New story…I'm just teeming with ideas. LOL. Anyhow, I'm just going with this story off the cuff to see where it goes in the first chapter. If it's good, I'll continue it. If not, we'll have to see. I'm delving back into the realm of vampires. But, Bella's the vamp this time. Without further ado…
Chapter Three
"Edward, I'm going to get the basket and pay the cabbie," I said, barely maintaining my control. "It looks like we're going to be here for awhile."
"Are you okay?" Edward asked as he stared at me. I was itching to get out of the apartment, desperate for some fresh, untainted air. I nodded and gestured to the cab. Edward handed me his keys and some money. I could have paid for the cab but Edward was insisting on being a gentleman. My mind was too clouded with blood for me to argue. I headed out to the street and breathed deeply as I exited the building. The scents of diesel, garbage and pollution were a welcome change from the tempting blood up in Emmett's apartment.
I walked to the cab and paid the driver as I picked up the basket. He pulled away and I sat down on the stoop. I opened my mind, trying to search for Emmett's mind. I got nothing. I heard nothing from him but he could be out of my range. I had only caught a few glimpses into his brain the night before last. It wasn't really enough for me to catch his mental 'scent.'
"Bella?" Edward murmured as he sat down next to me. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm worried about Emmett," I answered. "What if something happened to him?"
"Emmett is too big to have anything happen to him," Edward joked but his smile didn't reach his eyes. In his mind, he could imagine Emmett being killed or gravely injured. Briefly, Victoria flashed in his mind as being connected to Emmett's disappearance. But he shook it off. "The cops will be here in a few minutes. We can leave after that."
"Are you going to call Ruth?" I asked.
"Once I've talked to the police," he sighed.
"Other than the destruction in the living room, did you see anything out of place?"
"His bedroom was destroyed and there was, um, blood spattered on the floor," he said sadly. "He put up a fight."
"I'm so sorry," I whispered. This is my fault. All my fault. If I hadn't stepped in, Emmett and Edward would be living their lives and not be in danger. I'm such a fuck up. I need to leave. I can't get attached.
"Bella, I see it on your face. You're blaming yourself," Edward soothed as he wrapped his arm around my waist. "Why?"
"I don't know," I lied. Because I'm a vampire and my interest in you and your friend got him killed. "He's your friend and now he's gone. I want to do something to help."
"Just being here with me is all that I need, Bella," he said as he kissed my temple. His velvety soft lips felt divine against my skin and I wanted to feel them all over my body. Edward growled lowly as he moved his mouth from my temple to my ear. Just like I had envisioned. Crap! I'm sending him my thoughts. I slammed my mental block down and pulled away. He pouted adorably. "Why are you moving away?"
"Cops," I said as I saw the flashing lights heading our direction. Saved by the bell…Or sirens, I guess. Edward stood up and looked down the street. Two squad cars parked in front of Emmett's apartment and we headed upstairs. Knowing that there was blood in there, I walked in with my breath held. I didn't breathe for the entire time that the cops were taking Edward's statement. They asked me a few questions, but I really didn't have much to offer. The cops took our phone numbers and had us leave the crime scene. The crime scene investigation unit had arrived. They needed to scour the scene for any clues.
We took a cab back to my condo. Edward was talking to Ruth, explaining what had happened in Emmett's apartment. Ruth was inconsolable. Edward had to hang up and call his mom to go over to calm down Emmett's mother. As he finished his phone call with Betsy, his mom, we pulled up to my condo. Edward was dead on his feet and his mind was filled with sadness.
"Do you want to come up?" I asked.
"I should get home but I'm so tired," he groaned.
"You've seen my place. I have a very nice guest bedroom," I offered. "Please? I don't want you getting hurt because you're exhausted." I pushed out my lower lip and widened my eyes.
"God, that look is pitiful," Edward chuckled. "But how can I deny it? I'll stay." I smiled and thrust some money at the cabbie. Not waiting for change, I dragged Edward out of the taxi and we headed upstairs. Edward could barely keep his eyes open. I guided him to the guest bedroom and helped him into bed. "Can you stay?" he asked. "I'm freaking out about Emmett and I'd like to cuddle with my girlfriend."
