A/N I'm going to be gone on business this week, so I figured I better get the next chapter up before I leave. Enjoy...

Chapter 6

Tonight was one of few times where Edward and I were actually able to relax, alone. Usually there is family around or business getting in the way, but not tonight, and I was trying my hardest to cherish this moment tucked under his arm, curled up on the couch just watching mindless television.

Occasionally one of us would sigh, or Edward would place a soft kiss on my head, but mostly we just remained silent, enjoying our time together. Unfortunately, this allowed me to get caught up in my thoughts again, and as usual, they came back to one person. Alice.

I had no idea what to do about her. Since we'd had our talk in the park two days ago, I hadn't spoken to anyone, so I was left to argue both sides in my head. On the one hand, I could pretend that I don't know of Alice's feelings and continue on like we have been, maybe even invite Edward to a session. The hard part there would be the forced ignorance on my part. Looking into Alice's eyes and seeing the adoration there and just ignoring it. I wasn't sure I could do that, nor was I sure I wanted to. I cared about Alice and it hurt me to see her sad, but it seemed that either way, I would upset her, either down the road or right away. Timing was my only option here.

Edward adjusted next to me scratching his stomach as he rested his head on the back of the couch. He had been so tired lately. We hadn't had a proper love session in around two weeks, yet he hadn't mentioned anything about it. I frowned at that. Was he bored with our love life? Did he just expect it to be dull? Even if it was, surely he'd rather get some than none at all, right? Unless, it was so terrible that he'd rather go without!

This train of thought made me lift my head and look at my husband, trying to find the answers in his face. Then a thought occurred to me and I had to keep myself from gasping. Was he cheating on me? Is that why he hadn't complained about our lackluster love life? Was he really on business trips at all, or was he going off to see his secret lover?

An unjustified anger filled me and I glared at my dozing husband. How dare he?

Oh, wait.

That was a little hypocritical wasn't it? Since, I actually have a lover, while I can only assume he does. But that would make things easier wouldn't it? If we both had lovers? Then I wouldn't have to feel guilty about Alice.

I was shocked as I found myself go from enraged at the prospect of my husband's cheating to actually wishing he was. I shook my head, disgusted with myself.

"Bella?" Edward's drowsy voice whispered and I saw him open one eye slightly to see me. "What are you doing, love? Is something wrong?" He must have seen something in my face because he straightened up, now fully awake and leaned away to look at me.

"It's nothing. I'm sorry I woke you. Do you want to go to bed now?" I asked, making to get up, but Edward held me down.

"It's fine. Now, stop lying to me. There's obviously something bothering you. Tell me." He demanded quietly, holding my gaze so I knew he wouldn't be letting this go. I sighed and turned in his arms, moving so I was straddling his lap.

"Do you think our love life is boring?" I asked quietly, staring down at my lap, but peeking up through my lashes. Edward's eyes widened in surprise, his mouth gaping slightly.

"No, of course not, baby. Why would you ask that? Are you not happy with it?" He asked, his brow creasing in worry. I snapped my head up at his turning the question back around on me. How could he think that? I pulled him to me in a short but heated kiss, hoping to quell his concerns.

"No, you're always wonderful." He smiled at me, content in the knowledge he satisfied his wife, but I wasn't done, and boldly pressed the issue further, which obviously shocked him, since talking about this at all was out of character for me.

"But we haven't made love in a couple weeks now…"

"Bella!" Edward exclaimed, interrupting me and pulling me into a hug. "It's not because I don't want to baby. I've been so busy, I guess it just tired me out. I'm sorry." He looked over my shoulder at the clock on our mantle and raised an eyebrow playfully. "It's still early." He grinned, his hands running down my arms and resting on my hips. "Shall I show you how much I do want you?" He asked huskily, moving to place wet kisses along my neck. I sighed and let my hands tangle in his hair.

"Let's try something new tonight." I suggested, breathily as Edward's hands moved beneath my shirt, caressing my back and sides.

