Okay... so you're hopefully gonna love me for this chapter because it's about 11,500 words long... or you're gonna hate me. But truth be told, I like it how it is so I'm not apologizing for it! I just got back from a loooong vacation, hence the long absence and I'm still working on finishing my other story too with has been on the back burning cause I keep rewriting the chapter. (I'm my own worst critic.) Anyhow, see you at the end!
Ciao!
Chapter 9: Falling
"My God woman, I'm going to be sixty by the time you finish that!" Edward chided while watching Bella slowly moan while chewing her food.
Edward had finished his lunch fifteen minutes ago and was currently fascinated watching the slender woman before him constantly moan and lick her lips savoring every single bite of her sirloin burger. Edward found it almost erotic the way she ate and he couldn't tear his eyes away.
"I like to enjoy my food, thank you very much. This is the best burger I've had in a year and I plan to finish every last bite. It's not my fault you wolf down your food like some animal without teeth," Bella chuckled watching the smirk grow on Edward's face.
"I'm a man, that's what we do. We savor filet Mignon and inhale our burgers. Where have you been? In a cave?"
"NO! In Austria. Where the best burger I could find was at a McDonald's that smelled like Limburger cheese! I also avoid that fast food place like the plague, if I can help it. That is, unless I'm desperate, which I was after six months of living off meat, potatoes, bratwurst, goulash, and Nutella! So get off my slow eating back, Cullen!" she threw a french fry at him, which he caught and popped it into his mouth with a cocky grin.
The playful banter between them had been going on ever since they sat down at The State Road Restaurant in West Tisbury. They had developed a sort of truce, a mutual non-verbal agreement to try and forget the past, and get to know each other on a more personal level, rather than facts based on hear say, or observing from a distance.
They were teasing, joking, and getting along swimmingly, Bella thought, and she still had half a burger left to go and a full plate of french fries, which meant lots more time for chatting and getting to know one another.
Edward started up a different topic while Bella took her next small bite of burger.
"I think it would be wise to hit a couple of shops while we're here to get some basic supplies and essentials. You know, since we didn't plan on staying longer than this afternoon," Edward mentioned after confiscating one of Bella's french fries. He smiled at his own cunning stelth, while Bella looked abashed from him stealing her precious food.
Bella grumbled and rolled her eyes, sighing deeply at the thought of having to endure another shopping trip. She had been entirely shopped out from her last shopping trip back in December was good until next December she thought... until she realized Edward was right and they really had no choice.
"Why the long face?" Edward asked looking concerned at Bella's sudden change in attitude.
Is she upset from having to spend more time with me? She would have probably preferred being stuck here with Emmett instead of me. Figures. But wasn't she just smiling and having a good time just now?
Bella saw Edwards face drop a little and hunched over the table after she expressed her lack of enthusiasm for shopping. She hoped he hadn't misinterpreted her response as something else... so Bella quickly put her hand on top of his to reassure him that her bad mood wasn't because of him.
"Fun fact about Bella Swan; I really hate shopping. I grew up with my dad who shops probably once a year, at best. Plus I think I was traumatized in Austria after spending so much time with my friend Angela. Who by the way, threw out all my comfort clothes and sneakers only to replace them with monstrosities like tight clothes and pumps."
"Ah..." Edward felt instantly relieved and slightly amused at Bella's humorous complaining, so he was in better spirits to tease her a little bit.
"So it's her I have to thank for throwing out all your baggy clothes and holey jeans. I'll make a mental note to send Angela a fruit basket," he laughed hysterically at Bella's stunned, outraged, and open mouthed, looking like he killed her puppy expression.
"Don't mock me! I. Loved. My. Overalls! They. Were. Awesome!" She tried to hide her smile as she continuously slapped his shoulder for insulting her overalls, knowing it was just a game and that it would amuse him.
"Yes, well sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart, but you're the only one who thought so!" Edward laughed as he mockingly put his hands up in surrender, taunting Bella's bold and audacious attack against a man who out weighed her by seventy pounds and could lift her with one arm.
Finally deciding to put a stop to their squabble, he grabbed both of Bella's hands and brought them to his lips and kissed each one while glancing at her apologetically for his cheap shot at teasing her.
Once his lips left her skin, both of them stopped laughing as the air stilled from feeling a strong current of electricity shooting from their bodies. Edward wasn't even aware that her hands were still firmly clasped inside his own while he focused the flattering blush that naturally covered her porcelain cheeks, causing her skin to glow.
He had no idea what was so enticing about her... but it seemed where Bella Swan was concerned, he couldn't keep his hands to himself.
Feeling slightly flushed from Edward's penetrating gaze, Bella cleared her throat then gently removed her hands from Edward's firm grip to put so more space between them. Suddenly Edward's head cleared as Bella moved back to her original position across the table, and his stomach dropped when he realized she now felt too far away.
"But seriously we probably should go shopping, despite your protesting. You know, since we weren't planning on spending the night," Edward said casually, trying to get the light mood back before she started pulling away from him, "Afterward, we could go out to the country club for dinner... if you'd like..."
Suddenly it sounded like he was asking her out to dinner, which he figured would probably be a good thing, since he was trying to woo her after all. Perhaps she would take the hint.
"There's no need to go out. I could cook us something if we stop by the market before we head back. I don't mind."
Well, crap. That's not exactly what I had in mind. I was willing to spoil her and lavish her with fine dinning and hopefully use some romantic ambiance to my advantage.
"Are you sure? I don't wish to put you to work or wear you out over a hot stove," he asked her, leaning over the table.
"Who says I need a stove in order to make dinner?" Bella leaned over copying his pose while challenging him to contradict her.
"How about I cook you dinner? It's only proper since you're my guest," Edward leaned arrogantly back in his chair, smiling at Bella's stunned, disbelieving expression.
"You know how to cook?"
Bella was completely taken back. She'd never once seen Edward anywhere near a kitchen. As far as she knew he always had his meals prepared for him or ordered to his office. She wondered how she could have missed that fact about him all these years.
"Well, it seems you don't know everything about me, do you, Ms. Swan?" Edward's shit eating grin spread across his entire face and lit up his eyes in a mischievously boyish way that Bella had never seen before. It reminded her of Emmett...
