CHAPTER 12

Something tickled. Bella wrinkled her nose and burrowed her head into her pillow, jerking back when it chuckled. She squinted her eyes open to see Edward smiling at her.

"Morning" she croaked.

"Hey gorgeous."

Bella groaned and ran a hand over her hair, feeling it sticking up in clumps and lumps, and flicked a glance at her alarm clock. It was 7am.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Huh?" he looked confused.

"It's still early, you're bright and peppy, and you're calling me 'gorgeous' when I'm laying here with crop circle hair." She burrowed into the crook of his neck, as he wrapped his arms around her and started to laugh.

"You've got what?"

"You know," she mumbled. How was it possible that he could even smell so good at this ungodly hour? "I'm sure I don't move around that much at night to mess up my hair like this. Alien spaceships land on my head every night and leave crop circles."

"Really," he commented. "That's quite an interesting theory you've got going on there."

He didn't sound convinced, but the rumbling of his voice in his chest sounded delightful. She snuggled closer and hooked a leg over his hips, wriggling closer still. He gave a little grunt of pleasure as her hips sleepily ground against his. He stroked the line of her hip, circling his fingers over her waist as she stirred, then pulled her closer and rested his chin on her hair.

"Do you know how I feel about you?" he murmured. His voice sounded quiet, vulnerable.

In spite of herself, Bella's heart turned over. His hand stroked the soft swell of her breast, making her feel boneless, melting into the heat of his body. Her hand ghosted over his hardness and his indrawn breath was a hiss of pleasure.

"What?" Bella stopped her hand and let it rest heavy against him. "Am I doing something wrong?" Her expression was entirely too innocent.

"Don't start what you can't finish," he warned, his eyes closing as she moved her hand again.

"Nothing to worry about there," smiled Bella as she drifted down the bed, "I'm a details kind-a girl."

Edward's hips arched off the bed as she took him in her mouth, her fingernails skimming over his thighs. His entire awareness dwindled until its sole focus was her hot, moist mouth that was drawing him deeper, moving up and down as she hummed with pleasure. When he couldn't stand it any longer he reached down and drew up her, cupping her buttocks and pressing her against him.

"Tell me you want me," his mouth moved over her throat.

"You know I do," she murmured, hooking a leg around his hip and grinding against him.

"Say it." He was poised above her now, and she whimpered as he held off.

"Edward, please …" She looked up at him, clutching at his neck as she gulped for air.

It was enough. He sank into her warmth, the two of them groaning at the sensation as he filled her. They both lay entwined for a moment, kissing softly before their bodies began to move in unison. Edward watched Bella as she bit her lip, and his blood stirred hotly at the knowledge that he was the one in her bed, and no-one else. He thrust harder, stopping abruptly as she cried out.

"I'm sorry," he began anxiously, "did I …?"

"Shhh," she interrupted, kissing him with abandon. "It's okay Edward, it just felt so good. I'm not glass, I won't break."

Edward resumed where he'd left off, loving her with abandon, treasuring every movement, every sensation as he lost himself in the moment. Bella clutched at his shoulders and cried out as her release swept through her.

After love, they lay curled up in each other's arms, talking about inconsequential things, anything to prolong the moment and to avoid having to get out of bed. Edward reached out with his free hand and twined his fingers through hers.

"I can't believe I found you," he commented. Bella's shoulders shook with silent laughter and he propped himself up on one elbow to look at her. "What?"

"And to think you found me at a press junket and then a supermarket." She poked him on the shoulder. "Let that be a lesson to you Cullen, never doubt the power of ice-cream ever again."

Her hair spilled and tangled over the pillows, and her skin bore the pink blotches of stubble rash. Her lips were puffy from kissing, and he could see faint marks on her shoulder were his teeth had nibbled at her. She had never looked lovelier. She reached out and traced his bottom lip with a finger.

"When you look at me like that, you make me feel beautiful," she said quietly.

He frowned in puzzlement. "But you are."

Bella nearly smiled as memories from the past momentarily flashed through her mind. The things men would say when they were getting laid. Still, he said it with such sincerity that she was almost inclined to believe him. She pulled him down for another kiss.

