Chapter 12

A/N: So, this is a couple days early, shocker right. Thank you so much to our readers, you guys rock so much and thank you for your reviews and recs. We are so appreciative that you enjoy the story. As always, thank you to our amazing prereaders Maplestyle, SassyNoles, and 2brown-eyes, they give us great suggestions and comments. Also thank you to Alice'sWhiteRabbit because she helps us make this readable. Onto the story, here is BPOV.

Songs- Dirrty by Christina Aguilera ft Redman, Addicted by Saving Abel

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"I'm serious, if you don't stop tickling me, I'm going to pee." I said, laughing. It was late, and Edward had shown up when DarkStrip had closed. I was the dummy who waited for him, but now we were both a little sleep deprived. I'd attacked him with a make-out session when he arrived, and though it didn't move beyond that, I couldn't get enough of his mouth on mine.

"Okay, fine, I'll stop, but I count that as a win in my column."

"You can't win by torture. That's not fair."

"Hasn't anyone ever told you, life isn't fair?"

I stuck my tongue out at him, and we both laughed together. The last month with Edward had been amazing since the night we had that pivotal kiss, and he'd been staying the night at my house every night. When it first started, I would wake up every morning alone. I tried not to let it hurt me too much. I knew he wasn't ready, and I was willing to wait, but I also held true to leaving DarkStrip and taking other romantic opportunities if they arose. I was still torn because, recently, he'd been staying over all night, and I woke up to those sleepy emerald eyes every morning.

"So, tomorrow is the big day, huh?" Edward asked, bringing up the awkward topic we tried to avoid. I had my last night at DarkStrip two weeks ago. My girls and the boys got me a cake, and we sat around drinking after hours. Tomorrow night, I would have my own dance that I was heading with other dancers, instead of being in the background. I missed working with my friends, but I still saw them. The burlesque club I had gotten hired at wasn't far from Edward's club actually.

"Yeah. Tomorrow is the day I transition from background dancer to headliner," I said.

"I'm only glad your aren't stripping anymore. I don't need to go crazy knowing there's all these fuckers looking at you half naked." He growled.

I laughed. "Edward, they've been doing it for months at your club."

"Yeah, but I was there. I get it doesn't make sense, just know I'm glad you haven't been getting naked."

"Okay, crazy man. I'm exhausted. Let's go to sleep." I snuggled under the covers, and Edward left to go lock up and turn the lights off. He kissed me softly, and I laid on his chest to fall asleep.

*DS*

"Five, six, seven, eight. Down, crawl and crawl, ass up, thrust down, hips back …" The choreographer droned while we all danced the routine we had seen twice before we were expected to show what we knew and what needed further instruction. It was definitely different to learn choreography instead of coming up with your own. Rose gave us ideas, but we were able to put our own spin on it. We also had a wardrobe person who decided what we wore.

We'd only gotten two days to learn this routine and then perform it live. Today was one last round of rehearsals. It would be me and four other dancers for this one. Rose, Alice, Emmett, and Jasper had all said they would be there for that performance. Edward really wanted to come, but he was the boss, so sometimes, it was hard to get away from work. Rose told him she would record it for him, and he whispered in my ear that I could give him a private performance later that night. I'd smiled to myself and just shook my head.

I hadn't specifically told Rose or Alice what had been going on between Edward and me, but they were both really fucking annoyingly observant, so they figured out something was different. I simply told them that Edward and I were trying to bond and see if we could be friends before anything else happened. They had accepted the answer, and I was off the hook for now.

My dance went off without a hitch, and once I was able to get away from all the backstage hoopla, I came out to the main bar area to talk to my friends. I was still in my corset top and lacy boy shorts.

"Girl, you killed it!" Rose said, giving me a hug.

Alice pulled me into her arms next. "That was so sexy."

"I completely agree," I heard a deep voice say behind me. I turned and was surprised to see Alec standing there.

"Alec, what are you doing here."

"I've been here a few times. Guess I just picked a good night to visit, right?"

"I guess so. It's good to see you again," I said, noticing that my friends had slunk away to the bar.

"You too. I have to say I've thought about you often since that night at DarkStrip."

"Yeah, Edward was in a bad mood that night."

"Oh, I don't care about him. He never was good at sharing." He grinned at me.

I wondered how he and Edward knew each other, how long, and what had they fought over. I brushed it off and smiled.

"So, what would it take to get you to agree to go on a date with me?"

"I guess you could start by asking me."