Of course they were related, so naturally they would share certain traits. But Edward had always been so prim and proper compared to Emmett's wild and free spirited nature. This side of Edward made her wonder if there was still a young man trapped inside an adult waiting to be set free. Dying to burst out of his shell and have some fun for a change instead of working 24/7.
Bella smiled warmly at Edward and gracefully lowered her lids before nodding her head once as to show her respect playfully, "I'm glad to be proven wrong, Mr. Cullen. And I would be happy to take you up on your offer, as long as you allow me to be your sous chef," Bella said raising her eyebrow, secretly trying to call his bluff.
"There's no need. But I promise to cook you the best meal you've ever had in your life, Ms. Swan!"
The playful teasing grin was back in full force on his face and Bella scoffed at his boasting, "Your modesty astounds me, Mr. Cullen. But I warn you, you have some major shoes to fill after this delicious sirloin burger."
"Ooh, the gauntlet has been thrown! That burger is going down and you will be begging for me to cook for you every night after tonight."
"And if I don't, then you have take me back to this restaurant whenever I want so I can order this burger again and again," Bella said after taking another ginormous bite of her burger and moaning in ecstasy as the juices dripped from her mouth.
"Done. But if I win, then you have to do something in return for me..." Edward's showed her his crocked grin knowing if she agreed to the terms, then no matter the outcome, he would win.
Bella cocked her head loftily to the side raising her eyebrow and adorably pursing her lips to the side thinking about his request, then nodded her head in agreement, "Deal."
Bella was outside the dressing room sitting on a comfy white couch staring up at the ceiling trying to amuse herself while Edward tried on another pair of pants.
"Isn't it supposed to be the woman's job to keep the men waiting while they try on clothing? Seriously... how times have changed. Perhaps I should start opening doors and carrying you over puddles too..."
"Quiet woman. This is no time to be questioning my manhood!" Edward shouted from the other side of the door, grunting in frustration because all the pants inside the store seem to cut him a little to close to the crotch, which would leave nothing to the imagination.
He heard Bella heave a deep sigh which caused him to chuckle. He preferred woman who weren't shopaholics and liked to get in, get it over with, and get out... but in this case, Bella seemed to be allergic to shopping.
Finally, he tried on a pair of khaki shorts that were the right style and size. He quickly got dressed and grabbed two polo shirts before walking out of the dressing room to find Bella. She was right were he left her, sitting next to the articles of clothing she had just tried on, lounging her head back like Cleopatra on her settee.
"Are you all set to go your highness?" Edward grinned as Bella's head popped back up anxiously to see him holding his preferred clothing. She jumped up off the couch and grabbed her four items, "Ready! Let's get out of here before you purchase a lap dog for your designer purse!"
"That's it!" Edward dropped the clothing in his arms and threw Bella back onto the couch and started tickling her vigorously under her arms and on her sides.
"AHHH! EDWARD, S—STOOOOOP!"
"Take it back, woman! Say it! Tell me I'm manly!"
"NO! YOU TRIED ON EVERYTHING IN THE SSS-TORRRE!"
"SAY IT!" Bella reached to tickle him back under his chin causing him to squeal and laugh even louder as he fell back against the couch. Bella landed on top of him to hold him down only to hear a very perturbed voice coming from behind them.
"Excuse me. I'm going to have to ask you both to—Edward?"
Edward and Bella stopped laughing and tickling each other to look up to see who spoke, then Bella looked back to Edward to see the recognition on his face.
"Victoria."
Bella couldn't tell if Edward was pleased to see her or not, then suddenly she looked back at the red headed bombshell and recognized her as well from the Cullen's party last year. Bella slowly got off of Edward so she wouldn't hurt him and looked at Victoria apologetically.
"I'm sorry for the disturbance. Hi, I'm Bella Swan," Bella held her hand out to shake Victoria's which she shook professionally.
"Pleasure. Victoria Thomson, co-owner of the store and a close personal friend of the Cullen family," Victoria said looking back to Edward who tried with all his might not to roll his eyes.
"It's nice to meet you. I'll just..." Bella said modestly stepping back while pointing to the line by the cash register, allowing Edward to catch up with Victoria if necessary while she made her purchases.
"It's good to see you again, Eddie. It's been almost a year, you should have called and let me know you were coming," Victoria stepped closer to Edward who was still watching Bella as she made her way to the front of the store.
"I thought you were in Greece with your family," Edward craned his head to see Bella eying a white bikini and picking up to look more closely, then tried to hold his laughter in as she comically bugged her eyes out when she saw the price tag before putting it down.
"I chose to stay and watch over things. I went last year, it didn't impress me. But Jamie is taking me to Fiji next month and I think he's going to propose there," Victoria's hand brushed against Edward's collar which brought his attention back to her. He grabbed her hand before she wrapped it around his neck and patted her shoulder.
"It was good to see you, Vic, but we must be going. Say 'hi' to James for me," Edward walked past Victoria and headed straight for the check out counter while getting his black American Express card and swiping it before Bella got the chance to reach for her wallet.
"Edward!" Bella called out too late while the register dinged and the man behind the counter gave Edward the receipt to sign.
"That's for not calling me 'manly'"
Bella scoffed and rolled her eyes before heading back outside to blow off some steam while Edward smiled victoriously and reached behind him to grab the white bikini that Bella was admiring before she turned around to scowl at him.
The cashier bagged Edward's items while Bella scowled at Edward, just as he predicted, then walked outside to stand by the car with a huff.
Edward smirked at her stubbornness, which again reminded him of himself, and thanked the cashier. He acknowledged Victoria's irritating wave with a nod then walked outside to find Bella leaning casually against the car and staring up at the sky.
She could feel Edward approaching, so without even looking down she asked as he stopped right next to her leaning against the hood of the car, "Let's go for a bike ride."
She sounded completely serious, and Edward looked peculiarly at her while pointing upward to the sky, "Um, I know I suggested it earlier but it actually does look like it's going to rain..."
Bella took out the new jacket she just bought and put it on right before Edward tossed their purchases into his trunk.
"Nah, we got time. It's gonna shower tonight, but we still have a few hours before the storm hits. Come on. There's a bike rental over there."
Very excitedly, Bella grabbed Edward's hand and pulled him a long toward the bike stand, almost causing him to trip on the sidewalk to catch up to her pace.
"What are you, a human barometer?" Edward chuckled at her enthusiasm while she continued to tug on his arm like an anxious child wanted to go on a roller coaster.
