Still in a dazed state I made my way up to my room and changed into my bathing suit. We still had a few hours before we were to go out to dinner so we were going to make the best of it. After a day of shopping with Alice soaking in the hot tub seemed like a dream come true. I was excited to find out what happened between Emmett and Rosalie and I was also a little afraid to know what that was between me and Edward.

Wrapped up in a towel I headed down to the pool and unfortunately I had to go by the kitchen where James was. I was hoping he wouldn't be around since he didn't have to cook for us tonight but I could hear his booming voice yelling at something as I passed by.

Something about him yelling sent a cold shiver down my spine and I felt the need to run towards any other person in this house and that is exactly what I did. I took off at a sprint and I had almost made it far enough away when he came out of the kitchen going to the pantry. "Good afternoon, Miss Bella!"

I turned to acknowledge him and almost screamed when he was right behind me. "James." I could barely speak because I was out of breath from running and because he really scared me, especially after hearing him yell. I could feel his eyes lingering on my body too long and I tightened the towel around me. He reminded me of the men who would come to the brothel. They were only interested in one thing and I sure as hell wasn't giving it to him. "I should be going; Edward and his family are waiting for me."

Before I could turn to leave he grabbed my arm stopping me. "I just wanted to let you know that I know about the agreement between you and Mr. Cullen, Grace told me. Anyways after you're done with him maybe we can come to an agreement." As he spoke his arm that was once on my arm slid down to the top of the thigh where he was grabbing forcefully and his eyes were transfixed on my chest.

I gasped in shock at his proposal and tried to push him away but he didn't budge, so I put all my weight into it and I punched him right in the face. I almost smiled when I heard a cracking noise and he grabbed his nose. "Don't you ever fucking touch, look, or think about me again." He was still busy with his now broken nose so I went back to sprinting down the hall.

I stopped and took a moment to compose myself before entering the room. I wanted to curl up into a ball and cry but I would have to wait and do that later. I am used to holding on to my feelings until a later time so I could do this. With one last deep breath I entered the room.

My jaw hit the ground when I saw Rose standing there in her red bikini. She could make any woman feel like a troll by just being present in the room, but you put her in a bathing suit and you will just want to die. "Bella are you ok?" Still feeling inadequate I walked over and sat in the hot tub with everyone else next to Edward who is the Rosalie of the men.

I don't know what it is but after that kiss he just looks different now. He draped his arm over my shoulders pulling me towards him and I almost let the whole James thing get to me. Even though he had no idea he was doing it, Edward was comforting me in a way no ever had.

My breathing became labored as I fought the tears. I mentally yelled at myself, I could do this. I had to, if his family saw me crying because of what James did and said they would find out the truth. "Bella, look at me." I looked into his beautiful green eyes and saw concern, "What's wrong?"

I broke the staring contest with him and looked around to see that everyone was staring at me. I gasped and jumped out of the hot tub and ran to hide in the room that contained the tanning beds. I could hear Edward coming after me so I curled up into a ball sitting on the floor in the back corner.

My knees were pulled up with arms wrapped around them while the tears I tried to keep at bay poured freely. Edward sat in front of me not speaking just waiting for me to calm down. When I calmed down to just faint sobs he spoke, "Tell me what's wrong, please." I shook my head not wanting anyone to ever hear what James said to me. "Bella, you need to tell me what is wrong or I can't fix it. Please tell me, seeing you like this is and not being able to make it better is killing me."

I let my head hang low and shook it again. Before I knew what was happening he lifted me off the ground and placed me on his lap holding me as he rocked us back and forth. "Please." I wrapped both of my arms around one of his making sure he wouldn't be able to leave. "I ran into James on my way down here."

I barely heard the growl come from his chest but I pretended not to hear it. "He kind of asked if, after your family leaves, if I would agree to be with him. He didn't say it but I know he meant sex. I felt so bad that he insinuated that I would do that and then I realized that everyone would see this," I waved my hand between us, "that way."

A sob rocked through my whole body and I felt Edward's lips on my shoulder, "Bella, you are nothing like the women from the brothel. I know you fear being like them but you are different." He turned my face to look at him, "Don't worry about James I will take care of him." I shrugged at him, "I already broke his nose when he touched me."

And then I remembered I left that part out on purpose. "HE TOUCHED YOU! WHERE?" I shook my head, "It doesn't matter I took care of it. Please just calm down." I could see the muscles in his jaw straining as he carefully placed both hands on either side of my face, "Isabella where did he touch you?" I was too afraid to speak so I took his hand and placed it high on my thigh where James' hand previously touched.

