Right Through Me
Chapter 7: Everything
Bella awoke to the smell of eggs, butter, and toast.
She splashed a bit of water on her face and brushed her hair in the bathroom. She thought about changing into something more decent––she was wearing her favorite skimpy blue nightdress––but decided to just put a button-down over it. Once she thought she looked okay, she tiptoed down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Immediately, her jaw dropped at the domestic scene.
Carlisle had also chosen to skip getting decent in the morning, and was standing in his bright kitchen in a grey sweatshirt that fit his torso very well––the one button undone and exposing the top part of his smooth chest––and a pair of light blue pajamas. His hair wasn't slicked back or even combed, and messy golden locks hung casually around the top of his head.
He had a phone tucked between his shoulder and his ear as he worked, and was talking animatedly to someone as he set down two platefuls of what looked to be French toast and omelettes on the kitchen island. It was then that he noticed Bella standing in the archway, and he immediately greeted her with a lopsided smile.
Butterflies.
"No, I require the premium cameras." His voice was firm on the phone, but his soft, gentle expression didn't match his tone; his eyes grazed over her body shamelessly as she approached him to sit on the chair, and his lips curled in a soft smirk.
He pushed one of the plates to her end of the table, winking at her. "Electric sounds good," he said to the phone. "Yes, right next to mine, Eddie. Can you check the location and send me a quote by noon?"
Bella decided she was allowed to stare at him as well, and let her eyes wander over his body. She sighed. She knew he dressed himself like this on purpose––as punishment, maybe, for the stunt she pulled the previous night.
He snapped his fingers in front of her face then, and made a gesture for her to keep her eyes on his face. She snorted immediately.
"Thanks, Eddie." He finally hung up, and his attention was now completely on her. He transitioned quickly to a smooth, playful tone, "Good morning, birthday girl."
She grimaced at the greeting. "Don't."
He moved around the island and sat on the stool next to her. "Why? Birthdays are great. A viable excuse to get whatever you want, from anyone."
"I don't like feeling old."
Carlisle raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"What?" she asked. After a few seconds, it finally sunk in, and she threw her head back in laughter. "Oh, Carlisle. I didn't mean––Come on, you're anything but old."
He narrowed his eyes, biting his toast as he feigned annoyance. "If not old, what do I look, then?"
She pursed her lips. "I prefer not to say," she decided to say, taking a bite from the omelette. As she'd expected, it was absolutely delicious.
"Whatever you say, sweetheart," he murmured. "That was Eddie, by the way. My security guy. I told him to send me a quote of everything by noon. I also called the police earlier this morning and fixed up the report."
She smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you. You can also tell him to send it directly to me, you know. I don't want to bother you any further with it."
His smile widened. "That's the surprise––I insist on handling it for you. As a birthday gift."
"No," Bella immediately blurted out. He can't possibly be serious. "Carlisle, that's––It's too much."
He shrugged. "Again, I insist. Humor me."
She sighed. "But I always do. What if…I wanted something else for my birthday?"
Carlisle's eyes immediately twinkled at the words. "Like?"
Bella made to pucker her lips and put a finger to her temple childishly. "Hmm," she said exaggeratedly. "What do people usually ask for, anyway?"
"Money? Yacht? Cake? Puppy?" He seemed to skip the one thing on purpose.
Bella tilted her head. "Would you give me a puppy, if I asked?"
"No," he said, smirking. "Only because I can tell you're more of a cat person."
"And you see right through me, huh?" Bella said, mildly surprised that he'd picked that up; she'd always wanted a cat, but just never had the opportunity to. "Then what can you give me?"
Carlisle leaned in closer to her then, resting an elbow on the island counter. His expression had changed into something more pensive, with a subtle hint of sadness. He opened his mouth a few times, but ended up closing them again. After a while, however, he managed to bring back his easygoing smile and asked, "What's your favorite flavor of cake?"
She soon realized that like her, Carlisle didn't really have weekends. He spent most of the day with his ear attached to his phone, taking business calls. However, instead of retreating in his study, he'd transferred his laptop and files to the living room, choosing to work there instead, where she was.
