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! 

Falling for a Dark Soul Update

FFADS Chapter 8 on FFn

FFADS Chapter 8 on AO3

FFADS Chapter 8 on Stars

FFADS Chapter 8 on Wattpad

It was getting harder to maintain my distance from Bella. She just felt so right in my arms. Despite the shit hand of cards she was dealt, she was positive and happy for her sister. She gave Katie every opportunity, navigating single parenthood with grace.

However, I saw the despair in her eyes. It was well-hidden with smiles, hard work and devotion to her family. I saw it. I hated it. I wanted to make it better.

This was why I was elbow-deep in her car’s front-end. I’d removed her dead battery and easily replaced it. I was also installing a gift. Her car was newer, but did not have some of the safety measures I thought she needed. I got her a remote start and a car alarm. Bella was inside, starting to make dinner for her and Katie.

“Do you want some coffee?” Bella asked, walking into the garage. “I made decaf. I don’t know about you, but if I drink regular coffee after three, I’m up all night.” She held two mugs, giving me an uncertain smile.

I stood up, wiping my hands on a rag that Bella had given me. “That’s great,” I answered, taking the proffered cup. “I’m almost done. Do you have your key?” I sipped the coffee, humming at the warmth. “This is good. Perfect for a cold day like today.”

“You’re not wearing your jacket,” Bella chided.

I held up my greasy, disgusting hands. “I didn’t want to get it dirty. I’ll have to scrub them raw to get all of this off.”

“I’m sorry. I could have …” she trailed off.

“Bella, I offered. It’s all good. Doing stuff like this reminds me of how far I’ve come,” I sighed. I closed the hood of the car, grinning at her crookedly. “Start her up. Let’s see if the car still works.”

Bella nodded, opening the driver’s side and started the engine. It turned over, just as I expected it to. “It’s all good. I’ll have to reprogram the radio stations, but other than that, it’s perfect.” She turned off the engine. Closing the door, she looked at me. “Are you certain I can’t pay you? I feel like I’m abusing our friendship.”

“The only payment I require is a sink, hot water and soap,” I laughed.

“I have that,” she giggled. “And a home-cooked meal. You cooked for me. Now, it’s my turn.”

“Excellent,” I grinned. “Now, before we go in, I have something for you. Consider it another gift …”

“Edward,” she chided.

“It’s for your safety, angel,” I argued, inwardly grimacing. I really needed to stop doing that. But, she was an angel. I’d love for her to be my angel. I handed her a key fob, careful that I wouldn’t cover her with the grease from my ministrations in her car. “Chicago has some pretty nasty winters. I installed a remote start along with a car alarm.” She gave me a hard look. “This button arms the car alarm. You press it again; it will disarm it. The blue button? You hold that down and the car will start. Try it, Bella.”

She armed the alarm and then pressed the remote start. The car turned over. A fraction of a smile ghosted over her face. “This is pretty cool,” she murmured.

“There’s also an app for your phone. I can sync it up for you,” I said.

She added the fob to her car key, but she looked at me. Pressing her finger into my chest, she grumbled, “This is too much. I am capable of taking care of myself. I will pay you for the remote start thing, Edward. Don’t think I can’t navigate a computer, bub.” Her eyes were flashing with defiance and her cheeks were pink. With a smirk, she stepped back. “I have some towels and soap in the half bathroom. It’s just off the kitchen. I will have a check for you, Edward.”

“Understood, angel,” I nodded. She whirled around, picking up her coffee mug and leaving the garage. Punctuating her exit, she armed the car alarm. I snorted, picking up my jacket and coffee mug. I turned off the light and closed the garage, following Bella into her home. She gestured to the bathroom. I ducked inside, closing the door. I scoured my hands. The grease came off easier than when I was in high school.

Your hands are also softer than when you were a teenaged hoodlum.

I finished in the bathroom, walking into the kitchen. Bella was sitting at the island, sipping her coffee. Next to her, she had her laptop out and a check sat innocently on my jacket. “You better deposit it, Edward. I know where you work,” she quipped.

“Okay, okay,” I said, taking the check and putting it into my wallet.

Falling for a Dark Soul Extended Summary

Isabella Swan moved away from the world she’s known, trying to move on from the loss of her parents and raising her baby sister, Katie. She’s always seen the best in the world, but she’s struggling in coping with all of the changes in her life. A new start was needed and she packed up, moving from the small town of Forks to Chicago to work as an advertising junior executive at Masen Advertising Corporation.

