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Chapter 35 - The Distance

BELLA

I didn't know what was wrong, but I could tell there was definitely something going on with Edward. Things had changed with him ever since the pirates had stopped at our island. He had become more withdrawn. He was still kind and thoughtful, but he wasn't touching me. I was finding it frustrating, because I was feeling better. The powder Captain Tagger had given me worked wonders on my heat rash. I was back to being a normal girl and ready for Edward to exploit it. For some reason, though, he wasn't.

I watched him work, bending some sheet metal. He didn't say what he was making, but I figured with time it would be evident. I watched his muscles ripple across his back as he swung his wooden mallet. He was hot and delicious and…

Freaking Ollie threw a banana at my head, knocking me out of my Edward-induced haze. I could understand why Edward thought Ollie was annoying, because he was constantly "monkeying around," but he was a monkey, so it was in his nature.

I heard Edward chuckle and saw him looking at me. "Not so funny when you're on the receiving end, eh? Now just imagine if that banana was a load of shit."

"Stop throwing shit!" Polly squawked from her perch next to Edward. I thought it was cute how those two had really taken to each other. Unfortunately, Polly had acquired a very colorful vocabulary, thanks to Edward.

Jacob distracted Ollie, and they started playing a game of come and get me. Jacob was too slow to get Ollie, but would try and get away from him. Ollie thought it was fun the way Jacob would squeal and laugh when he poked him.

What was with that monkey and poking? I would probably never know.

That night when I put Jacob down after dinner, I found Edward sitting by the fire, staring off into the cave.

"Hey, what are you thinking?" I asked. He gave me a sad smile and shook his head. "I can't make it better if you won't talk to me."

"It's nothing to worry about," he mumbled quietly.

"Is it the reason you stop moving forward with me?"

He looked straight ahead for a while, as if contemplating the answer. "Yeah, I guess. I'm sorry."

"Are you going to tell me what I did?"

"You didn't do anything, Bella. You're perfect," he said smiling a forced smile and kissed my forehead. I was ready to smack him in his.

"Edward, if I'm so damn perfect, why am I still a virgin?"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Why are you in such a hurry to lose your virginity?"

"I'm not. I'm in a hurry to be with you, that's all. Don't you want me?"

He leaned over and started kissing me softly, making me hot and ready. When he started to pull away, I grabbed his shoulders, but he pried me off. Brat!

"We should get to bed. I'm a little sore," he said rolling his head and shoulders around groaning. Well, at least he was headed to the bedroom.

We dressed for bed, and he kind of flopped down on his stomach, groaning a little. It was then I realized he really was sore. I ran my hands over his shoulders, and he moaned in relief. Without asking, I straddled his body and started rubbing his shoulders and neck. His whole body was tight. I moved down his back, working to loosen all his muscles. I had really built up some good hand and arm muscles working with the pottery, and I was putting them to good use.

"Roll over," I commanded. He looked at me over his shoulder as if he was going to argue. "Now," I ordered.

He flipped over, and I straddled his hips as I worked out his tight pecs. It didn't go unnoticed to me that his erection was growing. I might have purposely sat on top of it and rocked back and forth, disguising it as me just rubbing his pecs and shoulders. I had to rock forward to reach them after all.

When he was solid, I leaned down and kissed his pecs and then started to rub his abs. My boy was ripped.

"Bella," he moaned and grabbed my hips. He let out a huff when I pouted. "I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm a virgin. I'm pretty sure no matter what it's going to hurt the first time."

He frowned. He pulled my face down to his and kissed me softly. "I don't want you to regret being with me."

"I won't," I promised.

His eyes looked so sad. "Bella, I'm staying."

"Where?"

"Here, when the time comes, I'm staying here. I can't go back to that mental hospital. I just can't."

"You don't have to, Edward." I had already thought this out. No one knew we were alive, so they wouldn't be looking for him. I'd hide him until I could clear his name.

"Yes, I do, Bella. I don't' want to end up in jail."

