Chapter 8

Bella couldn't stop the reckless way her heart was beating. Like it was going to come right out of her chest. It was the way he was looking at her, she thought. Or the way he didn't seem to mind how she was touching him, even after all the things she'd just confessed.

But his eyes – his eyes. They were deep green, with no trace of the hardness she'd imagined was there all those times she passed him in the lobby before they'd ever spoken. No, they were soft and dark and open. Like maybe he understood what she told him, and maybe he still wanted to be here with her anyway.

He brought his hand up to her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. But his hand, it just lingered there, his thumb gently stroking her cheek that suddenly felt too hot. She found herself leaning into his touch, seeking out the comfort and warmth of what he was offering like a cat seeking out affection. It was an intimacy unlike anything she'd ever experienced.

And Bella realized she craved it.

Not just his touch, but something more.

Anticipation hung thick and heavy in the air, as a silent request passed from his eyes to hers. And even though she wasn't sure what to expect, she knew she wanted it.

He hesitated, uncertainty clouding his expression for just a moment, and Bella, scared that he would pull back, simply whispered, "Please."

And then he pressed his mouth against hers. It was soft at first – his warm, wet lips gently pulling at her own that felt too dry, too stiff, and far too unpracticed. And then she felt her head swim. Her blood rushed, bubbling up under her skin, radiating a heated flush that seemed to touch every part of her body. Deep, dormant places that had gone unnoticed and ignored for too long.

Her reaction was unexpected, but she found that she couldn't control it. She opened her mouth, his name a soft gasp on her lips. And in that moment, he kissed her fully, and Bella realized that what was happening before wasn't a kiss. Not a real one. Because the feeling of Edward's tongue slipping inside her mouth and pressing against her own was a revelation for which she never could have prepared.

She reached up, clutching his face, almost like she could pull him even deeper into her. And he just let her, not only that, but he was pulling at her, too. Not just her body, but her fragile heart and chaotic mind. He groaned her name, and just the sound of it coming from his low voice, filled with as much need as she was feeling was enough to make her ache.

He tasted like peppermint tea and desire. And it was desire she'd never known.

And Bella wanted more.

More of his taste, more of his voice saying her name, and more of his touch that sent electric shocks all throughout her body. And before she could even stop to question her need, she pressed herself fully against him, pushing up on her knees and running her hands through his surprisingly soft hair.

Nothing about Edward before this moment seemed soft. Yet so much about him was, she realized. Not just his hair, but they way he panted into her mouth, the way his arms wrapped around her, keeping her close to him as he kissed and kissed and kissed her.

And then, just when she thought she could never get enough, she realized it was all too much.

.

.

Edward felt the exact moment she tensed up because up until that moment, she'd been liquid fire in his hands. Her full lips pressing against his own, her hungry mouth open and urgent, kissing him back, and whimpering his name. She'd all but crawled in his lap, and holy hell, he'd never wanted anything more.

It was the greatest kiss of his goddamn life.

And he had to fucking pull back to stop it because it was all too much for her.

When he'd initially kissed her, he hadn't intended it to go so far. But then, there was no way he could have expected just how responsive Bella would be. He'd been so worried he would scare her off, only planning on kissing her gently. And he had to kiss her. He had to show her that he didn't give a single fuck about the things she told him. Not that he didn't care, but that none of it really mattered or affected the way he felt about her.

She was just sitting there, stroking his hand, and seeming like she really wanted it – wanted something – and Edward wanted to be the one to give it to her. Especially when she'd already given him so much – all the little pieces of herself he doubted she'd ever shown anyone.

But she showed him.

It was with that in mind, that he pulled back, feeling her trembling body in his hands. She opened her eyes, big and brown and wild. And just for a moment, as he looked into those eyes, he couldn't tell if she was shaking from nerves or from arousal.

Because he was fucking was.

Hell, he was fucking trembling from how much he wanted her.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, reaching up to push back the hair that had fallen across her face. "I didn't mean…"

"That was…" she interrupted him, but she didn't shy away from his touch. And that alone gave him more hope than he had any right to.

"Too much?" he asked, the hope inside him silently begging her to tell him no.

"A lot," she said slowly, taking in a deep breath. She licked her swollen lips, and he couldn't help but stare, wanting nothing more than to kiss them again. "You kissed me."

Her voice held an air of wonder he wasn't expecting, and maybe, just fucking maybe, he hadn't fucked this up beyond all repair.

"I did," he agreed, then added in a lower voice, "and you kissed me back."

"Yeah," she said. "A lot, apparently."

Her blush radiated bright red heat that he could feel against his hand. But it was her expression, all shy and embarrassed, that made him say, "I liked it, though – the way you kissed. Even though it was…unexpected."

"Unexpected," she repeated the word. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No, never," he said solemnly. "It was unexpected when you talked to me yesterday. And we both know I liked that."

"I didn't know, not really."

"I came to your apartment after," he challenged.

"To bring books."

"I told you that was an excuse."

She bit down on her bottom lip, and Edward almost groaned with the need to be the one doing that.

"Well, let me set you straight," he said. "I like it when you do anything that brings you closer to me."

He let the words hang there between them, his eyes open and sincere. He wanted her to know the truth, and more importantly, he wanted her to feel it.

"You say that like you mean it," she finally said.

"I do," he said. "I can't pretend to know everything you're feeling right now. About this, about everything that happened today, but I want to make something really clear here, Bella. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. And after the way you just kissed me, I'm feeling a whole lot of things that would probably freak you out if you knew." He felt the slight tension in her neck at his words, but he pressed on. "But I am feeling them, and based on your reaction a few minutes ago, I'm pretty fucking certain you're feeling them, too. Even if it scares you. And that puts me in a really tough position because I don't want to scare you. I don't want to push you too hard or too fast. So, I'm willing to let you lead, but just, for the record, or whatever, if you kiss me like that again, I won't be the one to stop. Because I like the way you feel pressed up against me, and I like the little sounds you make when you're turned on. Because you were, weren't you? When I was kissing you and licking your lips and sucking your tongue, you were just as turned on as I was. Hell, as I am."

Her pulse raced beneath his fingers, but she didn't pull away. He could see the questions in her eyes, like she really couldn't believe what he was telling her. And that was so frustrating because it was the fucking truth. He'd never wanted a woman so much in his life, and his dick was goddamn granite in his pants.

"You were…you're turned on?"

He took her hand, and keeping his eyes locked on hers, he slowly dragged it down his chest, and pressed her palm against his cock.

"You feel that, Bella?"

She nodded, her eyes widening.

"That's what you do to me." He had to fight the urge to grind against her hand like a fucking teenager. "And if I'd let you crawl up in my lap, you would have felt it then, too. Only then, you'd have felt it against your pussy."

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A/N

I know, I know!

This is late!

But if you only knew the fucking long and ridiculous day I had at work yesterday.

Anyway, I'm back, and posting early today. And I hope you liked their first kiss because I sure as hell enjoyed writing it. One of the things I loved most about B/E's first kiss in the book was how over-excited and carried away she got. And I think we can all agree that the first kiss in the movie was the best damn kiss of all. Anyway, this is me kinda paying tribute to that.

As ever, Marvar is amazing. She makes me look like I know what I'm doing.

And of course, thanks for reading. You're all so pretty and you have nice boobs. Happy Monday!

Reviews are love.