Falling for a Dark Soul Teaser

 I’d forgotten how awesome it was just to make out. Edward and I spent most of the early evening kissing on my couch. Our kisses were deep and tender, filled with so much emotion and care. My fingers were tangled in his soft hair while were lost in each other’s embrace.

I was also turned on like crazy. My panties were ruined from kissing. His mouth was strong, soft, commanding and gentle. He held me like I was the most important thing in his universe.

I knew that we’d have to take things slowly. I was okay with that. Edward was obviously an amazing man, but he had been hurt like no person should ever be hurt. He had walls built so far up because of his history. Understandably so … I had my own walls because of the death of my parents. I tried to see things in a positive light, but there were moments where I struggled.

Edward pulled back, hovering over me. His lips were so swollen, but his eyes were content. “I feel like I’m in high school,” he quipped, brushing back an errant curl. He sat up, subtly adjusting his erection. I’d felt it against my thigh.

“I didn’t date much in high school,” I giggled. He helped me to sit up and I curled my legs as I faced him. “I was a bit of a nerd. But, I was thinking about how amazing it is just to kiss someone. No precursor to something else.”

He blushed and smiled at me. “I agree, angel. Your lips are quite addictive.”

“I hate to be a buzzkill,” I said, grimacing. “But, I do need to put the peas back into the freezer.”

“I think it’s safe to say that those peas are going in the garbage,” he chuckled. “We sat down at like five and it’s almost nine.”

“Four hours making out,” I breathed. “That explains why my lips are tingling.” I took Edward’s hand and traced his veins. He shuddered. “Ticklish?”

“For obvious reasons, I never really allowed myself to be touched,” he said. “I could hug my adoptive mother and shake hands, but casual touch like this? I would shy away from it. Feeling your fingers caress my skin? It’s beyond anything I’d imagined. Even having sex was a bit of a struggle.”

I blinked up at him. He insinuated that he’d been touched inappropriately. I never even thought of the ramifications of having sex. “Not everyone will hurt you, Edward. I don’t want to. I just want to see you smile. I want you to feel good, feel loved.” His lips quirked up into a crooked grin.

“When I started therapy, my doctor said that usually victims of sexual abuse either become promiscuous, using sex as currency or shy away from physical intimacy,” he said quietly. “I leaned toward the latter. The only person I willingly shared myself with was my ex-wife.”

I moved closer to him, sliding my arms around his neck. He pulled me into his lap, holding me to his body. “I wish I could take the pain that you’ve felt away, Edward,” I whispered against his temple.

“You do, angel. With your tender smile, your gentle nature and your unending patience, I feel more … at peace. It will take time for me to not have a cynical outlook of the world. But, I want to share so much with you,” he said, his green eyes shimmering. “For now, I just want this.”

“I want that, too,” I said. “We’ll take things as they come. There is no rush. I don’t want to lose your friendship as we explore this relationship.”

Just one more thing ... starting next week, I will be updating this story weekly with teasers on Friday. So, the next update will be on 11/17, but a teaser will be on 11/20 with the following update on 11/24. So, yay! 

A Single Step Teaser

“And these are the bars where you’re going to, hopefully, take your first steps,” Edward said, following Bella in chair.  She’d been distant and barely paid attention throughout her appointment. She also seemed unbearably sad. “Bella?”

“First steps, right,” she said, her voice flat and her gaze looking out the window.

He stopped her, crouching in front of her. “What’s going on, Bella? You’ve been distracted and so sad.”

Bella’s eyes swirled in tears and she buried her face in her hands. Edward maneuvered behind her and rolled her back to the room where he’d worked on her leg muscles. Closing the door, he picked her up and held her in his lap. Her tears soaked his polo shirt as he cradled her to his chest. He wasn’t sure how long he held her, but her tears slowed and she pulled back. “I’m sorry, Edward. I should have just canceled my appointment today. I’m worthless, to be honest.”

“I disagree, Bella,” Edward said, wiping an errant tear away beneath her eye.

“Today, I mean,” she said, looking around and seeing that she wasn’t in her chair. “Did you … how did I … I’m in your lap?”

