Over four and a half million years ago, Pharaoh Khufu ordered the construction of the great Pyramid.

What he buried beneath it, however, is every bit as impressive.

"The Khufu ship is one of the most extraordinary artefacts in the world. It's thirteen stories tall if you stand it on – "

I was startled when a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. The mattress sunk as I heard a warm voice in my ear.

"What are you watching?" Edward asked quietly. "Another documentary?"

"About the ten greatest discoveries in Egypt," I confirmed as I closed my eyes and relaxed against him; I loved it when he wrapped me in his warmth this way.

He pushed my hair aside and spoke against my skin. "I don't know why keep watching films like that. We fell asleep the last time you convinced me to try one."

"But this one's interesting," my voice turned breathy towards the end when I felt Edward place a long, sensual kiss on my neck. I tilted my head slightly to allow more kisses to be planted from my jaw to my shoulder.

"Mm," he hummed. "I think I know something you'll find more fascinating."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Take a guess."

"Music?"

"Try again," I felt Edward's tongue briefly touch my skin. That made me shiver.

"Video games?" my hand reached up to tangle in his hair. He growled when my nails lightly scratched his scalp.

"No."

"I give up," I sighed, feeling hot all over.

"I'll give you another hint," suddenly, I lifted and repositioned so that I was sitting on Edward's thighs with my legs either side of him.

Damn, he's strong, I marvelled as my hands rested on his chest for balance.

"Figure it out yet?"

I didn't respond. Instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him like my life depended on it.

Whimpers and moans filled the room as Edward and I made out. His hands went from my back to my waist and finally to my butt – that was something I just recently discovered, actually: my boyfriend was an ass man.

"Bella," Edward grunted hoarsely. "God, you feel so good, sweetheart."

"Edward," I whispered his name back before attacking his neck. The sounds that escaped his throat made my body temperature rise even more.

Unconsciously, I had pressed myself so close to him that when I moved slightly, I could feel every glorious inch of him. His hard abs, his strong chest…

…and his prominent erection.

We both mewled at the same time when I came in contact with it again…and again. Though our clothes remained on, the pleasure was still there and continued to grow until powerful hands gripped my waist and stopped my movements.

"What's wrong?" I panted.

"We need to…slow down," Edward replied, equally as breathless. His thumbs stroke the small of my back as he rearranged us so that I was lying by his side rather than on top of him.

"Why?" I whispered. I could feel insecurity crawling up my spine. "Didn't you…like it?"

"Oh, sweetheart," he stroked my cheek before kissing me briefly. "It isn't like that at all. In case you couldn't tell, I was enjoying myself. A lot." He grinned salaciously and I giggled a little. "I just…I don't want to rush."

Edward and I already had the conversation where my status of being a virgin was cleared up, and his status as…not a virgin was as well. The discussion was a little awkward, but I was glad he knew he'd be my first (eventually). He became more cautious with me after that, stopping our make-out sessions before they went too far like what he just did.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that he cares about me enough to go as far as cock-blocking himself, but sometimes, the situation becomes so frustrating in more ways than one.

"Hey," he tapped my chin so I would look at him again. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," I sighed. "Sorry. I'm still a bit wound up, but you're right. I know you're right. There's no need for us to be hasty."

Edward continued to stare at me with eyes that were still blazing with excitement, and after a second, he scooted closer so that he could hold me. "I think I should be the one doing the apologizing for…winding you up. If it's any consolation, I'm pretty much in the same state as you."

"I could tell."

He took a deep breath. "Look, I know I've been a massive cock-block whenever things get…interesting, but I want you to know it's not because I don't want you," I felt my face being tilted and my eyes met his. "It's because I don't want your first time to happen so quickly that you'll regret it later."

I wrapped my arms around his neck again. "I know, and I appreciate it. Really. I know I'm not ready yet for sex right now, but when things get all hot and steamy between us like what happened ten minutes ago…"

"It's difficult not to think about it."

"Yeah."

