Disclaimer – Original characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, plot lines and characterizations, all belong to Aurora, copyright November 2010.

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Last time…

"Don't you mean the CEO living with his advisor?"

"So that's a yes?" I was beaming under him and reached up to cradle his face in my hands.

"That's a definite yes. Thank you so much darling." He started peppering kisses along my jaw line and I knew tonight would be a late one.

"Darling?" That's new. I like it; it sounds nice in your accent." Just like every other word that comes out of your mouth.

"Good, get used to it."

Chapter 21 – Element of Surprise

"Junior, what part of no don't you understand?" I was rubbing my temples in frustration, trying to soothe the headache I had been nursing all day. Let's just say Edward wasn't helping.

"Baby, we're going to have to tell them at some point, I don't see what's wrong with tonight." I could just tell he was looking over at me, trying to read my expression, but I honestly couldn't be bothered to tell him to keep his eyes on the road. I leaned my head back against the soft leather headrest of his car and sighed.

"I just want to have a nice dinner with you and your parents, no drama, no misunderstandings, no interrogations, just food, wine and then bed." I placed my hand in the console between our seats, knowing he'd take it, I smiled when he did.

"You're making a bigger deal out of this than is necessary Bella. All we have to do is sit them down and explain, we're both adults, we're not doing anything wrong."

"First, have you met your parents? There's no way they'll take this lightly, especially your Dad, second, you know why we can't be public about us, and we've been over this. Don't fight me on this Edward, please."

"How about a compromise?" His voice was lighter and I knew I'd end up giving in to him eventually, he sounded like he'd thought of something. I gestured for him to go on so he continued.

"We tell them after Christmas, we'll both feel less stressed because we'll have gotten the bid for the Quileute group, and then we can think about how to handle work and everyone else." I had no choice but to nod in agreement. It wasn't that I wanted to keep us a secret; I just wish we could act like a normal couple all of the time, but because of our mutual positions at work, that just wasn't possible, for now. Unless...

No Bella, you made a promise to Carlisle, you signed a contract to see this project through until the end. It's important to honour that agreement.

I despaired at my immediate thought of changing my job; I hated myself for being weak and wanting to take the easy way out, because if we weren't working together, things wouldn't be nearly as complicated. But the thought of not being with him everyday, that was definitely a negative.

We would have to sort something out; nothing else was plausible, nobody on the team, especially none of the Board, could know that Edward and I were romantically involved. It was bad enough that Angela knew, but we both knew we could trust her, so it wasn't so bad. The real issue was that if members of the board, who had pledged millions to projects other than mine, found out, they would argue that the Quileute project was being given unfair precedence because I was running it; they would question Edward's capacity as CEO and he could lose his job. I simply wouldn't allow that to happen. I wouldn't allow us to give them any reason to question Edward, in any way.

Carlisle Cullen was a different matter altogether. He remained a part of the Board of the company as long as he was a major shareholder. If he was seen to be withholding information, such as my involvement with Edward, then his name would be sullied, I was sure of it. I knew there were people out there who didn't like Carlisle and I didn't want to give them any ammunition. There was no way I was going to stand by and watch someone like Carlisle be blamed and ridiculed for something I could control. He, Edward and my father were the most important men in my life, without a doubt, and I would do whatever I could to protect them, which was why we had to wait.

"Penny for your thoughts love." His thumb was rubbing soothing circles in my hand and I realised there was something I had to do before we got to his parents house for dinner.

"Can you pull over please? Everything's fine I just need to do something." I heard the engine change from its raw to a soft purr as we slowed to a stop at what a presumed to be a pull-in of a country road.

"Where are we?" He was round to my side quicker than I expected, unbuckling my seatbelt and helping me out of the car.

"A couple of miles away from the house, now what's wrong?" He sounded concerned and I smiled wondering whether his forehead creased when he was worried about something.

"Nothing, I just really want to kiss you." I ran my hands up his chest, past his neck to cup his cheeks as I stretched up on my toes to bring my lips to his. I smiled as soon as I felt his warm soft lips on mine and moaned far too loudly when his hand began rubbing circles in my lower back, his picky coming frustrating close to my bum.