Girlfriend? "Sure," I smiled.
Edward took off his jacket and his button down. His body was chiseled and muscular, just as his clothed alluded. "If this makes you uncomfortable," he stuttered.
"You're fine. I can't imagine sleeping in a button down," I giggled nervously.
He crawled into the bed and I followed suit, sitting tensely while I looked at him. "You know, if you want to cuddle with me, you need to get closer," he teased.
"Sorry. Newbie," I mumbled. "Why don't you get under the covers? I'm going to change into something more comfortable."
"Bella, please. Stay," he begged. His brows were furrowed and in his eyes, they were filled with tears. He was terrified. Terrified for his friend. Terrified of being alone. He crawled under the covers and held open his arms. I lay down, safely tucked in his embrace. Gingerly, I wrapped my arm around his waist and held him. "Why Emmett?"
"I don't know, Edward. It's not fair," I murmured. "I wish I could do something to find him." And I intend to. While you're at work, I'll search tirelessly for your friend and Victoria. However, I'm so afraid that she's changed him. She's going to use Emmett to get to Edward. "Try to sleep, Edward. I'll be here when you wake up."
"Promise?" he asked, sounding like a lost little boy.
"I promise," I said as I looked up at him.
"Can I kiss you again?" he whispered. "Something about your touch soothes me, Bella." I nodded and let him dip his head down. His lips gently caressed mine and I moaned quietly. Each time our mouths touched, my dead heart would press against my ribs. Opening my mind, I listened to his thoughts.
I could kiss her forever. She should have bolted in that apartment but she's here. She's letting me kiss her…love her…God, I want to love her. I need to love her. Like I need air, food, water…
I was with him in every thought. I agreed. He was my mate. I'd kill for him and as far as I was concerned, Victoria fucked with the wrong vampire.
"Please don't hurt me…I don't want this," I begged."Don't touch me."
"Shut up, you bitch," he snarled, backhanding me. His hand was so cold. "You'll enjoy it, my pet."
I pulled away and sat up quickly. That was the most I'd remembered of my past. Had I been hurt? Raped? "Bella? Angel, what's wrong?" Edward asked, sitting up, putting his arms around me.
"I'm fine," I said. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, angel," he said as he kissed my shoulder. Then he yawned. "I need to sleep."
"Then sleep," I quipped, gently guiding him to the pillow. I put my head on his shoulder and gently caressed his cheeks. His eyelids drooped and he mumbled something unintelligible. However, his brain shouted what his mouth couldn't. I love you, my Bella. My angel. His green eyes disappeared behind his lids and his breathing evened out. Once his mind started to dream, I extricated myself from his embrace.
Being around him had made me so very thirsty. The burn in my throat was too much to handle. I had to eat something and then get him something to eat. I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead and darted down to the basement of my condo. I slipped into my 2012 red Ferrari Spider. Turning it over, I backed out of my space and drove out to the suburbs to a twenty-four hour grocery store. I picked up a ton of food and paid for it using my shiny black credit card. I then stopped by a twenty-four hour Wal-Mart to get Edward some clothes for tomorrow. It wasn't up to my standards, but I'm certain that Edward would not want to wear the same clothes from today. I also grabbed some male-smelling shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste.
After my errands were done, I drove back to the city. As I drove, I heard the minds of the humans. Some were dreaming while others were fantasizing. One fantasy troubled me. A woman was getting off from using a taser on men. On their genitals. She got some sick, perverse pleasure seeing these men scream in agony as they got their balls fried.
I pulled over and parked the car. Honing my mind to hers, I leapt up the fire escape of her building. Opening the window of her apartment, I slipped inside. I heard someone moaning in the back of the apartment. Then, an evil cackle. Wasn't a fantasy.
"You like when I fry your balls?" she cooed.
