A/N - So Sorry for the extreme delay. I have excuses. I won't bore you with them. Thanks to Jo and Virgy for reading and attempting to keep me on track.

Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight and its characters. I just like putting them in awkward situations.

Chapter 14

Comfortable Synonyms: comfy, cozy, cushy, easy, snug, soft

Bella and I text back and forth a time or two after Saturday night. I see Bella in the café in the office building again on Tuesday and we eat our lunch together. She tells me more about her business and some of her clients. Turns out that Hunter-Danali isn't the only advertising agency that she does contract work with. She has 3 other firms that use her on a regular basis. She also has several smaller clients that she helps with their marketing materials like she did with Alice.

"Enough about me," Bella announces, suddenly, "tell me, Edward, did you accept the promotion? Am I now speaking to the Head of Marketing for Hunter-Danali?"

She looks so proud that I hate to answer her, but I know I have to set her straight. "No," I reply, "I, um, I didn't accept the promotion. I'm just not ready. There are other people who are better qualified for the position at this time. The good news is that I get to keep my job," I joke, though silently relieved that it is true.

"Wow, Edward, I'm surprised, I guess," Bella says, hesitantly.

"What? Did you think he would fire me for not accepting the position? Yeah, I was a bit concerned myself, but he said he wants me to continue and he looks forward to offering another promotion to me in a year or two," I say, trying not to brag… too much.

Shocked, Bella shakes her head and exclaims, "No, Edward. No, I'm not surprised he wants to keep you around. No, not at all. I guess I'm just surprised that you turned this down. I mean, isn't this everything you've always wanted? To move up in the company? To lead your own team? Isn't that what all of your hard work has been for?"

"Well, yeah," I respond, "of course, I want to lead my own team. Someday. I just don't think the timing is right. I have much to learn about supervising and leading people. Right now, Marcus is the perfect mentor and I really think I can do more for the company in my current position. Then, after I have a little more experience leading projects and dealing with clients, I will be better prepared to lead a whole department. I mean, I still have ambitions and I still have a desire to lead, but if I were to do something like this right now, I think it would just be a giant train wreck. Yeah, I think I've really made the right decision."

"That's great, Edward. It really sounds like you put a lot of thought into it. It also sounds like you've grown up a lot. You've worked hard and the people around you are starting to notice. I'm really proud of you. Not that I had anything to do with it, but you know what I mean." Bella stutters through the last part, then jumps up to toss her napkin in the garbage. "Well," she says, "I guess we need to get back to work."

"Wait… You did…You need to know…," I clear my throat and try again, "Are you still going to Alice and Jasper's on Friday? Maybe you could bring a movie because their collection sucks." I struggle with words as I'm trying to spend just a few more seconds with Bella.

"Sure," she replies, "Any requests?" As Bella turns, the corner of the file she is carrying catches on my forearm and suddenly I realize I have a paper cut. "Oh shit, Edward. I'm sorry. Look what I've…fuck, now you're bleeding, and it's all my fault. I'm such a klutz."

"'Tis but a scratch," I accidentally quote one of Bella's favorite movies. And all of a sudden my plan, Operation Fun, comes to my mind.

"Here, Edward, let me wipe that," Bella says as she swipes at my arm with a napkin.

"'Tis but a scratch," I say again. "Just a flesh wound," I announce, winking at her.

She finally catches on and responds, "What are you going to do, bleed on me?"

"I'm invincible!" I declare.

To which she replies, "You're a loony." After securing a bandage over my cut, Bella looks up and says, "So…for Friday… Camelot?"

"Well, on second thought, let's not go to Camelot - it is a silly place" I continue quoting. "Yes, Bella, I feel a deep need for some silliness in the form of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Please bring it?"

"Sure, Edward, and about your arm… will you be okay?" she asks, sheepishly.

"Of course," I say, "I'm invincible." If only my heart was, also.

As Friday draws closer, I find myself frantically searching for a way to make an impression on Bella. She's bringing her favorite movie (that I suggested, thank you very much), so that is out. I've already shown her that I remember her favorite drink. I decide to make her favorite dessert.

I go to the store to pick up some crescent rolls and cream cheese that I need to make Sopapilla Cheesecake. This is something Esme has been making forever. Bella used to request it every time she joined us for our Sunday get-togethers. I've only made it once, but it's so easy, I know I can do it again. I call my mom just to make sure I have the right amount of the ingredients.

Esme answers as I'm walking through the refrigerated section looking for cream cheese. "Hello, Edward," she says cheerfully, "what can I do for you today?"

"Well, hello to you too, Mom. What do you mean, what can you do for me? Can't a son just call his mother because he loves her?"

"That would be nice, dear, if it ever happened that way. So what do you need help with today?"

I laugh. I can't help it. "Well, mom, since you asked…"

"I knew it," she says laughing.

"I am going to make some Sopapilla cheesecake to take to Jasper and Alice's tomorrow night and I just wanted to make sure I had the right amount of ingredients. Could you maybe email me the recipe so that I can have it here in the store and when I get home."

"Sure, honey, I'm already on the computer so it should come to you very soon. Although, are you sure you wouldn't rather have the recipe for Grandma Platt's chocolate cake. It's always been your favorite."

Damn, Mom. She's fishing for information. I can feel it. "No, mom. I already said I was making the cheesecake thing tomorrow. They'll be expecting it." Plus, I really want to impress Bella.

