A/N Hiii angels ❤️

Cheeky little Thursday update. I hope you enjoy :)

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Chapter Eighteen: Hide and Seek

Bella

xXx

"Don't be such a baby," Cilian teases Jasper, his fingers dancing up his arm.

Jasper pouts, and Cilian bends down to kiss him.

"I'm gonna fuck this up if you make him squirm," I laugh, turning off the machine.

Cilian lifts his head from Jasper's, licking his full lips before smirking at me. "Sorry, not sorry."

"I'm gonna kick you out for misbehaving," I say seriously.

Cilian laughs, grabbing me from behind and burying his face in my neck. "Don't be mad at me, baby girl. Look at him. Can you blame me?"

Jasper gives me an innocent smile, and I groan. "You two kill me."

Cilian's fingers dance across my ribs, and I huff at his low laugh. "Offer still stands, you know," he says in a low voice in my ear.

Jasper hums, nodding, and I sink back into Cilian, laughing. "No, you'd break me."

Jasper grins at me, his blue eyes glinting. "Yeah, we would, and you'd fucking love it."

Cilian nuzzles his nose into my neck, hugging me tighter. "Miss you. So fucking soft."

"Stop it," I say playfully. "You're making Masen uncomfortable."

Jasper glances past us and smirks. "He doesn't look uncomfortable."

I look over my shoulder, and something hot spikes in my belly when I see Edward leaning against the wall; his bright green eyes lit up with amusement.

I turn back quickly, and Cilian chuckles in my ear. "You want him so bad, baby girl," he says under his breath.

"Are we doing this tattoo or not?" I ask loudly, elbowing him.

"Yes, please, beautiful," Jasper says sweetly, smiling at me.

Cilian leaves me to bend down and kiss him again. "You're so fucking hot," he says against his mouth, his hand going to his throat. Jasper groans, lifting himself off the chair to grab Cilian's shirt.

"Oh my god, Cil! Go into the main room, please." I groan, grabbing him by his belt loops and tugging him back.

Cilian lets go of Jasper and runs a hand through his hair, grinning. "Fine, I'll behave, but I wanna watch and hold his hand if he needs me."

Jasper's cheeks flush as he smiles at Cilian, and I can't help but smile as well.

"Cute," I mutter under my breath, gently pushing Cilian back. "Go stand with Masen for a bit."

"With pleasure," Cilian turns and winks, and I hear Edward snort.

I glance back as Cilian goes to lean against the wall next to Edward and roll my eyes when Cilian mouths, "he smells so good."

Jasper lets out a huff, his eyes narrowing slightly, and I grab his leg, "Focus, please, stay still, okay?"

"Okay, Bella," Jasper grins up at me, cerulean blue eyes sparkling. I smile back and turn my attention to his arm, the buzzing of the machine filling the room as I resume drawing.

xXx

"I love it!" Jasper exclaims, scooping me off my feet and hugging me tightly.

"Good," I say into his chest, my voice muffled.

I laugh when Cilian presses against my back, sandwiching me between them.

We break apart, and Cilian turns to Masen, grinning. "She's talented, isn't she."

I fight the urge to stamp on his foot.

Edward's eyes flick down to the tattoo, and he nods, his lips curving up in a lopsided smirk. "Yeah."

I feel my belly flip at his admission and glance away, meeting Jasper's amused eyes. I see them out, and when I come back into the main room, Edward's staring at the photos of tattoos on the wall, some of them my designs, most of them my mom's.

"You know I could do you," I tell him, ignoring the way the temperature in the room seems to go up now that we're alone.

Edward turns to face me, his green eyes glinting playfully. "I thought we'd established that's something you want, not me…"

I chuck a pen from my station at him, and he catches it easily, spinning it between his long fingers. "Shut up," I say, rolling my eyes, "you know that's not what I meant."

Edward shifts, running a hand through his hair. "Look, you're...good. But all my shit was done by the same guy, and getting it done, being in that position…it's...I don't..."

I nod understandingly. "It's okay. If you'd feel more comfortable with Phil, he'd probably do some for you. He's great. He did mine, and he's doing my new piece."