"Mmm, like what?" Edward murmured, his mouth moving to my collarbone. "You want to be on top?" I couldn't help but roll my eyes but thankfully he was too occupied to notice. I shouldn't really complain, after all, I had never been very adventurous before I met Alice. Once she broke me out of my shell a bit, I discovered my husband was all too happy to try some new things with me, unfortunately, his imagination was severely lacking in creativity. So the task fell to me, and consequently to Alice, to find new ways to spice up our marital bed.

I could feel him already growing hard beneath me, though we'd been at it for less than five minutes. It may have been a result of my unconscious grinding into his hips.

"Let's take this up to the bedroom." He purred into my ear and I groaned.

"No, I want to do it here." I groaned. I had finally gotten myself in the zone. Taking a break to go upstairs would ruin it.

"Bella, you know how expensive these couches are. Besides, this is where guests sit." He said, as if explaining to a small child. I scowled at him and lifted myself off his lap. The mood was gone, and so was I. Stomping into the kitchen, I ignored Edward calling after me.

"Bella! What the hell is wrong with you?" He shouted, grabbing my arm and turning me to face him, just as I'd reached the counter. He was clearly aggravated by my leaving him high and dry. "First you say we don't have sex enough, and then when we're about to, you take off? What's going on with you?"

"NOTHING!" I shouted back at him, taking him by surprise as he took a step back, eyes wide. "I just don't feel like it anymore. I'm going to bed." I said, pushing passed him and stomping up the stairs. I walked straight passed our bedroom and into a guest room down the hall, slamming the door behind me and locking it. Despite my anger at my stupid anal husband, I was still wet. So now I was horny, angry, and annoyed, a very bad combination. "UGH!" I grunted, pulling on my hair slightly as I fell onto the bed, face first. What was wrong with me.

Edward had been frustrating before, but normally I could brush it off. Why was tonight any different? Why was I so screwed up? I moaned into the comforter and adjusted myself, inadvertently pressing my still reactive clit into the mattress and causing a jolt of pleasure to pass through me. Without thinking I did it again, with the same result and I groaned, pulling a pillow to my head and muffling my moans and whimpers in it.

Within seconds I was humping the bed with abandon, not caring about anything but the illusive orgasm I could feel just ahead of me.

"Oh, God!" I moaned. I needed more. Stuffing the pillow between my legs I sat up, riding it aggressively. I had never thought to bring myself pleasure this way, but it was the perfect way for me to let off steam and relieve my frustration. I closed my eyes, enjoying the moment, images flashing in my mind and spurring me on. With one more thrust and grunt I cried out a name is ecstasy. "Alice."

My breathing was ragged as I collapsed on the bed. Shit. I hadn't meant to say her name out loud. What if Edward heard? Double shit. I lay there for some time, contemplating what to tell Edward if he had heard me, all the while praying he hadn't. The clock downstairs chimed twelve when I finally got up and made my way back down the hall. I slipped into our room to find my husband sleeping peacefully in bed, a light snore coming from him. I doubted he would have fallen asleep if he had heard me, and with that optimistic assumption, I crawled into bed beside him and fell asleep, happily sated.

The next morning I found Edward reading the paper and sipping some orange juice at our breakfast table. I sighed and moved across the kitchen to peck him on the cheek, making him aware of my presence.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, taking the seat next to him. His face remained stoic as he set the paper down and turned to face me.

"Do you want to tell me what happened last night?" He asked, and I saw a hint of concern slip through his otherwise emotionless face.

I shrugged. "I don't know. Bad day I guess." He stared at me skeptically for a moment, but didn't question it.

"Listen, Bella. I know I haven't been around much. And maybe you're feeling neglected? I'm trying my best here love, but you have to tell me what you want." He said, his mask breaking and genuine worry covering his face.

"No Edward. I'm not neglected, really." I assured him, maybe a little too quickly, because he looked at me in confusion, so I hurriedly moved on. "I was just worried that maybe you weren't happy." He scoffed at me and waved away the concern.

"Don't be absurd! I love you!"

"I know that, Edward!" I tried to control the irritation seeping into my voice. "Look I just thought, maybe we could try something a little crazy, you know, mix things up." I said, biting my lip nervously. He tilted his head, staring at me in consideration for a moment before speaking.

