13
I had the hardest time sleeping. I kept vacillating between hatred of Bella and thinking I couldn't live without her. I was so messed up and as a psychologist she had to know what she was doing to me, it made me hate her and love her even more.
The next morning I sent her a text. I miss you.
She responded right away and her words shocked me. I have to admit I miss you, too. But I have to stay away from you to think straight.
So are you considering me? I got excited at the thought she was at least giving us some thought. Last night I was sure she went right to Jake and asked him to beat the shit out of me.
You have pretty good assets that my body misses.
I felt she was flirting with me and I liked what she was saying. I went in to take a shower and took a picture of my body with my phone and sent it to her. I need you in my shower, are you free?
You don't play fair. I have a job interview so no.
I wished her luck and took my shower. I felt like things were falling into place and if she got the job she wouldn't feel the need to marry to save face. I headed downstairs and ran into my father who invited me to join him at the hospital to meet some key staff.
I changed into more appropriate clothes and we headed to the hospital. He gave me a tour and when we reached the emergency room there were some officers waiting for a suspect who was getting stitched up.
"Charlie, this is my son Edward," my father said and a tall dark man turned to look at me. His face changed and anger filled his features. I was ready to ask him what he had up his ass when I saw his name on his badge and knew I was standing right in front of Bella's father.
"Sir, I'm really sorry," I said softly and glanced at the other officers watching us.
"Boy, you better make sure you never make one wrong move. You better drive the speed limit, have legal plates, and not so much as jay walk or I will lock you up and throw away the key."
"Yes sir," I said and tried to sound as contrite as I could. I wanted to point out his daughter fucked me and blew me without any coercion, but it wouldn't get me any closer to having a relationship with her.
"Did Bella's job interview go well?" I asked, trying to show I was interested in his daughter's success.
He stared me down for a moment and finally said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Obviously, he didn't want me having any information about his daughter, or maybe she was keeping him in the dark until she gets an offer. I vowed to keep my mouth shut regarding Bella to anyone I came in contact with. We moved on to the lab and I walked in to see Jake in a coat and working at a microscope. He looked up and did a double take before standing and leaving the room.
"Jacob Black works here?" I asked my father in anger. He knew it was information he should have shared and looked at me for a moment before nodding and walking away. "Wait," I yelled and grabbed his arm. "You should have told me, father," I said harshly.
"You will have nothing to do with the lab, so this tour is the only time you will run into him. I'm telling you now, Jacob Black works here."
"A little late," I said like a spoiled child and stuck my hands in my pockets.
He gave me a really odd look and I had no idea what it meant, but whatever it was he had no intention of sharing it. We continued on with the tour and when he introduced me to the charge nurse in the operating unit I smiled at what a beautiful young woman she was.
She blushed and looked away, making me suddenly interested. I walked up to the desk and said, "Hi, how long have you worked here?"
"About five years, my name is Angela," she extended her hand and I took it into mine without shaking it.
"Is there anything fun to do around here, Angela?" I asked.
She stared at me for a moment and said, "Hum…isn't doing Bella fun for you?"
My hand dropped hers as if it was on fire and I backed away from her desk. I knew I was going to be the subject of town gossip but I didn't realize how in my face it would be. We entered a long hallway and I pulled on my dad's arm.
"I'm not feeling very good, dad, can we finish the tour later?" I was being a pussy to lie to him, but I wanted to get away from the staring faces and let some time pass so the Mary Gentry show wasn't fresh in everyone's mind.
I went home and called Emmett. He was the first person to be genuinely happy to hear from me. They were going to come to Forks the next night to hang out and spend the night. I was actually looking forward to seeing Rose, and that was saying a lot.
That night I paced the floor hoping to hear from Bella. I checked my phone several times and wrote several texts only to erase them all. I figured if she wanted to see me it was her move. She knew how I felt. I finally fell into my bed and got a text close to midnight.
I had my bachelorette party, I'm drunk.
I wasn't sure how to respond. She was going full speed ahead with her wedding plans and still thinking about me, was it a good sign or bad? I thought about what to respond and finally wrote, Get in bed and get some sleep.
I assumed she passed out and I finally fell asleep.
I tried to study a bit the next day, since I was certain everyone would be watching and judging at the hospital. The day wore on and I kept checking my phone to see if Bella had woken up. I was glad when Rose and Emmett arrived. I almost cried at the sight of them both.
