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He let me sleep in the next morning.

I woke up to a note on the pillow, and a yellow and white frangipani that looked suspiciously like the ones on our lanai.

Early morning meetings. See you at lunch?

E.

Rolling on to my back, I sniffed the fragrant flower. For the first time in … forever, I felt a little sore. I'd gone from no sex to sex twice in a day; there were bound to be after-effects. I was tempted to stay in bed and call in room service but that just felt wasteful. I was in one of the prettiest places on the planet – I needed to take advantage of that.

After a shower and a quick cup of coffee, I dressed in a pair of shorts and tank top and started looking over the brochures Edward and I'd brought up from the lobby. Some of them detailed the activities that the resort had to offer, but others advertised sightseeing tours and things available around island. I made a mental note to ask Edward if we could do some of these things together.

For now though, I was on my own. I grabbed my camera and headed downstairs to grab something for breakfast. I took my fresh fruit and bagel and ate on the beach, enjoying the gentle morning sun and the breeze. Again, I felt revitalized. I'd never be able to thank Edward enough for bringing me.

Well… there was one way I could thank him…

After eating, I phoned my mother and chatted with her a bit. Some lady was doing Pilates on the beach, with several people behind her all doing it too, so I dragged my towel over and followed along.

Life was beautiful.

I ached from head to toe.

Who the hell told me to do Pilates?

Dragging myself out of the water, I dried off and limped back to our room. Edward was already there, reading something on his laptop.

"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me," he said, smiling as he shut his computer down.

"Never," I sighed, setting my bag down.

"Why are you walking like that?"

"Pilates."

"Pilates?" Edward echoed. "Like, here in the hotel?"

"Well, maybe – I don't know. This woman was down on the beach doing it so I decided to try."

"Oh. Thought it was because of me."

My mouth dropped open as Edward grinned naughtily, looking for the life of him like a little boy.

"Maybe that's part of it," I said, humoring him."Anyway I got some amazing pictures from walking around all day."

"Yeah? You'll have to show me," he said, patting the seat beside him. He was on the couch, and memories of what we'd done there the day before ran through my mind.

"I'd like to show you," I agreed, sitting.

"Hey listen, I wanted to ask you something." I pulled out the brochures and clippings I'd collected throughout the day. "There's so much to do around here. How do you feel about horseback riding?"

He let me ramble a bit before lounging back and pulling me to sit between his legs.

"Honestly Bella, I'm just glad you're having fun. I just have a few things this afternoon and tomorrow morning and then I'm free to do whatever you want."

"Whatever I want?" I asked suggestively.

"Don't tease," he murmured, his mouth nipping playfully at my ear.

"I'm not…"

He tilted my face to his and kissed me. The way we were sitting made it awkward to really kiss and he suddenly sat up and turned me around so I was facing him.

We kissed over and over, the mood becoming tense and electric quickly.

"I actually can't do this right now," he said eventually, sitting back. "I have to be back downstairs in about a half hour."

"Hungry?"

"Yeah…let's grab something from downstairs."

We got our room keys and left the suite, chatting quietly about the things Edward, his father and the company had been discussing. I thought it was really incredible that Edward was following Carlisle's footsteps. It wasn't even like he was being made to; he genuinely wanted to. He was excited about the direction the company was taking and had a lot of ideas of his own.

His enthusiasm was catching.

Our lunch was a bit rushed, thanks to our make out session upstairs, but Edward promised he come to me as soon as he was done.

Suddenly sleepy, I went back to the suite. I took another shower, got into a big, comfy t-shirt, and fell asleep.

I was woken by hands.

Rough fingertips, running down my arms. Reaching beneath my shirt and tracing patterns on my back. I squirmed and tried to roll over, but he held me in place.

"You've put a spell on me," he said quietly. He sounded like he was joking…and like he wasn't. "You're on my mind constantly now… what we did last night…"

Again, I tried to roll over and again he held me in place, on my stomach. I felt him hook his fingers in my panties and roll them down.

My heart began racing in anticipation. I lifted my hips a little to help him, turning my face to the side so I could see better. He kissed me. I kissed back.

He pushed my t-shirt up and I sat up a little so I could take it off. When I was lying naked beneath him, still on my tummy, he laid on top of me, letting me feel all of him.

