Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or New Moon although it would be fun if I did.

Hey guys, sorry I didn't get a chance to update when I said I would, it's been a very bad week. I know it's cliché but everything that could go wrong, did go wrong but hopefully this week will be better. Thank you so much for the reviews. I look forward to them every chapter, please keep them going.

Chapter 10: Testosterone and Temptation

Bella's POV

Alice and Rosalie have done it again. They did such a great job fixing me up that you would never know I was the walking dead. Alice said it was going to be warm today so they dressed me in jeans, a dark blue ribbed tank top and a white button down shirt.

Edward was waiting for me in car when I was finished. I slowly slid into the passenger seat and quietly closed the door behind me trying not to disturb the reduced pounding in my head. The scenery flew by as the car reached 100 m.p.h. My stomach lurched forward as closed my eyes hoping that my breakfast wouldn't make a repeat performance.

"Are you OK?" Edward said, watching me out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm completely fine," I lied, again glad that my mind is the only one he can't read. "Why would you ask?"

"Well you are becoming a lovely shade of green," he said with a smile.

"It must be my surroundings. You know what they say, live in a place too long, you begin to resemble it."

"What are you talking about," he laughed. "First of all, who are they and secondly if they existed, I'm sure they wouldn't say that."

"Well I guess you're not as informed as you thought because that is exactly what I heard." Where am I coming up with this crap!

"OK Bella, whatever you say," he said, placing his hand on my lap. His touch made me feel instantly better.

When we got to the school parking lot, we noticed that it was filling up quickly. We found a spot in the back corner of the lot. Edward walked smoothly around the car and opened my door for me.

"Are you ready to go in my beautiful reference desk," he smiled, taking my hand.

"Ha Ha," I snickered sarcastically.

The only seats we could find were over by a group of senior boys. Edward had a smirk on his face as we walked over and sat down. What is he smiling about? I was about to ask him when I heard my name.

"Hey Bella?" one of the seniors called to me. I think his name was Logan.

"Yes," I said trying to figure out why he would be talking to me. I could hear Edward trying to hold back a laugh.

"My birthday is coming up next week and I was wondering if you could come over and dance for my guests, I'm sure they would love it," he said as he, the rest of the senior boys and Edward broke out into hysterical laughter. I was absolutely mortified. I could feel my face turn red. I turned to Edward who was trying to get his composure back.

"You knew they were going to ask that didn't you?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"Why didn't you defend me like you always do?"

"Because they weren't trying to be mean, they were just having fun. Just like you were having last night, I might add."

"OK, I'll admit that the alcohol might not have been the wisest choice I have ever made but I did have fun and so did you, admit it?"

"I did have fun at the dance but at the party, not so much. I'm just glad that you're OK and that you didn't hurt yourself."

I tried to ignore the last comment he made and focused my attention to the game. We were losing as usual, our team is not very good. A penalty flag was thrown, "OH COME ON REF!" I screamed, "YOU NEED TO GET YOUR GLASSES FIXED THAT WASN'T PASS INTERFERENCE."

I caught Edward out of the corner of my eye staring at me with his mouth open.

"What?" I said innocently.

"When did you learn about football, you hate sports."

"I must have picked it up while you and Charlie watch the game at home." Thanks Alice. "I want to start coming to more games."

"Really?"

"Don't sound so shocked, I am really starting to get into the game. I was even thinking of maybe trying out for cheerleading," I said, trying to sound convincing. Edward laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Bella you know I love you and that is why I can point out the obvious, you are not the most coordinated person I know."

"I'm getting better, watch I'll show you," I said as I stood up and began to walk along the bleachers. I got two steps and started to fall before I felt two cold arms catch me and place me on his lap.

"OK fine, maybe cheerleading isn't for me but I'll find some other extra-curricular activity that I can do."

"Why the rush to find some school activity that will take you away from me?"

"I'm just trying to take full advantage of the high school experience that you so frequently tell me about," I said placing my head on his shoulder. I felt Edward's body stiffen. Great, what now? I followed Edward's glare and saw Mike, Eric and Tyler walking towards us. That explains it.

"Hi Bella," Mike said happily, "did you have fun at the party last night?"

"I did Mike thanks for asking."

