Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, quotes, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners and are simply used under 'fair use'. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement intended. This story is written for the legally recognized adult population.
Dine and Dash
*~*~* Chapter Nine – Unthinkable, The Promise *~*~*
“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won't either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart.” (Louise Erdrich)
Edward's attention snaps back to me from his gang, "Who?"
I dart my eyes towards the glass at Kate still staring at the goddamn door!
He acknowledges her with very little interest. His eyes come back to me, brow raised in question. "No one." I jump off his table and on instinct he’s up to, ready to chase if I run. "She's no one." He reiterates calculatedly calm from across the table.
Arms folded, I stare at him. The way she's staring at that door, she must be someone!
"Did you sleep with her?" my tone is ferocious to my ears, he however reacts very little. I'm not sure why I asked the question so bluntly but I've never been involved with a guy before. This feeling of insecurity, jealousy, it's new to me, I can't process what I'm doing especially not after being that intimate with him.
His eyes blaze but his face remains expressionless. I see the muscles ticking in his jaw as he sets it tightly. I'm testing him. I couldn't care less because I have my answer. My anger fades and gives way to hurt. It hurts that he's been so close to someone. It hurts that she's had a part of him. I've just now realized something… I'm not the type to share. I’m possessive.
I feel his eyes on my face. Watching my reaction carefully, intently. His eyes still burning, his faces calms on the surface, he relaxes his jaw, softens his gaze and lowers his voice. It doesn't feel sweet or kind or magically romantic like the movies. No, it's saying, 'Bella don't…' It's classic Edward, he won't lie to me and he's hard and fierce even when he's trying not to be. It's so deeply imbedded in him because of his gang authority that it's like you have to be one of those people to catch it. One of the select few he'd ever bother even using it with. Further narrowed down to the individual themselves, if they're able to catch it at all, it's that subtle!
"Bella, I've fucked lots of girls." He says suddenly, to the point, his tone is unapologetic.
My palms begin to sweat and I feel sick to my stomach. He's telling me a fact, something he can't change, and he wants me to know that. Part of me's grateful, as always, he isn't going to lie to me. It's a small part. The other part wishes he would lie to me. He's unnaturally quiet, only our breathing can be heard aside from the music outside the office. I lift my eyes up to him to find him watching me process what he’s said so far. His eyes have turned so intense it threatens to blind me.
"Bella, none of them are you."
His hands are fisted at his side unsure of whether I'm going to bolt, he looks like he's ready to pounce if I do. His gaze is so ferocious that I lift my eyes back to him just feeling its burn on my skin. Edward's never going to wear his heart on his sleeve, he won't sugarcoat anything, he'll tell me everything straight and honest and let me deal with it my own way because it's the truth and he can't change it.
Everything I'll ever need to feel is found in his eyes. The depths of those intense green tortured orbs hold every answer you could ever want if only you took the time to read them. I know from them that he wants to say something to make it easier but he won't. He wants me to understand what he can't say. But behind it all in the blazing green flames he's telling me that even if I find that I can't understand that, he's not letting me go.
I gulp. I nod. He's still trying to gauge my reaction, seeing if I'm gonna run.
"Edwa—" I can't breathe. I stop and inhale slowly through my mouth. "Would you ever— I mean— With them— On me."
It sounds like garbage but he understands what I've asked. I can tell because his gaze turns hard as steel. Pissed off, beyond my comprehension.
"What do you think?" his voice is menacingly calm, words spoken through his teeth.
I flinch, it doesn't actually sound like a question. It doesn't sound like my question offended him. It sounds like my question made his blood boil.
His muscles tense, flexing unconsciously from the strain it's taking for him to remain still, veins protruding like a pulsing snake ready to strike. It's scary, I toy with the fabric of his hoodie tugging it closer when I break into gooseflesh.
"I told you." He grits his teeth. "None. Of. Them. Were. Fucking. You."