I gasped when his other hand pulled on my shoulder, forcing us even closer together, now we were connected from head to toe and it felt wonderful, I let my hand rest at the nape of his neck but accidently tugged hard when I felt his tongue dive into my mouth. I never could get used to that, and I never wanted to, I loved constantly being surprised by him, never knowing what to expect, but knowing it would feel fantastic.

I loved how he always tasted so good and I moaned when I felt him massage my tongue with his, all the while pulling me closer and making me desperate for him. He switched us around quickly so I was the one leaning against the car while he leant over me. His hands were at my waist and I could feel him slowly trying to separate my silk blouse from the skirt I was wearing so he could get to my skin.

I pulled away for a second and smiled slightly when he grunted in disappointment, I ran my thumb over his full lips and marvelled at just how lucky I was. Pressing my forehead against his, I whispered softly to him. "Never doubt how much I want you, how much I want this. I just want it to be us two for a little while longer." For emphasis I pressed my lips to his for a soft kiss and laughed when he wouldn't let me pull away again.

"Edward…we're going to be…Edward stop." I was trying not to laugh against his mouth as he tried in vain to hitch my leg over his hip, which unfortunately, the fabric of my dress just wouldn't allow. He shifted closer to me and that's when I felt it against my hip, big and hard. I could feel myself blushing but curiosity got the better of me so I slowly reached down between us and ran my fingers over the cloth covered bulge. What I wasn't prepared for was his reaction.

"Shit, fuck, Bella, do we have to go to dinner?" He manoeuvred himself so he was pressing against my centre and when he started rubbing himself up against me it was my turn to gasp.

Fuck, what's that going to feel like with no clothes. What's it going to feel like inside of you?

It wasn't the first time I'd thought about sex with Edward, not by a long shot, but every day I found myself wanting more, always more. I had to be sensible about this though, one step at a time, or I'd end up freaking myself out and I wanted to experience everything with him, he'd be my first in every way.

I knew I had to talk to Edward about going on the pill, it was important for him to know the things I'd been thinking about and how I was ready, constantly nowadays, to take things further. He had the patience of a saint but I knew if he told me he wanted more, at any point, I'd give it to him. I needed to show him how much I appreciated him going slowly with me. I guess it was just time to speed things up a little, which I was more than willing to do.

In the middle of my mental discussion Edward was busy showing me all the reasons why we should stay home. One hand was drawing circles around my cloth covered breast and the other was on the side of my face as he ravaged my mouth with his. The throbbing in between my legs was disrupting all rational thought and all I could think about was continuing this in bed with far fewer layers. I was seriously considering calling them and cancelling when a wave of guilt overtook me and I knew no matter how bloody fantastic Edward felt against me right now, we had to wait.

Later, just wait until later, and then you can touch him all you want.

When breathing became a difficulty I tugged on his hair and he pulled away, but I couldn't resist kissing him once more behind his ear and whispering "later" to him as I tried to straighten out my clothes.

"You're going to pay for that tonight, now I have to sit through dinner thinking about where that would have gone. I'm glad you're wearing a thong, maybe it won't be so bad after all." He reached around and grabbed two handfuls of my bottom as he spoke, causing me to yelp. He helped me in the car but before he started up the engine I leaned over his side, gripping onto his shirt with one hand and moving forward to whisper in his ear.

"I can't wait to pay your back for all you've given me, because I really am very, very grateful." And I knew it was about time I showed him just how much, but that would have to wait, until later at least.

"Really?" He sounded hopeful and surprised because he was referring to us being together in his parent's house. For once I was grateful for the Cullen's extravagance, my room was on a completely different floor to Carlisle and Esme's so we didn't have to worry about ever being heard. It wasn't as if we were going to have sex or anything, but I knew I didn't want to sleep without him and I owed him big time for last weekend and this week. I'd packed something from Rose's weekend collection that I'd been a little too scared to wear before but now I just hope I can deliver. I was sure as hell going to try.

"Did you bring the wine and the flowers?" I had a sudden moment of panic, good thing Edward was slightly more organised.

"Right here baby, stop fussing." I wanted to smack him for talking like that as we were moving up the steps to the house. I'd already let Sheila off her lead, she'd spend hours running around their garden, running after rabbits and pheasants, well until she got hungry anyway.

