Long time no see! Ha.

Anyway here a couple FYI's regarding this there fic.

1. Everyone is just DYING to know who the allusive him is but alas, you won't know for sure for awhile. I can't give away all my secrets. In the mean time, I would love to hear your guesses!

2. A lot of you have been requesting more present story, but I must warn you, the next couple chapters are pretty past heavy. Its just the way it turned out, but just stick with me. All will be revealed in due time.

3. Do not worry, I am a firm believer in HEA. I'm pretty positive you'll like the ending, even if there is a whole lot of drama between here and the finish line.

Wow, that was the longest authors note of my life.

Also, I snuck away from the house party my roommates are throwing this happy friday to bring you this chapter. Does my dedication warrant a review?

Here's Edward, as promised.

December 23, 2010

EPOV

"Edward," Alice says the moment I answer my phone. She sounds pissed, and I'm not surprised with her anger. My big twin does not like my handling of what she calls "the Bella situation," and she's taken to cornering me to voice her opinion repetitively. Now, she's doing it via phone. "This whole sleeping-with-Bella-then-running-off-in-the-morning thing really has to end."

"We didn't sleep together," I reply, offended. "Well, we did in the literal sense, but we didn't do anything." Except make out a bit and grope each other, but my sister does not need to know that.

"It doesn't matter!" she snaps. "You're acting like a big fat coward. You need to deal with this. Talk to her."

I sigh heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose. There is not enough room in my brain to deal with Alice's meddling. "Please, just stop. I know what I'm doing with Bella."

"No, you don't. Do you promise to at least come to my party tonight?" she asks, getting right to the point.

"Yes. Tia is cooking me dinner, and then we'll drive up," I assure, glancing at my watch and trying to determine if I have enough time to go for a run before I head over to my friend's.

"You're still bringing Tia?" Alice asks, apparently surprised.

"Of course," I reply, going to my closet and laying out my outfit for the evening to be pressed and ironed after I shower. "I always bring Tia to everything."

"Yes, I know. But with Bella here… do you really want to risk the drama?"

What drama? What the heck is Alice talking about?

"What do you mean?"

"Bella has always been one jealous bitch," Alice replies sagely.

"Don't call her a bitch!" The words are out of my mouth before I really think about it, and I curse myself for still feeling all protective of a woman who chose to run away with the worst, most vile, sub-human individual I have ever had the displeasure of spending any time with.

"And Tia is just my friend," I backpedal.

"So you say," Alice says with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

"Really, Edward? Do you really have no idea what I'm talking about? There is no way you are really that socially inept."

"I guess I am, because I have no idea what you're talking about," I say.

"Fine. Whatever. Just be there tonight," she says before abruptly hanging up on me.

I change into some workout clothes. When I run, I don't think about anything. Not the loneliness of the last two years. Not Bella's tantalizing claims to want a future with me. Not him. Just the thud of my feet on pavement. I have my distractions, and they are a whole lot healthier than Bella's.

"Wow," Tia says, holding a glass of wine in one hand as she stands at the stove, preparing dinner. "The semester's over. Why are you so tired? That's like the fourth time you've yawned, and you've only been here for fifteen minutes."

I just nod absently and pull apart a piece of French bread on the small plate in front of me. The reason I'm so tired is because Bella was in Boulder last night, and I was here in my lonely Denver apartment, and I couldn't sleep without her.

Already she has re-ruined me. She's all I can think about. And for a few months there, I was doing so well at the getting-over-her thing.

Sorta.

"You're really quiet today…" Tia ventures, trying once again to drag me out of my head. She is a very good friend, my very best at grad school.

"Yeah, I know. Sorry. I'm afraid I'm not very good company at the moment." I sigh heavily and run my hands through my hair. Tia looks at me with concern in her big, amber eyes and flips her dark hair over her shoulder before turning back to the stove.

