"I don't like a sourpuss so now, say Good Morning Edward." He commanded.

I rolled my eyes, "Good Morning Edward."

He pushed me against the counter with a smirk.

"I'd like a thank you for the coffee."

"Thank you." I groaned.

He shook his head.

"Tisk, tisk, tisk. Won't do."

I was surprised when he grabbed the back of my hair forcefully and forced me to look at him. It didn't hurt but it did make me turn my head.

"I prefer it like this." He said with a beautifully wicked grin before he slammed his mouth against mine.

One word, WOW. I thought he said something about going slow? I don't see any brake lights here.

He pulled back and smiled.

"So sorry, I did say something about slow didn't I?"

I cleared my throat and sat down.

"I seemed to recall something like that being mentioned." I grabbed my coffee and took a drink. He smirked as his cell ran.

"Hello, yeah Jazz. No I'm at Bella's why?" He looked at me apologetically and stood walking away a little and talking softer.

"No Jazz I do not need you to remind me to take it slow." I chuckled under my breath. It seems Edward does have a habit of rushing if even Jasper is telling him not to rush. He sighed and turned.

"I don't know I can ask."

"Bella, Alice is enquiring if you would be interested in spending the day with her and Jasper."

I smiled innocently knowing time to get him back is at hand. Oh how two can play this game.

"Certainly but only if you can come too." I said sweetly. He flashed me a glare and sighed.

"Yeah, you heard her. I know great...no I have no plans. I guess I do now too. We'll see you shortly." He hung up and sat down in front of me.

"This is retaliation isn't it?" He asked knowingly.

I looked over his sex hair and smiled, how can a man have perfect sex hair all of the time? It makes no sense. Women spend hours to get the perfect look and I bet you he spends 5 minutes and looks like an Adonis. I reached out and touched it. Yep, soft as I remember.

He didn't say anything he simply watched me. I bit my lip letting my fingers trail down to the shell of his ear, then the scruff of his unshaven chin. He was simply so handsome. I don't know that I have ever been so attracted to one man before. It's a very unique feeling, the draw I feel towards him. The sexual tension and energy, it's like a knot in my stomach that keeps twisting tighter and tighter.

I've never felt anything stronger. It's so odd but I enjoy it and I would like to explore it more. My hand trailed lower to his shoulder and then to his muscular bicep and I sighed as it continued down his forearm finally resting on his hand that was flat on the bar.

He flipped his hand and squeezed mine smiling.

"My turn?"

I didn't know what he meant until his hand came up to my cheek. I leaned into it and closed my eyes feeling the butterflies as his hand moved and his fingers trailed across my lips. He made a light caress of my neck and then down my arm as I had him but instead of taking my hand he stood and moved to stand before me allowing his hand to rest on my waist, lifting my shirt and resting his hand on my skin.

His hand felt like burning coals. I moaned and before I realized it he was pulling me up against him, his other hand under the back of my shirt rubbing tiny circles.

"I don't know what this is Bella. I can't explain how strong the emotion I feel is. I've never quite felt anything like it. Does that make any sense?"

I nodded, I understood because I felt it too. The butterflies so strong they almost hurt. He shook his head.

"I'm trying so hard to fight this and it's just...."

He released me pushing back against the wall and trying to control his breathing.

"I don't understand what kind of hold you have over me Bella." He said almost as if he was frightened.

I played with my fingers nervously.

"I should change, you know before we go to see Alice." I was heading to my bedroom when a hand on my waist stopped me. I felt his warm breath on my ear.

"Bella, am I crazy here? Do you feel it too?"

I swallowed hard and turned looking at him over my shoulder. My god he was beautiful. He was so close, I couldn't help it and I knew I probably shouldn't but I leaned back. I heard his breathing hitch and his other hand fell to my waist.

"You should get dressed." He reminded me.

"I should." I agreed.

I didn't move, I felt his hands move to my hips and my right hand fell to the wall. What kind of woman was I turning into? I was never like this. I was a respectable woman who had been married and with one man. I was never easy or what one would call even in the know of such. This man made me do things I never dreamed of, and right now all I wanted him to do was pin me to this wall.

Why was I even thinking like this? Shame on me.

He seemed to be having as much trouble with this as I was. I looked over my left shoulder again and his face met mine.

