Hi!

A massive thanks to lynne0731, MacNNcheese95, Ephany, Coleen561, Cina's, mommymac0508, sujari6, mixmatched9 and teamedwardtwilightfan for their lovely reviews. Thank you!

So, another day, another chapter, and I guess we now have to deal with the aftermath of the ball. This is definitely one of my favorite chapters and I loved writing it, so I hope you all enjoy it too. It is rather short compared to other chapters, but I feel that I ended it in a good place ready for my next update. As ever, let me know what you think.

This chapter is named after "Undisclosed Desires" by Muse. I. Love. Muse! Its as simple as that! They are amazing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight… or do I?… No, I don't.

Bella Swan's Point of View

My body shivered from the sudden temperature increase as we entered the hotel room. After a freezing cold, 20 minute taxi ride, for once in my life I was grateful for central heating. Edward switched the lights on, illuminating the dark room and hurried over to the balcony doors, closing the curtains swiftly and blocking off the rest of the world.

I stood by the closed door, still enveloped in Edward's black jacket, getting used to nauseating feeling that remained in my stomach. The shock had essentially worn off now, but the after effects hadn't. I felt sick and dizzy and just a little fearful, every nerve in my body on edge. Edward quickly returned to me, taking the jacket from my shoulders and throwing it over one of the kitchen chairs.

"You should go change," he told me softly. "You'll be much more comfortable out of that gown."

As beautiful as my dress was, I would rather wear something a little more relaxing. I nodded and rushed to my room as quickly as my heeled feet would carry me. I shut the door, slipped my shoes off and cast them along the floor somewhere. I headed to my wardrobe, pulling out a t-shirt and some sweats before I shimmed out of my dress and put the more comfortable clothes on. I hung my dress up and placed it neatly in the wardrobe, too afraid to get it creased or dirty. I quickly put my slippers on before I finally just sat down on my bed, and stared and stared and stared at the wall in front of me.

My mind and my body were like two separate entities, my brain whizzing and whirling too much for me to do anything physical.

What the hell had just happened?

Really, what had happened? Whether it was dream or reality, I had just seen James, the man who wanted me dead, and I could not shake the terror and horror from my head.

I knew that since I was with Edward and I had returned to the hotel room, I was essentially safe from the mad-man, but my mind could not help thinking about the 'what ifs' of tonight. It was stupid to think of such things and get myself worked up over nothing, but the night had obviously shook me and I could not fight the scenarios from my mind, each one as scary and as chilling as the next.

What if James had spotted me and attacked me there and then? I had no way of knowing whether he saw me or not. For all I know, he could have completely missed me at the party and would be none the wiser to my presence. But what if he did know and was just biding his time? He was a vampire who wanted my blood, he had proven that fact when he visited the Cullens all those nights ago. He had tried before and would no doubt try again to take it. He may have attacked Edward too, the two of us ending up hurt tonight. This could have all ended so much worse than it had.

What if Edward hadn't even been with me? Who was to say that Edward would have rushed to my side upon my initial panic? It could have been so easy for James to just walk over and take me. No one would be any wiser, but I would be dead and James would have had his fill of my blood.

What if it had been Alice that he attacked? I was 20 years old, a grown woman. I could at least defend myself in some sense, even though the attacker was a vampire. But Alice was a 12 year old child; she was vulnerable and naïve. She would have been easy prey for someone like James. At least she would have had Jasper at her side, the thought giving me at least a little relief.

I quickly shook my head of the scenarios, the sick feeling returning to my stomach. None of that had happened, and now none of it ever would. I had left, James was gone, the whole thing was over... right? Eventually, when my legs found strength, I stood up and headed out of my bedroom. I cautiously opened the door to the main living area and peaked out, my guard held up high. Who was to say he wasn't here now? He may have followed us back, ready to pounce at the opportune moment.

Bella, James isn't here. Only Edward is. You're perfectly safe now, nobody will hurt you here.

My subconscious was right. I was being stupid. Edward was here to protect me, wasn't he? James had no chance of attacking me now, not with my favorite vampire here. So I stood up tall and entered the living area, closing the bedroom door behind me. Edward was in the kitchen area when I spotted him, filling a glass with water. He turned his head and offered me a comforting smile when he saw me.

