BPOV
I woke up feeling very warm and very penned in. It took me a few seconds to realise that the warmth was coming from Edward and that the reason I felt penned in was because he was behind me, his thigh between mine and his arm was draped across my stomach, holding me tightly.
His breathing was shallow and regular and I thought he might still be asleep. But I knew that there was at least one part of his anatomy that was awake.
During the night I'd swung around and as I cracked one eye open, groaning softly at the piercing sunlight, I could see that I was not on the end of the sofa where I'd begun the night before.
I was also covered in the black comforter from his bed and had half a pillow under my head. He had the other half of both.
"Morning," he mumbled, his voice gravelly behind me.
"Morning," I managed to groan as I tried to stretch and encountered several protesting muscles. "Any chance you know what the time is?"
"No clue," he mumbled before kissing me on the back of my shoulder. "It must be early, very early, or Seth would've come for me already."
"I'm so sorry I crashed on you last night," I whisper.
"I'm not surprised you did. All that adrenalin saps you pretty fast afterwards," he whispers back as his fingers begin stroking my belly over my shirt.
"Did you sleep right through?" I ask, wondering if he'd sat up half the night working.
"I did. I finished up my call and came to find you but you were already out to it. I brought some work with me and laid down, thinking I'd get up again once I'd read through my pages, but I must have zonked."
"Zonked," I giggle as I cover his hand with mine and begin rubbing my thumb across it. "Funny word for such an educated guy."
"Zonked is a perfectly legitimate word to use," he chuckles as he too tries to stretch his limbs out a little. "God this thing is uncomfortable."
"It looks nice but yeah, not great to sleep on," I agree as I sit up, mourning the loss of his body pressed up against mine.
"I'll replace it," he says as he sits up behind me, one thigh on either side of mine. His arms go around my middle, holding me tightly to him again. "Yours looked much more comfy than this one."
"Mine's awesome," I tell him smugly. "Alice and I have sleepovers on it it's so good."
"Do you both wear woolly sheep pyjamas?" he teases as he begins to rub his stubble against the back of my neck.
I try to squirm away, not because I want him to stop because it feels so, so good, but because if he makes me laugh too hard I'd pee myself. "Alice has pink poodles on hers," I inform him, so I can leap away while he's distracted by that mental image. "I'll go downstairs and use the bathroom," I tell him as I slip the borrowed book back onto its shelf.
"Use mine," he says as he scrubs at his face with his palms. "I'll go and put some coffee on and check in with Seth. You go first," he says, waving his hand towards his bedroom.
"Um," I stammer, "I didn't notice a bathroom in there," I say sheepishly.
"Concealed doors," he groans as he gets unsteadily to his feet. "Come on, I'll show you."
I'm grateful he's gone ahead because his sleep pants did nothing to hide his morning wood and I didn't want to be spotted drooling, or staring, or staring and drooling at the same time.
He stops on the right side of the bed and pushes what looks like an ordinary panel of the wall. It springs open revealing the gleaming white tiles of his bathroom behind it.
"Magnetic latches," he mumbles, still looking and sounding half asleep. "The other side's the same," he says.
"Sneaky," I say as I scoot past.
"I'll leave you to it. Come down when you're ready," he tells me as he reaches upwards to rub his hand through his hair.
The action lifts his t-shirt and I get my first look at the Cullen abs. I know I'm staring but I can't help it. My eyes travel downwards and then I'm caught looking at his package and he's grinning like a schoolboy when I snap out of it and look up again.
Thankfully he's too much of a gentleman to call me on it; instead he asks how I have my coffee and promises to have one waiting for me. I tell him thank you and gratefully close the door between us.
I hear him chuckle softly as he leaves and can't help but giggle at little too. I felt like a schoolgirl again myself; I couldn't begrudge him feeling like a teenage boy himself.
EPOV
I fairly ran down the stairs and into the bathroom on the ground floor like a racehorse given its head. I made quick work of my business in there and did my best to calm down the mess that was my hair and steady my breathing.
I'd never felt a bigger rush than waking up next to Isabella Swan and I doubted I'd be able to wipe the grin off my face for days because of it.
Morning boner be dammed, I'd been hard half the night, waking on and off to adjust myself or to stop myself from dry humping her butt in those delectable, flimsy little sleep pants of hers.
She'd shifted in the middle of the night, mumbled about being cold and turned herself so that she was flush up against my chest before promptly falling back to sleep.
Seth had come looking for me at some point after I'd fallen asleep too. He'd taken one look at us there on the sofa, whispered that he had the house in lockdown and that our talk could wait until morning. I'd nodded but he'd already left the room by that point.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept that long. I didn't even bother trying to have a lie-in on the weekends anymore because no matter what I did, or how much I tried to wear myself out in the pool or the gym, my brain wouldn't let me sleep more than five or six hours a night.
A quick look at the clock on the kitchen wall and I could see that it was just past six in the morning. At a rough guess I'd just slept for nine hours straight. Give or take a few minutes here and there where I'd found myself awake and grinding against her.
And I felt pretty good despite how horrible that sofa was to sleep on. And I'd meant what I'd said; I was replacing that monstrosity today.
I was about to shout for Mrs Davis when I saw her note on the whiteboard on the pantry door. She'd left it to remind me that she'd be late and could I please try not to burn down her kitchen if I could help it.
I couldn't for the life of me remember why she was going to be late but I did chuckle at the fire jab. She knew me well.
I set the coffee machine to start its gurgling and opened the fridge in the hope that a nice breakfast would leap out at me. Of course it didn't. I'd decided on toast and had started searching through cupboards to find the toaster when I heard Isabella padding down the stairs.
Thankfully there was a loaf of bread in the pantry and butter and jams and spreads too so I didn't have to panic too much as she came and sat on one of the stools at the counter.
"Coffee won't be long," I told her as I pushed the first slices of bread down into the toaster.
"Your bathrooms amazing," she said through a barely stifled yawn.
"Yeah, it is," I chuckled. "I stayed in a hotel in Singapore years ago that had one of those rainwater head things and I knew if I ever got the chance I'd have one for myself," I admit as I pour her coffee and slide it across the counter.
She cups it, sniffs it and then takes a big gulp before moaning. "God that's good," she moans and takes another sip.
"Can I confess something?" I asked, making her raise an eyebrow before nodding. "I can't cook," I said as sheepishly as I could. "That there," I said pointing to her cup, "that's me at the top of my game."
I wait for the disappointment to show on her face but instead all I see is a gorgeous smile. "You big faker," she giggles, pointing at me. "You were trying to impress me, weren't you?"
"Something like that," I admit, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise up my chest and up my throat.
"You don't have to try," she whispers and takes another sip of her coffee. "I already like you, you know. And whether you can cook or not won't change that. Besides, making good coffee is worth more than being able to make a steak that doesn't taste like inner sole," she laughs.
"That's good because if I tried to make a steak I'd probably burn the house down and I really love that rainwater head up there," I joke, pointing towards the upstairs.
"Is there one in the guest bathroom?" she asks as I slide her toast towards her. "Thank you," she says as she reaches for the Vegemite.
