I don't own Twilight, Ghostbusters, Star Trek, The Simpsons, or Vanilla Ice.

Special thanks and kisses to EchoesOfTwilight, who betaed this for me while Isabella303 is out of town (and because I was so damn quick with this chapter). She also gets the credit for The Napkin 2.0 (and other stuff I'll remember later and wish I'd included here). ILY ficwife.

If you're not reading her fic, Behind the Clouds, the girls are mad at you.

Thanks to everyone who bid on me in the Support Stacie Auction. Can you believe I went for $170?? o_0

You'd better be thinking about you want, rms33… I am at your disposal. ;)

Chapter 21: Melting the Marshmallow Man

I stared at the floor in shock, amazed that the glass hadn't landed on my foot. Then I looked at The Napkin 2.0 and felt a huge grin stretch my lips.

You already have my number – among other things.

Did that mean what I thought it meant?

Does this mean we still have his little swimmers?

Not quite what I was thinking, girls, but those would be one side benefit…

My silly smile never left my lips as I floated through the rest of the minor cleanup that Angela had left for me. The Napkin 2.0, or simply – 2.0 – as I had affectionately dubbed it, was tucked securely inside my bra. That sucker wasn't going anywhere. I was having it bronzed and giving it a place of honor in the middle of my future fireplace mantle in my future dream home.

"Need a ride? I've got the SUV tonight," Angela offered, just as Mike planted his flat ass on a barstool.

"Hey Babe," he said, leering.

The asshole would never learn his lesson. The Cum Shot hadn't even lessened his disgusting advances. I didn't have time for that shit tonight; I had someplace to be and, more importantly, someone to apologize to. I discreetly flipped him off, wishing I still had my giant bandage… which led me to remember how Edward had distracted me while removing my stitches.

The girls shivered.

Holy crap, that man gave new meaning to the word ambidextrous. Those thoughts promptly flooded me with conflicting emotions. I still wasn't sure where Edward and I were headed, and I was sad, excited, and hopeful all at once.

"Where's my appletini?" Mike pouted.

"Sorry, Mike, no drinks tonight. I'm outta here." I smiled tentatively at Angela, who returned my gesture with a huge grin and rubbed her hands together.

"You need a ride?" he asked hopefully. "I just got new curtains in the back of the El Camino and I just burned a new CD full of Vanilla Ice."

"Uh, no, Mike. Angela is giving me a ride," I said, trying not to laugh, and let my imagination run wild picturing the pattern of his new curtains. It was probably those naked ladies leaning against each other that often graced the mudflaps of eighteen-wheelers.

"That means get off the stool, Mike. No free liquor tonight. Get out," Angela laughed.

"Damn, Bella. You're missing out," he bragged, sliding off the stool and pimp-walking his way to the exit. Ang and I ignored him as we locked up and crossed the parking lot to her car, giggling at each other when his car backfired halfway out of the parking lot.

"So, where to?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

***

I waved goodbye to Angela as she pulled away from the curb, staring after her for a bit before turning to enter the building. I walked slowly, my head down and my arms crossed over my chest. My breathing was deep and slow; I was trying to regulate the panic that rose in my chest with every step, escalating even further as I waited for the elevator.

He wouldn't have left me the napkin if he didn't want me anymore, I thought to myself.

The notion still didn't keep me from wondering if I was doing the right thing tonight. I found myself listening for any kind of annoying commentary from the girls, but they were strangely silent.

Wow. First, I decide to follow advice from pothead Renee, and now I'm listening for pointers from the girls. I've lost it. Bring on the Haldol and straitjacket, please.

I started when the elevator's harsh bell dinged. Stepping out into the empty hallway, I walked slowly to the familiar door. I was reaching for the knob when I heard my phone chime with a text. I figured it was just a reassuring note from Angela, but what I saw displayed on the screen surprised me.

It was the picture of Edward's hair and eyes, the one he'd sent me in the very beginning. A huge grin slowly spread across my face, and the phone chimed again.

Forgive me? – E

I knew then that I'd made the right decision tonight. I checked the time on my phone as I stepped closer to the door – just after midnight. I decided to knock instead of going with my original plan of just walking right in. Chucking my phone into my bag, I took a deep breath and raised my fist to knock, but the door swung open before I could make contact with the wood.

