Innocent Until Proven Guilty Chapter 38

The first day we got back, Edward and I hardly left the bedroom. We were limited to foreplay when it came to pleasure but for the time being, we didn't mind. Plus, the medication Edward was on always made him drowsy so we tried to take it easy. But nothing seemed to have stopped our wondering hands.

The rest of that time, we spent talking and planning our future.

He had been quiet most of the day so I left him to think over the conversation we had on the jet. I was also contemplating what I would do if he said no. It obviously wasn't the end of the world if he decides that it's not a good idea. He obviously knows more about this life than I do. I'm purely going off from what I've seen so far and the things I've witnessed. I'm still learning about the rules that are set out, the code these men, and some women, follow. My intention isn't to step on anyone's toes or suddenly start telling them what to do.

I just want to learn.

We had ordered Chinese for dinner and as I brought it back to the bedroom, Edward had his poker face on as he watched me move around the room. It looked like he was finally ready to talk.

"It smells delicious, I didn't realize how hungry I actually am," he said as he inhaled deeply once I sat down next to him, crossing my legs as I rested against the headboard.

I hummed in agreement and started taking the food out of the bags and handing him his chow mein. My eyes momentarily fixating on the way he handled the chopsticks.

Is there anything he can't do with those hands?

I shook my head to clear it and get my head out of the gutter, picturing exactly what those talented digits can do to my body.

"So, I've been thinking," he started off. I turned to face him as I popped a wonton into my mouth, chewing slowly.

"I understand what you're asking of me but I can't do it," he said, gauging my reaction.

"Edward-"

"Just, hear me out. This life isn't for everyone angel. You have more than proved yourself to me and everyone else that you can handle a tough situation, the way you can beautifully handle a gun and that you have my back. But baby, I don't want this life for you. You're so much better than this. I don't want any more blood on your hands. I've had years to come to terms with what I do, what is expected of me. I don't want these things for you. I'm willing to answer any and all questions you may have for me, but I can't let you join me in the jobs that I do. You're too good for it. The nightmares, they'll only get worse. I've already tainted your innocence. I don't want to drag you down further. You're my wife and my equal, but I don't think I'll be able to live with myself if one day you'll wake up to hate me." His tone was even, firm as he held my gaze.

I thought over everything he has said, and like on the jet, I can accept this decision. I did leave the ball in his court regarding this after all.

"Can you at least teach me self-defense?" I asked and saw the way his shoulders sagged in relief that I wasn't fighting him about this.

"If that's what you want then yes, but I don't know if I will be able to do it myself," his eyebrows knitted together as he thought about it.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't want to hurt you," was his simple answer.

"Are you too scared to have your ass handed to you by a girl?" I teased, wanting to lighten the mood further.

"I don't want to go easy on you and I know that I will because I'll be too worried about actually hurting you. You won't learn anything if I pussyfoot around it. How about Siobhan?" he suggested and I began nodding as soon as her name left his lips.

"It's settled then. We can call her tomorrow and see what we can come up with," he finally smiled at me, happy with the outcome of this talk.

"What the hell am I going to do then?" I asked and popped more food into my mouth as we both sat there quietly.

"Do you still want to help me with the club?" he suddenly asked. His face was actually hopeful.

"Oh my gosh, really? You want to work together?" I ask, excited at the prospect of working with him. Doing something that is actually probably safer.

"I don't see why not. I'd rather you helped me with the more legitimate side of the business and I've been thinking about expanding. Opening more clubs, maybe even a hotel. What do you think?" he sounded excited at the idea.

"That's a great idea baby! Can I fire people?" I ask, feeling giddy with excitement as one name springs to mind.

"Baby steps Mrs. Cullen, baby steps," he says before laughter bubbles out of him, no doubt knowing who I had in mind.

He looks at me lovingly once his laughter dies down and I melt.

He is everything to me.

On the second day since we came back, Edward looked more like his old self and had a lot more energy even after we had a late night.

