Chapter 25: No Rest for the Wicked
***Edward***
I walked quickly through the writhing bodies of the club and even though we weren't touching, I could feel Bella quickly following behind. I couldn't even spare a glance at Jasper, I know I'd be looking to a mirror of my own facial expressions…clenched jaw and harsh glare. My mind is racing while keeping a tight lid on my inner voice, which is currently in the corner of my brain rocking back and forth muttering 'oh fuck, oh fuck!'
"Edward?" Bella's voice is timid and cautious as she moves closer to my back.
"Not now, Bella, please. Not here." I toss over my shoulder and push through the double doors instantly drawing in a deep breath of night air. That feels so good that I do it again and again as some clarity returns. Everything up until now has come down to this. Everything that I've been pouring my heart, sweat and tears into for the past year…it's now. Not only did we get an invitation to a perverse version of Oz, we got invited by one of the fucking bastard Wizards himself. Perfect!
I feel a small hand on my shoulder and as I turn, I see Bella's eyes wide with concern. The corner of my mouth lifts in my crooked grin and she returns it. I stroll forward until we're so close. She grips my hands in hers and I feel her squeeze them tight. Our foreheads meet as we stare down at our hands.
"This is what we've worked so hard for, Bella. We can do this. We HAVE to do this." I whisper as the cars pass and horns honk.
"We will, Edward. We will." She says with conviction and I find myself believing her as my confidence grows.
"Can I fuck you in the ass now?" I say as seriously as I can and her fingers tighten painfully as she gasps in shock. I can't help the chuckle that bubbles out of me, but I had to break the seriousness of the moment, we have more than enough time for that.
"You know what they say Sir…show me yours and I'll show you mine." She lets out a sultry chuckle. "C'mon, Master, you can at least buy me a drink first."
XOXOXOXOXO
We were still chuckling as we joined Alice and Jasper at their high-top table. We all ordered a fresh round of drinks and made small talk. Aro and his entourage swept past exiting the club. Aro gave us a deviant smile and a slight nod. A shared glance between Jasper and I spoke volumes, silently agreeing that all the talking we needed to do definitely didn't need to transpire here.
Rose traipsed up with Emmett hobbling hot on her heels. "Dude, I told you might see my ass tonight. God, that woman gives a smack like no other. Do you think they have one of those donut pillows around here?" The oaf asks with a goofy smile and tries to signal the waitress.
"Em, really?" I have to ask. His clueless look gives me all the answer I need.
"Hey buddy, don't knock it until you try it. I'm just telling you….fucking hot! And then when she slides a finge-"
"NO!" All the occupants of the table yell at once, all except for Rose who chuckled into her Cosmo.
"All I'm saying is the prostate is the most overlooked erogenous zone in the male body." Emmett says slurping noisily on his beer. "What? Dude, I'm telling you...you'll see stars!" I stare at my partner of seven years and you know there are just some things you never want to know about your co-worker.
XOXOXOXO
A few drinks later and we're ensconced in the back seat speeding toward the lights of Chicago and home. Huh, when the hell did the house Bella and I am sharing become "home" in my thoughts. Everyone around me is in good spirits, jovial in conversation. I'm brooding and analyzing the strategy, until Rose's sultry voice interrupts my self-talk.
"So, Masen, what did YOU think of the club?" A fiery red nail perched on her chin as her knowing gaze stares me down.
"I think there are a lot of fucked up people in the world, Rose. How about you?"
Rose and my relationship has been the epitome of sibling-like behavior. We love the hell out of each other, anyone messes with us and you have one hell of a fight on your hands….and we annoy the shit out of each other for the greater good. She knows I'm brooding and lost inside my own head, she's trying to draw me out.
"Oh, I had a ball. So, did you see any former 'flavors-of-the-moments' in the Edward Masen hall of shame?" She chuckles and her eyebrow rises in challenge. Game on, Bitchalie!
"Rosie." Emmett tries to get her attention by placing a big meaty paw on her thigh.
"Nope, did you find any sacrificial lambs for your next full moon? Or is your broom on the brink again?" I say with a smirk.
She chuckles lowly, "So how are you handling being out of the pussy game for a while, Edward? Are they blue yet?"
