Ah... It's time
48. Isabella
I'm happier than ever. Even Rose comments on the way that damned smile stayed fixed on my face. She's also very, extremely interested in all the gritty details about me and Ginger.
"So, when are you moving in with him?" She asks bluntly, clicking the mouse around on the computer screen.
"Sorry, what?" I shake my head and blink a few times, trying to see if I'm hallucinating.
Rose laughs as she deletes one of Emmett's company emails. I used to find it funny that Rose wasn't our company lawyer, but she says she doesn't want to deal with the dipshits that run around the corporate world anymore. I get it. It's why she has Emmett as our attorney, the one who checks all the contracts and NDAs.
"Baby, I can see the way you look at him." She eyes me suspiciously, smirking like the cat that ate the canary. "Have you told him yet?"
"Told who what?" I play it off, but I know what she's referring to. It's only the second time this week she's asked me.
"God, you're so fucking stubborn." She throws a pencil at me and sits back in her chair, one leg over the other. "Have you told Edward you love him yet?" Her eyes are full of secrets, I hate it. She's been weirdly enthusiastic since the play party at her house.
"Let it go, Rose," I try.
"I'm not fucking Elsa, Bella. There's no letting go here, just admit that you love him!" I rarely see the Viper getting so worked up about something.
"What don't I know, Hale?" I ask her, leaning over her desk and closing the laptop that's obscuring her face. "Fucking tell me," I bark. Instead of folding, she just laughs at me and arches a brow.
"Don't try and top me, Isabella. It won't work and you won't like the punishments," she says sweetly. I know she's not kidding, but I laugh to diffuse the tension.
"Please tell me, I'll take Mr. Gerards this week. I know you hate him," I say. That seems to work.
"You take his appointments for two weeks," she bargains.
"Just fucking tell me."
"Edward might be in love with you. He told me himself, so it's not just me telling you that I think he's in over his head. Now we know, dude!" She's so happy I could slap her.
"Don't tell me that!"
"Why not, you wanted to know."
"I want Ginger to tell me, not you."
"Well, sorry, but the two of you are moving at a snail's pace and it's bothering me. Stop wasting time like this, Bella."
"As if you and Emmett were a happy family right off the bat." I cross my arms in front of my chest. Rose glares at me because she knows that I'm right.
"It wasn't that easy for us, and you know it. At least you met Edward in the community. Do you have any idea how hard it was to find out Emmett was a sub?" I remember the days when she was just a fresh little law school graduate and started working at McCarty & Son. Not only was Emmett her boss, but he was the son of the big, bad boss.
"Yeah, I know, but that doesn't mean you have to push me, you know."
"I know. I just… Oh my god, you're changing the subject!" She stands and puts a hand on her waist.
"I'm not taking over Mr. Gerards for two weeks in return for that information, Viper… Once, only once," I throw over my shoulder as I leave for the night.
Moving in together…
I find it ironic that Rose decides to bring that up tonight since I'm spending another night at Ginger's house. When I think about it, I've spent ten out of fourteen nights there in the past two weeks. How does Rose just know everything all the time?
I drive over to Edward's, my bag judging me in the passenger seat, telling me the same things Rose has for over a million times now. She's right, the two of us have grown, and since I've put my bitter insecurities aside, I've been able to give him more, not just take, take take.
He's right at the door when I knock, dressed down in a gray T-shirt and a pair of dark sweats that look entirely too good on him. His fingers glide through wet hair, rings gleaming in the hallway lighting before he tucks his hand into the front pocket of his pants. "Hey, baby," he breaths. I melt a little inside. I love his little pet names now.
"Hi handsome," I reply before I lean in and up, pecking him on the lips. He moans and relaxes into me, deepening the kiss before I can even pull away. Gah, I'm crazy about this man.
"Compliment and a kiss. What's that good for?" he asks slyly. I've caught him almost saying the L-word a couple of times now, but he always seems to play it off, as if we were about to say something else. I walk around him and inside, drop my bag on the dining room table with a loud clank, and take off my jacket. He's on me in seconds, sliding the leather down my arms before taking it away from me, draping my jacket on one of the chairs. "Milady, dinner is served," he whispered against my cheek before kissing me along my jaw. A shudder runs through me before I smile widely.
