four.

from Bella

"You like jazz, right?"

"Oh, yeah, absolutely. I love it. Jazz is just… yeah. " No. Not at all. I beamed bright at Alec, he shifted closer. Our small square table bordered the stage, leaving a challenge to chat. But I pressed on, determined. "I mean these guys are fantastic. What's the band's name?"

"Aro."

"Arrow?"

"No, Aro," he shouted near. His blue dress shirt was unbuttoned one too many. The waitress dropped off our drinks and offered a menu. I sipped, he ordered scallops and stared.

"You look great tonight." "You're so beautiful… Bella, fuck. I want this… I want everything with you…" Get out of my head, you impulsive, jealous, perfect man.

"What's that?" I shook myself present, attempting pleasant. "No, god, thank you. I'm sorry, Alec, I'm all over the place tonight. My head is… it's just everywhere." I gestured wild, pinching my eyes tight. Simmer down. I took in the overwrought gold and purple aesthetic, immediately switching up the color scheme in my mind. Anything to avoid getting lost in there or in the sexy madness of thirty minutes prior.

"I remember being fresh and young in a new city. It's exciting. Good times." Fresh and young, that's me, with the agonizing confusion of a lifetime crush spinning my heart sick. Dramatic, party of one. "New names, places, professional this, that… fuck. It's a lot to absorb."

"I'm keeping up. I've got good people around me." And you know, pinning me against my foyer wall.

"So, you come by way of Edward Cullen, hmmm?" His mouth lingered over the rim of his highball, eyeing curious. Edward was ever the intersection my life.

"Yes, yes, you could say that. He brought me to Chicago, and to Garrett Paul. I mean we've been friends forever. He's been a huge influence on… well... basically everything."

"Do you think they do it?" Janey poked my frozen leg with the green metal shovel. Masked by enormous December drifts, we spied.

"Do what?" I snarked, avoiding the ugly truth.

"Have sex, stupid. Like moan and groan... have sex." We watched Edward nuzzle his latest college snow bunny against the kitchen counter. His hands strong and tight at her waist and back. She giggled, as he pushed her bleached hair behind her shoulder. His mouth moved slow near her ear, she nodded and licked her bright painted lips. Slut.

"Yeah. They're screwing for sure." I pouted, scraping my shovel hard against the aging brick driveway.

"Can you even imagine kissing Edward Cullen? Jessica from next door, you know her older sister said he's like a town legend," Janey laughed, wide eyed.

"Legend in what?" I pushed my blue knit glove across my cheek and glanced through the glass again. There wasn't a breathe between them, they rocked and held and laughed and flirted. "Like his kissing is legendary or what?"

Janey tore off her mitten and wiggled her fingers, nodding. "No, these."

"Gross." Wow, damn.

"I'd kiss your brother," she stomped, and squealed as Brett suddenly pressed his goofy mug against the window.

"Punk!" I shouted, launching a round, icy missile of snow.

"Brett's hot, Bella. Sorry."

"Janey, you need glasses and a brain scan."

"Cullen's sharp. He stole my very first bid right out from under me. Did he tell you about that? I got cocky, careless, and he sweeps in… he's got this eager modern edge with his designs, you know? This was for the ultra conservative Historical Society, no less. But he still knocked them on their asses and left them starry eyed in his wake." I can relate. "Word on the street is he's sitting on the top prize in…" The microphone screeched above, we cringed. "… but he's not spilling, and I can't imagine going that far, so I don't know if it's true or not. But he's definitely on the rise."

"What? I'm sorry…"

"Nothing. Just shop talk. You wanna go for a walk?" He grinned, reaching. "Go somewhere else? I'm realizing this was a bad choice for getting to know you." I stilled, completely conscious of the walk I truly wanted to take.

"Can we compromise with a phone call. Maybe next week?" I was beginning to understand Edward's constant warning of the personal-professional tightrope.

~oo~S~oo~

"Corner of Pace and Jasper, please." I welcomed the warmth of the taxi, slumping sloppy against the filthy cracked seat. "It's the corner building. Four story. Stacked flats. Empty. Small."

"What, Miss?"

"Nothing. I'm just… it's nothing… Pace and Jasper."

"Okay, everyone's totally passed out. Gimme that." I adjusted the almost rude length of my red cotton shorts, standing in front of Edward's lazy late night couch position.

"No way. It's my remote. I'm in the middle of a movie." Edward narrowed tired eyes, holding the television remote high.

"What movie is more important than Sports Center at this hour?"

