Chapter Seventeen

August 2001

"Agent confirms; Bella Swan dumps 'Head of the Pack' member, Mike Newton."

Edward smirked as he read the title of the magazine. Yes, he was an avid reader of "Entertainment Weekly". He couldn't help himself. "Finally," he muttered under his breath. Bella had done a full interview with them to avoid any talk as to why she dumped Mike.

"Tell me about it," Bella said as she flopped onto the couch next to him. She had moved back home to Nashville and had been hanging out more and more at the huge house the boys lived in.

"Are you alright," Edward asked her.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm just…I'm glad it's over, you know? Besides, Mike was a putz."

Edward snorted. That much, he knew. He'd met him a few times at social functions and he always acted like a prick. "So, where do you go from here?"

She shrugged as she sipped her beer. "I cool off for a while, keep things low-key."

Edward's lower lip poked out and she sighed. "Edward…"

"I know," he said softly. "I understand. You've got to maintain your integrity and I…I guess I need to remain celibate a little while longer for my own image…"

Her eyebrow rose. "Is that a fact?" Her socked foot came up to rest on the couch…in his lap. He hissed as it came in contact with his barely hidden erection. "It doesn't seem to me as if he wants to remain celibate."

"Don't push me, Bella," he said darkly.

She sat up and brushed his hair away from his face. It was the closest they'd ever been to one another. "Edward…" she said, her breath dancing across his face. "I…"

"Yes?"

"I…"

His eyes closed. "God, Bella…don't make me wait in suspense…"

"I want you," she breathed.

His hands wrapped around her waist…only for him to jump away from her as the front door slammed.

"Hey, man, I'm back," Jasper said softly as he walked to the door frame. "I'm just gonna go up and crash."

"You find you a nice piece of strange?" Edward asked as he ran a hand through his hair, careful not to let Jasper see the roaring hard-on he was sporting.

Jasper shrugged. "Slim pickin's. Em's not back yet?"

"Tomorrow, man," Edward told him. Emmett had gone home to visit his family. Jasper had, for reasons unknown, decided not to go with him, something that everyone had found strange. Though, since New York…and "Miyagate" as Jacob started calling it, Jasper had been acting strange. Emmett had talked to Jamie about it, who told him that Miya had confided in her that she knew what she was doing to Jasper was wrong and that she had sworn to herself that she wasn't going to do anything like this again. No one really believed it. But hey, it could happen.

"Alright. I'm goin' to bed. Glad to see ya, Bella. You talk to Alice?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah, she's coming up in a few days. You guys will be shooting a new video soon, right?"

Jasper nodded sullenly. "Okay, I'm gone. See you later."

They watched him walk out of sight before Bella blew out a sigh of relief. "And where are the other three?"

Edward's brow furrowed as he thought. "Carlisle said something about a date…I think he's getting serious about someone, Jacob is upstairs on his phone…he said something about talking to his sister? And Em, as you know, isn't here…"

"Edward," she said softly.

He looked at her. "Yeah?"

"I…"

"What, Bella?"

She licked her lip and he had to bite back a groan. "Edward, I'm…not ready to date, not ready to be out in public with anyone…"

"But?" he asked, breathlessly.

"I really need to fuck you."

"Thank you, God."

Edward jumped up from the couch and pulled Bella to her feet before he swept her up into his arms. "Edward!"

"Shhh," he whispered. "Just be quiet and let me get you to my room."

"Edward! Put me down!"

He sighed, but sat her down, not relinquishing his grip on her hand. "Fine, let's be quiet, okay?"

She giggled, something he hadn't heard from her before, and he smiled at the sound as he tugged her forward and up the stairs, into his room. Once there…he realized the enormity of this and stopped, stock-still. "Bella?"

She smiled. "I'm impressed, Edward."

He looked at her quizzically.

"You're actually thinking about this."

"I don't want to mess this up," he whispered.

She put a hand on his face. "You won't. We won't." She stepped away from him and lifted her shirt over her head. "Now, Mr. Masen, come make love to me."

