(A/N): My Beta is RandomatGedz

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight :'(

Living Royal

Chapter Thirteen

The first thing Edward noticed as he woke up was how warm it was. The second thing he saw was the colour brown. Brown was everywhere.

In their sleep, Bella and Edward had clung to each other and now Bella's hair was spread all over Edward's chest and some of it was on his face. But he wasn't bothered or annoyed. He never noticed how silky it was before.

Bella was lying with her head on Edward's chest as he had both arms wrapped around her pulling her close to his side with their bare legs tangled together. Last night was the best night of his life. Sure, it wasn't his first time, but making love with Bella took a whole new meaning.

If his brother Emmett could hear him now, Edward would never hear the end of it.

He sounded so cheesy. Like something out of a cliché romantic comedy. But he was happy so he didn't really give a damn.

He started stroking Bella's back slowly, not wanting to wake her, but already missing the physical contact they had last night. They needed to get up and start getting ready for classes but Edward decided they could afford to lie there a while longer.

The quiet was interrupted when Edward's phone rang. Edward quickly scrambled out of bed to answer it before it woke Bella.

"Hello?"

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Edward?"

Edward rolled his eyes, "Good morning to you too, father."

"Have you read today's newspapers, yet?" King Carlisle said, cutting to the chase.

"No, I just woke up. Why?"

"Your girlfriend is on the front page of every one of them. The fact that you've brought her along for your Birthday ball seems to have created a media frenzy. Someone at the party must have tipped off the press and now they're demanding an official statement about your relationship. And now with this…show, God knows what they think."

"Can you stop caring about what the press thinks for a moment and think about what your son wants? Or is that too much to ask?" Edward lost his temper.

"This is not about you, Edward. This is about our people. They need to know that the next heir to the throne is someone who can be trusted, someone responsible."

Before Edward could respond he saw Bella start to wake up, "Father, I can't really talk right now. I'll talk to you later." And he hung up.

He crawled back into bed next to Bella just as she opened her eyes.

"Hey," He kissed her forehead. "Good morning."

"Good morning," She stretched her hands above her head causing the covers to slip down and expose her nakedness.

She immediately blushed and tried to cover herself back up.

"Don't," Edward protested, "You don't have to hide from me anymore."

"I know, I'm just not used to…um…"

"No used to what sweetheart?" Edward asked, confused, "Didn't you and Jacob?"

"Yes, we did." She cut him off, "It's just that, Jacob always left after…so, I'm not really used to waking up next to someone."

That asshole!

He didn't even stick around afterwards to see if she was okay?

Edward felt a compelling urge to hunt down Jacob Black and beat him to a bloody pulp.

Instead, he pulled Bella close, "Well, you should get used to it from now on, because I'm not going anywhere."

He lifted her face upwards and leaned down to kiss her. Bella responded immediately which excited Edward even more. They continued to kiss passionately for a few minutes and were about to take things to the next level when Bella's phone rang.

Edward groaned, "I really think that you and I should change our phone numbers."

Bella chuckled, "Sorry, It's probably Alice checking up on me. I never came back to our dorm room last night, after all."

"Oh right, you'd better answer her then before she comes over and tries to break down my door." Edward grinned. He reluctantly let Bella get up.

He gazed at her as she answered the phone. He honestly didn't know how he'd gotten so lucky. Usually when he started dating someone, he'd go into the relationship knowing very well that it wasn't him they were attracted too. He'd been told that he looked handsome, but no one ever really knew him. They were all in it for the money and the publicity.

But with Bella everything was different. He could just relax and be himself without worrying that as soon as she realized that he acted as any other guys would, she'd make a run for it.

Edward laid back in bed and got comfortable, folding his hands behind his head. He was a man in love and he intended to enjoy every bloody moment of it, no matter what his father thought or said.

When Bella hung up the phone she came back to bed and snuggled up next to Edward. He pulled her close and buried his face in her hair.

Strawberries.

Her hair always smelled like strawberries.

He fucking loved it.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?"

"Was that your father who called this morning?"

Damn it, she heard.

"Um, yes, it was him." He replied.

"Did he say anything about what happened at the ball?"