After our talk and once our food craving was sated, we focused on an entirely different craving. We didn't stop until the early hours of the morning. With the fact that we couldn't have actual sex, we had to become more creative.

We got an early morning call from Alice and Jasper, who looked extremely tanned already. They filled us in with all the different activities they have done so far and things they have yet to do. We filled them in with what had happened once Jasper asked Edward why his phone was turned off. I got an earful from both of them until Edward put his foot down and told Jasper to pack it in. They both had a silent conversation whilst Alice looked like she was going to cry.

"Bella," she gently said and I just nodded, knowing exactly what she wasn't saying. I was only now starting to come to terms with it all and I really didn't want to dwell on it any further.

Luckily the call ended on good terms and they promised to send pictures.

"I need a new phone," he said as he reached out for mine and went online to buy the newest iPhone. I groaned as I realized how peaceful it has been without that thing.

"Don't," he playfully growled, knowing how much I hated that fucking phone. He spent a good hour picking the best phone plan and buying all these other gadgets that went along with it. He was like a kid in a candy store. He handed me my phone back once he was done purchasing his new toy and laid back down on the bed, smiling up at the ceiling.

"What are you so happy about?" I grumbled and laughed at a picture Alice had sent through of a penis on Jasper's back she had drawn with sun lotion.

"I'm just happy baby," he finally said and groped my boob whilst I scrolled through the rest of the pictures.

I had to start swatting his hand away when he kept on groping me as I tried to reply to some messages a few of the sorority girls had sent through.

"Edward," I said in a warning and he pouted like a kid who had his favorite toy taken away from him.

"Do you want to swing by the house and get the rest of your things? I realize we haven't actually moved you fully in," he suddenly said as more messages came through.

"Sure, but not today. You still need to rest and I'm not going to let you start carrying shit around when you're not 100% back to your old self. Don't think I don't see the way you still wince if you move too quickly mister," I reprimanded. He just smiled at me and gave me a quick nod.

"Angel, do you mind going into the office and grabbing my laptop?" he gently asked as he repositioned himself on the bed.

"Of course, do you need anything else?" I asked, leaning in to kiss his forehead.

"No, just the laptop. I might as well try and get some work done," I was loving this relaxed Edward. It felt like it's been a while since he looked anything but worried.

I quickly hopped off the bed and walked into his office. He had paperwork strewn all over the desk and the laptop was buried under a realtor's brochure. It looked like he has thought about expanding for some time if he was already looking at what's on the market.

I picked up the laptop and grabbed my own on the way back to the bedroom. When I walked back in, he was on my phone to someone, already working it seems.

On the third day since we came back, Edward had asked Siobhan to come over. It felt nice to see a fresh face since we came back.

She hadn't given me a lecture like I assumed she would which I was grateful for. She did hug the crap out of me though and told me I was too pretty to get shot at, again.

We were sitting in the living room when she shared a few pieces of information I had wondered about since that night.

"So, you know how Emmett went back to the scene of the crime," she shot me a look before continuing.

"He retrieved James Hunter's phone and I was able to have a look at all his phone calls in more detail. Get straight to the source so to speak. Anyway, the reason Hunter was so interested in his phone that night is the fact that he was waiting for the Romanian goons to help spring him out of Vegas. He was under the illusion he was still under their protection. They had told him they were going to secure a flight out for him but it had to be done under the radar and I believe that is why he had driven so far out outside of the city and into the desert," she concluded.

It made sense, to me anyway. I turned to look at Edward who had a pensive look on his face.

"Do you know who that contact was?" he asked as he leaned forward and winced.

"A Mihai Ionescu, he was Stefan's right-hand man and a cousin twice removed from what I could gather. He's in the game and has been pushing the sex trafficking ring in Miami whilst the brothers focused on Chicago," she said and pulled out a file from her messenger bag, handing it to Edward.

I looked over Edward's shoulder at a picture of a bald man, Caucasian, with a long black beard as he was leaving a Romanian deli, unaware that his picture was taken.

