Edward grunted as he rolled onto his back, and then his eyes began to open slowly when he realized that he was alone. He was still on the couch, which he never did, so he knew he hadn't dreamed that Bella had come to him the night before. That and there was a strong scent of fresh coffee permeating the air, which he taken the time to set up before bed. Then he turned onto his side to get up, and the scent of her hair was still heavy on the throw pillow beneath his head, so she hadn't been gone long. But where was she?

"Bella?" he croaked in his hoarse morning voice but received no response. Rising from the couch, he began making his way to the kitchen when a shadow caught his eye in the still dimly lit dining room.

Even her silhouette in the chair against the skyline was a beautiful sight, her knees bent to her chest as she sipped on a coffee. As if she sensed his presence in the room, she turned her head to glance back at him over her shoulder and offered him a smile. "Sorry, I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to wake you. I started the coffee."

"I see that," Edward replied, his eyes shifting between her and the coffee mug, and then walked up behind her. His hands rested on her shoulders as he bent down to kiss her forehead. "I wouldn't have minded. Waking up to you would be a million times better than that annoying alarm on my phone."

Bella chuckled and shook her head in amusement, leaning back against his abdomen. "That's funny, and probably true. You really do have some extremely annoying sounds on your phone. But that's not what I mean."

Edward caressed her hair with his hand, but when she didn't continue, stepped around the chair to crouch down beside her. "What is it?"

"I told you. I can't wait until I can hear you say good morning to me in bed," Bella said softly, bringing her hand to stroke his cheek gently with the backs of her fingers. "It might be silly, but I'm still looking forward to that. After we've had that full first night together and waking up in bed with nothing between us. Your face is the first thing I see, and mine is yours. That's what I want our first 'good morning' to be. If I stayed beside you this morning on the couch, it would have been there, and not in the same way we desire."

"So I should just say 'morning' then?" Edward teased and raised his lips to her cheek, brushing them on her skin as she swatted his shoulder. "I know what you meant, and I agree. I'm looking forward to that, too."

Bella offered him another smile and took the last sip of her coffee. "I just didn't want to sneak out the door on you and leave, like I was doing a walk of shame or something. I was going to wait until your alarm went off so I could at least see you before I left. I know I'll see you later at work, but I really wanted to thank you again. I feel a lot better today. About Jane, and about us."

"About us?" Edward asked, his forehead creasing.

"Yeah. Don't get me wrong, I still want to be able to be all in when we take the next step. And I've got my head so wrapped up in this project that there is no way I'd be able to give you the amount of attention I want to. I'd love to thoroughly enjoy those first throes of our relationship, without having to constantly put you on hold for this prospect. But there are still times," she halted, shaking her head with a mischievous smile. "I really wonder if I'm going to be able to get through another day without pinning you to a wall somewhere. I've been doubting my ability to be close to you and still keep my head. Now, I know I can. I just spent all night in your arms, with you half-naked, no less. I won't say that I wasn't tempted at all this morning to wake you up and touch you, or that I'm not feeling it now, because that would be a lie. But having something more meaningful with you than a quick romp on the couch stood out beyond that, even with temptation literally laid out before me. It doesn't lessen how much I want you, but it's a good feeling to know that when it does happen, it will be special."

"We're on the same page, Bella. I guarantee, had I woken up before you, I think I would've done the same. And you are well aware of the near constant state of need I am in when we're around each other. Despite that, I can't pretend it doesn't exist. That's insanity. I think we've proven that we're smart enough to be professional when we need to be. So, when the time comes and I can't bend you over my desk at work like I'd want, I can handle that and wait until lunch, at the very least."

He winked, making her laugh. "A quickie during lunch away from the office sounds amazing and quite possible. But…" His eyebrow quirked, waiting for her continue. "The first time, I want to explore," her fingers drifted down his abdomen, "all of you."

"Only after I've done the same," he said, stopping her questing fingers. His brow tightened when he heard a certain ring tone from his cell phone.

"What is it?"

"Toshiro," he replied and ran over to his end table. "Riley sent the final changes to the contract hours ago." Bella motioned that she was going to change as he answered. He was still on the phone with Toshiro's assistant when she returned from the bathroom, looking refreshed and still in his clothes. Something he'd love to see more of in the future.

She placed one last kiss on his cheek and mouthed, "Good luck."

A few hours later, an anxious Bella met Edward at the main entrance of their offices. "Well?" There was little anxiety in her eyes, just true excitement for the news he held.

"He signed!"

