Chapter 17

A/N: Here we are again. Last chapter of the week. Next week we are going back to Monday and Friday updates. Thanks to everyone who is reviewing and recing. Thank you for your support and love for our story. Thanks to our prereaders Maplestyle, SassyNoles, and 2 brown eyes. They always are so encouraging and support. Love you gals! Also, thanks to AlicesWhiteRabbit for her red pen skills. She is amazing and so glad to have her. Onto EPOV. BTW this is NSFW.

Songs- Feeling Good by Michael Buble, Runaway by Linkin Park

Please Review

Bella dropped a kiss on my pec as she propped her chin on my chest. Leisurely, my fingers slid through her hair, combing the strands away from her face. I let my gaze wander over her delicate features. Bella might be beautiful, but she was so much more than that, something I was becoming more and more aware of by the day. She was strong and sweet … Fierce and demanding … Intelligent and sexy as fuck … she didn't hesitate in the face of challenge, meeting every battle with an uplifted chin that left me amazed.

Clearly, she was different in every possible way than any other person I'd ever met. Last night, I'd claimed all of her purity as my own. In retrospect, I would've thought to feel regret and stupid for the decision to include this incredible person into my reckless, scary world … Perhaps in a way, deep down in the black hole of my heart, I was. Currently, however, I merely basked in her glittery gaze.

Whenever she watched me as she was doing now, she made me feel like I could walk on water. I knew it was ludicrous. Obviously, I was no more able to stroll atop the waves lapping the beach than I was able to leap from a building and take flight—yet she made me feel as though it was possible.

A curious light entered her eyes as she studied me intently. In a minute, there would be questions flowing from those perfect lips. It was written all over her face. A spot in my chest froze as I contemplated what exactly inspired that particular look, yet curiosity got the better of me, and instead of leaping from the bed and darting from the room, my lips curled as a warmth bloomed in my chest. Let me just say it was a foreign feeling after spending so much of my life in this cold, dank cave of my existence.

Lifting a thick brow, I asked, "What is going through that head of yours?"

She bit my pec before brushing a kiss over the skin, and I let my finger wander over the mark I'd left between her shoulder and neck. I smiled as she flinched slightly due to the sensitivity of the blemish. Bella licked the impressions her teeth left on my skin; shrugging, she said, "A lot of things."

"Like?" I wanted to know. Sharing information about myself was something I never, ever did. It was something I'd never wanted to do. Even now, I felt hesitation as I contemplated letting this woman into my past or anywhere close to it. I could say all I wanted was for her safety, but the simple fact was I was uncomfortable with the notion. Letting people into your past was like digging up the worst parts of yourself and putting them beneath a microscope. Yet …

Bella was different. I don't know what the fuck it was about the woman, but she'd burrowed under my skin, and no matter how hard I shook, I couldn't dislodge her. All of a sudden, I just didn't want to. I didn't want to crawl into my hole and wait for her to disappear. I twirled a strand of her hair around my finger with this newborn insight and gave a gentle tug when she didn't immediately speak. "Spit it out, sexy witch."

"Well," she started, her fingernail flicking across the bar in my nipple. Playing with the silver bead, she continued. "I was wondering if you've ever been married."

A chuckle of disbelief echoed through my chest at the mere concept. "Umm … No, I've never been married … never wanted to be married."

A guarded look entered her eyes, and her lashes fluttered. "Oh … Have you ever been in a serious relationship at all?"

I knew the look of fear when I saw it. I was a pro at putting that look onto many faces throughout my life. For reasons beyond my understanding, I wanted to ease the distress I saw. If she was looking for confirmation of my capability to enter into a serious relationship, my next answer wasn't going to do the trick. Still, I wouldn't lie about it … no sense in lying when the truth was hovering between us. "No, Bella, I've never been in a serious relationship … never had a girlfriend … never wanted one."

"Then," she murmured, looking extremely forlorn. "What? How?"

