Disclaimer - I don't own it.
Disclaimer - I don't own it.
Countless thank youse to each and every single follow, favorite, review, and PM. :D
Please forgive me for the last update. There is no excuse, just real life happening.
Bow down to the royal MalloryKnoxx for beta'ing my baby.
"I say what I mean, and I do what I say."
Vincent Hanna, Heat
One week later...
Edward's POV
"Do you think Isabella has any idea?" My father asked as smoke from his cigar curled into the air circling his head like souls from those who had done him wrong.
"Not at all. She thinks Kate, or the Denalis are behind it." I sat back in the plush leather chair, "She wasn't even really that upset about her mother."
"Be sure to watch her, should any suspicion arise."
"I won't allow anything that would be the cause of her leaving. I love her."
"Love is a strong emotion. Don't let it cloud your judgment my son."
"I won't."
He gave me a heavy look, and I excused myself to go find my girl. Her laughter trickled into my ears -so I followed it in the direction of the kitchen. She and my mother were laughing, several mixing bowls scattered the counters. I watched her, admiring the pink of her cheeks as she listened intently to the story my mother told of Emmett and I as children stealing cookies. Later, we grew up to steal much worse things.
"Edward, come here. Try this!" My mother said noticing me leaning against the archway.
I stepped forward and took a bite of the treat she held in front of my face. Sugar and chocolate danced on my tongue as Isabella wiped her hands on her apron.
"Delicious." I murmured watching her every move.
"Our darling Isabella made them." She gushed, and I noticed her use of the word our.
I walked around the island and wrapped an arm around her. She leaned into me, and I kissed her hair.
"Your mother showed me how." She admitted bashfully.
"I'm sure she'll show a lot of things in the kitchen." I bowed my head down and whispered, "I will show you a lot of things in the bedroom."
Isabella blushed an abysmal shade of red, and I chuckled. Her innocence was one of her most attractive traits.
"Are you done cooking, my love?"
"Yes, she is! Now shoo!" My mother waved her hands indicating we should leave.
I wrapped Isabella's hand in mine and lead her from the kitchen. Once we reached my room her face had returned to it's normal color.
"I thought we would spend the evening together, but I need a shower first." I kissed her knuckles before dropping her hand and walking into the bathroom.
"I suppose I should leave you alone then." She gave me a naughty little smirk as I started the water and stripped down. I watched her eyes hungrily travel down my body. She may have been bashful in the beginning, but it was slowly fading away. I only hoped it wouldn't go away all together.
"Is that really what you think you should do?" I cut my eyes at her as I stepped in the shower.
"It would be the respectful thing to do." She returned laying a towel out for me.
"Then it's a good thing I don't respect authority." I gave her an evil grin, as I pulled her fully clothed into the shower. Her squeals filled the air before I suffocated them with a deep kiss. She stopped fighting and locked her arms around my neck while I was undoing her pants and stripping her clothes off, breaking our kiss only long enough to pull her shirt off.
I took her hips in my hands and pulled her flush against me kissing her as if my life depended on it. Soft moans escaped her lips giving me a solid erection. I felt her cheeks heat against mine as it brushed her stomach. She was exactly what I needed to take my mind off everything else. When Isabella captured my attention, everything else became obscured.
I broke away from our kiss to move my lips along her ear and neck, all while working my hands over her body, touching every place except for the one she desperately craved. In the heat of the shower, I still felt the goosebumps rise along her silky skin.
"God, I need you..." I murmured in her ear, lightly biting her earlobe.
"Whatever you need." She moaned out as I slid my thumb over her clit. Watching her body squirm under my touch gave me a head rush like nothing else. I kept rubbing swirls with my thumb as I inserted a finger in her pussy and stroked at an unhurried pace. Her hand on the back of my neck slid into my hair and pulled. My mouth sucked on the tender spot above her collarbone, sure I would leave a mark, but I wanted to. I wanted to mark her in every way possible to let the world know she was mine.
Isabella's breath hitched, and I pulled my hand back before she could come. I twined my arms around her in one fluid motion grabbing her hips, pulling her up, and placing her on the shower wall. In a frenzy, she reached down and grabbed my dick causing my eyes to roll back in my head. I muttered filthy things in Italian as she lined me up with her heated entrance, and I plunged in.
Her head fell back and her hips fought against mine as I hammered into her. Her screams of ecstasy overshadowed my groans feeding my ego, just what I needed. I slammed into her with uncontaminated fury grasping her body so hard, I was sure I would leave marks. I didn't care. Her cries drowned out everything but the desire to make her pussy walls clench around my throbbing cock.