She thrust her arms in the air, and then threw them around him. "The first round is on me tonight. I knew you could pull this off. The design is gorgeous and just amazing. We need to celebrate."

"Sounds good to me," he murmured, pressing a small kiss to her neck. She stilled in his arms, and immediately, they both stepped back. If they started something now, they'd never adhere to the rule of no sex in their offices. "I'm meeting him for lunch, and Toshiro asked if you could join us. His assistant was at the party and couldn't stop talking about you to him, too. Between us, Toshiro is starting to believe you walk on water."

She rolled her eyes and he was thoroughly delighted how a small tinge of pink colored her cheeks. "I have a call to make, but that won't be until two, so lunch sounds great."

Before she could get away, he pulled her back in his arms. "Thank you."

Her arms tightened around his waist, looking up at him. "I haven't really done anything."

"You believed enough in me to start up this business by my side. You pushed me on through some nights when I couldn't see straight. You helped me find all the new buildings codes and laws while I was busy drafting. Most of all, your support means so much to me."

She lifted a couple of fingers to trace the shape of his lips. Her way of telling him how much she wished she could kiss him. His hand ran slowly up her back to tell her he wanted it, too.

"I'll always believe in you."

~oOo~

"Edward, focus," he heard Alice's voice come through his earpiece, drawing his eyes away from Bella as she paced her office while talking on the phone a few days later. "You're watching her again, aren't you?"

"Mind your own business, Alice," Edward retorted in a gruff tone, rubbing his temples. "Is there a business-related purpose for this call, or just to be a pesky cousin? Because I am trying to work here."

"Well, if you had been listening to me for the last few minutes instead of having your attention drifting elsewhere." Her voice held a provoking tone to it, and he rolled his eyes. "I can't believe that you still haven't taken my advice. Think of how much better you'd be able to focus if you just got all this sexual frustration out of your system."

Edward closed his eyes and clenched his jaw, pressing his fist to his forehead. "Seriously, Alice, I love you, but please leave this alone."

"I'm just saying…"

"I know what you're 'just saying', but that's not the point here. You know how important Bella is to me, and she is not someone I just need to 'get out of my system.' She understands this, why is it so difficult for you and everyone else to? Even my mother is starting to drop hints. It may have worked for you and Jasper, though I really didn't need the mental image of that, but it's not for us. She deserves a hell of a lot better than that from me after all this time, and quite frankly, so do I," Edward ranted tightly, his chest and throat constricting with aggravation. "If all we wanted was sex from each other, we could have gotten that out a long time ago, and no one would have had to know. This means a lot of both of us, so I'm begging you to drop it."

Alice was quiet for a beat longer than Edward could ever remember, but the sounds of her breath let him know that she was still there. "Oh my God, you really love her, don't you?"

"I'm hanging up now," Edward said at the excited squeal he heard in his cousin's voice.

"Sorry, I'll stop! I know you've got to do what's right for you, but this is just incredible and kinda romantic. But doesn't that make it even more difficult for you?"

"You have no idea, Alice," he answered with a barely restrained groan, leaning back in his chair and opening his eyes. His brow furrowed as his gaze focused on Bella, who was flailing her arms around in her office. "I'm going to have to call you back."

"Edward, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I hope. I'll call you back," he continued distractedly, ending the call and removing his earpiece. He rose from the chair and began making his way to Bella's office door, leaning against the frame with his arms folded over his chest. Her movements stopped once she spotted him standing there, but her broad smile never diminished. "Everything okay in here?"

"Great. Better than great. I have scheduled my third meeting with a potential client just today, in addition to the one yesterday and Tuesday. So that makes five. Count them—one, two, three, four, five," Bella responded, her enthusiasm radiating through every syllable as she ticked each number off with a finger. "Jane might not be getting back to me right away, but she certainly is talking me up. So that's something, right? Honestly, worst-case scenario, I might only land one client out of all five of them. At least two of them sounded extremely promising. And my first appointment for next week is now Tuesday instead of Wednesday."

Edward smirked at her rambling, waving his hands out to the side. "What did I tell you?"

"You can save the 'I told you so' for another time. I have a lot of work to do. So, I am going to respectfully ask you to get out of my office," Bella replied, trying to keep a straight face as she walked toward him, but her eyes danced and her lips were twitching. She placed her hand on his chest, giving him a gentle shove, and her eyes met his when his hand came up to cover it. "I really do have a lot of work to do."

"I know, but no kiss goodbye?" Edward teased, chuckling as she lightly slapped his chest. "Seriously, congratulations."

"Thanks," Bella murmured, running her index finger along his tie.

