Just to make it easier for everyone to understand, flashbacks will now be posted in Italics :)

(10)

Edward wolf whistles from somewhere behind me. "Nice pins, Swan!"

I giggle and spin in a small circle, angling my calf muscles just so.

I've just returned from Florida, after a week away with my mom, and was sporting the best tan of my life.

"Very nice," he purrs, putting his hands on my waist and picking me up. He pulls me in tight; I wrap my arms and legs around him, and cling to him like he might vanish.

"Did you miss me, Belly Bug?" He laughs.

I slap him playfully. "Of course I missed you; there was no one in Florida to fend off my many admirers."

At this, he frowns, and puts me down in front of him. His eyes flicker, and I know he is wondering who I've been with, and what I've been doing.

"Chill, Bill, no one laid a finger on me." I roll my eyes, and stepp back into the circle of his arms, hugging him tight.

"Get a room, assholes," Emmett shouts, lumbering his overgrown self between us. He swats my ass playfully as he goes by, earning a nasty look from Edward in the process.

I just giggle; I love my boys.

"Are you staying tonight?" Edward asks, his eyes downcast.

"Well, I guess that depends. Are you making me sleep on the floor?" I grin, knowing that he would never, ever subject me to that.

"Well, maybe, but only if you start snoring in my ear again!" He retorts playfully. "Come on, I've got a bottle of that vodka you like, and I'm pretty sure there is a two litre Dr Pepper with your name on it."

"Oh, now you're speaking my language!"

1:15; that's what time Edward's house finally emptied out. His sisters head to their rooms with their various boyfriends; leaving just Edward and I.

The night is getting cold, and I shiver in my tight tank and skirt. Edward has settled into a deep chair, so I delicately fold myself into his lap for warmth. Automatically, he wraps himself around me, rubbing up and down the length of my freezing cold arms. I reach forward for his deck of PJ's, extract one, and light it up.

"Jessica broke up with me last week," he mumbles out of nowhere.

I choke on my smoke, and spin in his lap to face him. "What the hell happened?"

Casually he shrugs, as if it's no big deal his girlfriend of six months has suddenly bailed.

"She asked me to choose." He doesn't have to explain further; I know what he means..

This is an issue we both struggled with; jealous partners that can't deal with their significant other having a best friend of the opposite sex.

We have an unspoken agreement, that nothing or no one will separate us.

No one is as important as either of us.

"I'm sorry, babe. Is there anything I can do?" I ask, wrapping my arms around him.
He buries his face in my hair and nods slowly, breathing deeply.

"What is it? Tell me, E, you know I'd do anything for you." I mean it too; I hate seeing him in pain. Worse still, I hate being the cause of it.

"Stay with me tonight?" He finally mumbles, before leaning in and nuzzling my neck.

It isn't the fact that he asked me to stay that surprises me. It is the feel of his warm lips, and soft, wet tongue on my suddenly flushed skin, that has me reeling.

"Okay," I all but whimper.

A/N: As always thanks to my awesome beta and friend - boosboy's - she is a star I tell you!
also just quickly this fic has been nominated in a few categories in the Short n Sweet Awards. There are some amazing authors up for awards, and im certain they'd all love your vote. check it out at http:/ shortnsweetawards . blogspot . com/p/voting . html - just take out the spaces.

Thank you to all that read, review, alert, fave - you guys make my day. xx