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Edward followed Bella to the kitchen an hour later. Every other step he pulled her back against him, needing to feel her closeness. Sniffing her hair, he dropped a kiss to her temple, his long fingers caressing her hip.

Bella's cheeks hurt. She'd never smiled so much in her life. Having the big, bad Edward Cullen trailing her was heady as fuck. The way his arm snaked around her waist and drew her up against him had a sense of belonging welling within. Never in her whole life had she felt as wanted as she did now. Yes—sex was amazing with this cold, lean man, but his embrace spoke to parts of her soul deprived of human connection. If she contemplated the effects of Edward's presence, she would be lost, never fully understanding what she was to him. Of course, he didn't realize what he was to her either.

He was her buoy in a turbulent storm, dictated to her by the waves of manipulation and deceit. Wrapping her arm over his, she held him in place, knowing without being told Edward would be the person to save her from the tsunami waiting just beyond the horizon.

Bringing his hand to her lips, she pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. "I really hope they put your dinner aside. I thought you learned your lesson about not eating."

Not too long ago, she'd made it her mission here to ensure he took better care of himself, even while he'd resisted at every turn. Day by day his resistance had crumbled, and the ice around his heart thawed.

"Oh, baby," he groaned next to her ear, his hot breath coating the shell. "I was fucking eating. I will be needing another helping soon too. If this house wasn't teaming with members of my family I'd pin you to the countertop and ravish your pussy right here."

Bella pulled the fridge door open, shivering from a mixture of the promise in his eyes and the cool air gushing down her heated body. Gesturing to the loaded shelves, she scanned the wrapped plate. "How about you start with some chicken? Maybe you could eat some grapes, something nourishing, and then we will talk about it."

Edward leaned his chest against her back as he took account of the items before him. When his gaze settled on the cheesecake, he looked at his wife with raised brows, remembering her very first offering to him. Even while he had no desire to relive the moment that marked him an asshole, the memory was very much alive. "How about you feed me some of this cheesecake?"

She could tell he was thinking of the last time she'd offered him cheesecake. In light of their newly budding relationship, hell, their new marriage, she had no desire to bring Irene into this new equation. Instead of referring to that night, she pulled the dessert from the shelf. "Now I need to feed you?"

Edward caressed her hip, nipping her ear, his desire throbbing to life. He'd fucked her twice, and still, his body craved more. When his cock twitched, his husky breath slid down her neck, nibbling on her pulse, he said, "Baby, I will feed you right back. Grab those strawberries and whipped topping, we're about to party upstairs."

By the time they left the kitchen their arms were full of random treats. Bella insisted until Edward finally agreed to a piece of chicken, and with their bounty in hand, they tracked through the house and slipped into his room.

Edward pressed the lock on his door, wanting no unexpected visitors in the morning, or hell anytime really. If it was up to him, he would just keep this woman sealed uptight and all to himself for the unforeseen future. They arranged the food on top of the bed like their own personal picnic. He watched intently with a fire burning in his gut as Bella bit into a strawberry, lust darting to his balls.

His lip curled with a yearning to bite into her tender skin. With this absurd need clawing at his gut, Edward's gaze lingered on the impression his teeth left in her shoulder.

Mentally, he cursed the space between them. He wanted to taste the fruit on her tongue. By sheer force of will, he returned his attention to the chicken. As soon as he bit into the fried breast, he realized just how hungry he was, diving straight into the meat. Ripping a mouthful from the bone, she chewed with vigor.

Bella's lips tipped as she watched Edward consume the chicken in huge greedy bites. "I guess you were hungrier than you thought."

"We worked up a helluva appetite, and we're not nearly close to done." Edward reached for the can of soda he'd set aside. Popping the tab, he took a long drink before handing Bella the can.

She smiled back with a twinkle in her eyes, Edward's implications obvious. Even now she felt a twinge in her worn-out muscles. Never in a million years would she ever get enough of him. Dropping her gaze, she reached for the soda he offered, and for the first time noticed his darkened knuckles.

Cradling the pop between her knees, she grabbed his hand and examined the discoloration, question lighting her gaze. "What the hell happened to your hand?"

His meeting with Charlie came to mind, and the fear she associated with her father awakened. Silence descended around them as she awaited Edward's answer. She dropped her gaze, studying the split in his middle knuckle, her thumb running over the bruised flesh. "Did this happen because of me?"

Edward could've lied. He could have told Bella this had nothing to do with her. As he figured it out, however, she'd already had enough deception in her life. Tossing the strawberry away he'd picked up from the platter, he shook her hand to get her attention. "Your father and I had a very interesting conversation. One that actually left me very curious. I would like to have someone investigate his claims before I tell you about it though. There's always the possibility he was lying to me."