Despite the agreement they'd made to keep intimate contact to a minimum within the confines of the office, he couldn't deny how much he really did want to kiss her at that moment. Or even just take her in his arms, but the feel of her body against his in any way just then would stay with him all day, and it wasn't even noon yet. He bent toward her, pressing his lips just beside the corner of her mouth. "I'll go get back to work now."

"You are such a tease," Bella whispered and gave his tie a tug before releasing him and stepping back.

Edward winked and walked back to his office. He pressed the intercom button his phone to buzz her, watching as she did the same. "I thought you had work to do. Stop checking out my ass, Bella."

The narrowing of her eyes when he glanced through the glass wall at her assured him that he was right. He grinned, and thankfully, received one in return.

~oOo~

The weekend seemed to pass very slowly, especially after Bella asked if he would be all right with her working on her concept sketches at his place. She claimed to have been spoiled by the weeks of working in such an open space with better than adequate lighting, but he knew her reasons were likely the same as his when he quickly said yes.

He wanted her close by, to see her even if he couldn't reach out and touch her. Not that it stopped either of them entirely. Their hands would brush in passing, her head leaned back against him when he brought her a drink, and more than a few kisses were exchanged—all of it leading Edward to head straight for a long, hot shower as soon as Bella left for the night.

He honestly didn't think anything could drive him as crazy as watching her work in casual clothes, pencil in her hair, that sexy, determined expression she wore when she was focused on her work—but he was very wrong.

Edward tried not to stare through the glass partition that stood between himself and Bella on Monday afternoon. It even took everything in him to remain seated behind his desk rather than standing up to pace.

When Jane had called Bella before she'd left his apartment the night before and asked if she could come in to talk the following day, neither of them knew what to think. He tried to remain optimistic for Bella's sake all day, but now, he wasn't sure who was more nervous. Even with the meetings she'd scheduled, he knew this was still the project that meant the most to her, but she was wearing her poker face of calm. That didn't help him discern what was being said in that room.

Edward pretended to focus on the papers in front of him when the two women rose and made their way to the door, and he peeked up long enough to catch them shaking hands. He heard the beat of her footsteps on the floor, entering his office and stopping at his desk. Before he could look up, she hopped up to sit on the edge, resting her heel-clad foot on the arm of his chair. His eyes ran up the length of her calf and thigh, resting for a moment on the hem of the dark blue dress she wore. He went for casual, hating the need to clear his throat. "So how did it go?"

"Well, it appears that after all the time and work I've put into this, she thought it was appropriate to come and tell me in person rather than over the phone," Bella started and he felt himself internally cringe, until he looked up and saw the lines around her eyes deepen with her smile. "She's ready to sign. It going to take a while to get the permits and everything, but her lawyer is already drawing up the contract. It's all but a done deal."

"You got your first client," he said, his smile stretching across his lips as he stood.

"I got my first client," she affirmed as she jumped off his desk and threw her arms around his neck. She giggled into his neck when his arms circled around her waist and he lifted her off the ground, hugging her tightly. "Well, I was going to say 'pinch me', but this works, too."

Edward laughed as well, setting her back down on her feet and lifting his hand to cup her cheek. "I'm so proud of you, Bella."

Bella's eyes held his and her smile gradually began to fall, but the curling of her fingers around the lapel of his jacket was soon followed by the acceleration of her breaths. Her gaze heated and she lifted onto her toes, her tongue sweeping across her lips to moisten them. "Would I be completely jinxing myself if I asked you to cut out a few minutes early and take me home with you right now?"

"I had enough confidence about your meeting with Jane that I made sure my schedule was clear for the rest of the day and night."

"You say the sweetest things." He heard the taunt in her voice, but there was something else. She was thankful for his confidence in her. "Does this mean you're ready? I am." His hand slipped from her waist and swept up her back, pressing himself more fully against her. A moan escaped the moment she felt the effect her little hop on his desk had on him. He was hot and hard against her hip, and his lips pressed along her shoulder to demonstrate further. "Let's go now, please."

"God, yes," he murmured, his fingers skimming down her arm to take her hand. "If we don't leave now…" He didn't need to say another word, since he knew she understood. Her whiskey eyes flitted away from his to look at his desk. "Not here, beautiful. Let's go."

With her answering nod, he smiled down at her and led her to her office to grab her things. She bent slightly to reach for her purse in a drawer of her desk, and he couldn't help himself; he allowed the tips of his fingers to explore the shape of her ass. Her answering moan was perfection, as was the look in her eyes. She shook her head and walked toward the exit, with an extra sway to her hips. He needed to touch her, his hand resting on the small of her back, but his fingertips skimmed the top of her backside.