"You seem more stressed than you were during finals." Her attempt at a joke falls flat, and I barely manage a smile for my friend. I take a large gulp of wine and immediately regret the action because I have to drive to Boulder and am limiting myself to one glass before we arrive at the party.

Once we get there, I thoroughly plan on consuming bottles as that's the only way I can conceive of to get through the evening with Bella in the area. Which is probably unwise, given what seems to happen when I get a little liquor in my system and she is near me. But I don't feel as though I have any other options.

"Any particular reason?" she asks, dishing out spaghetti on a plate for each of us.

"Not really. Just tired. Waldo is in Boulder, and my apartment is always so cold," I complain as she sits next to me, sliding me a plate of Italian food.

"You do it to yourself, you know." She pats my hand sympathetically. Tia rubs a thumb over my knuckles, and I clear my throat in discomfort. I pull away my hand and casually reach for my fork.

"This looks great," I say with phony enthusiasm. It works because Tia beams as I dig in.

Once upon a time, Tia wanted me. She still might, for all I know but I've done my best over the last couple of years to make it clear that I only see her as a friend.

We kissed only once on a drunken night at the beginning of grad school a year and a half ago. I regretted it immediately, telling her that I just got out of a messy relationship, and I wasn't looking to date. I think she would have slept with me anyway, but she was my first friend at grad school, and I didn't want to ruin our relationship.

Since then, we've become close. She's never seen me date, so she might continue to hope. Either that, or she thinks I'm gay.

I usually take Tia to parties. I hate going alone because my social awkwardness has not abated with age. Tia is a good friend. She is undeniably beautiful, with her appealing curves and caramel skin. But she has no idea, and is very shy and awkward. We have a lot in common.

Tia has no idea Bella even exists.

We chat throughout dinner, and I do a good job pretending that everything is okay. Tia doesn't seem to notice that my whole world has changed since the last time I saw her at the end of the semester.

She seems happy, excited for the evening, and oddly nervous as we walk down the stairs after dinner and towards the parking lot outside her apartment complex.

I lead her to Bella's truck and open the door of the Chevy as Tia looks on with distaste.

"Where's your Volvo?" she asks as I slide into the driver's seat, turn the key in the ignition, causing the vehicle to roar to life.

"In Boulder," I reply, navigating towards the highway. Tia doesn't have a car, so she plans on crashing on our couch after the party and taking the bus back to Denver in the morning.

"Why?" she asks, still mystified. Like me, she is probably praying that we make it to Boulder.

"It's a long story," I reply.

"Good thing we have half an hour before we get to your sister's house." Tia had never known me when I lived on Goss. Tia never knew me with Bella.

"A friend came to visit me from Boulder the other night," I explain in a rush, hoping Tia won't have further questions. "By the time she was ready to go back home, it had snowed too much, so she ended up staying the night. I drove us both to Boulder the next morning in the Volvo. This beast is terrible in the snow."

"She, huh?" Tia asks, elbowing me playfully. "Anyone I know?"

I shake my head. "No, just an old friend. She recently moved back to Boulder."

Even I am unconvinced with my explanation, but Tia simply raises a dark eyebrow before turning back to the window. This is my favorite thing about her - she never pushes.

"I love Alice's Christmas parties," Tia says, linking her arm with mine to avoid falling on the icy walk in her heels when we arrive at the Goss house. "The house is so festive and it really feels like the holidays."

"Me too," I reply, only half-listening because I know that, in a moment, I'll see Bella.

We enter the house, which is already filling up with people. I don't see anyone from the old college days in the front room, and I don't look beyond that, because I'm not ready to see Bella yet. I really do feel badly for sharing a bed with her and then freaking out on her. Again. But my emotions regarding her are volatile. I don't know what I'm doing, and that is very rare for me.

"Alice has made this house dangerous," Tia whispers in my ear as I add our coats to the already large pile on the living room sofa. "Look at all the mistletoe!"

