A/N: Happy Friday! Thank you for all the love and support. Special thank you to our beta and our prereaders!

Song(s): "Side to Side" by Ariana Grande ft Nicki Minaj


A couple days after the date with Edward, I hadn't seen or heard from him. I was a little disappointed, but I knew better than to pine over a man, so I put it behind me. I was pulled out of my musing when someone started pounding on our front door. "Jesus." I jumped off the couch and ran over to the front door. Jasper was standing there, looking worried and pissed off. "Oh. Hey," I said un-enthusiastically.

"Hey? That's all you have to say? I have been texting and calling you with no answer. I was worried something happened to you. Especially since you've been hanging out with that freak, Edward."

"Oh my god, lower your volume, J. My dad is right there in the kitchen," I whisper-yelled.

"Isabella?" my dad called out, his voice coming closer. I gave Jasper an 'I told you so' look, rolling my eyes, then I turned, the fake, sweet smile plastered on my face. "Who's at the door?" my dad asked, coming into view, but the suspicious look on his face morphed into a genuine smile. "Jasper. Nice to see you. Have you come to cheer my Bella up? She's been moping around here lately."

"I'm not moping, Daddy. I'm perfectly happy." Jesus, is that what I really sound like? How hasn't anyone strangled me yet from annoyance?

My dad grabbed me in a one-arm hug. Jasper smiled, the fast-thinking charmer he was. "Yes, sir. I figured she could use some fun and adventure."

"All right. You two be safe, and don't be out too late." My dad pulled Jasper to the side, thinking I couldn't hear him. "Things are getting dicey right now, so just make sure you stay away from Volturi territory. It won't take much for them to start an all-out war."

Jasper nodded, they shook hands, and then Jasper linked arms with me. "Come on, topina. Lots to do."

He started out of the house, practically yanking me with him. Once we were clear of the front door, he let go of my arm because I was trying to pull away.

"Fucking ow. That's still attached." I rubbed my arm.

He turned around, coming closer to me and getting in my face. "You're acting like a child, Bells."

I took a step back from him. "I'm acting like a child? Really. You ran when Edward confronted me, leaving me alone with a possible angry guy." I raised my index finger like I was counting. "You ditched me right after to go do whatever you usually do with Alice." I put up a second finger. "And that was after you'd already made me feel unwelcome a few nights before." I held up three fingers. "You are being a shitty friend, and I need someone now more than ever and I have no one," I said, the tears pooling in my eyes starting to fall. I hated that when I got angry enough, I would cry.

Jasper sighed and fisted his hair. "Fuck." He came over and pulled me into his embrace, rubbing my back and whispering he was sorry. I wrapped my arms around his neck and relaxed in the hug. Jasper was a constant in my life—one of the very few things I thought I could always count on. Just because the relationship between us wasn't romantic that didn't mean that I didn't love him; I did and he was essential to my life. He kissed the top of my head and then kept an arm around my shoulders as he steered us to his car.

"I need to tell you something. Alice and I are taking a break," he said, looking at me over the top of the car, and he seemed really upset about it.

"Why?" I may not exactly like the chick, but she was who Jasper wanted, so if something was going on, I had nothing but concern.

We got inside the car and he turned the ignition. "She and I got into a huge fight, and she basically told me that I needed to get my priorities straight." He turned to look at me. "She told me that eventually I would need to choose between her and you. I told her that I would choose you every time, one hundred percent. She didn't like that," he said, shrugging. It made my heart clench because while I was happy he picked me, it hurt that I was the reason for strife in his relationship. He shook his head. "Topina, I know you're blaming yourself, so stop it. This is on her and me. She knows better than to bring you into our relationship because I told her when we started dating that you were an off-limits subject." He grabbed my hands. "You're my family, and you know I don't have much of that left."

I gave him a watery smile and squeezed his hands. He smiled at me and then shifted the car into drive. Jasper was right—he didn't have much family. When we were about seven, his dad ran off with some younger woman and he never heard from him again. Shortly after, his mom got really sick. He was an only child, and when he was nine, she passed away. He had to go live with his Nonnie. She died when he was seventeen, and my dad took him in until he was eighteen. He went to college for one year, and when he dropped out at the age of nineteen, he became a soldati for the Cigno family. I had eavesdropped on Daddy sometimes talking about promoting him to capo, but there weren't enough soldati for him to command.

I looked around and noticed that we were pulling in front of Lioni's Deli. "What adventures are we having at the deli, Jazz?"

