AN: This chapter is almost the same as it was the first time I posted it, but there will be some obvious differences. Bella and Edward are obviously not together and so Bella does not anticipate Edward coming over like originally written.

After Edward's many attempts at texting Bella failed he turns to a different method, so let's get on with the story and see just what that is. And if Bella will give him a chance to make his case. Let's see what happens, I'm excited!

Approx. 5,000 words

The song for this chapter is: If I Ain't Got You by Alicia Keys and
Desperado by Rihanna

Chapter 6 Taking Chances

I was breathing heavily as I rounded the corner, since I hadn't gotten the chance to work out yesterday I decided to make up for lost time and went for a run this morning.

I'd been gone for maybe two hours, I'd started on this trail in the woods behind the house and it led to town and so I just kept following it until I ended up back where I started. Home. It was a good run, nothing like what I was used to, Phoenix had a lot of terrain but at least it was dry.

Here I had to worry about slipping if it had rained too much before I went on a run.

Once I'd gotten closer to the house I slowed down until I was walking, I put my index and middle finger to the pulse point at my neck while looking down at my Fitbit to see how many miles I had run.

I took a few deep breaths to calm my heart rate as I walked towards the house, but stopped dead in my tracks at the sight before me. I looked around me to see if anyone was around, praying that none of our neighbors were being nosey as I picked up my pace.

My first thought was: "Why was Edward Cullen sitting on my porch?"

I bristled as I passed his shiny silver Volvo that was parked on the street in front of the house, for the love of God I hope no one noticed him.

The second thought was: "Charlie was going to fucking kill me."

"Edward what are you doing here?" I asked in an almost defensive tone as I stopped in front of him, his head shot up when he heard my voice. He looked like shit.

"You wouldn't return any of my texts, I didn't know what else to do."

"Leave me alone?" I retort in a duh tone of voice. "Usually when a girl ignores you it's because she wants you to leave her alone." He winced slightly, and I hated myself for it.

"Please Bella, just hear me out."

I looked at him, really looked at him. He was hunched over, his clothes were wrinkled, and his hair looked like it had been through the ringer with all the tugging he had probably done.

"Get inside before someone see's you. My dad will blow a gasket if he finds out you were here."

I rushed past him as he stood to his feet, quickly unlocking the door, and pushed him inside it before someone could open their door and see Chief Swan's daughter smuggling a boy into the house.

What am I doing? This is a recipe for disaster and I know it.

"Sorry, I'm not trying to get you in trouble." He mumbled while rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"It's fine, he's at work until five or so we should be fine. Want something to drink or eat? I made tons of sweets yesterday."

"Um, yeah sure." He followed me into the kitchen where he promptly sniffed the air before moaning in anticipation.

"There are cupcakes, mini cakes and I made cookies and crème bites late last night when I couldn't sleep. You drink coffee or would you prefer hot chocolate?"

"Hot chocolate, I'm not much of a coffee drinker." He spoke around the cookies and crème bite he had shoved in his mouth, it was kind of cute. "and these are great by the way."

"Thanks, you can take some home if you want. I won't eat all this by myself."

"I'll take you up on that before I leave."

I nodded once with a small smile on my face as I set to making the hot chocolate. I put two mugs full of water in the microwave then grabbed the chocolate syrup and left over white chocolate I'd melted last night and two packets of mix.

"You put extra chocolate in yours?" I looked up to see that crooked grin that soaked my panties instantly.

"Of course, you'll like it I promise." I winked at him before pulling the mugs out of the microwave and added the ingredients together before stirring thoroughly and handing one of the mugs to Edward.

I stood at the counter across from him as he sat at the bar stool, he hadn't yet said what he'd come here to say, and so I was waiting patiently for him to start. I didn't want him to be here for longer than necessary.

"So, what's so important you had to come all the way out here?" I couldn't take the silence, if I hadn't already been sweating from my run I would have been sweating bullets at this point.

"Right, I keep forgetting that your just like Jasper. Straight to the point." He chuckled once humorlessly before continuing. His eyes trained on the steaming cup in front of him as he gathered his thoughts.

"Just say it Edward." I whispered encouragingly.

