New A/N: I just spell checked and updated this chapter. Sorry to say there were a few sentences and words that got left out or accidentally erased somehow.
So I hope I filled in the gaps for those of you who sent me a PM and were like WTF? LOL! Again I apologize. It's hard as hell being your own editor, but hopefully that won't be the case for much longer!
FYI, I gradually erase old A/N, because they are no longer relevant... I like to keep things up to date. :)
Chapter 17: Accidents Make the Heart Grow Fonder
Morning came quickly.
Something aroused Bella from her deep comfortable sleep, but she was too disoriented to immediately tell what it was. Then slowly she realized the reason; it was too hot due to the arcs of bare skin radiating heat across her body, including a heavy head resting on her chest.
At moment, Edward was pinning her against the bed and exhaling warm air rhythmically caressed her chest, but she didn't wish to move a muscle.
Bella looked slightly over to her left shoulder and could only see dark locks of brown and copper hair which adorably tickled her nose. Unable to resist temptation, she lovingly kissed the crown of his heavy head of soft hair, and felt the rhythm of Edward's breathing change against her neck.
With a deep groan from inside his chest, Edward sleepily tilted his chin and nuzzled Bella's jaw in an adorable boyish way. He drowsily kissed behind her ear, and nipped her earlobe with his teeth. Giggling softly like a giddy school girl, Bella lifted her hand and stroked Edward's spine down to his tailbone. Smiling to herself when she felt the goosebumps rise along his soft skin.
"I didn't mean to wake you, baby. I just couldn't resist," she cooed into his forehead, giving him another gentle kiss. Feeling his reply, she uncontrollably arched her back slightly off the bed when Edward's lazy free hand slid up her bare stomach to cup her right breast and squeeze.
"Mmm," Edward hummed in contentment with is eyes still closed, his hands though were wide awake doing the "seeing" for him.
"What are you doing?"
Bella's body shook with silent laughter when Edward started feeling her face, the tip of her nose, her mouth, her hair, then back down to her neck. The gentle touch made her suppress a high-pitched squeal with her hand, and tried to wrestle his hand away from her ticklish spots, but Edward wouldn't desist.
"Edward!" Bella whispered in a shouting voice trying to wiggle away from him but he was too strong even half asleep, and she watched his lazy smile slowly grow more wolfish.
Edward quickly rolled over Bella, squishing her as she cried out a resounding, "Oomph!" before pinning her wrists above her head and laughed as Bella wheezed out melodramatically.
"Ugh, you're heavy and too hot!" Bella choked out while Edward teasingly wiggled his hips deeper into her body, like he was burrowing a hole inside her, then rested his head on her chest breathing in a sigh of satisfied contentment.
"Thanks, I was hoping you'd notice. I work out. You're hot too, baby," Edward grinned wickedly and kissed the side of her left boob, but was thwarted taking her nipple into his mouth by Bella's bouncing stomach due to her silent laughter.
The movement and situation made Edward start to chuckle, which made Bella laugh even harder... then Edward covered Bella's mouth with a kiss to stop her from getting any louder so they wouldn't get caught by Sue or worst of all, Charlie.
The kiss was comical in itself because both of them were still smiling with their lips pressed together to stop laughing only you could still hear snorting and snickering. They continued until they heard noises coming from the living room. They held their breaths until the door to the bathroom closed and the shower sounded from the hallway.
Bella whispered, "That would be Charlie getting ready to take you to work. He always showers before breakfast," Bella said sadly as she kissed the corners of Edward's mouth and felt her hands free from his grasp so he could deepen the kiss by wrapping his arms around her and she reciprocated by slinking her arms around his neck. She kissed him back with just as much vigor and anxiety from their immanent separation.
"I should go, before Charlie comes in and see us...well, like this," Edward lifted up his torso and looked down at both of their naked bodies, liking very much what he saw. He comfortably situated between her legs and his erection pressing firmly into her thigh was not exactly the position he'd like to get caught in, but last thing he wanted to do was move.
"No, he won't. He hasn't come to check on me since I was eighteen. Besides the door is locked and it's still dark outside," Bella said pulling Edward's neck down and lifted her torso off the bed and started kissing his lips ardently combing pecks, licks, and open mouth languid smooches.
Edward moaned into Bella's mouth and gave up plopping back down on top of her and took control of the kisses and groping with his hands running up and down her body.
This scene inspired him to play with her and tease her at the same time. He moved his kisses down her neck to her chest and spoke in between his seduction, "It was the lark, the herald of the morn, No nightingale: look, love..." Bella's chest started to bounce with silent laughter through her nose.
Bella caught on immediately what he was quoting and let him continue, "What envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east..." Edward looked out the window acting the words he spoke playfully and loved the smile it brought to Bella's face and started kissing down further to her stomach to the apex of her body.
"Night's candles are burnt out, and—um—something something—misty mountain tops," the lower he kissed, the higher Bella arched her back and attempted to hold her gasp of pleasure inside, "I must be gone and live, or stay and die...," Edward finally reached her core and started to kiss and suck on her swollen clit.
With herculean strength Bella gripped the sheets and attempted to her stifled her moan by biting down hard on her lower lip. When that failed to work she covered her face with a with Edward's abandoned pillow and spoke with a muffled voice, "Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I...It is... ungh, some... meteor that the sun exhales—"
Suddenly, the sensation of the kisses stopped and the pillow on Bella's face was yanked off and Bella saw the excitement shown on Edward's face.
"Go on... I want to hear you, baby. Go on." The look on his face was one of awe and admiration before he stared kissing her neck once again. Bella smiled and looked up at the ceiling to think where she left off, "Um, to be to thee... this night a torch-bearer; And light thee on thy way to Mantua..." Bella stuttered when Edward kissed her sternum and cupped both of her breasts, making her loose her train of thought.
Edward mumbled into her skin, "Therefore stay yet..." prompting her to continue.
"Oh, right... Therefore stay yet, um... Thou need'st not to be gone!" Bella whisper quickly, raising her voice at the end, wiggling uncontrollably when Edward tickled her lightly under her arms. He hushed her before quickly flipped them over so that Bella was now situated on top of him.
"That was your fault!" Bella growled under her voice, "Are you trying to get us caught and have Charlie kill you?" She pinned his wrists back on either side of his head, watching his face morph from playful to tender once their laughter subsided. He continued reciting in a deep whisper gazing directly into her eyes.
"Let me be taken, let me be put to death, I am content, so thou wilt have it so."
Bella's smile slowly faded into confusion. Why was Edward incessantly quoting Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?
Then it all made sense...
Realization struck, like a light bulb had just turned itself on over her head.
Edward was showing Bella, in his own sophisticated mysterious way, what she meant to him. How he felt about her. Whispering the words he'd wanted to say, but couldn't for whatever reason using Shakespeare's words.
Thankfully, Bella was a patient woman, and willing to wait until he was ready to use is own words from his own mind and heart.
What they had now would have to be enough, until the time was right... and she wanted to stick around, as long as possible, to wait and hear the three words from him she longed to hear... for as long as it takes.
The loving emotion showing on Bella's face was like a neon sign, and she couldn't hold it in any longer. Tenderly cupping his rough cheek, she whispered, "I love you, Edward Anthony Mason Cullen." Finally, she kissed his lips feeling the electricity flow from his body into her hers, and relished feeling his arms pull her even tighter against his body. Making her moist center grind and slide along his aching shaft, trapped between them.
It was maddening to be so close, and yet so far.
"Bella, don't stop touching me. Please," Edward begged against her lips, gulping and gasping like his throat was closing from inside preventing him from breathing or swallowing as Bella continued to slide along his length in the most sensuous way.
Bella gripped Edward's hair firmly and kissed him with everything she had. Edward in turn, adjusted their position so that her core lined up perfectly with his aching cock, which was beyond throbbing with need for her and excite that it was so close to coming home... he could taste it.
