Chapter Four
From the look on Bella's face, Edward had shocked her, but then she remained silent. For over a minute. Her staring wasn't helping, either. Why hadn't she answered yet? "Bella, you're giving me a complex here."
"Aw, poor baby." She nibbled on her bottom lip before answering. "In all honesty, I'm trying to decide if you want me to come along with you for emergency costume repair or—"
"You're not very confident of your work," he said, already knowing she wouldn't like it. Her full lips thinned, but she didn't take the bait he dangled in front of her.
"Or if you're asking me for another reason." She waited for his answer, but he sat back, happy to have the upper hand for once. It was her territory and she knew more about him than he did of her. It was never a good idea to lay it out there so early in any relationship, whether it was business or personal.
"As a friend, of course. These kind of events are better enjoyed with others, though you make a good point on the emergency repairs."
"If I'm cosplaying, I get stopped a lot for photos when I attend. Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Since I have to keep talking to a minimum, it might be a good idea to have someone who can do the talking for me." He hoped he could avoid situations that would call for her to do all the talking, but he would be prepared for it. Memorizing the character's lines would help keep him on script so to speak.
She seemed to be debating about his offer. He couldn't imagine her saying no, why would she? Technically, she wasn't going to be seen with him in public, so she wouldn't get her fifteen minutes in the spotlight. So what? He was a nice enough guy; it helped that Jake, Rosalie, and Emmett had recommended her. Why would she say no?
She pulled him out of his thoughts as she seemed to come to a decision.
"I have to do your makeup and hair so we'd have to discuss hotel arrangements, maybe get adjoining rooms."
"Or you could stay with me, a friend of mine has a place down there and no one knows I stay there when I'm in the area."
She hummed, but eventually agreed. "I'll cancel my hotel arrangements then."
Edward gave one sound clap his hands, excited about finally doing something some would consider normal. Not to mention the fact he was going to indulge the side of him most didn't know about; he loved the comic book world and gaming. He wanted to enjoy everything Comic Con had to offer and he was going with someone who seemed to love it as much as he did.
He sat closer to the alluring Bella to hover over her iPad as they tried to decide who would be who. Something told him the next few weeks would be unforgettable.
.
.
.
"Fuck," Edward whispered twenty minutes later.
"Oh God," Bella hissed, her hand skimming over his thigh.
He looked down and groaned, trying hard not to flinch under her touch. "Jesus, Bella."
"Stop you're whining. I'm not going to stick a pin in your groin, Cullen." She started calling him that since they came to an agreement.
"I can't help it, that thing looks vicious." She was holding something sharp near his balls, insisting it was only her pen. She rolled her eyes and bent her head to take a closer look. Having forgotten to put her contacts in or grab her glasses, she had to get pretty close. It was only making the whole situation harder.
"I hope you're not like Joey's tailor." Edward felt her fingers still. Had he said that aloud? Shit. Did she even understand the reference?
"Don't worry, there will be absolutely no cupping to get your inseam." She giggled and snorted, humming as she went back to work.
Edward had to admit it took considerable concentration not to pitch a tent in his jeans with her so close and her head near his crotch. It wouldn't be professional, and in the last ten years in the business, he was rather proud of the fact that he was capable of not getting a boner during love scenes. It wasn't so hard—no pun intended—considering the number of people who watched during filming. Yet, there he was in the middle of a studio with a beautiful woman who captured his interest, made his blood simmer, but with the potential of a full boil if she got any closer to his dick with her beautiful lips or hands.
"You have a VIP pass, right?" he asked, hoping that talking would prevent from embarrassing himself.
"Of course," she scoffed. "Thankfully, this year I'm not doing any blogging. I'm going to just enjoy myself and fangirl with everyone else, and just have fun."
"Now you have to babysit me," he tried to sound sad, but she saw right through him. His hand lifted of its own accord and slipped a curl of her hair from her face. She stared at him. "What?"
"I don't mix business with pleasure, Edward. Until I fulfill my end of the bargain, we can't be anything but friends."
"You think awfully high of yourself, Swan." He rolled his eyes. "And I'll agree to your terms, under one condition." She looked up from her position on the floor and he tried really fucking hard not to think about how her mouth would look wrapped around his cock.
