Thank you all for the amazing feedback. I'm blown away by the amount of reviews!
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.
Bella had been right during her chat with Rosalie to estimate the time of them moving into Edward's house. In the first week of December, they were fully moved in.
Bella had taken Riley out to a restaurant after the last therapy session they had together, giving Edward, Jake, Seth, and Emmett enough time to move the already packed Playroom to the new house. She'd made Edward promise not to unpack it without her.
Riley had been more than supportive of attending therapy with her and talking about their issues. Bella felt like she'd gotten so much closer to him and she was ready to put all her past behind her.
On the first day of winter break, Bella was ready to have her men home full-time for the next couple of weeks. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, intrigued by the conversation between Edward and Riley.
"You're on your own, buddy. I'm not gonna have your back in this argument with your mom."
"Are you afraid of her?" Riley snorted.
Bella stared at the muscles in Edward's back as they tensed, which fueled her curiosity. She was slightly distracted, by the subject they were discussing, by the sight of Edward wearing only his pajama pants.
"Dude, she might surprise us and say yes." Riley was more confident than Bella had ever been at his age. "You must remember how it was to be in my shoes."
"Oh, I do," Edward agreed, in a voice Bella had never heard at him. It sounded almost fatherly. "You have my 'no' because I've been in your shoes."
"You suck. Besides, Mom will agree."
"I'll agree with what?" Bella decided to make her presence known.
Edward spun around, his green eyes anxious. She stopped at his side, reaching up to kiss him. "Morning," he whispered against her lips. "Your coffee is on the counter."
"Thank you." Bella went to her favorite mug holding the magic liquid. "What did you want to tell me, Riley?"
He seemed to have lost some of his confidence, but he squared his shoulders. "A bunch of us are going to get together at one of my friend's house for New Year's Eve." He worded it as if it was a done deal.
"Oh, yeah?" Bella sipped from her coffee. "What do his parents think of that?"
"They'll be out of town."
Edward groaned from behind Bella, proving to her Riley didn't have his speech rehearsed. "That's another reason for you not to go."
Riley ignored what Edward said, going closer to his mother. "Come on, I just made these awesome new friends. If you don't let me go, they'll think I'm lame."
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Edward complained loudly.
Bella held her hand up to keep him quiet, focusing on Riley. "If they think less of you when you choose to listen to your mother's orders, they're not good friends."
"My mother's orders?" Riley shouted. It wasn't the first time his teenage hormones had escalated a normal conversation into an argument.
"Yes," Bella replied calmly. "You're not going to that party."
"I'm not going to drink or do drugs or whatever you might imagine! We're going to play some video games and chat." He continued to yell, glaring at her.
Edward frowned, stepping closer, but Bella placed her free hand on his naked abdomen. "Riley, let's not start a fight over this otherwise insignificant matter."
"What am I supposed to do for New Year's, then? Sit in my room and listen to you fuck?"
"Riley, what the hell?" Edward gasped.
"You know what? Go ahead. But don't call us to pick you up after midnight. We'll be busy. Fucking," Bella snapped, storming out of the room.
She couldn't believe what Riley had just said. She had to sit him down and have a chat with him, because he'd changed drastically after their move into Edward's house. He didn't use to be so outspoken and downright rude.
She could hear Edward admonishing Riley for how he'd spoken to her. Bella reigned in all her desire to start an emotional argument with her son because she was aware she could put him on his proverbial knees and make him think about the mistake he was making.
Bella chose to sit on the couch and drink her coffee in silence. Charlie had allowed her at parties in her final years of high school, but she didn't like the crowded rooms, and she much preferred the sleepovers at Angela's house. Riley was only a freshman and he already liked parties, apparently.
Edward joined her some minutes later, his jaw clenched. "Fuck, baby. He thinks he won."
"Let him think whatever he wants."
"Are you really going to let him go?"
"I have no idea how to deal with this, Edward. I can't control him," she pointed out. "I don't even want to. I hate the idea of him learning from his own mistakes, but maybe that's for the best."
"There will be alcohol at that party, drugs, and girls."
"I know! If you know a better way of explaining it, please go ahead and explain to him why he shouldn't go."
"He won't listen to me," Edward insisted. "Yet, he came to me first…to ask me what you'd say if he told you about going to a party."
