Hello everyone,

I love how wrapped up everyone seems to be in this couple. They have become very precious to me. I want to thank you all for your comments and support. It drives me forward.

Anyway, we are making progress, as subtle as it might be. Thanks for being a part of this journey. Feel free to let out all of your frustrations in a review.

Thanks so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.

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"No?" Edward asked as he continued to hover an inch from her face. He was so close the tip of his nose grazed her cheek. The temptation to take what he wanted was all-consuming.

"No," Bella repeated, barely managing to resist the lips a centimeter away.

"Why not?" Edward gave up trying to withstand the distance between them, letting the tip of his nose drift along the bridge hers. Despite her words, he recognized the yearning in Isabella's eyes. "Let me kiss you, Isabella."

It took all of Bella's willpower to maintain her distance. She wanted to bury her fingers in his hair and yank his mouth to hers. Tingles spread from the point where he touched her, sprawling throughout her entire body. While every cell begged her to give in to his plea, Bella whimpered as she whispered, "I can't. I can't …"

As if to test her theory, his lips came to linger a breath away. "Are you sure?"

Fuck, no. Bella wasn't capable of coherent thought. "No."

"You're not sure?" Edward was encouraged by her lack of conviction, letting his breath tempt her further as he exhaled over her mouth. Inhaling, his eyes rolled as he smelled the lilac bath salts she used.

"Uh-uh, but …" Bella gulped as her brain demanded she resist, yet her control was slipping. "I can't while you still cling to that picture."

Edward went rigid. His gaze dropped into a glare as he pulled back. His cock was a steel rod demanding to be satisfied, but he managed to put space between them.

"Damn tease," he grumbled, backing away. Surprisingly, Edward wasn't angry by her statement; actually, a smidge of respect replaced the brief annoyance. Gesturing to the plate on the table, he said, "Finish your dinner."

Edward went back to his desk and pulled his plate in front of him. He didn't want the damn food. What he wanted sat in that fucking chair. With this knowledge, his gaze flickered toward the picture on his desk. The guilt he associated with that damn photo never came to life as he studied it intently.

Regret stabbed Bella as she thought over her decision. Fuck, she wanted to kiss that man so damn much. Even now, she wanted to cross the room and plant one on him he'd never forget. As her blood pulsed heavily and her brain cursed her for being an idiot, she became restless.

If she stayed in the study for one more minute, she was going to forget why she'd told him no. Taking her plate, she leapt from the chair and strode out of the office.

Edward lost interest in his plate of food as well. The struggle with dignity and integrity he'd witnessed on Bella's face socked him in the chest. A fleeting glance went to the photo on his desk, and before he could stop himself, he jumped up and rushed out of the room. He caught up to her just as she would've slipped into her bedroom. Trapping her against the wall, his chest pressed into her back, his mouth dropping next to her ear. "Why are you fighting it?"

Breathlessly, Bella stared at the wall before her. If she resisted, she had no doubt Edward would back off, but as tingles ran up her spine, she became immobile. Holding firm to her position, she whispered, "Why do you cling to the past?—instead of embracing the future."

His hand left the perch of the wall as his lips skimmed her ear; his fingers caressed her trim side, urging her hips back against him. Edward groaned as he pressed his fevered flesh into her ass. "I'm not even thinking about time at the moment."

Bella's eyes went wide when she felt his cock at full length pressed into her. Adding fuel to the fire, she tilted her head until she stared him in the eye before dropping to the temptation of his mouth. Fire blazed through her body, and instinctively she arched into him, causing them both to moan. Her eyes rolled as his fingertips bit into her hip, and his shallow breath swirled into her ear. Bella hiccuped as she fought the pull.

Shit. Fuck.

Her control was quickly melting, and Bella gave herself over to the feeling for only a second, absorbing the heat of his muscles seeping into her back. At that moment, Bella realized the power she held at her fingertips. She regained control and very slowly turned until she faced him, her back falling against the wall, seeking its structure for strength. Her lashes fluttered as she stared at Edward's mouth. "How about I play ya for it?"

Fire ripped through Edward's gut, a soft chuckle slipped across her mouth, and his lips twitched as he withheld a smile. The tip of his nose grazed her cheek as he mumbled, "What do you have in mind?"

Licking lips gone dry, Bella pressed firm fingertips into Edward's pecs and urged him back an inch. "Poker."

"Poker?" Edward asked, following the slip of tongue peeking between her lips. With no other options left to him, Edward backed off an inch. This could all work to his advantage, he thought with a slow smirk, intrigued more than he wanted to admit. "What are the stakes?"

As Bella contemplated that question, her lips spread wide. "If I win, you do something for me … and if you win … I will do something for you."

"Sounds promising," Edward stated, his gaze boring into hers. "Even a kiss?"

The thought of kissing Edward had the words dying on her tongue. She had a feeling he wouldn't let it go until she gave in and kissed him. To be honest, she wasn't put off by his determination. "Yes. Fine. I will kiss you if you win."

Edward shifted again until his hands fell to his sides. "What do you want if you win?"

