Taste of Innocence Chapter 23
Bella led me through the forest, her eyes focusing straight ahead, her iron grip unrelenting on my hand. Fuck, she was hot as hell when she was possessive over me and our home and her stupid cow. I wondered idly where I rated among the three but of course I had to be number one, right? She didn't love that fucking animal more than she loved me and a house could be rebuilt. No, my girl adored me and it was fucking intoxicating.
"Would you hurry up?" she hissed through clenched teeth. Like I was fucking meandering through the forest? Okay, maybe I was trying to slow down our progress a little, but could she fucking blame me? The longer we took, the less time I'd have to deal with the she-beast and hopefully the Volturi fucker would arrive shortly after we did. The sooner, the better.
"Bella…"
"No, Edward. We are not hiding out in the forest. She's probably heard us by now anyway." That was fucking true. Should have stayed in the fucking meadow and made love all night. That was infinitely preferable to what we were about to do. And just how the fuck did she know what I was thinking anyway? So help me God if she could read my mind and I couldn't read hers, I'd go on a fucking rampage.
"How'd you know what I was thinking?"
She rolled her eyes. "Because I know you, idiot. You're trying to keep me safe, which I will not thank you for. I can handle myself and you and anyone else who comes along." Her red eyes blazed and Edward Junior responded to the heat in her words. Fuck me. We needed to get rid of Victoria quickly because I needed to buried in Bella pronto and there was no way she was going to allow me to fuck her while Victoria loitered around our house. Damn that bitch to hell. Of all of her many atrocities she'd committed against me, keeping me from fucking my girl was number one on the list.
Alright, so that might be a slight exaggeration. Victoria had done a lot of fucked up shit. But Bella was fucking stunning right now and all I wanted to do was lose myself in her and forget all about that demon that was waiting anxiously for my arrival.
"I hear you, Edward. Who is that you're talking to? Why aren't you alone? It's that female I smell, isn't it? Such a lovely, floral scent. Is she as sweet as she smells? Have you fucked her like you used to fuck me? Eighty six years and I still remember it like it was yesterday. Nobody touches me like you do. Like you will again. Come to me, my love." Her high-pitched voice grated on my nerves like it had all those years ago.
Bella froze in her tracks and turned to look at me, her gaze burning into mine. This time it wasn't heat, though, it was frost. Fucking Victoria. I grabbed Bella's shoulders and pulled her into my arms and kissed her hard. She was stiff for a few seconds but then she relaxed and returned my kiss. Thank fucking God.
I broke our kiss and touched her cheek softly. "It's you, Bella. Only you. Forever. Whatever she thinks there was, there wasn't. Please, believe me. I love you."
She took a deep breath and gave me a small smile. "I know. I love you, too. I just wish you were wearing a shirt."
How the fuck could she make me laugh at a time like this? Only Bella. "You're the one who ripped it off me."
"Never again," she muttered. Now that was just fucking unacceptable.
"You'd better." I loved it when she tore my clothes off. Bella just gave me a grin and I knew that there was no way in hell that she could resist tearing off my clothes at the next opportunity. She was a girl after my own heart.
"Well, isn't that sweet? Bring your friend out to meet me, Edward. Or shall I come to you?" There was an edge to Victoria's voice now. Fucking hell. This was not going to be pleasant.
Bella's fingers linked with mine again and we moved quickly through the forest. I saw the tree line up ahead and it was mere seconds before we burst through and saw our home again. I didn't see her yet but I knew she was nearby. I could feel her and it was like a punch to the stomach. Why? Why the fuck did she have to find me when life was good?
Bella turned her head in the direction of the barn and sure enough, there was Victoria, leaning against the side of the building wearing…oh my fuck. "What the hell is that?" Bella hissed angrily, her grip on my hand tightening to the point of pain. I couldn't even fucking care because the sight before me was absolutely horrifying.
Victoria had a shit-eating grin on her face and a bouquet of dead flowers in her hands, which should have been the most disturbing thing about her but it didn't even fucking come close. She was wearing a wedding dress, a fucking white satin dress with lace and pearls and what had to be fucking blood down the front of it. On her head, instead of a veil, she wore a nun's habit. It was seriously fucking disturbing and I hadn't a clue what the fuck to do about it.
