Good morning, dears and Happy Easter to those who celebrate!
So excited to get back to these two today, I've missed them so much!
This chapter takes place only a couple months after the last chapter, so really it's only been a little bit of time that has passed.
Thank you so much to Fran S. Flower for being the best beta out there, and tackling these long chapters for me. Enjoy all!
Friday, April 14, 2017
Manhattan, New York
Bella
It was strange to be back in the city. Though we'd only lived here together a few months, New York had been the first place I'd ever felt at home. Likely, because it had been the first place I'd lived with Edward.
We had lived here less than a year together, but as soon as our cab was whisking us through the city toward our hotel, nostalgia swept through me, bringing sweet tears to my eyes.
I reached across the back of the cab, finding Edward's hand that had been resting on his lap. He looked up at me in surprise, and I smiled at him, squeezing his fingers gently. His wedding ring was warm against my palm, and my fingers found it, tracing it. His face softened, his eyes warming as he leaned over to kiss the side of my head. I blinked, reaching up with my left hand to brush the tears from my eyes.
Life had been insane the last few months, and though I loved every part of it right now, coming back to the place where Edward and I had started was making me deeply emotional. I was grateful for the bizarre circumstances that had led to us meeting in that airport parking structure. I couldn't fathom my life without him.
"Hey," he whispered, leaning closer to me, brushing his hand over my face to chase more tears away. "You okay?"
I nodded, scooting across the backseat and leaning my head against his shoulder. "I'm just remembering," I whispered. He let out a small breath, nodding. He turned, placing a kiss on top of my head as his hand dropped and wrapped around me, keeping me close to his side.
I knew in large part the pregnancy was to blame for my emotional state right now, but I was actually grateful for it. As overwhelming as it was to contemplate my life right now, I was reminded of all the wonderful and extraordinary things that happened to me in the last year and a half.
The cab pulled up outside our hotel, and Edward squeezed me gently. I looked up at him and smiled, pulling out of his arms and dabbing at my eyes once more. Edward climbed out of the car and went to help the cabbie pull our bags out of the back while I took a breath, composing myself. I climbed out and met Edward on the sidewalk. He held both our small bags and offered his hand to me.
The sidewalk outside was black and white checked tiles, and there was an opulently designed awning with large round light fixtures tucked into the circular coffered ceiling. A doorman in a crisp suit nodded to us as he pulled the gilded doors open. I wound my fingers through Edward's as we headed inside.
The lobby was just as opulent as the exterior promised it would be, with inlaid marble flooring in a diamond pattern and large tray ceilings that were trimmed in shimmering gold. The whole lobby screamed decadence, and I glanced up at my husband, amusement taking over the emotional state I'd been in only a moment ago. He might have been a different man than who he was sixteen months ago, but some parts of him would never change, and I absolutely loved that.
"Good evening, sir," the concierge greeted. I watched as Edward transformed before my eyes. He'd softened some in Seattle; he was still strict and demanding at work, but he tended to be more patient, more easy-going. Now he was the arrogant, demanding man who had dominated this city with an unyielding ferocity.
It was so hot.
"Cullen," he said, pulling his wallet from his coat pocket. The man nodded, not even batting an eye at my husband's bruskness. While Edward checked us in, I let my eyes wander over the lobby. We were in New York for less than forty-eight hours, but of course, Edward had demanded to make the trip as comfortable as possible. I'd considered arguing with him on it, but I knew this weekend would be difficult enough for him. He needed all the comforts he could buy, so I kept my mouth shut and let him spoil us.
The concierge was speaking to Edward again, and I turned back to the conversation. "The elevators are just to your left, sir."
Edward nodded, collecting the room key before again taking my hand. I let him lead me through the lobby to the elevators. "What are you thinking?" he murmured. I looked up at him.
"I think this place reminds me of the Park Hyatt in D.C."
Edward frowned. "They look nothing alike," he argued. I grinned up at him.
"Bougie," I whispered.
He barked out a laugh, surprising a man walking past us. I grinned up at him, happy to see the mirth on his face. As we'd prepared to head to New York over the last few days, he'd been growing tenser, and I'd missed his smile.
The elevators were staffed with attendants, and after polite hellos and Edward informing them what floor, the doors slid shut, whisking us up the impressive hotel. "First time to New York?" The attendant asked, a friendly smile across his face.
"No," Edward snapped. I frowned up at him, and the attendant nodded, turning his attention to the elevator doors, clearly understanding Edward didn't want to talk.
The elevator ride was awkwardly silent until we finally came to a stop at our floor. The attendant held the door open, giving us a tight nod. "Sir, ma'am."
I smiled at him as we left the elevator, trying to silently apologize for Edward's rudeness. The attendant softened a fraction, nodding back to me in understanding before he climbed back in the elevator.
We made our way down the carpeted hallway, stopping near the end. Edward pulled the key out, pushing the door open, and I let out a breath. We were in a suite that had to be larger than my first apartment. The living room was decorated with beautiful velvet chairs and subtly striped wallpaper that alternated between a satin and matte finish. The room was decadent, and I looked up at Edward, who looked pleased.
