Authors Note: Hi guys, here's 5. Thanks for the job wishes, you have my heart. Just a reminder again to all the people sending me repost and update questions, everything you need to know has been covered in the previous Authors Note's, check there and if your question isn't answered, message me and I'll get back to you once I'm home again. I repeat, I'm not changing the story, just fixing the format; the original 12 chapters have been available on my blog since 4 June 2012.
I've gotten numerous questions for this one so for those of you who were worried, Edward is and will always remain a dark, condescending bastard, I promise I will not change that in the reposts, you can rest easy *winks*.
Ch6 and Ch7 will be posted probably together and then we're into the homestretch. I'm hoping to have Ch13 up by next week or early the following when I'm finally back home. To all my readers, old and new, I love you to bits, thank you for all the support. To my Mobward lovers, I will update ILAW as soon as I get a chance. Sending buckets of love to JustJJ and awesomella, and a huge shout out to goddess terry she also caught one of the random parts I added to Ch3. Follow me (a t) KatieA_Tyler for easy info while I'm on the road or visit my website blog. Till then, love and God bless, Kat.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, quotes, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners and are simply used under 'fair use'. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is story is written for the legally recognized adult population. According to the e-mail response I received from them, FF doesn't allow gratuitous descriptions of sex and extensive graphic violence.
Dine and Dash
*~*~* Chapter Five : Breath of Life *~*~*
"There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights." (Bram Stoker)
The ride back to Forks High went by in a blur. Like being stuck in this constant state of delusion, I felt like I was asleep with no chance of waking up. In a flash, I was back at school.
Paul was clearly shocked that I got out early from work but his relief, thankfully, outweighed his questioning mind. We spoke a lot during the ride, but I honestly have no idea about what.
Ever had that gaping emptiness in the pit of your heart? The kind that you can feel, but don't know how to remove? I'm feeling it right now… after a really long time...
The blinding pain seems to become more prominent when Paul mentions JC in passing. Jared's name ends up being the only thing I hear in the entire conversation because it brings his angered face from yesterday entirely into focus in my mind. The look of sheer fury spelled out on it, is a constant reminder of what awaits me when the slow grave I'm digging is finally complete. The fact that I'm powerless to stop the steady paced shoveling of the dead earth despite me wanting to, is ripping the tender, bruised, strands of my sanity away, slowly but surely.
Why couldn't things be simpler?
Claustrophobia, like I'm locked in a coffin alive, starts to build up, the more I think. I fly out the car as soon as we pull into the lot.
Paul looks bewildered, his hand suspended a little from the wheel. I don't blame him, I'd be at a loss too if I thought my sibling was slowly losing her mind. He idled in the drive until he saw Angela wave me over to her. Noting I was safe, he pulled out, albeit very slowly, reluctant to disappear just yet, what with my strange behavior and whatnot.
Pulling in gulps of air, I made medium strides towards Angela. She smiled at me guiltily, her eyes apologizing to me through her heavy rimmed glasses.
"Hey Ange." I smiled genuinely, in hopes of easing her apprehension.
It worked. Her face beamed! For a about a millisecond, then it fell.
Confused, I followed her gaze and was met with the face of an unbelievably annoyed Mike Newton. My jaw hangs slack as I fully comprehend the extent to which Seth 'took care of it'. I cringe at the large, purple bruise coloring his right cheek. It forms a frowning arch under his swollen, stitched, bust up brow.
I've seen wounds before, wounds that were far worse than these, but those bruises were on the guys, and they could handle the pain… Mike… not so much. He's got a, too cool for school, demeanor but we all know Mike's harmless.
"Jesus! Mike, I'm sorry!" I belt out the first thing that comes to mind. As I watch him my original anger from the dare from hell dissipates.
A tiny tight smile forms on his lips, but doesn't reach his eyes. "Don't worry about it," he dismisses the beating. He hastily walks away almost as if running to safety.
"Christ, Seth." I breathe out softly, watching Mike's profile disappear behind a truck that he and Jess are washing.
"He'll come round," Ange's soft voice breaks my trance reassuringly.
I'm not sure I want him to, I think ruefully to myself as I make my way to the car she's hosing down.
All I seem to do lately is fuck up. Mike's now terrified into still being my friend, not that he's been a loyal friend in the past, far from it, but it still nags at me in the back of my mind. I'm enjoying working at Nell' Ombra, you know, except for Evil Blonde Bitch. JC seems to be having the hardest time dealing with me being under the wings of the Shadows, on top of being the one guy close to hitting home that I shouldn't be in Forks, even though he doesn't know the why yet. I'm uncontrollably, undeniably, drawn to the one guy who I shouldn't be. I've crossed the line… so irreparably messed up absolutely everything.
My head feels too heavy as I bring up my soapy hands to brace myself on the roof of the Honda that Ange and I are washing.
"Bella? You 'k?"
"Yeah Ange. Let's finish this one up 'k?" I playfully fling a fist full of foam at her and as expected all traces of worry leaves her face.
Grinning she sprays me with the hose matting my hair to my forehead. The cold water unexpectedly snaps me back to the here and now, and I'm ever so fucking grateful for it. All this brooding is insane, not me. Pushing every worry to the back of my mind, I lose myself entirely in the meaningless task of washing the blue metal body before me.
~.~.~D&D~.~.~
Angela and I make quick work of two cars and decide we've earned some time off. Ben and Eric wave Ange and me over, and Angela's face beams so bright she could replace the fluorescent lighting in the school halls all by herself. Holding back a laugh, I tell her that'll catch up, I just need a bathroom break.
Running into school, I quickly enter my locker combination to retrieve my Marlboro demon pack and drop my phone into my pocket. Snatching the pack in my fist, I start to close the door and flinch at the photo collage of the Wolves and I on the inside of my locker door. Pictures documenting every special moment in my life; it forms a beautiful, merry, border around the tiny mirror that Jess slid in for me and Ange at the beginning of the year. Special… the word breaks my heart. Every picture holds the Wolves and I in focus, because they made it special, they went out of their way to do it too… all my damn life.
As I finally look into the mirror held at the heart of it, I catch my cold reflection staring back at me hard. Only two words resonate in my head, before the violent sound of my locker being slammed shut.
You. Bitch.
