In His Words

Bella returns home from Europe after a six-month work-study. She takes a

psychology class at UDub dealing with romance and erotic relationships. All

throughout her textbook, there are written comments from its former owner, and

Bella feels drawn to his words, as she tries to find him.

A/N: I would never want to do this without Fran; my security blanket. She works her tushy off for all of her authors.

Chapter Ten: Can't Get Enough

EPOV

At this time of the morning, there's a slight nip in the air. Bella's light hoodie isn't protecting her, so I remove my coat, draping it over her shoulders as my arm winds around her back. Looking up at me, she protests, trying to wiggle out of it, but I insist. She snuggles closer and wraps her arms around me. "Your lips were chattering. Is that better?"

She smiles. "Much. But aren't you cold?"

"I'm fine with you this close. Also, I have a thermal shirt under my sweater."

I get a little squeeze. "Thank you." And a smile.

We turn the corner to her apartment complex. Alice stands in the doorway tapping her foot with her arms folded across her chest, giving Bella a stink eye with attitude, "Where have you been?"

Bella snidely remarks, "You didn't see the note in the kitchen … Mom?"

She sadly mumbles, "Yes, I did, but that was written hours ago."

I smile at Alice. "I promise she was very safe."

She gasps, staring at me from toe to head. Her eyes sparkle. "God, you're a tall glass of sweet, iced tea."

I smirk. "Then, you're a small plate of warm chocolate chip cookies."

A slow smile crosses her face. "Cookies, huh?"

I frown at Bella. "Did I say anything wrong?"

"Nope. You're batting a thousand with the chocolate remark."

"C'mon in, Jasper's making French toast." She stands to the side.

BPOV

Edward asks, "Do you mind if I use your bathroom?"

I point. "Sure. It's the first door on the left."

I watch him enter and close the door. Very large eyes are on me.

"Well?"

The inquisition begins.

"I met him at the diner around the corner."

"When?"

"Ah, a little after midnight. Maybe, before."

Her eyes bulge, and I can see her doing the math in her head. She whisper-screams, "That's over seven hours ago."

"Well, more like seven and a half. We weren't keeping tabs on the time."

"I guess you weren't." She squeals; hopping, and spinning in one place.

Edward exits the bathroom, and Alice nonchalantly smooths her hands down her sides.

"I'm sorry. My manners?" She mumbles, "Or lack thereof. I'm Alice." She extends her hand.

Edward shakes her hand, smiling. "It's nice to meet you. I feel as though I already know you."

Alice scolds me with her hands on her hips. "You've been with this Adonis for over seven hours, and you were talking about me."

Edward interjects, "More like seven and a half."

She nudges me. "What's wrong with you?"

Jasper walks up to us with a dishtowel in his hand and kisses Alice's head. "I find you fascinating."

I introduce Edward to Jasper, "Jasper, this is E.C. Aw, Edward."

They shake, "Nice to see you again."

Alice questions, "Wait, you know one another?"

Jasper explains to Alice, "He's E.M., the TA. I didn't want to let on that he could have been Bella's E.C." He apologizes to me, "I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to disappoint you, Bella."

"I get it, Jasper."

Alice complains, "Well, I don't. Didn't you see the hair?"

"Actually, no. That's why my hesitancy. He was wearing a knit hat."

"Yeah, I was a little leery of you. At first, I thought you were scoping out Bella until you admitted it was Alice you were interested in."

"Why the initials E. the Starbucks cup?" Jasper asks.

Edward snickers. "The barrister heard me incorrectly; it was E.M.C."

"Well, things happen at the right time." Jasper claps his hands together. "Let's eat breakfast."

I turn to Edward. "Would you like to stay? I don't want to assume …"

He softly says, "I'd like that."

I hold his coat and hang it in the hall closet. Taking in a deep breath, I smell his manly scent all over me. I nod to myself. I could get used to that.

Then, we go into the living room.

"I thought we'd have more room, eating around the coffee table." Alice winces and explains to Edward, "Our kitchen is very small." She places plates and utensils on the table. "I'll grab the coffee and mugs. You guys sit."

Jasper carries a large platter in one hand and the syrup in the other. "I made brioche, French toast, and bacon on the side."

"Sounds good to me," Edward reacts as he sits next to me on the sofa.

"Yeah, we haven't eaten in hours," I say.

Alice pours coffee into the mugs, as Jasper brings in the sugar bowl and creamer.

They sit across from us on the floor.

Alice fills each plate with French toast and bacon. We all dig in. When I hear Edward moan from the deliciousness of Jasper's creations, I feel a tingle from the top of my head to my toes.

He comments, "Jasper, this is amazing. Are you a chef by trade?"

"No, but it's in my family," Jasper chuckles. "And thank you."

"Jazz's family owns the Sucré Winery and Bakery in Paris," Alice informs Edward.

"It's a great place," he says.

Alice asks, "You've been there?"

Edward nods. "Yes, many times."

She pouts. "Am I the only one here that hasn't been there?"

"Oh, darlin', I'll take you when the semester is over. "

Alice smiles. "That's so sweet of you. I was only joking."

"But I'm not. I have to go for business; just a long weekend. What do you say?"

Alice jumps him, knocking him over, peppering kisses all over his face, and repeating. 'Yes to Paris. Yes.'

"She's very excitable," I mumble to Edward.

He smiles. "They look very happy."

"They're new, too." I blush. "Hey, Alice, do you want to come up for air?"

She quickly sits up. "Sorry, I got carried away."