I let out a quiet sigh. Edward looked so handsome tonight. No matter how frightened I was, I would never be able to miss that fact. His crisp white shirt made his pale skin seem a little darker, his fitted pants showed off his amazing physique, and his tie hung loose around his neck with the top button of his shirt undone, giving him a sort of bad-boy image.

Damn, I could eat him up right now. Wonder what he looks like under the shirt… and the pants?

I mentally scolded my subconscious. I had just come face to face with the man who wanted me dead, now was not the time to be imagining Edward Cullen naked! I returned his smile and made my way over to him. He handed me the glass and two Tylenol.

"Here," he said. "These should help you feel a little better."

I knocked the tablets back with a mouthful of water and placed the empty glass in the sink. Edward walked over to the sofa and sat down, sinking back into the cushioned seat. He let out a breath and ran his fingers through his already messy hair. It seemed the night hadn't just taken its toll on me. Knowing that we needed to discuss whatever the hell had just happened, I sat myself on the sofa too, bringing my knees up to my chest and turning my body to face the vampire.

He was silent for a while, just staring at whatever was in front of him. It was almost as if he was afraid to speak or utter a word. It wasn't that he didn't know what to say, it was more like there was too much to say and he did not know where to start. He loosened his tie a little more, almost as if it was strangling him. Whether it was or not, he was a vampire and could live with it regardless. The silence became heavy and I knew that I would have to be the one to break it.

"Do you think he was there after me or Alice?" I asked him.

It was a simple question really, but also one that needed to be discussed. Yes, James was present at the party, but who was to say that he knew we would be there at all. The whole thing could have been a mix up, a mere coincidence, two people in the same place at the same time.

He shrugged his shoulders, his eyes still trained in front of him. "Don't know, I couldn't say. Perhaps he didn't even know we were there. His mind showed no signs of any knowledge of us there tonight, and I'm sure he would have made his presence known if he did."

I nodded, understanding Edward's theory. It still didn't shake away the fact that he had been there. Whether it was for my benefit or not, seeing him again brought up bad memories. I shivered at the thought and Edward immediately noticed, quickly turning his head towards me.

"Are you cold?" he asked. "I can get you a blanket if you like."

I shook my head. "I'm not cold, just… thinking."

"About James," Edward said. It was a statement, not a question. He had told me he had never been able to read my mind, but he didn't need his ability to figure out what was going on in my head. Nobody did.

"Yeah," I said, a little embarrassed that he had guessed so easily. "I can't help but think, what if?"

He moved closer to me till his knee was touching my leg. He held my hands in his and looked into my eyes deeply. I was hypnotized.

"There are no 'what ifs', Bella," he said in earnest. "I would never have let him touch you. Never. He could have tried all he wanted, but I would never have let him within an inch of you. You were always safe, despite his intentions."

I smiled at Edward, my heart fluttering quickly at his kind words. He must have noticed because his thumb began to run smoothly across the backs of my hands. I swallowed and blushed. I hated the way that I could give away my feelings so easily. I knew it wasn't my fault, his vampiric hearing allowed him to sense everything, but it still didn't stop the embarrassment.

"I know you would have protected me," I said. "You did last time and I know you would do it again."

"Of course I would," he said. "There isn't any question about it, Bella. Your safety is what matters. I'm just here to make sure you're taken care of."

I flushed then, the coil winding in my belly again. Why did Edward always make me feel this good? It wasn't just his looks, it was everything. His words, his kindness, his protective nature. I liked the feeling he gave me, it was pleasant and warm. I wondered if he had this affect on every woman he spoke to.

"... Bella?" he asked, waving his hand in front of me.

"Huh?" I said focusing in on his face.

"I think you were daydreaming," he chuckled. "I said, do you want to watch a movie or something? We've both had a long night and I could do with doing something normal and relaxing now."

"Uh… sure," I said, blushing due to my wondering mind.

Damn, the things Edward does to me!

He sat up and rushed to his bag, bringing out a DVD he had brought from home. I walked to the kitchen area and made myself a cup of hot chocolate, knowing the warm drink would relax and calm me. It was something I always made for my sisters to help calm them or relax them. Whether it was the warmth, or the chocolate, the drink would always help, no matter what the situation was. When I turned to return back to the sofa, I found Edward lying across it, arms behind his head. I gawped. Where was I going to sit?