"So Mr Cullen, what are we going to do with you?"

"Well I guess I can think of a few things," he replied, cupping her breasts and rubbing his thumb over their rosy peaks.

"As enticing as that is, I was actually referring to last night," she said, shoving at his shoulders.

He rolled over on his back, stealing her pillow as she sat up and propped it behind his head. The sheet had been shoved down around his hips, and she couldn't stop from gazing at his bare chest, stubbled cheeks and green eyes that glittered back at her. Surely a man like this could be the downfall of saints.

His eyes darked darkened as they drifted down her chest, and she realised that anything she said was going to be ignored as long as she remained naked. She peered around the bedroom, then leaned over the side and plucked Edward's white t-shirt that he had been wearing under his dress shirt. She pulled it on, turning back when she heard a quiet groan.

"Do you have any idea how sexy you look in my clothes?"

"Just as long as you don't try to return the favour, I think we'll be fine," she said, which made him roll his eyes.

"So I'm guessing there's no more lovin' to be had until you've said your piece?" he replied.

"Yup." She flicked her hair off her shoulders. "So, last night."

"Yeah." He sounded wary and resigned all at once.

"I'm not sure who was the more freaked out of the two of us." She held up her hand as Edward opened his mouth to say something. "I think I saw a bit of temper there last night, and I didn't quite know what to make of that."

Edward picked at the sheet, silent for a moment.

"When we got out of the restaurant last night, and those people were waiting, all I could think about was getting you out of there." He looked up at her. "I'm used to all that stuff, but you're not." He shrugged. "I just wanted to get you somewhere safe, where it was just us."

"You seemed pretty angry about it," Bella observed.

"I guess I was." Edward looked at her, clearly frustrated. "You're the best thing that's happened to me in a long time, and it just feels like all that," he saved waved his hands by way of indication, "is going to take it all away."

Bella gave him a wry smile. "You sound like a kid with a new toy."

"Maybe I do," he conceded, "but that's what it feels like. I don't want the media attention to ruin what we've got going between us."

Bella crawled towards him and curled up at his side, leaning in closer as he hooked his arm around her.

"Edward, like it or not, your career is public property, and that's a choice you made a long time ago, so sooner or later you're going to have to get used to it."

"I thought I was," he muttered. Bella looked up at him as he sighed. "But .. I .. uh … guess you know who I've dated in the past."

Bella ducked her head, trying to stay calm as her insecurities roared to life. Anyone who read the gossip magazines knew the sort of women Edward had dated in the past. He had been in three long-term relationships (by LA standards anyway) with the sort of women the magazines lapped up. Successful, famous, and beautiful enough to make Leonardo Da Vinci bite his paintbrush in half.

"Yeah," she said. "I think I've got a general idea." Now it was her fingers plucking at the sheet.

"Those women were in the industry. More than that, they were in the front line like I am, so they knew the drill. They knew how it all worked and they were fine with that."

He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to meet his gaze. "When those cameras started going off last night, you looked absolutely terrified."

Bella tried to shrug it off. "I wasn't expecting anything like that." The flashes had been blinding, and she remembered hands reaching out to grab Edward as he had hustled her towards the car.

"Maybe you shouldn't have to," commented Edward. "After all, you said this was a life that I had chosen, but you don't have to."

"What are you trying to say?"

Edward looked unhappy. "You might not want that level of attention."

"Who says I have to have it?" she shrugged again, content in the knowledge that she was so fantastically ordinary there would be nothing of interest for people to notice.

"It might be a case where the choice is taken out of your hands," he replied. He was a little concerned. She seemed to be taking this too well.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see." She frowned. "There is one thing I'm worried about though," she conceded.

"What's that?"

"Breakfast. I need food and good coffee … and plenty of it."

o * o * o * o

Angela opened the door at Bella's rat-a-tat knocking and stood promptly ushered her inside.

"Coffee?"

"Actually I've just come from breakfast with the boy, so I'm a bit jumpy at the moment. Got any juice?" said Bella headed towards the fridge and opened the door.

"Yep, help yourself, and get one for me while you're at it," replied Angela.

The girls took their drinks into the living room, and each chose a sofa to relax on.

