Disclaimer: Stephenie owns it all, I just have fun with it.

A/N: I just realized what a huge mistake I made. I was editing a draft of this in Word and instead of copying all of what I had back into wordpad, I only copied the tailend. I've since gone back and fixed a couple things and replaced the chapter with the proper copy.

Smut alert :)

Thank you reviewers :D

Enjoy anyways.

Chapter 8 - Radiating Heat

BPOV

Everything was perfect.

Over the next few weeks Edward and I explored second base thoroughly and our private encounters were starting to make me dizzy with the euphoria of it all. Who knew it was possible to have that many orgasms without ever taking our clothes off?

To our benefit Charlie spent a lot of time lately doing overtime at work following the latest case of wild animal meets unsuspecting victim in small town. Over the years there were plenty of reported cases of wild animals wandering into small towns hungry and unfortunately some small town folk fell prey to their hunger. One small benefit of a small town setting—human crime never caught up with the wildlife.

A lot of the time together recently Edward and I spent cooped up in my room somehow exploring each other further without actually removing any clothing. It left this barrier between us daring either to go past their limits. Wanting Edward this badly made me reconsider everything I believed previously.

So, as I lay under his brooding figure, his lips kissing circles in the nook of my neck, I decided I needed to take a breather. I wiggled up from under his warm body over me and Edward. realizing what I was doing, lifted himself off and sat cross-legged beside me. His hands guided my frame onto his lap and we sat breathing quietly for a moment. Edward and I rocked together basking in the warmth of lust and whatever it was we felt for each other.

Out of my seventeen years, the past few weeks were the best ever.

Emmett finally came around and the image of us together I originally pictured was coming to life. Every day at lunch, Emmett would make some sly remark about my sex life and his cold shower analogy and Edward would step in and defend my privacy making us all laugh together with friendly noise.

Edward became one of us. And I loved it.

The music in the background was audible again and I could hear the song playing on the stereo. Just One Second - London Elektricity. I praised the magic of drum and bass and when I looked back to see Edward enjoying the music I instinctively aware of now being the time to go one step further. We stayed like that for a while longer, letting the music envelop us.

I had no idea what I was about to do but I went along with it, allowing our bodies to do the explaining.

Without really thinking I shifted my body to straddle his and met his lips with force and Edward staggered back but regained his composure hugging me roughly to his chest. My hands immediately went to the collar of his dress shirt and began undoing the buttons not caring to see his reaction but needing him to understand.

And Edward did understand. He took my lips again kissing me, bringing my face to his, while I worked to relieve him of his shirt slowly. Edward's grip grew tighter and I worked in limited space from his embrace. When all the buttons were undone I peeled the shirt off quickly and moved my mouth from his down his neck and kissed from throat to shoulder, taking the collarbone to the other shoulder and kissing back up to the spot just below his ear. My mouth met his once more, tracing the jaw line and this time I saw his eyes and we paused.

"Are you sure?" Edward asked as breathless as I.

Silence met his question as the song ended and The Operation -Charlotte Gainsbourg followed and I felt its beat ease my nerves.

"No, but let's see where this goes." I answered, moving to take off my own shirt, moved by the song to explore.

Edward's hands were over mine stopping me, looking a little cautious.

Ever since Edward confessed to not being a virgin our relationship picked up it's pace. He probably thought this was about making things even but it wasn't; I just wanted him really badly.

Instead of saying anything I kissed him again telling him I wanted this- whatever this was. His eyes agreed and he yanked my shirt slowly over my head leaving us both shirtless staring. The sudden lack of clothing I imagined would make me feel vulnerable but instead it was liberating and comfortable.

Then again, it was probably because Edward's hands were moving up and down my sides warming the skin.

The song shifted then to Inxs' Never Tears Us Apart.

Edward lay me down kissing for some time relishing in the feeling of our skin touching. His hand dipped lower cupping one breast and then moved lower to rub my stomach in circles before Edward's right hand stopped on the buckle to my pants. I nodded my head in approval and Edward got the buckle open easily sliding my pants down my hips and then completely off before tossing them aside. We sat up together with him on his knees over me kissing while he worked on his own buckle. I did my part and got it undone and he shrugged out of them, tossing the pants beside mine on the floor.

Four Word Letter (Pt. 2) - Mewithoutyou replaced Inxs and the atmosphere became full of passion, urge and carnal desire. Our bodies shifted together to the beat as his hand found its way to the elastic of my underwear. The thin fabric of his boxers made it easy to feel him enjoying the exploration as well.

