Twenty minutes later Alice came back in, a huge grin on my face- one that made me kind of nervous. "Guess what?"
"You're letting me eat?" I asked sarcastically.
"I'm going to paint you and Anthony eating together!"
"I can barely handle a fork when I can see it, let alone when I have my eyes closed," I pointed out.
"Which is why they will be open," my best friend told me slowly.
"What happened to not seeing the model?"
"Well, he, personally, doesn't care now, but we're going to wait for that. You will sit on one side of the table, he will sit on the other, and there will be a curtain between you two. How does that sound? Nevermind. Let's go!"
"I am not leaving this room naked," I protested. "Give me the robe."
Three hours later, I dragged myself slowly back towards the paint room, where I would be spending the night. I was exhausted. I had run around with Alice and Emmett while Jasper and Edward watched. And running from the bear named Emmett would wear out an Olympic athlete. I was two steps from the top of the staircase when my foot slipped. Too surprised to call out, I was ready to tumble painfully back down the stairs. And I did fall, just not very far, and it was very painless. I fell straight into a pair of muscular arms that I knew from association that they were Tony's. I squeezed my eyes shut.
"You don't want to see me, Bella?" came the soft voice that I had grown to know. "Alice isn't here."
"Which is exactly why I shouldn't. She said not yet, so I will wai-" I was cut off by a soft, warm, pair of lips descending on my own. My eyes almost shot open in surprise, but I shut them tighter and pulled away. "I can't, you heard me earlier."
"Yes, I did. Which is why I couldn't wait any longer. Look at me Bella, please." I shook my head.
"I would love to, but I really like Alice's brother. I am sorry, really, but I need this job."
"Open your eyes, please, please." When I shook my head again, I yelped as he stood, carrying me into the art room. "Alice said it was up to me as to when her model could see me. It is now. Please, let me see your eyes." He kissed me, and again I pulled back.
"Please, don't," I said in a choked voice. "I can't do this, I like you both!" I bolted off the bed we were on and towards the door, opening my eyes when I crossed the threshold. A hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, spinning, eyes open, to look into Edward's face. My eyes widened, and he stared at me intensely. I couldn't speak. Not that I needed to, since he moved to kiss me again. This time, instead of pulling back, I pressed myself into him, tightly, the robe inching up while I didn't care. He'd seen me in much less.
"God damn it, Edward!" Alice bellowed, coming around the corner. "She's practically mooning us!" He grinned, then picked me up and carried me back to the paint room. He dropped me on the bed once again, and Alice stalked in. "Now strip, Bella," she commanded. I blushed. "You haven't ever blushed when I told you to do that," she said slyly.
"Because no one watches me remove my clothes. It's awkward." The little pixie jumped at me and pulled the robe off, the panties down. "Alice!" I squealed.
"Bella," came a soft voice from across the room. I turned to see Edward standing in front of the window, the sunset behind him, the light making his hair glow atop his head. "You are the most beautiful creature on the face of the earth." I blushed. " You're blushing," he pointed out.
"I know. Is that bad?"
"Nothing you do could ever be bad. This just shows that you have some sort of humility," he teased.
"So, should I be more humble?" I asked, reaching for the duvet.
"Don't you dare," he said, suddenly next to me on the bed, grasping my wrists. "Don't you dare change for me. I like you the way you are."
"You like me?"
I don't go around kissing girls I don't like," he said, giving me another. "And how could I not like you? You are gorgeous, lovely, and absolutely stunning. I find myself enchanted by you. That you, an angel, would give a man like me a chance to be with you."
"Be quiet, Edward Cullen. You are magnificent, marvelous, even. I am shocked that someone as perfect as you would want to be with someone as plain and ordinary as me."
"Now you will be silent," he commanded, placing a soft finger on my lips. "You obviously don't see yourself very clearly. You are wonderful, truly wonderful. Do you understand, Bella?" I nodded. "Good. Because if you didn't, I would have to punish you." His eyes glinted.
"Punish me how?" I asked, leaning forward, looking up at him from under my lashes, feeling a dull ache in my stomach.
"Alice is my sister," he smirked, leaning back, "so I should be able to think of something."
"You are incorrigible!" I huffed, turning my head away from him. "Go find Alice- I want this over with."