He stared up at me and chuckled, holding his arms out in front of him, welcoming me in, just like a hug. I continued to stare like an absolute idiot. Did Edward Cullen, the Edward Cullen, seriously want me to lie next to him? Surely not. The position would be far too intimate for us and I didn't know if he wanted to be that close to me. My body was showing my reluctance, but my head was screaming for him to hold me.

"Come on, Bella. I won't bite," he told me. I raised an eyebrow at his words and he laughed when they registered in his head. "Well, I won't bite you. I promise."

He seemed pretty confident of himself and the fact that I would answer to his wishes… and he was right. My legs moved on their own, heading in his direction. I set my mug upon the coffee table and lay in front of him on the sofa until he spooned me. He rested his arm lazily across my stomach and pulled me closer to him, placing his head ontop of mine until the top of my head was under his chin. He pressed play on the DVD remote, and snuggled down deeper into the sofa, tightening his embrace, ready for the film.

He just lay there, acting as if this was the most normal thing in the world. Me, on the other hand, had every single sense set on high, disbelief and glee running through my brain.

We were spooning… Spooning! It was like some romance film, or some mushy novel. But instead, it was real life and Edward was holding me to him, almost like we were lovers or something. This had to be a dream, surely. This could not be real life. The stomach coil wound tighter, making me feel on top of the world. My back flush against his chest meant that I could feel every movement he made, his breathing, his laughter, the vibrations when he spoke. I felt it all.

And we fit together, that was the strangest thing. It was like two puzzle pieces, like he was made for me. I was just grateful that he could not see the profuse red blush that was spreading up my cheeks. I tried my very hardest to calm my unsteady breathing. My quickening heartbeat was probably giving my feelings away to Edward, I didn't need my breathing adding to the problem.

I knew I shouldn't, but I liked it. The spooning, the holding, the touching. It was nice, it was pleasant, it was downright perfect! Nothing should ever feel as good as having Edward Cullen hold you to him, wrapping his arms around you and keeping you close. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world, like all my Christmases had come at once.

Edward Cullen, hottest guy to grace the planet, was holding me, and I was loving every minute of it!

xXx

We watched the film for over an hour, my excited and still amazed body managing to calm itself down to show some regularity. My mind was still going at a hundred miles an hour, but my body had created some form of normality.

Hmmm… Seems I'm getting better at this!

And then something changed. Well, I say something, I knew what it was. It was Edward. The laughing had stopped, the vibrations from his talking had stopped, I could no longer feel his chest on my back, rising and falling in breathing. He was completely still.

My eyebrows furrowed as my curiosity peaked. What was wrong with him? Why the sudden change? What was going on?

Being as slow and as gentle as I possibly could, I turned myself over in his arms until I was finally facing him. This would probably be the simplest task in the world to a normal person, but I was Bella Swan, the clumsiest idiot in the world. I made so much noise and made so much movement that I almost fell from the sofa! I was surprised he didn't move to see what the hell I was doing. I eventually made it and raised my eyes to look at his face.

His eyes were closed and he was stock still, like a statue or a dead body. Well, I suppose he is in a way! I didn't know what he was doing since I knew vampires did not sleep. It was like his body was there but his mind had gone, almost like meditation. Was he meditating?

All I knew was that it gave me the opportunity to look at Edward, as in truly look at him, and I wasn't going to pass the chance up. I'd looked at Edward before, sure I had, but never this close or in such detail. And with his face a mere inch from my own, I would never have a better chance to do it as I had now. My eyes roamed every inch of his face, taking the sight in and committing it to memory.

I saw how prominent his cheek bones were, how straight his nose was, how clear and pale his skin seemed. No matter how cheesy or cliché it sounded, the vampire really was a vision of perfection. No man would ever be able to look as handsome or as beautiful as he did, and he wasn't even trying. His bronze hair was in its usual disarray upon his head, and his eyelashes created shadows across his skin, giving it a little definition.

God, I really must be the luckiest person on the planet being this close to him…

Gently, I lifted my hand up to his hair, running my fingers through the soft strands, loving how they felt across my skin. Like whispers of silk. I slowly pulled my hand away, afraid to wake him up. My eyes looked at his closed eyelids, his nose, his cheeks… and then his lips. They were so pink and perfect, just the right shape and size, the bottom lip a little bigger than the top.