"When was he last seen in Chicago?" Edward asked as he continued to flick through the file and read over the notes from whoever had been tracking him.

"Right after the brothers were taken care of. There's a picture of Hunter and Ionescu arriving at Victoria's place and they were both in there for no longer than 10 minutes," she added.

"Victoria was found dead," she said after a beat.

They both turned to look at me when I gasped in shock. "What happened to the baby?" I suddenly asked. Siobhan's eyes darted over to Edward quickly before she looked back at me and shook her head. I felt an overwhelming sadness come over me at the thought of an innocent baby never coming into this world. A baby that was simply stuck in the middle of it all.

"If only I could bring that sonofabitch back to life and kill him all over again!" I shouted as I sprang off the sofa and started to pace in front of them. My hands shot to my mouth as I suddenly felt sick. I quickly rushed into the bathroom and threw up everything that I had eaten for breakfast.

What kind of a monster would kill an innocent baby like that? How fucked up do you have to be to kill your own child?

I retched again as the bathroom door opened and I felt Edward's hands on my back, helping me hold my hair back.

"Easy angel…shhhh…he's gone now…he's gone," he tried to soothe me but I couldn't get the image of Victoria's lifeless body just lying there out of my head. Her protruding stomach was no longer able to keep her baby safe.

"His death was too easy," my tone was cold as the words left my mouth.

"This is why I don't want you to emerge yourself in this life. It's ugly and it's dark," his tone was soft but held an edge to it.

"You're nothing like him! Don't you dare say that the Mob makes you do what he did! That's on him! I have no idea how he was raised but if Carlisle and Hunter's dad were in business together, I can't imagine he was raised any different than you were," I seethed, hating the fact Edward still saw himself as a monster.

Once I had collected myself, and given Edward his pain medication, we walked back into the living room where Siobhan still sat.

"Let me know what you want us to do boss," she said to Edward as she stood up and moved over to me. She hugged me again and reassured me Hunter got what he deserved.

We quickly agreed to get together soon and start on my self-defense classes. She said I can join the class she runs or she can train me one-on-one. Edward said he'd rather we did it one-on-one so that she can focus solely on me. I had no problem with it so I agreed. I told her I'll be in touch when things settle a bit more.

We said our goodbyes and I began getting things ready for dinner, just so I could take my mind off of things. Edward continued to linger around me but eventually excused himself into his office when his new phone wouldn't stop ringing.

I thought the last one was bad, it genuinely was nothing compared to the new one. We may no longer have that sword hanging over our heads, but his men needed him now more than ever it seems.

I think it's time I set some new rules around here.

On the fourth day since we came back, Edward had finally ventured down to the club with me tagging along with him.

We had set up camp in his office so he could go through the initial paperwork with me and allow me to sign a couple of contracts. Assigning me the new manager of Dawn. I showed my appreciation by sinking to my knees and wrapping my lips around his cock whilst he had his ass perched against the edge of his desk.

Memories of what had happened on this desk the night he told me he loves me came crashing through. It was amazing to think how much has happened since then.

It was the middle of the day when Edward had called all the staff in for a meeting. He informed everyone that I will be taking over the managerial aspect of the club and that there will indeed be some changes made around here.

I introduced myself to those I hadn't met before. I couldn't even keep a straight face as I noticed the guy and girl – whose names were Tori and Chad - I had watched sneak into the stock room as they sat at the table next to each other. Edward tried to hold back his laugh as he realized who I was looking at but he skilfully masked it with a cough instead.

I completely ignored Irina who kept shooting daggers at me and scoffing every time I opened my mouth to say something. My patients was wearing extremely thin already and she was a scoff away from being sacked on the spot. I may not have that power yet, but I was banging the club's owner. I was sure I could sweet-talk him into having my way.

Once everybody had been dismissed, Edward and I dry humped on the chair he sat on. He said he couldn't wait to have me and that watching me command the room was a huge turn on for him. It seemed like a lot of the things I did recently have been a turn on for him.