"Bella, Alice and Jasper are waiting on us." He said again, I suppose in hopes both of us would care but at this point I don't think neither of us really did. I turned leaning on the wall and looking up at him. He looked down towering over me for a moment before turning to lean over me, his arms at my sides.

Who knew what game we were playing as we both looked into each others eyes, all I knew was we both wanted the same thing in the end. His head tilted and he moved closer.

"Are you thirsty? I think I'm..." He began to back up before I grabbed his head and pulled his lips to mine. He didn't back away instead moving closer and holding me to him. He tasted like coffee and cinnamon. Yum.

One of his hands gripped my waist while the other buried itself in my hair. I found myself holding onto his biceps simply to keep my legs from buckling. He suddenly pulled back leaning his forehead against mine.

"Bella....we have to....oh god."

He released me and turned setting on the couch running his hands through his hair. I tried to catch my breath. His head fell back and he closed his eyes.

"Bella, go get ready love."

I knew somehow it was best if I left now. I changed and made myself look presentable wearing a cute little sundress and a headband with some matching flats, when I came out he was looking out the window. He turned looking me over and smiling.

"You look very nice."

"Thank you."

He extended his hand and I took it and we left and headed for Alice's. I wasn't surprised to find Alice and Jasper curled up on the couch watching a movie. Jasper's very mellow and I am sure for him this is perfectly acceptable. However for me and Edward right now, not so much. We can't even stay in a room too long without having a heat flash.

Alice smiled grabbing my hand.

"You look so cute." She pulled me in the bedroom grabbing her shoes and purse.

"We were thinking, lunch and maybe some running around who knows." From where I was leaning on the door Edward was watching me and the intensity in his eyes was setting me on fire. Alice looked up from me to him and grabbed my hand.

"Help me pick out some shoes."

I followed her into the closet. She giggled.

"Girl, you two are about to set my house on fire."

I frowned, "What?"

She smirked.

"Hello Bella." She tapped my head.

"The way you two are looking at each other, sexual tension you can cut with a knife I mean. Wow I knew you two had it bad but I didn't realize it was so intense. I don't think Jasper realized either. You two are seriously hot for each other."

I sighed fixing my hair in the mirror.

"Alice, come on. He's a handsome guy, I'm single." I said pretending it was nothing more but Alice knows me better than anyone. She grabbed my arm turning me around.

"And what else?" She asked crossing her arms.

I couldn't lie to Alice, she could always see through me. I sighed.

"I don't know, he makes me have these knots in my stomach and they get so tight they hurt. He touches me and it's like an inferno. Am I nuts? I've never felt anything like this."

She giggled, "Wow."

"Am I crazy Alice? Why do I feel like this?"

She smiled, "Many reasons, lust, you like him maybe even more. I would guess intense physical attraction on both sides because you two are seriously scorching up my house here. I tried to tell you."

"I never felt like this with Hayden. Did I marry the wrong man?" I asked confused. I laughed at myself. That was a stupid question of course I did we were divorced.

Alice rested her hand on my shoulder.

"I felt that way when I met Jasper. It's a good thing, maybe Edward is your Mr. Right just take it slow and see what happens."

I shook my head in defeat.

"Alice it's so hard to take it slow, he touches me and...."

She giggled, "Ah, but you have to fight it. Make yourself wait it will be well worth it."

I knew she was right but that didn't ease my body any. I hate hormones. We walked out where then men were waiting and down to the car. We decided on a restaurant and were seated. Alice and Jasper were talking softly. Edward leaned closer.

"What are you having?"

I met his eyes and was silent for a moment just lost in their depths. I guess he felt it too because he rested his hand on mine and caressed it with his thumb. I looked down at the menu.

"I was thinking maybe the shrimp, I love shrimp."

He smiled, "Really interesting."

I looked up not understanding.

"Why is it interesting?"

He shrugged with a smile.

"I mean you like shrimp I didn't know that about you. Do you like all seafood or..."

I nodded, "Mostly. I am not much on oysters. I like tilapia and most fish. I love lobster and scallops. I am a seafood kind of girl."

He chuckled and leaned back in his seat taking in what I had said. I guess he was retaining in that tid-bit for a later date. I leaned to him.

"What about you?"

He looked at my menu and pointed to the steak.

"I like seafood too but I also like steak. Today I am in a steak kind of mood maybe with a twice baked potato."

