Chapter Two—Out of Breath

The following morning, Edward was in a little pain. He wasn't by any means unfit, but it had been a while since he put miles on his feet. Why did he stop running after college? Stretching and still in bed, his mind conjured the beauty he met the day before.

He couldn't get her out of his head, had been that way since the first time he saw her days earlier. Never had that instant attraction hit him as it had with her. There been few girlfriends over the years, but they had come to him at first.

This time, he had his work cut out for him. It was his turn to pursue, to chase. Would she run?

Maybe, she wasn't exactly open to talking to him the day before. She hadn't zapped him with her stun gun either, so that was a fucking bonus. There was that wink too and that did things to him.

He groaned, roughly palming his face. Guilt of what he had to do turned into frustration when he couldn't get his fucking dick to calm down.

Blindly but knowingly, he grabbed the bottle of lotion from inside the nightstand. Already naked, it saved him time, not that it would take much. Not with his Beautiful on his mind, two strokes to the image of her mouth around him had another groan slipping from between his lips.

"Fuck," he hissed, tightening his hold and twisting slightly near the tip. There, his thumb brushed the pre-come already there. He wasn't sure what he wanted more, that natural, unpainted mouth or lips stained in red. He watched his hand move over his cock, wishing it were hers, disappointed that there wasn't a smudge of lipstick on it.

Apparently, he wanted her lips red, though her natural lips were perfect too. His next moan was long and drawn out, forcing him to quicken his pace. The lift of his hips only made him stroke harder, his sheets falling onto the floor from the movement. He imagined her hair spread across his stomach, his thighs, and hips. His free hand reached down and rubbed, and with a grunt, he came with a picture of her face behind his eyes.

It was all over his stomach and instantly he saw his Beautiful on his bed, with his come on her lean torso. Fuck, he didn't have time for another round with his damn hand. He rose from bed and got ready for work, after another interlude in the shower. This time her lips their natural color.

The day passed too slowly and by the time Edward reached his apartment after work, he was second-guessing another run. The bath that Bella told him to take the night before had helped, by mid-morning the soreness had disappeared. He was just exhausted from work.

He changed into a pair of basketball shorts, one of his older pairs and grey t-shirt. Grabbing another beanie, but was unsure if he should wear it. Then again, he liked that she already had a nickname for him. Meant that she was paying attention to him and that was what he wanted.

A quick jog down the stairs, he cursed himself for forgetting to grab his mail or a bottle of water. A quick trip upstairs had him reaching his mailbox on the main floor as Bella walked inside their building.

Their eyes met and hers widened, her mouth falling open twice before she pursed her lips. A cock of her eyebrow, showing how feisty she could be, and he was ready to taste her. He shook that fantasy from his head and went for neutral and clueless.

"You live here?" he asked, tilting his head just right, along with a small lift to the side of his mouth. It had some affect because she blinked several times, still speechless. He patted himself on the back for that. His mother always said he'd be able to get away with anything with that look.

"You didn't know?"

He winced at the lie poised on his tongue. "Not until yesterday." What the fuck?

That sexy eyebrow rose even higher. "I see." Her hand slowly moving to her hip, and he realized she was probably carrying her taser.

His hands rose up defensively. There was no way he wanted to be stunned, once in his life was enough. Fuck you, Emmett. "I didn't know until yesterday, I swear!"

She shook her head, smiling a little. "All right, Beanie. I believe you."

He wanted to ask why but only grinned. "Good."

Walking closer to him, she paused at her box and grabbed her mail. "You ready for another run?" She looked at him and lingered on his thighs. She was checking him out and he was close to preening like a fucking peacock, anything to keep her attention. "Not sore?"

He shrugged as he tried to untie his tongue. She smelled so fucking good that he couldn't get his brain to function. It didn't help that dirty librarian fantasies sprung in his head the moment he saw her attire. Trench coat, sexy fucking heels, skirt tailored to perfection and grey pearls at her throat.

It took him a moment to find the ability to talk again. "Yeah." Great job, Edward. You're a smooth motherfucker.

"Give me ten minutes?" she asked sweetly, batting mile long lashes. His eyes widened as a wide smile stretched across his face.

"Yeah." Next time, try for more than one word!

She laughed and started for the stairs. "You might want to put your mail away."

He nodded and started up behind her, nearly groaning as she started to remove her coat and hung it over her arm. Her heart-shaped ass was right there, almost level to his eyes. He heard her throat clearing and knew she caught him. Before he met her gaze, he schooled his features to boyish innocence, she only shook her head, but he caught the tiny lift of the corner of her mouth.

The afternoon certainly looked more promising.

"Have mercy on me, woman," Edward groaned. He fell back onto the grass, not giving a shit about the possibility of itchiness. He heard her still running in place, near his feet. A momentary thought of pulling her down with him occurred to him, but as he cracked an eye open he realized she was still armed.

"I'm going to go another round," she said, tossing his bottle of water to him. He caught it, thankful for his quick reflexes. She looked impressed, but rolled her eyes when he pleadingly looked at her, trying to convince her to stay. He was not one bit ashamed that he pouted, especially once she looked ready to change her mind. She checked her pulse and bit her lip.

"Go ahead and leave me here," he said, dramatically sighing, "While I die."

"Okay. I'll be right back, Beanie."

"It's Edward."

She smiled and whispered, "Edward." Fuck, she couldn't say his name like that.

He groaned and let his head hit the grass again. "You don't fight fair, Beautiful."

She was silent for a few moments, but he sensed she was still there. "Am I supposed to fall into your bed the second you send a smile my way?" He looked at her again, finding that she was fucking serious.

"I'm not going to deny I want that, but it's more than that."

"You don't know me," she said, looking away and shrugging. Someone had hurt her, could see it as walls formed around her right before his eyes.

"I want to. You just got to let me in."

She looked at him again. "And running with me is a way to get to know me?"

"I know what music you like to run to," he said, pointing the iPod strapped to her arm. "It's a start."

She nodded. "It is. My name is Bella." She turned and continued her run. He watched her for several seconds, a blue sedan honking at her as it passed. She flipped it off. Curious, his eyes remained on the car. Inside were a few college kids from the nearby university laughing and taking pictures of her, likely her ass in her amazing grey leggings.

Glad to see the assholes drive off, Edward gave himself another minute before he ran after her.