A/N: Dun dun dunnnnn.... I do believe this is the chapter everyone's been waiting for!!! :-D So enjoy!!! Thanks a huge bunch to EmmaleeWrites05 for getting this back to me in record time. Love you girl!!!

I just posted an Em/B oneshot, "Consent to Release." If you're loving this story line with Em/B, you just may love it!!! Check it out. ;-)

Disclaimer: Only the twisted plot belongs to me.

EPOV

I adjusted the cuffs on my shirt and sighed. Tonight was going to be interesting.

After Granny Swan's funeral, Bella had completely shut down. I'd never seen her like this before, and in ways, it scared me. When we got home to Seattle, she spent the majority of her time on the computer, typing listlessly and staring out the window. I offered to stay home with her but she didn't let me. Stubborn as always, even in her altered state of mind.

Tonight would be the first night she would even step out of the house and I couldn't figure out why, but it relieved me.

When she stepped out of the bedroom twenty minutes later, were I still attracted to her, my jaw would have dropped in shock and lust. She was in this tight black dress that showed off a hell a lot of thigh and more tits than usual. She really looked beautiful.

"Come on," she said in her hollow little voice but at least she was willing to leave the apartment, so I followed her out the door, grabbing the keys from her hand. Like hell I was going to let her drive right now.

We drove to the office building I worked in. It wasn't going to be held in the office but on another floor; sprucing up an old conference room or something. I held my mask in my hand, heart fluttering with the idea that Jasper might think I look handsome. Bella's matched mine; they were simple and black and looked like Zorro's mask.

We were greeted by banners that thanked us for coming and for the money we were going to donate to the "worthy causes" they'd chosen. I was embarrassed that I could only afford to give $50, so I put it in a plain white envelope and stuffed it deep down in the box, lest someone see me put it in. These kinds of things weren't meant for lowly workers like me, not usually.

Bella looked around the room nervously, biting her lip and I had to say I was doing the same, trying to covertly seek out Jasper. It would probably be hard to even speak with him tonight, let alone anything else, because several other firms from around the city were joining us and I knew he would have to spend the majority of his time schmoozing with the other bosses and top attorneys.

There were too many people milling about the spacious room for me to even hope to see Jasper right away. My heart sunk. I expected Bella to have the same low look on her face, but I was instead surprised to see her face light up with a happy smile; it was the first time I'd seen such a look on her face in weeks. The last time had been when we'd seen…

"Emmett!" Bella said happily as he joined us at the door. He was in a mask not dissimilar to ours and he had that sexy smirk on his face that I still couldn't help but fantasize about from time to time. Only it was directed at Bella, who looked like every ounce of tension had left her body. "How are you?"

"I'm well," he said, pulling her into a hug. I felt indifferent. "Glad you guys made it," he added as he released her.

"Yeah," she said in a breathy voice, eyes still bright and almost dreamy.

"C'mon, let's get drinks," he said and guided us to the open bar. Open bar. Excellent. I ordered a shot of whiskey and appreciated the burn as it went down my throat. I had needed this, for a long time. Bella and Emmett kicked back a shot and then we stood and talked for awhile. And when I say we, I mean those two. We all knew that it was stupid for me to be there, but I stuck around. Playing fake happy couple and whatnot. Besides, I was admiring and appreciating how Emmett drew such a response from Bella. Gone was my lifeless girlfriend who wouldn't even talk to her mother on the phone. The happy girl I hadn't known since high school was here, smiling as if she hadn't felt any emotional pain or suffering.

I wondered what in the hell I had done to her to take that spark away and I didn't like thinking about it, so I ordered another drink and then two more just to ensure a strong buzz. I was halfway to drunk when the dance music fired up and the formal demeanor of the gathering loosened up as the lights went down.

I pondered asking Bella to dance, but I knew it wouldn't make her happy, so instead I said, "Why don't you guys go dance, I'm going to find the restroom."

Both of them looked apprehensive and I gave them a reassuring smile and walked away. I didn't look back to see if they moved to the dance floor or not, that was up to them. But I supposed I was trying to tell them in my own way that it was OK, that I didn't mind.

My eyes sought out Jasper in the crowd, but with the lights down it was nearly impossible to see anything, especially with the mask killing my peripheral vision. My body was a bit wobbly, soaked with alcohol in every pore, so it took me longer than it should have to find the bathroom. I recognized some of my coworkers, but most of the people I saw were from other firms, or at least I thought they were since they were all wearing masks.

When I finally left the bathroom, I ordered one more drink and took my time with this one. I wanted to be drunk, but if I kept up this pace I'd be more like belligerent and that shit just wasn't OK at work.

I could see Bella and Emmett dancing together. They both looked strained, like they were holding back, but their eyes were looking at each other with devotion and that thing that had been missing from Bella's eyes when she looked at me: love. I felt a pang of sadness, not because she didn't look at me that way anymore, but because the one person I wanted to look at me that way never would.

