Notes: Thanks to Sunflower3759 and Ashes Ashes for beta-ing and Content1 for validating! I am a lucky girl to have so many fabulous people working on this story!

Send big thanks to Content1, she has kindly offered to take over validation for this story. It means I'll be able to post on a regular schedule now! Look for this story to update every Sunday. *phew* This means that now all three of my WIPs are posting on scheduled days which makes my life infinitely easier.

Here's the weekly schedule (barring major disaster!)

Sunday: "Life of a Wedding Photographer"

Tuesday: "Beyond the Break Room"

Thursday: "Lose the One You Love"


Chapter 11: Soon

BPOV

In the month since Edward and I met, we had effortlessly fallen into a relationship. It was easy to be with him. Amazingly so. He was everything I'd hoped he'd be, and I knew I was falling hard and fast. This morning he'd woken me with kisses all over every inch of my body. Every girl should be so lucky.

"What are you smiling about?" Victoria asked, and I blinked in surprise as she continued. "Let me guess—Mr. GQ?"

I chuckled and smiled at her. We were on our way back from the wedding we'd shot together, and I was exhausted; apparently, I'd zoned out while thinking about him.

"He hasn't been in GQ," I countered. Edward's modeling was nowhere near that level.

"He probably could be if he wanted," she mused.

"Probably, but he doesn't want it. He's really happy as a journalist."

"What does he write?"

"Local news. I know he's been following the scandal at the mayor's office lately."

"You know, you have yourself a winner there, Bella; he's smart, successful, phenomenally handsome and not an egotistical jerk."

I grinned. "I know. I am so happy."

"I'm happy for you. It's really showing in your work, too. You've been doing an excellent job lately."

"Really?"

"Really, Bella. There's a maturity in your work I haven't seen before. I knew you had potential, and I'm glad I decided to let you be second shooter. Your skill is really developing. You're great with the clients. Much better than Bree, actually."

I shifted in my seat to look at Victoria. "I've been meaning to talk to you about Bree lately."

Victoria glanced away from the road for a moment. "What about her?"

"Has she seemed a little off lately?"

"Off, how?"

"Just ... off. Kinda depressed, and not really her usual self. She's always quiet, but she seems especially quiet lately."

"No, I can't say I've really noticed that, but I'll keep an eye out."

"Thanks. I've been worried about her."

Victoria nodded and pulled into the parking lot behind the studio. "I'm glad you said something. I've had so much going on lately; I probably haven't been paying enough attention."

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Oh, it's fine. Just busy. Honestly, we have more clients than we can really handle. I hope you're still going to be able to work during the school year, we really need you."

"Of course. Not every day, but probably three or four days a week, definitely four if you include weekend shoots. And I can come in for a few hours on days I have classes, if you really need me to."

"That would be incredibly helpful. I'm thrilled that things are going so well, but we're really stretched thin. I have a couple of ideas of how I'm going to deal with that, but I'll let you know in the next few weeks, once I figure it out."

"Okay." I assumed she meant she'd be hiring more people to work in the office. We are stretched really tight right now, and hiring someone else would really help out.

We got out of the car and I helped her unload our gear and get it into the studio. Although I offered to stay and help her upload the files, she dismissed my suggestion.

"Go spend the night with Mr. GQ. I'm sure he's waiting up for you." She winked, and I laughed and said good night.

I was eager to get to Edward's. I called him when I was just a few minutes from his place, and he was waiting for me when I pulled up. I hurried out of the car, so eager to be in his arms. Sometimes it was a little scary how much I wanted him. But I never felt that we were moving too fast though; it just felt right.

"Hey, how was the wedding?" he asked, after he kissed me until I was breathless. We were walking up the stairs to his apartment; he had my bags slung over his shoulder, and our fingers were clasped together.

"It went well, really well. It was at the Seattle Golf Club and, oh my God, the place is amazing. It's a little too over-the-top for my taste, but it made for great photos. The view of the Sound is just incredible. We got these amazing photos of the bride and groom silhouetted against the water. And the food was phenomenal. The bride was a little bit high-strung but, overall, I think it went really well."

