This was the way Chapter 2 and the story itself was supposed to end.

Clearly, I've changed my mind.

Edward Masen

"Okay, I've got to meet some people. You guys sure you're okay?" Jasper glanced between Bella and me.

"I think we'll be okay, Ashley," Bella said not even looking at him.

"Riiiight," was all he could say. He shot me a look that clearly told me to behave. He stood and crossed the short distance to Bella, winking at her as he grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. The simple gesture of Jasper working his charm on Bella made me insanely jealous, yet I had no idea why. I had just met her.

After Jasper left, we sat in silence, sometimes looking at each other. We each attempted at making small talk, but the tension in the air was palpable to say the least. Bella fidgeted with her Blackberry and I could sense that I was going to lose her. She typed furiously and frowned deeply at something.

I waved the waiter over, glanced quickly at the bill, and then I handed the guy some cash. He leaned down and whispered in my ear that the front entrance was covered by the paparazzi. He informed me that management made sure that the back entrance was clear if we wanted to leave discreetly. I handed him some extra cash in appreciation.

"I think we need to get out of here."

"Excuse me?" She looked at me with wide eyes.

"According to that guy," I pointed at our waiter, "we've been spotted and it's not pretty out front. If we want to get away, we need to go now. We can come back later and get your car."

She went through a range of emotions; conflicted to anger to sadness than finally... nothing. She simply agreed and picked up her bag. The manager was waiting for us at the kitchen entrance and discreetly led us to the back. We managed to make it to my car unscathed and unseen. I hoped. I didn't care much for the media, but they had helped build my career into what it was today so it wouldn't be good to show ill-will toward them, but I had to draw the line somewhere. Right now that line was stalking Bella and me in front of a restaurant.

We made our way onto the main road, Bella constantly glancing behind us to see if we were being followed. When she was finally secure in the knowledge that we were alone, she squealed, "You did it! That was awesome!"

I laughed and nodded. "So where are we headed?"

"I have no idea," she sighed. "I mean, I had all these appointments I had to go to and I'm pretty sure my assistant is going to kill me later, but it'll be fine." She waved her hand in the air.

"Well we've done lunch at The Ivy, is there anything more touristy on your list that you'd like to do?" I teased.

"The only more cliché thing I can think of would be a tour of the stars' homes." There was something about the way her voice went from playful to seductive that caught me off-guard. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and she was staring at me with a coy smile. I couldn't help me but smirk at her obviousness and nodded.

I slowly made the way back to my place, taking a prolonged tour and pointing out homes of famous people I knew in the area. Throughout the drive I would notice her shifting in the seat which would cause her dress to ride up, giving me a better look at her legs.

When I would point out someone on my side of the road she would lean across my lap to get a better look out the window, giving me a better show of her cleavage and I would catch a hint of her perfume. Then her hair would fall in my lap, right over my crotch and even though I couldn't feel it through my jeans, I started to imagine what her hair on my naked thighs would feel like while she had her lips wrapped around my-

"Edward, watch where you're going!" she yelled.

"Fuck!" I snapped my attention back to the road and swerved back in my lane before almost hitting someone head on. We were a few blocks away from my place. I focused all my thoughts on California driving laws until we pulled into my driveway.

"Wow," she said, taking in the view from the foyer.

"I know. Want a drink?"

"No, but-" We were cut off by the shrill beeping of her phone. She looked at the screen and frowned. "I need to take this, sorry." She gave me an apologetic smile and moved to the back patio for some privacy.

I tried to give it to her, but by moving to the kitchen I could hear her voice. "Go ahead and tell, you really think I care about that now?" she giggled. "What's the worst that's going to happen?" Suddenly her voice turned cold, "I've put up with his shit for far too long. What's good for the goose, right? I'll call you back later." She threw her phone back in her purse and came back in the house. She spotted me in the kitchen and immediately smiled.

"You okay?" I asked cautiously.

"I'm fine. What would be great would be a tour." She cocked an eyebrow, waiting for a response.

"Let's go." I grabbed her hand, and tugged her toward the upstairs where all the bedrooms were, including mine. As far as I was concerned, we had all afternoon and I had a lot of bedrooms.

After her poking her head into the rooms and nodding in all the right places, we reached the end of the hall and I opened the door to my room. I was a bit apprehensive to let her in, but was relieved to see the housekeeper had tidied up for me while I was out.

I opened the door for her and followed her in. "So this is..."

"Please don't say 'where the magic happens,'" she laughed. "It's beautiful," she murmured.

I took a deep breath and slowly walked over to where she was standing, looking out the window. Her back was to me, and I wrapped my arms around her waist, "So are you." I silently prayed she wouldn't laugh at my lameness and push me away. I wasn't going to wait for that opportunity, so in hopes of distracting her, I swept her hair off to the side and started to languidly kiss her neck.