I snicker. Of course my interfering little twin would try to play matchmaker from afar. The smile falls off my face the moment I see a beautiful brunette in midnight blue. She is staring right at me, and our eyes lock. Bella has me in some sort of freaky trance, and the rest of the world is blurry.

Collin, Emmett's co-worker, steals her attention, however, and the spell is broken as she turns away. I want to murder the bastard as his hands ghost over the sexy dimples at the small of her back. Just yesterday, I was tracing them with my thumbs.

"Whoa," says Tia as Bella and Collin disappear into the kitchen. "Who is that? She's gorgeous."

"Isabella Marie Swan," I mutter, running my hands through my hair compulsively.

"I take it you know her?" Tia asks with a frown.

"Yeah," I say, shaking my head in a futile attempt to clear it. I stare at the space formerly occupied by Isabella before abruptly grabbing Tia's hand and dragging her through the throngs of people to the kitchen. I'm in desperate need of a drink.

August 19, 2005

"Edward!" my sister squeaks, tugging on my shirtsleeve with her forehead firmly pressed against the tiny airplane window. "Mountains! I see mountains!"

"Alice," I reply with a laugh, wincing as her nails dig into my arm. "I can't see anything with you blocking the window."

The twin and I have spent the last two weeks of our summer vacation in Chicago with our parents, visiting grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Emmett even joined us for the first week of the huge family reunion. It was good to be back in the city, but Alice and I are both antsy to get back to Boulder.

I long for craggy mountains and mahogany hair.

"They are too far away," I say with a frown when Alice sits back in her seat, giving me a view of the Front Range.

"Edward," Alice says with a big sigh. "We're going to be back in like less than an hour. Be happy!"

I close my eyes as we make our descent.

The moment we pull up to the gate and the captain turns off the fasten seat belt sign, Alice has her phone out and is speed dialing her boyfriend. Jasper came to visit in June for a week around our twentieth birthday. Esme loves him, but he had a hard time bonding with papa Carlisle, a fact that makes me oddly happy considering the rough start to our friendship. That had been over two months ago, and Alice is tweaking out.

"Jazz!" she shouts, smiling widely. It makes me happy that she is so happy. "Yes… We just landed… Yeah, the people in front of us are starting to move… Okay, so we will meet you at the baggage claim… SEE YOU IN LIKE FIVE MINUTES, YOU SEXY TEXAN!"

Several heads turn to stare after Alice's little outburst, but her joy is contagious and she has passengers smiling with her.

As we exit the plane, I'm surprised to hear my own phone ring in my pocket. I grin when I see the name illuminating the screen.

"Isabella."

"Edward Cullen. As I live and breathe," she says into the phone in what I recognize to be her southern belle accent. God, how I've missed her.

"How did you do that?" I ask as Alice eyes me with suspicion.

"Do what?"

"Know like the exact moment to call. I just got off the plane."

"I'm magic, Cullen. Didn't you know?"

"Yeah, I had some inkling." I think back to my last night in Boulder, and I feel a stirring down in my belly. Best fucking night of my life. Literally. Though I drunkenly insisted to Bella that the sex wouldn't change anything, our night together only served to further wrap me up in her. I was scared she would pull away, but she surprised me by staying in touch over the summer. We communicate almost daily, by text, email, or phone call. She still continues to assert that we are just friends, but I've missed her terribly over the summer.

"What are you doing tonight?" she asks.

"I don't know. Nothing, I guess. Sleeping on Emmett's couch before we move into the new house," I reply.

"No. That's fucking lame. Come over. You need to see my new room." I beam at her enthusiasm; glad I'm not the only one desperate for our reunion.

"Okay. I'll just drop my shit off at Emmett's and come over." We are moving into the house on Goss in a few days, but until then we are bunking at my brother's.

"Not good enough. Just come straight here. I'm tired of waiting," she huffs into the phone, obviously frustrated.

"Jeeze, someone is desperate to see me," I say with a smug chuckle. It feels fucking good, Bella's desire to see me.

