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Let Me Follow - Son Flux

Run Me Through - Perfume Genius (King Princess Remix)

Chapter Three

Bella

My night could not have ended on a more unexpected note. After meeting Jasper and Peter Cullen, they both insisted I go home after the incident happened downstairs. I was thankful for that, I wanted to process everything that had happened tonight on my own. Without having two Greeks gods staring at me, always like I was some sort of foreign being. It made me anxious and...excited. I honestly didn't know how to feel about my unexpected reaction to both of these men.

Once I got off work, I made my way towards Eclipse's exit only to see Peter standing outside, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Looking incredibly sexy in his dark blue jacket and black jeans. His dark hair was a perfect mess, and his eyes - piercing grey orbs, watching intently around him as people were leaving the club. He looked intimidating and - perfect, so much that just watching him from afar sent shivers down my spine.

"Mr. Cullen?" I managed to say hoping he wouldn't sense my

He instantly turns to look at me, a grin playing on his lips. Pushing off from the wall, he walks over to me.

"You know it's not safe for a woman to walk to her car all alone at this hour. Especially a beautiful woman like you, Bella."

I blushed at his compliment, even if it was just to be kind, and I couldn't deny the effect my name rolling off his tongue had on me like a wave of excitement pulsed through me, down to my stomach. God, I need help.

Then embarrassment took over as he thought I had a car, "I'm just...going to call a cab."

Furrowing his brows, he takes a step closer to me, his head tilting to look at me closely. I wanted to shy away from him as I usually did whenever a man came to close to me but I found that I didn't want to. I liked him being this close to me, so close I could smell the delicious scent of cinnamon and whiskey.

"A cab? Don't you have a car?"

I shake my head, looking down to avoid the judging look I was sure he would give me. Instead, I felt his fingers slip under my chin, making me look up into his intense eyes, and there isn't an ounce of judgment in them.

"Come on, I'll take you home." He says as he urges me to follow him to his vehicle.

"Oh no, that's fine Peter, really! My apartment isn't far from here." I say, partially following him so that he can hear me since he doesn't stop walking. By the time I managed to say my piece, we were already standing by a beautiful black convertible.

Opening his car, Peter walks around to the passenger side and opens the door, "What kind of man would I be if I let a woman go home alone at three in the morning? My mother would have my head if she heard I did something so crude. So please, won't you let me take you home? If not, then I fear I would worry all night, wondering if you got home safely."

The way he was grinning at me, I knew I wouldn't win this and I'd instead not get on my boss's bad side by refusing his generosity.

Because that's the only reason, right?

Biting my lip, I look around me, seeing a few drunk stragglers passing by here and there. Not wanting to be caught in another problematic situation, I sigh and look back at Peter's already confident face as he knew what I was about to say.

"Well, if it'll help your conscious then I suppose I'll do you this favor."

Releasing a light chuckle, the cocky man motions for me to enter and gently closes the door for me. I was incredibly nervous now that I knew we would both be near each other. Alone...

Telling Peter where to go, he drives off. I immediately felt nervous when I notice how fast the man drives, without a care in the world - no hesitation.

"So Bella," he begins. I look at him, hesitantly, "what did you think of your first day at Eclipse?"

"Do you want me to be honest or lie?" I felt my cheeks redden as he releases yet another melodic chuckle.

"Oh, please be honest. I love a truthful woman."

"It's a nice job if a little...unpredictable."

Stopping at the red light, Peter looks at me with his moonlit grey eyes, "But you like unpredictable or am I mistaken?"

My breath is caught in my lungs now when I stare at the beautiful man that was as cocky as he was charming. My eyes couldn't stop taking in his features, the way his eyes looked at my own and traveled down to my lips. I suddenly felt self-conscious as he licked his full lips, I had to shift my legs to contain the wave of arousal I was feeling for this man. Shit, what the hell was he doing to me?

"Given the life I've had to live I can certainly do without it."

