A/N:
Yesssssss! Another chapter! I thought I'd have this out quicker, but some weekend issues and a Bears' loss interrupted good intentions. Alas, the road to hell…
Huggles and smoochies to my Pufferfish beta, HammerHips – yeah, she's finally letting me call her the "b" word – for catching my überfail tense issue, and the poking and prodding to get this thing done. Me likey her pokes.
I'd like to send a special thanks to LadyTazz for rec'ing me over at the Jasper'sNaughtyGirls blog, to the gals over at TheEvilTwins blog and Shirley007 for their awesome review of all of my fics, and to the gals over at the WordyBitches blog for asking me to join their special brand of fuckery. From what I've seen so far, I think we're all gonna gel quite nicely. *grins*
Oh, and a special shoutout to a special someone who inspired a moment in this chapter. He knows who he is.
And that's enough from me…enjoy. *smirks*
Chapter 6
The stretching of my arms under my pillow woke me, a searing pain from the armpits down through my biceps. I rolled over and it was even more painful, as all my muscles flexed and subsequently screamed in protest.
"F-fuck." I opened my eyes when I realized I wasn't in my own bed, and that Edward should've been next to me. I tried to see around the dim room, but there was no clock, hardly any light, and no Edward. For some reason my head was spinning and I remembered the bathroom, the bathroom floor, and how lovely I must have looked sprawled out buck naked when Edward walked in and found me. I laid my head back down on the pillow, closing my eyes again, feeling strange.
I wonder if I'm getting sick? I never get sick. Bad sushi?
Or…
Maybe Edward had taken me to fuckfinity and beyond.
I couldn't help but grin a little at that thought.
"Bella?" I poked my head up at the sound of Edward's voice and instantly felt a stabbing pain in my right temple.
"Yeah." I breathed out, bringing my fingers up to rub away the pain.
In walked Edward wearing just navy pajama bottoms, with something that looked like a tray loaded with breakfast in bed. I tried not to focus on his chest, nor my fingertips that were itching to touch it. "What the fuck is that? You cooked?" I asked as endearingly as I could.
"Good morning to you, too. And yes, I can cook, Bella. Breakfast is the easiest. I cooked on the boat, remember?" He set the tray down on the bedside table, and sat next to me.
"Feeling any better?" He put the back of his hand to my forehead, as if he was my father taking my temperature.
"Yeah, no. What the hell did you do to me last night?" I moaned, my eyes closing again. He didn't respond, but his fingers were around my wrist, so I sat still. Moving wasn't a really good option anyway.
"Can you eat something?" He finally asked with something that sounded like concern.
"I don't know. I don't really want to, but what did you bring me, Emeril?"
"I think you should just start with the toast."
"Coffee?"
"Yes, there's coffee."
I opened my eyes and slid up into a sitting position bringing the covers with me, Edward's hand suddenly running over the sheet on my thigh. "Then, gimme." I managed to croak out as the room spun, my body protested, my head throbbed, and I tried to hide it all from Edward. He reached over for the tray, putting it on my legs – scrambled eggs, sausage links, Greek toast with butter. But, it was the smell of the eggs and sausage that sent my stomach into spins.
"Ugh, please. Get it away. Get it away." I waved my hand and Edward immediately grabbed the tray, taking it across the room, returning to my side with just a piece of toast, looking just this side of afraid.
"I'm sorry, it's just…just give me the toast for now. And the coffee. Please." I'd caught the stomach flu a couple of years ago, and hoped this wasn't it. I didn't leave the bathroom for days then, and I had absolutely NO intention of being stuck with Edward, at his place, with the goddamn stomach flu.
His hand reached out with the toast as if to feed me, so I opened my mouth and took the smallest bite, chewed, swallowed, and waited.
"Ok?"
"I think so." He brought the toast back up to my mouth. I took a bite obediently, not because I wanted to submit, but because I didn't have the strength to fight him.
"You don't have to feed me, Edward." It was more of a moan than a statement.