Edward Cullen, CEO of Masen Advertising Corporation, is a cold-hearted, uncaring, hateful asshole. An orphan and living in foster care until he turned fifteen, he was adopted by Carlisle and Esme Cullen. Edward struggled with forming relationships. All he wanted was a partner, a friend, a lover, a wife, a mother to his children. He lost his wife, Tanya, when she was found screwing his partner, Jacob Black, on his desk. She also shattered his heart, ending several pregnancies, even though Edward had pleaded to start a family.

What happens when Edward bumps into Bella in the hallways of Masen Advertising Corporation? Will she be the chink in his armor, shattering his carefully constructed walls? Or will he bring her into the darkness, shattering her optimistic view of the world? It’s uncertain, but she’s Falling for a Dark Soul.

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I'm planning on writing something. I'd love to hear what you'd like to me to write. Obviously, something with Bella and Edward because they are my forever ship. Let me know what you'd like read and if you're willing to donate.

Fire of Your Soul Teaser

The ambulance roared toward the hospital with Edward sitting on the gurney, the oxygen mask over his mouth and nose.  Even with the oxygen being pushed into his lungs, he felt like he couldn’t breathe like an elephant was sitting on his chest.  The guilt he felt from losing his victim. The young woman who slipped out of his hand was Charlie Swan’s daughter.  The very same daughter he had just boasted about just a few hours before playing at the concert, debuting with the Seattle Symphony.

Fuck!

Edward closed his eyes, but as soon as he did he was bombarded with the images of Angela as she looked up at him.  Her sweet, innocent face, so full of fear, begging him to save her.  Why couldn’t he have just held on?  Was he such a weakling that he couldn’t hold onto this small woman, just a few moments longer?  Was he even good at his job?  Angela was dead because of him.  Instead of saving lives, he was taking them. How could he look Charlie in the face again?

The ambulance pulled up to the hospital and the EMTs opened the back, wheeling Edward into the emergency department.  As the gurney was pushed through the door, it was met by a worried Carlisle and Esme. Edward’s chief had called them as soon as Edward was put in the ambulance.  

Over the years, the chief had seen what happened to firemen after they lost someone in a fire.  Some were able to take it in stride, but others would completely implode, blaming themselves for the loss of a victim.  The vacant, broken look in Edward’s eyes was the one that was about to implode, or worse, completely shut down.  He knew that Edward and Charlie were close friends, with a great deal of respect flowing between the two of them, which made this even worse.  So, the chief called in reinforcements with Carlisle and Esme. Edward would need his family in order to get over the guilt of losing a victim, of seeing the daughter of a man who Edward respected die needlessly.

Edward was checked over and was attached to an oxygen mask for the rest of the night. The damage to his lungs wasn’t too bad, but his oxygen saturation was low. He was monitored while his hands were dressed.

As Edward’s parents watched him while he was being checked out, Esme wanted to hug him, make his hurt go away. She saw the haunted look in his eyes and she knew something tragic happened. The battalion chief, when calling the mayor and his wife, had said that Edward would need his family. However, the reason for that need was left unsaid. She sat next to him, gently rubbing his arm as he slept fitfully after his wounds were dressed.

Carlisle had gone to Edward’s apartment, picking up a change of clothes. When he arrived, he heard Edward’s angry but defeated voice yelling at his mother.

“There’s nothing you can do to make it better, Mom!” Edward snarled. “You can’t just hug me, and it magically makes everything better. I fucked up. I lost someone. I watched a girl plummet to her death and there’s not a goddamned thing I can do about it.”

“But, baby, I just want to …” Esme said, her voice calm and reaching for his hands.

“I don’t deserve it!” Edward roared, pulling his hands away and turning his face away from his mother.  As he glared out the darkened window, he snapped, “You want to hug someone? Go help the Swans.”

“What do you mean, son?” Carlisle asked, placing his son’s clothes on the plastic recliner in his room.

“The girl who died? The one that I couldn’t fucking save? Charlie’s daughter,” Edward said, his voice cracking. “She begged me, Dad. She didn’t want to die, but I wasn’t strong enough. I let her fall.”

“No, Edward,” Esme argued. “It’s not your fault.”

“My job is to serve and protect. I’m a first responder. I couldn’t do that for her. I couldn’t help Angela,” Edward cried, tears streaming down his cheeks. He coughed, unable to catch his breath. “What’s the point? I … I …”

“Edward, son, you need to calm down,” Carlisle said, taking Edward’s hands. “Deep breaths, son.”

“I couldn’t save her, Dad,” Edward sobbed, falling onto his ass on the hard floor of the hospital. His breathing was still irregular, and his heart rate was through the roof. Carlisle wrapped his arms around Edward’s trembling body. Edward clung to his dad, crying brokenly and struggling to breathe.