Bella placed her mug on the coffee table, leaning back into the couch. "I have no idea what I'm doing, Edward."
"And you think I do?" he asked, amused. "I was his age once, but fuck, if I ever spoke like that to any of my parents, I'd be toothless now."
"Yes, I hate not being in control," she started slowly. "No, I'd never strike him. But I've been thinking about other ways to make him see he's making a mistake. Emotional blackmail."
Edward stared at her horrified. "I wasn't suggesting you should…hurt him in any way," he said softly, taking her hand. "Jesus, seeing how a teenager behaves makes me wonder how our parents survived through our teen years."
Bella rolled her eyes, refusing to tell him that her dad had taken refuge in his work. She'd bet Edward's parents had dealt with his teen years on a more mature level.
"Something happened when we moved here. Did Riley see something…hear something?" She wondered aloud.
"I don't know. You've spent more time with him than me."
Bella scrubbed at her face with her palms. "If he behaves like this when we meet with Charlie, he'll think we're a horrible influence." She dropped her hands, as a reason behind Riley's behavior came to her mind. "It was around the time we moved here that Charlie said he'd visit with Sue. I didn't even think to fight him over the sleeping arrangements when Jake offered to keep them at his house."
"But it's only normal. I mean, Sue is Seth's mom, and they're rebuilding their relationship."
"And Charlie is my dad and Riley's grandfather."
"But of course he'd stay with his girlfriend."
"Explain that to Riley, please."
"Fuck me." Edward ran a hand through his hair. "How can he blame us for this?"
"Beats me. It's just a theory. It might be something else, though," Bella reminded him.
"Christ. Maybe your dad should have given you the instructions manual, as well, when you brought Riley over," he joked.
Bella slapped his thigh. "I'm going to try and talk to him."
"He went to his room," Edward explained. "Want me there?"
"No, thank you."
Once in front of Riley's door, Bella took a deep breath, promising herself she wouldn't fight with her son. She knocked, waiting for an answer.
Riley opened the door violently. "What?" He scowled.
"Can we talk?"
"Why do you sound like that shrink we saw?"
"I just want to talk about what caused this behavior."
"What behavior," he groaned. "Ever since we moved here and we stopped going to therapy, everything has changed. You stopped talking to me. Were you actually only doing the homework that Randy dude gave us? You said I could ask for help with my English homework, but when I came looking for you, I couldn't find you. And now this. I want to go to that party."
Bella stared at him, horrified by her behavior. She had indeed stopped having chats every other evening with Riley, and she was around, but she'd spent most of her time unpacking. The past week, she'd worked on arranging the Playroom the way she wanted, which made her unavailable.
"It was terrible of me to stop talking to you like we've grown used to," she started, searching his eyes. It seemed he wasn't ready to forgive her. "Do you want to tell me about your friends? Maybe if I know them better, I'd be more at ease and I might let you go to that party."
Riley huffed. "No." He slammed the door shut in her face.
"Riley, this is not how we find a solution." Bella opened the door, stepping into his room. "Sit." She pointed to the bed, using her most stern voice. "I talk, you listen."
He plopped down, glaring at her. At least, he was going to listen to her.
Bella chose the most open and honest route as the best way to show him why they were worried about the party. She walked him through all the bad scenarios that might happen and insisted on knowing more about his friends.
Slowly, Riley relaxed and started telling her in detail about his friends and their parents, especially about the guy who planned to host the party.
"Against my better judgment, I'm going to let you go. If you want to come back, no matter what time, just call one of us," she said softly. "And, next time you curse or yell at me, there will be consequences."
Riley's ears burned red. "I'm sorry. But you're loud."
"Santa might take last-minute orders for earplugs," Bella joked.
"Or duct tape for you," he retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Riley!"
He smiled sheepishly. "Can't wait to see Edward's face when he hears you agreed. He was so worried to tell you."
"Well, with good reason, too. Now, don't make me regret I trusted you to go to this party."
"I won't. You're the best, and I'm so sorry. I didn't realize you were busy unpacking."
She rubbed her back. "How about you join us for breakfast?"
He nodded, walking along her side to the kitchen. Edward was leaning against the counter, drinking from his coffee. He gauged their moods before he lifted a brow at Bella.
