Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Copyright © 2010 Gokdeneyes123.
Chapter Two
Seduction of the Virgin
WHEN BELLA HEARD the sharp in drawn breaths and the small silence that fell over the restaurant she knew, Anthony had arrived and made his way inside. He drew attention immediately, despite the elegantly styled dark business suit there was a raw sexuality, an aura of brooding power about him that few women would be immune to, and he was well aware of the impact he made on the opposite sex. She thought.
She found herself drawn to him once again, to the primary masculine magnetism that came natural to him, and couldn't help suppress the small, shy smile that formed when he noticed her, a heart dropping smile spread across his handsome face, as he waved in her direction. Bella quickly turned her head to look back down at the two women she'd been taking the order from.
"Excuse me, I'll be right back," She murmured quietly, and then hurried over to where Anthony stood waiting to be seated.
"Why hello, Bella," he greeted her in a husky drawl.
"Anthony," she said breathlessly, not realizing she'd been holding her breath.
A small silence fell between them as they both gazed shyly at each other.
Anthony raised his hand and ran it through his red bronzed hair, "So are you ready to leave?" he asked her.
Bella moved her gaze to her watch on her wrist and read the time to be 4:15 P.M. "Oh, no I can't," she said.
"Oh!" he said the smile fell from his face.
"No…I mean yes…I mean no… I still have fifteen minutes until my shift ends. Umm…" she spluttered as her attention was drawn to his mesmerizing mouth, and wondered what those lips would feel like pressed up against hers. Stop it Bella! Don't even go there.
"Ah, I see," Edward replied a smile back on his face. "I guess I am a little early."
Bella stood there and drew in a sharp breath as she watched those sensuous lips of his spread into a grin that lit up his handsome face. Suddenly the air around them seemed to crackle, and grow hot, and she was unaware that she licked her bottom lip with her tongue in anticipation of wanting to feel and taste them on hers. She was also unaware of his sudden indrawn breath and the darkening of his eyes as he watched her tongue caress her lower lip.
Another awkward silence fell between them, as Bella felt the beginnings of another blush stain her cheeks. "Yeah…err," Ugh! Not again, why was she always blubbering like an idiot in front of this man? Could she ever complete a sentence when around him? And the man was now laughing at her discomfort, she thought.
"Bella, did you hear me?" Anthony's voice snapped her out of her wanton thoughts.
"Err…I'm sorry, what were you saying?" She asked. Embarrassed for the hundredth time in little over five minutes.
"I asked if my showing up early hasn't upset you? I just couldn't wait any longer to see you," he said quickly, a small blush formed on his handsome face as he gave her a sheepish look before looking down toward the carpeted floor. Knowing if he continued staring at her mouth he'd reach out and wrap his arms around her as he took possession of that desirable mouth of hers.
"Oh! Not-not at all," she hurried to reassure him, "Why-why don't you go and sit-sit down, and you know…err, I'll come and kiss you…err I mean get you." she gushed out quickly then looked around for an empty table and found one in the middle of the restaurant, as she gestured toward it, she could feel a blush stain her checks at her slip of words and prayed he'd not picked up on them. Please someone kill me now? She thought mortified.
"Yes, I can do that," Edward answered his eyes followed her hand in the direction she'd gestured. He noticed it was in the center of the restaurant, and narrowed his eyes. That was all he needed to sit in the center of a small crowded restaurant with all the women staring at him right then. He thought."Though, Bella is there anything a little out of the way…more private," he asked her nodding his head toward everyone staring at them.
Bella turned to look at what he was talking about and it suddenly struck her that what Anthony was telling her last evening about being well known wasn't to far from the truth. Almost everyone was staring at him and it didn't appear they were going to stop anytime soon. "You weren't kidding about being well known around here," she scoffed in an incredulous voice. Not liking the attention that had now been bestowed upon her, concerning this man.
………………………………......
EDWARD STIFFENED AS a wave of unease shot through him; he thought that she might have figured out who he truly was. He'd made sure that everyone knew not to give away his true identity. Threatening them with in an inch of there life, if she were to find out. His eyes narrowed as they bored into hers, trying to read the expression in her eyes and on her face. So this was it? He wouldn't get his chance to really get to know this woman? And that thought brought a feeling of sadness, until he remembered what he'd told her in there conversation from last night about being well known because of his business.
"Well as I said it comes with the territory." Making it sound like he had not a care in the world, but was in fact worried that she might reject him. He laughed inwardly to himself. Edward you're turning into such a weak pussy of a man when it comes to this woman.
"I guess the only-only other place would be the…bar," she said.
Edward smiled and then nodded, "The bar will be fine." Then he proceeded to walk over to it to seat himself at one of the less noticeable stools surrounding the bar. He turned his head to give Bella a quick glance to see that she went quickly back to work, and he frowned, she shouldn't have to work so hard, he thought. If she were his girl he'd make sure she wouldn't have to work another day in her life. It wasn't as if he didn't have the means to take care of her after all, he mused to himself a smirk on his handsome face.
"What can I get for you?" the bartender asked him snapping him out of his thoughts.
Edward gave him a chuckle and then asked for a whiskey. Even though he was happy to see Bella his day had been hectic, and stressed. The other crime families in the area were becoming more persistent in their need to show him that they were not going to take things lying down anymore. The La Push gang with Jacob Black as their leader was making threats of a war if Edward and his crime family didn't meet their demands. Such as giving them more territory, more weapons, and more money for the drugs they were helping to distribute. What it all led up to was Jacob Black wanted more power and he was willing to do anything to obtain it even if it meant going up against the most powerful crime family in Washington. These were demands that Edward and his grandfather were not willing to meet, thus causing Jacob's threat for a war. It had been one of the reasons he called for a meeting at his uncle's restaurant last night to talk about the possible threat to themselves and other family members. Edward had been forced to take precautions by doubling up on bodyguards and patrols, and if that wasn't bad enough he had to also deal with the cops interfering with drug busts and raids of the local bars and nightclubs that he owned.
Which is one of the reasons he should not be here tonight, sitting here at this bar waiting for Bella who just happened to be the police Chief's daughter. Now how twisted was that? He had to be an ass to even get involved with this chick. It was going to do nothing but cause him trouble, and wasn't he already lying to her to hide his identity? And what would happen when the other gang leaders found out about Bella? It could cause a chink in his armor if something should happen to her. If they tried to hurt Bella to get to him...he shook his head not even wanting to go down that route of thinking just then.
