A/N: Hi and welcome back. I can't believe how many more followers the story gained over the last week. I'm sure I have to thank Redtini and Nicffwhisperer for that who rec'd my story at The Lemonade Stand. Although I'm currently last in the poll, I'm really honored to have my story mentioned there at all. Maybe some of you still like to vote, so here's the link

tehlemonadestand . blogspot . de / ?zx=48c7037225c0197b (you know the drill, remove the spaces and it works)

Thanks for all the great reviews I got for the last chapter. It's interesting how differently you people see what happened between Bella and Jacob. But it's great that you all seem to be very passionate about it.

This chapter today is one of my favorites. You'll finally learn how Edward reacts to Bella's revelations. I'll only say that my betas were very surprised by what he did ;).

Before I'll let you read, I want to shout out a loud "Thank you" to my wonderful betas EdwardsMate4ever and evelyn-shaye from PTB. They made lots of great suggestions that made this chapter a lot more special. I also want to thank my prereaders Vampgirl79 and Thepurplebookworm for their constant love and support. You're such great friends.

Now it's time to get back to Edward and Bella. See you at the bottom.

Disclaimer: Twilight's not mine. Thank you, Stephenie Meyer, for creating a world we all love so much.

******POMH******

Chapter 11 – Deal

… "I never heard a word from Jacob ever again." My eyes were still fixed on my hands resting in my lap.

I'd only told Edward the essentials and left out most of the details. He was quiet the whole time, but I could feel his sympathetic green eyes locked on my face. When I was done telling him my story, he reached out his hand toward mine but pulled back before he touched me.

"I'm sorry. That's terrible," he said, his low tone heavy with compassion. "What an asshole." His voice was suddenly enraged. From the corner of my eye, I could see his fists clench in anger before he slowly opened them again. "Now I get why you needed to know about Tanya."

"I don't want to be involved in cheating ever again." I deeply breathed in and out once more. "I haven't been able to trust a guy ever since. That's why my relationships never worked out." I paused a moment to come up with the right words to make him understand. "My first time was a one-night stand. The second time was as well, although not technically. Over the years, I found that one-night stands with strangers every now and then were the best way to handle my needs." I still didn't look him in the eye. "I can't let a man get close enough to hurt me ever again." The last words came out as a barely audible whisper.

"So, when I asked you to go to dinner with me … "

Edward started, but I finished the sentence. "… I panicked. I can't go on a date with you."

His hand reached out, and this time, it cupped my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"Bella, I understand. I promise you, I won't hurt you. I'm your friend. And I'm really glad you told me." His thumb started to gently stroke my cheekbone. "Please, Bella, go out with me tomorrow night, as friends — just friends."

When I didn't answer, he smiled his beautiful, crooked smile. "Hey, it's only dinner. I'm not proposing marriage to you," he said as softly as possible.

After searching his eyes for something that would justify turning him down, but not finding anything, I finally whispered, "Okay."

His smile widened, and his eyes twinkled as he pulled me close and hugged me tenderly. Although I didn't want to admit it then, deep down I was falling hard for this man.

"Do you want to go back inside, or do you want me to take you somewhere else?" Edward asked when he eventually let go of me.

"I'm not in the mood to dance anymore. And I wouldn't want to run into Mike again. Could you take me home, please?"

****POMH****

We didn't talk during the short drive over to my place. Each of us seemed to be occupied with our own thoughts. After a few minutes, Edward stopped the car in a free spot across the street from my apartment building.

When I'd been done spilling my guts to him earlier, I'd felt the overwhelming need to get home where I was safe and secure. Now that I was about to leave the car and the man inside it, I wasn't so sure anymore that I wanted to be alone. All of a sudden, I feared the quiet, empty place that was awaiting me. Without giving myself time to think it through and probably change my mind, I opened my mouth to say the words I never thought I'd say to a man.

"It's still kind of early, and I feel like I need a drink. Would you care to come in? I don't like to drink alone." I turned to look at him and found him smiling.

"Of course, I'll come in."