~.~.~D&D~.~.~
My anxiety is back with a vengeance as I bolt out the building. My head's an explosive mess by the time I round the cafeteria. I'm damn near dead before I reach the back of the school.
Hidden away from the world I collapse to the damp floor and drop my head between my knees as I try and pull myself together. Taking deep, slow breaths as I look down to the old roots on the Lovers Tree. I snigger. It's a sick joke. The huge, ancient, solid tree, which since the opening of Forks High all those years ago, holds on it the names of all the schools true sweethearts. Those young, free, teen lovers that thought they'd love each other beyond graduation, college, work and death.
A lot of them were true. The names of Angela's parents, scratched haphazardly into the dark bark of the tree, practically sing to me as I think of the lovers who did make it… and then, I hear it… that mocking, high pitched screech that cuts through the song, demanding my attention, and my gaze drifts higher to the right…
Renee + Charlie 4ever
Engraved almost flawlessly, and encased in a symmetrical heart. I stare at it with burning eyes. It's written as if the utmost care was taken while intertwining their names on the tree of Forks Highs great lovers.
I've always wondered what they used to carve into the bark. One of dad's many army knives, maybe? Or one of Renee's sharp pins? Maybe, a blade from a friend? So many questions and no answers. Who watched as they did it? Did my parents steal smiles at each other as it formed? What if they spoke words of love and promise instead? Or laughed at the silliness of it all? Did dad think this woman would bring him untold happiness? Questions, questions, haunting questions.
I look closer… it's so perfect…
All I've ever wondered was what went wrong? And sadly that's the one question I have the answer for. Like a perfectly scripted play, I repeat the process I know so well. For the umpteenth time as I read the names of my parents, my heart, in a brief moment of inner honesty, wonders what went wrong, and like always, the answer comes to me almost instantly.
I did.
They had no child when this was carved but they did when they split up. Maybe it really was me.
My fingers moved deftly for a cigarette and brought it up to my lips. As I lit it up, I watched in fascination as the flame danced and illuminated their names in happy warmth. A smile forms on my lips, a sick feeling of satisfaction fills me, at the sight of the glow. Guess this could be the one time I've managed to brighten up the lives of my parents.
Pulling in deep, I don't allow myself to think anymore. The burn in my throat is all I want right now. Mesmerized by the feel, I look at the bright red tip and wonder how it would be to have its warmth cover me too. To have that burn engulf me, make everything disappear, until all that's left is the safety of it.
I hear a noise behind me and turn quickly. My heart rate instantly peaks as I see Mr. Greene doing his rounds. Ducking out of sight quickly, I crouch behind the trunk and wait till he passes.
When he does, oblivious to my presence, I let out a relieved breath and lean my head back on the rough, sturdy bark of the tree.
When I open my eyes however, I suck back in the relief, almost instantly.
My head is leaning directly on Renée's name.
Anger flares in me for no logical reason, aside from not wanting her support. Ever. Even if it's just a dumb name written in wood that's supporting me. I back away hastily from the tree as if it could literally transport me to the woman who abandoned me and my father, all on a whim.
A blistering pain causes a whimper to escape from deep within my chest. Dropping the cigarette fast, I look down to my wrist and see a bright red mark where it burned me.
"Shit." I bring the wounded skin to my mouth and suck on it, as a mind numbing pain courses through my body. Even thinking of Renee seems to cause injury, I think sarcastically, until reality sank its cold claws in, amending my statement for me; thoughts of my mother cause injury.
I hate that it's true. That, I'm someone who can't find anything but pain in the one thing that is universally known as a protector.
Anger and sadness filled me up inside, I stubbed out the blaze of the white demon on the cold floor and hastily walked away from the Lovers Tree.
"Where's the fire?"
I shrieked. Blood. Fucking. Curlingly! Making this the first time I'd seen Edward snicker instead of chuckle when he saw me.
I don't know what shocked me more. His presence? His choice of words? Or the fact that he mistakenly grabbed my scalded wrist?
I gaped at him, open mouthed and pulled my wrist back to me. He didn't struggle, instead just watched me, and let me cradle it in my other arm. His expression flickered, right before my eyes changing from cockiness, to confusion, to concern.
"How'd you burn yourself?" His voice dropped from low velvet to deathly dark in a nanosecond. His stance was rigid enough to send a battalion running back home with tails between their legs as he reached out to take my hand back to him.
I step away from his reach. "It's none of your business," I hiss.
My fake icy tone does little to intimidate him. His stride doesn't falter at all as he advances on me and if anything now he just looks pissed.
"Like hell it isn't!" he seethes, still focused on my cradled arm.
"It happened by mistake," my cool is slipping as I watch him, a slow burn in the pit of my stomach that goes further than fear, "it's nothing."
"What the fuck were you tryna do? Barbecue it?" he shot back annoyed, the pink flesh was clear to him due to his towering height. "Show me your hand. Now."
"Fine!" I barked and thrust out my damn hand.
He examines it, turning my wrist gingerly, this way and that, sneering sharply with his eyes at the large blistering that's already forming.
Now that I look at it, it actually does look pretty bad. Oh my God, how long had it been burning into my skin before I realized what was happening?
"Look," I say, desperate to get it back, "I've got to get back to the fundraiser."
At the hard look he shoots me, I hastily add on motivation.
"I can't leave. I've got to be here, for at least an hour or something, for it to count as an assessment and they grade us according to how many vehicles we wash. Three, will get me a B minus." I tugged and he let my hand drop, his expression menacingly dead as he stared me down.
"Fuck!" Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he cussed through gritted teeth and stormed away.
I was shocked.
I somehow didn't think he'd give in, yet there he walked. Part of me was relieved that he was leaving but another, more dominant, part was choking back emotion at the sight of his retreating leather clad back. Turning away I forced myself to not watch him go away, I knew that there was a big chance I'd do something I'd regret if I didn't.
With slow, deliberate steps, I trudged back to where Angela was posted by a van.
"Hey you good?" she asks, "You were gone a while?"
I was about to answer her when thunderous roars of engines rumbled across the street.
All heads turned toward the entrance of the school, watching as the angry, commanding formation of bikes raced through the drive, raising dirt violently in its wake.
My heart throbbed loudly in comprehension. Shadow Fangs.
Black, red and gold dominated the lot. A respectful, yet fearful, silence consumed the students as they watched in morbid fascination as the Shadow Fangs did rapid circles around us.
