AN:

Happy Friday!

BPOV

"This is torture," Edward groaned, letting his head fall back, but his hands moved to grip my waist.

"It's just flirting," I teased. In all seriousness, I had a feeling Edward, when he found the confidence, would be an effortless and extremely successful flirter. The man had everything going for him, aesthetically, and I was so desperate to see that deeper, more confident side of him that maybe I was pushing him too far, too fast.

I was just as out of my depth as he was, flying by the seat of my pants and making these lessons up as I went. I didn't know what I was doing any more than he did. But hell, I didn't want him to hate what I was attempting to teach.

Sighing, I took a step back, smiling softly, trying to reassure him when he finally looked down at me. "Come on," I said, taking his hand and pulling him along the sidewalk.

"Where are we going?" he asked, falling into step beside me, not letting my hand drop. Despite my initial discomfort, I indulged him, keeping our fingers twined.

"Back to my place, somewhere relaxing where we can … talk."

I didn't miss the quick, nervous glance he shot my way. Jesus, I was really doing a number on him. He needed to relax.

The walk to my apartment wasn't long, nor did we talk much. Once inside, I flicked the lights on and headed straight to the fridge to grab two beers.

"Stop looking so nervous." My tone was playful, but I hated that he was this way. Handing him a beer, I walked straight to the sofa and threw myself down, watching him in my periphery as he sat close, only a foot of space between us. He said nothing, staring straight ahead, tentatively taking a drink. "What is it you want, Edward?" I asked, turning to face him, pulling one of my legs onto the sofa and tucking my foot under my other knee.

His brows dipped again and he pursed his lips. "What do you mean?"

"From this." I waved my hand between us. "What is it you want? I thought you wanted lessons in all things sexual, but—"

"I do," he cut in, his eyes wide. "I really do, I just …"

"What?"

"I'm not outgoing; I'm not happy-go-lucky. It's hard and I tend to panic."

I nodded and scooted a little closer. "You didn't like the girl at the bar?" He shook his head in the negative. "Why not? She was cute."

He shrugged, looking down at his beer nervously. "She was fine, I guess."

"You can't flirt with a girl you're not attracted to?"

He looked up at me then, rolling his lips into his mouth and frowning. "You can?"

I shrugged. Truthfully, I flirted with everyone. It was just who I am. But I could see Edward wasn't the same, nor would it be fair to try to make him as such. "There's no harm in flirting, especially if you're just practicing. It's not like you have to fuck the other person."

He flinched a little, but nodded. "Got it."

"I get it though. I learned something about you tonight that I hadn't considered." He looked puzzled, and hella worried about what I was going to say, which made me chuckle. "You need the connection, the feelings. You're one of those good guys. I don't know many of them, so …" I raised one of my shoulders to my cheek. That was all I could say without making myself uncomfortable. The guys I knew were Edward's complete opposite.

But sex and no-strings, I could do.

I just hoped he could do the same because I was not the girl Edward could ever take back to Mommy and Daddy. And besides, he was promised to someone else, no matter how fucking archaic and weird that thought was. If he didn't care, it wasn't my place to care either.

"So," I continued, smiling wide, biting into my bottom lip, laying it on thick. I think I fluttered my eyelashes too. "You like me?" He gulped and nodded. "You're attracted to me?" Again he nodded. "Circle of trust." I drew a circle around us with my hands. "No shame, no pressure. Flirt with me, Edward."

His inhale was deep, as though he was psyching himself up to dive from the highest board. "Where do I start?" he asked, clearing his throat.

"Pretend you don't know me. You've never seen me before. Just go with it. Be yourself and make my heart flutter."

He looked down at his beer, thoughtful and dejected. "If I'm being myself, your heart won't flutter."

Oh, he had no idea. I didn't tell him that he made my heart flutter without doing a single thing. I couldn't. Instead, I leveled him with an incredulous gaze. "We're going to work on your self-esteem, but first … talk to me like you want to see me naked."

He blushed and it was singlehandedly the cutest fucking thing I'd ever seen. I had to physically restrain myself from leaning forward, grabbing the neckline of his shirt and pulling him to me, over me … onto me.

"I want you," I told him truthfully, my voice subdued and throaty, breathless. His eyes widened. "You don't need to worry about making a fool of yourself because I can assure you, it won't make me want you any less."

"Can't I just kiss you then?" His tone was whiny, a little bratty, and I laughed, loudly.

"No. That will be your reward."

He whimpered. The man whimpered and my panties were wet. God, I wish there was a way I could show him without freaking him out.

No one warned me how much work this would be.

"Edward," I whispered. "Look at me." He obeyed, his green eyes bright and so alive, his expression nervous and timid. "Picture the scene: I've just come to stand next to you at the bar. I smile and say, hey."

Clearing his throat, he took a sip of his drink before playing along. "Hey."

I waited, trying not to laugh and make him squirm, but I couldn't help it. It got awkward fast, which only made the situation more hilarious. Opening his mouth, he quickly thought better of whatever it was he was going to say and closed it again.

"Well, have a good night!" I stood up, placed my beer on the coffee table and made to walk past him. Quick as a flash, he moved, stopping me with his hand, his fingers wrapping around my wrist.

"What? Where are you going?"

I shrugged. "You didn't seem interested, so …"

"I am," he argued.

"Show me." For all the confidence he lacked, he seemed to find some in that moment, from somewhere. He pulled me by my wrist, powerful and sure in his movement, and before I could blink, I was in his lap. "Well, shit," I managed to say through a gasp. "That'll do it."

He smiled, the right side of his mouth lifting a little more than the left. "Yeah?"

I nodded. "But don't be doing that to random girls in a bar—it'll get weird fast."

"I don't want to do it to random girls in a bar. Just you."

"I'm flattered." I tried to keep my voice even, but it sounded breathy, even to my ears. "You must say that to all the girls."

"What other girls?" With every word spoken, our faces moved closer together.

Biting my lip, I ran my hands up his chest slowly, feeling how muscular his body was. "Good answer."

"All I see is you." He dipped his head and placed a light kiss on my jaw, making my breath hitch. "In that bar, I couldn't concentrate on Jenna because all I could think about was you." His lips moved to my neck, a soft kiss against heated flesh at my pulse point.

"Fuck."

"Not yet," he said, working back upward, running his nose along my cheekbone.

"You're doing it," I whispered, my eyes closing and my head falling back. "You're flirting."

"Am I?"

I nodded, lifting my head, raising my hands to cup his face. "You're acing it." His answering smile was wide and adorably proud. I couldn't take it anymore; I closed the distance and crashed my lips to his, enjoying the groan that reverberated through his throat when I shifted closer, feeling his erection through his jeans, right between my legs.

This boy was going to be the death of me.

AN:

Mel is a machine! Drabbles aren't the most convenient fics to beta. Sometimes I'm sending her chapters the night before they will be posted and she always takes a moment to go over them for me.

Absolute superstar! I love you, Mel!

Thanks for reading! A few of you didn't much like Bella after the last chapter, but remember, she's never been in this situation before either. She has no idea what she's doing.

I'll 'see' you tomorrow for another update :)