AN: These are not our characters, and we're relatively certain that Stephenie Meyer would not approve of what we're making her characters do.

I woke up on my own, sunlight peeking through the parted slats in the vertical blinds gently prodding me until I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was a crazy mass of auburn hair just inches from my face.

It was nearly ten AM, and I thought about the night before as I watched Edward sleep for a minute.

Classy jazz club followed by fanfuckingtastic sex and some damn good sleep.

I smiled as I watched him. His lips twitched just slightly as if he were smiling, too, and then he sighed, snuggling into his pillow.

He was really thoughtful – and obviously generous, if the sleepwear wardrobe he'd bought me was any indication. Though the fact that he didn't know my preferences regarding sleepwear was a definite reminder that we really didn't know each other well, I had hope that we could get to know one another better over the coming weeks.

The evening had been slippery, in ways, because there had been several times I wanted to point out that I hadn't found Rosalie to be an intrusion, that I actually missed the times we spent as a trio, but I knew it would cause unnecessary, angsty discussion, and I just... well... to be honest, I just didn't care to talk about it when we were having such a good time.

And then he'd pulled me to him in the elevator and, really, I'd had tunnel vision after that.

In the morning light, with a perfectly clear memory in spite of the alcohol I'd imbibed, I could see that it had been a wonderful evening even with those minor frustrations, and while it would have been nice to lounge around all day in my new pajamas, I had things to do and had to get going.

I contoured my hand along Edward's shoulder and shook him lightly. "Edward," I whispered.

He stirred, furrowing his brow slightly as he stretched his arms forward beneath the blankets, his fingers immediately finding my hips and pulling me to him. "Morning, baby," he mumbled, and as his clean scent and the heat of his body surrounded me, my heart stuttered at his use of such a casual pet name for me.

"I have to go," I said lowly as the ends of his hair tickled my nose.

His eyes opened, revealing chartreuse and forest green, surprisingly shiny in the morning light. "Oh. Plans today?" He lifted a hand from my hip and rubbed his eyes.

I nodded. "I have some errands to run, and I have some things to do tonight as well," I replied vaguely.

"Can I at least make you breakfast, Bella? It's the least I can do," he said softly, running his fingertips along my jaw.

For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine staying, spending a lazy day, letting him bring me breakfast in bed…it could be so good. But then I thought of Rosalie, of her slender arms wrapping around me as she whispered to me quietly, of the musical sound of her laughter, and of the way her eyes brightened when she looked at me. My resolve to see her tonight was suddenly intense and heady, and I realized at once that I needed her just as I needed him.

"I'm sorry, Edward, I really have to get going," I answered, moving forward and kissing him gently on the lips.

He faked a pout and then smiled at me. "Well, alright. Why don't you just wear your pajamas home? I don't want it to look like you're doing the walk of shame when Damien sees you leave."

We laughed together, and I crawled out of the warm shelter his blankets provided.

I stood near the table where my things were and smiled as I realized all I had were my black heels. When I said as much, Edward replied sheepishly, "There are slippers in the closet, too, Bella." I grinned.

"I suppose you've thought of everything," I commented, and he shrugged, his bare, tanned shoulders in stark contrast with the lighter sheets.

"I tried," he said.

"You succeeded." I walked into his closet, slipped the shoes onto my feet, picked up my clothing, and moved to sit on his side of the bed.

"Can I give you a ride home, Bella?" he asked, and I remembered I didn't have a car.

"No, I'll call a cab. You relax." I leaned down and captured his bottom lip with mine, and he moaned quietly against my lips. "Bye, Edward," I said when I sat up. "Call me later, okay?"

"Of course, Bella," he replied. "I'll just be around here today, so if you decide you want some company..."

His voice trailed away, and I grinned. "Thanks for the offer. I'll keep that in mind...Edward?" His tired green eyes met my gaze. "Thanks for a wonderful evening."

Something passed behind the color of his irises, and an almost imperceptible grin appeared on his lips. "Anytime, Bella. Anytime."