His eyes widened at the beautiful expanse of ivory skin she was showing him. She hadn't worn a bra. Her breasts were beautiful, staring at him and a small smile played upon his lips as he sank to his knees in front of her, laving her breasts and stomach with kisses. His tongue flicked out to her belly button and she groaned as her hands fisted in his hair. "Let me take care of you first, Bella. Please?" he asked as his hands ghosted over her blue jeans buttons.

"Oh-okay," she whimpered.

He smiled up at her in wonder as he unbuttoned her jeans and took them, along with her pink lace panties down her legs. She had shucked off her shoes downstairs where they had been talking, so he slipped off her clothing, taking her thick socks with them. Once she was completely naked before him, he looked at her. "You are beautiful," he breathed.

"Edward…"

He ran his hands up the outside of her legs, causing gooseflesh to pop up in his wake. He moved up, up, up, until he reached her hips, and then wrapped his right hand around her ass as his left traveled back down to her calf. He lifted her leg and sat it on his shoulder. The grip of her hands in his hair tightened. "Alright?" he asked her.

She nodded, biting her lip.

His tongue flicked out to her and she hissed as it came in contact with her slick folds. He moaned in appreciation. She tasted like the finest of wines, the sweetest of creams, delicious. "Bella…" he murmured into her.

"Oh…Edward!" she cried lightly as his tongue began flicking over her nub. "Please…more!"

He complied, flicking and licking faster and faster, driving her mad with desire. She pulled his face closer to her core and his tongue slipped inside of her as his nose brushed her clit over and over again.

She let out a long moan and gushed forth, filling his mouth with her juices. He lapped at her until she was clean and then pulled away, licking his own lips.

Her hands moved to his arms, tugging him up to her and as soon as he stood, her mouth found his.

They were both moaning in ecstasy as their tongues plundered and his hands gripped around her waist tightly, massaging the muscles of her ass and back while her hands went to the front of his pants.

He let out a hiss as soon as she had them undone and her hand had snuck into them. "Fuck, Bella," he moaned as she clutched his length.

"Make love to me, Edward. Now."

He hoisted her up and her legs wrapped around his waist as he laid them both on the bed. He pulled away only long enough to pull his shirt over his head and toss away his pants before he was back in her arms. "I…I think I love you, Bella."

She smiled softly. "Yeah, I think I love you too, Edward," she said as she reached over to the drawer beside the bed. "You keep them in this drawer?"

He nodded, saddened by the fact that she wouldn't let him…

She took his chin in her hands as she caught his look. "Look at me, Edward."

He looked at her and she kissed his lips lightly. "I want to be careful. Very careful, okay? We Swan's are a fertile bunch. I'm just being cautious. It has nothing to do with you. But…I would like for you to get tested, anyway, okay?"

"I swear it, Bella."

She smiled and rolled the condom onto him. "Okay, then. Love me."

"With pleasure," he said as he slipped into her.

They rocked slowly, whispering words of affection as their bodies sang to one another and they danced together in the primal dance. Soft sighs, pushing, pulling, moans, whimpers, soft, soft kisses and hard thrusts all combined as they took each other to the ledge. Finally, their dance neared its end and they released.

They lay there, sated and sleepy, in each other's arms. "Edward…I'm not ready to tell anyone, okay?" she whispered.

He nodded solemnly. He wanted to shout it to the rooftops, but he understood why she didn't want to. It was too soon after the break-up, too many issues regarding the how's and the why's and the when's….but still, he didn't like keeping their love a secret. "I understand," he said softly.

She snuggled into him and yawned. He relished the feel of her, and before he knew it, he, too, fell asleep.

On the other side of the house, Jasper formed four neat little lines of white powder on the glass tabletop of the coffee table in his bedroom. He looked at it with loathing, but knew he couldn't stop if he wanted to. Just enough to get me through, he thought to himself. I just need that little bit…he rolled the fifty, the only paper money in his pocket, and inhaled all four lines. He licked his finger and rubbed at where the powder had sat before rubbing it across his upper gums. Then, he sat back, blew out a breath, and let the drugs do their thing.

