Malicious Compliance Chapter Eighteen

The first few days after the accident were undoubtedly the toughest. Edward hated being stuck in a hospital bed, and there was only so much Bella could do to entertain him. She spent as much time with him as possible while also ensuring Tanya's sabotage wasn't successful. Both Tanya and Victoria remained guests of the state, held without bond because they posed considerable flight risks. As much as Bella tried to put them out of her thoughts, she couldn't comprehend what she'd done to deserve the petty behavior they aimed at her. 

Bella had a family now, a group of people who'd chosen her and Edward as their people. While the staff had moved Edward to a new room, Austin told her, "When I first asked you out, it was because I thought you were hot." She'd snorted, but he continued. "We kept going out because you're sweet and thoughtful. None of that changed when I met Eric."

"I struggled when you told me you didn't want me anymore. I'd grown attached." Laughing, she wiped away a tear. "Turns out, we're meant to be friends instead of lovers."

If it weren't for him and Eric, and all the others who'd stepped up, she'd be even more stressed than she already was. It was just that extreme stress brought on flashes of her childhood, which she found hard to shake. Baking helped, but there was too much time to think while she worked alone.

True to his word, Austin sold out everything in her shop, down to the very last sprinkle. Taking a break from the now-familiar white halls, Bella did her best to work out her frustrations in the bottom of a stainless steel commercial mixer. Gorgeous copper bowels hung from a ceiling rack, refracting rainbows all around the room—and creating the fluffiest whipped frosting she'd ever made. Decorating cooled cupcakes was supposed to take her mind off the hard months she'd endured recently. When she had time on her hands and too much to worry about, it was tough to force down the ghosts of her past, to recall the goodness inside Edward and dismiss the evilness of her mother. Worse, sometimes she thought her mother wasn't evil, but careless. Thoughtless when it came to her offspring instead of malicious. But what type of human forgot about their only child, dismissing their basic needs? Intentional cruelty or willful neglect, which attribute was the more malevolent of the two? 

After a day of ensuring her bakery held each flavor cupcake possible, Bella stopped by Edward's place to stuff a bag full of his clothes. Standing in the bathroom running her fingers over his toothbrush, she felt an oncoming meltdown. Plenty of people were helping her, between Edward’s friends and her own. All she had to do was wake up and go to the hospital, with a break every so often to bake. Yet, she couldn't make it through one day without crying her eyes out. Everyone assured her it was normal, but how normal could it be to cry so often? Her emotions rode just under the surface, ready to break through at the oddest times. She'd worn out her therapist's ear lately, that was for certain. 

Placing the toothbrush in the waiting bag, Bella dabbed at her tears and moved on to the next item on her list. Edward didn't actually need clothes, but if he didn't have to wear a hospital gown, then the least she could do was bring him something more comfortable. On her way out the door, she spotted Edward’s favorite hoodie hanging on a peg. If it was terribly cold, he'd wear it under his leather jacket, but more often than not, she snagged it for herself. Without thinking twice, Bella slipped it off the peg and over her head, immediately feeling better. 

Hospital parking was the bane of her existence, but she finally found an open spot and started off on the long trek inside. Waving at familiar nurses, she continued to trudge in the direction of Edward’s room. Too many hours had passed since she last laid eyes on him, reassuring herself he was well. Calm enveloped her as she stepped into the cool, clean space they temporarily called home. 

"Hey, baby."

"I sure am glad to see you," he said. 

The bag slid unnoticed from her shoulder as she hurried to cross the floor. As she had done every visit, she climbed on the bed beside him and buried her face in his neck. 

Regardless of what ailed her, his heart beating under her ear and his arm around her was the cure.

"Fuck, I just love you so much." Shifting, she kissed his scruffy jaw. "I brought you some shit from the loft."

"Just need you for now."

She agreed. Edward was all she needed in the world. 

Eyes closed, she heard the door open and close. Ignoring the approaching footsteps—they all knew she wouldn't get up and didn't bother to ask—she ran her fingers along Edward's waist. 

Someone leaned close, and every cell in Bella’s body locked down on high alert.

“Get out.” Foreign to her own ears, her voice was gruff and hoarse.

“Excuse me?” said the woman.