"I'd know that text chime anywhere," he said softly, standing before me in all his shirtless glory. Wow… I knew the man never fought fair, but this… This was…

I was pretty sure I heard the girls make the Homer Simpson drooling sound. I couldn't blame them, because I wanted to gobble him up faster than Homer could down a box of doughnuts and a case of Duff Beer.

I stared at him for a few more moments, causing him to run his hand through his hair self-consciously as he rocked back on his feet. He looked nervous and extremely sexy, from his rumpled hair and tired-looking evergreen eyes, to the band of the squirrel-printed boxers I could see peeking above the black workout pants that hung low on his hips.

A giggle escaped me as I remembered buying him those silly boxers. Squirrels did love nuts… almost as much as the girls loved the Precious.

I managed to drag my eyes back up his body and saw he was smiling almost shyly at me.

"Happy birthday," I said lamely. I twisted my hands in front of me, afraid to step forward and hug him like I wanted to.

"Thanks," he said, finally reaching for my knotted hands and tugging me to him. He enveloped me in his embrace, and I felt a little better almost instantaneously.

"I'm sorry for being such a bitch," I mumbled, pressing my face into his chest and hugging him tightly, loving the feel of his strong arms as they wrapped around me.

"Bella, you're not a bitch. I would never say that about you. I'm sorry for being such a clueless guy." He rested his cheek on the crown of my head and rubbed my back before releasing me, taking my hand and pulling me into the loft. The door shut behind us with a soft click and I hung my bag on the hook in the entryway.

I looked around nervously, still feeling a bit awkward, unease making my frame tense and rigid as Edward reached for me again and led me to the big leather couch. We passed Tanya and Renesmee's little blanket, where I was greeted with a hiss from the She-Beast that sounded more like she was trying to hock up a giant hairball. Our baby was sound asleep at her side; I wanted to pick her up and have a cuddle, but I preferred to keep all my fingers.

Tanya got up and stretched slowly, her huge belly reminding me of a python that had just swallowed a rather large meal. I never took my eyes off her as she strutted toward the door, her weird tail curling back and forth at the end as she walked. I sat on the couch quickly, kicking my shoes off at her and tucking my feet up next to me to protect my ankles as she went by. She gave me the evil eye all the way, finally sitting her huge behind at the door and meowing plaintively. Edward squeezed my hand and went to let her out, chuckling softly and shaking his head the whole way.

I could hear the girls whispering to each other, making plans on how to off the Medusa whore-cat. I wholeheartedly agreed with them.

"I don't know why you think that's funny," I griped. "That cat would cheerfully murder me in the most painful way if she had opposable thumbs."

He came back and plopped down next to me (how the bastard managed to make even that look graceful was beyond me), tugging me into his side. Kissing me softly on the temple as he slung an arm around my shoulder, he whispered, "She doesn't like you because she knows she's not my number one girl."

I tried to hide my smile from him, because that much cheesiness, sweet as it was, did not need any encouragement. He pulled me closer, rubbing his lips over the top of my ear.

"You said 'opposable thumbs.'" He pressed a soft, warm kiss just behind my ear as he tugged the elastic from my ponytail. "You know what scientific terms coming from those lips do to me."

Isn't there something we're supposed to be discussing?

No, Bella's brain… Go back to sleep, we'll take care of the rest. Talking is for after we see the little swimmers.

I could have sworn there was an important conversation that was imminent, but dear Lord… His lips started traveling down my neck and my eyes dropped closed as his tongue joined the arsenal of tools that made Bella brainless.

No… wait. I always let him brainwash me. This time I'm taking a stand, damn it. I ignored the girls' whining and took a deep breath, leaning away from him so I could gather my wits.

"Edward… I ah… As much as I'd love to continue this later, don't you think we need to talk about what happened this afternoon?" I was so proud of myself for managing not to squeak when I spoke. He sighed and nodded, scrubbing his face with his free hand and letting it trail up into his hair.

"I know, Bella. I'm sorry. I never would have thrown it away if I'd known how special that was to you. I didn't think. I didn't even see the writing on it." He was so sincere, and it just made me feel even worse for acting the way I had. "That you would keep something like that, because it reminded you of us, it's just… It's really nice," he finished, looking sheepish. I took the hand that was still tugging at his hair and held it, looking into his eyes.

"I know you'd never do anything to intentionally hurt me. I think I owe you an even bigger apology for acting so horribly. I was embarrassed about keeping that napkin," I said, looking away for a few moments before braving his gaze again. "I was afraid you'd think I was crazy or something, and then I went and acted even worse. I'm sorry."