But I was just as hungry for him as he is for me, so there were definitely no complaints from me.

Once we were sated, for the moment anyway, Edward continued to walk me through the club and show me the stock room, tell me the days the new orders came in, and the ins and outs of running the club.

He talked me through the online courses I can take for health and safety regulations and get me my liquor license. He told me all about the company that supplies him with the alcohol and he asked me to tell him if any of them give me a hard time.

I teased him about redecorating the office but he just smiled at me and said I can do whatever I wanted to it. It wasn't the reaction I thought I'd get but he informed me that he trusted his club to run smoothly in my hands and that he was looking forward to sharing his space with me.

I decided that once I get through all the courses I need to take to get certified, I'll broach the subject of getting rid of Irina. Although, there is a part of me that believes it won't take much to convince him.

We had stayed in the club's office whilst he took care of some business and I started on the online courses. I felt excited with the thought of working beside him and I was enjoying sharing this space together. Every time I looked up, he would be watching me, a smile on his handsome face.

I really needed the next six days to fly by so we could get the all-clear from his doctor.

On the fifth day since we came back, I put a stop to anything sexual until he gets his stitches out.

Edward had spent most of the day in his office, working on club stuff and shipments.

We hardly left the penthouse since we came back, only going down to the club once or twice and only if we really needed to. We stayed cooped up so he could recover better. He still whined like a baby when it came to medication but I had perfected my bitch brow since he got shot, he'd mumble his displeasure but didn't dare say anything else. I lost count the number of times I've threatened to cut him off, but it always seemed to work, as well as flashing him the girls.

I had been reading up on some management books whilst he worked. His office door was open and just hearing him deal with day to day stuff soothed me. I had plans to cook us a nice dinner tonight, it felt like it has been ages since we just did normal. There were rules for dinner time now, he had to turn his phone off. We obviously fought about this but he eventually relented and let me have my way. I wanted to have some sort of a tradition around here and that fucking new phone of his was getting on my last nerve. I told him they had to call me instead if it was really urgent. The first night we rolled this out, I had 30 calls from his men asking the most mundane things possible. I swear they didn't sneeze without telling him. After the first 10, I let them all go to voicemail. He looked like he was going to fight me on this but as soon as I placed my hand high up on his thigh, and gently began to rub it, he soon forgot what he was going to say.

Our dinner was soon forgotten and so were the phone calls. I got off the barstool and took his hand in mine, leading him away from the table and into the bedroom. We were skipping straight to dessert. It was like positive reinforcement if you'd like.

I moved him over to the foot of the bed and gently pushed on his shoulder so he'd sit down. He did so without hesitation. He reached out for me but I quickly stepped back and slowly began stripping for him. I started to leisurely unbutton the check shirt I was wearing and his eyes followed my every move. He placed his hands behind him slightly and leaned back, licking his lips as more skin was revealed. What he didn't know was the fact that I was purely being selfish right now.

I needed his mouth to do the work.

I left my shirt hanging on my shoulders, exposing my cleavage whilst I hooked my fingers under my cotton shorts and slowly pulled them down, swaying my hips in the process.

I watched as he swallowed and reached out to palm himself. I shimmied my shorts down my legs and stepped one foot out of them and left them resting against the other. With a quick flick of my foot, I sent my shorts flying in his direction. He deftly caught them and fisted them, never taking his eyes off me.

I was wearing a white cotton thong with a red tongue embroidered on the front. They were a little sassy but super comfortable. I watched a slow smirk appear on his lips as he took them in. I slowly walked back over to him and he sat up straight again, leaving my shorts beside him. I left my thong and shirt on and was going to make him take them off me.

"I need your help baby," I said seductively.

"Take my shirt off," I commanded. His eyes grew darker and the corners of his mouth lifted.

Edward reached up and pushed the shirt off my shoulders and it caressed my skin as it fell down behind me. My nipples hardened into little peeks as his fingers grazed them. I wanted to arch into his touch but there was something I wanted even more.

