Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns all things Twilight. I just decided it was time to shake things up a bit in her characters' world. And I wanted a bitchy Bella, so here we go!

Oh, and all of the references used in this story in relation to the advertising and marketing company and accounts are only used here for entertainment purposes; no copyright infringement intended.

Thank you to the following people: Flyaway Dove, my wonderful beta extraordinaire; angelicwish, who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide this insecure writer with feedback; Lita for making me beautiful banners and being awesome in general; Vicky my new LA pal; and last but certainly not least, to Jen – she makes me smile all the time.

So, what did you all think of the sex and sandwiches? Was it worth the wait? Please let me know if you haven't already! This week is going to be a test for both of them, for obvious reasons. Hmm…do you think it's difficult to focus on business when you've just had the best sex of your life with someone you work with?

Chapter Fifteen: Case of the Mondays

"I don't want to work tomorrow," I whispered from my position against Edward's chest. Tomorrow was Monday – a work day and the first day of the week-long convention. And tomorrow I'd have to put on my boss-lady front and somehow try to deal with the consequences of being involved with my employee. Not fun.

"Try not to think about it for a few more hours, okay?" Edward pleaded, as he gently soaped my shoulders with the loofah. "Tomorrow will be great, and we'll have the evenings to ourselves this week, for the most part." I appreciated Edward's efforts to bolster my spirits, as well as the way he worded that last part. He was letting me make the decisions as to where we were going – at least for now – and I was grateful.

"Thank you," I said simply, running my fingers over his submerged legs and up to his thighs. Suddenly his mouth was at my ear, and his breath tickled my skin.

"Be careful," he warned playfully. "Don't start a fire you can't put out." As if in a challenge, I squeezed his upper thighs and wiggled my butt against his groin and now-obvious erection. Edward groaned and wrapped his arms around me, running his tongue along the edge of my ear before taking the fleshy lobe between his teeth.

"I can take care of myself; don't you worry about me," I taunted, trying to ignore the effect his teeth had on other parts of my body as he nibbled my ear. "Besides, we have plenty of water in this tub. I think we'll be just fine." The bathroom in Edward's hotel room wasn't as nice as mine, but the Jacuzzi tub fit the two of us comfortably.

Reaching behind my head, I cupped my hand around the back of Edward's neck and pulled him toward me. As I kissed him deeply, I turned slowly so that I was straddling his lap, sending little ripples of soapy water splashing against Edward's torso and close to the rim of the tub. His tongue massaged mine and I moaned; his lips on mine, his tongue languidly exploring my mouth, his long fingers splayed across my lower back – this was the closest thing I'd probably get to Heaven, and that was just fine with me.

Sex contains all,
Bodies, Souls, meanings, proofs, purities, delicacies, results, promulgations,
Songs, commands, health, pride, the maternal mystery, the seminal milk;
All hopes, benefactions, bestowals,
All the passions, loves, beauties, delights of the earth,
All the governments, judges, gods, follow'd persons of the earth,
These are contain'd in sex, as parts of itself, and justifications of itself.

"Your skin…it feels amazing," Edward whispered in between kisses. "It's better than I ever imagined…" It took a moment for me to realize what he'd said, but then I disengaged from his lips and leaned back to look at him.

"Better than you imagined?" I asked, half-teasing. "How much time, exactly, have you devoted to the consideration of my skin?" He paused for a moment, pulling me flush against his chest again, and toyed with a lock of my hair before answering.

"More time than I care to admit, I think," he said frankly. He leaned back slightly so he could look me in the eye. His gaze was clear and intense, and instinctively I wanted to shrink away from it. It held too much. I must be imagining things. "I've spent…a few nights imagining how it would feel to touch you. Smooth your hair; caress your skin; feel your hands on me; your lips on mine; those warm brown eyes focused only on me."

Edward's sincerity was unnerving; what I'd meant as a lighthearted tease had quickly transitioned into a confession. I wanted to take it back. When it applied to work, I was more than happy to have the reigns; here, the more he told me the more uncomfortable I became. Now I was the one trying to backpedal.

Truthfully, I was uncomfortable with the idea of a relationship with Edward. Hell, with any man. Relationships, I had learned, were messy, full of yelling, angry words, crying and blame; feelings of love and infatuation quickly gave way to resentment, fear, loathing and disappointment. Someone always left someone, and each time, a chunk of you would break away with them, as if the two parts had been fused. At some point, there'd be nothing left of you. And I just didn't have any more pieces to give. Not even to Edward.

"And are you satisfied, then, that now you can dedicate your time to other pursuits?" I asked with a smirk, hoping he'd take the hint. With one long finger he traced a line along my jaw and across my lips. This sent a flurry of tingles to the rest of my body. Damn his talented fingers.

"Yes…other pursuits," he mused, kissing me briefly. And then his green eyes flashed, and a crooked smile tugged up one corner of his mouth, and I knew I'd been successful in derailing his train of thought. I decided to help him along, nevertheless, just to be sure.

"Um…like what else you'd like to do with my body?" As I offered this to him, I ground myself against him forcefully, sending a small splash of water over the edge of the tub. In response, Edward groaned and wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck, pulling me to him in a fevered kiss. I ran my fingers through his damp hair, yanking it. He hissed into my mouth, and then took hold of my thighs and, without breaking our kiss, lifted us both out of the water. Confused but wholeheartedly willing to play along, I sighed and wrapped my legs around his waist, the slippery and pleasing wetness of his hard cock poised at my entrance. I felt his muscles flex as he carefully stepped out of the tub, still holding me to him. Without pausing for a towel, he started to walk out of the bathroom but inspiration struck me and I pulled away from his mouth.

