Taking Rose's advice, Bella waited until she'd been to the doctor and started birth control to tell Edward she was ready for their date. Nothing could stop the butterflies setting up residence in her belly at the thought of going out with Edward with the plan of letting him get lucky at the end of the night. Though if she thought about it, she remembered that she was the one to get lucky every time they had sex in the past. He was not merely skilled, he was thoughtful of her needs.

It didn't help her nerves to remember that they'd been together before and sex should be familiar between them. Nearly a year had passed, but it might as well have been a decade. So much had happened to them both, plus she'd given birth. She wasn't the same person physically, mentally, or emotionally as she was back then. For one thing, she would let him take her to bed knowing he wasn't going anywhere, and she would have no regrets.

The biggest fear in Bella's mind was that her breasts would leak and ruin the evening. She'd spent the past few weeks pumping and trying to keep Quinn on a schedule in the desperate hope that it would reduce the chance of an accident. Right behind that fear was that she would take her clothes off and her flabby skin would repulse Edward. She'd never been vain a day in her life, but insecurity was second nature to her.

Edward wouldn't tell her where they were going, but she dressed in the black knit dress she bought at the mall with Angela. A small part of her wondered if she knew she'd use it with Edward at some point in time. Though she couldn't exactly say she felt sexy, she felt good about how she looked. Rose helped her apply makeup and style her hair before wishing them well and kicking them out of the house. She promised that Quinn would be fine with her and reminded Bella that every mother needed time to herself now and then.

Edward met Bella at the bottom of the stairs in a black suit and bow tie, and he was just so handsome that for a second, she couldn't believe he was hers to keep.

"Fuck, you're beautiful, Bella."

She blushed furiously, a massive smile lighting up her face. "You don't look bad yourself, husband."

He grinned crookedly. "I am your husband, aren't I? I wasn't dreaming about that?"

"Now you're trying to flatter me," she said as he helped her put on her coat.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Oh, you should," she agreed with a laugh.

Edward had the limo ready, an SUV parked directly behind it. A security guard sat in the front seat with the driver, and four more were in the following vehicle. Bella tried not to focus on what that meant.

As soon as the driver closed the door behind them, Edward leaned over and moved Bella's hair behind her shoulder. "I'm such a lucky man," he whispered in her ear, kissing along the column of her throat.

They hadn't shared more than a few kisses since the time in his office. Bella wanted a chance to spend time with him without all of that clouding their judgment. However, they both knew all those rules went out the window as of that evening.

One of his hands wandered up her leg, and she sucked in a breath. "Edward, don't forget we're heading to a restaurant."

"I don't give a fuck." He sucked on her neck, making her squirm. "I can't wait to taste you."

She whimpered and fisted his coat in her hand. Good Lord, he was turning her on. "I don't want to walk in looking like I've been attacked by a mugger on the way."

"More like freshly fucked," he growled in her ear.

She shivered, tensing her hold on his coat. "You're killing me."

"Good."

Though he kept away from all the places she needed him to touch, he kept up a constant rotation of strokes and kisses. She turned in his direction, pulling on his hair when he dipped down the neckline of her dress to kiss along the edge of her bra. She had to bite her lip to keep from crying out as he grazed the inside of her thigh with his thumb, pushing the hem of her dress higher and higher.

The limo came to a smooth stop, and she groaned.

Straightening up, Edward smoothed her hair and dress back into place. "That was fun."

"I bet."

Bella tried to retain some dignity as they stepped out and walked hand in hand to the doors of the restaurant, which were held open by a pair of men in all-black uniforms. "What is this place?"

"A private dinner club. Only a few people have access."

"So it's safe?"

"Yes."

The idea that she could relax and have a meal with her husband without worry caused her to breathe a giant sigh of relief. "I doubt they'll top anything Tyler has ever made us."

"I'll be sure to tell him you said that. They have Michelin-rated chefs here."

The maître d' showed them to a table in the back covered in candles and flowers. Bella glanced between a bottle of wine and two glasses. "Edward, you know I don't drink."

