With You
Chapter 22

"Woman, I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!" Zafrina called out from the end of the hallway. Leave it to a prominent cardiothoracic surgeon to shout down an empty ER hall like they were back in high school.

Bella laughed. "Welcome home! How was your attachment in JH?" She asked after exchanging a quick hug.

"Boy am I glad to be back in da hood. I miss my Kachiri something bad and the bitches in Cubbyhole were hitting on her left and right," Zafrina ranted, squeezing a final hug from Bella.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Thank God for small miracles. If I have to hear one more time K moaning about missing your tits, I'm gonna kill somebody."

Zafrina laughed. "Oh my dear straight Bella, your tits were missed too," she joked, leering suggestively at Bella's girls, earning another eye roll from the woman. "How are you and my favourite little man?"

"Oh, he's grown half an inch since you were gone," she grinned, remembering her beautiful son.

"Woe! My little man not so little anymore!"

"Hey, Zaf! Didn't know you were back!"

Both doctors in scrubs turned on their heels to the voice of Dr. Garrett Bale. Zafrina elbowed Bella discreetly upon Garrett approaching. "Hunk alert. I repeat, hunk alert," Zafrina mumbled between her teeth.

"Hey, Garrett," Bella greeted. She was just clocking out as Garrett started his shift. Since their date, both of them had been too busy to go on another. And there was the case of her guilty conscience talking her down after sleeping with Edward.

"Hey, Bella," Garrett replied, smiling gently at the brunette. He hadn't the chance to invite her out again since their schedules were in conflict with each other. He was about to open his mouth to ask Bella another question when Zafrina cleared her throat loudly.

"You were saying, Garrett?" the stunning black woman teased.

Laughing, Garrett engulfed Zafrina in a hug. The three of them exchanged stories briefly about the short program Zafrina attended in Johns Hopkins. After a few minutes, Bella bid her goodbye in order to beat the traffic home.

"I'll see you in the pit tomorrow, Zaf," Bella called, shouldering her backpack securely. "Bye Gar," she spoke, sending him a small smile.

"Wait up. I'll walk you out."

The two of them walked out of the hallway after receiving a discreet wink from Zafrina. The warm April air greeted them as the doors slid open.

"How have you been?"

Bella smiled. "I've been good, Garrett. It's been awhile, huh?"

"Yeah. I can't believe we have yet to go for a second date," Garrett complained. "I shall remedy that soon."

Biting her lip, Bella saw that Marcus was yet to arrive. "Garrett, you know that -."

Shaking his head, Garrett placed a finger on her lips to silence her. "For now I'm not going to listen to you turning me down yet. I know I have my work cut out for me, what's with Caleb's father, who happens to be a business tycoon, trying to win your hand too."

Bella opened her mouth to try to speak, but once again was silenced by Garrett.

"Give me a fighting chance. Bella, I don't quit halfway. You don't deserve halfhearted effort."

Bella's heart quickened at Garrett's speech. His blue eyes pierced deeply into hers.

When he leaned down to kiss her on her lips, she let him, before pushing him slowly on his chest. She didn't respond, nor did she pull away. Deep down, they were the wrong pair of lips that she longed for.

"I'll call you," were his parting words before leaving her with a gentle smile. Nodding, Bella looked over his departing form before noticing the man in a suit standing about five yards away. He was staring at her, his face a mask of indifference.

His green eyes held hers in a stare. Just with his gaze, she felt the shiver right down to her core. It felt like forever before she felt her feet making her way to him. He was beckoning her with his eyes, and she submitted.

Once near, her hand effortlessly slipped into his, which he held out for her. He grabbed her backpack, which she acquiesced. They walked wordlessly to his car, her following close, seeking comfort in his nearness. He opened the passenger side door for her, and she stepped in dutifully.

The drive was quiet, and she realised they were not heading to her place. Instead, they were on the way downtown. He placed a call via his dashboard, and she noticed he was calling her place. Carlisle's voice filled the car once the call connected.

"Hello Carlisle. Edward here."

"Hello sir. Yes, how can I help you?"

"Bella and I will be late tonight. We will be back after dinner. Could you please inform Caleb about it?"

"Daddy!"

His stoic face broke into a grin, Bella noticed. "Caleb!"

"Daddy, are you kidnapping mommy?" His boy asked innocently.

"Yes, I am. She has been a bit naughty today," he answered good-naturedly, with hidden meaning.

Bella blushed while Caleb oohed conspiratorially. "Mommy, what did you do?"

"Hi, baby. Don't listen to your daddy. We will be back after dinner okay? Will you promise to be a good boy to Gemma and Pop today?"

"Scouts honour, mommy!" Another thing he picked up from his daddy.

"I love you, baby."

She felt him squeezing her hand gently. "I love you buddy. We'll see you at home okay?"

"Okay. Love you too, mommy. Love you too, daddy."

Some jazz music was playing on the radio softly. In between gearshifts he claimed her right hand, and she conceded without fight.

"Did you have lunch?"

She nodded, her voice stuck in her throat.

His building came into view. Soon, they were parked and he helped her out of the car. Her hand firmly in his grasp, they went up the elevator to the pent suite.