I stood up, squeezed his hand, and walked through his flat to the doorway before taking the elevator downstairs. Thankfully, Damien was away from the front desk, so I placed my pile of clothes on the counter and pulled out my cell phone, calling a local cab company.

Luckily, there was a driver in the area, so within three minutes, I was on my way home.

When I got home, I and pulled on a clean pair of pajama pants and a tank top, and then threw a load of dirty clothes in the washing machine. Thoughts of Edward were fleeting, really, because I had a phone call to make.

"Hello?" She sounded tired, as though she'd been asleep when I called, but I knew better. She always woke up at six o'clock on the dot, even on weekends, and it was nearly eight her time.

"Mama! Happy Mother's Day!"

"Oh, hello, Bella! Thank you!"

I grinned as I listened to the constant sound of something rocking back and forth on her end of the line. "Pottery this early, Mama?"

"Your father said I should spend the day doing what I want. I want to make a vase," my mother replied simply. I could see her sitting there, her foot moving rhythmically back and forth as she molded the clay with her hands. She would have a bandana tied around her forehead to keep her hair away from her face, and I knew Dad was probably making something delicious for breakfast.

"Where's Dad?" I asked, awaiting confirmation that I had been correct in my assumption.

She grunted and uttered a low curse. The clay had probably collapsed in on itself, meaning she had to begin again. "He's out, actually. No breakfast this morning, apparently."

Her voice had that distracted quality, proof that she was officially in another world, and I grinned. "Well, Mama, you're busy, but I just wanted to call and wish you a great day. I'm sure you'll hear from Em in a little while."

"Yes, thank you, baby. I really appreciate the call. Should I tell your daddy hello?"

I smiled. "Of course! Love you, Mama."

"I love you, too, Bella-Bear. Bye now."

I flipped my phone closed and walked into my bedroom, where I glanced at the clock. It was 10:15, and I was scheduled to meet Rosalie around noon. As I walked, I had a brief, silent argument with myself about whether or not to take a shower. I knew that within a couple of hours, I would be coated in massage oil and would have to take another shower before I left the spa anyway, but I just couldn't meet Rosalie without feeling clean and putting in a little bit of effort.

I shoved my hair up into a messy knot atop my head and stepped into the shower, washing myself quickly. The fragrance of my body wash put a quiet smile on my face, helping me relax as I shaved my legs. When I turned off the water and got out to dry myself off, I felt well-rested and content. I dressed in my robe and made my way to the kitchen, deciding to make myself a small lunch.

I put a bagel in my toaster oven and pulled out the cream cheese so that it wouldn't be fully refrigerated when the pastry was warmed up, and then I walked to my closet to pack a small bag.

I pulled out a pair of jeans and a white tank top as well as a dark green, zip up hoodie and folded them all neatly before placing them into my small duffel bag. I grabbed a pair of socks, fresh panties, and a bra, too, along with an oversized towel and a washcloth from my bathroom and my shampoo and conditioner.

By the time I'd finished packing the few things I wanted to take to Urban Oasis, the toaster oven beeped, letting me know the bagel was ready for me to chow down. I picked out a pair of socks and my tennis shoes, taking them with me as I went to eat my snack. After setting them in a chair, I spread the cream cheese on my bagel and put the container away and poured myself some apple juice. I ate it quicky as I mentally determined the driving time to North Avenue and Sheffield.

It would take me twenty minutes to get there, and I needed to give myself time to find parking, though Rose had advised that there was a really convenient lot at the spa that discounted parking once you validated your ticket. It was a special little benefit they offered their clientele, and in a city like Chicago, where parking could cost an arm and a leg, I thought that was a pretty fantastic perk.

By 11:15, I had pulled my shoes and socks on as well as a jacket and had moved my few necessary items into a small clutch, which I threw into my duffel as I headed out the door. I listened to Emmett's mix CD again as I drove, and as I turned onto North Sheffield, I gawked at the gorgeous glass building I'd be meeting up with Rose in.

