Jake continued to laugh, his huge shoulders shaking as he rubbed his face. Bella just looked at me, a little bewildered at his reaction.

The guy was massive. An inch or two taller than myself, but with the build of a fucking bear.

A big, dumb, bear.

"I should have known..." he chuckled. He got up, walked around the counter to ruffle Bella's hair and then walked towards me.

I didn't move a muscle, unsure of what he was doing. We hadn't exactly hit it off when we briefly met before. I could tell he didn't like me as soon as we met. But I was surprised to see him reach forward to shake my hand.

I responded, shaking his hand and keeping eye contact. I didn't know Jake and Bella's relationship very well yet, but I knew she cared about him and that they were close friends. He'd been with her through a lot. For her sake, I would respect that. But I wasn't about to puss out either.

His grip was incredibly tight and he held my gaze right back. I stared him down hard and met his grip. If he was going to try and intimidate me, I was gonna let him know it wasn't fucking working.

"You be good to her, man. Nobody like her in the world." he said, surprising me with a gentler tone. Something about that made me relax. The two of us were different men, but when it came to Bella, we were on the same team. There was also a subtle dont-make-me-fucking-kill-you tone that he made sure did not escape my notice. I nodded and he clapped me once on the back before leaving. I was almost certain that would leave a mark.

I looked over to find Bella with a stunned and slightly amused look on her face.

"Well, that was...interesting." she said, starting to chuckle.

I came around the counter to put my arms around her, kissing her softly hello. She hummed against my lips. I breathed in deeply, somehow feeling like this was home after a long day away. She smelled amazing.

"How was your trip?" she asked.

"Productive, I think."

I explained the possible show opportunities at the gallery. My last installment had been a pretty big success and they had a larger show space they wanted me to fill for my next installment on the second floor of the building. I had spent the day checking out the space and sketching up a few ideas. Sometimes it was just the light in the room that made me think twice about ideas for a series.

"Did they give you a deadline?" Bella asked. I watched her hands work over an arrangement of flowers I didn't recognize, deep blues and brilliant whites amongst soft greens.

"They'd like to show in early spring."

I remembered the diner, that morning she'd left me and my breakfast after I'd shut down. She'd asked me then about my art and I'd clammed up. Now it didn't feel so hard. I could tell from her face now that she wanted to ask me more but was carefully testing the waters.

"I'd love to see what you're working on. What you've done already. I mean - only if you want me to..." she quickly finished.

"I'd like that." I said. I smiled because I meant it. And it didn't freak me out.

And Bella, without looking up at me, had this stunning smile on her face when I'd answered her. She was clipping and shaping and arranging, cutting ribbons. It was near time for her shop to close. The sun was going down outside. I took a moment to drink her in.

She was wearing another pair of those damn leggings. These ones were deep purple and hugged her ass just as perfectly as the other pair. She wore a pair of old leather boots, the top of her leg warmers visible at the top of each ankle. Her top was looser, a sheer cream colored button up over a tank top. The top of her cleavage was visible through the shirt. My mind was replaying some its newest and favorite memories. Especially the way her back arched against the kitchen counter as I'd entered her the night before.

Fuck.

She looked up at me and caught my eyes roaming her body.

"Careful." she said in a low voice.

"Why would I be?"

"I'll have to close up shop early if you keep looking at me like that."

"I'm not against you doing that." I said, coming to stand extremely close, my lips now touching her ear lobe as I spoke. My hands finding their way to her hips. I could feel her laughing in a poor attempt at protest.

"Alice and Rose want me to come to Esme and Carlisle's holiday party this weekend..." she said as she cleared her throat, successfully changing the subject and killing the semi hard on I had working for a moment there.

I groaned into her neck at the mention of the annual event. From what I could remember of it, it was always long and boring. Us kids always had to be on our best behavior, and spend time with the other doctor's kids. I was never social, usually spent the evening in my room after dinner, and once I was older...just did not go. I didn't even give Esme an excuse or a phone call. I cringed, thinking about how she must have waited for me. How I had gotten so good at disappointing her, even if she would never say so.

