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.

The following morning, Bella was curled in a kitchen chair, wearing Edward's discarded tee from the previous night and a pair of her panties after a much-needed shower. She was sipping from her still scalding hot coffee, while Edward was working on an omelet.

Freddie jumped from his spot at Edward's feet, where he'd been hoping to get something and went to growl at the front door.

"It's your friend," Edward said softly, looking up the window. "Lady Rosalie."

"I'll get it. You finish breakfast," Bella said quietly.

Of course, Rose had questions. And Bella didn't have answers for her. She wasn't ready to reopen the wound.

Bella opened the front door in time for Rose to step in, before she had a chance to knock. Emmett followed her warily.

"What in the hell happened last night, Bella?" So Rose wasn't beating around the bush. "And don't lie to me."

"Did you guys have breakfast? Edward's making omelet," Bella tried to distract Rose.

"I don't give a fuck about food. I want to know why your Sub beat up Aro's guest. More importantly, why did you freaking faint?"

Bella leaned against the wall, trying to gather her thoughts, when she felt Edward's presence next to her. She glanced at him, but his narrowed eyes were on Rose. Bella caught his forearm, because the last thing she needed was Edward picking an argument with Rosalie.

"I didn't eat yesterday. I was nervous." It wasn't even a lie, so Bella didn't feel that bad for giving her friend half-truths.

"Breakfast is ready," Edward said softly, but his voice had an edge to it. It felt like an unspoken threat to Rosalie for keeping Bella from eating.

Bella steered him into the kitchen, and she heard the others following them. "Behave," she whispered to Edward.

Bella sat back in her chair, and Edward dropped to his knees at her side. She flinched at the terrible sound his knees made upon contact with the kitchen floor. She couldn't find it in her to protest and make him at least fetch himself a cushion.

Rosalie pointed to one of the chairs for Emmett, before she took the one closer to Bella. She barely spared Edward a look, before she met Bella's eyes. "I'm waiting for a better explanation. I hope he's going to be properly punished for making a scene and attacking a seasoned Dom."

"Of course, Edward isn't going to be punished," Bella gasped, her hand curling around her fork. "You don't know a thing about what happened!"

Edward's hand shot up to take her free hand, squeezing it. She took a deep breath, not sure how he'd managed to ground her and relax her with a simple touch.

Rosalie's eyes slid to Edward. "Looks like you have something to say. Don't be shy."

Bella tilted Edward's head, and reeled back at the angry storm in his eyes. She had to separate them, because Rosalie wasn't known for her tact. Edward wasn't in the right mindset to have her play mind games with him. And Bella wasn't sure if she was in the right mindset to deal with her friend, but there was no other option.

"Take Emmett to the living room. I want to talk alone with Rose. Thank you for breakfast." She kissed his lips, but Edward didn't relax or move. "Go," she said sternly.

Without a word, he got up and jerked his head for Emmett to follow him. Bella watched him worried. He was so angry, he couldn't even talk.

Bella pulled her legs up, wrapping Edward's t-shirt around her drawn knees, playing with the food on her plate. Her desire to eat had disappeared.

"Okay, I'll bite," Rose snapped. "What the fuck is going on here? Since when is he so disobedient? And why are you wearing his clothes? Did I miss something?"

Bella slapped her fork to the edge of her plate, glaring at Rose. "It's none of your goddamn business!"

"Whoa. Black told me last night to stay out of it."

"Well, maybe you should listen to his advice, for once."

"Bella…"

Bella groaned. "You don't give up, do you?" she sneered. "Liam has history with both me and Edward…which is linked…by morbid details. Liam was in Chicago a decade ago. He introduced me to this lifestyle. He tried to make me into his perfect, little Sub, but I rebelled and told him I wasn't a Sub. He abused me and left. Liam is Edward's uncle, who had commanded his parents to be killed because he was jealous. He'd failed to take me home with him, and he took it out on his sister and her husband. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

For the first time since Bella had known Rosalie, her mouth kept opening but no sounds escaped her. Her hands covered her mouth as her eyes watered while staring at Bella, and it made Bella realize what she'd confessed. It felt better to share her secret with her friend, but at the same time, Bella braced herself for one of Rosalie's snide remarks.

