A/N - It is my wedding anniversary today, so i decided to celebrate by sharing a special chapter with all my lovely readers. Thank you so much for supporting my story. this is unbeta'd as i am on holidays with hubby for our anniversary and I have one of wi-fi available. All standard disclaimers apply. Love you guys.

Chapter 19: cinnamon and simply Bella

Bella walked over to me with Lil Bit cuddled close in her arms. "Baby, I don't want you to run from me before I can explain things to you but I know that running helps you to clear your head. Down the hall, the third door on the right is a gym room. Why don't you go work out some of that stress and shower while I get Lil Bit bathed and tucked up into bed? Okay baby?"

I smiled and tucked a loose hair behind her ear, "I won't run from you ever again, love, but you're right a workout will help clear my head."

I leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and she smiled her beautiful patient smile at me.

"Okay, good deal." I turned towards her room to get my running gear from my bag in her room.

I found the gym room which was a sensational set-up. I stretched, plugged in my headphones and set the machine to a tough running session. Bella was right, I needed to clear my head.

While I was running I realised that Bella obviously had some serious money and that her knowing Marcus probably had to do with that. After a few miles it occurred to me that maybe Bella might have something to do with this Artemis group given her obsession with the legend and her obvious business acumen. I don't know why it didn't occur to me earlier.

Another few miles and I was feeling far more at ease. I loved Bella. I loved Elizabeth. I wanted to be a part of their lives and I wanted them to be a part of mine. There was still so much to know.

My running session was winding down. When it stopped, I stretched out my muscles and drank down a full bottle of water I took from the small gym fridge. I walked into the bathroom off from the gym and took a long, long shower.

I stood for a while just letting the water pour over me. It occurred to me I'd been here quite a while and that Bella would be waiting to talk to me. I got out and dried myself down. I headed back to her room wrapped in a towel. When I got back to her room I heard the shower going and realised that she must be in there so I quickly got dressed and sat on the edge of the bed to wait for her.

After a short time, the door opened and Bella stepped out wearing a deep blue silk slip. Her hair was loose and wild. Fuck. I stood up and she walked straight into my arms. I wrapped myself around her, leaned down and kissed her.

Her hand snaked up around my neck and tugged lightly on my hair as I kissed her.

I pulled back and we smiled at each other.

"Hmmm… not that I am complaining love but what brought this on?"

She tilted her head slightly and looked at me for a few minutes.

"You aren't the first man to ask me out, Edward. But you are the first man I said yes to."

"That morning you first came into Bella's Bakery I was struck by your beauty." I scoffed at her words.

"Handsome I suppose you'd prefer me to say," she chuckled. "But to me there was a fierce-some beauty to your look. You were angry about something… frustrated maybe… I didn't know what made you look that way but when you looked at me with those fierce green eyes you took my breath away.

"I was so drawn to you. Like a magnet. I was pulled towards you, I wanted you to stay. I wanted to walk into your arms and for you to hold me, just like you are now. I looked up into your eyes and I thought how much I liked looking up at you, you're so tall and I wondered how your arms would feel wrapped around me. Then Tyler came to take you away and I thought I'd never see you again. But you turned back and I heard my name fall from your lips for the first time. I stood there after you left and didn't move until Rosalie nudged me out of my stupor. I have NEVER had that feeling before."

I smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her. We kissed for a few minutes before she pulled back and continued with her story.

"I thought I'd never see you again but I really wanted to.

"When Jessica called to order some catering for an afternoon meeting at Cullen & Masen I realised that Tyler had called you Mr Cullen and I wondered if you were one and the same.

"Normally for a business meeting catering job one of the catering team would make the delivery and for a new client we'd send a petit four sampler to the booking contact at the business as a means of a thank you to build good will. When I saw the name on the booking sheet I told the team that I would handle the delivery myself. I packed two sampler packs one for Jessica and I hoped I might be able to use the second one as an excuse to see you again.

"When I arrived I dropped off the catering trays and I gave the pack to Jess telling her the other was for you. I told her that I'd like to give it to you personally. She was pretty busy and told me to leave it on her desk, that she'd give it you. But when she turned to take a phone call she was distracted by something so I took the opportunity to slip into your office, hoping you might be there."

She blushed as she admitted to this naughty secret. So fucking cute.

"Honestly Edward, I don't know what was wrong with me. I would never normally do that kind of thing but I was obsessed. I really wanted to see you again. I went into your office but you weren't at your desk. Disappointed, I picked up a pen from your desk and wrote a note on the back of the card. I just wrote the sort of thing I usually wrote to new clients but I couldn't help putting a little smiley face under my name. Not the sort of thing I usually do but you were making me act like a love-struck teenager… which I guess is actually what I was… am." She chuckled and shook her head.

