A/N - AHH, it's back!

First off, a massive THANK YOU to Rita01x who reached out and emailed me a copy of the chapters I had lost. And to everyone else who reached out with offers of copies they had saved. You have no idea how grateful I am that someone copied the whole thing to PDF and allowed others to download it.

Secondly, it was so strange reading through it in its entirety for the first time in 7 years (ten years since I first wrote it). And there was a lot of aspects I liked but equally as many I hated and cringed at my younger self more than a few times.

So, I've changed quite a bit of this chapter, it still follows the same lines as the original but for a start, Bella was such a whiny victim in my original story. Probably a reflection of the 20 year old girl that wrote it, more than anything. A lot of the story was quite immature, even though to this day, I have never really grown up but some of the things the characters said? Nope, don't like.

Thirdly, I'm no writer, I'm really not. And I'm no editor either so I'm sorry if my grammar and layout annoys you but cut me some slack, this is a hobby and there's no rules that say I need to be good at it to enjoy it and share it with those who want to read it.

And lastly! A massive thank you to all of you have have read, reviewed and reached out over the years about this little story of mine, even though it was incomplete and had been for a long time. I read through a lot of them when I logged back in after my long drawn-out hiatus.

Which also brings me to another point... Guys, if you don't like what I'm writing, don't read it. No one is forcing you to. There was a huge amount of negative reviews left in my absence, picking the story and my characters apart, not constructively either. So please,if you're a 'guest' on the site, come across my story and two chapters in, decide you hate it and me for writing it? Piss off and find another, yeah? There's literally millions to choose from.

With all that said... Here you go! Let's get back to it!

Chapter 15

The casino flashed past me in a blur of faces and lights as Edward practically dragged me towards the exit, my heart hammering in my chest so profoundly that I'm surprised I wasn't hyperventilating.

As we moved, I was vaguely aware of the people around us, staring and throwing shocked glances in our direction which soon caused Edward to slow his pace and fall in to step alongside me, albeit still a little more brisk than a leisurely walk.

"Why is everyone staring at us?" I questioned quietly as close to his ear as my height would allow.

He didn't answer at first, instead opting to place his hand on the small of my back, ushering me forward, his touch succeeding in calming me somewhat.

"Just ignore them," he eventually spoke in answer.

It was the only thing he said to me as we navigated our way through the bustling building, until we reached the front doors.

The bouncers nodded once at Edward as they moved the rope aside to let us past and in to an awaiting SUV which was parked in wait rather intimidatingly directly outside the expansive building.

I laughed loudly in surprise as he quickly picked me up by the waist from his position behind me and gently, yet forcefully threw me in to back seats. It was playful and I loved it.

"What?" He questioned, a knowing smirk gracing his face as he joined me and I tried to fix my disheveled and less-than-graceful entry in to the large vehicle.

"Nothing," I smirked back innocently, my smile clear as day at this change in his demeanour, biting my lip as I watched him narrowing his eyes at me.

Another high pitched laugh escaped my lips when he quickly grabbed my calves and pulled me across the leather seats with ease, picking me up just enough that I was brought face-to-face with him, sitting in his lap.

His eyes turned dark and hooded as he looked at me, his jaw set firmly and all traces of his cocky smirk wiped from his perfect face as I looked at him, unsure of my next move.

Quickly pushing all apprehension to the back of my mind, I reached out to touch his face, memorising the chiselled structure of his cheekbones with my fingers and the feel of the slight stubble that graced his handsome features. His eyes fluttered closed as he took a deep breath and leaned in to my touch.

His lips parted slightly and my heart hammered in my chest as I studied him before moving my face closer to his in the dark car, bringing my lips to his softly in a whisper of a kiss.

His body froze beneath me for a split second as he took in a sharp breath through his nose at my touch. Just as quickly as he stilled, he relaxed beneath me, returning my slow and soft kiss.

It was unlike anything I had experienced with anyone before, almost as though I was treading unchartered water. Almost as though he was too. But how could he be? I knew of his reputation and I wasn't blind, I saw the way women looked at him -he was in familiar waters, surely.