Rose looked exactly the same except she was pregnant. Her body was still perfection except for the round ball in front of her. She gave me a roll of her eyes and then gave me a hug. Emmett grabbed me around the middle and brought me right off my feet in a monstrous hug.
"So are you straight or gay now?" he asked with a laugh.
"I'm a doctor, so go fuck yourself," I said and led them both into the house. I filled them in on everything going on and Rose told me Alice got a promotion and was working in Europe for a month on a story line for the show. Jasper was with her and they were having a ball.
"I was going to say lets hit the town, but Rose can't drink," I said hoping she would agree to stay home but she stood.
"I'm up for some fun, I just won't drink."
I ran upstairs and changed in case I happened to get a chance to see Bella tonight. We went to a local tavern and sat at a table to talk. Emmett was talking about a new venture he was working on with Rose's father and I tried to nod and act interested. I was shocked when Rose butt into the conversation and said, "Bella's here."
I looked up to see Bella and Jake walk in hand in hand. My chest tightened and I slid lower in my seat to watch them unnoticed. They chatted with various people before going right to the dance floor and dancing in each other's arms. I noticed how Bella stood straight without leaning against his body and how he looked around the room and not into her eyes.
I took my beer and slid out of the booth to make my way to the back wall and stand in the cover of darkness to watch them. I knew he was not her wonderful and she was marrying a man who seemed to only tolerate her. He was more into her during the taping of the show than he was now.
After a few songs Bella excused herself and headed to the ladies room. I followed behind her and walked into the room to find her standing at the mirror touching up her makeup. She looked at me and froze with some lip gloss in her hand.
"Edward, this is the ladies room," she said and turned to face me.
"I don't care if it's a fucking tampon machine," I said and took a step closer to her. "What are you doing with this guy, Bella?"
"Are you talking about my fiancé?" she asked and I noticed how defensive she became.
"Yes, the guy that can't even hold you correctly on the dance floor," I said and reached out to take the container from her hand. I tossed it into the sink and took hold of her wrist and pulled her tightly to me. I leaned my face into her neck and smelled her hair with a deep breath.
We didn't sway or move, but we stayed attached to each other in the middle of the ladies room. I kissed her soft skin and began giving her tiny bites as her entire body shuddered in my hands. I could tell she needed this and it told me Jake wasn't taking care of his woman's needs. It also explained why she was so willing to blow me in the meadow. She needed a man.
"How was the interview?" I asked between nibbles.
"What interview?" she cooed.
I chuckled and let my hands begin to explore her body as she sighed and let her head fall back with her eyes closed. "Come home with me," I offered.
"I can't," she said with a breath.
"Why?" I asked.
"I'm staying the night with Jake."
"He can't satisfy you like I can," I said honestly, feeling how badly she needed a man's love.
"Edward," she said with a pained voice, "Why are you such a temptation for me, why can't I resist you?"
"Because I'm the right man for you, Jake's not," I said emphatically.
She finally looked right at me and I could see the indecision in her expression so I put my lips to hers and kissed her hungrily. She responded in every way and ran her hand down the back of my pants, placing her palm on my ass and squeezing. I ran my hand up her shirt and under her bra to manipulate her breast as I plunged my tongue into her mouth. I was thrusting against her as she encouraged me with her hands on my ass.
"I need you now," I said with gasping breaths.
She reached around and began removing my jeans so I leaned over and locked the door. Just as I had my jeans around my ankles and her skirt above her waist someone knocked on the door.
"Bella?" Jake called out for her.
Her eyes shot open wide and she quickly pulled her skirt back into place and pushed me away from her. I was struggling to get my pants back up as she walked out the door and said, "Sorry honey, I got a call."
I leaned onto the sink as I tried to calm down. I finally splashed some cold water on my face and headed into the hallway just as a woman was coming into the bathroom. She looked at the sign on the door in shock and then back at me. "The men's room was full," I lied and she nodded in understanding.
I made my way back to Rose and Emmett and glanced around for Bella. I couldn't see her anywhere and knew they left. I was in physical and mental pain and the only way to rid myself of it was to drink, so I began downing drinks as fast as I could.
Rose finally took the bottle from my hand and said hatefully, "You haven't changed at all, Edward. Grow up, if you want the girl fight for her, openly. But this brooding and letting her walk all over you has to stop."
"I got her fired," I said.