To accompany her. She tried not to look into it that deeply.
Bella tried everything she could to feel anything but comfortable. In the end, she couldn't help it; the longer she stayed in close proximity with Carlisle Cullen, the more she gave in. She liked his presence, she liked having him around.
Was that where this was going, then? Did she…like him?
Bella watched him as he lounged on the La-Z-Boy across from her, brows furrowed in concentration on his laptop. It was undeniable that she was physically attracted to him, and she was smug with the fact that he saw her the same way. But was it anything more than that on her end?
In particular, was she ready for that?
The answer was an obvious no. Whether or not there was…something, it was too complicated. They worked together, he was technically her fucking boss, and of course, there was the Mike thing. She would be lying if she said she was completely over it and the trauma it'd caused her.
What sort of men have you met that's made you so distrustful of them right off the bat? Carlisle had asked her, when they first met. Like a fucking omen.
Bella found herself facing the full-length mirror in her borrowed bedroom, agitated butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She watched herself as she twirled in her electric blue dress that hung to her knees, had a dangerously low neckline, and hugged her figure in all the right places. She wondered if the slit at the side of her thigh was too much…but decided against it. She looked good, she was sure.
She took her time adjusting her makeup and making sure her hair was perfectly curled. For some reason, she was nervous, like she was going on a first date.
Which this definitely wasn't.
After heaving a deep sigh, she finally put on her strapped heels and slowly walked out the door.
Carlisle was watching her from the bottom of the stairs as she walked herself down. She hitched a breath as she took in his sharp black suit, paired with an electric blue tie––matching, just as he'd promised. His hair was slicked back again, and on his wrist was a shiny silver timepiece.
His cerulean eyes darkened slightly as he looked her over, and she tried not to feel self-conscious under his intense gaze. As she approached him, his lips gradually quirked into a gentle smirk.
She kept her chin up, meeting his gaze confidently, as she stood in front of him.
Carlisle looked down at her dress, and he said, "There's something missing."
"Sorry?"
He had a thoughtful expression as he gestured for her to wait by the console and hanging mirror at the bottom of the stairs. "Give me a second."
Carlisle bounded up the stairs and disappeared into what she assumed was his bedroom. Sooner rather than later, he reemerged, and came back down with something in his hands.
He stood before her for a few seconds with pursed lips, and lifted his hands to reveal a necklace with a small, but elegant sapphire pendant. "May I?"
Bella had to close her gaping mouth, and slowly turned around to face the mirror, lifting her hair to help him put the beautiful piece around her neck. She felt goosebumps rise immediately as his fingers lightly grazed her sensitive skin. Carlisle's expression was unreadable as she watched his face in the mirror.
"Now you're perfect," he murmured, and looked up to meet her eyes in the reflection.
She released the breath she'd been holding and let go of her hair. He was right, of course, the sapphire fit perfectly in her dress. After a few tense seconds, she decided to remark, "Thanks for letting me borrow one of your girlfriends' jewelry."
Carlisle chuckled softly at that, but it dissipated quickly. His eyes were soft when he replied, "It was my mother's."
She swiftly turned around then, her eyes widened with surprise. "Oh. I can't possibly––"
"I insist," he whispered.
"To humor you again?" she said, managing a small smile. "Is that my purpose to you?"
His smile disappeared slowly, but the softness remained. He waited a long moment before sighing quietly. Holding up an inviting hand, he said, "We're gonna be late."
The venue was a small Italian cottage-style bar that the company had rented out for the night. Bella raised an eyebrow as she took in the candlelit table set up in the middle of the dark space. A uniformed waiter stood by the table to greet them as they came in.
"Welcome Mr. Cullen," the man said with a vague accent. "Ms. Dwyer."
"This is looking nothing like a taste-testing event," Bella muttered to Carlisle next to her. She shrugged of her coat and Carlisle, as gentlemanly as ever, took it for her and folded it across his arm.
He pulled her chair for her and gestured her to sit, and took his own seat across from her. There was a hilarious twinkle in his eyes as he watched her gaze suspiciously around the room. "I suppose I'll have to tell you then. This––" he gestured around the table "––is Edward's present."
