I could not stop smiling in school the next day. Edward was incorrigible, taking every opportunity to touch my legs, neck, and face, brushing kisses on my hair, and generally distracting me so that he had to whisper the answers in my ear every time I was called on. Of course, his velvety voice murmuring so close to me only made it worse. By the time school was over, I think both of us were ready to find a secluded place and pick up where we'd left off last night. Unfortunately, Alice grabbed me before we could leave.

"Bella! We need an emergency shopping session! Come on, hurry up!"

I groaned. "Alice, this is really not the time."

She shook her head. "Trust me, silly," she ordered, oblivious to Edward's dark glare. "Don't worry, we'll be finished before dinnertime. Now come on!" She pulled me by my wrist into the car. I gave Edward a pleading look over my shoulder, but he just looked confused. I sighed and resigned myself to Alice's Extreme Shopping.

"Alice, really, this is totally unnecessary. We just went shopping last week."

She rolled her eyes and turned to face me, even as she sped down a hill at 100 miles per hour. "Bella, I know what's going on with you and Edward."

I blushed. "You do?"

"Of course I do! I'd be a pretty poor psychic not to see that coming! So trust me, everything I do today, I do to further your cause."

I was almost afraid to ask. "How so?"

She grinned at me. "Two words, Bella. Sexy lingerie."

I felt incredibly awkward standing inside Victoria's Secret. Alice must have sensed my hesitation, because she told me in a soothing voice, "Don't worry. Just follow me."

Alice swept through the store like a tornado, grabbing various things off the racks, seemingly at random. "Now, I'm focusing on deep blue, because I know that's Edward's favorite color on you. But maybe something to highlight your innocence . . . white lace? Hmmm . . . yes, the look we're going for is definitely innocent seductress. Now, don't worry, I'm giving you a wide variety of choices. Let's see . . . basic bra and panties sets, teddies . . . ah, here we go! Nightgowns! That'll suit nicely . . . hmm, do you think this is too much?"

Alice held up a creamy concoction. I couldn't even tell what it was because it was totally covered in flounces. I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Alice. That's too much."

Finally she had made her selections and sent me into the dressing room. The saleswoman tried to tell us that there was a 6-item limit. I almost laughed in her face, that she thought she could stop the force of nature that is Alice Cullen. Very soon, I was in the fitting room surrounded by 20+ articles of lingerie. I tried on one after another, modeling each for Alice.

"Ugh, not that one, it makes you look as flat as me!" . . . "Good, keep that one in reserve for the future" . . . "Well, that looks . . . hmmm . . . put that under maybe."

"Alice! It's a thong! Don't you think I should leave something to the imagination?!"

"OK, fine, you're right. Try on the white nightgown next . . . no, that'll never do . . . ah ha! Perfect!"

It was a simple bra and panties of the exact same shade as the blouse Edward had first complimented. The design was deceptively plain, with classic curves and lace, and it fit me perfectly.

"Edward will go NUTS!" Alice exclaimed gleefully. "Talk about innocent seductress!"

I didn't really understand. "Alice, it's pretty normal-looking. Not that I'm complaining, I'm just surprised you like it."

"Bella, Bella, Bella . . . what am I doing to do with you? Yes, it's simple. That's the whole point. It's not that different from something you might normally wear, but the differences! It's not obvious. You look like someone who has no idea of her appeal, someone who doesn't realize what that outfit does for her . . . and you are! That's exactly what Edward can't resist about you! Okay, that's what you're wearing tonight."

"Thank goodness," I said. "Now we can get going."

Alice tsked at me. "Not until you try on the rest."

"Alice . . ." I started to whine.

"No, Bella. This is for your own good. Trust me; very soon, Edward is going to be seeing your underwear a lot more often. Do you want to be wearing plain white cotton when he does?"

I grumbled but reluctantly agreed to try on the rest of the clothes. Finally Alice was satisfied that I had enough underwear and we were ready to leave. Alice made me wait outside, not wanting me to see how much it was going to cost. I didn't mind; I really didn't want to know.