It was tall and topped with an atrium floor, where Urban Oasis was actually situated. I turned into the lot on Sheffield and grabbed a ticket from the guy in the booth. He informed me that I would have to pay when I left, and when I mentioned that I was there as a client for the day spa, he simply nodded. "No worries, ma'am. You bring me your receipt, we'll give you a four-dollar discount. Have a good one, okay?"

I smiled and nodded as I drove away, easily finding a parking spot on the second floor of the lot.

As it turns out, I stepped off of the elevator at precisely noon, and the first thing I saw was an administrative assistant of sorts, seated behind a counter in the front room. She had her hair in a neat bun, held up with two clear fashion chopsticks, and a light dusting of make up on. The woman was wearing a black wraparound shirt with an Asian neckline, and it showed off the delicate structure of her collar bone and the narrowness of her shoulders. Her eyes were almond-shaped and an odd shade of greenish blue. Behind her was an opaque glass wall, which kept the activities in the spa from being visible to the waiting clientele.

She's pretty, I thought to myself, and realized that I had just checked her out. She was the first woman aside from Rosalie whom I'd looked at that way. But she's nowhere near my Rose.

"Hello," she said cheerfully. "Can I help you with something?"

I nodded as I approached the counter. I placed my hands on the flat surface before me and said, "Yes, actually. I have an appointment now, with Rosalie Hale?"

She nodded. "Ah, yes. Miss Hale is already here, waiting inside the spa. You're Bella Swan?"

"I am," I replied.

She wrote a time near my name on a book that sat before her on the counter and smiled. "Please, go right ahead. You'll have a locker; Miss Hale rented two, so she'll have the key for you."

"Thank you," I said, and quietly moved around the counter behind the opaque wall, and there she was.

Rose was sitting in a chair, her bare legs crossed before her, with a thick, plush robe wrapped around her body. Her long, blonde hair was pulled up in a messy knot like mine, and her eyes were focused on a magazine.

I allowed my eyes to move up and down her frame, taking in her long, shapely legs and her full lips before I greeted her. "Rose."

She stood up, her eyes bright and excited, and walked to me. When she reached me, I felt her slender arms wrap around me, and I breathed her in. She smelled so good; it was a mix of freshly washed clothes and a light floral lotion, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the scent. While her arms were around me, I shifted my body to kiss her, and felt a strange sense of awkwardness as she moved her face away from mine so that my lips caught her cheek instead of her lips.

"I..." I attempted to say something, but she cut me off gently.

"How are you, Bella?"

Before I could answer, she lifted her hand, casually brushing a strand of hair away from my face and behind my ear, and that was all it took to make me remember how viscerally I had always responded to Rosalie.

With a simple brush of her hand, I felt my skin warm, and I was positive that a faint flush crossed my cheeks. I wanted her to touch me again, wanted to feel her skin beneath my palms. I needed her, somehow, any way, and I was suddenly confused because her casual touches seemed so easy, so distant.

I wanted to crawl into her lap and taste her mouth with my tongue. I wanted to dip my fingertips inside of her body again, taste her there, as well, and she could so easily touch me, it was disconcerting. I wondered if perhaps I had misconstrued her words when she asked to see me, but then her eyes grew mischeivious as she softly said, "Let's go get you naked, shall we?"

I gulped and nodded. I followed Rose as she walked down a hallway and pushed open a light brown door which lead to a locker room. We walked past the blockade that gave the room privacy, and Rose led me to a pair of lockers. "This one is yours," she announced, handing a key to me. "Once you're undressed, we'll go to our Hot Stone Massage."

I took a chance.

"You could undress me," I whispered, my eyes downcast.

"I could, couldn't I?" she replied, lifting my chin so that I faced her. "But I won't."

I couldn't lie. The disappointment that coursed through me was almost ridiculous; I felt absolutely rejected despite the fact that we were standing in a locker room that anyone could walk into at any moment, and I was about to mumble some nonsense about perhaps canceling this date when Rosalie slipped her hand behind my ear, nestling it gently into my hair.

