AN- Here we go, on to the meadow!
Practicing on Bella

Edward helped me down from his back, and took my hand as we walked into the clearing. I decided it was a good thing Alice had asked me about Edward this morning. If I hadn't had all this time with it in the back of my mind, I didn't know if I would have had the courage to ask him. I was used to being in control now. It made me nervous to hand it back to Edward. It wasn't that I didn't trust him. Goodness knows he's proved he's the one with more control. It just knocked my confidence down a bit.

We stopped in the middle and Edward put his arms around my waist, drawing me close. "I missed you this morning." He said softly.

I laughed, "I was gone longer when I went shopping with Rose!"

"I missed you then, too," he smiled.

"Good," I answered. I felt the need to assert myself a little before I gave Edward power over our next practice session. It was foolish, I knew, but I felt better. Edward just smiled at me. Gazing into my eyes, he lifted one hand to run it through my hair.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look today?" He asked tenderly.

"Actually, you said I look dangerous." I corrected.

He laughed, "So I did." He leaned down and kissed my neck, "So I did."

My heart sped up a little. I knew if I didn't say something now, I'd chicken out. "Edward, yesterday morning was, very informative for me." I began, wondering where I was going with that.

Edward smiled crookedly at me, "Yes, I vaguely remember."

I smiled in return. "Well, I was wondering if, you," I didn't know how to say it without sounding foolish.

"Yes, Bella?" Edward prompted. I knew it was killing him that he couldn't read my mind right now. I almost wished he could.

"Is there anything you feel like you need to try? Something we should practice?" I felt utterly ridiculous.

"Can I think about that for a minute?" Edward asked seriously. Apparently Alice hadn't clued him in on the plan.

"Of course," I said. He continued to run his fingers through my hair. He leaned down to kiss my neck again. He brought his other hand up and held one side of my jaw. As his kissed me gently on the lips, I sighed. Girl time was nice, but this was better.

To my dismay, Edward pulled away to look into my eyes again. "I think I know what I need to practice," he informed me.

My heart raced a little more. "What?" I asked.

"Well," he started, "you remember our first day in the meadow?"

"Vaguely, yes," I teased.

He smiled, "When I so rudely ran from you. It wasn't the nearness, as much as the surprise that affected me."

"I remember," I admitted.

"That's generally my biggest weakness," he went on to explain, "When I lose control, it's generally because you've done something I didn't expect. Like when you suddenly attack me," he smiled at my blush. "or bite my ear when I expect you to kiss my neck." He gently touched the deepening crimson on my cheek. "Yesterday, you learned what to watch for. I would like to learn what to listen for."

"What?" I asked, a little confused. "What to listen for?"

"Some of the sounds you make, I'm used to. Like the flutter in you heart," he placed his hand over my heart and it did indeed flutter, making him smile. "And your breath, or lack thereof." His smile deepened. "But other sounds you make when we're, together, surprise me. Which, as I said, also disarms me."

I didn't know what to think. "I make sounds?" I decided I was embarrassed.

He chuckled, "Mostly the kind only I can hear." He assured me. I didn't feel all that much better.

"So, how do we practice that?" I asked, giving up the idea of denying I made noises. Edward could hear my heartbeat, if he said I made sounds, I did.

"Just like we did yesterday," He smiled crookedly again, "only I do the kissing and you try not to combust."

"Right," I said, "it seems only fair."

Edward laughed heartily, "I would hate for you to do anything you find unappealing, Bella."

"No! It's not that," I blushed, "It's just, I mean, come on, me not combust with you kissing me?"

"As you pointed out yesterday, it's really more about me staying in control. This will give me a chance to prove I can keep my wits about me," the corner of his mouth hooked up, "when yours have fled."

"Ha ha," I said, "Alright, I'm ready if you are."

Edward leaned down and kissed me, pulling me tight. Our lips moved in a familiar and electrifying way. My knees went rubbery and suddenly Edward was supporting most of my weight. He pulled back and smiled at me, effectively dazzling me in my already weakened state. He lowered us to the grass, so that we were kneeling in front of each other. My scattered brain pictured us praying together for a nanosecond. I kept the image to myself.

"This way, if you keel over, no harm done," he laughed as I scowled, "and I can be close to you without having to wrap you around my waist." Good point I thought.

"Am I allowed to touch you?" I asked.

"As long as you keep your hands out of my hair," He replied, giving me a meaningful look. Another good point, I thought.

"Fair enough," I said, putting my hands on his chest.