"Do I want to even know how much you spent on this room?"
He looked at me. We weren't wanting financially, something I was unimaginably grateful for, but now that we were married and expecting our first child, I couldn't help my frugal habits. My husband had expensive tastes, and he made enough money to pay for them, but old habits die hard for me.
"The room was a gift," he said after a moment. I blinked in confusion. "Demetri. It's a delayed wedding present," he explained. I softened and reached out, rubbing his back.
"It's lovely," I said quietly. He nodded, moving through a door across the room to put our bags down. I took in the room and sighed. No matter how long I had, I didn't think I'd ever get used to this sort of opulence.
Thankfully, taking Edward out of New York had seemed to bring him back to reality, because, for the most part, our life in Seattle was more down to earth, much less gilded.
Edward came back out from the room, his eyes finding me. "What?"
I shook my head, moving across the room to look up at his anxious face. "I love you."
He softened, his expression warming as he leaned down to kiss me. "I love you too."
I smiled, leaning against his chest. "Should we get some dinner?"
Edward sighed and nodded, running a hand across my back. "That's a good idea. I think there is a restaurant downstairs," he hedged. "Unless you had somewhere in mind?"
I shook my head, smiling. "Downstairs is perfect."
…
Dinner was unbelievably good and probably way too expensive. I tried not to pay attention to the prices, especially since I knew we weren't footing the bill for the room. I'd let Edward splurge on meals without complaining about the cost.
"You seem anxious," I said softly, looking up at him across the table. He looked at me, shrugging one shoulder.
"I'm excited to see Marcus and Demetri," he said softly. "Demetri has worked hard for a long time. I'm sure he's excited to be retiring," he continued. I nodded, letting him talk through his thoughts. "It's weird to be coming back so soon after leaving," he said finally.
"Are you worried about seeing people?"
Edward's eyes met mine, and I could tell I was getting close to the source of his anxiety. "I just hate the small talk."
I let out a small breath as he looked away from me. I heard what he wasn't saying. He worried about seeing Emmett again.
Demetri had been Marcus' mentor, and in turn, had been a big part of Edward's mentoring as well. Demetri had also been Emmett's mentor, as I understood it, and had been largely the reason why Edward and Emmett had grown so close in the first place. I wanted to reach out to him, soothe his anxiety away, but I knew that until we got to the retirement banquet tomorrow night, Edward would remain incredibly high-strung.
"Should we go back to the room?" I asked, wondering if there might be a way to distract him, if only for a time.
Edward looked up at me, his eyes meeting mine, and I knew instantly he understood what my plan was. His eyes darkened, and he licked his bottom lip, igniting desire in me so fast, I felt breathless.
He reached out, making sure the bill was paid before he stood from the table, offering me a hand. I took the napkin out of my lap and stood, taking his hand, shivering at the contact of his warm skin. His eyes darkened further, taking me in. I'd been feeling self-conscious about my body lately, being five months pregnant. I felt big, and I was sullen, knowing I'd only get bigger. It had been difficult for me to come to terms with, even though I was beyond thrilled about the baby growing inside me.
Edward was doing all he could to assure me that he not only approved of the changes in my body, but he actually loved them. It was hard for me to believe, but I couldn't deny the evidence in front of me. He was turned on by me before, I knew that, but lately, any chance he had, he took. He was all over me, and I admit it helped. It made me feel powerful, despite how much the change of my body was out of my control.
"Let's go," he murmured, his eyes burning with his desire. I grinned up at him and lifted on my tiptoes to kiss the corner of his mouth.
I felt the shift in him, his sudden total and complete awareness of me that was almost disarming. His arm came around my waist, holding me against him. I licked my lips, my eyes meeting his.
"Take me upstairs, then take me."
His smile was dark and wicked and pulled deep at the core of me. Edward spun me away from him, holding onto my hand firmly as he tugged me out of the restaurant. I ignored the tables we passed, sure we were drawing some attention with our swift exit, but not caring in the slightest.
Had it not been for the elevator attendant, we likely would have never made it up to our room.
As it was, it took all my willpower to keep my hands to myself as the attendant's back was to us. Edward was far less successful.
His hand skated down my back, teasing at the bottom of the dress I was wearing. I had to bite my lip not to gasp as his hand skimmed my thigh. It was a dangerous game, being stuck in an elevator with someone else when Edward knew I could get quite vocal, but that was the thrill.
Edward's hand skated across my thigh, barely touching, but nearly shocking me each time he brushed my skin.
By the time the elevator pulled up to our floor, I was shaking in his arms, my lip near bleeding from biting on it so hard.
Edward tugged me out of the elevator, and as soon as the doors closed, he was all over me, pressing me into the hallway. I groaned into his mouth, shaking under his touch, my fingers scraping up his back, wishing I had the supernatural strength to rip the clothes right off him.
Edward pulled back from me, swearing under his breath. "Come on, baby," he groaned, tugging me down the hall. I stumbled, and he stopped, looking back at me. I glanced down at my low heels, and he let out a hot breath, his eyes landing on them. Before I knew what he was doing, Edward had me up in his arms, carrying me. I squeaked in surprise, but no one was there to see us, and I relished being in his arms. We reached our door, and Edward shook his head.