Bella thought over the statement long and hard. The scene she'd witnessed this afternoon of Edward riding with his daughter had been heartwarming and tender, and Bella would love to experience it firsthand. "You teach me to ride."

"Oh, I can teach you to ride," Edward stated, with a wicked look darkening his eyes.

"A horse," Bella corrected with a laugh. "I've never ridden, and it looks fun. I would love to go for a ride with you and Lily."

Her request was unexpected and straightforward enough. Another wave of euphoria swept through him at the thought of Bella riding such a majestic animal, sent a thrill shooting across his chest. "Deal."

They stood there studying one another for a long minute, eager to see if he would get a kiss; he watched her intently. "Where are we having this poker game?"

"Anywhere besides the study." If Edward won a kiss from her, the last place Bella wanted it to be is the place Edward used to remember his wife. Of course, he'd also shared his bedroom with her. Where then could they play? Nervously she fidgeted, "How about my room?"

Edward's eyes lit with intrigue. "Fine. Your room it is."

Twenty minutes later, Bella sat in the center of her bed as Edward pulled a chair up to the edge. As usual, the seriousness was back on his face as he shuffled the cards. Pushing them back into a neat stack, he licked his lips as he passed out the cards and set the deck next to his knee.

"We will play three games for every one prize. So, the best two out of three will get a prize of their choosing. Five-card draw, deuces wild. You do know how to play, right?"

"Of course, I know how to play," Bella stated, fanning the cards out in her hand as he laid out the terms. Considering they seemed fair enough, Bella found no reason to argue. Her brow creased as she contemplated the cards as she situated them to line up. Tossing two on the bed, she mumbled, "Give me two." Staring at the two queens side by side, Bella thought of a new ante. "How about whoever wins gets to ask the other person a question? Then whoever wins two out of three gets the jackpot."

The muscle in Edward's jaw ticked as he considered her for a long minute. This could become a dangerous game, yet it also could prove to be rather interesting. "Alright. But no lying, or it's cheating."

"I don't cheat," Bella confirmed, taking the two cards he handed her. She bit her lip as she considered the two queens and two threes. Two pairs wasn't much, but it could be more than what he had.

Edward looked at the whole hand of nothing he had. If Bella didn't think she was going to win, she would've never thought of another prize. With this thought in mind, Edward braced himself for her intrusive question. Bella wasn't one to shy away from personal conversation. Face up; he tossed the cards on the bed. "Can you beat an Ace?"

"Two pairs, Mr. Cullen." Bella did a happy dance in the middle of the bed, and she laughed as Edward glowered at her. "Don't look so sour, Edward. I'm sure in a matter of minutes; you will have your revenge."

His lashes dropped, and she watched her closely through the veil. "And your question would be?"

"Do you like it?" Bella asked, scooping up the cards to shuffle as she stared him in the eye.

"Like what?" Adjusting his button-up, Edward slid a few buttons through the eyelets, loosening the material around his neck.

Bella followed his movements, honing in on the sliver of skin that appeared. His naked chest flashed in her mind, and the tip of Edward's lips indicated he was very aware of the effect he had. Clearing her throat, Bella turned her attention back to Edward. "Being a mob boss?"

Edward shrugged, "Why wouldn't I? I have six states under my control and more money than I could ever spend."

"Yes, but do you like it?"

"Doesn't matter. It is what I am. I wasn't given a choice; the reign was passed to me when my father died. Sometimes we aren't given a choice about our lot in life; you better than anyone should know that."

When her lips parted as if she were going to question him further, he lifted a finger, saying simply. "One question per hand, woman."

"Fine," Bella mumbled as she rearranged her hand. "How many cards?"

"Two," Edward stated, staring at the three fives. Tapping his fingers on his knee, he smirked up at her. "Get ready to pay up."

Bella fidgeted as she looked at the pair of jacks. Well shit. "Might as well ask. I have crap."

Edward chuckled as she threw the cards upright. "Guess these fives kick your ass." His gaze narrowed when she stuck her tongue out at him. "Keep sticking that tongue out, and we won't be doing any talking."

Pride flashed through Bella for the ability to inspire the hunger that leapt to life in his navy gaze. She was tempted to do it again, yet she merely flashed Edward a knowing smile. "Ask whatever is in that wicked head of yours."

Edward could have easily turned this whole episode into a dirty little game. Instead, he took a sip of the Coke next to him. Carefully, Edward chose his words wisely as he set the can aside. "Where is your mother? Has your father ever hinted at where she could be?"

Startled, Bella's gaze flashed to his. "Um … I don't really know. One day she was there, and the next, she wasn't. He never elaborated about where she'd gone. Just said she ran off."

Charlie's wife ran off? Huh? As much as Charlie was involved in, if his wife had run off, the sheriff would certainly know how to find her. If he wanted to, it was possible Charlie didn't want to. When Bella didn't appear to be upset, he started, "I would think you would be more upset."

"Who says I'm not?" Bella nibbled her lip as she played with the hem of her shirt. "I just had years to get used to it."

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