CHAPTER 9
When I woke up, Edward's arms were wrapped tightly around me, his head pressed into the back of my neck, my back pressed to his stomach. I squirmed in his arms until I faced him, and then I pressed my cheek into the crook of his neck, breathing in his sweet scent. He responded by pulling me even closer and then giving the side of my face tender kisses. I didn't want to get out of bed, I just wanted to lay with him forever.
"I love you," he whispered between kisses. I brushed my lips against his so gently that they barely touched. He let out a little moan and kissed me with more force. His fingers tangled in my hair, glueing me to him. We stayed like that for several minutes, not talking, just tangled in each others arms. With a sigh, Edward pulled away, causing me to pout. "After breakfast, we need to talk―really talk." I sighed. I knew this was coming, but I still dreaded it.
I slowly got ready and made my way downstairs, where Edward was frying eggs and bacon on the stove. The sight of him cooking in the kitchen always made me smile. He looked out of place, like a fish out of water, but still at ease and confident. I watched in fascination as he added seasoning to the eggs, seeming to know exactly what would taste good without ever having tasted it before.
After he scooped my food onto a plate, I reluctantly took a bite of the eggs and bacon. They were disgusting, as usual, but somehow easier to choke down. I looked at my plate in amazement.
"What is it, Bella?" Edward asked.
I looked up at his concerned expression and gave him the biggest smile I could.
"It's easier to eat today," I told him.
He reciprocated my smile, flashing his perfect teeth.
After breakfast, Edward and I went upstairs to the study for our first therapy session. Edward sat across from me on one of Carlile's leather chairs, looking very businesslike.
"How are you feeling today, Bella?" Edward asked, sounding very formal. I tried not to giggle.
"Fine, Doctor Cullen. And yourself?" I asked, trying to mimic his tone.
"Bella, you need to be serious, if this is going to work." Edward's voice was still formal, but I could see a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Alright, fine. Sorry doctor."
Edward rolled his eyes. "Can we talk about last night? How are you feeling?" Edward asked.
"I'm actually feeling pretty good today." I admitted, somewhat surprised.
"I'm glad. I'm sorry about that, by the way." He apologized for the hundredth time. "I'm curious about why you feel so good today, considering the emotional trauma you were in just a few hours ago. Do you know why?"
"Well, I think it's because I feel more confident in our relationship."
Edward gave me a puzzled look. "You feel more secure of our relationship after I abandoned you?"
"No, no. When you came back. . . I realized that you'd always come back. See, whenever you leave, I'm always worried that you won't ever come back, even though you always reassure me that you'll never abandon me. I guess that it's some sort of irrational fear." I tried to explain.
I was afraid that Edward would be upset or angry at what I just admitted. But his face was composed, calculating. "Perhaps all of your. . .er. . . problems derive from this fear. Perhaps the only way for you to overcome your. . . issues. . . is to realize that I'll never leave you again." Edward rationalized. "Maybe that should be our new tactic at overcoming your problems. Maybe we should do activities that affirm our relationship."
"Umm. . .maybe. You're the doctor, not me."
Edward gave me a sweet smile. "How would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow night? Out to dinner? It can be our first therapeutic activity."
"Edward," I whined, "you don't have to do that. You don't even eat. That wouldn't be any fun for you. We can just hang out around here and watch a movie or something."
Edward gave gave me his most dazzling smile. It worked on me everytime, and Edward knew it and used it to get whatever he wanted it. "No, Bella," He said quietly, his sweet breath blowing in my face. "It will be fun, as long as I'm with you. Besides, you just said a minute ago that I was the doctor, not you. Let's try it my way."
I shook my head. I didn't want him to go out of his way for me. His charming smile wasn't going to work on me this time.
Suddenly his face was just inches from mine. His tone was sickeningly sweet, but his words left no room for argument. "You're going on a date with me, Bella. Doctors orders."
I leaned in closer to him, trying to get a kiss. He leaned away from my advance before our lips could meet. "Say yes."
I sighed and nodded my head, and then he kissed me.
The rest of our therapy session went well. It was nice just talking to Edward. And Edward seemed to like therapy, too. I had a sneaking suspicion that he used therapy as a gateway to understanding my mind, since he couldn't read my thoughts. But it was nice, nonetheless.
Alice took me shopping. Or should I say, Alice dragged me shopping. We were at the Seattle Mall, and Alice was making me try on a short, skin-tight, black dress.
"Alice!" I exclaimed. "Where would I even wear this?"
"On your date tomorrow night, obviously"
"Alice-"
"No fussing, Bella. You're getting it. You're getting a whole new outfit, like it or not. You need at least one little black dress, it's like a necessity. Besides, Edward will piss himself when he sees you in this, I can already see it."
"Alice-"
"Uh, uh. No complaining. Let's go look at shoes to match the dress."
"Alice-"
"Come on, Bella. Before I make you try on more dresses."
I decided to keep my mouth shut, and let the little pixie have her fun. Anything to keep from trying on more dresses.
At the end of the night, Alice had five bags strewn across her arms. Four of them were for her, one was mine. After we had bought the dress, Alice bought me stilettos, and a necklace, and earrings. I shuddered at how much this cost her.