"No more of that, we are Edward and Bella, employer and employee." I was tempted to tap him with my white stick, but that thing was hard so it might actually hurt, and knowing my aim, it probably wasn't the best idea.

"Does that mean you have to call me master, I could get used to that?" I'd bet my salary he had a cocky grin on his face. Not for long...

"Could you get used to sleeping in your own bed?"

Silence...

Ha, that shut him up nicely.

We didn't even have to knock on the door; as soon as we reached the final steps I heard the door being flung open as Esme came out to hug me.

"Oh Bella, it's so good to see you, quick get inside it's freezing out here. How come you're so late, it's almost half past six."

"Traffic on the roads, we got held up coming to the house through the village, you know what country roads are like Mom." I blushed at his obvious reference to our little distraction earlier but glad he could at least come up with something.

Sorry Esme, I just had to ravage your son for a bit on the side of the road, oh and I almost decided not to come because I want him so badly.

Yeah, somehow I couldn't see that going down too well.

"Oh Edward look at you, sweetie I know you've been at work but couldn't you even brush your hair a bit, and look at this shirt, I didn't raise you to be so messy. I'm glad Bella can't see what a state you are." Her scolding was good natured but I was so glad I didn't have a drink or anything, because I'd have definitely spat it out.

Actually Edward's usually quite tidy; I just can't keep my hands off of him. My bad.

It's his fault, he shouldn't have such nice hair, it's almost cruel to tempt me the way it does.

You keep telling yourself that Bella.

"Carlisle they're here, turn that TV off and come and see your children. Edward don't just stand there, take Bella's coat and hang it up, I have to check on the sauce." I loved how she called us her children, although that would mean there was some kind of incestuous relationship between Edward and I, no, children in a familial sense, not literal. We must have been alone in the foyer because I felt Edward's hands creep around my body starting to undo the buttons on my coat.

"Esme said take my coat, not take it off." That didn't deter him, his hands were working very slowly down to the bottom as he placed feather light kisses on my neck, trust him to misbehave at any opportunity.

"Bella, I'm only a guy, you have to explain things clearly to me, or my imagination will just run wild. See now I don't want to stop with the coat, I want to peel all those layers off you." The thought of him doing just that was very, very tempting but the wafting smell of beef bourguignon pulled me out of my lustful reverie.

I must have given him the look because he stopped what he was doing, took my coat which allowed me to walk to the kitchen, only to bump into Carlisle. Thank God he hadn't been there a few seconds earlier.

"Hello BB, how have you been." I pulled my second favourite Cullen into a hug and giggled when he picked me up and twirled me around like a little girl. I knew Charlie was still my Dad but Carlisle filled another part of my life as well, I suppose I saw him more as a mentor, but above all a good friend.

A friend whose son you're sleeping and living with.

Yes well not in the biblical sense anyway, yet.

"Good, work's good, Sheila's good, she's out in the garden, everything's good."

"Excellent, you look great, you seemed tired last time we saw you, I assume things are better now?" I could hear Edward helping Esme in the kitchen, and Carlisle was walking us to what I presumed to be his study, because he sat us down on a leather sofa I knew he had there. I knew he'd brought me here because he wanted to ask about Edward.

"Things are going really well, my team are working well together, we had a couple of issues in the beginning but you know that's to be expected."

"And Edward?" Bingo.

"He's doing great, I don't know too much about many of the other projects, you'll have to ask him about that, but he's always around when I need him and he's proved to be really helpful. Honestly Carlisle, as far as I know, he's doing well; you know it's going to take time, but I promise you that you won't be disappointed."

"That's a relief; I know you can always tell me the truth. Sure I can talk to Aro or anyone in HR to see how he's getting on, but I know you'll give it to me straight, I knew I could trust you BB." Shit, it's almost as if he knows there's something I'm not telling him.

Luckily he dropped that and just started talking to me about my work, I could tell he was still interested, all this stuff had taken up a large part of his life, and I knew, in some way, he still missed it, but not the working hours. I accepted his offer of a glass of the wine we'd brought with us; heaven knows I needed a little bit of courage for what I wanted to do to Edward tonight. I didn't usually have a glass before dinner when I went round theirs but if he noticed anything strange, he didn't say anything about it.

