CHAPTER TWELVE

EPOV:

Yes!

As childish as it may sound, I'm glad that Jacob found the condom. Bella looks at me, confused, as my grin becomes wider with her words.

"Edward, are you seriously grinning. It's repulsive," she cringes. Maybe she's thinking about herself finding the condom in the dough. I mean, what would I do?

"Sure, yes, you're right. It's utterly disgusting," I tell her, my face betraying my words and my ego growing with satisfaction that proof of Bella's and my exploits have been thrust under Jacob's nose, unbeknownst to him.

Bella still doesn't approve of my attitude towards this. She sighs quietly. "Anyway," there is a little frown line between her eyebrows. I reach out and rub my thumb over it.

"Are you alright?" I ask and the line grows deeper. "Are you mad about the cookie dough?"

I move my thumb away from the now deep V on her forehead and cup her cheek. "No," she says but she shifts her head slightly and avoids my gaze.

I don't believe her. "I'm sorry," I tell her and she huffs, shrugging her shoulders. I let my hand fall from her face.

She shakes her body as if she's trying to rid herself of negative energy. She turns to face me and with a smile she says, "It's fine, it's forgotten." I move closer to her, needing to kiss her. My lips have no destination, but as they near the top of her head she moves quickly. "I need to get dressed," she whispers and disappears through her door.

I stand there, a little shocked. She just avoided my touch. My kiss, never has she avoided my kiss. Perhaps she didn't see me moving.

I move with a raised fist to her door intending to knock, but I let it fall. Space, that's probably what she needs. She's just angry about the cookie dough incident.

I head down stairs, but take a detour to Alice's room instead of the kitchen. I knock twice and wait for Alice to call out, knowing the dangers of walking into a room prematurely.

"How are you holding up this morning?" I ask as I round the bed and sit next to her. She's sitting in the exact same position she was last night, with the seating chart is laid out in front of her. I would question if she had slept at all, but I can tell that she has from the fresh face she has and how calm she now is.

"I'm alright." She leans into me and raises her hand to bite her nail, but I pull it away from her mouth before she has the chance. "Thanks," she looks up at me gratefully.

"What are maids of honour for?" I joke.

"No, really, last night, I..."

"Little A," I warn.

She just rolls her eyes at me. "Jasper is blaming himself, I think," she looks down into her lap. I frown, failing to see the links. "I haven't had a panic attack since I was 19 ... since I met Jazz."

I still don't understand. "Ali, your attacks were caused by the death of your parents."

She looks up at me and blushes a little. Her words then spew out, almost unrecognisable, "Jasper's mother's coming!"

"Huh?"

"His mother and her husband, I don't know them at all. And Jasper hardly knows them, and Charlie, I'm pretty sure he hates them, and you're going to have to talk to Bella. She's not going to handle it well according to Jasper, but he, Jasper seems ok with it. Who doesn't want their mother at their wedding?" she rushes out verging on hysterical. She stops talking and take a deep breath, closing her eyes in the process. Alice takes three more breaths before she sighs and shrugs. "Everything's going to work out just fine, but where am I going to put them!" I shake my head, confused my Alice's sudden return of enthusiasm. She's playing with the seating chart, moving little flags around.

"Why would I have to talk to Bella?"

She smirks, "Of course, that's the detail you pull out."

"What?"

Rolling her eyes she says, "Please Edward, don't deny anything."

I swallow the nerves. "I don't know what you're talking about. We're just friends."

She tilts her head on the side and looks at me curiously. "I thought you two didn't like each other. At all."

Shit!

That is the facade Bella and I are playing. I try to change the subject, "Why should I talk to Bella. Wouldn't Jasper be better? He knows her better after all."

She gives me a look. It was the same look that Bella gave me yesterday during my attack on Black, a look that told me that I did know her better.

"We're not having sex, if that's what you're implying," I bite back.

She looks at me. Her eyes are wide with shock. I can't read her at all. She can read me like a book, whereas I can only read her if she lets me, and right now she's shut me out. "Huh," she says finally, "that's not what I was implying at all."

Shit!

Did I just tell Alice that Bella and I are having sex? I look away from her. "I might go grab some breakfast, are you coming?" I look to her quickly. She's staring at me still.

"I'll be down in a sec." Finally she looks back to her chart.

