So, how do we like FighterWard? Isn't he swoon-worthy? Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story … What's up next?
Up next will be a jump in time. We'll have some more training for Edward and a growing friendship/relationship with Bella. Will she be helping him train? Leave me your thoughts.
What I own: A first degree burn on my ring finger from making dinner.
What I don't: Twilight
Chapter Twenty-Five
"Alright, Hells Bells," Rose said. "You've graduated from physical therapy and you're free to start working out again. Your leg is all good to go."
"Thank goodness I didn't need surgery," Bella grumbled, pulling on her sneakers. "I hate relying on people to help me out."
"That's because you're too stubborn accept any help, bitch," Rose laughed, tossing a clean towel at her friend as she laid her hand on her barely-there bump. "Though, you accepted Edward Masen's help. What's going on there?"
"We're rebuilding our friendship. I'm trying to prove to him that I'm not a flake like my mom," Bella frowned, shrugging her shoulders dejectedly. I'm also trying to prove it to myself that I'm capable of letting down my walls.
"You're not a flake. You were hurt by that douche-canoe, Jacob. And, don't get me started on that bitch … your incubator," Rose argued with her lips pressed into a thin line. "Speaking of which, I heard some rumors about Jake, the snake. There may be trouble in paradise with his partnership with the Volturi."
"I don't want to hear it, Rosalie," Bella said, hopping off the table in the gym of Bull Dog. "He's no longer my concern. Now, I'm going to make sure that Emmett, Peter, and Wilson have their paperwork for the fight this weekend in Portland."
"Is Edward fighting?" Rose asked.
"He's still not up to his fighting weight," Bella replied. "He's got about ten pounds to go. My dad wants him to be at that weight solidly for a month before he's entered into a fight." She hugged her friend. "Thanks for your help, Rose. I'm going to get the paperwork done and finalize travel plans for the team."
"Who's going to train with Masen if your dad is going with Emmett and the boys?" Rose asked, waggling her brows.
"We'll see," Bella snorted, rolling her eyes. "Go check out your brother-in-law. Jasper looks like he took a shot to the face."
"Oh, hell," Rose grumbled. "What did you do, Jas?"
"Your husband used my face as a punching bag. That's what I did," Jasper replied, his voice sounding stuffy.
"Emmett McCarty Cullen, you outweigh Jasper by over seventy pounds. What the hell were you thinking?" Rose yelled at her husband, who was now in the ring with Peter.
"I can't help that Jasper's face got in the way of my fist?" Emmett snickered.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Rose moaned, rolling her eyes while she dragged Jasper into a treatment room.
"Have fun," Bella sang, jogging up the stairs. She unlocked her office, sitting down at her desk. Working quickly, she got through her to-do list and put all the paperwork for upcoming fight in Portland. She put it into a leather portfolio, placing it on her desk.
Ducking into the private bathroom, she changed into some workout clothes. She'd missed exercising while she was gimpy from her broken leg. Her arms got a workout from using the crutches, but it wasn't the same. Swiping a bottle of water, a towel, and her phone, she went back down to the gym. Putting her Air Pods into her ears, she chose a treadmill and set the workout. She was listening to an audiobook, lost in a romantic comedy series based out of Chicago and knitting.
When her workout was over, she noticed she had a workout buddy running next to her. She was cooling down, popping out her Air Pods. "Hey, Edward," she panted.
"I'm assuming you got the go-ahead to work out," he asked, shooting her a crooked grin and never breaking his stride.
"I couldn't handle the slovenly lifestyle anymore," Bella snorted, picking up her water and taking a deep pull. "Hell, I might do some work with the speed bag. My ass is getting too big, and my arms are flabby."
Edward took a surreptitious glance Bella's ass, and it was not too big. It was a perfect apple bottom, with curves in the right places.
"You checking out my behind, Masen?"
"It's a mighty fine behind, Swan," Edward replied, widening his smile. "I'm almost done and if you want, we could do some … sparring if you'd like."
"I don't want to break my good foot," Bella quipped, slowing down the treadmill. "Or break my bad foot again."
"I'll go easy on you. I promise," he chuckled. "Five minutes and we can go to the practice ring. I've heard from Alice that you're a bit of a badass when it comes to mixed martial arts. I'd like to see what you can do."
