Disclaimer- all these obscenely good-looking characters belong to the one and only Stephanie Meyer!

Hello lovely people! I am soooo sorry by how long it has taken me to write this chapter! I am currently planning to go to University this weekend, so I have been extremely busy, but no fear – I will make sure that I am on top of this story.

Your reviews have been absolutely incredible, and I am astounded by the support for this story. A few of you have commented about your worries of Jacob, but do NOT worry! I am a MAJOR B/E shipper, and I would never ever let Jacob get I the way of that… but it's fun to tease you guys ;D.

Here is an extra long chapter as a thank you for your love, and I hope you enjoy. Please let me know what you think.

Lots of love xo

3.

BPOV

"Now, I have been feeling some restlessness from many of you today… it is practically radiating from you! But fear not my children; the stars are realigning, and you will experience a relaxation in these tensions. As we enter the 'halasana' pose, I want you to inhale for five seconds and exhale for five more seconds. Feel all that negative energy seep from your bodies. Release all that anxiety. Cleanse yourselves."

As Zafrina, my yoga instructor bends into the position, hiding her face, I finally allow myself to roll my eyes. Zafrina is ever the eccentric; claiming that the planets define us, and that we need to be rid of all the negativity in our lives.

Easy for her to say though – she hasn't met the source of my 'negative energy'. I grit my teeth, feeling the strain in my muscles as I push my body into the 'halsana', thoughts of the handsome bartender inevitably invading my mind.

It has been three days since he cornered, then abandoned me at Rosalie's party. Three days, since he left me, wet and needy on the bed, absolutely humiliated. Three days, of having his note burn a hole in my pocket, desperate for my attention.

One half of me - the half that begged him to take me on a random person's bed – is completely intrigued by the note. What if I did call him? Would he tease me again? Ask to hook up again? Am I naive to believe that he wants to take me on a date?

The other, most realistic part of me, wants to burn the note and forget about Edward. He scares me. With Edward, I never feel in control. I turn into a different person.

Isabella Swan, the daughter of a police chief, never had one-night stands. She didn't crave that. She never acted purely on her hormones. She used her brain, her logic; she was independent and strong willed.

But Edward… Edward makes my blood boil. He knows what buttons to press and how to get a reaction out of me. My words get completely lost in his presence, replaced by adrenaline and excitement. My body takes over my brain, and all clarity is amiss.

"Think any harder and you are going to hurt yourself" Alice mutters under her breath, bent in the same position.

I squeeze my eyes tightly, "I'm not thinking about anything."

"Pfffft… I'm your best friend Bella – what kind of fool do you take me for?"

"Isabella, Mary Alice, please refrain from any chatter in my class. This is a time where we must be in touch with her inner sangfroid." Zafrina says, moving from the halsana pose, eyes still closed. How does she do that?

"Now, please move into the 'crow'."

"Is 'sangfroid' even a word?" The pixie wonders.

"Yes Alice."

"Huh."

"Ladies!"

We oblige, moving our bodies into the 'crow.' After a moment of silence, Alice continues to harass me.

"You've been quiet since Rosalie's party… actually, fuck that, you've been acting weird since the bar. What happened? You know you can tell me anything!"

I sigh. I had hoped that my weekly yoga session would be a great way to forget all about the events since the bar. Yet, my racing mind paired with Alice's insistency made it impossible.

"I… I may have met someone."

She is quiet for a moment, before a loud squeal escapes "GET OUT!"

"ISABELLA SWAN! MARY ALICE BRANDON!"

Our heads simultaneously snap to our usually mellow yoga teacher. The Amazonian is nearly red in the face, her eyes shooting fire as she glares at us. I look around at the fellow members of our yoga class who stare at us curiously, some with irritation and others with amusement.

My face flames with embarrassment.

"I have had quite enough of your chatter! Please, have some respect for some of the people in this classroom who wish to relax! One more word, and I will have to dismiss you. Got it?"

We both nod quickly, shocked at her sharp tone and scary expression.

"Good."

She then takes a dramatic intake of breath, her face adopting her typical chilled manner. "Now ladies, if you would all move into warrior one position for twenty seconds, before moving swiftly into warrior two."

I bend my left leg forward, and stretch my right leg backward, making sure that my back stays ramrod straight. I then raise my arms high above my head, staring up at the plain white ceiling, counting in my head.

