Ok ok people, so the last chapter was really nice and all
but come on, this is Edward and Bella
we are talking about here so things
cant stay that way forever
right!
******
Why
Why can you not see me in the way I want to be seen?
I see only beauty in your imperfections
I wait in anticipation of your every word
My thoughts of you are pure
See my reverence
My adulation of you
I watch you
Lie in wait
You will soften towards me
Acquiesce to my passion for you
You will accept my love
For it is pure
It is certain
It is my greatest desire
L. Lopez AKA DreaminInCa
Dedicated to Justin – Read on!
*****
Chapter 14
Just a Taste
I woke cuddled in Edwards chest, I felt safe, loved and all in all just warm and fuzzy. As my eyes opened and the light from the sun registered reality suddenly came crashing in one me crap! I flew out of bed looking for clothes but finding nothing, I ran to the dining area pulling Edwards shirt on from last night, as I ran back into the bedroom I tripped but caught myself before doing any damage. "EDWARD WE HAVE TO GO!!!!!!!" I stared at him lying in bed looking amused, "Bella, calm down, what's wrong?" I was starting to hyperventilate from the panic, "Charlie, morning, oh my god, Charlie!" Edward chuckled, chuckled, "Relax Bella Alice took care of it, your fine with Charlie."
"Oh" I squeaked, holding my hand over my heart walking in small circles willing my heart rate to return to its normal pattern as Edward continued to lounge in bed.
"Ummm Edward."
"Yes Kitten?"
"Why are there huge holes in that wall?"
His calm façade finally broke and he looked at me sheepishly, "I might have focused some of my excess energy on that wall last night" he answered. My eyebrow cocked as I smirked at him and than at the wall. "I am going to pay for the damage Bella!" I laughed and than launched myself at him, he pulled me into our new favorite position me straddling his lap. "Good morning Tiger!" "Good morning Edward" I said shyly. "What is this?" he said with a smile in his voice, "All that confidence last night and the morning after your self conscious all of a sudden?" I slipped his shirt off of my shoulders and threw it to the side of the bed.
I looked up into his eyes and saw pure adoration, but made no move to close the short distance between us. Edward's jaw clenched and he shook his head quietly, "Isabella, where have you gone wrong??? In a hotel room under an assumed name seducing a vampire!" I shrugged my shoulders and continued to simply sit. He leaned towards me smirking at my blank expression, he brushed back the hair escaping from my ponytail and ran his hand from where it was fastened at the top of my head to the tip of my ponytail sending a shudder through me and than so quickly I barely saw the movement he wrapped the hair around his fist and pulled my head back and peppered soft kisses all over my exposed neck. "You need to shower Miss Swan, you have a teenage soirée to attend this evening!" I shook my hair out of his hand and leaned forward resting my cheek into the crook of his neck, "What time is it?" I asked, Edward laughed, "It's almost 2 in the afternoon lazy, maybe you should go a little easier on the champagne next time!" I frowned, "Na uh, I love champagne, I am going to be making up reasons to celebrate just to have more and I expect my vampire boyfriend to get it for me as I am underage!!" As Edward laughed "You know Bella, I am underage too!, "Whatever Edward!" I said rolling my eyes. I became thoughtful for a moment.
"Edward, tell me something about you that you have never told anyone else ever". "Ok," he mused, "when I was 14 I had a dog, his name was Moxie. At that time it was not as popular as it is today to walk your dog but I really loved that dog and after a while he got used to it so I had to! One morning I woke up feeling ill, Moxie didn't care about how I was feeling he wanted his walk. We started down the street and my coughed kicked in, I stood there coughing on the side of the road when I unexpectedly uhhh passed gas, only it wasn't gas!" He met my gaze to find my eyes wide open fighting desperately to control the giggles that were fighting to escape he smiled slightly embarrassed but equally amused by his story and continued. "I was so surprised that I dropped the rope which tethered Moxie to me he ran down the street. I yelled after him demanding that he return but to no avail, he refused to comply so I was forced to chase him down!" My laughter erupted effectively ending his story and after a moment his laugh mingled with my own.
