A Hocht Déag (18)

A/N: Well hello fanfiction peeps. Here is the next chapter of this beast. I am a little early because I have plans tomorrow so I figured I will post it tonight. Thank you to everyone who reviews and comments. I enjoy hearing your thoughts and theories. Thank you as always to my preaders and my beta. They are amazing. Hope you enjoy!

Living with Edward was different. I had never gotten to that point in any relationship where I lived with a guy. Other than Rose and my parents, I had never resided with anyone else. It had been three weeks since the day we were followed and I started staying with Edward. I was lucky in the sense that Edward, while still a bachelor, kept his house tidy and cleaned up after himself. I was happy point blank; every morning I woke up enveloped in Edward's arms and completely consumed by him. Sex was becoming a regular activity—he was insatiable, and I had to admit, I was a little too. This morning, Edward's hands started roaming, and I tried to pretend I didn't notice, hoping he'd think I was asleep and try harder.

"I know you're awake, a pheata," he crooned, kissing me on the shoulder blade.

I moaned. "Nuh-uh. I'm still sleeping soundly, waiting for my prince to awaken me from my slumber with a kiss."

He chuckled and pulled me over to lie on my back, so he could hover above me. He held himself up on his forearms, keeping his weight off me. "Would you settle for a dark knight?"

I laughed out loud. "All I can picture is Batman." I dropped my voice to a low growl. "I've come to ravage you."

We both started laughing, but when Edward shifted his hips into mine, the laughter died in my throat, turning into a moan. He was already hard and half naked, his chest on display, and I watched the muscles contract and release as he ground into me. The lust and domination on his face was holding me captive. That was another thing I had learned about Edward. There were times when sex with him was sweet, slow, and euphoric. Most often though, he was domineering, in charge, naughty, sexy as sin, and a little kinky. I was clearly very independent, someone who had to be in charge all the time in my professional life. However, when it came to this, I wanted to give him the power and have him be in charge. It was just another way that we fit together better than I had ever imagined we would.

Just as I was about to beg Edward to undress me and take me, the alarm on his phone sounded throughout the room. Edward's head fell to my shoulder, and he groaned before rolling off me and grabbing his phone. "Fuck. It's nine. We gotta get ready. I have to meet my dad, and you're having brunch with Rose."

I stuck my lip out at him and gave him my best puppy dog eyes. He smiled that cocky smile that I used to hate so much in the beginning, but now I knew, at least with me, he had a reason to be very cocky. He got up off the bed and put his hand out for me to take. When I moved to follow him out of the bed, he slung me over his shoulder and I was unable to hold in my squeal. He slapped my ass and gripped my left ass cheek. Knowing his house well enough by now, I could tell by where he was walking that we were heading into the master bathroom. He put me down on my feet before turning the shower on, letting it get warm first.

I was about to start getting undressed when he grabbed my hand, stopping me. Tugging the hem of my tank top, he dragged it up over my head. He pulled my lips to his, and I willingly kissed him back. He kissed across my jaw, down my neck, along my collarbone, and gently bit me on my shoulder. I dug my hand in his hair, scratching his scalp, and then pulled on the strands of hair to bring his lips back to mine. Our kiss turned frenzied, passionate, and all-consuming. We both rid ourselves of our pants and underwear. He gripped my thighs and lifted me, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist.

He carried me into the shower with him, kissing me the entire time. The warm spray of the water hit my head, but I didn't notice as I was shoved against the wall, surrounded by Edward's warmth. He broke away from my lips and circled his tongue around my nipple, pulling the stiffening peak into his mouth. His moan of pleasure triggered my own, and my eyes rolled back.

I was so turned on that the water cascading down my body felt like light teases from fingertips and increased the pleasure that Edward was giving me. He gave the same treatment to my other breast and then licked his way back up to my lips. I held his face there by threading my hand into his hair and gripping tight. I could feel him hard and ready against my thigh. I moved my hand to grasp him, but he stopped me, grabbing both my hands and threading out fingers together. He carried me to the other wall, away from the water.