"I spent most of my childhood looking up at the sky and I spent the past year in Austria which had the best thunder storms I've ever seen. Trust me, we have two hours before the sky will start pouring. Now hurry up!"
"Jesus, you're very pushy for someone so small!" Edward said while he tightened his grip on her hand then playfully pulled her into his side.
"Just one of the perks of being me," Bella flashed him a sassy confident grin causing Edward to scoff and roll his eyes indulgently while secretly loving her spunky side.
They each rode a bike down the streets with the salty breeze blowing through their hair. Bella noticed that Edward's hair looked the same as it always had been in it's constant disarray, but her hair probably looked like it had been electrocuted.
Edward admired how graceful Bella seemed while riding a bicycle opposed to walking on flat surfaces. He was pleased that he unlocked another mystery to her persona, the fact that Bella Swan was graceful in all other means, except for walking. This epiphany distracted him long enough to realize that Bella was no longer riding along beside him and it made him look back to see where she had gone.
Bella had been lost in thought thinking how much more youthful and happy Edward seemed today in all the years she'd known him. She guessed he had smiled more in the last two hours, than he had in the past month... or more.
Edward appeared to be different around her somehow, and it wasn't until they had encountered Victoria that she saw some of the old Edward start to show his face again. The stiff, professional, dignified Edward who only smiled to charm and please other people... and not for himself.
That was the Edward she knew... the one she thought she knew, until this afternoon.
Perhaps what she had said to him in the plane really did make an impact on him in some way. That thought, of helping him become more loose, spontaneous, and carefree, made her feel happy and warm inside. Maybe Edward did want to change and slow down from the fast lane... he just needed someone to show him how.
Wow... what a beautiful building, Bella thought to herself and pressed on the breaks, stopping on the street to stare at the different color bricks of the old colonial square building.
"Bella?" She heard Edward's voice calling her but Bella was too busy snapping several shots of the landscape through her camera that was around her neck.
"What is it?" Bella looked down from the camera sensing Edward pulling his bike around next to hers and waited for her reply.
"Which building is that? It's so lovely... it looks so old."
"That's because it is. It used to be a hotel that belonged to my grandfather."
"Really? Who owns it now? Its looks so deserted and careworn,"
"I do. I own this entire block actually. All of this," he waved his hand in front of her to show her the land and small businesses that lined up the street. But when he looked back to Bella her expression looked remorseful and sympathetic, so he followed her gaze to a homeless woman with a shaggy springer spaniel picking trash out of the public trashcan.
Suddenly an idea popped into his head to try and play to her good nature, "It's been deserted for sometime now, and I've been in the process of donating it to the city so it can be turned it into a half way house."
Bella whipped her head around looking completely shocked at his comment, because she had never heard of Edward giving anything away for free before, even if it was for a good cause. She must have misjudged him entirely... and she was never more happy to be proven wrong.
"Sometimes people need a break and a little help to get back on their feet... I just wanted to give them that opportunity to turn their lives around," he said leaning back in his seat, imagining the picture in his head. Feeding Bella a story he hoped would put him in her good graces and help change the image she most likely had of him, which was not very philanthropic or humanitarian.
By the time Edward looked back to Bella, he knew his story had worked. She bore the happiest, warmest glowing smile he had ever seen grace her face... and it belonged entirely to him.
The weight of her approval and opinion surprisingly meant more to him than he anticipated... it made him feel good about himself and caused him to smiled back in return. Suddenly he considered making his little white lie into an actuality so it wouldn't be false, and become more philanthropic in general just to see her smile like that again... just for him.
He shook his head clear of these random thoughts and his attention was momentarily distracted by the loud crack of lighting in the distance and the black clouds that were slowly, but surely making their way closer to the island.
"I think it would be best to turn back now, don't you think?" Edward gestured with his head and started pedaling his bike around in a circle to head back toward the car. Bella nodded and quickly followed him, but cunningly sped up her bike to full speed signaling Edward to race.
"Oh no you don't, Swan!" Edward shouted out from behind her, listening to her musical laughter while he panted fast and peddled as hard as he possibly could. He caught up to her in a quarter mile and they were neck and neck until they finally reached the bike stand and Bella quickly hopped off her bike to return it, but was swept quickly off her feet by her competitor.
"HEY! THAT'S CHEATING!" Bella shouted and kicked her feet while slapping his backside while demanding him to drop her, only to hear Edward's deep laughter echoing off the small street.
Edward stopped in front of the booth and grinned wickedly, "May I have my wallet please in my back pocket?"
"I'm not touching your ass, Edward Cullen!" Bella shouted while smacking his butt once more causing Edward to bark out a laugh.
"I beg to differ, but your aim would suggest otherwise," he smiled when he heard Bella groan for making a valid point. Then felt her slight hands reach in quickly to grab his wallet in his back pocket and hand it to his waiting hand behind his back. As Edward took a large bill out of his wallet, he noticed the young man behind the booth staring at Bella's ass, which was completely on display over his shoulder for all to see and admire, and that just wouldn't do.
Therefore,Edward narrowed his eyes warningly at the insolent adolescent who simply shrugged his shoulders and gestured as if to say, "Can you blame me? It's a nice ass!" which Edward begrudgingly understood, but nevertheless put Bella back on her feet so her resplendent ass would be hidden from sight.
Once Bella's feet hit the floor she smacked his shoulder once more for good measure for denying her of her victory, but Edward simply shrugged it off by saying, "I never lose."
"Oh, I see... so it's either you win, or no one wins at all. Now it all makes sense," Bella smirked to herself before turning away to walk back to the car, leaving Edward staring after her inquisitively.
"What makes sense?" he waved at the boy to keep the change and quickly started after her when she didn't respond to his question. They both got on either side of the car and got inside when they heard another lightening strike and thunder crash, but Edward turned to face her demanding an answer.
"What?" Bella looked up at him innocently.
"Don't play innocent with me, Isabella. Tell me what you meant," Edward prodded but Bella simply shrugged.
"It's not important what I think," she looked back toward the windshield which only incensed Edward even further.
"We're not leaving until you tell me," he leaned back smugly and folded his arms across his chest.
"What about that spectacular dinner you promised me? It's getting late and I can't think on this empty stomach," Bella pouted and rubbed her belly dramatically hoping to distract him long enough to forget the subject.
