Thank you all for the amazing feedback.

As always, big 'thank you' to CoppertopJ for all the help. Mwah! All mistakes are still mine, because I can't help and change/add stuff in the chapter before posting it.

See at the bottom for more details, because there will be questions.

During the book signing on Saturday, Bella was distracted and barely paid any attention to what the people who'd come for her were saying. Edward had been around, browsing books and reading what grabbed his attention throughout the day.

"Are you ready to grab dinner, Isabella?" Edward's velvet soft voice said from behind her when the last person had left. His hands rubbed her shoulders, and she appreciated the gesture.

She was mustering the nerve to explain she had other plans for dinner, when the organizer of the event leaned close to her.

"There's someone else who wants you to sign his book."

Bella scowled. "Time's up," she muttered.

"It's a child, Ms. Swan."

Bella felt faint, because Charlie had upped his game and cornered her where she couldn't escape. She nodded, and the man hurried to bring who Bella was sure to be Riley. She tried to remember how he looked, but the memory of his ginger locks and the seaweed eyes made her nauseous.

She stood, holding onto the edge of the table. Edward was hovering behind her, a hand on the small of her back.

Bella gripped the table when she spotted a scrawny preteen walking to her with his head held high and holding her book. His big eyes were glued on her and they watered when he stopped in front of her. Riley had inherited some of her brown in his eyes, but they were mostly green, though they were kind unlike his sperm donor's.

Bella had never made a big show of hugging him or showing him that she cared. It wasn't that she cared much. She felt responsible for him, but in a very detached way. One of her biggest nightmares was Charlie putting his foot down about her taking care of Riley. She'd have to bring him to Chicago, and learn how to live with him.

"Hi," Riley breathed, his hands shaking.

Bella took a deep breath, rounding the table and opening her arms. Riley stared at her in surprise, before he chucked the book on the table and dove into her embrace. She choked into his hair. He'd gotten so tall, the top of his head reached her shoulders.

"Well, I see he found you all right," her dad chuckled, making Bella look up to see him a few feet away. He was dressed casually, which would always be a shock for Bella. She was used to him wearing his police uniform.

"Didn't we agree to meet at the hotel?" she asked, finally finding her voice.

Riley clung to her, and it made her feel like shit for what a terrible mother she was to him. She couldn't even think of herself as a mother. There were times when she blissfully put him at the back of her mind, and the times when she thought of him randomly, Bella berated herself for what a horrible person she was.

Like her therapist had told her time and time again, it wasn't Riley's fault what happened. Bella liked to believe that if Riley didn't look so much like Liam, she might have tried harder.

In that moment, Bella remembered Edward was witness to this confusing scene. However, he was smart enough to figure out what was going on. Bella spotted him next to the chair she'd vacated, staring at them with a blank expression.

"Give me a second," she said to Riley and her dad. She walked to Edward, who took a step back from her. His eyes met hers, and she could see all the questions. "Uh, that's my dad and younger brother," she lied, feeling even worse for lying to him. "Go on back to the hotel room."

"Oh." His shoulders sagged, but his eyes flitted to where her family was waiting for her. "I'll get room-service."

"I'll make it up to you tomorrow when we arrive home," she promised.

A smile played on his lips. "Have fun, Isabella," he whispered softly.

Even when he was forced to drop her title because they were in public, he was still respectful and it warmed her heart.

"Get my bag." She pointed under the table. "I'm only taking my phone. The hotel key is in the side pocket."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

"Don't wait up for me. I'll get another key from the reception." She rubbed his elbow, kissing his cheek.

"Your boyfriend?" Charlie asked when Bella joined them.

"Are you going to sign the book, please?" Riley pouted.

"I thought it was for show," she said, amused, but returned to the table to sign her name on the book. Edward was already heading to the door, but he glanced back at her one more time, before leaving the bookstore. "Here you go." She gave Riley the book, before meeting her dad's eyes. "Yes, that's my boyfriend."

"Well, why isn't he joining us?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, clenching her jaw. Wasn't it abundantly clear that she didn't make public knowledge she had a son?

"Oh," Charlie gasped. "Shall we?" He led the way out of the bookstore.

Bella walked beside Riley, who mostly kept his eyes on her as if she was going to disappear. "How's school?" she asked, trying desperately to kill the awkward moment.

That got him started about all the subjects he liked and the ones he didn't like, about his friends and his new hobby. "Pops bought me a guitar so I could join the after school music classes."

"Oh, you never mentioned liking guitar," Bella said, taken aback.

"I decided I wanted to try it after I discovered Ed Sheeran."

Bella giggled, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "And how's it going?"

"Really good!" Riley exclaimed, but Bella caught her dad grimacing.

"He's decent," Charlie said carefully.

"You have to learn a song and play it for me at Christmas," Bella said without thinking.

"So you decided to come over for Christmas?" Charlie asked seriously.

"Yeah…"

"And you better bring your boyfriend, too," he demanded.

"I might," she said, unsure. Edward would have nowhere else to be, and she wouldn't dream of leaving him alone for the holidays.

She had less than three months to come clean about who Riley was to her.

During dinner, Bella realized how much she'd missed out and how smart Riley was. He didn't once curse or put up a fight about the vegetables; he was actually well-mannered. Charlie had done an amazing job at bringing him up.

Bella noticed how Riley kept addressing Charlie as 'Pops', like usual, but when he talked to her, he didn't call her anything, and if he wanted to grab her attention, he'd use different tactics.

"Hey, did Pops tell you about how he and Uncle Billy are trying to corrupt me with fishing?" or "Oh, I absolutely loved the books you sent for my birthday."

