Edward's PoV~
(Also Prom night)
The moment she walked out of the bathroom in those tiny silk shorts and shirt, I knew I was in deep shit.
Oh Dio mio, why couldn't she come out wearing a long night shirt, you know, the ones my Nonna Iliana uses? Why of all things was she wearing a pair of tiny looking shorts and a thin tank top?
Dio mio! Help me stray from doing anything stupid. Lest I want to get my ass kicked by Emmett. Which would probably leave me in a coma...
"What in the hell are you wearing?" I mutter, eyes-wide.
For a moment I regret it, as I see her face fall.
"They're called pajamas. You know, it's clothes that people use to sleep in? Unless they sleep in their underwear or in the nude…" She mutters as she begins pulling the many pillows off the bed before climbing on, accidentally giving me the perfect view of her smooth, creamy, round globes .
How can the allusion of skin under those pairs of sheer fabric shorts look so tantalizing?
The sight made my mouth water automatically.
I wondered what it would be like to nibble on those round, creamy… Fuck.
I shook my head, trying to clear it of the sudden impure thoughts and images I found myself wanting to do.
Dio mio… Maybe... no! I shouldn't...
"Are you sleeping on the bed with me?" She asked me quietly, already inside the blankets.
Her head lifted a bit to look me in the eye.
"I don't think that is a good idea." I say, grabbing a pillow off the ground and quickly pulling one of the blankets towards the couch.
Crap. I wasn't going to fit there. Fuck it, I'd rather have a sore neck and back then my ass be black and blue.
"Why not? We've always slept in bed back home…" she says, yawning tiredly.
She's right. The only difference now is that now I've developed a bit of an attraction towards her, and had been having the weirdest dreams.
Truthfully, I didn't know if sleeping next to her would end with me pinning her under me sometime during the night, as I rubbed myself on her like a dog in heat.
"Pussy." She mutters, albeit loudly, to challenge me.
Did she just—? Oh, dio mio. This woman is trying to kill me.
"Alright, fine. It's your ass on the line though… it won't be my fault if you end up suffocating under me." I say, shrugging before slipping off my slacks and shirt. That left me in my boxer shorts and a muscle shirt.
"What is that?" She suddenly asked, her eyes glued to my chest.
Probably at the dark ink that covered my left shoulder, chest and arm. A sign of my oath to Cosa Nostra, sealing my fate.
"A tattoo. Now go to sleep, Isa." I mutter, throwing myself on my stomach before pulling the blankets on me.
My eyes suddenly flew open as images from that night.
What the hell was that?
I felt disoriented at first thinking I had somehow gotten kidnapped or something of the sort until I remembered what happened the night before.
I was so looking forward to being able to talk to Isa but she fucking shot me and threw a knife at me before I even uttered a word the moment she saw me.
And then I remembered something else.
Great. She was angry, and hoped to God I wasn't the one she was angry at.
It wouldn't hurt to check, either way.
So I quickly moved off the bed and threw a scoff in Emmett's snoring form.
As I slowly made it out of the small clinic Felipe Swantorini kept in his house, I ran into Jasper.
"Where the hell are you goin' in such a rush?" He asked, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at me.
"To talk to Isa." I said, tiredly.
"Oh...you plannin' to grovel or just divin' head first int'a' the danger zone?" He asked, amused.
"Grovel..." I replied,then turned to face him again. "Do you happen to know where she is right now?" I asked.
"Her parents' old room...don't surprise her." He warns me as he walks back into the room I was in.
I decided to head to my room to change and shower first.
Once that is done, I slowly walk in the direction that Jasper told me to.
Sadly, remembering how we spent summers here as kids, chasing each other through the halls of this massive place made me angry about fucking things up with my Isa so badly.
As I arrived, I took a slow breath before slowly and quietly walking into the room.
I'm met with a sight for sore eyes. She's curled into the blankets, making her seem smaller than she already is.
As I tap her shoulder, she suddenly pulls out her gun and shoots two rounds into the air.
"Oh shit!" I gasp, crouching onto the ground, pulling at the stitches on my leg. Fuck! I could feel the heat as blood slowly began to leak and soak the gauze and my slacks.
Then suddenly everyone is in the room, with their guns drawn.
"What the fuck happened in here?" Aro asked.
"What the fuck happened here?" Jasper repeated as he chose that moment to walk into the room.
Isa is on her feet, gun still drawn, scanning the room for any dangers. "He came in here while I was sleeping, and startled me." She explained, as she looked down at herself, then suddenly blushing.
My eyes looked down too and I realized she was wearing a dark t-shirt, which hit her mid thigh.
More images began clouding my mind of that night, before I shook my head roughly and cleared my throat.
"Isa, go change out of that, please?" Mr. Swantorini asks her, shaking his head amused.
My eyes followed her as she walked out of the room, then as if in unison they all turned to look at me, lowering their guns.
"Boy, you clearly don't understand women, do you?" Mr. Swantorini asks me, amused.
"Not at all." I admit, straightening up.
"Did she get you again?" Carlisle asked, taking a concerning step towards me.
"No, she got the window." I replied, looking at where the shoots hit, and flinching had I been standing to the left and closer to the bed, she would have gotten me, this time who knows where.
