2brown-eyes is the pre-reader!

Mistakes are mine!

Chills erupt on my arms when we leave the warmth of the hotel, and Edward notices right away, removing his suit jacket and draping it over my shoulders. "Thank you," I say, linking my arm with his. "Dinner was lovely."

"It was," he replies as we meander down the sidewalk. "But my dinner companion was lovelier."

"You're sweet," I say, a feeling of complete contentment unfurling inside me. "And I want to thank you for pushing me out into the world. I'm still nervous, but the change of scenery is nice."

"Well, let me propose a prolonging of our night, if you will," he says, pausing and turning to me. "Let's ditch the car and walk the few blocks home."

"You're serious?" My brows lift. "We'd be completely exposed."

"I know it feels that way," he says, taking my hand to continue our way up the sidewalk. "But right now, there are at least six armed men with eyes on us. I'm also armed. And beyond that, there's a ten-block radius surrounding Cullen Corp that is always under guard. There are people all over the area who are on constant lookout for a threat. We're so detailed that car tags are scanned, and facial recognition software is constantly running."

"Yet they allowed your rival's daughter to slip in unnoticed?"

"Touché." He sighs, his jaw ticking. "To be fair, there was only one woman on the watch list, and that was Rosalie Hale. I will admit to raising a shit ton of hell over your unannounced appearance. Since then, the watchlist has been expanded to any known associate of the Swan or Denali mafias and to their families."

"What would've happened if I'd been caught?" We're already past the parking lot where the car is, so I guess this walking thing is happening. "Is it like, I'd be murdered on the spot, captured, or something else entirely."

"Depends on who you are," he says, huffing a laugh. "In your case, had you been identified, I would've received a call and either come to you myself or had you brought to me."

"That's disappointing," I chide, peeking up at him from beneath my lashes. "I should surely warrant your personal attention."

"It definitely would've been a mistake to have you brought to me," he agrees with a tilt of his head. "And I promise you'll never lack my personal attention again."

"Can you truly make that promise?" I don't want to push him, but I go days without seeing him at times. "You're a very busy man by all accounts."

"By all accounts?" His lips twitch. "I realize I haven't showered you with as much attention as I could have, but I was holding myself back on purpose. If I'm being completely honest, even when you didn't see me, I was thinking of you."

I drop my eyes to hide my smile. "I thought about you too."

"Would it be prudent to call us a couple now?" He looks over at me, a crooked grin on his lips. "And I don't mean because we're already engaged."

"What do you mean then?" I'm teasing him, and it's fun.

I know exactly what he means, and I welcome it. I thought my experience with Eleazar would've turned me cold toward manly affection, but that's not the case. I've come to a point where I crave Edward's presence in my life, both physically and mentally.

He stops and turns to me, his palms settling on my hips. "I'm sure it's no surprise that I find you to be a beautiful woman, but even after I accepted the pact, I vowed to myself to keep my distance."

"Get a room," someone barks as they rush past us.

Edward's glare would kill the man if possible. "Fucking prick." He whips out his phone and is talking into it in no time. "You see that guy?"

I let out a laugh, and Edward's eyes snap to mine. I shake my head and reach for his phone. He's just shocked enough to let me take it. "Never mind," I say into it before hitting end. "Really, Edward?"

"We were having a moment." His brows are still furrowed, and he may even be pouting just the tiniest bit. "And that was rude of him."

"So what?" I hold up my hands, using my best thug voice. "You gonna teach him a lesson?"

Edward huffs. "Not now, apparently." I giggle, and he rolls his eyes. "Fine. The douche can live."

"I feel accomplished." I smirk. "Any day I can save a life is always a good day." I put his phone back in his hand and lay my palms against his chest, looking up at him. "You were saying?"

It takes him a minute to get back into the mood, but he does, gripping my hands in his and bringing them down between us. "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted." He's still a little miffed, and it's cute. "I thought that since you'd had such a bad experience, I should keep my distance. But every minute I spend with you makes me want more minutes, and it's gotten to the point where I can hardly stay away."