I stood dumbfounded as one by one the bikes came to an abrupt but impeccably controlled halt closest to where Ange and I stood.
One by one, they stopped beside each other, revving loud and brutal before cutting off completely, swinging themselves off and looking in our direction cockily. The last bike stopped right before me and I didn't dare look up. It wasn't necessary. I already knew who it was.
"Congrats on that A+," he deadpanned, smirking his sinfully beautiful lopsided grin at me and took off his Raybans. "Don't miss any spots."
I gawked, mouth wide open at him as he strode away. Power strong enough to bathe in coated the lot as the rest of his heavy entourage pulled off their helmets and followed suit.
People around them, despite their obvious shock, didn't dare raise their eyes to the gang in their presence.
"Oh my God." Ange said under her breath.
Emmett turned and smirked wickedly, a couple of the other guys chuckled as they perched themselves on the picnic tables to the side of the school building. Edward sat on the wooden table top, with his legs bent and sneakers planted firmly on the bench below. Propping his elbows on his thighs, he leaned forward and smirked devilishly. Bringing up a cigarette to his lips like most of his crew did as they lounged about, he kept his gaze trained on me and cocked a dark brow condescendingly.
I turned away from him, now knowing that this was his retaliation to me for behind the school before.
"Son of a bitc—" I snapped my mouth shut at Angela's bewildered look, and turned back to the van we were washing.
I squeezed the soapy sponge furiously onto the metal. If I had anything to say about it, he was going to be waiting a long while for that blasted bike!
~.~.~D&D~.~.~
It's difficult doing something when you know you're being watched. And it becomes even harder doing something when you're being watched by a notorious gang of delinquents, whose leader just so happens to be the infamously known, dangerous, Edward Cullen.
I could feel his gaze on me as we worked. Of their own accord my eyes would flicker to him randomly but whenever they did, he was chuckling and talking to members of the Shadows, not looking at me.
From where I stood he looked more like an enigma than usual. Seated in the shade cast off the school building and surrounded by his gang, he wore black jeans that hung low on his sculptured waist, a black and red t-shirt that looked like he pulled it off a person who they had stabbed repeatedly and his black leather studded jacket that cloaked him like the shadow of death, was now, laid on the table next to him as he spoke to James, Jasper and another guy I hadn't met before.
His sinfully beautiful green eyes flashed to me swiftly and he smirked catching me watch him. I heard ghosts of Jasper's dark chuckle and it told me all I had to know, they knew I'd been appraising Edward the entire time.
I quickly diverted my attention back to the vehicle before me. Ange was squatting to clean the bottom of the doors and now all I needed to do was wash the foam on the roof off.
Looking around, I realize belatedly that we don't have a ladder. My train of thought, on how to reach up there, however, is detoured when I feel two firm hands snake around my waist. I jolt in surprise as I'm pressed to the rock hard body of my recent fantasies, my back sliding up his solid muscle chest. Angela, below me, tips over landing on her ass as she gapes at Edward hoisting me up like a feather. I stare at him as I get higher, his possessive hands on my hips and a cocky grin on his face. My body is immobilized as his breath dances on my bare waist where my shirt rode up as he picked me. Staring at him I take soft breaths through my mouth that remained in a perfect 'o' shape. Dazed, I mistakenly drop the hose on the roof of the van. It slithers on the top like a snake, spraying water wildly from the pressure of the running water. Edward quickly pulls me down, chuckling as he blocks me from the spray.
Jasper grabs the rabid hose in one hand, his thumb blocks the opening and causes a neat shower as he effortlessly sprays the roof down. Angela is still on the floor but I don't have time to react because as I move away from Edward to help her, Jasper shoots a heavy spray at me soaking me from head to waist. He laughs cheekily as does his cousin when I squeal and freeze to the spot staying with Edward.
My shirt is soaked through and I cuss under breath as I notice that it's clinging very closely to every curve it can on my upper body. Jasper is back to 'innocently' spraying the soap off the van, while poor Angela at his feet looks like she's going to pass out. Behind me, I feel the heat radiating off Edward and unwittingly turn to him. His eyes look hungry even though his smirk is nothing but teasing.
"Well you know as much as I appreciate the view baby," he licked his lips as his eyes darted lower to my now transparent t-shirt.
I quickly wrapped my arms around myself, noticing that my dark blue bra is outlined clearly for him. He sniggered and all of a sudden, I thought that I may just beat Angela in a Who-can-faint-the-fastest-contest.
I watched hotly while Edward easily towered over me. His hands crossed as he gripped onto the hem of his shirt and lifted it off him in one quick movement, stretching his arms out lithely above him until his head popped out the neckline, his sex hair dancing off in different directions as he peeled his arms out the sleeves.
I swear it was a heart attack I was experiencing.
He was glorious. His muscles were taut on his arms as he shoved his hands into the shirt again to turn it the right side out. My eyes hungrily drank in his shoulders as he moved. The gold dogtags around his neck glinted in the sunlight like it was happy to make an appearance after being hidden for so long. The cold metal hung low and jangled as he turned the tee. I moved my gaze further down following the raging muscles on this man. His hard pecs flexed as he moved and I gulped as my gaze continued to his abs… abs so defined it needed its own page in Guinness stipulating just how many I was seeing. My brain was on overdrive as I saw the deep V below his navel, dusted with a bronze trail of hair that dipped down into the dark jeans that hung low on his hips, which lead to his long, strong c—
"You look wet baby," his voice was an octave too low in his teasing and I knew better than to think he meant my t-shirt.
He stepped closer and I did nothing to stop him when he hoisted me up into the van that Jasper had at some point opened without needing the keys. He placed me on the seat and chuckled, he looked down to his waist and I followed his action to see my legs clinging to his naked abs and making no move to release him anytime soon. Handing me his shirt he leaned in and placed a hot kiss on my forehead, like magic, my legs fell weak at his sides and he pulled away, sliding the door shut behind him.
I stared at the inside of the darkened vehicle for a while, still feeling the burn on my flesh where his lips had touched me. God. Help. Me. I thought as I peeled off my drenched shirt and unhooked my bra before slipping into his black and red one. My heart pounded wildly as my bare skin made contact with the too large shirt, that still retained the warmth of his body. The material fell around me, cocooning me in his scent, making me shudder internally as my eyes snapped open and on autopilot sought him out. Through the tinted glass I could see him leaning carelessly against the rails, talking to his cousin, who had apparently reconsidered helping wash the van.