"Who is he?" Alice whispers.

"For fucks sake Alice, do you want us to get thrown out of this class?" I murmur, avoiding any eye contact with Zafrina. That woman is damn frightening!

"Well it's not everyday that my friend hooks up with a guy! I mean when was the last time you properly got with someone? Wasn't it last year at one of Newton's lame ass parties? What was his name again? Aaron… Andy… Alec!"

"No! Remember that guy I dated shortly at the beginning of the year? Riley?"

Alice scrunches her face up, "Oh yeah. I must have blocked him out, that guy was a fucking bore."

I nod in agreement. Riley and I dated for two months earlier this year. I had bumped into him at the coffee shop I frequented, and his all American-boy charm and sweet smile was the main instigator to why I agreed to a date.

What a mistake.

Riley was the dullest man to ever walk this earth. A total people pleaser, he had no real tastes or opinions of his own, instead choosing to agree with every thing I said.

At the beginning, I was none the wiser. For example- I'd say my favourite book was Pride and Prejudice, then he would watch the whole BBC box set by the next evening. I thought it was it was cute at first, but soon it just became annoying.

It was only until Alice gave me a swift kick up the ass, when I realised what Riley and I had lacked both passion and adventure; something that I needed in my life. When I finally did break it off, he literally hugged my legs like a child when their mother leaves them at home for the first time. Then he started crying about how it was his ex Victoria's fault – the man was a nut job.

I shake my head, pushing away the memory.

"Who is he Bella?" Alice prods.

"No one you know."

"Where did you meet? Did you meet at the bar?" she gasps "Oh. My. God! Is he the reason why you left that night?"

"Look Al…"

"Uh hum"

I look forward, only to meet Zafrina's ferocious gaze, her face nearly as bright as the tie-dye shirt she wore. She doesn't say anything, but simply gestures us to the exit.

...

"Jesus Christ Alice! I actually enjoyed that class!" I huff as we walk down the sidewalk.

The hustle and bustle of New York moves around us in a flurry; yellow cabs beeping as they speed down the streets, businessmen in their pristine suits bumping into us, juggling their expensive iPhones and Starbuck's coffee; and well-dressed women tottering in their too high heels, up to their necks with designer bags.

It's busy, hectic and ultimately – chaotic, but New York makes me feel alive in a way that neither, Phoenix or Forks ever had.

Alice and I weave our way through the throngs of people over to the popular French café that we had come across one cold winter's day a year ago.

"You know Zafrina, Bella," Alice compromises as we walk briskly to the entrance "she'll forget by the end of today."

That is true. Both of us know that whilst Zafrina likes to believe that yoga is the ying to her yang it is her affinity for weed that usually makes her so chilled.

The heat of the café hits us at full blast when we enter, along with the mouth-watering scent of warm croissants and coffee.

I unwind my red scarf from my neck, "get me my usual, and I just may forgive you."

"You got it!"

I grab us a table at the corner of the room, beside a large window. I stare outward at the street, golden and red leaves falling from the trees above, people battling against the autumn wind.

I adore autumn with an intense passion: the ever-changing colour of the leaves, the spicy smell of pumpkin spice lattes. In Forks autumn doesn't seem to exist, as it remained as green as ever. The seasons seem to skip straight from summer to winter.

"Okay your break is officially over!" the evil munckin rejoices, sliding into the seat opposite me, placing tray full of steaming goods onto the table. "Tell me everything."

And so it commences. I tell her about our meeting: him calling me too young, our blatant flirting, steamy dance, and explosive kiss. Then the events of Rosalie's party: him pulling me into the dark, our banter, the kiss that turned into a near life altering sexual experience, and finally – the note.

By the end of it all, her jaw is nearly hitting the floor, and she is fanning herself with a paper napkin.

"Holy fuck! That sounds like a romance novel! Ooh… do you think Jazzy would agree to pulling me into a dark room and have his filthy way with me?" Her eyes glazes over, a dreamy smile spreading over her face.

"Ew Ali!"

She shakes her head, "right sorry! But seriously Bells! That is some HOT stuff right there! Do you have the note on you?"

I nod slowly, digging into my coat pocket and shoving over the crumpled piece of paper.

She analyses the paper silently, "he has nice handwriting. Certainly not the type of writing you'd expect from a working bartender," she says thoughtfully.