"I just wish you could have stayed longer, there was something I wanted to ask you," he said grinning, as he looked past me and into Edward's eyes. Edward growled softly. "Stop it," I whispered.

"A group of us are going to La Push tomorrow to go cliff diving and we wanted to know if you would be interested in going."

"I'm sorry Mike," Edward said, "she can't go, she has plans with me."

"I do not," I said to Edward. "Mike I would love to go."

"We are meeting at my store at 9 a.m. We'll see you then," he said as they walked away.

I turned to Edward who was fuming. "Before you say anything I want to have my say," I said looking him in the eye. "First of all, you need to stop growling at everyone. I know you can read their minds and I'm sure what you hear may not always be nice but you are not a dog and I am not a house you need to guard. So repeat after me, yes Bella I will try to keep my growling to a minimum."

"But Bella," Edward started to say before I cut him off.

"Edward repeat after me, yes Bella I will try to keep my growling to a minimum."

He said something very quickly but I could understand what it was. "Human speed please," I said like a mother scolding her child.

"Fine. Yes Bella I will try to keep my growling to a minimum," Edward said defeated.

"Good," I said kissing him on the cheek, "now for the other thing, I know you are not allowed into La Push and that you are worried that you won't be able to protect me but you can't be with me 24/7. I will get hurt at times and eventually I will die, I'm human and there's nothing you can do about that, well there is but you won't consider it, but that's neither here nor there," I said, waving off the last comment like it meant nothing to me.

"But I can't help you if something happens," Edward said with sadness in voice.

I kissed him gently on the lips. "I promise I will be OK, I won't let anything happen to myself." He pulled me closer as my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID. Alice, of course.

"Hey Alice what's up?"

"How's everything going?" Like you don't already know.

"Good and how are you?" I said trying to sound nonchalant.

"I see that our team is losing pretty bad. I was wondering if you wanted to see a real football game. It's going to thunderstorm soon and I was wondering if Edward wanted to get a game together?"

"I don't know Alice let me check," I said placing my hand over the receiver. "Hey Edward, Alice says it's going to thunderstorm soon and she wants to know if you want to play football." He began to smile and got an excited glint in his eye.

"Alice, by the look on his face I believe the answer is yes."

"Great, we'll meet you at the usual field in fifteen minutes."

"OK see you then," I said as I flipped my phone closed.

We arrived at the field the same time as everyone else and as predicted by Alice, it began to pour, lightning filled the sky and thunder shook the ground. I stood off to the side as always with Esme.

"Some day soon, my dear Bella ,you will be able to join in the game," Esme whispered.

"I really hope so," I said with a sigh.

"You will, I have faith in my son and his love for you. He wants to be with you just as much as you want to be with him."

I began to watch the game. Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper were one team and Edward, Alice and Carlisle were on the other. They moved more gracefully than regular football players. Carlisle caught the ball and was immediately tackled by Emmett. The ball came loose before he hit the ground and Alice grabbed it and ran it in for a touchdown. Edward punted the ball which Rosalie caught and she weaved in between Carlisle and Alice before Edward passed her out of bounds. This was the first time I got to see Edward close up since the game started. The white t-shirt he wore was soaked and clung to his perfectly sculpted chest, his jeans were muddy and his hair was slicked back. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He always looks like a god but tonight there is something more animalistic about him. I had to fight the urge to go over and rip off his clothes. Every fiber of my being screamed to be with him. Down Bella, what is wrong with you? I sat down on the ground trying my hardest to keep my focus on the game but all I could do is watch every movement he made. The way his arms flexed when he reached for the ball, the excited look he had in eyes when he lunged for another player. Wow it's really getting warm out here. I took off the white shirt and lifted my face towards the rain to cool off.

"Hey Bella are you OK?" I heard Edward ask.

"What? Oh yeah I'm fine just a little warm," I said wiping the rain out of my eyes.

"Do you want to go home?" he said as he sat next to me. I could smell his delectable scent and my head started to spin again. You are suppose to be playing him, not the other way around.

"No I'm good, go finish your game," I said trying to wave him off.

"I think I should get you to bed." Yes you need to get me to bed NOW! Bella stop this isn't like you. Shut up voice in my head, maybe this is me and I just never had the opportunity to explore this this part of myself with Edward. NO! NO! NO! You know how Edward feels about this subject. But isn't this what I'm fighting for.