"She got herself fired," she said emphatically.
Emmett shook his head and said, "You didn't used to be like this, what happened?"
"Like what?" I asked.
"So whipped, you were like this when you lived with her and now you're back to the same pattern. You need to date and get laid," he said and I didn't have to nerve to tell him Bella was the only woman I wanted. I looked around the club and there were some pretty girls, but none of them caught my interest.
Rose finally said something to give me hope. "Edward, come to Seattle and let me set you up with a few women. You'll get your game back and realize you don't need Bella. Let her marry her loser, you don't want that anyway."
I wasn't sure if it was the liquor that made it sound like such a great idea or if it was what I really needed, but something made me agree to go spend a few days in Seattle. We left the next morning and just pulling into the city made me feel…right.
I thought I would feel Bella everywhere, but I knew this city before Bella and I would regain my confidence from a place I felt was all mine.
14
Rose didn't take any time at all finding women to set me up with. I told her I needed girls I didn't have to work too hard for. I wanted to screw them, not marry them. I met up with a girl named Victoria. She was tall with fire red hair and beautiful skin. My dick liked her at first sight.
We had a few drinks and when I asked her to dance she was plastered to me, so I didn't waste any more time. I ran my hand through her thick hair and smiled my sexiest grin before asking, "Do you want me to get a room or can we go to your place?"
She smiled back, good sign, and said, "I'm only six blocks from here."
I leaned in and kissed her aggressively. When I pulled back I saw her smile so I said, "Let's go."
She took my hand and led me from the club. We got into my car and she gave me instructions to her place. I was happy it was so close because my raging erection needed attention quickly. I was leaning into her body in the elevator and as she unlocked the door just to get some pressure and a bit of pleasure.
We walked through her door and I glanced around feeling my instincts begin to warn me. She had white doilies on every surface and her couch was covered in plastic. I swallowed hard and followed her down the hallway to her bedroom. I came to a complete halt when I saw her room. She had a doll collection in big display cases surrounding the room.
They weren't dolls from her childhood; they were new expensive baby dolls which looked so real it scared my testicles to death. I looked at her normal looking bed and realized the lights would be out so I wouldn't see the dolls, but I made up my mind at that moment I wouldn't be spending the night.
I headed toward her and she quickly pulled off her shirt. She had huge breasts and I reached out but she quickly moved from my gasp.
"When we have sex you can only touch the left breast, it is less sensitive than the right," she explained and I looked at identical looking tits.
"My left or yours?" I asked stupidly.
"Yours."
"Why?"
"I told you, it is less sensitive, and I notice men seem to camp out on nipples and you can stay longer on the one to your left."
I tried really hard to imagine she was only giving me some information to make the whole experience more pleasurable for both of us, but since she was Rosalie's friend I doubted it.
"Anything else?" I asked before I decided to remove any of my own clothing.
"Yes, I don't want you pumping in and out like a damn rabbit. I don't like that," she said and glared like she was warning me.
"You can be on top," I told her to solve the problem of my possible rabbit like pumping.
"Ew, gross," she said and scrunched up her nose. "Just do it normally."
I took a step back and said hatefully, "I have an idea, why don't you sit in that chair over there and I'll just fuck myself."
Her mouth fell open and I turned and left the apartment as fast as I could. I should have known a woman that pretty would be unattached for a reason. I headed back to Emmett's place and swore I would never go out with someone Rose chose ever again. I didn't know why I allowed it in the first place. Now I was horny as hell and missing Bella all the more.
I got into bed and pulled out my phone. I was shocked when Bella answered. "I'm alone in my bed and I can't stop thinking about you," I told her.
"I have the same problem," she said with a soft voice.
"I'm in Seattle or I would climb through your window," I sighed.
"My father would shoot you, and Jake is over," she said to plummet me into despair.
"Is he in bed with you?" I asked.
"Snoring deeply," she said with her quiet voice again.
I let the phone drop from my ear and I sat silently with it lying on my chest. I finally picked it up and said, "Good night, Bella."
"Wait," she called out. "Did you call for a reason?"
"Yeah, I wanted you to get me off," I said crudely and didn't care what awful names she called me. I planned to just hang up but she laughed lightly and it got me harder.
She spoke in just a whisper with her hand cupping the receiver, "I took hold of you tightly, can you feel my hand?"
I gasped and quickly grabbed my cock as I tried to speak. "Yeah, I feel you."