As soon as we were inside, I poured two glasses of whiskey, handing one to Edward.

"My place is much smaller than yours. And much less stylish." I looked around insecurely. He was the first man ever to see my apartment. It was strange to let someone in on something so private.

"That doesn't matter. It reflects you. It's your home."

He looked around, taking in the living room with the small kitchen in the corner, the pale yellow walls with the poster-size photographs of the Olympic rainforest, the small dining table, my giant wall of shelves holding all my favorite books and records, and my beloved gray sofa in the center of the room.

I anxiously watched him to read his reaction at the selection of stuff I surrounded myself with. Apart from my less exquisite choice of furniture, my taste in books and music and the decision to display my collection as a sign of its importance to me, actually matched his own.

"It's nice," he stated when his eyes came back to me, a big smile playing on his lips.

"You want a tour?" I asked, gesturing toward the two doors leading to the bathroom and the bedroom.

"Yeah, show me around."

I opened the first door, switching on the light. "The bathroom, as you see. Way less spacious than yours." Then I closed the door again, went over to the next, and led Edward into the room. "And this is my bedroom."

When I turned around to see his reaction, I was surprised to find his lips on mine. For a moment, they just lingered there as I enjoyed the warm, pleasant sensation of his nearness. Without breaking away from me, he took the glass out of my hand and set it on the dresser together with his.

Then his mouth started to move as his hands pulled me close to him. His lips parted, and his demanding tongue darted out, sliding between my lips. When it met mine, it started a subtle seduction that caused my whole body to react.

My hands moved up, gripping his hair without my conscious command, holding him closer to me. My breasts were aching to be touched and my center was throbbing, waiting to be filled. I moved my hands down to seize the hem of my top and pulled it over my head, necessarily breaking away from Edward.

He smiled widely as he saw my dark-red lace bra. All of a sudden, he was in a hurry to get to the bed, pulling me with him and making me sit on the edge of the mattress. He pushed against my shoulders, urging me to lie down. Then he lifted my left high-heeled boot up in the air, pulled down the zipper and took it off. After doing the same with the other boot, he took off his shirt, jeans, shoes and socks.

When he came back to me, pulling down my skirt, I saw his eyes open wide with surprise to find that I was wearing black hold-up stockings.

"Poor Mike." Edward sighed, shaking his head slightly, as he enjoyed the view.

"It wasn't any Mike I was thinking of when I put these on earlier." I smiled at him suggestively as I got up to kneel on the bed, inviting him to join me.

"So, you're wearing all that for me?" His eyes took on a wicked gleam.

"I thought you might like it." I let my index finger slide down the middle of his chest, stroked his stomach with my palm, then gripped the waistband of his boxer briefs.

"Oh, baby, you have no idea." Without a warning, his demanding lips captured mine, devouring my mouth. The warm weight of his body closed in on me, forcing me to lie down on my back. His hands slid the straps of my bra off my shoulders and pulled the whole thing down about two inches, baring my breasts. He took them in both of his hands, circling the hardened peaks with his thumbs. Then he pinched them slightly between two fingers, making me moan out in pleasure.

My body was on fire, my panties soaking wet, when Edward finally pulled them down. Slowly, he let his hands slide up the inside of first my calves to my thighs, feeling the silky texture of the stockings. When he reached my center, he experimentally inserted one finger and pulled it out again, appraising the wetness covering it.

"Hmmm, is that for me, too?" He looked me straight in the eye with one raised brow.

I bit my lip and nodded with a half-shy, half-seductive smile, moaning as his finger entered me again. When he retreated, he left a feeling of emptiness and longing for more. Unexpectedly, he slid his tongue inside my sex, making me gasp in astonishment. That sensation was so new. Never before had anyone done this to me. And he did it well. In and out and in and out, circling around my walls, licking and sucking my nub in between.

My hands grabbed the sheet, trying to channel the tension that threatened to rip me apart. As he continued to feast on me, I had to let myself go, screaming out in frenzy as I reached the peak of pleasure.