Bella didn't seem to have that problem, though, because she kept moving toward Victoria, pulling me along with her until we were about five feet away. She finally stopped and I stopped with her. Victoria pushed off the side of the barn and closed the distance, stopping only a foot away from us, her eyes devouring me hungrily. I felt fucking violated by the way she was looking at me.
"Edward." Her voice was soft, reverent. It was really fucking creepy. I saw the intention in her eyes as her hand reached for me and I took a step back at the same time that Bella slapped her hand away from my chest. Victoria's eyes narrowed and she turned to look at Bella for the first time. If looks could kill, my girl would be a pile of ashes at my feet. I slipped my arm around her waist, just needing to fucking feel her by my side.
"Who are you?" Victoria demanded. "Why are you touching my man? I could destroy you without a thought, little one."
Bella smiled sweetly, as unconcerned as if she were talking to somebody about the weather instead of some demented vampire that wanted to end her. "I'm Edward's wife." I had to fight to keep from doing a double take at that announcement. Why did that have to sound so fucking appealing to me? I didn't want a wife, damn it. At least I didn't think I did. But I wanted Bella and when she called herself my wife, it made me feel warm inside, which was a welcome feeling since ice had settled in the pit of my stomach at the sight of Victoria.
"What?" Victoria screeched. This time I did flinch because her voice was so fucking grating that I felt it inside my fucking brain. How the fuck had I endured her for eight months? It must have been the bloodlust taking my focus away from how fucking annoying she was.
"His wife," Bella enunciated slowly, like she was talking to an idiot. Which, she more or less was. "His lover." Fucking right she was, damn that was hot. "His mate." Bella smiled on the last word, like she was savoring it. How far we'd come since she'd first heard that fucking word.
"Mate? I'm his mate!" Victoria crushed her dead fucking roses in her hands and tossed them at Bella's feet. "He was made for me. I made him! He's mine!"
Bella just continued to smile as she took one step and smashed the dead flowers below her. It was sort of fucking disturbing, though not nearly as disturbing as Victoria calling me hers. What the fuck made her think I belonged to her? If I were her damn mate, wouldn't I have stayed with her instead of getting the fuck away as soon as the opportunity presented itself? She was seriously fucked in the head.
"Maybe you made him, because you thought he was your mate. But he ran away from you." Victoria hissed and I braced for an attack. It was fucking coming, I knew it. "And you know what, Victwhoria?" I heard the emphasis on whore again and fought back a laugh. Laughing now would not be a fucking good thing.
"What?" Her voice was shaking so I tightened my grip on Bella's waist and prepared to throw myself in front of her before Victoria sprang.
"He made me. He wanted me. He chose me. Not you. It's I who am his mate, not you. I'm sorry you came all this way for nothing but that's how these things go sometimes." Bella spoke the words with barely suppressed glee and her eyes were alight with challenge. Fuck, she was totally baiting Victoria and damned if it wasn't the hottest fucking thing I'd ever seen.
Victoria's hands curled into fists at her sides and her ruby gaze cut to me. "You made her? Why?" Hurt and accusation colored her words. Did she seriously fucking think I cared about her?
A couple of weeks ago I couldn't have answered her question. I'd been compelled to make Bella mine and I had no fucking clue why. I'd attributed it to just needing to understand her quiet mind and fuck her delectable body but those had been excuses. I looked at Bella and linked my fingers with hers again, needing the connection, and brought our joined hands to her face, running my thumb along her cheek. "Because I love her. Because she's my mate. Because she was meant to be mine, forever."
"No! No, no, no, no," Victoria shrieked, whirling away from us and starting to pace erratically. "That can't be!" She turned back and got right in my face. "You're mine! I made you!" She put her hand on my chest then and Bella tensed next to me. Fuck. Not good. I started to step back but she grabbed my shoulder so I was forced to push her hand off me, before Bella did it.
"Yes, you made me, but I don't belong to you." Victoria flinched as if I'd slapped her. I didn't know how to fucking tread here. I wanted to scream at her to go the fuck away but she was so crazy that might set her off and if I coddled her and was kind she'd probably think I really wanted her. Fucking hell, where are you asshole? A little help please?
"You are my mate. I've spent all this time waiting for you. Every lover I took was just a pale imitation of you." Her hand was on my chest again and Bella was growling and I had no idea what the fuck to do. Bella wrenched her hand away from mine and yanked Victoria's hand off me.
