Disclaimer: None of this is mine, nor will it ever be (sigh). I like to play with the characters that Stephenie Meyers created and make them do pervy things or become angels with a bad attitude.
Up next will be Edward's conversation with him and his reasoning behind pulling Jasper off Bella's protective detail. Also, we're going to experiment with Bella and her version of slow.
Chapter Nineteen
EPOV
When Bella was sleeping, I heard Carlisle call me on Sunday evening. As I got out of the bed, Felix jumped up and curled up next to Bella. "Keep her safe, bud," I said. He whimpered and I scrubbed behind his ears. I put on some jeans and a sweater, heading outside. Spreading my wings, I took off and followed Carlisle's call. Flying through the clouds, I landed at the summit of Mt. Rainier. "Carlisle."
He turned, still wearing the clothes he'd had on when I saw him last. He hugged me, caressing my cheek. "You look good, son. Being in love suits you," he said, smirking. I blushed, dropping my gaze to the snow-capped peak. "How is Bella?"
"She's comfortable and safe with me," I answered. "She trusts you and Alice. But, mainly you."
"She's a beautiful, smart, loving woman, who has had the most heinous crimes committed against her," Carlisle growled. "The fact that she still puts herself out there, loving her children and loving you …" I shot him a look. "I felt it, Edward. In her heart, she loves you, but she's afraid of saying it."
"That's because anytime she says she loves them, she gets fucked," I growled, moving and sitting down on an outcropping of rocks. "I hate those animals who hurt her, Carlisle. I know that we should be forgiving, but I can't forgive that. She was brutalized so horrifically that she lost the ability to have her own children." I blinked up at him, blowing out a harsh breath. "I know that I'm officially working for you, but I have a vulnerable human asleep in my bed."
"Your job is to keep that human safe," Carlisle said, squeezing my shoulder. "She's your only priority. We haven't heard anything about Riley, but that's probably because he's gone off the grid. The human knows he's got an arrest warrant for Bella's rape. He may change his appearance, trick her … ruin her."
"No," I gasped, thrusting my hands into my hair. "They can't. Hasn't she been dealt enough?"
"That's why you're going to be glued to her," Carlisle replied. "Look, I know that Alice told you, but Jasper is off the case. His heart is filled with hatred toward you. He's very close to being recycled. I know that Alice will be upset, but she understands. She told Jasper that his future was on the line, but he can't get it through his head to forgive you. He can't get past what happened to him, even though you were a huge part why he was saved."
"I realize that Jasper and I will never be friends," I snorted. "Or even allies."
"That's putting it mildly," he sighed. "I'd transfer him to another team, but his connection with Alice makes it difficult and you work so well with Alice. Probably better than Jasper, which is another bone of contention." He sat down next to me, his skin glowing in the budding sunrise. "I may have to discuss with Michael and Gabriel before bringing it up to Him. They could have some other suggestions." He blinked to me. "Whatever happens, we will do anything ensure that Bella and you are safe."
"Me?" I asked.
"You're just as much of a target as Bella," he chuckled. "However, with this arrest warrant and his termination from his job, Riley will need time to regroup. Until then, they'll be more frequent fly-bys and undercover angels in Bella's life."
"Is there anyone else we need to be wary of?" I queried. "Her ex-boss, Rose, was a piece of work."
"She is on the fence and could be swayed to the darkness," Carlisle murmured. "I'll put someone on her. Check to see if she's got protection."
"Thanks," I said. "Is there anything else?"
"Nothing that you can't fix," he replied, giving me a wry grin. "Go to your mate. She'll wake soon and you have to go to work. She's safe. You're both safe. For now."
"But not for long," I sighed. I stood up, wiping my jeans off and turning to him. "We'll be in touch?"
"If you need me, call," he said, standing up and pressing his hand to my heart. I leaned against his touch, feeling more of my powers returning. Our foreheads touched. "I love you, son. Be strong and be safe."
"I love you, too, Carlisle. I've missed you," I whispered. "More than I …"
"I know," he said, kissing my forehead. "Go. Bella should be awake in a few moments. She'll need your reassurance, especially with Riley's disappearance."
I nodded, shooting off from the mountaintop and flying back to my home. Ducking inside, I removed my jeans and sweater, crawling back into the bed after shooing Felix off my comforter. Bella turned and pressed her warm cheek to my chilled, bare chest and she shivered. I lifted her, enfolding her into my arms and wings. She sighed, clutching the teddy bear to her chest. "Edward …" she whispered, snuggling closer to me.
"I'm here, pretty Bella," I said, running my fingers through his hair. She jostled awake and looked up at me, all sleepy and confused. A lazy smile spread over her face and she traced the ink I had on my belly. I shifted, trying not to giggle.
"Does that tickle, Edward?" she asked, her fingers moving languidly over my skin.
"Yeah," I snickered, taking her hand and tenderly kissing her fingertips. She moved and her fingers traced my jaw. Her eyes were still sleepy, but there was something burning behind them. Desire. "You're so beautiful, Bella. I call you pretty, but that is not an appropriate description. Beautiful … gorgeous … exquisite … inside and out."