He lifted me farther up his body, until his face was aligned with my pussy. He lifted my legs until they were resting over his shoulders. He pulled my lips apart with his thumb and forefinger, giving one long lick, stopping at my clit and swirling around it and nipping at the flesh. I arched my body closer to his face, scrambling for something other than his head to hold onto. Finding nothing, I sunk my hands into his hair and raked it back from his forehead, so that I could watch his beautiful face the whole time.

He always loved when I played with his hair, making a sound that was a cross between a moan and a growl. This sent him into a frenzy, his tongue thrusting inside me and his teeth playing with my clit, causing the most euphoric mixture of pleasure and pain.

"Oh, Edward," I whimpered.

He looked up at me from between my legs, and slowly slid one finger inside me, curling the digit once fully inside me. With my breath accelerating, I started panting. He added another finger and I bucked my hips against his hand, and his mouth went back to work, teasing my clit. I was lost in the sensation he was providing, the hazy warm air wrapping around us, so my orgasm creeped up on me. My walls started clenching around his fingers and my thighs started shaking.

"I can feel you starting to lose control, agra. Give into it and come for me."

His words caused me to lose that grip on my control, and soon I was falling apart around him. I moaned his name like a chant, and when I had finally come down from my climax, Edward let me down on shaky legs and kissed me softly. He helped me wash my hair, and we both soaped each other up and rinsed off. I looked down and noticed he was still hard. I reached down and gripped his shaft in my hand, stroking up and down evenly and with increasing pressure.

"Fuck, turn around."

I did as he asked, bracing my hands against the marbled wall. Even though I knew it was coming, I gasped in surprise when he thrust inside me, realizing that there was no pain because my body was more than ready for him. He wasn't gentle, nor was he taking his time, so he immediately set a punishing pace. To prevent my head from crashing into the wall, I locked my arms and thrust myself back to match his rhythm. He gripped the tops of my shoulders to pull me back onto him, my still overly sensitive body immediately responding to him.

"I'm not going to last very long, mo grá. Touch your clit, make yourself come."

I did as he commanded, and when I felt his rhythm falter, I doubled down my efforts to come. By the time I was fluttering around him, he groaned, thrust one final time, and I felt him pulse inside me, filling me. When he pulled out of me, I whimpered and was pulled into his embrace. He kissed my forehead and rested his head on top of mine. I wound my arms around his neck. We quickly rinsed off, then Edward turned the shower off. His long arms reached for the towels waiting for us. He wrapped his towel around his waist and then wrapped mine around me, kissing me sweetly on the lips.

I always enjoyed sex with Edward, but afterward was quickly becoming one of my favorite parts too. He was always affectionate and almost adoring in the way he touched me or kissed me, almost like he was thanking me without words. I put my hands on either side of his face and made him look at me. His eyes searched my face, and I pulled his forehead to mine. I didn't need to say anything—we rarely did—but the emotions between us were all we needed at the moment. Looking at the clock on the wall, he playfully smacked my ass and we went to get dressed.

I looked over at Edward as we drove to Emmett's place. Rose and I were having brunch over there, and Emmett and Edward had to go meet Carlisle, Jasper, and Eleazar. It was easy to see the slow changes that were happening in Edward. He was still dominant and bossy, in charge, but when it was just us, he was lighter, happier. I got to see a side of Edward that most wouldn't, so I could understand I would have to explain why I was with him to a lot of people. He and I had a connection that was hard to ignore, because it was there in every touch, kiss, look, and even in the way we said each other's names.

Edward noticed me looking at him, and he gave me that small smirk and shook his head, not taking his eyes away from the road. "Why are you staring at me, a pheata?"

"'Cause you're pretty," I teased. He chuckled and rolled his eyes. I gasped. "Oh my god, did you just roll your eyes at me?" I mocked his voice when he used to ask me that.

He grabbed my hand and kissed it, looking away from the windshield to unleash all his charm on me at once. His eyes always told me how he felt, and I knew that look he had. That was how I knew he cared just as much as me.

"Well, if you're gonna be all charming then I can't be mad at you. Are you sure you're not my prince?"

He snorted and smiled a bright grin. "Oh, agra, would a prince make you come two times in the shower this morning, once with his mouth?"