"I know what people say about me, and I'm not going to deny it in the slightest. I've gotten around, that's no secret. But when I woke up yesterday and you weren't there, well, I wasn't sure how to feel. At first I felt what I'm sure a few girls I'd done that to felt, it sucked but I'll be honest before I fell asleep the thought crossed my mind to move you to the guest room or my loft. Or leave myself, I'd never let another girl sleep in my bed before and I was on uncharted territory. I don't want a relationship, I've never had one and I don't have the desire for one."

"And that's why this will never happen." I mused, looking him directly in the eye when he looked up.

"But it already did Bella, we already slept together. That's not going to go away, you leave next fall to go to college, right?" I nodded in the affirmative, not sure where his thought process was going. "you can't tell me that you are looking for a serious relationship right now? When you leave in less than a year?"

"Well no, but-"

"But nothing! We don't have to enter a relationship Bella, but I do like you and I would like to get to know you and be your friend. I'm not boyfriend material we all know that, but we've already been together in an intimate way and I quite enjoyed it. I don't know about you but the sex was pretty fucking spectacular."

"It was pretty good." I tried playing it off nonchalantly but if I was being honest with myself, he was right. The sex was good. I've had better, but Edward knew what he was doing that was no secret.

"I know you think it was good Swan don't even try that with me, I see right through you."

"Yes, Edward the sex was good, but that was all it was."

"But why does it have to be more than that? You like me, just a little bit, right?" I nodded slightly and he continued before I could say anything. "then we shouldn't hold ourselves to any kind of expectations. I'm not saying I'll screw other girls, I may get around but I don't cheat."

"Cheating would imply dating and we are not. Nor will we."

"You know what I mean Bella, the first girl I was with we didn't date but because we were having sex we didn't see anyone else. At all, it was just the two of us at the time."

"And how did that go?" We were going in circles and I was beginning to get dizzy.

"It went just fine, look Bella I like sex I do, I won't lie about that. I was young and she was older but she was willing to teach me and I was more than willing to learn, and that's what I did. After I had learned the basics and some tricks I started seeing other girls, Kate was fine with that and we hooked up here and there over the years when she was home from school until she met someone who she cared about and we stopped seeing each other. Look, I could try all day to convince you why we should do this. Or, you could give me the benefit of the doubt and just try."

I took a sip of my hot chocolate as I thought about his words, he had a point about me leaving soon for school and not wanting and or needing a serious relationship right now. But, what would this be? Friends with benefits?

Oh hell no, I am not going there.

"I don't know Edward, I barely know you." And it was true.

"Then take some time to get to know me, I'd like to get to know you a little better as well. You said your dad won't be home until five, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's talk Bella, please?" he looked at me pleadingly with those green eyes. Fuck, why did he have to be so gorgeous?

"Okay, let's talk."

There was a pause as we smiled at one another, I don't know what this is, or what it is supposed to be. But I can at least give him the benefit of the doubt and not overthink it, I'll let it play out and see how whatever this is goes.

"What do you want to know?" I asked while nursing my cup between my hands, I took my hoodie off a little too soon when I got into the house. I was only in a black Nike athletic tank top, and of course the heat was turned down.

Still not going to touch the thermostat though.

"Are you from here or Phoenix?"

"I'm originally from here, but when I turned 10 my dad sent me to live with my mom in Phoenix. I jumped between here and there for holidays and summers, and when I turned 14 I came back to live with Charlie for a year because that's all my mother would allow. After I turned 15 she made me come home, it was hard always jumping around like that. But I decided enough was enough you know? I told her I was going to finish my year out here and go to college, try and reconnect with my dad you know?"

"Wow, I don't remember you being here a few years ago, I never saw you at school."

"I was going to a private school in Port Angeles. An all-girls school, I'd been going there since I was little so,"

"Oh, okay. I moved here when I was about five I think and my parents and I have been here ever since."

"I didn't know that; how did you meet Jasper and Emmett?" I asked curiously, I just always thought he had lived here his whole life.