"We're gonna split a sandwich, topina, and then we're gonna catch up." He smiled at me, cupping my chin before gesturing to get out of the car, and then opened his door.

I smiled and did the same, meeting him on the sidewalk. We walked into the deli together, and I hung back a little as he ordered our sandwich. "Hey, can I get soppersata, fresh mutz, and roasted red peppers? With lettuce, tomato, and mayo," he said and then the guy and him struck up a conversation while he made the sandwich.

I was standing there, feeling a little out of place when a big brindle-colored dog walked up to me. He rubbed against my legs, and I chuckled and crouched to get on his level. "Well, look at you. You're friendly. What's your name?" I scratched him on the head and reached for his tag. It said Bear, and I laughed because it fit him. "Hi Bear. My name is Bella."

I heard quick footsteps come up behind me, and before I could turn to see who it was, I heard that velvet voice I was starting to know so well.

"Bella?"

I straightened up and turned around. The dog just stood next to me with his tongue lolling out. "Edward. Hey." I wanted to disappear into the floor because that was so lame.

Edward smirked and then looked down at the dog next to me with wide eyes. "Looks like you made a friend. He usually doesn't like anyone but me."

"This is your dog? I didn't even know you had one." Surprise colored my tone, and I tried to imagine him with a dog but I couldn't do it. He didn't seem like a cuddly guy. The dog licked my hand and I giggled.

Edward whistled. "Come here, schmuck. Leave the poor girl alone. You're a worse flirt than me." The dog walked over to his side, and Edward scratched behind his ears and pet his coat.

I smiled at seeing him being affectionate with his dog. "So, how have you been?"

He looked stunned that I asked him about himself. "I've been good, doing a lot of thinking about our talk, and I'll have you know I haven't called any of the broads in my phone since our date."

I was surprised to learn this. He never confirmed that he was seeing anyone else when I mentioned it on our date, but he also didn't deny it, so when I hadn't heard from him since, I thought he was done with me after that whole disaster date. "Really? Why?"

"Well you told me I needed to prove myself and be trustworthy, so I'm doing that. This is me trying. An olive branch, I think the guineas call it." He laughed at his insult.

I laughed along with him. It was nice to actually talk about something that wasn't just about getting me naked and on my back. "Well, I'm glad that you're willing to do that. I honestly thought after that date that I wouldn't see you again."

"Oh I don't give up that easily. Especially not when it's something as good as what we did that night." He winked and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

So much for it being about something other than sex with him. I was about to reply when Jasper came over to my side. "Hey, Bella." Jasper caught sight of Edward and looked between us. "Hey, I'm Jasper."

"Yeah, Bella mentioned it. I'm Edward," he said, his tone and posture turning completely hostile.

Bear started to make a deep rumbling sound, and I looked down to see the dog's hackles had risen and he was growling at Jasper. Bear darted in between Jasper and me, driving me closer to Edward's side and away from Jasper.

I looked at Edward and he seemed amused. When I was standing right next to him, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him so he could whisper in my ear. "See, even Bear agrees with me."

I giggled. Fucking girly and bubbly. Shoot me now please. "I need to go. Jasper and I have plans, but I am really looking forward to the next time I see you, Edward." I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

I rubbed Bear on the head and scratched behind his ears, then I walked away with Jasper, looking back at Edward before heading outside. I made my way to Jasper's car, fully expecting an interrogation once we were inside. Jasper chuckled and turned the ignition, shifting into drive and taking off.

"Why are you laughing?"

"That guy wanted to deck me. You got him all twisted, topina. Must have been some experience in that car."

I looked at him, mouth agape in shock. I playfully punched him. "Jazz."

"What? I'm serious. I know jealousy when I see it. Especially when it comes to you, Bells. I experienced it myself at the tender age of fourteen."

I gave him a kind smile. "There was something different about him this time. I mean, he always talks about having sex with me, but this time, it wasn't the first and only thing we talked about."

"What happened? I feel like I've missed a huge chunk of information." Jasper's eyebrows furrowed, and he wore that cute frown he got when he was confused.

I proceeded to tell him everything that had happened between Edward and me over the last week or more. I told him what I told Edward about proving himself and that he was actually working on it.

"Are you sure that it's worth it? All this for a fuck buddy?" Jasper asked and looked at me like I was a little crazy.