Frowning at my remark, he opened his mouth to speak when the glow of the green light shined down on us, signaling that it was time to keep moving. Not saying another word Peter looks ahead and keeps driving.

"So, does that mean you're not open to...possibilities?" he says, his voice husky and amused. I watched closely when his hand leaves the steering wheel and comes down to settle on the armrest, dangerously close to my bare knee. If he dropped it any further, his long pale fingers would be grazing my skin.

Get a hold of yourself, Bella!

Curious to know what he meant, I decide to inquire, "And what exactly do you think these possibilities would entail?"

I hadn't realized the car had stopped altogether when he completely shifted to face me. My heart began pounding against my chest as his hand came up slowly towards my face. I pressed myself firmly in my seat in anticipation, waiting anxiously for his skin to be on mine. I held my breath when the lightest touch of his fingers brushed a few strands of my hair, tucking them behind my ear. I stared at him as his face was no longer filled with amusement. No there was something dangerous in his eyes, something hungry. Imagining what it would be like to press my lips against his, I can't ignore the pool that gathered in my panties now from such a simple touch. From the simple idea of our lips melding together.

Just as I could practically taste the cinnamon that engulfed this man, his teasing touch was gone and I heard the clicking of the seatbelt is unbuckled. My cheeks flushed into a crimson red at the realization that he was teasing me.

"I would love to tell you Bella but I think you'll just have to wait and find out. As much as I would love to keep you all to myself tonight, I have to be a gentleman for just a little longer." He motions towards the passenger window to my right with a nod and I turn to see the apartment building I reside in. I hadn't even noticed that we were even close to arriving. It dawned on me, "keep you all to myself"...

Taking a moment while I am stunned, Peter chuckles and exits the car. He walks around and opens the car door for me before extending his hand out for me to take it. As soon as our fingers touched, I felt thousands of sparks pulse through me. My breathing hitched when he brought me even closer to him and for the first time he closes his eyes, contentment masking his, "Well maybe even that won't last too long."

"Y-yeah..." In my haze, I agree with him like a fool.

Looking up at me curiously, his hand settles to my waist while the other trails up to cup my cheek. I lick my lips in anticipation as I find my entire body yearned for his touch - that is I did until I saw the light flicker behind in my bedroom window.

He's here.

Panic floods my mind at the thought of being seen with Peter - another man. Noticing my breathing hitch, Peter frowns and looks behind him to see what was causing my distress.

"What's the matter, darlin'?"

"Uh, n-nothing! I really should get going. Thank you for the ride, Mr. Cullen."

"Bella," he grabs my hand to stop me from walking away. I relish in his soft, tender touch but am unable to bring myself to look at him so I waited for him to speak.

"I know Rosalie hired you for a reason. Why that is, however, I'll let you be the one to tell me. When you're ready but if you need anything," his fingers curl underneath my chin, making me look up at him and giving me a warm, reassuring smile, "Please do not hesitate to come to me or Jasper."

Biting my lip I nod in gratitude, "Thank you, Mr. Cullen."

"Peter. You can call me Peter. Mr. Cullen reminds me too much of my father." We both laughed at his remark.

"Very well, good night...Peter."

After he makes sure I get into the apartment building safely, I watch his car disappear down the street, leaving me alone - alone with Him. Now all the warmth and security I had felt with Peter and Jasper tonight was replaced with pure dread. A feeling I was used to by now.

Walking up the stairs was almost as bad as what was about to happen when I couldn't bring myself to walk any faster. The only thing that granted me some peace was that Paul was surely not home and was off with his friends. One of the only times I felt relieved Paul had good friends like Jacob Black to keep him out of the house. I did not want him to ever have to see what I went through.

With shaking hands, I raise the keys to open the door only to be startled when it is swung wide open. Shivers run down my spine at the sight of James, his angry, cold expression speaking volumes in his silence.

"Looks like you've been keeping busy, huh?" He sneers at me.

