Disclaimer: As you all well know, I do not own Stephanie Meyer or the world she created, I just play in it.

Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who reviewed! I really appreciate it, and I am glad you are enjoying my story! I've got some great things coming up, and of course reviews inspire me to go faster, so thanks! Teeny warning: A tad bit sexual at the end of this chapter, so if you're not into that, don't read on! But I would if I were you )

She reached down to the edge of her dress smirking at me. I knew something had just clicked in her brain. I backed a foot away from the bed terrified.

My eyes were cautious as I watched her grin grow wider. I knew when she first asked me to remove her dress, it was more on instinct of getting ready for bed. But I could tell that she had caught on and now realized the implications of it.

I watched her two hands grasp tightly to the hem of the fabric. My eyes nervously traveled back up to her face. It's not that I didn't want to see Bella without her dress, I did…badly. I just knew after tonight, I was not in as much control of my instincts as I thought I was. I needed to calm down, sort out my thoughts, without her trying to tempt me.

"Bella," my voice thick with worry, "What do you think you're doing?"

She didn't answer; she just stared at me, grin still frozen in place. I felt her analyzing me for a moment, and I could tell she was thinking about something. Suddenly, she released her grip on the dress and held her arms in front of her.

"Edward, come here, I have a secret," she whispered.

I took a step forward. "Secret?"

She nodded her head innocently.

Oh no, a secret. I felt my brain go through all the possibilities of what it could be, each one worse and worse. Was she angry with me for ruining her party? Was she going to break up with me? Was she going to call off the wedding? I had to know. I had to know now.

"Bella, please. Tell me?" I cringed at the desperation I heard in my voice.

"Shh!" she whispered fervently placing her finger against her lips. She glanced around suspiciously, even though it was obvious we were the only two in the room. "It's a secret, you have to come closer so no one can hear," she said wobbling a bit on the mattress.

I quickly moved until I was standing right in front of her. I couldn't handle this anticipation; I was so worked up from the night's events that I was sure I was going to break.

"What Bella, I can't stand it, what is it?" My fingers twisted painfully into my palm.

I watched her lean in close, closer, until her face was about an inch from my own, but she still wasn't talking.

"Bella!" I said getting irritated.

Before I even got her name out of my mouth, she had reached down and whipped off her dress right over her head.

"Isabella Marie Swan!" I spun around on the spot before I could even take a glimpse of her. "Put that dress back on now."

She giggled in response and I suddenly felt smooth black silk covering my face. She had thrown her dress at me. Rushes of her floral scent attacked my senses, it was toxic. I gave in to my natural instincts and took a deep breath, causing my mouth to release venom in reaction. Not only that, but I felt the heat radiating off her body. I was somewhat aware that humans gave off more body heat while unclothed, but the warmth was calling to me, I gritted my teeth together and told myself I would NOT turn around.

"Edward," Bella soothed, and I felt her skinny arms wrap around my waist. Her heat was swarming me, it was invigorating. I wanted so bad to reach out and touch her.

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, ordering myself that they stay there.

"Bella, please put your clothes back on," I pleaded. I closed my eyes as I felt her hand dragging circles across my stomach.

"Don't you want to turn around and see me Edward; don't you want to enjoy the bouquet without tasting the wine?" She released me and fell back onto the bed in a fit of laughter at her joke.

I let out a small laugh that I knew she couldn't hear. She was so lovable and quite funny in this state. If I wasn't so tense, I could be joking around and playing with her.

Her laughter ceased and it became quiet for a moment. As quiet as a human could be at least, because I could still hear her heartbeat, pumping frantically in her chest. I had a horrifying notion that she was thinking again, planning.

"Fine," she said after a pregnant pause, causing my eyes to snap back open. "I'll just have to call my little friend to make you talk."

This time, I wasn't confused by her statement, and I knew exactly what she meant.

"You wouldn't," I dared. But at the same time, I heard two feet hop off the bed and walk toward me. My muscles tightened in alarm.

"Edwarddddd," called Bella, tiptoeing toward me. I could just picture her, hands raised to look like claws, her little fingers wiggling around, a sneaky smile on her face. I knew it all too well. She was going to tickle me, and I LOATHED being tickled by her. Her soft and tiny hands felt like someone was quickly dusting feathers over my rock hard body. It was torture.

