Chapter 4

AN: I'd greatly appreciate anyone who would like to BETA/proof-read to make the story free of silly typing errors that I know I make!

xxxx

The bar was crowded as I tried to maneuver my way back to where Alice was sitting in the corner. I held my glass of wine in front of me in an attempt to not spill as I stumbled my way tipsily on way too high of heels. I could see Alice flirting with some random guy around the corner of the bar when out of nowhere, a barstool in front of me backed out and I ran straight into a warm, hard chest. I was falling backwards, attempting to grab onto anything sturdy to catch myself when I felt two strong, soft hands grasp onto my free and pull me up.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!"

I was momentarily distracted from my spilled wine by the velvety voice. I looked up from the large red spill on my blue silk dress to see the most handsome man alive. I knew I was slightly drunk, and my judgment was well past impaired, but this man's face was like every god put together. His chin was square and strong, yet his cheek bones soft. His nose was perfectly sculpted in the middle of his face and his eyes were the deepest green I'd ever seen. I felt as if they could see straight through to my soul.

I realized I had spent a little too much time staring at him, because he kept asking if I was okay. I shook my head and smiled, making a fool of myself waving my hand in front of myself.

"I am so sorry!"

"Oh, it's not a big deal. Don't worry. I'm a clutz, it happens all the time."

"Still! Here are some napkins. I'd help wipe it up, but that might just be more awkward."

I laughed at him and straightened out my skirt.

"Again, please don't worry about it. I'm more distraught over the wasted wine than the dress."

"Then please let me buy you another glass! And let me pay for the dry cleaning. I'd hate to think that I ruined your dress. It looks too good on you to be destroyed."

I blushed slightly and in my tipsy and sexually frustrated, state, my mind wandered to all the wrong places. I wanted to make a coy joke about if he wanted to take my dress to the cleaners, he'd have to get it off of me first. After clearing my mind of any inappropriate thoughts, I smiled at him.

"Deal."

He ordered another glass of wine for me as well as a beer for himself and then offered me the barstool, but I shook my head, explaining that I was here with my friend and then offered that he come join us. Alice looked him up and down and then winked at me when he wasn't looking as we got to the table and I blushed.

"Alice, this is…" I tried to introduce them, before realizing I didn't know his name yet.

"Edward."

I nearly fainted when his name rolled off his velvet tongue. My mind was back in the gutter.

"Nice to meet you, Edward. I see you tried to knock Bella down over there."

"Yes, unfortunately Bella and I had quite a run-in." he said, and I almost melted as my name rolled off his tongue, making me wonder how it would sound if he were moaning it.

I blushed as I avoided his gaze, sipping on my wine. Alice excused herself to use the restroom and Edward's attention was all on me again. I felt self conscious having such a gorgeous man stare me down. I wasn't that horrible of a mess, but my hair had started to lose its curl and I now had a bright red stain across my chest.

"So Bella, I never fully introduced myself. I'm Edward Masen."

He held his hand out and gave me the most perfect, knee weakening, crooked smile ever. I hurried to swallow the sip I'd just taken and put down my glass before placing my hand in his.

"Isabelle Newton…I mean Swam." I hurried to correct myself. "But everyone calls me Bella."

"Ah, newly married I see." he mumbled across my knuckles as he kissed them, surprising me.

"Actually, freshly divorced." I said shyly as I showed him my ringless hand.

"I feel bad for your ex for having lost something as exquisite as you."

I smiled at him, embarrassed that this completely gorgeous stranger had just complimented me. He had yet to drop my hand from his and he used his free hand to run through his unruly copper hair before taking a drink from his beer.

"So what brings you to Berlin, or do you live around here?"

"Oh I wish! No I just came to take my first vacation in a very long time. What about yourself?"

"My investment firm holds yearly conventions here."

"Oh! That's where I've heard the name before! Masen and Sons' Investments, right?"

"Guilty as charged. I'm the second son." he laughed, the sound reminding me of the sweetest music ever made. "Now that you know what I do, what about you Bella?"

"Well I worked as an editor for a small, online newspaper back home, but I recently moved to the city so I'm hoping to find something in a publishing house."

"And may I asked where back home is?"

"Well I grew up with my mom in Phoenix, but back home is with my dad in Washington. It's a small town called Forks. I just moved to Seattle though."

He smiled warmly at me as we continued our small talk. I worried as to where Alice was, but she sent me a text message saying she went back to the hotel to call Jasper and give me some alone time with my "hot new date."