He's losing control, in a storm he strides past me, out the door and slamming it deafeningly as he goes. Everyone in the restaurant is too far gone to notice anything but I stare after him and see the shatterproof glass of the mirror rattle angrily from the force.
As I watch him walk towards his Shadow Fangs I realize I'm panting. Chest heaving, mouth gasping. He's just said it all in his fury. He answered me, without realizing it. Hiding behind his mask, his eyes told me what I wanted to know.
I stared out the glass at him. Edward Cullen, the thug who's never given a girl a second thought was breaking all his rules for me. He pursued me. He kept me. He forcefully kept me. Unwittingly, his actions had given me a title.
Now it was my turn. But how far was I willing to go for him?
Taking a deep breath I walked to the door grabbing the cold knob with a timid hand, I opened it and stepped out his office.
He was at the same table as James and the others. Sprawled on a long leather bench that lined the wall, elbows braced on the top of the backrest, head tipped against the wall facing the ceiling as he exhaled a deep cloud of smoke. It fit. He was seething.
Angry, livid with me and I didn't know how to calm him down. Saying I was sorry wasn't going to cut it. I wasn't sure what would? I didn't know him like that yet. But I was determined to.
I watched Tanya and Kate glance at him under their lashes while he remained engrossed in everything but them. Tanya for some reason was scared shitless of him ever since I ran out the other day but she still had a yearn hidden in her gaze. And Kate? Tanya now knew better but Kate showed blatant disregard. Her eyes drank him in, running down his body brazenly as he spoke to James, her entire body showing how pleased she was that he was alone.
Now I was furious. My eyes narrow to slits.
So, I may not know how to calm him down. I seriously didn't like how they looked at him! I didn't know how to tell him everything I wanted to! But I sure as hell knew how to be Isabella Swan. So far he'd broken every rule for me and I decided right then I was willing to go far for him, repercussions be damned! Two birds. One stone.
I'm Edward Cullen's girlfriend. Know me. Fear me. Hear me roar bitches.
"Hey!" I call out gesturing to the guy with heavy piercings as he steps away from their table.
When he turns I feel more than just his eyes move to me. From the burn on my skin I know one of the many pairs belongs to Edward. My Edward. Now I just need to let him know.
Keeping myself calm I hop onto the bar counter in his line of sight from across the room. "I'm next."
Chatters die out as I speak. More eyes on me. My blush doesn't make an appearance, I've got too much adrenaline coursing through me for it to stand a chance against my resolve.
Tattoo guy leers and walks over to me. He smirks condescendingly so I return it and he loses his because I'm in a mood. Wise man.
"Whadya want sweetcheeks?" he asks, kinda skeptical like he thinks I'm gonna back down.
Unlikely.
Matching his leer, I make a point of ignoring every other presence in the room, especially Edwards, but I make certain his bloody gaze stays on me.
I can feel it, heated and smoldering, curious as to what I'm doing but not going to stop me. I lick my lips, I picture him surrounded by smoke watching me with severe green eyes, his poise nonchalant because he's Edward. But once again I remind myself that I know how to be Bella. Then I smirk, because I'm about to pull an Edward.
Actions. No words.
Pulling up his hoodie, I drag the denim of my shorts as high as the material will allow me to, it stops just before the very top of my thigh. You can hear a pin drop now. Even though the music's still playing, no one seems to be speaking. Fighting against the urge to glare at Kate or Tanya and scream, 'Mine Bitches', I continue as if I couldn't care less about any other soul in the area.
Pointing to the skin of my upper thigh I speak directly to Tattoo guy but dart my eyes to Edward, locking them to his, "'EC'. Right here."
I watch with utter satisfaction as disbelief stretches across Edward's face, his eyes widen. I do an internal happy dance. My eyes never stray from his. He's completely still, legs apart, forearms braced on them, smoke releasing lazily out his mouth through his teeth in a huge cloud. His eyes look crazed under the surface. I can see it. It makes me grin.
I hear some gang members whistle. I can practically see the disbelief painted across the others in the room. But I couldn't care less about them. They better believe it.