"Bella," he began, but I wasn't finished.

"No, let me say it all, or I never will."

"Okay. You know you can tell me anything. I may be clueless sometimes, and I know I'll never figure you out, but I'm not going to stop trying, ever. Just a fair warning." He gave me an encouraging smile, and I searched for the guts to continue. This was it. Now or never…

Crap, Bella! Why are you such a coward?

Why, hello, inner bitch. Nice of you to join the party, but it's getting kind of crowded in here…

"Sometimes I can't believe my luck. I know you always say you're not perfect, but to me, you pretty much are," I admitted. "I'm afraid I'll wake up one day and it will be just a dream, like you never existed. The pull you have over me, over everyone, with that damn 'tractor beam,' it scares me a little." I paused, licking my dry lips and taking another deep breath. I was stalling. "I guess I'm afraid you're going to wake up one day and realize you could do a lot better than a floundering bartender with a graduate degree."

"Bella," he sighed, shaking his head. "Stop worrying so much. You've got me. I'm not going anywhere."

"But you're so freaking… ugh, you're so damn dazzling. You could dazzle your way into the Queen Mother's granny panties if you wanted." Oh, God. R.I.P., internal filter. You never did work properly. Edward laughed loudly and drew me so close I was practically in his lap.

"You dazzle me, Bella. And for the record, with all due respect, I do not want to be anywhere near the Queen Mother's granny panties. The only granny panties I want into are yours," he teased. I smacked him playfully on the arm.

"I don't wear granny panties," I said, offended.

"Yes, Bella, you do. I get into them often enough." The bastard winked at me and, of course, he was forgiven. "I think you're underestimating the effect of your own 'tractor beam,'" he said, offering me his lobotomizing, crooked smile. "I think our 'tractor beams' attract each other."

"But wouldn't that be like 'crossing the streams,' Egon?" I joked. I still hadn't broken the habit of using humor to hide my unease. I doubted I ever would. I needed so badly to tell him how I really felt and here we were, joking again. We'd be up all night at this rate.

Yeah, up all night, and not in the good way, the girls groused.

"Bella, don't you remember what happened when they crossed the streams?" he asked seriously.

"Yeah, it blew up a really creepy looking temple on top of a fifty-story apartment building!"

He barked out a surprised laugh, like he couldn't help himself. "You ruined it!" he managed to get out between laughing fits.

"I ruined what?" I didn't think the situation was particularly funny. "It's true! I've seen the damn movie a million times," I muttered, getting more frustrated by the minute.

"You ruined my cheesy romantic line," he pouted. I was almost immune to that pouting witchcraft by now… If almost was defined as immune about thirty percent of the time.

"You were really going to use Ghostbusters as an inspiration for one of your awesome, pathetically cheesy lines? I have to hear this!" My frustration was nearly forgotten at the thought. What was he going to pull out of his magnificent ass this time?

"Nope, the moment is gone." He sighed loudly at the end.

I half expected him to add a "Ho-hum. Woe is me, Poor Edward," a-la Eeyore. The sad thing was, I probably would have fallen for that crap too.

"No, Edward, I want to hear it." Well, he did say I have a tractor beam that works on him… I linked my fingers behind his neck, smiling up at him. When he didn't immediately speak up, I added one more level, lightly biting the inside of my lip and making sure he saw it. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Almost… I unlinked my fingers and let them slide into the back of his hair, nails grazing his scalp ever so slightly. Is he really going to fall for this shit? Anytime I've ever read about girls doing this in books, I always thought it was a load of steaming horse crap.

"Crossing the streams also generated enough heat to melt a one-hundred foot marshmallow man," he said throatily. Yes, throatily! Cheeseball.

I couldn't help the giggle that burst out of mouth. I seemed to giggle a lot around him. "That's got to top anything else you've ever said," I managed. He leaned closer and his arms tightened, pulling me fully into his lap as his smile widened.

"You think so?" he asked, dropping his head a little lower. I nodded, and our noses brushed. He didn't back away. "Really?" he murmured, tilting his head to the side and coming closer, so slowly. My eyes dropped closed and I nodded slightly.

"Uh-huh." The soft press of his lips to mine made me stop moving. I leaned into his chest and he spread his hands on my back. I felt completely surrounded by him, as if I was a part of him and he was mine, all with that simple kiss. I felt it every time his breath brushed my cheek, in the faint sensation of his heartbeat against me.

