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Somehow, Bella managed to find the boat in the darkness. It took her more time than she would have liked to haul herself up the back ladder, and across the rocky ship. But she had survived the dark water.

Now that left her soaking wet. And shivering so severely that Bella's mouth was beginning to chatter. Yeah, now that she thought of it, the grandeur of swimming after Edward had sounded much better in her head.

Because now she was desperately cold: her body shutting down finger by finger, limb by limb. And it was starting to scare her.

Practically tripping down the steps down to the cabin door, Bella didn't bother knocking before bursting inside. And as soon as the cabin air hit her face, Bella closed her eyes in pure ecstasy. She may have even moaned a little.

"Bella?" A voice called. Slowly, she turned just as Edward emerged shirtless from the tiny bathroom, nothing but a white towel tied around his waist and a toothbrush in his mouth. "How did you get aboard?" Just after the words left his mouth, his gaze widened to her soaked shirt. His shirt. And then his eyes really shot open. "Did you swim here?"

Bella was too cold to answer. But whatever he read on her face, it was all Edward needed to burst into action. "We need to get you warm," he set down his toothbrush before gathering Bella to his side. She practically groaned in delight; putty in his grasp as he led her to the bathroom. But she was still aware that Edward remained in his towel, fresh from a shower himself as he bent to turn on the faucet. But she was too exhausted to care.

"You could have killed yourself, pulling a move like that." Edward huffed with a shake of his head. But Bella couldn't say a word, not even to apologize or defend herself as he reached his hand under the tap. When he deemed the water warm enough, he turned with a sigh, "Do you need help getting in?"

Bella finally managed to pulled her face upwards, and found Edward's face rather worried. Yet his tone was bothered.

"How do I keep annoying you," Bella demanded, even if her voice was weak from the cold, "Whatever it was tonight, me or Alice, I'm sorry I keep disrupting your peace and quiet. But I had to make sure you were alright, and I won't be scolded for that."

He didn't answer as he ran a rough hand down his face. "Just get in the water before you freeze to death, Bella." At least his tone was lighter now.

She stood from her perch on the toilet seat, still managing to swat away his help; even if she felt like she was about to collapse.

"Now what's your issue?"

"I thought my arrival would be welcomed. I'm not the one who said you needed the push. So don't take your anger out on me," Bella shot him a glare as she slipped into the tub. Wet t-shirt and all. "So now you're the only one who can be dramatic. You get to brood, while I get treated like some kid. Well, I guess I'll stop trying to help next time you stomp off with your feelings." And the last thing she saw was Edward's shocked face before she sunk under the water completely.

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When Bella's eyes cracked open next, she didn't quite know where she was. But she jumped to find herself still in the tub, and Edward waiting, stress under his eyes and his hair a mess.

"You didn't have to stay." Bella all but grumbled; feeling like once more, she was a burden in his life. He only shrugged.

"Someone had to make sure you didn't drown in your sleep."

She shot him a glare at his clear teasing, even if his face was friendlier now, not so taut with stress. Either way, Bella suddenly found her skin uncomfortably pruney as she stood from the luke-warm water. Now wet, Edward's t-shirt hung limp past her knees. "Could you pass me a towel?"

Wordlessly, Edward obeyed before nodding to the counter. "I brought your bag in so that you could change too."

Bella was visibly struck silent from the gesture. She didn't know where they stood, friend or something more. Or more importantly, what had initially upset him in the first place.

But Edward was already turning to leave, seemingly in a better mood now he had time to burn off his anger. He only paused to say, "By the way while you slept, everyone else has already managed to settle in."

"I'll be quiet."

"That's not it. I meant everyone has already paired up—" Bella's stomach flipped when Edward met her eyes from over his shoulder. Because she knew what he was about to say—"It looks like you and I will be sharing a bed after all."

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"Do you think Alice designs this stuff? Is it some sort of sick hobby of hers?" Bella grumbled under her breath; fluffing her pillow perhaps a bit to aggressively. Edward actually smirked from the other side of the bed. Smirked. A move that made Bella's eyes narrow in confusion. "You're okay with this? Because at the fire you seemed repulsed by any idea of Alice's matchmaking."

"I guess I've come to accept it," he chuckled, "Unfortunately for you, I think my sister views as us as some sort of ultimate trophy. She won't stop pushing us together anytime soon."