"It's the least I can do. You're in my house, in my exclusive bed, and last night…well, last night was incredible." With that, the corners of his lips turned into an all-knowing shitgrin, and despite my considerable lack of energy still made my inner thighs tingle.
"You should have water though, instead of coffee." He handed me the toast and went out the door. As I made work of the toast, my head started to swim again, a feeling building in the back of my throat…
Shit!
I threw my legs over the edge of bed, every muscle in my body firing in pain, and as I went to stand, my legs gave out and I landed hard on my hands on knees.
Anything and everything in my stomach spewed from me like a geyser, the sound of Edward's feet running over floor only adding to the humiliation of my retching.
"It's ok, Bella." He whispered, as his hands lifted my hair. One held it back, and the other softly caressed my back.
"I-I'm sorry." I managed to get out, my body still convulsing. Until my arms start to buckle, and just as quickly Edward's arm went around me to keep me from hitting the floor. Gathering me up in his arms, he made quick work to the bathroom, and had me in front of the toilet before I could even tell him to put me down.
"S-sorry about the rug." I mumbled, my head over the toilet, Edward's one hand once again holding my hair, the other just under my tits making sure I didn't take a header into the bowl.
"Rugs can be replaced, Bella. Just relax." His voice was soft, comforting, unlike it had been for days, and once again my head whirled, but not because of my stomach. Here I was, completely helpless again, in the arms of Edward Cullen.
But this feeling, the feeling making my head spin, was at odds with everything I'd ever known, everything I'd ever believed about myself.
I was thankful.
Thankful he was holding me and my hair. Thankful, that at this moment of barfing my guts onto his rug and feeling like shit, he was here.
I almost threw up again.
We sat for what seemed like hours, my ass in his lap, but it was more like minutes, until Edward picked me up and brought me in the shower. Resting me on a small bench, he leaned me back onto his thighs, washing my hair, and then my body. Even though I just wanted to drop, I couldn't help but enjoy Edward's fingers, and as shitty as I felt, I smiled thinking just how talented they actually were. He handed me a toothbrush with toothpaste, and I thanked him again in my head, as a cup nudged my hand to catch some water and rinse.
Bringing me out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around my head, another around me, and brought me down the hall to another room. One filled with light, ice blues, and browns, dark woods, but I couldn't see much of anything else as he laid me down on huge king size bed. I rolled on my side, my towel still around me, and my hair wet under the other one, watching Edward move about the room, throwing on boxer briefs, jeans, and a black t-shirt, one that looked similar to the one he'd been wearing at the club, after…
Suddenly, his hand was brushing my arm, "Bella?" a hairdryer in his hand. "Let me dry your hair, then you can sleep." I must've closed my eyes, or fallen asleep or something. He plugged the hairdryer into an outlet next to the bed, lifting me forward and he sat behind me and rested me against him again, but I was able to sit forward a little on my own, as the heat from the hairdryer, and his fingers ran through my hair to smooth it. When he finished, he slid partly off the bed, his arms helping me lay back down.
"Bella, you need to try and keep down some water. Do you think you can stay awake until I get back?" His joking smile didn't reach his eyes, and I could tell he was worried.
"Yeah, I'm feeling better already." I totally lied.
"I'll be right back." And he was, sprinting back in with a full 8 oz glass of water, and sitting down next to me once again, holding it to my lips.
"Edward, I can…" reaching for the glass.
"The last thing I want to do is sleep in a wet bed with you, Bella." He said, jerking the glass from me, as I quirked an eyebrow at him. "One wet from an entire glass of water spilling on it."
"Alright, alright." I said before drinking his damn water.
"Now, I've put a garbage can here, just in case. I need to go check on a few things, and then I'll come back. Try to rest, ok?" His hand wafted over my forehead again, as I laid back and he put the glass on the nightstand. "You feel a little warm to me, but not by much. I'll bring a thermometer next time."
"Why are you doing this, Edward?"
"Why?" As he stood, he shook his head slightly, not even turning back to look at me. "Seriously, Bella," and he kept walking through the door closing it behind him.