Slowly and carefully, I raised my hands from their position on his face towards his hair, needing to touch the disheveled perfection atop his head and his hands tightened their grip on my waist, just enough to cause a small lust-filled moan to leave my lips, in to his mouth as we continued kissing like a couple of teenagers on our way to prom.

I could have sat in that car, in that position with him all night as he deepened the kiss, his hands teasingly gripping my waist through the expensive vintage dress I was wearing, but all too quickly, he groaned and pulled away as the car pulled to a stop outside of his city home. I could feel his arousal against my core and I wanted to stay in the car and finish what we had started.

But he didn't let me go as I thought he would, instead he held on to me, keeping my body flush to his as he exited the car, never breaking our kiss and I wrapped my legs around his waist to keep me from falling, smiling in to his lips as he moved with ease, like I weighed nothing and boy, did it turn me on.

Wrapping my arms tighter around his neck, I deepened the kiss again, our tongues lavishing each other as he made his way up the stone steps towards the front door, only bending slightly to reach the handle and never once removing his lips from mine or his hands from my ass as he continued to manoeuvre his way through the house. I didn't know if anyone was around to witness our display, nor did I care.

My body acted on sheer impulse as a pulled myself closer to him, fairly sure that my arousal was going to leave a wet patch on his shirt from where our bodies met, my crotch against his solid muscular stomach. I gasped in surprise as he eventually lowered me on to my bed and followed after me, not knowing how we got there so quickly, but straining my neck upwards so not to break us apart, my hands finding their way to his face again.

This time, however, he did break our kiss momentarily, but only to turn his head slowly, keeping his eyes closed as he did so and placing his lips delicately against the palm of my hand.

My breath hitched at the gesture and I practically melted, my panties becoming unfathomably wetter. He was being so gentle, so caring. It was such a contrast to the man I was getting to know, the man I had spent time with and observed over the past few weeks.

He was almost, loving?

But deep down I knew he wasn't the loving type. My insecurities quickly resurfacing and reminding me who exactly this man was, and he wasn't the loving type.

But as his lips worked their way down my throat and his hands reached my bare thighs, those insecurities disappeared and my back arched, bringing our groins together, both of us moaning softly as we gained friction exactly where we needed it most.

Moving my hands downwards slowly, I scratched my nails lightly against his skin towards his chest and he physically stiffened under my touch again, his breath hitching in his throat but he didn't stop me like he did last time. So I took the opportunity unashamedly to unbutton his shirt, taking my time so as not to scare him and close him off. I kept my eyes glued to his face, paying close attention to his emotions as I pushed the light fabric of his shirt, together with his suit jacket, off his shoulders and on the bed, sitting up a little as I did so and marvelling at the fact he had managed to undo his cuff links with one hand whilst I removed him of his shirt and suit jacket.

It was as though everything was happening in painfully slow motion. I watched his achingly beautiful face battle against his emotions and instincts as I removed the top half of his clothing.

I didn't push my luck touching him too much, his inner battle surprising me and humbling me, so I laid back again steadily, never breaking eye contact and allowing him to take the lead from where he sat between my legs.

Bringing his head lower, towards mine and nipping the skin below my ears with his teeth, I reached towards his belt before his whisper broke through the silence of our heavy breathing.

"Touch me, Isabella," he spoke softly between his assault on my neck and throat and I smiled sneakily towards the ceiling.

Moving my hands from where I really wanted them to be, I softly ghosted my hands up his back towards his shoulders. I don't know why I distracted myself or how I managed to refrain from working on his belt and removing his pants, but part of me knew he needed this, he needed to be touched on the sacred areas he had asked me to touch. Those areas he trusted me to touch. And no matter how much I wanted him naked, I couldn't find it within myself to deny his request.

My eyes moved from their spot above us, to his chest and I watched my hands work their way from his broad shoulders to his muscular chest, holding my breath as I went and pushing him upwards slowly, his arms outstretched at et either side of my head. The light scattering of hair rustled quietly under my nails as I lightly scratched over this upper body, lower and lower between every dip of his defined abdominal muscles, watching on as they tensed under my touch, his breathing ragged as his eyes followed the movement of my hands.