Edward chuckled lowly when I squirmed, as he let his ardent tongue sweep through my cleft one, two, three more times. Then he took his briefs off while I took a condom out of the nightstand.

"Put it on me," he ordered, positioning his hips between my thighs. I did as I'd been told, before I looked him in the eye again. Holding my gaze, he thrust his hardness inside me deeply.

"There's one thing you need to know about me." He retreated and attacked again, deeper and less gentle. "I … Do … Not … Share." Each word was accentuated by a forceful plunge into my welcoming center, making me moan with each hit of my g-spot. Then he stopped, buried deep inside me, his eyes still holding mine. "As long as you want me to fuck you, there can be no one else. Do you understand?" He slammed his hips against me once more. "Answer me, Bella! Do you understand?" Thrusting into me almost brutally, he searched my eyes for an answer.

My head was already spinning from Edward's intensity, but I knew what he was getting at. He wanted me all to himself, and I was incredibly turned on by his possessiveness.

"Yes, Edward," I choked out, sounding breathless and needy.

One, two, three more stabs.

"Or do you want anyone else?" Determinedly, he pushed into me once more.

In that moment, I couldn't imagine ever letting anyone else touch me again.

"No, oh God, no." After my moaned out reply, he put my legs over his shoulders and slid inside even deeper. In this position, every new intrusion knocked the breath out of me. He took me forcefully — all gentleness he usually displayed was gone. But I didn't miss it. He seemed to be literally hammering his point home — needlessly, because I already knew — and it was exactly what my body was craving. He showed me that he could give me whatever I needed. When I was sure he couldn't go on any longer without me exploding from the constantly increasing excitement waiting for release, I was suddenly high with an almost unbearable climax.

Edward's lips sealed mine, silencing my ecstatic cries, before a second later, he panted frantically with me, as I felt him pulsating and releasing inside me. He stayed on top of me, his lips on my neck until his breath steadied.

"I'm sorry," he whispered as he rolled off me.

"What for?" I asked in my post-orgasmic bliss.

"For being rough. But seeing you with that jerk earlier somehow made me desperate to mark my territory." He smiled shyly as he threw the condom away.

He had done that very well, spoiled me for every other man. Although I should have felt alarmed by his choice of words, I couldn't bring myself to care.

"I'm not complaining," I mumbled, looking straight up at the ceiling.

"Bella." Edward turned to lie on his side, propping himself up on his elbow, his face serious. "What I meant earlier is that, as long as you want me, I'd hope that I am enough for you. No strings attached, though. We're friends — well, with certain benefits I enjoy very much. But, whenever you don't want this anymore, tell me, it's okay. No hard feelings."

My heart was hammering wildly in my chest. Yes, I wanted him, and he was more than enough. Actually, this was the ideal solution. What I hated most about one-night stands was the anonymity, and yet it was a necessity. With Edward, it was different, better. We knew each other, but I still felt comfortable with our kind of closeness. In my past relationships, I had always felt suffocated. So, friends with benefits, exclusive and cancelable at any notice?

"That works for me. Actually, I don't like one-night stands." The fierceness of our sex had worn me out, and the way Edward had taken our friendship to another level only added to my exhaustion. As hard as I tried, I couldn't hold back a yawn.

Chuckling under his breath, he turned me away from him as he pulled my back against his chest, wrapping his arms around me.

"Sleep, beautiful. Good night," he whispered into my ear.

The last thing I felt before sleep overpowered me was Edward nuzzling my hair.

****POMH****

When I woke up the next morning, Edward's strong arms were still holding me protectively. For once, I was feeling happy and content with the way things were. After we had made it clear the night before that we were friends, nothing more, I was able to enjoy the warmth and security that he provided.

However, now that Edward was in my home, I wanted to be a good hostess and cook him breakfast. So, as always when we spent a night together, I tried to maneuver my way out of his embrace. My attempt, however, was very ineffective, because his hold on me tightened.

"You're leaving me again? Why this time?" He didn't open his eyes to ask his questions in a sleepy voice.

