Fragile Love

by Mack Black

  She cares. It may not be love, but she cares.

  I jerked the flash drive from my computer, scrawled a note on it, and shoved it into an envelope.

  She wouldn't take it if I just handed it to her, but I had a plan.

  I drove over to her house, deciding it would take too long to walk. I went straight to her car, opened the driver’s door, and deposited the envelope onto the seat. Then I left.

  All I could do was go home and wait, hoping when she found it she’d watch the tape.

  A whole day had passed since leaving the camera footage in Bella's car. Most of it I’d spent pacing my living room, wondering when Bella would show up.

  The more time that passed, the more likely it seemed she wouldn't. I’d finally retired to bed, late in the morning, convinced she wasn't coming.

  Everything that’d happened lately had me on edge to the point of insomnia. What little sleep I got made me feel even worse when I finally woke up.

  After Elise’s betrayal, I couldn’t go to work, so I called in sick. There was really no point in getting out of bed. All I could think about was Charlotte, and how she betrayed my family. All to be with Jace. Elise had betrayed me and Bella, and for what? To be with me?

  Even before the lies to Bella, even before her conniving plan to ruin things between us, I wouldn’t have given her a second chance. Once trust was broken, nothing could piece it back together.

  Staring at my ceiling, I realized I dreaded even going to work tomorrow. Hell, I didn’t want to ever go again if it meant having to see her.

  I should’ve let him fire her.

  A knock on the front door drew my attention, but it was so quiet I almost thought I was hearing things. Somehow, I drug myself out of bed and answered it.

  Bella’s puffy, red cheeks and swollen eyes told me she’d been crying. It didn’t matter that things were off with us. She was hurting, so I wrapped my arms around her and tugged her inside my apartment.

  We moved together to the couch. I wanted to smile, but I pressed my lips together because it wasn’t the time.

  "I should’ve believed you.” She sniffled. “It's Elise we're talking about. I wasn't even going to watch it, but I couldn't stop myself. Watching her do what she did after I came in…” She paused and looked into my eyes. “She heard me call your name. She did it on purpose. I let her drive a wedge between us. I’m so sorry.”

  Tears slid down her cheeks and I swiped them away with my thumbs as I stroked her cheek. "You should’ve believed me, Bella. I've never, ever lied to you. I have withheld information, but I've never flat out lied. I won’t lie now and say it didn’t hurt, that it didn’t kill me when you took her side, but you’re here now. That’s what matters.” I kissed the top of her head, trying to tell her without words all the things I couldn’t seem to say.

  “There is one thing this situation made clear, though. I have real, genuine feelings for you. The thought of you cheating on me felt like a sucker punch straight to my heart. The way I feel for you, the way I think I’ve always felt for you, is so clear to me now.” She looked up at me with wide eyes, never blinking, as the corners of her lips twitched into a sweet smile. I could see her love outlined in her face, in her eyes, I could even hear it in her voice.

  My inner child was screaming, doing back flips in celebration. On the outside, I tried to stay calm, to keep my face straight since she was still crying. I wished I could take away her hurt, to make everything better, but I couldn’t because I didn’t know what it was.

  "It is?" The tone of my voice came out so soft I couldn’t be sure she heard me. When she pressed her lips to mine, I knew she had.

  I hoisted her into my lap, stroking her back with my fingertips as I deepened the kiss. I had no idea what was happening, but I loved it.

  Breaking the kiss, she peeled her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. When her head fell back, I pressed my lips to her neck and tasted her soft skin. Her fingers ran through my hair right before she smashed her lips against mine again. She took control, put everything into that kiss. Then, her hands roamed down my bare chest, stopping at the waistband of my shorts.

  I traced my hands up her back, and when I felt cloth, my fingers fumbled with the hook, but finally I got it undone and tossed it aside.

  She wrapped her legs around my waist then, running her hands into my hair again. I hoisted her up and carried her into my bedroom. After I laid her on the bed, I stood back to admire her.

