Thanks to ADT216 for being an awesome beta, and having a much firmer grasp of the English language than I can ever dream to have!
To Saguenay for pre-reading and offering encouragement and advice. She has her own WIP on FF: Fotonovela Taxi Driver – GO CHECK IT OUT!
Hope you enjoy!
CHAPTER NINETEEN
-The Pick-up lines-
6:15 – He aims
"Good morning," I greet brightly as I step out of my bathroom and rub my hair with a towel. Bella is sitting on my couch with a cup of coffee clasped in her hands. She lifts her head to greet me and then stops, staring at me open mouthed, a surprised squeak leaving her lips.
Yes, I know. It's a dirty trick, walking out of the bathroom dressed in nothing but a towel, but I have a plan, remember?
I arch an eyebrow at her and wrap the towel I was drying my hair with around my neck.
"Bella?" I ask and fight to suppress a smirk.
"Morning," she practically whimpers as her eyes travel down my body. I feel slightly exposed, but shit, I know she likes the goods. There is no way I'm backing down now.
"I see you've found the coffee." I indicate to the cup in her hands as her eyes finally reach mine.
She nods, blushes and then drops her head in order to cover her face with her hair. So predictable.
I literally strut past her on my search for coffee. I make myself a cup, watching Bella from the corner of my eye as she practically makes love to her cup. I catch her stealing glances at me and finally offer her a lopsided grin, leaning against the kitchen table with my hip.
We stare at each other for a moment before she breaks the silence with an unsteady voice.
"You're up early."
"Yea." I nod. "I'm getting a hair cut before I go into the office."
"Oh." She frowns slightly. "Why?"
"It's getting a little unruly, don't you think?" I shrug, rubbing the back of my neck.
I watch Bella follow the movement and lick her lips as her eyes drop to my tattooed bicep. My towel is hanging on by a thread, and if I'm not careful, I'm going to give Miss Swan more than she paid for. Not yet.
"I like it," I hear her mumble softly as she once again drops her eyes.
"Did you sleep well?" I ask with a smirk as I drink the last of my coffee, watching her over the brim of my cup.
"Yes." She blinks a couple of times and swallows thickly.
"Good." I nod and place my cup on the counter. I walk towards her, coming to stand only a few feet away from her. "I slept like a baby." I watch Bella force herself to keep her eyes focused on mine, instead of lowering it to my abdomen, which is precariously close to her.
"Good." She nods and drops her head slightly to take a sip from her mug.
"Anyway, make yourself at home." I wave my hand in the general vicinity of the bathroom. "I'm going to get dressed."
Bella nods without looking up at me, and I can't help but chuckle slightly.
"I'll see you at the office, Miss Swan," I call from my bedroom door. Bella turns in my direction and smiles tightly. I give her a wink, and just before I close the door behind me, still feeling Bella's eyes on me, I drop the towel around my hips.
I hear Bella gasp just as I close the door behind me.
I stand with my back against the door, a shit eating grin spreading my lips. This is going better than expected. I promised myself last night that I would get Bella to admit she wants me. As I took my shower this morning, pondering exactly how I'm going to make that happen, I realized that women are far more into foreplay than the actual deed. Sure, I'm not saying women don't like having orgasms, but just like everything else in life, the prize is far more enticing when the task is more of a challenge.
And I will be giving Miss Swan the challenge of her fucking life today.
9:35 – He shoots
"Hi, Edward," Jessica coos beside my cubicle. I look up from my computer and give her a friendly smile. Sure, Jessica isn't really one of my favorite people, but I'm also aware of the fact that Bella has a bird's eye view of my cubicle, and will certainly be watching our exchange carefully.
"Morning, Jessica." I smile and rise from my seat to give Miss Swan a better look. My eyes quickly dart in the direction of her office, and sure thing, Bella is watching me intently. I fight the urge to smirk and refocus my attention on Jessica.
"You cut your hair?" Jessica attempts to smile seductively as she takes a step closer to me.
