Hello all! I hope you enjoyed the hook up last chapter... hot enough?

I really enjoyed writing this chapter... hope you like it! Please let me know!

Tracy, my pre-reader, you have been such a help this week, you make this so fun! Monica, beta, words don't describe how vital you are to all this! Thank you over and oer again!


Bella cracked an eye open and looked around the empty bedroom. Technically, she had been up only for a few minutes, but when she heard Edward moving around she had feigned sleep. His bed was so comfortable and she didn't want to move an inch. When her eye caught the open bathroom door and Edward standing there in nothing but a low-slung towel around his waist, she was suddenly wide awake. He was shaving, and while Bella had never found watching a man go about his daily morning routine particularly sexy, Edward doing it was a whole different story. She tried not to move from her position on the bed, but she just had to get a better view. She turned her head slightly to appreciate the sight better. She smiled on noticing his tattoo. She suddenly remembered that she'd noticed a piece of the one on his arm the night they'd been out for drinks, but last night she'd been tipsy and entirely too engrossed in what Edward was doing to her body for her to notice he had one more. The one on his arm turned out to be a crest of some kind. However, she saw words on his right pec, they weren't overly large and she couldn't make out the words from the bed. Her curiosity won out though. She slowly began to sit up, wondering if Edward would notice.

He must have detected her out of the corner of his eye, because he turned to smile at her. She held the sheet up under her armpits and returned the smile. "Morning," she said, running a hand through her hair, trying to ease the tangles.

Edward paused his shaving and came into the bedroom. He stood at the end of the bed with his razor in one hand. Bella unconsciously licked her lips. The man couldn't look sexier. He was pure man and Bella wanted another taste. However, his tattoo caught her eye again. Veni Vidi Vici were the words engraved on his chest. He followed her gaze and brought a hand up to rub his chest. "Yeah, I got it after I graduated law school. I took Latin in undergrad and these words of Julius Caesar's always stuck with me. I came…"

Bella interrupted him, "I came, I saw, I conquered."

He looked surprised that she'd know the meaning. "You know the saying?"

Bella nodded and replied. "It was something my grandfather used to say. Whenever I was having a hard time, that was what he always told me. He said it was to remind me to stick with it till you're finished. Never give up. You'll be rewarded for your hard work."

Edward nodded in agreement. "It's what I told myself all through high school. Now, with work, it's what motivates me."

Bella, with the sheet still tight against her sides, slid up onto her knees and scooted over to the end of the bed. She traced the words lightly across his chest before letting her fingers trail to the crest on his arm. She flashed him a curious look. He peeked down at the tattoo and then met her gaze. "The Cullen crest. It's a bit cliché; however, I'm close with my family. We have a lot of family pride. We work together." He shrugged, in the way a man does when the subject is really just as simple as it sounds.

He waved a hand in her direction and grinned. "Besides, I'm not the only one with tats." His hand swept over the words on Bella's side, down over the bird on her pelvic bone. Bella raised her foot out of the sheet and showed him the small lobster on her foot. He grabbed it and looked at it carefully before laughing. "It's adorable, but why a lobster?"

Bella laughed, shrugging. "I have a deep love for Maine. I have a cottage in a small fishing village on the mid coast, a place called Port Clyde. It's a perfect getaway. The lobster is a reminder of how much I love it there."

"All your tattoos mean something?" Edward asked, raising her arm to get a look at the most painful reminder of what she'd lost. Bella nodded, not trusting herself to speak. His fingers traced each word as he read aloud. "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever." Her eyes drifted closed and she took a deep breath. His hand continued to drift over her shoulder blades to her last one. "That which does not kill us, only makes us stronger." He whispered and her breath caught as he drifted over the date below the quote. Her tattoos reminded her, but they also healed her. When she got them, she was in a dark place, not entirely sure which way was up. She was young and depressed. When she felt the needle penetrate her skin, marking her, it was almost like she was released from her ties. They allowed her to live her life, yet they were always a reminder of what she'd gone through. She knew she wasn't healed and, never would be, but they'd given her hope of a brighter future.