"Do you think I don't want to, Bella? There's nothing further from the truth." I stepped toward her then, brushing my lips across hers, and she hummed. "We'll be here all day if you start that, Bella Swan," she whispered against my lips before moving a step or two away from me. "Get undressed, and we'll go get our massage. I promise it will be wonderful."

I nodded, smiling as I did, and pulled open the door to the locker. It was larger than I thought, and I hung my jacket up first before beginning to talk with Rosalie, who stood there, her eyes flitting from my body to the empty space in the room as I disrobed. A smile slowly curved my lips when I realized she was having a difficult time keeping her eyes away from me, and I teased her just a bit, taking a little longer than necessary. After that, she kept her eyes averted as we talked about the fact that I had never had a massage, and that we would be in a shared room, with two masseuses working on us for the next half hour, as well as how work had been for her and for me. I explained the magazine and how I was responsible for a team of interns, and she congratulated me, her eyes focused on the bench before me as I pulled the robe that had been hanging in my locker around my shoulders, allowing it to cover my bare shoulders, breasts, and panties.

"Are you going to look at me?" I asked softly.

She turned her head toward me at last, and I could practically feel her eyes as they glided down my form. It felt good to know that she was looking at me, drinking me in. The vibrant blue of her eyes darkened slightly before she shifted her gaze to meet my eyes, and the desire I could have sworn I saw mere seconds before was nowhere to be found. "Let's go," she requested, and reached out to take my hand in hers, leading me out of the locker room as soon as I locked my things up.

Her hand felt good in mine, soft and petite, and again, I was struck with how easy it was to just be with Rosalie. My mind was wholly in the spa with her, and I couldn't help but smile as I felt her squeeze my palm gently as we stepped into the room. Two tall, lithe, European-looking women stood there.

"Hello. We'll give you a minute," one of them said, and then they stepped quickly from the room, leaving us as quiet ambient music played.

Without hesitation, Rosalie slipped the robe from her shoulders, and for the first time in weeks, I saw her body, bare with no covering, and I felt heat begin to grow between my legs. Her stomach was thin and toned, and her panties were a pale yellow, low rise, and had a mini lace trim that went from the top of her hips to the base of her pelvis. There was a pale blue plaid laid over the yellow, and I couldn't stop staring at her gorgeous underwear, despite the fact that her breasts were uncovered and perfect as usual.

I shook my head, lifting myself from my Rosalie stupor, and pulled the robe from my shoulders. I hung it on a hook on my side of the room and stood for a moment, determining how best to climb onto the table. As I stood, I could feel her gaze again, heat rolling over my skin, and was suddenly happy that I'd worn sexy underwear myself. My panties were blue lace hip huggers.

I glanced at Rosalie, and she was already situated on the table with the towel tossed over her hips. I moved to climb onto the table, and just as I had the towel in position, there was a light knock at the door.

The women came back in, and after a quick explanation, began to place the hot stones across our shoulders and the muscles of our backs. Initially, it was uncomfortable, but after as time passed with the constant manipulation of my masseuse's fingers, I felt the pressure and heat the stones provided begin to melt knots and strain away from my muscles.

It was fantastic.

The only problem was that I couldn't get Rosalie off of my mind. The knowledge that she was lying there, naked except for a pair of cheeky little panties and a goddamn towel, was almost too much. I wanted to touch her, to have her touch me in more ways than the innocent ones she had given me since we'd gotten together today. I wanted to feel her softest skin on my tongue.

God, I need her. Now.

The massage therapist moved down my back, and by the time thirty minutes had passed, I felt a strange mix of relaxed and intensely frustrated; relaxed because the massage had done its job, frustrated because I needed to touch Rosalie, and the wetness that had developed at the apex of my legs as I thought about the things I could do to her was almost too much. Through it all, Rosalie and I talked quietly, just getting to know one another better. I learned her favorite color, her favorite foods, and her least favorite movie. I also learned that she had often considered quitting the real estate game for good, and that she had no real relationship with her parents. I told her I thought that was sad, but she only replied, "Meh. They weren't the most supportive people in the world. I'm better off."

