A/N - You guys are awesome for reading. I'll reply to reviews and questions tonight! Just wanted to get this update posted before my lunch hour is over.

Memories, unwelcome and unbidden by me, occupied the cramped space between us. We needed space.

This terrible anxiety would not begin to subside until we were in his bed. Everything will be better in bed.

"Give me a minute to process this," Edward said, but his arms tightened around me.

"Okay. But... could we please move the conversation to your bed? This couch is oppressive." I stretched, and my joints cracked. His chest, flush against my back, shook with laughter.

"You still do that."

"Do what?"

"Assign the strangest adjectives to things. I used to think it was part of your condition."

My face scrunched up into a scowl. I hated when he spoke of my "condition." It wasn't a disease; it was a way of life.

"Could we argue semantics some other time? I'm tired and horny and uncomfortable."

"Certainly." His hand settled on my hip, heavy and possessive. I tried to pull away, to drag him off to his bedroom, but he remained anchored. "Not yet."

"Why? It's been seven years, Edward. What are you waiting for?"

"We're not done talking." His voice was sleepy.

"We're not," I agreed, "but couldn't you do me this one favour? I never asked you for much."

"Favour?"

"I want to know what it's like."

"Are you still referring to sex?"

I laughed despite myself. "I know what sex is like. I've never had it with you. I need to know what it's like."

"I'm certain you'll be disappointed. Sex is sex is sex."

I wanted to scream. "Do you believe that?"

He didn't speak, but I felt him shrug.

"Do you think sex with me will be just another monotonous lay?"

"Of course not." Edward's breath caught and then he gathered my hair to expose my neck - I thought to kiss me - and lowered his lips to my ear. Hot breath and urgent words I couldn't process, sent a shock wave of lust into my stomach, spreading into my groin like water lapping over sand.

Impeding and receding.

"But you... everything with you is different, Bella."

My head spun, oh god, I was dizzy.

"Stop," I whimpered, but it wasn't the right word.

"Stop?"

"Stop teasing me. I love you. I want you. Take me to bed."


When I was eighteen, the extent of my sexual experience didn't prepare me for the amorous advances of aggressive men. I could tell Eli harboured some sort of interest in me, but I didn't really understand why.

"So how do you know Edward?" I asked casually.

"How do you know Edward?" he replied, taking my hand. I stopped walking.

"We've been seeing each other for a few weeks... sort of."

Eli's face contorted - even in the dark, I could make out the angry, red flush of his skin.