Here is the next chapter, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
BPOV
Dinner thankfully passed without incident, well in reality it passed without incident in my mind it passed with many incidents all of which made me thoroughly relieved that no-one could read my thoughts. The problems started when Edward, who was conveniently sat opposite me, first tasted the lasagne. He had closed his eyes and moaned low in his throat, a sound I wanted to hear again in a more private setting. It was that sound which sent my mind into overdrive imaging all the ways I could get him to make it again. Alice and I had cleared the table after we had eaten, the boys had offered but Alice shot them down with a death glare so apparently she wanted me alone for something,
"Alice can you pass me the plates?" I asked holding a hand out so I could take them from her. I turned and placed them into the dishwasher which already contained the cutlery and the lasagne dish.
"Bella, can I ask you something?" Alice spoke nervously from behind me. Nerves weren't something I was used to hearing in Alice's voice, she was always so confident in her course of action, annoyingly so most of the time.
"Sure Ali, what is it?" I span closing the dishwasher and leaning back against it.
"Well you know me and Jazz are getting married in three months?"
"I should, if I remember rightly you phoned me and squealed down it for about an hour after he proposed. That and you have mentioned it a thousand times since." I joked which made Alice smile in remembrance.
"Right well...I know it's a little late...but well I was hoping that maybe you would be my maid of honour." Alice said looking at the ground as she spoke. I stood rooted to the spot in shock that she would want me to be her maid of honour.
"Seriously, you want me?" Was all I could say when I eventually managed to open my mouth. I felt my eyes fill with tears and tried my hardest not to let them fall.
"Why wouldn't I? Bella you're my best friend, I wouldn't want anyone else stood next to me when I get married. Well you and Rose, Jasper's sister." Alice explained as she looked up meeting my watery gaze. I could barely see her face through the mounting tears but I smiled and nodded.
"Of course I will Ali, it would be an honour!" I exclaimed as I pushed away from the dishwasher and wrapped Alice in a hug, something I very rarely ever did. "What took you so long to ask?" I whispered as she returned the hug with just as much enthusiasm.
"Well Edward is Jazz's best man and I wanted someone who would get along with him-"
"That's why you were pushing me to go on a date with him!" I said loudly pulling out of the hug and cutting across the rest of her explanation.
"Well yeah, sort of. I do just want to see you both happy though and I have never seen either of you smile as much as you have since your date. Edward hasn't been able to wipe the smug smile off his face all night and you," she smacked my arm, "you keep undressing him with your eyes. I'm surprised you two haven't befouled my dining table yet." I blushed as I realised maybe I hadn't been as secure in my thoughts as originally believed.
"Would I ever do such a thing to you? Even after you arranged this little get together with Jasper," I said smiling as I watched Alice try to come up with an explanation. I had figured out her plan pretty quickly, Alice wasn't hard to understand I just think I got her reasoning behind it wrong. "Anyway back to the issue at hand you were explaining why it took you so long to ask me to be your maid of honour." I moved the conversation back to safer waters, well safer for me anyway.
"Like I said Edward is Jazz's best man and I wanted it to be you from the off but I knew you wouldn't feel right walking down the aisle with a stranger. Plus I wanted to get the bridesmaids dresses sorted with no interference from you or anyone else." Alice reasoned.
"Wouldn't it have made more sense if I had been involved?" I spoke confused, Alice knew me too well on the first part about walking down the aisle with a stranger but despite my aversion to shopping I wouldn't have minded this one time.
"Well you can help me decide on my dress, but I needed to make the other choice alone. Trust me the dresses are gorgeous, no frilly pink or puffy purple dresses in sight."
"I trust you on that one." I chuckled at the image of me in a puffy dress knowing Alice would never allow that to happen, even to her worst enemy.
"Will you come with me on Wednesday to choose my dress then?" She asked, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes.
"Yes, I'll come so long as you don't forget we need to shop for Friday as well." I whispered quietly, as I could hear Jasper and Edward's voices getting louder as they headed in our direction.
"Great, you are the best friend a girl could ask for Bella." Alice expounded as she pulled me in for another hug.