I knew it was hopeless to go after Jasper. It simply wouldn't or couldn't happen. But every cell in my body ached for it.

But it wouldn't happen.

Emmett whispered something in Bella's ear, she nodded and smiled sweetly and he walked away.

I was about to rejoin her when a hand landed on my shoulder.

"I need to talk to you," a deep voice said into my ear and I shivered. For that voice, I'd go anywhere. Mesmerized and drunk off my ass, I followed the masked man, nervous as hell and aroused as all fuck. I admired the muscle definition through his black dress shirt. He looked incredibly strong and mysterious.

He led me to a dark corner, where there were very little people and no one really paying attention. I think at this point, they were just as drunk as I was and lost in their own conversations and flirtations. I leaned against the wall and studied Jasper. His hair was falling into his eyes and my poor heart nearly gave in at the look he was giving me. The best word I could think of was "smoldering."

"I knew you'd be handsome in that mask," he growled, trapping me in a cage with his arms. I could smell whiskey on his breath, just like mine. Our mouths were inches from each other, though our bodies were too far apart in my opinion. The only thing on my mind was him pushing me into the wall and kissing me breathless.

And two seconds later, I got my wish.

One of his hands went to my hip and pressed me to him, one hand holding us steady against the wall. I couldn't stop my hands from reaching out and pulling him flush to me, our mouths meeting hungrily in the middle as I stumbled back against the wall.

Oh my God. So fucking good…

JPOV

I had finally given in. And thank fuck too, because I was going to go crazy if he looked at me with those green eyes again like he wanted to devour me. Because fuck me, I wanted to devour him too. So that's what I did and I didn't give a fuck about where I was, or who I was, or what I was doing. Everything was Edward, just like it had been since day one.

He moaned into my mouth and I allowed myself to move flush against his body, hand dropping down from the wall to grip his jaw, to pull him closer to me. Because I just couldn't get enough. It just couldn't be close enough, couldn't ever be enough to fully satisfy me. My stomach was tied up in knots; I was so full of need that it made me whimper into his mouth.

Something told me not here, not now. I finally got enough presence of mind to know that if I kept this up, real shit would go down and I wasn't going to lose my job over this. Not that he wasn't worth it. Just that I wasn't ready to relocate, not when I'd just gotten here.

Not again…

I pulled away reluctantly and from the vice-like grip he kept on my wrists, I could tell he wasn't ready to pull away, either. But I had to move this somewhere else.

"Come on," I said, surprised at how wobbly my voice was. "Come with me."

He nodded and my heart gave an erratic thump as he looked at me with those half-lidded green eyes, so willing, so lustful. I was sure mine looked the same. I was tired of hiding it.

I tugged on his hand and we moved as quickly as possible into the hallway. We had to get to my office and fast. It was the only place I could trust that no one could get to us.

I wanted to say something to him. Anything, to explain my abrupt behavior, anything to let him know that I wanted this more than anything I'd ever wanted in my entire life.

But I couldn't.

So I kept going, kept pulling on his hand, up the stairs as fast as we could, until we were in my office. I was panting for breath and not just because of the speed and exertion we'd used to get here. Because my heart didn't know how to control itself around him. Lord knows I'd tried, but there was something about him I couldn't escape.

And I'd seen how he looked at me. It was undeniable, the desire, the lust, the need. I knew because I felt it to, every single day. It was torture, being around him. From the very moment I'd set eyes on him… that was it. The end. Or the beginning. My alpha and omega, Edward Cullen.

His mouth was on mine again before I could say or do anything. I kissed him back with fervor, with passion and it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. His tongue pushed into my mouth aggressively, much more aggressively than I ever would have thought possible from him. He'd always seemed so shy. But I liked it and it spurred me on. My hands found purchase in his hair and I was tugging and he was moaning and it was pure ecstasy.

We stumbled back towards my desk, Edward pushing me against it roughly. Hell yes, this is what I wanted. I had always hoped that somewhere deep down inside him, Edward had this in him, to lose his inhibitions, even if it was just with me. I knew he had it in him and I was amazed to know that I could pull it out of him.

I love it when I'm right.

I bucked my hips up against him eagerly, letting him know just how much I wanted him and I gasped into his mouth when he ground right back.

Needed… more…

EmPOV

This night could not get any better had I planned it out myself. By some miracle, Bella was with me and wanted to be. Edward had disappeared to God knows where and I got her all to myself.

Of course, it was torture to be with her and not touch her the way I wanted to, to not lean forward and kiss her the way she deserved. But I was being a gentleman, and the dreaded word friend, and she was smiling and happy.

I asked if she wanted another drink and she smiled sweetly and asked for a gin and tonic, so I went right away to get her the cocktail, my inner child or perhaps my inner adult, jumping up and down with excitement that this was all happening, no matter how fucked up it really was. I mean, where was Edward anyway and why did he suddenly find it OK to leave Bella? I knew what kind of shit was going down here, but still. The fucker needed to man up and end it with Bella, because this could end up shit for all of us if he didn't. Selfish motherfucker.

