AN: Man, I was in trouble for leaving you with that cliffie….sorry! But here's the next installment. I hope you like it ;)

Chapter 34

I followed the man nervously, hoping with everything I had that he was taking me to Edward. Gone was my desire that I go unnoticed. Suddenly I really wanted him to see me here, after all, this may well be the last chance I ever got.

I was going to be extremely disappointed if it wasn't him.

I was lead down a corridor lined with what looked like conference rooms. The gentlemen I followed opened a door at the end of the corridor and indicated that I should enter before he closed the door without entering himself.

There, standing with his back to me on the other side of the small room was the unmistakable figure of Edward Cullen. Even from the back I could see he looked tense. He turned to face me, and the look on his face, was not a happy one.

"Good evening Edward," I greeted him. My tone was flat, my face was hopefully unreadable. While I was definitely happy to see him and ecstatic that he had me in private, the look on his face told me he was pissed about something.

But I was not going to let him treat me like a doormat. Anymore than he probably already had anyway.

"Belle," he replied, remaining where he was with his hands in the pockets of his suit pants.

I remained silent, after all he had summoned me.

"You look…" his brow furrowed. "You're….I'm sorry. I….," he suddenly tilted his head to the side as he stepped closer and seemed to look carefully at my face "Are you wearing contacts? You're eyes, they're much darker?"

"Yes."

"You're working." I nodded my head. "I thought you said you wouldn't…."

"It's been two months Edward." I looked down, barely able to hold it together if I looked at him. His green eyes were always my undoing. He was moving closer and was now only a foot away from me. I could almost feel the heat radiating from his body.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" I asked, looking up into his eyes, hope blooming at the pain that was crossing his face.

"I've been travelling a lot. We've been locked down in negotiations on the Health Bill. I…I wanted to call."

"What about Chelsea?"

Edward scoffed and shook his head. "She's…there's nothing going on. What about James Patrick Hunter?"

Who? Oh, JP. "You know who my date is?"

"I saw the guest list," he replied quickly as if the information was inconsequential. "You two seem to be…having a very good time together. Is this an over night thing or…"

I was quick to cut him off. "No. It's not like that."

"I'm not sure he'd see it that way, he seems to be very affectionate with you." His voice was cutting, hurt even.

He'd clearly been paying more attention than I thought.

"He's more interested in you than he is in me."

"What?" He asked, incredulous.

"He's…gay. It's not common knowledge so don't repeat it."

"I don't know the guy so it doesn't mean anything to me. Although…." He looked down at his hands, "I must say I'm relieved." He stepped closer still. There was only inches between us. I could feel the effect his body had on mine, I was like a live wire, the ache between my legs betraying what I wanted from this man. I was turned on just standing here next to him.

Edward was staring down at me. His face had softened. He lifted his hand to my face, his fingers caressing my jaw, his thumb rubbing my cheek reverently.

"You're….you're breathtaking." The relief was evident in the way the breath left his body as he whispered the words.

I was pretty sure I blushed, I don't think he'd ever complimented me quite like that before. "Thank you Edward," I breathed. My chest was rising and falling more rapidly than would be deemed reasonable under normal circumstances. But these were not normal circumstances.

"Why? Why are you here with him?"

"I…." I squeezed my eyes shut. What could I say to him? I've fallen for you? Taking strength from the warmth of his fingertips as they caressed my face I opened my eyes and looked up into his. They looked hopeful. I think. "I wanted to see you."

The expression on Edward's face didn't change, but I was sure I saw something flicker in his eyes, lust, hurt, regret, I don't even know. I didn't have time to think about it before Edward's hand was on the back of my neck pulling me towards his waiting lips.

It was like the dam had burst, and all of the tension that existed between the two of us exploded as our mouths met in a searing kiss. His lips were insistent, as were mine. With my eyes squeezed shut, and my hands fisting the lapels of his jacket I released all of the feelings I had built up for this man since the first night we spent together.

It was reckless and stupid and completely irrational, but right now, this was the only thing in the world I wanted. His mouth opened and our tongues met, desperately tasting, teasing, caressing. With one arm around my shoulders and the other wrapped around the small of my back our kiss slowed as Edward had my body crushed against his. But it was like I couldn't get close enough. I wanted to crawl inside his body and never leave.

"Oh God," I half whispered, half moaned as I pulled away to get some much needed oxygen. But his lips remained insistent and pulled me back into him. He tasted so much better than I had ever imagined, and I wasn't sure how I was going to stop.

After what seemed like forever, but was probably a couple of minutes our kiss slowed. His lips were soft, moving over mine eliciting a feeling deep inside that I had been trying to avoid. The fingertips of Edward's left hand caressed my cheek and jawline as our kiss languished to the point where we were just breathing into each other's mouths. His right arm remained around my waist, pulling me in tight. His erection very evident against my core, not helping to quell my desire. At all.

With our foreheads resting together we both gazed at each other as we caught our breath. We were doomed. This was doomed. Right from the start. I should never have gone back the second time, because as soon as I did I launched myself onto the slippery slope. But now. Now…..

"I want you Belle. So much."

"We can't Edward. Not here."

"That's not…..I know. I mean…" I wasn't quite sure what he was trying to say. "Spend the weekend with me?" I must have looked surprised because he quickly went on. "I'll be in Nantucket next week at our family Summer house. There'll be no one with me for the weekend. Come. Please?"

Fuck. I knew what I should say. After that kiss I should say good-bye right here and now, walk away and remember our time before it became too late to turn back. But that's not what I did.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay."

"Can we…..I just want to keep this between you and me."

"Of course." That went without saying.

"No, I mean, no Emmett arranging things. Just you and me, no bullshit, no…." He shook his head. "If you're able to get to Hyannis for the 6pm ferry I'll have a car pick you up at the other end. Friday night."

Holy shit. Just Edward and I. What did this mean?

AN: So…what do we think of the first kiss? Was it any good?