"I take it she said yes then." Jasper said from the doorway. Alice span out of the hug and stood in front of me.
"Of course she did, why wouldn't she?" She danced across the room and kissed Jasper lightly on the lips.
"What has Bella agreed to?" Edward asked as he wandered into the room, heading in my direction. I felt the air get thicker the closer he got to me, his eyes were on mine the entire time he walked to me.
"To be my maid of honour!" Alice screamed joyously. Edward faltered in his movement for a second before he continued forward; he looked like a lion stalking some helpless gazelle. The mad thing was I didn't mind at all that I was the apparent gazelle, I would show him soon enough that this gazelle could take the lion on a wild ride.
"Really, so you will walk with me down the aisle?"
"It's not the aisle actually...it's the nave, the aisle's are down the side of the church." I mumbled quietly. I had some sense that Jasper and Alice were perversely watching this display but I didn't care as Edward stopped in front of me with a smile plastered on his face.
"That's nice to know." He whispered as he watched me blush at his intensity.
"It really is," I whispered back taking a step closer to him.
"I don't care though," Edward spoke so low I could barely hear him, as he matched my movement and shuffled a step forward.
"Me neither," I responded as I stepped forward never removing my gaze from his eyes. I felt the blush recede from my face and made the decision to finish what had been started earlier. I placed my arms around his neck, pulling him down to me again, watching as his lips formed a crooked smile. Just as our lips were about to meet we heard a cough sound from the doorway, I groaned at the interruption I mean seriously how do people expect us to get to fourth base when they won't even let us reach first? Believe me when I say I want to get to fourth and soon, right now is actually good for me. I kept my arms around Edwards neck as I stood on my toes to look over his shoulder and glared at Alice and Jasper, not knowing which one it was who had coughed.
"My brother and best friend are not having sex on my kitchen surfaces so don't even think about it. Bella, wipe that horrific look off your face," Alice laughed as she scolded us. I looked back at Edward who was smiling ruefully as he watched my face fall; I shrugged one shoulder saying 'that's Alice for you.'
"In that case Alice, maybe I had better be getting Bella home." Edward stated never removing his gaze from mine as his smile returned. I could see the cogs working in his mind knowing where we would end up if he drove me home now, and it wouldn't necessarily start or finish in my apartment.
"I don't think so Edward!" Alice stated as she moved forward grabbing my arm to pull me away from him. I went reluctantly, I was quite happy in my previous position.
"Like you could stop me," Edward hissed as he span to face us, the predatory look back in his eyes as he smiled playfully.
"I'll tell mom you were less than a gentleman in regards to Bella," Alice threatened.
"That's low, but I'll bite." Edward caved under the threat of Esme; I can understand why she would be very disappointed if we went further before our third date, not that we would tell her anyway.
"Good, now let's go watch a movie." Alice skipped out of the room dragging me along in her wake, and throwing me down on the couch before seating herself in a chair. Jasper and Edward followed a few minutes later with popcorn and drinks which they placed on the coffee table. Jasper moved to Alice and swept her off the chair to many admonitions before he sat down and placed her on his lap. Edward sat down next to me; he flashed a smile in my direction before enquiring as to the movie we were watching, Alice wanted 27 Dresses, I hoped she hadn't gotten her ideas for bridesmaid dresses from it. The men groaned but settled in to watch the movie; Edward moved closer to me and threw his arm over the back of the couch playing with a loose strand of my hair.
We watched the movie in silence, and even though it wasn't late I felt myself slipping from consciousness as tiredness washed over me. The last thing I remembered was laying my head on Edwards shoulder as Katherine Heigl and James Marsden sang really badly on screen. What felt like ten minutes later I felt myself shift and I stirred to get away from the movement but found myself held tightly against a hard, nice smelling something. I blearily opened my eyes seeing green I blinked and looked up, I saw Edwards green eyes staring softly down at me.
"What time is it?" I mumbled.
"About eleven, you fell asleep during the first movie so we watched another instead of waking you." He answered, keeping his voice low.
"Damn, I've got work tomorrow."
"Alice will drive you, or I can if you would prefer." He offered, as he began climbing the stairs up to the guest room.