"It was really good sex. I don't know, J, there's just something about him that excites me. And not just in a sexual way, but also like I can be just Bella with him. He doesn't care too much about who I am or what my goals and dreams are. I can just be," I said wistfully. That was all I wanted—to be me and not worry about all the other crap.

"Bella, I feel like you are putting too much into this non-relationship that you are going to end up getting hurt." He had nothing but concern in his tone.

"Well, I appreciate that you are looking out for me, but I need to make that potential mistake myself," I told him. If this was going to be a lesson learned, then I needed to learn it myself.

"Okay. I'll be there with ice cream and Kleenex if it goes bad." He smiled.

"That's all I want." I grabbed the sandwich and took half of it. He laughed at me and tried to grab it from me. "You gotta drive, pay attention to the road. You crazy?" I said through my laughter.

We pulled into the park and he kept the car on. We sat and ate the sandwich and people watched while we talked about nothing and everything. It was easy and I felt the most at peace that I'd been in the last few days. This was why I loved hanging out with him so much. I was just a twenty-one-year-old girl enjoying a nice day in Brooklyn with my best friend. Nothing mattered outside. He made the noise go away for a while. Like all good things though, he eventually had to go. There were some problems with the Volturi family, and I knew that it was going to mean more security and a stricter curfew.

This was why I hated being a Cigno. It wasn't my fault that my dad and his cronies had pissed off some rival family, but I had to deal with the consequences. Jasper dropped me off back at my house with a promise to text when he could. I headed up to my room and drew a bath.

I relaxed in the tub, thinking about everything that had happened today. I was so screwed because I couldn't stop thinking about Edward now. I was really surprised that he took my words to heart and wanted to prove that I could trust him. I didn't know how to take that. Why was he so determined? I knew he couldn't be hurting for female attention. So what was it? Once I was out of the bath, I put on my pajamas, which consisted of short shorts and a fitted shirt, then I lay down to read a book.

Like with any book, I fell asleep midway. A pinging sound on the glass woke me up not long after. I shot up in bed, pulling my nine from under my pillow and looking around the room. There was nothing amiss, but I heard the pinging sound again. What the fuck? It sounded like it was coming from my window. I walked over there with the gun still in my hand and pulled the curtains aside. I saw a figure standing in my backyard and watched as he threw a pebble at my window. I sighed. Fucking stalker. I held my hand up to signal one minute, put on my robe and slippers, and descended the stairs. I stopped and listened to see if anyone was up or would see me.

When I was sure I was safe, I slipped out the back door, gun still in my hand. Edward was waiting there for me. I was stunned to see him because he was wearing a hoodie and gray sweatpants. I never saw Edward in anything but suits, and he was standing here looking very casual.

His eyes zeroed in on the gun in my hand, and he looked at me like I was waving it around like a maniac.

"I almost shot a hole in my wall because of you," I said, annoyed.

"Why the fuck do you have a gun?" he asked, still keeping an eye on it.

"I sleep with one under my pillow. You woke me up from a dead sleep with your rocks," I explained.

"Yeah, well, it's not like I have your phone number or anything. I had to do something. You said you live with your pops and you don't seem to be keen on me meeting him," he teased.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "He's not home right now anyways. What are you doing out here though?" I asked him, wondering what was going on with him.

"You left so soon today with your friend, you didn't give me a chance to see if you wanted to hang out or whatever they call it. Build trust and shit." He shrugged, trying to be nonchalant.

Oh, he was too cute when he was trying to be smooth. I smiled at him. "Sure, but I get to pick the place this time." He nodded. "So, when you're available, you can call my number. Which I will give you. Do you have a gun because we should go to the shooting range?"

He looked surprised that I suggested that, but he smirked and handed me his phone. "Yeah I have a piece." I punched my number in and called myself. My phone was upstairs so I just hung up and handed the phone back to him. We just kinda stood there awkwardly when I got a really bad idea.

I gestured with my finger for him to come closer to me. He eyed me warily and then rolled his eyes and walked toward me, not stopping until he was right in front of me. I actually had to look up to see him because he was so much taller than me.

"So, I sleep with my window unlocked," I said, turning around and pointing to it. "If you can get up there, I'll open it for you. Still no sex, but I might let you touch my tits," I told him with a smile.

He was looking around the backyard and then up to the third story "You better go open that window." He winked at me.

I laughed, and after wishing him good luck, I went inside and up to my room. I waited for about ten minutes until there was a knock on my window. I stared at him in shock and then opened it to let him inside.