Luckily, her kisses had opened up his air passages allowing him to breathe once more, as though her lips had healing powers. Then Edward felt her small hand wrap around him, making his hips jerk and eyes to shut tight.
There was no doubt that the burning sensation incinerating him from inside his chest wouldn't cease unless they reconnected right now. He had to be insider her again.
"Please, Bella... please. I need you," Edward griped her hips waiting for her to make the choice. She had to want him as much as he desperately wanted her. He didn't know what he'd do if she didn't.
"You have me." Bella brushed against his lips, then took Edward inside her. She held him close around the neck, feeling his ragged exhales into her collarbone as Edward's hands traveled up her damp skin into her luscious hair.
"As you have me." Edward slowly rolled their bodies over once more when the bed began to make too much noise with Bella's movement.
Then his body continued to fluidly make love to her and they both finished just as the shower turned off from the hallway and they could hear Sue rustling in the kitchen to make breakfast.
"Our time's up," Edward said sliding his nose along Bella's and kissed the tip before kissing her with more desperation.
"I'm close..." Bella gasped.
"I'm on it. Kiss me!" Edward growled before smashing his mouth to Bella's while holding her up off the bed with her legs wrapped around his waist and his other hand against the headboard to stop the shaking sound from speeding his rhythm to double time.
Bella cried out in Edward's mouth as she released and felt him freeze and snapped his neck back as he shook and spasmed inside her before falling heavily on top of her with a grunt.
"Shit, baby. I've never had... so many. Jesus, every time."
Edward realized he wasn't making any sense as he tried to catch his breath and explain to the woman in his arms that she had made him feel so good and come every single time they'd been together. It was something he'd never had before.
Tanya was a selfish lover, and everyone woman since her he'd never felt so satisfied, so sated... so hopelessly in...
A beeping from his phone telling him to get up stopped him in his tracks, as he rushed to silence it before anyone outside Bella's room heard.
"Shit, I gotta go." He winced at the thought of leaving her. But it was Monday, and he was already behind in his morning routine. He'd have to find time to workout later.
Instantly, Bella felt bereft the minute Edward pulled out of her and reached over the side of the bed to grab his clothes.
"Must you go to work today?" Bella felt like whining, she wasn't ready for him to leave her. Even though on any normal day, he would have already been in the shower and leaving for work.
"I'm already running late, but I must say... it was the best excuse for tardiness I've ever had. I don't regret one moment, baby." He stood up to slide his jeans over his hips and turned around to zip them up. Bella rolled onto her side to stare at his ripped abs and attractive pelvis which barely held up his designer jeans.
"Thank you for the show, Mr. Cullen," Bella teased wagging her eyebrows enjoying the crooked grin on Edwards cheerful confident face.
"You're going to be bad for business, Ms. Swan, and we've only just begun," Edward said putting his shirt on, skipping every other button and making sure his, phone, keys, and wallet were in his pockets.
"Always happy to help," she quipped back before Edward leaned over to give her a brief kiss then walking over her bed to open her window. Feeling a sense of panic suddenly, Bella sat up with the sheet covering her chest and whispered to Edward before he climbed out the window, "Are you coming home tonight?"
Edward paused scrunching his eyebrows together in curiosity at her question, "Why wouldn't I come home?" Then it hit him why she would ask such a question; it's because of the apartment attached to his office, she was worried she wouldn't see him.
Edward keeled down on the bed and cupped Bella soft cheek, "I'll always be wherever you are, baby. Remember that."
Without pause, Edward gave Bella a long passionate kiss, then got up and climbed out the window. She watched him walk down the spiral staircase and disappear when he reached the garage. Soon enough, Bella heard a car engine start from below her room and saw the silver Volvo C70 pull out of the garage and zoom down the long tree covered driveway toward the gate and roar down the street.
He loved her. She knew it. He knew it. But what she didn't know was why he couldn't just tell her how he felt?
Something was obviously holding him back and she had a feeling... a theory, that whatever it was... it wasn't good. Lucky for him, Bella was patient, and knew that whatever the reason may be they would eventually get past it and have an open honest relationship.
Just as Bella finished getting dressed she jumped from hearing a loud knock on the door, "Bella dear, are you up? Jacob just arrived and breakfast is almost ready," Sue's kind voice rang through the other side of the door.
"Just a sec!" Bella called out and smoothed her sex hair out before opening the door to find Sue smiling at her knowingly.
Sue tilted her head toward the bathroom, "the shower's free, if you'd like. Be ready in ten, yes?" Then Sue turned on her heel back toward the kitchen while Bella remained frozen by the door frame.
Crap... I think she knows.
Bella bolted to the bathroom after grabbing her clothes from her closet and took a quick shower before meeting her family and Jake for breakfast. Everyone was sitting at the table waiting for her by the time she sat down.
"Morning, Bells. Sleep well?" Charlie asked over his newspaper.
"Very well, thank you. How about you, Jake? How were your accommodations last night?"
"A little more fancy than what I'm accustomed to. But very nice. I was a little weird-ed out when I saw my picture hanging up in the bathroom, though," Jake smiled curiously up at Bella who snorted before taking a sip of orange juice.
"What's this? Your picture in the Cullen house?" Charlie asked curiously before looking at Bella.
"Yeah, about that. I showed my photography to Mrs. Cullen after I got back from Austria and let her pick the ones she liked for her birthday. Your picture was one of the few she really liked. I think she thought you were handsome enough to put on the bathroom wall, Jake. Congrats!" Bella cheered him with her glass and saw everyone laugh and chortled at her ribbing.
"Yeah, well what can I say? I have a face that makes people laugh so hard they want to pee their pants," Jacob laughed at himself along with everyone else, then Bella pat his shoulder telling him he would meet his admirer, Mrs. Cullen, in the flesh one day.
After breakfast Sue left to go home and Charlie said they would see everyone at dinner, since he was taking Mrs. Cullen and Mrs. Hale to downtown Manhattan to do some shopping for the wedding.
Bella thought now would be a good time to take Jacob on a tour of the estate, since his auditions weren't until tomorrow. "Shall we see the grounds or the house first?" Bella offered and chuckled when Jake put his hand under his chin to think.
"The grounds, I think... it's going to be hot today, so let's walk outside while it's still cool out then we can go inside where the air conditioning is."
"Very clever, my friend. Follow me," Bella bowed and held her hand out to go out the door with a grand gesture to which Jake bowed graciously then walked out the door and held out his arm for Bella to take after she locked the door.
They walked down the spiral stairwell, then made their way through the gardens once more to get to the opposite side of the house and arrived outside of the solarium and Bella felt Jake tug on her arm to get to her stop.
"Bells, I don't mean to sound like a jealous ex, or an over protective best friend... but I need to ask you," he took a deep breath and shook her head because this is exactly what he was going to sound like, "what exactly do you see in Edward other than a charming overprotective wallet?"
Bella was shocked and stood gaping at her friend with contempt for the first time. "I can't believe you just said that. Who are you, and what have you done with Jacob?" Bella started walking back to the apartment in fury but was stopped once again by Jake's hand.
"Bella stop. Wait!" Bella brushed Jake's hand off her shoulder and stepped toward him pushing him back.
"That is the most insulting thing anyone has ever said to me. For your information I'm in love with him and never once did even think about the depth his bank account, but the depth of his heart and soul. Edward is a good man and has treated me with nothing but respect and courtesy, which I can't say the same for you anymore. How dare you presume that I would be with him for his money!"
"Bella listen for a second, alright? I'm sorry, okay? It's just with the million dollars he spent on you, and that display outside by the tree... I mean what's that about? Does he always tell you what you can and cannot do?"
"No... it's just with heights. Unless it's behind glass or in an air plane, he just doesn't want me to fall. He's very protective of me. I see nothing wrong with that."
"No, but you have to admit his reaction was a little patronizing and overprotective." Bella made to walk away again, but was stopped by Jake once again, "Bella... I didn't mean to offend you. I just... worry about you. I don't want you to get hurt like... like—um..."