"I was about to put the box on your desk when I heard a sound. I turned to see what it was and saw you asleep on the couch."

She stopped talking and just looked up at me. She reached up and stroked her hand through my hair and smiled. I leaned my head into her hand and moaned lightly.

"You were beautiful. Your hair was all over the place and I couldn't help it, I walked over to you, leaned down, breathed in your delicious scent. I ran my fingers through your hair and kissed your cheek gently.

"I'm not sure but I think I fell in love with you at that moment. Jess was finishing up her phone call and I didn't want to get caught, so I leaned down quickly to whisper in your ear 'Good bye my beautiful Mr Cullen'. I went out to Jess gave her your sampler box and left. She gave me a puzzled look but I just smiled and left."

"Then you started coming into the Bakery each day and I hoped you were going to ask me out. I could feel your eyes on me and it was exhilarating. I made sure I was the one to serve you each day and it fast became the highlight of my day. Rose teased me about it every day. She thought I had a crush on you but it was more than a crush Edward. Much more."

She stood impossibly closer to me. So petite, so perfect. I looked down to her beautiful face. I love her looking up at me. Our bodies were touching in all the right places. I let my hand slide down her back until it rested in the small of her back. I held her close to me. My other hand lightly traced along her jawline and she moved her face to lean into my touch.

"I was thinking about what you told me last night with your previous 'relationships' and I realised something interesting… empowering."

Her eyes looked at me softly and she was barely speaking above a whisper. Her gentle fingers were gliding over my cheek. Her honey voice flowing over me, relaxing me, enticing me.

I leaned down and kissed her softly on the spot just below her ear. "What did you realise, my sweet one?"

"This will be the first time for both of us."

I pulled back from her looking at her with a puzzled expression, "I'm no virgin Bella." Wait, did she say this will be… as in she wants to have sex… now?

"I know you've had sex before Edward." She brought her fingers down to my shirt and started to undo the buttons on my shirt very slowly. I watched her, wondering what she was trying to tell me.

"In fact, you've probably had more sex than I want to think about." I shrugged and gave her a playful, pouty look. I wasn't going to apologise, I wasn't proud of my relationships before but I was a guy, I liked having sex. It's what we do …. when we get the chance.

She had the buttons undone on my shirt and it fell open causing Bella to let out a small gasp as she reached in and ran her fingers over my chest. I took a deep breath and licked my lips. I wasn't sure where this was all going but I wasn't going to stop her. Her touch was warm and sensual. I pushed the small of her back just a little tighter to pull her closer to my body. My erection was abundantly evident but she didn't pull away. Instead she wrapped her arms around to my back and placed a soft kiss on my chest.

She turned her face back up to me again and I looked down to her beautiful brown eyes and her luscious lips. I just wanted to kiss the fuck out of her.

"This will be the first time for me as you already know but it will be the first time for you too. The first time making love with someone who loves you more than you love them."

She reached her hand up to me cup my cheek and drew my face to hers. I couldn't resist any longer, I kissed her with my heart and soul.

She was right in a way. Not that she loved me more than I loved her because that was impossible. But she was right that this would be my first time making love with someone who did in fact love me back and my heart almost beat out of my chest at the thought.

I reached down to her ear. "I'm going to make you mine tonight, sweet one. But you need to think carefully love because I am a controlling, possessive man Isabella. I want to share a love with you that is all or nothing. I will be your first and I will be your only. So you need to be sure my love. Are you ready to be mine always?"

I didn't want to scare her or for this to stop. I wanted her badly, but in truth I am a controlling possessive fucker and she needed to know that is who I am because that wasn't going change.

I could feel her melt into my arms, my words obviously pleasing her. She looked up to me, her eyes moist with unshed tears. "I've waited for you Edward. I've been alone for a long time, most of life really. I've been loved by my family but I've waited for so long to share myself with someone who will accept me, love me, take my hand and walk with me."

"I want passion in my life Isabella. My mother and father shared this kind of love and we will have it too. Consuming, intoxicating, exhilarating, frustrating, frightening, thrilling … the two of us together, we will have it all."

She smiled up to me and I lifted her into my arms. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead and walked with her in my arms over to the bed where I lay her down gently.

Keeping my eyes locked with hers I stripped down to my boxers and lay down beside her. I kissed her and she reached her hands into my hair.

"I can't promise it won't hurt Isabella but I can promise that I will be as gentle as I can manage and that it will never hurt again."

