Incognito
Chapter Thirty-Two
"I thought I understood, but clearly, I was wrong," Bella huffed, nearly rolling her eyes as some pap took a picture of her taking a drink of her iced coffee.
"Welcome to our world," Rosalie stated in a matter-of-fact tone, then laughed when Bella made a face. To add to the tone, she tossed her blonde hair as if on the set of a shampoo commercial. "You're learning to adjust, and soon, they'll become part of the background. You'll be aware they're there but not giving a flying fuck what they see or photograph."
"Remind me again why I agreed to this outing." Bella almost tripped over the uneven cement. She had more grace than this but the constant barrage of cameras clicking had the same effect as nails on a chalkboard to her. A distraction she didn't need.
"Simple, we're friends and have been since we worked on the same set a couple of years ago. They, meaning Hollywood, forgot about that, so did that fucking producer. We're here to show we're still friends after all the information became public."
Bella snorted, shaking her head. "It was always out there, and they only give a shit now because I'm with Edward." She sighed when Rosalie nodded. "I know I should be grateful that our relationship started the chain reaction, and now his career is on the line as more people come forward with similar incidents with that producer."
"No, I agree with you. It sucks that its only because you're with someone now."
"Am I really according to them?" Bella startled when Rosalie placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her from walking.
"Where is this insecurity coming from? Who gives a fuck what they think? What happened to the friend I made years ago that made me realize that I'm more than my fucking looks?"
"She's hiding behind the scared college freshman that came to live with her eccentric aunt and didn't know what to expect other than eventually going back home with my tail between my legs."
"Well, tell that cute little bitch to stand aside and let you back out. Tell her that you more than all this and that is why one of Hollywood's hottest men alive is in love with you."
Bella's smile turned a little goofy at the thought of her man, her eyes staring off in the distance, recalling their memorable morning.
"I know that look. I interrupted you two." Rosalie laughed, wrapping her arm around Bella's waist and leading her down the sidewalk.
"We fit in a quickie in the shower before you showed up," Bella admitted, giggling at Rosalie's envy. Emmett wouldn't be home for at least another month, since he was filming in England.
"Just visit him, Rose." She nudged her friend. "Quit denying yourself of what you want."
"I'm older than him." Her friend's signature pout made an appearance.
"By five freaking years, give me a break."
"Fine, he treats me like spun glass because of what happened to me."
Bella looked to see if any of the paparazzi were too close and could overhear their conversation. They kept their distance. "This isn't the best place to discuss the subject, but have you talked to him about your needs?"
Rosalie shrugged. "He's lost control a few times." She looked smug for that confession. "But he always apologizes afterward. I know he fears if he's rougher that it will trigger memories of that time, but when I'm with him, nothing else intrudes."
"Make him understand that, and if that doesn't work, go see your therapist together."
"He's not one of those types that sees head doctors as quacks, so that may be a good idea." The tension in Rosalie's shoulders loosened. "I really needed to talk to a friend about it. Thanks."
"Then it was worth leaving a naked Edward behind."
The jealousy in Rosalie's face made them laugh as they walked with their arms interlocked down to the car awaiting them.
.
.
.
"Now, I'm secretly dating Rosalie, possibly Emmett, too." Bella tossed the news rag that some asshole "fan" of his put on her windshield a few days after her outing with Rosalie. She swiftly curled up on Edward's lap, ignoring the fact that he was reading a book. Not that he minded one bit. "The rumor seemed to have started from one of your fan sites."
Edward groaned. "Of course, it did." He tossed his book aside and kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her. "Does what they're saying bother you?"
Bella shook her head and giggled. "I find it hilarious, especially since Rosalie predicted something like this would surface after our coffee trip together."
"Ah, the predictive nature of Hollywood news. You'd think after all this time they'd come up with something more creative."
"Like we're swapping partners?" She squealed when he held her tighter and tried to take a bite of her earlobe.
"I'm not into sharing, not even with Emmett."
They playfully wrestled on the couch for several minutes, simply enjoying each other's company. The increasing tension after agreeing to attend a red-carpet event together for Rosalie's new film left them unsure if they made the right decision. Since it wasn't one of Edward's films, they didn't plan to stop to take photos. However, Jane, Edward's manager, knew the press would be relentless if they tried to avoid it.