I wanted that fucking frown to go away. I enjoyed the lively woman I'd come to know. I was clenching my jaw, the muscle in my temple pulsed as I contemplated baring my soul to the first person since my mother died. Dropping her hair, I took her chin in between my thumb and forefinger, forcing her to meet my gaze when her beautiful green eyes turned avoidant. "What the fuck did I say when this started last night?"

My nostrils flared when her lips trembled, yet she didn't answer. I knew she wanted me to repeat what'd I'd said, and typically, it would piss me off to have someone question my integrity, but the fear in her eyes didn't cause me to lose my shit. "You fucking belong to me … That fucking smile, the way you bite your lip, that delicious pussy … all of you. I mean it, Bella … I meant it last night before we had sex, and I mean it now."

Another shard of ice slipped from my heart as her beautiful smile blossomed across her face. She was once again back to licking my chest. Biting me, she gently lapped up the saliva she left behind, her tongue circling my pierced nipple. "And you belong to me?"

Roughly, I shoved the comforter from us, and placing my hands under her armpits, I ignored the twinge of pain in my shoulder as I hefted her weight over my body until she was lying directly on top of me. Reaching down, I smacked her bare ass, leaving a pink tint on her cheek, thrilled when she squirmed on me. "How much clearer do I need to make myself, woman? I don't fucking play. When I said you belong to me, I meant exactly that, and obviously, that would mean I belong to you as well."

"Interesting," she whispered, never breaking eye contact. "Tell me something about yourself no one else knows."

I chuckled at that. Tell her something no one else knows? No one, absolutely no one, knew a damn thing about me. Well—correction, Em had recently shared the biggest revelation of my life with me, and that had taken me nearly ten years to confess to him. Although I wasn't quite there with Bella yet, I felt compelled to share something with her … something more than just my body. "Umm … When I was little, about four or five, my mom would bake me the most delicious chocolate chip cookies every day after school."

A soft smile played across her lips. "You were lucky. My mom could barely get out of bed long enough to make dinner—let alone any special treats."

"What your mom did was shitty," I said, not even trying to disguise my disgust at the thought of the woman's suicide. After the way my mother was taken from me, I just couldn't fathom Bella's willingly leaving her. "While it is fucked up, I'm sure she regrets her selfish decision every day. How could she not? She missed out on knowing an amazing, selfless person."

"I was angry about it for a long time, but she was sick. I can't be mad at someone for having a mental disease beyond their control."

I could tell Bella was trying to be optimistic about her mother's death. The dimming light in her gaze spoke the truth, however. "Don't do that … Don't let her steal your shine, woman. She might have had a mental disease, but only the weak succumb to it. You are far stronger than she could've ever hoped to be."

"I know," she whispered, burying her face into my pec. "I just wish she could've been different."

"I think we all want our parents to be different in a fashion. What about your dad?" Adjusting the pillows beneath my head, I pushed farther upright to sit against the headboard. "What was he like?"

"A pompous ass, overbearing … wanted to control every aspect of my life. I felt like I lived in a cage," she murmured, turning her head away.

There'd been shadows lurking in her emerald depths as she spoke of her father moments ago. What had caused that gloom? My conversation with Liam came instantly to mind. The sheriff's daughter had run off … came from a small town … Her name was something that started with a B … dark hair … blah, blah, blah. Intrigued by the prospect of Bella being the sheriff's daughter, I urged her to meet my gaze. "Where do you come from, Bella?"

"A little nothing town in Oregon," she murmured as if it were no big deal.

While her lack of information left me wondering, I wasn't ready to face the fact she could be lying. Definitely something I would spend more time on in the future for sure. Even now, wheels were turning in my complicated head, trying to put all the pieces together. Later … even today, perhaps I'd get ahold of the private investigator I had. Right now, however, something else was plaguing me.