Once I regained my composure I met his still amused gaze, "Well Edward, I can see why you have not ever told this story!" He smiled lovingly at me, "Why did you want me to share something that I have never shared with another?" I became pensive for a moment, "Well, you are so closed to your family, you all have no secrets from one another, they certainly have no secrets from you! I wanted to share a memory of yours but I wanted something all to myself!" He smiled, "Get in the shower Bella, we need to get going!" I got up and headed to the bathroom, "Ummm maybe I should go down the gift shop and try and find something more appropriate to wear!" "Silly Bella," Edward laughed, "Alice sent clothes ahead, they are in the armoire!" I rolled my eyes, "Should have known!"
Several hours later we were on the road back to forks, Edward had requested that the desk have the rest of our things sent back to the Cullen's house. As we stood at the front desk checking out the hotel manager came by to thank Edward for his business at which time Edward discreetly handed him what I assumed to be several thousands of dollars in cash and explained that they may find some damage in the room to which the man discreetly nodded, shook his hand cringing just slightly and turned to leave. The receptionist offered a receipt to which Edward declined and than wished a wonderful day to Mr. and Mrs. Cullen to which Edward leaned forward placing a not so chaste kiss on the sensitive spot under my ear. "So when am I expected home," I asked as we neared Angela's. Edward smiled, "Not until tomorrow night!" I smiled in return thinking of all the things we could do to fill in the hours. "Alice will pick you up tonight from Angela's, just call when you are ready." I looked down at my outfit a little doubtfully, it was really cute, a very short, to short denim skirt and a black oversized billowy blouse of cotton material with a wide neckline that hung off one shoulder and thank you so much Alice black flip flops dressed up with rhinestones. "You look beautiful Kitten!" I smiled, I was starting to get used to the pet name, "Thank you I answered but I am afraid I might get cold later." He reached behind him and pulled his jacket from the backseat placing it my lap, I smiled softly. "What?" he asked looking at me curiously, "Nothing," I said, "I just can't wait for it to get cold!"
A few hours later Angela and I were in her car on our way to Lauren's, Angela was gushing over my outfit which I explained in one word, "Alice!" "Cute earrings too" she exclaimed, "Thanks I said hoping the conversation would take a turn but I should have known better with oh so perceptive Angela. "Where did you get them?" she asked and I know I heard a slightly suspicious tone in her voice. I sighed, "Edward gave them to me last night," I answered in surrender. "Holy Crap Bell, Are You Telling Me Those Are REAL????" I turned my head away to the window and hissed as quietly as I could, "You better not be listening in on me Cullen!" and than turned back to Angela answering "Fraid so Ang, they are real!" Angela laughed a refreshing bubbling laugh "Well, I guess that answers my next question which would have been, how are things going with Edward?" I giggled relishing my teen girl moment, "He is amazing, I love him!" We came to a stop in front of Lauren's house, "mums the word, as far as anyone else is concerned those are rhinestones although I doubt anyone would think to ask!" "Thanks Ang!" I gave her a quick hug and we walked up the drive to join the party already in full swing.
Several hours later the sky was dark and there were many teenagers in different states of drunkenness all over Lauren's parent free home. Angela had left an hour earlier explaining that Ben's plans were cancelled and they wanted to take advantage of his unsupervised home. She offered me a ride to Edward's but I was having so much fun being a human girl and Lauren lived only 3 blocks from Charlie's I could walk there get my truck and drive myself to Edward's later.
I was able to speak with Brad and make amends, and even had an interesting conversation with Tanya Denali. I always had a sneaking suspicion she did not like me but as we had only ever had a handful of conversations I never knew why. I should have known it was Edward related. She explained that she had a crush on him for sometime when I moved to Forks and she had been a little jealous at our obvious connection. She had recently started dating a guy she met while crashing a frat party at UW and apologized for all the dirty looks I never earned. "That's ok Tanya," I murmured, "I'm just glad you have someone and your happy!" It seemed like everyone was getting things off their chest as after Wednesday many of us would never see each other again! After taking my time and speaking with everyone I finally said goodbye and started making my way to Charlie's. I missed Edward and couldn't wait to be surrounded by my adopted family. I shrugged his jacket on and inhaled the scent of Edward. I looked around taking in my surroundings, the forest that encroached around the perimeter of the neighborhood right across the street from me. The bright stars out tonight thanks to the summer weather, and most importantly the small town feel both a blessing and a curse, I would miss all of this when I left for Hanover to start my new life. I let the bittersweet feeling wash over me but is lasted only a moment before the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stood on end. "Hello Bella!" I heard a voice call from behind me.