She froze. "What?"
"You can't possibly think a great HR like Alice would forget to mention your birthday was coming up," he said. "The taste-testing…It's all for show. We've already had testers for the new products. This is his gift to you, not only for your birthday, but for putting the idea in his head in the first place. It's just a shame he can't be here."
She couldn't help but blankly stare at him, then again at the set table. "I don't know what to say."
The waiter suddenly emerged from the kitchen and cleared his throat. "Would you like to start with the appetizers, sir?"
"Yes, please," Carlisle said. "And the first round of spirits."
"Right away."
Bella couldn't help it then. The lavish celebration, just for putting an idea in the man's head––an idea she'd pulled out of her ass––even given the fact that she'd only been in the company for a little over a month…It all pointed to one thing.
"You can cut the crap now, Carlisle, and just tell me what it is you want." She looked up at him, her face devoid of any expression.
He tilted his head. "I beg your pardon?"
"I know you know," she said, leaning forward on the table. "This whole courtship thing you're pulling…It's getting ridiculous. I let it get out of hand. Whatever it is you have in mind about Swan Markets, just pitch it now."
Carlisle's expression didn't change, and remained thoughtful. He didn't even bother acting surprised or confused. Like he'd expected it.
"Well?" she challenged.
The waiter chose to emerge again in that moment, and Carlisle kept his pensive gaze on her at the man set the two plates of what looked to be caprese puffs. He set two wine glasses on the table and began pouring a small amount of the first bottle of MCB's pure vodka.
Only when the waiter disappeared into the kitchen did Carlisle decide to speak. "Are you angry?"
Bella leaned back on her chair. "No. I think I've known for quite a while now."
"So why did you take the job anyway?"
"Because I can. And I know I'd be good at it." She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not the one who's supposed to be answering questions here."
Carlisle released a long sigh, and for the first time, he looked extremely wary. "This wasn't how I wanted this to go."
"Just spit it out and I'll consider it."
He pursed his lips. "It's complicated."
"Then you better start talking, Cullen."
"We're not out to take the company from your hands, Bella, if that's what you're thinking," he began. "While I'll admit something like that was an…initial thought––"
She barked a humorless laugh.
"––it became clear that it's in very, very good hands." Carlisle looked up at her, and she saw nothing but sincerity. "You'll have to forgive me. MCB's decision to expand out here…you were right in that interview. It was a risky decision, and it was solely on me."
Bella stared at him, waiting for him to expound on his own.
"After some rather…unfortunate events, I gave Edward an ultimatum he didn't deserve. I wanted to quit, sell all my shares, and move back here. I was rather done with all the games, the unending hustle." He shook his head. "He wouldn't have it. I know you don't particularly like him very much, but Edward's quite soft once you get to know him. I forced his hand to compromise. If I leave, MCB––our dream––follows me.
"But you've seen a bit of the financials, haven't you?" He chuckled. "As of now, this is nothing but a tiny sinkhole in the company's earnings, and it'd only get worse, given the fact that we knew nothing about this market––Unless we did something different. And get the right people to do the new things.
"And that's when you chose your entrance." He looked up at her, a slight hilarity in his expression. "Like a fucking angel in the night, were Edward's exact words. But you'd chosen a different name, removed any connection to a company you sustained, and we knew it wouldn't be as easy to…"
"To what?" Bella finally spoke. She let her hands fall at her sides. "To charm me into granting you, I don't know, five percent of SM's shares? Is that close to the general idea?"
"Not anymore," he admitted.
"Then what do you want from me, Carlisle?" Her voice was exasperated now.
"To take over," he finally said. His eyes were fixed on the table. "We're courting…grooming you to take over the Washington branch."
Bella's mouth fell agape. That she did not expect.
"Not immediately," he clarified. "But we see no one else who could do a better job at it than you. We continued courting you not because we want something from you, but because we want you to see your own worth, and the worth in this venture. Do you understand now?"
