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It was close to nine by the time Carlisle and I finished wrapping our presents. We both were pretty awful. After going through a full roll of wrapping paper, all of it crap, Carlisle drove to a nearby Walgreens and cleaned them out of gift bags and tissue paper.

That was significantly easier, thank you very much.

Placing our bags underneath the tree, Bella, Rose, Carmen, and my mom were all at Bella’s dining room table, laughing and gabbing away. “I think that security is going to be called,” Carlisle deadpanned. “Your cackling can be heard in the lobby.”

“Stop it,” Bella giggled, holding her side. “I think your cursing the wrapping paper could be heard throughout the hotel. How long did you wait before you crumbled?”

“I know where you live, Isabella Marie,” Carlisle warned. “Are we ready for tomorrow?”

“Almost,” Rose replied. “There’s one more thing that I need to get and I’m picking it up tomorrow morning. Bella ordered a delicious feast.”

“But, I’m making my famous spice cookies and homemade egg nog,” Mom smiled. “I wanted to do more, but Bella said that we needed to enjoy Christmas and not work during Christmas.”

“It’s true. The past few months have sucked. Not gonna lie,” Bella said, sweeping her mess of curls into a ponytail. “I want us to bond as a family, because that’s what we are. A family. No cooking, no stressing, just talking, having fun and exchanging gifts.”

“But, part of the Christmas experience is the cooking and the stressing,” Mom laughed.

“You can do that next year, Elizabeth,” Bella replied, hugging her. “This year, let me spoil you all. Okay?”

Mom kissed Bella’s cheek and got up stiffly. Rose helped her to her feet and guided to where Carlisle and I were standing. Mom looked up at me, wary and unsure. I pushed my anger behind me and I hugged her. “I’m looking forward to your cookies, Mom. They were my favorite.”

“I’m making them just for you, my swe …” she said, cutting abruptly. “My Edward.” She hugged me as tightly as she could, which wasn’t very tight. I kissed her forehead, feeling her shudder against me. “I love you, baby. So much.”

“Love you too, Mom,” I replied. Rose took her hand and they left with Carlisle and Carmen. Bella was bustling around, cleaning up the snacks on the dining room table, along with the mess surrounding it. “It looks like a Christmas ornament exploded in here!”

“We had a little too much fun with the wrapping paper,” Bella giggled. “Your mom told us some stories of you when you were a kid.”

“Not the chimney story,” I groaned, grabbing the garbage can. 

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I was chilled to the bone, thanks to my hasty exit to get to Edward after he ran out of the conference room in the Seattle courthouse. Despite taking a long, scalding hot shower, I could not stop shivering. I was wearing leggings, loose pajama pants, a long-sleeved t-shirt, hoodie and covered in a blanket. Edward was in the bathroom and I could hear him crying inside of the shower. The loss of Jared had hit him to the core.

“Here, Bells,” Rose said, handing me a large cup of tea. “Hold it for a few minutes. Maybe it’ll help warm your hands.”

“Thanks,” I replied, taking the tea and wrapping my fingers around the mug. I inhaled it, smiling at the spicy orange flavor she’d chosen. “Rose, I want you to do some digging about Jared. Find out if he has family.”

“Already on it,” Rose smirked. “Carlisle actually beat me to it, using Emmett and his contacts at the Seattle PD. The preliminary findings indicate that Jared was alone in the world. His wife left him when their son died. She disappeared, it seemed. My guess is that she went back to her maiden name and flew across country.”

“What about that family he worked for? The Volturis?” I asked. “Do we know why Jared stopped working for them?”

“Hold on,” Rose said, flipping through her notebook. “Ah, got it. Aro Volturi had to go to Italy to care for his dying father, Caius and his mother, Maria, who suffered a stroke. He’s been in Italy ever since late 2015. Marcus gave Jared the option to stay, but since Marcus preferred to drive himself, Jared left the company and began working for Esme shortly after.”

“Find out as much as you can, Rose. But, I want to help out and pay for the funeral, if no one claims the body,” I sighed, taking a sip of the orange spice tea.