"God, you are so hard," she breathed. "I run my finger up the back of you to feel the hard muscle."
I took a shaking breath and tried to imagine the feel of her touching me tenderly. "It's not enough, is it?" she said and I quickly said with a rushed voice, "No, not enough."
"I go back to holding you tightly, letting the heat of my hand join the heat of your cock," she said and her voice was deepening. "It's going to be rough, Edward. Are you ready?"
"God, yes," I moaned.
"I don't give you any warning; I just come down hard onto you, impaling your throbbing cock deep inside of me."
I cried out and arched off the bed to her description as my hand came down hard and my dick began to throb from her words.
"That's nothing, Edward. I'm riding you hard, pounding you with a strength you've never experienced." My hand was moving forcefully but she yelled with a thick whisper, "Harder, stop holding back."
I was punishing myself with her command, moving my hand up and down with pain that felt so amazing at the moment. I couldn't control the grunts coming from my mouth and she whispered very lightly.
"I'm so wet, Edward. I'm dripping from you, God, you fill me and it is so good. Give it to me harder, make me pay for marrying Jake, fuck me hard Edward."
"I feel it," I yelled, "I feel your wet pussy all over me."
"Cum for me," she said with a voice I felt would wake Jake.
"You're mine," I screamed into the darkness, "Tell that fucker you are mine," I lost it at that moment and shot hot sperm into my palm as my body convulsed on the bed.
I became aware of Bella making soft mewing sounds through her tightly locked jaw and knew I got her off too. It reiterated my entire belief Jake was not satisfying her. If she could do that with me as he was lying right next to her, she was with the wrong man.
I finally calmed enough to speak and said, "Bella, you're amazing, thank you."
"It was why you called wasn't it?" she asked bluntly.
"No, I needed to hear your voice. I miss you so much," I said and knew she didn't believe a word of it.
"Well, you should sleep much better now, goodnight," she said and the phone went dead.
I was stunned and wondered why she seemed to change her emotions so quickly where we were concerned. She had to feel something for me or she would have her boyfriend beat the shit out of me, instead she gets me off with him lying right next to her. I was confused as hell.
The next morning I assured Rosalie her choice of date for me didn't work out at all. I also swore I would never go with another one of her friends but she told me she already had dinner arranged for that very night and I had to go.
I dreaded the simple task of eating when I walked into the restaurant and seated across from a young woman named Brea. She smiled and I almost asked her to show me her ID to make sure she was actually an adult.
"I know I look young," she said, either reading my mind or noticing my hesitation. "I'm twenty-three."
"Tell me about yourself," I asked, hoping to find tale tale signs of crazy and sparing myself from fleeing her bed.
"I'm a personal trainer for a local gym. I was raised here in Seattle, I like sports and also music, but my main passion is hiking and just being outdoors."
Her words made me think of the meadow and the cluster of rocks, making me very amenable to the outdoors. I nodded and waited for her to say more.
"I really like getting inked, do you have any tattoos?"
"No, I don't, let me see one of yours," I said with a smile and hoped she showed me one in a very provocative position.
She glanced around the restaurant shyly and finally raised her shirt a bit to show her abdomen. It was covered, every inch with skulls and blood and vampires. I smiled at her as she blushed and said, "Brea, please excuse me."
I stood and walked from the restaurant. I got in my car and made the long dark drive home to Forks. I would never fall for a plan of Rose's ever again. I knew what I had to do and that was convincing Bella not to marry Jake.
I woke up close to nine in the morning and grabbed my phone to call Bella. She answered and sounded like she was with a group of women. "Can you talk?" I asked her.
"Um…not now, I'm with my bridesmaids on a trip to Arizona."
I sat quietly for a moment and realized after all the planning and expense she would never cancel the wedding. She was humiliated once and not willing to do it again. I took a deep breath and said, "Bella, good luck and I hope you have a wonderful marriage."
"Are you okay?" she asked with worry.
"I'm great, good luck, love."
"Thanks, Edward; it means a lot coming from you."
We hung up and it was the last time I expected to talk to Bella Swan, she would get her pretty good and I wasn't going to ruin it for her. I went back to my existence of studying and getting ready to begin my residency, but the date on the invitation haunted me with every tick of the clock.
