First, thanks so much to Cintia, my beta, and to Krisztina my all around go-to girl when I'm stuck and she helps me through it. I can't do it without you.

Secondly, I'm such a looser for not replying to all of your reviews. You overwhelmed me last week, and I love each and every one of them. Even the haters were gentler, and I thank you for that. Although I couldn't reply to you, please don't stop, they are my treat … my chocolate … the sugar I'm depriving myself of in my life right now … so don't stop.

Now … Coffee? Who needs stinking coffee? Let's go dance!


CHAPTER 11:

After giving Stephen the warning to leave Bella alone, Edward receives a scowl as he turns to search for Bella, leaving Stephen alone on the balcony. Finding her with Jasper and Alice, he hears her say that she and Edward are leaving for coffee, and her friends aren't having any of it.

"Oh, Bella, come out with us. Everyone's going, and besides, you still have to celebrate your appointment!" Alice exclaims like it's her first brilliant idea in months. Bella looks back at Edward over her shoulder with pleading eyes.

"I will do whatever you want to do," he says, placing his hand on her lower back. As soon as he makes that contact, she leans into his side, briefly laying her head against his chest, and just as quickly removes it.

She looks up at him and asks, "Do you want to go?"

Towering over her, he bends and says, "Only if you dance with me … and only me."

The request sends her spirits soaring and she gives him a warm smile with a nod.

"Good," he breathes, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her into him.

Bella and Edward leave before everyone else to secure as many seats as possible at the club, and once they get there, they find the place filled to capacity.

"I wonder if the VIP lounge is open," Bella suggests, glancing around the room, hoping to spot someone leaving so they can grab a booth.

Edward takes Bella's hand to follow him upstairs to the VIP lounge. As usual, there's someone at the entrance to ensure no one gets past without authorization.

"Hello, Damien," Bella says with a smile.

"Hey, beautiful. Looking good tonight, doll," he replies scanning her with a seductive eye. He doesn't seem to care nor acknowledge Edward's presence.

"Thank you," she says, blushing. Thinking it a good idea to name drop, she begins, "Rosalie is bringing a party with her in a few minutes, do you have room for us?"

"For you ladies? Always. Just give me a minute." Damien abandons his post to search the VIP rooms for availability, leaving Bella and Edward alone, waiting.

"Do you have to know every good-looking man in this town?" Edward says, taking his thumb and finger, lightly and flirtatiously pinching her nose causing her to giggle.

"I don't know about that, but I'm happy with the one that's standing right here, right now," she smiles.

"Why, Bella Swan, did you just flirt with me?" Edward asks, clutching a hand to his chest, eliciting a cute little giggle from her.

"All right, Bella, follow me, I have a room for you that will hold about twenty people. Will that be large enough?" Damien asks, eyeing Edward up and down, scrutinizing him.

"Perfect, Damien, thank you so much," Bella says. As she's ready to go to the room, she witnesses Edward pass Damien a one hundred dollar bill that he quickly slips in his pocket and shakes Edward's hand to say thanks. Edward guides Bella into the large room where they choose the best seat in the room while they wait for the rest of the group to arrive. When they take their seats, a bottle of Chardonnay is delivered. They both know who it's from.

"I need to text the girls to let them know to come upstairs when they get here," Bella says, taking her cell out of her clutch.

"Yeah, I'll do the same, just in case," Edward says as they both pull out their phones. Both are silent as they complete their tasks and then pick up their wine.

"To our first date," Edward toasts, clinking Bella's glass.

"This is not a date, Edward," Bella admonishes playfully, taking a sip of the chilled wine.

"Yes, it is."

"No, it isn't."

"Yep."

"Nope."

"We'll see," Edward says, hoping to get the last word.

"What do you mean by that? How do you get me to see that this is a date?" Bella asks, her eyebrows raised cockily.

"Because this seals the deal," he says, running his hand around the back of her neck and through her hair, fisting it, slowly pulling her closer to him.