I thought over the question I'd asked her moments ago, and her answer made me laugh. Overbearing? Controlling? Those were two words that described me to a T. If she were willing to flee her father for such a sentiment, how long would she stay with me? That thought caused the laughter to die away. My hold around her waist tightened as I imagined her walking out of my life, and subconsciously, my body spoke for me. I wasn't going to let her go … I couldn't … I wouldn't. "What the fuck makes me so different from your father? I'm all those things you mentioned and so much more."

"You know, you run across people who are just unique from anyone—or anything—you've ever known," she murmured, a warmth entered her gaze as she simply studied me. "You are so … such a rare specimen. No one could ever come close to comparing with what I see when you look at me."

"What does my look say?" I wanted to know. I could see what was happening. She had this warm, goofy grin on her face. Even though she hadn't said the words, I could see the shining in her eyes. Love … That sentiment that was known to drive the best people away—and let's face it, I was far from being the best person. Did I want to run? Quite possibly, yet I found myself reluctant to leave the warmth draped over me like a fine quilt.

"I … I … I'll feel stupid saying it," she whispered, shaking her head. "Especially if my assumptions are wrong."

"Enlighten me," I encouraged, letting my hands coast down her back, my fingers digging into her ass as I shifted her weight on me. "I promise nothing you say can make me think any less of you."

"It's ridiculous … and I do feel stupid thinking it, let alone saying it."

She tried to hide her face in my chest, but considering our position, she didn't have anywhere to go. Wickedness filled my soul for the second time that morning, and I lifted my hand and planted a firm slap against her ass. "Out with it …"

Bella grinned, shimming against me. "Insufferable man. I don't know, but it just speaks to me without you ever saying a word. There's a deeper connection between us than I have ever experienced with another person. I don't look at my dad and know from just a mere glance that I am different. When you look at me, I feel like everything or anything is possible."

Hearing her express how I made her feel was so parallel with what was circulating in my gut. The bond between us seemed to strengthen in that simple moment. Gripping her ass, I urged her to meet my kiss. As soon as her lips parted, the blood pulsed hotter, thicker, creating another fracture in the shield I kept firmly in place. Of course, as the glacier began to thaw, my need to sustain some dominance petitioned for a sliver of control. Kneading the firm globes of her buttocks, I released one perfect cheek, lifted my hand, and laid another blooming welt on her butt.

Her thighs straddled either side of my hips, and I wound my arms around her trim waist. "You know what?"

"What?" I asked as she folded her arms over my chest and propped her chin on her arms. Petting down the smooth surface of her back, I groaned as she settled into me, my libido starting to hum in my veins.

"I love it when you smack my ass." She laughed, her lower body wiggling against me.

That's all it took for my cock to salute her folds. Eagerly, the head brushed against her center, encouraging that hungry moan I was growing dependent on. Landing a palm against her fleshy bottom, I urged her up my chest, whispering, "Sit on my face."

"Excuse me?" she asked with a giggle. "You cannot really mean for me to sit on your face."

"In the time you've known me, how many times have I told a fucking joke?" I wanted to know, the thought of licking her folds causing me to growl. "Pussy in my month now, woman … hold the fucking headboard 'cause I'm about to tear it up."

The humor died away from Bella's face. Impatience seemed to claim her, and she scrambled up my chest. Fervently, she laid a knee on either side of my head, leaving me in the perfect position. Staring eye level with her clit, I leaned forward and sucked the flesh into my mouth, the roll of her hips provoking my type of crazy. Just her musk on my tongue was enough for my enthusiasm to kick in, my tongue darting into her slick folds.

I wanted to tell her how good she fucking tasted, yet I couldn't tear myself away long enough to do so. Instead, I demonstrated, entering her as far as the appendage would go, rubbing my nose against her clit for extra stimulation. The more I worked her, the undulating movements against my face was enough to encourage me. Her moans were like music to my ears, and it didn't take long before her fingers twisted in my hair, and she was grinding her pussy into my tongue.