"No. Please. Stop," he begged. "I thought you were different. So sweet on our date."
"Well, I'm not," she spat. "I'm an evil bitch who hates men. I was violated by assholes like you without my permission. Now, you'll all pay. With this." The quiet crackle of electricity filled the apartment, followed by this man's screams. I walked into the bedroom to find a large man handcuffed to a bed, naked. The taser was attached to his balls and penis. They were red and inflamed.
"Wha…what the hell?" the guy cried. "You brought a friend?"
The woman turned to me and hissed. "Who the hell are you?"
"No matter, bitch," I snapped. I hit her and she fell to the ground in an unconscious heap. I walked over to the frightened man. "I'm not going to hurt you. Her? Yes. You? No. I need to remove these. Can I touch you?"
His eyes were wide and he nodded mutely. I took off the taser and tossed it across the room. His penis was charred. I hissed quietly at the pain he must have felt. I snapped the handcuffs around his wrists and handed him his clothes. "Go to the hospital and get that checked out," I whispered.
"I want to press charges," he growled as he pulled on his clothing.
"Don't bother. She'll be punished for her behavior," I snarled. I pushed my mind to his, implanting a new memory into his brain. Forget the girl and live your life. Don't forget, go to the doctor…His face was blank. He woodenly nodded and left the apartment. I turned back to the girl and lifted her onto the bed. I could be really cruel and attach the taser to her vagina. But that was not what I wanted to do. I could give her the allusion of pain in her head, imitating the agony she put the man through.
In case you hadn't figured it out…I can also control minds, pain and rearrange memories. That's only a recent discovery. Within the past ten years.
"Wake up, princess," I cooed in my victim's ear. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at me.
"What happened? Where's Phil?" she asked.
"He's gone. Seeking medical attention for the damage you caused to his genitals," I spat. "Have you ever wondered what that would feel like?"
"No…please, no," she cried.
With a sadistic smile, I focused the pain that Phil felt onto her genitals. She screamed loudly. "Sucks, doesn't it?" I asked. "Do you realize that you probably ruined Phil's chances in having children naturally? You boiled his sperm."
"I won't do it again," she whimpered.
"No. You won't," I said as pulled her up from the bed. Her eyes were wide with fear. The added adrenaline made her blood smell sweeter. "Prepare to meet your maker, bitch." I angled her head and sunk my teeth into her neck. Her scream gurgled away as I drank from her, sucking every ounce of her life's blood from her pathetic little body.
I dropped her on the bed and staged her body like it was a suicide. I found some paperwork with her handwriting and I left a note next to the bed saying that she couldn't handle life any more. Picking up the taser, I left her apartment through the fire escape. It was nearly dawn and I had to get back to Edward.
I got back to my condo as the sun was peaking over the horizon. I carried all of the food up to the condo along with the clothes for Edward. I listened and he was quietly snoring in my guest bedroom, his heartbeat was steady and strong. I smiled softly as I put the food away. I went into my bedroom and took a quick shower to wash the smell of the girl I drank from my body. I dried my hair and popped in some fresh contacts. Slipping on some yoga pants and a long sleeved t-shirt, I went back into Edward's room. He breathed deeply and smiled. "My Bella…" he whispered.
I crawled into the bed and lay next to him. His face was smooth as he dreamt of us. And his dreams were very sweet and innocent. We were laying in a large meadow filled with wild flowers like the ones he had brought me for our date last night. We were holding hands and caressing each other's faces.
"My Bella," he whispered again. "My beautiful Bella. My angel."
I blushed and ducked my head. "I'm not beautiful," I replied.
"You'll always be beautiful in my eyes, Bella," he said as he moved closer to me. The wind blew and his bronze hair fluttered down across his forehead. He leaned down and brushed his thumbs over my cheeks. His lips gently moved across mine, in a soft angelic kiss. "Nothing can change where I won't find you to be beautiful…I love you."
