A/N: It's not very long because once I decided to take it elsewhere, I didn't keep going. I chose not to go this way because it seemed too out of character for the Edward I've created. You'll probably see a couple lines that I used or tweaked in some way, though.
Edward has just slobbered all over Bella in the middle of the sidewalk and then professed he wanked off to her on a nightly basis...
Ch 17, Take One
We stood like that for a minute or two. Bella shivered when a cool breeze moved past us and the moment was gone. "We should probably head to the party," she said, wiping at her eyes.
"Right, the party…" I repeated and then stopped. "You, looking like that, at a party… with other guys…" Obviously I had not thought this through because there was no way in hell that was happening. "I don't think so," I said in a rush, grabbing Bella's arm and leading her in the direction we just came from.
"Wait, what? Where are we going?" She tried to break free from my grip and I frowned as I considered the distance I wanted to cover, which would be difficult should she continue to struggle.
"You are not going to a party dressed like that," I explained. "Therefore I have no choice but to commandeer your person."
"What does that mean?" Bella asked right as I bent down and lifted her onto my shoulder. "Edward! Put me down!"
"No," I said, enjoying this sudden turn of events and my new confidence more than I probably should.
"But I told Alice I'd meet her there!"
"I said 'no'. Now stop squirming or I'll drop you," I retorted.
"When did you get so bossy?"
"I might have picked up some mannerisms from Jamie," I replied, shifting her so she was more balanced on my shoulder.
"Crap," she muttered, twisting as she did something I couldn't see, and then went very still. "Jamie from Outlander?"
"No, Jamie from the corner market who hits on anything with legs," I said cheekily. "Yes, Jamie from Outlander."
"Jerk."
I smacked her bottom and grinned as she shrieked in outrage. "There's no need for names," I said calmly.
The car was in sight when she started straining across my back to reach something. I assumed she was going for my butt to get me back for hitting hers, but I thwarted her attempt by setting her on the ground next to the passenger side door.
"Be nice," I instructed, opening the door for her.
She crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at me, but got in the car. I went around to the driver side, grinning like a fool.
"I still don't see why we're not going to the party," she said once I was buckled in.
"I'm not giving any guy an opportunity to see you like that. Now or ever," I replied, starting the engine and backing out of the parking spot.
Bella grumbled something under her breath, but when I turned to look at her I could see the reflection of her smirk in the window. I felt better knowing she wasn't really angry with me.
When I parked the car in my usual spot, Bella waited for me to circle around the car and open the door for her. She stepped out, taking my hand, and followed me up to my apartment.
"So…" she began as I unlocked the door. "We're just going to stay in, gorge ourselves on candy and watch scary movies?"
"Sure, if that's what you want to do."
"That doesn't even come close to what I want to do," Bella replied with a simple lift of an eyebrow as she walked past me into the living room. The increased flow of blood rushing at my already aching erection corresponded to that eyebrow rise with startlingly accuracy, almost as if she had planned it that way.
Damn. What have you gotten yourself into, Cullen?
Suddenly this didn't seem like the best idea. Her dressed like that with me, alone, in my apartment.
Well, it was either this or the unacceptable alternative, I argued with myself.
I had a good point, so I resigned myself to the fact that Bella was indeed dressed like the living embodiment of the best fantasy I had ever dreamed up and was also currently bending over at the waist to inspect my movie collection yet again.
It's not like I'd added anything new since the last time she was over…
Bella glanced over her shoulder and then smirked when she saw I was staring at her. It took all I had in me not to tackle her to the floor and take her like a rutting animal. As it was my nostrils flared, my jaw clenched, and my hands curled into tight fists to hold me in check. Bella's eyes widened and she slowly straightened up, turning to look at me as she did.
Need gripped me as I stared at Bella. My lungs couldn't get enough air. My groin literally throbbed. It was agony and I knew the only thing that would relive me was her.
I felt a lance of pain as my fingernails dug into the skin of my palms, just enough to keep me lucid.
"Edward?" Bella inquired softly.
"Bella… I don't think… I can't…" I breathed out harshly, unable to say what I wanted. She needed to know how close I was to snapping.
But because she was who she was, she took a step toward me, concern for me reflecting in her eyes.
"Don't," I ordered. "I can't stop."
"It's okay, Edward." She took another step toward me and my body tightened, as if on the brink of shattering. "I don't want you to."
For one breathless second time froze for me and I knew in that moment what was going to happen. Then the world snapped back into place and I lunged for her, holding her hard against me as I attacked her mouth with almost bruising force in a hungry, searing kiss.
I had just enough presence of mind to guide us to the couch, but once there I lost myself in Bella.