I still had no desire to go. Especially because it was a rather swanky party where everyone dressed up, and I'd seen Bella in a backless dress before. The last thing I wanted to do was go to a party with her where I would have to...well, behave.

"Do we have to...?" I whined. "We could tell Esme we're sick and then stay in bed all night..."

Bella laughed and put down her sheers. She turned in my arms to face me, placing her hands on my face.

"Why don't you want to go? I'll be with you. If its awful, I'm sure we could sneak out after dinner?"

She kissed me and wrapped her arms around my neck. Her mouth was so sweet and warm.

"I can't say no to you, when you kiss me like that."

We spent a few more minutes getting lost in each others mouths. My mind felt clear and a calm settled over me. There was no rush in our kisses. They were slow and leisurely...purely enjoying one another.

Her effect on me was astounding considering how easy it was to get caught up in my own mind. She just made everything better. Clearer.

"How do you feel about staying at my place tonight?" I asked when I pulled away.

I didn't want to go home without her, and I wanted to know what it felt like to spend a morning in bed together, rather than having to leave for one reason or another.

She looked up at me, a hint of pleasant surprise in her eyes. She hummed and pretended to mull it over before kissing me once and going to the shop door to put the closed sign in its place.

"Let me just grab a few things," she said. "I'll be right down."

I watched her figure bounce up the stairs to her apartment door and listened to her foot steps moving above me.

I took the moment on my own to look around the shop.

Her winter arrangements were incredibly stunning. The shop looked festive, but not tacky. She had cut paper snowflakes and strung them up along with her christmas lights, leaving the front shop window a beautiful, glowing, white winter. White yarn balls and tissue paper ornaments cast shadows across the flower under the warm glow of the lights hanging above. She'd told me once that decorating the front window was one of her favorite projects. I could see her hand behind every bit of the display.

I thought of my mother.

Things like this would light up her entire face at Christmas time. At least when I was still young. Before Dad began to change. She used to make a big deal of decorating the house, making it part of the magic that Christmas was supposed to be. As I got older, and things began to change for the worse, the holiday became more somber and quiet. Small gifts, usually hand made were exchanged, sometimes just between my mother and I if it wasn't good day for Dad. She would leave our gifts for him outside his study and take me to the farthest wing of the house to play. To forget. I could hardly remember watching my father open a present, let alone give one.

In just a few weeks, it would be ten years. Ten years since they died. I couldn't believe it. It still felt so raw.

"Do you like it?" came Bella's voice behind me. I turned to see her switch off all the shop lights but the Christmas lights and come up beside me, a small bag slung across her chest and over her shoulder, bundled in her coat and a scarf. Her beautiful face was illuminated in the light. Her eye lashes cast delicate shadows, her nose and cheeks were pink and bright.

Wordlessly, she guided me outside, locking up behind her and bringing me to stand in front of the glowing window. I felt her hand slip into mine as we stood in the cold, staring at the display. She rested her head against my shoulder.

If anyone had told me just a few months ago that a moment like this would be mine, I would have told them to fuck off.

"It's beautiful." I said, managing to get the words out with my voice cracking much. For some reason I had a lump in my throat suddenly. Bella just squeezed my hand, telling me silently she understood.

And hour later, Bella and I were curled up on my couch.

I'd started a fire in the fireplace and Bosley was asleep at our feet. It was odd how normal it felt. Something like this had always seemed picturesque and cliche to me. Not so much now. Bella was wrapped in an afghan and tucked into my side, her legs draped over my lap.

Between the two of us, we had managed to put together dinner with the odds and ends of my sparse kitchen. I hadn't really thought about my lack of food in the house before asking her over. But omelets and cinnamon toast seemed to suit the two of us just fine.

"This is kind of perfect." Bella said quietly, taking a sip from her mug of tea.