"Nope," I'm happy to tell her. "Only I've got one so you'd better be nice to me or I won't let you use it," I tease, pointing my butter knife at her.
"Ahh," she says seriously but with a wicked smile on her lips at the same time, "you might have one of those shower thingy's but I've got the big tub down there," she says pointing over her shoulder and down the hall to where the guest rooms were. "And I've gotta tell you, that tub and I are great friends already and I noticed you don't have a tub at all."
Now it was my turn to be smug. "That's true; I don't have a tub in that bathroom. Quite true," I say as seriously as I can without giving the game away. "But, if you go upstairs, push on the wall on the other side of the bed and take a look in there you might just find that I have actually trumped your little tub in the guest room," I say with a laugh.
She shoved the last of her toast into her mouth in one piece and took off up those stairs like her sweet little ripe ass was on fire. I couldn't help the bark of laughter that came out of my throat as she ran.
I spread some Vegemite onto my own toast and waited for her reaction to the full sized spa bath in the ensuite on the other side of the bedroom.
"One, two, three, four..." I counted out loud before I heard her squeal.
She was back in a flash, panting from the exertion and looking for all the world like a teenager as she bounded across the polished wooden floors before skidding to a stop at the counter again.
"You win," she laughed. "That's the biggest fucking tub I've ever seen! I could do laps in it! You could invite ten friends and still have enough room for the pool boy to join you!"
I choked on my coffee then. "Pool boy?" I asked, still laughing as I wiped the coffee from my mouth. "Can't say I've ever thought of that. I don't think he's really my type but who knows, in swimming trunks he might look better than he does normally."
"You have a pool boy, don't you?" she asks, one hand on her hip and one eyebrow quirked in my direction. "Of course you have a pool boy," she hisses. "Where's the pool?" she asks and I point to her right.
She's off and running again and then she's squealing again and running and skidding back to where I'm still munching on my toast.
"What else?" she asks excitedly and I can't help but grin.
"Sauna and gym tucked under the terrace," I mark off on my fingers. "Twelve seat private theatre upstairs. Full sized bar and billiards room downstairs. Oh and there's a dungeon down there under Seth's suite," I tell her cheekily. "On the plans it said it was a wine cellar but everyone knows that's code for a dark, sound proof den of iniquity."
"Of course it is," she scoffs.
Her eyes had widened as I'd listed the best features of my home and I found myself wondering why I'd been worried about showing her around the night before. She wouldn't have thought I was an asshole showing off, she'd have just been excited because she was a sweet girl.
"I'll show you everything after work tonight," I promised before I could stop myself. It felt so natural to expect, or assume, that she'd be coming home with me again. "Your toast's getting cold," I said quickly to cover my assumption.
"Sorry," she said as she slid back onto the stool. "I got a bit excited," she grinned as she chewed the toast.
"I was worried last night," I admit quietly. "I didn't want to look like I was showing off so I let you check the place out yourself."
She cocked her head to the side and regarded me for just a few seconds before swallowing. "There's nothing wrong with being proud of what you've achieved you know," she said seriously. "I wouldn't have thought you were showing off if you wanted to give me a tour. I'd think you were proud of what you have and there's not a thing wrong with that.
"You're very successful, everyone knows that, but I'm not one of those people who think it's been easy, or that it's all fallen into your lap without a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. This kind of wealth," she says as she waves around, "you pay for with more than just money."
I was around that counter and pulling her around to face me within seconds and as I lowered my mouth to hers all I could think was that she got it. She got me. She understood me.
BPOV
I didn't know what I'd said or done to make him react as he had but I hoped to god and all that was holy that I'd work it out so I could do it again!
This kiss was different from the others we'd shared so far. He seemed hungry and not for more toast either. He held me tighter, his body was pressed harder up against my thighs and his lips were more insistent too.
I liked it.
I liked him.
Everything about him.
And as he kissed me more and more urgently I felt my body respond in a way it hadn't in a long, long time.
The soft 'ahem' startled us both and we sprang apart like two kids caught sneaking sweets between meals.
"Sorry," Seth said quietly as he came into the kitchen. "I heard someone running and someone squealing so I figured you two were up. I can go if you want," he grimaced in his embarrassment at having caught us like that.
"No, no," I said a little too quickly and probably a little too loudly. "We were just, I mean, I was just...Jesus Seth," I giggled. "Cough before you come into a room next time," I laughed.
"I've never had to cough at any time before," he said cheekily, raising his eyebrows at Edward suggestively.
"Well now might be a good time to start," Edward replied a little too seriously I thought.
"Be nice," I told him as I cuffed him on the arm. "His little boy is growing up, its gotta be tough," I giggled as Seth snorted.
"Little boy," Edward huffed. "There's eight months between us," he scoffs. "You sound just like my mother," he tells me.
"She's awesome so I'll take that as a compliment," I say before poking my tongue out at him and sliding down off the stool. "I'm taking the first shower because you're grumpy," I tell him sternly. "Did you know he's got a rainwater thingy in his bathroom?" I ask Seth as I make to leave to collect my toiletries.
"I did not know that," Seth chuckled as he poured himself a mug of coffee. "Us poor servants have to make do with a hose pipe hanging out of the wall below floors," he teased.
"Poor servants," Edward snorted as he slid into my now vacant seat. "The amount I pay you every year you could afford a bigger place than this."
"I could," I heard Seth reply as I got to the door of the guest room. "But then you'd be here all on your own and you know you can't live without me, little boy."
I didn't hear what Edward's reply to that was but it must have been good because when I came back into the kitchen they were both still laughing.
"You don't mind me trying out your shower, do you?" I asked as I stole a sip of his coffee. "Urgh, no sugar," I mutter as I put the cup back down.
"That'll teach you for stealing," he teases. "And no, I don't mind you using my shower. Take your time."
"But don't you usually leave for work earlier than this?" I ask looking up at the clock, noting it was after six.
"Not today, today I'm going to be late," he says with a grin.
"It's the apocalypse," Seth laughs, throwing his hands in the air dramatically and I can't help but grin too.
"Well then, if you're going to be late on purpose I will take my time," I tell him and head for the stairs.
"Don't fuck this up," I hear Seth say as I hit the top step.
"If I even look like coming close beat me about the head to knock some sense into me," Edward replies.
I skip all the way into his bathroom after hearing that.
EPOV
My bathroom smelled just like her when I got a turn to use it. The room was still filled with steam and the floor of the shower still wet as I got into it.
Except for when Mrs Davis cleaned it nobody had ever been in my bathroom before. Nobody had ever used the other bathroom either.
I found I liked the idea of Isabella lounging in the spa bath there. I found I liked the idea of us sharing a space and I found the idea of us sharing anything at all thrilling.
I stood under the scalding hot water and thought about what Seth had revealed in the kitchen and how it was to be fixed or at the very least undone.
It was Seth's opinion that Tanya had planned whatever it was she was trying to achieve so well because she knew me well enough to be able to predict what my moves were going to be to thwart her.
