With the clock nearing midnight, my cavernous bedroom filled with the sound of my rumbling stomach.

Still barefooted, I quietly made my way down the long corridor, down the stairs, and to the kitchen. I'm sure there was a more direct route, but with the dimmed lighting, I was unsure of my surroundings. Once my feet hit the textured flooring of the kitchen, I searched for the refrigerator. There were many, all filling a corner of the restaurant-grade kitchen. They were stain-less steel and large.

I opened the door, and the bright light flooded the kitchen. As soon as my eyes adjusted, my cheeks rose, revealing my smile. On the first shelf were multiple containers with notes that all read 'for Bella' so I dug in. Pulling the first from its place, I opened it and discovered a salad, complete with a container of dressing. The second was filled with fresh fruit. Each one was a gift, made especially for me, by someone who truly wanted to help me.

As I reached for the last container, the energy of the room shifted. It wasn't that I'd heard someone come in, or physically felt somebody touch me, but I knew. I knew I was no longer alone. Before I could speak, a large hand came from behind and held open the refrigerator door. I didn't need to turn around to know that Edward was there.

"Oh gosh," I gasped. "You scared me."

"I bet."

Edward's warm breath skirted across my exposed neck, a stark contrast to the coolness coming from the refrigerator. Goose bumps materialized on my arms and legs as I became hypersensitive to his proximity, as well as keenly aware of my clothing. I was standing in Edward Cullen's kitchen with shorts that just reached below my ass cheeks, no bra, and nothing more than a long t-shirt.

Shuffling my feet, I reached for the final container. "Sorry, I just got hungry and I figured it would be a long time before breakfast."

"No need to apologize," I could hear his smile. "I was hungry myself. I usually never eat this late, but when I do want a midnight snack, I certainly don't go for fruit."

I rolled my eyes and shoved everything back, before opening the freezer and pulling out the first thing I saw-a popsicle. I ripped the wrapper off and turned towards him, popping it into my mouth and raising an eyebrow. "Better?"

He gripped my hand with the popsicle and slowly brought it towards his mouth. He wasn't going to...was he? He sure as hell was going to! And for some reason I could move my hand as his tongue lashed out at it and sucked up all the juice. I couldn't believe my eyes, or the fact that my fucking panties were now clinging to me from how excited I was getting.

"Do you need help with anything, Ms. Cullen?"

I snapped out of it, licked my lips, and shook my head. "No, thank you."

Now, nearly nose to nose, Edward took a step backward and scanned me from head to toe. "Pity."

I arched my brow.

"I'd hoped there was something you needed, something Ms. Madison wasn't able to give you."

"I-I didn't eat earlier. She said I could get something..."

He stepped closer, his firm chest grazing my erect nipples. Taking the container, he reached for my hand. "Come, Miss Cullen, let me show you the view."

Like an animal to its slaughter, I followed, bare feet silently padding the hard tile surface until our destination came into view. Seeing the small table with the flickering candle, I gasped. Once he led me through the glass doors, the salt-scented humidity assaulted my senses while the warmth brought back feeling to my air-conditioner-cooled fingers and toes. Glancing at the table, I watched as the small flame protected within a glass chimney illuminated the beautiful balcony, creating a contrast to the dark ocean beyond.

"You talked to Caroline, didn't you?"

His expression blanked. "I have, but not recently. Not since she took you on your little tour of the house. Why?"

Was he an honest man? Could I take his reaction to mean that he'd planned this himself, perhaps, without my comment to her about candlelit dinners? It was damn near impossible, or maybe I had been wrong and he did have this place bugged? And surely, Caroline was more loyal to him than she was to me.

I shook my head, my dark hair cascading around my shoulders. "It doesn't matter. It was just something I said to her."

"You don't like the ocean breeze?"

"No, I do. I like it very much. I always wanted to spend time at the beach, but even growing up near Miami, I rarely did it. My father...he liked to do it. I haven't really been on a beach since he..."

Edward reached for my hand. "Tonight, we aren't going to talk about the contract, or your decision. If you have questions, ask me tomorrow. We'll talk, early. Tonight, I want to know as much as I can about you. If you want, I can tell you something about me as well."

My lips pursed. "And you swear you haven't spoken with Caroline?"

He sighed. "What did Ms. Madison say that has you so paranoid? Please, inform me so we can get you consistently asking me. I do not like to be questioned more than once, Ms. Cullen. I'm an honest man; I don't need to lie to you to get you to do something for me. I also don't like my motives to be questioned. If I tell you I didn't do something, I didn't do it. I have no reasons to lie, I'm not a man who cares about hurting other people's feelings."