I smiled sweetly and looked away from him, chuckling to myself while I shook my head. We conversed casually on the drive, not bringing up the meeting he was going to have with the guys. Regardless of all the information I had been given over the last few days, I still wasn't interested in knowing the specifics. I only wanted to be told what I needed to know. Anything more would make me think too much, and this was never a good thing in this lifestyle, so I was told.

We arrived at our destination, and I was up and out of the car before he had even turned the car off. While I did enjoy living with Edward and the time we had together alone, I missed my sister something crazy. Apparently she felt the same way because she met me outside before I could make it to the door. I hugged her tight and she squeezed me back. Edward followed behind us as we headed inside.

As was becoming customary every time I saw him, Emmett gave me a huge bear hug, actually lifting me off the ground. Edward tutted and Rose just laughed. She playfully punched Edward's shoulder and his lips tilted up minutely. When Emmett set me down, Edward pulled me toward him and kissed my temple. We all chatted for a few minutes, but not before too long, the guys had to leave to go to their meeting. Rose and I both hugged and kissed our guys goodbye. Rose linked her arm with mine, and we went to Emmett's kitchen. She pulled ingredients out of the cupboard and fridge.

We made pancakes, eggs, and bacon as we caught each other up on how things were going. We talked to each other every other day, but sometimes it was just better talking face to face. This way I could see the shine in her eyes and how she couldn't stop smiling. "So, you guys are doing really well?" I hoped that the answer was yes.

"Yeah, sissy. After what Esme told me, we talked, and he addressed all my questions and worries completely honestly. He also said that he would protect me until the end, and what you told me about Edward came back to me. I finally got it."

"I'm so glad, Ro. I knew that you two cared about each other, and I knew how happy you were with him."

"What about you? How are you and Edward?"

"It's so weird and surreal. We spent so much time arguing and fighting that it's just amazing how well we get along and how in sync we are. I think I'm in love, Rose." I covered my mouth in shock but she didn't notice I didn't mean to say that.

She squealed and hugged me tightly. "Oh my god, my super serious sister has finally got bitten by the love bug! Of course, it would be with a man that has as much of an attitude as you, and who is as powerful in his profession as you are." She smiled. I tried to give her a genuine smile back, but it didn't come out that way apparently. She pulled back from me. "What's wrong, Bella? You don't seem to be as jazzed about it as you should be."

"Because I don't know how to do this, Rose!" I said, gesturing with my hands. I had to get this off my chest. "Especially with Edward. Their lives are dangerous and a constant fight for survival. Those are things I can quantify and that helps, but love isn't quantifiable, at least it's not supposed to be."

Rose frowned and asked with concern, "Why does it need to be? Why do you have to assign a number or value to it?"

I gave her a look to convey that she should know better. She knew me better than anyone else. "Because that's how I work. Medicine is about science, empirical facts and evidence from exhaustive studies. Love is feelings and emotions, and you never know from one minute to the next if you are even getting it right. It's terrifying. Neither of us has had a serious relationship before. What the fuck are two beginners doing getting so serious?"

Rose had the audacity to look amused. I looked at her with arched eyebrows. "I'm sorry, sissy, but you have to calm down."

"I'm over here freaking out and you're laughing at me. This isn't funny. I have never been in love before. Ohhh, and now I'm having a hard time breathing." I choked the words out, trying to drag more oxygen into my lungs, but it wasn't working. As a doctor, I knew this was a panic attack.

Rose, being the sister of said doctor, knew the same thing and ran to the cupboard and came back with a paper bag. I swatted her away with my hands, sat down, and put my head between my knees, trying to even out my breathing until I felt the panic ebb, my thinking becoming less hazy and erratic with each exhale.

Rose sat down in front of me on the dining room chair and put her hands on my thighs. "Bella, your entire life you have always been the logical, analytical, calm one and I wasn't. You have relied on science and facts, but this isn't something you can control. You are depending on someone else to be there for you, and that is what scares you. You have been there for everyone else—Mom and Dad, me, Edward, Emmett, Dem—now you need to rely on someone else, but Bella, the fact that Edward chose you just shows he loves you. He never wanted anything more with any other girl. Just you. Why do you think that is?"

