The One That Got Away Teaser

Bella’s head was pounding and the kids were driving her crazy. She loved them unconditionally, but being cooped up with them for the past week because of shitty, rainy weather, was driving her up the fucking wall. It also didn’t help that Jane was breathing down her throat for a rough draft for her newest manuscript. On top of that, Edward was filling in for a coworker at the hospital and Bella was a ‘single’ parent. She only saw her husband when he dragged himself home after midnight, kissing her briefly before crashing to get up and do it again at six the following morning.

There was a loud thump and screaming. “Liam, you’re a jerk!” Lucy screamed.

“Oh, my GOD,” Bella grumbled, saving her work and closing her computer. She stomped up the stairs and saw Liam and Lucy rolling on the floor. “Both of you! Stop it! I don’t know what’s going on, but I think your grandparents can hear you screaming.”

“Lucy hit me,” Liam scowled, pushing his sister.

“Liam won’t let me watch what I want on the television,” Lucy retorted, picking up the television remote. “I’m bored, Momma. Can’t we go out?”

“It’s raining cats and dogs,” Bella said. “Plus, I have to do work on my newest novel. My boss is breathing down my neck.”

“All you ever do is work,” Liam hissed. “Why can’t you hang out with us?”

Bella pinched her nose and blew out a breath. “Liam, I want to, but as an adult, we need to do things. We have responsibilities. Nana and Poppa are out of town and Grandpa Charlie has to work, too.” She looked at her children, her sanity was hanging by a thread. “Lucy, you can’t hit your brother. Because you hit him, you won’t be watching television for a week. Go to your room and I’ll talk to you in a bit.”

“But, Momma,” Lucy whimpered, tears welling in her eyes.

“No, but Momma,” Bella snapped. “You hit your brother and violence is not tolerated. Period. Go to your room.” Lucy sobbed, running out of the play room. She turned to Liam, crossing her arms over her chest. “And you should be sharing with her, Liam.”

“She wanted to watch girly shows. They’re stupid,” Liam sneered. “I wanted to play Xbox and Lucy wouldn’t let me. Sometimes I wish I was an only child.”

“Excuse me?” Bella asked, her voice deadly calm. “Lucy is your sister and the only one you have. Did you say that to her?” Liam’s silence indicated he had. “I can’t believe you did that, Liam. Granted, hitting is never an answer, but neither is cruelty. You go to your room, too. You lost television privileges for a week, too. You also need to apologize to your sister, too.”

“Is she going to apologize to me?” Liam snapped. “She hit me.”

“And you wished her gone,” Bella yelled back. “I’m so angry at you, Liam. At both of you. Go to your room and we’ll talk more when I’ve calmed down.”

“I HATE YOU!” Liam screamed, running past Bella and into his room, slamming the door. Bella fell to the ground, her own tears pricking in her eyes. She took a few calming breaths, picking up her cell phone and sending Edward a text. I need you, at home. Tonight. I know you’re busy, but our children made some poor choices and I need you to back me up. Love you ~ Bella

The Magic Within Update

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TMW Chapter 18 on Wattpad

I held Bella’s naked body next to mine. She was draped over me, warming me to my very core. I idly played with her curly, mahogany hair as I watched the sun creep up the sky and wake up the world.

It was back to reality. Today, I’d go back to my mediocre existence as a legal aid attorney. I so wasn’t ready … just saying. Granted, I wouldn’t be just a legal aid attorney. I would be more, but Carmen was adamant on us maintaining our human façade for the public. Though, it freaked me the fuck out. How was I supposed to do my job and lead all the magical creatures in North America?

I could barely keep my head above water when it came to my job, buried in paperwork and never-ending motions, court appearances and sashaying other attorneys.

“Edward, I can feel you thinking too much,” Bella said softly, pressing a soft kiss to my jaw. How could she know that I’m thinking too much? “Stop. You’ll do fine.” I didn’t respond, just tightening my hold on her. I was so afraid that I would lose it again. That I would fail …

Bella noticed my perseverating. “Edward,” she snapped, sitting up and looking at me. “Why are you second guessing everything?”

“The last time I had this much responsibility,” I muttered. “I lost everything. I ended up in a mental institution, Bella. I can’t stand to lose that. I can’t lose you or fail in the eyes of my people.” She got up and straddled my waist. She was still naked and her body was temptation in the flesh.  Fuck me sideways. “Bella …”

“No, you will not fail,” she said, her fingers playing with my loose, long hair. “Do you want to know why?”

“Yes, please tell me. Enlighten me because I haven’t a clue,” I sighed, pouting my lips. She kissed me and held me flush to her body. I growled lowly, my hands sliding around her waist and pressing her against me.

Breaking apart, she took my face into her hands. “Because I love you and I know and have faith that you will succeed,” Bella murmured, her forehead pressed to mine. “Your strength comes from in here.” She pressed her hand to my chest, right above my heart. “Your smarts come from your mind and your education. But, your drive is all you. Trust in yourself. Trust in your new-found family. Trust in us.”