He pulled back slowly and rubbed my back. I dared to open my eyes and look at him, hoping he could really "see" me. I sat there, letting him see everything, my fears, my hopes, and my happiness.

"Bella, I love you," he said simply, bare honesty in his eyes. Are my eyes stinging? "I don't care if the 'tractor beam' works on anyone else, even if it does." He did not just use air quotes and tell me he loved me in the same sentence! "The only one I want to reel in is you."

My heart was pounding, the sound of my blood rushing through my veins like static in my ears. He loved me back!

Wait, now my eyes are blurry! How many freaking times can I cry today?

I blinked, and sure enough, tears slid down my cheeks.

The girls asked for a tissue.

"Edward, I love you, too," I whispered, blinking rapidly, as he brought his hands around to gently brush the tears away. "I've loved you for a while now," I admitted. I heard his sharp intake of breath over the sound of my racing heart. He smiled my beautiful crooked smile, and the tension I hadn't noticed before melted from his shoulders; the tightness around his eyes faded away. His eyes closed for a moment as he continued to stroke my cheeks, and when he opened them again, wonder glowed in the lush depths.

And the love there… I wondered how I'd never seen it before. It was so plain, so honest and pure; it was like an exact replica of what I felt for him.

"Bella, you make me want to be a better man. And when I'm with you, you make me feel like a better man." Stop crying, you're acting like an idiot! He wiped more tears from my face before continuing. "I feel more and more whole the more time I spend with you. You're funny, intelligent, loyal, beautiful, and so many other great things; I can't name them all."

I opened my mouth to reply, ready to blubber all over him in happiness like a moron, and he pressed the pad of his thumb over my lips. I didn't try to speak any more, and he removed his thumb.

"One more thing," he said. "I've loved you from the very beginning, I think. I didn't realize how much I was missing before I met you. I thought I was happy; I had my career, and I had a supportive family. But I never felt so alive, so… fucking goofy," he laughed, and I kind of half-sobbed with a laugh in there somewhere. "Until I met you," he finished.

Does this mean we're on the job?

That was enough to help me get my tears under control.

"Edward, you are a good man. Nobody's perfect. But you're perfect for me. I love you."

"I don't think you'll ever realize just how perfect you are for me," he whispered.

I leaned in to seal it with another soft kiss, just as innocent, yet just as powerful as before. We came apart slowly, smiling at each other, and I laid my head on his shoulder. I don't know how long we sat there, just absorbing the feel of each other, before he suddenly pulled back.

"Oh! We have to feed Renesmee, since Tanya's gone for the night."

"Can she be gone forever?" I asked hopefully.

"Why, Bella, are you plotting her death?" he teased. I snorted.

"Like she hasn't been plotting mine from our first date, when she tried to trip me." I got up and went over to get the little nudger, Edward following close behind. "Hi, baby," I cooed. She didn't even wake, sleeping the deep sleep of the innocent. I had no idea how she could do that, considering the whore-cat she slept by could roll over at any minute and crush her.

"Let's give her some tuna," Edward suggested, his wicked grin firmly in place. "It's hilarious, the way she starts growling and shaking when she tastes it."

I laughed and agreed. It really was too funny… my little baby got all aggressive over fish, like we were trying to steal it from her. The only downside was that we still had to hand-feed her. Okay, maybe we didn't have to hand-feed her, but I liked to. I thought it deepened our connection and made Edward and me more important to her than the Medusa whore-cat. I cradled her on her back in the crook of my elbow as he got out a fresh can of tuna.

"Now watch, as I illustrate the proper way to open a pull-tab can without cutting off your finger," he teased, getting the fucking thing open with no problems at all.

Magic fingers… take us all the way to heaven.

Yes, girls. I know this very well.

But we think we need another demonstration…

Renesmee suddenly twitched in my arms as she smelled the tuna, digging her little claws into my boob.

"Ow! It begins," I said as I detached her from my shirt gingerly. Edward smirked at me as he put a bit of the tuna on a plate and the rest in the refrigerator.

"I'll make sure to kiss that one better." His voice was full of my favorite kind of implication.

"Oh, you will?" I asked with an eyebrow raised, as I set the furball on the counter. "What makes you think I'll let you?"

