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: Fran, Fran, she's my girl. The best Beta in my world. As I've said, I wouldn't do this without her.

Chapter Eleven: Connections

BPOV

Once Alice yaps to Jean Luc about Jasper taking her to Paris in a few months, they put their heads together to meet up with Peter. I steal Edward away to my room while they go on and on about the details.

Once we enter my domain, I watch him take in my surroundings of lavender and lace. He runs his fingers over the top of my multitude of decorative pillows and turns to me. "You like pillows?"

I smile. "I like the way they look." I explain, "And they can be so comfortable while reading."

He nods.

Edward walks over to my desk, picking up framed photos of my mom and dad and one of Alice and Rose with crumbs in their hair and frosting smeared on their faces, throwing chocolate cake at one another in Alice's mother's kitchen.

He laughs, "Is this Rose?" He points to her in the picture.

"Yeah," I giggle. "Alice bought five different flavors of chocolate cake. We had tried all of them."

"What resulted in the cake fight?"

"Rose commented that she didn't like dark chocolate, and Alice threw a piece at her head. Well, Rose isn't one to back down." I shrug.

"You didn't participate?" he questions.

Shocked, I question with an open mouth, "How did you know that?"

"You aren't in the picture. I assume you took the photo."

"Yeah, when they started their free-for-all, I stepped back and grabbed my phone."

He smiles and softly praises, "Smart girl."

"My goal is not to get in the middle of one of their squabbles."

I sit on the edge of my bed, my eyes not leaving him.

Edward skims the deep purple, wrought iron bookshelves above my desk. They're sturdy lime green leaves and lilac flowers twist and turn within the long ivy design.

"I like these."

"Thank you."

"They match the colors of your bedding," he says.

"That's very observant of you."

"I like to think I pay attention to details."

His eyes shift to my window, taking in the scene of our neighbors. He mumbles, "That's interesting."

I giggle, "Yeah, I'm still wondering if they own any clothing."

"Are they always …" he fades.

I musically hum, "Pretty much."

"Do they know you can see them?" he asks in horror.

"Oh, I've been invited to join."

He playful ponders, "And you've declined?"

I bite my lip, roll my eyes, and huff a breath, "Many times."

He slowly sits next to me, takes my hand, and kisses my knuckles. "I like you."

My face betrays me and flushes a royal red. I look down at our hands. "I like you, too."

"May I kiss you?"

Smiling, I look up at him. "I wish you would."

He stares into my eyes, and it's The kind of stare that you look from eye to eye, as he's probing me from the inside out. "I just want to take this slow, okay?"

I nod because I can't utter a sound, although, my heart is beating like a bass drum in my chest. I think I hold my breath as he nears me.

"Stay still."

What, move? I can't.

He releases his hand from mine and cups my cheek. At first, he runs his thumb over my cheekbone around my jawline. His lean, long fingers trail down my neck and through the back of my hair as he draws me near him. His head tilts, his eyes close, but I watch as his mouth barely touches mine. It's a soft kiss. The pads of our lips lightly cover. He pecks a few times. He releases a sigh, smiles, and tenderly kisses me again. When he draws away, he looks pained. "I can't stay away from you, Bella."

And oh … my … God.

He kisses me with untamed passion, and I close my eyes. He's forceful but gentle. He's sexual but more sensual. He's needy but more wanting.

I push us onto our sides and follow his passionate lead. Climbing on top of him, I cradle his hips with mine. With heavy breaths, we kiss, moving our heads from side to side. I have no control, but I realize I want this man to be deep inside of me. I grind myself over his prominent erection.

I huff and stop.

I jump off him and back away from the bed, leaning against the wall, breathing heavily.

He sits up, apologizing.

I shake my head. "No, no, you have nothing to apologize for. I attacked you like an animal."

"We both got carried away, Bella." He pats the mattress. "Please, sit with me."

I sit, and he takes my hand. "You tell me what you want."

"I have never felt this way in my life before." I inhale and slowly exhale. "Edward, it was like when you react to an organism. You white-out, losing control over yourself and your head fills with euphoric pleasure, and it finally flows throughout your body. I'm a mess." I huff. "I could feel you."

He smiles. "Pent up sexual aggression."

I scoff, "You're telling me."

"But you're a virgin. How would you …"

"Edward, I can reach an organism by myself."

He blushes. "Ah, true." He clears his throat.

"You're blushing," I tease.