“I’ll make the necessary arrangements,” Rose said. She kissed my cheek and got up. “I’ll leave you with Edward. I don’t want to intrude on whatever is going to happen. If you need anything, I’m just a call away. And take your medicine. I really don’t want you back in the hospital, Isabella Marie.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. She kissed my forehead and left me in the living room, looking at the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. I got up from my cocoon of blankets, taking the time to admire the elegant decorations, ornaments and details that Edward chose for our first holiday together. I reached for a crystal ornament of two angels, twined together with their foreheads touching. Half of the angel was a clear, faceted crystal and the other was smooth, but frosted.

“You are the one with the sparkle,” Edward said, his voice somber and gruff. “You always had this glow about you, pulling me in and giving me hope.”

“And the other?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“It’s me, but I’m no angel. My life was dim and lifeless before I met you,” he murmured.

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I was chilled to the bone, thanks to my hasty exit to get to Edward after he ran out of the conference room in the Seattle courthouse. Despite taking a long, scalding hot shower, I could not stop shivering. I was wearing leggings, loose pajama pants, a long-sleeved t-shirt, hoodie and covered in a blanket. Edward was in the bathroom and I could hear him crying inside of the shower. The loss of Jared had hit him to the core.

“Here, Bells,” Rose said, handing me a large cup of tea. “Hold it for a few minutes. Maybe it’ll help warm your hands.”

“Thanks,” I replied, taking the tea and wrapping my fingers around the mug. I inhaled it, smiling at the spicy orange flavor she’d chosen. “Rose, I want you to do some digging about Jared. Find out if he has family.”

“Already on it,” Rose smirked. “Carlisle actually beat me to it, using Emmett and his contacts at the Seattle PD. The preliminary findings indicate that Jared was alone in the world. His wife left him when their son died. She disappeared, it seemed. My guess is that she went back to her maiden name and flew across country.”

“What about that family he worked for? The Volturis?” I asked. “Do we know why Jared stopped working for them?”

“Hold on,” Rose said, flipping through her notebook. “Ah, got it. Aro Volturi had to go to Italy to care for his dying father, Caius and his mother, Maria, who suffered a stroke. He’s been in Italy ever since late 2015. Marcus gave Jared the option to stay, but since Marcus preferred to drive himself, Jared left the company and began working for Esme shortly after.”

“Find out as much as you can, Rose. But, I want to help out and pay for the funeral, if no one claims the body,” I sighed, taking a sip of the orange spice tea.

“I’ll make the necessary arrangements,” Rose said. She kissed my cheek and got up. “I’ll leave you with Edward. I don’t want to intrude on whatever is going to happen. If you need anything, I’m just a call away. And take your medicine. I really don’t want you back in the hospital, Isabella Marie.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said. She kissed my forehead and left me in the living room, looking at the beautifully decorated Christmas tree. I got up from my cocoon of blankets, taking the time to admire the elegant decorations, ornaments and details that Edward chose for our first holiday together. I reached for a crystal ornament of two angels, twined together with their foreheads touching. Half of the angel was a clear, faceted crystal and the other was smooth, but frosted.

“You are the one with the sparkle,” Edward said, his voice somber and gruff. “You always had this glow about you, pulling me in and giving me hope.”

“And the other?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“It’s me, but I’m no angel. My life was dim and lifeless before I met you,” he murmured. “I don’t know. I saw it on a website and fell in love with it. It was very expensive, but Rose ordered it for me for our tree. I need to pay her back.”

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I reread each journal entry from Carlisle, Rose and Bella. They were all on my side, all pulling for me. I was terrified, though, of putting my thoughts and feelings on paper. It would mean that I’d have to acknowledge them. That they were true. That my life wasn’t some horrific nightmare, but my life.

Shaking my head, I figured I’d focus on the questions that Dr. Benson posed to me for my first journal entry. What did I want to do with my life and think about my relationship with Bella? Turning the page, I picked up a pen that was on the cocktail table. I marked down the date.