Bella's stomach burned with acid at the mention of Edward's conversation with Charlie. Just the thought of her father had the mayor springing to mind. A shiver raced over her skin.

She'd come so close to falling victim to that lunatic. If she hadn't been so fortunate as to come here, there was no telling what would've happened. "Are you trying to say there was a method for his madness? I'm sorry but I don't think I can ever forgive him for everything. H-he is just as much a monster as that nasty old man."

"There may have been a few reasons …" Edward attempted to explain, yet was quickly cut off by his new wife. The passion that twinged her words reminded him of why he'd been drawn to her, to begin with. She was fierce, strong-willed, and stated exactly what was on her mind.

"There can't be a good enough reason for him trying to sell me to the mayor." Bella shook her head, her lashes falling against her cheek as she tried to block out the images of Winthrop touching her. "If things had been different—if Charlie had succeeded—that old man would've been touching …" Bella shivered at the thought, thoroughly disgusted by the idea. "Nothing makes what Charlie did okay."

Edward pushed the dishes aside and closed the space separating them. His hand cupped Bella's cheek, meeting her gaze when she managed to look at him. "You are right. There is no excuse good enough for selling you to anyone. That's why I coldcocked him when I walked in. I too envisioned Winthrop, and the thought of that aging fool touching what is mine … I could've ripped his jugular out with my teeth."

Bella's eyes widened in surprise, Edward's description taking her by surprise. "You hit Charlie because of me?"

"I'd do a lot worse for you, princess." Edward meant exactly what he said. If anyone touched a hair on her head, he'd rip their guts out and make them eat em. The intensity of this realization rocked him to his core, he would tear this whole town to shreds for Bella Cullen, the woman that had tested his sanity every minute she was here.

Playing with a tendril of burgundy hair, Edward pulled her forward until his lips pressed against hers, his nose gently nuzzling until she returned his kiss. He would do anything for her. In that precise moment, he knew. He knew he'd do anything to make sure she was always beside him. It didn't matter what obstacle stood in his way—hell, he'd even go head to head with God if the need arose.

Losing Irene had damn near destroyed him. Just the thought of something happening to Bella set his soul on fire. "You have come to mean a lot to me, more than I currently have words for. Even while this is the case, I think we should keep our marriage as discreet as possible until I have dealt with that windbag."

Disappointment had Bella dropping her gaze, completely misunderstanding his declaration. "So, is this real? Or not? You just said …"

"Bella." Edward's tone was harsh as he spoke, immediately capturing her attention. When her cool blue eyes gauged his expression, his brow drew tight. "I don't want that creep hearing this news from anyone but me. When he does, I can only imagine him coming at me with whatever he thinks he can. He will be angry and desperate. I want to deal with that face to face."

Edward watched Bella closely trying to decipher if she was believing him. When doubt continued to cloud her eyes, he took her chin in his grasp, tilting her head until she was forced to look at him. He wanted to tell Bella about her mother, yet there was no way without letting skeletons out of the closet. He wanted to hear what Bobby uncovered first. "I need you to trust me. It might be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life, but I am working on it. As soon as I have told that fool, you can tell anyone you want."

"Don't you want to? Tell people?" Bella asked, swallowing the lump in her throat. "What about your family? Do you want them to know?"

Apprehension seized her chest, yet when he kissed her lips before nipping up her jaw, some of the worries melted away. She tilted her chin as he licked his way to her ear.

"Of course, I want people to know." Edward smoothed a thumb over her lower lip. "When this is all over—we will tell everyone. Will you trust me?"

Bella searched his deep blues before she finally nodded. "Yes. I will trust you, Edward."

Dropping another kiss to her lips, he stood and began clearing the plates from the bed. When the last plate was set aside on top of his dresser, he urged Bella to her feet and yanked the covers back far enough for her to climb inside. "Get beneath the sheet, babe."

More exhausted than she'd realized, Bella did as he commanded, settling back against the mountain of pillows. She ached in all the right places, subtle reminders of the consummating of her marriage. The tension beneath her chest didn't ease until he followed her under the covers. When he turned the light out, she would've turned on her side facing the door but Edward's arm dropped over her waist and pulled her back against him.

His lips rested against her ear. "Switch me sides, wife." When Bella tensed beside him, he continued, "If anyone was to come through that door, I want to be the first person to deal with it."

Awkwardly, she climbed over his form, moaning as his hand slipped over her ass. Finally, she settled against his left side, her head pillowing on his shoulder as her leg slipped between his.

Warmth surrounded her from the top of her head, where it rested against Edward's shoulder to the tips of her toes as she snuggled them against his shins. As his lips pressed against her forehead, she released a pent-up breath and finally relaxed. With Edward's heart pounding in her ear, and his hands sliding up and down her back, her lashes fluttered. She was asleep within seconds, feeling safe for the first time in her life.

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