If I wasn't feeling like shit, or weaker than all get out, I would've thrown the nearest object at the door. As it was, I closed my eyes, curling up into a ball, letting sleep take me away.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Do you know what I do to my horses when they don't obey, Bella?"
Air, I needed air…
"Well, naturally, they have to be taught a lesson."
My head shot up off the pillow, my eyes opening, my lungs sucking, realizing I had been having another nightmare about Assper. As the realization set in, so did a throb in my head and I plopped it back onto the pillow.
"I can't watch her 24/7 in the office. I can hardly be near her so as to not give any more fodder to the gossip hounds. She's in a precarious enough position as it is."
Who's Edward talking to? My eyes opened again.
"Bella can handle herself, Ed. She was doing it long before you came to town."
"That was before a suspected murderer was after her."
Wait. What? Did he just say…and who was that with Edward. It was…
I rolled over to see what time it was – 2:00 p.m. Shit, I'd slept nearly half the day away.
"I'm going to put you in that cube right outside her office. We're going to tell everyone you're a temp, working for her. No one knows who you are, and she'll go along with it. She doesn't have a choice."
Cube? Temp? Go along with what? Who the hell was Edward talking to? I slid my legs out from under the covers, remembering that I had nothing on, the corner of my mouth turning up as I noticed Edward had left a deep burgundy silk robe with matching underwear on a chair. I presumed it was for me, and stood up slowly to walk over to it. The legs were a little shaky at first, but I held the bedside table for support for just the first few steps, and then I felt…relatively normal. At least I didn't feel like puking my guts out. A bottle of Evian was now on the table, and before I could even think the phrase how could he have known, I took the bottle, twisted off the cap, drinking just a little, and thought, I wonder what there is he doesn't know about me. I wasn't sure if I liked that thought or not.
That would, however, be an argument, rather a discussion, for another time.
After carefully putting on the clothes that Edward set out, I tottered over to the door, slowly opening it, peeking out. Edward immediately spotted me from his perch on one of the bar stools.
"Bella…" He shot up off the stool, but I walked out, holding up my palm, letting him know I was fully capable. It was at this point I got a good view of Emmett, who bounded off the chair and was now in front of me, reaching for my arm. Right. Emmett, Edward, brothers. Brain was processing slowly, but processing nonetheless.
"Old habits, Em?" I laughed.
"No, I'm just quicker on my feet, than Eddie."
Shaking his head, Edward downed the rest of something caramel colored in a glass, as Emmett led me around the couch.
"You can stow the cape for a while, Flash. I see you met my first bodyguard." I smiled to Edward as Emmett led me to the chair he had been in and I sat down curling my feet under me.
"It does look good on her, bro." Emmett said, smiling at me as he sprawled across Edward's leather sofa.
"Shoes, brother dearest." Edward's indication of his disdain for Emmett's shoes on his pristine calfskin made me snort. Emmett complied haughtily by kicking them off in the direction of Edward, but only getting as far as the middle of the room.
"You two are brothers?" I shook my head at the obvious differences.
"Amazing it was the same womb, isn't it?" Edward replied, going around the bar to fix another something for himself. "One more, Em?"
"Yeah, just one, then I gotta hit the road. Gotta get ready for my big day Monday."
You could feel the anticipation in the air as Emmett looked at Edward, and then both of them turned to me.
"What, got a hot date or something? Should I go back into the other room so Edward can give you pointers?" I challenged.
"Pointers?" Emmett's booming laugh rang out as he smacked the top of his thigh. "Hardly."
"Bella, Emmett is going to be undercover at the office…to keep an eye on you when I can't."
"Whhaaat?" My legs jettisoned out from under me, my robe parting just enough to give Emmett a nice eyeful, not like he hadn't seen it before. Except the movement was too fast, too much, and I fell back into the chair before I had enough time to fight.
"Bella." Edward started to come to me, as Emmett's feet swung off the couch to leap small buildings.
I held up my hand again, resting my head back, closing my eyes, willing the dizziness away. "I'm alright. Just give me a sec." The sigh I let out told them both what my mood was slowing turning into. "Edward, I don't need another bodyguard, I already have you for fuck's sake."
