All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.

It wasn't that long of a walk.

Or maybe it was.

I couldn't tell.

I couldn't tell because, besides being tipsy still, I was very distracted by Edward. I wanted desperately to seduce him. It was the strangest thing; when we'd first started talking back at the barbeque, I'd noticed his looks. I'd felt the instant attraction. But it had been subtle. It had crept up on me.

And now I was hyper-aware, my skin almost raw with his nearness, anxiety effervescing up through my belly like champagne bubbles.

Irina and Riley walked ahead, their hands clasped and swinging between them. Behind me, I could hear the hushed giggle-whispers of Alice and Jasper's response in deeper undertones. Rose could have been home already but there was no fun in that so she continued to ride loops around us and through us, her earphones plugged in.

And then there was me. And he. Not touching, but connected nonetheless, connected by this knowing.

Knowing we were probably going to hook up.

Back at the house Jasper rolled a spliff. We settled on the floor and smoked it down and then everyone dispersed, leaving Edward and I on the carpet in the living room, lying flat and looking at the ceiling. If I wasn't high it might have been awkward but I was so it wasn't.

"Do you… want to go to my room?" I asked after a while.

All right, so that was a little awkward.

"Lead the way," he said, standing up slowly.

I got to my feet and made my way down the hall, the darkness making Edward's presence behind me feel sexy and secret.

He followed me inside and wandered to my wall, gazing at the posters and pictures. I had these little Christmas lights I kept up all year round and they were on now, silently casting the room with a golden glow. I didn't think anyone would come in but I quietly locked the door anyway, trying not to focus on how heavy my heart was beating.

He seemed really into the stuff on my wall. I stood back, unsure of what to do in my own damn room. I put my shoes into the closet and then he was behind me, his hands on my waist, his breath tickling through my hair.

A wave of wanting surged through me.

I turned around, craving his mouth but he didn't kiss me right away. His fingers trailed up and down my sides, making me shiver and squirm inside.

I couldn't look at his face; didn't know if he was looking at mine.

So nervous.

He widened his hands and spread them over my back, drawing me closer.

And it occurred to me that this was my room, and that I had brought him to it.

He was waiting for me.

I led him to my bed and pulled him down with me and then our mouths connected, hungry and open and warm. He gave me his tongue so I gave him mine and good God kissing had never been this hot.

I let him take my clothes off and it was when I lay naked beneath him I noticed a lot of his clothes were still on, his jeans and undershirt.

He hadn't stuck his fingers anywhere but his lips were at my neck and I could hear myself panting and feel myself arching up, seeking his body.

He hitched my leg over his leg, opening me to him.

"Are you sure we should do this?" I asked, my fingers deep in his hair.

He stopped cold.

"Usually when girls ask that it means they don't want to." He wasn't even mean about it. Just really to the point.

True...

"I'm… sorry. I…" I didn't know what to say.

He didn't seem put off, though, and then I was glad I hadn't just...done it. I wanted him, but I'd never slept with someone the first night I'd met them.

We got underneath the covers and then I passed out.

Naked.

That was my first thought upon waking: my realization that I was completely naked.

Next I noticed Edward. He was walking around my room, examining the things hanging on the wall again. I watched him for a moment, noting how odd and out of place he looked.

As if he knew I was awake he turned to me. His movements were always so languid, like he lived his life without emergency.

"I'm going to have to go soon," he said, running his hand through his hair. "Riley has things to do… and so do I."

I nodded, covering myself with a sheet as I sat up.

Now I was glad I hadn't slept with him, even though he'd seen me up until ten seconds ago completely in the nude.

And even though he was even more beautiful by daylight.

His eyes were green.

"Can I have your number?" he asked.

That was the last thing I'd expected him to say; I'd assumed he was being polite until he could escape. I really couldn't tell if he liked me that much. Not in that way.

I stared at him, shocked he'd want to see me again.

"You want my number?"

"Yeah."

"Okay…"

I got up, wrapped in the sheet, and jotted down my number on a scrap of paper. Then, emboldened, I asked for his.

His eyes were so pretty up close. He blinked in the early morning light streaming through my blinds, like it hurt to be awake. It kind of did. I had no idea what time we'd actually gone to sleep or what time it was now that we were up.

"Edward?"

His eyes found me again, warming me with their attention.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty nine. How old are you?"

My stomach flip-flopped. "Nineteen."

He nodded, pocketing my number.

He was on my mind a lot after that.

We made the most of Irina's last days in town, even though she managed to squeeze in time for Riley. I battled with asking him about Edward, not wanting to seem juvenile or desperate.

Eventually I gave up and asked, and he told me to call him.

So I did. It went to Edward's voicemail and I left a brief message. Seconds later the phone rang back.

"Hello – Bella?"

"Um…yeah. It's me. Hi. How's things?"

"Fine. I'm glad you called, I lost that paper with your number."

"Oh, that's – that's fine."

"I want to know when I can see you again."

"Whenever you want." And I cringed. Ouch, Bella.

"How about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's good." I nodded, as if he could see me through the phone.

"I'll pick you up. Around nine. I'm not punctual."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"Bye." I hung up, smitten silly, smitten stupid.