Thoroughly engrossed with her taste and smell, my hand slipped below the covers and encircled my cock. My hum of pleasure pulsated from my mouth to her wet channel, adding a delicious wave of ecstasy trembling through her limbs, her thighs tightening around my head. Precum flooded from the crown, leaking over my fingers as I buried my tongue over and over. When I just couldn't stand this torturous fucking need slamming me any longer, I ripped my mouth away, tapping her hip. "On hands and knees now, sexy fucking woman. Right now, and don't even ask me any questions. Gonna fuck that pussy raw … right now. Can't fucking stop."

She must've recognized my no-nonsense tone because she didn't hesitate to follow my instructions. The intoxicating minx arched her ass in my direction, and I landed an open palm across it as I came to my knees behind her. I knew she was tender from the night before, but the beast roared within me, holding me firmly in its tight grasp.

Slipping a condom onto my stiff cock, I cupped her breast as I bent over her, my chest grazing the soft flesh of her back. I pinched the bead as I whispered hoarsely next to her ear. "If I hurt you, say so … I'll stop … got it?"

Her heavy breath erupted from her throat as I wrapped my hand around her hair. I held her tresses tight and yanked her head back, urging her to lean forward on her elbows. As soon as she came to rest in the right position, I slowly entered with a tremble setting into my chest, echoing throughout my body. As aroused as she was, her welcoming heat sucked me in to the hilt as my fingers dug into her hip. "Hold on tight, woman, 'bout to fuck it all up."

Testing her readiness, I withdrew slowly before sinking back inside; she cried out, pushing her hips back against me. "'Member what I said, Bella … any pain …"

Bella's head tipped in confirmation that she'd heard what I'd said. After that, a demon seemed to take control because I was suddenly thrusting uncontrollably, reassured by the pleasurable moans ripping from her throat. I watched myself withdraw and enter her, and every thrust spurred me on. Gulping down a breath, I kneaded the flesh of her hips, my forefinger skimming the forbidden flesh I'd dared to taste the night before. "I wanna put my finger in here … Will you let me, Bella? Do you trust me?"

The lust draining from her body coupled with the perspiration coating my skin caused our skin to slap, the sound ricocheting off the walls around us. These tortured moans ripped from Bella, and she barely managed to tip her head in my direction. "I trust you more than anyone I've known."

Staring her in the eye, I rocked hard in her body, letting my finger massage her tight hole. Grinding into her, I groaned as her wetness drenched my cock; using some of her natural lubricant, I traced her puckered flesh. As gently as I could manage, I eased the tip inside, rotating my hips. "Fuck … Oh my … I'm never going to get enough of you … shit … fucking woman in my blood … Damn, so tight and wet."

When her limbs relaxed around me, I pushed my finger farther inside, and her inner walls clamped around my finger as my cock grazed the spot in her pussy. Her wail born of lust and need tore from her sweet lips. The woman took me by storm, her hips rocking hard against me, loving the take control type of character. I stilled my movements, letting her find her pleasure, thrusting back against me at will.

My balls drew tight, and I felt my control fraying. Yanking her head back by her hair, I took over, urging her to arch that sweet ass in my direction as I entered both her holes simultaneously. "I can feel my cock in you … it's so fucking sexy … I could come for days … shit."

"You feel so good," she moaned as pleasure rippled through her body. "You like fucking my pussy? Dirty fucking man."

"Oh, yeah," I groaned, taken slightly aback by her dirty talk. It was one thing letting these nasty words flow from my tongue like fine wine but hearing them from her? Holy fucking shit. I was stuck in the eye of the tornado as it ripped through my blood. Molten lava overflowed, and my grip on her tightened, grinding into her. "Oh … tight fucking pussy … I will fuck it every day … I promise that."

