Shaky Ground Update

Shaky Ground Chapter 17 on FicPad

Shaky Ground Chapter 17 on Stars

Shaky Ground Chapter 17 on AO3

Shaky Ground Chapter 17 on FFn

Shaky Ground Chapter 17 on Wattpad

Alice wandered down the emergency department. Bella was off today, but she was determined to find a few of her roommate’s coworkers for a party for Bella’s thirtieth birthday. Yes, it had been a week ago, but it was her thirtieth birthday. It was kind of a big deal and Bella ignored it.

Alice, however, would not.

“Alice Brandon, as I live and breathe,” cooed Shelly. “What are you doing down here?”

“I’m on a mission. A secret mission. I’m planning,” Alice snickered.

“Who’s birthday?” Shelly laughed.

“Bella’s,” Alice nodded. “I know it was last week, but she deserves more than what she got. So, I’m planning a surprise party at Game Works.”

“Oooh, when?” Shelly asked.

“Saturday night, meeting there for dinner at six and games until it closes. I’m off, as is Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie. Marcus Volturi and his husband, Felix, are coming, too,” Alice nodded.

“Damn it. I’m on,” Shelly grumbled. “Grace is off. She’s close with Bella.”

“Pass the word onto her, will ya?” Alice asked. “Oh, and is Dr. Masen here?”

“In his office,” Shelly smirked. She leaned forward, her brow arched. “I think he’s sweet on Bella.”

“Me, too,” Alice giggled. “But, I’m going to invite him. It’ll be up to him if he wants to come. I’ll give you the deets if he does show up. Laters!” Alice walked toward Dr. Masen’s office. The door was opened and she heard typing. Gently knocking, she poked her head inside. “Dr. Masen?”

“Yes?” he said, sounding exasperated. He blinked up, seeing Alice’s face. “Nurse Brandon, what a surprise to see you down here in the emergency department. Are you floating today?”

“Oh, no. I’m on break, but I wanted to talk to you. Well, invite you …” Alice blushed. He arched a brow. “Look, I know that you and Bella are kind of friendly-like. I’m throwing her a surprise party, even though her birthday was a week ago, but it was a milestone birthday. Anyhow, a bunch of us are going to Game Works. To celebrate, Bella’s birthday. It’s happening on Saturday and perhaps, if you’re not working, you’d like to go?”

Edward schooled his looks, trying to appear impassive. “I’m working on Saturday, but if I get off early enough, I could stop by. I don’t know,” he shrugged.

“What shift?” Alice asked.

“Seven to seven,” he answered.

“Send me a text if you’re coming,” Alice chirped, jotting down her number and putting it on Edward’s desk. “I’ll see you on Saturday?”

The Magic Within Update

TMW Chapter 11 on FicPad

TMW Chapter 11 on AO3

TMW Chapter 11 on Stars

TMW Chapter 11 on FFn

TMW Chapter 11 on Wattpad

“You’re free, sih’rena.”

“I don’t feel free. I still feel bound to that …” she trailed off.

“What do you need to feel like you’re no longer with him?” I asked.

“Kiss me,” she whispered, staring into my eyes. Her irises glowed amber and her body heated against me. “Make me feel something other fear and pain.”

I blinked slowly, reaching up for her face. The bruises there were nearly gone, fading into a sickly greenish yellow. I allowed the magic to flow through me, healing her beautiful features and removing the hateful mark on her face from her now ex-husband. Once the bruise was gone, I stared into her swirling amber irises. There was heat within her eyes, but it wasn’t coming from the magic bubbling just beneath the surface. My fingers glided down her pale skin. She shuddered, moving closer to me. My thumb grazed over her soft lips and I stared at her. “Are you certain?” I whispered, my body yearning for her to say yes. I wanted nothing more than to lose myself in her lips, her warmth.

“More than anything in the world,” she whispered back, her hot fingers moving up my neck and tangling into my hair. “Kiss me, Edward. Please?”

I didn’t even think twice as I leaned forward. I kept my eyes on hers until she angled her head. My eyes fluttered shut and I brushed my lips with hers, my heart lurching beneath my ribs. They were soft, pliant and so sweet against me. Her fingers tugged on my hair, pressing her body to me. I nibbled on her lower lip and she whimpered, her mouth opening. I slid my tongue inside and the essence of her exploded against my palate.

“Edward …” she breathed, moving so she was straddling over my lap. I held her flush to my body, a low growl rumbling from deep within me. She pulled back, looking at me and gave me a seductive grin. “I think we need to go someplace more private. I want to feel your body. Your fae body.” Getting off my lap, she tugged on my hand. I got up and led up the stairs to my suite.

Inside, I looked at her. “Bella, I want to feel you, too, but I don’t want to push you. Not yet. You just ended your relationship and it was a traumatic relationship to begin with. No hurries and you’re in control, sih’rena.”

“I may have gotten out of a relationship, but I want this. I want you,” she said. Within a blink of an eye, she was transformed into her beautiful fae version, tall, sexy, lithe and barely clothed. She sashayed over to the bed, perching herself on the edge and crossing her long limbs. I removed my shirt, allowing the magic to change me. She licked her lips, her eyes washing over me hungrily. “You’re so beautiful, m’aarenne,” she purred. “But, you are right. Neither one of us is ready for a sexual relationship. That doesn’t mean we can’t explore.”

“Agreed,” I said, grinning crookedly. 

