Chapter 14

A/N - Hi guys :o)

I'm so sorry for the lack of updates. My teething puppy decided to eat my laptop cable... Luckily, it wasn't on, so no frazzled puppy! I'll keep the updates regular now that I have a new cable :o)

As always, I own nada :o)

Someone up above was teasing me, of that I was sure. It was the greater Gods having a good laugh at my expense. Giving me a little bit of Edward and then pulling him back and placing him just beyond my reach. He was still close, so close that if I stretched my arms out, the tips of my fingers brushed his perfectly pouty lips.

I was screaming, so frustrated that the thing I wanted most was just beyond my grasp. Why wasn't he trying to get to me? Why wasn't he making an effort?

Everything I was doing, everything I was fighting against to merely touch him, was not reciprocated.

He didn't move, seemingly content with standing just out of my reach. That's how he was, what he was...Beyond my reach. No matter how much I struggled and called his name, not for the life of me could I reach him and it devastated me.

"Shhh," his voice cooed.

It was so close; I could feel his breath on my neck as he whispered in my ear. But he was standing in front of me? He couldn't be so close.

It didn't make sense.

I whimpered and my body started to move unwillingly, he was backing away from me now and I felt as though I couldn't breathe. My fists were gripping on to something soft, something was supporting me yet I had nothing in my hands.

My body was still bouncing and swaying calmly as I glanced sadly and pleadingly when he kept taking steps backwards. I wanted him here, I wanted to touch him. Why was he walking away?

"No!" I cried. Desperate for him to stay within reach, to stay in my sight.

"Shh, it's okay."

Again, his voice was in my ear. So close and so soft.

His figure became more blurred and I was blinking my eyes frantically in order to keep the focus. It didn't help and the more I blinked, the more he blurred and our surroundings became dark until finally, he disappeared.

"No," I sighed, defeated, yet as the word escaped my mouth it sounded to my own ears, deeper and more realistic...

My eyes were still flickering as I became aware of my whereabouts.

Someone was carrying me and I was holding on for dear life. Blinking slower now, I managed to focus on where I really was and loosen the death grip I had on the shirt tangled in my fists.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, doing my best to flatten out his wrinkled shirt over his shoulders as he carried me.

"Don't worry about it."

I could hear the smile in his voice without looking up at him and it made me grin like a mad woman.

"Bad dream?" He asked as he carried me through the halls of, what I was guessing was his town house.

"Weird," I answered back, still unsure of what to make of my little nightmare.

I felt him twist a door knob and walk in to a room, it was cold, freezing actually and I shivered against him as he placed me on the bed I thought I would never sleep in again.

"I didn't realise it was so cold in here," he spoke; his voice no more of a whisper as he pulled the covers over my body, right up to my chin and did his best to tuck them under me. Truthfully, I think he was subtly trying to restrain me as my hands were bound to my sides by the tight blankets. It was like he didn't want me to touch him.

"Are you trying to bind me to myself?" I asked, unable to look up at him.

"Pardon?"

"Edward, I can't move."

"No, it appears you can't," he smirked, mischievously.

I sighed, both out of exhaustion and frustration. I wanted him to open up to me so much, I would be grateful for just a little peek in to the workings of his mind but it seemed like he had closed himself off again.

He was sitting beside me on the bed but his back was almost totally turned on me. I couldn't really see his face and it made him even more difficult to read.

Damn him.

"You should sleep," he continued, not aware of my frustration at him.

"I don't want to, not right now."

He turned to me then, a small, polite smile on his lips. "Bella, you're dead on your feet. Please try to sleep."

"No," I answered, stubbornly.

"Excuse me?" He questioned, eyebrow raised.

"I slept enough in the car on the way here."

"The journey took 15 minutes, that's hardly adequate don't you think?"

"Your point?" I questioned, trying to ruffle his feathers as much as possible.

"Sleep," he stated, standing up from the bed and making his way towards the door.

I let my eyes fall to the bed sheets in defeat. I had hoped for more than that, I could have sworn that some unspoken truce had passed between us in the car. I thought he was going to let me in a little more, show me new sides of himself that would help me to understand him a little better.

Obviously I had been wrong.

