Edward turned his head slowly as he scanned the large space and took his bearings. Any time he walked into a new setting, he created a mental map of the layout and notable characteristics. It was another way he had learned to maximize control over his environment.

Stage 8 was the location of the Solstice club set, and a number of scenes had already been shot here. Being familiar with the building, Edward now searched for anything out of the ordinary. When his survey found nothing unusual, some of the tension bled out of his bunched muscles. He crossed the floor and claimed his usual spot in a back corner of the stage.

Lowering himself in the chair, he cast a furtive glance to his left. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Isabella looking in his direction. The beat of his heart quickened and the back of his neck prickled, but thankfully, his oft-worn mask of indifference stayed firmly in place. He inserted an earbud attached to his iPod, reached for a previously discarded magazine, and pretended to read it.

Meanwhile, Edward cursed the unwelcome reactions to the sight of his younger costar. He had believed her impact on him would lessen over the course of filming, but it was even worse now than the first time they acted together.

The memory of that event often haunted his waking hours any time his mind wasn't otherwise engaged. He had met Isabella during the final round of auditions for Desperate Relations, a story about a young woman duty-bound to offer herself for sex in order to save her family. The director, Alice Brandon, handpicked him for the role of businessman Riley Biers, and on the day of their meeting, he had assumed his character in the final reading for the part of Bree Tanner. Isabella was one of three actresses who had made it onto the short list of candidates.

At the time, Edward hadn't known much about her. He didn't take much notice of his Hollywood peers unless directly working with them. A rising star like Isabella never made a blip on his myopic radar. In fact, she was the least experienced lead with whom he had ever worked.

The first two actresses who read the part were objectively attractive, moderately talented, and wholly unremarkable to Edward. His profession teemed with such people. Unless needing to exploit them in some way, he disregarded them much like he had been ignored for a significant part of his life.

Therefore, his reaction to Isabella caught him completely off-guard. When he had looked up from his audition sides and saw her standing before him with a quiet beauty that somehow brightened the entire room, he was struck nearly senseless. It was as if he were a visitor in his own body when Isabella began to unbutton the thin back coat that hugged her delicate curves. Her deep brown eyes held his vacant gaze and managed to convey innocence, determination, and seductiveness all at once.

With one look, she captivated him in a way no other had.

It wasn't until she slid out of her top in a lithe movement that his cognizance returned – and with it his defense mechanisms. They slammed into place like vault doors locking, and his emotional core was safely caged once again. Now Riley, the apathetic entrepreneur, could emerge and take control.

By the time she stood in front of him in only a bra and panties, he regarded her in the same manner as he would appraise a pleasing piece of art considered for purchase. After examining her attributes and finding them acceptable, he proceeded as he did with any business deal he intended to close: he took fast, decisive action and then claimed what she offered...what was rightfully his.

But when his hands had closed around her upper arms – when his fingers touched her soft, smooth skin, he was overwhelmed for the second time. As if of its own volition, his mouth made a line toward her jaw. He was able to redirect at the last moment and stopped just short of her ear.

"We may be able to work something out," he said through clenched teeth. His statement was deliberately ambiguous. Control, authority, the upper hand – they must always reside with him.

Strands of her fragrant hair brushed against his nose, and he fought the urge to bury his face in her neck. His grip tightened on her arms for a split second before a reserve of willpower allowed him to release and step back. Pivoting on a heel, he escaped the room as quickly as possible without breaking into a run. A key to survival was knowing when to retreat, and if anything, Edward was a survivor.

As such, he didn't doubt his ability to endure today's trial, but the personal cost was likely to be high. It would take every bit of his internal discipline to resist her unintentional enchantments.

He peeked at Isabella through his lashes and saw her take several deep breaths. The smooth, pale expanse of her forehead wrinkled as she frowned, and then her eyes seemed to glaze over. He longed to know what thoughts caused each breathy sigh and every twitch of her perfect, pink lips, which were now turning up into a wistful smile.

The busy droning of stage noises ceased as Alice barked out her morning greeting and standard pre-filming spiel. Edward didn't pay much attention. He knew the routine and was a veteran of numerous love scenes. A dark chuckle escaped him whenever he thought of his success in portraying the sensual, experienced lover. If only they knew…

"…Cullen! Get over here!"

Showtime.

He took his mark on set behind the desk. Edward didn't need to spend any time getting into character. His Riley persona hung above him like a light bulb with a dangling chain. All he had to do was give the beaded cable a tug, and he would assume the role. That was the easy part.

The difficult task today would be staying in character as Riley – especially when those perfect, pink lips came so close to…him.

In his periphery, Isabella climbed onto the set, but he studiously ignored her until Alice spoke to them.

"You two are ready to go with this scene, right? You talked?"

Edward flashed his eyes to Isabella and lifted his shoulders in a dismissive manner. He mustn't show any sign of weakness or vulnerability.

"I've been trying…"

Yes, she had attempted to speak with him. Twice. And each time, he accomplished his goal of turning her away. It was unfortunate that he had to be rude in the process – he usually caught more flies with honey - but it was the only way to ensure she kept her distance. He had a difficult enough time working with her on set in a professional manner.

Alice's unhappiness at their lack of communication was nearly tangible

"We'll make this quick," she growled. "Cullen, do you have any limitations concerning this scene? Any 'Do Not Cross' lines?"

All of them.

Without blinking, he directed his reply to Isabella. "No. None at all."

Edward's façade nearly cracked at the scorching determination that swelled in her eyes. It twisted and danced like a living thing.

"Same here."

Impatient as ever, Alice rushed through her final instructions though Edward didn't absorb a word of it. He stared unabashed at Isabella's expressive face as she seemed to withdraw inside herself. The transformation from the actress Isabella Swan to Bree Tanner, the desperate daughter of an alcoholic and gambling addict, was a visible thing, and it fascinated him.

His gaze followed her long legs as they crossed the set and stepped through the office door. Just before she pulled it closed, one hand ran down her side and smoothed a short leather skirt over her enticingly curved hip. The sight of that gesture registered in his brain and then went straight to his groin.

Edward swallowed a groan. The scene hadn't started, and already he was in trouble.

Love to get some feedback on these EPOVs! Should I keep writing them?

Thanks!