I heard ice clink, a pregnant pause, and the inhale of frustration that only Edward could omit. I didn't even have to open my eyes.
"Tough." He finally sputtered through million-dollar teeth that were crunching on ice, a rather tell-tale vision if I thought about it. I wasn't going to win this battle. I already knew it, and it pissed me off even more thinking he was taking advantage of my weakness - of being sick - to get me to bend to his will. Which, of course, had the opposite effect, and only made me want to fight more.
"Bro, when you two just going to come out?" Emmett and timing, it was a thing to behold.
Aaaand the final straw. "Come out? Come outta where, Emmett?" I sat up straight, clutching the armrests on either side of me for support. "What do think this is, a cotillion?" I stood on my feet, every bone in my body screaming for a quick exit, every muscle crying out sit your ass back down, girl. "A closet?"
Big mistake. Huge.
Emmett on the couch became three Emmetts on three couches, my foot going forward to stop the swaying of the floor underneath me, a glass shattering off in the distance, my body pitching forward.
Hands around my waist.
Fade to black.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Bella?" Fingers lightly touching my cheek, and then smoothing over my forehead through my hair.
Where the fuck? I opened my eyes to see Edward's face above mine.
"Hey," he whispered. "Welcome back." Blinking a few times to gain focus, my eyes then darted around, and I recognized Edward's bedroom.
"What? Did I…pass out?" Again with the firsts these past few weeks.
"Yes, you did. I was able to get to you before hit the floor. Lucky for you too, since you most likely would've missed anything soft and landed on the hardwood." He turned from me reaching for something. "Here. Drink."
I would remember the ordering for that later discussion, but did as he asked as he held a glass of water to my lips.
"Slowly." His bedside manner needed some work, but I did, sipping as I could. "If you're not better by tomorrow, I'm taking you to the doctor."
Oh, hell no.
"Listen, Flash, while I appreciate this whole physician thing you got going on here, I'll be fine. No doctors." I said between sips.
"Why must you be such a stubborn bitch?" This time his grin reached his eyes. Those emerald beacons that went straight to the back of my head, down through my body like a laser.
"Probably because your overprotective, domineering ass brings it out in me." I smiled back at him as sweetly as ever.
"Domineering?" With that his grin faded, the green of his eyes growing darker, as if his thoughts went elsewhere. I knew exactly where they went, and my legs shifted in response.
"You haven't seen domineering, Love." With that he stood up, putting the glass on the table.
What did he just say?
He had said the…he had called me…Love. Anxiety was a mere cake walk compared to the sheer panic that was rushing around inside me.
Don't be stupid, Bella. It's just a nickname, a term of endearment, a…
A term of endearment. Ok, so my heart might've fluttered. I wasn't sure. I never felt my heart flutter before.
"Do me a favor and stay out of trouble in here for awhile. I'm going to go order you some chicken soup for the broth."
Hmmm, would he feed me again? And why was even remotely excited about that?
"Where's Emmett?" With that, the bedroom door opened a crack, Emmett's smiling face peeking through. "Right here, Your Majesty." His playful smile did nothing to keep me from seeing Edward's head whip back, the smile fading slightly. "I mean, Bella."
I wanted to chuckle, laugh really, because it was obvious to me that something had transpired between the two of them about what Emmett called me at the club. So Edward didn't want Emmett calling me Your Majesty anymore. Interesting…
"Are you leaving?" I rolled my head to the side to see him better.
"Yeah. I'll come by tomorrow again to check on ya, and make sure Eddie hasn't killed you with his bare hands." But as Emmett said the word killed, Edward visibly stiffened, his eyes going from Emmett's to mine.
"I'll do my best to not provoke the monster." I held up three fingers just like in Girl Scouts. "Scouts honor." It was a poor attempt to lighten the atmosphere, but Emmett merely nodded, backing out the door.
"I'll be back." Edward said to me and then followed Emmett out the door, closing it behind him. Nancy Drew had nothing on my ass at that moment. It was obvious both Edward and Emmett knew more about something than either one was letting on to me.