Eventually, his hands started working again and he felt around under my back before finding the zipper of my dress and undoing it, agonisingly slowly. I moaned as our mouths found each other, his knuckles brushing lightly against the skin of my back as he freed me of my dress.

I couldn't help but squirm against the mattress, almost begging him to work faster and I felt him smile against my mouth at my impatience. He was building me up, torturing me and I felt as though I may explode, the ache between my legs growing with every passing second but I could feel him, feel his arousal and I marvelled at his composure in this situation. I was wanton and a mess and he was smirking and teasing me, savouring every god damn moment and I couldn't take it any longer.

Thankfully, as though he heard my inner turmoil, he moved off me just enough to pull my dress roughly down my body, the cold air against my stomach and thighs felt blissful in place of the garment, easing some of the tension which threatened to consume me.

His eyes raked over my body, from my face to the delicate white lace bra and matching panties that adorned my small body and he growled, literally growled, before his mouth assaulted my stomach, his hands gliding down the sides of my body and if I wasn't so aroused, no doubt it would have been an hysterically ticklish movement.

My breath caught in my throat as his hands worked their way towards the band of my panties, his face lowering dangerously close to where I wanted the most attention, but tonight was not the night for such a build up, I wanted him and I wanted him now. I sat up on my elbows and he raised his head to meet mine, silently questioning my movements as I reached towards his belt, fumbling with it quickly before moving on to undo the button and zipper of his pants. He bit his lower lip, knowing exactly what I wanted and pushed me backwards, allowing me to push his pants and boxers down past his waist.

Loud thumps on the floor startled me a little as I took him in with my eyes and somewhere in the back of mind I registered that it was his shoes as he kicked them off his feet, continuing to remove his pants down the rest of his legs.

He was a magnificent man, there was no doubt and I was too aware of how much clothing I was still wearing as he crawled up my body, his large erection skimming the length of my body as he leaned his hand behind my back, unclamping my bra and throwing it to the side of the room as soon as my arms were free whilst I kicked my shoes off my feet.

I moaned much too loudly as his mouth found my breasts, my head hitting the pillow and my hands entangling themselves in his hair whilst his tongue worked my nipples expertly, lavishing one and then the other in perfect succession, his hands toying with the band of my panties and his knuckles skimming my core every now and again, causing my breathing to quicken and I swear, at that moment I realised how close I was to coming without him even touching me where I needed it most.

This man will be the death of me.

"Please, Edward," I begged, knowing that with this build up, I wasn't going to last much longer and his light kisses and touches were beginning to drive me insane.

I raised my hips against his erection, trying to find the friction I so desperately sought, making him moan at the contact I created.

Slowly he began to work my panties down my thighs, kissing down my body as he went, his teeth nipping my navel, lower and lower until I gasped in surprise as his mouth closed over my clit, sucking at it before his tongue lapped my whole core, only once and I screamed in pleasure.

"Fuck, Bella. You're so wet," he whispered against me, his hands holding my hips against the mattress. "You taste so fucking amazing". And he continued his beautiful assault on my arousal between my legs, my fists falling to my sides and grabbing the sheets as I bit my lip to stop myself from screaming out again.

I was so fucking close and it was sweet, insatiable torture as his thumb found my sensitive nub and began to work it in fast small circles, the rest of his hand keeping my hips flush against the bed as his tongue lapped at my wet folds.

"Edward..." I groaned, knowing I was close, achingly close and he had all the control. "You're killing me," I growled through clenched teeth, lifting my head and trying my best to glare menacingly at him.

He looked up and smirked, quickly crawling up my body again and crashing his lips against mine. I could taste myself on his lips and his tongue and it was the most erotic thing I've ever tasted.

Reaching down finally, I took his length in to my hand and he moaned loudly past my lips, pushing his hips forward and physically showing me just how turned on he was too. His length was solid and straining, and he stilled as I moved my thumb over his tip, feeling the pre come spread with my movements.