That didn't sound bad either, I like steak also. We definitely have similar taste in foods. It's amazing how much we have in common when you think about it and interesting to look back at how much me and Hayden didn't. He hated seafood and most meats. He preferred vegetables and salads.

I saw Alice smiling at me from across the table and blushed looking at my lap though I did not release his hand. We ordered and visited through out dinner and I found it relative easy to be with him and had difficulty in feeling at ease. I thought I would but I didn't. It was as if he had always been there.

We laughed and joked like old friends all together it was nice. Alice liked him and it was a change from my previous relationship. It made things a lot easier that was for certain. We left after eating and walked around from store to store just enjoying the Seattle weather and the company.

We held hands and acted like a normal couple would. We weren't really a couple yet, but we were working on it I guess you could say. I mean in the end that was the goal right? I think we both wanted it to be that way. We ended up in a park relaxing.

Jasper sat beside me.

"So Bella how are you?"

I watched as Alice and Edward fed the ducks in the pond. It was extremely cute. I turned to him.

"I'm good I think I get better each day."

He smiled. I never noticed he had dimples, how cute. He actually was a very handsome man, almost as handsome as Edward. Alice was very lucky. He looked at Alice and back to me.

"You know Edward seems to really like you, I think you like him too at least it appears that way."

I pulled my knees under me and faced him.

"I do like him." I don't know why I felt comfortable with Jasper but it was just like with Edward, I just did. I looked down at the grass between us.

"It scares me Jasper, how attracted to him I am. It's almost as if I can't stop the pull between us sometimes. It's like I can't control it."

He lifted my chin.

"Bella, listen to me. You must control it so that this relationship can grow. I look at you two and I see a really bright future. I see a difference in my brother and I know it's you. He's changing and he's becoming better and it's because of you. He had a hard time before we moved here, I wasn't sure when he would find his heart again and become the old Edward I knew."

He looked at Edward and smiled.

"He has, he found himself again. He's found his inner peace and let go of the pain and hurt. I know he can't really let go of it all. He knows now he can move on and I see him wanting to for the first time in a long time. He wants to move forward and I see him wanting to do that with you."

I was stunned by his words, so honest and he wasn't afraid to tell me these things. He looked back into my eyes.

"You have been through a lot as well with Hayden and realizing you were in a marriage that wasn't what you thought. Now you are finding out even more about the man you married."

My eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?"

He sighed.

"You're finding out he wasn't the man you thought he was at all."

I knew he meant the things he was doing now, the cruel things and the attempt at manipulation to get what he wanted. He was right I was finding these things out. I had no idea who I had been married to all of those years, I never really knew him at all. The thought frightened me.

I felt him brush a hair behind my ear.

"Bella, not all men are that way. Hayden hides a lot of secrets and that is because he is deceptive. It will catch up to him. My brother is an honest man you can't hold one man's faults against him. I know it's hard but you need to give him a chance."

"I never said I wasn't." I said back toying with my fingers. He stopped me by placing his hand over mine.

"You said you were attracted to him. That has nothing to do with the heart, your heart is kept in this safe little box where you hide it and you have the key locked away. It's why I keep telling you and him no matter how attracted to each other you are... no matter the pull, don't let it take you. You aren't ready."

I don't know how he knew me so well, but wow he did. He was spot on. I felt a tear slide down my cheek and he raised his hand wiping it with his thumb.

"I don't mean to upset you. I want to see you happy...you and my brother both deserve it and I want you to have it. The thing is it has to be right and timing is everything. There is nothing wrong with relaxing and easing into things."

"How do I do that?" I asked simply. I felt him move closer slipping his arm around my shoulder.

"You just let it flow natural. Let it happen, but hear me when I say don't and look at me Bella."

I looked up meeting his blue eyes.

"Don't sleep with him you are not ready. Emotionally it would tear you apart do you understand?"

I nodded and he smiled sadly. He has no idea how hard that will be it's like fighting an uphill battle every time we are alone. He seemed to know what I was thinking and patted my knee.

"You have to find a way to keep temptation away for now, minimize one on one contact. Go out in public places, when you're at the office keep the door open. Try to stay public, if you are alone keep it to a short time. Don't let yourself get caught in a situation where you have to be tempted, at least not yet."

"That's hard to do." I said with a groan.

He chuckled, "Don't worry Edward and I will have the same discussion."