He sighed as he looked down into the contents of his glass swirling the liquid around, thinking that if Bella ever found out about him, she'd probably run screaming in the opposite direction and try to get as far away from him as possible. It would give her father all the more ammunition to come after him, because after all Charlie Swan would rather die than see his daughter with a crime lord, especially one that had a hand in giving the order to kill his brother and son, though he'd never know who he was unless word got out. Over the years he'd made sure to take drastic measures so he and the rest of his family were never photographed in public places that pertained to the crime side of the business. Being that Edward was so deep in thought he hadn't noticed some of the ladies that had sidled up to him at the bar, until he felt a couple of them trying to caress his back, and another rubbing his strong, muscular arm.
"Hello handsome," a beautiful blonde woman purred into his ear.
Edward turned to glare at her, if it was any other normal day when he'd not met Bella, this woman's sudden attention would have been welcomed. But now he was not in any way interested in this woman's company or attention.
"What brings a handsome man like you to a place like this?" the woman asked in a seductive voice.
"What do you think? I'm hungry." Edward said trying not to sound to rude. Raising his whisky glass back up; he took a quick swig, and rolled his eyes when the other women he noticed started to giggle around him.
"Well handsome…we can help you with that," came another woman's purred seductive reply as she tried to press her breasts in front of his face.
He laughed harshly and without humor, "Really…you say?" his eyes boring coldly into the woman eyes. The woman's smile fell from her beautiful face when she saw the look on his and took a hesitant step back from him. "I don't think so," he said with a shake of his head. Edward was getting ready to tell them to beat it, get lost. That he was only interested in one woman at the moment and they were not her. But before he had the chance he noticed Bella out of the corner of his eye slowly making her way toward him with a deep frown marring her brow. He quickly stood and beat a hasty retreat toward Bella, not giving the women at the bar another glance. She was not smiling in fact; she looked a little upset as they came to stand close to each other. Not sure as to why she would be upset he asked stupidly.
"What?"
ONCE BELLA"S SHIFT ended and she clocked out she went in search of Anthony, and found him at the bar surrounded by five beautiful women. For a split second Bella felt a sharp jab of some unexplained emotion in the pit of her stomach that made her teeth clench in agitation. Okay Bella get a grip, what does it matter to you to see him with other women? It's not like you're in a committed relationship to the guy or anything. She told herself, as she came to a stop and drew in a couple of deep breaths before she continued forward. She had no right to feel this sudden jab of jealousy. She stopped when they drew close to each other, and didn't realize that she was glaring at him with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
Anthony gave her a peculiar look, "What?" he asked when she continued to glower at him.
She shook her head, the frown still on her beautiful face, "Its nothing." She said with irritation.
Edward raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure? You seem a little upset."
"I said it's nothing," Bella snapped slinging her purse over her arm. What was wrong with her? She was acting as if she were jealous. Inwardly she was shocked. Was that what she was feeling? But how could she feel jealous when she'd only known this man for two days? She asked herself, bewildered by her own thoughts.
"You ready to go?" Anthony asked her in a husky whisper, and nodded his head toward the entrance of the restaurant. He was completely unaware of her inner turmoil as she stood there glaring up at him.
After seeing the spectacle at the bar with him being surrounded by all those women Bella had a notion to decline. But as they stood there gazing into each other's eyes she could feel something exquisite and primitive uncurl inside of her once again just like the night before. The need to surrender to it took her physically, and emotionally, by storm, and she gave herself up to the inevitable. With a long sigh, she swallowed her jealous thoughts and found herself giving in. "Yes."
Minutes later they were strolling through the front door and out into the evening toward Anthony's car. Although the September days remained pleasantly warm, the constant rain and winds made the evenings and early mornings a bit cold. Bella shivered as the soft air hit her exposed skin that her outfit did not cover.
"Cold?" Edward asked.
Bella could only nod, her teeth were chattering too much, she was surprised when he took his trench coat off and offered it to her to put on. She smiled her gratitude and quickly draped it around her shoulders. In companionable silence they walked the remaining distance to his Volvo, and she was surprised again when he escorted her around to the passenger side and opened the door for her. Once inside he quickly closed her door and walked around to the driver's side and got in.
"So you never told me where you're taking me?" Bella asked him as he started the engine.
He turned his head to look at her and a mysterious smile stole across his face, "It's a surprise."
Bella sighed, "Well just so you know, I don't like surprises."
Edward laughed, as he turned his head to look out the back window so he could back up, "I think you'll like this one."
"Why not just tell me and save us all the suspense?" She tried again.
He shook his head and bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing again, "No…I don't think so, you'll just have to wait and see."
Surprise wasn't a strong enough word to register what she was thinking as they pulled up to the nightclub. She couldn't believe it; he brought her to Calypso, which was one of the most expensive nightclubs and restaurants in the area. She gazed at him in wide eyed wonder, he wasn't kidding when he said he was rich, Bella found herself thinking as he came around to open her door and help her get out.
Edward caught her wide-eyed look and couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"
"Anthony…you-you brought me to Calypso?" she gushed.
He shrugged his shoulders, and gave her a sheepish smile, "Yeah, is that a problem?"
"No-no, I…it's just," she stuttered out, looking down at what she was dressed in, and suddenly felt a little self conscious.
He noticed her hesitation, "Bella, don't worry you look perfect, no one will say anything, so stop worrying," He said placing his hand on her lower back and began to escort her to the entrance of the nightclub.
As soon as they entered they were met with the pulsating beat of the music playing, and the beautiful scenery that was Calypso. Bella took in the center of the club with a fake mountain at the center, with cascading waterfalls that fell into a huge fountain. There were live trees and foliage growing in the landscape around it all giving it almost a tropical looks about it. There were walkways above it that lead to the restaurant park of the nightclub, where people could stand to look out over and enjoy the view of the beautiful scenery and the dancers below.
"Do you like?" Anthony asked, leaning down to whisper into her ear.
Bella could only nod her head as she looked on in awe; she'd never seen anything so beautiful before in her life that was other than La Push beach in the summer months.
She heard Anthony chuckle beside her, "Come on Bella lets get seated."