Before we drove back, Alice made me change into the blue set, throwing away the white cotton I had been wearing. Then we were on our way to the Cullens' house, where Alice cheerfully told me I would be hanging out until dinner. When I protested, she gave me her pouty lip. "But Bella, Esme's cooking just for you. She'd be so disappointed if you didn't eat it." Yes, Alice was the master of the guilt trip, while I was the sucker. All in all, it means that she almost always gets her way, as she did now. I sighed and steeled myself for a long afternoon.

Finally, I was back home. I walked in and apologized to Charlie for missing dinner. "That's okay," he assured me, "I ate with the Black's. We caught some good fish today. Anyways, you shouldn't feel like you have to cook for me all the time, it makes me feel guilty. So, what are you doing for dinner?"

"I ate with the Cullens," I replied. "Esme's a great cook." This wasn't a lie. I guess the trick to vampire cooking is following the recipe exactly and being able to observe closely to know exactly when the food is done. "I'm really tired, though," I told Charlie, adding a yawn for his benefit. "Emmett really wore me out with his video games."
"Okay Bells," he said. "Why don't you head on to bed? I think I'm going to hit the sack pretty soon, as well."

"Sounds good," I replied, careful not to let my excitement leak into my tone. I walked upstairs quickly and opened my door, but didn't immediately see Edward. I turned around and closed it, disappointed. Maybe he was just waiting for Charlie to fall asleep. However, as soon as the door was shut, I was spun around and pressed against it as Edward claimed my lips. I returned his kiss greedily, opening my mouth to accept his tongue. I was feeling faint from lack of oxygen by the time he pulled away.

"I missed you today," Edward said, his eyes smoldering.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his jaw. "I missed you, too. Even if you did abandon me to Alice's vile plots."

He laughed. "I'm sorry, love. Alice distracted me with The Odyssey in its original Greek. Do you have any idea what thoughts she was trying to hide?"

"Well . . . it may have had to do with the fact that she dragged me to Victoria's Secret, determined to replace my entire underwear drawer."

Edward looked startled for a moment and then burst into laughter. "Typical Alice. Well, hopefully it wasn't too bad."

"Could've been worse," I replied, sighing.

Edward grinned and lowered his head to kiss me again. Just as I was losing my wits, he scooped me up and laid us both down onto my bed. He stroked my hair and looked deep into my eyes before pulling me into yet another kiss. I moaned and he thrust his tongue inside, stroking mine and allowing me to savor his taste before pulling away. His eyes were excited. "So, Bella," he asked casually, "I don't suppose you're wearing any of your new selections right now?"

I blushed but answered, "As a matter of fact, I am."

Edward groaned and kissed the corner of my mouth before trailing kisses down my neck. He nuzzled the indentation below my chin and licked my throat. My body wanted to make noise, and I couldn't hold it in. Edward growled, "Yes, Bella. Moan for me."

Soon his mouth reached the neckline of my shirt, and he pressed kisses there, nuzzling and licking my skin. Then, he began to unbutton my blouse, very slowly, kissing every inch of flesh as it was revealed. He didn't look up until the shirt was totally open, at which point he raised his head and stared at my breasts, encased in the simple blue bra.

Several minutes past without Edward making a sound, and I began to feel self-conscious. I moved my hands to cover myself, but Edward growled and captured my wrists in an unbreakable grip. "No, Bella. Don't hide yourself from me. You're too beautiful."

Next he helped me shrug out of my shirt before continuing to gaze at my chest. A low rumbling sound began in his chest, and he murmured, "Good God, Bella. You have no idea what you do to me."

"Edward," I groaned, ". . . Touch me."

He smirked at me. "Not yet, sweet. I'm still enjoying the view."

I shut my eyes, praying that he would touch me before I spontaneously combusted. Suddenly his voice reached me, deep and firm. "Open your eyes, Bella."

