66
Over the next two weeks, Edward and I continued to torture Carlisle with request for more condoms and lube. I would be lying if I didn't admit that it was fun to see his mouth drop open and his eyes widen each and every time we asked for more. Chloe found it hilarious, especially when we sent a note back with her to give to Carlisle asking him for more. He called us about five minutes after she left and chewed our asses out for being so 'reckless' as he called it.
Emmett, Rose, Alice, and Jasper had clued Esme into our prank and she was adding fuel to his torture by buying me sexy lingerie to help us 'get in the mood' as she explained to Carlisle. He wasn't happy with that either. I really love that woman so much. Part of me felt incredibly guilty for it but not that big of a part of me.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Edward. I looked over at him and smiled. "I was thinking about the man."
"Are you sure you are ready to end this?" asked Edward as he parked his car in the parking lot. "I think we could drag this out for a while longer."
"I'm sure," I chuckled. "I think we've tortured the man long enough. Let's get through the last phase and then we can go back to being good children."
"Fine," pouted Edward. I shook my head as we climbed out of the car.
The last two weeks had been amazing. I was slowly building my strength back up. I actually felt strong enough to play my piano again. Of course, after that I was completely exhausted but at least I was starting to feel stronger again. I had gained five pounds back but the biggest moment came when my hair started growing back in. It wasn't much more than peach fuzz right now but at least it was something. Edward loved to just rub my head while we watched TV or read. I didn't mind that much even if I did whine about him making me bald again.
Edward and I still hadn't been together sexually. I was trying to be patient with him but I was starting to get frustrated. I knew the man was horny. I could feel his desire for me every morning but he was still so afraid of making me sick or it feeling rushed that he kept turning me down. I won't lie and say it didn't hurt. It did but I loved him and I would wait until he was ready. God, I sound like the man in our relationship.
Emmett, Rose, Alice, Jasper, Ben, Angela, Garrett and Kate had all started coming over every couple days. They still had to wear their mad scientist gear but at least they could be there. Sometimes we would talk and sometimes we would all just lay around the living room watching movies. It was the most normal thing we had done together in months.
"Bella, you ready?" asked Erin. I took a deep breath and put on my saddest, most angst filled face I could.
"Yeah," I said softly. She cocked an eyebrow but didn't say anything as I clutched onto Edward's hand and followed her into the back. I stepped onto the scale so she could weigh me.
"Everything ok, Bella?" asked Erin with obvious concern.
"I…yeah," I said, giving Edward a look. He sighed and looked at his feet. God, the man could really act.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "You don't seem very…happy."
"I…I'm fine," I said, not meeting her eyes. I was struggling not to break character but we needed Erin to alert Carlisle for our plan to work.
"Ok," she said slowly. "Why don't you have a seat on the examination table and I will go get Dr. Cullen."
"Ok," I choked out through my tears. Edward wrapped his arms around me as we went into the room and shut the door behind me.
"You are fucking brilliant," whispered Edward in my ear. "Keep it up, Baby."
"What's wrong?" fretted Carlisle, throwing the door open as he ran into the room. I peeked up at him from Edward's arms. He was panting slightly and his eyes were full of fear.
"We need…" I trailed off as I let my tears fall again. "I can't, Edward."
"What?" asked Carlisle. "Are you in pain?"
"No," I cried dramatically.
"Then what's wrong?" he asked, frantically. I brought my hand up to Edward's cheek.
"We need a pregnancy test," Edward whispered, tightening his arms around me. I heard Carlisle inhale sharply.
"A pregnancy test," he snapped. I turned and looked at him with wide eyes. "I told you both to be extremely careful. Didn't I tell you to be careful?"
"Yes," muttered me and Edward.
"How could you get pregnant with all the condoms you have been going through?" he asked.
"We haven't been using the condoms," I said, quietly. Somehow, his eyes widen.
"WHAT?" he roared.
"I don't understand why you are so upset?" I asked. I could Edward shaking from his silent laughter.
"Me either," he said.
"You've…..you've been having unprotected sex and you don't understand why I am so upset?" seethed Carlisle. There was a vein on the side of his head that was throbbing nicely. I looked up at Edward.
"Who have you been having sex with?" I asked.
"Nobody," he said. "Who have you been having sex with?"
"Um, no one," I snorted. I turned and looked at Carlisle with a raised eyebrow. "I think you are confused."
