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Chapter 12

BPOV

As I look myself over in the mirror, I'm happy to see that my swollen lip is back to normal and the only thing left is a tiny flesh wound that's healing up nicely. Most of my bumps and bruises from Friday night's incident are gone, but my doctor still says that I have to sit out the next two bouts, which is the remainder of the regular season.

I have complete confidence in my team that they'll be able to clinch the division title and take us to the playoffs. To do that, though, they'll have a rematch with Portland, which should make Rose happy. She and Katie are determined to get revenge on Slaybia for knocking me out. I'm looking forward to watching it, but I'm looking forward even more to kicking some ass in the national tournament. We've been close to taking home the title a few times, but I really feel like this is our year. The only thing that pisses me off is that Alice is out for the season. It's going to take time to get used to her not being there; right at the end of the season is the worst time to make changes in our game play, but I'm slowly getting used to this whole baby idea.

As much as I hate Alice being out with a nine-month injury, I'm a little stoked to meet the little bean that's growing inside her. I've never given much thought to having kids. She's the first one of my close friends to be pregnant, so it's bringing a flood of emotions and feelings out of me and not all of them are bad.

I check the time on my phone and realize I only have a few minutes until Edward is supposed to be here to pick me up. Spending the last couple of days at his house was...sweet and...awesome. I've loved spending time with him since the first night he gave me a lift to Willie's and that's only grown over the past few months. I can't seem to get enough of him right now and I don't see that changing anytime soon, if ever. He makes me happy and I feel like I can talk to him about anything. He also makes me feel safe, which I didn't think I needed, but now that I have it, I crave it. I love feeling protected by him. That sounds ridiculous because it's Edward and he's not, like, some big, burly dude. He's not like Paul, who bullies people around, but he makes me feel safer than I ever have in my whole life.

And I know that he likes me...a lot. He finally admitted that to me, but I knew it before he said it. I knew it before I bitched him out in the locker room. I knew it the night he fed me cheese fries and helped me save face in front of my friends. I can see it in the way he looks at me; he sees me, not the derby chick or the girl, but me.

As I grab my jacket off the back of the couch, I suddenly feel a hundred tiny butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I'm not sure where the rush of nerves came from. It's not like I haven't spent three of the last five days at his house, but this is our first official date and I want it to be perfect.

We're just going to Willie's, but I can sense that there's something different about tonight. Edward seemed nervous when he called earlier. His voice sounded tense and the uncertainty he has from time to time was in full force. He said he was making sure I hadn't changed my mind and that I was feeling up to it. I assured him that I've been looking forward to it and I feel good as new.

Not to sound like a guy, but I need to get fucking laid, and by that I mean I'm fucking Edward...or he's fucking me. Whatever. It's fucking happening.

Sharing a bed with him for three nights and not having sex was pure torture. We both wanted to; it was blatantly obvious, but Edward wouldn't even touch me below the waist. He was so worried that he was going to hurt me or that I wasn't well enough.

Don't get me wrong - it was chivalrous, and I love chivalry, but I don't want chivalry tonight.

The knock on the door pulls me out of my inner perving, and I flip off the house lights on my way to answer it. I can tell by the knock that it's Edward. When I open the door, I'm forced to squeeze my legs together under my short denim skirt, because he's standing there in a tight white V-neck t-shirt and dark jeans that are slung low on his hips. Seeing him makes my mouth water and my panties wet, both involuntary actions, completely brought on by his understated hotness. You know that old country song that says "she don't know she's beautiful"? That's Edward. He doesn't even know how sexy he is, which makes him even sexier. I lick my lips, before saying hello.

"Hello, yourself, gorgeous," the words fall out of his mouth seductively.

I walk out onto the front porch and quickly slam the door behind me. We won't make it to Willie's at this rate and I really want to have an official date before we have sex. I don't know why that feels important, but our entire relationship, thus far, has been at a slow and steady pace and I like it. So, I don't want to screw things up.

Fortunately, Edward must be on the same wavelength, because I can see the desire in his face. He reaches out for my hand as he turns back toward his car.

"Ready?" he asks, glancing at me over his shoulder.

"Yes," I respond, and that's the answer to every question hanging over the night. I'm ready for everything.