I watched as realization took over his face. His eyes flashed from the beautiful green to a burning red. Before I could even try to calm him down he had risen from the ground placing me on my feet before he stormed out of the room. When the door opened I could see everyone else waiting to hear what was wrong.

"Edward, is everything ok?" He didn't stop to talk he just kept on walking. "Bella, where is he going?" I watched as he walked away, "I don't know." I ran after him grabbing a towel as I went. "Edward, Edward where are you going?" I was yelling down the hall and he was ignoring me. I was truly terrified that he realized James was right and I wasn't worth it.

I could hear the others behind me still trying to figure out what was going on. I saw him turn off and head in to the kitchen and then I heard a loud crashing noise immediately after the door closed. "Oh my God." I gasped when I pulled the door open to see Edward holding James up against a wall by the collar of his shirt.

"Edward!" He didn't turn around to look at me but I caught James glance at me. "You don't fucking look at her! You're fired; get the hell out of my house before I do more than break your damn nose." He released James and as James straightened his jacket he smirked at Edward. "I think you've gone and fallen for a whore Mr. Cullen."

All at once I stopped breathing, Edward started beating the shit out of James, Emmett and Jasper ran to pull him off, and Rose and Alice ran to my side. They directed me out of the room and up to my room where I curled up into a ball on my bed. They both tried to calm me down but I couldn't, I had never been called a whore before and it hurt mainly because it seemed to be true at least considering where I currently was.

"Get out!" hearing Edward yell I jumped a little and then registered what he was saying. He wanted me to leave. James calling me a whore brought it to his attention and that caused a new wave of sobs to take over me. "Rosalie, Alice get out. Leave us alone." I heard the door closed and then I felt Edward lay on the bed and he pulled me against his body so my back was against his chest.

He rubbed his hand over my arm while whispering calming words to me. He told me James was wrong and that I wasn't a whore. I'm not sure how long we laid there but at some point I fell asleep. When I opened my dry eyes it was dark outside and there was a snoring Edward sleeping with his arm draped over my waist.

"Edward." His eye fluttered open and he looked right at me, "I think we missed dinner. I'm so sorry, you should have woken me. Your family must be so upset." He shushed me and pulled me down so I was lying down next to him with his arm wrapped around my shoulders. "Don't worry about dinner, the family went without us. I sent Grace out to get us dinner and she should be back soon and my family is not upset."

I calmed a little and relaxed still tired from the awful afternoon. "Did they ask about James?" He growled when I said his name, "They did ask but I told them he was just being an ass. I had to explain what caused me to explode and then Emmett and Jasper wanted to go out and find him to beat him but I told them to relax. Which is also what I want you to do right now."

I nodded and laid my head back down on his arm. It was quiet for a few minutes before I rolled over to face him and noticed he was staring at me. "Edward?" He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, "Yeah." I kept my eyes away from his knowing I wouldn't be able to ask if I looked at him. "Why did you react that way when I told you about James?" He wrapped both arms around me crushing me to his chest, "Bella first off no man should ever treat a woman like that, ever. Secondly no man working for me will ever talk to anyone I care about like that." I shot up and looked him in the eye, "You care about me?" I could have sworn I saw panic cloud his eyes but he was saved when Grace knocked on the door.

"Mr. Cullen your dinner is here." Her and one of the women I never met came in carrying trays of food. "Thank you Grace I will take mine in my office please." He kissed the top of my head before he stood and walked to the door, "Goodnight Bella." He and both women were gone before I said good night. It didn't escape me that he didn't answer my question and by now I know that he doesn't do anything without a purpose, so why didn't he answer my question?

EPOV

I ran from her room and hid in my office. Today had been a roller coaster and I was royally fucked, she had to know how I felt about her now. When she told me that James had touched her I took all my strength to keep from killing that bastard but when he called her a whore I snapped. Nothing was able to stop me except my two cousins. Had they not been there I would have killed him.

I guess I need to come to terms and find a way to tell Bella that this is quickly becoming more than what I had originally planned. I find it hard to believe that she doesn't notice that I am falling for her, even my dense cousin, Emmett, sees it. Maybe the perfect Christmas gift would do the trick. I guess I need to go shopping in the morning since tomorrow is Christmas Eve.


I hope you liked it and you should check out my new story "Letters". Push the green button and talk to me!