"You're getting something new?"

I nod, walking over to my sketchbook and opening it. Edward comes to stand next to me, and his hand flicks out, stopping me from turning the page. "Who's that one for?"

I hum, "My fox? It's not for anyone; I just...drew it." I turn my head to him and find his green eyes fixed on the paper curiously. "It's not finished," I add, nudging the paper out from under his hand, lightly brushing his warm fingers with mine.

I stare at him, watching for a reaction, but there isn't one, and I relax a little.

I flip over a few more pages before his hand comes down again. My heart clenches. It's a drawing of my mom in the bathtub, my reflection and hers shining from the red water covering the floor

"Shit," Edward mutters. "You saw her like this."

I'm silent for a moment before I nod, feeling his eyes on me. "Drawing it helps. It's kind of like...if I draw it, I'm transferring it from my head onto paper. Like when you put on the stencil for a tattoo, and it sinks into the skin, leaving nothing but a faint imprint behind." I run my fingers across the paper lightly, tracing the bathtub and her hair. "Hurts less."

Edward's warm hand gently pushes mine out the way as he carefully flips the page, making something curl in the pit of my stomach.

I let him flick through the drawings until he comes across the swan I want Phil to put on my ribs. It's black, with its wings pinned behind its back, a white band resting over them, a silver chain wound around its slim neck.

I put my hand on the paper, stilling his hand, and I feel Edward tense next to me. "This?"

"Yes."

"Is this how you feel?" he asks, surprising me.

I turn my head to study him. "What do you see?"

He shrugs. "Trapped. Sad. Chained."

I smile, and he arches a brow. "What?"

"Look closer," I murmur. Edward's eyebrows furrow as he searches the drawing, the enticing green of his eyes contemplative.

"The chains are being held by the Swan," he says finally, turning to face me, searching my eyes for confirmation. "Under its foot. And the wings aren't actually tied back; it's just the light."

I nod, unable to help the grin that plays at my lips.

Edward stares at me, tilting his head. "What does it mean?"

I look down at my drawing and sigh softly. "It means, no matter what happens to us, we always hold the keys to survival in our hands. That things are not always what they seem. That being trapped is an illusion; there's always a way out."

Edward's voice is soft, "Do you forgive her?"

My head snaps to his, my eyes wide. "What?"

"For the way she chose to get out." Edward's green eyes bore into mine.

"Yes," I practically whisper, "but I don't forgive him."

We stare at each other for a second, and I'm too aware of his proximity, his warm breath against my cheek, the different shades of green that make his eyes so enthralling.

Edward suddenly steps back, putting his hands in his pockets. "We should go; your dad is expecting you."

I close my sketchbook with a sharp slap and smirk at him. "Sounds like it's an excellent time to clean all my machines then."

Edward snorts, strolling to the wall and leaning against it, crossing his arms. "Go ahead - I'll tell him you were being difficult, and you bit me."

I burst out laughing. "Bit you?"

Edward lifts his arm and stares at me as he sinks his teeth in. He pulls it away, a fresh bite mark marring his skin.

"Ow," he raises both eyebrows, smirking.

"I'd bite you harder," I sing.

"I'd bite you back," Edward replies, his lips curved up in a sinful expression.

I grin at him. "I'd like it."

Edward laughs, shaking his head, and I smirk, taking out my machines.

We're just about to leave the shop when I realize I left my laptop in school.

"Oh shit!" I suddenly exclaim.

"What?" Edward asks, instantly on alert.

I tell him about my laptop, and he frowns at me. "What's the big deal? Can't you bring it up on another computer?"

"No," I practically cry, "I didn't save it anywhere else, and I can't start again; it's like five thousand words. I'm gonna fail unless I get it."

Edward studies me curiously. "Do you care?"

I shift, crossing my arms. "Yeah, um, this one is kind of...crucial to me being allowed to stay in school. If I don't pass it, there's nothing my dad can do. I'll be kicked out..."

Edward's eyebrows lift, and he shakes his head. "Why are you constantly getting yourself suspended then, you fucking idiot."