"Yeah I was born in Chicago, which is where my dad is from, we lived there for a few years and then moved back here where my mom grew up. I met Jasper the first day we were here, he was my neighbor at the time and I was out in our backyard sulking like little five-year old's do and here comes this crazy kid in cowboy boots and shorts, in Forks in fucking August. He had a toy gun and a cowboy hat on, no shirt, he looked ridiculous. I'd never seen anything like it before so I was a little freaked out, he came up to me and said 'howdy I'm Jasper what's yer name?' just like that too. I told him who I was and he asked if I wanted to play sheriff and cowboy with him. He handed me a toy gun and that was it."

I couldn't help but laugh as I pictured that sight, I could see Jasper running around looking like an idiot with a toy gun. But add in a little messy haired, green eyed Edward and that was it, it was an adorable sight that's for sure.

"That's hilarious. Sounds like something Jasper would do."

"Yeah because it's pretty much what he did to you isn't it? Said some slick line and declared you his friend."

"Basically yeah, I made a smart remark to that Newton kid after he did and that was all she wrote."

Edward nodded with a fond smile as he sipped his drink. God why was he so good looking? He was just drinking hot chocolate for crying out loud!

"What about Emmett?" That was something I needed to hear, Emmett was a character and I loved that big teddy bear.

"He was a different story, since Jasper was a year older than I was we weren't in the same class so when I started school I was so scared I wouldn't make any friends. I just hoped I'd get to hang out with Jasper on the playground you know? Well my mom dropped me off at kindergarten and I sat down by myself, not really knowing what to do and then here comes this kid bigger than me. I was so scared, hell Emmett was tall even when we were kids, but then he sat his butt down right beside me and said 'hey I'm Emmett, wanna be friends?' turns out he didn't have many friends growing up and so he was there looking for a friend just like I was."

"That's precious, Emmett is so sweet. I absolutely love him and Jasper, you know it's been so long since I've been here and after moving around so much I didn't have any hopes of making friends. Especially because this is my senior year you know, so when Jasper sat down next to me and started talking to me, I was elated."

And I had been, I came into school, into this town thinking that I would just coast right through it all. I had a plan if I hadn't made any friends, and at first I thought I would have to follow through with that plan. That is, until Jasper came along.

"He didn't waste any time. I'm glad he talked to you though, I'm glad to know you Bella. You just, you have so much light in you it's infectious."

I blushed, from my chest to the tops of my ears.

"Thanks."

"So, do you have any friends here in Forks that you had before you moved away?"

We'd moved to the couch a while ago, we were facing one another, our mugs in our hands, and goofy grins on our faces. We watched the time carefully, making sure we didn't lose track. My shoes had been discarded at the end of the couch and Edward's jacket was now strewn over the back of the couch.

"I have one, I've known him my whole life. He is a couple of years older than I am, but his dad was friends with mine and so we always played together when they came over or we went over there. He and his family still live in Port Angeles I believe, I haven't been able to see him yet."

"Why not?"

"He is a photographer, he's the one who got me into it actually, and he is doing some freelance work for a traveler's magazine or something like that. He's currently in Australia."

"Wow, that's amazing." He looked at me with wide eyes, truly impressed.

I was so proud of Garrett, and I bragged on him as much as I could.

"Do you take pictures a lot?"

"All the time, I have a bunch of different cameras too." It was a sickness.

"Oh yeah?" his eyes lit up at the prospect, he was so eager to get to know me.

And if I was being honest, I was enjoying getting to know him as well.

"Yes, but some of them are just antiques that I have found over the years and started collecting. One's that don't work anymore you know?"

"Sounds cool, when did you get your first camera?" he asked curiously.

I smiled brightly, leaning over to set my mug on the coffee table before grabbing said camera from the end table sitting behind me. It was my pink Nikon.

"This was my first camera, Garrett, the friend I told you about that got me into photography. He bought me this and taught me how to use it and everything, it was my first working camera and so I took it everywhere I went. He bought it for me as a sort of, going away present."

"That was cool of him, how many cameras do you have all together?"

I handed him my camera so that he could look at it, my heart clenched as he held it with such care. Mindful not to touch the lens or even the screen, he turned it over a few times before looking at the scope.

"I have seven functioning cameras, two I use more than others, and including my older cameras I have a total of fifteen."

He let out a low whistle as he handed my camera back to me, carefully, before taking one last sip of his hot chocolate and setting his empty mug beside mine.

"The majority are antiques. I mostly take pictures on my Nikon, I have five Nikons so it's safe to say that's my preferred brand."