"So what were you watching earlier?" I was almost certain I knew what it was, and if I was correct, then Esme's reaction would be funny.

"Ah Bella it's that formula one again, I can't stand it! It drives me crazy. He's forbidden from watching it in the kitchen so I send him to the living room. I hate it, all that loud noise, I can't hear myself think."

"Esme, it's a sport, it's not just noise." He really had no chance of arguing with Esme, but I respected him for at least trying. I shook my head in silent laughter and I could hear Edward beside me doing the same.

"Well you know you watch it in the living room, I was on the phone earlier and I had to ask the lady from Oxfam to hold, because my husband can't watch anything with normal volume." I wasn't going to try and hold it in now, both of us were laughing but I thought it was adorable how they never argued; it was just Esme telling Carlisle why he was wrong and him accepting it. They loved each other more than anything though and that was the main thing, it was so nice to know that even after being married all these years, they were still the same.

I wonder if Edward and I will be like that.

"So Bella, you know what next month is don't you?" I was in the middle of chewing a piece of beef and I had to force myself to swallow it because I knew what she was talking about and I really didn't want to go there.

"Christmas?"

"Other than Christmas sweetie."

"Boxing Day?"

"No."

"New Years Eve?" I was pushing my luck now and we both knew it, I should have expected this, it was drawing closer and closer and I couldn't believe I hadn't remembered before.

"Silly Bella, the Cullen Annual Benefit. Do you know what you're wearing yet?"

"I'm not going." Stand your ground Bella, stand your ground.

"Honey I already arranged it with Rosalie Hale; she said she had a few things in mind." Carlisle spoke up quickly and I bet he was glad he was on the other side of the table.

Traitor.

"You're meant to be on my side." I mumbled at him, he wasn't playing fair.

"No offense BB, as menacing as you are, I'm more afraid of getting in my wife's bad books."

He has a point.

"I'm still not going."

"Oh Bella come on, the first year wasn't that bad, I honestly don't know why you make such a fuss."

"And Bella, you have to come this year. All the money raised goes towards my community project."

"Esme, the money goes towards one of your community projects every year." She was a cheeky minx trying to play that card.

"Wait, I'm missing something. Why is it you don't want to go?" Edward sounded confused but I didn't blame him, he wasn't there the first year I joined CGB, so he hadn't witnessed my embarrassment.

Now it was Carlisle's turn to laugh and I shot him as fierce a glare as I could in my Ray Bans.

"You've got to admit it was a little bit funny." I knew his teasing was good natured but I still didn't want to talk about it, and I definitely didn't want to go.

"Funny isn't exactly how I'd describe it." I was speaking between clenched teeth but I knew I was embarrassed rather than angry.

"Someone please explain this to me." Oh well, here goes nothing.

"The first year I joined CGB, after I completed my degree, a new graduate program was opened up at the company. There were thirty of us in total but only a select few were invited to the benefit, I was one of them. The board thought it would be good for us each to say a few words about our experiences so far after Carlisle had talked about the program at the benefit. There were three of us and I was the last one to talk, what I didn't know was that the guy before me had switched the microphone off. I was nervous enough as it was, so when I went to speak and nobody could hear anything, I tried talking really loudly. Well, if you've seen Bridget Jones you'll know what I mean; Carlisle always compares it to that. Only difference was I was speaking in front of hundreds of people."

"Don't stop there Bella that's not the funniest bit."

"So after I'd been speaking for a couple of minutes, I felt like an idiot because I had to practically shout at everyone so they could hear me, one of the technicians came over to hand me a new microphone. Carlisle comes over to wrap the whole thing up, laughing at me for what happened, I thought I turned the new microphone off and I may have muttered a few expletives."

"And it was still on?" Edward sounded curious but at least he wasn't laughing.

"Yeah, she'd hit the volume instead of the off button, so everyone heard her say 'not fucking funny Daddy C'. I thought it was hilarious, Bella doesn't agree."

"And that's the reason you're not going, wasn't that like three years ago though?" Now I knew he'd been laughing, I kicked him under the table and he soon stopped.

"Yes but I still don't want to go, it's a load of bollocks -"

"Bella, language."

"Sorry Esme."

"It's a load of rubbish and I hate having to mingle with all those people."

