A/N: Well, here we go… Hope you enjoy! As always, I want to thank each and every one of you who have reviewed, alerted, favorite, or followed this story! And I am sending a huge thanks to my wonderful beta, Jenny Cullen, for everything she does! And thank you to Discordia for her help on this chapter! Go check out these ladies' work! They are all sorts of awesome!
Edward forced his jaw to relax before the pressure shattered his teeth. He was attempting to bury the rage and fury he felt so Bella wouldn't mistake his anger at James to be directed at her. He took several deep, cleansing breaths – in through his nose and out from his mouth – and held her gently in his arms.
She had stopped sobbing, and now, only the occasional hiccup would escape. They just sat together on her faded, secondhand couch, she in his lap, his arms wrapped around her. The two of them just looked into each other's eyes in the comfortable silence of the apartment. There was no noise except their breathing.
Edward stared into her brown eyes and felt a surge of protectiveness sweep over him. Bella was his, damn it. Therefore, Matt was his by association. They were now two of the most important people in his life, and he'd be damned before he just sat idly by and watched this bastard swoop in and destroy everything he had finally realized he wanted for his future.
"Bella," he whispered, brushing her hair back off of her tear-streaked face. "Please don't worry. I'm going to take care of everything."
"But how?" she whispered back, playing with a loose thread on his T-shirt. "Edward, I can't ask you to take this on – not with school and everything you have going on."
He placed a finger over her lips. "Don't even try that, Bella. I'm not leaving you here to fight this alone. Let me help you," he pleaded, wanting nothing more than to grab Bella and Matt and take off, leaving all of their problems behind.
She let out a sigh. She was so tired of fighting…so tired of expending all of her energy and then watching as her efforts crumbled and came to naught. She forced her muscles to relax, settling deeper into Edward's embrace. She felt so safe with him – so loved.
"Trust me…" he begged softly.
Bella nodded as the sudden knowledge was clear to her that she did indeed trust Edward. Implicitly. Irrevocably. "I trust you," she whispered and brought her palm up to rest on his cheek, a small thrill running through her at the rough stubble there.
Edward closed his eyes, reveling in the feeling of the final wall falling away from Bella's soul. She trusted him. That was all he'd ever hoped for since the moment he'd admitted to himself that he cared for her. "Bella…" he whispered, staring deeply into her eyes, testosterone flooding through his system.
She nodded her head, understanding passing between them silently. He shifted her weight slightly and leaned down, gently pressing his lips to hers. He felt like a cad for attempting to bring romance into their warm, safe cocoon, but when she eagerly moved her lips against his, he tightened his arms around her and deepened the kiss.
Bella sighed as she wrapped her arms around Edward's neck, running her fingers through the silky copper hair at the nape of his neck. This was right… This was where she belonged. She knew immediately that she cared for him deeply – that she loved him. Was in love with him. And she wanted nothing more than to surrender herself – mind, soul, and body – to him completely.
She wanted him…in her bed. The sudden awareness of the fact caused her to gasp in surprise. She had thought that part of her life was over.
"What?" he whispered, brushing his lips across her brow.
She felt her face redden in embarrassment. How could she tell him what she wanted? Instead of voicing her thoughts, she bit her lip and shook her head.
Edward sighed. He had noticed the increase in her breathing, the dilation of her pupils. He hoped and prayed these were symptoms of arousal and not something else. "Tell me…" he breathed, his lips only millimeters from hers.
Bella felt his hot breath wash over the delicate skin of her lips and sighed. Oh, how delectable he was! "I-I want you," she whispered, feeling her face warm up a few thousand degrees.
"I want you, too," he said softly, pressing his lips to hers gently and then withdrawing.
She stared at his lips, unable to meet his eyes. His perfect lips…his warm, soft lips… She wanted those lips all over her body. "I w-want you…in there," she said, nodding her head toward her bedroom door.
Edward groaned, his semi-erection immediately becoming full-blown. Holy shit… It had been a long time since Edward had been with a woman, and he hoped that he could handle himself like Don Juan and not the nervous, teenage boy he suddenly felt like. All he needed was for Bella to finally want him to make love to her, and then he end up blowing his wad before she was even naked… She deserved to be loved – worshiped.
He nodded, trying not to give away his inner turmoil, instinctively knowing that Bella would mistake his hesitance as disinterest in her. He wasn't sure he could explain that it was his doubt in his own skills that was making him a sudden, tongue-tied fool.
