Loving Bella by Elizabeth Bonet (books suggested by bill gates .TXT) 📖

choices must come with a consequence and this was definitely one of them. “Mason?” The redhead’s eyes fluttered open as he looked down gently to the expectant woman in his arms. “Mmm?”
Bella cupped his face with her small hands and looked deeply into his green eyes. Tracing his bottom lip with her thumb a tear trailed down the side of her cheek. “I love you. And you will always be My Army Boy.” She smiled despite the rush of emotions that coursed through her body. “I want you to know that ok?” Mason gave a sad smile as he wiped off another tear that threatened to stain her beautiful face.
“And I love you… Wait for me?” Bella whose head was laying against his broad chest at the time threw her self back to look at him. Surprise written all over her glowing face. Tears were now flowing again and she nodded. She laughed at how overly emotional she was. Albeit the truth was she was so happy you would think she was just handed the moon. No, she was offered something better.
She was offered a life with the man she loved. She threw her arms around his neck and he kissed her then. Sweeter than any kiss a person could imagine. She was floating on air she was sure. Bella felt heady and sighed as he pulled back. Extremely happy and not thinking Bella giggled. “Oh Lord, thank you!” She whispered quietly to herself unaware that Mason was watching her. “What was that?” He asked quietly, pressing the tips of her fingers against his lips. She blushed as felt his soft lips move up to her palms.
“I was, thanking God.” She said shyly. “Mmm,” he said in agreement “I know that he wanted us to be together.” The tall redhead gently pressed her closer against his body and smelled her hair. Groaning he pushed her away. Bella’s eyes were full of hurt and confusion. “Mason?” “Curse his body. And curse the man waiting for her outside.” Mason kneaded the back of his neck and blew out a gust of air.
“I just remembered. Jacob wants to talk to you. God I can’t wait for the day when you’re completely mine and I don’t have to share you with anyone!” Catching his implications, Bella blushed. Her dark eyes flew to the floor in embarrassment. Mason chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be good I promise.” There was a double meaning to that sentence. But the young girl refused to heed the other implication as well. Forcing herself to think of the man waiting outside she gave a disgruntled look to Mason.
His smile made her go weak at the knees. “Don’t worry, if he tries anything just tell me. I’d look for any excuse to put him in his proper place.” They both laughed as they left the room. But in truth Bella was feeling more nervousness at the moment than joy.

