A/N: I don't own Twilight.

Special thanks to my friends, Gerri (super beta extraordinaire) and Rory (the best pre-reader a girl could hope for), for making my story look like a super hero with their beautiful red and blue correction marks :). Also, thanks to Caz for helping me out with the beginning of this chapter, and extra thanks to Rory for helping me rein that part back in to the way these characters behave. Elements from both of your hard work still remain :).

And of course, thanks to you, for reading.

Yes, I realize that this is the third chapter in a row that's Bella… It's just the way the story led me. I'm sure Edward will be back soon.

This chapter is dedicated to Rory. You know why.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: PASSION AND INTUITION

Bella

It was Sunday afternoon, and a whole week had passed since we said goodbye to my mother at the airport, vowing to talk often and to see each other soon. I was in the kitchen of the apartment; Edward was in the living room. We each had several large boxes, some already taped and some that we were methodically filling. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on with him, but something sure seemed to be on his mind because he was being awfully quiet, but I was anxious to get moved into the house and figured his mood probably had to do with work or the tedium of packing so I decided to ask him about it later if his mood hadn't lifted. And so, with those thoughts filling my mind, I filled boxes.

As much as I hated packing, the kitchen was the one room I didn't really mind working in. I thought about Edward while I was working, first trying to decipher what he was thinking so hard about and then contented thoughts about what a great man he is and how lucky I am to have him and those led to how proud I am of his commitment and dedication to his chosen career. I mean, I liked my job and was good at it, but nothing like how Edward had taken on the role of doctor. He was phenomenal, and had started visiting some of the patients in the hospital after work, even if they weren't specifically his patients. Since he started earlier and therefore finished earlier and it took me so long to drive home after work and he would time his arrival home with mine since he insisted on walking me up, he used his extra time to help others. It was really an amazing little program he'd started, just with himself, but nevertheless, I loved that he was making people feel better, not just physically but emotionally as well, just by being there.

I'd just finished wrapping the plates in newspaper and stacking them carefully in the box when I felt Edward's arms wrap around my waist as he lifted me up off the floor, where I had been sitting, into a standing position in front of him. I gasped lightly at the sudden intrusion and then I smiled; I was getting kind of tired of packing the dishes away anyway. He then reached down to my hands and one by one using the dampened towel he had brought with him, he wiped the newsprint off my hands and did the same to his own before tossing it on the floor beside him and then he moved his hands to their earlier placement around my waist. Before I had the wherewithal to speak, though, I caught the look in his smoldering jade eyes; it was pure, carnal longing. And just as I processed the desire blazing there, his mouth caught mine in an urgent kiss. "Bella," he growled, "do you have any idea how much I want you right now? I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you all afternoon. And now, I can't wait any longer. I want-no, I need you right now. Right here." He reached down and grabbed my bottom, eliciting a surprised yelp from me. He spun me around so that I was no longer facing him and slipped his hand down my yoga pants and cupped my bottom giving me a gentle squeeze followed by rubbing my cheeks there in small circles, methodically, round and round. He then reached his hand around to the front of me and slipped his fingers between my hot folds and began massaging me, gently at first, then more vigorously, as I got more and more aroused by his touch. His other hand slid up the underside of my shirt, and squeezed one of my breasts over my bra and then he suddenly moved it up out of the way, as if it had offended him simply by existing. His fingers then grasped my hardened peaks, first one and then the other, pinching and rolling in tandem with what his other hand was doing lower down.

I had never seen this side of him before, this sudden urgency, like he was consumed with desire. He was all want and hot frantic need. I could feel his hunger in his touch, and my own longing leapt like a flame from deep within me as if his was being transferred to me through his hands. My body was heating, not from my normal blushing reaction to things, but as if an inferno was raging inside me, taking away all sense and reason and leaving nothing in its path except raging need and complete yearning for Edward.