"That was before a suspected murderer was after her."
Edward's voice in my head repeated the words I hadn't put much stock in earlier, and I started to put two-and-two together myself. Was Assper a killer? Had he already…How had he even been hired by our company? No, Edward had said suspected. That would explain some things, but not all. Like how did Edward know that, if he wasn't convicted? Had he been on trial for something? Where? When?
How does Edward know anything? He got all the dirt on you, didn't he?
Fuck me, my head started to hurt, and I rolled tucking my knees up again in a ball. What the hell had I gotten mixed up in? Jasper and I…we had been fucking for a year and half. I knew he was…just this side of crazy and it's what made messing with him, fucking him, such a rush. That and that sexy-ass southern drawl he worked so well. But in all my manipulation, all of my wildest rides, had it been something else? Had he been manipulating…me?
Had I been fucking the devil himself, the devil rode up from Texas, all this time?
I curled my knees up further, not even remotely wanting to think about that, closing my eyes, waiting for Edward to return, when all of a sudden three little words went through my head, forcing my eyes to open.
I need you.
In my head…was where they were going to stay.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Something made me open my eyes. It was Edward's voice on the phone.
"He has to be somewhere close. He didn't have a chance to skip the country, we had that covered. He's hiding, with someone."
A slight pause.
"Keep me informed." More silence and I knew the conversation was over.
Rolling over on my side, I glanced at the clock. 7:00 p.m. Shit, I'd never sleep tonight. At least my head wasn't spinning anymore, I confirmed as I tore the covers back, and sat up slowly just to test the waters. Ok, yeah, I was definitely feeling better. Planting my feet firmly on the floor, I grabbed the robe off the chair where Edward must have put it because I sure as hell didn't, and tread lightly over to the door. Cracking it just a bit, I didn't see Edward, so I made my way out into the hall.
"Bella, s'that you?"
"No, it's the Gargantupuke, come to ruin more of your house." I smiled, stopping in the threshold of his kitchen door.
"Feeling better, I take it." He was doing something at the counter, so I walked up next to him, leaning on it with my elbow. It looked like soup, and he was straining all of the good stuff for just the liquid into a bowl.
'I take it that's for me?"
"If you think you're ready for it. Here." He moved it over to the bar, and I plopped my ass on one of the side stools.
I swiped the spoon from his hand just as he got close. "I can do it." He smiled at me and turned back to the counter to clean up.
The first sip was admittedly a slow one, and I waited a good five minutes before attempting another. Edward tried his best not to hover, and I knew this simply because he hand-washed whatever he had been using, rather than putting it in the dishwasher, then walked behind me to the bar, presumably to get a drink. I didn't turn, I just took sip after sip of the broth, and as it seemed to stay down, I knew the worst was over.
As I finished the last drop, I felt his arms come around my waist and a kiss in my hair. "Well?"
I hesitated a moment, feeling like if I moved, I'd kick-off another dizzy spell, so I rested my arms on the top of the counter and waited.
Nothing.
Progress.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Edward sat at a desk in the corner of the condo nearest the bank of windows that included his view of lake. The soup I'd eaten earlier had stayed down, so now I was firmly ensconced on the couch, an unnecessarily blanket that Edward had put there around my legs, with him typing away on his laptop. I pretended to watch TV, flipping the stations for anything remotely interesting. I hardly ever watched TV, but noticed that Edward had a shit-ton of movie stations, and as luck would have it, Pretty Woman was on.
How fucking fortuitous.
I conveniently didn't mention it was a favorite of mine.
Knowing the movie nearly line-by-line by heart, I watched Edward instead out of the corner of my eye: the stern line of his brow, the way his tongue would play over his lip when he was concentrating, or his fingers would run through his hair occasionally when he was frustrated with something. I so wanted to play some poker with him, only because he was classic study in tells, and I'd whip his ass.
Until he looked up at me and busted me for staring. "What?" He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, a slow grin working its way up from the corners of his mouth.
"Nothing."
He cocked his head, studying me for a moment, until all of sudden his laptop closed, papers were stashed in files, and he was striding over to me, glancing at the TV as he passed it.
