Disclaimer: I own nothing we all know who the characters belong to.
AN: Thank you to Mkystich, who graciously stepped in when my beta had RL drama. Any mistakes are my own. I didn't always follow her suggestions. Also DurtyNelly took time away from working on her book to look this over as well. Without these two beautiful ladies it would be a mess.
This chapter has been ready for weeks, but because I thought it was so important, really a panicle turning point in the story I refused to post it until it was beta'd.
I have some very good news at least… Chapter 15 is already written and I will be working on its edits in the next week or so, I am hoping to post it for New Year's (if not before).
I have more news, but it can wait until the end… Please enjoy you've waited long enough.
***TCBS***
Edward stared at Bella for a few minutes; he couldn't believe she'd requested he stay, let alone speak to him. When she kicked him out, he thought he'd lost all chance to talk to her.
"I understand. I just wanted to apologize for how I treated you at the hospital," Bella said. Edward just stared. She guessed she'd been too harsh on him that day, and might never want anything to do with her again. Ready to turn back and say her farewells to everyone, no longer feeling comfortable with staying at the party, she felt Edward's hand wrap around her wrist – stopping her.
"No! Please, don't leave me."
Edward guided Bella towards Emmett and Rosalie's guest room. He wanted to make sure they had enough privacy for what he wanted to tell her.
"I think the one who needs to be making the apologies is me. I stepped over the line when I went behind your back and got that information on Marcus."
Bella took a deep breath. She needed to center herself before she told him what she concluded while at the center.
"No. You were right. The only way I will ever get over what happened, the only way I will ever get complete closure, is to confront Marcus and make sure what happened to me will never happen to anyone else. I also think that I may not be the only one that's been hurt by him, and maybe, just maybe, there will be someone out there that can come forward, and put him behind bars where he belongs." The fear of all that she was implying made her hands and knees shake. She was going to have to rehash everything that's ever happened to her.
Edward watched her for a few minutes trying to assess if what he was hearing was correct. He was also astonished with what she was telling him. He couldn't believe that it was the same woman he'd met a year prior.
"Isabella, I am speechless. I hope you know that you can count on me for anything, and everything you might need." He left out words that were on the tip of his tongue; I would do anything to have your love.
"Will you be my lawyer?" She asked.
"Of course, I will be with you every step of the way. I will do this completely pro-bono. You will pay me nothing. All I want is the pleasure of seeing that monster pay for what he did to you," he promised.
Now it was time for Bella to start talking about the other thing she wanted from Edward. She hoped that he would take that well.
"You said I can ask anything of you, right?"
"Of course, Isabella. I will give you anything and everything in my power." He moved forward to take her hand, his way of reassuring her.
Looking down at their clasped hands, Bella forced the words out as quickly and as clearly as she could.
"Will you be my Master again?"
Edward looked at her, trying to wrap his mind around what she was asking of him. There was no way she could know he'd turned his back on the lifestyle when she pushed him away.
"Isabella, you don't know what..." she cut him off before he could say everything she knew he was thinking.
"I know I'm asking a lot from you. I know that you haven't had a submissive since I walked out of your office all those months ago. I also know that you are denying yourself because of the way I reacted, but I need you. Please."
How could he resist any request she'd make of him? He loved her. He knew that, he would do anything, everything in his power for her. But could he do that?
"I couldn't live with myself if I did anything that hurt you again. You are the most important thing – person - that's ever entered my life. Isabella, despite how this might sound, I have to tell you..." Edward paused, wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans and took a deep breath.
"I did something that I never thought I'd do. Isabella, I love you." Edward looked down preparing himself for the inevitable reaction, for Isabella to slap him again and walk out of his life for good.
"Edward?" Bella waited until he looked up at her before continuing. "I love you, too."
The widest smile Edward had ever seen was gracing Isabella's face. He stared at her for a few minutes, trying to process the words she'd just spoken. She loved him? She felt the same way about him as he did of her? Could that be real? He had to be imagining it, right?
At Edwards continued silence, Bella tried to read his eyes. She could see the questions playing in his mind. She could see that he doubted her, and after the way she reacted at the hospital, she couldn't blame him for reacting the way he was.
"You love me?" She could hear the doubt in his voice.
"Yes. And I can't do what I need to do without you by my side. Please, tell me that you will be there."