Too late. It had been way too long since he'd been with anyone.
"What's that?" she urged. Most of her hair had escaped the messy bun it was in, another curl teasing the curve of her cheek, while some tickled her bitable neck. He wanted to spend an inordinate amount of time exploring it.
What were they talking about again? "If you're asking about what's in front of your face, then we have a problem." She poked his thigh with her fingertip hard, surprising him. "Fuck, how do you get any business with this kind of service?"
"Focus, Cullen. State your condition."
He sighed and exhaled sharply, trying to find the right way to say what he wanted without sounding too interested. It was never a good idea to be eager with anyone in his business. Most would take advantage of the situation and he didn't know Bella enough to trust her fully yet. He had made a decision to try to pursue her already, but he still had to be cautious. It seemed she was feeling the same ways.
"How about you finish taking the measurements and we'll talk about if after you're done?" Hopefully it would buy him enough time to get his thoughts together.
"The anticipation is killing me," she said in a sarcastic tone, but continued. "Whatever you want, Cullen."
He purposefully deepened his voice. "In that case…" She poked him again. "Fuck, Swan. Do you have demon claws or something?"
"Not at all." She held up her hands for her to see short nails instead of the talons he felt she had.
This was the most unorthodox start to a friendship he'd ever had and one he hoped to explore further. She was fun to be around and though he still held his guard up, he rather enjoyed the comfort level they seemed to have reached. Despite his justified fears and trust issues, he genuinely wanted to get to know the sometimes quirky, but absolutely alluring Bella Swan.
An hour later, they were sipping on coffee and finishing some breakfast that Bella threw together after their stomachs simultaneously rumbled in the studio.
They finally decided on Edward attending Comic Con as The Winter Soldier while Bella went as Loki. They made arrangements to meet in a few days to start the process for the metal arm for his costume.
"So tell me, Goddess of Mischief, any chance I can see a sketch of what your costume would look like?" The idea of her in lots of leather appealed to him. She had already admitted to creating gender swap sketches of various Marvel and DC characters.
She rose to her feet and grabbed their plates to place in the sink. "I have a few of them, yes."
"Give it here," he demanded, holding out his palm for her iPad.
She handed him a sponge instead. "Do the dishes since I cooked and I'll show you." No one other than family and friends would dare ask him to do such a thing.
"You drive a hard bargain, Swan."
She ignored him off as she started working on sketches for his costume. He turned on the water and looked around for what he needed to do as she asked. The give and take thing they had going on was working so far, so he'd indulge her for a while longer. He was positive she thought he wasn't capable of doing a menial task anyway, so he wanted to prove her wrong.
Too bad he was already failing. "Uh, where is the dish soap?"
He heard her laugh before joining him. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Now that's a loaded question."
She poked his side and handed him the dish soap in some fancy container. No wonder he hadn't found it. "I was joking about the dishes," she stated, leaning against the counter to watch him.
"It's the least I can do for making me breakfast."
She mumbled something under her breath, but refused to repeat it. "Give me about twenty minutes and I can get your sketches ready." She walked over to the kitchen island where her iPad waited. "I'm sure you're busy."
"Not really. I have nine more blissful months off."
She hummed but it sounded off. He looked over his shoulder to find her using a pen to draw on her tablet, already working on a sketch. "And how long before you got bored?" she asked suddenly. He grunted a non-answer, but she asked again.
"Four days. I lasted four days before I started painting a room in my house just to kill time. Two days later, I bought my first set of power tools. My house is fucking perfect, but I keep making up projects to have something to do."
She laughed her ass off.
AN: Okay now you know, Edward is going as the Winter Solider aka Bucky Barnes from Captain America. Bella is going as Loki. I decided he wouldn't go as Loki for three reasons, one Edward's jawline is pretty damn recognizable, even with the helmet his jaw would be seen. The second reason is because Loki likes to hear himself talk, and Edward is supposed to keep talking to a minimum. Last but not least, no one, and I mean no one can out do Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Not even Edward Cullen. See you all tomorrow.