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Chapter 16

When I open my eyes, I can immediately tell that I am not alone. I also know it isn't Edward here with me; I do not have the visceral reaction that his presence always causes in me. Weird, I know but it's something I just do not seem to have any control over.

Yet now, I'm not afraid, just leery. .

"Hello?" I whisper.

"Miss Swan, don't panic, it's just me... Alec."

My body relaxes instantly and I sit up slightly. I look around the dark room.

"What time is it?" I ask, wondering how long I had been asleep.

"Nine thirty, in the evening."

My eyes widen and I lean over to the bedside lamp and flick it on. "Nine thirty?" I shout.

He nods. "You were very upset. When Mr. Cullen brought you up here you had a hard time relaxing. Carmen brought you some tea, it was..." He pauses and lolls his head to the side. "It was a sleepy time kind of tea."

"You drugged me?" I ask, not hiding the fact that I am livid.

"You needed to rest." He defends himself.

"Where's Edward?" I push the blankets back and stand up quickly.

"Miss Swan, he's..." He sighs. "I think you should wait until morning to speak with him."

I narrow my eyes at him and advance toward him. "Why?" I seethe.

"He's been drinking," he says simply.

I try to walk around him but he steps in my path.

"Alec, move!"

"You can't go at him like this." His words are soft but determined and I force my gaze to him.

"Go at him?"

"Look, I understand how upset you are Miss Swan. I'd be devastated if someone showed me photos of my mother's headstone destroyed like that."

I nod.

"He's drunk, if you go down there and start yelling and blaming him for this, you'll only make all of this worse." He's still blocking my path but I would have frozen my movements anyway. Alec thinks that I place responsibility for my mother's headstone on Edward?

"You think I blame him?" I ask incredulously.

"Don't you?" His brow furrows, confusion evident in his face.

"No, why would I?"

He shrugs. "You usually blame him for everything." Again, his words are not meant to be hurtful, he's being blatantly honest.

"I do not blame..." I stop when I realize the falsity in what I'm saying. "You're right."

"What?"

I look up at him and I can see he is surprised by my admission.

"I fly off the handle, I shout and yell and act like a petulant child sometimes." I lift my arms and drop them against my legs with a loud thwack.

"And Edward is an over protective, stubborn ass."

He chuckles and nods.

"Let me pass, and I promise I will be open-minded and act like a grown-up." I know how I've behaved. But, every time I feel like there is some leeway made in this arrangement, something falls apart. Ironically, it always seems to tear me down and rip open wounds I've worked so hard to heal.

"Open-minded?" he asks.

"I promise, scouts honor." I give him a small smile.

"Alright, but the first thing I hear thrown in that room I'm separating the two of you." He points at me and I feel like I'm being lectured by my father.

"Fair enough."

He moves out of the way. As I head down the corridor I hear Alec shout, "He's in the library."

I race down the stairs and halt suddenly when I see Jake standing at the bottom.

"Good evening," he says with a nod.

"Hey Jake, how is he?" I gesture with my head toward the library.

"He'll live, how are you?"

I shrug. "Honestly, I'm pissed. I want to know who would do such a thing and why it's targeted at me."

He seems to understand as he nods in agreement.

"You don't happen to know what's going on do you?" I ask.

He takes a deep breath and looks pointedly at me. "Listen, I can respect your need-to-know mentality Miss Swan, but you need to trust Mr. Cullen and that he knows what he's doing."

His answer does nothing but fuel my desire to ask more questions.

"I should hire my own staff who only answer to me, just like Edward. Then perhaps I would get answers." I huff and storm past him.

"Miss Swan," he says. I turn and look at him.

"Please just..." I cut him off.

"I know, I'll be nice." I roll my eyes and push open the library doors.

The room is only illuminated by a roaring fire. I can see Edward sitting in a large armchair, brandy glass in hand, staring into the bright embers.

"Edward?" I whisper. He doesn't react to my voice.

I take a few steps toward him. "Edward," I say a little louder.

He stops twirling the amber liquid in his tumbler and lets out a hefty breath.

"Hello, Bella." His voice is rough and it sounds almost broken.

"What are you doing in here?" I step even closer until I'm standing slightly in front of him but not blocking his view from the flames.

He holds up his drink. "I'm getting drunk," he says with a smirk.

His eyes snap up to mine, the reflection of the fire that shines in his eyes mirrors the emotions that are rippling off him. Anger–pain-intensity.