Relieved, I get up from the bed and head towards my escape exit. "Oh," I pause before leaving. "Tanya called, she's flying in today."

"Yay!" Alice claps and says, "Take Bella with you when you pick her up, they should meet."

Now I'm picking Tanya up? I think as I exit Alice's room. Where am I taking her? Am I bringing her back here? Damn Alice. And I'm supposed to bring Bella? I frown. I'm unsure of how that's going to go. She was a little weird on me this morning.

I head into the kitchen. My father is sitting with his newspaper, a cup of coffee and a cupcake, one from Bella's bakery. My face grows a bit warmer at the recollection of the previous night's encounter.

"Morning Dad."

Carlisle smiles and folds down half of his paper. "Morning kids, any plans for today?" I turn and see Bella in the kitchen. She's frozen on the spot and she turns slowly like she's been caught red handed. Her face is flushed. It looks like she's being trying to avoid my father and was just caught. I stifle my laugh when she glares at me.

"Morning," she says quietly, "I don't have any plans." She turns and resumes what she was doing, only this time she's not trying to hide her movements.

"Tanya's flying in today," I tell Carlisle. "I'm supposed to meet her according to Alice."

"Bring her to dinner," he tells me before going back to reading the paper.

I slowly walk over to Bella, where she's waiting for toast to pop. I wrap one arm around her waist, but she wriggles out of my embrace.

"Your father," she whispers. I want to tell her that the jig is more than likely already up where my father is concerned but she looks quite uncomfortable.

Her toast pops and she begins to butter it. I put some in and ask, "Do you want to come with me, when I pick up Tanya?" Her knife movements falter as she digs a little too deep and leaves a hole in the middle of her bread. I wonder if it was the innuendo in my question.

She seems to ponder the question for a long time. Finally she looks up at me sweetly and says, "Just tell me when and I'll be ready." She leaves the room with her toast.

My eyes follow her out. My toast pops and I grab it and stalk to the table. I collapse into a chair opposite my father.

"Have you told her about Tanya?" Carlisle mumbles into his paper. I stare at him incredulously.

What possibly could I have to tell Bella about in regards to Tanya?

"Son, in my experience with women," he begins, and I cringe and try not to think about my father's exploits with women, "you need to cover all bases, even if you don't think you're in the wrong."

I know it is relationship advice given in a roundabout way. Instead of even trying to understand it I deny whatever he is insinuating. "Bella and I are just friends."

Just after lunch Bella and I leave for Port Angeles airport. She is quiet on the entire ride there. I try to talk to her, but she just shuts me down at every attempt at conversation with one worded answers. I give up at trying and let the radio fill our silence.

When we arrive at the airport Bella is out of the car before I turn it off.

"What's the rush?" I ask as I move to her side. My hand finds her wrist and starts to move towards her hand to hold it in my own.

"I just have to use the bathroom," she tells me and jerks her hand out of mine.

I nod and guide her through the people and into the airport. My hand his hovering just above her lower back. We're out of sync today. No matter how I try to time my steps with hers my hand just cannot seem to reach her. I move my hand, but almost as if she senses it she moves forward suddenly.

"There's the bathroom," she points, "I'll just be a minute." She takes off before I respond and I am left standing there outside the ladies room.

Should I move away from the entrance?

If I do I will lose Bella. I stand awkwardly near the door, fiddling with my phone, trying to ignore the stares of the women exiting the restroom.

I'm startled by Bella's sudden appearance, "Where's the gate?" We make our way there in silence.

Again we wait in silence for the flight to land and for the people to exit the plane.

I see her quickly, her blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders as she quickly makes her way through the crowd. Tanya is tall; long legs, she would say. She has always looked me straight in the eye, six inch heels would have me looking up at her. She looks good, happy. She looks excited, but then she sees me and it grows.

"Oh Edward! It's been so long." She flies into my arms and wraps her arms around my neck tightly, giving me a quick peck on the lips.

I squeeze her tightly, spinning her in a circle, and laughing before setting her on the ground. "Honey, it's only been a couple of days."

Her hands cradle my face, "Two days too long. Alright, let's get my shit and roll," she laughs.

"Hold up T, meet Bella first," I gesture to Bella who is standing beside me looking a little restrained. I try to question her, but she ignores me. "Bella is Jasper's sister." Tanya suddenly wraps her arms around Bella. Bella just stands there. She hesitantly pats Tanya on the back, but makes no move to return the hug.