She'd either predicted or guessed that I'd install a doorman at Isabella's building and so she'd camped out inside the building the day before confronting my girlfriend. It was the only scenario Seth could come up with to account for her presence in the building without appearing on the visitors list.
There was only one entry and exit point and that was past his man. He'd checked with the other residents and matched their visitors to the log so she hadn't signed in under a false name or gotten in because she was known by another resident. She had to have been already inside it when Seth locked it down.
As for her getting out again that had been simple.
Stanley had logically believed that the strawberry blonde leaving the building had been signed in by Ethan on the previous shift and was leaving after visiting legitimately. I couldn't fault him for that; it's what I would've concluded as well.
Exactly what Tanya wanted from me was still not clear but Seth was impressed with Isabella's theories enough to check them out discreetly. That would be his task for the day. To meet with Eleazar and find out what he knew of his daughters whereabouts and any information he had about her plans.
By the time I was dressed and ready to start my work day I had begun to worry about Isabella leaving. Jasper would be back in his own home that night and she'd be able to stay there, or even with Alice. There was no legitimate reason for her to stay with me even though I wanted her to.
A few minutes later that was the least of my worries as I came downstairs to find her leaning over the kitchen counter with her head buried in the mornings newspaper. She was cursing under her breath and I knew that whatever they'd printed today wasn't going to be good, if that was her reaction.
"How bad?" I asked as I set my briefcase on the floor.
"The stories okay," she told me quietly, "but the picture is going to give my father a stroke."
"I'll deny it. I'll sue anyone who says I did it," I say before I've even seen the picture.
There were tears in her eyes as she turned to face me and my stomach dropped. She slid the paper across to me and I looked down at a grainy picture of the two of us out on her balcony locked in a kiss.
"Oh fuck," I spat before I could stop myself.
"No, no, I understand," she cries, her tears having overflowed and run down her cheeks.
I understood my mistake instantly so I pushed the paper away and met her head on. I wiped her tears away with my fingers then settled my hands on her shoulders. "I was sure they'd gotten a picture of you with your cut lip," I tell her firmly. "I meant I'd sue if the story said I'd hit you. I'm not ashamed of you," I bark. "That picture might give your father a stroke but it's given me a hard on. Oh fuck, I mean, I don't...I mean, Jesus Christ," I snap.
But she's laughing then. Her tears have retreated and she's laughing hard. And then she's on her toes and her hands are in my hair and she's pulling me down to her lips.
She ends it too soon and I'm left wanting more, but I understand why she'd done it. She'd effectively shut me up.
"I'm not ashamed of you either," she whispers between us as she strokes the back of my neck. "And it is a good picture. As for your reaction, well, that's the nicest thing any man's ever said to me. Thank you."
"You're an enigma," I whisper in reply. "I never know how you'll react to things. It's never what I expect. You keep me guessing and that excites the hell out of me."
"You make me feel good," she whispers before kissing me softly just once. "You excite the hell out of me too."
"Stay here again tonight, please?" I blurt out a little too hurriedly.
"I'll have to go home eventually," she whispers and I nod. "And I can go to Jasper's or a hotel."
"Please?" I beg.
"I'll need to stop and collect some more clothes," she says and I tell her that Jared will take her. "I'll stay but I'm not sleeping on that sofa again. Tonight we sleep in a bed, deal?"
My answer is to swoop down and kiss the hell out of her.
The cough, when it comes this time, comes from a ways away and I can't help but laugh. "Come on in Seth," I call as we part. "He's a quick study," I tell Isabella conspiratorially.
"Lucky for him or we'd have to put a bell around his neck," she giggles as she reaches for her backpack.
I'm still laughing at that when Seth shoulder checks me as he passes on his way to the foyer. "Are we going to work or are we going to spend all day lip locked?" he calls as he opens the front door.
"I like him," she whispers not so quietly. "And he has some great ideas."
"I tolerate him," I chuckle as I scoop up my briefcase. I was about to reach for her she but slid her hand into mine without prompting. I raised that hand to my lips and kissed it softly. "Ready?" I asked, though I wasn't. Not nearly.
"Are they still out there?" she asked Seth who nodded a little sadly. "Right," she said firmly. "Chins up, smiles on, let's do this."
"I like her," Seth says with a grin as we go out the door.
BPOV
The Cullen Enterprises building was huge, simply massive, and the floor we got out of the lift at was like something out of a movie. Gleaming glass and chrome –which seemed to be something Edward liked both at work and at home – was everywhere.
The main part of the floor was open and spacious with just a reception desk off to one side, behind which a stunning blonde was grinning. The rest of the space had small groupings of comfy looking chairs with low tables between them, probably for meetings and such.
There were doors at even intervals along one wall that I guessed other executives worked behind and I wondered which ones was Emmett's.
"Thank you, Kate," I heard Edward say behind me as he took a sheaf of papers from the blonde. "Isabella this is Kate, my personal assistant," he said as he introduced us.
"Nice to meet you," I smiled.
"And you, Miss Swan," she said.
"Bella, just Bella," I asked of her. "Only Edward calls me Isabella," I said, turning and raising an eyebrow at the imposing figure of Edward Cullen in work mode.
"It's your name and I happen to like it," he quipped before poking his tongue out at me. Kate coughed and I couldn't help but laugh. I would wager that nobody in the building had ever seen him do that before! "My mother will be coming today at some point, so find me when she arrives please," he told her, switching instantly back to work mode. "Jared will be calling for Isabella shortly but in the meantime could you please gather a pack for her? And she'll need a passkey for the executive lift and one for the private garage too please.
"Can you have Maria call me at some point today? I'll need to speak to Marcus from Malita Steel before my nine o'clock meeting and I'll need a few minutes with Emmett before then too if he's in. I've signed the contracts for the Asia deal, they're in there," he told her as he handed over an envelope. "Get them certified and can you ask Alistair to run over them one more time before the copies get sent to their lawyers? They've agreed to pay in three parts and the details for the transfers need sorting out so have Alec look over that please. As for you," he said, turning his attention back to me, "come with me."
I waved to Kate who looked as though she'd just seen an alien and then followed him through an imposing pair of doors into his office.
My heart was beating out my chest by the time the doors softly closed behind us. This side of him I'd never seen, the in command, totally in control Edward who was hotter than the surface of the sun as he handed out the days orders to his assistant.
There wasn't an inch of self consciousness about him here. He walked taller. There was no stammer in his voice and he didn't fidget or second guess a single word.
"This is my office," he said, shaking me from my thoughts.
"It's big," I giggle as I walk further into it and swivel to take it all in. "You like leather and chrome, huh?" I asked as I ran my hand over the arm of the chair opposite his desk.
"It's clean and lasts," he shrugs as he starts removing things from his briefcase.
"But not comfortable," I tease.
"That sofa will be gone by the time we get home tonight," he grins and my heart starts doing that flip flop thing again.
"Which one of your minions will you assign the task?" I tease and immediately know I've said the wrong thing.