November 20^th, 2015

Do I start with ‘dear diary’? I’ve never done this shit before. It seems so foreign. The last time I wrote ANYTHING was in high school. Not that I even finished high school. I’m an uneducated, worthless human being …

I put down the pen, scowling at what I put. I could still hear Esme’s voice in my head, reminding me that I was nothing. I wasn’t nothing, not any more. I had to become a better person – a better man – for my mom, for Bella, for ME! Gripping the pen with determination, I began writing again.

I’m not worthless. That’s Esme talking. I’ll lay into her shit later. I’m either going to need a lot of alcohol or some heavy-duty drugs to get me through that entry. I’ll settle with the medications that Dr. Benson prescribed, though.

Anyhow, my name is Edward Masen and for the past fourteen years, my life has been hell. It all started …

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I got up, leaving him in the bedroom. I made enough oatmeal for Edward, Carlisle and me, setting the table in the dining room.

Edward hobbled out to the dining room. His hair was damp and his face not marred with pillow wrinkles. “Did you shower?” I asked. “Your stitches …”

“I used the detachable shower head to wash my hair. If I don’t attack it first thing in the morning, it has a mind of its own,” he chuckled, blushing. “I also checked on Carlisle. That man could wake the dead with his snoring.”

“I’ll get him. Do you want some coffee?” I asked.

“I can get it,” he replied, walking to the kitchen to make himself a cup.

I nodded, walking to Carlisle’s room. He was snoring, sawing logs with the obnoxious sounds coming from his mouth. His chest was bare and I could see the scar from the gunshot wound on his torso and the other near his hip. “That cannot be human,” I grumbled, tugging the pillow from underneath Carlisle’s head. His snoring faltered, but resumed as he rolled onto his stomach, revealing his naked ass. “Oh, gross!” I wailed. Using the pillow, I smacked his head. “Cullen! Get your naked ass up! Don’t you own any pajamas?”

“Up in your dad’s suite, you brat,” Carlisle said, shooting me a withering glare. “What the fuck are you doing? Waking me up at the crack of dawn?”

“It’s seven, Carlisle,” I said. “I’m going to court in an hour …”

“Oh, right,” he replied, scrubbing his face. He started shuffling to get up. I turned on my heel, not wanting to see Carlisle’s junk. The man was like a father figure to me and I’d definitely be scarred for life if I saw Carlisle’s family jewels. I sat down at the dining room table, next to Edward.

“Everything okay?” he asked, putting down his coffee mug.

“Carlisle ... Naked ... Saw ... Ass?” I squeaked.

“Carlisle saw your ass?” Edward chuckled.

“No, I saw his,” I whimpered. “It was so white and droopy.”

“MY ASS IS NOT DROOPY!” Carlisle bellowed from his room. 

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“You’ve been amazing and so supportive, kind, and …” I whispered. “I want you to know what happened to me, Bella.”

“You’ve told me, Edward,” she said, threading our fingers together.

“Not all of it,” I grimaced. “I can’t move past all of this if I keep it bottled up. I want … I need to tell you. You have to know. I want you to know before I tell the police.” I looked at her, gazing into her espresso colored eyes. “I want you to know that I trust you and that I love you, too.” She smiled, tears welling in her eyes. She tenderly wrapped her arms around me and I felt like I was finally home.

Breaking apart, Bella gave me a tentative smile. “I don’t want to force you into doing something you don’t want, love,” she said quietly.

“The past eleven years have been nothing but forced servitude. I want you to know what happened to me. I have to show you if I want to get better,” I said. “I want you to be proud to be seen with me.”

“I already am,” she said.

“Bellisima, you and I both know that I’m a fucking mess,” I snorted.

“Right now? Yes, but I want to help you get better,” she chuckled anxiously. “It will be a work in progress, love.”

I nodded, agreeing with her. “I know that you had your suspicions about Esme, but what she is; it’s far worse than your most horrific nightmare,” I muttered. I blew out a breath and looked at her. 

