BPOV

The plane ride back to Los Angeles was surprisingly okay, considering the plane was now packed. Of course, Edward's entire family was flying back with us. But, after last night, I wasn't as terrified of being around them anymore. I still loathed Irina and I didn't see that ever changing, but I wasn't as nervous about them now.

Following my quiet confession to Edward after the show, I congratulated him on a job well done and left him and his family to celebrate. My exhaustion wasn't even an excuse to get away from the crowds or his family. After the days of doubting myself and overthinking every interaction I had ever had with Edward, I was dead on my feet.

My mind was made up. And I didn't care about the consequences.

I spent the plane ride working, grateful for the extravagance of the private plane and the free internet connection. Most of the flight I spent reading review after review of Edward's episode.

Of course, there was no pleasing everyone. There were a handful of articles that called him fake or outdated or a hundred other insulting things, but there were also a hell of a lot that sang him nothing but praises.

With each new, positive review I found I texted it to Edward who was sitting up towards the front of the plane, talking with his kids about what his week had entailed. He would read the messages when his kids would get distracted by something, always smirking in my direction after each one.

We hadn't had a chance to talk since last night, but I knew he understood what I said at the end of the night. The way he looked at me, the way his hand brushed against my waist as I walked past him on the plane, everything told me he was all in, too.

My computer dinged, signaling a new message.

You look fucking gorgeous.

My cheeks heated up, but I kept my eyes on the computer. Luckily, I had angled myself so no prying eyes could see my screen.

Yes, that's what I was going for with my t-shirt and leggings.

I wouldn't call myself gorgeous on any day, but especially not when I was in a plain, grey t-shirt and some comfortable black leggings for the plane ride home.

You're joking, but if I've thought of seven different ways I could make you scream my name since I saw you this morning.

I snapped my laptop shut, narrowing my eyes across the plane only to be met with a crooked smile. There was only about an hour left of the flight, so I decided to rest my head against the window and close my eyes.

Los Angeles traffic was as reliable as ever as the sleek black car drove me home. Edward's eyes lingered on me as my bags were loaded in the car, but there were too many people for more than a casual see you Monday.

It was still early afternoon, but I was already counting down the hours until I could go to sleep. The whole trip had been exhausting, and while I was used to running on little sleep, there were a hundred and one other things factoring into my exhaustion now.

"Welcome back!" Rose shouted, popping a small confetti rocket as soon as I stumbled in the front door.

"I didn't know a week away warranted confetti," I snickered, letting my bag fall to the side.

"Oh, confetti has no boundaries, Bella," Emmett said seriously from the kitchen.

I was suddenly desperate for my only friend and wished I could tell her every detail of the last week. It was uncomfortable having to see Edward's family and know I was lying to all of them, but it would be hell seeing Rose every day and not telling her the truth.

She wouldn't tell a soul if I told her, but she would probably try and talk some sense into me. And I had already tried to do that myself and it didn't work. Instead of sending myself into another spiral of what ifs, I wrapped my arms tight around her.

Once we both pulled away Rosalie looked down at me, eyes scanning over my face.

"You look different," she mumbled, puzzled.

"It's the exhaustion, probably," I sighed.

"No. It's all the success I think."

I snorted, flopping down on the familiar, comfortable couch. I pulled one of the throw pillows into my lap as Rose did the same.

"Tell me everything. Oh! Start with Bryan Drake!"

"I already told you about him," I laughed.

"All you said was his hair was swooshier in person."

"That about sums him up, I think."

There was a crash from the kitchen and I craned my neck around to see Emmett picking up some dropped pans. "What's he doing?"

"Cooking us dinner. He's just about five sizes too big to be in this house."

"I'm not just a pretty face, Bella," Emmett called from the kitchen. When he came in eyesight from around the corner I saw he even had an apron on that said Kiss the Cook.

"Did you get him the apron?" I asked Rose with a smile.

She rolled her eyes. "No. He bought it for himself, the big oaf." Rose's eyes drifted toward the kitchen behind me, a beautifully content look on her face.