I felt the orgasm building until the point of bursting, and I released her hair. Reaching around her creamy thigh, I found her clit and rubbed with purpose as I pounded into her welcoming flesh. Maintaining my rhythm became a chore as her wail of release filled the room, her inner walls clamping down around my length, sucking the willpower right out of me. With one last deep thrust, I planted my cock so far inside her, grinding into the softness enveloping me.

Together, we collapsed into a sated heap on the bed. Curling my arm around Bella's waist, I yanked her soft, pliant frame across the bed, enjoying the way her weight settled onto me. Breathing heavily, my lashes drooped as she wiggled in close and nuzzled the bedding beneath her cheek before submitting to the allure of sleep.

X

I'd called Em early in the day to inform him I'd be arriving late to DarkStrip, and it wasn't until five that afternoon when I strolled through the front doors with Bella's finger tucked into my back pocket.

An odd feeling penetrated my chest as I walked into DarkStrip with this beautiful woman latched on to me. The best part was the glow that radiated off of her milky skin. Her eyes sparkled, a bright smile slipping across lips, and for reasons beyond my current understanding, I just couldn't look away. I wasn't sure if it was for better or worse, but this heat spread throughout my being, and I had no desire to escape. Just the mere concept left me utterly mystified. I couldn't remember a time in my life when I'd ever wanted to be attached to another person.

Hell, weeks ago, when I'd happened to see couples holding hands, I'd scoff to myself. Often, their bond seemed fake—forced, like they didn't really want to be a part of the duo they found themselves in. Most of the time, I figured the man was trapped, or the woman looked absolutely miserable, but they maintained this pretense for appearance's sake or to satisfy the other person. Never-ever in a million years had I ever imagined feeling good about a woman holding onto me. Or if the time ever came, she would be glowing with a look of utter satisfaction

As if that weren't weird enough, I was left with this loss when she removed her fingers from my pocket. Suddenly, I wanted her to retake hold of me. Now I was shaken.

When had I ever needed anyone? Never, my mind whispered.

With this realization, I came to a standstill inside the door. Bella's fingers brushed down my side, and I felt her mouth press against my arm before she headed toward the bar. This yearning I'd never thought to experience crashed through me. Fuck, when had I started to enjoy her presence so much that I couldn't fathom spending a moment alone? Dumbfounded by this new prospect, my fingers dove into my hair, and my lungs froze on an exhale.

Now I needed a moment to regain my composure because, any second, I would follow her like some lovesick puppy. Wait a minute … Lovesick? What the fuck was happening to me?

Abruptly, I headed for my office, resisting the urge to glance in her direction even once as I strode down the hallway. Hurriedly, I slipped into my office and stopped dead in my tracks, trying to get my bearings. I wasn't sure how long I stood there, blankly staring at my desk several feet away, but a significant amount of time passed, I was sure of it.

A tapping on my door startled me out of this all-consuming trance. Startled, I turned toward the sound. "Yeah?"

Em ducked inside the room with that gloating smile he wore at times. His dimples made an appearance as humor tinged his delighted features. "Hey, how's it going? Enjoy your date?"

"Great," I stated with a clenched jaw, my lashes dropping into a glare as I studied him. The happier he looked, the pissier I felt. "One … stop looking at me like that. Two … what do you want? Isn't there a club to watch over?"

"How can I possibly resist the urge to come back here and piss you off?" Emmett leaned against the sofa, his arms crossing over his broad chest. "Just thought I'd come double check and see if you're still the wintry bastard you've always been."

My jaw ticked as I headed to my desk. "I'm fairly sure the air turns to frost when I breathe. Never fear, the same man I've always been."

Even as I spoke, my brain shouted, liar. As I tried to shove the thought out of my mind, it just took on this singsong chorus. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I dropped into the chair with a thud. "What do you need, Em?"

"Well," he started, clearing his throat before he continued, his smile wavering a fraction of an inch. "You texted me this morning telling me to hire a PI. Who the fuck are we investigating?"