Their eyes never leave one another, even after their lips lightly touch. When Bella sees his eyes slowly close, he parts his lips over hers and she responds in kind. He fiercely wants to taste her again, but he can't. Not yet. He can't risk her sensing a comparison between him and Anthony.

That plan is moot when both of Bella's hands weave through his hair, she pulls his mouth tighter against hers before she takes the initiative to deepen the kiss. Opening his eyes, Edward gently breaks the kiss, lightly sliding his nose against hers, and when they both look up, they see Stephen standing there watching them.

The moment between them is abruptly broken when the party revelers loudly enter the room, excited to be in the privacy of the VIP lounge over the cramped confines of the main floor. Fortunately, there's a small dance floor in the room, and Edward fully intends on taking advantage of it. That is until Alice, Rosalie and the other girls steal Bella from him, pulling her downstairs to the main dance floor.

Edward sees Stephen stop her to say, "I thought you were going for coffee?"

"We changed our minds," Bella replies before she heads downstairs.

Edward watches her glance at him over her shoulder as she's dragged by her hand through the door. He gives her the 'oh well' look and she's gone. Calling the server over, he orders a Chivas on the rocks, and when she returns with his drink, he gets up and walks to the railing to watch her dance. He loves to watch her dance.

After the deep reverberating bass of the rap song ends, a slow song begins and he sees Stephen step in as if it was planned. Slowly turning, Edward sets his drink on the table and makes his way down the stairs to the dance floor. As he passes through the crowd, he receives several offers of his own to dance by available ladies, but his focus is on one woman only.

As soon as his foot touches the dance floor, Bella sees him and smiles. Edward holds his hand out to her, and she happily reaches for it, placing hers in his. Once he gently pulls her from Stephen's attempts, Edward glares at him, leaning in so he can be heard over the loud sound system.

"What did I tell you?" Edward shoots daggers at him. "She. Is. Mine."

After Stephen braces himself, snarling at Edward, he reluctantly leaves the dance floor. Edward wraps his arm around Bella's waist and holds her tightly against him while tucking the hand he's holding to his chest.

Bella looks up at him and asks, "What was that all about?"

"Oh, nothing, just a little guy bonding, that's all."

"Hmmm, didn't sound like bonding to me. Oh, well, I'm just a girl, I wouldn't know about that he-man stuff," she says, laying her head on his chest.

"No, Bella, you're not just a girl, you're a woman, that's for sure," Edward says, lowering his face next to hers as he holds her closer to him, swaying her to the music.

Bella takes a deep sigh, relishing the feel of him holding on to her. Enjoying how that one act of simply being held makes her feel safe, protected and wanted.

After the music stops, the deep bass sound of another hip hop song comes over the speakers, and Edward reluctantly releases his hold on her. Smiling up into his face, she tells him she needs the ladies room. Taking her hand, he escorts her to the rest room making sure she's safe. Knowing it will take her a few minutes, he leaves to get them each a bottled water, and by the time he returns, he sees Bella cornered by an angry Stephen.

"Stephen, what the fuck, dude!" Edward growls, stalking toward them. Bella takes the opportunity to duck under one of his arms, escaping the cage Stephen had created with them.

"Ed, you say she's yours, yet you leave her alone," Stephen sneers.

"She went to the ladies room, you fuck. Now leave her alone, and if you restrain her again, I will encourage her to press charges against you," Edward scowls, holding a bottle out for her to take. He places his free hand around her slim waist to move her away from Stephen.

But before they walk away, Bella stops. "Stephen, I'm sorry if I led you to believe that there was something more between us than what there really is. But, frankly, your behavior concerns me, and I don't think it's a good idea that we be friends."

"I'm sorry, Bella, I didn't mean to—" Stephen says apologetically before Bella cuts him off.

"You take care," she replies, then turning to head back to the party, Edward follows suit.

"Nicely done," he compliments her. "You handled it more diplomatically than I would have." Edward smirks at her, sure that he would have shoved a fist down his throat, rather than rationalizing with him.