"Get the key out of my pocket, Baby."
I met his gaze and bit my lip, my hand snaking down his chest as he held me out from him. I shifted my arm down to graze across his stomach, and he hissed, nearly dropping me. I grinned at him as he shook his head. I fished my hand into his pocket, taking my time to thoroughly dig, my fingers caressing his thigh through the soft fabric of his slacks.
"Fucking hell," he grunted, leaning against the door. "Now, Bella. Or I'm going to take you in the hallway, and I don't fucking care who sees." I considered his words, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "My sweet exhibitionist," he groaned, leaning down to kiss me. I giggled and pulled the key card out of his pocket, knowing that as much as the idea might turn me on, there was no way in hell I'd ever let anyone see my glorious husband making love to me.
I somehow managed to get the door open, and Edward stumbled in, kicking the door shut behind us. I thought he'd put me down, but instead, he spun around, pressing me into the door and sliding me around so that my legs hooked around his waist. I gasped as he ground into me. Despite his roughness, I could feel how gentle he was trying to be around my bump, and his continuous consideration for me even in the heat of the moment only served to amp up my want of him.
I nipped at his chin, my fingers working on sliding his jacket off his shoulders. He shrugged out of it, and I scraped at his shirt. I didn't want to ruin it, but in my desperation to get it open, I heard a slight ripping of fabric.
"Who fucking cares," Edward growled, capturing my mouth with his as he reached up to rip open the buttons. They scattered across the room, and my hands moved to his chest, drawn like magnets.
"Here or the bed?" he growled against my throat. I gasped, grinding down against him as best I could. My belly was getting larger and in the way more and more, and I groaned, wishing for the times I could pull him flush to me.
"I want to feel you," I whined. "Bed."
Edward grunted, pulling me away from the door. We stumbled through the room, Edward swearing as his knee hit the coffee table.
"Are you okay?" I gasped, my hands sinking into his hair as my hips ground down against him.
"Fine," he groaned. "I just…" he paused us against the doorframe to the bedroom, his lips capturing mine again. I moaned into him, squeezing my legs around his waist. His hands were snaking up my dress, tugging at my clothes, and I loathed that I would have to let go to be rid of them.
I tugged on his hair, pulling his head back as I nipped at his earlobe and down his throat. He panted, pushing off the doorframe and finally making it to the bed.
My legs unwound from his waist as he bent me over the bed, pushing me into the mattress. I kicked my shoes off into the room and reached for the hem of my dress when Edward stopped me.
"Let me," he whispered, his voice rasping with his desire. I bit my lip and leaned back as he reached for the bottom of my dress. His fingers started near my calves, skating up my skin until he hit the hem halfway up my thighs. I groaned as his fingers sent delicious torture through me. He teased the dress up my legs, his fingers dragging, eliciting incoherent moans from my mouth. He stopped, his fingers brushing the insides of my thighs as his hands came to a standstill over my panties. I looked up at him, locking eyes with him in the dark. Even in the muted light, I could see the darkness; his burning desire for me. He lifted my dress over my belly and stopped, his eyes flickering down to my stomach. His hands came up, brushing the swell tenderly, lovingly, and a sob caught in my throat as he leaned down to press a sweet kiss to my stomach. His eyes flickered up to me again, and he pressed another kiss to my stomach, drawing out a low moan from me. He tugged my dress up further, his lips and tongue trailing behind the burning path left by his fingers. His tongue briefly dipped into my belly button, and I swore, flopping back on the bed. I felt him grin against my skin.
He continued his wonderful assault up my body, stopping again to place kisses under my still-covered breasts. I hissed, my hands flying down to his hair, trying to tug him closer to me. He grinned and pushed my dress higher, tugging down the cup of my bra, placing a kiss on my nipple. It sent a shockwave through my body, and I shuddered under him, nearly coming undone by the simple touch. "Sit up, Baby," he crooned. I struggled into a sitting position as he pulled my dress over my head. It ruffled my hair, and I giggled as it came off. I shoved my hair aside and saw Edward grinning at me as he tossed my dress across the room. He crawled over my body, leaning down to press a sweet kiss to my lips.
"Your laugh is the sweetest sound in the world to me," he whispered against my lips. I smiled and wound my arms around his neck, holding him tighter. He sank into me, mindful not to squish my belly as our kisses grew more heated. Edward moved one of his hands down my body, brushing over my sensitive breasts, and I shuddered under him.
He reached around to my back, expertly unhooking my bra. He pulled away from me long enough to tug it off. I sighed as soon as it was gone, and Edward settled back over me, his warm chest finally coming into full contact with mine. I groaned as our skin met.
"I still can't believe you're mine," Edward sighed, his nose traveling up and down the side of mine. "You found me and saved me, and I'm never going to be able to repay you for how much you've given me."
His words brought tears to my eyes, and I reached up, my hands framing his face gently. "You repay me by loving me every day. Babe, you saved me too. Don't ever forget that."
