Twenty-Five

"Checkmate." Edward face was devoid of emotion but his eyes gleamed in victory.

I grinned, rolling my eyes at him. "You know, you're overdoing it just a tad. You know you want to gloat about how you're a master at chess." Somehow, Edward convinced me to play a round of chess with him on our last day in Forks. I felt like it could do no harm in indulging him in a game or two. We sat on pillows on the floor by the fireplace, the gameboard on the coffee table along with our glasses full of syrah. I didn't realize how complex the game actually was. He repeatedly kicked my ass but I enjoyed watching him concentrate and meticulously calculate his moves.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Isabella." He smirked, toying with one of the pieces on the board.

I scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "Isabella? Since when do you call me that?"

"Would you prefer I call you Marie instead?" He challenged.

I tossed a pillow at him, aiming for his head which he gracefully dodged. He was laughing and I called him a smartass, fueling his laughter. I couldn't help but to laugh along with him.

"You know, you never told me about how you got into the club," Edward spoke after our laughter died down.

"I can say the same about you."

"I brought it up, so you go first."

"Alice got me in," I answered. "I was newly single and Jacob was the only man I ever knew. I figured it would be an outlet for my anger and for me to experience being with someone new. The first time I went, I was fucking terrified."

I thought back on that night, remembering every emotion and feeling I had. "I couldn't wrap my head around what was happening all around me. After a few drinks, I managed to loosen up some. I watched people fuck and it was thrilling. It was incredibly erotic to watch people in various stages of intimacy and sex. I didn't participate that night, just watched."

"Sounds to me like you're a voyeur."

"Sex is like art to me, beautiful and pleasing to the eye," I admitted fondly. "Anyway, after the first time, I continued to go with Alice every weekend. I even watched her have sex, with both men and women."

He gave me a curious look. "Did you and Alice ever have sex?"

"No never," I laughed. "Alice is strictly into men but she played with women here and there. She finds women beautiful but she's not bisexual. It's more about sex than it is about attraction for her. The only time she interacted with women was when she and Jasper tagged team them."

"The club is where they met." It wasn't a question.

"Yes. They were together for about three years before I met Alice. They were into to the whole open relationship thing at one point before they collectively decided to be strictly monogamous."

"How often did you have sex at the club?"

"Believe it or not, I barely had actual intercourse. I can say I had penetrative sex with six men, including you, ever since I became a member. The majority of my time spent there, I watched. Other times, I gave and received oral sex. I learned two things sexually about myself—I was into voyeurism and exhibitionism. I get turned on watching people and I enjoy being watched."

I was getting turned on thinking about it and from the look in Edward's eyes as he prowled towards me from his side of the table, told me he was too. I was on my back in a blink, my clothes being stripped from my body until I was not a stitch was left. Edward remained dressed as he took in my body, his hands roving over my breasts. He leaned down, hovering his lips over my left breast. My nipples were taut and aching for his attention, which he granted. I gasp as entered me with his fingers, fucking me as he suckled on my breasts. I came swiftly and unexpectedly, crying out in bliss. Edward took that moment to retract his fingers from my slick channel and penetrate me this time with his cock. I cried out again as he fucked me at a steady pace, his thrusts harsh and deep. He wrung two more orgasms out of me before he finally came. We clung to each other as we kissed passionately, our bodies spent and sated.

Everyone was having a great time tonight at the house. Edward and I came over to spend sometime with my family since we were leaving tomorrow morning and it would be a while before I was able to come back. I promised I would fly out once a month to check on Charlie and spend time with him. I also made the same commitment to Renée. I would spend a week in Jacksonville and another in Forks, since that was all I could spare with my demanding career. I was lucky to have an amazing and caring boss such as Carlisle. He didn't hesitate to grant me time off each month and I was beyond grateful for his approval. Once everything with Jacob was squared away after next month, I could visit everyone as planned.

Just before dinner began, Billy and Jacob showed up. I didn't let Jacob's presence affect me, I was too happy to let anything get me down. Everyone laughed and joked, talked about everything going on in their lives and it was great. Edward sat beside me to whole time, holding my had as he listened and laughed. He was enjoying himself and I was even more smitten with him in these moments.

After dinner and dessert, Sue shooed everyone out of the kitchen. Leah and I stuck around to help clean while the guys retired to the living room. I saw Edward slipping out with his phone to his ear, mentioning Carlisle's name before he stepped outside, closing the front door behind him. I went back to cleaning up, chatting with Sue and Leah about having a girls day when I get back. At some point during our conversation, I looked out the kitchen window to see Edward and Jacob interacting with each other. A moment later, Jacob walked away and came back inside the house. He glanced at me briefly before walking into the living room. Shortly after, Edward returned and smiled at me but it felt generic and forced.

I didn't say anything to Edward about what happened between him and Jacob last week back in Forks. I still thought about it, wondering what they talked about. Ever since that night, there was a shift in Edward. He thought I didn't notice but I did. He still gave me his time and affection but if felt off. It was really starting me make me feel like he was hiding something from me. He never mentioned anything and I doubt he knew I saw them speaking. That alone made me want to know even more what had transpired.

Since we were back at work, we barely had time to see each other because we were swamped but Edward promised to take me out to dinner tonight. I decided I would finally ask him what was going on then. Before we had the night to ourselves, we had a meeting with Jacob to go over the final plans for the big launch of his clothing line overseas. Edward was quiet the whole drive, his face pensive. He was thinking about something and I itched to ask him what was wrong but I ignored it, deciding to hold my tongue until later when it was just the two of us.

When we arrived, Jacob had just stepped out the back seat of a black Rolls Royce, his eyes glued to his phone, typing furiously on the screen. A young valet came the passenger side as I opened my door, helping me out before turning to Edward and retrieving his car keys. He gave Edward a ticket and Edward passed him a few bills before the young man entered the car. Jacob was just pocketing his phone when he spotted us walking over towards him. His posture straightened and I felt Edward stiffen beside me.

"What's he doing here?" Jacob didn't bother to exchange pleasantries, his mood confrontational.

I was immediately defensive. "He's here to fill in for Alice," I clipped. "Why do ask?"

Jacob ignored me, turning his attention to Edward. "Did you tell her?"

I looked to Edward, confused. "Tell me what?"