I cupped my hand over his and guided it under the lace for him. Instead of hearing the music we felt it as our hands together began to rub between my legs in rhythm to the music. I let his hand continue its motions and with the arch of my back I stretched my arms under the pillow my head was resting on. My body rocked as his fingers massaged between my thighs in a circular motion making me feel the wetness between them.

As his hand worked on me, Edward nipped at my breasts, puckering my nipples through my bra. He let one finger enter me, gliding in and out and I let out a throaty moan.

I don't really know how I managed, but I reached for the remote and turned the music up louder to drown out our sounds from the rest of the world.

Edward kept his finger moving in and out of me while letting his thumb circle my clit and I pushed myself harder into his touch. With the sensation encompassing me, I shut my eyes and moved my body with his hand moaning more often.

This wasn't my first clitoral orgasm but somehow it beat the others I'd had without having reached my peak yet.

Before I could cum I had to slow my hips losing the rhythm of his movements. I let the waves flow through me and waited a few seconds taking much needed breaths in the process. Edward let my body take in the pleasure using his hand to massage the area between my legs soothingly. His hands then massaged my breasts caressing up and down my body.

When I was ready I guided his hand back in position and let Edward continue.

He was so hard by this point, feeling his length rub against my leg as his fingers penetrated me once more. I didn't think it possible to be this turned on but I was. I placed my right hand rubbing my clit as he fingered me.

"Faster." I said breathless, reaching my peak once more for the real thing.

Edward pumped faster and I rubbed to meet his pace. I stifled the loud 'Oh' that escaped me as my body convulsed with orgasm against his finger.

I suddenly felt vulnerable now, immobile with pleasure under him.

Any music was incomprehensible at this point. Edward calmed me down rubbing me slowly again before removing his hand from my underwear and lying beside me cuddling my form against his.

It took a moment for the waves to pass and I breathed heavily lying with him beside me.

The guilty feeling returned knowing he didn't get off with me.

Sex was a complete mystery to me and oral sex was a bit out of my league at the moment. So, I figured my next move might do the trick.

I wasn't sure exactly if this was normal but it just seemed like common sense. The movements involved seemed practical enough and it was the closest thing to sex I could give Edward right now.

When I could take control of myself I knelt on my knees straddling his body lying on the bed. I could tell Edward was a little confused about what I was doing but I did it anyways.

I could hear Tegan and Sara in the background singing Like O, Like H.

EPOV

Bella loomed over me straddling me.

Watching Bella get hers never got old.

I didn't know what Bella was doing now, but when her hands found the elastic of my boxers I stiffened under her, this time with my body, at the thought she might be indicating sex.

I worried she was trying to make things even after I revealed everything about Tanya. The last thing I wanted was it to pressure her into this.

My face must have expressed my thoughts because her breath was warm in my ear when she answered my silent inquiry.

"I just want to try one thing."

She pulled my boxers down leaving my cock exposed and hard. I felt a little vulnerable having her look at me like that but her eyes switched to determined as she reached to remove her panties.

Bella got back into position over me. I could tell she didn't have a plan of attack but she went on unrelenting. Her questioning stare made me realize we weren't about to have sex but Bella wanted to do something to return the favour and get me off.

And she was being creative with it too.

To help I clung to her hips moving her pelvic area above my cock, situating her vagina over it and pressing her onto it. Bella understood this, thankful I understood her gesture. She was still soaking wet from before so I used it to help the movement be smoother.

My hands still grasped her thighs pressing her onto my dick as Bella moved her pussy up and down my length; True Love Way - Kings of Leon measuring her strokes. I couldn't suppress the pleasure of her pussy rubbing against me so I groaned often reaching my hands to fumble with her breasts. Her bra was in the way but I was happy enough devouring them with my hands as Bella pushed her chest into my palms. My thumb flicked her nipple as it jutted out hard through the material of the bra.

We both moaned together as our private parts rocked together and I knew then Bella was getting off as well.

Kings of Leon ended and I recognized the next song from a recent movie I saw. Normal Adolescent Behaviour, great movie but the song went with this moment all too well. Let Go - Gabriel and Dresden.

And so we just let go.

Bella and I quickened the pace of our movements, pressing harder and moaning breathlessly with the effort. Her hips smoothed over my length faster arching her back ready to peak. I slowed her down, clutching her hips once more and taking control of the rhythm. I was about to cum too but we would do it together.