“Hugging you in the wheelchair hurts the knees,” Edward said. “And with your tears, I think you need more than just a simple hug.” He looked at her, he gave her a tender smile. “What happened? You can talk to me, Bella.”

“I had a court date yesterday,” Bella sighed, idly tracing the symbols on Edward’s forearm. “My ex-husband had been missing visitations with my son, Seth. He, apparently, was playing daddy to his girlfriend’s son, who also happened to be in Seth’s class. The boy showed Seth photos of Riley with him and those photos shattered Seth’s heart. James and Riley snuggling and playing soccer together. Riley promised Seth that he’d sign him up for soccer, but obviously that didn’t happen. My son got into a fight and suspended for five days. I called my ex.”

“What did he say?” Edward asked, anger coursing through his veins.

“I honestly don’t remember, but suffice it to say that I told him that his time with his kids was done,” Bella sneered. Her hands were in fists, but Edward relaxed her, threading his fingers with hers. Bella calmed down and tried not to enjoy Edward holding her hand too much. Blowing out a breath, she continued. “We had our court date and Riley lost all visitation rights. He still needs to pay child support and alimony, including extra money for therapy appointments because of his level of assholery.”

“Assholery? I like it,” Edward snorted. “Did he fight it?”

“He tried, but the judge got in his face regarding his actions toward his children,” Bella said. “Suffice it to say, I got some bonus money because the judge hated my ex and his choices. I’m angry at Riley, but my heart is shattered for my sons.”

A Single Step Teaser

Bella was at her therapist’s office. She was looking at her legs and shocked at how much they’d grown in the three months since she started working with Edward. He was talking about possibly using the bars to start walking. It terrified her. Could she walk again? Would her legs work for her?

“Bella?”

“Coming,” Bella said, turning her chair and rolling into Rose’s office. “Hey, Rose. How’s the baby?”

Emmett and Rose had had a baby girl, via surrogate. “She’s good. Just started rolling over. I can’t believe she’s three months old. How’s your physical therapy?”

“Edward mentioned that we may try walking at my next appointment,” Bella said, giving Rose a smile. “I’m terrified that it won’t work. The muscles in my legs are getting stronger. I have more control in my limbs, but what if I can’t … what if this is all for naught?”

“Bella, you will fall. You’re rebuilding muscles that had not been used in over a year. It’s never easy,” Rose said. “However, you can’t let that slow you down. Your recuperation has been slow and steady …”

“It’s what wins the race,” Bella murmured, smiling gently at Edward’s tender voice when he first mentioned this.

“Now, there’s a face I’ve never seen before,” Rose sang, a coy grin spreading over her face. “Did someone catch your eye?”

Bella’s cheeks flamed. She hid behind her hands, shaking her head harshly. “Maybe, I’ve got some Florence Nightingale thing going on for my physical therapist.”

“Florence Nightingale was a nurse, Bella. Not a physical therapist,” Rose snickered. Bella gave her a hard look, arching a brow at her shrink. “Okay, okay. I’ve met Edward Cullen. He’s easy on the eyes and he pushes for his patients.”

“I agree,” Bella blushed. “I may have a teensy crush on him. There are moments where I feel like there is this connection. I feel more comfortable with him than I did with my ex-husband. Edward has been the rock that I expected from Riley, but he’s kind, strong and loyal.”

“And your ex wasn’t kind?” Rose asked.

“He had moments of kindness, but he was very self-centered and narcissistic,” Bella shrugged.

Bella Swan

Dr. Rosalie McCarty

Emmett McCarty

Rosalie's office

A Single Step Update

A Single Step Chapter Five on FFn

A Single Step Chapter Five on AO3

A Single Step Chapter Five on Wattpad

A Single Step Chapter Five on Stars

A Single Step Chapter Five on FicPad

“Edward, can I have a word with you?” Alice asked, sitting at her desk. It had been a couple of weeks since Bella began her physical therapy. She gestured to the chair next to her desk. “How are things going?”

Edward sat down, stretching his legs out. He took a few sips of water. “It’s very slow going. I looked at her scans and her body should be healing. The damage is minute.”

“I think a lot of it is mental,” Alice murmured. “Are you going to take her to the pool?”