Her eyes fluttered open and she met Edward's green orbs, which were staring down at her. "I don't tell anyone what these mean to me. The bird, the words, they are for me. They mean something to me."

Edward nodded, almost as if he knew she wasn't going to reveal any deep, dark secrets. "They obviously mean a great deal." Bella steeled herself against the threat of her tears and nodded. She had gone through the same talk with Jacob and Garrett. Both had been interested in her ink and both had ink of their own, but she'd never shared with them anything about hers.

"Hey," Edward called out softly, pulling her face to look at him. "No pressure, I don't need to know." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. He turned and walked back into the bathroom. Bella lied back down with a smile on her face. She'd picked another great guy. He hadn't made a big deal of her silence, or demanded to be told things. It was just as easy as she was hoping it would be. She stretched her arms out above her head and gave her body a good stretch. She was deliciously sore from last night. Her thighs ached a bit from having her legs wrapped around Edward so tightly last night and her arms felt a bit like jelly. She reached up and touched the tender spot on her head, where she'd hit the wall last night. She was surprised to find a sizeable lump. "Does it hurt?"

She glanced up to see Edward smirking down at her, looking quite proud. "No, not too badly. No thanks to you!"

He gently rubbed the pad of his fingers over the lump, still grinning at her. "Would you mind if I told you that there is nothing better than fucking you against a wall, and that I'm not sorry?"

"You sir, are not a gentleman. Taking a sweet, gentle woman like me and shoving her up against a wall like an animal. I am shocked!" She made a move to get up, still gripping the sheet.

Edward laughed and grabbed her around her waist as she stood. "Like an animal, huh?"

She tried to stay serious, but he was too cute when he was playful. She looked up to his face and smiled widely. "Yeah, an animal."

He ripped the sheet away from her and kissed her. The kiss was hard and fueled by one thing; lust. "I'll show you an animal," he murmured against her lips.

She dropped the towel that was still around his waist. "Please do," she whispered back and yanked him down on top of her.

"My God, woman!" Rose's voice yelled and Bella swung her head up from her desk to glare at her best friend.

"What the hell, Rose? Why are you yelling at me?" She turned back to her paperwork. She was almost off arraignment duty. Angela was due back this week and she couldn't be happier. She was already starting to look over her cases that were due in court next week. She had everything from burglary and drug dealing, to more mundane things like obstruction of justice. She couldn't wait to get back to what she loved, getting her hands dirty in the courtroom.

She had left Edward's house on Saturday morning completely satisfied. The morning after sex was as mind-blowing as the night before. It was a whole lot more gentle on her head, but not gentle on the rest of her body. She was small and Edward was big, which was reason enough for her to be sore, but add the ridiculous positions they'd found themselves in, her body had been pleasantly achy for days. Edward offered for her to stay for breakfast before his conference call, but she was anxious to get home to Marblehead. It had been tempting to stay, but she knew she would see him again soon. They had agreed on a mid-week get together. She pecked him on the cheek, he swatted her ass and then she was out the door.

"That look on your face is what I am yelling about." Rose interrupted her train of thought. "That look is not a Jake or a Garrett look."

Bella rolled her eyes. "What are you even talking about?"

Rose flopped down in the spare chair and folded her arms in front of her chest. "You had the goofiest smile on your face. When you've been with Jake or Garrett you just look satisfied, not giddy. So, spill… now! Who is the new guy?"

Bella listened to Rose, confused. Was her face that dead of a giveaway? She was completely happy when she was with Jacob or Garrett. They had fun and she enjoyed being with them. She knew her night with Edward had been definitely on her top-ten list. Hot, fun, and no promises made. So, why would Rose pick up on something more when she herself felt no different? Or did she? If she thought hard about it she had no desire to call Jacob or Garrett, only Edward. He made her body respond to his in ways no one else did. Everything he did turned her on. Even shaving, if she remembered correctly. Other than fantasizing about his dick and what he did with it, she felt no different.