"Yea, you like it?" I smile crookedly, catching Jessica slightly off guard. She's not used to me reciprocating her incessant flirting. Her smile broadens dramatically as she steps closer to me.
"I like it a lot," she drawls huskily, causing my skin to crawl, but I keep the smile on my face and allow her to close the distance between us.
"Can I touch it?" she asks carefully, licking her bottom lip. I'm about ready to puke in my mouth a little, but one glance in Bella's direction reinforces my resolve. Bella is practically staring open mouthed at the exchange, and even without being in the same room as her, I can practically hear her huffing in annoyance.
"Sure." I shrug and focus my attention back on the desperate woman in front of me. I don't kneel down to grant her easier access to my hair; instead, I stand at full length, forcing her to stretch and press her humongous breasts against my chest. She runs her fingers through my neatly cut hair and expels a low moan.
"So soft," she purrs in my ear and I swallow thickly, fighting the urge to push her off me. She smells completely wrong. It's all lavender and something stiflingly sweet and not at all the smell I've come to crave.
I pull away slightly, causing Jessica to sway against my chest. I grab hold of her elbows and gently push her away from me with a forced smile.
"Thank you." I nod and clear my throat uncomfortably. "Better get back to work, huh?"
"Of course." Jessica smiles at me once again." See you at lunch?"
"Sure." I nod meekly and take a shaky breath as she walks away from me, dramatically swaying her hips covered in an overly tight skirt.
My eyes shoot back to Bella and find that she's typing away on her cell phone. I'm slightly disappointed and dejectedly lower myself to my chair. The fucking woman is almost impossible to crack.
Just as I roll my chair closer to my desk, my BlackBerry chimes.
With a frown I make a grab for it.
To: Edward
From: Bella
Subject: RE: Games
I thought we were past all the games, Edward?
Bella
I chuckle softly and raise my head to peak at Bella sitting behind her desk, gnawing away at her thumbnail. I know she can feel me looking at her, but still she refuses to meet my gaze.
To: Bella
From: Edward
Subject: RE: My hair
Don't be mad at Jessica. I've been told my hair is hard to resist.
By the way…what do you think?
Fishing for compliments – Edward
PS: You like the games we play.
I sit back in my chair with a victorious grin. Obviously the little display with Jessica sparked a reaction from Bella. Thank fuck. I would hate to think that I had to endure all the moaning and rubbing without some kind of reward.
My phone chimes, and it's almost enough to make me hard. I fucking live for our sparring matches.
To: Edward
From: Bella
Subject: RE: Tainted
Well, if I did like it before, I certainly don't anymore. Jessica ruined it.
I don't like the games. You insist on playing them, remember?
Bella
I sigh heavily as I read her email. Bella is fucking bipolar. I have no idea what the fuck she wants, and now I realize that Bella herself has no fucking clue either. This is going to be harder than I thought.
I aggressively push my chair away from my desk, and march towards Bella's office. Everyone in the office is watching me with sympathy on their faces. They probably think I'm in trouble again. They might be fucking right.
I push Bella's door open and close it behind me with a resounding click. She jumps in her seat and gapes at me in shock as I walk towards the wall of windows separating her office from the floor area where all her minions work and push a button that electronically closes her blinds.
"What are you doing?" she asks in a high pitched voice as I turn towards her.
"I'm in here to teach you a fucking lesson," I say lowly and slowly stalk towards her desk.
"What?" she squeaks and pushes her chair away from her desk in an attempt to get up and flee.
"Nowhere to run, Bella." I laugh sardonically as I come to stand in front of her, forcing my legs between her knees.
Her eyes are wide as she looks up at me in bewilderment.
"I don't know –" she starts, but I interrupt her by lowering myself to my knees in front of her.
"Touch it," I demand softly, pulling her legs further apart with my hands in order for my chest to rest between them comfortably. The look on her face is fucking priceless. She's actually fucking speechless, and if nothing else, that at least should be recorded as a fucking first.