She supposed she did. But she wasn't prepared for it. To head the Washington branch––Carlisle was right, it'd definitely need a lot of work and commitment. A commitment she'd never fully given, because…
"I'd have to step down SM," Bella said, her shoulders sinking in revelation.
Carlisle studied her face intently. "If necessary, yes."
Bella's mind reeled with the dilemma. Swan Markets had been her baby for several years…But she knew she'd never been as satisfied with her work as she had been for the past month of working in MCB.
But was it enough to let go of SM? Not to mention, would the board––Charlie––even allow it?
"I don't mean to pressure," Carlisle continued, as if reading her mind. "Nothing needs to be set now, we––I just wanted you to understand what we're building up to."
"Right," Bella breathed. Releasing a sharp breath, she took the glass of wine and downed it in one go. She raised a hand to the waiter on standby and wordlessly signaled a refill.
Carlisle continued to eye her intently. "Does it not feel good? To finally let it out in the open?"
"I don't know what to feel, since it apparently was never a secret," Bella said. After a while, she eventually admitted, "I don't know if I'm ready to be Bella Swan at MCB."
"Oh, sweetheart," he said softly, leaning forward to rest his elbows in the table. "There is no distinction between Bella Dwyer and Bella Swan. There's just…you, with everything you have and everything you deserve. I meant what I said long ago––you never had anything to prove."
They pulled up to the wood-and-glass monolith that was Carlisle's home half past two in the evening, slightly buzzed and sharing genuine laughter.
"You're telling me Edward said all that shit in the interview because he thought it was what I wanted to hear?"
"Wasn't it?" Carlisle chuckled. "Think about it. You were in a headspace where you were looking for validation outside your company and your name. You gave an incomplete resume. If he sweet-talked you from day one, wouldn't that make you immediately suspicious?"
"That's what you do, isn't it?" Bella said, pointing at his face. "This is the mind-reading, charm thing you do to get what you want?"
"You can call it that."
Bella shifted her position in her seat to face him a little more directly. "And you? What's your role in all this?"
He narrowed his eyes, but the corners of his lips quirked momentarily. "What do you mean?"
"Was it to seduce me?" Bella said, tilting her head. "Make me feel interested in the company because I have a thing for blondes?"
The curve of his lips deepened into a smirk. "You have a thing for blondes?"
She rolled her eyes, but waited for a serious response anyway.
"We…thought you'd respond better to me," he admitted slowly.
"So it's a fucking yes." Bella threw her head back as she laughed. "So was that whole bonfire thing and drive to Pattersons all part of a script?"
Suddenly, the laughter in his eyes disappeared and was replaced with a strange guardedness. "Er, no. That was…No, none of that was planned." He pursed his lips. "I just didn't want you to go home in that state."
He swiftly turned off the engine then, and proceeded to leave the car. Bella watched as he made his way to her side of the car and open her door, just as he always did.
She tried to ignore the way her skin tingled on her bare back when his fingertips lightly grazed them as he led her to the door of his home.
Carlisle hung back by the closed door as she stepped further forward into the house. She felt his gaze on her as she bent down low––maybe purposely, she wasn't sure with herself––to unstrap her heels. When she turned back around, he didn't bother looking ashamed that he was checking her out.
Bella dropped the heels unceremoniously onto the stone floor. "How about a smoke?"
Carlisle's eyes glinted as he loosened his blue tie––Bella bit her lip at the attractive way he did it. He hesitated for a few moments, before deciding, "There's a balcony in my room."
"Perfect," she said smoothly, trying not so sound flustered at the possible deeper meaning in his words.
Carlisle led her by the back again up the stairs. When they reached the door to his room, there was a flash of uncertainty in his eyes. In the end, he cleared his throat, and gestured for her to enter before him.
Carlisle's room was…Carlisle. It was light, open, and incorporated wood and glass again, which she was deducing was his favorite aesthetic. His king-sized bed was positioned to face the wide, full-length windows that overlooked the forest. She was mildly surprised, however, at the vast collection of vinyls and books on one corner of the room. Without thinking, she pressed a button to open the turntable, and raised an eyebrow when she saw the Bon Iver disc.