"But you have to come, that's when Edward officially gets recognised as CEO, Carlisle metaphorically 'hands over the reigns', it wouldn't be the same without you Bella. Edward wouldn't you like Bella to be there?" I couldn't believe she was playing the guilt card with me, she was lethal.

"Of course I would Mom; I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without her." I was ready to kick him again but what he said really meant a lot to me. I had to struggle not to melt on the spot, I think they'd notice something was up if I did. I could feel my resolve weakening and I knew that if we were alone Edward would be pleading with me.

"Let's just say I do go, I just have to mingle and be nice to people right? No talking." I wanted clarification if I was actually going to do this.

"Not exactly..."

"Carlisle. Whatare you saying?"

"I thought maybe it would be nice if, instead of one of the board members talking about my time at CGB and Edward joining us, well, I wondered maybe, whether, you...would do it. If you want to?" I had to struggle a little bit not to scream at him. What the hell was he thinking? Ok Bella, calm, you didn't want there to be any drama tonight and there doesn't have to be, just stay calm.

"Why me?"

"You're the closest one to both of us at the company, and it will be my last appearance at an official event as CEO, it would mean a lot to me if you would do this. You're the one that works with Edward the most, and I know we'd both prefer a friend of the family up there with us rather than someone like Aro."

I had to think about whether I wanted to do this. Actually I didn't even need to think, I knew I really didn't want to do this, but for Edward it would be different. Standing in front of all those people, talking about the man who is so important to me, was that such a bad thing? I knew if I said no Carlisle wouldn't love me any less or think badly of me, but I didn't know whether Edward would be disappointed, and that was really what I was most concerned about.

"You know this is blackmail right?"

"Bella, just listen -"

"Actually it's worse than that, its emotional blackmail." I kept my face an empty mask, hoping he would feel some sort of guilt for asking me to do this, especially after I'd explicitly explained to Edward exactly why I didn't even want to go to the event.

"Is that a yes?"

"It's a maybe."

"Come on BB, we both know maybe means yes, just say it."

"Yes ok I'll do it, but I have conditions. I'm not up on that platform for more than ten minutes, I get to leave before midnight and I reserve the right not to have to speak to anyone I don't like for more than a minute." The leaving before midnight part was probably the most important; one thing worse than pretentious bankers was drunken pretentious bankers. I wasn't having any of that.

"Done." Really? That was easy.

"And I have to wear a dress?"

"Yes but Rosalie will sort that out, apparently she's having trouble finalizing which one she likes best but she'll tell you soon."

"Yay I can't wait." Sarcasm was definitely appropriate here.

"It won't be that bad."

"So if you knew earlier that you wanted me to do this, why didn't you call me at work?"

"Because you'd hang up on me and refuse to talk to me."

Ah, he knows me so well.

"Probably."

Dessert was fantastic, even more so because I told Esme not to let Carlisle have any, this time she was on my side. I was standing in the kitchen with Esme talking about her week when she surprised me with a change of topic.

"Edward seems a lot happier recently." Oh shit. Just how intuitive was she?

"Yeah, I guess."

"I just wish he'd settle down, I raised him to be a gentleman but sometimes I know he can be less than so. Carlisle was the same when we first met." If only she knew just how much ungentlemanly behaviour he'd been participating in.

"Really?"

"Oh Bella he was a chauvinistic prick."

"Esme!" I was shocked and amused to hear here talking like that, and because she was so calm. It was pretty funny.

"Honestly, sometimes there's no other way than to just say it, but really, I was undeniably attracted to him but he could be so pig headed sometimes. He was so young and impressionable, it took him a while to really find himself, and then, well, the rest is history. I'm only telling you this because I can imagine that's what Edward was like when you first met him, but he's changed, I don't know what it is, but he's a better man. Thank you for being patient with him. I know it must have been hard at times."

Yeah, hard not to ravish him.

"I'm just doing my job, but I really do believe in Edward, he's a good person." It was incredibly difficult to stop there and not carry on gushing about him, I wanted to talk to Esme like a daughter would to a mother, like I never had the chance to with my mother. I wanted her to help me understand how I was feeling about him, because I knew I needed some guidance in that area.