"She didn't say anything!" I said defensively.

"Our last conversation was about breakfast tomorrow morning. It'll be at six." He glanced at his watch. "Which is getting closer by the minute."

"I'm pretty aware, Mr. Cullen." I looked at the water, the same water I could see from my room a floor above. "This is truly beautiful. Thank you."

"It is," he agreed, though his eyes weren't on the water, but on me. "More beautiful than I dared imagine."

I blushed, and looked down at my knotted fingers. "I know you told me not to talk about the contract, or ask questions, but there's a lengthy clause about children. About...you not wanting to have any at all...ever. Can you please tell me why?"

"You seem nervous," Edward opened the container that held the grapes and popped one into his mouth. I continued eating my popsicle silently, looking at him underneath of my eyelashes. "Why is that?"

"You intimidate me."

He frowned, silently debating whether or not he considered this good or bad, and then nodded. "I appreciate your honesty. If you'd like me, I'd reward you for it. However, you won't let me. You're, for some reason, intimidated by me. You never have to be intimidated by me, Ms. Cullen."

"You don't know why I'm intimidated, are you serious?" He nodded. "Let's see. You, for one, won't call me by my first name, and call me 'miss' like I'm an old woman! I'm not. You don't need to be formal with me, you're trying to marry me! Will you call me 'Ms. Cullen' when we're married?"

"Probably."

"And you expect me to be okay with that?"

"As opposed to other things, yes."

"Other things like what?"

"Continue on with your list, Ms. Cullen. We'll talk about the 'other things' tomorrow."

"I would rather we spoke of them now. Please."

"Is it because I'm wealthy? Good looking? What is it that intimidates you the most?"

"Your money is one of them, yes, of course! How could I not be intimidated by it?" I placed my popsicle stick down on the table, and crossed my arms. He watched me, his eyes dark but filled with amusement. "It's a lot to take on, all of this luxury...you're a lot to take on. Your lifestyle is something I never imagined for myself! Don't you think I have a right to be intimidated?"

"If it is my power that makes you nervous, then no. I do not think you have a right to be intimidated, considering I'd be sharing my power with you. My money would be shared with you. My lifestyle would become yours. To answer your question, I simply do not want children. Do you want children?"

"I...I'm not sure now."

"Be honest."

"I'm trying." I sighed. "Yes, I wanted children one day. No time soon, however. I mean, I haven't ever really thought about it that much. I pictured myself as a mother...and I mean if you're not the man to give them to me, that's fine."

His eyes narrowed at me. "There will be no man to give you them, if it's not me. And it will not be me. We will not ever have children, Ms. Cullen. I don't want them. End of that discussion. Why didn't you run? Why did you stay here tonight?"

"I don't know. I'm scared and intrigued. I'm trying to not make a rash decision. After all, this will be the biggest decision of my life." I sat straighter. "Can I believe you?"

"Implicitly."

"So everything you told me about your grandfather is true? He is truly dying?"

"That's the reason for the deadline. If we don't make this deal by tomorrow, and my grandfather dies, all of the money will go to my goddamned mother. I'm not stingy with my money, as you can see, I don't exactly need any of it. Not even a penny. I don't want my mother to have it, though. She ran my grandfather straight into the ground, or she is trying and it's working. If I have anything to do with it, she will never see the money at all."

I reached for the grapes, feeling the rumbling of hunger. When I did, Edward pulled the container from my reach. "Let me," he offered.

"I'm capable-"

"Shush, let me..." Taking one grape from the container, he held it near my lips.

Obediently, I opened my mouth. The grape was sweet and juicy as I closed my lips and bit through the skin. By the time I swallowed, he had another one waiting.

As I opened my mouth, he spoke, "Ms. Cullen, I didn't know how this would work. I still don't. I didn't plan on truly wanting you, but since you walked out of my office this afternoon, you're all I can think about."

When I closed my mouth on the next grape, his finger and thumb lingered between my lips. Instead of moving away, I sucked them, pulling them into my mouth and licking them clean. The groan that came from deep in Edward's throat told me what I'd suspected: I had power. Over this wealthy, devastatingly beautiful man, I had power. The realization gave me strength.

"You didn't expect to want me?" I questioned. "Then why would you offer to marry me?"