"I'm so excited to meet you," Tanya pulls back and looks Bella up and down.

I laugh, "Enough of that shit, T." Tanya blushes at being caught. "Come on, let's go get your bags." I wrap an arm around her and reach for Bella's hand, but she doesn't give it to me. Bella just walks stoically, with her arms crossed, beside me.

Tanya talks nonstop on the car ride home; a little about her job, a little about Kate, but mostly about me, spilling some things I wish she wouldn't.

"Edward used to be such a little shit Bella," Tanya rambles. She is turned around in her seat, talking to Bella mostly, ignoring me some, especially when I ask her to not share certain stories.

"... so, not only does he push me into the mud, but he dives in after me and drags me out with the audacity to say that he had saved my life!"

I laugh. This at least is one of the better stories she is telling. "You could have sunken into the earth without me, T."

I can't see her face, but I can tell she has just rolled her eyes. "So the ass," Bella giggles at this and I smile, "then says that we can clean up at his house, saying that Esme won't mind." I can feel Tanya's stink eye on my face. "Not only did she mind, but unknown to me she had had the carpets cleaned the previous day, so while Edward encouraged me to walk across the cream covered carpets and into the bathroom, he stayed firmly put on the hardwood floors.

"I got out of the shower and come face to face with a fuming Esme and a snitch telling his mother that I pushed him in the mud and then rolled around on the freshly cleaned carpets."

I chuckle, "I had to live with her."

Tanya scoffs, "Esme watched me for months anytime I'd come over. I don't know why she'd believe a little terror, like you, over me, the dainty little girl."

I snort, I really cannot help it. "Dainty little girl? T, sometimes you were more man than me."

We're nearing the house now. As I pull into the driveway Tanya turns back around to face the front. With a piece of blonde hair between her fingertips and a suspicious smile on her face she says, "That is true. Remind me later, I've got a tip for you to make you more man, this made me come six ways Sunday..."

"Tanya," I warn. "We're here." I see Esme and Alice come out through the front door, both eager and squealing to see Tanya.

I let them have their moment and go into the house. I am surprised to see my father already home.

"Tanya's out front with mom," I tell him.

He chuckles, "I suppose she'll make it into the house eventually."

I nod. It's still a little bit uncomfortable around my father after what happened with Bella. I look around, but the place is deserted. I'm sure Bella got out of the car.

"Where is everyone," I falter a little on that last word. I just want to know where Bella is.

"Well, Emmett and Jasper are out with Charlie," I wait while he gets up off the couch and turns off the television. I haven't moved, but he is nearing the front door. He pauses before exiting. "Remember what I said son. She rushed upstairs as soon as you got home. Go talk to her."

I watch as he leaves before I bolt up the stairs.

What do I need to talk to her about? What did Carlisle say this morning? I can't remember, but I make it to the third floor in record time, panting slightly.

"Bella?" I tap on her door lightly before entering. She's standing near the window, looking out, I assume.

"Yeah?" she says and turns slowly. She looks sad.

"Are you alright?" I slowly move towards her.

"I'm fine, why?" The deathly silence feels like a construction site. Her walls are building fast and I can see it in her eyes as she closes herself to me.

"Did I do something wrong?"

She shakes her head, "No, you did nothing wrong."

"Will you talk to me, please?"

She frowns, "Why?"

Why? I don't know the answer. Because I need her to? I need her to not shut me out. I need her to talk to me. I need her to tell me what's wrong, to confide in me. I want her to tell me her worries. I want to help her ease them.

I sigh and rub my face with my hands. "Please know that you can talk to me. I want you to know that."

She huffs irritated with this conversation. "What could I have to talk about?"

I tilt my head and look at her. I slowly stalk closer to her and bend my knees so I can look in her eyes. She seems frustrated with me. She does not yet seem broken.

"You don't know, do you?"

She rolls her eyes. "Know what?"

I thought that Jasper would honestly tell Bella, but it seems like it has not yet happened. I'd assumed that Alice was just messing with me when she said I should be the one to tell her. But, I guess not.

"Will you sit down with me, Bella?" I say as I perch myself on the edge of her bed. She hesitates, but sits next to me, but not close to me.

I don't know how to tell her, or which way to approach this. Why am I the one doing this? It should be her brother.