"You seem happy," I whispered to her with a smile. I had seen her go through more than a handful of guys without ever looking like that. Granted, some were using her just as much as she was using them, but there had also been more than a few jerks who hurt her for a long time.

"I am," she answered with a shy smile.

"No longer worried you're too happy?"

"No," she shook her head. "It's the perfect amount. Enough about me, though. I wasn't mentioned in the SNL monologue last night."

"He was awfully proud of himself for that joke," I chuckled. "I heard about it for days."

"Embry wants you to hook him and Sam up with tickets to the show whenever you can," Emmett called from the kitchen. Embry was his business partner and Sam was Embry's older brother.

"Really?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah. They loved the show."

"Huh," I sighed, leaning back against the couch. I might have been breaking about a hundred different rules and codes of conduct when it came to Edward, but apparently, I was also making some actual progress, too.

-B-

I was stupidly excited and only a little nervous as I walked into the theater on Monday morning. I had slept surprisingly well last night, woke up in time to go to the gym this morning, and spent an extra ten minutes curling my hair before walking out the door. My mood was dampened by the appearance of tell-tale cramping as soon as I woke up, but I was determined not to let it ruin my morning.

It definitely ruined other things I had wanted to possibly do today, but my periods were blissfully short on my current birth control pill.

I had Edward's usual black coffee in my hand, but frowned when I walked in his office and he had an iced coffee sitting in front of him. I was momentarily distracted when he watched me walk in, not bothering to hide the way his eyes looked me up and down. I might have had the energy to curl my hair, but my monthly visitor left me reaching for a simple pair of comfortable jeans and a striped t-shirt that was probably too casual for work.

"You don't like iced coffee," I said, frowning down at the hot coffee in my hand.

"No, but you do," he replied with my favorite crooked smile, pushing the cup toward the end of his desk. "I thought maybe you didn't like coffee, because you never brought yourself one in the morning. Then I watched you go through two in one afternoon in New York."

I sat down opposite of him and pushed his coffee toward his side of the desk. I grabbed my drink and quickly read the label. Iced White Chocolate Mocha, two pumps of toffee syrup, no whip. The exact thing I always ordered.

I smiled into my first sip. "I get one every morning after the gym to drink while I get ready," I admitted.

"So, you already had one this morning?" he asked with a frown.

"Yes," I sighed. "But, I'll never say no to coffee."

For a few moments we were both quiet and I was quickly distracted by his face. He was pretty. So pretty it was unfair. His hair was in its usual disarray which only made me want to run my fingers through it. His eyes were bright and happy, the shade of shamrocks in the spring. Pouty lips made me bite my own, thinking about every place on my body his had been.

I was interrupted before I could pay proper attention to his jawline. "Bella?"

"Yes?" I asked, forcing my eyes back up to his.

I got my favorite, crooked smirk in response. "There was actually something else I wanted to talk to you about," Edward said, shaking his head slightly and grabbing a pen from his desk. "What are your thoughts on the writers here?"
"The writers?" I asked, needing a minute to refocus my thoughts. "Why?"

"I want to fix the show. I know it's going to take more than last week to keep people coming back. I know part of the problem is the material."

I nodded, trying not to smile too much. It made me happy any time Edward made his desire to fix the problems with his show known.

"I don't really know who writes what," I admitted. "The only thing I know is James was the one who changed the script after I had approved it and nearly had you tear into the head of the network's grandson."

Edward nodded, twirling the pen in his hand. "Okay."

I felt my phone vibrating in my bag by my feet. "I should go."

Edward nodded, standing and following me to the door. Before I could reach for the handle my back was against it, his lips already on mine. I had to make a conscious effort to not drop my iced coffee, my arm resting over Edward shoulder while my free hand quickly dug into his hair.

I moaned into his kiss when both of his hands slipped into the back pockets of my jeans. I had to, unfortunately, come to my senses when one of his hands slipped around my waist and threatened to slide underneath my waistband.

"I can't," I moaned against his lips. I saw the sudden, harsh disappointment on his face. "Not, I can't do this," I sighed, reaching up on my toes to press another quick peck to his lips. "You can't do that because I'm on my period."