PAGE BREAK

Edward looked at the hospital bed warily. "You want me to do what?"

"It is perfect, Edward," Laurent said in the French accent of his. "It will be magnifique!"

"Says you," Edward said under his breath.

"Edward, you'll be fine," Bella said encouragingly. Laurent has somehow talked her into returning for the music video. Rosalie was also there, and Edward didn't fail to notice how Emmett looked at her. He smiled as he thought of that night. It had been the turning point in his and Bella's relationship…they had talked a lot in between dances with all of them and drinks. He had never found out what Rosalie's problem had been, but Royce was here today, looking like the dickweed Emmett insisted he was.

"Is everyone ready?" Laurent asked.

Just then, Lynessa breezed in. "Sorry! My flight was delayed!"

Laurent smiled. "Yes, I was notified of your flight issues. You are ready, you have read the script?"

She nodded and plopped her bag down. "Lyn? What are you doing here?" Edward asked.

She smiled. "I wanted it to be a surprise," but it wasn't Edward she was looking at as she said, "Surprise."

Jake grinned and turned away before he would get caught staring at her, but Alice caught it and smirked. She'd find out from Lyn what was going on. Bella, too, noticed the look and smiled softly. Edward would have a fit if he knew! But…is he really that blind? Apparently he was. She let out a slight snort at the thought before she turned back to the task at hand.

"Alright, people," Laurent said, clapping his hands lightly together. "Pair up with your acting partners. Emmett, you do not have one, so, just relax for a bit, yes? I realize your scenes will be very emotional. Edward, let us do your scenes, alright?"

He swallowed hard and nodded. Bella sent him an encouraging smile as she made her way to Carlisle. "So, I guess we are partnered up."

He smiled warmly at her. "I guess so."

She bit her lip. "You know…I think you, Jacob and I have a lot in common."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

She smiled. "We are all three secretly dating a Masen."

Carlisle's mouth fell open, as did Jake's, who was paired up with Rosalie. "Bella!" He hissed.

She giggled, but Alice said, rather loudly, "WHAT!?"

"What the hell you doing here anyway, pixie?" Jake asked.

She shot him a look. "I'm here for moral support. And apparently, I'm also here to find out the scoop." They looked at Bella and she began explaining how she knew about the other two. She had seen the way Jake looked at Lyn, and then, had also seen how Carlisle and Esme were when they were around each other.

"Not that!" Alice said, a little quieter now. "You and Edward?! Since when?"

Bella blushed and shrugged. "I won't say." The past week since they had made love had been terrific. They had, as agreed, stayed mum on the subject, but Bella saw no problem in letting some of the boys know. As long as it didn't go outside their inner circle…

"Bitch," Alice snarled, but they looked at one another and giggled.

"What did I miss," Rosalie said as she came forward.

"Uh, well, just about everyone except for me is having an illicit affair," Alice informed her.

Rosalie chuckled softly and said, "Yeah, well, I'm not, so…"

Alice and Bella looked at one another before looking at Rose. "It's no better, is it?"

She sighed. "He's under a lot of pressure…it's a hard job being an agent…"

"And you are not a punching bag for him to let his stress out on. Physically or emotionally, Rosalie."

She nodded. "Yeah, I know…" she trailed off as they heard the music start and their attention went to watching the video being made.

It hurt Bella's heart to see Edward back on a gurney, even if it was for a scene in a music video…it hit too close to home when they didn't know if he'd live or not.

Lynessa, meanwhile, was looking for her partner for this video, Jasper. She would be like an apparition on the 'bus' he was riding while he was looking at her picture, and she wanted to at least say 'boo' to him before they started filming. She had met him once before, but they hadn't actually had a conversation. She knocked on the dressing room and heard a low, "Come in," from inside.

She stepped inside and found herself face to face with a scantly clad Jasper. Her tongue almost fell out of her head as she stared. He had a new tattoo…and it was sad that she knew it was new, but she did. It was a broken heart on his chest with some intricate writing that she couldn't quite tell what it said. It looked like initials, but it could have just been curlicues.

