Edward
I sat back down on the couch with Bella. I could see that she was deep in thought.
"Did you have a good walk?" I asked. I watched her reaction. She kept her face impassive but I could see a slight tightening around her eyes. So something had happened. I would definitely have to get the story from Rose now. Bella's voice was a little too casual when she answered.
"Yes, thanks. I just had some stuff to think about, ya' know?" I was about to ask her what she was thinking about when Esme entered the room.
She was carrying two large white bags from a local Italian restaurant. Ah, she must have gotten Bella dinner. I could smell the oregano, cheese and tomato sauce. Yuck. But I was glad that Bella would have some real food to eat.
"Bella, I got you something to eat for dinner. I hope you like Italian." Esme said, holding up the bags.
"Sure, thanks Esme. That was really thoughtful." Bella said. "Let's take it into the kitchen."
She got up and I would have followed her but she waved me back. I knew it made her a little uncomfortable when people watched her eat. It was just so fascinating to me, not to mention just a little erotic. Stop it Edward, I said to myself angrily. You have a hard enough time keeping your hands to yourself as it is.
I looked over and Jasper was looking at me, his eyebrow raised.
You are putting off quite a bit of lust there, brother. You alright?
I glowered at him and he smirked at me.
Just leash it a little, for me. You keep hitting me with that and I will have to drag Alice out of here. I blocked the images that came flooding into my head of Jasper and Alice together and grimaced.
Jasper just laughed.
I was only halfway tuning into what was going on in the kitchen. I did want to give Bella as much privacy as I could. But some things could not be ignored. I did not have to be able to read minds to hear the alarm in Esme's voice
"Bella, what in the world happened to your arm?"
I was up and in the kitchen before anyone could blink.
I crossed quickly over to Bella and saw that Esme was holding Bella's right arm. I looked down and drew in a harsh gasp. There was a large black and blue bruise forming on Bella's narrow forearm. It looked like it went all the way around. And it was in the shape of a hand.
"Bella! What happened? Who did this?" I was mortified. Had I done this somehow? I could not remember if I had held her a little too tightly at some point. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it when I placed my fingers over the bruise. I could see that my fingers did not fit the marks and relaxed for a moment then realized that the bruises were the size of a woman's fingers. I stiffened.
"Did Rose do this to you?" If she had she would answer to me, Emmett or no Emmett.
"Of course not!" Bella said disapprovingly. "You know Rose would never do that!"
She was right of course. I felt disloyal for saying it.
"You're right, I'm sorry. Then who?" She seemed reluctant to tell me and I was not going to have that. I stared down at her until she gave a resigned sigh.
"Tanya."
I growled. What in the hell was Tanya thinking? How dare she put her hand on Bella? She was going to answer to me for this and she would be lucky if I didn't tear her limb from limb. I spun on my heel and stalked out of the room, finding Tanya my only thought.
I was startled when I heard Bella yell.
"Emmett! Stop him!" It took me a moment to process what she had said and it was long enough for Emmett to grab me from behind as I came into the living room.
Emmett never used his full strength on us. He was so much stronger than the rest of us there was no need. But he did now. He held me so firmly I could not break free. I struggled against his hold, growling and snarling, but I could not move.
Bella was in front of me, speaking, but I was so furious I could not decipher the words.
She reached up and placed her hand over my heart.
"Edward! Stop it! Now!" She sounded angry. Her voice started to penetrate the red haze I was looking through and I knew I had to stop struggling. I did not want to hurt Bella on accident. I could not stop the growls from emanating from my chest though.
Bella reached up and placed her hands on the side of my face. She forced me to look at her.
"You have to calm down Edward. It's over. It's done. I'm fine. So calm down." Somehow her touch on my skin was soothing. I could feel myself calming down, almost against my will. What power did she possess over me? I looked at her disbelievingly and relaxed my body. I was still upset but I did not feel the killing rage. Her simple touch had calmed me down enough to think more clearly. She released me and stepped back.
"Emmett, you can let him go." She said. Emmett looked over at Jasper who simply nodded.
Emmett released me and I went to stand by Bella.
It was Alice who broke the silence.
"Now will someone please tell us what the hell just happened?"
Bella answered.
"When I was out for a walk Tanya caught up with me. She grabbed my arm and left a bruise." She held up her arm and everyone saw the tell tale markings on her skin. Irina and Alice gasped. I flinched to see the damaged inflicted on her beautiful skin. I felt myself growing angry again and was hit by a wave of calm. I looked over at Jasper, who just shrugged.