Bella's guard suddenly dropped when she realized what Jake was implying. She tilted her head to the side before going to him and wrapping her arms around his long torso.
His arms felt familiar and comforting, but not like Edward's embrace which made her stomach flutter and her heart beat faster.
In the back of her mind, her morning with Edward confirmed that he was the one she was meant to be with. Even though he didn't profess his undying love, he as good as hinted at it with the way he made love to her. His tenderness, playfulness, and display of affection in front of her family was as good as saying the words she wanted to hear, and they would have to do for now.
"Jake... I don't regret one moment we spent together. Without you, Austria would have been dreadfully dull and provincial. I owe all my good times to you... and you didn't have to be with me the last night we spent together, but I wouldn't changed it if I could. I'm glad it was you."
Jake squeezed her tighter and kissed the top of her head, "Does he know?" Bella leaned back and stepped away from him to look up at him.
"Yes. Edward knows everything. Even though he had guessed last night. Edward's very intuitive and intelligent. Believe me Jake, I'm happy with him. He makes me happy."
"Good. Do you still want to show me around?" Jake asked tentatively, worried that she was upset with him for his bold remark.
"Let's go. Garrett is right over this way."
"Who's Garrett?" Jacob chuckled at how Bella always forgave him and bounced back as though nothing had happened. It was one of the things he loved about her.
"One of my childhood friends. He lives in the Koi pond on the side of the house."
"Garrett is a fish?" Jacob laughed jovially, putting his hands in his pocket as he walked never to her.
"A beautiful twenty-one year old Kōhaku. All white with red spots on his back. Garrett and I go way back. He's a little shy around strangers, and he might squirt water in your face if you get too close. But if you give him a cracker," Bella took out a some Ritz crackers from her pocket, "he just might like you."
Bella smiled up at Jacob who laughed heartily and took a cracker following Bella to Garrett's pond.
Edward turned off the shower and dried off looking at his reflection in the mirror. Something was different about his appearance and it could only be the smile that was glued permanently to his face. No matter how hard he tried or how much his cheeks were sore, he was unable to stop smiling. So he simply gave up trying.
He wrapped the bone white terry cloth towel around his hips and stepped closer to the counter, pulling his razor and shaving cream closer. He reached for the faucet to wet his face when his elbow knocked his razor to the floor. Edward leaned over to pick it up, but noticed something red underneath the counter.
He picked it up and saw it was a Coca Cola bottle cap and placed it on the counter next to the sink.
He was turning down the bed on Friday night when saw Bella's figure standing in the doorway to the bathroom holing up a small object in her hand.
"Edward, what's this?"
While moving closer to Bella, Edward became too distracted by her lack of clothes to notice what she was holding inside her hand. Edward concluded it must have been this bottle cap and housekeeping was due until this evening.
Edward glanced at it curiously wondering how it could have gotten in his bathroom since never drank soda, and didn't recall anyone he knew drinking a coke in his bathroom. Especially not since housekeeping had come through his apartment last week. Only authorized visitors were allowed to enter his suite... and his housekeeper would know better than to leave something like this behind.
He finished shaving then got dressed before walking into his office and heard the phone ring on his desk.
Edward pressed the blinking button while knotting his tie, "Yeah?"
"Mr. Cullen, there's a Ms. Denali here to see you. She doesn't have an appointment, what should I tell her?"
"Siobhan, tell Tanya I'm all booked today and tell Alice that—"
"I'm sorry Mr. Cullen, it's not Tanya. It's Ms. Kathryn Denali. Sir?" Edward must have paused for too long because he was a little taken back. Kate had never come to see him before and wasn't tied to her family's company.
"Let her through," he said before letting of the button, then Kathryn walked into his office in her pale green suite and family trait strawberry blonde hair.
"Kate," Edward stated as he held his hand out for her to have a seat.
"Hello Edward," Kate walked into the room and took a seat on the other side of Edward's large mahogany desk. Edward sat down, reclining with his hands folded on his stomach, giving Kate a half smirk, "How can I help you?"
"Actually," Kate said with her hand on her shoulder, "it's how I can help you."
Edward raised his eyebrow at her then leaned forward at his desk, Ms. Denali now had his full attention.
Bella and Jacob were hot, sweating, and panting.
"Come back here!"
"No! You'll have to catch me first!"
"Catch you! You haven't even seen speed yet!"
Bella squealed in excitement, running as fast as she possibly could toward the apartment which she pegged as her safe zone.
Jacob was closing in fast with his longer legs. He was merely humoring her, waiting for the perfect moment to catch Bella and make her pay for soaking his pants by pushing him off the docks into shallow cold water.
They made it past the maze of hedges where Peter, Ben, and Aro were working. When Jacob shouted what happened, Ben and Aro began rooting Jacob on, and Peter shouted out to Bella to run like a bat out of hell!
Surely enough, Jacob was right on her tail by the time she passed the garden and just as he was about to snatch her up, Bella was caught like a fish in a net in somebody else's arms.
"Wha—Emmett!"
"Ha ha! Got you now little Swan! Is it true you pushed this unfortunate man into the ocean?"
"He said he was hot! I did him a favor! Let me down!" Bella laughed as Emmett held her upside down by her knees over his shoulders like a sac of potatoes.
"Ah, so this is Emmett Cullen. The one Bells told me all about in Austria." Jake smirked, knowing he was probably going to pay dearly for this later.
"Shut the Hell up, Jacob!" Bella screeched behind Emmett's back while Emmett raised his eyebrows in surprise looking flattered.
"Well the cricket and I did grow up together. And you are..."
"Jacob Black, but you can call me Jake," Jake held his hand out to Bella's childhood crush with a knowing grin. Emmett was only too happy to give Jake a firm hand shake with his free hand while ignoring the irritated girl hanging off his shoulder.
"Pleasure to meet you, Jake,"
"Bella Swan. Now that we're all acquainted will you kindly put me down?"
"Not so fast little cricket. First you must pay for your wrong doings against our friend, here. What shall we do with her, Jake?" Emmett laughed, ignoring the squeals of protests and slaps on his backside.
"She seems a little hot-tempered at the moment, if you catch my drift. Do you have a something we could cool her down with?"
"Shall we visit the indoor pool or the outdoor pool? The outdoor pool isn't heated this time of year so it would be considerably colder," Emmett and Jacob conversed as though Bella was not part of the conversation to fire her up even more, and it worked.
"NO! Jacob Ephraim Black and Emmett McCarty Cullen you wouldn't dare!"
"Oh, the cricket is getting a little feisty. She middle named us in broad daylight. Let's go cool her off, Black!"
"Lead the way, Cullen."
With Bella protesting profusely in tow, Jake and Emmett made their way to the pool house on the East side of the property.
Kate stood up from her chair and reached over Edward's desk and shook his grateful hand.
"Thank you for coming to see me today, Kate. You've been a big help," Edward walked around his desk to walk Kate out the door.
"You're welcome, Edward, and thank you," Kate smiled reassuringly then began walking toward the door.
"If what you say is true, I'll be happy to help you in any way I can. I'll contact you," Edward said following her and stopping at the door when Kate turned around to face him.
"I saw the article on Mrs. Whitlock's fundraiser. I'm just curious to know... is it true? Have you... fallen for this woman?"
Though Kate's question was personal her face and tone were sincere, therefore Edward hid his protective instinct to shy away from telling Kate the truth simply because she was related to his ex was suppressed. Especially after she had been such as big help to him and showed where her loyalties lie.
Instead, Edward coughed a laugh and tried to hide a smile just from the thought of his Bella. When he looked down at Kate, he realized he had answered her question without saying a single word. Knowingly, Kate nodded her head and smiled back at him.
"Take care, Katie," Edward said patting her shoulder.
"You too, Eddie," Katheryn winked using Edward's name from her childhood before turning to walk out the door walking directly passed a confused Alice.