It made a pang of regret gnaw at her stomach.

When dinner was over, Charlie urged Riley to hurry when he decided to use the bathroom, because they had a long drive home.

"You can't get on the road so late in the evening," Bella protested.

"It's barely seven o'clock. We'll be home by midnight."

"Let me get you a hotel room," she insisted.

"Bella, I can drive. I came here just for Riley to see you, because you weren't sure you'd visit for Christmas."

Tears sprung into her eyes. Her father was a master at guilt-tripping her.

"You better tell your boyfriend about this. How long have you been together?"

"A month tomorrow," she answered through the lump in her throat.

"If he loves you, he'll understand, honey. He'll accept your baggage." Charlie rubbed her back.

As if it was that easy. Bella was afraid Edward would run for the hills when she told him about her past, especially about Riley.

They accompanied her to the hotel where Charlie had parked his car, when he decided to surprise her at the bookstore.

Bella pulled Riley in another hug at the side of Charlie's truck. He gasped, surprised by the amount of hugs he was receiving from her.

"Take care of yourself and remember, I want to hear you play when I come home for Christmas."

"Sure!" He pulled away, biting his lips, looking into her eyes. "Good bye, Mom."

At that moment, Bella wasn't sure why she'd wanted to hear that word out of his mouth, because now she felt like throwing up. She patted his cheek, going to hug her dad, and promising to let him know in advance when she'd visit.

"This time you're staying with us," Charlie insisted. "The last time you came with a boyfriend, you got a hotel room."

"We'll see about that. It will be too crowded, anyway." He gave her a raised brow, and she rolled her eyes. "Drive safely."

Bella got a new key for their room from the reception, letting herself in quietly, but Edward was awake. He was in bed, talking on the phone. He hurried to say goodbye to Seth when he saw her. His eyes shot to her, and widened. She probably looked terrible.

She shook her head, going into the bathroom, locking herself in there. For the first time in many years, she allowed herself to succumb to her feelings. She sank at the bottom of the shower cabin, sobbing into her hands with the hot water cascading down her back.

The door handle rattled, making her jump. "Mistress?" Edward's anxious voice broke her heart. "Are you all right?"

She didn't know what to answer him. "I need to be alone," or maybe "Give me a minute," or maybe she should send him to wait for her for playtime. That should keep him from asking questions.

"What happened, Mistress, are you alright?" She could hear his shoulder pushing into the door.

"Wait in bed," she called out in a surprisingly steady voice. "Naked."

She took her time in the shower, brushing all her tears away. She had to compose herself to be able to face Edward. There was no way she was going to talk to him about Riley tonight.

When Bella stepped out of the bathroom, she nearly ran into Edward. He was kneeling in front of the door, head bowed down.

"Didn't I say for you to wait in bed?" She side-stepped him, heading into the room, wrapped in the soft cotton towel.

"I apologize, Mistress. I didn't hear that part."

"I'm just tired after the long day," she said, hoping he bought that excuse. "Did you eat?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"I would like a massage. Get my body cream from the bag." Bella dropped the towel at the foot of the bed, lying in the middle of the bed, her arms wrapped around one of the pillows.

She heard Edward rustling in her suitcase, before the bed dipped on her side. He straddled her ass, and she enjoyed the feeling of his heavy balls against the back of her thighs.

"Just a massage," she said softly. She was too drained to be able to do more.

Edward's moist palms touched her shoulders, stroking her skin slowly. "It's my pleasure, Mistress. Your skin is so soft."

Bella relaxed under his skilled fingers, succumbing to sleep halfway through his massage.

In the morning, she woke up with a heavy, strong arm over her waist. She stared at Edward's hairy forearm. His long fingers were splayed on her chest, cupping her left breast. She shifted under him, trying to move away without waking him.

She shouldn't have been surprised about this new position, because she'd fallen asleep in the middle of the bed. Edward had to slot himself somewhere on the strip of empty mattress.

Edward mumbled incoherently, hugging her tightly, nuzzling her bare shoulder with his nose.

Bella tried not to laugh, as she squirmed, still trying to escape him without waking him, but all she'd managed to do was to turn around and come face to face with Edward. A deep frown marred his peaceful slumber, and Bella stroked the spot between his brows with her thumb.

He didn't deserve the way she was lying to him. She had to put on her Domme pants and tell him the truth. If she could be all mighty and strong in the Playroom, she could channel her inner power and strength and talk to him. The sooner the better.

His eyes snapped open, and he gasped, pulling away. Bella caught his shoulder before he could fall out of her bed.

"Relax. It's okay." She rubbed his shoulder soothingly.

"Are you upset with me, Mistress?"

"You didn't do anything wrong. I appreciate you actually slept in bed with me." She leaned closer, kissing his lips.

"I'm happy I could help, Mistress."

She tugged him on top of her as she rolled on her back. He seemed suspended for a moment, unsure what to do, before she guided his mouth to hers as one of her hands went to his morning wood, rubbing it slowly. Edward gasped into her mouth, planting his hands on either side of her head. Bella wrapped a leg around his waist, lifting her hips and managing to drag her pussy lips against dick.

"I need to feel you inside me."

Bella will tell Edward about her past soon.

For everyone curious why she kept the baby after what happened to her, she'll explain that in her chat with Edward.

Reviews are love. I love reading all your opinions.

For teasers and news about my stories, please join my group: addict_writer fanfiction ( www dot facebook dot com / groups/274198112656668)

You can always use the group for asking me questions. I'm often on FB. Unless, it's a spoiler, I'll be happy to talk to you.