Alice kept blubbering on and on about my date with Edward on the car ride home. I wasn't paying much attention, but I heard her mention things about waxing, and prada handbags, and lacy lingerie. I cringed.
I was thinking up excuses about why I shouldn't go tomorrow. But I knew neither Alice or Edward wouldn't let me off the hook, even if I was laying dead in a hospital bed. I just wanted to get it over with.
My face was covered in some sort of green goop, my toenails were being cut and filled and painted, someone was putting oil in my hair. Ugh.
I had been sitting in the bathroom for hours now, primping for Edward's date. I wondered when everyone realized that no matter how long they tried beautifying me, I would always be plain.
6 o'clock rolled around, and then 7. I tried zoning out, but before I knew it Alice was forcing me to put on my clothes.
"Alice!" I exclaimed. "What the hell is this?" I asked, holding up a bra and underwear set that I had definitely not bought for myself. They were tiny, lacy, and black. I shuddered.
"No whining, Bella. You're wearing them. They match your dress perfectly."
I was about to protest when Alice cut me off. "Either you're putting them on yourself, or I'm doing it for you. You're choice."
I decided to shut up.
Half an hour later, I was dressed, make-uped, and strapped into five inch heels. I had the biggest wedgie of my life, but I was pretty sure that was what these underwear were supposed to feel like.
"Edward's waiting for you downstairs," Alice informed me.
I grabbed the railing, and stumbled down the stairs.
Edward was waiting for me at the bottom of the steps. He was wearing a navy suit that brought out the reds in his hair. He, like always, looked like a god.
I blushed when I saw his eyes rake down my body, lingering on my exposed legs.
"You look stunning, Bella." Edward said, causing me to blush even more.
"Thanks," I said shyly, looking down. "You look really nice, too."
Edward lifted my chin with his gentle fingers until I was looking directly into his deep amber eyes.
"Truly, Bella. You look. . . very. . .wow. Obnoxiously gorgeous."
I rolled my eyes, but felt my face light up, as if I hadn't been blushing enough.
Edward took me to a nice restaurant in Seattle, holding my hand and shooting me smiles the whole way there.
When we arrived at the restaurant, a very attractive hostess took us to our table. She was in her mid-twenties, and I could tell that she was trying her hardest to flirt with Edward. She kept running her fingers through her hair, and batting her eyelashes, completely dumbfounded by Edward's good looks. I wrapped my arms around his middle protectively.
Before we made it to our table, however, I heard a low growl from Edward's chest. I thought it had to do with the lude thoughts running through the hostess's mind, but then I noticed three men at the bar eying me in my dress. Edward's arm around me tightened.
Even after we got to our table, I could feel the men's' eyes on me. Edward looked tense throughout dinner.
Before my meal arrived, I decided to get up and use the bathroom. The restaurant was big, with multiple seating areas and crowds of people. It took me a few minutes to find the bathroom, which was all the way in the back.
Before I had time to get inside the bathroom, I felt a pair of arms grab my arm from behind. I flipped around, startled. A man who was watching me from the bar was suddenly in my face.
"Nice dress," he said, his eyes dragging down my body. I pulled away from him and wrapped my arms around myself. "What are you doing away from your date?" He asked, a menacing tone in his voice. I took a step backwards. "Bathroom," I muttered. I took another step, my hand on the door handle. Before I had time to pull, the man grabbed me again and dragged me away from the door. "Where do you think you're going? Why don't you stick around, I'll show you a fun time." He said, leaning into me. I tried pulling away again, but his hold was too tight. He started dragging me out the backdoor and into the deserted parking lot.
"Let go of me!" I yelled, yanking my arm away. Before I knew it, the two other men from the bar were in front of me. The three of them were pulling on me, taking me into a car parked a few feet away. I was instantly reminded of that dreadful time in Port Angeles, where I was last harassed by a group of men.
They opened the backseat and pushed me in the car. "Help!" I screamed, dragging my feet across the concrete and grabbing the sides of the car. The three of them grabbed my arms and pushed me inside the backseat, one of them climbing in after me and holding me down. I started panicking and thrashing around.
A second later, the man was pulled off of me. Before I had time to think, I was being pulled out of the car. Edward's cold arms were around me, holding me tightly to his chest.
"Are you alright?" Edward asked, his voice coming out strangled.
"Wh-what happened? Where are those men?" I asked, still in shock. I started looking around for the men.
Edward pulled my face to his chest and led me away from the car, not letting me see what happened to the men. "They're fine. I didn't kill them," he grumbled, his voice sounding deeply upset. "They won't be walking anytime soon, though. It took all I had not to kill them, but I didn't want to put you through that."
I was shocked, and I let Edward pull me across the parking lot and into his Volvo.
He drove a least 180 mph the whole way home, his face hard and cold and his fingers straining against the steering wheel. I didn't have it in me to ask him to slow down, I was still recovering from what just happened. When we finally reached the Cullen's enormous mansion, Edward pulled me upstairs and into his arms for the night.
Hello, everyone. I'm having serious writer's block (which is why it took me so long to update). Please comment with any ideas you have about how I can progress the story. Thanks for the reviews, favorites, and follows. All the support really encourages me to keep writing!