He smiled and pressed his lips to mine again. Our mouths melted together. I sighed, again. When I felt his tongue against my lips I parted them, a soft moan escaping as his tongue touched mine. Damn, I do make noises, I thought. Then I noticed Edward's hands were no longer in my hair. They were at the tie of my shirt, pulling at the knot.

"Edward!" I gasped, pulling away from his lips, "What are you doing?"

He didn't seem fazed, "Alice will string me up if I ruin Egyptian linen." He replied, "you have a camisole on underneath don't you?"

I was speechless. Not at his fear of Alice, that was justly deserved. But that he knew what Egyptian linen and a camisole was. Rose had had to explain both to me yesterday, at length. "Yes." I finally answered. "How did you know? About the linen I mean." The camisole was clearly visible.

"Living with the Cullen women for a few decades, you pick up a few things." He smiled at me. I was once again dazzled.

"Right," I answered, still dazed. I reached for the knot. It's not like you're naked underneath, I reminded myself.

Edward put a hand over mine, "May I?" he asked gently.

My breath caught and my heart skipped a beat, or three. "Sure," I managed to squeak. So much for smooth Bella.

He put his lips to mine and began to kiss me again as his hands smoothly untied the knot at my waist. My heart refused to find any kind of normal rhythm. He kissed my neck, and then kissed along my shoulder as his hands peeled away the wrap, much like I had done yesterday. The world began to swim.

"Breathe, Bella!" Edward called me back. I gasped in a deep breath, and clutched at Edward's shirt to keep from falling over. Edward shook his head, laughing gently. "You stay here and concentrate on the primary functions of life." He said. He stood and walked a few feet away, folding my shirt carefully and placing it where it would be safe.

As he knelt in front of me once more he smiled at me, "Feeling better?"

"You only said I wasn't supposed to combust, you never said anything about breathing." I retorted.

Edward laughed heartily, "Could you try both?" he asked.

"I suppose you want my heart to stay inside my chest?"

"Preferably, yes," he chuckled.

"Picky, picky, picky," I sassed.

Smiling, he took my face in his hands, "Of course I am. Why do you think I waited 80 years for you?"

"How am I supposed to resist you, when you go and say things like that?" I asked.

"You're not," he whispered, kissing me again.

The kiss lingered and deepened. As his tongue found mine again, his cool hand slid under my shirt and found the bare skin of my lower back. I didn't know my heart could beat so fast. My hands clutched at the fabric of his shirt again. He released my lips so I could take gasps of air.

He began trailing kisses down my neck. The sun broke free of the clouds and his face caught and reflected the light. My hands moved to the bottom of his shirt, starting to pull it up.

"Bella," Edward's voice sounded disapproving.

"I want to see your skin in the sun," I explained. Edward looked into my eyes. "Please?" I tried. Edward let go of me and allowed me to pull his shirt over his head. His perfect chest sparkled. "Thank you." I leaned forward to kiss his chest, but he caught my chin gently in his hand, lifting it up to his face. He shook is head slightly, then kissed my lips gently.

I ran my hands up his chest, grasping his strong shoulders. His hand returned to my back, pressing me to his chest. His other hand tangled once again in my hair as his gentle kiss grew passionate. Our tongues met again and his hand moved from my hair, to my neck, to resting on my collarbone.

I was panting as he moved his lips again to my neck, his hand gliding over my shoulder to my back, holding me in place. He kissed along both my collar bones. Then his lips trailed down the edge of the neck line on my tank. With my chest heaving and my heart racing, I suddenly changed my mind about my shirt. It wasn't too small at all. In fact I had on entirely too much fabric. My hands unclenched from Edward's shoulders and started to resolve the problem. Just as I got to my ribs, Edward's hands latched around my wrists, locking them in place.

"Bella," his voice was stern again.

"Edward," I matched his tone, looking him in the eye.

"No," he said.

"Please, Edward, I want to." His face continued to look stern, but I felt his grip loosen, slightly. I was winning. "Please," I whispered.

A familiar song began to play from Edward's phone. He released me to answer it, but I grabbed it first.

Jabbing the answer button, I yelled, "Dammit, Alice!" I saw Edward flinch, but it didn't slow me down, "If I want to,"

"Bella?" Oh God, it was Esme! My blood and oxygen deprived brain finally recognized the song. Too little too late, thanks!

"Esme, I'm so sorry. I thought you were Alice!"

"Even if I were, I would expect you to use better manners, Bella," Esme reprimanded. Edward was still grimacing, as if more was coming.

"Yes, of course, I don't know what I was thinking." I apologized.

"Well, I must have interrupted something very important, but I wanted to make sure Edward remembered to have you home promptly by five."

I winced as well, "Yes, Esme, five o'clock."

