Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
I'm not exactly sure what mess Bella had been referring to but the house looked perfect to me. That could be because I couldn't take me eyes off of her. Also, I was mentally road-blocking myself so that I could remain a gentleman. If I didn't, there was a good chance I'd end up taking her on the kitchen table in about 2 seconds flat.
"This is it," she said, waving her arms around to gesture at the rooms. "Home, sweet home."
Tearing my eyes away from Bella's beautiful form, I took a quick glance around at the house. "I like it Bella. It's nice. I don't know what you were complaining about," I laughed.
"Thanks," she said, smiling at me. "Make yourself comfortable on the couch. Do you want a glass of wine?" she called out, walking into the kitchen.
"I'd love one," I called back, wandering into the living room. I looked around at the various pictures and decorations, stopping on one photo in particular. Bella was with an older man who I assumed was her father. They had their arms thrown around each other and big smiles slapped on their faces. This served as more proof to me as to how close they were.
I retreated to the couch as Bella came in with our glasses. With her legs curled under her, Bella settled in next to me on the couch and smiled.
"Where is Charlie at tonight? He's never here when I come get you." I was curious about her elusive father.
Bella handed me a glass of wine before answering my question. "When you've come by to pick me up he's been at work. Tonight he stayed in La Push, the reservation. He went fishing with Billy, Jake's dad, and he just decided to stay for the weekend because they wanted to go again tomorrow. It's rare that the weather is good enough for them to be able to go once, let alone two days in a row."
"Oh okay. Sounds like a good time," I smiled. She nodded while taking a sip of her wine.
"So," she said, "I think it's time I told you the story about the jerk so that the elephant in the room goes away."
"Bella," I began, "don't feel like you have to tell me about him or that whole situation. I understand your reason for being quite. He hurt you and no one wants to relive that kind of pain. I don't want you to feel pressured into telling me what happened. "
"I don't feel pressured Edward, I promise. Thank you for being so understanding, really. But I feel like you deserve to know. I feel that it's only fair that you know how much of a mess I am before we get too involved." She gently grasped my hand. The look on her face said she needed the reassurance. Maybe nervous about the story she had to retell.
"You are not a mess," I told her, before cupping her cheek with my free hand and kissing her softly. Bella smiled against my lips and giggled slightly.
"Oh but I am!" she warned. "Now, before you distract me anymore, let me get this crap out of the way so that it doesn't ruin the whole evening." She gave me a small push and I raised my hands in defense.
"I'll behave, scouts honor," I told her solemnly with three fingers up. "Let's have it and I'll see what I can do afterwards to make forget about him," I teased, with a huge smile on my face.
"Oh really Mr. Cullen? I might have to take you up on that." There was a mischievous glint in her eyes and my heart started racing. I could get used to this.
"Well then I'll keep my fingers crossed."
"Alright, Casanova," she said, playfully shoving me. "Where was I? I guess I should just start at the beginning. His name is Mike and I went to high school with him. We dated for four years, starting my senior year. Typical high school romance I guess. I thought we were going to get married and that I couldn't have been luckier, but damn was I wrong….." Bella's soft voice traveled off and she got a far-away look in her eyes.
I moved closer to her on the couch and she shook her head before smiling at me. "Sorry, I haven't really told many people about any of this. Moving on! He works in Port Angeles for his dad's company. Between both of our busy schedules, we didn't get to see each other much. I wanted to surprise him one Friday, so I got my shift taken over, and made the drive up there. He was supposed to be off soon and I figured we could go out and have a date night. We hadn't done anything like that in a while." Bella paused, waiting to make sure I was following.
"Sounds logical to me, and I'd be pretty happy if you surprised me," I encouraged. I was pretty sure I could see where this was going, and I wasn't very happy about it.
Bella laughed lightly before continuing. "I really guess I should have known. We never went out any more and he was always staying late at work. Typical signs that are always there in this kind of case, but who ever actually sees it? I just didn't want to believe that he could do something like that to me. I brushed it off for a good six or seven months, acting like the absence and his lack of interest didn't bother me. I kept telling myself that maybe it was because we had been together for so long. I mean relationships aren't always exciting, you get into ruts."
"You shouldn't have to make excuses like that Bella. Relationships, good ones, don't work like that," I reassured her, running my thumb over the back of her hand. "I'm sorry I keep interrupting you, I just hate that you've convinced yourself relationships go that way."
