Jeaniverre: Ooh, a lemon! Well, not full-out, but pretty darn tootin', if I say so myself: I write a pretty mean almost-lemon. IB was too chicken; we were both blushing when we read it, lol. I didn't think this would be up so fast, but neither of us could sleep, so we stayed up untill past four thirty IMing each other so you could get this chapter. Now, the real challenge will be Chapter Eight... Wish us luck!

IBD: I'm in agreement with J; I was a chicken! I'm working on it though. A few of my FP stories are practice for... baha. you'll have to see. Ooh, the anticipation!

Oh. My. God.

As soon as I popped open my eyes, I shot up and turned on the light, looking about my messy room. "What happened last night?" I whispered, gazing dazedly at my bed.

"Promise me you won't be reckless," she stressed.

"Mom!" Really, mom? Really? You're going to do this with my boyfriend in the closet? Really?

Then all I remembered was - Oh, god - I didn't - I couldn't have...

"I love you, Lissa," He whispered, kissing me fervently.

"I love you too, Alex," I murmured against his lips. They moved to my neck as he tried unbuttoning my blouse, failing miserably. He was soon frustrated and, tearing his mouth away from my neck, tore the shirt from me, buttons scattering about. He shoved it off my shoulders with quivering hands and returned to attention to my collar bone. I moaned, tugging at the bottom of his shirt until he pulled away with a growl, flinging it from him. I hooked my fingers into the loops of his jeans and jerked him closer. He licked and nibbled his way down my abdomen, grazing his nose through the valley between my breasts. On his way back up, he nuzzled his face to my chest, and wove his arms behind my back to the hooks of my bra, unlatching it, but not quite letting it fall from my front. Instead, he flipped me over and ran his fingers over my shoulder blades and down my spine, eliciting moans from my throat, before rolling me over and dropping the brassiere in the process. I heard his breath hitch, then he suddenly pressed his chiseled trunk flush with mine, just lying still for a few precious moments, letting us catch our breath.

"Too fast?" he panted, sounding worried. I shook my head, and pulled his to mine, my lips molding to his. His fingers danced up my sides, before coming to a rest on the sides of my torso hesitantly. I dragged my hands down his carved pectorals, before bringing them back to his neck and guided him down to my exposed chest…

I tossed my head, trying to rid myself of the memory. "Just a dream," I told myself. I didn't need that hanging in my head when I phased.

"Lissa, hon? Are you awake?" A voice dribbled in from out of the doorway.

"Yeah, mom," I called, peeking my head out of my bedroom.

"I've got to get to the hospital," she replied, walking down the hallway. "Dr. Cullen beeped me; my patient is-"

"Yeah, yeah; Go save people," I waved her off, rolling my eyes.

"Bye." She smiled in gratitude, rushing out the front door, yelling a hurried 'I love you' over her shoulder.

A strong pair of arms clasped themselves around my waist, scaring me half to death. "Hey," a low voice behind me said.

"Alex, you scared me!" I clutched my heart, laughing.

"Sorry; I couldn't resist..." he laughed as well, kissing my right temple. "You're pretty in the morning," he whispered lightly in my ear.

I couldn't bear to see what kind of havoc my morning breath would wreak, let alone my hair. "Is it that bad?"

"I wasn't making fun of you," he said innocently.

"Oh... well thanks." I blushed, unsure of what to say.

"I love you, Lissa," he whispered.

My mind flashed back to his lips on mine... They moved to my neck as he tried unbuttoning my blouse… I shook my head, failing to completely shake the thought.

"What?" He sounded concerned and a little hurt with my movement.

"No, no- it's not you. I just – I had a bad dream last night," I admitted, looking down.

"What happened?" he asked, pulling me back to my bed and sitting across from me.

"Come on," I laughed, shoving his shoulder. "You don't want to hear about it."

"I do!" he insisted, grabbing my hand. "If it's bugging you, you should talk about it."

"It's embarrassing." I muttered, scowling and looking down.

"I won't laugh," he prodded.

"Well... it's not funny, per se: it's more- interesting..."

"Lissa," he griped.

"Really, it was kind of like after the beach." I looked down. "But way intense."

"More? How could that...?" he trailed off.

I glared up at him, frowning.

Then he burst out snickering.

"Alex!" I exclaimed with disbelief.

"I'm sorry! It's just-" he tried to explain, but I stood to leave the room. "Lissa, I'm sorry," he said catching my arm.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh!"

"Yeah, but you didn't say you had a sex dream!" he tried to hold in another laughing fit, his shoulders shaking noticeably.

"Shh! Someone could hear you!" I covered his mouth with my hand.

"Lissa..." he licked the fingers that were over his mouth.

"Sush!" I growled again, wiping my wet hand on his face.

He pulled my hand away and looked me in the eyes. "I won't tell anybody, but you probably will."

"What?" I asked, indignant, and I suddenly remembering the reading minds thing. "Oh, yeah… Damn."

"Do you still want to meet my family?" he brought up suddenly, sitting down at the table.

I looked at him warily, raising an eyebrow. "I thought that was a no-no."

If you want to, you can," he started. "As long as my brother's not there..."

"What's wrong with your brother?" I wondered out loud.

He grimaced. "It's – nothing. I mean, you'll see," he stuttered when he saw my glare. "Just, go get dressed."