"Are you sure about tonight?" Edward asked while removing Bella's t-shirt and tossing it behind him.
"I want to be there for Rosalie, and it would be nice to go out."
"We don't have to stay for the movie," he suggested, his eyes on the blush on her skin. "We make an appearance and go out the side entrance, and then stay in the limo until the after party."
"That's two hours in the limo," Bella whispered, moaning when he finally grazed his lips over her sensitive nipple. "Whatever will we do with all that time?"
"Play Yahtzee." He laughed at the look of shock on her face. "Most likely Alice will have you change into another outfit in the back of that limo., Why waste the opportunity?"
Bella groaned at the thought of trying to get dressed in the back of a car. She'd done it in her youth, having to change quickly between part-time jobs. Alice, Jasper's wife, had decided shortly after they met that she would be Bella's stylist. The woman had a lot of time on her hands since Jasper's retirement and getting pregnant.
People say that big, life-changing events happen in threes, but so far, only Alice and Katie were pregnant.
Right?
Bella shook away the thought and smiled up at Edward. She had an appointment to get her shot the following week. A part of her wanted to suggest she skip it and if it happened, it happened. However, another part of her knew Edward would rather get married before starting a family.
It had been two months since Katie and Garrett's Vegas wedding and Edward asking Bella to marry him. She felt out of sorts and realized; she wanted everyone to know how happy they felt.
"I want to wear my engagement ring out soon."
That put the brakes on Edward's exploring lips, short of their destination between her thighs.
Bad timing, Bella.
He looked adorably confused, still under the influence of desire. "Wait? What?" Gorgeous green eyes widened as her words found their mark. "Are you serious? We can tell whoever asks that we're getting married."
Bella shrugged, thankful their closest friends and family were aware of their news. "I know what we have is real and there's no reason to keep it a secret other than fan and haters reactions. You were right, we shouldn't let others dictate how we live our lives."
Edward sat up and shifted her body with ease to straddle him. It always made her a little breathless whenever he moved her around with little effort. Their exercise routine was doing wonders to his thighs and biceps. It also did wonders to their stamina.
"Say it again," he pleaded, his lips tracing patterns down her neck.
"We can tell the world we're getting married."
"Not that part." Edward's husky laugh raised goosebumps along the tops of her bare shoulders.
"I want to wear my ring." Her hips rolled, bringing her closer to his hardened length.
He shook his head and peppered kisses around her lips. "Not that either."
Bella, thoroughly lost in desire and confusion, pulled back to look into his ardent gaze. It took a moment until she realized what he wanted to hear. She rolled her eyes. "You were right," she hissed, rocking her hips again. "Happy now?"
"You have no idea." Edward grinned and waggled his eyebrows. "You admitting that I'm right will not happen often. I need to bask in these rare moments."
She groaned, resting her forehead on his, while the tips of her fingers danced up his chest. His muscles tightened under her touch. "I'd much rather bask in moments like this," she whispered, her lips hovering over his.
"Yeah." Forgetting whatever they were talking about, he lost himself in all things Bella.
His fiancé.
His love.
His best friend.
His lover.
Soon enough, he'd have to share her with the world, show off the shining star she was in his universe. She didn't need to be in front of the camera, or have her name on the big screen. For now, she was happy doing what she loved; creating beautiful designs in costume and makeup, and if she decided to explore more, he'd be there for her.
"Stop thinking," Bella teased him with words in his ear, nipping at it. "Once Alice gets here to prepare me for the evening, we will not be able to do this until we get back home."
It took a little longer to rid themselves of the remaining barriers between them. Her body welcomed his length in softness and heat; her breathless response encouraged a groan and hard thrust from him. She surrounded him and even burrowed deep. She was all-consuming, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
He watched her as she moved over him, lost in the pleasure he gave her. The tips of his fingers tightened around her hips for several strokes. Grasping for control, he explored between her thighs, heightening her experience.
Her body trembled. A jumble of incoherent words tumbled from her lips, her eyes snapping open to meet his dark gaze. The slight tilt to her lips, he had to taste on his own. He swallowed her whispered cry and met her every move.
