I can't help but stare. I have heard this presentation at least a thousand times – on the way to work, over dinner, in bed – and she is magnificent. Bella confidently delivers her conclusions at the podium, her contagious energy spreading through the crowd as they realize how ground-breaking her findings can be for our patients.

I love her. She catches my eye and I sense she is at the end of the presentation.

"I just want to thank some important people who help made this research possible," Bella says. "My chief of medicine, Dr. Esme Cullen, who brought me to UW and believed in me from the beginning."

I watched Esme beam from her chair, glowing with pride.

"And our chief of surgery, Dr. Carlisle Cullen," Bella says, as Carlisle, who is sitting next to Esme, smiles warmly, "whose instrumental support led me to my partner in this project, Dr. Edward Masen," I look up at Bella in surprise, her brown eyes finding mine, "and my partner in this life." My heart beats double-time as I grin. Bella coyly smiles back at me, brushing a lock of hair back with her left hand. Her ring finger sparkles under the stage lights with the new rock I managed to slide on her finger last month. "I knew this project would change the lives of my patients but I did not realize how much it would change mine. Thank you." I stand up, unable to stop myself from raucously applauding as the love of my life walks off the stage towards me. How did I get so lucky?

Of course, Bella is immediately swarmed by researchers, industry sharks, and our colleagues. She sends me a desperate look but I laugh and shake my head – she has earned every moment in the spotlight and every accolade. I'll rescue her in a bit, but first I head off to find Esme and Carlisle.

"Oh Edward! She was divine, wasn't she, Carlisle?" Esme hugs me close before turning to her husband.

"As always, my love," Carlisle says, always agreeable when it comes to Esme. He pats me on the shoulder, "What an achievement. We can't wait to see both of you at dinner tonight. Celebrate and give Bella our love."

"I will," I nod as the two depart. I find Bella chatting with the last of the crowd and I amble up, finally, to save her.

"Dr. Swan, if I could pull you away, you are needed in the chief's office," I say smoothly. Bella gratefully nods and the stragglers hear their cue, saying their thank you's as I deftly grab her bags and finally her hand as they leave.

"Edward," she sighs, "thank you, sweetheart." I grab her towards me in a side-hug and kiss her head as we walk towards the corridor to her office.

"You did an incredible job," I say honestly, looking into her eyes as she searches mine for any ounce of humor. "Though you never have to thank me. Seriously." She smiles up at me gratefully, her eyes staying on mine for a beat longer than usual. She bites her lip. Fuck.

"Dr. Masen, if you could come into my office so I can properly thank you for all you do," Bella says in her serious voice as she brushes in front of me to unlock her door. Before I know it, she whips around and pulls my stunned self into her cave by my tie.

My mouth is on hers in a second. Will it ever stop being this good? I grab her, deepening into our familiar rhythm: always the right pressure, the right angles, the right amount of tongue. Her mouth is addicting. Closed, demanding, open, soft. I need her bare skin on me right now.

She squawks as I push her against the office table and shove all her papers off before letting her bags slide off my shoulder.

"Babe, the door!" she swats at me, escaping my grasp for a second to lock the front door. The door locks with a click, our heavy breathing filling the space. She keeps her back to me, letting her hand slide down the door. I can't breathe when she turns around, my vixen, and looks at me. Her hair is mussed by my handiwork. Oh! But her eyes are dark, wild, boring into mine as she unbuttons her blouse. I choke in agony.

I stand up, wanting her in my arms, but she gives me a stern look, gently pushing me back, letting me sweat as her shirt comes off.

"No hands," she states firmly, as her hand unfairly massages right where I need it. I grunt, unable to even formulate words. Her shirt flies off and I look at her helplessly, completely under her spell. She spreads my legs, settling herself between them as she meets my eye level. She pops her bra off, tossing it to the side before grabbing my neck and grazing my chest with her perfect breasts. She moans lightly, turning herself on as I feel myself dying with desire.

She flips around and bends over, her pencil skirt straining in the air as she takes off her heels.

"Baby," I croak, "please."

"Oh," she says innocently, sounding breathy, "I guess you could help with that" My hands are on her ass before she can take another breath, working the zipper off.

"Oh my.." she barely has time to say, before her pencil skirt is a puddle on the floor and she is flipped around, my hands everywhere. I kiss her like she is my breath in the air. This beautiful, sexy, precious woman. I can never get enough.

In one smooth motion, I have her flat on the table, her legs around my waist, and my face buried in her neck licking the spot that makes her crazy. She gasps and moans and I can't help but crawl up and kiss her perfect mouth. She pulls me to her, wiggling under me, "Too. Many. Clothes." she pants between kisses as she grabs at my shirt.

I pull my trousers off and am whipping my shirt off when she deftly switches our positions. I feel my back hit the table and feel her settle right where I need her. She places her hands right by my ears and slides up and down my length as I struggle with my hands – ass or tits – and settle for one of each as she kisses down my neck. She giggles and I harden impossibly further.

Finally she takes mercy on me and her hand reaches for me, guiding me into her.

"Fuck, Edward, so fucking good," she closes her eyes in pleasure as I enter her and I throw my head back, unable to say much more other than "Bella, fuck, yes." Both my hands go to her waist as she settles herself on top of me. Before I know it, she is bouncing and gyrating in coordinated, practiced choreography getting both of us right to the edge of heaven. Unable to control the build, I flip her over and pound into her as we both find our stars, screaming each other's names, and can't help but collapse into her sweaty softness.

"Edward," Bella laughs, as I finally lift myself off her. She looks at me sweetly and grabs my face for a quick kiss, "I love you, my crazy man, and I'm so grateful for you."

"You are my everything," I murmur, speaking from the soul, kissing her back and feeling her smile against my lips. I grasp her left hand and kiss it softly, watching her shining face. "Who knew this research project would lead to these kinds of conclusions?"

Bella laughs and I know that sound will make me the happiest man through the end of our days.

~Fin~