"Come on, let's go have some fun with our friends," Bella says, taking him by the hand.

The rest of the evening is filled with laughter, liquor and stolen kisses. What neither of them know is what the other is thinking.

That there's a deep seated connection they both feel for each other. Much different from what they experienced the first time they met, and how neither wants to screw this up.

~.~

Bella wakes to her cellphone ringing and when she answers, she hears Rosalie shout, "Get your ass out of bed and tell your doorman to let us in."

"Who's 'us'?" Bella replies groggily.

"Who do you think?" Rose asks, shocked at such a question. "Me and Alice!"

Bella slams the phone down onto the bed, groaning that it's too early for all this cheeriness. Lifting it back to her ear, she mumbles, "Put him on."

"Yes, Ms. Swan?" Stuart, the bellman, asks.

"Would you please let those two pests up to my place?"

"Yes, Ms. Swan," Stuart replies, handing Rosalie her phone. "This way, ladies." He escorts the two girls who are laden with croissants, bagels, cream cheese and coffee.

Bella answers the door and stares at the large box and tray of coffee.

"What's in the box?" she inhales as they walk past her.

"Good morning to you, too, sunshine," Alice replies cheerfully.

"Sorry. Good morning. What's in the box?"

"Sustenance. Enough to where you won't have to stop until we get the scoop about one Edward Cullen!" Rosalie shouts over her shoulder as she rummages the kitchen for plates and napkins.

"Nope. I'm not talking, so you can just pack that pink box and go," Bella jests taking a soft croissant, biting into the flakey goodness. "I take that back … leave the pink box and then you can go."

Rosalie sets three plates, three knives, and three napkins on the breakfast table while Alice gets three large latte mugs for the coffees. Bella gets the butter and jam, and once the table is set, everyone sits down and digs in.

"So," Alice starts, "did he spend the night?"

"Why don't you cut to the chase, Alice?" Bella replies, reaching for her coffee mug.

"I thought I did," she says, smiling with a cheek full of bagel.

"Well … he's nicer than I thought," Bella begins picking at her croissant. "Like … really nice."

Bella thinks about the instant chemistry was felt and how she feels like a school girl again filled with hope and anticipation.

"Jasper said he was. They've been friends since before college, you know?" Alice volunteers, reaching for the butter.

"So, what happened last night? Anything we should know? Like did he kiss you?" Rosalie asks, leaning her elbows on the table, eager to know.

"Not to speak of. He did kiss me, but it wasn't intense or anything like that. It was … sweet," Bella answers with a shrug.

"Did he ask you out?"

"Nope. He put me in a cab and sent me on my way," Bella says, giggling.

"You liar. What else did he say?" Rosalie snaps, taking a drink of her coffee.

"I don't know, we just enjoyed hanging out with everyone, you know? He did, kind of have a moment with Stephen. He sort of told Stephen that …I was his," Bella says under her breath.

"He what?" Alice asks for clarification.

"He … um … told Stephen that I was his," Bella repeats herself, only louder this time.

Rosalie and Alice look at each other then back at their friend.

"Hmm," Rose says, smearing boysenberry jam on her warm bagel.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Bella retorts.

"It means that boy is smitten and is off the market."

By the time the girls have finished gossiping about Edward, Jasper and Emmett, Bella has learned that Edward is very passionate about what he does for a living, loves his parents, and is a fierce and loyal friend. Qualities that appeal to Bella very much.

Meanwhile, across town, Edward is going through his own bit of interrogation with Emmett and Jasper.

"She was clinging to you on that dance floor, Eddie, that's all I can say. We all saw it," Emmett says, spotting Edward as he lifts the heavy weights. For some reason, he's out to press as much weight as he can, wanting to increase the size of his already-defined chest.

"Yeah, Edward. Alice told me that Bella never behaves that way," Jasper adds, watching himself in the mirror as he works his biceps.