"Really? That is what you take from it?"

Alice looked up grinning, "well other than that, he's certainly got you on your toes! When are you going to call him?"

I splutter, "C-call him? Like hell I am! Did you hear what I just told you? He is a cocky, judgemental prick who insists on tormenting me!"

"Bella, if you truly believed that, then you would have thrown this note away as soon as you found it," She states patronisingly.

"B-but… you see… w-well… That's completely besides the point!"

"Plus," Alice continues, ignoring my mumbles "you judged him as well! You practically called him a drug dealer to his face, and then you proceeded to kiss his face off!"

I look down ashamed. How do I defend myself against that? Yes, so I may have misjudged him, but the man sends my brain into goo whenever I am around him! Add that to his sensual touches and erotic words, and I'm a goner!

"Look Bella," she soothes, "I am not saying you are in the wrong. If a hot guy pinned me up against a door and proceeded to strum my body like an instrument, then I would probably lose my brain filter too. But this guy seems to evoke some… interesting feelings from you. Feelings that I haven't even seen before! You are usually so reserved and calm, but he makes you loud and fiery. He's sparking a part of you, and Bella, you have got to see where it takes you! Please, for me, just give him a call, and if he turns out to be a penis crack then I will personally beat him to death."

I sniff, absorbing what she just said. "Penis crack? Really?"

She shrugs, "I'm running out of good insults."

I laugh.

Her phone buzzes. She picks it up, reading the screen before placing it slowly down.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it was just Jasper."

I raise an eyebrow, "does he want to meet you somewhere?"

Alice looks at me guiltily "Yeah, but I would never ditch you."

I roll my eyes, "Go on get out of here!"

"No! You need more consultation on this hot bartender!"

"Ali, go and see you wonderful boyfriend. I'll call Edward if you do."

Alice's face lights up, "promise?"

I give her a small smile, "promise."

"Yay! Okay, give me ALL the details later!"

I nod, watching her fondly as she skips out of the café, already dialling Jasper's number.

My fingers fiddle with Edward's number for a second, the words taunting me by the second. Can I do this?

I pick up the note shakily, holding my phone in my other hand. I click in his number carefully, double-checking in case I misdialled.

When I finally press 'call' my palms are sweating like crazy, and I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

This is a bad idea Bella! A really, really ba-

"Hello?"

Shit.

"Edward? Um… hi. This is Bella? From the bar… A-and the party?" Jesus, I sound like such an idiot!

He pauses, probably thinking the exact same thing. Then a sexy chuckle filters through the speakers.

"Bella. Of course I remember you… I must say, I have been eagerly awaiting your phone call."

"Y-you have?" I ask, shocked.

"Mhm… I really like this sudden coyness Miss Bella. Mind you, your fire is something I am also very… enamoured with."

I narrow my eyes at his words but I bite my tongue, holding back a retort.

"Well. You said the ball is in my court now. I've called, what is it you want?"

He chuckles again, sending shivers down my spine.

"Why Bella, I thought it was obvious? I want to see you again."

I freeze. While this had crossed my mind, I never really entertained the thought. I am Bella Swan for God's sake! Safe, predictable, average Bella Swan! I don't attract dangerously sexy bartenders!

"I take from your silence that you are quite surprised" I can practically hear his smirk over the line.

"Must you always sound like such a knob head?"

His laugh is a little louder this time. I think he likes my teasing.

"And there's the fire I have been missing, Angel."

"Just… I don- Why me?" I whisper pathetically.

His voice goes low then, a voice that I can imagine he would use in the bedroom. Rolling underneath silk sheets between sweeps of his lips and nips of his teeth.

"Bella… I can still taste your skin on my tongue. I can feel the rough lace of your sexy bra rubbing against my body. Whenever I close my eyes I can remember that twinkle in your eye as you argued with me. The heat of your sweet pussy against my cock as I pushed you against the door." He articulates every word making me feel intensely hot under the collar.

I am suddenly very, very aware that I am in a public place.

I clear my throat, "That wasn't completely obvious when you left me alone in Rosalie's."

He growls, "Trust me when I say, all I wanted was to plough into you hard, and feel you tighten around me as you screamed my name. But when I do fuck you, it will not be in a stranger's bed, in a public place… well at least not the first time. And I will not be spending mere minutes worshipping your beautiful body."