"Why are you doing this?" she huffs and stares at me coldly. "Are you crazy or just…just…"
"Just fucking touch it," I demand in a firmer voice which causes her to close her gaping mouth with a snap. "If Jessica tainted it, then fucking fix it," I bite out and raise my hands that have been resting on her knees to her arms. I run my fingers slowly down her silk covered forearms until my hands meet hers. I twist my fingers around one hand, resting it on her knee, and slowly move her other hand to my hair, keeping my eyes focused on hers.
Her pupils dilate as I press her hand to my scalp, forcing her fingers through my much shorter locks. She's still stiff as a board, but her eyes never leave mine. I run my thumb against the back of her hand on her knee and keep the motion of our hands going on my head.
"If you want something you need to say it." My voice is harsh, and my movements even more so. "I'm tired of fucking guessing what you want, Bella." I level her with a hard stare as I try to convey my frustration. "If you want me, then take me already. Fuck knows I want you. I've already told you as much."
She opens and closes her mouth several times, completely flabbergasted by my less than appropriate actions. This is the first time since our arrangement that I have dared to approach her sexually at the office. I'm sure it's just fucking killing her.
"I don't know…" she trails off and bites her bottom lip nervously. "This is hardly the place."
"You should have thought about that before you decided to send me personal emails during office hours." I shrug, pulling my hand away from hers on my head. "I've seen you demand what you want every fucking day for the last two years. I saw it the other day in your bed when I made you come. I saw it in the shower the other night when you made me come. Now fucking show me again."
"I'm not the one playing games," she huffs and pulls her hand away from my hair. I grab her wrists before she has a chance to move it any further and bring it to my mouth. Bella's breath turns choppy and short, her eyes following the decent of her hand with rapt fascination.
"No." I shake my head before softly licking the exposed skin of her wrist. "You're just a fucking tease."
"I'm not." She shakes her head slowly, but I can tell she doesn't believe her own words.
"Then prove it," I challenge and suddenly drop her wrist.
Bella stares at me for long moments, and I can see the wheels turning in her head, the fight raging behind her eyes.
And then, fucking miraculously, her hand starts moving and unsteadily creeps its way towards my hair again. I can practically hear a choir of angels sing when her fingers tentatively touch my hair. Her hand falters for a moment, before she shifts her eyes from mine and focuses them on the task at hand.
Ever so slowly Bella moves her fingers more confidently in a raking motion over my scalp, lightly scratching me with her nails.
I close my eyes and groan, because fuck it, no matter how much I try to deny it, something about Bella's touch makes me forget all the other shit we're doing to each other. It makes me forget that I'm supposed to hate her. It makes me forget that I'm supposed to be playing a very carefully crafted game. It makes me forget why I'm not fucking this woman on her table, in her chair, on the floor…in my bed.
She tugs at my hair with just enough force to pull me from my internal musings. I open my eyes again to watch her with apt fascination. Her fingers curl around the shell of my ear as she softly scrapes the sensitive skin there.
"Tell me you want me," I force through clenched teeth, fighting to remain in control of the hormonal motherfucker inside of me. "Tell me you want this and all the games will end."
Bella moves her hand and lazily runs her fingers over the hair at the nape of my neck before she moves her gaze back to mine.
Just as Bella opens her mouth to say the words I've been waiting days to hear, her office phone rings. We both freeze and I internally swear at the unwelcome intrusion.
I plead with my eyes for her to let it ring – to answer my question. But this is Miss Swan we're talking about here. No amount of men kneeling in front of her will keep her from doing her job. She drops her hand from my head and I groan in frustration. I stand up abruptly and pull my fingers through my hair in annoyance as I make my way towards the windows looking out on the Seattle skyline.
"Yes Aro," Bella answers the phone softly behind me. My ears immediately perk in interest. "Will do."
I hear the soft click of Bella's phone as she hangs up the receiver.
"Aro wants to see you in his office," she says softly behind me.
