A Dó Dhéag (12)

A/N: So, I hit 900 reviews, so I'm posting this chapter early, really when have I needed a reason. This chapter is fairly shortish, but there is some important stuff. Thanks always to everyone who reviews, love y'all. Also, thank you to my preaders and beta. They make it all look super pretty and readable; Maplestyle, BitterHarpy, AGoodWitch, SassyNoles, 2 brown eyes, and Mel C. Onto how Bella is feeling.

When I woke up, my senses came back to me slowly. I was extremely warm and comfortable. A hand that didn't belong to me was gripping my hip, and I shifted slightly, feeling a hard body pressing into me. That was when my memories caught up to what was going on. I was with Edward, in his bed, at his parents' house. I remembered with startling clarity what happened the last time I woke up in his bed. Even though I knew things had changed, I wasn't sure how much. I wasn't expecting him to give me a piggyback ride inside the house and up to his room, but it was nice to see his playful side come out. I looked toward his nightstand but didn't see a clock anywhere in the room. I felt around for my cell phone but couldn't locate it.

"It's on the nightstand over here. You forgot it in the car, and Emmett brought it up an hour after we got here. Rose was worried. He talked to her." Edward said all this without moving, in his husky sleepy tone, his breath coasting across my neck.

I sighed, still exhausted. "What time is it?"

I felt the bed shift and then saw the light from his cell phone illuminate his features, and he groaned. "It's only 1 p.m.; go back to sleep." I felt his arm wrap around me again.

"How is it still so dark in here?" I was barely able to make anything out, and there was no light from the windows.

"I put up blackout curtains. Shhh. Night, night time."

I giggled because it was adorable how he was like a kid when it came to his sleep. I pushed at his arm, but it didn't move with his tight grip "I gotta get up, Edward. I don't want to screw up my sleep schedule."

"Bella, going for twenty-four hours and then getting five hours of sleep isn't healthy."

"I'm a doctor. I got less sleep than that before. I promise I'll be okay." I soothed.

He huffed and then I felt the bed move again. He turned the light on his phone again. He handed me my cell, and then he got up. "All right, we should probably head downstairs."

"No, Edward. You don't have to get up. Go back to bed."

The lamp on his nightstand turned on, and he looked at me with his eyebrows raised. "I tried to get you to go back to sleep, and you refused, so now I'm getting up with you."

I rolled my eyes and laughed. Before I even registered I was moving, I was on my back with Edward hovering over me. "What are you doing?" I asked, laughing.

"Did you roll your eyes at me?" he asked me, like always, but there was a playful smile tugging at his lips. I nodded my head at him, trying to hold back the laughter. His lips crashed to mine, hard and demanding, his tongue exploring my mouth, and even though we had both just woken up, Edward's taste didn't compare to anything else. I ran my hands from where they fell at his hips, up his sides and across the bottom of his shoulder blades, settling in his hair as I tugged at the strands. He groaned, and it was animalistic and so hot.

If I was one hundred percent honest with myself, I had found Edward attractive the moment I met him, and that was always a thought, but eventually he opened his mouth and started talking, and when we went toe to toe, that is where shit always went to hell. This right here though, kissing, we were getting very good at. Edward grabbed my ponytail and wrapped it around his fist, pulling my head back, causing me to gasp as his lips slid down my neck and trailed along my collarbones. His hand slid up my stomach, and then he palmed my breast, grinding his very prominent erection into my thigh. I knew this was about to get out of control, so I gently pushed on his chest. He got the hint and rolled over onto his back next to me.

"Sorry. I get carried away when it comes to you." His voice husky.

"It's okay. I enjoy kissing you, but I'm not going to have sex with you."

He nodded and stood up. He offered me his hand, helping me stand up, and then I followed him downstairs. I yawned and he gave me a soft smile, steering me into the kitchen. He went over to the coffee maker, pulled down a mug, grabbed one of those coffee pods from the cupboard, and then snapped it in the coffee maker. Within minutes, it was done and I had my own cup of coffee. I gave him a bright smile, and as I moved to put creamer in mine, he made his own cup. "Geez, Bella, you want some coffee with that?" he asked, when my coffee was a light tan color. I like a lot of creamer; that's just how I always was with coffee. I suppressed the eye roll and simply shrugged and smiled at him.

As luck would have it, while Edward and I were laughing about something together over by the coffee maker, Esme walked into the kitchen. She tried to hide the smug smile on her face, but Edward and I both caught it. Edward tugged on my elbow and gestured for us to go sit down at the breakfast bar. I let him take the lead, trailing after him. Esme went to the fridge and pulled out a few Tupperware containers. She set a plate of potato salad and some salmon with a white sauce on it in front of both me and Edward. I smiled at her and mumbled thank you. She returned it with her warm motherly grin, then breezed out of the kitchen. After I took a bite of the salmon, I groaned and rested my head on Edward's shoulder. "I want to move in." I laughed.

Edward chuckled back and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. We locked eyes and when he moved to kiss me, I backed away. I only had so much self control, and I was serious about not sleeping with him. Just because he was being nice now, it didn't mean that it would last, and who knew that shit wouldn't just return to the way it was before once he got what he wanted.

