A/N

How do you think these two crazy kids are getting along?

See you at the bottom!


Police safe house, Mayfair

Tuesday, 6.30pm

"Say it!"

"Shut up."

"Say it and I will!"

"For goodness sake will the pair of you be quiet!" Jasper barked without looking up from his laptop. He had set up his mobile command centre at the sleek, glass dining table at the far end of the room. After a quick call to their boss, I had been spirited away to a trendy apartment complex in one of the most affluent areas of London. The particular apartment they had taken up residence in was smaller but no less beautiful. The rooms were tastefully decorated in white with modern fixtures and fittings. Apparently, safe-houses weren't always dirty and rundown like in the movies. Huh.

While Jasper had been working on monitoring the situation from this afternoon, Carlisle had alternated between glowering in the corner and picking at me as if I was a half-loose, band-aid hanging from his face, which had led to the quickly escalating argument.

"I will say no such thing. I would have managed without your input. If anything, you drew unnecessary attention with all of your caterwauling." Carlisle huffed.

"First, you approached me in the museum and asked for help, not the other way around. Second, I saved your ass, and a little recognition would be nice. Third, I did not caterwaul. Who even says that anyway? And finally, I want you to admit that I did exactly what you asked of me. I got you outside quickly and acted like your wife, buddy." I said as calmly as possible, jabbing my finger into his chest for emphasis on my final word. His very firm chest. My attention drifted slightly as I thought back to earlier when he took off his shirt.

"Ha! I asked for a wife, not a mouthy fishwife! Plus, I don't know if you noticed, but my choices in casting the role of my wife were pretty much limited to you or the cleaner, buddy." We were toe-to-toe, face to...well chest if I'm honest because he was pretty damn tall. I giggled internally at his proper accent saying, 'buddy.' Then I registered the rest of his words and the hot looking scowl on his face. I wanted to make him growl again like on the street; that was really sexy.

"Perhaps you should have picked the janitor, he might have been a more believable choice for you Carlisle," I said looking up at him innocently. He leaned down, close enough that I could feel his breath on my face and growled.

I think I died.

Carlisle

I've never been so infuriated and turned on at the same time. When I saw her in the gallery, I knew I shouldn't have approached her. She caught my attention immediately. Masses of dark curls draped over slender shoulders, creamy, toned body all wrapped in a beautiful green dress. She looked like she should be balanced on a pedestal with the rest of the artwork.

In all honestly, I couldn't remember if I only saw her because she was the only suitable woman in the room or because she filled my head so completely.

I was undercover trying to get dirt on some small time crooks. I'd had a tip that Demetri, one of the bigger fish in their very small pond, was moving gun shipments on the side. A pretty happy coincidence for us but we needed more details. I'd followed him to a meeting at a cafe, but he'd spotted me as I was passing. My cover was supposed to be that of a low-level banker who needed extra cash. I was put in a position to be useful to them and waiting for them to take the bait. I'd had a nibble on the line a few days before and met with Demetri and his cousin Felix where they 'persuaded' me to help them. Unfortunately, when he spotted me, he got suspicious, so Jasper directed me into the museum across the road. We were hoping to make it look like a coincidence, but Demetri followed me inside.

I knew I had about fifteen seconds to pick someone to help me and explain the situation before Demetri would catch up. I strode up behind her, only stopping when my chest touched her bare shoulder. I caught a scent of vanilla, but not the overly sweet variety, more like toasted vanilla or a baked dessert. I sucked in another lungful of the delicious smell trying not to huff her too loudly.

When I spoke to her, she immediately caught me off guard, not only with her quick acceptance and intelligent question but her stunning face. Dark, almond-shaped eyes framed with long lashes, a smattering of freckles across her nose and plump pink lips. She was stunning. It felt blasphemous to give her a fake name. Before I could collect my thoughts, she was huffing in annoyance, yelling at me and walking away. I instinctively followed her before my brain even comprehended that this was an act. I reached out to touch her waist, not really sure if I was trying to stay in character or just for the simple pleasure of touching her. She still seemed cross with me until she came to a sudden stop. Those two minutes of my life had shifted something inside me, and unable to come up with anything more eloquent I yelled, "What the hell was that?"

Of course, that wasn't the best reaction I could have had under the circumstances, but it was all I had.

As if I wasn't already impressed with Bella, she then proceeded to put me firmly in my place, all while I had Jasper laughing in my ear. Needless to say, I hadn't particularly impressed her with my winning personality. Truthfully, I wasn't much of a people person. I kept to myself and was known to be a man of few words.