I sigh heavily and turn towards her, giving her a rather clear view of my straining pants.
"Now?" I ask in a gravelly voice.
"Now." She nods and keeps her eyes on mine steadily.
"We're not done here," I comment as I stride past her.
"Edward," she calls just as I'm about to open the office door. I turn towards her warily, keeping my hand securely on the doorknob and arch an eyebrow in question. "I fucking love your hair," she says after a moment.
I laugh hoarsely and shake my head in confusion. I watch her suck her bottom lip between her teeth before she releases it and gives me a ball clenching smile.
"You know that's not what I want to hear, sugar," I say with a crooked grin. "But it'll do for now." I wink at her and exit her office, closing the door softly behind me.
"Hey, Mom." I smile into my phone as my mother greets me enthusiastically.
"Edward," she sighs happily on the other end, causing me to smile even broader. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"
"I'm doing well," I say with a chuckle and run my hands through my hair. I'm standing on the sidewalk outside of Breaking Dawn. "That's why I'm calling actually."
"Tell me everything," my mother responds warmly which causes my heart to clench with guilt. It's been too long since I've gone to visit her.
"Well, Breaking Dawn has picked up my novel, Mom." I fight to keep the excitement out of my voice, but fail miserably. "They're going to publish it."
"Oh my goodness, Edward," she gasps. "That is fantastic news, sweetheart."
"I know." I expel a breath I've been holding since I stepped out of Aro's office a few moments ago. Surprisingly, there was no one else I wanted to tell the best news of my life to other than my mother. It's strange how the bond between a mother and her child never changes, even with thousands of miles separating them.
"I'm so proud of you, Edward," she says lovingly. "I can't wait to tell your father the news."
"Is he at the hospital?" I ask absentmindedly as I give a rather attractive woman passing me on the sidewalk my signature, lopsided grin. Her step falters slightly as she smiles back coyly. It feels good to know that I haven't lost my touch. Bella makes me doubt my abilities far too much.
"Yes, of course." I can hear her roll her eyes and laugh again.
"Tell him to give me a call later, okay?"
"I will, sweetheart."
"I better get back to work, but I'll talk to you later, okay?" I feel bad for cutting the conversation short, but it's not lunch time yet, so I really have no business not sitting behind my desk right now. Besides, there's a certain lady sitting in her office right now, probably stomping a hole in her carpet in frustration.
"Okay." My mother sounds sad. "Speak to you later."
I hang up with a heavy weight on my heart. I should really talk to my mother more often. I decide then and there that I'll go visit them soon. It's time.
The rest of my afternoon is spent making thirty copies of a new manuscript to be handed out to the respective editors, doing the remaining tasks on Bella's list and practically losing my shit over the phone with an insistent writer. I don't see Bella at all.
When I finally get back to my cubicle, her office door is closed and she's having a heated discussion on her phone.
Thirty minutes later as I'm making my way home my BlackBerry rings in my pants pocket.
It's Bella.
"Hi," I say tentatively.
"Hi," she says with a soft sigh. "Are you on your way home?"
"Yea."
"Could I ask you a favor?"
"Sure." I shrug as I make a turn towards my apartment.
"I spoke to my mother today…" she trails off.
"Okay…" I trail off too and roll my eyes. "Everything okay now?"
"Yes, we talked it out." I can hear the uncomfortable strain in Bella's voice. She's still not completely happy in sharing details of her personal life with me, but I presume she needs to in order to ask her favor.
"That's good." I try to make conversation in order to fill the painful silence.
"I was wondering if it would be okay if I came over to your house again." Bella rambles the sentence off so quickly that I hardly catch what she's asking.
"Oh." I frown and shift gears. "I thought you said…"
"Yeah, I know, but," Bella sighs heavily. "I kind of wanted to talk to you about what happened today."
"Are you finally ready to admit you want me?" I ask smugly as I pull into the parking lot of my building.
