A/N: I am astounded by all of the reviews! Please keep them coming, they are the ultimate reassurance that people actually like what I'm writing here : ) So once again, I thank you.

I do not own anything Twilight related.

Safe Harbour

Chapter 10: False Pretences

Suggesting that he drive us to his and then drop me off to pick up my car later; we rode to his parents place. Riding to Emmett's was…weird. Not an awkward weird, but weird in the sense that even though we both knew we were hot for each other; the atmosphere in the vehicle was very tense. Emmett didn't speak a word the whole way, even as we parked in his driveway. Getting out of the car and shutting his door, he walked around the front and waited; I grew very nervous.

Maybe I'd made a mistake.

Why was he suddenly acting distant?

Was it because I suggested we…fuck?

Did that mean that there was no…pretending? anymore, and that it was just about sex for him? Anxiety fills my body as I try to remove my seatbelt and hop out; closing the door gently.

I turn to find Emmett right there.

Standing in front of me, his body presses against mine. "Edward," he murmurs, watching my face carefully. "I need to confess something to you."

Fear and nerves grip and hold me in place, frozen. "O-okay."

Realising I cannot shift further away from him without in fact pushing him back, I shrink under his intense, blue gaze. "I. I sort of…well… I lured you here under false pretences."

For some unknown reason, a strong sense of sadness envelopes me at these words. And then I realise why; he obviously lured me here, so that we could fuck and that was the end, right? He didn't want to see me again afterwards.

But some part of my brain rejected this idea. This was Emmett. He was different…wasn't he?

"What?" I whispered, trying not to show how hurt I was as ideas ran through my mind.

Maybe he lured me here, but he didn't actually want to be with me…at all. He wanted to bring me here, and humiliate me.

No.

Tears start to well in my eyes.

"Fuck," he mutters as he notices them. Gripping onto my shoulders he forces me to look into his eyes. "Edward, I just meant. Listen. I want to be with you. A lot. But. I just. I just think we-we need to talk first. I'd like to get to know you a little better before we do…that, okay?"

Fear and anxiety is suddenly replaced with shock and confusion. "You – what?"

"I would really like it if we could talk about a couple of things before we do anything…like that. Is that okay?"

Still confused, he is met with silence as I try to figure out what he means. So, he lured me here to make me think that we were having sex…when he really wanted to talk to me? About what?

He said he wanted to get to know me a bit better. But what did he not already know?

A nice soft feeling appeared and I realise his fingers are stroking my cheek. "Edward?" he whispered.

Blinking, I murmur with difficulty, "wha-you. So. What couple of things?"

He sighs quietly.

"How about we go inside, hm?"

Met with silence once again, he grabs my hand and leads me into his parents place. It's very nice; a simple white, two-storey house with a blue garage door.

"I know mum and dad are out for a few hours, so we do have the house to ourselves," he says, walking through and bringing me with him. Something about the way he speaks makes me think he's trying to reassure me. Making our way into what seems their living room, he sat down on the couch; pulling me down on his lap.

"Okay," he says quietly. Reaching a hand to my hair, his fingers run through it, unconsciously relaxing me greatly. "Edward. You know what I do, or will hopefully be doing for a living." His deep timber voice is so enchanting I could listen to it for hours.

At his pause, I nod slowly as he looks into my eyes.

"So, it wasn't very hard for me to guess; with so many signs, I knew pretty early on." I'm still confused as he speaks to me. Signs of what? What did he guess?

Noticing that I'm not sure what he means, he sighs again before speaking softly, "I know Edward. I know that you have most likely been in an unhealthy, - most probably – abusive relationship in your life. And I am guessing it was with your last partner."

With a small gasp my body freezes into place.

What.

How.

He.

How.

FUCK!

No.

Don't. Fucking. Cry!

You can't.

Unaware that I had started sobbing quietly, Emmett 'shushes' be gently as his arms wrap themselves around me completely, securely.

"It's okay. Edward. Remember what I said? It's okay to cry. It's okay." Taking some deep breaths along with me, he huffed out. "He probably told you not to, didn't he? He made you feel weak if you cried."

My sobs grew louder. How did he know all of this?

I didn't want him to know.

It was my secret.

Even Ali and Rose only knew that he had a girlfriend on the side; or rather me on the side. They didn't know about him...hurting me…

"Edward. Baby. It's okay. Anything you say to me, anything, will be kept in this room." Turning me around, he placed me so that I was straddling his legs; with each of my knees against his outer thighs. Hugging me tightly to him he continued, "This is what I mean though about getting to know each other. I want to know everything about you. I need to know you completely before I give myself to you and take you for myself. I need to know what will cause problems, what we can work through together, if there are any triggers that will set you back. I know it's hard, but talking about it is always better."

Crying more softly now, I lifted my head from his chest to look at him properly. Blinking away my tears.

"You, you want to-. Why? Why do you want to know?" I ask, honestly curious, "Do you want to do the same?"

Having no idea if this was a part of him 'luring' me, I am completely lost.

Wiping my wet cheeks gently, his expression turns angry as I speak, starting to worry me. Narrowed eyes and a scowl don't suit Emmie. They make him look different.

Suddenly, his face clears into a blank mask. "Like what?" he asks.

Not wanting to say, I duck my head.

"Edward?" he whispers, "Please. Let me in. I really care about you. Anything bad or mean that he did; I want you to know that I will never do them. Ever. I've already told you that I will never hurt you. Please Edward, tell me?"

Sitting back on his legs, I sigh quietly. Maybe I should try to let him in…

After a few moments I look up at him. With my mind made up, I take a deep breath.

"Okay…"

A/N: Thanks for reading.

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