Anthony guided her toward a table near one of the waterfalls. The restaurant part of the nightclub was on the top floor, and it looked out over the bottom floor where the club and dance floor was.
As soon as they were seated she watched as Anthony crooked a finger and a waiter appeared out of nowhere.
"Are you hungry, Bella?" Edward asked her.
Bella shook her head in answer. But noticed that the waiter seemed to be very nervous and flustered around Anthony, giving him special attention.
Even when the waiter offered him the Calypso specialty, which was mushroom ravioli, his voice quivered with nervousness. He then turned to look expectantly at her.
"And what can I get for your beautiful lady friend?" he asked displaying a wide toothy grin.
"She is beautiful, isn't she?" Edward agreed with him.
Bella felt herself blush at the attention. That is one thing she was not used to, having the attention of men complimenting her on how beautiful she was when she knew she was just plain. "I'll have what he's having, thank you," Bella answered him with a shy smile.
As soon as the waiter left with there food and drink orders, Bella looked across the table at Anthony and burst out laughing, "He seemed so nervous around you, like you'd fire him or something if he didn't do everything right," she said, "He looked almost relieved to walk away from us."
"What can I say, I'm well known here."
"Well known? I'd say they treat you almost like a celebrity or something," she paused glaring at him, "What did you say you do again?"
Edward laughed, "A celebrity you say? Well I can see that happening, but I am well known for my business meetings here," he said. Though what he wasn't telling her was he owned Calypso. He was secretly hoping that none of his people slipped up and addressed him as Mr. Cullen, instead of Mr. Masen.
"Oh, well it does seem like you are well known. I guess being a business man would do that," she agreed. Tilting her head back, she began to relax and closed her eyes. The music and the sound of the waterfalls inside of the club filled her senses, making her blood pulse in her ears, casting this magical spell over her. She was suddenly glad that she had agreed to see Anthony again.
"What's wrong?" He asked her with concern in his voice.
She opened her eyes and smiled at him, "Nothing is wrong, it's very nice in here…this is the first time I've been to this place," she said as her eyes took in the people dancing below them with a wistful look.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked and rose abruptly and came to stand beside her.
Bella gazed up at him, "I-I'm not a very good dancer."
"Don't worry I am…Come on give it a try," he said in a persuasive voice.
"No really, Anthony I have two left feet, I'll only embarrass you," Bella warned.
"Let me be the judge of that…I'm a very good dancer."
"I seriously can't dance," she said again.
He sighed and gave her a determined look as a crooked grin formed on his handsome face, "Then I'll just have to make you."
Bella gave him a stern look and folded her arms stubbornly across her chest, "I'm not afraid of you."
He just stared down at her as an even darker, more predatory smile filtered across his features, then he leaned down bracing his hands on the table in front of her, "You really should not have said that," he said in a hard chilling tone.
Bella felt a shiver of awareness run down her spine and pool in between her thighs, her breathing picked up from his close proximity. For an instant she knew she should be scared, but for the life of her she couldn't stop the sudden awareness of arousal flooding her body at his words. Seriously what was wrong with her? It was as if she had no control over the actions of her body anymore. She thought to herself.
She barely had time to form another retort, before she was whisked down the stairs onto the dance floor and into his strong muscular arms.
"I swear you move way to fast," she murmured in protest, as she felt her head spin, causing her to have to hold onto his shoulders to keep from falling.
"Sorry."
She huffed, "Well you don't sound sorry."
He laughed and pulled her closer into his embrace, "Your, right I'm not at all sorry." he said as he brushed his lips lightly on her temple. Then moved his head to whisper in her ear, "I couldn't wait any longer to hold you in my arms." His arms tightened around her as he pulled her closer to the hard contours of his body, "Dancing seemed the easiest way to do that."
Bella sighed. Realizing that Anthony was a man who was overwhelmingly confident, with the knowledge of knowing what he wanted and went about getting it. He struck her as the type of man who was never thwarted very often, used to getting what he wanted, and she found that quality about him very appealing for some unbeknownst reason.
"See?" he breathed into her ear, causing shivers to travel down her spine.
"See what?" She asked him puzzled. As she looked around the dance floor she noticed how packed it was and how they were pressed closely together,
"Why you're dancing," he teased.
"At Calypso," she murmured, as she slowly raised her arms to clasp her hands behind his neck. She couldn't help but to think about how nicely they fit together, as she dreamily swayed back and forth with him. "I usually have two left feet."
"It's okay, Bella just follow my lead." He said as he moved them around the dance floor.
Anthony wasn't lying when he said he was a good dancer, he moved with grace and ease. She was aware of every sensual movement of his body. A thrust of his hip, the tantalizing brush of his hard thigh against hers, the warmth and feel of his hands on the lower part of her back…
Edward felt his heart beat with the sexy beat of the music, and her nearness as she slowly lowered her head to rest her cheek against his chest. Holding her was like a drug, and her scent of strawberries and freesias and something all her own entered his bloodstream in a powerful rush, as he breathed in deeply and tried to control the sudden blast of desire that rocked through him.
She sighed contentedly in his arms, her breath lightly caressing his chin, but it was her fingers gently brushing his nape, that was almost his undoing. He groaned softly, but loud enough to make her raise her head up, and look at him questioningly.
He was mesmerized by her moist, tempting lips that were to close for comfort. He couldn't fight the over whelming desire that coursed through his body at her closeness. He had to kiss her, he had to do it now…With a strangled growl he lowered his head determinedly, taking the opportunity to satisfy his growing need to taste her.
Bella's eyes widened as his mouth took possession of hers. She had not expected him to kiss her so soon, and especially not on the dance floor in open view of everyone. She couldn't make herself pull away, instead she moved closer to him as if starved for the touch and taste of him. What was she doing? Good girls like her didn't behave so wantonly. She told herself as she pressed herself even closer to him, as the demanding pressure of his mouth forced hers to open. He ravished her with his tongue. She moaned as he pulled her even tighter against him. Her skin felt as if it was burning, and she grew weak with the exquisite magic flowing between them.
To her shock it was he who pulled away first, both breathing heavily, as they stood there in frozen silence there foreheads touching, while the music drifted around them.