"I'm glad." He squeezed my hand and smiled at me before opening his apartment door. I stopped in my tracks in the doorway. The lights were off, there were candles lit, and music was softly playing in the background.

"What's this for, Edward?"

"You," he whispered against my hair, and I felt him nudge me forward so he could close the door behind us and turn me around to face him.

"But—" He stopped my words, his finger against my lips.

"But nothing. I know you've had a long day so I thought we'd have a really relaxing night. How do you feel about Italian for dinner, eaten on the floor like a picnic?"

"I love it."

He grinned at me, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. It wasn't long before I was panting against his mouth, and pressing my body against his tightly.

"Come on." He laughed against my mouth. "Dinner first, then you can have your wicked way with me."

We took a seat on the blanket he'd thrown down on the floor, and used the coffee table to eat off of. I was starving, even though I'd had dinner at the reception. Standing, crouching and kneeling while I shot for twelve hours was exhausting work. After we ate, he lay down on the floor on his back and I curled up with my head on his shoulder.

"I missed you today."

"I missed you, too."

"I doubt you had time to miss me."

"No, I did," I insisted. "The best man at this wedding wasn't nearly as hot as you."

He chuckled and I felt it rumble under my ear. "I see how it is."

"Yeah, didn't you know? I have a huge thing for groomsmen, especially the best man."

He flipped us over so I was pinned underneath him. "I'll show you who the best man is."

I giggled until he kissed me. His kisses were deep and slow and I eagerly moved against him. No matter how sore and exhausted I was, I wanted Edward desperately. I was in the middle of pulling his t-shirt off when he stopped me.

"There's one more part to what I had planned for tonight."

"Mmm, what's that?"

He didn't answer, just stripped my clothing from me as I patiently waited. I watched him closely, loving the way the flickering light from the candles played across his face. Sometimes it absolutely boggled my mind that we were together. As I watched his face, though, I knew the look I was seeing; it was the same as mine. We were both a little awed at what we'd found in each other. I sighed with pleasure when he gently rolled me onto my stomach. It took me a moment to figure out what he was doing, until I caught the scent of the lemon lotion I'd left at his place earlier in the week.

I wiggled happily on the blanket as his fingers began to massage me. God he's almost too good to be true, I thought happily, as he worked the achy tightness from my shoulders and legs until I was so relaxed I thought I'd melt. My feet were last, and I moaned out loud when he finished.

"Good?" he asked.

"Amazing. Thank you."

I went to turn over but he stilled me with a hand on my hip. "Are you feeling up to anything else?" His voice was a low rumble.

I clenched my thighs together in anticipation. "Always."

He kissed my shoulder and I turned my head to see him putting a condom on. He parted my legs and gently pushed into me with his fingers. It took very little time at all for me to be ready for him, and I moaned quietly and rested my head on my forearms as he slid inside me. I sighed with pleasure as he moved in and out of me.

His deep, slow thrusts made me ache, and with his body pinning me down, I could hardly move. It was a teasing, intense position, and I felt his warm breath on my cheek as his lips caressed my skin there.

"It feels so good to be inside you, Bella. Like nothing I've ever felt before."

"I've never felt like this either, Edward." I shuddered against him, on the verge of orgasm and utterly overwhelmed by both the physical pleasure and the emotional connection we had.

I whispered, "God, sometimes this is just so … so much."

"What do you mean?" I could hear the worry in his voice. He stilled within me and gently pulled out so I could roll over. His arms wrapped around mine and he pulled me close, pushing into me again so we were connected.

"It's not bad; it's just overwhelming how much I care about you. I didn't expect this." I felt myself tearing up a little, completely and utterly amazed at how it felt to be surrounded by him, cherished by him. He was all of the little things I'd never even dreamed about wanting. To have him be mine so suddenly was staggering.

He brushed a couple of soft kisses against my cheek and temple and tightened his grip on me.

"No, I didn't either," he admitted. "But it doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy every second of it.

"Me either."

When he began to move again, I lost myself in the feeling of his body on top of, and inside of me. His mouth licked and gently sucked at the skin on my neck and shoulder. I shuddered again as the orgasm built.