Alice's gaze followed Ms. Denali all the way to the elevators before she quizzically looked back at Edward like he had a screw loose.
"Was that..." Alice shook her head knowing she was about to ask a stupid question, "Did Katie have an appointment?" She looked down at her desk to check to calendar knowing what she would find.
"It was an impromptu meeting. Would you please step into my office, Alice, so we may go over the schedule and agenda for today?"
"Of course, Sir," Alice sped walked into the office and closed the door behind her, "What happened? What did she say? Wait, did it have something to do with the news article and Bella? Is Tanya—"
"Alice! Take a breath," Edward held his hands up then sat down behind his desk with a thud, and put his face into his hands and rubbed harshly.
Alice sat down quietly with her note pad and waited patiently for Edward to compose himself and gather his thoughts.
Edward began to speak once he dropped his hands back to his desk and saw that Alice had put the New York Times on top of his desk, which was nothing out of the ordinary, but he still glanced at the headline today which had his company and Tanya's company preparing for battle over Hale Electronics. It wasn't far from the truth but Edward didn't wish to read further at this point, he had to deal with something first.
"Alice, when am I scheduled with to meet with Jasper today?"
"You're scheduled for lunch at noon," Alice said immediately without looking down.
"Could you ask him if we could meet later? At 2:30? I'd actually like both of you there to discuss what Katie was doing here so early today in my office. Also, I need to you contact Detective Riley Biers immediately and put him through to me."
Alice only nodded jotting down her notes with speed and expertise. Even though her questions about the change of schedule were boiling at the tip of her tongue, she knew it wasn't the time to ask Edward yet. He was her boss and something told her he had something up his sleeve that needed to stay quiet for right now.
Edward finished his list of the things that needed to get done for the rest of the day all except for one thing, the shopping list for the en-suite apartment.
"I got it, but—" as though he could read her mind, Edward answered Alice's unspoken question dismissively.
"I plan to be staying at home for the rest of the week, so we can skip the shopping list for the time being."
Alice tried to hide her excited smile by pressing her lips firmly together, then stood up with the same energy and bounce in her step, "Will that be all for now, Ed?"
Narrowing his eyes at her to keep her mouth shut, "Yes, Ali. That will be all."
Don't say anything, or you'll be sorry!
With that, Alice turned around to leave the office, but before closing the door behind her, "Oh, and give my best to Isabella when you call her at lunch time. Tell her I plan to call her soon for a much needed girl time and a shopping trip. Tah tah!"
"She hates shopping!" Edward shouted out petulantly at his annoying assistant slash most annoying slash perceptive best friend in the world.
God dammit, was he that obvious? Supposedly he was. He knew it was ridiculous that he missed her something awful, having only been away from her for a few hours. And yet she was still the most prominent thought in his mind.
Edward toyed with his phone, thinking of calling her to invite her for a quiet lunch in his office and have food delivered. The idea was tempting, but he just had too much to do.
Instead, Edward took out his phone and typed a message he was certain Bella would appreciate then set it down on his desk waiting for her reply. Suddenly, the phone buzzer went off on his desk startling him before he pressed the button.
"Yes?"
"Detective Biers is on-line one sir," Sibohan's nervous voice spoke through the speaker.
"Thank you," Edward pressed line one and left the phone on speaker, "Riley—"
"Edward Cullen, I had a feeling I would be hearing from you sooner than later. Looking to get your ass handed to you again?"
"That's alright, man. I learned my lesson the first time. Never play poker with a detective," Edward grinned when he heard his friend laugh on the other line.
"Well damn, you're going to take away all my game if you pass that shit around. What can I do to help you, my friend?"
"I have a job for you. Can you get some time off this week, it's going to be 24/7 surveillance, and I'm only trusting you with this, no one else," Edward leaned back in his chair.
"What about your security team?"
"Too risky. I need an outsider on this job. I'll explain in person. How about over lunch today, my office?"
"I have to close a case first. Paperwork and shit. I should be able to get there after one."
"Good. I'll have Alice send you right in. See you later, then."
"Later, Ed!"
Edward pressed the line one button again to end the call then clasped his fingers together expect his pointer fingers and thumbs, which rested on his mouth and chin. If Kathryn Denali was correct and telling the truth, then this plan had to work. It could not fail... for his family, his company... and Isabella's sake.
"NOOO! Eeeemmeeeett!" Bella voice was cut off by the huge splash that followed after she was once again tossed feet first into the cold water. Lucky for her the water no longer felt cold since she acclimated to the temperature half an hour ago when the troublesome boys first tossed her into the freezing cold water.
Emmett did a perfect cannon ball directly after Bella came up for air and splashed her again with his tidal wave. When he popped up from the water with his arms up in a victory pose, he turned to Jake and gave him a manly double high-five and a chest bump in the water!
Well, those boys are having one heck of a time ganging up on me aren't they? But it's kind of cute the way they've become best of friends so soon.
Bella shrugged it off, knowing it was all in good fun and she had every intention to get them back once they lay out to dry in the hot sun with the Super Soaker. Bella knew exactly where all his water guns were stored from Emmett's teenage years and wild pool parties he used to host here in the summer time.
Today might not have been a party, but it felt to nice to finally be included in the activities and games for change rather than watching from her tree.
"Aw you doing alright over there Belly button? You look like an angry kitten over there after a bath!" Jacob swam over and hugged Bella around the waist as she tried to fight him off.
"Oh no you don't Black! I've had enough Bella water polo for one today! Give a lady a break would ya?"
"Lady? Where? I don't see a lady!" Jacob looked around, but was suddenly dunked under water by a sprite little woman who apparently could jump out of the water like a grasshopper, or cricket, Emmett laughed to himself.
"Take that Black!"
"Go get him, Cricket!" Emmett rooted on as he pulled himself out of the water to watch the show.
Dang that woman looked fine in a bikini. The bottoms were all back with a black and sliver top that raped around her neck and her waist. It made her cleavage look fantastic and her hips curve out like an hour-glass.
He was a man after all and he couldn't help looking, wishing it was him Bella was water wrestling with so her body could rub all over his.
Mentally, Emmett gave himself a slap and looked away from the pool side. He'd made his choice over the weekend to wait for his Rosie to come back. After their Skype session Friday night when he got home from the fundraiser and the little stripe tease and amazing Skype sex his fiancé gave him from California... he realized he was missing her something terrible and was only using Bella as a way to help ease the loneliness.
He was a selfish fuck, and the competition between himself and his brother was eating at him as well. Emmett missed their talks and laid back conversations about everything and nothing. He had always looked up to his brother for being such a hard worker when at heart, he truly was not.
But now he was about to be a husband to a workaholic and knew Rosalie wouldn't accept anything less than a perfect man as her husband. Well he was far from perfect... but he certainly was getting the perfect woman.
The way she touched herself and called out his name when she reached her climax in her hotel room... it was art, poetry, and the meaning of life combined.
Yes... he was going to marry Rosalie and try to be the man everyone wanted him to be. Look but don't touch... fuck, it was hard not to touch. Literally.
Rose, Rose, Rose... I love Rose.
"I need a break from all this excitement. How about lunch?" Bella called out while covering her superb body with a large towel.
Thank fucking God!
"Sounds great, Bells! I'll come help," Jake said getting out of the pool.
"Nah, I'm just going to throw some sandwiches together. You guys stay and dry off," Bella called out jogging to the other side of the house towards the kitchen.
"Hello? Alistair?" Bella called from the doorway not wanting to track water across the floor.
"Isabella? Is that you? There you are! You've been swimming?" Bella could see the old chef poke his head out from the industrial size walk-in refrigerator which was only used for parties and charity events. He must have been taking inventory for the menus for Emmett and Rose's engagement party next week.
"Yeah, I've been in the pool outside with Emmett and my friend from Austria. It's really hot outside!"
"That it is. Can I make you something little one? A cold soup or sandwich perhaps?"