"Well, the thought of you … you know … is stimulating."

I stammer, "I-I-I get it."

"Look, Bella, I want to date you with no expectations of sleeping together. This …"

He points from me to him. "Is more than a physical attraction for me."

"Me, too," I barely whisper.

"We'll spend time together, get to know each other more, and when you're ready, we can slowly explore."

"Rose says that the norm is three to five dates."

He frowns. "For what?"

I elaborate, "To sleep together."

"I take it Rose is not a virgin."

"Oooooo, she would proudly tell you she's had her cherry plucked years ago, in those words."

"She sounds perfect for Emmett."

"Maybe, we really could introduce them?"

"Actually, he has a business dinner and wants me to attend as his plus-one. Maybe that would be a good time to get them together. He'd love to take Rose, and we could go, too."

"Our second date?"

He shakes his head. "No, it's not for another week. And until you tell me otherwise, I want to see you every day."

I shyly smile and bite my bottom lip. "I'd like that."

He squeezes my hand and kisses my nose. "I've got to go, though. Dale expects me at one, but I'll call you later."

EPOV

I now understand my father's words when he said, "I had a different step to my walk when I met your mother."

I actually don't feel the ground; I'm walking on cloud nine, maybe whistling. I'm thankful the cold softened my hard-on.

By the time I get to Dale's office, I'm calm yet smiling.

I find him reading, his sock-wearing feet on his desk crossed at the ankles. He doesn't like to have dirty heels near his work area.

I enter, and he quickly sits straight in his chair. "Edward."

"Professor."

"You have a shit-eating grin on your face."

"Actually, I have an elated, broad smile from ear to ear." I slink into the chair across from him.

He beams. "You called her?"

"I left a note in her book, asking her to call me. She did."

Dale smiles with his hands plastered to his cheeks. "You look as though the conversation was successful."

"It was better when we met."

He excitedly asks, "In person?"

"We had breakfast together … twice."

"Twice?"

"Once at the diner and again at her apartment."

He elongates, "Wooooow. It was that good."

"Dale, we met at the diner near her place, talked for over six hours, and I walked her home, meeting a very worried Alice at the door."

"Those two are thick as thieves."

"But everything was smoothed over, and I stayed for a French breakfast prepared by Alice's boyfriend."

"Well, that must have made things easier."

"Dale, we all hit it off."

He has this faraway, dramatic look, "Kismet."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Don't disbelieve, Edward. Rumi would have loved this. You were guided by the stars."

"My book made it into Alice's hand."

"Because she was guided."

I sigh. "I know, nothing is a coincidence."

"It's true. Everything happens for a reason." He points at me, scolding, "And don't disbelieve. Through the stars and heaven, Bella was presented to you. Kismet."

"My dad says that."

"And he's a man of science with a romantic heart. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

I concede, "You're right."

"So what's your plan on romancing her, Romeo?"

"I want her to call all the shots with no pressure."

"May I interject?"

"Go ahead. I know you want to guide me."

His pixie smile and twiddling fingers shout volumes. "Still try to be passionate with her. If you lay back and show no sexual interest, she'll believe you aren't attracted to her."

"But I said I would leave it up to her."

"Edward, you're a man. We think with our dicks, no matter how understanding we can be with a woman who has no experience. We still want to schtup* her."

I thoughtfully answer, "But I don't want that with Bella. She's a virgin."

He explodes, waltzing around the room, "Edward, Edward. Because she's a virgin, she'll be more sensitive. You have to remind her, of course, stating no pressure, that you want her. Let her see your hard-on."

I frown. "I'm not exposing myself."

"Of course not. You'll get raging ones. Just do a slight readjustment in front of her, so she knows you are excited with desire or press your cock close to her, so she feels you."

With widened eyes and a flush face, I rub the back of my neck. "You're getting carried away, Dale."

"I'm not. Take it from me; my wife never felt undesired. She wanted me from day one, as I wanted her."

"So, you rubbed yourself against her?" I chuckle.

"Not all the time, but she was quite aware when I was turned on. She liked it."

"But that's your wife. I don't believe Bella would feel that way."

"Trust me. Have a panting, makeout session, and she will be breathless."

I look him dead in the eyes. "She was."

"Did she back away?"

"Yeah."

"Aw, this is a good start."

"You think?"

"I know. I used to counsel sexually dysfunctional couples and the inexperienced."