I didn't even cringe when her nails dug into my back, breaking the skin making blood pour out and mix with the water like a crimson rain. I latched onto her neck again as I quickened my pace, praying she would come before me. I held out until I felt her tighten around me spiraling me over the edge. I panted her name beneath her screams as I released inside her.
I held her up as we inhaled deeply, fiercely gasping for air. The hickeys were already standing out on her neck like a desolate map linking her to me. An emotion I had never felt before ate at my insides. I was a bad man, and she deserved so much better. I was too strong, too selfish to tell her the truth because I refused to give her up.
Jacob's POV
I lay awake in my own bed for the first time in months. It felt strange. It should have been better than the couches I was used to, or even guest beds, but it wasn't near Rosalie and as much as I tried to ignore it, it bothered me. I should have been happy she had a new bodyguard, and I could spend the very last of my senior year living it up before I had to spend the rest of my life working. Instead, I was driving myself crazy over being away from a girl that I didn't even have a real relationship with.
The day Rico came in I listened to her phone call with Emmett, and I knew that if he cleaned his act up she would forget all about me. I decided then that I wouldn't go back. I would give her plenty of space to make up her mind, and I would enjoy being eighteen and not having to give a fuck about anything.
Except I gave a fuck about her.
Why me? I thought stincking my earphones in turning on my iPod. I went out with Santiago almost every night this week, but tonight I was done. I danced around Lauren all week, but I decided to text her.
I pulled out my phone and sent a simple text saying 'hey'. Laying my phone on my stomach, I went back to my music. Yung Joc had been blaring for a while when my phone vibrated and I slide my finger across the screen to unlock it.
Might just be going out tonight after all...
Are you up?
I raised my eyebrows seeing it was from Rosalie. I debated on whether or not to answer it, but the dumbass part of me won over.
Yea what's up
What the fuck was wrong with me?
Can't sleep. I wanted to talk 2 u. New guy is BORING
I laughed at her choice of word. The guy was definitely boring.
Everyone can't be like me
It was a few minutes before she texted back.
I know. R u busy?
That text sounded like it was almost headed in a dangerous direction. I should have slapped myself for even answering.
Naw you need me?
She responded quickly.
Can I call?
Before I could text back my phone was ringing.
"Hello?"
"Hey." Her velvety voice filled my ear.
"You okay?" It was the first question that came to mind. Rosalie confided in me, just as much, if not more than her friends.
"I just wanted to talk. I feel like my whole world is upside down right now."
"I'm here. What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know. Anything. Everything. I'm surprised you're home on a Saturday night."
"Santiago's company got old. I just wanted a quiet night."
"Oh," she sighed, "I haven't been out in a while. I mean, I can, but all my friends are busy, and-" She shut up before she said his name. I don't know why she did that. It's not like she owed me anything, but still she treated his name like a swear when she spoke to me.
"So you only called cause you're bored?" I teased.
"It's not like that. I just- I want to get out of the house, but Rico the riot is lurking around like some kind of fucking creeper. It's not the same as you being here."
"I told you, everyone can't be like me."
Pause.
"Yea, I know. It's good to hear you. It calms me down."
What was I supposed to say to that?
"I'm happy to help." I huffed, "Are you glad graduation is coming up?"
"God, yes! I'm so over high school." She actually laughed.
"Me, too. Time to get to work and make some real dollars."
"It's not like Emmett didn't pay you well..."
"I'm not complaining about that, but I want to be in the big leagues, and I plan on getting there."
"I wish you luck."
"I don't need luck, I got skills."
"Whatever, you know what I mean."
"Yea."
"I guess I'll let you go so you can do whatever. Talk to you soon?"
"Anytime."
"Goodnight, Jake."
"Goodnight, Rose."
My phone beeped letting me know the call ended. I looked at my phone noticing Lauren hadn't text back and wondered if I was dreaming it all.
Isabella's POV
Edward gave me an hour to recuperate before dragging me out of bed. I bugged him all week about going to my parents' house to help me deal with things. I knew I had to deal with it, but I didn't want to alone. I kept myself numb throughout everything, and I didn't know how much longer I could keep up the poker face.
I grudgingly pulled on a pair of sweats and a hoodie before Edward lead me out to his car. The closer we got to my house, the more my thoughts ran rampant. I felt guilt for not grieving Renee. For whatever she had done, she was still my mother. I was worrying myself sick over my dad. What if something bad happened? I wasn't sure how much I actually trusted Kate. Would I be a suspect since I'd been covering for him? How long was I suppose to go without contact before I gave up?