"Stop fucking touching him. He's mine." Fuck that was hot. Edward Junior responded to her words, of course, and started straining against my zipper again. Fucking moron. Do you really want to get ripped off if these two throw down right fucking here? He calmed somewhat then, easing the pressure on my zipper but he was still hard. Not that I could blame him, because Bella calling me hers would always be fucking hot. Plus whenever she said fuck I automatically wanted to do just that.
Victoria faced her again. I'm going to rip your pretty little head off your shoulders and Edward and I will make love by the fire as you burn. That was all it took to make Edward Junior go limp and I had to fight back the panic that I felt at the image in Victoria's mind. Never. I would never let that happen. I'd jump in and burn with Bella before I'd let that bitch touch me.
"Think about it, Victwhoria. If he was your mate, would he have left you?" Some of the anger left Victoria's face and she looked confused. "He didn't even want to go to the city this week to hunt because he didn't want to leave me alone. Yet he managed to stay away from you for nearly a century. What does that tell you?" Bella's voice was angry, mocking, and it was fucking sexy.
"He didn't leave," she said, shaking her head. "He was taken. Someone ripped him away from me. I've spent all this time looking, waiting. I knew he'd be mine again." Holy fuck was she delusional. Bella looked at me and raised an eyebrow. Oh great. Here we fucking go. Time for me to fucking come clean, apparently.
"I left." Victoria's gaze whipped back to mine and she let out a moan at my words. This fucking sucked. I didn't want to hurt the crazy vampire but I had to tell her the truth. Maybe she'd just leave; no harm no foul. Sure. Who the fuck was I kidding?
"No, Edward, you were taken. You couldn't find me. But that's okay. I came to you and I'm here now. Everything can be the way it was." The way it was; blood, gore, violent, angry sex. Not one ounce of emotion other than disgust, at least not on my part. No fucking thank you.
"No, Victoria, I left. I wasn't happy with you. I didn't like hunting with you. I just…didn't want to be with you, period." Couldn't be any more fucking clear than that, could I?
Victoria shook her head, her red hair looking like fire against the white of her dress. "No. She's bewitched you or something. She made you forget what we were like. But I can show you. Let me show you, Edward." She reached out for me again and again Bella smacked her arm away. Victoria growled and then Bella growled and Edward Junior stirred and I tried to position myself between the two of them. No way was she going to hurt my girl. I would not allow it.
"You remember, don't you, Edward?" She raked her fingernails down my chest and I grunted at the pain. Victoria's nails; another fucking thing I had most certainly not missed. Bella tried to reach around me and I blocked her with my body. It sickened me to have Victoria's hands on me but I'd rather her touch me than lay her filthy fucking hands on my beautiful Bella.
"Remember when I killed that priest in Idaho and you licked his blood off my body while I was draped across the altar like an offering, an offering to you?" I remembered. I remembered how she'd savagely torn into the priest and then just as savagely tore into me. She'd nearly pulled my fucking arm off and she'd bitten me all over my chest. I hadn't let her anywhere near my dick, for fear she'd rip Edward Junior right off.
Bella made a quiet noise behind me, some strange combination of a gasp and a cry of pain. Fuck. I did not need Victoria filling her head with sordid stories of my past. I couldn't turn to look at her because I was afraid Victoria would strike. "I remember. It was that incident that solidified my decision to leave you as soon as I could." Victoria shrieked and Bella pressed a kiss to my shoulder. Thank fuck, she wasn't pissed.
Victoria tried to claw me again and I grabbed both her wrists in my hands. "Just fucking stop, Victoria. I don't want you. I haven't wanted you since you bit me in that fucking alley. I stayed with you because I had to. I fucked you because I had all this pent up rage and hate inside me and that was the only way I could deal with it and it was a good way to fucking shut you up." She gasped but I had to let it all out. "I hated you. I hated hunting with you. You're fucked in the head and I want no part of you. I never did."
Bella's arms wrapped around my waist and she ran her hands over the places Victoria had touched me, taking all the darkness and disgust away with one touch. She was my light and she made everything better just by being there. The past faded with her light caresses and instead of bloody altars I saw sunny meadows and quiet forests. I could never repay whatever god had seen fit to bring her into my life and let her love me.
