Chapter Nine—Chasing Isabella


Edward and Isabella spent the following day together in bed, resurfacing from under the sheets late that afternoon, but only due to hunger. Soon, they settled in her living room to eat takeout.

They shared their food, spoke quietly of what they'd been up to for the past two days while Isabella was away for business. She had a hundred questions about the car, wondering how Edward managed to buy it from Mike. He wouldn't sell to just anyone.

It was during that conversation when Edward realized something bothered him about the situation. "I'm finding it hard to believe you allowed that fucking moron to buy your car in the first place."

Isabella looked up from the newspaper, her eyes narrowing for a moment. Something dark flickered across the warm brown, but she looked away before he could focus on it. "His persistence was bad for business and he was freaking out my employees." She shrugged, digging into her noodles with zest again. "Besides, if anything bad happened to him, I'd be the prime suspect."

Edward coughed at the casualness of her words, choking on an eggroll. "Why?"

"I threatened to cut off his balls in front of my staff and customers." She looked thoughtful. "It was then I knew I had to handle the situation different from how I would normally."

He wanted to ask what "normally" would entail, but thought better of it. Riley would undoubtedly be handling Mike by the end of the day, and now, he had to ensure the blame would never point to Isabella. He fished out his phone to send his Riley a message.

"Who are you texting?" She looked at him questionably, his fingers flying across the screen of his cell phone. "Fancy phone you have there."

Edward cursed the fact he hadn't thought about using a ten-thousand-dollar phone in front of her. As if it was easy to gain access to owning one; even for the exorbitant price tag.

"I do IT for several big companies. I had to invest in a secure venture." The half-lie slipped easily from his lips, yet tasted bitter. He hated lying to her, but until he knew her feelings for him were solid, he couldn't risk telling her the truth.

"Makes sense." She absently moved food around in her takeout box. It wasn't long before she looked at him, any warmth in her gaze gone, and replaced by something hotter. Dangerous. "Edward, I'm the jealous type. I don't fucking share. If you're with someone else or plan to be, I need you to leave now before I cut your balls off."

She couldn't have shocked him more. Her confidence was one thing that attracted him to her in the first place; paired with her sense of family loyalty, he was halfway to fucking adoration.

There she sat, staring at him with fierce, brown eyes, completely secure stating her feelings and what she expected from him.

Edward realized over the last year he lost his smooth edge with women. He always knew what they were thinking and what they needed. Isabella was different. He tossed his cell phone away after he sent the text to Riley. He joined her on the floor, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her onto his lap.

"I was texting an associate, Isabella." He settled his chin on her shoulder. She had yet to turn toward him. "I know you said you've had shitty relationships in the past, and you know it's been the same for me. I wouldn't buy a car for just anyone."

She looked back at her food, dropping her chopsticks on the table; a black bracelet on her right wrist captured her interest, her fingers playing with a charm.

"A smelly car, too," she teased, humming when he kissed her temple. "Sorry, I swear the bitch in me doesn't surface . . . much."

Edward couldn't stop a smile from forming. "I'm about to sound like an asshole, but I liked knowing you were worried."

She cocked an eyebrow, trying not to scowl at him. "I see."

Edward had the balls to smirk some more, his hand running down the length of her back, loving the shiver that moved through her. "It shows we're on the same page, Isabella."

"Are you saying you're the jealous type, too?"

The jealous type? She had no idea; add paranoid about her safety, and possessive, and he was essentially the asshole his brothers claimed him to be.

Edward worked to control his features, to keep the hard edge out of his eyes and voice. "When it comes to you, yes." He pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss; the complete opposite from the darkness and raw emotion he felt. The thought of her with someone else made his skin crawl, his blood boil, and his hands itch to take brutal action against the fucker.

"I can feel how much you're holding back," she murmured. Her lips skimmed over the sharp line of his jaw, her fingers barely grazing his skin. His hands gripped her hips, as she shifted to sit on her knees. "It's just there, Edward, under the surface."

One of her hands pushed away her food, the other slipped between them to stroke the length of his cock.

"Isabella."

Edward's little devil nipped at his jaw. "Come out, come out wherever you are."