"Ah," Edward sighed, smiling softly down at me. His hands left my waist and pocket, fingers moving to softly trail down my nose and across my lips.

"Sorry," I murmured against his thumb.

He shook his head. "You don't have to apologize. It's much better than the alternative conversation. Trust me."

I knew Edward loved his kids more than anything in the world, but I also knew he probably spent a long time regretting the situation, too. Especially right after his high school girlfriend told him she was pregnant.

Edward followed me out, pen and pad of paper in his hands. Before I could ask him what he was doing he turned off in front of the writer's room, but not before I got a not-so-subtle pinch on my ass.

-B-

"I know it's last minute, but I think it'll be fun. You said you wanted a date before you left, right?" Rosalie asked, laying across my bed as I packed up my bag for the day.

"Well, yes, but…" But, that was before I started having an affair with my boss.

"It's not even technically a date. I mean, it is, but it's mostly a bunch of friends hanging out."

It was Wednesday morning and I was already running a little late. Then, Rosalie came in to tell me that tonight I was going to meet her, Emmett, and a few of his friends from college for drinks. One of which was named Alec, whom Rosalie was now attempting to set me up with.

I could hardly be mad at her, because I had asked her to set me up with somebody before I left. It was a moment of weakness when I felt like I would be stuck pining after Edward unless I did something about it. I was still kind of pining after him, because it had been nearly seven days since he touched me and I was going a little stir crazy.

I had been fairly certain after I walked in and told Edward I was all clear for another month that I would be spending tonight with him. Now, I had to walk in and tell him I had a date.

"Will you grab me a dress and shoes?" I asked her, reluctantly agreeing. As if she had already mentally gone through my wardrobe, Rosalie quickly hopped off my bed and pulled out her clothing of choice.

"You know, ever since I met you my wardrobe has consisted of much less fabric," I mumbled, eying the low cut grey-blue lace sundress. It fell down my thighs just fine, but the back merely consisted of some crisscrossing straps.

It had been a slow adjustment, but eventually I gave into Rosalie's love for shopping. Especially when I realized half of my wardrobe was useless in Los Angeles because the climate was so different from Washington. It was the summer after my freshman year that Rosalie started reshaping my wardrobe, and gradually it became much more fashion forward than I ever felt. And much more low cut than I ever would have dared to get without her advice.

"Hey, I made sure you had plenty of work clothes, too," Rosalie said defensively, eying me up and down. Today I was in a pair of black jeans and a creamy, flowy blouse with a little black ribbon bow hanging loosely around my neck. She did have an excellent fashion sense, and I was grateful that I never had to think twice if I looked ridiculous or not anymore.

Rosalie handed me the dress and I folded it quickly into my bag. "I'll see you at six!"

I muttered to myself the whole drive downtown. I felt kind of shitty, going on a sort of date with a guy who probably thought it was an actual date. But, I was kind of backed into a corner.

I got Edward a bigger coffee than usual, solely to attempt to bribe him into not getting upset about the date. It wasn't like he could, really. We had no official relationship and he was married. That thought made me feel a little better about his reaction.

Just as he had been the last two days, Edward was sitting behind his desk waiting for me with a smile when I walked in. I set the coffee on his desk, sitting opposite of him. I let out an exasperated huff when he pushed an icy blue Gatorade toward me.

"I don't get a coffee?" I asked, feigning offence.

"That depends," Edward said, his voice deeper than I was expecting.

"On?"
"Whether you need the Gatorade to keep your energy up… later."

I knew the moment I saw it the Gatorade was his polite way of asking if my period was over. And, if I didn't have a fake date tonight, I would have found it cute. Instead, it reminded me how very sexually frustrated I currently found myself.

"I have a date tonight," I blurted out, embarrassingly loud. My communication skills were surprisingly good with Edward, but I still sometimes spat things out at the worst time.

Edward's eyes darkened and a deep frown covered his face. "Excuse me?"

"I asked my roommate to set me up with someone before we left for New York. And she did. So, now I have to go on a date so she doesn't ask me why I don't want to."

"I see," he sighed, leaning back in his chair and eying me.