"I bet, Nikons are nice my mother has one. She only brings it out for holidays and vacations though. Do you want to be a photographer? Like your friend?"

"I'd love to be a professional photographer, do things like Garrett and travel. Well I tell myself I'll do things like that but in all actuality, I don't like to travel so I would mostly just work a studio job. One of my own or somewhere else. Garrett rents out a loft and then he and some of his friends own a private studio in downtown Port A. Garrett's ultimate goal is to become a photographer for National Geographic."

"That would be a cool job, what would he want to photograph for them?"

"He wants to photograph animals, he wants so bad to go to Africa or something like that. I can see him doing it. Me, I'll just stay here and do the boring things like weddings and senior portraits."

We laughed together easily, it wasn't anything extravagant but it was something I saw myself doing in five to ten years. I'd love to work with Garrett again, we haven't gotten together to take pictures in a few years and I want him to get back so that we can do that.

"It suits you though, I can't wait to have you do my portraits." He winked at me, sending me into a fit of giggles.

"You make it sound like I'm old."

"Well you are a year older than I am."

"Shut up." I pushed his shoulder playfully as we laughed, it was so easy with him.

"Make me."

The tension was thick then, as we sat close to one another, our faces an inch apart. I could feel his breath against my skin as we looked into one another's eyes. He had no idea what he did to me, what I wanted to do to him.

"Are you sure you want to do that Cullen?" I asked, challenge lacing my tone as I moved closer to him.

He smirked that cocky smirk back at me. Oh sweetheart, you won't be so cocky when I'm done with you.

"Bring it Swan."

That was all I needed, he likes older women, he's got one. I pushed him so that he was leaning flat against the back of the couch, and straddled his lap, his eyes widened at my quick movement.

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." I whispered against his lips.

His hands gripped my hips to guide them as I ground them into his throbbing erection, oh down boy, not here.

Our lips danced fiercely, searching for dominance, but I wasn't going to give it to him. Including Edward, I've only been sexually involved with three guys. But I know quite a bit, probably more than Mr. manwhore here. Especially out of the bedroom stuff.

I swiped my tongue slowly across his bottom lip, causing him to moan loudly and open his mouth to me. I took my chance and slid my tongue into his mouth, effectively capturing his tongue with mine and dominating the kiss easily.

My fingers tangled in his hair on either side of his head, pulling gently so that he would tilt his head back, giving me the right amount of access to his hot mouth.

"God Bella." He groaned loudly as I tugged on his bottom lip gently with my teeth.

It was a weakness of his.

"You taste so good." I whispered huskily as I ghosted my lips down his strong jaw line, down to his pulse point and placed an open-mouthed kiss, his pulse stuttered once.

"Bella," he gasped, clutching my sides like a lifeline as I continued my assault on his neck.

I trailed down the right column of his throat before ghosting my lips across his collar bone and moved them slowly up the opposite side. I took it slow, drawing every kiss out with a slit swipe of my tongue as I moved.

He squirmed beneath me as his head fell back against the back of the couch, a long guttural moan escaping his lips as I continued my assault.

"Not fair."

"You asked for it Edward, I'm just delivering." I whispered as I captured his left lobe between my lips, nibbling slightly as he moaned my name once again.

I continued my assault on his neck for another minute before I kissed my way back to his lips, I licked them once before devouring them again hungrily.

"I'm not an irrational person Edward, but I'm not one to just have a fling either. But," I continued before he had a chance to rebuke me, stopping him with a kiss to his lips before speaking against them as I caressed his chest. "I am a girl and I have needs. And you sure do a good job at sating those needs, so let's set some ground rules."

I leaned back, making sure to keep my core against his hard erection, just to accentuate my point and because it was fun to see him sweat.

"Okay, go ahead." He breathed unevenly as he looked at me with hooded eyes.

So sexy. I thought as I rocked against him once, giggling when his hands tightened on my hips and a stern look crossed his features.

"The other night was great and all, but getting to the nitty gritty isn't the only thing. It's the lead up, foreplay that makes it even better. You know what I'm saying?" he nodded dumbly as I moved against him, this time with no objection from him. "I know you like sex, well so do I. But I also like kissing, I love it. It's another thing that makes sex even hotter, so next time don't hold back from kissing me like you did before."