*DS*

Alec didn't disappoint and asked me out on a date. We made plans for a week later. Everything went great on our date. We went to dinner, and then talked as we walked around Pike Place Market together. He was still utterly handsome and smelled really good, he was a good listener, didn't talk down to me, and actually told me about his family and life. It was when our date ended that it all went to shit. He walked me to my door and started getting a little too demanding.

Alec leaned into my body, and my lips dropped open without my permission. He ran his hand down my arm. "Your skin is so soft. I bet it tastes divine."

He cupped the back of my head and pulled me in for a kiss.

I moved away from him. "Alec, I think this is going too fast."

"I just want to kiss you," he whispered huskily.

I highly doubted he wanted to just end it after a kiss, but I couldn't do it. I was still waiting for Edward to get his shit together, and yeah, maybe I took the date because I knew it would make him jealous. Maybe it would make him step up and realize that I wasn't going to wait forever.

I pushed him away again. "I don't think that's all you want."

"Why are you playing so hard to get? I've already seen you half naked—you were a stripper."

"Oh, my God, that doesn't mean I'm easy or a slut. What the fuck? Is that the only reason you asked me on a date?" I asked, getting pissed off and starting to unlock my door.

"No, but it was a motivating factor."

I swung my door open and blocked him from following me in. "I'm not going to fuck you. Rest assured I never will."

"Hmmm, so you're just a little cocktease?" he whispered in my ear. He pushed me inside the apartment and had me up against the wall. His hand was resting threateningly on my throat. I started panicking the minute he did that. The implication was loud and clear—don't fight me. He stepped in close and ran his nose down the side of my face, inhaling. Then he licked me at the hollow of my throat. He started to squeeze my throat, and I let out a strangled squeak.

My stomach curled in fear. I hated how helpless I felt in that moment. I was completely at Alec's mercy, and somehow with the look on his face, I wasn't expecting any gentleness. I closed my eyes, nausea rolling through my body. The body pressed against me was all wrong, and I finally realized I had made a huge mistake.

"What the fuck?" I heard a menacing voice say. I opened my eyes and saw Edward over Alec's shoulder. He was pulled away from me, and Edward clocked him right across the jaw. Relief rolled through me, realizing Edward was here. Then I saw the fury on his face and fear gripped me again. I scrambled out of the way.

Alec fell and Edward was right on him again. "Did I stutter when I said I would break every fucking finger one by one if you didn't keep your hands to yourself?" Alec tried to hit Edward back and protect himself at the same time.

Edward grabbed Alec's right hand as he tried to hit Edward and snapped the bones one by one. The sound of the bones crunching, and the man's screams of pain were something that I don't think I'd ever forget. Edward looked menacing, and I was too shocked to even react. What the hell? Edward had told me he would break the jaw of any guy I dated, and I knew he was possessive, but this was so extreme. Alec was howling with pain and had tears running down his face.

Edward grabbed Alec by the scruff of his coat and escorted him out the door and shut it, Alec looking like he was about to pass out. I wondered idly if we should call an ambulance. Before I could make the suggestion, Edward locked the door. I was still standing there stunned when Edward was gripping my forearms. "What part of stay away from Alec was hard for you to understand?"

I shook my head and was trying to keep from freaking out. I was truly terrified of Edward in that moment. Tears sprung to my eyes. "You told me … it wasn't the right time … I'm sorry. How could you do that to someone?"

He let go of me and ran his hand through his hair. "I warned you. Did you think I was joking when I said I'd break any other fucker's jaw? Fuck! You just don't understand, do you, Bella? You have no idea what you're messing with. There is a whole world you're not even aware of. When I told you to stay away from him, there was a reason for it. All this just to throw another guy in my face." He growled.

I wanted to challenge him on his cryptic words, but the look on his face told me that I just needed to trust that he was looking out for me. Edward had given me more of himself than he had ever given anyone, and he was just asking me to trust him, so I did. "I'm sorry, Edward. I made a mistake. Yes, I wanted to make you jealous, but it won't happen again. I didn't know, and I'll believe you when you tell me that I need to stay away from someone," I said. I was still completely terrified inside, but I wasn't lying when I said I felt safer with him. He pulled me into a hug and kissed my temple.

"You just can't do shit like that, Bella. It's too dangerous. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

I shook my head and soaked up all the comfort from him I could. "Thank you."

"For what?" he asked quietly.

"Being here. Saving me from what I could only imagine he was going to try to do …" If Edward hadn't been here, I could have very well been raped, or killed because I tried to fight back. I started to panic again, and it was getting hard to breath. Suddenly, Edward's green eyes filled my vision, and I focused on what he was saying.

