Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.
In Six Months I Lost My Mind But Found My Heart
Chapter Twenty-Five: Revenge
May 5th
2 Months & 2 Days Left
Edward's POV
Today is a day of revenge. I finally had the perfect opportunity to get Bella back for beating me at poker. Tonight my parents are hosting a dinner party that is when I will extract the perfect revenge. All I have to do now is wait until then. A few days ago I gave Bella an introduction to riding but today I managed to convince her to come riding on a trail with me.
Alice equipped her with the perfect riding jodhpurs to save her from hurting her legs from the saddle. She could wear whatever she wanted on top since it was relatively warm out and the weather was nice.
We met out by the stables as I had the horses ready to go. Bella warned me that no matter what happened she was bound to fall and hurt herself so I was gave her the safest and calmest horse we had.
"We ready to go?" She asked, petting the bay horse with white markings down its face.
"Almost. First I need you to put this on." I held out the protective vest.
"Edward I don't think I'll get shot going on this trail. There is no need to wear a bullet proof vest." She protested.
"It's not a bullet proof vest. It's a body protector. Basically if you fall you won't break your back. You said you would fall so I'm going to make you wear this. You can do it the easy way, put it on voluntarily, or the hard way, I'll force it on you."
"Give me the damn thing." She sighed and pulled it from my hands to put it on.
Once we were all geared up and on the horses we moved out of the paddock and out onto the trail. I just wanted to spend quality time with Bella while I could. Every day that passes is another day closer to when she leaves.
My heart clenches at that very thought. Of not seeing her everyday and spending time with her. Though I would act nonchalant about the situation I'm definitely going to miss her. Three hours isn't on the other side of the world but it'll feel that way.
Glancing over at Bella she was holding the reins but looking very nervous on the horse, like she was waiting for it to bolt any second. The horse was just moseying along completely oblivious to its inexperienced, terrified rider.
"What are you staring at?" She asked smirking, catching me in the act.
"You." I answered honestly.
"Is there something wrong with me?" Calmly she brushed her hair and cheeks thinking there was something on her.
"No, you're perfect." I wanted to kiss her but thought leaning over the gap in-between our horses was too much of a challenge for us to try at this moment.
"So where are we going? Or are the horses just leading us wherever?" The last question brought a frown to her face.
"We're heading out of the main gardens and over to the adjacent fields. We can let the horses loose out there and give them a chance to properly stretch their legs. Perhaps if they are up for it we could get them galloping, but only if you want to." I said nervously. Normally I would be so confident with what I was doing and where we were going but with Bella I wanted everything to be perfect and would hate to disappoint her.
"No that sounds fine, going there; I might pass on the galloping though. That's just finding a reason for me to fall off the horse." She was smirking but I could tell she was being dead serious.
For the next ten minutes we rode in silence, comfortable silence. I spent my time admiring the view of the rider next to me and she spent the time looking out at the vast landscape. From where we were we could see the river running through the estate and it was almost a picture perfect moment.
Deciding this was the best time as any I worked out how to explain to Bella about meeting Tanya. Since that day our father's have gone ahead and are going to be announcing our engagement in one week today, on the 12th of May.
Things are moving a lot faster than either Tanya or I anticipated and she was very disappointed when she found out that I would be her husband. Unfortunately it is required of me to propose to her in the next few days so that the engagement party can go ahead on schedule. I'm trying to buy some time, so is she, but neither of us has been successful yet.
Tanya is practically begging her father to reconsider me and look more at the Earl. He doesn't seem to be having any of it and if anything it's just pushing him closer to me than ever. This marriage will just be one train wreck after another.
I would do everything in my power to be the best husband and father even if I did not love my wife, after all she would not love me. A few years ago when I knew that I would have to marry someone, whenever I thought of myself with a family my wife's face was blurry. But now, that face is very clear and it's the face of the girl sitting on the horse four feet from me who my heart yearns for.
"Bella?" I said apprehensively.
"Yeah?" She turned and gave me a soft smile, making it even harder for me to tell her this.
"Em…when…remember that morning we got rather carried away?" She blushed ever so slightly and nodded. "Well just after you left with Alice I met a girl who is almost 100 percent confirmed as being my fiancée. I said to you that I would tell you when I was to meet her and at the time I didn't because I didn't want to. I wanted to keep that part separate from us. With everything that was going on with James around that time I thought it would be better to tell you at another time."
"It's okay Edward. You didn't have to tell me. I'm not your keeper." I wish you were, my brain thought recklessly. We fell into uncomfortable silence then.
"Was…was she nice?" Bella asked after a few minutes.
"She was lovely, very friendly and helpful. She made me realise something that I hadn't thought about. She made me consider taking a chance, risking everything and knowing that it would be
worth it." I said as my thoughts trailed off. After I told Bella about Tanya I felt like a complete idiot. I'm meant to be her boyfriend and I'm talking about another girl, my fiancée to be exact.
"I didn't mean it like that-" I started.