"No, Edward. Here," I said, looking behind me at the large sink and counter. His eyes were at first wide with surprise, but quickly they darkened with understanding and lust, and he took one long step to rest my butt on the countertop.

"Um, Bella…I don't have a condom with me," he whispered before gently sucking on my ear.

"It's okay; I grabbed a few before we came in here," I said with what I hoped was a sexy smile, and gestured to the pile of towels on the floor. Edward didn't even pause to comment again on my premeditation; keeping one hand on my ankle, he turned and grabbed one. After rolling the latex over his erection, he stepped back to the counter, and I wrapped my legs around him once more.

I was still a bit soapy from our bath, so I slid a bit on the counter, and Edward wrapped his arm around my torso to keep me close. As he pulled me against him – inadvertently but sublimely – the tip of his shaft slid inside me and my body willingly took the rest of him in as we came together. There was no need for foreplay, as my body was, for a second time, wet and aching for him, and he immediately began thrusting against me, while his lips alternated between my mouth and my neck.

"Fuck, Bella, you feel so good," he uttered in a strained whisper. The swearing only made me wetter, and Edward groaned when he felt the change in my body. With my legs still wrapped around his waist, I leaned back and gripped the edge of the vanity for more traction, resting my elbows on the counter, and this afforded Edward a better view: both of himself moving in and out of me and of us in the mirror.

"How does it look?" I asked, after he caught me watching him watch us. Edward untangled my legs from his waist and rested my feet on the edge of the counter, which allowed him to hit my sensitive bundle of nerves at a new – and spec-fucking-tacular – angle. With his hands gripping my waist, he anchored me to him.

"Ugh…fucking hot and wet," he groaned, and leaned over to capture my nipple in his mouth. I arched my back and grabbed a handful of his copper hair – God, I love his hair – and guided him to my other nipple. "I could do this all day with you."

I might just let you.

Releasing his hair, I let my head fall back as Edward continued to drive me toward my orgasm. Then he grabbed my left leg and positioned it against his shoulder, and at the same time I felt his thumb press against my sensitive nub. The combination of the two, together with his free hand massaging my ass, and his tongue periodically licking my juices from his thumb, was all too much for me, and I came with a sound that bordered on a howl.

As I gasped and panted in my release, Edward continued to pump with force, and when I reached for his nipples and pinched them, he sucked in a sharp breath, stiffened and his eyes rolled back in his head as he came. With a loud rumble, he exhaled and bowed his head, breathless over me.

I draw you close to me, you women!
I cannot let you go, I would do you good,
I am for you, and you are for me, not only for our own sake, but for others' sakes;
Envelop'd in you sleep greater heroes and bards,
They refuse to awake at the touch of any man but me.

"Edward, I…" I began, but didn't finish, as his mouth found mine and silenced me. My legs were starting to fall asleep, and I considered mentioning it, when he pulled me off the bathroom counter, his strong arms wrapped around me. His hands moved to my waist, and with his thumbs hooked round the soft flesh there, his fingers still reached my ass. His hands should be bronzed. But then I couldn't have them all over me; scratch that idea. My brain was mush and I could barely stand up. Thankfully, he was holding me upright.

"Well, now that you've been thoroughly fucked, is it time for dinner?" Edward teased. Love that potty mouth. I smiled up at him sleepily and nodded my head. I had forgotten how hungry I was. Can't imagine how that happened. After throwing away the used condom, Edward quickly splashed water on his face and left me in the bathroom to freshen up. My legs collapsed as my butt hit the toilet seat, so I used the time to ponder the last two days.

Then it hit me like a freight train.

God, I really am fucked, in more ways than one. We can't do this anymore. I need to focus this week – we both do – and sex is only going to serve as a distraction. Besides, if I put a ban on sex from this point on, it would provide me the physical space I'd need to detach myself in every other way from Edward. I shuddered to think of the consequences of not keeping my distance.

Because I knew damn well what could happen; what I could easily see happening between us if this continued. Edward would demolish what was left of the wall I'd worked so hard to build, and we'd have more mind-blowing sex, more naked picnics and continue to torture each other in the most delicious ways. He knew so much about me now; too much. And there would be so much more than just sex.

I'd fall completely and irrevocably in love with Edward Cullen.

And I couldn't let that happen.

Gathering myself up, I flushed the toilet and smoothed my hair in the mirror. No more sex with Edward. No more sharing intimate things and acting like a smitten teenager. I grabbed a towel off the floor and wrapped it around me. And I quietly locked away the piece of me that longed to be loved and cared for and protected from the world. That part of me was weak, needy and smaller than the whole. It needed to be silenced. Reaching for the doorknob, I took a deep breath and issued a silent prayer.

I know I don't believe in this crap, but please keep Edward safe – especially from me. Keep his heart safe, too. He's good and deserves so much better. Please give me the strength to get through this.

Then I opened the door and went back to Edward.

Author's Note: Alright, I know, I know – I'm killing you with the roller coaster, aren't I? Sorry, but I hope you all understand it can't be peaches and cream, easy all the time. Or ever. Poor Edward. But don't count him out, everyone.

Note: the passages in this chapter are from the poem A Woman Waits for Me, by Walt Whitman. (no copyright infringement intended here)

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