Her short fingernails raked gently through his hair, sending a shiver of desire so deep he stood at the edge. He hissed and tried to keep himself from going over, needing her there with him.
She pulled away to breathe, and he took advantage, whispering dirty little phrases that always made her crazy. He added to his usual arsenal between thrusts, "I can't wait to see the ring on your finger, every fucking day."
Her eyes once again, snapped open, her hands automatically reaching for the thin chain around her neck. She pulled until the chain snapped, removing the ring and slipping it on, all while still riding him.
"Fuck," he hissed and tumbled her onto her back on the couch. He shifted her leg up his hip and thrust until they were both out of words and nearly out of breath.
Her hand lifted to cradle his jaw, her dark eyes struggling to stay open. "I love you, husband."
That did it. He groaned and brushed between her thighs until she cried out his name. Holding her close, his nose buried against her shoulder, he finally let go. They spent several minutes wrapped up in each other, but reality intruded in the form of Edward's phone ringing.
.
.
.
"You so got this, Bella." Alice stood back to admire her handy work. It always helped when she had a good foundation. Bella wasn't super tall and not petite like herself. At five-eight-ish, she had legs for miles, and she took advantage of that feature. She played up Bella's gorgeous curves but kept it more modest.
Rosalie would kill Alice if Bella outdid her; as friends, it was an unspoken agreement between them. Sort of like not outdoing the bride on her wedding day. Speaking of brides…
"Are you going to wear any other rings?" The question came out a little indifferent.
Bella saw right through it. "We agreed there's no good reason to hide, but not tonight. It's Rosalie's night, and you and I both know that me wearing that kind of ring would upstage her film."
Alice squealed but stopped short of jumping up and down. Barely. "Okay, not tonight but soon, right? Does that mean you set a date?"
"Not yet. Edward wants to go over his schedule for the next year and we need to check with family. We want our loved ones there, that includes you and Jasper."
Alice smiled, biting her lip a moment later. "Who's helping you with the wedding?"
Bella took one last look in the full-length mirror, sending one last shout out to the universe to not let her fall later in the evening in front of everyone. She had to admit, Alice knew what she was doing. That didn't mean Bella was willing to play Barbie whenever she got bored. In the last week, Alice had dropped by the house unannounced four times, catching her and Edward with their literal pants down twice.
"I don't know any wedding coordinators. Do you?" Bella knew Alice dabbled and even helped a few mutual friends pull off last-minute events and weddings. Events that often made headlines.
Alice shrugged one shoulder. "I may know one. She's up and coming."
Bella smirked. "Would her name rhyme with malice?"
She laughed but scowled at the name. "Remind me to kill Jasper later for exposing my childhood nickname."
"I'll make note of it." Bella turned to face the woman who in a short time had become a good friend. It made her feel good to know that Edward had genuine ones in Jasper and Alice. She met most of his friends, the others on location or traveling, and soon they'd all gather to watch them tie themselves to one another.
No pressure.
"Hey, you okay?"
"My biological clock is ticking." Bella covered her face as it blushed like she was still in high school.
A gasp came from the direction of the bedroom door. Edward stood there looking like he had stepped off a photo shoot, head to toe in designer wear. His eyes, though wide with shock, focused on Bella's stomach, as if he was picturing her pregnant.
"Do you think our parents will kill us if we hopped on a plane…"
Edward didn't get to finish his questions as Malice listed all the reasons they couldn't elope. All the while, Edward and Bella stared at each other, wondering how long it would be before they could get back.
To practice.
AN: Thanks to my usual partner in crime, kyla713. Any mistakes are mine since I can't ever leave it alone. Anyway, it's been a while for this fic, like 2 years! I'm sorry, I don't even know why other than life has been crazy and something about this fic wouldn't let me continue. I figured it out and hopefully, I can finish it over the next few months.
Lots have happened since I updated this, let's see, my baby had a baby, a pandemic, lost some loved ones, we recently moved our daughters to their university a little over 8 hours away by car, 16 hours by train. I currently live with three men and let me tell you, I NEED ME TIME more than ever! I finished this chapter thanks to some cafe time. Anyway, thanks for your support and for reading!