  My fingers danced up her legs until I stopped at her thighs and rubbed, asking permission to keep going. She didn’t stop me, so I slid her shorts down her legs.

  Her purple, lacy underwear made me groan. Bella, lying in my bed in only those beautiful underwear. I’d dreamed of this moment so many times, and my dream had finally come to fruition.

  The curves of her body made her look almost unreal. I closed my eyes, thinking this had to be a dream, but when I opened them she was still there.

  "James." Her breathy voice made me almost come undone. Almost.

  “I feel like maybe I’m hallucinating.” My heart raced in my chest while my mind had turned into a brilliant storm of emotions.

  She grabbed my hand, placed it over her heart. “I’m real and I’m right here, waiting for you. I want this, James. I want you. All of you.”

  Her words did something to me, and I grabbed her panties and ripped them right off her. Then I stepped back with a smug smile and took her all in. The whole time, I stroked her thighs with my thumbs. And then, I went for it. Leaning down, I kissed her soft, tan thigh, inhaling her sweet scent as I did.

  The bedroom door opened, and I jumped back, ready to scream and cuss whoever had interrupted. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bella cover herself with my blanket.

  "Oh shit. I'm sorry, man," Tucker said.

  I growled, turning and pushing him out the bedroom door.

  "Was that…" he trailed off. "We're you and Bella? What? When? How? Damn, congrats man."

  "What are you doing here Tucker?" Not that I wasn't glad to see my friend or anything, but his timing couldn’t have been worse.

  Bella came out of my bedroom fully dressed, her cheeks stained red. She took a seat on the couch.

  "Look man. I've been calling you for a week straight. You didn't return my calls, so I got worried. I used my key to get in so I could make sure you were alright."

  In his defense, I hadn't returned his calls, which wasn't like me. With everything that’d happened, I cut everyone and everything out of my life.

  "Some stuff went down with Elise. It slipped my mind to call you back. My life has been so crazy lately, Tuck. I'm sorry you were worried man, but can we talk about this another time?" I just wanted him to leave.

  Every time I got close to things happening with Bella, we got interrupted. Either that, or one of us shot it down. I was about to lose my virginity, and now my chance had slipped away again.

  "Yeah. Sorry again. Sorry Bells. Umm, yeah. Okay. Well bye.” He gave an awkward wave. “Have fun. Use protection."

  Mortification didn’t even begin to cover it. If only the world would open its mouth and swallow me right now.

  I sat beside Bella. "I'm so sorry."

  "I should probably go," she said, making no move to leave.

  "Why? Don't go. I’ve just spent an entire week without you. I'm not ready for you to leave yet,” I pleaded. “What do you want to do? Anything."

  The only thing I could think about was finishing what we’d started, but I had a feeling that ship had sailed. Especially when Bella turned to me with an excited grin and asked, “You want to play Halo?”

  I shrugged. "Sure."

  I went to my Xbox and sifted through my games until I found it. I didn’t play it a lot anymore, but I knew I could still beat her. So, I popped it in the console and handed her a controller.

  My character was killed almost instantly, and she had an uncanny ability to disappear on the screen. I might be in more trouble than I thought.
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  After playing Halo for two hours, I finally gave up and admitted defeat, watching with a smile as she did a victory dance around me.

  I challenged her to three rounds of Mortal Kombat and switched out the games. I took Scorpion while she took Kitana. The game counted down and we started our first round. I easily beat her, using power moves and combos.

  Second round went about the same.

  "You might have beat me in Halo, but I'll always smoke you in Mortal Kombat. Tuck and I used to play this game for hours. I know every combo move. You should give up now," I taunted.

  "I don't quit. Let's up the stakes though. If one of us loses, that person has to take off an article of clothing," she said, distracting me enough to take my character down.

  She might’ve won round three, but she cheated.

  "Deal," I said.

  I didn't have much on, but I didn't care. Especially if it meant taking her back to my bed afterwards.