"It's fine Edward. You'll be marrying her anyway so it's good that you two got on well." I wanted some sign that she was upset about me marrying another girl but I got nothing. She didn't seem effected at all and that hurt a little. Maybe she only thinks of us as a fling and not a serious relationship which is what I want us to be.
I shook my head of these heavy thoughts. We had reached the fields and it was time to let go of our structured selves and let loose. I always found that with riding fast it makes me feel free and the sensation of the wind whipping past my face is one I have not been able to replica anywhere else.
For the rest of the afternoon Bella and I had a somewhat awkward good time. Both of us knew what the implications of me getting married would be on our relationship and instead of making the most of it we distanced ourselves from each other slightly.
I managed to get her to gallop on the horse but she seemed terrified. Unfortunately she did fall off but there was no damage as she was wearing the body protector. I could tell she was thankful that I made her put it on but she seemed irritated by my smug smirk that I was right about her wearing it. The small smile on her lips told me that she wasn't completely pissed at me though.
We headed back and Alice stole Bella away from me to get ready for the dinner party tonight. Whilst Bella was in the shower I explained to Alice about what happened when we were out and the conversation about Tanya. She said that she would help me get back in Bella's good books.
At seven thirty the girls came downstairs looking as beautiful as ever. Alice had gotten Bella into a casual black dress which just highlighted how amazing she was. It was worth the hours they spent cooped up in Alice's room when they come out looking like that. Jasper and I only took ten minutes to get ready and we certainly didn't look that good.
The dinner was rich food topped with extravagant sauces and lots of strong wine and alcohol on the side. The only way to keep eating was to keep drinking and by the end of the meal we were all rather tipsy, some more so than others.
Bella and I had a great time and all the awkwardness from earlier had vanished. The guests at the party were very friendly and that helped relax Bella. They weren't the overly stuffy people of the upper class so were able to have a good time. The alcohol also helped us have a good time and allowed us just to relax. I wasn't drunk so could control my inhibitions but I wasn't so sure about Bella. She seemed a lot more comfortable around me and it was like nothing had happened.
Perfect.
"Have you ever played pool?" I asked Bella as we stumbled through the halls looking for something to do. I knew what room we needed to be in but it could be a challenge getting her there.
"No, can you teach me?" She was clinging to my shirt and smiling beautifully at me.
"Of course." I led her into the billiards room where I would extract my revenge. "We'll be playing pool on the billiards table since pool is an easier game to play; well at least I think so."
I gathered the pool cues and balls then set up the table to play. She had some understanding so it didn't take long before we were playing. I let Bella break and spent the next few minutes watching how she positioned herself to take her shot. If I was going to do this properly I had to be standing in the perfect place.
She became striped and I was the solid-colour balls but play momentarily stopped when I moved to her right side as she leant over the table to pocket the striped blue ten ball. I had left my cue against the stand so it wouldn't get in the way and gently ran my hands over her exposed shoulders.
Bella frowned and looked up from her shot, inquiring what I was doing. If only she knew.
Bella's POV
I was about to pocket another ball when I felt Edward's cool hands graze over my shoulders. I looked at him to see what was going on but he just had an innocent smile on his face. Ever so slowly he began to massage my shoulders softly then leant down and kissed just next to the strap for the dress.
My mind became fuzzy and all thoughts were suddenly lost. I groaned involuntarily at the touch of his lips. His lips curled into a smile as he continued to kiss his way across my shoulder to my neck.
"Edward." I warned but it sounded more like a moan.
"Just relax, you're so tense." He whispered as his hands grazed up from my fingers to my neck leaving goose bumps in their wake. Ever so slowly he started to massage my back and shoulders causing my moans to increase.
Somehow I ended up sitting on the billiards table with Edward's hands roaming my back. He seemed to know exactly where to massage to get the best reaction from me.
"Edward." I moaned, completely giving over to him. He moved his hands away and I groaned before reaching round and pulling them back. "No don't stop."
He was smiling smugly at me as he kissed my shoulders and continued to massage my back. I was in too much pleasure to care about his cocky attitude. All I could care about was the sensations his hands were creating.
Alice's POV
Bella and Edward wandered off after dinner and the rest of us, including the guests, stayed at the table eating and drinking. We were heavy in conversation and working our way through our twelfth bottle of wine when we could hear moans through the walls.
Everyone paused mid sentence and I could see the bewildered looks crossing each person's face. Carlisle cocked his head to the side and looked at Esme with a bemused smile. I could see the clogs in his had turning. It wasn't until Bella moaned Edward's name that everything clicked into place.
I had no idea what they were up to but it certainly sounded like Bella was enjoying herself.
"No don't stop." She moaned.
With that my mother was up and trying to distract the guests into joining her in another room where they wouldn't be able to hear my brother pleasure Bella in whatever the hell he was doing. I know he's too much of a prude to be doing what I think he's doing so who knows what's going on.
