Hello! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and fair warning it is a bit longer than I want to stay around. Before that, I wanted to feature/respond to a review since it the first review with some substance about the plot so far, which is exciting for me to see!

My favourite review from last chapter is from "Goldielover" - Glad to hear you're enjoying it so far! As for your question about Alice, I may touch on it in the story but the short answer is that it was a snap decision on Bella's part and those tend to escape Alice more. As for the others, those are coming, but I just like jumping into the action rather than exposition. I also want to try writing quite a few non-canon pairings, but probably not until I'm further into this story, but hopefully you'll like those too :)

Now then, onto the chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 3: No Innocent Motives

His lips, soft and unyielding, tugged at mine, testing the water. I pressed against him, my own hands sliding around his neck, nudging us closer. With the gentle pressure of his hands, one on my cheek and the other wound in my hair, he dragged a sense of intimacy from me that I thought I lost.

I let the kissing go on for a while longer, reveling in the taste of him. Both of us were learning about the other with each kiss, each touch. Then I shoved him back on the bed, climbing on top of him with one knee finding a spot between his legs. I bent down and ground my mouth against the grin that surfaced on his face.

My hands went to work on his tie, feeling the smooth silk under my fingertips. I tossed it behind me, over my shoulder, and freed his buttons from their confinements with enough vigour that had Aro vibrating under me.

"What?" I pouted, pulling away slightly.

He shook his head, still chuckling. "How on Earth did he not fall in love with you all over again when you get this excited?"

"I was never this excited with him," I said, tugging free another button. Then I froze, deflating immediately. "I was never this excited with him."

Recognition flashed in Aro's eyes and he immediately propped himself up on his elbows, slamming his mouth against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave in, letting him take control over me. His mouth was eager, taking everything he wanted, trying to force every thought of Edward out of my mind.

Try as he did, Edward's face haunted my mind. If that wasn't a mood killer, then I didn't know what was.

"Wait, stop," I said, pushing him back down.

Aro gazed up at me, but by the look in his eyes I had a feeling he knew what I was going to say.

"I can't do this," I said. I shuffled off of him, and sat up a bit straighter. "After everything he's put me through I shouldn't care, but I do. Whether I like it or not, I'm married to him and I'm not a cheater."

"Even after all of his infidelity?" Aro asked. He sat up and watched me.

"I'm sorry, I can't. I know kissing is technically cheating, but I still can't go any further," I said.

Aro lifted a hand to my cheek and brushed a few strands of hair out of my face. "He doesn't deserve your integrity in the slightest."

"Maybe not," I agreed.

Edward didn't deserve much, not with how unfaithful he had been the past five years. That doesn't mean I need to sink to his level though. When this party was over I needed to tell him the truth, and I needed to end it once and for all. He would probably think I was divorcing him for Aro, but that wasn't the truth. The family rarely associated with other covens, partly due to their diet being a turn off to most. Aro was just the first man who showed enough interest to show me something different than what I had with Edward.

The truth was I needed to leave Edward for my own sanity. Five years seemed long enough, but that was almost nonexistent to a vampire and the thought of spending the rest of my immortality with him made my skin crawl.

"You don't understand how much I want to hurt him like he constantly hurts me, but I can't do this," I said.

Aro smiled slyly. "I had a feeling you weren't merely swayed that easily by me. Your motives weren't as innocent as you seem to claim. You wanted to make him feel what he made you feel."

For not being able to read my mind, he caught on quickly.

"Maybe. What about you? Aro, I'm not naive, I know that some of this likely had to do with you still wanting to 'collect' me for my gifts," I said.

"Perhaps," Aro said, a smile tugging at his lips. His eyes skinned down my body. "Though that part diminished the moment we kissed. It is quite a shame you have such a conscience."

If nothing else, Aro was a wonderful sweet talker.

Something Carlisle told me a couple years ago came back to me. While Edward was out with his latest fling, Carlisle had been telling me more about the Volturi. We had been preparing for a possible visit, given Aro's particular interest in the possibility of my gifts. Of course this wasn't something Edward bothered to worry about anymore, given my new vampire existence.

"Don't you have a wife?" I asked.

Aro struck me with a sly smile. "Why? Interested in a second marriage?"

"No." I laughed and told him, "Carlisle was telling me more about the Volturi since we expected sooner or later you would come to check to make sure I was really turned. He told me about your wife… Sulpicia?"

"I was married, but it seems my dear old friend needs to keep in touch better. Sulpicia and I parted ways several years ago. It must be almost half a century by now," Aro told me.

"Why did she leave?" I asked, trying not to balk at the half a century remark.