She was running her hand over his chest. He laid one of his hands over hers to stop her movement.

"I can't really think when you're doing that." He grinned.

Bella rested on her elbow and looked down at him.

"You're that affected by me, hmm?"

Edward scoffed, "Oh, Bella. You have no idea."

She leaned in closer and whispered against his mouth, "I love you."

"I love you too." He immediately replied. He'd never get tired of hearing her say those words.

"But you haven't answered my question yet. Your father talked to you about the ball, didn't he? What did her say?"

"There's no escaping you, is there?" He chuckled.

"Nope, not in a million years."

"Good. I like my women stubborn." That earned him a poke in the side.

"My father called because the press have apparently been informed of our relationship and they're demanding an official statement from the palace. Also…they got a hold of a photo of you at the fashion show."

As he had expected, Bella's face paled.

"What? How? There were no paparazzi in there."

"Someone must've taken a picture and sold it to them. That's the price of being with royalty. Someone's always willing to sell you out for the right price. I'm so sorry, Bella. I didn't want you exposed to that, but I'm afraid that it's inevitable."

"It's not your fault. You warned me more than once that this was going to happen sooner or later. I know what I'm getting into, Edward; I know this isn't some fairytale."

"So smart. I knew there was a reason why I loved you." He kissed her forehead.

She smiled at him, but then her smile fell a little and she looked worried, "How much trouble are you in with your father, Edward, honestly?"

"No more than usual." He shrugged.

"Did he- did he tell you to break up with me?"

"No, Bella. He didn't, and even if he did I'd never do that to you. You have to believe that."

"I do. But I also know that your father will keep pressuring you."

"Bella, if anyone should be worried here, it should be me. I'm the one who should worry that the pressure will be too much for you and then you'll decide that I'm not worth it."

"Don't say that. Edward, I love you and nothing will ever change that, I promise."

"I love you too."

"Now, on to some less serious topics. Alice invited us to dinner with her and Jasper tonight. Do you feel like going?" Bella asked.

"If you want to go then I'm in. It would do us some good having a night out with friends. We definitely need that."

"Great, I'll tell Alice we're going. I should get up now; I need to get ready for class and I have to get back to my room to change first."

Bella made a move to get up, but Edward pulled her back to his side.

"Not so fast. Stay with me a bit longer."

"Edward, I'm going to be late." Bella groaned feebly as Edward started peppering her face with kisses.

"Just a little while longer? Please?" Edward pouted adorably. Bella naturally gave in, causing her to miss her first class and barely make it in time for her second.

As she ran to her second class, Bella noticed that everyone was staring. They must have read the newspapers then.

Great, just great.

She arrived at the classroom and heaved a sigh of relief when she found that the professor had not arrived yet. She was not relieved for long, however. Jessica and Lauren, two students who had made it a point to antagonise Bella ever since they started this class together, suddenly appeared in front of her as if out of no where.

"Bella! There you are. We have been looking all over for you." Lauren cried out, nasally.

"Um, why?" Bella was confused; they'd never made it a point to speak to her unless it was to insult her on her poor choice of clothing or the fact that she was not a blue-blood like most of the students at the University.

"Well, we just had to know. Is it true that you are dating Prince Edward?" Jessica asked. "Obviously it is just a rumour, I mean, if Prince Edward wanted to date a student, he wouldn't pick you, would he?"

That's more like it. Being nice just didn't suit those two.

"I hate to burst your bubble girls but it's true. Edward and I are dating." Bell said, making a point to call Edward by his first name without the title.

Jessica and Lauren sneered identically.

Those two could be twins.

"Well, we'll just see about that." Lauren muttered. Apparently they didn't believe her. Thankfully, they were done for now as the professor came in and everyone took their seats.

All through the lecture, Bella tried to concentrate as much as possible, but her mind kept going back to the night before and that morning, for that matter. She blushed at the onslaught of memories. Their first night together was simply perfection. It had never been like this with Jacob. She had always felt like he just wanted to get it over with, which had hurt, to say the least. Edward was more tender and loving. He...took care of her. She'd never felt so safe and loved as she felt with him. He was everything she wished for and more. So much so that she was terrified that it was just a dream and at any moment she was going to wake up.