"How the hell did you get up here?"

"I have my ways, Bella. Come on."

I laughed. "I'm impressed. Who knew that sexual acts would motivate you?"

He laughed with me as well. I took my robe off and threw it over my chair, where it usually stayed. When I turned back around, Edward was standing right there. I jumped and put my hand on his chest, trying to steady myself. He leaned closer to me and gently brushed his lips against mine. I hummed against his lips and pushed my lips to his, but he pulled his head back, keeping me from deepening the kiss. When he made no move to deepen these barely-there kisses, I grabbed him by the front of his hoodie and pulled his body closer so that he had to really kiss me. His hands grabbed my ass and I locked my arms around his neck. He pulled upward and lifted me off the ground, causing me to squeal in laughter and lock my legs around his waist.

He laid me on the bed without breaking the kiss or embrace. His weight pushing onto me felt good, and I felt surrounded by him. His larger size overtook my small frame, and all I could see, smell, and feel was Edward. Pulling my head gently to the side, he kissed my neck, sucking on the pulse point and biting gently. My gasp turned into a moan when he trailed kisses down to my cleavage and bit again. He palmed my tits before sliding his hands under my shirt, causing me to moan some more. I wasn't wearing a bra so he groaned before rolling my nipples in between his fingers.

I pulled his mouth to mine again, kissing him while he continued to pluck my nipples. The sensations and his kiss were driving me crazy. A memory of the way his fingers felt when we had sex in the car filled my thoughts, and I told myself if we didn't have penetrative sex now then it was okay. "Oh god, Edward, touch me."

"I am touching you, baby." He smirked.

I groaned in frustration. "You know what I mean."

"Say it." He gave me a challenging look.

"Touch my pussy, please." I whimpered.

He wasted no time in pulling my shorts and underwear off in one fluid motion, while I pulled my shirt off. He ran his fingers up my slick slit, brushing them up against my clit. "Oh fuck." I gasped. When he slid two fingers inside me, I bucked my hips for him to go deeper. He took my mouth in a bruising kiss before he trailed his lips down my neck, into my cleavage, and lower still, over my stomach. He continued to move his body down the bed, his lips never leaving my skin, until he was kneeling on the floor, his emerald eyes fixed on the spot between my legs where his fingers thrust in and out of me. The sensation of his wet tongue peeking out and licking my clit almost made me shoot off the bed.

"What are you doing?" I asked in shock.

"Fuck, baby, you taste so good." He groaned as he leaned forward to swipe at me again.

I weaved my fingers through his hair, tugging on the strands. He groaned and then continued to devour me, using his tongue to flick against my clit. He pulled his fingers out of my heat, and before I could mourn the loss, his tongue licked at my entrance and then he slid his tongue inside me. I fisted the comforter with my other hand and started panting. Using his thumb to rub my clit, he continued to plunge his tongue in and out of my pussy.

It wasn't long before I realized that I was pulling Edward's head closer to my body while I thrust myself up to his mouth. I was completely lost to his touch and tongue. His large hands moved to hold my thighs apart, granting him unrestricted access to my center. One of his hands let go of my thigh and drifted up to play with my nipples. "Oh my god, Edward. I'm so close."

He was suddenly like a man possessed because his tongue and thumb started moving faster and all too soon I was shattering around him. My walls clamped on nothing, my stomach muscles clenched, and the words I had been indecipherably chanting turned into a long moan. Edward's mouth and hands disappeared from my body, and I felt the bed dip as he got back onto it. He hovered above me on his forearms before he leaned down to kiss me, and I pulled him the rest of the way, pressing my lips to his and tangling my tongue with his. I could taste myself on him—sweet mixed with something unnamable, musky, earthy almost—it had a complex taste.

I caught him off guard by pulling him closer to me, grabbing his ass, and I used that surprise to flip us over so I was lying on top of him. I reached for the hem of his hoodie to take it off, but he sat up and pulled it off, along with the t-shirt underneath it. His tattoos were exposed to me, and I gave him a mischievous smile as I slid my hand beneath the waistband of his sweats, gripped his shaft, which was thick and hard, and started to stroke it.

"Goddamn, baby, that feels good," he grit out.