Victoria stared at me blankly, like she wasn't sure how to process what I'd just said. This is not right. This is not what I thought would happen. She's done something to him. Once she's gone, he'll be normal again. He doesn't mean what he's saying. She's making him do it. She's ensnared him somehow and made him forget how good we are together.
I couldn't help it and I laughed. She focused in on me finally and her eyes narrowed into angry slits. I'll just kill her and then we can be together. I'll break the spell.
"I'm not under a spell, Victoria, though I once thought I was. It's called love, and if you really felt it for me, I'd feel sorry for you. But you don't. You want me because I'm some sort of possession to you. The toy you lost. You don't know what love is."
Did I say that out loud? "No, Edward." She shook her head and reached toward my face. I started to yank my head away but the next thing I knew I was flying into the side of the barn and crashing through it, wood splintering around me. Bella was screaming about Victoria putting her hands on her man and I sprang to my feet and ran back through the hole my body had made in the wall and saw Bella punch her in the jaw. It was a fucking beautiful sight but then Victoria shrieked and leapt at her and Bella ducked and rolled and struck her in the stomach. Victoria crashed to the ground and they started rolling around in a flurry of arms and legs.
I paused, not really sure I wanted to wade into the flying fists and kicking legs plus…it was really fucking hot. I mean, I'd had chicks fight over me before, plenty of times actually. But they'd been human and I'd really not given a fuck about them and this was very different. This was the love of my life fighting with the bat-shit crazy vampire who'd created me and thought she was in love with me. I almost missed the emo douche because though he may be gay as a three dollar bill, he would no doubt appreciate the fight right along with me. Every male liked a catfight no matter his sexual orientation.
Victoria yanked Bella's hair and she let out a yell and that got me moving, because she was not to be hurt, no matter how sexy it was to see her beating on Victoria. I grabbed the redhead and pulled her off my girl, flinging her halfway across the yard and pulling Bella to her feet. "Are you okay, baby?"
An outraged shriek sounded behind me and again I found myself flying through the air as the woman I loved tossed me aside like a ragdoll and flew at Victoria. A thunderous sound greeted the crashing of their bodies and Bella got her fist in Victoria's hair and yanked hard. I landed in the fucking corral next to Willow, who sniffed me before continuing to chew on the grass below her, completely unaffected by the chaos going on a few yards away from her. It was a good fucking thing I hadn't actually flown into the damn cow. Bella would have blamed my ass if she got hurt, even though she was the one who fucking threw me. Twice. My woman threw me and fucking masochist that I was, I liked it. Maybe Victoria's crazy had worn off on me all those years ago and was starting to manifest now. Or Bella's was. Who the fuck knew?
I got up and walked slowly over to the fence, climbing it and sitting on top of it just watching the two women tear into one another. After Bella's last throw, I wasn't exactly anxious to wade back into the fray but I would if it looked like Bella was in trouble. She drove her elbow into Victoria's midsection with a loud crack and it seemed she was doing just fine without me. Still, if Victoria were to get into a position to damage her, I could be between them in less than a second.
I saw something out of the corner of my eye and tensed, ready to fling myself at the intruder until he ran up next to me.
"What do we have here?" Demetri asked with a grin, his eyes on Bella and Victoria.
"My ex, who think she's my mate, and my actual mate. They don't seem to like each other very much. I wonder why?"
He chuckled at my sarcasm and leaned on the fence next to me. "Should we break it up?"
"I'm only going back in if Bella's in trouble. I've tried to stop them twice and been thrown out of the way each time. You're welcome to give it a shot."
Bella took a blow to the jaw and I tensed but she shook it off and yanked on Victoria's hair again, making her yell and lunge.
"Do you often incite women to such passions?"
I smirked at him. "What do you think?"
"Maybe I should move to America."
I laughed and nudged him with my left leg. "You're not me, though."
"I could have had her, if I'd seen her first." Rage welled up in me at the idea but I tampered it down. No, she was meant for me.
"Wishful thinking, Demetri."
He sighed wistfully as Victoria yanked on Bella's t-shirt and her chest popped free. "Can you blame me?" Oh fuck no.
"Give me your shirt."
"What?" He stared at me, completely baffled.
"You're not looking at my girl's breasts. Give me your fucking shirt or I'll kill you."