"That shit is on repeat, please. You already watched it once at eleven." He emptied another Spotted Cow bottle, smirking. I dove, knees digging, hands reaching. He was fast, impressive given the hour and alcohol.

"Come on..." One last stretch and I landed in his lap. We hushed each other silly, fear of waking Brett and Ben and Beth and the dead. "You're an asshole."

"Am I? After this amazing surprise party, I'm an asshole?" He whispered, close.

"No. No, you're not really. You're actually pretty amazing too." I melted lower, the remote tumbled to the floor.

"So, Bella Swan is finally twenty one." He swept soft fingers across my forehead, tucking stray hair behind my ear. Fuck. I breathed, digging sharp nails in my palm to confirm reality. "Did you have a happy birthday?"

"Yes. So happy…" I slid my hand down, over and up his chest. His mouth parted at my touch. Grasping the back of his neck, I suddenly pulled him closer. Soft lips brushed over, lingering then back slightly. His hair fell easy over his forehead, faintly shading his surprise.

Please, dear fairy of good fucking wishes don't let Brett wake up. Please, please, please.

I leaned, pressing against his mouth again, gentle to test, then not so much. I swept over his lower lip, he wrapped, gripping my waist to pull me in without hesitation. The kiss deepened, tongues tangled, mouths parting only to breathe desperate. Hands roamed, fevered down and further. Oh my god. There. Please right there. "Wait. Wait. Wait. Bella." We fell apart.

"Oh my god. Edward. I'm so…" Horny. "Sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I've obviously lost my mind. Shot and gone. Too much to drink for newly legal me. Please don't say anything." I buried in my hands, drawing my knees under.

"No, no. It was me. But goddamn, Bella. You're…"

"Crazy. I'm crazy. I've lost my mind. Sir…" I banged, shouting. "Sir. I'm sorry, I need 3740 Reed Avenue North."

"You said Pace and Jasper. Now Reed North?" His hands flew frustrated.

"No, wait! Can you just stop for a second. Pull over here. Let me process... I need to think." I shook, slamming my head against the chilled window. "Edward... you hypocritical, sexy son of a bitch."

"Miss... are you alright?" The driver straighted, turning to stare strange at my mixed up misery. "Don't get sick in my cab. That's extra."

"I do... I do feel sick. I'm a lovesick idiot. This is ridiculous. He wants me. I want him. But he's him. And it's wrong a hundred ways to Sunday. And he kissed me and said it all. And my mouth still stings in the best way. And I shouldn't do this. He's my boss now for the love of god.

"Oh, that's never good," the driver nodded, pulling his worn Cubs cap off.

"I know. See... Right? You know. But he's... he's... Edward." I trailed. "3740 Reed Avenue North," I demanded, clapping my hands together.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I mean, I shouldn't. But I won't be able to sleep if I don't." And hopefully I won't sleep if I do... I smiled, anxiously timid, excited, thighs tight together. "Onwards. Reed Avenue North! And you're absolutely lovely by the way." He mumbled gruff in response as I counted extra in my wallet for his patience.

I took the stairs by twos, heels aching. I unzipped and carried my boots in the well halfway. The black figure eight over his door was lit only by the faint moon through the hall end window. I tapped, then knocked, anxiously knotting my day old waves. I heard the shuffle, felt the pause, my thumb covered the peephole. Ha!

"Bella." He held the door, head bent tired, staring down at our both bare feet. Gripping and rubbing hard over the back of his neck, he sighed, blowing deep.

"Hey. Don't do that. Don't huff. I'm here… even after that stunt you pulled tonight." One corner lamp glowed over and through the deep coffee colored walls of his living room. "I'm here."

"How was your date?" I swayed in casual. The dark leather couch was cool beneath my overheated self. His stare followed the length of my bare legs as I settled back. "What are you doing?"

"My feet are killing me." He leaned, suspiciously sizing me up.

"Did you dance? Because you can't dance and shouldn't try in public."

"That's not very nice." I glared, stalking towards him again. He tensed. "I'm the one had to endure the most passionate kiss to end passionate kisses then listen to a grown man drool over your design work like a jealous small cocked fraternity boy." I sensed a hint of my favorite smile.

"Did he?"

"Yep." I clicked and popped, dramatic.

"We should talk, Bella."

I skimmed across, down his back, dragging fingers to edge his cotton sleep pants. A new touch, slow and brave. "We should, probably."

"Yeah, we definitely should…" He whispered, trailing. I followed the long, lean lines, then palms flat against his naked back. Smoothing over his warm skin, his stiff flex dissipated slightly. I smirked, tracing the faint freckle at the top of his shoulder. Soft fingers along the angle of his jaw, he shivered. Closer, we stared.