"So, you've come up for air again, I see," observed Angela, making Bella blush. "Woman, he must be good to have to you looking so thoroughly satisfied."

Mortified, Bella put a hand to her cheeks.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Well, you're grinning enough to give the Cheshire Cat performance anxiety, and that's some impressive stubble rash on your neck there." Angela indicated a patch, which Bella promptly clamped her hand over. "No use trying to hide it now, I've already seen it."

"Oh god," muttered Bella. "And I've just been sitting in a café with him – everyone must have seen!"

"They'd have to know what they were looking for, but yeah, it is kind-a visible," allowed Angela. "So," she continued. "What have you guys been up to?" She paused as Bella began to laugh, "besides the obvious I mean, and by the way, I hope you're playing safe."

"Yes Mom," Bella drawled. "I'm on the pill and we're taking precautions. Happy now?"

"Yes dear. Please, continue."

"Okay, we went to the movies last night, which was great, and afterwards we got some dinner." She thought back to the evening before and frowned slightly. "We ran into a bit of interference afterwards, and Edward wasn't too happy about that, but I think he's okay."

Angela had leaned forwards.

"What sort of interference are you talking about?"

"Oh, just some people that had found out where Edward was." Bella was trying to sound off-hand, although her stomach tightened as she remembered her anxiety.

"Just some people, huh? And would those people have had cameras?" She watched as Bella shrank a little on the sofa. She knew that Bella had always been shy, so her off-handedness wasn't ringing true.

"Yes."

"And how were you with that?"

Bella had been staring into her juice, and looked up at the question. Angela sat quietly, obviously expecting a response.

"I guess," she licked her lips. "I guess it freaked me out." She paused. "And Edward was really mad."

"How so?"

"He was pretty short with them. People were shouting questions and stuff, then he bundled me into the car and we went straight home." She attempted a smile. "I haven't seen that side to him before, but we talked it out this morning and things seem to be okay."

"And what did you talk about?" Angela wasn't letting go of the topic.

"Well, he was worried that I'd been scared," Bella replied. Angela mentally gave Edward points for his consideration. "But once I reminded him that he'd chosen a public life, things kind of went from there."

"Huh? Hang on, he was worried about you getting freaked, and you told him that he'd made his decision and that was it?"

"Uh …"

"Bella come on, I know you're an intelligent woman. What else did he say?"

"Um, well he said he'd chosen the spotlight, but that I hadn't, and maybe I wouldn't want that."

Angela was impressed. Edward had clearly thought out the implications more than Bella had. There was more to the story here though. Bella was still looking uncomfortable.

"So what happened after that?"

"We went out for breakfast."

"Really," said Angela.

The two woman stared at each other.

"What?" Bella asked finally.

Angela sighed heavily and shook her head.

"Bella, you're my best friend, and we've known each other through sick and sin. Is this the part where I'm going to have to give your ass a good swift kick?"

"Hey!" objected Bella. "What brought that on?"

"Listen to yourself. You've just sat here and told me that you went out on a date with a nice guy who's also a famous movie star. He takes you out for dinner, and when the paparazzi find out and are waiting for you outside, he gets protective and whisks you home. Then he tries to talk to you about it the next morning, you brush it off and want food."

"And? What's your point?"

"My point is," said Angela slowly, "that I think you're still in denial. Bella like it or not, if you and Edward keep seeing each other, your name and photo is going to be out there as well."

"Unlikely," Bella scoffed.

"If you guys are starting to date, then that's news for the magazines. You're going to be news Bella, not just Edward. There's nothing unlikely about that."

"But, I'm nobody!"

"Oh Bella, don't say that."

"No, come on Angela, look at me. Edward mentioned his exes this morning, and…"

"I'm sure there was context," countered Angela. Bella ignored her and continued.

"He's gone out with sex symbols, and here I am, little Bella Swan. I'm nobody compared to them, so there's nothing to report! And anyway," she huffed, "One day he'll wake up and realise that too, and it'll all be over. He'll move on to someone that's famous, and I'll be invisible again."

After her outburst, they both sat silent.

"And that's what you think?" asked Angela.