He ran his finger over my lips. "I expected to want to fuck you, yes. Who wouldn't? But that was all, as I said, to have you available, to not have to mess with the uncertainty of buying companionship, or the annoyance of dating. At least if we're married, I won't have to worry about you fucking other people. I will be the only man you want; trust me."

Shaking my head, I bit my lip and stared hard at him. "You would choose to marry someone instead of dating them? You might actually fall in love with someone. How can I be sure you won't meet a girl, fall in love with her, and completely dump me? Or fuck one of your assistants?" A thought came to me. "Have you ever fucked Caroline?"

"Slow down, Ms. Cullen," he laughed. "I've never even thought about fucking Ms. Madison. She is more like a sister to me, we've known each other since we were very, very young. As for me falling in love with anyone? It is simply just not going to happen. I am not a man who loves. I am a man who fucks, yes, but there is no need for that to be a concern of yours. I'll be getting it from my beautiful, available, sexy wife. She'd keep me satisfied, wouldn't she?"

I gulped. "Have you ever been in love before?"

He shook his head. "Subject closed."

"You promised to be honest."

"I am being honest."

"No, you're being vague. There's a difference."

"Dating requires time and commitment. I don't want to do that. If you sign the contract, our future is secure for at least the next ten years. You can get mad at me, I can piss you off, or..." His words slowed. "You may be happy and content. The point is, for ten years, it won't matter."

"There was a clause to void-"

"Yes, there is a clause that gives either one of us the right to void the contract and our marriage. However, as I'm sure you read, it comes with serious repercussions. While we're married, you'll have access to more wealth than you can imagine. If you decide to void our contract before the ten-year benchmark, you forfeit everything: everything you've accumulated during our marriage, anything you stand to gain in a divorce, and anyone else who benefits personally from your generosity as a result of our marriage will be subject to terms of repayment."

I'd read that part. "Like Keaton?" I asked.

"Yes and your sister if you choose to pay for her continued education."

My eyes widened. "I can do that?"

Edward brought another grape to my lips. "As Mrs. Edward Cullen you can do almost anything you desire."

The almost floated in the air as I swallowed the sweet juice and accepted another.

Edward continued, "After ten years, you'll have claim to a quarter of my fortune with no clause for repayment by any of the benefactors of your generosity."

"You keep saying my generosity. It's your money."

"As long as we're married, it will be our money. I have no deep-seated desire to help your family. If helping them makes you happy it benefits me. The decision to help them will be solely on you." Another grape brushed my lips. "After twenty years of marriage, you'll be entitled to half of our accumulated fortune. If I void the contract before ten years, you'll automatically receive fifty percent." Edward leaned forward. "My darling that is more money than you can even comprehend. I assure you that I will not be voiding the contract."

"Tell me more about Keaton and Vienna-mostly about Vienna. As long as we're married, I can pay her undergrad and graduate school?"

"We can talk more about expenses and the contract tomorrow morning." The flickering candle reflected in the shimmer of his heavy gaze as his finger lingered on my lips. "Tonight, I want to learn more about my possible future wife."

His touch was cool and tasted sweet from the grapes. While the gentle ocean breeze blew wisps of my hair around my face, I watched Edward's lids grow heavy, as if he were seeing me, yet imagining more than was before him. How did he expect to learn more if he didn't want me to speak?

With only the hum of the waves stories below, the silence on the balcony grew louder until the only sound I heard was the swish of my pulse resonating in my head. Without my realizing it, Edward had moved from his chair and was mere inches away: his cologne lingered in a cloud surrounding both of us with the masculine scent.

"Stand for me," he said, tracing my lower lip with his finger. He offered me his hand and for some reason, I obeyed. Although his command was soft, it was still a command. "Ms. Cullen, I hope you're not mad about what I'm about to say, but all I can think about is pushing you against that wall, ripping off those panties, and showing you what it's like to be with somebody who is better suited for you."

With each word, I became suddenly aware that my t-shirt did little to conceal my sensitive, disloyal nipples. Trying to not give myself away, I fought to keep my eyes on his. It didn't work.

Looking down, a smug smile came to his lips. "You want that too, don't you?"

"You said that you wouldn't...that we wouldn't..."

"And I meant it. That doesn't mean I don't want it."

Taking my hand, he rubbed it over his not-so-hidden erection. What he offered behind his jeans was big and hard. I wondered what his cock would look like if it were released from its denim confines. The image of him inside of me scared as well as fascinated me, all the while making me wet with desire. His golden gaze drank me in as I continued to allow my hand to rub up and down the bulge.

