Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Most of you agreed that Esme would prove right about Edward and Bella being together in the long run. As for Edward's leg, everyone was sure it was nothing he should stress over. I love your optimism and warm hearts.

Let's have some fluff now, after all the heaviness.

Fran is my wonderful, ever-encouraging beta.

All mistakes are mine.

Chapter-20

Living in the present was fun, more fun than I had had since…well, a very long time ago.

Now that I was sure there was nothing from my past that could jump out and scare Bella, I found myself genuinely relaxed. I think Bella was too.

Of course, there still was the case to be solved, and the possibility of Bella being in danger, so we couldn't afford to be careless. Emmett was sure Jenks would have some news very soon, though.

I also hoped the Chicago police might get a lead, but if there was someone on the payroll of the mob, he might sabotage the investigation. It was a fifty-fifty chance.

Meanwhile, I had a few days I could spend with Bella, get to know her better, and enjoy our time together.

And kiss her.

A lot.

Kissing Bella was delicious torture. She was so responsive and soft and…warm, I couldn't have enough. And she would make these little sounds that drove me crazy.

Stopping myself after a certain point was a test in patience, but I was also aware of her injuries and her loss, as well as our being in my aunt's house. However delighted Esme was for us, I was sure she wouldn't want to come across us less than fully clothed.

Of course, I mean a situation where Bella and I were not fully clothed, not Esme. Well, obviously Esme would be fully clothed too, she always was—okay, maybe not always, not while she was with her husband—but I didn't want to go there.

Me and my rambling thoughts.

Anyway, Bella didn't make it easy. Not that she tried to be seductive, she was too innocent for that, but she had this earnestness. She made it clear that she wanted to learn new things, from me.

Considering I wasn't exactly a Casanova, I found her enthusiasm very…sexy.

And very flattering.

It did lead to trouble one evening though, or at least, an awkward situation.

Bella had been especially playful that day, the day before I was to leave for Seattle. If there was a word for gentle flirting, I would have used it to describe her behavior. She smiled, made jokes, and touched me now and then in passing. It was the best kind of build-up; the only problem was I knew it would lead to nothing. By the time we finished dinner and did the dishes, I was ready to explode with frustration. My body felt as if it was sizzling with anticipation, while my head told me to cool it as nothing was going to happen.

I told my aunt and uncle that I was going to bed as I wanted to leave early the next morning. The fact was I couldn't be around Bella anymore; it was unbearable.

After changing into my pajamas and brushing my teeth, I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes, but of course, I couldn't sleep. Images of Bella, laughing and teasing me, filled my mind. The kisses we had shared, the way she felt in my arms, it made me restless and longing for more. Before I knew, my hand had pushed my pajamas down and was wrapped around my cock, pumping furiously while I continued to imagine how it would feel to have Bella wrapped around me, on top of me, taking me inside her and moving…

I gasped her name as I came hard, days and days of pent up feelings making my release drawn-out and almost painful. My breath was harsh and my chest moved up and down rapidly, as if I had just completed a hundred-meter sprint.

Slowly, slowly, it became normal, and my mind cleared.

Even before I opened my eyes, I was berating myself for losing control in my aunt's house. I would definitely have to put the bedsheet in the washing machine in the morning. I winced, imagining what Esme would think of that. Maybe I could tell her that I wanted to clean up after myself.

Right. As if she would believe that. I was by no means messy, but I couldn't remember the last time I had washed the sheets while visiting her.

So embarrassing.

And then I opened my eyes and saw Bella standing in front of me.

-Analogous-

To this day, I thank my training in the police academy and my job as a police officer that allowed the recruits to take the most unexpected incident with the minimal reaction. Otherwise, I'm sure I would have screamed loud enough to wake up the whole household.

That's not to say my reaction was dignified in any way. I think all I managed to do was produce some kind of unintelligible sound.

Imagine trying to say Bella, you?

While your mouth is full of water, or any other drink. The result will be the same.

Did you try it?

So, now you know what I am talking about.

Yes, that's all I managed.

In my defense, I would like to see a single person who can manage to stay dignified when caught red-handed while pleasuring themselves, and that too by the person who was responsible for the pleasure. Obviously, it would be different if they were in a long-term relationship, but when they have not even reached the boyfriend/girlfriend stage? Mortifying.

The only saving grace was that I had switched off the lights, so Bella couldn't have seen more than a dim outline of my actions in the faint glow of the waning moon. Still, she couldn't have mistaken them for something else.

Hell, even I couldn't think of anything that would have explained the presence of my hand in my sleep pants.

It's still there, you doofus.

That made me pull out the said hand out of the said pants as if they were on fire. I also pulled them up as if it was the only way of putting the fire out.

I honestly don't know what I would have done after that, but luckily, Bella spoke first.