My fingers deftly slid open the door and I reemerged with my eyes still focused on Edward. His gaze immediately blazed to me, and I watched as, even from a distance, his green eyes darkened as he scanned my appearance. His green orbs burning me as they took in his, too big clothing on my petite body. Drinking in how I'm now partly clad in Shadow colors.
I vaguely realize that Angela is now no longer on the ground and that others from his gang have turned too, watching the fire burn slowly between Shadow and Wolf. Angela's hand reaches for the wet clothes in my hand and she deposits it in a picnic basket she's brought with her. I've never been so grateful for a distraction before in my life.
"Thanks Ange." I say, I mean that in more than one way.
She smiles in acknowledgement and despite the obvious questions dancing in her eyes she doesn't pry and yet again I feel untold amounts of gratitude to Angie.
Fighting the urge to look back to him, I turn towards the van and stop short.
It's gleaming in front of me.
A couple of guys from school that I've never even spoken to before, have abandoned their own cars and are wiping down the water Jasper had sprayed onto Ange and my van. Hurriedly, completing our work like their lives depend on it.
"Guess bikes are less work." Ange says quietly, as if she means something else as she watches the school boys clearing out the van. "And technically, they count as full vehicles."
I hear a slight trace of humor in her otherwise dominated by fright stance, like that piece of information was not her own and instead provided to her by another source.
Nine stunning machines await us as we twirl around on timid feet. Angela quietly matches my pace as I approach the bikes. It's unbelievable, how even these dark gleaming inanimate machines scream danger, it exudes the souls of those who ride it. Mesmerized, yet cautious, I grab the hose and gently spray water over the first sleek black bodied bike. The water drizzles over and Ange and I begin washing it out with a soapy sponge. It's effortless and over in a fraction of the time that we were washing the cars. As Ange and I straighten up, wiping away the last of the water, a shadow falls over the bike.
"Thanks ladies," comes a cocky voice, "this baby is mine."
I watch idly as James tosses some cash to the student handling the fees without even a backward glance at the poor, terrified kid, and gets on his bike, pulling it out insanely fast towards the rest of the gang.
The same process continues for the next seven bikes. We wash them in record time, considering the size difference between a bike and car, and then the respective Shadow Fang steps up to it, collects his baby and rides it out to where they are after carelessly chucking $10 to the visibly quivering cashier students.
Their smug smirks and cocky attitudes are a mirror image of each other. It's so easy to see that they gel well together. Like that, one by one , the plain black, dark red, black and red, red and gold, and various other color combinations of the Shadow Fang colors on the bikes are pulled away until we have the last bike… the only bike sprayed with all three in a royal, demanding, fury… Red, gold and black. Sleek, cold and dangerous. Just like its rider.
I'm more apprehensive about this bike and apparently I'm not the only one. Swallowing thickly, Ange and I lean in and get to work on Edward's bike.
I feel like tiny needles are pricking at my neck as my hand glides over the cool, hard, flawless metal. His eyes are following my every move. My pulse was wild and focused hard on the pain in my recently burned wrist. The first time I'd ever willingly given myself over to physical pain as opposed to emotional as a means of escaping my head for a little while… because for the first time in my life, thoughts of Renee just weren't pulling me under and destroying me… He was watching me, I could feel him close and that thought kept my head above the water…
I could feel him. And I was breathing.
Once we were through, leaning over the bike to drop the rag into the bucket I realized too late that Edward was moving closer. His low whistle caught my attention causing heat to rush to my cheeks as his-shirtless-Highness strode a little nearer than he already was, eyes leaving my ass to get to my face. The heat dripped from him in rough waves setting my body on fire. His tongue snuck out quickly, ghosting over his lips and disappearing. "So, ten rides."
My eyes grow large as saucers until I realize he's talking about the car wash. Then I blush harder.
He chuckles, cocking a brow as he catches my line of thinking. Smirking lewdly at me he causes my blush to remain. "Not bad."
Catching myself quickly, I make a point of focusing on his eyes and not eye screwing him back. God, a difficult task! "Twelve," I correct on autopilot.
He cocks his head to the side and lifts a brow. His eyes running from my legs to my lips, appreciatively, with a teasing undertone. "Minchia, la resistenza! (Fuck me. Stamina.)"
"Huh?" I ask confused.
"Niente. (Nothing)" He shakes his head dismissing my inquiry. "Great, you've made history. You're welcome. Now, get on the bike." He deadpanned as he easily swung a long leg over the machine, straddling the lucky thing and looking sinfully good as he did so.
"What? Why?" I asked, which in turn earned me an eye roll. "I can't." I stated definitely, my chin jutting out stubbornly. The chain of events that would set in motion would be enough to freeze hell over. Twice!
"What now?" he asked annoyed. "Your fund raiser 'bonding' time's over."
"Do I look like I want to get a ride with you?" I shot my mouth off, bitching back before I could rein it in.
He chuckled, humoring me, "No, you don't but likewise, I don't really look like a guy who gives a fuck what your opinion on this is. Now, get on."
Unbelievable!I grit my teeth and sharpen my eyes. "I can't!" I reiterate, "Don't you know that Jake—" I trailed off at the look he shot me.
His face is even but the dangerous darkening of his eyes tells me that I'm venturing into very dangerous waters. The emerald, depthless orbs turning opaque jade in a split second.
"Here's the thing, Bella," he angled his head to face me head on, "…you're mine."
"And if Jacob gets in the way of that," he hissed continuing, "I'll fucking slaughter him."
It was so calm, so dead serious, his voice growing to a low feral growl by end. I shuddered, my eyes grew to twice its size.
"Now decide," his voice returned to normal, "is Jacob a problem?" he asked matter-of-factly, cocking a condescending brow in question.
My jaw dropped and I shook my head furiously in a 'no'. He chuckled amused but still on edge. "Good. Now, get on." My eyes narrowed to slits but he just slid on his jacket unaffectedly.
"I— I can't be seen with you…"
He laughed for real this time, looking around exaggeratedly. "Then I suggest you get on fast."
I looked around too. Angela was staring at me from where she was picking up her basket. Swallowing thickly, I put on a neutral face suggesting that nothing was out of the ordinary and slid on behind him. That was as far as I managed to think.