"Does he know that we fucked last week?" he asked the moment the door was closed.

"Edward."

Taking off his jacket, he pointed a finger to her direction. "Your word. Not mine. I made love to you. But of course it flew over your head," he retorted.

"Sex is sex, Edward. Do not make a big deal out of it," she warned.

Edward chuckled sardonically. "You are cruel. You fucked me and turned around to kiss Garrett. You string em as you see em."

"That's rich coming from you. I was not the one who couldn't wait for the divorce proceeding before fucking another woman!"

"Are you ever going to stop throwing my words back at me? I am eternally sorry, Bella. I'm trying to make it up to you. To Caleb. I know a thousand years won't make up for the horrible way I broke your heart, but baby, how am I going to make amends if you don't let me in? Two negatives won't make it better!"

Bella threw her hands up in the air, exasperated. "What the hell do you want? It was just one night."

"Are you fucking him too?"

"It's none of you business, Edward!" She snapped.

"You're delusional if you think it's not. You're always my business, Bella." He stalked closer, crowding her against his kitchen island. "I've learned my lesson, baby. I lost you once, do you think I'm stupid enough to let you get away again?" he spoke harshly, looking sharply into her chocolate eyes.

"I'm not a property you can stake a claim on," Bella replied, her voice wavering at his proximity. His scent was dizzying her. "I am a woman with needs. Our fucking was just that, to fulfil my needs. You don't have to feel privileged."

Edward smirked. "Yeah? To me, being with you is the greatest gift," he murmured, the tip of his fingers running down the smooth of her face. "Of which I won't allow to be shared with anyone else."

"Who are you to tell me that?" she sneered, defiant. But her gaze was wavering, belying her nerves.

His hands planted firmly on her hips, bringing her hips closer to his. "I've told you, baby. You are not ready to hear it. Until then, you satisfy your needs only with me. Understand?" His order executive, and to be heeded.

She tried to push him away, but even she knew it was done half heartedly. The heat he radiated was addictive. "You are so full of yourself," she half hissed, half moaned.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Did you or did you not cum three times that night?"

She blushed red.

Kissing the pulse of her neck, he smiled at the heat of her blush. "If I promise to keep your body singing, will you promise to come to only me?"

She smirked. "Contrary to your beliefs, other men do find me attractive, Edward."

Growling, he tightened his grip on her hip. "Trust me, that beauty of yours is a poison I would gladly ingest." He nipped gently on the skin. "But you're so much more than that," he murmured.

Tilting her head slightly, Bella refrained from moaning. "What is it to you? It's not like you're going to keep your end of the bargain."

He chuckled. "Are you kidding me? You ruined me for other women." He kissed her deep, their tongues fighting for dominance. "I don't want these lips to be kissing others," he growled, possessive. "No more, Bella. Do you promise?"

She couldn't think straight with his lips everywhere. "We keep it from Caleb."

Pulling away just a tad, he looked deeply into her eyes. "For now. To appease you. But the day will come when I want all your mornings and your nights," he said, no room for misunderstanding.

"You're driving me crazy, Edward," she breathed.

Edward chuckled. "Now, we're even," he murmured, before bending down to gather her in his arms.

"I make all sorts of questionable decisions when it comes to you."

He could hear her murmuring, and feel her hand in his hair. It was fleeting. He felt torn; her touch was the softest, but her words were the harshest.

He reached up to catch the hand in his hair before pulling it down to give it a gentle kiss. She gasped, definitely wasn't anticipating him being awake. "On the contrary, you have always been my best decision," he whispered, pulling her to him.

"I need to go back. Caleb's waiting for me," she spoke, not meeting his gaze. She felt easy, one touch from him and off she went to his bed.

Edward nodded. He did take his own sweet time devouring her, sending her quivering to heaven that evening. "Let me just kiss you again" he begged, leaning in.

Without waiting for her reply, he gently turned her onto her back again. Starting slow, a breath of kisses on her eyes and nose. The moment their lips met, he framed her face with his hands, cherishing the woman that she was. Her body warm against his, and he felt the stirring in his groin again.

She gasped at the feeling of his cock against her entrance. They had already fucked twice. He had made her screamed his name five times. Nevertheless, he never failed to make her wet with just his kisses.

He rocked into her gently, but his sheer size never failed to make her gasp. The bed rocked against the wall, the clicking sound reverberated in the darkening room. Being with him was outside the realm of reality. She had put him behind her for so long… to actually feel him within her arms, it was surreal.

His body was addictive. His mind even more so.

But for now, that was all she needed from him. She didn't need his words. Nor his promises. His words had broken her once.

His lips sucked in her bottom one while he drove significantly deeper into her. She moaned his name, while he grunted out hers. He continued murmuring her name along her neck, her impending release started to clench around him. With one hand she tugged on his hair, and the other squeezing his ass, creating a tremor within him. Moments later, they crested together, her pussy pumping him like an angry fist, as he spilled himself within her.

Lying on top of him, breathless, sated, calm, she decided to relent to his order. She'd come back for those, but that was as far as their liaison went.

Her heart was too high a stake to be given to the likes of Edward Cullen.

A/N: Happy Summer? :)