“Esme forced me to do things to her.”

“Forced? As in …” she trailed off, her face turning an unnatural shade of puce. “She … she …”

“Yes,” I whispered. 

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“Edward, you have to calm down,” Carlisle said soothingly. “Dr. Banner is a wonderful doctor.”

“It’s not the doctor,” I hissed. “I hurt Bella’s feelings.” I gripped my hair, remembering how she looked when pleaded for Carlisle to stay with me.

“She understands that you don’t want her to know. Her feelings may have been hurt, but she wants the best for you. She gets that we have this weird bond,” Carlisle chuckled. “It’s a trust thing. She gets it.”

“I don’t want her to see them,” I frowned. “Or any of my …”

“Dr. Banner will probably have to take pictures for the police investigation,” Carlisle grimaced, holding up a digital camera. “Besides your back, what else is there?”

“My wrists, whip marks on my legs and butt and I was forced to have sex with Esme, my dick is raw,” I muttered. “Thankfully, the clients I went to were mainly interested in my pain and not me giving them pleasure.”

There was a tentative knock. Bella poked her head inside. “Dr. Banner is here and I just got a phone call from Emmett. They’re on their way to take your statement,” she said.

“Did they get anything from Esme’s office?” Carlisle asked.

“They got tons, but …” she trailed off. “I’ll tell you once Dr. Banner’s done.” She looked pale and wouldn’t look me in the eye. “I’m going to Rose’s. Call me down there when you’re finished.” She opened the door and an older gentleman walked in. He was tall and distinguished, but had a warm, friendly smile.

“Edward?” he asked, walking to me. He was deliberate with his actions and he held out his hand. “I’m Dr. Richard Banner. I’ll be taking care of you today and for the foreseeable future. It’s nice to meet you.” I shook his hand, eyeing him warily. “Now, I know that you were in a situation that was, um, how do I put it? Fucking hell on earth?”

“That’s putting it mildly,” I whispered. 

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I watched as Edward eventually drifted off to sleep. He was exhausted, but I could tell that his sleep wasn’t restful. His face was drawn and his muscles were tense, almost ready to strike. I frowned, incredibly pissed off at what Esme did this to this sweet boy. No one should have been through this.

“Sleep well,” I whispered, brushing a hair away from his forehead. He flinched, but eventually snuggled into the bed. I got up from the bed and went into living room. Bella was curled up in on the couch and crying, a steady stream of tears falling down her pale cheeks. “Little One.”

“I’m fine, Carlisle,” she said, wiping her face. “I’m just …”

“Concerned? Worried?” I asked, sitting next to her and holding her tightly.

“Feeling guilty. I should have done more, Carlisle,” she hissed. “MORE. I let my stupid fucking pride get in the way and he was tortured almost two months in the clutches of Bitchme and her evil, disgusting minions. He’s broken and it’s my fault.”

“No, Bella. It’s not. It’s Esme’s fault. It’s her fault that Edward’s like this. Not yours,” I soothed, rubbing Bella’s back.

“What can I do for him? I’m terrified that he won’t trust me ever again,” Bella muttered, leaning her cheek against my shoulder. “Carlisle, will he come back from this?”

“Despite all he’s been through, Edward still sees the good in people,” I whispered. 

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CarlislePOV

I watched as Edward eventually drifted off to sleep. He was exhausted, but I could tell that his sleep wasn’t restful. His face was drawn and his muscles were tense, almost ready to strike. I frowned, incredibly pissed off at what Esme did this to this sweet boy. No one should have been through this.

“Sleep well,” I whispered, brushing a hair away from his forehead. He flinched, but eventually snuggled into the bed. I got up from the bed and went into living room. Bella was curled up in on the couch and crying, a steady stream of tears falling down her pale cheeks. “Little One.”

“I’m fine, Carlisle,” she said, wiping her face. “I’m just …”

“Concerned? Worried?” I asked, sitting next to her and holding her tightly.