“Not yet. The muscles in her legs are not strong enough. We’ve been working them. Her toes are working and she’s able to point and flex her foot.”

“That’s more than she’s done before,” Alice smiled.

“The first time she moved her foot, Bella started crying,” Edward breathed. “At first, she was quiet, but then she just lost it.” He blushed, looking at his boss. “I hate to see women crying. Hell, anyone really.”

“You hugged her, didn’t you?” Alice asked, an understanding look on her face.

“I held her, Alice. I picked her up and held her in my lap as she cried,” he sighed, scrubbing his face. “During our sessions, she told me about what her ex-husband did to her. Her parents are supportive and her kids are great, but she’s been weathering this storm on her own. I wanted to make it a little better.”

“She let her guard down around you?” Alice said.  Edward nodded, his face turning a brighter red. “Good, that’s what I was hoping for.”

“What?”

“I see a lot of Rosalie in Bella,” Alice smirked. “Tough as nails, dealing with their disabilities, for the most part, on their own. Emmett brought something out in Rosalie that made her even stronger. She felt supported for the first time.”

“What you’re suggesting goes against everything I learned in my classes, Alice,” Edward said, pursing his lips. “Bella is a beautiful woman, but she’s my patient. A relationship with her is unethical.”

“That’s almost exactly what Emmett said about Rosalie,” Alice laughed.

Edward giving Bella support

Alice Whitlock

Edward Cullen

Rehabilitation Facility

Bella Swan

Jake Biers

I’m unsure if you’d heard, but one of our beloved fandom family members passed away this weekend. Dee Creston, lovingly known as FangirlinGrandmaDee, died peacefully and surrounded by family. This chapter is dedicated to one of the kindest, warmest and friendliest members of our TwiFamily. Her love of fic and her encouraging words will be missed, tremendously.

From me to you, Dee, {GIANT TUFANO HUGS AND SMOOCHES} … always and forever.

A Single Step Teaser

I’m unsure if you’d heard, but one of our beloved fandom family members passed away this weekend. Dee Creston, lovingly known as FangirlinGrandmaDee, died peacefully and surrounded by family. This chapter is dedicated to one of the kindest, warmest and friendliest members of our TwiFamily. Her love of fic and her encouraging words will be missed, tremendously.

From me to you, Dee, {GIANT TUFANO HUGS AND SMOOCHES} … always and forever.

“Edward, can I have a word with you?” Alice asked, sitting at her desk. It had been a couple of weeks since Bella began her physical therapy. She gestured to the chair next to her desk. “How are things going?”

Edward sat down, stretching his legs out. He took a few sips of water. “It’s very slow going. I looked at her scans and her body should be healing. The damage is minute.”

“I think a lot of it is mental,” Alice murmured. “Are you going to take her to the pool?”

“Not yet. The muscles in her legs are not strong enough. We’ve been working them. Her toes are working and she’s able to point and flex her foot.”

“That’s more than she’s done before,” Alice smiled.

“The first time she moved her foot, Bella started crying,” Edward breathed. “At first, she was quiet, but then she just lost it.” He blushed, looking at his boss. “I hate to see women crying. Hell, anyone really.”

“You hugged her, didn’t you?” Alice asked, an understanding look on her face.

“I held her, Alice. I picked her up and held her in my lap as she cried,” he sighed, scrubbing his face. “During our sessions, she told me about what her ex-husband did to her. Her parents are supportive and her kids are great, but she’s been weathering this storm on her own. I wanted to make it a little better.”

“She let her guard down around you?” Alice said.  Edward nodded, his face turning a brighter red. “Good, that’s what I was hoping for.”

“What?”

“I see a lot of Rosalie in Bella,” Alice smirked. “Tough as nails, dealing with their disabilities, for the most part, on their own. Emmett brought something out in Rosalie that made her even stronger. She felt supported for the first time.”

“What you’re suggesting goes against everything I learned in my classes, Alice,” Edward said, pursing his lips. “Bella is a beautiful woman, but she’s my patient. A relationship with her is unethical.”

“That’s almost exactly what Emmett said about Rosalie,” Alice laughed.