"I love you, too, Edward," I replied, wrapping my arms around his neck. Our kisses deepened. Edward's tongue danced with mine as he pulled me over his waist, straddling his thighs. Then, I was torn away from Edward and tossed across the field. A large man with savagely red eyes glared at Edward and snapped his neck, killing him instantly.
"No!" Edward yelled as he sat up, grasping at his neck. His heart was stammering in his body and his breathing was erratic. "No," he repeated weakly.
"You're okay, Edward," I said as I sat up with him.
He turned and looked at me. "You changed," he noted. "Your hair is wet. Damp."
"I worked out early this morning," I said. "I'm pretty certain that you wouldn't my stanky, sweaty ass in bed with you."
"That remains to be seen," he chuckled. Then he looked at me, staring into my brown eyes. "What time did you wake up to work out? It's only like seven now."
"Around five," I said as I brushed his hair from his forehead. "I don't sleep much."
"We got back here around midnight, Bella," he chided.
"I'm fine," I said. "Do you want some breakfast?"
"I am a little hungry," he said. As if on cue, his belly growled loudly. He blushed and clutched his stomach. "Jesus. It sounds like a lion is ready to burst through my abdomen."
"Go ahead and shower. There's fresh towels, a toothbrush, toothpaste and some clothes in the bathroom," I said. "Breakfast will be ready by the time you're done."
"Thank you," he said as he got out of the bed. He went toward the bathroom, smiling shyly before he ducked inside. I quickly made the bed and then went to make Edward breakfast. How? What do I make? I drink my food. It's red and hot and I get it from living creatures.
"Shit," I groaned, running my hands through my hair. "I don't know how to cook. I don't even have pots and pans." I burrowed through the bags of food that I had purchased. I found some bagels, cream cheese and some fresh fruit. With an internal fist pump, I grabbed a plate and arranged them on it. I placed the fruit in a bowl. I poured some fresh orange juice in a glass and smiled. Ha! I didn't get my ass kicked by breakfast. Minor meltdown? Yes. But, I have triumphed!
I grabbed a couple of smaller plates and put them on the counter. I swiped a bagel and tore it apart, giving it the allusion that I had nibbled on it. Edward came out in his jeans and one of the graphic t-shirts I had purchased. His hair was wet and a mess on his head. "Wow. A cup of coffee would have sufficed," he chuckled.
"I need a new coffee maker," I blushed. Note to self: get coffee maker. "Eat, Edward. I don't want all of this food to go to waste."
He smiled and plopped down on one of the stools. He swiped a bagel and added some cream cheese to it. I tried, in vain, to hide my disgust. The smell of the cheese was nauseating. "What's with the face?" Edward chortled.
"Lactose intolerant," I croaked out. "How can you eat that?"
"Easily," he said as he popped in a piece of bagel to his mouth. "However, if you're lactose intolerant, I can understand why this looks unappetizing."
"You can take the cream cheese with you when you leave," I said as I put the cover on it. I pushed it toward him with one finger, wrinkling my nose, as if touching the plastic was going to cause me to go into convulsions. He laughed and clutched the tiny plastic tub to his chest protectively. I joined him in his laughter, enjoying the company with my boyfriend.
But I knew as soon as Edward had the knowledge of what I was, he'd bolt.
And I'd be alone.
Again.
"What are you doing today, Bella?" Edward asked as he sipped his orange juice.
It was sunny out so my options were limited. "I have to get some work done," I answered vaguely.
"It's Saturday," Edward quipped. "No work on the weekends. You need that time to unwind. There is this really cute open air market…"
"I can't, Edward," I said, frowning. "I have to get this work done. I have a deadline early on Monday."
"Okay," he said dejectedly. "Do you think your work is going to take all weekend?"
"I should be finished by tonight," I answered. "I can come by your place afterward?"
"That sounds nice," he said, cupping my face with his hand. Why is she still so cold? "I can cook you dinner."
"You have this strange fetish of feeding me, Edward," I teased. "Are you telling me that I'm too thin?"
