Chapter 26- Unions and Reunions

Edward.

A myriad of emotions run through me as he stands up to face me. Relief is the most prominent, mixed with bewilderment and a sliver of happiness. My heart is pumping adrenaline through me, fast.

I briefly take in his attire.

Light wash blue jeans that are a little torn at the knees. Sneakers. Dark blue t-shirt under a zipped open gray hoodie, under a dark black jacket.

Together with the baseball cap, sunglasses, and two day's worth of stubble, he looks absolutely nothing like himself.

I can't see his eyes, but the skin between his furrowed brows forms a soft 'v'. I want to touch it.

"Bella."

That voice. It's low and gravelly, like he hasn't spoken in a while, and it sings to every part of me. It pulls me toward him, my feet moving of their own accord.

"You're here…" It comes out in whispered disbelief, and I can't understand why my body feels hot and cold at the same time.

"I'm here," he replies hoarsely.

Those words thaw me out a little and I suddenly feel weak and tired, like I'll collapse any second.

Almost involuntarily, I'm reaching out and tugging on both sides of his open jacket, pulling him toward me.

Before I know it, I have my face buried in his chest and those arms, the arms that I've been missing, are curled around me again. I'm blinking back tears, feeling dizzy with relief, my heart hammering. I don't know what I was expecting.

He still smells like Edward, but he also smells a little musky. He's clearly been travelling nonstop for the past few days. My head starts spinning with questions, but I don't want to ask them yet. I just want to hold. I hold him to me tight, my heart aching.

He's holding me so firmly, I can barely breathe. His nose in my hair, I feel him inhale deeply. Still, somehow, I don't feel like he's holding me close enough.

It's unclear as to how long we stand there, but he's the first to move. He lifts his chin from my head and loosens his hold a little, his hands sliding to rest at my lower back.

I look up at his stubbly face and reach up to pull his sunglasses off. He blinks in the fluorescent light of the hallway, bruise-like shadows under his eyes. The white around the deep green is a little bloodshot; I don't think he's slept.

His eyes rake over me, taking in my appearance. I'm wearing my waitress uniform- black pants and blouse with the restaurant's name written on the breast in flowing white cursive.

"You have a new job," he states, and I nod, biting my lip. I wonder how he feels about that. I can't tell by his face or his tone of voice.

I pull out the spare key Angela gave me and open the door to the apartment. Edward reaches down to pick up a tan duffel bag that I hadn't noticed before.

He follows me in and stops in the middle of the living room to look around. He shows absolutely no emotion as his eyes appraise the walls, the TV, the couch, the kitchen, even the floor.

It's so odd seeing him in this environment. Even though he isn't dressed how I'm used to seeing him dressed, I still see Prince Edward when I look at him. It's who he is.

Seeing him surrounded by bare walls, a limited amount of furniture, and an overall lack of space is weird. It's like having a puzzle piece that doesn't fit, that belongs in a completely different puzzle.

"I know it's small," I say quietly, and Edward just looks at me and shrugs in indifference.

He gingerly sets the duffel bag on top of the coffee table as I walk into the kitchen.

"Are you hungry?" I ask. "I was going to make dinner. Do you want something to drink?"

Edward walks slowly toward the island that separates the two rooms and places his hand on top, palm down.

"Uh, just water, if you have it," he mumbles. His eyes are now flitting among the kitchen appliances.

"Of course we have it," I mutter, amused, and Edward looks horrified.

"Christ, I didn't mean-"

"It's okay, you didn't offend me," I assure him as I pour him a glass.

He thanks me and then gulps the whole thing down. I pour him another.

"I ran out," he says by way of explanation, after dinking half of his third glass.

I nod silently and we stare at each other for a moment.

"You look tired," we both say simultaneously

That makes us laugh and lightens the mood a bit.

I nod toward the living area behind him. "C'mon."

There's no point in delaying this conversation.

Edward runs a hand through his hair and nods, pulling his jacket off. He holds it in the air, unsure of what to do with it, so I just grab it from him and walk it over to the coat rack in the corner.

When I turn around, Edward is lowering himself onto the couch. It's an old couch, and it kinda squeaks under his weight. He frowns for a moment and I can't imagine what must be going through his head.

He's used to overstuffed leather furniture, fancy paintings on walls, and being waited on hand and foot. Now he's in a tiny apartment in a shady part of Forks. It must be odd for him.

