I'll say it again. I don't own Twilight.

Chapter Seven

As Edward drove, Bella looked out the window. Suddenly, the scenery became familiar. She turned to Edward.

"We're going to your house?" she asked.

"Yes, we are," he replied.

A few minutes later, Edward pulled the car up in front of his house. He walked around to the other side of the car and opened Bella's door for her. Then the two of them went inside. The lights in the house were dimmed down low. Bella could tell something was a little off.

"Where is everybody?" Bella asked as Edward he took her coat.

"Well, let's see. Rosalie and Emmett went camping in Vancouver, Alice and Jasper went to Las Vegas, and Carlisle and Esmé went to New York City to see a show on Broadway."

"So, it's just us?"

"Yes." Edward took her hand and led her into the dining room. "I hope you've brought an appetite."

Bella blinked. "You cooked?"

Edward smiled. "I did, believe it or not. I have not one, but two, surprises for you tonight. This is just the first part." He pulled a chair out for Bella. She sat down. Edward took a lighter from his pocket and lit two tea-light candles sitting on the table. "I'll be right back."

Edward left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a tray of food. He set it all down on the table. There were two plates. One had several small pieces of toasted bread. The other had marshmallows and pieces of fruit. He set a round pot over each of the tea-light candles. One pot had cheese and the other had chocolate. Bella looked at Edward as he took the seat next to her.

"Fondue?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah. I don't really know how to cook, so I tried to find something that would be virtually impossible to mess up."

"I'm impressed."

"Thank you."

Bella picked up a piece of bread. She swirled it in the cheese pot and then took a bit out of it. When she did, her eyes widened. She dropped the bread from her hand and waved her hand in front of her face.

"Ow! Hot!" she yelled.

Edward knocked his chair over as he sped out of the room. He returned a second later with a glass of ice water. Bella took it and gulped down half of the glass. She struggled to catch her breath.

"Are you all right?" Edward asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Bella replied.

"I'm sorry. I should have warned you that it was hot."

Bella shook her head. "No, that was just me being dumb. I should've known melted cheese would be hot."

"Are you sure you're all right?"

Bella ran her tongue across the roof of her mouth. "I think I singed my tongue."

Edward grinned devilishly at her. "Would you like me to kiss it and make it better?"

Bella grinned back. "I would like that very much."

He leaned in and kissed her. Bella's lips parted, inviting him in. Edward accepted the invitation and slipped his tongue into her mouth. His tongue, like his skin, was icy cold, and it soothed the burn on Bella's tongue. When the kiss parted, Edward looked at Bella and smiled.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much," Bella replied.

Edward picked up a strawberry and dipped it into the chocolate. He blew on it to cool it off and then offered it to Bella. She brought his hand up to her mouth and flicked her tongue across the strawberry, licking off some of the chocolate. Edward shifted himself in his chair.

"What?" Bella asked with a smile.

Edward shook his head. "Nothing."

She took the strawberry form his hand. "Liar." She bit into the strawberry.

Edward sighed, but smiled. "OK, that was by far the sexiest thing I have ever seen you do."

Bella giggled.

When she was finished eating, Bella helped Edward clear the table.

"Well," she said. "It just so happens that I also have two surprises for you tonight. I think I'll give one to you right now."

"OK," Edward said.

Bella left the room. She returned a moment later with a brightly wrapped box.

"Open it," she said and she handed the box to Edward.

Edward took the present from her. He tore the paper off and looked at the present. He laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Bella asked.

"Nothing," Edward said. "I just…"

"Look, I know it's not exactly something you'd expect to get on Valentine's Day, but it can be sexy. You just have to know how to do it right."

Edward thought about it for a moment. "I see your point. All right, I'll give it a try."

Bella smiled. "Let's go set it up in the living room. We'll have more space."