As if he could read my thoughts, he chose that moment to grind himself against my behind. I'm feeling the exact same thing you are, he was telling me through the action. I'm just as aroused as you are. His thumb continued massaging me while he slid two fingers deep inside, curling upward within my body. I gasped again; I felt like all I was doing was gasping ever since he'd entered the kitchen, but coherent thoughts were not forthcoming. Especially then, as his hands continued to work their magic on both ends of my body, he brought his mouth to my neck, nipping and kissing. It was enough to push me over the edge, and he hummed in victory as I tightened around his fingers. The spasms rocked through my entire body, rendering my legs utterly useless. I reached to the counter in front of me to keep me from falling, but at the same time Edward's hand left my breast, moving down to my hip, holding me close to his body, reminding me that he was still very much aroused and also, all the support that I needed. I rode out my wave as he continued to grind against my behind and I eventually let go of the counter and reached behind me placing both hands against his thighs.

No sooner had I come down from my high than he turned me around to face him, removed my pants and underwear and lifted me up onto the counter. My need for him surged through me, my desire nowhere near sated. I lowered my hands to the hem of his t-shirt and yanked it up over his head quickly. My hands clutched at his body, fingernails raking over his chest and down over his abs. He hissed as my nails dug into the firm muscles beneath his happy trail. His mouth descended on mine as I clutched at his zipper.

His tongue entered my mouth, never losing that sense of urgency. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him as close to me as the counter would allow. Swiftly unbuttoning and sliding the zipper down, I took just an extra second to press the zipper firmly against his erection as I lowered it. He hissed at the friction that caused. Pushing his pants down, I took care to leave his boxers in place for an extra moment. Once his pants had joined my clothes on the kitchen floor, I gripped him through the thin cotton fabric of his underwear. "Not enough," he grumbled, so I slipped just my thumb into the top of his waistband, feeling the pre-cum that had already accumulated there. I stroked the pad of my thumb across his slick tip making him groan. "Bella," he growled, almost warningly.

The teasing was just as difficult for me to maintain as it was for him to endure, and within just a second or two, he had grabbed my right wrist in his left hand and pulled his boxers down with his right. He kicked them roughly aside and replaced my hand exactly where he wanted me to be. "Much better," he said with a smirk. He still hadn't removed his hand from around mine, so he squeezed my hand around his shaft, guiding me roughly up and down exactly the way he wanted.

"Edward, I want you. I need you inside me, right now… right here," I moaned, repeating his words from the beginning of our encounter. I started to guide him closer to me, but instead of letting me take control, he swiftly moved my hand away and set it on the counter.

"Patience, love," he chuckled. He rested one hand on each of my hips and pulled me forward on the countertop so that I was perched right on the very edge. Seeming to have changed his mind on where he wanted his hands to be, he moved his right hand down to grasp my thigh and hooked his hand underneath my knee, hiking my leg up a little higher on his hip. He took himself in his left hand and ran the velvety tip of his erection over my wet folds. A shiver ran through me as I moaned into his mouth. His tongue continued to massage mine as he pressed against my entrance. Just as I braced myself for his penetration, he pulled back slightly and continued his delicious torture.

"Edward, inside. Now," I stuttered around his lips. I wasn't sure how much more I could take.

"You teased me first," he reminded me, "and two can play that game." A glance into his eyes—which were even a darker shade than they were before—revealed the same wild, feral expression that he'd been wearing when he first entered the kitchen, and I knew he wouldn't be able to keep up the teasing any longer than I had. I was proven wrong, though, when he brushed his tip against me again, still not entering. He pulled back minutely as if he was going to make yet another teasing pass. Unable to take any more of his sweet, sweet torture I raised myself up from the counter and pushed on to him. His slick velvety tip slid just inside my entrance and my plea of "I said now!" was drowned out by Edward's loud growl. As the growl died on his lips, his hands clutched at my hips holding me still as he drove his shaft forward, sheathing himself instantly deep inside me. I grunted at the sudden feeling of fullness - Edward inside me, filling me to the brim. With hardly a chance for either of us to take a breath, Edward pulled out and pushed into me again, quickly establishing a mind-blowing rhythm.

