A/N: Hello again my lovely readers! I decided that I couldn't let this end without giving some insight into what Edward was thinking. I skipped over the lemon since we already know what went down. There will be one more EPOV chapter after this one. Thank you to all of you have reviewed and put this on your favorites/alerts. I had been so nervous about posting this and the kind words from all of you made me excited about writing more. You guys rock!

Again, I have no Beta so all errors are mine. I apologize in advance.

Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: It's not mine.

Waiting sucks!

I stood at a safe distance simply watching; waiting for an opening so I could make my move.

She had been surrounded by people all night. I guess I shouldn't really be surprised. She was just that type of person. You know, the kind of person that no matter where they go or what they're doing, they manage to make friends with someone. That was my Bella.

Everyone adored her, and I was no exception.

Falling in love with her was unexpected. I don't know exactly when or how it happened. I just remember looking at her one day and BAM! That shit hit me like a wrecking ball.

I suppose I had always had feelings for her in some capacity outside of the friend zone. Emmett and Jasper had always seen her as a best friend and sister. While I also viewed her as a best friend, I couldn't bring myself to call her a sister. It just felt… wrong somehow.

When the realization first hit me that I was in love with her I panicked. I had no idea what the fuck being in love with someone entailed and I was terrified. I still didn't know and I was still terrified, but I knew that I had to at least try.

I honestly had no clue if she had any more-than-friendly feelings for me. If she did, she was really fucking good at hiding them.

I had had every intention of staying completely sober but that plan flew out the window the moment I laid eyes on her. She had come down the stairs, roughly twenty minutes before people started showing up looking like sin.

She was wearing a pair of tight dark-washed jeans that sat dangerously low on her hips. They show cased her mile long legs beautifully and hugged her curves in all the right places. The dark red shirt she had chosen had me damn close to actually drooling. I wouldn't even really classify it as a shirt. It wasn't quite long enough so there was a small sliver of skin showing where the hem of the shirt failed to meet the waistband of her jeans. It was tight around her mouth-watering breasts and it was glaringly obvious that she was not wearing a bra. Once I saw the back I could see why. She couldn't. There was no back. Three thin ties were the only thing holding that scrap of fabric in place. I could appreciate her choice in attire, but Emmett and Jasper were going to throw a shit fit when they saw her.

It was in that moment that I realized I was going to need some liquid courage if I had any intention of approaching her tonight.

I hadn't meant to drink so much, but here I stood, insanely inebriated, watching her interact with our friends like some kind of sick stalker. She was standing at the bar taking shots with Jasper and Emmett. Once they had tossed back a few they were approached by Bella's friend Angela. I stared intently as Bella threw her head back, laughing at something Angela had said. Her neck was on full display and in my drunken state I wanted nothing more than to walk over to her and run my tongue along its length.

I saw Angela look in my direction; a smirk playing on her lips. She turned back to Bella, spoke, and then Bella turned her head to look at me.

Shit! I've so been busted.

Well if you would have just gone over there and talked to her you wouldn't have been caught staring like some sick pervert.

Hey, I was just looking. There's nothing wrong with that.

Looking? Right. That's all you were doing. You couldn't have possibly been staring at her like she was a steak and you haven't had anything to eat in months.

Oh fuck you, I was not. I was simply enjoying the scenery.

Sure you were. You say whatever you need to in order to convince yourself.

Just shut up! You're not helping. Am I seriously arguing with myself?

I silenced my inner voice and took a few moments before steeling my resolve and decided that it was time to make my move. I figured asking her to dance would be as good a place as any to start.

As I made my way toward her I noticed that my hands were sweaty and my heart was racing faster than ever.

What the fuck is wrong with me? I've done this a thousand times.

Yeah, but you were never in love with any of the others.

Oh, right. Good point. Wait! Didn't I tell you to shut up?

I stepped up behind her and in a bold move that shocked even me, I wrapped my arms around her slender waist. She jumped at the unexpected contact and I chuckled.

I took a moment to relish the feel of this gorgeous creature in my arms. She fit there so perfectly and I never waned to let her go. The warmth was amazing. The smallest touch from her sent a wave of heat through me, warming me from the inside out.