"And you're okay with that?"

A simple shrug, "Not with her meddling. But her end goal perhaps…. makes sense."

Bella's brows shot up, "So before, when you were practically up in Alice's face about it. But now, you think it doesn't sound so bad?" She scoffed, "Is that what you think I want to hear? That us trying out a serious relationship makes sense."

"What do you want me to say?" He gestured between them, even as Bella crossed her arms, "I'm just saying how I realized we are quite similar. We were raised in the same town, have both shared rather strenuous childhoods. Now both our families, willingly or not, seemed to have fated us together. All we can do is decide if we should give in."

"Give in?" Bella shook her head, "You make it sound so logical!" She climbed into the bed a bit too aggressively, but no matter how Bella fought the heavy duvet or choking sheets, she made sure her back was turned to him after she was settled.

"I put more bedding on to make sure you stayed warm." He said when it was clear she was nearly suffocating. "I can take a layer off if you want."

Bella spun to find him still standing, remembering that no matter their attraction for one another, Edward had been hired by her father to look out for her well-being. So much so he had once burst through her door just because she had screamed. The attraction had been palpable between them even then. It always was.

"I'm fine." She made sure her distaste was clear, because though Edward had just admitted wanting to try things out with Bella; to agree with the universe's plan for them, the logic behind his argument left her with a rather bitter taste in her mouth. And damn it if she was going to swallow it.

"Are you sure?"

"Just get into the damn bed so I can turn the lamp off." Bella grumbled. And she swore he gave a laugh under his breath.

But he at least obeyed, turning off the light that ended up making her feel that much more vulnerable. The imagery of a shark and blood in the water shot across her thoughts as Bella clutched her pillow. The man beside her let out a deep sigh.

"So now I've upset you with my clear thinking. Well, what would you suggest we do, Bella? That we get together because of how many interests we have in common?" His tone was edging toward mockery, and it made her blood boil.

"No, I never expected a fairy tale; some grand gesture. But when I imaged us trying things out I thought—" She paused. What did she want from Edward?

His respect, for sure. Since he always looked at her like some sort of a lamb about to brought to slaughter that he had to protect. But Bella also knew, deep down, she wanted something else from Edward as well.

His love.

"What?" His voice asked from the void. Or at least that was how Bella pictured, because the room was so dark she couldn't see him. And it made her feel vulnerable, yes. Yet…powerful. So she went on.

"To be honest, I did picture us agreeing to a relationship a bit more…romantically, you know. I would have liked—" she stopped at that, feeling like an utter idiot. But Edward urged her on,

"—What Bella?" And the low tone of his voice, when he said her name made gooseflesh spread across her skin. And for a moment, Bella's eyes flicked to where she thought he was lying.

Even if it was dark, she would have liked to think Edward was looking at her. Really looking. So close that the heat of his skin was almost tangible against her breath. But it was more than the thought of proximity that caught Bella off guard.

It was imagining those green eyes looking at her not like some broken thing, or some untouchable boss's daughter. But a partner to share both the good and bad with. And his eyes would finally be gazing down at her with what she could only describe as—

"Love?"

Her breath caught at the word; her heart nearly thundering out of her chest now that it had been said out loud. Yet it had not been Bella that finally said it out loud.

But Edward.

She swallowed as he clearly waited for her answer. "Is that so bad to want?" Bella imagined him pondering the question, and the entire time she was staring into that dark; waiting for any hint he felt the same. Finally, he broke the silence,

"You know, my parents had a glorified arranged marriage," he suddenly revealed, "Their parents viewed the union more like a resume than actually chemistry or emotions. Marriage was something to increase success, not happiness." He released a deep sigh before continuing. And she was utterly spell-bound; Bella's stomach sinking with each and every word. He only continued,

"And growing up, I did my best to reject that ideal. I did everything in my power to tarnish the life they tried to plan for Alice and me. I never let myself to be interested in anyone from the city, not that I would have been. But I was just too eager to find any excuse to never go back home. And yet—"

"And yet?" Bella might as well as squeaked, her lips screaming from being bitten so hard.

"And yet despite my best efforts, I still fell for a girl from the upper east side."

Suddenly the lamp clicked on. The sudden light shocked her, but when Bella's eyes adjusted, she saw Edward was right in front of her, his face full of emotion as he gazed across to her.