"I'm glad you think so, and we're very proud of him too, even if Carlisle doesn't tell him as often as he should. You look tired sweetheart; you don't need to worry about getting up in the morning. Carlisle and I are going to a farmers market early, so we'll be back for brunch at around half ten or eleven."

"Ok, sounds good. I'm going to head up now actually, I hope you don't mind." Excellent, more time alone with my man.

"Oh don't be silly, of course I don't, you've had a long week. I forget how tired you must be. Listen if you need anything in the morning, just call Edward and he'll help you. Night sweetheart."

"Night." I'm sure she wouldn't approve of the things I'd ask Edward to help me with. No, she really wouldn't.

There was a knock at my door and I sincerely hoped, considering what I was wearing, that it was Edward at the door instead of his parents. I prepared myself to be completely embarrassed as I opened the door but was relieved to feel Edward's arms wrap around my waist and lift me up into the air, closing the door behind him.

"Sweet Jesus what did I do to deserve you." I'd wrapped my legs around his waist and I knew that he approved of my new night wear. Apparently there was a good reason why they called this sort of thing night wear instead of sleepwear. It was a dark green baby-doll that came to just above the middle of my thigh, all the edges were black lace and it was really silky, I knew he'd love the feel of it.

"See something you like Mr Cullen?" I giggled and I knew I only had the confidence to say something like that because I was slightly tipsy. Apparently a couple of glasses of wine are quite good for you.

"Oh I like this a lot. Where have you been hiding this?" His hands were roaming up and down my sides and I could feel us being moved backwards to the bed as I was still wrapped tightly around him.

"Its part of Rosalie's weekend collection she got for me, does it look ok? I mean, tell me if I look ridiculous." My insecurities were starting to show but I didn't want him to be mad, this was the first time I'd done something like this.

"Bella, you can feel how hard I am. Love you look amazing; I'd insist you wear this to work if there weren't so many perverts in our building. Now let me show you how much I like this." Before I could stop him we were on the bed together, a tangle of arms and legs as he kissed me passionately and I gave in to the wonderful things he was making me feel. His tongue stroked my bottom lip and I immediately granted him entrance, moaning in pleasure as our lips moved together.

He rolled us over so I was on top, straddling him so I could feel him just there. Quickly he sat up and started kissing down my chest on a direct path south to my boobs and I knew if I didn't stop him quickly I'd lose my concentration and forget what I wanted to do.

"Edward...stop." His hand had reached into the baby-doll and was palming my breast, flicking my nipple and causing me to gasp.

"Why love? Does it not feel good?" I was just about to spoke when I felt his mouth cover the other breast and I was in heaven, but I had to tell him to stop.

"Please Edward, don't, please stop." I was breathless but it probably sounded like I was distressed, or even worse, like I genuinely didn't want to do any of this.

"Baby what's wrong?"

"Nothing just lay back down...and, and keep your hands by your sides." Luckily he did as he was told and as soon as I felt his hands on the sheets next to my knees, I leant down and took his mouth with mine but pulled away as soon as his hands starting creeping up my back. I knew if I could concentrate and make this all about him then I could actually do it, obviously practice makes perfect but now for my first time I couldn't afford any distractions.

"Hands Edward." I felt him smile against my lips and carried on with my attack as soon as they resumed their previous position. I made sure to pay equal attention and devotion to both his top and bottom lip, nibbling a little now and then. My hands were in his hair but I moved them down to his shoulders as I started to manoeuvre myself down his body, and what a body he had.

"Oh Bella, that feels good." I smiled at his praise but I wanted more than good.

The sparse hair tickled my own chest as I placed open mouthed kisses down his neck and along his shoulders, my hands following the path my lips had taken. I reached down a little further and was shocked to hear him gasp as I passed his nipples which seemed to be extremely sensitive. Not knowing whether he'd like it or not I ran my tongue lightly over one of them while I traced the other with my finger, to my delight his hips came up off the bed and he groaned.

"Fuck Bella, that feels -" I moved down further again so I was straddling the tops of his thighs, kissing his hard abdomen and nuzzling the hair past his belly button. I was nervous when I came to the edge of his boxers that he was wearing but I knew what I wanted to do, and I'll be damned if I was going to back down now.

I fingered the material but was interrupted by Edward's hands.

"Where did I tell you to put your hands?"