I sidestepped her easily, "Bella, stop it now, you know I hate being tickled." But she wasn't giving up, I felt her approaching me once again and she was running a bit this time.

"Bella!" I almost yelled, breaking into a small run, still refusing to look at her. I ended up on the other side of the room, but I realized the dress had fallen off my face. I scanned the floor frantically for a few moments, before I realized that Bella had taken advantage of my momentary distraction and she was standing right behind me.

All at once, small lithe movements started tormenting my waist.

"AHhhh!" I shrieked, sounding slightly like a five year old girl. But I couldn't help it, it was agony. Reflexes clouded my brain and without even thinking, I grabbed her as I normally would have and pulled her to me.

She laughed and tried to wiggle free, and I laughed along with her, watching her face in pleasure as we both tumbled to the floor. All too soon, my laughter stopped, as the wheels started turning in my head. My hands were registering foreign warmth as I felt the skin of her slender waist in my hands for the first time.

I heard her heartbeat begin to flutter anxiously, and I felt my arms begin to shake slightly. She was unbelievably soft. I immediately assumed I was holding her too tight, her body was so breakable.

Now that I was here, in this position, I didn't want to move. As she lay next to me, I was still terrified, but I had so many other more dominant emotions running through me.

The urge to touch her, to feel her, suddenly broke through any reservations that I had previously. My eyes hadn't left her face, and I brought up my two hands to cup her cheeks.

"May I?" I said in a soft exhale. I knew this would calm her down a bit, and I needed her to be still and not make any sudden movements.

"Please." She begged, and her eyes drifted closed.

I placed my fingers gently over her eyelids, and ran the tip of my fingertips over her lashes. So long, so beautiful.

My finger trailed to the tip of her nose and down onto her lips. I parted them gently and she gasped, but kept her eyes closed. I traced along her jaw line and moved gently to soothe her neck. This was familiar territory, I had already memorized every inch of her face and I knew every vein and pulse line that throbbed beneath the thin pale layer of skin on her neck.

I inhaled, not because I needed it, but for mental reasons, and allowed my eyes to move below. The moon was casting a dim light into my room, and it drew shadows along her collarbone.

I ran my hand onto her shoulder, craving to remember every new detail. I could hear her breathing in and out heavily, and I allowed myself to glance at her chest, mesmerized by the rapid rise and fall.

Ever so carefully, I allowed my fingers to graze down, barely touching the skin on her chest. Then, I stilled them. My eyes anxiously wandered over every inch of her beautiful and generous upper body. Her skin was near flawless, and I couldn't believe there was so much more magnificence to Bella than I ever knew.

She wore a white lace bra, which I knew Alice had bought for her. I wanted so badly to give into my desires, but no, not now because I was on the path of worship. I wanted to know every single thing there was know about this body.

I placed my five fingers right over where I knew her heart was, I tried to look past how wonderfully supple it felt. My hands ached to stroke her, feel her in every way possible, I suppressed those instincts and pressed my palm against her, feel the beat chime it's rhythm into my hand.

Her heart was beating incredibly fast, I averted my gaze to look back at her and her eyes were half open, staring right back at me. Her brown eyes were searching, begging for what I couldn't give her yet.

I removed my palm from her chest, and lightly brushed over the soft mound before it came to a rest on her stomach. I catalogued Bella's small cry of pleasure for future reference.

My hand carefully moved across the small expanse of her stomach. It was taut, and the skin there felt like silk, and I couldn't help but run my hands back and forth, marveling in the innocence and purity of her tiny frame.

So immersed I was in the new secrets of her body, I hadn't noticed that I was now using two hands, rubbing them smoothly all over her waist and stomach. I traced the slight outtake of her hip, admiring her beautiful curves. She wore matching white underwear, but I didn't dare take my time to explore that spot, there would be no going back if I allowed myself to start.

I ran my hand down her left leg slowly, then back up, then back down. I felt as if I couldn't get enough. I felt a nagging sense of angst knowing that I could have missed a freckle, or because there were so many inches of her that I hadn't kissed yet.

I didn't know where to start, and I didn't know how to begin. I felt as if I needed to repeat the whole process again, and again.

I tried not to be rude, and gawk at her body, but it was amazing, hiding from me all this time. I felt those two familiar hands grab at my face once again.

"Edward, kiss me."