However, once we were in the car, it was satisfying to see her reaction to my touch, my body, and her relief when I returned unharmed. She tried to hide her reaction, but her pulse jumped whenever I touched her.

By the time we settled into the flat, I think Jasper was all too aware of my feelings for her. I'd spoken more in her presence than I had in the last week. All the more surprising was that she seemed to enjoy drawing me into arguments with her. I had heard Jasper trying to wind her up in the car, and she just laughed it off. But with me, she was an insult hurling, finger jabbing, spitfire.

And I loved it.

By the time I had leaned towards, her my chest heaving, I felt myself growl in my throat by the thought she was trying to get me so wound up. As the sound escaped me, her eyes dilated and her lips parted in a gasp. Knowing she was as riled as I was both soothed me and made me feel wild inside. I'd never had this kind of reaction to a woman. I wasn't normally very interested or passionate about them. I was content to let them approach me but I gave them nothing in the way of effort, and they soon walked away. It was apathy I suppose.

This was the complete opposite. I sought her out, I wanted her with a fierceness that scared me, a passion that drove me and I didn't plan on letting her get away.

My lips crashed to hers as I cupped her face in my hands. She felt fragile and delicate under my fingertips causing an unknown, feral part of myself to rip free. I licked her bottom lip begging for entrance. If I was driven by a beast, she controlled; I'd beg for anything she'd give me. Her lips parted, and her tongue reached out first, making me groan in relief. I needed her to be as desperate for me as I was for her.

Her hands drifted up my arms and wound around my neck, lightly caressing my hair. I slipped one arm down her back and lifted her off her feet, letting her legs dangle. Partially so I wouldn't have to keep bending so low and partly because I wanted to pick her up. She was so tiny I could hold her in one arm for hours.

We both pulled back to suck in a breath, but I let my lips drop tiny kisses over the soft skin of her neck. Bella's head fell back giving me more room to work.

"Carlisle" she moaned softly.

My arms tightened around her, loving the sound of my name in that breathy way.

Suddenly, something hard clipped my back, and I spun around leaving Bella tucked safely behind me. Jasper was staring at us over his equipment with a raised brow.

"Sorry Romeo, didn't think you'd want to go too much further with an audience. Although, I'm pretty sure if id streamed it online I could have earned a fortune on PornHub." He smirked. I rubbed my hand down my face before sheepishly turning back to Bella.

"I'm so sor-"

"Hey, if anyone's going to make money off Carlisle's hot ass it's going to be me." She called to Jasper and sent me a wink.

Bella

I stared at the ceiling replaying that kiss over and over again. Huffing, I rolled over for the fifteenth time trying to think of anything that would help me sleep. Definitely not Carlisle.

Don't think about how his firm muscles and soft hair felt under my hands. Don't think about how he smelled; clean with a hint of leather. Don't think about his soft lips and that thing he did with his tongue.

Oh, God.

It didn't help that I was surrounded by his scent. After a quick dinner, some mindless TV while the guys worked, I went to bed. As I went to leave the living room, Carlisle had stripped off his shirt and handed it to me to sleep in. Sneaky bastard. He had to know I wouldn't get a wink of sleep in his shirt. What did he do, wash it in pheromones?

Leaning over, the digital clock read 2.55am. Frustrated, I debated getting up, finding Carlisle and demanding he finish what he started. He'd tried to keep a bit of distance after Jasper's interruption, but the fire in his eyes couldn't be hidden. And I'm pretty sure mine looked just as needy.

Before I could decide, a crash sounded from further in the apartment, and it jolted me upright. I swung my legs out of bed but wasn't sure if I should leave the room.

My breath caught in my throat when the bedroom door opened quietly, but I let it out when I recognised Carlisle's face. He put his finger to his lips and came into the room closing it silently behind him. In the dim light, I could see that he was in just a pair of dark boxer briefs and had a gun held in his right hand.

I allowed myself about a second to register how fucking hot he looked with his usually neat hair ruffled and his firm body almost completely exposed. I'd never really had cop fantasies, obviously, eww, but seeing him holding that gun, moving stealthily around half naked had me imagining some pretty dirty things.

He moved closer holding out his hand for me to take. My palm rubbed against his, and I felt safe. Even under the circumstances. He pulled me into the hallway and began guiding me towards the other bedroom.

As we reached the door, a figure appeared from the living area. Carlisle shoved me through the door and crouched low as the other guy opened fire. Nobody tells you how loud gunfire is. It's really fucking loud and distracting. I couldn't think of anything other than Carlisle. So I screamed like a banshee when I felt someone touch my shoulder.