"I'm not too happy about it either," I grumbled, grabbing the Gatorade and taking a quick sip.
Edward was grumpy every time I saw him for the rest of the day. But, to be honest, I was grumpy, too. The Gatorade had been a cute nod to our time in New York and it was all I could do to keep my composure around him this afternoon.

There was an odd break in the middle of taping the show, thanks to a scheduling conflict of one of the guests, so I had to leave before it finished. I changed in the bathroom, spending far too long figuring out the strap situation on the dress. I pulled my hair into a messy pony tail because I didn't have the desire to try all that hard for the date in the first place.

As I was walking down the hall I tugged on the fabric of the dress covering my breasts, making sure everything was covered as much as it could be. In a complete déjà vu moment, I bumped into a solid chest just like I had the last time I was leaving for a date.

"Oh, sorry," I mumbled, looking up at Edward. He was kind of mouthwatering, walking around in his suit. For a girl who lost her virginity less than two weeks ago I could surely go longer than this before getting this desperate, I thought, shaking my head.

Unlike the first time, Edward didn't immediately drop his hands from my arms. He squeezed them gently before dropping them. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

I nodded and followed him the few steps down the hall to his dressing room. It was, thankfully, empty as Edward shut the door behind us. I was completely unprepared for his assault, so when I ended up sitting on the thin counter in front of the mirror with Edward's hands gripping my thighs and his tongue in my mouth, I was a little disoriented.

"I told you we can't, ah, do this here," I moaned, unconvincingly, when Edward's attention moved to my neck.

"Then come home with me where I can do much more," Edward groaned, his teeth sinking into a sensitive spot on my neck.

I knew I had to be the one to put a stop to this, because Edward's hands seemed incredibly determined to sneak up my dress. I grabbed his hands, putting them by his sides and hopped off of the counter.

"I have to go," I sighed, grabbing my bag off of the floor. I straightened myself in the mirror, because Edward was very handsy and it disrupted the delicate balance of this dress held together by a couple of strings.

Once I was presentable again, I turned around to leave, only for Edward to be right behind me. With his hands on my waist he walked me backwards silently, until my back was against the wall.

I got out a weak protest before his lips silenced me, this kiss slow and deep and toe curling. When Edward broke away, his lips brushed against my ear as he spoke.

"You're going to go and get this date over with," he grunted, saying the word 'date' like it was a blasphemous sin. "And then, you're going to come to my place, and I'm going to fuck you until you forget his name. Okay?"

My breath caught in my throat but I nodded my answer. Based on the cocky smirk and the way his eyes shined, he knew he had me flustered.

I didn't have a lot of mental capacity for words, so when Edward stood back and opened the door for me, the best I could mutter was, "Have a good show, Edward."

As I drove across town, I expected my mind to try and convince me that the whole thing was a mistake in the first place, to go down a similar tailspin that I went through after Edward's family showed up. It was different now, sneaking around town to find time to spend together. It all seemed much more planned and affair-like than New York felt.

Still, I was a calm as could be. Well, not calm because my mind had Edward's last words running on a repeat in my head the whole drive. But, I was no longer the same mess of guilt I had been the last few days in New York.

I took a deep breath in the car before I got out, looking at my phone and giving myself an hour before I could make my escape. I was a little late, so I tacked on ten extra minutes as my punishment.

The bar was crowded, especially for a Wednesday night. It was a nice place, though. Not a college dive bar or anything like that. Everything was clean and new and obviously popular if the crowd was any indication.

"Bella!" I heard Rosalie shout over the music and voices. I saw her off to the left, at a long table full of unrecognizable people. I groaned internally before reaching her. She hopped up from her spot and gave me a quick hug. "You made it!"

I knew my best friend well, and her exuberance meant she was already at least two drinks in.

"I saw three guys check you out as you walked over," she told me as I sat down on a stool beside her. Her brain probably told her she was whispering, but it was much closer to a yell. "That guy by the bar, dark hair and a full sleeve, but he I've seen him strike out with three other women so far so I would avoid him. But there was also that blonde at the table over there who seems cute."

"I thought I was here to meet one of Emmett's friends," I sighed.