"Over with?" he asked, raising a brow. "So I suppose it is a hardship to model nude with a yummy, comforting, naked man, isn't it?"
"Especially when he's making cryptic little remarks meant to keep me up at night," I snapped back.
"Relax, Bella, I was only teasing."
"I'm sick of being teased."
"I'm sorry, Bella, I really am."
"It's not your fault," I said gazing through the window. "It's too many other people's."
"Are you alright?" he asked, lifting a hand and running a single knuckle down my cheek.
"No. I'm broken, Edward. You shouldn't want me. I am scatterbrained and erratic, and I break down a lot, and-" I was cut off- once again- by a pair of lips pressing gently against my own. I broke away and rested my forehead against his, staring deeply into his eyes. I brought a hand up to his neck as both of his rested on my hips, pulling me closer, bunching up the bedding on either side of us. "Edward," I sighed, pressing my lips against his softly.
"Perfect!" came the happy voice of his sister, who had just reentered the room. "Don't move, is that understood? Freeze!"
"This was private," Edward growled, sending a shiver down my spine. "Are you cold?" came his concerned voice. I almost rolled my eyes at the question. Alice did.
"It's just the opposite!" she chirped. "She's probably burning up right about now."
"Alice," I groaned, feeling Edward stiffen.
"There will be no more comments like that, Alice," he said, voice firm, "unless you want all of your portraits destroyed."
"You wouldn't dare," she hissed, narrowing her eyes.
"I wouldn't, would I?" he asked softly. "When have I ever gone against my word, sister dear?"
"Never," she mumbled. "But you haven't seen them yet, they're spectacular!" Alice began with long strokes, each one brushing rhythmically against the canvas. My eyes were beginning to droop, but I kept them open, watching Edward as long as possible. A yawn escaped Alice's lips and she smiled guiltily. "Sorry," she said. "Jasper and I had a long night."
"Then go to bed," I whined. "I'm tired, too. And I don't have anywhere to sleep."
"Of course you do!" she chirped. "You can stay with Edward!"
"Really?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Of course," he said, kissing my forehead. "You'll always be welcome."
"Well, goodnight you two!" Alice slammed the door as she rushed to leave, taking the painting with her. Edward and I looked at each other.
"Well then…" I muttered. "Where's your room?"
"Right here," he said, gesturing. "As soon as I saw you, I told Alice that you were my model, and to use my room as her studio."
"So, this is yours?" I asked, pulling on the covers. "I've been in your bed for months?"
"Is that a problem?" he purred.
"No," I replied breathily. "That's fine."
"Would you like to rest now?"
"Actually," I said shyly. "I need a minute." He let me go and I slipped in the robe, making my way down the hall to the bathroom. A towel was on the edge of the long marble counter with a note from Alice that told me to take a shower and relax. I did as I was told and stepped under the steaming spray. Five minutes later I was out, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and relieved myself. Then I wrapped myself in the big fluffy towel and picked up the towel, making my way back to the room. I opened the door and saw my god stretched out on the bed. As I looked him over, I realized how odd our relationship was. We were physical before anything else. I wasn't ready for actual intercourse, but a naked man in be with was absolutely a-ok with me. I want know him before I let him all the way in. He beckoned me over, and I shut the door and threw the robe on a chair before walking over and dropping the towel. His eyes grew hungry as I sat down, but didn't move towards me. I scooted closer and laid my head on his chest. He was tense. "Is there something wrong?"
"Are you okay with all this?" he asked. "I can understand if our modeling is on a different level than this."
"I like this, though," I said, tracing little patterns on his pecs. "I don't know why, but I feel like I've known you forever." His muscles twitched.
"I feel the same," he said, wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing my head. "And I'm glad you do, because Alice is starting her more provocative pieces tomorrow."
"Really?" I asked, moving my fingers lower. "Morning?"
"No," he bit out. "Later." His face was set, and I smiled, dipping into his curls and twining my fingers in them. He hissed a breath through his teeth. "You will b the death of me," he growled as I tugged slightly. I just smiled and let go, bringing my back up to rest on his chest.
"Goodnight, Edward." He laid his hand on top of mine and squeezed gently.
"Goodnight, Bella."