"Then don't," I say, my heart pitter-pattering in my chest.

"Fuck," he curses, looking away from my expectant gaze. "Your innocence is killing me."

"I don't know what you mean by that, but it sounds fun." I smile when his eyes jump back to mine. "There you are." I'm teasing him, and it feels good. I brush his cheek. "Such a handsome face."

"You always react in the most unexpected ways." He leans into my touch. "It's very endearing."

"Endearing is a start."

He throws his head back and laughs loudly, causing an older woman who's walking past to smile at us like we're a zoo exhibit. "There are other terms I can ascribe," he rasps, the coarseness causing goosebumps to race up my spine. "Fuckhot." He says it slowly. "As in, the kisses we've been sharing as of late, and I look forward to the day we can take it further."

"Why not now?" I'm ready, there's no doubt in my mind.

"My sweet, sweet Bella." His laugh isn't the funny kind this time. It's more of a strangled groan. "You've been dangerously receptive to my advances since the day we met, but I intend to honor our marriage and wait until our wedding night, at the very least, to explore that area of our relationship."

My stomach churns at the brush off. "I see."

He cups my cheek, his eyes a brighter shade of green than usual. "Please don't feel like I'm denying you." He huffs a strained laugh. "If anything, I'm denying myself."

"It doesn't feel that way."

"You've been through so much," he says, his eyes as soft as his voice. "And I want to show you that women deserve respect, that you deserved to be respected."

I nuzzle into his warm palm. "So, what you're really saying is you're doing this for my own good?"

He steps closer, wrapping his arms around my back and pulling me against him. "I'm saying that I've come to realize that I care for you a great deal." He presses a kiss to the top of my head. "And I cherish things I care about."

"I care for you too." It's the biggest understatement of my life, but I don't think Edward's ready for me to declare my undying love.

The shrill sound of Edward's phone ringing breaks into our moment, and he quickly pulls away and answers it. "Talk to me." He paces a small path on the sidewalk as he listens. "How far away?" He nods along with whatever he's hearing. "Good. Keep eyes on them, and we'll be at Cullen Corp in about ten minutes." He slips the phone into his inside pocket and takes my hand. "We should get off the street."

"What's wrong?" I ask, walking hurriedly beside him.

"Nothing, per se," he replies, but he's lying because I'm practically running to keep up.

I tug him to a stop. "Talk. Now."

He pinches the bridge of his nose, breathing deeply, before meeting my anxious gaze. "Your father is attending an event at the Forks Abstract Art Museum."

I wrack my brain to try and remember where that's located. "That's on the north side of town."

"Yes." He nods once, his demeanor tense now. "It's a good distance away, but I'm not comfortable knowing he's anywhere in your vicinity, especially since we've made it a point to be out and proud tonight."

"He wouldn't know that, though."

"The gossip mill is already churning," he replies, blowing out a frustrated breath. "Which is why I'll feel better when we're home."

"It's weird," I say, unable to find that girl who didn't want to leave the safety of Cullen Corp earlier tonight. "I was terrified of coming out, but I feel safe walking down the sidewalk with you, even knowing my father is only twenty minutes away."

"That's what I was hoping for when I suggested we go out." His laugh is nervous for the first time since I've known him. "And now, I regret every word. If something were to happen to you …" He meets my eyes, and fear lurks inside his troubled gaze.

"If you're that worried, call Seth and have him drive us the last two blocks."

His relief is a visible force as he whips out his phone and makes the call. It only takes three minutes until we're safely tucked back inside the Cullen Corp building. Edward's relief is greater than my own, and that's when I realize that maybe he is ready to hear my deepest feelings.

Maybe he even returns them.

I finished 2 chappies last week, and as my last few days before mission mansick lockdown, I'm going to do my best to whip up 2 more.

If I do, I'll see you again Friday!

If not, it'll be next week :)

P.S. Is the slow burn killlllling you or just killing you lol