A/N: These two are so damn stubborn! Let's see if they make any progress today!

All recognisable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

10

Edward walked into the youth centre early the following morning with his tool box and renewed determination. They had to get this thing out of their systems. So many times he'd begun relationships over the past twelve years that just didn't go anywhere, and the problem wasn't the woman he was involved with, or even himself, it was Bella. She'd infected him. She was in every cell of his body and no matter how many times he'd tried, no other woman had the antidote. From her response to him, he felt sure she'd had the same problem. He walked into the common room his body tensed for battle, but also in anticipation of the rush of desire that always hit him as soon as he saw her, only to deflate suddenly when he saw she hadn't arrived yet. He shrugged and moved over to the corner of the room where the kitchenette was to be installed, pleased to note the cupboard carcasses had been delivered on time and set down his tool box. He was quickly immersed in the work in front of him. He'd always loved building things with his hands, and had in fact undertaken a fair amount of restoration work on his own house in his spare time, finding the physical labour therapeutic after a hard day of paper pushing. Not that he wanted to work physically as a permanent job, he enjoyed the challenges at the office and the chances to make a difference in the world, but as a hobby, DIY worked great for him both mentally and helped to keep him toned without extra hours at the gym.

He was so immersed in fact that it wasn't until at least an hour later that he felt a familiar prickling sensation at the back of his neck and quickly turned around to see Bella silently working on her mural at the other end of the long room. He had no idea how long she'd been there, but as if she'd sensed his attention, she turned to glance back at him too. Their eyes met and she gave him a brief nod of acknowledgement before turning back to her work. He felt a brief spurt of annoyance at her easy dismissal of him, but quickly squashed it. She was probably right, they both had their jobs to do in here, and they couldn't do it arguing, so with just a quick glance at her rounded bottom as she bent down for another paintbrush he turned back to his own work.

Bella sighed inwardly in relief as she felt his attention turn away from her. All night she'd fretted about how they were going to get on with their jobs today in the same room. She didn't want to let the kids down, but she just didn't know how it was going to work if she and Edward were at each other's throats, or bodies constantly. She'd walked in to see him wearing jeans that stretched tight across his bottom as he bent over his work and an old t-shirt that fitted him almost like a second skin and the surge of lust that burst through her at the sight had her flushing hotly. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she'd begun painting, wondering how long it would be before he came to her, either with anger or lust in his eyes. Now though, she could relax. He'd obviously decided that a silent truce between them was the best way to go too. It didn't take her long to lose herself in her mural again, she was loving the project and the freedom to paint on such a large canvas was incredible. At one point she glanced down, surprised to see a can of diet coke and a bag of Maltesers set near her paints. She turned to look at Edward, he was working hard completely ignoring her but who else knew her favourite drink and chocolate choices here? She popped a Malteser in her mouth and washed it down with a swig of the fizzy drink. She cleared her throat.

"Thanks" she said to his back before quickly turning back to the mural, not seeing his half smile in return.

Bella was warned of impending lunch time by her stomach beginning to growl and confirmed it with a glance at her watch. She set down her paintbrush and left without a word to Edward to walk to the shop just around the corner. Picking through the pre-packed sandwiches in the chiller cabinet, she chose BLT sandwiches for them both, knowing it used to be Edward's favourite, along with a couple of packs of crisps and drinks, also choosing Edward's old favourites. Returning to the common room, Edward didn't look up at her as she placed his lunch next to his tool box, but five minutes later as she painted, sandwich in her other hand, she heard him say "Thanks" to her back and smiled.

All through the afternoon Bella kept sneaking glances at Edward, admiring the view. He worked hard with his hands, which shouldn't have surprised her as he worked hard at everything he did, but somehow it still surprised her how skilled he appeared to be, especially for a paper pushing politician. Finally though he checked his watch and began to pack his tools away. Would he now come to her? She wondered, beginning to tense. She heard the door being pulled open,

"See you tomorrow" he said briskly then walked out the door.

Bella whirled around. He'd left? That was it?! She couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or relieved. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? Polite indifference whilst they worked? But it hadn't been, not really. All day she'd felt his presence calling to her like a damn magnet. So why was she so annoyed he'd just left? Then it came to her. She'd wanted his attention. As much as she tried to deny it, she craved his looks, his words, his touch, and being in the same room with him all day without any of that cut her more deeply than she cared to admit. She sighed and turned back to her painting, trying to lose herself in her mural again. After an hour of staring into space rather than painting she sighed again and began to clear her things away. Obviously she wasn't going to get any more work done tonight. She glanced at the door quickly as she heard it open, half relieved and half disappointed to see Rose.

"Hey Bella, are you packing up already?"