I bite my lip and walk over to the couch, sitting sideways and curling my left leg under me while my right rests on the ground.

I watch him for a moment, and I don't know if the fact that he's here has actually sunk in yet. I must be in some kind of shock.

"So, what happened?" I ask softly. "You know, after I left…"

He looks at me and then stares at the coffee table, brows furrowing in thought. My eyes land on his jaw, the defined line of it hidden by light brown stubble. I want to feel the roughness of it against my face.

…or thighs.

Stop it.

"It was a little hectic," Edward says, eyes still glued to the table. "When I left the room to calm down, it was taking me longer than usual. I was just so outraged. The way they talked about our relationship, like it was a business deal of some kind, something they controlled and handled… It was driving me mad. It wasn't this bad with Alice and Jasper."

The anger from that night seeps back into his voice, into the set of his jaw.

"My parents came out and told me that it was all settled, that they would bypass the rules… but then they said Aro wanted to talk to you in person. By the time they mentioned that, I rushed back inside and you were gone."

He turns his eyes on me, and the forest green is burning. I blink, taken aback by the ire he's unleashing on me with his gaze alone.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he demands, and he's not shouting but his voice is husky. He doesn't need to shout to express his fury. It's all in the eyes, in the flaring of his nostrils and the tightening of his jaw.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes, not wanting to be affected by the sight of him when I speak.

"I thought it would be better that way," I respond.

He doesn't say anything, and when I open my eyes I see that he's incredulous.

"Better that way?" he asks. His voice is eerily calm and quiet. "You thought it would be better to just up and leave, without saying goodbye?"

I'm filled with the urge to defend myself. He makes it sound like it was so easy for me to do something like that. He needs to understand where I'm coming from.

"It's not like I wanted to," I tell him, the annoyance clear in my voice. "Aro gave me fifteen minutes to pack. I didn't say goodbye to anyone, not even my Dad. Honestly, I wouldn't have done it differently. I'd be a complete mess if I'd had to say goodbye."

"What did you think would be going through my head?" he snaps like he hasn't heard me. "Bella, I nearly lost my damn mind when I heard you were gone." His eyes are burning a hole into my face, hard and angry. "It's not that you left that angers me, it's the fact that you didn't come see me or talk to me! I thought that by leaving the manor you were leaving me, and I just… I fucking lost it."

"I wouldn't have been able to handle it, okay?" I half-shout, hating the fuming way he looks at me. "I would have turned into a pathetic, sobbing mess if I had to see you before leaving!"

Edward's face softens and he stares at me, surprised by my outburst. I stare back quietly, watching as he swallows and that Adam's apple bobs.

"I wouldn't have let you go," he whispers with a heated gaze. "Either that, or I would have come with you."

I stare down at my hands, no longer angry. "But why didn't you call? You don't think I expected a few missed calls or texts? I had to turn my phone off while I drove, but when I turned it on… Nothing from you."

Edward glances at me, an apologetic look crossing his face. "That was my fault. I, uh…"

He looks away, seemingly embarrassed.

"What is it, Edward?"

"I may or may not have thrown my phone against a wall, successfully breaking it, as was intended."

My eyes widen. "You broke your phone? On purpose?"

Edward leans back into the couch, frustratedly running a hand through his hair.

"I was angry, all right?" he says exasperatedly. "It pissed me off enough that they 'temporarily' fired you, then you left without saying goodbye, my parents were being difficult, Aro was being a complete asshole… I picked up and threw the first thing my hand touched, and that was unfortunately my phone."

I'm shaking my head in disbelief, unable to control the snort that escapes. "So you threw a tantrum."

Edward frowns at me. "I do realize it was very childish of me, but that's why I didn't call. I was incapable."

"Do you have a new phone yet?"

"No."

"You're a missing person."

He tilts his head to the side. "Am I?"

"I asked both Rose and Alice about you, and neither of them has seen you. I should let them know you're not off trying to jump off a cliff, shouldn't I?"

"Later," he says, not taking his eyes off me.

"How did you find me?"

Edward takes in a lung full of air and lets it out slowly, pushing hair out of his forehead. He needs a haircut.