My toes curled watching Bella move up against me the way she was. She looked ready now so I let go of her hips and rocked with her harder and faster than before; her pussy over my cock.

This was almost better than sex.

...

Almost.

With sex I could show Bella the way I felt about her with more passion and with an orgasm she'd remember for some time afterwards. But, Bella was giving me as much of herself as she could at this point. And I was more than glad.

She moved against me some more. As the song reached its crucial point; so did we. Our bodies moved together ready to cum.

A few more strokes against my cock and we both stiffened momentarily as mutual orgasm swam through us groaning in unison. Bella collapsed onto my chest, our breaths rising and falling in sync. I felt her quiver startle my penis as the last waves of pleasure faded away and our breathing evened.

We lay together, Bella still on top of me, for a little while until I interrupted our silent embrace by looking at Bella's alarm clock on the dresser.

"Crap." I said before I knew it.

Bella's head shot up not understanding. I gave her a sympathetic glance and sighed.

"I've got to get home. It's Carlisle's birthday and Esme wants to have a family dinner." I said, hugging Bella tighter to me not wanting to leave.

"Well," Bella replied planting kisses along my jaw line after every word, " If. You. Must. I Guess. I could. Let. You. Go."

But I really really wanted to stay.

Damn Carlisle and families for making me leave Bella this way.

I was so hot, in more ways than one, melting into Bella's bed having her body heat warm me even more. I didn't want to leave but Carlisle was family and it's about the only thing that would ever make me leave Bella.

She continued leaving small kisses on my face tracing lower on my neck. I grabbed her hips and slowly lifted her off of me, reluctantly, and at the movement she nibbled on my neck. Bella didn't want me to leave either and we both groaned in protest as I hopped off the bed gathering my clothing. Bella did the same looking a little disappointed but her face seemed brighter with some new emotion.

We gathered ourselves as well, smoothing out the wrinkles in our clothing and in our hair, hoping to look presentable and not so obvious. Bella walked me to the front door and I kissed her goodnight before walking out a little sad.

BPOV

Watching Edward leave was hard. The last couple of hours were absolutely mesmerizing. I rested my back against the door breathing slowly holding on to the happiness. A low hum of music came from my bedroom and I straightened up and made my way back to my room a little sad over Edward having to leave.

I cleaned up a bit, vowing to shower in the morning, and crawled into my pajamas for the night; a pair of short shorts, a tank top and hoodie to keep me warm until I went to bed.

All is full of love - Deathcab for Cutie sang on in the background and I lay on my back smiling to myself about the progression of my relationship with Edward.

Before now I had no idea what to call what I felt for him. It was just some anonymous emotion that made my knees weak when Edward would say my name, or made me blush when he held my hand as well as being completely happy every single moment with him.

I wasn't really listening to the song until unexpectedly I heard it all too well over the drumming of my thoughts.

Quickly I staggered out of my bed once the song finished and skipped to Alice's door across the hall.

I knocked rapidly, feeling like nothing could make this moment come any quicker. I grew impatient quickly when she didn't answer right away. For someone who spent most of his time being quiet, Jasper was certainly chatty when it came to being on the phone. I cursed Jasper under my breath for keeping Alice too occupied to answer my urgent knocking right away.

"Alright, alright. I'm coming." I heard her say annoyed.

She opened the door and I burst into her room knocking her lightly with my shoulder.

"What's up Bella?" she asked puzzled by my sudden entrance.

"I have a question for you." I told Alice.

"About what?" she asked eagerly, noting the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Love." I answered looking at the floor.

I didn't want to look when Alice took in my train of thought.

"Oh my gosh!" she screamed slapping her hand to her mouth in apology.

"You're in love with Edward!" she said in an enthusiastic whisper.

The thought seemed to make her as happy as I was now realizing I felt.

For some time I dared not say anything overcome with the embarrassment of barging in to talk about love with Alice.

She put her hand on my shoulder and led me to her bed and got me to sit down.

I was in love with Edward Cullen.

Me, Bella Swan was in love.

I knew it was a stupid thing to do but I pinched myself anyways.

The next little while I spent explaining to Alice my theories on the topic providing examples to express why love seemed to fit so well. Alice's trademark smile never left her face as she listened to me spill my heart out over a boy. It seemed Alice was prepared for this moment when it arrived. Now it was here and I was second guessing myself about whether I was just getting her hopes up.

It felt too soon to be love-- even with all the extra curricular activities Edward and I shared. Suddenly I felt a little gloomy as though I may have taken things with Edward too fast.