  "Well you lost, so strip." She smiled at me.

  My shorts came off, leaving me in only my boxers. After I handed the shorts to her, I picked my controller up again. “It’s so on.”

  I won the next three rounds, which left us both sitting in our underwear staring at each other. It was a little awkward since neither of us said anything, and I didn’t know what to say…All I knew was I had an erection the size of the White House.

  Bella tossed her controller and jumped at me, knocking me to the ground. I let my controller fall to the floor and wrapped my arms around her. We rolled across the living room floor, skin against skin, battling for dominance. When she gained the upper hand, I cheated by leaning up and kissing her neck. A loud moan fell from her lips and she forgot what we’d been doing.

  I wished every day could be like this. Being here with her would be enough for me.

  Feeling her skin pressed against mine, her heart beating as wildly as mine, was perfect.

  I rolled us over and took the top, kissing her neck some more before moving to her chest. My hips pressed forward, bearing down against her.

  Bella's legs wrapped around me and held me against her. I slid her bra straps down her arms, kissing her shoulder and back up to her neck.

  "Stay with me tonight," I whispered against her ear.

  Unwrapping her legs from around me, I slid my body down hers, kissing her thighs. It wasn’t enough. I wanted to kiss every inch of her, to taste every inch of her.

  "You're so damn crazy."

  "Darling, I pride myself on being crazy. Crazy good at pleasing you." Even I laughed at that one. It was ridiculously cheesy, and something I imagined Jace saying to Nessa. He always had the cheesiest lines.

  Maybe I should take lessons from him. From what I’d heard, he was the ultimate seducer.

  "Well, you certainly aim to please. I'll be Ana if you will be my Christian."

  Good God, I wanna.

  "Does that mean I get to turn you over my knee and spank you every time you're bad? Because I would most certainly agree to that."

  She laughed even more then, tilting her head back into the carpet and closing her eyes. My lips found her neck instantly. I was so turned on I didn’t know what to do with myself.

  "I might not be opposed to that."

  "It's too bad I'm not a billionaire who can take you on helicopter rides and whisk you away to fancy locations all across the world." At that moment, I wished I could, though.

  "That's what role playing is for."

  Role playing? Sexually? Sign me up.

  "You really know how to bring a man to his knees, little flower."

  My fingers caressed her thighs, drawing an infinity sign over and over. It meant forever, which is what I hoped Bella would be for me.

  My forever love.

  "James.".

  "Mmm?"

  "I'm hungry." She gave me a sheepish look.

  I laughed, wondering how she could think of food at a time like this. Regardless, I rolled off her and stood up to offer her a hand. We walked to the kitchen together and scoured the cabinets for something to eat. I settled on Oreos and held them up in question. She gave me an excited nod and jerked the package from my hands, cackling as she ran straight for my bedroom. I chased after her and bounced on the bed beside her, snatching the package back.

  "Hey!" she yelled.

  I ripped it open, holding up an Oreo and waving it in her face. "Want it?"

  "Yes James. I want it." She reached for it, but I jerked it away.

  "Come and get it." I laid back and shoved the package under me. Then I held the Oreo up as high as I could above her head after I took a bite.

  She pounced on me, running the tip of her nose up my neck and her fingers into my hair. And just like that, I forgot what I’d been doing in the first place as I lifted myself up, meeting her lips with mine. In the process, I gave her free access to the cookies, so she grabbed one, broke the kiss, and popped it in her mouth.

  "Hey! You cheater!" I gasped. "I should’ve seen that coming."

  "All is fair in love and war." She winked.

  I poked her nose with my finger, distracting her enough to take a big bite of her Oreo. “Guess that’s fair then.”

  Her look of horror had me laughing. "What did my Oreo ever do to you James? Poor Oreo!"

  Pinned beneath me, she tried to wiggle free as I slung the package of Oreos off the bed where she couldn’t reach them. "And this is fair."