"Don't get cocky, Cullen. Huge ego is horribly unattractive," she replies tersely.

"Bella, come on. I think we both know that you actually find me horribly attractive."

"Shut it, asshat. In fact, don't even bother coming over. I have big plans I previously forgot about—"

"Isabella. I'm coming over. I should be there in forty-five, okay?"

"I guess."

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

"I missed you."

"Okay, Cullen. Don't get all sappy on me. I'll see you soon."

I hang up as Alice and I step onto a moving walkway. She is smirking at me, giving me the evil eye that tells me I'm about to brave an inquisition.

"So?" she asks finally, when I remain silent and ignore her.

"So what?"

"So you are going to see Bella?"

"Yup."

"What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing. We're just friends."

"Friends who have sex." I have neither confirmed nor denied Alice's suspicions about what went on the last night of last term, and it's driving the big twin crazy.

"We're really good friends." I flush slightly and smile.

"She's booty calling you already? You're feet haven't even hit Colorado soil yet. That's impressive, little twin," Alice continues, trying to bait me into answering her questions.

I have no expectations for my visit with Bella. Though of course I want to have sex with her - I live in a state of perpetually wanting sex with Bella - she made it very clear that it was a one-time thing, never to happen again. She was drunk and feeling nostalgic about the end of freshmen year. I get that. I really don't believe Bella wants sex from me. I also really have no idea what I am doing in that department.

"It's not a booty call. She just wants to show me her new room."

Alice simply sends me a withering look.

"You know what I mean. Bella made it very clear that we are just friends," I reply, frowning slightly at the thought.

"But that isn't want you want."

"No, not exactly. But I'm crazy about her, Alice. I can't just walk away form her. At the moment, I would rather take what I can get. If she is only willing to give me her friendship, then I will just have to deal with it," I explain for the zillionth time to my twin.

"You can't let her get away with that bullshit forever," Alice says.

"Can't we just be happy to be back in Colorado, Alice? Please?"

"Fine. But this conversation is not over."

We walk in silence to the baggage claim, and Alice takes off like the roadrunner when she sees the tall Texan loitering on the other side of the room. I join them at a much slower pace, choosing to ignore the make-out session taking place, focusing instead on the grinning face of my big brother.

"Dude," he says, pulling me into a headlock and making me feel like I'm about eight years old again. "I missed you, baby brother."

"Emmett!" I say, struggling to get out from under his massive arm. "I'm a grown-ass man! Let me go!" I throw my elbow into his gut.

"Hey!" he says, finally releasing me. "I could actually feel that jab. It's impressive. Have you been working out without me?"

"Forks is boring," I respond with a shrug.

The baggage claim starts, and Alice pries herself off Jasper to keep a weather eye out for our luggage. I shake Jasper's hand, trying to once again ignore the dazed expression on my roommate's face.

Gross.

As we exit the airport and walk to the car, Jazz and Alice are in their own little world, while Emmett talks my ear off about all his recent exploits. I really did miss him over the summer, and I'm glad that we will be living together from now on.

"Anyway," Emmett says as he pulls away from DIA. "Rose is making a big dinner tonight to welcome everyone back."

"Ah… well… you see… the thing is…." Rosalie is terrifying, and I don't know how to break the news that I will not be attending.

"He won't be there," Alice says, coming up for air in the back seat for a moment to make my life more difficult. "He wants you to just drop him off on campus."

"Why the fuck?" demands Emmett, glaring at me. I wish he would keep his eyes on the road when he drives this fast.

"Well, I have plans with Bella tonight," I say casually.

"Plans to do what, exactly?" he asks, that mischievous Emmett look in his eye.

"You know. Hang out, catch up," I reply. "It's not a big deal."

"She wants to show him her room!" says Alice from the backseat. I fight the urge to recline my seat and squish her.

"Ohhhh, baby," Emmett booms. "Someone's getting some action."

"It's not like that," I insist, but no one is listening.