"I know. Just keeping your options open. I've never met the guy and Emmett hasn't seen him in a while. But, he said he was a good guy in college."

I smiled over at Rosalie, because she truly did always look out for me. Had since nearly the moment I met her. And she never made me feel bad for being unable to talk to half of the people I met or never having dated or anything.

A few minutes later I was seated across from a man named Alec. He had dark hair that was slicked back with way too much product but blue eyes that seemed surprisingly genuine and kind.

Most of the table was loud and boisterous, which was no surprise considering Emmett's friends had to be that way to survive with him. But, Rosalie had made a point to sequester Alec and I at the opposite end of the table, away from the commotion.

"Are you still in school?" he asked, though his eyes were definitely not on my face.

"No, I graduated a few months ago." Emmett was a good five years older than me, so I assumed Alec was around the same age and didn't bother asking him the same question.

"Yeah? I fucking loved UCLA. Best years of my life. You ever party at Delta Omega?"

I internally groaned. "No, I wasn't much of a partier."

Again, his eyes drifted down to my chest. "Shame."

I rolled my eyes, picking up my phone when it vibrated next to me. I completely tuned whatever outdated party story Alec was going on about and watched the influx of messages from Edward. Each one coming in a few seconds after the last, each message leaving me more flustered than the last.

I can't wait to have you naked.

Begging for my cock.

Screaming my name.

Before I could respond, a message from Rosalie flashed across the screen.

Abort! Abort! Emmett was catching up with this guy and said Alec has turned into a manwhore.

"Yes," I sighed happily, never more glad to hear about someone's manwhoring ways.

"You okay?" Alec asked, frowning at me for interrupting a riveting story about his college days.

"Yeah, sorry. I have to go," I told him, fake regret on my face as I grabbed the small clutch beside me.

"Damn, really?"

I rolled my eyes at his disappointment. "I was never going to sleep with you, so you don't have to look so disappointed," I blurted out.

I hopped off of my stool and wandered over to the opposite end of the table where Rosalie was seated.

"I'm so sorry. Apparently, he – "

"It's fine. I had a shitty day at work and wasn't really in the date mood anyway," I sighed. "Are you staying with Emmett tonight?"

A lazy smile spread across her face. "Yes."

"Okay," I smiled. She tended to spend Wednesday and Thursdays at his place, come home for fresh clothes Friday, and then be gone all weekend, too. It was kind of cute, watching them get into their own little routine. "I'll see you Friday."

"You should stay. The blonde is still here!"

My phone vibrated in my hand, and Edward's name flashed on the screen. "I've got to go," I sighed, holding up the phone. "Work."

Rose nodded sympathetically and I left quickly. I answered the phone while I was still maneuvering my way through the crowd.

"Hold on!" I shouted over the music and conversations.

Once I was finally outside and walking to my car, I held the phone back up to my ear. "Sorry," I grumbled.

"Are you finished?"

"Yes," I breathed out, unlocking my car door and falling into my seat. "I'll be there in half an hour."

-B-

Edward's front door was all glass, so I watched him walk down the hall to answer it. He moved gracefully, still wearing his suit from earlier. It was hard to believe I ever watched hours of this man, wearing suits like that, and not thinking about how exciting it would be to remove it piece by piece.

He had a glass full of dark brown liquid in his hand, but downed it quickly once he locked the door shut behind me. I dropped my clutch on the small table beside us, Edward setting his now empty glass beside it.

I got distracted by his hand, the way his fingers tensed and realizing how much bigger it was than my own.

"What was his name?"

"What?" I asked, my eyes going from his hands to his face.

"The name of the man you were just out on a date with, Isabella. What was his name?"

"Oh," I mumbled, embarrassingly turned on by the way his voice dripped with jealously. No one had ever been jealous of me before. I supposed Edward's came from some manly sense of not wanting the woman he's sleeping with out with another man, but it made my body tense in all the right places. "Um, Alec."

His hand came up to my chin, surprisingly gentle as he lifted my face up and traced my bottom lip with his thumb. Impulsively, I sucked his thumb on one of his passes, which made his eyes darken.