As the women slipped from the room, signaling the end of our joint massage, I realized I had no idea what was next for our spa day. Part of me wanted to just ask for her to take me into a room and fuck me senseless, but I was pretty positive that was not what Rose had in mind.

When the door was securely closed, Rose and I sat up, climbed down from the tables, and grabbed our respective robes from the wall. "What's next?" I asked, crossing invisble fingers for another joint activity. Despite the insane lust I was feeling for her, I really had enjoyed spending time with her in conversation; I wanted to keep it going.

"Well, I'm going to try an introductory Reiki class, but I thought you might like a Salt Glow. I love them."

I pouted at her. "We're not going to be together for the next sessions?"

She smiled and walked across the room from me. "No, but we'll get together after, okay? I didn't mean to keep us apart, Bella, I just didn't think you'd be interested in Reiki."

I sighed. "You're right. It's not really my thing, but..." I wanted to say something else, but I faltered when I tried to find the words. "I just really like being here with you, Rose," I finally said.

She crossed the room, and as she ran her finger along my jaw, she said, "The feeling is mutual, B. Like I said...we'll do something later, I promise."

I nodded, temporarily assuaged, as we went in to two different rooms for our next treatments.

For the next half hour, I was in some mild form of hell.

The woman must have wondered what on Earth was wrong with me, but I couldn't adequately explain it to her. How could I say that everytime she rubbed my skin, exfoliating my body, I wanted her hands to be Rose's, and I wanted the context to be something completely different. I was aroused, still, and the fact that Rose was elsewhere and we were apart was enough to make me groan at least twice in the half hour session.

I looked at a clock when she was done, and my skin felt soft and perfect as I ran my palm along my forearm. Rose's Reiki class would probably last forty-five minutes, which meant I needed to fill about ten minutes before she'd be out.

I sighed, wrapped the robe further around myself, and headed out of the room and to the private room in which I would be taking what the spa called a "Rain Shower."

When I arrived, I instantly understood what they meant. The showerhead was well above my head, so that when the water fell from it, I was fully beneath it. The sensation of the water dripping down my skin would, no doubt, feel like heaven, and I smiled, thankful that Rosalie had spoiled me with this trip.

I turned the water on, testing it, and when I found a suitable warm temperature, I stripped down, leaving my robe and panties on the floor as I stepped into the overly large stall. The water flowed over my skin in refreshing rivulets, only enhancing my body's feeling of relaxation.

"Mmmm," I hummed appreciatively, as I closed my eyes and lifted my hair with my hands, ensuring that it was wet so that I could easiliy wash it. Instead of using the shampoo and conditioner I'd brought, I used the brand that was provided by the spa. It smelled like a light breeze, and I knew that after my hair was rinsed, it would still retain some of that lovely scent.

I left it in my hair long enough to quickly wash my body, and when I lifted my hands a second time, holding my rinsed hair in my palms, I suddenly felt lips brushing the back of my shoulder. "I tried, Bella, I did. I tried to be good..."

Rosalie moved across my back, kissing me beneath the rain shower, and I turned to face her, stepping backward and away from the water's flow. "Why?"

Without a word, she walked toward me. Water cascaded over her hair and shoulders, causing long strands of her hair to fall from the messy knot she'd been sporting all day. When my back was to the wall, she kissed me full on the mouth, and I groaned. She tasted sweet and felt so exquisite.

I searched blindly with my hands, looking for something to grab on to, and my left hand found a small towel rack. My fingers wrapped around the bar as Rosalie moved down my body, tracing her tongue along my collar bone.

My breathing grew heavier as she moved still lower, and when she knelt before me, I felt a pang of something I couldn't label. "Oh, God, Rose, you know I want you to, but that can't be comfortable..."

I couldn't stand the idea of her being in pain like that; I could imagine the way the tile felt against her knees, and was just about to say so when she slipped her fingers and palm around my thigh, pulling gently at my leg. I lifted it without thinking further, and when she neared me, placing my thigh over her shoulder, I inhaled sharply.

