Bella's cheeks flushed a deep red as she stared at me, her dark brown eyes wide and uncertain. She fiddled with the hem of her sweater, her fingers twisting the fabric nervously. I could practically hear her heart racing, the sound of it pulsing in my ears like a drumbeat. She was so easy to read, so vulnerable. It was almost too tempting.
"Yeah, I slept well," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced toward the kitchen, where Renee hummed softly, oblivious to the tension between us. "Why do you ask?"
I leaned in closer, my lips brushing her ear as I spoke, my voice low and deliberate. "Just checking on my favorite sister. You seemed… distracted this morning." I let my hand rest on the back of her chair, my fingers brushing the edge of her shoulder. She shivered, and I smiled. I got you.
Bella sucked in a breath and looked away quickly, her hands gripping the edge of the table. "I'm fine," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "Just… tired, I guess."
"Hmm," I murmured, straightening up but keeping my gaze fixed on her. "Well, I was thinking we could visit Dad today. It's been a while since we've seen him. What do you say?"
Her eyes flicked back to mine, a flicker of relief crossing her face. "Yeah, that sounds good. I'll go get ready."
I watched her hurry out of the room, her movements quick and hurried. She was so cute when she was nervous. I turned to Renee, who was wiping down the counter with a cheerful smile on her face.
"Mom, Bella and I are going to visit Dad. We'll be back later," I said, my tone casual.
Renee looked up, her blue eyes shining. "Oh, that's wonderful! Say hi to Charlie. And don't forget to bring some of those cookies I baked yesterday. He loves them."
"I'll take them," I said, grabbing the cookie jar from the counter. I could already feel the anticipation building in my chest. This was going to be fun.
Bella reappeared a few minutes later, dressed in simple jeans and a loose sweater that barely concealed her curves. She avoided my gaze as she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. I followed her outside, my eyes lingering on the way her hips swayed as she walked. She had no idea what was in store for her.
The drive to La Push was uneventful, the only sound the hum of the Impala's engine and the occasional rustle of leaves as we drove through the dense forest. Bella sat in the passenger seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. I could feel the tension radiating off her, and it only made me more determined to break through her defenses.
"You're awfully quiet," I said, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye. "Is there something on your mind?"
She shook her head quickly, her dark hair brushing her cheeks. "No, just… thinking."
"About what?" I pressed, my voice soft and teasing.
She hesitated, her fingers twitching in her lap. "Just… things. School. Life. You know."
I laughed softly, my hand reaching out to rest on her thigh. She tensed immediately, her breath catching in her throat. "Relax, Bella. It's just me."
Her eyes dropped to my hand, then back to the road. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I let my hand slide a little higher, my fingers brushing the inside of her thigh. She shivered, her legs pressing together instinctively. She was so sensitive, so responsive. It was intoxicating.
"You know, Bella," I said, my voice low and husky, "you don't have to be so nervous around me. We're family. You can tell me anything."
She swallowed, her cheeks flushing again. "I'm not nervous," she lied, her voice shaking.
I smiled, my fingers tracing small circles on her thigh. "Of course not."
We drove in silence for a few more minutes, the tension between us growing stronger by the second. I could feel her heart racing, her body trembling beneath my touch. She wanted this, even if she didn't realize it yet.
Finally, I pulled the car to a stop in a secluded spot near the cliffs of La Push. The ocean stretched out before us, waves crashing against the rocks below. Bella looked around, confusion shining in her eyes.
"Why are we stopping?" she asked, her voice shaking.
I turned to her, my eyes locked on hers. "Because I wanted to talk to you. Alone."
She swallowed, her hands gripping the edge of the seat. "About what?"
I reached out, my fingers brushing her cheek. She flinched but didn't pull away. "About us," I said, my voice soft but firm.
Her eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "Us?"
I nodded, my hand sliding down to cup her chin. "You've been avoiding me, Bella. I've noticed. And I want to know why."
She shook her head, her dark hair falling over her face. "I'm not avoiding you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Why are we stopping?" she asked, her voice shaking.
I turned to her, my eyes locked on hers. "Because I wanted to talk to you. Alone."
She swallowed, her hands gripping the edge of the seat. "About what?"
I reached out, my fingers brushing her cheek. She flinched, but didn't pull away. "About us," I said, my voice soft but firm.
Her eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "Us?"
I nodded, my hand sliding down to her chin. "You've been avoiding me, Bella. I've noticed. And I want to know why."
She shook her head, her dark hair falling over her face. "I'm not avoiding you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Then why do you tense up every time I touch you?" I asked, my thumb brushing her bottom lip. "Why do you look at me like you're scared of me?"
She swallowed, looking away. "I'm not scared of you," she said, her voice shaking.
"Then what is it?" I pressed, my voice low and insistent. "Tell me, Bella."
She hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "I… I don't know," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I just… I don't know how to act around you anymore."
I leaned closer, my lips brushing her ear. "You don't have to pretend, Bella. Just be yourself. That's all I want."
She shivered, her body trembling beneath my touch. "Alex, I—"
I cut her off, my lips capturing hers in a soft, lingering kiss. She froze for a moment, her body rigid, but then she melted into me, her lips parting slightly. I deepened the kiss, my hand sliding into her hair, holding her close. She moaned softly, her hands gripping my shoulders.
When I finally pulled away, she was breathless, her eyes wide and dazed. "Alex," she whispered, her voice shaking.
I smiled, brushing my thumb against her cheek. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
She shook her head, her hands still gripping my shoulders. "I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," I murmured, my lips brushing hers again. "Just let me take care of you, Bella. That's all I want."
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine. "But… what about Daddy? We should be visiting him."
I laughed softly, my hand sliding down to her waist. "He can wait. Right now, it's just the two of us."
She swallowed, her body trembling beneath my touch. "Alex, I—"
I cut her off with another kiss, my hand sliding under her sweater, my fingers brushing the soft skin of her stomach. She moaned softly, her body arching toward mine. She was mine, and she knew it.