"Bitch, would you stop! You're making me crazy!" Rose interrupted her thoughts again.

"Would you quit it? I just met someone new and so far it's as great as I thought it would be." Bella replied, deflecting the question as best she could. Edward was Rose's brother in law and even though Bella was still worried about Alice finding out about her and Edward, she wasn't keen on the idea of Rose knowing either. Rose would understand a bit better than Alice, but it wasn't something Bella was anxious to talk about.

Rose stood up and glared down at Bella. "Fine, be stingy about all the hot sex you're having." She started to walk out, but turned around and pointed her finger at Bella. "But I will find out who it is, eventually"

Bella laughed out loud and Rose narrowed her eyes. "Sorry, but you looked too serious. This is not a big deal. This guy and I are not a big deal. No reason to get upset."

"That look you had on your face was a big deal. You looked different. Maybe you need to realize that." With that final remark, she strode out.

Bella didn't know what to make of Rose's words. She knew only one thing; Edward was not any different than Jake or Garrett. She didn't want anyone else right now because things were still so new. Just thinking about him made her horny as hell, so she did the one thing she was sure would ease the ache. Picking up her phone, she sent Edward a quick text. I need to see you.

Bella's breath was coming in harsh pants and her heart was racing as she stared up at the ceiling with hooded eyes. "God, I needed that."

Edward's hand rubbed her thigh, his breath just as short as her own. "Me too," he murmured. He lifted his head and looked around her bedroom. He threw his head back down as if it was too much to lift it for too long. "This room looks like you."

She rolled over to look at him. "How do you know what looks like me?"

He looked around the room again before answering. "You're beautiful and feminine, but not girly, so pink wouldn't suit you. Instead, you chose a nautical, beach cottage theme. I'm assuming it reminds you of Marblehead." She just stared at him, until he met her gaze. "What?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Bella shook her head and got up from the bed. She glanced back at him and smiled. "You're right," she started as she tied her robe on. "This room is my little piece of Marblehead here in the city."

"You grew up at Marblehead?" Edward asked, as he sat up in the bed.

Bella closed her eyes briefly as she headed into the bathroom. She didn't mind the questions, but coming from Edward they seemed more personal. "I did, yes."

"Your grandfather ran the Globe, didn't he? You're Charles Swan's granddaughter?"

That question was definitely too personal; however Bella was used to it and she had her standard line of answers ready and waiting. She lied to everyone but Rose and Alice, who probably told their husbands, but they never said a word to her about it. Nobody needed to know her role at the newspaper, especially her latest fling. She wondered how he'd found out or put two and two together, but she wasn't going to avoid the question. She would find out later. She turned to look at Edward with a smile. "I am and he sure did. He did a damn good job of it too, don't you think?"

He looked surprised at her omission, almost as if he thought she would lie to him, but he hadn't asked the right question yet. "Was it left in the family?"

There it was; the golden question. She started to say no, to tell him that the family only owned stocks now and had no say in how the place was ran. However, a different lie came out of her mouth. "You know how family businesses work. My father was next in line…" she let that hang in the air, hoping that Edward understood what she meant.

To her relief he nodded his head. "Your dad is the oldest son, so the business goes to him. Of course it would. Would you ever want to run the paper?"

Bella wanted to tell him that she had nothing to do with the paper and never would. Once again though, she didn't know how to lie to this man. She went with vague once again. "Being a public defender keeps me busy…"

Edward looked at her, carefully before a grin graced his face once again. "I bet it does. I'm surprised you had time to call me."

She laughed and sauntered over to him, where he sat on the bed, leaning back on his hands. She got close to him and whispered, "I didn't have time to call. If you remember, I texted."

