A/N: Okay, so it was closer to 48 hours. In my defense, I had two baby showers! But hopefully, this is worth the wait! I won't say when the next chapter will be up...because unlike the rest of my life, whenever I set a fic deadline, the pressure seems to hinder instead of help.

Dislaimer: Clearly my bedroom scene is extremely different…

EdwardPOV:

Oh my god I'm nervous. I think I have changed my shirt at least three times. Esme finally put me to work helping with dinner, after watching me pace about the house for the past twenty minutes. I was standing in front of the stove, when I heard Esme say her name. I swayed a little, knees weak. Why am I such a chick?! I squared my shoulders and turned to greet her.

Damn…………………………………………………………………..Is it warm in here?

I shook myself out of my daze. Bella's lips were parted and her tongue darted out the wet the bottom one. Something inside me clenched. I stepped toward her, unsure. Should I shake her hand? Hug her? Kiss her? I decided on the more neutral hug, enclosing her in my arms. Ecstatic to finally have her close to me. I breathed in, catching a whiff of some exotic flower and…cinnamon gum?

I had to check myself before I stood here, in the kitchen, holding her for the rest of the night. When I let her go, she swayed and took a little step, using my arm to steady herself. For the first time I got the sense that she was as affected by me as I was by her. It made me want to sing and dance, but all I allowed myself was a small smile.

"Whatcha makin?" she asked me, her voice falsely cheerful. She seemed to realize then that she was still touching me, my shirtsleeve tight in her grip. She dropped her hand, linking it with the other in front of her.

"Italian," I answered her. I don't want to talk about food. And I definitely don't want to stand here in front of Esme and Rosalie to converse. I made a decision, then, that would change the entire course of the evening. I grabbed her hand, interlacing our finger, and pulled out of the room and toward the back staircase.

"Where are we going?" she asked me, and I swear I heard her voice quaver. Was I don't the right thing? Is she going to think I am a total creeper?

"My room," I forced out. My throat was tight, nerves and hormones fighting their way through my system. My voice sounded gravelly, low, and I hoped she didn't notice.

She was silent behind me, not answering, but not resisting. I walked slower, not wanting to pull her arm out of its socket, or make her trip on the steps. I paused in front of the door. Last chance for sanity. But I was in her room earlier this week, and that was fine. 'Do it' a voice in my head whispered.

I felt like I was moving in slow motion, or under water, or having an out-of-body experience. I saw my hand reach out and push my door open. I watched Bella walk through it. I'd dreamed about this moment for so long. I gazed at her, standing there next to my bed, her lips moving…Damn, she just said something!

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked her, hoping she didn't now think I was a complete and utter idiot.

"I said, now your walls won't yell at you for never having any girls over," she said slowly, blushing.

"Oh," now it was my turn to blush, remembering what I'd said during that stupid boy pageant.

Bella dropped her eyes from me and looked around room. Her line of vision connected with my wall of music and books. Her face lit up and her body seemed to vibrate with excitement. Oh that I could cause that reaction in her. She stepped closer to them, reading book titles.

"You read Harry Potter?" she asked me, pulling Deathly Hallows off my shelf and clutching it fiercely to her chest. I swear this girl is perfect!

"Favorite series ever!" told her, shaking off my nerves and stepping closer. I pulled Half-Blood Prince of the shelf, caressing its spine lovingly. I glanced at Bella but her eyes were focused on my hands holding the book. The book she was holding was sagging out of her loosened arms as she watched my finger travel from the top of the book to the bottom. For the second time tonight the tip of her tongue made an appearance. I felt a tingling in the pit of my stomach. I dragged my finger back up the spine, keeping my eyes on her face. The silence was broken when the book she'd been holding landed on my floor with a thud. Her eyes flew up to mine, wide with panic and embarrassment.

"I am so sorry!" she gasped. I place my book back on the shelf, then bent to pick up the one she'd dropped.

"Don't worry about it, these books are heavy," I gave her an excuse, not wanting her to get too embarrassed and leave. Bella nodded and looked at her feet, still blushing. I sent a silent prayer of thanks to the heavens that she hadn't just run out of my room.

"Have you ever seen True Blood?" I asked her, desperate to change the subject. She nodded her head mutely, backing away from me until the backs of her legs hit my bed. She sat down gingerly, glancing at me shyly.

"I love vampires," she said softly.

"I just downloaded the opening song," I added, stepping toward my bedside table. I knelt so that I wouldn't be sticking my butt right in her face and connected my iPod to its dock, pressing play. I realized the potential awkwardness too late as the strains of Jace Everett's 'Bad Things' echoed through the room.

When you came in the air went out

And all the shadows filled up with doubt

I don't know who you think you are,

But before the night is through,

I wanna do bad things to you…

I was still on my knees, and I turned toward Bella. In this position she was a head above me, looking down at me. The words wrapped around us, pulling us closer, running images of heat and sweat and darkness through my mind. I raised my eyes to meet Bella's, straightening myself so our faces were closer. She leaned into me, breathing in quick little pants. The spell that had enveloped us earlier had returned. I raised my arms, they felt heavy, and placed my hands on her knees. She put her hands on top of mine, her head lowered even more. We were now directly eye to eye. If you asked me now what I saw in her eyes that let me know it was okay, I wouldn't be able to tell you, but somehow I knew she wanted it as much as I. I closed the gap between our lips, slowly settling mine onto hers. I felt her eyelashes flutter as her eyes closed and she deepened our kiss. Her hands raised, one to my shoulder, they other behind my neck. I placed one of my hands on her back, gently nudging her backward so she was lying on my bed, bracing my other arm on the bed so that I could follow. I had to breathe but I didn't want to stop kissing her. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins and my heart pounding as I opened my mouth to breathe. Bella sucked in air as well and then the tongue that had teased me all night darted out and swiped my bottom lip.

"Edward, Bella, Dinner!" Emmett called from the hallway.

We broke apart. I leapt backward, chest heaving. Bella sat up, a blush staining her cheeks.

"We should, uh," I gestured toward the doorway.

"Yeah, okay," she stood up and walked out of the room, not looking at me.

I sighed, watching her go. Our next date would clearly have to be somewhere else.