxing world. However, I also knew that we have to sit down with him and discuss his offer for us to come fight at UCLA. It was too good of an offer not to at least consider, especially since our options are kind of limited right now anyway.

Phil stood up and offered us a hand to shake as we approached him. Bella took his hand first and then I did. We settled down on the sofa across from him, Carlisle, and Esme. Before anyone could say anything, Emmett, Jasper, Rose, and Alice join us. Alice glared at Bella, who didn't seem like she cared that Alice was pissed. Honestly, I don't think she did. Phil cleared his throat as he turned and looked right at me and Bella.

"Well, I have to say that I was really impressed with your afternoon matches," he said, smiling. "They weren't easy, were they?"

"No, they weren't," I said, agreeing with him. "But we came out ahead in the end. That's what's important, right?"

"Right," he smiled, nodding his head. He looked around at everyone as he spoke again. "I was thinking that we would grab some dinner here at the hotel, that way these two don't have to be on their feet anymore than they have to be. They look tuckered out."

Everyone agreed with him so we followed him into the hotel restaurant. He spoke to the hostess, who smiled and led us to a private room in the back. I suppose when you are seating eleven people that you try to give them as much privacy as you can. As we took our seats around the table, Phil ended up taking the seat across from me and Bella. My parents sat on my left while Carlisle and Esme took the seats to Bella's right. Emmett and Rose sat on Phil's left while Jasper and Alice took the seats to his right.

Our waitress came in and took our drink orders. Everyone else ordered soft drinks but Bella and I both just ordered water. We needed to replenish our bodies so that we didn't get dehydrated; something that Phil noticed and smiled about. We made small talk while we waited for her to come back with our drinks. Well, they mostly made small talk. Bella and I sat next to each other, too tired to say much. I had my arm on the back of her seat and she was turned into my body with her hand on my knee.

Once our waitress delivered our drinks and took our dinner order, Phil leaned back in his seat and looked between me and Bella. "So," he said, "I'm sure you both have a few questions for me."

"A few," agreed Bella, looking up at him. "Why us?"

"Because you both are two of the best fighters I've come across in a long time," he replied, honestly. "I've been working for the last five years at trying to build a boxing program through UCLA. There aren't a lot of schools that have a program at all and I think that's a shame. Boxing is one of those sports where you have to be both strong, physically and mentally, and have incredible endurance. You both have that."

"Are you offering me a scholarship because my last name is Cullen?" asked Bella, getting straight to the point. Phil smiled as he crossed his arms in front of him.

"No," he said. "I'm not going to lie, Bella, and tell you that I don't know about your families influence in the boxing community, because I do. I fought against several of your father's boys back in the day."

"Yeah?" asked Bella.

"Yeah, and I got my butt kicked every time," laughed Phil. "Your parents knew what they were doing, Bella, but you're not them. Now, I am not going to pretend to know what has gone on between you and them, and I don't really need to know. I want you to come to my school and box for me because I think you are an amazing fighter. You, not them."

Bella sighed and shook her head. "I don't know if I can trust you."

"Bella," muttered Carlisle. "You are being rude."

Phil waved him off. "I know you don't trust me, Bella," he smiled. "You don't know me, therefore you don't trust me. All I can do is ask you to give me the benefit of the doubt and take a chance."

"I don't know," muttered Bella, shaking her head.

"What are you offering us exactly?" I asked, tightening my arm around her shoulder. Phil broke his eyes from her and moved them onto me.

"I am offering you and Bella full rides to UCLA," he explained. "We typically have five big tournaments in a season. Our season starts in December and goes into April. We train hard. I accept nothing but your very best at all times. Is that something you both can offer me, because if it's not, then I should just leave now," he said.

"Of course we can," said Bella, harshly. "We only give our best in everything we do."

"Good," he smiled. "I don't expect a decision today or tomorrow. I want you to really think about what you want. Right now, there aren't a lot of schools out there with boxing programs. So your choices are going to be pretty fucking limited on where you can go, if you are wanting to pursue boxing any further than where you are now."

"Doesn't sound like you are convinced that we are in this for the long run," I said, dryly. His smile grew as he looked from Bella over to me, once again.

"I'm not," he said, "but I'm willing to take the chance."

"Why?" asked Carlisle, piping up for the first time.

"Because I believe if they want to, they could be great," explained Phil. "These amateur tournaments aren't going to make them the best fighters they can be. With the exception of a few decent fighters, they aren't going to find anyone who is really going to challenge them to dig deep and really pull out what they are made of. I can promise you that in my program, they are going to find that."

Our waitress started bringing out our food and nothing else was said about Bella and I going to UCLA or fighting at all. As we ate our dinner, everyone else broke out into small private conversations. Everyone but me and Bella, anyway. She ate most of her club sandwich but didn't touch her fries. She laid her head on my shoulder as we all finished eating our dinner. Phil kept looking over at the two of us, smiling every once in a while.

After about an hour, Bella and I thanked everyone for dinner and headed back upstairs to our rooms. It had been a long day and I think we both were needing some quiet time. The ride up to our floor felt like it took forever and when the doors finally opened, Bella muttered "about fucking time" under her breath. I chuckled quietly and led her down the hallway to mine and Carlisle's room. She smiled as I pulled her inside and locked the door, making it impossible for him to come in here tonight. He could stay with Esme for all I cared, I wanted to hold Bella in my arms tonight.

Bella and I laid down on the bed, both groaning as we did. She scooted over and rested her head on my chest, sighing as she relaxed. I brought my hand up and started running it down her arm, enjoying the effect I had on her as her arm broke out into goose bumps. Bella looked up at me, innocence rolling off of her. I rolled us so that she was laying under me and brought my hand up to cup her cheek. She was so beautiful, even with the bruises and the black-eye.