Instead of answering her, Edward got up from his chair, and extended his hand for Bella to take. Once she was on her feet, he gathered her in his arms and just held her. He embraced her with all the love and desire that he'd been holding onto since she came into his life.
"Please kiss me, Edward,"
Knowing he couldn't deny her, Edward lowered his lips to hers. Gently at first, but when she pushed her lips more forcefully against his, he increased the pressure. Manipulating Bella's mouth with his, he slipped his tongue past her lips and caressed her tongue with his.
***TCBS***
By the time Bella and Edward walked back into living room, the only people left were Emmett, Rose, Jasper and Alice. Alice beamed at the sight of Edward and Bella's entwined hands. The radiant smiles on her friend's faces told her all she needed to know.
"Emmett, I will be by tomorrow to pick up all my equipment," Edward told his friend.
Emmett quickly stood and embraced Edward into a tight hug. "Welcome back, buddy."
Edward couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him, his friends reaction was a little over the top, but it wouldn't be Emmett if it were anything less.
Rose made her way over to Bella, hugging her as well. "I told you everything would work out. I told you there would always be someone who would want you to be their submissive."
Bella only nodded her head. Rose had told her that day they'd gone out all those months ago, not to worry. She knew now she never would.
When it was Alice's turn to embrace Bella, she had tears streaking down her face. She was so happy to see the wonderful changes in her friend and patient. All the things Alice hoped one day would happen were finally happening. She was embracing a very different woman than the one she'd first met, one that was hidden behind the scared, lost girl Bella once was.
"I'm so happy and proud of you both," Alice choked out over the lump in her throat.
As soon as everyone was done showing their support for the new couple, Edward quickly took Bella back into his arms. He wouldn't - couldn't- stop touching her. He needed to feel her body pressed against his, even if it was just in a simple form of holding her next to him on the couch.
Bella seemed to feel the same since all she could do is melt into his body. Whenever Edward moved, Bella would make sure that she would move as well. She finally felt complete, as if he were what was missing from her life for the previous months. One of the things she encountered at the center, in her latest stay, was that she became more aware of herself. It was as if she were learning how to live for the first time since she was ten years old. She learned the feelings she always tried to keep buried and hidden were exactly what she needed to let out, so she could finally begin to heal.
***TCBS***
After spending a little while with everyone, and Edward making plans with Emmett on when they'd take his equipment back to Edward's house, the new couple left. Not only had it been a long day, but Edward was worried they'd been out too late, considering Bella had been released from the center that day.
"Could I pick you up for breakfast tomorrow?" Edward asked her, as they pulled up to her house.
Bella smiled somewhat shyly at him and nodded.
"There is a lot we need to discuss, especially if we are going to begin a personal and D/s relationship. I want... no, that's not right. I need to know what the boundaries are; how intensely you want to live this lifestyle. Do you want to combine our personal lives along with our BDSM one? We also need to work on getting the process started for the lawsuit."
Bella stopped him by placing her hand over his before he could continue. "Edward, the one thing I can tell you right now, is that when we are discussing the lawsuit I don't want it to be combined with any discussion about our personal lives. The lawsuit will be treated specifically as a business arrangement. It will have no bearing on anything else." Bella took a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. "One thing I am sure of and I know, is I refuse to taint beautiful memories that we make together as a couple with those having to do with my painful past."
"Anything, Bella. I will do anything you want. If you'd like, we can meet for breakfast tomorrow. Then on Monday you can come by the office and meet with Hamilton and me. Hamilton is my new intern and he will be helping me with the case," Edward explained at Bella's confused look. "And we can discuss how we will proceed with the case. Does that work for you?"
"Yes, Edward, that would be perfect. I look forward to seeing you in the morning for breakfast. Oh, what time should I expect you? I want to be sure to be ready by the time you come by."
"I will call you before I head over this way. Okay?" He asked, and then leaned forward to kiss her luscious lips gently. "I love you."
"I love you too, Edward."
***TCBS***
The weekend passed with breakfast for the two of them and informing Bella's family about their new status as a couple. Edward also spent time rearranging the equipment in his playroom. There were a few things he'd decided to completely eliminate, refusing to use them on Isabella - ever.
Bella was full of nervous energy when she arrived at Edward's office on Monday. She hadn't been there since the day she found out about Edward locating Marcus.
