I just couldn't leave ya hanging for an entire day. :)
I really wanted to, but I didn't.
Chapter 16
Bella's eyes met mine, but she quickly dropped them down and tucked her head against my chest. I felt her take a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes, Master."
"You were…um…you looked like you were having a bad dream." She didn't respond, but I felt her go all still again. She had closed her eyes tightly, and her shoulders were curled up a bit, like she was trying to make herself smaller.
"Tell me what they did to you," I said.
"I can't," she whispered. "Please, Master – don't ask me to do that."
Seeing her like that was starting to really piss me off, and ideas about just what I might be able to do to make sure she knew for certain they would never touch her again started dancing around in my head. Aro's little "final rule" bullshit was nothing more than a way to keep her afraid of him when she was supposed to be completely mine now. I understood where he was coming from on the business side of things, but I still wanted to know how my property was treated when it was in his possession.
Yeah, it was a sick way to think, but it was what it was. I bought her. I couldn't change that, even though it was obvious to me at this point that I had made a really, really big mistake. It was also quite clear it wasn't one I could get out of easily. I couldn't send her back to Aro – no way. I might not know exactly what he had done to her, but there was no fucking way I would ever let him anywhere near her again. Even if I could have taken her back, I really didn't want to get rid of her.
I touched her cheek with the back of my knuckles.
"It all right," I told her. "You don't have to tell me."
Her shoulders slumped, and she nodded slowly. I tilted her head up, and her eyes focused on mine for a moment. Even in the darkness of the room, I could still see them clearly – shining out at me. My attention was drawn to her lips. They were full, and felt soft when I ran the pad of my thumb over them. I remembered how they tasted when I first kissed her in the car, and I wanted to taste them again. I really wanted to, but I didn't. Instead, I licked my lips and lay my head back on the pillow, bringing her down with me to rest her head against my shoulder.
"Go back to sleep, Bella," I said softly.
"Yes, Master."
About three things I was absolutely certain. One, I had totally fucked this up. Two, I was going to have to figure out a way to fix it – somehow – without fucking it up any more than it already was. And three, I wasn't going to be able to do this without some help. Specifically, a woman's help. Once Bella had settled back down in to sleep, I climbed back out of bed and went into the next room to make a call.
"What?" the sharp, harsh, yet still feminine voice snapped. "It's four-o-clock in the fucking morning here, asshole. This better be good."
"Yeah, I know – sorry." I ran my free hand through my hair. I ended up with a couple of stray pieces stuck between my fingers. This really was going to make me go bald. "I wouldn't have called, but I need your help, Alice."
She would be able to tell me what to do, right?
Chapter End Notes:
Awwww...here's your Scooby Snack! Good Doofus!
When the going gets tough, he calls a woman. No shit.
Next update tomorrow.