Out of the Darkness Teaser

Bella was asleep in my bedroom. Felix was lying next to her, snoring loudly. I was in the kitchen, talking to Alice and Jasper. “We’ll take care of packing up belongings. But, do you think it’s wise to talk to her landlord?” Jasper asked.

“That woman tried to refuse medical treatment when Riley came in, breaking her arm,” I said. “She may not be an instrument for the devil, but she’s evil, nonetheless.”

“I agree. She is …” Alice trailed off.

“She’s a bitch,” I finished for her. I typed up a letter, describing a family emergency that was forcing her to move out. I was vague, but it made her aware of Bella moving out. “Stay with her. I’m going to drop this off and talk to that bitch.”

“I’ll pick up some boxes, but Bella doesn’t have much,” Alice whispered. “Her furniture is from Goodwill and will be left in the apartment. We’ll go once you get back.”

I nodded, getting up and walking to my car. I wanted to fly, but it would look weird to just randomly appear and fly away. I drove to Port Angeles and parked across the street from the café. I could hear Rosalie. She was mentally complaining about working the day after Christmas. I strode into the café, walking over to the blonde bombshell. “I thought I banned you from my shop,” she snarled.

“Be that as it may,” I said, taking out the letter I wrote and handed it to her. “I’m informing you that Bella will no longer be living in that apartment above this café. She doesn’t feel safe her due to what happened with Riley and with your callous behavior, refusing her medical care.”

“She still had time on her shift,” Rose scoffed. “And I can’t accept this. She needs to see me in person.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen,” I said. I explained my legal stance and my plan if Rose went through with her bullshit of suing Bella for inappropriate notice in breaking a lease. After an hour speaking with her, I had a check for the last two months of Bella’s rent, along with payment for Bella’s medical bills for her broken wrist. It was almost five thousand dollars and I would put it into an account for her, making it grow rapidly. I explained to Rose that I’d have movers come tomorrow to pack up Bella’s belongings and that if anything was touched, she’d have to pay to replace that as well. Rose gave me a harsh look, but agreed. I took the check, leaving the café and drove back to my house in the middle of the woods near Forks.

Once I got into the house, Alice and Jasper left and drove away. I made some lunch, carrying it into the bedroom. Bella was still asleep. She was curled up under the white comforter. Felix was next to her, his tail thumping when he smelled the meal. “Not for you, bub. Cheese gives you gas,” I teased.

“I did not need to know that,” Bella giggled, looking over her shoulder. She was adorably sleep-rumpled and sexy. “Who gets gas? You or Felix?”

“Felix,” I chuckled. She sat up, tossing her messy curls into a lopsided ponytail. “You were sleeping the day away, pretty Bella.”

“I actually feel safe enough to sleep,” she said, giving me a tender smile. “And this bed is amazing.”

“It is pretty awesome,” I said, putting the tray over her legs. She beamed, digging into her lunch. As she did, I saw the teddy bear I’d given her pressed against her hip. 

Out of the Darkness Update

OOTD Chapter 14 on FicPad

OOTD Chapter 14 on AO3

OOTD Chapter 14 on Stars

OOTD Chapter 14 on FFn

OOTD Chapter 14 Wattpad

“Wait, you can play the piano?” I asked, snickering as we sat curled up in on the couch in the living room. We had snuggled all day, never moving further apart than a few feet. We were always touching. I should have been afraid, terrified of being so close to a man, but Edward made me feel so at ease, and so safe. “Do you have any other hidden talents?”

“I can play a mean guitar and I’m awesome at jazz flute,” he chuckled, his fingers gliding along my arm.

“Jazz flute?” I giggled.

“Okay, no jazz flute,” he said, shooting me a deadly gorgeous crooked grin. “But, I can play the guitar.”

“I want to hear you play,” I said, smiling widely. “Either one. Hell, even some bad jazz flute.”

“I don’t have a piano here, but I do have a guitar,” he said, getting up. He caressed my cheek, darted away. He came back with a gorgeous black guitar with angel’s wings on either side of the sound hole. He sat down, tuning the instrument. “It’s been awhile since I’ve played and sung.”

“You sing, too?” I breathed. “Is there anything you don’t do?”

“Knit,” he smirked, his fingers working along the fretboard. “I tried. My fingers are just too big. I also struggle with sewing, too. Again, fat fingers.” I stopped him, grabbing his strong, but slender hand. I arched a brow, twining our fingers together. He blushed, taking my hand, kissing my palm. I shuddered, staring into his eyes. He kissed my wrist before taking a deep breath. “Don’t laugh at how awful I am, pretty Bella.”

“Never,” I said. He gave me another beautifully crooked grin before his fingers moved gracefully along the neck of the guitar. After a brief introduction, he began playing one of my favorite holiday songs: I’ll Be Home for Christmas. I never had a home and hearing that song, every year, made me yearn for a home during the holidays. But, this was the first time I had a Christmas, a home. Edward’s voice was a beautiful tenor, with rich depth and a sexy growl. I didn’t realize I was crying until Edward finished his song, wiping my tears away. “That was beautiful … my favorite Christmas song.”

“I know,” he said. He tapped his head, his eyes softening. “You have a home now, Bella. You have to know that.”

“I’m trying,” I whispered. He moved the guitar and held me in his arms. “But, this has been the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

“Well, we’re not done yet,” Edward said. “We have Christmas dinner and then presents!”

“Presents?” I squeaked. “I didn’t …” He gave me a tender grin, brushing his lips against mine and I melted. Like, my brain melted and I couldn’t remember what he had said. “No fair.”