Chapter 8 (BPOV/EPOV)


Song(s): "Play with Fire" by Sam Tinnesz ft Yacht Money

"Blank Space" by Taylor Swift


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BPOV

I was glad that Edward wasn't putting up too much of a fight to go outside. My dad had no patience for guys that he didn't personally vet first, so I knew he would flip if word got back to him about Edward. I walked behind the restaurant, deciding it was probably best to hang out by the dumpsters. "Okay, you obviously have something you want to say, so say it."

"Madonna mia, you're a feisty broad, I gotta give you that. Was last weekend not as good for you as it was for me? 'Cause I don't fucking know, I definitely want a repeat performance." He leaned against the brick wall.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Yeah, it was good. I enjoyed myself, but it was a one-night stand, Edward."

"One night, one week, one month—it's all the same shit. Time is relative." His pussy-licking lips did that panty-dropping smirk again.

"What's in it for me?" I asked, smiling at him slyly.

"Multiple orgasms? The chance to hit it with me again?" He pushed off the wall and stepped toward me.

"I can give myself orgasms, many actually, without getting tired. So, what else you got?" I gave him a challenging smirk.

He closed the distance between us, backing me up against the wall, effectively caging me in, and leaned forward, his breath fanning across my face as he spoke. "I can do that but with my cock, fingers, and mouth." He pursed his lips, making me squirm.

This man. Why did he have to be so hot, yet such a brash asshole? "To what end? So, you fuck me a few times and then what? You find some other girl to stalk and get your rocks off with?"

"Let's not put an expiration date on the fun we can have," he said noncommittally.

"I like no-strings attached as much as the next girl. In fact, that's all I do, but I don't know you. I don't know shit about who you are. You know more about me than I do you."

"Well that's what I'm saying. This arrangement can show you how adorable I am. Trust when I say, you'll wanna keep me around." He cradled his face in his hands to showcase his good looks.

"Jesus, if your head gets any bigger, we'll need a crane to haul it off," I snarked. I shook my head and smiled at him. "What about a compromise?"

"Sweetheart, I think you know that's not the biggest thing about me. See, you know something about me." He chuckled at himself and took one step back. "Whatchu got in mind?"

"Take me to dinner," I said, waiting to see if he would bite or not. Making a guy take you to a "date" type place was always a good indicator of if they were serious or not. I didn't give just anyone a second chance.

"Sure, I love to eat." He leaned in like he was telling me a secret. "I've taken broads to dinner before, Bella. It's not a marriage proposal."

I chuckled. "No, it's not. Which is good because I'd probably run the other way screaming. So, when are you free?"

He pondered what I said for a moment. "Tonight?"

I made a gesture for him to continue. "Okay, what time? Come on, Edward. The guys make the plans, don't they?"

He pushed the sleeve of his suit jacket up, checking his wrist and flashing me a glimpse of the expensive-looking watch there. "Seven." He turned his attention back to me and continued, "As for the plans, leave that up to me. I'll pick you up. I know where you live."

I shook my head, trying not to panic. "No, don't pick me up at my house. Pick me up around the corner."

"All right, sheesh. I already know what your crib looks like. You don't gotta get paranoid. Does this mean you do tricks since I'm picking you up on the corner?" he asked, winking at me.

This motherfucker. I leaned into him, pressing my body up close to his, my lips brushing against the shell of his ear. "Ciccio, you wouldn't be able to afford me even if I was for sale." I smiled at him and walked away, exaggerating the swinging of my hips, so that he would stare at my ass.

I jumped into my SUV and headed back home. Rose was working another shift at the hospital, and my dad was blessedly not home yet. I hadn't gone on a date in years, but like Edward had said, it wasn't a big deal. Going to my closet, I pulled out a burgundy wrap dress and ankle boots. I took a shower, washed my hair and body, and blow-dried my hair, leaving it down.

After I had gotten dressed and put on some very light makeup, I looked at the clock and saw it was only 6:45. Not wanting to wait around in the house in case someone came home early, I pulled on my peacoat, grabbed my purse, making sure my phone, keys, wallet and the can of pepper spray my dad had given me were all tucked inside, and left the house to walk down to the corner where I told Edward to pick me up.


EPOV

"I can't believe you left me on the street for almost an hour. You think I know Brooklyn like you do? I don't." Blondie droned on and on, and I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. It was not like he was a fucking five-year-old. I didn't get what he was bitching about. He had his nine. He was as safe as can be.

"Oh shut the fuck up already. I can circle back and drop you off again. Give you a crash course in the streets of Brooklyn," I offered, making the turn to his apartment complex.

"Drop me off? You didn't drop me off. You threw me out of a moving vehicle and then left me in rival territory." The little bitch huffed, crossing his arms. Like I was going to feel bad for leaving him. The only reason he was still in one piece was because I was given a direct order.