On Friday night I couldn't sleep knowing the next morning she would be Bella Black. I played my guitar and stayed in my room to brood. It was close to eleven when I heard a soft knock on my door leading to the small balcony. I moved the curtain back to see Bella standing in her nightgown.
I threw open the door and pulled her into my room. "Are you insane, you could have fallen?"
She was shivering and running her hands up and down her bare arms as her teeth chattered. It wasn't that cold, so I knew her nerves were part of the cause. I finally pulled her into my arms and felt her body slowly relax and begin to hold me back.
"I had to see you," she said into my ear.
"Why?" I asked and prayed it was to tell me the wedding was off.
"I can't go another moment without feeling your body on mine," she said and tightened her hold on me. My entire body responded as I held her chest tightly to mine and moved in to kiss her. She opened her mouth wide and took control of the kiss, which was wanton and needy. I began to gather the nightgown in my hands and pulled it from her body showing me she was entirely nude underneath.
She quickly began removing my boxers so we both stood naked in each other's arms. I kissed my way to her ear and asked, "What do you need, Bella, show me what your body needs."
She nodded and took a step away from me and toward the bed. I expected her to climb onto it but instead she stopped at the mattress and moved one leg widely to the side, spreading them far apart and then bent over onto the bed.
I got it now, Jake wasn't adventurous and Bella was naturally. She liked letting go where sex was involved and needed a man who didn't judge her, but appreciated her. I walked up slowly and placed one hand on her hip and the other on the small of her back. I let my cock move against the wetness coming from her and she inhaled sharply, moving her hand between her legs to guide in.
I held her tightly to the bed as I bent my legs and thrust upward hard. She moaned loudly and laughed with the sound of relief. I did it several times almost bringing her off of her feet a couple of times, before folding over her back and holding her shoulders for leverage. I began pumping into her and I could feel her hand move to stimulate herself, getting me so much harder.
I began to bite her back and she cried out with pleasure so I bit harder. It was if she had been designed specifically for me, for my body, to bring me pleasure and to give her what she needs. I was so delirious with excitement and awe I couldn't form a clear thought.
We both came at the same time and I knew we were both crying out much too loudly, but I didn't care. She came to me the night before her wedding and I was grateful she came to her senses before it was too late.
I pulled her into my bed with me and kissed her several times as I tried to arrange the perfect words to say to her. She kissed me really hard and then sat up. "I have to go," she whispered.
"Go where?" I asked and ran my fingers through her hair.
"I have to get my hair done at seven," she said as she wiped a tear from her cheek.
I sat up and felt a weird numbness run through me. "Bella, surely you aren't marrying Jacob tomorrow."
"Yes, I am," she said. "This is the last time I'll ever touch you, I had to have you one last time."
"What the fuck, Bella. You don't come to my bed the night before you marry and expect me to be okay with it. You're mine, damn it."
She grabbed her nightgown off the floor and pulled it over her head. "I wish I could be yours, Edward. I can't. Please don't make this more difficult."
"Bella, I love you," I blurted out and hoped it would make some kind of difference to her. She headed for my door and then turned to look at me.
"I'll never forget you and please, please, don't come to my wedding tomorrow."
15
She walked out my door, she was gone, forever. I lay there on my bed in shock and feeling an emptiness that gave me pause. I knew only one version of this girl, and it was the sexual side of her. I was throwing out phrases of love and I wasn't sure if she had a doll collection or wanted to get a tattoo. I didn't run after her. I needed to do some really deep thinking before making a big mistake.
The next morning my mother knocked on my door and came in my room to talk to me. I sat up and rubbed my tired eyes before giving her my full attention.
"Was it Bella here last night?" she asked and I realize our loud fucking had been heard by my parents.
"Yeah," I said shamefully.
"Honey, you can't let her marry Jake. She is crying out for you to stop this wedding and too terrified to do it herself."
"This isn't a decision I can make for her, mom," I said sadly.
"The night before my wedding I couldn't sleep because all I could think about was your father. You only dream of the man you love on that night, and Bella was dreaming of you. Her decision has been made, and she wants you to claim her as yours."
"I tried mom, I really did. I told her I loved her and she asked me not to show up at her wedding today."
"Do you know why?" she asked me.
"I'm sure she would feel guilty vowing to be faithful to Jake in front of the guy she screwed the night before," I said in anger.
"No, son, she can't vow to love one man, while the one she really loves watches. She can't marry Jake if you are there."
