CHAPTER 17

"Eddie!" I cried. Emmett laughed out loud, and then rather hurriedly retreated when Edward gave him a black look, before grabbing my arm and more-or-less dragging me to his office, where he slammed the door and pushed me onto the sofa. He filled his kettle at the sink, muttering to himself all the time.

"Chill out, Edward!" I called from the sofa, wondering what he was so upset about. Edward crossed the room and slammed the coffee cup down in front of me so hard that I wondered how he hadn't broken it. "I don't want coffee; I want you." I got up and wrapped my arms around his neck. Gently, Edward detangled himself and then firmly sat me back on the sofa.

"Drink the coffee, Isabella."

"Why are you being so formal?" I whined. "Should I be formal too, Eddie?"

"If you call me that once more, Isabella, I will do something we will both regret," he warned. A giggle rose in my throat, as I saw his eyes darken.

"What about Teddy?" I suggested and then laughed loudly. Edward crossed the room with deliberate slowness and placed his hands on either side of my head and then leaned in close.

"Drink your coffee and sober up," he said, softly.

"Fine," I grumbled. "Yes sir, Mr Cullen, I'll drink the damned coffee."

Edward stepped back and shook his head, watching me through narrowed eyes. I picked up the coffee and sipped it, muttering to myself about killjoys.

"It's not even as if I'm drunk," I said. Edward's eyebrows shot up and his lips twitched as if he might say something, but he didn't. He waited patiently for me to finish the coffee and to be sober enough to suddenly fall completely silent and begin to feel the stirrings of concern. He might not be able to read my mind, but Edward noticed when I started chewing my lip and glancing up at him, nervously.

"Now, Isabella, would you mind explaining to me why you were drunk while working?"

"Well, Rosalie kind of finished earlier and we were missing you and Emmett and I only had another hour to go... and I was only going to have half a glass, but she kept pouring it and I... I guess I thought I only had an hour to go and it would be quiet and I didn't think anyone would know."

"And exactly what have you eaten today, Isabella?" he asked. I looked at him confused and then realised what he was getting at.

"I didn't have much appetite, just a bit of salad at lunchtime I guess." I ducked my head.

"And it didn't occur to you that the mixture of a very strong champagne, with a lack of food, at the end of a long shift might result in you becoming inebriated?"

"I didn't think..."

"No, neither of you did. I am quite sure Jasper will be having a very similar conversation with Rosalie now..."

"Shit, with Jasper? He'll kick her ass!" I exclaimed. Edward's lips twitched again and he swallowed hard before fixing me with a level look.

"If I were you, Isabella, I would be more concerned about your own 'ass'. And I would appreciate you not using language like that in my office."

I flushed and tried to look away, but he held my gaze with his. I licked my lips, which had become very dry suddenly.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

"Now, you were drunk in the workplace and clearly there will need to be a consequence for that. Had there been clients involved, this would of course be a much more serious conversation. As it is, I will not tolerate unprofessionalism from my waitressing staff. You are the frontline in Twilight; your behaviour reflects on my club. I am therefore deducting your wage for tonight, as you behaved as if you were not in work anyway."

"Ok," I murmured, feeling a little relieved that that was all he was going to do to me. It wasn't an unreasonable sanction; I knew I had been an idiot to drink on the job.

"It is not ok, Isabella. I am very disappointed in you."

I felt my face flush and shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry, Mr Cullen," I said, sensing the need for a little formality between us at the moment. "It won't happen again."

"I am quite sure it won't," he replied, evenly. "I know you have been through a very difficult few months, Isabella and that is why I am being lenient. I am also more than certain that Rosalie influenced you in making a foolish decision..."

"N..no, Mr Cullen," I said, looking up at him. "I take full responsibility for my behaviour tonight. It was not Rosalie's fault."

"I admire your honesty, Isabella," he said. I half-smiled at this, glad he could still find something about me to admire. He stood up and came across the room to me, tilting my chin up with his finger so that he could look me in the eye. "Now, we must deal with your mouth, Isabella."

"M...my mouth?" I stammered, nervously.

"Yes, your mouth."

"I apologised for swearing," I protested. Edward leaned in nearer to me, knowing his close presence would make me sweat all the more.

"I am not referring to your swearing, though that in itself was bad enough. I am referring to what you called me." He leaned in and brushed my lips with his.

