A/N: Don't know if you'd be expecting this….


Up The Ante.

(Bella POV)

I stayed at Alice and Edward's house Saturday night as well, everyone agreeing that it would be best for me to recover and gain my strength some more before I faced Charlie. I knew I was a mess, I saw it in myself when I looked in a mirror and felt it in every cell of my body. But now that I'd had a shower and brushed my teeth, I felt almost human again. My body still ached, my head throbbed and my stomach churned, but at least now I felt clean. Jasper had popped hope last night to let Charlie know we were staying over another night and to pick us both up some fresh clothes. I could only imagine Charlie's face when he found out he'd be home alone and dropped a hint that he had half planned to go over to the Black's to watch a game anyway.

I pulled my favourite pair jeans on, glad that Jasper had wisely picked out some of the clean clothes that I'd left on my bed yesterday morning, dreading to think what he'd feel like if he had to actually hunt through my closet. I laughed softly at the thought of my brother picking out my underwear, he did well I thought as I mentally cheered him for picking a matching pair, even thought I was sure he'd have been a bit frazzled at the task. The top he'd picked was one that I remember Alice complementing me on a couple of days ago at school; it was deep blue, long sleeved with a scooping, but respectable neckline.

"Bella? Are you ready? I thought I'd better come warn you that Alice keeps asking for you… she'll come carry you down if you aren't down soon." Edwards's smooth voice filtered through the door and reached my ears as I pulled my hair up in to a sloppy bun, pausing my movements for a second or two.

I shook my head slightly to try and get it to work and finished doing my hair in one quick move. "Yeah, I'm coming" I called back to him, wondering if he was still there or had made his way back down already.

Giving myself one last once over and deciding I looked some what alive today I made my way to the door. The purple bruise like shadows under my eyes weren't as bad as yesterday, but I still looked like an insomniac. There was a tiny hint of a blush deep underneath the pale skin of my cheeks which made me, for once, feel a loss for my unconscious blushing.

I pulled the door open in one swift movement and took a step out into the hallway. I reveled in the décor of the house, now that I was actually conscious enough to notice my surroundings. Alice had told me that her and Edwards mother was an interior designer and I could easily see why.

The wooden floor beneath my feet felt smooth and its colour was rich and dark. The walls were a neutral, creamy colour which let the beautiful paintings along the walls stand out and be the hallway's focal point. It was like a mini gallery.

I closed the door behind me and made my way quickly for the stairs, my mouth watering for the first time in what felt like a year at the thought of coffee and food.

"Bella?" Edward's voice reached me as I went to take the first step on the beautiful spiral staircase that lead into the living room. I stopped and turned carefully to see Edward closing a door to my right and make his way toward me silently.

I wondered why he'd called my name. I'd expected him to keep talking. "What?" I asked him rather rudely as I turned back and made my way down the stairs slowly, my hand gasping the rail like it was my only life line.

Something hard and warm wrapped securely around my waist just as I felt my head spinning. I stopped to take a deep breath and found myself being supported by Edward. Great I grumbled silently as I knew I'd have to thank him once more from saving me from getting hurt. Anger began to bubble in my blood at the thought of him always being there when my klutz gene kicked in. I took another deep breath, reading myself to thank him when I felt him pulling me forward with him.

I stumbled once more by the sudden change and let go of the rail to cling onto Edward with both hands. "Could you warn me the next time you start to walk please?" I seethed as I tried to calm my hammering heart and catch my breath. I noticed a smug grin tugging the side of his lips and decided that I needed to shoot him down now before he began to inflate his ego too much. "You can let go of me now." I said calmly, feeling a smug smile of my own tugging my lips as his smile vanished and he took a step away, dropping his arms to his sides.

Taking a hold of the rail again I took a confident step down, watching from the corner of my eye Edward following me.

About half way down I began to panic.