"Alice, is it love?"

She thought it over still grinning.

"I believe it is."

I bit my lip a little anxious.

Alice looked me over observing my nervous habit of twirling my thumbs. Her smile fell a little with worry.

"Is that not what you wanted to hear?" she asked, shuffling closer to me on the bed.

I didn't know.

"I don't know." I said honestly and a little agonized.

We were quiet for a moment.

"Is there something else bothering you about it?" she replied wearily.

What happened in my room not too long ago seemed to be very personal and private; something a couple shares when they are in love. What I felt for Edward was strong, but it was neither labeled love nor had we ever mentioned the word to each other.

Our actions hung like a grey cloud and I worried Edward and I had gone too far before saying 'I Love You'. It wasn't that it felt wrong, because nothing about being with Edward felt wrong, but in the past two hours we had seen more of each other than we had the entire time we were together.

Tonight, Edward and I shared a lot with each other. Personal, private things I blushed just thinking about.

I didn't know how it worked with couples. Whether or not this kind of stuff happened before the exchange of 'I Love You's" I couldn't figure out. What if it changed everything after it was said?

Then again I had no idea if Edward even felt the same way.

"Bella... Are you still with me?" Alice spoke breaking my thoughts.

I blushed, heat rising in my cheeks again, and she gasped as if the blush told her some huge secret.

"You didn't..." she asked, very curious.

"No Alice. We didn't have sex." I said sternly, "We just ummm...did other stuff."

"Spill it." Alice retorted not enjoying having to guess.

I tried relaying to her what went down in my bedroom earlier in as clean a manner as possible. It turned out to be harder than I thought and the conversation was making the blush in my cheeks more profound. Alice sat taking in all the details I gave and the hints I dropped trying to understand. Only when I told her about my concern about the progression of my relationship that she got the clue.

"Oh, Bella. Just because you fooled around a bit with a boy before saying those three words doesn't mean things will change." she spoke kindly, "Sometimes in relationships that sort of stuff is a means of telling the other person how they feel without saying the words out loud."

"So it doesn't make me easy?" I wondered aloud and she giggled.

"Of course not silly." and she still was still laughing but took my hands in hers seriously.

"You don't see the way Edward looks at you. Just because you haven't exchanged verbal sentiments doesn't mean what happened is less significant."

"And it isn't bad that it happened?" I couldn't help myself now.

"Absolutely not Bells." Alice waved her hand to discredit my thinking.

I shrugged at my conflicting thoughts still in awe that what I felt was indeed love.

What did Edward feel?

We talked for awhile longer but my yawning made it apparent it was time to get to sleep.

I let my mind try to make sense of my thinking, but something occurred to me.

Everyone else was so obsessed with sex on such a superficial level. To them sex meant pleasure and nothing more. With the people closest to me, sex was different.

I started to see why Emmett got so caught up with his own sex life. Emmett got to have sex with the person he loved—Rosalie. Before there even was a Rosalie and Emmett, my brother used to be a quiet virgin. Yet, things changed when they coupled up. With Rosalie in the picture, Emmett could sing the praises of sex.

On other hand, even though Alice and Jasper were much more subdued with their sexuality around me, it was the same idea. For the two of them, there was only one other person to share the experience with—each other.

This was the difference between what I used to think about sex and the things I now began understanding.

It wasn't the vulgar, inappropriate lunch topic from days past but a showing of love between two people. Being on the other side, getting to see it with my own eyes helped me understand why people talked about it so much.

EPOV

I got in a quick shower, changed and met my parents in the dining room.

After dinner ended with Carlisle and Esme, I gave my gift to my dad. He thanked me for the fancy new day planner I bought him and the three of us settled in to share some cake before Esme and Carlisle shuffled off to spend some alone time together.

I tried not picturing what their alone time consisted of and marched up to my bedroom to leave the lovebirds alone. To make sure I didn't hear it either, I cranked my music up loud and let my thoughts get lost to the beat of Black Panther by Crystal Castles.

Tonight brought Bella and I closer together.

Moving to Forks turned out to be my Dad's best decision ever and any doubt otherwise quickly vanished when my brain flashed to images of Bella.

Our relationship found a turning point and I couldn't wash the smile from my face remembering Bella's half naked form over me. Sure it wasn't sex but being that close to one another definitely meant the two of us shared a strong bond. As cliché as it sounded, we showed each other a piece of our souls.