I'd learned that tea was kind of her thing. One cup in the morning, and one at night. The look on her face while she had it was the epitome of peacefulness. She had told me one of the nights I'd been fixing her store front that it was the most soothing thing to her. The warmth in her hands, the herbal smell, the taste of honey that was always strongest at the bottom of her cup. Even listening to her describe it that night over dinner, I could feel what she felt.

"The tea?"

"No," she laughed lightly. "This."

She nuzzled a little closer to me, illustrating what she meant. I hummed in agreement. We stayed quiet for a minute, then I thought of something she'd mentioned nights ago.

"So, two bucket lists, eh?"

I felt her chuckle lightly against me.

"Yep." she looked up at me. "I have them saved somewhere at home, but I have two. One I wrote when I was around twelve, and then a much longer list I wrote after my transplant. I kept both, just so I'd always keep some perspective." she said softly.

"When I was twelve I had things like: riding a bike all the way around the block...camping in the woods...spending a whole day at the beach...jumping off the swings in Jake's back yard...simple things that I couldn't do at the time."

I thought of one of the first times I laid eyes on her, smiling as she rode her bike through town. The grin on her face made complete sense now.

"And now?" I asked.

"Now...I'm dreaming a lot bigger than I used to thats for sure." she chuckled. "My new list is obviously a lot longer than my old one. I don't know...I have so many things I want to do."

"Like...?"

She was suddenly shy, ducking her head and smiling. I could see her blushing.

"I don't know...some of them are pretty stupid." she laughed.

"Oh, come on...try me."

She took a deep breath and sat up straighter, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Okay, I'll tell you some of mine, if you tell me some of yours." she offered, striking a deal.

"What? My bucket list?"

"Yeah, I mean everybody has one whether they write it down or not. Aren't there things you've always wanted to do, but never thought you could? Or just...haven't yet?"

I thought about it for a minute.

"Alright, deal. But you first." I said, liking the delighted smile on her face.

"Okay-"

"Wait...I have a condition." I smirked. "Bucket list items do not have to be realistic."

"Oka-"

"And I think, as a rule, there should also be kissing in between bucket list item sharing."

"Oh yeah?" she smirked.

"Yeah," I replied, wagging my eyebrows at her like an idiot. "Like a reward system."

"I guess I can't argue with that. Rules are rules." she grinned.

"I'll even give you one in advance cause I'm such a nice guy."

I stole a kiss as she started to laugh. I could taste honey on her lips.

"Alright, you're up, Swan."

She smiled as her eyes traveled upwards toward the ceiling, skimming through her memories.

"Okay...well...I-I..." she giggled and her cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink. "I've always wanted to learn how to belly dance."

She laughed now, but the idea of those hips and that perfect ass rotating in front of me had my blood rushing south suddenly.

I could feel my face split into a grin before I leaned down to kiss her. I felt her hand slide up my neck and hold me to her, elongating the kiss. It had been a long day without this. I didn't know how much longer I could keep from touching her. She hummed against my lips before pulling away just slightly.

"Your turn."

"Okayskydiving!" I said quickly and then leaned in for another kiss, eager to have my mouth against hers again. My lips met cool fingertips instead.

"Edward! That's cheating."

"Is not!" I argued, somehow thoroughly delighted to be bickering with my girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

Shit. I hadn't asked Bella if she wanted to be my girlfriend yet.

"Is too! Tell me something real."

"But, I really could want to sky dive..."

She arched a brow at me, not budging.

"Okay, okay..." I relented, raking a hand through my hair. My mind wandered, sifting through my options. What had I always wanted to do, but never had? "Well, I guess I've always thought it would be cool to live on my boat for a while. Take it out on some gorgeous route and disappear for a month. Bos would be so sea sick though, I'd never put him through it."

I looked over, and from Bella's expression, I could tell my answer was satisfactory. She grinned as she leaned forward and brought her mouth to mine, sweeping her tongue ever so lightly along my bottom lip.

Fuck.

"I'm sorry," she blushed. "You're just...very easy to keep kissing."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and took a breath, thinking about her next answer.