My lips began to tingle, as if they had ice pressed against them and I tried biting my lips to see if they'd get back to normal. My breath pitched up as I felt my legs weakening and my grip on the rail slacking. Worried, I slowed my pace a little and wondered why my vision was blurring and sharpening every few seconds. Thump-thump thump- thump I could hear my heart beat pulsing in my ears and feel it in my fingertips which felt ice cold too. My vision began to blacken and I stopped suddenly, taking in deep breaths that felt as if were only filling a quarter of my lungs.

"Bella" I heard my name being spoken, registering everything as if it were being played in slow motion and noticed a pair of stunningly bright green eyes before me, looking into my hazy ones.

Something sparked through me which felt like a shot of electricity that seemed to wake me up for a second before I descended back into slow motion. My legs finally gave up the loosing battle and buckled beneath my numb body, only to be lifted up easily and held against something familiar.

I relaxed once I knew I was in Edwards's arms, the warmth from his body warming mine which had gone cold after the surge of heat that hit me earlier. I rested my head on his chest and heard his heart beat, astonished to find that it was beating at a faster pace than even mine had been.

"I need to get you food… and sugar… how could I have been so careless? Basic requirements… take better care…" I heard him mutter as he made his way with me to the kitchen, my ears beginning to ring as my eye sight began to clear.

"Alice find some chocolate." I heard Edward order as soon as he stepped into the kitchen. I recoiled at the brightness of the white room, shielding my eyes against the blazing sunlight. "Jasper blinds." Edward added another order as I felt him sitting in a chair, myself still in his lap.

"What happened Sweet Pea?" I heart Emmett's almost heart breakingly concerned voice nearing me as he spoke and felt his mammoth hand resting on my knee as he knelt beside me. I opened my now dry again mouth, my tongue feeling swollen and my jaw tired as I made to speak, only to be cut off by Edward.

"She almost passed out, she needs some sugar to get her sugar levels back up then we'll concentrate on hydrating her and getting her to eat something." he spoke with some hint of hostility in his voice.

I felt Emmett's hand disappear from my leg, "She likes cheese on toast" I heard him speak softly before I heard cupboards opening and some one rummaging around the cutlery "I'll make you one Bells. That's okay yeah Edward?" Emmett asked, as an after thought.

"Thanks Emmett, just make her the one, I have a feeling she wont be able to handle much more than that." Edward replied as I felt him moving around and opening a packet to something. "Bella, would you eat some of this please?" he whispered into my ear, sending a shiver down my back.

I took the chocolate from his hands and ate slowly before I hesitantly I opened my eyes, seeing that the kitchen had been dimmed by some of the blinds having been pulled down. I eyed Jasper and sent him a thankful smile, gaining a nod in response. I didn't fail to notice Emmett's burly form as he walked back and forth around the kitchen, bread, cheese, butter and a toaster before him.

"S'up Bells?" he asked rhetorically as he grated some cheese, enough to feed 5,000 by the looks of it. I couldn't help but smile though as I watched him pop the bread into the toaster, noting that he'd added extra 5 slices to the one that I'd be getting myself.

Alice was busy pouring a glass of orange juice next to the fridge and I marveled at her size as I watched her open the fridge and reach on her tip toes to put the carton back on the appropriate shelf.

I heard Rose huff and make her way over to Emmett and pop the bread out of the toaster which was ready, Rose and I both knew what type of cook Emmett was: catastrophic.

She pilled the toast with cheese and popped it under the grill, slapping Emmett's eager hands away as he tried to sneakily pull a piece out and eat it.

A minute later and the food was ready. Emmett tried to help Rose, declaring he was the chef but shut himself us as soon as he burnt his finger on the hot try, grumbling "stupid tray" under his breath as he sulked off into the living room with two pieces of cheese on toast.

Rose hurried after him with a piece of her own, followed by Alice and Jasper who mentioned that they'd already had breakfast, leaving a piece each for Edward and I on the kitchen counter.

With the kitchen now empty, I finally looked at Edward, surprised to see him already staring down at me. I couldn't help my mind from wondering to thoughts of my lips running across his chiseled cheekbones and jaw, or my lips nipping at his throat. My eyes lingered on his lips and I imagined myself being worship by them, every inch of my body being licked, sucked, and kissed by that mouth.