"You are a beautiful woman, Bella, do you know that?" His speech is slurred and his head slumps against the side of the chair.

"Thank you," I whisper.

He holds out his empty hand to me and I take it.

"Such soft skin," he murmurs as his thumb rubs circles against my palm.

I don't say anything; I just stare at this breathtaking man, this godlike man. He stuns me with his praise and my body suddenly feels like I have been thrust into the fire behind me.

He pulls my hand to his nose and breathes in. "Mmm, splendid." he whispers and his breath on my skin sends lustful shivers up my arm.

"Bella, Bella, Bella." He smiles.

"Yes?"

His tongue flicks out and lazily he grazes it along his bottom lip. I can't take my eyes off his amazing mouth.

"You intoxicate me."

I can feel my cheeks heat.

He pulls my hand again to force a step and I find myself standing between his legs.

He sits up and his face is even with my stomach. I look down and my breath hitches when I see his hooded eyes and sexy smile.

"I want you, Bella, I always want you." The vibration of his voice crashes through my body and I shudder with anticipation.

"I know." My voice is raspy, and I feel parched.

"Do you?" His expression shouts disbelief and curiosity.

"Yes."

"How? How do you know what I feel?" He places the glass down and his hands grasp my hips and he pulls me closer to him. His lips brush over my belly. The only barrier is a thin cotton shirt.

"Because, I feel the same way about you. It's rather infuriating actually." I say as I place my hands on his shoulders.

He chuckles. "Infuriating?"

"Mmhmm." His fingers hook on the waistband of my jeans.

"I make you angry?" he asks.

"Like no one I have ever met," I say without hesitation, garnishing another laugh.

"Likewise."

"Tell me something, Edward, if I anger you so much, why do you stick it out... With the bid, why not cancel it if you truly don't want to be with me?" I ask in a quiet tone as to not upset him and force Alec to walk in.

He buries his face into my belly and tightens his grasp before he answers, "Anger is only one emotion, Bella."

"What are the others?" I'm not sure I really want to know, but a part of me feels that regardless of the answer. I need to know.

"Wonder, excitement, sadness, happiness." He shrugs. "You name it, you give it to me."

"Regret?" I ask, and his head lifts. His chin rests on my belly button.

"Why do you assume I regret my bid?"

"We fight more than anything, Edward, and I know that there is so much drama surrounding our arrangement. Don't you feel like throwing in the towel, and trying for someone else?" I roll my eyes. "Never mind, you can't because then you leave James wide open to..." I wave my hand dismissively. "Forget it."

"Bella?"

I look down at his angelic face and can't help but melt. He truly is gorgeous.

"Do you believe in fate?" he asks.

I furrow my brow. "Fate?"

He nods and his chin pushes into my stomach slightly making me take a breath. I can't think with him so close.

"Uhm... I don't know, no probably not," I mumble.

"Too bad," he says and takes a long blink.

"Why?"

"You're my fate," he whispers.

I don't understand. "How am I your fate?"

"It's in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." His words are muffled as he kisses my stomach.

"Who said that?" I ask as I glide my fingers through his silky hair.

"Anthony Robbins." He pulls my shirt up slightly and brushes his lips along my skin.

"And you..." I moan softly when his tongue slides over where his mouth has been. "You believe that?"

"Yes." He doesn't even think about it. "Decisions brought me to you."

I chuckle. "So, your need for a drink made you choose to go to Mercer 113, and by doing so you met me, and you think that is what Anthony Robbins meant when he said that?"

He growls lowly and pops open the buttons of my jeans. "No," he grunts.

I place my hands over his eager ones. "Edward, talk to me, what's wrong?"

He pushes me off of him and yanks my pants down.

"Stop, look at me."

"Forget it, Bella." He brings his mouth back to my sensitive skin and nips along my exposed hip.

God it feels amazing.

"You taste like a dream," he says breathlessly as he devours every inch of my stomach.

"You feel like heaven," I moan.

He hooks his fingers through my panties and slowly trails them down my legs until they stop at my bunched up jeans that are pooled around my ankles.

"I want to taste all of you." He sounds like a desperate, hungry man. He is in pain, he's confused and I don't know why. Yet, he feels amazing and I can't help but lean into his touch.

Before I can ask once more what's going on, he sits me down on the ottoman that is directly behind me and starts removing my shoes.