"Ohh," I gasped breathily. "Oh, yes …."

With a desperate, deep groan of pleasure, he came, and I felt my body shudder against him. We both collapsed onto the blanket, his body still half covering mine. His hand rubbed up and down my side as he held me close; like he couldn't bear to even be an inch apart from me. I couldn't bear it either.

~LWP~

My phone vibrated on my desk as I was shutting my computer down. "Hey," I answered happily. "I'm just about ready to head out of work."

"Hey."

I was surprised; Edward's tone was much more subdued than mine. He sounded exhausted.

"I don't think I'm going to be able to go to the movies tonight. This article is not going well, and I've got at least a couple of hours of writing ahead of me."

"Aww, I'm sorry," I said. "Don't worry about tonight; I completely understand. We can go some other time."

He sighed. "Thanks. I'm really going to miss seeing you though. I've been looking forward to it all day."

"I've been looking forward to it, too," I said softly. "Why don't you come over after you're done? Even if I'm about to go to bed, it would be nice to sleep beside you tonight."

"That sounds great." He paused. "Actually, I have an even better idea. We won't be able to go to a movie, but I can work from home. That is, if you don't mind finding something else to do while I work."

"Sure," I agreed. "I can stare at your pretty face while you work."

He made a disgusted sound. "You better bring a book or your laptop."

I laughed. "Fine. Want me to pick up dinner on the way to your place?"

"That would be great. Mei's?"

"Sounds good." I knew he loved eating food from Mei's restaurant, especially on the nights he worked late.

"I'll call it in now; they should have it ready by the time you get there."

"Okay. See you in a bit."

I packed up the rest of my things and headed out of the office, waving at Victoria as I left. She was engrossed in photo editing and barely even acknowledged my departure. She did that all the time, so I wasn't surprised or offended. More often than not, when she was working on photos Victoria was too deep in her own thoughts to notice much of the world around her.

She had taken off the suit jacket she had on earlier in the day, and her wild, red hair was pulled up in a messy bun. With her legs crisscrossed up on her office chair and a can of Red Bull in her hand, she looked more like a student studying for finals than the owner of a successful photography studio. It was one of the things I loved most about Victoria. She may have been my boss, but she was very approachable as well.

Traffic wasn't too bad as I drove across town. I had to circle the block, but I eventually found a spot near Hing Loon Restaurant. Mei greeted me with a large smile when I entered the restaurant.

"Your food is almost ready. Lo is finishing up the duck now."

"Thanks, Mei." I smiled back at her. Lo was her grandson, he was right around my age and had been raised by her after his parents died. He was a cook in the family restaurant. Edward and I had been back several times in the past month, and I felt like I was getting to know the tiny woman who loved Edward so much.

"How is Mr. Edward?" she asked.

"He's frustrated because he has to work late tonight. I'm picking the food up so we can at least have a little bit of an evening together," I explained.

She grinned at me. "I made sure I added some almond cookies. I made them fresh this morning and they're his favorite."

"I'm sure he'll appreciate them," I said warmly. "I know he loves your food; especially when he's working on a story."

"He's a good boy." She smiled fondly. "Is he treating you right?"

"He's amazing."

She grinned at me. "I can tell he's happy with you. He's never smiled so much before. You're a good girl for him."

"Thanks, Mei." It sent a warm glow through me to realize that the elderly woman, who adored Edward, thought that I was good for him.

A thought occurred to me. "Hey, I know he probably gave you his credit card over the phone, did you need me to sign or anything?"

A surprised look crossed her face. "No, he didn't. I think he forgot to pay. No big deal. He can pay next time."

"No, let me pay. I'll surprise him."

"Okay." She shrugged and rang up our order. As I signed for dinner, I realized that Edward was right; she charged us a fraction of what the prices on the menu would be. I left a hefty tip and, just as I handed over the receipt, Lo arrived with our bags of food. I thanked them both and wished them a good night before leaving the restaurant.

I called Edward as I pulled into the parking ramp and grabbed the food and my bags. I was juggling them when Edward appeared. He gave me a quick kiss and took most of the bags from me, despite my protests.