Silence encroached the room. "This is going to sound a little cheesy, but I want our first time together to be something special," Edward broke it first. "I promise, when you feel like you've…warmed up enough, so to speak, I'll try my best to make it amazing for you. You deserve nothing less."

I smiled. "You're too sweet, Edward. Any other boyfriend would probably be pushing for sex rather than what you're doing."

"What can I say? I'm clearly the anti-thesis of an asshole," he grinned back, instantly lightening the mood. "So you're really okay with me pulling the brakes whenever we unconsciously get into foreplay?"

"I am," I said honestly. "Besides, we always start making out at the wrong times. Take right now for instance. You have class in about half an hour, and I promised Alice I'd go with her to Jasper's gig."

"Don't worry, the perfect moment will present itself soon enough," he replied in reassurance. "For now, just let me have you like this."

I nodded and rested my head on his chest, telling myself to put sex out of my mind for the time being and just carry on until the right time arrives.

…

For the next two days, I managed to keep that promise. Other things like university work and YouTube filled my thoughts, and while Edward still made me feel…flirty whenever he held my hand, I kept thoughts of making love to him strictly in my peripheries.

Until I uncovered fanart and fanfiction.

Now as a student of Art, I'm all for creative outlets and self-expression, but some of the pictures and stories I stumbled upon were bordering on the extreme.

Let's take the art, for example.

Aside from cute and perfectly innocent Photoshop pieces of Edward and me, the fandom apparently also enjoyed creating photo manipulations of us in very compromising situations. There was one where a shirtless Edward had his hand up my skirt, another where we were tangled in bed naked, and even one where he was fondling my boobs – no nipple censor or anything!

Sketches weren't spared from the onslaught of erotic imagery either. Yes, I'll admit, I have a drawing or four of Edward scattered throughout my latest sketch pad, but it's not like ever drew him like one of my French girls – all sprawled out and naked. The drawings on the internet, though? Yeah, definitely in French girl territory.

And then there was the fanfiction. Sweet mother of cripes, the fanfiction.

Within the relatively short period of time Edward and I have been together, people have managed to create a quite impressive number of stories. I've read literary works that are centred on sex before, but it was just weird as all out to see my name attached to situations involving a lot of 'pounding' and 'riding.'

A common theme I saw in the few I had the guts to read was me cooking in nothing but an apron and heels, and Edward doing very naughty things with a vibrating controller. There was a lot of food play as well, and there were some…creative wordings all throughout.

I will never view a joystick or a Wiimote in the same way again.

Needless to say, the whole excursion made me cringe, but it also made me think about sex with Edward. Again.

"Bellsie!" Alice barging into my room fortunately distracted me. "You have to help me get ready. I can't tie the laces up!" she turned around to show the long row of holes meant to be looped through with a strip of ribbon.

"Why are you wearing such a complicated dress?" I asked. "We're just meeting Rosalie for dinner." It was her last night in New York – Carlisle, Esme, and Lauren flew home earlier – and she wanted to have a meal with everyone, Alice and Jasper included. Jasper couldn't make it, though, as he has a paper to rush, so it was just going to be us girls.

Alice blinked at me incredulously. "Are you kidding? There is no 'just' when it comes to Rosalie Cullen. I know she's like your sister-in-law or whatever, but she's a fashion queen, and I refuse to embarrass myself in her presence. Do you know Seventeen named her the Most Stylish Woman last month, and Cosmo said she – "

"Okay, I get it," I chuckled. "Rosalie is a fashion goddess and shouldn't be in the presence of crimes against style. Just give me the ribbon."

She handed it over and I go to work.

"You know, Rose isn't uptight or all hoity-toity. She's really down to earth," I said when I was about halfway up Alice's back. "I mean, she didn't care what I was wearing when I met her."

"Hmm. I suppose you have a point," she muttered. "Still, though. I want to look my best."

An hour later, Alice finally deemed herself ready and we drove to the restaurant. There, we were led by the maitre d' to the table where Edward and Emmett were already waiting.