The drive to Willie's is quick. It's not far from my house and we just fall into a comfortable conversation about nothing. When we pull up to the bar, Edward hurries around and opens my door for me. His hand falls to the small of my back as we walk up to the entrance. I look over at him and he has this sweet, soft smile on his face that's illuminated by the dim lights in the parking lot. I can't help myself from stopping right there and kissing him. It's short and sweet, but I couldn't resist any longer.

"Thank you."

"For what?" he asks.

"For tonight. For being you." I smile, hoping he realizes how he makes me feel.

"I should be the one showing the appreciation," he whispers, sliding his hand from my back to my side and leaning in to brush his lips against mine.

"We probably shouldn't start this out here. We'll never make it inside." His words come out with a laugh and I'm pretty sure he adjusts his pants before we walk in.

"Well, look at who the cat dragged in," Felix says, when we walk through the door. "I was wondering when you were going to show up."

"Were you expecting us?" I ask. "Did you miss me, Felix? That's so sweet!" I hug the big lug, but I don't miss the eye contact he has with Edward.

As we sit down at a table close to the stage, I notice that Edward is fidgeting a lot. He's tearing apart the napkin that was left on the table and he seems like he's a million miles away.

"You okay?" I ask, placing my hand over his, forcing him to stop mutilating the napkin.

"Oh, yeah," he says, breathing deeply. "I'm great!" His smile is a little forced, but sincere, nonetheless. Before I can say anything else, two beers mysteriously appear on our table. I follow the hairy arms up to see Marcus standing over me.

"Figured you guys could use these," he says, smiling down at us.

"Thanks!" Edward says, chugging about half of his beer.

When he sets the glass back on the table, I notice him looking at his watch. We sit there for a few minutes drinking our beers and making small talk, occasionally saying hello to other regulars. I like that Willie's is becoming our hangout.

I feel Edward's hand rest on top of mine on the table and when I look up at him, the nervousness that I got a glimpse of earlier is back. He looks at me like he needs to tell me something.

"I'm going to go order us another beer. Want something else? Cheese fries?" he asks, his face breaking into a small smile.

"Yeah, cheese fries sound good. I'd hate to let these beers go to my head. I have plans for later," I say, giving him what I hope is a seductive look, expressing what those plans entail.

Edward swallows hard. "Oh, really?" he asks.

I nod, biting my bottom lip.

He leans down over me, his lips hovering by my ear. "I'll be right back," he whispers. His lips brush my cheek, sending a bolt of electricity between my legs.

"I'll be waiting."

I watch Edward walk to the bar, because it's a waste of a fine ass for me not to look, but then I turn back around and down the rest of my beer. I feel parched. I think all the fluid in my body has traveled south.

The spotlights come on, illuminating the small stage. I turn around to see if Edward is finished at the bar, but he's nowhere to be seen.

A slight screech comes from a microphone and it forces my attention back to the stage just in time to see dark-washed jeans perched on a barstool. The bar is almost completely dark, except for the white light shining on the stage. My eyes travel from the legs up to the white t-shirt and then to the sexy forearms gripping the microphone.

I fucking knew it!

There are no introductions or preliminaries, just a soft strum on the guitar, but I didn't need any introductions. I think I've known all along that Edward is Masen. The first night we were at the bar, there was a familiarity about him that I couldn't put my finger on, but it was there. Then, after I heard him play the guitar and sing, it was all I needed to put the rest of the pieces of the puzzle together. I almost called him out on it one day when I was leaving a session, but it didn't seem like the right time. Since then, we've had so much going on in our lives, I honestly haven't thought about it.

Tonight, he isn't hiding behind a baseball cap and his glasses are still in place. He's the best version of himself...no pretenses, no personas, just Edward.

When his soft, sexy voice starts filling the air, I'm lost in his words - lost in him.

What day is it?

And in what month?

This clock never seemed so alive

I can't keep up, and I can't back down

I've been losing so much time

I know that he's picked this song just for tonight, just for me.

'Cause it's you and me

And all of the people with nothing to do

Nothing to lose

And it's you and me

And all the other people

And I don't know why

I can't keep my eyes off of you

With those words, Edward looks up from his guitar and his eyes find me. Even though the lights are blinding, he looks past it and I know he sees me. I put my elbows on the table and lean forward, closer to him.