I found out Edward lived in Chicago, where the firm was based, but he travelled a lot for work. He asked me several questions about myself although he thankfully avoided any questions about the divorce or Mike. He kept ordering us drink as we continued chatting and we'd long before lost track of time when the bartender said announced he was closing soon at one.

Edward walked out with me and I shivered in my light cardigan and stained dress. He slid his jacket over my shoulders and just smiled at me when I looked up at him to thank him.

"What hotel are you staying at? I'll go back with you…oh lord that sounds wrong! I meant I want to make sure you get back safe."

I smiled as an obviously inebriated Edward continued to apologize. I was flattered that he was willing to go back with me, but I was embarrassed by my choice of hotels. He had money, lots of it, and although I could've spent more, Alice and I were still frugal and got a pretty cheap hotel. I bit my lip before answering.

"It's actually pretty far away, it's near the airport."

"Not a problem, I'll get a cab, beautiful."

I blushed again and watched him move towards the street. I was mesmerized by the way his muscles on his back and arm moved under his tight shirt as he waved his hand at a cab. He helped me slide in the back seat before draping his arm over the back of my shoulder. As we watched the city blur passed us, he rested his head on top of mine and I felt him smell my hair.

"You smell almost as delicious as you look, Isabella."

I shivered and closed my eyes. It'd been well over a year since I'd been touched and everything Edwards said seemed to go straight to my core and turned me one more than I'd ever been before. He softly caressed my hand for the rest of the ride. When we reached the hotel, I avoided his eyes as he paid the driver and I was sure he was judging my choice in quarters. He climbed out of the cab before helping me out and walking with me to the main lobby door.

"I'm still very sorry I ruined your dress, Bella, but I had an amazing time with you afterwards."

"Me too, Edward. How much longer are you in town?"

"I leave in about five days, and if you're still around during that time, I'd love to see you again."

"I don't leave until this weekend." I said with a smile.

He stepped closer to me and brushed my hair behind my ear, leaning down towards me before whispering in my ear.

"Then it's a date. Tonight. I'll pick you up at around 8."

He pulled back slightly to smile at me as I swooned slightly from the tone of his voice. He caressed my cheek softly and electricity surged through my body."

"If you don't mind, Bella, I'd like to kiss you goodnight."

I blinked a few times before nodding at him. The instant his lips touched mine, I felt as if my body was on fire. As his lips gently caressed mine, I felt what could only be described as a waterfall of emotions wash over me, leaving me completely at peace. I cupped his chin lightly and he pulled me tight against him, his lips aggressive, yet soft, urging, yet patient. I pulled away only when I remembered I needed to breathe, and I smiled against his neck.

"Thank you, Edward. I'll see you tonight."

I gave him my sexiest smile as I pulled away from him and walked towards the door. He winked at me, and I stumbled slightly on the rough terrain, but he caught me before I fell to the ground.

"You are clumsy, aren't you, Bella? I'm going to have to watch out for you."

I blushed deeply and apologized before giving him a peck on the cheek and walking calmly into the lobby. Once I was out of sight I practically sprinted to the elevators, wobbling again on my heels, before impatiently hitting the button several times. I practically knocked down the door to Alice's and I's room when I tried to get in before launching myself onto my bed, smiling and giggling madly.

"Someone had a good time." Alice said sleepily from her bed.

"He kissed me. And oh lord was it a kiss. It was like the kiss to end all kisses."

Alice sat up immediately and let me tell her all about the impromptu date. She squealed with delight when she heard I had another one later, saying she needed to take me shopping for the perfect dress. As much as I hated being a life-sized Barbie for my best friend, this time I was excited. I couldn't wait to see Edward again.

As I laid in my slightly lumpy bed that night, I couldn't help but think about what my life had become. I thought after Mike I'd never be happy again. But that kiss from Edward showed me that my life is in fact not over. That one simple kiss held more passion then all the times Mike and I 'made love' combined. My body was still singing, a few hours later, with the excitement that kiss had stirred. I tossed and turned several times that night, trying to forget that Edward and I only had five more days together.

The next day, Alice was like a bouncy ball as she skipped around the room, telling me to hurry up so we could go shopping. She scoffed when I emerged from the bathroom in a pair of ripped jeans and a simple t-shirt and demanded that I change. She was a true believer in looking one's best when shopping. She shoved a patterned summer dress into my arms and demanded that I pair it with my cute gladiator sandals. At least she didn't expect me to wear heals.

