Hello, and welcome to The Date: Part 2. Bella has invited Edward back to her place for dessert.

Thanks to everyone who continues to read and review, I'm honestly blown away by how many of you keep coming back for every new chapter. So, let's see how the evening progresses, yes?

Normally I really liked Jeep Wranglers, but at the moment I was cursing the fact that Edward drove one because he had to keep switching gears in the traffic, and that meant I couldn't hold his hand. He caught my pout and laughed when I admitted the reason for it.

"My car's an automatic, just saying," I offered, really hoping there would be another date, another chance to be with him like this.

"Good to know," he replied with that sexy grin that made my stomach flip-flop. Being so physically close to him all night had my senses in overdrive.

We pulled up to Luxe and I directed him to a spot that was normally reserved for Emmett when he came. After parking, Edward walked around and opened my door, taking my hand to help me down once more.

"Better?" he asked, lacing his fingers through mine.

"Much," I agreed. It really was.

My doorman, Billy, greeted us as we entered the building.

"Good evening, Ms. Swan, Detective."

"Evening, Billy," I replied and Edward tipped his head in a nod.

In the lobby, I could see Jake behind the reception desk, but I knew he would be leaving soon and that Alec would be covering the next shift. Jake, of course, noticed our joined hands and raised an eyebrow at me, but didn't say anything as we passed by on our way to the elevators. I rolled my eyes at him behind Edward's back, knowing there would be an inquisition soon.

We entered the elevator and Edward watched as I pressed my finger to the print scanner and then entered a six digit code on the touch pad. The code was new, a security measure that both Jake and Emmett insisted upon.

"Man, I wish we knew how Chaser overrode your system. I really hate loose ends," Edward grumbled as the elevator rose. "Cyber Squad is still working on it, though."

"Maybe we'll never know," I said with a shrug. "I mean, James is dead and he's not coming back. The entire security system has been updated and overhauled, and I feel safe in my building. Honestly, I'm just trying to put it all behind me."

He squeezed my hand once more with a warm smile, and then the elevator dinged as we arrived at my floor.

I unlocked the door and disengaged the alarm system, then tossed my keys and wallet onto the foyer table while Edward closed and re-locked the door behind us. Ginger and Mary Ann came running when they heard us and demanded attention, which we of course gave them. Silly girls.

"So, dessert?" I asked, laughing at the way Mary Ann kept weaving herself through Edward's long legs.

"Not quite yet. I'd actually really like the grand tour now, if that's okay?" he replied, taking my hand once more.

"Absolutely."

I led Edward through my home in a leisurely circuit, pointing out all of the features that I especially liked. When we arrived in my bedroom, he let out a low whistle.

"Whoa, that's one heck of a bed, Bella."

I smiled, feeling my cheeks get warm.

"Yeah, yeah. I might have gone just a bit overboard with that," I admitted. "But, it's seriously worth every penny I paid, like sleeping on a cloud."

"I can feel you in this room," he said, after looking around at everything. "It even smells like you in here."

"Really?" I laughed. "And what do I smell like?"

"Soft," he replied, taking a step closer, his green eyes holding my gaze. He dipped his head and ran his nose up the side of my jaw, taking in a breath. "Fresh." The side of my throat was bathed in heat as he exhaled, making me shiver the tiniest bit. "And something sweet."

"Peaches," I whispered unsteadily. "I like peaches."

"It's delicious," he murmured. "But, there's something else. Something that's just. . . Bella."

He stepped back and I blinked at him a bit dazedly.

"Show me the rest?" He tugged my hand gently.

I nodded and led him from my bedroom.

Even though I was used to it, I had to admit it was a heck of a view as we stepped out onto the terrace. It was a clear autumn night and the full moon and stars were shining bright above the lights of downtown.

"Wow!" Edward exclaimed as we reached the perimeter wall and he leaned over. "See, now this is definitely where I would be spending most of my time. This is amazing!"

"I do spend a lot of time out here," I admitted. "I like to read, or do yoga, or just get away by myself to think, ya know? It's my escape from the real world when things get hectic. Wanna know what I like the best, though?"