More and more each day, my feelings for Bella intensified. The emotion remained nameless but whatever it turned out to be I latched onto it. I enjoyed every minute of being with Bella. Whenever sex happened, if it did, it would be like my first time. A real first time.

With Bella, no one else mattered. My life spread out into a new frontier of possibilities.

The volume of the music was probably a little excessive but I couldn't care right now. Anything right now would be better than overhearing your parents be all lovey dovey and a little gross. Love was one thing, but having to listen to your parents was a line I stayed far from crossing.

I settled onto my bed to finish off some homework I left for the last minute.

Between having a girlfriend and going to school, school ended up taking a backseat to any moment I could spend with Bella. Somehow, though, I still managed good grades and grew thankful for all the time I spent thinking with my head instead of the one between my legs. I pitied those poor bastards caught up with their other heads who suffered academically for it. To those guys getting laid was better than getting an A.

While everyone else was obsessed with sex, I focused on other important things in life.

Well at least until now.

Bella was important to me.

Band of Horse's No One's Gonna Love You followed after a few songs I wasn't really paying attention too. At first, I wasn't really paying attention to this one either but out of the blue it became much too clear.

I loved Bella Swan.

The epiphany hit me like a ton of bricks but it seemed so simple and so right.

I mean could it actually really be love though?

We'd only been together about a month or so. But love did sum up a lot of what I felt for Bella; the butterflies in my stomach when I saw her the first time every day, the leap my heart did when she said my name, and how every moment with Bella felt better than the first.

And then I thought about what went down between us in her bedroom not too long ago. Without even thinking we jumped at the chance to take things further. We'd never verbally expressed our feelings for each other letting our little touches, and hand holding and such do the talking. There hadn't yet been a need to put any words to our thoughts because feeling them was enough. Now I was bombarded with reasons all the things I felt must be love.

L. O. V. E.

I wondered if Bella felt the same way but quickly became pessimistic.

Bella did initiate the activities earlier so there must be something there. I hoped having shared so much of each other before declaring our feelings with words wouldn't change anything. The whole dating thing unfortunately had no handbook but I pictured it outlining this very thing.

I imagined it would say something of how 'such activities were a means of expressing feelings for one another'. At least it seemed the best way to explain it where we were concerned.

Everyone else saw sex superficially, even myself in the past. Though, with Bella, everything with sex became more important, more precious. What we've done should have come after we said aloud what we felt.

For some reason, though, I couldn't worry too much about it. Nothing with Bella was complicated.

No. I justified tonight as a physical communication of our feelings. Well at the very least, my feelings. I still didn't know Bella's position on the whole thing.

There was no time to think more because I yawned continuously and threw myself into my bed without changing. Right now I just needed some sleep.

Bella and I would deal with things on our own time.

***

BPOV

Unfortunately for me I was stuck riding with Emmett to school this morning. Not only did my truck feel like not working but Edward had to drive his mom somewhere so it left me with no other choice.

Damn Jasper and Alice for leaving so damn early.

The beginning of the day seemed to last the longest. Edward got to miss his first class so I missed getting to see him in the morning.

Edward was still nowhere to be found when I walked to the lunch to see the rest of my group already canoodled at the table together. I sat anxiously waiting for Edward to get there as soon as possible.

"Where's Edward today?" Alice prodded.

I shrugged my shoulders disappointed at Edward for not being here yet.

"Not sure, he took his mom somewhere this morning but I expected him to be back already."

After that I fell silent and poked at my food and bit my lip waiting. Emmett took my silence as the best opportunity to bust my chops.

"So Bella, take any cold showers lately?" he winked at me and I looked at him a little lost.

"You know, last night" Emmett winked again and I blushed trying to hide my face from exposing any details.

"I don't know what you're talking about Emmett." I tried playing dumb, picking at my food and taking small bites.

"Oh come on, don't be shy Bells." he said but I couldn't meet his glare.

"Really Em, I have no idea what you're talking about." Again, I just played dumb. Hopefully like most dogs, Emmett would get sick of chasing his own tail.

"Don't make me spell it out for you Bella. You know what I'm talking about." Emmett answered trying to blackmail me into spilling the beans.

I couldn't say anything so I let silence do the talking for me.

"You know… When a girl is alone in her bedroom with a boy and the music gets louder, it's an obvious something is going on," Emmett joked laughing alone.

Was it that obvious a sign?

"If only you allowed us that simple courtesy Em." I joked with him trying to get the spotlight off of me and Edward from last night.