"No. Of course not. You're beautiful and perfect," he blushed. "I just want to take care of you. Protect you. God, I sound so possessive. I'll shut up before I get myself in trouble."
"I like it," I said, looking down at my destroyed bagel. "I like the idea of being 'yours.'"
"Then, will you? Will you be mine?" he whispered as he slipped behind me. His arms were around my waist and he had moved my hair over my shoulder. His lips took purchase beneath my ear. His tongue swirled along the soft spot behind my earlobe, above where my pulse should be pumping erratically.
"Yes," I breathed. In a blink of an eye, Edward turned me around and his lips were on mine, insistently kissing me. The next thing I knew, I was lifted onto the counter and Edward's body was pressed up against mine. My legs latched around his waist and I pulled him ever-closer to me. Edward's tongue caressed my lips, begging for entrance. I was so afraid that I'd lose it with him. I couldn't. So, tentatively, I opened my mouth and slid my own tongue between his lips. The heat of his mouth was too much. I retracted my tongue and pulled away, leaning my forehead against his. "Edward, we need to take this slowly. I'm not very…"
"You set the pace, angel," he soothed. "But, I'm so happy. Despite my best friend being missing, I'm happy that you want to be with me. I know it seems fast, but it seems so right."
"It does seem right," I replied, twining my fingers into his soft, multi-faceted hair. "Just be patient with me and I do need to tell you some things about me but now's not the right time."
"It's nothing serious is it?"
"Not serious per se," I sighed. "I promise I'll tell you tonight. Okay?"
"Alright," he whispered. "Thank you for a wonderful date, Bella. I had a wonderful time, despite the bad news of Emmett. I just hope…"
"Me too, Edward," I said fervently, looking into his eyes. However, I knew. I just knew. If Victoria got him, she probably killed him or changed him. Based on the blood spatter in his bedroom that I saw through Edward's eyes in his mind, my guess was that he was changed. If that was the case, he had about two more days of burning to do before he became aware.
"I'm going to go. I may stop by Ruth's house to see how she's faring," he said. "She's probably a hot mess, but I need to look out for her. I'm like her second son."
"Be safe, Edward," I said, taking his face in my hands. He nodded and kissed my lips one last time before helping me down from the counter. He grabbed his shirt from last night, cell phone, wallet and jacket. With one more soft kiss on my lips and another hug, he left my condo.
I watched him hop into a cab and drive away. However, as he drove away, my chest constricted and a dull ache filled me. I rubbed my chest, trying to alleviate the emptiness that filled my soul watching Edward drive away. I closed my eyes, feeling my contacts disintegrate. I then focused my thoughts and darted to my computer. I started researching Victoria and how long she had been alive using the vampire version of CODIS.
I bet you didn't know that shit even existed.
I found her in the files and read through it quickly.
Name: Victoria Osbourne
Birthdate: April 23rd, 1876
Vampire Birthdate: January 19th, 1899
Nationality: American
Sire: Unknown, an ancient
Power: Unknown at this time
Current Location: America
"That's not helpful," I grumbled. "She's been a vampire for over two hundred years and was changed by an ancient. Possibly? God. This sucks. An address would be helpful. America's a pretty big place, assholes. Damn Volturi. You've been around forever and you can't keep better records. We have to fill out the damn vampire census every time we move. Fuck!"
The Volturi are the ruling class/government for all vampires in the world. The three leaders, Aro, Marcus, and Caius, were responsible for maintaining order and keeping track of all vampires in the world. They had people in Volterra who maintained their databases. We were supposed to keep the appraised to our movements if and when we moved. Some were more diligent (like me) on keeping in the good graces of the Volturi. Victoria obviously didn't care. Personally, I didn't want the 'man' breathing down my neck for any wrong-doing. Not that I broke the rules or anything. But still…
I closed the window and decided to use the next best thing.
Google.
I typed in her name and began searching for her information, locations of where she lived, anything that could guide me in my search for her. In my search of Emmett.