I glare at him. "Because I knew I would be able to write this stupid fucking thing and keep my grades up. They can't ever kick us out unless we fail. Most of the other kids ask other fucking people to write their shit, but I'm not stupid; I can do it myself."

Edward studies me for a second, his lips twitching. "But you left it till the night before?"

I throw my hands up. "I'm almost done!"

Edward laughs, shaking his head at me, his green eyes glinting with amusement. "So what do you want to do? Sneak into your school and get it?" he jokes.

"Exactly," I say calmly.

Edward arches a brow at me, flexing his arms. "You fuckin' serious?"

"Deadly," I say, placing a hand on my hip. "I can handle the cameras. Do you know how to pick a lock?"

Edward tilts his head back slightly, eyeing me with a smirk. "What do you think?"

"Then let's go."

xXx

"I swear to fuck, if we get caught, and I get arrested, I am going to strangle you," Edward mutters, kneeling in front of the door and pushing the pin into the lock.

"Sounds hot," I say playfully.

Edward glances back at me and rolls his eyes, his lips twitching.

"We won't get caught. There'll be no footage; it will be like we were never here."

The door clicks open, and Edward stands and pushes it open. "Where's your locker?"

"Down here," I tell him, striding forwards. The halls are full of shadows, but there's enough of a glow coming from the streetlights outside to see where I'm going.

I'm twisting my lock open when the thud of footsteps sounds down the hallway. I turn back to Edward in alarm, and he stares at me with wide eyes.

"Shit!" I whisper.

Edward grabs my arm and pulls me back, trying a door to a storage closet. It's locked, and he quickly drops to his knees, shoving the device into the keyhole. The footsteps get louder, and I can see the flicker of a torch on the wall.

"Masen!" I whisper in panic.

There's a click, and he pulls me up and into the room with him, shutting the door behind us. There's barely any space in here, and our bodies are pressed completely up against each other, my chest firmly against the door, the warmth of his large body burning into my back.

I start to speak, and Edward's mouth goes to my ear, his voice barely louder than a breath. "Shh, don't move."

The footsteps come closer, and I stay very still, watching through the tiny slits in the door with wide eyes.

Edward's warm lips brush the shell of my ear, and I go taut and loose at once, my pulse suddenly pounding between my legs. My breath catches, and a shiver goes through as I feel a rush of hot air against my neck.

I'm so aware of him behind me, how muscled he is through his T-shirt, the feel of his denim-covered thighs against the backs of my bare legs. He smells incredible, musky, and spicy cigarettes and a touch of sweetness that makes something curl in the pit of my stomach.

I watch the man pause in front of where we're hiding, and I freeze, pressing back into Edward.

"Hello?" a male voice calls out.

"Shit," Edward breathes, his large hand flying to cover my mouth. I know he's trying to keep us silent, but his action has the opposite effect on me, my eyes rolling back in my head and my body arching against his.

He freezes behind me, taking a ragged breath in my ear, and I moan into his hand as I feel him harden against my ass.

"Bella," Edward whispers in my ear, his voice low.

I moan again, and he pushes me harder into the door. "Shh," he urges.

The footsteps continue down the hall again, getting further away. Neither of us move for a minute, then Edward shifts behind me.

"I think he's gone, but we should wait a little while just in case. Stay quiet," Edward murmurs in my ear, removing his hand from my mouth.

"Okay," I pant. Every single inch of my skin is tingling, the feel of his body against mine driving me crazy. I've never felt like this before, like I'm drowning; like I can hardly breathe just from someone's proximity.

Minutes pass, each one of them stretched tight. Edward's breathing hot against my ear. I can feel how thick and long his cock is, each delicious inch pressed firmly against my ass. I can't resist shifting myself against it, my eyes so heavy they're practically closed as I rub myself back into his body, shocks of arousal tingling in my belly.

"Bella, stop," he growls in my ear, grabbing my hips to still them.

My head tilts back to his shoulder, a whimper leaving my lips at the feel of his hands on me.

"I can't," I moan. "You're so hard."