"Hi, sweetheart," Edward kissed me on the cheek. "Was the drive up here okay?"

"It was fine," I smiled. Seeing him brought the smut I read earlier to the front of my mind again, but I shoved them to the back. Now was really not the time for that.

"Belly!" Emmett boomed before hugging me. "Glad you guys finally showed up. I'm hungry!"

"Hi, Em," I chuckled. "We would've been here sooner if Alice hadn't taken so long. Oh, uh, this is her by the way," I gestured to my cousin after realizing she and Emmett hadn't been introduced yet. "Al, this is Edward's roommate, Emmett."

"Nice to meet you, shorty," Emmett greeted.

"You, too, gentle giant," Alice giggled.

Further introductions were made when Rosalie returned from the bathroom. We all took our seats around the table afterwards.

"This is so surreal. I actually know you now," Alice said to Rosalie in awe. "You are definitely one of my style inspirations."

"Thank you," Rose replied kindly. "I have to say, I adore your fashion sense. Is that dress Marc Jacobs?"

"OMG, yes!" Alice clapped excitedly. "He designed your gown for the Miss Universe pageant, right? The lavender one?"

"Lavender?" Emmett's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Wasn't your gown red?"

"Nah, man, I'm pretty sure it was green," Edward said.

"Green? Red? What the hell are you two talking about?" Rosalie asked. "Alice is right, it was lavender."

"Then when did you wear the red dress?" Emmett pondered. "Ah, well. Must've been another pageant. Heh, I forgot I didn't even watch this year's competition."

"What?!" Rose's eyebrows shot up. "You didn't watch Miss Universe?"

"Uh…" Emmett fiddled with his utensils nervously. "Well, not the whole thing, but – "

"And you," she looked at Edward. "Did you watch?"

"Well, I didn't get to watch the beginning part – "

"I can't believe you two!" Rosalie shook her head and turned to Alice and I. "Can you believe this? And they're supposed to be my boyfriend and my brother."

"Men," Alice patted her back in sister solidarity. "Sometimes they just don't get it."

"Hey, I watched the question and answer part when you got picked for the top five," Emmett defended himself. "You always did say that brains is more important than beauty. And I watched your coronation, too!"

Rose huffed, but after a while, she forgave him.

"I have a confession to make," I whispered in Edward's ear as the two made up. "I haven't watched the pageant either."

Edward chuckled. "You really are the perfect girl for me."

The food arrived then, and the discussion revolved around different topics as we ate. At some point, Alice brought up a YouTube charity event that she planned on participating in.

"It's going to happen during spring break in Cali, so the timing's perfect," she said. "All the proceeds made in ticket sales will go to various organizations like Charity: Water."

"Edward and Bella will probably go," Rosalie remarked. "Or wait, aren't you guys visiting Chicago during spring break?"

"We are," Edward nodded, his eyes turning to me. "Well, we haven't actually talked about our schedule for that time period is yet."

"I'd love to go with you to Chicago," I said. "And you said you wanted to see my folks in Forks, too?"

"Of course I do."

"I think the timeline can work in your favour if you wanted to go to the charity thing," Alice pointed out. "You can go to Chicago and Forks during the first couple of days, then head to California until classes start again. That's what Jasper and I are planning to do. The event isn't until April third, anyway."

"Sounds like a good idea," Edward mused. "What do you think, Bella?"

"I'm agreeable," I told him. "That is, if you're willing to spend the whole of spring break with me."

"You know I am," he grinned and kissed my hand.

"It's settled, then. This is going to be so much fun!" Alice clapped happily again.

I smiled as my mind fully registered our new schedule. Edward and I, for all intents and purposes, are going to be alone for roughly two weeks. Well, not in Chicago or Forks since that's where the parental units are, but California…there was nothing to disturb us there.

Could that be the 'perfect moment' Edward was talking about?

The first lines of the chapter are from a real documentary by National Geographic titled Egypt's Ten Greatest Discoveries.