I found out that she was the CEO of some oil conglomerate in Texas on paper. She can't really be the CEO since that would rouse too much suspicion. In reality, she probably owned the company and was acting as an 'heir' to run the corporation. The corporate headquarters were down in Austin. Victoria was easily worth millions of dollars and could hide anywhere in the world. I did find an address for her in Chicago and another location in Milwaukee. I committed the addresses to memory and made mental note to check both of them out tonight after I left Edward's townhouse.
Speaking of Edward's townhouse, I didn't have his address. I took out my cell phone and sent him a text.
Hey, I'm coming over to your place and I have no clue where you live – B
I knew I forgot something. You dazzled the brains out of me – E
Dazzled? – B
Yes. Dazzled. Your beauty, intelligence and warm demeanor just knock me on my ass when I'm in your presence, Miss Swan. – E
You're a charmer, Edward. You dazzle me. Frequently. Address? – B
He gave me his address along with his home phone number. I thanked him and told him that I'd be over around seven. His response a bunch of x's and o's. I looked that up on the computer and they were 'hugs and kisses.' I replied in kind and decided to get to work on figuring out what I needed to wear for a date at my boyfriend's house.
I spent a good hour staring at my closet, praying that something appropriate would jump out and say 'pick me!' Yeah, that didn't happen. I can kill easily. I can read people's minds, can control what they think, give them the allusion of pain and alter their memories. But get ready for a date? Ha! I'm a mess. I need a girlfriend to help me. I'm so clueless with this shit.
"I'll go with a skirt," I said as I swiped a white skirt with an orange and beige geometric print on the bottom edge. I matched it up with an orange blouse and a pair of sandals. I curled my hair and put a headband in my curly mahogany tresses. Applying some soft makeup to give myself some more color, I finished getting ready. I then got directions to his place and programmed them into my phone. According to Google maps, it would take me an hour to get to Edward's place. With my crazy driving, I could probably get there in a half hour. Depending on traffic.
What traffic? It's Saturday.
I looked out and saw that it had clouded over. I picked up my phone and dialed Edward's number.
"You're not calling to cancel are you?" Edward teased.
"No. I'm actually calling to see if I can come a little earlier," I laughed. "Is that okay?"
"That's perfect, Bella," he said, the smile in his voice obvious. "Do you need directions?"
"Nope. I'm good. I'll be over in like forty-five minutes," I said.
"Good luck with that. It took me almost an hour to get home this morning at seven in the morning," he chortled. "Then again, I took the train."
"Not the way I drive," I quipped. "I'll see you soon, Edward."
"Okay, angel," he snorted. I rolled my eyes and hung up the phone. I made sure I had my contact lenses and headed down to the garage. Climbing into my Ferrari, I drove to Edward's townhouse. Forty-five minutes from the time I left the garage, I pulled up to Edward's doorstep. I parked my baby and locked her up. Edward came outside and blew out a low whistle. "That is one sweet car…"
"Thanks," I smirked. "I have a penchant for fast, shiny things. I have an Aston Martin in storage. A Lamborghini, too."
"Okay, stop. I really want to have this relationship be based on our connection and not your collection of fucking hot cars," Edward bellowed. "Can I drive her?"
"Maybe," I said coyly. "Perhaps after dinner."
"Awesome," he said as he pulled me into his arms. "You look amazing, Bella. So beautiful."
"Thank you," I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck. He kissed me softly and rested his forehead against mine. The world fell away and it was just the two of us standing in his front yard.
"Come in! Come in," he said excitedly. "You gave me the grand tour of your awesome condo. Now, I get to do the same with my townhouse." He took my hand and guided me inside of his home. It reminded me of my place: cold, sterile and devoid of any personal belongings. It was very elegant but it wasn't Edward. At least the warm man that I knew. He saw my face and he laughed. "You look like you hate it."
"It's…it's…not…you," I said, wrinkling my nose. "Very distant and…"
"And this is why I'm selling it," he said. "My condo is more me than this place and I don't even live there. This was a showplace for my ex-fiancé." He took my hand and led me to the kitchen where something was cooking on the stove. A bottle of wine was open on the counter, breathing. He took out a glass and poured me some red wine.