"I'd love to travel abroad. There's so much I'd love to see. I don't even know where I'd start."

"Italy." I answered for her. "There's no place like it. I could see you there."

And I really could. Suddenly my mind was stuck on this picture of Bella wearing nothing but our bed sheets on the terrace of some gorgeous summer home in Capri.

Jesus. I was in deep.

"Really?" she asked, smiling. "I'd love to go."

I told her about some of my time studying in different parts of Italy, some of the trips I took in Europe. My favorite spots, the best place to get coffee, the blue water in Venice, the bright orange of the Tuscan hills in the fall, getting hammered with foreigners. She was absorbed in the conversation, asking me questions about where I'd been with her eyes locked on me, engaged so fully in my answers. Her eyes sparkled as I spoke, and I wanted more than anything to take her there.

"I guess that would be on my bucket list then... to go back." I said.

With you, I thought.

I'd barely finished my sentence before Bella's lips were on mine again.

Automatically, my arms came up around her as I deepened the kiss. Best. Reward system. Ever.

Bella's fingers were in my hair, pulling just enough to make my eyes roll into the back of head. The kiss grew in heat and I could feel my chest pounding as her tight little body pressed closer to me. Her mouth was so soft and warm, yet firm against mine. Her lips moving... so smooth, heated, wet.

"Disneyland..." she mumbled as she moved her mouth to my neck, leaving a hot trail of kisses until she reached back to my mouth once more. Her laughter, and her continued kisses told me she was bullshitting.

"Mt Everest..." I countered as I took a breath before capturing her lips again. We'd both thrown the rules out the window.

"We're ...really bad at this game." she panted.

"Don't care."

"We've barely...oh God...s-started..." she breathed a moan as I took my turn lavishing her neck with attention, my thumb roaming over a fabric covered nipple.

"Fuck..." she breathed, my cock straining beneath her at the sound of the word on her lips. "Need you..."

Bella's tongue. Bella's fucking tongue. Goddamn.

In a quick adjustment, she moved her body over mine, straddling me where I sat on the couch. The sheer buttoned top she was wearing was loose and slouching over her bare shoulder. Her skin was hot under my palms as my hands traveled up her hips and under the hem of her shirt, pressing flat against her back.

My breathing stuttered as she ground her hips down on mine, the heat of her core directly over my cock.

She pulled back from me, raising her arms in the air for me as I slid her shirt over her head, my palms following her curves, her skin being revealed to me inch by inch. Milky white skin, glowing from the fire light behind her.

Her hands held my face and neck as she found my lips again. The kiss was growing almost frantic in intensity. The overwhelming need to touch and be touched everywhere was lit like a fire in both of us.

"Edward..." she breathed as I brought my mouth to the center of her chest, my fingers itchy to remove her bra. Just as I went to unclasp it, it fell forward. She'd reached behind her and unhooked it herself. Her breasts bouncing just slightly as they were freed.

God, they were just so fucking perfect. Full, soft, round...and her nipples, standing at attention for me, became the focus of my mouth.

"Bed..."

Without another word I'd lifted us up off the couch and was moving towards the stairs, my mouth never leaving her skin. Her fingers felt so good lost in my hair, scraping my scalp just enough to make me hiss. Fuck. My chest was pounding against hers, and the way the heat of our hips was aligned was driving me insane.

I felt Bella nip and suck at my bottom lip and this primal sound came from my throat.

Against the wall, grinding into her.

Up the stairs, hands in her hair.

Against the door of my bedroom, my palms cupping her ass. Her nails running down my shoulders and back.

There is a desperation that blooms in our kisses, this hunger that needs to be satisfied. And it isn't sweet or slow, its raw and needy.

Bella lets out a little squeal as I practically throw her on my bed. She reaches out to me and her fingertips grope and yank at my shirt until its lost in the dark. I make quick work of tugging off her leggings and crawling up the bed and over her body, needing my mouth on hers again like I need air. My stomach tightens as her hands trail down my chest and then to the waistline of my jeans.