Thereafter, there was just him.
One leg on either side of the fierce bike, my much tinier body mimicked his shape. Being on this thing with him was an awe-worthy experience… I was breathless. Literally, my breath caught at his warm scent of leather, spice and soap that nearly kills me. My lungs locked a deep gust in my chest and refused to release it. His body is so close that I can see the gold chain of the dogtags caught in the popped collar of his jacket. My fingers stop mid-air when he pulls the metal free and I only then grasp that I had been about to do the exact same thing for him myself. He sneaks a sly grin at me as he sees my suspended arm. His eyes dance with that nameless glint again but I don't dwell on it because he places something in my hand. My transfixed gaze tears away from the green oceans on his flawless face, to the graffiti patterned helmet now sitting in my hand.
I stare mutely at it, still on my high of being this close to him. He chuckles and removes it from my palm, moving it toward me. My brain registers the movement slowly. "What are you doing?" I ask.
"You said you can't be seen with me?" He answers easily, "I'm making you invisible." He teased, grinning and gently snagging the too big helmet over my head.
"There," he said once it was secure, "hold tight."
I did as told. Quickly!
He turned back around and started the bike. It roared to life like a sleeping dragon, murderously humming under the control of the powerful force of its owner. Like a hurricane the sounds of the other bikes awakening followed suit until the earlier thunderous spells of trouble filled the lot again. Clutching onto his hard leather covered back, I held on for dear life as he suddenly took off, the front wheel lifting off the ground as we exited the school, the rest of his gang hot on our tail as the wind whipped at me quickly.
Trees were blurring as we picked up speed and the greenery of the forest distorted into one big mass of emerald. It felt like I had his eyes on me all of the time from every single direction. It felt like I was flying!
He reached back with one hand locking his fist around my palm and lifted it off his shoulder. Willing myself not to panic, I allowed him to pry my fingers off. The warmth of his fingers incased mine and he lowered my arm, pulling it forward he wound it round his torso tightly, a silent signal that my other hand should follow. I brought my other arm down, clutching him tighter to balance myself until both arms were secured around him. His taut muscles under my hands, coupled with my body now pressed closely to his solid back was too much to keep the walls up. Flash fire shot through me. A dark ache between my legs that only grew more intense when he leaned down low, taking me directly with him and accelerated. Burying my head on his shoulder I snuggled closer, digging my nails into his abdomen in terror and I felt him vibrate in a chuckle against my overly sensitized body.
I stay content against him the entire way. I could easily blame it on the speed we were traveling at if my conscience kicked in, but at the moment my conscience had vacated the building.
It was thrilling.
I felt… alive.
I could feel the rise and fall of his body as he breathed in, low and even. His muscles ripple and tighten as he leans to the side maneuvering us as we turn, effortlessly keeping us balanced despite the speed. The bike was an extension of him. He was simply immaculate in every way.
Through the dark tinted shield of the helmet I saw the trees fade out till buildings filled out the area around us. We were in a neighborhood I'd never been to before. The beginnings of panic started to nip at me as Edward turned sharp into an alley. Cutting through the alley ridiculously fast, he burst across the street and into another one blindly, eliciting a loud scream from me. I felt him chuckle roughly beneath me again and looked at him like he'd lost his mind even though he couldn't see me. As we neared the end of this alley I grabbed onto him in a death grip, bracing myself tight against his rock hard physique, shutting my eyes as he blindly cut across the open road again.
My eyes flew open when I felt us glide sideways, tipping slightly to the left as he turned us. In my peripheral vision I noted the tips of the bikes behind us as they followed the path. I was holding him so tensely I could feel my arms going numb from strain. Seconds blurred by and terror pulsed through me as he made another turn this time going up a concrete ramp. The engines roared deafeningly as we burst through the opening above and stopped dead in the parking of a downtown court.
He laughed husky and hard as I bolted off the bike liking bloody lightning the second we stopped!
"Where are we?" I gasped, sliding the helmet off messily, leaving my hair in a swirly tangle that my fingers were currently working through.
"Hell."
My hand abruptly stopped moving. He was joking right? He had to be joking!
I spun around to check for any traces of humor. There were none. He merely stood up, getting off the bike in a fluid movement and walking towards me. I twirled quickly taking in my surroundings. Semi-hidden in an alley as it broadened out, we were in a concrete park of sorts. This was one of those alleys people avoided like a plague, Shadow Fangs hangout there, is what they whisper to each other and tremor. It was a notorious area in the Shadow Fang territory. A seriously vandalized basketball court, in the shady alleys downtown, and now, here I stand. This court screamed enter at own risk, even the metal rimmed hoops with the dark faded chain nets looked threatening. The formerly fenced court sat at the heart of the alley. I say 'formerly fenced' because the metal was clipped and ripped right off most of the sides. The old dark red brick around us was sprayed almost completely in graffiti, some saying 'Shadow Fangs', 'Killers Instinct', others were random graphics like a bleeding skull pierced with the fangs of a snake, and the Angel Boy from the walls of Nell' Ombra, I also saw the Shadow Fangs sign, and lastly, most importantly, sprayed in large rigid letters was the word, 'Hell', at the center of the asphalt court in gold, black and red.
The gate that was supposed to be at the entrance of the now nonexistent fence was leaning uselessly against one of the walls that covered us between the buildings. The black tarmac crunched under our feet as the others took off their jackets and carelessly hung them over the useless gate.
"Talk about an aptly titled place," I mumbled.
Edward sniggered grabbing the helmet out from under my arm and placing it on the seat of his bike.
"Aww, you know, it's not so bad." James cooed in mock sincerity.
"You mean aside from the devil and his demons?" I deadpanned, looking at Edward and his smirking gang respectively.
That earned me laughs all round. Joy. Not.
True to form, Edward smirked devilishly, cocking his head to the side as he stepped calculatedly towards me. "Anima gemella, you have a very bad perception of us."
"Really?" I asked rhetorically, rolling my eyes and missing him move towards me faster.
He pounced on me in the blink of an eye. His arms snaked around my waist holding me in place like a steel vice when I shrieked and tried to back away, kicking and pushing futilely at him.