"What's that?"

I led him to the decorative screen and around the edge of it so he could see my little private oasis. He grinned appreciatively.

"Maybe next time I'll bring my suit, huh?"

A wet, slippery, half naked Edward?

Oh yes please!

"Any time," I told him.

"So, I think I might be ready for that dessert now. How about you?"

"Sure thing. Do you want to have it out here? It's a nice night."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"Do you still want to share?" I asked as we made our way back inside to the kitchen. I grabbed a bowl from the cabinet beside the sink. "Or do you want your own?"

"I want to share with you, Bella."

And cue the freaking butterflies. What was it about the way this man simply said my name that affected me so?

I chatted a little bit about Mrs. Mavis as I took the cover off the baking dish and scooped a portion into the bowl.

"Um, warmed with ice cream?" I asked.

"Is there any other way, really?" he replied, which made me giggle and agree.

Thirty seconds in the microwave, a heaping scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, and we were soon seated close together on the outdoor love-seat with two spoons.

"Wow, that's really delicious," Edward said after his first bite.

"Right? And this is my second helping today! I already had some when she first brought it over this afternoon." I ate a spoonful and moaned at the sweet combination of apple, cinnamon, and ice cream. "She's an amazing cook, and I think I've gained ten pounds since she started working for me. My thighs definitely have a love-hate relationship with her desserts."

Edward's gaze raked over me, lingering on my aforementioned thighs for a few moments. My heart thudded heavily in my chest; I could almost feel the weight of his heated perusal.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," he finally said with a slow smile, before taking another bite of the sweet dessert.

We finished the apple crumble and Edward set the bowl and spoons aside and then leaned back in the love seat. His arm curved around my shoulders and I snuggled into his side. It was so nice to just sit with him like this, to breathe in his warm scent and feel his solid body next to me. Neither of us spoke for a long while, and I liked that we didn't feel the need to fill the quiet with words. It wasn't awkward; we were just content to be. His fingertips traced lazy circles on my arm and I was practically on the verge of purring.

"Edward?" I finally broke the silence, yet didn't lift my head from where it rested against his shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"If I. . . if we hadn't ran into each other in my office the other night. . . Would you have eventually called me?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation in his answer. "Like I said, I did fight it for a while. I didn't think that after everything you had been through I had any right to feel what I was feeling. But, I just couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop thinking about you. Seeing you in your office was the perfect opportunity to tell you how I felt. Of course, we know how that turned out."

I laughed, remembering his confessions in the coffee shop.

"But, yes, Bella. I absolutely planned on getting in touch with you. I really wanted to see if you were feeling what I was. I wanted to see if this had a chance of going anywhere."

"I thought about calling you," I admitted softly. "I kept second-guessing myself, though. I didn't even know if you were married or had a girlfriend. And then I wasn't sure that if I did ask you out, you would only say yes out of sympathy or some sense of obligation because of the way that we met."

Edward shifted, turning to face me more squarely, and I raised my head to meet his gaze. His green eyes were as intense as always, but tempered with something so tender that my breath caught in my throat. His hand came up and cradled my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin gently.

"I hate that we had to meet the way we did," he said softly. "I hate what you went through. You've shown me how remarkably strong you are, but I still hate it. However, my reaction to you would have been exactly the same if we had met anywhere else. If I'd seen you in the park, or on the beach, or even at Garrett's wedding, I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from talking to you. I would have done everything in my power to convince the prettiest girl I'd ever seen to give me a chance."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Edward gently pressed his thumb there, stopping my words.

"But, we didn't meet at a park or a beach. Instead, I was called to the hospital to interview a victim. An innocent woman who had lived through a nightmare. Stepping into that room. . . seeing you there in the hospital bed, listening to all of the details and watching you re-live it all? My heart broke for you. I was so angry at Chaser, and I was thrilled that he was dead, that you wouldn't have to worry about him ever again. After leaving that night, I found myself thinking about you constantly and wondering how you were doing. I felt this. . . I don't know how to describe it, like a pull towards you. And it's only gotten stronger. Each time we meet, I feel it growing."