"You're killing me," she whispered when they entered the elevator after locking up.

Edward kept his smile neutral, putting a little distance between them. She noticed, glaring at him for a moment. Her tongue wet her lips as her eyes lingered on his chest and swept up to meet his eyes.

"Stop looking at me like that. The ride down is not long enough." He loosened the tie that suddenly felt like a noose, the heat rising in his body. "Did you drive today?"

Her hand fisted around the strap of her purse. "No."

He tossed her the keys, his lips tilting up on one side when she caught them, despite the small yelp of surprise. "You drive." The elevator door opened, and he led her toward the parking garage down the street.

"Why?"

Edward quirked an eyebrow and smiled. "I'm not in a state to sit behind a steering wheel comfortably at the moment." Her eyes widened briefly and flicked down the length of his body. "That is not helping my situation."

"You're letting me drive your hot car." It sounded more like a question than fact, but her lips soon spread into an impish smile. "I'll show you how I handle all that power at my fingertips."

"Have at it," he said with a wink and tucked her against his side. It was chillier and night was falling earlier with autumn on the cusp of ending. "Are you cold?" He had helped her into her coat before they left, but it was much lighter than her winter one.

"Not even a little bit." The desire that could spark a fire warmed him up considerably, too. "I can't wait to get my hands all over you." His soft groan teased a curl of her hair from its place, his hand rising to push it back behind her ear. "God, Edward. We're never going to make it to your place if you keep doing that." His chuckle was another tease of warm breath along her skin and if the hitch of her breath was any indication, he knew her control was spiraling.

He held open the driver's side door for her when they reached his car, willing himself against pulling her mouth to his. Before she slipped inside, her hand curled around his bicep.

"Since I'm driving, you better take these. Driving in these heels would likely be a bitch." She steadied herself and removed one black heel. They made her legs look amazing, his eyes following her every move. She usually had no need for hosiery, since her skin was fucking perfect, but he caught the flash of lace at the top of her thigh as she struggled with the other shoe. "Here." She handed her heels to him, slipping inside the car. His eyes were still on her legs, wishing for another flash of lace.

Her mind was elsewhere. She wrapped her fingers around the wheel, a deep sigh of satisfaction on her lips. "I love this car."

Edward was hardly aware of anything but her and made his way to the passenger side of his sleek black Charger. A deep breath helped him gain some semblance of control. It threatened to tip to one side the moment he saw her hand on the gearshift.

She laughed a little breathlessly, drawing his eyes away from her nimble fingers. Damn, how he wanted them wrapped around his cock. Her eyes were brighter than ever, a teasing smile on her face. "Never knew you had a fantasy about your car and me."

He cleared his throat for what seemed like the fifth time that evening. "Neither had I, until now. Seeing you behind the wheel, gripping my gear shift…" Her eyes dropped to his mouth and he had to shake his head to clear his thoughts. Her gaze drifted to the backseat of his car, her bottom lip protruding a bit as if she was considering a detour. "Christ, let's go before we're caught for indecent exposure."

She laughed in that way that was breathy and full-bodied, with her head thrown back. "Oh, this is going to be so good." Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, before she lunged toward him, capturing his face with them instead. "Thank you so much for believing in me." Her mouth fit over his, her thumbs brushing along his skin. His groan was deep, and her lips were mind numbing to the point that he almost pulled her onto his lap. She moaned in approval, but whimpered when he grabbed her wrists instead, stopping their kiss.

"Get us to my place, now." His chest rose and fell harshly with every breath, matching the rhythm of hers. He saw the effect the kiss had on her, her nipples tight beneath the fabric of her dress, and the tiny bumps that danced along her neck, shoulders, and between her tempting breasts. "Fuck, right now."

She nodded and hurriedly started the car, only to pull out of the parking spot within two seconds. "Moves like a dream," she murmured, putting into gear and speeding out of the garage. Edward waved at the familiar security guard, who knowingly winked at them.

"There's no getting away from that," he stated when she sighed.

"I know, but Felix is worse than the gossiping hens at Sherman." She shrugged. "There's no hiding our relationship after this. Personally, I don't want to, but I'm sure we'll be able to keep it PG while working. Right?"

"I think we've proven that already."

"Good." Her thighs shifted on the leather seat, drawing Edward's eyes to the part in her dress. "Edward, you're not fighting fair." He said nothing, waiting for her to elaborate. "I can feel your eyes on me."