"I'm such an idiot," Rose gasped, leaning closer to hug Bella. "I'm so sorry for making you talk about this."

Bella shrugged, surprised she wasn't sobbing like last night. "I cried it all out last night," she mumbled.

"You never talked about this," she said sorrowfully.

"Can't imagine why," Bella answered sarcastically, leaning back in her seat and hugging her coffee mug between her palms. "Look, only Jake knew. You and me…we hadn't even met, Rose! And there was never a good time to drop this on you."

"You're right. Shit, Bella." She got to her feet. "I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Bella nodded, staring into her coffee.

"I'll get Emmett, and leave."

Bella wished Rosalie would stay longer, but it was clear she'd made her friend uncomfortable. Such topics were always taboo, even among friends. People had become too sensitive to delicate subjects such as rape. Things like this happened, as terrible and life-altering as they were.

Bella had expected a little more compassion from Rosalie, because she was the first woman she'd shared this with. Bella's therapist had been a man, and only learning that she was safe with him because he was gay, had helped Bella open up and talk about all her burdens during their time together.

Edward crouched next to her chair, prying the mug from her hands. Then, he took her in his arms and carried her back to bed. "You need to rest, Mistress."

"Stay," she choked on the word. "Stay with me."

Bella hadn't felt like this since that fateful night and the months that had followed until she'd given birth and several more months after that. In reality, it had taken her about three years to put her past to rest and focus on who she was, on finding a Sub, on getting her life together.

Edward got himself comfortable against the headboard, and Bella leaned against his chest, between his spread legs.

"Can I ask about Riley," he said in her hair, rubbing his hands over her arms

"I don't have much to tell you." Bella had never imagined she'd ever regret not getting to know Riley. She wished she could tell Edward about the stuff Riley liked, about his hobbies, but she never paid attention to her dad when he talked about Riley. "He's picked up guitar lessons. He likes Ed Sheeran."

"That's great taste in music. How old is he?"

If Edward had asked her this last month, she'd have said five years old, without blinking. That had been the last time she'd let herself care enough to know Riley's age, but now she knew he was eleven.

"Just turned eleven in August," she answered, closing her eyes. "I hate to ask this, but do you think Liam could go to jail now…after all this time?"

"I'm no lawyer, but I know there can be a process after years and years, depending on the evidence provided. Do you think you're ready for something like that, Mistress?"

She tilted her head against his shoulder to meet his eyes. "Please call me Isabella. At least here in my bedroom."

Edward stared at her warily. "If it is what you want…Isabella."

"Yes. Thank you. I've always considered my bedroom the only space I could be myself – just Bella, not anyone's Mistress or the strong woman I let everyone see."

Edward's eyes saddened and he stroked her hair, kissing her temple. "I might get punished for this, but you don't have to be strong all the time to prove to anyone anything."

"You're right." She turned around to straddle his legs, running her hands down his chest. "You're also the first man to share my bed since I was eight. The only other man who'd slept next to me is Charlie – my father."

Edward gasped, leaning back to meet her eyes. Shock was evident in his forest green ones. Despite their color, Bella had loved them at first sight. They hadn't once reminded her of bad memories.

"It's a privilege to share your bed, Mi—Isabella."

Bella closed the distance between them, kissing him slowly. "You've ruined my peaceful nights on my own. I enjoy having your body close during the night, waking up in your arms."

His long fingers splayed on her back, holding her close as they kissed. One of his hands traveled up to tangle into her hair. His lips descended to press open-mouthed kisses down her throat and up to her ear. "I've never felt so connected with anyone else before."

"Same," Bella breathed out. She grabbed the hair at the back of his neck, rocking her hips into his. "I have no idea what you're doing to me, but I haven't been able to live by my simple rules since I met you." She caught his mouth in a searing kiss. "I used to never fuck my Sub outside the Playroom. I never felt attracted to them, more than the fact that I didn't find them repulsive to have a scene with them."

"What about Benjamin?" he asked, pulling away enough to meet her eyes.

"We had a different relationship. I didn't sleep with him often. With you, I can't think of not feeling your dick inside of me during a session."

Edward cupped her cheeks as if she were a delicate flower. "I feel the same. It's so different for me, as well. I enjoy every second of our time spent together – be it in the Playroom, or outside it. I can't think of not being able to satisfy you any way I can."