~*~*~*~

Mason glanced behind his shoulder at Bella before walking up to confront him. He wasn’t happy that this man got to be alone with Bella. Not at all, and he was not going to allow him more liberties than he was comfortable with. With an air of defiance and quiet anger he walked up to the younger man with a threat in his demeanor. “Make it quick.” The redhead said this before looking back at Bella and turned on his heel to leave. Jake rolled his eyes and walked casually over to Bella. The look on her face told him everything he needed to know, and more. Mason and her were official, and that was enough to have blown the roof off the church building.
With a grunt he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her outside where it had begun lightly drizzling. Backing against the brick wall he pressed her curvaceous body against his own built frame. “Why are you still with that jerk?” Bella’s eyes narrowed and shot sparks of fire. Pushing her hands against his chest she feigned ignorance to his muscular chest. Lifting her chin in anger she glared up at him.
“You know, you’re the one who’s been the jerk lately, He can’t help that he’s leaving! And he’s definitely more noble than you are about it. He doesn’t want to leave! Besides what we have is true love not infatuation and most definitely not lust!” Jake let out a groan and mockingly laughed in her face. Bella’s lower jaw dropped in the face of his audacity.
“Lust?” He laughed bitterly. “You think he loves you for your personality? Tell me does he know your favorite color, your favorite flower, the perfume you wear? Or the story of your parents?” Bella’s look was one of shock. Her brown eyes grew and her lovely mouth formed a small “o”. Seeing her confused look Jake smirked, but just as her face showed a hint of sadness the smirk slipped away.
“Bells,” He said softly, lifting her chin with his index finger for her gaze to meet his. Tracing her lower lip with his thumb he felt her shudder. Jake let out a gusty sigh and pulled her to him tighter. He placed a hand behind her head and held it to his chest. He played with her hair as he waited for her to cry. Then they came. One little tear after another until it was as if they were in the middle of a hurricane.
Lifting her face upward slightly, Jacob cursed at the way her pitiful face looked. “Jesus, Bells! What did he do to earn your affections! I would beat the crap out of him if it weren’t for you two being together. I love you Isabella, when will you see that?” Bella grabbed a fistful of the front of Jake’s shirt in desperation. Looking under wet lashes her eyes questioned and her lip quivered. “What’s my favorite flower?”
Jacob mentally shook his head. She really didn’t get it did she. Well he’d just have to show her then. “Casa Blanca Lilies, and your second favorite are Sunflowers. Your favorite chocolate, Reeses peanut-butter cups. Favorite instrument, the piano but you love the guitar. Favorite color, well it used to be blue but now I’m not…” His voice faded as he contemplated this. Bella let out a cry and threw her arms around her best friend. He looked down at her in surprise but didn’t say a word. He wouldn’t chance ruining this moment.
“Pink,” she stated. Verging the point of hysteria. “my favorite color is pink.” Jake bent slightly to kiss the top of her nose just as she looked up. Almost as if intended their lips met. Jake let out a passionate groan and pushed her away from him. He massaged his temples as he stared longingly at the shocked girl. “I’m sorry Bells. I promise it won’t happen again. Besides I don’t think he’d be too happy with me if he just so happened to see that.” Bella blushed and took Jake’s cue to proceed him back into the fellowship hall of the church.
Right before she reached for the handle of the door Jake grabbed her from behind at the waist and pulled her back against himself. Keeping her in place with one hand, Jake reached with the other and moved Bella’s hair away from her shoulders. In one swift movement he placed his lips against the nape of her neck, causing her to sigh. She giggled and he released.
“Curse that man. I’d love her till her dying day if he hadn’t staked his claim on this beloved woman before me.” Reluctantly letting her go Jacob knew that that would probably be the last time he would ever get to hold her again.

~*~*~*~

Bella opened the door and stepped into the thresh-hold of the fellowship hall. Mason stood with arms crossed against one of the pillars in the middle of the room with a scowl on his face. Bella watched as he pushed himself away from the wall, arms still folded and walked to her side. Mason reached out to protectively wrap an arm around Bella’s shoulders, she could feel his eyes bore into her face to see whether anything unnecessary had corresponded between these two.
Jake rolled his eyes in mock disgust and turned to walk into the sanctuary. “Talk to you later Bells.” He said this waving his hand in the air. He didn’t turn to chance a look at the two but if he had he would’ve laughed. Mason’s jaw was dropped and his arms around Bella, while she blushed as she begrudgingly looked after his retreating back.
Bella in all desperateness grabbed the front of Mason’s shirt and backed him against the pillar. “What’s my favorite color?” Mason knew what she was doing, she was testing him. “Pink. What else would you like to know about yourself?” Bella held onto his shirt tighter. “What perfume do I wear?” Mason smiled. “Well you differentiate a lot but your scent is Coconut Lime Verbena from Bath & Body Works.” Her mouth dropped.
Mason looked down and grabbed her two hands in his own. Kissing the top of her hands he smiled. “And yes I think lilies and sunflowers fit you very nicely. Mmmm, and you’re a cold-weather baby.” Bella smiled and pulled her hand away. Turning to leave into the sanctuary she waited to see what he would do. “Where you going?” Bella looked over her shoulder to glance nonchalantly at the confused soldier. “To church.” She giggled at his look but continued to leave him. Smiling to herself when she heard him following behind.

~*~*~*~


Chapter eleven


She bent over the at the waist to pick up the pears on the ground around the tree in her front yard. Tossing them into the basket she dreamed up all the goods Mark would end up making with them. Bella breathed in the scent of fall. It wasn’t exactly there yet, but for her, she could most definitely feel it. She knew whenever the cold seasons were coming.
Not only did she feel the slight temperature change, but it was as if all the trees and animals were buzzing about to get ready for winter. Not to mention the smell of the autumn in the air. Humming to herself she propped the full basket on her hip and walked rather clumsily back to her house. School would be starting soon. Just the thought brought a tinge of sadness to her demeanor.
“I’m in high school. And I’ll be leaving all my