"Thank you," I said. "So, you shared this place with your ex-fiancé?"
"Yeah," he sighed. "I probably should tell you about her…"
"You don't have to. It's your past, Edward," I mumbled quietly, playing with my glass.
"No. I want to tell you," he said, pouring himself a glass. He chugged half of the goblet and then stared at me. "God, you're so beautiful. So smart…very different from my ex-fiancé. She was not…" He shook his head. "Let me start at the beginning. We met at some mixer thing. She worked at an advertising agency as one of the secretaries for one of the executives. I was working on updating their website to improve their revenue. I chatted and flirted with her during my time fixing their website and I thought that she was really sweet. On my last day at the office, I asked her out and she immediately replied yes. We set up plans to go get drinks that Friday.
"The day rolls around and we hit it off. She was smart and funny, working at the advertising agency while attending night school to get her degree in business administration. Actually, she used me as a subject for one of her papers on small business owners and how they can be successful. Things progressed from there. We started as friends, and then our relationship evolved into a boyfriend/girlfriend thing. However, the dynamic of our relationship changed after we had sex," he sighed. "I'm pretty reserved. Okay, very reserved. Tanya, my ex, was not. She liked kinky shit."
I opened my mind and saw what Tanya liked. She was a borderline Domme. She forced Edward to lick her boots and wear collars. I tried to keep my face impassive, but I was disgusted with the demeaning things she made him do.
"Did she ever hurt you?" I whispered. A memory filled Edward's brain of Tanya whipping his ass with a contraption with a ton of leather tongues. Edward begged her to stop.
"Not physically," Edward sighed. "She did break me down and demean me. But, I was willing to do it because I thought I loved her. And I thought she loved me, too."
"I'm assuming she didn't?"
"I'll get to that. Anyhow, Tanya and I were together for roughly a year and half when she came to me, sobbing hysterically. I asked what was wrong and she said that her life was over. I was thoroughly confused. She blurted that she was pregnant. My confusion grew since I knew that Tanya was on birth control and at that point, I wasn't ready to be a father. I used condoms. But they aren't necessarily a hundred percent effective. However, since I loved her and I felt that it was my responsibility to step up to the plate. It was my baby in her belly. I went to a jeweler a few days after she announced her pregnancy to me and picked out an engagement ring. A week after that, I proposed. Do you want to know what she said when I gave her the ring? 'That's it? It's so small.' She was referring to the one and half carat diamond on her finger."
"What?" I seethed. "You did the honorable thing and she had the gall to criticize the ring you gave her?"
"Yep," Edward sighed. "That should have been my first clue that she was lying. The ring was gorgeous and any woman would have loved it."
"It doesn't matter the size of the diamond. It could be a twist tie for all that matters; it's the relationship that counts. The love you feel for one and another."
"You get it. Shit, you get it and…Tanya didn't. However, she would announce to the world that she was my fiancée, waving her ring in everyone's faces. A month after that, Tanya said that she had had a miscarriage. It was a few days after a long weekend she spent with her sister, Irina, in New York City. I asked if I could do anything and she said that I could leave her alone. She didn't want to be coddled or soothed. Let her grieve for our dead baby," he said bitterly. "There was never a baby. The miscarriage was a ruse. The whole pregnancy was a farce."
"Did you have proof?"
"Yeah. Pictures of Tanya, Irina and a few good men in a bar during fleet week in New York. They were schlitzed," Edward growled. "I confronted her on it and she said that the morning that she left for New York, she noticed spotting. So, she 'grieved' while getting completely drunk. We had the hugest fight that night and I nearly called off the engagement. I think I said that it was 'over' and she begged me for another chance. I told her to give me a week and we'd discuss after that."
"I'm guessing that you thought about it and gave her the benefit of the doubt?" I asked.