His eyes crinkled as he smiled at her and his eyes were sparkling emerald. Before she could dart away, his large hands came around her waist and he pulled her down, where she automatically straddled his hips. "I stand corrected," he said, rubbing circles on her hips, slowly. She draped her arms around his neck and smiled at him. "I am glad we decided to do this, Bella." Edward said, leaning in and kissing her gently. "You're just what I've been craving."

"Craving, you make yourself sound like a pregnant woman." She teased, poking his lean stomach. "For the record, I'm glad we decided to do this too." She moaned when she made a move to get more comfortable and felt him getting harder underneath her. "You want to stay the night?" She asked, as he trailed kisses across her collarbone.

"I have to get up early in the morning. I'm due in court at 8:00am." He slowly untied her robe and slipped a hand inside, His hands were leaving a hot trail on her skin and she was amazed she could feel as turned on as she did after having him a half hour prior.

"Then, I'll set the alarm for 6:30. I have to be up too." She lifted up her robe as he moved aside the sheet that had been covering him.

"Sounds good," he hissed as she took his dick in her hand.

She lifted up and sat back down, engulfing him inside her. Words were no longer necessary; when they were like this they understood each other perfectly.

Weeks were flying by for Bella. Her caseload was back to normal. She was knee-deep in discovery, court dates, and plea deals. Her days were loaded down and the majority of her nights were spent with Edward. They couldn't keep their hands to themselves and they couldn't refrain from seeing each other. Sometimes they were both so exhausted the following day, but they both agreed it was worth it. It seemed Bella had been ruined for other men for a while. She had not called Garrett or Jacob since she'd been with Edward for the first time. She would see Jacob at the courthouse and she knew he wanted to talk to her, but she was avoiding him. No reason for it to be complicated. Bella had recognized Edward for what he was when she saw him with Tanya. He wasn't a man who should be shared. She never asked him if he was still with other women and he didn't ask about her life away from him, but it was almost understood. They didn't have to ask. They had been on the same wave-length since they'd started sleeping together. It was easy and problem-free. They didn't have expectations for one another. They laughed and enjoyed each other's company. They had fucking fantastic sex. If one of them couldn't stay over or couldn't meet, there were no problems.

And there were the flowers. The beautiful bouquets came like clockwork after every night they spent together. She wanted to ask him if he did this for all women he had slept with, but it was none of her business. He sent them and she enjoyed them. The last one, a beautiful arrangement of gardenias, was her personal favorite. They meant secrecy and, while she was ashamed of keeping a secret this big, it made her giggle that Edward was making a joke out of it. Yes, she definitely loved the flowers he sent. She couldn't wait to see what he came up with next.

That part of her world was perfect, but two other aspects of her life were driving her crazy. Alice was hormonal and needy and kept asking a ton of questions about what had been keeping Bella so busy. Bella refused to lie; however, she was running out of excuses. She needed to speak to Edward about finally coming clean, because she knew she needed to tell Alice before she found out on her own. The second thing looming on her immediate future was the quarterly meeting of the board for the paper. Bella had run the numbers over and over again on the paper in Georgia and she was presenting her findings to the rest of the board of directors today.

Bella gathered her briefcase and files from the backseat of the Mercedes and smiled at Marcus warmly. Marcus had been her grandfather's right-hand man. He might not be family, but other than Alice and Rose, he was the closest thing. He had helped her transition into her position flawlessly and she couldn't have done it without him. They both exited the car and walked in through the back entrance of the Globe office building. She never let the staff see her enter or exit the building. That would mean too many people wondering what she was doing there. They had all loved her grandfather and were loyal staff members; however, if one person with good intentions or not spoke about seeing her, her cover would blow. She had chosen to remain anonymous for a variety of reasons and, riding the elevator up to the board-room, she knew they were still valid.

