My blue pumas made a hollow sound as I power walked towards Alice's apartment. I needed answers. I couldn't decide what I believed anymore. Either Alice told her parents about Charlie or Emmett and they brought him the picture, or it was the only other Cullen I knew. This was exactly why I didn't bring new people to see him, it just made everything more complicated.

I jogged up the steps and pushed the buzzer for Cullen. Muttering under my breath I held the button waiting for someone to answer or ring me in.

"Hello?" a tired voice grumbled through the intercom. I froze. That was not Alice. "Hello?" the mystery voice was more irritated now at my silence. I didn't know what to do.

"Um, hi. I'm guessing you aren't Alice." There was silence for a moment. "I'm really sorry to bothering you." Did I not read the chart correctly; I could have sworn I pushed the button for Cullen.

"… Bella?" All the blood rushed from my head. I had completely forgotten that Alice lived in the same building as Edward. His velvet voice sounded different through the speaker. "It's you isn't it." He was no longer asking a question. This was horribly awkward. He didn't want to see me again and here I am harassing him at his own apartment.

I must have been lost in thought for a while because the door opening next to me caused me to jump. Edward poked his head out. His hair was in more disarray than normal. He reached out and grabbed my arm pulling me into the building. He was not wearing a shirt. He was just in black sweatpants with not shoes. He closed the door behind me and started to drag me up the stairs. I just sputtered. I didn't know what to do or how to react.

When we reached the second landing I planted my feet in hopes of slowing him down. I just succeeded and tripping myself and falling against his bare back. His skin was as smooth alabaster and softer than I remembered. He stopped when I hit him, turning slowly. I surveyed his face closely for the first time. I noticed shadows under his eyes that hadn't been there before.

"Jeez Edward, you look like crap." I commented before I could stop myself.

"Thanks, I appreciate the compliment, you don't look so great yourself," he replied sarcastically before continuing our ascent and pointing out my lack of effort this morning. We climbed five more flights of stairs before we stopped. I had watched Alice's door come and go as we climbed as I tried to improve my appearance if only slightly with my free hand. The stairs had ended so Edward must live on the top floor, the penthouse. His door was still open when we came to it and he just pushed my inside. He turned and shut the door behind him.

I couldn't even remember why I had come here in the first place as he flipped the lock.

"Are you ok Edward? You really don't look very good." I took a tentative step towards him. I resisted the urge to check for a fever. He sat on his couch and spread out on his back without responding. His eyes were closed so I took the time to inspect the scene around me. Tinted windows encompassed all the outer walls so a panoramic view of the city was displayed. His living space looked practically sterile, as if he never used it. The only evidence that someone actually lived here was the fact that the sheets were pulled down on the bed in the corner and there was an empty bottle of scotch and a glass on the coffee table next to Edward. Everything else was pristine and untouched.

I rocked back on my heels thinking. I did not know what to say or do while Edward lay comatose on the couch. It did look very comfortable. The image of me cuddling in next to him on the plush leather made my shiver. The couch was black leather and had two matching chairs on either side. There was an enormous flat screen plasma mounted on the wall behind me followed by endless shelves or CDs and DVDs.

There were no walls to the apartment except for one central pillar, which was the stairwell and a bathroom. Everything else was open and I felt exposed just standing awkwardly. I glanced back at Edward and his emerald eyes were open. They held mine. He looked beyond exhausted but his eyes still burned. I felt a strong urge to take care of him.

Neither of us spoke. We just stared at each other until Edward's cell phone rang. It sat on the coffee table between us next to the empty liquor bottle. A picture of Tanya in a Victoria's Secret negligee popped up on the screen. The ring tone was "Man-eater" by Nelly Furtado. I felt bile rise in my throat again but still we didn't move. It rang four times before the phone went to voicemail. There was a ding sound and the screen said he had fifteen missed calls.

My eyes met his again.

"Wow Mr. Popular. Why didn't you answer your lover's phone call?" I was trying for nonchalant, but my voice cracked ruining the effect. Edward's right hand migrated to his face to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"I don't want to speak to her." He emphasized the word 'her'. My stomach clenched.

"Did you get in a fight or something?" I was prying into his personal life, but I needed to know.