I kissed my way down her neck, sliding the straps of her silk slip down her arms so that I could kiss down to her breasts. My other hand moved down her body and gently glided up her thigh; her skin was so soft. My fingers traced gently around her sex. She bucked her hips which made me smile, she was so responsive to my touch. I continued to kiss her left breast, I suckled on her nipple and then blew on it, watching it pebble and harden. Just as she gasped from the sensation I slid a finger inside her. I moaned and so did she. God she was so tight, I was going to have to prepare her well or I would really hurt her when I finally entered her.

I moved my finger in and out in a gentle rocking motion, my thumb gently rubbing her clitoris. She was writhing and moaning making my cock grow harder still knowing that she was so close to orgasm.

I slid another finger into her and she bucked into my hand. I moved across her body and began to kiss my way down her delicious body. I didn't want to leave off from kissing her luscious breasts but I needed to taste her. I knelt up between her legs and lifted her silk slip. She sat up and let me take it off her completely. I stood up to remove my boxers returning to cradle my body between her legs. I lay her back on the bed and kissed my way down her body. Her scent was amazing, cinnamon and simply Bella.

She tried to close her legs but I looked at her and smiled. "No you don't my love, I want to taste you. I have waited long enough. I'll make you feel good, I promise. Just open and relax."

I gently pushed her legs apart and lowered my mouth over her sex. I licked her once and she gasped. I smirked knowing that she had no idea how good this was going to be. I fucking loved being her first everything. I don't give a shit if that makes me a Neanderthal or hypocritical but she was mine and I wanted to pleasure her like no one else ever has and never would either. I growled at that thought and the vibration thrilled her. She bucked into my face. I placed my arm across her hips to hold her down and I set about bringing her to orgasm with a passionate fervour.

I licked and sucked her as she moaned and writhed. I moved my mouth over her now swollen clit and slid two fingers back inside her. She cried out and I knew she was close.

"Let go, sweet one, I'm here… just let go." Her thighs trembled as she squeezed my fingers and she came so beautifully. I dipped my mouth down so I could lap up her juices. She was ready for me.

I climbed up her body and kissed her. She moaned and writhed.

I hovered above her holding myself above her. I was panting, my body ached for hers, I had to join with her soon or I would combust. But I wanted to make sure this was what she wanted too.

"Last chance my love… remember… all or nothing… I love you. God knows I want you but I won't settle ever again… if I take you now… I want you to be mine…. all mine… just as I will be yours… but you can still choose…. yes?… or… no?"

Her eyes looked up to lock with mine as her hand reached down gripped my hard cock bringing my head to her entrance. "Yes, Edward. I am yours and you are mine."

"Hold on to me love."

As gently as I could manage I pushed myself into her and we both moaned loudly at the sensation. I was part way in when my cock was blocked by the evidence of her virginity. I leaned my forehead down to touch with hers.

"I love you my sweet one. I love you, I love you, I love you …" I chanted as I pushed through with one forceful thrust. I held there fully seated inside her. She let out a cry and squeezed my arms. "I'm sorry baby… I love you, I love you." I brushed away the tear that had rolled down her cheek. I panted trying to resist the urge to thrust into her, she was tight. Her tiny body felt so good beneath mine. I kissed down her neck whispering my love over and over to her. She gasped again and gently bucked wanting me to move. I lifted my head and smiled down to her as she smiled up to me. I gently started moving and we found a sensual rhythm together, her had tilted and her back arched and I knew she was ready for me to really love her.

I picked up the pace, raising her hips to me by lifting her from underneath. She wrapped her long, toned legs around me while licking her lips. She was close, god I loved this woman. She felt so good. I let go and thrust fiercely into her, I couldn't hold back any longer.

"… yes… Edward… yes, baby…. that's so good…." She was panting and calling out to me.

I thrust impossibly harder, moving her whole body up the bed I gripped her legs and lifted them over my shoulders so I was even deeper inside her.

"Cum for me sweet one…. cum all over me…."

"God… Edward… oh, god…. I am cumming… again…. " Her whole body trembled. I dropped her back to the mattress and leaned down enveloping her small frame with my whole body. We were coated in sweat. Her body clamped over my cock coating me in her sweet juices and I thrust once more calling out her name my body shaking with the force of the most powerful orgasm I have ever had.

We were both out of breath. I lifted up on to my arms so as not to crush her. I looked down and she was smiling the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. She loved me and she was mine. A tear fell from her eyes so leaned down and kissed her sweetly.

"My love." Kiss. "My own." Kiss. "My Isabella."

I pulled out of her body and lay beside her. I reached down and covered our bodies with the sheet. I pulled her naked sweaty body to mine. We were both still panting. I brushed the hair out of her face.

She sighed a deep soothing sigh.

We lay silently for a long time and just looked at each other, gently touching each other. Holding hands, touching each other's cheeks and lips. Sweet kisses.