She smiled up at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He placed another quick kiss on her mouth and then stood, cradling her against his chest. He wanted to do this right – make it an experience she'd never forget. He carried her into her small bedroom, kicking the door shut with his foot.
"You're sure?" he asked, staring into her chocolate brown eyes. All he saw there was love, arousal, and excitement.
Bella nodded. "Yes, Edward. I want this; I want you," she said simply.
"Oh, God," he groaned and buried his fingers in her hair, pulling her in for a kiss. This one was rougher than the others, and he shuddered when he felt her open her mouth, silently inviting him inside to explore.
Bella grasped onto Edward's biceps as his tongue explored. When he licked the roof of her mouth, she shivered in delight and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging on the bronze locks. She simultaneously started kicking her shoes off, wanting nothing more than to be completely naked with an equally naked Edward wrapped around her.
"Edward…" she murmured against his mouth when he pulled away for air.
He leaned back and looked down at her, smiling. She was beautiful…exquisite. And she was his. He stilled her hands when she went to grasp the hem of her shirt. "No, let me," he whispered. He was surprised to see his hands shaking.
She nodded and took a step back, allowing him to pull the cotton garment over her head. She shivered in anticipation.
"Bella," he said as he slowly exposed her pale flesh, "you are so beautiful…"
She smiled at his compliment. She had never felt beautiful. She had always felt clumsy and out of touch with those around her – as if she didn't fit anywhere. But today, here, with him, she did feel beautiful. She didn't feel embarrassed or awkward as she now stood before him in her jeans and bra. "So are you," she replied, reaching out to pull his T-shirt over his head. The anticipation made her mouth water.
Edward smiled at her softly, thrilled at her words. He craved to be all she had ever needed and all she would ever want. He wanted to be everything to her. He bent down so she could pull the fabric over his head.
Bella gasped at the vision in front of her. Edward in his jeans and black T-shirt had been hot. Edward in just his jeans was smoking hot. She reached out tentatively and ran her fingertips over the planes of his chest, thrilling at the muscles underneath. It was obvious he worked out, but he didn't have that bulk that some men had. He was lean and strong, and she couldn't imagine anything better. She had to control her sudden urge to pounce on him.
"Shall I?" he asked politely, reaching for the button on her jeans.
She nodded. "Shall I?" she repeated, mimicking his movement.
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't," he said, his voice suddenly hoarse as her fingers brushed over his lower abdomen before she grasped the button on his pants.
Bella smiled and looked up at him through her lashes. His arousal was evident, as she could feel the tightness of his jeans across his groin. Oh, my… Is that a gun, or are you just happy to see me? She giggled at her sudden, private joke.
He looked down at her and cocked his eyebrow. "Are you laughing at me? You're wounding my ego," he teased.
She shook her head and bit her lip, wriggling her hips and sliding her jeans down.
"Oh, Bella," he breathed, all teasing suddenly disappearing as he skimmed the denim down her legs. She sat on the end of her bed so he could pull the offending garment off.
Edward stared at the vision in front of him, his mouth going dry. Bella was perched on the bed in front of him, a vision of loveliness in her simple, white, serviceable underwear. Cotton had never looked so sexy. What a great line for a commercial...
She smiled up at him shyly and swiftly pulled his jeans off, leaving him in only his boxers. She gulped at the erection that was now in front of her. Am I ready for this?
He climbed over her as she scooted backward on the bed, finally laying her head on her pillow while Edward pressed his body against hers. She groaned at the sensation. Oh, hell, yes, I'm ready! She threaded her fingers through his hair again, pulling his mouth to hers. She felt she could spend the rest of her life with Edward's mouth fused somewhere to her body.
Edward braced his arms on either side of her head, not wanting to smother her. He wanted to ensure that she was with him in the present moment and not somewhere in her past. He was surprised when she tugged on his shoulders, pulling him flush with her body.
"Edward," she said softly. "Please…"
He gently eased his weight down onto her, pressing her into her mattress and burying his nose in her hair.
"You're sure?"
Bella stared into his eyes. "Yes, Edward. I've never been more sure of anything," she said resolutely and closed her eyes as she let her passion fully envelope her senses.
End Notes: Okay, okay… I know… Sorry for stopping there! I know how evil that was, but next chapter, we'll get to be a fly on the wall for Bella and Edward's…quality time! Now, let me know what you thought!