"Why do I do this to myself?" I sighed in sadness, not meaning for him to hear.

He obviously had ears like a bat though, because before I knew it he was back at my side, kneeling on the bed and cupping my face in his hands.

"Don't," he whispered, forcing me to look right at him. "Don't you dare question yourself like that, do you hear me?"

I sniffed a little, unable to answer him.

"Bella, I know I'm frustrating you. God, I'm frustrating myself but you have to understand something. This..." He motioned between us with his finger before placing his hand back on my face, "isn't a game, I don't know how to cope with this. It's all new to me, all these feelings and emotions that are taking over are completely foreign and unwanted on my behalf."

"Unwanted?" I choked.

This time he sighed and broke our locked gaze causing me to scrunch my eyes closed in a feeble attempt at numbing the pain and hurt that flashed through me.

His hands fell from my face and one dropped to my neck, I'm sure he could feel the rate my pulse was pumping through my body. I could practically hear it.

"If you don't want me, Edward, just say so. Don't keep stringing me along, making me believe that you feel something for me too." I opened my eyes but still didn't meet his.

"I don't know what I feel," he answered, his voice strong and sure.

"Then please, don't let me force you in to anything," I spat, twisting in the tightly bound covers and turning my back on him.

"Listen to me," he shot back, grabbing the covers and pulling hard so that somehow, I ended up facing him again. "I said I don't know what I feel. Not that I don't feel anything." He moved his hand to his hair and started tugging on it harshly.

"What are you trying to say, Edward?"

"Bella, you have no idea what these emotions are doing to me, I don't ever have feelings like this. I don't kill someone out of pure fear of what he may or may not have done or helped-"

"Excuse me?" I interrupted.

It was then that his eyes met mine and I picked up on the panic that flashed through them.

"I can honestly say that killing that son of a bitch didn't satisfy me enough. Bella, I wanted him to suffer more than he did, more than you and he will ever know all because-"

"Who are you talking about, Edward?" I interrupted again. "Who did you kill?"

He looked over the top of my head, not meeting my curious and frightened eyes, fixing his focus to the wall above my head.

"Demetri," he scowled.

My mouth went dry as he spoke the name that caused my blood to turn to ice. I doubted whether I had heard him correctly but one look at his face and all was confirmed.

"You killed him," I stated rather than asked and watched as he nodded his head once, still not looking at me.

"How...Why?" I stuttered.

"Why?...Because he betrayed me and intended on hurting you, more than once I might add. Then he was part of the ploy to get you to Laurent." His voice was stone cold and angry now and I could tell he was reliving the moment. "How?...slowly" The harshness of his voice made me shiver.

I didn't really want to know how he had killed him and was grateful that he left out most of the details, although the way he spoke made me realise that there's no way it would have been a nice death that Demetri met.

"You're very protective," I smiled, trying to ease him a little more.

Was I sad that Demetri was gone? That he was no longer a threat to me? No. I wasn't. No matter how much of a nice person I thought I was, I couldn't help but feel a little relieved that he wouldn't bother me anymore, wouldn't haunt my dreams or my fragile mind.

"Would you rather I did nothing?" He bit back, rather harshly.

"No...God no, Edward?" I sat up now and this time it was me grabbing his face, making him meet my eyes. "Thank you," I whispered, a slight smile gracing my mouth.

He moved forward before I could register it and crashed his mouth to mine again, just like before in my apartment.

It was hurried and desperate and so damn hot. Our faces were pressed against each other and the grip my hands had, never loosened. I wanted him to feel what I did.

Before long our tongues met as we deepened the kiss, never letting the strong emotions falter. We were both struggling to breathe yet unwilling to stop. His hands wound themselves around my waist and pulled me towards him with such strength that I was sitting in his lap without feeling like I had moved at all.

"God, Bella..." he moaned as I straddled him, my hands working their way in to his soft, rebellious hair and tugging a little.

I shivered with pleasure when his cool hands worked under my top and he started running them along my bare flesh. This time I took control and broke the kiss, startling him a little before I started kissing and sucking his neck, working my way down and along his collar bone as he let his head fall back to give me more access. I could feel his arousal pressing against my core as I straddled him and couldn't help but smile when I shifted against it, causing him to growl and his hands halt for a second on my back.