Humming, he continued, "You have no idea how badly I want to free myself from these jeans. Just having your hand there..." He nuzzled my neck. "...knowing you're this close. You have me ready to come right now." His warm breath on my collarbone, he purred, "Tell me you don't want the same thing. Tell me you don't want to be fucked right here, against this wall. Tell me you don't want me to fill that void you're feeling and satisfy the tension building within you."

God he was so right. My insides ached with need at the thought.

"We can't do this."

He planted a soft kiss against my neck, not doing much to help the fact that I was uncontrollably and undeniably wet for him right now. And he knew it, because I wasn't doing much to hide the fact, either. Every part of me fought it, fought him, but I was nothing when it came to the great Edward Cullen.

My eyes widened when his hand disappeared behind the material of my shorts, and suddenly I felt him begging with his mouth and his hands to let him in. To beg him. I was getting lost in the moment when I heard the sound of a baby's crying. I cleared my throat and pushed him away from me.

"Pity. I think we'd both sleep better."

"No, you would sleep better."

"It sounds as though you don't have confidence in me, Ms. Cullen."

I rolled my eyes, stepped aside and moved towards the kitchen again. Once inside, I convinced myself to calm down and the air conditioner did very little to help with how red my cheeks probably were. I opened the refrigerator once again, and pulled out a water bottle.

When I turned, he was standing right in front of me without a shirt on.

"Edward..."

"Shh," he whispered. "If you're going to choose not to accept my offer, let me give you something to remember me by."

"What are you-oh my god!"

In one swift instant, he had my legs wrapped around his waist and he was pushing me up against the gradient island counter in the middle of the kitchen. It was cool against my bare thighs-where had he thrown my shorts? He placed me on it and hoisted my legs up and over his shoulders.

"Edward stop..." I gasped when he reached for my panties and roughly pulled them over my legs.

He kissed the inside of my thigh and I moaned lightly, unaware of how weird my voice actually sounded when it came out like that. His tongue lashed out once, twice and then he had me flat out against the counter panting. "Oh my...god," I gasped, moaning and squirming.

When I moved, he swatted my behind with his hand and I moaned loudly at the feeling of the burn and the cold of the countertop. I couldn't believe he was actually doing this in the middle of his kitchen, with the scary but exciting fact that anyone could walk in on us. I was convinced that even then he wouldn't stop. I could feel my muscle tighten against the warmth of his tongue. What really set me over the edge, though, was the vibration he caused by moaning against me.

"Edward!" I moaned loudly. I no longer cared who heard us, who walked in on us, this man had a legendary tongue and I was about to come on it if he didn't stop. Then, in perfect timing, he pinched my nipple with his free hand and my clit at the same time. My world exploded.

Every muscle in my body tightened and imploded. Though it came upon me fast, it didn't end the same way. No. I held tightly to his shoulders with my thighs as waves of pleasure rippled through my body. It wasn't until I fell slack against the counter that I realized I was actually yelling out.

My legs went limp as embarrassment washed over me. Edward stood up and I began rising with my hair falling in frame around my face, I was panting and I was absolutely sure my face was beat read. Edward didn't seem to care about, or even notice, my discomfort with the fact that he just had his face buried between my legs.

My mouth hung slack when I realized the evidence of my arousal on his mouth. He smirked, and licked his lips while looking right into my eyes. I gasped when he lifted his fingers to my lips and instructed me to suck. I did, tasting myself, and he groaned lowly.

"Holy fucking shit," he whispered. "You tasted even better than I thought. I could go down on you all day."

He grabbed my hand and helped me down and I scrambled for my shorts as I pulled my panties back up. I tried to shield myself for him, even though he just experienced me in a way no other man ever has. I was shell-shocked, to say the least, and I knew I was in for a world of shit if I married this man. Sex with him would be completely different from sex with anyone else. It would be breath-taking, that much I knew. This man knew exactly what he was doing, how to do it, and exactly what to give to a woman. He was the devil in all sorts of forms.

Before he could say anything else, I flew out of there and headed straight for my bedroom. I couldn't sleep, however, as I laid in bed. My mind was on one thing: Edward Cullen's mouth and his fingers.

I was about to make a deal with the devil.


tun tun tun
i hope you enjoyed this chapter
what are your thoughts of Edward and Bella so far? Do you think they will get along in the future!
tho, i must warn you guys, edward isn't really a sweetheart!
also thanks for reading this story guys. feedback is always welcomed + highly appreciated. :)