His face clouds over and there it is, the fidgeting. He runs his hand through his hair and sighs heavily. "They aren't minions," he says softly. "They're my people and I like and trust them. Maria is the wife of one of my managers at the plant in Rooty Hill. She's a professional buyer for a major store chain. I met her at a Christmas function about nine years ago, just before I had my house built, and she offered to help me decorate it. She's been buying for me ever since."
"I'm sorry," I tell him, because I was. "It was rude of me to imply that you don't treat employees well. I know that you do, I can tell that you do. I'm sorry."
"Forgiven," he says quietly and it seems the matter is dropped, just like that.
It's not what I'm used to. I'm used to hurt feelings taking days to dissipate, or being held against me for days. I'm used to having to do days of penance and I'm used to being yelled at and berated for my opinions. But Edward can let things go, just like that, and I think I like him just a little bit more than I already did.
I watch him settle himself into his chair and once he's sitting I go to him. I stand beside him and put my hand on his shoulder before bending down just a little and kissing him softly on the top of his head. "You're a good guy, Edward," I tell him.
"I try to be," he says as he covers my hand with his and squeezes. "Now, Jared will be here in a minute so let's get our ducks in a row."
"Sure," I tell him though I have no idea what ducks he's referring to. I move away and sit opposite his desk. And yep, the chair was bloody uncomfortable.
"What would you like for dinner tonight?" he asks seriously and I can't help but laugh.
"That's what we need to get in a row?" I giggle and he nods. "I thought we were going to talk about how to deal with Tanya, or what we're going to tell people when the press prints the pictures of me leaving your house with you this morning, but you want to talk about food."
"Seth is dealing with the Tanya issue," he says firmly. "We won't tell anyone anything about you leaving my house with me this morning, unless you want to tell them, then you can tell them whatever you'd like."
"I think I'll keep my mouth firmly shut," I scoff. "Except for Jasper and Alice, who are going to grill me mercilessly over it the instant I set foot in the office this morning," I cringe. "Not to mention the interrogation I'm going to get from my dad."
"Would you like me to speak with him?" he asks.
"Why would you?"
"Because his daughter was photographed entering my home last night, and again emerging from it this morning. He'll think I've...I mean, he'll believe that we...he's going to kill me and bury me in the bush, isn't he?" he asks, gulping loudly.
I can't help but laugh. "He's all talk," I giggle but earn a raised eyebrow and a soft scoff from across the desk. "He is," I insist. "He talks a good game but I'm old enough to make my own decisions. He'll ask me about you, and I'll be honest, but he won't judge and he won't try to change my mind."
His raised eyebrow was adorable. "Try to change your mind about what?"
"About being seen kissing you," I say sweetly.
"Good to know," he chuckles, taking one of my lines and using it perfectly. "Now, before we head off in different directions, and you face the grilling from your family, what would you like to eat this evening?"
"Are you cooking it?" I ask cheekily.
"Definitely not," is his quick reply. "We need it to be edible at the very least. Mrs Davis will make whatever we ask for."
"Then anything is fine with me."
"Good," he says, making a note on his blotter. "Now kiss me goodbye and go and see Kate before Jared turns up."
"Yes Mr Cullen," I tease. He meets me at the edge of his desk and we share a very brief, very sweet goodbye kiss. "What time will you be finishing tonight, do you think?" I ask as I gather my backpack.
"Five," he grins. "Where would you like collecting from?"
"The staff will talk about you leaving early again," I admonish with a wag of my finger at him. "I'll meet you back here at five. I only have a few hours worth of work at Jasper's so I'll have time to go back to my place and grab a few things."
"Please be careful at your building," he sighs as he reaches for my hand and squeezes it. "I don't think Tanya will try again, but please be careful. And call me if anything happens. Or if your father does manage to change your mind. Or if you want to change your mind about what you'd like for dinner..." he stammers adorably.
"How's about I just call you at some point during the day? Just to say hi? Would that work for you?" I ask, knowing exactly how he felt about the prospect of having no contact all day until five.
"Yeah," he sighs. "That'd work for me."
"Good," I say as I go to the door. "Have a good day and I'll see you at five."
He thanks me and wishes me a good day too before I duck back out of his office. It was like pulling a bandaid off, having to leave. I could quite happily spend the whole day just sitting quietly in his office watching and listening to him work.
"Jared's on his way up," Kate calls across the way and I snap out of my daydreaming immediately.
It wouldn't do to be caught mooning over her boss, after all.
"Should I just wait here for him?" I wonder aloud.
"I have a pack for you," she tells me but I've got no idea what a pack is, and I say so. "Oh, it's a credentials pack so you can move around the building," she informs me as she tips the contents of a yellow envelope out onto the top edge of her desk. "This is a temporary pass I'm afraid because I didn't know your date of birth and we don't have a photo of you to make a proper one yet, but we can sort that out another time," she tells me as she hands me a lanyard with an ID card hanging from it.
"This is your pass for the regular lift bank and this is the key pass for the one that will bring you up here. You don't need to swipe in the regular lift but there's a slot on the wall by the private one. Just swipe this through and a carriage will come and collect you.
"Same goes for the parking passes. This is for the employee carpark which is on levels B1 through 3, and this one is for the private parking garage where Mr Cullen and the other executives park. You need to enter via Albion Street to use the private one and you just swipe this through the box by the boom gate and you'll be good to go."
"Wow," I say stupidly.
"I had exactly the same reaction the first day I came to work here too," she said with a wink.
"You know I don't work here," I say softly, "and you've probably read this morning's paper too, but it's kind of you to not mention it."
"They're vermin," she hisses. "You're very brave for not responding."
"Or very stupid," I mutter. "Time will tell."
"I don't think you're stupid and neither does anyone else," she says with a smile. "Don't rat me out but I've never seen Mr Cullen this happy. He's actually smiling," she says with a raised eyebrow. "All of my friends think that Mr Cullen..."
"Doesn't like gossip," I hear from behind me.
"Yes Mrs Cullen, I mean, no Mrs Cullen," Kate stammers and quickly busies herself behind her desk.
"So lovely to see you again so soon, Bella," Esme Cullen says as she steps towards me. "I saw Jared in the lobby so I know there isn't time for us to catch up, but I hope you'll come with Edward on Friday night for dinner?" she asks.
"He hasn't mentioned it," I mumble, totally thrown by her commanding voice with Kate just now and her ability to switch that off and go back to the sweet, bubbly Esme I knew.
"He will," she smiles. "I'll show myself in, Kate," she says to the red faced girl, "I'll see you on Friday, dear," she calls to me as she walks right on into Edward's office without knocking.
"All your friends think what about Mr Cullen?" I ask, leaning over the edge of the desk, as soon as the office door is shut.
She looks beyond me, towards the office door and then she smiles. "All my friends and I think Mr Cullen deserves to smile."
"Me too," I tell her and thank her for the 'pack'.
EPOV
My mother, who never felt the need to knock, barged into my office not five minutes after Isabella's departure and caught me standing at the windows staring off into space daydreaming.
"Good morning, darling," she said, startling me from my thoughts.
"Good morning, mom," I reply hastily, desperately trying to get my head together before she began her version of a very polite Spanish Inquisition.