I am losing all my sensible thought, much like I did whenever I was in his presence. I am now grasping at straws, "So all you want is to have sex with me?"

"If all I wanted was sex Bella, then no offence, but I could easily bang a girl from the bar. I don't have any trouble with the female population," his voice isn't cocky but more matter of fact, "But that isn't what I want. What I want is- you."

Jesus Christ, is it getting hot in here or is it just me? Seriously, this man is going to make me explode.

"Tonight. I want to take you out." He demands.

"I am not going to sleep with you tonight, Edward."

"Is that a yes Bella?"

I think about it for a minute, why, I don't know.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, but dress casually and warmly" he says, smugness seeping through his tone. But deep down I sense relief in his voice.

I give him my address, my brain going one hundred miles per hour. I can't believe this is happening. Would I be able to control myself around him tonight? My body seems to act entirely on it's own accord whenever I am around him.

"I will pick you up at seven."

"You know, considering we have met twice, I still don't know your last name" I point out.

For the first time during the call, he hesitates "Edward Mason."

"Isabella Swan." I exchange.

"Hmm so… Isabella Swan…"

I furrow my eyebrows, recognising the seductiveness in his tone, "yes Mr Mason?"

"What are you wearing?" he asks cheekily.

I snort, "see you at seven, Edward."

When I hang up, I pretend that I don't have the biggest fucking smile on my face.

…

"Alice, where are you?"

The distant movement of sheets, and a low chuckle meets my ears. I face palm, tapping my shoe impatiently. It is half past five, meaning Edward will be here in an hour and a half. I have washed my hair, shaved and blow dried, trying to give Alice as much time with Jasper as possible. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Bella?"

"Al, when are you planning on coming home?"

"Jazz, stop doing that!" she giggles, "um, soon. Why? Wait… did you phone your hottie bartender? Please say you did!"

I run a hand through my hair, feeling the nerves slowly building again, "I did. And… he's picking me up in an hour and a half."

"Holy shit! Right, I'll be there in ten and a half minutes!"

"But doesn't Jasper live twenty minutes away?"

"Never doubt me Isabella. See you soon!"

I shake my head, putting the phone down. Alice never failed to amaze me, ever since we met three years ago. I remember when I first moved into my dorm, scared shitless, only to be met with a bouncy version of Tinkerbell.

She literally took all my boxes from me, and whizzed through them like some sort of hurricane, throwing all my "ugly" clothes into a corner (which was admittedly all of my wardrobe, sans a pretty blue blouse, and a smart pair of black jeans), before dubbing herself as my 'fairy godmother' and new best friend.

Alice changed me in many ways, but all for the better. Before College, I was extremely introverted and while I am still a little on the quiet side, I did enjoy the odd night out and letting my hair down. But I'd still choose a bucket of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and reruns of the 'Vampire Diaries' over a night on the town any day of the week.

I seemed to have a similar affect on her. I grounded Alice, bringing a sense of realism to her often over optimistic self.

"I'm here!" the devil herself sings.

"Impressive. Nine minutes and forty two seconds."

She pokes her tongue out childishly, "told you I had a gift. Now…" she starts jumping up and down, clapping "where is he taking you?"

I shrug, "not too sure to be honest. He said to dress casually, but warm."

"Hmm…" she taps her chin "well if it's casual, he is probably not taking you out for dinner. And if you need to be warm, you won't be going to the movies or anything else indoors."

"You see my dilemma?" I sigh, gesturing to my wardrobe.

"I think I know just the thing!"

She rummages around my drawers, pulling out a pair of dark jeans that are insanely comfortable.

"Okay wear these," she throws the jeans at me "with this jumper." She hands me a thick, grey, cable knit jumper.

"Is this Ralph Lauren?" I wonder, noticing the familiar logo on the jumper.

"You can never go wrong with Ralph, Bella" Alice replies condescendingly.

"But I don't own any Ralph Lauren!"

"I may have bought it for you in the Christmas sale last year…"

"Alice!"

"I knew you wouldn't accept, so I just put it in your wardrobe waiting for the right occasion! Now put the jumper on Bella!"

I pull the clothing on, aware that it was a fruitless argument as she continued to look through my things.