"Bella! It's just me. I need you to stay here while I help Carlisle, okay?" Jasper soothed while moving me further into the room before... opening the window and climbing out onto the ledge.

Huh.

I sat on the floor for a moment in utter silence as the gunfire stopped. Then I heard the sounds of scuffling on the other side of the door. I strained to hear anything, desperate to make sure Carlisle was okay.

A huge thud rattled the wall, and I heard Carlisle cry out in pain. Unable to sit still a second longer I staggered forward on shaky legs and threw open the door. Carlisle was wrestling on the floor with a pretty big guy. However, what terrified me was the blood smeared up his side. In movies, you always see a neat cut with a little blood dripping out, but it looked nothing like that. There was so much blood smeared on his skin it was impossible to see where the wound was. Where they had been fighting, it was smudged over the walls like a creepy Jackson Pollock movie.

In a panic, I grabbed the nearest item and swung it at the big guy's head. He reared back from the blow and released Carlisle from his grip. He turned his attention to me, just in time for me to realise I was holding a laptop like a baseball bat ready to take another swing.

He growled, which was not at all sexy like Carlisle's, and lurched to his knees with his gaze fixed on me. This gave Carlisle a second to jump forward and spear him to the ground. He flipped him onto his stomach and pulled his hands high behind his back to trap him.

"Bella, get me something to tie him with." Carlisle gasped. Dropping the computer to the floor, I scanned the bedroom but couldn't see anything other than Jasper's laptop bag and coat. I suddenly thought of something and quickly kept over them and into my room. I returned thrusting the item at Carlisle. He looked from my hand to the guy and shook his head.

"Really, Bella?" He smirked slightly.

"It's all I could think of." I defended. I thought it'd work pretty well.

Carlisle reached out, took the green lacy bra from me and began winding the straps around the guy's wrists in a series of complicated knots.

Shame, I liked that one.

"I'll buy you a new one," Carlisle whispered as he finished, obviously reading my mind.

Jasper strolled towards us, and I noticed for the first time that he was still fully dressed.

"Where the hell have you been?" I yelled at him, adrenaline still pumping through my veins.

"I had to go around to sneak up behind the other two." He answered casually. "You okay mate?" He asked Carlisle.

"Oh my God, I can't believe I forgot about your side! Are you all right? Jasper, call an ambulance!" I fluttered my hands over his side trying not to hurt him.

Carlisle caught my hands in his and kissed my knuckles.

"I'll be fine. I'm sure the cavalry will be here any minute to stitch me up." He smiled a big genuine smile, looking nothing like the serious man from this afternoon. "You were wonderful. Thank you for bashing this guy's head with a laptop. You're very resourceful." He smirked at the bra twisted around the guy's hands.

I leaned forward kissing his cheeks, eyelids and finally his lips. We sat on the white carpet, staring into each other's eyes.

"Is that your bra? Bella? Why is my laptop on the floor? And why the hell does it have a fuckin' dent?" We heard Jasper bitching, but neither of us looked away. Carlisle's fingers ran through my hair, and he pressed his forehead to mine.

"I knew you'd look good in my shirt. I couldn't sleep thinking about you." He sighed kissing me softly. "I don't think I can let you go now, Bella. I know we just met, but I don't think I could bare being without you. Stay with me?" He asked brushing his knuckles down my cheek. I simply nodded. Unable to imagine my life without him in it. He grinned kissing me soundly. "You know, I've heard that relationships based on intense circumstance never last."

I laughed and placed my hands on his chest, rising to my knees in front of him. "Okay. We'll have to base it on sex then." I replied with a teasing wink.

"Yes, ma'am!" Carlisle growled before dragging me forward and kissing the hell out of me.

I could vaguely hear movement and conversations taking place around us, but it wasn't until Jasper shouted something about getting a hose that we broke apart to find two uniformed officers, a couple of EMTs and a few guys in suits gaping at us.

Carlisle tugged me across his lap to hide the growing problem in his boxers. Of course, this just draped me across him causing his shirt to ride up my thigh. A move that didn't seem to escape them or Carlisle.

"Turn around!" He had barked before they all spun in place. I smirked, kissing him quickly.

"I love it when you get all growly," I whispered before darting into my room to get dressed. Sans bra.

Shit.


A/N

Anyone else been kept awake by the idea of a hunky Carlisle (or sexy Bella!)?

Let me know what you think, I love hearing from you!

AA (Armed with Ann Summers)