I thought about her words and wondered if my mother could possibly be right. "Are you and dad going to the wedding?" I asked and she nodded with a smile. "I'll get ready," I said and climbed out of my bed to go force Bella into choosing me.
I dressed in a dark suit and made sure to shave. When I walked down the stairs my mother looked at me with a smile and said, "You look so handsome, son."
I gave her a quick kiss on her cheek and waited for them to leave so I could follow behind. I had no idea what I was going to do; I just knew I had to be there. We walked into the crowded church and my parents seemed to be looking for anyone familiar. I didn't recognize anyone, but I didn't expect to. Jake worked for my father, but I was there for the bride so we weren't sure where to sit.
I was a bit surprised when we were led by an usher to a pew close to the front. Everyone scooted over and I sat right on the end. I realized Bella would walk right past me and I felt a lump form in my throat. My parents chatted softly and I kept playing with my fingers as I tried to get my hands to stop shaking.
It was a full fifteen minutes before the music began to play and everyone turned to look toward the back of the church. I noticed a few people glance over their shoulders at me and I felt exposed and like everyone knew what had gone on last night.
A small girl walked down the aisle holding a basket of rose petals, followed by several women in light lavender dresses. I recognized Angela and she looked right into my eyes and then took a deep breath and glanced back down the aisle.
Jake exited a room just off the dais and came to stand at the end of the aisle for Bella. I looked at him and tried to find something Bella needed, but he looked too clean cut for her. The wedding march began and everyone turned to look at the back doors. Bella came walking down the aisle by herself and I instantly began looking around for her father. It seemed really odd that he wouldn't be walking her down the aisle, but maybe he knew she didn't love Jake.
She smiled radiantly at various people as she made the slow precession. She was stunning, with a strapless dress and a long veil. Her hair fell in curls with small flowered interspersed throughout. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and when she finally looked right at me, I felt my hand rise involuntarily. I quickly ran it through my hair and hoped nobody noticed. Bella's face changed completely, and her once beaming smiled turned into a nervous flicker as she picked up her pace. When she was almost even with me she glanced with just her eyes in my direction and I smiled. I noticed how her mouth pulled up but her head dropped to keep anyone from noticing.
She passed me and walked up to where Jake stood. It didn't even look right to see them standing next to one another. The minister came forward and smiled at the crowd. He began talking about marriage and the commitment and love required to make a marriage work. I stared at Bella as she looked at Jake's chest and not into his eyes and something became very clear to me.
This wedding was a farce because Bella would certainly come back to my bed. I was going to be sneaking around with a married woman and the thought sickened me. I needed to stop this now. I had to confront her and make her publicly humiliate me or give her a reason to think twice about what she was doing.
I took a very deep breath and stepped into the aisle. "Bella," I called out and her head snapped up to look at me.
The entire church was silent and even the minister moved aside so we could see each other clearly. "Please, love," I begged. "Don't do this to us. I'm pleading with you in front of all these strangers, humiliating myself to keep you from making a mistake. I love you and I think you love me, too."
She let go of Jake's hands and he sighed really loudly and pulled on his tux as if he had been really sweating. The entire church broke into applause and I looked around in confusion. The man filming the nuptials moved the camera right into my face and a familiar voice arose over the crowd.
"Dr. Cullen, welcome to the second half of our show," Mary Gentry said. I looked around in confusion and as a microphone was placed in my hand.
"I don't' understand," I said in bewilderment.
"The book you read was written to bring you out of hiding and show the original data was correct all along. Men who are players will do anything to get what they want, even stop a wedding," Mary said with a smile and I suddenly got it. I had been played yet again. I just couldn't believe Alice could do this to me.
"Where's Alice?" I asked angrily and began looking around the room.
"She was an issue," Mary said, "So I sent her on assignment. She was never part of the original planning meetings. Dr. Swan's book, The Dangerous Single Man, was the book that was actually published; the other was a…prop book of sort."
Now I understood why my parents didn't recognize anyone and why Charlie wasn't here. This entire wedding and wedding party was fake. I finally found Bella's face and she wouldn't look at me. She deserved to have to see my expression so I walked up to where she stood. I wanted to scream at her, or slap her, or point out to the watching audience she was just a whore for her profession, playing a man to make her data fit. Instead I saw something deep in her eyes that told me she had gotten too close to her subject, so I knew how to hurt her the most.