Edward listens to his two best friends repeat what their girlfriends have shared concerning Bella. But Edward is the one that knows the truth. He knows how Isabella responded to him and now, how Bella is responding to him the same way. She's physically attracted to him. This he knows. It's how he plans on handling this mess is what he's worried about.

He hears his friends chatter in the back ground while he considers the consequences should Bella realize that he's actually Anthony. He can't allow that to happen. Isabella knows how Anthony kisses and how much he enjoys oral sex.

He has boxed himself into a corner, and how he escapes needs to be thought through very carefully.

Edward drops the weights in the rests and closes his eyes, taking a deep cleansing breath.

She's had his cock in her mouth. Surely she will know the taste of him sooner or later. Thinking of her warm mouth and the feel of her tight throat wrapped around the full length of him, he sits up quickly, shaking off the memory.

"What's next, Emmett?" Edward ask, wanting to move on to the next item on the workout schedule.

"Didn't you hear what Jasper just said?" Emmett asks, his brow furrowed.

"Nope," he answers, getting up from the weight bench, heading over to the treadmill.

"He said that Alice said that Rosalie said that Bella was seeing someone a few weeks ago, but he called it off and quit seeing her."

Edward stops in his tracks and turns around to his friends.

"What else did they say?" he asks, trying not to look obvious.

"Only that Bella won't talk about it. That it was rather like a friends with benefits kind of thing … just sex," Jasper explains, sitting on the ground with his legs folded underneath him. "Alice says that Rosalie said that Bella is very tight-lipped about it and doesn't like to talk about him. Rosalie thinks that she really liked him though, and is a little heart hurt that he was only in it for sex."

Edward comes very close to speaking up to say it wasn't all about sex, but catches himself just in time.

"Sounds to me like you have your work cut out for you, Eddie-boy," Emmett bellows, as he does his push-ups. "But then again, the way she was all cuddled into you on the dance floor, maybe you can mend that broken heart of hers."

~.~

Bella sits behind her desk reviewing the schedule Lisa sent her from the Institute but is finding it difficult to focus since it's been five days since she and Edward last saw each other at the party. She was hoping that there was something between them, but maybe she is mistaken.

"Bella," Alice rushes in, whispering. "Bella, there is the most beautiful man out in the lobby. Holy shit, where do you find these guys?"

"What?" Bella asks. "Who is it?" Alice shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders indicating she has no idea. Given that Alice doesn't know him, she's secretly hoping it could be Anthony, remembering his parting words … We will meet again.

As they both walk out into the large waiting area of the gallery, a tall dark haired man is looking out the window, facing the busy city street. When he turns around upon hearing the two sets of high heels on the tiled floor, he smiles at Bella.

"Phillip! How are you? When did you get into town?" she asks with a smile. He walks toward her, placing his hands on her shoulders, leaning in to kiss each of her cheeks.

"Just this morning. I couldn't wait to see you. I'm here to take you to lunch," he says, looking at Alice.

"Oh, Alice, this is Philip Dwyer. He's the artist we featured at our Chicago opening. Phil, my assistant and very dear friend, Alice Brandon." Alice, still in a daze, holds out her hand, her mouth open, and stares at Phil as he smiles at her.

"Nice to meet you, Alice," he says, chuckling at her dazed look. He's immune because he gets this a lot, except from the one he wants it from, and that's Bella.

"Nice to meet you too, Philip," she mumbles, still dazzled, but when she lets out a very high pitched giggle, she smacks her hands over her mouth.

When Bella and Philip both looked at her in shock, Alice suddenly turns and runs to her office.

"Geez, Phil, do you have this effect on all the ladies? Because I haven't seen Alice like this before." Leaning in she says quietly, "You even made her scream." He has the manners to blush while Bella heads down the hall.

"Let me get my bag, and we can walk to lunch," she shouts from her office. When she returns, she stops on her heels upon seeing Edward standing next to Philip.

"E … Edward. What are you doing here?" she asks, shocked at seeing him here.

"Well, I was hoping to take you to lunch. Are you free?" he asks, his eyes flashing to Phil.