At the next red light, the car came to a stop and he took advantage of it. He settled his palm on her knee, keeping his chuckle to himself when she cursed. Her thighs spread infinitesimally wider, just enough for his fingers to fit between them. Her breath hitched as she sped off when the light changed, their arms touching as she shifted gears.

In the few shorts minutes since leaving the office, darkness had fallen. He watched the lights speed by but noticed the car slowing. His gaze drifted to the green light ahead, traffic not too bad, but the speed lowered further until they caught another red light. Playing along with her, he squeezed her knee and ascended along her smooth, warm thigh. They continued the tantalizing game until his apartment building came into view.

"In all the years I've lived in Seattle, I have never once caught every light red." He hummed as if it perplexed him.

Bella did the same, shrugging but laughing soon after. "I couldn't help it. I like your hand between my thighs." She blew him a kiss at his groan when she trapped his hand there. It was her turn to moan when he teased her with a brush of his finger over her underwear. "Oh fuck."

Edward watched as she maneuvered his car with precision, yet speed. The car slipped smoothly into the designated spot, their seatbelts off before the engine even rumbled to a stop. Their doors closed with an echoing slam, the beep, beep of his alarm, barely registered in their thoughts.

"Twenty-four damn floors until we reach your apartment," she said breathlessly when he pulled her toward the elevator. He had her backed against the wall the moment the doors closed with a swish. His hand on her hip and hers were on the lapels of his jacket. Their mouths a mere inch apart, but he didn't dare kiss her. He knew they wouldn't remain alone for long.

His thoughts proved true when the elevator came to a stop on the fourth floor. He stepped behind her, using her body to hide his growing reaction to her from the couple that joined them. He recognized Peter, someone in the building with the new tenant, Charlotte, who lived a few floors above him. Meaning they'd ride the rest of the trip to his apartment floor with them.

"Damn it," Bella mouthed to him, and he nodded in agreement.

They'd waited this long, so surely, they could hold out for a few more minutes, but it was still agonizing. His gaze ran along the column of her neck with the soft scent of her shampoo surrounding him, and he couldn't stop himself. He needed to touch her in some way, so he brought his hand between them, discreetly running the knuckle of his index finger along her spine. The subtle straightening of her shoulders and tensing of her body told him she could feel it even through the layers of fabric between them, as did the clearing of her throat.

Even though he couldn't see, he knew her nipples were tight under her clothes as her chest rose and fell faster at his touch. The numbers ticked by above them, and as the elevator began to slow, he finally let his hand drop. When the doors opened, she reached back for his hand and kept him close until they were nearly to his apartment door. "Thanks for that."

"Oh, I wasn't entirely shielding you for your benefit. I had a very self-serving intent with that," she replied, releasing his hand to find his apartment key on the ring and making quick work of the lock. The instant she had the door open, she turned quickly to face him and gripped his tie, giving it a tug to pull him over the threshold with her. "No one else gets to see what is for my eyes only, especially not before even I have the opportunity."

Before his answering curse had even completely escaped him, her lips sealed over his as he kicked the door closed behind him. His hands framed her face, returning her kiss with a heated frenzy, searing his blood and further hardening his cock.

Would he ever get enough of her? His immediate answer was a resounding 'hell no'. The night would be one of many. He'd make sure of it. One of her hands pulled at his jacket, making him tug at it, too. It fell to the floor, just as his fingers started to pull out the pins from her hair. He drove them into the rich, silky curls once they were free, taking advantage of her determination to get his shirt off, and further deepened the kiss.

She huffed in indignation, searching blindly along the table by the door for the bowl he used for his keys, in order to free her other hand. Suddenly, there was the clattering percussion of at least a hundred decorative marbles hitting the hardwood floor, immediately followed by the loud shatter of glass.

"Shit," she whispered against his mouth, her face heating under his still wandering hands. "Damn it, I'm sorry." She pulled away enough to make him instantly miss her lips and hid behind her hands.

"I couldn't care less right now," he said and glided his hands over her ass, down the back of her thighs to lift her off the ground. Guiding her legs to encircle his waist, he carried her over the debris of marbles and shards of glass to protect her stocking clad feet. Her answering laughter was near his ear, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck and shoulders. She didn't wait long to nibble just over his pulse, her agile fingers working his tie loose. She bit him a little harder and made his knees nearly give way, and then her tongue slid over the sting. It reminded him how much he wanted her mouth all over him, and his desire to reciprocate.

