Well, hello again! ;)
There isn't a clear consensus on what to do with Edward's wallet. Some of us would look, and some wouldn't... so, which camp does Bella fall into? She's got a couple of friends who are going to help her decide!
Either way, Edward has some explaining he's got to do... but will he come clean?
Enjoy chapter 9!
BPOV
I tap my finger against my lip as I sit at my desk, yet again contemplating the predicament that is Tony's wallet.
I'm at the point where I'm carrying it everywhere I go- because what if someone breaks into my house and steals it? That would be horrible. Instead, I have it safely tucked inside my purse, which is in my work locker, where I can check on it every break.
I've become obsessed.
"I know that look," Angela says. She's updating a patient's chart on her computer. I don't know how the hell she even sees me.
"It's just- maybe it was meant to be. Maybe I'm supposed to look in his wallet."
"Bella, there is no circumstance in which you are supposed to snoop through his wallet!"
"Yes, there is!" Jessica jumps in, leaning back in her chair to see around Angela. "I told you, it's for your own safety. I mean, how well do you really know Tony Masen? His wallet could give you all sorts of clues as to what kind of a guy he is!"
"You're the one that wanted me to go out with him!" I remind her.
"Right, and you listened to me then, so listen to me now!"
"Do not listen to her," Angela orders.
"I don't know what to do. He hasn't even called me! The last thing he said before he ran out on Friday night was, 'I swear to God. First thing in the morning, I'll call you,'" I say, mocking his voice.
"Maybe something happened," Angela offers.
"I seriously can not believe he ran out on sex. He deserves to have his wallet ransacked. Hell, you should see if he's got any credit cards in there. Buy yourself something nice. You deserve a present after that." Jessica nods along with her idea.
"Yeah, I'm not listening to you anymore."
"See, I told you," Angela laughs.
"Oh, I know! I can have Mike interrogate him for you!" Jessica beams.
"And how exactly do you plan on setting that up?"
"At Friendsgiving! I just sent you guys an Evite." I glance past Angela and realize Jessica is on an online invitation website instead of in the chart she's supposed to be working on. "Mike and I want to meet each other's friends, so we decided to host a Friendsgiving potluck at our place this year. It's the Saturday before Thanksgiving since some of us are taking that week off."
"Hey, I work Christmas this year!" I defend. "Do you know how long it's been since I've been with my Dad for Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah, yeah. Have fun in Washington while we're stuck here."
"Oh, yes, Forks, Washington. The most thrilling place on Earth."
"Anyway, respond to your emails and let me know what dish you're going to bring. Bella, I expect your plus one to be Tony. I'll prep Mike."
"Can I bring a plus one?" Angela asks, twirling a pencil between her fingers.
"Um, what?" Jessica asks, nearly vibrating at the prospect of new gossip. "Who?"
"The new radiologist, Eric." Angela's blushing, and I love it.
"Good for you. He's a nice guy," I say.
"Oh my God! You guys will be so cute together!" Jessica squeals. "Yes, okay, I'll put you both down for a plus one."
"If I still have a plus one," I mutter before leaving them to party plan. Mrs. Hammond's labs are back, and I'm over their bubbly moods.
I'm relieved when my shift ends, and I can drag myself home. I have the next forty-eight hours off, so I'll have plenty of time to wallow in misery over Tony's erratic behavior. I take some Zzzquil after I shower, and I'm whisked away to a dreamless sleep within minutes. I don't stir until one-thirty in the afternoon when a persistent buzzing from downstairs forces me awake.
"What the fuck?" I whine as I throw on an old Fork Police Department sweatshirt and tie my hair in a messy bun. I'm conscious enough to realize that the obnoxious noise is my doorbell, and someone really wants to see me. There's only one person I know that's this annoying, and if he's on my doorstep again, I'm filing a restraining order.
"Oh my God, what?" I snap as I open the door. I'm immediately taken aback. It's not Jake at my doorstep, but instead, a somber Tony who is looking worse for the wear.
"Can I come in for a few minutes?" He asks, subdued.
"Yeah, um, sorry. I thought you were someone else."
"You get a lot of people ringing your doorbell incessantly?"
"You'd be surprised." I roll my eyes.
"I'm sorry about that. You weren't answering your phone, and I need to explain what happened the other day."
"I was asleep. I worked last night."
"Oh. I can come back later-"
"No. I'm up now. Do you want some coffee or something?" I ask, leading him toward the kitchen.
"No, no caffeine. I've got a headache."
"The coffee might help," I offer as he slides onto a barstool at the counter.
"I doubt that. I, uh, hit my head kind of hard the other night after I left here. That's why I didn't call yesterday. I was sleeping off a concussion."
"What? Are you alright?" My coffee forgotten, I rush over to him, examining his head for signs of trauma.
"I think so? I threw up a few times, but-"
"Tony! Did you go to the hospital?"
"No, like I said, I slept it off. I'm honestly feeling a lot better today."
"How did that happen?" Close up, I notice other minor injuries. There's slight bruising on his jaw, and his knuckles are split. "Were you in another fight?" I ask, putting some distance between us.
"I was mugged," he scoffs. "Can you believe that? It was on my way to the L after I left here. And get this, I didn't even have my wallet with me. The guys got away with nothing!"
"You left your wallet here. You must have dropped it when we were…." I trail off, gesturing to the couch.
"Oh! Thank fuck! Shit, sorry! I've been looking for it everywhere!"
"Here," I say, digging through my purse and handing it over. "I didn't go through it or anything, so you know."
He quirks an eyebrow. "Thanks for not rifling through my wallet?"
"Yeah, uh, no problem." I cover my mouth as a yawn breaks free.
