"Edward! What the fuck?" I shriek, near hysterical. My question is ignored as Jake and Edward faced off, snarling at each other like a couple of rabid dogs. Enough.

I stormed in between the two idiot boys, turning to face Edward who finally seemed to notice I was in the room.

"Get out of the way Bella", he didn't take his eyes off Jake, speaking through clenched teeth.

"Don't come in here acting like a goddamn animal and tell me what to do Edward Cullen! Who the hell do you think you are?"

His eyes flickered to mine briefly, then back to Jake. He straightened up slowly and I could see out of the corner of my eye that Jake was hesitantly mirroring his action. When Edward met my eyes again, the fire in his had died. My heart clenched to see that… I didn't want him to give up!

"Do you want him Bella? The dog? If you do, tell me. I will leave you two alone. If its what you truly want I will go, I wont stand in your way."

The sincerity in his words chilled me to the core. Edward held my gaze, but for once he was unable to keep the emotions out of his eyes, I could read him so easily right now, the pain, the sadness and… hope.

I lowered my eyes, not able to stand that expression on Edward's beautiful face any longer, I slowly turned to face Jake who was trying unsuccessfully to hide his smug smirk.

"Jake, I need to have a private talk with Edward… Do you mind?" I raised my eyebrows, hoping he'd take the hint and leave. The smirk dropped from his face and he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Anything you need to say to the leech you can say in front of me Bella, I won't leave you alone with him".

"What exactly, do you think I'm going to do to her, dog?" Edward spat out.

Jake snorted, "Well, my first thought was kill her… Or of course, turn her. I think I'd rather be around to prevent that".

"Enough you two", I'd grown tired of their squabbling, "Jake, please go, I need to talk to Edward. I will call you in the morning", he opened his mouth to argue, "Jake, PLEASE, go."

"Fine", he huffed, "but I will expect a call first thing or I'll be paying your precious Cullen's a little visit".

I rolled my eyes as Jake glared at Edward before stomping out of the house, slamming the front door loudly behind him. Suddenly, an awkward silence fell between me and Edward; I didn't know what exactly I had planned to say to him. Thankfully, he broke the ice.

"You stink of dog. It's disgusting", Edward wrinkled his nose up for effect.

I rolled my eyes. "If it's so offensive to you Edward, feel free to leave".

Edward sighed but said nothing as he slumped down in Charlie's chair, uncharacteristically inelegant.

"So Bella, do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Want him? The dog?"

"No Edward", I sighed, then lowered my voice to barely above a whisper, "I want you….. always you", I could feel the blush heating my face as I spoke my confession to the carpet at Edward's feet, too embarrassed to look at his face. Suddenly before I even noticed that he'd moved I felt his cold, gentle fingers under my chin, tilting my head up so I couldn't avoid his eyes any longer.

"You cannot believe how relieved I am to hear you say that", he breathed the words, almost reverently, his sweet breath washing over my face.

He slowly lowered his head to mine and his cool lips gently brushed over mine, almost hesitantly. I immediately reached out and grasped at his shirt over his chest, pulling him towards me. He complied willingly enough and I returned his kiss and was thrilled when he matched my own enthusiasm, deepening the kiss and winding his arms around me, resting his hands just above my ass. I moaned into his mouth as his hands lowered and squeezed. He responded with a moan of his own and pulled me towards him, pressing himself, and his obvious arousal, into me. My hands ran up his chest to wind around his neck of their own accord, my fingers flexing into the soft hair at the top of his neck. I pulled him to me, impossibly closer as I rubbed myself against him, all thoughts of propriety well and truly lost by now.

He pulled away, breathing heavily, and rested his forehead against mine, his eyes tightly closed.

"Bella, I should go…"

"What? Go where?"

"Away. God Bella…. Do you have any idea what you're doing to me? My control is hanging by the thinnest of threads right now. If we carry on with this I will carry you up the stairs caveman style and take you, I won't be able to stop myself, you're just too tempting." I could hear the humor in his voice, but it was laced with warning.

"Do it Edward. I told you, I want you…..". I pressed myself against him again and tilted my head to kiss and suck at the skin of his neck. It wasn't all that easy being that it was like kissing a marble statue. The harsh breath he gasped in clued me into the fact that I was on the right track however. I felt his hands move to my hips, his fingers flexing once before he gently pushed me away.

"I want you Bella", he kisses me softly, chastely, on the lips, "I want you so much….".

"But?"

"But we can't love, it's too dangerous…. God… I want to so badly but I could hurt you… Bella, I could kill you….".

I looked up to meet his pained expression; I took his face in my hands and placed a firm kiss on his lips before pulling back.

"You won't kill me Edward. You won't hurt me. Please do this. I want it. I want you, so badly. I'm sick of all these games, I'm ready", I stretched up on my toes to speak into his ear, my hands moving down to grip his arms, I lowered my voice, "Make love to me Edward. Take me upstairs, make love to me.. then… I want you to change me".

I could feel his whole body freeze, stilling the way only Edward could.

"Bella….."

"Don't Edward. I want this" I pulled back and looked him confidently in the eye, "If you can stand there, look me in the eye and tell me you don't want that then fine… Can you tell me honestly that you don't want us to be together, forever…?"

He frowned, as though trying to decipher something baffling. I didn't lower my gaze; I wanted to see everything that flickered across his face. I could see the internal war raging and felt bad for his discomfort, but if we were going to try to do this then we needed to stop messing around. I wanted him, forever. I knew he wanted me too and I was sick of waiting. The games were getting boring, he was mine and I was his. I wanted to be changed and I wanted to start my new life. With Edward. I was dragged from my internal musings by Edward gently cupping my chin, his eyes had softened.

"I want you Bella, forever. I've never wanted anyone, or anything, like I want you…. But, I don't want to hurt you. There's nothing I fear more." I tried to speak up but he cut me off. "Just wait Bella, afterwards when you're… changed…. It will be safe, I won't be able to hurt you then. Please baby, just wait… please".

"No Edward. I'm done waiting. We can be careful, please, it'll be alright. Let's just try? That's all I ask….." I reached down and took his hand in mine. Edward looked down at our joined hands before looking back up to meet my eyes, a smirk on his face.

"Before we even think of trying anything, you need to go and shower. You stink of dog, it's disgusting…".

I swatted his chest playfully before turning on my heel and making for the stairs. Pausing at the bottom step I turned back to him, amused to find him quickly snapping his head up – he'd been checking out my ass – busted!

"I'll be thinking about you Edward, while I'm all hot… and wet… and soapy…"

His mouth dropped open.

"You don't play fair Swan".

"My room, ten minutes Cullen".

With that I ran up the stairs, not giving him a chance to say anything in response. Now, for the quickest shower I've ever taken!

XxXxXxX

Sorry for the delay with this chapter, I have had internet problems. Next one will come much quicker, I promise.

And, do I sense a lemon on the horizon? Hmmm…. We will see!