"Kiss me."

Tentative hands rested at my throat, want raced through my body, chasing away the chill. His touch was tender, softer than before.

His thumbs slid over sensitive skin. Teasing down over my jaw, neck, he cupped my cheeks and watched my mouth. His tongue slid across his full lower lip as my hands drifted up his chest. I twisted through the hair on his chest then below. High on tip toes, our mouths barely hovered.

His hands buried in my hair, tugging it loose, as he let out the breath he was holding. "But you're pissed at me. I don't want to have angry sex."

"We're going to have sex?" I smirked to tease and lighten. A heartbeat passed, our lips met, soft. I whimpered as we explored. "I'm not pissed... not anymore. Take me."

He gently stroked my cheek as we parted to breathe. Tilting, he traced the slope of my jaw with his tongue, nipping light, then blowing over wet skin. I eagerly tugged the tie at his waist.

"Be sure," he whispered, hot and desperate over my skin.

"I'm sure."

He led, we stumbled knowing down the narrow hall. Stilling in the doorway, I noticed his nest of rumpled sheets and sketchbooks. He wound around from behind, dusting my hair over. Sucking and tasting the skin at my throat, shoulder, angling for more, I felt his hand at my zipper. The heavy olive wool fell loose around me.

Turning slowly in his arms, I stepped back slowly towards his bed. Patient, he took me in. I weakened in a heady rush knowing he was seeing me so new. I swallowed rough at the hard outline through his thin pants.

At the bed's edge, he eased my dress down. I unclasped dark lace, as his lips found my neck, his tongue grazed as he pushed the rest to join my dress. He lowered, strong hands slid down bare skin to grasp my panties. We breathed courageous.

"God, you're fucking beautiful." Wet lips traveled my legs as he rose. It tickled, my laughter left me gasping within a nervous quiver. I fought to breathe. "It's okay. It is." He whispered against my suddenly shivering mouth. "I can't wait to feel you, Bella."

He stepped back, pushing his pants down his legs. Fuck. My throat tightened.

I crawled, falling back into down and pillows. He melted close, firm hands spreading my thighs, a leg pressed between mine. He traced a random pattern up and over the soft curve of my belly as I twisted in frustration from the feather light touch. Following the slope of my breast, nipples hardened and peaked. "Edward…" I arched, he lowered tasting, sucking gently. His hot mouth hovered and teased as his fingers slid lower. Yes. God, yes.

He stroked my pussy softly, taunting. I burned, spiraling ready.

"We need something."

He lifted, fumbling in the nightstand. I roamed his body, savoring with peppered kisses as he dealt with the condom. He spread me open, falling between and his hard cock against and ready. He steadied over. His stare overwhelming. "You…" I reached, dusting his cheek with the back of my trembling hand. My fingertips found his lips, his head fell over my chest. Arms braced and flexed, we finally found.

"Fuck, Bella."

He wrapped my leg at his waist and stroked forward. "Edward, yes…" Every measure of him slid deeper with each thrust. A quick, satisfying rhythm to begin and discover.

"You feel incredible."

Tongues tested and teased as we moved against each other, our bodies vulnerable, sensitive. We tangled fingers. Perfect warmth, faster than I'd ever known seeped low and through. He moved inside me, above me, and around me… pushing us furiously close to the edge. "I'm…" I moaned, shattering breathless beneath him.

"That's it…" I rode the sensation, tightening my legs again. He pushed harder, once then again, breathing my name as he came.

~oo~S~oo~

The manic rhythm and pound of the rain drowned my immediate morning after truth. There was finally something new for my history book. For sure. I reached still and silent to trace the dark permanent design down his arm. Swirl to straight a dream and design under my light touch. Fuck. I righted slowly, the pale, cool sheets barely covering and settling at my waist. My head dizzied, as I stretched to toe open the heavy wooden blinds. Jerk. How dare you with these beautiful, clear beveled glass windows? I need these windows. Smirking, a faint giggle to myself, I breathed deep, glancing down over my naked self. I opened to last night's memory with a shiver. Those silly selfish, righteous moments after a first when you feel so completely empowered flowed free. Suddenly, fingertips grazed my bare hip. I peeked over my shoulder, knowingly coy, winking. "You're still here," he whispered. Sleepy, sexy, smug, he tucked his pillow beneath his chest.

"I'm still here."

a/n

Thank you very much for reading xo

ffpassion, obsmama, carenl... love you, thank you xxx

The addresses are fictional :)

Edward's back next week with his take on morning after bliss ;)

Have the best week, love you guys! xo