"Whatever, drama queen, now get the fuck out." I pulled the car over with a jolt. "Or I can throw you out again." I smirked. The faster he left, the faster I could get ready for my "date."

"Yeah, yeah, love you too. Bye, EC." He jumped out of the SUV, flinching and ducking his head.

I rolled down the window. "It's sir, motherfucker," I yelled after him as he walked into his swanky apartment building. How the fuck he could afford to live in a place like this when he dressed like he'd rolled out of a homeless shelter was beyond me, but I wasn't one to question shit that didn't concern me.

When I got home, I undressed, exposing my ink, which reminded me that I wanted to get a touchup of a few things soon. I jumped in the shower, lathering twice, wanting to be extra fresh for Little Miss Bella. I contemplated jacking off but I was banking on Bella letting me hit it later, so I figured a little delayed gratification wouldn't kill me.

As I was getting out of the shower, I remembered that I needed to feed Bear. After I made sure he was set, I went through my closet, deciding on a dark gray suit, switching things up from the all black I usually wore.

Once I'd grabbed the keys to the McLaren, I was out the door. Bella's crib wasn't far from mine, maybe ten minutes, so I got there with time to spare. As I pulled around the block, I saw her running in the opposite direction of her house. I couldn't help but chuckle. She was a character and a half.

Madonna mia! I almost swerved the car into oncoming traffic once I got a look at her outfit. Bella had on a dress that hugged her body tight, and she'd thrown on this little coat that couldn't possibly be keeping her very warm, not that it mattered since I'd have her naked before the end of the night and I'd be sure to get her nice and hot. She hobbled as she ran, and I noticed that the tiny boots she wore had a decent heel on them. They'd feel great digging into my skin as I hit it. This chick was smoking.

I pulled the car over, the engine revving. She peered through the windshield on the driver's side to make sure it was me before she got in.

"Hello, gorgeous," I greeted her, eyeing her up and down.

"Hello yourself, handsome. I like the suit," she said, reaching over to finger the lapel.

"Thank you. It's new. You look really beautiful." I took her hand in mine and gave it a kiss.

"You must really want to get some tonight," she said, smiling.

Fuck, did I ever? But I wasn't blowing smoke up her ass. "While I'm absolutely down to get some, I'm no liar." I floored my whip, heading toward Manhattan.

"This car is really over-the-top. I like it." She looked around the interior in awe.

"This car is not over-the-top. It happens to be my pride and joy. Please don't insult Mary Angela!" I scoff, chancing a glance over at the beautiful woman in my passenger seat.

I laughed. "Mary Angela? Sounds like a classy Brooklyn girl. I'm serious though, I like it. I've never really been in a car like this before, but I know it's expensive. How fast does it go?" she asked, leaning closer to me so that she could see the speedometer. I could smell her hair and caught a whiff of something fruity, not floral like most chicks.

"I can show you." I winked. "Nah but really she goes up to 205. We can go 0-60 in three seconds. Wanna see?" I tempted her, willing her to say yes.

"Seriously? Hell yeah!" she exclaimed, an excited grin breaking out on her face.

Instead of answering her, I showed her, as I stepped on the gas. The car glided like it was on rails until it reached a steady sixty. "More?" I asked.

She bit her lip and nodded, enjoying the ride. It wouldn't be the only ride she'd enjoy tonight. I pressed my foot further on the gas, giving Mary Angela the nudge she needed as we flew down the West Side Highway.

"Okay, so I take back what I said about it being outrageous. Mary Angela is a classy lady." She reached over and played with the hair at the nape of my neck.

I switched lanes since the asshole in front of me clearly didn't care that I was tailgating his ass.

"Where are you taking me?" Bella asked, looking over at me suspiciously.

"City Vineyard." I eyed her carefully, hoping she'd be impressed. It was a great place on the waterfront. They had fantastic wine, a chill vibe, and the food was actually pretty decent as well—not as good as Ma's but they threw down in the kitchen enough for the money they expected you to drop. It was a go-to spot when I felt like pulling out all the stops. I made the turn into Pier 26 and started searching for a parking space.

"Oh, that's great. I haven't been there in a while." She smiled at me.

"You've been before? Oh good to know," I said smoothly, trying to hide my irritation. If some other dude had taken her there before, it meant she wouldn't be as impressed as I'd planned for. I'd just have to up my game and focus on the fact that I was stellar company and no one else could compare.

"Yeah, Rose and I used to come into the city to have dinner before she got her job at the hospital. We've been to a couple of the nicer restaurants here." She was looking out the window, watching the scenery. She sounded almost sad when she talked about her sister.