"It's not like it's the first set of…"
I growled and he broke off and unbuttoned his white shirt and handed it to me. Good, I wouldn't have to kill him. I grabbed it and got off the fence and pushed Victoria, sending her flying toward the house while I pulled Bella to her feet and wrapped her in Demetri's shirt. I didn't really like my girl wearing another man's shirt but it was better than the other fucking option. Had the fucker not been on scene I would have gladly watched my girl roll around half naked while she kicked Victoria's ass.
"What are you doing?" Bella growled through gritted teeth, batting at my hands as I fastened the buttons.
"The Greek prick is here and he's not looking at you half naked."
"Really, Edward, I think there are more important things to focus on."
"You have your focus, I have mine." I felt something hit me in the back of my neck and turned to see Victoria chucking rocks at me. What the fuck?
Bella shoved me out of the way and caught the next rock that came flying, throwing it back at Victoria as she ran and tackled her to the ground again. Jesus. Like I couldn't fucking throw the rock myself? I walked back over toward Demetri who was no longer alone. There was a very large vampire standing on his right, grinning in delight at the scene before him. He had shorter black hair and huge muscles that stretched his black t-shirt almost to bursting. On Demetri's left was a shorter vampire with light brown hair. He appeared to be rather bored by the scene in front of him, choosing instead to stare at me. Great, he probably wanted me too. Maybe he'd join the fight for my fucking body.
"Edward, this is Felix and Alec." The big one, Felix, gave me a fleeting glance before turning his gaze back to the women.
"This is the best assignment ever. I can't wait to tell Aro about it." Just then Bella flipped Victoria over and pinned her to the ground and started choking her, which was pretty fruitless when it came down to it but still really fucking hot.
"I told you she was magnificent." Demetri's eyes moved over my Bella like he was trying to memorize her. I growled and he chuckled. "Don't worry, friend, I know she's taken. It doesn't mean I can't appreciate the beauty that you have claimed as your own, does it?"
I kept my eyes on Bella, not willing to chance her getting hurt even though she clearly had the advantage at this moment. It only took one slip and she could be gone, a fact which terrified me to my very bones. I could feel the little vampire, Alec, burning holes in my back with his eyes. What the fuck?
"Where's your shirt?" The big one was talking to Demetri.
"On Bella. Hers was ripped and her man wouldn't allow her to fight with her beautiful breasts on display."
"Well, damn. Why do I miss all the good stuff?" Motherfuckers, talking about my girl's body like it was there for their enjoyment. She was mine, damn it.
"So, are you guys going to sit here or are you going to do what you came to do and take the crazy bitch away?" My words reflected my irritation and anger.
Felix laughed loudly and Bella actually broke concentration to look in his direction for a second, which allowed Victoria to buck her off. Both women were on their feet, gauging one another, and waiting for the other to attack at first opportunity.
"We won't be taking her anywhere." I knew what that fucking meant but I couldn't find it in me to care. "And frankly this is too much fun to finish too soon. We rarely get to see two beautiful women fighting. I only wish you had mud for them to roll around in." I'd like to be in the middle of those two. I could show them that there are better ways to deal with their anger. It's a shame we have to finish the redhead; she would be wild in bed. Still, the brunette probably would do just as well. I thought about starting my own fight with the fucker who was leering at my girl but he was bigger than me and there three of them. Too fucking bad.
Victoria sprang again and Bella ducked and took out her legs and pounced on her, smashing her head into the ground hard. Fuck, that was beautiful. My girl's fighting instincts were sheer perfection and I couldn't help but admire the ferocity with which she was landing blows on Victoria's face and chest.
Heathens, both of them. He could do so much better. I should bring him to Italy and show him culture and refinement and beauty that rival only his. Oh my ever living fuck, would this nightmare never end? Alec did want me. Demetri wanted Bella and Felix was torn between which crazy chick was hotter and wanted them both. All I wanted was for all four of them to vanish and Bella and me to live in fucking peace. Was that too fucking much to ask? This assault on my mind was almost too much to bear. I needed the quiet comfort that only Bella could provide me. I'd never again be fucking sorry that I couldn't hear her thoughts. Mindreading was a curse at times and this was one of them.
Victoria kicked Bella in the stomach and I was ready to wade in again but Bella only grunted and landed a chop across Victoria's neck that had her reeling. I wish my twin were here. She could burn both of these women while I used my gift to bring him home with me. I didn't know exactly what his gift was but in his mind I was completely frozen while he carried me onto an airplane so I knew it couldn't be good. I edged slowly back toward him, positioning myself next him in case he got the fucking urge to try to use his power against me. We'd see who could be faster. I'd end him before he finished the fucking thought.