She turned to look at Carlisle questioningly, and his eyes remained guarded. "You made me curious," he said simply.
He gestured for her to follow him––she forced herself to not even gaze at his wide, inviting bed––and stepped outside with him into the spacious balcony. He leaned over the metal railing and fished out a box from his pocket, and raised an eyebrow when she held a hand out to ask for a stick.
"I assumed you vape because you quit," he said, tilting his head curiously.
"I'm not a quitter."
Carlisle bit his lip before handing her a cigarette. He chose to light hers first before his own.
They stood there for a long while, quietly enjoying the nicotine high with the view of the dark, mysterious trees. Most of the time, however, Bella kept her gaze on him, and was mesmerized by how frustratingly attractive he looked smoking in a suit.
She couldn't help it anymore. She had to try. "Would it get the ball rolling if we talked about terms?"
He turned to look at her strangely. "Terms?"
"I could promise not to fall in love with you," she murmured, leaning her back against the railing as she gauged his reaction. "If something happens. Hypothetically."
Carlisle slowly sucked in a breath, his expression darkening with understanding. "Hypothetically," he repeated, taking a drag from his cigarette as his eyes roamed over her dress again. She nearly shivered at the blatant desire in his blue orbs.
She nodded, pursing her lips. She lifted a hand to twirl a lock of her hair. "I could keep quiet about it. I wouldn't tell a soul."
"Hmm." He pursed his lips into a fine line and began to move towards her, until she was pressed up against the railing with only less than a foot between them. His eyes were suddenly unreadable as he asked, "To clarify, are those terms based on what you think I want?"
She licked her lips, causing his gaze to momentarily flash to them. "I guess so. It would make things complicated between us, right? Since we work together. Despite everything, you're still my boss."
"And what do you want, Bella Swan?" He was so close now, and his breath was fanning her forehead again. For some reason, hearing her real name from his lips made the heat worsen.
She felt her own lips curving into a small smirk. "I thought it'd be obvious."
"Be specific."
She thought about it for a moment. "All the way."
A sharp intake of breath.
"More than once, hopefully. Hypothetically."
The corner of his lips curved up, and there was an almost dangerous, manic glint in his eyes. "You haven't even tasted the dish, and you're already bargaining for seconds?"
She made to shrug indifferently. "Glutton."
He leaned forward to place both hands on the railing, each on either side of her. His head tilted downwards, and she felt the tip of his nose lightly graze the side of her head. "What else?"
She looked up at him seriously. "Don't tell Edward."
Immediately, he shook with laughter. He removed his hands from the railing and stepped backwards once. "Oh, that's going to be difficult."
She gasped. "You'd tell him?"
"I wouldn't have to," he admitted, stifling his laughter. "He's very perceptive, remember?"
Bella paused to think about it, her brows furrowing in––hypothetical––worry. "And what would he say?"
His expression turned thoughtful, then, and he stepped forward to resume his position against the railing in front of her. "To me? That I'm an idiot with no self-control."
Her breath hitched. "And to me?"
He finally touched her then, and she shivered as she felt both of his hands graze up her arm until they rested on her small shoulders. A finger toyed with the strap of her dress. "He'd…remind you to keep your distractions out of the office."
Bella bit her lip again. "Guess that rules out fucking on the desk then."
His eyes shot up at her words to meet her gaze, and Bella almost melted at the pure lust and desire in them. One of his hands trailed down to her waist, and she gasped when he roughly pulled her closer to him. Carlisle then leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Do you fantasize about that often, sweetheart? Of me just bending you over that little desk we gave you?"
Bella couldn't help but release a soft moan. Her hands moved on their own accord to wander up his chest, and finally rest on either side of his neck. "Everyday."
Just like that, Carlisle's self-control shattered. The hand on her waist shot up to grab Bella by the hair and he pulled a fistful of it down roughly, forcing her head to tilt upwards as he leaned down to meet her lips with his.