"Bella?" He spoke her name in a husky whisper, filled with undisguised passion, as he looked deeply into her chocolate brown eyes now glazed over with her desire shining in them.
She knew this was wrong, knew that he was trying to seduce her again, but she was completely enthralled by it, by this power he had over her. She had never felt or experienced anything like this in her twenty-six years that was remotely close to what she was feeling now.
"Anthony, this is crazy, this can't be real," she gasped out.
He chuckled as he feathered soft kisses across her forehead, "I know how you feel, it's almost like I'm intoxicated. And what were feeling between us is very real."
Intoxicated? Yes she defiantly felt intoxicated, because she was dizzy with the closeness of him, the scent of him and was glad that he was holding onto her, or she just might have fallen.
They were oblivious when the music stopped, and the crowd began to disperse; leaving them both still swaying back and forth on the dance floor, neither willing to step away from the other. Both too caught up in the moment to even care.
Bella was the first to snap out of the desire-induced haze she was in to realize that the music had stopped, and that they were the only two left on the dance floor. "The music has stopped," she murmured.
"Umm, it has, hasn't it?"
"I think we need to go back."
"Go back?" he asked puzzled, as a feeling of dread rose, thinking that she wanted to leave.
"I mean go back to the table."
"Sure, Bella…if that's what you want to do." He sighed in relief, glad that she didn't want to end there date.
Oh, no! She didn't want to leave the dance floor, but knew it was the right thing to do. Reluctantly she lowered her arms and pulled away from him, missing the comforting warmth of his arms as soon as she did.
They walked slowly hand in hand back to the upper floor to their table; she was about to sit down when Anthony decided to lay some money down on the table. "What-what are you doing?" she asked bewildered.
With out looking at her he said, "I was thinking while on are way back up here…that I really don't want to stay here any longer, do you?" He asked, deciding that he wanted to be alone, to have Bella all to himself with no interruptions. He was hoping that she felt the same way that he did and picked up on his meaning.
Looking at him through a haze of desire, she couldn't speak, couldn't think rationally. All she knew was that she wanted this man, so she stood there wordlessly as Anthony grabbed his coat and draped it back over her shoulders.
"That's what I thought," he muttered, as he wrapped an arm possessively around her waist and firmly pinned her to his side. A devilish grin stole across his handsome face as he guided her away from the table and out to a walkway leading to another building. He had to get her to his place, He thought. For the need, and desire to make her, his was becoming too strong. He was almost in pain from the force of his need for this woman.
When Bella realized that they were not headed to his car she began to panic a little, "Anthony, where are we going? I thought you wanted to leave?" she asked hesitantly.
"I do, Bella. I thought we could continue this in my room."
"Your room? What are you talking about?" she asked shocked.
"This is where I live on the top floor of this building."
Bella thought that her brain wasn't working fast enough; she could have sworn he said that this was where he lived. How could that be? She knew that Calypso wasn't considered a hotel. She thought. Bella felt so dizzy on her own reaction to the raging desire in her body that she wasn't fully filtering his words.
It seemed to only take minutes for them to arrive by lift to the top floor of Anthony's penthouse. But by the time he turned the key in the lock, the tension building in Bella was almost more than she could bear.
He opened the door and switched on a light. Her legs began to shake as he ushered her inside, and followed her, before closing the door behind them.
As soon as the door closed Bella didn't know what she was doing. She had spent her life always being the good girl, always doing the right thing. Why good girls like her didn't allow themselves to be seduced by a complete stranger, whether he be a sexy, good-looking man at that. What in the world was she doing? Why was she letting herself get into something like this?
"This is your place," she said lamely, knowing full well he'd already told her that.
Edward suppressed a grin. He stood with his back against the door, watching her look around at everything but at him. "Yes," he answered her.
She finally met his gaze, and he saw by the pink staining her cheeks that she was embarrassed. God! She was beautiful, he thought, and totally refreshing to have around him from the other type of women he normally brought here. He pushed himself off the door and slowly stalked toward her. Stopping with in arm's length he raised his hand to brush a wisp of her hair back away from her face and tuck it behind her ear. He saw her eyes widen as though she thought he might grab her and tie her up before she could get away.
"Bella," he whispered softly, "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Fine-fine," she squeaked. How stupid she was terrified in that moment, she thought. He looked so dangerous, like a dark angel ready to fulfill her darkest fantasies. Oh God what was she doing? It was the pull of attraction that she felt for him blazing to life in the pit of her stomach that kept her from bolting for the door like the scared rabbit that she was. But as she stood there she wasn't sure if it was from fear of him or from the fear of her own insecurities and sexuality that kept her from throwing herself at him like she'd wanted to since last evening.
He studied her with a deep intensity shining in his dark hypnotic emerald green eyes, "Bella…" her name was a sexy sigh upon his lips, and "I've never wanted a woman more than I want you. You have bewitched me, but if you don't want me as much as I do you then…" He hesitated, as though not sure what to say next. He knew that he would die if she rejected him at this point; the need to have her was too strong.
She met his gaze and wasn't sure if he was trying to make her feel less stressed or trying to reassure her that everything was alright.
He smiled, that heart-stopping smile again, "Look, Bella I told you that you had nothing to fear with me, that I would take care of you, keep you safe. I don't want you to leave, but if you have changed your mind…I'll understand."
"Leave?" she asked confused.
"Yes, if that is what you want, it's your decision. I don't want to scare you, Bella."
"Scare me?" she asked again still confused.
"Well do I scare you? Is that why you're strung tighter than a kite string?" he asked her.
Another deep silence fell between then as Anthony's gaze pierced into Bella's so that she believed for a second that he could read all the doubts harboring in her head, and the longing in her heart.
"No, not scared. You have to understand, I-I have never…I mean I never done anything like this…before," She flushed deeply.
"You've never done what?"
Bella laughed shakily, "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm a-a, that I…err, never slept with a man-"
He touched her, stopping her words as it dawned on him what she was trying to confide to him. She was a virgin! He realized, and that information made his heart jump as a feeling of possessiveness filled his body knowing that he would be her first, and hopefully her last. He cradled her face between his hands and stroked her cheeks gently with his thumbs. "It's okay…Bella," he tried to soothe her. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"It's just this is all new to me, I-I don't do things like this…and I am just a little scared…" she prattled on nervously biting her lower lip between her teeth as she once again blushed to the roots of her hair. Ugh! It was so embarrassing to tell someone that you're a twenty-six year old virgin. She thought.