"Guess who's going to the party?" Riley beamed, going to punch Edward's shoulder.
"Reeeeally?" Edward asked slowly.
"Turns out I'm not afraid of Mom, like you." Riley took his cereal box and milk to the table.
"I'm not scared of your mom," Edward protested.
"Suuuure."
Edward met Bella's eyes, and she was just as confused by what Riley was saying. They had never shown him anything about their lifestyle. Besides, Edward had never been scared of Bella.
"I've seen how you walk on eggshells around her and avoid arguments," Riley continued.
"That's how a relationship works, buddy," Edward explained. Though, Bella understood that Riley knew how to read between the lines.
.
.
.
As much as Bella wanted to host the Christmas dinner at their house, it wasn't going to happen this year. They still had boxes to unpack and the hustle and bustle of such an event was the last thing they needed. So they accepted Jacob's invitation to spend most of the day at his house.
Riley was the happiest when he was reunited with Charlie. He stayed glued to his side, talking his ear off about everything he'd done since he'd moved in with Bella and Edward.
Seth insisted for everyone to not worry about the dinner preparation because he and Sue had it under control. Bella fully understood how important time alone with her was, because repairing such a relationship between mother and son took time and effort on both sides.
Jacob had explained to them the truth behind Seth and Leah's father taking them away when they were little, leaving their mother behind. It had been a huge misunderstanding and his narrow-minded thinking, which could have been avoided if he'd talked to her about the fact that he didn't like at her working schedule.
Since Harry used to be gone with business trips most days, Sue was working her ass off at the local market, selling the fish. She woke up at the crack of dawn to go and buy from the local fishermen. Of course, being a woman in that environment, she had to be tough and learn how to get the best fish available. Word traveled fast, and when the jealous wives thought she was putting her moves on their husbands, Harry had put his foot down and said he wanted a divorce and that he was leaving. Sue wasn't able to talk sense into him, and she didn't have the resources to fight him. She had to watch him take her children away, while she was stuck at home taking care of her sick father. She couldn't abandon him.
"You're quiet," Edward said softly into Bella's ear, at some point during dinner.
"I guess I'm tired. I mean, not sleepy tired, just…social events aren't my thing."
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around the back of her chair. "Unless they're held at Black Velvet."
"Shit. Don't remind me. We have to attend the party there in a few days," she mumbled, leaning into his side. "I'm still not sure what to wear so Riley won't see too much."
"You could put your coat on before leaving our room?" Edward suggested.
"Are you done unpacking?" Jake asked interested, catching their attention. "All the necessities?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"I think that's the only room looking like how I want. Every other room still holds at least one box unpacked," Bella explained, amused.
"But we haven't yet had time to visit it," Edward added, the tips of his fingers drawing circles on her shoulder. "Maybe later tonight."
Bella glanced at Riley, and she hoped he'd be tired enough to go straight to sleep when they returned home. "That's a good idea." She grinned at Edward, touching his thigh under the table.
"And the room is soundproof," he joked.
That made Jacob start laughing. "Are you scaring the poor kid with the moaning?"
"They promised Santa would get me earplugs," Riley said loudly, startling Bella. She wasn't aware he'd been listening to their side-conversation.
Jacob laughed even louder, and even Charlie joined him.
Bella seriously hoped he wasn't expecting her to keep her word on the earplugs. It had been a joke.
"I don't think Santa will keep that promise, though we promise you won't hear us anymore," Edward said solemnly.
Jake bent over, wheezing. "Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder," he managed to say between peals of laughter.
"Did you give Riley the room next to yours?" Charlie asked curiously.
"No way! I chose the one at the end of the hallway. Do you think it makes a difference?" Riley scowled, but he poked his tongue out at them.
"Okay, enough fun at our expense," Bella declared.
"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with a healthy relationship," Seth said, winking.
"You'd know, pup," Jake snorted. "At least, we don't traumatize anyone."
"Except your guests," Sue pointed out, making the whole table laugh.
Bella couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun at a dinner with friends and family. The answer was never, because she'd never had such events in her life. Except the disastrous Christmas dinner a few years ago, when she'd taken Edward to Forks for the first time.
.
.
.
