Sorry,sorry! But something at home demanded my attention, plus my mind was being pulled in two different directions as to how this story should proceed. Now that I have resolved the dilemma, things should move faster!

SM owns everything 'Twilight'. I own copies of the four books, DVDs of the four movies, and am still waiting for the DVD of 'BD-2' to be released here!

Chapter-4

I would be lying if I said I wasn't tempted.

Here was the man I loved, vowing to share a slice of heaven with me. Well, at least I imagined it would be something like that. My eyes ran up and down his sinewy body, just begging to be touched. His hands began to stroke my back, and even through the thick cotton of my tank top I could feel the heat spreading through me. Then they touched the bare skin of my shoulders, and I shivered with an unknown pleasure.

"Bella?"

I jumped back, the fog of lust surrounding me dispersing suddenly. The bedside lamp flipped on. I looked at a sleepy Edward, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

Jasper gave a low growl of frustration.

"Hi Jasper," yawned Edward without bothering to cover his mouth. "Were you scared to sleep alone?"

Jasper glared at him.

"Why would I be scared?"

"Well, you used to sneak into my room sometimes, when you thought there were monsters under your bed. Then you asked me if you could sleep in my bed, and I always said 'yes'. Even though sometimes you wet my bed—"

"I was five then!" yelled Jasper, completely red-faced. I tried to suppress my giggle and ended up with an indistinct snort. It did not improve Jasper's temper.

"What is funny about that?" he demanded. I shook my head hastily, pressing my lips together to avoid any more noise escaping my mouth. I also noticed that any excitement I might have been feeling over Jasper's abs had disappeared. Evidently imagining him as a scared five-year-old killed my…adult feelings.

Behind me I could hear Edward laughing his head off. Evidently he had no qualms in letting Jasper know that he found the whole thing hilarious. I thought he would rouse the whole family with his laughter.

Jasper gave both of us a good-sized final glare. And the, for the second time that evening, he marched off in a huff.

I shut the door and turned towards Edward. I wanted to laugh along with him, but thought it wouldn't be right.

"Edward, that was unkind. You should not be laughing at someone over something they did as a child."

He gave me a strange look, as if asking what was wrong with that.

"No?"

"No. He could not help it, you know?

"Okay." He shrugged, unconcerned. "Can we sleep now?"

I sighed. He probably could not understand why Jasper was embarrassed. As soon as I was under the covers he cosied up to me and buried his nose in my neck.

"Bella, you smell so nice, like warm vanilla custard."

"Thank you Edward, you smell nice too."

"Like the monster cookies?"

"Um, more like ginger cookies, I think. Sweet, but a little spicy too, you know?"

I could feel his smile on my skin.

"Mom makes giant ginger cookies too. I like them!"

It seemed Esme did a lot of baking. And cookies were the way to Edward's heart.

"Goodnight, Edward."

"Goodnight, Bella."

I slept well. When I woke up, very early in the morning Edward was spooning me, his lips soft on my neck. What was definitely not soft was the something that was poking my shorts-covered ass.

"Bella." He groaned as he rubbed it against me. Suddenly he froze. Then he jumped up as if electrocuted and sprinted to the bathroom, leaving me cold.

I sighed. For a second there he had almost sounded like the man he was, age-wise. I knew boys sometimes woke up with a 'wood'. But did he know how to take care of it?

When the shower started in the bathroom, I realised that he did. Someone must have told him what to do about it, maybe Emmet.

I didn't want to embarrass him when he returned, so I pretended to be fast asleep, my face half-buried in the downy pillow. The bathroom door opened almost soundlessly and Edward slunk in the room and under the covers. Gently he put his arm around my waist, dropped a hesitant kiss on my head and went to sleep again. Enjoying his soapy, clean smell, I closed my eyes too.

When I got up at a more reasonable hour, Edward had already changed and brushed. When I had done the same, with the addition of a quick shower, we went down for breakfast.

I had been in the Cullen kitchen a couple of times while hanging out with Rose. It was a spacious room that would have been overwhelming if it didn't give such a homey vibe. The creamy walls and the large window in the back wall made it look light and airy, and the light brown wooden cabinets and kitchen island welcomed the guests warmly. The pots and pans shone with cleanliness. And it was always full of delicious smells. For a girl like me who loved to eat but had never cooked a thing, it was nothing less than heaven.

Evidently breakfast was an important meal of the day for the Cullens. The top of the semi-circular island was groaning with dishes. I spied omelettes, waffles with fruit, pancakes, muffins and sausages. There were a jug full of freshly-squeezed orange juice and a flask of hot coffee. The various aromas made me salivate in anticipation.

All eyes were upon us as we entered the kitchen. Esme and Carlisle of course, then Rose and Emmet, Jasper, and a few guests who had stayed overnight because either they had a long drive to make or a flight to catch. Mrs Cope, the Cullens' cook-cum-housekeeper, was busy at the stove, with Esme helping her. Carlisle was asking his guests if he could get them more coffee or juice.

"Mom!" Edward's enthusiasm to greet his mother had not lessened in any way. By the way Esme returned his hug, I didn't think she minded.

"What would you like for breakfast, sweetie?" she asked Edward while giving me a warm hug too. Maybe Edward had the hug/snuggle genes passed on to him through her? It was nice though. I wondered my mother would have done the same, had she been around.

"Are those blueberry pancakes?" Edward asked, licking his lips. Esme smiled and nodded, and he picked up a plate to serve himself. Then suddenly he turned to me.

"Bella, can I get you anything? What would you like?" he asked so sweetly that I wanted to kiss him. Esme, Emmet and Rose smiled, Carlisle merely looked curious, and Jasper scowled slightly.

"Everything looks delicious, Edward. I don't know what to choose. Maybe I will start with what you are having?"

He nodded happily and stacked four pancakes in the plate, poured golden syrup upon them and sprinkled a few extra berries, and handed the plate to me. I thanked him, tasted one and moaned at the yumminess filling my taste buds.

"These are heavenly, Esme. Will you teach me how to make them?"

Esme smiled, pleased.

"Actually Mrs Cope did most of the work, but yes, any one of us can teach you. They are quite simple to make." Then she turned to Edward, who was attacking his own tower of pancakes with obvious enthusiasm. "Edward, please eat slowly. They are not the last ones on the Earth."

Her tone was far from scolding though, and Edward grinned crookedly, making my heart miss a beat. I rubbed my chest absent-mindedly, puzzled.

Jasper scowled some more and took a sip of his black coffee.

"Mom," exclaimed Edward as if he had suddenly recalled something very important. "Can Bella have one of your monster cookies? She would love them!"

Esme looked at him fondly.

"Of course she can, darling. But how do you know she will love them?"

A warning bell seemed to ring in my head, but I wasn't sure of the reason.

"Because she tasted me last night and said that I taste exactly like them—a little bit sweet and a little bit salty. Maybe because I eat so many of them?"

Jasper spit out a mouthful of coffee, straight on Carlisle's pristine white shirt.

End note: Way to liven up things at breakfast, Edward! ;)