"Edward, I..."

He places his hand over my mouth. "No more talking," he whispers. His eyes are full of lust and determination.

He tosses my sneakers off. "What is it with you and socks?" he asks with a chuckle, and I look down at my SpongeBob socks.

"I like them," I say defensively.

"Okay, calm down," he chuckles again and removes them.

He makes quick work of my jeans and panties since they were already at my ankles.

I feel almost nervous as his eyes hungrily take in my bare legs. He stops when his gaze reaches where I am aching for him to go. He pulls the ottoman closer to himself. My knees touch his... Skin against fabric.

The fire still flickers in his eyes, but it is my body that ignites as his fingers slowly glide up my legs.

His eyes are locked on mine, only increasing every emotion that floods through my body.

When he reaches my hips he digs his fingers in lightly and pulls me forward to him. I gasp and he smirks.

He pulls my legs up and rests my calves on his shoulders.

I feel so open and exposed, but the look in his eyes makes me feel beautiful. He licks his bottom lip and his eyes widen slightly as he takes in the sight before him.

The crackling fire and my heavy breathing is all I can hear. His emerald eyes reflecting the fire are all I see.

He places tender kisses on each ankle and slowly his tongue dances up, over my calf and he sucks behind my knee garnishing a gasp from me, at the odd but sexual feeling.

His chuckles vibrate up my leg right to my throbbing sex.

"Fuck, Bella, your scent, your taste," he growls as he lays wet kisses on my inner thighs.

I can't speak, I can barely breathe.

When he stops I look down and I feel feather-like touches over my scar. I watch in silence as his brow furrows. He isn't filled with anger; it looks like regret not shame or sorrow.

My breath hitches when he tenderly kisses each one.

"Fate," he whispers.

I open my mouth to speak but my words come out strangled when his mouth is suddenly covering my swollen clit.

"Fuck," I cry.

Edward is relentless. He sucks, licks and kisses my aching pussy.

"MMM..." he hums as his teeth graze over my sensitive sex. I feel his thumbs spread open my soaked lips and he thrusts his tongue in.

"Shit, shit, shit, Edward, fuck." Gripping his hair I can't help but pull him further into to me, needing to feel more.

"Come for me, Bella, I want to taste all of you." He takes three fingers and impales my pussy while he laps over my clit.

"Uhhhhg." My grip on his hair tightens I can't help when my knees smash against the side of his head. I feel the coil in my stomach erupt and my head thrashes as my orgasm thunders through my entire body causing me to shake almost violently.

My legs turn to jelly and my body goes almost numb. Edward makes no attempt to move.

I feel his fingers slide out of me. I cock my head to the side and almost come undone again when he sucks my juices off his magical digits.

"You taste like candy," he says huskily.

Again, words escape me. This man confounds me.

When he sits back and takes his brandy in his hand I slowly lift myself up. My legs drop to his lap and he stares at me with a smug smile.

"You seem quite pleased with yourself, Mr. Cullen." I sexily smile back at him and rub my foot over his hard cock.

His eyes drop slightly. "I am," he says as he takes a sip.

I sit up completely making no attempt to dress myself and rest my hands on his knees.

"Talk to me," I plead with him.

"About what?" he arches an eyebrow, and I see his defenses start to go up.

"You know who destroyed my Mother's headstone don't you?" When I ask his head falls back against the chair.

"If I said yes, would you push for more details?" His eyes are set on the ceiling.

"Yes."

"What do you want Bella?" He sounds so tired, not physically, he just seems spent.

"I want to know everything." I know I'm asking for the impossible.

He sighs and rubs his hand over his face in frustration.

"You ask for something I can't give you."

"You said you would give me anything I ever asked for, Edward. All I want is the truth. You want me to trust you? Well, you have to show me that you deserve it." I squeeze his knee. "Look at me, please."

He does, and I see the pain there. "So, you know who destroyed the headstone, you won't tell me, and that only confirms that it has something to do with Eleazar. Am I right?"

He simply nods.

"Why? Why if he is mad at you, or me, why in the world would he take it out on her headstone?"

He sucks down the rest of the brandy in the tumbler and with a little force slams it on the table.

"Stop!" he snaps. "Bella, I... can't."

"Can't what? Tell me what's going on? Can't tell me what?" I feel my temper start to flare. I try to get it under control but the sated person I was a minute ago dissipates and the girl in the dark starts to surface.