"She found her true mate, and I suppose we can leave it at that. Perhaps one day I will tell you more about her and my past, if you'd like, but today isn't that day." Aro's hand lifted to run through my hair lightly, fingers twirling around my curls. His eyes were inviting and his smile was almost sinister. "My ex-wife isn't particularly the topic of conversation I desire when sitting on my bed with a beautiful woman."

He was most definitely a sweet talker. I couldn't even remember the last time Edward called me beautiful. I was just as beautiful as any other vampire, by habit of the change I went through, and yet he gravitated to every female vampire except for me.

Aro didn't think like Edward did. I had no doubt that Aro's motives were entirely selfish and he had no true feelings for me, except perhaps for lust, but it still felt nice to be called beautiful. Or to have him pay any attention to me at all. Still, I couldn't fault his motives, not when mine were equally selfish. He was the one person that Edward hates the most, and the one person who would make him the most furious if he knew what we had almost done.

Or even what we actually did, even if it was only a kiss.

I laughed lightly and shook my head. "It's still not happening, Aro, but nice try."

"Alas, I thought that might be your answer," Aro said. His hand fell away. "I hope you know there might be some fallout. Are you prepared for that?" Aro said.

Fallout? Oh yes, Edward.

Is it bad that I honestly forgot about him for a second? Probably.

I had become so focused on Aro and his advances that my husband entirely escaped my mind, but it was only for a second. I knew there would be fallout at some point, but I just had the hope that it would be in a more private setting.

"How good are you at concealing your thoughts around him?" I asked.

"I can try to keep my thoughts concealed, but I can't guarantee I won't slip up. When he is around, all it takes is a second. I truly do envy your gift," Aro said.

"Thank you. I just want it to be on my terms for when I tell him, if possible," I said. I didn't have a choice about telling him, not if I wanted out. He would be furious. "All I know is that this proves I can't stay with him. I should want to be with him. He treats it more like a chore, and I don't think I can go back to that," I explained.

"Yes, I know," he said, resignation filling his voice.

I stared at him, my mouth hanging open. "You… oh."

"One of the downsides of my gift," he admitted.

Despite everything, howling laughter erupted from me and I fell back, my body shaking with my laughter. My hand went to my mouth as I tried to stifle my laughs, but it was useless.

"I'm sorry," I gasped out, still shaking. "This. Is. So. Not. Funny."

When I finally managed to calm myself, only softly giggling now, I found Aro on his side, his elbow propped up with his chin held in that hand. He watched me intently, with a smile on his lips.

"I'm so sorry," I said sheepishly.

He shook his head. "No, please, mia bella, keep laughing. It's quite the sight. I did not witness such a sight in all of young Edward's memories."

No. No, he wouldn't have seen it.

"I have to admit, I am curious as to why you have stayed with him for so long?"

That was the question, wasn't it? Why did I stay with Edward when all he did was cheat on me with other women? I rarely felt happy with him anymore, and more often than not we ended up fighting.

"I guess he felt like my safety net," I admitted, and the word felt weird to me. It was the first time I admitted such a thing, and to Aro no less. "He didn't treat me right and no matter what I couldn't get him to look at me how he used to, but no matter what he always came back to me. In a way, I felt like I could always count on him to be there."

Aro laughed and shook his head. "Dear Isabella, when you have eternity in front of you, the last thing you need is a safety net. Forever can become quite boring if you latch onto what's safe."

When I returned to the throne room, I couldn't help but think about what Aro said. Forever was indeed a long time to stay with someone who couldn't make me happy. Maybe he would always be a safe option, since he was traditional enough to jeer and criticize humans for their dependence on divorce I had no doubt he would never leave me like I was about to do to him.

The throne room was just as loud and bustling with people as when I left. As soon as I entered, I was immediately ambushed by Alice. Dammit, did she see what I did in a vision?

She pouted at me. "Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you."

Apparently not everywhere.

"Just around," I said dismissively. Then I pasted on a smile. "What's up? Why were you looking for me?"

She paused and tilted her head, watching me intently. "You seem… happy."

"Is that a problem?" I arched an eyebrow.

"Oh, of course not," she said excitedly, beaming at me suddenly. She waved off my concern, and then stared at me with more urgency. "Edward went off with Tanya. I wanted to warn you."

I shrugged. "Not very surprising."

Just then, the door opened. I mentally swore at Aro, having specifically reminded him again and again to wait at least fifteen minutes before following me back into the throne room. When I turned, however, it was Edward with Tanya on his arm.

His eyes widened when he saw me and, to his credit, he quickly extracted his arm from Tanya. It was comical, really. He parades her around and then he tries to act all guilty, as if he actually has a conscience. Normally I would throw a hissy fit, as he always liked to call it, but all I felt was contentment. Not even Edward could ruin my good mood.