"You made dinner for me?" I ask, grinning like a maniac. Edward's eyes glide over my black, transparent blouse and the lace underneath. He bites his lips and arches a brow before turning away from me. Something smells divine, so I follow him into the kitchen where Ginger swings a dish towel over his right shoulder and peeks into the oven.
"Hell yeah, figured that's the least I can do after you've spent the entire evening catering to the freaks of the city." He winks and I roll my eyes.
"No kink-shaming, Ginger," I tell him.
"Of course not, baby. Just making jokes. How was your night?" It's only eight, but I feel exhausted since I was in the dungeon for over four hours.
"It was okay, but I'm glad I'm here now." I rest my ass against the kitchen island where there's barely any evidence of a cooking spree. Ginger is such a clean person, it still baffles me sometimes. He's the calm to my chaotic self.
"Ah, did you miss me, Havoc?" He smirks, looking devious and beautiful.
"I did, yeah. You know I love your food," I tease. I've been saying the L-word a lot, too, about everything except him. I like to see the look on his face every time I do, it's fun and a little torturous.
He takes a deep breath and tries to suppress a smile, but fails miserably. He looks like a happy kid who just got a free pass at the candy store.
"C'mere," he says. I step into his embrace, enjoying the warmth of his strong body, enjoying the way his arms fit around me perfectly. "I want you," he says, voice low.
"I want you too," I reply. I fucking love you, too, but apparently, we're both too scared to say that. My stomach growls loudly, and I look up. "But I want your food more, right now." He chuckles and makes me sit down at the island where there are place settings for two.
"Good to say where your priorities lie, princess." He pulls my hair, and I moan at the sensation, at the promise of more. I love that we're freer with each other, how he's relaxed and I'm not a bitch to him the entire time. It's refreshing and it feels right. Everything with Edward feels right. So I decide to be the bigger person.
"Ginger?" I ask, turning my torso so I can stare at his ass while he's taking a dish out of the oven. I smell marinara sauce and his secret herb mix for his penne al forno. Extra meatballs, always.
"Yeah, baby?" He looks young when he's dressing down, copper-golden hair falling into his face, eyes bright, scruff on his face. I love him like this.
"Do you wanna move in together?" I try to say it casually, but his eyes widen and he opens his mouth a few times before closing it again, then walks closer to me.
"Are you fucking serious right now? Or are you messing with me, Mistress?" I smile at the title, at the way he throws it into conversation carelessly nowadays. His face is inches from mine, skilled fingers playing with strands of my hair.
"I'm so fucking serious it's ridiculous. I want to. I'm here almost every night, anyway." It's like I'm only asking because it's convenient. It's not.
"Where would we live? Here, at your place? Somewhere else?" He doesn't exactly shoot down my idea, so that gives me hope.
"I don't care," I say, biting my lip.
"You just want to be with me, is that is, baby?" he asks, lips skimming my own.
"Yes, Master. Please," I breathe.
"Of course, I want to move in with you," he starts. "I love you, so it's only right." My heart almost falls out of my body, my skin on fire before he kisses me like I don't have a reply to his words. I evade his devious tongue, his tongue ring clicking loudly against his teeth when I pull away.
"Say that again," I say. He smirks and purses his pretty lips.
"Beg," he shoots back.
I turn my head and start shoveling pasta onto my plate, ignoring him while I bite the inside of my cheek. I almost can't fight the smile. Ginger can't pass this up, I know he hates it when I pretend he doesn't exist.
"Baby," he rasps, standing behind me.
"Say it again," I say softer, playing with the buttons on the cuff of my sleeve.
"As if you didn't know that already," he plays. "I fucking love you, baby Havoc." He's loud and clear and I turn to wrap my arms around his neck.
"I love you, too, Ginger."
We kiss for what seems like hours, and he's halfway done unbuttoning my shirt when there's a knock on the door. He groans and throws his head back.
"No fucking way," he mutters and tugs his hair.
"Are you expecting someone?" I ask, suddenly curious. I fumble with the tiny buttons until I'm decent again.
"It's my secretary, she was gonna drop off some files since I'm working from home tomorrow." He walks over to the door with a scowl on his face. No one interrupts Ginger when he's about to get his dick wet, that's a rule I know all too well. Poor woman.