"Yeah." He dipped down and whispered along my ear. Running his nose lightly along the curve of my jaw and nuzzling my neck. Lifting his head again, he breathed along the same trail all the way back to my ear. "It's bad that your perception. Is. So. Perfectly. On. Mark." He whispered low and serious, biting down on my lobe and pulling lightly.
I gasped softly, the mixture of fear and lust as he licked the stinging spot and backed away as if nothing had happened.
My eyes followed him back to his friend's mere steps away from us. They spoke animatedly for a few seconds before Jasper and one of the others, whose name I didn't know, went off. He turned back to me and this time I watched him like a hawk as he came over. He smirked knowing what I was thinking and held up his palms in an 'I'm unarmed' fashion and stopped a foot away from me. Time seemed to have slowed down as his hand moved towards the zip of his jacket, pulling it down all the way and peeling it off.
Oh my word, this oblivious fool's gonna give me a fucking stroke!
My mind shouted protests as I fought friggin' hard to keep my jaw from hitting the asphalt floor.
"Hold on to this 'k?"
He held out the jacket for me. It wasn't a question but I was so mindfucked right now that I nodded anyway.
He placed the body heated leather in my hand as my eyes remained transfixed on the loose hanging gold around his neck. Dogtags were not meant to look that good. My teeth nibbled furiously at my bottom lip and I struggled to get out of my tongue-tied condition.
"Where are they going?" I asked hoping it seemed normal.
He raised a brow. "Them?" he looked to where the two guys had disappeared behind one of the buildings on the other side of the court and I nodded. "Demetri's just gotta take care of some work for us and Jasper's bringing out a ball."
I actively chose to gloss over the Demetri taking care of 'work' part and focused on the less worrying topic. "A ball?" I asked.
"Yeah." He replied, his voice is velvet husky sex without him even trying. As he did, Jasper was rounding the wall, bouncing a bright orange and black basketball aimlessly as he walked to the center of the court and the rest of the boys did the same. "Gonna shoot some hoops."
"I'm watching by myself?" I questioned stupidly.
He smirked at me in amusement, only then I saw that he was in the process of tucking a shiny silver and black gun into the back of his jeans. I caught his train of thought instantly, the chances of anything happening to me here while he was around was pretty nonexistent.
"Yeah" He replied, stepping into my personal space, practically crawling all over me with the smoldering look in his jade orbs. "You can be my lucky charm." Dipping down he gripped my thighs and picked me up. My legs fell into place on either side, straddling him as he carried me. Blood pounded deafeningly in my ears as I felt his bare torso between my legs. Friction. Delicious, hard, ab friction as he walked. "Make sure I score, 'kay."
I didn't miss the double meaning as he placed me on his bike facing the courts and jogged over to the rest of his gang.
HOLY FUCKING HELL!
I was dying. I swear, I was dead.
My eyes widened and dilated, this time there was no stopping my jaw from dropping. No, it wasn't because he had a beautiful physique no matter which direction you eyed him from and a hard ass that was prize worthy. No. It was because, on top of that, as he raced off, for the first time I got view of the ink covering the entire expanse of the top half of his back. A tattoo so different from the Grey Wolves tribal one.
Stretching from where Edward's neck and back met to the bottom of his shoulder blade was his gang's scandalously sexy tattoo. A fierce lion clawing at the air, poised prideful above three clovers, with an opened hand above his tussled mane. Black ink rimmed with red, the tattoo off setting his flawless skin giving him an otherworldly air. I watched his windswept hair as he ran his hand through it and wondered how on earth anyone could look that good and be so undeniably bad.
Jasper, Emmett and James took off their shirts walking off with Edward, while the remaining four guys still with their shirts on moved off together. I noticed their own guns tucked at the top of their baggy jeans where their boxers peeked in a rim around their hips in the same fashion as Edward.
Shirts VS Skins.
Edward got into position his sneakers firm on the asphalt, tilting his head he winked at me and the game began.
Lord.
Have.
Mercy.
The ball flew into the air and the players flew into action. Each of them, a wrapping of cocky tense muscle and agility. I noted that the shirtless guys had the Shadows tattoo but the sizes and positioning on their bodies varied. Emmett's was on his huge left bicep, while Jasper's was stretched on his strong forearm, James one was across his right pec. I see the same tattoo peeking out on the neck of the olive skinned guy on the Shirts side. Regardless of where it was though, they wore it with pride. It was a sight to behold but my eyes refused to focus anywhere but Edward.
He stole the ball from the blonde guy on the other team and did a reverse jump shot straight into the basket. The metal net clinked melodiously as the first point was scored.
James hooted tauntingly, 'Geez Caius, thought you were all over that one', to which Caius responded by flipping him off.
"Thanks anima gemella." Edward called brashly winking at me. Rolling my eyes as his friends chuckled with him, I stopped the ball with my foot as it bounced over to me and Edward sprinted over to get it. Snagging the ball from me he ducked down and stole a quick kiss, the full force of his lips hitting mine for a second but being enough to set me alight before he muttered, "Cappuccinetto. (Little cappuccino)" and jogged away.
"Don't you have to be a Nell' Ombra?" I called after him annoyed because I had no idea what he was saying or that he'd just done that thing that he does to me again.
"Nah, things freed up early today," he carelessly called back over his shoulder. "Now, as usual there's no need to go down there. Whaddya know?" He drawled out.
I heard some snickers from his friends as silent messages were passed between them and him. Edward smirked and the game started up again. This time the Shirts managed two baskets and almost made it all the way to the Skins again before Emmett blocked the olive skinned guys shot and Jasper took control of the ball, passing it to James who passed it to Edward at the last second, and he in turn made a neat jump shot.
I remember olive guys name when Jasper smack talks him to James. I watched in amusement as Laurent, and a couple of the others on the Shirts side cussed at Edward when the ball was back.
Edward chuckled, a brilliant cocky glint to his smirk as he jogged back to his position. A chorus of swears still good naturedly being exchanged by his gang.
Something clicked, nagging at the corner of my mind from his earlier statement that he was usually somewhere else. Where?...
"Where do you go most of the time?" I asked out loud before I could stop myself.
His head bounced to me as did the rest of the males and I mentally smacked myself. He looked at me thoughtfully from where he stood across the court but quickly turned his attention back to the game as Emmett made a pass. I watched awe struck as he snatched the ball away and agilely drives to the basket, passing it far to Jasper who easily makes a reverse jump shot. The chains of the hoop clink as the ball sinks through.