"Okay," Bella said. "I'm going to get taped up and stretch out." She walked to the practice ring, putting her water bottle and phone in a small cubby. She darted upstairs to her office to grab her gloves and tape. Back in the practice ring, she sat down, stretching her body and relishing the endorphins pumping through her veins.
"Damn, woman. You're awfully bendy," Edward said. He openly gawked at Bella as she stretched out her body, practically bent in half.
"What I lack in grace, I make up with flexibility," Bella retorted. "Can you tape me up?"
"Sure thing, beautiful," he answered and sat down. He picked up the tape, cradling her hands with his. "Your hands are so delicate, feminine."
She pressed her palm to his, chuckling quietly. "Compared to your man paws, they are," she teased.
With a crooked grin, he threaded his fingers with hers. His eyes were heated as he ran his thumb over her knuckles.
Each pass of his thumb made Bella's heart squeeze and butterflies flutter in her belly. "Um, tape?" she whispered. Her cheeks flamed as she recognized the breathy, needy quality in her voice. Talk about sending mixed signals.
"Right," he said, blinking a few times to come back to reality. He gave her a shy grin before picking up the tape and expertly wrapped her hands to protect her knuckles. He found her gloves, helping her put them on as he taped his own hands. He knew that he wouldn't hit her, but he wanted to protect his own hands. He also grabbed some protective gear so Bella wouldn't hurt herself. Putting them on his hands, he grinned at her. "You ready?"
"Go easy on me," Bella sighed, bouncing on her toes.
"I'm just a human punching bag," he said, holding up his hands.
Bella narrowed her gaze on him. "You're more than that, Edward. Seriously?" His responding grin was cocky, and she arched a brow. With her own arrogant smirk, she was a flurry of fists and kicks.
Edward was shocked at how amazing she was. He could barely block her attacks, impressed by her skills. Bella was a badass. For the first time in a long time, Edward had fun while fighting. Granted, he was blocking and parrying, but he did so with a smile.
Bella whirled around, moving to do a roundhouse kick when she barked out a startled yelp and crumpled onto the mats. "Damn it!" she spat, gripping her leg.
"Bella," Edward gasped, throwing off his protective mitts. He crouched down next to her. "What happened? Talk to me, please."
"I moved too fast and planted on my injured leg," she grumbled, tugging off her gloves and scowling at her leg. "It felt too good and then, tingles ran up my leg."
Edward sat down, pulling her leg into his lap. He ran his hands along her calf and gently massaged it. Bella whimpered, shifting on the mats. "Your calf muscle is tight. I'm no doctor or PT, but you pushed it too much, too fast. Part of it is my fault."
"No, it's all me," she sighed, jumping when Edward pressed his thumbs on a knot. "Fuck a duck!"
"Sorry," he grimaced. He chuckled lowly. "Fuck a duck?"
"Shut it. I just blurted it." Bella argued as she pointed and flexed her foot, whimpering quietly. "I just need to soak in my hot tub," she murmured. Blinking to him, she offered a small smile. "Would you like to join? I mean, I do owe you for the numerous meals you fed me when I was gimpy. I can make dinner and then …"
"I'd like that," he replied, a crooked grin spreading across his face. With another massage to her calf, he stood up and gently pulled Bella up to her feet. She stumbled a bit, pressing her hands to his chest. "You okay?"
"Just a little tight, but I'm fine," she answered, trying to will away the blush that spread over her sweaty cheeksoo. "I'll see you at my place?"
"I need to head to mine to shower and change. I just have more workout clothes. Plus, if I'm going in a hot tub, I need to have my swim trunks," he laughed.
You could go naked, Bella thought. Shaking her head, she gave Edward a welcoming, warm look. "Um, right. See you in a half hour? Any requests for dinner?"
"Not chicken," he groaned. "If I have another baked chicken breast I'm going to gnaw off my own arm."
"How about salmon?" Bella asked.
"Ooooh, yes, please," he nodded. "I think … tonight's my cheat night."
"Then, I'll break out the good stuff," Bella grinned. "Drive safely, okay?"
"I will, beautiful," he responded, watching her walk stiffly to her office and out to her car. Before she left the gym, she shot him a shy smile which made his heart squeeze.
And, the walls came a-tumbling down …
A/N: Shorter than I would have liked, but we've got a quasi-date. Leave me your thoughts about the chapter. I'd love to hear what you think.
Up next will be Edward and Bella's dinner date, along with spending time in the hot tub. Will something more happen? Thanks for reading and thanks for your unending support!