I moved my hands from his hair and let them fall to his strong, muscular chest. He froze under my touch and I stopped attacking his neck to look at him.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worried that I had done something wrong.

"Nothing," he groaned, grabbing my hands and placing them back around his neck, moving his face forward to capture my lips again. I didn't fight him as he unclasped my bra almost expertly and palmed my breasts causing me to moan in to his mouth. His cold hands making my nipples pucker instantly.

He grabbed the hem of my top again and pulled it over my head, only breaking our kiss for a second as he did so, then pushing my bra straps down my arms and discarding my garments on to the floor.

I was now completely topless and squirmed under his gaze when he stopped kissing me and looked at my naked top half.

"You're beautiful," he sighed, causing me to blush and then he moved his mouth to my left nipple, flicking it with his tongue and sucking on it, playing with the other one with his hand. My head fell back and I let out a low moan at the sensation of his mouth on my breast.

I lay back as he shifted his weight so that he was now lying above me and again, I moved my hand to his chest, attempting to unbutton his shirt. He froze again and I knitted my eyebrows together in confusion as he sat up and started to undo his shirt himself, leaving me lying on my back unable to help.

He removed it quickly and my eyes widened at the sight before me. Perfect was an understatement. He was muscular, yet not bulky. Every muscle in his abdomen and pecks perfectly defined and the small slithers of chest hair present on the top of his chest and running from his belly button, down below the belt of his trousers made me almost physically drool. I had never seen anything so beautiful as the man sitting on top of me.

He smiled a little and leaned down to capture my lips again. My hands automatically went to his hair and worked their way to his back where I let my nails drag over his skin as he kissed me. His skin was so soft and smooth that I wanted touch every inch of it. Slowly dragging my nails softly from the bottom of his back around to the front of his pants, I was surprised when again, he grabbed them and held them above my head.

"Okay, stop," I demanded, causing him to halt his mouth as it sucked and licked my neck. "What is your problem?" I asked, becoming agitated.

"What are you talking about?" He questioned, mouth still against my neck.

"Should I just lie here motionless whilst you have your way with me?" The anger was evident in my voice as I spoke, causing him to look up at me finally.

"What?" He asked, his face contorted in confusion.

"Why won't you let me touch you?"

"Bella, you have been touching me," he stated back. His face was still showing his confusion and by God if I had to, I was going to spell it out to him.

"Edward, why did you stop me from touching your chest?"

"Bella-"

"Three times I tried and three times you distracted or moved my hands. What's going on?"

He sighed, his breath hit my neck and I had to remind myself that I was pissed off. A feat that was only made harder when he sat up again, straddling my mid-section and I found myself biting on my lip as his chest was brought back in to my line of vision and my insecurity at being half naked in front of him, resurfaced.

"It's...I don't know. I don't like it."

"You what?" Now it was my turn to be perplexed.

"I. Don't. Like. It." He obviously wasn't too happy that I had picked up on his little issue.

"Right. Thanks for clearing that up for me," I nodded, livid now.

I pushed him off of me and jumped from the bed picking up my bra and t-shirt, storming to the bathroom and slamming the door closed behind me.

Great. Now I was majorly aroused and pissed off.

I paced around the room for a long time, balls of my hands shoved roughly in my eye sockets and murmuring angrily to myself.

Why was he so damn complicated? He was worse than a bloody girl! All confusion, angst and hormones and it was beginning to drive me insane. Gosh, before long I was going to end up throwing him against a wall -or any surface really- and having my way with him, regardless of whether or not he consented to it.

Great. Now I was contemplating raping him.

Insane wasn't the word. I was delusional, twisted...Horny.

My bedroom was empty when I finally decided to leave the bathroom and it gutted me. I had secretly been hoping that he would still be sitting on my bed waiting for me to re-emerge so that he could explain a bit more to me. Enlighten me.

But it was not to be.

"I think she should wear this."

"No, I like this one."

"Nah, it doesn't show enough flesh."

"That's because it's sophisticated, Rose."

I hated mornings. Especially mornings when I awoke feeling like I hadn't slept at all even though I had been doing so for...16 hours!