"You do," she promised. Bella pulled his tee which she was wearing over her head, throwing it behind her. "And this?" She pushed his sweats down his narrow hips. "I've definitely never fucked anyone in my bed. I've never fucked anyone without being in a scene," she admitted.

Edward's hands were all over her chest. "Same. Oh, God. Please stop me if I cross the line."

"If you stop touching me, I'm dragging you by the hair to the Playroom and I'm going to strap you to the spanking bench. You won't be able to sit for a week."

"I'll never stop touching you, Isabella. And not because I don't want to be punished, but because I can't."

His confession fueled the fire building inside her, making Bella grow impatient. She shoved his sweats down his legs, before she ripped his tee at the seams. She was pleased to see the lust in Edward's eyes as she bent to lick his nipples. She scooted closer, rocking against his hardening dick. Edward's hands shot to her waist, as he lifted his hips, pushing against her. When his tip brushed against her clit, Bella threw her head back, anchoring herself on his shoulders.

"Fuck me," she lifted off his lap, taking his erection in one hand, pumping it fast.

Edward arched into her, slapping his hands to the mattress, as he groaned gutturally. He stared at her through hooded eyelids, and cursed loudly when she lowered on his dick. Bella shivered at the sensation. She'd never get used to the moment he entered her and how his piercing brushed against her clit.

"Please," he begged.

"Don't tell me you want to come already," she said, astonished.

"I have…to…fuck you…hard…"

Bella clenched on him, beyond aroused at the sight of Edward barely able to produce words to convey how turned on he was. She leaned back, taking him with her, so he was hovering above her.

"Fuck me hard, Stud."

To her surprise, he pulled out, then flipped her over so she was on her hands and knees. Then he dove back inside her. One hand gripped her shoulder, while the other clenched on her hip, as he moved urgently inside her. Bella held onto her sheets and the crumpled blanket, crying out in pleasure. Edward knew exactly what he was doing, and when his strokes became languid, his piercing dragged over her G-spot, making her knees shake.

"Can I come?" he asked, pushing his body weight on top of her, driving her crazy with his slow movements.

"Only after you've made me come," she threatened, hoping to regain the upper hand.

Edward pinched her clit, making her scream in pleasure, before he resumed moving faster, making her ache deliciously. Shivers ran down her spine as he fucked her through her release, triggering another one, just as he shot deep inside of her.

Edward fell next to her, breathing harshly.

"Shit," Bella whimpered, curling into herself, cupping her pussy. "What the fuck are you doing to me?"

"Right now? Nothing." He grinned cheekily at her.

"You know what happens to cheeky boys?"

"They get spanked." He rolled his eyes, leaning on his elbow to peer down at her with a smile on his face. "But we weren't playing, were we, Isabella?"

Bella grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking his head down. "It still doesn't give you the right to act like a brat, all smug and shit."

"I think I'm allowed to be a little smug after finding out I'm the only one with the privilege to fuck you in your own bed."

"That privilege can be revoked," she said sharply, but her breath hitched when Edward closed the distance between them, kissing her slowly.

"Really?" he whispered against her lips.

"Ten spanks are in store for you."

"Are you serious right now?" He pulled away to stare at her, confused.

Bella chewed on her lip. She wanted to stand her ground and tell him that she was serious, but she'd fuck with his head and lose some of his trust if she said that. Especially when she'd clarified they weren't playing before they started fucking.

"I don't know how else to function," she admitted.

"We can learn together, if it's what you want," he said softly, brushing the back of his fingers over her left breast. "Do you want it?"

"You have to be patient with me."

"I can be patient. I'm a submissive."

Bella pulled him in a hug, combing her fingers through his hair. The idea of attempting any other kind of relationship with Edward terrified her, yet it sent a thrill down her spine. She wanted everything with him.

This story is a HEA and I plan to bring justice to both Edward and Bella by the time it ends. But we're nowhere near the end. I'm still writing it, though I'm many chapters ahead.

Reviews are love. I love reading all your opinions.

If you read and liked my one-shot One Look, you'll be happy to hear I started posting the spin-off. It's called Gravitational Collapse.

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