"No," she practically shouts in my ear, causing me to pull the phone away slightly to avoid my eardrum from popping. "Shit, sorry." She emits a hollow laugh. "I was talking about your meeting with Aro."
"Oh well." I shrug. "Nothing much to tell."
"So he didn't ask you to choose an editor?" She sounds unconvinced.
"No, he did," I confirm. "I already told him."
"Who did you pick?" she asks tentatively and I can't help but smile smugly. Now we're really getting to the reason Bella called. Bella wants to know whether I picked her.
"Oh, I don't want to say yet." I feign innocence. "I think it's better to wait until I get a chance to tell her in person."
"So it's a woman?" I can hear the annoyance in Bella's voice and stifle a chuckle.
"Sure is," I reply indifferently.
"So you're not going to tell me who you chose?" She sounds pissed off now. I remain silent, unable to speak without laughing at her sad attempt to coax the information from me. "Fine, I'll just ask Aro."
"He won't tell you," I reply simply.
"Aro tells me everything," she snaps back.
"Not this time around, baby," I say condescendingly. "I specifically asked him to keep the information to himself until I've had a chance to speak to her."
"Oh for the love of…"
I bite down on my tongue, fighting the urge to laugh out loud.
"I'm coming over."
"I have plans." I don't really have plans; I just really want her to squeal a bit more.
"I don't care," she growls. "I'll see you in an hour."
"Okay," I sing-song and hang up. Sly little minx has no idea I've got her number, and it's time to start dialing.
18:35 – The crowd goes wild
I open my front door after an incessant knock echoes through my house.
Bella is standing in front of me, fuming. She pushes past me, leaving me slightly stunned and wholly entertained as I close the door behind us.
"Well, good evening to you too, sugar," I drawl, leaning with my shoulder against the door frame, watching my girl pace back and forth with arms crossed over her chest.
"Don't sugar me," she says through clenched teeth as she turns on me in her fierce, raging beauty. It's strange how her anger used to turn me cold only a week ago - and now - well now it just makes me want to jump her bones. It's kind of fucking cute when you see her actions for what they are - a small girl, erecting walls to protect her already trampled heart. I'm not some fucking poet, believe me. I'm certainly not trying to romanticize Bella's obviously selfish nature, but the women just knows how to wind me up in all the right fucking ways. So sue me.
"Water?" I ask with raised eyebrows, desperately attempting to take her seriously, but failing epically. Her intentions have become so transparent the last couple of days, that it's becoming almost too easy to string her along with my little charade. I'm enjoying this too much, I realize with a frown. I'm once again underestimating her. Big fucking mistake.
"No, I don't want water." Bella shakes her head decisively and frowns at me irritably. "I want to know who you picked."
"Why should I tell you?" I ask with a shrug and push myself away from the door, strolling past her and falling down on my sofa with an exasperated sigh.
"Because I helped you get the deal in the first place," Bella says incredulously as she turns and follows my actions.
I run both hands through my hair and allow my head to fall against the back of the couch. It pisses me off to no extent when she lies to my face. It pisses me off because I'm doing the exact same thing, and I fucking despise it. This is not me. It may be the way she deals with her shit, but lying and being deceitful is not fucking me. This game is steadily wearing me down and for a brief moment I consider just spilling the beans on this macabre fuck-up.
"What do you want to know?" I ask with a heavy sigh, and open my eyes slightly to watch Bella's surprised expression.
"Everything," she says with a shrug and finally lowers her hands from her chest.
"Everything?" I ask with a bitter laugh. "You want to know everything, Bella?" I sit up straight and notice the look in her eyes turns wary.
She nods.
I nod.
"Where do I start…" I lift my hand to my chin, feigning deep thought. "Why don't we start with this whole fucking sham?"
Her shoulders stiffen as she darts her eyes away from mine and looks everywhere but at me.
"Not that." She hakes her head and turns her eyes to me pleadingly.