I turned to see Justin about 20 feet behind me, "Justin!" I sighed but my muscles refused to relax, my gut was still sensing danger but that couldn't be right could it? "Oh hey Justin, what are you doing out here, you live on the other side of town?" He smiled and jogged he short distance between us stopping much closer than I was comfortable with. "I saw you walking," he smiled, "I didn't feel comfortable letting you walk home so late by yourself so I thought I should keep you company!" I laughed nervously, "That's really not necessary Justin, I only live another two blocks from here!" He ran his fingers through his hair nervously, "Still I would feel more comfortable if you were not by yourself!" I began walking forward again towards Charlie's, "Well, let's go then, and thank you Justin!" I took about two steps and than he stopped me again, "Hey Bella, I just really wanted to say that I am sorry for all the shit I have given you this year, I have been a real scum ball and you didn't deserve that, I'm sorry!"
Somehow his apology did not put me anymore at ease in fact it made me even more uncomfortable, luckily it was late and the neighborhood was very still, one good scream and the entire neighborhood would be up in a second! "Justin" I said very quietly, "I accept your apology and I hope that you will accept mine. No matter what you said to me I should have never hit you, I am very sorry about that but, I heard that you are dating Kelsey now and I am back together with Edward so everything worked out right?" I asked hopefully, "Speaking of Edward where is he?" My body was humming now with tension, I could feel something coming, I needed to change the path we were heading in so I began to walk again gesturing that he should follow.
"Well, I came with Angela tonight so we could have some girl time but she wanted to get in a little alone time with Ben so I told her I could make my own way home!" His brows furrowed in consternation, "Bella if I were your boyfriend or your friend for that matter I would never leave you alone, you are too perfect, too beautiful to be by yourself!" I kept walking but studied him curiously, it almost sounded as if there were tears in his voice, "Are you ok Justin?" I asked with concern. He stopped walking and had this look about him that made me really nervous, kind of like I was a juicy steak and he was a stray dog that had not eaten in months. "Yeah, I'm ok Bella, and I am really sorry about this!" "About what Justin?" I was really confused but before I could say anything further his fist shot out and punched me in the throat, I began sputtering, I could not breath and than I was being carried across the street to the forest.
Bella keep calm I kept repeating silently to myself, you must keep calm if you are going to get through this! I continued to sputter and try to right myself and it all came together in my head, he planned it down to where he hit me, so I could not scream, no one would hear me, no one knew where I was, oh my god this was really happening! The next thing I knew I was being thrown up against a tree his arms on both sides of my head. "You are so beautiful Bella, I just want a taste that's all just a taste of your perfection, if you only knew how much I have worshiped and desired you, you would never turn me away, you would welcome me!" I tried to speak but I couldn't my throat was swelling and I was still sputtering trying to catch my breath.
His face began to move closer to mine, was he going to try and kiss me? Yes, yes he was and suddenly there was Jasper, in my mind smiling telling me to do my best to try and escape the mightiest vampire of all time, I had to fight, if I was going to have any chance and getting out of here unharmed I had to fight. I shot my right arm straight up close to my body between his arms and brought it crashing down on his left arm opening a space for me to run and I did, I could barely breath but I ran and ran, I had no idea where I was, was I running further into the forest or out of the forest? I had no idea! I could hear him running behind me, I should have kneed him in his junk, shit! And than I felt him on me, he was tackling me to the ground.
"Please don't fight it Bella, it is going to be so good, we will be so right together!" "NOOOOOOO" I screamed but it was barely a whisper. I took the palm of my hand and sent it flying into his nose but he turned his head and it hit his cheek instead, he grunted but was not hurt. I was not strong enough, I needed help, I continued to writhe and fight underneath him but for a fraction of a moment I closed my eyes "Alice," I sent a silent plea, "I am going to fight him as hard as I can, until my fingers bleed if I have to but, he is going to do it, he is going to rape me, please Alice, please please please help me!"
When I opened my eyes I saw him going for my skirt to push it up, it was now or never, Stay with me Jasper I said silently and brought the point of my elbow crashing down into his neck he sat up on his knees groaning in pain and I brought both knees all the way up to my chest and sent my feet flying into his stomach hurling him away from me and than I scampered up continuing to run tripping and catching myself, I felt rocks and twigs stabbing into the bottom of my soft feet, my flip flops had flown off long ago.