"Won't it be out of your way? I mean if you have to drive from Sequim up here then back?" I asked through a yawn. Very attractive Bella!
"I'm staying as well, on the couch downstairs." He added when he saw my shocked expression.
"Oh..." was all I managed to mumble as my eyes slid shut. The next thing I became aware of was being placed gently on a warm, soft bed, as Edward slid his arms out from under me my eyes shot open and I moved to grab one of his hands.
"Stay," was all I said. I watched as he had an internal argument and I hoped his less gentlemanly side would win out. Eventually it did, he shut the door, walked around the bed kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed looking awkward as he lay down his head sinking into the pillows. I had rolled onto my back to watch him and now I was wide awake as I felt myself blush at what I had suggested, there was no way I was going to be able to sleep with him so close.
"Edward, can I ask you something?" I spoke quietly, trying not to disturb the mounting tension in the room. I swear the air was so thick I was having trouble sleeping.
"Sure, what did you want to know?" He responded moving so that he was lying on his side, I copied his movement so we were face to face.
"Do you regret anything in your life?" I asked I don't know what made me ask that instead of my real question.
"No," he answered after a moment's thought. I had watched in the moonlight which flooded the room as his face became pained at one point before smoothing out to its usual magnificence. "If everything that has happened hadn't then I may not have been here with you." He elaborated upon seeing my expression.
"Oh, that's a nice way to look at it."
"Now do I get to ask a question?" He asked, I nodded and he continued speaking lowering his voice as if scared of being overheard. "How much do you want me right now?" I felt my skin flush at the thought and I was glad that it was dark enough in the room that he might not notice.
"How much do you want me?" I shot back as soon as the ability to speak in my normal voice had returned.
"No, you didn't answer mine." He chuckled, and the sound brought out a reaction in myself I had never seen coming.
"I have a way to answer both queries at the same time." I purred as I rolled over, pushing Edward gently so that he was on his back and I was straddling his waist. His hands shot up and came to rest on my hips as I slid mine up his stomach to his chest over his shirt. I leant down slowly and hovered just above his lips, when I met his gaze I could see the moonlight twinkling in his eyes. "No interruptions this time," I whispered as I closed the gap and pressed my lips to his.
EPOV
When Bella had straddled me I had thought that was pushing the limits of my restraint, but that proved to be nothing as to when she pressed her soft lips against mine. I groaned at the taste and feel of her, as soon as I had opened my mouth slightly to make the sound her tongue had darted out and mingled with my own. I slid my hands up her back pulling her shirt up as I went, she moved away breaking the kiss long enough to rip her top off and throw it to one side. I smiled as I took in the newly exposed flesh, she moved back to kiss me along the jaw as she worked my own tee up and over my head before casting it aside on the floor.
"You are so sexy it is insane." She whispered as she ran her hands over my clenched stomach muscles, I shivered at her touch.
"Not as sexy as you," I whispered back as I grabbed her waist and span quickly so that I was on top of her all my weight resting on my elbows as I looked down into her eyes. "However as sexy as you are, I don't want our first time to be in my sister's guest room. Especially as when I start I have little intention of stopping." I said quietly as I leant down and kissed her softly. I felt my erection push against my jeans, it was almost painful and if I didn't stop now I never would. With one final kiss I pulled away and rolled over pulling her with me so that her head was lying on my chest.
"I hate Alice!" Bella smacked my chest causing me to flinch, "sorry," she placed kisses where she had hit me.
"You don't hate Alice, you love her. It's not her fault I want you so damn much that is entirely your fault." I smirked.
"Yeah well it's your fault I want you to take me every time I see you."
"We seem to be in a pickle, maybe one we can get ourselves out of very soon. Now sleep sweet Bella, I want you to be well rested for work tomorrow." I whispered into the dark, I felt Bella move about getting comfortable she ended up with one leg between mine, her head on my chest and one arm slung across my stomach. I smiled brightly as I moved my arms around her waist holding her tightly to me and closed my eyes drifting off to sleep.
The next chapter should be up on Friday, so until then I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
I am going to warn you that Jake is back within the next two chapters and some of you are going to hate me for different reasons.