"As a matter of fact we did." I came forward and perched on the edge of a chair waiting for him to continue. I crossed my hands in my lap and twined my fingers together to keep from tapping. "I broke up with her actually, but she is under the impression that the matter is negotiable. Therefore she won't stop calling." He leaned his head back and closed his eyes again. He looked as if he hadn't slept in days.

"Why don't you just turn the phone off?" It seemed simple to me. His eyes were on my again and his entire body froze.

"I was hoping someone else would call." His eyes were telling me the truth, but there was something else there.

"Who would be worth dealing with that witch all night for? Are Esme and Carlisle ok?" My eyes grew big. "What about Alice? Is someone in the hospital?" I stood up ready to run out the door but Edward's chuckle stopped me.

"No, no one is in the hospital that I am aware of."

"Then why couldn't you just turn off your phone." He paused and seemed to gauge my reaction.

"You might call." I felt my pupils dilate a little more searching for something that he wasn't saying.

"What." It wasn't a question but he still responded.

"You might call so I couldn't turn it off. It's the only way you could reach me." His eyes were closed again but his hands had balled into fists.

"W-why would I need to call you?" This just didn't make sense. He sat up abruptly and got off the couch. He took a few steps towards me putting us just a few inches from touching.

"You can call me for anything, anytime, anywhere." His eyes smoldered. His breath washed over my face and my toes curled in my shoes. "You don't need a reason."

"But," I didn't have time to finish. His mouth was on mine before my sentence was even formulated in my mind giving me my answer. His hands were in my hair pulling out my hair tie and my hands clung to his bare shoulders trying to stay in this solar system.

Somehow we got twisted around until I fell onto the couch. He came with me. The leather smelt of his skin. He was everywhere around me. It was intoxicating. His lips moved down my throat as his hands pushed off my shirt.

The air in his apartment was cool and it caused goose bumps to appear over my newly exposed flesh. His fingers danced along my bra before undoing the clasp. My nipples were already hard. From the cold or his touch I wasn't sure.

There were so many sensations my body couldn't handle it. The warmth of the couch beneath me, the cold air, and the furnace that was the man above me. I sucked in a deep breath when Edward reached my belly button. My hips of their own accord came off the couch.

What are you doing!? My head was screaming at me but I couldn't even think about a protest. Edward's hands grazed across my stomach and un-buttoned my jeans. His fingers just grabbed the edge of the material; they did not remove them immediately.

"Bella." My hips lifted again thinking he needed help removing the offending piece of clothing. "Bella." He said again tracing small circles on the plane of my stomach.

"What?" I practically screamed as I worked to pull my jeans off myself. His hands caught my wrists.

"Look at me." I forced my eyes open and looked at him. My frustration was growing. He was kneeling at the end of the couch leaning over me. I could feel his moist breath on my skin and it made the air seem that much colder. I shivered. His emerald eyes were staring at me. "I want to see your eyes while I touch you. I want you to know it's me who can do this to you." His fingers trailed along me again and my hips bucked in response.

I had to force my eyes to stay open as he inched my jeans down slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. I was completely naked in an instant and I shivered again. His gaze shifted to look at my body and I shuddered at his expression.

His nimble hands slid me closer to him before starting their torture. Every time my eyes closed for more than a blink Edward would stop. My whimpers of protest were unheeded until I opened my eyes again. He brought me to three climaxes before I was panting and shaking with exhaustion.

He slid up my body and kissed me deeply. His tongue tasted of me while it dueled mine and it turned me on even more. Somewhere along his journey he had discarded his sweatpants so we were skin on skin. He still felt fevered to my touch. My hands wandered his back and hair until he repositioned us once again.

Edward lay on his back with me sitting on his stomach. He was giving me the reins to set our pace and I took them eagerly. I lowered myself onto him slowly as I felt myself stretch. I held Edward's eyes.

"Edward, I want you to look at me, so you know it's me and no one else who's doing this to you." He nodded with a faint smile as I repeated his words but I didn't move at first, I just rocked slightly back and forth clenching him with my inner muscles.

Little beads of sweat popped out at Edward's hairline and I knew I couldn't stay like this forever. Slowly at first I moved along his length. As I felt myself losing control I sped up. Edward met my every motion and we spun into oblivion together, my name on his lips.