"I know that now. I made excuses for him, but I won't make that mistake ever again. I won't get walked on that way, or used." There was a fire in Bella's eyes that I hadn't seen out of her before, but damn if it wasn't sexy. I couldn't think about that right now though. Focus Edward, she's spilling her heart out to you. "Anyway, I got there about 15 minutes before his leaving time. The office was pretty empty because it was Friday and people had gone home early. Even his secretary wasn't there to let me in. So, I threw open his office door, hoping to see a smile on his face, and there was. It just wasn't for me, and it quickly turned to the face of a scared little boy. I can look back on that now and relish in his panic. Mike had his secretary bent over his desk and he was fucking her with more vigor than I had ever seen. Explained really quickly why the bitch wasn't there to let me in his office." Bella had a bitter smile on her face and it didn't fit her beautiful face. "Sorry, I curse like a sailor when I get angry," she confessed like it was a dirty lie and blushed.
I smiled back but ignored the playful comment and went right for the serious stuff. "I'm sure you've heard this a million times by now. It's nothing but the truth though. You deserve so much more than that. I know enough about you by now to understand you are too great of a person to have some asshole like that pummel your heart." Bella smiled as I leaned in to kiss her, and she deepened it before I had the chance. Her tongue caressed my bottom lip before timidly exploring my mouth. I loved how gentle she was, but it made me crave more. I slowly pulled back from her and rested my forehead on hers.
I was breathing heavily but forced myself to speak. "By the way, the cursing is kind of sexy, especially since you were all riled up," I whispered to her. I kissed her once more and then sat back again. "So then what? He can't be stupid enough to have just let you walk out."
Bella sighed. "Oh no, he didn't just let me walk out. After recovering over the initial shock, I turned and ran for the car. I was pretty sure that image would be burned into my memory and I certainly didn't want to stare at it any more. As the elevator doors closed I could see Mike running towards me, calling my name, and zipping his pants up. That really made my heart want to reach out and forgive him," Bella rolled her eyes. "He left messages and showed up at work and here at home, begging me to take him back. I didn't look at him or listen to him and I guess he finally gave up. I don't really care. He's not coming back and I sure as hell don't need the bastard."
"You're very strong Bella. Not many people have the ability to look at a situation in that light. I'm impressed." Bella blushed at my compliment and I reached out to feel the warmth on her cheek.
"Now you know why I space out and why I feel like I need to go slow. The thing is I feel a ridiculous need to trust you. So I'm telling you now, as confusing as it might be, you don't have to worry about handling me with kid gloves. I know that I trust you, and I believe in you. Come see me when you want to and take me out when you want." Bella laughed and then turned her head and kissed my hand, linking it with her own. A smile spread across my features at her admission.
"I take that as a huge compliment. Thank you for the vote of confidence," I told her.
"Don't thank me; I was fully prepared to make you stick to the original plan. It's my subconscious; it's taken over," she said, pointing to her head. I laughed with her at the gesture.
"Well thanks anyway. And thank you for telling me that story. I know it was hard for you, but I understand a lot more about you now." And now I want you even more. Everything in me wanted to jump her.
"Alright, let's talk about something happy. When is your friend Jacob coming to visit?" I had to keep the conversation going or we were going to be making out like high schoolers.
"Oh! Well, he said he'd be here on Monday so two days! He's staying here so we can meet up next weekend and all go out to a bar or something. I'm still really happy about you all meeting. I think you guys will get along, at least I hope so. It should be a fun week though. I took off from work and I'm out of school too. It'll be just like old times. You know, we don't have to wait until next weekend to get together. I'm just so used to only seeing you on the weekend that I hadn't even thought about it! I'll be free all day and so we can just work around your schedule."
"Sounds fantastic to me, and my schedule will work for you," I smiled at Bella. "You all should have time to catch up and what not. When you're ready for me, give me a call and we'll get together. Okay?"
"It's a date," Bella smiled. The look in Bella's eyes when she said 'date' drew me in. She looked vulnerable but sure, and it was something I had never seen before. There was a spark there too, and something that told me she wanted me in the same way I wanted her.
I knew I didn't have to hold back as much anymore, so without hesitation, I leaned over and captured Bella's lips with my own. She responded immediately by wrapping her arms around my neck and leaning into the kiss. Our tongues pushed and caressed the other and I pulled Bella as close to me as possible. The upper halves of our bodies were as close as could be and it still felt like it wasn't enough.