"Someone explain to me what the hell is going on right this second," growled Carlisle.
"What are you talking about?" I asked. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Isabella Cullen, I'm not in the mood for your games," growled Carlisle.
"Games?" I asked. "You mean like when you sent condoms with Chloe to give to us the day after I got home from the hospital? Those types of games?"
"W…what?" he asked as he looked from me to Edward and back to me. "You two are a couple of brats."
"How?" I demanded with a smile.
"You haven't been using all those condoms, have you?" he asked with a smile.
"Nope," said me and Edward.
"Or the…" trailed off Carlisle, shaking his head.
"Or the lube either," I chuckled.
"You did all of this to pay me back for one little, tiny prank?" asked Carlisle.
"Yep," we said together.
"Chloe was in on this too, wasn't she?" asked Carlisle.
"She was merely a victim of our cruel game," said Edward, smiling widely at his father.
"Esme?" he asked.
"She did that all on her own," I said with a wink. "Although, Edward did like all the stuff she got me."
"Ugh," shuddered Carlisle. "I don't need to hear that."
"Too late," I smirked.
"I suppose it was a good prank," chuckled Carlisle. "Who knew you two could act?"
"We were brilliant, weren't we?" I smiled widely.
"And so humble," snorted Carlisle. "Ok, enough torturing me. Let me check you over and then you can go bother someone else."
"You know you love us, Dad," chuckled Edward as I climbed up on the table.
"I do," chuckled Carlisle.
We all just laughed as he came over and listened to my heart and lungs. After making sure that everything was looking good, he walked us out to the elevator. He had to reassure Erin that everything was fine. I felt a little bad about causing her grief. Carlisle hugged us both before we stepped onto the elevator and headed home.
Edward and I were sitting on the bed, writing in our music journals, when the phone rang. He reached over and answered it.
"Hello?" he said. "Hey, Nick…I guess…Ok…We'll see you in a few, I guess…You remember how to scrub up?…ok…bye."
"What did Nick want?" I asked as Edward hung up the phone.
"He said he needs to talk to us about something," said Edward. "He and Megan will be here in a couple minutes."
"Talk to us about what?" I asked.
"He wouldn't say. He just said it was a surprise," said Edward.
"Ok," I said.
Edward and I climbed off the bed and made our way into the living room. We only had to wait a few minutes before the doorbell rang. Edward went over and let Nick, a tall dark haired woman with bright blue eyes, and a big, blond man with grey eyes. They all looked over at me and the blond man's eyes widened slightly.
"Bella, honey, you look great," said Nick, coming over and hugging me.
"Thanks, Nick," I said softly. He pulled away. "I feel great."
"I'm sure you do," he chuckled. He turned to the woman and the man. "Bella, this is my wife, Megan, and Brock Morgan. This is Isabella Cullen."
"It's nice to meet you finally, Bella," said Megan, grabbing my hand in hers. "I've heard so much about you from both Nick and Edward. I feel like I know you already."
"You too, Megan," I said. "Thank you so much for helping him and the others while I was in the hospital. They've all told me how much you helped them while I was running the fever."
"It was the least we could do," said Nick. "We should sit down. I know you are tired."
"I am," I chuckled. We went over and sat down on the couches. Brock sat on the same couch with Nick and Megan while Edward and I sat on the other couch. "So is someone going to tell us what is going on?"
"Yes," chuckled Nick. "Bella, Brock is from Eclipse Records in Los Angeles."
"Seriously?" I asked.
"Yes," chuckled Brock. "Nick sent me your music weeks ago. I'll admit to being completely blown away by what I heard. I know that you are still recovering from the transplant but we would like to offer you a record deal."
I felt my mouth drop open and my eyes fly open. I looked over at Edward, who was wearing a similar look on his face. I took a deep breath and looked back at Brock, Nick, and Megan. They were all looking at me with smiles in their eyes. I could almost make out their smiles from behind their protective masks.
"A record deal?" I asked.
"Yes," said Brock. "Now, we understand that you will need some more time before you could come to LA to record anything new but we are willing to wait until you are healthy and ready."
"I don't know what to say," I said, leaning back on the couch. "I just don't know what to say right now."
"You certainly don't have to commit to anything right now," said Brock. "Look, all of us at Eclipse Records are willing to wait until you are ready for this to happen. You have a bright future in front of you, Isabella. We would like that future to be with us."