"You're a genius and you read my mind. Three sandwiches, please, for the boys and me. I need to go grab something really fast from indoor pool shed, but I'll be right back."
"Don't worry, little one. I'll have Maria bring it out to you when I'm finished. Come by later to visit this old man, ya?"
"It would be my pleasure," Bella smiled before running toward the pool to get the water guns she needed for her revenge.
"I wonder what's been keeping, Bells. She's been gone a while," Jake said with a mouth full of a club sandwich.
"She's probably changing or something so we don't throw her back into the pool. Ha! As if that would stop us, right?" Emmett said holding his fist out for Jake, who bumped it with his own.
"You're a lot different from your brother. He seems so uptight all the time... but I can tell he care a lot about Bella," Jake tried not to roll his eyes. He wasn't sure why, but something about Edward just rubbed him the wrong way.
"Yeah, we're different in every way. Edward was born thirty years old, man, and believe it or not he was worse before cricket came back. He never smiled or laughed, but now...It's like... a light turned on inside him. I dunno. But Eddie's a whole new person now and my parents are thrilled."
"What about you?"
"What about me?" Emmett looked up curiously.
"Don't you want your brother to be happy?"
"Oh, yeah. Of course I do... it's just—strange. For a while, I thought..." he sighed deeply and shook his head, "Never mind—"
"You thought you were in love with Bella?" Jake said knowing that he was correct when Emmett looked up at him with surprise.
"Yeah. She's... well she's beautiful you know? Inside and out... it's like she puts under a spell or something. I can't explain it..."
"I know exactly what you mean. I—" Jake ducked his head suddenly feeling embarrassed about what he was going to confess.
"Oh shit, no. Not you too?" Emmett laughed and slapped his knee. Jake nodded, his blush well hidden behind his mocha skin, but he became shy nevertheless.
"Fuck, man. I think she has some voodoo shit going for her or something, because she's got all of us eating out of the palm of her hand," Emmett shook his head and finished off his sandwich with one more large bite.
"Yeah," Jake said wiping the crumbs off his lap, but suddenly feeling his back getting entirely drenched by cold as fuck water. "SHIT!"
When he moved out-of-the-way, Emmett ended up getting beamed right in the puss with a jet stream of water and feel backwards on his chair.
The hysterical laughter coming from the lawn was infectious and the boys both had the same thought, that the little she-devil had gotten them good.
"You liked that did ya, Cricket?!"
Bella talked into between snorts and laughs, "You. Should. Have seen... your faces!" She fell to her knees on the grass.
"The battle is won, but the war is far from over! GRAB HER JAKE!"
In less than a second, Bella ran like her life depended on it around the garden, chased by two mammoth-sized-men. Once she made a lap around the pool, Emmett about faced to chase her in the opposite direction, and Bella realized two against one, were not very good odds as they stopped running and cornered her between Aro's elegantly cut hedges, which came up to her waist, maze garden.
"Surrender, Bells! You're surrounded!" Jacob said creeping slowly forward with his hands stretched dramatically forward.
"Oooo, two big brawny men against little ole' me, I'm so scared," Bella hunched over like a wild cat waiting to strike, her focus switching between both men.
"You can't escape, Cricket. If you give in now, we'll go easy on you... if not... we'll show no mercy," Emmett smiled wickedly, very found of this game of cat and mouse. He had no idea Bella was so spirited and entertaining. In her younger years, Bella hardly spoke two words to him unless he addressed her first.
So much had changed in ten years... no, in just a year away from home. Bella had completely transformed in this new confident exciting person.
If I only I was there to see it, Emmett thought sentimentally. But it was short-lived when Bella looked like she was plotting an escape.
"You have to the count of three to surrender, Cricket, then your ours!"
"I'd like to see you try," Bella challenged with a wolfish grin spread across her face.
"One," Emmett taunted musically.
"Two!" Jake smiled while Bella continued to squirm and make idol threats to their man parts if they got any closer.
"THREE!" Both men shouted before running at Bella, who with great cunning, dodged both men at the same time by nimbly jumping over the short hedge. Both men were just as surprised that she cleared it as much as she was and made a mad dash for safety toward the pool.
Her feather-light body was quick and she was already at the pool by the time the boys hopped over the hedge themselves to catch up to Bella's victorious laughter, only to freeze in horror as they watched helplessly from too far away, Bella flying high up in the air from slipping on the wet pavement.
Her body suspended for a split second with arms flailing, like a cartoon character before falling after walking off a cliff, then flattened out her body trying to break her fall.
Emmett and Jake's victorious laughter morphed into deathly silence when they heard the loud SLAP resounding from Bella's body smacking against the water, like falling on a table rather than liquid, and became frozen with fear as they watched her unconsciously sink to the bottom of the pool.
"Bella!"
In a split second, Emmett ran to pool's edge and dived directly into the deep end where Bella was floating. Jake watched Emmett grab a hold of her body and pull her up toward the surface.
"Here! Bring her over here!" Jake gestured to Emmett wildly with his body reaching over the pool. Jake hooked hands underneath Bella's arms and lifted her drenched body out of the water and placed her delicately on the grass putting his hand on her sternum.
Emmett hoisted himself out of the pool and barreled forward where Bella lay. "Is she breathing?"
"I can't tell! Bella!" Jake's voice shouted in panic.
"Out of my way!" Emmett pushed Jake aside got down on his knees next to Bella's still body. When he positioned his cheek near her mouth his heart stuttered from fear.
"She's not breathing, go call 911!" Emmett grunted then started pumping Bella chest.
"Fuck! Hang on!" Jake scrambled to find his phone while Emmett went into automatic first-aid mode and began CPR.
Emmett could hardly hear Jacob's voice screaming as he sang in his head, "I've been working on the railroad," counting 100 beats per second...
He heard Jake explaining in the background and a lot of cursing, but he couldn't stop. He had to focus on, Bella. Keep the rhythm.
"Come on, Bella! Breathe!" Emmett growled before breathing into her mouth. Then suddenly Bella's body contracted and jerked to the side, coughing up several spurts of water from her lungs.
Emmett leaned back on his knees looking down at Bella as she gasped for air, feeling his own chest open up again.
"Oh, thank God! Jesus Christ, Bella. You're okay!" Emmett cried out and lifted Bella off the floor, holding her close to his chest. Silently, he thanked his fiancé, Dr. Hale, for teaching him how to perform CPR, ironically on their very first date.
"I'm not too keen on boats," Rosalie said uneasily after Emmett revealed the plans for the evening when they got out of his sports car.
"And why is that, Dr. Hale? Get Seasick? Claustrophobic? Aquaphobic?" Emmett teased before looking back at her beautiful face, which showed no signs of humor.
"Yes, actually," she stated bluntly.
"Yes, to which?"
"I don't like deep water. I can't swim. Not well, at least," she muttered, appearing vulnerable for the first time since he'd met her and he could already tell it wasn't easy for her to admit. But it was also the first time since he'd met her that she was beautiful to him in another way that didn't involve her flawless body.
Underneath her prime exterior was a vulnerable, sensitive woman... and he was curious to know what else he could discover about her in one night.
"Have no fear fair maiden, for I happen to be an excellent swimmer. Therefore, I'll protect you if you fall overboard, or swim you to safety if the ship should sink (which most likely will not be the case)," Emmett whispered loudly to her ear, then took her hand to pull her toward the gang plank.
"That's all very well except you left out one assurance. Do you know CPR?"
Emmett rolled his eyes, "Please, like I would want to make out with a dummy in front of a classroom. Doesn't float my boat. Besides, I'm sure the entire crew on board knows how to do it," Emmett tugged on her arm, but was frustratingly stopped once again.
"You mean to tell me if you had a live subject to work with and put your mouth on, you would learn CPR?" Rosalie raised her brow in a challenge.
"Why? Are you offering," Emmett smirked, humoring her. He had much better things planned for them to do on the yacht instead of wasting time learning a technique he probably would never have to use in his lifetime.