I puckered my lips and pressed them against his thumb.

"I feel it, too," I whispered.

"I'm gonna kiss you, Bella."

I met him halfway,

Edward's mouth covered mine and I swear my whole body tingled in relief of finally –finally! -getting to feel what I'd only dreamed of up until now. My hands dove into his hair to tug him even closer and I opened my lips with a whimper. His tongue pressed into my mouth, sliding against mine, and he tasted like cinnamon, and I couldn't get enough. Edward's kisses were deep and slow, pulling me under until my senses were swimming in a whirlwind haze where only he existed. His tongue wrapped around mine with gentle pressure, urging me into his mouth, and I eagerly followed, the pulsing ache between my thighs growing stronger with each taste of him. He sucked on my bottom lip, bit it gently, and I shuddered in response.

Reality was so much better than anything my mind had conjured up.

His soft lips traveled from my mouth to my ear. "I've imagined kissing you at least a thousand times," he murmured, his breath warm and teasing. Goosebumps erupted across my body

"Oh, God, me too," I admitted.

"Tell me," he coaxed, kissing me deeply once more. His tongue filled my mouth and I sighed, pressing as close to him as I could. His hands slid around to my back and up over my spine until he wrapped his long fingers over the tops of my shoulders. My nipples hardened almost painfully against the firm wall of his chest and I couldn't stop the moan that escaped. Edward's lips traveled across my skin; they ghosted over my cheeks, my forehead, my chin. His jaw was slightly abrasive with the beginning of beard stubble and the friction was delicious.

His voice was rough, his breath unsteady as he again urged me to share my secrets."Tell me, Bella."

"I d-dream of you," I confessed shakily. I knew it was probably crazy to tell him that, but he'd been so open and honest with me that I felt I could be brave and admit the truth. "Lately, it's been almost every night."

Edward stilled for a moment, then pulled back to meet my eyes. His hand once more came up and cupped my cheek, and my own hand covered it, anchoring his warm skin to me.

"What do you dream?" he asked huskily, leaning in to brush his lips oh so softly against mine.

"So many things," I told him, tilting my head and rubbing my cheek against his calloused palm. I turned and pressed my mouth to his fingertips. Edward curved his other hand around my neck, sliding his fingers into my hair, tugging gently while his eyes gazed steadily into my own.

"I dream of kissing you," I whispered. "Touching you. I dream of us making love."

My mouth was crushed against his in a heartbeat, and his strong arms encircled me. Before I knew what was happening, he had shifted and turned us so that I straddled his lap. I moaned when I felt the hard, heated, length of his erection pressing into me as I settled onto his thighs. Edward's hands were in my hair, holding me still for his complete possession of my mouth, and I loved every fucking second of it. My fingers dug into his shoulders and I hung on for dear life as he kissed me deeply, the sinuous rhythm of his tongue utterly seductive. I couldn't stop my hips from rolling against him, and the breath caught in my throat as his hardened cock nestled right up to my throbbing sex.

"I've thought about all of that, too," he murmured huskily when our lips finally parted. One of his hands remained tangled in my hair and the other dropped to wrap around my waist, pulling me even closer to him. "I want all of that, too."

"Tell me," I whispered, echoing his earlier plea.

"I want to find all of your softest places and claim them with my tongue." He pressed a tender kiss to my neck. "I want to discover exactly how sweet you taste everywhere, and I want your mouth all over me." Now his lips were on my collarbone, his tongue traveling across my skin. "I want to hear you say my name when I'm inside you." His mouth claimed mine once more in a brief, scorching kiss as his hand dropped to the curve of my hip. He pressed me down against him, his arousal unmistakable, and we both moaned. "I want to fuck you until you scream." The fingers in my hair gently tugged, pulling my head to the side so his mouth could travel to my ear. He bit my earlobe softly and I trembled.

"I want to make you as crazy as you make me, Bella."