"Like what?" His voice was a mixture of weariness and excitement, but I took that as a sign that he was at least interested.

"Umm, well…We could try, umm, like some roleplay or…" His eyes widened at the suggestion and a small smirk appeared on his lips, so I continued, my voice still barely audible. "Or, umm, maybe you could t-tie me up?" Sure it was a little kinky for us, but Alice was right about me secretly liking it a little rougher some times. "Or, uh, maybe you could, uh, w-watch me w-with a girl…maybe?" I barely whispered the last and tensed, waiting for his response.

"Bella, I…" He stopped, noticing Gemma, our cook coming in to take the empty plates and refill our juice glasses. It was obvious by her demeanor that she realized she'd walked in on something, and she hurriedly left the room. Edward ran a hand through his hair before taking mine. "Bella." He started again, and I fidgeted nervously. "I, uh, didn't realize…" He chuckled lightly at his discomfort and I smiled shyly. "Umm, what girl exactly?" He asked, and I froze at the unexpected question. "I mean, do you even know anyone who would do that?" I chanced a glance at him and was eased slightly when I saw the excitement in his eyes, rather than suspicion.

"I could probably find someone, if that's what you wanted." I said, trying to hide the relief in my voice. Edward shook his head still chuckling slightly before standing and kissing me on the head.

"We'll talk about this more later, okay love. I have to get to work." He said, still grinning on the way out the door. I sighed and slumped in my chair. There were voices in the hallway, alerting me that someone had come in as Edward left and I sat up straighter.

"Bellllllaaaa!" Jasper sang goofily as he and Rose strolled into our breakfast nook and sat down.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, smiling at them both. Rose had spent the last couple days dragging Jasper around town and showing him all the new places that had arrived in his absence. I think it was really just an excuse to shop, which is probably why Jazz looked so excited to be here today.

"Just thought we'd drop in, see how things are and all that." He said, grinning widely at me.

"Plus, I believe you have a story to tell us." Rose said seriously, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Uh, no, I don't think so…" I said, wiggling in my seat as I avoided eye contact with the blondes. I've been convinced since we were kids that their eyes had hypnotic powers.

Rose snorted. "Bella. You had to have known when you told me that you spoke to Alice that you would need to elaborate the next time we saw each other." She explained, rolling her eyes. Jasper just sat there grinning and nodded with his sister's assessment.

I sighed, glaring at them both, but it was pointless to resist. Besides, I could probably use a second and third opinion.

It took me a while to describe everything that happened in the park. Especially because both Hales kept interrupting me with questions. When I finished they were looking at each other knowingly and I huffed, annoyed.

"What?"

"It's nothing, Bella." I scoffed. As if I believed that for one second, but I didn't get the chance to tell them as much.

"So why was Edward so smiley this morning? You finally get some from him last night?" Jasper asked and I turned to glare at Rose. So much for our conversations being kept secret. She was the only person I'd told about mine and Edward's slump. "Don't be mad at her, Bella. I just wanted to make sure my baby sister was okay. You seemed so down the other day when you picked me up." Jazz said, giving me the pouty face that he knew I couldn't stay mad at.

"Fine." I huffed, crossing my arms.

"You still didn't answer the question. Did you get laid last night or not?" Rose said, completely unconcerned with whether or not I was angry at her.

"No." I answered truthfully. Never the less, heat rose in my cheeks as I remembered my activities from the night before

"Oh? Then why are you blushing." Jazz asked, grinning.

"And why was Edward so happy?" Rose added on.

I shrank under their combined stare and wished I could disappear. I decided to choose the less embarrassing of the two topics.

"I just offered Edward some suggestions for spicing up our love life." This, while it still made me into a human tomato, was infinitely less humiliating than telling them that I had blushed because, I'd humped a pillow to a shuddering orgasm.

"Like what?" Jasper asked, quickly grabbing onto the topic and smirking at me. Rose slapped him in the back of his head, but also looked interested.

"Nothing much, just some, uh things." The blondes rolled their eyes at me.