"Let's just say this. I will not go on this boat unless you agree to learn CPR. Since I don't fancy being rescued by a cocky swimmer who doesn't know the first thing about saving my life after he pulls me out of the water. You might as well just leave me to drown if you can't resuscitate me."
"Point taken. Do we have to do it before we get on the yacht?" Emmett whined slightly, failing to hide his disinterest in learning.
"We can start after we go aboard. Oh and Emmett, trust me when I say, I'll make this lesson worth your while," Rosalie's voice dropped as she seductively walked up to Emmett and licked the side of his ear causing his skin to light on fire.
Even though, Emmett didn't take her CPR lesson seriously at first, since he was horny as hell after the little trick Rosalie pulled on the docks... eventually Rosalie had told Emmett he passed with flying colors. Then sucked him off before and after dinner as a reward for a job well done.
Fuck, I love you Rosalie Hale. Emmett thought as he kissed Bella happily on the cheek, then pulled her away from his shoulder to looked at her.
"You're okay," he kept repeating with a smile on his face.
Bella nodded, unable to speak due to the glands inside her throat feeling swollen or inflamed. Instead, she smiled and looked around to get her barrings.
"Jake! She's okay!" Emmett shouted out to a frantic looking Jacob who was pacing around on the phone with his back turned. Jacob whooshed around and bolted toward Bella, before snapping his phone shut.
"They'll be here shortly, they said. Shit baby, you gave us a heart attack," Jacob knelt beside Bella and pushed her bangs away from her forehead intending to give her a small kiss, only to have her turn her head away at the last moment looking more upset then before.
"Who's on their way?" Bella's voice hoarsely rasped anxiously while she sat up, then coughed some more.
"The paramedics, Bells. You were unconscious for several minutes."
"I think you got the wind knocked out of you when you hit the water, but... we just want to make sure you're—," Emmett continued only to be cut off by Bella looking more distressed than before.
"I'm fine, now. Please, call them back and tell them not to come," Bella pleaded to Jacob and Emmett's surprise.
"Bells—"
"Jake, I'm alright. Seriously," she said lifting herself off the ground only to be held down by Jacob's hand.
"Let me up. Please!" Bella shouted but paled when she heard the siren sounding in the distance and tried to refrain from becoming hysterical with images from the past flooding her mind.
Sirens. Heart monitors ringing in her ear. People shouting. The chemical smells. Death. No! Not again!
"I can't—can't. Go there. Please, let me go. Please!" The desperation in Bella's voice was clear as her voice raised to shouting near the end.
"She's not responding to treatments, and her body is slowly shutting down... not getting the nutrients she needs."
"What the Hell is going on?" Bella's face turned towards Peter's voice and reached out for him."What happened?"
There wasn't time for answers as Bella was still shaking uncontrollably until Peter reached her and pulled her into his arms while Emmett and Jacob were frozen in horror at Bella hyperventilating and melting down before their eyes.
"How long does she have?"
"At this point it's hard say. Could be weeks, months... it depends on the treatment you chose. But you'd only be prolonging the inevitable."
"Peter! Don't let them take me! You know! You were there—saw her! What happened... please!"
"Shh, it's alright little girl. Shh, I've got you. It's okay. I've got you," Peter cooed and took Bella in his arms rocking her back and forth while glared at the ambulance parking itself on the lawn.
"Why did someone call the ambulance?" Peter snapped accusingly at the two men standing watch as Bella sobbed into his grass stained shirt. Jacob explained to Peter what happened and how Emmett revived her before he saw them and thought Bell needed medical attention.
After hearing their story, Peter nodded once agreeing that Bella needed to be checked out by a doctor, no matter how much he knew Bella would protest going back to the emergency room.
"I don't understand? What's she so afraid of?" Emmett asked looking shocked at Bella's uncharacteristic behavior towards the mention of the paramedics.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, little bird. Everything is going to be alright... I'm still here..."
There was no time to explain since the ambulance pulled up to the front of the house and Jake left to show them where they were.
Bella closed her eyes trying to drown out the sound of the siren blaring in her ears causing unwanted memories to flood her mind like a broken dam.
"I'm still here. I'm still here. I'm still here...
She couldn't calm her breathing down...
"No you're not... you left us alone."
"Stay with me, Bella. Look at me," Peter's voice commanded.
Bella's heart rate beat erratically and her body felt weak and out of control... and then she went numb.
"Nonono! Don't you dare! Stay awake, Bells. Come on. Look at me. Look at me!"
Bella heard Peter's desperate voice, and tried to make her eyelids obey... but a weight was pulling her back down.
"Step away, sir. Let us take it from here,"
And then there was silence.
The first thing Bella heard when she regained consciousness was a high-pitched beeping, spaced out in even increments. A machine of some kind positioned next to her.
The smells in the room burned her nose. Sterile, metallic, chemical, with a dash of antiseptic looming in the air.
The smell alone was all she needed to comprehend where she was... and here was the last place she wanted to be.
Instantly her body convulsed and chunks started to rise up in her throat. She felt nauseated, sick to her stomach. She had to get out of here.
Eventually, Bella squinted her eyes open toward the sunbeams shinning on far side of the wall. Lazily looking around the room to the window, her eyes felt like they were about to implode into her skull and very slowly she raised her hand to her forehead. The tubing around her face blew cold air into her nostrils. When she tried to jerk it away, a sharp pain shot up her arm thanks to the IV lodged into her vein.
Great. That's just great.
Bella hated hospitals. Memories filled her mind of a woman, so frail, gaunt, and weak... but still with hints and features of the beautiful woman she once was. She was always beautiful to Bella. Her kind gray eyes and auburn hair that lost its shine over time. Her skin which used to smell like gardenias from the perfume she wore now had a strong combination of antiseptics, chicken broth, and sweet raspberry jello.
It wasn't a pleasant smell, in fact it was disgusting and made bile rise up in her mouth. But at the time it was all she could digest... until the end.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, little bird. Everything is going to be alright... I'm still here..."
At that thought, Bella closed her eyes, unable to stop the tears from falling on her cheeks. She knew where she was, but she didn't want to see it anymore.
Everywhere she looked... all she saw was her mother dying.
"I can't... I can't be here!" Bella made to get up but winced at the ache in her head from getting up too fast.
"Bella? Baby, it's alright, I'm here."
Familiar arms wrapped around her after she heard an object that sounded like a phone dropping to the tile floor. Thankfully, as Bella breathed in the new musky citrus smell surrounding her instead of the sterile smells that had been suffocating her just moments ago, her stomach finally settled and her head began to clear.
"You're here..." Bella's sniffed and clung to his warm hard body for dear life, never wanting to let go.
"Of course I'm here. Where else would I be?" Edward's voice teased her softly, but it was the most comforting thing she had ever heard. He was here. For her.
The sound of Edward's heart beating against her ear was the most comforting and beautiful sound in the world to Bella at the moment. It gave her peace. But then the sound pulled away... he wanted to look at her face, but his smell... his smell was gone and the horrid smell of the room came rushing back.
Desperately Bella reached for Edward's shirt and pulled him back to her, and breathed in deeply. Trying with everything she had to keep the sobs from ripping through her chest.
"Please. Please, I need—I need..."
"What is it, precious? What do you need? Anything you want, it's yours," Edward pleaded stroking her head affectionately, wishing with everything he had inside him that she was alright because in all his years, he had never seen Bella act like this. It terrified him... she was terrified.
When Bella didn't answer him, he figured it would be a good time to push the call button to ring for the nurse.
"NO! Don't leave me alone!"
"They're coming, my love. Just hold on, I've got you. Trust me, I'm not going to let you go," Edward whispered into her neck and felt wetness from her tears on his shoulder. He shut his eyes tight trying to hold his own emotions inside and be strong for Bella.
"What's the matter sweetheart. You're safe now. No one is going to hurt you," Edward cooed, rocking her in his arms to try and calm her down.