"Bella, your doing fine. As I said you have nothing to fear with me, that I would take care of you, keep you safe." Shit where was all this tenderness coming from? He couldn't believe that he was taking the time to even care that she was scared, frightened or a virgin. Normally he just took what he wanted no questions asked, and to hell with the woman's feelings or the consequences of his actions. He thought. But here he was happy to find out she was a virgin and hell even trying to console her.
At his words Bella felt another shudder of desire go through her body until it consumed her. She felt weak at the knees, helpless, strong, and daring all at the same time, all new emotions that up until now had been unknown to her. She wondered if all women felt like this with a man that they desired. A nervous laugh escaped her, as her eyes lowered to look at the carpeted floor.
She didn't see Anthony's mouth lift into a slow, sensual smile. Then his finger touched her chin and he lightly tilted her face up so she had no other choice but to look at him, "You know, Bella when you blush like that you are the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld. You still can leave…that is before it's too late." Giving her one last chance to stop what was happening between them.
Another spark ignited deep inside of her, sending her mind reeling. Before she could think clearly, her voice was barely a whisper. "I don't-don't want to leave."
Edward stood there looking deeply into her eyes, and drew in a deep breath to try and control the desire racing through his body and pooling in his groin, "Bella, I feel as if I've known you forever, and I can't explain why."
"I know. I feel it too," she said. She watched as he gazed at her and realized that she was holding her breath. Bella closed her eyes, wanting to absorb his strength, his self-assurance all those qualities lacking in her.
"This is something much stronger than sex…I just can't put it into words."
"Anthony…this is crazy, I -I wasn't looking…I mean I had no intension to get involved with anyone." She jumped when she felt the light caress of his hand as he rubbed his knuckles over the top curve of her breasts.
"I know. I wasn't looking for a woman either," he said in a tender whisper, as he showered soft kisses across the bridge of her nose, "But we found each other, and that is all that matters to me now."
One second he was what seemed to be miles away from her and the next he'd pulled her closer to the hard contours of his body, and his lips took possession of hers. She let him take her mouth, her arms sliding up around his shoulders.
Lust, she thought. She'd heard time and time again it was one of the deadly sins but she'd never experienced it before. Now with his lips on hers, she knew she wanted to drown in him. She turned her head, not knowing how she knew what to do, and felt his tongue touch hers.
Rockets exploded inside of her head, as her body arched as she pressed against him, her breasts hurting as they pushed against his hard chest. He moved one leg so his thigh was between hers, and Bella moaned. She wanted to surrender and not be afraid to lose herself in her own sexuality.
"Anthony," she whispered as he freed her mouth and kissed a scorching trail to her ear. Her hands slid across his wide shoulders, her fingers plunged into his inviting, red-bronzed hair. She knew this was wrong that she should leave, get away from him, but she could not do it. She wanted all she could get from this moment, and wanted to feel as much of him as was possible. Her hands moved down his shoulders and up over his back, and then ran her palms up over his arms; felt the hard muscles there, then back down to his ribs and waist…
Edward groaned as his tongue found the sensitive inner fold of her ear. A shudder passed through his body and was echoed in hers. He moved away from her and for a moment they stood apart, not touching, but looking into each other's eyes, both breathing heavily. "God! Bella, we are going to be so good together," he said before taking her back into his arms and sliding his hands down and over her buttocks, lifting and pressing her boldly into his hips, where she could feel the evidence of his desire for her, "We are meant to be together, and that is all that matters right now. Stop thinking about the bad, and concentrate only on the good."
Think? She couldn't think, not when he was causing her body to go crazy with desire. There was no way she could hold herself in check any longer at that particular time she didn't want to be the good little virgin. No she wanted to be a bad girl…a very, very bad girl. With a cry, she lunged forward grabbing fistfuls of his beautiful red bronzed hair pulling his head toward her, as she pressed her lips to his wanting to taste them, feel them, and devour them as she wanted to devour his whole body.
With a wicked laugh he swept his hands up her back to capture her head. His mouth over hers was deepening the kiss and causing her legs to go weak and her heart to pound harder than a freight train.
"I want to see you, touch you," he said, and the way he said it made chills form on her body.
With practiced ease, his hands moved to the small buttons on her white uniform blouse and began to quickly unbutton them slipping it down and over her shoulders, so she had to release his hair and lower her arms until he pulled it completely from her body where it fell on the carpeted floor. She had to clutch his hard, powerful body to keep from falling, as he reached behind her to unclasp her bra, then moved to the short zipper of her black skirt, unzipping it to let it pool at her feet. Cool air feathered over her skin, and then was replaced by the warmth of his hands. She stood there half naked in front of him before he knelt down and started to remove her stockings and panties. His palms traveled slowly down the length of her shapely legs, and ripples of excitement cascaded through her and pooled between her thighs.
When she was completely nude, Edward leaned back from her, so he could look at her, see the way her breasts rose and fell with her deep, quick breaths. He looked at her waist, and then reached out to cup her breasts, "You are so beautiful," he murmured thickly, rubbing his thumbs over her taut nipples. Then moved one of his hands to caress her hip, and then lower down her thigh.
He looked back up at her face.
Bella's breath was coming in short gasps and she felt hot. Anthony leaned forward and kissed her. She closed her eyes and let the sensation flow through her body. She could feel his kiss all the way to her toes. Her shaking hands rushed to his belt and frantically unbuckled it. She struggled with his zipper, feeling the hardness of his arousal through his trousers, "Oh, God! Anthony! I-I."
He raised his head and sucked in his breath, there eyes clashing. She realized he was smiling at her, sweet and soft. Not filled with the hardness and cynicism that she'd seen him ware in the past two days she'd known him. No this smile made his eyes gentle and kind, and if she had known him better she would have thought his eyes were filled with love.
"I can give you everything and anything that you want," he murmured.
"Anthony," she whispered, as she reached for his shirt and began to unbutton it.
He put his fingertips over her lips, then withdrew them and kissed her, and in that instant Bella stopped thinking. When he looked at her like that, she seemed unable to form a thought. "Love, we have all night," he growled huskily, and then stepped away from her.