"You see," I say with a shake of my head. "That's exactly the problem, isn't it?" She frowns at me in confusion. "You walk in here, demanding all kinds of things from me you have no right to ask. You insist that I help you with this fucking unnecessary lie you told your parents, yet you're unwilling to explain to me exactly why you told it in the first place. You expect me to trust your intentions when you don't even trust yourself to admit what you want." I abruptly push myself up from the couch, which causes Bella to startle slightly. It's almost fucking amusing seeing her so flustered. I'm pissed…but I'm not nearly as angry as I'm letting on. I need to break down her defenses once and for all.
"You want me to move a mile for you, but once again, I don't fucking see you giving an inch." I'm hovering over her, and Bella's expression is one of angst and fright. She'll admit what she wants from me, before I even dare to tell her what I know she wants to hear.
"No, Bella." I shake my head steadily. "I will not tell you what I told Aro, until you tell me what the fuck you want." I laugh hollowly. "That is, if you even know what you want at all."
I stare deeply into her eyes, casting my ragged breath over her face, before I turn away from her and stalk towards the kitchen.
I need a fucking beer.
I pull a Heineken from the fridge and a bottle of wine from the cabinet. Judging from Bella's expression, I reckon she will need some alcoholic relief as well. I open the wine and pour her a glass before popping the top of my beer.
I walk back into the living room, finding Bella in the same position I left her, arms folded over her chest once again.
I offer the glass of red wine to her, which she takes hesitantly. She stares at it curiously, before raising her eyes to mine.
"It's not poisoned," I say with a laugh and take a sip from my beer, urging her to do the same.
She finally lifts the glass to her lips and takes a sip with closed eyes.
"Thank you," she mumbles as she lowers the glass and looks up at me through her lashes. The fucking girl has no idea how alluring she is.
"No problem." I shrug and take another drink of my beer. "Listen –"
"No wait," Bella raises her hand and sighs heavily. I watch her expectantly and follow the movement of her tongue as she licks the wine from her lips. "You're right." She nods as my eyebrows shoot into my hairline in surprise.
"I am?" I ask suspiciously and take a deep breath as she expels a soft laugh.
"Yes, you are." She rolls her eyes. "You deserve some answers."
"I do?" I'm so fucking shocked by this unexpected turn of events I'm finding it hard to string more than two words together.
"Yes." Bella nods and takes a sip from her wine. "Can we sit?"
I wave my hand in a gesture for her to take a seat wherever she pleases.
She takes a seat on the closest bucket seat to her and I follow suit by falling down on the couch.
She stares at me from over the rim of her glass for quite a while before she raises her eyes to mine.
"I lied to my parents because I was tired of hearing the sympathy in their voices every time I had to tell them I'm still single." She releases a heavy breath and then shrugs. "A girl has her pride, you know."
"And you have fucking tons." I smile at her encouragingly and receive a short chortle in response.
"I guess I do," she concedes and sips her wine slowly. I swallow thickly, immediately recognizing my body's treacherous reaction to her.
"Why else?" I prod, knowing that there must be more to this.
"I guess I wanted to convince myself that I'm over him too." She shrugs and lowers her eyes to her hands. "Living the lie made it easier to believe it's true, you know?"
"I can understand that." I nod, although I don't think I understand at all. There is a lot more to this story than Bella is letting on, but I don't need to know more. I just need her to be honest, so she can finally admit that there is something between us. Something strong and fucking crazy and just abso-fucking-lutely addictive.
"You asked me what I want," Bella continues. I guess she also decided that enough was said about Jacob.
I nod in response and down the rest of my beer before placing the empty bottle on the coffee table.
"I want your book to be published." I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "It's really good, and I think you deserve this."
"Well fuck." I chuckle softly. "I wasn't expecting that."
"I know I've never said it before, but it is. You know? Really good." She nods earnestly and I feel the tops of my ears burn. If she keeps this going, I might actually start believing that at least something coming out of her mouth is true. And I honestly wish it is, because receiving a compliment like that from someone as accomplished as Bella Swan is the highest fucking praise I could ever ask for.