"Baby you don't have to do anything you don't want to -" I purposely ignored him, because I really, really did want to do this.

"Was it not by your sides?"

"Yes love. Sorry." He knew not to argue and I was glad of that, the last thing I needed was to lose my nerve.

He lifted his hips which I was incredibly grateful for as I slid his boxers down his hips and past his knees where he flicked them off. Now he was naked, as in, no clothes, not a stitch on him as Renee would say. I sat for a couple of seconds rethinking my plan and just as Edward was about to say something I reached my hand out to touch him.

Obviously I had no idea what to expect, having never touched another man's…member before.

Jesus Bella, get over it, it's a dick you're touching, a cock whatever you want to call it.

The first thing that came to mind was how soft the skin was, it was strange how his dick was so hard yet the surface of it was so smooth. Edward hissed through his teeth when I wrapped my hand around the base of his dick and I wondered whether I'd done something wrong already. I was sure he'd tell me if I was doing it wrong or if I was hurting him so I carried on what I was doing.

I never knew how thick it was meant to be but my fingers couldn't quite meet around the base of him. And it was big, and long, I didn't know what the average man was, but he had to be on the well endowed side of things. Suddenly it occurred to me, how was that ever going to fit inside me? It was huge, I don't think I had enough space to fit the length of him in, and I knew my opening was substantially smaller than the width of him. I dismissed that though, I had a job to do and I wanted to do it right.

I leaned myself upwards to get more comfortable so I was straddling the very tops of his thighs, so to be closer to him. I ran my other hand over his prominent hip bones, tracing small circles with my nails as I brought my other hand up and down on him repetitively. I could feel the slight ridges in it which were presumably veins, when I got to the top I thumbed the flesh there which induced a very satisfied groan. I guess I must have been doing something right. He was thrusting his hips into my hand now and I could hear his breathing quicken.

"Oh fuck Bella don't stop." I leaned down to press a kiss to his chest while I kept my hand on him, up and down, up and down, I was starting to get into a rhythm and actually enjoying myself, I knew he liked what I was doing, the grunts and moans and gasps were turning me on more than anything. I reached under him to cup his balls with the other hand and smiled when I felt his hands fist in the sheets. I could feel the moisture collecting at the top of his dick and rubbed it around the top with my thumb, and then something I had never thought about occurred to me, what did it taste like?

I brought the hand that had been on his dick up to my mouth and flicked my tongue out to lick the pre-cum off of my thumb.

"Oh baby...oh God, keep going, I'm…uh" As soon as I did that I felt him twitch beneath me and his balls start to tighten, now I used both hands to work him, one at the top concentrating on his head and the other rubbing him up and down, his hips were thrusting much more violently now and the sounds he was making were far more erotic.

I kept moving my hand on him as I leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Won't you come for me Edward." At that his dick tightened and got even harder if it was possible and I felt his hot cum shoot in several spurts over my hand and his stomach.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck BELLA!" We were both breathless at this point and he seemed dazed if anything, which I guess was a positive reaction. He leaned over to get a tissue from the pack on my bedside table and I started getting nervous because he hadn't said anything yet. Once he was finished I leaned over him and cupped his face with my hands, kissing him hard and pouring all the passion I had for him into that one kiss, hoping he could feel it.

We laid there silently for a couple of minutes and I tried to hide my anxiety by placing kisses over his face, on his warm cheeks, along his stubbly jaw, on his forehead, his nose and finally a quick peck on his lips.

"Edward? Say something…please. What are you thinking?" I stroked his face lightly and smiled when he turned his face to nuzzle my hand, placing a kiss in the centre of my hand.

"That what you just did was incredible, fucking fantastic. I've never come that hard, or fast." He mumbled the last bit and I had to strain to make sure I'd heard him right. Surely that was a good thing though, coming hard and fast, I didn't understand what was wrong.

"But you liked it?"

"I think that's a bit of an understatement love."

"So what's wrong?" I let my whole weight rest on him and settled my face in between his neck and shoulder and he started to stroke my hair.

"Nothing's wrong, you just make me feel like an inexperienced fifteen year old. I can usually last, well hold out, a lot longer than that. I didn't want you to think that I wouldn't be able to pleasure you because I was so, well you know, quick." Suddenly I was laughing because the whole thing was so ridiculous, how on earth could he feel inexperienced and inadequate, and how could he even for a second think that he couldn't pleasure me properly?

