Hey everyone!

I apologise for my temporary disappearence! It seems that when my computer dies, my updates die for a while too!

But back now, and here's the next chapter!

Chapter Eleven

I stood at the alleyway for only a few seconds more, watching the dark space into which Emmett had walked.

I sighed, shutting my eyes as I crumpled up the piece of paper and slipped it into my pocket. I turned around then, planning on heading straight for Edward's shop… But I stopped dead in my tracks…

My eyes landed on the figure across the road, looking at me, staring at me…

Waiting for me.

It was Carlisle.

I let out a quick breath, my feet seeming to run of their own accord… Away from the alleyway, and straight to Edward's shop.

I wouldn't let him take me. Not yet.

The door to Edward's shop banged behind me as I got inside, gasping for a breath as I dropped my bag on the floor.

Edward appeared from the back within a second, his face worried as he came over to me, "Bella? What's wrong?"

I shook my head, letting him wrap his arms around me as I breathed in his scent and made an effort to calm my breathing.

"Bella? You're shaking… You look like you've seen a ghost."

I laughed a little at the irony of his words, "I'm fine." I breathed, "I'm fine."

We stayed like that for about five minutes, and I almost fell asleep as he rubbed my back and kissed my hair.

Eventually, I raised my head, smiling softly at him.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?"

"I…" I took a breath, "I thought I saw someone I used to go to College with… We didn't really part on good terms, so I kinda freaked out."

He raised an eyebrow at me, and I cursed my inability to lie.

But he dropped the subject.

"Come on." He smiled, reaching down to pick up my bag, "Let's go."

He locked up the shop, before taking my hand and leading me down the street. I glanced around me quickly, but I couldn't see Carlisle anywhere…

I squeezed Edward's hand, smiling up at him as I realised the only reason Carlisle wasn't here for me, was because I was with Edward…

My angel.

We got back to Edward's flat quicker than I imagined, and he put my bag into his bedroom before moving to make me a coffee. We talked briefly in the kitchen, but before I knew it he'd gathered me up into his arms and was smiling down at me so beautifully I thought I was going to combust.

We had a coffee, before we took off out of the apartment. It was late now, and the streets were lined with darkness, yet they still seemed so busy, so… Alive.

I envied everyone.

Edward took me to a tiny little restaurant on the boardwalk for dinner. It was lit dimly by candles, and the furniture was so mix match it seemed almost vintage. The place just smelt of home and friends and fun…

We were directed to a little corner table, and I smiled as we glanced at the menu, "This place is beautiful." I mused.

"I've always wanted to try it." Edward nodded with a smile.

"You've never been here?"

"No… I've walked past it loads, and… I always wanted to come with someone special so…" He laughed a little, and I saw his cheeks go red slightly.

I let out a breath, discretely reaching for his hand as I held my menu with my other. He rubbed a soothing circle on the back of my hand as we decided what we'd eat and drink.

After we'd ordered, we found ourselves falling into a comfortable conversation. We talked about his degree, and a lot about his writing. He told me he'd recently been inspired to write new songs and new stories. I made him promise he'd let me read them one day.

I think I was even starting to convince myself that I'd be around for that…

We talked about his family, and about mine too. He asked about my job, he thanked me over and over again for helping him with the shop, and for coming into his life.

The only thing I could say in return was, "No… Thank you."

We ate our food in a comfortable silence, and every so often his hand would reach towards mine and he'd stroke my fingers softly.

The food was to die for… Literally.

And the two glasses of wine we'd ordered each, had most definitely gone to my head, for which Edward teased me for not having a heavier stomach.

Edward insisted on paying for the meal, and after we left he took me towards the pier, telling me how he always used to love sitting here and thinking about everything.

My time with Edward since I met him had just bought it to my attention that up until now I'd never really lived my life… And I was beginning to think that I wasn't sent on my mission simply to save Edward… But also to save myself, and to live a life before I had to move on.

Edward and I sat at the end of the pier, our feet dangling over the edge without hitting the water.

He wrapped his arms around me, and I sighed as I glanced out at the night sky, watching the stars and wondering how many of them were actually dead.

It sounded so cynical… But it was a known fact that after a star dies, it takes years and years before people on earth stop seeing its light.

Maybe it was the same with me…

Edward interrupted my thoughts by placing his lips on mine, stealing all coherent thoughts from my brain as I smiled softly against him and kissed back.

We must have stayed like that for about ten minutes, before he eventually pulled back and looked at me, "Want to go in? No one ever comes to this pier, they won't see us. Plus it's like 11pm."

I blinked, wondering what on earth he was talking about before my mind clicked.

"The water?"

"Yeah." He grinned, and I knew automatically that any other time I would have said no…

But what was it gonna do? Kill me?