“Feeling guilty. I should have done more, Carlisle,” she hissed. “MORE. I let my stupid fucking pride get in the way and he was tortured almost two months in the clutches of Bitchme and her evil, disgusting minions. He’s broken and it’s my fault.”

“No, Bella. It’s not. It’s Esme’s fault. It’s her fault that Edward’s like this. Not yours,” I soothed, rubbing Bella’s back.

“What can I do for him? I’m terrified that he won’t trust me ever again,” Bella muttered, leaning her cheek against my shoulder. “Carlisle, will he come back from this?”

“Despite all he’s been through, Edward still sees the good in people,” I whispered. “He said that I would be great father.”

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I held Bella, sobbing like a freaking baby. I was such a fucking mess. It took Carlisle almost two hours to convince me to go to the hotel. I begged to stay with him. I didn’t want Bella to see me like this.

Broken.

Battered.

Ashamed.

Empty.

Lost.

Carlisle said that she would never forgive him if I didn’t at least see her. He was gentle and patient as I sat in the car in the parking garage, working up the courage to ride up to her penthouse suite. With each passing floor, I was growing more anxious but Carlisle held my hand and told me that I was strong and resilient.

My ass.

Seeing her was too much. She had not changed. If anything, she was far more beautiful than I remembered. Her hair was braided over her shoulder, her alabaster skin was free of all makeup and her eyes were filled with such concern.

Pity, you fool. She pities you.

I couldn’t stand the pity, so I tried to flee. Carlisle calmed me down, explaining that I could stay with Rose if I wanted, or with him, but I didn’t. I wanted to stay with Bella, but I didn’t want her fucking pity. Then, she walked closer to me and I could smell her sweet fragrance. She said that she missed me and she began apologizing. I took her hand, pressing it to my cheek. The warmth of her hand sent shivers down my spine and made my empty heart began beating again. When her other hand cupped my face and her espresso-colored eyes bore into mine as she told me she loved me, I lost it. The tears came down and she pulled me to her body. I collapsed under the weight of what had happened and held her to my chest, letting all of my walls down. 

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“Jenks, can’t you work some magic and get us on some judge’s docket?” I whined, pacing in my suite. He was on the phone with the third judge today, trying to get Elizabeth’s care placed with me and not with Esme. We’d provided a doctored marriage certificate, claiming me to be Edward’s wife and proof of abuse with the clerk, but no one was biting. Not yet, at least.

“Thank you,” Jenks sighed, ending his call. “Judge Donnelly has a full docket but suggested Judge Trask. He’s not taking any new cases since he’s this close to retirement.”

“And that helps us how?” I asked, arching a brow. “He’s not taking new cases.”

“This isn’t a case. It’s a removal. All he has to do is sign the order, removing Elizabeth from Esme’s legal guardianship and putting you in her place,” Jenks explained. He searched his phone, grinning when he found the number. “Now, you’re killing my mojo. Go call Rose. See how things are going with Edward.”

I grumbled, walking back to my bedroom and pulling out my cell phone. I dialed Rose, impatiently waiting for her to pick up. “We’re on our way back, Bells,” she said.

“Are you with Edward?” I asked.

“He’s with Carlisle. They’re taking a longer route,” Rose said, her voice unsure. “I think Edward is afraid that we are going to be followed, if you know what I mean.”

“There’s more, Rose,” I said, my stomach churning. “What did she do to him?”

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“Jenks, can’t you work some magic and get us on some judge’s docket?” I whined, pacing in my suite. He was on the phone with the third judge today, trying to get Elizabeth’s care placed with me and not with Esme. We’d provided a doctored marriage certificate, claiming me to be Edward’s wife and proof of abuse with the clerk, but no one was biting. Not yet, at least.

“Thank you,” Jenks sighed, ending his call. “Judge Donnelly has a full docket but suggested Judge Trask. He’s not taking any new cases since he’s this close to retirement.”

“And that helps us how?” I asked, arching a brow. “He’s not taking new cases.”

