Okay, so we're going to embark on a journey. A darker journey, one that will be around a different kind of Edward, a snarky, bossy Bella and a new Esme. It will be a drabble-ish type fic. The chapters will be between 1000 to 2000 words. Updates will come on Mondays and Fridays with teasers on Tuesdays and Saturdays on my blog. The link for the blog will be on my profile. The story is planned, but not pre-written.

ALSO ~ This is NOT a rip-off of The Red Line. It's driving me bonkers that people are eluding to that fact. I got this idea from a Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. I would never steal another person's story and the fact that people are somewhat accusing me of plagiarizing is sickening. This is different. It will be different. If you don't like it, click the 'x' in the corner. Don't leave guest reviews without a way for me to contact you.

Anyhow, we're going to get to the end of the grand opening in the next chapter and enjoy the first part of the lemon. Hmmmm, citrus. Gotta love it.

Chapter Ten

EPOV

The rest of the evening went by uneventfully. Paul and Tanya disappeared and did not return. Charlie gave a speech at nine, thanking everyone for coming and announcing Bella as the general manager for the brand new Swan Towers, slated to open to the public tomorrow morning. The hotel was almost sold out with out of town guests, native Seattleites and bustling business travelers. Bella also gave a brief speech and she looked so poised and elegant at the podium. She did, however, ignore her father's affections after she finished speaking, walking back to me.

Rose walked over to us, asking why she rebuffed her father. Bella didn't answer her question, saying she'd explain it to her tomorrow. After the speeches, a hired DJ began playing some upbeat music. Bella and I sat down in some of the sleek furniture in the lobby while the guests began dancing. Jacob and Rose went out onto the dance floor, having a grand old time. I slid my arm over Bella's shoulder, running my finger down her slender, but muscular arm. "Do you want to join them?"

"Oh, me and dancing? It's not pretty," she snorted. "I'm surprised that I didn't break anything with the heels that Rose insisted I wear with this dress. Heaven forbid I wear flats and ruin this entire outfit."

"I never understood how a pair of shoes can ruin an outfit," I snickered. "I think you'd look beautiful with or without heels. But, I'd like to take you out onto the dance floor for at least one dance."

"One dance, Mr. Masen," she purred. "And it has to be a slow dance. I don't think I could do that in these shoes." She indicated Rose and Jacob doing something called Whip/Nae Nae.

Bella sipped her drink and snuggled closer to me, her cheek pressed to my arm. I turned, kissing her forehead and smiling softly. She picked up my hand, idly playing with my fingers. It felt normal and perfect. Then, the DJ started to play Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman." I smiled, remembering my parents dancing to this song when I was a kid. "Dance with me, beautiful," I commanded quietly.

"Okay," she said, her skin glowing under the warm lights of the DJ booth. I stood up and guided her to the dance floor. Spinning her carefully, I enfolded her into my arms and danced with her, swaying to the music that gave me the most magical memories of my childhood and daring me to dream of a future. I held her hand above my heart and smiled when she sighed contentedly in my arms. When the song ended, Bella looked up at me and she kissed my lips gently. I grinned against her mouth, relishing in the softness of her lips and the taste of her skin. We broke apart, breathing somewhat heavily. Our kiss was chaste, but I think we were both bowled over by the intensity of the emotions behind the sweet kiss. "I think I've done my due diligence for this grand opening. Shall we go?"

"That sounds ideal, beautiful," I purred. "Shall I call for the limo?"

"No. We're going to head up to my suite through my office," she answered, tugging on my hand and guiding me to the front desk. She punched in a code and we walked behind the elaborate front desk, to an office space. It looked eerie with the lights off and no one manning the computers. However, I remembered that the hotel wasn't fully opened until tomorrow. Bella unlocked a dark cherry door. Inside, there was an elegant and sleek office. It reminded me of Esme's office in her condo, but had more warmth than Esme's. It had an Asian feel to it. Opening another set of doors, there was a small hallway with a bathroom on one end and a private elevator on the other. Bella put in a code into the wall, calling the elevator.

Aboard the elevator, I caged Bella against the wall. She looked up at me, her eyes swirling with desire. "I didn't know you danced," she said. "You're quite good."

"One of my many talents," I said, trying to keep the disdain out of my voice. Esme taught me to dance, but when I made any sort of mistake with the steps, she'd stomp on my feet with her stiletto heels. I have scars on top of my feet from her shoes.

"Why did you tense up, Edward?" she asked.

Perceptive woman, I thought to myself. I smiled crookedly, leaning forward and brushing my lips with hers. I couldn't speak about why I learned how to dance and for what purpose.

Seduction is a dance, Edward, my pet. If you want to seduce a woman, dance with her to show her how much you desire her. Dance with me, my pet. If you want to work off your debts faster, you will use this technique or you will be punished.