His eyebrow rose.

She cleared her throat and said, "I, uh, I'm your partner for-for the vid. I just wanted to come in and say hi or something…" she trailed off and he smirked.

His tongue flicked out and his teeth caught the ball in it and he toyed with it momentarily before he said, "Thanks. I'll be out in five. Run away, little girl…you're not woman enough to handle this."

Of that, she was certain. So she turned around and quickly scurried out of the room. He chuckled slightly as he grasped the small baggie out of his pocket. Just one for the road, right, Jazz man?

Emmett was sniffling slightly as he finished his portion of the video. When he helped write the song, he had his dad in mind, but, still, having to shoot watching some of their home movies…it was tough.

"Are you alright?" Rosalie said softly. She had been paired with Jacob and they were preparing for their sets.

Emmett wiped his eyes hurriedly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

She shrugged. "I just…it seemed as though…it was really sad," she said finally.

He sniffed. "Yeah, well, anything for the fans and the almighty dollar, right?"

She tilted her head to the side. "You don't mean that. I heard you were dedicating it to your dad, the video."

"I loved him. Jasper loved him. He was a good man. I hope to be half the man he was one day."

She smiled softly. "I think you already are." Just then, Laurent called her to her place and she grasped Emmett's hand for one long moment before she dashed over to where Jake was waiting.

Emmett looked down at his hand and then back up where she had gone. He smiled.

PAGE BREAK

"Did you hear?" Alice said as she stomped into their house a few days later.

"Nice to see you too, Ali-cat," Jasper said lazily from where he was flopped onto the couch.

"Fuck you too, Jasper."

His eyebrow rose. "Whoa, what broom did you fly in on?"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "We need to rally around Bella now."

Edward's ears perked up from the song he was working on over in the corner. He had almost perfected it. He couldn't wait to play it for Bella. After all, he had written it for her.

"Why?" Emmett asked from the foosball table. He and Jake were going head-to-head in sudden death overtime.

"Oh. My. God. Why are you guys NEVER in the loop?" She turned the television to MTV and they waited. Sure enough, a news break flashed to Mike's ugly mug. "So, tell us, Mikey, why did you decide to put this song out now? Surely it was written a while ago."

His smug face filled the screen once more. "Yeah, well, I've just gone through a rough break-up…so, the song was wholly appropriate."

The camera zoomed in on the VJ as she said, "Well, there you go, and here's the newest single by Head of the Pack: Bye, Bye, Bye, which, coincidentally, they will be performing at the MTV music video awards next week. You heard it here first, friends."

"That cocksucker!" Emmett roared as he stood.

"Where is Bella?" Jacob asked.

"She's at home," Edward said, without thinking.

"And how would you know?" Jasper asked.

Because I just came from there… "Because, I…she told me she was going to be home, here, in Nashville. She's got like a brunch or something with her mom, I think…" Which wasn't entirely untruthful, it was just that she had spent all night with Edward and had finally kicked him out an hour ago to get ready.

"Well, don't just stand there! Let's go…" But they didn't have to go far. The front door opened and Bella came in, mascara running down her face.

"Edward…" she said softly.

He pushed through the rest of them and grabbed her to him as she sobbed. He picked her up and said, "Guys, come on, let's stop pretending. You all know that Bella and I are together. We're keeping it from the press, but, yeah, we are. So, if you could just leave us alone for a little while, I think I'll take her upstairs, let her lie down..."

They parted like the red sea as he carried her to his room. They were almost at the top of the stairs when Emmett said, "Bella, I'm gonna strangle that little motherfucker."

She stopped Edward with a touch of her hand and he turned her to face Emmett. "Just beat him in the awards, Em. Be the best on the show, be the best, period. The whole lot of them is a bunch of jackasses. From their lead singer, James, down to the little peon that is Mike, they're nothing like you guys. So…just…beat them, will you?"

Every one of the boys smiled. "With pleasure," they said in unison.