"Do you remember yesterday when Alice had that panic attack?" I start. Bella nods and I take a deep breath before continuing. "Um, well she was worrying about Jasper, and a little about you."

I pause again, "Bella, I don't know how to say this, I don't even think I should be the one to tell you this, but you should know," I'm rambling.

"Edward," she growls with frustration.

I look at her. "Your mother is coming," I blurt out.

I watch her. At the moment she doesn't even looked phased. I expected tears, anger, and hyperventilation.

"Oh." I did not expect an 'oh'.

She stands slowly. "Bella?"

"Huh?" she asks as she walks to the window and looks out again.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes."

I stand, not knowing what to do. I walk up behind her though and touch her gently on the shoulder. "Did you want me to get someone?"

"They're out Edward."

She turns quickly and captures my lips in hers. "Fuck me, Edward."

Her lips move to my neck. She sucks and bites harder than normal. I won't lie, I am turned on, but something is holding me back.

"Bella?" I caution.

"Please, Edward. I need you. I need you to fuck me." Her hands are making quick work of my buttons. She's rushing. She rips the last two buttons off in her haste. Her mouth is all over me, her teeth teasing and taunting my nipple.

I can't deny that I want her too. She can feel my desire for her. She is moving so fast, so quickly. I feel as if I underwater, not able to fully comprehend what is going on. Is this the same woman that has ignored me all day? Her shirt and jeans are gone and my pants are around my ankles.

"Edward," she snaps at me, "am I going to have to make myself come, or what?"

My eyes move down her body to where her fingers are tweaking and tugging on her right nipple. Something inside of me snaps and I pick her up and throw her onto the bed.

I kiss her. Our tongues tangle and our teeth clash as we kiss each other with some unknown urgency. I grope at her with abandon. She's groaning and arching, trying to get herself closer to me. She wraps her legs around my waist pulling our hips together as we grind against each other.

She cries out, as I bite the nipple she had earlier neglected, and arches off the bed and into me.

"More, Edward. Give me more." I rip her lacy underwear off of her body while I struggle out of my own.

I hear the foil rip and Bella's small, warm hands on my cock as she painfully rolls the condom slowly onto me. She pumps her hand over me twice before guiding me to her entrance. I dip my head in slowly and then out again. She groans in frustration, so I fill her swiftly and she cries out in pleasure, and surprise.

We fuck.

Bella's fingernails claw at my back as my hips slam into her. We don't kiss, rather opting to watch each other. I don't dare move my eyes from hers as I thrust repeatedly into her. She wraps her legs around me even tighter. I feel her feet lock as she pushes me in deeper and deeper. Her pouty lips make a little 'o' as I hit that spot that I've claimed as mine. It's mine. No one should be allowed there but me.

Her eyelids flutter, but she fights them, not allowing them to close, always meeting my eye contact.

I am getting closer. I grab a hold of the iron bed head above me. I push into her again and again. I need her to come with me, for I cannot until she has.

I cup her cheek with my free hand, brushing her hair away from her face, letting my full body weight rest upon her small form for a moment. I move away to support myself again.

She's close. Her walls are hugging me now. I feel her hand on the bed head and I link my fingers through hers. I look into her eyes and we don't blink again until we both fall; Bella with a soft gasp and me with a small grunt, both of us closing our eyes as we revel in the moment.

I have collapsed on her, my sweaty skin tainting her soft body. My eyes flutter open to find her staring at me. She gives me a soft smile before closing her eyes again.

I relax into her, burying my face into her neck, and my arms holding her close to me. I feel a bit confused. I don't know what we just did.

I am beginning to snooze a little. My body is still covering Bella's. We're sharing the same pillow, and my face is buried into her hair. I take a deep breath of the intoxicating fragrance. Strawberry, mixed with a little vanilla and maybe also cake batter thrown into the mix, although I may be imagining the batter.

I am too tired to move, even though I know I should. Bella doesn't seem to have any qualms about our current cosiness.

"Am I squishing you?" I mumble into the pillow.

I feel her shake her head and croak out a quiet, "no." I roll over anyway, bringing her with me so she now lies atop my body. I know I shouldn't but I wrap my arms around her tiny frame. I know we're too close and I know that we stated that we would not sleep together, but we are. Or at least I hope we will. Dinner is soon, twenty minutes would hurt, right?