"I knew you were coming back to Forks," he says. "I couldn't think of anywhere else. This is where you're from, so this is where you'd come back to. I put two and two together, got dressed, found stuff to hide my face and packed a bag."

"Was this the same night I left, or the next morning?"

"The same night," he admits, rubbing his eyes.

Shit, I don't think he's slept since.

"I got in my Volvo and just took off," he continues. "I put Forks, Washington into the GPS and let it lead me. I didn't know where in Forks I was going, but it was a start.

"I hadn't told anyone I'd left. I didn't want them to know. I didn't need my father sending SS after me. I didn't…" He trails off, sighing. "I didn't want them to have control anymore. I wanted their lack of knowledge about my whereabouts to be to their disadvantage."

"But don't you think they'd assume you went after me?" I ask, studying the side of this face.

Edward shrugs. "I locked my doors to stall. Once they get worried and go in, they'll figure it out. I'll deal with it when it happens. I also told Kate I didn't want anyone going into my room until I said otherwise. No cleaning. No food. Nothing."

Well. Looks like I'm not the only one that planned ahead.

I pull both legs up and wrap my arms around my knees, wanting to hear more.

"It only took me three hours to get here," I tell him. "Why'd it take you two days?'

Edward rubs his tired eyes again and I can tell he hit some obstacles on the way here.

"I stopped for gas once and bought a few things," he says, sounding as exhausted as he looks. "Food and water, that kind of stuff. A few minutes later I got a flat tire. Took me forever to figure out how to change it."

"You don't know how to change a tire?"

He raises a brow at me. "I'm driven everywhere most of the time."

"Oh. Right…"

"Anyway, once I figured out how to replace the tire, in the dark and in the middle of nowhere, I took off again. The GPS was acting funny, and I knew it shouldn't be taking me so long. When I decided that I'd be a danger to people because of how I kept dozing off at the wheel, I stopped on the side of the road and slept. Even then, I only got about three hours of sleep. I've never slept in a car before. It wasn't comfortable.

"Once I woke up and was sure I wouldn't crash, I kept driving. I think I was a couple miles from Forks but I had to go through Port Angeles first."

I'm surprised by that. "Really? Port Angeles usually comes after Forks, especially if you're coming from the manor…"

Edward shrugs and shakes his head. "I put all my trust into the GPS. It still got me here though, didn't it?"

"Yeah," I whisper. "It did."

Edward licks his lips to keep talking, and my eyes are drawn toward them right away.

"Port Angeles was a pain in my ass," he grumbles. "I was running low on gas again and I got paranoid that I'd run out before I found you. I was even more paranoid at the gas station, since it was the middle of the afternoon and I didn't want anyone to recognize me. I avoided talking to people as much as possible but this… this girl…"

I immediately feel my eyes narrow into slits, my entire body going rigid.

Say what, now?

"What girl?"

Edward smirks, probably at my jealous behavior. "I don't know, just some blonde that was filling her car up. She was flirting like crazy, and it was highly irritating. I told her to go away and then she really started staring. She wouldn't leave, so I paid her a couple hundred and she scrammed."

I can't help the laugh that escapes me. "You paid her? You're unbelievable."

He rests his temple on the back of the couch and smiles softly at me.

"I was just desperate," he says. "Once she was gone, I thought I'd be good to go. Then I hit some traffic and got into a minor accident." My eyes widen into saucers, but he keeps talking quickly. "It was my fault, really. I tend to have a terrible case of road rage. The guy in front of me was going too slowly and he sped up so I thought he was going to run a yellow light, but he stopped abruptly. I pressed the breaks on time, but I was close to him when I did, so I ended up rear ending him."

I'm blinking, shocked. "Then what happened?"

"I paid him for the damage on the spot."

I stare at him, his expression completely nonchalant.

"I can't even…." I trail off, unable to say much more.

"This was last night," he tells me. "I didn't make it to Forks until about six this morning. I asked someone where the Swan residence was, but they looked at me like I was crazy so I didn't try that again. I wasn't sure if you were at your old home. I just aimlessly wandered around town, hoping to see you somewhere.

"I was starting to lose hope. Then, I saw Bella Italia. It was like a light at the end of a tunnel. I went inside and asked the hostess if she knew where you lived. She was suspicious of me, but I tried to be as charming as possible. She said that she didn't know your exact address, but that you were rooming with someone called Angela downtown. She'd overheard that part, apparently. It was enough info for the moment."

