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How bad would it be if she just said fuck it and went out there and kissed Edward? Why shouldn't she? He'd been inches from her face, and that look in his eyes was begging for it.

'Because he is your fucking stepbrother,' her conscious whispered.

Aggravated, Bella punched her pillow. She needed to sleep this buzz off and forget all that muscle next door. Heat swam in rivers through her body, and something needed to be done about it.

He had a fucking girlfriend. She had a fake boyfriend.

Leave it alone, Bella, she told herself, even as the hum of desire had been reawakened.

As much as she told herself to stay abed, Bella stumbled to her feet. Despite the swimming going on in her mind, her stomach rumbled with hunger. Some early morning, late-night breakfast sounded too good to ignore.

Yeah—stop lying to yourself. The only reason she was leaving her room was to see if she could catch a glimpse of the forbidden. Edward fucking Cullen.

No matter how wrong it was or inappropriate, she wanted to see him. She wanted to feel that amazing thrill when he looked at her. With this thought in mind, Bella threw her hair into a ponytail and pulled on her leggings. She could simply put an end to the burn consuming her with the vibrator she had tucked in her suitcase.

Why was she torturing herself with something she couldn't have? Who said she couldn't have it? The look in Edward's eyes at that bar contradicted that theory. That wicked, naughty look said she could have whatever she wanted.

Bella groaned with indecision as she stepped out into the hall. Was Tanya's bitch ass still here? She was tempted to stomp over to his room and find out. Forcibly, Bella moved away from his door and shuffled quietly to the kitchen.

She pulled the eggs and bacon from the fridge and grabbed two skillets from the rack. The butter she slapped in the pan had just started to sizzle when she heard a noise behind her. The jolt of awareness jogging up her spine told her Edward now stood in the kitchen … mere inches away.

Edward had spent the last four years resisting this socially viewed illicit draw to Bella. Even now, he tried to deny the pull that had him slipping from his bed when he'd heard her come out of her room. Now, he stood several inches behind her and became intrigued by the creature before him; he followed the trail of her spine from the top of her neck to her trim hips.

If he'd met her before his father had met her mother, there would be no hesitation about giving in to this yearning burning in his gut. Of course, he needed to take his eyes off her ass, which was enhanced by the leggings she wore, yet it was proving easier said than done.

After all, he'd tried everything to push her from his mind. Edward had spent almost two years angry with her for being who she was—which wasn't her fault at all. Then last six months he'd spent in a semi-fake relationship. Honestly, he was on the verge of saying fuck it and kissing her again.

Maybe he was imagining how he felt in his mind to be something so much better than it really was. Perhaps, if he just shoved his tongue down her throat, he'd realize he didn't want her. Bullshit, his mind contradicted as a growl rumbled from his chest, and that magnetic pull drew him closer to her.

Bella stiffened with the spatula in hand, knowing without looking, Edward stood mere inches away now, but she didn't look; she didn't have to. The zing of chemistry snapped and crackled between them. Heat emanated from his muscular form, and her skin tingled. Praying for control, Bella tried to be as calm as possible as Tanya's perfect, bitchy ass came to mind. "Is your girlfriend sleeping? I swear if she says one more thing to me, I will punch her straight in the mouth."

Edward withheld the smile at that statement, his fingers curling to keep from reaching for her. "I sent her to the hotel. After you left your handprint on her face, I didn't trust bringing her home."

Bella's eyebrow lifted as she returned his stare. "You didn't go with her?"

"Nah," Edward murmured, coming up alongside her; he folded his arms over his chest as he leaned his weight into the counter. "Had other things on my mind."

Bella watched the pulse throb in his jugular and had to wonder how his skin tasted. With a great deal of effort, Bella pulled her eyes from the thump in his vein to focus on the food before her. "What kinda things?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Bella shot Edward a glare as he tossed her statement from earlier back at her. A quiver coursed down her spine, and her fingers trembled as she scooped the eggs from the skillet onto her plate.

If she gave in and told him she did, she was admitting this unhealthy obsession she endured. Was she ready to do that? Did she want to forsake everything and tell Edward—tell him about her crush? Another tingle slipped over her skin when he bumped into her with his shoulder.

"Don't leave me in suspense," he whispered, leaning closer. "Do you want to know?"

Her brain was screaming no, and her body was demanding satisfaction. What the fuck was a girl to do?

Edward was standing so close she could feel his breath on her shoulder, and each gust of air sent a shot of euphoria straight to her belly. Bella pointed to her plate, husky quality to her tone as she said, "I think I'll just eat and go back to bed."

"Alone?"

Bella was stuck to the floor beneath her feet. The thrill that question inspired went straight to her core. Gulping, her hand shook as she grabbed her plate and headed to the stool next to the island, doing her utmost to ignore the fever covering her skin. Mocking him, she lifted her chin with an arrogant air. "Is Demetri here?"

Edward smirked as he trailed her to the bar, slipping onto the stool next to her. Taking a piece of bacon from her plate, he snapped off the end with sharp teeth and chewed vigorously. "I wish he were. I'd have the distinct pleasure in putting my knuckles right in his teeth."

His gaze narrowed when a light chuckle erupted from her throat, and she shook her head. He barely refrained from pushing the hair from her eyes.

"Why would you do that? He's a good guy," Bella shrugged, unable to meet his eyes as she spoke. Shoveling a mouthful of eggs between her teeth, she tried to ignore the awareness, causing her gut to clench. "You'd like him."

Edward scoffed with an air of annoyance. Shaking his head, he leaned closer; he watched her chew the bite. "I don't think I would."

Bella turned her attention to the plate, unable to maintain eye contact. His eyes were popping with just enough anger to leave her wondering. The fucking eggs sliding down her throat nearly choked her as his steely voice cut through the tension clinging to the air. "Why not? He's handsome, sweet … has a 4.0 GPA. My mother said he sounds perfect."

"Can't be too perfect if he left you here alone to run off to Italy," Edward stated as Bella listed all of her boyfriend's fantastic qualities. Every single one of them made Edward hate a dude he'd never even met. If she was really hung up on this guy, what the fuck was he even doing? He should just go back to fucking bed, or hell, just find Tanya and rage fuck her until he forgot all about Bella. Even as this thought came to mind, and he considered doing just that, his face came within an inch of hers. "Is that what we're going to do? Dance around the real issue and pretend it doesn't exist?"

Bella's breath faltered. "What issue?" She regretted the words as soon as they left her lips. It was far too late, however, because Edward moved faster than she'd thought possible. Instead of questioning her over that ridiculous response, he angrily left the kitchen. No longer hungry, Bella shoved the plate away. "Fuck."


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