For a timeless moment they stared at each other. Hunger and something wild shimmered in both of their gazes. Anthony began to remove the rest of his clothing, until he stood naked in front of her. Bella drew in her breath at the pure male beauty that was Anthony Masen. His answered that primal need that shined in her eyes, and then he moved forward picking her up bridal style and walked them the short distance to his bedroom. He laid her down on his bed then knelt down beside her, his lips capturing hers as he lowered himself down onto the bed beside her.
He began kissing her body. Slowly, languorously, as though he had all the time in the world. No rush. She gave herself up completely to the pleasure of his exploration. Her hips moved sensually, loving the aroused manhood pressing insistently against her. His hair roughened thigh thrust between her legs and rubbed the heat of her apex. She dug her nails into his back and dared to nip at his shoulders.
Edward groaned and slipped his hands down to explore the secrets hidden by her dark triangle of curls. "God, Bella. You smell so good," he said, breathing in her subtle scent. Freesias and strawberries, "And it's driving me crazy." He moved his head and his hard, warm mouth settled over hers.
She accepted his tongue and gave him her own once again in a deep, aggressive kiss that would have made the naive girl in her blush if she'd of stopped to consider what she was doing. But it felt to right kissing him, so wonderful to be in this man's embrace. Oh yes, she thought she was being absolutely impulsive right now and she didn't even care.
Edward moved from her lips down to her neck, then lower to her breast, taking the peak in his mouth.
Bella arched her back and put her hands in his hair. His hair was so soft and thick and full; she could feel the abundance of it.
Edward moved downward, kissing her waist, his tongue making little circles about her navel. All the time he was kissing her, his hands were touching her, as though he meant to memorize her body. His hands slid up over her waist, over her breasts, and then cupped her face. God she was so beautiful, he thought. As he looked deeply into her chocolate brown eyes, so filled with trusting desire, he remembered that she'd said she was a virgin that she was someone he needed to cherish and not bed and forget. Someone to make a home with, to love…
He smirked for those were thoughts that he never allowed himself to think about. They were not suited to the life he lived. His breath was unsteady as he forced breath in and out of his lungs, and even knowing that he was unable to stop, the need to have this woman was to strong.
He bent his head to kiss her throat, "You feel so good…Bella," he groaned, into the silkiness of her skin, and the scent clinging to her filled his senses like nothing ever had before. It was rare, heady and delicious making him want to worship her body from head to toe. He kept kissing her, moving back down her neck, over her breasts, her thighs, then her calves.
Bella closed her eyes, waiting in agony to feel his mouth on her breasts again. She wasn't aware that she groaned in frustration, threading her fingers through his hair, as she tried to pull his head back to her breasts.
"Anthony!" She cried out when his tongue stroked her taut nipple, arching her back to press even closer to him. With a chuckle he gave her what she wanted, she felt something warm and wonderful opening inside of her, and she wanted to weep for the joy of it.
Edward lifted his head and smiled at her as though he understood what she was feeling and thinking, then he put his hands on her knees and slowly slid them back up her body, over her breasts, up her neck, and at last to hold her face. He shuddered at the feel of her breasts crushed against his chest; his hands flowed downward again to caress her silky legs, and then traveled between her parted thighs.
Bella stiffened her eyes widened in fright, as she realized where he was touching her, "No!" she cried out, tossing her head back and forth. Not understanding whether she wanted him to continue or to stop. No man had ever touched her there and she couldn't believe that she was going to let him.
"Bella," he groaned as he gazed into her eyes thrilling in the evidence of her desire for him, and the knowledge that no other man had ever touched her before. "I promise you have nothing to fear. I'll be as gentle as I can with you," he said huskily as he cupped her sex. Mine! He thought possessively.
Bella moaned softly in reply, right now she couldn't speak. She couldn't think clearly. All she could feel was the miracle he worked with his clever fingers as wave after wave of excitement rushed through her body. She thought she might die from the sensation, her nails dug into the skin of his broad shoulders and she cried out his name. Shutting her eyes she lifted her mouth toward his. "Please-please…Anthony!" she cried, not understanding what she wanted.
Edward kissed her eyelids as need twisted inside of him. He had known need before, but this was different. It was a new complex sensation, and it created a searing ache through him.
"Bella, love," he murmured her name as he raised his eyes to bore into hers and saw the blatant hunger that glittered in her gaze, "It's going to be all right, I want to take care of you…I need to take care of you." The blood roared so loudly in his ears, he was surprised that she didn't hear it. He knew he had tricked her into spending time with him. He knew that he'd tried every scam in the book to seduce her into his bed. As he found her taut nipple with his mouth and began to suck gently he vowed he would never give her reason to regret this night.
He began to murmur his need for her, and his words caused her veins to sing with renewed desire for him. He trailed kisses from her breasts to the core of her heated desire. Again and again, she moaned beneath his exquisite touch and his incredibly erotic words, which would have been shocking to her if she'd been in the right frame of mind. Her head thrashed to and fro as her legs splayed wantonly wider. Never had she felt so primitive, so completely free. She trembled violently as the tension built and raged out of control. She was unaware that she was whimpering, sobbing, and clawing at his shoulders like a wild animal. Then something wonderful, indescribable exploded inside of her, and she arched her hips off the bed.
"Anthony!" she screamed out in glorious release.
His name had barely left her lips when he shifted and she felt the impact of his weight on her body. Her head was spinning still gripped in the throes of her first orgasm, and was shocked and in pain when Anthony plunged himself between her thighs, entering her fully.
Bella gasped in pain, as she tried to push away from him but he kissed her to keep her from crying out.
"Hush, lie still," he commanded. "The pain will stop in a moment."
She did as he instructed, but not because she believed him. She was pretty sure that she was going to be torn in half.
He began to kiss her again, kiss her neck. His hand moved to her breast, his thumb on the peak. From somewhere deep within her, Bella began to respond, her fingers dug into his back.
"Ant-Anthony," she whispered.
"Yes, love, I'm here."
She lifted her hips clumsily, to meet him. Anthony put his hand on her hip to guide her next movement. She realized that the pain didn't hurt as bad, and was leaving in its wake a new sensation. One that she found she rather liked.
Edward put his hands on her thighs, holding her to him as he began to move himself out of her.