Don't need you going off again, bro.
"Why did she grab you?" Esme was asking now. What on earth could have possessed her?
Bella's face became angry.
"She told me to back off, that Edward was hers." I felt disbelief pouring from everyone in the room. Except Rose. She knew more than she was letting on. I would find out what. Before I could speak though, Kate was standing at Bella's side.
"I cannot believe that my sister would do such a thing!" She said.
Bella shrugged and started to turn away. Kate grabbed Bella's left arm. But before I could move to make her release her hold, Bella turned on her, enraged beyond anything I had ever seen.
"Damn it! Let go of me!" Shocked, Kate released her. "Why can't you people keep your damn hands to yourselves? I am so sick of being manhandled! You know, I might be some simple human but I am not a toy and I am not a pet. You got that?! I have thoughts and feelings just like everyone else. If your sister doesn't like that Edward and I are together that is just too damn bad! He loves me and I love him, bottom line, end of discussion. And you tell her for me that if she tries to come between us or if she ever touches me again, I will personally start the bonfire that burns her to ash! Got it?!"
Bella turned and stalked out of the house, slamming the door and rattling the windows.
We all stood, stunned, looking at the front door.
"Well, shit." Carlisle said.
Everyone turned to look at him disbelievingly. Carlisle very rarely ever cursed. In fact, in ninety years I could only remember him having used profanity three times. All of them at moments like this. Moments of complete and utter shock.
Carlisle just shrugged
and scratched the back of his head. "Wow, she really was something
wasn't she?"
"Go Bella!" Emmett said and everyone laughed.
We all looked at Jasper.
"Don't look at me," He said, holding up his hands. "That was all Bella."
"I didn't know she had it in her." Alice said. She sounded proud.
"I did." Rose said. I turned to look at her.
"What happened when she was out for a walk, Rose? I know there was more to it than you let on."
Rose sighed. "Okay, I was coming back from taking a run in the woods and I saw Bella walking, looking like she was really deep in thought. She realized that she had gotten too far from the house and turned back and that is when Tanya caught up with her. I could hear what they were saying but I waited to see what Tanya would do. She has been so bitchy since she heard Bella was coming back and I knew she needed to get whatever she was feeling off her chest. Then I heard her tell Bella to back off, that Edward was hers."
I snorted. There was no way on this earth that I would ever be Tanya's plaything.
Rose continued her story.
"Well Bella got mad. She told Tanya that there was no way she was going to give you up after going all the way to South America to get you. She told Tanya she was insane to think it." Rose grinned and I could see she was proud of Bella for standing up for herself.
"So, Tanya told Bella that being a simple human she could never keep Edward and that Tanya would get him. Then Bella got really mad. Told Tanya she felt sorry for her. Said she knew Edward loved her and that Tanya was a pathetic creature to think otherwise."
I heard Emmett's low whistle behind me.
"That's when it got a little dicey. Tanya looked seriously mad then and grabbed Bella. So I ran up and got Tanya off of her before she could hurt her. Then Tanya ran into the woods."
"Thanks Rosalie, I owe you." I said. I did. Bella might have been seriously hurt.
"I'll remember that you said that. " Rosalie grinned. I think I am starting to like Bella, Edward. That girl has some real spunk. AND she drives you crazy, in every way possible so that is a bonus. She chuckled evilly.
I rolled my eyes. But I was glad to see that Rose's and Bella's relationship had taken a better turn.
"Edward, I am sorry that my sister would do such a thing." Kate said contritely. "I will promise you now that I will have a very long hard talk with her about this. This is inexcusable behavior."
I was still seething about this but blaming Kate was not going to help.
"I would appreciate it, Kate. I doubt that I would be able to have a rational discussion with Tanya right now." I would probably tear her limb from limb.
"And I will say," Kate continued, "your Bella showed a lot of spunk. She is not the shy girl I thought she was. You know, I almost believed her about lighting the bonfire."
Emmett laughed until he could not stand up.
Esme came up to me then and spoke softly.
"Edward, it is dark outside and Bella should not be alone out there. She is probably upset by what happened. Go find her and bring her back inside."
I nodded and went outside to find my beautiful warrior.
I went out on the porch but Bella was not there. Evening had fallen and it was dark; the only light coming from the windows of the house. Of course I could see perfectly but it took me a moment to locate Bella. Then I saw her standing next to a tree about twenty feet from the house. I was relieved that she had not gone far.
I approached and saw that she was hugging the tree with her face pressed against it. What a strange position.
"Bella?" I called softly. I did not want to startle her. She did not move.