Unable to manage anything besides a sharp gasp, I lifted my hands from the counter where they were still holding on and placed them on his shoulders, gripping him as if my life depended on it. I clung to him desperately as he continued his frantic pace. My head swam from the sensation of him pushing into me deeper and harder than he ever had before. I slipped one of my hands from his shoulders to clasp onto his hair and pulled his head back just enough so I could see his beautiful eyes, because I wanted him to see not only what he was doing to me but also how much I loved him which I knew was written all over my face. As Edward looked back at me he smiled and I knew that he knew what I was trying to convey and I felt his love for me as well. I released his hair and moved my hand to the back of his neck as he pressed his forehead against mine and looked even deeper into my eyes, "Oh, Bella," he groaned as his lips came down on mine. One hand slipped from my hip to my behind, holding me steady while his other slipped up my ribs to cup my breast and then he slid it around my back, pulling me close. His teeth nipped at my lips before he slipped his tongue into my mouth. He tasted so good. I couldn't take it any longer and groaned loudly as a ripple of pleasure spread through my limbs. I could feel my walls beginning to tighten and clench around him. "Edward, so close," I moaned "please!"

Edward tore his lips from mine. "Yes, cum for me baby. I need to feel you, I'm not going to last. Ugh, Bella." His mouth descended to my neck as he pressed his lips to my heated skin, darting out his tongue to take a lick with every pass of his mouth, over and over.

That was all I needed to set me off. His voice, begging me to cum for him, was what pushed me over the edge. As he continued to place kisses on my neck, my walls tightened hard around him. My body took on a life of its own, out of my control, muscles clenching and relaxing of their own accord as I quivered uncontrollably in Edward's arms. I was vaguely aware of my own voice calling out his name as he tore his lips from my skin. He threw his head back as he began to pulsate deep within me. Another round of tremors began as my walls clenched impossibly tighter around him and his hot streams pulsed into me; Edward's legs shook with the force of his release. "Ugh, Bella," he gasped, clutching me tighter to his trembling body as we rode out our orgasms together. I grasped lifelessly to his hard chest, our bodies slick with moisture from our exertions.

We clung desperately to each other as our heart beats slowed and our breathing gradually returned to normal. "Baby," Edward breathed his hand coming up to caress my cheek gently, "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I, love? Please say I didn't hurt you."

"Edward, shhhh. You didn't hurt me."

"But Bella, I ..." he continued.

"It was, it was…amazing," I said reassuringly. "You caught me off guard at first, but honestly, that was probably the hottest thing you've ever done."

"Really?" He looked so relieved, all traces of worry gone.

"Really."

x-x-x

The next day, Monday, there was miraculously no traffic as I drove home from work in the evening. I considered calling Edward to let him know that I'd be home earlier than anticipated since I knew he liked walking me up to the apartment. Though, I felt a little silly relying on him in that way, as I knew deep down that he only did it to appease my fears as he didn't share my particular concerns. I was nearly twenty-seven years old; surely I could manage an ogling doorman by myself. I had nothing to be afraid of. James was just a guy doing his job. So what if he liked to watch all the women who lived in the building? He knew that I was with Edward, and I knew that he knew it, so as I drove, and eventually parked in the garage, the thoughts streaming through my head were, Grow up, Bella. Stop being so silly; it's just a short walk across a well-lit room. It'll be fine.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself against my nerves and walked from the garage to the entrance of our building. Of course, James was there, ready with the door open for me. I cringed away from him, but then quickly reminded myself that that was his job, after all. He was the door man. He had very few duties besides holding the door for the tenants, of which I was now one. "Good evening, Miss Swan," he said as I walked past.

May as well make the best of the situation, I told myself. Be cordial at least. "Good evening, James. Thank you," I said, referring to the open door.

"You're welcome. No Dr. Cullen tonight?"

"Er, not yet. He'll be home soon. I just beat him home tonight." I shrugged lightly feigning nonchalance.

"Well, then, please, allow me to walk you up to your apartment. It would be my pleasure."

"Oh, uh, no, that's okay. I'll manage." I hurried across the same well-lit room I'd thought about in the truck, trying to make it to the elevator as quickly as I could.

Before I'd reached my destination, though, James was there. He'd been impossibly fast, and was now waiting for me, having already pushed the call button. "I insist," he said with a malicious-looking grin.

My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I didn't know what else to do, so I said, "Okay, um, yeah, I guess." The words came stuttering out of my mouth before I could stop them. I didn't like what I'd just agreed to, but I wasn't sure what other choice I had. He obviously wasn't going to give in tonight. Why did I tell him that Edward wasn't home yet? I should have said that he was waiting upstairs. But James would know I was lying, he'd have seen Edward come home. Ugh, I should have waited in the truck. I should have called Edward to let him know I'd be home early. So many mistakes… No Bella, stop it… everything is fine, you're just being silly…The frantic thoughts were pouring through my brain faster than I could process them.