I complied, looking into his deep, fathomless brown eyes. "Bella," he told me, "you are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I love you so very much. You know that I'm just terrified that I will lose control and hurt you."

"I know, Edward," I sighed, "but you won't. I know you won't. I trust you."

Still holding my gaze with his, Edward lowered his face to the edges of my bra. He kissed, nuzzled, and licked, not breaking eye contact until I gasped and threw my head back. Then he turned back towards my breasts, gazing at my puckered nipples in fascination. The cups were held together by a simple front clasp, and Edward made short work of undoing it. He gazed at my uncovered breasts for a few moments before shaking his head as though to clear his mind and leaned down, resting his head above my heart as he had in that meadow so long ago. Except this time, it put his face on a level with my naked left breast, and the view seemed to fascinate him. He softly blew cool air over my breast, making my nipple stand out even more prominently. Then, he flickered his tongue our over my nipple. Multiple times. Again and again. When I couldn't stand it any longer, I tried to move down the bed so I could face him, but Edward's hands stopped me before I moved more than an inch.

"Bella," he told me sternly, although humor shone in his darkened eyes, "you're distracting me, love. Unless you want to stop . . ."

"No Edward!" I protested before he could finish the thought.

"In that case . . ." His eyes gleamed wickedly and before I could react, he'd grasped my wrists and pulled them above my head. "I'm going to have to insist that you keep these here, love."

He returned to my chest, this time covering one breast entirely with his mouth. Once again, his lips were pulled tightly over his teeth, but it didn't detract from the sensations as he lightly sucked. Before I knew what I was doing, my hands were in his hair, holding his head to me.

Edward pulled away and frowned. "Bella, it doesn't look like you can control yourself. I'm afraid this isn't going to work."

I sat up, gasping "No!" before I realized my mistake and lay back down. "I'm sorry, Edward. Please? I'm really doing my best, just don't stop now . . ." The mere thought of him leaving me so unsatisfied was horrifying. Surely he'd take pity on me.

Edward studied me for a moment before seeming to make up his mind. "All right Bella, we won't stop." I let out a relieved sigh. "BUT, I'm afraid some measures need to be taken to prevent . . . accidental over-enthusiasm on your part."

I smiled blissfully. "Anything."

"All right." Edward pulled something from beside my bed. What was that . . . a scarf? "Now, Bella, you're going to have to trust me. This isn't something you're familiar with, but I think it'll help tremendously." With that, he grasped my wrists again and in less than a second had tied them loosely to the headboard. Edward surveyed my naked torso with arms stretched overhead. "Perfect." I was a little unsure of myself, but I trusted Edward. This was actually helpful, as it seemed I could not keep my unruly responses in check. I was just glad I'd shaved my armpits this morning.

All these thoughts left my head in a rush as once again, his head lowered to my breasts. He pressed them together between his cool palms, making me even hotter by contrast, before repeating himself. "Perfect. Bella, you are perfection." He pressed his face into my cleavage, nuzzling my breasts until I squirmed, desperate for more. I stilled, worried, but Edward didn't reprimand me. He seemed to be too focused on my breasts to notice anything else. He started licking them, caressing with both hands, tugging lightly on my nipples before sucking them into his mouth. My breathing quickened until I was frantically gasping for air. When one of Edward's hands began trailing down my stomach, I literally passed out.

I awoke a moment later, wrists unbound, wearing a pajama top, in Edward's arms. I started to turn around, but he stilled my movements. "No more tonight, Bella." I pouted. He chuckled. "I think we both need a time-out before continuing."

Knowing Edward was right but unwilling to admit it, I gathered up my pajama bottoms and bathroom supplies, making a face at Edward over my shoulder as I left to take a few human moments before bed.

Hoped you liked it. This was a freaking long chapter, you should be grateful, which means you should REVIEW PLEASE! Suggestions are always INCREDIBLY WELCOME! Thanx!