Another nod.

"Then there is the other stuff, I don't know about you," I leaned in to whisper in his ear, and ground my hips into his to drive my words home. "but I love it when a guy goes down on me, and I quite enjoy returning the favor."

"Holy fuck." If I didn't have his attention before, I sure did now.

"So, if you are okay with those things I think we'll have some fun together." I whispered huskily, licking the shell of his ear before tugging on it lightly.

"I'm more than okay with all that." I sat back to look into his dark eyes, they were hungry, and I'm sure mine were as well.

"Good, I'd love nothing more than to have sex with you right now. But I have some stuff to get done before Charlie gets home. So, you'll just have to settle for this."

I didn't give him time to respond, to ask what I meant or even say he should go ahead and leave, as I undid the button of his jeans before undoing the zipper, like I was going to let him take care of this himself. I got to feel his cock inside me, but I wanted to see it, I wanted to taste it. I wanted it in my mouth.

I'd only ever gone down on one guy, my first, but I couldn't let the chance to suck Edward off pass me by. God, he has awoken the hussy in me.

But I didn't mind in this moment.

"What are you-oh god," he choked on his words as my hand wrapped around his thick cock.

"Shh, let me show you what you missed Friday night." I winked at him before slipping off his lap to settle on the floor in front of him.

I licked my lips at the sight before me, I knew he was big, but it had been dark in his room so I hadn't been able to see his cock fully. He wasn't the biggest I've had, but he was bigger than Jake, my last boyfriend, by a lot.

After giving him a few good strokes, to which he clenched his eyes shut tightly, I blew on his head. His eyes shot open on a gasp just as I leaned in to lick up the pre-cum that had seeped out from my ministration.

I moaned around him, loving the taste of him, so sweet. He choked on a moan as I took all of him in my mouth with one quick bob of my head, he was so hard.

"Bella, fuck, so good baby. Ungh, yes, fuck,"

He wasn't making much sense, between the moans, my name falling from his lips, and all the grunts and half-words. He was all over the place, consumed with pleasure I know he's never felt before. I knew he was close when his fingers threaded through my hair, pulling my hair from the bun I'd had it in so that it pooled around my face and shoulders.

His groans got louder as he guided my head, gently, to move a little faster.

"Almost, so close Bella."

I moaned around him as I circled my tongue around his shaft, intensifying the pleasure he already felt. I then took my right hand and cupped his balls, massaging them lightly, and he was gone with a roar of my name.

He came in hot spurts down my throat, I drank him up hungrily, not missing a drop. I sat back on my haunches, licking my lips with a satisfied grin on my face as I watched him gasp for breath. His eyes were shut tight as he breathed heavily.

I took the liberty of tucking him back into his pants before sitting up on the couch beside him, the smile never leaving my face as I watched him regain his composure. Once he'd come down from his orgasm his head lolled to the side to look at me, a smile ghosting his features.

"That was- amazing," he paused, swallowed, and tried again. "now let me-" I stopped him with a rise of my hand, halting him before he could move.

"This was about me showing you what you're getting into Edward, you can do me another time." I winked at him before standing up, giving him a good view of my ass in these leggings.

I could have sworn I heard him murmur 'red's my new favorite color', as I picked up the two mugs and headed for the kitchen. A smirk on my face as I went.

"Next time then." He was behind me then, caging me between him and the counter, his erection against my ass.

His arms on either side of the sink, his body up against mine pushing me flush against the counter. I could feel every inch of him, his breath on my neck, everything.

"I'll hold you to it." I whispered breathlessly.

You're in trouble Bella, what are you doing?

"I guess I should get going, let you get things done before your dad gets home."

I turned around then, in his arms, because y'know his arms were still caging me in. He was looking at me, in that hungry way, my knees buckled slightly. Making me tremble beneath his stare, how does he do that?

"I'll walk you out." I gave him a light push before grabbing his hand, a smirk on my face, as I led him to the front room.

"I hope you don't get into any trouble for me being here." He whispered as we stood inside the door, not ready to leave our little bubble we've encased ourselves in this past hour and a half.