Why had turned on the light so fast, she had no idea. But it didn't ease her thundering heart as she met those green eyes: waiting.

"Are you saying what I think you are?"

He nodded, seconds slowing to a crawl when he shifted closer. Bella was breathless when he took her cheek with his hand. Bella couldn't help but close her eyes at his warmth, the utter roughness of his callouses. Proof of what he had gone through to reject his upbringing. And even though the trials of it all, he still chose her.

"I'm saying I love you, Bella." Edward repeated, and she might have sobbed a bit, "The moment I found you halfway through those rotted steps that first time we met. I knew it even then. Every second I'm with you, I feel myself falling more and more. So much it scares the hell out of me. But I still do."
Bella didn't let him say anything else before she was kissing him. She felt uplifted, felt like she was actually flying and she just had to feel his lips against hers.

Edward moaned at the sudden contact, but took no time before pulling her closer. Bella however, was on another page completely: wrapping her tired, cold limbs around his strong, warm ones. The contact made Edward jump slightly, which of course made Bella laugh.

"Hey!" he chastised when she kept on laughing. "Your skin was freezing! It was a body's natural response."

Bella just kept laughing. She would have liked to have thought the hysteria was brought on by both facing her fear of swimming and her near hypothermia. Not to mention the man of her dreams telling her he loved her. But either way, Edward rushed to defend himself,

"How about I come to you next time, and use your body as a living furnace? See how you respond?" He grumbled, but the sternness on his face failed when he ended up smiling along with her. Bella couldn't help but kiss his upturned lips.

"Poor Edward," she hushed against his mouth, moving along his jaw ever so slowly as her legs remained tangled in his. He huffed at her mocking tone.

"You shouldn't make fun. If it wasn't for me, you would be an ice-icicle by now."

That sent another giggle through her, warming her bones that much more. But more exciting was this side of Edward. Teasing and joking with Bella like it was the most natural thing in the world. And she wanted more.

"I don't think I'm completely far-gone, do you?" She faced him when just as she slid her feet down the back of his calves. And Bella watched as his eyes glazed with a jolt. She felt it travel through his entire body. Including something else that had just grown suddenly hard against her stomach.

"No, not completely." He hummed against her lips. But he broke off with a hiss when Bella laid her cold hand against his abdomen. She suddenly wished he was completely shirtless, so it was skin to skin, but the coldness of her fingers still subsided against his warmth.

As well as her inhibitions.

"But I know another fool-proof way to warm you up," his smirk was back as Bella cocked her head.

"Like what." She thought she knew what his answer would be. But Edward surprised her when he took her right hand and raised the fingers to his lips. And with one sigh, the heat of his breath washed over them.

Bella didn't know something so simple could turn her on. But Edward was not done. Watching him take one finger into his mouth, and then another as his tongue swirled around her once-numb skin, suddenly Bella wasn't so cold anymore.

"Edward," she groaned when he bit down slightly, sucking down hard as he slipped her fingers out of that gorgeous mouth. And Bella felt every muscle loosen. "What else," she asked, utterly entranced by the man in front of her.

Edward said nothing before shedding his shirt. When Bella's brows rose, he helped her ease out of hers too.

"Well?" she must have looked skeptical, in nothing but a simple sports bra and sleep shorts. But then he palmed her left breast.

Roughly.

Her head fell back with a groan. Edward took the invitation to lower his head to her chest, sucking the peak into his mouth through the thin fabric. His other hand kneaded her other breast, delving beneath her bra to tweak her nipple between his fingers.

With each swirl of his tongue or flick of his thumb, more and more heat rushed to Bella's limbs; her core. Until she was practically moaning from the frustration of it all.

Edward merely pulled back, a look of utter satisfaction as he asked, "Ready for the next option?"

"There's more?" Bella gasped, her head so clouded with desire she had forgot he was still merely warming her up. In more ways than one. Edward's answer was by pressing her closer.

And her breath broke out with a sigh from his broad hand against her bare back, molding her body to his. Not only was the feeling of his muscles heavenly, but the heat of skin something to moan about.

Bella's eyes fluttered shut when his fingers traced the skin of her lower back, drifting closer and closer to her backside all the while she was trying not to grind and scream in her desire. Since they had to remember, the rest of the group were still sleeping just outside the thin wall.

But that all went out the window when Edward's calloused hand scraped along her ass, eliciting a long groan as he continued to squeeze and massage the flesh with each swell of the boat.