I started to sit up. "No, here," he said as he moved behind me and then brought me back to lay against him in his lap. "And what's this we're watching?"
"We're?" I parried.
"Yes, we're." He answered, running his fingers softly over my forehead and through my hair.
"Pretty Woman. Ever seen it?"
"No."
"You should. I find the similarities between you and Edward Louis vastly entertaining."
"Edward Louis?" I pointed to the screen and to Richard Gere.
"Hmmm. Julia Roberts. Ok, I could possibly see the entertainment value here."
"Whatever."
It wasn't long before I felt myself being lifted, and I opened my eyes as Edward maneuvered himself out from under me, his arms sliding under me to haul me up off the couch.
"Time for bed, Gargantupuke." He smiled, pulling me close and kissing the side of my head. I knew I was just this side of awake, but I couldn't help but bring my arms up around his neck as we walked back to his bedroom. Laying me down on the bed, I watched as he stripped down to nothing, noticing he was semi-aroused, I cocked an eyebrow.
"Yeah champ, while my mind is saying otherwise, my body is not going-"
"Roll on your side." He said as he walked up to the bed, undoing my bra and sliding the strap down one arm, and then the other as I rolled back on my back. As soon as it was gone, he slid his fingertips into the edge of my panties.
"Lift," all he needed to say, as I hoisted my ass in the air for him to bring them down my thighs and off my ankles, depositing both in a hamper in the corner of the room.
Something about Commander Edward struck a chord directly between my legs. I would've been lying if I said I didn't enjoy watching him strut around the room completely naked, not to mention being coddled all day.
Was I going soft?
As the phrase appeared in my head I momentarily glanced at Edward's dick, which hadn't. It made me think of the first time at Heaven, not knowing what was under the mask but appreciating everything that wasn't. I was still staring when he crawled in the other side, gathering the covers around us both.
"Keep admiring me like that and I won't think twice about taking you right now in your moment of weakness." I laughed out loud, knowing full well he was joking, and settled in next to him, laying my head on his chest. His fingers caressing my back the last thing I felt.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"What are you doing?" Edward asked from his little corner of the room.
What I was doing is what I had been doing for the past two hours. Edward had once again let me sleep in, getting up well before me to shower and work before I even knew he was gone. I'd crept into the shower myself, finding another days supply of clothes, this time considerably more appropriate for guests and consisting of my own khaki shorts and white gathered-neck tee. Emmett must have gone on a reconnaissance mission to my place finally, getting some clothes for me. Breakfast had consisted of toast and tea, the tea being something I never drank. But both were still in me and I was once again comfortably in my corner of the couch, my laptop humming, and at an angle where I could once again slyly watch my captor.
"Shopping. Online." I answered not looking up at him.
"For what?"
"A dress, for the awards dinner. I just realized I can't wear what I bought for it."
Why not?" I couldn't help but glance up at him, and as I did I raised my hand and pointed at my back from over my shoulder. "Yeah, not showing the scars that soon."
"Shit." The papers in his hand dropped on the desk. "Bella, I didn't…" He was across the room, in seconds, sitting next to me on the couch, kissing the side of my head as his arm went around my shoulders. "Forgive me. I'm an ass."
"No, you were just asking me…well yeah, you were, but I forgive you." I leaned my head back on his arm. "I just need to find something in a week that has some form of back to it that doesn't make me look forty."
"Ok. You know, we could always go in costume. You and I. Could be an interesting coming out party for us."
"Hell no. I'd like to go in something a little bit more elegant than a corset-wearing beer slinging…"
"But I rather like you in corsets." He lips were on my neck, his tongue playfully licking.
"Are you suggesting I wear…my mask and one of my corsets from the club?" I kept the corners of my mouth still, even though I wanted to giggle.
"Mmmm. Could be quite educational for some of them, especially Russell in Accounting."
With that I lost it, unable to control my laughter, and Edward busting right along with me.
"I'll make some calls, Emmett can help with that."
"Edward, I don't even want to know how you might have possible connections in this city for evening dresses."