He leaned down to kiss me tenderly, and I felt the immense emotion behind it. Tears slipped past my eyelashes and dashed down my temples.
"I want to see you," he whispered. I nodded, understanding, and reluctantly let him go. He stood from the bed and moved across the room, flicking on the lights. I blinked and leaned up on my elbows to watch him. He took a moment, standing across the room to stare at me, a satisfied smile on his perfect mouth.
"The blinds are open," I breathed.
Edward smirked and turned to the window, glancing at me over his shoulder. "Should I leave them open? Anyone might see us."
I groaned, my legs slipping together, and Edward shook his head. He tugged the curtains shut, and I sighed, relieved and disappointed at the same time. He turned to me and smiled. "You're all mine, Isabella."
My nipples puckered at his words, and I watched as his gaze zeroed in on it. He stalked toward the bed, and I licked my lips. "Hold on," I said, holding a foot up to stop him. He paused, looking at me curiously. "Strip."
Edward's smile turned wicked, and he reached for his pants, tugging them open at a teasingly slow rate. I felt my breathing pick up, watching him. He flicked the button open and nudged the zipper down so that his slacks hung dangerously low on his hips. His eyes locked with mine as he tugged his pants down, and my eyes flew down to his waist to watch as he stepped out of the fabric. I held my foot out, still holding him back as I licked my lips again. "Turn around."
At this, Edward seemed confused but did as I asked. I grinned when my eyes landed on the small tattoo just behind his right hip. Though he'd told me about the tattoo in a drunken confession, I'd been unable to tell if he'd been serious about it. I'd absolutely lost my mind when I finally discovered it was real.
I sat up on the bed, leaning toward him. I grabbed his hips, yanking him back toward me as I nipped at the tattoo. Via Iure. My wonderful, brilliant, law-abiding man.
Edward laughed and spun around, pinning me to the bed so fast I was dizzy. He nuzzled my nose again with his as he grinned.
"Mrs. Cullen, you are quite feisty tonight."
I grinned at him, lifting my hips to rub against him. The lace of my underwear between us rubbed against us both, and we gasped.
"Just doing what I've wanted to do since you first taunted me with your tattoo," I grinned. Edward laughed, leaning down to kiss me.
"I wouldn't have complained if you'd yanked my pants down that night," he murmured. I grinned.
"We were very drunk," I agreed. He pulled back a little, his eyes focusing on me.
"I think that was the night I fell in love with you," he whispered. My eyes widened. "I didn't know it. I was so fucking confused, but I just…" he paused, his hand coming up to brush the hair from my face. "I knew I couldn't let you out of my life."
My heart cracked open at the confession, and I reached up to him, kissing him tenderly. He cupped my face in his hands, brushing away my silent tears.
"I love you so completely," I whispered against him.
Edward kissed me again. "You are everything, Bella. Everything."
He reached down, pulling my panties off, and before I'd even fully wrapped my legs around him, he was sliding into me, completing me in a way only he could. We moved together slowly, tenderly, lovingly; my heart full to bursting with the love I held for the man in my arms.
He was my heart, my soul, my everything.
…
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Manhattan, New York
"Baby, are you ready?"
I could hear the anxiety in his voice as I worked to fasten my earrings. I checked my reflection once more before grabbing my clutch and heading out to the living room of the suite where Edward was waiting. He was dressed in a tux, and he looked mouth-wateringly good.
I stopped, admiring the way his suit jacket pulled across his shoulders as he looked out the large windows of our room. He was so beautiful.
He looked up, catching my reflection in the glass, and his eyes went wide.
"Bella," he breathed. "You look so beautiful."
I flushed, looking down at the dress self-consciously. I'd found a navy cocktail dress that ended just above my knee. The bottom layer was a tightly fitted silk, while the top layer consisted of soft lace. The silk was strapless, but the lace went up and over my shoulders and all the way down to my elbows. I had hoped it struck a balance between classy and sexy, but it was difficult to tell. "It's not too much?"
Edward stepped away from the window, his eyes dark with his desire. "You are absolutely perfect," he breathed, reaching out to trace the lace neckline against my collarbones. I sucked in a sharp breath, desire flooding me. His eyes met mine, and I could recognize the look on his face enough that I was able to shake myself out of the instant lust.
"Stop," I whispered. "Or we are going to miss tonight, and we didn't fly across the country to hole up in this room."
Edward flashed me a wicked grin. "Baby, I'd fly you anywhere, anytime, just to hole up with you somewhere." My heart fluttered at the thought, and he grinned, leaning down to kiss me tenderly. "You're right, though," he said, sounding reluctant. "We should go."
I hesitated, and he grinned, leaning down to kiss me once more. I remembered the anxiety I'd seen on his face a moment before he'd registered me, and I resolved myself to focus on him. I reached up, smoothing the lapels of his jacket down as he pulled back from me.
"Let's go," I murmured.
The attendant smiled at us courteously as we climbed into the elevator, but he seemed to remember Edward's curtness because he didn't try to offer up any conversation. The elevator whisked us downstairs, and I felt a small knot of anxiety form in my stomach.