Jasper snickers, "You can do that anytime you feel like it."

"So, Edward, how did you become Dale's TA?" She straightens her hair and wipes the edges of her mouth.

"I took his class a few semesters ago. When Dale placed an ad on the student union board, I snatched it. The rest is history."

Alice grumbles, "He was very secretive about you."

"In his defense, I asked him not to say anything. He was honoring his word," Edward explains.

"Why didn't you want Bella to know?" Alice digs.

"Caution, at first. I wasn't always in the room, and Dale films every session for class participation. He scrutinizes each student's comment, their alertness, and their passion. Grades are based on test scores and your communication skills."

"Yeah, I remember having to sign a waiver for the filming, "I say.

"He has records of every class. His personal choice and cost."

"So, did you watch these films, Edward?" Alice asks.

Edward clears his throat. "Many times. Bella's responses always had my attention."

I blush.

"I know this is forward," Alice hesitates, "But you seem quite specific about sex."

I give her the stink eye. "Alice!"

Edward nods. "No, no, it's okay, Bella."

"Well, I know he knows you are …" She points to my nether regions. "A virgin."

I bat my eyes in surprise.

It's Jasper who reacts, "Well, you both made that decision."

Alice rolls her eyes. "Of course. We saw too many small-town girls get knocked up and have shotgun weddings. We weren't going down that road."

I watch in horror, flaming from head to toe. I want to crawl up and get lost in the carpet.

Edward takes my hand. "That's what interests me. You're true to yourself."

Alice boldly interjects, "But the way you express your thoughts on sex, it seems you've had many partners."

I inhale with my eyes bugging out of my head. "Alice!"

"Things aren't what they seem, Alice. What I wrote and what I've done are very different. I expressed what I wanted." He smiles at her.

Alice presses on, "Then, you're not experienced?"

"Okay, can we, please, drop this topic?" I seethe through my teeth at Alice.

"Sorry," she whispers, looking down.

Edward chuckles, "I promise you, Alice; I'm not a manwhore."

Jasper takes a sip of coffee, places his cup on the table, and calmly adds, "I didn't think you were."

Alice looks at him, turning her head to the side. "How would you know that?"

"It's a guy thing."

"A guy thing?"

'Yeah, it's in the hand gestures or the walk. Since you girls have female intuition, we can tell signs."

Alice and I question in unison, "Signs?"

Edward finally states, "Yeah, it's in how a guy walks."

"Or in his speech," Jasper utters. "Edward's not B. you. He's been very straightforward."

"Thank you." He nods.

"Not a problem."

Alice and I look from Jasper to Edward.

Alice smiles and whispers over the table to me, "It's a bromance."

I look at Edward. "And I have a girl for your brother."

Alice frowns, "Who?"

"Rose."

"Oh, yeah. She's been so sick with the flu. Then, her boyfriend decided to move and broke up with her. Our smiley Rosalie, who is gorgeous, is in need of a good guy."

"Emmett is a good guy. He's stable, funny, and if I don't move fast, he'll ask Bella out."

They laugh.

"Emmett Cullen, the frontline man for the Seahawks?" Jasper asks.

"Yeah."

Alice coos, "He's a football player?"

"Was. Now he has a construction business."

"Does he need a secretary? Rose lost her job yesterday," I beg.

"I'll call and see," Edward offers.

My phone rings. "Oh, it's Jean Luc." I look at Alice. "I didn't call him back."

"You'd better take that."

I smile at Edward. "He's a friend I made in Paris." Edward nods, as I correct, "A gay friend."

Edward smiles.

I speak into my cell, "Hey, Jean Luc. I'm sorry I didn't call you, but ." I smile at Edward. "Our date hasn't ended."

Jean Luc screams over the phone for all to hear, "I knew it. I knew it."

Alice runs into my room, coming out with my laptop. "Tell him to hang up; I'm calling him."

Jasper sets up the laptop to the TV, again and Jean Luc is alive, well, and very excited in front of us. "Hello, mon ami. Oh, all of you."

"Hey, Jean Luc. Let me introduce you to E.C., Edward."

He sits on his sofa in a pale blue satin robe, with a hand on his chest. "Edward, it's so very nice to meet you."

Edward responds with a 'hello.'

John Luc waves, wiggling his fingers. "Oh, Bella, you two will make beautiful bébés."

Of course, I blush.

Jean Luc giggles, batting his eyelashes, "By chance do you happen to have a brother?"

"I do."

"But we're fixing him up with our friend, Rosalie," Alice blurts out.

Jean Luc pouts.

Jasper quickly responds, "I'll have Peter call you. Remember, he designs shoes?"

Alice chirps, "And he looks like Jazz."

"Oh my, this is a match in heaven." He looks at all of us. "We all are."

A/N: Sooooo, we're matching up. Next time, we will hear more from Edward and Dale.

RECS:

The Last of the Real Ones by bicyclesarecool

s /13389589/1/ The-Last-of-the-Real-Ones

Redemption by IBACULLEN

s /13737928/1/ Redemption

Solace by MissLiss15

s /13661892/1/ Solace

Drawn to the Flame by .London

s /13673722/1/ Drawn-To-The-Flame

Welcome to What-A-Burger by jane-with-a-y

s /11007954/1/ Welcome-to-What-A-Burger

A/N: Also, Fran has done some remodeling with her Facebook group 'Pay It Forward.' The name has been changed to 'It All Started with Twilight' … If you would like to join us for fun, fic, and friendship:

: / groups/ 896806390388220/