Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Sixty-Seven

The smile on my face was involuntary as I heard the front door open and close.

"Honey, I'm home," Edward teasingly called out.

"You're too much," I claimed as I felt his presence behind me in the kitchen.

His arms wrapped around my waist and his head dipped over my shoulder to peek at what I was doing.

"You're cooking," he accused and pressed his lips against my neck.

"You're perceptive."

"You're cute. What are you making, anyway?"

"This," I stared at the ingredients on the counter, "is a 'thank you'."

"Looks more like chicken to me," Edward mumbled and let his lips resume their place on my neck.

"You're...distracting me," I muttered and safely set the knife on the counter before turning around.

"Okay. Well, I'll just be hanging out in the living room then. You know...not distracting you," he said before turning to walk out of the kitchen.

"Hey!" I grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled his body against mine.

Edward immediately gave in and laughed against my cheek. "I thought that might work. What'd you do today?"

"I unpacked a few things; washed your sheets; talked to Charlie; laughed at your DVD collection."

"Really?"

"Yep. I didn't know the movie Lassie ever made it to DVD."

"It's not mine; it's Emmett's." Edward rolled his eyes. "You talked to your dad? What did he say?"

"Well." I stared at Edward as his frantic eyes searched my face for any sign that I was upset. "Apparently Renee is still on his insurance. That's all one huge soap opera; I don't even want to ask. But I guess it's helpful because now she can afford to be in a private hospital in Seattle to receive the treatment she needs."

Edward thought for a moment while I turned my attention back to dinner.

"So, Charlie isn't going to take her in?" he asked while leaning against the counter next to me.

I kept my head down. "No."

"And neither are you," he stated rather than questioned.

"Right."

His fingers lightly ran down my back. "And you're okay with this decision?"

Nodding, I tapped the counter and said optimistically, "I think it will work out. She won't be in there forever; just long enough to let the medication stabilize her and go through therapy. Maybe by Thanksgiving she and Charlie will finally be able to be in the same room as one another."

Edward stared me down. "It's not going to be that easy, baby. I hope you know that."

"What do you mean?" I stopped what I was doing and stared questioningly.

"She's bipolar. Is she going to have regular therapy sessions? Will there be a case manager involved? When she's released, who is going to assure she is taking her medication regularly?"

"I don't...I don't know," I admitted as my face began to burn. "I don't really know much about all of that yet."

"I'm not trying to upset you," he whispered. "I think it's great. I really do. I just don't want you to have unrealistic hope, that's all."

"Unrealistic hope is better than no hope," I lied.

Edward tilted his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "The best way to deal with this is one day at a time. Just don't get ahead of yourself. I don't want to see you get hurt. That's all."

"I guess you're right," I mumbled. "It's a good thing I have you."

Edward laughed and pulled my arm so my body was against his.

"Good thing, right? How else would you watch Lassie on DVD?"

"I knew it was yours." My breath hitched as he cupped my face and kissed me softly.

I deepened the kiss that was meant to be sweet and ran my hands through his hair.

"Do you need help finishing dinner?" he mumbled as I moaned.

"No."

"Do you need help with something else?" he smirked. I pulled at his shirt and he let out a throaty laugh. "I'll take that as a yes."

Edward's hands ran down my back, cupping my ass and pulling my body against his. His teeth nipped at my ear and along my jaw, creating goosebumps to appear on my arms.

"I love the way you taste," he said with hooded eyes.

"I love you," I confessed as he slowly pulled down my shorts and lifted me onto the opposite counter.

He stood between my legs, slowly trailing his fingers along my upper thigh.

I was throbbing and waiting as he teased, touched every place except the one I needed.

"Edward."

His grin was evil as he finally slipped two fingers into me, causing me to moan and pull him closer. While his fingers pumped in and out, I frantically worked to unbuckle his belt. He laughed against my lips and used his other hand to help remove the belt.

"Having a little trouble?" he teased as his pants fell to the ground.

"I'm having ah-" I panted. "A little trouble focusing."

"Why?" he smirked and curled his fingers, causing me to squirm on the counter.

"You-"

"Come here," he commanded and I slid closer to the edge of the counter.

Edward whispered he loved me and pushed into me, groaning at the contact.

My legs wrapped around his waist and kept him still, inside me.

"You're too good," he moaned and pushed and pulled painfully slow. "You feel too good, baby."

I could only agree with labored breaths.

"You," Edward said. "Don't-"

"I'm here. I'm here," I groaned against his chin as he wrapped his hands around the back of my neck.

I could feel myself begin to tense and Edward brought his hands between us to rub where I needed him to.

My nails dug into his neck as I cried out, moaned my release.

Edward's pace sped up and when I opened my eyes, he was staring at my face.

I covered his mouth with mine and tightened my legs, pulling him harder as he groaned, hands sliding up under my shirt before he dropped his head against my chest and cried out.

I stayed put on the counter as he caught his breath.

"That was-" he tried saying, then stopped.

His lips found mine as he pulled out.

"Maybe we can go out to eat," he commented as he handed me my shorts and helped me off the counter.

"Don't distract me next time and dinner will be ready on time," I quipped, pulling my shorts on.

Edward ran a hand over his mouth. "You aren't upset, are you?"

"Uh..."

"About not getting your hopes up."

"Oh." I pulled my hair out of my face. "No. You're right."

"I'm not trying to be right." He smirked.

"First time a man has ever uttered those words..." I laughed and I smiled at the sight of his hair

Even if he wasn't trying to be right- he was.

I appreciated his honesty and his trying to keep me grounded.

And the counter sex was pretty nice, too.

A/N: Guess who is stopping by tomorrow? I'll give you a hint- her name rhymes with 'malice'. That was a twofer because the definition fits the name as well! See, I can be nice.

Thanks for reading.

(for those who I know will question their, uh... safety: Bella has insurance. we can assume she's on BC. or if you're really into details, maybe Edward had an accident while playing soccer his senior year of high school. maybe someone (Mike Newton, jersey #27) kicked the wrong ball, if you will. maybe Edward is now sterile. idk. just...don't ask. if you don't want to use your imagination, I will come up with creepy stuff like this and you will forever regret it. thank you!)