"Edward," she whispered, licking her lips.

I leaned down, closing the gap between us and capturing her lips with mine. Bella moaned and brought her hands up, weaving her small fingers in my hair. She pulled slightly, causing me to growl into her mouth. Bella moaned again, bringing her leg up and wrapping it around the back of my leg, pulling all my weight down onto her. My cock was rapidly growing harder and rubbing against the seam of my boxer briefs. Bella's skirt had ridden up around her hips, showing off her white cotton panties. Nothing was sexier than white, cotton panties.

Bella pulled her lips off of mine, arching her neck as I moved down. I needed to taste her skin, every inch I could taste. Slowly, I made my way down her neck, to her collar bone and to the swell of her breasts. Bella was gasping for air, fingers still entwined in my hair and they felt fucking amazing. Like they were made to be in my hair, on my body, anywhere on my body.

"Oh, fuck, Edward," she moaned. "Make love to me."

I froze for a split second before I looked up at her. "What?" I asked.

"I want you to make love to me," she murmured, bringing her hand around to the side of my head. "Please."

"Are you sure?" I asked, quietly. "We don't have to do anything, if you aren't ready."

"I'm ready," she said, smiling. "I know you brought the condoms and I think this is the perfect time. I mean, if you're not ready-"

"No, I'm ready," I said, quickly. Bella pulled her lip between her teeth as she laughed quietly. "I just don't want to rush you, if you aren't sure."

"I am," she smiled. "I really am."

"Ok," I murmured, leaning down and kissing her again.

I felt like an awkward teenage boy as I climbed off the bed and shuffled over to my suitcase. Of course, I was an awkward teenage boy but I usually didn't feel that way. I dug through my suitcase and pulled the box of condoms out of the bottom. The only reason I even brought them was in case. I never expected to actually have use for them. Turning, I looked back at Bella. She was sitting on the side of the bed. I moved over and pulled her to her feet.

Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I slowly pulled on her tank top. Bella raised her arms, allowing me to pull it completely off. Taking a deep breath as I dropped it onto the floor, I looked over her body. She wasn't wearing a bra and her tits looked amazing. I leaned down and brought one her nipples into my mouth, sucking on it like I've never had her in my mouth before. Bella moaned, gripping my hair once again.

I laid her back on the bed, alternating from one breast to the other. She was sexy and her skin tasted amazing. Slowly, I kissed my way down her body until I reached the top of her denim skirt. Looking up at her, I slowly pulled the button and lowered the zipper. Bella lifted her hips so that I could shimmy the skirt off of her, leaving her wearing nothing but her little white panties.

"Do you have any idea what these panties do to me?" I asked, slipping my fingers inside of them. Bella shook her head. "They drive me wild."

"Prove it," she murmured.

I growled as I ripped her panties off of her, leaving her completely naked in front of me. Bella reached up for my shirt but I beat her to it. Ripping my shirt open, I tore it off my body and threw it onto the floor. I made quick work of my jeans and boxers, leaving me just as naked as she was. Blushing, Bella reached between us and gripped my cock in her hand. I moaned as she started stroking me slowly. My cock grew harder in her hand.

"Now," she whispered. "I want you in me now."

I tore open the box of condoms and pulled one off. Bella snatched it from my hand and ripped it open. She brought it down and rolled it along my cock, causing me to shudder. Fuck, her hand felt amazing. I leaned forward so that the tip of my dick was lined up to her. I slid my tip up and down, making sure she was ready for me. I didn't want to hurt her but knew that I was going to. It was inevitable.

"I love you," I whispered.

Bella smiled. "I love you, too."

I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers as I slowly pushed into her. Bella gasped and winced as I stretched her. Once I was fully sheathed inside of her, I paused to give her a chance to adjust and give myself a chance to collect myself. I didn't want to cum in like twenty seconds of something. Bella was warm and tight around me, massaging every inch of my cock with her silky walls and I knew I wasn't going to last very long.

Bella gripped my shoulders in her hands, gently pulling on them. I moved my lips to the crevasse of her neck as I started moving in and out of her. There were no words to explain how amazing she felt wrapped around me, taking me further inside of her with every stroke. I could already feel my body preparing for my release. Slipping my hand between us, I fumbled as I found her clit, trying to get her to cum before me or at least with me.

"Let me," said Bella, pulling my hand out.

All I could do was nod my head as Bella slipped her hand between us, touching herself. I could feel her fingers grazing along my cock and I had to push back my urge to let go and cum right then. As I increased my thrusts into her, I grabbed her leg, pulling it up onto my hip. Bella moaned and arched her back.

"Oh, Edward," she cried out, clenching down around me, pulling me over the edge with her.

"Bella," I gasped, shuddering as I filled the condom.

I stilled my hips before pulling out of her. Stripping off the condom and tossing it into the trash next to the bed, I fell back and closed my eyes. I must have had a goofy smile on my face because Bella started laughing. I looked over at her and found her watching me.

"What?" I asked.

"You're so cute," she smiled. "It was nice."

"Just nice?" I asked. Bella rolled her eyes.

"It was nice," she said, blushing. "I mean, it hurt like shit at first but it was nice."

"Oh, ok, well, maybe it will be better next time," I muttered, feeling my checks turn pink.

"I'm sure it will be," smirked Bella, climbing off the bed. "I'm going to get cleaned up. Want to join me?"

"Fuck yes," I growled, flying off the bed.

Bella laughed as I chased her into the bathroom. We took a quick shower together, letting out hands and lips roam over each other. Once we were done, we dried off and pulled on our pajamas. Bella once again wore a pair of my boxers and my shirt. As we climbed into bed, she rolled over and laid her head on my chest. Maybe it wasn't mind blowing sex but it was pretty fucking good in my book.