"Take your pants off, Edward," I told him as I slid to the side to give him some space. I never thought inviting him to my room would result in us having oral sex, but there was nothing I wanted more now than to taste him. Edward toed off his shoes, and they fell to the floor with a dull thud before he pulled the sweats and his boxers down, lifting his legs to get them off. His dick hit his belly after he pulled them down. Shit, I had no idea if I could fit that in my mouth. I looked up at him with a little bit of trepidation, and he smirked and gave me a brief kiss. I gestured for him to scoot to the end of the bed and stand up with his back to the bed. When he was in position, I followed him and kissed him again, my hands sliding down his chest, my fingernails running across his warm skin. He hissed but not in pain. I kissed down his chin, along that jaw that was so strong, and down his neck. I sucked hard, biting the skin there, and he grabbed my waist, pulling me closer to him.

I chuckled, making sure I gave him a hickey, then continued down his chest before I slid to a kneeling position. Edward glanced down at the hardwood floor and then turned around to grab a pillow from the bed. He gestured for me to lift my knees, surprising me by sliding the pillow underneath them. I have performed a lot of oral sex, but none of my partners cared about whether of not my knees would be sore. I was completely thrown by the thoughtful gesture, but I was starting to realize that Edward may not be exactly what I assumed. He stood in front of me again, and I gripped his dick, licking from the base to the tip.

"Do you want me to suck your dick, Edward?" I asked in a breathy voice.

"Yeah, I wanna see those pretty lips around my cock." He smirked while he stroked along my bottom lip with his thumb. "Take it like a good girl." It reminded me of the night of our date when we had talked about spanking.

I smiled at him. "Yes, sir."

Without any further preamble, I took him into my mouth, stretching my lips and sucking hard. I wasn't going to be able to take him all the way in right away, so I followed my mouth with my hand, stroking him. He gathered up my hair in his hands, making a ponytail and gently guiding me. I bobbed my head up and down on his shaft. When I looked up at him through my lashes, he was watching with rapt attention but also grunting and the veins on his neck were starting to bulge. I grabbed his other hand and put it on my head, signaling to him that I wanted him to guide my head. I needed to know what he liked.

He made no move to speed up for a few minutes, but then he started to push my head on him faster. I grabbed his ass and took him all the way down my throat, and then I backed off. I did this a few more times, and then pretty soon, Edward was truly fucking my face. I sucked harder and moaned, hoping the vibrations helped him get there faster. Sure enough, he gritted out, "Baby, I'm gonna come soon."

I nodded and continued to suck him deeper, adding my hand again because of the fast shallow strokes I was using. Using my tongue, I swiped across the head of his dick, lapping at the moisture gathering there before engulfing him with my mouth. Soon he pushed my head down to deep throat him, and then he stilled, his cum spurting down my throat. Without hesitation, I swallowed the salty fluid, using my tongue to clean him off. He slipped himself out of my mouth, swiping his thumb across my lip again, before he reached down to help me up, pulling me toward him so that we could fall back onto the bed. With my body nestled on top of his, he kissed me, hard and deep.

I pulled away from the kiss, feeling breathless. "Will you stay tonight? It's getting late."

He looked at me, and several indiscernible emotions played out across his face before he nodded. "I'll have to leave early to go feed Bear."

The thought of him staying, and his mention of Bear, caused a sweet smile to spread across my face. I could feel my eyes growing heavy and I could see Edward was similarly drained, so I nudged him so we could get dressed. We both ended up in just our shirts and underwear. Once we were settled on the bed, I pulled the comforter over us, loving being surrounded by warmth. Edward seemed stiff and unsure what to do, so I pulled him to lie on his side and I mirrored his position so that we were facing one another. I grabbed his arm and placed it around my waist, and I just gripped his shirt with both of my hands, anchoring me close to him.

"Goodnight, Edward," I whispered.

He looked down at me. "Goodnight, Bella."

~TCOS~

I was woken up when I felt Edward pulling away, breaking my grip on his shirt. I moaned in complaint and he chuckled. "It's 7, Bella. I gotta go. Go back to sleep," he said as he put on his hoodie, sweats, and shoes.

"Okay, don't forget to text me about the shooting range," I reminded him.

"You got it. Do I need to scale down the side of the house to get out of here?" He ran his hand through his hair, looking like he really didn't want to do that.

"I don't know if my dad is home so you probably should." I nodded and sat up, pulling the comforter around me to retain some of his body heat, as I watched him go.

He sighed, kissed me on the top of my head, and then opened the window and climbed out. I smiled and fell back to the bed, still relaxed from our nighttime activities. When my eyes shut again, dreams of us filled my unconsciousness.


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