He takes a deep breath before continuing. "I drove downtown, wherever 'downtown' was. Asked around a bit. Luckily for me, there aren't many apartment buildings around here. I basically just looked out for your truck."

I cock my head to one side. "How do you know what my truck looks like?"

Edward smirks. "I saw you driving it."

"When?"

"Months ago. Right before the masked ball, I think. I saw you climb out and hand the valet your keys."

I think back and realize that it must have been when I went shopping for the masked ball's dress.

"How come I didn't see you?"

Edward shrugs. "I was looking out my window."

"Creep."

He chuckles softly and his smile is absolutely infectious.

"So I saw your truck parked a few blocks away this morning," he continues his story. "It's kind of hard to miss; stuck out like a sore thumb. This was the nearest apartment building so I just… came in."

"How'd you figure out which room was ours?"

Edward sighs. "I had to ask around again. I mean, this isn't a huge apartment building as it is. I basically just said I was looking for Angela, and no one knew who I was talking about until someone shrugged and said, 'Somewhere on the third floor'. My mission was accomplished after that.

"I came up here and just sat down, watching as people came in and out of their apartments. This elderly woman came out of her room and I asked her where Angela's room was. She pointed me to this one, and I knocked. No one answered, so I just waited."

"We must have already left for work," I mumble, and he nods, staring at me.

I don't know what it means now that he's here. He can't possibly stay here forever.

I don't want to have that conversation yet.

Edward stifles a yawn and I stand up, holding out my hand.

He gives me a questioning look and I shrug.

"You need to sleep." It comes out sounding like an order.

"I'm fine."

I reach down and grab his arm with both hands, pulling with all my might. He doesn't budge, and I'm scared I'll dislocate his arm.

"Edward, come on," I say. "You're going to spontaneously crash."

He bites his lip and stares at me some more.

What is going through your head, you beautiful boy?

I put my hands on my hips and try to look as stern as possible.

"You're a walking zombie," I say matter-of-factly. "If you're going to be around me, you need to be alive. Come on."

He smiles at me and lets me pull him up this time. I take him by the hand and pull him towards my room, grabbing his duffel on the way.

He looks around the tiny bedroom, which doesn't take long. He doesn't comment, though.

"Where's your friend?" he asks, toeing off his shoes.

"Work," I reply. "She won't be back until around eight."

He nods and watches me as I pull my covers away, nodding for him to get in.

"I should change first," he says.

Just then, my cell rings from the living room. I tell Edward to do whatever he needs to and hurry out.

The call is from Angela. She tells me that she won't be coming home, because she's spending the night at her boyfriend's. I feel immensely relieved at this news. After I promise her that I'll save her whatever I make for dinner, I hang up.

Then, the reality of the situation hits me.

Edward is saved for the night, but what about when Angela comes home tomorrow morning?

Shaking my head, I try not to dwell on the future. I've been good at doing that lately.

When I go back to my bedroom, Edward is just climbing into the bed. He's thrown on navy blue sweatpants and a white tank top.

Holy hell.

He gives me a small smile as he slides under the covers. I watch his whole body relax into the mattress as he sighs in contentment.

His eyes are closed, so I assume that he's already drifting off. I decide to change out of the restaurant's uniform. I smell like Italian food.

I'm dressed in just my bra and panties when I turn around to catch him watching me. I don't know why, but it makes me jump.

"I thought you were sleeping," I say, searching my dresser drawer for PJ pants.

"How do you expect me to go to sleep when I have a sight like that in front of me?"

I feel my cheeks go red, and I can't suppress a smile. His green eyes are boring a hole into my body, and instead of making me feel self conscious, it turns me on.

Edward is in my bed.

I'm half naked.

Oh, the possibilities.

No, you dirty whore, let him sleep.

"I meant what I said about you sleeping," I say firmly.

Edward looks forlorn as he gives me a rueful smile. "I'm just worried, that's all."

I pull a purple tank top over my chest. "Why are you worried?"

"I'm worried that I'll wake up and this will have been a dream. I'll be back at the manor, and you'll still be gone."

Oh, my heart.

Sighing, I walk over to my delusional prince of a boyfriend. He looks boyish, vulnerable.

I brush his hair off his forehead and lean in real close.