I felt something squeeze my waist and snapped back to reality to see Edward staring intently at me, as if examining me as he loosened his arm from around my waist. I dropped my eyes to my lap and took another piece of chocolate from his hands before he placed it down.

"I can tell your getting better," he spoke with his smooth voice brushing against my neck "your blush is coming back." he added with a slight sly smile as he brushed his fingertips against my cheek, drawing more blood to the surface of my skin.

"Shut up" I grumbled and tried to make a move to stand, only to be anchored by Edwards arms which were securely holding me to him.

"Now now Bella," he mockingly scolded me, his mouth so close to my neck that I could almost feel his soft lips caressing my sensitive skin "I'm only stating facts. Your blush is so unique, you know it captivates me. Do you think that if I pressed my lips to you cheek, they'll deepen another shade of red? Perhaps bordering maroon?" he spoke so casually and I was confused by his words. Why was it a few days ago, he would have been busy throwing insults and barbs my way, laughing at my words. But today, he was seductive, his voice husky as he used compliments to derail me, knock me off track.

He was telling me false complements about the one thing I couldn't control, that I was self conscious about to unnerve me. That was low. I took deep breaths as I tried to control my anger and tried my best to cover my anger with what I hoped was a sexy look. I turned to face him, guessing I managed what I was hoping for as I watched Edwards jaw drop and his breathing step up a notch. I leant forward, my lips practically brushing his as I moved to his ear.

"Edward," I whispered his name as huskily as I could, making it sound breathless for added effect and felt him pulling me closer. I smiled as I thought how this would be easy… too easy. moving myself as inconspicuously as I could, I ground myself into Edward, almost gasping as I felt as sign of his arousal. I could feel the smirk on my lips as I leant closer to him, making sure to press my chest to his as I brushed my lips across his skin like I imagined doing moments ago.

I bit my lip as I felt Edwards's lips on my skin, between my neck and shoulder, running back and forth creating a friction but never actually giving me what I craved, a kiss.

Just a game… just a game…Checkers… Snap… Chase…. Checkmate!! My mind struggled to grasp onto the key points I needed to remember. Just a game… Checkmate.

Just for added measure before I finished this game I ground my hips to his one more time and felt his hands grasping my hips tightly. I pressed my lips to his neck and moaned as quietly as I could, knowing the vibration from my chest and throat would run into him and he'd feel it as well as hear it.

Edward's mouth finally began to move, trailing hot kisses up and down my neck and I fought to hold in the groan of pleasure that was bubbling in my chest and threatening to spill out.

I was now panting from his kisses, but told myself it was only for show. I sucked at the skin on his neck and gently bit down, Edwards's hips jerking in response. I finally rested my mouth at his ear, trying to catch my breath as I let it wash over him and got the words ready to be spoken.

"Edward" I spoke his name once more, this time it sounded like a plea, like I was begging him for something. Just a game I reminded myself a final time as licked my lips and breathed out "Checkmate."

I stood as fast as I could, glad that his hold on my waist had loosened enough and picked up a piece of cheese on toast and a glass of orange juice. Without a backward glance I hurried somewhat dazed into the living room, feeling smug with myself at having had turned the tables on Edward at his own game and won.

I ate slowly, letting my stomach become used to the sensation of food entering it for a change and drank some orange juice to sooth my parched mouth. I was quiet where I sat, half listening to the conversations around me which centered on what we six would be doing today, something outdoorsy I think by the sound of their enthusiasm and glances outside toward the gleaming sun. But my concentration was lacking as I kept wondering off to worry about Edward, who hadn't surfaced from the kitchen. Why couldn't I have had told him to shut up once more rather than having played that stupid and risky game with him? I confessed to myself that I'd almost lost; I almost caved each time his lips were connected with my skin.

I sighed as I sat back in my chair, wondering what damage I'd caused by my antics and bit my lip in anxiety as I thought of how I'd undoubtedly upped the ante.


A/N: Well?