Walking in she was immediately greeted by a thin, young man, with bright blue eyes and dark long lashes. He introduced himself as Hamilton Roberts, Edward's new paralegal. He was dressed smartly in a crisps blue pinstripe suit, burgundy tie, and white button down shirt.
"Is there anything I can get you, Ms. Swan?" Hamilton asked as soon as he led her into Edward's office.
Before Bella could answer though, Edward spoke up. "Please bring Ms. Swan a diet soda."
"Yes, Sir. I'll get that and we can get started," Hamilton replied.
Bella couldn't remove her eyes from Edward as he made his way around the desk to greet her. He was dressed in a black suit, light blue button down and yellow polka dotted tie. He gave her a smirk, letting her know he'd caught her checking him out, which in turn caused Bella to blush a beautiful pink color that matched her pleated skirt. Her white blouse was a little too transparent for his liking, but it wasn't against some of the rules he'd given her the day before. It covered all the right places, as he'd required, so he'd let it go.
Before Hamilton could return to the office, Edward pushed Bella against the wall closest to the door, and kissed her firmly.
"Mmm, I've wanted to do that from the second you walked into the office. I thought I wouldn't make it around the desk fast enough."
Bella giggled at his over exaggeration.
"Edward, we are in your office," she good-naturedly chastised.
"Isabella, I am aware of where we are, but after months of not seeing, touching or having you in this office, it was going to be impossible for me not to do something I fantasized about all the time."
He wasn't making that up either, it'd been one of his biggest fantasy's to push Isabella against his office wall and have his wicked way with her.
Thinking it was best not to say anything, Bella place a sweet kiss on his lips before making her way to one of the seats in front of his desk. Edward adjusted himself as she took her seat. He'd just sat behind his desk when Hamilton walked back into the office, a soda for Isabella in one hand and a bottle of water in another for Edward.
Edward explained to him that morning, before Ms. Swan's arrival, a little about what they would be discussing. Isabella Swan planned to sue Marcus Volturi for punitive damages stemming from physical, mental and sexual abuse over a four-year span when she was young. They also planned to make sure the information about the lawsuit would be spilled to the media.
"First off, I want to inform you what position Hamilton will have for the trial. Because it would be a conflict of interest for your boyfriend to be your actual lawyer on the case, he will be primary and I will sit second chair."
Bella blushed and looked down in embarrassment when Edward revealed their status as a couple in front of Hamilton.
"Please don't be ashamed, Bella, as a member of this team Hamilton needs to be completely informed. We cannot afford for the defense to surprise him with anything. I also know that some things will be harder for you to talk about in front of either myself or Hamilton, and if you'd prefer, I could arrange for Ms. Cope or Alice to be here for those moments," Edward explained. Bella nodded her head, letting everything that he was telling her sink in.
"Both Ms. Cope and Alice know everything. I don't have a problem with either of them being there, but if I get to choose which I'd prefer Alice." Bella smiled sheepishly at both men.
"No worries Ms. Swan, I will arrange it with Mrs. Whitlock," Hamilton reassured her.
They discussed what would happen next for another hour before Hamilton left them to begin writing up the lawsuit paperwork.
"Get your sexy ass over here now, Isabella," Edward said the second Hamilton made his way out of the office.
With a giddy heart, Bella quickly complied, immediately sitting on his lap. "How are you feeling?"
"I will admit, I'm a little nervous... scared... worried. This is something that I never thought I'd have the courage to do," she explained.
Edward caressed the exposed skin of her leg as he explained how proud he was of her. "I have underestimated you before, and I know you've doubted yourself as well, but I want you to know there is nothing you need to worry about. You've survived some of the hardest things anyone could go through. Even though you've had a few setbacks, what you went through not everyone could surpass. I'm sure there are lots of women who've taken the coward's way out."
Bella shook her head in denial. She wasn't strong; she hadn't survived. The marks that will forever mar her skin are a testament to that. Had she been the things Edward said, she wouldn't have been emotionally crippled for so many years. "No, Edward, the strong one, the one who's helped me the most to get to where I am today, is you. Even though Alice and Ms. Cope have taught me a lot, you are the one that has helped me move passed the emotional stuntedness."
"Oh, my sweet Isabella, please don't make me bend you over this desk and spank the shit out of you. I've done no such thing. All this, where you are, what you've accomplished here today. That is all you." The stern, determined look and tone of Edward's voice left her with no choice but to accept his kind words.