She walks in with a cloud of perfume following her, and I arch a brow at her overly tight pencil skirt and blouse that's cut so low I can almost see her nipples. Then the blonde spots me, and her smile falls. "Oh, Mr. Masen. I didn't know you had company," she says. She's still smiling, but it's fake and full of venom now. I almost chuckle at her, how pathetic she looks, crushing on her boss. But he's mine, and she'll regret coming in here like she owns the place.
"Oh, baby, I thought she wouldn't make it tonight. After all, who comes to their boss' home at almost nine in the evening." I keep my voice overly sweet, eyes shooting daggers at the bitch who wants my man.
"I'm sorry I'm late, sir, but there was a prob—"
"I don't fucking care, Kate. Just give me what you're called here for and get out so I can get back to my girlfriend and our dinner." He's in full Dom mode, talking down to her as if she's trash. I can't help the snicker that escapes my mouth, enjoy the way he looks at me, and winks.
"I apologize, sir," Kate stammers.
"I'll see you Monday. Bye Kate," he bites, taking the heavy canvas bag. Something's noisy and Ginger stares down inside it.
"Is that a bottle of wine, Kate?" He cocks his head to the side.
"I—I," she stutters, scared little eyes cast in my direction.
"Ah, that's nice of her to bring a gift. We can drink it while we're in the bath later," I say. "Thanks, Kate."
"Y—you're welcome, Mrs. Masen." She walks out of the apartment without a second glance and I burst out laughing once she's gone.
"Fuck, you have that dumbo staring at you all fucking day? No wonder you want to work from home."
"I know, right? At least now she knows about my lady," Edward says sweetly.
"Yeah, Mrs. Masen," I joke.
"Does have a nice ring to it, don't you think, Havoc?" He winks again and I feel my heart flutter.
Yeah, it does.
We have dinner and not even five minutes later, Edward has me undressed and standing in front of him in the bathroom. The tub is full, lavender bath foam almost spilling over the edge.
"Undress me," he says, eyes roaming my body hungrily. The lines are blurred between us, there's no specific time for who's topping who. I was a little hesitant at first but turns out it's all we need. We make our own rules.
Edward fingers my necklace, the silver choker with the engraved padlock hanging in between my collarbones. It's a day collar Alice made me, and it matches the one Ginger wears, too. I was in awe when I first saw them laying together in a velvet box, B and E in shiny sterling.
I don't hesitate, lifting the hem of his T-shirt until he pulls it over his head, untying the drawstrings of his sweats. My mouth waters when I don't see any boxers underneath, cock hard and ready. All mine. Even in the most casual of clothes, Ginger has this dominant aura all over him. There's no denying his power, his prowess, even when he's the one on his knees before me.
"Now,' he says, tucking my hair behind my studded ear. "Get in the tub before I change my mind and bend you over the counter."
"Why won't you, Master?" I pout, but he takes my chin and angles my head up.
"Because I'm feeling soft and ditzy tonight, baby. I want to do all the vanilla shit—bath, wine, talking before I bruise you up and use you in my bed." My pussy throbs at his words.
"But," I start.
"Na-ah, baby Havoc. Get. In. The. Tub." His tone is loud and clear so I do as he says.
He sits down opposite me, long legs open and resting against the porcelain claw-foot bathtub, the side of his legs against my own. I watch him eagerly, the way his eyes close when he tips his head back and visibly relaxes, the way drops of water glide of his necklace and down the middle of his chest until they disappear under the luxurious foam.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" I get up and turn around, sitting down between his legs. He takes in a sharp breath and I feel his cock against my back.
"When can you move in here?" he says softly, gathering my hair and taking the rubber band off my wrist to tie it up in a messy bun.
"Here?" I ask.
"Well yeah, since you can't be bothered with choosing, and you say you simply don't care, I make the decision. I like it when you're here. I like me when you're here and I want to keep you here," he says matter-of-factly. I grin, glad he can't see my lovesick expression. I'm back to being Bella from a few years ago.
"Okay," I say simply. "I'll talk to my landlord."
"Good girl," he says as my back melts into his chest.