I groped blindly between us, lifting his hand from my waist and holding it against my left breast, urging him to discover for himself how wildly my heart was hammering. His eyes rose to mine, the green almost glowing like emerald embers in a fire. My nipple was achy and hypersensitive beneath his palm.

"Feel what you do to me," I whispered.

His hand pressed more firmly, cradling my breast, his thumb brushing over the peak. I whimpered and his lips found mine again.

"I do," he murmured into my mouth. "I feel you, angel."

My heart trembled at his tender words.

"I want all of it, too, Edward."

"Bella. . ."

His voice trailed off and he dropped his forehead to my shoulder. His chest moved against me with deep breaths, warm and fluttering on my neck with each exhale. He untangled his hand from my hair and slid it around my hip, while the other stayed where it was, cupping my breast. I anchored both of my hands into his hair and cradled him to me, pressing my lips to the top of his head and breathing in the scent of him.

Despite the fact that only moments ago we were making out like horny teenagers, this moment was so achingly intimate. I could feel my connection to him in a way that had never been so present with anyone else. Edward was so warm and solid and strong in my embrace, and I was scared to say a word and break the bubble of newfound awareness that now surrounded us.

I felt his lips against my collarbone, soft and tender. They pressed a series of sweet kisses across my skin and I shivered. He finally pulled back and lifted his head to gaze at me. I looked back at him with a small smile, my fingers still stroking through his hair.

"Bella, I want to tell you something," he said, his hands now moving around my ribs and up my back then down again before settling on my waist. I regretfully withdrew my fingers from his hair, restlessly rubbing them on my thighs. Even though the tone of his voice didn't really alarm me, it was pretty hard to concentrate on a conversation when all I wanted to do was touch him.

Edward, however, was having none of that. He grasped my hands, kissed the knuckles of each of them before he slid them up his chest and back around his neck, keeping me as close to him as possible. His arms encircled me once more and I laced my fingers together behind his shoulders as I waited for him to speak.

"Tonight has been. . . well, pretty fucking perfect," he told me with a grin that caused my heart to thump inside my chest.

"I think so, too," I murmured.

"Hearing you say that makes me very happy. I've honestly never felt a connection like this, so instant and . . . well, powerful. The physical chemistry is, of course, incredible, but I'm also talking about getting to know you as a person, the real you, hearing about all of the experiences that have shaped your life. And I love letting you see the parts of me that I really don't show anyone else. It's new for me, but I'm astonished at how easy it is to open up to you." Edward leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine softly, once, then again, before pulling back. "Having said all of that, it makes what I'm about to say next really. . .difficult."

I simply raised my eyebrow at him, waiting for more of an explanation. He blew out a big breath.

"I don't think we should sleep together tonight."

"You don't?"

I felt undeniable disappoint bloom in my chest. He must have seen the emotion cross my face because his hands came up and cradled my cheeks, giving me no choice but to look him right in the eyes.

"Make no mistake, angel, there is nothing I want more right now than to take you to that enormous bed and spend hours making your body come alive. I want you so fucking badly I can barely see straight."

"Do you think it's too soon? You aren't rushing me, Edward. I want you just as much," I told him honestly. I knew making love with him would never be a mistake, or anything I ever regretted.

"I love hearing you say that," he said, kissing me softly. "But, I'm a selfish creature, Bella. I want to take my time, I want to get lost in you for as long as it takes to learn every single secret your body will give to me. The thought of making love to you and then having to leave because I need to be up by sunrise to start my shift tomorrow? I can't do it."

"So, what do we do?" I asked softly. The images his words provoked danced through my head and I leaned forward, needing to be closer. He tucked me under his chin, his arms wrapped securely around me.

"My work schedule can be challenging, as you can probably guess" he began. "On paper, I work nine hour shifts, nine out of ten weekdays, with most weekends off. But, things come up. Like yesterday being Sunday, I technically had the day off, but still got called away from the coffee, because there was a break in one of the cases I'm working. Same thing with Saturday, after the wedding. It happens. I work overtime, far more than I'd like to. This week my shift is six am to three pm, but today I didn't actually end up leaving the station until about four-thirty. When I'm on call, there are times I will have to go at a moments notice. I just. . . I wish. . ."