"This is just so…surreal," I laughed. I looked over at Edward, who was watching me with a smile on his face. "What do you think?"
"I think it sounds awesome," said Edward, stroking my check. "When you're ready to take that step, anyway."
"But what about NYU?" I asked Edward.
"Baby, this is on the list," said Edward, grabbing my hand. "This is one more item we can cross off. NYU will always be there."
"I guess so," I said softly. I turned back to Brock, Nick, and Megan. "Megan, you're a lawyer, right?"
"Yes," she said.
"Have you looked at the contracts that they want me to sign?" I asked. Brock chuckled softly.
"I heard you were smart," he chuckled.
"Yes, I have, Bella," said Megan. "They are offering you at least three albums. When you are up to it, they will set you up on a tour. Mostly clubs and small circuits until you really hit the big times but this a great opportunity for you."
"You do realize that it will be several more months before I can even think about recording anything?" I asked Brock.
"Yes, I do," said Brock. "But if you agree to sign with us, we would like to release 'When I'm Gone' immediately as your first single. It's doesn't need to be re-recorded at all."
"Oh my god, I can't believe we are having this conversation," I whispered to myself.
I looked over at Edward for a moment. He was right about this being one of my dreams. Edward had a huge smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye. I reached up and stroked his cheek with my hand as I laid my forehead on his. We just looked into each other's eyes as we held our silent conversation. After a moment I turned back to Brock, Nick, and Megan, who were watching us closely.
"I have one condition," I said.
"What's that?" asked Brock.
"I want Edward with me," I said.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Bella, you don't-" started Edward but I held my finger up to his lips to silence him.
"I want Edward in my band," I said as I looked back over at Brock. "He's my muse. I can't do it without him."
"It's a deal," said Brock. "We were going to offer him the job anyway."
"You were?" asked me and Edward with matching smiles.
"Yes," chuckled Brock. "So do we have a deal, Isabella?"
"Yes," I squealed, excitedly. "As soon as I'm healthy."
"Sounds perfect," said Brock, standing up. Nick and Megan stood up with him. "Megan will be going over the paper work with you, Edward, and the rest of your family. As soon as you have signed everything, she will bring it to me and I will get your song out on the radio."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Morgan," I said, standing up. Edward stood up and wrapped his arm around my waist.
"It's Brock, Isabella," he said. "I'm so glad to see that you are doing so great. I've been following your blog."
"Thank you, Brock," I said. I turned to Nick and Megan. I could almost see the smirk on Nick's face. "And thank you, Nick."
"You're welcome, Bella," said Nick, hugging me. "We'll see you in a couple days with the contracts, ok?"
"Ok," I said.
"Edward, take care her," ordered Nick.
"I will," said Edward.
"It was so nice to meet you, Bella," said Megan, hugging me. "Finally."
"You too, Megan," I said. "And thank you."
"You're welcome," said Megan.
Edward walked them to the front door. He shut the door behind them and turned and looked at me. For a moment we just looked at each other then he took the few steps to me and crushed his lips to mine. I threw my arms around his neck as he lifted me off the ground. I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me into our room and set me down next to the bed.
He didn't say anything as he tugged off my t-shirt and let it drop onto the floor. I pulled his shirt off and let it fall with mine. Slowly, we peeled each other's clothes off until we were standing in front of each other completely naked. Edward's eyes raked over my naked body, causing me to blush.
"So beautiful," he murmured softly.
Edward lifted me into his arms and laid me on the bed. He climbed over so that he was hovering over me. I could feel his erection, rubbing on the outside of my opening. He reached over and pulled out one of the many condoms we had. I took it from him and ripped it open. I gripped his erection in my hand and rolled the condom onto him as he shuddered softly.
"I love you, my beautiful wife," he whispered.
"I love you, too, my handsome husband," I whispered.
Edward leaned down and kissed me softly as he slowly pushed into me. I moaned into his mouth as he finally filled me. He pulled out slowly and pushed back in. I hooked my ankles around his back and pulled him into me deeper. Edward's lips never left mine as we made love for the first time in over two months. Our bodies moved together like we hadn't been apart at all. It was like we were made for each other. We moaned each other's names as we climaxed together.
Edward rolled off of me and disposed of the condom before pulling me into his arms. I laid my head on his chest and fell asleep thinking about the future we had together.