Chapter Twenty-Three

Bella

For the first time I was naked in front of a boy. It was absolutely nerve-racking.

As soon as the towel had hit the floor with a light thud I felt my cheeks flame red at the realisation of what I had just done. Like some kind of hussy I was standing in nothing more than my birthday suit in front of a boy who could have been a model.

I wanted to die of embarrassment.

When my embarrassment increased when all I was met with was silence I visibly cringed at my actions, bending down to pick up the damp towel to cover myself as quickly as possible while hoping to god that I hadn't just ruined what me and Edward had.

My heart told me that he loved me, that even if he hadn't liked what he saw we would be able to work around it. But my brain, no my brain was telling me that I was a stupid little girl who had just blown the best thing to happen in my life.

I was so fucked.

It was still hard for me to realise that I had actually had the guts to even think about revealing so much of myself, to stand in front of him as vulnerable as I could possibly be.

I was a stupid, stupid girl.

"Fuck Bella."

My head snapped up at his grunted response, knowing from his reactions that he only cursed when he was either too angry to control his mouth or to aroused to think straight.

Which was one was it?

Considering it had been his idea to see more of me then before I knew it couldn't have been anger, right? The most likely response was that he liked what he saw, and if he did…

Was it possible for me to be so lucky?

I wouldn't lie, if he did then it would make things so much easier. If I knew he liked what he saw, all of me, then it would be a huge weight off my shoulders.

"You look…"

I cringed, begging him internally not to stop there.

"You look incredible, Bella."

I shuddered, clutching the towel tightly against my chest as I pushed my thighs together to hide my outer lips from his visibly hungry eyes.

He looked as if he wanted to eat me.

I doubted I would have said no.

"Urm…" I flushed brighter. "I…uh…I need to get dressed," I stuttered out, cheeks hot.

Edward continued to stare at me hungrily, not showing any visible signs that he had heard me speak.

"Edward," I tried again. He ignored me. "Urm…"

Should I just walk around him?

He seemed to be frozen in place, his eyes wide, dark and hungry causing me to once again shudder under intense gaze. I may have wanted him to like what he saw, but with the intense way he was staring at me I was either going to faint from light headedness or melt under his gaze.

Jeeze…

Slowly, I edged my way around him, slightly concerned that he didn't move so much as an inch as I headed into the bedroom before quickly pulling my panties and bra on as fast as possible. I knew I had to be red from head to toe and I cursed my lack of self-confidence when it came to by body.

Then again I had just stripped naked for my boyfriend.

I scowled, roughly pulling on my shirt before sighing when I saw a denim skirt neatly placed on the exquisite bed.

Alice…

Knowing it would be easier to go along with her silent demands than to try and ignore it and pretend I had simply missed her not so subtle hint, I sat on the edge of the bed as I pulled the skirt over my hips before zipping up the front.

I hated wearing skirts.

"Love?"

Was it just me or did Edward sound hesitant?

Looking up I winced at the reminder of the hangover I had conveniently forgotten only a few minutes ago. And I still didn't know what happened at that bloody club.

I bit my lip, looking anywhere but at Edward. "What?"

It was silent.

"I apologise," he finally broke the silence.

I frowned. "For what?"

"For pushing you. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."

I fought back the urge to sigh. Here he was apologising for something I had willingly done. It wasn't as if it was his fault I had dropped my towel and bared all, only to be hit with a massive rush of humiliation only seconds afterwards.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Edward."

I startled when he was suddenly kneeling in front of me, cupping my still hot cheeks in his cool hands. I sighed at the pleasant sensation, closing my eyes to save the sensation.

"I do. I behaved like an…an animal. I should have told you how incredibly gorgeous I find you, Love. I should not have made you uncomfortable enough to want to leave my presence."

I shrugged, trying to ignore the butterfly's which fluttered in my stomach at how he had called me gorgeous. I considered that a major compliment coming from someone who looked so godlike.

Gentle fingers moved to cup my chin, gesturing me to look at him. "I mean it, Bella. It's just…I should not have asked."

I clenched my eyes shut, trying to force away the rejection I was suddenly experienced. He hadn't liked what he saw, that much was clear. Otherwise, why would he regret it?

"No, no, no" he murmured, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were wide and apologetic. "I just meant that it had only made thins more…complicated. Now I know what you look like under your clothes…fuck, it makes it more difficult to stop myself from claiming you."

Oh…

Oh!

"Urm…"

"Never think you are anything other than perfect, Bella!" he told me strongly. "Ok?"

I bit my lip but nodded, made speechless by his firm tone.

It made me wonder what he would be like when he finally took me. Would he be soft and gentle, or rough and passionate?

I shivered at the thought.

"Are you hungry?" he broke the awkward silence.

I thought about it before slowly shaking my head, mindful of my headache. "Not really. Do we need to leave soon?"

He nodded.

"I'll just grab my bag."

Kissing him on the lips I grinned when I saw his concern fade into adoration. I knew I would never get sick of seeing such a delicate expression on his face. It showed me just how much he cared.

It took an hour and a half before I seriously regretted not staying at home, or preferably in Edward's bed. I had soon found out that after sleeping on Egyptian sheets there was no going back to a ordinary bed.

"You ok there, Bells!"

I tried to ignored Emmett's booming voice as I slouched against Edward in the canteen, my head pounding. It also didn't help matters that Jessica seemed to be glaring at me with jealousy and hatred and I had no idea what I must have done while out of my mind to elicit such a reaction out of her.

I had yet to ask Edward, not quite sure whether I actually wanted to know the answer or not, but I knew sooner or later it would come out.