She strode into the room, smiling at the group of twelve that stood as she entered. "Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen," She said, with a smile. The group was mostly made up of people that had been handpicked by her grandfather. They were smart and loyal and that's all Bella cared about. She put her briefcase on the table and immediately began handing out her packets containing the Georgia paper proposal. "I know we have to go over the quarterly earnings, as well as discuss circulation. However, if I may, I'll begin with what I think is a sensible acquisition."

The board smiled indulgently at her; but she knew she had to make the numbers work for them to agree with her. She had done her homework and she knew in her gut that this paper would make sense for them to take over. She sat down at the head of the table, and as always, it surprised her how easily she switched to businesswoman when she sat there. She opened her own packet and clicked on the overhead projector. She inserted her flash drive into the computer and turned back to the expectant faces. Smiling once again, she dove into her job wholeheartedly.

Hours passed in a blur and Bella laughed at herself, trying to figure out how she'd managed to be with Edward at his apartment door. She had called him as soon as she walked out of the Globe building. She wanted to celebrate. The board had agreed unanimously to buy the paper in Georgia and the quarterly reports had been the icing on the cake. Their circulation was up by 4% and, with the market the way it was, that was beyond phenomenal. She had convinced Edward to blow out of work at a respectable hour and meet her for drinks.

"What are you laughing at?" Edward asked, turning the key in the lock and pushing the door open.

Bella followed him in and glided past him, smiling at him over her shoulder. "It's been one of those days where just about everything that could go right did. I adore those days." She dropped her purse to the ground when she felt Edward's hands meet her waist from behind. "Are you about to make my day even better?" She asked, spinning around to face him, but backing up at the same time.

"I will, if you let me. Where are you going?" He pouted, his bottom lip jutting out, making him appear child-like. He was actually adorable.

She was wearing a printed wrap-around dress, so she reached down to untie the sash that held it together. "I was heading to the bedroom. Isn't where we were going?" She asked, pulling her dress open and letting it flutter to the floor. If she had a camera, she would have taken a picture of the look of absolute lust that took over Edward's face. "You like?" She said, running her hands over the top of her black-lace-clad breasts and down her ribs, to her pussy.

Edward began pulling off his tie and shirt at a frantic pace, never taking his eyes off her moving fingers. "If that is not the sexiest fucking thing I've ever seen…" he moaned, hopping from foot to foot, trying to get his pants off.

"In a hurry?" She asked, trying not moan out loud when he stood up and she saw how hard he was. Seeing his length and girth on display never failed to make her hornier. She couldn't help it, it was fucking impressive.

"Fuckin' right I'm in a hurry. We're definitely not making it to the bedroom." He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her back. "This lace is fucking hot, but I need to see those tits of yours." One-handed, he opened the clasp and let her bra fall down her arms to where her fingers were still working her own clit. She removed them to let the bra drop to the floor and tried to put them on Edward, but he was having none of it. "Don't you dare stop rubbing that pussy, Bella." He warned and his voice made her even wetter. Her hands immediately went back to the job and she let him yank down her panties, so he could see her better. She almost came when he pulled the waistband of his boxer briefs over his springing erection.

"God, I want you in me, now." She gasped out, her breathing even harder and her orgasm even closer when she saw Edward grasp his dick and run his hand up and down. "Please?"

He lifted her up and quickly set her down on the table in the foyer, by the front door. She didn't have time to think because he had grasped her ankles and put them up on either end of the short table. She was completely exposed and spread out for him and she had never been more turned on in her life. "I want to fuck you hard, Bella." He said, stroking himself as he looked in her eyes for agreement.

She couldn't form any sentences, so she only nodded her assent. Did this man have any idea what he did to her? Like she would even come close to saying no? As soon as he'd seen her nod, he was inside her, filling her so completely that her head dropped to his shoulder. He felt so good, swiveling his hips and his hip-bones were hitting the underside of her exposed thighs in the most delicious way. She lifted her head up slightly and almost came on the spot when she saw the mirror on the opposite wall, giving her the best view of his toned ass and of the in-and-out movements his hips were making. His broad shoulders and the muscles on his back were tense. She let her hands run down it, enjoying the feel of the movement under his skin. "You like watching me fuck you?" Edward whispered in her ear and she gasped in surprise at being caught.