"I'm not going anywhere," I promise in a whisper. "I swear, when you wake up, I'll still be here. You'll still be here. Your sleep deprivation is making you go crazy."

"I hope you're right."

"Of course I'm right. Now close those eyes."

He obeys with a tiny smirk and I lean down and kiss him.

Those lips. How I've missed them.

He kisses me back, reaching up to hold my face, but I only allow that for a second before pulling away.

"Sleep," I murmur.

I run my fingers through his hair until his breathing gets slower and his face goes blank.

I kill a decent amount of time by cooking. I make some spaghetti and meatballs, enough to feed a large family. Edward is going to be starving when he wakes up, so I stow away the leftovers before getting myself a bowl.

Later, right before I brush my teeth and crawl into bed, I text Alice and Rosalie to let them know that Edward is safe and with me.

I almost feel guilty for being glad that Angela is spending the night at her boyfriend's.

I'm spending the night with mine.

Edward's position hasn't changed. He's still on his back, both arms under the covers. I turn the lamp next to his head off and then open the curtains so that the glow of streetlights filters in a little.

It feels good to get into bed after the long day, and even better to get next to Edward.

All I want to do is cuddle up with him, but I'm scared that he'll wake up. He looks so peaceful.

Instead, I get as close as I can without making him stir. I lie on my stomach and cross my arms on my pillow, resting my head on them. I stare at Edward's profile; the sharp angle of his nose, the way his long lashes cast tiny shadows on his cheeks. My eyes run over the brown stubble on his jaw, how it makes him look older and manlier. I notice a freckle on his temple for the first time.

His chest rises and falls with every breath and his eyes move underneath his lids. I wonder what he's dreaming about. Hopefully it's something nice.

Watching him sleep brings me peace, and makes me sleepy as well.

Carefully and quietly, I reach over and press my lips to his cheek. His stubble tickles.

Moving gingerly, I settle into my pillow and close my eyes.

I'm not quite sure what wakes me up.

For one thing, it's still fairly dark.

Secondly, I feel too hot.

Thirdly, I can't move.

It takes my mind a few slow moments to realize that I'm actually pinned under Edward.

His arm lies heavy across my stomach, his nose is buried in my hair, and his leg is curled around both of mine.

I can tell he's still asleep by the steady rhythm of his breathing, but goddamnit, I'm sweaty and I need to move. My muscles are stiff.

I try to lift my head to look over his shoulder at the digital clock on the nightstand, but I fail. His shoulder is too broad and my neck is too short, apparently.

I look down at his arm and contemplate if I should move him. While the feel of him wrapped around me is nice, I'm uncomfortable.

Biting my lip and holding my breath, I take hold of his arm and push.

He stirs.

Shit.

Luckily, he stays asleep. He just turns away from me with a sigh and lies on his back again.

Looking at the clock next to him, I see that it's almost five in the morning. Dawn will be breaking soon.

I try to doze off again, since I don't have to go into work until later in the afternoon.

But I can't fall asleep, because Edward snores and it's funny.

Edward's snoring is cute. It's not like hardcore, I-sound-like-an-elephant-fart snoring. It's quiet and soft, but every exhale makes me giggle.

I don't know why, but I'm highly amused.

I giggle into my pillow a bit, but just when I come up for air, he does one of those. You know, when you're sleeping and snoring and then you kind of twitch and jump, which makes you oink like a pig.

I laugh.

Loud.

Edward stirs and I quickly cover my mouth, but it's too late. He blinks sleepily and looks at me.

"Sorry," I whisper. "Go back to sleep."

"What's so funny?" he asks, turning onto his side. His voice is thick from disuse, all rough and gravelly, and my god it is sexy.

He reaches over and grabs me around the waist, pulling me closer to him.

"You snore," I whisper.

His brows furrow. "I'm pretty sure I don't."

"Like you would know. You oinked like a pig just now."

"I refuse to believe that."

"Fine; I'll record you next time."

"Fine."

We stare at each other, smiling, and then it dawns on me that we're together.

In the same bed.

In an empty apartment.

Edward pulls me even closer, until we're chest to chest. My nose is buried in his neck and he has one hand up the back of my top, slender fingers grazing my lower back.

His touch burns.

"I missed you," I murmur.

Edward lets out a breath and then I feel his lips on my head.