I took a deep breath, steadying myself for what I knew I was about to face and sat up, rubbing my eyes to try and awaken myself a little more.

"What are you guys doing in here so early?" I questioned through a yawn at the two women who had the contents of my closet scattered all over the place. Okay, so the clothes were not actually mine but they were in my room and for my benefit and mostly beautiful, so a girl was allowed to dream, right?

"Firstly, Miss Swan, it is five o'clock in the evening, you have slept for long enough, and secondly, we're going out tonight." Alice stated the last part almost as though that small piece of information wouldn't register as abnormal to me.

"Sorry?" I choked, my eyes wide.

"Bella," Rosalie jumped in. "We're going to the casino, you'll love it."

"Casino? What casino?" I was now stuttering like a fool.

"Edward's casino." Alice stated, rolling her eyes as if I was making a big deal about nothing.

"Edward has a casino?"

"Only the best in Chicago, Bella," she told me, still rifling through the clothes and shrugging her shoulders in the process.

"I don't think I'm allowed to leave-"

"Hush woman," Rosalie scolded. "Do you think we would take you if it wasn't safe. The men have everything under control."

"What men?"

"I heard Edward warning them all this morning and briefing his security team," Alice interrupted. "You'll be fine, Bella; the security inside the club is the best."

"You said it was a casino," I corrected noticing her slip up.

"Eh yeah," she sang, "casino and club...Five floors of everything you could ever ask for on a night out."

Well this was a whole new batch of information. I never knew he owned a casino. It made sense really, I just wasn't expecting it.

"I need to shower," I grumbled, placing my feet on the cold floor and dragging myself over to the bathroom.

"Don't be long! We have to get you all ready and prettified for your first night at the club!" Alice shouted after me, making me want to lock myself away and never show my face again.

I welcomed the hot, strong blasts of the water as they hit my body, letting the water seep in to my pores and cascade down my body as I washed myself thoroughly.

Edward had stepped up security for me. What the hell did that mean? Was I really in so much danger? It was common knowledge that a few rivals of Edward's had tried to find me but was it really so serious that firmer security measures had to be taken?

The thought scared me so much that my hands started to tremble as I washed my hair and I contemplated just telling them I didn't want to go. That I couldn't bear to go.

I dreaded to think how much Edward would resent having to ask his men to practically babysit me as I attempted to have a good time. I didn't want to be a hindrance to him. He was busy enough without having to look out for me as an added chore.

I almost cried when I realised I had been standing in the shower for thirty minutes and Alice started pounding on the door demanding that I get out. I made a point to take my time when I brushed my teeth and moisturised my face. I was in no hurry and I didn't really care if they were.

"Finally," she sighed as I walked back in to the bedroom and she wasted no time grabbing my arm and sitting me on the familiar chair in front of the vanity.

I stared in to space as she poked and probed at my hair and face, getting me ready and I was grateful she didn't attempt to speak all that much. She was obviously aware that I wasn't really in the mood for going anywhere and I appreciated that she wasn't bombarding me with information and stories that would have only resulted in winding me up.

She waved my hair in to loose, feminine tendrils and placed natural yet smoky make up to my complexion.

I still had no idea what I was going to wear when Rose entered the room with a suit bag over her shoulder. She was beautiful as usual. No doubt she had spent the last couple of hours making herself 'presentable'.

Her hair was pinned back from her face loosely yet elegantly; she had a knee length red satin dress on and black, strapped heels that perfectly enhanced her long legs.

How could I stand next to this woman and feel even slightly pretty?

"I have something for you," she sang, gliding over to me and handing me the bag.

I wearily took it from her and started to unzip it. I gasped when it opened and ran my hands over the beautiful fabric.

"It's vintage!" Alice squealed as she looked at it over my shoulder.

"Oh my God," was all I could gasp as I stared at the garment.

It was a cream, lace, short dress and I could honestly say that I had never seen anything as breathtakingly gorgeous as what was in my hands right now.

Well, except Edward of course.

"I bet it's even more amazing on," Rosalie smiled warmly at me.

I practically flew from the chair and over to the bathroom, taking a strapless, nude colored, lace bra and panties set from Rose as I went.