"She—she left us. Daddy. Where's daddy?" Bella cried holding onto Edward around his neck so tight, but Edward welcomed the discomfort, so long as she was awake, alive, and well.
"He'll be right back, baby. He just went to—"
"Bella?"
For the first time, Bella opened her eyes and saw her father and Sue standing in the doorway.
"Jesus, Bella thank God!" Charlie dropped his styrofoam cup of coffee on the floor and rushed over to his daughter, pulling her quickly into his arms. Edward reluctantly stepped aside to give Charlie room, but never to far away.
"Oh Bells. You had us so worried. I don't know what I would have done if I'd have lost you, too! Thank God you're awake," Charlie held on tightly to his little girl and set her gently back down on to the gurney.
"Dad, take me home. Please. I'm fine now... really—"
"Hush, pumpkin. We'll go straight home as soon as the doctor sees you. He should—"
"So our Swan woken up?" A cheerful looking nurse said stepping into the room with a stethoscope around her neck.
"Just. She's a little shaken up. Is the doctor on his way?" Edward blurted out anxiously standing to the side while Charlie stood back up holding Bella's hand.
Bella had been in the ER for twenty minutes or so, but just when Edward had arrived, the doctor had diagnosed her out of danger. So they had moved her to a recovery room to make space for other patients in greater trauma. Everyone was thankful for that, but the waiting, no matter how short had been torturous.
"He is. My name is nurse Claire, will you allow me to check your vital signs, Ms. Swan?"
"Okay," Bella said timidly, a little embarrassed that Edward and her family were standing there seeing her in this vulnerable position. Promptly, Edward and Charlie stepped away from her bedside to let nurse Claire to her job.
"Alright, your blood pressure is a little high, but I believe that's due to your heart racing. Are you feeling any stress at the moment, Ms. Swan?" Nurse Claire asked sincerely looking concerned at the cold sweat on Bella's forehead.
Shyly, Bella looked down at her hands twisting them in her lap and nodded slightly. But instead of patronizing her, nurse Claire gave her a small understanding smile and nodded once.
"You'll be out of here in a jiffy. No worries, Ms. Swan. The doctor will be with you shortly."
Bella had never met a nurse with a better bedside manner in all her days. With that in mind, Bella reciprocated in giving nurse Claire a meek smile before the nurse walked out the door and placed Bella's chart in the holder for the doctor.
As soon as the nurse left, Edward was immediately standing by Bella's side again and holding her hand.
"How long was I out?"
"About half an hour. Just hang on, baby and we'll take you home once the doctor checks you out, okay" Edward cooed with a look of pure adoration as he wiped a few of her bangs off her moist skin. It shocked Bella to see Edward this way. She thought he would have been furious with her and... oh God.
"Emmett and Jake—!" Bella tried to sit up to find them, but was stopped by Edward and Charlie's hands since he too was on Bella's other bedside.
"They're in the waiting room outside. Only family members were permitted to see you for the time being," Charlie smiled down at her with a wink, then Bella whipped her head back to look at Edward's knowing expression looking at Charlie.
What exactly did they try to pass him as? A brother, cousin... they couldn't have said he was her—
"I think I'll go let the boys know she's awake. I'll be right back," Sue said with a smile before kissing Bella's forehead, then walked out of the room after brushing by Charlie's shoulder giving him a meaningful look for him to follow her. When he didn't get the idea she cleared her throat loudly, causing Charlie to take the hint and abruptly stand up from sitting on the gurney.
"Right. I'll—be right back, pumpkin. I told Mr. and Mrs. Cullen I would call them when you woke up." Charlie said as she awkwardly waved and walked out of the room just outside the door.
Now that they were alone once more, Edward sat back down in the chair next to the head of her bed and squeezed Bella's hand leaning forward on the bed.
"You don't like hospitals, do you?" Edward saying knowingly whipping the sweat from off her brow.
"Does anybody?" Bella quipped back but Edward looked unamused from her retort. "Sorry. I'm a little on edge. I just really want to go home," Bella whined before falling back against the pillow.
"And you shall. The second after the doctor releases you."
"Really, I'm f—"
"DON'T say you're fine!" Edward growled out causing Bella to jump in her bed.
"I was wondering when you would show your temper. It was just an accident. Please don't blame—"
"Accident! Bella, they chased you into a pool and you ran! Everyone should know that you never run around a swimming pool where you could trip and kill yourself! You could have died!" Edward stood up abruptly from his spot on the chair and started pacing angrily around the room pulling at his hair.
"You're really angry."
"ANGRY? No, I'm not angry. I'm FURIOUS!" Edward roared, "With Emmett. Jacob Black. But mostly with you! Do you have not one ounce of common sense?!"
"Stop—please..." Bella cried with tears streaming down her cheeks. Instantly, Edward was back on the gurney pulling her firmly into his embrace and kissing her hair.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he whispered with his lips to her temple. "I want to strangle them both! Jacob and my own brother! The only thing that's stopping me is... Do you understand what you mean to me? I can't lose you, too."
"You won't lose me. I'm sorry, baby," Bella pleaded, cling to him as more tears welled up behind her eyes. Bella was speechless from the remarkable strength and passion inside this man that she adored with everything she had inside her.
He had to love her. He didn't say it in so many words... but the subtext in his actions and words were clear.
Edward pulled away from her only when they heard a knock by the door.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm Dr. Eli Amun. How are you holding up, Ms. Swan?"
"Call me, Bella, please. And I'm feeling fine. Just sleepy and anxious to go home."
"Yes, I reckon so. Well, if you would allow me to administer a few tests, we'll be getting you discharged and heading home in no time."
Bella nodded and looked at Edward, who looked like the last thing he wanted to do was let go of her.
"Mr. Cullen, if you wouldn't mind waiting outside while I examine your fiancé, I'll let you know when it's alright to come back in," Dr. Amun stated casually before looking down at the clipboard in this hand, missing the stunned expression on Bella's face as her head snapped to Edward's flustered face. This might possibly be the first time Bella recalled Edward ever blushing in front to her.
Without missing a beat, Edward turned his head to kiss Bella's forehead without making eye-contact, "I'll be right outside," then got off the gurney without turning back around before leaving the recovery room.
FIANCÉ? Was that Charlie's or Edward's idea? Wow... just, wow.
"Alright Bella, if you would sit up so I can listen to your lungs, we'll get started."
Edward was pacing outside Bella's hospital room while Charlie and Sue sat down patiently. In ten minutes, the doctor opened the door and asked if they would all like to come back inside the room.
Immediately, Edward was back at Bella's side and Charlie and Sue went to her other side.
"Well, the good news is that there was no damage done by the drowning. Her throat might be sore for a while, a day at most, but luckily there is no water in her lungs.
"The negative side is the bang she received on the occipital lobe of her skull did give her a minor concussion. She's experiencing the usual symptoms of nausea, drowsiness, headaches, but it will improve over time. I've prescribed some pain meds for her to take for the headaches, but she will need to rest for a while and not drive or operate heavy machinery for a least a week. Just to be safe."
Everyone in the room was listening to the doctor's instructions, but Bella had only one thought in mind and thankfully her "fiancé" could read her expression like a book.
"Is Bella free to go home or will she have to stay overnight?"
"Ideally, I'd wish for her to stay. But due to her nosocomephobia, I think it would most likely due more harm than good for Bella's stress levels. But please bring her back if her condition digresses or the symptoms do not improve. Any other questions?" When no one answered Dr. Amun excused himself then said he would go fill out the rest of her paperwork and have the nurse discharge them when he finished.
There were so many questions Edward needed answering, but they were all for Bella, who was still sitting up ready to jump off the gurney in a moment's notice.
In fifteen minutes, nurse Claire returned and told Bella she was free to leave with her family, and to please take care of herself.
Edward thought there was no way he would allow this to happen to Bella again, even if it wasn't within his power to prevent it... he continued to irrationally think so.