He had to taste more of her, and with a simple shift, he settled her ass on the back of his couch. They wasted no time, both working the buttons of his shirt. She smiled up at him when their eager fingers met in the middle.

"God, you're beautiful," he said, diving in for another kiss. Her legs gripped around him and pulled him that much closer. Even as his tongue stroked hers, their hands continued to pull away at the paltry barriers that kept their skin from each other. Her mouth descended over his chin and slid down his neck, leaving a tantalizing trail of heat and passion.

"You're better than I imagined," she whispered as her lips sucked lightly on his chest.

He had hoped in some way she had fantasized about him, as he had of her, and even more over the last few months. Those fantasies had likely fueled her dreams and forced her to take matters into her own hands—oh, to have been a fly on that wall on those lust-filled mornings.

He felt the sweet pleasure of her laughter against his nipple, making him groan out loud. His fingers sought her luxurious hair again and had her look at him. "What was that for?" he asked, his voice low and teasing along her mouth.

"It doesn't take a genius to know where your mind went when I said I imagined you." Her eyes were bright under the light overhead, and he caught the glimpse of gold that he always loved. He felt his mouth curve up one side, eliciting her smile to widen.

"The idea of your hand between your thighs…" He couldn't even finish the sentence, his eyes immediately taking note of where her hand was at that very moment. The flash of lace beneath the dress made him curse. Yet, it was her hand slipping beneath the fabric that drove him to pull her into his arms. Any sound of surprise from Bella was lost as he slanted his mouth of hers, unable to resist.

As they shifted fabric to touch more, their lips remained on each other's skin. His belt toppled a lamp, to which he proclaimed replaceable. The nearest wall in the hallway leading toward his bedroom seemed like the perfect spot for another stop.

"More, please," she hissed, licking her lips. His hips thrust hard as his mouth threatened to leave a mark just behind her ear. He balanced her with a hand beneath her ass, his hips grinding in circles between her thighs. He managed to remove his shoes and left them discarded in the hallway.

"This needs to come off." His teeth gently pulled at the fabric of her neckline, enough to catch a glimpse of lovely skin. She hummed in agreement, her hold around his hips loosening, but not without moving her lush curves all over his on the way down. "Fuck."

The moment her feet touched the floor, his hands were all over her, his mouth against hers. She slipped her hand beneath the waistband of his pants and made him pull back enough to breathe. "Christ, if you do that, we won't make it to the bed."

She quirked an eyebrow, her gaze drifting along his bare chest as his arms reached around her to unzip her dress. "Are you that incapable of restraining yourself?"

"Right now? Yes," he replied breathlessly, reclaiming her lips again in a fierce, heated kiss and guiding the garment down her body, until it fluttered to the floor. He loved how a small shiver of passion moved through her; he felt it under his touch. It heightened his desire. "Need you. Now."

Bella's arms returned around him, weaving her fingers into his hair. Her mouth ghosted over his, moving beside his ear, and she tauntingly whispered, "Nothing's stopping you."

With a deep groan, he sealed his lips over hers again and began backing her further down the hallway toward his bedroom. A sharp gasp escaped her, and their eyes met when he unhooked her bra clasp, and she used the leverage of his arms around her to wriggle out of it and toss it aside. "Fuck, Bella," he hissed, his eyes on her chest during that little move. His hold secured more on her at the feel of her warm skin against his, and he hastened his steps.

They paused outside his door with his body pressed to hers against the wall, their breaths heavy and gazes locked. Two more steps and she would be in his bedroom, the one place he'd only seen her in his fantasies and dreams. Yet, it was real and that was a heady thought.

He lifted her off the floor, feeling her hand cup his jaw as she wound her legs around his waist and rolled her hips against him. Their moans echoed through the hallway and into his room when he carried her across the threshold and over to his bed, where he set her on her feet again. Fingers explored the skin of each other's arms, shoulders, necks and jawlines, never once breaking their gaze. His hands delicately took hold of her face while her fingertip traced along the curve of his lips. The mood had shifted slightly, becoming more tender than frenzied, but neither one of them seemed to mind; in fact, they were relishing in it. "I love you, Bella."

The words tumbled out so effortlessly and without regret; everything about that moment with her felt right. And when the light from the hallway reflected in her eyes, he saw nothing but pure radiance and happiness within them. "I love you, Edward."

He'd known her feelings were mutual but hearing the words for the first time seemed to fuel his desire. "I hope it's always like this." His eyes remained wide open and on hers as he lay her out on his bed. She watched him, surrounded by rich emerald sheets, and he removed the remainder of his clothing. One of his knees settled between her parted thighs, partially standing, and the tips of her fingers traced the hem of the only remaining fabric keeping her from him. It almost seemed impossible for her to refrain from moving, her legs shifting from position to position. "Look at you."