"Thank you for coming with me," Edward murmured, surprising me. I looked up at him and smiled, winding my fingers through his. His fingers traced over my wedding ring, and I recognized it as a self-soothing gesture.
"Hey. You know I'm always going to be here for you," I said gently. "I wouldn't be anywhere else."
Edward's tight smile relaxed a little as he let my hand go and wound his arm around my waist. His long fingers brushed against my belly as he kissed the side of my head.
"You're nervous." It wasn't a question, but Edward nodded anyway. I glanced up at his face. "There is nothing to be nervous about. Demetri and Marcus love and respect you. Anyone who doesn't, well, they don't matter."
He smiled a little, squeezing my waist. "I just wish I could see them in private and be done with it," he sighed. I nodded.
"We'll stay as long as you want," I said quietly. "If you want to go in and wish him a happy retirement, then head straight back to the room, then that's fine with me."
Edward grinned, and I smiled up at him, relieved to see the look on his face. He leaned in to kiss me, and I could feel the playfulness in his kiss.
"I love you," he sighed against my mouth.
I wanted to nip at him, but the elevator doors slid open to the lobby, and reluctantly, I pulled back from him. I was slightly embarrassed the attendant had heard us, and I gave him an awkward smile on our way out. He dipped his head in acknowledgment, having the training to keep a straight face.
Edward and I headed toward a banquet hall in the hotel, and I was privately relieved we were staying in the same place the event was being held. It will make for a quick getaway if need be.
We approached the doors, and Edward stiffened, his anxiety rippling out of him. I reached out, squeezing his hand gently, and he looked at me.
"I can't wait to get you out of that tux."
Edward barked out a surprised laugh, his bright white teeth flashing a dazzling smile, and I felt myself relax. I needed to see his smile once more before we went in.
"Soon, baby," he whispered, reaching down to kiss me swiftly, and I grinned up at him. He smirked, obviously remembering my less than gentle reaction I had to him in a tux on our wedding night. I'd just about ripped the thing off him in my desperation. It had to go to a specialty seamstress, and she'd barely been able to salvage it.
I gazed at the tux, my eyes narrowing slightly. It looked good. No way would you be able to tell I'd torn it off my husband last time he wore it.
He turned back to the doors of the banquet hall, taking a deep breath. I tried to focus as we headed inside.
The banquet hall was as outrageous as the rest of the hotel, gilded and gleaming. It was the epitome of a modern aristocracy, and for a brief moment, I felt paralyzed on the edge of it. I was so far from my world, and the only thing anchoring me in place was the strong hand of the man I loved.
He guided me inside, and I saw his eyes cutting across the crowd. Several people turned toward us as we came in and offered Edward genuine smiles that he could return in kind. We headed to their group first, Edward dropping my hand to shake theirs. He introduced me to everyone, and though I didn't catch their names, they were all warm and clearly happy to see Edward. I felt him relax as he slipped an arm around me, catching up with the group. I stayed quiet, letting Edward charm them with stories of his new work in Seattle. It was clear this group held a deep respect for him, and I enjoyed sitting back, watching people admire him. It made me love him all the more.
Eventually, the group broke to get more drinks, and Edward and I continued into the banquet hall. "What?" he asked, glancing down at me.
I bit my lip, looking up at him, wondering if I dared voice my thoughts. When he stopped walking to look at me, I sighed. "You are so loved and respected. It makes me love and respect you even more," I whispered.
Edward looked disarmed, and for a moment, I saw uncertainty and confusion on his face before he shook his head slightly. "I'm sure you're seeing more than what's there," he muttered. I tugged on his hand lightly.
"Hey, you're the one who says I always see right through you. Trust me, babe. It's here. If you don't believe it, believe me." I reached up and smoothed the silky lapel of his tux down again. "You are loved and respected."
His eyes softened, and he let out a small breath, reaching down to kiss me swiftly. I wanted to drag him back upstairs but managed to pull away from him instead.
"I love you," he murmured. I smiled at him. I'd never tire of hearing it.
"I love you too. Trust me."
He sighed. "I do. More than anyone."
I grinned, feeling unexpectedly shy, and he kissed the side of my head, winding his arm around me again and tugging me further into the room. We walked around, stopping to talk to people here and there, and slowly, I could feel him starting to relax. A waiter stopped to offer us wine and came back a moment later with a glass of sparkling water for me at Edward's request.
We'd yet to see Marcus or Demetri, but I was finding I was enjoying getting to know Edward's old colleagues.
"Shit."
I looked up at Edward, surprised. His face was morphing into a cool, detached look I'd only ever seen on him a handful of times. The look surprised me, and I looked forward, trying to pinpoint who was putting that look on his face.
A big man with wide shoulders and bright blue eyes approached Edward warily, and I watched, curious, as they stared at each other, neither offering out a hand.
Finally, Edward sighed. "Emmett," he said coolly. My eyes widened.
The Emmett?
I looked back up at the man, anger, and betrayal coursing through me for Edward.