Another point Skins!
A thrill shoots through me and I beam out a huge smile as the Skins pump up their fists and Jasper flips Laurent off as he makes his way towards his cousin, who is my entire focus point, like there's a string attached from my pupil to anything Edward dealing. I clap wildly and they turn to me laughing quietly but hey, I don't care… I'm having fun!
Edward and Jasper bump fists in a succession that I recognize from years of watching Paul and Jake play ball. Nostalgia began to rear its ugly head but was quickly replaced. Edward ran across the court, Laurent called to a brown haired guy named Riley, and he marked him just as fast. Quickly maneuvering himself around as Riley tried to block him, Edward burst forward leaping high and slamming the ball hard and neat through the basket. I was thrilled but stopped mid-clap.
He was sex on legs as he remained hanging from the hoop. The muscles on his abs stretched tight, sweaty and inviting, teasing me from their position. My eyes raked over him hungrily, higher and higher to his defined pecs, his dog tags hanging low on them clinging to his clammy glistening body. His arms displaying the full force of his taut huge muscles, lined by the beautifully angry veins popping as he hoisted himself in a pull up. His biceps grew to a huge ball of sex-me muscle right before my eyes, his tattooed initials moving hypnotically with them and I dropped my gum like an idiot.
Mouth agape and practically drooling I wondered too late why he was still hanging there. He swung himself playfully like a pendulum, forcing my questioning gaze to his face. There I find a shit-eating grin on his sinfully handsome face, his dark green eyes dancing with mischief, he winks at me and drops off the ring. Landing lightly on his feet, he straightens up, allowing me full view of him in all his sweaty glory. Despite knowing that he was doing it intentionally my breathing hiked, my eyes dropped to his dark jeans hanging low on the V of his hips, the top of his dark green boxers peeking out as if it just wanted me to drop by and say hello.
As he walked the muscles on his torso tense and ripple mouthwateringly, then he leaned forward legs apart at shoulder width, knees bent slightly bracing himself as they began again. I'd died and gone to heaven.
They torture people in heaven!
~.~.~D&D~.~.~
With a last assist from Jasper and bank shot from Edward the Skins won over the Shirts. I clapped and cheered wildly unable to stop myself and dark auras ever present they chuckled in sheer self-satisfied amusement but I couldn't have been bothered; Edward began walking towards me with that lopsided smirk on his face.
The last rays of day danced off his glistening body causing the bronze tips of his hair to turn red. He stopped right before me, his scent knocking me like Titanic did the iceberg. A blush rose hot from my cheeks, to the roots of my hair, all the way down to the swells of my chest. Heart pounding I watched a bead of sweat drip from his forehead along the angular edges of his jaw, down his delectable strong neck, to his hard muscled chest. My tongue snuck out and licked at my lips, biting down furiously at the flesh of my bottom one, I tried hard to stay in control of myself.
Keep fighting Bella, it's wrong, it's so wrong.
He cocked his head to the side, his lopsided smirk condescending as he stepped closer to me. His eyes locked on me predatorily, noting my every reaction. My breath caught tight in my chest. I was gonna pass out. He reached forward grabbing the hem of his shirt on me. I stumbled forward as he tugged on it. Stretching the material towards his torso he swiped it across so that it caught the moisture off him. The crimson part of the material turned almost black before my transfixed gaze slowly I looked up, meeting his intense darkened gaze. Edward Cullen was gonna eat me…
My body shivered, moisture coiling from the pit of my stomach to a pool in my underwear. The delicate threads of my sanity snapping slowly as I tried so, so hard, to hold on to it.
"You got it?"
That didn't make sense. My eyes snapped open in confusion. He was addressing Demetri who had returned.
"Yeah," he answered Edward with a cocky grin, "muthafuckers needed no convincing."
Edward chuckled dark. "Good. You guys bounce. I'll catch up." His eyes chased back to me at the last part and returned to normal.
No one replied. He wasn't asking a question. Sliding on their helmets with the tinted shields, they started up with upward nods to him, asphalt flew back as they spun the wheels, screeching powerfully before they sped off in thunder and lightning.
"Wanna take a ride?" Tilting his head, he stepped forward fractionally, the tar crunching under his sneakers and pulled me flush against him, trapping me between him and his bike.
I gulped, bracing myself, palms flat and fingers clutching against his hard shoulders above me. He growled low feeling my bra-less nipples instinctively harden against him through his this t-shirt. His eyes closed momentarily before they reopened devouring me with a dangerous look, only a rim of jade left in his otherwise black eyes.
"Your shirt?" I say dumbly, tryna divert the attention from the sexual tension.
"Keep it." He says. His voice was dark and severe his eyes not faltering.
My brow furrowed in confusion. "Why?"
"Ti segno. (I'm marking you)" his gaze turned unmistakably possessive.
I locked in place. Practically grew bloody roots. If flash-fire threatened to kill me in that moment still I wouldn't move. The dark threatening look in his emerald eyes was far more life endangering than flash-fire could ever hope to be and I instinctively knew it wasn't meant for me.
Quickly catching myself, I gritted out in worked up annoyance. "I don't know what you're saying!"
He laughed under his breath, a crooked smile knocking me off balance. Blushing, I looked down to my wrist to distract myself.
"You know pretending you don't want me doesn't help when I can feel how you respond to me," he spoke quietly, ducking his head to meet my eyes.
His grip on my hip's getting tighter, pulling me closer. Drowning me in the aphrodisiac that's him. His sweat collected in the fabric separating my body from him. Cold, between our hot bodies. He was doing it on purpose but for the life of me I couldn't work my brain in any way to stop him. The overwhelming urge to lick him was nipping at me from the back of my mind… to taste the potent salt off of him. He however had other ideas.
"Come on…" he whispered in the shell of my ear. My eyes shut. "Ride," he kissed below my ear. I gasped. "With," he sucked my lobe into his mouth. I shuddered against him. He clutched my hips lifting me off the ground before I completely lost my footing and my legs instinctively wrapped around his hip, locking my ankles round his back as he bit down on the tender flesh, "Me…"
My lips quivered, aching for his and he didn't miss a beat. Crashing his mouth against mine he took control of the kiss instantly, kissing me rough and hard, his tongue forced its way into my mouth. My tongue shied away from his but he wasn't having that. His tongue delved deeper, snaking around mine slowly, erotically wrapping itself this way and that, around mine in a courtship dance. I groaned into his mouth.