The first stroke of her tongue against my skin made me moan loudly, and I managed to say, "Oh, fuck, Rose. Yes," before she continued.

The feeling of her mouth on me for the first time in so long was indescribable, and as I arched my neck, pressing my wet hair into the tiled wall, I felt hyperaware of every sensation that was creeping over me. Rose slipped her tongue further along my slit, and when she moaned against my skin, I nearly lost my composure.

With my leg balanced perfectly on her shoulder, both of her hands were free, and she covered my left hand with her right in a simple, tender motion as the fingers on her free hand slipped into my entrance, teasing me over and over again as her tongue massaged my clit in perfect rhythm.

"Oh, God. Rose. Rose, Jesus." I was mumbling incoherently, my eyes clamped closed as she continued to explore my body with her fingers and tongue.

I looked down at her, finally, and found her cerulean eyes focused on my face, lust and sheer want the only thing evident in them. I lowered my right hand and ran my fingers along the hairline behind her ear, and she closed her eyes momentarily, enjoying my touch, it seemed, as much as I was enjoying hers.

Rose pressed her tongue one final time against my clit, and I felt muscles tighten as I found my release. I moved my hips, pushing with slightly more pressure against her mouth, and she continued to lick and suck at me until my body finally calmed, my muscles finally relaxing.

Slowly, she slid her thumb beneath my leg and lifted it from her shoulder, lowering it to the floor in gentle movements as I regained my composure.

"Rosalie. Rose, that was... Here, sit down. I'll..."

But she cut me off again as she moved to stand under the water, rinsing her face, body, and hair with a satisfied smile. "No, Bella. I wanted to. I felt I owed you a little bit of goodness."

I handed her the shampoo and was struck by how normal it felt to be standing in a shower, talking to Rosalie. In spite of our nakedness, and the fact that I wanted to taste her more than ever, it was just... really natural.

She lathered the product in her hands, rubbing it into her scalp as she did, and I spoke. "But, Rose...I want to," I replied, my voice lower than normal.

Suddenly, I remembered the first night I was with her, when she'd attempted to deter me from going down on her. I'd refused to listen, and when I'd been able to bring her to orgasm with just my tongue that night, I'd been oddly proud.

Her eyes were closed as she ran her hands through her hair, washing the shampoo down the drain, and I took advantage of the situation. I stepped nearer to her and ran my palm down her torso, beginning with her left breast. I moved down her stomach slowly, and finally, pressed my first two fingers into the softest part of her body.

Her eyes flew open in apparent shock, and I murmured against the skin of her throat, the water from the shower running over both of our bodies. "I want to, Rosalie. Please let me."

Her fingers curled around my wrist as I continued to caress her skin, and when I looked at her face, there was a war going on there. Conflict raged across her beautiful features as she whispered, "God, I want you...but...if...sec-..." Her voice cracked as I swept my fingers over her clit, and she appeared to lose all of her resolve to tell me no. "Fuck, Bella. Yes, let's go."

We finished quickly, rinsing our bodies one last time before stepping out of the shower. As she stood there before me, her petite feet on a bathmat and her skin dewy, I allowed my eyes to rove over her form, slender and curved in all of the right places. I could almost taste her on my tongue already.

I shook my head and reached into my bag, first slipping into the panties I'd brought and then my jeans and top. As I was putting my socks and tennis shoes back on, I smiled as I took note of Rosalie's casual wear. Even on a Sunday, she was the epitome of classy. She wore a pair of fitted jeans and a pale blue cashmere cap sleeve sweater that set off her eyes fabulously. Her hair, still wet, was swept up into a knot on the back of her head, and she pulled on a black, fitted leather jacket before slipping her feet into a pair of slip on, black Pumas.

"Ready?" she asked, the absolute picture of demure.

I nodded, and she turned to step out of the private bath. "Wait," I called out quietly, and by the time she turned around, I had slung my bag over my shoulder and covered the distance between us. Without any further words, I kissed her, my lips moving softly but insistently as she took a step backward, probably bracing her hand on the wall behind her for support.