I cut the engine and looked over at the captivating woman beside me. Once I'd had my fill of observing her, trying to figure out what it was about her that had me so sprung, I dashed around the car to open her door. I might act like a bastard sometimes, but I knew my manners. Ma would kill me if I didn't do this much.

We walked side by side into the restaurant, and the hostess showed us to the table which I called in a favor to reserve. Thankfully nobody's kneecaps got busted in the process. "A beautiful view for a beautiful girl." I breathed, gesturing to the skyline and the illuminated night sky.

"Aren't you the charmer? You tell all the girls that?" Her expression was teasing but her tone held some seriousness.

"Why do you always wanna bring up other broads?" I muttered, avoiding her gaze and the question.

"Why do you always wanna deflect and not answer questions when I ask them?" she said, her tone now defensive.

I flipped the menu, trying to control my annoyance. This chick didn't make it easy not to snap at her. She tried every ounce of my patience, but goddamn was the sex good. I needed to get her out of my system and fast.

Looking up at her, I was met with her expectant glare. One thing I'd learned about Bella so far, she doesn't let oogatz go.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I said, "I'm here with you. Doesn't that mean anything?"

There must have been a god because the waiter made his way over and asked what our drink orders would be before she could reply.

She ordered a glass of Montepulciano wine, and I ordered a scotch neat. Once the waiter was gone, Bella looked over at me. "Yeah, I guess it means something." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Look, why don't we just change the subject. Tell me something about yourself."

"I was born and raised in Bay Ridge just like you." I nodded my chin at her. "My younger brother, Emmett, actually knows your sister—Rose, was it?"

"Yeah, that's my sister. How does he know her?" she asked, the subject effectively changed.

"They both work at the hospital together. He's in food service. Figures 'cause the schmuck is a gavone," I teased, hoping to lighten the mood and avoid the 'what do you do for a living?' question that usually came when someone asked you to tell them your life story.

"Oh, that makes more sense now." She nodded her head. I looked at her with my eyebrows arched in question. "When I was at the hospital a few days ago having lunch with her, we went to the cafeteria and this huge guy—he was built like a linebacker—came up to her, and I think he was flirting with her because she was blushing." She chuckled.

Our waiter dropped our drinks off and asked if we were ready to order. I gestured for her to make the decision if she was ready or needed more time.

"I will get the New York strip, medium. And keep the wine coming." She smiled at him, handed him the menu, and then turned to look at me expectantly.

"We'll have the cheese and meat charcuterie board to start. For my main, I'll have the same as the lady but only medium rare. Only babies eat anything over that. Roadkill," I muttered, grinning from ear to ear.

Bella chuckled and shook her head as the waiter walked away. "Think what you want, Edward, but baby, my ass. I didn't hear you complaining a week ago."

This broad, so fiery but hot as hell. "All right, all right. So since we're on the subject of family—tell me about yours." I smirked. There was not much she could share that I didn't already know.

She looked surprised that I was asking her that question. She exhaled and sighed. "I live with my dad and Rose. As you know, Rose works at the hospital and she is a nurse. My dad is a very successful businessman. Do you have any other siblings besides Emmett?"

"I'm not surprised your dad is successful. His restaurant looked like it'd be packed on a Saturday night," I acknowledged. I took a sip of my scotch and turned my attention back to the beautiful woman sitting across from me. "No other siblings, but Ma used to babysit the kids in the neighborhood so there was always someone running around our place. Pops is a plumber, real hard worker, so she did it more to keep busy. My Nonna lives with my folks now, and even though she's losing her marbles, she's a riot." I did the sign of the cross. Gotta protect Nonna at all costs.

"That's awesome you have a relationship with your grandma. My Nonna died when I was nine, so I don't remember her real well. Sounds like a full house." She took a sip of her wine and then tilted her head, seeming to study me.

"It's a full-of-fucking-crazy house. They're all batshit. Lock 'em up and throw away the key. But I love 'em. I mean I gotta, you know how it is." The server brought out the meat and cheese board.

Bella immediately dove in, grabbing some meat, cheese, and a cracker from the board. She smeared some jam on one of the crackers and made a little cracker sandwich, which she proceeded to eat with gusto. "Yeah, I guess. I can't wait until I can move out of my dad's house. He's always renovating, making bigger and better bedrooms for Rose and me, but I just want out."

I took a bite of the meat on the board and wasn't impressed. I must have made a sour face because Bella looked at me and said, "Not as good as—"

"Lioni's," we said simultaneously.

My eyebrows quirked up. She was a surprising character, this chick. First, she didn't order grass as her meal, and now she was talking about the best deli in the neighborhood. She'd definitely be earning bonus points if she sucked my cock tonight.