"You don't understand... It's." He groans angrily.

"What!" I stand and shout forcing his head to snap up and look at me with the same anger.

"It hurts too much!" He stands and is an inch from my face. His breath washes over me and I feel like I am suffocating in his emotions.

"What?" I whisper now, shocked by his confession.

His mouth opens, and closes a few times. I see the internal battle he is having. I want to soothe him so I tenderly rub his cheek.

"Edward, trust me." I can hear the plea in my voice and I see the conflict in his eyes.

He leans into my touch and sighs. "I want to, God how I want to."

I lift myself up on my tiptoes and place a soft kiss on his lips.

Cupping my face in his hands he intensifies the kiss and within seconds his tongue is invading my mouth with a possession I have never felt.

My body awakens to his needs and my fingers begin unbuttoning his shirt. He doesn't stop me, he just keeps kissing me, owning me.

I scrape my nails along his bare chest eliciting a growl from deep within him.

Unable to contain my desperate need to feel him inside of me I make quick work of his belt and his pants.

"I need you, Edward, inside me. For just tonight forget it all, take all I have to give you, please."

His eyes flicker from my eyes back to my mouth. "I can't forget it all, I need to remember. But, for tonight I will let myself remember why I never forget."

I don't understand him, all night it's like he is speaking in riddles. Is his brain so jumbled that he has no more coherent thoughts?

Edward slides his shirt off his shoulders and kicks his pants and boxers off to the side.

His skin glows in the ambiance.

My shirt is torn off forcefully but with a grace only Edward could master. He lays me on the ground atop the Oriental rug; the look in his eyes causing my belly to clench in anticipation.

The pressure of his body on mine is all encompassing, I feel cherished when he looks at me, and protected when he touches me.

But it's only when he thrusts his cock into my all too eager pussy that I feel owned, wanted and needed.

"Fuck, Bella, you feel like everything I don't deserve. You are temptation and I am glad to be the sinner who partakes in your delicious fruit." He slams into me over and over. I dig my nails into his back and arch up thrusting my breasts toward him.

He takes a sensitive nipple into his mouth as his thrusting increases.

My head explodes and bright flashes of light blind me as Edward and I shatter into each other.

"Mother fuck... Bella, God!" Edward's face scrunches and his eyes screw shut. I only get a glimpse of his face before my orgasm takes over and I surrender to it gladly.

He slumps beside me. His chest heaves as he tries to catch his breath. The amber glow of the embers, make the sheen of sweat that rests on our naked bodies glisten.

I turn toward him and see him staring at me.

His eyes are glazed over, half-sated, half-drunk.

His finger trails along my arm, he twirls it around my wrist and it halts again at my scar. What the hell?

"So soft," he mutters as his index finger gently brushes the slivery slits.

"Scar tissue," I say.

"From your accident," he whispers.

"Mmhmm." I don't take my eyes off him.

"Do you remember what I said to you that night at Mercer?" he asks.

"Can you be more specific?" I smile when I think of that first encounter. The mystery-the intrigue-the wanting.

"You asked who I was; do you remember what I said?" His gaze locks with mine.

I think frantically until I finally remember. "Yes, you said maybe you were my savior or a passing ship in the night. Something along those lines, I believe."

He nods. "I'm not a passing ship."

I chuckle. "Okay, so what? Are you my savior then, Edward?"

His thumb is now caressing my scar and his face looks pinched, like he sucked on a lemon.

"What if I am?"

"I don't understand," I say as I halt his hand with mine.

He sighs. "I knew you before Mercer."

My eyes widen. "What?"

"Your bid wasn't spontaneous, I... I had..." His words are cut off when there is a pounding on the library door.

You have got to be kidding me. Edward jolts up and quickly throws me his white button down shirt.

"Put it on." He grabs his pants and hastily puts them on.

"What!" he shouts.

"Mr. Cullen, we found him." I hear Alec say.

I button the shirt. It flows halfway down my thighs and I am decently covered before Edward opens the door.

"Bring him to the study; I'll be there in a few minutes." Edward speaks with authority and I know my night of hoping to get answers is over.

"Who's here?" I ask as I walk toward Edward.

He lets out a breath and turns to me.

"I owe you a lot of explanations, I will tell you everything." He cups my face with his hands. "Just promise me one thing?"