"I only have a little while, I've got a board meeting," she informed me after a quick look at her watch. She sat down and took out her notebook from the depths of her handbag. "So let's do this the simple way, shall we?"
"Please," I sigh, earning a stern glance as I too sat down at my desk.
"I'll ask, you answer," she said matter of factly and I nodded, pleased it could quite possibly be a little less painful if I just had to give yes or no answers. "Good. Was the picture in this morning's paper taken before or after the assault?"
"After," I replied.
"Good. That means her lip can't be that badly hurt if you were kissing her after," she grins. "I've just seen her in the foyer by the way, and if I hadn't known what to look for I wouldn't have noticed it. So you might get away with it. Now," she went on, given me no opportunity to respond, and I was grateful for that. "Your father advised you to ask often about her knuckles, did you?"
I cringe as I tell her no, I hadn't asked often. "But she would've..."
"Never mind, if she's not complaining about them they're probably just bruised according to your father," she went on, not allowing me to finish that statement either. "Is she going to be staying with you indefinitely?"
"I don't know."
"Is she staying with you again tonight?"
"Yes."
"And will you ask her to stay again tomorrow night?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then that's a start and you can bring her with you for dinner."
"She might not..." was as far as I got that time.
"She'll come," mom said confidently. "Can I add her name to the guest list for the Winter Ball next month?"
"I haven't said I'd go yet."
"You'll go," she says firmly and I nod because she's right. I'll go. I just won't like it. "Ask her and let me know if she can attend."
"Give me a chance to..."
"Don't mess this up," she said firmly whilst pointing across my desk directly at me, her eyes scrunched up and her lips pursed.
"I'll try but it's not just up to me."
"You've been alone long enough and she's perfect for you. A mother knows and that's an end to it."
"Yes, mom," I sigh because really, what else could I say?
"Is Seth looking for Tanya?" she asked next, switching topics so fast I had conversational whiplash.
"Yes."
"And he'll speak with Eleazar?"
"Yes."
"Is there anything you need me to do there?"
"No."
"And Jacob Black, is there any chance he's behind this and not Tanya?"
"I don't think so, no. It was Tanya who paid the original journalist and it was Tanya who assaulted Isabella, so there's nothing to say Jake Black had anything to do with any of this, no."
"Seth's still checking?"
"Seth's still checking," I agree.
"Bella was engaged to him once," she says and I nod. "Is it possible that he and Tanya have gotten together to exact some sort of silly revenge?"
The thought had crossed my mind and on Tanya's behalf a case might have been able to be made to that end, but what revenge Jake could be seeking was beyond me. I never heard a word about him being charged with, or even suspected of, being abusive toward her so he's lucky that information never got out. He'd have been ruined for sure.
As it was there was very little gossip and a lot of speculation about why they split but nothing concrete was ever said publicly as far as I remembered and as far as I'd been able to find out since.
"Nothing's impossible," I settle for, "but that seems unlikely and there's no proof right now that they even know each other."
"But Seth's still checking?" she asks again.
"And Seth's still checking," I assure her.
"Bella will continue her classes?" she asks, switching topics again.
"Definitely. No reason she shouldn't."
"Good. You have Jared with her when she's on campus?"
"He's switching out with Tyler, yes. But not just when she's on campus, I've put them on full time."
"And the Governance Committee's opinion is what?"
"They didn't blink. It's nothing to do with them and she's done nothing to bring the name of the university itself into disrepute, so they aren't even considering talking to her at all."
"Thank Belinda for me on Friday evening, please."
"I will."
"Will you take Bella to the club with you after dinner then?"
"I haven't asked her to dinner, or to the club, so I don't know at this stage."
"So ask."
"I will," I sigh, again because there was no point arguing about any of it. I wanted to ask her to come to dinner and I wanted her to come to the club with me after, I just hadn't gotten around to asking her yet.
"Are you planning to make a public statement?"
"No."
"Promise me, if you change your mind, that you'll let Emmett craft it?"
"I will."
"Well that's all I've got on my list for now. Is there anything you need from me?"
"Will you make lasagne on Friday night if I bring her?" I ask cheekily.
"If you get her to accept the invitation I'll make anything you like, darling," she grins.
"Will you stop dad and Rosie from telling horrible childhood stories about me if I get her to come?" I beg, hoping she could.
"Not a chance," she laughs as she gathers her things. "Rose had to endure it and I see no reason why you shouldn't. It's a rite of passage for siblings. Get through it with a smile on your face and she'll be impressed."
"She knows which one is my game face," I chuckle.
"Good. There'll be no way you can get any bullshit by her. I knew I liked her but that cements it, if she's got your number already," she says as she comes and kisses me on the cheek as a goodbye. "I'm sorry for the interrogation but I needed to be quick, darling. We'll talk some more when things settle down."
"Okay, mom," I tell her.
"I'll talk to you before then but I'm looking forward to seeing you both on Friday," she says as she goes out my office door.
BPOV
The grilling from Alice was done the girly way. Lots of gossiping, lots of giggling and lots of secret women's business passed between the two of us as we drank coffee and ate some of her cupcake samples.
I described his home and how he was when he was in it. I told her how we'd fallen asleep on the sofa and how good it had felt to wake up with him right there behind me.
We talked about him admitting, rather sweetly we agreed, that he couldn't cook.
I told her about his office and how he switched to business mode so easily. I told her how I'd offended him and about our misunderstanding about the picture in the paper that morning.
I told her I was staying there again that night and we both squealed at the thought of me sharing a bed with him, even if it was just to sleep. For now I'd told her with a grin.
The interrogation from my brother, who had been getting pointers from our father by the looks of it, was done in his office (which he never used) and definitely didn't include any giggling.
What it did contain was a lot of very pointed questions and a lot of very pointed threats should Edward Cullen hurt me in any way, shape or form.
I let him play big brother for a little while and nodded at appropriate moments, but after about twenty minutes I was just about up to pussy's bow.
When he said he wanted to meet with Edward in private before I saw him again, to gauge his intentions, I drew the line.
"That's not going to happen," I said firmly. "You've already met him and I'm twenty six years old, not sixteen anymore," I told him as I got to my feet.
"You might be twenty six now but you're still my little sister," he countered.
"Little sister, yes, but not your responsibility!" I shouted back.
"Who else is looking out for you?" he roared as he too got to his feet. "You think Edward Cullen has your best interests at heart? He's a cold blooded bastard, Bell's. You only have to read the papers to know that."
"According to the papers I'm a gold digging whore. Do you believe that too?" I asked in a hiss, my anger rising by degrees.
"Of course not," he barked. "But I know you. I don't know him from Adam and neither do you."
"You met him!" I snarl back. "You had dinner with him, at your own house. You laughed and told stories and you seemed to like him fine then," I remind him. "I've spent time with him. I know his family quite well, his mother very well actually. I've watched him at work and at his home and I know that he's done absolutely everything he possibly could to shelter me from the press this week."
"But not from his girlfriend," he roars, pointing to my lip.