"I do know, and if you don't like it, I'll get you something else. I thought you might like to try it."

"Okay."

They settled into their seats and removed their coats while a waiter came and poured a sample of the wine into Edward's glass. He accepted the bottle and offered some to Bella.

She took a sip and wrinkled her nose. "It's not bad."

He chuckled at her reaction. "You might need to get used to it."

"I'll have a glass of water, also," she told the waiter, and let Edward pour more wine into her glass.

"What did you do today?" he asked. They'd spent most of the day apart since Edward had business to which he needed to attend.

Bella toyed with the stem of her wine glass. "Rose and I discussed how we'd like to redecorate your bedroom."

The waiter returned with a basket of rolls, and Edward picked one up to hand to Bella. "Why would you redecorate my room?"

She looked down, but she was smiling.

"Bella?"

"Because it's my room, too, and maybe I don't want the heavy wood antiques left by your great grandfather."

He grabbed her hand. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." She squeezed his fingers. "Tonight, Rose is moving my things into your room."

"What about your room?"

"What doesn't go into the bedroom will go into the sitting room, and I'll continue to work on making that my office. My old room will be another guest room. Rose has requested to use it whenever she visits because she likes what I did with it."

"I can't tell you . . ." He trailed off, looking away. When he met her gaze again, his eyes were wet. "I can't tell you how happy you make me."

"It's still foreign to me that I can make you happy by sleeping in your bed, but I'm not about to question it anymore."

Edward leaned in, kissing her sweetly. "I want us to be a family, Bella, a real husband and wife."

His words filled her chest with warmth. "We are."

Through dinner, they laughed and talked. They kept it light and entertaining, not wanting to bring up anything heavy to ruin their time together. She drank one glass of wine, and though it made her cheeks red, she didn't feel drunk.

Until they climbed back into the limo and everything Edward did went to her head. He caressed her cheek before kissing her, running his fingers lightly over her thighs, and it set her body on fire. The way he made her feel about herself came rushing back. Cherished. Special. Wanted.

"I need you, Bella." It was spoken into her hair as he palmed his erection, and she tried to swallow around a dry throat.

"I know." It came out as a meager whisper, but he heard.

"Only a few more minutes, and we'll be home. Will you let me have you?"

The mere fact that he asked instead of assuming had her veins pulsing. She framed his face between her hands. "Rose agreed to spend the night with Quinn, Edward. You have me uninterrupted."

His moan was loud in the back of the quiet car, and she felt her skin prickle. "You have no idea how long I've waited for you."

"I've waited to come back to us, too."

He grabbed her chin and tilted her head to meet his mouth, leaving no doubt how he felt. Exploring the inside of her mouth with his tongue, he gripped her face close to his and breathed her in. She felt herself floating on air, hoping her balloon never popped. Knowing he wanted her, needed her, was everything. He gave her what she wanted most; to feel desired.

When the vehicle came to a stop, Edward had a hard time letting go of Bella, but he managed. Phil opened the car door, and they emerged into the garage.

Bella looked up into Edward's ravenous eyes. "I want to check with Rose quickly, but I won't be long."

"That's a good idea."

She thought he'd go his own way, but he followed her to the nursery. Quinn slept in the crib, so she softly ran her forefinger down his cheek and turned to go. Edward stood directly beside her, leaning down to kiss Quinn's forehead.

"Is breá liom tú níos mó ná mo shaol féin," he said in a guttural whisper.

Bella bit the inside of her cheek to keep from asking what he said to his son, but the tender tone he used sent her heart into her throat. Edward watched Quinn for a moment before holding his hand out to her. She accepted it, and they went down the hall to the room Rose was using.

Bella knocked on the door, and Rose opened it after a moment. "Hi."

"I just want you to know we're home. We checked on Quinn; he's sleeping."

"Don't worry about us, hon. Get some sleep," she said with a wink.