I felt and heard her take a deep breath, letting it out with a small sigh. She turned her head slightly to look up at me. Her chocolate eyes were glossy from all the alcohol, making them sort of twinkle in the dim light of the room.

"Something I can help you with, Edward?" She asked.

I smiled at her. "Dance with me."

She just looked at me. Her eyes showed conflict and I was curious as to why she would have to think so hard about such a small request.

She turned back to where Angela had been standing and let out another small sigh. She seemed almost… disappointed.

She turned back to look at me again, smiling slightly.

"You know Edward, asking will usually get you better results than demanding."

I smirked at her and chuckled lightly. I released her from my hold; my body damn near screaming in protest as her warmth disappeared. I stepped around her and took both of her hands in mine. She wanted me to ask, well then I'll ask.

"Miss Swan?" I asked bowing at the waist. I heard a small giggle escape her lips. I looked up and winked at her before continuing. "Would you do me the honor of dancing with me?"

She smiled that gorgeous smile that could light up the darkest of nights and curtsied.

"Why I would be delighted" she replied.

I smiled again, taking her hand. I led her through the throng of bodies that were currently bumping and grinding against one another in a fashion that would be highly inappropriate if we had been in a public place.

I turned her to face me and hooked my index fingers through the belt loops of her jeans, pulling her flush against me. Again it was a bold move, but apparently the alcohol was doing its job in the courage department. She yelped in surprise at the jerky movement and I simply smiled in response. I took her hands in mine, bringing them up and wrapping her arms around my neck. I placed my own hand on the soft curve of her hips, once again enjoying the warmth that her touch brought.

As we danced to the extremely suggestive song, I couldn't pry my eyes away from hers. Looking into those deep chocolate pools, I could see all the way down to her soul. What I saw was mesmerizing. I knew that if I didn't look away I was going to just blurt out how much I loved her right here, so like the coward I am, I turned her so her back was pressed against my chest.

This position was better and worse.

Better because I didn't have to worry about staring into her eyes, but worse because I'm pretty sure other parts of my anatomy were making themselves better known. I wish I could say I was embarrassed by this, but I would be lying.

My suspicions were confirmed when she pushed her ass into my rock hard cock and rotated her hips in the most delicious way. I think I may have moaned and I grasped her hips a bit tighter to halt her movements. If she continued doing that I couldn't be held responsible for my actions. I didn't think she'd appreciate me throwing her down and ravishing her in front of all these people.

I leaned in and buried my face in the side of her neck, breathing in deeply. Jesus Christ she smelled good. My dick grew even harder if that was possible as I took in the scent of cherry, vanilla, and some other unknown sweetness that was just Bella.

Fuck! Does she have any idea what she does to me?

"Fuck! Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

Okay, so apparently, along with giving me the balls to approach her, the alcohol disabled my brain to mouth filter.

To prove my point, although I'm sure it was unneeded, I thrust my hips against her. Both of us moaning lightly this time.

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to taste her.

I spun her around to face me once again and crashed my lips to hers. She froze for only a second before responding to my lips as they moved hungrily against hers. Her lips were soft against my own and even though I felt as though I had died and gone to heaven, I wanted more. I lightly brushed my tongue over her bottom lip in a silent request for entrance. She didn't even hesitate as she opened to me.

In-fucking-credible! That was the only word I could use to describe her taste. She tasted just like she smelled only with a slightly minty taste from her toothpaste and a mixture of the different kinds of alcohol she had consumed throughout the night. Goosebumps actually erupted all over my flesh as my tongue met hers inside the warm recesses of her mouth.

Her hands slid up from where they had been resting on my shoulders and she buried her fingers in the hair at the base of my neck. She tugged lightly, eliciting a growl from me and causing my cock to twitch, almost as if it was reaching for her. I wanted her so fucking badly and I wanted her now.