"Ooh! I completely forgot you had these!" she squeals, holding a pair of tall black boots "with these boots you can wear some fuzzy socks and he will never know the difference! And for your jacket, I think this is perfect!" She pulls a black suede biker jacket, which had black thick fleece inside. Again - I have no idea I even owned it.

I put on the new additions, while she walks around me critically.

"You look really cute! Now put the diamond earrings I bought you last Christmas in, some silver rings and your scarf on later then you'll be perfect! Now, lets do your make up and hair!"

By the time Edward had arrived, Alice had completed my natural make up with lip-gloss, and curled the ends of my hair. I am extremely happy with the result, but completely terrified at the prospect of spending a whole night with Edward Mason.

"BELLA! YOUR DATE IS HERE!" The annoying pixie trills.

I take one last long look in the mirror, and inhale deeply. He is just a normal guy Bella… a normal… cocky, beautiful, gorgeous; absolutely melt your panties off man.

I can hear Alice chatting to Edward. I peek around the doorframe, wondering if I should save my date or let him suffer.

She is talking one hundred mile per minute, enthusiastically waving her hands around as she chatted to my unassuming date. However, to my utter astonishment, instead of looking bored, pissed off or even scared like previous dates appeared when meeting Alice, he looks… amused.

He has a sexy half smile on his lips, leaning against the doorjamb, one hand in his pocket.

I take advantage of his distraction, digesting the sight of him. Jesus. How does he get even more beautiful every time I see him?

This is the first time I am seeing him in the light; and I can finally see that I was right about the eyes- not brown but a burning emerald. They are startling against his pale skin, drawing instant attention. His messy, 'I-just-rolled-out-of-bed' hair is a delicious bronze colour – neither red nor brown.

He wears a thick jacket over a forest green round neck jumper that I can see fits him very nicely, dark jeans and boots.

I must have made some sort of a choking noise, because both eyes snap to me, radiating humour.

I can feel my cheeks turning pink as I give Edward a shy smile, looking at him through my eyelashes. He flashes me a soft crooked grin in return, sending my heart into major overload. The tenderness of it surprises me.

"Edward."

"Bella."

We stare at one another for a moment, him taking in my attire (appreciatively, might I add) whilst I continue to gawk at his beauty.

Alice clears her throat, her silvery eyes darting between the two of us, "I'll go grab your bag Bella."

She turns her back on Edward, fully facing me, mouthing "Wow."

I chuckle, walking closer to the Greek God who had yet to take his eyes off of me. I internally dance.

"Sorry about her, she was a little… excited to meet you."

He laughs softly, "don't worry about it. She seems really great."

"She is!" Alice cries, handing me my bag. "It was wonderful meeting you, Edward… I hope we see you again very soon?"

"Me too" he responds, his eyes returning to mine.

"Okay off you go love birds! Have a good time! And take care of her Mister!"

The three of us laugh together. Edward then takes my hand into his, pressing a kiss to the top of it. I blush again, following him to the elevator at the end of hall.

"You look gorgeous Bella" Edward whispers into my ear, his hand settling on the small of my back.

I smile up at him, "Thank you. You know, I could get used to this 'sweet Edward'"

He raises an eyebrow, his trademark smirk making its way onto his face "Oh? I'd like to think I am sweet most of the time…"

I snort, pressing the button for the elevator, "uh huh, and I'm the queen of England."

He snickers at my cliché joke.

As we enter the elevator, he gently pushes me to the wall, placing his hands either side of my face, effectively trapping me.

"Mmm… this looks familiar."

I roll my eyes, "Right. Only tonight, I will definitely not be begging."

He trails his nose up and down my neck, tracing the curve of it, all the way up to my jaw-line.

"Really? He whispers against my skin, tickling me. I put both hands on his chest pushing him back slightly, needing space. He is doing it again- making me lose all coherent thought.

"Really, Mason."

A grin lights up off his face. He bends down to my eyelevel so that we are nose to nose.

"I bet you, that by the end of the night, you will be begging for your lips to be on mine."

The elevator dings, signalling our stop, "And if I win?"

He shrugs, "that's up to you. But if I win, you have to go out with me again."

We walk out, side by side to the sidewalk "how do you know that we are going to enjoy this date?"

A knowing grin spreads across his face as he stops by a gleaming Harley motorcycle.

"Oh, trust me Isabella – tonight, I'm going to give you the ride of your life."