Good morning from Seaworld!

Sunlight burns the back of my eyelids as awareness seeps in. I'm warm and comfortable, surrounded by soft blankets and heated skin. I nestle deeper into the comfy cocoon, appreciating this moment of quiet numbness.

"Mmm."

The sound goes straight to my deliciously aching core, and I tense as everything comes barreling back. I don't run. I don't scream. I don't cry. I simply take a minute to process, and even when I come up short in the reasoning department, I don't freak out. I allowed this, chose it even.

And it was spectacular.

"I can hear you overthinking from here," Edward rasps, burying his nose in my hair. "Just breath, Bella. Nothing's changed. We're two people, stuck together for the holiday, who found comfort in each other."

I nod, taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly. "You're right." I grip the blanket tighter and hold it to me as I roll over, effectively trapping it between us. My muscles stretch and whine at the sudden movement, causing a secretive smile to lift at the corners of my lips. "I've never had so many orgasms in my life."

He smirks, his bright morning eyes twinkling. "What? The ex couldn't pull off four in one night?"

I close my eyes against the burn of tears, ashamed of the truth. When I reopen them, concerned greens wait patiently. "More like, he hasn't made it to four yet … total."

His brows fly high up his forehead, but he quickly tries to mask his surprise. "I'll refrain from passing judgment," he says, moving to where we're chest to chest with only the blanket separating us. "But I can promise to run that number into double digits if you'd like."

I smile at his offer, though an uneasy feeling creeps into my stomach when I remember the reason for his experience. "I don't know, Edward," I hedge, looking away from his gaze. "I mean, they were fantastic." I pause, licking my lips at the memory, and bring my eyes back to his. "But I'm not as sure in the light of day as I was in the dark of night."

"Ask me," he says, searching my face. "I know you have questions." I look down as heat burns its way up my neck and fills my cheeks. Edward chuckles, lifting my chin. "Don't feel embarrassed. I'm an open book."

"Do I have a disease now?" It's an awful question, maybe even misplaced, but it's the first one that leaps to mind.

"Quite the contrary," he says, surprising me. "I get tested every fourteen days, and so does everyone I work with. There are sleazy companies, but I worked for Denali House. They're the highest-end porn production anywhere in the world."

"But what if someone contracted a disease at a bar one night and passed it along between tests?" I rebut, not bothering with propriety.

"I can't rule it out one-hundred percent," he says, and my heart sinks. "But that could happen to anyone who's sexually active, including girlfriends who get cheated on." He pauses, sighing, and my sunken heart slams into my throat. "Look, I imagine your impression of the profession probably isn't a good one, but I promise, we take our sexual health very seriously."

"Ouch," I whisper, pained at the stark reminder.

He brushes my jaw. "I didn't say that to hurt you, but it is something you should consider."

I search his face. It's open and honest, serious. It's not hard to believe him. "I'll get tested as soon as I get home."

"Smart girl." He winks.

"When was your last test?"

"I got the all-clear just before I left for here." His expression is harder than I'm accustomed to seeing.

I lift my hand and brush his cheek. "What happened?"

His eyes snap to mine, and for a moment, they're full of hurt, but he pushes it away so fast I'm unsure if it was ever there. "Nothing," he says too harshly to be believed. "Thirteen was always my number."

His jaw is rigid, and without thought, I lean in and press my lips to his. It's a slow, long peck, meant to offer comfort. I smile as I pull away. "I don't believe you, but that's okay … for now."

Relief fills his pretty greens. "Thank you."

Hmmmm

See you tomorrow :)