“This isn’t a case. It’s a removal. All he has to do is sign the order, removing Elizabeth from Esme’s legal guardianship and putting you in her place,” Jenks explained. He searched his phone, grinning when he found the number. “Now, you’re killing my mojo. Go call Rose. See how things are going with Edward.”

I grumbled, walking back to my bedroom and pulling out my cell phone. I dialed Rose, impatiently waiting for her to pick up. “We’re on our way back, Bells,” she said.

“Are you with Edward?” I asked.

“He’s with Carlisle. They’re taking a longer route,” Rose said, her voice unsure. “I think Edward is afraid that we are going to be followed, if you know what I mean.”

“There’s more, Rose,” I said, my stomach churning. “What did she do to him?”

“He looks even worse than before, Bells. He’s even thinner and Carlisle mentioned something about stitches on his back. He wants you to have a doctor on hand. He can’t go to the hospital. Edward’s too skittish,” Rose explained. “I would suggest a man since Esme did a number on him.”

“Dr. Banner, my father’s physician, is the best. I’ll call him,” I sniffled. “And I know he’ll be discreet.”

“We should be back in a half hour. Edward will probably want to sleep. He was a little woozy when I came back into the hotel room. Carlisle said it was due to the pain meds he gave him.”

“Thank you, Rose,” I sighed. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

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I stayed with Mrs. Masen until she drifted off. Despite the medication she received, her face was not relaxed and her posture was rigid. I kissed her temple, leaving her room and trying to calm down. Esme Platt was one truly vindictive bitch. I understood why Edward couldn’t walk away from her. Esme could do anything to his mother since she was her legal guardian if Edward was unavailable.

And don’t even get me started on how she convinced him. Why would he agree to that? He knows what Esme is capable of.

Fuck. My. Life.

I waved at Carmen, going out to my car and driving away from the nursing home. I picked up my cell phone, dialing Edward’s burn cell, but per usual, it went straight to the non-existent voicemail. With a sigh, I tossed my phone into the passenger seat and drove back to the hotel. Using the valet to park my car, I checked on Jessica and Lauren before going up to my suite so I could make some dinner.

I was just sitting down with my Lean Cuisine and a glass of wine when there was a brusque knock at my door. Grumbling, I got up and opened it up. Rose and Emmett were standing on the other side. They were holding hands, looking freshly fucked.

“Your blouse is buttoned wrong,” I pointed out bitterly to Rose.

“Shit,” she spat, quickly fixing it. “Are you busy?” She walked in with Emmett on her heels.

“I was just sitting down to eat,” I answered, pointing to my pitiful meal.

“That’s not busy,” Rose scoffed, sitting down and wrinkling her nose at my beef enchilada. “Do you need to take a shit, Bells?”

“Rose, don’t be crass,” I scowled.

“What? There is more fiber in there than a jar full of Metamucil that my grandmother uses,” Rose snickered. I picked up my meal, tossing it into the refrigerator and sat down opposite that nauseating twins. Emmett was practically mauling Rose’s neck. She melted against his chest, practically unhinging her jaw to kiss him.

“Yo! Porn stars! I don’t want you to fuck on my sectional,” I spat, snapping at them. “Why are you interrupting my oh-so delectable meal?”

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“What do you want to eat?” Bella asked, sitting down on the couch. She was dressed in a pair of insanely short shorts and a sheer camisole. Her curly hair was braided over her shoulder. She was flipping through the menu, her nose wrinkled adorably.

When we got upstairs after our time in the office, Bella told me to change into some pajamas. However, Esme probably expected me to just fuck Bella’s brains out. I had no pajamas. Bella handed me a pair of sweatpants that had belonged to her ex-husband and one of her old college t-shirts that was too big for her.

“Edward? Food? Do you want pizza? Hamburgers? Oooh, nachos,” she giggled, showing me a picture of some loaded nachos. They did look good.

“The nachos look decadent,” I smiled.