"Rosie, c'mon." Emmett pleads. He's resorted to the puppy dog eyes at his wife.
"Oh, I don't know Rose. Bella's proven quite good at massage." I arch an eyebrow at Bella, whose face flames with color.
"Bella, you know he has herpes. It's the gift that keeps on giving." Rose says with a full ruby-lipped smirk. I shake my head at Bella when her wide eyes search mine.
"Bella, don't pay Rosalie any mind. She had a parasite that invaded her loose snatch and inhabited the bigger part of her brain. She doesn't know what she's saying. Rose, honey, it's Edward. Remember me?" I say with a shit-eating grin.
"Manwhore!"
"Frigid Bitch!"
"I wouldn't fuck you with Emmett's dick, Masen!" Rose seethes.
"HEY! Wait a minute!" Emmett sputters staring at his wife in shock.
"What's that breeze? Oh, Rose has her legs open." I chuckle.
"Edward! That's too far!" Emmett yells as Rose and I dissolve into laughter. She winks at me and I return it.
"Love you, Eddie."
"Right back atcha, Rosie."
"Fuck me, they get me every time!" Emmett huffs and the whole car erupts in laughter. My good mood is restored and we chat casually the rest of the trip.
XOXOXOXO
Emmett gives me a stare that says everything before tucking Rosalie in the car and speeding out of the driveway. The rest of us head inside the home Bella and I share for damage control. I make straightaway (after scratching Jake behind the ear and letting him out into the back yard) to the bottle of Grey Goose kept chillingly in the freezer. Tonight is definitely a night to tie one on. Shit's about to get heavy up in here.
I'm very generous as I pour a bit into four highball glasses and take a blessed iced sip. Fuck, this just became real. Very real….the kind of real that you end up dead real.
"I'm sorry; I never expected Aro would show up there, guys. He rarely ever shows his face out of Peccato. I've failed you guys, we were caught unaware. I'm sorry." Jasper swallows his vodka in one swoop and pours more.
"Jasper, man, don't. You couldn't have known and beyond belief, we made it work. Now, we need to step up the lessons. We have five six days. I don't know what we have to do, but…" I say as I pace and drink.
"No." Bella whispers as she takes a sip from her own glass.
"Bella, we have to. You have no idea what Aro and the others are capable of…" Alice wrings her hands in desperation.
"No." Bella says again, this time with more conviction.
"Bella, are you ready to quit? Is all of this been for nothing? I need this, Bella. I have to take these guys down. I don't care what it takes until these bastards are collared with no hope of being released onto the human population again. If you can't do that, then walk away." I say through gritted teeth, most of the words growled from my throat.
"I didn't mean that. I meant no to more lessons. We're beyond lessons at this point and time. We're about to go into the Devil's lair and have sex in front of them for fuck's sake. I'd say we've transcended lessons right about now." I see her spine straighten and her shoulders shake as their drawn back. I see the firm determination on her face and she's splendidly hot.
"Bella, what are suggesting?" Alice asks, her dark knowing eyes flitting to each of us.
"The lessons are over. From this point on, we're living this 24/7. You want me to be a valiant submissive, fine. I can't do that an hour or so a day….not and fool anyone. No, we're doing this and we're doing it full-time, right here, right now." The glint in her eye and the defiant raise of her chin has me nodding along with her thoughts. Of course, we know what we've been taught now we have to live it. We have to live in this lifestyle, the mindset, and the mannerisms.
"She's right. She's absolutely fucking right!" I say, more sure with each passing moment.
"Wait!" Jasper says the tenseness showing in his face and his stature. "Are you sure that you both are ready for that?"
"We have to be, Jasper. Don't you see that? This is our lives, your lives…..the lives of the innocent people flocking to their club each and every day. Their walking into a powder keg and they don't even realize it. We have to do this, Jasper. We have to." Bella beseeches to him, looking straight into his ice blue eyes and never blinking.
"But are you ready, Bella? I've seen Edward's dominant side and it fits him. He owns it. Can you really say you're ready to embrace the submissive nature? Curb your tongue and your feisty nature?" Alice asks heavily, I can see the desperation in her face.
Bella slides noiselessly to the floor in front of me…the perfect subservient pose and whispers.
"I'm at your service, my Master."