Edward huffed out a sigh and reluctantly started the engine to the car, "I'm not going to forget about this, Isabella. You're going to tell me after dinner, or no dessert," Edward smirked and began to drive toward the beach house.
"What's for dessert?" Bella asked excitedly with her eyes beaming brightly.
"Oh, I'm sorry... I can't think on an empty stomach," Edward pouted mockingly toward her causing both of them to laugh while the sunset was being covered by the black clouds in the sky.
Edward had been cooking for half an hour in the kitchen while Bella was no where in sight. He had dropped her off an hour ago to run to the market alone so dinner and dessert would be a surprise... but he hadn't seen her since he walked back inside the house and asked her to make herself scarce until dinner was prepared.
Unfortunately, she had obeyed him a little too well and was nowhere to be seen. He had hoped she would be curious and disobedient by sneaking into the kitchen or family room to have a peek at what he was preparing, or tease him some more with their playful banter, but instead she stayed away as he requested and it bothered him extremely. He missed her.
He was taken back by his silent admission, but it was painfully true. He was irked by her absence and was hoping she would defy him by making an appearance so she could fascinate him again, as she had done since last evening.
What was even more aggravating was he couldn't even tell where in the house she was hiding. She was as silent as a church mouse. He had guessed she might have made her way to the grand piano, since she was also a talented musician and had been admiring it earlier. He made a note to himself to ask her to possibly play something she composed during her studies, or show him how she might have improved since he last heard her play which was... hm... he couldn't remember when.
The timer then dinged on the oven and he quickly opened the lid to his linguine to see if the noodles were properly al dente for his frutti di mare, then turned the oven temperature down to remove the garlic bread and put in his chocolate souffle for dessert and set the timer for twenty minutes.
The table was set for two with place settings and candles he bought from the store and he finished the setting with a single rose picked from the garden.
Finally pleased with his master piece set up for a romantic dinner, he took off his apprin to reveal a dark blue dress shirt and black pants that he had upstairs in his room, then went in search for Bella.
He called up the stairs for her guessing she probably went down for a nap after the long day they had, but he was surprised once again to hear her voice answer from outside in the back yard. He made his way out to the back porch to find her, but she was nowhere to be found on the deck or in the garden.
"Bella? Are you out here?" he called again and heard her answer but was shocked and very frightened when he finally found her.
"Jesus Christ! What the Hell are you doing up there?!"
"I was just watching the ocean and the clouds. I think it's going to start raining because I can feel the mist in the air," Bella took a deep breath of the salty sea air completely unaware of the panic attack happening twenty feet below her.
"Isabella come down right now!" The anxiety and fear in Edward's voice made Bella stop and pay attention causing her alarm. She looked down to see him pulling his hair out by the roots and pacing around helplessly with worry, then figured it was time to come down so he wouldn't call the fire department for a ladder.
"Edward, it's alright. I'm coming down. Please don't panic," Bella say calmly while slowly placing her foot expertly on each sturdy branch making her way closer to the ground.
Edward stepped closer to the back of the trunk following her steps one by one in case any of the branches snapped causing her to fall. His heart was beating so fast it felt like it was about to take flight and leave his chest.
"Jesus, be careful!" he saw her slip a little and his arms instinctively reached out prepared to catch her, but she skillfully caught herself with her other hand, but causing it to scratch her leg on the rough bark and hiss in pain.
"Bella! Fuck, stay there I'll—uh," he didn't know what to do. She was still ten feet up in the tree and he didn't even know if they had a ladder for her to climb down on. He hurriedly brought his cell phone out of his pocket to call 911, only to jump a foot in the air from feeling a hand tap his shoulder.
"I'm fine, Edward. Look I'm right here," Bella said looking concerned at remorseful for causing him to become to worried and upset.
"Jesus fucking Christ, thank God!" Edward dropped his phone on the dewy grass and pulled Bella forcefully into his chest and held her tight. "Fuck, don't ever do that to me again Bella! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
He was close to hyperventilating and falling apart, but slowly he calmed down as Bella stroked his hair, shushing and rocked him side to side, holding him just as tight trying and comfort him and let him know she was safe.
"Shh, I'm here, Edward. It's okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she felt a pang insider her chest as Edward held her and nuzzled her neck brushing his lips along her nape and feeling his heavy breath caress her body.
If she had any doubts that Edward Cullen was as cold-hearted as people claimed him to be behind his back, they were completely obliterated right at this very moment. Edward Cullen certainly did have a heart... and it was still beating furiously pressed against her chest at this very moment. And this moment proved something else to Bella as well... Edward Cullen cared about her.
This realization confounded her because the concept seemed almost impossible, or too good to be true. She had been certain up to this point that Edward was only interested in keeping her away from Emmett until his fiance returned. Which she was more than happy to oblige him since Emmett was temptation itself and it was the last thing Bella wanted. She was too weak to say no to him... but now Emmett was the furthest thing from her mind.
The man panicking over her safety was holding her close to his gorgeous body right now and kissing her temple affectionately in relief that she didn't fall and hurt herself. And instead of rebuffing his affection, she allowed it... because she knew his concern must have been just out of friendship, and the thought made her smile... and a little sad.
"Are you alright?" Bella asked meekly when she heard Edward's breathing come back down to normal. She felt his hands grab her by the arms to pull her away and look angrily at her face.
"Am I alright? Are you joking right now? You almost fell and broke your neck. And then your father would find out and put my dead body inside the back of his trunk to toss me over into the Hudson!" His voice was angry but his words were teasing, which made Bella smile in relief that the panic attack was over.
"So you think my father works for the mafia now? Very observant. You finally found us out, and by the way, you're going to find a horse head in your bed by the time you get home, just FYI," Bella's deadpanned voice and impassive expression caused Edward to burst out laughing and pull her back into his embrace.
"I mean it though, Bella. Don't ever scare me like that again, or there will be Hell to pay," he pulled her under his arm to walk her towards the back porch and into the house while Bella scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"I've been climbing trees since I was seven-years-old, Cullen. It's second nature to me,"
"Yes, well for my future sanity and gray hairs, I would prefer you to stay closer to the ground," he protested sternly with in a no-non-sense voice making Bella look at him defiantly.