"Bella, we've already had this conversation." He came closer, 'tractor beaming' it up. Distracted by his damn shirtless magnificence, I let Renesmee slip away from my hands and she made a beeline for the plate of tuna. She attacked it voraciously, making sounds that could rival the She-Beast as she powered through the little pile on her plate.

Edward and I watched her, appalled at her lack of manners; it looked like she had managed to pick up some bad habits from Tanya after all. Her tail stuck straight up in the air and vibrated with every bite she took. I went a little closer to pet her little head – and was rewarded with a growl worthy of the Medusa whore-cat herself.

"Wow, she's even worse this time," Edward laughed.

"It's not funny, she picked up that crap from Tanya, not us," I muttered. He just shook his head and followed me, even though I had just gone two feet away from him. I tried to pet her again and she growled before I even touched her.

"Watch out, she's vicious. I wouldn't touch her until that plate is far away from her." He laid his chin on my shoulder and set his hands on my hips. Dear God, it was hard to concentrate when he was in a five-foot radius of me, let alone inches away. "It's gone," he said in wonder.

"She was hungry. The She-Beast hasn't been doing her job." I let my disdain for Tanya color every word. Stupid cat. Teaching my baby bad table manners and not letting her eat enough… Mean, terrible, slutty, Mommy-Dearest cat. Edward reached around me and took the plate while I tried to pick up Renesmee.

She bit me!

My baby bit me! Not just a little nip, but full-on, jaw-locking, snapping turtle, 'not gonna let go until the lightning strikes' bit me!

"Holy crap! Ouch! Renesmee!" I hissed, trying my hardest not to drop her. "Let go!" She finally realized that my finger was not, in fact, more tuna, and let go. I looked up to see Edward laughing at me and shaking his head. "I'm glad you're enjoying my pain, Cullen." I carried her to her blanket, knowing I couldn't be mad at her, because she'd only been following her instincts. She curled up in her usual spot, licking a tiny paw a few times before falling asleep faster than a narcoleptic.

"I told you not to touch her," he said, coming over to check my finger. I stuck my tongue out at him and held it up; half wishing it was my middle finger instead of the index. "Wow. She got you pretty good with those kitten teeth, didn't she?" he mused, already leading me to his bathroom.

"I can do this myself, you know," I offered.

"I know, but I like taking care of you," he said simply. I swallowed compulsively, feeling like a teenager in the throes of her first love. He helped me up to sit on the counter before getting out his little box that had all the first aid supplies inside.

"You should put a label on that box. Call it your Bella box," I babbled, talking my way through the sting as he poured the skin-cooking hydrogen peroxide over the small slice. "I don't know why you've always got to use that stuff on me," I complained. "Do you enjoy seeing my blood bubble?"

"Bella, you have seen her lick her own butt, haven't you?" he asked, giving me the eyebrow and a hint of a smile.

"Good point."

That's disgusting. Just another reason why that feline is not our child. She licks herself… down there.

I looked around nervously, suddenly feeling a little shy as I remembered what we had done on this very countertop. We'd been together for months, had been together so many times, but this time, it was different. We'd finally voiced our feelings out loud, and it seemed like every glance, every touch, was amplified now.

"All done," he said, his soft, velvety voice seeming loud in the large bathroom. I hadn't even noticed he was finished. Lifting my hand to his lips, he kissed the bandage and helped me hop down. I didn't really need the assistance, but I'd take any excuse I was given for his touch.

He yawned and scratched his head. Not two seconds later, I yawned in response. Damn things were contagious. I poked him in the bellybutton and left him standing in the bathroom to go raid his t-shirt drawer. God, I am so fucking juvenile. I wanted to smack myself in the head.

"Oh, no," he warned, coming up behind me. "You're not getting another one of my concert tees. You've already stolen my favorite Weezer tee, and my Rage shirt disappeared last week."

"So? You know where I live," I said suggestively. "You can come and get them anytime you want." He was so close behind me and he smelled so good… Focus, Bella! Find a good one! Where is it? THERE! I grinned as I turned to face him, holding up his Downward Spiral NIN tee.

"Not that one, please," he begged, pouting at me. I squeezed my eyes shut against the magnetic power The Pout had over me, feeling the hair on my arms stand up as he leaned closer. I could hear him rustling around in the drawer behind me. I could feel my knees weakening by the second and warmth coiled in my belly as I took a deep breath.