"How about a basement? It's really nice, actually. All finished out like an apartment, with a surround sound theater, kitchen, bathroom, and anything else you'd need. Being a basement apartment, though, it does have a bit of a cave feeling to it, so you'd feel right at home if you really are that attached to this place."

"What?"

I shrugged. "I plan on hiding you until your name is cleared, Edward. Do you really think there's any way I'd give you up and make you go back to that place? If you do, you really are crazy."

He looked at me surprised, and then he grabbed me, kissing me hard. I guess he was accepting my offer to hide him. Thank God, I was going to burn up with want if he didn't.

His hands were everywhere, and when they finally slowed, we were both naked. I sighed in relief, until I felt him against me. I was instantly nervous. He must of have noticed, because he started kissing down my body, as if he was worshiping me, nibbling as he went. I was a little surprised when his kissing continued southward, and he started kissing the inside of my thighs. I looked down at him, and he smirked at me. Then I felt it, his tongue, and I was amazed at how it felt. I never thought I'd like that, but boy was I wrong. I liked it. I really, really liked it.

His hands worked me over, and I came hard, screaming his name. I watched as he licked his lips and climbed up my body, lining us up. He kissed my neck and whispered, "Not tonight, Love, I need to work you more before I do."

I whined in disappointment, and then I realized his cock was still insanely hard and looking up at me. I surprised him when I grabbed him, but I was happy that he didn't pull away. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly, barely leaving enough room between us for me to grip him. He bucked his hips, thrusting his cock in my hand. "I can't wait to be inside you," he moaned, and I ran my free hand up into his hair.

"I want you inside me so bad," I said, and his whole body stiffened as he came all over my stomach.

He fell to the side of me, panting hard, and I had the biggest grin on my face.

Awkward stage over…sex, here I come!

EMMETT

Chief Swan was still standing in the entryway, everyone staring at him warily. I looked back at Rosie, and she just shrugged at me, sitting back down with the judges and lawyers to work. They were getting close to being ready to rumble with these asshats, and so we left them to their research.

I invited Chief Swan into the kitchen for a drink and filled him in on everything from the beginning. I was finally able to convince him that my brother was innocent and that we were dealing with a dirty judge, a crooked lawyer and a damn rotten kid with no conscience and no redeeming qualities. He just shook his head in disbelief at the cluster fuck that had been our last two years.

"Well, I'm glad he's a good guy and my daughter is safe with him, but what are you doing to get them home? The guy that brought me Bella's letter took off before I could get a location. Did you have any luck with your guy?" Chief Swan asked.

"Oh, we know approximately where they are, we just have to find a way to get there," I said. "Alice believes they're in a location that's normally hard to get to, and we need someone who's willing to take the risk."

"What do you mean?" Chief Swan asked stunned. Alice skipped into the kitchen, and I introduced her to the Chief.

"We have the search area mapped out. I have a general idea of where they are, but the captain who will be willing to take us there won't be ready to sail until February at this point," she said shaking her head.

"February! That's my baby girl out there, we can't just leave her!"

"Well, I did send them a care package to help with their stay."

"Care package?"

Alice ignored the comment. "I just don't see a way to convince Captain Whitlock to go before then."

"Why not?"

"Well, he doesn't find out his girlfriend of five years is cheating on him until then."

"Why don't you just tell him?"

"I don't like to be the bearer of bad news. People tend to blame me, even when I've had nothing to do with it. It usually ends very badly for me."

"Fine, I'll tell the bastard. Let's go!"

Alice was dancing toward the door, suddenly excited. "This might really work!"

Chief Swan led us out to his car, and I eyed it warily. I really didn't want to ride in a police cruiser. Alice jumped into the front seat next to him, leaving me in the back. I slid in nervously and listened as Alice gave directions to the Chief, heading us toward the shore of Lake Michigan. I wondered if Alice knew that Lake Michigan didn't have an ocean outlet.

We pulled up in front of an old rundown building in a questionable area near the docks. We both watched as Alice walked confidently up to the front door and went right in. We followed cautiously after her, not sure this was such a good idea.

"You sure this Captain guy is here?" Chief Swan asked.