I felt lost. My parents were all I'd known my whole life, how would I go on without either of them? They weren't perfect. They lied to me, hid things, placed a blindfold over my eyes, but I loved them.
"Are you ready?" Edward asked looking at me with a blank face once he turned the car off.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I replied quietly.
He walked around and opened my door to help me out. He curled his arm around my shoulders as we walked in. The house being empty for several weeks showed in the thick layer of dust resting on every surface.
"This place is a mess." I choked back a sob.
"We can arrange for it to be cleaned if you wish." Edward suggested.
"I don't know. I have no fucking idea what to do about anything." I brought my hands up to wipe the stray tears away. I didn't want to cry, to be weak. I wanted to be strong like Edward.
"I'll help you." He crossed the room, wrapping me in his arms again as my tears began to pour out. Tears I never cried. They had been building for a long time. Tears over losing my family. Tears over being able to do nothing about it. Tears over a brother or sister I might never meet. Tears over all the darkness surrounding me. Tears over falling in love with a monster.
"I-I..." I couldn't form words to express what I needed. Monster or not, Edward scooped me up and carried me back out. I didn't ask where we were going, and I didn't care- even though I was pretty sure he would take me back to the apartment.
Salty drops spilled down my face, blurring the streetlights. Edward kept one hand on me, gently squeezing to let me know he was there. My chest hurt, my whole body ached. My breathing was deep and strained.
"Isabella?" Edward's slick voice slipped through the fog invading my brain.
"Huh?"
"Stay with me, kid." He ordered. I tried to answer him. I felt him tugging me out of the car and bringing me close to his chest. The warmth of his skin was a nice contrast against the cold night air.
"Breath with me, Bella." He pulled me tighter against him as I attempted to match my breathing to his. His fingers etched patterns along my back as my chest rose and fell with his. Slowly, the sounds that were incomprehensible became clearer, the images less blurry.
"What? What was that?" I gazed up at his worried eyes.
"That was a panic attack." Edward pulled me up with him, "I'll call Carlisle and get something for your nerves."
"I don't-"
"Yes, you do. Until you can cope with some of the fucked up shit in your life, you need something to settle you besides alcohol. Trust me on this."
I let the argument go for the moment. I already felt on the edge of blubbering like a baby again, and I didn't want to push it.
"Just take me home."
"Of course." He helped me back into the car, kissing my forehead before flying around to the other side.
The only noise filling the car was my quiet sobs. Edward kept a hand on my thigh, squeezing every so often, but never speaking. Not that it would have mattered. I was beyond inconsolable at that point. The last few months rushed up on me like a pack of wild wolves. Biting and tearing at every last bit of strength I had left.
Emmett's POV
"Hello, old friend." I called out as the familiar blond walked in. He tipped his hat and sat down in a chair across from me.
"How'd ya get rid of daddy's detail?" He snickered. I ignored his rudeness with thoughts of what he could bring me. My whole body ached with craving. Somewhere in the back of my head, my brain was screaming at me that I had a problem, but I didn't listen. I was going down a sick, twisted path to get whatever chemical relief I could.
"Not that it's any of your business, but he has returned a little faith to me."
"I see." He took off his hat, spinning it on his finger, "Does he know the extent of your extracurricular activities?"
"No, and we're going to keep it that way." I snapped back throwing a wad of cash on my desk.
He eyed it approvingly and pulled two baggies from his jacket pocket, tossing them on the desk. I looked down at my little escape longingly, but I would wait for him to leave.
"Did you ever find out who shot you?" He asked casually.
"Got some leads. Why? What do you know?"
"Whoa, nothing. I was just wonderin'." He held his hands up in a surrendering gesture.
"Sorry, man. Just paranoid I guess."
"Tell me about it!" He laughed, slapping his knee, "I gotta go. Let me know when my services are needed again."
"Thanks, Peter." I nodded, watching him walk out and letting the door shut behind him. I listened to his boots click down the hall before I quickly tapped out a line of coke with my credit card. I held one nostril closed and inhaled deeply through the other reveling in the sting before the numbness took over. I leaned back in my chair wiping my nose clean and enjoying the euphoric feeling.
A knock on the door brought me back quickly.
"Just a minute." I shouted and pulled a hollowed book out from my desk drawer. I quickly stashed my baggies there and stuffed in back in. "Who is it?"
"It's me, crazy ass!" A sexy voice called from the other side.
"Well, get the fuck in here then." I grinned as the door opened to reveal the sexy blond wearing nothing except a smile and heels. Good thing I snorted that blow.