Fuck, I would give him the world if I could in this moment. "What?"

"Until I do, promise me you will stop snooping. Promise me you will stop harassing my easily manipulated sister, and for all that's holy in the world, stop answering any questions that James asks you about me."

"How do you know about Al..."He cuts me off with a quick kiss.

"There is very little I don't know about you Bella." He raises his eyebrows and suddenly I think about everything I've done since I've known him.

"Now, I have to go upstairs," he says.

"Who's here, can you at least tell me that now?"

"Alec located the kid who vandalized your mother's headstone."

I gasp. "I want to talk to him too," I say.

He narrows his eyes and I see that he is actually mulling it over.

"Let me talk to him, you sit there and don't speak. I'm serious, if you say anything Bella; I will have Jake toss you out." His eyes rake over my body.

"Go get dressed and meet me in the study in five minutes."

I rush past him and up the stairs. I quickly change into some black skinny jeans and a light gray sweater. I finish it off with a pair of black and gray striped socks.

I hustle down the corridor and stand in front of the study. I am about to knock when I hear what sounds like a punch. I barge in and all eyes snap to me.

The kid, who I assume is responsible for the vandalism is tied to a chair and is sporting a rather nasty red welt on his eye.

"What the hell are you doing?" I snap.

"Bella, I said if you're here, you're quiet," Edward says calmly.

The kid chuckles. "What are you, his fucking pet?" The kid says. Oh, he's an asshole. I guess that makes sense. Who else would desecrate the final resting place of another soul?

"No offense, but I'm not the one tied to a chair," I say back to him. "Looks, like you're the only pet here."

Edward chuckles.

"Fuck you bitch," the kid spits.

With that Alec punches him... Hard.

I flinch from the sound of bone and flesh slamming together.

"How old are you," Edward asks.

"Sixteen, fucking old enough to kick your ass." he says.

"Who hired you?" Alec asks.

"I don't know. Some chick gave me a thousand bucks to destroy a headstone and put that plank up in its place." He laughs. "Easiest thousand ever."

"What's the girl look like?" Edward questions him.

"Uhm... Fuck you! Untie me, get me a fucking drink and I'll answer you." The kid is a punk. But, he is young and clearly misguided.

I glance at Edward and nod. He knows it's the right thing to do. I suspect he is doing all this for my benefit. But regardless of what the kid did they aren't going to get answers out of him if they treat him like an animal.

Ten minutes, two bottles of water and a piece of chocolate cake later, the kid starts to calm.

"Now, the girl. Who was she?" Alec asks.

"Don't know her name. She had fire red hair, curly. Green eyes, a fuck hot bod. She gave me the address and a picture of the headstone. I went there, did my thing and left." He shrugs like none of what he said matters.

"Vicky," Edward growls. "What did she say when you spoke to her?"

"She said to do this for her boss, I could have the thousand, and they would use me for future jobs." He chugs the last of the water.

"What's your name kid?" I ask. Edward rolls his eyes, but I ignore him.

"Name's Seth."

I nod.

Edward is a smart businessman and he clearly has learned a lot. He hands the kid five thousand dollars.

"What the fuck is this for?" Seth looks shocked.

"Five thousand to not work for her again. Every time she comes to you with a job you come to me and I will let the money flow freely. Got it?"

He is shrewd indeed.

"Deal." Seth smiles as he clutches the cash in his hands.

"Get the fuck out of here," Alec spits.

Seth gets up but stops before exiting. "Who'd she kill?"

I look at him questioningly.

"The woman, the headstone, who did she kill?" Seth asks.

"No one," Edward says.

Seth scoffs. "Ha, I don't believe you." He walks out and slams the door.

I look over at Edward and the same look I saw before adorns his features...Sorrow.

Yeah, I agree with Seth. I don't believe him either. I've got to get him to talk to me.

A/N: Still with me? God, I hope so :)

Fic Recs: The Lost Son by InkJess~ This is a first fic write for the author and I have to say I'm shocked! Her plot and writing is amazing and after only 3 chapters I'm hooked! Summary reads: Edward didn't know that when he lost his mother, he'd gain a father he didn't know about. Carlisle didn't know he had another son, and no one knew if this new arrangement would work. What happens when an unknown son comes to live with a family he's never known? Who can help Edward adjust to his new life? Maybe a brown hair, brown eyed girl? ExB : OOC/AU