Jeez, I wonder how many women have felt those lips on them. Kissing them, touching them, caressing them…

I stopped my subconscious mid-sentence, not wanting to even think about such a thing. The man was stunning, he'd no doubt been able to get any woman he ever wanted. I didn't want to muse on what he had done with them or they with him. But the more I looked at the lips, the more I wanted to feel them. I did not matter that I wouldn't feel them upon my own, I just wanted to touch them. Again, I cautiously lifted my hand, this time ghosting my fingers across the soft pink skin, feeling the softness of the lips upon my finger-tips…

And then his eyes opened.

They looked straight at me, his golden orbs meeting my brown ones as panic set in. I gasped as I quickly pulled my hand away, but Edward grabbed it before I could do such a thing. I began to panic even more. Oh god, had I done something wrong? Did he not like my touch? Did he want to know what the hell I was doing? Did he want to know why the stupid freak in front of him couldn't stop running her fingers over every body part she could find? His grip was so tight, his eyes so accusing. He was mad. Lord, he was mad at me.

I was about to apologize for my behavior, when he suddenly lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it, letting his lips linger on the skin before gently pulling away. My eyes widened, not only in shock, but in anticipation. The atmosphere in the room had suddenly changed. Whereas before it was warm and friendly, it was now red hot and electrifying. His golden orbs bore into mine, hypnotizing me and drawing me in like nothing ever had before. I was trapped in them, locked in them, held in them, and I had no way of escape. But did I want to escape?

No, I didn't.

"Bella," he softly whispered, lust lingering in his tone as his eyes finally left mine, only to look down upon my own lips.

Did… Did he want to… kiss me?

Why else would a boy look at a girl's lips unless he wanted to kiss them. I swallowed. Hard. Goosebumps rose across my skin as my heartbeat picked up again, all my previous hard work of calming it wasted. But why would he want to kiss me? He could have any girl in the world. He had his pick of anybody, so why would he choose me over the other billions of girls on the planet? He was so close, just one push forward and our mouths would connect. That was all it took. One of us had to do it, but the question was, which one?

The answer? I soon got it as Edward began to slow move his head down towards mine.

Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod…

I instinctively closed my eyes, just as he did, waiting for the kiss to come…

Sadly, the door to the hotel room had to open before anything could happen.

Jasper and Alice sprang through the door, Alice full of chatter as Jasper laughed at her words. It was ruined, the moment was ruined. It was just my luck.

"Pretend to be asleep," Edward whispered to me as he got up, his vampire speed coming in handy, and went to greet the two new arrivals. I quickly closed my eyes, feigning sleep as best as I could.

"How was the ball?" asked Edward.

"It was great," I heard Alice beam. "We danced all night. It was amazing."

"Glad you had fun," Edward chuckled.

"But I'm all danced out, so I'm gonna go get some sleep," she soon added. I heard her yawn as her echoing footsteps headed towards our bedroom.

"I'll take Bella to the room," Edward told Jasper. "She's already fallen asleep."

Keeping my eyes closed tightly, I felt Edward lift me from the sofa bridal style, and head towards the bedroom.

"Was she okay tonight?" Jasper asked. "I noticed you left a little early."

"She wasn't feeling too well," Edward said, a sentence which wasn't a complete lie. James's appearance had made me feel a little ill.

Edward soon carried me into the room, where Alice was already in her bed, her eyes shut in sleep. Wow, she really must have been tired! The vampire pulled my quilt back and placed me delicately in the bed, tucking me in.

"Edward," I began, needing to discuss things with him.

"Shhh," he gently soothed. "You've had a long day. You really need some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow."

"But-"

"Tomorrow, Bella."

I nodded, knowing that it was the best answer I was going to get tonight. He looked at me for a brief moment, then stroked my face tenderly and affectionately with his fingers. "Goodnight, Love," he whispered before turning and leaving the room, leaving me with the darkness and my thoughts.

He nearly kissed me, he was about to kiss me, his lips were about to connected with mine… and I didn't know how I felt about that. Actually, that's a lie, I knew exactly how I felt about it. I felt angry that it hadn't happened. I wanted him to kiss me, I wanted to feel his soft caress as he showed me with his actions how he felt… if he felt anything.

I knew deep down in my heart that I felt for him. Edward was in my thoughts while I was awake and in my dreams while I slept. I loved his company, I loved his personality, I loved his looks, and I had a connection with him that I didn't seem to have with anyone else.

I had wanted Edward to kiss me, and it frightened me that he almost had.

Something was happening between us, something big… and I couldn't wait to see where it would take us.