His hands slid up the back of her thighs, his fingers digging into her ass. "Careful there, Isabella. You have no idea what you're about to unleash."

"While I was gone…" She paused, as if she knew it would only serve to piss him off. It did. "Some asshole at the airport bar dared to put his hand on me while I grabbed a drink."

"Where did he put his hand?" Edward already felt she could handle herself, but that didn't mean he'd like it if someone touched her without her permission. Or, if it wasn't him.

"My thigh," she whispered the location in his ear, her tongue teasing skin.

His hands continued to wander, up her back harder than he intended, imagining some asshole touching her. "Did you send him to his knees, Isabella?" His voice was hoarse and low, harsh. She painted a vivid scene in his head, and it made him want to find the fucker and cut off his hand for daring to touch her.

He felt her lips stretch into a smile against his cheek. "Yes, after I told him only one man can touch me, and it wasn't him."

"Fuck." Edward captured her lips with his. "This 'only one man' better be me."

She shrugged, jumping to her feet, no doubt sensing his growing anger. Not at her, but at what she had to endure with morons like Mike and handsy men at bars.

"Isabella." His voice firm as she started to back away from him.

She looked toward her bedroom, assessing the distance.

"Don't make me chase you, Isabella."

The black crop top she wore disappeared over her shoulder, her nipples pebbling in the cool living room.

"I think you like the chase." She slipped off her shorts, completely bare underneath, then threw them at him.

Edward was on his feet in a second, catching her by surprise. It lasted a mere moment, but then a sly smile made her even more alluring. She laughed, sprinting away from him.

He caught her in the hallway, holding her captive with a heated kiss, only to have her find a way out from between him in the wall. As he approached her bedroom, he stripped himself from his clothes.

Isabella was wrong; Edward loved the chase.

The room was cast in shadows, her blackout curtains keeping their secrets away from prying eyes. He decided to use her words against her. "Come out, come out wherever you are."

Edward prided himself in the ability to be always aware of his surroundings; his line of work demanded it. Yet, as he scanned the room, he could not figure out where Isabella was hiding. She was smart enough to head into the bedroom, considering every surface of it was saturated in her perfume. He inhaled deeply, addicted to their mingled scents and sex in the air. "Isabella."

His skin prickled right before she tackled him onto the bed, straddling his hips, a smile on her gorgeous mouth.

Her hair draped around their faces, her hands on either side of his head. "Now that I got you right where I want you, what am I going to do with you?"

Edward's heart raced in his chest, a combination of anticipation and desire, as potent as an adrenaline rush. His hands swept down her sides, his thumbs brushing her nipples, settling on the curves of her ass. Grabbing and pushing her hips to stroke his cock. "Fuck, Isabella."

She smirked, dipping down to sink her teeth into his bottom lip. "That's the plan, Edward."

Instinct made him want to roll them over and thrust hard inside her. Another part of him wanted to know what she would do. He knew that desire wouldn't last long; he would take over. For now, he'd wait and enjoy.

"Ride me." His fingers dug into her hips, the tip of his cock at her entrance.

Instead of complying, she teased him, sliding over his cock, driving him crazy. Her tongue soothed the sting of her bite, her soft moans served to make him harder. He was desperate for more of her, to fuck her until she couldn't walk anymore. Another warm, wet slide of her pussy over his cock, he thrust up inside her.

Isabella gasped, surprised by the intrusion, but soon laughing. "Your timing is fucking impeccable." She sat up, her hands on his chest, rolling her hips. "You feel so good."

Edward groaned, unable to keep his eyes off her. She looked like a goddess, hair all over the place, nipples tight and begging for his attention, and the sight of his cock disappearing inside her, as he thrust up to meet her.

Her eyes suddenly snapped open, her mouth dropping open in shock, "Oh fuck."

"What is it?" Did he hurt her?

"We've been having sex without condoms."

Edward looked back and realized she was right, but knew she was on the pill. "I'm clean, Isabella. I haven't been with anyone in a while. I've tested since then, and I always used condoms." She clenched around him, eliciting a hiss from him. "Until you."

She smiled. "Me."