It's only noon, but I didn't want to risk someone seeing him, or recognizing his car sitting outside. And even though Edward didn't really know about my home situation, I didn't want to tell him about it.

"Don't worry about it, Charlie will be none the wiser. I don't think anyone saw you."

"No, you don't have many neighbors but the ones you do have are at work. Plus, I don't come this way much so no one should know my car. He doesn't like guys coming over huh?" he gave me a look, but I didn't acknowledge it.

"It's just a rule he has, don't worry about it. I have to get a shower, do some laundry. I'll see you tomorrow?"

I wanted the conversation to be over, I needed it to be over.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He leaned down just as I was leaning upward, our lips connected in a short but passionately lust filled kiss. He winked at me before opening the door and jogging down the few steps and making his way down the drive to his car. I looked around, making sure no one was around to see, and as far as I could tell there were no prying eyes anywhere to be seen.

I waved as he drove off, watching his car until it turned the corner and sped away before I closed the door and locked it. I leaned up against it, just relishing in all that had happened.

Yesterday I wouldn't even give Edward a chance, and now. Now, things were different and I wasn't entirely sure how to feel about it. I was attracted to Edward, very attracted to him. So, our arrangement made sense it's just not something I've ever done before.

When I was with Jacob, we, well it wasn't really a dating kind of relationship. He was the quarterback at my school back in Phoenix, one of the hottest guys in school. Usually I don't go for guys like that, cocky and egotistical being the type. But at first I thought Jake was different, because with me he wasn't all about himself.

He chased me for about four and a half months before I finally agreed to go on a date with him, and he was sweet and funny. He treated me right, and it took him five more months before I agreed to sleep with him. After that, things changed.

And because I was living with my mother, the woman who sucked the life from me, I didn't notice the change until it was too late.

Jake was different after we started having sex, that became all we did, there was no emotion in it. It was empty, and the only goal was to get off. I mean, the sex was good and he got me off plenty, but it didn't mean anything. It was just sex.

I've only had meaningful sex once in my life, and that ended after I had to move back to Phoenix when I turned fifteen. My first. He cherished me, he never pushed me, never asked more of me.

He just wanted me. He loved me.

We tried to stay together, but a long-distance relationship isn't easy, our relationship never changed. But the physicality did, it's hard to be with someone in an intimate capacity that you can't see on a regular basis, when you can't touch them, hold them, or kiss them.

With Jake, it was never like that, it didn't hurt when I was away from him, I didn't ache to touch him, I didn't crave his lips on mine. The feeling of love wasn't there with him, it was convenience.

He wanted the hot girl that no one else had, he got me, but he never really had me.

Jake didn't have me, and Edward doesn't have me.

Only one person did, and I missed him with every fiber of my being. But distance, is just too hard.

After a good shower and all the laundry was done I crawled into bed with a good book and prepared myself to read. I had a cup of steaming pumpkin spice coffee, a bowl of cherries and Pandora playing in the background on the Xbox.

I pulled my hair back in a bun then put on my glasses and opened my book to the last page I'd read.

"Oh Heathcliff," I sighed as I let the words on the page whisk me away.

I'd almost finished the chapter when I heard Charlie's cruiser door slam closed and the front door open with a bang. Here we go.

Holding my breath, I stayed where I was waiting to hear his foot falls as he headed towards the kitchen or his heavy boots stomp up the stairs. I sighed thankfully when it was the latter, slipping out of bed I held my place in my book before crossing the expanse of my room to stand just inside my door.

I peered out, trying to see him in the kitchen. He was standing in front of the fridge, an open beer already in his hand as he swayed.

Why am I not surprised?

Shaking my head I closed the door to my bedroom and clicked the lock in place before crossing the room once again and got back under the covers. It was best to ignore him, especially at this point in the evening.

I knew he had gone to the bar when he wasn't home at five-thirty, it never took him long to come home after work. Unless he went to the local pub with his buddies, and tonight he chose to stay even later than usual. It's eight o'clock.

So much for things going back to normal I guess. I read another chapter before settling in for the night, it's been a long day and I was ready for it to end.

Well, excuse me while I fan myself. Things are shifting in a new direction, a hot one, so here is a little preview into just how hot things are going to get:

"Edward, I want to forget today. So shut up, and make me forget." I didn't have to tell him twice.