"When did you get naked?" I giggled into my pillow, squirming.

"I've been naked," he said, biting my shoulder.

"What a creeper. You were watching me sleep while you were naked?" I teased, enjoying getting a reaction.

"Basically." He nudged my legs apart and then I felt his fingers, moving around and then inside me, making me squirm even more, moaning when he found the right spots. Just when I thought I might combust from wanting he replaced his fingers with his dick.

Because I was flat on the bed, with his weight holding me there, the feeling of him, moving inside me, was intense and deep. I could hardly open my eyes. I liked it.

Then his warm, wet mouth was on my neck, making me shiver. He managed to get his hand between me and the sheet, and then he started touching me again.

"I want you to come when I'm inside you," he whispered, his words broken up by heavy breathing.

I nodded, wanting that too obviously. I pushed back against him a little, giving him space to work with, and concentrating on coming. Because sometimes I had to will it to happen.

Well, I didn't have to work too hard. Soon I was exploding from the inside out, crying out as he started moving faster, removing his hand so he could hold himself up better.

Afterwards, we snuggled beneath the comforter, our legs tangled up together.

"Edward."

He looked at me and pulled me closer.

"I think I want to teach."

"You had this epiphany just now?"

"Today. I was taking pictures, and imagining what it would be like to be, like, a world renowned photographer but I realized that isn't what I need to do. I mean, I like doing it and I will but, I want to teach. Maybe it was that Pilates lady, I don't know…"

"Speaking of which, how are you feeling?"

"Sore. More now than ever," I said pointedly.

"Aw, I'd say I was sorry but I'm not." He winked and grinned impishly, wrapping his hand around my hip. "Anyway. I can see you as a teacher. Easily. What age group?"

"Elementary. Young."

He nodded.

"Thank you," I sighed, moving even closer so I could flatten myself against his body.

"For…?"

"For making me want to make decisions. I feel like if we hadn't met I'd still be floating through life, barely handling the day to day."

He nodded, squeezing me gently. "I'd do anything for you, Bella. I'm starting to realize this more and more."

My insides turned to mush.

As soon as Edward finished meeting with the company the next day,around lunch time, he'd be free.

Free to roam around the island with me, to explore. I couldn't wait. Instead of going out I slept in again, taking advantage of the fact that I was still on vacation. Eventually I wandered out to the lanai, craving sunlight and fresh air. I took my coffee and a book, plus a croissant I'd gotten from room service (I'd finally caved) and set up, admiring the view from our room.

By the time Edward was scheduled to be back I'd finished my book. Usually it took me forever to finish books, and not because I was a slow reader. On the contrary, I was a fast reader and a voracious one if I had the right reading material. But I was usually inundated with work and classes and schoolwork back home. Sometimes the last thing I wanted to see at night was another book or computer screen.

Not here, though. Here I did what I wanted, when I wanted. And who I wanted.

No more of that, Bella. At least wait until tonight, for the love of God.

"Bella?"

I stood up, straightening my sundress as I returned inside the suite.

"Hey, you. How'd it go?" I imagined briefly that this is what it would be like if we lived together, or if we were married. I just loved these random, ridiculous little thoughts flitting through my mind. Honestly.

"It went great. They're really receptive to my ideas, but I obviously still have a lot to learn. That's why my dad's having me get so involved now, so that be the time I graduate I'll be ready to join the firm as a junior partner. Eventually. That's what he hopes for, anyway."

"And that's what you want, right?"

"Definitely." He loosened his tie and came to me, kissing me softly. "So what do you want to do today?"

"Well…" I hesitated, wondering if the one thing I wanted to do was going to seem over the top.

"What?"

I thrust the flyer into his hands.

"Zip lining?"

I held my breath while he read. And then he smiled.

"This looks incredible."

"Really? It's not too… extreme and crazy?"

"I think it looks fun, if you're into being suspended hundreds of feet off the ground and whizzing through the bushes."

"I do think that looks fun."

"So do I. Let's call them."

An hour later we were on our way to the Haleakala Skyline Tour.

At a stoplight, I showed Edward another brochure.

"Tomorrow I want to do this… but it leaves at, like, seven a.m."

