The next day, Alice calls, says she's ungrounded, and that her aunt's going out of town on a job for the weekend.

"Do you think your mom would let you stay the weekend with me?"

"Yeah, I do. She and Charlie are going to his cabin tomorrow night, anyway. She's at work right now. I'll call her and then call you back."

"Okay. Talk soon. Bye."

.

.

Later that day, Jasper comes over to my house to drive me to Alice's. I'm disappointed when Edward isn't with him.

"Where's Edward?" I ask when I answer the door.

"He had to take an important call."

"Oh."

I step out onto the porch, then shut and lock the front door behind me.

"Don't worry, Bella. You'll see your loverboy tonight. I promise."

When he winks, I can't help the blush that spreads over my body. Edward and I have only shared two kisses, but they were amazing. I can't wait for more. The first in the lake by the buoy had been unexpected and slightly awkward for me, but I was ready for the next one later that evening on Charlie's front porch after he walked me across the street.

I playfully punch Jasper's stomach.

"Shut up."

He chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulders as we walk to his truck.

"Young, first love." He sighs loudly. "Ain't it so fucking sweet?"

.

.

When we arrive at Alice's house, she walks out to meet us at the gate.

"We need to go to the store for food and movies," she says. "Bella, take your stuff inside first."

I hear her squeals and giggles behind me as I quickly walk toward the house.

.

.

Alice and I are putting away the groceries we bought at the store when Jasper walks into the kitchen, returning from the bathroom.

"I'll be back in a while," he says, kissing Alice's neck. "Gotta go pick up Bella's lover."

I gasp, grab a spatula off the counter, and go to smack his butt, but he dodges the hit and jogs through the living room, laughing all the way out the door.

"He's a moron," I say, setting the spatula back.

"Yeah, he is," Alice agrees, smiling. "But I love him anyway."

Of that I have no doubt.

I'm still trying to figure out their relationship. Even though Jasper's affectionate, I don't see the same twinkle in his eyes I see in hers.

.

.

Alice is finishing the braid in my hair when Jasper's truck pulls up outside.

A million butterflies dance in my stomach as I watch Edward approach the house.

"Hear ye, hear ye, ladies!" Jasper yells as he opens the screen door and walks inside. "Your all-powerful and mighty lovers are in the house."

My entire body heats up when Edward's eyes meet mine. He shakes his head before I cover my face with my hands.

"Ow," Jasper says, laughing. "I couldn't help it, dude."

Despite my embarrassment, I also laugh and smile, knowing Edward did something to Jasper in my defense.

I peek through my fingers when Edward sits down beside me on the sofa.

"Don't let him get to you so much, Bella," he whispers, tugging on my braided hair. "He gets off on it."

*LitF*

By the time we're done eating the pizzas, it's completely dark outside, and we agree it's time to start a movie.

I volunteer to make the popcorn, and Edward agrees to help, though I don't know why. It's not really a two-person job.

From the kitchen, I watch Alice and Jasper nestle together on one end of the sectional sofa. It seems natural and easy for them, because they've probably done it a million times. I look away when Jasper pulls her on top of him and they start kissing.

I unwrap the first package and hand it to Edward, who pops it in the microwave. After he hits the start button, he smiles and inches closer until he's standing in front of me.

"We've got three and a half minutes until the next one," he says. "What do you want to do?"

Going with my instincts, I rise up on my bare toes and slam my lips against his.

The sounds of the popping kernels fade away as I get lost in the sensations of Edward's hands gripping and squeezing my hips and his tongue sliding against mine.

I'm a bit dizzy and still have my eyes closed when he suddenly pulls away.

When I slowly open them, Edward grins as he wipes at his bottom lip with his thumb.

I'm frozen in place, and watch as he opens the microwave door and pulls out the popcorn bag.

"Put this in a bowl, and I'll start the next one."

I smile and do as requested.

We repeat the process three more times until my lips are tender and tingling, and four bags are made and in the two large bowls, one for each couple to share.

Who knew making popcorn could be so exciting?

.

.

Halfway through the first movie, Edward leans his head closer to me.

"Are you comfortable?" he whispers.

I'm sitting cross-legged like I normally do when I watch a movie with the popcorn bowl in my lap.

"Yeah. Why?" I whisper back.

"Just checking."