"Thank you." I nod sincerely and offer her a small smile.
"I also want the best person possible to edit it," she continues without acknowledging my thanks. "I know the best person is me, but I can't force you to agree, even if I really want to," she says with a humorless laugh.
"Bella, I-" she stops me by raising a hand and giving me a scolding frown. I shut my mouth with an audible pop and swallow thickly.
"I don't mean to guilt you into it, Edward. I really just wanted you to realize on your own that I would be the best person for the job, but I know you've probably chosen Jessica. I can't blame you, I guess." She shrugs dejectedly, and good grief, she is even more beautiful in this honest moment than she's ever been during any of her angry outbursts. Fuck. Who would have known?
"That being said, I guess you're waiting eagerly for me to admit that I want you, right?" She's looking at me imploringly, and I feel my heart pick up its pace. This is it. This is the moment Bella Swan is either going to let me in, or finally push me away. My throat constricts as I attempt to swallow down bile.
I can't find my voice to respond. I can't force my head to nod. I simply stare at her, anxiously awaiting the words I've been burning to hear from her for days.
Bella does something I don't expect. She raises herself from the chair, places her glass on the table and slowly walks towards me, not taking her eyes from mine for a moment. She stops once her legs are between my spread knees, and all I can do is stare at her in awe. She's the sexiest fucking thing I've ever seen. My girl is a goddess.
"Do you think I want you, baby?" Her voice is husky and warm and without my consent. My cock perks up and joins the conversation.
I nod, unable to speak.
Bella lifts her left leg and places it beside me on the couch. Then her right leg follows, and without me even realizing exactly how fucking monumental this moment is, I find myself being straddled by my boss. My infuriating, bitchy, sexy fucking boss.
My head is level with Bella's waist as she keeps herself suspended above me. Her hair falls over her shoulders as she looks right through me with her molten, chocolate stare. Slowly, yet confidently, Bella raises her hands from her sides and plants both of them in my hair, running her fingers through it softly.
My brain finally responds and I lift my limp hands from my sides and place them firmly on her hips, urging her to lower herself fully to my lap. Bella complies and I almost whimper once her thighs finally come in contact with mine. I feel her heat permeate through her flimsy skirt.
I drop my eyes from hers and watch her spread legs over mine. This is almost fucking surreal, and for a quick moment, my brain shouts for me to abort. It's almost too fucking much to handle when her scent engulfs me. I close my eyes and just revel in her proximity, and not for the first time since this whole ordeal started, I realize that I'm completely fucked.
My eyes snap open as Bella harshly tugs on my hair, forcing me to raise my eyes back to hers. Her lids are heavy with lust as she stares at me, her breathing matching my ragged pants.
"Bella," I croak and clear my throat loudly. "There is something you should probably know before this goes any further." I squeeze her hips for emphasis and bask in the glow of her soft moan.
"You really want to talk right now?" she asks breathily and for extra effect pushes her hips flush with mine.
"Fuck," I groan as her center connects with my already straining cock and I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to muster some restraint.
"I have to." My voice sounds strained and foreign to my own ears. I keep my eyes closed, forcing Bella's hips to remain still on my crotch. "You should know," I say after regaining some control, and open my eyes to hers. "That I chose you."
"For what?" Bella raises her eyebrows questioningly.
"To be my editor, Bella." I sigh exasperatedly. Now is not the time to act daft, baby.
"You did?" She sounds genuinely surprised as her lips slowly curl into a breathtaking smile.
"I did." I nod in confirmation and return her smile.
Bella's smile remains on her face for another second, before it slowly starts to fall. Her eyes, that only milliseconds ago seemed alight with happiness, now seem hollow and sad. Before I get the chance to question her about it, she clears her expression and slightly leans into my body, obscuring her face from me.
"Well then, Mr. Cullen," Bella whispers into my ear, causing me to completely forget about her expression of a moment ago. "Then it's probably important that you know." She tops to run her tongue softly from the nape of my neck to the hollow spot behind my ear.