It felt expensive as I let it drop over my body and watched as it fit over me like a glove. The off-white color of the dress contrasted perfectly with my skin tone and the tiny gold detail that rimmed the top and bottom of the lace captured the light and threw tiny specks of glimmer around the room.

It took me breath away. I took my breath away.

I turned as I heard a wolf whistle from behind me and looked at the two women standing at the bathroom door. Alice was beaming, her two hands clasped together in excitement while she bounced up and down a little and Rose stood, smiling and wolf whistled again.

"Here," she spoke and threw me a pair of nude colored high heels.

"Jimmy Choo," I choked. I didn't know much about fashion but you would have had to be some sort of idiot not to know who Jimmy Choo was.

"What's a vintage Chanel without the Jimmy's to match?" Alice laughed.

"Chanel?" I choked again. Okay, I knew what Chanel was too and it was not cheap.

Shaking my head, not bothering to argue, I bent over and placed the shoes on my feet, trying my best to stand tall as I straightened myself.

I turned towards the full length mirror and for the first time in a long time, liked what I saw.

I was pretty.

"Edward is going to fucking die!" Rose squealed as she walked over and hugged me. "You look...amazing," she smiled as Alice joined us in a group hug.

One hour later and the three of us were sitting in the back of a black SUV on the way to the casino. We were already half way through a bottle of champagne before we had left the driveway and I hadn't felt this elated in such a long time. Granted, there was still a nagging feeling of worry about being outside, swimming around in my head but I managed to flush it away with alcohol.

"This is going to be the best girl's night out in forever!" Alice practically screamed as we wound through the streets of the city and my heart went out to the poor driver and what he was having to put up with.

Ha. Join the mob and get ordered to drive three tipsy women around town. Poor man.

"So...Spill," Rosalie told me suddenly, making my smile falter a little.

"About what?" I feigned innocent and sipped my drink.

"Oh don't give me your shit girl!" She laughed, causing Alice to snort in to her drink.

"What do you want to know?" I smiled, not willing to tell them too much.

"Have you fucked him yet?"

"Nice, Rose," I scowled, blushing profusely in the process. "And to answer your question, no I haven't."

"What!" Alice screeched. "Why the hell not?"

"Alice, does it not freak you out that this is your brother we're talking about?" I inquired.

"Eh, Bella? I'm not the one fucking him."

"Well clearly, no one's fucking him," Rosalie interjected.

"True," I sighed, answering both of them with the same answer, although I doubted no one was fucking him. All I knew was that I wasn't.

"So?" Alice asked, eyebrow raised and I groaned when Rosalie mirrored her curiosity.

I nearly jumped for joy when the car stopped, interrupting the uncomfortable conversation I was being subjected to and the driver rolled down the partition to let us know we had arrived.

A bouncer walked over from the door of the club and opened the car door for us. My jaw hit the floor when I got out.

He owned Eclipse?

Eclipse was the most prestigious, expensive and exclusive club in the whole of Chicago. There was a cue of people all the way up the street waiting to get in and the lights from the building illuminated every last bit of the long street.

"Ladies." The bouncer nodded in acknowledgment, unclasped the barrier and ushered us inside, meaning we skipped the mile long line of people waiting to enter the club. I couldn't help but smirk as I heard the angry shouts of protest, mainly from half-dressed girls as we entered before them.

The ground floor was quite obviously a casino. Decorated by a deep, red carpet with mahogany and gold trimmings with dark furniture and assortments. Not forgetting the endless amount of poker, blackjack and gambling tables loitered with guests in suits and fine dresses. The ceiling was so high that the crystal chandeliers were blurry, glimmering balls of light.

"Wow," I whispered, taking in my surroundings before the two ladies at my side giggled and dragged me to the bar.

"Hi ladies, what will it be?" The bartender asked as we positioned ourselves in a vacant space.

"Three French martinis," Rose stated, "shaken not stirred, I like my drink ice cold."

He didn't argue, just nodded politely and set off to work.

"Um, guys I don't have any money," I told them, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment.

"Bella," Alice giggled, "you honestly think we pay for anything in here? Edward owns it!"