"Ride me, Isabella." He was ready to beg; he needed her to move. His fingers ached with how hard he held her, no doubt leaving bruises.

She started to shift, dipping down to kiss him for several moments. Leaving him breathless, she sat up again and did exactly what he wanted. Riding him until her thighs shook, her body tightening and ready to explode. She would slow down every time she was close, wanting to prolong the experience.

"Let go." His words sounded like a plea to him. "Give it to me."

"Take it." She stilled, making him curse.

Edward had no choice. He rolled until her body arched under him, then he thrust and thrust inside her relentlessly. Each of them on a knife's edge, so sharp, their vision blurred, bodies slick with sweat, heat building between them.

"Fuck, come, please." Edward had never begged for anything in his life. Not even when held hostage at the hands of his family's enemies.

His licked his fingers, slipping his hand between them, rubbing her clit.

Isabella's eyes snapped open, then closing shut as she screamed.

Edward buried his face against her neck, thrusting through her orgasm and reaching his own bliss. His shout as intense as the pleasure pulsing through his body. Sated, for the moment, he had enough strength to lie beside her and pull her close.

"I promise I won't run…often." She laughed when he playfully growled at her.

"I fucking love chasing you."

.

.

.

For two months after their first night and day together, with the threat of Alec no longer an issue, Edward spent as much time as possible with Isabella. They split their time between his place and hers, and it wasn't long before she had him meet her father. He happened to live in the same building as Isabella, but had stayed with his wife's family since the accident. One of Sue's daughters was a physical therapist and helped him come to terms with his injuries.

Charlie Swan was a quiet but intimidating man. It was in his eyes. Now Edward understood what Isabella meant when she said the same thing about him. Charlie's eyes said it all: he loved his daughter, and he'd kill for her.

Charlie recognized the same look in Edward's eyes. "You're going to take care of my daughter." His words were a statement, not a question. "And she'll take care of you."

"I wish I could say I don't need her to, but…" Edward glanced in the direction of Isabella's kitchen where she and Sue finished preparing dinner. "I couldn't imagine my life without her. Not anymore."

Edward wasn't sure when it happened, but it did. Family would always come first, but now he could honestly say to himself, that Isabella was like family to him. He would do anything for her.

Charlie nodded, as if he sensed where Edward's feelings were, though he had yet to understand them. "There's something familiar about you, but I can't figure out what."

Edward kept his face neutral, wondering if Charlie recognized him from the news. It had been well over a year since he was included in any headlines back home. The chances of them reaching Charlie in Washington was slim, unless he was looking for it.

Edward looked at Charlie, hoping not to give himself away. The dark eyes reminded Edward of Isabella, but Charlie's calm, smooth voice reminded him of something else. He couldn't pinpoint what. "I was thinking the same thing about you."

Charlie's face softened, but then his smile turned to a stern line. "Your background check came back clean—maybe a little too clean, but I guess I won't have to kill you, Edward . . . Masen."

Edward chuckled, shaking his head. "Good to hear, because I plan to stick around for a long time, Charlie."

Charlie's brow tightened. "But not here, right? She said you mentioned family back east."

"I miss my family." It was all he said, but Charlie seemed to understand.

"I knew the day would come, and maybe it would be good for her to start fresh somewhere else." There was a hint of regret in Charlie's voice, but that didn't make any sense to Edward. The background checks on the construction company and Isabella's family came out clean. Other than a few parking tickets and a little trouble with a client years earlier, Charlie lived a good life.

Edward simply nodded, grateful when Isabella called them to dinner. He helped Charlie maneuver his cumbersome wheelchair, and they joined Sue and Isabella. Sue's daughters Leah and Olivia were running late, but would soon join them. As he sat with Isabella's little family, he realized he fit in with them quite effortlessly.

He just hoped she'd feel the same next week when he took her home to meet his family.


AN: The next chapter is basically the last major scene in the original one shot, but it will be extended. I won't make you wait as long, working on it now. Most of this chapter is brand new. Thanks to MC for all your help with the chapter. Thanks to everyone tweeting, retweeting and recommending this fic. I appreciate it, my internet is so bad, so it helps.