I felt her free hand slide into my hair, and she smiled against my lips. When I pulled away, I said, "Now, I'm ready."

She looked at me, her eyes bright, and then laughed for a moment, clearly surprised by how forward I was being.

As I followed her to the parking lot, memories of our first night came flooding back again, and I thought about how that night, it had been she who pushed me against a wall after we walked through a parking lot. I could distinctly remember her lips and the way her fingers grazed over my hip as the elevator moved between floors.

Now, just a number of weeks later, I still wanted her that badly, but I was the one taking charge.

We split up when we reached our parking level, and I followed her to her condo. It was bigger than mine and smaller than Edward's, and as I thought of him for the first time, really, all afternoon, I felt some of the same emotions begin to surface as I had the night before. I actually shook my head quickly, as though to remove him from my thoughts, and focused on Rose.

My beautiful, sweet, thoughtful, intelligent, unbearably sexy Rosalie.

We stepped into her condo, and the first thing I noticed was that she'd rearranged the furniture.

"You moved the couch," I observed. "I like it. It makes the space look bigger, somehow, where it's at."

She nodded, her eyes focused on her living room. Her hand reached out absentmindedly, and she ran her fingertips along the back of my hand. At that slight contact, I reacted, curling my own fingers around hers and pulling her to me. After an afternoon of talking to Rosalie, she'd only become more attractive in my mind, and I was effectively out of patience.

"Kiss me, Rosalie," I commanded softly, and she complied, her warm lips moving in sync with mine as I began to walk backward, my hands on her hips and her tongue slipping between my lips, toward her bedroom.

I felt my ass hit the corner of the wall at her room's entrance, and when I cried out, she pulled her mouth away from mine with a soft, "Oh, are you alright?" Her eyes were shockingly vulnerable as she looked into mine.

I nodded, and then we both laughed. It was light and airy, and felt...natural. It felt comfortable to be here with her like this, and I really liked it.

"Yes, I'm fine. Come here, please." On my last three words, I heard my voice lower a half pitch, and the softness that had just been in Rosalie's eyes lasted only a moment more, as she spoke.

"Bella, you don't have to do this... I don't want you to feel l-"

I cut her off. "Rosalie Hale, get your ass over there on that bed, or I'll drag you."

She lifted one perfectly arched eyebrow and smirked at me, and it felt a little like the wind had been knocked out of me.

Jesus, she's gorgeous.

Rose walked past me, and when she reached her bed, she paused, waiting for me. I followed her and when I was standing near her, I yanked my shirt over my head, dropping it to the floor. She moved to begin to undress, but something in me switched, and I wanted this time we were about to share to be all about her.

"Wait!" I covered her hands with mine and placed them at her sides. "Let me."

She nodded almost imperceptibly and lifted her hands. I watched as she pulled her hair down, its blonde strands darker thanks to the dampness from our shower. After her long locks fell down her back, she lifted her arms above her head, and I grinned at her before pulling her shirt over her shoulders and dropping it near our feet.

Then, I lowered my hands, unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, and allowed her to kick her shoes off before stepping out of her pants. I made quick work of my own clothes, leaving them in a messy pile on Rosalie's floor. She moved to sit down, but I gently grabbed her elbow. "Wait," I said, a little less insistently.

She looked at me, her ocean eyes dark and full of yearning - for me.

I grazed my lips along her collar bones and her stomach. I kissed the place where her hips splayed just slightly. I ran my hands down her legs, removing one sock at a time. Before I stood up, I pulled mine off as well, and then she realized I was undressing her like she had me our first night. I found that I really wanted to make this special for her, and she smiled at me.

"Lie down," I commanded lightly, and she did.

Her feet were flat on the mattress, and I put my hands on her knees, spreading them as I made room for myself. I hooked my fingers into the waist of her underwear and whispered, "You don't need these."

I watched as she swallowed, the muscles in her throat contracting lightly, before I removed the undergarments that were in my way.