"No!" Bella cried in panic thinking that he was leaving her, "Please stay!" her arms tightened around him, not willing to let him go.
Anthony made the oddest sound. It was half chuckle and half groan, but it confirmed to her that he would rather die than to be parted from her in that moment. Her eyes widened as he thrust harder and deeper back into her body in an undeniable act of possession that took her breath away
"Oh…My…God!" she gasped out in surprise from the sensation, "Oh…Oh, my!"
Edward lifted his head to look at her, saw her face and smiled at her, "Are you alright?" he murmured against her lips.
She could only nod her head quickly, wrapping her arms around his back and her legs around his hips. Giving herself up completely to a passion so sensual, she became crazy with it.
After that neither of them spoke again, for Edward started his long, slow thrusts. Bella lay almost still, feeling this utterly new sensation and thinking that she might have died and gone to heaven.
Somewhere within his movements, she began to move also. Edward held her hips and began to guide her, so that she matched her movements with his, until they reached a perfect tempo that bound them to each other in wave after wave of rapture. Her eyes opened wider as she began to feel something building within her, she felt herself soaring high toward some unknown emotion. She clung to him and raised her hips to a higher position, as the tension gripped her quaking body.
"Anthony," she said, and there was a bit of fear in her voice. She looked at him and saw that strain showed on his face, as though he were trying to prevent something from happening. Inside of her, excitement kept building and building until she thought she might explode.
"I need you to cum for me love," Edward moaned as his hand moved to caress her clit, 'It's okay love. I've got you. Let go."
Fiery sensations rippled through her, and then tiny lights flashed behind her eyes. A moan of pleasure escaped her lips, as she clutched at Anthony. Her fingers buried themselves into the flesh of his back. His face was hidden in her neck; she could feel the dampness of his hair against her skin, then he joined her with a cry of his own in there divine release.
They lay there for a long while, holding each other tightly. Bella feeling dazed floated slowly down from the clouds, breathing in deep as he relaxed his body along hers. She was in awe, never had she known that lovemaking could feel like this. He had made her come alive and aware of the power of her own femininity.
Edward lifted his head from her breast. Cradling her face between his shaking hands, he was flabbergasted at the complete euphoria that came over him as he looked down at her with an expression of pure male satisfaction that it made her heart race.
But the thrill of what they had just shared started to slowly melt away as the realization of what they'd just done dawned on her. Oh, God, she'd just given her virginity to a complete stranger! Something she had wanted to wait to give her husband one day should she marry. She thought.
"What's wrong, love?" he asked seeing the distress in her eyes, and hoped that she wasn't regretting what they'd just shared. "I didn't hurt you did I?"
With a sigh, Bella reached up and caressed the hair at his temples, smoothing it back from his face. "I-I don't think we should have done this," she said softly.
His eyes darkened for a moment as he tried to tramp down some hidden emotion, "Yes we should have, and we did…Bella," he said then leaned down to feather a kiss across her lips.
"But-but I-" she stuttered out.
He took her mouth in a warm lingering kiss, "You're mine," he whispered with a raw possessive voice, as his arms tightened around her pulling her closer into his side. "There's nothing to feel sorry for, we both wanted this." He tried to sooth her.
For a moment they both lay there, peacefully in each other's arms. Her fingers unconsciously played across his muscular chest. His hand rubbed her arm from elbow to shoulder, creating delicious sensations.
Hearing her sleepy contented sigh, Edward gazed down at the top of her head, cradled upon his chest. Emotions, unfamiliar, raw, possessive and incredibly tender, filled him all at once; his mind racing with thoughts of how he was going to try and fit Bella into his life. How she made his dark, cynical soul feel new again. He knew after tonight that he would not be able to let Bella go. The woman had completely bewitched him. As of this moment she was everything that was important to him in life, his light in the darkness that always surrounded him, and he would not lose her.
"Anthony…?"
"Yes, love?"
"What's going to happen with us tomorrow?" she asked shyly, and a little worried.
"Let's talk about everything, then. Right now we need to sleep," he whispered kissing her lightly on the top of her head, and breathing in her scent of strawberries and freesias. Yes, tomorrow they would sit down and talk about there future together and what that would mean for the both of them. He thought.
"Okay…" he thought he heard her whisper as his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep holding her in his arms.
BELLA WOKE WITH a start, her unfocused eyes and muddled brain not recognizing her surroundings, causing her to panic. Before the heavy feel of a muscular arm wrapped around her waist, brought her back to where she was and whom the arm belonged to.
Anthony! I am in Anthony's home…in his bed. Oh God his bed! She thought as she silently lay there. She noticed that the morning light was peaking through a small opening in the curtains. She turned her head to look upon Anthony, and noticed the aggressive lines of his handsome face were soft in sleep. A sunbeam fell on his hair making it glow even redder in the morning light. Her gaze traveled from his tangled bronzed hair coming to rest on the muscular arm wrapped around her waist. He was such a beautiful specimen of a man, she thought.
She swallowed as she remembered what those arms and fingers had done to her body the night before. The shock of what she had done made her cringe. Forlornly she wondered which stunned her more; that she'd slept with a man she barely knew, or that she was already half in love with him.
Half in love with him! She whispered in fear. What the hell? Where did that come from? She thought, as she remembered how wanton she'd acted in his arms last night. Why had she been so foolish? Why had she let down her guard? For a moment she hated herself, hated him. But then she knew she only had herself to blame for her immoral ways. It was as if she had no will of her own when around him. Closing her eyes she sighed, wondering how in the world she was going to get herself out of this mess. Because she had a feeling that Anthony didn't feel even remotely close to what she was feeling toward him. He probably thought she was some slut after his money, after she fell so easily into his arms and his bed.
As slowly as she could, she reached for his arm. He murmured something but remained asleep, snuggling closer to her. Lifting his arm, she eased herself away from him and out of the bed. Looking around quietly she started gathering up her clothes and dressed quickly, praying that he didn't wake. Bella knew she had to leave to get far away from him, so she could spare herself from the heartache of his rejection of her when he woke from his sleep.
She walked to the door, and opened it. She paused and glanced back to take one last look at him, for a moment she was filled with a terrible ache, and longing that made her heart twist painfully in her chest. She recognized this feeling as not wanting to leave to stay there with him and forget about the rest of the world. But she couldn't she had to leave like the frightened virgin that she had been, that she still was in a lot of ways. He didn't want her like she wanted him, and so she panicked. With a small smile, and tears that fell silently down her cheeks, she turned away from the man in the bed that in two days had rocked her world, turning it upside down, and closed the door quietly behind her.