  "Okay, point taken. Now give me Oreos."

  I propped myself up on my elbows and grabbed the cookies. Then I took one and held it right beside her lips. Every time she tried to take a bite, I yanked it away.

  Laughter bubbled from her as she half-heartedly tried to get out from under me.

  "If I give you this Oreo, what do I get in return?"

  She narrowed her eyes, but it didn’t hide the glimmer of humor shining from them. How about this? If you don't give me the Oreo, I'm in the perfect position to draw my knee up just a little..." She slowly drew her knee up for effect, gently nudging against my nuts. "Let's just say next time it will hurt."

  The Oreo was in her mouth quicker than she could take a bite. Being kneed in the balls right now wasn’t a great idea.

  "You take away all the fun, little flower."

  "No James, that's you darling." She laughed again, taking another bite of her Oreo.

  I leaned down to kiss her, tasting the cookie on her lips. "Mmm, tasty," I said, licking my lips.

  She pulled my head back down, diving in for an open mouth kiss. Her fingers laced into my hair, pulling me closer as her legs wrapped around my waist.

  I broke away, looking down at her. "Even better."

  The cookies were calling to me, so I reached out for another and popped it into my mouth whole, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. Bella burst into laughter.

  "Y-you've got Oreo in your teeth," she said, laughing so hard she could barely get the words out.

  I licked my teeth and smiled at her again.

  "You got it," she said.

  Without warning, she turned us over again and held me down with her palms flat on my chest.

  "Oh James. I'm going to torture you. I hope you’re ready."

  "You are?" I asked hesitantly.

  Bella sat up, palms still flat on my chest. With one hand she reached behind her, pulling the hair tie from her hair and shaking it out. "I am."

  My fingers ran through her hair, tucking it behind her ears while I caressed her shoulders. I unhooked her bra next, then my hands went to her shoulders again, sliding the straps down her arms before tossing her bra to the floor.

  I cupped her breasts, kneading them as my thumbs stroked her hardened nipples. I roamed to her waist, gripping it and pushing her against my growing erection.

  She responded with a moan, soft and quiet like a mouse. Her hands ran up my stomach and across my chest, where she leaned down and kissed the line of hair there. Her breasts stuck to my stomach like glue, her mouth cemented on my skin.


  Her lips trailed down my abs, her body sliding against mine as she made her way down. She stopped at the waistband of my boxers, looking up at me. "You did deadbolt the door, didn't you? I don't want any more distractions."

  I shook my head, unable to even find words at this moment.

  "Okay I'll be right back. Don't move." She went out the door and was back before I had a chance to miss her.

  She climbed up my body as her fingers yanked at my boxers, and I lifted my hips so she could get them down, watching as she tossed them to the floor.

  My eyes widened as she kissed her way down my abs, then down my thighs. My body turned into fire, like electricity ran through my veins until it reached my heart, combusting into a blazing inferno.

  With each kiss she looked up at me, and I stared at her while I thought she couldn’t be any sexier pleasuring me this way. Bella had meant what she said about torture because she was drawing it out and avoiding the very area I really wanted her to kiss.

  By the time she kissed my other thigh, my hips were practically shoving their way towards her face. I squirmed in delight, hungry for more. She kissed her way back up my stomach and chest, ending at my mouth.

  My fingers dug into her back while her hand stroked me just as she deepened the kiss. I craved her, addicted like a meth addict in a drug house. I wondered how experienced she was in seducing a man. To me, she seemed like an expert.

  One hand cradled my face while the other stroked my length. My eyes closed as her lips trailed up my neck. She drew my earlobe into her mouth, nibbling and sucking at the same time.

  It felt so good I almost lost it right then and there, but I hunkered down and begged my body to hold off a little longer.

  "I'm going to devour you James," she whispered in the sexiest voice I had ever heard. "I'm going to ruin you."

  She stood beside the bed completely naked in front of me. I stared at her beauty, awed by the work of art that was Bella.