His tough arms wrapped powerfully around my back securing my body against his. My hips pressed hard against his, as my ankles pressed together, digging into his back, causing the metal of his gun biting into my flesh. Caught in the moment my fingers buried in his hair, the nails scratching through the tumultuous locks of copper, tugging at it before scratching down his neck to where I knew I'd find the slightly risen skin of his Shadows ink. He groaned knowing exactly what I was doing. His large hands flattened against my back, pressing me to him to the point that we were practically breathing together.
He leaned back over his bike never releasing my Edward's-fang bruised bottom lip and I went with him willingly despite not really having a choice. His hand slipped smoothly down my back. One palm of his was the equivalent of practically the entire expanse of my much tinier waist. I shuddered as his hands made contact with my skin where the wind had blown up his t-shirt. His piano fingers danced along the top of my jeans, teasing the skin, before continuing over the denim material and applying slightly more pressure, running over my ass like he owned it. Shivering I tried to pull back in shock that was caused by his action or my lust, I'm not sure, but he gripped me harder, firmer holding me forcefully in place as his fingers started moving again, down to my thighs.
I gasped, my head falling back at his way of easing my apprehension.
He took the opportunity to lower his head to my neck. Tucking himself into the crook of it, his lips sucked and pulled at my sensitive flesh, leaving hot open mouth kisses as he went. All the way up to my ear again. "Mia, (Mine)" he whispered huskily as he sucked on my ear lobe nibbling on it before releasing it, his hands moving to my ankles and unlocking it behind him.
Shit. Shit. Shit! I did it again. This time didn't feel so bad though… I tried hard to work up some guilt, I really did. But honestly, there was none.
"Wanna give me your cherry on my bike?" he asked in a husky tease, his brow cocked in a questioning arch as he tucked my hair back behind my ear.
His actions always threw me. He could frustratingly enough be gentle and crude at the same time.
Stubborn me was out before I could stop her. "How do you know if I'm a virgin or not, huh?" I shot back challengingly. Bad. Move.
Swiftly, he reached forward and grabbed my jeans in a steel hold. His fingers dipped inside of them, past the lace band of my drenched panties as he pulled me toward him. The back of his fingers brushed down, dangerously close on my bare flesh, his thumbs on the outside toyed up and down with the zipper of my jeans. I screeched bloody murder and he chuckled crookedly, rolling his eyes as he pecked my lips and easily withdrew his hands. Kicking off the bike he got back on properly, straddling it.
"Lucky guess." He deadpanned tauntingly as he cockily slid on his black Rayban wayfarers and started up.
"You're coming with me tomorrow," he said. Again, not a question.
Pulling his jacket on and handing me his hoodie, from God knows where, as I slid on behind him and took his helmet again.
"To Nell' Ombra," he clarified in his usual deep velvet voice, "I'm picking you up."
My eyes bugged out, my first thought was the Wolves, my Wolves, and in return his darkened fiercely, understanding exactly where I was at.
"Bella," his voice was low and serious, "I'm going to pull up at 5 sharp, and if you don't get on the fucking bike, I'm going to hunt down each and every one of your mutts and get rid of my problems." He said steadily, even though I could hear the underlying hiss of promise in the threat.
I was furious. So furious, that it shadowed my fear. That furious!
It didn't faze him in the least. Kissing my forehead, he slid his helmet on me, shut the shield and took off at top speed. I shrieked, my arms quickly flew around him and I felt the smug bastards laughter ripple through him as he accelerated until I was clutching onto him for dear life. Satisfied with my hold on him he continued driving like a maniac down the street back toward central Forks.
Light was slowly fading and I was with a rival gang leader. I should have been terrified. I wasn't.
I'm an idiot.
As if he sensed my mood with him, he carelessly accelerated every time I ignored him. At first it simply annoyed me further. But soon the thrill of him and the speed caught up to me and I was clutching onto him with a Cheshire grin on my face hidden by his helmet.
He was bad. Deliciously, bad. I could see it. The blind could see it! Through and through, he was just plain and simple dark, wicked, evil but nothing seemed to affect him about me.
Seemingly lost in the moment with nothing but wind whipping at me and a cocky, playful, speed God, riding a remarkably hot bike that practically screamed Edward, I felt it again, I was breathing… alive...
Today I got to have fun away from the Res… The irony of with who was not lost on me. But right now, I just wanted to bask in the feeling of fun, reliving watching the wind sweep his messy hair as he rode, seeing him play, his grin after each basket, his roguish wink at me when he caught my gaze on him. How he and his rebellious gang skillfully flew across the court the same way they skillfully rode like speed demons. The thrill of, actually going to Hell, the Hell and spending close to half the day there with Shadow Fangs no less. Riding with Edward, right now. Just anything Edward.
Edward and me…
Just for that moment…
In a bubble where I could pretend nothing was wrong, that this couldn't have disastrous repercussions if the gang found out. I was an ordinary girl with an ordinary guy. I smiled under his helmet, my little haven that blocked out the problems and didn't let me think off Edward as what he was, the Shadow Fang leader.
We pulled into the school parking lot and he left the bike to idle. He leaned back to look at me curiously. I didn't want to let go but watching as he pulled off the Bans and hooked them into his dog tags I detached myself from him before he could notice my reluctance to get off. Turning, he watched me with mystifying flashes in his green eyes as I leaned back to get off. His open palm moved in front of me, his Shadows leather crest on his wrist clear to my vision. I took his offered hand and balanced myself as I started to get off. Electricity coursed through me at his touch.
Then suddenly, his hold grew steely firm, I stilled and looked at him confused. His face, brilliantly clear to me through the shield, was cold as ice and fiercely stiff. Shifting his weight he turned back around to face the front. His body blocking my view from whatever it was that had him on alert and his one hand inconspicuously keeping me locked on the bike.
"Fucked up big this time, Cullen. She's off limits, always been off muthafucking limits, stay the fuck away her! And c'mon don't be shy you pussy, you got our girl messed in your bullshit, why you hiding one of your bitches."
My body froze. That furious, snide voice was Jared's.
~.~.~ Hope you had the best 4th of July! Thanks for reading. Love always, Kat;) ~.~.~
Prompt Status CH5: Full chapter posted here.