"Thank Dio for that." My father said, amused.
"Why don't we go outside to the terrace to talk while breakfast is being prepared, it seems we have a lot to talk about. Hm?" Mr. Swantorini suggests as we all walk out of the room, down the stairs and to the terrace.
I can tell my father is about to ask about the Oath and whether it still stands but Mr. Swantorini turns to look at us.
"Not about the Oath, Eduardo. My nipotina made it clear yesterday she is to be present when we all speak about it. I will respect her wishes. So, here is my question, Anthony. How do you really feel about my Isabetta?" He asks, looking us straight in the eye.
"I love her. I have been in love with her since we were children." I admit, looking at him unblinkingly.
"Hmm. Then why keep things from her? You do realize Isa isn't one to take things lying down, right?...and while I do admit it is humorous to watch this all happen yesterday. Mia mamma, has asked or rather loaded us all with this last request. So, I ask again. How much do you love my nipotina?"
I'd give her the whole world if I could, but that's cheesy. So, I decided to reply with the next best thing.
"Enough to do anything she asks of me." I say automatically.
Dread suddenly filled my being as I uttered those words. What if she asked me to stay away?
"Will you protect her? Going as far as laying your life down for hers? What about when something does happen? You can't hide things from her, that'll only make it worse. That is not the correct thinking of a man in love, but of a boy. Childish. So, I ask again. Do you truly love my nipotina? Will you protect her?"
In this life you never knew when you'd have the target placed on your back, it was best to always stay vigilant, and do everything physically possible to protect your loved ones.
"Without a doubt." I reply instantly.
He seemed satisfied enough with my answers, "Wonderful then. Let us go inside and have some breakfast." He says, leading us all back into the house.
We were all sitting down as the help slowly began serving breakfast.
I had just taken a sip of orange juice when I looked up to see Isabetta walking into the room.
Her hips gently swing from side to side as she walks over to her Nonna and kisses her cheek.
"Hello, everyone. Lovely morning, isn't it?" She greeted cheerfully, asking no one in particular.
"I'll say." Jasper muttered, back amused.
"Jasper Sage!" My mother chastised, smacking his hand.
All men are biting back their laughter, as I roll my eyes at their amusement.
"So...what are today's plans?" She asks as she takes a hesitant bite of her food, slowly beginning to eat.
Before anyone else speaks, Mr. Swantorini looks at her, and swallows. "Today we start to plan your wedding." He informs her.
The room goes silent, eerily still.
"Wedding?" She asks, turning to look at him.
"Yes, wedding, tesoro. Your Nani, she isn't doing so well...it won't be official since there isn't enough time to submit the proper documentation in, and get the marital certificate." He says, looking at me sadly.
"So, all we are going to do is dress up for the occasion. We can fill the forms and submit them for the wedding to happen at a later date. How do you feel about that?" He asks her.
"I—I…" she stutters, looking around the room, and then her eyes landing on mine.
I silently incline my head and get up from my seat. Silently excusing myself from the table.
"Where are you going?" My mother asks, surprised.
"I'll be right back." I responded.
I slowly made my way back out to the terrace, and stared out onto the horizon. The vineyards, and fields give the breeze a nice sweet fragrance in the air around us.
I am brought out of my revere as I hear the soft clicking of shoes on the floor.
"What's wrong? Did you finally realize how crazy all of this really is?" She asks, looking up at me.
"When has any aspect of our lives ever been ordinary?" I retort, grinning at her giggling response.
"Never." She replies back, amused.
"I really am sorry for keeping everything away from you. My Nonno and father kept saying it was for the best, and that you would understand when the time came… I realize now that that was a foolish assumption on my part and theirs. I should have told you the moment I found out about it, and tried to explain all of this situation to you. I realize my error, and stupidity. Please allow me to apologize for both, and allow me to gain your forgiveness."
I look at her expression, to see that she is now crying. Shit! Did I say something I wasn't supposed to? Fuck! Now, what do I say?
"Don't look so horrified," she croaks, dabbing her face delicately with her fingertips.
"You're crying because of me. Of course, I am horrified. I wasn't trying to hurt you. I only wanted you to forgive me." I point out as she keeps dabbing under her eyes.
"I'm not crying because you said something wrong...no...but because you said something right. Though you did miss the part where I kick ass but I'll allow that slide since you haven't seen me in action." She teased.
I looked at her, really looked at her, not just at what she was wearing. Though the dress she was wearing hugged her in all the right places, and made her skin look as if it was glowing.
"I already knew you could kick ass, you've been kicking my ass, along with all my brothers and yours ever since you learned. It doesn't surprise me that you have been the one in action when the Clausola is activated. What does surprise me is that you were able to leave and when we needed you, you didn't think twice before diving in head first back into this cesspool." I commented, in admiration.
"I only did it because no one messes with my famiglia and gets away with it." She remarked.
"Right. It wasn't because Nonno pointed out that awoman that you were interrogating was caught in my room, right?" I teased.
I am about to start laughing at her unamused expression when I feel her elbow jerk up into my ribs.
Ahh! Holy fuck! Okay, don't tease her about other women, she'll react violently.
How can something so small, and boney cause so much pain?