Bella laughed and gave me a bright smile. "So, what do you do for a living? You must be making bank with the flashy car and all the nice suits you're constantly sporting." She took another sip of her wine and arched her eyebrows at me.

I was mid-sip with my scotch when I almost spit it out on the girl in front of me. "I'm an entrepreneur. I have my hands in a few investment businesses as well. Dabbling in the stock market has done me well too."

"That's impressive. So, you are kinda your own boss? That must be nice." She fingered the rim of her wine glass with one nail, leaning closer to the table. Her nails were bare, and I was so glad they weren't red like all the other fake chicks in my life.

Fuck, I wished I was my own boss. If I were, Blondie would have had a bullet between his eyes faster than you could say 'fuhgeddaboudit.'

"Yeah, me, myself, and I. We are pretty fucking fantastic, right?"

"I wouldn't complain if I had a boss like you." She looked at me from beneath her eyelashes, and I had to clutch the edge of the chair so I didn't pounce on her. Girl knew what she was doing, giving me that sex kitten look.

"I'd put you over my knee if you got out of line." I purred, my fingertips grazing her hand.

I could tell that her breathing had accelerated, and to my surprise, a blush started to creep over her cheeks. "Yeah, and just what would you do with me once I was over that knee?"

I glanced around the crowded restaurant, ready to tell her all the things I'd do to her body to show her who ran shit, but of course the waiter had the worst fucking timing ever and brought out our steaks. As he set them down on the table, I used that distraction to adjust the very large problem in my pants.

"Enjoy!" the waiter wished as he walked away.

I sat, staring speechlessly at the minx, who wore a shit-eating grin. "Cat got your tongue?" She leaned in to run her fingers down my cheek, her soft hands caressing me tenderly.

"Well, I'd use my tongue but only after giving you a spanking or two. I'd want you writhing in need. For me." I licked my lips. She was driving me crazy with all these little gestures and subtle innuendos.

"Oh, just one or two spanks? What if I told you that I would want you to make sure my ass was pink before you stopped?" She leaned in farther, speaking quietly next to my ear, but I heard her loud and clear. She started to sit back with a triumphant look on her face, but I grabbed her wrist and held her close to me.

Madonna mia, this broad was gonna be the death of me. "Baby, I'd smack your ass until it was red, and you were drenched for me." I leaned in to match her, letting my lips graze her earlobe.

"Fuck," she murmured under her breath, and I caught her rubbing her thighs together under the table. It was nice to see that I was affecting her too and that whatever this was between us wasn't one-sided.

"Tell me—are you wet for me already? If I were to put my hand under this table and sneak it up that pretty little dress of yours, would you be drenched?" I nipped at her earlobe with my teeth before I sat back in my chair and took a slow sip of my scotch, hiding a smug smile.

She quietly moaned and I smiled, knowing that I had her. "I need to go to the bathroom," she murmured and jumped from her chair like her ass was on fire, taking off for the bathrooms at the back of the restaurant.

A fanabla! Bathroom, my ass. How could she leave after all that? Anybody else would have dragged me to the bathroom with them. Not this girl. She left me with my dick throbbing while she probably went in there to get herself off. Why was I constantly being tortured?

Since I might as well at least enjoy my fucking steak, I started without her. Did she order it for shits and giggles? Maybe she was a grass-eating chick after all.

Bella came back to the table after a few minutes, and her face was wet, so she looked like she had either been crying or splashed water on her face. I looked at her, my eyebrows arched in question. She covered her face and then looked at me. "I'm sorry. I needed some air. I let myself get carried away." She picked up her fork and knife and started cutting her steak, eating her meal in silence.

Suddenly, she was acting all shy and shit, which confused the hell out of me. It wasn't like I hadn't seen her naked before, let alone been inside of her, so what was the big deal about some dirty talk? Women.

"S'okay." I continued chewing my steak, as she moaned while eating hers. My dick was about to fall off from how hard it was.

The rest of our meal went fine, and we made small talk and shit, avoiding any talk about getting horizontal. After I paid the bill, we approached Mary Angela and I reached down to hold her hand, caressing her thumb.

At this point, I was going for broke. I leaned into her and grabbed the back of her neck to pull her body next to mine. She gasped with the sudden movement, but when she realized she was right there in front of my lips, she closed the space between us and pressed her lips to mine. Weaving her hands in my hair, she pulled me flush against her. Needing to deepen the kiss more, I ran my tongue along her top lip and she opened her mouth to me. On her tongue, I tasted the wine she had drunk and something that I was recognizing as being purely Bella. Our tongues tangled together, finding a comfortable rhythm, and she moaned. "Edward."

"Bella." I groaned.


Translations:

A fanabla - Go to hell.


A/N:Oh these two...Again, thank you for reading!