"You look exhausted," he says.
"Gee, thanks."
"No! You don't look bad! It looks like I pulled you out of bed. I should probably go."
"Wait!" I grab his bicep, keeping him from standing. "You shouldn't be alone after a head injury. Would you maybe want to take a nap with me?" My face is heating up because, in reality, he's fine. I'm making an excuse to keep him nearby.
"Like in your bed?" He swallows hard.
"Just to sleep."
"Um, okay." He nods and wraps his large hand around my palm. "Lead the way."
I tug him forward and up the stairs, biting my lip and wondering what the hell I was thinking. I'm still a little stung from him running out the other night, but I'm also relieved he had a reason not to call. I push away the voice in my head, warning me he's a magnet for trouble.
In my room, I take my sweatshirt off and untie my hair while Tony toes off his boots and sheds his jacket. He's stealing glances at my chest, which is covered only by a thin tank top. I don't sleep in a bra.
"Come on," I say, lifting the covers and climbing in. He follows, lying beside me and snuggling in.
"Is- is it okay if I hold you?" he asks, the light touch of his fingers on my side making me ache for more.
"Mm-hm." I pull his arm around me and settle my back against his front. His hand rests directly under my breast as his thumb strokes me gently.
He's solid and warm around me, and I want him even closer. I crave his touch.
"You smell good," he murmurs into my hair. "You- you feel good." His arm tightens around my middle as he pushes himself against my backside. Through his denim, I can feel him hard and ready. A thrill shoots through me, knowing I'm affecting him the way he's affected me.
Screw pretenses. I want this man. He makes me lose all sense of control, and I have him here, in my bed, willing and able. I push my ass against his erection, making him hiss in pleasure.
"Bella," he whispers. "If we start, I won't be able to stop."
"Good."
I turn in his arms and kiss him soundly. He doesn't hesitate as he palms my breast and tangles his tongue with mine. He moves the thin fabric covering my chest and groans.
I grasp the back of his shirt and pull it upward, showing him what I want. He sits up just long enough to strip the fabric from his body and pull my tank top over my head. Settling back between my legs, he grinds into me, letting me know how ready he is for more.
"Pants," I command before dragging my tongue along his neck. He fumbles with the button and the zipper of his jeans until I reach down to help him. We work together to rid him of his pants, leaving him in a tight pair of black boxer briefs. "Oh!" I gasp, getting a view of what waits for me inside.
His grin is cocky when he hooks his fingers around my sleep shorts and panties, pulling them down in one swift motion. As he drinks in my bare form, his chest heaves, and his cock twitches.
"So fucking beautiful," he mumbles before diving in.
I need him inside me now, so I reach into his boxers and stroke him. He's thick and solid, and I am sure I'll need some Advil after he's had his way with me.
He stands to rid himself of his last article of clothing and reaches for his pants, digging a condom from his wallet.
"Don't leave that behind this time," I giggle. He makes a show of putting the wallet in his pocket before he's back, hovering over me.
I bite my lip in anticipation as he tears open the foil packet and rolls the latex over himself.
"So, fucking wet," he groans, sliding a finger between my folds, readying me for him.
"Go slow. You're bigger than I'm used to," I say.
"Then you're used to?" he raises a brow. "Is there another guy I should be worried about?"
"Shut up! No, it's been a while anyway."
"I'll go slow," he promises as he lines himself up with my entrance. He watches my face as he inches forward, filling me bit by bit.
"Oh, God!" I'm consumed by euphoria once he's fully sheathed inside. He pauses for a moment, breathing heavily into my neck.
"Baby, I've got to move," he begs.
"Yes, please! Oh, God, you feel so good!"
"You have no fucking idea! So tight, so warm." He finds a rhythm sliding in and out, filling me over and over again. Sex has never felt like this. I'm having an out-of-body experience like I'm floating on clouds of ecstasy, each thrust of his hips pushing me higher.
"I'm going to come!"
"Yes, Bella, come for me!" He groans.
"Tony!" I scream as my orgasm washes over me. My back arches while I clench around him. A growl rips from his chest, and he pumps harder until he tenses and cries out, pulsing deep inside me.
We cling to each other as we come down from our highs. When he's finished riding his release, he collapses on me, panting as I stroke my fingers through his hair.
"That was…" he begins.
"Amazing." I giggle.
"Extraordinary." He grins as he lifts himself. "I- wow. We've got to do that again!"
"Okay, Casanova, but you might need to give me recovery time. You're packing heat down there," I tease, glancing toward his penis, which sits at half-mast. It's still impressive.
He sends me a wink before rolling off me to dispose of the condom. He's back in a flash, tucking us under the covers and pulling me over, so I drape myself across his chest.
"Hey, I've got something to ask you," I say. "My co-worker is doing this Friendsgiving thing, and she told me you're invited."
"You want me to meet your friends?"
"Well, technically, you've already met her. She was the nurse working with me the day you got your stitches."
"The flirty one?" he laughs.
"She flirted with you?" I lean up, ready to throw down with Jessica.
"Jealous?" He winks. "Don't worry. I was more into the hot doctor."
"Lucky you're a sweet talker."
"I'd love to go with you. When is it?"
"Saturday before Thanksgiving."
"I'll clear my schedule," he says, his eyes fluttering closed.
"Thank you," I sigh, resting my head against his chest and listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"Anything for you." He kisses the top of my head before we both succumb to our exhaustion, falling into a peaceful sleep.
A/N: It just got a little steamy in here!
These two are both all in, except Bella doesn't know what "all in" entails.
And how exactly is Friendsgiving going to work out?
Let me know what you think!
Thank you all for reading and supporting The Alias! You, awesome readers, keep me coming back for more!