"There's no way he'd make us pay for anything within these four walls," Rosalie added, placing her arm around my shoulder. "Stop worrying," she whispered in my ear, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Well, well, well...Look who it is."

I spun around and faced who had just spoken. A huge grin taking over my features as I noticed who was standing in front of me.

"Jacob?" I beamed.

"Yeah, Bella, right?" He smiled back and I nodded.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Oh you know, a rare night off...The guys dragged me out here, had to cue for ages. So worth it though, this place is the shit," he laughed. "What about you?"

"Oh, I got dragged here too." I rolled my eyes in Rosalie and Alice's direction causing him to laugh again as I took the drink Alice handed me.

"Hitting the hard stuff again I see," he smirked, nodding towards the drink in my hand.

"As always," I laughed back.

"Miss Swan?" I turned from Jacob slightly as my name was called again. "Mrs McCarty? Miss Masen?" We all turned towards him fully, Jacob as well as the man spoke nervously to us and we nodded in confirmation of who we were. "As Mr. Masen's guests," he continued, "these are your VIP cards, he told me to make sure you got them." I took the gold card from his shaking hand and looked at it. It resembled a credit card, gold in color and the engraving on the front read 'By invitation only...VIP access of Eclipse.'

"It works the same as a credit card," Rosalie told me as the nervous man left us. "When you go to the bar just hand over the card, they swipe it and in our case, Edward pays." She grinned.

"It also means that you have access to the exclusive VIP lounge on the fifth floor," Alice added.

"Bugger," Jacob whistled from my side, "I need to get me one of those."

"Who are you anyway?..." Rosalie asked, rather rudely.

"Oh sorry," I interrupted. "Rosalie, Alice, this is Jacob. Jacob, Rosalie and Alice," I introduced, using my finger as an aid with my introductions. They nodded their heads in greeting to one another before Rose and Alice turned back to the bar, engaging in their own conversation.

"Hey, come with me. I want to introduce you to some of my friends." He smiled and I didn't hesitate before following him.

I don't know what it was but something about Jacob soothed me, he was calming and friendly and I couldn't help but want to spend time with him.

Alice and Rose nodded at me apprehensively as I followed my new friend to a nearby poker table where four young men were sitting amongst some others and I had no doubt that they were the friends Jacob spoke of.

"Hey guys," he interrupted. "Hey!" I giggled as he had to raise his voice in order to gain their attention.

I smiled shyly when all four men turned, and their eyes all focused on me as I stood beside their tall friend.

"Wow, who's this Jake?" One asked, nodding towards me.

"This is, Bella, she's a friend of mine." He smiled down at me, making me feel a little more at ease in our present company. "Bella, this is Quil, Embry, Sam and Paul." He pointed to each one just as I had before.

"Pleasure to meet you, Bella," Sam spoke, taking my hand and kissing it lightly. A gesture that never failed to make me blush.

I smiled at the five, extremely good-looking men as they ushered me to sit at the table with them.

"I don't know how to play," I told them as I sat between Sam and Jacob.

"That's cool, Bells, you can be my wing man," Jacob smiled as he told the dealer to deal him in.

It was fun, I had to admit. We sat for a while, laughing, drinking and joking as we all tried to out poker-face each other, something I found that I was rather rubbish at.

A few times, one of them would disappear only to return five minutes later with a tray of shots, with which we would toast something random and stupid before throwing them back.

"I toast..." I slurred, ready to take my fifth shot of the evening. "I toast...eh...you Jacob! Just for being you!" I laughed as we clinked, Jacob laughing out a, "Here, here." In response before we threw our heads back and downed the alcohol.

We all laughed and slammed our empty glasses down when there was a loud clearing of a throat behind us causing us all to turn.

"Bella," Edward nodded at me in greeting. It was a rather cold greeting if I were to be honest.

After everything we've been through a small 'hello' wouldn't have gone amiss.

"Edward," I replied. Deciding to match his coldness.

"I hate to drag you away from this...fun you're participating in but I need to speak with you." His tone was annoying me to no end. It was just, cold. Like I was nothing to him.

"Actually, I am having quite a bit of fun here as you've observed," I mocked. "I'll speak with you some other time." I turned back to the poker table and I could almost feel his gaze penetrating through my back, also aware that the five men I was sitting with had shrunk in their seats a little. Clearly intimidated by Edward's presence.