How was she expected to sleep when Edward ran his hand over her butt as they walked down the hallway in the direction of his room?

Once he closed the door behind them, Edward moved toward her, pressing her against the wall and trapping her there. He ran his nose along the side of her throat and kissed her pulse.

"I haven't touched another woman since we were together."

The breath she'd held came out in a shaky burst. Pushing his coat off his shoulders, she let it fall to the floor behind him. As he swirled his tongue behind her ear, she tried to remain upright on wobbly legs as she worked the knot on his tie until she could free it. With hands that wanted to tremble, she focused on unbuttoning his shirt. Her lip firmly trapped between her teeth, she stared at the expanse of chest she revealed. Needing to touch, she leaned forward to kiss across his shoulder and up to his throat. Hands roaming over his warm flesh, she glorified in the knowledge that he was hers as she listened to his heavy pant in her ear.

He skimmed his fingers along the bottom of her dress, pushing it higher so he could reach the silkiness of her inner thigh. She wondered if he was waiting for her permission, so she grasped it and pulled it over her head. The long groan escaping his lips made her feel bold, so she arched her back to offer her breasts to him. Edward took each one in his hands, kneading and squeezing. When he reached behind her, she almost panicked.

"It's better to leave it on," she murmured.

He frowned. "Why?"

Sighing, she admitted, "You don't want a milk shower."

With a little grin, he unhooked her bra and let the straps fall down her arms. "I don't care. Let it shower over me. I want to see them."

There was nothing else in her head as he flicked her nipples with his fingers. She cried out when he bent his head to suck, when the feeling went straight between her legs.

"Bella, do you want it fast or slow?" he said against her skin.

"I don't know."

Running his hand down to her flank, he hiked up her leg to wrap it around his waist. She felt him hard against her, proving how ready he was.

"Oh."

He kissed her, stroking his tongue in and out, and her hips surged forward of their own accord. She writhed in his arms, so he picked her up to carry her to the bed.

When they lay beside each other, he looked into her eyes and ran a finger down her cheek. "Fast or slow, Bella?"

Barely able to catch her breath already, she mumbled, "Fast, please."

He laughed at the way she said it. "I do aim to please."

Removing the last vestiges of his clothing before rejoining her, he ran his hands along the top of her underwear. At her nod, he peeled them down her legs. Running his fingers over the hair at her apex, he looked into her eyes once more.

"Tell me if it hurts. You cried the first time we were together, and I know it's because I was careless."

She shook her head. "It's because I was overwhelmed."

Edward bent his head to kiss her thoroughly, sweeping his tongue into her mouth while moving his fingers lower and increasing their speed. Bella clutched his shoulders, arching and crying out as an orgasm built. He kissed her throat, then moved back to her mouth to swallow her cries. When the crest broke, she rode his hand with a scream in her throat and fistfuls of his hair in her hands.

"Fuck, Bella, you're gorgeous when you come."

No words came to her, so she urged him toward her with her hands on his hips. She needed him inside her.

He braced his hands on either side of her, looking down into her eyes. She nodded.

When he gently pushed inside, she gasped. It was so different than she remembered; so much more. He filled her, completed her, and she felt tears leaking from her eyes.

Edward stopped moving. "Don't cry, baby."

She shook her head. "Please don't stop." When he hesitated, she repeated, "Please."

Moving faster, Edward gave her what she asked for. She couldn't catch her breath as he rocked against her, as he claimed her as his, and she did the same in return. Not long after he began, she felt Edward press tightly to her, his eyes clenched shut.

"God, Bella. You have no idea."

She thought maybe she did. "It was better than the first time."

With a smile, he asked, "It was?"

Curling her hands around his shoulders, she lifted up to kiss him. "Definitely."

He moved to rest beside her, and she knew she needed to get up, but she just didn't want to move. They were together finally, the way she once dreamed they would be. They would raise their son together, and they would be happy.

Finally, they were one.

Is breá liom tú níos mó ná mo shaol féin~ Gaelic for I love you more than my own life.