Edward's muscles tensed under Bella's fingers, and he lifted his head. 

Staring up at the gray-haired nurse, Bella knew deep down she was just a random stranger, but she was one who bore an all-too-familiar scent. “I said, get the fuck out!”

“Ms. Swan—”

Shoving off the bed with a ferocity she didn't think she possessed, she shouted, “Leave!”

“Hey, now.” Sounding concerned but confused, Edward held out his hand. "What's wrong?"

Mouth dry as the desert, Bella worked to force out the answer. “White Rain and spearmint gum.”

Nodding, he leaned forward until he could clasp her hand. "Listen to me, Bella. It's okay. I'm here."

"I need her to leave." Chest heaving, tears streaming. Stomach churning. "Now.”

"Ms. Swan." Someone new, someone with an antiseptic smell. Better. Not Renee. Not a psychopath. 

“She can’t treat him.” Her head shook along with her belly. “She can’t touch him.”

There was a brief exchange between the man and the woman, and Bella found she couldn't contain the trembling in her hands. Strong, smooth fingers gripped hers more securely. 

“Okay, Shelley will leave, but I need you to calm down or visiting hours will be over.”

Her rock, her lover, her one constant source of sanity, tugged her close. Accepting what he offered, she climbed back on the bed. 

"That nurse triggered something inside her," Edward explained over her head. "It's nothing personal, but I have to ask that she not treat me or come in here for any reason."

"Mr. Cullen—"

"Bella suffers from Complex PTSD. The nurse's choice of hairspray and gum created a trauma response from Bella's youth. She's exhausted and hypervigilant right now."

Trying her best to breathe deeply and evenly, she tuned out Edward's explanation. No pain from acid gnawing at an empty stomach. Never again would anyone subject her to aching isolation. She'd brought herself out of the darkest depths, and now she had the world in her arms. Everything was fine. She was fine. And yet, she choked on a sob.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Green blanket. White walls. The TV sat in the corner. Her chipped purple nail polish. Edward was a beautiful human being, inside and out.

She felt her hair tickling her ear. Edward's solid arms around her. The air conditioning blew down her neck. And the blanket was scratchy. 

Almost back to normal, she focused on three things she could hear. Again, the murmuring TV. The doctor speaking to Edward. His heart beating. For smell, she inhaled and forced the White Rain out of her head. Instead, there was hand sanitizer and . . . Turning her head, she filled her lungs with the scent of Edward's hoodie.

"Baby?"

"I need one thing I can taste."

Chuckling, he tilted her chin up. "I think I can help with that."

And when he touched his mouth to hers, she knew he'd filled all the cracks in her soul.  

oOo

Thank God, I can finally sleep in my own bed. Though he struggled to get up, Edward could make it to the bathroom without help. It was a small thing, but the autonomy boosted his dignity. Bella had been amazing the entire time he'd spent in the hospital, and with them back at his loft, she was visibly more relaxed. 

"What do you need?" she asked from behind him. 

He didn't realize she'd shadowed him. "To pee."

"Oh." She giggled. "I can help you aim, if you want."

"As fun as that sounds, I've got it handled."

Sighing dramatically, she said, "But I wanted to handle it for you."

He chuckled. "Garrett helped me shower while you were at work, so you can't even do that."

"He's been such an asset."

As Edward hobbled his way into the bathroom, banging the crutches on the door frame as he went, she unloaded his bag in the living room. 

"I'm sure you're happy we didn't get a female nurse. Although, I might not have minded watching you squirm with jealousy."

Her laugh was loud, her tone smug. "Baby, Garrett wants your cock more than I do."

Balancing on one foot, Edward quickly washed his hands, groaning at her words. "That's blasphemous."

"He's incredible, sweetheart. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded a female nurse if she'd been half as professional."

Pleased with his progress, he closed the distance between them. "My physical therapist is female."

"I know."

"So you're not jealous of either of them?" He pouted. "At all?"

Bella wrapped her arms around his neck. "They're helping you. That's all I care about."

Dipping his head, he pecked her lips. "I need to sit."

"I'm proud of you for peeing in the potty." Smirking, she backed up so he could get to the bed. 

"Bitch."

That earned him a boisterous laugh. 

Bella helped him settle in, then she climbed in next to him. 