"Yeah, can't concentrate tonight. It's been a long day"

"Was it hard working with Edward in the same room today?"

Bella shrugged "It was fine, why?"

"I can see you two fancy each other like mad" grinned Rose "Must've been tough working with him looking so good today"

Bella shot her a rueful grin "You are far too observant for a sixteen year old you know"

"I think a blind man could see the sparks between you two! Have you met before this project?"

"Yeah we knew each other as teenagers"

"Let me guess, you were together and it ended badly right?"

Bella raised an eyebrow "Is it that obvious?"

Rose laughed "Yes"

Bella rolled her eyes "Great"

"Maybe meeting again is your second chance?"

"I doubt it somehow, we're too busy arguing to even have a conversation"

Rose shrugged "Maybe you should just kiss him and get it over with instead"

Bella's mouth dropped open in surprise "Are you sure you're only sixteen?"

Rose grinned "Hey I'm mature for my age. Seriously though, if a guy looked at me the way Edward looks at you, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss him"

"How does he look at me?"

"Like you're his favourite dessert"

Bella flushed, earning another big grin from Rose, before turning away to finish packing up her things.

"You know" said Rose ever so casually "Poor Edward is working here all day then having to go to his office afterwards all week. He really is a great bloke"

"Yeah a great bloke" murmured Bella.

"Well see you tomorrow!"

"Yeah, see you"

Bella thought about Edward all the way home. He was like an addiction, one taste and all she craved was more. She flushed as she sat there on the stuffy and packed train, thinking of all of his touches the other night. She glanced around her at the other commuters, sure they could read her thoughts, but no-one paid attention to her, even though she felt like she was glowing like a beacon of lust.

She let herself into her flat with a sigh of relief. She felt hot and sticky from the day anyway, her lusty thoughts weren't helping any. She stripped her clothes off on the way to the bathroom and took a cool shower, hoping the tepid water would cool her body internally as well as externally. Finally, she climbed out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body and hair before going back into the main part of the studio flat. She sat on her bed with a sigh, her body still feeling edgy and anxious. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.

This is ridiculous, she thought, just get it over with and go to him. You know you're going to give in anyway. She grinned ruefully at herself and shrugged. What the hell!

-TCM-

Edward was trying to concentrate on his work, but it just wasn't happening. He felt on the edge of his seat even though he was relaxed into his big black chair. The day working alongside Bella had been hell. Sheer hell. Every time he'd glanced over at her a surge of lust had bolted through him. It was a wonder he hadn't hammered his thumb or something. And when she'd got his lunch, her remembering his favourite foods had touched him ridiculously. He frowned blankly at the paperwork in front of him and sighed. Maybe he should go over there. Would she welcome him?

"Edward"

He looked up at his doorway, surprised. "Bella! How did you get up here unannounced?"

She shrugged and smiled mischievously "The doorman likes me" she said huskily.

Edward felt a twinge of annoyance that she would use her feminine wiles on yet another guy, then conflictingly felt absurd happiness that she'd use them to see him. She stepped into the light of his desk lamp and he gulped a little. It was hardly surprising the poor guy had given in to her. She wore a short camel mac, done up to her neck, but showing enough leg to give any guy palpitations. As she sauntered around his desk toward him, she began to undo the first the belt on her coat then slowly undid the buttons one by one. When she was done she slowly opened her coat causing him to gasp with lust at the sight she revealed, for underneath all she wore was a simple black lace bra and matching knickers.

He cleared his throat and asked huskily "Did you need something?"

She stopped in front of him as he turned in his chair to face her and slipped the coat off her shoulders before climbing slowly onto his lap facing him. "You" she answered simply and took his mouth in a deep kiss as he pulled her tightly to him.

They made love ardently, gasping at each other's touch and kiss, easing the ache of desire they'd felt all day working so closely together in an explosion of passion. They cried out their completion before she collapsed bonelessly against him. Finally, their breathing returned to normal and he joked huskily,

"You were dying to try out this chair weren't you?"

She smiled and started to extricate her limbs from his "Yep, it was all about the chair" she giggled. She slipped back into her underwear and began to put her coat on.

"Where are you going?"

She looked at him in surprise "I'd better get going" she shrugged.

Anger flushed his cheekbones "Got a hot date?" he snapped.

She shot him a furious look "Yeah that's right" she checked her watch "Gee I'd better get going or Emmett will find another whore to sleep with" she bit out.

"Yeah wouldn't want that, he might stop paying your rent for you"

Bella's mouth dropped open briefly, in shock that he'd figured where her rent came from, he thought, missing the hurt in her eyes.

"Screw you Edward" she bit out just before she walked out the door.

"You just did" he called after her.

A/N: Grr Edward! And they were getting on so well!