Rose's revelation brought the tears to the surface; sometimes it was hard to think of the way people saw me. In my mind, I was smart and a good doctor and I deserved that title, but on the other hand, I was just being Bella. That was who I was. "I don't know, Ro. Why?"

"He sees it. What people call attitude and snarkiness is an inner strength that refuses to give up. He sees someone who is equal to him, and I doubt he has found that in any other bimbo he has been with. You are damn impressive, sissy."

I pulled Rose into a hug. Rose and I loved each other fiercely, but sometimes it was easy to lose sight of that or take it for granted. Anytime one of us ever lost our way, one of us would drag the other one out, and she had just told me what I needed to stop freaking out. She was right. My entire life I had been there for other people; I took care of others; I made them rely on me, so I didn't have to rely on anyone else. Now, with Edward, he was smack dab in the middle of my universe, and it scared the hell out of me. The fact that Rose saw he loved me, without knowing much about him, made it easier to bolster that strength and not try to sabotage this just to save myself.

After the serious talk, we steered toward less deep topics and just had a great late morning. It was nice to spend some time with her when we were both so happy and complete. It made me think of things coming around the corner.

"Hey, Ro. Have you kept up with your medical practice manager stuff?"

"Yeah, I worked in a medical office in Chicago. I just had to quit when I decided to move because there was nowhere to transfer to here in Seattle. Why?"

Since Rose had found out the truth about the Cullens and the world we were in now, she had also learned the truth about my medical practice, and I still needed an office manager. I completely trusted Rose because as I have said before, she had beauty and brains. It would be easy for people to write her off as a dumb blonde, but she had a heart of gold and a mind as sharp as a tack. It did take some digging to come to that conclusion though because she had the ice princess act down to a fucking T and she could play up the dumb giggly girl like the best actress, but I knew the real Rose.

"I need a front office manager, and I trust you more than any other person I could bring in. Carlisle said that I can pick my team. I have Alice as my head nurse, and I want you on my staff. My office is really close to opening."

Rose smiled at me and cocked her head. "You think you can afford me?"

"Oh, bitch, please. I have Daddy Warbucks backing me." I joked. I knew that Carlisle was funding the startup, but I had to make sure it was profitable and legit and that it stayed that way. I was not a business major; that was where Rose came in. She wanted to be a nurse, but when she fainted at the sight of blood and couldn't deal with all the other stuff they were required to do, she changed her major to business, and her minor was medical coding and insurance. She knew what she was doing, and she could train people who needed to be under her.

"I'll do it, Bellsy. That means my younger sister will be my boss. Wow."

"Oh, please. You know that office shit is not my thing. That is all you. I won't be bossing you around, much," I said, teasing.

Rose laughed and playfully pushed me. We cleaned up the kitchen and dishes from our brunch, then we sat and we pulled a puzzle out and started to put it together. This was something we hadn't done for a long time. She, our mom, and I used to do puzzles all the time, and I was hit by a sudden wave of melancholy that still surprised me sometimes. In reality, it had been less than a year since I lost both of my parents, and in all honesty, I probably never fully dealt with it. I took care of everything by myself because Rose wasn't around; she had checked out. Once their funeral was over, I went right back to work and buried myself in it. I didn't hold any of it against Rose because she dealt with it the way she needed to and I did as well.

By the time we were halfway through the puzzle, Edward and Emmett came sauntering in, wondering what was keeping us so quiet. Edward bent down and kissed my temple, and I smiled at him sweetly, bending my head back so he could kiss my lips. I puckered my lips at him and he chuckled, then gave me a quick chaste kiss. Rose smiled smugly, watching this interaction.

"Are you ready to get out of here?" Edward asked, stroking my hair. The move was soothing, causing a sigh to fall from my lips, and I closed my eyes, nodding.

I got up and gave Rose a hug, thanking her for earlier, and told her I would call her later. Then I followed Edward out to his car, his warm hand wrapped around mine, and I just knew that regardless of what may be going on that I didn't know about, as long as I had him with me, everything would be okay.

A/N: So how do we feel? What are your thoughts and questions? I enjoy hearing from you so leave a review and let me know. Things are starting to ramp up, so see you back here in a week. Thank you so much and have a great week.