Mistake! He took advantage of my incapacitation (due to Edward nearness) and swiped the shirt from my hand, quickly exchanging it for another one. I sighed and gave up for the night. I'd get it…eventually; the man slept like a fallen log, allowing me plenty of time to snoop through all his drawers.

"I want you to wear this one." His hands went to the buttons of my black dress shirt and made quick work of it. I stood there dumbly, my gaze drawn to his automatically. The look in his eyes was so intense, so clear, and I suddenly felt inadequate. This whole thing felt like a rebirth of our relationship, and despite the prior experience I had with him, I was nervous as hell. The next words out of his mouth didn't help. He leaned in close as he gently pushed the shirt off my shoulders. "But you won't be wearing it for a while."

I dropped the tee, which slid to the floor along with the shirt I had been wearing. His hands were warm as they moved down my back, the slight pressure pulling me closer. Soft lips brushed over my ear, and I turned my face into his neck.

"Tell me again." My voice was barely above a whisper. His arms tightened around me, nearly crushing me to him. I planted my hands on the planes of his chest, digging my fingertips into the grooves just above his collarbones.

"You won't be wearing that shirt for a while," he murmured, his breath hot and humid against the shell of my ear. Stiffening, I drew a big breath to call him an asshole or something equally uncouth, but then I felt his teeth graze my earlobe as he laughed softly. "Not what you meant?"

"No," I answered, but it turned into more of a moan as his hands skimmed around my waist and quickly released the button and zipper of my trousers. He wasted no time, slipping his fingers beneath the elastic of my panties and shoving the whole ensemble off of my hips in one move. My eyes fluttered closed as he trailed his fingertips over my ass on the way up, all the way up my back to knot in the hair at the base of my neck.

I licked my lips, the sensation of my rapid breathing against their wet surface shockingly cool one minute, then blindingly hot as his mouth covered mine. The kiss was slick and rough, full of our newly revealed feelings. We'd shared so many kisses already, but this was new and different, and just… more. He tasted so good, so much better now, so intense and intoxicating and…

I heard the soft moan rumble up from his chest, felt it under my hands that were firmly pressed to his chest. His teeth grazed my lip as he pulled back enough to speak, but our lips were still touching.

"I love you." His tone was rough and warm, soft and perfect. Eager for more of his taste, I licked my lips again as he led me the few feet to the bed. He sat in front of me, drawing me in between his legs so he could drop soft kisses across my chest, the fabric of my bra preventing him from kissing where I really wanted.

"Your bed's not made," I observed dumbly. Nice dirty-talking, Bella. I'm sure that's a real turn-on for him.

"It will look even worse by the time I'm done with you." Holy fuck.

I shivered as his hands crept up my ribs slowly, his fingertips delving below the bottom of my bra and pushing the cups up and out of his way.

His lips trailed warm, tingling paths over the swells of my breasts; I dug my fingers into his hair and pressed him harder against me. My head dropped forward until my lips were buried in his soft hair.

"I love you, too," I breathed, the clean scent of his wild hair enveloping me and invigorating every cell of my body. I was alive, electric, vibrating with the sensations curling deep inside me. Every touch was new and overwhelming, yet so perfectly right and familiar. I trembled as his hands traveled slowly down my ribs, his thumbs trailing lazily over my hipbones, before returning to trace feather-light lines on the sensitive undersides of my breasts.

"You're shaking," he whispered, his breath hot against my damp skin. His mouth was so close to my nipple… I arched into him, nearly begging for the contact. "Are you cold?"

"No," I gasped, as he cupped my breasts in both hands and pressed them together; licking hot trails of fire down the cleavage he created. I tried to move closer, but when it wasn't enough I climbed up onto the mattress and rested my knees on either side of his hips. I was bare before him, showing him my body and my soul, yet I wasn't afraid. I trusted him with them – and my heart – completely. Reaching behind me, I quickly unhooked my bra and threw it across the room before returning my fingers to his head.

Finally, his teeth grazed over my nipple before he took it fully into his mouth; I shivered harder at the hot, wet texture of his tongue on my unbelievably sensitive flesh. One of his hands burned its way down my side and over my hip, gripping firmly and pulling me harder into him. I pressed back, loving the rigid feel of him through the layers of clothing. He moaned, adding yet another layer of sensation that drove my desperation.