His face relaxed, Edward's eyes grow darker as each moment passes while Tattoo guy preps sliding his hands into gloves.
"Color?" I look away from Edward to tattoo guy as he examines the area I pointed to.
"Green." I answer automatically, Edward's eyes. Edward's EC ink. It's like how I feel under his gaze. His eyes always burning at my skin, marking it. I watch the tattoo guy perched on a bar stool as he works. I want to enjoy this experience, it's thrilling in ways I never expected it to be now that it's actually happening. I don't want to miss a thing.
He takes out a tube from its package in his kit and inserts the end of it into the slot on the machine. Inserting a needle into the tube with precise practiced movements. He places rubber bands around the contraption to hold them in place.
Out of nowhere! And I mean no where! James cuts across my line of sight.
I spin my head automatically, my curiosity forcing the action.
Jasper's hot on his trail, their movements in sync.
They’re ridiculously agile for people so high. Jasper places a hand on the counter top beside me and hops over lithely landing on the other side. His sneakers barely touch the ground before James tosses him the plug attached to the machine. He catches it one handed out the air, the gauze of his own tattoo unintentionally in my view as he does so and plugs it in. Both grinning, broad and wicked. It's lethal, they look sinister but they're thoroughly enjoying what I'm doing… or about to anyway.
I turn to Edward bewildered and I see the corner of his mouth twitch upwards. He silently chuckles, dark and impious. He hasn't moved an inch other than that smirk on his face. I shake my head at him but feel my own lip twitch. I turn back to the guy with the machine.
He connects the various cords for the pieces before the power snaps on and he presses down on the foot pedal. I stare transfixed as the tattoo needle freely buzzes up and down in its tube after a while I've completely forgotten about the two menacing males on either side of me, I've forgotten about the one I'm doing this for. Heck, I've forgotten about the entire room, bitches included! All I see is that needle as the guy below me checks to see if everything is in working order. I don't see anything as he works except that needle.
I feel something burning my skin and I look up through strands of my hair. I collide with piercing green. Edward watches me intently, his body unmoving. He's a predator again. Marking his prey. His eyes burn with desire, it's almost palpable in the air around me… Then I feel that first nip. A sharp zap, buzzing as the needle pricks my skin, after recent events I find I like pain so I can handle it. Fisting my scarred hand, I wince fractionally and look down to the flesh then back across the room at Edward as the next comes. Then the next. And the next. Until it's flowing so smooth that I welcome the pain. Because with each sting Edward will understand that I'm not going anywhere… An apology without words, an unnecessary one because his anger is completely forgotten.
No one exists in this room to him except me… that’s the way I want it. Edward watches intently from across the room as his initials slowly form on my skin in blood and ink.
~.~.~D&D~.~.~
I don't know how long I sit there but soon I hear tape snapping and see tattoo guy cover up a smaller tattoo identical to the one on Edward's bicep. He leers at me telling me it's over and I'm pretty sure that he can't believe I went through with it.
I then recall that I had two reasons for doing what I'm doing. Edward's not upset, but I wanted him to see that I was serious about him that I’m no longer gonna run and make him work for it. But then there was the second reason. I wanted Tanya, Kate and anyone else to know who was interested to know what position I held in Edwards' life.
Apparently the adrenaline that’s still coursing through my body from the tattoo has heightened my cognitive abilities because immediately I find a light-bulb flashing on in my head.
Keeping my internal smug smile successfully off my face, I remember Edwards' words when he kidnapped me… after Tanya tried to drive me away and I remember exactly what she had said when she tried to do it. It gives way to yet another stroke of genius. The perfect payback if you ask me.
What the hell, really? I don’t care, girl from the gangs I’ve always been on living on the edge and I've already done the unthinkable.
I lean far back on the counter, sliding a bit so I can reach. James moves out of my way wordlessly but curious like a dog with a bone as to what I'm up to now. Then I open the cash register.
Nell' Ombra's cash register, contents belonging to Edward Cullen.