Distraction was the best way to make her forget. And she was easily distracted with my affection. I languidly kissed her, moving my lips down her neck and inhaling her sweet-smelling skin. Running my nose along the column of her neck, I raised her arms above her head and pressed my entire body against hers. As the doors opened, I picked up Bella and carried her out of the elevator. When we broke apart, I realized we were in the far side of her suite. She wriggled in my arms. I gently placed her on her feet.

"Would you like a tour?" she questioned, her voice unsure and her cheeks flushing a soft pink.

"The only place I'd like to go is your bedroom, beautiful. I have a promise to fulfill, by making you scream in pleasure with my tongue," I said, licking my lips enticingly. Bella whimpered, her eyes fluttering shut. I caressed her cheek. She pressed her face into my hand. With a quiet sigh, she looked up into my eyes and led me through her condo to a sexy bedroom that had sheer curtains, a large king-sized bed and soft lighting. The lights were low-lit and quite romantic.

Bella let out a nervous little giggle. "I want this, but I'm scared," she muttered to herself.

"Don't be, Bella," I said, turning to face her and sitting down on her bed. "I will not hurt you. The only thing I want to do is give you immense pleasure. I want to feel you, your body." I tugged on her hand, moving her closer to me. She slid between my legs, her fingers moving up my shoulders until they took purchase in my hair. "Do you trust me?"

"I do," she murmured, her voice quiet and more confident.

"Then, let me show you how a man should bestow affection on a woman," I said, standing up and taking her into my arms. I ran my hands up and down her back. I was feeling her dress for the zipper, finding it just below her shoulders. Dipping my head, I kissed her soft lips and lowered the zipper of her bright red dress. She squeaked when my hand caressed her bare back and loosened her dress.

"Edward," she gasped, looking up at me. "If I don't want to everything, you'll stop, right?"

"I don't want to push you into anything you don't want to do, beautiful," I said. "Tonight is all about fulfilling your needs and desires. If you just want to fall asleep and snuggle, we'll do that." She bit her lip and then reached for my jacket. She pushed it off my shoulders, tossing it onto the ground. "Are you trying to tell me something?"

"It hardly seems fair that I'm going to be naked and you fully dressed," she said, smirking. Reaching up at her shoulders, she shimmied her body and lowered her dress. The most perfect set of breasts came into view. They were slightly larger than my hand with dusty rose nipples that were hardened to harsh points. She rolled her body slowly, dropping her dress to reveal her completely naked body.

Holy fuck … she's a vision of perfection.

Her breasts were perfect, but her body was lithe, but with a woman's subtle curves and softness. She looked like a woman. A sexy, desirable woman. A woman who had the most amazing swan tattoo on her ribs, going down her hip. It was colorful and unique, just like her. I wanted to run my hands all over her smooth, pale skin. I wanted to lick that tattoo before I buried my tongue inside of her pussy. I could see how turned on she was. Between her thighs, her arousal was glistening on her skin. She wanted me. I wanted her.

I never wanted a woman more than I wanted her.

With other dates, it was a job. Never about me, but my cock was twitching beneath my dress pants, yearning for Bella's pussy like a divining rod. I wanted to make love to her. "You are so unbelievably gorgeous," I murmured, my fingers moving up her slender arms before I cupped her heart-shaped face. The uncertainty in her eyes made me sad. She didn't believe what I had said and I blamed her ex-husband. He made her doubt herself. Her father's actions didn't help, either. I brushed my lips against hers, foregoing the plan I had in my mind in dominating her, telling her what I was going to do to her body. I was just going to lavish her with my attention.

Her hands found my tie and began tugging on it while I kissed her languidly. My palms slid down her back, cupping her bare ass. I wanted to touch her breasts, but not yet. It seemed only fair that we level the playing field. I was still fully dressed while Bella was completely bare.

Not that I minded.

Bella made quick work of my tie and shirt, pulling it out of my dress pants. I shrugged out of it, tossing the shirt by my coat. Bella's fingers were running along my arms before gliding down my chest. She brushed her palms over a sensitive part of me, causing me to jerk away. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's okay, beautiful," I said, twisting us so she was closest to the bed. My arms banded around her slender waist, pushing her onto the mattress. She whimpered when our chests touched. Tangling her fingers into my hair, she allowed me to press her onto the bed. Her legs were spread wide and I could feel her arousal on my chest. I was anxious to taste that arousal directly from the source. Once she was settled on the pillows, I gathered her hands, pressing them above her head. I rolled my hips against hers. I knew that Esme would charge me for the dry cleaning of this suit, but I didn't find it in my heart to care. I wanted to, in some small way, have Bella mark me as hers.

Because, as soon as I saw her, I was.

Irrevocably hers.

Esme Platt may own my body, but from this moment on, Isabella Swan owned my heart and my soul.

A/N: Gah! Cliffie! I'm sorry … o.O

Okay, I'm not. But, after thinking about it, I wanted to get the lemon in Bella's point of view. Will they go all of the way? Will they just experience foreplay? Let me know what you think!