He kept his hand at my hip, guiding our movements as we ground into each other. I pulled and tugged on his hair, knowing how he liked it, and I was rewarded with the inarticulate sounds I loved to hear from him as he kissed and nipped his way across my chest and up my neck. His mouth returned to mine, and I delved right inside, my tongue sliding deep and tangling with his. My hands dropped to his shoulders and I dug my nails in, unable to help the urge to cling to him with all my might.

His arms went around my back, and we moved – one second I was straddling him at the edge of the bed and in the next, I was flat on my back with him planted firmly between my legs. He took over the kiss, pressing his face closer to mine, our lips and tongues meeting and meshing with increasing pressure. His erection rode in just the right spot, slow and hard, and I thought I was going to cum without even having him inside me.

Then he was gone, kneeling between my legs and pinning me with that intense, burning stare. I was struggling to remember how to breathe, and it didn't help when he slid his thumbs under the pants that hung low on his hips and shoved them down, revealing himself to me in one quick motion. I swallowed convulsively, squirming under his gaze as he remained still, watching me. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore and took a breath to beg him to come back, to fuck the shit out of me, he gripped himself in one hand and stroked slowly, his tongue peeking out to lick his lips before he spoke.

"All those other times," he said, his voice a rough whisper in the tense silence of the room, "I hoped you were mine. It felt like you were mine. To know it now… Fuck, Bella, I can't even tell you how much I want you." His eyes roamed my body as I laid before him, spread out for his pleasure, his love. I reached up and placed my hand on his wrist, stopping his motions.

"I was yours. I am yours. I love you." I knew I sounded hoarse and scratchy, but my throat was so tight with everything coursing through me: desire, need, love…all for him. I tugged on his hand and he came to me easily, threading his arms underneath me and holding me close. My legs wrapped around his hips almost involuntarily; my body took over and my brain took a backseat.

His cock was hot against the thin skin of my inner thigh, but he made no movement to complete our connection other than to rub his lips over mine. My fingers pressed into the muscles of his back, trying to pull him closer.

"I belong to you, Bella. Only you," he breathed against my lips, sealing his mouth over mine as he positioned himself, pushing inside me slow and hard. We moved together slowly, burning, twisting, absorbed in each other. He shifted some of his weight to one elbow, bringing one hand up to stroke the hair back from my face as he pulled away from the kiss. His fingertips skimmed down my throat and his lips followed. Hot breath struck my skin as he spoke and I arched my neck to give him better access. "I've never felt like this, never. Only with you."

"Oh, God," I moaned as his fingers tweaked my nipple before palming my breast possessively. "Edward…me neither." He levered himself up just a bit more, changing the angle of his thrusts, the movements of his hips becoming harder, faster, deeper. My world was confined to this room, this bed, and the man above me… in me. He was my world, and I was his, and we both knew it. I raked one hand up his back to fist in his hair, holding him as close to me as possible.

I fought to keep my eyes open, because I wanted to watch the beauty of him; the fluidity of his lean muscles as they flexed, the slight sheen of sweat made visible by the dim lamplight. He lifted his head to meet my gaze, his eyes darting between my eyes and lips, like he couldn't decide if he wanted to kiss me or simply watch me as we made love. I squeezed my inner muscles around him as he thrust faster, loving the look of utter pleasure that crossed his face.

"Fuck, Bella… I love it when you do that," he said, short of breath and rough with exertion.

His eyes were deep, deep green as they finally dropped closed and his head hung next to mine. I felt his hand slide down between us, felt the swirl of his thumb as he swept it through over us and centered it over my clit. He went hard and deep, his thumb moving in slick circles that drove me higher and higher. His lips were at my ear, his words and voice spurring me on.

"I love making you cum. I love hearing you scream my name, love."

It was all too much: the feel of him between my legs, the rush of his breath against my neck, his whispered words in my ear. I was wound tighter and tighter, relaxed and tense at the same time, letting him take me where I needed to go. He always did.

I called out his name as I clenched around him in release, my hands clutching him tightly, digging into his back and pulling at his hair. He thrust steadily through my climax, every exhaled breath carrying a low moan or my name.

"That feels good, doesn't it, love? Fuck…I love the way you feel around me," he breathed, still not stopping. I could feel his back trembling as he fought his release; could hear the strain in his voice. His thumb swirled around my entrance again and came back to circle my clit, this time slower and harder. He sat up on his heels and I was afraid I might have pulled out a few hairs, but he didn't seem affected. Still inside me, he pulled me up onto his thighs as he stared down at me, both hands now gripping my hips, his thumb still working its magic on the peak of my sex. "I never want to stop…"

I was boneless, trapped by his burning gaze as he pounded into me in short, hard thrusts. He went so much deeper in this position and, amazingly, I felt the tension building again, faster and more intensely than the first time.