Immediately, he pulled her close. "I missed this so fucking much."

Snuggling up to his chest, she yawned. "I got in bed with you every day."

"It wasn't our bed."

"No. No, it wasn't."

Minutes passed, nothing but the sound of the refrigerator motor and a light pattering of rain filling the void. He could easily fall asleep, but he had better things on his mind. 

"So, you don't want my cock, huh?"

"What?" Lifting her head, Bella frowned at him. 

"You said Garrett wanted it more than you, so that must mean you don't want it."

"That's . . . that's not what I meant." If it weren't for the laughter in her voice, he'd worry he might have crossed a line. 

"I'm gonna need you to prove it to me."

"Oh, yeah?"

Massaging the back of her head, he nodded. "Thoroughly."

Since he was already watching her, he saw the way she licked her lips. "Mm."

That was all it took. The teasing sound, the plump bottom lip, and her hooded eyes. His cock went from a slow drip to a fire hose in a few seconds. 

"What can I do to help my patient?" Crawling over his body, Bella lowered herself until she was inches from his face. "After all, you have to remain still so you don't hurt your leg."

"I can't focus on anything but the throbbing, nurse."

"Hmm. Maybe I can come up with a cure."

Her lips felt like the best part of coming home when she pressed them to his. Opening his mouth, he welcomed her tongue's exploration. Tasting the sugary hint of cupcake batter, Edward framed her face and angled her head for a deeper kiss. 

"Delicious."

"Product testing," she replied. 

Edward licked the corner of her mouth, tilting her chin to nibble on her throat. "Yummy."

As her breath stuttered, he found her pulse with his tongue, her nipples with his fingers. Her back arched into his touch, and she gasped. 

"I'm supposed to treat you, not the other way around."

Pinching one taut nipple, he grinned at her moan. "My apologies."

Apparently set in her goal, Bella shimmied down the bed until she could manipulate his shorts down both his legs. Tossing them on the floor, she pulled her top over her head and let her hair fall around her shoulders. 

"Goddamn, you're fucking stunning."

The smile on her face was secretive, her breasts swaying in the moment before she cupped them in her hands. Pressing her cleavage together, she slipped his aching cock in the space between. 

"Jesus fuck."

Other than the fact that it'd been so long since they'd had sex, there were new sensations to being essentially trapped. Odd angles slowed her down, but that wouldn't deter Bella. With a lick of her lips, she changed tactics and sank her open mouth down over his entire length. 

"Mother of God."

Reaching low to stroke his taint, Bella swallowed his cock until she gagged and he drew near to exploding. Clutching the sheets in his fists, Edward threw his head back on the pillow and grit his teeth, trying not to come so soon. 

"Bella, I swear to God—"

"Don't you want your cum sliding down my throat?"

Looking down and seeing her wet mouth gleaming from her spit and his pre-cum, he really couldn't decide. 

"God, yes, but I want your body more than your mouth."

"What do you want me to do, baby?"

"I need you up here." Holding out a hand, he had to swallow hard to keep from choking at the sight of her nakedness. "Come sit on my cock, Bella."

"Oh, fuck yes."

Her eagerness was almost amusing, but his desire had ratcheted up so high he feared he'd lose his shit all over his stomach. Gripping his hands, she settled over him, her eyes screwed shut and her mouth hanging open as she enveloped him in her hot, wet cunt. Once she found her rhythm, she let him go to pinch her nipples. He'd missed their connection, missed the feel of her skin under his palms. The way she sounded as she lost control. 

"God, Edward! So fucking good!"

"I'm so close to filling your soaking pussy until my cum overflows and drips all over both of us."

Biting her lip, Bella opened her eyes to stare directly into his. Her muscles quivered, her movements faltering. 

"Watch me, Bella. Ride me until I fucking explode."

She moaned, clamping her muscles down and jerking her hips. He felt it, the moment she couldn't hold back, and he followed immediately. 

"My God." Sprawling over him, Bella kissed along his throat. "That was fucking fantastic."

"Fucking fantastic fucking."

"Go team," she mumbled. 

Stroking her hair, he said, "I think you healed me."

"Maybe we'll try another treatment later, just to be sure."

He couldn't argue with that.