He smiled as I settled next to him against the fencepost and his thoughts turned to all the places he'd like to touch me. I fought to keep from shuddering as I was mentally violated and kept my eyes on my girl.
"Your mate is astounding. However did you find her?" Demetri couldn't take his eyes off her either and it was fucking irritating but I smiled as I remembered the blushing the girl in the bar. That night had changed my life forever and it was chance that led me to Bella. Or maybe fate.
"Dumb luck. I met her friends at a bar when I was out on a hunt. Bella came in and she was the only girl in the room from the moment I laid eyes on her." She heard me, because I saw a little smile move over her lips as she flung Victoria across the yard.
"Perhaps you should give us the name of this bar. Maybe lightning will strike again." Demetri's tone held amusement but also a tinge of envy. I couldn't really blame him that. If he had Bella, I'd be one jealous vampire.
"Sure." Wouldn't it be funny as fuck if Demetri and Felix went there and met Alice and Rose? I had no doubt that they'd find them appealing. I'd even considered them briefly until Bella showed up and rendered them obsolete.
Blind fool. Look at me. She is nothing. Sorry, Alec, she is everything. I wanted to yell at him but I couldn't let these fuckers know about my gift. There was no way they wouldn't want to take me back to Italy with them if they knew that I could read minds.
"Stay away from my friends," Bella called over to Demetri while continuing to tussle with Victoria. She was amazing, throwing lightning quick punches and moving before Victoria could strike her back. Most of her return blows landed safely on the air, thankfully. My stomach was in complete knots and I really couldn't stand much more of this.
"I wouldn't think of harming your friends, lovely Bella. I just want to meet them and see if they're as fetching as you are."
Bella looked at him then and that split second was all it took for Victoria to bring her to the ground and put her foot on her arm. I was across the lawn before I actively thought of it, throwing myself at Victoria before she could pull Bella's arm off. I heard a popping noise and a yell and I turned my head frantically. Bella was clutching her shoulder but her left arm was still attached, thank God.
Victoria was underneath me, pinned to the ground and smiling up at me. "I knew you wanted me." Her body began to move below mine and I was fucking disgusted. It felt like I needed to throw up and I wanted to move away from her but at the same time I had to keep Bella safe.
Bella was on her feet in a flash and she grabbed Victoria by the leg and pulled her from under me. Victoria didn't seem to notice, her eyes still on mine and her hands reaching for me as Bella pulled her across the yard and dumped her in front of the Volturi fuckers.
"I believe this is what you're looking for. Take her and get yourselves the hell off our property."
Fuck, she was magnificent. Her hands were on her hips and she stared down all three men as if they were insignificant little worms instead of some of the most powerful vampires in the world.
Demetri gave her a placating smile. "Now, lovely Bella, we were just giving you the chance to get a little revenge on your mate's ex. I'm sure you have a lot of pent up aggression and we were more than happy to let you expend it. I'd like to let you expend it in other ways but I'm afraid that your Edward would be a bit perturbed if I tried."
I growled and got up and wrapped my arms around Bella. Victoria whimpered and reached for my ankle and Bella kicked her hard and sent her crashing into Felix's legs. He sighed and reached down to pull Victoria to her feet. She'd stopped struggling, looking at me with feverishly bright red eyes.
"Back the fuck off, Demetri. I think Bella's made it clear exactly where her heart lies."
He sighed and shook his head. "Fear not, friend, I know she's your mate. I just admire her fire and beauty. You were lovely to watch, my dear, and I apologize for not stepping in sooner. I was too overcome by your grace and skill to interfere. Know that if you were in danger, I would have acted." He bowed like the chivalrous jackass he was pretending to be and I scowled.
Bella laughed. "I know exactly what you were watching, and it wasn't my skill or grace. And you didn't act when I was in danger." Her eyes cut to me and she smiled. "He did. And that's one of the many reasons I love him. Now I suggest you and your friends take her and get the fuck out of here before I get mad all over again. And you see what happens when I get mad now, don't you?" She shot him a gleaming smile before turning back to me and wrapping her arms around my waist.
I held her to me tight and finally let out the breath I'd been unknowingly holding for God knew how long. "Scared me, baby."