"You're going to be the death of me," he groaned, pushing his thumb farther in my mouth. He pulled his hand away from me quickly, as soon as I wrapped my tongue around his thumb.

I took a step towards him, making us indecently close. I grasped the lapels of his jacket softly, straightening him up. The last couple days had been full of wistful glances and short kisses and it wasn't enough.

Because it was moments like this that made the stress and fear and unknowns of this whole situation worth it.

I tugged lightly on his tie for him to bend down to my level. He had to know I didn't care about Alec or anyone else, even if I couldn't really say it out loud. Because I knew I should, care about anyone but him, but I didn't.

The moment his lips touched mine, nothing was off limits. An almost pained groan from Edward lead to his hands underneath my thighs, lifting me up and wrapping me around him. He started walking up the stairs but all I really focused on was his hair between my fingers and his soft lips between my teeth. I squeaked against his lips when his hands slid up underneath my dress and squeezed my ass.

He set me on my feet at the foot of his bed. Without a second thought I tossed his jacket off of his shoulders and tugged on his tie. I had just barely gotten his shirt off of his shoulders when Edward twisted me quickly, leaving me with my back flush against his front. I gasped when he pressed himself, long and hard, firmly against my back.

I attempted to focus on our surroundings, having only ever been in his bedroom briefly once before. The room was stunning, those same glass walls as downstairs surrounding his sitting area, while the wall behind his bed was made of warm wood. His bed was huge, covered in a dark, puffy duvet cover with contrasting pillows scattered in front of the padded headboard.

"You're mine," Edward groaned into my ear, one hand sliding up my waist and grasping my breast over my dress, the other slipping up under my dress and cupping me between my legs.

I gave him a small nod, squirming against his fingers when he slid them inside my panties without any hesitation. His breath was heavy in my ear as he pushed every one of my buttons. Literally and figuratively.

My head fell back against his shoulder, eyes squeezed shut when he slid his hand underneath the thin fabric of my dress, his warm hand now kneading my breast in time with his movements.

"Mine," he warned. His voice dark with his breath warm against my neck.

Everything in me wanted to be able to say the same thing about him, but I kept my mouth shut. My hand reached around behind me, rubbing against his hard length. I smiled at the groan I got in response and the way he pressed himself farther into my hand. It was an overwhelming thing, knowing I had that kind of effect on him.

My toes curled in anticipation when Edward's hands left to start tugging on the strings at my back that held my dress together. I slipped my feet out of my heels, suddenly dropping a good four inches in height. The action led to a heartbreakingly sweet kiss being peppered on top of my head.

The tender moment passed quickly, the air in the room suddenly heavy and imposing. The instant my dress pooled on the floor Edward quite literally tossed me onto the center of his bed.

He was beside me quickly, tossing my legs out of his way and pressing two fingers inside me. Lips descended on my chest, nips and licks along my skin until he bit sharply at my nipple.

"Are you this wet for me or him?" he grunted against my skin.

All I could do was squirm against his fingers and moan.

"Me or him, Bella?" he asked again, moving to my other breast and biting down sharply on my nipple.

Even in my lust-clouded brain, I knew exactly where the rough hands and harsh words were coming from. A wave of sadness washed over me, only for a moment, because if anyone deserved to know how loved and adored and appreciated he was, it was Edward.

I tugged sharply on his hair, forcing his eyes up to me. His were wild and mossy, a hint of irrational anger behind them.

"Only you, Edward," I mumbled. "Only you."

The anger behind his eyes seemed to fade, but the intensity only burned stronger. He stood up and I groaned at the loss of his fingers and touch. With a nod toward his bedside table, all he said was, "Top drawer."

I flipped myself over on my stomach, reaching blindly in the drawer until my fingers found a pile of foil packets. A smooth hand wrapped around my ankle, pulling me back to the center of the bed as soon as I shut the drawer. Firm hands kept me in place when I moved to flip over.

"Fucking perfect," Edward mused behind me, the bed dipping with his weight. His hands trailed up my waist and along my back, moving in intricate patterns. Tracing fingertips over my spine and dipping down to whisper over the side of my breasts, eventually leaving me to grab the condom where it was discarded beside me.