I nodded my head, and almost instantly we were standing up and pulling off our jeans, jumpers and shoes.

When we stood only in our underwear, Edward took my hand and turned us towards the edge, squeezing my fingers tightly, "Ready?"

"Ready." I nodded.

We jumped simultaneously, and I let out a laugh as we almost floated in mid-air. We hit the freezing water with a bang, and as the coldness took over me, I felt almost more alive than I did before.

We surfaced seconds later, and our laughter was infectious as we reached for each other, attempting to stay afloat a little easier.

Edward reached for one of the poles of the pier, all the while keeping one arm wrapped around me tightly. He pulled us under the pier, and the silence fell over us like a blanket.

The only thing I could hear was our breathing, and the water moving against us.

He let me lean against the pole, and he stayed in front of me, running his hands down my shoulders, before cupping my face and pushing my wet hair from my cheeks.

I smiled up at him, before I whispered gently, "Do you remember the first time we met?"

"Like it was yesterday." Was his automatic reply.

I knew in the back of my mind I was meant to say something, but Edward was suddenly kissing me, and so no thoughts could make it to my mouth to be heard.

His lips left my own and travelled to my neck, making me sigh loudly as his hands slipped under the water and down to my waist.

It suddenly didn't seem very cold anymore, instead I could feel a hot sweat breaking out across my skin.

"Edward…" I whispered, "We can't… Not here."

His lips left my skin instantly, and he swallowed loudly, "Yeah you're right… Let's go home."

He moved away from me then, and took my hand to lead me out from under the pier.

But his words were ringing in my ears… Home.

I yanked him back under the pier again, pressing myself against the pole as I brought him closer, finding his lips with my own and kissing him breathlessly.

He caught on within a second that I didn't actually want to go back to his place, and soon enough his hands were all over me again, touching, stroking, loving…

He unclipped my bra with one hand, letting it fall into the water before he pressed his chest against mine. I giggled breathlessly at the contact, before I felt his hand below the water, tugging at my panties. I bit down on my lip as Edward smirked and dunked below the water. I felt his hands stroke my legs, before his fingers hooked into the hip of my panties and he pulled them down quickly. When he surfaced again, he pulled me close and let me wrap my legs around him.

I realised quickly that he'd removed his boxers when he was under the water, and was pressing his hard member against me. I sighed with want, watching him keep one arm around me and raise the other to a plank of wood above his head, holding on to it tightly before pressing me harder against the pole.

I reached up with both hands to grab the same piece of wood, letting us get closer and not sink below the waterline.

He rocked against me, the water and our breathing the only noises between us, until he pushed inside me, and we both moaned so loudly, I was thankful that no-one was around.

He kissed me gently, and moved slowly in and out of me, before I bit on his lip and it caused him to change almost instantly.

He moaned, pressing harder and hitting the spot that drove me crazy, the spot that only he knew about. He rocked faster, his lips moving to my neck as he kissed and nipped at my skin. My breathing was coming in short swallow gasps, and I tightened my legs around him as he sunk in and out of me hard and fast.

It was possibly the most erotic experience of my life. I hadn't had many of them… But my experiences with Edward were the most mind blowing, amazing, loving experiences I could have only dreamed of before I met him.

The way we were having sex, under a pier in downtown Seattle, and the way Edward was making me feel… It was definitely one of the best nights of my life.

But the night that held first position would always be the night Edward and I made love…

I hadn't even realised I'd been speaking, but it was suddenly as if my ears had realised what was happening, and I could hear everything.

"Edward… You mean so much to me…"

"You don't even understand."

"I do, Bella. I do."

"Edward… This feels so good."

"You're so tight, Bella. I love it."

"Edward… Please…"

And then, like a tsunami came right to the pier, my orgasm fell over me and I found myself calling Edward's name, louder than I'd originally intended.

But Edward didn't care, because suddenly he was still, imbedded so far within me I wondered if he'd ever remove himself. His eyes were half closed, and he whispered my name over and over again as he came inside me.

We must have stayed like that for about five minutes afterwards, and I attempted to get my breathing under control as I removed one hand from the plank above me, and reached for Edward's hair, running my fingers through the strands and smiling at his closed eyes and open mouth.

We eventually moved from our space under the pier, and Edward jumped up before me, grabbing his jeans and pulling them on quickly, before yanking his shirt over his head too.

He reached his hand down for me, and pulled me up to the walkway. He kissed me automatically, and I melted against him as his arms wrapped around me.

He let me go soon after, and I got dressed quickly.

I pulled on my shoes, and it was as I moved to throw Edward his, that I found him standing there staring at me.

I paused, laughing a little as I caught his eye, "What?" I whispered.

He continued to stare, "Nothing." He replied softly.

But I could see it… I could see the words in his eyes, because they were in my eyes too…

I love you…

Thoughts?

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