"Since we're at my place, I wanted to cook you breakfast."

He faked indecisiveness before he let me go, sighing regretfully. "Although there are about a million other ideas in my head, I hate to admit that I'm hungry. Famished, actually."

I quickly put on some flannel pajama pants and a top before I turned to look at the man in my no-longer virginal bed. It felt strangely exciting to see him there.

"If you like, you can take a shower while I cook." Without waiting for his reply, I left the room and headed for the kitchen.

I was relieved to find that, although my breakfast usually consisted of milk and cereal, and grocery shopping was due today, I had enough eggs, cheese and bacon in the fridge to make omelets.

I was immediately distracted when I heard the water in the shower being turned on. My mind was filled with images of Edward naked in my bathroom. It was hard to keep a coherent thought and stay in the kitchen instead of running to join him in the shower.

When I placed the second omelet on a plate, Edward emerged from the bedroom, wearing jeans and his green shirt from the club. His wet hair shone darker than its usual deep bronze. He looked incredibly sexy.

"Hmmm, it really smells good in here. What's for breakfast?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind me, looking over my shoulder.

"Omelet with cheese and bacon. Have a seat," I said, kissing his jaw before I set the two plates on the table. "And coffee, of course," I added, turning around to pour two cups. Then I returned, putting the cups on the table and sat down next to him.

"Thank you. This looks delicious," he said before he cut off a piece and tried it.

"I hope it tastes good, too. I'm a little bit out of practice. I think the last time I cooked breakfast was more than three years ago." Looking away from him, I tried a bite myself.

"It's really great." He chewed with his eyes closed. "Three years ago? How can that be?"

"Well, as long as I lived at home, I cooked regularly for Charlie and Sue. When I lived with Alice, it was still every now and then. But, since Alice and Jasper bought the house and I moved here, I usually have milk and cereal if I eat anything at all in the morning."

His brows were furrowed in confusion, and I could guess what he wanted to know but didn't dare to ask.

"I usually don't have guests over. You're the first guy I ever brought back here. You know, I consider it a very personal thing to show someone my home." I shyly glanced at Edward from under my lashes.

"You're right, home is a private thing. So, does that mean I can feel flattered to have been invited to your sanctum?" he asked flirtatiously, one eyebrow raised and one corner of his mouth pulled up in a half grin.

"Well, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but I think you can," I told him truthfully.

"Good, I like it here, and I'd like to be allowed to come back." He winked at me as he put another bite of omelet in his mouth.

"We'll see about that. Maybe you will if you're a good boy." I flashed him a meaningful smile, and he chuckled.

We ate the rest of our breakfast, talking about this and that. When we were done, Edward helped me wash the dishes before he went to the bedroom to get the rest of his stuff.

"So, I'll pick you up at eight. Is that okay for you?" We were standing at my door just as he was about to leave. I had almost forgotten about dinner tonight. Although I was incredibly nervous right then, I didn't want to cancel on him, never mind that my instincts were telling me to do just that.

"Eight is good. Will you tell me where we're going?" I asked, trying to keep my breath steady.

"Bella, relax. It's only dinner. We're going to a little Italian place someone at work told me about. You'll like it." His beautiful eyes were locked with mine.

"I'll try." I took a few deep breaths to demonstrate my effort.

"Good girl. See you tonight." He touched his lips to my forehead before he turned away from me and walked around the corner.

********POMH********

A/N: What are you thinking? Did Edward react the way you expected or was it far from how you imagined it? I had so much fun writing the lemon here. I really love my Edward a little possessive. So, what do you think will be next? Right, the date, non-date, maybe a date after all. Here's a little teaser for that:

… "Hey, beautiful. If I had known you would be looking as appetizing as this, I would have ordered take out and planned to spend the evening in bed with you." He leaned against the door frame. With a smirk on his face, he let his eyes roam every inch of my body before they locked with mine. …

Next chapter we'll learn a little more about Bella's and Edward's families. I hope you're all interested to know how the dinner-with-a-friend will go. See you next week.