Something about you now

That I can't quite figure out

Everything she does is beautiful

Everything she does is right

You know those horny teenagers who follow boy bands around and throw their panties on the stage? Take that and multiply it by ten and you'll have me as I'm sitting here watching Edward in his element.

He sings his normal three songs - each song hand-picked for me...for us, and each one making me more and more desperate to be alone with him. When he finishes, he leans forward and thanks everyone for listening. I can't make myself stay in my seat. I toss a twenty on the bar and walk to the side of the stage, meeting Edward as he's walking off.

He looks at me sheepishly. "I was going to tell you."

"You didn't have to. I think I've known all along."

I walk up to him slowly, reaching out and grabbing his t-shirt, pulling him to me. Standing on my tiptoes, I kiss his lips, softly at first and then increasingly more intense.

"Let's get out of here."

Edward doesn't hesitate. He grabs his guitar and my hand and we head toward the door.

Felix smiles knowingly as we walk quickly past him.

The drive back to my house is faster than the drive to Willie's.

When we pull into my drive, we both sit there and stare at each other, not saying a word. It's only for a split second, but the stillness and unspoken words make the air in the car is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Edward finally opens his door and walks around to open mine. He reaches down and offers his hand to help me out of the car. It's these simple things that he does that make me fall so hard for him. Instead of telling me how he feels about me, he shows me, and I want nothing more than to show him exactly how I feel about him right now.

Taking his hand, I stand up out of the car, and now I'm pulling him toward the door.

I can't get it unlocked fast enough, urgency is bubbling up inside me. Once the door is shut behind us, I continue to pull him toward my bedroom, but only make it as far as the hall. When I turn to him, it's like I'm looking in a mirror. I can see every feeling that is rushing through my body etched on his face. Pulling his face down to me, I answer any questions and squash any doubts he might be having. Our lips meet and I open my mouth, giving him complete access. I want this. I want him.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted this...with you," he says, breathless from our kiss. His arms pin me against the wall and his body presses against me, allowing me to feel just how much he wants me, which only increases the burning ache I feel for him.

"I want you, too. So much."

"I don't want to screw it up."

"The only way you could screw this up is to stop. Please don't stop!" I beg him, wrapping my legs around his waist. The friction I get from the contact is nice, but it's not enough.

"Bedroom!"

Edward palms my ass to keep me from falling as he pulls away from the wall and walks the rest of the way down the hall to my bedroom. He stumbles into the room and over to the bed. As he lowers me down, I grab onto the hem of his shirt and take it with me.

The light from my bathroom is enough to allow me to enjoy the view. Edward is not one of those ripped male models, but he's beautiful. Everything about him is effortless and natural. He doesn't mean to be so sexy, which makes him that much more desirable.

His hands run up my legs, stopping at the edge of my shirt, asking permission. I nod and begin to raise it up, but he stops me.

"I want to do that," he says, hesitating, "if that's okay?"

I drop my hands down to the bed, my eyes on Edward as he watches me. The expression on his face as he slowly takes my shirt off is one of awe. I've never had a man look at me like that before. It's like I've just given him the best Christmas present. Raising my arms above my head, I allow him to take my shirt off completely.

As soon as it's discarded, Edward's lips are on me. He leaves open-mouthed kisses from my waist all the way up to my neck and, with each touch, I grow needier, hungrier. I slip my hands in between us and unbutton his jeans, forcing them down as far as I can reach.

Edward stands up and quickly removes his pants and briefs all in one move, his eyes never leaving mine. The air between us is now thick with anticipation and desire and something else that we're not quite ready to acknowledge - but it's there. I feel it in my bones and I'm pretty sure Edward does, too.

Before he climbs back into bed, he grabs a foil packet from his pants and tosses it on the bed.

I can't help but tease him. "I see that you came prepared. What - did you just assume I'd fall into bed with you simply because you sang me a few songs tonight?"

He slowly crawls on top of me, but keeps his weight on his hands by my head, his mouth hovering over mine. "You can't blame a guy for dreaming, Cherry, especially when you are my dream come true."