His breath catches, and suddenly his large hand leaves my hip and presses flat against my stomach, pressing me tightly against him. The warmth of his palm floods through my clothes, and our rough pants fill the air.

I rub myself against him again, and he inhales sharply. "Fuck," he spits.

His palm splays across my stomach and then drifts higher, his fingertips skimming the underside of my breast.

A breathy moan leaves me, and his lips brush my neck, his chest vibrating against my back with a low groan. The sound of it causes something to throb between my legs, and suddenly he's pushing us out of the closet. I stumble forward, and he catches me, his large, warm hand gripping my waist, the contact sending a zing through my body. I turn around to look at him, heat spitting down my spine, and the sight of him makes me whimper. His green eyes are dark and heavy-lidded, his full lips parted as he stares at me. Edward's fingers sink into the skin at my waist, and I step into his body, hearing his breath catch.

"Bella," he warns in a low voice, but he doesn't loosen his grip on my body, and I press closer to him, our heavy breathing the only sound in the hallway.

His hand runs from my waist, up my spine, higher and higher, until burning fingers brush the bare skin at the back of my neck. Every single nerve ending in my body narrows to the sensation, a jolt of heat blazing down my spine, lighting me on fire.

I move even closer, and our lips brush, the contact making my eyes roll back. They're so soft and impossibly warm against mine, a hum seeming to spread from them, electrifying me and setting my heart racing. I whimper, and Edward lets out a harsh "fuck," against my lips.

I gasp into his mouth as my back hits the lockers with a metallic thud, every inch of his hard body pressing into mine. Edward groans low in his throat, one of his hands hitting the lockers by my head with a slap, and I whimper in response, clutching him to me, something throbbing between my legs as he presses impossibly closer, the hard length of him digging into my stomach. Our mouths devour each other, his teeth nipping, sucking, licking at my lips hungrily.

I've never felt like this before, my head spinning at the feel of his mouth on mine. I've lost the ability to think, and all I can do is feel; my head chanting the same word over and over again. More. More. More.

My heart is hammering against my ribcage so fast I feel like I'm going to explode, goosebumps rising across my skin. Edward tangles my hair in his fist as his tongue delves into my mouth, and I melt into him, throwing my arms around his neck. His chest vibrates against mine with a groan, the fist in my hair tightening and pulling the strands slightly, sending a jolt straight to the pit of my stomach.

I lick my tongue against his, my hands clutching at his shoulders tightly when he renews his efforts, kissing me so fiercely I don't know which way is up or down. Edward's thigh slips between mine, pressing right against where I'm aching for him, and my mouth leaves his as I cry out.

All of a sudden, Edward wrenches back from me, and I'm left leaning against the lockers, breathing hard, my hands still outstretched. I stare at him in shock for a second before my pulse skyrockets, the reality of what we just did crashing into me like a wave of ice-cold water.

I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth, and Edward looks at me with a horrified expression.

"Fuck I'm so sorry," I stammer out.

Edward's jaw jumps, his hand tearing through his hair. "Shit. Shit!"

I stare at his flushed cheeks for a second, his swollen lips, the darkness in his eyes, my lower stomach coiling even tighter.

His eyes flick down to my mouth, and he swallows before clenching his jaw tightly, "Fuck! I can't believe we just fucking did that, god fucking dammit!"

"I'm sorry, Masen. That was my fault; I shouldn't have-"

"It was both of us," Edward growls, he glances over at me, and the look in his eyes makes something clench between my legs.

I force myself to look away from him, trying to calm myself down. "It won't ever happen again. I promise."

Edward's silent for a second before he exhales slowly.

"Okay," Edward says, his voice coated in relief.

"Let's just forget it ever happened," I say quickly.

"Deal. Get what you need; we need to go before that guy comes back."

I quickly get my laptop, and we sneak out of the school, running the last few meters to get out before the security guard sees us.

xXx

Edward's silent when we get back into the Limo from my dad's penthouse, and I shift awkwardly when we sit, and he turns his head to look out the window, his jaw tight.

