Some of your worries will be addressed in this chapter and in later chapters.

Edward is still struggling, but he knows that Bella is the only one able to help him heal.

Edward felt Bella's presence before he heard her approaching. In a moment of selfishness, he'd asked Alice to bring Bella.

She wouldn't understand the depth of his wound, but she'd make it all better by being there. Whenever he was around her, Edward could breathe without feeling any pain.

Bella crouched at the side of his lounge chair, taking his hand. He covered her hand with his other one.

"How can I help?" she whispered in an unsteady voice.

Edward could see her face in the moonlight. There were tears in her eyes. It would be the second time in less than twelve hours that he had made her cry. It had to be some record on what an idiot he was.

"I want to help. Anything," she breathed out.

He squeezed her hand. Don't go. Never leave me. Those words would send her running. He couldn't say them. "Your presence here is all I need," he whispered in a rough voice he barely recognized as his own.

"Jasper regrets being truthful about the engagement details," she said softly.

"He shouldn't be."

"If you want to leave, I'm sure they won't mind."

Edward shook his head. Alice had said something similar earlier. "I just need a minute. It took me by surprise, more than anything else." He kept his eyes on Bella's face, drinking in her beautiful features. "It's funny how one friend's night was the best of his life on that fateful day, and how the other friend lost everything."

Bella knelt between his legs, wrapping her arms around him. It mystified Edward how he didn't even flinch at being touched without warning. She didn't need to say anything, and Edward appreciated the silent support.

Bella tilted her head back to look at him. "If it's too soon, let me know. I'll understand."

"What's too soon?" He was confused.

"To have a relationship with me, I can tell you haven't fully healed…" Her eyes dropped, and Edward would have given anything to have her that way some time ago – kneeling at his feet, head down, obedient. At that moment, he wanted her as an equal – as his rock.

"You're helping me heal, Bella." He brushed his fingers over her wet cheek. "Don't cry, please."

"It hurts seeing you so hurt, imagining how lonely you must have been…" She took a shuddering breath.

"This thing is new for both of us. Let's do what comes naturally, but you have to promise me to tell me if anything…if I do something…" For once, words escaped him.

"You'll be the first to know if you do something I don't want. Ask Jake about my mad fighting skills."

Edward's eyes narrowed at the mentioned of that douchebag. "Do I want to know?"

Bella's eyes shined with mirth. "Let's leave it at he refused to understand that I'd rather be friends with him. He tried kissing me – I punched him in the mouth."

Edward laughed loudly. He could picture it happening.

"Nearly took his teeth out, too." She nodded, smugness clear in her voice.

"That's my girl." He leaned in to kiss her.

She tensed under his lips, which made Edward realize what he'd said. "I like the sound of that," she murmured.

"Good. Because you're going to hear it often."

They returned inside the house holding hands.

Jasper stood from the couch when he saw them, but Edward held a hand up, shaking his head.

"Don't. I'm happy for you, man." He went to hug his friend. "My aversion to surprises must run deeper than I thought," Edward said, chuckling.

"You worried me for a second," Jasper said seriously.

"I worried myself." Edward met his eyes before taking a seat next to Bella.

Alice brought over a tray with finger food. Edward caught her winking at Bella, and Bella smiling in return. Maybe Alice had been right about them becoming friends.

It would help Bella understand more about his lifestyle. Alice could explain better than Edward, though he planned to show Bella how pleasurable his lifestyle was.

"Up for one more present?" Alice asked shyly. "No more big surprises," she added.

Edward chewed on the cheese he'd taken from the plate, as he reached for the largest box. It was heavy, too.

"Maybe not that," Jasper interjected.

Edward narrowed his eyes. "Now, I'm curious."

"Open it at home," Jasper insisted.

"You always wanted one," Alice said with a smile.

The curiosity was eating at his gut. It couldn't be worse than the news regarding the date his best friend had asked his girlfriend to marry him.

Edward opened the box, choking on his spit at the sight inside. If it weren't for the paper with instructions on how to assemble it, he wouldn't have guessed what the black thing was. He lifted his head slowly, glaring at Jasper.

"A sex swing?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Alice insisted you'd like it." Jasper shrugged.

Edward dared a look at Bella, who was too still at his side. Her wide brown eyes were focused on the paper on top of the folded swing. Then, their eyes met, and it took all of Edward's effort not to drag her out of the house to the car and back home to test the device. She was clearly not ready for that.

The rest of the presents turned out to be a lot more decent: a new sweater, Edward's favorite cologne, which he was coincidentally running low on, but the best surprise came in the form of tickets to see his favorite rock band.

"Holy shit!" Bella shouted when she saw them. "These were sold out from the first hour they went on sale!"

"There are two for a reason," Edward said slowly.

Her eyes lit up. "Are you sure?"

"Of course." Edward handed her the tickets, as he reached for the last present. Alice had gone overboard, like usual.

Alice snatched the small box before Edward could touch it. "Maybe not this one," she said warily.

Jasper pressed his lips together, fighting amusement.

"If it's bad, it's best I don't know about it," Edward accepted.

"It's not bad," she mumbled. "I got it yesterday after talking to Bella."

Bella glanced up from the tickets when she heard her name.

Edward sighed. He could only guess it was something involving his lifestyle.

"It's for Bella, not you," Alice conceded. If Edward didn't know her better, he'd think she was blushing.

"Me?" Bella squeaked.

"Alice," Edward warned her, meeting Jasper's eyes, asking without words how bad it was. Jasper was still trying not to laugh.

"Is that an instruction manual on how to understand Edward?" Bella asked, amused.

While Edward clenched his hands at her brazenness, because by now, Bella knew what he allowed and what he didn't, Jasper threw his head back, laughing loudly.

Alice giggled as well. "It's better." She handed Bella the box.