She grinned in return, reaching for the phone. “Hey, Phil. It’s Bella. Can I get an order of nachos, two bacon cheeseburgers with seasoned fries, and the death-by-chocolate cake? Oh! And beer. I thought I had some up here, but not so much … A half hour? Great. Thanks!” She hung up, sitting in some sort of contorted position on the couch. “The food will be here in a half hour. What movies do you want to see?”

“Um, what do you have?” I asked. She got up, pulling on my arm. I let out a small yelp since the angle at which she tugged on me caused my shoulders to ache.

“What’s wrong?” she questioned, her eyes big and filled with concern.

“I strained my shoulder,” I explained. “Esme had me move some furniture around and I …” Bella narrowed her eyes. “You don’t like her, do you?”

“Esme? Fuck no,” Bella snorted. 

Buying Love Teaser

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Motherfucking alarm clock. I hate that asshole. Whoever invented the alarm clock should be castrated with a sharp object.

Smack.

Much better.

I snuggled back into the arms of Edward, wanting to drift back into a comfortable sleep.

EDWARD!

I sat up, my eyes wide and I looked back at the man who shared my bed last night. He was still asleep, his hair rumpled and his skin flushed from the warmth of my bedroom. In the dim light of my room, I could see that his face was relaxed and the stress of whatever was bothering him last night was gone.

My big mouth. And that scar.

Pulling down the blankets, I saw the scar on his torso. It was red, angry and probably was very, very painful when he received it. Tenderly, I touched it and found it to be cooler than the rest of his skin. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, pulling my hand back and covering his body with the blankets. I got up and went to get ready for my first day managing Swan Towers. Edward, obviously exhausted, stayed in bed. From what I could gather, he obviously didn’t have a good life and he deserved this indulgence. 

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His eyes were penetrating through mine. Barely a sliver of the jade green color was visible. His hands, which still wore thick leather cuffs around his wrists, were pinning my arms above my head, keeping me from touching him. He licked his lips, rolling his hips again and making me even wetter. “Do you trust me?” he asked.

I nodded, trusting him more than I probably should.

“Say it, out loud, that you trust me, Bella,” he said, his voice deepening and his hips thrusting against my sex. I could feel how aroused he was through his dress pants. He wanted me. With a growl, he pulled back, staring into my eyes. “Do you trust me?”

“I trust you,” I whispered, wanting to feel the heaviness of his body over me again.

He smiled, slow and seductive. “Don’t move,” he commanded, pressing my hands above my head. I bit my lip as he got up off the bed, walking to his pile of clothing. He grabbed a couple of things from the pile. When he walked back, I saw he had his tie, a black blindfold and a handful a condoms in his hands. He looked at me, eyes dancing with desire, lust and unadulterated want. However, he was still wearing his dress pants.

And it was quite obvious that I had left a mess on his crotch from my own arousal. 

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Buying Love Teaser

His eyes were penetrating through mine. Barely a sliver of the jade green color was visible. His hands, which still wore thick leather cuffs around his wrists, were pinning my arms above my head, keeping me from touching him. He licked his lips, rolling his hips again and making me even wetter. 

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

I nodded, trusting him more than I probably should.

“Say it, out loud, that you trust me, Bella,” he said, his voice deepening and his hips thrusting against my sex. I could feel how aroused he was through his dress pants. He wanted me. With a growl, he pulled back, staring into my eyes. “Do you trust me?”

“I trust you,” I whispered, wanting to feel the heaviness of his body over me again.

He smiled, slow and seductive. “Don’t move,” he commanded, pressing my hands above my head. I bit my lip as he got up off the bed, walking to his pile of clothing. He grabbed a couple of things from the pile. When he walked back, I saw he had his tie, a black blindfold and a handful a condoms in his hands. He looked at me, eyes dancing with desire, lust and unadulterated want. However, he was still wearing his dress pants.

And it was quite obvious that I had left a mess on his crotch from my own arousal. 

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I was staring at the card that Rose had given me. It was a sleek-looking card with black embossed lettering. The website was also sleek-looking. There was nothing mentioned about sex or the fact that these handsome, sharp-looking men were escorts, being paid for their time. There were a few men that piqued my attention, but I kept going back to Edward. There was something about his handsome, crooked smirk and his jade eyes. I prayed he was still available for tomorrow evening. He was who I wanted.