Bella slid over, straddling my lap, before threading her hands into the back of my hair. I moaned slightly into her mouth at the feeling of her fingers massaging my scalp and how her body fit perfectly against mine. I was in heaven. I ran my hands down her sides before resting them on her hips. Bella took that as a cue and began grinding her hips into mine. My hands helped guide her and they slid under the thin fabric of her shirt to touch the velvet skin of her back. I trailed my lips across Bella's jaw and then down the column of her neck. Bella's head rolled back slightly.
"Edward," she whispered. Shivers rippled down my spine and I pulled Bella that extra bit closer. My heart stuttered to a stop and then picked back up at an alarming rate.
My hands ghosted up her back and then back down again, causing her to arch into me. I tightly wrapped my arms around Bella quickly and I turned us on the couch so that we were lying down. Bella pulled me back up to her face for a kiss. Her lips landed hard on mine and I relished in the feeling she was creating in me.
My knee drifted in between her legs and brushed against her center. Bella gasped slightly at the contact and began crushing her hips against my leg. Her back left the couch and she pulled my head down to her throat. Running my tongue across her skin, I gently pulled her shirt up a little and splayed my hands flat against her back. I tore my lips away for a second and then continued to worship her by licking, kissing, and sucking the skin on her stomach.
More moans drifted from Bella's lips and it was like music to my ears, egging me on to give her more. I wanted to give her so much more.
The movements of Bella's hips were becoming frantic and my own arousal was straining against my jeans. I wanted to stay with her all night and give her the attention she deserved and had clearly never gotten. Bella's hands were roaming quickly over my chest, shoulders, and across my stomach where my jeans rested. I was going to lose it soon if she wasn't careful.
Somewhere off in the distance there was ringing and it pulled me out of the lust filled haze I was quickly drowning in.
"Damnit," came Bella's muffled voice. She sighed heavily and rolled off of the couch, running to the kitchen to grab the offensive piece of plastic off the wall. I collapsed onto the couch with a quiet groan and shook my head to clear my thoughts.
"I'm so sorry," Bella offered as she came into the room. "My dad was calling to make sure everything was ok here. He doesn't quite understand that I'm 23 years old yet." She gave me a sheepish smile.
I stood up to face her and leaned in to give her a small kiss. "Don't worry about it. It's getting late anyway. I should leave before the small town people start talking about my car being out there this late."
Bella laughed at my sad attempt at a joke and led me to the door.
"Thanks for telling me everything. I know it's hard for you to trust me, but I promise I'm not that guy. Thank you for giving me a chance."
"Edward, I already told you, I trust you. So shut up," Bella smiled and kissed me goodbye. "You're pretty amazing by the way." She smiled at me and then hugged me. I pulled her close to my body and then swiftly let go before I attacked her.
"Call me when you want to get together and make sure you have fun with Jacob! Remember, my schedule will work around you so I'll be ready when you are." I gave one last grin and walked to my car. Hopefully she would have trouble waiting a while to see me and it would only be a few days before she called me. I just have to make sure to get along with Jacob. The small green monster in my chest was not content and I had no idea why. There was absolutely no reason for me to be jealous of some guy she'd known for years and I'd never met…..none at all.
I focused on breathing deeply as I drove home and ran over the evenings' events in my head. I smiled myself to sleep and knew that Bella and I were headed down the right track together.
You
don't have to move, you don't have to speak
Lips for
biting.
You're staring me down, a glance makes me weak
Eyes for
striking
Now I'm twisting up when I'm twisted with you
Brush so
lightly
And time trickles down, and I'm breathing for two
Squeeze
so tightly.
I'll be fine, you'll be fine.
This moment seems
so long
Don't waste no precious time
We'll dance inside the
song
What makes the one to shake you down?
Each touch
belongs to each new sound
Say now you want to shake me too
Move
down to me, slip into you
**************************************
A/N: I know I know, I suck! I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner. Here is the new chapter, and hopefully chapter 7 will be up in a couple of days! I really hope you liked it! Please let me know your thoughts and what not! I need the inspiration to keep going!
Songs for this chapter: The first one was "The Heart of Life" by John Mayer and the ending one was "Dance Inside" by All-American Rejects.