He rests his hand on my bare knee and caresses my skin with his thumb ‒ the same one he wiped at his mouth after each of our earlier kisses in the kitchen. I lick at my bottom lip that's still a bit tender, recalling those fourteen minutes of bliss. The more I remember, the faster my heart beats and the hotter I get. My toes flex when the tingling begins between my legs, and I shift some in frustration. When the tingle turns into an ache and the urge to moan arises, I quickly untangle my legs, jump up from the sofa, and head straight to the bathroom. It's only after I'm leaning against the door and trying to catch my breath that I realize I'm still holding onto the bowl of popcorn. I set it down on top of the closed hamper and look in the mirror.

My visible skin is flushed. I brace my hands on the vanity and close my eyes, feeling confused and ridiculous.

Is it normal to feel this way from such little touches?

A knock on the door makes me jump.

"Bella, are you okay?"

I shake my head.

Why couldn't it be Alice?

"Yeah. I'll be right out, Edward."

"Can I come in?" he asks. "Please?"

I turn the handle and pull, stepping back and sitting on the edge of the tub.

Once inside, he closes the door and rests his back against it.

"Did I do something wrong?" he quietly asks.

I look down and pick at the hem of my shorts.

"No."

He walks over, squats down in front of me, and pulls my hands into his, resting them on my knees.

"If I did, I need to know. The last thing I want to do is push you too fast."

Slight mortification sets in, and tears well in my eyes.

"It's not you, Edward. It's me." Once the words are out, I expect him to laugh at the cliché statement, but he doesn't. I squeeze his hands and look up into his eyes, hoping I don't embarrass myself even more with my next words. "I like it when you touch me… a lot. It's just all new to me and a little hard to take all at once."

He smiles, and a slight pink spreads over his cheeks.

"It's new to me, too, Bella," he says. "Seriously. I've never felt this way about anyone before."

I shake my head.

"You've had girlfriends, Edward. Don't bullshit me."

"I've had one girlfriend, and it was completely different."

I don't understand how, but the pleading look in his eyes makes me believe him.

*LitF*

"Can we lie like they are?" I whisper in Edward's ear when we return to the living room.

"Whatever you want." He kisses my jaw and then stretches out against the back of the sofa. While he adjusts his position, I glance over at Alice and Jasper. A small laugh escapes me when they each give me a thumbs up.

"Bella."

Edward's voice makes me turn back. I lay down in front of him, immediately grabbing his arm and pulling it over my side and locking our fingers together. After a few minutes of his hot breath against the back of my neck, I'm wondering if this was the best decision. Each passing minute drives me crazier than the last, but I do my best to relax and concentrate on the movie in front of me.

"Are you asleep?" Edward asks when the movie ends.

I shake my head.

"Good, because I need up, please."

.

.

Once Jasper and Edward are out of sight, Alice moves from her side of the sofa to mine.

"Are things okay with you guys?" she asks.

"Yeah, I just‒" I pause, making sure no one else is around. "I've never done any of this before, and it freaked me out a little."

"Did you tell Edward that?"

I nod.

"Good. I, um… Okay, don't freak out on me, but I think the guys are going to stay the night."

"Here?"

She nods.

"Edward will sleep on the couch, Bella. I know him. He won't pressure you."

.

.

"See you guys in the morning," Alice says, tugging on Jasper's hand. He wiggles his eyebrows as he turns the corner, and Edward throws a pillow at him with the one that isn't holding mine.

A sudden, heavy dose of awkwardness and silence fills the air after Alice's bedroom door slams closed.

"You want to watch another movie?" Edward asks.

"Sure."

He releases my hand and scoots to the edge of the sofa, grabbing the remote off the coffee table.

"Any suggestions?" he asks, flipping through the channels.

I lay down on my side behind him.

"Doesn't matter to me."

My knee rubs his back, and he glances back at me. Seconds pass before he clears his throat and tosses the remote on the table.

"Maybe we should call it a night." He stands and holds his hand out to me. "I'll walk you to your room."

A jolt of disappointment runs through me, but I take his hand and let him help me up.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask.

"No." He gently tugs on my braid. "I'm just trying to be a good guy here, Bella."

"I don't understand."

"It means… Right now, I want to do things that you're not ready for yet."

He means sex.

He's right. I'm not ready for that, but I know there are other things we could do.

I walk closer, slide my hands around his waist, and look up at him.

"We could do more kissing."

He lets out a strangled laugh.

"I don't know if that's‒"

Earlier in the bathroom, he said I was in control of how things progressed between us, and I'm not ready to say goodnight.

"Please?"

His eyes go wide when I resume my earlier position on the sofa. I know it's a bold move, and my heart pounds inside my chest as he lays down and faces me.

I slowly slide my hand up his chest but stop over his heart when I feel its rapid pace.

"Bella."

"Kiss me, Edward."


Thanks for reading.

Jenn