"Miss Swan, are we interrupting you perhaps?" The professor called out.

Bella snapped back to the present. She blushed furiously, "Um, no sir."

She heard Jessica and Lauren snickering behind her.

Bitches.

The lecture was over soon after. Bella collected her things and made her way to the door.

She found Edward standing outside leaning against the wall opposite the door, waiting for her. A huge smile spread across his face when he saw her.

Bella walked over to him, "Hey, what are you doing here?"

He pulled her into his arms, "What, I can't pick my girlfriend up after class?"

Bella chuckled, "No, I'm just surprised."

"I missed you." He shrugged.

"I missed you too. In fact, I almost got kicked out of class because I was too busy thinking about you."

"I can't really blame you. I'm quite a handsome fellow. According to the tabloids anyway." He joked.

"Never thought I'd agree with the tabloids about something."

Edward grinned and leaned in to kiss her. He stopped inches before his lips touched hers and looked around.

Bella frowned and glanced around to see what had distracted him. She found that the hall was absolutely quite as everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare at them in shock. Including Jessica and Lauren whose jaws were nearly reaching the floor.

"Everyone's watching us." Bella whispered.

Edward nodded, "Yes, they are. What do you say we give them something worth watching, eh?"

Edward was grinning mischievously at her, and before Bella knew what was happening, he dipped her back and kissed her. Bella squeaked in surprise but kissed him back immediately.

How Edward managed to turn her insides to mush with one kiss, Bella would never know. She felt that kiss down to the tips of her toes.

They drew back from each other a few seconds later. Too soon for Bella, but she didn't want them to get too carried away with everyone watching.

"I think that's enough for now." Edward whispered.

"Umm-hmm." Bella replied, unable to speak at the moment.

"Come on, let's go. We need to get ready for our night out."

The held hands all the way back to the dorm rooms, leaving the stunned students who had witnessed their passionate display behind.

Bella headed to her room to get ready with Alice.

An hour later a knock sounded at their door. Bella went to open it and found Edward standing outside, with a beautiful red rose in his hand. He looked gorgeous dressed in jeans, a dark blue shirt and blazer. He held the rose out to her.

"A beautiful rose, for a beautiful lady." He winked.

Bella rolled her eyes, "Thank you, kind sir."

"God, could you guys get any cornier?" Alice's voice came from inside the room. She suddenly appeared beside them and pushed her way past Bella. "Come on, let's go. Jasper is waiting for us at the restaurant."

Bella always thought that Alice's exuberance when it came to Jasper was a bit too much, but she had to admit that she felt the same way with Edward. Whenever they weren't together she couldn't wait to see him again.

"Ehm, Bella. Do you have a jacket?" Edward's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"Yes, why? Is it very cold outside?"

"It's always cold outside, but also I don't want every man at that place admiring what's mine."

"Edward, come on. Don't you think you're taking it a bit too far?"

"Bella, if you could see how bloody gorgeous you look in that dress, you wouldn't say that." He stroked her cheek.

Bella blushed. She went back into the room and grabbed the first jacket she found, "Alright, let's go."

Edward drove Bella and Alice to a restaurant called Bella Italia that was supposed to be very upscale. Bella wouldn't know since she'd never been there.

The paparazzi were of course camped outside the restaurant.

"This is crazy, how did they even know we were coming here?" Alice whined from the back seat of Edward's Aston Martin.

"I'm sorry. I should've known this would happen. You guys shouldn't have to put up with this." Edward muttered regretfully.

Bella reached across the seat and grabbed his hand, "It's fine Edward. We wanted a night out away from all this and we're going to have it no matter what."

Edward smiled adoringly at her; He lifted her hand and kissed it.

"Alright, let's do this thing." Alice said, making Edward and Bella laugh.

The got out of the car and Edward went to Bella's side to help her out. Then they turned to face the paparazzi.

They walked to the restaurant hand in hand. They wouldn't let anything come between them. No matter what.

(A/N): Hey there everyone! Thanks so much for the reviews! You're all amazing!

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