I sighed and looked at Edward who was laughing as a duck chased Alice. He was absolutely adorable. Jasper looked from my face to Edward and back to me then turned my face to him.

"Bella, Edward's never been in love. I've never once known him to tell a woman he loves them. I think you could be that woman if everything goes like I think it will. You could be the woman a lot of things happen with."

I was shocked. Edward's never been in love? Wow how can that be? He never let himself or...who knows with him but that is truly sad.

"Why do you say that?" I asked curious.

He laughed quietly.

"I've never seen him look at a woman the way he does you, or talk about a woman with the respect he does you. He touches you like you are so precious to him. It's very sweet. I never thought I would see the day. He lights up when I mention your name. There are a lot of things."

I blushed feeling a shadow blocking the sun and look up. Edward smiled down at me.

"Miss me?"

I grinned, "You know I did."

He sat on the other side of me and looked at Jasper curiously. Jasper stood and wiped his pants off.

"I'm going to go check on Alice." He winked as he left.

He reached over taking my hand in his.

"It is very beautiful here, relaxing." He sighed leaning back with his free arm and closing his eyes. I smiled watching him. He was simply perfection in it's finest form. Out of the blue he laughed.

"I should get a dog."

I looked at him oddly.

"A dog?"

He opened his eyes and turned to me.

"Yeah, I've never had one. It'd keep me company why not? I could take it on walks and watch movies with it...."

I smiled then spoke.

"Yeah and it'd pee on your wood floor and poop on your expensive clothes."

He groaned.

"No dog."

I chuckled at him. I didn't think he had thought it through he probably had never gotten one because it was time consuming and now was no different. He was still not home a lot and a dog required quite a bit of care.

"You could get a cat." I suggested. He frowned at me.

"Not really a cat person, the sharpening claws on my furniture and smelly kitty litter. Nope."

He commented back. I thought a minute then shrugged.

"Bird?"

He laughed, "Throw seeds on the floor."

I sighed.

"Hamster?"

He wrinkled his nose, "Stinky cage."

"I give up." I said throwing my arms up. He laughed at me pulling me closer.

"Me too, I think I'll just keep to the no pet's policy for a while. I suppose I'll just have to have a few kids later and solve the problem."

I was surprised by his statement and looked at his face.

"So you want kids?"

He smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I've always wanted them. I just never found the right person, you know if you aren't in love with someone it doesn't work right so there's no point. I've never had the luck of falling in love so no kids yet. I would like to though."

I didn't miss the look in his eyes when he said that. He brushed his fingers across my jaw line so lightly I barely felt it. I didn't move my eyes from his face.

"Do you think you will?" I know that I was pushing it to ask, but he seemed to be opening up so why not?

"Fall in love?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

I nodded. There was that darn cute lopsided grin. He toyed with my hair as he spoke his eyes roaming my face.

"You know I can't say what the future holds, but I can say there is a certain brunette who holds me memorized and I dare say if she continues to allow me in her life then it is highly likely."

I can't believe he just said that. I was shocked to say the least, how can he know that? He was serious though, his facial expression was sincere as was his warm smile.

"How do you know?" I questioned. I wanted to know, how he can know this so soon.

He seemed to understand and looked at the pond.

"Sometimes when it feels right, it just fits. You just know and to me this just fits. I don't know how you feel but...I know it's soon, but it doesn't change anything. I won't rush you or anything because my feelings will just get stronger. I haven't felt this before so I'm new to this it's something I'm trying to figure out myself."

I looked at him, really looked at him and he was being completely honest. It was so overwhelming. He shook his head.

"I shouldn't have told you."

I nodded, "No, no I am glad you did."

I smiled and looked down away from his eyes.

"It's nice to know how you feel. I like you being open with me and even if I'm not ready to quite say those things back it's nice to know what you are thinking."

He moved closer looking worried.

"Bella, I don't want to push you away by thinking them."

I laughed and took his hand.

"You're not. I like you Edward probably more than I will admit. It will just take time so many things in my life I thought were real were all lies. I was married to a man I didn't even know. It scares me and I know he's not you and I won't hold him over your head I just..."

He silenced me with a finger.

"I know and it's fine."

"No it's not fine you see it makes me question 'me'. How could I not see it? Was I really so blind that I can't see things right in front of me and if I was why? How do I fix it so I don't do it again? I don't want to be that stupid again.

Edward looked at me in shock.