"Um … Edward, this is Philip Dwyer, Phil this is Edward Cullen," she says, introducing the two men as they shake hands seeing who can squeeze the tightest.

"Edward, Phil and I were just stepping out for a bite, um, perhaps you can join us?" she asks, looking at Philip for confirmation. He shifts on his feet, looking between Edward and Bella.

"Um, well, I wanted to talk to you about a possible show here. Do you mind Edward?"

Edward shakes his head as he leans in, "Bella, can I talk to you somewhere privately, please?"

"Um, sure, my office is just down the hall. Phil, I'll be right back," Bella says, guiding Edward to her office where he shuts the door behind them.

Walking up to Bella, he takes her tightly by the arms, pulling her into him. Her eyes show the same lust he feels, and she inwardly begs for him to kiss her, but he doesn't.

He wants to tell her she can't go with Phil ... that she's his … but he can't, not yet. He releases her arms and backs away from her, his hands combing through his hair.

"I, um," he murmurs, turning around to face the window. Bella moves to take a step toward him but stops herself.

"Yes?" she prompts.

"I was wondering since you can't have lunch, if you'd like to go to dinner with me tonight?" he asks shyly, fearful she'll turn him down.

"I'd love to," she says quietly. "Is six o'clock all right?"

He closes the distance between them and looks down upon her seductively. Bella licks her lips in anticipation. The way he's looking into her eyes causes her heart to turn over in response, creating a tingle in the pit of her stomach.

"I'll meet you here, then," he promises, his breath puffing on her face. His lips move even closer to hers, ready to taste her, when Philip opened the door, stepping inside.

"Bella," he says as he enters, intentionally interrupting their intimate position. He looks at Edward menacingly, then at Bella. "Are you ready to go?"

"Um, yes," she says turning back to Edward. "I'll see you at six," she whispers before turning to leave with Philip.

After the pair leaves, Alice comes bursting into the office, then runs to the window to watch them walk down the sidewalk.

"Oh, my God, he is the most beautiful man ever!" she gasps when Edward cocks an eyebrow at her. "Oh, um, outside of Jasper, of course," she says, embarrassed.

"Who is he?" he asks her, nodding toward the window.

"That's Philip Dwyer. He's the one that Bella showcased at her Chicago opening last week," she explains.

"Didn't you say he had a thing for her?"

"Yep, everyone in the gallery knows it. Leah's the one that told me," she says, stopping herself from saying anything further.

"She has a lot of admirers, doesn't she?" he asks, slipping his hands in his pockets.

"She does," Alice answers honestly, knowing that Edward harbors some sort of affection for her. She doesn't want to hurt him, but she will answer him honestly. "I mean, Edward, look at her. She's rich, successful, beautiful, smart … the list is endless. She's a catch, and they know it. She doesn't fall for them though. Ever. Until …" she stops, almost ready to say 'until you', but that's not her business to say.

"Until what, Alice?"

"Until this gallery gets opened," she says quickly. "Come on, I'm meeting Jasper at the deli a few blocks down, walk with me and join us," she says, pulling his arm. He shrugs, thinking 'why not', and follows her out the door where she locks it behind her since the construction crew isn't working today.

After lunch with Alice and Jasper, Edward heads to his parents' apartment to make a few phone calls and shower before he meets with Bella.

Sitting and listening to his voicemail messages, he grabs a pen and paper to take notes.

"Mr. Cullen, this is Caius Volturi. I'm phoning from Volterra, Italy." Edward knows exactly who he is and where he lives. He comes from the most powerful family in Italy. "My niece, Jane, will be marrying in June, and Mr. Volturi wants you to take pictures of the event. It will be the biggest of its kind, and he wants the best. Mr. Volturi requests a return call at your earliest convenience." Edward takes down the phone number, and after listening to all his messages, he sits back in shock that he received a call from Volturi at all.