"Yes, he's here." She seemed to be looking for him, and then a huge smile spread across her face. "There, he's over there!" she bounced excitedly, pointing toward a tall lanky blond guy.

The Chief strolled confidently up to Captain Whitlock. "Excuse me, Sir, but I have it on good authority that your girlfriend is cheating on you."

The man looked up at the Chief confused and then looked back at a small group of women who were draping themselves all over some men that were congregating around behind him. "Look, buddy, I don't know who you are, but my girl doesn't cheat. If she has an itch, she comes to me or watches her friends," he said pointing at the skanky-looking women.

Holy shit! Whitlock's girl was naughty!

Chief Swan walked back over to our little group, and Alice took her turn, stepping up to Captain Whitlock and flashing her best smile at him while batting her lashes. It worked, as he was suddenly stammering and shy.

"Hey, little lady, what are you doing in here? This is no place for a sweet innocent girl like you," Captain Whitlock said kindly.

Alice smiled. "Actually, this is exactly the place for me. I've come to speak to Maria about a job."

I noticed how Captain Whitlock looked suddenly worried. "Darlin', I really don't think this is the profession you want to go into."

Alice smiled defiantly. "Actually, I'd really rather discuss this with Maria, so if you'd be so kind as to get her for me."

Captain Whitlock stood up and eyed her warily, before heading to the back room. It was only seconds after he had gone back that a loud string of explicit words could be heard coming from back there. There was a lot of banging and shouting, before a mostly-naked guy came running out, holding his hat over his junk, sporting a black eye and a bloody nose. Well, it looked like this Maria had gone hands on after all.

Captain Whitlock suddenly came storming out. "And I'm taking the damn bird, too!" he shouted and brought a huge colorful bird out of the back room with him.

"Whoa, sailor, that'll be fifty dollars!" it squawked.

"Shut up!" he snapped at the bird and shocked us all when he grabbed Alice by the arm. "And you're not working here. I don't give a damn what you think," he said dragging her out of the building.

He was walking quickly, practically dragging Alice along or maybe not. She almost looked happy and was skipping along with him. Honestly, I wasn't sure that girl wasn't insane. He pulled her onto a rather large boat and thumped down on a crate, while the large bird settled on the railing and started walking back and forth, eyeing everyone curiously.

"If you really need a job, you can be a cabin boy, or girl, or whatever. You can work for me, but I'm not letting you take up with the likes of them!" Captain Whitlock said as he got up and started pacing.

"Oh, thank you!" we heard Alice squeal.

I looked at Chief Swan, he looked at me, and we both shrugged. We had no freakin' clue as to what was going on.

"That whore, I can't believe it! I mean, five years, and all this time she's been...I can't believe it! Well, I've had it with her! I'm doing what I want from now on. This cowering to a whore is not my style. Yep, I've had it. I'm taking what I want. That's it! I'll just go out there and take what I want and be a man of the world. I'm sailing around the world, and I'm going to rule it like a king! I AM KING!" Captain Whitlock shouted, standing at the front of his boat like some Viking icon. The guy had officially lost it.

"King Whitlock?" Alice asked excitedly.

"Yes, Miss...?"

"Alice, just Alice."

"Yes, Alice?"

"Where's the rest of the crew?"

"Well," he let out a sigh, "They're all back at the bordello."

"Oh, so will you be looking for a new crew then? You know, to start off your new life as Pirate King and all?"

"Pirate King, huh? I like the sound of that, Lassie. Are you okay with being the cabin boy of a Pirate King?"

"Sure, sounds like fun! We should get a ship in the ocean, maybe somewhere off of Florida, make an adventure of it."

"A new ship?" He didn't sound so sure.

"Yup, I've been looking for a handsome Pirate King like you to sail my ship. It's down off the coast of Florida, if you want to give it a try."

"Alright, swabbies! Let's hoist the sails!" he shouted.

"Easy there, sailor, money first!" the bird squawked.

"Excellent, Emmett, purchase the plane tickets. Captain Whitlock, pack your bags, we have an adventure to go on!"

A/N: Thanks for reading and please review, ye landlubbers!