"How about I promise not to climb trees in your presence... that way what you don't know, won't kill you," Bella said confidently while climbing the stairs to the porch leaving Edward on the ground two feet below her and shaking his head in aggravation.
"You think that's going to be any better? What if I'm not there to catch you if you fall?" he crosses his arms over his chest defiantly and raisef his eyebrows at her to challenge him.
"The likeliness of me falling would be like asking a cat to fall on it's back. It's not going to happen," she stepped down toward him to get in his face and crossed her arms mimicking his challenging pose.
"That argument makes no sense since you're not a cat, and just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it can't happen in the future. So I don't care where you are or if I'm with you or not... Don't. Do. It!" Edward stepped up to the step in front of her to tower over her again to show his dominance but Bella's final argument left him speechless.
"Who are you to tell me what to do!"
All that could be heard was their heavy breathing as both of them waited to say and hear the answer the other wanted to be true... but instead Edward replied genuinely,
"Someone who cares..." then walked past Bella into the house, leaving Bella speechless on the porch with her eyes opened wide.
She closed her gaping mouth just as the rain started to sprinkle onto the lawn, and closed the door behind her and went upstairs to change into some dry clothes.
Five minutes later, she walked down the stairs humbly not knowing what to say to Edward once she entered the kitchen table. But when she walked inside she found him sitting at the table set for two waiting patiently for her to arrive, she plainly stood still and marveled at how handsome he looked dressed suitably as if they were going to a formal dinner.
When she entered the room, Edward tried his best to keep his features from looking dazzled and stunned. Bella walked toward him in a black cocktail dress that was cut low in front and complimented her figure to a tee.
Edward stood and cleared his throat, trying to get the words from being trapped inside his throat, "Where did you find that dress?"
"I hope you don't mind. I saw how nice you were dressed for dinner on the porch and I found this hanging in the closet I put my things in. It's a little tight in the chest... but I hope it's alright," Bella looked down at herself uncomfortably hoping she didn't over step her bounds by borrowing a dress or hopefully didn't look too over dressed.
"No—no it's... you look... lovely," Edward said pulling out Bella's chair for her and allowing her to sit down and pull her chair closer to the table before he made his way back to his seat.
"Edward, this looks amazing. You didn't have to do all this for me..."
"You'll find that I never to anything half fast milady. You set the challenge and I merely rose to the occasion. I hope you will find your meal this evening to be satisfactory," Edward said overly charming in a posh manner while revealing the main course to her with a wave of his arm making her smile and bow her head receptively.
She slowly tasted and savored the first bite of the frutti di mare, and instantly bliss covered her face as she tried to surpress her contentment from filling the large room with her moans.
"Well? What's the verdict?" Edward asked waiting for her to confirm his victory.
"Well, you're up against some heavy competition mind you. I grew up with Charlotte's O'Donnell cooking after all and that's hard to beat."
Edward narrowed his eyes at Bella because he knew she was taunting him for his cockiness, "Yes, but I'm not competing against Charlotte's cooking, am I? I may have never attended culinary school, but I have attended Cullen-ary school with recipes passed down from past Cullen's before me."
Bella groaned from his lame but clever joke and they both chuckled at his corny humor, "That was lame, but very cute. And yes, I hate admit it... but I would hire you to cook for me every night. There, I said it... now you can gloat, just don't do it while I'm eating this amazing food!" Bella smiled as she stuck another bite of delicious pasta in her mouth defiantly, making Edward smile beam with joyfulness and pride for earning her approval.
"I win again! Now you owe me, Ms. Swan... and I know just what I'm going to ask you to do," Edward took a bite of his pasta cunningly filling his mouth so he wouldn't be able to answer Bella's question of what he had in mind for her to do.
"Fine, don't tell me. But I'm not stripping or doing anything grotesque, Edward Cullen, I'm warning you now. Do not cross me!" Bella spat out before stuffing her mouth again watching the wolfish grin cross his stunning face.
"How it is you can always read my mind, Isabella Cullen, I will never know."
The loud clanging of Bella's fork hitting her plate caused Edward to start and look up quickly from his food to see what the problem was. "What is it? What did I say?"
"W—what...did you say?" Bella stuttered completely taken back that Edward had no clue as to what just escaped his lips.
Edward looked down and into his brain as to what he could have said that would have possibly offended her or caused her to react in such a way, but he couldn't think of anything so he simply just looked back up and shrugged his shoulders, "I asked how you could read my mind... but I didn't mean it. Of course I would never ask you to do anything vulgar or make you feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry if I offended you."
He has absolutely no recollection that he just called me a Cullen... me a Cullen. Was it a Freudian slip... or just a misunderstanding?
Bella realized that Edward was still looking at her concerned, and decided it would be pointless to question him about a comment he had no recollection of. It must have been a mistake.
"Forget it... it's alright. Thank you for the wonderful meal and the presentation... and... for inviting me to stay," Bella smiled meekly while going back to enjoying her food.
"Of course you were going to stay here. You don't think I would want to be in a thunderstorm alone do you? I need someone to remind me of my favorite things since I left my copy of the Sound of Music back at home," Edward smirked reminding her of the time when he comforted her during a violent storm while her father was stuck in the city with Mr. and Mrs. Cullen and Charlie told her to wait for him inside the Cullen mansion until he got home.
Edward had found her shivering and wet from running inside the house after he came down to the kitchen's for a snack before dinner. He walked up to her and asked her,
"Hey, what are you doing here all by yourself?"
"I'm... waiting," Bella shivered under the counter and jumped when she heard the lightening crack outside the window.
The small frail little girl reminded him of a cornered frighted animal and it pinched at his heart to see her look so frightened, knowing she had just lost her mother recently and no one was around but himself to look after her.
He finally decided that his term paper could stand to wait until tomorrow since it wasn't due until next week anyhow.
"Hey," Edward whispered really softly so not to scare the poor thing away, "you know what I usually like to do on a rainy day?" The soaked little girl responded by shaking her head.
"I watch happy movies... and I know just the one. Would you like to go and watch one with me upstairs? I could make you some hot coco and get you something dry to put on. Do you want to come with me?"
Bella thought for a moment to herself about whether or not she should follow Mr. Edward or wait for her father to come and pick her up so he wouldn't have to go looking for her. Finally, she decided she really wanted the hot coco and warm clothing so she nodded her head slowly agreeing to follow him to watch a movie and hope her daddy will come home quickly to take her home.