"Edward," Emmett said softly. His gaze never left my husband, and I wondered if I saw a brief flash of regret in those blue eyes. His size was intimidating, but there was a steadiness in him that somehow put you at ease. Well, I imagined it put most people at ease. I'd never seen Edward tenser.
Before either could say another word, a stunning blond approached Emmett's side, and the wind rushed out of my lungs.
Rose. It had to be her. She was even more beautiful than Edward had described. The woman was near flawless, and she glided forward, her lavender-blue eyes on Edward. "Edward," she breathed. Her voice was melodic, and somehow, though I knew she was from New York, she sounded foreign, like she'd been raised with soft European accents from a different age. She sounded glamourous.
Edward was stiff beside me as he took in his ex-wife and ex-best friend.
I leaned a little closer into his side, my hand landing on his back and rubbing gently. I felt him start to breathe again under my touch. "Rose," he said, acknowledging her with a nod. Both Rose and Emmett glanced at me, and I could see Rose watch me with some curiosity. "This is my wife, Bella."
Rose's eyes widened, and she looked up at him. His face was a stiff mask, and she glanced back down at me, offering out a hand. I reached out; my left hand still anchored on Edward's back as I shook Rose's hand. Her skin was impossibly soft, and I felt like I was shaking hands with royalty or someone of equal status. She offered me a polite smile, and I immediately saw how successful she would be as a politician's wife. Her training and manners were flawless.
"It's lovely to meet you, Bella," she said gently, releasing my hand. I nodded.
"You too," I said stiffly. I hated to lie, but I wasn't going to start being rude in front of Edward's old colleagues.
I looked at Emmett, who hesitated before offering me a large hand. I shook it and was surprised to find his touch surprisingly gentle.
"We didn't expect to see you here," Emmett, said glancing up at Edward as he let go of my hand. I felt Edward take a deep breath, and I rubbed his back again.
"Marcus called," he said, his voice clipped. "Of course, I'd come."
Emmett nodded, seeming embarrassed to have suggested otherwise. I could feel the tension in Edward building and building, and I gently scratched over his back before turning to Rose and Emmett. "Will you two please excuse us? We've yet to say hello to Marcus and Diana."
Emmett shifted. "Of course. It…" he paused, looking at Edward. "It was good to see you."
Edward didn't say anything. Rose shot me one more look before she and Emmett moved away from us.
I felt Edward let out his breath, and I rubbed his back gently. He glanced down at me, sighing.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. I shook my head, reaching up to press a soft kiss to his jaw.
"No. There is nothing to apologize for."
He wound an arm around my waist, kissing my temple gently. "Come on. Let's go find Marcus."
Marcus and his wife Diana were near a table at the front of the room. As soon as he saw Edward, I felt my husband relax, a genuine smile coming over his face. I let him go as he moved to embrace Marcus. In turn, his wife Diana turned to me, bringing me into a gentle hug. She smelled soft, like powdered roses.
"Bella, it's so lovely to see you again," she murmured, pulling back from me. Her dark hair was twisted into an elegant updo, and she was dressed in a beautiful long sleeve green gown. She was class and elegance personified, and the gentleness of her demeanor helped put me at ease.
"You as well, Diana," I said softly. She took in my belly, her eyes lighting with her joy.
"My dear, you are positively radiant. How have you been?"
I shifted slightly, my hands coming up to my stomach. "Great. All the morning sickness has passed, and I actually feel almost back to normal right now," I said, smiling slightly. She nodded, a wistful look on her face.
"It's such a precious gift to bear a child," she murmured. I felt my eyes swell with tears. Edward had told me that despite their desire to have children, Marcus and Diana had never been successful. Diana had had miscarriage after miscarriage, and eventually, they'd stopped trying. It had completely broken my heart to hear.
"It is," I agreed quietly.
Diana gave me a soft smile. "How are you settling into Seattle?"
I was grateful for the turn in conversation as I told her about our life since she'd last seen us a month ago. Marcus and Diana, as well as Demetri and his wife Anne, had been the only people from the firm Edward had invited, and to my relief, they'd all been able to make it. Our wedding had been small and intimate, and I'd been able to spend time getting to know Edward's old colleagues and friends. It had been the perfect night.
Dinner was announced as we spoke to Marcus and Diana, and Edward and I left them to find our assigned seats. We were at a table in the middle of the room, and thankfully, Emmett and Rose were not seated with us. I wondered silently if Marcus or Demetri had made sure to orchestrate that.
Dinner consisted of strange rich people food, but it was delicious. I couldn't name most of the dishes that landed in front of me, but I didn't need to in order to enjoy them. There were only a few things I had to turn down, the sight of them enough to roll my stomach. Thankfully, Edward was happy to take them off my plate. "Not a fan of salmon mousse?" he asked, swapping his empty plate for my full one. I eyed him.
"Pureed fish? No."
He chuckled. I'd probably try it if I weren't pregnant and hypersensitive to unusual foods. I never quite knew what would set me off until I saw it.