"Erm, I... I didn't mean to..."

"No, you were drunk," he said, his breath tickling my cheek, before he moved back to my lips and kissed them gently again. Catching his teasing mood, I joined in whole-heartedly. He wanted to take me on? Let him try.

"I... I'll never call you Eddie or Teddy again," I said, feeling a giggle rising in my throat even as I said it. Edward leaned back a little and his eyes narrowed.

"You find it funny, Isabella?"

"No, Ted... Edd... Edward." Another giggle escaped my lips.

"I think I will have to punish your mouth," he said, thoughtfully. I licked my lips, feeling a thrill of excitement run through me.

"How?" I asked. He suddenly grabbed me and pushed me until my back was to the wall and then he seized my wrists in one hand and pinned them above my head, forcing me onto my tiptoes. He used his other hand to grab the back of my ponytail, pulling my head back forcibly. I gasped and stared up at him for a brief moment. He looked at me quizzically, as if checking I was ok with what he was doing and I felt my lips curve into a slight smile, as I gave him a quick nod, licking my lips.

"Close your eyes," he ordered. I stared a moment longer and he tugged on my ponytail, his eyes never leaving mine. When I did as he said, his grip eased a little and then he dropped a pair of feather-light kisses on my eyelids. I desperately wanted to open my eyes, as his kisses moved all over my face and then caressed my throat, down to my collarbone, but when I did, he yanked on my ponytail until I closed them again. My tongue flicked out over my lips again, which had thus far been denied his kiss. "Such impatience, my love," he growled, brushing his lips briefly against mine but still not kissing me. He resumed kissing my neck until I was gasping breathlessly.

"Please," I said, when it became too much.

"What, my love?" he asked, positioning himself so that I felt his breath once again against my lips.

"Please let me kiss you." I opened my eyes again and looked into his eyes imploringly. Edward smiled down at me and gave my ponytail a final tug before he released me completely and walked over to his desk, sitting down and switching on his computer. For a moment, I leaned against the wall, breathless and stunned.

"Edward?"

"Yes, my love?" he said, his voice casual, disinterested almost.

"You aren't going to kiss me?" I asked. Edward didn't respond for a moment, looking closely at his computer screen as if fascinated by something, before he looked across at me.

"Sorry, my love, I didn't hear you."

"You aren't going to kiss me?" I repeated. He simply smiled across at me. "You aren't going to let me kiss you?" This time my voice was almost whiny.

"You want to kiss me, my love?" he said, sounding very surprised.

"You know I do."

He beckoned me across to him, with the crook of his finger and patted his lap. I crossed the room quickly and sat down astride his lap, already trying to lean in, but he placed his finger on my lips.

"You were a very naughty girl tonight, Isabella," he said, sternly. "If I were to kiss your mouth, or allow you to kiss me, you might think that it is ok to behave like that again."

I looked straight into his eyes and then took his finger into my mouth, suckling it, gently. Edward groaned and pushed his head against mine, as I looked up at him through my lashes. I licked the tip of his finger and then removed it from my mouth.

"I am very sorry for calling you Eddie and Teddy, Edward. I will never do it again," I said, humbly. Edward groaned again and then leaned back, a slight smile on his face.

"You, Isabella Swann, will be the death of me," he said, before leaning forward and finally claiming my mouth with his own. He kissed me deeply, leaving me a little breathless and then leaned back, his eyes darkened with emotion. When I recovered, I grinned at him widely. "What are you grinning at, my love?"

"Just thinking how I can work Eddie and Teddy into the conversation a little more often," I replied, mischievously.

"Is that right?" said Edward, attempting to glare at me, but failing miserably. "I see that I will have to be a lot more severe with you." He moved his hands down to my wast and then suddenly started to tickle me. I squealed and struggled, but couldn't get away as he tickled me.

"P... please... st...stop!" I gasped. Edward laughed darkly and paused.

"Do you yield?" he asked, his breath whispering against my ear. When I didn't immediately respond, he resumed tickling me.

"Yes! Yes!" I cried.

"And will you be calling me anything other than Edward from now on?"

"No! Just... just Edward. Or maybe Mr Cullen? Or..."

"Bella," he warned, fingers hovering. I leaned in close to him, my nose touching his.

"Or my love," I murmured, before pressing my lips back to his.

"That I can live with," he replied.