I crashed my mouth against hers and we got lost in each other until my alarm went off. I grumbled as I morphed back my human appearance. I trudged into the bathroom and took a shower. Bella joined me, after she’d changed as well, massaging my back and whispering encouraging words. “Do you know that I can see your tattoos, even while you’re human?” she said as she ran a washcloth down my spine. “Humans wouldn’t be able to see them, but they’re there. When I first met you, I thought it was weird for you to have these faded tattoos on your face, arms and everywhere.”

I turned around, looking at her and I saw what she meant. Her delicate tattoos were just below the surface. Human eyes wouldn’t be able to pick up the subtle discoloration, but they were there. “I like that. A lot,” I smiled, kissing her lips.

“It’s a tangible reminder that you’re stronger than anyone else in the room,” she said, ruffling my short hair. “I don’t like this. Grow it out.”

“No. I hate the long hair,” I snorted, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around my waist. “I don’t know how you handle it.”

“I guess I understand. From going to this short-cropped style to hair down to your waist, it could be unnerving,” Bella snickered. 

The Magic Within Teaser

I held Bella’s naked body next to mine. She was draped over me, warming me to my very core. I idly played with her curly, mahogany hair as I watched the sun creep up the sky and wake up the world.

It was back to reality. Today, I’d go back to my mediocre existence as a legal aid attorney. I so wasn’t ready … just saying. Granted, I wouldn’t be just a legal aid attorney. I would be more, but Carmen was adamant on us maintaining our human façade for the public. Though, it freaked me the fuck out. How was I supposed to do my job and lead all the magical creatures in North America?

I could barely keep my head above water when it came to my job, buried in paperwork and never-ending motions, court appearances and sashaying other attorneys.

“Edward, I can feel you thinking too much,” Bella said softly, pressing a soft kiss to my jaw. How could she know that I’m thinking too much? “Stop. You’ll do fine.” I didn’t respond, just tightening my hold on her. I was so afraid that I would lose it again. That I would fail …

Bella noticed my perseverating. “Edward,” she snapped, sitting up and looking at me. “Why are you second guessing everything?”

“The last time I had this much responsibility,” I muttered. “I lost everything. I ended up in a mental institution, Bella. I can’t stand to lose that. I can’t lose you or fail in the eyes of my people.” She got up and straddled my waist. She was still naked and her body was temptation in the flesh.  Fuck me sideways. “Bella …”

“No, you will not fail,” she said, her fingers playing with my loose, long hair. “Do you want to know why?”

“Yes, please tell me. Enlighten me because I haven’t a clue,” I sighed, pouting my lips. She kissed me and held me flush to her body. I growled lowly, my hands sliding around her waist and pressing her against me.

Breaking apart, she took my face into her hands. “Because I love you and I know and have faith that you will succeed,” Bella murmured, her forehead pressed to mine. “Your strength comes from in here.” She pressed her hand to my chest, right above my heart. “Your smarts come from your mind and your education. But, your drive is all you. Trust in yourself. Trust in your new-found family. Trust in us.”

I crashed my mouth against hers and we got lost in each other until my alarm went off. I grumbled as I morphed back my human appearance. I trudged into the bathroom and took a shower. Bella joined me, after she’d changed as well, massaging my back and whispering encouraging words. “Do you know that I can see your tattoos, even while you’re human?” she said as she ran a washcloth down my spine. “Humans wouldn’t be able to see them, but they’re there. When I first met you, I thought it was weird for you to have these faded tattoos on your face, arms and everywhere.”

I turned around, looking at her and I saw what she meant. Her delicate tattoos were just below the surface. Human eyes wouldn’t be able to pick up the subtle discoloration, but they were there. “I like that. A lot,” I smiled, kissing her lips.

“It’s a tangible reminder that you’re stronger than anyone else in the room,” she said, ruffling my short hair. “I don’t like this. Grow it out.”

“No. I hate the long hair,” I snorted, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around my waist. “I don’t know how you handle it.”

“I guess I understand. From going to this short-cropped style to hair down to your waist, it could be unnerving,” Bella snickered. I rolled my eyes and quickly went through my morning routine. I dressed in one of my new suits that Eleazar had bought for me, using money from my own accounts. I apparently had more money than my parents, their parents and their parents combined. When I was shown the various financial statements, my eyes bugged out. I had nothing on Bill Gates. My birth father planned for every contingency and my comfort was at the top of his list.

“Edward,” Bella whispered, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “I’m proud of you. I love you so much and I’m thankful that you saved me.”

“I think it was you who saved me,” I smiled, cupping her cheek. I could hear Carmen dancing outside our door, wanting to interrupt what we had started, but she was too polite. With a sigh, Carmen must have realized that I was good to go and she left. “I have to leave. I’m sorry, sih’rena. I wish I could spend all my days with you, but …”

“I know. I’m spending the day with Eleazar and learning about the history of magic. We need to know how we can use our powers to our advantage. Tomorrow, I’ll be joining Rose at her job and begin training as a receptionist,” Bella said, a wry grin spreading over her face.