She shook her head. "Nope, too busy looking at you." She propped herself onto her hand, one of them lifting to the back of his neck. "Come here." Distracted by the allure of her mouth, he hadn't expected her other hand to take hold of him. His curse was deeper than expected, his breath laborious with every stroke.

He closed the little distance between their bodies, relishing her soft whimper. Their mouths fused as they worked together to remove the rest of her clothing. "The thigh highs are sexy, but right now, I want to feel every fucking inch of you against me." His mouth and hands started to trail down each leg with the intent to remove each one. "I want nothing between us."

He reached down to take hold of her foot, lifting it to rest on his shoulder and brushing his lips against the inside of her ankle. Her soft moan and the slow blink of her eyes made him smile and trailed his hands down her leg, until his fingers reached the lace circling her thigh.

Bella kept her eyes on his as he slid one stocking and then the other from her legs, taking a moment to savor in the silky feel of her skin beneath his touch.

"No ringing phones," she moaned, her fingers tightening in his hair when he gently sucked on her inner thigh after he tossed her underwear aside. "No rules, no contracts, or conflicting schedules."

"Nothing stopping us," he whispered on the way up, finished with his task a minute later. He hovered over her, a hand on each side of her head. She repeated his words and pulled him in for another kiss. Her breasts filled his hands, even as she cupped his ass and brought him that much closer. Her laughter at his curse only had him retaliating with a small bite around her nipple, much as she had done to him earlier. Her back arched, bringing her breasts closer to his awaiting tongue. Her body undulated under his, making him very aware of the state of her arousal.

As his mouth continued to torture her, he slipped his hands to her hips to keep her still. Her arms came around his shoulders, and his eyes lifted to meet hers and saw she was as ready for it as he was. They kissed and rocked their bodies until they were nothing but raw nerves and sweat-slickened skin. She begged for him and he pressed his forehead against hers as his mouth lingered only a breath away from making contact with her lips. "I love you," he said, his words a groan as he finally slid inside her.

Sound seemed beyond her at that point, but the pleasure was evident in her ardent gaze before her eyes rolled back. At the next thrust, her legs tightened around him, her heels digging into the back of his thighs. His mouth dropped onto her shoulder, just below her pulse. For every move he made, she matched it perfectly. "Fuck, I love you, too."

Her voice was barely above a whisper and her fingers found their way to his hair, gripping it and tugging gently as her body undulated with the pleasure coursing through her. Every breath she took, every movement she made beneath him, caused him to fall deeper into the ecstasy of the moment, only amplified by her breathless declaration.

The sweet sounds from her had his hips quickening, though the thrusts were deeper. The bite of her nails in his back was a sting he welcomed. He needed to see and feel more and shifted until he was beneath her. The move seemed to daze her, but she moaned when she realized she was in control. Her fingertips dug deeper against his skin, as she tested their limits with a roll of her hips. Their answering, mutual groans seemed to bounce around the room. Her breasts filled his palms again, brushing her nipples with his thumbs. He watched her move above him, one of her hands in her hair, her lips parted on her next breath.

The need to kiss her overwhelmed him, and suddenly, she was on her back again, his mouth on hers. His hips thrust faster, harder, as her legs crossed along his lower back. The tight grip of them seated him deeper inside her, making them both pull away to exhale sharply in surprise.

Her breathy laugh drew his eyes to hers, finding a smile on her face. "More?" he asked, sliding out of her.

"Please."

He complied with her request, guiding one of her legs over his shoulder. Her body arched off the bed as he hit her deeper than before. He slid a hand under her back, curling it over her shoulder from behind and kissed her neck. She met his hips every time, even as they became erratic. He felt her hand slip down their bodies, her fingers rubbing between her thighs as he drove inside her.

"Bella," he said, his voice a near hiss. He wanted to see her touch herself but knew it would send him over the edge.

"You feel so fucking good," she said, her words barely coherent. She ended her words with a teasing nip of his ear. "I dreamed of this, of you loving me like this. Fucking me like this."

"Fuck." His hips seemed to meet her in the same rhythm of their racing hearts. "Let go, baby. I've got you." His fingers joined hers, her leg falling from his shoulder to his elbow. Her body seemed to still, her voice once again beyond her. From the corner of his eye, he saw one of her hands clench the sheets tightly. He felt her tighten around him as he pushed inside her once more, his mouth on her shoulder as he joined her in oblivion.