Needing to get some things rearranged, now that Hamilton was going to be lead on Isabella's case, Edward walked her out of the office. Before helping her into her car, he kissed her thoroughly and instructed that he would expect her at his house for dinner, and some light play that evening.
During their breakfast the previous day, Bella admitted to being curious by a few of the things she'd seen in some of the videos and websites she looked into when she first began to do research. Much to Edward's joy, he promised to go slow with her, to begin with some light play until she was more versed into the lifestyle.
***TCBS***
Edward worked in his office, informing a few clients that he'd be taking first chair for their trials. Hamilton would be taking over a lengthy, more intensive case that would need his immediate attention. Relieved that many of the clients agreed without too much fuss, he worked on getting more acquainted with each case.
"Boss," Hamilton called before walking into the office and sitting in the same chair he'd occupied when Ms. Swan was there.
"What's up?"
"I've written up the paperwork for Ms. Swan's case. Would you like to look it over before I take it to the court for filing in the morning?"
Edward extended his arm in request of the papers. He glossed over the wording, but focused more on the details he considered to be most important. "You've written up that Ms. Swan is requesting thirty-five million and one dollars for restitution, why the one?"
Hamilton chuckled, "The one dollar is more to make a statement. The image I would like to project of Ms. Swan is that she isn't really suing for the monetary reason, but the moral one. Thirty-five million would be what she would need to help pay for all the therapy, reconstructive surgeries -should she choose to have the scars marring her arms and legs removed- and repayment to her family for the support they've given her over the years since the abuse. The single dollar would be the payment for the pain and suffering."
Edward laughed. He was proud of the young man sitting in front of him. He would have a wonderful future and Edward was happy to be the one that took him under his wing.
"Very good, Hamilton. I wouldn't have ever thought of something like that."
"Well, with your permission, Mr. Cullen, Ms. Swan is a lovely young woman and I hate that she's been through so much."
Edward nodded in agreement. Hamilton was absolutely correct about Bella. He finished looking the document over and sent Hamilton on his way. He too needed to get out of there if he was going to make it home in time to prepare for Isabella's arrival.
***TCBS***
AN: I've signed up to do the Jan Drabble Wars, so I will be busy working on that for the next week to two weeks. Like I said do not fear that chapter 15 is already written, and once I finish my drabble I will work on chapter 16.
I can also tell you that chapter 15 will have a lime, and we will get into the playroom. I am going to ask my friend to look that chapter over to make sure that I've portrayed the playroom activities correctly. One thing I dislike is an inaccurate account of the lifestyle. It was one of the reasons I felt the need to write this story. I might just be crucified for this comment, but 50 Shades, depicts it so incorrectly that, and I refuse to do the same.
Recs:
School of Mischief by Mkystich: This is her piece for the December Drabble Wars, and let me tell you it's good… Ive been privileged enough to PR part of it as well as write with her for this story. This is her official summary… December Drabble War Entry - Having to maintain the family tradition, Bella starts her two year requirement at the prestigious CV Academy. To the outside world CVA seemed like a socialite high school where students ended up becoming governors, senators, CEOs, lawyers, and doctors, but the students knew there was more to the school then that.
Harkham's Case by Scarlettplay: This is the most original, sweet, special Edward I've read in a long time. Please if you don't read another new story go read this one, you wont regret it. This is her official summary… AH, OOC. B/E. "If it's not Asperger's, then what is it?" Bella asked. Alice paused before answering, "We don't know what he has. He was the first documented case. For now, he's called Harkham's Case number one." Bella smiled as a tear leaked out. "Okay." But nothing was. This changed everything. Rated M for adult content even though it starts out in high school.
Heavy by LolaCullenx: This story is so seriously under reviewed it's not even funny. I could not begin to describe it correctly so I will just let her summary explain it… Bella is sent to a therapeutic boarding school in Utah where she meets bad boy Edward. Sparks will fly, but can each overcome their past to move forward with their future? AH
Last and definitely not least… A story I am proud to say I get to PR…
Between Us by Nuttyginger: It's a story about just when you thought you are getting your life back together, you are doing good, the one and only person you've ever loved fully walks back into your life…. This is her summary… He was the same and different all in one body. The boy I had once loved had turned into a man...temptation in a tie, had swagger for days...and a curious British lilt that makes my insides tumble. Could we ever be what we were or am I just completely screwed? AH, ExB