"It's what I know," replied Bella miserably. "Someone like Edward doesn't happen to a no-one like me. The bubble is going to burst sooner or later."

"Oh honey." Angela got up and moved to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders for a comforting squeeze. "I think you might find that Edward likes you a lot more than you think."

o * o * o * o

Rosalie opened the door just as Edward reached it, a grin of welcome on her face.

"Welcome home!" she said as she gave him a warm hug. Edward returned it, lifting Rosalie off her feet and walking into the house.

"It's good to be back," he said as he set her down again, and sniffed appreciatively. "Is that coffee?"

"Sure is, come on."

She led him through the house into the kitchen. Emmett was snacking, and waved as he chewed by way of greeting.

"Hey Chipmunk Cheeks," Edward teased, cuffing Emmett on the back of his head as he passed him to get a cup.

Rosalie leaned with her hip against the table.

"So," she began. "I guess we don't have to ask you how last night went."

"No you don't," he smiled as he poured himself a coffee.

"And I see you guys had dinner and a movie," she added. Edward stopped pouring.

"How did you know that?" he frowned.

"TMZ my dear boy. The internet makes things move pretty fast these days."

"Already?" he asked.

At Rosalie's nod, he sighed heavily, and got out the cream and sugar. Once he had made a coffee to his taste, he joined the other two at the table.

"So what sort of pictures are they?" he said in a weary tone.

"Nothing major, but the speculation is starting about who Bella is," Rosalie answered.

"Gotta say it bro, it looks like you pulled a good protective grizzly attitude there. You had a scary face and everything," commented Emmett around a mouthful.

"Have you got them here? I need to see." He was worried. He was still thinking that despite their talk this morning, Bella had no idea what she was letting herself in for.

Rosalie got up from the table and left the room, returning moments later with her laptop. She accessed the site and slid the computer across the table to Edward. It was just as he thought. Emmett had been right, he did look like he was ready to hit someone. In one of the shots he had one arm around Bella, who was cowering into his side, and his other arm was reaching out in an attempt to block the camera. He checked the rest of the pictures. Bella had kept her head down for most of them, so they didn't have a clear shot of her face. Still, they had enough. It wouldn't be long until someone found out who she was.

"Shit." He groaned. "She's going to freak out."

"You think?" Rosalie was puzzled. "She seemed okay with your fame earlier.

"I know. But that was before it was going to have any impact on her," he said with a grimace. "We had a bit of a talk about it this morning, but something was a bit off," he paused, remembering how things had been between them earlier. "Either she's in denial, or ... I don't know. She really doesn't think that anyone is going to notice her."

"Serious?" Emmett was surprised. "With an ass like that how could they not notice her?" He paused for a second as his brain finally caught up with his mouth, and turned to Rose with a beseeching smile. "Not as hot as yours babe, that's a given."

"Relax toots, I know what you meant." Rosalie waved him off. Emmett relaxed, but only slightly. He knew his comment would be filed away and brought out to be discussed, no doubt at a highly inconvenient time. He hated it when he cock blocked himself.

Edward was staring unhappily into his coffee.

"I know there's more to it, but I don't know what to do."

"Have you considered talking to her about it?" suggested Rosalie. "You know, that stuff that happens when you open your mouth and words come out. I've heard it can be terribly effective."

"Nice one babe." commented Emmett with a grin. Rosalie shot him a droll smile. Nope. No luck, he was still going to be cockblocked.

"You're going to have to do something Edward, and sooner rather than later. Those pictures are online, so you know it's only a matter of time before the magazines pick up on it."

"Yeah I know. Shit."

"What are you pouting for?" Rosalie said, punching him on the shoulder.

"I'm not pouting," Edward replied.

"Right, you're just thinking really hard and your bottom lip decided to get involved."

"It's just this whole damn fame thing. All we did was go out for dinner and a movie. It's not exactly headline news. What about all the other important stuff that's going on in the world?"

"I know," Rosalie soothed. "But people want distracting from that, which is where you come into the picture." She pulled a face. "Sorry, bad pun there."

"So what can I do?" he asked them both.

Emmett shrugged. "Maybe nothing."

"Great. Thanks for your help."