It had been a long time since I'd seen Rosalie like this, and I kissed the inside of her thighs before gently placing my tongue against her skin. She hissed at the first contact, and when I moved upward, she actually moaned. "Oh, God, Bella..."

I kept moving up and down, gathering proof of her arousal on my tongue and lips. It felt so good to have this kind of effect on her, and when I lifted my mouth and began to gently massage her clit with my tongue, she began to pant softly, murmuring my name and other words I couldn't discern.

I pulled away from her, and she huffed lightly. "Don't worry, Rosie, I'm not done," I replied, and she closed her eyes as I pressed two fingers into her body, moving them in a smooth, small circle as she began to shift her hips against my hand.

I lowered my mouth again, sucking and nipping at her gently, my fingers caressing all the while, and a short, strained noise came from her chest when I felt her finally release. She arched her back, and I lifted my face, watching as she slowly came down, her face and arms and abdomen relaxing inch by inch.

"Bella," she said softly. "That was..it was..."

"I know." I lifted my body and kissed the flatness of her lower stomach before stepping off of the bed and moving toward her bathroom. Once I arrived, I grabbed two washclothes from the cabinet and rinsed my face and hands. I dried myself off and walked back to Rose, handing her a cloth as I climbed over her.

I slipped beneath her sheets despite the fact that it was five in the evening and allowed her a moment to clean herself up. Once she had tossed her washcloth into the dirty clothes hamper and pulled on a clean set of underwear and a tank top, she crawled in next to me.

"Thank you," she said.

I shook my head as I rolled over onto my stomach. "You're welcome, Rosie," I answered, pressing my head into the pillow and placing my hands beneath it.

The last thing I felt as I lay there was the tips of Rosalie's fingers drawing random circles on the bare skin of my back and her sheet bunched up around my waist.

I woke up three hours later to the smell of something cooking, and when I realized I'd fallen asleep and she'd allowed me to rest there, I thought she was exceptionally sweet. I dressed slowly and walked out to the kitchen. She'd pulled on a pair of loungewear pants and was padding around barefoot, putting food away. "Hey you," she said, "I saved you some. It's in a little dish in the oven."

I grinned and grabbed a pot holder from the counter as I pulled the oven open. There, in a small Corningware dish, was a a portion of freshly baked chicken. I pulled it out, balancing the small dish over my palm with the pot holder, and Rose said, "Oh! Here, before I put it up."

She served me a few heaping spoonfuls of sauteed green beans, carrots, and sliced squash, and I sat down to eat. We talked casually again, our conversational topics varying from work to Rosalie's thoughts about the way our spa day had gone, and I told her Emmett's birthday was the next weekend.

"Oh, about next week," she began, sipping from a glass of water. "Do you want to come out with me to Texture? It's probably my favorite dance club, and one of my favorite deejays is playing."

"You like deejay music?" I asked, a look of mock horror on my face.

She laughed. "Shut up, you. He plays this crazy mix of old hip hop and random '80s music, and then he'll throw in a little rock just because. It's kind of amazing, and he never, ever tours, so I wanted to go. It's on a week night, but I thought I'd ask. You don't have to..."

"I would love to," I replied. "I'll forego sleep that night, I suppose." I smiled in response to the happy expression on Rosalie's face, but then I glanced at the clock and sighed. "And on that note, I have to go."

She sighed. "Ah, yes. Work, bright and early Monday morning. I had a good time, Bella. A great time. Thank you."

I smiled and leaned across the counter toward her. I kissed her and took her bottom lip between mine softly. When we parted, I walked away quickly and grabbed my bag. She accompanied me to the door, and I felt her eyes on me as I walked down the hallway toward the elevator.

AN: So a couple things: First, both of us are writing a little something for 's Haiti Relief Effort. If you donate $5 and send proof to her, you will be given a PDF of pieces written by over 200 authors. More information is available here: http://mskathyff (dot) blogspot (dot) com/2010/01/haiti (dot) html

Second, we're going to start posting teasers on Twilighted and our blog. The link for both are in our profile.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. Every single one of you is amazing.

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