“Staring at the card will not make the phone magically work, Bells,” Rose chuckled from her spot on the couch. “Your dad has this bug up his ass that you need to have a date for this opening. Hell, even I have a date for this she-bang. Chuck said that I had to be on the arm of some handsome thing.”

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“Yes, Dad. I know,” I grumbled. “I have a date! I promise you. I will not come to the opening of Swan Towers unattended.” Maybe I can bring Rosalie. My father didn’t say that the date had to be male.

“You can’t just bring Rosalie, Isabella Marie,” Dad grumped.  Damn it. “Your picture is already splashed on the newspaper gossip section because of your good-for-nothing ex-husband. I told you not to marry that asshole!” Fucker.

Don’t remind me, Charlie. “He’s not my ex yet, Dad,” I muttered. “Riley, the asshole, has yet to sign the divorce paperwork. He thinks he can get more money out of our settlement. Unlikely. He signed a pre-nup.”

“At least you listened to me about that, Isabella Marie. Do I need to send over Carlisle to kick his ass?” Dad snarled. I rolled my eyes. “I will. I got him a new gun for his birthday and I’m certain that Carlisle would love to try it out on Riley’s cheating ass. Use his balls for target practice.”

“Tempting, Charlie,” I deadpanned. “But, if he dies, they will come to me first. I don’t want to go to jail for having my ex-husband assassinated, as nice as that would be. Relax, though. I have a date for the opening. And no, it’s not Rose. I love her, but not in that way.” I shot a look at my best friend. She was filing her nails as she worked on her iPad. “It’s a friend of hers.”

“Well, as long as you have a date, that’s all that matters. We have an image to uphold, Isabella,” Dad said. “Your ex-husband is not helping that image.”

“I know, Dad. You’ve told me about a hundred times,” I sighed, falling back onto my bed in the penthouse of Swan Towers. “Trust me to have an appropriate date for the opening tomorrow night.”

“And get Riley to sign the divorce papers,” Dad said. 

Bella Swan

Rose Hale

Charlie

Bella's Bedroom

Bathroom

Bella's Library

Bella's Living Room

Guest Bathroom

Bella's Bathroom

Bella's Kitchen

Bella's Family Room

Bella's Dining Room

Guest Bedroom

Buying Love Teaser

“Yes, Dad. I know,” I grumbled. “I have a date! I promise you. I will not come to the opening of Swan Towers unattended.” Maybe I can bring Rosalie. My father didn’t say that the date had to be male.

“You can’t just bring Rosalie, Isabella Marie,” Dad grumped.  Damn it. “Your picture is already splashed on the newspaper gossip section because of your good-for-nothing ex-husband. I told you not to marry that asshole!” Fucker.

Don’t remind me, Charlie. “He’s not my ex yet, Dad,” I muttered. “Riley, the asshole, has yet to sign the divorce paperwork. He thinks he can get more money out of our settlement. Unlikely. He signed a pre-nup.”

“At least you listened to me about that, Isabella Marie. Do I need to send over Carlisle to kick his ass?” Dad snarled. I rolled my eyes. “I will. I got him a new gun for his birthday and I’m certain that Carlisle would love to try it out on Riley’s cheating ass. Use his balls for target practice.”

“Tempting, Charlie,” I deadpanned. “But, if he dies, they will come to me first. I don’t want to go to jail for having my ex-husband assassinated, as nice as that would be. Relax, though. I have a date for the opening. And no, it’s not Rose. I love her, but not in that way.” I shot a look at my best friend. She was filing her nails as she worked on her iPad. “It’s a friend of hers.”

“Well, as long as you have a date, that’s all that matters. We have an image to uphold, Isabella,” Dad said. “Your ex-husband is not helping that image.”

Bella Swan

Charlie Swan

Rosalie Hale

Riley Biers

Bella's Bedroom

Bella's Bathroom