"You have no idea," he responds.

I want to hold him closer, so I let my hand slide under his wifebeater and across his chest. His skin is smooth and hard under my fingers and I feel him shudder under my touch. His own fingers drift up my back, leaving a hot trail in their wake.

My lips press against his neck and he hums, the path of his fingers moving forward and across my naval. Up my stomach, down across my ribs, over my hip, across my thigh…

I push my body forward until I'm flush against him and I don't know if his thoughts are running down the same track as mine. Something tells me that they are.

There are only a few words going through my head.

Edward. Bed. Empty apartment. Horny. Edward. Horny. Empty apartment. Bed. Bed. Horny. Horny. Edward. Horny. Bed. Empty apartment. Horny. Horny. Horny.

I pull my head away and then his lips find mine, tender and soft at first, but growing in ferocity.

His hand goes down my ass, squeezing and caressing. A moan escapes me and he takes my calf in his hand, pulling it up and hitching it over his hip.

Right there.

That's where I feel him.

I really do love feeling him there.

My hands get tangled in his hair just as he flips me so that he's hovering above me. He's attacking my neck and chest with warm, wet kisses, making me squirm under him.

God, his lips light my skin on fire. Whatever they touch, they set ablaze. Heat seeps into my skin and right through my veins, all the blood seemingly flowing in one direction, towards one part of my body that starts throbbing for his touch.

Edward stops to look down at me, panting, eyes dark. The dawn is breaking, gray-blue light starting to filter in.

"I don't think I can control myself, and I don't know if I want to," he says huskily. The look in his eyes is mad with lust, and I sincerely believe that it mirrors my own.

"Then don't," I reply.

That's really all it takes.

I feel like I've waited years for this moment, for this closeness. It may not be in the place I imagined it, or under the same circumstances, but I don't care. All I know is that I've waited long enough.

This, here and now, is perfect.

I maddeningly pull at his tank top until it hits the floor, my tank top and PJ pants following soon after. He stares at my bra-clad chest for a moment before flipping us over again so that I'm on top.

I suck on his neck as he fumbles with the clasp of my bra. The skin I take inside my mouth is salty and just Edward, and I could suck on it all day. I nibble and then bite as he groans.

He sounds frustrated.

I sit up so that I'm straddling him and reach behind me to unclasp my bra.

"I hate that bra," he states.

I giggle and he opens his mouth to say something else, but he stops short at the sight of my bare chest.

"I'll get more front clasp ones," I whisper, tossing my bra to the floor.

He just quietly stares at my chest, lips parted, eyes glazed over. I wait patiently as he reaches both hands up, taking one boob in each hand. He plays with them a bit, and if the feel of him kneading and pinching my breasts wasn't so fucking hot, I'd be laughing at his adorable fascination.

He plays around with my nipples some more and I grind myself into him, making him groan. He takes one breast and tugs on it.

"Come down here," he says huskily.

Oh, is Prince Edward going to be bossy in bed, too?

Not a problem.

I like it a little rough, but he doesn't need to know that just yet.

I lower my chest until I'm close enough for him to take a nipple into his mouth. I throw my head back at the sensation, the feel of his teeth scraping against my sensitive peaks driving me insane and calling to every nerve ending.

I can't take it anymore, so I pull away and reach down to the waistband of his sweats.

He grabs my wrists. "Are you sure?"

I suddenly remember that he's a virgin.

Oh, right.

"I should be asking you that," I reply.

Edward stares at me. "Bella, forgive my vulgarity in saying this, but I have wanted to be inside of you for a very long time now. I was ready months ago."

Alrighty, then.

I'll take that as a yes.

I smirk at him. "Oh, I've wanted you inside of me from the moment I saw you."

Edward's eyes become hooded before he lifts his lips so that I feel him hard against my clit. I don't bother suppressing a whimper as brief but sharp pleasure spikes through me.

Oh lord, I'm gonna die a sinful death with this man.

Hastily, I push his sweats and boxers down so that he's free from its confines.

He kicks them off his legs and then uses his foot to push them onto the ground.

I'm left to stare at naked Edward in all his beautiful, sexy glory.

I look at his cock and lick my lips, memories of a certain pond coming to mind.