"Breathe, babe. I will never let any other fucker lay hands on you again, not while I'm around, but you gotta meet me halfway and not put yourself in danger. Can you do that?"

I nodded my head in agreement. My natural reaction was to fight back or challenge Edward when he tried to get demanding, but his voice was so sincere and concerned that I squashed down that part of me. When it came to my safety, I wouldn't fight him on that. "I trust you, Edward. I won't fight you on this."

"Well, thank fucking God for small miracles." He smiled, chuckling.

I smiled and laughed. "Don't think I'm done fighting you on other things."

He kissed my temple again. "Oh, Bella. You wouldn't be you if you didn't." We were quiet for a beat when he spoke again. "I should spank your ass for disobeying me."

I was stunned, but my body started tingling at the thought. I smiled slyly at him. "I told you not to threaten me with a good time. Do you really have what it takes to punish me, Mr. Cullen?

This challenge game we had going back and forth between us all the time had finally reached a fever pitch. I never thought of myself as being someone into all that BDSM stuff, but the thought of Edward's hand hitting my ass until it was pink, and marking me as his, was extremely arousing. The smoldering look in his jade eyes caused my thighs to clench, and I tried to rub them together to get some sort of friction.

Edward pulled my thighs apart and ran a finger over my pussy, leaving me riveted by the domination in his touch. "Uh uh, princess. This is not for your pleasure yet." He patted his knee. "You're going to lay across my lap after you take your panties off. Leave the skirt on," he demanded. I stood up and slowly slid the thong I was wearing off, teasing him. "You keep teasing me and I'll add to the original amount," he murmured.

Not one to back down to a challenge, I dropped my ass in his lap and ground down like I would when giving a lap dance. I moaned and dropped my head back to rest against his shoulder. "Sorry, Mr. Cullen," I said, playing his game. "I just can't help myself." I ground down again.

He growled and grabbed me, getting me situated across his lap. I felt his hand push down in between my shoulders to keep my torso against the couch. He gripped the globes of my ass through the fabric of my skirt. He lifted my ass and flipped my skirt back, uncovering my cheeks. "I'm going to give you ten swats, and you will count them out. You ready, Isabella?"

I was a panting, quivering mess, but I managed to find my voice and squeak out, "Yes."

The first slap surprised me more than hurt. The loud smack of his flesh against mine cracked out in the small room. It stung, but the fire that radiated out from where he hit me raced across my body and built the arousal already smoldering.

"Count," he growled out.

"One." I moaned. He hit my ass again, one after the other as I counted. After five slaps fairly rapid in succession, he paused.

"Oh, you dirty girl. You are getting absolutely soaked." He purred, running a finger around my entrance. I moaned. He thrust in, and I gasped and dropped my ass to get closer to his fingers.

"Fuck, Edward," I said and ground my hips down into his hand. He abruptly pulled his fingers out, leaving me whimpering and yearning.

"You have five more, baby. Let's see how wet we can get you," he said, barely contained desire in his voice.

I huffed, which turned into a moan when he rubbed my ass. It was stinging, but when he touched me, I felt nothing but another stoke to the fire inside me. When he delivered his last smack, I yelled out, "Ten."

He played with my slick folds and groaned. "Baby, you are so wet. Is this all for me?" He found my clit and pinched it.

"Oh, shit. Yes, it's all yours." I panted. The things he was doing to my body felt too good, and I was sure I was going to spontaneously combust if I didn't get some relief soon. I rubbed myself against his finger. "Make me come."

He tsked. "What did I tell you about manners?"

"Please, make me come."

He grabbed my hips with force and dragged me to the end of the couch, my legs hanging off the end. Edward unzipped my skirt and ripped it off my body. He parted my lips with his thumbs and flattened his tongue against my clit. My body jerked up off the couch. He chuckled quietly and held my stomach down with a forearm. He licked from my entrance back up to my clit, circling it with his tongue and sucking it into his mouth, gently scraping it with his teeth. I moaned, and my eyes rolled back in my head, my body melting into the couch. He inserted two fingers inside me, pumping in time with his licks to my clit. I fisted his hair and held him against me.

"That feels so good … holy fuck," I panted out as he flicked my clit with his tongue and bit it again gently. The tingles of that action sent jolts of electricity across my body, making my walls clench down on his fingers.