"I did and for awhile, it was good," Edward sighed. "However, she wouldn't let me touch her other than chaste kisses or hold her hand. The first time we made love was nearly six months after the miscarriage fiasco and there was something about her that was different. Her movements were too robotic, like she was used to being 'fucked.' I apologize for being crude, but it's how she acted."
"She acted like a whore," I said bluntly.
"Pretty much," Edward said sadly as he drained his glass of wine. "You want some more?"
"No. I'm good," I said as I pretended to sip my wine. As he busied himself with addressing the food on the stove, I poured some of my wine into a potted plant to my right. "So, she's now your ex-fiancée. How did that happen?"
"The night I met you, that was supposed to be my wedding day," he answered. "However, our wedding was called off since the night of the bachelor/bachelorette parties Tanya was caught in the limo, sucking off one of my groomsmen, Laurent."
"How did you find out?"
"I forgot my wallet in the limo and went back to get it. I heard moaning and inside was my fiancée with my friend's penis in her mouth. She then had the nerve to ask if I wanted to join. I calmly left the limo and caught a cab, driving back to my townhouse. I did, however, stop at a hardware store to pick up new locks. I changed my locks and dumped all of Tanya's clothes on the front lawn. I also contacted all of the wedding venues, canceling the whole thing. Tanya came back to my townhouse to find her clothing on the front lawn, drenched from the sprinkler system, and unable to get into the house. She shrieked like a banshee until one of the neighbors told her to fuck off. Then she started pounding on the door."
"God! What happened?" I asked, keeping my mental block down. I wanted to know from him telling me.
"I opened the door and held out my hand. I demanded the ring back," he smirked. "She clutched it to her chest, saying no. I then said that the ring was a promise to wed and she broke that promise by giving Laurent a blow job. Our wedding was off and we were done. She threw herself at me and I just let her fall to the ground, breaking her own damn nose. As she cried, I wrenched the ring from her finger and flushed it down my toilet. There is probably a diamond floating in the bottom of Lake Michigan right now but I couldn't bear to have her keep it and I refused to look at it, appalled at what it represented."
"Have you heard from her or seen her since?" I whispered.
"Every few weeks, she'll come sobbing on my doorstep," Edward shrugged. "She can't get in since I've changed the locks and she's desperate for me to take her back. I'd rather cut off my left nut than be with her again. I never loved her. I thought I did, but it was not true love. Lust, maybe. I feel more connected with you then with my ex-fiancée. And I've told you that."
I put my hand on his forearm and something inside of me came alive. I shuddered. So did he. His green eyes gazed into mine and there was something more there. I could feel it...our connection. It was twining around us and binding us together. But, he's human. You're a vampire. You can't have a human mate.
Edward looked at me confusedly but shook his head. Could he hear my thoughts? I brushed it off and pretended to sip my wine. "Where's the bathroom?" I murmured.
"Down the hall and it's right by the front door," Edward explained. "I hope you're hungry."
"Famished," I said with a smile. I walked to the bathroom and closed the door. I blinked my contacts away, putting in fresh ones. I flushed the toilet and washed my hands, going with the ruse that I used the restroom. Gripping the pedestal sink, I rifled through my brain, trying to decide whether or not to tell him. He knows I'm different. He feels the coolness of my skin. The connection we have is electric. I'm curious if he felt the same emptiness when he left my condo.
"Bella? Are you okay?" Edward called from the kitchen.
"Fine. Just a little upset stomach," I answered. "I'll be right out." I looked up into the mirror. I'll wait to tell him until it's absolutely necessary. Not any time sooner. I just pray that he doesn't hate me…
Now, to try an force myself to eat human food.
That's hell.
A/N: So, Bella has her supposition about Emmett and his probable change. Edward is obviously thinking that Bella is different. He's fixated on the temperature of her skin. But their chemistry is undeniable. Up next will be the continuation of dinner and some of Bella's search for Emmett and Victoria. But beware, danger's lurking just around the corner. Picture teasers of Bella's cars and Edward's townhouse are on my blog. Leave me some!