"I said girls Bella, guys actually turn music down." he laughed at his snarky remark adding hand gestures to illustrate his point. He tried getting validation from Jasper who shook his head laughing but disagreeing at the same time.

Everyone at the table laughed at the look Rosalie shot Emmett from her place on his right. If looks could castrate I think Emmett would take more caution with what he said.

"Oh Emmett. You've got a lot to learn still buddy." Jasper chuckled to Emmett clapping his hand on the desk.

"Really Em. Is that what guys do?" Rosalie spoke and Jasper shrugged off any involvement tossing his apple from palm to palm.

It surprised me how quickly everyone else picked up when Emmett put his foot in his mouth. You'd think a big guy like Emmett would taste the athlete's foot but most times Emmett was oblivious to saying the wrong things.

I blanked out from the spat Emmett and Rosalie were now having. Jasper looked on thoroughly amused while Alice yawned out of boredom. The only good thing I could see about Em and Rose fighting would be all the makeup sex they were bound to have.

Maybe Emmett wasn't as oblivious as we all thought.

Those two were still going at it when I felt warm hands clasp over my eyes. The mystery hands didn't speak instead the person positioned a small kiss at my temple and released their grip.

"Hey." I said, ridiculously happy to see Edward.

I snaked my arms around him and dragged my chair impossibly closer to him loving the feeling of his arm draped protectively around my shoulder.

His entrance didn't disrupt the dispute still going on so for the rest of lunch I rested comfortably in Edward's arm until only the sound of class starting pulled us apart.

Right after class we made our way to his car. Edward promised to make up for this morning's drive with Emmett by offering to take me home himself. I agreed eagerly, stopping at my locker first, looking forward to more alone time with my boyfriend whom I loved. Thinking about it forced a faint pink blush to colour my cheeks/ Seeing it Edward lifted my chin with a finger and placed two small pecks on either cheek. Impatient, I darted my lips to meet his and Edward returned my ferocity letting my chin go and placing his hand on the small of my back to push me closer. This definitely breached our no make out policy for PDA in public but who the fuck cared about PDA right now. The only thing I thought about was Edward's lips on mine.

"Get a room." I heard Emmett tease.

Emmett's comment should have made me pull away shy but my mind was too enthralled to do anything about it.

I was slowly becoming one of those girls who flaunted their boyfriend around. And yet again, I couldn't care. I was diving in head first and loving every second of it.

Finally, needing air, Edward broke the embrace for me, chuckling at my new lack of inhibitions.

"Let me take you home." He tried saying nonchalantly as though he didn't want to keep kissing as badly as I did.

"If by home you mean we get to make a pit stop then what are we waiting for?" I replied just as nonchalantly grabbing his hand and walking off toward the parking lot.

EPOV

Bella surprised me with the unexpected show of affection in the hallway. I expected to have her pull away shy but instead she tightened her grip when she knew there was an audience.

Everything lately surpassed perfection. Bella and I were together, happily ever after, in a real life fairytale we created for ourselves.

"Why don't you come over for dinner tonight?" I asked with confidence. My parents had yet to formally meet Bella as I had with Charlie at the picnic and tonight seemed like just the day.

"Tonight?" and I heard the nervous tone in her voice.

"Yes, tonight. It'll be great." I wanted my voice to be as confident.

She grew shy thinking about it so I brought us to an abrupt stop just beside my car.

"I don't know Edward, what if they don't like me?" But I shushed her before she could bring herself down.

"My parents will love you Bella. You have nothing to worry about." And I laid my hand on her cheek and kissed her softly. I felt her give in before she said it and kissed her again triumphantly.

I gave her a chance to speak by breaking the kiss for the both of us.

"Fine. I would love to come over for dinner." Bella agreed and I smiled mischievously.

It was wrong to change her mind with kisses but it was my only offence I had besides my eyes. Most of the time, Bella worked her magic on me.

I drove Bella home then, skipping the pit stop to give her time to get ready. After I dropped her off, I quickly pulled out my cell phone and dialed Esme's number to tell her the news. Of course, my stepmom didn't say no. She practically screeched at the idea of cooking dinner for my girlfriend.

Bella being the first girl I was bringing home for a family dinner was a cornerstone in my family; kind of like losing your first tooth or graduating.

My girlfriend.

My girlfriend whom I loved.

The words seemed to come so easily now.

Now it was up to me too tell her.

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A/N - I tried adding a playlist to my profile but it messed up. I'll figure out how to fix it and hopefully it'll be up and running soon enough.