"Uh, Bella, this isn't meant to be funny."

"No you're right, it's not, but its borderline stupid. Edward I'm sure I don't have to remind you that you're the only man to show me any kind of pleasure, you make my fucking head spin with how good you make me feel, and I'm not just talking about when we're intimate. So the idea that you can't pleasure me, yeah, I can't help laughing because it's ludicrous. You've shown me what pleasure is, I just wanted to do the same for you. Before tonight, I worried about not being able to do this with you; I mean I really worried, because I have no idea what I'm doing. Baby I'm glad you lost control, you know how good that makes me feel, that I can do that to you."

"You have no idea what you do to me Bella Swan. You're everything to me."

"You're my world Edward, it's all you. You're my life now."

"As you are mine. Thank you by the way, I never did say so." I rolled us to the side so we were facing each other and I wrapped one arm around him and swung my leg over his thigh.

"You're very welcome, night baby."

"Goodnight love." We kissed for a few more minutes before we fell asleep in each others arms. And that was exactly how I woke up the next morning, tangled up in Edward Cullen with his head against my chest. I felt like my life had just started.

I woke up with a start, I was never cold, and not just because Edward insisted on keeping the thermostat constantly high, but because I usually woke up against another body, which was not the case this morning. The sheets next to me were cold as well, which meant Edward hadn't been here for a while, I didn't have a clue as to why he wasn't in bed, we didn't have to be in work until eight today so I was looking forward to a lie in. I found my Blackberry next to me on the bed and presumed that meant that Edward wanted me to call. I pressed his speed-dial and while I was waiting for him to pick up I was worrying about all the things that could be wrong.

"Edward Cullen."

"Edward where are you? What's wrong?" I held the phone close to my ear thinking that would get him to respond quicker.

"I'm at the office. I didn't want to wake you but Bella, something's happened, you need to come in." His voice was quiet but I knew he would be talking to me in his office, so no-one could hear him.

"Right now?"

"I think that would be best."

"Dammit Edward what's wrong?" Fuck what if someone had had an accident, or they were ill; was it one of the team? Was it Angela? All sorts of awful situations were running through my head and I was starting to panic.

"No-one's hurt; I know that's what you're thinking. I can't talk about it over the phone, just come in as soon as possible."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes." I cancelled the call and pulled on the first shirt and trousers I could find, not really caring what I looked like at all. I quickly sprayed on some deodorant, foregoing a shower as I called Jake to come and pick me up and take me to work. Sheila must have sensed my lack of patience this morning because she was in the car as soon as Jake opened the door for her. I'm sure we broke a few speeding laws but this morning I really couldn't care less.

I walked as fast as I could to Edward's office which Sheila was more than happy to do, he'd taken to keeping treats in there for her so any mention of him and she was away.

"Would somebody like to explain to me what's going on?" I could hear the rest of the team talking in hushed voices so I knew I was the last to arrive.

"It's the bid for the Quileute group." That really wasn't what I wanted to hear, not after the number of long hours I'd put into this thing.

"What about it? We're the only competitor, this should be in the bag, I met with Mr Uley myself last week and we agreed our terms. That's what the whole focus of Phase 1 was; it'll all be sealed before Christmas."

"We just received a call from their legal team informing us that Mr Uley is negotiating with another competitor, he re-opened the bid."

"Who the fuck is it?" My fists were clenched and I felt like I could scream.

"It's JIG Bella, James Jameson is heading an acquisition team for the Quileute group, and they're our competitors." I was really glad I didn't have anything close to me that I could throw, because I knew I'd have smashed it by now.

I was seeing red. World War Three could have broken out and I wouldn't have noticed a thing. All I could think about was how much I hated that no good, son of a bitch wanker James Jameson, and how I was going to trample on him if it was the last thing I did.

Is it too much to ask to help me get to 420 reviews? Your thoughts are important to me and I'm always willing to discuss things about the story with you guys. I just want to know what you think.

Oh and the update is coming along, but I don't have an ETA for it yet, but it will be chunky, lots and lots of Edward-y goodness. Just for you guys, because I love you.

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend, each and every one of you.

Aurora