Bella shifts slightly, but I'm tired and I just want to hold her tight to me. So I do, but slowly I begin to realise that she is trying to shift away from me, and that my shoulder is wet.

"Bella?"

"Mm?" she murmurs, her voice sounding strangled.

"Are you crying?"

"No," she croaks. I roll back over, so we now lay side to side. She tries to roll over so her back is to me, but I stop her. "Edward," her voice is tiny, but she sobs my name nonetheless.

Her eyes are closed and she looks hurt. "Did I hurt you? Are you ok, Bella? Please," I beg, "open your eyes, beautiful."

She crinkles her nose at the endearment and doesn't open her eyes. She swallows, trying to hold in her tears.

"Bella, why are you crying?" I ask desperately.

"It's nothing, I'm just being stupid." She rolls over.

"Will you tell me about it?"

"No."

"Should I leave?"

"Yes."

I stare at her silky back. I reach out to touch her shoulder blade, but she flinches away as soon as my fingers make contact. I am at a loss. I decide to obey her wishes and so I roll out of her bed. I'm not exactly graceful, so my movements jostle her. My boxers are at my feet. I pull them up my legs.

"Bella?" I try one last time.

"Just leave, Edward!" she says harshly, her voice strong, yet weak at the same time.

It is too dark to find all my clothes, so I head to the connecting bathroom door. I open it and light floods the room.

I cannot leave though. Bella lets out a strangled sob, it is muffled by her pillow, I am not supposed to hear it, but I do. I turn and walk about to her side of the bed.

"I told you to leave, leave Edward!" she cries and fights my comforting hand. "I will not be a home wrecker, Edward. I will not, I cannot!"

"Shit Bella," she's slapping away every hand I place on her. I need to hug her, not only for myself, but for her also. "Stop fucking fighting," I sound like an asshole. I proceed to be one by diving onto the bed and gathering her in my arms. I roll onto my back and cradle her against my body. She still fights.

When she loses her fight I rock her back and forth, shushing her as well. Her tears suddenly stop. She's calm, but also frozen. I still and look down at her. "You are not a home wrecker, Bella. Why do you think that?"

"Tanya," she mumbles. Her lips continue to move, but I cannot distinguish any words. I just watch her as she is overwhelmed with a looks of complete self disgust. It hurts me a little.

"What the hell would Tanya have to do with us?" She cringes at my harsh tone.

"She's your girlfriend, isn't she?" I try to search out her face, but I can't because it's buried in my chest.

"Sit up Bella, I need to see you." She obliges, but she wraps the bed sheet around herself in an act of self preservation. I don't know why she is trying to hide from me. Her head is hung and her hair curtains her face. "Bella," I tilt her face up with my fingertips so I can look into her eyes. "Tanya is not my girlfriend," I tell her firmly.

She looks crushed. I watch my beautiful, broken girl as she tries to believe what I just said. It hurts that she doesn't believe me. "Was she your girlfriend?"

I cringe. This part of my past isn't something I'm ready to share with just anyone. But this is Bella, and right now I would say anything to get her to smile again. "She was my girlfriend, a long time ago, but I can assure you that we will never be like that again."

She dropped her eyes and twists her fingers in the bed sheet. "How can you say that Edward? People say that they will stay away, but they never do." She's mumbling, "I saw you with her this afternoon. Don't lie to me, please."

I let her words soak into my brain and wonder where my strong and confident Bella has disappeared to. I know she is still there, I can see her in her jealousy, even though she denies it. But is her weakness because of her mother? I know I shouldn't have just blurted it out like I did.

"Bella, I will never date Tanya again. She loves her girlfriend way more than she ever loved me." I smirk a little as I watch Bella freeze. Her fingers stop twisting the sheet and I even hear the quick intake of her breath.

"Huh," she says and I wait for more. She does look up at me before she finally speaks. "Excuse me for a minute." And with that she gets up off the bed and walks slowly into the bathroom. She closes the door behind her and I wait.

Did that go well or horribly wrong?

I cannot wait any longer before I get up off the bed and cross to the bathroom door. I turn the handle without considering giving her privacy.

I'm a little shocked by what I see. I chuckle at first, before I laugh. Bella turns red as she spins around and sees me watching her naked form. I am gasping for breath, but I manage to choke out, "Bella, were you dancing?"

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