Edward didn't seem to take my pulling away too hard. He just seemed to be resigned and weary around me. I hated that the dynamic had shifted between us again, but I had no idea what to do with sincere, playful Edward. I knew how to deal with domineering, bossy Edward, and that was with snarkiness and sassiness that could rival his attitude, but this was new for me. If I wasn't careful, I'd only be setting myself up for heartache.

We finished eating in relative silence until Carlisle walked into the kitchen. I remembered Edward telling me that his dad wanted to speak to me after I slept, and I was a little wary of what it was about.

"Bella, did you get enough sleep?"

"Enough to function, Mr. Cullen."

"Lovely. When you are done eating, could you join me in my study? Edward, you will need to be there as well."

Edward just nodded and stayed silent. Carlisle gave him a meaningful look and then left the room. I was about to ask Edward what that was all about when Edward shook his head. "Off limits, Bella."

And there it was. Back to bossy, distant Edward. I tried not to be disappointed, but I got up, rinsed out my cup and my plate, then turned to face him.

"I'm ready. You're gonna have to lead the way because I have no idea where I'm going."

Instead of going upstairs, as I expected, we went downstairs. The basement was fully finished and seemed like the rest of the house, instead of dark and creepy like most basements. We went down a hall and then Edward knocked on the door at the end once. When we both heard Carlisle say enter, Edward opened the door and gestured for me to go in ahead of him. I saw Eleazar sitting in one of the chairs set up in the room, but he was on the same side of the desk as Carlisle. The other two chairs were on the opposite side. I didn't know if I was supposed to be completely professional, but when Eleazar gave me a friendly grin, I was calmed and smiled back at him.

Edward and I sat next to each other. I noticed that Edward was weirdly quiet and very….stiff. Almost like he didn't want to be here and I had no idea what caused this sudden change in attitude from him, but I wasn't inclined to think too much on that or try to decode his mood swings.

"I understand that Demetri's surgery was a success and that he will make a full recovery."

I cleared my throat and pulled my eyes from Edward and looked at his father. He, as always, was the picture of calm and collected. "Yes, Mr. Cullen. We were able to remove the rebar without any further damage. He will be sore and needs to take it easy for a bit, but he will be fine."

Carlisle nodded and put a set of keys on the desk in front of me. "The building you used for that surgery is to be your temporary location until the clinic is built. After that, it will be used for any surgeries you need to perform. We closed on the location we discussed, and they will begin work on it this next week."

I took the keys from the desk, a little in awe that I was really doing this. I was moving forward to having my own practice; I was going to demote myself to a family medicine doctor by day and a doctor to the mafia the rest of the time. "Thank you, Mr. Cullen,"

"You're welcome, Bella. You definitely have earned it and showed that you are extremely competent."

I could tell that a compliment like that from Carlisle was a huge thing so I smiled brightly. To my surprise, he looked a little uncomfortable and cleared his throat. He leaned forward in his seat.

"Da…" Edward started.

"You have to understand why I am curious, mo mhac."

I was utterly lost as father and son stared at each other and started speaking what I assumed was Irish. Elezear looked thoroughly amused and it made me smile.

"Fan amach as!" Edward growled.

Carlisle looked angry and it made me worry, and I was about to ask if I could leave the room when Carlisle turned to look at me. "What is going on between you and Edward, Bella?"

My breath left me in a whoosh. Edward dropped his head in his hands then pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.

"It's complicated, Mr. Cullen."

"Do I look unintelligent, Bella?"

I looked at him wide-eyed and shook my head.

"Da…"

"You have had your chance to speak, so you will be quiet," Carlisle warned Edward.

"No, sir, I didn't mean to say that you were stupid. I just don't even understand our relationship myself. Half of the time I think we are about to strangle each other or come to blows, and the other half when he's not being a bossy asshole, we're able to get along really well."

Eleazar was beside himself and started laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. Carlisle smiled and chuckled.

Edward sighed again. "In ainm Dé."

"Bella, I like your honesty. It's refreshing since most people try to blow smoke up my ass," Carlisle said, chuckling. "Now, my wife is chomping at the bit to speak with you, and we have some other business to discuss. Thank you, dear." He turned his focus on his son now and I knew I had been effectively dismissed.

I nodded and didn't need to be asked twice to get the hell out of that room. I felt bad about leaving Edward behind, 'cause I knew his dad was angry, but self-preservation won out and I thanked him and was met in the hall by a beaming Esme and Alice. They both hurried me off to the kitchen, talking about afternoon tea and gossip. God help me.

Translation:

mo mhac- my son

Fan amach as!- stay out of it

In ainm Dé- literally in the name of God, for god's sake, expression of surprise, impatience, etc.

A/N: So, how are we feeling? Edward has turned broody again. Any idea why, I mean other than he's Edward, lol? Let me know what you think? I will see ya'll in a week, or if I get to 1K reviews, I will probably post early (I mean I usually do.) Thanks lovelies and enjoy your week!