I'm aching. I'm fucking aching to be inside her.

Our breathing is fast and excited as we lose the rest of our clothes. In a moment of haste I'm almost certain I've literally ripped her panties off. But I can't do anything but stare at the sweet, smooth, wet flesh I've just revealed.

I feel my dick throb anxiously, but I have to taste her first. I just have to.

I let my fingers slide between her folds first, eliciting a gasp from her in the dark. Rubbing up and down I can feel how ready she is for me. Her legs fall open for me, and her eyes follow mine as I lower myself down to taste her. Her mouth stays slightly open, her breathing stunted by my movements.

The way her flesh gives beneath my mouth and tongue is so erotic that I have to close my eyes as I continue or I might cum before we even start. My tongue traces circles around her clit, sucking gently. Her hips rotate beneath me, and seeing her squirm only eggs me on.

"E-Edward..." I hear her moan.

Fuck.

I feel her body start to shake beneath me and I wrap my arms around her legs, pressing down just slightly on her lower abdomen. The two of us are both already so aroused I know it won't take long to get her there.

One finger, then two. I feel and hear Bella react. Her moans rise in their pitch. Her fingers grasp my bed sheets and her muscles are tense beneath me.

I open my eyes to watch what I can feel is about to happen. My gaze trails up her naked skin, her beautiful breasts, her long neck, over her gorgeous face. Her pink lips are open and she looks down at me for only a moment before I see her eyes flutter and roll back into her head.

Within seconds she's arched and trembling with release. And I can't go another second with out being in her.

"Need you...please..." is all I can mutter as I crawl up her body and kiss her. She's nodding her head, giving me permission, still moaning from her release. Her hands travel over my body and I can feel myself react. For some reason her fingertips are cold like ice on my skin and I'm covered with goosebumps.

Countering all of this is the heat of her pussy. She guides me to her entrance and then pulls my hips forward, not stalling for one moment.

Holy shit.

I'm trying to be gentle, but I feel like I'm about to lose it. As if she's read my mind, she pulls herself up to lean on her elbows and wraps her legs around my back before she says,

"Please..." she stops to place one lingering, scorching hot kiss on my lips, the two of us panting. "Fuck me."

Goddamn.

Bella doesn't swear very often, and talking dirty was something I didn't think she'd be into. But Bella has always surprised me.

And those words, on her lips...asking me to...begging me...

I let go of any hesitation I'd had simply at her permission. My hips quicken their pace and pressure. Everything becomes faster, harder. I can hear our skin meet over and over again. Looking down I watch myself disappear inside her. Her body is beautifully flushed, shimmering in a sheen of sweat we both share. But its her eyes that get me. The intensity, the trust there. She knows I would never hurt her.

I continue my thrusts but pull her up to me, the two of us now both in sitting positions, but with her on my lap. We hold on to each other for dear life.

I can feel Bella's mouth on my neck and my eyes roll back. She's meeting me thrust for thrust and nothing exists but this.

"I-I...Edward I'm..."

She's tightening around me. A new wave of warmth surrounds me. She cries out.

"God...Bella..."

My release is powerful. I can feel my muscles jerking with relief.

My face is buried in her neck, the two of us trying to control our breathing. Skin damp with sweat. Muscles shaking and spent. My mind is reeling in the aftermath of one of the most intense orgasms I've ever had.

I feel Bella's hands running through my hair, bringing me back to her.

I pull back to look at her. Her smile sets me at ease and she kisses me with all the gentleness she has. Lips so soft, so tender.

"I love you." she whispers, kissing me once more.

I don't even think she knows what it means to me to hear her say it. To say it and mean it. I had written all of this off years ago. Love was not for me. Love was not in the plan. Love was weakness and vulnerability and fuck if I was going to let myself lose someone again.

But in comes Bella Swan and everything changes. And all I can think about currently is keeping her.

"Be mine, Bella." I say. She stills, her eyes searching me.