They spent the remainder of the car ride to Boulder trying to convince me that I'm indeed on my way to have sex with Bella. I do my best to ignore them. At least they drop me off on campus, per my request.

It's a strange feeling, walking into Hallett Hall without it being my home. I feel old and just a little superior. A pair of freshmen boys exit the building just as I approach the side door, so I don't have to call Bella to let me in. I take the stairs two at a time, just as I always do, before entering the second floor commons. The room is packed with unfamiliar faces. They all turn to stare at me, and I blush under their scrutiny. Freshmen or not, I don't like the attention.

I try to pick my way to the door leading to the girl's side, but a small, pristinely dressed blonde stops me.

"Hi," she says, batting her eyelashes and flipping her hair. "I haven't seen you yet. What's your name?"

"Uh… Edward," I reply, recoiling as she lays a hand on my arm. She is just a little freshman. I should easily be able to escape, but I am as awkward in social situations as usual.

"Edward. I'm Jane," she says with a big smile. "What's your major?"

I'm reminded of this time last year. If Bella knows this girl, I'm sure she would have nailed her major, home and all that.

"I-Phy," I mumble, staring longingly at the door to Bella behind Jane. "Pre-Med."

"You want to be a doctor?" she flutters. "That's so cool."

"Right… Well, I really should be—"

"Do you live on the second floor?" she asks, interrupting my attempt at escape.

"No… uh… actually… I, uh—"

"Jane," a dark angel behind me barks. Instantly, my whole body is on alert, literally tingling with the feeling of being near Bella again. She approaches us from behind, her glare fixed on Jane. When she gets close, she slowly peels the little hand off my arm. "Stop making my guest uncomfortable."

"Your guest?" Jane says with disbelief. I don't like the way she is addressing Bella, but I keep my mouth shut.

"Yes. Now if you'll excuse us." Bella's hand latches on to mine, and she pulls me quickly across the room and down the hall to her single, grumbling derogatory things about Jane all the while. The phrase "cocksucker" is thrown around quite a bit.

Bella opens her door, pulls me inside, and immediately pushes me up against the closed door, shocking me completely with a deep kiss. At first, I'm too surprised to even respond. But I snap out of it real quick, matching her fervor as I kiss her back. Her hands latch onto my hair, and I lift her off the ground to get her closer.

Her tongue thrusts aggressively into my mouth, and I close my eyes in astonishment and pleasure. Hips bucking slightly against her as she crawls up my body, I have to remove one hand from Bella's body to steady us with the door frame. She tastes so good, and I've missed her so much, I can't help but let out a low moan as I invade her mouth. Bella whimpers in response, as I grow impossibly harder.

"God, Edward," she sighs as my lips trace the lovely column of her neck. "I thought I made it up."

"Made what up?" I ask with my mouth against her collarbone as I walk forward, blindly searching for the bed. Though this isn't what I expected, it's certainly what I hoped for.

"The intensity of the shivers," she replies with a squeak as I toss her down on her bed. I pause a moment to look down at her laid out on the blue quilt. Her hair is longer than when I left and is fanned out around her. Her chest is heaving with her labored breathing that is similar to my own, and best of all, she is gazing up at me with adoration.

She smiles at me shyly for a moment before reaching down to the hem of her black Bob Marley t-shirt, removing it, and tossing it in my face.

"Sexy," I say with a raspy voice when I ditch the shirt and take in Bella's leopard print bra.

"Now you," she demands. It takes me about two seconds to dispose of my own shirt. "Sexy," she says with a smirk. Using her feet, she pulls me down on top of her. I support my weight on my hands on either side of her head, not wanting to crush her.

I bend my head to kiss her fiercely. It's been a long summer.

With one hand, I grasp her neck and stroke my thumb over her cheek. The other traces up her seemingly endless legs, pausing a moment to absorb her heat through her red shorts before continuing my journey up her flat stomach to palm and squeeze her breast. Kissing my way down her throat, I push the fabric of her bra aside and sweep my tongue over her rosy little nipple

She moans at the sensation, and I answer her with a similar sound as I feel her nipple pebble in my mouth. One of her hands fists in my hair, while she palms my crotch with the other.