"I know. I'm sorry. But when she tried to touch you…" Bella broke off and growled at the memory. Fuck that was hot. "I saw red. Nobody gets to touch you but me."
"Of course, love. Nobody touches me but you. You're my girl."
"She's not your girl! I am!" Victoria came out of her stupor and tried to lunge at me but Felix held firm and she couldn't move. He was a strong fucker that was for sure.
"Let's finish this, shall we?" Demetri made some sort of gesture and Alec moved to stand in front of Felix. As much as I hated Victoria, I really didn't want to watch her die. Bella looked up from my chest and pushed out of my arms.
"Wait!"
Demetri looked at her curiously. "What is it, beautiful Bella?"
"Not here."
"What? I thought you'd like to see her get her due."
Bella shook her head. "I don't want to see anyone die, not even her. And I certainly don't want you soiling my home with her ashes. Take her out of here. I don't care where you do it, but don't do it on our property."
She reached up and stroked my face with both hands. "This place is special to both of us and we don't need that kind of memory tainting it. Please, go."
Demetri gave Bella a bow again, ridiculous fuck that he was. "As you wish, dear Bella." He gestured to Felix who dragged Victoria down the driveway and Alec followed after giving me one final creepy ass stare. Thank fuck he was gone. "Remember, you are always welcome in Volterra. I truly hope the both of you will make the trip one day. We'd be delighted to show you our home."
"Thank you for respecting our wishes. If we decide to come to Italy, you'll be the first to know." She dismissed him by turning back to me and giving me a hot fucking kiss. I vaguely heard him mutter that I was a lucky bastard as he vanished in the direction the others had gone. I couldn't agree more with that assessment.
I picked Bella up and carried her into our house, which I was pleased to see what not fucking trashed. I'd feared Victoria had torn the place apart while waiting for us but thankfully that was not the case. I brought Bella upstairs and laid her on the bed and lowered myself on top of her, my lips moving over hers slowly.
I broke our kiss and looked down into her stunning face and her glowing eyes. "Thank you."
She furrowed her brow but still smiled at me. "For what?"
"For fighting for me and helping me face all the demons from my past."
"I'll always fight for you." She brushed my hair out of my face. "And you dealt with most of your demons on your own. I just kicked the shit out of one of them."
I laughed and nuzzled her neck. "Yes, you sure fucking did baby, but that's not what I meant. You gave me a home and a family, two things I never thought I wanted. No matter how many asses you kick, nothing will ever mean more than that."
Her eyes darkened and she kissed me hard again. "I'll always be your family and your home, Edward." Her words warmed my cold heart. "But just how many asses am I going to have kick?"
I laughed and kissed her cheek. "Countless, baby. That's what you get for falling in love with someone as hot as I am. There I was, trying to concentrate on making sure you were safe and I was assaulted by Alec's perverted thoughts."
She giggled and squirmed underneath me, making Edward Junior thrust against her. "I guess it's a good thing I have forever, then, if I'm going to have to kick that many asses."
I kissed her softly and she melted against me. Fuck, I loved how that felt. "How about we just stay here together and forget about the rest of the world?"
Bella grinned up at me. "I like that plan even better."
So did I. She was everything I'd ever need. My past was officially behind me. Carlisle, Esme, Grandfather, Victoria…none of them fucking mattered anymore. Bella was my world. Still, there was one thing…
"Bella?"
"Yeah?" She ran her hands down my back and gripped my ass. Fuck yes.
"Never mind." We had plenty of time for me to ask that particular question and she'd probably only said it because Victoria was wearing a wedding dress and it pissed her off. Maybe she didn't really want that.
She watched me for a moment and then shrugged. "Okay. Enough talking." Her hands got busy and so did mine but the thought continued to echo in my mind.
Marry me.
A/N Yeah, I left it there. I know! But he's not quite ready yet, you know Smugs! Has to work around to it a bit. There are 2 more chapters left, both of them epilogues of sorts featuring some minor time jumps. I can't believe this story is almost over but it is. He's come a long way from where he started!
I hope you all enjoyed the throw down with Victoria. I thought about having Bella end her but that didn't feel right to me and I knew Smugs couldn't, even though he hates her. But there were plenty of blows, physical and mental. Thanks so much for reading the last regular chapter. Epi #1 in two weeks!