Edward worked on his breathing, as Bella carefully unwrapped the present. It was as small as her palm, but the possibilities were endless. She made sure to open the lid enough for only her eyes to peek inside. Judging by the blush on her cheeks, it was something kinky.

If that present scared her away before he had a chance with her… Edward turned his murderous look on Jasper, who was still shaking in laughter.

"I figured you'd want something for tonight." Alice shrugged.

Bella closed the lid, her face redder than he'd ever seen it. Bella swallowed several times, avoiding Edward's eyes.

"Show me to the bathroom, Alice?"

Alice squealed loudly, jumping to her feet. "You'll love it!" she promised Edward, winking as she led Bella out of the room.

"What the hell?" Edward snapped. "Would you stop laughing, Jasper?"

"I'm trying," he wheezed out. "But you're too funny, Cullen."

"Glad I can amuse you."

"Trust Alice," he grinned widely. "It's for Bella, but it's more for you."

"Well, that explains it." Edward rolled his eyes, hoping Jasper caught the sarcasm dripping from his voice. "We're not staying for the champagne," he said when he heard the girls returning.

"Then, take it with you. Alice will be upset if you don't. It's your favorite."

Jasper helped him pack up all the presents.

"Oh, you're leaving?" Alice pouted from the doorway, seeing the large gift bag holding all the presents.

"It's late," Edward explained.

She nodded. "I'm glad you came over."

"Could I ever say no to you?" he groaned, hugging her. "By the way, congratulations, I never got the chance to say it."

She went to Jasper's side, snuggling. "Thank you."

"Thanks for putting up with this," Jasper waved to the living room. "Have a nice night!"

Bella's giggle caught Edward's attention. He felt left out from some important inside joke.

Bella drove faster than before, which brought them in front of his house in less than twenty minutes.

It was close to eleven o'clock according to the display on the microwave.

Edward led the way to his bedroom. He placed the bag with the presents in front of his closet, turning to find Bella standing by the door. She was balancing on one leg, taking her pumps off her feet slowly.

If it were up to him, she'd wear them and nothing else.

"Are you going to tell me what that was all about?" he demanded, stalking to her side.

She took a step back, bumping into the closed door. She didn't look scared, which was a good thing, because Edward planned to initiate her into the art of pleasure.

Bella looked up coyly between her long lashes, her lips parted. "You'll have to unwrap me to discover your last present."

Fuck if Edward didn't feel like an inexperienced teenager for a second. His dick twitched uncomfortably in his dress pants.

"This sort of behavior is punishable, Ms. Swan."

Bella's breath hitched. "I'm looking forward to it…Sir."

"Fuck." Edward walked her into the door until their bodies were pressed together. His mouth covered hers, as his hands roamed her covered body. His fingers pulled the zipper down, and with Bella's help, the dress pooled at her feet. "Shit." He took a step back to admire her body.

She was wearing only satin underwear. This had to be Alice's gift, but Edward could barely focus on the dark blue panties. His hands cupped her naked breasts, as his lips peppered kisses over her neck and collarbone.

"You like?" she gasped, her fingers knotting in his hair.

"They're nice, but I'd rather see them on the floor," he admitted.

"Alice told me about how good it would feel if I wore them while you went down on me," she said confidently.

"She did, huh?" Edward grabbed Bella's hips, lifting her up until her knees were on his shoulders.

She cried out, grabbing at his hair. "Don't drop me! What are you doing?"

"Have some faith. I won't drop you." He nosed at the inside of her thigh, inhaling her aroused scent.

"Oh, God!"

"It's just Edward, sweetheart." He pressed his mouth to her soaking wet panties.

None of his previous Subs had been so responsive. He kept sucking and lapping at her covered sex until Bella's legs started shaking.

"Don't come," he demanded.

"Aaaahhhh!" She lifted her arms, grabbing at the doorframe, her back arching. He could feel her sex quivering, so he pulled away, only blowing over her heated, covered skin. "Oh, God…Jesus…Please!"

Edward grinned, loving the sound of her falling apart. He caught the skin on her inner thigh between his teeth, and she jumped before shouting in fright.

"I've got you. I won't let you fall," Edward promised, holding her still with a hand on her ass and one on the small of her back.

"Please, please! I'm so close."

Edward skimmed his nose over her wet, covered sex. Bella all but mewled, panting loudly. Then, he went back to sucking the soft material.

"Holy fuck! Holy shit! Oh…oh…oh…GOD!" Bella arched into his mouth, as her scent exploded around him, wetness gushing out of her.

"You came," he said, surprised. As pleased as he was to have extracted such an intense orgasm out of her, he wasn't used to being disobeyed.

Bella melted into him, as he helped her down, taking her to the bed. "You're still dressed." She reached with shaky hands to undo his pants, but he stepped away from the bed.

"You came without my permission," he repeated.

Bella clenched her thighs, bracing herself on her elbows. She wet her lips, daring him to punish her for something she had no idea how to control.

Edward sighed loudly, grounding himself. He had to remind himself she had no training.

"Let's try again. You can hold your release," he whispered.

She snorted. "I'll probably die of overstimulation before I'm able to hold my orgasm."

"Your body will learn how to listen to my commands. Then, you'll experience that freedom you're curious about."

She fell back on the bed. "Teach me."

"That's my girl," Edward grinned, covering her body with his. "Mind if I bring something else into our play? Just a vibrator."

"Yes."

Edward pushed her thighs apart, cupping her sensitive bundle of nerves and squeezing. She seized against him, writhing, trying to escape. "What was that?"

Bella's eyes widened in realization. "Yes…Sir."

Is everyone ready for next chapter?

PS: I'm almost done writing this story. It turned out to be a monster of 50+ chapters, so brace yourselves for a long ride.

Comments make me happy.