"Fuck," he hissed in to my ear, his whole body stilling as I began to move my hand along his length, gripping just tight enough to elicit another moan as his hips bucked foreword again and I lined him up at my entrance.

"I need you. Please." I begged in to the air, my free hand gripping on to his shoulder and it was all the encouragement he needed to push his hips forward, entering me slowly and crashing his lips to mine at the same time.

Our breaths shuddered together, our mouths open against each other as he stilled once he was fully encased within me, my body taking a moment to adjust to his larger size, our breathing heavy and our bodies still.

After another couple of shaky breaths, he began to move and I wanted to rejoice and scream out in pleasure, instead choosing to bite down on my bottom lip and moan before he thrust back in to me, this time harder than the last and I gripped his back, encouraging him to keep that speed.

My hips rose to meet his with every thrust and I started to feel the coil deep within my stomach, knowing I was close.

"Edward, I'm so close," I moaned in to his mouth as he kissed me again.

"Come for me, Bella," he whispered in to my open mouth and he continued to thrust his hips in to me and moved his hand between us, to my clit.

That's all it took, a few small circles on my sensitive nub as he thrust his length in and out of me and my legs began to shake, my head fell back against the pillow and I moaned loudly in to the air, my nails clawing at his back as I came harder than I ever have before. The light danced behind my eyes as I tightened around him and let go.

"Jesus... I'm not going to last," he growled, continuing his thrusts at a faster pace, his breathing becoming more laboured as he reached tipping point.

I clung to him, my nails ghosting lightly over his back, my teeth biting in to his shoulder and with a few faster, more frenzied thrusts, he moaned my name loudly in to the air above my shoulder as he released himself in to me, shaking above me and then collapsing on top of me, both of us out of breath, sweaty and sated.

His weight on top of me felt blissful and comfortable as we both came down from our high.

I wanted us both to stay in that position forever and I moaned when he rolled off of me, pulling out of me and he laughed lightly as I whimpered at the loss on contact. He pulled my towards his chest and settled his chin above my head, sighing contently as I wrapped my body around him, intertwining our legs.

"That was worth all the fighting." I laughed quietly in to his chest, wrapping my arms around him and breaking the silence.

He was silent for quite a while before he spoke. "I don't like fighting with you." He sighed, placing a small kiss on the top of my head.

"I know." I sighed, moving slightly to look up at him.

"I'm not so sure," he teased lightly, "I'm beginning to think you get some sort of weird kick out of giving me a hard time."

"Hey." I scolded, playfully swatting his arm, causing him to tighten his grip around me and chuckling in to my hair.

After another few seconds of silence, I took a deep breath and took a chance with a subject I knew may ruffle his feathers.

"You let me touch you," I stated quietly, not sure whether he would broach the subject or leave it as an open statement.

"I did." He eventually replied, his voice quiet in the vast room and for a moment I wondered if he was falling asleep.

"Why don't you like to be touched?" I asked, knowing I was playing with fire but playing on our rare moment of peace and calm.

He shrugged his shoulders slightly before answering.

"I do. I let you touch me, didn't I?"

"Okay, I'll rephrase that," I smiled in to his chest, trying to keep the mood light. "Why didn't you let me touch you before?"

"I let you just then." He spoke back and I know he was purposely being coy, probably hoping I'd get bored and change the subject.

Not likely.

I raised my head, moving it back to look him in the eyes, narrowing my own slightly and pursing my lips as if to tell him his answer wasn't good enough.

He looked back at me before sighing and slumping his shoulders a little in defeat.

"It's a control thing, I guess" he shrugged.

"Control?" I continued to pry. I was taking a chance, throwing it over my shoulder and running with it. On thin ice. I was running on thin ice and I knew it, yet my curiosity was egging me on.

"Yes." He simply answered, nodding his head once and closing his eyes.

"You wanted to control me before?" I continued my interrogation, raising an eyebrow even though his eyes were closed.

Slowly he opened his eyes, peering at me in the darkness.

"No, Bella," he answered, "not right then. I just, I like to control situations." He sighed again, maintaining eye contact.