Edward barely had the energy to settle on his back, pulling Bella slightly over his body. Minutes passed before they were able to move or talk. Her head rested on his chest, his fingertips skimming along her back, occasionally playing with her hair.

"It was worth the wait." The words were a murmur over his heart, followed by a soft brush of her lips. Her eyes lifted to meet his after placing one last kiss, resting her chin there.

"The night is still young, Bella. The wait may be over, but there is more to come, I promise you."

"Promises, promises," she said, her laugh was rich and almost decadent as she climbed over him fully, her hands on his face. She looked at him for a moment, searching for something.

"I love you."

She smiled at his words, whispering them in return. She kissed him with the same passion as before, but the moment he reached for her, she jumped out of bed. "I need to clean up, be back in a minute." She ignored his protest and walked toward the master bath, naked and beautiful. His complaints died in his throat, his eyes on her long legs, stopping at the curve of her ass.

Edward propped himself up against the headboard, in a way grateful for the moment alone. His mind relived the experience they had, his body reacting as expected, he laughed to himself, remembering his promise to her. At least he'd be ready for more soon. He turned toward the door as she appeared. Her smile was perfect as she stepped out of the bathroom, but her gaze swept away and toward the bedroom door.

"What is it?"

She bit the tip of her finger and smiled again. "I'm trying to decide if I should climb into bed with you or seek sustenance."

He chuckled. "What?"

"I'm sorry, but I skipped lunch and now dinner." Her cheeks, already a tempting pink, flushed further, throwing her hands in the air. "After that marathon on your bed, I need food." She cocked her head to one side. "You know for someone who hasn't had sex in a while, you had some serious stamina going on there…"

"Bella."

"Yeah?"

"You're rambling."

Her hands went up again, drawing his eyes to her chest. "See, this is what happens when I'm hungry."

There was no way he could stay in bed while she raided his kitchen, not with all that on display. He slipped out of bed and into his discarded boxers. "I could eat."

"Oh good," she said, turning at walking out of the room, naked. Out in the hallway, he followed her every move, as she picked up his things. She put on his shirt, only fastening two of the buttons. His eyes remained on her ass, barely peeking out from beneath the hem. When she bent over to pick up a sock, he deeply groaned and had to make an adjustment. She looked over her shoulder at him, noticing where his hand rubbed over himself.

"Better get to the kitchen now, before I bend you over the couch, Bella." The woman wiggled her ass as she bent over again, and he gave it a light slap as he passed her. "I'll go clean up broken glass and marbles." She yelped and dropped the clothes in her hands and ran toward the kitchen. "Make it something quick please."

"That sounds perfect to me," she called out. After leaving their discarded clothing in the bedroom and putting on some slippers, he joined in her in the kitchen in search of his broom. He found her rummaging through his fridge, but when she turned, he wanted to place her on the counter and taste the nipples that nearly greeted him. The hunger must have bled into his eyes. "You're too easy sometimes, Edward."

He grinned and pulled her in for a kiss, even though her hands were full. "Thankfully, this affliction is mutual," he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Very," she said as she pulled away to place some condiments on the counter. He grabbed the things he needed and moved quickly to get the job done. The desire for her had yet to leave him and seeing her dressed in his shirt and in his kitchen, fueled that need. He had fantasized on more than one occasion having her there on his counter, the numerous times they had dinner.

There was nothing stopping him from acting out on that now.

A few minutes later, he joined her once again in the kitchen. She sat on the counter, leafing through an Architectural Digest as she bit into a sandwich. Looking up at him when he entered, she took the time to glide those amazing eyes over him.

"That was quick," she murmured, tossing the magazine aside and pulling at his waistband. He grunted as her legs wrapped around his hips. "Are you eager or something?"

He rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Very." She handed him a sandwich and he pulled away, leaning against the adjacent counter. "You know, I can get used to this," he said after a few bites.

"I already am," she said, looking a little lost in thought. "We've been working together here, having lunch and dinner, sometimes breakfast too for months. We've watched movies and even a sunset together."

"Good to know." He said nothing else, but he didn't need to, because they both knew he'd ask her to move in soon. She hummed in reply, licking the corner of her mouth where a little gourmet mustard stubbornly remained. Done with his food, he joined her, smoothing his hands up her thighs. Her legs opened invitingly for his body, the counter being the perfect height for what he had in mind.

"Let me help you with that." His eyes were still on the spot at the corner of her mouth.

Her arms draped over his shoulders, and she whispered, "Always so helpful."

"Always."