"Edward," she hisses when I finally manage to get her out of her bra. "Did you… ahhhh… shit. Did you come here thinking this would happen?"

"Fuck, no," I growl out as she wraps both thighs around my hips, bringing my dick closer to her body. I grind into her instinctually and grin when she lets out a helpless mewl. "I believed you when you said one-time thing."

"You're not my boyfriend," she pants, clutching my face between her hands to stop me from dipping my head to her chest again. She forces me to look her in the eye, and I see how serious she is. Damn it. "But I'm tired of staying away from you."

"Then don't," I say with conviction before plunging my tongue back into her mouth. I love kissing Bella and would be perfectly happy if this was my sole, daily activity. She answers with enthusiasm, working the buckle of my belt as her lips move against mine.

My newfound sexual confidence must come from the orgasms I gave Bella at the beginning of summer. With her again, I'm both comfortable and nervous at the same time. I believe I know how to make her feel good and am turned on by this thought as well as every little move Bella makes.

Tracing my hands down the creamy flesh of her naked rib cage, I kiss her as I make my way to the button clasp of her shorts. With minimal fumbling, I relieve her of the garment and slip a finger inside of her as my thumb circles her clit.

"Oh, fuck!" she exclaims, arching of the bed to get closer. Her spine curves in a graceful serpentine shape as she searches for more. "Just….just like that, baby. Plea…please don't stop."

It's a little mind-boggling that Bella seems to want me as desperately as I want her, but I don't question it. I'm done questioning the inexplicable draw I feel towards this dark angel.

Losing patience with my steady ministrations, she aggressively yanks my shorts and boxers down my thighs. I remove my mouth from the smooth skin at the base of her neck only long enough to send the rest of our clothes to the floor.

She trails a small hand down my abdomen, causing my muscles to tighten against her touch. I wrap my arms around her rib cage as I groan, pulling one hard nipple into my mouth.

"God, Bella," I grunt out as she firmly grasps me while biting her lip. "You're perfect."

For a moment she looks like she is going to argue, but then my fingers are pumping into her again in time with the strokes of her hand, and she seems to forget everything but what I'm making her feel. I can relate to the sensation of being completely at the mercy of someone else.

It's a miracle, and I pray this isn't a dream.

As I make firmer circles on her clit, she arches off the bed again and removes her hands from my body, only to wrap them around the metal bars that make up her headboard.

I'm glad she's not touching me because I'm a moment away from losing it and would much rather come inside her.

I rub myself against her slick opening, and it proves a terrible way to get control of my body. Once again, I'm on the brink of completely disappointing her when she speaks.

"Condom," she says with a pant, arching off the bed and causing our hip bones to crash together. Even a little pain feels good when Bella is around.

"Where?" I ask, suddenly frantic that she doesn't have any and that this isn't going to happen.

"Night stand drawer," she says, her words more air then sounds.

Keeping my body as close to Bella's as possible, I stick a hand in the drawer and sigh in relief when my fingers lock on something square and foil.

Bella snatches the protective measure from my hand as I go to wrap my equipment, and I stare at her, confused.

"Let me," she whispers, her eyes never leaving my face.

I hand the condom over and whimper pathetically when she opens it with her teeth before slowly rolling the latex down my length.

In a matter of moments, I'm once again inside the woman I love. Fighting the urge to thrust frantically, I pause to calm down and get a good look at Bella. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips are parted, and her chest heaves. Her desire for me is written all over her face, and once again I can't really believe I'm here.

"I'm glad you're back," she whispers, a smile now playing around her lips. "But I'm going to murder you if you don't fucking move!"