"Even when they're sexual?" I replied, a bit taken aback at his admission. "Edward, I'm not following." I admitted, confused. He was answering my questions but not truly answering and I was nothing but utterly curious now.

Hang on, why would he give control as an answer to a question about being touched sexually? It made no sense in the context of which we were speaking. It was a strange answer but I knew it was a truthful one, he was good at skirting around questions but always answered, even if his words were cryptic, he didn't strike me as a person who would lie, not to me. He had no reason to. My head was a jumbled mess and I knitted my eyebrows together trying to decipher my jumbled thought process. He could have said anything, there was hundreds of answers he could have given me that would have halted my line of questioning but, they would have been lies. He had to be telling the truth which meant...

"Hang on," I faltered, "how many women have touched your chest?" I wasn't too sure I wanted to know the answer as soon as my question was aired, but I was too far gone now.

"Really?" He groaned, moving his head back from the pillow to look down at me, begrudgingly opening his eyes yet again.

I raised my eyebrows and nodded once telling him I was serious.

"You..." he started, testing the water and upon my silence, continued. "And..."

This time I moved my head back to get a better look of his face.

"Seriously?" I asked in disbelief after a while, knowing without him needing to tell me that he had had hundreds of sexual partners. That much was obvious. His looks and lifestyle alone made that much obvious. Only me? There was no way.

"Why the interrogation, Bella?" His voice was tired, he was done with this conversation that much was clear.

"Only me? Ever?" Disbelief was evident in my voice, even to me.

He huffed, but nodded his head and I smiled, really smiled. He jerked his head back in surprise and pulled his eyebrows together, clearly shocked by my happy reaction and probably more so, by the silence that filled the room instead of further questioning.

"I like that thought." I smiled, leaning my head upwards to kiss his lips quickly.

He looked perplexed and unsure of my admission but it was true. I did like it. The thought that no other woman before me had touched his chest filled me with joy. I was smug and unashamedly so.

"You're weird," he laughed lightly, showing me a glimpse of the 27 year old man he truly was.

"Well, you are too!" I teased back, laughing at him. "It's just your chest, perfect as it is," I continued.

His smile faltered at my works, his eyes shifting from mine quickly, almost as though he was uncomfortable for a second.

"Oh no. What?" I pressed at his uncomfortable falter.

He cleared his throat quietly before speaking.

"It's not just my chest," he whispered, shifting his gaze quickly again and I cocked an eyebrow in reply, urging him to continue.

"Im so confused!" I huffed, not understanding. Confusion evident in my tone.

"I have rules, Bella. My own rules, when it comes to things like that."

"Okay," I nodded, taking his little list of rules at face value. "No touching your chest," I confirmed and he nodded once. "And..."

"My face and hair," he answered hurriedly, as though he was ripping off a proverbial band-aid.

I guffawed. It wasn't and attractive noise and it caused him to scoff playfully in my direction.

"What was that?" He laughed loudly, all tension dissipating as he sniggered at me.

"Oh no," I mocked, "take my legs but not the hair." I was laughing now, taking the heat from the noise that had escaped my throat and turning the tables on him.

I shrieked out loud as he grabbed me and rolled me on top of him, growling at my mocking tone.

I moved my hands to his hair, smiling like a crazy woman as I marvelled silently at the fact I was touching what no other woman before me had touched.

He was silent as he allowed me to scratch at his scalp, messing his perfectly disheveled hair and watching as the couple of inches length separated as my fingers glided back and forth.

His hair was perfection and I knew that many men would die for hair like Edward's and many stylists jobs would be easier if male models had natural hair like his. It was obvious he didn't need to do much yet it lay perfectly, messy perfection. Sex hair without the effort, begging to be pulled and many women would give their left tit to do just that. But the pleasure was mine, and for now it was mine alone and I was going to enjoy it.

He raised a perfectly masculine eyebrow in my direction as my hands worked their way through his hair, his eyes slowly fluttering closed and he took a breath to speak before we were both interrupted by the shrill ringing of his cell phone.