Pushing past him, I walk over to the kitchen counter and set my bag down, gathering the money I had saved up including what I managed to make tonight at Eclipse. Surprising enough, the amount of tips I can make at Eclipse could cover my entire rent but I won't tell James that. I hand it to him and turn away, walking towards the window.

"You're short two hundred dollars," I stiffen. He comes up behind me, leaning his arm against my shoulders. My breathing picks up. He whispers the next words in my ear, "I mean I could just let it be and give you a pass this time."

"Then why don't you?" I say dryly.

Grabbing my arms he forces me to face him. I noticed he reeked of cigarettes and the overpowering cologne he always wore that nearly made me gag. He began speaking, his tone low and whimsical.

"Don't test my patience for you, bitch. I said I could but it doesn't mean I want to, Isabella. And in case you've forgotten - I own you!" I flinch at the turn his tone took from calm to yelling harshly in my face. Shoving me against the wall, James grabs my chin roughly, bringing me dangerously close to his face. I hiss at the pain he inflicted on me and knew I would have a new set of bruises on my back tomorrow morning.

Even though I was terrified of him all I could do was glare in response to his aggression, "You just can't seem to listen to me no matter what I say. Don't you see how frustrating that is for me? When all I want to do is make sure you and your brother are safe. It's thanks to my leniency that he can go to college in the first place. However, if you're so bent on chasing after men like the whore that you are...then I suppose I can change my mind. Right?"

The defiance in my eyes falters and is replaced with fear. For years James has used Paul against me, knowing well that I would do anything to protect my brother. To top it all off, he saw Peter outside with me. What if James found out who he was and hurt Peter because of me?

Letting go of my chin he lets me answer him. Shaking my head I look down at my feet, "I'll get you the rest of the money tomorrow."

"Of course you will because you're my good girl. In exchange, I'll be gracious once more and give you two days to come up with the money since I know you lost your job today. You see? I'm very nice when I'm not provoked, Bella. You would be wise to remember that because..." He trails off. His hand slowly lifting the hem of my shirt to slip his fingers under to touch my stomach, his cold skin making my skin shiver in disgust. "You're mine, understand?"

"...Yes, James..."

Before he could do anything more, his cellphone rang and whoever was on the other line managed to diminish James' dominating tone.

"Well, looks like you get off easy tonight, sweet. But don't worry, I'll be back in two nights to collect. Make sure you have the rest of my money by then or...you know what will happen."

I kept my eyes down and didn't look up even after I heard the front door close. All I could hear was my heavy breathing and the rain that poured down outside my window. Then, when I heard James' truck pull away from the sidewalk I finally succumbed to my emotions. Running to the door I lock it before heading to the shower with trembling legs. Hoping to rid all traces of James off of me I stand under the scorching hot water and scrub at my skin roughly.

"You're mine, understand?"

Hearing his voice in the back of my mind I throw the bar of soap in my hand harshly and curse. Sitting down I hug my knees to my chest and do what I've always done - I cried until the water grew cold, cooling down my hot burning skin. I only got out of the tub when I heard my phone chime in the kitchen. Knowing it must be Paul I wrap my towel around me, grab my bag and turn off all the lights behind me before going into my bedroom. I read Paul's text that he was spending the night at Jake's house and that his father would drop him off in the morning and sigh loudly. Pulling the covers over me, I curl into a ball and wait for my exhaustion to take over. Like most nights I expected to dream of James tormenting me or of Charlie...but instead I dreamt of two men saving me. One with honey blonde curls and crystal blue eyes, the other with ruffled dark hair and eyes like the moon.

Jasper and Peter Cullen, they were pulling me away from the darkness and engulfing me in their warmth. For the first time in years, I was happy even if only in my dreams and it felt incredible so much that when I woke up the next morning, the loss of that warmth left me feeling empty yet...hopeful.

A/N:

Sorry for the long wait but the next chapter will be up really soon, promise!

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