She let out a shaky breath and let her head loll back on my shoulder. Feeling more confident, I moved my hands up and down her sides, closer to the underside of her breasts with each movement upward.

I nipped her ear and exhaled slowly against her neck, blowing cool air down her neck, causing her to shiver. She moaned and ground her ass into me as she ran her hands through my hair, her nails scraping my scalp. My eyes rolled to the back of my head and I pressed my body closer to hers. If she kept rotating her hips the way she was, the afternoon, and possibly the evening, was going to be ruined quicker than I'd hoped for.

She spun around and wrapped her arms around my neck. We made eye contact and the connection between us intensified to a point I wasn't able to handle. Instead I closed my eyes and leaned forward to kiss her. Her lips were soft and slightly chapped, but they were warm and she tasted exactly as I thought she would. Amazing.

I moved one hand to the back of her head and fisted her hair, exposing her long neck while my other hand reached for her thigh and hoisted it on my hip. I could easily imagine her with both legs around my waist but knew that no matter how light she was, that position would have to wait. I could feel how warm she was through her lace I damn near lost it when she bit my ear, hard.

"Bella, as much as I would love to fuck you against this wall, the things I want to do to would be much easier if we were on the bed." My voice was lower than I had expected but she shivered and I liked that I did that to her.

We made our way to the bed with both of us collapsing when my knees hit the edge. She moved to the middle, causing me to crawl on top of her. She tugged at the hem of my shirt which disappeared almost as fast as her dress, leaving her semi-naked. With a little fumbling, we removed the rest of our clothing and slid under the covers. The franticness that was in the air earlier had dissipated, and a heavier mood weighed on us.

I took my time exploring her, tasting her and learning how she liked to be touched. Deep down I had the feeling that we might have had all night, but if that was all we were ever going to have, I was damned sure I would make the most of it. We moved at a more languid pace and considering that she was performing the same explorations on me, she felt the same way. When I finally slid into her, I moaned into her shoulder finally feeling the moment that I had been building up, and it had been more than worth the wait.

Rocking my hips against hers we filled the air with muttered "fucks" and "oh God's". I bowed my head and took her nipple in my mouth, lightly grazing it with my tongue. She thrust her hips harder into mine, so I did it again and suddenly her body stiffened and she shuddered beneath me, moaning my name over and over. As she came I continued to move myself in and out, making her ride out her orgasm, the sounds and friction triggering mine.

I exhaled harshly and collapsed on top of her, then quickly rolled off. We both lied on our backs, panting and grinning at each other.

"That was...wow." She grinned and pushed the hair out of my eyes. She stifled a yawn and sheepishly smiled at me.

"You're amazing." I rolled onto my side and faced her. I leaned forward to kiss her but was surprised to see her pull away. She made a move to get out of the bed but I grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Where are you going?"

"Well I was going to get dressed," her she said and avoided looking at me.

"You don't want to stay?" I couldn't keep the hurt out of my voice.

"I'd love to, but I can't," she said softly, still not facing me.

"Why?"

"One time! I know it's been more than that for him. Fuck the deal," she said louder, although I think she was talking more to herself.

"What deal? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't you remember that episode of Friends? The one where all the characters made their lists of the top five celebrities they could have sex with, without any consequences?"

Of course I knew what she was talking about. I'd been told plenty of times that I was on the list.

"Yeah, so what's the point? Who said this has to be a one-time thing?" I grinned and tugged on her arm.

"I do. I would love to do this again, I really would, but I can't."

"Cut the cryptic shit. What's going on?"

"You were on my list, but I'm sorry, I'm not that girl, I thought I could be, but I'm not." She yanked her arm out of my grip and rushed into the bathroom. What the fuck had I done? I hadn't said anything and sure as hell didn't think I did anything she didn't want.

I quickly got dressed and sat at the edge of the bed waiting for her to come out. I would apologize for anything I said or did. When she came out, fully dressed and looking, well-she looked freshly fucked, I immediately tried to tell her I was sorry, but she stopped me.

"I'm sorry, I kind of thought you knew, but I guess not." Again with the talking in code. "I have to go." She moved toward the door.

"Could I at least get your number? Maybe we can get together when you're in town?"

"No, don't make this harder than it already is for me!" She stomped her foot, looking more like a petulant teenager than a damned heiress to a mass media fortune.

"Just tell me what is going on and what is making you so fucking upset," I demanded.

"Fine," she snapped. "I'm getting married in a few months. The appointments I blew off were to finalize my wedding dress and details of the ceremony."

I felt as if I had been drop-kicked in the gut.

"You're engaged?"

So what'd ya think?