Bella's POV
Edward had just finished giving me a massage and we had completely abandoned our game of pull. Instead we were just going to head upstairs and mess about up there. It wasn't until I opened the door whilst brushing down my dress did I realise that my moans must have been loud. I was met with about twelve knowing glances from all the guests and Edward's family. I have a rough idea of what they thought we were doing but that certainly didn't happen, Edward's hands stayed strictly above my waist.
My natural instinct was to blush at the thought of them hearing me moaning and calling Edward's name. Unfortunately that just made us look guiltier, Edward's cocky smirk wasn't helping either. Very quickly I dashed out from under their scrutinising eyes and buried my face in my hands once I was out of sight. Edward was killing himself laughing and was trying to compose himself.
"It's not funny; they must have thought we were doing something completely inappropriate." I scolded him.
"It wasn't that bad. What would you have rather of done, that or stripping in front of them?" I could now see where he was going with this.
"Oh my god you set that up?!" I accused. His smirk gave him away.
"I did tell you I would get you back for making beating me at poker." As if that made it okay.
"You are so dead." I warned him as he began to walk backwards towards the stairs. I wasn't completely pissed at him since it could have been worse but I was slightly riled that I was moaning n front of strangers.
"Now Bella let's think rationally about this." Edward said, holding his hands up in a mock surrender. I just shook my head and continue to advance on him. Quickly he turned round and dashed up the stairs, me following in pursuit.
I was so surprised that I didn't fall as I chased him, maybe the alcohol fixes my balancing issues, and then I was utterly shocked when I heard a thump followed by a yelp then saw Edward in a heap on the floor. He rolled over onto his back which gave me the time to sit on his waist straddling him.
"Huh I thought I would have been the one to fall." I told him coyly.
"Well I didn't want you to hurt yourself… so… I fell for you." I bit my lip at the four words at the end of his sentence. I know he didn't mean it that way but my heart still skipped a beat when he said it.
I leant over him and subconsciously licked my lips. His eyes darted there when I did so and he did the same just making him more tempting beneath me. Very quickly Edward's hands were at my neck and pulling my lips closer to his. I definitely wasn't putting up a fight and kissed him quickly, just letting my body's desires take over.
Edward was obviously doing the same as his hands were roaming my body and I could hear him groaning involuntarily below me. After all the teasing downstairs we were finally just letting instincts control our motions.
As we were there on the floor wrapped among each other, repeating many of the noises I had voiced earlier, Alice came up the stairs and walked straight past us into her bedroom. A few seconds later she opened the door and threw something at us. It hit Edward in the head causing him to frown. I pulled away from his lips and picked up the box only to hear Alice yell at us.
"I bought you condoms so use them!" She shut the door as Edward took the box from my hands and rolled his eyes. I brushed his hair out from his face and kissed him softly before untangling myself and standing up. We both stood there rather awkwardly, not knowing quite what to say.
Edward made the next move and pulled me into his bedroom, locking the door behind him. I gave him a questioning look but he just said he didn't want to be disturbed. My mind was going crazy with possibilities of us in a locked bedroom with condoms and then he started to undress. I was completely floored and sat down on the bed before I fell to the ground.
He removed his shirt leaving his perfect chiselled chest exposed and started removing his pants. I must have looked like a complete idiot sitting there gaping at my irresistible boyfriend.
"Are you not going to undress?" He asked softly and seductively. I had no coherent thoughts and just sat there motionless. "I think it would be very uncomfortable to sleep in that dress." He added.
"Sleep?" I croaked. Were we just sleeping or was something else going to take place that would make us want to sleep.
"Yeah, just sleep. I haven't gone a night without wanting you in my bed. After that time we slept in the same bed at your house I've always felt like there was something missing from my bed and that something turned out to be you." He looked shy when he said it and that just made him look even cuter. "There is something you can wear in the bathroom."
Slowly and unsurely I walked into the bathroom and noticed a pair of loose shorts and a shirt on the counter. I smiled at his thoughtfulness and quickly changed. When I made my way back into the bedroom Edward was lying in the bed. He beckoned me over and lifted the covers up for me to slide in.
"Sleep here every night?" He whispered against my skin as he pulled me into his arms so I was lying against his bare chest.
"Only if you want me to." I kissed the skin my cheek was going to be laying against and looked up into his beautiful golden topaz eyes.
"I do."
"Then I will." He kissed my lips softly. For some reason I just felt so close to him and even though we had calmed down our teenage hormones this act of us lying together in bed seemed intimate enough. "What will your parents say?" I asked nervously after a few seconds.
"Nothing as they will never know." He kissed me again and tightened his grip on my body. "Goodnight Bella."
"Goodnight Edward."
Shortly after I fell asleep. I was panicking about the upcoming weeks but realised I would be fine as long as I had Edward around to support me. He was like my rock, someone I could lean on. As much as I hate to admit it, since it's a complication neither of us need, I am wholeheartedly in love with him.
If only he knew or felt the same way.