I open my mouth to say something and then close it again, crossing my arms and leaning my head back to the seat, looking out the opposite window to him. We're silent for the whole drive, and when Stevie goes down the ramp into the garage, I sigh in frustration.

The new rules Charlie's enforcing means I'm not allowed in open spaces if it can be helped, so I can't even go through the front fucking door of the house.

"Easy," Edward mutters as I snap at Stevie when he tells me to let Edward get out of the car first.

I turn my glare on him, and he arches an eyebrow, daring me to say something.

"Whatever," I mutter, gritting my teeth.

Edward checks around the garage and then holds out a hand to help me out of the car. I pointedly ignore it, and he rolls his eyes, grabbing my wrist and launching me out of the vehicle.

"I'm not incapable of getting out of a car," I growl at him.

"Relax," Edward murmurs, frowning at me.

He opens the garage door, and I shove past him to get inside. I've started up the steps when he grabs me by the waist and stops me, spinning me around to face him. I huff angrily, and Edward arches a brow at me. "What the fuck? I thought we were okay? Why are you acting like a brat?"

I deflate when I stare into his confused green eyes. "It's not you…" I say quietly.

Edward's eyebrows scrunch together a little, and then he nods, letting me go.

I head up to the main floor and make my way into the kitchen, my stomach rumbling. I'm starving.

"Lights," I call out to the electronic system, the room flooding with yellow light. I blink, adjusting, and then freeze, my blood running cold.

The kitchen counter is coated in blood, shining a dark, sticky red. In the middle, a black hilted knife protrudes out of something pink and slightly larger than a fist, a piece of paper pinned to it with the silver blade.

Realization strikes my throat sharply.

It's a heart.

A human heart.

Nausea burns in my belly, and I open my mouth to call for Edward, but nothing comes out. Something in the corner of my eye draws my vision, and when I look down, I instantly turn to my side and throw up, my knees shaking.

When I stand, I hear Edward's voice in my ear. "Take this; I need to check there's no one in the house. Don't move." A gun is pressed into my hands, and I hold it shaking, keeping my eyes away from the body on the floor.

It doesn't matter that I'm not looking; the vision will be seared in my mind for the rest of my life, Pattie's wide, glassy eyes staring up at the ceiling, the gaping flesh at her neck where her throat was slit, shoulder to shoulder.

So much blood.

I can smell it, tangy and metallic, catching in the back of my throat. There's a loud ringing in my ears, my vision blurring.

Is this happening? Is this real?

I jump violently when a warm hand wraps around my bicep. I turn my head and find Edward, but even though his mouth is moving, I can't hear him.

His hand strokes up my arm, and the touch seems to help because the ringing sound stops, and I can hear his low voice.

"-Bella?" Edward is asking me softly, his green eyes burning into mine. "Give me the gun."

I look down at the gun in my trembling hands with surprise. I'd forgotten it was there.

I hand it to him, and the second the smooth metal leaves my hands, I'm bending forward and throwing up again.

"Good girl, you're doing so good," Edward murmurs to me, rubbing my back as I wipe my mouth. A strangled sob leaves my mouth, and Edward steps away from me to the counter and places the gun down, pulling the knife from the heart with a sickening squelch. I gag but manage not to vomit again.

"Shit," Edward mutters, the knife clattering against the marble.

I find myself holding my hand out for the note.

Edward arches an eyebrow but then gives it to me. It's covered in blood; the letters marred with a thick viscous red.

The texture of it makes my stomach churn, the blood sticking and clinging to my hands.

Your daughter's throat is next. Step down, or we're coming for her.

My hand is shaking, and Edward takes the paper from me, slamming it down with a quiet "fuck".

I move towards Pattie, but Edward pulls me back, gripping my waist. His mouth brushes my ear, "Charlie's forensics are going to want to fingerprint; we already contaminated the knife and the note."

I turn in his arms, my body shaking. "I feel d-dizzy."

Edward's green eyes search mine for a second, and then he scoops me up by the thighs, my head falling to his chest. "You're just in shock," he murmurs, striding up the stairs. "I called everyone; they'll be here soon. I'm gonna put you in the shower, okay? So you can get cleaned up."