This whole relationship brewing between Bella and I had me totally mind fucked. It had completely slipped my mind that while Bella had been showering, I'd texted Em, telling him to hire the PI in the first place. I'd been completely distracted by lovely, pale, wet skin. Fuck my life. What the fuck?

Faced with Emmett's question, my gut swirled with what I was about to say. Since Bella had waltzed into my life, I had been remiss in my duties. I should've done this way before I ever let myself become involved with anyone, yet the woman just had me flipping through this loop I couldn't seem to break free from. After our too brief conversation this morning, I had this feeling there were some inconsistencies with Bella's story, and even worse still, she seemed to resemble the crooked cop giving the Celtics trouble.

My stomach rolled with the prospect of her being the man's daughter. If I were to pursue anything further with her … let her go deeper into my life … I had to be sure she was who she said she was. I don't know; maybe subconsciously, I was looking for an escape. Yet, I really didn't believe this to be the case. I wanted to be able to trust this woman more than I'd wanted anything since I was that seven-year-old boy.

Licking lips gone dry, I forced the words past my lips. "I need Jefferies to look into Bella for me."

"What? Are you suspecting her of something I'm not aware of?" Emmett wanted to know, sauntering toward my desk and heavily dropping into the chair. "Man, I think …"

"I don't particularly care what you think," I stated, lifting a hand to silence any argument. "This should've been done the moment I realized … realized …"

"Realized what?" Emmett prompted, sitting forward, studying me intently.

Clearing my throat, I avoided his gaze, staring at a spot over his head. "When I realized … she might be … might be different."

I visibly saw the light bulb go off, and Em's gaze brightened with understanding. "You want to make sure you can trust her to be a part of your life."

Tapping the desk as my impatience grew, I gave a short nod. "Yeah."

"All right … let's go talk to Jefferies." Emmett nodded, hefting his weight from the chair.

After a long minute, I rose and followed him from my office. When I strode out into the bar, I couldn't stop my gaze from roaming to the woman in question. As if drawn to Bella by an invisible force, I turned in her direction. Stepping up to the smooth bar, I waited for her to pass a gentleman his drink and notice my presence. As soon as she saw me, her face lit up, and she came to stand in front of me.

Bella tucked her hair behind her ear, her spine arching, emphasizing that ass I was becoming addicted to. She propped her elbows on the smooth surface, her chin dropped into her upturned palms. "What's up, handsome?"

Suddenly, I had this urge to drag her over the top of the slab of glass dividing us and probe the warm recesses of her mouth. Fuck my life … Total fucking sap fest. My nostrils flared as I resisted the impulse. "'Bout to step out for a minute."

"And you came to let me know?"

This dreamy look came over her face, leaving me—dare I say—a tad breathless. As nonchalantly as I could, I shrugged. "Yeah … well … I thought if Liam comes in while I'm out … I should let you know to get Zeus if he's not standing near the door."

Unexpectedly, she reached across the counter and grazed my bottom lip with her thumb. "Okay."

It took all of my willpower to turn away from her without sampling her tongue one last time. Hopefully, when all was said and done, I would know. I would know I could embrace this woman and trust her with the shit my life was. Somehow, I managed to turn away and follow Emmett out the door.

The initial meeting with Jefferies was concluded in record timing, and two hours later, I returned to DarkStrip. This time when I glanced toward the bar, Bella wasn't there. My brow drew tight as I glanced around the club only to find two of my dancers missing as well. Curiosity getting the better of me, I threw a glance over my shoulder to Emmett. "Find Nightingale and Glitter."

Quick, purposeful strides carried me down the hall as my stomach somersaulted. This prickly sensation zipped across my skin when I opened the door and found Bella standing behind my desk. She wasn't immediately aware of my presence as she shuffled through the contents of my drawer. In a gruff voice, I said, "What the fuck are you doing?"

Please Review

A/N: Uh-oh. So, what are your thoughts. Share them with us. Once again thanks for all the love and support you have shown our story. We love you all hard. Later lovelies!