I lifted my head to look at him when he stopped speaking.

"What is it?" I whispered.

"I just want you to know that I'm willing, angel. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. But, I need you to understand up front that it won't be easy, or normal-"

"Edward," I interrupted. "You're forgetting who I am. I've never had "normal" and I don't want it. My hours can be erratic as well. I know there will be times that we don't see each other as much as we'd like, but nothing you are telling me comes as any great surprise. I'm willing, too. So, we take this one day at a time, okay?"

He nodded and pulled me in once again. I snuggled into his chest and just reveled in the feeling of being so close.

"You're an amazing woman, Bella Swan," he murmured against the top of my head.

"I happen to think you're pretty amazing yourself, Detective Cullen."

We were quiet for a little while. I was thinking over everything he had told me and I knew in my heart that things most likely wouldn't be easy, but they would be worth it if it meant I could call Edward mine. And I desperately wanted to. He'd came into my life so unexpectedly, a brightness amongst the dark when I was going through something that no one should ever have to. In such a short time, he had come to mean so much to me and there was no way I couldn't try. I simply ached for him.

"So when do you think we will be able to see each other again?" I finally broke the silence, tracing my fingertip in a random pattern over his collarbone.

"I'm in court for most of tomorrow and Wednesday. Two different cases. Are you free Wednesday night?"

I sat back up and shook my head.

"I'm flying to New York on Wednesday morning to meet with one of my suppliers. Just overnight, though. What about Thursday night?"

He sighed.

"Jasper and I have to go to Miami on Thursday; there's a possible connection there to a case we're working. I have no idea what time we'll be back at."

"Well, damn," I said with a small laugh. "I have appointments on Friday and there's a charity event at the hotel Friday night. We've done it every year since Luxe opened, it's a silent auction gala and the proceeds go towards the abused women shelters in the area. You could come if you want, and be my date Friday night?"

Edward shook his head. "Family dinner with my parents; my aunt and uncle are in town from England. How about this weekend, angel? I have Saturday and Sunday off, and I won't be on call. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I would love nothing more than to spend the majority of the weekend with you. Unless you have plans?"

"Nothing I can't move around," I assured him, mentally going over my schedule. "I should be done with everything by lunch time on Saturday. Then I'm all yours."

"I want that more than anything, Bella. I want you to be all mine."

"I want it, too. When I think about making these dreams I've been having a reality? One weekend may not be enough time for all of them. . ." I trailed off, biting my lip as dozens of images ran through my mind.

"Bella." His mouth covered mine again, hard and hot. "Fuck, the things you say to me, the things you make me want. . ." I lost myself in him; his taste, his warm breath, the strokes of his velvety tongue as he claimed me over and over.

It was past midnight by the time I finally kissed Edward goodbye at my door. My lips were swollen, my body was throbbing, and my legs were weak. I felt glorious. I never wanted him to leave, but I knew he had to be up really early, so I tamped down my selfishness and promised that we would talk very soon.

I even indulged him when he asked, with a bit of sheepishness, if he could take a picture of us with his phone. He said he needed something tangible to look at to get him through the week. I laughed at him, yet was secretly pleased, and so I snuggled against him there in my foyer with his cheek pressed to mine and grinned into the camera. His hair was a mess from my fingers and my lips were obviously reddened from our kisses, but it was perfect. He texted the picture to me and then he really did have to leave. One more kiss, one more promise to talk soon, and he was gone.

Ok, I know, I KNOW! No full-on sexy times yet. BUT I just couldn't tack it onto the end of the date. Like Edward said, we NEED time for all the things that both of them have been thinking about. But I do hope you enjoyed the rest. How cute was he asking for the picture? Also, they have a plan! So, just stick with me, yes? Let me know what your thoughts are on this one. Should they have just done it, anyway? I really was torn, I even had a big chunk of it written out! But, ultimately, it wasn't the right time yet. Patience, darlings!