"Jesus," Bella breathed into his neck. Edward let out a low chuckle, the vibration sending more shockwaves of desire straight to her center. "If you're trying to warm me up. You've succeed, because now I'm overheating."

"Are you?" His lips remained at his shoulder this whole time, a clear smile in his voice as he threw off the heavy duvet. "How about now?"

Bella yelped from the feeling of her now exposed body as she twinned herself closer to him. He chuckled from her shamelessly selfishness. But what Bella couldn't bring herself to move. Since the only way to stop her from completely begging Edward to take her was to touch as much as him as possible.

"Better now," was her reply only after she wrapper her arms around his neck, and her legs completely sandwiched between his.

"Take as much as my heat as you need," was Edward's amused reply as he placed a long, practically illegal kiss against her neck. Her mouth opened from the utter heat of his tongue, laying back as he continued to take his time exploring every bit of Bella's bare skin with his hands.

"Are you warm enough now?"

The question made her head snap up from her lustful trance. His touch was just so relaxing that other than outright sex, Bella could have laid there all day. "Yes."

He nodded, making a moved to untangled them, so she rushed to add, "But you can keep going. If you don't mind, I mean."

Edward chuckled darkly, before slowly removing her right leg from where it was weaved between his. And instead, draped it over his hip.

For better access, Bella realized, as Edward took his long ass time to whisper his hands everywhere but where was wanted him the most. They were at her hip, the slip of skin between her tank top and sleep shorts. Everywhere he went, Edward left his burning touch that was reducing her to a pile of goop.

Finally, he moved closer and closer to her core, and instead of keeping to the outside of her leg like he had been, he twisted its path inside. Bella's fingers dug into the skin of his forearm when he brushed the sensitive skin of her inner thigh.

Edward merely pressed a kiss to her collarbone; a silent order to relax. Bella rigidly obeyed, feeling like an utter goddess being rightfully worshiped. And he had yet to reach her center.

But even Bella couldn't take it forever.

"Edward." His name was drawn out, more like a whine, "Please."

"Hmmm, I think that's the politest you've been to me in a long time."

Her eyes opened only to narrow. He laughed harder this time, the action lightening his face and reminding Bella just what lay beside her. This man was just too much. Too handsome and too God damn sexy. So she kissed him again.

And Bella knew she would never tire of hearing his long groan, each time she did. And it sent more lust straight downward. So much that she was sick with the rather one-sided exploration.

She wanted to touch him now.

Moving from her side, Bella pushed Edward so he was beneath her. The dim light let her see the shock in his eyes, but that turned to lust when she ground against the hardness in his boxer-briefs.

"Fuck," was his dark reply, and it made her core rush with a mix of power and desire. Clutching her hips, Bella stilled just as he admitted, "I wanted to feel you in that water. I wanted you so much I couldn't think straight." His words were almost choked as he said them, but they caused Bella to wrap her hand in his hair and pull his mouth back to hers.

As she started to move her hips, Edward's tongue mirrored the pace, leaving Bella utterly breathless. But he only pulled back the next moment.

"I don't have anything,"

Bella pouted from him merely stopping. But when she finally absorbed his words, her face completely fell. "I trust you." Was her quick answer. Only because she was desperate to have him inside her.

But then something other than desire crossed Edward's features.

It was a raw openness that Bella had never seen before. And that alone made her own lust halt. "Is that okay?" she asked, clutching his face to make him focus back onto her. He seemed to blink back into the present from her touch alone.

And Bella wondered if his reaction was because no one, not even his family, had ever told Edward they trusted him. That he was so unworthy of even that.

Now it was Edward's turn to kiss her hard. So fiercely and vulnerably that it made Bella whimper in pure need.

"Please," she said for the third time that night. Edward took no time to rid Bella and himself of any remaining clothes. And now they were left totally bare for each other.

"Are you positive about this?" He said a bit more seriously, and Bella nodded. She was more than positive. She trusted him completely. To take care of her, whatever did happen.

Bella knew whatever was thrown their way, family drama or worse, they would be able to handle it. Because everything else, the worries, the anxiety that had followed her for so long, had become mere background noise the moment Edward had said he loved her.

So she was more than positive. Bella was ready.

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A/N Tell me what you guys think! Thank you for reading and reviewing :)