A cross between a chuckle and a grunt escapes my chest as I do as she requests. The slow and steady pace of our joining quickly spirals out of control. Every muscle in my body screams for release, but I manage to hold out until Bella's eyes roll back in her head and she screams out my name.

"Bella," I say with trepidation some time later. Dealing with emotions and relationships is not Bella's strong suit. One wrong word, and she might completely freak out.

"Yes, sweetheart?" I flush with pleasure at the endearment and have to hide my face from Bella in a pillow. It's not hard because she has already left me naked in her narrow dorm bed, choosing instead to rummage around for the shorts she somehow managed to lose at the beginning of our little interlude.

"So… uh… this isn't… uhhh…" I stutter embarrassingly as Bella finds her shorts and yanks them on. She is now fully clothed

"Spit it out, Cullen," she says, losing patience with me as she moves to look at herself in the mirror. "Good grief. Look at what you've done to my hair."

"Worth it," I reply.

"Totally," she says, flashing me a stunning smile over her shoulder that makes it difficult for me to breathe for a moment. "What were you trying to say with all your mumbling?"

Turning to face me, Bella plants her hands on her hips and raises an eyebrow. She obviously thinks I'm insane. Slowly she approaches me, biting her lip and driving me a little crazy.

"Well…" I sit up in Bella's bed, making sure to keep my waist covered. I talk super fast and use my hands more than necessary. "Just that this obviously isn't a one-time thing anymore. I guess. Because it's happened twice. Well, more than twice, really. Much more than twice. What I meant was two separate occasions, not just two—"

Bella places a palm over my mouth, thankfully cutting off my ridiculous rambling.

"Believe it or not," she says, sitting next to me on the bed. One of her hands rests on my hip while the other cradles my jaw. "I'm well aware of exactly how many times we've done it. They're quite memorable for me. How about you?"

I nod vigorously because her words leave me somewhat speechless. I make her feel good. I am memorable.

She pulls my face close to hers, and I get lost in her eyes, as is typical.

"I'm not quite done with you yet, Edward," she murmurs against my lips. She so rarely says my real name. It's thrilling. "Are you done with me?"

"Hell no," I exclaim, aghast at the idea of ever being done with her.

"Good. So we keep on fuckin' and nothin' else changes. Is that okay with you?" she asks, looking serious.

I kiss her softly, pleased that she returns the gesture and hums in pleasure. "That's okay with me, Isabella."

"Great!" she says, leaping off the bed and tossing my shirt in my face. "Get up, lover. I'm starving with a meal plan burning a hole in my pocket. Let me feed you."

Who could argue with that?

August 25, 2005

"Goddamn, it smells good up in here," Emmett booms from the general vicinity of the front door. I glance up at Bella at the stove. She smiles and shakes her head at my brother's enthusiasm but continues to chop lettuce and dance around the kitchen to the reggae she has playing softly from the stereo.

She's cooking dinner at my house, in my kitchen. She is preparing a Mexican feast, cooking for all my roommates because she knows that they will eat all our dinner anyway.

I plan on plying her with margaritas to convince her to sleep over.

I've been back in Boulder less than a week, and already Bella and I have done it eleven times. Eleven. Eleven beautiful times, and I hope it is the norm. She makes it very clear that we are just "fucking." that we are still just friends, that nothing has changed.

Except everything has changed. If there was any doubt about my love for her before, that has all been erased. I'm completely crazy about her. Even more so now that we've made love.

Bella would hate me for calling it that.

"It's a fucking fiesta up in this bitch!" Emmett declares when he enters the kitchen with Jasper in tow. They are sweaty from an afternoon spent on the basketball court. I was invited, but I opted instead to study. And to watch Bella cook.

"Damn right," Bella replies as Emmett gives her a bear hug. She giggles, and I smile at the sound. I'm happy when she's happy, and especially because I know that she rarely lets herself be happy.

"There looks like there is enough for me. Is there enough for me?" Emmett steals a handful of shredded cheese as Bella smacks him away.