She tried like hell to maintain her composure, despite being thoroughly fucked. "I could watch you fuck me all night. Buy a mirror for your room." She whispered back and she felt him somehow expand even more inside of her. He increased his movements, biting and licking all the skin he could reach on her exposed chest, while Bella couldn't take her eyes off the mirror image in front of her. She could feel her orgasm approach and she wished she could hold it off, but the sensations he was causing and the additional benefit of voyeurism were bringing her on the brink. "I'm so close," she whispered.

"I know," he grunted and it occurred to her that he had to know. She felt her own muscles tightening around him, so he would too. "Come, Bella. Now." He demanded and thrust against her, filling her to the hilt. She gasped in pleasure and then fell over the edge. She gripped onto his shoulders and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as he could. He began moving even faster and, to her surprise, she felt another orgasm coming. Just as he let go and threw his head back in pleasure, she let her second one wash over her. She watched his beautiful face as he came. His lips were in a tight line and his eyebrows were bunched together. His eyes were closed and he was perfect in that moment. She couldn't believe that she'd never appreciated him when he was like this before.

He came back down from his own wave and let his forehead drop to hers, their breath mingling together in quick pants. "I will never get enough of you, Bella."

She laughed and pulled back to look at him. "I'm that good, huh?"

"You have no idea," he returned quietly.

Instead of thinking about what he'd just said, Bella pulled his head up to look at him. "Shower?" She asked, smiling at him.

He nodded and placed her back on the ground. He lifted her up off the table and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Shower," he agreed, taking her hand and leading her down the hallway.

Bella leaned back into the doorway to steal another kiss. Kissing Edward definitely was on her list of favorite things to do as of late, but kissing him when he was all wrinkled and tousled from sleep was just even better. He looked adorable, leaning against the doorjamb with a coffee mug in one hand and a smirk on his face. "You need to go, Bella. You're supposed to be in court in an hour."

"I'm going," she whined. She turned to leave, but Edward put a hand around her neck and brought her lips to his.

"Hmmm," he moaned. "Last minute kisses are fun."

She laughed and pulled away. Walking down the hall, she called over her shoulder. "All our kisses are fun." She pushed the elevator button and grabbed her phone to start reading her emails.

The elevator chimed, and she lifted her head up to enter, but she was met with a sight that made her stomach drop to the floor. Alice was moving to get out and her eyes lifted and blinked in surprise when she spotted Bella. "Bella?" She asked, her brow furrowing. She looked down the hall to Edward's closed door and then recognition flashed across her face. "You didn't," she whispered, painfully.

"Alice," Bella said softly.

Alice threw up her hand, angrily. "No, Bella, you don't get to 'Alice' me. How could you?"

"I wanted to tell you…" Bella trailed off.

"Not good enough, because you didn't tell me." Alice yelled, her eyes furious. "He's my brother and you're my best friend! You couldn't find anyone else in all of Boston to fuck! You couldn't just leave each other alone?" Now she was screaming.

Bella faintly heard a door opening and then "Oh, shit."

Alice hit the elevator button harshly. "I have nothing to say to either of you." She huffed, turning her back to Bella.

Edward had reached them by then. "Alice," he called to his sister, but she was having none of it.

"I hope you two don't destroy each other," Alice sniffled and Bella's heart broke for her best friend's tears. Alice got into the elevator and they both let the door close without trying to stop her. They both knew they had fucked up and they would have to pay the consequences.


PS: Someone nominated my Bella as "Best Bella" in the Sunflower awards... thank you whoever it was... It's so amazing!

Chapter 8 is complete and back from beta... next week posting possibly, let you know on Facebook!

Please review, I love chatting with you all!