17

5:46 a.m.

Bella climbs off of me, still almost naked, and offers me a hand. I gaze up at her trying to take her all in. She's athletic; the muscles in her legs, stomach, and arms are nicely toned. She's not tan, so I can't imagine she runs outside. I wonder if she's a gym person or a do-it-yourselfer.

"Aren't you coming?"

I blink and realize she's been offering me a hand and I've just been staring at her like a dumbass. I chuckle and take her hand, pulling myself off the sofa.

"Sorry," I chuckle. "I got caught up in the view."

She gazes down her own body as if looking for what could have distracted me.

"Are you a Batman fan?"

I smirk as she leads me out of the living room, her hand entangled in mine.

"He's all right. A little broody for my taste."

Bella giggles.

"His brooding totally makes him hot."

I shake my head, letting out a short laugh as she leads me into her room. It's cluttered but not messy. It's clear she's comfortable here. There are posters and photos on the walls and two bookcases stuffed full to the brim. There are a couple of empty beakers on her desk, and a lab coat draped over the back of her chair.

Her bed is unmade, but the darkness of the sheets and the fluffiness of the pillows makes it inviting.

Bella stops by her bed, turning to look at me. She looks suddenly unsure, and I'm not sure if it's because we've made such a big fucking deal out of everything or if she really is having second thoughts.

I reach out, my free hand coming up to cup her jaw. My thumb brushes over her cheek, trailing down to catch her full bottom lip.

"We can stop," I whisper, making sure to make eye contact with her. "If you tell me you've had second thoughts, I'll walk out right now. No hard feelings."

She lets out a small breath.

"It's not that," she says, shaking her head slowly. "Though your stance on consent is very hot."

I smile a little and rub my thumb over her lip again, waiting for her to speak. She takes a minute then takes a deep breath.

"I sorta have this pattern," she says softly. I watch her, waiting patiently for her to elaborate. "My dad and I don't get along very well. He's sort of an ass, and I've never lived up to his stupid ideas for my future." She rolls her eyes. "We've been feuding for most of my teenage and adult life, and because of that…" her voice trails off. I push my hand back up her cheek, brushing the hair away from her face. Her eyes find mine again. "I tend to sleep with people that I can use to piss him off."

Her honesty is surprising, and I freeze, not sure how to take this information.

"So I'm…" My voice trails off.

Bella shakes her head. "No, that's what I'm trying to make sure. Because I think you might be the first guy I sleep with because I actually want to for my own reasons, not because I can use you to get to my dad."

I stare at her, trying to take everything in.

"Thank you," I say after a minute. "For your honesty."

She reaches up, bringing our hands that are still entangled together up to her lips. She presses a kiss to the back of my hand, her eyes meeting mine.

"I don't want this… whatever it is or could be… to start with anything other than a guy and a girl and pancakes and bad karaoke and a desire for a lot more of all of it."

Her words send a thrumming through my body, and I lean down, capturing her lips with mine. Our hands let go of each other as my palms shift to hold her face.

"I like it," I tell her, breaking the kiss. "I like all of it."

She smiles up at me, and then she's leaning up, kissing me harder.

"I like you, Officer Sexy," she says, her voice light with a giggle as she whispers against my lips. I grin, pulling back from her a little.

"I like you too, Mad Scientist."