I heard him coming up quickly behind me just as I fell again, I jumped up trying to right myself and I knew that he was only feet away, I looked back just for a moment to see his arm coming crashing down with a huge rock and I closed my eyes waiting for the pain but it did not come. A second later, I looked up to see Rosalie sitting on his chest pummeling him. I ran to her side, his face was completely covered in bruises, "Rosie you have to stop," I whispered, "Please stop, lets go Rosie please! She turned her face towards mine and the fury and loathing was radiating off of her in waves, It shook me to my core with terror, I wondered what I looked like to her because when she was my expression her face immediately softened and she rose to her feet lifting me with her. "Let's go Bella" she said reassuringly and threw me on her back running through the forest. When we got to her car she placed me gingerly in the passenger seat of her BMW. She than got in the passenger seat, I am taking you to the house she said, "No I whispered, I don't want to go there!" I started to cry, "Ok Bella, I will take you to Charlie's." "No Rosie, I don't want to go there either!"
She muttered an expletive under her breath and fished my phone out the pocket of Edward's jacket flipped through the contacts and hit send, someone must have answered because I heard her say, "No this is Rosalie" and I leaned my head against the window and tuned her out, all I wanted now was Edward's safe and reassuring arms around me.
It seemed like only seconds later I was leaning into Rosalie's side walking up the path to Ben Cheney's house. The front door flew open and Angela ran down the path, "Oh my god Bella, she cried, "I am so sorry, what the hell happened?" Rosalie answered for me, "Angela, Edward is on his way with Carlisle, please don't ask any questions." Angela nodded and they got me to the couch, Ben standing in the background angry, fists clenched, he did not know what happened but his face told me his guess was on the right track. My neck was throbbing, it hurt to talk and I was still having trouble breathing.
A few moments later Edward was practically knocking down the door, as soon as Angela opened it he was kneeling in front of me taking me carefully into his arms, "Bella are you ok sweetheart?" I nodded and heard a voice from behind him, "Let me take a look at her Edward," it was Carlisle. He gave me a shot he said would make the the swelling in my neck go down and treated my many cuts and scrapes. When he was done he held my hand, "Bella, your going to be fine, do you need to talk to someone about this?" I thought about it for a minute but I knew that the thing that bothered me the most was that I scared everyone to death. "Thank you for everything Carlisle," I whispered, "I am fine, you don't need to worry about me!" Carlisle smiled at me, "As if I could help myself Bella, you're my daughter of course I am worried". I smiled, "Thank you Carlisle".
Edward tucked me into the Volvo and we began the drive to the Cullen's, "Bella do you want to talk" Edward asked tenderly. I blinked the tears back, "Tomorrow ok" I answered. He nodded his agreement. When we walked through the door at the Cullen's my vampire family was waiting for me, Alice ran to me hugging me tightly and a little painfully, "Bella I am so sorry I didn't see it in time, I didn't see it until you called to me!" I stroked her hair, "It's ok Tink," I assured her, "I am fine!"
She stepped away tentatively and I looked around for the one I was waiting to see, he stood apart from the others as usual, he was leaning on the staircase and I ran to him wrapping my arms around him and burying my face in his chest, "Jasper," I whispered, "Thank you so much Jasper!" and the tears overflowed. Jasper walked me over to the couch and sat me down kneeling in front of me smiling, "Your very welcome Bella," he said with his slight drawl, "What are you thanking me for exactly?" He asked curiously. "You showed me what to do, it was like you were right there with me telling exactly what to do! Thank you so much Jasper for being there with me, for saving me!!!" Jasper hugged me tightly to him, I knew it was hard for him but I wanted to be close to him so I selfishly ignored that and pulled myself closer. "Listen Bella," he said pulling away from me to look me in the eye. "You are part of this family and we will never abandon you, when you need us we WILL be there for you, I promise you that, we ALL promise you that!"
I suddenly felt exhausted and looked at Edward who nodded at me, he may not be able to read my mind but he knew me better than anyone in the world, he picked me up and carried me gently up the stairs at human pace. He took some pajamas out of the new dresser in the corner and carefully helped me change in silence. Once I was changed he went into the bathroom and came out with my hairbrush, correction, my new hairbrush exactly like the one I had at home and he sat behind me brushing the debris out of my hair murmuring soothingly at me as I cried quietly. Once he was done he lay me down in his bed and climbed in beside me humming my lullaby softly to me as I drifted off to sleep.