It springs open swiftly and I snatch up whatever I can feel in the first drawer. Sitting up with it held in perfect view, I run my fingers along the edge and look innocently at Tanya- then Kate- then tattoo guy.
"How much?" I ask.
I hear Jasper's husky chuckle followed by James' throaty one.
Edward's cousin mutters an, 'Oh, shit', under his breath but it's a smug sinful one of approval.
James is no different, I can hear the grin in his voice as he drawls out low enough for just three ears at the counter to catch it, "Careful Bella, your fangs are showing."
I laugh under my breath, a smile on my face before turning back to my task. From the corner of my eye I see Tanya glare, she's dumbfounded but her reaction's nothing compared to Kate's.
I hear tattoo guy say, ninety, over the music.
I turn towards Kate, cause right this second Tanya's the least of my concerns. If possible Kate looks like she wants to slit my throat open with her manicured fingernails. So I smile at her sweetly, holding her gaze as I count off the twenties in my hand. Bring it honey.
"Here's hundred." Handing him 5 notes I slide off the counter slipping the rest of them into my pocket. I don't want the money. I just want them to know that it's mine for the taking because Edward's mine too.
Kate slams her glass down on the table in front of her, a menacing grimace on her pretty face, and a loud threat burning in her eyes as she stalks off. The music's so loud I'm sure no one else saw it. But I sure as hell did. A huge grin forms on my lips, I ignore Tanya mute and glaring from her corner, and look up at Edward.
I swallow thickly because he's chuckling thoroughly amused, but the way he looks, his dark eyes, predator calmness… in a word he's… dangerous.
His eyes are blazing ravenous and the smirk on his face is breathtaking. He should be arrested for an attempt on my life by inducing breathlessness from across the floor. It then dawns on me that I've quite possibly just staked claim on the most sinfully beautiful man on the planet.
Rest of his gang around him forgotten, he leans forward and crooks his finger at me in a come hither fashion. The coil's back in the pit of my stomach. He's dark, deadly, delicious and irrevocably bad but I like him that way… It's a part of his beautifully intoxicating soul...
When I don't move, he grins and rubs the back off his neck waking up, tall and dominating in a room filled with criminals of Forks and affiliates. His very presence screams danger, he walks towards me. I fight my instincts when they tell me to run and instead smile looking up at him under my lashes. He stops a hairsbreadth away from me. His voice deep and low, his eyes unyielding.
"You're not going home this weekend."
It's a statement. "What? I can't—"
He laughs condescendingly cutting me off. "You are."
I gape at him. "Edward you're crazy." I fold my hands defiantly.
His face loses all humor, his eye burn into mine, his voice rough. "Do you know how hard it was to watch you and not fucking leap across the room and drag you out with me."
He says it so matter-of-factly, so frustrated, through his teeth that I want to kiss him again. I must be crazy too? He runs a hand through his hair roughly. He looks crazed and I love it because I did that!
"You're coming back to mine this weekend."
I love it a little less.
My face falls. "You seriously are crazy aren't ya' baby?" He smirks at the slipped endearment caused because I'm fighting with him, again. "There's no way in hell—"
Lowering his head to look me in the eye at my words and the challenge held in them, his smirk widens into the lopsided panty-dropper he usually floors me with. There's a wicked glint in his dark green orbs that shut's me up. His hands slip onto my waist, pulling me to him the rest of the way so we're touching.
"Yeah, right now I'm muthafucking insane." He pecks his lips to mine once... Twice, lingering a little longer... And almost thrice but he pulls back just before we touch, teasing me.
My eyes fly open and my breath catches when I see him. I'm certain we could jump start a car with the electricity flying between us.
His eyes intense and boring into mine, he dips one hand down and runs it over the gauze on my thigh, gentle but possessive. "You belong to me. And I'm keeping you this weekend."
I don't have to say anything because deep down it's true. And we both know it. Lord, help me this weekend...
~.~.~ Thank you for reading. Love and God bless: Kat;) ~.~.~
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