A/N: Ok, this chapter is slightly shorter than the others so far, but I wanted to get something posted for you guys, since you`ve been so great about sticking with me and writing such awesome reviews. Plus I get to leave you with a wonderfully teasing cliffy (hehehe).

Thanks to my beta, NeverHadDreams, who managed to read most of this chapter over while she was very busy with other things that popped up in her life (congrats again sweetie!!!)

And as always, I own nothing of Twilight. I do own a Starbucks card, but it needs to be reloaded.

BPOV

"Bella?" My head snapped up to find Edward staring at me. Somewhere in the fog of my mind I think he had asked me something, but I was still too stunned by the almost-kiss to recall what exactly. Shaking my head in a vain attempt to try to clear it, I turned back to Edward.

"I'm sorry. What was that?"

"I asked what you are planning to do after graduation. I assume you are graduating this year, aren't you?" he asked.

"Um, yes. I'm hoping to either get hired with one of the magazine firms or do some freelance work, something to pay the bills so I can work on my novel." I smiled shyly.

"A novel! Really? Let me guess. A classical tragic romance, a la Jane Eyre?" His eyes met mine again and he flashed that wonderfully sexy, crooked smile.

"Something like that," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dinner continued much the same way, taking turns asking about our lives. I told Edward about my parents, Charlie and Renee, how they divorced with I was young and that my dad had never really gotten over her, even when Renee met and married Phil, and that I had moved back to live with my dad to give them time together. That was when I had met Alice and Emmett, becoming fast friends with both of them. Edward told me stories about his parents, Elizabeth and Edward Sr., growing up in his hometown, going away to college. I was so engrossed with all the details Edward was sharing that I hardly noticed we had finished our meal and the waiter appeared again with the check. Suddenly I felt rushed, like the evening was coming to an close, and I didn't want it to end. I watched as Edward pulled a credit card from his wallet, slipped it in the folder without even glancing at the bill and handed it back to the waiter before turning to me, his facial expression mirroring my own.

"Thank you for dinner, Edward. It was wonderful. And the roses this morning, really, it was too much," I stated.

"Bella, I'm having a wonderful time getting to know you, and I don't think I'm ready to take you home yet. I live just across the street at the Seagram Lofts. Would it be too forward if I suggested we pick up coffees and go back to my place to continue this? I don't want to come across too..."

"Yes, I'd like that very much," I replied, cutting him off mid-sentence, but he when he smiled and ran his fingers through his hair again, I nearly drooled. Trying to recover my composure and put across a more dignified response, I added, "I've always wanted to see inside the Seagram buildings, since they converted them."

We both stood then and he helped me into my coat, his fingers lingering at my collar just a little longer than necessary, grazing the skin on the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. He must have mistaken it for a chill.

"There's a Starbucks just around the corner. I can get the car in you want, but it would be just as quick to go on foot. We'll be fast, I promise. Not too long out in the cold."

"No, that's fine," I replied as we headed to the front, and as much as I didn't want to hurry, when the biting cold air rushed in the door as Edward opened it, I shivered for real. Edward glanced back at me and offered his hand, pulling me tight to his side and together we braced ourselves against the cool of the night air. The warmth of his hand circling mine mirrored the warmth slowly spreading through me at his touch.

I surprised myself by managing not to stumble as we made our way down the sidewalk at a hurried pace, both of us laughing as he pulled me along the short distance to the coffee bar. Minutes later, coffees in hand, we headed back out into the cold. Startled, I looked up to see tiny flakes of snow swirling around our heads and when I stopped suddenly, Edward practically crashed right into the back of me.

"Whoa, why did you stop? What is it?" he asked, and when I motioned for him to look up, he chuckled. "Snow...at the end of October. Now I remember why I applied for fire departments further south!" he exclaimed, grabbing my hand as we headed across the street to his building.

I was grateful we didn't have far to go, as my teeth were chattering when we finally stepped into the lobby. Edward pressed the button for the elevator and shook the stray snowflakes from his hair. When the elevator doors opened and we stepped inside, I was shocked to see him push the button for the top floor. It occurred to me then that Edward must have money behind him. The Seagram Lofts were not cheap, let alone the penthouse suites, and a starting firefighter's wage would leave him nowhere near being able to afford that kind of luxury. Of course I kept my thoughts to myself as I glanced at him nervously, but doubt crept back into my mind at what he would see in me, a student and part-time bartender who struggled to make rent every month. I fumbled with the hem of my coat, glancing down at my feet.