And it was nothing like her fantasies. His full lips were impossibly soft, and they moved tantalizingly against her own as his hands wandered the sides of her body. He tasted like honey and cigarettes. Bella reached up to run her hands into his perfect hair, smirking against his lips as she purposely tussled the strands from being slicked back in their place.
He slipped a teasing tongue between her lips and she melted even further. When she released a soft whimper, Carlisle brought his hands up to the straps of her dress and roughly pushed them down, causing a prominent ripping sound.
"I'll pay for it. I'll pay for all your fucking dresses," he assured her in between kisses, proceeding to shove the garment down until it pooled around her waist. Bella immediately gasped at the cold, biting air she felt around her now very exposed chest. She'd forgotten to warn him that she wasn't wearing a bra.
Watching his jaw drop and his eyes cloud with pleasure when he looked down at her breasts made her think that it was probably a very pleasant surprise.
Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted. Carlisle had crouched to carry her by the side of her hips and brought her back into his bedroom. Instead of putting her down on the bed as she'd expected him to, she gasped when he dropped her to sit on top of his desk by the window.
He leaned back slightly to look her in the eyes. "To simulate the fantasy."
His hands cupped her breasts, and Bella's eyes immediately rolled to the back of her head. She put her hands down on the desk and leant backwards, and Carlisle quickly took advantage of her exposed neck by leaning down to nibble softly on the skin. As he was pressed up against her, she sighed in pleasure when she felt his apparent hardness on her knee.
She scooted a little forward and opened her legs, wrapping them around his hips. She heard a soft groan from him when she pulled him to grind against her.
"You really wanna get fucked, don't you, Bella?" he said as he looked down on her.
She chuckled breathlessly. "By you? You have no idea."
He proceeded to pull her whole dress down to her feet, and she kicked the garment off. She was left in nothing but her black lace underwear and the necklace he'd given her, while he was still very much clothed.
As if he'd also only noticed, Carlisle stepped backwards––his eyes greedily taking in the view of her practically-naked figure––to remove his loosened tie and shrug off his suit jacket. He ran a hand through his now ruffled hair as he stepped back into his place between her legs.
Strangely, he stood there frozen, waiting. After she raised an eyebrow questioningly, Carlisle smirked and took her hands, and led them to the button of his pants.
He wanted her to be the one to take them off.
"You spoiled, spoiled boy," she murmured, leaning up to kiss him on the mouth as she obliged anyway, pulling off his belt and unbuttoning his slacks. As soon as she did, she tucked a finger and pulled the offending garment down along with his underwear.
"Fuck," she couldn't help but swear, as she took in the sight of his large cock.
"Yes, ma'am," he murmured cheekily. He reached into the bottom drawer of his desk and pulled out a familiar looking packet. He winked at her as he ripped the wrapper open with his teeth, and plopped the condom on her open palm. "You put it on."
Bella bit her lip as she kept her gaze fixed on him while she put the film over his hard length. He shuddered as she pushed the edges of the condom with her fist slowly but firmly, until it fully covered his cock. She continued to pump her fist a few more times afterwards, mesmerized by the way he trembled under her touch.
She gasped when she suddenly pulled her off the desk and flipped her over, proceeding to forcefully push her down the wooden desk with her ass in the air.
"Like this, no?" His voice was deep and wanting. "This is how you imagined it?"
"Yes," she moaned, feeling her wetness run down her inner thighs. "Please, Carlisle."
He pulled on the strap of her underwear and let go, causing it to snap back sharply against her ass. She moaned at the slight pain. "I love it when you beg."
"Please fuck me, Carlisle," she moaned. "It's all I want."
Carlisle hummed before finally pulling her underwear off of her. He also proceeded to pull off his dress shirt over his head, leaving both of them finally completely and utterly naked.
She felt him insert the tip of his cock slowly. He pulled out and pushed himself inside again, over and over, gradually adding an inch more each thrust. Bella's moans were just uncontrollable at this point, and once he was able to bury himself to the hilt, he began a quicker, more erratic pace. His hands gripped each cheek of her ass tightly, and occasionally spanked the smooth, supple skin, each time causing her core to ripple with the pain-pleasure.