My lungs burned, reminding me that I needed to come up for air. I reluctantly pulled myself away from those amazing lips and rested my forehead against hers. As I caught my breath, I looked up into her eyes. The lust shining there was unmistakable. A blind man could see that in this moment, she wanted me just as badly as I wanted her. But there was another emotion playing just beneath the lust. It was an emotion that I had seen countless times before when she looked at me but I could never quite decipher exactly what it was. What I did know was that it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.

God, you're a fucking idiot!

Excuse me?

Seriously? You can't tell what that is? It's love, douchebag. She loves you.

No, that can't be it. She's always looked at me like that.

And that tells you what? Do you need to me draw it in crayon?

…

Now he's getting it.

I grinned at her as my epiphany sunk in. Without giving it a second thought, I grabbed her hand and all but drug her through the crowd of people and up the stairs to her bedroom. I would have taken her to mine but it just felt wrong. I had fucked other women in that bed and it would have tainted what, God willing, we were about to do.

As we ascended the stairs, a small voice in the back of my head was nagging me that this probably wasn't the best idea. I knew that Bella was a virgin and I didn't want her to regret this in the morning.

I closed her bedroom door behind us and slammed her against it. As my lips assaulted hers I tried not to think about how his had the potential to end in disaster. Instead I focused on how it had the potential to become something I had craved since I realized that I was in love with her. I prayed to any deity that was listening that I wasn't risking everything by allowing myself, and Bella, to give in to drunken lust.

Making love to Bella was like nothing I had ever experienced before. With all my previous conquests there was no emotion involved on my part. I was simply sating a need for release. But with Bella? That was the most mind-blowing experience I had ever had in my young life and I wanted nothing more than get the chance to experience that level of intimacy with her every day.

Jesus, Cullen! When did you become such a fucking girl?

Shut up! You're ruining my fan-fucking-tastic high!

Bella was slowly drifting off to sleep as she lay contentedly in my arms. She had a small smile playing across her lips and I couldn't stop my own from forming. I held her to me tightly as I placed small kisses to the side of her face, ending at the spot just below her ear.

"Goodnight, beautiful. Sweet dreams." I whispered.

"Goodnight, Edward," she replied sleepily.

I watched her for a few minutes before my own eyes started to close. Her steady breathing indicated that she was asleep. I smiled again at the goddess lying next to me and whispered my love for her. I doubted she heard me, but in that moment as I gazed at her angelic face, I had to say it.

And just before sleep claimed me she responded to my whispered words.

"I love you, Edward."

I was awoken the next morning due to the fact that the amazing warmth that Bella provided was gone. I slowly opened my eyes, knowing that the bright sun was going to increase the pounding in my head. As I stretched, a goofy grin plastered itself on my face. I was never more grateful for that fact that no matter how much I drank, I could always remember the events of the night before. I reached over to the spot next to me with the intention of pulling Bella back to me so I could go back to sleep, but I found her side of the bed empty.

I sat up, rubbing my face roughly and looked at the clock on the nightstand.

Eight o' clock? Why the fuck am I awake so damn early?

Just then, the door to Bella's bathroom opened and she walked out, clad in her bathrobe. She looked in my direction and upon seeing me, her breath hitched as she stared at my half naked form.

"Hey," I said smiling at her. "Why are you up? It's only eight o' clock."

I knew that I was fighting with all I had to keep my eyes open, so I had no clue how she could be up looking as awake as she did.

She didn't answer with words. She just shrugged.

"Well come back to bed. It's too early to be up." I yawned and opened my arms in invitation for her to come back to me.

"No, I'm up so I might as well start the day," She replied looking anywhere but at me.

"I think I'll get dressed and see what the damage is downstairs. I'm sure it looks like a bomb went off down there."

I stared at her for a moment, trying to get a grip on what was going on in her head. I came to one conclusion and it caused my heart to shatter into a million tiny pieces inside my chest. She regretted what happened. I felt like crying but there was no way I was going to let her see me acting like a pussy. I gave her a small smile and nodded my head. I was still extremely sleepy, so I laid back down and burrowed into the covers, hiding my face in case the tears that were threatening to fall did, and went back to sleep.

A/N: Awww... poor Edward. Good thing we already know how this turns out, huh? ;) Leave me some love!