A woman sitting next to me chuckled, and I looked up at her. "I couldn't eat anything but grilled onions and steamed cauliflower with my first pregnancy," she said, leaning toward me. "Poor Howard. The house reeked." She gazed affectionately at her husband, who rolled his eyes. I smiled at them.
"Edward has been wonderful about my food sensitivities," I said, reaching out to touch his arm. He looked up at me and smiled.
"Baby, I'm always happy to eat," he said, shaking his head. The woman next to me and her husband laughed, and I smiled at him.
Our next course was whisked out, and thankfully, it was a salad that I happily ate.
Dinner was pleasant. I spoke quite a bit with the woman next to me, who I found out was one of Demetri's first hires. She now ran teams that oversaw trademark issues for VI.
Before the dessert course arrived, I stood from the table, placing my napkin down. Edward stood, automatically, and I smiled at him. "I'll be right back. Restroom," I said gently. He nodded, and I left the table as he sat back down.
I wove my way through the tables, smiling at people when they caught my eye. I knew quite a few wondered about me. According to Edward, the gossip of his divorce from Rose had been further spurred when he quit VI and moved to Washington. I was considered a mystery woman around his office. It was ludicrous, and I honestly didn't care. The people Edward cared about knew the truth, and that was enough for me.
I made my way to the restroom, sighing in relief when I finally was able to pee. My bladder felt tiny these days. It was incredibly frustrating.
When I finished up, I moved to the sinks, washing my hands. The bathrooms were blissfully empty, and I took a moment to look at myself in the mirror as I scrubbed soap across my fingers.
The door to the bathroom opened, and I looked up in the mirror to see the newcomer.
My back stiffened when I saw Rose come in through the door. She met my gaze in the mirror, and I saw her shoulders shift like she was steeling herself to talk to me. I took a deep breath and continued washing my hands, trying my best to ignore her in case she was looking for a confrontation.
She stepped up to the counter next to me, pulling lipstick out of her clutch. I could feel her glancing at me, and I scrubbed my hands, wishing the soap was off so I could just leave.
"I know who you are," Rose said, surprising me.
"Yes, I believe we just met," I said quietly. She looked at me, bringing the lipstick away from her face.
"I know how you two met." She clarified. "I know who you are to him."
I shut off the water and turned to face her. "I'm his wife."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "When did you get married?"
I bristled. "I don't believe that is any of your business," I said coolly.
I was unsure of where she wanted to take this, but I felt defensive. Rose's perfect face scrunched for a split second, her cheeks sucking in, a sour look crossing her face.
"I hated you for what you did," she said slowly. I raised an eyebrow. I could say the exact thing about her.
"And what is it that you think I did?" I wasn't sure that Edward had spoken to Rose much about me, but who knew. I'd never asked, and he'd never brought it up.
Rose shifted her weight, somehow seeming to become even taller. "Edward has always been incredibly driven and singularly focused. It's what makes him successful in business and what attracted me to him in the first place." I tried not to flinch as she spoke. I wanted to be patient; to hear where this was going, but it was difficult hearing her talk about him. "When we married, I knew I would never be his first priority. I knew that, but I didn't care because that's who he is."
"I know."
Rose shifted her hair, and it fell flawlessly around her shoulders. "No, I don't know you do." I frowned, offended at the implication. But before I could speak, she was continuing. "You changed him. When we were going through the divorce, he was different. He didn't break our meetings for calls from the office, but he would make us all wait if you even texted him. You somehow became his priority, his singular focus, and I hated you for it. For doing something I never thought possible."
I stared at her. I didn't owe this woman anything, no explanation or insight into our relationship. She'd betrayed Edward, and she deserved as much or as little forgiveness that he was willing to offer her, and that was all.
Rose's lavender-blue eyes swept over me, and she shook her head. "How did you do it?" Her voice was soft, almost afraid, and I blinked in surprise.
"I didn't do anything. It was all him," I said softly. "He is who he is, and I love and accept him for all of that."
Rose frowned, and suddenly, she didn't look like the statuesque goddess she'd seemed to be an hour ago. Now, she was a small, broken woman who looked utterly lost.
Sympathy welled in me before I could help it, and I let out a little breath. Her eyes traveled up to mine, and I was surprised to see tears there. "I never wanted to hurt him," she whispered. "He's a good man, and even if what we had wasn't perfect, he was always good to me. I hate myself for how I handled everything."
I didn't know what to say. It wasn't my place to provide input on her infidelity, even if I did have thoughts on it.
Rose looked at me again, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Is he happy?"
I smiled, genuine this time, and reached up to rub my stomach automatically. "Yeah, he's happy."
Rose looked down and smiled a little. "How far along are you?"
"Five months."
Her smile widened. "I always thought he'd be a good dad."
"I think so, too."
Rose's eyes met mine. "I know there is a good chance Edward will never forgive us," she sighed, shaking her head. "I've accepted that, as much as it hurts me. I know I did irreparable damage to him, and I'll be sorry for that for the rest of my life." I watched her silently, and I could see that she truly meant it. "I know it's a little messed up, but I want to thank you, Bella."
"What for?"