"No come on, hear me out. You don't see people like Jodie Foster in the magazines all the time. She just does her own thing, doesn't do premieres. She keeps a low profile, and her private life is strictly private."

"You know, I think my boy here is onto something." Rosalie nodded to herself slowly. "Maybe it's time you started pulling things back a bit."

"How so?"

"Well, you and your agent have always gone along with most of the media requests you get."

"Yeah, but –"

"Hang on," she waved Edward off. "I hadn't finished. Yes we know you did a lot of that to get your career up and running. Here's the thing though. You're at the top of your game. What else do you have to prove? Isn't it time you started to do something for yourself?"

Edward considered that for a moment.

"Go on," he allowed.

"Why don't you consider the idea of not jumping through all the media hoops for a change?" Rosalie was starting to look more enthused the more she elaborated. "Scale things back, keep it to strictly work related, and then after a while they might get the message that you actually have a life of your own."

"You think?" Edward had to admit it certainly sounded tempting.

"It sounds good," added Emmett. "Besides, you don't want to end up as one of those goddamn "stars"," he added the quote mark with his fingers for emphasis, "That appear every-frickin-where and then whines that they can't get any breathing space to themselves." He made a disgusted noise. "If there's one thing that pisses me off, it's some overpaid celebrity that'd go to the opening of an envelope and then complaining about the 'curse of fame' because they can't live without attention."

"Uh," Edward began.

Emmett looked up with a grin.

"Don't worry man, I'm not talking about you."

Edward gave an internal sigh of relief.

"Besides," Emmett continued, "It's not the power of the curse, it's the power you give the curse. You've talked about wanting to be seen as a normal guy. I'd say now's your chance"

Edward and Rosalie both looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"What?" he said. "Hey c'mon. I read a lot, give me some credit."

"Don't worry baby," said Rosalie as she leaned over and kissed him. "I will … later."

Emmett grinned as he mentally gave a victory air punch. Sweet.

o * o * o * o

Bella had been on the phone to one of the magazines she freelanced with for over half an hour workshopping articles before the editor abruptly changed the tone of the conversation.

"So, Bella," he said, clearing his throat. "What have you been up to lately?"

"George you know what I've been up to – we've just been talking about the articles, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah. I meant your social life."

"Huh?" She was thrown by this new line of questioning. Where was this going?

"Been out to dinner lately?"

She felt the flush rising up her throat and into her cheeks.

"How did you ..? I mean, that is to say …" she stammered.

"Because," George continued, "I'm looking at some photos of a major movie star with someone that looks a helluvalot like you."

Bella was silent.

"Shit, it is you! You've kept quiet about that story Swan. We could really sell this."

"Please don't!" the words were out of her mouth before she'd had a chance to think.

"Really, why's that?"

"It's just …" she stuttered to a stop. She didn't really know what to say. "We're just … it's that …" she sighed. "Oh for fuck sake. George, are we off the record?"

"So far," he conceded.

"Good. George I don't know what to tell you about all this. This has never happened to me before, and we're still trying to work things out." She hesitated. "Do you think we could maybe have a few days' grace on this?"

She could hear George tapping his pen on his keyboard as he thought.

"I don't know …"

"Please?" she wheedled. "I'll bake you some cupcakes."

"Well …" he was starting to waver. She nearly had him.

"I'll do my special Oreo cupcakes with mocha frosting."

"Dammit," he grunted. Bella grinned in triumph. George should have never confided that he had a sweet tooth. "Alright Swan, I can give you a day, tops."

"That's it?"

"Take it or leave it," he replied. "Listen kiddo, like it or not, if you keep seeing Cullen then word is going to get out." He glanced at his computer screen again and re-read the email. "You're just lucky the agency emailed me the pictures first. They owe me a favour so I can tell them I'm thinking it over for a day, but after that it'll be out of my hands."

"Okay." She had been hoping for more time, but it was better than nothing. "Thanks George."

"No worries Swan. And one more thing,"

"What?" she perked up.

"Plenty of frosting, okay?"

"You got it."

Bella hung up the phone and put her head in her hands with a low groan. This was going to be bad and she then wondered just how bad it was going to get…

o * o * o * o