"Bella, are you okay?" I moved closer and put my hand on her shoulder. She still did not move except to shake her head no. I was starting to become alarmed. What was wrong with her?
"Bella, look at me. Please?" I pleaded. I was relieved to see her release her grip on the tree and turn to face me. She kept her eyes on the ground.
"Bella, what's wrong? Please say something." I wished I could hear her thoughts. I used my finger to raise her chin and saw tears on her cheeks. I brushed them away.
"My love, why are you crying?" She looked up at me then and I gasped. Her eyes were so full of misery it tore my heart out. Before I could speak she threw her arms around me and turned her face into my chest.
"Oh, Edward! I'm so sorry! I can't believe I did that! Yelling at Kate and threatening Tanya and storming out of the house. I am so embarrassed. Your family must think I am the biggest idiot on the whole planet and-." I cut her off before she could finish.
"Bella! Bella! You have it all wrong! They are so proud of you! Standing up for yourself like that-it makes them all very happy. Honestly they didn't know you had it in you. Emmett laughed so hard at the expression on Kate's face I think they still may be having trouble getting him off the floor." I couldn't believe that this was the cause of her worry. Silly girl.
"Really? They don't think it was ridiculous for a mere human to threaten a vampire with bodily harm?" She seemed to find the humor in that statement. She giggled. Then she started laughing. I joined her and ended up having to hold on to her because she was laughing so hard she might fall over. Tears were streaming from her eyes and she wiped them away and calmed down.
"I'm sorry. I really am acting like an idiot now." She sniffed then smiled at me.
"No, not an idiot." I smiled at her. "Just a very possessive girlfriend." I liked that part of her. The part that was willing to fight for me. Even standing up to indestructible vampires to do it.
She stuck her tongue out at me and I grinned. Then I remembered how her kisses, and her tongue, tasted on my lips and felt the desire rise in me.
"I think I like the possessive Bella. You know, you were very sexy in there." I ran my finger along her bottom lip, reveling in its softness.
"R-Really?" She said breathlessly. Her heart started to race and her skin became flushed. I bent and brushed the tip of my nose along her chin to the sweet hollow beneath her ear. Then returned along the same path. She smelled so amazing.
"Really. You looked like the powerful, beautiful woman I always knew you were." She had been amazing. The passion in her voice, the flush to her skin, the way her eyes flashed. She was magnificent when she was angry.
I moved my hands to her neck and brushed my thumbs along its warmth from her ear to the lovely curve of her collarbone. I used my thumb to raise her lips to mine and kissed her.
She began to breathe more erratically and her arms came up around my neck, playing in my hair. Her touch felt electrifying. She stood up on her toes and held herself to me tightly. I wrapped my arm around her back and pulled her flush against me. I could not resist touching her warm soft lip with my tongue and she moaned deep in her throat. Like before just that sound nearly drove me over the edge.
I kissed her more urgently, more forcefully but she did not seem to mind. I needed more contact with her so I reached down and wrapped my arm underneath her backside and pulled her up off the ground. Our chests were flush against each other. She wrapped her legs around my waist and we were locked together. Her soft warm body pressed against mine was so erotic. I stepped forward and pressed her into the tree, loving the way her body moved against mine. I moved my arm from around her back and pushed my fingers into her thick soft hair. I pulled her head back so I could kiss the beautiful column of her throat.
"Edward," she breathed. The sound of my name brought me out of my passionate frenzy and back to my senses. I was quickly losing my grip on my self control. A few more minutes and I would not be able to stop myself from taking her against this tree. Slow it down Edward. I thought to myself.
I kept kissing her, though not with the same all-consuming urgency as before. I released her head and carefully pulled her legs from around me. I lowered her down my body, still kissing her. Finally I forced myself to pull away. I kept my eyes closed for a moment, knowing if I looked at her at this moment I might not be able to stop myself from pulling her back into my arms and picking up where we left off. Her arms were around my neck and I still had her hips in my grip. She withdrew one arm and touched my cheek with her soft warm hand. I opened my eyes and the look on her face was almost my undoing. Her lips were slightly swollen from my kiss, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glowed with banked passion. She smiled at me.
"Good thing for you that I have so much self-control, Edward Cullen." Then she grinned.
I was shocked for a moment. This woman was driving me to distraction, and I loved it. I burst out laughing.
"I thought I knew the meaning of self-control until I met you, Bella Swan. You could tempt the Devil himself and make him thank God for it." I kissed her then led her back to the house.
God I love this woman! I thought.