"And Bella, you should probably get something to eat before then." Esme added.

"Yes, Esme, eat dinner and be at your house by five."

"Thank you Bella, see you this evening."

"Good bye." I was beet red by the time I hung up the phone and handed it back to Edward. I looked sheepishly up to his face, and saw he was laughing!

"It's not funny!" I cried. "That was terrible."

"Oh, Bella!" he continued laughing riotously, "If I had answered like that, she would have reached right through the phone and backhanded me!"

"It's still not very funny." I pouted.

Edward tried very hard to put on a serious face. It didn't work very well, but I appreciated the effort. "Do you want to go home?"

"No."

He smiled at me again. He was so damned charming, with that crooked smile and bare chest, I couldn't help but smile back.

"Good, because we still have an hour before we have to get to Charlie's and get you fed," he informed me.

"Good," I agreed, moving closer to him again.

"But," he said his voice stern again, "We have to put in some more rules."

I sat back and pouted. He laughed at me. "First, no more clothes are coming off. I only have so much control, Bella. You're too damn sexy in that shirt as it is."

I blushed and he laughed again. I realized it really was funny for me to blush about looking sexy, when moments ago I was ready to take off my shirt. I laughed too.

"Second, I remind you that I do all the kissing." I opened my mouth to object, but he put a finger to it, "you can kiss back, but otherwise, keep your lips to yourself." I clamped my lips shut.

"Third, I remind you to keep your delicate little fingers out of my hair." He smiled and kissed each of the fingers on my left hand. I had to smile at him. Stupid suave vampire.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"Yes, one more thing," he responded, "relax, Bella. I was at your mercy all morning yesterday. You can give me one hour."

I opened my mouth, but shut it again. He had a point, it really was only fair. I took a deep breath. "I'll try." I conceded.

"Thank you," Edward sighed, "Now, come over here." He opened his arms and I gladly sank into them. Holding me in his lap, he took my face in one hand. "I love you, Bella."

"I know."

He smiled and once again we were kissing. Heaven can wait if I can have this for eternity, I thought. His lips traced my jaw line and teased my ear. He kissed down my neck and across my collarbone. His hand grazed along my shoulder, moving the straps of my bra and tank out of the way so his lips touched only skin on their way to my shoulder. My breath caught, indefinitely.

"Breathe, Bella," Edward whispered. I couldn't move. "Bella!" he whispered more urgently. He turned his face to mine, "Breathe!" he commanded.

As his breath touched my face, I instinctively inhaled, wanting to smell his sweet scent. Edward shook his head. "Bella," he started to say something. I inhaled his breath again. He chuckled. "There's a useful trick."

I came back to myself, partially. "Sorry, Edward," I apologized. "You're just too damn sexy for your own good." I smiled weakly. He chuckled again. "I will concentrate this time." I opened my eyes and locked them on his, "I will relax, and breathe."

"See that you do," he instructed, "I would hate to cut this short." He grinned.

"A tragedy," I agreed. "Where were we?"

"I'm not exactly sure where you were," he teased, "I was somewhere near here." He put his lips back to my collar bone and resumed his circuit from there to my shoulder, and back again, replacing my straps as he moved back to my neck. I managed to breathe through the whole thing. I couldn't do a thing about my heart rate.

I spent the next hour in a pleasant daze, floating just outside my body in sweet surrender. Edward's icy lips traced patterns on my skin, often leaving a trail of goose bumps. He only had to restart my breathing by blowing gently in my face twice. Once, when he moved me from his lap to the soft grass so he could lie beside me. And second, when his lips gently grazed my belly button.

When it was time to go, Edward had to carry me though the forest. I didn't have enough presence of mind to hang onto his back. I didn't come completely to myself until we were back at Charlie's and I found myself sitting on Edward's lap at the kitchen table.

"Bella," He said, laughing, "You have to eat. We're due back at home in half an hour and if we're late, Esme's sure to blame me."

I blinked a few times and looked from him to the sandwich on the table. I assumed he must have made it for me.

"It's the only thing I could make while holding you with one arm." He chuckled.

I shook my head and took a bite, realizing I was truly famished. I swallowed and said, "Poor Jasper."

Edward laughed good and long at that.


AN- okay, the Cullen's have another surprise waiting for Bella when she gets home, but it will be a few days before I get back to the computer, and a few more before I can post. (It will be another new POV from the family) In the meantime, know that I have read all of your reviews. They make my day and I wouldn't go on without them. Unfortunately, I don't have time to answer them all and keep posting as often as I like. I just don't get enough computer time to do both! Please keep reviewing, they mean so much! I will answer what I can when I get a chance to!