I pouted from my position on top of him as he rummaged around within his suit jacket, keeping a tight hold of me, clearly not wanting to break our physical contact any more than I did.

"What?" He barked in to device once he found it, keeping his grip tight around my waist. "Yes, so?" His voice was harsh, a stark contrast to the softness he held only moments ago when his words were directed towards me. "No, Emmett, stay at the club with Jasper... I can't be fucked with his grovelling right now." He stole small glances in my direction every now and again, as though he was unsure if I could hear any of the conversation coming from the other side of the phone, but I couldn't. It was obvious Edward kept the speaker volume of his phone low and for that I was glad. "Okay, bye." I looked to him again as he ended the call and he sighed, shifting me from his body.

"You should get some sleep, it's late." His voice was softer again but continued to hold his sharper demanding tone, making it clear our rare moment of intimacy was over.

I watched him closely, missing his close proximity as he moved around the room, dressing himself piece by scattered piece.

"What was the call about?" I asked, knowing he wasn't going to answer but trying to keep him selfishly for just a little longer.

"Alec." He stated, not looking in my direction as he picked his shirt up from the floor.

Okay, may he was going to tell me.

"I guess you found out he was working for Laurent?"

"No one can hide anything from me for long," he stated matter-of-factly, a threatening tone lacing his voice but I knew it wasn't directed at me, just the situation.

"What did you do to him?" I asked, taking advantage of his rare openness of the evening, even though I wasn't sure I truly wanted the answer and I knew he knew that too.

"Nothing, yet." He sighed, slipping his immaculate shoes on to his feet. His eyes softened as he looked at me sitting on the bed, naked and curious.

"He will pay for what he did, Bella," he continued, joining me on the bed, his feet still firmly planted on the floor as he sat close enough yet far enough from me to not start any hands from wandering.

I opened my mouth to speak but he cut off, almost as though he knew exactly what I was going to say.

"It doesn't matter that he didn't go through with his whole plan," he started, his own hand entangling itself in his hair as I watched on, listening intently. "He was supposed to. He meant to," he continued, finally looking in my direction. "And truth be told, if he had taken you to Laurent, I would have hunted him down and killed him without a second thought."

"I see." I whispered eventually, my eyes never leaving the hand on top of his head. But I understood his threat and I knew again, he wasn't lying. It seemed to be a curse that this beautiful man appeared incapable of lying to me, no matter if the truth hurt or scared me.

"Get some sleep." He quietly instructed, raising himself from the bed. "I'll see you in the morning," he smiled softly, walking towards me and placing a soft gentle kiss on my forehead, releasing a drawn out breath as he did so and my eyes closed, savouring the contact of his lips. "Goodnight, Bella." And with those words, he was gone.

I watched as the door closed behind him with a dull quiet clink and threw myself backwards against the plush pillows with a huff.

What was that?

Staring at the dark ceiling, I replayed the events of the evening through my mind in quick succession. There was no doubt Edward amazed me -his demeanour, his presence, his voice, his body, his job?

Okay, the last was a lie. But the amazement within me came from how good he was at it. No matter how bad, how illegal or how dangerous his line of work was, it was clear to me and everyone within 100 miles of him, knew that he was good at his job and a part of me knew I should be running for the hills, knowing what he's capable of but the other, a decidedly larger part, understood that I never could because all things considered, I felt a lot for this man. Sure, there was the physical attraction, every women and a lot of men were not immune to his physical and achingly beautiful appearance but there was more than that. Much more. I felt myself aching to know him more, comforting him and listening to his worries. I wanted to be there for him, not only physically but mentally.

I snorted at myself.

I had a crush. A deep-routed anchored crush for a man I should despise, a man I should loathe and a man who has caused me so much pain.

Oops.

I shouldn't like him but after tonight, I was in far too deep and I could only hope that the pain and confusion he had caused me previously, was over. That we could move forward from here and start over.

A/N- So? What did you think? Better? Worse?

I'm so nervous! Let me know, whether it's positive feedback or negative constructive feedback, I'd like to find out.

Thank you so much for sticking around, all of you xxx