"Hey, I'm glad you came over."

"I am, too. Are you sure I won't interfere with your work?" I asked.

He shook his head, smiling, and we headed up the stairs to his place. "No, I'd be so distracted at work thinking about you that I wouldn't be any good anyway. At least this way you'll be right here, and I can submit the article via email."

"Well, I promise to be on my best behavior tonight."

He opened his door and deposited my bags on the floor while I placed the food on the countertop.

"Don't promise that," he said. "At least not until after I get my work done. Then, I want you to be bad."

He put his arms around me and backed us into the living room until the back of his legs hit the arm of the couch. He fell back and I shrieked and tried not to knee him in any sensitive areas. When we were both in a relatively comfortable position, he cupped my cheeks in his hand and kissed me thoroughly. He was hard against me when we finally broke away.

"I really want to drag you into my bedroom and have my way with you," he said, his voice rough and eager sounding.

"We have dinner," I said weakly.

"We could eat it cold, in bed. After." He nipped at my earlobe with his teeth and I shivered with pleasure.

"So tempting. But you have work, Edward."

"I know." He groaned.

"And your boss already thinks I'm a distraction."

He rolled his eyes, but he knew I was right. He'd told me about his conversation with his boss. I knew it was mostly good-natured teasing between them, but I couldn't stand the idea of being a bad influence when it came to Edward's career.

"Fine. We'll have dinner and I'll finish my article. But by the time it's done, I want you naked in my bed, waiting for me."

"Deal." I shimmied off of him and stood, holding out my hand.

He took it with a pout, and I smiled at the sight of him. He was so incredibly cute when he didn't get his way.

We ate dinner at the kitchen counter, feeding each other bites of food. It tasted amazing, but what wouldn't taste better straight from Edward's fingers? When we were done and we'd cracked open our fortune cookies, I offered to clean up. He protested, but I gently pushed him toward the couch. "Work. I'll clean up."

He sighed, gave me a quick kiss on the forehead, and went over to the couch. I put the leftovers in the fridge cleaned up the kitchen while he got to work. I was wiping down the countertop when I looked up to see him frowning at his laptop. He had a pen between his teeth, a lined notepad resting on his chest and his laptop balanced on his thighs. He was concentrating hard, and the lighting perfectly highlighted the planes and angles of his face and the sculpted lines of his forearms and hands.

I felt an itch to take a photo and I dropped the sponge onto the countertop and dried my hands. He paid no attention to me when I quietly walked over to my bag to grab my camera. I zoomed in, and it wasn't until the shutter clicked, and the flash popped up that he reacted. He blinked in surprise and gave me a mildly annoyed look. "Really?"

"Really. The lighting is just incredible. And I've been dying to get you in front of my camera again."

He rolled his eyes, and turned back to his work. He didn't protest when I took another photo. In a few minutes I could tell he couldn't even tell I was there, he was so focused on his work. He cracked his knuckles absentmindedly and I winced, hating the sound. I had found one of the little things that made Edward Cullen less than perfect, but I figured if that was anywhere near the worst of it, I was a lucky, lucky girl. Still, it drove me bonkers.

It made for a great photo though, as did the picture of him raking his finger through his hair. He was so absorbed in his work he didn't even notice when I crept closer and zoomed in, focusing on his stunning profile and the shadow of stubble on his chin.

By the time I was done photographing him, I was incredibly aroused and frustrated. I knew he had a while before he'd be done.

I wandered over to the shelf on the wall that held DVDs and books. I perused them for a while before finally picking out a book. Then I got my iPod and headphones from my bag. I took a seat on the couch at the opposite end from where Edward was working. He glanced up at me briefly and smiled as I got comfortable, our legs tangling together. He immediately returned to work, and I heard the quiet clack of the keyboard, interspersed with the scribbling of his pen on paper.

I slipped the ear buds in and thumbed through my play lists until I found something mellow. I got lost in the music and the book. It wasn't until Edward sat up and touched my knee that I was aware he was trying to talk to me. I slipped the headphones out and glanced up at him. He gave me a slow, crooked smile and I felt my body flush.