I didn't care about the camera shoved in my face or the microphone under my mouth. I looked into her eyes and shrugged. "I would have gone through this and more, for you. It was always about my love for you, I'm sorry I was wrong."
I turned to walk away and she called out for me so I stopped walking but kept my back to her. "I wasn't trying to hurt you," she said with tears. "I was doing my job, following orders, this research began years ago and I couldn't just walk away."
I nodded and said, "Well, I hope you get a raise."
The church was absolutely quiet as I walked down the aisle and out the door. My parents followed and we drove home quickly. I walked into the house after them and my mother grabbed me into a tight hug. "I didn't know son, I'm so sorry, I should have let you sleep."
"I most likely would have shown up anyway, don't worry about it."
My father wasn't as forgiving and began to pace as he mumbled about calling a lawyer and firing Jake. "I knew the boy was gay," my father said and I gasped and looked over at his tight face. "Well, there were rumors going around the hospital, I couldn't very well call him in and ask about it."
I laughed and shook my head as I realized this little game was far from over. I was Edward Cullen, playboy extraordinaire, and it was my turn up to bat. I had a plan to knock it out of the park and end this game once and for all. I didn't give a damn about the data; it was now about male pride and putting a vindictive woman in her place.
I knew the one thing all women wanted, no matter how much they pretended it wasn't so. I was going to give Bella her heart's desire and the thought of it sent me into a fit of laughter. My parents thought I had lost my mind and maybe I had. I grabbed the phone and dialed Bella's number. She didn't answer so I left a message. "I want to talk to you, just you and me, no cameras from either one of us."
My father looked worried and reached out for my arm, "Edward, I have to think about the reputation of the hospital, please tell me you aren't putting your residency in jeopardy."
"Not at all," I said with a smile. "In fact, the general public won't know anything about this."
I went up to my room and changed my clothes before coming downstairs and telling my parents I was going to the meadow, if Bella showed up they were to send her there.
I took a blanket and lay in the warm sun as I hoped I was right about everything I was planning. The sound of footsteps coming toward me told me I was. I quickly sat up and began playing with a stick as I drew several B's in the dirt. When Bella called my name I jumped as if I was surprised by her presence.
I acted like I was trying to erase the letters as she walked over to see what I had been doing. She smiled softly and then sat on the blanket next to me. "I never wanted this to happen. But professionally I know how men react. I was only trying to show other women what it is men do to manipulate them."
"Wait, wasn't I the one manipulated?" I asked in shock.
"In Chicago yes, but here it was all you. Edward, you made assertions you didn't even mean to keep a woman giving you sex."
I bit my lip and tried to sound hurt, "How do you know I didn't mean them?"
"You don't know a thing about me except for the sex. Women use sex to keep their men interested and men will do just about anything to keep the sex coming."
"It's human nature Bella, did you really have to prove it?"
"It was the leg work for a center on human sexuality which the university is pouring money into; it is important data, Edward. I'm just sorry it had to be you who answered my ad for the apartment," she said and sounded sincere.
I stood and looked out into the forest as if I was anguished by some inner thought. I finally turned to look at her and asked, "Bella, what if I still mean it all. What if I tell you I love you and I want…everything, not just the sex but a life with you?"
"What are you saying?" she asked and looked a bit nervous.
I stared into her eyes and waiting for a few moments as she began to grow uncomfortable. I smiled and she returned my smile so I said, "Will you do me a favor?"
"Sure," she said and I noticed how much her heart was pounding as I continued to stare into her eyes.
"Kiss me, with nothing but truth. Show me how you really feel about me," I said and saw her give a barely perceptual nod. I knelt in front of her and waited for her to make the first move and she finally placed her hand on my cheek and leaned in to kiss me.
I backed up a bit, just an inch at the most and she stopped. I smiled and she smiled, too. Suddenly she put her hand behind my neck and pulled me tightly to her lips. She kissed me deeply with her tongue fighting mine for dominance. I pushed her back onto the blanket and covered her with my body as her knees bent to give me access to her core.
I was hard and I pushed into her for pressure causing her to hiss against my mouth, spurring me on to begin writhing against her. She continued to hold my neck so I wouldn't stop bringing her what her body needed.
I finally pushed off with my hands, locking my arms so I could stare down at her. I licked my lips and watched her eyes follow the path of my tongue. "Bella, I said as I struggled to breathe, "Will you marry me?"