His slacks were gone, his body bare as it settled over me. Edward tugged my hair out of the pony tail it was in, tossing it over my shoulder and turning my face toward his. His lips covered mine in a sloppy and all-consuming kiss that had me squeezing my thighs together.

"Please," I mumbled against his lips. New York had never been like this. It was easy and care free and amazing. This was raw and unhinged and equally amazing.

Edward sat up, his hands pulling at my hips, maneuvering me as if I weighed nothing. He pulled me up, my knees barely strong enough to keep me to his liking. My arms, which attempted to hold my upper body off of the bed, collapsed the second he was inside me.

I lost track of everything. How many times he would suddenly slow his movements, stretching his body out on top of me and slowly calm my body down before speeding up again, pulling at me against him just as hard as he thrust up against me. I would groan and grumble every time he slowed and he would nip at my neck and ignore my pleas.

"You feel so good, baby," he groaned against my hair. His fingers were buried in it, massaging my scalp as his body rolled slowly above my own. "So good."

I whimpered against the bed. My arm reached behind me to dig my nails into his shoulder for something to grasp other than the sheets.

"Please," I whined when he sat up, pulling my knees back up underneath me. I had no energy to even attempt to hold myself up anymore so he had to do all of the work, hands hard on my hips.

I moaned loudly when he started to move again, sharp thrusts that left me biting the sheets beneath me to keep somewhat quiet.

"Fuck, yes," he grunted, hands tightening around my waist.

Everything inside me exploded, the most intense fire spreading from limb to limb. I heard myself scream his name, but didn't actually feel myself do it. My entire body collapsed on the bed but I still felt Edward behind me. A second later I heard him groan and felt warm spurts splatter along my back.

My thighs shook and my hands seemed stuck in a death grip on the sheets. I had no cognitive thought for maybe five minutes, and jumped when I suddenly felt a warm wash cloth run up and down my back.

Edward pulled at my hands, getting me to release my grip on the sheets, and then easily lifted me off of the bed. I had no energy to protest or tell him I could walk myself because I wasn't sure I could. Instead, I sighed happily and pressed a kiss to the skin closest to me on his shoulder.

A few minutes later I was in a wonderfully large bathtub, my back against Edward's chest. My head rested in the comfortable spot beneath his chin.

"Can you stay?" Edward asked softly, his fingers tracing patterns along my abdomen.

"I'll have to leave early," I mumbled, suddenly glad for Rosalie's recent lack of time at home.

Edward smiled against my neck, dropping a kiss to my shoulder. "Sit up."

"No, thank you," I sighed.

He chuckled behind me. "We've got to work on your stamina."

"I have excellent stamina," I frowned. "I just never do that at the gym."

He chuckled again and I reluctantly sat up. His hands were gentle, a stark contrast to what they felt like half an hour ago, and fifteen minutes later I was probably the cleanest I had ever been. My brain was too foggy to really realize no one had ever taken such good care of me.

Edward made a point of discarding my towel as he led me back to his bed. Instead of getting in with me, he knelt beside the edge once I laid down. "Did you eat with him?"

I frowned. "With who?"

Something about what I said must have been hilarious, because I got a hearty laugh from Edward.

"Are you hungry?" he asked once he recovered.

"No," I told him, hoping it was the answer that got him in bed beside me.

I smiled when I ended up being right and he settled in next to me. I was suddenly wide awake as he wrapped himself around me. My fingers did their own exploring. Tracing over his chest, through the thin spattering of hair. Traveling along his shoulders and down his arms, feeling the firm muscles beneath me.

Edward's hand cupped my cheek, pulling my attention back to his face. He said nothing, but his eyes said a lot. Things I couldn't understand, but I saw them in there, wanting to come out. Things that ended with Edward hitching my leg around his waist, moving slowly inside me.

A/N: The good news: I don't want to spoil anything, but based off of your reviews the answers most of you are waiting for are coming next chapter. The bad news: I can't guarantee I'll be able to update twice next week. If there's no update Tuesday, I can promise it'll be up Friday.

PS: enjoy the angst-free chapter while you can.

See you then :)