"My dad's coming?" I ask him in a hollow voice. Edward gently drops me to my feet, turning the shower on and glancing at me with a frown.

"Yeah, he's on his way."

"Okay," I say, wrapping my arms around myself. Edward washes the blood from his hands and then sits down on the closed toilet seat. "Get in; I won't look."

I strip off and get in the shower, sitting on the floor and letting the water wash the blood and the sick. Tears spring from behind my eyes.

"I did this," I say brokenly, staring at the tiles on the floor.

"What do you mean?"

"They got in because of me," I manage to get out, my voice shaking. "There's a...there's a blind spot, and I didn't...tell anyone because I wanted to be able to escape if I needed to and…" My voice breaks with a sob, and I hear Edward move.

A warm hand grabs my jaw and tilts my chin up, lifting my head. Edward stares into my eyes, a serious expression on his face. "They came through the front door, Bella; this wasn't you, okay?"

My vision blurs with tears, and Edward sighs, letting go of my jaw and moving, so his back is to the glass next to the shower, but he's right next to me.

"Fuck. She was a good girl," he mutters, twisting the ring on his left hand that Tommie stole for him before he started treatment. "Bastards."

I rest my chin on my knees, crying silently. "Do you think she...was in a lot of pain?"

Edward's head hits the glass door with a slight thud as he stares up at the ceiling. "Fuck, I mean...no, probably not, would have been quick."

"I was a bitch to her."

Edward turns and looks at me, a tiny smile tugging at his lips. "You're a bitch to everyone, and she liked you, don't worry."

"She liked you more," I tell him.

He takes a heavy breath, "Yeah, I'll miss her."

"She didn't deserve this," I cry, shaking. "I hate this. I hate all of it."

Edward stares at me for a second before he looks away, resting his arms on his knees. "I know."

We're silent for a while, the hiss of the water against tiles the only sound in the bathroom.

"You should have told me about the blind spot," Edward says after a while, "that was fucking irresponsible."

"I just…"

"I'm here to fucking protect you; why do you have to make it so hard?"

I stand up in the shower and grab the body wash.

Edward glances back at me for a second and quickly looks away, his fists clenching. "I'm sorry," I say quietly. "But I never asked to need protecting, and I promised myself when I lost my mom that I'd never let him take away my life."

"Look, Bella, if you want to go somewhere, and the boss said you can't, don't sneak off, I'll...I'll take you, go with you."

I laugh humorlessly. "You'll go against him?"

Edward's phone starts ringing, and he gets to his feet, "I'll convince him it's better this way."

"Good luck with that," I say coldly.

He starts walking towards the door and pauses, turning his head back slightly but not looking at me. "They're here. Are you gonna be okay if I leave you to go down there?"

I stare at his back helplessly for a moment before I speak. "Yeah."

When the door closes behind him, I sink back down and lay on the shower floor, crying until I can't anymore, then I dress in an old sweatshirt and get in my bed, staring at the wall.

Edward comes up after a few hours and tells me to come downstairs to see my dad, but I tell him I can't, and he doesn't argue with me, leaving me alone.

When I get up in the morning and step out of my room, Edward's asleep sitting on the wall by my door. He wakes up when I gently tap his shoulder, and my stomach flutters when I meet sleepy green eyes.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice low and husky from sleep.

I nod, playing with the bottom of my shirt.

He tells me everything is gone downstairs, and I carefully make my way down, my heart thundering in my chest as my feet pad across the marble foyer. I don't go to the kitchen; I go through the lounge, into the room at the back, and find my dad fast asleep on the couch. I stare at him for a while before I grab a blanket and curl up near him, resting my head on a cushion.

When I wake up again, he's gone, but there's a pillow under my head, and the blanket is tucked around me tightly.

I cry myself back to sleep.

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p.s My girls Steph and Pearly have just posted the first chapter to their new fic Filth - I've had a sneak peak and trust me…it earns the name ;) Check it out on my fb group or search for Foxyashes ❤️

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