It sucked.

"Go away, Emmett" Edward came to my defence like the charmer he was. "She's obviously not feeling well."

Was it me or did he sound pained when he said that?

Aw…

"Poor human," Rose sneered. "What a shame."

I would have rolled my eyes at her sarcastic tone had it not been for the fact I was half asleep as I struggled to stay awake, let alone able to follow along with the conversation.

"Oh fuck off, Rose!" I heard Jasper sigh. "She put you in your place like you deserved, get over it already."

"I will not!" she protested. "I will not be silenced by some…some slut!"

At that I did snort. "How can I be a slut if me and Edward haven't had sex yet?"

She sniffed. "Fine, you're a frigid prude."

Again, I rolled my eyes. "Frigid means that I would be unable to reach orgasm. As Edward knows, I am perfectly capable of doing so."

"Ouch! Burn baby!" Emmett cheered as he whooped loudly, no doubt gaining the attention of the whole canteen. "Baby Bells you go girl!"

Alice giggled. "She's right, Rose. Whether you like it or not Bella is family, so you might as well finally stop this whole 'I am better than her' crap."

"I am better than her!"

"In what context?" Edward snarled. He sounded pissed, but then again if he always felt protective over me due to being my male mate, it wasn't exactly a surprise that he didn't like Rosaline constantly insulting me and putting me down. "That you think you are prettier than her, because you sure as hell ruin that effect by how vein you are. That you are stronger, faster or smarter than her? You have lived longer, been to school for years and you're a vampire for Christ's sakes! Grow the fuck up!"

Silence.

Opening my eyes I prepared myself to be yelled at by Rosaline only to see an empty seat opposite me. I frowned. "What is she?"

I felt Edward shrug. "She stormed out of here in a strop, Emmett following on her heels."

I winced, a stab of regret hitting me. "I don't like the fact I seem to be tearing your family apart."

Edward gripped my chin lightly between his fingers before turning me to face him, looking me straight in the eyes as he spoke.

"You are not ruining my family, Love. A coven we may be, but when it comes to her disrespecting you, my mate, it is not acceptable. Covens have split up for a lot less."

I frowned. "Really?"

Both Jasper and Alice nodded. "It is a miracle that Carlisle had managed to keep us so close as a Coven and family. Rose is the one who is out of order, you have been nothing but respectful Bella, even if she at times hasn't deserved it."

I stared at Jasper. "So you would feel the same if she disrespected Alice?"

He nodded without hesitation. "Carlisle as leader of our coven settles any disputes we have. It is clear he has been too soft with her and needs to get her back in line if Emmett doesn't."

I severely doubted that Emmett would order her about. He didn't seem the type, not to mention it didn't take a genius to work out by looking at them interest that she had his balls firmly in her purse.

Alice must have read it in my expression as she grinned cheekily. "You'd be surprised. Rose went for Esme once when she had one of her fits and he had her by the scruff of her neck as he dragged her out of there-"

"She attacked Esme! But-but she's so nice!"

She wasn't like my mother anyway. While Renee wasn't a bad mother per-say, she had definitely had me to young and it showed by putting a strain on our relationship. She was more like a friend then a mother, however, in our case I doubted it was such a good thing.

Edward nodded. "Emmett adores Esme, it was lucky he got to his mate before Carlisle did because I swear he looked as if he was going to take her over his knee like a child."

I grinned at the mental imagine it brought.

That reminded me. "So…are either of you doing to tell me why Mike has been basically sending me heated looked all day – more so than usual – and Jessica seems to suddenly hate my guts? What actually happened last night?"

Alice on queue burst out laughing. "Oh Jeeze, you actually don't remember?"

She took my scowl as to mean that no, I didn't remember a thing.

"It was brilliant. You seemed happily buzzed until you had that fourth cocktail that Emmett wanted you to try, since it came with sparklers-"

Jasper shook his head. "Idiot. It's as if he doesn't care that were highly flammable."

I grinned.

Alice scowled lightly at the interruption before continuing with a slight huff. "Anyway," she drawled out, "turns out when you went to the bathroom and then came back to see Jessica trying to drag your man onto the dance floor, you got…"

She paused, obviously trying to fight the right word for it.

"Mad?" I supplied, knowing I would have been more than a little pissed if I had seen her fawning over Edward. Because as Alice as put it, I considered him my man. "Unhappy? Displeased?" I tried again.

Alice shook her head before she grinned. "Possessive," she settled on.

I frowned. "How did I act possessive?"

Jasper grinned widely, dimples showing. "Well darlin'," he winked. "You may have stormed up ta Jessica, told her to keep her slutty hands to herself, and that if she was that desperate for a man then she would swing by the homeless shelter on the way home since they would probably be more than happy to help her out."

I stared at him, horrified.

They all laughed at my expression. "It isn't funny," I barely resisted the urge to elbow Edward in the gut, knowing it would hurt me a hell of a lot more than it would hurt him. "That's kind of offensive to homeless people," I frowned.

Alice rolled her eyes. "It isn't that bad, Bella. You were drunk, it wasn't as if you slapped her…or did you?" she grinned.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands in embarrassment. "Your joking right? Please tell me your joking."

Alice continued to laugh loudly. "Nope."

I grunted, humiliated beyond belief.

Feeling cool lips press against my temper I tried to ignore the fact that my own mate was laughing at my expense. I wanted to do nothing more than forget the whole thing. Ironic, considering only moments ago I was cursing the fact that I couldn't in fact recall the majority of the night.

It was clear I shouldn't have asked.

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