His lips cover mine and we melt into each other. Desire swirls through my body and I feel like I'll never be able to get enough of him. We separate just long enough for Edward to put the condom on, and when he lines himself up with my opening, he gives me a look of yearning. I smile at him, encouragingly, silently beckoning him. As he slowly pushes into me, I can't keep the deep moan from leaving my mouth.

When our hips are flush, I wrap my arms and legs around him as tightly as I can, my body begging to be as close to his as possible.

Edward's body is still. He puts his forehead on my shoulder and I can feel his back and shoulder muscles tense up. I know that he's built this moment up in his mind and wants everything to be just right, but he's put too much pressure on himself.

I move his head to where his face is in front of mine, but his eyes stay closed.

"Hey. It's you and me, remember? You and me. And, we're perfect." I run my fingers through the hair that goes over his ear before cupping his jaw. When he opens his eyes, they're filled with so much emotion as he whispers, "Perfect."

I feel him slowly pull back and then push forward a little harder this time and now I can't keep my eyes open. I want to watch him - watch us - but it just feels too damned good.

Edward picks up his pace a bit and lets out a low "fuuuuuuccckk" before attacking my neck and throat with his mouth. "Yesssss" is my only verbal response, but I manage to grab his ass to encourage him to move harder, which he immediately does.

Never. Never have I felt this good, this alive, and this complete.

I feel Edward's hand move down my body until it finds my knee and pushes it up higher until it's close to my breast. He's so deep inside me; I can only gasp in response as my body arches into his.

I'm tingling everywhere as pleasure travels from the tips of my fingers and toes throughout my limbs and meets at my core, waiting for just the right moment to explode. Edward is sweating and panting, his erratic thrusts signaling he's ready to come. I grab onto his back even tighter than before, grounding myself to him before I fall apart, my orgasm shooting absolute bliss throughout my entire body.

"Oh, God...oh, God...oh, Bella!" One of Edward's hands is under me, fingers on my neck, keeping me close while the other hand is gripping where the mattress hits the headboard. I can see his arm muscles tense and twitch as he pulses inside me before his body slowly sinks onto mine.

For a second, I wonder if he's fallen asleep because he's so still and quiet, but when I start playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, I feel him smile against my collarbone.

"You called me 'Bella'," I whisper to him. "You've never called me that before."

"What do you think about that?"

I kiss the top of his head. "I think...that I really like the way you say it when you're coming and I only want you to call me 'Bella' when we make love."

Edward lifts his head up, eyes sparkling just like I know mine are, and kisses me gently. "I plan on calling you 'Bella' a lot, just so you know."

I laugh and kiss him back. "Sounds great to me!"

A/Ns:

Jenny Kate: Well, there's really nothing to discuss in this chapter. I mean, ya know, it's not like anything important happened.

Jiff: Please, girl! No one is reading these A/Ns! They're all reading the lemon again and thanking the citrus gods that there finally IS one in this story!

Jenny Kate: *smokes cigarette* Really? There was a lemon? I didn't notice. Wait! Why am I writing A/Ns? I have things I need to take care of! Can we wrap this shit up?

Jiff: *washes hands* You still here, JK?!

Jenny Kate: Well, I have been known to multitask.

Jiff: Yes, you're a very talented lady. And, when I say 'lady', I really mean 'hoor'.

Jenny Kate: *curtsies* Thank you very much. I'm a lady in the street, but a freak in the bed. Ok, I'm rarely a lady. Nevermind.

Jiff: Okay, back to the story...Were any of you really surprised that Cherry knew Edward was Masen? I know a lot of you have been asking about that for some time.

Jenny Kate: I wasn't surprised. *looks around* I mean, Cherry is a smart girl. I'm sure she's known for a while. I sure as hell hope no one was surprised that they finally did it!

Jiff: Are you kidding? I'm just glad people can put the pitchforks up now!

Jenny Kate: Yeah, call off the riots. You got your lemon! I know it took a while, but we just like for things to happen organically. Right, Jiff?

Jiff: Yes, I'm totes all about being orgasmic, I mean, organic!

Jenny Kate: Well, regardless of whether you were surprised or not, we hope you liked the chapter! Please tell us your thoughts in the reviews! We love hearing from you!

Jiff: Thank you for your beta-ing expertise, Mauigirl60!