………………………………...................
EDWARD WOKE WITH a start, quickly realizing that something was wrong. He groggily rubbed the sleep from his eyes and rolled over to look upon Bella. A small smile played about his lips, but quickly fell away when he realized that her side of the bed was empty. He also realized that for the first time in years he had slept soundly, so soundly that he'd not even heard when Bella got up out of bed.
He sat up and slowly looked around his room, and listened for the sounds of his shower thinking she might have wanted to clean up.
"Bella!" he called out, only to be greeted with silence.
Where the hell was she? Then he noticed that her clothes were gone. What the hell! Bella had gotten dressed and left! His mind shouted at him in irrational shock, as he sat frozen on his bed. She was gone! He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, as a sudden rage filled his body making him shake, and almost choke on the blood boiling in his veins in anger.
"No!" He cried, as that single word reverberated throughout the room. No! She couldn't leave him…this was more than a one night stand. He thought, running his trembling hands through his disheveled hair. He moved to sit on the edge of his bed. He wasn't sure where she would have gone, unless she went back to the restaurant and retrieved her car to drive back to her home in Forks. Even if he left right now he wouldn't be able to catch up with her. She'd never exactly told him where she lived in Forks. But then that shouldn't be too hard to find out. He thought angrily.
He stood up and was filled with the uncontrollable need to break something, balling his hands into fists he tried to clamp down on his temper that was threatening to take over. Why had she left? He wasn't mistaken she'd given herself to him last night. After what they shared did she not understand that she was his now? That he could and would not let her go? Fighting a fresh wave of anger, he started to pace back and forth, running his hands agitatedly through his hair.
He stopped in his tracks as a sudden sickening thought crossed his mind. He hadn't made a mistake and let it slip whom he was? Surely she didn't know? Though he wasn't so sure he hadn't told her, being near her had intoxicated him, almost making him drunk on her nearness, and her scent on his need to be near her, to touch her skin, to…
Need, oh yes he needed her more than any other woman he'd ever been with. He needed her naivety, her sweetness. Needed her selfless nature, and those beautiful chocolate brown eyes staring at him with the trust he saw shining from them last night. He needed her to keep the demons and darkness away. She'd helped him find his light in the darkness, and in the short time he'd been with her he'd found happiness and a sense of belonging. Something he hadn't felt in a long time.
He closed his eyes and tried to take a deep breath, to reign in his temper, no one had been able to take away the bleak, never ending darkness, the emptiness. Of how close he was to losing his mind and going off the deep end. Letting the crime life he led, lead him down a destructive path. Every day was worse than the last fighting to try and keep some part of his soul from, becoming a complete monster…uncaring, unfeeling…selfish bastard.
But Bella did, she'd helped keep the dark side of his nature away.
He began to pace again, Damn it! He was not going to lose her. He would do anything to keep her in his life now she was his. No other man could have her. He would stop at nothing to make sure she stayed in his life. Hell he was fucking Edward Cullen, one of the richest crime lords in Washington. He had the power and means to be able to find anyone that he needed to, this was in no way a set back for him to hunt down, and make a claim on Bella Swan. He thought as determination tightened his jaw. He walked to where his trousers were on the floor and picked them up fishing around in his pockets until he found what he was looking for.
He pulled out his cell phone, and punched in Emmett's number. "Damn it! Emmett, answer the bloody phone," he muttered impatiently as he listened to the ring. "Bear," he growled into the phone, when Emmett answered, using his pet name. "It's me."
"Yo, boss…you okay? Where the hell are you?"
Edward smiled a wicked smile taking some satisfaction in knowing that he woke Emmett up. "Bear, I'm still in Port Angeles."
"You calling for a reason boss, or did you just miss me?" Emmett laughed.
Edward chose to ignore his teasing; he was not in a mood to put up with it right then, "No, now listen up. I need some information."
"Information…you onto something, boss?' he asked with mild interest.
"I need you to dig up everything you can on a woman by the name of Isabella Swan-"
"Wait…Swan; why does that name sound familiar?' Emmett asked cutting him off.
"The only thing I know about her is that she lives in a small town called Forks in Washington."
"So what's so important about this chick?"
Edward hesitated, and gritted his teeth, before he snarled into the phone. "It's personal."
Emmett didn't speak for a long moment, "Personal? Why don't you just ask this chick what you want to know?"
Edward ran his hand over his face, and took another deep breath, trying to find patience, "Don't you think if I could I would?"
"What do you mean?"
Felling extremely idiotic right then, Edward said, "She took off on me, before I could collect information. I don't know her address or what she does in everyday life outside my uncle's restaurant."
Suddenly booming laughter sounded on the other end of the phone, "Gee boss, when have you ever been left hanging by a broad before? Must be losing your touch."
Edward sighed in frustration, "Just find out what you can."
"Sure…boss what ever you say," Emmett said laughter still in his voice.
"Oh, and Emmett, tread carefully…she's Charlie Swan's daughter."
There was the sound of choking, "What-what…you mean Chief of police Charlie Swan?"
"The one and only," Edward muttered.
"Well that changes things…"
"Just get a move on it," Edward ordered before he hung up with Emmett's laughter still ringing in his ears. He would see Bella Swan again if it was the last thing he did, even if he had to camp out at his uncle's restaurant to do so. He thought as he angrily started pulling on his trousers, and shirt from the night before, and headed out of his penthouse suite in search of Bella. Little did he know that she would run from him and disappear for a while into the unknown….
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A/N: Hello again, just wanted to thank all of you who read and reviewed chapter #1. I thank you for your enthusiasm and input. Also I would like to thank Chris Masen, for being a second eye, I appreciate it. I am shooting for another 30 positive reviews to post the next chapter, please keep them coming? Looking forward to seeing your next reactions and thoughts for chapter #2. I know I went ahead and let Bella and Edward make love, but that doesn't stop the story from continuing, there will be a lot more stuff to come. Just wait and see…I think you'll all be a little surprised to read what I have in store for the next chapters.
Thanks
Gokdeneyes123