"I'm just about done, and I believe you promised me something, shutterbug," he said huskily.

I grinned at the ridiculous nickname he'd been calling me lately and tossed the book and iPod on the coffee table. I sat up and kissed him quickly before standing up. "I'll be waiting," I teased him as I walked out of the living room.

I took a moment to brush my teeth and freshen up before I stripped and lay down on his bed. I wasn't tired; in fact, I felt a flush of eager anticipation wash through my body as I waited. I was in the middle of a stretch when Edward walked in the doorway.

He paused, and his eyes moved over me hungrily. "You are so fucking beautiful," he murmured. "Stay right there, just like that."

"Okay," I agreed, although I had no idea why he turned and left the room. My lips curved up in a smile when he returned and I saw my camera in his hand. I shivered and felt my nipples tighten from the cool air in the room.

"Yeah?" I asked as he walked over to the bed.

"You're not the only one who likes pictures." He gave me a slow, crooked smile. "I'm nowhere near as good as you are, but I'd love to have a few pictures of you, just like this."

My heart hammered in my chest in anticipation.

"Okay." I agreed. "Just … no one but the two of us sees them, right?"

"Of course not." He looked shocked. "Just for me. For us."

"Okay then."

I wet my lips, and he took a moment to study the camera before turning it on and taking the lens cap off. He tossed the cap on the dresser and leaned back against it before putting the camera to his eye. I couldn't deny it; there was something thrilling about the situation. It felt illicit and daring, and just watching as Edward's long fingers wrapped around my camera was enough to make the muscles deep in my belly flutter.

I watched him as he snapped photo after photo and directed me into a few simple poses. They were natural and comfortable and I had to admit he really had an eye for posing. Whether or not I was able to pull them off remained to be seen. Still, the entire experience was erotic and intimate.

I was wet halfway down my thighs by the time we were done and he gently laid the camera on the bed beside me and sat down. "You're so fucking beautiful," he whispered again.

"Thank you," I said quietly. I felt beautiful when he looked at me—exquisitely and powerfully beautiful. I had a healthy sense of self-esteem, so I was quite confident about myself to begin with, but when Edward's appreciative eyes roamed over my body, it made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. At least to him.

I stood up and pulled Edward to his feet. Stripping off his clothes, I gently pushed him down onto the bed. "My turn."

His eyes widened as he realized what I meant. I wanted to giggle when a flush crossed his cheeks. My blushing, embarrassed model.

It was almost overwhelming to shoot Edward nude. I didn't even know where to start. Every inch of him was so beautiful and the low lighting in the room leant a romantic cast to the photos. I could have done something more artistic with the right studio lighting, but I liked the intimacy of these. They were photos just for the two of us, personal, intimate, and real. He was so hard by the time I was done. When I put aside the camera and lowered my head to his cock, he gasped and threaded his hands through my hair.

I teased him for a long time, drawing out the pleasure until he was shaking and trembling under me, his hands gripping the sheets so hard his knuckles were white. I swallowed it all down when he came, and he was still panting and dazed when I crawled onto the bed beside him. He was still half-hard even after coming, and a few lazy strokes of his hand had him fully hard again. It wasn't long before he'd pinned me to the bed and began to fuck me with deep, even strokes.

After we'd both come down from earth-shattering orgasms, we curled up together and looked through the photos. Both sets were incredible. Of course, the ones I had taken of him were technically better. He knew how to pose and I knew how to frame the shot just right, but I was astonished by the look of the ones he had taken of me. The look of adoration and arousal on my face was stunning, and he perfectly captured the yearning I had for him.

I nearly pushed the camera to the floor in my haste to kiss him; although, thankfully, he managed to catch the strap and lower it down safely. We kissed for a long time, needing to express our unspoken emotions. We were so close and, although my tongue felt thick with a need to tell him I loved him, I held back. It wasn't quite the right time yet. But it would be soon. And I could see the eager, apprehensive need on his face as well.


Notes: So, things are moving along with their relationship and Bella has brought up Bree's behavior to Victoria. Wonder what's going to happen next …

Did you enjoy their naughty photography session? I couldn't resist!

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