"Bella, are you in there?"

"Huh?" I said snapping out of my daze.

"You looked like you were having an argument with yourself."

"What would I have to argue about, my life is perfect with you in it," I said kissing him on the cheek, "let's go home." We stood up and told everyone that we were leaving.

"We'll be along in awhile," Alice said winking at me. What does she know?

Edward's POV

I was worried about Bella. She looked like she was have some kind of internal struggle. Maybe she has decided that I am bad for her and she wants to get on with her life. She been acting so different lately, what am I missing?

She didn't say a word in the car but I could see something was still bothering her. I reached out to touch her and she jumped.

"I'm sorry, I was somewhere else," she said quietly.

"Is everything all right?"

"Everything is fine, just thinking."

"About anything I might be interested in."

"Maybe, only time will tell," she said with a sigh.

We arrived at my house and I could see that Bella was soaked to the bone.

"Let's get you upstairs and dried off," I said, leading her to my room. When we entered my room, I flipped on the new Evanescence CD and went into the bathroom to retrieve a towel for Bella.

"Here you go Bella, you can use this to dry off…" I couldn't think of anymore words when I saw her. She was standing about a foot away from me in just a black lace bra and matching panties. I dropped the towel on the floor and tried to collect my thoughts.

"Bella. I. uh." I stammered.

"Shh," she said walking towards me and placing her finger on my lips.

"Don't talk, don't think," she whispered just before she kissed me. It wasn't our usual careful kiss, this went beyond passionate. Our mouths hungrily searched for each other. I knew somewhere in my mind that we needed to stop but I couldn't. I lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around my waist. We never broke the kiss as I carried her to the couch. I sat down with her on my lap. She slowly took my shirt off and began to kiss my neck. My hands explored her body. Her skin was hot and as she leaned her body next to mine, electricity seem to follow between us. I could feel the monster inside me clawing to get out, not the one that craves her blood but the one that craves her body.

"You don't know how much I want you right now," she whispered in my ear.

"I think I have an idea," I said as she began to kiss my chest. "Why do you have to be so tempting?"

"This isn't tempting. If you want tempting," she said as she pushed her hair over her shoulder, tilted her head to the side and with her pinkie nail began to trace a line down her neck, "all I would have to do is make a small incision right here, just enough for a few drops of blood to fall." I watched the blood pump through her veins. I could feel the venom drip off my teeth, it would be so easy to take her right now. Bella giggled.

"Edward, I wouldn't force your hand to change me like that, that would just be cruel."

"I think we need to stop before this goes any farther, plus you need to go to sleep," I said, as I laid her down on the couch and covered her up with a blanket.

"Are you mad?" she asked sweetly.

"I couldn't be mad at you."

"I don't know what got into me tonight, I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about, if anything I should be sorry."

"For what?"

"For stopping," I said smiling. I kissed her on the forehead.

"I love you Bella."

"I love you too. I just be with you always."

"I know, me too." She drifted off to sleep.

I sat on the floor watching her sleep. I always prided myself on how smart I was but for some reason I feel very stupid at this moment in time. This smart, beautiful, funny and sexy woman wants to be with me. Me. How is that possible? I'm a monster and she belongs with angels. I'm not even in the same league as her but she doesn't see that, all she sees is a future with me. Why can't I give her what she wants? It's what both of us want but I'm being the stubborn one as usual. What if she does become a vampire and then rejects me? What if this lifestyle isn't what she thought it would be and hates me for forcing her into it? Do I really want to damn her to this hell? To never see her family again, to never have children, to have to take an animal or human's life just to survive. But if I don't turn her I could still lose her. She will eventually die, I know this but what if she finally gets so frustrated that I won't change her that she leaves. Could I really let her have her humanity or would I go beg her forgiveness and turn her right there? All these questions fill my head every moment of everyday, why can't I be as sure of this like she is? She is my life, if I don't have her my life isn't worth living.

I brushed a piece of her hair off her face and kissed her forehead again. "Bella," I whisper, "what does your heart truly want?"

"You forever," she breathed, deep in a dream.

"OK my love, forever then."