"How do you mean counsel?"

"You know I'm a very progressive … teacher. Patients felt comfortable with my techniques, even when I observed."

I frown.

"Yes, Edward, I was a teaching voyeur." He laughs. "It was all clinical with controlled circumstances."

"Did you tape them?"

"Yes, it was for the patients to study. Self-porn is the best stimuli."

'Do tell."

"I had one woman who wouldn't perform fellatio on her husband. The thought of sucking his dick made her sick."

"You showed her blowjob porn."

"Nope, I did better. I decided to have another woman teach her to please her man."

I laugh. "A threesome?"

"Exactly."

"Did she do it?"

"Of course not. She didn't want any other woman touching her husband. Then, I showed her videos and told her to listen to her husband's wants. Two days later, she was sucking like a Hoover. That man thanked me a thousand times."

Hysterically laughing, I wipe the tears from my eyes. "You're so full of it."

Dale winks. "Think what you want, but it's the truth. You don't have to rub yourself all over Bella, but show her you care and want her. Buy her flowers. Tell her she looks beautiful. Caress her hand, play with her hair, and just touch her." He pauses. "Nowhere sexual, but gravitate into her energy, move when she moves, and allow love to cultivate."

"You sound like my dad. He does all those things."

"And your mother still swoons for him. Smart man. That's how you please a woman. I know he has told you many stories, but this time, really listen."

~IHW~

After my invigorating session with Dale, I drive home, take a shower, and call Bella. She agrees to an impromptu date of dinner and a movie. I laugh at her Rose quotes. Apparently, a man needs to ask a woman at least three days before the arranged date. Yeah, Emmett's going to fall hard for her. She's tough as nails and can repair and maintain any kind of vehicle - his dream woman.

Dressed in black jeans, a thick turtleneck sweater, and my black sheepskin jacket, I head out the door carrying two bouquets of flowers; red roses for Bella and yellow roses for Alice. Yeah, I'm going to do this right by my dad's advice.

Bella's less than a mile from me, and minutes later, I stand at her door with flowers in hand. It opens with Jasper and Alice readying to exist. Alice smiles. "Hey, Edward."

Jasper shakes my hand as I juggle the flowers.

Alice bounces. "You brought Bella flowers." She squeals.

I offer her the yellow roses. "These are for you."

"Oh, Edward, this is so sweet of you. Thank you." She hugs me. "Go on in. Oh, can I give these back to you so Bella can put them in water for me?"

"Sure."

"We're off to the store; Jasper's teaching me to bake baguettes … at his place. So, you and Bella will have some alone time."

I nod. "Okay."

Kidding, Jasper pats my shoulder. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Alice gives him a death stare. "You're not doing anything."

"I was only joking," Jasper pleads.

"I know you were." Alice kisses his cheek.

As they walk away, I enter the apartment. Bella stands near the hallway. My eyes travel up her high boots to her short skirt. Her lavender sweater snuggly fits her small waist and voluptuous breasts, and my mouth waters. Her hair is in a high ponytail, revealing her creamy, bare neck.

Bella approaches, taking her hand and closing my mouth. She kisses my cheek. "You okay?"

"Yeah. You look amazing." I bend to peck her lips and kiss her neck. "I could spend a lot of time in this position." But I step back and offer her the red roses. "For you."

She smells them. "They're beautiful. Thank you, Edward."

"Alice asked me to put her flowers in water."

"You brought her flowers, too?"

"Well, yeah, I have two ladies to impress."

She laughs. "You are a keeper."

"I hope so." I stare into her eyes. "May I kiss you?"

She places her flowers on the counter as I toss Alice's on an end table.

I close in our space, wrapping my arms around her waist, while she slides her hands into my hair. I kiss her gently on her neck, tightening my grip and letting her feel my attraction.

… She moans.

Do we think Edward has followed Dale and his dad's advice?

A/N: * schtup - fuck

A/N: Recs:

Micah by Jgaff

:/ s/ 13647650/1/ Micah

Delilah's Wish by RosieRathbone

:/ s/ 13773559/1/ Delilah-s-Wish

Redemption by IBACULLEN

:/ s/ 13737928/1/ Redemption

Pursuing the Proposal by LilJill4286

:/ s/ 13777520/1/ Pursuing-the-Proposal

I Put a Spell on You by addict-writer

:/ s/ 13722587/1/ I-Put-A-Spell-On-You

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/