"Well that clears things up." Rose said sarcastically.

"Did you ask him about watching you and Alice? I mean, she did say she'd be willing to let him when you talked in the park, right?" I blushed again, making the answer obvious, but I was surprised to see Rose frowning.

"Are you sure that's something you want to do?" She asked. I shrugged.

"I don't know. I guess. I mean, then I wouldn't feel bad about hiding it from Edward and he could get something out of it as well."

"Will you try something for me?"

"Rose…"

"Please, Bella. It's just an experiment." She said, staring me down with those crystal blue eyes. I rolled my eyes, but gave in, sitting patiently, waiting for directions. This wasn't new. Rosalie was always trying to use some hypnotherapy deal on me. She takes one class on it in college and thinks she's an expert, jeez.

"Okay, close your eyes. CLOSE THEM." She commanded more firmly when I looked at her skeptically. Following her directions, I tried to relax and let my lids close. "Right. Now picture you and Alice, together in bed." My eyes flew open and I stared at my friend in disbelief. "Just do it, Bella." Rose said, exasperatedly. So once again I closed my eyes and this time brought up an image of Alice and I during one of my favorite times with her.

After a few minutes of letting me get into my memory Rose interrupted. "Okay, now keep that in your mind, but imagine Edward sitting next to the bed. He's watching you and stroking himself." Her voice was serious, and despite my discomfort with the words, I did as she said. Although, rather than sitting I pictured him standing over us, but the image was starting to blur. It was hard to focus on both Edward and Alice. I mentally changed mine and Alice's positions, so that she was beneath me. For some reason I didn't like Edward seeing Alice so exposed. Probably because I didn't want him looking at another woman like that.

"So, what did you think?" Rose asked when I reopened my eyes.

"You're right, I don't think it'll work. It would just be too awkward. Plus, I don' think I really want Edward seeing Alice. He might finally realize that he can do better." I laughed at my own joke, but I was the only one.

"You know that's not true, Bella. You're gorgeous! Edward's the lucky one." Jasper came back with the usual pep talk.

"Your serious self-esteem issues aside, Bella, do you think maybe you didn't want Edward looking at Alice for a different reason." Rose interjected abruptly. I frowned at her.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Rose leaned forward in her chair, placing a hand gently on my knee and lowering her voice to just above a whisper. "Bella, when you were thinking about Alice before, you had this goofy happy grin on your face…"

"SO!" I interrupted, my voice higher than normal. "I was thinking about sex!" I shrieked, jumping up. "I'd probably have a smile on my face if you asked me to imagine myself in bed with George Clooney too!"

"Bella." Rose said, smiling sadly at me while she stared me back into my seat and took my hands in hers. "You know we'll love you no matter what, right sweetie?"

I gaped at her, jerking away. "WHAT are you TALKING about?" I asked, jumping up again, my gaze going between Rose and her brother, who wore identical looks of sympathy. "Why are you looking at me like that? STOP IT!" I shouted

"Bella, calm down. It's fine." Jasper soothed as he rose from his seat, moving towards me.

"It's not fine!" I choked out, surprised to find tears welling up in my eyes. "I…I don't u-understand." I sobbed, turning my face into Jasper's shoulder as he embraced me. Why was I such a mess? Rose moved to sandwich me from behind, and laid her head on my shoulder. "What's wrong with me?" I whispered, tears still falling so heavily I could barely get the words out.

"Shhh, nothing's wrong with you, honey." Rose cooed softly in my ear, squeezing me tighter.

They held me like that for several minutes, whispering reassurances in my ear and eventually I calmed down enough to let them guide me to the couch in the other room. I laid with my feet over Jasper's lap and my head in Rose's as she stroked my hair.

"Rose." I sniffled.

"Yeah?" She asked, smiling down at me.

"I think…I think I might like Alice." I whispered, and I knew it was true as soon as the words left my mouth. I felt as though a weight were lifting off of me at the confession.

Rose sighed, exchanging a quick glance with Jasper. "I know sweetie, I know."

A/N Don't get too excited with this ending. It's not going to be all flowers and sunshine quite yet. Please review :)