"Mmmm thank you, baby, that's much better don't you think?" I sighed in emphasis and giggled when he simply nodded.

"These panties though, do you like them?" I asked innocently as I did a 360 so he could see it from all angles.

"Very much," he finally spoke, placing his hands on my hips once I faced him again. He leaned forward to place a kiss on my mound.

I raked my fingers through his hair, noting how much longer it was. His usually clean-shaven face supported a few days stubble now and I couldn't wait to feel it between my thighs.

"Take them off," I instructed again and watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed.

He hooked his fingers under the waistband and pulled. His fingers grazed down my legs along with the panties, making my skin pebble. Once the thong pooled at my feet, he slowly sat back up straight whilst dragging his nose up my leg and inside of my thigh. Stopping when he got to my glistening center. He ran his tongue through my slit and I quickly stepped back and out of reach.

"I didn't say you can taste me," I gently scolded him and he quirked an eyebrow as his eyes shot from my face to my aching pussy and back up again.

"Scoot up to the top of the bed and lay down," I instructed, not moving an inch until he did what I asked. His smirk was back on his face as he moved up the bed. I discreetly rubbed my thighs together in anticipation of what's to come.

Once his head hit the pillow, he lifted it up and watched me walk around to my side of the bed and slowly climb on top of it. My knees were by his chest and I admired the hungry look in his eyes.

"Keep your hands by your side until I tell you to touch me."

"Isabella," he groaned out as I straddled his chest.

I continued to move further up until my pussy was right above his mouth. His every breath was making my skin tingle and the roughness from his stubble felt amazing against my soft flesh.

"It's time for dessert," I moaned out as I sank onto his mouth.

He plunged his tongue inside me and I cried out in pleasure. Every swipe of his tongue, every suck on my clit, kept bringing me closer and closer to my release. He breathed out of his nose and devoured my pussy like a starving man. I could hear his fists clenching and unclenching as he grabbed the sheets.

"Touch me," I finally moaned.

He didn't hesitate. He gripped my ass and began grinding me against his mouth. Going from my clit to my entrance and back again. I wasn't sure how much longer I was going to last. But as soon as one of his fingers slipped between my ass cheeks and he applied the gentlest of pressure on my puckered hole, I lost all sense of control as my thighs clamped around his head and I succumbed to my release.

The same time my hands slapped against the headboard as I continued to fall down the rabbit hole, I heard Edward cry out in pain. I quickly scrambled off him and looked down to see him clutching his injured side.

"Oh my gosh baby, are you ok?" I panted as I was still trying to catch my breath.

"Your foot…shit baby…your foot pressed against it as you came," he gritted out and tried to breathe through his pain. I quickly scrambled off the bed and ran to his side of the bed so I could get his pain meds. I quickly shook 2 out of the bottle and fetched him a glass of water to swallow them down with.

"Baby I'm so sorry," I felt my eyes well up at the thought of hurting him, something I've been trying to avoid since we got back.

"Don't apologize, it's not like you did it on purpose. It's easing off now, I'm sorry," he said as he reached out for me.

"What on earth are you apologizing for?" I asked incredulously.

"For ruining dessert time," he said and wiped at his chin, the motion making my legs quiver.

"Baby I'm the one who ruined it. I'm so sorry Edward, I got so caught up in it. I thought my foot wasn't anywhere near it," I felt the guilt take over once again.

"It wasn't until your thighs clamped down around me. God, that was so fucking hot. I thought I was going to lose my shit not being able to touch you. And your taste, it's going to be the death of me I swear," he closed his eyes and hummed as his tongue peeked out to wet his lip like he was tasting me again.

"That's it, no more. I can't risk hurting you like that again. No more sex until those stitches are out!" I said, my voice final.

I watched him open his mouth and close it as he gaped at me.

"You can't be serious?" he tried to argue.

"Oh I'm dead serious," I said.

I was going to regret my words later, that's for sure.