"Are you asking me-"

It dawns on me that asking her to be my girlfriend post sex might not be the best idea.

"I'm asking you to be my girlfriend. I'm in love you and I just...I just want this. Fuck, this is not the right moment to ask you this...I'm fucking this up...But just...Do you want this too? I mean, is that what you-"

Shit.

"Yes. Yes, I want this too." she says, effectively stopping me from back tracking and wimping out.

I feel like my chest is going to bust open when she answers. I wrap her up in my arms, still feeling like I can never get quite close enough. Her kiss is dizzying and warm and a blanket of calm comes over me.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Very." she answers simply, honestly. I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Shower?" she asks as she pulls away.

"Shower."

Not wanting to let go of her just yet, I get up off the bed and turn back to lift her into my arms again, carrying her giggling little ass into my master bathroom.

I set her down, still laughing, on the tile floor, and go to the closet to grab towels for us. I turn to see her bent forward, adjusting the water in the stand up shower. Beside the shower is a large deep seated jacuzzi tub - plans for another night begin to brew in my head.

I join her in the glass stall, the steam rising around us both. The heat of the water turns her nose and cheeks a pretty shade of pink. In the light I can see that same pink in the scar down the middle of her chest. She takes my hand and wordlessly pulls me in beside her under the spray and then into her arms.

We just hold each other for a minute.

I kiss her forehead and just hold her. My arms wrapped around her, one hand cradling her head. Her grip on me is perfect in pressure, holding me against her wet, warm body.

Breathing deeply, I feel cleansed in a way.

We spend more time kissing and touching in the shower, unable to keep our hands to ourselves. Some how we manage to wash up as well, but mostly I just can't stop touching her. When we're both clean, I hop out and surround her in a warm fluffy towel before grabbing my own. Light from the bathroom spills into the bedroom and I smirk at the absolute mess we've made of the bed. I throw on a pair of boxers and do my best to fix up the sheets while Bella brushes her teeth and rummages around her overnight bag for her pajamas.

"Ahem..." I turn to see Bella with the pair of panties I'd thought I'd ripped dangling from her hand. I was correct. I'd fucked that pair up pretty good.

"I'd say I'm sorry, but I would be lying." I shrug.

"I'm not sorry either." she winks, stepping into the bathroom to pull on a loose tank stop and a pair of some lacey looking boy shorts.

God, my girlfriend is gonna kill me.

My girlfriend.

I hear Bosley at the door and open it, knowing he sleeps better when he's in the same room. Bella finds a comfortable spot in bed and pulls up the covers, just in time for Bos to get up on his hind legs and deliver a slobbery kiss on her hand. She giggles and gives his ears a good scratch. He hops up on the ottoman at the end of the bed and curls up.

"What, no goodnight for me Bos?"

He snorts and wags his tail. I roll my eyes and pat his back before climbing into bed beside Bella. She rolls onto her side to face me, smiling softly.

I reach over and pull her into my side.

I think about our game we'd so poorly attempted. The bucket list.

"Sea World." I offer. Bella chuckles into my chest.

"Really?"

"Duh, haven't you always wanted to kiss Shamoo?"

I can almost feel her roll her eyes at me as she laughs.

She takes a deep breath.

"Umm...to build a snowman." she says.

"Wha-? You've never..."

"Nope." she pulls back a little to look up at me. "Haven't gotten around to it yet."

I'll be taking care of that.

We trade silly bucket list items as well as serious ones until our eyes grow heavy. Hers faster than mine. When I feel her fall into one of her deep sleeps, it takes me a while to let myself relax. It's like I'm afraid if I don't keep watch over her, if I don't take care of her, she won't be there when I wake up. I needed to be sure she was breathing.

Finally my exhaustion overwhelms me and the warmth of her body puts me out.

But despite how calm, how happy I feel...as soon as my eyes close, it's an entirely different story.

How did I think I could run from this?

Sorry again, for the wait. :( Hope you all are having a lovely holiday season. :) More to come...