I groan loudly and unceremoniously thrust my hips into Bella's. She moans right next to my ear, and the sound is enough to make me growl against her collarbone.
Her hands take a firmer grasp of my hair as she rolls her hips into mine, causing her to expel a sexy sigh as I dig my fingers into her hips.
"The next few weeks are going to get really…" she bites my earlobe. "Really…" She licks the shell of my ear. "Fucking…" She breathes into my neck, causing my hips to jolt in reaction. "Interesting."
She pulls away and stares at me hungrily. My hips are still straining to get more friction as Bella keeps on staring at me, unnerving me and turning me on all at the same time.
"I want you, baby," she says softly, keeping her gaze on me intently. The sincerity of her words causes me to halt my attempts to rub up against her. I blink in shock. I practically come in my pants. I swallow thickly. I reprimand my heart for picking up its pace. I devour her words like it's the last true thing I'll ever hear. I'm still hungry for more, and Bella doesn't disappoint.
"I want you more than I probably should," she admits softly, running her fingers almost lovingly down my neck and under my jaw, tilting my head further up. I comply, because right now, in this moment, Bella owns me.
She runs her thumb over my lips and breaks eye contact to intently follow the movement of her thumb. I open my lips and release a needy sigh, licking the pad of her thumb as she pushes it gently into my mouth, running it over my teeth before spreading the moistness of my own saliva over my top lip.
I close my eyes and drown in my need. I thought I could handle hearing her admit that she wants me. I thought I was in control of this whole situation. I thought wrong.
Bella Swan is going to be the death of me, and it will be the sweetest death I could ever ask for.
I feel her shift on top of me, and just as I open my eyes to protest, Bella's mouth touches mine.
"Unghhh," I moan into her lips as she softly caresses my top lip and then move to my bottom lip just as gently.
"We start working on your first draft tomorrow," she speaks against my lips.
I nod incomprehensively, still lost in the sensations. My fingers flex against her hips as she softly rocks them into me.
"I won't be giving you special treatment, Edward," she speaks again and this time kisses the corner of my mouth.
I nod again and groan when she barely pushes her breasts against my chest.
"We'll talk about the hard parts later." She emphasizes the double meaning of her words by pushing her core firmly onto my cock. I choke and then moan, fighting to keep my eyes open and my mind clear.
"But tonight," she sighs and flicks her tongue over my bottom lip. "Tonight you need to rest." She kisses the wetness away from my bottom lip. "You're going to need all your energy for this."
And then she's gone. The coolness of the air surrounding us hits my lap like a slap to the face. I stare at her incredulously as she steps away from me, her eyes hooded and dark.
"Don't go," I groan and attempt to move my heavy limbs.
"I have to," she sighs and grabs her handbag from the chair she was occupying earlier. "My parents are expecting me."
"They'll understand if you stay," I argue lamely as I try to rid my brain from the cobwebs spun by this dangerous spider in front of me.
She gives me a coy smile and then slowly backs herself towards my door, keeping her eyes fixed on mine.
"Are you going to pretend like this never happened?" I call after her, unsuccessfully keeping the bitterness from my voice.
Bella arches an eyebrow in my direction and then rolls her eyes.
"I don't want to sleep without you," I try again and scold myself silently for sounding so desperate.
Bella giggles at this, which only causes my mood to sour even further.
"I can't sleep without you," I mumble like a spoiled child and fight the urge to pull a face at her.
"Is that the only reason why you need me to stay?" Bella asks saucily as she places a hand on the doorknob.
"Yes," I bite back petulantly.
"You know that's not what I want to hear, baby." She turns my words of earlier today back on me. "But it'll do for now." She winks and then steps out of my door, closing it with a soft click behind her.
19:49 – She scores
xoxo
I'm addicted to your reviews, so please don't refuse me my fix! : ) Please, please, please let me know what you think! I'm writing this fic by the seat of my pants, and believe it or not, your reviews make a huge difference in which direction I take this story.