"Ok, Edward, I'm hitting send right now. Let me know how it turns out." My mom is the best in the world.

I show up to dinner on Friday bearing the cinnamon buttery goodness that is Sopapilla Cheesecake. The smell draws Bella into the front entryway.

"Is that what I think it is?" Bella says, swiping at the pan in my hands.

"What?" I smirk at her as I raise my hands over my head. Bella jumps and reaches for the pan again, losing her balance as she comes back down. She places one hand on my chest to steady herself. All of the blood rushes from my head to the place where her palm rests near my heart. Well, some of the blood stops there, the rest of it pools a bit lower, creating a potentially embarrassing situation.

"Bella, quit molesting the cheesecake. I think we might actually get to eat some of it if you let him into the kitchen." Thank you Alice for your timely interruption.

Bella's eyes bounce around the room as she quickly steps away from me. She sweeps her hand toward the kitchen and offers a small bow of her head. I think she is trying hide her face while pretending to be funny, but I still the light blush staining her cheeks. Marking one point on my side of the mental scoreboard, I wave the cheesecake under her nose briefly before running into the kitchen with my prize.

On the counters I see 2 large round pans of dough beside several small bowls of veggies and meats. Bella comes in and announces, "I've set up a kind of create-your-own pizza station. We each get to garnish one half of a pizza using any ingredients that we wish. I do reserve the right to offer to trade a slice of my pizza if I see that you have created something that I think I might like." Bella grins up at me and Alice claps her hands with joy.

After designing our pizzas and placing them into the oven, we all settle in the living room to watch King Arthur and his coconut shell horses. While Alice and Jasper opt to share the oversized chair, Bella and I spread out on the couch. Bella and Alice collect our pizzas when they are ready and Bella did end up trading one of her slices for one of mine, something which brings an absurd amount of pleasure for such a small gesture.

Bella moans and groans and whines her way through 2 and a half squares of the Sopapilla cheesecake that I made just for her. "Mmmm, Edward," she hums, "tell Esme thanks for making this. She's a saint, she really is."

"Wow, Bella," I smirk, "I never would've guessed you would assume something so stereotypical as me asking my mother to make dessert for me to bring to dinner. I thought you were all for equal rights and woman's lib and all. I'm ashamed of you."

"What?" she asks, "You expect me to believe you made this?" She looks over at my face, the sincerity showing in my eyes. "You made this. YOU MADE THIS. Wow, Edward, this is delicious. And you made it? I'm very impressed. And now that I know you can do it, I will be placing my dessert requests often."

After eating, Bella and I arrange ourselves comfortably on the couch. I prop myself up in on corner and Bella does the same in the opposite corner. I stretch my legs across the cushions, crowding Bella's space a little, but not caring. Bella scoots a little to make rooms for my feet, and settles her legs out in front of mine before sighing in contentment. We share a smile before turning to see Brave Sir Robin bravely run away.

As the movie progresses, so does my invasion into Bella's space. She doesn't seem to mind and even slides down, using my shin as a pillow. Bella's feet are resting near my face, and I grab one of them by the ankle, lift her leg to a better angle and begin to massage the sole of her right foot. After a few minutes, I watch as her eyelids slide shut and I can feel the purr of satisfaction rumble through my shin. That erotic sound travels up over my knee, moves through my thigh and slams into my dick with such a force that I almost buck Bella off into the floor. I must have stopped massaging her foot because Bella rolls slightly to look over at my face. As she rolls, her thigh comes into contact with the evidence of my desire for her and I have to reign in the urge to grasp her leg tightly to me and hump the shit outta her leg while sucking on her delicate toes. Oh God… I smile tightly and resume stroking her foot. Bella smiles back and then shifts and offers her previously neglected foot. "Spread the love," she says, wiggling her toes in my face. My brain seizes on the word "spread" and begins showing re-runs of Bella being sprawled out on my bed after being thoroughly loved.

Bella is a beautiful woman. She has always felt that her brown hair and brown eyes show a very plain picture on the outside. Oh, how very wrong she is. There is nothing plain about the multicolored waves that hang down past the center of her back. And when she sweeps it up into a sloppy knot on the back of her head, it only acts as a frame, drawing eyes to the slender slope of her neck. Her pale smooth skin screaming to be touched and licked and savored. Her eyes are anything but boring. In them you can see passion, trust, strength, and love. Even now, after all of these years, I can see remnants of the love that used to shine for me and me alone.

Bella pulls her feet from my grasp as she sits up. I look around the room, startled to see that the movie has ended. Alice and Jasper begin taking plates to the kitchen. I sit up and stretch my back. I really am too tall to share a couch comfortably, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to be near Bella.

I don't want to have to wait days to see Bella again. I need her in my life. I need to be with her. I need to see her. How do I get her to see that she needs me, too?

"Sunday," I blurt out suddenly. "Come with me… us on Sunday. It's my turn to pick the family activity and I think I know just the thing."

Bella slides her eyes over to me skeptically, "I don't know, Edward. That's really a family thing. I don't want to intrude."

"Oh please, you practically are family already. Besides, we need an even number of people for what I have in mind. We just can't do it without you. Please?" I plead.

"Ok, Edward," she sighed, "Don't make me regret agreeing to this."

A/N - Let me know what you think of this progress.