The bar was crowded and I left Bella for a lot longer than I wanted to. I began to wish that I had brought her with me.

When I finally found her, drinks in my hands, some Native American looking dude was trying to press against her and she looked fucking pissed, just as I was. Who in the hell did he think he was? I didn't recognize him from the office, so he must have been from one of the other offices. Motherfucker was going down.

"I said NO, Jacob!" she said and tried to give the guy a shove, but he was pretty solid so he didn't move an inch, which only pissed her off more and made his fucking grin widen.

"Aww come on Bella, just one dance," he prodded.

"She said no," I said, unable to hold back anymore since he was clearly not taking the hint. I shoved his arm back away from Bella and glared at him menacingly. He winced, even though I was probably a few inches shorter than him. I still had enough muscles to kick his ass and more than enough will to do the job. "Get the fuck away before I do something you'll regret."

"Jesus," he muttered under his breath and then he disappeared into the crowd, shaking his head as if I had inconvenienced him in some way.

"Thank you, Emmett," Bella sighed and then shocked the hell out of me by reaching up on her tiptoes to give me a kiss on the cheek. "I don't know what I would have done."

I fought back the smile that was fighting to break through. Like an idiot, I touched my cheek, as if that would somehow magnify the fact that she'd kissed me there. And then, like a horny bastard, I thought about how it would feel if she kissed me everywhere.

"I hate guys like that," she said and involuntarily shuddered. "They just make me feel so icky." Her brown eyes flicked to mine and I felt my body start to react. Ridiculous. Must be the alcohol. Then again, I'd only had two drinks… but still. There was no way she should have been able to affect me like this…

"Well, let's get you out of here then," I said, more than willing to take her anywhere but here, preferably where we could be alone. "Away from that douche."

She giggled. "Lead me, good sir."

I took her arm, noting how soft her skin was under my fingertips and we walked away from the crowded dance floor, unable to discern a person from anyone else, thanks to the sea of masks. I felt lighthearted as we clung to each other, pressing past drunken bodies and some bizarre-ass looking masks. It was like a really fucking weird dream, but since Bella was there, I'd gladly live through this a million times just to feel her tiny hand in mine.

We turned a corner and the dream became a nightmare. Bella froze, and I couldn't help the gasp that escaped my throat. There, maskless, was Edward being pressed against the wall by the unmistakable Jasper. They looked like they were trying to swallow each other's tongues.

My eyes immediately shot to Bella. She was pale, even paler than usual and I'd never seen her eyes wider. Her perfect pink lips parted in shock and her hand gripped mine tightly. I didn't know what to do. I'd known this was coming, I'd seen it from a mile away… but really? HERE? Are they insane? Are they high? Drunk is what they were, you could tell by the way they sloppily moved together… but shit. What in the fuck was wrong with them?

Anger flashed through me. "Come on," I said gruffly. "Let's go."

I tugged on her hand, but she was frozen like a statue on the spot, unblinking and apparently unable to look away from the sight in front of her. Her boyfriend cheating on her. With a man. And even though I knew the moment would come, I cursed them forever for letting her find out this way.

"Bella, please love, we have to go now."

Something I said made her snap out of her hypnosis and she nodded quickly. "Yes. I have to get out of here. Now."

I could barely keep up with her as she turned on her heel and walked in the opposite direction, where the coat check was. She thrust the tiny ticket to the guy in charge and though I didn't know her that well, I knew that she was breathing heavily to stop the tears from flowing. We rushed out of that building like it was on fire and she instructed me to take her to my house.

"I just can't go back there, not… home," she said hatefully, like it was a dirty word.

I nodded silently and put the car in drive. She was silent and I thought it was best to keep my mouth shut instead of filling the car with meaningless chatter. From the way she was looking, it seemed like she was so shut off she wouldn't hear me in any case.

I live twenty minutes on the freeway from downtown Seattle, so we made good time on the quiet roads. I pulled into my designated parking spot and Bella was out before I could even shut off the car. I struggled to understand why she was behaving the way that she was; one minute, she was stoic, the next, frantic.

I grabbed her elbow as I walked towards my house, leading her there. She followed easily and I fumbled with the keys as she hugged me from behind when I unlocked the door. Her hands were traveling too far south… not that I didn't like it; just that it wasn't right, after what she just saw…

I led her into my house, praying I hadn't left my dirty clothes on the floor or something. Totally wrong moment to be worrying about housecleaning, but still…

When I went to flip the light switch, Bella's hand stopped mine. My heart thudded in my chest, because I knew what was going to happen next. And I knew I should stop it. I knew it was wrong. Nothing could have been more out of place than what was about to happen.

But I couldn't stop it…

Bella's lips closed over mine and I was lost.

A/N II: Oooooh!!!! Let me know what you think!!! :-D