"So nice of you two to join us," I said to them. Then I turned to Alice. "I'm getting a drink. You want one?"

Alice stared at me blankly, her forehead furrowed with her deep concentration. "No, uh, thanks though."

"More for me then." I let out a small giggle.

I left them there and headed to the refreshment table, a carefree sway in my hips. As I was moving away, I heard the door open and knew who it was before he spoke, even without turning around.

No matter what, I couldn't risk turning around.

"Well, hello. I see we are having a little party by the doors," he joked in that deep, smoldering voice of his.

"Hello, Aro," Tayna gushed out nervously.

I reached the refreshment table, now too far to hear the conversation. Unfortunately the last voice I heard had to be Tayna's and not Aro's.

Such a pity.

As I poured my drink, out of the corner of my eye I saw Aro take a seat on his throne. Considering there was no yelling and screaming from Edward, Aro must have been able to conceal his thoughts well enough. If he knew, Edward would be going after Aro, me, and anyone he could get his hands on.

He may not love me, but Edward had a huge jealousy streak when it came to me.

I sipped my drink, sneaking a peak at Aro. He spoke with Marcus in hushed tones, but I had a feeling he wouldn't be dumb enough to use my name. From the way his eyes flickered to me almost too fast for anyone to see, I knew I was the focus of their conversation.

Whether or not some of what happened was attraction on both mine and Aro's end, I had a feeling it had a lot more to do with him wanting my gifts than he cared to admit. That was only confirmed by his conferring with one of his fellow leaders.

Then I watched as Marcus put his hand in Aro's, and the grin that surfaced on Aro's face.

What was that about?

Hands grasped my hips and I was pulled back against a hard body. Startled, I jumped, dropping my drink in the process. I spun around, disregarding the liquid pooling on the floor and the broken glass, and faced Edward, who wore a cunning smile as he stepped closer.

My thoughts of Aro and Marcus were immediately gone. I could deal with that another time, but covering up in front of Edward was more important now. He couldn't know what I did, not when we were in such a public setting. I would leave him, but now wasn't the time.

Not that I exactly knew what I was going to do after I left him either. It was only a year ago that we had faked my death so that Charlie wouldn't get suspicious, so it wasn't as if I could go back there. I'm sure the pack wouldn't be all too pleased to have me return anyway.

"Jumpy?" he teased.

I stepped away. "I just didn't expect you. Do you need something?"

"I wanted to see you, to touch you," he said, slinking even closer. Passed him, across the room, Tanya stood with her arms crossed, glaring. My gaze snapped back to Edward, and I saw how I was his prey as he zeroed in on me. "You're different tonight. I like it."

I wanted to laugh so hard. Of course the one time my husband is attracted to me is right after I just kissed another man, who happens to be his number one enemy. He had no idea, and somehow that only made it funnier.

As a giggle escaped my lips, I brushed it off by saying, "Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend?"

"No." Edward's eyes never wavered from mine and, although I know it's supposed to be romantic, it unnerved me. "I want to be with my pretty little wife."

Then he cupped my face and pressed his lips against mine. The reaction he was looking for probably wasn't me stiffening, but that's exactly what I did. My husband kissed me, and I stiffened. Deceit wasn't exactly my strong suit, and romance and love wasn't exactly something I could fake.

He pulled away, but only fractionally. Something was weird about his eyes, and the way the black orbs glinted. Then he sniffed, causing me to lose all capability of breathing.

With a voice of deadly lethality, he whispered, "Why do you smell like him?"

I knew exactly who he meant. There was no need to say his name. Why didn't I think of this? He didn't need to hear Aro's thoughts, not when he could smell the truth right on my body. I never expected him to get this close, especially after our falling out earlier.

With him staring daggers at me, I was thankful I no longer had my human responses as they would have given me away immediately. Maybe I could still salvage this.

"Who?" I asked, frowning.

He scoffed. "You know exactly who I mean."

"Honestly, Edward, I don't. Who do you mean?" I reached for him, but he jerked away.

Don't look. Don't look. Don't look.

No matter what, I couldn't look at Aro. I couldn't risk a single glance in his direction. Just one look and I would give it all away. Maybe I wouldn't be able to get out of this, but I wasn't about to give up without trying.

"Him," Edward growled, seething. "Aro."

Ha, I bet you all thought she was really going to go through with it! No one ever needs to sink to Edward's level, no matter what motive there might be in play. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it! I have up to chapter four and a bit of chapter five drafted since before I posted the first chapter, so I might post again soon. I'll probably get into a more regular uploading schedule after that though, maybe to once a week or every couple weeks, depending on how fast I can write the next chapters.

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Mia bella = my beautiful

Love, MissTwilightWriter