It wasn't that she thought Mr. Edward was a mean person or scarey... she just never knew what to say to him because he always seemed so serious and not fond of kids since he always seemed to ignore her. So his sudden request to help her made her shy and worried that she might have misjudged him.
Edward offered Bella his hand and she placed her small hand inside of his large and warm palm, then followed him upstairs. He took out the smallest T-shirt he could find and told her to change in the bathroom and put her wet clothes inside of the bathtub. She did as she was told and came out of the bathroom to find Edward putting on some musical and putting two mugs of hot coco on top of the coffee table.
He gestured for her to join him and Bella smiled and quickly skipped over to the couch and waited for the movie to begin and heard a beautiful soprano voice singing and filling the room with joyful music. The hills are alive with the sound of music...
Bella was fascinated and forgot all about the thunderstorm outside while she watched the seven von Trapp children and Maria sing and dance about their favorite things... then slowly Bella fell drowsily asleep while the children sang Do, Re, Mi on the Austrian mountains.
When Bella woke up the following morning safely in her own bed... the only assurance she had that her night with Edward wasn't a dream was that she was still wearing his Yankee's T-shirt.
"You know I still have that shirt? The Yankee shirt you gave me to wear that night since all my clothes were soaked through," Bella said softly smiling warmly at the memory of what Edward had done for her that night.
"That's right! I was looking everywhere for that shirt. It was my favorite shirt and I wondered where I had misplaced it when I went to the game the following season. You still have that?" Edward shook his head in amazement that she never returned it or held on to it for all these years. But he realized he wasn't' upset about it... he was glad that she had a reminder of him with her from that night.
"Yeah. I was too shy to give it back to you. I was so afraid of you back then," Bella said blushing bright red in front of him again and laughing at her own foolishness.
"Afraid of me? Why?" Edward stopped eating so he could listen to her explanation.
"I don't know. You were just... very intimidating and people said..." she sigh heavily not wanting to bring up sore topics or insult him accidentally at the table after he had been so generous and kind to her.
"What did people say?" Edward pressed leaning closer to her, because he was apparently a glutton for punishment.
Bella looked up apologetically not wanting to lie or cause him pain, "I don't believe it anymore Edward. Not even the slightest bit... especially not after—"
"For heaven sake, what do they say, Bella?" he sigh exasperatingly putting his hand harshly through his hair.
"That you're the world's only living heart donor," Bella said crestfallen in a low whisper that instantly turned to sorrow the minute she saw the look on Edward's strong face hiding his devastation.
His breathing gave his hurt away... deep and short like a ragging bull fighting to get loose.
"That's what they say about me, huh?"
Bella didn't have the heart to answer him, but she instantly felt the need to comfort him and tell him that she didn't believe it... she couldn't believe it, certainly not after the tenderness and care he showed her today. He may be cocky, domineering, self righteous, moody, and stuck up at times... but he had a good heart and soul and cared about humanity... and not just about himself.
"Excuse me," Edward stood up and walked out of the room quickly heading toward the direction of the living room leaving his unfinished dinner and Bella behind at the table.
Bella looked down at her plate, and realized she had lost her appetite.
How could she say that to him after all he did for her that day... she should have just kept her mouth shut of made up a lie. But Bella was never fond or good at lying... except she supposed in cases like this... when the truth was really the lie.
In the next room, Bella could hear violent, dissonant, and clustered chords being pounded out on the grand piano and her heart suddenly felt as though it were breaking as she heard his heart and emotions being poured into his music.
What did people know about the real Edward Cullen, except from what they read about or saw in the business world? Of course Edward had to make plenty of difficult decisions and sacrifices in his time in order to step out of his father's shadow and make his own mark in the Cullen family business. But that didn't define him entirely as the person, or who he was on the inside.
He was passionate, strong, witty, smart, charming, charismatic, playful, funny, and dare she even think... loving. The way he held her outside... so tight. As if he was afraid to lose her. She had never been held like that before...
Bella heard a beeping on the oven timer and walked over into the kitchen still listening to the aggressive melody being played from Edward's frustration and pain. She pulled out the dessert Edward had meant to surprise her with after dinner and the sight made her heart melt.
He went through all that trouble to please her and she was still inside the kitchen like a dunce not comforting him and making him understand she didn't care what other people thought, and neither should he.
She walked into the room with a determined purpose and saw his profile by the window sitting at the piano, looking determined and angry. Bella made her way across the room and sat down beside Edward watching his hands play the minor key like he was pounding steak or a person into submission...
Suddenly Bella took over the melody and played the relative major key the octave above Edward's minor key to lighten the mood and overpower his depression and anger with hope and enlightenment.
But Edward fought against her tonal major key, and answered back with a darker more atonal theme modifying her melody like a fallen angel from the sky. In reply, Bella returned to her melody that complimented Edward's 20th century modern Philip Glass style music, and morphed it into a more dissonant Romantic piece that modulated to the third and felt more wistful and inspiring.
Edward stopped and listened to Bella's amazing musical talent to improvise and her ability to change his emotions simply through her music from darkness to light.
Now Bella dominated the keys, reaching over Edward into the bass clef notes to add more depth and harmony to her beautiful but simple melody, expressing her feelings about Edward vicariously through the piano.
She turned her head to look at Edward who had been staring at her for the past two minutes watching in amazement at the talented, passionate, genuine, and gorgeous woman sitting next to him... once again showing up his skills on the piano. Only this time he wasn't jealous... he was in awe.
Finally Bella smiled returning her gaze back to the keys, drawing her music to a close by returning back to the relative minor. She chose a Picardy third for her final cadence, to symbolize the in-completion of their journey since she felt it had only just begun, and sustained the final note and let it drift off into the silent room.
She looked back to the handsome stunned man sitting next to her and was taken back once again with his desperate and urgent kiss as a response to her music.
Edward couldn't describe the emotions he was feeling for the miraculous woman sitting before him, so he expressed himself in the only way he knew how... to show her.
He wanted her.
He never wanted another woman more than her right now... after hearing her music and what it made him feel inside.
But what drove him even more wild with passion and desire... was that for the first time since he first kissed her lips, she was actually kissing him back.
