Here we go! It's been super busy this week and a little bit of writers block was happening, but I managed to get this chapter done...finally. :)

Enjoy!

Chapter 9

December 12

I bite my lip in anticipation as Edward walks from behind the counter. He saunters towards me still grinning. Then he grabs my hand and pulls me to the couch with him and into his lap. With an arm wrapped around me and a spoon in his hand, he opens the take-out box and sticks his spoon into the cheesecake. I'm watching him curiously as he lifts his hand and takes a bite. He moans appreciatively while he chews and then spoons another bite offering it to me. I lean forward but he pulls it back quickly kissing me instead. His lips move with mine for a few minutes but when I try to deepen it he pulls back. I lick my lips tasting some of the sweet cake. He offers the bite again this time allowing me to eat it. He smirks eating more and exaggerating a moan causing me to giggle.

We take turns sharing the cake and sneaking kisses in between bites until it's gone.

He sits the box on the coffee table as I'm slowly chewing my last bite. I feel his eyes on me and I swallow looking at him. I'm expecting the same teasing look in his eyes but instead his eyes are dark and serious. I blush under his intense stare and grin at him.

"God you're so beautiful." Edward says.

My stomach flutters. His hand gently grabs the back of my neck pulling me down to him. Our lips meet and I turn in his lap straddling him. His hands immediately find their way under my shirt. We kiss hungrily, getting as physically close as we can to each other.

After a few minutes I feel him pull back a little and I kiss down his neck. Suddenly he tightens an arm around my waist and stands up. Quickly I lock my legs around him and he wraps his hand around my thigh laying me on my back on the couch. He leans over my with my legs still wrapped around him. I arch into him allowing him access to my neck as he places open mouth kisses against my skin. Raking my hands in his hair, he groans and attacks my lips again. Staying still becomes too hard and I begin moving slightly trying to find something to alleviate the feeling.

Edward stiffens a little and starts kissing me more slowly. After a few more pecks he pulls back looking apologetic.

"Didn't you say you have to work tomorrow?" He whispers.

I nod catching my breath. He groans.

"I know." I groan with him.

He kisses me again and sits back pulling me with him.

Wrapping his arms around me I cuddle into him and we sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes. My mind wonders back to the dinner tonight and I remember something I wanted to ask him.

Clearing my throat, I whisper quietly. "So, who's Tanya?"

If he heard me, he didn't say anything. I wait a minute or two before he finally answers.

"Tanya is a long story." He says.

I smile at him. "I have the time."

Edward grins back at me smugly. "Actually you don't. You have work in the morning."

Crap. He's right.

"I'll make the time." I persist.

I narrows his eyes at me in thought. "How about I come get you after work tomorrow and we can go to my place. Then I'll tell you about Tanya."

"Okay." I pretend to be put out, but my wide smile betrays me.

Truth is, I've yet to go to his place and I'm more than excited about it. I can wait another day to hear about this Tanya. He's with me now it's not like I'm worried. Just curious after what Emmett said.

He kisses my forehead. "You want me to come here or the office?"

"Here."

He nods smiling. "It's settled. What time is it?" He asks but glances down pulling his phone out of his pocket and checking.

Edward shows me the time. It's nine-thirty.

Saddened, I stand up and prepare for another goodbye. But I have to get some sleep. There's no way I can handle Jessica tomorrow with another night of little sleep.

We walk to the door with our arms wrapped around each other quietly stalling.

"I guess I need to go." He says begrudgingly. His arms tighten around me and I can feel his reluctance.

"Guess so." I agree but I get on my tip toes to kiss him.

We kiss sweetly a few times and then he leaves with promises of more sweet kisses and tales of ex-girlfriends awaiting me tomorrow.

Edward pulls up at his place and I'm surprised to see a house sitting in front of me. I fully expected an apartment. I get out meeting him at the head of his car and we join hands walking up the side walk.

"It's beautiful. Although I'm a little surprised. You live here alone? No roommates?"

He shrugs. "Jasper lived here shortly, but we both knew privacy would be a luxury living here together. It was more than enough for just the two of us but not enough for the privacy we both wanted." I nod understanding.

I laugh suddenly as I see the lone decoration for Christmas perched on his door. "Well this place is Christmas ready, huh?" I tease him lightly.