"I hope you like the place, but I have to warn you though, I haven't had much of a chance to get settled in, and it's a bit disorganized," he started as we got off the elevator and headed towards the door to his apartment. He paused, fumbling with his keys, and sighed. By now I had picked up on his nervous habit of raking his fingers through the tangled, copper mess that was his hair, and I couldn't help but smirk at the gesture, thankful that I wasn't the only one who lacked confidence in this moment.

Once inside, Edward reached to the wall behind and flicked a switch, illuminating the space. I was immediately taken first by the wall of floor to ceiling windows. Although it was dark outside, with only the dull glow from the streetlights below, and the interior lights reflecting on the glass, the effect was spectacular, and I hoped I'd have the chance to experience it on a sunny day. Next my eyes were drawn to the equally amazing home entertainment wall. There against the brick backdrop was shelf after shelf of cd's, and a myriad of stereo equipment capped with a massive flat screen television. A black leather sectional sofa sat squarely in front, and true to his warning, half-empty boxes and crumpled up packing paper littered the floor. The open area continued on to the dining area, and the kitchen beyond that, where I could see more boxes piled on the island and dining table.

"Yeah, so this is my place," he mumbled softly. "Living room, dining room, kitchen..." he gestured to the space in front of us, "...hallway, bathroom and bedroom that way." My eyes followed his movements, lingering on the hallway leading to his bedroom for a moment longer that I should have.

"It's great! So open..." I started, as I continued to look around, up at the high ceilings, then down at the refinished wooden floors.

He came up behind me and took my coffee from my hand as he offered to take my coat, then handed me back my drink. While he went to the closet to hang up our coats, I took the opportunity to peruse his music collection against the far wall. I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every movement. Curious to know what his current taste in music would be among his vast collection, I turned on the stereo, pushed the play button on the cd player and took a sip of my coffee while the disc queued up. When the music started playing, I immediately recognized the soft strains of Van Morrison's 'Into the Mystic'. I closed my eyes and listened for a moment, before I turned to deliver a teasing wisecrack about his choice, startled to find Edward had silently crept up right behind me. I started to stumble backwards, tripping over one of the many boxes, but I felt his arms quickly snake around my waist, pulling me upright, just as he had at the start of the evening. This time however, he didn't release me, but instead pulled me closer to him.

"Thanks again," I started to apologize. "I did give you fair warning about my clumsiness..." My voice drifted away and I forgot what I was saying, completely lost as my gaze drifted to his piercing emerald green eyes boring directly into mine, distinctly aware of the warmth spreading throughout my body, and my heart pounding faster in my chest.

Keeping one arm securely around me, his other hand came up to pull my coffee away, placing it on the end table right next to where his drink rested. He then brought his hand slowly up to my face, gently brushing away a strand of hair that strayed across my cheek. I inhaled sharply as his fingers grazed my temple, and he cocked his head slightly, our faces mere inches apart. Time ground to a halt, the air thick with unspoken desire. I felt as if every muscle in my body was coiled to spring.

"Bella," he breathed, and then his lips were on mine, soft and tender, hesitant. The fingers of his one hand were lacing delicately into my hair, while he traced circles on the small of my back with the other hand. My hands found there way to his chest and I could feel the tense, toned muscles beneath his shirt. Our kiss was all too brief, and I almost whined in protest when he pulled away before his thumb came up to trace my bottom lip, his eyes following his feather-like touch. Realizing I was holding my breath, I exhaled, my breath shaky. Just as I was about to take another breath, he pulled me in tight to his body, his lips crashing into mine again, more fervently this time, and I met his every movement equally, parting my lips as his tongue grazed along the top of mine, moaning softly as his tongue swept in to massage my own. When I pulled away to catch a breath, Edward dropped his forehead to mine, eyes closed, panting slightly.

"I'm sorry Bella. I'm not usually this forward...it's just...I can't help myself," he stated awkwardly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so attracted to you, it's hard to stop."

My hands, which had somehow found their way around his neck, pulled him closer, and I kissed my way up his jaw so my lips were right at his ear. "Then don't," I whispered, as I took his earlobe in my mouth and sucked gently, and I laced my fingers through his gorgeous, silky copper locks.

A/N: Yep, my version of Bella is a little bit vixen. Edward is going to have his hands full trying to come off as the gentleman. His point of view on this turn of events is coming up, so we'll see how he handles it.

I've never actually been in the Seagram Lofts, but I hear that they were beautifully converted from the old Seagram distillery buildings into luxury condos. The penthouse units have wonderful rooftop patios, that wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and the exposed brick interior walls. In another life I'd be living there.

Let me know what you think. Please drop me a review, even if you hate it, or join us over on the story thread on the Twilighted forums (alternate universe - all human).