a/n Please note that all WitFit entries are unedited. No beta. I don't own Twilight.

***This takes place after chapter 3, Layer, and before chapter 6, Reluctant. Edward has graduated from undergrad and Bella is in her final year. All three words are in the entry but figuratively. See if you can figure out how they expressed themselves. ;)

Word Prompts: Mask, cask, task

Choose one word and write what your imagination dictates. For an added challenge, include all three words in your entry.

The sound of the suite door slamming woke me from a sweet dream. A strong arm tightened around my side and fingers rubbed in soothing circles. I moaned contently and twisted to curl deeper into Edward's hold.

"Your suite mates are loud," he whispered, his voice thick and sexy from sleep. It rumbled in his chest and I kissed the sound.

"Sorry they woke you," I replied, my voice just as rough.

"They didn't wake me but they're still loud."

I shifted a little to look at him and sure enough, his eyes were clear and alert. "What woke you? I'm usually up before you."

"Nothing really. Just thinking."

I searched his eyes for more but found nothing. It unsettled me that he was obviously hiding but I didn't want to push him. I smiled warmly and stretched my neck to kiss him lightly. He bent down a little to meet my lips and hugged me closer to him, deepening the kiss. It was all the invitation I needed. My fingers threaded through his hair, tugging him on top as I rolled onto my back.

I stayed in a single room but Edward and I were pros at messing around in the twin bed. I could never get him close enough so the cramped quarters suited me fine. My legs widened to welcome his solid weight pressing against me. He ground slowly into me making me gasp and curse. He felt too good for us to have so much clothing and blankets between us.

"Fuck me," I moaned around his tongue.

"Mmhm," he returned.

He palmed my breast, rubbing my nipple but wouldn't remove my shirt. I moved my hands down to his pants and tried to push them down. He kept kissing me vigorously but wouldn't adjust so I could pull his cock out. I met his grinding with more eager thrusts and his head fell to the side with a groan.

"Lift up," I said, placing short, sloppy kisses along his neck. He had me keyed up and desperate for release.

He was panting my name and I was getting frustrated. "Lift up," I repeated.

A sharp knock and sing-songy call on the other side of the door stopped all our movement. "Bel-la. Open up."

"Go away, Alice," I shouted.

"Nope. I need to tell you stuff for tonight."

"Then just call me later!"

"Bella!"

Edward rolled off me but I held onto his shirt. "No no no no. I'm getting rid of her."

"No you aren't. I'm waiting right out here."

"It's okay, Bella," he chuckled and sat up to stretch. I sighed and slapped the bed, kicking off the blankets and climbing out of bed. I opened the door angrily to a cheerful Alice - my suite mate and best friend at U-Dub.

"What."

"Good morning, sunshine! Morning, Edward," she said leaning into the room.

He wiggled his fingers at her and smiled crookedly.

Undeterred, she grabbed me hand and led me to her room.

"Alice, this had better be good."

"Chill out," she said as we walked into her room and she shut the door. "You and the fuck buddy can pick up where you left off in a moment."

I hated thinking of me and Edward as merely fuck buddies but it was the harsh truth of what we were doing. We meant more to each other but he never asked me to be more and I never did either. We sort of fell into a steady sexual relationship a few months after he graduated and returned home. Our natural closeness seemed to lean us in that direction in our adult life. I wanted us to go further and believed he did too but was too nervous to bring it up. I felt like I was existing in an involuntary limbo state.

"You likely killed the mood but thanks for your concern regarding my sex life."

She waved me off and opened her closet to show me an old wooden barrel. "I need you guys to bring this to the party tonight."

"What is that?"

"Armagnac."

I looked at her blankly.

"Brandy, Bella." She shut the door and pulled up the Brandon's vineyard to show me a picture of their bottles. "It's from the private collection and it's so strong, one sip will level you. I'm bringing it to the party tonight. Well, you're bringing it to the party tonight."

"How do you figure?"

"I have to be in the studio all day and won't have time to get back here before the party starts. Plus, Edward will be able to help you sneak it to the car."

"How did you get it up here?"

"Uncle Pete. What's up with all the questions, Chief Swan?"

"Ha. Ha," I deadpanned. She said nothing else but pouted her lip and gave me her best lost puppy look. She was relentless so there was no point in resisting.

"Fine," I grumbled and headed back to my room.

"Wait," she yelled out. I turned back and she tossed me her key. "I won't need it and I'll see you later at the party."

"You know no one's going to appreciate your fine taste."

"You will," she said, blowing me a kiss. "I'll see you later."

She was right. Alice was always exposing me to new things and I was grateful to be considered one of her closest friends. I walked back to my room to find Edward thumbing through my sketch book.

"These are good. When did you do them," he asked.

I peered over him to see him looking at my pendant designs. "Just a couple of weeks ago. I have this idea to use painted canvas in them. Rosalie is actually sending me some of her work she was going to toss."

"I can pick them up for you instead. I need to leave and I know I'll see her today or tomorrow."

"I thought you were staying through the weekend," I said, disappointedly.

"There's some mail that was delivered that I need to take a look at."

He didn't elaborate and I knew this had to be the reason he was up early. He didn't tell me what was on his mind when I asked before and I doubted he would tell me if I asked again.

"I'd hoped you'd come with me to my club's party tonight. We won't have anymore before graduation."

We scanned each others face and I saw a conflict in his eyes until a resolve set in.

"I'll leave in the morning then."

"Okay," I smiled. "It's going to be real fun. Wait until I show you what Alice got."

He laughed a little. "If Alice got it, I'm sure it's the best there is."

I hated the awkward distance that lingered so I grabbed a towel and my bathroom kit to take a shower. Avoidance seemed to be the order of the day. I slipped on my shower shoes and looked back at him fingering my sketch book absently.

"Edward." He jerked his head towards me. "I want you to be with me tonight but if it's too..."

Weird...complicated...troublesome. I wasn't sure what this was.

"It's fine," he tried to ensure while simultaneously using the worst word possible to seem convincing. "I'll get washed up in the guys suite while you're in the shower so we can get some breakfast."

"Uh-huh, fine," I teased. "Meet you back here so fresh and so clean clean." My corny throwback made him giggle cutely and I was satisfied to lighten up our mood. For now.

Something was not 'fine' but the issue would be revealed sooner or later. So I hoped.