It wasn't very long before she felt herself reaching close to the edge. "Carlisle, you're gonna make me––"
His hand shot up to grab her by the neck, and he roughly pulled her upwards to lean her back against him. The new angle caused her to sigh in mind-blowing pleasure.
"Come for me, sweetheart," he whispered gently in her ear––and that was all it took. Bella screamed his name as she rode her high. Carlisle slowed his pace behind her, and began kissing her bare shoulders as she came back down from her climax.
She turned around, her knees slightly buckling, and found him gazing at her with a dark, but somehow thoughtful expression.
"I'm not done," he stated, pulling her by the waist. "I've done your fantasy. It's time for mine."
He led her to the bed, then, and gestured for her to lie on her back. She obliged, and immediately felt a new wave of pleasure as she watched him tower above her, his perfect cerulean eyes roving over every inch of her skin.
He climbed on top of her slowly, prying open her legs as he positioned himself between her. There was a strange softness in his eyes as he thrust himself slowly inside her once more. His hands were no longer rough or firm, and his fingers trailed across her breasts and stomach lightly, leaving goosebumps at their wake.
He leaned down to press his forehead against hers and he closed his eyes, groaning softly as he thrust in a moderate pace against her. Bella reached up to trail his bare chest, then his chiseled back, her long nails digging slightly into the skin as she was filled delightfully over and over again. This was different from the way he fucked her just minutes before, this was passionate, and…
Carlisle opened his eyes, and she realized, as she gazed into the deep, blue pools and saw the familiar mild melancholy, that this was sincere.
"You asked me this morning," he whispered, in between slow thrusts. "Something about what I could give you."
Her breaths were in the form of short, quick bursts of air, and she felt the familiar twisting build up under her skin despite the tantalizing pace. "Yes?" she managed.
He caressed the side of her face. "Would you believe me if I told you I could give you––" a thrust "––everything?"
She closed her eyes and bit her lip, trying to concentrate on his ardent words. Everything. What did he…
Bella's eyes opened quickly when she finally understood. His eyes were searching her own, and realized there was something else besides lust and passion in them.
Carlisle leaned down to capture his lips with his own, his desperate kiss an unspoken confession. Bella accepted it warmly, letting his tongue claim every crevice of her mouth, and wrapped her legs tightly around his hips as he began to thrust faster and harder.
"I'll wait––if I have to," he muttered breathlessly against her lips between thrusts. "I just can't––control myself––any longer."
She'd been a fool. He'd looked at her different, not only because he was genuinely physically attracted to her, but…
"Carlisle," she moaned, feeling herself inch closer and closer to another climax. She began digging into the skin of his back again.
He moved to nuzzle the side of her neck as he thrust even faster. Soon, she felt him shudder inside her and heard his long, strangled groan as he came. She followed not even a second after––her second mind-blowing orgasm of the night––and clutched him tightly to herself as she twitched and moaned his name in absolute pleasure.
They stayed that way longer than expected, connected and satisfied.
Carlisle eventually pulled himself off her, not quite looking at her as he cleaned himself up. When he finally climbed back into bed next to her, he propped up an elbow and leaned the side of his head on his hand, his eyes searching hers for any form of a reaction.
As usual, Bella chose to try to be funny about it. She turned around to mirror his position, and said, "So did you mean all that, or is confessing to anyone you fuck really just the kink?"
Carlisle shook as he let out his laughter in small bursts. Eventually, his expression turned somber. "I meant every word, of course."
She was silent, and lay back down to stare at the ceiling fan above them.
"Oh, Bella," he murmured, kissing her temple. "I could hear the little gears in your mind turning. I meant every word, including waiting. Do you understand?"
"I understand." She turned to look at him. "I do care for you, you know? I'm just––I need a little time to sort myself out, before I say anything for sure. With everything that's happened…"
His expression softened, and he moved his hand to caress the side of her face while he tucked his arm under her head, cradling her against him. "I know, sweetheart. I know."
And she lay like that, curled up in this arms for the rest of the night, and eventually fell into blissful sleep in a level of comfort and safety she'd never felt before.