It was tour that would bring us along the Hana coast. There were all sorts of beautiful things to see, and it all culminated in a visit to Wailua Falls. I couldn't think of a more gorgeous way to spend the day, fooling around in an actual waterfall with the guy of my dreams. This was getting more Harlequin-esque by the nanosecond and I was just eating it up.

Edward skimmed the brochure quickly, nodding. "Yeah. This looks good too. I'll bring the camcorder."

"You have a camcorder?"

The light turned green. The GPS gave us another set of instructions.

"Yeah. You didn't see it with my stuff?"

I shook my head.

"Maybe we can use it later on tonight too," he said.

I nodded, gazing at the scenery out the window.

Then I realized what he'd said.

"What?" I asked, turning toward him with a smile.

But he just winked at me.

Zip lining was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. We'd gotten fantastic pictures of each other, but nothing could compare to the actual sensation of soaring over gulches and valleys and through trees. It was beautiful.

We'd also gotten a chance to see some of the more natural parts of Maui, the places that weren't so built up and commercialized. After being in the hotel for the past few days – luxurious as it was – it was nice to see the rest of the island. I knew we'd get to see a lot more the next day, too, on our tour.

We ate at a little local restaurant on the way back to the hotel.

I was tired in the best way, as I'd been every night. It meant I'd actually been active; I'd used my muscles and breathed clean, fresh air and gotten plenty of Vitamin D from the bright and constant sun. My skin was golden, and my hair had even gotten lighter.

Edward was more perfect than usual. If I wasn't so into him, it really might have been sickening. But I appreciated how his bright green eyes popped against his newly darkened skin, how the faint freckles on his cheeks were more visible now, how the bronze in his hair had turned to gold.

We chatted about our day all the way back up to the suite, deciding to forego our original plan of hanging out at one of the hotel bars. At the rate we were going we'd be asleep in seconds if we imbibed.

"I'm gonna email my mom, if that's okay," I said.

"That's cool. I'm going to take a shower."

I nodded absently, already signing into my Gmail account.

I checked my messages and responded to a few, including my mother, and then took a shower in the other bathroom. I yawned while I combed the knots out of my hair, trying to fight the sleepiness that was threatening to pull me down.

When I emerged from the bathroom, I could hear music coming from our bedroom.

I secured the hotel bathrobe around my body tighter and went in, looking for Edward.

My stomach flipped.

He was there in the semi-dark, lying back on the bed in just pajama pants, his hands folded behind his head.

Our eyes met. He watched me as I walked over to him and sat.

"Whatcha doin?"

"Thinking about you," he said.

"What about me?"

"About how glad I am we're together."

My heart soared, as it was prone to doing lately. "I'm glad we're together too."

"Are we? Together?"

He emphasized the word differently and I swallowed hard. "I… want to be."

He smiled a little. "Me too. All the way."

I could feel my face get warm. There was a good bit of space between us but his words made me feel close to him. As if he was reading my mind he sat up a bit and beckoned me closer. I scooted over to him and grabbed his hand.

"I want you to be at all my shows. And I want to be the one you bring along to your office Christmas parties and barbeques."

"Definitely. And, I want to… go places with you. Or go nowhere with you. I want all of that."

"I want to meet your Dad," he said.

"I want to meet your Mom."

He yanked me down and kissed me hard, snagging his fingers in my still-wet hair.

I lay beside him and hooked my leg around him, pressing our bodies close together.

"Bella," he whispered, his hand trailing up my leg and beneath my robe. "I want you. All of you."

"Me too," I gasped, arching against him when he made contact with my clit.

"Bare," he said, licking a trail from my ear to my neck.

My mind raced. Were we ready for that?

"You can trust me," he insisted. He turned me on to my back and opening my robe, where I was naked underneath. "I've been tested… "

"Okay… me too…" I sighed, bringing him closer so I could kiss him.

"Are you – "

"Yes!" I cried. "I've been on the pill for years! Now stop talking…"

"Bella?"

I opened my eyes, ready to wrestle him down and take him by force if he didn't pipe down. "What?"

He motioned to his camcorder on the nightstand. "Let's film this."

was chaperoning a field trip (to the coast guard), hence the tardy posting. the cliche is tue; men in uniform are terribly appealing. yowza.