OOOOOOOOo

I woke a while later. I had fallen asleep next to Edward on the couch. He looked at peace for the first time in days. I lightly traced the dark marks under his eyes willing them away. He turned his face into my hand and pulled my body closer to his. I was no longer cold. Something seemed off.

I put the back of my hand on Edward's forehead. He was burning up. I sat up to quickly in shock and we both fell off the couch. I landed on him with a thud. The air was forced from his lungs but his arms were still tight around me refusing to let me go. I suddenly felt very self conscious since I was still very naked.

There was a loud knock at the door and Edward finally woke up fully. His eyes popped open and his hands still held me tight.

"Edward! It's Alice! Open up!" Even though Alice is tiny, she packs quite a punch. Her bangs on the door echoed though the apartment. I looked at Edward pleading. I was not ready for Alice to know about this. He seemed to understand and finally released me.

I stood grabbing any articles of clothing I could find and run into the bathroom, the only room with privacy. I heard Edward open the door and Alice gasp. I sincerely hoped he pulled on his pants before he let her in. the entire living room must smell like sex or at least look like it.

"I thought you broke up with Tanya." Alice stated sourly, clearly disapproving.

"I did."

"Oh, so was this a pity fuck?" Alice brash comment stung my ego. Was that what this was? Edward could see how hopelessly infatuated I was with him and he took pity on me?

"No, nothing like that."

"Then why did you sleep with her? It just gives her more reason to stick around if you keep giving her hope," she criticized.

"It wasn't her alright." Edward sounded angry and I shivered again. Without his fevered skin I was having trouble keeping warm.

"Don't tell me it was one of those brainless models you tote around like a purse? Edward you are so much better than that, why do you degrade yourself to their level." It sounded like Alice was cleaning. "What's this?" There was a silence. I desperately wanted to know what she found and if it would lead her back to me.

"That would be a thong." Edward answered simply. Thank god it wasn't my wallet. Dammit, if Alice had my underwear I would just have to go commando on the way home.

"I can see that Edward. God, I was here not four hours ago and you looked absolutely miserable and drunk, or at least hung over. As soon as I leave you find yourself some girl and fuck her and now you're better? Obviously it was your dick that was broken, not your heart." I had never heard Alice speak this way. Of course brothers can be difficult so I wasn't overly surprised. It had never occurred to me that Edward would be upset about breaking up with Tanya.

"I didn't ask you to come back. What do you want anyway?" Edward had his back up now.

"I came to take care of you, you stupid ass! But fine, destroy your soul slowly with mindless sex and possible STDs; I don't want to hear about your love life ever again." The door slammed. I waited a minute before peeking out of the bathroom.

Edward stood near the door with the bridge of his nose pinched again. His pants were slung very low on his hips and I had a serious urge to drag him back to the couch for another round but I was still scared Alice could come back. He glanced over at me. His face relaxed and he smiled.

I walked towards him but left space between us. He lifted a brow and closed the space pulling me tight to his body again. I laughed at his move. He swung us closer to his high tech stereo system and pushed the power button. "The Way You Look Tonight" came on and I felt my heart flutter. It was one of my favorite songs.

"I wanted to dance this song with you at the wedding, but you were always with that, Jacob." He wrinkled his nose at the name.

"You could have cut in." I pointed out. But thinking back I probably would have turned him down. I had been angry that he was with Tanya at the time.

"Not with the glares you were throwing my way. Set myself up for rejection?" I blushed slightly. He dipped me and I laughed. He pulled me closer and whispered the words into my ear. "Your sweet laugh, that wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart." My heart beat hard and seemed to stop. As the song came to the end Edward spun me. When I reconnected with him once more he was smiling.

"What, do I have something on my face?"

"Stay with me."

"What?" Could he really be asking that?

"Tonight, stay with me." I looked at him through my lashes.

"Why?" He hesitated. He didn't know how to respond. I felt disappointed. I started to pull away but he held me fast.

"I need you to stay with me tonight. I don't want to be alone." My heart ached at the pain in his voice. I nodded once and smiled shyly. I don't think this meant the same thing to both of us, but I was happy not to be sleeping alone.