"Edward… oh, fuck…" I panted, my hands covering his as I came again, fighting to keep my eyes open to watch him as he finally allowed himself to cum. His jaw clenched as he thrust one final time, groaning loudly as he pulsed inside me. I stared, overcome as I saw the pleasure wash over his face, loving that only I could give that to him. Only me.

Spent, he came down half on top of me and I wrapped my arms around him, caressing his back in long, slow strokes as our breathing returned to normal. Neither of us spoke for long minutes, content to lie there with one another, comfortable in our nakedness in both body and soul.

I ignored the girls as they squealed and screamed like rabid fangirls at what must have been the appearance of the little swimmers. I thought I heard cries of 'We thought we'd never see you again,' and 'Oh, we thought we were going to die without you…"

"Every time I called you 'love,' I meant it," he whispered. "Every single time." Thank God for Edward's distractions; I was getting sick of the lovefest.

"I hoped you did," I confessed. "I wanted you to mean it. And I think some part of me knew."

"Good." He pressed a kiss to my neck and sighed. I breathed him in, loving the scent him as always, but that – just like everything else – seemed new and special as well. "I was afraid it would scare you away, but I couldn't help it."

I laughed quietly. "And here I was worrying I would scare you off…"

"Why?"

"That night at your parents' house, that was the night I realized I loved you. I thought it was way too soon, and there was no way you could feel the same," I said. "I saw the way that your dad looked at your mom… and then I realized you looked at me the same way. I was done for," I finished with a small smile.

"Well, now you know I did," he laughed, his voice quiet in the silent room. "I knew you were special the first moment I saw you apologizing to some customer you'd dropped meat on."

"Yeah, but I know your definition of 'special' sometimes varies," I joked. "It's not always a compliment." He raised his head and smiled crookedly at me, raising one hand to stroke my cheek.

"But the moment I knew for sure was that day at the bakery… You were so compassionate, Bella. I knew you were the one when you told me that I needed to take my mistakes and learn from them, grow from them. You helped me realize that I was selling myself short. That I could have what I wanted and stop punishing myself. And I knew that what I wanted, more than anything, was you."

I hugged him hard then, whispering, "I love you," in his ear.

"I'm so lucky," he mused, the wonder plain in his voice.

He thought he was the lucky one? What the hell was he smoking?

"If you think you're the lucky one, then I'd better go buy a Mega Millions ticket, pronto. I must be the luckiest girl on the planet." He actually snorted. I was sure he'd picked that up from me. Even a snort from Edward Cullen was attractive. It was disgusting.

"Bella?"

"Yes, Edward?"

"Will you tell me what Dr. Precious means?"

"Never," I laughed, closing my eyes so I couldn't see The Pout that I just knew was forming on his face at that very moment.

"Please?" He planted kisses all over my face and neck, but I held firm.

"Never," I repeated.

"Oh, Bella," he sighed, shaking his head. "You know, 'resistance is futile.' I will get it out of you."

"You can try," I said, in my snarkiest tone. "And please, for the love of God, please, NEVER quote Star Trek when we are naked again." We both dissolved into laughter and snuggled closer.

We remained there for a few more minutes, with him unsuccessfully trying to charm the meaning of Dr. Precious out of me, until Edward mumbled something about the bathroom. Of course, fucking nature had to call when I wanted nothing more than for us to wallow in our disgustingly happy love.

Neither of us noticed that his pants and boxers were still hanging around his ankles… until Dr. Graceful Precious fell right off the bed.

A/N: So there you have it! The chapter everyone has been hounding me for. Was it good for you?

So, the next one might take me a while… then again, it might not. Who knows? My brain is weird.

While you're waiting, I have a rec if you'd like to read about another snarky, confident Bella, and a fuckhot Police-recruitWard. Yum.

Making the Cut by ShearEnvy:

http://www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/s/5304599/1/Making_the_Cut

When a small town boy moves to the big city to pursue his dreams of becoming a cop and fate places him in the chair of a sexy, snarky hairstylist whose talent has her in high demand, will it be shear ecstasy or split ends? AH/OOC B/E

Sorry if ffn is still being a giant whore cockblocker. Leave me some love? Thank you all for reading!