"Loving you is hard. Being here is harder."

—High on the Beach, Lana

"Tell me about yourself." He said, interrupting my morning musings. We were in his room, just sitting comfortably on the couch naked while watching the magnificent view of sunrise from this huge glass wall.

"Oh, you didn't do background check on me?" I asked playfully. He definitely did, I knew it. The man was smart and careful. His hand didn't stop stroking my hair to smoothen the mess, unsurprised by the question.

"I did. But it's not much." He kissed my shoulder blade, licking the skin after.

"My life's pretty boring." I sighed as soon as I felt his arms encircle my waist from behind. Such a sweet gesture. It was either that or seductive these days. This guy was an enigma. He could be hot now and ice cold a minute later. Sane then psychotic the next time. We would never know when his crazy side decided to show up.

I didn't turn around, admiring the changed sky before me instead. The view somehow gave me calm. "Mine's too." He replied, trailing his nose through my neck.

"Really?" it was a rhetorical question and I was glad he didn't answer it.

For a brief time no one said anything. We were just enjoying the moment. The scenery. The embrace. The touches. I held back a moan as he nibbled my earlobe. "You're so soft." He breathed on my skin, making me shiver.

I tilted my head to the side and met his lips halfway. His arms pulled me into his lap, bringing me closer until his bare chest was flush against my back. He broke the kiss as it got too heated, kinda ignored his obvious hard-on against my ass. We knew I was still sore as fuck right now. We barely left the room for three days.

We ended up cuddling on the couch for God knows how long. Our legs tangled in comfortable position. I was curled in his hug with my head on his chest. His fingers were twirling my hair while mine was tracing the lines of his tattoos on and on and on. He knew how fascinated I was by them.

The abrupt raps on the door broke our connection, followed by the familiar voice. "Bella? Are you still alive?" Hailey yelled from the other side. Actually, it didn't sound like she was concerned about my well being. She was just simply curious. When there was no response, she added. "Edward Anthony Masen, open the door! I come in peace!"

Edward rolled his eyes at that, mumbling something about how she wasn't going to stop until she got what she wanted. He shifted me aside so he could get up and unlock the door. As soon as it was opened, the woman walked into the room, bringing lots of paper bags in her hands. She was wearing a short white t-shirt dress matched up with a pair of sneakers. Her hair was on Dutch braid pigtails and her expensive-looking sunglasses was pushed onto her head.

"God, you're so gross. Put some clothes for fucks sake!" she scolded when she found his naked state. Then just passing through him to put all the paper bags on the table. There were about ten huge paper bags with various designer brands written at the front. "Well, hello again, Bella. I hope you didn't take our last meeting to the heart." She greeted, smiling widely.

"Don't trust her. She's unstable." Edward chimed in with no trace of joke.

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes, turning her attention back at me. "Since my asshole cousin doesn't have that much money to buy you some clothes, so I did."

"Very funny." Edward grunted as he crossed the room, disappearing inside his massive walk-in closet.

"Thank you, but you don't have to do this." I said, feeling uncomfortable by her kindness.

"It's nothing, really." She waved her hand casually.

"Whose money you stole this time?" Edward cut in, getting out of the closet dressing in white shirt and hybrid shorts. He smirked as he found me ogling.

"Don't be rude, Edward. I'm trying my best to fix her impression toward me here." She grumbled.

"She's not easy to deceive, Hails." He laughed.

"Whatever. Jamie is waiting for us in the kitchen."

"I bet." He snorted, exiting the room. Leaving me alone with her.

"Get dress. It's a nice weather to be outside." Hailey said to me.

I'd never think to be outside meant here, on luxury yacht in the middle of the sea. This was totally insane. Seemed like they had the world under their feet. Money. Power. They made everything look so easy.

I couldn't stop looking around in awe because, hell, I could never afford this kind of life. The view was amazing. Blue was surrounding us, tempting me with its waves.

Hailey pulled her t-shirt dress over the head, revealing a black bikini underneath while Jamie was already shirtless, sipping his drink on the deck. His wild curly hair was now tied in a man bun. Edward was smoking beside him, getting relaxed and comfortable. The three of them looked like they really belonged here. Just rich people doing their usual spare-time activities.

"Remember when Edward injured his back because he tried to do a backflip?" Hailey said out of the blue, grinning from ear to ear as Edward groaned loudly. The glint of amusement was clear in her eyes. She was crazily fearless. And sometimes, I admired her for that.

"Yeah. He cried like a baby." Jamie snickered. If he wasn't his cousin, I was sure as hell Edward would kill him for that. The way the three of them interacted kind of scared me. It was intentional they were pushing each other's buttons

"Fuck you, I didn't." Edward grunted, blowing a ring of smoke skillfully.

"I bet my Maserati you still can't do it." She said only to fuel him, raising an eyebrow in challenge. These rich people had to be so fucking bored with their lives. I was watching them in silence. Just like an outsider in their circle.

"Uninterested. I've collected your cars enough, Hails." Edward sneered, making Jamie laugh out loud.

She huffed before dragging me into their conversation. It was unexpected move and I wasn't prepared for her question. "How can you stand a coward, Bella?" Jamie and Edward turned to me at the same time as though they just realized I had been here the whole time. I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

"She's just giving up, Hails, that's how." Jamie replied, smirking. Those blues teased me with its charm, inviting me in.

"You fuckers are too old for this shit." Edward scoffed, put the cigarette between his lips, taking another drag.

"That's the truth. Seriously, no one can stand you." She replied blatantly, earning an eye roll from him.

"I don't think she can, though." Jamie added. "Poor girl has no choice."

"What's the story, huh? Are you forcing her, Edward?" She crossed her arms over her chest disapprovingly. They were talking about me like I wasn't here. But it was her words that reminded me why I ended up here at the first place.

"Edward Masen has no limits, sister." Jamie chuckled like it was obvious. Like this wasn't new to him.

"Well, none of that is your fucking business, cousins." He spat, then locking eyes with me. Only for a split seconds because I looked away. I couldn't stand the intensity of his gaze.

"Careful, B, no men in this family is a keeper type." Hailey warned me as if it was important for me to know.

"Stop it, Hails, you scare her." Jamie said.

"What? I need to inform her before I find her corpse at the backyard." Her sly grin appeared as my body stiffened, terrified at the mental images. How casual she said it made me realize this thing was usual in their family.

"You won't." Edward replied, but his face wasn't convincing. Even for me. "I don't plan to kill her." Our eyes met once again.

Yet.

;)