When they returned home later in the evening, Riley wanted to open presents. They had been in a hurry to leave in the morning, so there had been no time for paying any attention to the presents under the tree.
As much as Bella would have loved to be part of the decorating activities, she'd spent the previous day locked in her new big kitchen, baking. Edward and Riley had done an amazing job with the tree and the living room, making it look ripped out of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
They gathered on the plush carpet in front of the fireplace where Freddie was lounged, snoring in his deep sleep.
Edward brought over the boxes and bags, making a show when he noticed his. "Guess I've been naughty. I got the smallest one," he joked, catching Bella's eyes.
Riley was already busy ripping the wrapping from the biggest box. It was as if he hadn't gotten any presents, except Charlie had gone overboard with his Christmas gift and bought Riley an expensive bicycle for him to use when he went to school. Bella envisioned many fights with her son about riding the bike in the winter. Besides that, Charlie had bought him several comic books that made Riley insanely happy. Bella had yet to learn about everything he liked, although time would help, it didn't make her feel any less terrible for not knowing such trivial things.
"Oh, my God! Really, guys?" Riley was close to tears when he pulled out the gaming laptop Edward had spent weeks researching for.
"We couldn't keep you behind the times with that old piece of crap. You can still use the other one for school." Edward winked.
"Thank you sooo much!" Riley moved on to the next box, laughing as he noticed headphones. "Good replacement for the earplugs."
"Ha, ha," Bella mocked. "For when you game with your friends," she explained.
Riley surprised her by throwing his arms around her, then he moved to hug Edward. "You guys are the best. I have something for you, but I didn't wrap it up or anything."
"What?" Bella gasped, surprised.
"Wait." Riley sprinted out of the room, startling Freddie who rolled on his side, looking around confused.
"You know about this?" she checked, meeting Edward's eyes.
"No. Can I open this in front of young eyes?" He pointed to his present.
"You can. Can I?" she teased, picking up her bag.
"Maybe not," he whispered. "That's for my mistress."
Bella felt a shiver run down her spine as her pussy throbbed in anticipation. She couldn't wait for Riley to go to bed.
He returned with a picture frame, handing it to Bella, in all his teenage awkward movements. She gasped at the sight of a photo of her and Edward taken on Bella's birthday in September.
"That's why you wanted me to send you this photo?" Edward asked, surprised. "This is really nice of you, kiddo."
Bella went to place the frame next to the other on the mantle above the fireplace. Then she hugged Riley tightly. "Thank you, honey."
He mashed his face into her shoulder for a moment, before pulling away. "I'm going to bed with my new headphones."
Bella felt her cheeks heating up, but she didn't have time to scold him as he left the room with his presents.
"Come here." Edward opened his arms, kissing her slowly. "I was aware we were going to lose some of our intimacy, but all parents manage. We just have to figure a workaround."
"I don't want to become one of those parents who fuck around the clock, when the child is sleeping or not at home."
"We won't," he promised, kissing down her neck. "Would you open my present, Mistress?" His voice dropped as he licked at her earlobe.
"You open mine first, Stud."
Edward grinned, pulling away to tear the wrapping from the cologne box. Bella had been running dry on ideas of what to buy him but when she unpacked their toiletries she noticed he was low on his favorite.
"Oh." He glanced at her, amused. She thought she noticed disappointment, and she had no idea why. "I really thought you were joking about this being safe to open in front of Riley."
"Don't worry. I have something else for my Stud. It's in the Playroom," she teased, cupping his cheek.
"I'm sorry for questioning my present. I really love it. Thank you."
Bella pecked his mouth, before taking her bag and looking inside. It was a mass of black leather by what she could see. After catching his eye, amused, she pulled out the garment. It was one of those corset dresses. She didn't have many, but this one was perfect for parties. It had a zipper in the front, the way Bella preferred her corsets, adjustable lacing at her hips and at the small of her back.
"Let's test it." She pulled Edward to the Playroom.
She had installed a sort of walk-in closet to one side of the room where she could change clothes without worrying about Riley seeing her milling around the house dressed up as the Mistress.
Did you miss playtime? Stay tuned for more coming up next Tuesday.
Updates will be once again Tuesdays and Fridays since we're very close to the end of this story.
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