"It was actual my mothers idea. I wouldn't allow her to put up the lights and all that other junk so she settled for the wreath."

I stare at him in shock. "Junk?"

Edward chuckles. "What? It's nice to look at but I didn't want it all over my lawn."

"Scrooge." I mutter.

"Ba humbug." He grumbles.

Unlocking the door, he opens it ushering me in. The little room I step into is simplistic but beautifully decorated in warm neutrals. However a little touch of Christmas is shining brightly from the left corner of the room in the form of a tree. A few presents are already sitting underneath waiting for eager hands to open them.

"Your mother?" I laugh.

He shakes his head. "No I actually did that. I said I didn't like it on my lawn. But what's Christmas without a tree?"

He walks further into the room and I trial behind him giggling. "Uh huh."

"Thirsty?" He asks with his head poked inside the fridge.

"A water would be good."

He grabs two and hands me one. "Want the full tour?"

I nod and place my hand in his. He shows me around to each room only allowing me a peek inside his room.

"It's a mess." He explains.

"You knew I was coming over though."

He rolls his eyes and pulls me back into the living room. "I didn't feel like picking it up, sue me."

I agree happily. "Okay, then I'll get this cute little house."

He smirks mischievously. "There are other ways to get ownership of this house."

I giggle but ignore him.

We lazily lounge around the rest of the afternoon on the couch watching movies until our stomach notify us its been too long since we ate.

I sit up patting my stomach. "I'm feeling pizza. You?"

Edward contemplates momentarily before agreeing. "Sounds good. Meat lovers."

I scoff. "No ham and pineapple."

He smiles patronizingly. "Okay, sure."

I narrow my eyes at him. "I'm not eating that disgusting pile of greasy meat."

We "argue" over pizza toppings for five more minutes before we agree to order two pizzas. Thankfully thirty minutes passes by easily when your busy making out.

We sit across the couch from each other with our legs tangled together eating quietly.

I chew watching him while he eats. My stomach flutters with happiness and I giggle at a piece of cheese that's stuck to his chin. He wipes it off and then takes another bite only to have more fall onto his chin.

"Damn it." He grumbles wiping it off and I laugh again. "That's not funny. It burns." He wads his napkin throwing it at me.

"Aw I'm sorry." I lean forward and kiss his chin. "Better?"

He smiles. "Much actually."

"Glad I could help."

When we finish, I finally ask the question I'm most curious about. "Okay... time to spill. Who's Tanya?" He starts to talk but interrupt him. "Wait I have my own theory." I clear my throat dramatically. "So obviously she's an ex. And since I'd hope you'd tell me if you were married, I'm going to assume girlfriend." He tries to speak again but I don't let him. "Let me guess she was the love of your life but turned out to be an evil gold digging man hater who only wanted you for your money."

He snorts. "What money?" We both laugh and he plays with my fingers. "Actually we met while I was visiting Ireland the summer after I graduated high school. She was visiting family but she was from Alaska originally. We had a little summer fling but when it came time to come back home she decided to come with me. I took that meaning she was wanting to be serious about us so we moved in together. Apparently I was assuming too much though because I found her with another guy not even two months later. She was my last serious girlfriend."

"I'm sorry." I say quietly. He just shrugs. "That still doesn't make since about what Emmett said though. Why did he say I actually looked at them?" I ask confused.

He sighs exasperatedly. "Emmett never did like her, and in hindsight for good reason. He thought she was snooty because she didn't think he was good company for me to be around. A bad influence on my maturity level, I think she put it one day. Anyway she wouldn't ever actually talk to him she'd talk without looking at him but never to him."

My eyebrows furrow. "She's seems like a real winner herself." I feel a little defense for Emmett. I know it's silly since this has been a few years ago but I can't help it.

"I know. It wasn't that bad though. I knew within the first few weeks of living together it wasn't right. I just didn't know how to tell her."

"Dodge that bullet huh?" I nudge him with my elbow.

He nods agreeing. "Thank God."

Unexpectedly he lunged grabbing me tickles my sides pinning me to the couch while I struggle to get away laughing. He finally relents when I kick a little to closely at a certain area and we lay along side each other on the couch smiling goofily. "Aren't you glad I attacked you at the mall?"

I say wryly, "Ecstatic." He mockingly growls and pulls me in for a hard passionate kiss reminding exactly why I should be glad.