The Volturis are very well known in the ongoing and age old Sicilian mafia. To get on the inside is a coup, and if he can get a story out of this, it would be another feather in his cap. All the news magazines would be clamoring to get his story.

Looking at his watch, he knows it's late in Italy, so he plans on calling in the morning. Another task he wants to get off his plate is sending Jasper the promised photo file of the landscapes he took while in Blue Mountain Lake. Typing out a quick memo, he attaches the file and presses 'send'.

Pouring himself a Chivas on the rocks, he heads to his room and removes his pullover sweater when he focuses on the Tantra Chair. Feeling himself slip into a state of melancholy, remembering her spread out for him, he quickly turns away and heads for the shower.

Putting on a pair of fitted jeans, a slate blue turtle neck and black buckle boots, Edward finishes with a splash of Dior. Finger combing a light gel through his hair, he brushes his teeth and slips a large faced watch on his wrist.

If he leaves now, he can walk the distance to the gallery and get there with a few minutes to spare. Happy that he slipped on his pea coat, he buttons it up against the chilling wind and hopes Bella has a coat with her.

Reaching the gallery, Edward shouts 'hello' as he enters through the door, finding it uncomfortably silent.

Continuing down the hall, he hears voices coming from her office. "Bella, come on, baby. You know you want me. You showed me that on the dance floor. You don't grind your ass against a man's cock and then expect him to walk away, do you?" Stephen says, walking around her desk, forcing her to circle around the other side in fear of him.

"Yes, she does," Edward shouts barreling through the door.

Bella sighs in relief. She knew Edward would be here any minute, and she prayed it was sooner rather than later. She graces him with a grateful look and runs to his side, where he slides her behind him, protecting her.

"What the fuck are you doing, Stephen? Did you think to come in here and just take what she doesn't want to give you?" Edward yells while Bella reaches into his front pocket for his cell phone. As Edward tries to reason with the unreasonable, Bella calls 911 and then Emmett, thinking that Em would be here before New York City's finest.

"Emmett is three blocks away and said he'll be here as fast as he can," Bella whispers to Edward.

"Look, Cullen, I don't want any trouble. I just want to talk to her," Stephen says walking around the desk toward the pair.

"Is that right? It didn't look like that to me. You were looking for trouble the minute you showed up here. I distinctly recall Bella telling you that she didn't want to be friends with you. To me, that's an invitation for you to leave her alone, Drogan."

"Bella, if I can just have a minute … alone —"

"Not happening," Edward interjects. "So don't even think about it."

It's not long before the police show up, entering Bella's office.

"What's going on here?" the officer says, looking at Edward and Stephen. It doesn't go unnoticed that Bella is cowering behind Edward's back.

"Officer, this man has been asked to leave this lady alone, yet he showed up here unannounced and uninvited. Ms. Swan was here alone and unprotected until I showed up."

"Sir," the officer says to Stephen, "I want you to step outside."

Suddenly, Emmett comes rushing into the office, finding Edward holding Bella in his arms, and Stephen being escorted out of the building.

"What the hell have you done now, Edward?" Emmett asks, watching the police move down the hall. "Are you playing knight and shining armor again?"

"Again?" Bella asks, looking at the two men standing in the middle of her office.

"Yeah, once while he was on an assignment, he saved a woman from a group of men, taunting her."

Edward glares at Emmett, daring him to mention Aria's name to Bella, but to his credit he doesn't.

The last thing Edward needs is for Bella to know who Aria was to him, and what they had.

"Let's go," he says to her as he glowers at Emmett. "Unfortunately we have to deal with the police, so let's get that out of the way, then we'll go, okay?" Bella nods and moves to gather her coat and bag.

"I don't want Bella to know about her, Em, at least not yet," Edward says quietly.

"You're going to have to tell her sooner or later. She's going to be curious. All girls are."

"Yeah, I know."


A/N: So, what do you think about our couple? Stephen is a pushy little sucker, isn't he? How long before Edward and Bella let their true feeling known? Not long, I think. Let me hear from you … I like that part. Till next time …