He didn't know or understand what had changed from yesterday to now... but he realized he didn't care. All he knew was he didn't want to stop feeling her lips and tongue and body pressed up against his... Ever!
He didn't only want it... he needed it.
He felt his arms involuntarily pull her closer and he felt her arms reciprocate in return as they made out passionately on the piano bench. Their chests pressed against the other and both of them breathing heavily through their noses so their lips didn't have to break apart for air.
Bella felt the piano bench move abruptly from Edward kicking it away from the piano, allowing him to stand and lift Bella effortlessly into his arms to move them to the adjacent couch inside the living room.
Edward set Bella carefully down onto the cushions without breaking contact with her lips until he felt her pull away from him in order to catch her breath. He finally got a glimpse of her rosy face and her bee stung lips, thinking that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever kissed. It was then that Edward realized he wanted all her kisses to be for him. Only. For. Him.
It would drive him mad to see her kiss another man now after knowing what it felt like for her to kiss him back with equal fever and carnality. He sat down next to her with his eyes hooded staring into the depths of her brown eyes and feeling the softness of her skin as his finger tips grazed her cheek.
"Bella," he heard an unfamiliar voice of lust and yearning escape his lips as he leaned forward to taste her once again. Her taste was addicting... like his own personal brand of heroine. He would forever desire her taste after tonight and never want to stop at just her mouth. He wanted to taste all of her... and he would have continued... if he hadn't felt her palm gently pushing him away from her chest.
"Ed—ward..." Bella's voice was breathy as her lips broke away from Edward's mouth.
"Yes, baby?" Edward moaned as his hands wandered and his mouth kissed down her neck.
"Edward...um... just a little fast," she pushed away from him a little harder and Edward looked down and saw that one of his hands was feeling the skin on her outer thigh, and his right hand was kneading her breast over her dress.
"Shit, baby, I'm sorry. I... fuck, I just... lost my head. I didn't mean... are you okay?" Edward was embarrassed and flustered like a virgin who just got caught with a Playboy magazine.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... moving a little too fast for me. I'm sorry I didn't mean to lead you on like that," Bella said adjusting her dress by pulling it down then moved her hair off her face.
"No, you didn't. I just... fuck, you're music, Bella, it just... you floor me sometimes, you know that? I lose my control with you and that never happens to me... ever!" Edward rubbed his face with both of his hands to brush away the chagrin from another rejection, "I don't know what I'm doing anymore," he moaned into his hands. It wasn't a comment meant for Bella's ears, but he said it out loud and she heard it very clear.
"I don't know what I'm doing here, either. I shouldn't have told you what I heard people say about you because what they say doesn't matter. You're not like that and never have been. It was cruel of me and I wanted you to know that I think the only opinion that matters is how you see yourself and how your family sees you, too. Fuck the rest of 'em!" Bella said putting her hand on Edward's knee causing him to laugh at hearing her curse for the first time.
"I care what you think of me. How... how do you think of me now?" Edward asked vulnerably and tentatively... somewhat afraid of the answer but still needing to hear it. Again... a glutton for punishment.
Bella saw the tension and tenderness in his eyes and figured to tell him the honest truth, "You always were a mystery to me. Ever since I was a little girl I would constantly hear things about you from other people and since you were never around I had no excuse not to believe them. But after today I have no idea how I feel about you. All I do know is that you're not what people say you are... and I've never been more comfortable with you than I am right now, and... I want to know more because I feel like I've just scratched the surface of who the real Edward Cullen is."
She did it again... I can't help myself. I need to feel close to her again.
"Bella... would you slap me if I kissed you again?"
The sincerity in his voice and innocent expression on his face made Bella completely lose it and she burst out in joyous laughter, causing him to join in with her at his own lameness.
Bella leaned over and gently kissed his waiting lips, while Edward brought his hand up to cup her soft cheek to hold her there for just a moment longer before she ended it all too soon.
"Thank you," Edward whispered and kissed the back of her hand to show his gratitude. Then suddenly he remembered and bolted standing straight up from the couch.
"Fuck! I forgot the souffle!" But Bella stood up next to him and held his hand to prevent him from rushing off.
"It's alright. I took it out a while ago when I heard the buzzer go off. It looks delicious by the way," Bella says chuckling at the relieved look on his face.
"Well let's not stand and talk about it... let's go eat it!" Edward said excitedly pulling her toward the kitchen to finish the meal they started.
"But before you get your first bite... you must tell me what you meant in the car," Edward said blocking the way to the door.
"What?! But I said... it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks Edward... just you and your family's opinion matters," she said trying to convince him because she didn't wish to discuss anymore heavy topics and risk him becoming upset again.
"And I told you before your opinion matters to me. So tell me, or no dessert for you!" Edward said that last part like the soup Nazi from SNL.
Bella sighed in resignation and hoped that Edward didn't take her opinion the wrong way.
"The reason you don't like to lose explains why you're so driven, and why you skipped over having a fun childhood and long term relationships as an adult. Ever since you were little, you wanted to become as great or greater than your fathers before you, rather than live in their shadow. And because of them, you're afraid to fail and let yourself and your family down."
Edward's breath stood still while he gazed at the woman before him. Never had someone understood him so vividly in all his years... and the thought made him a little uncomfortable... and defensive.
"You don't understand what it's like, Isabella. My future was set for me the day I was born. I did what my father did, he did what his father did, and he did what my great grandfather did... the name Cullen comes with a heavy price... I have to uphold my family's legacy, and their name. It's my duty."
"Why? Why do you have to sacrifice everything you love, everything you're passionate about just to prove to yourself that you're as good as they were? I know you wanted to pursue a career in music... whatever happened to that?"
"How do you know that?" Edward looked at her almost accusingly of prying into his personal affairs. Nobody knew of that dream of his except his best friend Jasper and Jasper knew it was a dream long forgotten so he never would have told anybody. "Tell me, Bella. Who told you?" he snapped at her causing her to jump a little from the bite in his voice.
"No one told me, Edward. You just confirmed it," Bella said softly watching the anger morph into surprise on Edward's face. "I could tell just from listening all those years to you playing and just now watching your face as you felt the music pouring out of you. That's the passion of a musician Edward... not someone who sits at a desk all day hiding his emotions until he releases them into his music. Your compositions are beautiful Edward but you're too critical to let anyone but yourself hear them..."