The elevator doors slid open and James entered the car. I tentatively stepped in behind him. When the doors shut, my breathing turned erratic, and before we'd risen two floors, I was nearly hyperventilating. After what seemed like a lifetime, we finally reached the floor where Edward's and my apartment was. Wanting nothing more than to escape the tiny room I was currently sharing with James, I hurried out of the elevator before the doors had fully opened. That was a mistake, because in order to do that, I had to brush against his arm. He took that as an invitation to follow me. I turned abruptly and said, "I think I can manage from here, James. Thanks." I hoped that would deter him.

"What kind of gentleman would I be if I left you here alone?" he asked, sneering at me.

I had no idea how to respond to that, so I didn't. Instead, I just turned back around and nearly ran to the door, clutching my keys tightly in my right hand. I should have known that running was a bad idea; before I'd taken five steps, my left ankle twisted in my work heels and I fell to the ground. I was still several feet from the door of my apartment. As my knees hit the floor first, my keys tumbled out of my hand, flying several feet in front of me. I was now helpless on the floor in the hallway, and all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and James' heavy footfalls coming up behind me.

"You are clumsy, aren't you?" he muttered, walking past me and picking up my keys.

"No!" I started, but it was too late. He'd taken my keys and was coming back toward me.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're hurt, I can help you." He reached down toward me and as soon as his clammy hand wrapped around my bare forearm, I winced away. Rolling his eyes, he tightened his grip on my arm, pulled me to my feet and put his other arm around my back and grabbed my waist roughly. Then, yanking me against his side, he pulled me forcibly the rest of the way to the apartment. Using my own key, he unlocked and opened the door. Despite the pain in my ankle, I shoved him and managed to pull away from his grasp, grabbed the key from the doorknob and roughly yanked it out of the lock. Mustering all the strength I had in me to avoid crying out at the pain, I tried to shut the door on him, not even bothering with a 'thank you.' About six inches before the door could click shut, though, it stopped.

With a worried glance up into James' face and then back down, I saw that he'd placed his foot in the doorway, preventing me from being able to close it fully. My entire body was shaking now, and I just stood there on my good foot, staring into his menacing black eyes, not knowing what else to do. "Please," I whispered, packing so much meaning into those six letters. Please don't hurt me. Please leave me alone. Please go away. With one final sneer at me, he turned on his heel and strode away.

x-x-x

Edward

I hadn't heard from Bella since we'd left for work at the same time that morning, so I assumed she'd follow her normal schedule, getting home around seven after the drive back from Wheaton. Therefore, when I pulled into the garage at my normal time and her truck was already there (and she was not in it), I was instantly put on high alert. Two questions popped into my mind. First, how had she made it home so quickly tonight? And second, why hadn't she called me?

With all kinds of possible scenarios passing through my head, I hurried to the door. James, ever the good doorman, was waiting there, and as soon as I appeared, he opened the door so that I could pass through quickly. I paused once inside, and asked him, "Has Miss Swan arrived home yet, James?"

"Yes, sir, she arrived nearly half an hour ago."

"And she's upstairs?" I asked, already hurrying away from him.

"Yes, sir," he replied as I jabbed the call button on the elevator.

While I waited impatiently, I turned back to James. "Was she alright? It's not like her to come home at night without me."

"She seemed fine, Dr. Cullen. Nothing out of the ordinary." Something about the way he was holding himself, slightly more aloof than normal, caused concern to manifest in my chest. Something was wrong with Bella, and I needed to find out what.

Finally, the elevator doors opened and I rushed inside, pushing the button for our floor and the 'close door' button simultaneously. When the doors opened on my floor, I got out quickly and ran to the door. Grabbing the knob, I discovered that it was locked. I hastily pulled my key out of my pocket and unlocked the lower lock. When I tried the knob again, I still couldn't open the door. The knob turned, but the door wouldn't open. I realized quickly what the problem was and removed the key from the lower lock, then inserted it into the deadbolt up above. After a quick turn there, I threw open the door and rushed inside, slamming it roughly behind me.

Bella was sitting on the sofa, rocking back and forth, shaking like a leaf. I knew right away that something was wrong. I'd seen her this way only once before, the day she'd let me know that she'd missed her pills. "Bella? What's wrong?" I asked, sitting next to her and pulling her into my lap.