Rose reached up to push another tear from the corner of her eye. "For being there for him. Believe it or not, I care about Edward in my own way, and even though it hurts me to see he's capable of more than who he was when I was with him, I'm grateful he has you. He deserves happiness and love."
I took a deep breath. "We all deserve that, Rose." She blinked, and I saw tears forming in her eyes. "Are you happy?" I don't know why I asked. It was too personal of a question.
Rose looked me over and sniffed delicately. She offered me a small, watery smile after a moment and nodded. "I am."
I nodded. "Good." No matter how angry I was at her on Edward's behalf, I would never wish more heartache on her.
Rose pushed the final tears from her eyes, brushing them aside as she took a deep breath. "Thank you," she whispered. "I know I don't deserve anything, but thank you for listening anyway."
I took a deep breath. "He doesn't wish either of you ill will," I said slowly. Rose looked at me in surprise. "I won't speak for him, but I know he hopes you are both happy with what you've found in each other."
Rose's mouth fell open in surprise, and she stared at me a minute before she snapped out of her surprise. "He's a better man than I've ever given him credit for," she whispered. I silently agreed with her. "I'm glad I got to meet you, Bella."
I stared up at her, unsure of how sincere she was. She seemed to be telling the truth, and I nodded. "I'm happy to have gotten the chance to meet you as well," I said softly. Rose offered me a small smile.
I turned from the sink as Rose turned back to the mirror to finish touching up her makeup. I left the bathroom, glancing once more at her over my shoulder. She met my gaze in the mirror, and a look passed between us. I saw acceptance, resignation, and gratitude in her eyes. I didn't know what she was looking for from me, but I hoped whatever it was, she found it.
Outside the bathroom, I spotted Edward leaning against a wall, waiting for me. I smiled and made my way to him. His whole face lit up when he saw me again, and I felt the chill in my heart thaw immediately. I couldn't forgive Rose for him, but talking to her, I now felt less hostile and slightly more understanding to her. I didn't know if that was right or wrong to feel that way, but it didn't matter.
"You all right?" Edward asked, his voice tender as I stepped into his arms. I smiled and pushed up on my toes to kiss him. He smiled against my lips, squeezing me gently.
"I'm great," I told him honestly, settling back down. He smiled and brought a hand up to rub against my cheek.
"I saw Rose get up after you left the table," he said, a dark look crossing his face as he glanced up at the door.
"I'm fine. I'll tell you about it later," I promised. His eyes bore into me, and I smiled up at him again. He nodded, winding an arm around my waist.
"Shall we go get our dessert?"
I looked up at him. "I'd rather have you."
He blinked in surprise, then grinned, leaning down to kiss me again. I groaned against his mouth. He broke the kiss, leaning his head against mine as he grinned at me. "Let's go say goodbye to Marcus and Demetri," he said softly.
"We haven't even said hello to Demetri yet," I whispered. He shrugged.
"So we'll say both at once. He'll appreciate the efficiency."
I smiled, my heart swelling with love for this beautiful man. "Very well, lead the way, Mr. Cullen."
He smiled, taking my hand as he led me back to the banquet hall. "You know, I was thinking we could always stay another night," he said, glancing at me. I smacked his chest lightly.
"Tomorrow is Easter."
Edward shrugged. "So? We'll go to my parent's house, someone will put plastic eggs on the lawn for Tyler even though he's too young to know what to do with them, and Mom will try to ply us with candy. Let's stay here and spend Easter in bed."
I snorted at him. "We have a rather lovely bed at home," I reminded him. He grinned. "Plus, Easter is about family." I paused, my eyes watering unexpectedly. Dad and I didn't do much for Easter, but he always used to get me a giant chocolate bunny. It had been a tradition I didn't know I'd miss.
Edward stopped walking, looking down at me. "What is it?"
I looked up at him, blinking back my tears. "Next year, we'll be putting out plastic eggs for this one, even though they won't be old enough to do anything with them," I said, rubbing my belly. "We're building traditions." I stopped, biting my lip. "Plus, we never know how many moments we'll get with family."
Edward softened completely, understanding me perfectly. He pulled me into his arms, dropping a kiss to my hair. "You're right," he murmured, squeezing me gently. "You're always right," he sighed. I wound my arms around his waist, squeezing him back.
"We'll make time for the two of us again," I promised him, kissing his chest. He nodded, pulling back from me, cupping my face in his hands.
"We will. After all, we only have the rest of our lives."
I beamed at him, unbelievably grateful that I'd get to spend forever with this wonderful man.
The hotel they are staying at in New York is The Pierre. I know a lot of you have wanted a confrontation with Rose/Emmett, and though I tried to write one with Edward, in the end, Bella (the level-headed one) led the show. Personally, I'm not sure that I'd have as much grace or compassion as Bella held, but we are all different and we all deal with it different, right?
Finally, the tattoo is real! How about that! the one mystery from AtW that I didn't quite wrap up (though thankfully, no one quite called me out on it! lol!)
Have a fantastic day, loves. I don't have another update scheduled for a while, but honestly I miss writing these two so much that I might just have to find some holidays in between to update on. xx