His grin set off a sparkle in his eye. It wasn't so much to throw it in my face, but almost a challenge. I leaned forward, putting my laptop on the coffee table, and then turned into him, running my hand playfully over his navy t-shirt.
"Eddie, I could give a flying fuck about your past. Really." I said, sliding my leg over his to straddle him, my hands on either shoulder. "I care about now." I kissed the side of his neck. "I care about tomorrow." I softly ran my lips up to bite and suck his earlobe. "I might even care about next week." I ran my tongue through the hollow between his cheekbone and jaw on the way to his lips. I sucked his bottom lip into my mouth, touching it with my tongue, and then letting it go, to look in his eyes. There was something strange in them. They were intent, and questioning, and…worried?
"I care…
"God, Bella, shut up." His hand was suddenly behind my neck, the other on my ass pulling me to him, as his mouth found mine. I so wanted to fuck him, I so wanted him to fuck me, my hand reaching down palm his cock, my cock. Until his hand came down over mine, and pulled it away.
"What?" Leaving his lips to speak was difficult. Him removing my hand was downright painful.
"You're still recovering, and what I want to do to you will require you to be in top form." He attempted to grin away what I was sure the snarl I was giving him.
"Fine. Then take me home. I need to…go back to my place for awhile."
"Absolutely not. Bella, do you understand that there is someone out there who wants…who wants to harm you?"
"Yes, Edward, I do. I just need…" I slid off his lap and started to walk over to the windows, "I need my place, my things, some…familiarity. Staying with you makes me feel…helpless. I don't like that feeling." As I said it, I felt his arms come around my waist.
"Tell you what, we'll go get some of your things for the next few days, so you can stay here with me." His hands pressed my hips to turn me to him. "You cannot stay there alone, not while he's out there. I won't allow it." He kissed my forehead to emphasize the point, but I bristled at the statement.
"Edward, you aren't my…" I almost said husband.
"No, but I'm your boss."
"Only in the boardroom, ego man." Damn if this whole commander thing he had going on wasn't growing on me. "Give me a raise, and I'll let you stay at my place with me?" I glanced up at him, giving him a genuinely seductive smile.
"That's a compromise I can live with." He said, pulling me to him.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
It had only taken Edward a few minutes to get his things and mine together and we were in his car driving to my place. But Edward's silence and the short drive gave me just enough time to think about what was going down, what was actually happening, and for my anxiousness to build.
Edward was going to stay with me.
At my place.
I never allowed men to stay longer than the night.
Edward had packed for at least three nights, the three suits in a garment bag just over my right shoulder hard and fast proof of that intent.
We parked and rode the elevator in even more silence. I wasn't sure if it was because Edward was rethinking his decision, or he thought I was rethinking mine. Frankly, I would've bet on both if anyone had asked.
I took my keys out of my purse and went to open the door, when Edward's hand came over mine. "It's going to be ok, you know. I made a promise to you, and I intend on keeping it, even if I have to sleep in your bathtub."
Ok, so I didn't see that coming.
I turned the key in the lock, looking up at him briefly and just nodded, not knowing what to say.
Until I opened the door.
Feathers. Big white feathers strewn down the hall as far as I could see.
"Bella, stay here." Edward went through the door and into the hall in stealth mode.
The fuck if I'm staying here. This is my home.
So, I walked in a few steps behind him, as he cautiously made his way toward the living room, pulling a gun out of the back of his shorts.
Edward pulled a gun out of his shorts.
Where did he? When did he?
I followed him as he went into the living room. More feathers. All over the floor, all over my furniture.
"What the fuck!" I finally said out loud, and turned to go into my bedroom. My sanctuary. Not waiting for Edward, I walked through the door.
"Bella, no!"
But my gasp that was almost a scream let him know it was too late. There was blood, lots of blood, splattered on the carpet leading to my bed. But in the middle of it, amidst more blood, was a headless bird.
A swan.
A/N:
Ooooooh! A cliffie! *ducks and hides*
As always, would love to know what you thought. Thanks for reading.