"Edward," she whispered, tears welling in her warm, chocolate eyes. "I'm not …"
"I beg to differ, love," I argued, wiping the tears away that had spilled onto her pink cheeks. She blinked, giving me a watery smile. "I know that your self-worth is in the shitter, thanks to those assholes who should have been taking care of you. But you are gorgeous and so good." Before she could argue, I pressed my lips to hers. She whimpered, her hands twining in my hair and moving closer to my body. I cupped her face, sliding my tongue between her open mouth. Her leg moved and she straddled my thigh. I could feel her heat as she ground against my leg.
"Baby, please," she pleaded against my mouth. "Can you … t-t-t-touch me?"
"I am touching you, love," I said, my mouth moving down her neck and nipping at her earlobe. She pulled back and moved, straddling my hips with her warmth right there. "Bella?"
"I want to know," she said, tears falling down her gorgeous face. "I have to know what it's like to have someone touch me and not do it out of malice and with my permission. I want to feel your hands on me." She stared at me as she pulled her, my t-shirt off her body and revealing her bare torso. I sat up, gasping as the sun rose behind her. I made her look more like an angel than I did. I stared into her sweet, soft and trusting eyes as I cupped her face. "Edward, please?"
I kept my eyes on hers as my hands traveled down her shoulders, reveling in how soft her skin was. It felt like the most expensive silk, smooth and creamy beneath my fingertips. I traced her ribcage, moving my hands around the front of her to her flat tummy. I could feel slight scars, but I refused to break eye contact, desperate for her to know that I was never going to hurt her. She was breathing shallowly as my thumbs grazed underneath her breasts. "Do you want me to stop, Bella?"
"No," she said, moving closer to me and her arms draped loosely over my shoulders. I moved my wings and held her closely as my hands glided up her pale skin to tenderly cup her breasts. She shuddered, her eyes closing and streams of tears falling down her cheeks. I wanted to hold her with my arms and I removed my hands. "Don't stop. Please."
"You're crying. I can feel your hurt," I said, my own voice cracking.
"Not hurt, healing," she murmured, taking my left hand and placing it over her right breast. "Touch me. Show me love."
"Oh, Bella, I'll do that forever," I whispered, tightening my wings around her and gently massaging her breasts, my thumbs rubbing across her pebbled nipples. I leaned forward, kissing her soft lips and tasted her tears. When a sob broke free from her lips, I wrapped my arms, wings and entire soul around the shivering woman in my arms. "I'm sorry, Bella. Please, don't cry. I hate seeing you cry. I love you and I only want good things for you. I want to see you smile."
She clung to me, her mind a jumble, but I could hear her mental voice saying she loved me, that she trusted me. I kept her close until the alarm went off, officially starting our day. She moved back, her fingers twisting in my hair. "I'm okay, baby. I'm okay."
"You were crying," I said, pouting. "I don't want that."
"I just let a man touch me, let you touch me," she murmured, bringing my hand back to her breast and arching her back into my hand. "I crossed a bridge, Edward. However, if we continue, there will be more tears. Years of abuse …"
"I want you to know only love and reverent caresses," I vowed. "I want to be the one who shows you that."
"Promise?" she asked, her voice tiny.
"Until the end of time, Bella, my pretty Bella," I said, kissing her gently. The alarm went off again and I groaned. "Back to the grind."
"Yeah," she grumped. "Do you think that Riley will be back?"
"Unlikely. He's been fired and he's got an active arrest warrant. Carlisle and the powers that be believe that he's regrouping. We may have a reprieve, but that doesn't mean we stop watching over our shoulders," I said, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "Now, you've got a class full of kids who missed you something fierce. They were worried because Ms. Swan never misses school."
"I don't," she giggled, burrowing her nose into my neck and kissing me sweetly. She moved closer, feeling my hardness and she froze.
"I'm sorry, love," I said, thinking of anything to get my body to relax. She looked up at me and there was fear in her eyes, but fierce determination. She rolled her body, feeling more of my erection. "Bella, please …"
"Bigger than I've ever felt," she whispered, trying to make light of the situation. I blushed, maintaining eye contact. "Can I? I mean, I don't want you to think like you're … I just imagine all men's penises as evil, with barbs and implements of torture." She blushed furiously. "Never mind. It was stupid."
"No, Bella," I said, picking her up and handing her a shirt. I sat her at the edge of the bed. I crouched in front of her. "I don't want you to be afraid of me, of my body." I stood up, placing her hands at my hips. "Explore away."
She tugged on my hand and put me on the bed next to her. She eyed the bulge in my pants, but made no move to touch me. "I don't think I'm ready for that. Not yet. But, there's no barbs?"
"No," I snorted. "It curves to the left, but no barbs."
"And you won't force me to touch you or to do anything …?" she asked, her fear apparent in her eyes.
"Never," I growled, tracing my finger along the apple of her cheek. "You're in control, Bella. You tell me what you want, what you're ready for."
"Okay," she sighed, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. "Thank you, for being there and for understanding." She kissed me and got up to shower. Once she was out of the room, I fell back and groaned.
I had a major case of blue balls. Bella, in her innocence, was a siren, pushing all my buttons. I had to remember that she was an innocent. Her body was that of a twenty-six-year-old woman, but her emotional age was much less due to her years of abuse. She was in control and there would be tears, but I would only ever show her love.
It was all she deserved.
Always.
A/N: They moved slow, but did they? Up next will be Bella and some cute student time, as well a meeting with Mrs. Cope. Plus, Edward is going to take Bella out on a date. She's never had that and he's going to show her what she should have had.
Leave me some loving! Thank you for reading!
