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Bella tries to pull away, whispering we shouldn't be doing this. Not here. Not now. Not until we've discussed everything. I lean up and wrap my one good arm around her because the other still has a needle in it. I hold her tight against me, and she can't get close enough.

She's careful with her exploration of my mouth, and I moan into hers, making her hum in response and grind on my impossibly hard erection. We still have so much we need to discuss, but right now, all I care about is having her wrapped around me. Finally.

We're still kissing when a still terrified Jessica pokes her head in the room. "I'm sorry for the interruption, but you're finished, Mr. Cullen."

Bella rests her forehead against mine and stares straight into my soul before climbing off my lap and turning to the bleeder. "I must apologize, Jessica. Edward is my mate, and we've only just found each other. Apparently, I am very possessive of what is mine. I didn't mean to frighten you."

Mate.

Bella just called me her mate, and she said that I'm hers. Out loud.

We've known it for a while, and I've thought and hoped for it often, but it's the first time it's been said out loud and with such conviction. It makes it permanent. Finally.

Jessica accepts Bella's apology and gives one of her own for her unprofessional behavior while she wraps my arm. My eyes are on Bella's, and I watch her to see if she has any reaction to my blood openly spilling from the hole in my arm, but she just looks antsy to get me alone again.

My plasma is tagged, and I sign the necessary paperwork before grabbing Bella's hand and pulling her toward the elevator because we need to get home and continue what we were doing before Jessica interrupted us. Now.

Bella stops at the front desk and asks that Jessica not be my bleeder from now on, and I can't help but smile at her possessiveness.

I know we still need to talk, but all I can think about is kissing her again.

"Edward." Bella pulls on my hand, stopping me in my tracks. "I need to go back upstairs. I left my blood with Jane when I heard the human hitting on you." She looks at her feet, ashamed.

I lift her chin with one finger and she lets me. "Hey."

"Yeah?" she asks and bites her lip.

"Never apologize for wanting to stake your claim on me. Ever."

I lean down and kiss her smile just because I can. We don't part until my lungs are burning from the lack of oxygen, and Bella is panting against my neck.

"Do you want to come upstairs with me?"

"Wild horses couldn't drag me away from you right now."

She smiles and leads me to the elevator that still makes my stomach flip and my head swim. Instead of holding onto the wall, I'm holding onto her hips tightly, and she isn't complaining.

When the doors open, there are two vampires waiting for us, one of them smiling widely and the other trying and failing to hide their grimace.

Jane steps forward with the cooler. "Possessive, Bella. That's new," she jokes.

"Now, Jane. Don't be a bitch," Bella chides, snatching the box out of her friend's hands.

"I can't help it." Jane cackles. "I've known you for ages, and I never thought I'd see the day where you just poofed out of the room to defend your mate." Her crimson eyes turn to me. "Your very mortal mate."

Alec is glaring at me, and I almost feel bad because Bella is right. He definitely has a crush on her. I mean, who wouldn't? She's perfect in every single way, but she's mine. I give the vampire a cocky smile and wrap my arm around Bella's middle, pulling her into my warmth. She doesn't fight me, sighing happily when she's nestled under my chin while she talks with her friends. Alec doesn't participate in the conversation, choosing to stand and silently watch us.

Suddenly, Bella turns to me. "Are you ready to get out of here?" I nod, and she says goodbye to her friends, all but dragging me back to the elevator.

My vampire is taking me home.