"Edward!" I turned as I heard the screech of a voice call out to him and was met with the sight of a tall, exotic looking, beautiful girl as she stalked towards where he stood, trying to act sexy around him.

"Lauren," he nodded, in the same manner he acknowledged me, I might add.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, it's been too long. We really need to catch up," she purred, batting her eyelashes like a fool and I wanted to claw her eyes out for it.

Stupid, sleazy, whore.

"I'm sure we do," he smirked, causing my anger to nearly boil over.

He was flirting back.

"You're place or mine?" She giggled, resting her hand on his arm.

Ouch.

He didn't put her down, nor did he reject her advances. Instead he smiled warmly at her and winked suggestively.

I didn't know why I got so upset so quickly.

Oh fuck that, of course I knew. Not 24 hours ago we were in my bed, tearing at each other's clothing and kissing passionately; finally taking a step forward and now, well here he was, standing in front of this skank. Openly flirting with her.

Asshole.

"Excuse me," I whispered as I stood up and made my way away from the table. I wanted to find the ladies room yet I had no idea where the hell they were and just ended up walking around, desperately looking for a sign of some sort.

"Bella...Wait." Oh god, I sped up as I heard him approach, only in my drunken state to trip on absolutely nothing and slump up against the wall in the almost-deserted corridor I had ended up in.

When I felt his warm hands grasp my shoulders and pull me upright, I almost sobbed. It infuriated me that one little advance on him from another woman and I became a jealous, angry being. He infuriated me for treating me no different than any other woman he knew yet for all I knew, he could have treated all his female acquaintances the same as he did me. Did he sleep with them all? He was gorgeous and I knew by the way woman looked at him that I wasn't the only one to think so. Add to the equation that he was young and super rich and voila! Man whore was written all over him.

How the hell didn't I realise before?

"What is wrong with you?" He questioned me angrily.

"Me? There's nothing wrong with me, Edward. What the fuck is your problem?" I seethed.

"I didn't have a problem until you refused to leave those...idiots at the poker table for me."

"Why would I leave with you, huh? Give me one good reason!"

"Because deep down you want nothing more," he stated confidently.

Well that shut me up.

He was right and it wasn't even deep down. It was clearly written all over my face.

"You think you know everything, don't you? You think you can ignore me all day, send someone down to us and give us VIP cards, instead of manning up and doing it yourself and then interrupt my fun and expect me to just leave with you? I don't know who you think I am but I can tell you one thing...I'm not like all those girls staring at you lovingly in there, I won't take your bullshit."

"Bella..." he whispered. The softness in his voice taking me by surprise. "I'm not asking you to take my bullshit. I don't want you to."

"Then what do you want?" I almost shouted.

"Kiss me?" He asked; his voice so low that I wasn't sure if I had heard him properly.

I melted, right there and then. His whole face looked sad now, yet it didn't take away his beauty. Only intensified it. His grey suit and black shirt was crying out to be ripped from his body and damn if I wasn't going to give it a good go.

Grabbing his face and lowering it to mine, I brushed my lips against his so they barely touched, waiting for his reaction. He whimpered at the lack of contact and I couldn't hold back any longer. He had won again and I kissed him, full on.

I was now letting all the emotion from my jealousy and anger pour out of me and invest itself in the kiss. Our lips were frantic and our tongues tangled together as we gave in to each other. Moaning and groaning as he pinned me against the wall, my hands were still on his face and his had tangled themselves in my hair.

"Come home with me?" He asked kissing my lips quickly after breaking the contact for a split second.

We were both panting and placing small kisses on each other's neck, jaw and lips, trying to steady our breathing.

"Okay," I whispered, grinning when I felt his lips curl in to a smile against my neck.

The feel of his erection against my stomach was turning me on more than anything or anyone ever had before. There was no way I could deny this man anymore, regardless of whether or not he was going to let me touch him. I had to have him.

Tonight.

A/N~

I do love a bit of angst, don't you?

And I would say I'm sorry about where I ended this chapter...But I'm not lol.

So...Show me your love and keep me updating :)

Thanks for reading :o)