Edward reaches down and starts to stroke himself as I pull myself out of my panties. He just stares at me, dark eyes roaming every inch of my body. I like it when he looks at me like that, like I'm something he wants to eat. My ruined panties are evidence of that.

He reaches up and cups my face, pushing my hair aside.

"You're stunning," he breathes, and my cheeks warm.

"As are you," I quietly return the sentiment, taking his hand from my face and kissing his palm.

After that, it's back to business.

I reach over to the nightstand and open the drawer, where the condoms are.

Edward raises a brow and I just shrug and tell him it was left here by Angela's old roommate.

I get the condom on him and then stop.

I don't know how he wants to do this, since it's his first time, so I decide to just ask.

"Do you, uh…?" I trail off, hoping he'll get the clue, and he does.

He shakes his head. "I don't care. As long as it's with you…"

I bite my bottom lip contemplatively. I usually like it when the guy is on top, but I want this to be a little special for him.

I raise myself up on my knees and straddle him, taking his cock in one hand and placing it right at my entrance.

Edward clenches his jaw and stares at where we're about to connect.

Suddenly, he looks at me.

"I've changed my mind," he says.

I stare at him. "What?"

He makes me let go of his dick and then he's flipping us over so that he's on top.

Oh.

That's cool, too.

I'm almost going to ask why he wants to be on top all of a sudden, but I can't focus because the head of his dick is touching me there.

I know I'm already plenty wet, what with all the previous grinding, so all he has to do is push.

Please, Edward, just push.

He braces his hands on either side of me and leans down for a kiss.

"Let me know if I'm doing anything wrong," he whispers.

I shake my head. "You can't go wrong with this, baby. Just go with your instincts…"

Your primal, caveman instincts, please.

God, how I need that.

He nods and then looks down to make sure he's placed where he's supposed to be.

I bite my lip, my heart furiously pounding away.

I've wanted this so badly, and now it's here.

Edward slowly starts to push in, and I feel like I'm going to go crazy with need. When he's all the way in, we both let out a groan. I feel full, stretched, and so damn needy.

Edward's head dips so that his forehead is on my shoulder.

"Fuck," he says hoarsely.

"Please do," I reply.

Chest heaving, he pulls out and I wince. It's not my first time, but it's been about two years so it's a tight fit and just a little uncomfortable.

Gradually, he starts to move. The discomfort starts to fade and the pleasure takes over, slowly building.

Oh, how I've waited for this.

The feeling of him inside of me is so much better than I ever could have imagined. I watch as his shoulders flex above me, and holy hell is it one sexy sight.

The pleasure slowly starts to reach its peak, taunting me. My breathing gets shallower and I feel that tickle, starting at my feet.

Edward raises his head and he has his eyes closed and his jaw clenched. He grunts after every thrust, his breath fanning across my face.

He's not being gentle, but he's not being too hard, either. There's a balance of the two, just enough to make me want more.

I'm extremely close to coming, and I know he won't last that long, so I take his hand and guide him to my clit. He catches on and starts to rub, letting me show him how firm at first.

After a few more seconds, the pleasure spikes. It runs up my body, making me go stiff, that ache in my belly growing more intense. My thoughts are in a jumble, the sensations taking over my mind as I moan shamelessly.

God, he feels so fucking good.

"Edward," I moan, but it comes out sounding like "Ewaaaah."

Every single thrust is bringing me to the brink, pushing me towards the edge.

Finally, I am done for.

My legs go rigid, my toes curl, my back arches, and I'm screaming his name as my insides explode. Waves of blissful pleasure keep washing over me for a few moments, and I think I'm in heaven.

I'm vaguely aware of Edward coming soon after me, but I'm too much in a daze to be sure. I feel him collapse on top of me, sweaty and panting, and I get the breath knocked out of me.

I hear him apologize and then brace himself on his elbows to pull out.

As soon as he does, I'm feeling empty but also feeling very, very satisfied.

Edward kisses me softly and then rests his forehead against mine.

"So much better than my imagination," he chuckles.

I laugh and run one hand through his hair while the other rubs across his stubble. The sun has come out, bathing the room as well as us in light.

"I love you," I whisper.

He smiles softly and runs his thumb over my lower lip. "I love you."

A/N: Ah, yes, they have finally done the deed. Shit, even I couldn't take it anymore. ;)

Next Chapter: Wednesday, July 13th at the latest

See you next week! :)