"Because they're not perfect... they're never complete. I'm not a performer—"
"Yes you are! Every day you perform your duty, your job, the hard ass at work in front of hundreds of clients a year... you put the hard front on Edward so that no one will see the person inside because if they know your weakness they will use it against you... and Edward Cullen never loses, right?"
Edward stood staring while Bella kept tearing more and more walls down around him while she preached and acted like she actually cared about what he wanted, what mattered to him. It was leaving him almost bare and naked in front of her with zero defenses... and he didn't like it. It was too late to change and go back... his future was set.
"Don't be afraid to take a chance and fail at something, Edward... no matter what anyone thinks. You have a gift... you had a dream. Don't give it up because you did what was expected of you rather than follow your heart."
"BELLA, STOP! You don't understand, so stop preaching things that will not make a difference! My life is set, it's done! I'm the CEO of CCC and not a musician. That was distant dream of child and it would have been a failure from the start because I'm. Not. Good. Enough! And I will never be a failure because I'm a CULLEN."
Bella stared at him with tears filling her watery eyes, as she held her ground and proudly quoted Teddy Roosevelt, "Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
Before Edward had the chance to reply, Bella wished him good night and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Edward alone and dejected.
Her words cut him deep... and he knew they weren't even her words... but she spoke them with such conviction and intensity that they may as well had been directly from her heart. The things she said to him somehow always floored him... and he never knew what to expect because she always did the unexpected.
Like leaving him alone inside the kitchen with two untouched souffles, taking over his angry song on the piano and turning it into something beautiful...kissing him and allowing him to hold her the way his arms ached to hold her.
They way they ached to hold her right now. He climbed the stairs after placing the desserts and unfinished food into the refrigerator, then made his way toward his usual bedroom which felt rather large, empty, and cold.
He would have much rather slept wrapped around Bella's warm petite body which fit so nicely under him when they were laying out on the sofa.
It was like he felt gravity pulling him toward her, rather than wanting to face sleeping alone with his thoughts about all that had transpired today. She left him in the kitchen with tears trapped behind her eyes... and it was obvious she didn't wish for him to see her cry. Though he wasn't quite sure what she was crying about.
After all it was his decision to follow in his father's footsteps and try to become successful like his family before him... did he still wish sometimes for a simpler more carefree life? Yes and no... but he wasn't sure which was stronger at the moment.
All he did know was that he would much rather not be alone at this time lying in his bed, which was a first for him because he always preferred sleeping alone. Even when he was with Tanya because she snored like she was cutting logs in her sleep, and other women seemed to like to kick or toss and turn in their sleep... or pass gas or drool on him. After years of horror stories, Edward preferred solitude while he slept peacefully... until tonight.
Perhaps it was the way she had left him without giving him a chance to console her or make one final defense for choosing the life he did... or maybe it was perhaps he simply just missed having her near to him.
So what should he do?
Swallow his pride and knock on her door asking if she was awake so he could crawl into bed with her like a child who had a nightmare?
Or perhaps creek the door open to see if she was already asleep and creep into bed with her and have her wake up to find him spooning her in the morning and risk getting slapped again for being a creeper.
Yeah... that wouldn't work.
Or maybe—
Knock knock knock
Edward was startled from his train of thought from the soft knocking on the door thinking it might have been the wind, then heard it again, and his sat up from his cold bed and answered it with only his pajama pants on.
"Come in."
Bella peaked her head into the room, and opened the door more to show that she was only wearing a long white button down shirt that was probably hanging up in the closet from her bedroom. Slowly Edward saw the way the shirt fell on her slight body showing her long toned legs and part of her chest showing at the top of the over sized shirt.
Suddenly Edward hoped it was one of his shirts she was wearing because if she had been wearing one of Emmett's... then he would ripe it directly off her body and give her another one and burn the shirt by throwing it in the hearth.
Her small voice clearing her throat pulled him out of his thoughts as she looked up shyly and whispered while fumbling with the longs sleeves of her shirt.
"I just wanted to apologize for what I said downstairs. It's none of my business what you do with your life and I had no right to preach to you about going against your family. I respect your family and I wanted you to know that I... I had a really nice day with you. So... thank you."
She finished saying everything she meant to say in one breath hoping her nerves wouldn't make her voice crack or her eyes to water. All she could think about now was escaping back to her room and hiding under the covers. Only she was stopped by the pull of Edward's soft and pleading voice.
"Wait. Please... don't go. Stay. In here... with me. Please? I promise I'll behave... just don't go," Edward voice startled even him because the tenderness and yearning in his voice was no lie or falsehood. He wanted nothing more than for her to come into his bed so he could just stare at her while she slept and knew that she was safe in his arms... if she would allow him.
Bella stayed motionless by the door, weighing her options. One would be to refuse and go back to her room which would assure that nothing more would happen between them tonight and she wouldn't be tempted to jump his sexy ass in his sleep. Her attraction to him seemed to grow by the millisecond and just watching him stare back at her while he was bare chested and pleading for her to join him was like asking her if she wanted to spend the night in Hawaii or go back to her room in Siberia!
Option two, would be to accept and join him and possibly fall asleep in his arms allowing room for more conversation and waking up with his warm body pressed against hers and sating the desire she now constantly felt to be closer to him.
Bella was still deliberating her options when Edward decided to take matters into his own hands and got out of bed to be closer to her. He raised his hand slowly toward her arm softly stroking her skin causing goosebumps to appear and a slight shiver to run up her body. He looked down into her big doe eyes and felt himself falling helplessly toward her keeping his body just inches from touching hers while he felt her lips turning upward to meet his half way, which was exactly what he had hopped for.
The kiss wasn't fast or rushed... but soft and slow. Allowing their lips and tongues to savor the flavor of their freshly brushed teeth, tasting the good combination of their toothpastes.
Edward couldn't help releasing a soft moan deep from inside his chest, that set Bella's skin aflame. She had never felt a reaction like this whenever she kissed Jake, and she desired this feeling now constantly as if it were her new favorite dessert.
Softly Edward pulled away from her lips and spoke just once more before he took matters into his own hands and dragged her back to his bed whether against her will or not.
"Stay," the soft word left his lips just as he felt her hand caress the stubble on the side of his jaw and she smiled back before whispering her reply,
"Okay."
So there you have it... all eleven thousand five hundred and something words of it... Let me know what you think!