"She's not his girlfriend!" I shriek. "I told you that. She's a nutter Jaz. We don't know what her angle is but she's full of shit. He's never led her on, dated her or even kissed her before. They're family friends. That's all. It's all in her head this jilted lover crap."
"And you found this out how?" he asks and I'm not quite quick enough to not fall into his trap.
"Edward told me," I say.
"And of course he's got no reason to lie," he said sarcastically.
"Why would he lie?"
"Because he can!" he shouts.
"To what end?" I demand.
"Why did we just spend four days in Gladstone? Think about it, Bell's. He needs his public image to improve. What better way to do that than to be seen with you. The pristinely clean daughter of an ex cop whose working hard on a degree and working part time here to pay her way. You're perfect for what he needs."
"Okay, say that's true, and it's not, how would it help him clean up his public image to be seen dating me only to dump me to marry Tanya Denali?"
"Stoker," he says softly and I have to strain to catch it.
"What?" I ask eventually when I can't get my head around what he's trying to tell me.
"She's not Tanya Denali. She's Tanya Denali Stoker. She's freshly divorced, Bell's. Not even a year ago in fact. His family and probably most of the business world he lives in would not be impressed if he married a divorcee. If he's playing you it's because you're perfect for his image and she's not. It wouldn't take much for him to parade you around, get a few pictures into the press of the two of you under the heading of 'budding new romance'," he says using his fingers to make the quotation marks.
"I don't understand," I whisper, a sick feeling churning in my stomach.
"Oh Bell's," my brother sighs as he sits back down. "Think about it. It is possible. I don't want it to be, but it is possible. He gets himself seen with you and when the timing's right he dumps you and falls into the arms of his ex lover who is still unsuitable, but a little less unsuitable compared to the heartless little girl who hurt him so horribly. He rides out the poor, broken hearted angle and the press eat it up. Nobody would say a word about him returning to Tanya after you're made out to be the bitch in the equation."
I can't help the tears. They fall without my permission. It's not true and I know it's not true, but hearing my brother speak about Edward like that, knowing Jasper thought he could be capable of being so cold and calculating hurt. It actually physically hurt.
"You're wrong," I tell him quietly as I wipe at my eyes with the backs of my hands. "They've known each other since they were little kids. If he wanted her he could've been with her long before she married. Probably right out of high school, or at least university. If he had any feelings for her at all he could've acted on them years ago.
"And," I say, getting to my feet again as my confidence and conviction grew, "she's in the same boat. If she truly had feelings for him she could've acted on them when they were much younger. A woman who truly loves a man does not go off and marry someone else and then come back for a second shot. She stakes her claim from the off.
"He doesn't want her and he never has. He told me so himself and I believe him. Not because my judgement is clouded but because it makes no sense that he'd wait until she'd married and then divorced to want her. You're wrong and I don't care what you think or say you'll still be wrong about this.
"This is nothing to do with me. Its Tanya's delusions driving this. Not anything I've done or even anything Edward's done. If you think differently keep it to yourself," I hiss across the desk and make for the door. I'd had enough.
"I want to be wrong," he shouts across the room behind me. "But I don't trust him."
"You don't have to!" I yell as I yank open the door. "Only I have to and I do!"
"You trusted Jake!" he counters and I wheel around immediately.
"You've forgotten that you trusted Jake too, brother," I hiss. "You never asked him what his intentions were. Maybe you should have! You could've saved me a few trips to the emergency room!"
I left him there, mouth open agog at what I'd said, and ran out of the office.
Jared was on his feet right away and moving towards me just as fast as I was travelling towards him.
"What is it?" he asked, his eyeballs swivelling around looking for the problem.
"I need to leave, now," I hiss.
"Done," he says firmly. "Wipe your eyes and smooth out your hair," he instructs as we march towards the front door of the building. "There are only two out there but that's enough." He waits until I've done as he asked and then he looks me in the eye. "I don't need to know what happened in there but if you show any of it on your face they'll eat you alive. So chin up. Smile as best you can. Stay at my shoulder and when I speak you laugh out loud, go it?"
"Laugh?" I ask hesitantly. I didn't understand the game he wanted me to play.
"When I speak you laugh. Trust me," he says with a grin and we move to the door.
He counts us down and then we're outside in the bright sunlight and moving at a good clip towards the waiting car.
The questions are relentless as usual and I have to work hard to keep the smile on my face.
We're halfway to the car when Jared puts his plan into action.
"I farted I the foyer and it smelled of brussels sprouts," he whispers and I crack up.
I'm really laughing and it's not fake either. He's disgusting and I want to be grossed out but the deadpan way he delivered the line just cracked me up.
Before I know it I'm in the car and he's pulling away from the parking lot.
"You did well," he says once we're far enough away, leaving the press where they were, way behind us.
"You're a pig," I tell him, "but thanks."
"No probs, boss," he says cheekily. "Where are we heading?"
"My place please."
"Short or long stay?" he asks.
"Short. I want to go back to Cullen Enterprises after that please."
"On it, boss," he says.
EPOV
"I fucked up," Jasper Swan tells me the instant I've answered his call. "We got into an argument and your guy drove off with her before I had a chance to apologise and now I have no idea where she's gone, she won't answer her phone and the press are fucking relentless!"
I can hear the worry and panic in his voice and do my best to tamp mine down. "Okay," I say calmly. "Brothers and sisters fight. She'll forgive you and you can both put this behind you. For right now you calm down and give me five minutes to check in with my guy, whose name is Jared by the way. I'll call you right back."
"Hurry," he says and I agree that I will.
I'm dialling Jared immediately and thankfully he picks up on the first ring.
"I've got her, boss. We're heading to her apartment real quick then heading back to you," he tells me straight up.
"Thank god," I sigh.
"She did well. Really well. You want to talk to her?"
"Yeah, I do, and thanks."
"Here she is," he says and I hear some fumbling and rustling as he hands over his phone.
"Edward?" she asks and I can hear the anguish in her voice.
"Hey pretty girl, you alright there?" I ask as calmly as I can.
"I had a fight with Jasper," she whispers.
"I know. I've just had him on the phone. He's pretty worried about you and pretty desperate to apologise too."
"Oh god," she wails and I want to be there with her so badly. "You don't need this shit," she hisses.
"If it involves or upsets you it isn't shit," I tell her firmly. "And I need whatever it is you need me to need. That made sense in my head," I chuckle.
She's laughing then and I can relax just a little. "You're crazy," she giggles and I relax a little more. "Is it okay if I come back to your building until you're ready to leave? I don't want to be at my apartment alone all afternoon. I promise you won't even know I'm there. I'll be quiet, sit out in the meeting area and do my homework."
"Of course you can come here. Any time. I'll see you soon. Put me back on to Jared real quick," I ask of her and she says she'll see me soon before I hear the same rustling sounds.
"Yeah, boss?" Jared says when he's got the phone again.
"You wait at her apartment door for her. She isn't to be on her floor alone are we clear?"
"Done," he says in typical bodyguard fashion.
"When you've dropped her off here I need you to go back and collect her brother and Alice from Swan Catering and take them to my house, okay?"