"I—I'm so sorry, Edward," Her voice shook badly, and she swallowed before continuing. "I didn't mean to—intrude. I just wanted to sit with you for a while, as you are leaving tomorrow." Her words began to rush. "I did knock, but you didn't answer, so I came in, wanting to make sure you were asleep. I didn't see anything, not really, but I'm still sorry—"

Her evident discomfort made me sit up. "No, Bella, please don't apologize. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you. It wasn't your fault that—I never do that here, you know, it's just that I was feeling—"

Clearly, both of us sucked at explaining ourselves and apologizing.

I was trying to figure out how to end that sentence without sounding like a pervert, when, to my utter astonishment, Bella giggled. Giggled, I tell you!

Did she find this funny?

"Um, Bella?"

Maybe she was in shock. That would explain the inappropriate bout of mirth.

"I'm not in shock," she said softly but clearly. Oops, had I said that aloud?

Bella continued speaking, her voice less shaky than before. "I mean, I have never seen a guy do that—"

I groaned. Of course, she hadn't, and the first time she did…My hand half-lifted to tug at my hair as I did when nervous or stressed, before I recalled it wasn't fit to touch anything and let it down in a jerky motion.

Bella didn't seem to notice the strange up-down action, thankfully.

"—but I am aware they do it. I'm sorry because my barging in was an invasion of your privacy. You didn't do anything wrong."

I grimaced. "Not wrong, maybe, but it's certainly awkward as hell. Um, just give a me a minute. That is, if you still want to talk."

She nodded. "Can you please switch on a light? I don't want to stumble into something on my way to the sofa."

I switched on the table-lamp and hurried to the bathroom. After washing my hands vigorously, I changed into another pair of pajamas and came out to find Bella perched on the small sofa.

"Are you comfortable here?"

She looked up and smiled. "I'm fine. Sit, please."

I wasn't sure if it was okay to put my arm around her, but she moved closer to me, so I guessed it was all right with her.

"What were you going to say earlier, Edward? About feeling something, I think?"

Were we really going to talk about that?

She was looking at me expectantly, so yes, it seemed we were.

"I don't want you to think I'm a pervert—"

She shook her head. "I won't. Please, tell me."

She sounded so sincere. I felt a little less uncomfortable.

"Well, all this kissing and making out we've done, it made me…"

"Horny?"

I could hear her smile when she said that, but when I looked at her, her eyes were soft. She wasn't making fun of me.

And even if she was, did it really matter?

I laughed soundlessly. "Yes. Christ, that sounds so teenager-ish. But yes, that's what happened. And this evening, with all the touching…I began thinking of you, and I couldn't control myself."

"You were thinking of me while doing that?" Her voice was different, kind of breathy. Did she…could she possibly like the idea?

"I was," I admitted. "I hope you don't feel bad about it, but, you know, you are so…tempting."

"Really?" She sounded as if she found it hard to believe. Then a teasing note crept into her voice. "Good thing I'm not forbidden, then, isn't it?"

I laughed lightly. "Not technically, I guess, but right now…It would be better to wait until you feel a hundred percent okay."

Bella cleared her throat. "Uh, it's almost been a month, you know. Except for this cast, I am all right. I mean, if you want…"

"Oh, I want, definitely," I assured her. "But I think we should wait until the cast is removed, for one. Also, I want to take you for a proper date in Seattle, and…maybe you can stay with me overnight…or more. We should have lots of time, you know, and privacy; no worries about anyone knocking on the door in the morning or barging in…"

Her smile was shy but happy. "You have given this a lot of thought, haven't you?"

"Of course, I have," I said. "Um, it may sound old-fashioned to you, but I want you to have the whole experience—exploring the city during the day, dinner at a nice restaurant, maybe a movie of your choice, or dancing at a club if you like that sort of thing…"

She intertwined her fingers with mine. "It sounds wonderful, Edward. You are wonderful. I've never met a man as thoughtful as you. I'm so lucky."

"I'm the lucky one here," I murmured, and bent my head to kiss her delightful lips. Bella responded eagerly, and when my lips wandered to her neck and my hand to her breast, she moaned.

And just like that, I was hard again.

"Hey, Edward."

"Mm." Her skin was so…silky. I was never going to have enough of her.

"Will you teach me to do…that?" Her hand stroked me lightly, and even though there was a layer of cotton between us, I felt as if I had been electrocuted.

"Bella, sweetheart, stop."

Her face fell. "Why? I want to make you feel good."

I groaned. "You are killing me, Bella. Look, we will do whatever you want, but not tonight. Okay?"

"But why?" she insisted. "What does it matter if I can't use this hand? I have two of them, you know?"

"I know, I know," I tried to mollify her. "The problem is something else."

"What?"

"I don't have any more clean pajamas!"

A.N. Haha, poor Edward! Do you think Esme will tease him, or pretend not to notice him doing laundry?

Have you ever been caught in a similar act? What was your reaction?

Do you agree with Edward that it would be different if the two people are in a long-term relationship?

Take good care of yourself!