Unlike the last time she'd been in this position, she snuggled into my chest now, seeking comfort from me rather than clamming up and not speaking at all. "He… insisted…" She was sobbing heavily, and I was having trouble making out her words. I leaned in closely, listening intently. "On… coming up." She burst into tears.

"Who did? Who came up?" I asked, confused.

"James."

"Wait, what? James came up with you? He was in here?"

"No, just in the hallway." Another sob. "He never came inside the apartment."

"What happened? I mean, you're going to be okay now Bella; when you're ready, can you please tell me exactly what happened?"

She took a few deep breaths to steady herself, then, still sitting on my lap and clinging to my white dress shirt, she started to talk. By the end of her story, I was shaking too, though not from the fear that I knew was causing her tremors. I was livid. I couldn't believe I'd actually stuck up for him, on several occasions. And now, not only had he proven her right (which I didn't even care about; as far as I was concerned, Bella could be right and I could be wrong every day for the rest of our lives and it would be okay), but Bella had hurt herself trying to get away from him.

It was my turn to breathe deeply to try to calm my anger. When I'd regained control of my mood and thought Bella was reasonably okay, I slid her off of my lap, carefully minding her injured ankle. I walked to the packed up kitchen and pulled an ice tray from the freezer, then rummaged in the boxes Bella had packed the previous day. When I finally found the zip-top baggies, I pulled one out and filled it with ice cubes, then wrapped the whole thing in a dishcloth from the same box. I carried the make-shift ice pack to Bella and placed it on her ankle and said to her, "I'll take you to the hospital in a bit to get that looked at. In the meantime, stay seated and keep the ice on it. I'll be back in a few minutes." She looked at me through terrified eyes and nodded. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Everything will be okay," I promised her. "I will take care of you, I will protect you. I swear to you, this will never happen again."

Then I turned swiftly and strode out of the room.

I counted to ten—several times—during the elevator's slow descent to the lobby. I was angrier than I'd ever been in my life, and I didn't want to do anything I'd regret in the morning.

When I stepped out of the elevator into the lobby, James was sitting at his post behind the desk. I was standing directly in front of the counter in a matter of seconds, glad that it was between us. It would keep me from laying a hand on him, I hoped. He looked up at me with an expression of complete disregard for what had happened, what he had done. He looked indifferent, almost…cocky? "Can I help you with something, Doctor?" he asked, smirking.

The expression was too much. I gripped the countertop tightly to avoid the strong urge I had to grip his throat instead. "You listen to me," I started. It was incredibly hard for me not to call him all the dirty names I had running through my brain, but I really was trying to reign in my temper, walking the fine line between getting my point across and making sure there was nothing he could sue me for later. "If you ever touch Bella—Miss Swan again, and I don't care if you think you're helping or what the reason is—if you ever touch her, look at her, come near her in any way, even think about her, and I find out about it, you will not get off so easily. Am I getting through to you, James?" I growled when he looked away. "I swear on my mother's life, if I ever come home to my girlfriend looking the way she looks right now and I find out it's your fault, the police will be hauling both of us out of here. You for sexual harassment, me for beating the crap out of you. Do you understand me?"

He finally reacted, looked a bit uncomfortable. He didn't respond verbally, only nodded his head minutely. "Leave. Her. Alone." I spoke each word slowly, clearly, to drive the point home.

Without waiting for any more response than that, I took the stairs back up to my floor. I felt like I needed the cool down time that I wouldn't have gotten had I taken the elevator. When I reentered the apartment, Bella was still sitting on the couch, icing her ankle just like I'd instructed her to do. It was already looking better; the swelling had started to go down. Cupping her face in my hands, I looked directly into her eyes and said, "The move will be complete tomorrow. We're not staying here after tonight. Not after what he did to you. If I can't be here to protect you like I should, then I'm going to do it the only other way I know how: by getting us out of here."

Whew. Busy chapter… And see, I told you that Edward would make an appearance soon!

What did you think about the sexy Edward and Bella time? Did Edward do enough where James is concerned? Was it Bella's fault for not waiting, or is she being too hard on herself? Do you think James is as creepy as I do?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Review=Teaser!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends :). See you next Monday!