"Done," he says again.
"Drive carefully," I tell him and end the call. I dial Jasper and he answers on the first ring too. "She's with Jared safe and sound. She wants to go to her apartment to collect some things and then she's coming here to wait for me to be finished for the day. But I'll finish up as soon as she gets here and get Seth to take us to my place. Jared is going to double back and collect you and Alice and bring you to my place too so you can all sort this out. Does that suit you?"
"Yeah, I guess," he says quietly.
"Then I'll see you in an hour or so."
"Yeah, see you then, and thanks," he says.
I end the call and buzz for Kate as I begin to tidy my desk and throw what I'd need at home into my briefcase.
"Do you have your pad?" I ask and she holds it and a pen out for me to see. "I'm done for today. Cancel what you can, reschedule everything else for next week," I tell her when she comes in. "Tell Alec I'll need the transfer documents ready by the close of business tomorrow at the latest and he can fax them to me at the home number any time between now and then and I'll sign them and send them right back."
"Got it," she says efficiently.
"Set up a conference call with Equity for tomorrow morning early and make sure that Andrew, Shane, Liam and the relief factory supervisors are all in on the call. Any time after nine is fine."
"Got it," she says again.
"Change my flight from Tuesday to Wednesday late, after business hours. And book two tickets. Contact Sonia and tell her I'm sorry but I'll have to reschedule the meeting to the Thursday. I'm giving her an extra day so she shouldn't bitch about it too much. And book me anywhere other than the last place I stayed down there. Make the booking for two, tentatively."
"Got it."
"The return flight has to be not later than six Thursday evening, charter a flight if you have to. I'll need two seats on that too."
"I'll do my best."
"Is there anything you need from me before I go?"
"Nothing that can't wait," she says, "unless you'll be gone from the office for longer than a day or so?"
It was a crafty way to ask if I was ditching school, and if I was for how long, but I didn't mind. "I'm taking the next two days off and I don't know if I'll be in on Monday either. I'll let you know." I heard her gasp and had to laugh. "I've never taken two consecutive days off before, have I?" I ask.
"No, sir," she says softly.
"I can trust you not to gossip about this, can't I Kate?" I ask seriously.
"Oh no sir, I wouldn't ever. I don't like what's being said about you now so I'd never do anything to make it worse. I promise," she says very quickly.
"I know you wouldn't," I tell her honestly. "Not intentionally. So I'm asking you to be very careful who you speak to over the coming weeks."
"I will," she promises. "I like Bella and well, I like you too, sir. I really like working for you so I won't tell anyone anything."
"Thank you Kate, I like you too, and I'm glad you like working for me, I know I'm not easy most days," I tell her. And didn't that suck? In eight years I'd never told her that I liked her or that I liked that she worked for me.
"You aren't as bad as Alistair," she cringes and I have to agree.
My company lawyer was a real piece of work and near impossible to work with. He'd been through four assistants in four years and every time another one quit it was poor Kate who had to do his bidding until a new one could be found. Or convinced to work for him. Or bribed to work for him.
She did everything for me in the office. She had never once failed me. She put up with my black moods when deals went wrong or I didn't get my way. She brought me coffee and when I asked her not to because I didn't think it should be a part of her job description she told me she liked doing it and would keep doing it, if it was okay with me.
I gave her a healthy raise every year and four weeks annual leave but everyone in the building got those things and they didn't have to put up with me like she did.
"I've got one or two things left to finish up, I'm waiting for Isabella to arrive, and then I'll be heading off. Sort those things out for me," I said, pointing to the notes she'd made on her pad, "and then come and see me, please."
"Yes sir," she said and shut the door behind her as she went.
I didn't have anything left to finish up. I had something I wanted to do for her.
BPOV
I packed a bigger bag this time. Not because I intended to impose on Edward's hospitality for longer but because the thought of staying in the apartment right then made me want to puke. I wanted some personal things with me just in case someone got in and ransacked it.
Tanya had gotten in once so she could do it again, no matter Seth's assurances. Plus this would be the first place Jasper looked for me and I didn't want to see him right then so I knew I had to leave.
I knew I couldn't stay mad at him, and not just because he was my brother either. I couldn't stay mad because everything he'd said had come from his concern for me and I knew that if our roles were reversed I'd have said the exact same things.
And I wasn't exactly squeaky clean in the fight either. I'd said something horrible right at the end and I knew it had to have cut him to the bone. He'd spent months, and maybe even still did now, feeling guilty for not stopping Jake sooner. I'd told him a thousand times it wasn't his fault, that I should've told him earlier, but he never listened.
So I knew he was just looking out for me. His methods sucked, but his intentions were good.
We'd make up. We always did.
But right then all I wanted was to get the hell out of Dodge and retreat to the sanctuary of Edward's house. Preferably with him in it.
It was safe there. Nobody could take my picture or harass me. If they shouted out questions I couldn't hear them from inside it and knowing both Edward and Seth were there made me feel better.
It was a bandaid on a broken leg but it was all I had right then and I wanted to cling to it.
So I made quick work of gathering my things, homework included, and I was back in the lift with Jared beside me in ten minutes flat.
We ran the gauntlet again, sans fart jokes this time, and were heading towards the Cullen Enterprises building within half an hour of the fight with Jaz.
Kate was beaming like the cat who'd stolen the canary when I got to the top floor.
"You look happy. Did you win the lottery and just told him to shove his shitty job?" I laughed as I approached her desk.
"Close but no cigar," she laughed back. "He made me promise not to tell you the details, but," she said, motioning for me to lean over so she could whisper, "just between you and me, he's a saint and if I wasn't already married I'd have a huge crush on him."
"Good to know," I laughed, though I had no idea what she was on about. "I'll just be over there," I tell her, pointing towards one of the groupings of chairs and tables.
"He's asked that you go right in when you arrive," she said instead.
"Oh, okay," I shrug and head on into his office.
He was head down and writing furiously but he sat right up when I got in there. He was the picture of worry, his eyes were boring into mine and his lips had a grim set to them.
"I'm fine," I tell him as I go towards his desk.
He's on his feet then, striding towards me. "Do you mind if I check for myself?" he asks with a cheeky grin.
"The doors not locked," I giggle as he folds me into a bear hug. "Argh," I rasp because it was getting hard to breathe.
"What happened?" he asked as he stepped away a little. "I know it's none of my business, but when your brother called in a flap I nearly had a heart attack."
"He started it," I say petulantly.
"He's very worried and dying to apologise," he tells me sagely.
"He should be worried and he should apologise," I sigh, "but I'll have to apologise too. He just made me so mad," I pout. "He's full of theories and bullshit ideas and nothing I said was getting through to him and I lost it. I said some awful things to him."
"It happens," he sighs right back as he nods towards the sofa at the side of the room. We both sit, our knees touching and my hands in his on my thighs. "Rosie and I have gone at it a few times over the years. It can get pretty heated but we always make up and you will too."
"I know we will," I agree. "But right now I just want to be mad at him."
"Ahh," he cringes. "You might not be too amused with me then."
"Why?" I ask gingerly.