"There is enough for everyone if you just wait fifteen fucking minutes. If you keep pickin', I'm not givin' you shit," Bella snaps, but there is a twinkle in her eye that tells me she's really enjoying the attention.

"Can I have some, Bella?" Jasper asks, laying on his Texan charm thick and causing Bella to blush. I decide I don't like it when other people make her blush.

"Of course, Jasper. You're a patient gentlemen," she says, checking on the tray of enchiladas in the oven.

The boys join me at the table, attempting to distract me from my chemistry reading. After years of living with Alice, I've developed an insane ability to focus on my work through anything, so it's easy to ignore my pesky roommates.

"What the hell are you doing in my domain?" Rosalie enters the kitchen, scowling with her arms crossed over her chest.

"If, by 'domain,' you mean the kitchen you share with four other people I happen to be friends with, then I'm making dinner. If, by some miracle, you're able to remove your bitch face, you can even have some," Bella says, smiling sweetly.

Rosalie huffs and takes the seat next to Emmett.

Bella sets up a sort of assembly line on a counter in the kitchen, and we all shuffle along, filling our plates. Alice arrives as we settle down at the kitchen table with food and margaritas. She does a lot of squeaking in delight, as usual, but it's nice to have everyone together.

Even after the last of the delicious meal is cleared away, we linger at the table with round after round of margaritas. At some point, Alice and Jasper drift upstairs, shortly followed by Emmett and Rosalie. The moment their door slams, Bella is in my lap, straddling me and raking her hands through my hair. She kisses me hard, and I thrust up out of the chair, striving to get closer.

"Fuck me," she groans out against my lips. "That was torture."

"I quite enjoyed it," I joke. "You're an excellent cook."

She kisses me again, nibbling on my bottom lip and teasing me with her tongue.

"It's been forever since I last touched you," she says, her voice low and breathy with lust.

"Less than six hours." I don't know why I'm arguing with her. The hours spent not in contact with her have been unbearable for me as well.

We continuing our rigorous make out session until Bella shirt is unbuttoned and her hands are down my pants. I decide we need to move the party upstairs, and I carry her to my bed as she kisses my neck and strokes my hair. It feels tender, and I try reminding myself that we are just friends.

The words don't take root in my brain, and probably never will.

Late that night, I lie sated with Bella in my arms. Her head is pillowed on my chest, and her leg is slung over my waist. I play with her hair while she traces patterns on my chest absently.

"It's been quite the first week back," Bella murmurs. Her eyes are closed, and a small smile plays around her lips. I kiss her temple and pull her closer. She hums in pleasure.

"Yeah. My classes are unexpectedly enjoyable," I joke. She pinches my side in retaliation. "But being here with you is much preferable."

"That's better," she murmurs. I hope she is falling asleep. My goal is to get her to spend the night. We've shared the same bed before throughout the night. It seems ridiculous that she refuses to stay now that we're doing what most people our age do when they sleep together.

"What time is it?" she asks, and I know what's coming.

"Around two-thirty," I reply, my grip tightening on her waist.

"Shit," she says, attempting to sit up. I don't let her move, and she glares at me. "The buses stop running at three a.m. I have to haul ass if I don't want to walk back to Hallett."

"Bella, don't be ridiculous. Just stay here."

"I don't know…"

There is doubt in her voice, so I know I can change her mind. She just needs to be convinced. I roll on top of her, and she gasps.

"Please," I whisper against her neck. "Please stay." I kiss the base of her throat.

"I really… really… ah that feels good… You don't play fair." I can't help but smirk against her skin as I continue to kiss and feel my way across her body.

"Stay, Bella," I plead, moving down her stomach to the Promised Land. I'm still not very good at this, but Bella sure seems to enjoy it. Almost as much as I do.

I kiss the inside of each thigh.

"Stay."

"K."

Grinning like an idiot, I set about the business of making her feel good, pleased that I can be just a persuasive as her. Ah, progress.

Thank for reading!