"Your clothes are here for you Ms. Swan. Take care now," nurse Claire said before leaving them alone.
Edward leaned over and lifted Bella off the bed as though she were as light as a feather, then held her closely to his chest with Bella still in her thin blue hospital gown. Cautiously, he carried her to the bathroom so Bella could get dressed while Charlie said he would meet them at the front of the hospital with the car.
"I'll help her Edward. You wait out here," Sue told Edward who looked like he was about to help Bella get dressed instead of leaving her after he set her down gently on her feet.
"Right. Okay, then," Edward muttered blushing as Sue gave him the eyebrow before closing the door behind her.
Bella had fallen asleep on the car trip back to the mansion.
She didn't get the chance to speak to Emmett or Jacob as Edward carried her out of the hospital like he was on a mission to avoid them. She shouted out to them to come see her when they got home, but unfortunately, she lost the battle with her fatigue. When Bella woke up, she realized she was back in her room and it looked to be very late in the evening.
Very slowly, Bella sat up rubbing her eyes. Then she heard and sharp intake of breath coming from the far corner of the room.
"Edward?" She already knew it was him, but it still came out as a question.
"You've been out for hours. How are you feeling?" he voice sounded concerned, but distant... and he was sitting too far away.
"I feel fine. Why are you sitting all the way over there?"
"I promised Charlie that I would watch over you tonight and not sleep in your bed. It was the only way he would allow me to stay with you."
Oh, well that makes sense.
"You're too far away. Please..." Bella said reaching her hand out for him. With a heavy sigh, Edward sat up and lifted the comfortable plush rocking chair next to Bella's bed, then sat back down with a plop.
"You look exhausted. Maybe you should go home and lie down," Bella said reluctantly while brushing his bangs away from his forehead. She lovingly caressed his stubbled jaw before Edward yawned into his hand.
"No. I'll be alright. I'm not leaving you," Edward said stubbornly leaning forward in the chair and grasped Bella's hand in both of his.
"But you need to sleep. Don't you have work—"
"I'll work from home tomorrow. Everything is taken care of, stop worrying about me, I'm fine. I'm more concerned about you. Are you hungry? You missed dinner."
Bella shook her head, "Actually, no. I'm just sad that you're— please Edward, lie down with me? I can't stand you being so close and yet so far away."
With a furrowed brow Edward deliberated what he should do, then looked back at the closed bedroom door. "I can't. Not until I get some answers."
"What answers?"
Leaning back into the rocking chair, Edward huffed and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. "About your behavior today. You seemed to have forgotten to mention that you're afraid of hospitals this past weekend. But what I'm more interested in is in the why? Why were you freaking out today Bella, when the ambulance arrived?"
"Emmett told you..." Bella muttered looking ashamed.
"I really didn't give him a choice, since I threatened his manhood if he didn't tell me everything that happened today."
"Edward... it's not easy to talk about," Bella groaned leaning back on her pillows, but saw that Edward was not going to let this matter go. She took a slow deep breath and as she rubbed her face, then focused on her hands resting in her lap.
"When my mother got sick, she was hospitalized off an on for several months. After two months she stopped responding to chemotherapy and they diagnosed her cancer as terminal. It was all down hill from there. Her skin eventually lost its rosiness. She was as thin as a rail, her hair..." Bella cupped her hand to her face to hold in the unwanted sob. Suddenly, she felt Edward's warm strong arms encompassing her before she could buckle over on the bed.
"Baby, you don't have to—" he hushed her, but Bella couldn't stop now.
"We took her home for a while," Bella continued and Edward stayed silent. Regretting he ever brought the topic up.
"My mother said she would have rather spent her last days around family than cooped up in a hospital room. But we couldn't afford home care, and she was in too much pain... it was torture for Charlie to watch. So we took her back, deciding it was best to stay with her at the hospital.
"It was just like watching a brilliant rose whither away. So sad and so broken. She no longer looked like my mother, but she—she... still told me she loved me and that everything would be alright. I feel asleep on her chest one night... and she never woke up, but she was still smiling."
"Jesus," Edward whispered. Her story broke his heart; no it obliterated it. He was shocked at the strength this woman he held in his arms possessed. If he had ever lost his mother like that, he probably would have turned out like an entirely different person.
Edward saw many similarities between Bella's mother Renee and Esme... and he saw all their good qualities, everything he admired about them, inside the woman he loved.
"Bella... I—" Fuck it all... just tell her!
No! She has to know the truth first.
But if I tell her and she doesn't' understand, I would lose her.
NO! I can't. I can't not have her in my life. No matter how selfish it is of me...
Besides, I shouldn't confess something like, "I've lied to you," after telling me about her mother.
He felt Bella straighten up from leaning on his shoulder, then cupped her soft face with both hands to wipe her tears away with his thumbs.
"Quid pro quo, Edward," Bella smiled.
"What do you mean baby?"
"You said you couldn't lose me too," Bella looked down at their joined hands then looked back up at Edward's cautious stare. "What did you mean? Who did you lose?"
Edward sighed, knowing it was only fair to let Bella inside his mind she she had done it for him. But this memory, much like Rene's death, was hard to tell. In fact... nobody knew it except his parents. Emmett wasn't even born. But for some reason... he wanted her to know. To understand. So, like Bella had done before, he took a breath a let his heart out.
"My best friend. Harry. We were playing at his house, in Brooklyn... climbing his tree house in the backyard. We'd stayed up there all afternoon until it was time to climb down for dinner. Then argued over who would go down first since neither of us wanted our play time to end. I won at rock, paper, scissors... so I got to stay up longer. Harry started climbing down when his mother went back inside the house, but he lost his footing and fell fifteen feet on his neck."
"And did he..." Bella asked hopefully, but seeing the pained expression on Edward's face was all the answer she needed.
"Oh honey," Bella grasped Edward firmly around the neck and kissed his head lovingly.
"I can't lose you too, Bella. When you climbed that tree on our vacation, and when I saw you climbing your tree outside... it all came rushing back."
Bella nodded her head and pulled Edward down onto the bed with her, resting his head on her chest.
"I'm here and I love you, Edward Cullen. So much."
"Whatever happens to you, happens to me. Whatever you feel, I feel too. I'm yours, Isabella Swan. Remember that," Edward whispered as the looked at her big doe eyes, then leaned down to kiss her passionately, with his weight resting on top of her body.
"Sleep with me. Don't go back to the chair. Just stay with me. I need to feel you, I need... I just need you here," Bella spoke as Edward continued to kiss around her face and rub her body with his deeper into the mattress.
"Aw fuck it," he breathed out before standing up, then stripped down to his boxer briefs, letting his clothing hang off the rocking chair beside the bed. Bella lifted the covers and scooted closer to the wall allowing Edward space to lie down. Once he put his arm underneath her head, Bella snuggled up against him and sighed a breath relief and contentment.
"Thank you," Bella felt Edward's chest shake with silent laughter.
"You won't be thanking me in the morning when Charlie shoots my dick off with his Winchester."
"Don't worry tough guy, I'll protect you," Bella sighed with a smile on her face.
"My brave girl. But who's going to protect you?" he whispered mournfully turning his head and kissing her forehead sweetly.
"Doesn't matter, as long as I have you," Bella muttered before falling into a deep sleep.
I love you Isabella Swan, Edward kept repeating like a mantra in his mind over and over. He held her so tight, he thought he might break her.
He knew he had to tell her, soon. Tomorrow. He would tell her tomorrow, then made up several scenarios in his mind on how he would tell her, until he could no longer keep his eyes open.
Right before sleep took him, there was a buzzing sound coming from his suit pocket. He reached for his phone and saw the text shinning brightly in the dark room.
Ms. Denali's tip was correct. The story will run tomorrow– Riley Biers
So Kate was telling the truth. Shit is going to go down tomorrow, but as long as I have Bella, we'll be fine. Everything will be fine. I'll protect her... I'll always protect Bella.
Please let me into your mind... I let you into mine.