"Thank you Edward. That was beautiful… amazing. I had no idea sex would be like that. You said once it was like dancing and you were right. We found our own rhythm together. It was wonderful."

"I should be thanking you love. Umm… Bella?"

"Hmmm?"

"Umm. I owe you an apology love. I should've checked with you about birth control. I'm clean you don't need worry on that score but we had unprotected sex and that was irresponsible. I doubt you are on the pill or anything and I didn't wear a condom."

Looking at me with an intense gaze for several minutes she finally broke the silence, "You can trust me Edward. I won't ever betray our love."

O-kay, that wasn't the response I was expecting. Where exactly was she going with this?

"I don't want to use you like Irina or Tanya. I don't want you for your money Edward. Only a very few people know this but I have a net worth of over thirty-million dollars and that's not counting the trust fund which Marcus helped me set up for Lil Bit."

I gasped and pulled back from her a little. What the fuck was she saying? Thirty-million dollars? Was she kidding?

"Don't freak out baby. I want to tell you everything, I've been wanting to tell you everything for a while but every time I plan to tell you, something happens and so now I want you to just listen to me and let me tell you, okay?"

I was in shock, so I just nodded slowly.

"When my mother found out she was pregnant she wasn't going to tell Phil. They were in love but they weren't married. Mom loved my Dad so much and I think she felt guilty that she was falling for Phil, but she was terrified when she found out she was pregnant. Phil was younger than her and she was afraid she'd lose him.

"I begged her to keep the baby but I was afraid she wouldn't listen to me so I did a bad thing - I betrayed her trust. I told Phil that mom was pregnant. I couldn't let her ruin her chance at happiness because I knew if Phil found out she'd aborted his baby he'd never forgive her."

I nodded.

"I couldn't let her kill my baby sister or brother. She was healthy, Phil had a good job and I was there to help. I would never forgive her or myself if she'd gone through with it when unlike some women she had choices."

Tears were flowing down her cheeks and I realised I was crying too thinking of the loss of my own child.

"As I suspected he would be, Phil was ecstatic when he learned that he was to be a father. He married my mother two weeks later at the local courthouse, I was their maid of honour. He had practically no family, just a nephew he hadn't seen in years so a couple of his baseball buddies were their witnesses. Almost immediately after they were married Phil changed his will to leave everything to Renee and in the event of her death everything would go to me and whoever else came along. Such a sweet adorable man, he didn't hesitate to look after me and accept me as a daughter. Renee nor I had any idea of his wealth, he never talked about it. Apparently he was from some wealthy southern family - 'old money'. He had no interest in business and so it was all in managed funds and investment portfolios which Volturi Investments, specifically Marcus, looked after.

"After the accident Marcus came to see me in the hospital and told me about the money. I didn't believe him. I was so angry, you wouldn't have liked me very much then.

"Thanks to the accelerated learning program I never really had any friends as everyone around me was always older than me and I was that 'brainy freak kid'. I had lost my father whom I'd adored and then I'd been dragged all over the countryside with my crazed grieving mother. Sure we had fun but I never stayed anywhere long enough to make any friends or go to school or have a boyfriend. Then I thought at last my life was going to settle here in Seattle with Renee and Phil but they were taken from me too.

"I had a little sister who needed me, a body that was broken and here was this man telling me I had all this money. I didn't want it. I didn't want any of it. I just wanted my family back. I wanted their love back.

"Everyone was so patient with me. Leah gave me a sister's love, Emily gave me a mother's care, Jacob gave me guidance, Sam gave me strength and Marcus gave me vision. He helped me understand that the money could liberate me and that I could have the life I wanted even if I had to make it by myself.

"He and Jacob supported me in my case to become an emancipated adolescent so I could stay out of the foster system. Jacob, Leah, Sam and Emily helped me through the painful rehabilitation. The money and my support system helped me to officially get care of Lil Bit proving I had the means and ability to care for her. I completed my business degree with honours online in just under two years through U-Dub. As soon as I turned eighteen I adopted Elizabeth as my own so we could never be parted again.

"All these good people, including your Uncle Marcus, helped me to get my life on track. I owe them a great deal."

Wow. This was overwhelming. I didn't know what to say.

"After the accident I was bitter and sad but with the loving support of those wonderful people around me and some serious reflection I shifted my focus to how blessed I was to have Elizabeth as well as the means to give her a good life.

"I decided that when it came to falling in love, I was never going to give myself to anyone less than someone I could love with my whole heart.

"You can trust me baby. I won't betray you like those other women. I love you and I will never hurt you like Kate. If I were to be find out that I was pregnant I would be the happiest woman in the world."

Damn. I think I may be the luckiest fucker in the world.

A/N - Happy Anniversary to me! I'd love to hear your thoughts.