"Well he called, as you know, and he was pretty upset and I just...I mean, I don't like it when you're upset and I just thought... Christ," he muttered and pulled a hand out of mine so he could rub his scalp. "I sent Jared back to collect him and Alice, they're on their way to my house as we speak," he grimaces.
"You did?" I ask.
"I did. I'm so sorry. If I'd have known you just wanted to be mad at him for a bit I wouldn't have done it. I should've stayed out of it. I'm a control freak. Jesus, I'm so sorry. It's none of my business and I should've left it alone for you to sort out."
I threw myself at him then. I yanked my hand out of his and threw my arms around his shoulders and kissed him hard.
"Thank you," I whisper onto his lips. "You did that for me? Because you don't like it when I'm upset?"
"I'd do anything for you," he whispers back between kisses. "And it hurts me when you're hurting."
"God, you're so..." I trail off, unable to put words to how wonderful he was. Instead I kiss him again, deeply.
Without even thinking about it I'm in his lap, my thighs around his thighs, my hands raking through his hair while I plunge my tongue into his mouth.
I can feel him beneath me, hard and hot, and I grind myself into his lap a little harder and when he groans right into my mouth I can't help but do the same. His fingers are digging into my hips then, pushing me, pulling me where he needs friction and I'm moaning and whimpering as the fire builds inside me too.
"Not here," he's telling me, one word at a time between pushing his tongue back into my mouth. And I'm agreeing but I can't speak. "Not here," he moans again although he's not stopping and I'm not stopping. "Not like this," he says more gently as he presses his lips to my throat and calms his hands and hips. "I want you, but not here, not like this," he whispers against my throat. "I want to take my time," he groans.
All I can manage is a soft, squeaky 'yeah' but he heard me.
We sit there, panting hard but finally still for long minutes. With his forehead pressed to mine we sit and stare, breathing together in a steady rhythm, eyes locked on one anothers.
"Come home with me," he whispers.
"I already was," I whisper back.
"I know. But come home with me. Not because your brother will be there and you need to apologise, not because you don't feel safe at your place, but because you want to be with me."
"I already was," I say again and he grins beneath me.
"Where have you been?" he asks out of the blue and I don't understand.
"I was at Jasper's," I tell him as he brings his hands up and cups my face softly.
"No," he whispers as his thumbs begin to rub circles on my throat. "Before that, ten years ago, eight months ago, two weeks ago, where have you been?"
I get it then. I understand him perfectly and he's just asked me the most perfect of questions. The answer is a very simple one and it isn't difficult to put into words, not now, not now that I see him. Truly see him.
"I was waiting for you," I whisper and watch the smile bloom on his face.
"I'm so glad," is his reply and I can't help but kiss him one more time very softly.
EPOV
It's Seth's knock at the office door that finally separates us, but we don't go far. She slides off my lap and sits beside me on the sofa, but our hands are linked between us as Seth comes in at my urging.
"You two ready?" he asks, grinning down at us.
"Let me pack my case and I'm good to go," I tell him.
"I'll wait out there," he says cautiously, pointing back towards the foyer. "Yeah, I think I'm just gonna wait out there," he chuckles as I stand.
He leaves very quickly, almost running, and then Isabella's giggling softly behind me as I approach my desk.
"I know you're comfortable in slacks but jeans hide that much better," she laughs, pointing at my crotch.
"Jesus," I mutter darkly and quickly sit behind my desk to start gathering my papers together. "Distract me," I beg of her as I draw together the folders I'll need at home.
"Um," she stammers, searching for something to say. "Oh, I know. What did you do to Kate?"
"I didn't do anything to Kate," I tell her truthfully.
"You did so too," she giggles. "When I arrived she was all starry eyed and checking Google to see what the procedure is to nominate you for sainthood. So spill, what did you do to her?"
I snap my case shut and stand, grinning down at her as I tuck her under my arm for the walk to the door. "I've decided to take a few days off and I gave Kate a few days off too, that's all."
"When was the last time you took time off?" she asks, rather astutely, as we go out into the foyer to join Seth.
"When was the last time I took time off?" I ask him as we get into the lift.
"Hmmm, let's see," he muses with a smirk. "I started in the January and you had a day off for Rosie's wedding in the March, so what's that, eight years?"
"You're joking!" Isabella scoffs.
"He's not," I chuckle.
"Eight years without a few days off?" she asks, eyebrows raised and I nod. "So why now?"
"I quite liked the idea of having a few days to get to know my girlfriend better. Any objections?" I ask cheekily as the lift doors open.
She walks ahead, backwards, a smile a mile wide as she speaks, "I have only one class tomorrow and then I've got nowhere to be until Monday too!"
"Well, look at that," I shrug at Seth, "our schedules match for a few days."
"What a coincidence," he scoffs as he holds the door open for Isabella.
"Isn't it?" I chirp back smugly.
"You checked my class schedule, didn't you?" she asks as I slide into the backseat beside her.
"Might have," I shrug.
"Control freak," she mocks, cuffing me on the forearm.
"Ah ah," I scold playfully, "it's clever control freak who might be nominated for sainthood."
"Saint Edward, I think there already is one of those," she giggles as Seth backs the car out of its space. "What would you be patron of?"
"Saint Edward, patron saint of personal assistants who get to go on yachts," I deadpan.
She looks bewildered but Seth perks right up. "Heads up," he says first to get our attention, and then, "You gave her the boat for the weekend? You bastard," he hisses.
"What have I missed?" Isabella asks as the camera flashes start as we drive past the still camped out press outside the building.
"Saint Edward bought a weekend on a private yacht at the hospital benefit auction last month and he's given it to bloody Kate," Seth growls.
"You did?" she asks, wide eyed.
"I wasn't going to use it," I shrug.
"I would've," Seth grouched.
"I need you here right now," I tell him sadly knowing he would've loved to have had a few days off too. "I've already talked to Phil, that's the owner of the boat," I tell Isabella, "and he's agreed to let me lease it for a weekend as soon as our press troubles go away," I tell Seth.
"Saint Edward," he crows, slapping his hand on the steering wheel excitedly, "patron saint of personal assistants and bodyguards. Thanks, boss," he says, grinning with his chin high so I could see it in the rear view mirror.
"There's a catch," I warn.
"There always is," he gripes.
"Tonight, when Jasper and Alice are ready to go home, I want you to take them," I tell him pointedly.
"Okay," he says, drawing out the syllables to show me he didn't get what the catch was.
"There could quite possibly be a lot of traffic at that hour," I hedge, hoping he'd twig fast.
He cocks his head to the side, his eyebrows creasing as he thought on that. When he got what I meant he smiled wide, "Yeah, Thursday night traffic is notoriously bad," he chuckled, "might take me hours to get back from dropping them off."
"It might," I agree with as straight a face as I could muster.
Isabella, who is watching me intently, is quiet for a long while and I wonder what she's thinking.
"You need to work on your subtlety," she whispers out of the blue.
I don't disagree so I say nothing. I just watch the smile on her lips the rest of the way home.
A/N: Thank you for reading.
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