"Fuck, you are so tight, Bella … taste so good," he whispered, his voice gravely with pure sex. He unbuckled his belt, shoving his hand into his pants. Wrapping his fingers around his thick length, he pumped his hand while burying his tongue deep in my body, only spurring on the lust boiling in my veins.

Edward's free hand slid up my stomach and kneaded my breast, pinching the nipple. He repeated the action with my other breast. I rolled my hips, causing his tongue to slide farther inside me. He brought his hand back down to replace his tongue and started to lick my clit again. I watched as he continued to stroke himself, and I saw the precum leak from his head. I wanted to lick it, remembering how he tasted last time.

I threw my head back and closed my eyes as Edward stretched my entrance out with a third finger. "Fuck," I panted. My breathing started to accelerate, and I could feel the pleasure tightening the coil in my stomach, about ready to snap. I just needed a little more to get there. "That feels so good … I'm about to come. Don't stop."

At that statement, Edward turned into a man possessed. His tongue and fingers moved faster, and the hand stroking his cock sped up. The white-hot heat burst behind my eyes, and I was flying. I stuttered out a string of unintelligible curses and made a keening cry. I barely heard Edward grunt and swear. The bliss was sweeping across my entire body, leaving me sated and content.

Edward picked me up, causing me to squeal, and dropped me on my mattress. He took his slacks off completely and slid into the bed with me, pulling the covers over us. It was kinda funny he was still in a button-down shirt and his boxers. I had a shirt on but was naked from the waist down. He pulled me over to lay on his chest, but I unbuttoned his shirt, and he shrugged it off his shoulders. I rested my head on his chest, listening to the sound that had become essential for me to fall asleep these last few weeks—his heartbeat.

We were quiet for a few moments before I finally summoned up the courage to ask the question that had been on the tip of my tongue these last few weeks since this whole thing started. I knew little things about him, but I had a craving to know more. "Edward?" I asked.

"Hmm," he answered, looking down at me.

"What happened to your parents? I mean, you don't ever mention them. Why?"

I felt him immediately stiffen, and the hand that had been stroking up and down my arm stopped and dropped back down to the bed. "I don't talk about my parents, Bella. They were killed, and that's all you need to know."

The look on his face broke my heart. He was trying to hide it, but he looked so sad. I grabbed his face in my hands and rested our foreheads together. "It's okay. If you can't talk about it, I totally understand, but if you ever feel like you can tell me, I'll be right here to listen. I'm sorry. It's hard losing a parent."

He huffed, closing his eyes. "How would you know that, Bella? Your life was probably perfect."

I know he was trying to mask his own pain, so I didn't jump all over him for that remark. I decided to put myself out there and give him one piece of me that I could tell him. Since we were so close, I whispered my deepest secret that no one in my life at present knew. "When I was eight years old, my mom committed suicide by slitting her wrists in the bathtub. I was the one to find her the next morning. I still remember it as vividly as the day it happened. The blood pooling on the bathroom tile," I recalled. I didn't realize I had started to cry until I felt Edward brush the tears away from my eyes with his thumbs. He kissed me deeply and turned us, so I was on my back.

"Fuck, Bella. I'm sorry I said that."

"You didn't know. It's okay. So, I know what it's like to lose someone that you would give anything to have back, Edward, and I'm here when you're ready to talk about it."

"Thank you, Bella." I kissed him quickly. I tangled my legs with his and closed my eyes as he tucked me into his chest. "Come back to DarkStrip," he said so quietly I almost didn't hear him. I opened my eyes and pulled away to look at him.

"What?"

"Come back. I can't watch over you when you aren't under my roof. I can't stand to know you're getting naked for other guys, so come back, and you can bartend. You don't have to strip."

"But, Edward, I like dancing. I want to dance."

He pulled me close to him and breathed softly in my ear. "You can dance for me anytime you want."

I huffed and pushed him away, laughing. "Are you sure this is a good idea? We fought all the time with you as my boss."

"Well, I think our disagreement tonight went very well."

"You're such a pig," I said teasingly. "Fine. I'll come back. I can't believe you're poaching me."

"Admit it—it's turning you on a little."

"I'm going to sleep, you ass," I said, smiling at him. He kissed my forehead. I resumed my previous position. I fell asleep knowing he would be there in the morning and that was enough to let the exhaustion pull me under.

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A/N: Phew. Well, how do we all feel? Give us all the thoughts and we will be back with another chapter on Friday. Probably not before then, our gap is getting smaller, so we will still do two a week but posting days may change or be different, but it will be twice a week. Later lovelies!