We took the train to the middle of the city and had a simple breakfast of broechen and coffee before she grabbed my hand and started pulling me into random stores. I tried on about five million dresses it seemed before we found one that took my breath away. As I stood in front of Alice in the deep burgundy, strapless cocktail dress, she clapped her hands excitedly and I swear I heard the store employee whistle. I spun slowly in front of the mirror and gawked at myself. The soft fabric hugged my curves and the hemline, which reached just below mid-thigh, made my legs seem miles long. My pale skin seemed to shine against the deep color and I could just see my hair in perfect curls flowing over my shoulders later.

"Bella, you look…wow." Alice finally breathed and I smiled brightly.

I didn't want to take the dress off initially but I realized that I had no choice as I changed back into my summer dress. The price tag almost stopped me from buying it, but Alice reminded me that I was set on blowing as much of Mike's money as possible, and what better way than a five hundred dollar dress to wear on a date with one of the most gorgeous men alive.

After the dress was neatly packed into the shopping bag, Alice and I continued down the street to find me the perfect pair of 'fuck me pumps'. She knew I wasn't that coordinated when wearing heals, but she insisted that I get a new pair for tonight. We found the perfect pair of black leather, peep-toe pumps in the second store and decided to grab some quick lunch.

When we returned to the hotel, I told her that I felt bad I was abandoning her for the night. This whole trip was supposed to be for us girls to spend some time together, and here I was, going on dates with random guys I met at bars.

"Bells, don't you even dare apologize. In the past five years I have no seen you as happy as you were when you came back last night. I can't let you miss a chance with him. Plus it'll give Jasper and I some free time." she with a wink.

I groaned and faked a gagging noise when I realized what she meant. I knew she missed Jasper, and those two did it like rabbits, but did she have to tell me she was going to have phone sex with her boyfriend? I caught myself wondering whether Edward and I would have sex and I scolded myself. I wasn't the type of girl to sleep with a random guy the day after I met him. At least I didn't think I was. I'd only ever been with Mike, so I guess I didn't know exactly what type of girl I was. Edward probably had girls throwing themselves at him all the time, but I hoped he didn't see me as another girl to get in his bed. He'd been a perfect gentleman the night before so I was sure he wasn't into that sort of thing. But it had been a long time since anyone buy myself had touched me, and based on the kiss we shared the night before, he'd known how to make me melt in bed.

As Alice and I approached our door, there was a gorgeous bouquet of white roses sitting in front of it. She smiled brightly and rushed to pick up the card to read it out loud to me teasingly.

"Isabella, I can't wait to see you again tonight. I saw these flowers and though they're nowhere near as beautiful as you, I wanted to let you know I was thinking about you. –Edward." she read aloud, nearly squealing in delight. "Oh my god! He's so sweet."

I rolled my eyes at her before heading into the room to get ready. I spoiled myself with a long bath in the claw foot tub, making sure to shave every inch of my legs and not miss a single hair. After I stepped out of the bath, I wrapped a towel around myself and then rubbed a majority of the water out of my hair before running some mousse through it and letting it air dry into flowing waves. I wasn't usually one who spent much time on makeup, but I wanted to look better than ever so I set up the small kit of makeup essentials that I had and set to work creating a perfect smoky eye illusion. I topped off the look with a light lipstick and gloss after brushing my teeth and admired myself in the mirror.

Alice helped me slide into the dress and we decided it looked better sans bra. I just hoped that it wasn't going to be a cold night because the fabric of the dress wasn't that thick. I decided to wear my sexiest thong, cause even if Edward wasn't going to see it, it made me feel damn sexy to know all I was wearing was a gorgeous dress, a scrap of lace and the hottest heals I owned.

We were lounging around the TV at 7:45, sipping on some wine, when the hotel room phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Miss Swan?"

"Yes."

"There is an Edward Cullen in the lobby, awaiting you presence."

"Thank you very much, let him know I'll be right down."

Alice wished me luck as I check myself out once more, sliding into my coat and grabbing my clutch. I hugged her goodbye and told her to have some fun with Jasper that evening. As I entered the elevator I swore I heard Alice say something along the lines of 'I won't wait up.'

The elevator seemed to descend at an impossibly slow wait. I smoothed out my dress and held my breath as it finally came to a stop on the first floor and the doors opened.